In mid-2023, a complaint of sexual harassment found its way to the B.D.F. Commandant’s desk. It was a complaint against a B.D.F. officer. Today, Loria brought us up to speed with how that matter has been dealt with. He said that he has dealt with the case and that it is now with the Security Services Commission for a final decision.
Cmdr. Azariel Loria, Brigadier-General, B.D.F
“I cannot talk much on that because it’s still a live case, but we have dealt with the situation. We have done our recommendations to the security services, so it’s incumbent on them to review the findings, the recommendation, and agree or disagree with it. It’s a sexual harassment case involving an officer. I would leave it at that.”
Earlier this month, we reported that the B.D.F. discovered an illegal road beingbuilt within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The road was located south of Rio Blanco, about a kilometer into Belize. Today, B.D.F. Commander, Brigadier-General Azariel Loria told News Five that the military has taken a few steps since the road was discovered.
Cmdr. Azariel Loria, Brigadier-General, B.D.F
“They were trying to access the creek and what we understand too is that they were pushing that road so that they could continue with their cattle-rearing. And other information that we got is that some Guatemalans, they wanted to subdivide that area into lots and sell it among them. We have patrols there now to prevent that. We have sent also that information to the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security and [we’re] asking for verification from the Organization of the American States. That’s where we are right now on that road.”
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recently received a new CT Scan machine after ten years without that critical service being offered at the facility. Now that it has the machine, K.H.M.H. is providing that service at a much lower cost than at the various private medical institutions, but it’s not without criticism. Earlier today, C.E.O. Chandra Cansino gave the media access to the diagnostic X-ray scanner and briefly discussed its acquisition.
“As you know, we have officially received and started to operate the new CT Scan machine and we are extremely elated, particularly from the perspective of the patient and the doctors, because we are now able to perform that level of service that we needed to do a long time ago. This is a big win for the patients and the staff because now the patients don’t need to go outside of the hospital to get tested and also the doctors now have an additional diagnostic tool that is at a very high level that would enable them to make better diagnosis, prescribe better treatment and we have better results.”
Reporter
“Can you talk about the cost of the new service to patients?”
Chandra Cansino
“The new service varies. I think if you’re ever, which I hope you will never, do a CT Scan, it varies from a simple CT to this machine can do some very high tech operations and so right now what we call a basic CT would be between three hundred and three hundred and fifty dollars, depending on where you are doing the CT. That’s without contrast, and then with contrast which is with a dye that enables the doctor to see a little bit more, would be between three hundred and fifty and four hundred dollars.”
During our time with her, Chief Executive Officer Chandra Cansino also responded to criticism about the acquisition of the machine, as well as its placement at the K.H.M.H., here in Belize City.
Isani Cayetano
“How do you respond to the comments that were made by another medical practitioner to another media house yesterday regarding the CT-Scan and its placement here at the KHMH?”
Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., K.H.M.H.
“For us, our perspective is from a public service perspective. Access to quality healthcare is actually a part of poverty alleviation and so why not? Why shouldn’t the regular, normal man and woman off the streets of Belize City have access to such a superior service. And so, maybe that’s a private sector perspective. From a public sector perspective, we are extremely happy that everybody in Belize will have access to these services at an extremely affordable price.”
Reporter
“Their argument was also that while this CT-Scan here, the other public hospitals don‘t have one and that those persons from Corozal, Toledo and Dangriga, they have to travel all the way here to be able to get this service, as opposed to getting a less expensive CT Scan and placing them in all of the public hospitals.
Chandra Cansino
“Well remember, Karl Heusner is the only tertiary institution in Belize and so we, our concern is the provision of care from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Indeed, the ministry can explore options that were suggested but there are many things that go along with purchasing a CT.”
Tonight, a family is turning to the public to plead for assistance in saving twelve-year-old Jameer Lodge’s life. The standard five student was diagnosed with encephalitis, a brain inflammation that led to a rapid decline in his health, at the beginning of March. He has since been sent to Merida, where he is making a slow recovery, but the family has amassed a hospital bill of over ninety thousand dollars, and as his treatment is nowhere near its end, the bill is only growing. We spoke with a few of Jameer’s family members earlier today to hear how they are handling his treatment. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been just over two weeks since twelve-year-old Jameer Lodge was diagnosed with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that leads to several symptoms such as fever, seizures, loss of consciousness, and loss of motor control. What started out as a headache for Jameer, resulted in complete loss of movement in his body and ultimately, hospitalization. Jameer’s aunt, Kimberly Garcia, explained that while progress is being made in his condition, it’s a slow process.
