May 14, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Retired Public Officers Join the Chorus: “We Won’t Be Forgotten!”

The voices calling for government accountability just got louder and older. Retired public officers across Belize stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight this morning, demanding respect and recognition from the Government of Belize. Gathering in Battlefield Park and other key locations nationwide, members of the Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers made it clear: they’re not sitting quietly on the sidelines. Their message? “We refuse to be forgotten or left behind.” This bold move comes on the heels of last week’s fiery national demonstration in Belmopan, where tensions between union members and the government reached a boiling point. Now, retirees are adding their weight to the growing movement, standing shoulder to shoulder with active public servants in a united call for better treatment. Here’s Britney Gordon with the following report.

Burndina Eck, Retired Public Officer

“Look at the walking stick there. Look at the wheelchair behind me. Many of us have to, you know, limp our wheel out here and we still haven’t gotten our money and we are hungry. We need to eat.”

Britney Gordon, Reporting

As union workers across Belize continue to demand fair wages and respect, a powerful new voice has joined the call, retired public officers who say they’ve waited long enough. For more than thirty years, they’ve been asking the government to pay up two years’ worth of salary increments that were frozen back in 1995. Now, with national momentum building around workers’ rights, they’re making it known that their struggle is far from over.

Glenfield Dennison, Senator, National Trade Union Congress of Belize

“This cause is one where former public officers who have given their entire lives and career to the service of the government and people of Belize are literally dying before they are able to collect on a benefit that is there. Is this trust has been set up for so long and they have not been benefiting. And so the cry, the cry of these retired public officers are simply this, listen, we are ill, we are ailing. Our colleagues have died, and we need the proceeds and the benefits of this trust. And so I think that cause is a cause that anyone who would just process it would have to get behind.”

Over eight million dollars meant for retired public officers is sitting untouched in a trust and the retirees say it’s time to hand it over. The money is currently held by the Public Service Workers Trust, but the Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers is calling for the trust to be dissolved and the funds distributed. They say they’ve waited long enough. But there’s a legal snag. Prime Minister John Briceño says the government’s hands are tied because a subgroup of retirees has taken the matter to court. That group, known as the Jenetty group, is holding up the process, according to the Association’s interim vice president, Lizbeth Castillo.

Lizbeth Castillo, Interim VP, Association of Beneficiaries & Retired Public Officers

“I am not that liberty to say what they actually intend to do, but would think that between the Jenetty group and the government, they can come to some sort of agreement between themselves. So that we can pass, go past that stage. I do understand what the Prime Minister says that it’s before the court. Yes, it’s, but if he promises the Jenetty group, I will think that he will definitely de do a dissolution of the trust and do it in writing. That probably might be sufficient for them to drop that case, but we can’t have people just uttering words. Because words mean absolutely nothing if you have nothing in writing.”

He may not be owed a cent, but Glenfield Dennison is standing tall with those who are. The senator for the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has thrown his support behind the Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers in their ongoing battle for justice. He emphasized the need to deliver these funds quickly as more of them continue to die.

Glenfield Dennison

“If the country is doing so well, why people noh di feel it. I don’t know what bubble the elected officials are living in, but it’s not the reality of the masses, and so I fear that it’s a situation where it’s the elected leaders and the CEOs who are directly linked to the political directorate, who are living in this vacuum where they alone see such a wonderful country and are living such a beautiful benefit when people are telling you, I don’t understand inflation, you know, but I understand my money noh enough.”

As of today, sixty-five of the beneficiaries have passed away before receiving their owed funds in the Belize District alone. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers also publicly demonstrated in four other districts this morning.

Municipal Growth Brings Reshaping of Boundaries

Belize’s towns just got a major facelift, not in buildings, but on the map. All eight towns, including San Pedro and the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, now have new boundaries. The changes officially took effect on April first through a series of statutory instruments, marking a big step in how Belize plans for the future. This re-delineation process started back in 2012, with consultations involving key stakeholders. Now, more than a decade later, the updated town limits are designed to keep up with urban growth and bring better services to fast-growing communities on the outskirts. From improved infrastructure to more efficient public services, the goal is to make sure no one gets left behind as towns expand. In this episode of The Five Point Breakdown, we take a closer look at what these changes mean for residents, local leaders, and the future of municipal development.

