One of the suspects believed to be involved in the arson of three vehicles, totaling almost half a million dollars, is now behind bars awaiting bail at the High Court. Twenty-two-year-old Manuel Anthony Moralez, a construction worker from Sandhill Village, appeared before Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola this afternoon. He was read three counts of arson, but did not enter a plea due to the severity of the charges. Allegedly, on December twenty-second, 2024, in Belize City, Moralez and others intentionally set fire to a black 2022 Escalade valued at a quarter million dollars, owned by Bob Hotchandani, which was parked in front of his residence on Barrack Road. He is also accused of destroying a 2023 grey Audi Q-7 worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, also owned by Bob Hotchandani, and a brown Chevy Silverado valued at eighty-five thousand dollars, owned by Sunjay Hotchandani. The prosecutor objected to bail, citing the grave nature of the offense and the substantial damages involved. He also highlighted the strength of the prosecution’s case, including surveillance footage, and expressed concerns that Moralez might flee or interfere with the ongoing investigation. Additionally, there are fears for Moralez’s safety, as others involved might harm him to prevent him from naming them. Chief Magistrate Wegodapola agreed with the prosecutor’s objections and denied bail, remanding Moralez to prison. His next court date is set for January twenty eighth, 2025.
Year: 2024
Tourist Loses All Her Belongings When Rental Car Was Burnt
A Pennsylvania tourist’s dream vacation in Belize took a dramatic turn when her rental car burst into flames, leaving her with nothing but the clothes on her back. Rachel Goldman had just rented a 2013 Ford Escape from AQ Auto Rentals for her six-day tour of Belize. On Friday, while cruising down the John Smith Link Road around midday, she noticed smoke billowing from the hood. Acting quickly, she pulled over, but within moments, the car exploded into a fiery inferno. Rachel managed to escape unharmed, but her passport, credit card, iPhone 12, and all her clothes were lost in the blaze. Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the fire. Despite the scare, Rachel is safe, though undoubtedly shaken by the ordeal.
BAHA Confirms Screwworm Infestation Contained to One Animal in Toledo
On December twenty-sixth, 2024, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) received a report about a suspicious wound on an animal in southwestern Toledo. The wound was suspected to be caused by New World Screwworm, a highly destructive parasite that typically targets livestock and other animals. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture quickly dispatched technical teams to the area for a thorough assessment. Earlier today, the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners held a press conference to share details on their response to the infestation. Here’s Doctor Roxanna Alvarez, Animal Health Director of BAHA, with more information.
Dr. Roxanna Alvarez, Animal Health Director, BAHA
“Upon arrival at the farming establishment, a six-month-old Brangus heifer was observed penned in a coral. Closer inspection found a suspicious seeping wound on her right ear near her ear tag. A total of fifty-nine larvae were removed. The wound was treated with Cyperchlor, which is cypermethrin, gentian violet, pine, and citronella oil. Comafuss powder and ivermectin was administered subcutaneous. No other wound was found on the animal and no other animals in the herd presented lesions, wounds, or infestations. The producer was informed that his farm was under quarantine and therefore he would not be allowed to move any animals in or out of the establishment. He was also advised that follow up technical visits would be necessary. He was given advice on treatment and preventative measures for his entire herd. The samples were transported to the BAHA Entomology Laboratory and preliminary findings by the BAHA Entomologist indicated New World Screwworm. We are awaiting confirmation by COPEG. The nearest positive case from the suspected case in Crique Sarco is in Modesto Mendez, Guatemala, which is approximately eleven point eight three miles in a straight line. We have been on high alert for months. As the minister mentioned, we have had an aggressive education and outreach program, coupled with active surveillance. We have done well at preventing infestations, and I must acknowledge the vital role stakeholders have played. In this specific instance, the producer, his neighbors, and the community of Crique Sarco acted with caution, consistently inspected their animals, and immediately notified us. BAHA of wounds with larvae, also known as worms. This was crucial to our immediate response.”
