2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Will 2025 General Election Follow Redistricting Exercise?

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan has responded to a letter from the law firm Courtenay Coye, representing the Government of Belize. This concerns a pre-action claim about the long-overdue redistricting exercise, filed in the High Court for Ramlogan’s clients, including Jeremy Enriquez, Jessica Tulcey, and Rudolph Norales. In reply to Courtenay’s letter, which stated that the Briceño administration won’t announce the general election date today, the Trinidadian lawyer emphasized the need for a broader commitment from the Attorney General of Belize. He requested that the Attorney General inform the claimants’ attorney in writing at least five days before any decision to dissolve Parliament and set a date for the general election, as required by the Constitution. News Five spoke with Jeremy Enriquez, one of the three claimants.

Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant

“The government was, as we know, intending, the Prime Minister was intending to call or set a date for the elections, for the national elections to occur and what we were very concerned about, I, as a citizen of Belize was that the move was going to continue the status quo in which we have severe malapportionment of Belize’s electoral constituencies. So, as far as I am concerned, they were planning again to violate the Constitution of Belize even though when, at the beginning of their term, they promised that they would have all of that ironed out in compliance with Section Ninety of the constitution. So it was very disturbing that they would even consider rushing through another election without first redistricting the electoral divisions of Belize. It was at that point that we secured the services of an attorney, a well-known international constitutional attorney, highly qualified, from Trinidad, to assist in this case. He had written to the Prime Minister, to the Attorney General to make it known that any election that would be called would be considered illegal and in violation of the constitution and that we are going to challenge it through to the highest court, if necessary. As a result, the Prime Minister complied and did not, if he was intending to, announced any date for election. Hopefully, in good faith, to try to have this resolved.”

Courtenay Coye Responds to Ramlogan, SC

This afternoon, the law firm of Courtenay Coye, representing the Government of Belize, responded to a letter written by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan. The attorney wrote on behalf of his clients, including Jeremy Enriquez, requesting that the government indicates at least five days in advance when the date of the general election will be announced. In its rejoinder, Courtenay Coye wrote, “we acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February sixth, 2025 which we received via email at 10:14 pm. We note in your letter that you have demanded an undertaking be given by the Prime Minister by 4 pm today. As you have expressed in your letters, the House of Representatives is sitting today. Therefore, it is not possible for us to advise our client and obtain instructions within the unreasonably short period you have demanded. In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocols Practice Direction, we expect to be able to take instructions and respond more fully on Monday, February tenth, 2025”.

Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant

“We were satisfied to know that yes, the Prime Minister would not call an election at this sitting of the house, but there is nothing to say that he could not, tomorrow, call the election. So we were able to get another letter sent back to the Attorney General through the private law firm of Courtenay Coye and associates to indicate that we accept in good faith that the election is not called at this house meeting, but that if elections will be called, whenever elections are called, that we be given at least five days indication that the election will be called. That will give us chance, and the court a fair chance to be able to examine if we need to seek redress at the court, there would be enough time for at least that window of time for the court to hear our case.”

Principal Payments on Ten Loans Deferred

During today’s House of Representatives session, the Government of Belize introduced sixteen loan motions. Ten of these were amendments to existing loan agreements with Taiwan. These amendments will defer principal payments to Taiwan for another three years. Prime Minister John Briceño provided further details.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t want anybody to get excited because these are not new loans. Basically, what we are doing is try to better manage the cash flow of the government. Basically what we are doing is asking for a further deferment of starting to pay the principal, which will be for a next three years. And by doing that, we will be able to better manage our cashflow to the tune of thirty million dollars. Meaning, we can better be able to use to continue the implementation of Plan Belize.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I don’t see how the Prime Minister, every opportunity he gets, boasts and brags about how well our economy is performing, how robust he is growing the GDP, yet he is having cash flow problems. When you have a facility at a bank, you have to pay your facility. No facility is being deferred for three years and why would we need to put ourselves in this position if the economy is performing the way he claims. This is proof that the Briceno administration’s economy is underpricing, it is anemic and they are saying they are broke, they have a cash flow problem. To manage the cashflow, why can’t you pay your facilities if you have the cash. This government has borrowed over three billion dollars, with a B.”

