May 20, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

She Was Remanded to Prison Over $50 Bill at Spoonaz Cafe

A Belize City café is under fire tonight after a routine payment issue spiraled into a national controversy. It all began when fifty-seven-year-old Allaire McDougal’s debit card was declined at Spoonaz Reggae Café, leaving her unable to cover a modest forty-eight-dollar bill. What followed was a chain of events that generated a strong public reaction, police involvement, a night in jail, and a court-ordered remand to the Belize Central Prison. But tonight, McDougal is free, and the café is issuing a public apology after facing a wave of backlash online. So, what really happened that Saturday afternoon? And who is Allaire McDougal? News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full story, including a look into McDougal’s complex past in the United States. Here’s that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A popular café in Belize City is doing some damage control tonight after a situation that didn’t sit well with the public. Spoonaz Reggae Café has issued a public apology after they called the police on a retired nurse who couldn’t pay her bill. It all happened on Saturday when fifty-seven-year-old Allaire McDougal stopped by the café, ordered some food and drinks, and ended up with a tab of forty-eight dollars. But when it came time to pay, her card was declined—and that’s when things took a turn.

Voice of: Allaire McDougal, Retired Nurse

“What I was charged with was intentionally trying to defraud a business. That sounds huge. It sounds like I was laundering money from some business, but it happened that I could not pay my twenty-four U.S. dollar bill. It was good, oxtail and rice and beans, fry plantain. I was referred there from a friend. Blueberry cheese scone, and a Mackeson. The chocolate Mackeson, I am hooked. As soon as this interview is done, I am not going to lie to you, that is what I am going to have.”

Staff at Spoonaz Reggae Café say they tried to work things out before calling the cops. According to them, Allaire McDougal’s debit card was declined not once, not twice, but three times because of insufficient funds. They say they spent about half an hour trying to sort it out with her, but when no solution came up, they decided to file a police report. McDougal, for her part, says this wasn’t the first time that day she ran into trouble. She told us she had a similar issue earlier at another restaurant in Belize City.

Allaire McDougal

“Belize sometimes the systems are down and it is not as fluid in the states. I am kind of patient. I am patient as I can because I have lived in both places, not everything is perfect in Belize. So she says your card is declined, I said well I am going to have to do dishes. She says come back and take care of it. I go to Spoonaz, that is when they told me your card is declined for insufficient funds. When I leave there, there is a man that looks like a homeless man down the street he grabs me and he says you have to pay your bill. He has the tourism police waiting for me as I am going to Belize Bank to get the cash. She said you have to go with one of our people to get the cash. I said sure, him and I could go to Belize Bank.”

Paul Lopez

“When you went to sit down at Spoonaz, was it with the intent to pay and the understanding that you have that money on your account?”

Allaire McDougal

“Of course, of course.”

After her card was declined at Spoonaz Reggae Café, McDougal was detained by police, held overnight at the Queen Street Police Station, and later charged with obtaining services by deception. Unable to meet a five-hundred-dollar bail, she was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. But what happened next was a wave of public outrage. Social media lit up with criticism of the café’s handling of the situation, prompting Spoonaz to issue a public apology. In their statement, they expressed regret and clarified that their intention was never to criminalize hardship. With mounting pressure, the café dropped the charge, and McDougal was set free.

Allaire McDougal

“I understand from the gentlemen that she is apologetic and wants me to come to the restaurant. I don’t know if I am ready for that. As good as the oxtail was, we will have to come to the understanding that we will sit down and talk about what is this, what is going on.”

But according to McDougal, this isn’t about financial hardship. She says she gets money from the U.S. every month, but claims that whenever she goes out to eat, the funds mysteriously vanish from her account.

Paul Lopez

“How do you occur this occurrence taking place repeatedly at repeated establishments.”

Allaire McDougal

“I can’t and that is the only reason I am doing this interview. I think if I bring awareness to it more people will talk about it. I just want to thank everyone for their support, I think that in times likes these when there is a lot of confusion going on to support one another it says a lot about the human nature.”

Paul Lopez

“What do you say to people that maintain the few that you have visited these establishment with the intent to receive meals, services by deception.”

Allaire McDougal

“Let us just wait until all the investigation is done.”

