Belmopan police are looking for one person for questioning in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier today.
The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Solomon Peter Coleman. His body was discovered on Cemetery Road in Belmopan. He had been fatally shot.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Coleman was walking along the street when he was shot and killed.
The body is currently awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Last week, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve was saved from a potentially devastating fire, as flames spread across the area rapidly. This prompted a collaborative effort between the Belize Forest Department and several stakeholders. Fortis Belize was among the first to lend a hand, as the Chalillo Dam is in the area. The team was able to extinguish the flames before the fires could damage the dam. However, Fortis Belize says that the dam is still not completely in the clear, as the machinery is at risk of being damaged by the soot and ash that will run into the water when it rains. And as the dam’s water supply is relatively low for the demand of the country, amidst the energy crisis, Fortis is in desperate need of rain. We spoke with the team from Fortis Belize to hear how it will handle this damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Here’s News Fives Britney Gordon with that report.
Britney Gordon, reporting
The fires in Mountain Pine Ridge started just over a week ago in an area east of the Chalillo Dam. C.E.O. of Fortis Belize, Kay Menzies, says that the company knew how important it was to assist in the relief mission.
Kay Menzies, C.E.O., Fortis Belize
“We had a combination of employees and adult family members, volunteers. And we also contracted a number of companies with heavy equipment, including Astrum helicopters and pulled together an action plan in record time for sure which enabled the team on the ground to accomplish basically to protect the BEL transmission line and protect the Chalillo plant with the consciousness, not only of the damage to the Mountain Pine Ridge itself, but what that would have done to the country of Belize if access to those facilities were lost. The team was extremely conscious of what needed to be protected and why it needed to be protected.”
Fortis Belize says that although the fires have been contained, it is still monitoring the situation closely, as there are two major assets at risk in the area. Albert Roches, Environment Manager, Fortis Belize explained that the water supply is also a concern.
Albert Roches, Manager, Fortis Belize
“We had the two major assets that we were looking at were the dam structure, the fire coming close to that area, and our powerhouse. And as well the high-tension power lines that trans transport the electric electricity through to the grid. But like Kay mentioned, it’s not over yet. We’re still in the dry. We’re still vigilant right now. We have a camera, a three-sixty, what you call a P.T.Z. camera, located on top of one of our towers. And so with that, we continually have our control room operators. Monitoring the area, scanning the area to see if there is any new smoke or fire outbreaks in the area, of concern to us now would be the rains that we that should be coming, so we’re just going to be waiting and see what the impact will be with if we get heavy rains, the washing off sediments into the reservoir. And of course, in the longer run that will also impact our water quality coming downstream to the various communities.”
Britney Gordon
“So speak to me about that situation of how we’re planning to navigate this need for rain, but also expecting that to have a negative impact.”
“From the environmental side, like you mentioned, whenever you have these forest fires, you normally have what we have in the accumulation of heavy metals. Mercury, arsenic, all of lead that forms when you burn things and with the rains coming down, yes, pretty much needed and we are hoping that when it comes, the initial rains will be some a good one, but some soft ones, not some downpours, and yes, we would like to fill the dam as quickly as we can, but that is something we’ll be monitoring and watching for landslides and also for the loss of topsoil in those areas, and like I said the impacts we’ll be monitoring those. Every quarter we conduct water quality monitoring all the way from the tributaries of the Macal River, all the way down to San Ignacio. So we’ll be getting those results maybe in the next month.”
Tedford Pate, Operations Manager, Fortis Belize
“Looking at the effects that these forest fires could have with operation it’s actually it’s actually something that we’re already preparing for, we have our filters, we have our teams prepared with work plans in addressing these prior to the rain so that we could have the systems ready and up and running for any additional inflow so that we could generate more power. So while that is a concern from an operational standpoint, we really are hoping for the rains where we’re anticipating enough rain so that we could continue with our supporting of the grid, especially during these times when we’re having power issues in the country. It’s a balancing act. And there is no doubt about it. We didn’t expect these fires to happen, but we have to be able to look at ways to mitigate the issues that come either from an environmental aspect or from our operational aspect and continue providing reliable power to the country.”
