2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Peace Movement Writes G-G on Redistricting & Elections

The Belize Peace Movement has written to the Governor-General, asking her intervention should the Prime Minister decide to call elections before the High Court rules on a matter that is before it. On Wednesday, the B.P.M, through its attorney, Arthur Saldivar, concluded its arguments before Justice Nadine Nabie in which it asked the court to order the Elections and Boundaries Commission to expedite the redistricting exercise. And today, the Movement wrote to Governor-General, Dame Froyla Tzalam, asking her to use her powers afforded under the Constitution. The B.P.M pointed to the previous government’s decision to hold elections without a redistricting exercise and in anticipation of a possible repeat of that scenario, sought the G-G’s intervention. The letter states in part, “We respectfully urge that should the Prime Minister advise your office to dissolve the National Assembly prior to the conclusion of the said litigation in the High Court, that you invoke your power under the Belize Constitution, section eighty-four-four-A.” That section of the Constitution reads, “If the Prime Minister advises a dissolution and the Governor-General, acting in his own deliberate judgment, considers that the Government of Belize can be carried on without a dissolution and that a dissolution would not be in the interests of deliberate judgement, refuse to dissolve the National Assembly.” Today, Leader of the Belize Peace Movement, Bobby Lopez explained to News Five that they are contemplating all the avenues that the Constitution provides for to get the redistricting to occur before the next General Elections and the Governor-General was one way.

Via phone: Robert Bobby Lopez, Leader, Belize Peace Movement

“We have also been considering what other safeguards we can have in place, and one that we have been looking at for some time is the office of the Governor General that constitutionally, she does have certain powers, certain responsibilities with regards to safeguarding our democracy and how we are governed. And so we decided to also send her a letter and apprise her of what is happening currently with the case of redivisioning in the court and also just requesting that should the Prime Minister decide to call early elections and redistricting has not been done to the satisfaction of our Constitution she has the power to say not quite yet, Mr. Prime Minister, this needs to be taken care of first, so that it ensures that we have free and fair elections. So that’s a constitutional responsibility that the Governor General holds. And that’s why we quoted it in the letter to her.”

Will Redistricting Proposal Bill be Batted Down in the House?

The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet in special sitting on May thirtieth. High on the agenda is the introduction of a Redistricting Proposal Bill. As we reported earlier this week, the Belize Peace Movement was before the High Court in a matter that involves a consent order to be carried out by Elections and Boundaries. When we caught up with him this afternoon, attorney Arthur Saldivar spoke about the latest developments in parliament, in light of the ongoing legal matter.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-law

“I am thankful that the parliamentarians, the sitting administration has seen it fit to move this along. It is an important step and we look forward to hearing the results of the debate. We want to have free and fair elections in Belize and it gives me hope to be able to appreciate that the parliament is now taking on the mantle and advancing this. There is hope for Belize.”

Reporter

“How do you look at that, once it goes through parliament and it’s been shot down, it has to be done over?”

Arthur Saldivar

“Yes, it has to be done over because again, what was being proposed prior to the tabling was for Election and Boundaries to withdraw that proposal and redo it, but suffice it to say now that parliament has elected to proceed with it through to a debate and we will see how that washes out. I am not privy to the inner sanctums of the decision making of parliament like yourself. I’ve lost my wings, so I don’t know before hand how this debate will turn out, but I do expect, given what I have read, that it doesn’t past muster.”

Belize Calls on U.S. to Remove Cuba from SSOT List

Belize has called on the U.S Government to remove Cuba from its Department of State’s website as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. In a press release issued today, the government expresses deep concern, referring to the U.S. Government’s arbitrary decision to continue to list Cuba as such. The release states in part, quote, The Government of Belize denounces these baseless accusations as there is no evidence that the Government of the Republic of Cuba is involved in any such activities, end quote. In asking the U.S. Government to remove Cuba from the list, Belize urged the U.S to continue the process to normalize bilateral relations with Cuba. Belize says it will continue along with the member states of CARICOM, to call for lifting the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. Government on Cuba as well.

Eight Women Become Boat Captains in the South

Eight women who participated in the seaweed mariculture sector graduated from a boat captain training program today. The training was provided by the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association. The initiative was a collaboration involving the Belize Coast Guard, the Belize Defence Force, the Belize Port Authority, and Women in Maritime Association Caribbean, with funding by the Blue Social Challenge Fund and the British High Commission. The training equipped the captains with essential skills in farming seaweed twenty miles off the coast of Placencia. British High Commissioner, Nicole Davidson, along with Akeem Tejeda, the boat captain instructor, and Jalima Gold, president of the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, shared their perspectives on the program.

Nicole Davidson, British High Commissioner to Belize

“It’s a very special program for us because it really speaks to engagement in the community, work in the blue economy, and working with communities who are engaged in the blue economy. This has been funded under the United Kingdom Social Challenge Fund, which is a fund specifically aimed at communities and people working in the community space, and particularly, Communities that don’t normally have access to funding.”