Marion Ali, Reporting

For the first time in thirty years, the official boundaries of Belize’s towns are being redrawn, a move that’s reshaping not just how towns look, but how they grow. From Punta Gorda to San Pedro, the map of Belize is getting a long-overdue update. The process began with community consultations all the way back in 2012, involving residents and key stakeholders in areas set to be affected. Under the Briceño administration, the work has finally begun. The goal? To reflect the real growth happening on the ground and ensure that expanding communities get the services and infrastructure they need. It’s a big change, and one that’s been a long time coming.

What is the Delineation Process?

Florencio Marin Jr, Minister of Local Government

“The leadership of Minister of Requena and the team that was there did countrywide consultations with the municipals, the different municipals with the different stakeholders, with the buffering villages. They tried to do a full, comprehensive consultation to be able to get that when they come with a plan now it encompasses all the requirements.”

Statutory instruments for all eight municipalities have been put in place to formally get on with the process, which includes continued consultations. But why is re-delineation necessary in the first place? The Minister of Local Government, Florencio Marin, shares the reason.

Purpose of Delineation:

Florencio Marin Jr

“It has become important because I believe from around the, we have not had any delineation of our municipal boundaries.”

Marion Ali

“What does it mean politically?”

Florencio Marin Jr

“To be able to provide better services to where the towns are already providing services because the municipals do garbage collection, they maintain the streets, they help provide for the different utilities, when in a village the village council doesn’t have all those powers to do so.”

The map of Orange Walk Town just got a little bigger, and so did its responsibilities. As part of a nationwide re-delineation effort, all eight municipalities in Belize now have clearly defined new borders. For Orange Walk, that means three nearby communities — Petville, San Lorenzo Housing Site, and Ann Gabourel — are officially being brought into the town’s limits.

What Shapes a New Municipality

Ladrick Sheppard, Mayor, Orange Walk Town

“Many people are tired of seeing dust blowing in their house. Many – sometimes when it rains, the water goes inside their house. We’ll be working on a draining system, and again, the garbage as well too. You have the garbage outside, pile it up there. It doesn’t look good, you have to be burning it, which is sometimes illegal. So all these things are essential services that we’ll be giving to these people. So it’s a huge plus for them.”

These areas have long existed in a gray zone, not quite villages and not officially part of the town. But with no village councils in place, Orange Walk Mayor Ladrick Sheppard says it’s time they receive the attention and services they deserve. Some communities are still finding their place on the map — others are ready to redraw it. While Belize’s re-delineation process is bringing small, unzoned areas into clearer focus, it’s also shining a spotlight on villages that have outgrown their labels. One standout? Ladyville.

Bernardo Bennett, Chairman, Ladyville Village

“Ladyville has the three necessary components and more that would qualify a community or a village to be declared a town, because we do have a full operation police station has about 80 plus police officers that go on rotation and shifts and stuff for Ladyville Formation itself. We do have a community center/ health center that works Monday to Friday and Saturdays. Now with the lobbying efforts and with the size of community, we have a full-fledged NHI clinic. Also we have a full-fledged fire station here in Ladyville itself. And of course, when you look on components, economic activities, we are bustling. Jobs here are not really short like that. We have the Belikin factory, the Coca-Cola plant. We have the international airport, we have BATSUB. We have the B.D.F. Camp and other businesses, supermarkets. We have gas stations.”

Ladyville also has three primary schools and a high school and most of its streets have been upgraded with hot mix. Chairman Bernardo Bennett says many residents are also clamoring for Ladyville to become its on town. And with that declaration will come more autonomy.

Townships Are Autonomous

Bernardo Bennett

“Working a community, dealing with issues takes resources and the only resources we have so far we getting is the like license fees. And that fees basically goes to taking care of the public spaces. And here in Ladyville we have a lot of public spaces. We have like five parks, two sporting complex, basically the cemetery and we have to basically clean those places once a month, sometime every month and a half to make sure they’re clean and maintained and that costs. So right now for myself, we’re hoping that the amendment to the trade Licensing Act comes into effect later this year in October so we can see what kind of revenue base that will be, and then from there, work your budget so that we can attend to the issues that the residents are asking.”

The discussion for Ladyville, according to Minister Marin, is a relevant one at the Cabinet level.

A Future for Ladyville As a Town

Florencio Marin Jr

“Yes, we’ve had some discussion of this in Cabinet about the different sizes of villages. Like for example, I know there are certain villages that only have about three hundred voters, versus Ladyville, which I believe they’re way past – they’re huge. I mean, clearly they can’t be treated or governed the same way. So I mean, this has to become part of the public discourse and then depending on our Cabinet guides us is how the ministry will look at it.”

