A man was shot dead early this morning in Ladyville. He has been identified as twenty-one-year-old Cameron Hemsley, a known street figure of the same community. Hemsley was released from the Belize Central Prison on February second, for a robbery that is still before the Magistrate’s Court. He was shot in the Kwam Street area and ran into a yard where he collapsed and died. His body was discovered this, morning beside a house, where he apparently ran to escape the gunfire; however, he had already been mortally injured. News Five’s Marion Ali was in Ladyville today and put together the following report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This is the location behind this residence at the corner of Seagull and Kwam streets in Ladyville, where twenty-one-year-old Cameron Hemsley drew his last breath this morning, before one o’clock. He had apparently sought refuge here when eight gunshots rang out. Hemsley ran into the yard and collapsed. The occupant of the house told News Five that he heard the gunshots, and a few seconds later he heard laboured breathing for a short while outside his house near a window. The man said that he thought that it was an opossum because not long ago, stray dogs had mauled one of these animals and it was breathing heavily before it died.
This morning, after the shots were fired, residents said that dogs were barking incessantly. But no one went to investigate what had really happened and it was not until the occupant of the house opened his window and looked outside that he saw Hemsley’s body beside his house. While no one in the immediate area was willing to talk on record, this incident has left them spooked. Two of Hemsley’s acquaintances did share with us off-camera, different perspectives of the same person. One of his friends, a woman who did not wish to share her name, was shocked by the incident.
Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley
Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley
“I surprised when I hear this morning that they kill her, you know, it was very surprising because I never believe they want to kill her, cause he well known a lady villain, everybody hang with her, soh ih very surprising. He did crimes, but not concerning people, nuh like that. He mi cool, da wa cool young man.”
But Hemsley’s other friend who also spoke with us off-camera, said the killing came as no surprise to him.
Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley
“He choose a life deh. That da neva pahn we.”
Marion Ali
”What kind of life yoh di talk bout?”
Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley
“Street, and you know the street is gonna eat you up after a while. There’s a lot of things. A lotta people mi want get the man. One time he was good; we tried to help him, but we can’t help him no more. We told him that when he come from jail last time.”
According to court reports, Cameron Hemsley was in fact, facing a trial for robbery. He was out on bail which he had secured just twelve days ago while awaiting the trial to begin, when he was shot dead. In 2019, he was charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and one count of aggravated assault for pulling a gun on a police officer. Police are investigating the incident. Marion Ali for News Five.
In 2023, twenty-eight-year-old Howard Reyes was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, aggravated assault with a firearm and wounding, following a shooting incident in Saint Paul’s Bank. Today, the Burrell Boom car dealer is a free man after his last two charges were dropped by the virtual complainant, James Perry, who requested that no further court action be taken against Reyes. According to Reports, Perry had been walking home when a gray Chevrolet Equinox drove up beside him and someone inside the vehicle fired several shots, injuring Perry. Due to the nature of the offenses, Reyes was denied bail at the time and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. However, Reyes was later granted bail in late 2023 by the High Court and now, in light of the complainant’s request, the remaining charges of wounding and deadly means of harm were dropped and Reyes was set free.
After a mere six days in Belize, a Honduran national has been charged with illegal entry and is at risk of serving six months in Prison. Allegations are that thirty-nine-year-old Loren Rosales entered Belize on February eighth, 2024 through the banks of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo Del Carmen and has since being staying in Belize City, where she was later found. Rosales appeared unrepresented before a senior magistrate where she was read a single charge of illegal entry, to which she pleaded guilty. Rosales was given the option of paying a one thousand, five dollar fine or spending six months in prison, after which she will be deported back to Honduras. During mitigation, Rosales pleaded for leniency and asked the court for assistance in obtaining legal documents so that she may be removed from Belize earlier. Rosales was informed that if she wishes to remain in Belize legally, she must return home, obtain a passport and follow the proper protocol for such proceedings. However, she expressed disinterest in remaining in Belize any further. Since Rosales pleaded guilty and has no legal ties in Belize, the court ordered for her expulsion after paying her one thousand five hundred dollar fine or serving six months in prison. Tonight, Rosales is at the Belize Central Prison.
