Tonight, three of the six men police claim were being investigated as possible members of the George Street Gang were dragged to court to face disorderly conduct charges after a public fight on Plues Street on February eighteenth, 2025. Out of the seven men identified from police footage, only three were criminally charged this morning: Damion Saldano, Jaheim Bent, and Shemaud Nunez. The trio, who had been detained for several days, arrived at court on the prison bus and were finally brought before a Magistrate in Court #4 around noon, unrepresented. Each was read a single charge of disorderly conduct. Nunez, the first to be arraigned, explained that he, Bent, and Saldano were friends and had been smoking weed when they intervened in a fight between some girls down the street. According to Nunez, they were then accused of beefing, leading to their charges. When the Magistrate asked Nunez why he pleaded guilty if he wasn’t guilty, Nunez said he had been in custody for two days and just wanted to get it over with. Upon hearing they would be fined instead of imprisoned; all three men maintained their guilty pleas. They were each fined two hundred dollars, plus a five-dollar court cost, with a payment deadline of March twenty-first, 2025, or face one month in prison.
Year: 2025
Bank Robbers will Learn their Fate n Court
In July 2020, a group of men pulled off a daring daylight robbery at the Scotia Bank Belama Branch. They managed to escape with $34,572.33 in cash and cheques, but their getaway was cut short after a shootout with police, leading to the capture of four men linked to the heist. At the end of their trial, the men faced charges of robbery, two counts of aggravated assault on PC Robert Sutherland and PC Robert Parchue, possession of firearms and ammunition, and damage to property. However, they were acquitted of most charges, except for George Meighan, who was found not guilty of damage to property. The men were also acquitted of one count of aggravated assault on PC Robert Parchue, who never testified. The five men initially involved in the heist were Jason McKenzie, then 28; Leon Westby, then 24; George Meighan, then 17, now 22; Anthony Barrow, then 29; and the deceased Gasman Young, who was shot and later succumbed to his injuries. Last Friday, the men were found guilty of three charges, but their sentencing was delayed as the court awaited a Social Inquiry Report (SIR) for Meighan, who was only 17 at the time of the robbery. During the trial, only Westby had legal representation from attorney Ronell Gonzalez, while Meighan and McKenzie were unrepresented. Gonzalez requested a suspended sentence for Westby, highlighting that he is a first-time offender and a new father. Westby’s aunt, Lorraine Elaine Thurton, also spoke on his behalf, asking for leniency. McKenzie, who is awaiting a sentence for murder, asked the court to consider his role as a facilitator and teacher in prison. Meighan, a first-time offender and father of a 3-year-old, pleaded for leniency, citing his young age at the time of the crime and his role as the sole provider for his son. During the trial, PC Robert Sutherland, the only police witness, identified Meighan and Barrow but confused McKenzie and Westby. The families of the convicted men plan to appeal the conviction. In their defense, the men claimed they were at the scene in a boat but couldn’t explain why. Meighan’s father stated that his son was sent to the Seashore area for a fishing trip with Young and Barrow, who never showed up for the trial. Barrow is believed to have fled to the United States.
Cause of Death of Three American Women in Belize Confirmed
Gian Cho, Executive Director, B.N.F.S.S.
“The autopsies of the three women were conducted on Monday, twenty-fourth February so we did the three autopsies, starting in the morning and continuing one after the other. We had our three medical examiners be present during the autopsy. The lead examiner concluded the cause of that, the terminal cause of that to be acute pulmonary edema and the antecedent causes, we would call them or due to, is still pending investigation. So acute pulmonary edema was determined by the medical examiner to have been because of that for all three victims. And what led to acute preliminary edema is what is pending investigation. That term simply means that we need to do further testing on samples taken from the bodies during autopsy. So, as part of the standard process for the postmortem examination, samples are taken not only of blood, but also vitreous humor, some tissue samples, stomach contents as well and so to be able to provide the laboratory testing for the medical examiner to get that information as to what may have led to acute pulmonary edema. Further testing involves three different sections or scopes if you will. That we will start this week is to try to identify what types of controlled substances or drugs, if any, were in some of the samples taken from the scene. These were from different items that would’ve been collected from the hotel room to see if there were any controlled substances found in those.”
