Featured - Channel 5 Belize

P.U.P. Routs U.D.P. in Municipals: 8 to 1

The People’s United Party remains on top after steamrolling all political opponents, including the United Democratic Party which it soundly defeated during the municipal elections on Wednesday. Tonight, we’ll begin with a recap of what transpired across the country on election day and how the blue machine overwhelmed the U.D.P. across all cities and towns with the exception of San Ignacio/Santa Elena. We’ll also show you what the Opposition Leader says following the stunning loss at the polls. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano to begin our post election coverage.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The opposition, as well as all third parties and independent candidates, was walloped at the polls on Wednesday by the People’s United Party. In hindsight, this bold prediction, initially made on Nomination Day by Party Leader Shyne Barrow, will likely go down in history as egg on his face.

Isani Cayetano

“What is your confidence on the ground, in terms of the municipal slates across all nine cities and towns.”

Shyne Barrow, Leader, United Democratic Party (File: February 21^st, 2024)

“I want the Belizean people to see, with all humility, this is my projection. Nine, nine municipalities and it is not farfetched. There was a time where the United Democratic Party administered all nine municipality and no municipality was out of reach.”

Despite its best efforts, the United Democratic Party was trounced in Belize City, one of the most hotly contested municipalities in the country. By the time the ballots were being counted, halfway through the process, the PUP had already claimed victory over the Old Capital.

Bernard Wagner, Returning Mayor, Belize City

“I always have to say thank you to the people of Belize City and I also have to thank God, he has been the person behind me. I have to thank my family, I have to thank all the people of Belize City. But clearly, some of the indicators, essentially, are really significant from some of the key polling areas, constituencies of Lake-I, Pickstock, Freetown, Caribbean Shores. Clearly those numbers that we are seeing and are being forwarded to myself, we’re looking, pretty, pretty good.”

A total of four hundred and fifty-two thousand, seventy-three ballots were cast during yesterday’s elections in Belize City. Of that amount, roughly sixty-three percent of votes were in favor of the ruling People’s United Party. For the UDP, things got off to a slow start and ended in much the same way.

Dr. Nelma Jones Mortis, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City

“If you notice, I think, thus far, when I checked, I think about three hundred and twenty of our pledges have cast their vote. Each standard bearer is responsible for their constituency and for bringing out the vote. We collaborate with them, in terms of when people approach us, we pass it on to the standard bearers. So each standard bearer has their machinery set up.”

It’s the same approach that was employed by the P.U.P. area representatives. In Freetown, Francis Fonseca was able to secure seventy-six percent of the twenty thousand, eight hundred and five votes. In contrast, the UDP only had four thousand, two hundred and seven votes, or roughly twenty percent of that total.

Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown

“So we have a very experienced team in Freetown and so we have a very clear plan. So today has been all about executing that plan. You know, we’ve been campaigning with the team with Mayor Wagner and the city council team over the past few months, since the start of the year, and the campaign has been very good. They’ve been warmly received in Freetown, both in Belama and here in King’s Park.”

Taken as a whole, the turnout in Belize City, as in other municipalities, was lower than expected.

Alisha Craig, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I wish it was higher. I just checked the polls and they say it’s only about nine thousand out of thirty thousand. So, you know, that’s not really good, but maybe it’s a good sign as well. Like I said, that’s where the machinery, getting your taxis and everything in place to get out your voters. I think that’s what’s going to decide who wins the elections.”

Dr. Nelma Mortis

“ I was a bit disappointed in the low voters turnout, but I walked in confidence and I walked in confidence because I have put in the work and I have shared my vision and it’s up to the workers to decide who or what they expect for Belize City. And so, I did my best. I’ll be Nelma Mortis tomorrow, the same Nelma Mortis tomorrow.”

On the other hand, despite a low voter turnout, Eluide Miller was optimistic and remained so for the duration of the voting process, as well as the counting later in the evening.

Eluide Miller, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I’m feeling very excited seeing our residents flowing in to cast their votes. It’s a really beautiful moment and so we’ve been working very hard over the past couple weeks, past couple months and so it all comes down to today. Today is what matters most. I am very excited and yeah, I’m happy.”

