Earlier this month, we reported that the B.D.F. discovered an illegal road beingbuilt within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The road was located south of Rio Blanco, about a kilometer into Belize. Today, B.D.F. Commander, Brigadier-General Azariel Loria told News Five that the military has taken a few steps since the road was discovered.
Cmdr. Azariel Loria, Brigadier-General, B.D.F
“They were trying to access the creek and what we understand too is that they were pushing that road so that they could continue with their cattle-rearing. And other information that we got is that some Guatemalans, they wanted to subdivide that area into lots and sell it among them. We have patrols there now to prevent that. We have sent also that information to the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security and [we’re] asking for verification from the Organization of the American States. That’s where we are right now on that road.”
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recently received a new CT Scan machine after ten years without that critical service being offered at the facility. Now that it has the machine, K.H.M.H. is providing that service at a much lower cost than at the various private medical institutions, but it’s not without criticism. Earlier today, C.E.O. Chandra Cansino gave the media access to the diagnostic X-ray scanner and briefly discussed its acquisition.
“As you know, we have officially received and started to operate the new CT Scan machine and we are extremely elated, particularly from the perspective of the patient and the doctors, because we are now able to perform that level of service that we needed to do a long time ago. This is a big win for the patients and the staff because now the patients don’t need to go outside of the hospital to get tested and also the doctors now have an additional diagnostic tool that is at a very high level that would enable them to make better diagnosis, prescribe better treatment and we have better results.”
Reporter
“Can you talk about the cost of the new service to patients?”
Chandra Cansino
“The new service varies. I think if you’re ever, which I hope you will never, do a CT Scan, it varies from a simple CT to this machine can do some very high tech operations and so right now what we call a basic CT would be between three hundred and three hundred and fifty dollars, depending on where you are doing the CT. That’s without contrast, and then with contrast which is with a dye that enables the doctor to see a little bit more, would be between three hundred and fifty and four hundred dollars.”
During our time with her, Chief Executive Officer Chandra Cansino also responded to criticism about the acquisition of the machine, as well as its placement at the K.H.M.H., here in Belize City.
Isani Cayetano
“How do you respond to the comments that were made by another medical practitioner to another media house yesterday regarding the CT-Scan and its placement here at the KHMH?”
Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., K.H.M.H.
“For us, our perspective is from a public service perspective. Access to quality healthcare is actually a part of poverty alleviation and so why not? Why shouldn’t the regular, normal man and woman off the streets of Belize City have access to such a superior service. And so, maybe that’s a private sector perspective. From a public sector perspective, we are extremely happy that everybody in Belize will have access to these services at an extremely affordable price.”
Reporter
“Their argument was also that while this CT-Scan here, the other public hospitals don‘t have one and that those persons from Corozal, Toledo and Dangriga, they have to travel all the way here to be able to get this service, as opposed to getting a less expensive CT Scan and placing them in all of the public hospitals.
Chandra Cansino
“Well remember, Karl Heusner is the only tertiary institution in Belize and so we, our concern is the provision of care from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Indeed, the ministry can explore options that were suggested but there are many things that go along with purchasing a CT.”
Tonight, a family is turning to the public to plead for assistance in saving twelve-year-old Jameer Lodge’s life. The standard five student was diagnosed with encephalitis, a brain inflammation that led to a rapid decline in his health, at the beginning of March. He has since been sent to Merida, where he is making a slow recovery, but the family has amassed a hospital bill of over ninety thousand dollars, and as his treatment is nowhere near its end, the bill is only growing. We spoke with a few of Jameer’s family members earlier today to hear how they are handling his treatment. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been just over two weeks since twelve-year-old Jameer Lodge was diagnosed with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that leads to several symptoms such as fever, seizures, loss of consciousness, and loss of motor control. What started out as a headache for Jameer, resulted in complete loss of movement in his body and ultimately, hospitalization. Jameer’s aunt, Kimberly Garcia, explained that while progress is being made in his condition, it’s a slow process.
Kimberly Garcia
Kimberly Garcia, Aunt of Patient
“Jameer is twelve years old. He’s a student of Saint Joseph Primary School and he’s been seeking medical treatment in Merida for encephalitis. And COVID nineteen positive earlier. So that’s what he’s getting treated for right now with Jameer’s condition. He’s stable right now, but he has a long way to go. He’s not able to talk because he’s incubated, but we’ve been seeing slight movements from him. So, it’s a very slow process. It’s a very slow process and we expect to see more movements from him, a lot more treatments. We have a long way to go with his medical treatment and that is why we’re here to seek assistance for him.”
