News - Channel 5 Belize

Roman Catholic Church Mourns Passing of Bishop Nicasio

Tonight, the Roman Catholic Church is mourning the passing of its beloved Bishop Lawrence Nicasio. Nicasio died on New Year’s morning at the age of sixty-seven, after battling with cancer. Originally from Dangriga, Bishop Nicasio started his early education in that municipality and would become a man that was loved by people in all the locations he served, not only as a bishop, but also in his secular life as a teacher after having graduated from the Belize Teachers’ College. Before he went abroad to pursue his studies in theology, Nicasio taught at several schools and served as the director of the Catholic schools in the Toledo District. News Five’s Marion Ali filed the following report on the late bishop’s life.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Born Lawrence Sydney Nicasio on September fifth, 1956, the late Catholic Bishop Larry, as he was affectionately known, began studying philosophy at Cardinal Glennon College in Missouri, in 1981. Thereafter, he pursued theological studies at Kenrick Theological Seminary, near St. Louis, and on June sixteenth 1989, he was ordained a priest.

The late bishop was appointed Vicar in Belmopan for thirteen years from 1991 to 2004, after which he served as pastor in Orange Walk Town, then pastor of St. Ignatius from 2005 to 2008 and at St. John Vianney from 2008 to 2013. When Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the late Bishop Dorick Wright on January twenty-sixth, 2017, he appointed Nicasio as the new Bishop of Belize City and Belmopan.

But even before he went away to become a priest, Nicasio was a leader. He taught at several schools in Belize and served as the director of the Catholic schools in the Toledo District. He was well loved by the people in those communities. Just five days ago, the Catholic Parish and its parishioners in Dangriga led a full service for Nicasio, where, although frail from the ravages of the illness, he was still present.

That congregation sang the Our Father in Garifuna, just as he had always loved when he was the chief celebrant, particularly at November nineteenth church services. Bishop Alvin Benguche of the Methodist Church and Executive Member of the Belize Council of Churches relived how much his brother in Christ promoted the Garifuna culture and one time, invited him to partake in the mass.

Bishop Alvin Benguche, Executive Member, Belize Council of Churches

“He was one who first reached out to me and one who thought that he should reach out to me not only as another person who would serve as Bishop in another denomination, but also he recognized that it was important for us – as two bishops serving the nation and from the Garifuna population; that he should also reach out to me in the sense that we had become religious leaders and it was important. He thought that as religious leaders, especially from the Garifuna nation, that we should at least be able to know where and what we will do as leaders in order to help to reach out to our Garifuna people and the wider nation. And I thought that that, for him, was so very commendable. The Garifuna people should really remember him for the impact of the work that he did amongst the Garifuna population. I can recall that he was one who also insisted that as a part of the Garifuna Mass on the 19th of November in Dangriga, that he thought that it was important to involve me in one of those services. I thought that it was so very humbling of him to ensure that I participated in such a mass, and I will never forget that.”

Bishop Philip Wright who heads the Anglican Church also shared with us his opinion of the late Bishop Nicasio with whom he shared a few working sessions.

Rev. Philip Wright, Bishop, Anglican Diocese

“He was somewhat soft spoken, and jovial, but he always brought to our conversations some insights into issues and I remember him as well as being able to offer anecdotal stories to help make his point. So he will be remembered as a somewhat gentle spirit, soft spoken, but deep in his reflection and in his contributions to our conversations. We have again lost quite a son of the sword, you know, who was very committed to his ministry, to his church, to his people and he will long be remembered as well as a faithful servant, a friend and a colleague.”

Father Cesar Santa Cruz, also Catholic priest, has only been in Belize for a little over a month and only met with Bishop Nicasio once, but it was a meeting that he says he will remember for a long time.

Father Cesar Santa Cruz, Priest, Catholic Church

“I came here from Guatemala to cover this mission in November 22^nd and I was in a meeting with the mission. It was December 14^th, I had the opportunity to see him and that was the only one. I could see, well he was in a wheelchair. I could see he was very sick, but I could appreciate the love that people had for him. He was very kind. I was introduced to him – really very kind person, very quiet. He really impressed me with his personality. I could see how people really loved him.”

Bishop Nicasio, who had been ill for a couple years, had given an update on his health battle and offered hope to his congregation virtually in May of 2023, following his first round of treatment.

Bishop Lawrence Nicasio, Deceased

“I continue treatment and I’m very grateful to the doctors and the nurses who worked along with me. A number of them are Catholics, and we really pray for one another, and they’ve offered me loving care and I’m very grateful for that. At this point in my journey, we’ve been communicating with the doctor, a classmate of mine who has been very helpful in transporting me to the clinic. We discussed with the doctor about making a brief visit home to Belize. I just want to join you again as we join our hearts in prayer for this entire journey that I’ve been on since last year in July. Thanks again for your prayers and many greetings you have sent and words of encouragement you’ve sent to me. Those who come by to visit, I thank you very much.”

The Vatican will determine who will be the next Bishop of the Catholic Church. Bishop Nicasio will be laid to rest on Friday, following a funeral service in Belmopan. Marion Ali for News Five.

