Benita Keme-Palacio - Channel 5 Belize

Senior Minister Appointed as New Head of National AIDS Commission

Senior Minister of State Dolores Balderamos Garcia has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission, according to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In an official statement, Balderamos Garcia said, “I am pleased to accept the Prime Minister’s appointment because there is still much work to do in combatting HIV. I will strive to work with all stakeholders in this continuing challenge.”

Her appointment builds from her “renowned for her longstanding contributions to social development,” the statement added. Balderamos Garcia has stated previously that this would be her last term in politics. She is also the former Minister of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Ministry Says Schools to Stay Open During BNTU Meeting Today

The Ministry of Education has issued a firm position for schools across the country, stating that schools are to remain open during the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) simultaneous membership meeting today.

The ministry informed the BNTU National President Nadia Martin-Caliz that “all schools are to remain open” and “all teachers are expected to return to school immediately following the meeting.”

The union was also reminded about the proper way to request time off, as explained in Rule 133 of the Education Rules, 2000.

The ministry added that “further attention is also drawn to SI 87 of 2012, Education (Amendment) Rule 102 (1)-(5),” which explains the duties of school authorities to keep students and teachers safe at school.

This comes after BNTU’s Martin-Caliz urged teachers to show up in large numbers to express their frustration with the Ministry of Education by voting in their decision. She stated that the union will act based on today’s turnout.

Belize Hosts Workshop to Strengthen Climate Reporting

Belize is hosting a two-day national workshop to review and strengthen its greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting as part of its ongoing efforts to meet international climate commitments. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Review Workshop brings together technical experts, sector leads, and key stakeholders.

The workshop aims to assess Belize’s GHG inventory using the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines. It follows Belize’s submission of its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Fifth National Inventory Report (NIR) to the UNFCCC in December 2024.

Participants are reviewing data across sectors including energy, industry, waste, agriculture, and forestry. “This workshop not only sharpens our technical readiness but also reaffirms our role as a regional leader in building a transparent, accountable, and data-driven climate future,” a joint statement said.

It added that the workshop is key to prepare “Belize for the upcoming Technical Expert Review (TER), a process that evaluates the quality and transparency of submitted reports.”

The event is in collaboration with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management through the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), with support from the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub (ReCATH).

Patrick Faber Pleads Not Guilty to Assault and Obstruction Charges

UDP’s Patrick Faber appeared before the Magistrate Court this afternoon, where he was arraigned with aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer. He pleaded not guilty to both offences.

Faber, 47, was granted bail of $1,000 with one surety and no conditions. He is represented by attorney OJ Elrington. The case was adjourned to June 24. Faber is said to be filing a counter-complaint.

The charges relate to an incident involving police officers during a traffic stop near the Bel-Can Bridge in the wee hours of Tuesday, April 29. Faber was accused of failing to stop at a checkpoint and was later intercepted on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard. Officers claim the vehicle he was driving was unlicensed and that he initially said his driver’s licence was at home.

Police escorted Faber to his Bay Street residence, where he later presented the licence. During the issuing of traffic tickets, PC Dante Smith alleges that Faber recorded him at close range, refused to step back, and acted in a threatening manner, actions which led to the assault and obstruction charges.

Patrick Faber Appears in Magistrate Court Over Alleged Assault of Police Officer

Patrick Faber appeared at the Belize City Magistrate Court this afternoon to face charges following a confrontation with police officers during a traffic stop near the Bel-Can Bridge in the wee hours of Tuesday. According to reports, Faber allegedly failed to stop at a checkpoint, which prompted officers to pursue and stop his vehicle on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard.

Police say the vehicle was unlicensed, and Faber initially claimed his driver’s licence was at home. Officers followed him to his Bay Street residence, where he later produced it. During the process of issuing traffic citations, one of the officers, PC Dantae Smith, alleges that Faber aggressively recorded him with a mobile phone at close range, refused to step back when asked, and made the officer feel threatened.

The incident was filmed and has circulated widely online. A formal complaint led to Faber’s arrest. Sources say Faber is filing a counter-complaint against the officer involved.

Faber was arrested after leaving a UDP press conference this afternoon in Belize City.

