This afternoon, Caliz informed reporters that the union is adhering to due process. They’ve started by sending a letter to the Ministry of Education, notifying them about the upcoming demonstration.
Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
“When we are getting ready for any form of industrial action we have to follow due process. There is a black and white that goes to the Ministry of Education outlining what the teachers are asking for. If that is not adhered to or followed any at all then you go into what we call… right now they have voted for a demonstration in January. There is no date set for that because we have to allow the dialogue and the other portion to take place. So the black and white leaves our office today for the Ministry of Education.”
Reporter
“Dialogue, what does that mean?”
Nadia Caliz
“The dialogue simply means us stating our demands and you will address them. If it is not addressed then we will take it up a notch, and so we have been given the permission to take it up one notch which is a demonstration.”
Reporter
“The due notice that you are giving the ministry and the management. And so, in terms of the numbers, though. Participation…because those numbers are high. It was like one thousand, nine hundred, plus total… You had an overwhelming mandate.”
Nadia Caliz
“Which is more than fifty percent plus one of the membership, yes.”
While the B.N.T.U members decided to demonstrate, Prime Minister John Briceño expressed his disappointment today. He told reporters that the government has been working with the B.N.T.U, especially regarding denominational high school teachers who haven’t received their retirement benefits. The government had to step in to get school managements to agree on a benefits package for their teachers. The PM mentioned that Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, explained that the delays are partly due to sloppy information provided by the school managements. Briceño assured that teachers who have earned their benefits will receive them in due course. He also pointed out that an outdated payment system inherited by the Ministry of Education is further slowing down the process. The government is trying to upgrade the system, but if the B.N.T.U still wants to proceed with their demonstration, he hopes they do it during the Christmas holidays to avoid disrupting classes.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Minister Fonseca explained this issue about some teachers that are being paid their increments, and so forth, and allowances. A lot of it is that the managements have been taking long in sending the right information to the Ministry of Education. The Minister pointed out also that this is a problem that we inherited, and what’s important for Belizeans to understand is that – and even for teachers to understand – that we have been clearing up a backlog as far as 2018, before our government, and now we’re up to 2023 coming into 2024. So while I do understand and I respect the teachers’ frustration and saying they need to be paid and we want to pay them – I wish there would be at least some members within the leadership – I think we should be more open and be able to explain more to the teachers what is being done. We want to pay the teachers and we will pay them.”
Marion Ali
“So in terms of a timeline, I guess that’s the biggest frustration, you know. They keep hearing the same thing – the system is outdated, it needs to be updated. But how long would you say because I know the ministries are being digitized as well.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, I don’t see why we’ve – sometime next year we should be able to catch up because we’re coming to the end of 2024. I think we’ve already finished 2023, so we’re coming into 2024. But it also requires the cooperation of the management that they could send the right information and complete information for us to be able to work on it. It is not an issue that we don’t want to do it. We’re working towards it and we’re going to get it done. And I’m appealing to the teachers to – if they want to protest, maybe they should protest during the holidays so that our students do not lose a day in school because, especially since many of our students lost many days and we still need to play catch up.”
Marion Ali
“So it’s not a matter of the ministry or the government denying some teachers?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No, it’s not. As long as they can prove that these teachers deserved the payment, we’re going to pay.”
