On Tuesday, the Shyne Barrow faction of the U.D.P. issued a statement rejecting Tracy Taegar-Panton’s petition to trigger a national convention. Despite this stance, Barrow expressed his interest in uniting the party but emphasized that any effort to do so must be on terms agreed upon by his side.
Shyne Barrow, Claimant
“I am not interested in being petty, I am not interested in being vindictive and vicious. I am interested in rebuilding the UDP, I am interested in unity, but as I have said all along, it will be on our terms. It will be not with the significantly corrupt, not with people like Faber that don’t respect law enforcement. It will be with the new generation of the UDP and even those that may come from the old generation but are prepared to work together with us. Unless the constitution is changed, you are right, I would not be able to run again, and if my colleagues see it fit to change the constitution then I will continue to serve as leader if they are so inclined to vote for me as leader. Now that the decision has been rendered Hugo Patt is in a much better position to not be pressured by Tracy. They have no standing and, you know, there are some colleagues that would want him to lead the party. Well if he doesn’t want then I’ll continue to lead the party. I am saying, if they amend the constitution, I will serve out my term, I will serve out my term until the next national convention. Show me where in the constitution it says that someone who is occupying the seat upon losing their qualification, immediately has to vacate the seat. These are the ambiguities that need to be clarified, in all fairness. There is no specific procedure for what happens when a member of parliament who is the leader or the deputy leader loses their seat.”
In response to a recent surge in murders, the Government of Belize has declared a state of emergency. The violence erupted on Saturday following an attempt on the life of well-known street figure Jimmy Rojas. Since then, three people have been killed in what police confirm is a feud between rival gangs. As a result, the entire southside of Belize City, along with Ladyville, the Eight Mile Community, Roaring Creek Village, and part of Camalote Village, are now under a one-month state of emergency. News Five’s Paul Lopez delves deeper into the unfolding situation.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
In response to a surge in gang violence that claimed three lives within twenty-four hours, a state of emergency has been declared in parts of Belize City, the Belize District, and the Cayo District. The affected areas in Belize City include the entire southside and parts of the northside, covering Queen Street, Handyside Street, and North Front Street. The SOE also extends to Ladyville, the Eight Miles Community, Sunset Community, and Western Pines Community. In the Cayo District, Roaring Creek Village and Young Bank in Camalote Village are under emergency measures. Authorities are taking swift action to restore peace and safety in these communities.
Richard Rosado
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police (File: May 6th, 2025)
“With the death of Brandon Baptist the security threat was high and with the shooting of Rojas it has now escalated to a critical level.”
Belize City is reeling from a wave of violence after well-known street figure Jimy Rojas was shot on Saturday on Croton Lane. Rojas, who was accused of the January 2024 murder of Jose Matus, survived the attack, but the incident ignited a series of retaliatory shootings. Just two days later, thirty-six-year-old Aaron Lindo was shot and killed in Double Head Cabbage. Lindo was reportedly linked to one of the rival gangs in Belize City. Hours after Lindo’s murder, thirty-seven-year-old Nelson “Mung” Henry was gunned down on Yellowtail Street in Ladyville. Authorities have confirmed that both murders are connected to the ongoing gang feud. The community remains on edge as law enforcement works to quell violence and restore order.
“Yes we have some information to suggest that it is, that is why we have sixty persons in detention at this time. We are conducting several operations across the Belize District and continue with our work on the ground.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero reported a third casualty in the ongoing gang feud. Thirty-one-year-old Kadeem Orosco was tragically shot and killed on Ebony Street Tuesday morning, just moments after dropping off his seven-year-old daughter at school. The news of his murder has devastated his family, with one of his aunts calling for a state of emergency and the reinstatement of capital punishment. The community is in shock as authorities work to address the escalating violence.
Teresita Orosco
Teresita Orosco, Aunt of Deceased (File: May 6th, 2025)
“Hang them, we as families have to cry out for justice. We have to cry out for capital punishment to come back. Hang them ok.”
The state of emergency declared in response to the recent surge in gang violence is now in full effect and will initially last for one month. While it is likely to be extended, the exact duration remains uncertain. Commissioner Rosado has indicated that, if it were up to him, those detained under the SOE would remain behind bars for at least six months.
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police (File: May 5th, 2025)
“I do believe there is a need for state of emergency to address security concerns when violence is at a critical situation. Present we do have a critical situation in the Martins area and the guys need a time out, but rather than doing a one month or a three months we need to pursue a six months period.”
