Tonight, Punta Rock lovers across the nation are mourning the death of a beloved musician. On Thursday, Deon Ogaldez, popularly known by his artist’s name, Concego, was involved in a road traffic incident along the Hummingbird Highway and later succumbed to his injuries. Ogaldez was well-known for the song “Sidown and Bounce” and is remembered as a loving son, brother, and friend. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on the incident today.
“On Thursday police responded to a road of accident near Armenia. Luis Esquivel reported he was driving a van when a motorcycle attempted to overtake another vehicle collided into his vehicle. The person fell on the street and sustained several injuries. The person was taken for treatment. He was identified as Deon Ogladez, and he received several injuries. He received treatment and died thereafter at the hospital. An investigation is being carried out. The file will be put together, sent to the DPP for directives.”
Reporter
“Any NIP issued?”
Hilberto Romero
“NIP served, and a urine sample was obtained from both drivers.”
Another family is mourning the death of a loved one after a collision in the Orange Walk District claimed the life of Carlos Landaverde. According to authorities, Landaverde was travelling along the Guinea Grass Road when his truck collided with a black SUV, resulting in his fatal injuries. He was at Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. ACP Hilberto Romero has a full report.
“On Monday, the twenty-first day of April, 2025, police responded to a theater road traffic accident at Guinea Grass. Upon the arrival is a white Chevy S10 pickup and a Ford Explorer vehicle with extensive damages. Carlos Landaverde was the driver of the S10 Chevy pickup. He received several injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford Explorer was Oscar Garcia. NIP, served, urine sample taken, and again, the file will be prepared and sent to the DPP for directives.”
A raging fire at the Western Sanitary Landfill has been burning for nearly a day and a half. While it was a major concern on Monday night, an official from the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority assures that the blaze is now under control and will soon be extinguished. The fire started mid-morning on Monday in the brush near the facility, likely set by someone seen in the area just minutes before. This raises the issue of the dangers posed by deliberately set fires that can quickly spread, threatening lives and property. The flames came dangerously close to the transfer station buildings, making it a priority to save them. But there’s good news this evening—the fire is expected to be fully extinguished by tonight. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This video, posted on Monday night, shows a raging fire out of control and threatening anything in its path. This was the scene near the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Sanitary Landfill as night fell. The fire was dangerously close to the facility’s buildings, but thanks to quick teamwork among the National Fire Service, the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the structures were saved.
Rojelio Pop
Rojelio Pop, Operations Manager, BSWAMA
“Our protocol is working reasonably okay. Our priority had to change from actually containing the fire yesterday and we moved to protecting the buildings and the offices that you see here. So we created that buffer – fifteen to twenty feet – away from the building because the waste was really close to the buildings. So that had to be our priority, dowsing with the help of MIDH and private companies providing water. We had about three fire trucks here – continuous operation until we had to move the garbage away from the buildings.”
San Ignacio/Santa Elena Mayor Earl Trapp was one of the first to offer his resources to help.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“I was called out about one thirty in the afternoon and told that the fire was getting out of control and the place was catching fire and they needed support. I tried my best to get the town council’s heavy-duty equipment out there. I had a problem getting the operator, so the best I could have done was to get our water bowser and I had the driver take that out there and that’s how we were basically supplying the fire engine with water. I called some other friends and they came and so we had five bowsers out there.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development quickly stepped in to provide an excavator, which is still at the site helping out. With all the resources working together to extinguish the fire, Rojelio Pop, the operations manager at BSWAMA, is hopeful that the blaze will be completely under control by early tonight.
Rojelio Pop
“We don’t have a definite timeline, but what we’re hoping for is that we can bringit under complete control by this evening. As long as we have a sustained supplyof water – we have these machines, they are willing to work, but water is theproblem. Once we can sustain the flow of water, we should be able to get it undercontrol, hopefully by tonight.”
Pop assured that the work crew fighting the fire is equipped with proper gear to protect them from the toxic fumes coming from the burning garbage.
