John Briceño, the fifth Prime Minister of Belize, is preparing for what he says will likely be his final election. Today, Briceño told reporters, “If you were to ask me today, I would tell you that probably, quite likely it is going to be my last election. At least that is my plan, my hope, and even within my family.” He pointed out the importance of managing both the People’s United Party (PUP) and the government with a firm hand.
He said he intends to finish his term, barring any unforeseen changes. “I don’t want to be in a position where people say, Oh, he di lef, mek we start plan and connive and whatever. I find that unacceptable,” Briceño said. “I have to continue to manage the party and the government the way that I have done with a firm hand, and I have to show that I have full command of the party and the government and the ministers,” he added.
When asked about what will happen with the succession of the leadership to avoid the chaos that is happening within the United Democratic Party, Briceño stated he is determined not to leave a leadership vacuum in the PUP. “What has happened to the UDP is they had a very small bench after Dean Barrow, who could have taken over the UDP,” he said, adding, “I do believe the PUP is in a much better position. We have a deep bench. From Francis Fonseca to Cordel Hyde, Anthony Mahler, and Kareem Musa.”
When News 5 asked if that is his top four, he said, “I am just giving names right now.”
In 1995, the Manuel Esquivel-led UDP administration faced financial challenges that compelled it to freeze annual increments for public officers, saving the government $7 million. The increment freeze, which lasted until March 1997, deferred salary increases and led to the retrenchment of approximately 700 public officers under recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
To offset the impact, the government committed to investing in shares of Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL), allocating 480,000 shares valued at $2.4 million to public officers. Those investments, managed through the Public Sector Workers Trust (PSWT), have since grown to over $10 million. However, disputes over access to these funds continue to this day.
“In 1995, the government faced difficulties meeting its financial obligations and turned to public officers and unions for help. The deferred increments were used to balance the budget, and in return, shares in BTL were issued to unions on behalf of public officers. Those shares have since grown in value, and the funds are sufficient to address the withheld increments.”
Enriquez clarified that while the trust was originally established to fund projects benefiting public officers, the beneficiaries now demand direct compensation instead.
“Basically what happened in 1995 is that the government had difficulties in meeting the financial obligations, and so they turned to public officers and the unions to help them to bail them out, so to speak, and so what they did really was to defer the increments of public officers that they get on an annual basis, and that was how they were able to balance the budget, so to speak, but for that they made a commitment as well to invest the funds that would have been saved, and it did by issuing to the unions shares in BTL. Those shares are valued at a certain amount of money, you know. And in fact, they issued at the time, 480, 000 shares to public officers. And over the years, those, those, those were worth at the time 2.4 million, worth. That was invested, and over the years, it has now grown to over 10 million dollars,” he said.
The PSWT has faced ongoing administrative challenges, with questions about its legal structure and oversight. A 2014 court ruling named the Government of Belize as the trust’s settlor, granting it authority to appoint a protector. Financial Secretary Joseph Waight assumed this role in August 2024, but according to Enriquez, little progress has been made.
“The protector should be the person in charge, but he has not taken charge. That’s what we’re saying today. Because we are truly under, not a court case…The government was…One of the things that came out of the court case that was held some years ago was that the government be named as settler of the trust. With the settler now being the government, he now has the authority to be able to name a protector for the trust. The protector was at first with the unions. And so now it’s now moved back to where it had to be, which is the government, and the government has named now a protector. That protector has not acted the way we should act. But we are, we are here today because we want him to act. ” Enriquez stated.
Enriquez noted that more than 7,000 public officers were affected by the increment freeze, with 248 beneficiaries having since passed away. The association is working to ensure that their next of kin are included in the distribution of funds.
Public officers who were retrenched at the time were compensated separately and are not eligible for these funds. Enriquez emphasised the importance of finalising a comprehensive and accurate list of beneficiaries to ensure no one is excluded.
The ABRPO has signalled its readiness to escalate their efforts.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing has announced the commencement of roadworks on the Philip Goldson Highway, specifically between Mile 8 and Mile 24.5, as part of the “Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway” project. The construction is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2025, and is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete.
The ministry assures the public that access to properties in the construction area will be maintained throughout the project. However, road users should anticipate one-lane traffic and occasional detours for both vehicles and pedestrians in certain sections of the highway.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged to adhere to the following guidelines for their safety and the smooth progression of the works:
Follow all construction signs and instructions from the traffic management team.
Reduce speed and plan for extended travel times.
Avoid overtaking in active construction zones.
Refrain from removing, altering, vandalising, or destroying traffic and construction signs or cones.
Earlier this week, the Belize Police Department held a special awards ceremony in Belmopan to recognise senior officers for their outstanding service in the Western Region. The event, attended by the Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Western Regional Commander Suzette Anderson, celebrated officers who have gone above and beyond in their duties.
The police department praised the officers for their dedication, stating, “Without them, it won’t be an easy task.” They pointed out the importance of motivating the team to continue striving for excellence.
The awardees included Deputy Regional Commander Crispin Castillo, Officer Commanding Benque Viejo Formation Jesus Palma, and Officer Commanding Belmopan Formation Martha Rhys. Additionally, recognition was given for excellence in various areas, such as community policing, traffic enforcement, and successful operations. Notable awards were also presented to San Ignacio, Belmopan, and Roaring Creek police formations.
Special recognition was also given to the teams behind the Special Patrol, Mobile Interdiction, and K9 Units, as well as Alfredo Chavarria, the driver for the Regional Commander.
The National Women’s Commission (NWC) is calling for nominations for its Outstanding Women’s Award, which will be presented in March 2025. This prestigious honour celebrates individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to women’s human rights or humanitarian efforts. Eligible nominees should have a proven track record of service to their community, embodying compassion, impartiality, and a commitment to improving the lives of women and girls.
The award covers several key areas, including women’s roles in the economy, education, health, and decision-making, as well as efforts to combat violence against women and promote gender equality. Nominees should demonstrate a passion for positive change, a strong dedication to their community, and a focus on empowering women and girls.
To be considered, nominations must be submitted by March 3, 2025, and include a brief bio, supporting documents, and a high-resolution photo. The nomination process is thorough, with a review committee evaluating each submission. Awardees will be notified at least two weeks before the ceremony.
Submissions can be sent to programme.officer.nwc@humandev.gov.bz, and copy (cc) programme.officer2@humandev.gov.bz.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.”
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 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 Panton
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.”
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
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.”
