The skeletal remains of an individual believed to be forty-six-year-old Glenford Davis were discovered on Sunday in the Rock Stone Pond Community. Davis was last seen by his relatives on December twenty-first, 2023, however, a missing person’s report was only just issued March twelfth. While investigators are yet to confirm the identity of the remains, News Five understands that the items found at the scene have been identified as articles belonging to the missing farmer.
“On March 17th, 2024, police visited a bushy area at Rock Stone Pond, Belize District, where they found human remains. The scene was processed by Scenes of Crime and the remains were retrieved and were taken to the forensic laboratory awaiting a post mortem examination. We had received a missing person’s report and we had focused the search in that area where the remains were found.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say who the person is, who the missing person is?”
Hilberto Romero
“We will await the post mortem results then we will determine if a proper identification can be done.”
Reporter
“Do police believe that this is maybe the opening of a homicide case?”
Hilberto Romero
“We are getting certain information. We have recorded some statements and at the end of the day we will determine if anyone will be charged. Several persons are in custody in regards to this report.”
Reporter
“Are you treating it as a murder?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, it is a death investigation and everything is being carried out.”
The P.U.P.’s Corozal Bay Area Representative, Elvia Vega-Samos, has pressed charges against a former P.U.P. Corozal Town councilor. It’s become a ‘he-said-she-said’ situation that unfolded during the swear-in ceremony of the town council on Friday night. Samos claims that she was physically assaulted by Dillan Cassanova. In a Facebook post, Vega-Samos said, “I was openly assaulted by an individual, and my husband’s life was threatened. This was done by ‘individuals from my own party who are desperate for power”. In response to Vega-Samos’s claims, Cassanova took to social media to present his version of events, asserting that it was Vega-Samos who initiated the confrontation. According to Cassanova, while he was dancing, Vega-Samos bumped into him. He further stated that, after being verbally harassed by Vega-Samos and her companions, he chose to leave the area and subsequently filed a formal complaint with the police. Vega-Samos says she filed a complaint today and is expecting Cassanova to be criminally charged.
Elvia Vega
Elvia Vega, Area Representative, Corozal Bay
“Hipolito, during the whole swearing in, you had Dylan Casanova coming over to my right side, standing over this side. I’m sitting down and looking at me with eyes of malice. You know, I looked on the other side and then you had other members of Plan Corozal there as well. And I said in my mind, God, you know, just let me focus on what I need to do tonight and let me focus on meeting with the people after this and then go home. And that’s exactly what they did Hipolito. Now, when after Prime Minister left the premises, it got worse. At this time you had Neri Ramirez coming to insult one of the members because of my executive members because he reached out to him and told him to please control, George, to please control Dylan Casanova and the young man Perez. And his response was a very offensive one. As you can see in a video that has been going he, the police actually had to restrain him. I stepped only I would say like two to three tiles away from them to watch Gilharry 7 and the people that were dancing. Now, so the executive, my family are over this side, take into account that nobody’s over this side. So I was standing, watching, observing, when from behind Dylan Casanova came and bumped into me, elbowed me, and I actually lost my balance. I had to try to regain my balance. So when that happened, I didn’t say anything. I looked at him because by then I had seen that it’s him. He turned around, he deliberately turned around, looked at me, laughed, and looked at me as to say, ‘So what are you going to do now?’ So at this point, I turned around and I called the policemen because a fight was about to, to start because all the people, they came over towards him that are from Plan Corozal and they came very aggressive. Josue Perez came wanting to, had a fist in his hand wanting to punch Ms. Zeni Perdomo.”
This afternoon, Prime Minister John Briceño weighed in on the internal row between Area Representative Elvia Vega-Samos’ camp and former town councilor Dillan Cassanova in Corozal Town. The incident, he says, is regrettable.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think success brings its own problems and, you know, people are getting very excited about wanting to represent which is not necessarily a bad thing. But it’s unfortunate that we have this kind of behavior from both sides. I believe that we are one party, one family and if we have any problems we should try to work it out internally and not outside.”
Reporter
“Have you cautioned all parties to [cease and desist?]”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well that’s a matter for the chairman that deals with these matters and I have already told him that he needs to, I spoke with him over the weekend and he said he’ll be looking into this and see how he can calm things down to be able to move forward.”
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, was asked about the incident involving Elvia Vega-Samos, during today’s police briefing. He noted that investigators are looking into the complaint and will take the necessary actions.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It is a matter that yes the police is looking into up in the north. It was brought to my attention asn we are seeing what can be done in the matter.”
Reporter
“The gentleman is saying that Ms. Samos and her husband basically clipped him while they were driving. He said police told him that he wouldn’t be able to make a complaint due to that incident.”