Close to $200 Million in Loan Motions

Besides the ten loan amendment motions, the Briceño administration also introduced several new loans: a fifty-eight-million-dollar energy loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a twenty-three-million-dollar loan from the International Development Association (IDA), seventeen million dollars from the Government of Taiwan, and six point two million dollars from the Caribbean Development Bank. The opposition has criticized this borrowing spree, pointing out that it comes just before this year’s general election. Here’s Prime Minister Briceño with more on the twenty-three-million-dollar IDA loan.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think you should clap to member for Collet because you all will benefit some day when you get into government. Someday, we don’t know when, because this funding is cheap money, in some instances, zero interest rates, you don’t pay anything for ten years and then twenty years. It is money that could really help this country to develop. After two years of collective advocacy, now Belize was able to successfully gain eligibility for twenty-three point five million U.S. dollars for annually with concessionary financing from IDA. Of the World Bank. Because of the importance of this loan and it has nothing to do with whether elections will be held now, or the next month or the other month, the government continues, the work of the people never stopped. That is why I am bringing these loans right now.”

C.W.U. Explains Concerns with SSB CEO Resignation

Earlier this week, the Christian Workers Union (C.W.U.) voiced their concerns over the sudden departure of Doctor Leroy Almendarez, the C.E.O. of the Social Security Board. The news of his exit came last week without any clear explanation, leaving union members worried about the fate of the agreements made during his tenure. Today, C.W.U. President Leonora Flowers shared those concerns.

Leonora Flowers, President, C.W.U.

“There were certain pronouncement and promises made to the CEO at the time, Dr. Almendarez, to our members of staff. And come the thirty-first of December, those had not materialized, so looking into January and now getting at February to hear a swift exit of the CEO, we were, and we still are, concerned that those pronouncements and those promises need to follow through on the, for our members. So that was our concern. We haven’t had anything, any discussion with the new CEO. But we know that our people on the ground have had meetings and the Chief Rep has informed us that the CEO say the work continues, the work progresses. There’s going to be transition of anything that was promised and so we are waiting for those to take effect.”

Britney Gordon

“We understand that the last time, there had been a major concern with the CEO’s appointment was that there was a lack of communication between the board and the union members. This time with the resignation, has there been any sort of transparency as to why this occurred?”

Leonora Flowers

“I would have to answer and say that as it relates to CWU, we have not had any responses based on that. We are aware that when the last CEO was employed, that the board had moved to you advertise for one person, but they took on two persons. And that the NTUCB had indicated that there were not two advertisements. And although we had, the NTUCB, of which we are an affiliate member, had sent that information, the board still held on to its decision that it made. We were very cognizant. You advertise for one post, but you took two persons. And at the end of the day, we believe that those missteps are what led us to where we are now. So we’re hoping that the board would look at the way they decide these things. And in future, abide by what the law, the social security legislation says.”

Britney Gordon

“And being that they told you that the work continues despite a new CEO being appointed, does that satiate some of the concerns that you have?”

Leonora Flowers

“It does, it certainly does for our members, but CW will be waiting and ensuring that it does follow through.”

ComPol Says Police Patrol Went Looking for Gabriel

Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams expressed his sorrow over the tragic fate of little Gabriel Orellano. He shared that a woman police officer, who was at a hair salon at the time, saw Gabriel run by. She immediately called the 911 hotline to report the sighting. Despite her quick action and the efforts of patrols to locate him, they were unable to find Gabriel.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It is telling on us as a society to see that the child was seen running through traffic. Several vehicles almost hit him, and nobody stopped to check to see who the child was, where he was going, or anything, like. They just left him alone. It ended up in that sad way that no one would want to see a child, you know. We also reviewed the issue with the police officer who had given an interview to the media, I think its Love FM, stating that she had seen the child and had called the 911 and gave the information. We have checked on that and it is indeed true. She called and it showed that immediately after she called, the diary entry showed that she passed the information on to the patrols that were out. The patrols went and checked. Unfortunately, they were not able to find him, and again, you can see in the video, the child was moving very fast, and so, because of that, the patrol was not able to locate the child.”

ComPol Says Criminally Culpability for Gabriel’s Death is Difficult

Williams stated that the investigation into Gabriel’s tragic death is examining whether anyone can be held criminally or legally responsible. He explained that once children are at school, they are under the school’s custody. However, he noted that despite this, it will be challenging to find grounds to hold anyone criminally accountable for the child’s death.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“ At the end of the investigation, we will refer the matter to the DPP, but, I don’t foresee her giving such directives. At the end of the day, I think even the teachers at Stella Maris are shaken up by what happened. They are going through their own things right now because certainly they would not have wanted that to happen to the child. But we’ll see when that time comes.”