Ultimately, returning mayor Bernard Wagner has secured a third term in office, along with his team of ten councilors, five of whom are carrying over from the previous Belize City Council.

Isani Cayetano

“It’s rare that we see, if perhaps not the first time that we’re seeing someone go for three consecutive terms in municipal office.”

Bernard Wagner

“I am telling you it’s overwhelming for me, personally. Really overwhelming. When I started in 2018, I could never conceive in my own mind that at some point in time I would be grappling with the idea of being a three-term mayor. But I believe in the will of the people and clearly the people in Belize City have spoken resoundingly again. And so, we are really excited to be able to serve the people again.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

PM Briceño Believes in Alignment of Governments

The harmony between the municipal and central government, based on the party in power, has been a topic of much discussion leading up to yesterday’s national vote. While it can be argued that municipalities should remain autonomous, it can also be debated that the alignment of both forms of government bodes well for initiatives being undertaken in all cities and town. Prime Minister John Briceño believes in the positioning of both entities for optimal performance.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think it speaks well for the party, both a national and local level because we have been ensuring that we are performing at the local level and one of the things that we did when we had a meeting with all of the mayoral candidates about three Mondays ago. And we’re telling them now that at the national level, I think that we have even a greater responsibility to be able to monitor them closer to ensure that they are living up to the manifesto promises and that also they can be managing the finances as best as possible, as efficient as possible and then we could join with them, that we believe we can do a lot more. For instance, my community development fund , I give twelve thousand of my community development fund, I pass it on to the town council because then we could double that money because we could buy materials with the money that that provides and the town council has the manpower to be able to do whatever small projects we want to do. Also this speaks well for central government because it shows that people are feeling the good work of what we’re doing, reducing unemployment by 3.2%, reducing the national debt from a 133% to 63% to be able to grow the economy much faster than IMF ever thought possible. These things have a positive effect on the lives of people.”

U.D.P. Defeated in Municipals, Leader Says His Name Was Not on the Ballot

But, what do the unfavorable results on March sixth for the U.D.P. say about the organization’s leader? He says his name was not on the ballot and that it was a team effort. According to Barrow, the U.D.P. has scheduled a postmortem and a National Party Council meeting where they will have the difficult discussions about the party’s future.

Moses “Shyne’ Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We as a political organization, every member, this is a team effort. I was not on the ballot. We were all championing the cause of the United Democratic Party but standard bearers and the councilor candidates had the specific task of the day and we need to do a postmortem which we have scheduled shortly and do some analysis and really see where the fat is that we need to cut and we need to narrow down our focus to eighteen or nineteen divisions. If I can accept blame for anything my error is on strategic miscalculation as far as going after all nine. It is clear that was impractical and so rather than pouring resources into an additional four municipalities we should have focused on the five in reach. Obviously Santa Elena, San Ignacio, PG which we won, then on a recount we lost by twenty-five votes, I am asking for another recount to make sure the integrity of the vote is in order and there is no stealing of the vote. In Benque and Dangriga, I believe if we would have focused all the resources there we would have fared much better. So moving forward we are going to have a national party council so that we can decide the way forward.”

Police Killed Notorious Cruz Castillo Killed on Cotton Tree Ranch

Last night, we reported on the gruesome killing of forty-year-old Shane Baizar a businessman of Bermudian Landing. We also told you that only two hours after Baizar’s body was discovered, police shot and killed the man they believe committed the heinous crime. The suspect was Cruz Castillo, a resident of Cotton Tree Village. Police went on a manhunt for Castillo and found him on a ranch in the village. According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, Castillo pulled out a firearm when he saw police officers. As a result, those officers opened fire and fatally injured Castillo. But, what was not mentioned was the fact that Castillo was not alone on that ranch. His nephew was with him. Today, a News Five team travelled to Cotton Tree to locate the area where those officers encountered Castillo. The ranch he was killed on is owned by a villager who had no idea he was even there. We spoke off camera with Castillo’s nephew who told us that he and Castillo were sitting down when police opened fire on them. He described it as an ambush and argued that he did not see Castillo pull out any weapon.

