The Domestic Violence Unit of the Belize Police Department has long been known for its crucial role in defusing heated disputes and helping to put perpetrators behind bars with solid evidence. The unit also works closely with the Ministry of Human Development. Now, as of New Year’s Day, it has been rebranded as the Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigative Unit (GVRIU). This change, while still under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been warmly welcomed by Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia.
On the Phone: Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams called me on it and I ran it by our senior staff and we said, absolutely. We embrace and we welcome the change because, you know, the word domestic when you talk about, if you talk about, if you use domestic as a noun, a domestic means somebody who works in the home or in the house and then when you say domestic violence, it’s violence in the home. However, Gender based violence cuts right across the board, whether it is in the workplace, whether it’s on the street, there are so many things that happen in terms of the, of the gendered aspect of violence, whether it be sexual harassment and, you know, we have new sexual harassment legislation. Like I say, whether it’s on the street at the workplace when you’re traveling, when you’re moving around, um, there is violence, which is gender based and so it does not only occur in the home.”
The combined efforts aim to tackle gender-based violence in all its forms, including domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and harassment. In a press release, the police department stated that the new name aligns with its evolving mission to address violence not only within domestic settings but also in various scenarios where individuals face violence based on their gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Minister Balderamos-Garcia recalled a harrowing incident involving a San Pedro woman who was viciously attacked and beaten by her estranged husband in November. The woman had to jump off a moving jet ski to seek help in Caye Caulker after being taken hostage. The minister highlighted the reality that many victims choose not to pursue a court case but want their report on record for future reference, should they face a similar situation with the same offender.
On the Phone: Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“I want to mention something that came to my attention about a month and a half ago that sometimes when women file a report or make a report to the police, and they say it is for future reference. In other words, it was serious enough. Whatever incident it may have been, the woman felt and I’m speaking specifically about women – now, the woman may have felt that it was significant enough to make a report to the police, but based on many, many human factors, she may not want to pursue a criminal charge against the perpetrator. So she says, “I am filing this report for future reference.” And so, it came to my attention that sometimes the court system may wish to take the view that, “Oh, you know, if you’re filing a report for future reference, then you’re going to come to court and withdraw the case and waste our time.” And so, now, please, I am not throwing any stone at any individual magistrate or legal person or judge. I’m just saying that sometimes you may have the attitude that, oh, you know, they’re going to come to court and withdraw the charge. And so it is not something that we should get into. I want to say that that is not something that any court system should do. I would highly decry and discourage that because we all know that when it comes to gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, these issues are extremely complex, difficult to deal with. And why? Because many, many times children are involved and a woman. Even a man, but mostly the woman would stay in the relationship because of the children and because of wanting to keep the family together, despite maybe an ongoing abuse, which is verbal, which is, you know, by gestures, by actions, by withholding money for the household.”
Tonight, a San Pedro resident, Alex Wade, is coming forward with allegations of police brutality. Wade claims that he was beaten by four police officers in his cell, resulting in several injuries, including a fractured elbow. He told News Five that the incident began on Monday after he was detained for getting into a physical altercation with another person in public. Wade alleges that he was denied the right to make a phone call and, after cursing at a police officer, was physically attacked. According to Wade, this is just one of several similar incidents. Speaking with Wade today, he informed us that he plans to press charges. Here’s more on that.
On the Phone: Alex Wade, Alleged Abuse Victim
“ I was chilling outside of right here at Centavos at the roadside and a guy passed and messed with me, but he threw a stone, right? And I threw a stone back to him and he went and called the police and they come, ker us da the station and thing, put me in the cell and I asked the police for a call because nobody knew I was there. So I asked him for a call and he told me, no, I was going to sleep there for the rest of the night. So I just cussed him. I used an obscene language. I cussed him out and he told me say it again and I say it again and he opened the cell. I was already in the cell and he opened the cell and he came in. Two of them came in and they started beating me and I think I tried to defend myself. I shoved one of them off and he went out and he came in back with a metal level. That is when he lashed me about like four times on my elbow. Fractured my elbow.”
