Faculty, staff, and students gathered this morning at Sacred Heart College (S.H.C.) in Cayo to mourn the passing of 13-year-old Micah Contreras.
The second-form student of S.H.C. lost his life in a road traffic accident on the George Price Highway near Unitedville, Cayo. The collision occurred when a pickup truck attempting to overtake struck the motorcycle he was riding, breaking it in two. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Eufemia Usher, Vice Principal of Student Affairs at Sacred Heart College, described Micah as a joyful and well-liked student who formed connections with peers across various year groups. “Micah was a happy young man, likeable not only by his classmates but by the entire student body. He was well-known for his interactions with students of all different years,” Usher said.
She said his passing has left the school community in mourning.
The vigil was held in Contreras’s memory because the students asked for it. “Last night, my email was flooded with messages coming from students coming all across first to fourth form, cancelling sports and asking for a prayer service of silence. They wanted it in memory of Micah,” she explained.
The outpouring of love and solidarity was evident, with students gathering as early as 8:00 a.m. for the service. “It was very touching for me to see how much love the students have for each other.”
The school has provided counsellors and members of the campus ministry to support grieving students.
The house of Police Corporal Yelena Monterroza in St. Matthew’s Village, Cayo District, was targeted by shooters in the wee hours of this morning.
According to reports, gunshots were heard at around 3:00 a.m., and bullet holes were later found on the building.
The 33-year-old officer informed police that she heard seven gunshots. When she checked her surroundings, no one was visible.
Her grey Ford F-150 sustained five bullet holes, with its back glass shattered. Another vehicle on the property, a brown Toyota Tacoma, was also damaged, with bullet holes on both sides, a punctured back tire, and seven bullet impacts on its body.
A total of 29 expended shells were recovered from the scene, including 16 Aguila REM 223, three RP REM 223, and 10 Aguila .45 Auto shells.
Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow along with Michael Peyrefitte, Alberto August, Shary Medina and Hugo Patt, has filed an application for contempt orders against Tracy Panton.
They have requested the Supreme Court to take decisive action for her alleged failure to comply with a judgment and an order issued by Justice Hondora on November 8, 2024.
The claimants are asking the court to commit Panton to three months in prison for the alleged breaches. Alternatively, they are requesting that she be ordered to pay $500 into the Consolidated Revenue Fund within seven days. If the payment is not made, the claimants are seeking that the three-month prison term be imposed.
The application also includes a request for the costs of the proceedings to be awarded to the claimants and for any other relief the court deems appropriate.
13-year-old Micah Contreras died in a road traffic accident last night. The incident happened on the George Price Highway near Unitedville, Cayo, claimed the life of 13-year-old Micah Contreras and left another man hospitalised.
Witnesses say that the young boy was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a pickup truck attempting to overtake.
The collision shattered the motorcycle into two. The teenager was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Sacred Heart College postponed sports day and cancelled classes today “due to the passing of one of our students, Micah Contreras from 2nd form.” The school added, “Our hearts go out to his immediate family and the entire SHC family during his difficult time.”
Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton says that she has garnered the support of majority members of the UDP Mesopotamia executive. Opposition Leader Moses ‘Shyne Barrow’ is the area representative of the Mesopotamia division. Panton said in a statement, “At a meeting held on Monday, December 2, 2024, between Hon. Tracy Panton and the UDP Mesopotamia Executive, a majority (9 of 15 delegates and 2 of 5 alternate delegates) of that executive agreed to endorse Hon. Panton as Party Leader and have signed a letter to confirm their position.”
Panton refrained from releasing a letter from party delegates, citing concerns over potential reprisals. She added that the delegates was clear—”that they are not happy with the actions of their Area Representative to divide the Party.”
Panton noted the “significant development” in Barrow’s constituency. “Lee Mark Chang, Vice Chairman of the Party also attended the meeting and was well received.”
Panton commended the “courageous delegates who have stepped up to make this bold declaration.”
“The Interim Party Leader who was overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates on October 20th is hoping that Hon. Shyne Barrow will do the right thing and support her leadership and support the will of the people.”
Reports reaching News 5 indicate that the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has voted overwhelmingly to hold demonstrations in January 2025. The decision was made following a meeting held today, December 4, where members expressed frustration over delayed increments, allowances, and salary upgrades. According to reports, 1,882 of the 1,916 members who voted supported the move to demonstrate.
This follows an emergency meeting of the BNTU Council of Management on December 3 in Belmopan, where Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora participated virtually. She provided updates on the Ministry of Education’s efforts to address the backlog and outlined key challenges.