Shyne Barrow, the Mesopotamia Area Representative, along with four other U.D.P. executives, has taken legal action in the High Court. They’re seeking an order against Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton for contempt of court. This follows Justice Hondora’s November eighth ruling, which restored the status quo before the Alliance for Democracy took over the U.D.P. headquarters. The main issue is that Taegar-Panton has allegedly ignored the ongoing court case. There are six instances where she has referred to herself as either the party leader or interim party leader of the U.D.P., despite the pending legal matters. Because of this, the claimants are pushing for Taegar-Panton to face three months in jail for violating Justice Hondora’s judgment. Earlier today, both sides met virtually before the High Court. Shyne Barrow and the claimants are represented by Doctor Christopher Malcolm, while Tracy Taegar-Panton has King’s Counsel Simon Knox on her side. After the session, attorney Sheena Pitts spoke to the media, providing a summary of the applications filed by both parties.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party
“On the twenty-sixth of November, counsel for honorable Panton filed applications for various court orders and the most important of those applications is that there be a speedy trial. Other orders sought were to add the honorable Faber, Ms. Beverly Williams, and John Saldivar to the claim and to permit the honorable Panton to act as a representative of the organization and because of that application, for various court orders, the court gave today’s date for the hearing. And so, to characterize it as only a CMC, I mean that’s the end result, but initially it was instigated by the application from honorable Panton’s attorney. In addition to that application, a further application was filed, by the attorney for honorable Panton for an interim injunction and that interim injunction sought several reliefs which include, one of which would be to stop the honorable Barrow from firing anybody at the UDP secretariat and to stop the appointment of standard bearers. This morning, what his attorney filed was an application. I take it that yesterday it was filed, but it wasn’t served until this morning, filed an application for contempt. Now that application, not having been served nor heard, it was only discussed and application for interim relief, not having been served, also wasn’t heard or discussed.”
Pitts, who was appointed interim chairman of the United Democratic Party by Taegar-Panton, discussed the application made on behalf of the Albert Area Representative for a fast-tracked hearing. She also touched on Taegar-Panton’s legal representation.
Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party
“Now on the application for a speedy trial that honorable Panton’s attorney filed, that was granted. So the court appreciated that the matter must be heard on an urgent basis and the court made those orders today. The court also reduced to the order exactly that the parties are to discuss timelines going forward, in terms of when things are filed and exchanged, what they agree upon or disagree upon and where there are disagreements or no agreements in place between the parties on what happens in the future, the court indicated that it will make its own order and if it just happens to be to the inconvenience of either party then so be it. So that is essentially what happened this morning. Honorable Panton always had legal counsel, however, on the first instance, of course you know sometimes dates are inconvenient to parties and counsel was not able o appear on that date. But now we are where we are, she has counsel and yes, counsel is Mr. Simon Christopher Peter Knox, K.C., and I can tell you that I’ve learned that Mr. Barrow is uncertain and has caused himself to be bothered by trying to ascertain whether he is really called in this jurisdiction. I can assure that he is. So yes, honorable Panton has counsel.”
Circling back to the contempt of court application filed by Shyne Barrow and his U.D.P. executives, Pitts couldn’t go into much detail. However, she did mention to reporters this afternoon that the claimants might have jumped the gun by filing the claim too early.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party
“I cannot speak on the application for contempt because it was, as I understand it, just served this morning. But what I appreciate is that Knox K.C. made some observations about perhaps what, my words, may very well be prematurity in those applications. But, like I said, the thing is, when a matter is sub judicae, you must be guided and cautious that it is before the court and not attempt to speak on anything other than what orders were made, just remain sober and report factually the things that transpired.”
Reporter
“Is Tracy Panton any closer to regaining control of the headquarters or claiming the full undisputed leadership of the UDP today than she was three weeks ago?”’
Sheena Pitts
“What I can tell you is that from the decision of the judge, the judge appreciated that this is a matter that requires urgency and what counsel for honorable Panton did is make an application to invite the court to ensure timelines that would make real the urgency of the situation.”
A tragic accident claimed the life of thirteen-year-old Micah Contreras, a resident of Unitedville. On Thursday evening, Micah was just a short distance from his home on the George Price Highway when a vehicle attempting to overtake collided head-on with his motorbike. The impact flung Micah into a nearby drain, leaving his bike in pieces and his helmet shattered. He suffered severe head injuries. The crash happened so close to home that Micah’s father heard it and rushed out to help, only to discover that his own son was the victim. In the chaos of leaving the yard, one of his father’s employees was also injured. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled west today to bring us this heartbreaking story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Thursday evening, tragedy struck a Unitedville family once again, just three months after losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident. Thirteen-year-old Micah Contreras was riding his motorcycle on the George Price Highway, not far from home, when a vehicle collided head-on with him. Sadly, Micah met the same fate as his cousin Tamisha Jael did in early September. Micah’s father, Michael Contreras, told News 5 that he had just arrived home from work when he heard the loud crash.
