January, Police Commissioner Chester Williams announced that the Police Department plans to install one thousand surveillance cameras across Belize to help reduce crime. These high-tech cameras, equipped with facial recognition, license plate reading, and motion detection, are expected to play a crucial role in deterring criminals and identifying perpetrators. Earlier today, Williams addressed concerns from a Belize City resident who protested that one of these cameras was being installed too close to her home. Despite this, Williams emphasized that the public has been largely supportive of the initiative and reiterated its importance.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“ The public really and truly, have been supported. If a matter of fact some people asked that they put close to the house because they see as a means of protection to them. I’m not aware of that case you’re talking about earlier as a pushback from somebody in respect of it, but. We are doing our best to be able to cover the city with surveillance cameras, and it is going to make the city more safer for all.”
Recently, an incident at Maya Center in southern Belize saw a policeman pistol-whip a man who was wielding a knife. The knife was secured, and the man was later detained. But what about the officer who used his weapon to disarm and restrain the civilian? Today, Commissioner Williams faced questions on the topic and was accused of normalizing police assaults with weapons. He responded that while there are situations where he understands the use of pistol-whipping, there are times when it simply doesn’t sit right with him. Williams added that he has reached out for a donation of pepper ball guns to use in scenarios where pistol-whipping is not appropriate.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I don’t see how it can be viewed as normalizing something. If a police officer pistol whips somebody, certainly that is not going to fly with me, but if a police officer is acting in the course of his duty and has no other means and uses his hand that contains a weapon and hits someone with a view to calm that person down, I am not going to kill that policeman for doing so. At the end of the day, we have to look at situations based on the facts and the incident has its own facts. I have read the discourse on social media, and I do agree with some of the comments that we have to find ways to de-escalate issues. We do have a Use of Force policy which outline the entire process that police officers must follow in the de-escalation of an issue, but we all know that when you are confronted with situations, you tend to forget that training that you would’ve been taught and you just react based on your instincts. That’s generally human beings, but we have to give the police officers the tools that they need to be able to be more effective in responding to these type of issues. And so I’m happy to see that I had reached out to Lord Ashcroft following the Independence issue with Mr. Arzu and I had wrote a proposal for a donation from him to the police for pepper ball guns and he has generously agreed to donate to the police 50 of those. They have provided payment through Waterloo to the vendor and we are hoping to get those pepper ball guns in the next two to three weeks, and those are going to be issued to police officers and are going to be used as a means of de-escalation. How the pepper ball gun works is that the police is going to – if the person is behaving in a certain way – shoot you right here with the pepper ball gun and when it touches you, it explodes and it sends a scent – pepper spray – that quells you.”
Today, Commissioner Williams announced that the toxicology report for the mysterious deaths of three American tourists in their hotel room over a month ago is still pending. The families of the three women who died at the Royal Kahal Resort in San Pedro have issued a statement expressing their belief that the deaths are suspicious. They are growing increasingly concerned about the delay in receiving the toxicology results from Belize. Williams confirmed that the results are still pending.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We had said about a month. I don’t know if a month is up yet, but we had given a timeline of within a month’s time to get the toxicology report. Remember, we’re not the ones who are performing the test. The test is done by a lab in the US and certainly a lab in the US do has their commitments as well. We have paid for the services to be expedited, so we paid for the quickest way, but even though we paid for the quickest way, I guess due to the volume of work that they have, they have not been able to do it. I am sure that once the result is received. Mr. Cho will be more than happy to share that with us, and also with you the media so that we have a clear and definitive cause of death as it relates to those three women. I was the one who communicated with the family initially and since then I have not done so, but I don’t know if B.T.B. is in communication with them because I know that they had created some link between them and the B.T.B. that would keep them up to date as well as the U.S. Embassy. The police would also keep them up to date in terms of what has been done.”
Marion Ali
“If I could follow up on that same topic, it was the Fire Department that conducted the carbon monoxide test…”
Chester Williams
“And the Department of Environment.”