Garcia said that everything happened so suddenly, the family was not prepared for such a large hospital bill. A debt, that has only been growing.
Kimberly Garcia
“This happened all of a sudden, and everything has been moving so fast. In regards to funds, I mean we’re pulling together as a family. Our friends here and abroad have been helping us significantly. But like I said, it’s very expensive. The treatment and the one here was costly, but the one in Merida is what’s just the medication alone, It’s over forty thousand dollars.”
Jameer’s other aunt, Rosalie Lodge, explained that Jameer’s medication, which is vital for his recovery, is a primary contributor to the significance of the bill because the dosages are administered according to the patient’s weight. According to them, Jameer needs about twenty-eight bottles, which cost around two thousand dollars each.
Jameer Lodge
Kimberly Garcia
“They’re mounting very rapidly. The medication alone for the inflammation on his brain is costing us almost forty-seven thousand. And that’s just for one medication. The doctor, he stands by that medication and we’re seeing the improvements because he left Belize unresponsive and he was unresponsive for over a week and it was just last week, Wednesday, after he started getting the medications Sunday evening, Wednesday, we started to see a little movement from him. He started twitching his eyes and stuff like that, but like we said the medication is very costly. Our bill, we’re over ninety thousand as of today because the hospital bill as well was over forty thousand and then medication is over forty thousand.”
According to his family, Jameer is a bright child and has hopes to go to Saint John’s College when he graduates and has a passion for cooking, music, and mechanical work.
Jameer Lodge
Kimberly Garcia
“Jameer deserves a fighting chance. He’s a sweet humble, caring, helpful young man. He has a lot to accomplish in this world. We are fighting for him. He, in the evenings after school, he would go along with my brother, he does he likes to trade as well. His dad is an auto mechanic as well. In the evening, he goes after school, he helps my brother. He could change a spark plug on his own. He could do, assist with brake suspension, brake pads. All sorts of thing, he’s twelve years old, but he’s wise beyond his age, he walks around with his own little cookbook and he knows how to make flour tortilla, johnny cake, waffles, sometimes he gets up in the morning, he surprises parents with breakfast, he’s very ambitious and business minded at a young age, so we know that our nephew, he could do wonders in this world.”
They said that they have reached out to as many avenues as they could for support, including businesses such as Santiago Castillo Limited and Grace Kennedy, which will both be donating a basket to raffle. And while they have received tremendous assistance, they are imploring the public to further aid them in their cause. Garcia said that this process has been hard on Jameer’s parents, Leila Gracia and Joel Lodge, but the family and community have been a great support to them and their son.
Kimberly Garcia
“So we’re trying our very best and we’re just appealing to the public to help in whatever way. He’s the only child for his parents. They do everything together. They sit at night, they eat together. Phones are barred from the table so they could have their quality time together with each other. They go to church. So, we could just imagine how. they feel and what they’re going through as well. Our family, the larger Garcia family were very close. We’re very close family. And that is what is getting us through this. The strong family support. We come together both families and we’re doing what It is, we could do, whatever possible because our nephew deserves a fighting chance. And so, we’re just asking the public, if they could give whatever smile, it doesn’t matter. Every, every cent comes at this point in time, and like I said, people have been helping and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It’s very. It’s amazing the amount of people that has reached out to us, Belize have some wonderful people. I’m telling you, it’s love. Belize is love.”
With World Meteorological Day just three days away, the National Met Service has already begun to celebrate. Today, hundreds of children from primary schools across the country visited their compound in Ladyville to take part in the various presentations held at the World Meteorological Day Fair. This year, Belize celebrates under the theme, “At the Frontline of Climate Action”. We stopped by to learn more about the event and its activities. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Every year, on March twenty-third, countries around the world join in the observation of World Meteorological Day. It is meant to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950. This year’s theme highlights the very important role that weather and climate information play in advancing sustainable development goals and reducing the impacts of extreme weather and climate-related events on societies across the globe. Michael Holtz, a weather observer at the National Meteorological Service, gave us some information about the importance of the event.
