Category: Belize District

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is at full capacity and according to the Ministry of Health, it is not the only hospital in the country operating under these conditions. Recently, the Surgery and I.C.U. units were at capacity so the hospital sent out an alert, informing district hospitals so that they may manage referrals. We asked K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Chandra Cansino-Nisbet about the situation and she said that this has been the case for several months. Doctor Jorge Polanco, Director of Hospital Services in the Ministry of Health, told us that situations like these are to be expected because of Belize’s population growth and the increase in traffic accidents and violent crimes. However, the ministry is working to alleviate the issue.

 

On the Phone: Dr. Jorge Polanco, Director of Hospital Services, Ministry of Health

“This is something that they would usually do to put us at the different other regional hospitals on the alert. And for us to be aware that they would need to be more keen in deciding what patients can be referred to the Karl Heusner for different medical emergencies. The reality is this, the context is that a Karl Heusner, when it was built how many years ago? About, almost thirty years ago, the population of Belize district was practically half the size of what it is right now. Then, apart from that, we have the situation of an increased prevalence of external injuries, road traffic accidents and gun violence. This in itself is a very specific, I would not say burden, but a very specific demand put on Karl Heusner persons with fractures that will be there for many days versus, let us say, a delivery that goes in today and you can discharge tomorrow or two days after. These alerts allow us to, to put more attention at the level of the region, and then that would guide us to decide if we bring in professionals from the private sector to give us a hand to fill those gaps that would be filled. The entire public is aware that plans are to replace the hospital in Belmopan, which has also lived a life. It is very small, the number of beds are limited, and the demand of services have increased. That  fact is tied into the plan of  replacing that hospital in Belmopan with another hospital, which will not only have secondary care services, but we will begin to phase in a very gradual manner, tertiary care services. So that in itself, on the medium term, will alleviate the issue of Karl Heusner having limited space to provide intensive care services or other tertiary care services. San Ignacio is another hospital that has reached its limit when it comes to the capacity to hold patient there and observation. So that’s another area that we need to look at.”

On Thursday, we told you about a nursing dog that was shot by a police officer on Supal Street in Belize City. Brendalee Riverol, the owner of the dog says three officers visited their home on Wednesday evening seeking the whereabouts of her son for an ongoing investigation, but instead found her family pet and its litter of puppies. The officer claims that the dog was aggressive in nature and in fear for his safety fired a shot, injuring the animal. We spoke with Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams who told us that the injury to the animal is unacceptable. Here is News Fives Britney Gordon with that report.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Wednesday, a family witnessed their beloved family pet, a mother of ten two-week old puppies, become severely wounded after a police officer shot her during a search of the pet owner’s home. The officer claims that the dog was aggressive, and he simply acted out of fear for his safety; however, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, says his actions are unacceptable.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Well upon the thing happening the same night in question I was called by the family and was given information I put them on to mister Romero and direct that the complaint be taken. I know the police PSB have taken a complaint and so the matter is going to be dealt with by a professional standard branch. Certainly the actions of the police is not one that we are going to condone. We don’t think that he ought to have used the amount of force that he used on that dog. And yes There were reasons for the police to be there, but the amount of force the police used, we believe, was not justified. And so that’s a matter PSB is going to be dealing with.”

 

Paul Lopez

“There’s protocols in place for dealing in situations like this?”

 

Chester Williams

“Well, I think that the warning that the ladies actually gave the police was a good one. The police are to have taken precautions and not go in the area considering what was said to them. So when they still went to the area and eventually used lethal force against the dog, that cannot be countenance, no”

 

 

 

 

We also spoke to vet technician Ingrid Lima, of the SAGA Humane Society, who told us that nursing dogs tend to exhibit aggression to protect their litter.

 

Ingrid Lima, Vet Technician, SAGA Humane Society

“Let’s talk about a dog that recently have a babies, right? Most mom has recently give birth. They acting a little differently. Don’t worry, it’s normal many mothers that display behavioral change after giving birth and those can range from mild to extreme and that is natural behavior in a mom dog, so some are, they are protecting the babies and sometimes they’re just for natural behavior, they’re just acting, in defense of the babies. The trick is understanding how to deal with the changes and caring for your pet in the meantime.”

 

 

Lima advised that in scenarios such as these, those unknown to the animal should heed warnings and stay away from the animal.

 

Ingrid Lima

“If the mom is, doesn’t know this person, I will give you an advice like go and talk in a common voice and give the mom space. That’s very important. If you know that this mom have her body, give you, normally a dog give you like a warning. That’s very important. They not just attack just because they want to attack. So if you not the owner or you are a person the dog doesn’t know you, give the dog a chance. space, talk to the dog in a calm voice. Don’t go or don’t go to the area that the dogs know that they’re gonna defend the puppies. They’re gonna defend the babies. They’re acting by instinct.”

 

 

Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa said that the use of a lethal weapon on an animal is not the protocol for situations like these. He said that they have advised the family affected to make a report to the Professional Standards Branch.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“I spoke with the commissioner about that because I saw it on social media as well. What the commissioner is saying is that he has encouraged the family that owns the dog to make a report to Professional Standards Branch. I’m fairly certain the officer is saying that he felt under threat From the dog. Pit bulls are considered aggressive in nature, especially ones that is nursing. And so you’d have to look at or assess the degree of aggression. Was the dog coming after the officer or was it just standing in place barking? What prompted the officer to take that additional step of pulling out his service weapon and firing a shot? Very regrettable circumstances all around. But definitely that is something that’s going to require an investigation from professional standards branch.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

One Belize City family is tonight seeking answers after a police officer entered their property and shot their nursing dog. Brendalee Riverol says three officers visited her home on Wednesday evening seeking the whereabouts of her son. They were reportedly in the presence of a young man who claimed that he gave Riverol’s son five hundred dollars and a motorbike to fix several months ago, and he has not heard from him since. According to Riverol, her son was not home at the time. The officers reportedly searched the property, but they did not find the motorbike the young man claimed to be his. The officers later left the property, but not without first critically injuring their dog that delivered ten pups thirteen days ago. Brendalee Riverol and her daughter, Royanne Riverol, told us more.

