Prior to the hijacking of the plane, Akinyela Taylor was involved in several concerning incidents that attracted the police’s attention. Earlier this month, Taylor caused a disturbance at the Philip Goldson International Airport when he attempted to board a United Airlines flight to the U.S. without a ticket, prompting security to remove him. After the incident, Taylor tried to enter Mexico but was denied entry there and back into Belize. Police later found him hiding in an abandoned building in the Corozal Free Zone. Officers confronted him but released him, which has raised concerns among the public about whether the hijacking could have been prevented if Taylor had been detained. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, responded to that criticism earlier today.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Taylor first arriving to the country through the Philip Goldson International Airport. He subsequently left the country and may have gone over to the Mexican side. Apparently when he went to Mexico, he did not pass for immigration, so there was no stump. From immigration to show that he had gone over to Mexico and vice versa, from Mexico coming back into Belize. And so based on that, immigration had denied him entry into the country at the northern border. In a situation like that, where a person is refused entry, what happens is that person is sent back to where they’re coming from. If it was a situation where they were coming through the PGIA, what immigration would do, they would issue an RLL- refuse leave to land. You would then be put on a next flight back out of the country. In this case, it’s a land border. So what happens is that he’s not allowed entry. So he went back over to the Mexican side. I think sometime on Sunday, not Sunday, I think perhaps Wednesday night he was seen in the free zone again, to be in a free zone. If you’re coming from Mexico, you don’t pass through immigration. You would know the immigration station is after free zone. So once you are a tourist from Mexico or whatever, you can have access to the free zone without immigration authorization. So he was found there. The matter was reported to Mr. Rosado. Mr. Rosado had directed the police that there was no offense committed because he was in the free zone area and he would not have reached immigration. So not even an immigration offense would’ve been committed. And so based on that, he had said that the person did not commit any offense. And I totally agree with Mr. Rosado. And any detention then would’ve been an unlawful detention.”
An investigation is currently underway into a suspected case of visa fraud. On February third, a traveler arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport and presented a fake Belizean visa to an immigration officer. The traveler has been identified as twenty-three-year-old Lazar Krivokapic from Montenegro in the Balkans. Krivokapic, who arrived on a COPA Airlines flight, handed over a travel document that lacked standard security features. Further checks revealed that Krivokapic had previously been denied a Belizean visa. Outside the arrival section at the airport, another individual was waiting to receive him. This person, identified as a resident of Camalote Village, presented a receipt for the previously rejected visa application. News Five has learned that the Special Branch of the Belize Police Department is leading the investigation. News Five also spoke with the Immigration C.E.O., Tanya Santos, for more details.
On the phone: Tanya Santos, C.E.O., Ministry of Immigration
“The individual came in on a flight on Monday evening and presented his documents to the immigration officers and the nationality requires a visa to enter Belize. So the passport was viewed and the visa that was in the passport, the immigration officers noted right away that it looked suspicious and on closer inspection, it was determined to be a fraudulent, appear to be a fraudulent visa. So they reviewed it a little closer and discussed it a little further and transferred and did some interviews with the traveler and eventually included Special Branch in these interview processes.”
The Belize Immigration Department is investigating an alleged case of visa fraud, leading to criminal charges against a Belizean consultant from the Cayo District. The accused, forty-nine-year-old Craig Elliott Martin, who holds dual citizenship in Belize and Jamaica, claims to run his own consulting business in Camalote Village. This morning, around ten a.m., Craig was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a charge of fabricating a permit. He appeared before a Senior Magistrate, alongside his attorney, Orson “OJ” Elrington, and pleaded not guilty. The allegations state that on January seventeenth, 2025, in Camalote Village, Craig fabricated a document to help Lazar Krivokapic enter Belize without a visa. Head of Prosecution, Alifah Elrington, represented the crown and requested that Craig surrender all his travel documents due to his dual citizenship. Despite his Jamaican passport being expired for over twenty years, the court granted Craig bail with strict conditions, including surrendering all travel documents and reporting to the Belmopan Police Station every Friday. Craig’s next court date is set for April fourth, 2025, in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court. After his arraignment, Craig was served with another charge related to aiding in the fabrication of an immigration offense. He pleaded not guilty to this charge as well. Since both charges stem from the same circumstances, his initial bail conditions remained. Craig was able to post bail by late afternoon after surrendering his travel documents and securing Belizean sureties. Attorney OJ Elrington spoke with the media after the arraignment.
