Belize District - Channel 5 Belize

Belize High School Regrets Political Spin Termination Took On

Matura further noted that Belize High School regrets that Jamie Usher’s termination has become an issue in the public domain. She says it is also regrettable that the matter has taken on a political spin, when asked if the board considered the fact that Usher is the wife of a prominent P.U.P. Minister. Here is what she told us.

Audrey Matura, Attorney

“Isn’t that minister the Minister of Public Service; it is so ironic how life can be. As the school it is very regrettable that this even made news. And you notice, it took us a week later to response and our response is as best as possible and reasonable and rational one to allay the concerns of any parents who don’t know the details, two to assure the teachers that their job is secure, the reputation of the school we are doing everything to protect it and to assure the students that their academic program will continue. So it is very regrettable. However you mentioned that it took a political spin. Of all people, the minister responsible for public service knows very well about hiring and firing. The government is well known for that. And, if anyone could look at the situation and would know the details they would know that to operate under the law as the board did and to terminate under section 37 was the best option at the time.”

Audrey Matura the Parent On Former B.H.S. Principal

Not only is Matura now the attorney representing Belize High School, she is also a parent at the private institution. As a parent, Matura spoke a bit more candidly about her experience with the former principal. Here is what she told us.

Audrey Matura, B.H.S. Parent

“Whatever miss Usher did as a leader, whatever passion she had, whatever work she did, that is the work she did. Nobody can take that away. So my personal objective and the objective o the board and members and staff is not discredit anyone as a professional. As a parent, my ultimate concern was that on the fourteenth of February Ms Usher sent out an email to all of us parents, she had been communicating to us parents before, parents of students going away on these trips that represent the school and my only regret was that on that on that morning when I woke up she had sent an email to me and all the other parents and unfortunately she made a decision to copy my child and all the other children in that email. I am speaking here as a parent now. I thought that was most inappropriate. There are certain things in that email I believe was confidential and certain things my child should have never read. I don’t believe that when adults have differences you bring in the child. I do a lot of family matters and as a parent I can tell you that I think it is most inappropriate to drag children through the battles of adults. For me, that could not fly.”

What’s the Delay with Port Loyola Recall Petitions?

Former Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez called another press conference today, a little over a month after delivering a sheaf of signed petitions to the Governor General back in January to trigger a recall referendum. Martinez is seeking to have the voters of Port Loyola recall Gilroy Usher’s seat in the House of Representatives via a referendum. But he is disheartened that several weeks have gone by and he is yet to get a formal response from the Governor General, despite what he believes are legitimate signatures that satisfy the requirement to trigger the recall mechanism.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola

“I am very disappointed in terms of what has transpired. The petition was delivered on the sixteenth of January, 2024, and as the law allows the governor general to pass it to the Chief Elections Officer forthwith. Upon checking on Friday, well from Thursday, I called the Office of the Governor General and said to the secretary that I believe by law that the answer should be forthcoming by tomorrow which was the sixteenth, Friday, the sixteenth. Friday morning, I called and the secretary’s response was that let her check. After waiting on the phone for like two minutes, she came back and said no response. I called again about minutes to three that afternoon and it was the same thing, no response. So I tend to mean say, the month should expire, in my view, checking with attorneys and so, with attorney, Mr. Dean Barrow. Dean Barrow said, probably, it could mean the sixteenth is up to twelve o’clock Friday night. Fair. I called yesterday morning, no response back from Elections and Boundaries. That is the answer I get. Called this morning again and no response back.”

Boots Asks, “What’s the Hold Up With Referendum Petitions?”

According to Martinez, he attempted to get an update on the status of the petitions through the vice chairman of the United Democratic Party who sits on the Elections and Boundaries Commission.