As the state of emergency takes effect, residents of Belize City’s southside, Ladyville, the Eight Mile Community, Roaring Creek, and Young Bank can expect heightened police presence for the next four weeks. Authorities are stepping up their efforts to ensure safety and restore order in these areas. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
The Ministry of Education has issued a firm directive to public schools across Belize, instructing general and local managers to keep schools open on Friday. This memo follows the Belize National Teachers Union’s announcement of a planned demonstration in Belmopan on the same day. Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora reminded principals that they do not have the authority to cancel classes or notify parents of closures. The memo also confirmed that school transportation will operate as usual. In response, B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz released a video statement acknowledging the ministry’s right to issue such directives, while questioning the intent behind the memo. The situation sets the stage for a tense Friday as teachers prepare to protest.
Nadia Caliz
Nadia Caliz, President, B.N.T.U.
“I want you to know that the ministry is within its constitutional right. That letter speaks to keeping schools open. Nothing is wrong with that. It comes out every single time we decided to demonstrate or go on strike. The other part is this, the indirect aspect is to reduce the BNTU number on Friday, that is up to you the membership. I put that ball in your court. The ministry will send that our because they have a responsibility for education. And the management will work with them and you have seen letters come out of the management telling you hat schools will be open, asking administrators to list the names of those who are going, all of that. It is important to know that if you are going, give them your name. Now your responsibility as a member is to notify your parents and students that you will not be there, but you have no legal authority to tell them not to come to school and that there will be no class. So, please bear that in mind my dear members.”
President Nadia Caliz of the Belize National Teachers Union has issued a strong message to general and local school managers. She argued that if they can cooperate with the Ministry of Education to keep schools open on Friday, they should also be able to work with the ministry to address teachers’ demands. Caliz further advised teachers to be ready for the possibility of not being paid for the day spent demonstrating outside the classroom. This call to action comes as tensions rise ahead of the planned protest in Belmopan.
Nadia Caliz, President, B.N.T.U.
“Management, I love the fact that we have the memos coming out and that is the same concerted effort I want to see from you and the ministry as it pertains to the teachers getting their income tax. A lot off you have not reconciled, so my teachers are suffering for years. So if you can work together on this, you can work together on anything. That is the same energy I want to see concerning my teachers waiting for their increments. If you can work together on this you can work together on that. You can work to get to get exactly what teachers are clamoring for done, you can. Maybe, I am not certain, maybe under the table, they will tell managements not to pay you for the day. Maybe, but be prepared for whatever it is. You got to be prepared to take the stand you voted for.”
The upcoming demonstration in Belmopan on Friday is set to draw even larger crowds as the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers join forces with the Belize National Teachers Union. Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union, emphasized that the teachers’ demands are shared by his members. This united front signals a significant show of solidarity among Belize’s public sector workers. We spoke with Flowers today to get his perspective on the growing movement.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, B.N.T.U
“The BNTU, PSU, and APSSM are part of what we refer to as the joint union negotiating team, and so the issue or issues that we’re currently facing affect all three associations or bodies. So on Friday, in support of our sister union, in support of the issues that they are championing, and as we have a duty and obligation to as part of the joint union negotiating team, we will be issuing an official call to our general membership to be at Friday’s rally and demonstration against what we view as injustices against public sector workers by the Briceño administration. It is important that I also make note that the public service union would have consulted its membership last week and once again on Monday night, and the turnout was great. In terms of our virtual meetings, we have put out surveys to members as to whether or not this is a rally or demonstration that they would want to participate in, and they told us, not only do we want to participate in this rally and demonstration, but we want you to put together a comprehensive plan of action.”
P.S.U. President Dean Flowers is raising concerns about a possible coordinated effort by the Ministry of Public Service to deter public servants from attending Friday’s protest. Flowers pointed out that the Elections and Boundaries Department has scheduled training for village council elections on the same day, notifying public officers of the session. He advised his members to skip the training and join the demonstration, suggesting that the timing might be an attempt to undermine the protest’s impact.
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“Every parent who say they love their children, that they want the best for their children need to be out there. If they are not our there the government may view it as they could not bring out the crowd, so we wont give them the respect they deserve. That will cause the teachers to be outside of their classroom longer than they need to and when the teachers are out of the classroom longer than they need to your children suffer, my children suffer. I want to say that yesterday we were informed that the ministry of public service via the elections and boundaries department would has sent out letters to public officers informing them that in forty eight hours, seventy two hours there will be training for village council election. We don’t know if there is a plot by the Ministry of Public Service. We find it very coincidental that Ms. Tamai wants to hold a training on Friday, knowing fully well. We are saying to our public officers, training can wait, what cannot wait is for you to let your voices be heard. So, we are saying, if you have training, do not attend that training on Friday. Show up in Belmopan, in solidarity with the joint unions.”
