Avron Dinkel and Chaim Malka were charged with aiding in the commission of a crime, while Moshe Yhidia Alter faced a charge of illegal entry following their interception in Santa Elena, Cayo. The three men appeared in San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were convicted and fined $1,000 each, with a default sentence of three months in prison. After paying the fines, they requested permission to return to Guatemala.
Two of the men are Americans, while the other is a Canadian.
The men could possibly have links to the extremist Lev Tahor sect, whose members face charges in Guatemala, while its leaders have been detained in El Salvador and Mexico for extradition.
Late last year, Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children and 40 women from the group amid allegations of rape, forced marriages, and human trafficking. Prosecutors also reported the discovery of a child’s remains during the raid.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced he will resign on March 16, 2025, after opening two major projects—the Central Block of the Port of Spain General Hospital on March 10 and the new ANR Robinson Airport terminal on March 15. Speaking at the renaming of Lisa Morris-Julian Boulevard, he reflected on his tenure, emphasizing that public service is temporary and expressing satisfaction with his contributions. He acknowledged the challenges of governance, particularly managing national projects with limited resources.
The 75-year-old has led the party since 2010.
Reflecting on his tenure, Rowley acknowledged challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and rising negativity in public discourse but expressed confidence in the next generation of leaders to guide the country forward.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has decided that the United Democratic Party (UDP) will be allocated the traditional red colour to all 41 candidates nominated on Monday under the UDP banner. This is despite the internal divisions and leadership disputes that have been unfolding for months within the opposition party.
In its announcement, the EBC provided three options to consider: assigning red to all candidates, assigning it to only the 25 listed by Shyne Barrow, or to only the 15 nominated by Tracy Panton.
According to the EBC, after a 4-1 vote, it opted for the first choice—assigning red to all candidates under the UDP name. “By a majority vote of 4-1, the EBC voted on option 1, which is to allocate the traditional UDP red to all 41 candidates applying under the UDP banner,” it said.
Barrow stated, “We are waiting for the official decision of the commission, and then we will proceed with civil action if the decision is not fit. The Election and Boundaries has no right to recognise anybody who claims to be a UDP when we have sent them an official list of who the UDP are when all that will do is cause confusion in the constituencies where we have competing claims.”
This has been updated with the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s (EBC) latest press release
Nomination took place on Monday, and hundreds of Belizeans rallied with their political party’s colour on their sleeves. Nomination Day is a major part of the election process—it marks the official beginning of the lead-up to the March 12 general election.
Candidates from the major political parties, including the People’s United Party (PUP) and United Democratic Party (UDP), were out in full force. Third parties and independent candidates also joined the excitement, though some struggled to gather the six people needed for their nominations.
According to the Election and Boundaries Department (EBC), a total of 90 nominations were received, with 31 from the PUP and 41 from the UDP.
Fort George Area Representative Henry Charles Usher and Pickstock Area Representative Anthony Mahler were declared winners without contest after their opponents failed to show up for nomination.
Usher saw his challenger, Melvin Hewlett, absent from the event, while Mahler secured another term after his opponent, Dean Samuels, did not appear for his nomination. Both Hewlett and Samuels were contenders running for UDP under the leadership of Moses “Shyne” Barrow.
The EBC confirmed the results, stating, “The Returning Officers for the Pickstock and Fort George Electoral Divisions respectively declared Mr. Anthony Mahler and Mr. Henry Charles Usher to have been duly elected since, at 4:00 p.m. on nomination day.”
Dean Samuels issued a public apology last night regarding his absence from the UDP nomination event on Nomination Day. He began by apologising to the United Democratic Party, its supporters, and key members, including Shyne Barrow and Tracy Panton. He also expressed regret to the constituents of the Port Loyola division and acknowledged that his decision deprived them of the opportunity to voice their discontent with the government.
Samuels was among four party members who failed to appear for nomination today. Three other UDP candidates—Dennis Williams (Toledo East), Melvin Hewlett (Fort George), and Norman Usher (Dangriga)—also failed to show up for nomination.
Samuels admitted that his last-minute decision was a difficult one, influenced by financial realities in politics. He noted that the candidate he was up against was one of the most financially powerful ministers in government, and the UDP leadership had agreed to allocate funds to constituencies with a stronger chance of victory. “In every sense of the word. You know, I met with them, and they explained that to them. They don’t believe it’s basically financially viable or even for them, or even for me to continue contesting for them to continue financing me in my bid under the current situation where we are as a party and the division.”
After consulting with his financial backers—friends, family, and supporters—he was told that continuing his campaign was not viable given the party’s current situation. This led to his withdrawal.
Earlier today, we had an in-depth conversation with Phillip Willoughby, the U.D.P.candidate for Port Loyola under Tracy Panton’s leadership, about his vision for the constituency. He is one of three U.D.P. candidates vying for that seat against incumbent Area Representative Gilroy Usher Senior. We’ll share more about that in tomorrow’s newscast. But tonight, we have his thoughts on the “Shyne” Barrow U.D.P. candidates who didn’t show up on nomination day. Here’s what he had to say.
