A man was shot during an attempted robbery in Cayo today. The incident happened this morning in San Ignacio and the victim was shot to the left shoulder, as Commissioner Williams shared. Williams says the police are investigating and reviewing several video recordings to nail the culprit.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“This morning police responded to an attempted robbery in the San Ignacio area. Upon arrival they met an East Indian descent person with a gunshot injury to the left shoulder. The injury was not classified as life-threatening. Police are in the process of viewing a number of surveillance footages to ascertain exactly what happened and are pursuing two suspects at this time.”
Investigators in San Ignacio still have little information to go on relating to the murder of Jose Mejia. Mejia’s decomposing body was discovered early Tuesday morning in the Victor Galvez football stadium. He had been stabbed multiple times to his neck and chest. Police have detained several persons and are asking the public to come forth with relevant information to solve the case.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The police found the body yesterday in a preliminary stage of decomposition. There is not much information forthcoming, so I want to appeal to the public: anyone who may have any information pertinent to this investigation, please feel free to call the police, 911 or call the A-TIPS number, 922 and provide the information and we see where we go from there.”
Reporter
“You do have suspects detained though?”
Chester Williams
“At this time, yes, I know police are interviewing a number of persons but we cannot say at this time that there is credible information to indicate that they may be involved.”
The Belize Peace Movement, represented by attorney Arthur Saldivar, is asking the High Court to have the Elections and Boundaries Commission expedite the redistricting exercise. A virtual hearing was held this morning where the matter was heard before Justice Nadine Nabie [Nah-bih]. During the session, Saldivar argued that the commission is yet to fulfill its obligations under the 2022 Redistricting Consent Order. He contended that to date only one redistricting proposal has been submitted and that the single proposal does not satisfy the commission’s responsibility under the court order because it has been deemed unconstitutional.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-Law
“The primary ask is that the consent order be enforced and in so far as the proposal, so called, that was laid does not confirm with section ninety is the position of claimants that the consent order was not complied with. So, the ask is that section ninety be complied with in a subsequent report proposal so that parliament is not hamstrung in carrying out its responsibilities to debate a new law that would then form a new schedule for the ROPA. The schedule to the ROPA basically lays out the number of divisions and the number of electors in those divisions so it stands as an illustration of the malapportionment that exists. Where that schedules are to be used for subsequent elections, where it is clear to the court that the malapportionment renders it undemocratic and the constitution states that we area democracy it is incumbent on the court in its inherent jurisdiction to make a determination. What the other side was arguing was that somehow looking after the interest of the voters to ensure that each vote has equal weight, and they have the protection of the law that the constitution guarantees is equated to an action involving how members are elected to parliament. No this is not about that. This is about equal representation and equal protection of the law and by virtue of what exist in the ROPA, that is not possible.”
The defense represented by Assistant Solicitor General, Samantha Matute, argued that the Elections and Boundaries Commission has fulfilled its obligations under the 2022 Redistricting Consent Order. Matute contended that the commission filed recommendations and proposals to the National Assembly within the time they agreed to in the consent order. Here is how Saldivar responded.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-At-Law
“There is one way of making sure. We understand they may feel that is the case so where the CPR says both parties must deal with cases justly, by virtue of the fact that elections and boundaries is a functionary of the executive, you look at the schedule and deal with the schedule and that will provide the impetus for parliament to do what it can do and if it cannot do anything with that then they need to go back. Parliamentarian who already made public their assessment of it, and as you have heard, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Espat, Briceno, they have all pronounced on it. Parliament seems to have no interest in moving it forward because they themselves already appreciate that it is not worthy of consideration so they are content to keep us in a holding pattern which will create a constitutional crisis going forward. So at this point the cat has to be belled and belling the cat in this case is within the purview and authority of the court.”
Saldivar stressed the urgency of the matter to the court. A determination will be made at a later date.