Kay Menzies
“I think right now, everybody’s watching the reservoir with interest and concern. The team is trying to make sure that we keep going as long as we can and from the for the environmental aspect of it, the surroundings of the reservoir are very important to us. So we’re doing some work to figure out how we go forward with this. This is probably the most devastating wildfire we’ve seen in that area since Chalillo was built. So it’s a learning experience for everybody concerned. And one of the things I want to say is that the duration of the worst of the fire was as short as it was because folks on the ground were incredibly organized. The teamwork that we saw come out of this with groups that had not previously worked together.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Wildfires continue to burn through parts of Toledo and Cayo districts. Tonight, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment are advising residents living in the affected areas to stay indoors, keep their windows and doors closed and wear masks. A joint press release says that the air quality in Toledo and Cayo districts has significantly decreased. Wildfires have led to substantial air pollution. So, not only are some residents working overtime to safeguard their livelihood, but they must also now contend with the air they breathe to protect their very lives. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the situation. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Wildfires have been burning for the past three weeks in Toledo and Cayo Districts. These fires pose a threat to the livelihood of residents in these areas. And now, another concern has arisen, emanating from the wildfires. That is air pollution. It is a concern raised by Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, during a media tour of Mountain Pine Ridge last week.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“You see what happened in San Ignacio and Santa Elena in the past week. The air quality is really bad and you can’t come out on the verandah, jog or exercise, do your bicycling because it is terrible.”
These social media images and videos capture some of what residents in the Cayo District have been experiencing. The blanket of haze in the sky, stretching for miles, is smoke from wildfire. In Toledo District it is no different. Residents are left with no choice but to inhale this contaminated air.
Voice of: Blue Creek Village Resident
“I think this is the worst I have seen it and a couple days ago here in the village the smoke was really intense, intense to the point that I was worried about the kids and the elders in our community, because this is not normal.”
“I believe yes, it is the worst fire I have seen around this time here, because it gets really, really, smokey around here and just recently that side was burning day and night and all the smoke was coming this side. Sometimes I have to move from here and go to my parent’s house to spend the night sometime just so that the kids are safe and off the heavy smoke.”
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Internist and Bioethicist
“And when you look at air quality monitors, the particular situation that they look for is P.M., particulate matter. Two point five micrometers is what will get lodged all the way deep into your lungs. Those are particles that we will never see. Who is at risk then? Just like most other deceases, it is the most vulnerable. So, we are going to have the elderly population, young children, people who have underlying conditions, asthmatics, people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary decease, people who have hypertension and diabetes. There has been links to those not doing so well, people who have cancer, people who are on steroids and other types of immunosuppressants. One thing we ought to highlight is that the WHO recently released its global report and air pollutants have been shown to be the trigger of the building up of plaque in your arteries, so microparticles and even nano plastics are being found in those arteries that are building up in your circulatory walls.”
Dr. Marvin Manzanero
“If you have to be outside, wear protective respiratory mask or you try to limit the amount of time you are going to be outside. Even with exercise, I have mentioned it to some colleagues, you really cant be doing strenuous activities when you have so much air pollutants in the air. Even on a person’s note, two weeks ago I tried running and started wheezing after one point five miles. So, exercise had to be cut short because you are inhaling too many pollutants. For example I have two teens and one of the ones that is a little more active I have to limit his outside exposure. They do go to school. They don’t do physical activity in school these days, but as soon as they come home they are in an indoor environment.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Over the weekend, special invited guests attended the soft launch of a new restaurant and lounge in Cayo District. It’s called 3 Senses and it’s a fine-dining experience that appeals to the faculties of sight, smell and taste. The brainchild of a husband and wife couple that migrated to Belize from Germany, 3 Senses is an extension of Vanilla Hills Lodge and its their initiative to bring European wine culture to the Jewel. In a sponsored segment we’ll take a firsthand look at the new 3 Senses. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
At the pinnacle of gourmet dining, the harmonious marriage between a well-chosen bottle of wine and a dish transcends taste boundaries. Wine does more than accompany a meal; it complements, contrasts, and enhances each bite, unfolding layers of complexity that captivate the senses.
Claudia Konig, Owner, 3 Senses Lounge
“The concept behind 3 Senses is really that we want to specifically provide a very nice experience for our Belizean guests, not only for the tourists. And the name 3 Senses comes from the fact that if you want to have a nice meal, or a nice experience with food and beverages, all three senses they need to be pleased. You need to see something, it needs to be appealing for the eyes, if you smell it, it should smell very nice and finally, the taste buds, they need to be satisfied as well.”
The soft glow of string lights glimmer across wood and glass architecture, fire dances on water, and the air is infused with the aroma of wine and food. Each sip and bite are carefully choreographed and designed to create a distinct sensory experience. Welcome to 3 Senses, a restaurant and lounge nestled in the heart of Vanilla Hills, just outside of San Ignacio.
Franklin Syrowatka, Owner, 3 Senses Lounge
“3 Senses, first of all, it is something that was born between my wife and myself, you know. We have a hotel, this is a hotel here, and we are close to San Ignacio. So what you want to do is give your guests a reason to stay at the hotel in the evening and not go to town, so you want to create something nice. That’s how it started.”
