February, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Kriol Language Kept Alive Through a Second Edition Dikshineri

Wen laas sohnbadi karek yu Kriol? How gud yu Kriol gud? Noh need fi fret, now- there’s now a revised Kriol-English dictionary right at your fingertips!

This morning, the National Kriol Council of Belize launched the second edition of the Kriol dictionary at the Leo Bradley Library in Belize City. The first edition was released in 2007, and this updated version features new words and revised spellings to more accurately reflect the dynamic culture of Belize. The council hopes that, with this resource, more people will recognise Belizean Kriol as a legitimate language.

Editor-in-Chief Silvaana Udz explained that the dictionary is a tool to encourage young people to stay connected to their roots. She spoke on the importance of making Kriol more accessible, particularly for the youth. She explained that over time, words can evolve and take on new meanings, so compiling all the ways a word is used across generations in one concise book is critical to keeping the language recognised and alive.

This new edition boasts “more than 560 new entries, and a new entry might be a new sense ah the word,” Udz said. “This particular edition has been in the works since 2018,” she added. While the Kriol-English Dictionary is available in print, it can also be accessed for free on the 501 Academy website and downloaded online.

At the launch today, the special price was $35, and physical copies will soon be available at Angelus Press in Belize City.

Udz shared that this is just the beginning, and the team is working on developing an app to make the dictionary even more accessible with just a click or quick search.

The online version will be updated annually, and the third edition of the printed version is already in the works.

KHMH Workers Keep Up Pension Fight, Government Agrees to Meeting

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) Workers Union is keeping up the pressure on the Government of Belize. The union continues to demand the return of a pension scheme for hospital employees. Following a recent press release from the union, the government responded, confirming a meeting scheduled for Monday, February 17, in Belmopan.

Union members say they are determined to hold the government accountable, saying that they have been advocating for a pension plan for years. According to union representatives, they fear that if they ease off their demands, the government may not take them seriously.

Vice President of the union, Dr Alain Gonzalez, told reporters, “And we want everyone to know that we are serious; we have put in the work, and we deserve our pension.”

While some speculate that their renewed activism is linked to the upcoming March 12 general elections, union members insist their fight has been ongoing. “We already have this in the pipeline already. We had this already planned that we wanted to make sure that today we come out strong. If all this is out here by the numbers, we are much bigger than when you came out Saturday,” said Gonzalez.

The pension dispute primarily affects long-serving staff members employed between 2000 and 2017, as those hired after 2018 were automatically enrolled in a Provident Fund. The union estimates that about 230 to 250 employees—including doctors, nurses, and support staff—are impacted.

Police Seize 72 Rounds of Ammunition in San Pedro

Police uncovered a stash of seventy-two live rounds of ammunition in San Pedro during an operation on Tuesday night.

The operation focused on areas north of San Pedro Town, where law enforcement uncovered a variety of ammunition. Items recovered included an AK-47 magazine containing twelve 7.62mm live rounds, a red box with twenty-three 5.56mm rounds, and a 60-round capacity magazine with thirty-seven 5.56mm rounds.

Authorities confirmed that no one was present at the scene during the operation. The items were promptly labelled, sealed, and deposited as found property.

In a separate operation, conducted on Monday, three men were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Belize City Magistrate Court Closed Due To Mould Infestation

The Belize City Magistrate Court has announced its closure from midday today until Monday, February 17, 2025. This measure follows after News 5 reported on the complaints from court staff who have reported health issues, including kidney problems, migraines, and chest pains, due to prolonged exposure to the mould.

One employee told News 5 on Tuesday, “They have said that they’re trying to work on it, but it’s nothing so far. So, we just decide as a staff that we need to take action to make them decide what they will do now. Don’t give us no small solutions. We need a big solution to fix the problem right away.”

Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola confirmed that this closure is necessary to address the hazardous situation, with operations resuming on Tuesday, 18th February 2025.

In the meantime, court dates have been rescheduled: cases originally set for 13th February will be heard on 18th February, those for 14th February on 19th February, and cases for 17th February will be heard on 20th February. Urgent applications will be heard in exceptional cases.

Election Day Announced as Public and Bank Holiday

March will now see two public and bank holidays within the same week. On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that general elections will be held on March 12. Shortly after, the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries issued a notice declaring that the day will now be observed as a public and bank holiday. The announcement, which follows the dissolution of the National Assembly, was confirmed under the Holidays Act.

“It is hereby notified that Wednesday, March 12, 2025, will be observed as a public and bank holiday. This declaration is made in accordance with Part II, Section 9 of the Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011,” the ministry stated.