3 U.D.P Candidates Faces Off Against 1 P.U.P Candidate in Port
Port Loyola voters are in for a unique race! On March twelfth, they’ll see three U.D.P candidates on the ballot – the only division with that many U.D.P hopefuls vying for the seat. All three are aiming to defeat the People’s United Party’s incumbent, Gilroy Usher Sr. It’s definitely one of the races to watch. News Five’s Paul Lopez has been on the ground, chatting with all four candidates. Here’s his report.
The political race in Port Loyola is really heating up. Three United Democratic Party candidates are challenging the People’s United Party incumbent, Gilroy Usher Sr., who is seeking a second term after his first win in the 2020 general election. So, who will come out on top?
Gilroy Usher, P.U.P. Candidate, Port Loyola
“It was a tremendous honor to serve the people of Port Loyola. I want to say thanks for giving me that opportunity. In serving them I have been able to address a number of things, land, housing, educational opportunities, improvement of sporting facilities and promotion of small businesses.”
In an interesting twist, Gilroy Usher will be going head-to-head with his son-in-law, Phillip “Superman” Willoughby, who is one of the three U.D.P candidates in the race.
Phillip Willoughby, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola
“People will look and criticize my marriage. Paul I think everybody suppose to celebrate a marriage. It is a union before God and man. I don’t know if they would rather see the type of politicians run around, frolicking around, messing around.”
Willoughby emphasizes that his candidacy is all about addressing residents’ needs. He took us to the home of Brenda Usher, a local resident, who passionately voiced her frustrations about the poor condition of her streets.
Brenda Usher, Port Loyola Resident
“Oh, I nuh healthy, ih nuh healthy. I beg mih area rep. I don’t know if dah the area rep fih fix it, or the city council. But I know somebody need fuh come help we, because we the tek lick dah back yah.”
Phillip Willoughby
“The houses from the Esquivel era, the three-bedroom, two-bedroom houses were the best of the best of UDP at the time. That is what I want to bring back to the people of Port Loyola. That is what they deserve. They need and deserve their land. They need and deserve their homes.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola
“In thirteen years I have built over five hundred houses, cement and wood houses for the residents of Port Loyola and they don’t owe N.O.T.H.I.N.G, nothing. What is important, your services. If you notice I didn’t single handedly call nobody. I didn’t mention on person I build a house for. I will mention things that happened in the community across. Like for example, from Fabers, by the long barracks, corner of Ceasar Ridge Road to the George Price Highway was cemented under my tenure. Nurse Finely, Allan Pitts Gill Street where Mr. Usher has his office. So I left the area under good standards. I took Port Loyola from a poor constituency to a semi-middle class as we speak right now.”
Career Educator, Dr. Nelma Mortis, is the only woman in the Port Loyola race. She emphasized that her approach isn’t about exploiting residents’ struggles for political gain. Instead, she invited us to meet in an office to discuss her vision for the constituency.
