Typically, fender benders do not result in serious injuries, but in the case of Omar Matus, he walked away from one drenched in blood. Reports are that on Monday night, the Belmopan resident was in a minor car accident and upon the arrival of the police, a conflict arose between Matus and the officers. Matus alleges that the police proceeded to beat him severely, resulting in injuries to his face. Matus was taken to the Western Regional Hospital, where he received stitches to his right eye. We are awaiting further details from police on this incident.
Category: Cayo District
Seven Thieves Break into Courts Belmopan
In crime news, a band of daring thieves, armed with guns, targeted Courts Belmopan branch early this morning. The burglars managed to carry out the plan undetected after they ambushed the company’s security guard and tied him up. Seven gun-toting thieves ambushed the guard before the crack of dawn and stole an assortment of valuables, including laptops, cell phones and money. The total value of the heist has still not been determined, and A.C.P. Romero says investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to help solve the crime.
A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Around four-thirty a.m., police responded to a report of a burglary at Courts building in Belmopan. Upon arrival, the security guard reported that he was performing duties when he was approached by seven male persons armed with firearms. They held him up and tied him and proceeded to break into the building. They stole an assortment of cellular phones, laptops and some cash that was in a safe. Investigation into this report continues at this time. We’re working to get the value of all the items. They’re doing an inventory to see all what was stolen.”
Thieves Also Target Corozal Free Zone
Thieves were also busy up north, as a business at the Corozal Free Zone was broken into. The businessman told police that when he arrived at his store, he discovered that the bars securing the business were tampered with. Further checks confirmed his worst fears that the thief or thieves had forced open a safe that contained an undisclosed amount of cash. A.C.P. Romero says investigators are trying to determine who the perpetrators are.
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Sunday, the eleventh day of August, 2024, police responded to a burglary report at the free zone in the Corozal District. Upon their arrival, Marwan Boinefield reported that he was alerted by someone that his business place was broken into. He made checks inside the burglar bar and the metal door of the building were damaged and entry had been gained. He made checks inside his business place where he found a safe containing a large amount of cash was broken into and all the cash in there was stolen. Investigation into this matter continues.”
Vegetable Vendors Beaten, Robbed at Gunpoint in Cayo
Police are looking for two suspects in connection with an armed robbery in the Cayo District that has left two vegetable vendors wounded and without their van and cell phones. The incident happened just as the men arrived home in their van on Saturday. That was when the gunmen pounced on them, stole an amount of cash and their phones, before beating them and taking the van. Head of the Eastern Division, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters today that police are following several leads.
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Saturday, the tenth day of August, 2024, police responded to a report in Teakettle Village in the Cayo District, where they met Saulo Mantar and Miguel Cowo, who were seen with injuries. Saulo Mantar reported that he was in his van in the Hillview Area of Santa Elena when he was approached by two male persons armed with firearms. They were taken back into a Ford van that they were in and thereafter the two persons drove off with them to an area. Mantar reported that they arrived at a particular area in Teakettle, where they were taken out of the van and they were severely beaten with metal pipes. Thereafter the male persons robbed both of them of cellphones, cash, and they also stole the van. Thereafter the male persons fled from the area in the van. They received treatment and are in a stable condition. We are seeking two suspects in regard to this robbery.”
Seven Armed Robbers Target Courts Belmopan
The Belmopan branch of the furniture and appliance store, Courts, was burgled on Monday, August 12, 2024, at around 4:30 a.m.
The building’s security guard reported that he was confronted by seven armed men while on duty. The suspects restrained him and then broke into the building.
In today’s police briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero stated that the suspects stole several phones, laptops, and an undisclosed amount of cash from a safe.
An official notice was announced on Court’s Facebook page, advising their customers of the “Temporary Closure of COURTS BELMOPAN store until further notice.”
The investigation is ongoing, with surveillance footage to be reviewed.
Benque Town Council Hit With $58 Thousand Dollars Benque Fiesta Loss
The Benque Viejo Town Council has reported a loss of fifty-eight thousand dollars for its recently held Benque Fiesta. The Council’s financial records show that expenses for the event amounted to one hundred and seventy-seven thousand dollars, while it earned just over one hundred and nineteen thousand dollars. The council referred to the loss as a “real shame.” They attributed it to bad weather and a lack of support from residents. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño was asked about it, seeing that it is a P.U.P. town council that made huge losses.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No I have not been appraised, but in these instances sometimes you don’t have the proper people to do the proper collecting and record keeping. That is very important in these situations and I hope it is not so. But if it is so and you can find the people that are responsible then we need to hold them accountable. Just as important that next year they learn from the errors and mistakes to make sure this is never repeated again.”
$151,000 in Equipment Handed Over to MOHW: New Polyclinic Set to Transform Duck Run I
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) donated equipment worth over $151,000 to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. This contribution is part of the “Building Climate Change Resilience and Social Integration of Displaced People in Settlements of Western Belize” project. The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for Migration Objectives and is set to conclude by December 2024.
In an official statement issued on August 8, 2024, it said that the project was launched in February 2022 as a “joint initiative between IOM and the Government of Belize—funded by the European Union with a grant of BZ$4,600,000.”
The donation includes 23 types of equipment, such as EKG machines, diagnostic sets, scales, crash carts, and defibrillators, marking the completion of IOM’s deliverables.
The initiative aims to improve resilience in five communities: Santa Familia, Billy White, Los Tambos, Duck Run 1, and Duck Run 3. “The polyclinic, being constructed by the government, is expected to be completed in October 2024 and will serve over 5,000 residents,” the statement said. The project will finish with the construction of a hurricane shelter and community centre in Duck Run 1 and the rehabilitation of Los Tambos Primary School.
