People & Places - Channel 5 Belize

Western Sanitary Landfill Fire Under Control

A raging fire at the Western Sanitary Landfill has been burning for nearly a day and a half. While it was a major concern on Monday night, an official from the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority assures that the blaze is now under control and will soon be extinguished. The fire started mid-morning on Monday in the brush near the facility, likely set by someone seen in the area just minutes before. This raises the issue of the dangers posed by deliberately set fires that can quickly spread, threatening lives and property. The flames came dangerously close to the transfer station buildings, making it a priority to save them. But there’s good news this evening—the fire is expected to be fully extinguished by tonight. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

This video, posted on Monday night, shows a raging fire out of control and threatening anything in its path. This was the scene near the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Sanitary Landfill as night fell. The fire was dangerously close to the facility’s buildings, but thanks to quick teamwork among the National Fire Service, the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the structures were saved.

Rojelio Pop, Operations Manager, BSWAMA

“Our protocol is working reasonably okay. Our priority had to change from actually containing the fire yesterday and we moved to protecting the buildings and the offices that you see here. So we created that buffer – fifteen to twenty feet – away from the building because the waste was really close to the buildings. So that had to be our priority, dowsing with the help of MIDH and private companies providing water. We had about three fire trucks here – continuous operation until we had to move the garbage away from the buildings.”

San Ignacio/Santa Elena Mayor Earl Trapp was one of the first to offer his resources to help.

Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena

“I was called out about one thirty in the afternoon and told that the fire was getting out of control and the place was catching fire and they needed support. I tried my best to get the town council’s heavy-duty equipment out there. I had a problem getting the operator, so the best I could have done was to get our water bowser and I had the driver take that out there and that’s how we were basically supplying the fire engine with water. I called some other friends and they came and so we had five bowsers out there.”

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development quickly stepped in to provide an excavator, which is still at the site helping out. With all the resources working together to extinguish the fire, Rojelio Pop, the operations manager at BSWAMA, is hopeful that the blaze will be completely under control by early tonight.

Rojelio Pop

“We don’t have a definite timeline, but what we’re hoping for is that we can bring it under complete control by this evening. As long as we have a sustained supply of water – we have these machines, they are willing to work, but water is the problem. Once we can sustain the flow of water, we should be able to get it under control, hopefully by tonight.”

Pop assured that the work crew fighting the fire is equipped with proper gear to protect them from the toxic fumes coming from the burning garbage.

Rojelio Pop

“Those guys who are operating the machines are receiving some sort of help from the fire service in terms of smoke masks that are complemented with the use of direct oxygen so that oxygen does not get into their lungs or they do not inhale all that toxic smoke. So they’re inhaling oxygen at this point.”

But even though firefighting efforts are in full swing, the business of collecting and dumping garbage continues, according to the Acting Director, Aldo Cansino.

Aldo Cansino, Acting Director, BSWAMA

“If you notice in the background you have two trucks waiting. The process here will not stop. It will continue. We will continue to load garbage from within the transfer station and that will continue to move, hence the priority initially was to make sure that we have the site secured so that the operations can continue. This morning we had a bit of a delay because we still had some issues, but the trucks are here and we should get back on track.”

Mayor Trapp strongly believes that human carelessness is to blame for the blaze.

Earl Trapp

“According to the watchman, he saw someone walk out of the bushes, which is about 2,000 feet from the transfer station and about ten minutes after he saw smoke, So he is believing that’s where the fire started.”

Although there’s no surveillance to identify the culprit, fortunately, there are no residential communities nearby. Plus, the wind is blowing the smoke towards the hills, so it shouldn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. Marion Ali for News Five.

Jim Brown Clinches Victory for Miami Blazers in Cross Country Classic

The much-awaited Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic has come to an end. As you might already know, British rider Jim Brown clinched the victory for his team, the Miami Blazers. The first Belizean rider finished in fourth place, just like in 2024. Tonight, we’ll hear from the champion and other riders who performed exceptionally well under the scorching heat. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ninety-Fifth Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic saw British Cyclist Jim Brown from the Miami Blazers emerge victorious. This was Brown’s first time riding the race, and he completed the entire ride in five hours, forty-five minutes and forty seconds.

Jim Brown, Winner, 95^th Cross Country

“Super difficult to be honest. I am really not use to this hot weather, so that was really difficult part of it for me. But, I will take the win.”

