January 21, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Vehicle Transaction Leads to Double Murder on PG Highway

On Monday evening, a man and a woman were found shot dead inside a vehicle about half a mile from the Crooked Tree entrance. Unconfirmed reports from police sources initially suggested it was a murder-suicide. However, as the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the couple was allegedly shot and killed by someone they had a dispute with over a vehicle transaction. The pair, who lived together in Burrell Boom Village, shared a young son. They were well-respected members of their community and workplaces. Martinez was especially known for his passion for basketball. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.

Marion Ali, Reporting

To the residents of Burrell Boom, they were the epitome of an upstanding family—a devoted common-law wife and mother, and a dutiful father who always spent time with their only child, a son. But tonight, that picture-perfect image is shattered. Forty-year-old Adelita Gillett and her common-law husband, thirty-seven-year-old Felix Martinez, are dead, victims of a brazen and horrific double murder on the Philip Goldson Highway. They were parked in a dark-colored Chevy Equinox SUV just before five on Monday evening when they were targeted. The incident has left Burrell Boom resident Phillip Martinez in shock.

Phillip Martinez, Neighbour

“ When they pass, I say hello, you know, hello. And, you know, that’s the Fridays. that’s what’s surprising to me. Especially when the news broke out like this is what happened. That was really, really surprising to me. Surprised to me what happened. You know, but, um, I’m sorry. sympathy goes with the family. About what happened. They are very, very nice people.”

Martinez and Gillett were inside their SUV, parked on the shoulder of the road, facing towards Belize City. They were about half a mile past the entrance to Crooked Tree Village. Martinez was in the driver’s seat, with Gillett sitting beside him. The police stopped the traffic in both directions for almost two hours to process the scene and the SUV, gathering all the evidence they could find. When they moved the vehicle, bullet holes riddled the driver’s side window. The police reported discovering the vehicle shortly before six PM after receiving a call, but a civilian had actually found it over an hour earlier.

Today, neither family of the deceased wanted to speak. However, Felix Martinez, well-known in basketball circles, was remembered by Jacob Leslie, President of the Belize Basketball Federation. Leslie, who had known Martinez for fifteen years, shared some memories, noting that their last conversation was about a month ago.

On the Phone: Jacob Leslie, President, Belize Basketball Federation

“He’s about five years or so younger than me. So we’ve been playing against and with each other for, for, for some time now. His involvement in basketball has been extensive. He plays in a lot of leagues, a lot of competitions, and obviously he’s an athlete who truly loves this sport, no?”

Marion Ali

Okay, so the last time you saw him or spoke with him, when was that?

On the Phone: Jacob Leslie

“Would you know? Well, he was playing, um, in the past, over 35 seasons, and after the season finished, he had messaged me asking me, um, what were the intentions with the Elite League, if there’s going to be any league this year, when we try to start, and that was the last conversation I had with him.”

Adelita Gillett was loved by her colleagues at Brodies. As the company’s prized pharmaceutical manager, she oversaw all the drug stores. Today, Marketing Supervisor Maslin Hower and Marketing Officer Kenisha Gooding shared that the workplace was somber, and her team is still in shock. Gillett had been with the company for twenty years, always ready to help wherever needed, and she was known for her cheerful spirit on the job, her colleagues fondly remembered.

Maslin Hower, Marketing Supervisor, Brodies

“Whenever you need anything done in reference to anything pharmacy wise, you know, she was always willing and able. Um, and it speaks to her tenure, it speaks to her, um, work experience, it speaks to, you know, her entire scope of her career. Even though she was a pharmaceutical manager, she was quite hands on. So you would be able to meet her at any of the pharmacies, whether you were at Northern, whether you were at our, um, Abelma Pan store, or maybe our Albert Street branch.”

Kenisha Gooding, Marketing Officer, Brodies

“She’ll walk in the office and be like, I need this, this, this, this, and this. And then she’ll end it off on a high note. If you guys have the time. She’s really hands on. She, she’ll take up the mantle of any person, again, directly under her. If someone’s missing and the job needs to get done, she’ll make sure that it’s, it’s done. And it’s done with love and care and attention.”

The company extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of Adelita Gillett and her common-law husband, Felix Martinez. As of now, the police have not yet provided a motive for the tragic double murder. Marion Ali for News Five.

