Prime Minister John Briceño has decided to nominate Carolyn Trench Sandiford for a second term as President of the Senate.
The decision comes following consultations with the United Democratic Party (UDP), which has expressed its support for Sandiford’s reappointment.
The Prime Minister welcomed the bipartisan backing, calling it a “constructive cross-party support in the national interest.”
St. John’s Credit Union Ltd. (SJCU) is pushing back against what it calls “malicious and defamatory” social media posts that allege funds were wrongfully removed from a member’s account.
In a press release, the long-standing financial institution dismissed the allegations as baseless and assured the public that no financial losses have occurred.
“We wish to inform our valued members and the general public that the entirety of the information contained in the said social media posts are malicious and defamatory,” the statement reads.
SJCU said it operates under the strict oversight of the Central Bank of Belize and adheres to the regulations outlined in the Credit Union Act.
The institution is investigating: “We are in the process of wholly establishing to the regulator and all affected concerned parties that there were no actual or incurred financial losses.”
St. John’s Credit Union reassured its members that all transactions are traceable and backed by proper records and audit trails.
The people of Guyana are in shock following the discovery of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge’s body in the pool of the Double Day Hotel. The young girl had been reported missing on Wednesday afternoon after visiting the hotel with her grandmother and other relatives. Despite initial searches by family members and police, her body was not found until early this morning.
President Irfaan Ali has intervened directly, ordering a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adrianna’s death. He has instructed the Commissioner of Police to assemble a special team to lead the probe and stressed that no resources will be spared in uncovering the truth.
The discovery of Adrianna’s body has sparked intense public outrage, leading to protests in the Tuschen community. Residents have blocked roads, burnt tires, and even set parts of the hotel ablaze, demanding justice and accountability.
Many have drawn parallels to a 2012 incident at the same hotel, where a young mechanic was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Although charges were initially brought against the hotel owner’s son and a staff member, both were later acquitted.
Belize is betting big on coconuts—and not just for coconut water or oil. The country is rolling out a fresh plan to revitalise the coconut industry.
Earlier this week, the Coconut Sector Task Force met in Belmopan for its first quarterly meeting of the year. The gathering brought together farmers, processors, trade experts, and government reps—all focused on the same goal: making Belize’s coconut industry stronger, more sustainable, and more profitable.
This effort is part of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, a global programme led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. And for Belize, coconuts are the product of choice.
The task force is finalising three key documents that will act as the backbone for the sector’s revival: a Coconut Sector Development Strategy, a Three-Year Roadmap, a Trade and Investment Prospectus.
These tools are designed to fix some of the industry’s biggest problems—like inconsistent productivity, limited access to global markets, and missed opportunities to create value-added products. At the same time, they’ll help ensure farming practices stay environmentally friendly.
But it’s not just about paperwork. The strategy also includes hands-on training for farmers and producers, covering everything from soil conservation and pest management to business skills and market planning.
The meeting pulled in key players from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, BELTRAIDE, CARDI, and private sector leaders.
Everyone in the room agreed: coconuts aren’t just a crop—they’re an opportunity. With the right support and smart planning, Belize’s coconut sector could become a major driver of rural jobs, exports, and innovation.
Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton has called for unity and renewed focus as the party begins its post-election rebuilding efforts.
In a message to supporters, Panton reassured the United Democratic Party (UDP) base that despite recent setbacks and ongoing leadership disputes, the party is committed to moving forward and regaining the trust of the Belizean people.
“We will not be distracted. We will not listen to the noise but rather spend our time and attention on rebuilding the UDP from the ground up,” Panton stated.
The statement comes after Moses “Shyne” Barrow issued a statement in which he said that he returns as the leader of the UDP. Barrow said, “As my term does not expire until the National Convention to be scheduled this year, 2025, at your request, I will continue to serve you as Party Leader to ensure the continuity and strengthening of our great UDP!”
Panton also stressed the need for unity and active participation, saying that “rebuilding takes time and effort… It requires ALL hands on deck.” She reiterated the importance of holding the current administration accountable to ensure full transparency and proper governance.
Panton also announced the UDP’s first official press conference since the 2025 general elections. The event is scheduled for next Tuesday and will address key national issues.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow says he remains leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP). This comes after he resigned following his defeat in the March 2025 general elections.
In a press release, Barrow said, “As my term does not expire until the National Convention to be scheduled this year, 2025, at your request, I will continue to serve you as Party Leader to ensure the continuity and strengthening of our great UDP!”
According to Barrow, the UDP has gone “dormant, with no attempt at unity, no compliance with the Party Constitution, no adherence to procedures and structures of the Party, no vision or resources to take the Party forward. I am compelled to accept your call for me to continue as Party Leader until the next National Convention as was my original position.”
“I am compelled to accept your call for me to continue as party leader until the next national convention, as was my original position.”
