May, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

White Smoke Signals Election of First American Pope

After two days of deliberations, white smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel chimney, announcing the election of a new pope. Sixty-nine-year-old Robert Prevost, the first-ever American pontiff, has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Although American, the cardinal is also recognized for his Latin American influence due to the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru, before becoming a bishop there. Today, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion shared a message of encouragement, highlighting the significant challenges facing the world and the Church, including mass migration, war, poverty, and division. He welcomed Pope Leo’s commitment to building bridges through dialogue and his call for visible unity without fear. The Government of Belize also extended warm congratulations, joining the Catholic community and the world in prayer for peace, unity, and hope under Pope Leo’s pastoral guidance. Belize looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Holy See in education and social development.

Belizean Appointed to NCDA Board

Laura Tucker-Longsworth of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition will represent the Caribbean on the Board of the NCD Alliance (NCDA) for the 2025–2027 term. Her appointment was confirmed during the NCDA’s virtual General Assembly, the alliance’s highest governing body, which convenes every two years.

Tucker-Longsworth joins a 14-member board composed of global leaders in noncommunicable disease (NCD) advocacy and policy.

“It has been such a privilege and an honour to have served as the NCDA President over the past two years,” said the outgoing President, Dr Monika Arora. “I have every confidence NCDA will continue to go from strength to strength under the leadership of Leslie Rae Ferat and the new Board during these next two years.”

Leslie Rae Ferat will now be leading the new board for the next two years. The new board is expected to play a critical role as the NCDA approaches the fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. “. I look forward to working with the Board, the NCDA team and our members around the world to deliver meaningful change for the millions of people at risk and living with NCDs,” Ferat said.

UDP’s Morning Show Suspended After On-Air Clash Between ‘Fonso’ and ‘Shyne’

In the wake of a fiery on-air confrontation between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and host Alfonso Noble, the United Democratic Party’s morning show “Fuss Ting Da Mawning” has been suspended.

That’s according to a WhatsApp message reportedly sent by the party’s acting chairman, Alberto August.

August informed that the decision was made in the interest of party unity during what he described as a “critical juncture” in the UDP’s ongoing internal restructuring.

“The public back-and-forth airing of the Party’s challenges on the Party’s radio cannot and will not be allowed to continue,” August wrote, noting that the program had become “fertile grounds for the propagation of disunity,” particularly with live callers contributing to the fray.

The move comes just hours after a heated exchange on the show between Barrow and Noble. The verbal exchange shows deep rifts still simmering within the party following its recent electoral defeat and ongoing leadership disputes.

August said the morning show would remain off-air “to allow the leaders of the Party to get the job done with minimized hindrance.”

PM Appoints High-Level Cabinet Team to Negotiate with Unions

Prime Minister John Briceño appointed Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, Francis Fonseca, Oscar Requena, Minister Henry Charles Usher, and Chris Coye to negotiate the Public Service Union, Belize National Teachers’ Union, and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers.

This is what the Prime Minister told the unions in a May 6th response letter. Briceño wrote, “I am in receipt of your letter on 22nd April 2025 where you raised several concerns. After carefully reviewing these concerns, I am gratified by your openness to constructive dialogue.”

The team has been tasked with addressing the matters raised by the unions, including proposals from the Joint Standing Committees related to revenue enhancement, cost-saving initiatives, and pension reform. Once the discussions conclude, the delegation will report back to the full Cabinet for further decision-making.

“The Government remains committed to continue the engagement, which so far has been successful in producing outcomes which, as you put it, ‘will move the process forward,’” Briceño wrote.

The unions will be demonstrating on Friday in Belmopan during the inaugural joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Attempted Murder in Corozal

Police are investigating the attempted murder of 34-year-old Charles Itzab in Corozal Town on Wednesday night. According to police, Itzab was attacked while riding his bicycle on Diego Street just before 7:30.

Reports are that an unknown assailant approached and opened fire, hitting Itzab in several parts of his body. He was first taken to Corozal Community Hospital and then transferred to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Police have not disclosed the motive behind the attack, and no suspects have been detained.

Queen Conch Season to Close May 25

The Belize Fisheries Department has announced that the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishing season will officially close at the end of the business day on May 25, 2025. The closure comes after the national production quota for the 2024–2025 season was met.

The decision is in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012 and will be formally declared by the Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, Hon. Andre Perez.

All conch fishing activities must cease on the specified date, and the season will remain closed until it reopens on October 1, 2025. The Fisheries Department is urging fishers, establishments, and the public to use, consume, or properly dispose of any Queen Conch meat in their possession by the deadline.

Anyone found in possession of Queen Conch after May 25 will face prosecution under Belize’s Fisheries Regulations.

To report illegal fishing activities, the public is encouraged to contact the Fisheries Department at 224-4552.

Arrest Made in Murder of Hope Creek Teacher Simon Arana Jr.

Nearly three months after the tragic shooting death of 23-year-old teacher Simon Arana Jr. in Hope Creek Village, police have made an arrest. On Thursday, May 8, authorities formally arrested and charged 34-year-old Owen Otis Rhaburn with murder.

Arana, a beloved carpentry instructor at the Stann Creek Technical and Vocational Institute, was found dead at his home on the night of February 10. He had reportedly been socializing when gunshots rang out, cutting his life short.

Pope Leo XIV: Robert Prevost Becomes First American Pontiff

Standing before a sea of thousands in St. Peter’s Square, Robert Prevost, the newly elected pope and first-ever American pontiff, delivered a message of peace and unity as he took the name Pope Leo XIV.

“May peace be with all of you,” the 69-year-old Chicago-born pope said, drawing a wave of applause and cheers from the crowd gathered beneath the Vatican balcony.

In his first public address following a two-day conclave, Pope Leo XIV thanked the cardinals who elected him and extended a heartfelt greeting to the Church of Rome. “We can all walk together toward that homeland God has prepared for us,” he said, pausing briefly as the crowd erupted in support.

Switching to Spanish, the former bishop of Chiclayo offered gratitude to his former diocese in Peru, calling its people “loyal” and “faith-filled.” His words were met with even more applause.

The new pope paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, pledging to continue his spirit of humility and compassion. “Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love,” Pope Leo said. “Help us, and help each other, build bridges.”

He closed his remarks by returning to the theme of peace: “Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you.”

BREAKING: White Smoke Rises: New Pope Elected at the Vatican

White smoke has emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that a new pope has been chosen.

Crowds are gathering in St. Peter’s Square as the world waits for the new pontiff to make his first appearance on the balcony within the hour.

A senior cardinal will soon confirm the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” – Latin for “we have a Pope” – and introduce the new pontiff by his chosen papal name

High Court Ruling Shakes Up U.D.P. Leadership Battle

After months of legal wrangling, the High Court has delivered a decisive blow in the United Democratic Party’s leadership saga. The court ruled that the expulsion of Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton from the U.D.P. in August 2024 was unlawful. Additionally, the court found that the Unity Convention held by the Alliance for Democracy faction in October 2024 was not a national convention, rendering its decisions non-binding. This ruling comes after Shyne Barrow, the former opposition leader, challenged the validity of the convention and its outcomes. The controversy led to two competing slates of U.D.P. candidates in the March twelfth general election, resulting in the party retaining five seats in the House of Representatives. Notably, Barrow lost his seat in Mesopotamia. The decision is a significant setback for Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton, who has been referring to herself as the U.D.P. party leader. As the dust settles, Barrow shared his reaction with reporters this afternoon, marking another twist in the ongoing political drama.

Shyne Barrow, Claimant

“Very emotional, very grateful. Grateful to Professor Christopher Malcolm, Imanuel Williams, the entire team that worked on this case, all the supporters, all the UDP supporters that were heartbroken as to what was done to the party by those people who engaged in fraud and deception. And all along, I kept saying to everyone, I kept saying to the media that these people were not the United Democratic Party. They had no basis upon which to make those claims to the legitimacy of October twentieth, and I am very grateful that Justice Hondora saw things our way.”

Reporter

“So, what happens next?”

Shyne Barrow

“Well, we will continue with the rebuilding of the party. I know that the PR officer put out a release yesterday talking about constitutional reform because our constitution needs to be strengthened. Even though the ruling from the judge makes clear that October twentieth was invalid, there are many procedural inconsistencies, gaps, loopholes that need to be closed, ambiguities that need to be clarified so that we never even approach the type of catastrophes that we had with all of these geniuses, political geniuses and constitutional experts interpreting the constitution to their favor. What they did was corrupt, the height of corruption. But this is what I was fighting against for my political career.”