Rojelio Pop
“Those guys who are operating the machines are receiving some sort of help from the fire service in terms of smoke masks that are complemented with the use of direct oxygen so that oxygen does not get into their lungs or they do notinhale all that toxic smoke. So they’re inhaling oxygen at this point.”
But even though firefighting efforts are in full swing, the business of collecting and dumping garbage continues, according to the Acting Director, Aldo Cansino.
Aldo Cansino
Aldo Cansino, Acting Director, BSWAMA
“If you notice in the background you have two trucks waiting. The process here will not stop. It will continue. We will continue to load garbage from within the transfer station and that will continue to move, hence the priority initially was to make sure that we have the site secured so that the operations can continue. This morning we had a bit of a delay because we still had some issues, but the trucks are here and we should get back on track.”
Mayor Trapp strongly believes that human carelessness is to blame for the blaze.
Earl Trapp
“According to the watchman, he saw someone walk out of the bushes, which is about 2,000 feet from the transfer station and about ten minutes after he saw smoke, So he is believing that’s where the fire started.”
Although there’s no surveillance to identify the culprit, fortunately, there are no residential communities nearby. Plus, the wind is blowing the smoke towards the hills, so it shouldn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. Marion Ali for News Five.
Over the past year, Mayor Earl Trapp of San Ignacio/Santa Elena has been vocal about the poor management of garbage at the western landfill facility run by the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, located just outside the town. Trapp’s main concern is that the garbage hasn’t been moved to the transfer station at mile twenty-four on the George Price Highway quickly enough. This has led to heaps of trash piling up, even in front of the buildings at the landfill, leaving little room for more waste. Today, we noticed some improvements as the garbage piled at the front has been cleared away. However, Trapp is still urging for a proper system to be put in place.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“They will need to put proper procedures in place to manage the garbage and to dispose of it so that we don’t come to that again because we were there in December of last year and it was really out of control, so I think that BSWAMA will need to do something to better is disposed of and then carried to the station. Get it out of that compound in a timely manner so it will not pile up like we saw in December. Right now I have a truck there from morning and still it cannot empty. Benque has garbage to take, the resorts have garbage to take so something has to be done so that garbage can be disposed of there as quickly as possible.”
Aldo Cansino, the Acting Director of the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, told News Five that the issue wasn’t about procedures but rather contract management. He assured that the problem has been resolved with the contractor, and garbage should no longer be piling up in the front yard of the landfill facility in San Ignacio.
Aldo Cansino, Acting Director, BSWAMA
“We sat down with the operator, we highlighted several issues with the contract; he highlighted several concerns. Through dialogue, we were able to iron out some of those issues on both sides and we were able to proceed.”
Marion Ali
“Can you share those concerns?”
Aldo Cansino
“The road caused a delay and that diminished the number of trucks that came in. And from our end we had issues with timely payments. So these things – dialogue is important and that’s how we are able now to work together. We are joined at the hips because he has a contract and we have an obligation. So we’ve been trying to work it out. If you had come here sometime last year you would have seen that garbage was piled all the way to the front. Working with them, we almost had it back to normal so the plan that we had been executing was working. We also was looking at contingencies in the event that didn’t work so we already had identified how we would have addressed it like a plan B and a plan C.”
Today, the Government of Belize declared a period of mourning for the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. In statements issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Governor General, Belize extended its heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community worldwide. The statement further announced that in honor of his memory, all national flags are to be flown at half-mast from midday on Thursday until the conclusion of his committal service. In an official statement, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy as a voice for peace and justice. We spoke with Father Scott Giuliani, a priest at the Divine Mercy Church in Belize City, for more details on the legacy he is leaving behind.