Britney Gordon
“Were you given any medical treatment after this incident?”
On the Phone: Alex Wade
“Yes, ma’am. I got my medical form. I got two x-ray form.”
Britney Gordon
“And you said that how this was the first time that it happened. When did it happen again?”
On the Phone: Alex Wade
“Just like last night.”
Britney Gordon
“So you’ve been since released from the station?”
On the Phone: Alex Wade
“Yes, ma’am. I released, but me and my neighbor went through a little argument, a little problem. I threw a rock at her, but I didn’t hit her with a rock. I hit the building behind her. Then she went to report that I stoned her with a rock and they come, they arrest me and things. And same thing, I asked the corporal for a phone call and he tell me no, so I just tell him I cussed him again. I cussed the corporal and he opened the cell and he tell me to come outside. I tell him no, I won’t go outside because I no wa mek my rights turn wrong. I know my rights. If I go outside, you want to charge me again, right, ma’am? So I neva moved. They opened the ricket and went in the cell, dragged me out, tried to drag me out. I mi di fight back fi not come out. Then the next guy jumped, tried to save me, I still got one hand, mom, I can’t defend myself, right? Yeah, next guy jumped in to save me, they wapped he, buss his head to ma’am, they beat he bad inna the station, two of us.”
Britney Gordon
“So right now your arm is in a sling, or it’s wrapped up?”
On the Phone: Alex Wade
“Yes, ma’am, it’s cast up and it’s in a sling. I could make George send a picture of him off it to you.”
Britney Gordon
“Okay, and so, what is it exactly you’re hoping for, for people to be aware of this? Are you pressing any charges?”
On the Phone: Alex Wade
“Yes, ma’am. I am pressing charges. I want a lawsuit at the station.”
This morning, a tragic incident occurred offshore near Saint George’s Caye when an elderly tourist drowned during a marine adventure. Sixty-seven-year-old Rajendran Nair from Florida was snorkeling with a group of tourists when he encountered difficulties just before 10 a.m. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead. His body was brought to Belize City, where a postmortem examination is scheduled.
Tonight, twenty-two-year-old Egbert Vince Gill from Santa Barbara Street is out on bail after being arraigned on a charge of aggravated assault with a knife. Late this evening, Gill, who did not have legal representation, appeared before Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola. He was charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument against Leon Lopez. Gill, a laborer from Belize City, pleaded not guilty. With no objections, he was granted bail of one thousand, five hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount, which he met. As part of his bail conditions, Gill must not contact the complainant or any members of his family. He also must not be arrested or charged with any other offenses while out on bail, or his bail will be revoked. Gill’s next court date is set for February twenty-eight, 2025.
Tonight, twenty-nine-year-old Jeremy Johnson from Maskall is out on bail after being arraigned in Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a robbery charge. The allegations against Johnson claim that on December thirteenth, 2024, in Maskall Village, he used force to steal forty-five dollars from Milton Reyes. During his arraignment, Johnson initially pleaded guilty with an explanation, insisting that he did not rob the man. Disagreeing with the police’s account and denying the offense, Johnson was granted bail of two thousand dollars and is scheduled to return to court in February 2025. As part of his bail conditions, Johnson must attend all court dates set by the Magistrate and must not be arrested or charged with any other offenses while out on bail, or his bail could be revoked.
Every year, we eagerly await the announcement of the first baby born in the new year. While the news varies across the six districts, at K.H.M.H., the first baby of 2025 arrived at 12:15 a.m. on January first. The proud mom, nineteen-year-old Glenda Pop from Hattieville Village, welcomed her second child. Today, Glenda and her newborn were discharged from the hospital after receiving traditional gifts from San Cas Limited, a heartwarming tradition they’ve upheld for the past two decades. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene to capture the joyous moments and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
While Belizeans were out celebrating the arrival of 2025, one woman was making her way to the maternity ward to welcome her second son. Nineteen-year-old Glenda Pop from Hattieville didn’t expect to ring in the new year in labor, as her due date was set for Friday, January third. But life had other plans, and she ended up ushering in 2025 with the birth of her baby boy.
