January 27, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Sheinbaum Confirms Tren Maya’s Extension into Belize

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that the Tren Maya project will extend its route beyond Mexico, crossing through Belize on its way to Guatemala. This major development follows her discussions with Prime Minister John Briceño and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo.

The extension is part of an effort to make the transnational railway a reality, with both leaders committed to seeing the project through.

The primary aim of the route’s extension through Belize is to protect the environmentally sensitive El Petén jungle, a region rich in biodiversity. The plan to build the train’s railway sections from Chetumal in Mexico to Belize and then onto Flores, Guatemala, was initially proposed by López Obrador in June 2024. This extension is expected to create up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Briceño has previously reported strong support for the project but has outlined strategic conditions. Among the requests are the construction of a seven-kilometre railway section to cross the Hondo River into Belize and an extension of the route to the Guatemalan border.

In an interview earlier this month, Briceño told the press, “This would bring many benefits to Belize. It could open a new market for tourists since those who come to Cancun are often from Europe… With the Maya Train, it would be much easier for them to travel to Belize.”

Despite the project’s expansion facing significant hurdles, including environmental concerns and cross-border logistics, it also represents a chance to strengthen commercial and cultural ties between Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

1,000 Surveillance Cameras to be Installed Across the Country

During his appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning, Police Commissioner Chester Williams said that, “We will be installing, I think, about 1000 surveillance cameras across the country.”

This is one of the Department’s strategic measures to be more proactive in addressing crime. Equipped with advanced features like facial recognition, license plate reading, and motion detection, these cameras aim to enhance security across Belize, not just in Belize City. The motion detection system, for example, can identify unusual activity within a group, zoom in on the area, and alert authorities to potential issues.

“One of the features the cameras have in terms of motion detectors, let’s say, for example, you have a group of persons, and there is some unusual movement in that group; the camera sends an alarm to say to you that something is happening here. And it doesn’t only send an alarm; it also zooms in on the area where the problem is detected to pick up who is around.”

Panic buttons will be installed in key locations throughout the city. In case of incidents like robberies, pressing a panic button will immediately alert authorities, prompt cameras to focus on the area, and track individuals fleeing the scene until police arrive. “Let’s say, for example, you’re walking on Albert Street and you’re robbed; there’s a panic button there. Press that panic button that sends an alarm right away. The camera in the area will go to the area where the panic button is, and it will pick up who is around, and if there’s anybody fleeing, the camera follows them until the police arrive.”

Additionally, ComPol Williams has instructed commanders to conduct at least twice-weekly intensive operations targeting criminal activities. These efforts include home and base searches and closely monitoring individuals riding motorcycles, particularly when two persons are on one vehicle, as this is often linked to criminal behaviour.

Undocumented motorcycles will be confiscated as part of the department’s crime prevention strategy. He said police officers will be “going after those persons riding motorcycles, particularly when we see two on a motorcycle. Believe you me, 90 percent of the time, you’re going to commit a crime. So we need to ensure we target those people. We’ll also be taking away motorcycles that are undocumented.”

Installation is expected to begin in March.

Chetumal Police Arrest Canadian Man After Stealing Boat and Fleeing Toward Belize

A Canadian man was arrested by municipal police in Chetumal, Mexico, on Sunday after a dramatic water chase through Chetumal Bay. The man is accused of stealing a local fisherman’s boat from a pier within the bay, reportedly with the intention of crossing into Belize.

Authorities were quickly alerted to the theft, and the Navy was dispatched to pursue the suspect on open water. The man attempted to flee by jumping into the sea, but he was captured by Navy personnel and handed over to local police.

Following his arrest, the Canadian was transferred to a jail in Chetumal. The identity of the suspect has not been released, and Mexican officials have yet to provide further details about the motive behind the theft. The reasons for his attempt to flee to Belize remain unclear.

