2024-03-04 - Channel 5 Belize

Fight at Tabu Nightclub Leaves More Questions Than Answers

A fight inside Tabu Nightclub in San Ignacio on Sunday morning resulted in the arrest of forty-two-year-old Rajiv Mehmi, the proprietor of the establishment. Police report that they responded to the location and saw Mehmi who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Mehmi reportedly approached the officers and shoved him in the chest. A search of the businessman yielded a firearm which he was asked to produce a license for. He then, reportedly, said he needed to call his wife to locate the license. The call was instead placed to the officers’ superiors back at the station who instructed them to release Mehmi and return his firearm. When Mehmi was given the firearm, he allegedly loaded the weapon and raised it in the officer’s direction before insulting him. Here’s more from ComPol Chester Williams.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“That’s a matter that I find extremely troubling and I explained that this morning to officers in conference that I do not endorse the actions of the O.C. in terms of releasing the man. Yes, the man has a story that is inconsistent with what the officers are saying. He was already in custody, they could have arrested and verified which of the two sides were not telling the truth and then, based on that, make a determination. But for the O.C. to have just ordered that the man be released without even investigating to see whether or not he‘s telling the truth or the officers are telling the truth, I find that to be extremely wrong and I told that to Mr. Franco this morning in conference. I have since directed that they put together an investigative team because I am sure that the liquor establishment has cameras and should be able to pick up what exactly transpired, as well as the police station also has cameras that should pick up what transpired. So I have directed the Western Regional Commander to ensure that the investigative team goes to these different locations, retrieve the camera footage, look at it and based on that, we‘re going to make a determination. Now, in terms of the man being intoxicated or believed to have been intoxicated while in possession of a firearm then by all means my policy is, and I am extremely strict where that is concerned, that the firearm should have been confiscated by the police and the proper investigation conducted and maybe even go to the extent of charging him for being in possession of a firearm whilst under the influence. That was not done and again, I have an issue with that.”

P.U.P. Municipal Slate Launches 2024-2027 Manifesto

The People’s United Party’s municipal slate today released its 2024-2027 Manifesto at the Swift Hall in Belize City. The document titled “Stay Pan Track” encapsulates how a new P.U.P. Belize City Council slate will address the needs and concerns of over seventy thousand residents of the ten zones in Belize City, if it is re-elected to office on Wednesday. While the party’s detractors have used the late launch to suggest that the P.U.P. does not have a solid plan, today the former mayor and his former deputy, Allan Pollard Junior, clarified that he and his team had to first go and meet with the residents to come up with the priority areas that they need to address. News Five’s Marion Ali was present for the launch and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting
The launch of the P.U.P.’s manifesto comes a mere two days before Wednesday’s municipal elections. In presenting the document, former Deputy Mayor, Allan Pollard, Jr., explained that the candidates had to meet with the residents first. He shared a few of those demands from the residents.

Allan Pollard, Councilor Candidate, P.U.P.

“It is only when the people are being real is when we understand their position and their needs. And it is only when we are being real with them and real with ourselves that we can deliver for them. So, yes, we did a lot of streets, but we need more drains. Yes, we have the downtown super sale on Saturdays, but weh wi wa do pahn Sunday? And yes, Minister, Gungulung look like “States” (applause) but the people want know when wi wa reach Pen Road Extension, and Krooman. (Chuckles…inaudible response) Definitely, thanks, PM. And we love the Berger Field (applause) but we want one back ya da Lake-I and Mr Usher, wi want one fi Jane Usher [Boulevard] as well. Yes, we had six cohorts of the B-CAP program that assisted many small businesses, and had owners with start-up capital, but we are ready, Mayor, for cohort seven, eight, nine, ten. We are listening, people, and we heard you loud and clear. This document is proof of that.”

In the manifesto, the P.U.P. Municipal slate proposes to replace the Belize City Swing Bridge and the Belcan Bridge, rehabilitate two hundred more streets, maintain and shape a hundred and fifty miles of drains throughout the city, and work with the Belize Tourism Board to promote a cleaner city. Former Mayor, Bernard Wagner, who is making his third bid for that post, agreed that although it is one municipality, there are different needs coming out of the ten areas of Belize City.

Bernard Wagner, Mayoral Candidate, P.U.P.

“How wi could bring out wa manifesto weh could represent the people before wi meet the people. Ih can’t happen that way. Wi had to ensure that this document weh seh “Stay Pahn Track really reflect what the people want in the city. The people – da wa fliud situation. The needs of the people are diverse. The needs of residents living in the Collet or the Port Loyola areas are different from the needs of people living in a Freetown or living in a Caribbean Shores constituency, soh all ah this da wa mix and as we traversed, we understood the mix and we understood the needs and we understood that listen, everybody has needs, but some needs are different. So we ensured that we captured all of those needs within the scope of our “Stay Pan Track” manifesto.”