Michael Holtz
Michael Holtz, Weather Observer, NMSB
“World Met Day is on March twenty-third, we’re celebrating a little bit earlier, but it’s about exposing the kids into the weather, how we get information from the weather, how that might be useful to them, and give them a little bit more insight about the rain, the weather, and So for the types of instruments we use and just to have them build up an interest in case they want to come work here work For a mutual job service and so they have a deeper understanding of science and how it works.”
Holtz said that the fair displayed a host of activities and informational booths for the kids to visit where they learned about the MET’s automatic weather stations, radar, and weather balloons. Around five hundred children attended the event, with some hailing from as far as Caye Caulker. Marina Chimilio explained why she thought it was important to make the visit to the fair along with her students.
Marina Chimilio
Marina Chimilio, Teacher, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“I believe that it’s important for kids to be a part of these kind of fairs. Because they could use it in their science lesson and get to learn more and put it into practice. I want them to learn more about the satellite. When they came, they asked, Miss, what is that big ball there? And we went and asked a gentleman and he said that after the tour that they will know more about it.”
Britney Gordon
And you’re hoping to implement some of the things that they learn here today into their science lessons?”
Marina Chimilio
“Yes ma’am.”
Speaking with a few of Chimilio’s students, we learned what they gleaned from the presentations.
Amaya Tun
Amaya Tun, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“I learned that the sun recorder records how many, I don’t know how to say it, but the heat. It records all the heat that the sun projects.”
Britney Gordon
“So, can you tell me what you learned at today’s event so far?”
Penny Young
Penny Young, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“Okay, that the thermometers test the temperature of things.”
Britney Gordon
“So are you excited to be participating in today’s event?”
David Maradiaga
David Maradiaga, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“Have you learned anything so far?”
David Maradiaga
“That there’s, that there’s four types of thermometers. And that there’s one of the thermometers, the max thermometer, is the closest to be those thermometers that the nurse give you.”
The highlight of the day’s activities was the releasing of a weather balloon used to measure temperature, wind, and pressure as it ascends. Michelle Augustine, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the National Met Service, said that performing a simulation with the balloon for the children to observe was an important part of today’s event, as the balloon is a vital tool in weather observations.
“This provides meteorologists or forecasters with an idea of what is happening above the surface in terms of these weather parameters. And it helps us to basically better forecast the weather conditions over our area. Additionally, this information is very important from the weather balloon. During hurricane season. Because when we have the approach of a storm, the National Hurricane Center relies on this information from this ray of the sun that is released with the weather balloon to help them to assess or analyze the data over a particular area. So, the weather balloon will provide, for example, if a system is approaching, if the pressure is low, so it helps them to validate where the center of the storm is. Likewise, also the wind conditions. If the weather balloon goes up and measures, instrument, measures that the wind is very strong near our area, then the hurricane forecasters would be better able to pinpoint the location of the system.”
An Ohio woman abandoned her sixteen-month-old daughter to go on a vacation for ten days. The child, Jailyn, died. The mother, Kristel Candelario, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of child endangerment in a plea deal last month. She was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Candelario let Jailyn alone in a playpen with a few bottles of milk. Upon her return on June 16th of the previous year, Candelario discovered her daughter lifeless.
During her sentencing, forensic pathologist Elizabeth Mooney described the excruciating suffering endured by Jailyn, emphasizing the prolonged agony of abandonment, starvation, and extreme thirst.
Judge Brendan Sheehan delivered a stern rebuke, condemning Candelario for abandoning her child in a “tiny prison” while indulging in leisure.
He characterised her actions as a betrayal of the sacred bond between mother and child, denouncing her neglect as an act of ultimate treachery.
After serving the United Democratic Party (UDP), Brian ‘Yellowman’ Audinette has been fired. Lord, who was on the UDP’s Belize City slate, is known as a street captain for the UDP’s Mesopotamia area. It is unclear why Audinette was fired from the party.
Brian Lord’s Facebook post on March 9th 2024
What is clear is that he is upset. Audinette has taken to Facebook media to post several messages. One read, “The war is on I tha noh p&^k”. Another said, “A gwen tha church tomorrow and ask god for forgiveness cause after this it’s going to be an eye for an eye.” Audinette‘s began sharing his thoughts about the UDP’s defeat on March 9th when he posted “Work one month before wah election in these constituency will never bring victory new faces needed.”
On March 15th, former UDP ministers John Saldivar and Michael Finnegan appeared in a photograph with Audinette. The photograph was posted by Saldivar on his Facebook page.
