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The 33rd Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic

Goodnight, and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. As we near the end of Women’s Month, we begin tonight’s coverage with highlights from the thirty-third running of the Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic. Eleven riders lined up at the starting line in San Ignacio. Among them were three Belizeans, including defending champion Kaya Cattouse, four American riders, two Mexicans, a Trinidadian, and a Jamaican rider.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Heading into Central Farm, its Jamaican rider, Lory Sharp, setting the pace. Twenty minutes later, Sharp is still in the lead, followed closely by Trinidadian rider Alexis Ramirez in second place. At this point in the race, Kaya Cattouse is the only Belizean rider keeping up with the main field of lead riders. The other two have fallen behind. In Camalote Village, Sharp has displayed a great deal of endurance and stamina as she continues to lead the charge. LA Sweat’s Elizabeth Stevenson in hot pursuit. These riders have created a gap between themselves and the other riders.They maintained their lead until mile forty, when the chase group caught up with them, led by LA Sweat’s Mia Scarleto.

Mexican rider Julie Aguilar launched an attack just outside of St. Mathews Village. LA Sweat’s Regina Doty immediately rose from her seat in hot pursuit. Well, folks, that was the last the other riders would see of Aguilar and Doty. Here is the main field of riders, two minutes behind the two lead riders. Kaya Cattouse, the only Belizean rider still in the pack, is among this group. Heading into Belize City, it is all Doty and Julin Aguila. With less than half a mile to the finish line, Doty and Aguila turn up the heat for an all-out sprint. And here it is folks, the sprint to the finish line. Regina Doty followed by Julin Aguia.

Regina Doty, Champion, 33rd Women’s Cross Country

“If you race fearful, you are never going to win.You cant race with fear. I was willing to give it all I have. I attacked to see what she had. I attacked and attacked quickly, even after seventy miles. I know what my body is capable of. I was trying to see if she was strong enough, but she didnt want it and I was there to take it.”

Kaya Cattouse, LA Sweat Rider

“Going into it, our game plan was to bring it down to the line for me. We quickly realized that the other team’s focus was on me. Our back up plan was to get one of our other stronger pacers on the road and hopefully they could deliver that W. That is exactly what happened today when we realized we couldn’t get away from them for third place, i launched Liz down the road for that third spot. Belizeans wanted a Belizean win but we came for an LA Sweat win and that is exactly what we got today.”

Kaya Cattouse came in sixth place. From cycling, we move into some basketball action. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks took on the Belize City Defenders. The Sharks had something to prove after being defeated by the Defenders the last time they faced off inside the Belize City Civic Center. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks are on a roll. After defeating the number one seed in the BEBL, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, last week inside the Civic, on Saturday night they went up against the number two seed, the Belize City Defenders. It is safe to say that this is a new Tiger Sharks team we are seeing after also winning their game against the Defenders one hundred and four to seventy points.

The Shark’s number seven, Bobby Athur Williams, played thirty-seven minutes and put up an impressive thirty-three points. That includes three of four from the three-point line and five of eleven two pointers. Williams also banked fourteen of his sixteen free throw attempts. Francis Arana followed behind with eighteen points off the bench, scoring five of his ten two-point attempts and two of his six three-point attempts. He ended the game with eleven assists. Arana was also big on the defensive end, securing five steals for his team on Saturday night. Jihad Wright and Daniel Conorque both finished the game with fifteen points each. What Wright lacked from the arch he made up for with his two-point shots and free throws. Conorque was forty-four percent efficient from the field on Saturday night. We heard from coach Rico Black and Francis Arana following their victory.

Rico Black, Coach, San Pedro Tiger Sharks

“The beginning of the season, it was very difficult to get my players together. We had to transition from San Pedro and come here and we couldn’t get the Civic to work out. So it was very difficult. The opening night you saw we weren’t playing, we weren’t really then we gave our game to the Defenders, the second game. But now that we are working out, odd hours, ten to twelve at nights, but we are making the sacrifice. So we are getting together, the team is believing in themselves. I am letting my bench believe that they can play at this level.”

Francis Arana, San Pedro Tiger Sharks

“Well as the season goes on we are gradually getting our chemistry together. SO now we are learning to play together much better. And we are seeing the chemistry everytime we come out and put in the work together and it is showing on the court now.”

The Tiger Sharks are now second in the league’s standings. Well folks, that’s all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

Notorious Gang Figure Murdered in Belize City

Belize City police are on high alert tonight following the fatal shooting of gang figure forty-four-year-old Elwin Lewis. The notorious street figure is considered an elder in the underground world in Southside Belize City. He is considered one of the leaders of the George Street Gang. He was shot several times near Gwen Lizarraga School. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he died. Tonight, police are expecting retaliation.

Opposition Leader Confirms “Yellowman’s” Termination

Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, confirmed today that the U.D.P.’s secretariat has terminated Brian “Yellowman” Audinett from the party. Audinett ran as a U.D.P. councillor candidate on March sixth in Belize City. Only two weeks later, news of his termination surfaced. Now, Barrow did not want to discuss the grounds of his termination or the details of the Deed of Settlement that he reportedly requested Audinett sign. However, News Five understands that Audinett made serious allegations against the party leader, which he placed in writing and addressed to the party’s chairman. When we raised it with Barrow, he threatened to sue.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Six That is absolutely untrue, and anyone that publishes such untruth will be sued.”

