Ambassador van Steen emphasized the importance of the partnership between Belize and the E.U., as well as the new program which has the potential for significant transformational potential for economic prospects in southern Belize, particularly along the border with Guatemala.
Marianne van Steen, E.U.Ambassador to Belize
“It was very important, this agreement. It was the result of hard work and it really illustrates what a good relationship we have with Belize. I was congratulating the prime minister and it was actually the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, we’ve been working very closely together as to how this government has been able to put Belize on the map. So I am very happy about that and looking forward to meet the new foreign minister as well, but what I wanted to say is not just about a donor/recipient relationship anymore. It used to be like that in the past but now we have a very comprehensive relationship with this government and with the country and with the people of Belize. We are very proud of that because we’re not just talking about funds, grant funds and loans and assisting the country and reaching the sustainable development goals. That is very important but we do a lot more, we dialogue about what’s happening in the world. There’s a lot of political dialogue, we talk about trade and we talk about investments. So I am very happy that we have such a strong relationship with this country.”
The Belize Network of N.G.O.’s alongside the Belize Audubon Society has launched a new project with the objective of bolstering society’s democratic foundation. The project, funded by the European Union, seeks to increase capacity building for local civil society organizations, elevate gender equality and amplify the voices of youths, and marginalized communities such as people with diverse abilities and the LGBTQ. We attended the launch of the event today to get better insight into this endeavor. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Strengthening Civil Society participation in democracy through effective, inclusive, good governance, reform and oversight project was launched today at the Belize House of Culture. The project seeks to ensure good governance through a series of campaigns, policy reforms and activities to uplift marginalized communities. It is a collaboration with the Belize Audubon Society and the Belize Network Of NGOs. We spoke with BNN Executive Manager, Emerson Codd for more information.
Emerson Codd
Emerson Codd, Executive Manager, BNN
“The main focus of the project is again, as you can see from our billboard here, it will focus on capacity building for local CSOs to engage in national level policy dialogue. We will also focus a lot on promoting gender equality, women and youth empowerment and inclusion. And we are focusing on promoting an enabling environment on behalf of vulnerable communities with attention to digitization.”
Although the event was officially launched today, Codd informed us that the project has begun its work already.
Emerson Codd, Executive Manager, BNN
“We have hit the ground already. We have conducted a series of workshops geared towards a very important of beliefs that is ongoing, the constitutional reform process. So in terms of the constitutional reform process, we are partnering with the People’s Constitutional Commission, and we have mobilized broad based civil society participation in a series of workshops that has been concluded in November and December.”
The project is funded by the European Union with a value of around six hundred thousand USD. Ambassador of the European Union to Belize stated that the Union seeks to aid Belize’s objective of bolstering the society’s democratic foundation.
Marianne Van Steen
Marianne Van Steen, Ambassador of the European Union to Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas
“The European Union thinks that democracy, respect for the rule of law, respect for human rights are essential and they’re very high on our agenda when we work with other countries. So when you go to another country and you would like to contribute and make sure that there is good development in that country, you need to make sure there is a well functioning democracy. So it is pretty new that we start working in different countries to strengthen the role of civil society, but that is because we have understood that in order to have a democracy that works well, you need to have a very vibrant voice of civil society. So it’s a bit of a milestone, this project. It’s a bit new. We’ve been working with civil society a lot, but on particular themes or objectives. But now this is really about strengthening the voice of civil society, because it has an important role.”
Codd stated that the project aims to be as inclusive as possible and works alongside every civil society organization in Belize.
Emerson Codd, Executive Manager, BNN
“We are targeting all civil society organizations in Belize. We are trying to be as inclusive as possible and we are working with a cross sector of civil society organization in Belize. So, it’s not geared towards maybe one specific sector of civil society organization. We’re actually targeting the cross sector of civil society organizations that represent vulnerable communities, vulnerable populations here in Belize.”
As the mayor explained, the other garbage truck will arrive in the coming weeks and will be used to complement the Council’s sanitation efforts. Wagner explained that while the council has existing sanitation contracts in place with the Belize Waste Control Company, the compactor trucks will be used in those areas of the Old Capital that are garbage dump sites and hot spots.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor Belize City
“We wrote the concept paper to the Japanese Grassroots Board and they approved it for two new compactors which will really enhance, again, our ability to look at the hotspots. We do have existing contractual obligations with B.W.C, but we still have our obligations as well to the city in ensuring that those hotspots are addressed in a timely fashion. We have our night team. These will not be used for commercial, residential garbage. It’s just to enhance our night team support system.”