Marion Ali
“Right, so my question is, did the police secure the area before or in time, so that the hotel could not have gone ahead and contaminated or gotten their own team to go in and test because they were saying that there was no trace of…”
Chester Williams
“There are certain protocols that needed to have been observed before the test was done. Those protocols were observed.”
The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Belize Business Bureau have given their thumbs up for Kevin Herrera to continue serving as the Business Sector Senator in the Upper House. The B.C.C.I. and the BBB are thrilled to congratulate Senator Herrera on his endorsement for a second term as the Business Sector Senator. They’re confident he’ll keep representing the private sector with integrity and excellence. Senator Herrera gratefully accepted the endorsement, expressing his heartfelt thanks for the ongoing trust the business community has placed in him.
Today, the University of Belize proudly unveiled its latest venture, the Belize Policy Research Institute. This new institute is set to become a key player in public policy research, with a vision of earning widespread respect and becoming an essential policy influencer. The goal is to shape public policies and behaviors to foster a prosperous, just, equitable, and peaceful Belizean society. The launch event took place in Belmopan, where we heard from the institute’s Executive Director, Doctor Dylan Vernon.
Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, University of Belize
“This institute reflects our commitment to placing knowledge at the heart of decision making. It represents a deliberate step forward, one that strengthens U.B.’s role as a leader in policy research and public service. We come together at a significant national moment. The people of Belize have spoken through the democratic process and the current administration has returned to office. I extend my congratulations. The University of Belize will continue to support national development through partnership, research and the training of capable leaders.”
Dr. Dylan Vernon, Executive Director, B.E.L.P.R.I. – UB
“Of course this concept of BELPRI is not new. Universities around the world, including in our own region all have think tanks, policy institutes attached to them. And the whole idea is that they generally generate public policy research, analysis and advice on selected issues with the goal of enabling policy makers and the public to make informed policy decision. This is in essence exactly what BELPRI seeks to do. You may ask why and the simple answer is because there is a need. Just think for a second about the ongoing policy messiness surrounding cruise ship docking and national ports and think about the lack of policies in certain areas such as migration and weak policies in such areas as public transportation.”
This morning, in Cayo District, students from the Valley of Peace Seventh Day Adventist Academy participated in a Youth Climate Action Bus Stop Painting competition in their village. Over the past two weeks, these dedicated youths have given up their weekends and free time to create vibrant murals and anti-pollution messages on three bus stops. The initiative is supported by the British High Commission’s office, which has provided experiential prizes, and the Belize Maya Forest Trust, which is collaborating with the students on various environmental protection projects. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
While crime often grabs the headlines, the students at Valley of Peace Seventh Day Adventist Academy are quietly making a difference by prioritizing the environment. For the past several weeks, these dedicated youths have sacrificed their free time to paint vibrant murals and anti-pollution messages on three bus stops. It’s their unique way of voicing their concerns and making a positive impact in their community.
Gabreal Col
Gabreal Col, Student, Valley of Peace S.D.A. Academy
“There is a part that has forest fires and a lot of animals running away from those fires. We know that Valley of Peace is surrounded by industries and we do not come and see those animals anymore.”
Dalila Molina
Dalila Molina, Student, Valley of Peace S.D.A. Academy
“If you put fires, you should check them so it doesn’t spread; don’t leave glass or things like that because when the sun is too hot, it like reflects and it makes and it causes fire then.”
Marion Ali
Or lit cigarette.
Dalila Molina
“Yes. That’s, that’s one.”
Gabreal Col and Dalila Molina shared that their group’s murals highlight the serious impact human actions can have on wildlife and the environment. They pointed out that reckless behaviors, like causing forest fires, can displace or even kill wildlife, throwing the food chain off balance. This disruption can eventually affect humans too, as we rely on the forest for food. Their artwork also illustrates the harmful effects of water and air pollution on various forms of life. The competition, promoted by the Belize Maya Forest Trust and led by Dr. Elma Kay, emphasizes the importance of instilling good environmental practices from a young age.