For more information visit:
https://edition.channel5belize.com/breaking-suspected-screwworm-case-investigated-in-toledo/
https://edition.channel5belize.com/belize-enacts-new-law-to-prevent-spread-of-new-world-screwworm/
https://edition.channel5belize.com/preventing-screwworms-require-behavior-change/
Ministry Suspects Screwworm Fly Travelled to Belize from Guatemala
On Thursday, a screwworm case popped up in Crique Sarco village, Toledo District, causing quite a stir. Since October, over two hundred and thirty-five technical experts have been trained in preventing and controlling New World screwworms, and four hundred and twenty-five farms and homes have been inspected for thChannel 5 Belizeese pesky pests. Belize had been free of any outbreak signs until now. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that last week’s infestation was limited to just one animal on a southern Belize farm, which has since been treated. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, shared insights on where they believe the outbreak originated.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“How did the worms get there and Dr. Alvarez explained that it’s a fly and it flies distances. The team on the ground is doing a thorough investigation. So far, we will show you right now where the, where the case was found. There is no direct contact with the community in Guatemala, eleven miles away from Crique Sarco. For there is no connection, no road. So, if you look on the map, you will see Crique Sarco and, you look way at the, down at the corner where Belize and Guatemala meet. That, that area there is where Modesto is. That’s the last case found in Guatemala sometime last week. So, the distance between these two communities is eleven miles. So, there’s no road that leads directly from Modesto Mendez to Crique Sarco. And that is why we are assuming that the fly may have flown in from Guatemala into Belize. If you look on the Guatemala territory, south of the Sarstoon, all the cleared area you see there is all farmland. They’re all farms. So we have to assume there is a population of fertile flies, and one of them may have found his way into Belize. If you look where Crique Sarco is, it is central, Southern Toledo. And so that is why we’re assuming that the fly had to fly into Belizean territory and found an open wound. And that is where we have the case today.”
Screwworm Detection Won’t Affect Belize’s Trade with Mexico
The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed a single case of screwworm in Southern Belize. Earlier this year, Mexico warned that if Belize reported any screwworm cases, livestock exports to Mexico would be halted for up to a year. However, at today’s press briefing, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai reassured everyone that Belize’s trade won’t be affected by this incident. Mai has been in touch with Mexico’s new Minister of Agriculture, Doctor Julio Berdegue, who has pledged his full support to Belize. Here’s more on that.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“When we met last two weeks in Palenque, Chiapas, one of the main topics discussed was the new export protocol. At that time, they were still banned from exporting into the U.S. But a few days after, the U.S. gave them a new protocol saying that you can export, but these are the new conditions. A while ago, Dr. Berdegue got in contact with us and his Senasica office saying that they’re almost almost completing the new protocols for Belize’s export to Mexico. It means that we will not lose a day of exporting cattle to Mexico. Our cattle exports will continue. Of course, with a different protocol. But, one of the most important protocols to us is the reduction of quarantine time from twenty-one days to seven days. You will know that a million animals find its way into Mexico from Central America. And much of it is informal, informal. So the formal trade is competing with the informal trade. The cost of exporting cattle formally is very high as compared to exporting the informal. So Mexico is of the view that if we manage to lower off exporting formally, then the majority of cattle then will go into Mexico legally with all the protocols being put in place. So, for us, that is a blessing. I believe it’s an example where you convert a challenge into an opportunity. And so Dr. Berdegue and Mexico have been very understanding of us and not a single day of cattle export will be lost because of this case of school in Belize.”
Investigating the Need for Inclusive Infrastructure for Children with Disabilities
As natural disasters become increasingly frequent and severe, the need for inclusive infrastructure in emergency shelters has never been more urgent. In Belize, where the threat of hurricanes and other disasters looms year-round, a significant gap exists in the country’s ability to provide safe, accessible refuge for its most vulnerable populations—particularly children with disabilities. Despite the government’s efforts to prepare over 400 shelters nationwide, many are still ill-equipped to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. The following investigative piece delves into the critical shortcomings of shelter infrastructure, the ongoing challenges faced by children with disabilities during evacuations, and the steps being taken—or overlooked—in ensuring their safety and well-being during times of crisis. Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo reporting
As natural disasters intensify, so does the urgency to ensure that every Belizean is able to seek refuge during times of crisis. But for children with disabilities, Belize’s emergency shelters remain dangerously inadequate. The pressing need for inclusive infrastructure in these shelters has never been more apparent, especially as the threat of hurricanes and other natural disasters looms year-round.
In Belize, over 400 shelters have been designated for use during emergencies. Yet, many are still not equipped to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Schools, churches, and public buildings are often used as shelters, but their multi-purpose nature makes them ill-suited for disaster relief. For instance, bathroom facilities and accessibility features are insufficient, and the needs of children with disabilities remain overlooked. According to Daniel Mendez, the National Emergency Coordinator at the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), two shelters have been identified as fully accessible to individuals with disabilities in Belize City: The Inspiration Center and the Education Building.
