Brianna Bennett - Channel 5 Belize

Building a Healthier Society Through Nutrition Education

Teaching children healthy nutrition is not an easy task when the unhealthy options that exist are backed by huge marketing budgets to increase their appeal. One school has discovered that one way to change a child’s mind about eating healthy is to include healthy eating habits in their daily routine. That’s what Stella Maris School is doing with “Fruity Tuesdays” and “Water Wednesdays” initiatives. And that approach works in tandem with a regional campaign to eliminate the region’s most deadly food product, trans fat. Teaching children to eat healthy empowers them to avoid food options that can lead to non-communicable diseases. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more in this week’s installment of Belize on Reel.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A healthy, nutritious diet is essential to a child’s physical and mental well-being. This is one of the reasons why the Ministry of Health and Wellness launched the “Healthy Habits, Healthy Schools, Healthy Belize” campaign. Stella Maris School adopted the program.

Sheree Salgado, Teacher, Stella Maris School

“As a staff we came up with different activities we can do. On Tuesdays we have what we call fruity Tuesday. Parents are encouraged to send their child with a fruit. That day we don’t want any chips, any biscuits. So, you will that the classes will do different activities with the fruits. On Wednesdays we do a water Wednesday. We don’t want to see any ideals, any juice. So, student and teachers are encouraged to drink water on Wednesdays.”

These two students at Stella Maris School are busy at work, preparing their plate of fruits for a midday snack. They are encouraged to bring their own fruits and to get involved in the cutting up the fruits, while they learn to identify each one. As a school for children living with various disabilities, too much sugary drinks and snacks can prove counterproductive.

Teacher

“What is this?”

Student #1

“Grapes”

Teacher

“And this one?”

Student #1

“Apple”

Teacher

“And this one?”

Student #1

“Banana”

Teacher

“What is this one?”

Student #2

“Banana, Apple.”

Teacher

“And this one, Grapes.”

Student #2

“Grapes.”

We asked a couple of the older students why its important to eat healthy.

Paul Lopez

“What are some examples of healthy food?”

Elijah Martinez, Student, Stella Maris School

“Orange Banana, Carrots, Lime and dende.”

Paul Lopez

“And what are some examples of unhealthy food?”

Elijah Martinez

“Sweet, fry chicken.”

Paul Lopez

“Why should kids decided to eat healthy food?”

Elijah Martinez

“To let them grow, look better and build up deh blood and so.”

Paul Lopez

“For you, how often do you eat healthy, be honest?”

Elijah Martinez

“Well, I eat healthy every Tuesday and Monday.”

Paul Lopez

“How about Wednesday and Thursday and Friday?”

Elijah Martinez

“Sometimes I eat healthy on Thursday and Friday.”

Martinez has learned to associate healthy eating with the healthy eating program implemented at his school. This is an important start to developing a lifelong healthy lifestyle.

Paul Lopez

“Why is it important for children to eat healthy food instead of unhealthy food?”

Malique Requena, Student, Stella Maris

“Because it makes you strong, when you eat your fruit and vegetables every day you eat?”

Paul Lopez

“What are some examples of healthy food?”

Malique Requena

“There are fruits, vegetables, all kind of things we need to eat.”

Their knowledge is testament to the fact that anyone can learn to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food options to make better choices. Also, introducing these lifestyle lessons into the school system builds a healthy nutrition foundation at an early age.

Sheree Salgado

“You know, after a hard day of work, you come home, you tired, especially as a teacher and you have your children at home waiting for you and you just look for something easy. But, we can do easy stuff that are healthy. We just need to be more educated about it, rather than just go and grab a fry chicken and a pack bread.”

Salgado contends that teaching children healthy eating habits in schools begin with adults first understanding the body’s daily nutritional needs. In fact, there is an entire regional campaign geared towards banning a food product that is a danger to Caribbean health, trans fats.

Koleen Neal, Nutritionist, Dangriga Polyclinic

“Trans fats are an unhealthy type of fat that could lead to having high cholesterol. It is naturally produced in animals, and you could find it in dairy products. The unhealthy trans fats are industry produced.”

It goes through a process called hydrogenation which turns the liquid to solid so that the product can have a longer shelf life. Shortening and margarine butter are examples of trans fats. It can also be found in many store-bought prepackaged snacks. Ice cream also contains trans-fat.