Since then, Claudia Konig and her husband, Franklin Syrowatka, have invested significantly in an outdoor experience that embodies the spirit of Cayo District. The couple fell in love with western Belize when they relocated from Germany over a decade ago.
“I came up with this circular shape of the lounge because, I think, it closes you in a little but it opens up to the pool. Doing it like that, we could create these little nooks, you know, for two people, divided by plants. So that’s how we started.”
The fine-dining experience here goes beyond mere sustenance, it is an art form and a celebration of life’s pleasures.
“We’ve created a classy and sophisticated place for our Belizean guests to come here to give yourself a treat, to enjoy the evening and maybe to get an experience you’ve never had before. To taste a whiskey you have never heard of before or just to kind of get use to drinking wine in Belize. Most Belizeans, they are not really familiar with wine and you can’t blame them because in the past it was not really in the culture here.”
The ambiance of 3 Senses whispers sophistication, inviting guests to embark on a culinary journey like no other.
Claudia Konig
“Currently, we have fifty different kinds of wine on our shelves and we try to bring a very good experience with wine to our customers.”
Isani Cayetano
“What do you believe is the draw or the centerpiece for anyone who comes to 3 Senses?”
“Well I believe it is the fire and the water, from a visual point of view, and then of course we have a wide selection of wines, you know, so we want to be ambassadors for wine.”
Isani Cayetano
“And whiskey.”
“And whiskey, yes. Although I must admit, my heart is where the wine grows because I grew up in a wine growing area of Germany and it was part of the culture there.”
Claudia Konig
“First of all, I would like to say big thanks to my husband, who is the mastermind behind the concept and to all the workers who participated and who are working for us, to kind of finish or fulfill our dream and big thanks to our amazing staff.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Wildfires continue to spread across the country and, over the weekend, personnel from the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, were deployed to southern and western Belize. In San Miguel, Toledo District, farmers fought the flames that were consuming their crops and did everything within their means to prevent the fires from spreading to homes and other structures in the village. In the west, a group of N.G.O.s led by the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, APAMO, took on fires that threatened the Elijio Panti National Park, as well as San Antonio Village. Tonight, we look at the efforts of brave residents and committed conservationists in Cayo District who were out over the weekend fighting wildfires. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The threat of wildfires destroying the Elijio Panti National Park has prompted residents from nearby San Antonio Village, as well as responders from several environmental agencies, to join forces in a concerted effort to prevent the rapidly spreading flames from making their way into the protected area.
Maria Garcia, Chairlady, Itzamna Society
“The park is so important to us because it’s a corridor. It buffers the Macal River up Barton Creek. It’s a very fragile area. It’s, you know, part of our Mayan heritage, that’s where our people used to go and do their ceremonies. We go up there and collect our herbs, you know, it’s part of us.”
“It’s a unique area where we have waterfalls, we have the jaguars, we have howler monkeys, and, you know, the creeks feed into the Macal River. So if the park is destroyed there will be no more water to the Macal River.”
Over the weekend, quite a few teams were activated to fight the raging fires in Cayo District. The ecological impact of wildfires includes habitat destruction, soil degradation, and loss of native species. After a fire, invasive plants may colonize the burned areas, outcompeting native vegetation and altering ecosystem dynamics. Rene Tzib is one of several volunteers who have decided to join the effort.
Rene Tzib, Volunteer
“We went all around the hill which part is burning, we clear every branches that were on the line. So all the groups are working very hard right now, but we need some more water and like the heat right now is very hot. So they said they will leave it just like that, but it’s already controlled already, all around.”
Andy Carrein, Belize Red Cross
“We are here in San Antonio Village, Cayo, helping, not really with the fires but making sure that people who have pulmonary issues aren’t suffering. So we are going house to house to check on them, check their vital signs and make sure they’re all doing well, make sure they have some facial masks to prevent any damage to their lungs from the smoke inhalation.”
Wildfires have far-reaching consequences, affecting both the environment and the well-being of communities. Urgent action is needed to prevent and manage wildfires effectively.
Aaron Tzib, Chairman, San Antonio Village
“What we are facing at the moment here in the community is a fire threat. We have the white fires, if you see, it behind [me], to my rear. One week ago, we spotted some smoke up the hills and then from there it escalated and then it went out of control and that was the threat, like it was expanding towards the east where we had our water system pipelines.From the time we saw that the fire was expanding, we acted and we were proactive. We went there with the community members, we sought assistance, for help, and that is how we managed to open a track, a fire line all around the fire and we left the fire in the center. But we know that it’s very windy in the afternoons and in the evenings and that is how the fire just went out of control again because it went and it passed the fire line that we had already secured.”