Lance Corporal Alfredo Robinson is Charged with Murder

Thirty-two-year-old Alfredo Robinson Junior, a Lance Corporal with the Belize Defense Force, has been charged with the murder of fellow soldier, Private Clive Baiza. The deadly shooting, which also injured another B.D.F. soldier, occurred at the Crique Sarco Outpost on Sunday night. The two men got into a heated argument, after which Robinson allegedly drew his rifle and fired multiple shots at Baiza, killing him instantly. Another B.D.F. soldier sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently hospitalized. B.D.F. Commandant, Brigadier General Azariel Loria said the accused is known to be quiet in nature and that after the incident, he appeared to be in shock.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F

“The character or the behavior of, of Lance Corporal Robinson, from, from what I got to understand, uh, after talking to the, to the men on the ground and the, and the commanding officer out there is that he used to be, or he is reserved, uh, in nature. He is reserved, he often is secluded, he, he likes to seclude himself. And he is affectionately called Viejo, Viejo meaning old man because of the way he acts, his behavior. So um, we don’t know what it is, we don’t know at this point in time if he was consuming alcohol. Chances are that he was not because the other 13 elements that were there, they volunteered to provide their blood sample. Maybe he was shell shocked when he was asked to do so. We don’t know. And as a matter of fact, he was not talking until after lunch today, when all of a sudden he perhaps realized the magnitude of what has transpired and he started to worry about it.”

Reporter

“I believe he was also a part of that patrol in San Antonich, where, uh, you will recall a soldier’s weapon was stolen, not his, but he was, I believe, a part of that patrol.”

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Vasquez. That is true. Last year or a bit, or perhaps more than a year ago. I remember that incident. And I was the adjudicator of that, uh, of that, of the offenses committed where, um, the soldiers on that patrol, they admitted to, to drinking and even so that we could not withdraw samples at the time. They still admitted because there was evidence on the ground and the way they were behaving that they were essentially under the influence, all of them.”

Clifton Robinson to Plead Guilty to Wounding, Not Attempted Murder

The High Court’s ceremonial opening kicked off on Monday with a grand parade through the city streets, starting with an ecumenical service at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral on North Front Street and ending at the Chief Justice’s courtroom. Just a day later, the court is already in full swing with its first case. Today, two men accused of attempted murder, Clifton Percival Robinson and Angel Matura, appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. The charges stem from an incident on March tenth, 2022, in the Belama Phase 4 area of Belize City, where they allegedly attempted to murder thirty-two-year-old Albert Reid. Robinson and Matura, represented virtually by attorney Norman Rodriguez, faced the court as Crown Counsel Glenford Dennison from the DPP’s Office announced that Robinson, on his attorney’s advice, is willing to enter a plea bargain. He plans to plead guilty to the lesser charge of wounding. Given Rodriguez’s virtual presence, Dennison requested an adjournment to finalize the necessary documents for Robinson’s guilty plea. The next court date is set for July twenty-seventh, 2025.

Lee Mark Chang is Officially Running in Mesop.

Lee Mark Chang has thrown his hat into the ring for Mesopotamia. Although he lost in Freetown over a decade ago and again in Caribbean Shores in 2020, this time there’s a more sinister twist—his candidacy seems aimed at unseating Area Representative Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow. Chang is no stranger to Mesopotamia; his family’s food business was once also located on Euphrates Avenue, and he went to primary school just a stone’s throw away. Now, he’s back in his old stomping grounds, running under the leadership of Tracy Panton, who insists that Barrow is the problem in the UDP and must be ousted at all costs.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Rep., Albert Division

“It is clear to us that the problem in this party is Shyne Barrow. It is clear to us that it is he who is the dismantling our democracy and it is he who is the greatest thereat to the success of our party in the upcoming elections and after the elections are over the UDP can only rebuild if Shyne is not the leader of the party or not the leader of the opposition in the house and he can be neither of those if he is not a member of the house. Our choice is therefore very clear, either Shyne agrees to accept the will of the delegates made clear on October twentieth or we will work to ensure that he is not successful in his bid to remain the area rep for Mesop. Today therefore my colleagues and I are happy and privileged to support Lee Mark Chang in announcing his candidacy for the Mesop constituency. It is our view that brave undertaking will effectively ensure that Shyne does not win in Mesop.”