Akeem Tejeda, Boat Captain Instructor

“We went over some basic, boat training, which is the seaman terminology – your docking and slipping, also maneuvering the boat in open water as well. I’d say 90 percent of all the women that participated, they have done well. They have made me proud, and I hope they can make themselves proud.”

Jalima Gold, President, Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association

“We had 11 participants from all around the, mostly the southern part of the country. This is a very significant and important training for us. It is the first of its kind done in the country. We are working with Belize Post Guard, Belize Defense Force, Port Authority, and local captains to put together a training that really encourages and empowers women specifically and some youth to become boat captain trainings. In the past it has always been a little bit hard for women to get into this field and kind of push boundaries and barriers when it comes to anything in maritime and so this is something that’s very important to us as an association, and we are very proud of what we’ve accomplished here today.”

Stepfather Pleads Guilty and Remanded for Physical Abuse of Minor

Tonight, a violent stepfather is spending his first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to physically abusing a three-year-old child earlier this week. Footage of the repulsive incident sparked public outrage on Monday when thirty-three-year-old Devain Flores was seen getting off a motorcycle before kicking and hitting the little boy repeatedly. The Belize City laborer, who stands accused of mistreating the infant, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Baja Shoman. The revolting episode prompted Commissioner of Police Chester Williams to show up to the lower courts this afternoon in his capacity as a prosecutor where Flores was brought up on two counts of cruelty to a child. Following Flores’ arraignment, ComPol Williams spoke with the media and explained why the charges against the perpetrator were later upgraded.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It’s a very important matter I must say, it involves a three-year-old who was being abused, obviously by a thirty-three-year-old, and I think that when we have situations of such, the police department, as well as any other organization that has to do with upholding the rights of children, we must do our best in making sure that those persons are brought to justice. Over and over, we are seeing that our young people are being abused in various ways, shape or form and as a responsible organization we will always do our best in working in conjunction with other organizations such as UNICEF, Department of Youth Services, NCFC, et cetera. So we have to make sure we do what we can to protect our children, so we must send a strong signal to abusers of children that we are not playing, we are serious about this.”

Reporter

“Explain the process of how this was upgraded from common assault to these more serious charges.”

Chester Williams

“Well after having viewed the video footage, myself, I believe that the charge of common assault was inadequate. It was basically putting a slap on the wrist of the perpetrator and so I had directed the investigators to further work to gather more evidence and record more statements. That was done yesterday and I must commend the officers from the Domestic Violence Unit for responding quickly to my request. Having obtained the request from them, I communicated with the Director of Public Prosecutions and we both agreed that the charges should be upgraded from common assault to that of abusing a child, basically.”

ComPol Williams: “It will send a strong message.”

The child’s mother was initially reluctant to cooperate with investigators. When the gravity of the situation was explained to her, she had a change of mind. With Flores pleading guilty to both charges, the prosecution is now seeking a custodial sentence which carries a minimum of ten years in prison. Commissioner Williams says today’s successful conviction should send a clear message to perpetrators of child abuse.

Chester Williams

“We had to speak with the mother and explain to her the nature of what we are dealing with. You can’t be a mother and see that your child is being abused in such magnitude and want nothing. I don’t think that a woman should love a man more than how they love their own children and so she was spoken to and eventually she decided that she was going to cooperate with the police and she did. We got the statement from her and so we were able to make significant progress.”

Reporter

“And you got a conviction.”

Chester Williams

“Well of course, yes, the defendant pled guilty to the two counts. And so, as you have heard my submission to the court, I will be seeking a custodial sentence. I don’t think that this is an offense that requires a fine, as a matter of fact, the offense under Section Sixty, Subsection One of the Criminal Code clearly states that it has a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. But we do know that even though that is stipulated by law, the magistrate still has that discretion that they can exercise in not giving a custodial sentence and hence the reason I indicated to the court my intent to seek a custodial sentence when the day of sentencing comes.”

Isani Cayetano

“How stern a message do you believe that this now sends to any abuser of children out there?”

Chester Williams

“Well, I would want to think that it will send a strong message. There are many people out there who are constantly abusing children, many of which is not known to the public and I hope that they come more and more known to the public so that we can address them. It’s the only way that we can deal with the issue of child abuse.”

N.C.F.C. Condemns Child Abuse

The National Commission for Families and Children have spoken out to condemn the beating and abuse of children. In a statement released earlier today, the commission said quote, child abuse, in any form, is unacceptable and violates the fundamental rights of children to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. As advocates for the rights and welfare of children, we continue to prioritize the protection of children and take decisive steps to prevent and address child abuse, end quote. The commission further went on to urge the public to raise awareness regarding child abuse, offer support to victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

Police Raided Doris Grant’s Home; Was it Connected to Scam Allegations?

She made headlines on Monday after being arraigned on forty counts of acquiring property by deception and theft to the tune of one hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars. As we reported, Belize City resident, Doris Grant, maintains her innocence and is out on fifty-thousand dollars bail. Well, Grant is back in the news tonight. She says that police raided her property on Tuesday evening in Gardenia Village. According to Grant, at least six police mobiles filled with officers entered her farm, destroyed the locks on her doors and ransacked the house. She says that the place is hardly ever used, as she spends most of her time at her Belize City residence. Tonight, she is questioning why the authorities searched her home and what it is that they were looking for. We visited the property today where we spoke with Grant.

