2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Eugene Gabourel is Shot Near CET Site

There was a shooting in the Gungulung area of Belize City over the weekend. The victim has been identified as forty-seven-year-old Eugene Gabourel, who is no stranger to the law. He was in the vicinity of CET Site along with several other persons when they came under gunfire. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero provided additional details.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“There was a shooting near CET Site. Police visited [the area] where Eugene Gabourel was seen with one gunshot injury. He was taken to the KHMH where he is now in a stable condition. Information is that he was there along with several other persons working on a vehicle when a male person came by and fired several shots towards the direction. He received a gunshot injury and we are looking for one suspect in regards to this shooting.”

Reporter

“Was he the target?”

Hilberto Romero

“He was along with several other persons, so we are not certain who was the target. There were several persons at the are at the area at the time. No motive at this time.”

Compol: Canela Murder Was Not Drug Related

Late last week, a father of two was killed in Patchakan Village, at a park near his home. Twenty-eight-year-old Benito Canela and his partner Indy Cruz were socializing with a group of family and friends when a gunman opened fire on him. Amidst an increase in violence near the northern border, speculations arose as to whether this murder was a drug-related incident. Today, these speculations were dispelled by Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, who says that the murder was the result of a personal issue.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Another point I’d like to clarify is the issue with the murder in Patchakan. Again, the leader of the opposition alluded that it is as a result of the narcos and a whole pile of foolishness. I can say to the Belizean people that the young man murder has nothing to do with the narcos or the whole issue that we’re addressing in the north. It has to do with him, and local people from the We have a suspect in mind that we’re looking for at this time. And we’re hoping that we’ll be able to locate that, individual and bring some closure. I also visited that area over the weekend. I spoke to the family of the deceased person and gave them assurance in terms of what we will do.”

Law Enforcement Authorities Boost Presence Up North

Last week, the cartel warfare reached new levels in Quintana Roo, Mexico and it created a sense of insecurity for some Belizeans who travel there frequently. To discourage the increase in cartel activity along the northern border, Belizean law enforcement authorities have also enhanced their presence on the Belizean side of that border. Today, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams explained that the operations span the northern districts, particularly along the riverbank. And in response to a suggestion by the Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow, Williams explained why civil society cannot be included in the process.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have certainly stepped up our presence in the area. I did a tour of the area over the weekend. I made several observations and I will be putting my observations into a document and submit to Cabinet with recommendations in terms of what additional. Efforts I think that we can put into the area to enhance the level of security for our people so there is where we are right now. This is a very highly sensitive operation that we’re conducting and because of the nature of the operations, we cannot include NGOs or persons who are not a part of the security apparatus in the planning for several reasons. One may also has to do with the security of those people. Because once people get to understand who are parties to a plan against them, then they become a target. And so we would not do that. And likewise, to be able to ensure confidentiality in terms of how the operations is going to be executed. Again, there has to be confidentiality because the security of our troops on the ground is important. This is a very highly sensitive operation that we’re conducting and because of the nature of the operations, we cannot include NGOs or persons who are not a part of the security apparatus in the planning for several reasons. One may also has to do with the security of those people. Because once people get to understand who are parties to a plan against them, then they become a target. And so we would not do that. And likewise, to be able to ensure confidentiality in terms of how the operations is going to be executed. Again, there has to be confidentiality because the security of our troops on the ground is important.”

ComPol Says Government Supports Police Effort in the North

Williams said that contrary to Barrow’s comment that the government has done little to address the issue in the north, the Prime Minister and the relevant ministries have been receptive and have supported the police in the effort and that they have always done so.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We remain in constant communication with our Mexican counterparts. And again, I must say, I must commend our Prime Minister and the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Defense for the input that they have been putting into this operation and the support. I can say that whenever we approach the Prime Minister for equipment or resources to be able to carry out our mandate, the Prime Minister is always willing to assist. Likewise, Minister Marin and Minister Musa have been with us in on the frontline. We met, we discussed the issues and we planned in terms of how we’re going to execute and we’re doing just that.”

Stake Bank Sues Mike Feinstein for Recovery of Company Assets

Stake Bank Enterprises Limited, presently in receivership, is suing businessman Michael Feinstein, a director of the company. A notice of application for interim injunction was filed in the High Court on May first. The injunction is being sought to restrain Feinstein, or his agents, from transferring titles to a little over twenty-three acres of reclaimed land, an extension of Stake Bank Island. The application also seeks to restrain Feinstein from transferring other assets, including machinery and equipment belonging to the company. Those assets include a 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser, a Beech King aircraft valued at one point five million dollars, and a list of other items with a combined value of three point eight million dollars.

“Boots” Martinez to Challenge Petition Signatures Rejection in Court

Former Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony “Boots” Martinez says we will be challenging his rejected Gilroy Usher recall petition in court. We have been following the story for weeks now. After Martinez gathered and submitted signatures on a petition to recall the current area representatives, the Elections and Boundaries Department determined that his petition did not meet the required number of approved signatures needed. Martinez, through his attorney, Richard Dickie Bradley, wrote back to the Chief Elections Officer challenging one hundred and seventy-five rejected signatures. He challenged Josephine Tamai to take further steps to verify those signatures, as they would be enough to trigger a recall process. Well, Tamai has since written back to Martinez’s attorney, saying that she is not empowered by law to redo the exercise. Tamai further noted that she is not required by law to undergo any additional exercise, such as using a justice of the peace to verify the signature. Martinez says he takes offense to the Chief Elections Officer’s response.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Port Loyola Area Rep.