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“It’s important for us to look at the needs of children in disaster situations. Children and persons with disabilities are some of the most vulnerable persons. It is important for us to look at them in particular, because we know across the world children are the ones most impacted by disasters. We do have a committee that looks at the needs of persons with disabilities. And that committee is the one that manages, knows where these populations are, and reaches out to those persons. So there is a special plan for those persons if there’s a need for evacuation. And we do have people who look after that issue. So it’s one that is an area that we will continue. We know that needs to be expanded and strengthened, and we will be; we will continue to do that in the future.”
In 2023, Belize signed the Protocol for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Emergencies and Disaster Situations, which focuses on ensuring integrated protection for children through a multi-sectoral approach during disasters. This minimises the impacts on their living conditions. It serves as a guide for government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and international organisations in the stages of prevention, preparation, response, and recovery.
Daniel Mendez
“That is an area that will continue to be rolled out. There’s a specific plan for it. And we continue to work with our partner UNICEF to ensure that the children are considered under the plan that is reflected in all of our operational plan. So it’s an area that is being integrated into all our operational plans across the country.”
The Inspiration Center provides a range of services for children with disabilities. It is one of the shelters designated for individuals with disabilities. Executive Director Joycelyn Lopez says that while there has been progress, including setting up shelters for disaster preparedness, there is still much work to be done.
Lopez says that the increasing population of children with disabilities has led to a growing demand for services at the Inspiration Center.
Joycelyn Lopez, Executive Director, Inspiration Center
“The population is a growing population. Children, more children are being born with disabilities or diagnoses that contribute to these disabilities. And elderly people as well who suffer from disabilities. The population is a growing population. The population that we serve is a huge population. And Belize lacks allied health professionals. So, because Belize lacks allied health professionals, most of our children come to us.”
Evan Cowo is the Community-Based Rehabilitation Manager at the Inspiration Center and is part of CEMO’s Special Needs Disaster Response Team. He has witnessed firsthand the challenges and risks posed by inadequate facilities for children with disabilities in times of disasters. He says that accessibility for individuals with mobility issues goes beyond ramps for wheelchairs. He stressed the need for wide doors and accessible bathrooms for those with special needs. He also noted the importance of always having a medical doctor present, adequate transportation, a hot plate of food, and beds.
Evan Cowo, Community-Based Rehabilitation Manager, Inspiration Center
“You can’t bring somebody who has a disability and just let them sit on the floor; you know, you need beds, and some of these people that come, sometimes they have bed sores and you have other complications that they, you know, they, they really need to be in a, in a bed. Through my experience, the first thing that. Parents would leave the children with disabilities as a last, the planning would be last for, for children with disabilities, when it should be, it should be the first, you know, the first. And like I said, some, some children would come with different, um, health issues that we, we need to address.”
While there has been progress in some areas, concerns persist about the slow implementation of laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities, especially children. The Disability Bill, which was ratified years ago, was just recently enacted, frustrating advocates like the late Kenrick Theus, who was the president of the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities when we spoke with him a few days before his passing.
Kenrick Theus, Former President, BAPDA
“In the end, until the whole thing has been vetted out and all the arms of it and the legs and the feet and the office and the computers and a person in charge and just like what you have with the AIDS commission, they have a full office and a secretariat. They’re functioning, they’re working. Disability doesn’t have that in place. I don’t know how long it would take to get that all in place, but until if it takes him until the 4th of December, that’s when, if it takes another six months, that’s when too. So, I, I would venture to say it wouldn’t take six years because we will be making enough noise beyond that, yeah, well, that’s the next thing. You can make all noise you want. That is, as if they want to listen. It’s taken too damn long. It’s taken, if they’re serious about this, upon that assent, everybody who is supposed to be appointed wouldn’t have been appointed already. You cannot have buildings being built in 2024 that you say, well, you need to go to the building authority. The building authority know damn well that this thing have to have a ramp, but it’s not in place. So now when I get there now, I’m excluded because I can’t access the building. So this is a commercial building. You want to carry on business here, but yet I don’t have access. That shouldn’t happen in 2020, not in Belize.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
Ministry Says 80% of Sugar Roads have been Repaired in Corozal
On Friday, Belize Sugar Industries kicked off the 2024-2025 sugar crop with high hopes. Last season was a banner year, boasting record prices for sugar cane and the largest export of raw sugar in Belize’s history. But the sweet success has turned a bit sour as the industry braces for challenges ahead. Farmers are battling fusarium disease, which has hit crops hard in Corozal, and poor weather conditions aren’t helping. To make matters worse, the dreadful state of the sugar roads is making it nearly impossible for farmers to deliver their cane. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, assured that efforts are underway to tackle these issues.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“I just have telephoned it, the chairman of sugar board. Mr. Osorio, the farmers met this morning and they are still concerned. Although the MIDH is saying that in Corozal, the contracts have been completed up to eighty percent. So there seems to be some type of miscommunication regarding how many sugar roads are being done. Nevertheless, tomorrow I will proceed to meet with the cane farmers and in my area, we’ll go over the area to see which roads have been repaired and which not. But the Prime Minister is also informed. I report to him daily on the matter of sugar industry, and if there is a need to fix the sugar roads, we have to do it. The only problem is that the weather has not been too cooperative. It rains on and off, and if it stops raining, then the soil is still wet, and the trucks can’t get in to dump. But it’s not an excuse. I will follow up tomorrow, and if we need to fix sugar roads, we will do so.”