Michael Contreras
Michael Contreras, Father of Deceased
“I mean a loud bang and my cousin who helps me run the company run and say Mike weh part your son deh. I believe Malaki deh pan the soccer field and Micah the inside. I don’t know that Micah left the yard on the motorcycle. He is underage so we don’t allow him to go on the road with the motorcycle. He rides it in the yard.”
Michael Contreras and his children shared a love for motorbikes. Micah learned to ride at the age of five on a small bike. As he grew older, the bike he rode got bigger. But, his parents restricted him from riding it on the highway because of his age. They instead used their one acre and a half property to ride.
Michael Contreras
“I jump in my truck and drive down deh and when I reach down there I see that dah my son in the drain. He got hit by an incoming vehicle in his lane. He got hit so hard that the helmet he had on fly off of his head. The strap buss, bruk up and ih look like the vehicle drag him all the way in the drain. So, a father’s first instinct is to jump in the drain, check my son and at first, I was scared to pick him up, he was broken up really bad. So, based on first aid training I hold his head a certain way, picked him up and put him over my shoulder, it was like I was holding my baby again.”
Michael hurriedly took his son to the Western Regional Hospital. Unfortunately, Micah passed away just fifteen minutes after arriving. In the frantic rush to leave his yard in his red pickup truck, one of Michael’s employees fell from the back and suffered a head injury. Thankfully, that employee has since been treated and released from the hospital.
Michael Contreras
“The thing is I had just come from work, so I don’t have the slightest idea where he had been, where he was coming from. The neighbors are saying that he visited one of his friend that lives just across the soccer field. They normally would play soccer together. That is where he went to pick up his friend and bring him to the soccer field so they could have soccer game.”
Paul Lopez
“For him, this was a case of thief chance. Have he ever thief chance like this before?”
Michael Contreras
“He did it once, and I got on him about it and he never do it again. I guess he felt the urge to do it yesterday, dad is not home, so I will thief the chance and this tragic accident happened.”
Paul Lopez
“Was the bike in fact broken in half?”
Michael Contreras
“It was not only broken in half, but it was also broken in pieces. When I went the handlebar at that side, piece of the bike that way, the front wheel from the vehicle broken off. My son’s helmet, original DOT, piece flew off his head. This morning, we were picking up some of the pieces. It is just sad to know, bikers are not respected.”
Micah had a passion for motorbikes and football, but he also loved being at school. Today, students from Sacred Heart College and several other schools gathered in front of his classroom for a heartfelt candlelight vigil. The school even postponed its sports day to honor his memory. We spoke with Ufemia Usher, the Vice Principal of Student Affairs, about this touching tribute.
Ufemia Usher
Ufemia Usher, V.P., Sacred Heart College
“The decision to hold a candlelight and a prayer service came from the students. Last night my email was flooded with messages coming from students all across from first to fourth form, cancelling sports day, having a mass, asking for prayer service. They wanted a moment of silence. They wanted to have something in honor of Micah.”
Candles and pictures of Micah were also placed on his desk inside the classroom.
Ufemia Usher
“I was very touched by the number of students who showed up this morning. Normally when activities are cancelled you wouldn’t see anyone here, but students were gathered form eight oclock this morning. They were waiting for us to have this prayer service, so it was very touching for me to see how much love the students have for each other.”
Micah Contreras
“Micah is very outgoing, very energetic. Micah loves to try new things. He is not scared of trying new things. Very caring and helping. He is the type of person if he sees somebody needs help, he will help. Sometimes he come home really happy. He is on the bus and say dad I just help this person, I feel so good about it and want to do it again.”
A gunman targeted the home of Police Corporal Yelena Monterozza in Saint Matthews Village early Friday morning. Around three a.m., Monterozza was jolted awake by the sound of gunshots. She looked out her window but saw no one. Roaring Creek police officers quickly arrived at the scene. They found the front window of her home riddled with bullet holes. Further inspection revealed that a Ford F-150 and a Toyota Tacoma parked nearby had also been hit. When we arrived this morning, investigators were still on the property, trying to determine the motive behind the shooting. Police collected 29 spent shells from the yard, believed to be from a .223 rifle and a .45 pistol.