Voice of: Nephew of Cruz Castillo

“I was in the back area in Cotton Tree Village, right close behind my house. We were in the pasture and in that area is when the police arrived and mih the do deh investigation.”

Paul Lopez

“They fired upon you when they saw you? Did you all see them before they began to fire?”

Voice of: Nephew

“No sir, when they fired, it was a surprise. I got surprise and I tried to fled and they told me not to move. Deh she nuh move or else yo ah dead. That’s when I just keep my head on the ground and never looked up.”

Paul Lopez

“The allegation is that Mr. Castillo had a firearm and he fired at the police officers.”

Voice of: Nephew of Cruz Castillo

“No sir, I didn’t know if Mr. Castillo had a firearm but it was just a surprise when the police arrived.”

Paul Lopez

“Did you see if he fired a firearm?”

Voice of: Nephew of Cruz Castillo

“No sir, after I fired all the shots that was it. I was on the ground and the police was all over.”

Paul Lopez

“And were you aware that he was being sought for anything?”

Voice of: Nephew of Cruz Castillo

“To be honest, not really. I heard a saying that he was wanted. And when I end up seeing him, dah never too long. The way it sound like he wanted some kind help but I couldn’t.”

Paul Lopez

“He call you and told you to link him.”

Voice of: Nephew of Cruz Castillo

“That’s when he saw me over there and called me and ask me why I nuh stay yah or something like that. The feeling I got was like, I wanted to tell him I won’t stay, I don’t know weh you deh pan. But it just slip my mind and I gone in the pasture and stayed there.”

Did Police Receive Directive to Shoot Cruz Castillo on Sight?

We also heard from Cruz Castillo’s brother, who spoke with us off camera. He told us that Castillo paid him a visit at home in the early part of Monday morning. He says that at the time they were unaware that he was wanted by police for questioning in connection with Shane Baizar’s murder. So, did police receive a directive to terminate Castillo on sight?

Voice of: Brother of Cruz Castillo

“I get fih understand when I watch the post deh she my family member shoot after the police dah back deh weh part deh end up the shoot ah. Alright, deh dah police weh got training and thing. Unu come shoot somebody fih get deh. Unu could shoot deh eena deh foot and mek justice tek ih course fih she mek the man guh dah jail or mek ih live ih life. I can’t say my breda dah somebody weh deh wah angel. Buh when yo really watch pan it, come on mein deh shot weh deh shot up the man, ih even look like ih brains mih the down deh. Dah come you come fih done this man life.”

Paul Lopez

“Do you believe that it was a case where an order was given to shoot on sight because of the reputation that your relative had?”

Voice of: Brother of Cruz Castillo

“Yo done know, I wah be honest with yo, Chester dah nuh nobody nice to play with when it comes to this and that. Everybody hear a lot of thing, when you hear this case and that. But to be real honest with yo, dah execute deh execute the man right deh. That dah execution right deh.”

Reporter

“Is it sort of an implicit directive to shoot on sight, highly dangerous person, and don’t shoot to injure, shoot to kill.”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Again like you rightly said, the individual has a violent history and one that don’t have any regard to law and order. The police officers knowing him are not going to wait for him to shoot at them. The fact that he took out a weapon and was about to shoot was sufficient for the officers who acted in self-defense. So we will still put the file together and send it to the DPP and she will make the determination as to whether the police officer’s action is justified.”

