2025 - Channel 5 Belize

New Year’s Day Baby: Healthy 6-Pound Boy

A healthy baby boy made his debut as the first baby of 2025 at 12:15 a.m. on January 1st. The baby, born to 19-year-old Glenda Pop from Hattieville, weighed six pounds and had a smooth, uncomplicated birth.

Glenda told News 5 that she arrived at the hospital at around 8 o’clock in the night on December 31 after experiencing labour pains. Within hours, she was fully dilated. “I came straight to the hospital, and they told me I would have my baby right now,” Pop said.

Estella Flowers, Unit Manager for Maternity and Labour and Delivery, shared, “This is a full, mature baby, born at 40 weeks with no complications.”

“We were expecting a lot of babies that night, on the 31st of December, to come in on the first. But she was the only one that came in 8 centimetres dilated and delivered at 12:15,” Flowers added.

The hospital celebrated the first baby of the year with special gifts and recognition. Glenda, who is already the mother of one, has yet to decide on a name for her newborn son.

From Alleged Shooter to Shooting Victim

A New Year’s morning shooting left a 21-year-old man injured in Belize City. Reports indicate that Shemar Gillett was shot in the left arm just before 5 o’clock in the morning while walking home. Initial investigation revealed that a vehicle suddenly stopped and opened fire on him while he was walking home.

Gillett was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he was treated for his injuries. Belize City police are urging anyone with information about the shooting or the vehicle involved to help with the investigation.

Meanwhile, two years ago, in 2022, instead of being shot at, Gillett was accused of being the shooter and was remanded to prison at the age of 18 related to a shooting incident in 2022, where Gillett was the alleged shooter, and faced two counts of using deadly means of harm and one count of wounding following an attack on Joanna and Anthony Parham. This shooting incident occurred on May 30, 2022, and caused damage to two vehicles. Reports were that gunshots were fired at the corner of Gibnut and Curassow Streets. Police say that Anthony Parham was the intended target.

Man Stabbed Multiple Times in Belize City

A man is in critical condition after being brutally stabbed multiple times near Pitter Street in Belize City on Wednesday, January 1.

The victim, Mervin Martin, was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Martin alleges he was attacked by 33-year-old Emerson Garnett, also known as “Jimbo.”

Police are currently searching for Garnett in connection with the incident.

This isn’t the first time Garnett has been involved in an incident. In April 2024, a viral video showed Garnett assaulting a man, Mark Avilez, in a violent attack that included throwing a toilet bowl at the victim. Garnett was later charged with two counts of common assault and fined $505.

In September of 2024, Garnett was involved in a separate incident involving a burglary, where over $4,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from an apartment in the Butterwood Bay area. He was arrested for burglary and later released on bail. He was granted bail of $5,000, but due to an outstanding court debt of $505, Garnett was unable to pay and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until October 20.

4-Year-Old Girl Shot on New Year’s Eve in Belize City

A 4-year-old girl was injured by a stray bullet on New Year’s Eve while she was with her family in the Jane Usher area in the Old Capital. Reports are that the incident occurred shortly after midnight on January 1.

The child’s mother told police that she was holding her daughter while the family set off fireworks on Levi Slusher Street. Moments later, the girl cried out in pain, and her mother initially thought it was from a stone thrown by the fireworks. However, after taking her to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, an X-ray revealed a gunshot wound. A bullet was removed from the child’s left arm.

Police have investigated the scene and are calling on the public to assist with helpful information that can lead to identifying the shooter.

Belize Water Taxi Fee Rises to $3 in 2025

The Belize Port Authority (BPA) raised the water taxi passenger fee by $3.00 for fares between $10.00 and $100.00. This became effective on January 1, 2025.

This adjustment follows the Water Taxi (Amendment) Regulations, SI No. 129 of 2022. The BPA said due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the BPA had temporarily reduced the fee to $2.00 to assist both operators and passengers.

“With the recovery of the economy, the BPA will now revert to the full fee, which will be applied to tickets purchased on or after 1 January 2025,” the BPA said in its announcement statement.

It added that the fee increase “This adjustment is necessary to ensure the continued safety, security, and maintenance of maritime services.”