news5assistant - Channel 5 Belize

Tracy Says U.D.P. Chairman Mike Peyrefitte is Bias

Viewers would recall that the failed National Party Council that had been scheduled for August third saw the U.D.P. chairman walking out of the meeting after declaring the N.P.C. suspended. But is the presiding officer of the U.D.P. being partial to the leadership of the party and not budging to the will of its supporters?

Isani Cayetano

“What do you say to the position that the party leader has taken which says that in August of last year, during the last N.P.C. it was a near unanimous position that the seat of the leader would not be challenged until following the next general elections? But you’re not happy with the leadership and the outcomes of several of the elections that he has presided over. What happens in that situation where he is saying that you would have to grin and bear it until he is done in 2025?”

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“There is no provision in the constitution of the party that says you have to grin and bear it. We have the requisite number of signatures, any decision of the N.P.C. or even any decision of the national convention can be reversed. You have the right to change your mind, there’s a threshold you have to meet and once you meet that threshold then the matter is tabled for consideration. The problem that we’re having is that we can’t even have a discussion. We can’t even have a meeting to discuss or to find a way forward. There has been a complete shut out, if you will, of being able to engage.”

Isani Cayetano

“One would think that the role of the chairman is to be as impartial as possible but at the same time flexible where certain things are concerned. Do you believe that based on what transpired at the last N.P.C. and the fact that the chairman hasn’t necessarily responded to the letters that you’ve written to him that he is being, in a sense, inflexible or is not budging?”

Tracy Panton

“I think he’s being completely biased. I think the chairman has shown his complete bias in this situation which is unfortunate. He is the guardian and the caretaker of the constitution of the party. He should help to facilitate this dialogue, not shut it down.”

Is Shyne Barrow’s Visit to Jamaica a Distraction?

Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow is presently out of the country and has spent the better part of this week in Jamaica. During his visit, Barrow has met with Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Jamaica House. P.M. Holness is the Chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union and Tracy Panton is the Vice Chair of the C.D.U. But is his visit to the land of wood and water a mere distraction from the internal strife that is tearing apart his party? That’s what we asked Panton earlier today.

Isani Cayetano

“What do you make of the party leader’s many outside visits to other heads of state, heads of government and other political leaders outside of Belize in the face of inner strife within his own party?”

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“He has his own approach to leadership, I certainly, if I were in his position, I would try to be in country and find a way to sort this all out. That would be my approach. There is very little we can garner externally if we can’t fix our house and we can’t right our ship internally. But that’s his choice, that’s his call.”

Tracy on Shyne and Kartel – “The party leader chooses who his friends are.”

On Thursday night, a video clip of dancehall recording artist Vybz Kartel went viral when he put Belize on notice that he will be visiting the Jewel in the weeks ahead. He also mentioned that he will be calling on his “brother from another mother”, Party Leader Shyne Barrow during his time in the country. Kartel, as many would know, was recently released from prison after spending the last thirteen years incarcerated for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. While with the Albert Area Rep this afternoon, we asked her for her thoughts on the friendship and Kartel’s plan to vacation in Belize.

Isani Cayetano

“What do you make of Vybz Kartel mentioning that he’s going to visit Belize in the next two weeks to spend some time with Shyne and, of course, his girlfriend? What do you make of that announcement?”

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“You know, the party leader chooses who his friends are, I don’t have any say in that. It’s a very personal situation. I think that we have a lot of serious national matters, issues that need to be addressed that the U.D.P. should be giving far more attention to than we are able to at this time. But Vybz Kartel, as well as anybody else, is welcomed to come to Belize to vacation and get to know the country and the people. That’s his friend.”

Traffic Department Finally Issuing License Plates and Stickers

After a year of waiting, motorists are now able to access license plates and vehicle stickers from the Department of Transport. On Thursday, the department announced the successful restocking of the essential items and apologized for the inconvenience caused to the public. We spoke with Chief Transport Officer, Leon Gentle, for more details on the announcement. Here’s what he had to say.

Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer

“The department put out a press release to inform the public that we, one want to first apologize for not being able to provide the service, and two, to notify them that we have started the distribution of those license plates and stickers. It took us some time to get there, and we continue to procure on a weekly basis to make sure that we have the necessary supplies. The assessment has revealed that over a thousand plates were in backlog. And as the plates come in, they are distributed to the different departments. we’ve seen the need for an increase in that flow. Because of as they’re coming in, they’re leaving. We are definitely seeing how we can rectify the situation as quickly as possible. The idea is that we want to get back to our normal operating flow as a department of transport.”

Britney Gordon

“Okay. And the delay in receiving stickers and license plates took so long because of this assessment. How often can we expect these assessments and will this be the case every time?

Leon Gentle

This would not reoccur. The idea at this point is for us to clear up the backlog that we have in license plates and stickers, which again would also take some time because as they’re coming in, we’re making sure that those the department of that particular service also has the need for that element of it’s in our case, what we’re doing is that as soon as there we have a supply we’re distributing at the same time, I know there’s also an for that on a monthly and weekly, daily basis.”