A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday morning in San Ignacio, where a teenager was shot and killed. The victim has been identified as seventeen-year-old Huard Ramirez. According to police, Ramirez entered a trailer in the Boiton area without permission. When the property owner, forty-four-year-old Juan Gonzalez, arrived, he found Ramirez trying to exit through a window. Gonzalez told police that when he confronted Ramirez, the teenager allegedly picked up a piece of wood and tried to attack him. In response, Gonzalez says he drew his weapon and fired a single shot at Ramirez. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled west to find out more about this incident.
Huard Ramirez
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Seventeen-year-old Huard Ramirez from San Ignacio tragically lost his life on Wednesday morning in the Boiton area. According to reports, Ramirez was allegedly trying to burglarize a container being used as a warehouse when the owner caught him in the act. In the ensuing confrontation, the owner shot Ramirez.
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
“He was a nice person, kind, funny person.”
His mother is devastated. She requested that her identity be concealed for safety reasons. Contrary to a report from police that only one shot was fired, Ramirez’s mother says her son was shot three times.
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
“I just love my son; I just love my son. Why he had to do that? He didn’t have to shoot him in the face, only on the foot. That really hurt me, and I don’t know what else they did him. I don’t know. All of us cared for him and we loved him. No matter how, all of us makes mistakes, the rich the poor, all of us makes mistakes.”
Paul Lopez
“What did you understand he was doing back there?”
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
“He told me he is going to work. And he come and bring me lee money and I appreciate what he do for me. But, they didn’t have to do that to my son, at least shoot him on his foot, or call me and tell me mih son eena the property and I could go help, or call the police.”
Ramirez collapsed just a short distance from the container as he tried to flee. A blood-stained patch of grass marks the spot where he took his last breath. His death has ignited conversations about poverty and desperation. Coming from a family living on the edge of poverty, Ramirez often took on small jobs to help support his household. We spoke with Rita Defour, the Manager at Corner Stone Foundation, an NGO that supports marginalized children through a feeding program. She first met Ramirez when he joined the program in primary school.
Rita Defour
Rita Defour, Manager, Corner Stone Foundation
“They came to Corner Stone and we had a conversation with the mom and we heard found out that they needed to go on the feeding program and we put all of them on the feeding program.”
Defour shared her memories of Huard with us, following a heartfelt message she posted on Facebook. She urged people not to judge him, explaining that he was a broken young man with no one to turn to. “Tired of being providers when they are just a child,” Defour wrote.
Rita Defour
“It hurts because we have so many children that are falling through the cracks of life, because they are not getting the help they need. People say oh he is a little thief. They need to see the bigger picture, because he comes from generational poverty. The only thing he knew, the only thing that Howard knew was that he had to survive in this world and he had to help his little sisters survive. That is what he knew. He knew nothing else. He use to come right at this gate like every two weeks and he use to say Ms. Rita we have nothing to eat. And I use to take money out my bag and give him. We use to take groceries out of our pantry and give him. I know a lot of people judge him and they will continue to judge him, because they don’t know what that family in going through and I have a lot of family going through the same thing.”
Despite his family’s dire financial situation, Ramirez had previous run-ins with the law. In January 2023, at just fifteen years old, he was accused of being part of a group that robbed two women in the Kontiki area. However, this time, Ramirez lost his life. His mother claims there was a history between the property owner and their family.
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
“And they had no right to kill my son like that. If they had something why deh nuh come tell me. I dah the mah, talk to me.”
Paul Lopez
“People are saying your son should not have been in the container.”
Voice of: Mother of Deceased
“Yes, I understand, but like how I told you, nobody perfect, everybody do mistakes in this world. Each one do mistakes. So if people think so they perfect, they wrong, really wrong, only god perfect.”
Rita Defour
“I have been doing this work for eighteen years and it pains my heart when I see kids like that just die so senseless because I know Howard was a smart little boy and he could have been somebody great.”
Paul Lopez
“I see that you mention in your Facebook post that what he did was wrong.”
Rita Defour
“Yes what he did was wrong, but he never should have reached to that point. But, a lot of kids go to that point just to survive. That is what people have to understand, they will reach that point because they want to survive.”
Tragically, one of the four people from Caye Caulker who were seriously injured in a van accident last Friday passed away this morning in Belize City. Alex Bainton died just as he was about to undergo a CT scan at the K.H.M.H. Meanwhile, a teacher who was also in the van is in Guatemala with severe spinal injuries. On a brighter note, a third student who was in an induced coma is showing signs of improvement, and the fourth student, who also suffered serious injuries, is reportedly on the mend. News Five’s Marion Ali was in Caye Caulker today and has more on this story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The student body at Ocean Academy High School in Caye Caulker is in shock and mourning today after the tragic death of their peer, eighteen-year-old Alex Bainton. He succumbed to severe head trauma from a horrific traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway last Friday evening. The team was on their way to Orange Walk for a basketball game when the accident happened. While the family and school authorities were unavailable for interviews, News Five spoke with Caye Caulker Chairlady, Seleny Villanueva Pott. She has been in close contact with Alex’s family and the high school. She shared that the news of his passing has deeply shaken the students, many of whom needed support this morning.