The United Democratic Party recently raised an issue regarding import permits and prices for carrots on the local market. It is similar to an issue that was brought to light a few years ago in the House of Representatives involving the rotting of vegetables on farms in the north, particularly in San Carlos Village. On Tuesday, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow commented on what he describes as a wastage of locally grown carrots.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The complaint by the farmers is that it‘s all politics and it‘s all corruption. So the minister gives all of these permits to import the produce that the farmers of Belize are selling, so nobody wants to consume their product when the people that bring it in they sell it for much cheaper because they may be in a position to do so. This government promised to be a socially conscious government, a government that is there for the working class, there for the laborers, there for the farmers, and that is not what is happening. Everything should be done to assist small farmers, especially, but all farmers, all Belizean farmers, to sell their produce before we get to any distribution of importation license for those that our farmers are selling. And so, here we are again, the carrots are rotting. When we had the issue and the opposition was raising it, there was a promise that the sales department for crops and cattle would come, representatives would come from the Marketing Board and try to find a solution as to how to help especially the small farmers.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has since responded to what it calls unfounded and false allegations. According to a release issued on Tuesday, no import permits for carrots have been issued since November 2023. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA, has also determined that contraband vegetables are not affecting the market at present because of an increase in surveillance efforts, as well as a heightened military presence on both sides of the border to control illegal activities. Earlier today, News Five spoke with William Can, an agriculture officer in Cayo District.
William Can
William Can, Agriculture Officer, Cayo District
“In terms of carrots production, we know that well, carrots production, a synopsis of the whole crop season, usually in the month of August, September all the way February is the planting of carrots, it‘s carrot season. And then the harvesting usually begins from November and goes all the way through to July of each year. First of all, I just want to clarify that at the moment we have not issued any import license from our last import that we issued in November 2023. Since then, we haven‘t issued out permits and we still continue to maintain that, that we are not importing or giving any importation permits because with the local produce that we have, we have enough to supply the main market‘s demand. In terms of what is happening, this year is a unique year in terms of for the past year and what‘s coming this year, it‘s not one of the most favorable for vegetables and the viability of it is, in terms of last year, typically, right now the main issue is that we have simultaneous harvesting in all four districts; Stann Creek, Cayo, Orange Walk, and Corozal. So that is kinda why there is the situation that some farmers tend to sell more than the next and the prices are lower.”
It’s been over a week since brush fires in San Pedro, Columbia have been burning. While many of them have been extinguished, other fires have started and are consuming large tracts of land, including farmlands, that the Maya community relies on as a means of survival. We’ve heard about the losses suffered by over seventy percent of the farmers in that one village. NEMO has been able to help, but classes were suspended. The fires spread across to other villages as well, a vast area of which lie in the Toledo West constituency. And while Area Representative Oscar Requena and the Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez had toured the area when the initial fires had burned out, since then there have been bigger fires burning. At this time, all that is known for sure is that the losses are tremendous, but how much exactly will be realized in the coming days when the final assessments are concluded. News Five’s Marion Ali reports bring you the details in this week’s edition of our Five Point Breakdown.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, had mobilized its district emergency office last week when it became evident that the farmers were going to lose their crops and that evacuations would be necessary. Since then, preliminary assessments have been conducted and some assistance has been given to the farmers and their families.
A Call for Help
The fires reignited overnight and by this morning, had reached a property at the edge of the Columbia River. Christopher Nesbitt told News Five that he was feverishly fighting a blaze that had put his house in direct jeopardy. Nesbitt turned to Facebook to seek manpower to fight the inferno.
Via phone: Christopher Nesbitt
Via phone: Christopher Nesbitt, Property Owner, San Pedro Columbia
“I’m freaking out because I’m watching everything burn and we have people in the bush. We’re getting them out of the bush to get back to the house. It snuck around behind us, so we didn’t have enough men to keep the line long enough to close the line between here and the river. So it came around behind us, so all our work is undone and we have to run back and retreat and try to save the farm. We have some people from San Miguel and some people from San Pedro Columbia right here helping, but this is a big fire and we need more help.”
Aerial Assistance is Now Necessary
Out west in the Mountain Pine Ridge, the fires in that area are being subdued by aerial firefighting efforts, with the assistance of a hired chopper from Astrum Helicopters. But down south, the fires have gotten so unmanageable in the denser areas that Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena says this is the level of firefighting that is now needed to fight the blazes that have destroyed huge portions of his constituency.