The Senate Special Select Committee continues to investigate the Portico Definitive Agreement. Since its establishment, a total of four witnesses have been called to testify before the committee, including two who were called to answer questions today. The committee’s focus in this session was on government land transactions that occurred between October and November 2020, only months before the general elections. Sean Duncan, the Director of NYNE Enterprises, and his business partner David Morales are among the individuals who purchased land from the government at the time for what the committee considers to be below market value. Duncan was summoned to testify before the committee. Former Lands Commissioner, Wilbert Vallejos was also called to testify. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Senate Special Select Committee convened for yet another session inside the National Assembly. The first witness to go before the committee was Sean Duncan, the Director of NYNE Enterprises Limited. He appeared with his attorney, Andrew Bennett. Duncan and his business partner, David Morales, purchased two, fifty-acre parcels of land from the Government of Belize in October 2020. Those land transactions were among a total of sixteen properties sold off around the same time. The relevance of the sales to the agreement is that the parcels are located in the vicinity of the project’s proposed site.
Sean Duncan
Sean Duncan, Director, NYNE Enterprises Limited
“My involvement in whatever land transaction this is was fairly technical. I have a partner that deals with all of the commercial aspect of it, transaction. From my perspective I am not sure of the relevance of me being here, but I am here to comply with whatever questions you ask me. I am here because I respect this process and on the advice of my counsel.”
In his opening statement, Duncan sought to establish that his business partner David Morales oversaw most of the land transaction process. Duncan says he only signed off on papers authorizing NYNE Enterprises to make the purchase.
Kevin Herrera
Kevin Herrera, Senator
“Our records are showing that there are two properties of fifty acres each, I think one I for fifty point one and the other is around the same size, can you confirm?”
Sean Duncan
“That is correct.”
Kevin Herrera
“And you paid, five thousand two hundred dollars each for those properties, our records are showing?”
Sean Duncan
“That is the reason we wanted disclosure because we could have reviewed the documents. I really cant remember those figures or anything like that.”
Janelle Chanona, the chair of the Senate Special Select Committee, questioned Duncan on the expedited manner at which NYNE Enterprises’ land applications were processed. And, when Senator Bevin Cal questioned Duncan on Morales’ involvement in the land transaction process, Duncan continued to somewhat throw his business partner under the bus.
Janelle Chanona
Janelle Chanona, Chairpersons, Senate Committee
“We have documentation here saying you applied the seventh of October it was received the thirteenth of October and then you get approval the twentieth of October. When you got the notice from your business partner that you got the investment secured all within less than a month.”
Sean Duncan
“Something’s work faster than others I guess, from his perspective. But remember, I did not deal with that aspect.”
Bevinton Cal
Bevinton Cal, Senator
“So, David Morales was the one who did all the paper work, went to the proposed land site, inspected it, applied for it; all you did was just sign?”
Sean Duncan
“Yes he is the managing director; he did whatever he did with the transaction. He brought a good opportunity I signed over, because I don’t think you can ever go wrong with lands.”
The second witness to go before the committee today was former Lands Commissioner, Wilbert Vallejos. He served as the lands commissioner for eleven years and appeared today with his attorney, Dean Barrow, who wasted no time stating that his client will not answer questions deemed irrelevant.
Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow, Attorney-At-Law
“I believe that you would have to agree with me that questions about land transfers or land sales in an area that is within two miles of the locus, site of the Portico cruise project, those questions has nothing to do with the end on which you have embarked. You can put any question you wish, but I am suggesting to you that you are not entitled to put questions that fall outside the ambit of your terms of reference. You are not entitled.”
Thereafter, every question that senators put to the former lands commissioner was met with an objection of irrelevance.
Wilbert Vallejos, Former Lands Commissioner
“Senator Herrera your question keeps coming about land. I am sure you heard Mr. Barrow, the terms of reference is specific about the Portico Definitive Agreement which I don’t know anything.”
Kevin Herrera,
“For me, there is relevance. You may determine otherwise but for us there is certainly a relationship so we really wanted to get an understanding of what took place that faithful day on November fourth but it seems you don’t intend to be helpful to the committee which I think is sad. The Belizean public certainly deserves a lot better than that, you being commissioner for so much years, being paid by the Belizean tax payers. So I think it is a very sad day in the country that you decided you won’t help or assist the committee in this investigation.”