Paul Lopez

“We are giving you are right of response.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“Did you not hear what I just said? Let me repeat. That is absolutely untrue. That is defamatory, slanderous and anyone that repeats such defamatory and slanderous material will be taken to court.”

Reporter

“So what is the status with Yellowman as it relates to the party?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“He was terminated by the secretary general?”

Paul Lopez

“What were the grounds on which he was terminated, if you don’t mind divulging that information?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“That is an internal matter. I will not be like other people who wish to ventilate our internal matters in public, but he was terminated there is no denying that.”

News Five understands that Barrow is seeking legal redress against The Belize Times Newspaper.

P.U.P. Criticises U.D.P. Leader of Yellowman’s Termination

And, while the leader of the opposition chose to leave Audinette’s termination for his internal party mechanism to handle, Henry Charles Usher, the Area Representative for Fort George, heavily criticized Barrow over it. Now, the termination of a political party’s ground soldier has nothing to do with the budget debate, nor do these occurrences often make the news. But, in this case, Usher spoke to the deed of settlement that Audinett is being asked to sign. Here is what he said.

Henry Charles Usher, Area Representative, Fort George

“He said he didn’t get any sleep, but the real reason he didn’t get any sleep or couldn’t sleep was because he knows they are coming for him. Yellowman is only the first and no deed of settlement will save you. Imagine this, the leader of the opposition is so afraid of a member of the UDP that he is forcing him to sign a deed of settlement that prevents Yellow form going into Mesopotemia. It prevents Yellow from talking about him or talking about the UDP publicly or privately in perpetuity, in perpetuity Mr. Speaker. Just two and a half weeks ago he contested the elections in Belize City on behalf of the United Democratic Party. He lost significantly, but nevertheless he is a UDP and what is the leader of the opposition offering Yellow for a lifetime of silence, seven thousand, five hundred dollars, half down and then yon uh get nothing if you talk. The member from Mesopotemia…”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Mr. Speaker on a point of order, this is not relevant to the budget at all, this man is talking about UDP internal politics. What does that have to do with the budget?”

U.D.P. to Hold NPC Meeting on Saturday

The United Democratic Party has scheduled a National Party Council meeting for Saturday. According to the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the meeting’s agenda primarily focuses on the party’s performance in the March sixth municipal elections. When asked if his leadership would be a matter for discussion during that meeting, Barrow said that idea is ridiculous and that he is not concerned about that.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Tomorrow is our National Party Council meeting. It is a postmortem so that we can reflect on the activities leading to March sixth and the results and take aways so that we can go and do far better in the general elections.”

Reporter

“Do you have any concerns that the party might turn against you following the results of the municipal elections?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“We had zero municipalities before. We captured one. So on a statistical perspective that is an increase. So, we know that we did better in PG. there was a recount we won, then there was a recount, we won that by ten votes and lost by twenty-five. So we are taking that matter to court. We have made significant gains in Belmopan City. We lost in the general by 2100 and this year we came as close as two hundred. That shows we are headed in the right direction. I have no concern about my status. We just have to plan the way forward and concentrate our efforts and learn from whatever omissions, lacks may have taken place on March sixth and build on the gains.”

Man Wanted for Murder Hands Self In; Arraigned

The man who was on the run since Saturday, when thirty-year-old Damion Baptist was murdered between miles eight and nine in Ladyville, has been captured. Thirty-five-year-old Jamie Young was arrested and charged on Thursday with Baptist’s murder. The construction worker was charged with aggravated assault against Amber Dawson. He reportedly surrendered himself to police. In the presence of his attorney, Dickie Bradley, Young was read the two criminal offenses. No plea was taken from him due to the nature of the offenses, and he was denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Dawson told News Five this week that she had broken up with Young last year and that ever since she started to date Baptist in February and Young became aware of it, he began to harass and threaten them. She said that she had made two police reports against him in that space of time and that she was in the process of taking out a restraining order against him. They were due to appear in court on Wednesday to go through that process, but Baptist was murdered on Saturday. Dawson explained how the incident unfolded on the Philip Goldson Highway and how Young had initially tried to run his truck head-on into their car near Maxboro. When Baptist swerved away and continued towards the direction of Ladyville, Young turned around and set chase, taking out a gun and aiming at the car. When heavy traffic didn’t allow Baptist to proceed any further, Dawson said Young got out of his truck, walked up to the passenger side of the car, and shot Baptist. The car careened off the highway and slammed into a lamppost on the other side of the street. An ambulance that was passing at the same time transported Baptist to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Young will be taken back to court on May thirtieth.