Nelma Mortis, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola
“I see a lot of environmental conditions. There is a need for job growth in the constituency and additional to that, there is need for more social interaction with the environment and people in there. I am very confident in this we in, because the people of Port needs a change. The people of Port has been neglected by my direct opponent, Mr. Usher. Mister Boots Martinez has completed my task and he needs to retire gracefully. And, Mr. Willoughby does have good intention, but he seems to be a little bit laid back and tardy in his approach to doing the work as to what should be done.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
PM Says U.D.P. Nomination Drop-Outs Prove Democracy is Alive
On Nomination Day, the country watched in shock as four of the thirty U.D.P. candidates under the leadership of Moses “Shyne” Barrow failed to show up for their nominations. This means you won’t see the names of Dean Samuels for Pickstock, Melvin Hewlett for Fort George, Norman Usher for Dangriga, and Dennis Williams for Toledo East on the ballot come election day. They pulled out of the race at the last minute, and when asked about it that evening, Barrow seemed completely unaware. While some have suggested that the P.U.P. might have influenced the candidates’ withdrawal, Prime Minister John Briceño dismissed this as a desperate allegation. When asked about the impact of these withdrawals on democracy in Belize, the PM confidently stated that it proves democracy is alive and well.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“It’s not a failure of democracy. People vote for who they want. In this instance, they quite likely feel that Anthony Mahler has been doing a great job, so why would I want to go and challenge Anthony Mahler if he’s doing a good job? Why would I challenge him if I believe that the people are supporting him> I’d be wasting my time, my effort and the lee bit ah resources, it’s not a failure. It is a true testament to the democratic process of Belize.”
Reporter
“The Opposition Leader is suggesting that you guys paid off his candidates to not show up.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I guess desperate statements during desperate times and I guess trying to find an excuse. It is obvious that the person who was there felt he doesn’t have a chance to win and felt that Anthony, by any measurement, has been doing a tremendous job as the Area Representative in the Pickstock division, so why would you go with a person if you know you’re going to lose? If you look at it, what the Leader of the Opposition is trying to do, he’s thinking beyond this general election. He’s thinking about his election as leader of the party because after this general election it is well known that the U.D.P. is going to have a national convention and it is important for him to field candidates just to field candidates, knowing they’re not going to win but he needs to do that to control the delegates, so I don’t expect anything else from the Leader of the Opposition.”
Meet the Candidates in Cayo Central and Cayo North
Our Meet the Candidates coverage continues in the Cayo District! Tonight, we’ll also hear from candidates in the Port Loyola constituency. But first, let’s head to the Cayo Central and Cayo North constituencies. Each of these divisions will feature a candidate from both major parties, plus a third-party contender. Once known as the Red Hills, these areas turned blue in 2020. Will that change on March 12, or will it stay the same? News Five’s Paul Lopez has the report.
With the third largest number of registered voters in the Cayo District, this constituency will see three political candidates face off in the March twelfth general election. Alex Balona, the People’s United Party candidate, is hoping to win back the voters’ trust and secure a second consecutive term in office.
Alex Balona, P.U.P Candidate, Cayo Central
“Well our executive as you can see behind me, they are an excellent team and they have been with me throughout the four and a half years. And they know exactly what to go and tell our constituents. I know the people are wise. The next government will be a PUP government and Cayo Central will remain P.U.P.”
Balona is facing some heat after a 2020 election day video resurfaced on social media, showing him spitting in the face of a U.D.P. member. Balona recently explained that he was first assaulted with a phone. So, the big question is: will March twelfth be free of any spitting incidents as United Democratic Party candidate Mark O’Brien takes on Balona?
Mark O’Brien, U.D.P Candidate, Cayo Central
“The people has eyes to see, ears to hear, and they also feel what is going on. Across the nation the people are complaining about high cost of living. In our area, the farmers are telling us they love farming. They are not asking for ham, turkey, handouts or money. They are not even asking for seeds. They are asking for that opportunity to have better road access to be able to harvest their crops and come out and make a return on their hard work they have invested in their agriculture field.”
Elections in Belize have always been a tough climb for third parties. But that doesn’t deter Roody Wade, the leader of the Belize Justice Movement. Despite having little to no resources, he’s been putting his name on the ballot for decades and is ready to do it again in Cayo Central.
Roody Wade, B.J.M Candidate, Cayo Central
“What is working in my favor, I am glad you ask it, because people are tired of that two party system. You will find out that people are showing that energy that yes, I will take their fifty dollars and a hundred and they will be surprised what will catch them. We see the constant flooding never stop. The neglect per say totally. People utter to me I don’t even see this area representative from the time he got elected. I have not seen him.”