Marion Ali

“Tell us how the ride went, where you made the decision to make a breakaway and how difficult it was to hold that?”

Jim Brown

“To be honest, I was not feeling good at all in the middle part of the race, in the early middle part of the race. I told Kory, our team leader, I said to him I am not in a good day, I will just try to and follow moves and hopefully we can set the race up for you. So I took it upon myself to follow the defending champion because I saw him ride away and then two more came across. We were a good working group and I think the cohesion was not good behind. We just took off and that was that.”

At mile twenty-seven, heading into Belize City, Brown was a part of a four-men breakaway group leading the race with a one minute time gap. Defending Champion, Luis Lopez was among the four riders. No Belizean was present. Luis Lopez was dropped at mile twenty-six, while three riders pressed on. As the race headed into Belize City, the leading trio became a duo. Jim Brown secured the victory with a thrilling sprint finish, while Alfredo Bueno from Legions of Los Angeles took second place.

Alfredo Bueno, Second Place, 95^th Cross Country

“It was hot, very lots of bad luck. I was kind of on the back foot all day. I just stayed locked in my mind and ended up riding to every move I missed. I ended up riding with Jim that ended up being the one, so I am pretty happy with my racing tactics today.”

Mation Ali

“What happened, why Jim beat you at the tape.”

“I think there is a simple answer to that. He is just better. This guy has won races way. I actually felt pretty good and he did too. Me and him felt fine. It is just like in these types of races he is superior in every way. He has done well in flat races in the past also.”

Tenis Star Rider, Omar Espinosa finished in third place, rounding off the top three.

Omar Espinosa, Third Place, 95^th Cross Country

*In Spanish*

The results mirrored last year, with no Belizean rider finishing in the top three. Just like in 2024, the first Belizean to cross the finish line came in fourth place. This time, it was G-Flow Rider Derrick Chavarria, who was warmly embraced by Cycling Federation President Glenn Flowers at the finish line.

Derrick Chavarria, Fourth Place, 95^th Cross Country

“Yeah, so I am fourth place and the strategy honestly we slip up the get somebody in that key break away around mile thirty-one and form there everything gone south. If we had a representative I would have been proud. But nonetheless we have to go back on the drawing board and start again for next year.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Minister of Police Visits Injured Plane Passengers

Tropic Air released a statement after the incident, calling it a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency. They praised the pilot’s heroic effort and extraordinary courage in safely landing the plane under intense pressure. Tropic Air expressed sympathy for the injured passengers and emphasized that safety is their top priority, with pilots undergoing rigorous training to handle any situation. The airline also thanked the Prime Minister, the Department of Civil Aviation, law enforcement, and medical teams for their swift response. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams visited the injured passengers at private healthcare facilities in Belize City. We spoke with Minister Musa.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Myself and the commissioner visited the pilot, Mr. Howell Grange over at Health Care Partners a few minutes ago. Mr. Grange was undergoing a CT Scan to ensure that no organs was affected. He received stab wounds as well. We have two patients here at the Belize Medical Associates. Both are being treated at this time. Currently no serious impact to their organs as well. But they are badly injured. They have several stab wounds to the head and over the body. We had a chance to see them. They are in good spirit and we will continue to keep them in our prayers.”

Increased Security Measures at Municipal Airport

The Belize Airports Authority issued a press release thanking all authorities involved and reassuring the public that safety and security are top priorities at municipal airstrips across the country. The BAA announced plans to enhance security protocols, including passenger bag checks and installing scanning equipment. It also clarified that these measures are part of a long-term strategy to improve safety standards across aerodromes, not a direct response to today’s incident. The hijacker on the Tropic Air flight managed to bring a knife on board, highlighting gaps in safety protocols at municipal airports.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“This is going to be something discussed intensely at the next National Security Council meeting. I know we have commenced dialogue in terms of looking at our internal flight security. The time has come for us to look at it more in depth and see what adjustments can be made. I am sure there is going to be input from the airport authority in this respect. It is a matter for the national security to see what is going to be done moving forward where security on these planes are concerned.”

Reporter

“So how lax is security at the Corozal Airstrip?”

Chester Williams

“I cannot say how lax it is. At this time I cannot say. I don’t think we have that system where we do rigid search. It is only at the PGIA where you will have to go through a scanner to board a flight. At these airstrips there is not that kind of security. The time has come for us to look at having security measures at every airstrip onc e it is used for commercial purpose.”