Phillip Willoughby, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola
“That is a reflection of Jamal. Clearly it is a reflection of him. That is a reflection of him and on him clearly and squarely, that drops in his lap. Now, I am disappointed because I know the gentlemen and I know everybody would want to swim this far to turn back or drop out. So something is afoot that went on had these four gentlemen step out and step back. It just doesn’t happen like that. What is there to come in the upcoming general election, of course it is a team sport. You will help your colleagues in all shapes and form. But for the people of Port, if it does come, whoever come, anybody come, when they come at the end of the day they will leave. When they leave it will be just you and I in the very same situation.”
The color debate is heating up. In the lead-up to the general elections, the Barrow and Tracy U.D.P factions are clashing over which color to use. Barrow has penned a letter to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, firmly stating that there’s only one U.D.P. As the head of the party’s central executive, he insists that his candidates should be assigned red on the ballot for election day. Barrow warns that any other decision could lead to a civil suit.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P
“One was sent yesterday and one was sent this morning. We are waiting the official decision of the commission and then we will proceed with civil action if the decision is not fit. The election and boundaries has no right to recognize anybody who claims to be a UDP when we have sent them an official list of who the U.D.P are when all that will do is cause confusion in the constituencies where we have competing claims. There is only one legitimate right and that totally undermines our democracy. We want fair and free elections. That is not fair and free. That is confusion and deliberate. We must understand someone like Josephine Tamai who I believe is an objective public servant. She is taking direction from political stooges in the E.B.C. who makes up the majority.”
Police are still trying to determine a motive for the murder of American businessman Boris Mannsfeld, who was shot at the Cocoplum Villas in Placencia on Friday. Mannsfeld, a major real estate developer in Belize for the past two decades, primarily operated in Placencia. He was shot once in the back of the neck and found lying on the ground with his wallet and still-holstered firearm. While the motive remains unclear, Mannsfeld was involved in several fraud cases before the court, both as the accused and the accuser. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The murder of real estate mogul Boris Mannsfeld remains a mystery. On February twentieth, Mannsfeld returned to his beachside villa on the Placencia Peninsula, and by the next night, he was found dead on the front steps. Police believe this was a targeted attack, as Mannsfeld was involved in several high-profile legal battles. In 2024, Mannsfeld sent out emails to media houses across the country, detailing allegations of fraud schemes run by multiple colleagues in the industry, two of whom had been murdered. Several of these emails mention businessman Frik De Meyere, a former associate who severed ties with Mannsfeld in 2023. Mannsfeld accused De Meyere of using Boris Mannsfeld’s website to redirect customers to a separate page, allegedly stealing business. Within forty-eight hours of Mannsfeld’s death, De Meyere was picked up by police for questioning. Attorney Andrew Bennett provides some insight into his client’s ongoing legal dispute.
Andrew Bennett
Andrew Bennett, Attorney-at-law
“Mr. De Meyere tendered his notice of resignation of partnership to Mr. BorisMannsfeld. Unfortunately, occurring at the same time was the discovery of nonpayment of stamp duties on real estate transactions. This involved the firm of JC Consulting. And as a result of that, there was a further dispute. whereby Mr. Mannsfeld alleged misappropriation of funds by Mr. Frik De Meyere. That led to several lawsuits being filed in the court. We have provided a defense on behalf of Mr. De Meyere. We were going through several of them, but unfortunately, they have not really moved from pleadings In the claim 760 of 2023, which dealt with the allegation of funds being misappropriated by Frik, an application was made to appoint an expert auditor, Cedric Flowers. But as of today that did not move anywhere.”
De Meyere wasn’t the only colleague Mannsfeld accused of fraud. In another email, he detailed a land fraud plot that he claimed involved De Meyere, the late Ricardo Borja, and Darren Taylor. Mannsfeld alleged that the trio commissioned fake passports and bribed government officials to fast-track their scheme. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that these allegations have yet to be proven or disproven.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“For us to be able to investigate, the investigation needs to be triggered by somebody. If it were that there were passports that were fraudulently issued, then immigration would have come to the police and lodged a complaint, and then we would investigate. if it were that situations where, as I read what was posted by Mr. Mannsfeld of, I think it was tax stamp duty, stamp duty fraud. Again, we would need to get a complaint from the Ministry of Natural Resources stamp duty division or section on that matter so that we would be able to investigate. So our investigators are going to touch base certainly with the Ministry of Natural Resources on that issue and see if we will be able to get something from them to prove or dispel the allegations as outlined by Mr. Mannsfeld.”
While Mannsfeld told the media and his clients that he was about to blow the lid off a multimillion-dollar land fraud scheme, he was also facing several claims of unlawful business practices in court. Police Commissioner Chester Williams emphasized that investigators are not overlooking the complexity of this case and are exploring every possible motive.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police (File: February 24, 2024)
“ We’re also looking at the business transactions that Mr Mannsfeld may have with other individuals without being able to see if we will be able to close in on a possible motive and perhaps suspect. So at this time we don’t have much where that is concerned.”
On Monday, Bennett also shed light on the legal battle his client, Frik De Meyere, had along with Mannsfeld against the late Ricardo Borja. With Mannsfeld’s death, it’s uncertain how the legal proceedings will move forward, as they were scheduled to return to court today. De Meyere has since been released from police custody, but his phone, computer, and firearm have yet to be returned to him.