Koleen Neal

“What makes it bad is because it solidifies at room temperature imagine what it does to your arteries. So, because it does that, it causes a blockage in the arteries. Before it does that, your levels of high cholesterol increase, which is one of the risk factors of having a heart disease.”

Paul Lopez

“Are there healthier options? Since this is solid, are liquids healthier?”

Koleen Neal

“We recommend unsaturated fats. These are liquid oils. These stay liquid at room temperature. So it is less likely to solidify or clog the arteries.”

With this knowledge in hand, Elijah gave his advice to children about eating healthy.

Elijah Martinez

“I wah tell deh, yo always have to stay healthy, eat good fruit on Wednesday and Tuesday and Thursday. And in my opinion, I suppose to eat healthy to, because that will build me up and make me better.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Belizean Youths Discuss Disaster Risk Reduction

The National Emergency Management Organization hosted the country’s first-ever Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Forum today. Youths from across Belize District gathered at the Princess Hotel to provide their input on Belize’s disaster risk reduction policies. The forum also served as a platform to engage our youths in discussions on disaster preparedness, response, and climate resilience. The idea is that empowering the next generation with the knowledge and skills to build a safer, more resilient Belize is an investment in a more resilient future. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Disaster is everyone’s business, because when a disaster hits it does not discriminate. The young and the old stand to be affected. Today, children are at the forefront providing key input on how Belize can improve its disaster risk reduction practices and policies.

Brielle Goff, Student, E. P Yorke High School

“One of the things I see that children face is let us say their house gets flood out, like ok they have their textbooks in their and stuff like that, the resources they had are no longer there because it go damaged from the disaster. There is not always resources that they can get it back. So for example their uniform get damage and they only have one and they would have to wear that uniform again and again and then when they go to school, people bully them. So, I feel like that would be one of the things, they don’t have the supplies.”

Brielle Goff, a student at E.P. Yorke High School provided us with real examples of how children are impacted by disasters and the importance of reducing these vulnerabilities. She was able to voice her concerns at the National Emergency Management Organization’s first first-ever Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Forum.

Fern Guitterez, Deputy National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO

“The importance of having the youths building the framework for resiliency is a must as we continue to as a country conquer the issues related with climate change. So, the new approach to disaster risk management is to ensure that we have an all-inclusive approach to having a resilient nation. The goal is to ensure that young people understand that they have a role to play in disaster. Disaster is all of our business. Ensuring that they are actively involved in your local communities, ensuring that you are a part of your plans or programs, a part of your family hurricane plans, or family hazard plans.”

The University of Belize’s Environmental Club was also a participant in today’s discussion. Their interest is geared toward reducing the risks faced by our natural environment in a disaster event.

Samuel Esperanza, Vice President, UB Environmental Club

“Whenever we talk about disasters we have to take the environment into consideration. For example, when we have a hurricane, it is not just our human lives and our infrastructure that gets damaged, but you also have to think about the biodiversity in our areas. All of those are getting affected as well. A lot of times we have many species dying. Even if we take into consideration down south where all the forest fires, thousands of species of animals died and a lot of them are determinantal.”

UNICEF Belize’s participation in this event is also crucial. As Jenna Hoare, the Emergency Officer at UNICEF Belize, indicated, one billion children globally lives in disaster prone environments.

Jenna Hoare, Emergency Officer, UNICEF Belize

“What we understand and what we see on the ground is youth and children are among the most vulnerable group in disaster situations. So, this is why it is so important that we start from early on in educating young people on key concepts when we talk about disaster risk reduction and management. They play a very pivotal role throughout our country. They have innovative ideas. I remember talking to one of the young persons earlier and they are talking about how we can use AI to advance early warning systems. So, young persons play a very critical role.”

Brielle Goff

“We have something to say too you know, because we are in this generation. What they said, I was a teenager once, like what the adults say these days. I was a teenager once. Now we are the teenagers of this generation. The millennials could guh suh because this dah Gen Z time. So that is why we have something to say. We can relate to it. Like AI, my granny nuh know how to use AI. My mom, the other day I had to show she how to scan the network, you know weh I the she.”