Keep an eye on Cayo North. As the second largest constituency in Cayo, it’s definitely one to watch. Michel “Micho” Chebat is feeling confident about being reelected for a second consecutive term.
Michel “Micho” Chebat, P.U.P Candidate, Cayo North
“This has been an honor of a lifetime for me. The people of Cayo North entrusted their faith and trust in me and that is something we take very seriously. We have been working over the past four years. We have been delivering to them on our promises. We are very confident that we will be returned on the twelfth of March.”
In 2020, Chebat defeated former U.D.P Area Representative Omar Figueroa. The one-term representative has returned to challenge Chebat, in hopes of a victory.
Dr. Omar Figueroa, U.D.P. Candidate, Cayo North
“There was a wide tsunami in 2020, no one will deny that. But when you look at what has happened from 2020 to now, that is what is at stake here. That is the report card that people will evaluate. So it is not about what happened din 2020. It is about what happened since 2020 up until March twelfth. And as you walk the streets, you sense what the people of Cayo North are feeling and I am telling you Paul we have every confidence that in Cayo North I will deliver.”
The Belize Justice Movement has introduced their candidate for Cayo North, Leroy Lisbey. As a retired public officer, Leroy believes he’s the fresh face and change that the people have been eagerly waiting for.
Leroy Lisbey, B.J.M. Candidate, Cayo North
“I am very optimistic because I am running grass root, people centered campaign. I am not like the two political parties who are running on broken, empty promises. I am walking the streets and hearing what people need. That is my passion. I will work for them on the basic things. I will ensure that fair land distribution is there. Improve the healthcare system, unlimited opportunities for the youth and promote economic growth.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
P.M. Briceño and Lawrence Ellis Campaigns in Mesop
This afternoon, Prime Minister John Briceño toured the Mesopotamia constituency with the People’s United Party candidate, Lawrence Ellis. The residents of Mesopotamia have been loyal to the United Democratic Party since 1979. With just thirteen days left until the March twelfth general election, the P.U.P. is hopeful that this time, the majority will rally behind their candidate.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I am convinced we have a very good candidate here in Mesopotamia and this division has been represented by the U.D.P. since 1979. When you look at what has happened over those years, it is a shame that the U.D.P. has controlled this division, yet they have done very little. Now we have a candidate that grew up in this area. While he did not grow up in Mesopotamia he grew up in Queen square, next door. When he came to talk to me and say this is something he wants to do, I grilled him and said, are you sure this is something you want to do, because you are going to go into a division that is very tough, traditional U.D.P. But he explained that he live sin the area, knows the people and understand what is the challenges and he believes that being a business person he can come up with innovative ways to help people in Mesopotamia division.”
Lawrence Ellis, P.U.P. Candidate, Mesopotamia
“This visit is a clear indication that the leadership of the P.U.P. is willing to work and take back Mesop. I am working hard n this division every day. The people of Mesop need to understand that there is no future in the U.D.P. They have been here for forty-six years and this division is lacking in many ways. So, my presence and the prime minister’s presence is a clear indication that the P.U.P. is ready to take back Mesop for the people of Mesop.”
