Police are investigating a case of rape reported by a 24-year-old woman in the Cayo District.
The victim reported to the police that the incident happened on Sunday, February 16, around midnight. Police say that the woman reported socialising, during which her cousin offered her a ride home.
According to the woman, the cousin did not take her home. Instead, he reportedly took her to a secluded area and abused her against her consent.
Police have not yet released the identity of the alleged abuser.
Police are investigating the death of 40-year-old Carlos Casanova, who had been missing since Saturday, January 8. Casanova, a resident of San Pedro Town, was found on Monday off the Yo Creek Road in the Orange Walk District.
According to police reports, Casanova’s body was discovered in “an advanced state of decomposition.” The matter has been labelled as a “death investigation.”
Last Thursday, a close friend described Casanova as “a very cautious” person who “never made irrational decisions.” The friend added that Casanova had left his phone and wallet in his room. Casanova’s landlady was the first to report him missing after he failed to return home.
News 5 reached out to Casanova’s family earlier today. Casanova’s brother told News 5 that the post-mortem was still ongoing, and they were still awaiting an update from the police.
Belize Bank has issued a public alert warning customers about fraudulent social media profiles attempting to scam individuals by promising fake prizes.
According to the bank, scammers have been impersonating its official accounts, encouraging users to click on malicious links to claim rewards. Belize Bank has made it clear that it will never request personal or private information, such as credit card details, PINs, usernames, or passwords, through links or social media messages.
In its statement, the bank urged customers to remain vigilant and follow these security guidelines:
Avoid clicking on suspicious links shared on social media or in emails.
Contact Belize Bank through BBL Assist in Digital Banking or call 227-7132 for verification.
Use a trusted device to register for SOFT TOKEN to enhance account security.
Belize Bank continues to monitor fraudulent activity and advises customers to report any suspicious messages or profiles to help prevent cybercrime.
Paquita la del Barrio, the celebrated Mexican singer known for her unapologetic ballads that called out male infidelity and machismo, passed away on Monday at her home in Veracruz. She was 77.
The news was confirmed through her official social media accounts, though no cause of death was disclosed.
Paquita, born Francisca Viveros Barradas on April 2, 1947, rose to prominence in the traditionally male-dominated ranchera genre. With songs like Rata de Dos Patas,Me Saludas a la Tuya, and Tres Veces Te Engañé, she gave voice to women’s frustrations and became a symbol of empowerment. Her music, raw and direct, turned personal pain into anthems.
Paquita’s music was shaped by her own life experiences. As a teenager, she married a man nearly 30 years her senior, only to discover he had another family. That marriage ended, but the heartbreak fuelled her artistry. In a 2021 interview with USA Today, she reflected on love and betrayal: “I’ve suffered a lot. The heart goes where it wants, and those feelings guide people to my music.”
Over time, even men became fans of her biting lyrics.
Paquita got her stage name—meaning “Paquita from the Neighborhood”—while performing alongside her sister, Viola Viveros, in Mexico City.
Throughout her career, she released over 30 albums and earned three Grammy nominations. In 2021, she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, presented to her by Bad Bunny, recognising her profound impact on Latin music.
The High Court has dismissed an application for interim relief filed by Jeremy Enriquez, ruling that he failed to present sufficient legal grounds for his claim. In addition, the court has ordered all parties to submit further arguments regarding legal costs by Monday.
Justice Hondora noted several concerns in the case, including the use of digital template signatures on affidavits and exhibits submitted by Enriquez, which raised questions about the authenticity of court documents. The judge also criticised the length and structure of Enriquez’s filings, describing them as unnecessarily lengthy and resembling legal arguments rather than standard court documents.
Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, who represented Enriquez, was specifically directed to clarify whether he operates a legal practice in Belize and to explain his arrangements with local law firm Messrs Estevan Perera and Company LLP, which had been listed as the address for service. Additionally, the court has requested details on how affidavits and supporting documents were prepared, signed, and submitted, particularly addressing concerns about digitally inserted signatures.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission, which was not initially cited as a party in the case, was granted permission to join the proceedings and file legal submissions. Meanwhile, Justice Hondora has reserved the right to issue further orders regarding the preparation and submission of court documents in this case.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission has decided that “traditional UDP Red with different symbols” will be assigned to Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Panton for the ballot.
The commission convened on Tuesday to vote on the allocation of colours and symbols for the upcoming general elections. Members were presented with six options: (1) allowing both factions to use the traditional UDP red but with different symbols, (2) permitting a shade of red—excluding the traditional UDP red—designated by an RGB or HEX code, (3) allowing any colour other than red without a symbol, (4) assigning only a symbol with no colour, (5) granting traditional red exclusively to Tracy Panton, or (6) reserving traditional red solely for Moses Shyne Barrow.
With just 22 days to go before Belizeans head to the polls, this unprecedented ruling has left political observers and party loyalists wondering what comes next. Can two rival factions truly coexist under the same colour, or is this the beginning of even greater political turmoil? We are told that at least one party involved is considering legal action.
Traditionally, Belizean ballots include candidate names and assigned party colours. Since political parties in Belize are not officially registered, the EBC plays a crucial role in assigning colours to candidates, typically using traditional party colours. Sample ballots will be issued before election day to ensure voters understand the final design and avoid confusion at the polls.