“First offense I take to that, as you all have a copy of the letter, nothing was asked to redo any exercise. What was asked was to do your job as to verify the signature as the law stipulates. WE never mih the ask elections and boundaries to redo no exercise, we the say do your job and verify the petition. I don’t know if the chief elections officer is suffering from foot in mouth syndrome based on her letter to the governor general and based on her letter here, her response here. How letter to the governor general said, all signatures on the petition have been duly verified against the elections and boundaries department record of registered electors for Port Loyola electoral division. No way in the law talks about where you should verify from. The law talks about you must verify. The short title to the. Nobody the ask you for no help Ms. Tamai. We the ask you to do your job. The law says you must verify the signature, verify got a meaning. Then you the talk about noting in the law say, you say further more I am advised the act does not require the Chief Elections and Boundaries officer to undergo any exercise by using a Justice of Peace to verify the signature.”

“Boots” Martinez Funding Petion Court Case Out of Pocket

The former Port Loyola area representative says he is preparing to file a legal claim before the High Court by Thursday. Martinez is challenging the Chief Elections Officer’s decision to take no further steps in verifying the signatures that have been rejected. He says that he is being represented by attorneys Richard “Dickie” Bradley and Dean Barrow. But, with the general elections set for 2025, will this be a case that drags out until it is no longer relevant? Martinez says he thinks the court is reasonable enough to know that the matter must be heard within a certain time frame.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep., Port Loyola

“I think that is the motion they want to go through, but I think the court is reasonable to know that there is a timeframe and reasonable to know that there has to be remedy in terms of time, this is an urgent situation. I nuh the tek the court lightly, but most of the time why these things happen, for the sake of it poor people don’t have the representative, the wherewithal to fight and go to the end, because these things cost.”

Paul Lopez

“Are you the one, is it you that is funding this undertaking or is it the party?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez

“Me and the people of Port Loyola, nuh no party. I think members of the party have of the party have some fundamental differences with it, for their view but that is not the view of the people of Port Loyola.”

Paul Lopez

“Clearly you have two top attorneys on your side, and it will cost you a lot. Where will you get the funds from?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez

“First and foremost, I need to remind people, I am a pensioner, handsomely paid four time representative to start with and all of that happened due to the will of the people of Port Loyola. My pension is higher than that of an elected representative you know. Plus, I am sixty years old and getting social security pension to. And part of getting social security pension is because the people of Port Loyola keep me in a job so long so that I qualify so that I can invest on them.”

Travis Herbert Arraigned for Bobo Youth’s Murder

Twenty-two-year-old Travis Herbert, a construction worker of Iguana Street Extension, has been arrested and charged for the murder of Elwin Lewis, also known as Bobo Youth. This afternoon, Herbert appeared unrepresented before the lower courts where he was read a single charge. No plea was taken from him and due to the nature of the offense, Herbert was denied bail and remanded to custody until July fifth, 2024. It is alleged that Herbert shot and killed Lewis as he was riding a motorcycle on Antelope Street Extension, here in Belize City.

Randy Hyde says His Sons Were Abducted by Their Mother

A father of two is desperately trying to locate his children after they were illegally flown out of the country by their mother on May second. Missing persons reports were issued last Thursday for brothers Asher and Randy Hyde when the Belize Police Department was informed that the siblings had not been returned to their parent who has sole custody of them. According to Randy Hyde Senior, the boys were with their mother, Lesly Reyes, who was visiting from the United States for a few days. Hyde and his ex-wife have been locked in a custody battle over their children.

Randy Hyde Sr., Concerned Parent

“My ex-wife contacted me about three weeks ago, requesting that she had access to the kids for the time that she would be here in Belize. That date was from April twenty-second to Thursday, the second of May. Normally when she comes in the country, I normally accommodate her in regards to spending time and having time with the kids. So when she came on the twenty-second, I turned over the kids to her. I gave her their clothes, along with the kids’ school bags and their devices. Fast-forward to the second of May when she was supposed to bring back the children. I received a text about ten or eleven o’clock from her stating that the kids are not feeling well and that she would take them to the hospital. That raised some red flags for me because my children don’t normally get sick, and she also mentioned that she was going to extend her stay up to Sunday which was yesterday. I told her I had no problem with that, but Thursday was my oldest son’s birthday so I explained to her, “you can have them, but I need to come and pick them up to take them out to get something to eat because it’s RJ’s birthday. I got no response from that text. I called several times, got no response. I figured something was wrong, so what I did, I went to the Immigration Office and I asked him to please give me information in regards to if anybody had come to take out any passports for my children. I found out that passports were taken out for them from June 2022 which is extremely strange because I have the kids’ old passport and I was questioning how that was possible. How could somebody take out passports for the children if they did not turn in the old passports. I was told that they did not know what happened.”

Investigation into Children’s Disappearance is Ongoing

According to Hyde, a report has been filed with Interpol, as well as the Domestic Violence Unit. He also says that Reyes, on a previous occasion, had attempted to abduct the children by crossing the northern border into Mexico.

Randy Hyde Sr., Concerned Parent

“I was given the information that my two children, along with my ex-wife had boarded the plane at eleven o’clock and flown out of the country. It is very concerning because I am trying to figure out, first of all, in regards to the immigration and passports, how did they get a visa and how did they pass through the immigration. Following that evening, the DVU and the Interpol called me and they revealed to me that my ex-wife had produced a false document from the family court stating that she has full custody of the children and I have my documentation here, stating that I have had full custody of both kids from June or July of 2018. So it is very concerning how this can happen. The police have informed me via Interpol that they are preparing their file and when that file is prepared they will send it across to the U.S. to their counterparts for them to put out the Amber Alert and put the police on notice.”