At the government level, Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez, says the most important policy at this time is building resilience.

Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management

“Of course it is what we are saying here, building resilience. We have to learn; we have to cope with this. We have to better prepare ourselves for when these things come. That is what is important and that is what is being highlighted and carried to the students, to the youth.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

The Santiago Ciau Invalidity Case Clarified

As we reported on Wednesday, thirty-seven-year-old Santiago Ciau Junior sadly passed away earlier this week after a long battle with a debilitating bone condition. Ciau had been a dedicated member of the Belize Police Department since July twenty-third, 2006. However, in March 2023, he was retired by the government due to medical unfitness stemming from a workplace injury in 2009. Diagnosed with avascular necrosis, Ciau reportedly faced repeated denials for invalidity benefits from the Social Security Board (S.S.B.). Despite his appeals, he said he received a late notification, which prevented him from making a timely second appeal. Earlier today, the Social Security Board issued a statement clarifying Ciau’s invalidity case. The S.S.B.’s release says that after reviewing the application and relevant documents, the Medical Board, guided by the Social Security Act, ruled that Mister Ciau did not meet the requirements for invalidity benefits. Exercising his right to appeal, Mister Ciau took his case to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal on August sixteenth, 2023. This independent body, built into the Act, allows members to challenge the decisions made by the S.S.B. The Tribunal includes a chairman who is an attorney-at-law, along with representatives from employers and employees. During the appeal hearing, Mister Ciau had the chance to present his case and was represented by an attorney. However, the Tribunal upheld the S.S.B.’s decision. Mister Ciau was informed that he could further appeal to the High Court, but according to our records, no such appeal was made.

Belize Celebrates Taiwan Day and 35 Years of Friendship

On the other side of the globe, long-time allies of Belize celebrate National Taiwan Day on October tenth. Here in Belize, people are joining in on the celebration at the Taiwan Expo 2024. This expo celebrates thirty-five years of friendship between the two countries and allows Taiwanese businesses to enter the Belizean market. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there to meet some of the participants. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

October tenth, or Double Ten Day marks the founding of the Republic of China, Taiwan after they overthrew the Qing Dynasty and relocated to the small island off the coast of China. It is a day of pride for all Taiwanese citizens, and as Belize observes thirty-five years and diplomatic friendship with Taiwan, the celebration continues at the Taiwan Day Expo 2024, Goldie Lee, a member of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council provides more details.

Goldie Lee, Taiwan External Trade Development Council

“Our main mission is to help, to assist Taiwanese enterprises to expand their international trade. And for this year because it is the thirty-fifth anniversary for the diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Belize. So we are so happy and so glad for this Expo. We have twenty-one Taiwanese businesses here, and eight of them participating in person. The others participate by technicals and samples.”

Belizeans stopping by the expo were met with a range of products, from hardware to food and beverages and even the medical industry. Any Taiwanese business seeking to find a footing in the Belizean market was invited to participate. Sales representative for Kwang Yang Motor Company, Sawai Uhdong, landed in Belize on Wednesday. He is excited to showcase the scooters and ATVs that he believes Belizeans will gravitate to.

Sawai Uhdong, Sales Representative, KYMCO

“We actually doing overseas marketing. It’s over, I believe, thirty years. Now we’re seeking more opportunities all over the Central America and South America Cities and we believe Belize have, we have some products we believe it’s fit in the Belize cities.”

KYMCO is an environmentally conscious company that Lee believes will be an advantage when entering the Belizean market.

Goldie Lee

“We found that the people here, they are willing to promote I mean, they preserve their environment. And the product from KYMCO, this company, they also emphasize on protect the environment, therefore their products is really meet the need of this country.”

While many of the representatives flew in from Taiwan to participate, a few have already established business in Belize. Such as Yishen Chen from the Nine Six Shopping Center that has been operating in Belize City for over twenty years. Chen explains the joy she feels from being welcomed into Belizean culture.

Yishan Chen, Nine Six Shopping Center

“I personally really Belize, because compared to other places, like you said, Belize is a country really, people are very friendly and their life is very simple, we don’t have to be having a complicated or like a struggle life because, here the people is willing to help foreigners.”

On display were a variety of Taiwanese Pastries and snacks. Chen explains which ones are the store’s best sellers among Belizeans.