McDougal, the retired nurse at the center of the Spoonaz Café controversy, has a history that’s both tragic and complex. According to a CBS News report, she once served time in a U.S. prison after attempting to drown her eight-year-old son in a swimming pool. Bystanders intervened and saved the child, and witnesses say they heard her shouting, ‘It is the end of the world, I have to let you go.’ A relative has since come forward, revealing that McDougal has been diagnosed with a mental illness and is not well. That same relative, and many others, have offered to pay her outstanding bill at Spoonaz Café, hoping to bring some peace to a situation that has clearly touched a nerve across the country. It’s a reminder that behind every headline, there’s a human story and sometimes, a cry for help. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

16 Men Wrongfully Detained—Now Set to Be Compensated

A powerful court ruling is sending shockwaves through the justice system and reigniting debate over the use of emergency powers in Belize. Sixteen men detained during the 2020 Southside state of emergency have been awarded compensation after the High Court ruled their detention was unlawful and unconstitutional. But the story doesn’t end there. Some of those same men are now back behind bars under a new state of emergency—raising serious questions about rights, policing, and accountability. Tonight, we hear from one of the men at the center of it all, and from the attorney demanding justice be served.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Sixteen men who were locked up during the 2020 Southside state of emergency are now set to receive tens of thousands of dollars in compensation. That’s the ruling from High Court Justice Nadine Nabie, who found their detention was unlawful. Well-known defense attorney Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley is weighing in, and he’s not mincing words. He says the government needs to move quickly to pay up. According to Bradley, this isn’t just about money, it’s about justice and making things right after these men were wrongfully imprisoned.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-Law

“Even though in some quarters a few of you have conducted yourself badly, you still have rights, prisoners have rights, a horse who have been chopped have rights, animal have rights.”

Tonight, that debate takes a personal turn. One man, often at the center of police investigations for alleged gang ties, is speaking out. Hubert Baptist says that despite the accusations, his rights to liberty and legal protection matter just as much as anyone else’s. For him, being suspected of gang involvement should not mean being stripped of his basic human rights.

Voice of: Hubert Baptist, Lake Independence Resident

“So basically your door get broke down for nothing, your whole neighborhood get sabotaged for nothing. They put everybody in one bunch, when certain people the do certain things. They cant come grab people for couple people’s doing. If the police was investigating correct, who involved in things, do the correct vetting, pick up the correct people that is involved in the crime, that is justifiable. But don’t lock up any and everybody in the neighborhood. That is not correct.”

While the men were given official detention orders and told why they were being held, they say the reasons didn’t hold up. According to their testimony, police never provided solid evidence linking them to any gang activity. Instead, the men believe they were targeted simply because of where they live. The ruling is now fueling a broader conversation about justice, policing, and the protection of constitutional rights, especially for those living in high-crime areas.

Paul Lopez

“What are you thinking when an SOE is called?”

Voice of: Hubert Baptist

“Bway I gwen dah jail nothing else. I gwen dah jail and there is nothing I can do about it. Nuh care if you get a lawyer, three four lawyer, they sing to you that your rights get taken away from you, because it is not right. If you do something for your rights to get taken away then it makes sense, but if you don’t nothing and they take away your rights, that is violation. They take away your liberty.”

Paul Lopez

“You or anybody ever get an opportunity to argue your case, maybe a judicial body?”

Voice of: Hubert Baptist

“Never yet, you just get grab. They take you in a basic interview, sometimes to. Dah just the other day they take us in interviews. Before in 2020 you just go to piss house, they bring a paper to you, they say you are going up under state. They never had no interviews.”

Under Section 19(1) of Belize’s Constitution, anyone detained during a state of emergency has the right to have their case reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal. But according to Justice Nadine Nabie’s recent ruling, that never happened for the sixteen men detained in 2020. The court found that no such tribunal was ever set up—meaning the men’s constitutional rights were violated. It’s a serious breach that adds weight to the court’s decision declaring their detention unlawful.

Paul Lopez

“Do you think that people in the street understand their rights, rights to protection of law, rights to liberty, rights to judicial review.”

Voice of: Hubert Baptist

“I don’t think so, but I think people the learn. Knowledge is key so when they get knowledge and know that bway this nuh correct, it will be a problem for whole of society, because everybody is in this.”