Paul Lopez

“Is there a main fact the police are trying to establish in their investigation?”

Chester Williams

“Well, the issue that we’ll be looking at is to see if there is any culpability in terms of negligence on the part of anybody. They would know that if you are in charge of a child, you have not just a moral obligation but also a legal obligation to ensure the safety of that child. And once that obligation is broken by way of negligence, then you can be held liable.”

Gabriel Orellano to Be Laid to Rest Monday

Little Gabriel will be laid to rest on Monday, and his father, Vidal Orellano, shared that many schools and individuals have expressed their desire to attend. He also mentioned the overwhelming support from the community. On Thursday night, a group of motorcyclists arrived at Gabriel’s grandmother’s home, handing over a box of money they had collected to help the family. Dressed in blue, revving their engines, and honking their horns, the cyclists then rode the two-mile route that Gabriel ran on Monday afternoon. Vidal Orellano told News Five that he deeply appreciates the public’s show of support.

Vidal Orellano, Father of Deceased

“They have some schools that are calling that want to participate for his funeral and more people are coming, so we’re working out things to see how we do it Monday. Right now I’m happy because the community of Belize is helping my son, and sorry about what happened to him, especially since he was a special needs person. And he is helping the community now to see that special kids need more attention, need more care, need more eyes to watch them mek this nuh happen again. I want to thank the people who have supported me, people who did the bike ride, the people who bring me the gifts last night, the people who are wearing blue for my son, I want to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart for all the support for him. With this I know my son will live on through everybody because everybody knows him now.”

C.E.O Says People Can Help Children Without Seeming to Be Predators

Vidal Orellano, the father of little Gabriel Orellano who tragically drowned after escaping from Stella Maris School on Monday afternoon, has been receiving support to lay his son to rest. The community has shown immense kindness, reaching out to help after heartbreaking videos surfaced showing Gabriel running through several streets before slipping into the sea and drowning. While some have criticized those who saw the child running in heavy traffic and doing nothing, there’s also an understanding that people might hesitate to approach a fleeing child for fear of being seen as predators. Adele Catzim, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Human Development, suggests that people can still help by calling the relevant authorities.

Adele Catzim-Sanchez, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development

“People don’t want to be perceived as predators for children, and so, yes, it is true that we’re not encouraging people to be predators. But when we do see that a child is in need or in assistance, at least we can stop to lend a hand. At least we can stop to inquire, find out why that child is there, and we can call the police, we can ask them if they have the number for their parent, who their parent is, we can call the Department of Human Services. That’s what it is and so there are things that we can do. Yes, we know that there might be predators who are trying to do things, but if people were trying to intervene and someone saw that there might be a predator, they would at least have called the police or called someone else, and maybe there would’ve been more of a quicker intervention for a child. We know we cannot turn the clock backwards, but we do need to use this as an opportunity to learn and to be more responsive as a society. And again, I do reiterate that it’s not everyone who was unresponsive. There were people who tried to intervene and I think that if we can at least highlight that as something that is positive, it encourages other people to then want to intervene.”

Belize City Council and CWU Finally Come to an Agreement

After almost seven years, the Belize City Council has finally inked a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Christian Workers Union, aiming to uphold labor regulations and foster the municipality’s growth. This updated CBA brings several perks, including more compassionate leave, higher subsistence allowances, and staff salary adjustments. Mayor Bernard Wagner of Belize City shares more about this exciting milestone.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“When we came into office, that CBA was then expiring in 2018 and we were quickly brought to the table in 2019 but things occur outside of our being able to get this done for our staff, our workers, our field workers, our administrative workers is really huge for us and I want to ensure that I left a document along with the union where workers interests are at the forefront.”

Britney Gordon

“You mentioned that a salary adjustment had already been in place since April of last year.”

Bernard Wagner

“Yeah, we did a real extensive look at the pay scales in our entire organization. And we found that in many instances there were some measure of not meeting the standards of their peers in the industry. Probably a field worker would not be getting the same pay if he were working in a private sector. And so we wanted to ensure that we fix that issue there. And which saw that for field workers. Their hourly rate went from really like six dollars and forty-six cents to seven dollars and four cents per hour. While our administrative staff went from eleven dollars and fourty-seven per hour to eleven dollars and ninety-seven cents per hour. So clearly that was really something that we feel proud of to hold our hats on. And like I said, a document of this nature. Is for the moment and it continues to evolve, it continues to be refined. And as you, you work towards refining it you will see that more benefits come towards workers.”