Yishan Chen

“But they also like this kind of mooncake. Not mooncake. We call it suncake, but it’s inside with some sweet fillings. I don’t know how to call that. It’s the sugar from, the sweetness from the wheat. Yeah, the sweetness from the wheat. But they like this. And also our Taiwanese famous mooncake. Pastries, which is this pineapple cake.”

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, ICDF has been a long-time source of funding and educational opportunities for Belizeans.

Glendy Chiqin, District Health Educator

“We have people that would come that has never checked themselves. So it’s very important for us to be out there at every opportunity because like that we have people that would come and would find out whether they have high blood pressure, high glucose and start some kind of checking themselves. Yes, it’s not going to happen immediately, but they will have an idea of, oh hey, I need to do something about my health because my glucose is high or my blood pressure tested high today.”

The celebrations will continue into the evening with a ceremony highlighting the bond between Belize and Taiwan. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Improvements Coming to the Ports of Belize

Today, members of the Belize Port Authority and various stakeholders came together to review the latest data on Belize’s Port Industry. With this information in hand, the Belize Port Authority aims to collaborate with stakeholders to make improvements to the ports. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there for the presentation of these findings. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Last year, the Belize Port Authority sought consultants to conduct an economic and social impact study on the country’s ports. Now, over a year later, representatives and stakeholders have come together to discuss the study’s findings. We caught up with Kaylon Young, the Acting Port Commissioner, at the Belize Port Authority, to get more details on what they discovered.

Kaylon Young, Acting Post Commissioner

“Some of the key findings was that for one Belize does, the port does have a great impact on the economy first and foremost. But we can do better. There is room for improvement in terms of infrastructure at the ports, in terms of digitalization, in terms of efficiency. So how we could increase the efficiency of the ports, increase the infrastructure at the ports, to have a greater impact on our economy and the social being of Belizeans.”

The study highlighted that for Belize’s ports to stay competitive, they need to adapt to advancing technology. Ships are getting bigger and harder to handle, and without expanding, Belize’s port industry risks falling behind.

Kaylon Young,

“So if we want to keep up with the times, keep up with the changing the infrastructure, keep up with the happenings in the maritime sector, we have to do some improvements, improve efficiency, improve in digitalization, and see how we can ensure that. As time changes we’re keeping up and we’re assisting in doing our part in building our economy and helping the communities.”

With the data now in hand, the Belize Port Authority will determine what recommendations can be made to enhance the port. Eduardo Lugo, CEO of Maritime and Logistics Consulting Group, which conducted the study, explained that their initial proposal focused on three main deliverables: evaluating Belize’s existing ports, conducting an economic and social impact assessment, and assessing the Belize Port Authority itself.

Eduardo Lugo, CEO, Maritime & Logistics Consulting Group

“We met with them and the position of the people working in the Belize Port Authority and the output of that study was what needs to be done to capture more value of the port sector in Belize. And how the Belize Port Authority, what measure do they need to take to improve their performance and to improve the port sector.”

The economic impact assessment was broken down into two models: cargo and cruise. Lugo explains the decision to separate them.

Eduardo Lugo

“In cargo, you have agricultural, for example. If you increase agriculture, then that impacts directly. In the port because of the export of agricultural products. But in the case of tourism, people fly from other countries to Belize. So they pay for airline tickets. They arrive in Belize. They pay taxis or they rent cars. They pay for hotels. They pay, they go to restaurants, for example. So it’s a different activity that needs to be measured in a different way. So that is the reason for making two separate studies or two separate models for that study.”

Lugo felt it necessary that cruise tourism be appropriately evaluated because of the extensive contributions it has to Belize’s economy.

