Sixty-three-year-old Anke Doehm, an American national who was found guilty in the High Court last week for cruelty to a child, appeared in court today after being on remand at the Belize Central Prison. This morning, Doehm alighted from the prison bus that brought her back to Belize City. She appeared fragile and ill, visibly affected by her imprisonment. There was, however, a delay in her sentencing and she was returned to prison until April eighth when Justice Derick Sylvester is expected to deliver a sentence. As we’ve reported, Doehm stood trial following the death of thirteen-year-old Fay Lin Cannon back in 2017. The tragic incident involving the abused teenager happened in San Pedro.
Category: News
Walkout by Stevedores Cause Significant Loss in Port Revenues
The Port of Belize Limited has taken on significant losses in revenue since last Friday. That’s when stevedores walked out after demanding higher payment for lost wages when bulk sugar was rerouted to the Big Creek Port. During Wednesday’s stand-off between the stevedores and the Port, C.E.O. Arturo Vasquez told reporters that while the figures cannot yet be tallied, the losses have been significant. The stevedores, led by the Christian Workers’ Union, returned to work by day’s end, but on the premise that the Prime Minister, John Briceno will meet with their union representatives next Monday to discuss their concerns. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The tally on the losses that the port and the government have suffered as a result of the five-day walk-out from work has not yet been calculated, but it is quite a lot. Port of Belize C.E.O., Arturo Vasquez told the media on Wednesday that when there is an interruption of work at the facility, it has a trickling effect on everyone.
Arturo Vasquez, C.E.O., Port of Belize Limited
“Significantly. If no cargo is going out or coming in, you can imagine the effect it has on the business community and the public and the prices and all of that.”
Marion Ali
“How many ships have sailed so far?”
“The one that’s here today came on Friday and came back yesterday. Physically only two have sailed, but, in addition to that, two have cancelled – one on Monday and one on Tuesday.”
By the end of Wednesday, however, the stevedores had returned to work following a cell phone conversation between them and Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde who promised to do his best to lobby on their behalf and have them get what is due to them. The stevedores want the government to pay them four point nine million dollars in compensation for their lost wages since bulk sugar was rerouted to the Big Creek Port for export. C.W.U President, Leonora Flowers is representing the stevedores in the process.
Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers’ Union
“He indicated that he’s willing – he’s going to try his very best to get the stevedores what is rightfully theirs, and what we have been trying to get for a while. That’s as much as I can say.”
Marion Ali
“So on Monday, you’re going to meetings with the Prime Minister and with the Deputy Prime Minister?”
Leonora Flowers
“Yes, we should on Monday.”
“And what will be discussed then?”
Leonora Flowers
“Hopefully the sugar money only and then we progress on to the C.B.A.”
The Collective Bargaining Agreement is the new terms of reference that will govern the way the port and the stevedores work together going forward. But before the port and the CWU can sit to discuss that, the stevedores want a favourable meeting with the PM on Monday.
“If you don’t get what you want on Monday, what happens next?”
Leonora Flowers
“The stevedores will be back at it again. Unfortunately, it will be up to the stevedores at that time.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
B.C.C.I. Says Inquiry Not Needed to Resolve B.S.I./B.S.C.F.A. Dispute
As we reported on Tuesday, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, B.C.C.I., has written to the Prime Minister, sharing its view that there need not be a Commission of Inquiry to delve into the private and sensitive business information of the Belize Sugar Industries Limited. The chamber was in agreement with B.S.I.’s attorney, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, that such an inquiry would be invasive. The chamber’s Chief Policy Analyst, Joshua Pott shared with News Five that there are other ways to sort out a dispute of that nature between two entities.
Joshua Pott, Chief Policy Analyst, B.C.C.I.
“The parts of the Commission of Inquiry that deal with looking into the commercial dispute between the B.S.I and the B.S.C.F.A is not necessarily for the realm of the Commission of Inquiry. I think the other thing that needs to be understood is that what’s going on between the B.S.C.F.A. and the B.S.I is really a commercial dispute between two private entities. They’re both private sector entities. As a matter of fact, they’re both members of the Chamber of Commerce. Their welfare is equally as important to us. Where a commercial dispute exists, there are mechanisms to deal with it. The parties can resort to a variety of alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms. Those things exist and we feel at the Chamber of Commerce that’s the better route for resolving the commercial dispute between these parties than having a commission of inquiry look into it.”
Cost of Living Still Driven By Global Inflation?
We also asked Pott, who works at an organization that represents the business sector, to shed light on what is driving the cost of living so high in recent months. While he said there could be several factors, he alluded to the cost of goods internationally.
Joshua Pott, Chief Policy Analyst, B.C.C.I.
