Benita Keme-Palacio - Channel 5 Belize

PSU’s Dean Flowers Calls for Thorough Audits with New Auditor General

President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers, criticised the government’s budget preparation process. On Tuesday, the union issued a statement questioning the fiscal management and potential corruption within the Sports Council. The union demanded an independent audit to verify budget figures and investigate corruption allegations.

Minister of State, Devin Daly, stated on Tuesday that $7.5 million has been allocated between youth and sports, with $7 million going towards staff salaries, leaving just $500,000 for actual programming and facility maintenance.

Flowers told News 5, “I think that the public service union has consistently stated that there is little seriousness given to the preparation of these budgets.” Flowers added that, despite the shift to performance-based budgeting, the approach has not changed significantly. “If you look at all the budgets of the last twenty or ten years, not much has changed in terms of the programme budgeting,” he added.

Flowers also pointed out the inefficiency in the youth and sports budget, calling it “just numbers thrown out there” without proper analysis or justification for the expenditures.

He linked the issue to the failure of the previous auditor general to conduct thorough audits of ministries. He said, “I am hoping that with the appointment of a new auditor general, that for once, all government ministries will be audited to ensure that whatever allocation is being made for them is being spent on what is aimed for.”

Belize Police Department Receives New Patrol Vehicle

A new fully equipped patrol vehicle was handed over to the Belize Police Department today. The keys to the vehicle were presented by the Chief Operations Officer of Innovative Development (INNODEP), Joseph Lee.

INNODEP is a renowned international firm that specialises in expandable security solutions.

Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, received the keys of one of two vehicles designated for the “rapid response in coordination with the advanced camera system and the 911 emergency response framework being implemented.”

The vehicle is part of the BZ$60 million Belize Integral Security Programme funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).

This project includes the installation of a state-of-the-art camera system and emergency response framework in Belize City. It is expected to be completed by July 2025, and it will deploy AI-powered cameras to improve crime prevention and strengthen emergency responses across the city.

Maya Land Rights Progress Delayed by Elections, CCJ Hears

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) held a virtual hearing on Monday to monitor the progress of the Maya Land Rights Consent Order, agreed upon by the Belize Government and the Maya Leaders Alliance in April 2015. The order requires the government to implement a mechanism to recognise the land rights of the indigenous Maya people.

During Monday’s session, the parties provided updates on the delays caused by the recent elections. The lead government attorney, Andrew Marshalleck, stated that February’s dissolution of the National Assembly stalled the review of a draft of legislation intended for Cabinet.

He said, “The National Assembly was dissolved on the 11th of February, just days after the draft was presented to the Cabinet subcommittee. The result is that they have not looked at it and have not reverted. The general elections were held on March 12. A new minister responsible for Indigenous Peoples Affairs was appointed.”

Marshalleck added that although progress had been made, three deliverables remained unfulfilled. He stated that the new minister, Louis Zabaneh, was briefed on the issue, as he was not involved in previous Cabinet discussions.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs is also without a Chief Executive Officer. Marshalleck assured that the current CEO has been assisting in the transitional period as Zabaneh takes office.

Trial Farm Village Councillors Accuse Colleagues of Power Grab

In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Councillor of the Trial Farm Village, Eusebio Chebo Urbina, stated that two members of the village council “seem determined to tarnish my name and reputation.”

He accused the men of “spreading blatant falsehoods.”

According to Urbina, most of the Council are against these members’ disruptive actions, with a petition gathering support. Urbina condemned their efforts to undermine the authority of the Council, stating, “It is wholly unacceptable that two members believe they can arrogantly usurp the authority of the entire Council and act unilaterally.”

In a letter dated April 5, 2025, to Chairman Oscar Cornel, Urbina and four other councillors criticised the removal of the Secretary and Treasurer without the council’s approval.

The councillors stated that “such decision requires the consensus of the majority, constituting at least four councillors to meet the quorum requirements.” The group said that it is a matter of grave concern that one councillor has been unilaterally assigned the responsibilities of secretary, treasurer, and vice chairman. They described this as ‘consolidating power’, which goes against the principles of fair governance and breaches both legal and ethical standards.

The councillors also pointed out their “concerns regarding transparency and accountability” after a new bank account was opened without the Council’s consent and the failure to disclose financial reports for the centenary celebrations.

In the letter, the councillors demanded an immediate and thorough audit of the council’s finances, claiming that village council funds are allegedly being “misused for personal and political propaganda.”

PSU Opposes ‘Proposed Job Cuts’ in Departments of Youth and Sports

The Public Service Union of Belize (PSU) has opposed what it described as proposed plans to cut up to “approximately 100” jobs in the departments of youth and sports.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Anthony Mahler has said there are no cuts.

But the PSU believes otherwise. “While the PSU acknowledges the need for strategic reforms to improve efficiency, we urgently appeal to the Ministry to prioritise a human-centred approach that safeguards livelihoods and addresses systemic issues before resorting to job cuts,” said the PSU in its statement.