It was then determined that Vallejos would be of no help to the committee during today’s session. He requested that questions be sent to him in writing and that a determination be made on whether the committee will request his presence at a later date. Former Minister of Lands, Hugo Patt was also scheduled to testify before the committee today. But due to time constraints, his testimony has been rescheduled. Paul Lopez for News Five.
Notwithstanding Wilbert Vallejos’s reluctance to answer most of the questions put to him by the Senate Special Select Committee, Chairperson Janelle Chanona continued to press him on certain records in the committee’s possession. One of the matters on the committee’s record pertains to the short time between the signings of the Portico Definitive Agreement and the sale of the lands in question.
Janelle Chanona, Chairperson, Senate Committee
“I put to you Mr. Viejo that the chronology the paper works shows that the Definitive Agreement was signed on first of October 2020. The land in and adjoining the Portico development area went from national lands to particular companies on the fourth of October and then in 2022 was purchased by Portico.”
Wilbert Vallejos
Wilbert Vallejos, Former Lands Commissioner
“Madam Chair, are you giving evidence?”
Janelle Chanona
“No he is asking me to clarify the question. With all due respect, I am asking you Mr. Vallejos, the context of the question is, was there a process. The committee would be guided from an expert like yourself as to what was the process for national land to be sold to companies.”
Wilbert Vallejos
“You are asking a specific question and you want to give a general answer.”
Janelle Chanona
“You can give a general answer if that is what your counsel is advising you to give us. As a former public officer I am asking you to answer the question.”
Wilbert Vallejos
”Chair, I don’t want to be looked at as somebody who doesn’t want to help the committee. I have heard the questions you asked the former commissioner. I have heard the questions you asked other people about the lands. But again, in my humble opinion, those questions are set and a part from what you would be asking me. I am trying to see the relevance.”
Former Special Envoy Kim Simplis-Barrow is the new president of the Belize Cancer Society, succeeding Laura Tucker-Longsworth who served in that capacity for many years. The announcement was made earlier today, following an annual general meeting that saw the appointment of a new board of directors. Simplis-Barrow is joined by Vice President Sharon Young and Secretary Doctor Dionne Chamberlain. During the AGM, two resolutions were passed which permits the board of directors to establish a dedicated seat for the immediate past president to serve as an ex-officio member, providing valuable continuity and experience, as well as institutional knowledge. Secondly, dedicated seats will be established on the board of directors for the presidents of district branches.
Tonight, we continue with our weekly coverage of the upcoming municipal elections. In this installment of Meet the Candidates, we take you to the City of Belmopan, the nation’s Capital. Both the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party are fielding candidates for March sixth. So, who are these aspiring municipal leaders and why did they decide to run for office. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled to Belmopan to hear from both mayoral candidates and a couple of their councilor candidates. Here is what he found out about them.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“I believe that the PUP is the best party in Belize. This party has been behind some of the movements the people have clamored for, for example independence. There are others of course. So, that would be one of the first reasons why. My dad was also a representative for the PUP for Belmopan as well as Cayo South and for myself, the option of which party it was, was very clear. This is the best party for representing the people.”
Jackyln Burns
Jacklyn Burns, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“I always tell people that God dictates my journey because I never aspired to be a mayor or I never had it in my dream. But what I know I want to do is to be actively involved in assisting people, being in a mayoral seat, being a counselor allows for access to resources, it widens the expanse of what you are able to do, the amount of people you are able to reach and contributes to the development of your country. That is the whole goal, the bigger picture.”
Chris Enriquez
Chris Enriquez, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“One of the biggest reasons I decided to enter into politics is because youths tend to shy away from politics and I wanted to encourage youths to be a part of politics. By us taking part in politics, it gives us an inclusive society for sustainable development and so I am trying to be the one to advocate for the youths and be the voice for the youths.”
“Yes I am son of the soil, born and raised in Belmopan, proud to say that I have attended scholl in Belmopan, right from the preschool, junior school, upper school, Belmopan Comprehensive and the University of Belmopan. I believe I am a people person. Majority of the people in Belmopan know me as a sport enthusiast. I have a passion for sports. In particular if I was to chose, I would say volleyball is my first preference, but I love all sports.”
