A woman took to Facebook last night to say that her daughter was the victim of an attempted abduction. According to the mother, the incident happened at around 4 p.m. yesterday.
She wrote, “I was about to take a bathe a little after 4pm while my daughter played in the yard with a neighbors child… Not even 3 minutes and the other child came and alerted me that someone was taking my child.”
She said she quickly pursued the man. She says that she has filed a police report.
According to the mother, the man told her daughter that he would buy her “chips and she seh she tell he no but she she mi fraid fi scream caz she neva want d man hurt her.”
“Parents please keep unu kids inside!!! They have some real maniac and child molesters bout the place!”
At the 38th Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) Annual General Meeting, held in Belize City, Belize, Commissioner of Police Chester C. Williams was elected as the 1st Vice President. In the previous executive, Commissioner Williams served as the 2nd Vice President.
Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney from Antigua and Barbuda was re-elected as President. Commissioner of Police Crusita Descartes-Pelius from St. Lucia was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer, while Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander from the Bahamas was elected as the 2nd Vice President.
This year, Belize hosted the event, providing a platform for commissioners of police from across the region to discuss strategies for tackling crime as a united front. During the conference, police commissioners addressed pressing issues such as gang violence and border security.
It’s a question that has stood the test of time—and one that sparked a legal battle in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the U.S.A.
Are tacos sandwiches? According to Allen County Superior Court Judge Craig J. Bobay, the answer is yes, including burritos. In a ruling on Monday, Bobay declared tacos and burritos “Mexican-style sandwiches.” This decision arose from a case on whether “Famous Taco” could open in a Fort Wayne shopping centre.
The zoning policy for the property bans fast food but allows restaurants to sell “made-to-order” or Subway-style sandwiches. Although the city commission initially denied the request, Bobay ruled that Famous Taco fits the criteria of serving “Mexican-style sandwiches,” noting that the policy doesn’t restrict to American-style sandwiches.
This isn’t the first legal consideration of food categorization. The USDA in 2005 labelled a burrito as a “Mexican style sandwich-like product.” Additionally, the Cube Rule, which categorises food by starch placement, would classify a burrito as a calzone and a taco as a taco.
For now, Judge Bobay seems to have settled the debate in Fort Wayne. “No amendment was necessary,” he wrote.
Forest fires are not uncommon at this time of the year. But reports coming out of San Pedro, Columbia are that wildfires have leveled more than fifteen hundred acres of land in the Toledo District over the last two days. These lands include an abundance of farmlands that residence cultivate to make ends meet. Area Representative Oscar Requena says he has had to join the fight over the last two days to put out fires in the community, as his property is also being affected. He says that while residents experience the destructive nature of wildfires annually, this is the worst it has ever been. Community members have been coming together to assist each other in protecting their livelihoods. But the task at hand is overwhelming and their resources are few. To add to the damage being done to farmlands, wildlife is also being lost to the inferno. Images of torched tapirs, ocelots and gibnuts have surfaced. We spoke with Requena over the phone. He told us that he believes this runaway wildfire originated from a careless farmer who left a small fire unattended.
On the Phone: Oscar Requena
On the Phone: Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West
“This is a very serious situation that happened in San Pedro Columbia and of course over the last few days we have witnessed fires burning in many other communities, Golden Stream, Medina Bank and Crique Hute and several other communities. This dry weather has of course severely been one of the main reasons why fires have really escalated and burn a lot of farmlands in San Pedro Columbia alone. I believe that well in excess of fifteen hundred acres of land have been destroyed, farmlands. Essentially what has happened is that people’s livelihoods have been destroyed and it is very difficult for them. I believe the source of the fire is as a result of a careless farmer who was burning and really left the fire untended. There is an urgent need to put in place these strategic plans as to how the communities being impacted are going to move forward as we prepare to mitigate the severe effects of fire. I am certain that from a community perspective we need to come together and get government agencies and NGOs to come together and develop a clear strategy as to how this is going to be dealt with because fires in the Toledo District, particularly in these areas is not something new. This has been happening quite frequently, but of course this year has been one of the worst years.”
According to the Toledo West Area Representative, the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, has deployed personnel to the area to conduct assessments of the damage and its impact on the community. Requena is calling for a reconnaissance mission over the area so that Belizeans can get a better understanding of all that has been lost so far. Here is what he told us.
On the Phone: Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West
“What I can say is that I just spoke to the minister of NEMO and what has happened is that there has been activation on the ground and certainly here is a lot of work taking place. The first thing is to get the various agencies on the ground to conduct an assessment of what has occurred and how it is impacting the livelihoods of our people, issues associated with fires and smoke, possible health issues and really with a strategy to provide some sort of relief where possible. I want to ask that apart from just the great negative effects on the livelihoods of people it is really heart breaking to see the severe damage on the flora and fauna. You are talking about seeing tapir burnt, ocelots and gibnuts, just wildlife. It is really terrible. I want to call on the authorities to do a reconnaissance of the area and they would really, I think the nation would get a clear understanding of the damage and impact that has occurred to just lands in the Toledo District.”