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

“What is unlawful is unlawful and what is a violation of people’s rights, we must all speak up for that. This is how a society increasingly loses their rights. The biggest reason for losing their rights is that they don’t even know what is their rights.”

In a striking development, most of those same men have reportedly been detained again, this time under the current state of emergency. It’s a detail that’s raising fresh concerns about how these emergency powers are being used. Among the claimants is Earl Baptist, who was awarded fifteen thousand dollars in compensation under the court’s judgment. But there’s a complication, he’s currently serving a prison sentence for murder. His uncle, Hubert Baptist, has been vocal about the case, and tonight, the spotlight is once again on the balance between public safety and constitutional rights.

Voice of: Hubert Baptist

“That dah nuh wah victory for we, it is a victim for everybody. It is time for them to open up their eyes and start to understand that. The system have to do their job the right way. This will straighten them up to let them understand you cant just grab deh bally and send them up, you have to put them before a tribunal to know that they are involved.”

As this story continues to unfold, it’s clear the conversation around justice, detention, and due process is far from over. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Belize City Man Accused of Drug Possession and Trying to Bribe Police

Twenty-five-year-old Dray Mossiah, a painter from Cleghorn Street, is now facing two criminal charges after a late-night police search turned up suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia in his home. Police say they executed a search warrant at Mossiah’s residence around eleven p.m. on Monday. Inside, they reportedly found a small bag of white powder, along with straws believed to have cocaine residue. But things took a turn when Mossiah allegedly tried to bribe one of the officers with a hundred and forty dollars in cash, asking to be let go without charges. That move landed him a second charge, attempting to corrupt a police officer. Mossiah appeared in court this morning without a lawyer and initially pleaded guilty. But after hearing the details, he seemed unsure and told the magistrate, quote, no drugs were found in the straw, end quote. The court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and advised him to seek legal counsel. The magistrate noted that as a first-time offender for these particular charges, Mossiah could face fines between a hundred and two hundred dollars per count. However, it turns out he still owes over nine thousand, five hundred dollars from a 2021 drug conviction. Before he could post bail today, he was ordered to pay five hundred dollars toward that outstanding fine. Mossiah managed to make the payment just before four p.m. and was granted bail. He’s due back in court on July fifteenth and must make another payment toward his old fine by June.

Belize Family Court Driver Killed in Highway Crash

A tragic accident this morning claimed the life of a dedicated public servant while he was on the job. Raymond Belgrave, a well-known driver for the Belize Family Court, was killed in a crash along the Philip Goldson Highway in Orange Walk. Belgrave was on official duty, driving a government-issued Foton pickup truck, when he reportedly lost control just before a roundabout. The vehicle flipped and slammed into a nearby fence, landing on the opposite side. The impact proved fatal. Belgrave’s sudden passing has left family, friends, and colleagues in shock. Many have taken to social media to share their grief, remembering him as a dedicated worker and loyal friend. The tragedy comes just months after the Belgrave family mourned the loss of Raymond’s brother, Elwin Belgrave.

Father of Sealy Heartbroken at Excessive Force that Led to his Death

Police are still trying to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the death of thirty-year-old Selvin Sealy, a San Pedro resident who died shortly after being taken into custody. According to early reports, Sealy was arrested for allegedly trespassing and was restrained by officers due to what they described as aggressive behavior. But not long after his arrest, he was dead. A post-mortem has since ruled his death a homicide, confirming that he died from restraint asphyxia—a condition that occurs when someone is held in a way that prevents them from breathing properly. The news has left Sealy’s family devastated and searching for answers. His father, Selvin Sealy Senior, says his son had recently been released from prison and was dealing with mental health challenges, but insists he wasn’t violent and didn’t deserve the level of force used against him.

Selvin Sealy Sr., Father of Deceased

“It’s the violence. I think he never had been charged with violent, just behavior. But never like violent. His history is not I probably the record I would have to go back, but not in terms of beating people up or, violent, beating somebody up or something like that. So I would try to recall, but I don’t recall anything that, so I think the force was a little bit excessive. Because if you have a bunch of police that hold you and arrest you, they have you in handcuff. There’s no reason for you. There’s some different thing that I heard. I want to get the videos that some other thing transpire in that process that the police had him. But I just want justice. I’m not pointing fingers, but my son died.”