P.S.U. President Dean Flowers has criticized the government’s response to the joint unions’ April 22nd letter to the prime minister. Flowers described the reply, received yesterday, as sheepish and lacking any concrete information on how the government plans to address their demands. He expressed frustration, stating that the Briceño administration’s disrespect towards the unions continues. This development adds fuel to the fire ahead of Friday’s planned protest in Belmopan.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“Last month we would have issued a joint letter to the prime minister of Belize who responded sheepishly yesterday to acknowledge receiving, that was the extent of his letter, I hereby acknowledge receiving your letter and the government negotiating team will be in touch with you, absolutely no response to the issues we raised, to the request we made, to our framework that we submitted to him as far back as November. So, the disrespect of John Briceno continues. If Stuart Leslie wants to be paid like a CEO of a fortune five hundred company, then Dean Flowers wants to be paid like an employee of a fortune five hundred company and every single public officer that I represent has the right to be paid the salary of a fortune five hundred company because we do the heavy lifting. We are the laborers of this country, not the CEOs.”
Today, Belize took a significant step in disaster preparedness by hosting the first national consultative workshop for the UN’s Early Warnings for All Initiative. Launched in 2022, this global project aims to ensure everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to early warnings for natural disasters. The workshop, organized by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the National Meteorological Service, focused on fostering collaboration and driving national ownership of the project’s action plan. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction conducted a gap analysis to identify the program’s strengths and areas needing improvement. Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator at NEMO, provided further insights into the initiative’s progress and goals.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“So this first event is looking at the Early Warning for All Initiative, which is an initiative by the United Nations General Secretary. And the idea behind this is for us as a system to be able to provide early warning for all hazards for all people. So we are doing our part in implementing that in Belize. So we are looking at ways. How we can look at all hazards, multi hazards, not only hurricanes, but fires, floods, everything and have the ability to reach every single person in Belize and provide them enough for warning so they can make educated decisions.”
Britney Gordon
“What kind of systems are being implemented through this initiative, then in order to get those warnings early?”
Daniel Mendez
“Okay, so this is called a system of systems. So there are already systems existing among all our partners, so the Ministry of Health already has a system where they send out the risk information, the Ministry of Agriculture and so on. But it’s how can we as a system combine all of these in order for us to be able to coordinate and to provide that information to people and give them enough time. So it it’s a really a way of how we can collaborate as it’s a system of collaboration so we can make sure that we don’t miss anything.”
Today, the United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNDRR) and the Government of Belize signed on to the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative. This unique cross-stakeholder project aims to enhance local resilience by building partnerships between cities and encouraging knowledge sharing. UNDRR Regional Chief Nahuel Arena Garcia explained how the organization plans to create a roadmap for urban resilience in Belize City, helping the city better prepare for and respond to natural disasters. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a safer and more resilient future for Belize’s urban areas.
Nahuel Arena Garcia
Nahuel Arena Garcia, Regional Chief, U.N.D.R.R.
“We support countries at national level, but also local level to implement what’s called the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction. The Sendai framework is the global blueprint for reducing disaster risk. So it was adapted in 2015 by the General Assembly and it supports countries or provides guidance for countries to enhance risk knowledge, to enhance disaster risk governance to make sure that every investment, be public or private, contributes to resilience and not to create any new risk and to ensure that countries and the national systems have the right capacities to prepare and response effectively and build back better from disasters.”
Britney Gordon
“So it’s not necessarily the launch of a program, but more so signing on to a commitment.”
Nahuel Arena Garcia
“Exactly. You put it very well. So this is a commitment to engage in a systematic and methodical path to develop the vision, the strategies, the plans that will put both Belize City, but also the national level in a path to resilience. The government of Belize at national level is doing very good advances. However, it requires a strong governance across different sectors. Different ministries need to be involved. The private sector needs to be involved. Reducing disaster risk definitely has to be a whole of society approach. So we are here to support the government of Belize in that in that endeavor.”
Last week, a group of parents gathered in front of Corozal Methodist School to protest the suspension of two preschool teachers. The teachers were placed on administrative leave after organizing a meeting with parents to discuss graduation plans, defying the administration’s orders. The protesting parents demanded the teachers’ reinstatement, arguing that the teachers were defending their rights to be involved in the graduation planning process. Initially, the school declined to comment on the matter. However, in a letter issued to parents and guardians today, the school explained that the decision to place the teachers on leave was due to repeated instances of professional misconduct. The letter assured parents that the school’s priority remains the safety, academic development, and holistic well-being of students, and that steps are being taken to ensure minimal disruption to the quality of education during this period.