Kimberly Garcia
Kimberly Garcia, Aunt of Patient
“Jameer is twelve years old. He’s a student of Saint Joseph Primary School and he’s been seeking medical treatment in Merida for encephalitis. And COVID nineteen positive earlier. So that’s what he’s getting treated for right now with Jameer’s condition. He’s stable right now, but he has a long way to go. He’s not able to talk because he’s incubated, but we’ve been seeing slight movements from him. So, it’s a very slow process. It’s a very slow process and we expect to see more movements from him, a lot more treatments. We have a long way to go with his medical treatment and that is why we’re here to seek assistance for him.”
Garcia said that everything happened so suddenly, the family was not prepared for such a large hospital bill. A debt, that has only been growing.
Kimberly Garcia
“This happened all of a sudden, and everything has been moving so fast. In regards to funds, I mean we’re pulling together as a family. Our friends here and abroad have been helping us significantly. But like I said, it’s very expensive. The treatment and the one here was costly, but the one in Merida is what’s just the medication alone, It’s over forty thousand dollars.”
Jameer’s other aunt, Rosalie Lodge, explained that Jameer’s medication, which is vital for his recovery, is a primary contributor to the significance of the bill because the dosages are administered according to the patient’s weight. According to them, Jameer needs about twenty-eight bottles, which cost around two thousand dollars each.
Jameer Lodge
Kimberly Garcia
“They’re mounting very rapidly. The medication alone for the inflammation on his brain is costing us almost forty-seven thousand. And that’s just for one medication. The doctor, he stands by that medication and we’re seeing the improvements because he left Belize unresponsive and he was unresponsive for over a week and it was just last week, Wednesday, after he started getting the medications Sunday evening, Wednesday, we started to see a little movement from him. He started twitching his eyes and stuff like that, but like we said the medication is very costly. Our bill, we’re over ninety thousand as of today because the hospital bill as well was over forty thousand and then medication is over forty thousand.”
According to his family, Jameer is a bright child and has hopes to go to Saint John’s College when he graduates and has a passion for cooking, music, and mechanical work.
Jameer Lodge
Kimberly Garcia
“Jameer deserves a fighting chance. He’s a sweet humble, caring, helpful young man. He has a lot to accomplish in this world. We are fighting for him. He, in the evenings after school, he would go along with my brother, he does he likes to trade as well. His dad is an auto mechanic as well. In the evening, he goes after school, he helps my brother. He could change a spark plug on his own. He could do, assist with brake suspension, brake pads. All sorts of thing, he’s twelve years old, but he’s wise beyond his age, he walks around with his own little cookbook and he knows how to make flour tortilla, johnny cake, waffles, sometimes he gets up in the morning, he surprises parents with breakfast, he’s very ambitious and business minded at a young age, so we know that our nephew, he could do wonders in this world.”
They said that they have reached out to as many avenues as they could for support, including businesses such as Santiago Castillo Limited and Grace Kennedy, which will both be donating a basket to raffle. And while they have received tremendous assistance, they are imploring the public to further aid them in their cause. Garcia said that this process has been hard on Jameer’s parents, Leila Gracia and Joel Lodge, but the family and community have been a great support to them and their son.
Kimberly Garcia
“So we’re trying our very best and we’re just appealing to the public to help in whatever way. He’s the only child for his parents. They do everything together. They sit at night, they eat together. Phones are barred from the table so they could have their quality time together with each other. They go to church. So, we could just imagine how. they feel and what they’re going through as well. Our family, the larger Garcia family were very close. We’re very close family. And that is what is getting us through this. The strong family support. We come together both families and we’re doing what It is, we could do, whatever possible because our nephew deserves a fighting chance. And so, we’re just asking the public, if they could give whatever smile, it doesn’t matter. Every, every cent comes at this point in time, and like I said, people have been helping and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It’s very. It’s amazing the amount of people that has reached out to us, Belize have some wonderful people. I’m telling you, it’s love. Belize is love.”
With World Meteorological Day just three days away, the National Met Service has already begun to celebrate. Today, hundreds of children from primary schools across the country visited their compound in Ladyville to take part in the various presentations held at the World Meteorological Day Fair. This year, Belize celebrates under the theme, “At the Frontline of Climate Action”. We stopped by to learn more about the event and its activities. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Every year, on March twenty-third, countries around the world join in the observation of World Meteorological Day. It is meant to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950. This year’s theme highlights the very important role that weather and climate information play in advancing sustainable development goals and reducing the impacts of extreme weather and climate-related events on societies across the globe. Michael Holtz, a weather observer at the National Meteorological Service, gave us some information about the importance of the event.