Inmates Complain of Sexual Harassment Behind Bars

Tonight, three Belize City men were provided full disclosure for a 2023 murder. Today, two of the three men told the court that they had been sexually harassed while in prison. To make matters worse, they say they have not been afforded legal representation. The sitting magistrate told the men that she would further address the matter on their next court date, May third, if the situation has not improved. One of the men who says he has been sexually violated sought legal advice from Attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley in court today. Here’s what he had to say.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney

“What he has said to me is a frightening and disturbing matter, and I will take it up directly with the chief executive officer of the prison department, and then thereafter, I will be able to give you more details, but this is a very, very serious matter, and we can’t allow that kind of thing to be happening. Three persons appeared in the magistrate court today. For which the others are nodding in support of the complaint. That person has asked in court if he could be removed from where he is in the prison because he’s been sexually assaulted. It’s a very serious matter.”

Prison C.E.O. Virgilio Murillo told News Five that he is not aware of the allegations.

Patrick Faber Chides Briceño Administration’s Reliance on IMF Report

Patrick Faber, the U.D.P.’s Area Representative for Collet, chided the prime minister for relying heavily on the I.M.F.’s recent report on Belize’s economic performance. During his budget presentation, Prime Minister John Briceño spent a great deal of time praising his administration’s economic performance based on the I.M.F.’s report and projections. Well, Faber argued that the I.M.F.’s report does not validate the Briceño administration’s policies towards long-term growth and social equity.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“While the prime minister attempted skillfully to present a narrative, and I have to say attempted, because everybody knows that teleprompter and speech writer does not help the prime minister, the presentation is always still very miserable. I will admit that this time it got a little bit better. So I am suggesting he practice every chance in this house, bring the teleprompter more regularly so when the elections come around he will do a damn good concession speech when his party goes home. He attempted to skillfully present a narrative with optimism. He cited the IMF’s recent review and he lauded the economic achievements under his administration. It is imperative that we dissect these accomplishments with a critical eye and broader perspective. He placed significant emphasis on the IMF’s pronouncements, suggesting that it is an independent assessment of the administration’s accomplishments. Yet, it is essential to underscore that reliance on the IMF evaluation, especially when it is aligned with the government’s narrative, does not validate the effectiveness of these policies in fostering long-term sustainable growth and social equity for the Belizean people.”

Patrick Faber Addresses Inflation, Unemployment, and G.D.P.

Faber went on to address matters concerning unemployment, the debt-to-G.D.P. ratio, and inflation. He contended that the government’s statistics are disconcerted from the reality on the ground, as far as the price of goods and services is concerned. Faber also argued that the unemployment rate does not reflect the truth of what Belizeans are experiencing. Here is how he puts it:

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“The Prime Minister’s speech proudly cites a reduction in unemployment. He said it has gone down from fourteen percent in 2020 to three point four percent in 2023. He is heralding this monumental achievement of his administration. Comparing these figures without acknowledging the change in the calculation methodology by the SIB is misleading and deceptive. It is, to be frank, an apples-to-orange comparison. When I searched the IMF page, the World Bank page, and I didn’t find anywhere where the debt to GDP ratio rose to a hundred and thirty-three percent. But, it is convenient again for you, on that side to paint a picture that is completely wrong. The highest I found was a hundred and three percent. The IMF page said, no data submitted. The Prime Minister claims that there is a decrease in inflation form six point three percent in 2022 and that it will drop further to three point one percent and he said it will go even lower, to one point three percent in the medium term. I was telling my friend from Caribbean Shores, the minister of the police, that this reality is different from the reality on the streets. But here we go again; you can talk figures all you want but the Belizean people will tell you, if you listen to them on the ground, if you are listening to them, you will know that what you say doesn’t exist. You will know that when you tell them that the prices for goods and services will go down, there has to be a disconnection.”

PM Was Prepared to End Budget Debate in Absence of Opposition

At the start of day three of the budget debate, there was no member of the opposition present inside the National Assembly chamber. Opposition Leader Moses Barrow was present at the start of the debate to deliver his address. He then left. U.D.P.’s Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber was present at the start of day two, but he too left early in the debate. Notably, Hugo Patt and Tracy Panton are dealing with personal and family matters. No one expects the U.D.P.’s Queen Square Area Representative, Denise Barrow, to appear. This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that if opposition members are not present when Pickstock Area Representative Anthony Mahler finishes his presentation, then the budget debate will conclude. But Faber and Barrow did, in fact, arrive moments later. Here is how that played out.

Prime Minister John Briceno

“For the past two days, I don’t think if the opposition has spent combined two or three hours in this house, I think that is a lot. And I see that they are not here again. I want to put the opposition on notice that after the member from Pickstock finishes his presentation, if they are not here, then it is best we just put this debate to an end.”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“We have now endured I believe a full day and half, endure yes, because you feel that because the members on this honorable house, if they would focus on how many members are out or in the backroom, but wherever we are we listen to the proceedings. That is why my friend from Freetown, when I arrive on Wednesday I could tell him all he said. But you are attempting to intentionally paint a picture that the opposition is delinquent. I will show you delinquency now. Let us see who is delinquent. For you to get up and say you will close the debate, after you had us listen all yesterday to all PUP presentation, and you know it is only myself and the leader of the opposition, because, we have already given the explanation for other members. So if I would have gone on Wednesday or Thursday, there would be nobody to rebut you. So let us get it on.”