Could Orange Walk Town soon become Orange Walk City? If its current growth is any indication, the answer might be yes, and sooner than you think. Marion Ali for News Five.

Police Suspect Body Found Is Missing Roaring Creek Man

A heartbreaking turn in the search for Moises Garbutt, the Roaring Creek resident who vanished three days ago. Police now believe a body found off the George Price Highway on Tuesday may be his. Garbutt was last seen on the night of May eleventh, the eve of his birthday, after attending a party in his village. Witnesses say he left the event in a vehicle with three other people and then disappeared without a trace. Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero told reporters that while the body has not yet been officially identified, investigators strongly suspect it is Garbutt. Confirmation is expected following a postmortem examination.

Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“ On Tuesday, police visited an area off the George Price Boulevard and saw the decomposed body of a male person. We suspect it is the missing person, Moses Garbutt. We have to conduct a DNA test to confirm that since the body is decomposed. Information is that he was at a birthday party with several other persons. Thereafter, he left in an SUV with three persons and thereafter he was reported missing. Investigations into this report continues.”

Reporter

“The birthday party was in Roaring Creek?”

Hilberto Romero

“Correct.”

Paul Lopez

“Any suspects?”

Hilberto Romero

“There are several persons who are seeking; some persons are also in custody.”

The discovery has sent shockwaves through the Roaring Creek community, as loved ones await answers and justice. Police have already detained a few suspects.

Resident’s Brave Attempt to Save Drowning Victim Ends in Heartbreak

A quiet day in Placencia turned tragic on Tuesday when a man drowned just steps from the shore. Witnesses say the man had been fishing near the beach when, in a matter of moments, he was seen floating face down in the water. One nearby resident didn’t hesitate. He rushed to the scene and desperately tried to revive the man, performing CPR in a valiant effort to save his life. Sadly, it was too late. We spoke with Nevin Duran, who witnessed the rescue attempt. He described the chilling moment he realized something was wrong and the heroic actions that followed.

On the Phone: Nevin Duran, Witness

“I was looking around and like me and my brother race going like towards Barefoot. And we came back that, that took us like five minutes and when we came back we saw the, guy that lives right in front, he was pulling the guy out of the water. We tried to run and asked what happened? And he said I don’t know. He was just perfectly fine swimming and once of a sudden he was just like, face down in the water. It was past like a minute and he was like shocked and went to see if he was fine. He was binging the guy out of the water. I ran to him, me and my brother, and we both asked him like, what happened? And he’s performing CPR trying to bring back the guy. But it wasn’t working. That was going on for ten minutes. And I was just standing there because, I can’t do nothing. I can’t really do nothing. There is like this guy performing CPR and me and my brother just standing there. And so he is okay, one of you guys gotta help me take him to the shade, so my brother didn’t want to really do anything because he like in shock standing there. So I like put my shoes down on my phone. And then we took him to the coconut tree where there was like a shed. And I left him there. The guy that was performing CPR, he continued doing it, so like more people surrounded and they called the police, and the police arrived and they like tried to help the situation, but like I had to come to work, so I left, like right after the police came by.”

At this time, the identify of the victim remains unknown.

Grieving Father Warns Public of Deep River Pits

A grieving father in Bella Vista is sounding the alarm after a hidden danger in the local river claimed the life of his fourteen-year-old daughter. Eliza Pop was swimming in the river when she suddenly disappeared beneath the surface. Her father, Alfredo Pop, says she stepped into a deep pit dug into the riverbed, one that was far deeper than expected. Despite efforts to save her, Eliza tragically drowned. These pits, often dug with permission for various purposes, are supposed to be around four feet deep. But in this case, Alfredo believes the pit was much deeper and far more dangerous. Now, he’s urging the community to speak out against digging these pits in areas where families and children swim.

Alfredo Pop, Father of Deceased

“They were bathing inside the shallow place, but now when she step several, like three meter from the riverside, she never know that she found a deep place there where the escavator dig almost like 25 feet deep. So when she, when she put the foot now, she sink right in there. So that’s what happened with my daughter, because it’s sad because, you know, I felt a big glass because she’s the only one. Because like I say,if there’s no pit there, I think that could have never happened because, usually it’s so shallow, but because of the digging of the sand, then the reason it’s very deep. Twenty-five feet.”