“We’re encouraged to see that the Statistical Institute of Belize is reporting that inflation rates, at least per month, is lower than what it was a couple months ago, or a couple years ago. But prices are still going up on the shelves, and when you look at inflation as a broader topic you’ll find that it’s being influenced by a variety of factors. So it’s very difficult to pinpoint what are the largest contributors of inflation, but we can point to the usual suspects being the cost of acquisition for the goods that we import. We import a large quantity of the goods that we consume, especially groceries. So really the prices that we see on the shelf tend to be dictated by how much those goods are being acquired for, from the manufacturers or from the primary wholesalers.”
Bravo Motors Celebrates Thirty Years of Automotive Excellence
Tonight on Belize on Reel, Bravo Motors celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in the local automotive industry. Ahead of participating in an expo this weekend in Spanish Lookout, we teamed up with the company to look at its fleet of Nissan and Isuzu vehicles and what you can expect if you’re interested in purchasing a new ride this weekend. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Founded in 1994 by Albert Bouloy Jr., Bravo Motors continues to lead the way in auto sales across the country. Over the years, the company has grown significantly. It is presently staffed by thirty-nine employees and they are all dedicated to providing the best customer service experience. The team is led by Zac Bouloy.
Zac Bouloy, Director, Bravo Motors
“We have gotten here by building our business on a foundation of customer service. So, with customer service comes excellent parts support and supplying the vehicles that we have, Nissan and Isuzu. And we’re really proud to be the distributor of these brands here and we have a team that focuses on that customer service.”
Among them is Gerald Faux. He is the head of the Parts Department and has been employed here for the past twelve years. Since landing a job at Bravo Motors, Gerald has worked his way up the ranks within the company.
Gerald Faux, Parts Dept., Bravo Motors
“I’ve been here for the past twelve years. I started out as maintenance, cutting the yard, washing the vehicles. I also work with the mechanics and I worked my way up through the, you know, the Parts Department and I managed to take it over, you know, and it’s been a great learning experience so far.”
Along with years of experience comes positive recognition for the work that the team has been able to do when it comes to selling vehicles and automotive parts. Bravo Motors was recently acknowledged by Isuzu for boosting its sales over the past year.
“These awards bring a lot of pride to us and our team because we work very hard every day to ensure that we are serving our people well and to see this recognition come from an international business like Isuzu, it brings a lot of pride as this is an award that’s shown to the entire region, including South America, the Caribbean, and Central America.”
As the Sales & Marketing Manager, Michael Berry is chiefly responsible for driving the sale of vehicles at Bravo. Efficient inventory management ensures that vehicles move off the lot quickly. The company boasts the largest inventory of vehicles of any auto dealer in Belize.
Michael Berry, Sales & Marketing, Bravo Motors
“Actually, we just got a major award from Isuzu for sales increase in volumes. So that basically means [that] we’ve been ordering more units. As you know, COVID hit basically everywhere and that really decreased the overall volume of ordering vehicles and getting vehicles into the country. And with that, we surpassed that and now we’re at the stage where we’re ordering more vehicles and that gave us a great increase with Isuzu for that particular award and we are happy to say that we have inventory.”
On the lot is a fleet of vehicles, including an Isuzu dump truck. It’s new to the country.
Michael Berry
“We are very excited to launch this new truck. This is an Isuzu SVR Dump. It’s the first of its kind in Belize and we are happy to be partnering with Isuzu to promote this truck. Gone are the days when you used to see old dump trucks running around Belize costing expense. Now we have the new Isuzu line which is going to be good for Belize in terms of low cost maintenance. We stock parts, availability, everything for these vehicles so you could rest assured that buying a product from us that you have our support.”
Zac Bouloy
“We focus on what we do best. So we look at what our suppliers do best and we ensure that we import our products in volumes and we import our parts in volumes so that we can support our customers as best as possible. With our competitive edge, we look at what our competitors maybe can’t supply and that has led us to be one of the number one suppliers of pickup trucks in Belize, the number one choice for commercial vehicles in Belize. The Isuzu commercial truck is second to none and Isuzu diesel vehicles are second to none. And in Belize, the road shows that. There are a lot of Isuzus on the road and we are proud to say that we have built that brand here in Belize.”
Michael Berry
“We will be at the Spanish Lookout Expo, so lookout for our inventory out there.”
Zac Bouloy
“Out at the expo, we’re going to be bring out our A-game. We’re bringing out our full lineup of Isuzu D-Max, MUX, and commercial vehicles, well as the Nissan lineup. The Nissan Frontier and Nissan Kicks. We’re also going to have our exciting merchandise that we have introducing this year which is going to be the Nissan and Isuzu Bravo thirtieth anniversary quencher mugs.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
4 Years Later, 3 Interdicted Cops Await Trial in High Court
Aaron Wilson Shares Story of His Unlawful Arrest
Earlier today, businessman and recording artist Aaron Wilson stopped by our office to share his side of an incident that took place inside the Ladyville Police Station over the extended weekend that resulted in him being detained for over twenty hours. As we initially reported, Wilson’s employee, a deliveryman, was taken into custody for a motorcycle offense. When Wilson showed up at the station sometime later to present the documents for the motorbike, an exchange of words ensued between him and a female officer. That led to Wilson being detained and placed inside a holding cell at the precinct, before being released without charge twenty-two hours later. Here’s his story.