Michael Holtz
Michael Holtz, Weather Observer, NMSB
“World Met Day is on March twenty-third, we’re celebrating a little bit earlier, but it’s about exposing the kids into the weather, how we get information from the weather, how that might be useful to them, and give them a little bit more insight about the rain, the weather, and So for the types of instruments we use and just to have them build up an interest in case they want to come work here work For a mutual job service and so they have a deeper understanding of science and how it works.”
Holtz said that the fair displayed a host of activities and informational booths for the kids to visit where they learned about the MET’s automatic weather stations, radar, and weather balloons. Around five hundred children attended the event, with some hailing from as far as Caye Caulker. Marina Chimilio explained why she thought it was important to make the visit to the fair along with her students.
Marina Chimilio
Marina Chimilio, Teacher, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“I believe that it’s important for kids to be a part of these kind of fairs. Because they could use it in their science lesson and get to learn more and put it into practice. I want them to learn more about the satellite. When they came, they asked, Miss, what is that big ball there? And we went and asked a gentleman and he said that after the tour that they will know more about it.”
Britney Gordon
And you’re hoping to implement some of the things that they learn here today into their science lessons?”
Marina Chimilio
“Yes ma’am.”
Speaking with a few of Chimilio’s students, we learned what they gleaned from the presentations.
Amaya Tun
Amaya Tun, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“I learned that the sun recorder records how many, I don’t know how to say it, but the heat. It records all the heat that the sun projects.”
Britney Gordon
“So, can you tell me what you learned at today’s event so far?”
Penny Young
Penny Young, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“Okay, that the thermometers test the temperature of things.”
Britney Gordon
“So are you excited to be participating in today’s event?”
David Maradiaga
David Maradiaga, Student, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“Have you learned anything so far?”
David Maradiaga
“That there’s, that there’s four types of thermometers. And that there’s one of the thermometers, the max thermometer, is the closest to be those thermometers that the nurse give you.”
The highlight of the day’s activities was the releasing of a weather balloon used to measure temperature, wind, and pressure as it ascends. Michelle Augustine, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the National Met Service, said that performing a simulation with the balloon for the children to observe was an important part of today’s event, as the balloon is a vital tool in weather observations.
“This provides meteorologists or forecasters with an idea of what is happening above the surface in terms of these weather parameters. And it helps us to basically better forecast the weather conditions over our area. Additionally, this information is very important from the weather balloon. During hurricane season. Because when we have the approach of a storm, the National Hurricane Center relies on this information from this ray of the sun that is released with the weather balloon to help them to assess or analyze the data over a particular area. So, the weather balloon will provide, for example, if a system is approaching, if the pressure is low, so it helps them to validate where the center of the storm is. Likewise, also the wind conditions. If the weather balloon goes up and measures, instrument, measures that the wind is very strong near our area, then the hurricane forecasters would be better able to pinpoint the location of the system.”
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is accusing Prime Minister John Briceño of lying to them. On January fourth, the association entered into a written agreement with the Prime Minister that brought an end to protests organized by cane farmers in Orange Walk. In the agreement, Prime Minister Briceño committed that a commission of inquiry would be established within three months of the signing of the agreement. Well, more than seventy days have passed, and that commission is yet to be operationalized. B.S.C.F.A. demanded that the commission be established to investigate the inner workings of the industry and to provide recommendations for its modernization. When reporters asked the Prime Minister about the delays, he noted that consultations need to be held with the other three associations, before the commission can commence its work. This prompted a press release from B.S.C.F.A. calling on PM Briceño to, ‘stay on track’. And today, the association called a press conference at their headquarters to say that the prime minister is making petty excuses.
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Vice-Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“We are very upset with his comments, his interview, the words that he used, because if you can recall in January fourth when we were in negotiations with BSI when he was one of the main characters in the negotiations between us and BSI, he signed a document with us in which he committed himself, he committed his government that within thirty days, after the signature of the fourth of January, that the commission of inquiry would be starting their work. And, we have the document that he signed. So, he is not knowledgeable to what he said. He knows very well. Now he comes out to say proper consultation was not done. Consultations was done long before. Consultations was done from July of last year. Even in the document he says that Cabinet has already approved for the commission of inquiry to do their work.”