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola

“Through the representative of the UDP on the commission, Mr. Alberto August, he tried to intervene and being on the commission, to ask the commission and the Chief Elections Officer about the petition. And, rightfully so, she said she had no comment on the petition but referred the answers about the petition back to the governor general which, in my view, by law the governor general, now I don‘t know why or what is causing the stalling. I don‘t know if the Chief Elections Officer has gotten the petition. I don‘t know what is the situation but I noh di get no answer and at least you should get answers from the head of the stream, as the law allows for the timeframe. And so, I don‘t know the interpretation or the meaning of the word, in terms of the governor general, forthwith and I don‘t know what it means when you say you could be less than a month but not more than a month fi verify the signature. I don‘t know where the bottleneck is and it raises concerns, especially to the people of Port Loyola. We have checked around and spoke with Senior Counsel Dean Barrow to see the challenge that exists. One thing I want to make clear, you know, is that I, in dealing with this petition, I was very wary and careful of all the steps I was following in the law because like what I said to the governor general when I delivered the petition on the sixteenth of January. There is an old saying that was said to me by my old boss, Mr. Barrow, ’Have trust in God, but still tie your camel.” And that is what, to me, that old phrase comes to roost today.”

Belize City Man Shot Over $15 Dollars Debt

A Belize City man was shot on Friday night over fifteen dollars that he reportedly owed. Reports are that Eugene Thompson was at his home in Belama Phase Five when a man known to him as Hubert Paqiul arrived at his house and told him that he came to collect the fifteen dollars owed. According to Thompson, he told Paqiul that he will pay him the following day, but Paqiul refused to leave. Thompson told police that he then went back inside to get some money for Paqiul. He alleges that when he returned to give Paqiul the money, twenty-seven-year-old Victor Parham fired one shot at him. According to Thompson, he ran back inside his house and jumped out of his room window to hide in a nearby bushy area until police arrived.

Police later detained Parham and Paqiul. Both of the accused men were arraigned in court today. Parham was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm. Paqiul was charged for the crime of abetment to commit murder. No plea was taken from them. Due to the nature of the offense, they were denied bail and remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until April nineteenth.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday the eighteenth day of February, 2024 around nine fifty p.m. police responded to a shooting at Belama phase 5. Upon arrival they saw Eugene Thompson with gunshot injuries to the body. He was taken to the KHMH where he was listed in a stable condition. Investigation reveals that Eugene Thompson was at his yard at the address when two male people came and fired at him. Two persons have been detained and arrested and charged, namely Victor Parham and Hubert Paqiul. Victor Parham was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and Hubert Paqiul was charged for the crime of abetment to commit murder.”

Man Shot During Altercation with Chinese Business Owner

A Belize City man was shot outside a grocery store on Sunday afternoon in Belama Phase two. According to police, thirty-nine-year-old Reno Castillo was socializing in front of the store when he got into an argument with the proprietor. Police say the nephew of the owner pulled out a licensed firearm and shot Castillo to the leg.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday the eighteenth day of February 2024 at three p.m., police responded to a shooting incident at a store in Belama. Upon arrival they found Reno Castillo with gunshot injury to the foot. Investigation is that Castillo was at the store outside when there was an altercation and at some point a Chinese national that was at the store fired one shot that caught Castillo to the foot. He was taken o the KHMH, treated and released. One person is in police custody pending investigation into this report.”

High Speed Police Chase and Shootout in Hattieville

A high-speed police chase on the Burrell Boom Road led to a shootout between police and a group of men. Police officers had erected a checkpoint on the George Price Highway after receiving information that there were individuals onboard a public bus carrying a firearm. Officers later set chase after a white Geo Prism sought to evade the checkpoint. The vehicle reportedly made an abrupt stop near the Belize Central Prison. One person exited the car and began shooting at the officers. The officers immediately returned fire, says ACP Hilberto Romero.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Hattieville Police were pursuing a white car on the Boom road. Somewhere along the prison area the car stopped and a male person came out the car firing shots towards the police mobile. There was an exchange of gun fire and thereafter the person got back into the car and they fled from the area. Police continued to chase and lost the vehicle somewhere on the Boom bridge area. The police vehicle received damages to the bonnet and the windshield. The car left the area and we did not locate it.”

P.U.P. Holds Massive Rally Ahead of Municipal Elections

On Saturday, the People’s United Party mobilized hundreds of supports from across the country and bused them into Belize City for a massive rally at the Memorial Park. It was a national event held by the ruling party to introduce all mayoral and councilor candidates ahead of the March sixth municipal elections. There were speeches, music and dance, as well as libations and the P.U.P. was in its glory. Addressing the crowd was Deputy Party Leader Cordel who acknowledged the importance of the people that his party serves.