Paul Casey
Paul Casey, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“Most people know me as “Supa P”, the DJ. Born and raised in Belmopan, I am a song of the soil. Most people know my mother too. She is the person that created or started the first preschool in Belmopan, from 1984 to present. She is still there and I don’t know when she will leave. The way how Belmopan is right now, is not the way how we know it growing up when we had activities and people helped out each other and were united together.”
“It is just the love for the community. As it is, through my business I have been able to reach and help a lot of people within the community, whether it be with assistance with medical or needing to send their kids to school and stuff like that. While it might not be much it has helped a lot. It just wants to get the networking and be able to do more for the community. Having a small business I am a bit limited in that, but not only that, but to see the community move forward.”
There are a number of issues that Belmopan residents are expecting their elected municipal leaders to address. The upkeep of streets and drains are among those concerns, as well as debris and garbage collection. There is also a high demand for more family-friendly activities in the nation’s capital. On a political level, both the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party have public perception to contend with. Outgoing P.U.P. Mayor, Sharon Palacio is considered highly controversial and the former U.D.P. Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar, who the U.S designated as significantly corrupt, is a close ally of the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belmopan stands out in the upcoming municipal elections, because it is the nation’s capital. It is considered the fastest growing population center in the country. Residents of the municipality expect their elected city council officials to meet the demands of this growing city..
Eva Aranda
Eva Aranda, Belmopan Resident
“Honest to you I live here for twenty years and where I live, the street, there is no light by the street. Everything dark and whenever people stealing stuff and different houses, we cant see them people, it really dark.”
P.U.P. mayoral candidate, Pablo Cawich says infrastructural development is high on the list of demands from residents.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“A couple of the main issues that they bring up are streets, drainage, because there are many areas in Belmopan that floods out when it gets rain, because Belmopan loved to rain. Another issue is lighting.”
United Democratic Party’s mayoral candidate, Jackyln Burns, says the residents she has engaged on the campaign trail are of the view that the city is broken. She contends that Belmopan has been neglected by the outgoing P.U.P. city council administration.
Jackyln Burns
Jackyln Burns, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“People feel like Belmopan is broken. The potholes are not something we are use to. We are use to our green areas being nicely tapered. We have a certain pride in saying Belmopan is our home and we want it to reflect this nicely kept area. That is a priority for people.”
The U.D.P.’s campaign slogan in the Capital City is, “Make Belmopan Vibrant Again”. It is a reflection of the demand for more youth and family-friendly activities. Both parties are hoping to fill this gap with the youthful candidates that they are fielding.
Voice of: Belmopan Resident
Voice of: Belmopan Resident
“Belmopan is known to be the dead and “boringess” place in the country of Belize. We need some recreational centers mainly for youths, not mainly for youths, the general public.”
Paul Casey
Paul Casey, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“I am a DJ at trade, for entertainment part that is my strong hold. I will know what activities to do and create, because we have the kids, the high schoolers. We have the tertiary level, the adults and the senior citizens. So we have to think outside the box whereby everybody can work together or something for everybody to help each other and something attractive where it can be family friendly, because that is one of the major complaint, we don’t have any family friendly stuff.”
Chris Enriquez
Chris Enriquez, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“For me, advocating for the youths, many of them feel comfortable reaching out to me. A lot of the concerns are that there is not enough activities in terms of sports, afterschool programs, academics. So for me to be in the position to advocate for them, I know what we like. It puts us in a good position because we now have a voice. Many times in politics it is the same older heads over and over and so for us to have fresh ideas, perspective and the energy to address pressing issues, I think it is a plus.”
But there is a dark cloud over the People’s United Party’s in Belmopan that stems from public perception of the outgoing city council. Mayor Sharon Palacio was elected three years ago under the P.U.P. banner as the first woman mayor in the Capital City. But, she was easily one of the most controversial mayors the city has seen to date. Will Mayor Palacio’s performance cause the P.U.P. to lose significant support in Belmopan?
