May 12, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

PM Confident ICJ Will Rule in Belize’s Favor

Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize could receive a judgment from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the long-standing territorial dispute with Guatemala.

“I am further advised that it is likely that before the end of this term, we will receive the ICJ judgments,” the Prime Minister said on Friday.

Belize’s ICJ case, which was officially submitted to the court in 2019 following a national referendum that saw the majority of Belizeans vote in favor of having the court resolve the dispute.

“I am advised that we are awaiting the date of hearing of the Guatemala/Belize and Belize/Honduras cases from the International Court of Justice,” PM Briceño said.

Belize and Guatemala have been at odds for more than a century over territory that Guatemala claims as its own—roughly half of Belize’s landmass. The matter was taken to the ICJ after both nations agreed, through referenda, to submit the case for a final and binding resolution.

Briceño added, “We are confident that we will prevail at the ICJ. We are confident that we will retain all our land, sea and islands. We fully expect that the unfounded claims against our territory will be defeated.”

Belize City Man Wanted by Police

Police have issued a wanted notice for 22-year-old Jamal Maurice Brackett, a resident of Belize City.

Brackett is sought for questioning in connection with an ongoing police investigation.

Police are urging anyone with information on Brackett’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or call Crime Stoppers.

Customs Officers Under Investigation in High-Grade Cannabis Smuggling Case

Authorities are investigating what could be a high-level cannabis smuggling ring with ties inside the Customs Department. At the center of the investigation is a box containing 15 pounds of high-grade marijuana—discovered in early April among consolidated packages shipped from the U.S.

According to reports, the package arrived as part of a regular freight shipment, typically associated with barrel and household goods deliveries. But when a customs officer inspected one specific box, what he found was not the expected “bath and body” products. Instead, tightly sealed plastic bags of premium cannabis were inside—worth an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars on the illicit market.

What makes this case especially noteworthy is that, prior to the inspection, the officer had reportedly received calls from two fellow customs officers—male and female relatives—urging him to clear the box. Though it was addressed to someone else, they insisted the contents were innocuous. When the cannabis was discovered, the officer reported it to his supervisor and contacted the female officer, who was reportedly en route to collect the package. Security footage reportedly shows her vehicle entering the Customs compound before turning back upon receiving the call. Since then, she has reported sick and has not returned to work.

Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado confirmed that the case is being thoroughly investigated.

He said a joint investigation is underway between law enforcement and the Anti-Money Laundering Unit into the suspected smuggling of high-grade cannabis involving customs officers.

Investigators have applied for court warrants to search the electronic devices of those linked to the case. While no charges have been filed yet, authorities are continuing to gather evidence.

According to Rosado, only individuals for whom there is sufficient evidence will be detained or charged, and some customs officers have already been interviewed as part of the ongoing probe.

US and China Slash Tariffs in 90-Day Trade Truce

The United States and China have agreed to a 90-day pause in their escalating trade war, slashing tariffs on both sides in what President Donald Trump called “a total reset with China” this morning at the White House, according to The Guardian.

Following two days of high-level talks, US tariffs on Chinese goods will drop from a peak of 145% to 30%, while China’s retaliatory duties will fall from 125% to 10% by Wednesday, or “maybe at the end of the week,” Trump added.

The breakthrough comes ahead of a conversation between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The talks, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, produced a joint statement confirming the dialogue.

The Guardian reported that Bessent spoke on the progress made, telling reporters, “Neither side wants a decoupling,” and suggesting the truce could be extended “as long as there is good faith effort, engagement, and constructive dialogue.”