Elma Kay
Dr. Elma Kay, Managing Director, Belize Maya Forest Trust
“We are looking at a project that. Is looking at empowering young voices for speaking up about climate change. The theme is really, you know, speak up, inspire, and make a difference. And it is about promoting those young voices. This is in partnership with the British High Commission. And so the students have come up with a diversity of activities and projects. Yesterday we had a cleanup in the community, and today is the bus stop competition.”
Co-sponsors, the British High Commission’s Office, represented to by Deputy British High Commissioner, Robert Ower.
Robert Ower
Robert Ower, Deputy British High Commissioner to Belize
“We’re keen to empower youth. These are the future leaders, so it’s very important that we instill these environmental behaviors in them at a young age, and then they can then lead future generations and be environmentally aligned. So we see this as an excellent initiative. It’s making people think.”
School principal, Justine Myvett explained that the school really just encouraged the students with ideas they already had to get the message across.
Justine Myvett
Justine Myvett, Principal, Valley of Peace S.D.A. Academy
“The kids were talking to us about the idea of doing a project here in the community, and we decided to try at art expression for youths. It’s very powerful. It’s a way to show different persons of the community that the students are feeling the various. Impacts of climate change and they are concerned about their future.”
The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims kicked off on Friday with fourteen nations vying for the last seven spots in the tournament. Belize, ranked twenty-fifth on the CONCACAF Index, faced off against fifth-ranked Costa Rica in front of a packed FFB Stadium. Unfortunately, we took a heavy loss. But there’s a silver lining – many young players got their chance to shine on Friday night since most of the star players were no-shows. Head Coach Charles Slusher revealed that these key players deserted the team at the last minute. News Five’s Paul Lopez was at the game and filed this report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Friday night, a sold-out crowd inside the FFB Stadium witnessed Belize’s Senior Men’s National Team get demolished by Costa Rica’s National Team. The organizers had announced that tickets for the Gold Cup Preliminary match were sold out and that none would be available at the gate. But come 8 p.m., game time, hundreds of frustrated fans with tickets in hand were still lined up at the entrance gate, waiting to get in. They were agitated by the fact that only one gate was being used, leading to a slow turnaround time.
Football Fan #1
Football Fan #1
“This nuh make sense, it is ridiculous. We bought tickets two weeks before the game and now we can’t get in. Watch this crowd here, it is totally disorganized and the game the look to start, national anthem done the play.”
Football Fan #2
Football Fan #2
“If you guh stand up there you might do a better job than the lack of Police. Chester just get f***ing removed and deh the look to embarrass Rosado.”
The stadium was buzzing with police officers, and word is that only 2,700 tickets were printed for sale, just shy of the stadium’s capacity. Yet, many fans had to stand and watch the entire match. Costa Rica’s Manfred Ugalde, who plays in the Russian Premier League, scored his team’s first goal in the seventh minute. Ugalde struck again in the thirty-sixth minute with a penalty kick, securing the second goal. Only two minutes later Colombian Premier League player Juan Vargas scored Costa Rica’s third and final goal for the first half. Costa Rica came back in the second half and scored four additional goals. After the game, Head Coach Miguel Herrera, who previously coached Mexico to a World Cup and a Gold Cup title, shared his thoughts on the match.
Miguel Herrera
Miguel Herrera, Head Coach, Costa Rica
“It is the rival team that we needed to confront. If we wanted to have a superior win, we needed to show it on the field. And the players did that. They controlled the ball well. We dominated the game. When you know on paper that you can beat your rival, you need to show it on the field and that is what the guys did.”
The press conference with Belize’s Head Coach Charles Slusher revealed a lot. Slusher revealed that at the eleventh hour most of his key players decided not to play Friday night’s match.