Belize’s Mexico Sports Centre Looks “Like a Ghost”

The President of the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA), Cristobal Hoffiz, visited Belize this weekend to chair the Association of Central American Volleyball Federations (AFECAVOL) general assembly.

One key issue that emerged from discussions was the deteriorating condition of the Mexico Sports Centre in Belize City. During his speech, Hoffiz said, “I was very sad and brokenhearted when I saw the Mexican Centre. That cannot continue like that. It’s not possible that almost for three years it has been abandoned.”

He added, “It’s destroyed. It’s like a ghost. We need to fix that.”

The centre was damaged by Hurricane Lisa in 2022. It later became an eyesore. “As I said, everything else is easy to obtain: equipment, coaches. Anything you need, and we can do that with NORCECA.”

He stated that the lack of suitable venues is a barrier to the development of sports in Belize. “You can have everything in sport, but if you don’t have venues where you can develop everything in sport, you are not going to go anywhere.”

Hoffiz urged Sports Minister Rodwell Ferguson to take stronger action to address this issue. He told to the Minister Ferguson, “We need you to yell, not to speak; we need you to bang your hands on the table and demand from the parliament of Belize, demand very strongly, don’t be afraid of demanding the necessary support and budget. You need to do that.”

When asked about it, Ferguson told News 5, “As the minister responsible for sports, I recognise that it was destroyed after the last hurricane.” He added, “I am in dialogue with Mexico, and I believe that they have agreed to figure out how we can bring back the Mexican centre to its original state.”

“We need to do something about that. It cannot be like that. We cannot just look the other way. We have to look at it every day, and we have to do something about the Mexican Centre,” Hoffiz said.

Suspect Remains in Custody Following Saturday’s Murder

Belize City police continue to investigate the murder of 24-year-old Mark Waight and the attempted murder of 33-year-old Francine Herbert.

Waight was found dead at the scene, while Herbert remains hospitalised in critical condition. The duo was targeted while they were on Central American Boulevard in Belize City on Saturday night. Police Commissioner Chester Williams confirmed that investigators found 9mm expended shells at the scene. “So far, police have one person detained, and our investigation in that matter continues,” he added.

That person is said to be a 22-year-old construction worker.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage after residents reported hearing over a dozen gunshots.

Authorities have not yet disclosed if a motive has been established.

Colombia Agrees to U.S. Deportation Flights After Tariff Threats

Colombian President Gustavo Petro reversed his decision to block U.S. military deportation flights following intense pressure from President Donald Trump, including threats of steep tariffs and sanctions. Petro initially denied entry to two U.S. military planes carrying deportees, citing concerns over the treatment of migrants. However, after a heated exchange between the two leaders, Colombia agreed to accept deportation flights, provided the process ensures “dignity and respect” for the deportees.

President Trump’s administration responded by placing the threatened tariffs and sanctions “on hold” but maintained that visa restrictions would remain until Colombia received its first group of deportees. Trump said that this move demonstrated renewed respect for America globally, while Petro’s government announced it had “overcome the impasse” with the U.S.

With the U.S. being Colombia’s largest trading partner, Trump’s threats of a 25% tariff on Colombian imports, including key exports like coffee and crude oil, underscored the stakes.

The clash also revealed Petro’s critique of U.S. policies, calling for fair treatment of deportees while condemning heavy-handed approaches.

Previously, Mexico blocked a U.S. military deportation flight due to a paperwork issue and miscommunication, delaying plans to return illegal immigrants. While two flights to Guatemala proceeded, Mexico reaffirmed its refusal to accept non-Mexican asylum seekers under the U.S. “Remain in Mexico” program.

In response to a question about Belize’s stance, Prime Minister John Briceño firmly rejected the idea of accepting non-Belizean deportees, stating, “We are a sovereign nation, and they cannot force us to accept people that are not citizens of this country.” While Belize is open to welcoming returning Belizean citizens, Briceño stressed that the country will not bow to U.S. pressures to serve as a third-country refuge for non-citizens.