Land Registry Reform to Include Digitization & Better Land Tax System
Back in 2013, former Prime Minister Dean Barrow didn’t mince words when he called out the Ministry of Natural Resources, especially the Lands Department, as a breeding ground for corruption. There were stories of desk clerks practically demanding “incentives” or gifts just to do their job of processing land documents. If you didn’t play along with this corrupt game, your paperwork could take forever or even mysteriously disappear. Fast forward to today, the P.U.P. Government is promising to clean up this mess. They’re planning to digitize the land registry, push through new land laws, and improve the land tax collection system. Prime Minister John Briceño shared more details about these plans today.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“There is a process when you are transferring land from one person to the other, maybe the people at Lands could have been more vigilant, probably. maybe some may be involved, I don’t know, but yes, I think there’s a lot that has to be left to be done in the Lands Department. There are a number of things that we want to put into place. First of all, the DPM has given me a copy of the proposed legislation for real estate agents – to regulate that industry. It is something that I started working, I had it pretty much ready when I resigned back then in 2007, but it seems that the previous government had no interest in working on that. Or D.P M obviously got carried away – well, I shouldn’t say got carried away but was tied up with all of these land cleanings that he continues to do. And then he finally has this bill ready to take to Cabinet and then to the National Assembly when the elections came upon us. In his mind, the timeline I think he was working was November, 2025. So he did not have it ready, but to take it to the National Assembly. But we’re working on that, so we have that ready and that’s going to be a priority in the next government. Secondly, we’re looking at digitizing the land registry on the titles unit because once we can digitize that, it slows down. It makes the issue off fraudulent transactions more difficult because then there is a digital imprint of what is happening. And so we want to do that, not only to prevent fraud, but also to provide a more effective and efficient service for the private sector. And thirdly, we need to be able to digitize the land tax unit of the ministry and see once we can digitize that. And maybe look at how the Lands Department can partner with the Belize Tax Service to be able to have a more effective and efficient ways to be able to collect land tax. I am told, and I may be wrong, that we have as much as a hundred million dollars in land tax to collect. But we collect maybe ten or twenty percent of that. So we have to be able to digitize it, modernize it, and then to be able to collect that money is in a timely fashion.”
New Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre Opened in Belmopan
Today marked the grand opening of the new Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre in the Maya Mopan area. This impressive facility, which replaces the former Dorothy Menzies Children’s Home in Belize City, comes with a price tag of $2.1 million. The children here will now enjoy spacious amenities that were previously unavailable, including an open activity area a playground. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene to capture the event.
This brand-new, bright yellow building, known as the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center, in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan, is now home to Belize’s most vulnerable victims of abuse. Named after Dorothy Menzies, a dedicated member of the first Board of Directors, the facility honors her tireless efforts and passion for supporting abused and neglected children since the original children’s home opened in Belize City.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Some of the stories of what happens sometimes to our children is absolutely heart wrenching; the type of neglect, the type of sexual abuse, the type of difficulties of discrimination because of special needs or any kind of handicap. Some of these stories are heart wrenching, You can’t even sleep at night sometimes. It is important for us as a country to have a facility supported by the staff who can really dedicate themselves to some of us who are most in need – some of these children who have been through so much.”
Kay Menzies, Daughter of Dorothy Menzies
“The institution was always there. It is government-owned, and my mother was asked to serve as the chairman of the board I’d say in the early nineties and jumped in with a dedication that you don’t see very often. Her motivation was always the children. Her view was: If you don’t address the children of society and bring them up in the best way possible and take care of them, you’ve failed society because we have no future to go to. She took that very seriously up until Healthwise she couldn’t anymore. I’ve spent a lot of years hearing stories around the dinner table and trying to help in anyway we could, but it was mom’s passion.”
Kay Menzies
“I’ve met young professionals who are employed at companies like B.T.L.; officers making good progress within the Police Department, people from all walks of life but young professionals doing well and proud to say that they were in the centre and that the centre was part of their success stories. And I wish that at some level they would come out and say this is how you can be, having gone through a process ike the centre.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We need to set a place where they can feel loved, they can feel safe and we can try to fix them because many of them have been mentally abused, physically abused. So having a special centre with all the amenities, we’re hoping that we can fix them. Kay Menzies mentioned that she has seen boys and girls, young men and women professionals who have been at the centre and who have managed to do something with their lives. We want to offer hope to these children. The centre in Belize City got too small and they felt that we need to find somewhere bigger. This is only a portion of the land. This is two and a half acres so there’s a lot more land for expansion to be able to provide a basketball court, volleyball court, things for the kids to live happy and productive childhoods.”
