Around sixty excited students from Independence Primary School had a fantastic tour of Channel 5 this morning. The young visitors arrived at around 10 a.m. and got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the variety of programmes that Channel 5 produces are prepared before hitting the airwaves, including Open Your Eyes, KTV, Summer Fest, and much more.
The students also gained insight into the process behind the evening newscast at 6 P.M. and the newly launched News at Noon, which airs daily at 12 P.M., and the preparation of Channel 5’s first Spanish newscast, Noticiero 5 Semanal, which airs every Friday at 7 P.M.
Two lucky students even got the chance to sit in the news anchor’s chair and experienced the thrill of reading the news firsthand.
Throughout the morning, the students met Channel 5’s dedicated staff—from reporters to producers, audio technicians, editors, cameramen and graphic designers—and even met CEO Marleni Cuellar.
At the end of the tour, the students had learnt the importance of staying informed, the power of teamwork, and the hard work that goes into producing award-winning content. The visit left the students inspired and eager to explore the media industry, with some dreaming of joining the Channel 5 team in the future.
Reports to News Five are that an exit package for Police Commissioner Chester Williams is being finalised.
Williams is expected to be promoted to CEO in the Ministry of Transport.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Richard Rosado will be appointed as the next Commissioner of Police.
Dr Rosado, who has served in the Belize Police Department for over two decades, holds a doctorate in business administration with a focus on police leadership from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Six fishermen from northern Belize and a Burrell Boom pastor were brought into Belize City from Orange Walk today to face charges related to a major drug bust last night in the Orange Walk District. The arrested individuals include Pastor Mark Anthony Humes, fifty-two, a taxi driver from Burrell Boom Village, along with six fishermen: Lerman Norman Leslie, thirty-one, from Chunox Village, Corozal; Freddy Estuardo Chavez, forty-three, from San Estevan, Orange Walk District; Angel Aragon, forty-four, from Sarteneja Village, Corozal District; Marvin Teul, thirty-five, from Sarteneja Village, Corozal District; Ronyer Alexander Cruz, twenty-four, also from Sarteneja Village, Corozal District; and Christian Merilyn White, thirty-eight, from Sarteneja Village, Corozal District. The group arrived around 11:25 AM and was quickly escorted into Court #2. Pastor Humes had attorney Lynden Jones representing him, while the other men were unrepresented. They were all charged with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven grams (gross weight) of suspected cocaine. The allegations state that on the night of March eighteenth, 2025, in the Orange Walk District, the group was found with one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven grams of suspected cocaine intended for drug trafficking. All seven men pleaded not guilty, but due to the quantity of the suspected cocaine, they couldn’t be granted bail and were remanded to Belize Central Prison until May twenty-second, 2025. The Senior Magistrate informed the men of their right to apply for bail at the High Court, as the lower court couldn’t grant bail until ninety days on remand. During the proceedings, Angel Aragon expressed his desire to change his plea to guilty. Attorney Lynden Jones, representing Pastor Humes, was contacted to be present for this development. Jones requested a sentencing indication for Aragon, seeking a fine instead of prison time. However, the Senior Magistrate made it clear that a fine wouldn’t be an option, and Aragon faced a potential prison term of four to seven years. After hearing this, Aragon rejected the sentencing indication, and the matter was adjourned to May twenty-second, in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court. The court is waiting for the lab certificate to confirm the actual weight of the suspected cocaine, which could affect the charges. Attorney Jones noted that this was Aragon’s first drug conviction and that he is the sole provider for his family, including an ill granddaughter. He argued for a fine under the new sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders. The Senior Magistrate explained that the amount of suspected cocaine could change, so it was wise to delay accepting a guilty plea. The bust was made around 7:00 PM by the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT) and Highway Interdiction Team (HIT), who intercepted a gold Dodge Caravan driven by Pastor Mark Anthony Humes. Humes was reportedly hired to transport the six fishermen from Belize City to Orange Walk, but the vehicle was intercepted before reaching its destination.
Punta Gorda police have arrested a suspect in connection with the Sunday night murder of Dueton Coy. Twenty-five-year-old Roland Cody Lopez, a laborer from PG, will stand trial for the crime. Coy was tragically shot around seven PM near the cemetery in Punta Gorda Town. According to police, Coy was with two other people, drinking alcoholic beverages, when the shooting happened. On Monday, Assistant Commissioner Hilberto Romero informed reporters that they had one suspect in custody and were searching for a second. It’s believed the argument that led to the shooting was over a thirty-dollar debt owed to one of the suspects.
Police are waiting for the autopsy results on Wendy Mendez, a thirty-six-year-old from Concepcion Village. She was found unconscious on Sunday, March ninth, and sadly passed away last Friday. On Monday, ACP Hilberto Romero mentioned that investigators were exploring the possibility of a domestic issue being involved. However, today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that there’s no evidence to support that theory.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We’re still awaiting the post examination to be conducted and once that is done, then we’ll be able to ascertain the definitive cause of death, and then we go from there. I don’t know if there’s any evidence to the fact that the husband had beaten her. We’re still investigating how she got the injury that she exhibited when she went to the hospital.”
Reporter
“Is the husband cooperating with you all?”
Chester Williams
“I believe that he has been interviewed by the police, yes, but there was nothing of substance obtained during that interview.”