Patrick Faber Endorses Lee Mark in Mesop

Aside from those at the head table, the front rows were packed with political hopefuls vying for various constituencies under Panton’s banner. The room at the Alliance for Democracy’s headquarters on Euphrates Avenue was overflowing with supporters. So, does this spell trouble for Barrow? Patrick Faber, the Area Representative for Collet, passionately endorsed Chang’s candidacy in front of the enthusiastic crowd.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Anybody weh tell yo dah Lee Mark dah nuh from Mesop, why he come yah come run, you tell them that they don’t know what they are talking about. This is his home. For all those people that say he went to Freetown, Caribbean Shores, I say he should have come here from morning. But you know our senior brother Michael Finnegan took long to retire and who his successor would have been was anybody’s guess because he promised it to a lot of people before he left. But oh my god he couldn’t have given it to a worse person. If you would have stepped up things would have been better. But we will correct that problem when the gong is sounded and the general election of 2025 is called, the new candidate for UDP will be Lee Mark Chang.”

Lee Mark Chang “I nuh fight fih lose”

When it was finally Lee Mark Chang’s turn to speak at the event, he kept it brief. He explained his decision to run in the Mesopotamia constituency against Barrow, emphasizing that when he fights, he fights to win. He also dismissed any claims that he’s only there to spoil Barrow’s chances, making it clear that he’s in it to defeat the P.U.P. candidate.

Lee Mark Chang, U.D.P. Candidate, Mesopotamia

“In my preliminary canvassing of the area, respect and dignity is lacking. The people are telling me, the committee is telling me in the Mesopotamia division that these individual lacks respect and discipline and to treat them fairly in the division and this is why I am here for the people. When I fight I nuh fight fih lose, you could ask anyone of my opponents. I don’t fight to lose. I fight to win and I don’t come here as no spoiler. I come to win the division and take care ah the people. I believe the people of Mesop wants the seat to stay for the UDP but they cannot support that individual, Mr. Shyne Barrow. So my initial information, the feel that they want to vote in back a UDP, but they don’t want him. Suh he lose his own division and I will make sure of that.”

Mutual Destruction for U.D.P. in Mesopotamia with Two Candidates?

Panton was asked if Chang’s candidacy in Mesopotamia means both he and Barrow will lose, potentially giving up a seat the U.D.P. has held for decades. Panton firmly dismissed that idea, saying she doesn’t buy into that narrative.

Tracy Taegar Panton, Area Rep., Albert Division

“I don’t subscribe to that narrative. I have never subscribed to that narrative. Seventy percent of the decision makers of this party made a determination. We did not leave it to that seventy percent. We have travelled to every village, district, town across the country. And we have met with our UDP supports and what you call the fence voters waiting to see. It is absolutely crystal clear to me that as long as Shyne Barrow is in play the UDP cannot win. The people of this country has agreed and has said to me resoundingly that Shyne Barrow must go and go he will. It is messy and it is frustrating for the public, for our supporters, for me. But democracy is messy and we have to be prepared to deal with the mess. We cannot allow, it is too great a price to pay for injustice and evil and dictatorship to set into the party. We cannot retreat.”

Ashcroft on Belizean Politics: “This is a very shameful situation that Belize is in.”

Lord Michael Ashcroft joined the Open Your Eyes talk show this morning, diving into Belize’s political landscape. The prominent businessman and keen political observer didn’t hold back, offering his take on the increasing rift within the United Democratic Party.

Lord Michael Ashcroft, Political Observer

“This is a very shameful situation that Belize is in. The only good news for donors of political parties in Belize today is that nobody has to put up any money because there is no doubt the PUP will win and they don’t need any money and it’s definite that the UDP are gonna lose and they don’t need any money either. So donors can relax during this general election, keep the money in their pockets or book a nice holiday to Miami or wherever they want to go. But having said that, here you have a political opposition in complete disarray. You have two sides of an argument who believe that they are absolutely right, and both of them who feel that the other side is totally wrong and in any compromise, there has to be people giving ground. At the moment, neither side in the opposition is prepared to give ground. Now this, of course, will come to a head.”

Panton Wants No One to Use Color Red in General Election

Today, Panton announced that the alliance has filed a motion in the High Court to stop Shyne from appointing candidates to run against the duly elected and endorsed standard bearers of the U.D.P. She also mentioned that their attorneys will be writing to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, requesting that neither faction of the U.D.P. be allowed to use red in the upcoming general election.