Pablo Cawich, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“The support for, specifically for this team has been overwhelming. We have been getting a lot of support from residents. Everybody has said that we have this already, but we can’t take that for granted. We have to continue pounding the ground, putting in the work and ensure that we listen to all the concerns that residents have.”
Burns, on the other hand, contends that residents are looking to the U.D.P. to take back the reins in Belmopan.
Jaclyn Burns, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“It is definitely what I am hearing in the campaign trail so we will see what it translates into the ballot box come March sixth nuh, and it is my expectation we will see the results we are expecting.”
And, Burns’ candidacy is shrouded by its own controversy. Her opponents erected a billboard along the Belmopan Ring Road displaying her face next to former Belmopan Area Representative, John Saldivar. It is no secret that in November 2022, the US State Department designated Saldivar as ”significantly corrupt”, barring him from entering the U.S. Taking a stab at Burns’ campaign slogan, the billboard reads, “Make Belmopan Significantly Corrupt Again”.
Jackyln Burns, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“In our school we teach our kids not to be bullies, so I would not expect that at this level of a leadership competition, but about my face being tied to John Saldivar I have no issues with that. I have worked for John Saldivar, I have been his friend for so long and people who might not know him might believe all that I said about him, but having worked closely with him, having lived two houses down from him every since I was a little girl and having seen the work that Belmopan has gotten as a result of his leadership. I can say I am proud to be affiliated with the gentleman.”
“Without trying to be bias, if there was something to say, if there was some sort of proof, Mr Saldivar would be going to court and to make Jackie guilty by association is, I would like to think we are all innocent until proven guilty.”
Pablo Cawich, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“The sign itself, I don’t agree with it, but it is a reality in politics and sometimes the residents need to be reminded of the past and associations. Birds of a feather flock together right.”
He’s been campaigning daily for himself and his fellow candidates with the People’s Democratic Movement, under the leadership of Esteven Perera Senior. But now, there’s been a fall-out between them and Henry says he is no longer a part of the P.D.M. team. It has to do with money issues and Henry told us that even though he has been informed by the Elections and Boundaries Department that his name cannot be removed from the ballot, come March sixth, don’t vote for him.
Phillip “Fawda” Henry
Phillip “Fawda” Henry, Withdrew from P.D.M.
“We call several meetings at Mr. Perrera’s house to ask about the fundraising, and I believe that we have a secretary, we have a treasurer.”
Marion Ali
“For the campaign?”
Phillip “Fawda” Henry
“For the campaign.”
He’s not saying what he wants to hear in any, one of our meeting. So we are not going to stand in solidarity if a person doesn’t want to say things that we need to hear about. We need some funds to be campaigning with. And we are not getting there. We are not getting, receiving it. And I have lots of people who wants to vote for the P.D.M. because I am there. So I am saying to the entire city, the people in Belize City, that I will not run with any movement if it’s not about the people.
Phillip “Fawda” Henry
“I stepped out because when we call meetings, he is not fair to the ten of us. So if the others want to stay, I have nothing to say to them, but I will not stay because I don’t feel comfortable. My question is fair enough, is to ask the person we trust to put before us how much he collects and we need our finance money to be campaigning.”
Marion Ali
“And the response has been what?”
Phillip “Fawda” Henry
“The response has been a lot of negative words. So I am not going to be on the same ballot as the P.D.M. I will not be there.”
Marion Ali
”So when Election Day comes and your name appears on the ballot still, you’re telling people to not vote for you on the ballot?”
Phillip “Fawda” Henry
“I am saying that I am not a member, and when I say I’m not a member, when you see my name on that ballot, don’t vote. You don’t want to vote for Philip Henry because this is not my time.”
Jamie Usher has been the principal of Belize High School since it was established over a decade ago. But tonight, she is no longer head of the private secondary school here in Belize City. In a message earlier this evening, Usher confirmed her departure from B.H.S. stating, “I am humbled to have been able to share my talents, gifts, and ideas for just under fourteen years. The service to the future of education in Belize has been my passion, and my energies will continue to serve the students of Belize, especially in leadership and robotics. I look forward to the next chapter. Always Team Belize, always a robotics enthusiast, and always a STEAM educator.”