Reporter
“And had there been any previous reports at this household for the domestic violence?”
Earlier this month, Belizeans Michael Whitaker and Aaron Tun were found murdered in Chetumal. After being laid to rest, their graves were shockingly desecrated the next day, with Whitaker’s head removed from his body. A police investigation led to the detention of a police officer. Today, Police Commissioner Williams stated that the officer was taken in for questioning and that they are looking into several others who might have been involved.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“That that police officer was brought in. he was detained for forty-eight hours during which he was interviewed by the police intensely. We have received certain information from him. I’m not going to go into details, but there are other follow-ups that we’re doing and there’s a need for us to bring in additional people to be interviewed. We’re looking at the officer in question and many other people as possible persons of interest in respect of that issue and other issues. I don’t want to go too much into details and just await for investigation to be carried true.”
It’s been over a month since the tragic discovery of the bodies of three American tourists in their hotel suite in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The initial test of the room found no trace of carbon monoxide, but this conflicts with a report from Massachusetts last week. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced that Belizean authorities have decided a second round of tests is necessary. This decision comes after another complaint surfaced about a previous guest experiencing carbon monoxide issues in the same suite. Williams emphasized that the case remains a death investigation pending the autopsy report.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We had a meeting whereby we had a representative from the police. We have, we had from the fire department, the environment, and even from the Minister of Health. And it was agreed that a second round of testing be done at the hotel. This was after we had received reports from some previous guests at the hotel who had indicated that while they were there, they had done some tests with their own carbon monoxide test and they had detected carbon monoxide. So it was agreed to go back in and do a second round of testing. And that was done. I am not sure yet what the result of that test is. We have not received a report from the fire department or the Department of Enrollment on the result of that test. Um, so we are waiting for that. I guess again, that was the reason why the hotel owner had closed the hotel to allow the investigators from police, fire, and enrollment to go in and conduct further testing if it is found that there was carbon monoxide in this room, can the hotel be. Criminally liable? No, that would be far within the civil domain. Um, I am hopeful that the, the result of the toxicology tests will be received within the next week or two, and that is going to give us some good guidance in terms of what may have led to the death of these three, three women. So I, I still don’t want to, to speculate at this time and await the result of the toxicology report.”
The situation sparked international outrage, especially from the families of the deceased. Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler mentioned that his office is fully informed about the incident. He noted that the hotel’s decision to temporarily close was voluntary. Depending on the results, the hotel might reopen for business soon.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“It was a voluntary shutdown. We found some issues with the property and so we had a discussion with them and they decided to shut down to take remedial actions to deal with the issues that we had found. But in terms of the tests and the toxicology tests, we’re still waiting on that to determine the true cause of death.”
Paul Lopez
“Nothing about carbon monoxide has passed your desk as yet officially?”
Anthony Mahler
“Well, we’ve had a discussion about that. That is a possibility. We’re not ruling anything out, but I can assure you, the families believe that we will do the right thing in terms of putting the information forward as we get the information.”
Paul Lopez
“Are there plans to reopen the hotel when the investigation is completed?”
Anthony Mahler
“Well, as long as it’s approved by the necessary agencies to be opened.”
Will the High Court case between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Taegar-Panton continue now that Panton has taken over the party leadership? The court hearing is scheduled for March thirty-first, and Barrow was confident that he and his team would be vindicated. However, with Barrow resigning after his election defeat and U.D.P. members rallying behind Panton, we asked her on Tuesday if the case had become irrelevant.
Reporter
“In relation to the case you have your one day trial on the thirty-first unless you expect Barrow will withdraw that?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Party Leader, U.D.P
“Well you would have to ask him that question whether he intends to withdraw. What I can say is that there are three of the claimants who are now making steps to withdraw from the case.”
Reporter
“So if a convention is held and you are elected the leader, endorsed, then a case does not matter.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“I did not drag myself to court and I did not drag this party to court. That was done by the former party leader and the former chairman. They will have to answer those questions. If we have to show up to court we wild o so. We have a very capable, competent leadership team representing us and I am sure that they will make the argument that will vindicate us in the court.”
What about Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s future in the U.D.P.? Will the party welcome him back? We asked Panton for her thoughts on this.
Paul Lopez
“Will an olive branch be offered to Mr. Barrow to play a role in the party moving forward any at all?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Party Leader, U.D.P.
“That is not a matter for Tracy Panton. It is a matter for Shyne Barrow. It is a matter for the people of Mesop. It is not a matter for Tracy Panton. Healing will take time and we are not going to make any harsh or hard and fast decisions. We are going to allow the time that it takes to do the steps we must take to solidify this team and the U.D.P. moving forward.”
Reporter
“I know it is your prerogative, but is there any room for Mr. Faber and Saldivar in the Senate perhaps?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“I will announce the Senate appointments at the appropriate times.”
Reporter
“The party headquarters, any likelihood given what has happened so far that you will get to go back?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“It is a matter for the court at this point. There was a temporary injunction period to our former party leader and until that matter is cleared up in court then we respect the decision of the court in that respect.”
Reporter
“You never harbored any ill will towards those who supported Mr. Barrow. Despite everything that happened there was a rallying behind you today.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“There could be no ill will, the people in the various constituencies determined who they want their standard bearers to be. I respect the people. This U.D.P. under my leadership will be people centered.”