Six Officers Dismissed In Connection To Drug Plane

In November 2023, six police offers were dismissed from their post in connection with the landing of multiple drug planes in 2021. The accused are, Delwin Casimiro, Nelson Middleton Junior, and Eric Young, all former police officers who were linked to a drug plane landing and were charged criminally and later dismissed from the Belize Police Department. The case also included Manuel Caliz, along with his sister, Epifania Caliz who was dismissed primarily for ammunition charges and her husband Elmer Nah, who was charged jointly for possession of prohibited ammunitions without a gun license. The officers were dismissed in November of 2023 in a letter they all received from the Commissioner of Police Chester Williams ordering them to state a reason why they should not be dismissed. All applicants did so but in response, Williams said the men gave no valid reasons and they were subsequently dismissed. Today, leave was granted for judicial review by a newly appointed judge. The leave for judicial review is for them to now go in search of certiorari as the judge squashed the Compol’s decision to dismiss these officers. Representing the six applicants in court was attorney, Lyndon Jones. The Attorney General’s Ministry was represented by Samantha Matute, the Assistant Solicitor.

Still No Agreement between CWU and Port of Belize Ltd.

Contrary to a report that has been circulating that stevedores at the Port of Belize Limited are on a strike, this evening, the President of the Christian Workers Union informed our newsroom that there is no immediate plan to strike. Flowers shared that there was police presence at the P.B.L. compound and that they had removed a gang that was there. The police presence follows a press conference that the Christian Workers Union today at which it reported that a series of negotiations have brought about no change. Those negotiations were between the C.W.U. and the interim board of Port of Belize Limited towards a settlement over compensation for over thirty stevedores who say they were wrongly terminated. Initially, the C.W.U. was entertaining a compensation package of one point five million dollars for the employees, but the union had second thoughts and eventually rejected the offer. Today, the C.W.U. called a press conference to vent its discontent after the meetings that broke down. At the heart of the discussions is the Ministry of Labour, whose intervention has been to assist the two sides to reach some middle ground in their dispute. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A proposal put forward by the interim board of the Port of Belize on February fifteenth was roundly rejected by the Christian Workers Union. This was on the grounds that the proposals to bring both sides to an agreement over compensation for thirty-five stevedores were terminated union did not meet the standards that the union had hoped for. Today, the President of the CWU, Leonora Flowers said they tried to compromise with some of the proposals, but in the end, it did not pay off.

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“They made an offer to us that day, and that offer was for a change in gang size, and several other things coming directly from the proposal. Although it touched on gang size, we said we will take it to our members. We will take it to the attorney. We went to the attorney and we asked her guidance and we instructed her to go ahead and make this, and this for us in a settlement deed or a settlement agreement. When we went to the stevedores, although there was a little bit of a reluctance to give up a member from the gang, in the end, the stevedores membership said, okay, we’ll go with that. It was a reluctant decision, but we wanted to move the negotiations forward to get the sugar money discussion out of the way. Unfortunately, after three days, we went back to the team for the government, and after three days, we could not come to an understanding or any mutual grounds, none of that was able to strike.”

Flowers said that the CWU informed PBL on Saturday of its position and also that it will not continue with dialogue because the union thought that PBL attempted to strip away terms and conditions that are in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Leonora Flowers

“We will not discuss the CBA and its terms. The CBA for us is a sacred document. We signed it and we will abide by that until we go to the CBA negotiations. Needless to say they don’t agree with us. They say we were already agreed, which we were not. I say we’re not agreed until we’re agreed, until we sign a document. We never agreed, we were disagreed to see if it was palatable. We were being asked to reduce the gang from 14 to 13 members. When we sat in the same room, the stevedores said, but we have gangs, we have 17 members, so what happens then? The Port of Belize tried to do that. So if we can’t sit at the table and dialogue with you and negotiate with you in good faith, if we feel that we’re being taken advantage of, it is time to call a halt and that is what we have done.”

Chief Union Representative for the stevedores, Marlon Middleton says the stevedores feel as if though their worth has been trivialized.

Marlon Middleton, Chief Union Representative, Stevedores

“Our members originally had asked us to negotiate a payment of $4.9 million. The other guy, I won’t call any name, the other guy got his fair share and more – $196 million, $45 million of which was payable up front. Now you are telling us that you cannot give us $4.9 million. You broke us down to $1.6. We were willing to accept it. And then now you are telling us that we have to abide and go with what PBL is saying. You are the boss now of PBL, so then be, the boss.”

Meanwhile, Flowers said the position that the board took on behalf of the government was offensive, but the CWU is willing to resume negotiations at anytime.

