The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is shaking things up with a fresh vision and mission. As part of this rebranding effort, DFC officially launched its new corporate relations department today. This department is designed to boost efficiency for the institution’s commercial partners, offering loans that surpass those typically given for mortgages and education. Think about industries like shrimp farming and cattle ranching. An official ceremony was held in Belize City today, where we got the scoop on this exciting new development.
Shanelle Reneau
Shanelle Reneau, Chief Lending Officer, DFC
“As it relates to what it will look like, it will impact our business positively. Customers will have, our cooperate clients, which we know are our largest clients, will have that one on one. We will have a dedicated team of professionals that will be assigned to the department and able to meet their every need, go to the business directly, communicate with them on timely basis. There will be a quicker turnaround time as it relates to our processing. So, it will enhance our overall effectiveness and efficiency as a development bank. I would say when we look at our portfolio, because of the size of the loans our corporate clients have, I would say that they represent at least sixty percent of our entire portfolio at this point in time.”
Rainaldo Guerrero
Rainaldo Guerrero, Chairman, DFC
“Keep in mind that as an organization that is poised to be a catalyst for change, it is the people that is at the forefront. We deal at the macroeconomic development level, which filters down to improvement for everybody. So, if we are dealing with cattle, we are not dealing with just one big farmer who is selling cattle. We are dealing with the mini farmer who sells cattle to the bigger farmer who then enhances their value by keeping it in a pasture, before it gets out there. So, there are hundred of farmers out there. They have wives, children and they are going to school. It trickles down. So you are looking at the benefit that is not just to the beneficiary who gets the loan but to the people who benefit from that.”
According to Raineldo Guerrero, the Chairman at DFC, the institution has been able to reduce its non-performing loans portfolio from twenty-five percent to nine percent over the last few years. This is a significant achievement. Guerrero says that DFC has increased its revenue collection department to collect these funds.
Raineldo Guerrero, Chairman, DFC
“Like everything else, it requires focus. What we saw is that here we are lending all this money, but then we are losing. It didn’t have the level of focus that this new DFC is putting into it. So, you put a group of specialized people who came up with proposal on how we can manage it. That team we have been able to make significant contributions to lower that. So, a strategy had to be formulated to make that a specific focus area. And that is why we are where we are and we intend to go lower. It is a step by step process. We didn’t initially develop the strategy. We decided that this is what we wanted to do then the strategy evolved and the staffing, the people and the contracting of people out there, all of that became a part of it.”
Seventeen-year-old Nyasha Harris secured Belize’s first gold medal at the 2024 CODICADER Games. Harris won gold in the female one-hundred-meter sprint finals. She was beaming with pride as she stood on the podium with the Belize flag around her shoulder. We spoke with her today about that moment.
Nyasha Harris
Nyasha Harris, CODICADER Gold Medalist
“For the one hundred we had two heats. That was the semi-finals. I ran the first heat, which I came in first and that automatically advanced me to the finals. I ran the finals, and I came in first as well with a time of twelve thirty-one. I was a bit nervous at first, but like I said the team was you know it made it less nervous for me then. It is not a personal best, but it is still better than the semi-finals, because the time I ran for the semi-finals is twelve fifty-eight. So, it was quite faster. I feel grateful, happy and really excited.”
Paul Lopez
“And what does it mean for you to win this gold for Belize and see the type of support you are receiving on social media?”
Nyasha Harris
“A lot of support from my fellow teammates, people back home and the peopleonline as well. I want to say thank you. The support has been great. It helped me a lot with my races and it makes me feel confident while running my race. I would say I got it from the genes, my mom did track, my dad and my aunt too. So, I would say I discovered it from preschool. I usually came in first for sports day, in primary school as well. I did competition for track in primary school. Mostly it started in high school when we had competitions like CSSSA or NSSSA, that is when it started.”