Chester Williams
“I am not aware of that at all. I know a report is made and the police is looking into the matter.”
On Friday, we reported that a vacancy is being advertised for a new Chief Executive Officer at B.T.L. We also reported that Ivan Tesucum has been at the helm of the utility company since 2019. Earlier today, a statement from the company said the Board of Directors will, quote, take the opportunity to utilize the new formal process in light of the pending expiration of the contract of its Chief Executive Officer. This announcement marks an important step in Digi’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the continuous growth and success of the organization. Through this process, the call to interested applicants has been extended and all interested applicants, including the incumbent will be invited to apply, end quote. This afternoon, Prime Minister John Briceno discussed what’s currently taking place at B.T.L.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“In the contract, the board needs to give notice on whether the contract is going to be renewed or not. If he is not given notice then it‘s an automatic renewal. So what the board has decided to do is to list or make an announcement for a position of CEO. It doesn’t mean that the present CEO cannot apply. Of course, the present CEO can apply and if anybody else wants to apply well that is their right to apply for the job.”
Reporter
“You have some experience in these matters and you would know that three weeks which is the portal opening, you can‘t get anyone to take over a very heavy job like that, anyone suitable to take over a very heavy job like that in three weeks. So should we then conclude that it‘s just a formality and the present CEO will be renewed.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don‘t know. I think that… I was not aware of the three-week portal. Let us start with that, but I do believe that a number of people have been looking at the possibility of that job being open. So the ones that are interested, I am sure thatthey need less than three weeks to be able to get in their applications.
Reporter
“We know that in order to get a job like this, you have to be politically favored.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“That’s not true. What we want to do, because if you look at what happened at BEL, we stayed with the present person because we believe that the CEO for BEL is good for BEL. Mr. Mencias, that he is good for BEL, so we hired him and likewise, if the present CEO, if the board believes that he is doing a good job for the company, I am sure that they are going to hire him. They are going to renew his contract, unless somebody anew that can bring fresh ideas or a new direction for the company comes in.”
Last week, the financier for the Stake Bank project, Atlantic Bank, placed the operation into receivership. Marlowe Neal was appointed as the receiver and the bank explained that the purpose of the receivership is to see the project through to its completion. The multi-million-dollar project was due to be completed by now, with restaurants, duty-free shopping, swimming pool, beach activities, and vendors making their living at the facility. But it could not get off the ground and now the bank is projecting to have the facility completed within six months under the receivership. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño told the media that the developer of the project, Michael Feinstein has asked for an audience with him this week, which he has agreed to.
Reporter
“Are you meeting with Mr. Feinstein?
Prime Minister John Briceño
“He asked to meet with me. Yes, I’ll try to meet with him sometime this week, but then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I have a budget debate. But, again, Stake Bank is a private issue, and so he asked me to meet with him, and of course. I’ve known Mr. Feinstein for many years. I consider him a friend, and he wants to meet with me, I’ll meet with him.”
Reporter
“And he said on TV, he’s a large campaign (donor) contributor to the PUP – millions of dollars in the last election. That’s what he said, Sir.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Why yoh wa say that, Jules? You just want mek ah say things noh true. I would not say anything.”
The son of accused Belmopan murderer, Haitian American, Robert Joseph, is wanted in the United States of America. Twenty-two-year-old David Joseph was seen in surveillance footage dropping off his father at the scene of last week’s murder. Police detained David Joseph for questioning where it was learnt that he is wanted in the U.S. According to police, he has agreed to be extradited.
Reporter
“Has the gentleman’s son been interviewed and can police say whether he has been ruled out?”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The gentleman’s son is in the U.S. He was wanted in the U.S. and has been sent back to face charges that he was wanted for out there.”
Paul Lopez
“Was he detained here for questioning in relation to this incident?”
Chester Williams
“He was detained and he agreed to be taken back to the U.S.”
The Belmopan Market Plaza will be hosting a candlelight vigil on Wednesday at seven p.m. in memory of Lauren Fiorito and Megan Klassen. The event will take place on the Paradise Café parking lot.
A police officer has been charged following a shooting incident on Thursday night in Punta Gorda Town. PC Felix Hernandez was with his common-law wife when he got into an altercation with another man who happens to be the ex-partner of his common-law wife. Reports are that Hernandez later observed the individual damaging his vehicle’s windshield. As a result, Hernandez pulled out his license firearm and fired a single shot at the individual that caught him in the stomach. ComPol Williams told us more.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yes that matter emanated where an ex-boyfriend went and was damaging the vehicle of the girl and the girl is now with the police man, PC Fernandez. When they came, they encountered him breaking the vehicle and as a result there was an altercation between him and the police and the police fired a shot which caught him in the stomach area. Based on that the police has been charged and the police is going to court today.”