Charles Slusher
Charles Slusher, Head Coach, Belize National Selection
“The result is expected if you don’t play organized football, and you can’t play organized football if at the last moment before the game you have to find new players to be in a situation. When these guys at the last minute decided not to be there, they hurt the country, they don’t only hurt me, they hurt the entire, for whatever reason. I could tell you categorically if I had the team, we had we could have won the game tonight.”
Regular national team stars like Woodrow West, Charles Tillett and Jordy Polanco were missing in action. According to Head Coach Slusher, these and several other players decided to sit out because they felt they weren’t being fairly compensated for training and playing in the match.
Charles Slusher
“If you guys know the history, before every game there is a controversy over money and everything else. I am always encouraged; I will always fight for my players to get their reward and just. Some of the players could have performed tonight and get an opportunity to get a big contract over the world and make the same money that you say you are not making here at the national team.”
After the defeat, Michael Salazar posted a single word on Facebook: ‘SAD.’ When a fan asked why he wasn’t playing, he replied, ‘Home watching, just being a fan now. Can’t do anything.’ With the seasoned players out, younger and less experienced players had to step up, including fifteen-year-old Marlon Meza.
Marlon Meza
Marlon Meza, Player, Belize National Selection
“Of course this loss hurts a lot because we are in our hometown. But for me we did our best, we fought for our country, and it just continued hard work from here.”
Earlier today, we caught up with Sergio Chuc, President of the Football Federation of Belize, to discuss the players who chose to sit out Friday night’s game against Costa Rica. Chuc revealed that only three players—Jordy Polanco, Moises Hernandez, and Charles Tillett—decided to abandon the match. Their fate now lies in the hands of the F.F.B., which could impose hefty fines or suspend them from their club teams for several games. And what about the compensation controversy? Chuc confirmed that the federation pays each player $100 a day for training. Here’s more from Chuc.
On the Phone: Sergio Chuc, President, F.F.B.
“I think it has been blown out of proportion. There are actually three players as I am understanding that have chose to sit out, Jordy Polanco, Moises Hernandez and Charles Tillet those are the players that have been sitting out. The other players were asked not to come back to camp by the coach. I believe there is a great misunderstanding in the compensation that was cut. We have been traditionally paying them a hundred dollars per day when they come into camp. That is doubled when they travel. This time around the manager of the team decided to break down the payment and tell them you will get your hundred dollars per day if you do your two sessions, because the training are two sessions, one in the morning at six to eight and the other at four to six. What would happen is that some of the players would only come for the afternoon session or some players would come for the morning session and sit out the afternoon session.”
Reporter
“What about guys like Woodrow West and Michael Salazar?”
On the Phone: Sergio Chuc
“They have not been called up to team. Michael Salazar was not called up to the team, that is the coach discretion. Woodrow West was called up the last minute, because we were having issues with out number one goal keeper Charles Tillett. He was called into camp and showed up the first day and after the training he sat down with the coach and made several demands and the coach said don’t come back because you are not our first goal keeper and you are not in position tomaking demands and we prepare playing with out young goal keeper than to have a forty-year-old goal keeper making demands on the federation.”
Good evening, and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday. I’m Paul Lopez. Tonight, we kick off with a recap of Friday night’s football showdown between the Belize Senior Men’s National Football Team and Costa Rica at the packed FFB Stadium. Fans turned out in droves, filling the stadium to the brim, and a lively group of cheerleaders kept the energy buzzing. But Team Belize needed more than cheers and a sea of supporters to face a team aiming for their fifteenth consecutive Gold Cup appearance.