From tonight through Wednesday, residents in Florida, including thousands of Belizeans, are gearing up for the impact of Hurricane Milton. This dangerous Category 5 storm lost some strength while crossing the Gulf of Mexico but has regained power as it approaches the Florida coast. News Five caught up with Ray Gongora, a Belizean living in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He shared that the hurricane is causing a lot of emotional and mental stress for many people.
Ray Gongora
Ray Gongora, Belizean Living in Florida
“We have gone to the areas where sand is being distributed and there are also bags provided. Some people take their own shovels in order to expedite the process. We got to fill our own bags and then take them away and bring them home. So that is one of the process of preparation. We are placing sandbags at our doors, uh, trying to prevent water from coming in. Marion, you, you said it’s, it’s a powerful, we’re calling it a monster. This is a monster. And because of that, it’s even affecting us, um, emotionally. We are very anxious about what. the power that this storm will have and the effect it will have upon us. Um, many Belizeans who are living on the coast in, in Tampa, uh, especially Naples have moved inland with other Belizeans. Here people can get information on shelters that they can use the Honorary Council of Belize in Miami has a number that is posted. And can be used for those who need assistance or referral or information regarding shelters. And that number is 305 300 7520. Please, if you need assistance, if you need any information, any beliefs out there, please give that number a call. You can also go online, as I said, to that website.”
Belizeans in Florida can also log online for assistance or information at www.floridadasaster.org/shelter-status/
This past Saturday, a family in Belize took to social media to shine a light on the troubling issue of bullying among our youth. They shared a heartbreaking story about a Saint John’s College student who suffered a broken hip in an incident where he was allegedly bullied. This comes on the heels of another disturbing case from mid-June, where a fourteen-year-old boy was followed home and assaulted by his peers. We decided to dig deeper into the pervasive problem of bullying and its profound impact on the young people of Belize. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
A bully is someone who repeatedly causes pain to others, whether through physical harm, hurtful words, or mean behavior. According to a recent report by UNESCO, over thirty percent of students worldwide have experienced bullying. This troubling trend has devastating effects on a young person’s academic performance, physical well-being, and mental health. Mental Health Counselor Aimee Jex explains how these impacts can follow victims into adulthood.
Aimee Jex
Aimee Jex, Mental Health Councilor
“This is a trauma that you can develop, anything that happens throughout your life can impact you. So let’s say you are someone who around ten, eleven, twelve, your peers started teasing you, bullying you, excluding you, you start feeling maybe less than enough, maybe you don’t, Realize your own worth. Maybe your self-esteem gets hampered, so as you grow up into adulthood, you’re you don’t see your full potential. You might not be confident in the things you want to achieve, and so you don’t get to be the person that you could be because you have these limitations that you carry on throughout your life.”
Many bullying victims come from marginalized or vulnerable communities, making them easy targets for verbal or physical attacks. Back in mid-June, a video surfaced on social media showing a fourteen-year-old high school student in Santa Cruz Village being followed home and harassed by several peers. This alarming incident prompted police intervention, leading to the aggressors being taken into custody. Thankfully, the victim and his family managed to move past the ordeal in a peaceful manner.
Paul Lopez What do you say to bullies?”
Jose Amador
Jose Amador, Bullying Victim (File: June16th, 2024) “I will take the apology they have given, because everybody makes mistakes. So I will take their apology.”
Paul Lopez “And what do you say to individuals that have been bullied before. What do you say to them to deal with it?”
Jose Amador
“Please don’t be afraid to tell your family members, your parents, talk to your family members, the teachers, but talk about it.”
In 1989, world leaders created the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which seeks to ensure the special protection of children under the age of eighteen years. In 1990, Belize became the fifth country in the world to ratify the CRC, pledging to protect the survival and developmental rights of children.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education (File: June 20th, 2024)
“Of course the ministry’s position is that we have zero tolerance for bullying. We are working with the management, the principals, the teachers, to address this matter. We do not want the students in any of our educational institutions to experience any form of bullying. Schools must just be a safe space for students. So, we are absolutely looking at that issue very closely.”