Leonora Flowers

“The Government of Belize is the largest stakeholder in the Port of Belize, so this offer came from the Government of Belize. They can say otherwise. It came from the Government of Belize to say they will override whatever exists in our CBA. I have never seen overriding a document that offended me so much, and it offended our team. And that was one of the issues that brought us to full stop. We are prepared to commence the negotiation of the new CBA tomorrow. If you are ready, we are ready tomorrow. Let’s not piece meal this. Let’s not cause destruction on our CBA. We can discuss the CBA immediately.”

News Five attempted to get a comment from the Ministry of Labour on this matter, but our efforts were futile. Marion Ali for News Five.

Meanwhile, the C.W.U. and the Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL) have signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement that covers workers employed by CPBL factory and machine shop. The C.B.A. is valid for a period of four years, from 2021 to 2025, provided that no other union obtains representational rights during this time. The main goal of this agreement is to maintain and enhance the positive working relationship between CPBL and C.W.U. It places significant emphasis on safeguarding the welfare and interests of CPBL’s staff.

N.T.U.C.B. Supports Stevedores; P.B.L. Issues Statement

This evening, the Port of Belize Limited issued a three-page press release in which it accuses the C.W.U. of making omissions and misleading statements during its press conference earlier today. P.B.L. says that it is of the view that the C.W.U.’s statements were made to sway public opinion in its favour and impact the course of the negotiations. P.B.L. highlights that there has been no compensation award to stevedores by the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal (ESAT). P.B.L. points out that the tribunal directed both parties to engage in negotiations on the terms of payment. P.B.L. says that in good faith, it made a proposal for a redundancy package in order to amicably resolve the legacy matter. The P.B.L. says that the port is in urgent need of restructuring in order to be a viable entity. The company states that it considers the redundancy package proposal, which the C.W.U. did not accept, was more than fair and reasonable. P.B.L. says that it asked for several changes in the current work practices that it feels are needed for more efficient operations at the facility. It also notes that no additions can be made to the official list of stevedores unless both parties agree and that the number of gangs cannot be increased unless supported by increased cargo and agreed upon by both parties. Meanwhile, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (N.T.U.C.B.) has lent support for the C.W.U. in its current stance against the Government. In a press release of its own, the N.T.U.C.B. says that the C.B.A. negotiation process must remain separate and should be respected as afforded under the Labour laws. The umbrella union says it stands in solidarity with the C.W.U. and the stevedores.

Dog Leads Search Party to Owner’s Badly Decomposed Body

We begin tonight’s newscast with a murder in Bermudian Landing Village. Forty-year-old Shane Baizar was last heard from on Thursday last week. He was reported missing several days lady after efforts to locate him proved futile. This morning, his dog led a search party of relatives and friends to his badly decomposed body inside a shallow grave near his home. It is believed that Baizar knew his killer. This afternoon police hunted down that suspect and shot him to death while attempting to detain him. We will tell you more about that later. But first, we take you to Bermudian Landing Village where News Five’s Paul Lopez spent the morning alongside the search party until Baizar’s body was discovered. Here is that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The badly decomposed body of forty-year-old Bermudian Landing businessman Shane Baizar was discovered in a shallow grave near his home. Baizar resided on a property that spans several acres which he used to take tourists on ecological tours. His cousin, Browning Williams, last heard from him on Thursday evening.

Voice of: Browning Williams, Cousin of Deceased

“I spoke to Shane on Thursday and he told me he then come dah my house. I told him I nuh ready fih come up yet. So, I called him back like minutes to six and he told me he already at Lowes in Ladyville, but I wasn’t at home yet. So I told him go through my boyfriend the home. He told me I just gwen dah the yard and pass through because I have to go home and deal with something. So my cousin call me and told me to ask Shane how much to stay in the room because he have a little resort. I call Shane and he didn’t answer or seen me and Shane is the type of person that even if he send me a text, he always responds back.”

