Former Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez has been behind the Office of the Governor General since February sixteenth in an attempt to find out about the status of petitions that were collected from voters in Port Loyola to trigger a recall referendum in that constituency. Martinez is seeking the ouster of sitting Area Representative Gilroy Usher Senior by way of a vote. However, that effort, it would seem, is being frustrated by the GG’s office. According to Martinez, on several occasions he was informed that there was no update on the status of the petitions, only to find out earlier today that the petitions were only handed over to the Chief Elections Officer a few days after he called a press conference on the matter.
Anthony Martinez
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
“It was disclosed this morning by the Chief Elections Officer that she had just received the petitions on the twenty-first of February. That was the day after we had the last press briefing. Now, ah wah tell yoh di real truth, what I find that to be. That is flouting the law. You, as the Governor General, you ascent all laws into play and have little things to do per day and all day to do it. I have some difficulty with that and I have difficulty, in my humble opinion, in the Governor General breaking the law. And I find that to be very delinquent, her office to be very delinquent, very disingenuous and totally dishonest. I will say this, numerous calls were placed to her office for which I believe as the person that launched the petition, my channel for answers is the Governor General’s office and when you say to me, your office says to me numerous times, the petition has not, yoh noh get wahn answer yet. You said, “No response yet on the petition.” When you know that you neva send di petition ova to the election, the Chief Elections Officer as the law mandates because the law says that the Governor General on receipt of the petition shall forward the petition to the Chief Elections Officer forthwith.”
According to Martinez, residents of Port Loyola are deserving of answers from the Office of the Governor General as to why it has seemingly flouted the law. He also says that all legal options are being explored in respect of consequences for breaking the law.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
“The general public and especially the people of Port Loyola need, in my humble opinion, need answers to what happened there.”
Reporter
“So, now that you’ve learned this, will you take legal action?”
Anthony ’Boots’ Martinez
“Well, speaking with the senior attorney this morning, we are looking at legalaction because everything is time and money. But it’s not here nor there, but talking with Mr. Barrow this morning, there should be some legal recourse that we could take against the Governor General and her office.”
Reporter
“You would have to prove though how you had losses.”
Anthony ’Boots’ Martinez
“Now that’s another case… I am saying to you, breaking the law, breaking the law noh have some consequence? And ih noh matter what I say in terms of what happen wah happen and I maintain that. But I am saying we noh reach there yet. I am saying we are contemplating on the avenues for what recourse is there before the court for somebody breaking the law. There has to be some kind of recourse. So I am just saying that we’re looking on that. Me and Mr. Barrow, we spoke this morning and we’re looking at what it is, because nobody is above the law.”
Late this evening, the Government of Belize issued a release responding to the statements made by Martinez that bring the Governor General into disrepute. The release goes on to say, “our laws further mandates that it is unlawful for any person to bring the Governor General in her capacity into contempt, disrepute or disaffection. Whether one agrees or disagrees with this, the fact remains that this is what the supreme law of the country and the laws of Belize command. Recent statements made by Anthony “Boots” Martinez to the media scandalizing and bringing Her Excellency into disrepute are unwarranted, unprecedented and unlawful. The Cabinet has requested the Attorney General to provide advice on this matter”.
On Friday, there was a candlelight vigil held in honor of fifteen-year-old Lamisha Moody. The high school student was innocently shot and killed not far from where she lived in the Jane Usher Boulevard neighborhood. She was not the intended target of the deadly attack, as the gunmen were there to take aim at Troy Hyde. In the spray of bullets, both persons were mortally wounded. Friends, family, students, as well as the faculty and staff of Anglican Cathedral College attended the vigil and shared testimonies.
Aunt of Deceased
Aunt of Deceased
“Lamisha da mi wahn bright person. Lamisha smart. Lamisha love to sing. Lamisha da mi one ah di bravest person. When her grandfather died, when di Fada look pan Lamisha, ih seh how dis young lee gial gwein sing? She could stand up up deh? And she rocked that church. Lamisha was supposed to be one of our future… Lamisha’s life was taken innocently and I hope that the police get justice for my niece. They took her away from us. That was not right.”
ACC Student
ACC Student 1
“Lamisha was very close to me. She was like a big sister to me. Every evening we walked home, we told each other jokes. We dance, we sing and she would always tell me, just remember that I da di older one, and we would laugh and talk. I never expected this to happen because that same evening I was with her and when I heard the news, I was really broken. I did not know what to do and I just want Lamisha to know that I wah always deh ya fu she and I wah be strong.”