Four minutes into this one Belize had an early opportunity in front of the goal, but goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira was there to grab the ball. At the seventh minute, midfielder Carlos Mora passes off to Alonso Martinez inside the penalty area. He finds Manfred Ugalde in front of the goal and he gently sends the ball into the net. That is one for Costa Rica. At the thirty-fourth minute, Kenneth Vargas went down hard inside the penalty box. The referee awarded Costa Rica a penalty kick. Ugalde took the shot and outplaced goalkeeper Isaac Castillo. Only four minutes later, the ball found Martinez outside the penalty box. He passed it off to Ugalde, back to Martinez and then Vargas in front of the goal. He was right on target for Costa Rica’s third goal of the match. The first half closed with a score of three goals to zero.
Sixty-one minutes into the game, Belize was awarded a free kick towards goal just outside the penalty area. Angelo Capello took the shot and was unable to get to pass the defensive wall. Costa Rica’s fourth goal came by way of a Jeyland Mitchell header off a corner kick at the sixty-fourth minute. Their fifth goal, only five minutes later, also came by way of a header off a corner kick. This one is by Alvaro Zamora. Here is one moment where it looked like Belize had a good break. Jahiem Mena fired towards the goal. Goalkeeper Sequeria fumbled the ball and then recovered. Costa Rica added two more goals to their tally, finishing the match with seven, while Belize couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Team Belize is already in Costa Rica for the second leg of the match, set for Tuesday night.
Switching gears to another sport close to Belizean hearts – basketball. Elite or semi-pro basketball has been on hold since the highly controversial 2024 season. Fans have been eagerly asking when the Belize Elite Basketball League will start its 2025 season. Well, tonight we can confirm that the BEBL won’t be returning this year. Instead, there’s a new league in town – the Belize Premier Basketball League. According to Jacob Leslie, President of the Belize Basketball Federation, the BPBL is set to tip-off in the first week of May.
Jacob Leslie
Jacob Leslie, President, B.B.F.
“The Belize Elite Basketball League organizers and owners have shared with the federation that they are not able to participate or host a competition this year. They want to properly organize so they are preparing to have their season in 2026. You have another league, the Belize Premier Basketball League who being proposed by Mr. Gordon who is well known with the Hurricanes. They made a proposal to host a tournament which should take place in May. In the future if the BEBL ever returns it looks like there will be two leagues. One will run from January to May and then you can have players participate in a secondary league post June, July up until he end of the year.”
The federation has officially sanctioned the bylaws of the new BPBL.
And to wrap up tonight’s coverage, we bring you highlights from the Inaugural Rumble in the Tropics Cycling showdown, organized by the Belize Tourism Board. Seventy riders, including four from Mexico, took off from the starting line at the Xaibel Service Station just outside Dangriga Town, heading towards Belize City. The biggest station prize of the day valued at fifteen hundred dollars was placed at mile twenty-seven on the Hummingbird Highway on top of an arduous incline known as the gap. Hollis Baptist captured that prize with a comfortable lead. Another big station prize was situated at the entrance to Armenia Village following another arduous climb. Giovanni Lovell broke away from a group of four lead riders and sprinted to the top of the incline to claim the station prize.
A pack of ten lead riders surged into Belize City, crossing the Chetumal Bridge with Derrick Chavarria leading the charge. Before they could reach the finish line in front of the Belize City Civic Center, the riders had to complete three laps between the Flag Monument Roundabout and the Cemetery Road Roundabout. When all was and done, after a hundred miles or racing, Anthony Mahler/Digi Alliance Rider Goran Gabourel rode across the finish line in first place to secure the five thousand dollars prize.
Goran Gabourel
Goran Gabourel, Winner, Rumble in the Tropics
“Dah mih wah really hard race, tough race, I think the minister mih want kill us today. I really have to big up my team, we ride perfectly, tactically today and anyone of us could have win it. I just have to thank those guys to give me the opportunity to show what I got.”
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Christopher Coye has been officially sworn in as a senator. He will also serve as Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance.
The swearing-in ceremony took place today before Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam, following the advice of Prime Minister John Briceño.
Senator Coye, who has previously held key positions in the financial sector, is expected to play a crucial role in the government’s economic policies and fiscal management.