 

Brendalee Riverol, Supal Street Resident

“So I said officer, he said let me go back there to check. I said officer we have a dog back there and ih just have puppy. He said well go hold him or tie him. I said I can’t hold her or tie her because I don’t want her to bite me. The dog is not an aggressive dog, dah wah very disciplined mannerly dog, just like human. Whatever you tell him she will do. Ih come to the other side of the yard and gone to the back. The dog come out because ih hear ruction outside and ih know somebody strange in the yard so she come out and started to bark. So I sih ih put ih hand to the side and I said, you nuh wah do what I think you will do. Then he shot the dog and I said to officer you actually shoot my dog in front of me. I said come on mien, you senseless. I said how you could be so reckless and trigger happy. So he come out and the two officers standing there, the officers said the dog attack the officer. I said no, unu liad the dog did not attack the officer and my neighbor was upstairs looking out and started to shout. He said, mien that dog just have puppy and the lady tell unu. They said, oh you get back in your yard, mine your own business one of the lady officer told ah. Mine your own business. No, that is everybody’s business.”

 

Royanne Riverol, Supal Street Resident

“From ever since Nipsey came into our lives, I never find a dog more living, caring attached on to kids like that. Nipssey goes everywhere like that and she never bothers anybody. We not even lash this dog or anything like that. This dog dah more of a human to we than an actual dog. I had to rush her, I rush her to Animal Medical Centre and upon rushing her she was losing a lot of blood. We nearly lost her. Right now, she is in critical condition, stable but critical, but we can’t find exactly where the bullet is. And, she is bleeding a lot, she has distressed breathing. This is uncalled for, to let an officer come in our home like this and come with that rage to just shoot a dog like that. You come and ask the right question and don’t come without a paper in your hand, a warrant of sort.”

 

Reporter

“And clearly what they were looking for is not here”

 

Royanne Riverol

“It is not here.”

While attempting to conduct a visitation to one of her clients at the Belize Central Prison, attorney Leslie Mendez was asked by security to hand over her documents for a search. Mendez explained that because her documents are subject to attorney-client privilege, she could not hand them over for inspection. Mendez claims that as her documents contained confidential information regarding a client who intended to challenge the decision of the parole board, she had a legitimate reason to deny security access to these papers. We spoke with Mendez earlier today, who explained how she handled the situation.

 

Leslie Mendez, Attorney at Law

“So on that day, this was in early May, I visited the prison to try to gain access to my clients to offer further legal advice, take instructions, etc. On that day, it was there was a different, slightly different process where usually when I arrive, I’m taken to the security booth immediately so that I’m searched. But this time I was directed to a counter where they asked to inspect my documents.  When they asked to inspect my documents, I immediately indicated that I wouldn’t be able to allow them to inspect those documents because they are subject to attorney client privilege. And I cannot allow them to see that. It is my duty to protect attorney client privilege. So I can’t simply just give them access to my documents.  Nonetheless, I inquired what the concern is about. So what is it exactly that they’re looking for?  And perhaps you could find a different way to address the concern. And they indicated that they were Concerned about, smuggling monies or anything else through the file and the documents. And so what I offered to do is that I told them, and again trying to just collaborate, I appreciate that the prison does have legitimate concerns and they need to manage and they need to regulate access and their processes. So I, offered that I could turn over the sheets so that they don’t have sight of the actual text and we can sift through each sheet so that I could satisfy them that I’m not smuggling anything  and that there’s nothing objectionable in my file.  We did that but the guards were still  very much dissatisfied and quite peeved.”

An attorney-at-law was denied visitation rights to her client at the Belize Central Prison after she was told that her skirt was too short. The incident occurred in early May after Leslie Mendez attempted to conduct a visit with one of her clients, but upon arrival was met with pushback at multiple avenues. Mendez says that, in her opinion, her outfit was appropriately modest but conceded that if the prison truly had taken issue with her attire, a warning would have sufficed for the incident. Instead, Mendez was forced to go home and change, which she believes is in violation of the constitutional rights of her clients, who should be allowed to meet with their attorneys. We sat down with Mendez earlier today who told us that the problem at hand is not whether the attire was appropriate, but rather, how the prison ensures that the constitutional rights of the inmates are upheld.

 

Leslie Mendez, Attorney at Law

“What I wore that day, in my estimation, it was appropriate. In my estimation, I was very much covered up. So I didn’t think that it would be an issue.  I attempted to reach out to mister Murillo because, again, the guards told me Murillo and he confirmed that I can’t have access. The point that I was trying to make after that was that I think that in this occasion, in my view, even though I did not concede that I was inappropriately dressed, not so much that it would have justified denying me access to my clients, which again, is a constitutionally protected right. I think these things should matter. They should have meaning on the ground. We should act in a way that reflects the importance of constitutional rights. And while I appreciate that there are rules, I think that they ought to be applied reasonably and, on that occasion, I thought that a warning would have sufficed. I would have taken no issue with a warning. And if there was, in fact, a real concern about my safety or an issue of security because it’s a male population and it’s a particular environment, prison is not flowers and rainbows that on this occasion, if there was that concern, for me, because I’m dressed this way and I’m an attorney who should be given access to her client because we value that and we value ensuring that the rights of inmates are protected, a guard could have been assigned to me to ensure that from the security booth to the meeting room, I’m safe.”