The commission is chaired by Oscar Sabido Puga, who leads a team of four members: Conrad Lewis, Orlando Espat, Phillippa Griffith Bailey, and Alberto August.
According to Section 88(2) of the Constitution, the Governor-General is responsible for appointing the Chairman and four members of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. These individuals must be persons of integrity and high national standing. The chairman and two members are appointed based on the advice of the prime minister, following consultation with the leader of the opposition. The remaining two members are appointed on the Prime Minister’s advice, but with the concurrence of the Leader of the Opposition.
The Belize Ministry of Immigration is bringing mobile passport services to two villages in the Cayo District this weekend. On Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the team will be at Armenia Primary School. On Sunday, February 23, 2025, they will be at St. Matthew’s Primary School from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The Nationality and Passports Department will be offering passport applications and renewals, along with Permanent Resident Card renewals and replacements. They will also assist with replacing lost Nationality Certificates and provide general immigration information.
Residents of Armenia village and St. Mathew village are encouraged to take advantage of this mobile service event, which aims to make these essential services accessible to residents who may not be able to visit the main office.
Two staff members from the National Assembly of Belize, Manuel Grant and Heillie Burns, participated in the Caribbean Clerk’s Program 2025, held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The three-day event, which concluded on February 15, aimed to enhance parliamentary democracy across the region by fostering stronger networks among parliamentary clerks and officials.
Burns led a session on The Independence of Parliament, where she highlighted the importance of maintaining parliamentary autonomy for effective governance. The separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature ensures accountability and prevents overreach.
Meanwhile, Grant took on the role of rapporteur during several workshops. He discussed topics such as drafting a Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament (MP) and developing an Induction Process for newly elected MPs. The program gathered thirty-three delegates from seventeen Caribbean legislatures, which prompted best practices and strengthening collaboration between Caribbean and UK parliamentary officials.
The program’s costs were covered by the CPA UK Branch.
Competitive salaries and health insurance are just a few attractive benefits of teaching in the United States. Teachers currently seeking opportunities like these can do so through Participate Learning, a cultural exchange program that focuses on recruiting ‘cultural ambassadors educators’ from various countries such as Australia, Europe, China, and even Belize. The program is still accepting applications for 2025, and interested educators can submit their application.
Ronald Ramírez, Recruitment Manager for Latin America at Participate Learning, told News 5, “We want teachers to become cultural ambassadors of their country. We want to create understanding, cooperation, and empathy through education.”
Ramírez stated that the teachers that are selected get to teach in U.S. schools for up to 5 years under a ‘Cultural Exchange Visa’ and with salaries ranging from $41,000 to $55,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.
Ramírez recognised that Belize’s primary language—English—makes it a valuable asset for these programs. However, the program is also open to teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL), Spanish Immersion (preschool and elementary), and Spanish as a Foreign Language.
Ramírez spoke about the impact that U.S. students receive from teachers participating in these programs, exemplifying a case whereby he recalled a Belizean teacher bringing Belizean dollars into the classroom to teach her students math by “purchasing” with Belizean dollars.
He added that while becoming an “international teacher” may come with sacrifices such as leaving one’s current job and country, “they will have a whole list of benefits,” he said, “I’m not only talking about the salaries; I’m talking about the professional knowledge they’re going to get… At the end, the teacher is going to benefit from it, and the students in Belize will benefit when the teacher comes back, because it’s not going to be the same educator coming back; that is going to impact Belizean students positively.”
According to Ramírez, only 45 Belizean teachers have been part of the program so far, with about 25 active teachers in South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.
To qualify, applicants must have at least two years of teaching experience, a degree in education, and a valid driver’s license. Married applicants can bring their families but need at least five or more years of experience.
Applications are free and can be submitted year-round at Participate Learning.
The National Hydrological Service has issued a flood warning for the Belize River and Crooked Tree Lagoon, cautioning residents in affected areas to remain vigilant.
In Region 7, above-normal water levels are expected to persist along the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek North, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Roman, and Douglas to the coast. Meanwhile, the New River is expected to see below-normal levels at Hill Bank, normal levels at Tower Hill, and above-normal levels from Caledonia to the coast.
In Region 9, the Mopan River at Benque Viejo Town is forecasted to remain above normal. The Macal River is expected to stay below the spillway at Fortis facilities, and water levels at San Ignacio should remain below the low-lying bridge. Along the Belize River, near-normal levels are expected at More Tomorrow, while decreasing flood stage levels are observed at Double Run. The Crooked Tree Lagoon remains at flood stage, though levels are gradually receding.
In Region 11, above-normal water levels persist at Freetown Sibun along the Sibun River. The Southern Lagoon at Gales Point Village and watersheds along the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains, including the Sittee River at Kendal Bridge, are also seeing higher-than-normal levels. While the branches of the Monkey River at Swasey and Bladen remain below normal, the Deep River at Medina Bank continues to experience above-normal levels. Similarly, the Rio Grande at San Pedro Columbia and Big Falls South, as well as the Moho River at Blue Creek South and Jordan, are all reporting above-normal levels. The Temash River at Crique Sarco remains elevated.
In Region 13, the Sarstoon River is expected to maintain above-normal levels.
Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to monitor waterways closely and take necessary precautions. The next update will be issued as conditions evolve.
