February 4, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

El Salvador Strikes Controversial Deal to House U.S. Criminals and Deportees

El Salvador has agreed to house violent criminals from the United States and accept deportees of any nationality, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday. The unprecedented deal, which has sparked legal and human rights concerns, was revealed following Rubio’s meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as part of a regional tour to strengthen support for the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

According to the agreement, El Salvador will continue accepting deported Salvadoran nationals but will also receive non-Salvadoran criminals, including members of notorious gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Additionally, Bukele has offered to house dangerous American criminals, including U.S. citizens and legal residents, in Salvadoran prisons for a fee.

The legal feasibility of this agreement remains uncertain. U.S. law prohibits the deportation of its own citizens, raising concerns about constitutional violations. Immigration law expert Leti Volpp of UC Berkeley noted that any effort to send incarcerated American citizens abroad would face significant legal challenges.

Bukele later confirmed the agreement on X, stating that his government is willing to accept only convicted criminals, including U.S. citizens, at the country’s largest prison.

The facility, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, has been central to Bukele’s aggressive crackdown on gang violence. While his security policies have dramatically lowered crime rates, they have also drawn condemnation from human rights organisations, which describe the prison conditions as inhumane.

The U.S. State Department has warned about harsh conditions in El Salvador’s prisons, highlighting severe overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and inadequate access to legal representation. Critics argue that transferring detainees to such facilities raises serious ethical and legal concerns.

Firefighters Stage Sick-out in Belize City

Some eight firefighters in Belize City have called in sick. It is believed that this is a sick-out in response to their frustration with the top management of the Belize National Fire Service.

As we have been reporting, firefighters launched a go-slow protest, voicing frustration over changes to their work schedules, salary concerns, and poor working conditions. The demonstration, which began on Friday, follows recent corruption allegations involving top officials in the Fire Department.

On Monday, a group of firefighters led by Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union (PSU), met with Kennedy Carillo, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, and Public Service CEO, Rolando Zetina, in Belmopan.

According to Flowers, the issues extend beyond overtime pay—firefighters feel underpaid, undervalued, and unfairly denied various allowances. He highlighted discrepancies in the distribution of hazard and danger allowances, noting that while some firefighters receive these benefits, others do not. The PSU intends to take the matter up with the Ministry of Public Service.

Minister of Disaster Risk Management Andre Perez responded to the concerns, explaining that the shift adjustments were necessary due to budget constraints as the fiscal year draws to a close. However, he assured that firefighters who work overtime will still be compensated. Addressing allegations of corruption at the department’s leadership level, Perez stated that while complaints have been noted, concrete evidence is needed before an official investigation can proceed.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that several firefighters staged a sick-out today, leaving only the officers in charge to man Belize City’s northside and southside fire stations.

On Monday, Flowers told News Five, “As it relates to industrial actions, the officers are currently contemplating their next step. We will be providing guidance for them where that is concerned. We recognise that they are an essential service. And so we’ll be following the regulations in ensuring that if there’s a need for us to step things up, we follow the law and that we give the government due notice as far as the 21 days notice is concerned. But that’s the direction. We will keep our feet on the pedal.”

CWU Questions SSB CEO’s Sudden Exit

The Christian Workers Union (CWU) has expressed growing concern following the sudden and unexplained departure of the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board, Dr. Leroy Almendarez.

In a statement, the CWU voiced frustration over the lack of transparency from the SSB Board. It stated, “SSB has yet to put out a credible narrative to explain why barely five months into his three-year contract, the CEO departed under dubious circumstances.”

Last week, SSB announced Dr. Almendarez’s departure and presented no official reason for his departure. In its announcement, SSB welcomed Jerome Palma as acting CEO.

The union said, “History will record that initially SSB did not follow proper procedure when it linked hiring a CEO and a Deputy CEO. When the issue was raised, it was met with certain defiance from the Board, which stated that the legislation allows. The legislation, however, refers to an assistant CEO.”

The CWU added, “The absence of a clear and credible response from SSB’s Board causes more speculation and unease.”

So Many Unanswered Questions Following Drowning of Autistic Student

Gabriel Pablo Orellano drowned on Monday at the hangar area near the Belize City municipal airstrip. The six-year-old student of Stella Maris School reportedly snuck and found himself near the hangar area.

Authorities are searching for answers after the tragic drowning of six-year-old Gabriel Pablo Orellano, a student at Stella Maris School. How did he leave the school unnoticed? How did he make his way to the hangar near the Belize City municipal airstrip? And what happened in the moments before he entered the water?

Reports to News Five are that the child left the compound during lunchtime. We are also told that Belize City residents saw the boy walking through traffic on Freetown Road and reported it to his parents. The parents went to school to enquire about their son’s location. They were informed of his location after the boy had drowned. The family believes that the child was finding his way home in the Lake Independence Area.

Gabriel’s body was discovered after he failed to resurface. In response, Stella Maris School cancelled classes for the remainder of the day.

Yesterday afternoon, the Ministry of Education issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss, pledging to support Gabriel’s family. However, many questions remain. The Ministry, alongside the Belize Police Department, is investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and tragic death.

Minister of Education Francis Fonseca has expressed heartbreak over Gabriel’s death. In a statement, Fonseca described the loss as devastating and stressed the urgent need to protect the country’s most vulnerable children, particularly those with special needs. “A full and comprehensive investigation into this sad incident is being undertaken in collaboration with the Belize Police Department and the School. As a Ministry of Education and as a society we have no greater responsibility than to protect our most vulnerable people especially our children with special needs. The Ministry of Education is providing every support needed to the family and we ask all Belizeans to keep them and little Pablo in their thoughts and prayers.”