2024 - Channel 5 Belize

C.E.O. of Lands Under Investigation for Fatal RTA

C.E.O. in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Paul Thompson is currently under investigation after a man was killed in a fatal accident on Friday. Reports are that forty-four-year-old Zacharias Tescecum, was hit while attempting to cross the road somewhere between mile forty-one and forty-two in Cotton Tree Village. Upon arrival, police found Thompson’s grey SUV on the right-hand side of the George Price highway facing East with a damaged front bumper and grill. Tescecum was found motionless under the vehicle with multiple head and body injuries, and a broken right foot. ACP Hilberto Romero gave us more details on the incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday the fifteenth day of November, 2020 fourth, there was a road traffic accident between miles forty-one or forty-two at a cotton tree police visit the year where they saw a GMC terrain vehicle with damages. The driver of that vehicle reported that he was driving when suddenly male person crossed his spot and he knocked on the male person and the male person was taken for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Zacharias Tescecum and an investigation is ongoing at this time the driver was served with an NIP and samples were taken from him.”

Reporter
“The name of the driver sir?”

Hilberto Romero

“The driver has not been charged so I won’t say the name.”

Reporter

“But we usually report names of drivers who are in attendance even before they’re charged. And especially if they served with an NIP.”

Hilberto Romero

“I’ll get back to that.”

Reporter

“if this person who was crossing, was he crossing at the, at the, some type of pedestrian or was he just crossing the road?”

Hilberto Romero

“He was just crossing the road.”

Reporter

“Okay. Was it dark and then did you ever maybe couldn’t see him?”

Hilberto Romero

“There’s light enough there.”

19-Year-Old Perishes in Motorcycle Accident

Last week, tragedy struck when nineteen-year-old Carlos Romero lost his life after being hit by a ten-wheeler truck while riding his motorcycle. Around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Lo Ammi-Gomez was driving near the intersection of Saint Jude and Saint Peter Streets in the Maya Mopan area when he heard a loud noise outside his vehicle. When he got out to check, he found Romero trapped under the truck’s right rear wheel. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on this heartbreaking incident.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Thursday, the 14th of November 2024, around 3 p.m., police responded to a fatal road traffic Mopan in Belmopan. Upon arrival, they saw a ten-wheeler truck and a motorcycle with damaged. Information received that the motorcycle collided with the truck, causing the driver of the motorcycle to be chopped under the tires of the truck. I don’t know. The person was removed, and he was identified as Carlos Romero. He was taken for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. An N.I.P has been served on the driver of the truck and an investigation is ongoing and at the end, we will determine if any charges will be levied.”

Reporter

Do police know who was at fault?

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero

“Not at this time. We have an ongoing investigation that will be determined.”

Britney Gordon

“What mile did this happen?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“This happened at my Mopan area in Belmopan.”

Reporter

“Was the driver of the cycle wearing a helmet?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“I’m not sure, I’d have to confirm.”

Reporter

“And urine samples were taken?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“Yes, those were taken.”

Thousands of Dollars Lost in Fire in Valley of Peace

On Friday, a fire in the Cayo District led to the loss of over fifty thousand dollars in cash. Tan’s Store, located in the Valley of Peace area, was already engulfed in flames by the time authorities arrived. The store owner, Jing Pan Tan, reported damages totaling over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, including property, cash, legal documents, and several licensed guns. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on this devastating incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“The fifteenth of November, 2024, police responded to a house fire in the Valley of Peace. Upon arrival, there is a building completely engulfed in flames. Jing Tan reported that he was at home when he saw smoke in the kitchen area. Thereafter the building caught fire several items are damaged including two firearms. An investigation is being carried out to try and determine the cause of the fire.”

Reporter

“Those firearms were licensed?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yeah, they were licensed firearms.”

Reporter

“Does he have any suspicions of what might have caused it?”

Hilberto Romero

“He saw smoke coming from the kitchen area. And then The fire engulfed the building from there.”

Reporter

“Was he home alone?”

Hilberto Romero

“There were other persons there but he was home at the time.”

Britney Gordon

“Any injuries?”

Hilberto Romero

“No injuries were reported.”

The Honorable Shyne; What Does PM Briceno Think?