Prime Minister, John Briceño, who was present for the occasion, told the gathering that a manifesto that is for the people should reflect what the people need.

Prime Minister John Briceño
“A city is more than just streets and drains and picking up the garbage. A city is where you can make a vibrant community, where you feel happy, where you can feel safe, where you can create opportunities, that you can say I am a proud resident of Belize City. We have to continue the work, we have to stay pahn track to continue the development of Belize City. We have to stay pahn track if we will get the bridges done, and fix the streets, and the drains and the parks, and help young people.”

The candidates all attached their signatures to the manifesto during the presentation of the document today. Belize City, which forms one of the nine municipalities that will hold elections on Wednesday, has eleven of the sixty-seven seats countrywide. Marion Ali for News Five.

P.U.P.’s Bernard Wagner Says Political Alignment is Key

The political climate in San Ignacio and Santa Elena makes for an interesting one all because for the past three years, the Mayor and one of the councillors were U.D.P., while the remainder of the councillors were P.U.P. While that equation brought on its own challenges due to continued internal bickering among councillors and a mayor that did not see eye-to-eye, history has shown that most times, city or town halls that hail from the opposing side have even more challenges when they have to work with a different government. Today, the P.U.P.’s Mayoral candidate for Belize City, Bernard Wagner agreed that having political alignment makes the work easier and that much more can be accomplished, and that the team that he has is one that is formidable with a positive energy.

Bernard Wagner, Mayoral Candidate, P.U.P

“The main thing there is about ensuring that you have a national and a sub-national government working in tandem. That’s what development occurs when you have synchronicity and you have the same energies and you have the sub-national and the national being at the same political persuasion. That’s how development occurs in any modern city. Clearly, the pandemic was always an issue with us getting on track because that really took away from all our resources. I know that has been getting back to where it normally is. And we are confident that we are able to work in tandem with national government to drive development for the city.”

Reporter

“Mayor, specifically on drainage, what is the commitment if you win again?

Bernard Wagner

“Getting back to the basics -drainage. We have done a lot of streets, and drainage is always not sexy, but we want to ensure that we get back to the basics: chopping the grass, digging the drains, ensuring the streets are maintained, the parks are maintained, but never forgetting that we have 730 streets in the city, and some of those still need the occasional repairs. I believe that this team really, have a better type of energy, positive energy, always important in any team. You can’t say what will happen in the future, but you’ll, manage it.”

Bernard Wagner Says Campaign Financing Comes From the P.U.P.

One of the questions posed to Wagner had to do with the source of campaign financing. The former mayor said that financing for their campaign is not an issue that he is responsible for or tasked to come up with. In fact, Wagner indicated that it is his party’s national entity that is tasked with coming up with the funds for their campaign. And as for the coverage of the campaign, Wagner said that while he could not walk the city’s over seven hundred streets to reach every household, they’ve covered quite a lot by splitting up in groups.

Bernard Wagner, Mayoral Candidate, P.U.P.

“I just do my campaign. That is essentially what I do. I can’t worry about funding, who fund the ads – that is from a national perspective. So I don’t get involved with that. I make sure my energy is focused on the campaign.”

Reporter

Have you reached all divisions now?

Bernard Wagner

“I’ve went to all divisions, I may not have went on all streets. That’s very tough – 700 plus streets but I’ve covered a lot of ground and by splitting up the teams we have been able to maximize our efforts.”

Succotz On Track To Acquire Multipurpose Center

The Belize Tourism Board has embarked on another endeavor towards cultural preservation and community development with the commencement of a Multipurpose Center in San Jose Succotz in Cayo District. The project was launched in collaboration with Cayo West Area Representative Jorge Espat, in order to redefine the landscape of the Maya and Mestizo village of San Jose Succotz. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, March first, where Jorge Espat spoke on the project’s launch.

Jorge Espat, Cayo West Area Representative

“History will continue in the village of San Jose Succotz through building of this multi purpose building and all of you residents and tour guides that at the end of the day, it’s of most benefit to all. Continuing to have a place where we will celebrate our activities, the festivities, weddings, meetings, trainings, and especially the day of San Jose Succotz. This was the area and will continue to be the area where the village will celebrate its day. So this is history and continues to be history. Forty three years we are shy away and twenty days for the anniversary of this specific building, Forty three years and after that we are going to bring state of the art building, something that this village really needs, something that will put Cayo on the map as well. Teaching all that is there to teach of our culture and heritage of this village and villagers. So at the end of the day, I thank each and every one of you for the support that you all had given us.”