Britney Gordon

“So you want to warn and caution other people about this danger?”

Alfredo Pop

“Well, exactly, because what I want to tell the people from Bella Vista, we need to come together because what happened, this will not sto. To stop this, make me come together. For who is that pit? I don’t have no idea. I would’ve want advise our people from Bay Vista and make we try to do something about it or the government make it look into it. Because of this, I lost my daughter already.”

Residents are being warned to stay alert and avoid swimming in unfamiliar parts of the river, especially where digging may have occurred.

Belize City Hails the Arrival of e-Ride Taxi Service

Belize City just got a major upgrade in how people get around. Say hello to eRide, the country’s first-ever digital taxi service – and it’s already turning heads. After the buzz around the Belize City Council’s electric bus rollout, residents have been eagerly waiting for the next big thing in clean transportation. Now, it’s here. With just a few taps on the eRide app, commuters can book safe, reliable, and eco-friendly rides across the city. Whether you’re heading to work, running errands, or exploring the city, eRide promises a smoother, greener way to travel. The service is designed to cut down on emissions and make clean transport more accessible for everyone – locals and tourists alike. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there this morning as the service officially launched.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize City just took another bold step into the future of transportation. Nearly a year after launching its electric bus pilot program, the city is now rolling out digital ride-hailing services and residents are already taking notice. The new e-taxis are officially on the move, offering a modern, app-based way to get around town. With just a few taps, commuters can now book rides that are not only convenient but also eco-friendly.

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We have a broad vision of really driving modern transportation system within the scope of our city. And so this is, again, ties in as we continue to build out that ecosystem. As you know, last year, we had launched the e-buses, and as part of that project independently of course with the Belize City council, this project really put in place a sort of additional component needed to really put, to really have us realize our ambition of a cleaner less pollution, less noise pollution Less emissions in the air.”

Getting around Belize City just got a whole lot easier and smarter. With the MiDriva app, booking a ride is now as simple as tapping your phone. Much like popular apps such as Uber or Lyft, this lets users order a ride, pay digitally, and even chat with their driver, all in one place.

Bernard Wagner

“You use this system to really communicate with the driver. You would book your ride, you would pay, it has a cash payment option, but it also allows you to pay cash if you want. You track your driver as he or she progress towards you and you get in the vehicle and enjoy the clean ride.”

Wondering what a ride will cost you? It all depends on how far you’re going, but here’s a quick guide: on average, every 1.3 kilometers will run you about eight dollars. Currently, there are four e-taxis being operated in the city. Abigail Westby is proud to be the first female driver for the new digital taxi service and she’s loving the ride so far.

Abigail Westby, E-Ride Taxi Driver

“I have had several instances prior where I’ve had trouble renting a taxi that’s reliable, that works efficiently. And this is a great opportunity that I’ve been waiting for a long time. And also I have thank my mother. She is a taxi as well for over eleven years. So it’s her idea that made me even venture into the taxi industry and now it has given me the opportunity to do this with the council.”

Belize City’s push for cleaner, smarter transportation hasn’t come without its bumps in the road. The e-Ride Taxi Service was made possible through a loan agreement secured in early 2024. But according to Mayor Bernard Wagner, that debt is already paid off. Despite the financial win, the road to progress hasn’t been smooth. Just like with the e-bus pilot project, the council is once again facing pushbacks from traditional taxi operators. Cabdrivers are voicing concerns that the new digital service could cut into their earnings, echoing the same frustrations previously raised by bus operators.

Bernard Wagner

“ We want to ensure that we do not compete. I know that there’s always this level of competition, but we don’t want to undersell our taximen at no time. They have been around for many years. They have provided this sort of service for years. But, again, it’s really challenging when you are dealing with change. But we are not here to really create barriers. It’s more to create opportunities. And we, while we are ignited for this project or the catalyst for this project, it’s not something that we see long term. We want this to be driven by the private sector. By the sort taxmen.”

Taxi drivers can operate the vehicle through a lease agreement, where drivers pay the council for the use of the vehicles. The council hopes that as the service grows, more vehicles and drivers can be introduced in the city. Britney Gordon for News Five,

The app is currently available for download on IOS and will be available to Android users by next week.

Are E-buses Still Making Money?