Seleny Villanueva Pott
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
“We later found out that several students had to be taken over to the community centre. A couple of them had passed out, a couple of them had breathing issues. It’s just the heaviness of the news losing a teammate, a classmate. The past couple of days have been really hard and I believe the pressure of the news they couldn’t bear.”
Villanuella Pott encourages everyone to reach out to her via Fecebook Messenger if you wish to assist the survivors of the accident or Bainton’s family who must now lay him to rest and still pay a huge medical bill. On Wednesday night, the Caye Caulker community came together for a heartfelt prayer vigil, walking through the streets in support of the four accident victims. This close-knit community has been rallying around the Bainton family and the other victims, showing incredible solidarity since the tragic incident. Businesswoman Lee Vanderwalker is spearheading a fundraising effort to help cover funeral costs and provide support to the victims.
Lee Vanderwalker
Lee Vanderwalker, Fundraiser Director
“We’ve been able to raise enough funds to get the initial medical care started and some of the students who were hospitalized in Orange Walk, most of them have been able to go home. However, there are ongoing issues with them with broken bones and other things that are coming up as a result of the accident. We’ve been able to get Mr. Zuniga medivacced to Guatemala City for his spinal surgery because he’s paralyzed. It’s affecting his breathing. And then initially, I believe that several of the worst cases were taken to Healthcare Partners and Medical Associates, and then they were moved to K.H.M.H. So there are still a lot of outstanding bills, even though we’ve raised a considerable amount of money, we need to raise more.”
Ocean Academy, the high school where Bainton attended classes, as well as Anda De Wata Tours, where he worked in his spare time, have issued press releases since his passing. The tour company said Bainton was more than just the youngest member of their dive team, he was a hero in the making, with an unshakable passion for sea life, a tireless work ethic, and a character marked by integrity and kindness. Ocean Academy’s release states that Bainton, who was known by his friends as “footy”, radiated light, love, kindness and joy to everyone he knew, and he filled every room with his bright smile and positive energy. He was awarded one of the school’s most prestigious annual awards, the Ka’Ana OA Outstanding Student Award, for exceptional, positive, and resilient leadership on campus. Marion Ali for News Five.
Anyone who would like to help the injured or Bainton’s family can make donations in Caye Caulker to Atlantic Bank account: 100 073 949. They can also make donations to Atlantic Bank account in the name of Ocean Academy High School. That account number is: 100 299 151. International donors can help through Paypal at: www.paypal.com/np/ncp/payment/NMPUE4UU45KV4
Tonight, a mother is feeling both relieved and worried. Her child managed to escape from a man who tried to abduct her on Monday evening, but the fear that he might still be out there haunts her. Estrella Novello shared with News Five that her daughter was heading to a party that evening. She sent her ahead on her bicycle while she finished getting ready. As the little girl reached the lane, a stranger ambushed her and started leading her away, talking to her. He even offered the ten-year-old money to go with him. A Facebook post from someone close to the family expressed sorrow over the incident and frustration that the man escaped on a boat before the police could arrest him. The mother is worried he might come back. She shared with News Five how her little girl managed to get away.
Estrella Novelo, Mother of Kidnap
“The man was on the corner, my daughter says and it was there that he called her. She stopped and he asked her name and her age. She told him. and then she says she wanted to turn back, but he didn’t let her. He hugged her around the neck and took her a distance from his corner to the school. Then our friend who was leaving for work saw them and yelled at him asking, where he was taking the girl. And he let her go and told her that he had known the girl for 10 years. But he had just asked her this information, how old she was. So our friend”
Forty-seven-year-old Joshua Ashburn, an American living in Belize, is in even deeper trouble tonight after being slapped with multiple charges for alleged immigration offenses. On Monday, November eighteenth, Ashburn’s business, Double Zero on Western Avenue, was raided by officers who found a large stash of cannabis, a firearm, ammunition, and various immigration documents. While he’s already been arraigned and remanded for drug trafficking and firearms possession, today he was hit with five counts of possessing false documents and five counts of preparation for crime. Earlier this week, Ashburn’s common-law wife, Xochil Lopez, was also remanded at the Belize Central Prison, facing four criminal charges related to the bust two Mondays ago.