Benque Councillor says Benque Fiesta Reports ‘Lacks a Lot of Important Information’
The Benque Fiesta 2024 incurred a staggering $58,192 in losses. In an official statement, the Council attributed the financial shortfall to Hurricane Beryl, adverse weather, and limited community support. However, criticisms over alleged mismanagement and a lack of transparency regarding the event continue.
Carlos ‘Calo’ Iglesias, a councillor of Benque Town Council, raised critical questions about the handling of municipal funds and the future of community-supported projects. In a Facebook post, Iglesias said, “I am very disappointed with the report published by the municipality. At no point were the councillors called to discuss the income and expenses of the 2024 fair. This report lacks a lot of important information… As an elected representative of the people, it is my duty to ensure that the residents of Benque know what is happening with the municipal funds. I am concerned that there were profits in previous fairs, but this time there were none. Additionally, I notice the absence of the Bowen donation in the report, which is a relevant detail that should be included.”
The Council spent $177,223.65 and made a total income of $119,031.56.
Santa Elena Gains Police Station After Months of Rampant Crime
Santa Elena is getting a little safer with the inauguration of a new police substation. For months, the twin towns of Santa Elena and San Ignacio have been plagued with rampant gang activity and crime. Along with the substation are twenty-nine officers assigned to the area and a new police vehicle. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the opening ceremony of the substation to learn how the department will continue to tackle crime in the area. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Just over one month ago, residents of the twin towns of Santa Elena and San Ignacio lived in fear that they would be the next victim of a crime. Heated gang rivalries, robberies and murders were just a few of the crimes that residents were forced to endure as police grappled with managing the two communities. Today, residents breathe a sigh of relief as they welcome the newly built police substation in Santa Elena Town. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams spoke with us about the achievement.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It has been a work in progress. I know it required a lot of Dedication and commitment. Like the mayor said, they must have the political will and they had the political will to make sure it happened. And as a commission of police, I made sure that whatever needed to have been done was done. And so here we are. And indeed, the mayor is happy. The good citizens of Santa Elena are going to be extremely gratified with this police station while the criminals are not going to be happy. So our job is to make sure that those who are law abiding get satisfactory work in terms of policing and the criminals on the other hand, our job is to make them miserable to make sure that they do not get that room that they may need to be able to perpetrate the criminal acts.”
Earl Trapp, Mayor, Santa Elena & San Ignacio
“This substation will act as a deterrent to criminals and it will make the response time to crime in the area much more prompt. No, so it is very key and important in this area and key to notice that we are remodeling a park in this area and it’s a state of the art park that. I’m sure many children and families will use. So it’s important to have a substation just almost in front of the park.”
Officers will be mobilized with a new police vehicle and two motorcycles. Williams says that the department is working to increase security cameras throughout the area.
“We’re still working with the chair of BTL. Perhaps we’re going to require the intervention of the prime minister to see if they can get the BTL to be able to provide the fiber for those cameras to be reinstalled inside San Ignacio, Santa Elena. So I know we have N.S.C. meeting today, so I’ll bring that up to the prime minister at NSC today.”
For the residents of Santa Elena, the station is long overdue. Alex Balona, Minister of State and area representative of Cayo Central, says that the department will continue to work with the community to ensure that fighting crime is done as efficient as possible.
“We have been visiting the different sections of the community with mister Howell Gillet, and we are increasing the awareness and where the community residents, the law-abiding citizens can come out to the community and help the police groups. It is really important, and I appeal to the residents. Like I said earlier today, maybe by the time we’re addressing a situation in Bradley’s Park, there might be something else stirring up in Santa Cruz area. But if we have the neighborhood groups being active, then we can address and assist the police through these groups as well.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Shooting in Teakettle Amidst lull in Crime
2024 has been a violent year for Belize with fifty-seven murders recorded, as of June, according to statistics from the Belize Crime Observatory. To mitigate the incidents of gang-related crimes, the Belize Police Department enacted a state of emergency. Initially a sixty-day declaration, it was later extended to ninety days. Under the S.O.E., the nation has observed a decrease in murders. Nonetheless, there have still been reports of violent crimes. On Saturday, a man informed police that he had been attacked by two armed men. Police responded to the report, leading to one of the suspects being shot. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero provided further details of the incident.
Reporter
“Sir for 2024, the country is recording ten murders a month. What Is that the police department can do to get those numbers lowered?”
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“How much has been reported this month? I think what we can do is to keep the perpetrators behind bars like we are doing now.”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Easter Division
“On Saturday police responded to a report in Teakettle Village. Upon their arrival, they phoned Orlando Reyes, who reported that two male persons had attacked him who were on a motorcycle. He mentioned that the persons may be armed. Police checked in the area and spotted the motorcycle. They saw two persons. Information is that upon seeing the police, one of them lifted up a firearm and pointed towards the police. The police returned fire towards him. One of the persons was shot. The person was identified as Kevin Tillett. He was taken for medical treatment and has since been released. He is now in custody and will be charged for aggravated assault. We are seeking one more person who escaped from the area upon seeing the police.”
Reporter
“What were they doping in the area?”
Hilberto Romero
“They were just in that area when these persons came on a motorcycle and started to harass them and attack them.”
Reporter
“Any Motive?”
Hilberto Romero
“We don’t have a motive at this time.”
Reporter
“The person shot, what condition is he in?”
Hilberto Romero
“He is stable has been released, so he will be charged.”
Reporter
“Is he cooperating?”
Hilberto Romero
“No, he’s not.”
Reporter
“Is he known to police?:”
Hilberto Romero
“Ah, yes, he’s known to police, yeah.”
Reporter
And the other suspect as well?
Hilberto Romero
“Yeah, the other one as well.”