It was all-out mayhem inside the M.C.C. Grounds on Sunday morning, following a football match between Kelly Street Football Club and Fort George Football Club. The two teams are competing in the William Dawson Peace Cup, a football tournament organized by the Belize Police Department. The objective of the competition is to curb crime and violence through sports by bringing rival gangs together to compete against each other. Over the past few years, these tournaments have been concluded with little to no incidents. But, that changed on Sunday morning. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Before the start of the game between Kelly Street FC and Fort George FC, this white SUV is seen leaving the venue, following what appeared to be a brief misunderstanding between some individuals in attendance. The bleacher was filled with fans from both teams. Though these fans came from rival communities, as do the players, this display of unity mirrors the objective set out by organizers of the William Dawson Peace Cup.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police.
“At the end of the day like you said, the police are engaged in doing intervention through sports. What we have been doing through the William Dawson Sprite Tournament as well as the William Dawson Peace Cup which is football activity, one was the basketball and the football, is to bring the different groups from rivalling communities together to ensure that we can do intervention with them through sports.”
Fifty-five minutes into the game, Fort George FC scored a goal that Kelly Street FC did not agree with. They argued that the ball went out of bounds. One fan is seen on the field confronting the referee. He issued a red card to a Kelly Street football player and police officers made their way on the field to escort that player off. After much back and forth and a lengthy break, the game resumed. Fort George FC won three goals to two. That tension moved off the field. An argument ensued between a group of fans. Two police officers took a piece of wood from one fan who was wielding it as a weapon. That fan then made his way down the bleacher along with a woman. Things escalated quickly as both players and fans from the rival communities engaged in an all-out brawl. In response, an officer pulled out his firearm and fired two warning shots in the air. But, that did not work to stop the brawl.
Chester Williams
“Yes of course these are people who have issues with each other, and it is anticipated that things may go wrong, or not according to how we may expect and the police will be there to ensure that they keep the peace, to neutralize whatever may occur. And I think the police did a good job to make sure they were able to contain the issue or to prevent it from escalating further. So, I must commend the police officers for their job well done.”
Here one player and a female fan faced off, and again things got physical. There were sufficient police officers present to break up the group. Another angle of the mayhem, captured on amateur video shows the moment the warning shots were fired, and how one police officer, armed with a piece of wood, was in the thick of the brawl. Douglas Hyde, the organizer of the tournament, is seen with his hand to his waist as he too instructed a group of guys on the nearby street to back away. In the parking lot, the rival groups continued to exchange words. Spurred on by police, a group of men got into a white SUV and left the ground. ComPol Williams was asked if this incident is a blackeye for the department.
Chester Williams
“Why would it be a blackeye. The police are trying to bring rivalling groups together to make them understand that there is more to life than fighting with each other. If something goes wrong, it doesn’t mean that it is a black eye. We must stop look at things from a negative standpoint and see the good in what is being done.”
The individuals involved spent the night behind bars. News Five has done extensive coverage of both the William Dawson Basketball Tournament and the William Dawson Peace Cup. Notably, this is the first time that an incident of this nature has occurred.
Chester Williams
“From what I was made to understand it started because of two women. Again we will look at it and see how we can deal with the issue.”
And, though that brawl may have occurred between residents from two feuding communities, ComPol Williams says there has been an increasing number of public fights that are posing a challenge to cops. He spoke to one incident outside of a Belize City nightclub over the weekend involving a group of women. He says the physical altercation stemmed from a love triangle involving basketball athletes.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I looked at the fight in front of Shisha over the weekend and again you can see where a number of ladies, engaged in a fight. From what I am told they are fighting over basketball players that come from abroad that they don’t even know. It makes you really wonder what we are coming to. Nonetheless some of them are in custody and they will be charged and taken before the courts today. I am proposing to the cabinet to increase the penalty for persons who are engaged in unlawful fights in public. I think the current penalty as stipulated in the law is too miniscule and there is a need for us to upgrade that and hopefully that can serve as a deterrent to people to know that if they engage in fights in public it is going to cost their pockets a lot of money.”
Reporter
“How does it make you feel to get all these footages being in the month of women month to see these things play out in public eyes.”
Chester Williams
“Well it is very dreadful to see that women are behaving in such a way. Normally in society we look up to women. All of us came from women and we expect the women among us are going to display behavior that are worthy of being emulated. But when we see women behaving in such a way it is very distasteful and whenever I get the video footage, I would send it to the police and tell them to arrest and charge. We cannot have a society where people have unlawful fights in public and go uncharged. That cannot be the order of the day.”