Eduardo Lugo

“The cruise activity, the cruise tourism has an economic impact of close to fpur point two percent of GDP in Belize. And the economic impact is one point three. For every dollar that, that the port receives, There are thirty additional cents in the economy due to cruise tourism.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

3,07 Miles of San Carlos Road Being Paved

Just three weeks ago, the contract to pave three miles of the San Carlos Road was signed, and now the project is in full swing. This development is set to transform the lives of local farmers and residents, making it easier for them to travel to their farms and markets where they sell their produce. Today, Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai and MIDH Engineer Irving Thimbriel visited San Carlos to discuss the project further. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene to report on the event.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The paving of three point zero seven miles of the San Carlos Road under the Resilient Rural Belize Program will begin shortly. The project is valued at one point one nine million dollars. Today Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai said that the current road has been traversed by villagers who are now engineers and persons at university level.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“We have a highway now that leads you straight to the village of San Carlos. In those days, there wasn’t even a school in San Carlos. The kids had to walk to Indian Church to get their education. Those same kids who had to walk from San Carlos to Indian Church, are now engineers today. They’re agricultural engineers, one of them is studying in Cuba, he’s getting his Bachelor’s in Business. Those same kids who had to walk.”

Engineer with the MIDH, Irving Thimbriel explained that there had to be studies done before the work could begin.

Irving Thimbriel, Civil Engineer, MIDH

“Many times we have gotten roads that have affected the people who live near the edge of the road. So those things we have to take into account so that we can have an effective solution that covers all those things in the case of that project. Even though we didn’t do a complete study several times we came here to see the people of the village to know what can happen. When the road itself is finished, we take those things into account and we include them in the design of the road itself.”

Thimbriel says that after the technical studies are completed, they had to come up with a workable concept for the project.

Irving Thimbriel

“After that, we went to the office to do a development plan to come up with a concept. After all that, how high we have to raise the road, how wide it has to be, the places where there are weaknesses. And after going through all that, we came here to talk to the chairman to present the things we found.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

RCCBPO Opens New Location in Belize City

Ready Call Center RCCBPO celebrated the grand opening of its eighth location in Belize, right here in Belize City. This new office is a shining example of how the industry is boosting the local economy. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The BPO industry is on the rise, and thousands of Belizeans across the country rely on it to make ends meet. Wednesday was a big day for Ready Call Center BPO as they celebrated the opening of their eighth location in Belize. Prime Minister John Briceño was there for the grand opening in Belize City, highlighting the significant contributions the BPO industry makes to the economy.

Prime Minister John Вrісеñо

“The BPO sector has come a long way from employing one thousand, one hundred and twenty-four persons and operating only in Belize City, Belmopan and Ladyville in 2013. Today in 2024, there are over sixteen thousand employees and I’m currently are seeing, we are seeing one more expansion in Belize City that will satisfy the exigencies of the BPO sectors growth. This is in line with the government’s projection to increase employment in this sector to twenty thousand by the year 2025.”

He went on to explain how the BPO sector significantly boosts Belize’s economy, with seventeen BPO companies collectively spending over one hundred and ninety-one million dollars in operating expenses within the country. The Founder and CEO of RCCBPO shared that, in the nineteen years since the company was founded, it has grown into a workplace that people are proud to be a part of.

Nubia Ramirez, Founder & CEO, RCCBPO

“Today marks the beginning of a new standard of excellence in infrastructure within the BPO industry in Belize. For many years, we work on developing a great tracking record of integral quality and now we are matching the infrastructure to the level of quality of our services. This new building is more than just a building. We designed this place thinking on a place that our employees and clients can enjoy and consider a home away from home. Most people picture a BPO only as a place where people take calls. We see it different. We see RCC as a place where people learn and develop skills.”

The Philippines has the largest BPO industry in the world, something that is being replicated in Latin America. David Long, Executive Vice President of RCCBPO, tells us how the company made the transition into the Belizean market.

David Long, Executive VP, RCCBPO

“When I came to Belize, I was coming from the Philippines and which the Philippines, as most of y’all know, is very well renowned in the BPO industry. I knew it was gonna be a challenge coming from the Philippines and stepping into the Belize environment just because the population infrastructure and some things I was concerned about. But through Nubia’s unwavering belief and Belize’s this potential. She really convinced me it was in the right place. And Belize had something really special to offer. And shortly after that, she made me a believer. So you fast forward twenty years later, when Nubian RCC rolled the dice coming to beliefs who could have imagined that we’d be standing here today, celebrating not only the growth of RCC, but the birth of an entire industry in Belize.”

In this expansion, RCCBPO has joined forces with outsourcing company Fusion CX. Kishore Saraogi, Co-founder and Director details what this expansion means for the companies.

