January, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Police Say Recent Shooting Potentially Drug-Related

2025 has started on a grim note, with Belize recording its second murder of the year. The first was fifty-nine-year-old fisherman Godfrey Hyde Junior from Belize City was found shot to death on Saturday morning at a fishing camp on the Turneffe Atolls. The violence continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with reports of two homes being shot up in Corozal District—one in Corozal Town and the other in Ranchito Village. We spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams for an update on these incidents, and he mentioned that the police suspect they may be drug related.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The Turneffe matter is one that we’re looking at. And from all indications again, I’m not going to say that this is conclusive, but from all indications we’re getting that it may be drug related. Information suggests is that the person who was killed might have found some drugs and or people believe that he might have found some drugs. And that was the reason why they went after him to try and get those drugs. Apparently, he did not surrender them. And so what happened we have a team of officers and Coast Guard, who are in the area doing some, some searches. Again, we, we do anticipate that there’s, there may be more persons involved. And so we need to do what needs to be done to prevent any further violence in the coastal area of Belize. Relating back to those shootings that happened in Corozal. One in Ranchito and one in Corozal town,

Britney Gordon

“Do you know if they are related to each other since the timing and places were so close?”

Chester Williams

“At this time, no, I cannot say.”

Britney Gordon

“So you have no, no leads on that so far?”

Chester Williams

“No. We have some information, but nothing tangible at this time.”

Reporter

“Interpersonal dispute, rivalry, or external elements like narcotic drugs?”

Chester Williams

“Well, from what we, the information we’re getting that it might have been perpetrated by some group from Belize city. So, we’re looking at it”

Reporter

“Rivalry?”

Chester Williams

“Not rivalry, it could be job related, but we’re looking at it.”

Police Cracking Down on Northern Drug Operations

In recent years, Belize has seen a troubling increase in drug-related violence, exacerbated by the flow of drugs across its borders. This issue is particularly worrisome in the northern region of the country. Several recent crimes, including the double murder of cousins Marvin Cante and Juan Raymundo, have been linked to drugs. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams assures that the police are not turning a blind eye to these serious concerns.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Certainly if we do not do anything and remain numb to the situation, it is going to create some problems for us. But that is not what we are about. We are a department that strives to be proactive, and that’s the reason why we have been placed in Northern Operations. And the Northern Operations have now become a permanent feature of our policing strategy for the North. Even in our budget that we submitted for 2025, 2026 it includes the Northern Operation still remain in place. And certainly we have to be concerned narcotics is an issue, not just in Belize, but across the region. And when it comes into our country people try as best as they can to get it. For whatever reasons, I guess it’s because they believe that it’s a good sell. And so once people know you have drugs, you become a target. And that is something that we are seeing we have, we saw in 2024. And we need to ensure that we do as best as we can to not have those incidents in 2025. And so what am I briefing to my commanders this morning in terms of how we afford about 2025, is to make sure that we are extremely proactive in what we do. In terms of addressing crime we cannot be reactive. Policing is about preserving order. And as a department, working with our partners, we’ll do as best as we can to be proactive in ensuring that we stem these things from occurring. Yes, there are going to be some that is going to occur, because it will not be known to us. But once we get whims of certain things happening, we will ensure we address them..”

PM Briceño Keeps Election Date Close to the Vest

The date for the 2025 general elections is still a mystery, but Prime Minister John Briceño has hinted that the national vote will probably happen before June. He also noted that, despite their best efforts, he doesn’t expect the People’s United Party to win all thirty-one seats in the House of Representatives. However, if the P.U.P. does manage to sweep the polls and eliminate their political opponents, the prime minister says they’ll deal with that situation when it arises.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Whilst I have not decided, but I think it will be more towards the first half of this year.”

Marion Ali

“If there is a clean sweep, would you appoint persons from losing political parties to oversight bodies like the Elections & Boundaries Commission and push forth for the appointment of the three senate seats for the opposition?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Why are you wishing this on me? You know, it sounds good but, one: I don’t think that’s going to happen. We are going to fight to win all thirty-one seats like in every election, but at the end of the day, we have to respect the wishes of the people, of the Belizean people and if they should decide to give us the thirty-one seats, it’s something that we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there. Let’s put it that way.”

How Prepared is Shyne’s U.D.P. for General Elections?

But what if the prime minister suddenly announced elections for tomorrow? How prepared is the United Democratic Party, especially with all their internal conflicts and leadership battles? Let’s hear what Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow has to say about their readiness.

Isani Cayetano

“If the prime minister was to call the election tomorrow with a thirty-day window for campaigning and getting your act together, in a manner of speaking. How prepared are you and the United Democratic Party?”

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We have been campaigning and we are prepared. We have intensified our campaign in recent months and weeks, and we continue to intensify, and we are ready to go. As I said, we have some remarkable candidates and even the new candidates that have come on board are all formidable and David Almendarez has been doing tremendous groundwork. He lives in Belize Rural Central, unlike some candidates that don’t live in the constituency. So our people are hitting the ground and that is a part of the regional meetings that we have been having. I’ve been on this party leader tour of sorts to meet with the regional standard bearers to ensure that they are ready and we are doing that. If the elections are called tomorrow, we’ll be ready for those thirty days.”