B.T.B. Training Initiatives to Be Implemented

The Belize Tourism Board has affirmed its commitment to developing areas throughout Belize in order to elevate their appeal in the hopes of boosting economic development and the preservation of Belize’s culture. As part of this initiative, a Multipurpose Center is to be constructed in San Jose, Succotz. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, March first, where Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler spoke about the importance of these projects beyond just the infrastructure.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

“The Cayo district is always among the top three destinations in the country. So it’s very, very important for an industry that generated 1. 2 billion dollars provides so many working opportunities for people, injects the foreign exchange that we get a lot of it. And so almost half of our economy is dependent on tourism. Now, for far too long, the infrastructure that supports tourism has been neglected. Multiple governments, and I’m not gonna say who or what, but they haven’t looked at the physical product. That we sell and say, all right, we need to inject some serious money into this product so that we can sell internationally. For most of it, it has been built organically. No planning, no zoning, no discipline, no structure. We have a beautiful area in San Pedro called Secret Beach that’s just chaotic. We have to corral that. You have Mountain Pine Ridge, again, that poses some opportunities for us, but also some issues that we have to rectify and address as we move forward as disciplined and organized leaders that we work every day to ensure that we make Belize a better place. So these projects that we’re rolling out are just a part of the product building exercise and exercises that we have going on, um, under the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations and the Belize Tourism Board. Now, a part of that, even though we have to fix the infrastructure, we have to continue to build our people, so training is important. We are going to launch some training initiatives on this side as well during the summer months. And so all of these things create a world class tourism destination.”

Pickstock Criterium Takes Over Central American Boulevard

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Benny’s Belize Hurricanes dominated inside the Belize City Civic Center on Friday night against the Belmopan Trojans. Hurricanes won their game against the Trojans by thirty-three points. The Hurricane’s entire starting five were good for double digits. The same was true for two of their bench players. Sidibe “The African” Bourama, played eighteen minutes and finished the game with sixteen points and nine rebound. Bourama displayed dominance under the rim, especially in the third quarter. 2023 league MVP Victor Evans finished with thirteen points and ten rebounds, contributing the most rebounds for his team that night.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Amar Ross “The Three Point Boss” played twenty-two minutes of this and finished with sixteen points. He exited the game and went back to the locker room with an injury to his angle. But, soon enough he returned and continued to play. Ross was sixty percent from the three-point line on Friday night. Off the bench, Marquise Cunningham was good for fourteen points and six rebounds. For the Belmopan Trojans, Jevaughn Mckenzie was good for fifteen points and Dartavious Young finished with fourteen points, lead their team in scoring, though they lost the game. After the match we heard from the Hurricanes’ lead scorers.

Sidibe Bourama, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes

“My teammates are looking for me, Ross and Vick and Cope they are always looking fo the big men. When you run the floor you get awarded with the ball and then after that I just came and play hard you know. I just wanted to come out harder and set a standard because in the first half I got into two quick fouls and I was mad about it but I said I was just going to come out and play hard and if I foul out I foul out and I just go after it.”

Amar Ross, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes

“I mean it is God honestly. God has been here for me from the beginning. He is here for me now. He keep me going through it. Even my angle getting rolled, it’s just him that I still have the strength to play through that. Like, so I am just thankful and grateful and blessed.”

Paul Lopez

“Are you concerned any at all about the games coming up, you have a huge game against the Belize City Defenders?”

Amar Ross

“Well I will just say it like this, you all going to see me play. There is no way I am sitting out, so that is it. You all are going to see me play, I will figure it out.”

From basketball we take you to some football action in the Williams Dawson Peace Cup. This weekend we were in Sand Hill Village for the match between Kelly Street and Port FC. This one ended two goals to zero in favor of Kelly Street. Here is how those two goals played out. In the eight minute of the game, Port FC’s goal keeper kicked the ball to his teammate on the right. That player kicked the ball towards his teammate near the goal.

Number eight for Kelly Street applied pressure on the goal keeper, leading to a turnover and placing Kelly Street’s number ten in position to score the team’s first goal of the match, a costly error there by Port FC. The second goal of the match came at the seventy-first minute. Good defensive presence and offensive strategy placed number ten on top of the penalty box to receive the pass. He missed kicked but his teammate was in front of the goal to save the play and make the goal. As we said, Kelly Street won the match.

And finally for tonight, we bring you some highlights from the Pickstock Criterium on Sunday in Belize City. This race followed the Belmopan Cycling Classic that was held earlier in the day and won by Wasani Castro. In the Pickstock Critirium, elite riders raced along the Central American Boulevard from the Pallotti Roundabout to the Hand Roundabout and back for twenty-five laps. Four laps into the race and a small gap has been opened by a group of seven riders as they made their way pass around the Pallotti roundabout. Eleven laps in and the lead has been cut down from seven to four riders.

Among them are Byron Pope, Gregg Lovell and Derrick Chavarria. with eight laps remaining, a group of seven rider, lead by Devonte Bennett is working to bridge that longstanding gap. With six laps remaining Wasani Castro and Giovanni Lovell breaks away from the chase pack and presses in an attempt to bridge that gap. Three laps remaining and Wasani Castro has taken the lead in this one, as his effort pays off. At the finish line, its Giovanni Lovell in first place, followed closely by Wasani Castro in second.

Well Folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.