Now, the family is calling for justice, as the investigation continues and the public demands accountability.

Grieving Family of Selvin Sealy Shares Message of Encouragement

It’s been just over a week since the family of Selvin Sealy received the devastating news; he had died shortly after being arrested in San Pedro. Their worst fears were confirmed when police ruled his death a homicide and suspended the officers involved. A post-mortem revealed that Sealy died from restraint asphyxia, meaning he couldn’t breathe properly while being held down during the arrest. Now, the family’s grief has turned into a call for justice. We spoke with Sealy’s sister, Victoria Sealy, who, despite her heartbreak, is urging Belizeans to stay strong and united as the family pushes for answers and accountability.

Victoria Sealy, Sister of Deceased

“Recently, my brother passed away, unfortunately. I just want to give encouragement to Belize, the country. Tomorrow is never promised and it’s hard, but I just want to give encouragement in this time of hardship that, like I said, tomorrow isn’t promised, and just live every day loving your family and true happiness and true assurance of where you’re going after that is found in Jesus Christ. And that’s all I would like to share with the country of Belize.”

PACT Invests $12 Million in Belize’s Conservation Efforts

Belize is once again making headlines for its leadership in conservation. This week, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, better known as PACT, rolled out a major investment in the country’s natural future. With twelve million dollars committed over the next three years, and nearly eight million already disbursed, PACT is partnering with fifteen agencies to protect twenty-eight of Belize’s most treasured protected areas. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust, better known as PACT, is leading the charge when it comes to conservation in Belize. With strategic investments and strong partnerships, PACT continues to play a key role in protecting the country’s natural resources and building a more sustainable future.

Abil Castaneda, Executive Director, PACT

“The work that we do, that you do in conservation that it is a selfless commitment, it is a selfless dedication and passion and the truth is when all is said and done, we will look back, we will have pioneers and new commers and we want to be a part of that story, of the Belizean story in conservation.”

PACT is continuing its mission to protect Belize’s natural treasures. On Monday, the organization awarded a total of twelve million dollars in funding to fifteen co-management agencies. These groups are responsible for overseeing twenty-eight protected areas across the country.

Milagro Matus, Chairperson, PACT

“We come together today to celebrate the dedicated co-manager organizations that are at the very heart of our national conservation efforts. These organizations which are protectors of biodiversity, champions of communities, guardians of our ecosystems and partners in shaping a resilient nature positive future for Belize. This award ceremony is an opportunity to highlight the significant investments being made through PACTS conservation investment strategy 2.0.”

Fifteen agencies were honored as they officially signed on to a major conservation partnership with PACT. Representatives from each agency were on hand to receive their awards during a special ceremony. The agreement, which spans three years, marks a significant investment in Belize’s environmental future. During the event, PACT disbursed an impressive seven million dollars toward the total value of the project. Prime Minister John Briceño, speaking at the ceremony, emphasized the growing urgency for conservation efforts worldwide, highlighting Belize’s continued leadership in protecting natural resources.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Around the world there is this urgency of conservation and it has never been as clearer than ever. People are truly realizing how important conservation is, not only to themselves, but to planet earth. This is so much more we can do in this world, there is so much we can accomplish and in many instances it vexes me, it makes me upset. When we were in Scotland and I was interviewed I blurted out that we are doing our part, the big countries are not doing their part. The reporter pointed out what I said to Boris Johnson and he had to admit sheepishly that it is true, they are not doing their part to help us to protect mother earth for all of us.”

Minister Orlando Habet emphasized the importance of Belize maintaining its position as a pioneer in the global conservation movement. He praised the Protected Areas Conservation Trust’s latest initiative, Conservation Investment Strategy 2.0, calling it a bold step forward in protecting the country’s natural heritage. Minister Habet says the strategy reflects Belize’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, ensuring that both people and the planet benefit from smart, forward-thinking investments.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“It is also excitement times with in conservation and protected areas management here in Belize. With the highly anticipated Project Finance For Permanence Initiative to be launched later this year and with the newly established partnership between PACT and the Belize Fund also poised to become an avenue for further resource mobilization and support for the national protected areas system. The future is bright for conservation, indeed it is.”