Kay Menzies
“I think it puts a smile on her face, even though she can’t be directly involved anymore. It’s dear to her heart, it’s always a part of who she is and who she has been. I wish I could bring her here today but hearing how the centre has progressed and hearing where its going now, I think she will be pleased when I give her the update.”
The center is located on a plot of land donated by RECONDEV. Marion Ali for News Five.
BELTRAIDE Awards 15 Small Businesses $7,000 Grant
This morning, fifteen small businesses from all over Belize received a boost of seven thousand dollars each through BELTRAIDE’s Belize Enterprise Empowerment Project (BEEP). Supported by the CARICOM Development Fund, this initiative aims to help growing businesses expand their reach and enhance their products. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the seed capital ceremony in Belize to bring us more details.
Seed capital is the initial funding that a new business gathers to develop its product. It’s a crucial investment needed to get the company off the ground. This morning, the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) hosted a Seed Capital grant ceremony, where fifteen growing businesses were awarded seven thousand dollars each. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, mentioned that the recipients were carefully selected to represent a diverse range of industries.
Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE
“So it’s a wide range of businesses. Spanning from agro-processors to artisans to service providers, people operating in the cosmetics industry. And so it’s quite diverse and it’s fantastic to see such innovative ideas coming up. Things involving people, providing photography services, for example. And so it’s, it really is inspirational and we hope that it opens the minds of entrepreneurs out there, especially young people to not be afraid of your new ideas, go after it.”
To qualify for the grant, recipients had to go through a tough selection process, which included multiple rounds of applications and training, submitting detailed proposals, and delivering a two-minute pitch to a panel of judges. Herbalist Aurora Saqui, is one of the lucky fifteen chosen from a pool of two hundred and thirty applicants.
Aurora Saqui, Grant Recipient
“I have a small business and I am, my ideas is to grow and maybe one day, be trademark in Belize and not only in Belize, maybe for the world. And I am promoting the natural remedies. So I have been struggling with my business. from when I was younger. And today, I feel very excited because it is the first time I am getting a little help to do a little bit more of my footsteps that I always dream of, and I feel that good, more good things gonna start to happen.”
Aurora Saqui
“I have oil, soap, tinctures. More ready to use creams. Beauty products too. I even have Colgate’s deodorants, and so far I am doing good. I have over eighty different products ready to use in my shop. And I am now promoting my product as the Kittal remedies, which is I have branded it. I have registered and so from now on I want Al Remedies to be known like in Belize and abroad.”
Orissa Moline, Grant Recipient
“So when we got the news, we were elated because we know that we were up against really good businesses and we were hoping that everybody could get the funding, but we were so happy and so elated and proud of our accomplishments really and truly for receiving this fund. And this is going to provide the funding or the initial investment that we need to provide the 360 overhead booth and we’re going solar. Our booths are now going to be powered solely by the sun. It’s solar powered photo boots, which means, Britney, that we can go to any part of Belize. You don’t have to have electricity.”
Orissa Moline
“We wanted to create the overhead 360 for persons who have mobility issues who cannot step on a traditional platform. I’m sure you guys have seen the 360 videos, and you have to step onto a platform. But people who are in wheelchairs, or people who have mobility issues, or seniors, can’t step on a platform. And so we wanted to include everybody in what we do.”
Rodinald Soomer, CEO, CARICOM Development Fund
“We’ve come to realize that these SMEs in the region are just Belize, require a lot of support if it’s concessional financing to either get their operation started or to grow their businesses. So, you know, we are really happy to be part of this process. But what we what we like about the about the program is the rigorous approach to selection of these businesses so that there is an assurance that once they receive the financial support that it is going to be put to good use in terms of building their competitiveness, enhancing their product development and innovation so that they can successfully trade in the domestic market, the regional market and the international market.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.