“When 12 o’clock came, she was fully dilated and ready to push, and she pushed, you know, she delivered a healthy male neonate at twelve-fifteen a.m., weighing six pound three ounces.”
Sister Estella Flowers, who oversees the K.H.M.H Maternity Ward, shared with reporters that Glenda Pop arrived at the hospital around 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. She mentioned that, aside from Glenda’s delivery of her newborn son, it was an unusually quiet New Year’s Day at the hospital.
Sister Estella Flowers
“We were expecting three to four mothers, but she was the only one and still only the only one. We just had a delivery yesterday on the second. So, she was the only one for 24 hours.”
As her blessings from San Cas Limited, Glenda received a hamper with goodies and necessities worth around a hundred dollars.
Aisha Trapp
Aisha Trapp, Marketing Manager, San Cas Ltd.
“The items are selected based on the policies from the hospital, putting breastfeeding first, of course. We don’t give any milk substitutes in the package. We give Ovaltine, which helps with the production of breast milk. We also give 7Cs vitamins. We give, of course, Huggies diapers and wipes and we give Jergens products which, of course, adds to self care for the mom. We know that after having a newborn, it’s very tough on the mom, so we do give products for the mom and baby. – Kotex, of course, for mommy. So we’ve added a little every year, based on the policy of the hospital, and we do check with them before we give the packages.”
Marketing Manager for San Cas Limited, Aisha Trapp says the twenty-plus-year tradition of giving to first-borns on New Years is extended to all the districts.
Aisha Trapp
“We don’t only give the baby born at K.H.M.H, but we do give babies from all different public hospitals. We’ve checked, and so far, San Ignacio had a baby boy. He was born 12:02 a.m., and Dangriga had three. It had two females and one male. The first female was born at 9:02 a.m., so, we continue to check and see if any other babies were born. We did check also the private hospitals because we do give all the babies that were born for the new year a package.”
Glenda Pop
“I never know if I’m gonna get this, so, I say thanks to you all.”
Glenda Pop was overjoyed with the gifts that came with the arrival of her second child, another baby boy. At just nineteen, she’s already decided that two is enough for her.
A 29-year-old man is behind bars after being caught with illegal ammunition during a police search at a nightclub in Orange Walk Town on New Year’s Day.
Police reported that Belizean labourer Alfredo Eliaser Casanova was found with eight 9mm rounds of ammunition in his pocket during the search. Authorities say he failed to present a firearm license when asked.
Casanova now faces charges of possession of ammunition without a gun license.
Police are investigating a chopping incident involving a 21-year-old construction worker, Reynaldo Pop, in San Pedro Town.
According to police, the attack took place on Wednesday night. Police were alerted to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where Pop was receiving treatment for a chop wound to his face.
Pop reported being attacked by three men while walking in the San Mateo area. One of the suspects allegedly struck him with a machete.
The police are currently searching for three individuals involved in this attack.
A man is in police custody following a stabbing incident in Belize City on January 1, 2025.
Police say the attack unfolded during a heated argument over an eviction notice, which escalated into a physical fight between 35-year-old Deneisha Tillett and her tenant, 37-year-old Darlene McKenzie. Mervin Martin, 28, and Emerson Garnett, 33, became involved in the altercation that left Martin in a critical condition.
During the fight, Garnett allegedly stabbed Martin multiple times. Martin was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment.
However, as reported previously, this isn’t the first time Garnett has been in trouble. In April 2024, a viral video showed him violently assaulting a man, leading to charges of common assault and a $505 fine. Later that year, in September, Garnett was arrested for a burglary in which $4,000 worth of jewellery was stolen. He was released on bail but remained in prison due to an unpaid court fine until October 2024.