ComPol Commends Pilot and Agencies that Responded

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams praised all the agencies that responded to the hijacking, highlighting the pilot’s bravery. Williams noted that if the pilot had panicked, the outcome could have been very different.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It is a matter of making sure we have proper command and control. I took command of the operation and guided what the police weas going to do, lasing with different counterparts, looking at the U.S. Embassy, the Coast Guard, the BDF, even the CEO in the prime minister’s office. My minister, I kept constant dialogue with him. It is to ensure we are all in sync in terms of what we do when have these incidents. At the end of the day, one slip can cause mayhem. So we have to ensure that whatever we do is done with the intent to create good and achieve good. I believe that all the agencies involved today did execute their functions properly and that is the reason why we have the results we have. And, I cannot forget the pilot. The pilot for that plane did an exception job, even in terms of his communication with the tower as this was unfolding. He remained calm and was extremely focused in terms of what he was going to do. Had he panicked it could have had a different outcome.”

Was Missing Fisherman Jeremy Mushlar Murdered at Sea?

A man is missing at sea near Tobacco Caye in Stann Creek after disappearing around eight PM on Tuesday night. Thirty-three-year-old Jeremy Mushlar was fishing in a dory with three others who were in a separate boat. When the others decided to head back because the fish weren’t biting, Mushlar chose to stay out longer. That was the last time he was seen. His younger sister, Kaia Mushlar, told News Five that while the family doesn’t want to judge anyone, the details they’ve received are inconsistent. She said they learned on Wednesday that Jeremy had been fishing at Tobacco Caye for four days until he vanished on Tuesday night.

Kaia Mushlar, Sister of Missing Man

“Jeremy went out to go fishing by himself Tuesday the 15th of April at approximately 8:00 p.m.. He was in a blue dory that did belong to his previous friend from Dangriga that was lately murdered on Ramos Road on the 23rd of March.”

Marion Ali

Who’s that?

Kaia Mushlar

“That would be Charles Bradley, also known as Short Man. So according to the information that we have received, Jeremy went out in the blue dory. He was, according to the three people who were in a boat that saw him out there, he was drinking and he was lying at the bottom of the dory and he was told three times by them that he was drifting and he told them that he still wanted to go ahead and stay out and try to catch some fish. Since the three in the big boat stated that fish weren’t biting, they went ahead and headed back to the caye. They then told us that around 11:00 p.m., they decided to go back and check on Jeremy and they went back to the same spot where they had last seen him, and they didn’t see him anywhere.”

Marion Ali

“Now these people, are they his friends? Are they his associates?”

Kaia Mushlar

“So, one of them is his girlfriend’s brother, and the next two are friends that live around the same area as him, his friends? Yes, that’s correct.”

Marion Ali

“Do you have any reason to believe that foul play was involved in his disappearance?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Well, I don’t really wanna say too much at this time, however, the details that we have been receiving have been very inconsistent. And we believe that something definitely fishy is happening and we just hope that we’re able to get to the bottom of this.”

Marion Ali

“The friend that was murdered just a month ago on Ramos Road, do you think that has anything to do with his disappearance?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Well, again, I don’t want really wanna say too much, but we had heard from sources that it was supposed to be Jeremy and him that were supposed to get shot that morning, that thanks to God, Jeremy wasn’t around him at that time, so he was the only one that unfortunately it happened to.”

Marion Ali

“And if that is the case, why would anybody want to hurt your brother?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Again, due to – we live way here in Belize City and he lives in Dangriga you know, we aren’t really around him much to see, you know, what he’s doing or to be a judge of that. However, as far as I’m concerned, my brother has never had any issues with the police, nothing like that. There was an incident a while ago that happened that my brother did end up in the hospital for that incident, and I just hope that it’s not that issue again.”

Marion Ali

“Was he shot?”

Kaia Mushlar

“No, he was stabbed.”

Chester says CEO’s Also Affected by Inflation

On Wednesday, we reported on the approved salary increases for Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and all Chief Executive Officers in the Briceño administration, effective the day after the 2025 general elections. The Cabinet Secretary’s annual salary jumped to ninety-six thousand dollars, while the CEOs’ salaries rose to eighty-eight thousand dollars. The Public Service Union quickly criticized the move, accusing the government of ignoring public servants’ concerns. Today, we asked Chester Williams, the incoming C.E.O. of the Ministry of Transport, for his opinion on the matter. Here’s what he had to say.