According to the PSU, slashing staff “without first addressing longstanding inefficiencies, alleged corruption, and potential “ghost workers” would disproportionately harm vulnerable communities.”

The union suggested reviewing staffing needs, identifying redundant roles, and investigating “ghost workers.” They also recommend aligning employee skills with organisational goals and exploring redeployment options across ministries to minimise job losses.

It also called into question the fiscal management and potential corruption within the Sports Council. PSU demanded an independent audit to verify budget figures and investigate corruption allegations.

These demands come after the Minister of State, Devin Daly, stated on the Open Your Eyes morning show that a budget of $7.5 million is shared between youth and sports. Of that figure, $7 million is spent on staff salaries, leaving only $500,000 to “really bring programmatic work and also to upkeep our facilities, utilities and all those stuff.”

Late Night Murder in Belize City

Police are investigating a murder that happened on Tuesday night in Belize City.

At around 10 o’clock, Luis Marin was shot multiple times while on Majestic Alley near North Front Street.

He succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, Marin’s murder may have been linked to a previous shooting incident in Belmopan.

Belize Government Consults Private Sector on U.S. Tariff Impact

The Belizean government held a crucial follow-up consultation on Tuesday to assess the impact of President Trump’s 10% reciprocal tariff policy on the country.

A release says that the meeting built upon last week’s discussions at the Central Bank and brought together a wide range of businesses, from small enterprises to major exporters, alongside key industry associations.

The meeting was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture and Immigration, Francis Fonseca, and Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Marconi Leal. The session addressed the challenges posed by the tariff on Belize’s export sectors. Participants expressed concerns over rising costs, disrupted trade, and competitive pressure, particularly due to shipping uncertainties.

While businesses showed a willingness to explore diversification strategies, they stressed the need for government support to lower domestic business costs.The issues will be taken to Cabinet. The government says it will engage with U.S. authorities to seek clarifications and possible exemptions.

Was Sunday’s Fire in an Abandoned House Caused by Squatters?

According to the Belize District Station Officer Gladstone Bucknor, Sunday’s fire on Hunter’s Lane in Belize City was an abandoned building that squatters were using to stay in. He told reporters today, “The first building appears to be abandoned, but it’s under investigation. We believe squatters were staying there.”

Bucknor stated that the fire department was alerted at around 2:30 in the afternoon, and three fire trucks responded to the scene.

The fire damaged a neighbouring apartment building. Bucknor said the blaze severely damaged the ground floor of a nearby apartment, home to two families. “The first floor was completely destroyed, and the ground floor received significant heat and water damage,” Bucknor added.

A nearby resident, Joan Lightburn, told News 5, “The house was abandoned over there. It was right opposite us. And as I say, we just – I just felt the heat.”

Bucknor added that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Devin Daly: “Changes Will Come” to Department of Youth Services

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is facing questions over the effectiveness of the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and whether it is meeting the needs of young people. Minister of State Devin Daly revealed that there is a budget of $7.5 million shared between youth and sports. Of that figure, $7 million is spent on staff salaries, leaving only $500,000 to “really bring programmatic work and also to upkeep our facilities, utilities and all those stuff.”

Daly said this morning on Open Your Eyes that the department employs about 120 people. He explained that there have been ongoing staff displacements, with vacant positions leading to additional strain on existing staff. “Whenever a staff member is moved or transferred and the position is not filled, it displaces the staff below them,” he said.

Daly said that he has been meeting with directors alongside Minister Anthony Mahler to review the department’s work. “We have been canvassing and finding out what is the data to support the work that you have been doing and having them assess themselves. Do you think this is working? Do you think this is touching the 14-29 age group?”

According to Daly, there is a need for changes but reassured that they were not aiming to displace staff. “Changes will come, but we are not here to displace anybody who is here doing their work,” said Daly.

Dire Wolf Cloned Back to Life After Going Extinct for 12,500 Years

A species of wolf that vanished around 12,500 years ago has been brought back to life as the” “world’s first successfully de-extincted animal,” according to Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company.

Scientists at Colossal Biosciences successfully created three dire wolf pups by manipulating the genes of grey wolves using ancient DNA, cloning, and gene-editing technologies.

Ben Lamm, Colossal’s CEO, called this “a massive milestone.” According to CNN, the pups are currently housed on a secure 2,000-acre site, where they are being monitored.

The dire wolf, a formidable predator that once roamed North America, is closely related to the modern grey wolf.

Colossal’s team used DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to recreate the animal’s genome. The result is a hybrid species that resembles the extinct dire wolf, with distinct features such as a wider head and thicker fur, according to CNN.

While some experts question whether the pups can truly be considered dire wolves, Colossal remains focused on the broader implications for de-extinction and conservation efforts.

The technology used could eventually aid in saving endangered species by enhancing genetic diversity.