And while a vast part of Columbia Village is on fire currently, the rising temperatures are not helping the situation any. Today, a news team headed out along a portion of the George Price Highway, and while there was no burning bush along the stretch leading to the Belize Zoo, they captured evidence of wildfires that swept through the area a week or two ago. Other areas that are still burning are in the Mountain Pine Ridge, and the smoke that has drifted this way makes visibility upon the horizon difficult. Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today the brushes along the George Price Highway showed all the signs of fires that have burnt through several areas. Large tracts of land show parched trees and greenery that are left bare by the blaze that ripped through. The Forest Department trains non-government personnel on how to fight wildfires, the agriculture department tackles agricultural blazes, and the fire department deals with fires that threaten or burn property. Chief Forest Officer, John Pinelo says that if you have to light a bush fire in a rural setting, there are some specific dos and don’ts.
Via phone: John Pinelo Jr
Via phone: John Pinelo Jr, Deputy Chief Forest Officer
“We recommend that you burn fires in the morning or in the evening if you need to burn. And if you’re going to do that, you need a fire line. You need to have clearance around your boundary so that it does not jump in somebody else’s property. Unfortunately, too often, people like their fires and they walk away and leave it and then it jumps into somebody else’s property. And that. Becomes the beginning of a wildfire that can recover on hundreds of acres, maybe thousands of acres. That is one of the major issues we have in the country right now. We have this tradition of burning bush before the rain comes so we can plant and that is what is exacerbating this issue. We’re already having this climate change problem. And we have people still burning and doing these types of activities for the environment. It is not good for the. Air people with allergies, people with asthma are heavily affected. It is bad for visibility.”
Pinelo says the degree of damage and losses that these wildfires cause to the environment is unnecessary and is preventable.
Via phone: John Pinelo Jr.
“It’s dangerous and not to mention the loss of biodiversity that we’re having not only the trees, but in the thousands and thousands of wildlife that are getting killed because of these fires. They can’t really leave for animals that can’t be their area. They get burnt, we lose all of that biodiversity because of all these fires.”
Today, the horizon near Gracie Rock was barely visible from the George Price Highway because of the tremendous amount of smoke that has been caused by wildfires. Aside from the poor visibility, the smoke also triggers respiratory issues. These are some of the experiences, aside from loss of property that villagers of Columbia are facing now.
Via phone: John Pinelo Jr.
“Right now in Columbia, there’s a huge wildfire burning people’s farms. Threatening hoses, because somebody started a fire here and it came to it until it was done. So now we have this major issue burning our forces are burning people’s houses down, burning their crops because of negligence.”
Anyone who wants to light a fire for agricultural purposes must get a permit from the Forest Department. Failure to provide evidence of this to the police can lead to arrests. Marion Ali for News Five.
If you bought tickets and made plans to attend this weekend’s Reggae Sundays event, well, we have news for you.
The featured guest, Jamaican-American singer Alaine, has rescheduled. In a video message, Alaine says these are doctor’s orders. She said she is recuperating from the flu.
I will not be able to make it this week…doctor’s orders, but I promise that I will be there next weekend, and we are going to have the best time together.”
The organiser of the event said, “I was contacted by Alaine and her management a few minutes ago and informed that the artist due to circumstances beyond her control, is unable make an appearance in Belize this weekend as planned. As a consequence the management of Reggae Sundays is forced to push the slated Reggae Sundays All White Mother’s Day edition to the following Sunday May 26th 2024.”
Some social media users expressed disappointment. One said, “Disappointed. Won’t even be in the country that weekend.” While another said, “Beyond your Control. Get well soon Alaine!”
More than 30,000 children have crossed the Darién Gap, a dense jungle straddling Panama and Colombia, in the first four months of 2024.
According to UNICEF, the number of minors undertaking this perilous journey has increased by 40% compared to last year. Most of these children are attempting to reach the United States.
Migrants crossing the jungle often fall victim to robbery, extortion, and sexual abuse by criminal gangs. In December alone, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recorded 214 cases of sexual violence in the Darién jungle. The international medical organization reported that armed men detained migrants, forced them to undress, and sexually abused them. While most victims were women, MSF also provided treatment to men and children.
There are no roads through the Darién Gap, and crossing on foot can take a week.
At least 11 people have been killed in clashes between rival cartels in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Among the victims are two nuns and a teenager.
The area is contested by the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Residents reported hearing intense gunfire on Monday night. On Tuesday, police and soldiers confirmed finding 11 bodies in and around the village of Nuevo Morelia.
The diocese of San Cristóbal, which includes Nuevo Morelia, confirmed that two women “who served the Catholic Church” were among the deceased. A 15-year-old boy was also identified as one of the victims. It remains unclear if the women were nuns or lay members of the Church, as some local media reported.
Fighting between the rival cartels has been ongoing since Friday. The Sinaloa cartel and the CJNG have been battling for control of the area for several years, often extorting migrants crossing the southern state on their way to the U.S. border.
Police in Punta Gorda are investigating a case of rape. On Monday, May 13, 2024, a woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter visited the Punta Gorda Police Station and reported that on the 7th and 10th of May this year, a male teacher had sexual relations with her in the school bathroom. Police conducted an investigation, after which they formally arrested and charged a 50-year-old Belizean teacher from Toledo District for two counts of rape of a child.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at about 3:30 p.m., a woman and her 15-year-old daughter visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on Friday, May 3, 2024, she went to the apartment of a 33-year-old male person in San Pedro Town, where he had sexual relations with her against her will. Police have since detained the 33-year-old Belizean manager of San Pedro Town as investigations continue.