Earlier this week, Jamaican tourist Christopher McIntyre and his friend Sheila Williams claimed that McIntyre was assaulted by police after immigration officials denied him entry into Belize. On Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams dismissed the allegations, saying McIntyre was faking it. However, today McIntyre’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez, returned to our office, insisting that his client was indeed assaulted and will take the case to court. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
On December thirtieth, Jamaican traveler Christopher McIntyre was denied entry into Belize because he couldn’t provide an address for his stay. His friend, Sheila Williams, an American who invited him, explained that she mistakenly put the address in her name. McIntyre claimed he was detained for several days and assaulted by the police during that time. He shared his side of the story with us.
Christopher McIntyre
Christopher McIntyre, Jamaican Tourist (File: January 8, 2025)
“When they had me detained, they said they were gonna have me sent back on the third of January. So on the third of January, they made the flight miss me. So when they had the flight miss me, I said to them I wanted to go home and such forth and instead of them make me feel better, they pulled me on the ground, the immigration made the police pull me on the ground, hit me on my face right here and then hit me in my ribs. And they tell me like, shut up, and relax, shut up, like I shouldn’t speak. And, you know, I didn’t have any rights.”
But on Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams denied McIntyre’s claims, accusing him of being disruptive instead. Here are the arguments for and against the assault case from Williams and McIntyre’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I think he’s more like from Hollywood because he really put off a show. Following the interview I saw that he did along with his attorney I tasked an investigation into the matter and that was done during which they were able to retrieve the video footages from the airport. They also interviewed and recorded statements from a number of persons who were around. And I can tell you, I personally saw the video footages that were retrieved and it clearly shows him, the video don’t have any audio, but it shows him acting boisterous. You can the gesticulations that he was doing clearly indicating that he was being boisterous. The police, as far as we’re concerned, exercised extreme care, extreme caution, and applied our policy in terms of de-escalation in dealing with the matter.”
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Christopher McIntyre
“After saying nobody touched him, he said, he was picked up to some extent. I think he did mention drag before. Now, look at the video, and I’m saying this to the public too. Look at the video. He was held by his shirt in this way and dragged into the room. His allegations are that he was dragged into the room. He was slapped and punched while he was in there. The commissioner’s further words is that nobody could confirm that. That him being beaten. Did the commissioner say flatly, we deny that and nobody confirmed. He said nobody could confirm. Okay, fine, but nobody denied it either. Even in his alleged boisterous behavior, he attempted to aggress no one. He was just behaving like a child out of control, maybe, if you want to say that, but he did not attempt to aggress anyone.”
Rodriguez points out that medical evidence supports McIntyre’s claim of being assaulted by the authorities.
Norman Rodriguez
“I can confirm that he was taken to see the doctor at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and he was only taken there because while his allegations are that while he was at the hotel after being beaten, another officer came and threatened to hit him again. That is when – from a police officer. His allegations are that when a senior officer from the Ladyville Police Station went there and said, but you see the man there in a pain. Carry the man to the hospital tomorrow, that is the reason why he’s saying that he was taken to see a doctor.”
Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in on the matter.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We welcome any Jamaican coming to Belize. I mean, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, we all belong to Curriculum, and we have the free movement of people. And we’ve had hundreds that have come as tourists to spend time in our beautiful country and to enjoy the people and the culture and the food. But there have been many instances when, um, we’ve had people in this issue, Jamaicans, um, that would come to Belize and say they come on holiday and then after that, then they disappear. They go across the border on the way to the United States. We have, uh, a responsibility to ensure that that is kept to a minimum. And, and it’s unfortunate that, um, that, um, based on what was presented to, to the, to the department or to the officers, they felt that, um, um, that he would not meet the criteria of having enough funds and to have the, um, or the, the hotel or where is it that he was going to stay. Yeah. Thank you. Based on that, that decision was made.”
Rodriguez says his client has since left Belize, but that the matter remains before the courts.
Norman Rodriguez
“The Commissioner of Police cannot say this did not happen. I cannot say it happened. The court will decide ultimately when the evidence is brought before the court.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, so even though he’s not here, you’re still representing him?”