Father Scott Giuliani
Father Scott Giuliani, Priest, Divine Mercy Church
“It’s not by chance by chance that his last blessing that he gave to the world was a time on the greatest feast that we have of the year where we celebrate Jesus resurrection, that over sin and suffering and death, we had the victory in Christ and the resurrection. And at this time, this beginning of the celebration of Easter, it’s in this season that Pope Francis, after a time of suffering during Lent, he’s called to go home at that time in his last public appearance, was wishing everyone a happy Easter and giving that blessing to his people. And so I think that for us is, it’s a great reminder of where we’re going. We’re celebrating Jubilee year this year as well. And we’re called to be pilgrims of hope. And so Pope Francis really reminds us of what a pilgrim of hope means as he lives his life as a pilgrim. And now we, he hopes to be fulfilled and be in that peace, place of peace in heaven. Pope Francis, you love him or you hate him. He was a figure that really touched people’s hearts and he. From the very beginning, after he was elected, usually the Pope goes off and he would take a ride back in, in a different special car. Like he jumped on the bus with all his brother Cardinals. And he just would do these sort of things where he would try to build these bridges beyond these kind of social barriers that we have. And he, by choosing the word Francis, after this St. Francis Assisi, this kind of guided his pontificate. Where Pope St. Francis, he was in a time of conflict and battle in the war. Also Pope Francis in time with Ukraine and Gaza and Sudan and these different conflicts around the world, he preached peace. He was a man of creation, speaking about the responsibility for our common home. So what, speaking about integral ecology says whether the care for the environment can’t be separated from the care for the dignity of the human person, especially those most vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, to both poor and rich. He was a man of great dialogue. He was always breaking social barriers in a lot of ways. And so he’d reach out to people who have different faiths, different creeds, and he’d come together in a fraternity. Give us an example of how we meet with people who perhaps not share the same ideas as we do, but we meet in peace and mutual respect. And he gives a great example of that way.”
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Belize is currently addressing a mass stranding of pilot whales in the Drown Caye area, just off the coast of Belize City. Authorities have issued an urgent advisory for the public and all marine vessels to avoid the area immediately. Approaching the stranded whales poses significant risks to both humans and animals. Pilot whales, known for their size and strength, can react unpredictably when distressed. The Institute’s response team, in collaboration with the Belize Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, is closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary aid to the whales.
Jamal Galves
Jamal Galves, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
“We’re looking at the incidents currently and I must say that these incidents have been occurring on a yearly basis, we’ve seen it over the last few years and we continue to monitor it. Currently, we’re just observing from a distance, hoping that they’ll make their way back to deeper waters before intervening. Should it become more urgent, should the animals come more closer to the coastline, should they get into more areas that are problematic for them, then we would intervene, of course in collaboration with the Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, along with our team, to see what best we can do. Pilot whales are typically some of the best navigators of the sea, so when they get into a situation like this, it already alludes that there are some problem that is [happening] among their pods. One of the common things is that pilot whales have very tight bonds with their pod, so one pilot whale could be sick or disoriented and it will cause the entire pod to get into problems.”
Whale sharks, typically seen in Belize during the spawning season, have been notably absent for some time. Experts suggest several possible reasons for this change, including climate change and unmonitored tourism activities. Additionally, there may be a decline in fish spawning, which affects the whale sharks’ feeding patterns. These gentle giants are known -to seek out warmer waters in this region to feed during spawning times. Jamal Galves from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Belize says that whale sharks, just like pilot sharks, are being spotted in our waters.
Jamal Galves
Jamal Galves, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
“During the spawning season, whale sharks are known to be in Belize and records have shown that they haven’t been here for a while. That could be attributed to many things, climate change, it could be unmonitored tourism activities. Maybe the fish aren’t spawning as much as they used to, but I know of our whales, particularly, these parts of the world, the warmer waters is what they really seek to feed during these times. Pilot whales are typical in Belize, they’re normally offshore so people are not aware of them, you’ll find them off Lighthouse, Glovers Reef and those places. Actually, after the post was made, somebody reached out to me and they said that they saw pilot whales in Glovers’ Reef this weekend. It could possibly be the very same pod that is making its way into the coast. There are numerous reasons for pilot whales to strand, it could be simple things like marine traffic, shipping noises, seismic testing. Ocean noises can affect their hearing and their ability to navigate. One of the most important thing is that we want mariners to be aware of it, if possible, avoid going into that area. You don’t want to cause additional problems to a pod that is already compromised. People may be intrigued to want to go out there and see, but pilot whales can be dangerous, they do have teeth, unlike some other baleen whales, they can bite and so we’re asking people to stay away from them as best as possible.”