The organization says its latest funding isn’t just backing NGO co-managers, but also community groups and government agencies. The focus? Building climate resilience. PACT says these investments are aimed at helping Belize’s protected areas adapt to the growing challenges of climate change, ensuring both ecosystems and communities are better prepared for the future. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Former PCC Commissioners Speak Out: “This Isn’t What We Agreed To”

A group of former commissioners from the People’s Constitution Commission is speaking out and they’re not happy with the final draft of the report that was handed over to Prime Minister John Briceño. In a strongly worded letter to the PM, the group laid out a list of serious concerns. They say they’ve raised these issues before with P.C.C. Chairman Anthony Chanona, but feel they were ignored. Among their complaints: poor handling of the process, questionable record-keeping, and what they call a misuse of the “consensus principle”—something they argue isn’t even part of the law. The group also claims that not all commissioners were given access to the full report, and that the final document doesn’t reflect a thorough or fair analysis. In fact, they say many commissioners never even approved it. The letter was signed by eight former commissioners representing unions, women’s rights advocates, and LGBT organizations. But not everyone agrees. Former media commissioner Louis Wade pushed back, saying the signatories weren’t part of the Technical Thematic Committees—the groups that actually shaped the report. In a written response, Wade said, (quote), While I do not support all the recommendations, the ones submitted reflect the voices of the Belizean people, based on the national consultations. I believe the process followed the law and was approved by vote, (end quote). The former commissioners are now asking for a sit-down with Prime Minister Briceño before the end of the month to explain their objections in more detail.

Belize and European Union Celebrate Friendship with EU in the Park

Over the weekend, Digi Park in Belize City came alive with culture, innovation, and international cooperation as the European Union hosted the second edition of EU in the Park. The event transformed the park into a vibrant hub of learning and cultural exchange, showcasing more than twenty EU-funded projects in areas like energy, healthcare, and climate action. It also celebrated over thirty years of partnership between the EU and Belize, with cultural displays from several EU Member States. The collaboration didn’t end there. On Monday, both sides sat down for a high-level dialogue, reaffirming their commitment to deeper cooperation. Key topics included Belize’s interest in joining the Schengen visa waiver list and the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, aimed at boosting investment in digital transformation, climate resilience, transport, health, and education.

Young Talent Shines Bright at National Festival of Arts

The stage was set, the lights were bright, and creativity was flowing today at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, where hundreds of primary school students gathered for this year’s National Festival of Arts. But this year’s celebration comes with something extra special; after more than two decades, the literary arts are back in the spotlight! From poetry to short stories, young writers are finally getting their moments to shine. And that’s not all, an inspiring visual arts exhibit is also turning heads. Tonight, we take you inside the festival that’s bringing Belize’s youngest talents to center stage. Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, shares her excitement over showcasing these talented young artists.

Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts

“Simultaneous Festival of Arts happening across the country. And we also have some exciting news. We have the literary arts returning to the Festival of Arts after a very long break, almost two decades. I think the last time we had the literary arts a creative writing publication was back in the late 1990s. And so that had gone dormant for a while in the Festival of Arts and we were determined to get it, that this was going to be the year we got back creative writing in the National Festival of Arts. And this morning we presented a publication with the participation of forty-four students from both primary and secondary, short stories and poetry. But for us it’s also making sure that the Festival of Arts is as inclusive as possible. And this is why it was so important for us to have the literary arts. We heard one of the young writers earlier today said that this means a lot to them because they feel included finally. And we are also seeing as, as well more participation with the visual art we have today as well. The launch of the Festival of Arts National Visual Art Exhibit upstairs in the gallery. And we have, again, that’s from preschool. Participating up to secondary, we have over eighty pieces of art on display. And the wonderful thing about the Festival of Arts Art exhibit is that it is viewed mainly by their peers because all next week we have the Golden Showcase of the Festiva of Arts, which is the highlight, and whenever they’re done performing and they’re done inside the theater, third, they go up and they look at the art and they can give that support to their peers as well.”

On Wednesday, the Belisle Art Gallery opens its doors to the Visual Arts Exhibit which features an inspiring collection of paintings, sketches, woodwork, and handicrafts created by Secondary school students.