Via phone: Oscar Requena
Via phone: Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West
“There is urgent need for air support to alter fires, Marion. There is urgent need for air support. A lot of these fires are in long distance and it is inaccessible, so the only way to support our farmers is for air support.”
Classes Resume, but Visibility Still Poor
And while the fires have drifted further into San Pedro, Columbia, today classes resume after a two-day suspension caused by the poor visibility and air quality. Chairman Basilicas Choco has been fighting the fires since last week and into last night. Choco, also a teacher, returned to the classroom today.
Via phone: Basilicas Choco
Via phone: Basilicas Choco, Chairman, San Pedro Columbia Village, Toledo
“They opened it today. I was a bit not happy about it because of the fact that we’re still out like myself. I was out last night till one o’clock this morning and then have to return back to school this morning. The smoke is still in the air. You can still scent it. It’s not that bad right now, but it’s you can still smell that air and it’s foggy.”
NEMO Assistance Will be An Ongoing Operation
NEMO dispatched a team of BDF soldiers and TIDE has joined the effort to help. NEMO Coordinator, Daniel Mendez said the work will continue as they assess new damages.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, Coordinator, NEMO
“These fires have been affecting a huge part of the Toledo District, so those assessments are being done right now. We have teams on the ground trying to get a better idea of what happened. So we’re preparing an initial situation overview to really understand the scope and the magnitude of last week’s event. We also understand as well that there still remain pockets of fire around the district. We continue to track those and we continue to send out support to the villages that are being affected.”
How Much Was Actually Lost in the Wildfires?
The question remains: how much was lost in the wildfires in the Toledo District? Minister Requena shared a projection.
Via phone: Oscar Requena
“Our government is working diligently to establish a first-time knowledge and understanding of what the situation like is, what the situation is like on the ground, and how the government is going to address it for the long term.”
Marion Ali
“All right, but we can simply say millions and millions of dollars was lost?”
Via phone: Oscar Requena
“Absolutely, I can say with confidence that we have lost millions of dollars.”
The exact figures of the losses will become clearer when all the assessments are concluded on the affected farms – farms that are even burning now as we bring this story to you tonight.
This week is International Emergency Medical Services Week, a time meant to bring together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medicine frontline. As part of the week’s festivities, emergency service providers from across the country gathered in Belmopan to introduce the practice to children in hopes of instilling an appreciation for the efforts made by the emergency service providers and potentially encourage students to pursue a career in the field. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended today’s event to learn more about the practice. Here’s that story. Gordon attended today’s event to learn more about the practice. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Across Belize, there are over one hundred fifty emergency medical technicians and while that may sound like a lot, there is still a need for more. EMT’s are responsible for providing lifesaving care at the scene of an incident and ensuring the safety of those patients while they are on their way to a hospital. To celebrate the efforts made every day to saving lives, this week is internationally recognized as Emergency Medical Service Week. Javier Canul, who has been an EMT since the practice was introduced in Belize twenty-five years ago, spoke with us about the significance of the celebration.
Javier Canul
Javier Canul, Lead instructor, ABC Life Support
“Basically EMS started in 1988 in Belize where the Wagner Foundation came in and they did a brief assessment of what s happening in Belize and then they started training people. They sent Doctor Arana to the states to become the first paramedic and they started doing training all over the country.”
As part of the week’s festivities, several emergency service providers gathered in Belmopan to host an EMS Children’s Day, where the teams were able to educate children visiting from several schools about different practices, such as CPR and first aid. Lavinia Davis, coordinator of the event, explained why they thought it was necessary to welcome children into the activities.
Lavinia Davis
Lavinia Davis, Coordinator
“For EMT Week we have a day that we take out to do a lot of different things. And today specifically is International Children’s Day. And here we want to teach the children how to take care of themselves, take care of their family, their colleagues and also show them that we care and assist them should anything ever happen.”
Of the two hundred children who attended the event, a few were willing to share what they learned. Nelson Cha, a standard three student from Our Lady of Fatima RC School in Roaring Creek, said that he enjoyed the simulated accident where a patient was placed into an ambulance.
Nelson Cha
Nelson Cha, Std 3 student, Our Lady of Fatima RC School
“I learned how to rescue people and how to help people.”