As the mayor explained earlier, the electric vehicles that the City Council has purchased will be offered to the Belize City taxi associations on a lease to own basis. Today, the Council had two of the vehicles on display, with another two expected to join the fleet in the coming weeks. Mayor Wagner told reporters that City Hall is taking the lead in introducing eco-friendly forms of transportation that should result in bigger profit margins for the taxi drivers who lease them. And for the people who use the service, they will be able to use an app on their phones to access taxi services.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“It’s locally built, Mi Driva app which will be used to really track how these vehicles are running all over the city. The people who want to access these taxis will be able to go on their phone app, get the Mi Driva app, tell the driver pick me up at this spot. It comes, pick you up drop you off to where you go. It will also play a big role and we were talking to the Minister of Tourism who is very excited about this venture because many times we have the overnight tourists who come to believe city and many times they have nowhere to go. They would want to go on the entertainment strip, but the hotel is Biltmore and they’re a bit wary about moving and not knowing how they’ll get back. Having the app on their phones, similar to what is there in the United States- Uber. We’re excited about these E-taxis, which is a compliment to the e buses. We want to see this integrated into the system. We have a target association and we want to work with the downtown Battlefield Park Association and once we are able to get these four off the ground, it’s now your own. We go to another association and we continuously build the system out so that eventually in Belize City, you’ll see gone are the ice make vehicles, but they’re being replaced with E-taxis, E-mobility, electric vehicles which really guarantee the lowering of congestion in the city. It will lower pollution in the city. You’ll have a much more reliable, effective and efficient type of public transportation. This is an opportunity to really have a better return. If you are running on electric man, you will be able to make much more rather than the fuel, the gas – which you are crying about the gas prices. So now, if we are going electric, that means your return on investment more than likely should be a bit more palatable.”
The Belize Tourism Board and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital have struck up an unexpected partnership in order to improve healthcare facilities and support Belize’s tourism industry. Both parties signed a Memoriam of Understanding for urgent repairs of the Accident and Emergency Unit. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the K.H.M.H. and has the following story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is about to undergo some much needed changes with the renovation of its Accident and Emergency Unit. According to KHMH CEO, Chandra Cansino, the department has been in need of these renovations since it was overwhelmed during the COVID pandemic. However, the hospital struggled to find funding to make the repairs. She spoke with us to explain what these changes will look like.
Chandra Cansino
Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., K.H.M.H.
“This partnership with the BTB started actually maybe a little less than a year ago when we were approached about how the Belize Tourism Board, well the Ministry of Tourism could support the Coalition Memorial Hospital and taking into consideration that they have a priority for their visitors as well. And so we came up with the idea to renovate the accident and emergency unit simply because that is the area where all emergencies come and in the event of, a mass casualty or any unfortunate event that may involve visitors to Belize, we wanted to be able to make sure that we have it upgraded and fit for the use by the public.”
Britney Gordon
“What areas will specifically be targeted in this renovation?”
Chandra Cansino
“It’s specifically the Accident and Emergency Unit. What happened is this is the area that became the COVID unit during the pandemic. And so the Accident and Emergency Unit was moved from here to the clinics. And this area was the COVID unit. So it endured a lot of wear and tear, a lot of beating, a lot of use. Everything was new and so since then, nothing has been done to address the physical look as well as equipment that was used and needs to be replaced.”
According to Cansino, the project is still in its preliminary stages and has not secured a contractor as yet.
Chandra Cansino
“We have identified what needs to be done. So we submitted our wish list, as we would call it to the BTB because in these types of partnerships, it’s not really only what you want. You have to submit justification, your budget, your project, your plan. And so we submitted that and they approve a part of what we submitted. So we now need to sit down and prioritize and decide what exactly we will do first. And then we will be able to move to contractors.”
Cansino stated that over ten thousand dollars will be tendered during this process and will be used for repairs to the ceiling, floors and to upgrade equipment.
Chandra Cansino
“We followed a normal tendering process. I think it’s over ten thousand and we have to tender to the public. It is a very public, transparent process. We are audited every year by external auditors, so there is nothing for us to hide, and whatever we need to tender, we will be tendering for.”