Minister Fonseca: Bishop Nicasio was a Good Son of Belize

Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, also expressed his condolences on the passing of Bishop Nicasio on his Facebook page. He shared with News Five that the late bishop had dedicated much of his sixty-seven years to the clergy and to education, and for that, the government pays its respect and gratitude to someone he referred to as: a very good friend, a strong partner in education, and a good son of Belize.

Via phone: Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“Bishop Nicasio has been a priest for, I think 34 years, serving our Belizean community, our people. He has served in many communities across the country and is loved, beloved by Belizeans all across our community. So, you know, in education, we consider him a very good friend, a strong partner in education, someone who believes in the church state partnership of education and who worked very closely with the Government of Belize and the Ministry of Education to advance, you know, our goals for quality education in Belize. So we want to, on behalf of the Government of Belize, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, express our deepest sympathies to his family, and of course, to his colleague, priest in the Roman Catholic Church, and indeed to the entire Roman Catholic Church community, you know. We have lost a good son of Belize, who has given his life, to serving God, and serving our communities.”

Deadly New Year’s Eve Shooting: Self-defense or Murder?

A Belize City resident was shot and killed over the New Year’s weekend, as he left the parking lot of a popular nightclub. Tonight, police have turned over surveillance footage of the incident to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, awaiting further instructions. From the look of it, twenty-eight-year-old Trevor Brown got into an altercation with several other patrons in the parking lot and the situation escalated quickly, resulting in deadly gunfire. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A deadly New Year’s Eve shooting in Belize City bookended the violence that gripped the Old Capital during the Christmas holidays. In the wee small hours on Sunday morning, an altercation in the parking lot at Thirsty Thursdays ended in an exchange of gunfire and when the shooting subsided, twenty-eight-year-old Trevor Brown had been mortally wounded.

Anthony Perry, Stepfather of Deceased

“As the family, everybody is just mourning the loss of my son and really we noh happy wid weh happen, but we wahn mek God do ih course. Soh fi now, we actually di plan di funeral and we di wait fi sih more or less weh di police dehn wahn investigate so we know more or less who kill ahn.”

What transpire in the parking lot was an altercation between patrons leaving the establishment. Surveillance footage shows the vehicle that Brown was driving when it rear-ended a pickup truck nearby. The men then confront each other before Brown and occupants of his vehicle got in and attempted to drive off. In the process, it would appear as though he deliberately swerved in the direction of the person he had just exchanged words with. Brown exited and began firing.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Police responded to a shooting at Newtown Barracks, at a parking lot. Upon their arrival, information was received that Trevor Brown received gunshot injuries and he was rushed to the KHMH for treatment. He was then pronounced dead on arrival at the KHMH. Information received was that Trevor Brown had an altercation with another male person at the parking lot and at some point both of them pulled out firearms and fire at each other.”

Brown’s older sibling was in bed when he received a phone call from their stepfather. Anthony Perry was calling to inform him of the deadly encounter moments earlier.

Travis Brown, Brother of Deceased

“I mi deh eena my bed. Nobody know that I mi come back from down south because I deh mostly down south. I get wahn call from my stepfather and I sih he di call me and I return back fi he call. He neva know I deh eena my bed and he da like, “Ah call yoh fi tell yoh that dehn just shot Trevor and dehn kill Trevor.” We just talk Friday before I leff. We di talk bout vehicle. He just buy ih vehicle and di man tell me, ih seh, “Mek ah borrow yoh battery.” I seh, “Hold on to di battery ‘til Monday cause I noh wahn need it ‘til Monday. We deh fronta fi he vehicle and we di talk from one thing to the next. We gaan eena ih vehicle, show me ih radio cause I da di most one weh know bout vehicle, yoh know, and ih di show me ih radio. Ah tell ahn da probably just wahn lee fuse or something. I take off and I gaan south. That da di last time I sih or hear from my bredda.”

According to a situation report shared by the Belize Police Department, Brown was walking back to his Mazda when a pair of men came from behind and opened fire on him. The windshield of the vehicle was damaged and the men reportedly fled from the scene.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Shortly thereafter, a male person was apprehended in the Yabra area and he was found with a gunshot injury to the head and he was taken to the hospital and he’s presently admitted receiving treatment. Several expended shells were found at the scene and vehicles were scene with bullet holes. A thorough investigation is being carried out in this incident and statements are being recorded. We have video footage and these will be forwarded to the DPP for determination. The person that is admitted at the hospital is still there and so we await when he is released to conduct an interview.”

Brown was among nine children being raised by his stepfather who told News Five this afternoon that the family is not interested in reprisal of their loved one.

Anthony Perry

“Pan fu we half as wahn family, we need fi mek sure that we stay strong as one and do what we need to do to lay my son to rest. Well I noh into this grievance and vengeance and weh everybody into. Everything weh I leff it deh eena God’s hands and when the time is right he wahn fix it. So fi now, that’s all I got fi seh.”

Admittedly, Brown, by his brother’s words, was no angel. He had flaws about himself, but the family did not think that the call they would receive on New Year’s Eve was to inform of his demise.

Travis Brown

“Ah noh something weh I wah seh I di run from, but ah just never expect it, especially fi di New Year, yoh know. My lee bredda and everything, ih do good, ih do bad, I cyant seh nothing, ih done happen.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

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.