Norman Rodriguez
“Yes, I still represent him. And once the instructions remain that we will proceed, I will pursue it because that is my duty as an attorney.”
A Jamaican man is planning to sue the government after he claims immigration officials assaulted him. Christopher McIntyre arrived in Belize on New Year’s Eve for his first visit, encouraged by his friend Sheila Williams, who has been here several times. However, his trip turned into a nightmare. He was denied entry because his travel documents didn’t meet immigration requirements and was detained for a couple of days. When he was supposed to be sent back to Jamaica, he missed his flight and alleges he was assaulted. Sheila Williams visited News Five today and explained that the mix-up happened because she mistakenly put his hotel address in her name. When she tried to clarify the situation with immigration authorities, they were rude to her.
Christopher McIntyre
Christopher McIntyre, Denied Entry to Belize, Assaulted
“I came in Belize on the 29 of December. I came in Belize the 29th of December for my birthday. My birthday is December 31st, but unfortunately, I got detained by the immigration. The reason for the detention, they said I didn’t have a reservation in my name. And the next thing, when they had me detained, they said they were gonna have me sent back on the 3rd of January. So on the 3rd of January, they made the flight miss me. So when they had the flight miss me, I said to them I wanted to go home and such forth and instead of them make me feel better, they pulled me on the ground, the immigration made the police pull me on the ground, hit me on my face right here and then hit me in my ribs. And they tell me like, shut up, shut up, and relax, shut up, like I shouldn’t speak. And, you know, I didn’t have any rights. I came here to just meet with family and such forth in Belize and once I got detained, this is the treatment I got.”
Sheila Williams
Sheila Williams, Friend of Christopher McIntyre
“He arrived, and myself and a friend of mine, who’s Belizean, Sheldon were outside. And I said, this is taking too long, so Sheldon went up and asked the officer and they said, well, he’s being detained inside. So, the officer went in. I said, can I see him? I mean, he’s never left Jamaica. He’s got to be scared. So they did bring me in and let me talk to him. And they said it’s the Air B and Bs. I was on the phone trying to get them to change the reservation to Christopher’s name.”
Marion Ali
“They explained to you that that was the issue?”
Sheila Williams
“That was the issue and then this woman, she said she was a supervisor. She came and she says, time’s up. We don’t have enough time for that. She pulled me aside and she basically told me I’m American. I have no rights in Belize to invite anybody to Belize because I am not a Belizean citizen. And I said, well, I’ve got my friend outside. He’s a Belizean citizen. Can he speak? And she says, the matter is done. You need to leave and go back outside. He’s being detained.”
As we mentioned earlier, McIntyre is from Jamaica. Many Jamaicans use the freedom granted to CARICOM travelers to move between member countries and eventually make their way to the US. However, McIntyre insists this wasn’t his intention. He’s now lawyered up, and his attorney, Norman Rodriguez, is ready to fight the case. Rodriguez pointed out that this isn’t the first time he’s had to step in for tourists mistreated upon arrival at the P.G.I.A. He believes his client was assaulted to silence him.
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Christopher McIntyre
“This was something that was done to shut him up because he was shouting, I want to go home, I want to go home. He did nothing wrong and I advised him, comply with them, don’t do anything so that they can bring any other charge or any charge on you. Okay. All right. Um, and so he has left now? No, he’s still detained. He’s still here. He’s still here. But he was supposed to be returned to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital today for him to make an, for him to make an application for the records. of his visit from the alleged beating that he received, the hitting in his ribs. And now he’s supposed to be taken to make a report. He had been calling out for that. And like I said, I’m hoping that they do not try to spirit him away, allow him to make his report, and let the Belize Police Department do what it should, investigate, and charge him there to charge. That is what he wants, right? But if he’s not the one to stay and he, he has already voiced he wants to leave, but he has retained you to represent him. Then where would he be staying? They usually keep them at the global village hotel until their departure. My understanding is that Copa airlines would normally cover the expenses for hotel and food up to a certain point. And then My statement to the Belize Immigration Department because they’ve tried to get me to cover the expenses after a certain time and I’ve said to them, You’re the one who have this person detained. Have they done so in this case? Well, today would be the day that test will come, but in the last, the last three people that I represented, I totally did not pay any attention to them.”