Aaron Wilson, Detained by Police
“When I reach Ladyville now, nobody tell me my workman released. Soh I reach Ladyville and I gaan da di station because I expect that, you know what, I bring my documents here, release di man. But because Mr. Barrow trusted what I mi di tell ahn, Mr. Barrow gaan head and released di man. And when I reach station, da like di whole station bex wid me because I call dehn boss and I jump dehn and dehn feel like dehn da nobody now and dehn done bex wid me from I reach station because my workman mi done tell me dat di W seh ih wah charge me because I call and cuss ahn dats why she heng up di phone. I‘m like neva bro, dat neva happen. I am upset that she heng up di phone because I di tell ahn dat I di bring di documents and she noh got time fi hear dat or wait fi mek I reach from Cayo to ya. So when I reach, she done deh eena my face. Di minute I walk eena di station, she jump out fi she seat and staat seh dat she wahn charge me and I tell ahn fi what. I cohn tell unu dat unu du wrong.”
Celebrating Belizean Women In Art All Month Long
The 2024 Women In Art exhibit is here just in time for International Women’s Month. Every year, the Institute of Creative Arts showcases various mediums of art submitted by female artist from across Belize. This year’s exhibit will open tomorrow under the theme ‘StrongHER: Mentoring, Elevating and Ascending Together’. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the Bliss Center today to meet a few of the featured artists and for an exclusive preview of the exhibit. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
We are halfway through the month of March which is recognized globally as international women’s month, and the celebrations have only intensified. As part of activities for Women’s Month, the Institute of Creative Arts will launch its annual women’s art exhibit titled Women in Art 2024: StrongHER: Mentoring, Elevating & Ascending Together. We visited the gallery for a sneak peak of the featured pieces. Kim Vasquez, Director of ICA spoke to us about the event.
Kim Vasquez, Director, ICA
“We have well over thirty women artists from across the country showcasing art in different types of art. We have handcraft. We have some new types of, we have, for example, I saw one of the ostrich feathers and the ostrich eggs being converted into art by Nancy Marin in the showcase out there. We have photography, we have painting, we have sculpting fashion design. It’s, it really is a mix. And we also had a series of youth workshops happening across the country, and we have, I think, over fifty submissions as well. That will be a special section of the exhibit as well this year.”
We spoke with featured artist, Minita Concha, a nurse, who has been painting since she was nine years old. Concha has been featured in the exhibit for a decade now. Concha explained that she draws inspiration from several places such as the Belizean flora and fauna around her, but also more obscure sources such as books about Victorian regal patterns.
Minita Concha, Painter
“Whatever I create, I always try to have, Belize in mine. So if you really look at it, you will see that the comb, they’re all about beauty. But if you really look at it, you will see that one of them have a mango in it, one have the black orchid, and the third one was supposed to be blue myrtle. So I want all of them to represent beauty and as women we like to care for ourself, we like putting on lipsticks, we like combing our hair and stuff like that.”
Vasquez further explained that the exhibit is not only meant to showcase art, but to inspire sisterhood as well. Young female artists will be able to be mentored, so that they may develop their own passion for the arts and be featured if they desire to someday.
“We are a proud member of the Women’s Month Planning Committee. And this is something that we’ve been doing annually for a number of years, COVID had brought a pause to Women in Art. And we have gradually been rebuilding and bringing it back. And we are really seeing where every year we are seeing younger artists come in to participate. More women are participating from across the country and the call is open. We send out the call from the last week of January and anyone. And that’s the beauty of Women in Art is that it’s meant to be an inclusive exhibit where both professional and women who have been doing art for a number of years showcase their art besides somebody that is very young and may never have participated in any, in an exhibit before. But it’s about sisterhood. This year we’re focusing a lot on mentorship.”
As Vasquez mentioned, the exhibit features artists of various mediums. Fashion designer Irma Ramos, of CK Designs, has been designing for about twenty years and is featuring her art in the exhibit for the second time. Ramos explained that she enjoys creating fashion for young girls and that her art displayed this year, draws inspiration from the 1800’s fashion trends of wealthy and unwealthy girls and showcases how fashion has evolved in modern day to mimic the extravagance of the 1800’s without the price.