Cousin Says Evelyn Martinez Has Been Found; Police Say NO
Earlier today, it was reported that Evelyn Martinez, 30, from Orange Walk District, had been missing since Sunday morning. According to family and friends, Martinez commutes from Orange Walk District to Belize City for work and was last seen leaving for her job but did not arrive back home.
A Facebook user posted on social media that a family member even “called her work only to find out that she DID NOT make it.” The user added two phone numbers to call if there was any information regarding Martinez; the numbers were 627-1756 or 605-1268.
Shortly after, Deepika Rei posted on social media that Martinez had been located safe. Rei said in a Facebook post stating, “UPDATE UPDATE: Evelyn is safe and sound. Thank you all so much again.”
However, during this afternoon’s police briefing, police stated that Martinez has not been found, and she is still missing.
News 5 contacted one of the numbers shared by the family, which was confirmed to belong to Evelyn Martinez’s aunt, Maria Aban. Aban stated that Martinez only communicates through Messenger and Instagram since she doesn’t have a phone number. Aban said she learnt Martinez had been found after a cousin called her, saying they had “spoken to Martinez” and that she was safe.
After getting in contact with the cousin, she told News 5 that she “was told” that Martinez had been found and was safe.
Shortly after, Aban reported receiving a call from an unknown number. She said, “She just called to let me know that she’s okay; that’s all she told me.”
Martinez’s father-in-law, Satur Nino, had gone into the Orange Walk police station to file a missing person’s report, and that he has not seen her since Saturday. When asked if Martinez had gone missing before, Nino stated, “Yes, but not when she was living with us.” He added that she struggles with a substance problem.
We also spoke to a man who said that Martinez borrowed his phone to call her aunt. This reportedly happened near Tower Hill. The man said that she was alone, appeared to be in good condition, but seemed unwilling to return home.
Police Investigate Brutal Murder of Benque Viejo Labourer in San Ignacio
Police are investigating the brutal murder of 45-year-old Carlos Oscar Luis Lara, a labourer from Benque Viejo, whose body was discovered on Sunday, December 29, in the Maya Ranch area of San Ignacio. Authorities responded to the scene around 8:34 a.m. and found Lara with multiple chop wounds.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, Lara left his home on Saturday, October 28, around 10:30 p.m., and was later found lifeless with severe injuries. When questioned about the location, ACP Romero stated that it was not a place Lara was known to frequent, as he was typically seen around San Ignacio, often late at night. Police are still trying to determine why he was in that area.
According to ACP Romero, investigators have not identified any threats or rivalries involving Lara, and no weapon was recovered from the scene.
Was Trayson Gibson the Target?
Two years after surviving a shooting in 2022, Trayson Gibson was once again involved in a violent incident, this time resulting in his death.
A neighbour who helped 18-year-old Gibson after the shooting told News 5 that he initially thought the noise was firecrackers, but soon realised that wasn’t the case. “It felt like dynamite,” he said. “But when I heard the lee break in it and then it come on again, I said, no man, that’s a gunshot.”
The neighbour added, “I remember I left my son out there, so I ran outside. When I reach outside, I see the commotion,” he said, before driving Gibson to the hospital.
Another neighbour suspects that Gibson was not the intended target, stating, “The intended target wasn’t him. Definitely, because if it was him they wanted, they could have just passed right here and shot him… he was out here all the while. Even police passed and saw him out here and told him to get on the side…”