In lieu of Sunday, March 9, National Heroes and Benefactor Day will be observed on Monday, March 10, which falls within the same week as the date of the general election.

Three Arrested in Major Firearm Bust

26-year-old Daniel Anthony Lagos, 23-year-old Zephaniah Mariano, and 21-year-old Zylon Kihal Castillo were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. The operation was conducted on Monday, February 10, in a bushy area where a camp was located.

Lagos, Mariano, and Castillo were discovered at the camp, where authorities found a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine containing 22 live rounds. The three men are facing charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a license, and the illegal possession of firearms with serial numbers removed.

Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Additionally, an AR-15 rifle was seized, along with two magazines holding 25 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 26 rounds of .223 ammunition. A black SG rifle with 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition was also found, as well as additional rounds, including two 5.56mm rounds, one more 5.56mm round, and 15 live .223 rounds.

Election Date is Finally Set! March 12th the Day

The date for the 2025 general election is set! This morning, Prime Minister John Briceno made the much-anticipated announcement live from Belmopan. Surrounded by his cabinet and PUP candidates from across the country, PM Briceno declared that Belizeans will head to the polls on March twelfth to elect a new government. The thirty-day notice came after a meeting with the Governor General just after nine a.m. During the visit, Dame Froyla Tzalam was advised to dissolve the National Assembly, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Statutory Instrument Number 24 of 2025, which sets the date for the general election of members of the House of Representatives, has officially come into effect. Prime Minister Briceno announced the election date after giving a brief overview of his administration’s performance over the past four years.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“With this sterling report card in hand, and after careful reflection and prayer, I have decided that now is the appropriate time to seek from you a renewal of our electoral mandate. Earlier, I advised the Governor General to dissolve the National Assembly today and to appoint Wednesday, March twelfth, 2025 as the date for general elections. Nomination Day for candidates in all thirty-one constituencies is to be February twenty-fourth, 2025. I encourage all Belizeans to vote. Election Day is your chance, a chance to be cherished where in free and fair free elections, you choose the person and the party that can best represent your interests.”

P.U.P. Seeks a Fresh Mandate from the Belizean People

Prime Minister Briceño highlighted the P.U.P. government’s achievements and asked voters for a new five-year mandate.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Four years ago, you gave our party and I the privilege of forming your government. Looking back, our country was virtually bankrupt at that time. Government was borrowing just to pay salaries. Tens of thousands were without jobs, wages for public officers were frozen. The economy was shrinking and the times were desperate. Things have changed dramatically as we promised they would. Every day since you gave us that massive vote of confidence, my colleagues and I have worked to deliver on Plan Belize and to maintain your trust. The results are clear across our cities, towns and villages, Belizeans are working, earning higher wages. Productivity has soared, expanding the economy. Hundreds of millions in new private sector investments have spurned developments and public funds are being invested wisely in areas that matter most to you. Healthcare, education, streets, drains, roads, housing and security. These unprecedented results were delivered without any new taxes. Plan Belize is making good on its pledge to national transformation. When you consider crucial factors such as performance, qualification, stability, character and the political parties’ state of readiness, I sincerely believe that our People’s United Party, our thirty-one candidates and our Plan Belize are clearly worthy of your vote. Let us all, candidates and constituents alike, foster an election environment that focuses on issues. One that respects each other’s rights and one that distinguishes Belize yet again, the exemplar of democracy.”

“Shyne” Says U.D.P. is Ready

With the election date now set, many are wondering how prepared the U.D.P. is. Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow says the U.D.P. is ready to compete—and win—in all thirty-one constituencies.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We have been doing the work as an organization, despite, uh, distractions and, um, treason and insurrection. Uh, our candidates have been working extremely hard over, um, some a few years. Um, some recently got into their divisions. Um, but overall, we have been working as an organization individually. Candidates have been doing the groundwork in their constituencies to give them an opportunity to deliver victory.”

Taegar-Panton Says It’s Time for a New Mandate

Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton, who leads the Alliance for Democracy Faction of the U.D.P., believes it’s time for a reset for several reasons. She says she’s ready for March 12th and highlights the issues she feels have let the citizens down.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“It’s time for a fresh mandate to a new administration. The demonstration of the teachers. The sick out by the firefighters, the concerns of the Belize Defense Force, the undercurrents in the public service, the concerns expressed by our health care providers is indicative of that fact. It is time for a reset. We need new leaders to take up the governance of this country to ensure That we listen. We listen to the voices of the people.”