The biography of Shyne Barrow, titled ‘The Honorable Shyne,’ premiered today on Hulu. This ‘rags to riches’ documentary dives deep into the life of the former hip hop artist turned politician. It covers his rise in the music industry, his ten-year stint in prison, his deportation to Belize, and his entry into politics. We caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño earlier today to get his thoughts on Shyne’s latest project.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Unfortunately for him, he is not running in the United States. He is running in Belize and I don’t think he’s getting any kind of coverage, the coverage that he is getting in Belize, let’s put it this way, is not coverage any kind of leader would want to get. But again, timing, it just so happened that P. Diddy has been arrested for a lot of alleged crimes, sexual, drugs, and all kind of stuff and Shyne was a part of that world. I don’t know if he was part of that, but it just so happened that he, according to him, said it back then during that time, that he took the fall for P. Diddy. It’s good marketing for him, he’s taking advantage, when a man is down is stepping on him to try to lift his profile. You don’t usually do that. I can be doing that to him every day, but it’s good theater for him. I am happy for him and he can continue doing that in the United States because that’s the life he wants. He doesn’t want to be here in Belize, he wants to be in the United States of America. The minute he became the Leader of the Opposition, the first thing he did he asked the Black Caucus in Congress is to support him in getting a visa. He’s pretty much more in the US than here and good for him. I have no envy for him, I don’t envy him. I am happy to be in Belize, Belize is my home, it’s the only home I’ve ever had and I don’t plan to go anywhere. Will I see the documentary when it becomes available? Of course, I will, and then see how they have spun things. I am sure that if the producers were to come and interview the people that were praising him back then, I’m sure you’d get a different picture. But they probably know that by now.”

Police Activity Expected at 19th Celebrations

Garifuna Settlement Day is just around the corner, and the celebrations are already in full swing. As Belizeans come together to honor the historic arrival of the Garifuna people, the police will be on duty to keep things peaceful and orderly. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams encouraged everyone to enjoy the festivities but reminded the public to do so respectfully, without infringing on others’ rights.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We are actively involved in the policing of the nineteenth time celebration activities in Belize City, in Belmopan and down south. I think those are the areas where we are seeing activities. Our specialized units will be deployed to these activities to assist the local police in ensuring the safety of people. I just want to encourage your call upon our citizens who are going to these events to celebrate the 19th, so please do so in such a way that you don’t expose yourself to harm. And if you’re going to enjoy yourself, do so in such a way that you don’t infringe on the rights of people. If you’re going to drive, don’t drink. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive at the end of the day, we want everyone to celebrate. And when the celebrations are over, we want everyone to go home to the family safe. That’s the important thing. And so making sure that we are civil in how we celebrate is important. And so I just want to ask everybody who are going to be a part of this nineteenth celebration to always consider the other person that is around and try not to do anything to hurt or to harm anybody. And once that is done, then I think we should be able to come back on Wednesday to say that, you know, we had a good nineteenth celebration.”

Female Police Officer Involve in Drug Plane Landing?

A woman police officer is being investigated on suspicions that she may have played a role in the recent drug plane landing.

On Friday morning, a farmer discovered the abandoned single-engine aircraft near Frank’s Eddy Village, parked along a dirt road. Authorities believe the plane was used to smuggle narcotics into the country from South America. The interior was completely gutted, and no drugs were found onboard.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams explained that additional searches of the area uncovered “some lights that we believe were used to align the landing strip for the plane along with other few items that we believe were used in facilitating the plane landing.” While the specific cargo remains undetermined, he stated, “We are still trying to ascertain exactly what cargo came on that plane, but as usual, we suspect that it could be cocaine.” Authorities are searching for an individual who may have information about the landing.

Williams also disclosed the detention of a female police officer who allegedly facilitated suspicious activity linked to the landing. “We had detained a female police officer because we believe that she facilitated a person, the person who we believe landed that aircraft, in signing in at the police station outside the hours stipulated by the court.”

He added, “This person is out on bail for a previous plane landing and as a condition to his bail, he was ordered to report or to sign in to the police station every Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Surprisingly, the same night the plane landed, he came to sign in at the police station after 12 midnight. That would be around the same time the plane would be landing. And this female police officer facilitated him to the extent that she took the diary from inside the station and took it outside of the station for him to sign.”

Williams described this as “an egregious breach,” stating, “I’m not going to say that she is involved in a plane landing. But her actions in facilitating this individual, knowing who he is, to have signed in at that particular moment is extremely questionable. So, Professional Standards Branch is looking at that matter, and we expect that charges will be levied against her for breach of our internal policy.”

Despite extensive searches, including the use of drones, police have not located the cargo. “The Sibun River is not too far away from the area where the plane landed, so we believe that if there was any cargo on board the aircraft, it may have, left the area via the Sibun River.”

The drug plane was destroyed by fire on site. “It’s the trend that we do now, instead of putting these planes out for auction and sold to the highest bidder, it’s a policy now that we destroy them so as not to have these planes reused. We have seen instances before where, the planes were auctioned off and then next thing we know, the planes end up right back in Belize again with another set of cargo.”