Barrow’s resignation on March 17 came after losing his Mesopotamia seat to fellow UDP member Lee Mark Chang.
Tracy Panton, who claimed leadership following an October 2024 ‘unity convention’, was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on March 14.
However, the legitimacy of Panton’s leadership has been contested by Barrow, leading to ongoing legal battles. Barrow’s attorney argued that Panton’s convention violated the UDP’s constitution, asserting that she lacked the authority to call for it and was not a party member at the time.
The State Attorney General’s Office of Quintana Roo is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 29-year-old William Javier Cruz Milán, who has been reported missing since April 19, 2025. He was last seen in the town of Sabidos, located in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo.
Cruz Milán, a Belizean national, is described as having a slim build, fair complexion, and short straight black hair. He has large dark brown eyes and stands approximately 1.50 metres tall, weighing around 55 kilograms. A distinguishing feature is a tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe on his right shoulder.
Authorities filed the official missing persons report on April 22. At the time of his disappearance, there was no information available about the clothes he was wearing.
The State Attorney General’s Office urges anyone with information about William Javier Cruz Milán’s whereabouts to come forward. Members of the public can contact the authorities at (983) 835 0050, extension 1132.
“Help him return home!” reads the message on the official alert.
Less than a week ago, Captain Howell Grange found himself in a life-and-death situation straight out of a movie. On Holy Thursday morning, he boarded his Tropic Air flight in Ranchito for what should have been a routine twenty-minute trip to San Pedro. Instead, the flight turned into a horrific two-hour hijacking ordeal. Despite being badly wounded, Captain Grange managed to land the plane safely and live to tell the tale. This afternoon, Tropic Air issued a statement thanking the community for their support during this challenging time. Shortly after, Captain Grange was wheeled out of Belize Healthcare Partners Limited, greeted by applause from hospital staff, friends, and family. Before heading home, Captain Howell Grange made his first stop at the Divine Mercy Church, where he and his family attend mass every Sunday. He was there to give thanks for surviving the ordeal. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Howell Grange, Pilot, Tropic Air
“When I found out I was going to be released, I told my wife I need to go to church before we get home. I think I owe everything right now to the good Lord. That’s why I’m here because right when the deal started, I prayed to him and asked him to fill me with the strength and the knowledge to get to that man’s head, so all we have a good outcome for the day.”
Holy Thursday turned out to be a good day for the passengers and Captain Grange, despite the critical injuries inflicted by hijacker Akinyela Taylor. Taylor took control of the aircraft soon after takeoff, Grange recounted, as he relived the harrowing experience.
“I took off normal, crossing over Cerros, then I started to hear the commotion and that’s when I saw when Mr. Brown, he was already injured and Mr. Castaneda was already injured, so I started to turn back to Corozal. Then that’s when he said it was a hijacking and then he demanded the little boy to go to the back, everyone to the back, and everyone went to the back. And he started telling me I was going to take him to the United States. So, I said, okay, no problem. So, I told him which airport you want to go? So, I found my airport in the GPS, the G-1000 equipment we use, and I put it in and I move it from the map. So he was not seeing where I’m going.”
Seeing two passengers bleeding, Captain Grange knew the situation was dire. He contacted air traffic control in Spanish to alert them about the unfolding crisis. Then, he cleverly flew over water to confuse the hijacker.
“I started to head over to the international airport, but I passed behind the international airport. I told him we’re heading into Mexican territory, and I had spoken to the controllers over the radio and asked them to speak in Spanish and they understood what I was trying to do. Then I went out at sea, came back, but different direction, not in the same route. So he doesn’t recognize any area.”
Marion Ali
“Yes, we saw the loops.”
“Yeah, so I was mainly trying to fly over water. It’s hard to get orientated over water and I was changing altitude every minute just to change the direction, you know, try to head back closer to Belize and just try to stay over water as much as I could. I had asked them to please get someone that speaks proper American English, and they got someone and they were vectoring me to the final, and this was already like an hour and change into flight, so when I was landing, he thought he was landing in the US.”
But the hijacker soon realized that he was not in the US and that was when he also stabbed Grange.
Howell Grange
“He said he doesn’t recognize the airport for me to go around. So, I went back out and that’s when we started to argue in the airplane, me and him. And he told me, if you’re not gonna take me to the airport, then we all gonna die here today.”
“What airport was that?”
Howell Grange
“I don’t remember the name, it was one in the U.S, somewhere in Missouri, Mississippi, or something like that. I don’t really recall, but I started heading back. Well, I started to argue with him because I wanted to distract him from seeing me getting closer to the airport. At the same time I was descending that time. I only had about 10 minutes more of fuel, and I decided to land. When he realized it was not where he wanted to be, then the whole scuffle start inside the airplane.”
Marion Ali
“That’s when he stabbed you?”
“Yeah, he stabbed me, yeah.”