Tracy Panton, Area Rep., Albert Division

“We have instructed our attorneys to write to the elections and boundaries commission alerting them to the fact that the matter of leadership and control of the UDP is before the court. In this instance we believe it will not be prudent and even an interference of the court process that the commission will assign a traditional color of red to any of the disputing groups until a decision of the court is forthcoming. This would ensure that no person or group for persons can claim the color red unless there is a pronouncement by the court. So, this is a matter of respecting all duly elected and endorsed Standard bearers who were in place prior to this dispute.”

The United Democratic Party has welcomed national anti-corruption and social justice champion, Jose Luis Uc Espat, as the new Standard Bearer for the Albert Constituency. Espat brings with him a rich history of battling government corruption and advocating for justice for families affected by violence. He is running against the PUP’s Kaya Cattouse and Alliance for Democracy leader Tracy Taegar-Panton in that constituency.

How to Spell and Read Belizean Kriol

Is there a right or wrong way to spell words in Belizean Kriol? Opinions vary on this. The short answer is that spelling Kriol words isn’t easy. Depending on who you ask, there is a standardized way to write in Kriol. Despite the publication of a Kriol dictionary, many Belizeans believe that if you can understand the word, it’s spelled correctly. In tonight’s installment of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Paul Lopez hits the streets to see how well we know how to spell words in our common tongue.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

No matter where you go in Belize, you’ll hear people speaking Kriol. It’s different from Haitian Creole, Louisiana Creole, or the various patois found across the Caribbean, though there are some similarities. Belizean Creole is a vibrant mix of English, Miskito, Spanish, West African, and Bantu languages. Some Belizeans describe it as broken English, insisting there’s no right or wrong way to spell words in Belizean Creole.

Andrew Reynolds, Belize City Resident

“I went to some people at the Jehovah Witness Church, and they try to write in kriol, they try to read in kriol and it does not work. I could not understand nothing. I am sixty-five-years-old. I have been gone for thirty-five years. Still when I was growing up they was teaching us English in school. This broken English is not really cool. You cant go anywhere to talk kriol, nobody will understand you. Try and uplift yourself. I nuh down with the creole language.”

Silvaana Udz, the Chairperson of the Language Committee of the National Kriol Council says otherwise.

Paul Lopez

“There is this phrase, “the wronger ih wronger, the corrector it correct”.

Silvaana Udz, Chair, NKC Language Committee

“That dah just jokey talking when they think that kriol does be bastard English or so. Kriol as a language was born from the grammar of primary west African language pattern with whatever words the English mih the use. Deh the beat yo if yo nuh the chop the yard or whatever. Because of that the thinking of these great people from West Africa that were forced to come, our enslaved ancestors. Their pattern was different. All the creole languages, whether they are French based like Haitian Creole or Louisana Creole, they all have preverbal tense patterns.”

Even though Kriol is the lingua franca of Belize, reading and writing it isn’t straightforward for many Belizeans. We decided to put it to the test with a Kriol spelling challenge, using words with long vowels like ‘bone’ (spelt ‘boan’), ‘fight’ (spelt ‘fait’), ‘soup’ (spelt ‘soop’), and ‘water’ (spelt ‘waata’).

Paul Lopez

“The first word dah fight and you spell it fite. The second word is bone, as in a dog bone, chicken bone.”

Erick Garnett, Belize City Resident

“If you want you can say boan. I will ask you one, how do you pronounce no in creole?”

Paul Lopez

“Nuh?”

Erick Garnett

“Hmpmm.”

Paul Lopez

“The first word dah fight. The second word is bone. The third word is water. I’ll throw in a little bonus since you look like you really good at this. The final word is soup.Try spell the word leaf for me, like a long ee, the leef dah come from a tree.

Spell the word soup for me in creole.”

Ari Dorado, Belize City Resident

“I think dah wah good language for the people that can’t talk English good and they could understand that a little better.”

Paul Lopez

“The first word I have for you is fight, spell the word fight in creole. Second word in creole is bone, spell the word bone in creole.”

Benita Keme-Palacio, Belize City Resident

“House, house? Hous..”

This challenge showed that while some words might be easy to spell in Belizean Kriol, people generally struggle with spelling and reading the language. The University of Belize’s Intercultural Indigenous Language Institute aims to change that with a four-week course on Belize Kriol Literacy.

Delmer Tzib, Coordinator, UB Language Institute

“The whole idea here is that we develop a rooted citizen that s able to also develop appreciation for the local language and at the same time engage with global culture. So these languages and communications systems allow us to learn from each other, not only the language, but our cultural practices, nuances and different expressions that represent our identity.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez