2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Man in Wheelchair Killed in Broad Daylight

Belize City police are investigating the fatal shooting of Gion “Gizmo” Bernard. Bernard, who is disabled and got around in a wheelchair, was on Castle Street when the incident occurred.

His body remains on the ground as investigators comb the area for clues and evidence.

The motive for the shooting is under investigation.

News Five is currently on the scene. More details to follow.

Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout

Channel 5 Belize is gearing up for comprehensive coverage of Belize’s general elections on March 12, 2025, with the theme “Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout.” The programming will offer pre-election features, voter perspectives, expert commentary, and live updates during Election Day. Viewers can expect in-depth analysis of key issues like the economy, governance, and national security, as well as real-time election results and post-election breakdowns. Channel 5 promises to deliver the most trusted and engaging election coverage. Join us on Facebook and Youtube. Coverage begins at 6 a.m.

BREAKING: Disabled Man Shot in Belize City

Shots were fired a few minutes ago on Castle Street in Belize City. Reports to News 5 are that a man identified as Gion Bernard “Gizmo” was shot. He was in a wheelchair. Pictures of the scene show his body on the street.

This is a developing story.

Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout

Ash Wednesday: A Time for Reflection and Reconciliation

Today marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, a time of prayer, fasting, and reflection for many Christians across the country. Worshippers gathered in churches to receive ashes in the form of a cross on their foreheads, symbolising repentance and the fleeting nature of life. The Lenten season lasts for forty days, concluding at the end of Holy Week in April.

During Ash Wednesday services, priests or ministers apply ashes—typically made by burning palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday—onto the foreheads of believers in the shape of a cross. As they do so, they often recite the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” These ashes symbolise mortality, humility, and the call to turn away from sin.

Lent itself is a time of spiritual discipline, where many Christians commit to fasting, giving up certain luxuries, or dedicating more time to prayer and charitable acts. Ash Wednesday, as the starting point of this journey, serves as a reminder of life’s fleeting nature and the importance of spiritual renewal.

Though primarily a religious observance, Ash Wednesday holds cultural significance in many communities, reminding people—regardless of their faith—of the values of humility, self-examination, and personal growth.

Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout

U.S. Announces Visa Restrictions on Foreign Officials Aiding Illegal Immigration

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign government officials who knowingly facilitate the transit of undocumented migrants into the United States. The policy, unveiled on March 5, 2025, will apply to immigration and customs officers, airport and port authorities, and other officials accused of failing to enforce immigration laws or implementing policies that enable illegal migration, particularly through the U.S. southwest border.

Rubio said that securing America’s borders is essential for national security and economic stability. He called on countries along migratory routes to take greater responsibility in preventing unlawful transit. The new policy will complement the expanded 3C policy, which was revised in 2024 to impose restrictions on private sector actors providing travel and transportation services to illegal migrants.

According to the U.S. government, these visa restrictions will remain in place until affected officials enforce stricter immigration policies. The measure falls under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the Secretary of State authority to deny entry to individuals whose presence in the U.S. could have serious foreign policy implications. Family members of sanctioned individuals may also be impacted by the restrictions.

Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout

CCJ Denies Attorney Ramlogan’s Special Leave Application

Jeremy Enriquez and his attorney, Anand Ramlogan, have hit another roadblock in their efforts to stop the March twelfth general election. The case is currently with the Court of Appeal. On Monday, the court held a case management hearing and decided that both sides would make their submissions this week and early next week. This timeline is cutting it close to next Wednesday’s election. Late Monday evening, Senior Counsel Ramlogan filed for special leave to appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). However, today the CCJ ruled that the application lacked merit and denied special leave. Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, representing the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, described Ramlogan’s CCJ application as “forum shopping.”

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney-At-Law

“It was very obvious because of his pertinence and impudence that Mr. Ramlogan did not like the way the court granted its order. Without saying anything to anybody we received an application by him for special leave, directly to the CCJ. Today the CCJ dismissed it saying it was absolutely without merit. The matter is before the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal has not even grappled with it, yet because it gave directions that was not to his liking because of timing, he thought he would go to the Caribbean Court of Justice. In my opinion it is a clear case of what lawyers call forum shopping. If you don’t like this court, you will run to a next one. It was transparent and obvious and entirely without merit. In order for you to appeal there are some procedural hurdles that has to be completed. He attempted and the court entertained him, he attempted to jump over those hurdles without completing them. The court entertained him and said well we have to file evidence. You have an application, there has to be evidence and submissions and both sides. Those orders were given. The result of those orders is that it was unlikely that his application would have been heard by twelfth of Match. He felt that the Court of Appeal was frustrating Mr. Enriquez’s claim.”

Another Blow to Election Injunction Attempts

Courtenay stated that attorney Ramlogan’s application to the CCJ was a last-ditch effort due to the Court of Appeal’s directives. He argued that there is a long-standing tradition in Commonwealth countries where courts do not prevent elections from taking place once a prime minister dissolves the National Assembly.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney- At-Law

“In my opinion it is the last hope and there were directions given by the Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal is going to determine when it is going to entertain the case. There are many difficulties which I wont go into at this stage. I think it is misconceived and we will deal with that when the time is right, but I do not believe that the Court of Appeal is going to fall for what Mr. Ramlogan is attempting to do. There is a long and consistent line of cases int eh Commonwealth that says when a Prime Minister dissolves the National Assembly it is time for the people to speak and the courts will not restrain the holding of elections. That is a political decision made by a prime minister in consultation with his advisors. It is a political decision and the court is not going to interfere with it. Indeed when we were before Justice Hondora he pointed out to Mr. Ramlogan asking him whether he had read the Christoher Ram case from the CCJ and there are two CCJ cases which have stated that courts are not going to tell a prime minister when to hold an election and that you cant hold it at this time and you are only going to hold it at that time. That has been consistent throughout the Caribbean. I think Mr. Ramlogan thinks the SC behind his name is not Senior Counsel but Special Counsel, well he is not that special.”

Jeremy Enriquez Discusses CCJ Decision

We also heard from Jeremy Enriquez, the claimant in this case. He explained that his attorney filed the last-minute special application to the CCJ because they were worried, they wouldn’t get a Court of Appeal hearing before March twelfth. Despite the outcome, Enriquez is glad to see renewed interest in the matter.

Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant

“The rational for taking this to the CCJ was that we were very concerned that if we did not receive a hearing before the day of the election then there would be attempts to moot our entire case or just call it off. So we wanted to, we were seeking to just make a point in having the government recognize the violation of the constitution that is consistently being done over the past years, especially since the last election when this government promised to ensure there was proper revision of our electoral division. We recognize from the beginning this was not going to be an easy battle. This was an uphill battle, given the short time that we had to call the government to task to be accountable for their actions. This is not the first time that this political party, administration faced the court for re-division, the first time being before the last election which they joined forces with the previous administration to find ways to stop the re-division before elections. So the other case is still before the court with the Belize Peace Movement. I will have to get back to the drawing board with my attorney to see how we proceed, but the question remain, who the Belizean people turn to when their constitutional rights are consistently violated.”

Does G.O.B. Intend to Apply Cost in Election Injunction Appeal?

Interestingly, if the Court of Appeal rules in favor of the Government of Belize, they are entitled to costs. But will the defendants seek costs from Jeremy Enriquez in this public interest case? Some might argue that it would be unfair to impose costs on the claimants. We asked Courtenay about their plans.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney-At-Law

“As a general rule in public law and constitutional law cases, the state, if it wins, does not usually gets cost unless the court is persuaded that the claimants acted wholly unreasonably. That they are persisting in circumstances where the law or the fact are against them and they are still taking up court time. Then an application can be made to say in this particular case there was some unreasonable behavior and we are asking the court to exercise its discretion. I have no instruction by the attorney general to say go after Mr. Enriquez for cost. I will say this, the application to the CCJ was to quote the CCJ, “without merit”. That application was conceived of by Mr. Ramlogan not Mr. Enriquez. There is something called wasted cost which focuses not on the client but the lawyer. That is something that needs to be looked at in this particular matter. Just think about this, there are two members of the National Assembly, Fort George and Pick Stock, how can you stop the elections?”

Jeremy Enriquez, “we are not doing this for ourselves”

Courtenay has stated that they do not plan to seek costs from the claimants. However, when we asked Jeremy Enriquez for his opinion, he said it would be hypocritical and disrespectful for them to even consider such a move.

Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant

“The government seeking cost in a matter where people are fighting in a matter where people are fighting for their rights that are violated and on top of that incurring cost where the government themselves ought to support is something I would see as very hypocritical and grossly disrespectful. We are not doing this for ourselves. It is for an entire nation to ensure our democracy is preserved.”

BPM Redistricting Case Before the High Court

The Belize Peace Movement has a redistricting case currently before the High Court. It’s still in the early stages, and it’s unclear if it needs to be resolved before the general election. The movement is asking the court to determine if the current electoral divisions violate the Constitution of Belize. Attorney Eamon Courtenay provided an update on the hearing.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney at Law

“There was an order by Justice Hondora that the record be prepared and filed and it was not filed. It is eight hundred and fifty-two pages and was sent to electronically at four-thirty-seven yesterday. The judge indicated this morning hat he had not read or received it and Ms. Sharon Pitts for the claimants apologized and the judge gave her time to file it. He asked her to explain the urgency and she gave her explanation that the elections are coming. It was pointed out to her that her clients are not asking for any urgent relief, any interim relief, any injunction, so what is the rush. So if you ask me my view I will say we don’t know when we will physically get the record of eight hundred and fifty-two pages. I would assume later today or tomorrow. But when we get it the judge will have to make a determination of what is the urgency since you are not asking for an injunction. It is just pure legal arguments. There is no application in that case to stop the election.”