Andrew Bennett
“We coincidentally, we go to court tomorrow, that would have been another claim which involved the in terms of the stamp duties that Mr. Mannsfeld was alleging was misappropriated by J.C. consulting Ricardo Borja and he had joined Frik De Meyere in those proceedings. That would have been the hearing of an application for the appointment of somebody to represent the estate of Ricardo Borja. So at this point, everything now is in suspense. We will need directions from the court in terms of how it will move forward.”
More details to come as the story develops. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The families of three female tourists found dead at a San Pedro resort on Saturday are grieving their tragic loss. Twenty-three-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad, twenty-four-year-old Imane Mallah, and twenty-six-year-old Wafae El-Arar were found dead in their suite at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Their families are in contact with the U.S. Embassy, which is assisting with the investigation. Police Commissioner Chester Williams stated that a pathologist estimated they had been dead for up to 20 hours before being found. The women, of Moroccan descent with U.S. citizenship, were discovered by hotel staff after failing to respond to housekeeping. While no signs of injury were reported, authorities suspect a possible drug overdose due to vomit and froth found around their mouths. However, Mallah’s family told our colleagues at WCVB Boston that they don’t believe that they overdosed.
Muhammed Mallah
Muhammed Mallah, Father of Imane Mallah
“My wife talk to my daughter, no call..nothing. After two-thirty p.m. the embassy called me (telling) me that my daughter is dead. What happened? I don’t know if she died in the room, hotel. After that, I don’t know what happened. He came back to my house, her spoke to the other girls parents. Three people, same room, happy birthday vacation. This is not a problem. They are good friends, the best.”
Hajar El Khalfaoui
Hajar El Khalfaoui, Friend of Imane Mallah
“So she had spoken to me about wanting to take a vacation and Wafae end Kaoutar made they rest in peace were also very good friends of hers and she was looking for a while. Last year she wanted to go on vacation with her other group of friends but she wasn’t able to because she got sick so this was kind of her redemption. My reaction at first was that it is not true, that she sick sometimes and that she goes MIA on days on end. And it happens all the time where she will be in the hospital and she won’t speak to me for two or three days and then she will just let me know that she is okay, she is in the hospital. So when they first told me I thought it was just that because they hadn’t told me about Wafae end Kaoutar yet. Then when they said it was also three and they said it might be an overdose, I know that that’s not true and I know that that’s a lie because Iman was clean. She wasn’t doing anything. Wafae end Kaoutar would never. The three of the would not die if that is the case. Iman, she is a very smart girl. She knows not to do that. She knows not to put her friends who she loves so much in that situation. There have been times where Iman when I graduated she didn’t want me to go to a party, she didn’t want to go with me because there would be drinking there. That was the kind of person she was. So when they said that it was OD I will never believe that that’s true. I am going to remember her as my sister as my best friend. I will never forget her. Iman means faith in Arabic and I know that Iman is in heaven and I know that she is much happier. She loves so deeply. She felt everything so deeply and so this life wasn’t always that easy for her. I know that God took her because he loves her and she loves God so much. She loves her faith so much. And I know that she is home now.”
The Belize Advisory Council has received a Notice of Appeal from the attorney representing DeAndre Reid, the former Police Constable dismissed for using excessive force when he fatally shot the Governor General’s pet dog. Reid was charged with discharging a firearm without authorization after the incident in May 2024. Reid, through his attorney, is exercising his right under Section Twenty-five of the Police Act, challenging Commissioner of Police Chester Williams’ decision to dismiss him from the Belize Police Department. The notice was sent to the council in September last year. Last week, the Attorney General’s Ministry wrote to the council, pointing out a procedural irregularity and a breach of Reid’s right to due process. They found that Reid should have been given five days to decide whether to plead guilty or not after being served with a disciplinary form. On Monday, Williams responded to the appeal against him.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“ I have read the opinion and I disagree with certain aspect of it. And I think that to some extent the learned Council from the AG Ministry was not privy to all information when he wrote that opinion because one, when we have breaches of our disciplinary code, we don’t need to issue a notice of complaint. Like, for example, if a police officer is found sleeping on duty is absent from duty, intoxicated whilst on duty, discharging firearm without the permission of the Commissioner of Police, those are our internal infractions. So once a police officer commits one of those infractions, there is no need for a notice of complaint. Notice of complaint would apply in situations where a member of the public comes to the police, professional standard branch, and make a complaint against a police officer. On the basis of that then, professional standard branch is going to write the police officer, notify him of the complaint, and ask him to respond within so much days why this action should not be taken against him or her. Those are the instances where. We would normally issue notice of complaint. It’s just like when we deal with the criminal aspect of the law. If the police find a person with unlicensed firearm with drugs committing a traffic infraction, this utterly behavior, the police don’t need an arrest warrant to arrest you. But if done public comes to the police and make a complaint against you that you wo them or what you’re committed, a robbery or burglary, the police have to investigate, then issue a warrant for your arrest before they get arrested. So it’s the same principle that applied.”