On Saturday, the family of Dominick Alvarado, a student at Saint John’s College, took to social media to highlight the serious issue of bullying in Belize. They shared that Dominick had suffered a broken hip in an alleged bullying incident, leaving him bedridden. We reached out to the President of Saint John’s College, Mirtha Peralta, to understand how the school is handling the situation. While she confirmed that an internal investigation is underway, the specifics of any disciplinary action against the accused remain unclear. ACP Hilberto Romero details how the police respond to instances of bullying.
“If Injuries were inflicted on him, then an investigation will be carried out and those responsible will be charged. And the bullying part, then that will also be investigated.”
Paul Lopez
“So it could be tantamount to a criminal act?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, once this person received injuries. Yes.”
To get a broader perspective on how schools typically handle bullying, we spoke with Kadijah Marin, the Vice Principal of Academic Affairs at Edward P. York High School.
Kadijah Marin
Kadijah Marin, Vice Principal of Academic Affairs, Edward P. York
“So if a student comes in and makes a report, we have them record an incident report. about whatever happened. Thereafter, we launched an investigation to find out what the details of the case are and who the culprits may be. And then from there, according to our student handbook, we have consequences based on the severity of the case. So it could range from something as simple as name calling, to hazing, or to internet interactions, or cyber bullying. We take all of those cases seriously and they’re outlined in our 100th Federal Clearing.”
Marin explained that the punishment vary depending on the severity of the case. Students may receive demerits, detentions, suspensions and in some instances, outright expulsion. Jex explains that there are several reasons that someone may exhibit bullying behaviors, ranging from stressful living situations, a lack of correction, or an inability to regulate emotions.
Aimee Jex
“You also have those people in the middle who might just be bullies because that’s how they see it as a solution. You did something bad to me and now in response, I will do something worse to you and other people will notice and you will feel ashamed. So that a shame I felt, I will make you feel it ten times or one hundred times and it’s a solution that they have because you know as people we have emotions And maybe we may not know how to regulate those emotions. We don’t know how to deal with our anger We don’t know how to deal with our sadness. We don’t know how to deal with our grief and in that we end up hurting other people.”
In a shocking incident, a Belize City woman was allegedly robbed while live on social media from inside her home. Thirty-three-year-old Flowayne Colon reported to the police that during an Instagram live session, a man dressed in a battle uniform broke into her home, tied her up, and stole her belongings. Colon, an adult content creator with over a million Instagram followers, suspects the intruder was after her valuable, monetized social media accounts. Here’s News Five’s Paul Lopez with the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Flowayne Colon, also known as Shaniki Hernandez, says she was robbed inside her home while going live on Instagram.
Flowayne Colon
Flowayne Colon, Burglary Victim
“Basically I mih just deh pan my bed and there was a situation I was going through depression, and I bring my family come live with me. So, my family live downstairs and I live upstairs alone. I in my room live on Instagram and another page and I hear the door, when I hear the door open, I know something wrong, because my family deh can’t go upstairs. My family know what I the do upstairs.”
She alleges that the individual was wearing a battle dress uniform, like those worn by members of the GI3.
Flowayne Colon
“I mih think dah my friend. I mih shocked and scared but I think dah one of my friend the mess with me or play with me. Then he tie me up and gagged me with one of my clothes then like I told you I think it was one of my friend messed with me. Then he just starts rough me up and tell me not to look at his face. That is when I realized that something wrong.”
Colon managed to free herself after the intruder left and quickly realized that two of her phones were missing. She emphasized that these phones are extremely valuable due to the monetized social media accounts they hold. Colon’s Instagram page, under the name “Shaniki Hernandez,” boasts one point two million followers, where she creates adult content.
Flowayne Colon
“He told me count from one to twenty. It is just weird. I thought it was a friend. Throughout the entire ordeal I thought it was a friend messing with me. When I look up I see my live phones, because I mih deh pan Instagram and next site and then I realize he stole my phones.”
She went to the police to make a report. But this morning before we spoke with Colon, she published a social media video giving what sounded like a different account of the same situation.