Nearly a year after the arrival of the E-buses in Belize City, the Belize City Council has introduced the e-Ride Taxi Service in the city. These are a part of the council’s E-Mobility Pilot Project, which seeks to offer Belizeans sustainable and reliable transportation options. However, these celebrated additions did not come without a steep price; with the e-Ride taxis requiring a two-hundred-and-twenty-three-thousand-dollar investment from the council. Considering these heavy costs, we spoke with Mayor Bernard Wagner, on whether the E-buses project had been a lucrative investment.

Reporter

“Have you made your financial assessment of the electric city bus service, is it financially feasible or does it still require a subsidy?”

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“The bus? No the bus has been doing pretty well. Like I told you from last year, that on an average for those in buses earn the city, about ten thousand per week. That has been average. We have seen a bit taper, tapered off, and we figured that would be in the neighborhood of eight thousand per week for two buses. We are not fully across the entire city. So that is expected, but we see it as a viable project going forward.”

Dr. Christopher Malcolm Named New Dean of Norman Manley Law School

Doctor Christopher Malcolm, the legal mind who recently made headlines in Belize for representing former Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow, is stepping into a prestigious new role. Come September first, Doctor Malcolm will take the helm as Dean of the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. While many in Belize know him for successfully challenging the legitimacy of the Unity Convention held by Tracy Taegar-Panton and the Alliance for Democracy, fewer may realize that Malcolm is a heavyweight in Caribbean legal education. A former Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands, he currently serves as a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Mona Law Institutes Unit at the University of the West Indies. Now, he’s set to lead one of the region’s top legal institutions. The Norman Manley Law School, named after Jamaican statesman Norman Manley, is one of only three schools in the Caribbean authorized to award Legal Education Certificates, alongside the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas and the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. Beyond the courtroom and classroom, Doctor Malcolm is a key figure in regional dispute resolution, helping shape legislation, train professionals, and build institutions that support peaceful conflict resolution. His appointment marks a new chapter for the Norman Manley Law School and a proud moment for Caribbean legal education.

Teenage Girl Drowns in Hidden Pit in Bella Vista

A Bella Vista father is calling on the community and authorities to take urgent action after his fourteen-year-old daughter, Eliza Pop, tragically drowned in a hidden pit dug into the river near their home. Alfredo Pop is now warning villagers of the dangers posed by these deep excavations and urging collective action to prevent further loss of life.

“They were bathing inside the shallow place,” Pop explained. “But now when she stepped back several, like, three metres from the riverside, she never knew that she found a deep place there where the excavator dug almost like 25 feet deep. So when she put the foot down now, she sank right in there. That’s what happened with my daughter.”

According to Pop, the river is usually shallow and safe for swimming, but illegal or unregulated sand excavation has created sudden and hazardous drop-offs underwater. “It’s sad because, you know, I felt a big loss because she’s the only one. If there’s no pit there, I think that could have never happened,” he said.

The grieving father is now sounding the alarm and calling on Bella Vista residents to unite and demand accountability. “What I want to tell the people from Bella Vista – we need to come together. Because of what happened, this will not stop. To stop this, let us come together. For whom is that pit? I don’t have any idea,” Pop said.

Pop is also appealing for government intervention. “I would want to advise our people from Bella Vista and make us try to do something about it, or the government make it look into it. Because of this, I lost my daughter already,” he added.

Young Man Drowns in Placencia

A young man drowned on Tuesday afternoon in Placencia.

Eyewitness Nevin Duran recounted the chilling incident, which unfolded just before noon. He said, “Me and my brother went swimming, and, you know, we were there just swimming normally. We were playing like a race. And then we saw this guy… he was not far from us. He was like fishing.”

Duran explained that the young man had walked into the water with a fishing rod. “We didn’t really pay attention to him,” he said. “We were just chilling and talking.” But when Duran and his brother returned from a short swim, something was wrong.

“We came back — that took us like five minutes — and when we came back, we saw the guy that lives right in front; he was pulling the guy out of the water. We tried to run and ask, like, What happened?” Duran said. “He said, ‘Well, I don’t know. He was just perfectly fine swimming, and all of a sudden he was just, like, face down in the water.”

Efforts were made to revive the man. “He was performing CPR trying to, you know, bring back the guy. But it wasn’t working. That was going on for like 10 minutes,” Duran recalled. “He’s like, ‘Okay, one of you guys has to help me take him to the shade.”

Police was called. “The guy was… just lying on the ground completely unconscious, you know, just throwing up foam and blood,” he added.