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.

“Ah wahn tell mi ministers, ah wahn tell di mayors, ah wahn tell di would-be mayors and would-be councilors that we are nothing without the people. Dis da wahn serious elections, yoh know, cause dis elections da bout di future. Dis election da bout weh we want fu wih pikni, dis da weh we wahn fu wih families and communities. Dis da noh know play-play elections, dis da serious business. Dis da if we wahn turn back or we wahn stay pan trac. Dis da if yoh wahn more free education or yoh wahn more cement house and if yoh wahn more free education then yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more NHI, yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more cement house, yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more land… There can be no turning back. We have to stay pan track wid di social justice ideals ah George Price because when we da George Price PUP nothing can go wrong. When we put di people first, nothing can go wrong. When we tek care ah di people weh need our help di most, nothing can go wrong. So we haffi stay pan track.”

PM Briceño Addresses Throng of P.U.P. Supporters

Prime Minister John Briceño also took the stage a short while after and wasted no time in going after his political opponents. The considerable show of support is the People’s United Party in its prime and listening to the party leader from the podium, the P.U.P. is poised for another victory.

John Briceño, Party Leader, P.U.P.

“The UDP done di talk dat deh wahn get rid ah Shyne because dehn know dat Shyne cyant win no election fi di UDP. But I wahn mek di UDP know, mek ih be John Saldivar, mek ih be Patrick Faber, mek ih be Dean Barrow, mek ih be any UDP, that on March sixth, it doesn’t matter who leads the UDP because Belize will once again vote for the People’s United Party. We are going to go blue, blue, blue down the line. And ah sih Micho and Cayo North out here. I was with them last week and I have good news for you because Trapp di try trick di people da San Ignacio and Santa Elena. He once seh that he only wahn be mayor fi six years, but Trapp has been in the UDP town council for twenty-one years and everywhere we go now, their saying, we tyad a Trapp. We wahn beat Trapp fi di People’s United Party. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so proud to be leading this party because right now we are going to have nine exceptional candidates for mayor and in Belize City, guess what? Mayor Wagner is going to win once again for the People’s United Party.”

James A. Waight Award Posthumously Bestowed on Roy Matthew Miller

The thirty-eight annual James A. Waight award has been posthumously bestowed on Roy Matthew Miller. Miller, a former Peace Corps volunteer in his youth, is known as the founder of Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. He is also known as an advocate for watersheds and environmental education. The award, named in honor of Belize Audubon Society’s founding member James A. Waight, was presented to Matt’s widow Margaretha and their son, Eli Miller. Members of the Belize Audubon Society celebrated Miller’s work at a ceremony held on Friday. Today, we spoke with Amanda Acosta, the Executive Director at Belize Audubon Society, about this year’s awardee.

Amanda Acosta, Exec. Dir., Belize Audubon Society

“This year, we held the thirty-eighth award ceremony. We gave the honor to Mr. Matthew Miller, Roy Matthew Miller. Unfortunately, it’s posthumously because he passed away last year after a health battle. He was a stalwart when it came to conservation of water resources, one of the first pioneers in study abroad, environmental education, using education as a financial source for protected areas and he really just was a believer in community work, being advocates for people, resources, wise use of resources. So everything has its time and we really felt that it was a timely award. We think that if Matt was alive, I don’t think that he would receive this. He would have said that there are much bigger things happening and more important people, but it speaks to his humility and what he did. He worked diligently, from the eighties, towards the goals of conservation in Belize. His family was honored. It was a bit emotional because it’s still a year since his parting and I think it was his wife, in her comments at the ceremony, made that it is for all the unsung heroes. And I think the James A. Waight is an opportunity for people to recognize those unsung heroes. We do know of a lot of work happening in Belize and I think every year is a case where we put out the call in October and I just sit back and say, well who are we gonna get this year? Sometimes we are surprised. We hear names of people we have never heard before who are working quite diligently in their communities. But a hard choice has to be made and that’s the difficulty.”