Chester Williams, Incoming CEO of Transport

“I’m not gonna say no, that the government workers don’t deserve an increase. I do believe that majority of government workers deserve an increase, but when we speak of increase, we have to look at what the government can afford. What people don’t understand is that as public officers, we get increase every year. You may not want to say it, but every year public officers get an increase. That increase come by way of an annual increment, which is equivalent to three percent of your salary. While from what I see, CEOs don’t get an annual increase. They get one flat salary. And that salary they get up until when they start become CEO. So if you were to calculate what CEOs were making four or five years ago and you compare what a public officer would’ve making four or five years ago, you would see that the public officer had made significant progress in salary while the CEOs did not. So I’m not saying that to justify anything. I’m just saying that. At the end of the day, inflation affects everybody. It not it is, it does not only affect the ordinary public offices, but it also affects the CEOs. So I guess that is split in which the increase was looked at. And if you were to take the old salaries of the CEOs and you add 3three percent to that every year from six years ago to now, it would still be more than eighty-eight thousand dollars.”

Chester May Make Less Money as CEO of Transport

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is gearing up to take on his new role as C.E.O. of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and Transportation. Although he’s excited about the move, he mentioned that his salary will be lower than what he earns as Commissioner. Today, he shared some details about the ongoing talks regarding his pay.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Yes. My, my salary as commissioner of police is more than what the CEOs are making and that is one of the issue that we are having. I I cannot be allowed to get a reduction in salary. Getting a reduction in salary by getting a right. That is one of the issue that we are dealing with at this time, to see how we’re going to work with the salary issues.”

Adaptability & Grit Keeping PG Business Open 90 Years Later

The phrase ‘Swimming with the Tide’ perfectly captures the spirit of the small family in our next story. It’s about a mother and son, the last two leaders of a business in Punta Gorda that has weathered fierce competition and adapted to change over the past several years, just as it has over nine decades of existence. Over the years, the family business, which started as the largest retail grocery and hardware store in Punta Gorda, had to move three times because the buildings became too old to be safe. You’ll meet the mom, who was once a customer and is now a key part of the success story, and her son, whose education has been crucial in keeping the business thriving today. This week’s edition of Belize on Reel brings you the history of the family business that evolved from a huge dry goods store in the 1930s to a pharmacy and stationery store still serving P.G. and its surroundings. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Meet Nigel Vernon, a trained pharmacologist, who owns and is licensed to operate NJV’s Pharmacy on Front Street in Punta Gorda. Nigel registered the pharmacy back in 2009, and for the past fifteen years, he has been running it alongside his mom, Betty Coleman. The pharmacy is just the latest chapter in the story that Nigel’s grandfather, George Vernon, began ninety years ago.

Nigel Vernon, Owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“I did not know my grandfather. He passed away in 1982. I was just about two and a half years old.”

Nigel’s mother, Betty Coleman, hails from Guatemala, where her Belizean mother and Guatemalan father lived. It was during those trips as a child that her parents took her to shop at the store.

Betty Coleman, Co-owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“We used to pass by and you know, we used to go to the shop because it was the biggest shop, everybody, when I used to come and stay with my cousin in Forest Home, would say, let’s go to George Vernon’s Store.”

After George passed away, his son Vance began courting Betty. She moved to Belize in 1971 to be with him, and together they had four children, including Nigel. Betty reminisced about what daily life was like back when Vernon’s Store was still a cornerstone of the PG community.

Betty Coleman

“We used to sell almost everything you could think about, like alcohol, beverages. We used to sell flour, well groceries on a whole, building materials. We used to sell rum by pints. So we have to mix that in the morning, like by six, seven o’clock. We used to open and from then we start and we used to have some really hectic days because we used to have these boats come from Guatemala and they used to buy stuff like buy 50 cases, a hundred cases of soap or slim or cheese, all these things.”

But competition became fierce with the influx of the Asian community and to keep the business open after Vance died, Nigel put his studies to work. Betty isn’t a trained pharmacist like her son, but she learned the ropes from him and now qualifies to sell over-the-counter medication. Nigel, on the other hand, handles all the prescribed medications.