Doris Grant, Homeowner

“About three thirty, four I received a call that about five to six trucks were at my premise here at my farm and the person said she was not sure if it was police but they all had on black clothes. She said she would take the video when the trucks were coming out to certify that it was police, but she did come out of her house and video that it was police at the premises. As soon as she told me they had left I came here at the house and I notice the camera was put towards the house so it would not catch anything else because it was not visible to see them. When I went to the front of the door, I saw they burglarized the house because they knocked down the locks and I went in saw those were knocked down. When I went in the house I saw they had searched the house.”

Paul Lopez

“Are you aware of what was being sought by these law enforcement officers in your home or on your property?”

Doris Grant

“Well, I would say this, I was detained from Wednesday until Monday morning and if they wanted to search my house, they could have brought me here with a paper saying they wanted to search my house and I would have gotten the key and opened the house. They know me very well so they can’t say I was hiding, or they couldn’t find me. And whole of yesterday I was at my house in Belize City. This is wrong and totally unfair cause I don’t know what they have done inside, if they have planted any gun or if they put in my house. I don’t feel safe at my farm anymore because I don’t know what they did here. This is wrong. This is like you get in somebody’s house and thief.”

ComPol Williams Says He Did Not Oversee Doris Grant House Raid

And today we heard from the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, on Tuesday’s police raid at Doris Grant’s Gardenia Village property. Information suggests that the raid may not be connected to the charges she is currently facing before the court. Surprisingly, Williams told reporters that he is not aware of the details of the operation. ComPol Williams also said that he received a call from Grant on Tuesday night in which she detailed the damage done to her property during the raid. According to the Commissioner of Police, he told her to file a complaint with the Professional Standards Branch if she feels that her constitutional rights were violated in the process.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I am not aware of it. I know that Doris Grant had messaged me last night making a complaint and I told her to go to PSB to lodge a complaint there.”

Reporter

“Is there a parallel police investigation happening here? The vibes I am getting around this case is that things are happening deliberately over your head.”

Chester Williams

“I am not aware of that, no.”

Reporter

“But if police officers were there, supposedly seven trucks, she says, without your knowledge.”

Chester Williams

“I don’t need to be aware of every police operation. You always conveniently get it wrong. Understand the meaning of micromanager, micromanager is a person who always tells his people what to do and how to do it. I don’t do that. My commanders will tell you I give them the latitude to do what needs to be done but when things go wrong it is my duty as the head to step in and correct them. that is not micromanaging, it is holding people accountable for when things go wrong. You would be the same one to say, when things go wrong, that as commissioner I ought to have known. So please just stop it and let us be real.”

Raid At Doris Grant Home Is Likely Connected to Missing Millions

ComPol Williams also told reporters that while allegations of acquiring property by deception have been brought against Grant in the past, she has never been convicted of any wrongdoing. And, from all indications, Grant seems to be the subject of an ongoing police investigation involving a great deal of missing money. Notwithstanding the raid and damages done to Grants property, News Five understand that nothing incriminating was found.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Many a times operations are done across the country, and I do not know about it. I have said to my commanders if you need to do an operation just do it and let me know the result of it. I cannot keep track of every operation the police conduct. I will go mad. I have not had a chance to speak with those police officers who went on that operation, like I said I was texted last night by Doris Grant and I told her to go to PSB if she believes that what the officers did at her place was a violation of her rights then she can go to P.S.B.”

Reporter

“How well do you know Ms Grant?”

Chester Williams

“Everybody knows Ms Grant Isani.”

Reporter

“Was she on your raider before for this type of activity, we have heard before that some Mennonites have also complaint against her.”

Chester Williams

“I am not aware of that, but yes Doris Grant has always been on our raider.”

Reporter

“For what kind of crimes sir or allegations?”

Chester Williams

“Well for the most part, I don’t want to go into details because I will end up defaming people, but yes she has been on our raider.”

Reporter

“In 2021 she was charged in Orange Walk for obtaining.”

Chester Williams

“She has never been convicted.”

Reporter

“There is a lot of weird energy, and these are the people accusing her of improperly acquiring millions of dollars, but there is this weird law enforcement energy around it with some very high-level operational teams intervening in her properties, what are you looking for?”

Chester Williams

“You just said there are allegations of millions of dollars going missing and you still ask what the police are looking for. If the police are involved in carrying out an investigation the police will go to the home of anybody who is a part of that investigation. So if the police go to the Mennonites or Ms. Grant it is a part of the ongoing investigation process.”

Reporter

”Have you heard of any complaints before against her and ordered that the police pursue her to the fullest extent of the law.”

Chester Williams

“There have been complaints against Ms. Grant where the police are currently involved investigating. The police job is to investigate, gather evidence and put the perpetrator before the court once we have evidence.”