On Saturday, Williams took to social media to seek assistance in locating Baizar, after receiving information that his house had been left open but he was nowhere to be found. On Sunday morning, Williams and Baizar’s sister, Stacy Baizar, visited the Ladyville Police Station to file a missing persons report. His family then organized a search party to canvass his property.

Voice of: Stacy Baizar, Sister of Deceased

“We came up yesterday and a lot of us the family member, we walked the property and looked in some bushes and took the boat down the river and saw nothing and said we were going to come back this morning and tried to find him again.”

Voice of: Browning Williams

“Yesterday when we came to do the search yesterday, this dah after police left, this dah after the forensics left I came and walked to the edge of Shane yard and my foot touched Shane ring and his ring was on the ground covered in blood. I say my God, maybe my family the try show me a sign, that I the yah fam, nuh stop look for me, I am right here.”

Sunday’s search also led to the discovery of a makeshift shed on the property, near the river. The shed is believed to have been used by Baizar’s killer as a hideout, as the suspect was wanted by police for questioning in connection with several other murders. There they discovered clothing, food and a hammock. This morning, a group of relatives and friends from Bermudian Landing assembled in front of Baizar’s home once more.

Voice of: Stacy Baizar

“Basically to meet up out here and try to find him or anymore clues that might lead us to where he might be.”

An hour after they gathered, police officers began to show up on the scene. A team of heavily armed police officers joined a group of residents to search along one of the trails on the property. A second team proceeded to the river bank to conduct searches on water. And, just as that team was working to secure a canoe, a phone call came in with information that the first search party discovered what appeared to be a shallow grave, near one of the unfinished cabanas on the property. The area of interest was discovered by Shadow, Baizar’s dog. Shadow began to dig inside an unfinished septic tank that contained sand and broken branches.

Voice of: Browning Williams

“Yesterday, when we did the search yesterday they called and told us that the vehicle deh dah Cotton Tree. They told us that Shane body deh dah Hatieville dah the bus shed. They mih the do everything to throw us off track from right here weh part we deh.”

Baizar’s pickup truck was discovered in St. Mathews Village on Sunday. Moments after police identified the septic tank as an area of interest, Scenes of Crime personnel arrived at the location. They suited up and proceeded to remove the branches and dirt from inside the unfinished structure. There, they found Baizar’s badly decomposed body, much to the dismay of those who were gathered near the scene.

Paul Lopez

“What do you make of the information that he may have somehow not only known his killer, but that this person may have been hanging around.”

Voice of: Browning Williams

“Shane, I feel he trusted too much people, his circle was too big and everybody know Shane. If you hungry Shane wah feed you, if you need somewhere to stay, Shane will let you stay and I feel like that was his downfall.”

News Five understands that an attempt was made on Baizar’s life two weeks ago in the village. Strangely, this morning someone used his Facebook page to post a Chevy Equinox for sale.

Voice of: Stacy Baizar

“That is the thing that annoyed us because somebody was playing with us and they were posting and you know, but, that’s…”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Suspect in Shane Baizar’s Murder Was Quickly Identified

We also heard from Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, who informed reporters that Cruz Castillo, a man known to police, was being sought for Baizar’s murder. According to ComPol Williams, Castillo was an employee of Baizar. Here is what he had to say.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The family of Mister Baizar had reported him missing on Saturday and since then the police had been extremely busy in rural Belize searching for clues and whatever that may be able to lead the police to where Mr. Baizar had been. We were hoping for the best that he may be found alive but yesterday investigators found traces of blood inside the home and on a wheel barrow. That began to indicate to the police that something fishy went wrong. Again, investigators found the house open and according to accounts it is something that is unusual. So we continued to do our search and we gathered certain information of a person who may have been involved and that led us to Saint Mathews Village where Mr. Baizar’s vehicle was discovered, not too far from the home of the brother of the person we had suspected who I must say at this time is Cruz Castillo. This morning police went back into the area of the Bermudian Landing and they found a shallow grave and inside that shallow grave the decomposed body of Mr. Baizar was found. Scenes of Crime was called and they processed the scene. And, we continue to look for the individual we believe was involved, one Cruz Castillo.”