Galves contacted News Five with an update late this evening. He clarified that the initial report was based on a distant video showing what seemed to be pilot whales. However, new, closer footage clearly shows they are false killer whales. The public advisory hasn’t changed.
The much-awaited Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic has come to an end. As you might already know, British rider Jim Brown clinched the victory for his team, the Miami Blazers. The first Belizean rider finished in fourth place, just like in 2024. Tonight, we’ll hear from the champion and other riders who performed exceptionally well under the scorching heat. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Ninety-Fifth Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic saw British Cyclist Jim Brown from the Miami Blazers emerge victorious. This was Brown’s first time riding the race, and he completed the entire ride in five hours, forty-five minutes and forty seconds.
Jim Brown
Jim Brown, Winner, 95th Cross Country
“Super difficult to be honest. I am really not use to this hot weather, so that was really difficult part of it for me. But, I will take the win.”
Marion Ali
“Tell us how the ride went, where you made the decision to make a breakaway and how difficult it was to hold that?”
Jim Brown
“To be honest, I was not feeling good at all in the middle part of the race, in the early middle part of the race. I told Kory, our team leader, I said to him I am not in a good day, I will just try to and follow moves and hopefully we can set the race up for you. So I took it upon myself to follow the defending champion because I saw him ride away and then two more came across. We were a good working group and I think the cohesion was not good behind. We just took off and that was that.”
At mile twenty-seven, heading into Belize City, Brown was a part of a four-men breakaway group leading the race with a one minute time gap. Defending Champion, Luis Lopez was among the four riders. No Belizean was present. Luis Lopez was dropped at mile twenty-six, while three riders pressed on. As the race headed into Belize City, the leading trio became a duo. Jim Brown secured the victory with a thrilling sprint finish, while Alfredo Bueno from Legions of Los Angeles took second place.
Alfredo Bueno
Alfredo Bueno, Second Place, 95th Cross Country
“It was hot, very lots of bad luck. I was kind of on the back foot all day. I just stayed locked in my mind and ended up riding to every move I missed. I ended up riding with Jim that ended up being the one, so I am pretty happy with my racing tactics today.”
Mation Ali
“What happened, why Jim beat you at the tape.”
“I think there is a simple answer to that. He is just better. This guy has won races way. I actually felt pretty good and he did too. Me and him felt fine. It is just like in these types of races he is superior in every way. He has done well in flat races in the past also.”
Tenis Star Rider, Omar Espinosa finished in third place, rounding off the top three.
Omar Espinosa
Omar Espinosa, Third Place, 95th Cross Country
*In Spanish*
The results mirrored last year, with no Belizean rider finishing in the top three. Just like in 2024, the first Belizean to cross the finish line came in fourth place. This time, it was G-Flow Rider Derrick Chavarria, who was warmly embraced by Cycling Federation President Glenn Flowers at the finish line.
Derrick Chavarria
Derrick Chavarria, Fourth Place, 95th Cross Country
“Yeah, so I am fourth place and the strategy honestly we slip up the get somebody in that key break away around mile thirty-one and form there everything gone south. If we had a representative I would have been proud. But nonetheless we have to go back on the drawing board and start again for next year.”
Concego died three days after being critically injured in a motorcycle accident on April 17 in Armenia Village. He was hospitalised at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he later passed away.
Romero said the incident occurred when Concego, who was on the motorcycle, attempted to overtake another vehicle and collided with a van.
According to Romero, the van’s driver, Luis Esquivel, told investigators that “he was driving a van when a motorcycle attempted to overtake another vehicle collided into his vehicle.”
Esquival has been served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution. A urine sample was obtained as part of the investigation, and the case file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Concego was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer known for his energetic performances and cultural contributions to Punta Rock, performing in both Garifuna and Creole. His song “Namule” remains a fan favourite.