A Brazilian traveler who arrived in Belize with just sixteen dollars in cash was sent back home, even though they had proof of accommodations. This situation raises the question: was the visitor being profiled by immigration officers upon arrival? Prime Minister Briceño addressed this issue earlier today. Here’s what he had to say.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I’ve asked the CEO to give me a briefing because I knew you would probably ask me that one. Basically what has happened, there is a policy, they’ve set up, certain criteria for when somebody is coming in. We’ve had a number of instances when people from Central and from South America would come to Belize in an attempt to get to the United States. They have seen that our borders are fairly porous with Mexico and so they think [that it’s easier] fly to Belize and then from PGIA to the Mexican border, to the west or the north, it’s an hour and a half, two hours, they’re there. If they land in Guatemala City they have hours of traveling to do, so I think they find it easier to go through. I’m not suggesting that this person wanted to do the same, but based on the past there’s a certain profile that our officers look at. So when the officers saw that profile, the officer brought it up to the port commander, that commander consulted with another port commander and they all came to the conclusion that that person did not meet the criteria, that that person not be allowed to come into Belize. The persons were understanding and we handled it very professionally and the person is welcome to come back once they could satisfy the immigration officers that they are coming here for holiday.”
Thousands of Central American migrants departed southern Mexico on November 20, seeking to reach the US border before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.
The group aims to avoid potential immigration restrictions and take advantage of the CBP-ONE asylum system while it remains in place. Trump has pledged to enforce stricter immigration policies and mass deportations upon taking office, fuelling urgency among the migrants.
The caravan is requesting free movement through Mexico to facilitate their journey north. However, as seen with past caravans, many participants may disperse before reaching the US border.
President-elect Donald J. Trump has vowed to implement sweeping immigration measures, including slashing both legal and illegal immigration and ramping up deportations from Day 1 of his presidency. These promises have sparked widespread panic among immigrant communities, with many racing to secure their status before the crackdown begins.
Immigration lawyers report being overwhelmed as foreign-born residents flood their offices and jam phone lines. Nonprofits hosting information sessions are seeing record attendance, while immigrants take urgent steps to protect themselves. Those with green cards are rushing to apply for citizenship, while individuals with tenuous legal status are filing for asylum to shield themselves under current protocols. Some couples are expediting marriages to qualify for green card applications.
Trump’s hardline rhetoric echoes his first term, during which he deported approximately 1.5 million people. This time, his top adviser, Stephen Miller, has proposed mass detention centres as “staging areas” for large-scale deportations. Trump’s plans also include workplace raids and targeting individuals with criminal records or outstanding deportation orders.
Rodriguez mentioned that right after his clients were detained, COPA Airline was covering their food and stay at the Global Village Hotel in Ladyville. However, one of the immigration officers who handled their case reached out to him, concerned that the meals weren’t being delivered on time. Rodriguez sees this as a potential lawsuit since his clients are under state custody.
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-Law
“They’re being held by the state. Um, at the last time was Global Village Hotel. Yes, but I know that the, that the, at that point, it was the, the airline Cooper. Which took responsibility for the accommodation and the food. The immigration officer have made several attempts to get me to pay that, pay for the hotel accommodation, pay for the food. They come here almost every morning and tell me that they need breakfast and I tell them, you are the one have them detained. You are responsible for their welfare. So if anything goes wrong, you will have to answer to the court.”
Rodriguez shared that one of his clients has instructed him to sue the government for any losses he incurs back in Jamaica due to his detention in Belize. This could cover everything from lost wages or even his job, to any expenses he racks up as a result.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-Law
“There is an indication that these people in them to pursue any part of the due process for remedies available to them. But we needed to do this application in order for them to have their day in court for the court to make it if they want the court makes that decision. In fact, in the application, in every civil application, which this is one for each of them, there is a part that says any other orders that the court being tricked, so the court can make certain orders against the state once it agrees with the application that the immigration department acted improperly or wrongfully. There was a flurry of action by senior members of the immigration department during this time. And I am saying there was no need for that. These were simple, simply, or simple applications for permission to visit the lease as visitors and tourists. There was no need for them to appear. So it says something to these individuals and they feel that they’re being targeted. And for what reason? Nobody can say at this point.”