Britney Gordon
“Did you get to see the ambulance? Did you like seeing the presentations.”
Nelson Cha
“Yes, I really loved it.”
Cha’s classmate, Haniel Baptist, also wanted to share his experience. He said that it was particularly exciting for him as he already has an interest in entering the medical field.
Haniel Baptist
Haniel Baptist, Std 3 student, Our Lady of Fatima RC School
“I learned about how they do the rescuing and over there, I heard their speech.”
Britney Gordon
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Haniel Baptist
“A doctor like my father.”
Canul further stressed the importance of sharing this knowledge with children, as EMT’S are scarcely represented at career days. He hopes that by exposing youths to the practice, it will help to curve the shortage of EMTs Belize is experiencing.
Javier Canul
“Basically whenever there is a career day in school, they never invited EMT’s. And yes there is a shortage. Wherever career day you see everybody else, but you never see EMTs. And this is important because the job that we do is prehospital care. Without prehospital care that patient can never survive and get to the hospital alive. So it is important that we do career day in schools and yes there is a shortage.”
There will always be a need for emergency medical services in Belize. Annette Groutsche, an EMT of five years, said that she just wants to spread the importance of her work to others.
Annette Groutsche, EMT
“The importance of EMS is that we have people at any given moment to save. This is what we were trained for, to be there when someone is needed, when help is needed.”
The question of whether injured individuals in police custody should be taken to the hospital by officers for immediate medical attention remains a topic of much discussion. Earlier this year, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams explained that it is not the responsibility of the police and explained that by doing so, the police may put individuals at risk of further injury. Today, we spoke with emergency medical technician, Javier Canul, who has been working in the field for over twenty-five years, about this issue. He explained that not only should officers refrain from transporting people to the hospital, but they should be trained in providing first responder care to stabilize patients until an E.M.T. arrives at the scene.
Javier Canul
Javier Canul, Lead instructor, ABC Life Support
“The question is being asked, should police officers should take the injured. The answer to that is no. What the police officers should do is be properly trained to maintain and stabilize that patient until the ambulance come or until help comes along. So their is job is to secure the area, make sure it is safe, one. And then two, get down there, and if the patient is not breathing, open the air way. If the patient is bleeding, stop the bleeding. If the patient needs cpr, they should start it. The job of the police is to stabilize the patient until the ambulance gets there. The job of the police is not to jump and throw anybody at the back of any vehicle and run with them. That’s the role of the police department.”
Reporter
“Does that hurt them more if they do that?”
Javier Canul
“Definitely if they put them in a vehicle and run and throw them around. Definitely so.”
The Belize Police Department is undergoing training on how to communicate with the media. Because of their rank, senior police officers are often tasked with sharing vital information with the media and thus, it is necessary that they receive training on how to convey information in an accurate and comprehensible manner. Today, at the National Police Training Academy in Belmopan, day one of a two-day training commenced. We stopped by for more information.
Azenette Pook
Azenette Pook, Director of Training, Belize Police Department
“Today we are having a two-day training. A two-day training is starting for senior officers of the Belize Police Department. The training is geared at strengthening the communication and public relations skills of the Senior police officers in the Belize Police Department. As the senior officers come in contact with the media because of the positions that they hold. Some of the things that they will be learning during the two-day training is, what is communication? The challenges to communication, why communicate? Building communication and listening skills. Appreciating the interpersonal nature of communication and the multiplier effect in mass communication. That is for the first day. On the second day, they are going to be taught how to successfully engage the media, what the media expects, working the key media tools, understanding journalists., framing a press release and police situation report. And using key messages to handle tough or difficult media interviews. These are some of the areas that they will be trained on during the two days training that is happening.” As I mentioned before, the officers are, because of their posts, they are in contact with the media. And so that they have an understanding of what the media expects of them whenever they are being interviewed by the media or whenever they come in contact with the media. They will be able to understand more what it is, what are the expectations of the media to dialogue better with the media whenever they are in contact with them. These are some of the reasons why this training is being held. And also communication with fellow police officers. We expect that the skills will be enhanced for these purposes.”