After Taylor stabbed him, Captain Grange cut off the plane’s engine and they began to fight inside the aircraft. Taylor inflicted ten stab wounds on Grange, including one behind his ear that cut through his tongue and another serious wound to his right hand. Suddenly, two gunshots rang out.
Howell Grange
“He hit me in my chin here. He was a pretty skillful guy with the knife, pretty skillful guy with the knife. He tried to hit my temple, but I had my shades on and this was the biggest one. I was trying to hold his hand and then he just grabbed the knife and sliced it open.”
Grange is at home recovering now, something he said was first on his mind.
Marion Ali
“What was going through your mind?”
Howell Grange
“Getting home to my family, getting home to my family, that was playing through my mind. That’s all I wanted.”
Captain Grange endured ten stab wounds, each narrowly missing vital vessels that could have been fatal. He now looks forward to a full recovery and hopes to return to the pilot’s seat one day. Marion Ali for News Five.
Belize’s municipal airstrips have ramped up security after Thursday’s Tropic Air hijacking scare. Thankfully, all passengers escaped unharmed, but the incident could have become tragic if the hijacker had been armed with deadlier weapons. News Five’s Britney Gordon caught up with a passenger at the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airstrip to get the scoop on the new safety protocols.
It’s been nearly a week since the hijacking of a Tropic Air flight in Belizean skies. In response, the Belize Airports Authority has implemented new security measures. Lydia De Los Santos, a passenger flying to Placencia, shares her thoughts on the changes.
Britney Gordon
“So can you talk a little bit about the security measures that you have seen here at this in comparison to some of the other security measures that you’ve had on other planes?”
Lydia De Los Santos, Passenger
“I think it’s the same, just in a smaller scale. Because they still have the metal detectors. Your bag has to get checked.”
She explained that the new procedures are not complex and don’t take much time.
Lydia De Los Santos
“We got our boarding passes. We had a show passports, just like at a big air airport. And they checked our bags. And when we got to this particular one and they gave us our boarding pass here.”
Britney Gordon
“How many bags are you guys traveling with?”
“Two.”
Britney Gordon
“And are you allowed to have a purse?”
Lydia De Los Santos
“It’s two luggage and a carry-on.”
Britney Gordon
“So you are allowed to keep your carry-on?”
“Yes.”
Passengers can still bring a personal item, but now they must go through a metal detector scan.
Lydia De Los Santos
“They did the metal detector and they checked the bag, I don’t know if they went in the bag, but they checked the bag. So I don’t know if they went in it.”
De Los Santos is traveling with caution but feels reassured by the new security measures.
Britney Gordon
“Do you feel that this is sufficient enough for your safety?”
Lydia DeLos Santos
“Are we ever really safe? I live on a prayer, so I’m satisfied.”
Britney Gordon
“And it’s comparable to other airports, maybe just on a smaller scale?”
Lydia De Los Santos
“Smaller scale.”
Britney Gordon
“And is there any sort of maybe hesitation that you have given the recent news of what happened? Or do you feel that it’s been taken care of?”
Lydia De Los Santos
“I did see the news. My sister sent it to me right the day before I’m coming, so I’m like, again I trust Jesus. I do everything afraid because in this world, nothing is really safe anymore, but I trust that the Lord’s gonna keep me safe. So that’s it.”
Britney Gordon for News Five
Thursday’s terrifying hijacking concluded when the plane finally landed at the Philip Goldson International Airport after spending two hours in the air. Upon landing, chaos erupted on the runway as medical personnel and police rushed to the aircraft. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, explains how the team was able to handle the situation without disrupting the scheduled traffic at the airport.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“For me my objective was to make sure that we clear the runway as quickly as possible so as not to hinder any of the international flights that were scheduled to arrive on that day. And so after the plane landed, considering that the runway was not the crime scene, but whether the plane was the crime scene. I had directed the plane to remove from the runway and taken to the you call it apron, whatever that part of the airport is for it to be processed by scenes of crime. And so within half an hour time, the runway was clear. And I don’t think that any of the international flights had any delay in landing. I think they all arrived on time and they landed well and took off well. So I believe, again, our efforts in terms of coordinating that was extremely good. Civil Aviation was on the ball as well as Airport Authority in making sure that the runway was not only cleared, but after the runway has been cleared. I think there is some physical checks that need to be made on the runway to make sure that it is safe for landing. That was also done so that the aircraft that were supposed to come in on that day could have been notified that there was no delay in them coming into the country.”
Reporter
“So what happens to the plan now? Is that tendered into evidence?”
Chester Williams
“We don’t need to hold a plan pending the outcome of any court case in this case. I don’t think that there’s going to be a court case, but what would’ve been done should there be one? For example, if Mr. Taylor was alive and would be prosecuted. Through the DPP office, a letter could have been issued to properly process and photograph the aircraft, and that would’ve been done in presence of a JP or a magistrate. And with that then the plane could have been returned to Tropic Air for normal operations while the case is still pending.”
