News - Channel 5 Belize

Jorge Lozano Fatally Shot in Belize City

Police in Belize City continue to investigate the shooting murder of thirty-eight-year-old Jorge Lozano. On Friday night, Lozano was heading home on Madam Liz Avenue when he was targeted. He was shot several times and rushed to the K.H.M.H. where he died the following day. Police say that they have a possible motive but no suspects. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports

Hipolito Novelo reporting

Thirty-eight-year-old Jorge Lozano was shot several times on Friday night. At around six o’clock, Lozano was on his way home on Madam Liz Avenue and as he approached the front gate the gunman pounced, firing a barrage of bullets at Lozano.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Investigation revealed that Lozano was at the street when a white car pulled out. A male person then fired several shots at his direction, causing his fatal injuries. No suspects at this time.”

Lozano was rushed to the hospital where he fought for his life. He died on Saturday morning. Investigators say Lozano is known to police and his murder might be gang related.

ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, we have dealt with him in the past and the investigation at this time continues as we have no suspects at this time.

Reporter

“But do you believe that it is somehow gang related?

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Probably it is something to that effect.”

Following, Lozano’s murder, police received information of retaliation. As such, some of the victim’s relatives were detained for forty eight hours.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“There was some threat of retaliation and so we took some action to prevent any retaliation regarding this murder.”

Lozano became the second to last person to be murdered in 2023. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.

Eighty-eight Murders in 2023?

2023 recorded fewer murders than any previous year, and perhaps going all the way back to 2008. While there was a spate of murders occurring over the extended Christmas holidays, prior to that, the count was somewhere in the vicinity of eighty-four. And when the Christmas holidays ended, so too were the lives of Christian Ramos, Darnell Puerto and Kaleem Chun by gun violence. Two of them occurred in Belize City and the other in Punta Gorda. Back in September, when the Belize Police Department’s Crime Observatory had released its Compstat figures, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams had indicated that the last time Belize recorded murders in double digits was back in 2013 with ninety-nine murders. And the least deadliest three years going back have been that same year – 2013, 2020 when there were a hundred and three murders, and 2022, when there were a hundred and thirteen. With the murder count for 2023 at around eighty-eight, the police department credits the Leadership Intervention Unit for the number not surpassing the one hundred mark.

A Taiwanese Diplomat is Victim of Home Invasion at Central Farm

A home invasion in Central Farm, Cayo District ended with a Taiwanese diplomat being held up at gunpoint by a pair of armed intruders. The incident happened on Saturday when the victim of the aggravated burglary reported to police that upon hearing his dog barking, he stepped outside to investigate the issue. It was at that time that the duo pounced on him, bound him inside the residence and robbed of an assortment of personal items. Here’s more from Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On the thirtieth day of December, police responded to an aggravated burglary Central Farm. Upon arrival they met a complainant who reported that he heard his dogs barking. He came out, at which point he was held up by two male persons armed with firearms. He was taken inside, tied up and he received injuries during the process. Thereafter, the male persons stole cash and electronic items, after which the persons fled from the area. We have no suspects at this time.”

Reporter

“Do you believe that they knew who they were going after.”

Hilberto Romero

“Yeah. He was targeted because they had information that he was there.”

Thieves Rob Rainbow Supermarket on New Year’s Weekend

At the start of the New Year’s Eve weekend, a pair of armed thieves entered a supermarket in Corozal Town where they proceeded to rob the store owner of an undisclosed sum of money from the cash register. The incident happened on Friday night at Rainbow Supermarket.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday, December twenty-eighth, there was an armed robbery at Rainbow Town Supermarket in Corozal. Two male persons came to the establishment armed with firearms, they held up the proprietor and stole an amount of cash. Thereafter, both persons fled from the area. We have several persons detained in regards to this robbery and an investigation continues.”

Social Security Board Demands Respect

This morning at eight a.m., the Christian workers Union and Social Security Board convened outside the Social Security Headquarters in Belmopan where they staged a peaceful protest. About thirty S.S.B. employees gathered in the hopes of meeting with their management in order to voice their displeasure on what they claim, is a recurring issue of unfair treatment of the union members and special allowances to nonmembers. This is what Leonora Flowers, President of the Christian Workers Union, had to say on the issue.

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“The inspectors have gathered out here today to voice and show their displeasure to management regarding an issue that we were informed about. They had made certain agreement with us when we queried an unfairness that was occurring and, unbeknownst to us, they changed on that plan. What was and is still so concerning is that this decision, the change occurred in a couple of days after we signed the agreement. So here we are chairing on SSB that we have signed our new CBA and then they’re changing the course on us. So we’re here gathered with our members to ensure that they know that this cannot continue. We need to be respected and the integrity that they demand from our inspectors, we also demand it from the management and of Social Security. The CEO was gracious, she allowed us to voice our opinion, everyone who wanted to have a say was able to do that. And we were able to impress upon her our sentiments, deep, grave, concerning, and the kind of agitation that we’re prepared to put forward to ensure that we’re heard and our members get the justice that they deserve. All we want is fairness. All we’ve ever wanted is fairness from SSV. And we continue to stand on that. It went as planned, but we have to give management their time to meet with their with the management to meet among themselves and to come back to us. And that’s what, that’s what the CEO offered, that they will get back to us. We tried to tie her to a time. But in all fairness, she said she was unable to give us a time. But we are hoping that the better judgment will rule out at the end of the day. The Act specifies certain things and we expect Social Security to live up to that”.