ACC Student 2
“[Good] evening. Me and Lamisha, we weren‘t that close but I will always remember the times when Lamisha told me to be strong, not only for her, but for my family. And the day that her accident happened, Lamisha told me that she would see me the second day. When I came to school, I was very heartbroken because I believed that I would have seen her. No one knew that this would have happened to Lamisha. All I pray is for Lamisha to know that I will always have her in my heart and I will always, always love her and she will forever be a part of the ACC family.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is two weeks away. The Boom to the City Canoe Race sets the stage for that monster event.
On Sunday morning, twenty-five canoes were at the starting line in Burrell Boom Village. The starting horn goes off and the paddlers began to dig deep as they all sped off.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
At Manatee Lookout, just outside of Belize City, Team Lucas is leading the charge. Team Guava Limb is close by in second place. Right on their tails are the Belize Coast Guard and Black Orchid Resort. Team PACT and Team Wild pressed on behind the four lead canoes, as did Westline, Wateva Boys and Riverside. At the Riverside Tavern in Belize City, two hours and forty-three minutes after the start of the race, the Belize Coast Guard crosses the finish line in first place, all alone. Almost a minute later, Guava Limb paddles across the finish, followed by Black Orchid Resort in third place. Team Lucas secured fourth place and PACT took the fifth spot. We spoke with the victors of this challenge.
Daniel Gregorio
Daniel Gregorio, Paddler, Belize Coast Guard 1.5
“It started to play in our favor when we were coming to the creek mouth from there we said alright then. We were in a set position. The position we didn’t want it, but we still ended up top three in it and from then we wade out wade out, wade out and the two top teams crashed each other and we took it from there and didn’t back down nothing.”
Let’s head back to the village where the Boom to City Canoe Challenge started, this time for the ninth Annual Boom Run. This run features races in three categories, the five, ten and fifteen kilometer races.
A total of nine runners took off from the starting line for the fifteen-kilometer race. Shortly after, the starting horn went off for the ten runners who ran the ten-kilometer race. The largest group of runners, more than two dozen, participated in the five kilometer run. Taking on the morning’s cool and asphalt road, one foot in front these runners raced on. At the five-kilometer finish line, Christopher Broaster ran in at first place. First place in the ten kilometer race went to Jovanny Baizar and in the female category; the first prize went to Jennifer Lopez. Albert Davis secured first place in the fifteen kilometer race, adding another gold medal to his collection. Dorisha Sabido also won gold for that distance in the female category.
From running the road to riding the highway, the second annual Alfred Parks Memorial Race was nothing short of exciting. For the elite race, the starting line was established in Cotton Tree Village. Riders rode west to the Loma Luz Boulevard, made a u-turn and then rode east to Belize City. From the starting line all the way to Central Farm, the field of riders remained together for the most part. The only time we saw breakaways were during sprints for station prizes. Here, on the Loma Luz Boulevard, we see the lead group of ten riders turning on the roundabout as they begin their ride east. The main field of riders only seconds behind.
In Roaring Creek, Jyven Gonzalez streams past in first place, closely followed by Guatemalan rider Roney Julaju. The main field of riders was just under a minute behind the lead group. Julaju pressed gas just outside of Belmopan and created a significant gap between himself and the lead group. Outside of Saint Matthew’s Village, Jyven Gonzalez is leading a group of eleven riders who are twenty seconds behind lead rider Julaju. A short distance from the Belize Zoo, Julaju’s lead has been cut down, bringing his valiant effort to an end. Melvin Torres makes the dash towards him. Bob Gabourel, from nowhere, challenges Julaju for the station prize. Approaching mile eight, Jyven Gonzalez opens a gap with a surprise attack as he sprinted towards the wheels of Bob Gabourel who was out-front.
With only a short distance left to the finish, Gonzalez gets out of his saddle and rides off ahead of Gabourel. Jyven Gonzalez won the race and was crowned the 2024 Alfred Parks Memorial Race Champion. Bob Gabourel took home the silver medal, followed by Oscar Quiroz in third place. And finally for tonight, we bring you some action from the William Dawson Peace Cup.
We bring you highlights from the match between Lake I FC and Hattieville FC. That game ended in favor of Lake I FC, two goals to one. Twenty minutes into the match, Carlton Roberts capitalized on this opportunity for Hattieville. Right before the close of the first half, Lawnie Leslie placed Lake I on the scoreboard with this skillful touch into the goal. Lake I FC secured another victory with this free kick from on top of the penalty box, given off a whistle for a hand ball.
Well Folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