Britney Gordon

“Is there still a bit of wait period as everything transitions?”

Leon Gentle

“Yes, there’s a transitional period that we need to go through, which includes clearing up that backlog, and at the same time distribute for those new persons applying for the license plates and stickers. And of course, that also depends on how quickly that production comes from a weekly basis from the person producing those license plates and stickers.”

Britney Gordon

“And is there any shortage of supply on the materials needed to make those?”

Leon Gentle

“As far as the supplier has indicated to us that it is coming in as soon as she gets there it’s an idea of putting the dynamics together so that it can be distributed to us. It all depends on the supplier and how quickly they can get it to the Department of Transport.”

City Bus Operators Say E-Buses are Fierce Competition

An attorney for three bus companies in Belize City has come forward to express concerns over the competition that the electric buses pose to their livelihood. Arthur Saldivar represents City Shuttle Limited, Lopez Bus and Lemoth and Sons. He told News Five today that his clients have been feeling an economic pinch since the e-buses hit the streets in July. We’ll hear from Saldivar in a moment, but a joint press release from the U.N.D.P., the Ministry of Public Utilities, the Belize City Council and the Department of Transport states that while the Belize City Council manages the electric buses in the city, there will be an inter-district pilot project that will be managed by the private sector. To this end, the Cabinet has authorized a two-year contract for managing and operating three additional electric buses. And to support the initiative, the United Nations Development Program (U.N.D.P.), along with the relevant ministries, will issue a Request for Proposal to identify bus operators. Saldivar says that no private entity has been offered this opportunity and they find themselves now competing for the same customers.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for City Shuttle Ltd., Lopez Runs & Lemoth and Sons

“They are suffering financially, economically due to the fact that what the mayor and the council had previously stated in respect of how these buses would have been operating. And the rates that were going to be charged is not what is being done in reality now, whereas he had stated prior that they were going to keep their prices at a premium to attract and serve a particular clientele, which would have been outside the ambit of those being served by the present private sector operators. That has not been the case. In fact, they have slashed prices to be in direct competition with the private sector operators.”

Marion Ali

The consulate said they would charge three dollars. That’s what they’re charging.

Arthur Saldivar

“Well, they have indicated that they are charging a dollar for students, which is the primary market that the existing private sector holders are using serve.”

E-Bus Operation Could Bring about a Legal Battle

Saldivar argues that the e-buses are running the routes that the private operators have been running, and that his clients believe that the e-buses have been taking away the student customers who pay the same prices on the e-buses. This has created a challenge for the private entities to meet their loan payments, he said, and that his clients will have to do what they must, perhaps even taking the matter to court. That’s because the bus operators believe that all avenues to get an audience to discuss the matter have long been exhausted.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for City Shuttle Ltd., Lopez Runs & Lemoth and Sons

“We are now left with a prospect of a major portion of the market being undermined and undercut by what the council is seeking to do outside of that, there was this commitment that the route the buses were going to be servicing would not have been overlapping those routes of the traditional private sector players that has not been the case. Their routes are being directly utilized and as a result of it, the economic viability in the medium term has become rather dubious because these, as you would appreciate private sector entities have financial commitments to the banks and other financial institutions that has to be serviced and servicing those debts.”

Marion Ali

“There is always an overcrowding of students. In the seats in the aisles, you can hardly get in. Is this really posing a competition, if there is a need for more buses out there to get the students in a safe manner to school and on time, is the electric bus really posing competition when I think there is a need for more bosses because of the overcrowding? I have no doubt that there is a need for more buses?”

Arthur Saldivar

“I have no doubt that there is a need for more buses, Marion, but where the competition is on a level playing field and those buses are being brought in under the same circumstance of what exists, there is no issue. But when your fuel, which in this case is electricity, for those buses are free. Your maintenance of street, the acquisition cost is nonexistent, but your prices are being made to undercut the prices presently established within the industry. That is unfair. Certainly, now the private sector operators will do what they need to do.”

Marion Ali

“What would that be?”

Arthur Saldivar

“Well, of course, they reserve our legal, their legal rights to seek and redress for what has been done.”

Controversy Within the Belize Athletics Association

The Belize Athletics Association is going through an internal dispute. The differences are between the membership of the B.A.A. and Executive Member, Gregory Meyers and President, Cojac Smith. Smith was just elected in April, but already there is a move afoot to trigger a vote of no-confidence against his presidency. He told us today that while the matter is really an internal one, he is not fazed by the plan to oust him. It all stemmed from an incident in which some athletes felt they were disrespected by Meyers and when they tried to have him sanctioned, they didn’t believe they got a favourable outcome. Along with that is the allegation that Smith is attempting to have an athlete who medaled in a recent competition abroad to be stripped of her medals and late this evening, this letter bearing today’s date, was addressed to the B.A.A. executives about the matter. It explains the alleged details and concerns that the author has over the issue, as well as a request for a resolution. It is an allegation that Smith has denied, saying that he is trying to get the exact opposite to happen. The president opined that the person who wrote the letter did so out of emotion for her relative. Whether he is right or not, this is one of the matters that will be dealt with at a Special General Assembly planned for September first. Today Smith told News Five that with respect to the dispute, he was simply following protocol.

Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletics Association

“There were some allegations brought about In reference to one particular person executive and the matter was being dealt with in occurrence of the constitution and the general populace, I guess, are not happy with how the proceeding and how the matters have been dealt with so far. However, we do have a constitution that is binding and we’re following the constitution and in any matter, I mean, we all know legal terms are legal matters that there is due process for any situation that’s brought about to anyone. Thank you very much. And in that regards, the accusers must present themselves as well, and that is something that we do know of, as well as the matter has to be followed through whatever process it needs to be followed through, and whatever wrongs that were committed would be addressed then, based on that procedure that we’re following they have their opinion. Put it that way. And what their opinion is, is necessarily not the truth or not in occurrence with the facts that are actually there. And if it is that it’s a situation where I must present my case, I have all the facts to justify everything that I’ve done so far, Marion. Um, it’s not a situation whereby I am afraid of any situation or afraid of whatever motion they’re bringing forth. But to be, to simply put it, Marianne, it’s just a matter of change. It’s always difficult implementing change.”

B.A.A. President Says He is Focusing on Positive Changes

Smith said despite the accusations against him, since his election only four months ago, he has been focusing on trying to make positive changes that would improve the standards of sports. One of those efforts is to see how the B.A.A. can get the track at the Marion Jones Stadium replaced or redone. The accusations, he said, are just an attempt to undermine his plans because he is doing things differently.

Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletics Association

“It’s derailing from what we’re actually trying to do. We’re trying to print a positive picture to the public at large and using the media from a positive perspective. However, we’ve not been able to do that with these constant little battles being fought and getting that done. For instance, Marion, we have in negotiations right now where we have an engineer looking at the track right now to make an assessment of the track, which is in deplorable condition. And we’re trying to see how best we can – the track at the Marion Jones. I don’t know if you went there recently, but the track is in bad shape. So we’re trying to fix those things and getting real work done.”

Attorney Says Kendall Morgan Has Been Wronged

She’s been accused of less than desirable behavior, cyber-bullying and bullying, and today, attorney Arthur Saldivar says that Kendall Morgan has been wronged. The twenty-year-old Morgan was stripped of the title of Queen of the Bay, based on these allegations. But she has maintained that they are baseless. In fact, she has lawyered up and her attorney says while Morgan was wronged, and that will be proven, he doesn’t think taking the matter to court is necessary.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Kendall Morgan

“Once a queen, always a queen and every woman in this country are queens. Let me start by saying Miss Morgan is the Queen of the Bay. That’s it. I don’t need to say anything more.”

Marion Ali

“Will you take up the matter legally on her behalf?”

Arthur Saldivar

“I don’t think that will be necessary. I think that certain things have been done regrettably, prematurely. And I do believe that at the end of it all, as they say, the truth sets us free. I think one of our newspapers has that as its motto and mantra. I think that Ms. Morgan will be set free. In every way, shape or form. She will continue to carry herself and comport in that manner.”

Marion Ali

“But she’s no longer the queen, according to the association – the press release that both organizations released.”

Arthur Saldivar

“As I have said, once a queen, always a queen. Miss Morgan has maintained and continue to maintain her comportment as the titular Queen of the Bay and has not in any way acquiesced to any position outside of that.”

Marion Ali

“Okay. So on September 10th, when the new Queen is crowned, where will she be?”

Arthur Saldivar

“She will be where all Queens of the Bay are on the 10th of September.”

Queen of the Bay Committee Answers Questions About Kendall Morgan

Late this evening the Queen of the Bay Committee issued a list of the prizes that were offered for last year’s pageant that Morgan won. On that list are the prizes that she has collected and the ones that the list states can be claimed at any time. It also addresses why Morgan’s name has not been added to the list of Queens of the Bay on the Memorial Park wall. The release explains that the plaque on the wall is new and was installed last year and that the committee has agreed that the names of the queens will be placed on the plaque when they have completed their year of reign. The committee also clarifies why Morgan’s photo does not appear on the September Celebrations calendar. It says that it was communicated to Morgan that the Queen of the Bay does not produce the calendar and has no influence over its contents. When the committee reached out to the National Celebrations Committee about the matter, the calendar had already gone to print. The committee also gives specific details at the bottom that Morgan was given due process and fair warning before the decision was taken to strip her of the title. It explains that Morgan was given a formal warning letter in January and subsequently invited to a meeting to discuss the contents of that warning letter with the National Committee. She had also reportedly met with former Queens and was given an opportunity to discuss her concerns when the issue of prizes was resolved as well. Finally, the committee adds that Morgan had written a letter of apology to the committee, and that she signed and acknowledged the decision to limit her interactions with the delegates this year because of her social media posts.