Kishore Saraogi, Co-founder and Director Fusion CX

“It is with immense pride and joy that I stand before you to officially welcome RCCBPO into Fusion CX family. While some time has passed since we announced our strategic investment, RCCBPO. This is my first opportunity to interact and address all our team members and interact with you all. Just to provide you a brief background, Fusion CX is a global CX provider, having location in fourteen countries, fifteen thousand plus people working worldwide, so now you are part of a much broader family, and we welcome you all to the RCC family, to Fusion CX family At Fusion CX, we believe in partnerships rooted in shared value, a commitment to excellence and mutual growth.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Orange Walk Father and Son Kidnapped in Chetumal

We start tonight’s newscast with a chilling report: a father and son from Corozal have been kidnapped. The details are still sketchy, but what we do know is that the incident occurred across the northern border in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. This area is popular with Belizeans, especially on weekends, for shopping, medical treatment, and entertainment. The two men are Louisville resident, forty-eight-year-old Luis Camara and his nineteen-year-old son, Johan. Mexican authorities are urgently seeking the public’s help to locate them and have circulated bulletins with their images, hoping someone has seen them or knows their whereabouts. Johan is described as having a dark complexion, short wavy black hair, and black eyes. He stands five feet five inches tall and weighs a little over two hundred and fifty pounds. He was last seen wearing a short-sleeved black shirt and black denim pants. Luis was wearing a short-sleeved light blue shirt, light blue jeans, and brown boots. Reports indicate that the two men were taken by a group of heavily armed men when Luis tried to defend Johan, who was under attack. The father and son were traveling in a vehicle when another vehicle suddenly pulled up in front of them, opened fire, and then attempted to take Johan away by force. Mexican police have provided a contact number for anyone with information on their whereabouts: (nine eight three) eight three five zero zero five zero ext. one one three two. News Five has tried to reach the family and Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Arnold, for comment, but has not yet succeeded.

High Court Hears Mitigation Plea for Ivan Ayuso

Twelve days ago, former Senior Accountant Ivan Ayuso admitted to embezzling over a million dollars of taxpayers’ monies from the National Sports Council. He pleaded guilty to one count of theft and three counts of money laundering. The High Court has already indicated that Ayuso will receive no more than five years in jail. However, his plea bargain with the D.P.P. means he cannot contest the government’s move to seize his house. Today, Ayuso’s family members gathered in the courtroom to support his mitigation plea. Justice Nigel Pilgrim heard from three character witnesses: Ayuso’s son, Adrian Ivan Ayuso; his younger brother, Niem Santos Ayuso; and Merna Ramona Haylock. Adrian gave an emotional account of his father, describing him as a wonderful, quiet, and strong person who stays out of trouble. He spoke about how hard the news of his father’s crimes has been on the family and apologized to the country of Belize on his father’s behalf, pleading for leniency. Niem also asked the court for leniency, expressing how much the family loves and needs Ayuso. Ayuso was supposed to be sentenced today, but the D.P.P. was not ready to make the forfeiture application, so the matter has been postponed to October twenty-fifth.

Farmer Sentenced to 16 Years for Raping Minor

A forty-three-year-old farmer is spending his first night of a sixteen-year sentence behind bars. Vicente Cerraras has been sentenced for two counts of rape of a fourteen-year-old minor, for which he was convicted back in July of this year. This morning, Vicente appeared before Justice Candace Nanton in the High Court, where she heard mitigation pleas from two character witnesses, including his mother and his pastor, Elario Davis. Cerraras’ last words to the court was one of remorse telling the court he is sorry for what he did, admitting to guilt. Cerreras who was facing a mandatory sentence of twelve years minimum for each count, was sentenced to two sixteen years term. However, Justice Nanton took into consideration his fifteen days on remand. She deducted those days leaving him with fifteen years, eleven months and fifteen days left behind bars. Justice Nanton ordered that his two sentences run concurrently with each other. As was reported, Justice Nanton found Cerreras guilty of the two counts of rape of a child on July twenty-second after DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene was submitted. Despite the DNA results presented by Prosecutor Romey Cunningham, Cerraras denied raping the minor. He raped the fourteen-year-old on June twenty-seventh, 2019 and again on August twenty-sixth, 2019.In the trial, Cerraras was represented by attorney Ronell Gonzalez.