Britney Gordon
“What areas of priority do you have for this project?“
Chandra Cansino
“The areas of priority are twofold. They’re physical, because I think you all saw when you came in how beaten and battered it is. So we want the appearance to people when they come into the institution. People come here in emergencies and so they’re already in a vulnerable state and you want them to feel that they’re in a place that they can trust and that they will be treated nicely. And so that goes along with how the place looks. And so you certainly want to upgrade replace the broken tiles and the broken ceiling tiles paint the walls and change whatever we need to change so that we elevate the standard that we provide to OUT 3:25 the public.”
The Belize Tourism Board has undertaken several projects within the last few months in an effort to enhance Belize’s thriving tourism sector. Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler stated that tourism also includes ensuring adequate healthcare.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations
“WE have invested in equipment and other things for different hospitals across the country, especially Karl Heusner. We’ve supported them through the diaspora unit with beds, wheelchairs, and other equipment that they needed. And so this is just an ongoing program that we have to uplift healthcare in the country. We are advocates for the hospital in San Pedro as well, because we know the value of having people have peace of mind when they come to the country. If anything should happen to them, they know that they’re going to be well taken care of.”
The lifeless body of nineteen-year-old Joshua Ku was discovered at an isolated location along a dirt road in the Rhaburn Ridge area, near the fringes of Orange Walk District. He had been stabbed to death in the early hours of Sunday morning, before being dumped along a lonely road several miles away from where he lived with his grandfather in Orange Walk Town. Tonight, a wanted poster has been issued for the arrest of twenty-two-year-old Steven Diaz. He is wanted for questioning for his purported involvement in the murder of the young baker. As we reported on Monday, Ku’s family strongly believes that he was killed by his ex-girlfriend’s brother after leaving a nightclub on the morning of February eleventh. Diaz is one of several individuals who may be connected to the weekend murder.
“Yes, there are several persons detained for this investigation.
Reporter
“Do police have a motive behind this murder?”
Hilberto Romero
“Not at this time. All we have is that he was with these persons and he got into a car and left with them from the nightclub.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say whether someone they have detained has confessed?”
Hilberto Romero
“I cannot say at this time but the body has been located.”
Nadia Ku
Nadia Ku, Mother of Deceased
“It hurts me because my son is just nineteen [years old]. Next month he would have been twenty. And Josh wasn’t a troublemaker, everybody that knows Josh knows that Josh is a loving person, keeps to himself. If he needs, he’s going to ask me only, his mom, because it has always only been me and him and my parents, my dad and my mom, and my sister. He has always been, and I try, although he didn’t grow up with his dad, I tried to be the best mom for him. Even people that I know and talk to, I always say, my son, he does use to go to church. He has a good friend and he always comes and find him when he’s here and he’s like, “Josh, let’s go.” “Josh, where are you going?” Mommy, I am going to church.” “Okay, fine. Pray for me. I love you.” It was always like that with Josh. He was loving and caring. He did not deserve to go like this.”
A decision will be rendered by High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim on March eighth, in a trial against attorney Oscar Selgado that concluded earlier today. Closing arguments were made this morning by attorney Adolph Lucas Senior, who represents Selgado in the criminal matter. Lucas put forward to the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryly-Lynn Vidal compromised a fair trial for Selgado who is accused of abetment to commit murder. Lucas posited that this was done when the DPP attempted to have the Commissioner of Police record a three-way call with her and Giovanni Ramirez who was allegedly hired to kill Marilyn Barnes.
Reporter
“How do you feel about the closing arguments today?”
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“I don’t think there any surprises from the other side in terms of what I expected them to come to say.”
Reporter
“He also submitted that Marilyn Barnes had no locus standi to complain before the General Legal Counsel. Does that hold any water for you?”
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
“What is stated is not actually the substance of the complaint. She did actually have a complaint before the GLC and she had the right to make the complaint that she did. The actual nature of the complaint is not before the court, that was excluded at the case management conference stage.”
Reporter
“He said that you’ve not explained at all what happened to the DPP’s CDs.”
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
“Tat was also dealt with at the case management stage. The copy of the CD also went missing from the Office of the DPP.
Reporter
“An argument was made likewise that there should have been expert opinion to validate the testimony of a police officer having heard a tape and that wasn’t done.”
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
“I don’t recall that submission being made.”
Reporter
“Okay, so in terms of the judge accepting the secondary evidence, as well as basing the judgment on hearsay, do you feel that it’s a strong case that the Crown has?”
Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
“We wouldn’t have been prosecuting him if we didn’t think that there was a likelihood that he would be convicted.”
A man who attacked his stepfather, stabbing him multiple times back in July 2016, has nine years and one month left behind bars to serve for the crime of dangerous harm. Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Baptist Junior, also known as “Chucky” was found guilty of dangerous harm in the High Court by a jury of nine persons, on Thursday, November thirtieth, 2023, before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. In imposing the sentence, Justice Pilgrim took into consideration the aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as a Victim Impact Statement from the stabbing victim, Eugene Webster. His starting point was thirteen years, after he took into consideration the fact that Eugene Webster was stabbed multiple times to the abdomen causing his system to collapse. Justice Pilgrim also considered the fact that Webster now refers to himself as being partially handicapped and the fact that the crime was committed with a deadly instrument. Justin Pilgrim further noted that the stabbing incident appeared premeditated and that the trust factor was infringed upon, as Webster placed trust in him and had assisted him financially on the day of the incident. As a result, Justice Pilgrim increased the sentence to fifteen years. However, because Baptist has a conviction for theft and showed no remorse during the trial, he increased his time by 6 more months, bringing the time to fifteen years and six months. Justice Pilgrim then deducted four years and six months after considering a psychiatric evaluation that Baptist underwent in which he reportedly expressed remorse and a desire to do better. That brought the sentence down to eleven years and twenty-three months. Baptist has spent the last two years on remand, leaving him with nine years and one month left to serve in his sentence. The maximum penalty for the offense of dangerous harm is twenty years.
Orange Walk Police have arrested and charged Joseph Budna for the crime of cyber bullying. As we reported on Friday, Budna, a well-known figure who has had several brushes with the law, was wanted in connection with a complaint made against him. It is alleged that he used a social media platform to torment Orange Walk North Area Representative Ramon ‘Monchi’ Cervantes. Budna was arraigned in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was granted bail in the sum of one thousand dollars. He has once again taken to social media in an attempt to clear his name.
Joseph Budna, Charged for Cyber Bullying
“I’ve been through a lot, believe it or not. I‘ve been locked down in Belize City after eating a barbecue by the GI3 unit‘s personnel who deal with gang members, as if I was a gang member. I was taken to the Queen Street Police Station by the GI3 unit that deals with gangs and then I was locked down at the Raccoon Street Police Station. I told them, you know what, I went into Belmopan Cyber Crime Unit to report this guy, Anthony Tillett. I did report him and I have an official statement that I gave to them about it and they have taken my statement and they are working on that with their Guatemalan counterparts. I left the station and one of them tried to grab me and I did not allow them to do so until I consulted my attorney and that officer did not place me under arrest. So he could not say that I escaped from lawful custody. No, I did not. So I contacted many persons and after I contacted many persons, this happened on Friday, folks. Let me give you exactly what happened. On Friday, I visited Belmopan and I went to Cyber Crime Unit and I gave a statement against Anthony Tillett and I also managed to take a picture of that statement which later on I might be sharing if anything. But I took a picture of that and also what happened is that thereafter I left the station and these two police officers from Cyber Crime were acting very suspiciously and I don‘t know exactly what they were up to. So I left them and they didn‘t say you are under arrest or we place you under arrest. I left and I went and thereafter, I heard that they wanted to talk to me. So I called and I got the inspector’s number Inspector Juan Garcia from Cyber Crime. I contacted him and he said mein, we neva mi wahn arrest you, we just mih wahn talk to you concerning the report that the chairman of Chan Pine Ridge Village made against you that you accused di man that ih assault unu, you and the reporter for Estereo Amor.”
The Financial Services Commission has issued a notice advising Belizeans to exercise extreme caution when engaging with a land consultant under the name ER’s Land Consultancy in Orange Walk. In a warning issued today, the FSC stated that Eric Reyes of ER’s Land Consultancy is, “not licensed under the FSC Act to provide, carry on, transact, or hold itself out as providing, carrying on, or transacting any of the financial services as set out in the Schedule of the FSC Act”. Act number eight of the Financial Services Commissions Act 2023 states no person shall provide the business of financial service provider, registered agent or managing services in or from within Belize unless that person holds a valid license granted by the Commission under the Act. We spoke with Reyes who claims that Land Consultancy does not require a license under the FSC Act and affirmed that the issue will be dealt with soon. The FSC advises members of the public who transact business with this entity do so at their own risk.