As temperatures rise, dry conditions become more common, creating ideal circumstances for fire growth.
Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO
“I must say, initially, that we are proud of the great work that our member, Itzamna Society, is doing in fighting this wildfire. Here, this is a testimony of the work that these groups have been doing over the years apart from deterring illegal hunting and illegal extraction of timber. Having eyes on the ground for incidents like these during the fire season, they are the first ones to notice these fires and activate a response. We have to thank NEMO and the prime minister for activating NEMO for this national response because it’s not only here that we’re having fires. We’re having fires all the way down south and in the north in the River Valley, but this one was given priority over yesterday and today because it was threatening a serious pipeline, a pipeline that runs all the way from the headwaters way down into the village, it provides potable water.”
Continued vigilance is crucial to mitigate the threats posed by wildfires, despite the ongoing emergency response efforts. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
A young man lost his life over the weekend when he attempted to swim across the Belize River in Billy White Village. Brian Lopez got into the water and was swimming towards the opposite bank when a current swept him and took him under. Several villagers tried to rescue Lopez but their efforts were futile. His lifeless body resurfaced elsewhere along the river.
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Sunday, twenty-sixth of May, police responded to reports of a drowning in Billy White, Cayo District. Upon their arrival, they saw the motionless body of Brian Lopez. His father, Enrique Lopez, reported that Brian was swimming in the river and was attempting to cross to the other side when he was caught by a current and he went under and did not surface. With the assistance of villagers and divers, they searched the area and his body was recovered. We are now awaiting a post mortem examination.”
A law enforcement operation in Chaa Creek area of Cayo District over the weekend has led to the arrest of four men after they were found in possession of a significant quantity of drugs. Bernardino del Cid, Isael Chi, Luis Perez and Juan Sosa have been charged jointly for possession of crystal meth, a highly addictive and dangerous drug with devastating effects. The drugs, according to A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, were discovered inside two vehicles.
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Friday, police conducted an operation at the Chaa Creek Road, Cayo District which led to the discovery of a large amount of drugs. As a result, searches were conducted. Bernardino del Cid, Isael Chi, Luis Perez and Juan Sosa have all jointly been charged with two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply to another and the amount of drugs is eleven point seven four kilograms and eight point six-six-five kilograms of methamphetamines.”
Reporter
“The information we received is that the police somehow intercepted a plane before it took off.”
Hilberto Romero
“That is incorrect. Two vehicles were searched where these drugs were found.”
Reporter
“Sir, was it all crystal meth?”
Hilberto Romero
“All methamphetamine, correct.”
Reporter
“We police already looking for these vehicles?”
Hilberto Romero
“It is an operation that was conducted in the area.”
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Department of the Environment (DoE) are issuing a critical advisory regarding significant air quality concerns caused by ongoing wildfires affecting several communities in the Toledo and Cayo districts.
These wildfires have resulted in a considerable increase in air pollution due to smoke, posing health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The following health advisories are being issued:
Efforts are underway to control the wildfires and mitigate the impact on air quality. The DoE is acquiring air quality monitoring equipment to be installed in strategic areas to detect changes in ambient air quality, aiding in the national response and decision-making process.
It’s been several weeks of fire-fighting efforts across the country, as an extreme heatwave exacerbates the occurrence of wildfires. On May sixteenth, the Forest Department detected a fire that had broken out at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Cayo District. As the largest forest reserve in the country, an uncontained fire could have severe, long-lasting effects on wildlife, as well as the neighboring areas. To combat these fires the department launched a collaborative effort to contain and extinguish these flames. While the efforts are still ongoing to manage a few of the fires, the department has reassured us that the situation is under control. For more insight into the process of saving the forest, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the reserve and with some of the people who were working first-hand to do so. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, reporting
“I’m here at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, standing in front of one of the few fires left to contain before it spreads further into the area.” The team at the Belize Forest Department is hoping that the flames will be extinguished by a nearby creek before it can spread into the area and possibly, into Belmopan.”
Amir Bedran, Manager, Bulridge Ltd.
“The fire started as they mentioned earlier with a lightning all the way by Kinloch. We are, east of Kinloch. The fire continued down towards the dam and we were working on this front. As you can see, if the fire had crossed this line, we are on Baki line. It would have been devastating because it would have burned all the way up to Granite Cairn. There’s no breaks between. The only way you can fight and control a fire in the Pine Ridge is with the roads. You can’t out this with water. You have to fight fire with fire by doing back burns.”