A couple accused of being involved in a stabbing incident that left a young man injured was arraigned today and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. The couple, twenty-three-year-old Belize Defense Force Officer Stacy Letticia Antonio and twenty-six-year-old William Alexander Flowers, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate. They faced four charges: attempted murder, dangerous harm, use of deadly means of harm against Evan Pook Junior, and theft for allegedly stealing Pook’s Samsung A4 cellphone. No plea was taken from the duo, and due to the serious nature of the attempted murder charge, bail was denied. They were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until January seventh, 2025. The incident occurred on Tuesday night. The twenty-year-old victim told police that around 9:30 PM, he was walking through a feeder road when he was attacked and stabbed multiple times. Police investigations led to the arrest of both accused. The motive for this latest stabbing incident is still unknown.
Today, businessman Joshua Ashburn and his common-law wife, Xochil Lopez, were granted High Court bail of fifteen thousand dollars each. However, Ashburn’s legal troubles have deepened after he was allegedly found with several Chinese passports containing false Belizean visas. In late November, law enforcement raided Double Zero on Western Avenue, discovering a large stash of cannabis, a firearm, ammunition, and various immigration documents. Ashburn, the business owner, was charged with drug trafficking and firearm possession. On Thursday, he faced an additional ten charges: five counts of possessing false documents and five counts of preparation for a crime. Lopez was also charged in connection with the November raid, and both were remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Today, their bail applications were heard virtually before Justice Rafael Morgan in Orange Walk. With no objection from the Crown, Ashburn was granted bail of fifteen thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount or three sureties of five thousand dollars each.
Lopez’s application was heard separately, and she was granted bail under the same conditions. Both must report to the Racoon Street Police Station twice a week. Regarding the new charges, it’s alleged that Ashburn had a People’s Republic of China passport belonging to Xingrun Chen, with a false Belize visa. He allegedly had four more passports belonging to Wei Guo, Zhen Liu, Peng Yu, and Xingda Xhen, all with false Belize visas. Additionally, Ashburn is accused of possessing a stamp marked “Visitors Permit to Belize, Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport” and using it to forge official documents. He also allegedly had other stamps, including an Immigration & Nationality stamp with the Belize Coat of Arms and another marked “Permitted to remain in Belize as a Permanent Resident.” The police prosecutor informed the court that they are awaiting further directives from the DPP’s office. No plea was taken. The Senior Magistrate granted Ashburn bail for these additional charges at five thousand dollars plus one surety of the same amount. In total, five people, including Ashburn, now face charges related to prohibited firearms, ammunition, and drugs. They are due back in court on January 20th.
Joshua Ashburn, the Belize City businessman caught with passports, immigration documents, and stamps, is now facing a slew of immigration charges. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed reporters, stating that, based on the evidence so far, there’s nothing to suggest any immigration officials were involved. It seems Ashburn acquired the fraudulent stamps on his own, and now he’ll have to face the consequences.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“They created their own stamps, so it’s a fraudulent stamp. It’s not from the Ministry, as I pointed out from early and early on is that when this first came to my attention, my first thing was to tell the Commissioner of Police, do your full investigation and go after whosoever is responsible and not going to protect them. Well, yesterday, Commissioner Williams called me to say we finished the investigation, we’ve charged this gentlemen, and they could find no evidence to show that there was collusion within the Ministry of Immigration. But should we find data that there was collusion, we’re going to go after those, people within the Immigration Department, if that were to come out.”
Marion Ali
“My thinking is, how would he have been able to come into possession of passports, visas, immigration stamps, etc.?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, from what I’ve been told, you see a stamp, you could go somewhere and I could do a stamp for you anywhere – Belize, Chetumal, United States. So he went and, based on the stamp on a passport or wherever he got it, he just copied it. So that’s that one. But secondly, the Commissioner has been trying to find the owners of the passports. The passports are not fraudulent passports. They’re legal and one of the persons whose passport was there and they interviewed, the person’s stories that this gentleman told them, we can get your visa for you. So they gave him the passport, hoping that they can get the visa. At least that’s the story that they’re saying. So we have to go by that until we can have more evidence. But as I said, up to now, there’s no evidence to point that officials from the Ministry of Immigration was anyway involved in this matter.”