Flowayne Colon
“A guy was passing on his bicycle. I was live on my verandah. He was passing on his bicycle and I was like hey weh the go on. UI dah like weh the go on. I don’t know him from Adams. We don’t know him. We dah like weh the gon on pull up. I don’t know him, but he came to my house.”
Well, this afternoon Colon told us that she was referencing a similar incident that occurred three weeks ago in which she was able to retrieve her phones.
Flowayne Colon
“So what happened, this person stole my phone three weeks ago. It is the same person. They are not after my money. I have a lot of valuable items. They don’t want nothing. It is my social media information and everything that they want. All of my online information they want.”
Paul Lopez
“Why would they want this? What value is there to that?”
Flowayne Colon
“It is a lot of money. It is worth more than everything else. That is how I make a living.”
Colon made a report to the police and later requested no court action and that her statement be withdrawn. She says that she fears the culprit would return to harm her. We asked the police about her report today.
“We are following up on that report. Investigators is following up on footage and other evidence. That is the information e have that two cellphones were stolen. We have no suspect at this time.”
Reporter
“Did she mention that he was dressed in GI3 clothing?
ACP Hilberto Romero
“No, I am not aware of that detail of that report. No.”
Colon has been receiving a mixture of support and criticism on social media.
Paul Lopez
“One of the people, how did this individual manage to get inside your home? I know the first time you hail up a lee friend. But the second time, how did that even happen?”
Flowayne Colon
“I was live at the same time so they were looking at me live.”
Paul Lopez
“How does this entire ordeal have you feeling?”
Flowayne Colon
“I love my country. I love Belize. But I have to leave my country in a few hours.”
A home was burglarized on Friday night in Corozal Town. The culprit made off with two firearms. Police are now looking for clues to identify the suspect. ACP Hilberto Romero says its two more firearms on the streets for the police to be concerned about.
“On Friday October twenty-fourth. Renick Chavaria reported that his house was broken into in Corozal Town. He left his house secure and upon return his house was broken into. He left his two firearms a nine millimeter pistol and a .223 rifle. We have no suspects at this time for this burglary. It is of concern to us because that is two more firearm on the streets.”
In another burglary, this time in Lord’s Bank, a woman was injured by the culprit. Police are now looking for an individual identified as Phillip Guzman for questioning in connection with the incident. ACP Hilberto Romero told us more.
“On the fifth day of October 2024, Ladyville police responded to an aggravated burglary report at carnation street in Lord’s Bank. Upon their arrival Shania Jerguson reported that she was at home when she noticed someone was inside her house. There was a struggle with the male person. He then inflicted injuries to Jerguson with a knife and some scratches. Thereafter the male person fled from the area as Jerguson ran on the streets to ask for help. An investigation was carried out and Phillip Guzman is wanted for aggravated assault.”
In Punta Gorda Town, a grocer and his wife were held up at gun point by two armed men. According to police, the culprits made off with cash from the register. They are seeking two suspects. Here is more on that incident.
“On Sunday police responded to reports of a robbery at Maday Store. Upon their arrival, we received reports that the proprietor was held up by two male persons armed with firearms. They held him up and his wife and proceeded to the cash pan and stole an amount of cash. Both male persons then fled from the area. We are seeking two suspects in regard to this robbery.”
Concerns have been raised about the departure of several key staffers, including the Drug Inspectorate, at the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Over the weekend, News Five was informed that a few employees had moved on to the private sector. We reached out to Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard who told us, “We have no chief pharmacists but Miss Samira who has been acting in the position and still is. Doctor Samouge who is the Drug Inspectorate resign to go work in the private sector. Doctor Fidel Cuellar resigned to work in the private sector. Miss Agassi Finnegan was seconded to us to address some legal matters but had always said she will go practice her profession in her law firm. So she is now a private attorney at law, As an update we had no resignations in July, one male RN in August who went to the private sector, and one RN in September who’s contract ended and did not renew so essentially not a resignation”.