Javier Keme
Javier Keme, Chairman, B.S.C.F.A. Finance Committee
“Two associations chose to participate, which was the Northern Association and BSCFA and Progressive and BSI chose not to participate. They were invited several times to participate in meetings, discussing the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry, consultations, and invitation to participate. They chose not to participate. That was their choice. Now their was an event that went further. During the negotiations for the commercial agreement, it came out that BSI is ok with the commission of inquiry provided that they are given the opportunity to name two commissioners. How will he say that these entities were not consulted and he is accepting himself that BSI has named two commissioners to form part of the commission group. This is absorbing the way he put his statements. These are petty excuses. And i want to highlight this as well, that in disrespecting the cane farmers, he disrespected a team that he authorized to work on this commission of inquiry terms of reference. He was the one that authorized this work to start from the beginning. And in his statement he disrespected them that they didn’t do the job he told them to do.”
Doubling down on their position, Ortega plainly stated that the association believes Prime Minister Briceño lied to cane farmers and Belizeans to put an end to the protest actions. Ortega also cautioned PM Briceño, contending that sugarcane farmers possess the power to significantly influence the outcome of the 2025 general elections in Orange Walk Central.
Alfredo Ortega, Vice-Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“As you can see we have reached March and the signing of the document was in January. Thirty days was in February. So we have long past due that. Now that we have reached this stage and we have listened, because first we were waiting for the government or the prime minister to declare, because he said in his interview on Friday that he is the one in charge to declare the commission of inquiry. We were waiting for that, but when we listened to what he said on Friday we can clearly say he lied to us, he lied to the cane farmers and that is why we are here. We want to clearly see how the prime minister behaves, lying to the cane farmers, lying to us, lying to the Belizean people on his statements he said that we are not the only association. When we were negotiating and he was the one leading the negotiation between us and BSI, he was the one that was brining out some of these things for us to negotiate and reach a point that is beneficial to us and that is why he signed these documents. This is something I want to put very clear, because of the outcome of the town council election he comes and beats his chest that he gets an overwhelming support and he gave the sense like it is the farmers that gave the overwhelming support. Let me remind him that in town is a very small percentage of cane farmers that voted for the town council election and let us put it very clear, the town council results came by the works the council is doing, not by him.”
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association also addressed Prime Minister John Briceño’s response to the High Court’s decision on the Sugar Export/Import Regulations. As we reported, A.S.R./B.S.I. challenged the regulations in court, and it was ruled unconstitutional. When the press asked the PM about the decision, he said that it was expected. His comments did not sit well with the association, because the legislation was one of the measures that the government sought to implement to remedy B.S.C.F.A.’s concerns over Fairtrade premium payments. Javier Keme, the Chairman of B.S.C.F.A.’s Finance Committee, says the Government of Belize has the authority to appeal the ruling.
Javier Keme
Javier Keme, Chairman, B.S.C.F.A. Finance Committee
“When he was questioned about the outcome of the regulations his choice of words was in a very insulting tone to the farmers that he was expecting that outcome and that is wrong from a leader to ascertain that. Why, because that means you are promoted as the leader of the government and you gave your authorization to go through something, a procedure that you already have perceived is to fail. That is wrong from a leader to make such a statement. Now coming to the ruling, the judge has all the authority to make certain comments of the ruling. He has all the authority to do such. But that doesn’t mean as a leader I will say I can’t do anything; the government can’t do anything. That is another wrong statement he has done. Why, government have two options in any ruling? In this case, five went against, four went in favor of the regulation. One option is to appeal. The statement he made to that question is that it is going to cost Belizeans thousands of dollars, taxpayers money. That is his response. When in other areas he has used taxpayers’ money recklessness. The second option is to accept the ruling of this judge, but as a legislator, change it and amend it and bring back the section that will not affect the constitutional right of such an entity.”
Reporters also asked the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association for their thoughts on the verbal agreement entered between the Prime Minister and stevedores who are members of the Christian Workers Union. Last night, we told you that the Prime Minister made a verbal commitment to compensate the stevedores a total of one point six million dollars in sugar redundancy payment. He noted that lawyers from both sides would meet and that an agreement may be signed by the end of today. Well, we are yet to receive an update on that signing as of news time. And, the B.S.C.F.A. says that while they hope for the best in this matter, they can no longer believe anything the prime minister has to say.
Javier Keme, Chairman, B.S.C.F.A. Finance Committee
“When you lose the trust of a person, what happens. They are just being taken as a liar. When we saw what transpired with our colleagues from the unions, the outcome of it we were just thinking that on that regard the experience that BSCFA has gone through, we don’t trust words. We don’t trust verbal agreements. That is why we have, if what we have in black and white is making trouble for it to be realized, imagine what will happen between a lawyer and a lawyer, because that is what I understand from the news where it is. So I hope for the best for our colleagues, but it was just a verbal commitment, that is what I heard from the news. We at least got this written and it is still difficult for it to be fulfilled.”