UDP’s Patrick Faber Arrested

Former United Democratic Party (UDP) Collet Representative, Patrick Faber, is in police custody after being accused with aggravated assault and obstruction of a police officer. The arrest follows an incident involving a heated exchange between Faber and a police officer at a checkpoint.

The confrontation, captured on video and circulating online, allegedly took place over a disputed traffic matter. Police say the officer involved, identified as Dantae Smith, filed a complaint leading to Faber’s detention.

Faber had just spoken at a UDP press conference at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel when police approached him. He left the venue in a private vehicle, followed by officers, and later presented himself at the Queen Street Police Station, where he was officially arrested and charged. Faber has been in police custody since.

According to internal police reports, Faber was informed of the allegations before being cautioned and taken into custody. While no official public statement has been made by authorities, sources say Faber is now filing a counter-complaint against the officer involved.

Faber left the Queen Street police station moments ago, and is appearing at the Magistrate Court in Belize City.

Father Accused of Raping 13-Year-Old Daughter

Police are investigating a case of incest involving a 13-year-old female in southern Belize.

According to the mother’s report, the incident involved the child’s father sexually abusing her daughter three different times in 2023.

The police have since launched an investigation. A medical examination is pending to confirm whether the child was “carnally known,” police reported.

Belize Maya Demands Return of Sacred Artefacts Including Human Remains

The British Museum is facing renewed calls to return cultural objects taken during colonial expeditions, this time from Belize. San Benito Poite, a small, village in southern Belize, has formally requested the return of human remains and artefacts taken from the ancient Maya city of Pusilha nearly a century ago, along with a $1 million BZD repatriation grant.

In a signed resolution addressed to the British Museum, San Benito Poite’s Alcalde Manuel Cucul and Village Chairman Richard Caal lay out seven key demands. These include the return of all human remains to Pusilhá for proper reburial. It also seeks the repatriation of carved stelae and altars that were previously removed from the area. The museum is asked to send back a selection of ceramic and lithic objects, with transportation costs covered by the institution. The letter requests a $1 million BZD grant to build and operate a visitor centre in Pusilhá to house and interpret the artefacts. A 10-year scholarship fund is also proposed, among others.

Between 1928 and 1931, British Museum expeditions, assisted by looter Thomas Gann, removed numerous artefacts from Pusilhá without the consent of the Maya people and in violation of archaeological standards. Items including stelae, altars, pottery, and human remains were taken, often damaged during extraction, with no proper documentation or inventory kept. The museum has since admitted it does not hold legal title to many of these objects, which remain unregistered and out of public view in storage.

15 lbs of ‘High-Grade Cannabis’ Sparks Internal Customs Investigation

Authorities have launched an investigation after a shipment containing 15 pounds of high-grade cannabis was intercepted at Customs earlier this month. The drugs were found in a consolidated shipment from the United States, the type typically sent through freight services in barrels.

According to reports, a customs officer inspecting the shipment reportedly received prior calls from two colleagues asking him to monitor a specific box, which they claimed contained bath and body products. Instead, the officer found bags of cannabis, not soap and lotions. He immediately reported it to his supervisor.

The officer who made the discovery has given a statement to police. The cannabis found is reportedly of top-tier quality, with a street value estimated in the hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

Police are investigating if this could be part of a wider, long-running smuggling operation.

National Defence Minister Takes Closer Look at Key Southern Coast Guard Base

Minister of National Defence and Border Security, Oscar Mira, continued his national tour of military facilities with a key stop at the Belize Coast Guard’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) on Hunting Caye, located in the remote south of the country.

The base, nestled within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, holds strategic importance. It serves as a frontline post in enforcing Belize’s maritime laws, carrying out vessel inspections, conducting search and rescue missions, and protecting vital marine resources.

In a statement, the ministry said that Minister Mira “received a capability briefing from the Sector Commander and observed an interoperability demonstration between the Coast Guard Drone Squadron and the 1st Fleet, showcasing coordination in maritime security and search and rescue operations.”

This area has been extensively reported as an ‘area of concern’ for illegal fishing, and Belizean fishermen are suspected of seeking illicit substances.

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, joined the minister during the inspection.