Irma Ramos, Fashion Designer
“The kids, because, I like, girls. Clothing for little girls, because it’s the cute designs, no? It’s more for creative for designers, it’s more creative minds and ideas. So, for that, I design for that area. I’m an expert in different areas, but, personal, I decide for kid area.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
The Women In Art exhibit is free for all to visit and will be on display all month long.
NEMO And US Army Host Disaster Sensitivity Media Training
The National Emergency Management Organization is hosting its annual training with the U.S. Army and several Belizean media houses to strengthen relations between the disaster organization and the media. This training is carried out so that, in the case of an emergency, information can be distributed in an accurate and timely manner with the adequate care the situation may call for. This training is also a necessary aspect of the United States military’s preparation for hurricane support on disaster management, should they ever be called to Belize.
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“The events that are happening today are part of our annual training with the United States Army. So at the training team is actually from J.T. F., Bravo Joint Task Force Bravo, which is average out of Soto Cano, Honduras. And so they are the team that would respond to believes in case there was a need for humanitarian assistance or disaster response, and it exceeded our capacity. Today we’re talking about how the media engages with the disaster organizations to cover disaster events. We want to make sure that we provide information to the media and to the public. And trying to provide the media with some techniques on how to cover to cover these accurately. While at the same time getting as much information out to people. It’s important because as we look at disaster response, We need to work together. We need to be collaborative, and we need to have a comprehensive approach. NEMO and the government of Belize cannot do everything ourselves, and so we have to really reach out to all of our partners, including the media. The media is important. The media helps us in disseminating information. The media helps us to share information to people as they prepare, as they try to navigate the challenges that that disaster poses.”
Kidney Association of Belize Invites Everyone to Get Tested
As today is internationally recognized as World Kidney Day, the Kidney Association of Belize is reminding you to take care of your kidneys. To ensure that Belizeans are taking preventative measures to combat kidney disease, the association will be holding its annual health fair, on March fifteenth in Belize City. There, visitors will have access to doctors and healthcare providers to conduct several checkups and tests for conditions that affect the kidney, free of cost. We spoke with former president of the association, Ruby Nicholas, for more information. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Diabetes and hypertension are two of the most common conditions that affect Belizeans, and both are leading causes of death in the country. As part of International Kidney Awareness Month and World Kidney Day, the Kidney Association of Belize is hosting its annual health fair in order to ensure that Belizeans are taking steps to ensure kidney health before it becomes too late.
Ruby Nicholas, Treasurer, Kidney Association of Belize
“Today is World Kidney Day and tomorrow we’re planning our health fair on March fifteenth. It will be at the Lions parking lot, KHMH, and there we will be allowing persons to come in and we’re inviting the entire public. Everything that we present there will be free of cost, and we want to, the public to become aware of their health status. We’ll be having their blood pressure check, their diabetes check your urinalysis check, and then those who are showing high readings or concerns in whatever the test may be showing, we will also be having them doing their blood tests, the kidney function blood tests.”
Ruby Nicholas says that this annual event is a crucial part of kidney care, as it allows for people to detect anomalies in their health and combat any underlying issues early on.
“We will be having doctors there, nurses, nutritionists, we will even invite for HIV rapid tests. and then as well as having invitation from BCVI to give appointments for them to check their eyes. So everything will be holistically being checked for the individual and that is going to be associated with the kidney area to see where your status is. Those who will be having issues with their health, we will try to advise them to do referral and for them to seek further attention. Our main focus will be on patients or persons who may be diabetic, hypertensive, even yourself you’re unaware of where you are with your health, we’re inviting you out there tomorrow.”
Doctor Natasha Gongora of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, explained the eight golden rules of kidney health.
Natasha Gongora, Internal Medicine & Nephrology Specialist , K.H.M.H.
“Eight golden rules to take care of your kidneys include one, keeping a fit and active life. Two, controlling your sugar levels. Controlling your blood pressure. Four, controlling a good weight. Having a good weight by eating healthy. Five, if you smoke, no smoking. Six, drink plenty of water. Seven, if you have pain, for example, no over the counter painkillers, they can cause more damage to your kidneys. And eight, most importantly, if you know you have diabetes, if you know you have high blood pressure or heart disease in your family, kidney stones, just get that check up. That’s the number one thing we want patients to do.”
The event will be held in the Lions parking lot near the K.H.M.H. and will occur between nine a.m. and four p.m. on March fifteenth.
“We know that kidney disease is on the rise. This is evidently shown by the amount of people. Who are calling and asking for assistance through the Kidney Association of Belize. We’re trying to ensure that educational awareness become an important aspect of the association to try to ring the alarm out there for people to know that this kidney disease is not slowing down.It’s, as a matter of fact, we are having too many people with dialysis, doing dialysis, too many people causing to pass away. because of the lack of funds. So prevention for us is an important aspect of it. And tomorrow will be a revelation of what it is to do a preventative care using it as a health fair.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.