Christian Workers Union Puts Foot Down On Suspected Union Busting

The Christian Workers Union’s issue with the treatment of S.S.B. staff by management does not stop at feeling disrespected. The union claims that the special allowances granted towards nonmembers are a subtle form of union busting. As per regulation, Social Security inspectors are to undergo a mandatory three-year rotation. However, one inspector has been given a six-year extension, and as another extension was approved, the union has had enough. Leonora Flowers, President of the Union had this to say on the matter.

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“It usually begins with a member getting their letter of transfer, sometimes three, four months before that transfer is to take effect. It happens normally in the summer months so that people are able to take their children and their family, move families across the country. That has been going on for 42 years, since SSV began. It has only gone on that sometimes, a member spends an additional year over or under in a certain location. This specific person has spent nine years in one location and that has been the contention that we’re Out 4:38 looking at toda. It was brought up to them October 2022 and we discussed it in August and in September 23 and the decision was made. The person was not going to be transferred in September because it was too short a window. We agreed. But they decided that it would happen in January. We agreed to that. And we understand that the transfer letter was sent out. Lo and behold, it was just rescinded a couple weeks ago. And you can, “the rest is history”. The person we’re talking about getting the special treatment is not a union member. So it goes without saying that our members will believe it’s union busting. If you can’t mete out the same kind of justice to everyone, then our members are at a loss. So it is union busting. Some may say no, but we believe that it is. The facts will show. We did not give an ultimatum. We’re leaving it for the management to decide and to use their better judgment, their best judgment in this situation. No need for ultimatum as yet. And we will not show our hands. We know what we have at our disposal. Our members are firm about this. They’ve given us a clear directive and we will continue to take a stand on their behalf”

Interim Injunction Granted to Belize Bank Against Central Bank

An interim injunction barring the Central Bank of Belize from enforcing what is known as Practice Direction Number Seven of 2023, has been ordered by High Court Justice Nadine Nabie. This morning, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith and attorney Hector Guerra appeared on behalf of the Belize Bank Limited where a claim has been filed against the financial regulator. Practice Direction Number Seven seeks to restrict fees and charges in the domestic banking sector as issued by the Central Bank of Belize and any attendant penalties should the applicant’s fail to comply with its terms. The hearing for Belize Bank’s application for judicial review is set for February twelfth, 2024. The Central Bank of Belize is represented by attorney Yohhahnseh Cave.

Belize’s G.D.P. To Grow by 3.6%

The Preliminary Overview of the 2023 Economies in Latin America and the Caribbean indicates a persistently low growth trajectory in the region. This is according to a report compiled by the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the report, Belize’s gross domestic product (G.D.P.) is expected to grow by three point six percent, a decrease from four point eight percent in 2023. Jamaica will see the least growth with one point nine percent, while Guyana is expected to see the biggest increase with twenty-eight point nine percent. The report highlights multiple challenges hindering short-term growth, including a sluggish global economy in terms of G.D.P. growth and trade. The report also states that there is limited room for fiscal and monetary policy maneuvers in the region. Given this context, the commission stressed the importance of macroeconomic policies to stimulate increased investment, fostering resilience to climate change, and enhancing the region’s capacity for sustained growth.

PM Briceño to Visit Vatican City During Personal Leave

As we’ve mentioned at the top of our newscast, Prime Minister John Briceño is presently out of the country on personal leave. His absence from the country precedes a scheduled visit to Vatican City, Rome, where he will be meeting with Pope Francis. During his time away, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde will hold over as Prime Minister. PM Briceño is scheduled to return to Belize on January seventh.

Francis Fonseca Says Foreign Affairs Portfolio is Nothing New

Following the last House Meeting in December 2023, Senator Eamon Courtenay, who served as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, announced his departure from Cabinet and returning to private life. Courtenay, who has served in that capacity since the P.U.P. won the general elections in November 2020, is now working at his law firm. The government announced soon after that his replacement is the Minister of Education, Science, Technology, and Culture, Francis Fonseca, who has officially taken on the added portfolio. Today, News Five asked Fonseca how he is adjusting to the new assignment. He told us that he has acted in that capacity already, and with Courtenay’s guidance, the task should be doable.

Via phone: Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“I certainly did not seek this position. I certainly am honoured to take on the responsibility for our nation’s foreign affairs and foreign trade. I’m doing so, as you know, in addition to my continuing responsibilities for education, culture, science and technology. So, you know, I fully appreciate the critical importance of these duties and responsibilities to believe this national development and our future. You know, I certainly want to place on record, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, our deep gratitude to the outgoing Foreign Minister, Senator Courtney, who of course, over the past few years has led that ministry with absolute distinction, strong leadership, tremendous experience. In my view, [he is] the most effective foreign minister Belize has had certainly over the past 25 years, and as you said, he has offered his support and guidance and I certainly welcome that and fully support his continued engagement and certainly his leadership on behalf of Belize in respect of matters ongoing before the ICJ. As Foreign Minister, I will of course be fully briefed and involved in all discussions and decisions taken regarding the I.C.J., as I have over the past few years. Senator Courtney has kept me fully informed. When he has travelled, I have served already over the past year as the Acting Foreign Minister, so, you know, I certainly understand the role and responsibilities that come with these additional duties.”