U.D.P.’s Alliance for Democracy Opens HQ in Mesopotamia

The United Democratic Party’s Alliance for Democracy faction, led by Tracy Taegar-Panton, has just set up a new headquarters on Euphrates Avenue, right in the heart of Mesopotamia Area Representative Shyne Barrow’s territory. This faction has been clashing with the Leader of the Opposition in a fiery dispute that has even reached the High Court. We’ve learned that the building they’re using belongs to businessman and U.D.P. stalwart Lee Mark Chang. Interestingly, Chang, who owns Chon Saan Palace, is gearing up to challenge Barrow in that constituency. On Tuesday, Taegar-Panton opened up about why the alliance is so firmly against Shyne Barrow’s leadership. She didn’t hold back in explaining their strong opposition.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“What we are trying to defend is our democracy, our right to have a voice, our right to have a say, our right for our voices to be heard, internally and externally. That does not constitute a third party, and we have never suggested that we were forming a third party. We maintain and we will continue to maintain that we are members of the United Democratic Party.”

Kareem Says Tracy “Jumped the Gun” the Bid for LOO

For months now, the United Democratic Party’s internal squabbles have been splashed across the headlines. The drama even escalated to the courtroom, with party leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton at the center of an attempted leadership ousting. Despite these ongoing issues, they are gearing up for the 2025 general elections, which could be called any day now. Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa has weighed in on the opposition’s turmoil as the election looms closer.

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“It clearly demonstrates that there has been no sort of meaningful mediation within the opposition United Democratic Party. Personally, if I were to objectively assess what has taken place within the UDP over the last few months, I would say that Honorable Tracy might have jumped the gun. I think that what Shyne no recognizes within his own party is that if he can eliminate the threats meaning Tracy, meaning John Saliva Patrick Farber and not have them run on the UDP ticket, which I think is his objective, then he has a clear path to continue his leadership for 2030 because they cannot run if they’re not UDP area representatives, they cannot run for leader. And so you have to look at what his objective is. So him gathering these no name, so to speak, is just filling vacancies at this point. I don’t think he expects any of them to win. He just wants to win his seat so that he can continue to be leader.”

Reporter

“Which he might also face a challenge from a man you know to be very formidable, Lee Mark Chang.”

Kareem Musa

“In Mesopotamia, yes. And so they’re really setting off each other. If hot mess were a party, I think the UDP would fill that description quite adequately.”

Maria Rodriguez Tapped as Next Auditor General

A panel of three, including Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, and C.E.O. Rolando Zetina, has recommended Maria Rodriguez for the role of the next auditor general. On Tuesday, Cab Sec Leslie shared this recommendation with the cabinet. Next, it will be presented to the House of Representatives, the upper house, and the Governor General for approval.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Yes, we went through the process, we advertised it and three persons applied. We had the Cabinet Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the CEO for the Public Service that did the interview process. Each one of them was interviewed extensively and the Cabinet Secretary informed Cabinet yesterday that they will be recommending the lady, Maria Rodriguez. They will be recommending her to take over the post of the auditor general. Obviously that has to be something that has to be approved by the legislature so at the next house meeting we’re going to present it and hope and expect that they will accept the recommendation that has been made. From there it goes to the senate and then the Governor General.”

Belize Central Prison Plans to Renew Kolbe Foundation Contact

Last week, we reported that the contract between the Kolbe Foundation, which has been managing the Belize Central Prison since 2002, and the government of Belize had not been renewed. This left many wondering about the future management of the prison. However, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa cleared things up today, announcing that a meeting was held to renew the contract and address the concerns of both parties. Here’s more on that.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Whenever there is the ending of the contract we do have a discussion with Kolbe Foundation on the way forward. We’re actually having that meeting right now as we speak. My CEO is there. Meeting with them and I’m heading over there to see and both sides have concerns in terms of the management. And so we are, we’re going to see if we can renew that contract.”

ComPol Condemns Accusations of Ignoring Murder Charge Orders

For the past two years, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has praised the Belize Police Department for their efforts in keeping the country’s murder rate below one hundred victims. In 2024, Belize recorded eighty-nine murder victims, just two more than the previous year. When asked about these numbers, Commissioner Williams was questioned if he was ignoring directives from the Director of Public Prosecution to charge some of the alleged perpetrators with murder to keep the official count lower. Here’s his response.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Every instruction given to the police, by Her Majesty’s Director of Public Prosecution is adhered to under my command. I do not encourage my officers not to adhere to directives from the DPP. So I don’t know where you’re getting your stats from, but so there’s no such directive again. What you’re doing or what you’re trying to digest is not working of your stomach. Spit it out.”

Home Affairs Minister Hopes There’ll be No More Need for SOEs

Over the years, states of emergency (S.O.E.s) have played a role in lowering the murder rate, but they also strip away the rights of citizens who fall under suspicious profiles or are suspected gang members. These individuals can be detained by the state for as long as necessary to maintain or restore peace. However, today, Minister of Police Kareem Musa shared his hope with the media that there won’t be a need for an S.O.E. in 2025.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“The latter part specifically of 2024, demonstrates to us that peace is possible within the streets of really city and other parts of the country where we have gang related crimes. I am hopeful that we will not be needing an SOE because I think a lot of these young men. are many of them are members of the LIU program can see that the government is going above and beyond to provide alternatives for them, whether it is skills training, whether it is, um, sporting activities, whether it is a job, these are all things aimed at offering alternatives to gang-related offenses.”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Like Minister have said to you, as a department, we employ every tool possible to secure the peace of our people. SOE is not something that we use willingly. It is something that we use sparingly and in exceptional circumstances. If the need should present itself that we need an SOE, certainly, I’ll be the first to recommend the minister to do it because at the end of the day We must do what is right to secure our people including to secure those same young men who have issues with each other. I can tell you that even sometimes their own family members are asking for it because they believe that if it is not believe they’re going to lose their loved ones. So if the need presents itself, yes, but if there’s not a need to do it, then we would happily move on without any SOE.”