As Bedran mentioned, the fires were not doused with water. Instead, a method called back-burning was used. This process involved burning a counter-set of controlled fires to eliminate the fuel in the path of the approaching flames. Shanelly Carillo Balan, forest officer in charge at the Douglas D’silva Forest Station, explained that in order to create the fire line, which is the barrier to the progression of a wildfire, the team had to quickly open roads. They were able to accomplish this with the help of CISCO Construction.
Shanelly Carillo Balan, Officer in Charge, Douglas D’silva Forest Station
“So at this location where we are right now, we are on line number one which you can see here. This is Douglas D‘Silva. This is where all the camps are, the houses, the offices. The fire was coming south to north, and we had to open this line here as a fire line. The fire was coming in this direction here. So what we had to do is in order to protect the station, the camp on this side, which is very close, we had to back-burn. And this is where you can see the big difference. So when you have the back-burn, you. put it, you make sure that it is done under a controlled environment as much as possible under the conditions that we were, fighting the wildfire and that way we have a fire fighting the wildfire coming back and that way we were able to it helps to make sure that we create a buffer.”
If the team had been unable to contain the fire, it would have put the neighboring camps and resorts at risk. However, they were successful in their mission and that area is no longer a threat.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development & Climate Change
“The ministry, especially the forest department, which is overlooking these forest fires. It’s a concern for them because it falls under their jurisdiction. However, we must recognize also that some of the fires might be intentional fires because they are agricultural landscape fires, and they escape, and they get into the forest without control. Some of them are permitted fires, like what happens in industry. For example, the sugarcane industry, if it’s not controlled, these also get away and then it causes problems. Here in the Mountain Pine Ridge, concern for us because we know we have apart from the logging concessionaires who are up here, this is a real natural resource for the government and people of Belize, but we also have tourism. So we have the resorts, which are a concern because you have tourists, you have people who come up on weekends to spend time with their families. So certainly, a concern.”
John Pinelo, Deputy Chief Forest Officer, Belize Forest Department
“In a pine ecosystem, fires are necessary actually, annually we have fires going through. Preferably, we would like to be the ones burning the fires in the cool months, which we call a prescribed burn, and we make sure that we burn the litter that you see on the ground. If we leave this for a number of years, this will start growing, and it becomes a bigger fuel load on the ground. So when we do have fires, it burns really, really hot, and it causes more damage than help. But ordinarily, the ecosystem needs fires. So you don’t want to say that the fire is causing negative effects. It is in some areas, but mostly it’s a good fire we’re having.”
Tedford Pate, Operations Manager, Fortis Belize
“We drove all the way to the location to see the extent of the fire, and we noticed that it was quite significant. So from that point, Saturday, we start to mobilize in collaboration with other stakeholders, the forest department primarily. And also, we had the support of mister Bedran with the Bulridge crew. We had mister David Penner providing support with bulldozers, graders, water trucks, BRC. Cisco construction, FCD eventually came out to assist with foot on the ground as well. And we also had about three quarters of our Fortis Belize crew as part of the boots on the ground extinguishing these fires. Astrum, however, was then summoned with the help of a helicopter to assist in this effort and it was very effective using that form of AIM. support. We wouldn’t have been this successful if it wasn’t for the Astram helicopter dousing the fire with water right here from the reservoir. So we are very grateful for all the support we have gotten.”
“From what we understand is that within three or four months, you will start seeing the seedlings already. Of course, many times on natural conditions, you don’t come out to do the thinning unless you do the planting. But the thinning is actually done by way of doing your burns and prescribed burns are very important. And it is something also where we are looking at lessons learned. Areas which possibly haven’t been burned for a while have now been burned purposely. But also the department is looking at maybe addressing some of these burns. And prescribed burns during the cooler part of the year, maybe November, December after the rainy season has ended to do some of those burns so that then you can still eliminate the extra material and fuel is on the ground before the dry season commences.”
While the teams continue their efforts to contain the few remaining fires, the public is advised to proceed with caution if they are planning to visit the reserve within the next week. Britney Gordon for News Five.
A man was shot during an attempted robbery in Cayo today. The incident happened this morning in San Ignacio and the victim was shot to the left shoulder, as Commissioner Williams shared. Williams says the police are investigating and reviewing several video recordings to nail the culprit.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“This morning police responded to an attempted robbery in the San Ignacio area. Upon arrival they met an East Indian descent person with a gunshot injury to the left shoulder. The injury was not classified as life-threatening. Police are in the process of viewing a number of surveillance footages to ascertain exactly what happened and are pursuing two suspects at this time.”