Suspected Drug Plane Found

They Stole Millions of Mexican Pesos from Czl Free Zone Business

Three men, including a security guard, are in police custody following a burglary at a business in the Corozal Free Zone on Sunday morning. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters this morning that the burglars stole millions of Mexican pesos.

He explained, “Based on information, police mobilised and went to the area. They conducted searches, utilising drones, and they were able to locate two individuals who are suspected to have been a part of that burglary.”

Commissioner Williams stated that police also recovered a bag containing various currencies. “Police also found a bag containing some pesos, Mexican pesos, along with a few Belize dollars and a few U.S. currency. The bag of money was taken to the Corozal Police Station, where it was counted, and it amounted to four point something million pesos.” The Commissioner confirmed that two suspects are currently detained, while police are pursuing two additional individuals. Investigators believe the burglary involved collusion with a security guard.

He also confirmed that the suspects in custody are residents of Belize City.

PM John Briceño Assesses Flooding Damage

Government officials are assessing the damage and planning for recovery efforts in the Cayo District. In an interview today with Prime Minister John Briceño, he said, “It was important for me to come and take a first-hand look as to what has happened and the amount of damage.” He said that a flyover revealed that the Chalillo Dam is overflowing, with more water expected to flow down the Belize River, which could worsen flooding in areas like San Ignacio and surrounding villages.

“Lots of water… more and more water is going to be coming down the Macal and on to San Ignacio and Santa Elena,” Briceño stated. Many villagers rely on nearby rivers for drinking water, which could be contaminated by overflow from latrines during the floods. Briceño warned, “We have to be actually on the lookout to ensure that nobody gets, you know, in particular cholera or gets sick because of the water being contaminated.”

Farmers have also been severely impacted, with hundreds of acres of crops, especially in Cayo Central and other areas, underwater. “A lot of small farmers… have lost their crop,” Briceño said, adding that there has also been significant damage to infrastructure, including bridges and roads.

While it’s too early to estimate the total cost of the damage, officials acknowledge the situation is “quite substantial.” Recovery efforts are already underway, with teams from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) conducting assessments.

San Ignacio Market to Relocate?

San Ignacio Market to Relocate?

San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp is overseeing ongoing flood recovery efforts in the wake of severe rains that began late last week brought about by Tropical Storm Sara. While the water levels have started to recede, the process has been slow. “The Mopan River is still rising, which means the Macal River will take much longer before it recedes,” Trapp explained. The floodwaters have impacted local businesses, especially in the market area. “We are putting all that we can to ensure that this area gets cleaned up as quickly as possible so that vendors can return to normalcy.”

Trapp also raised concerns about the long-term viability of the market’s current location, given the increasing frequency of storms. “With global warming and climate change, I don’t see it getting better,” he said. He suggested relocating the market to a safer area, noting, “It’s a good idea, and it’s something I will take up as a local leader, and maybe put it in a consultation with the general public.”

Trap said that infrastructure damage from the flooding has been significant, with streets, culverts, and drains all requiring repairs.

In the meantime, while San Ignacio itself has not required any major sheltering, nearby villages saw some displacement, with support from the Belize Defence Force and NEMO.

She Was Beaten and Kidnapped

Manhunt for Accused Kidnapper

Police are on the hunt for Kenny Brakeman, who is accused of attacking and kidnapping his ex-wife, Sabela Brakeman, on Friday night. Kenny was last seen in Caye Caulker Village, where Sabela managed to escape and seek help from police.

As we have reported, Sabela, a San Pedro resident, was brutally attacked and kidnapped by her ex-partner, Kenny. He violently awakened her and her roommate, severely assaulting her before dragging her from the bed. After knocking her unconscious, he took her in a golf cart, threatening her. He then placed her on a jet ski, where he continued to threaten her, claiming he would cross the border to avoid capture. Sabela managed to escape when they reached a dock in Caye Caulker, running for help despite her injuries. She later sought refuge at a police station and received medical treatment, including surgery for broken gums and other injuries.

Sabela says she has a restraining order against Kenny and that she left him because he was abusive. “We had three children together. We lived together for 14 years. Since last year, July 27th, I left him. So we were no longer together. I do have a restraining order against him… because he used to abuse me, so I get out of the abusive relationship.”

Regarding prior domestic violence reports, ACP Hilberto Romero noted, “Not that we know of, no,” indicating that this was the first reported incident of such violence between the couple. He further clarified that Brakeman’s last known location was in the Caye Caulker area, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

Romero stated that Brakeman could face several charges once he is apprehended.

She Was Beaten and Kidnapped