Former UDP Ministers John Saldivar and Michael Finnegan along with Yellowman/Facebook-John Saldivar
Fast-forward to March 18th, and Audinette is fired from the UDP. A day later, he makes an official complaint against UDP leader Moses Barrow.
And on March 20th, a Deed of Settlement between Audinette and the UDP was leaked to News Five. The document says that the United Democratic Party has offered an ex-gratia payment for his years of service.
According to the document, Audinette was dismissed for good and sufficient cause. He was offered an “ex gratia payment of $7,500 to be paid $3,500 upon signing of this Deed of Settlement and the handing over of all Party assets including office keys etc; with the remaining payments in monthly installments of $500 every 21st of the month, it is hereby agreed that Brian Audinett will release the United Democratic Party from all liabilities and future claims related to his employment and all matters incidental to or connected therewith.”
The document also says that “It is further agreed that Brian Audinett his agents, heirs, family, and friends will refrain in perpetuity from any negative, critical, disparaging, public or private statements or commentary about the United Democratic Party, its Party Leaders, Officials, Members, and affiliates.”
It ALSO says that Audinette “will stay away from the UDP Headquarters, adjacent establishments; out of Mesopotamia Constituency political activities and will not work directly or indirectly with any pup, independent or internal opponent of the sitting Area Representative.”
Excerpt of proposed Deed of Settlement
It ALSO says that Audinette “It further agreed that Brian Audinett will send a retraction letter upon execution of this agreement to the UDP Party Chairman withdrawing all complaints against the Party Leader.”
If Audinette breaches this agreement, he, agents, heirs, family, and friends “must must immediately return all payments made subject to this agreement and forfeit any remaining ex gratia payment and be subject to damages caused by said breach.”
Belize Sugar Industries Limited fired off a press release saying that it denounces a commission of inquiry into its private affairs. BSI says that Prime Minister John Briceño announced the Commission of Inquiry (COI) “with a mandate to delve into the private affairs of BSI, with the sole purpose of providing ammunition for one cane farmer association, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), to continue its relentless effort to coerce BSI to pay more for cane without any economic or business justification.”
BSI asserts that the three other cane farmers’ associations that represent “roughly half the cane do not support the COI.”
According to BSI, “This decision is politically driven and totally erodes ASR’s investor confidence as the largest US investor in Belize and undermines representations made by the Government of Belize to ASR in 2012 that it would receive fair treatment.”
BSI says that it will not be compelled to “produce proprietary and confidential commercial information, the rights over which are protected by law.”
“BSI sees this Commission of Inquiry as a further assault on its business interests and outright bad faith by the government.”
The Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers has mobilized its members for a second public protest in Belmopan today to express disappointment and dissatisfaction with the Government’s failure to honor the then Prime Minister’s pledge made in December 2022.
According to ABRPO, it was promised that Public Service Workers’ Trust Fund would be dissolved so that beneficiaries can receive monies owed to them since 1997.
The PSWT’s audited financial statements reveal concerning mismanagement, including the write-off of over $101,000 in loans to unions, associations, and individuals purportedly affiliated with beneficiaries. Additionally, more than $500,000 has been allocated for legal services from the Trust fund.
The Association holds successive Attorney Generals responsible for disregarding legally sound recommendations. It says that this situation represents clear discrimination against the elderly, many of whom have passed without receiving compensation.
Eclectic Aspirations has announced the completion of the director’s cut for WEALTH UNTOLD. This will be the third iteration of this evolving film. This version will undergo screening with selected test audiences to gather feedback before finalizing the post-production process.
Oceana Belize VP Janelle Chanona being interviewed/San Pedro Sun
Formerly titled UNBELIZEABLUE, the documentary delves into groundbreaking marine conservation efforts in Belize, spearheaded predominantly by women from diverse backgrounds. Their collaborative mission to safeguard a unique and endangered ecosystem serves as a global model for coastal communities. Director/Producer Eladio Arvelo said that WEALTH UNTOLD draws inspiration from Belize’s national anthem and resonates with the participants’ shared vision.
WWF Belize Country Rep., Nadia Bood/UNBELIZEABLU Facebook/Phil karp
WEALTH UNTOLD was recognized as one of the “Hot Films in the Making” by From the Heart Productions during the 2023 Roy W. Dean Summer Grant season. The film is slated for completion by June 2024, with plans for a world-premiere screening later in the year.