Betty Coleman

“I said I’m gonna be the cashier, but then I said, well, you know what, I could learn something. So, I went around looking at the medications and reading some of them to the back. I don’t sell the prescription drugs because that is his job. Yeah, and I don’t want to get charged for something.”

The pair chose to keep the last branch of the business not just to honor its long legacy, but because it made good business sense. They take great pride in the courteous service they offer, which keeps customers coming back.

Casalina Sho, Customer

“I always come right here. Mm-hmm.”

Marion Ali

“This is your favorite spot?”

Casalina Sho

“Yes. Yes. It’s good. Excellent.”

Joseph Ramclam Sr., Customer

“We used to live in the village up the road – Mafredi/San Antonio Road and my father used to take we down by the shop because he used to do business with them too, because he had a little petty shop up the road. And he used to buy his groceries from them to resell to at Mafredi. They have very good relationship with people and they work along with people good and very mannerly.”

Sherene Garay-Usher, Customer

“My grandmother passed away three decades ago, but dehn days we used to buy groceries there. It was the place where everybody used to go. The people that serve at the store were very friendly – always – Mr. Vernon to today. And so you feel welcome for goh at the store goh buy and I could say up to now.”

With the arrival of Asian-owned stores and supermarkets, competition became fierce. As Nigel’s father, Vance, grew older, he passed the business down to Nigel, who decided to study pharmacology and transition into that direction. But the Vernon brand is experiencing a similar challenge with viability because of more pharmacies in the community. So, Nigel is thinking about adding a new dimension to the business to boost its strength and stay competitive in the challenging market.

Nigel Vernon

“Just doing the same like what we have at the moment, but basically do it in herbal stuff instead of doing just chemical medication. You can’t stay in one business forever now because it doesn’t work that way anymore.”

Interestingly, even though he is a trained medical scientist, Nigel believes that natural medicine is better for the body.

Nigel Vernon

“I personally would take the herbs over the scientific medication.”

Marion Ali

“Over what you’re selling now?”

Nigel Vernon

“Yeah.”

Marion Ali

“Why?”

Nigel Vernon

“Well, to me, I see it works better. The thing is that you have to be consistent with the herbal stuff. You have to be consistent. You have to take it every day for a longer period of time, but you get better results than when you do just the regular medications that the doctors would prescribe. Yes, you do get better, but with what? Cause sometimes you have side effects with most of these medications. Sometimes we don’t treat the problem and we just want to put a band aid on it and say, “oh, okay, I’m better now.”

Nigel dreams of seeing the business thrive in the future and hopes to eventually pass the torch to a successor.

Nigel Vernon

“Try to keep it in family.”

Marion Ali

“Fourth generation?”

Nigel Vernon

“Working on that one. Not yet. (Laughs)”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Father Zippler Reminding Belizeans About the Joy of Easter

As Belizeans get ready to celebrate Easter with their loved ones, Father Jeremy Zipple, the associate pastor at Saint Martin de Porres parish in Belize City, shares a heartfelt message about the true meaning of the season. He reminds everyone of Jesus’ sacrifice and the boundless love he offers to all.

Father Jeremy Zipple, Associate Pastor, St. Martin De Porres

“Have you ever felt abandoned by friends? Betrayed by friends? Jesus had that very same experience. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? God wasn’t there for you? No one was there for you? Jesus had that same experience on the cross. He goes into the worst of what it means to be a human, the most moments of most extreme suffering and isolation and abandonment and hurt. He experiences all those things as a person, fully human, fully God, but also fully human so that he knows what we go through so that he can be there with us in our owns suffering so that he can say, I get you. I understand what you’re going through. And maybe he doesn’t take away the suffering in those moments when we’re feeling betrayed, when we’re feeling alone, when we’re feeling extreme suffering and sadness. Maybe he doesn’t take away those moments, but he says, I’m there with you in it, and I know what it’s like. And I’m feeling this moment that’s so hard with my holy presence and you’ll get through it. So that’s really what we celebrate as we’re walking with him on the cross. The fact that he’s been there and he’s with us when we go through it. And then finally, Easter Sunday, we celebrate the fact that death, that suffering does not have the last word. Sometimes we go through those difficult moments in life, but we have to remember they’re temporary. They’re always on the other side. His resurrection is new, life is rebirth and Jesus’ suffering and death ends in the most glorious joy imaginable.”