2024-03-18 - Channel 5 Belize

BPA Holds National Lifting Championships

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage with an epic showdown of strength and discipline over the weekend inside the Saint John’s College Gymnasium. The Belize Powerlifting Association hosted its National Championships. Over the course of two days, twenty-one male and fourteen female powerlifters competed in their respective age and weight classes. For those who may be unfamiliar with the discipline, it entails three attempts and maximal weight on three lifts: squats, bench press, deadlifts.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Most of these athletes prepare year-round for these competitions. After two days, winners were declared in each category, but the monster events were the male and female open. In the female open, Belize’s strongest female, Mary Gonzalez, won gold overall, Joylynne Smith secured the silver medal and Jaqueline Alas took home the bronze medal. In the male open, Belize’s strongest man, Kaylon Godoy took home gold, with an incredible seven hundred- and sixty-five-pounds deadlift. He had his young fans out showing support. Leo Matura showed tremendous improvements this year. He secured the silver medal, while Khalid Usher tool home the bronze medal. From powerlifting we move into some football action.

The William Dawson Peace Cup is in the eleventh week of its 2024 season. This weekend saw four games played inside the MCC Grounds. We bring you highlights from the match between Kelly Street FC and Fort George FC. The first forty-five minutes of the match between these two teams saw great defensive and offensive prowess on both ends of the field. No goals were scored at the end of the first half, though the competitiveness of these teams was on full display. Ten minutes into the second half, the ball finds number seventeen for Fort George at the top of the goal. Number eleven for Kelly Streets stays on his side. The ball appears to go out of bound and the defenders raises his arm. But there is no whistle and a kick from inside the penalty box by Devin Bermudez placed Fort George on top.

The referee got into a heated debate with players from Kelly Street FC that led to the issuance of two red cards, the involvement of police officers and a threat from the losing team to discontinue the match. Eventually cooler heads prevailed, and the match continued with Kelly Street down two players. At the seventy-fourth minute, Fort George’s Carlos Lino was brought down inside the penalty box from a hard tackle. The referee awarded him a penalty kick and he made it count. The match ended in favor of Fort George FC, three goals to two.

And finally for tonight, the Cycling Federation of Belize, in collaboration with the Belize Electricity Limited hosted the twenty-third annual Junior and Youth Cross Country Cycling Classic. The male riders raced from San Ignacio to Belize City. The female riders journeyed from La Democracia Village to Belize City. Just outside of Belmopan, Chavarria’s Cycling Team’s Kthan Gentle and PDP Development Racing’s Kevin Rojas have gained a significant lead and are on their own out front. An hour later and it’s still these two young riders maintaining the lead, while the chase group worked to close the gap.

With twenty miles left in the race, GFlow’s Jaylen Briceno emerged from the chase group and made contact with the two lead riders. Kthan Gentle was dropped at mile eleven, leaving Briceno and Rojas at front going into Belize City. Approximately one mile from the finish line, Rojas began cramping up and Jaylen Briceno took hold of the opportunity. Briceno crossed the finish line alone in first place. Rojas came behind him in second place, followed by Gflow’s Keith Enwright Junior in third place.

Jaylen Briceno, Junior Cross Country Champion

“This is definitely the hardest race of the season so far. My legs were cramping, I didn’t think I was gonna finish on top. I started praying when I crossed the bridge, please let something happen. Thank goodness the man cramped up right on the last stretch, that is when I took the advantage to attack on come into the line. Big kudos to my teammates, to all my family.”

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

CWU and GOB Reach Agreement: Report

A press conference is currently underway at the Prime Minister’s office in Belize City between CWU and government representatives. The Christian Workers Union, on behalf of the stevedores, has apparently reached an amicable agreement with the Government of Belize regarding recent issues at the Port of Belize that resulted in a work-to-rule last week.

As we reported last week, employees of P.B.L. effected a work-to-rule after repeatedly demanding that the government compensate them for sugar redundancies after the shipment of bulk sugar was relocated to Big Creek a few years ago.

Skin Bleaching Linked to Declining Sperm Counts in Jamaican Men

Jamaica has witnessed a decrease in birth rates in recent years, with medical experts attributing lower sperm counts among young men to the use of skin-bleaching creams.

During the American College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists (ACOG) West Indies Section’s Infertility Update, held at the Summit Kingston hotel in New Kingston, Dr. Kamali Carroll highlighted the global decline in sperm quality. She emphasised the role of various risk factors, including obesity, chronic illnesses, and excessive marijuana use, with skin bleaching creams emerging as a significant concern locally.

Dr. Jordan Hardie, chairman of the ACOG West Indies Section, said that the rising infertility rates in Jamaica, citing data that indicated a decline in birth rates and fertility in both genders.

Fire Guts House in San Ignacio

A fire in San Ignacio Town broke out at around 12:30 a.m. today. Juan Tzib and his family were asleep in their residence on Rodriguez Street when the fire broke out. Tzib was awakened by his daughter, who alerted him to the fire.

It is suspected that the fire began in a “back room” in the yard. The fire spread quickly, and the family was not able to save anything.

No one was injured. Firefighters are investigating the cause.

If you would like to help the family, you can contact 621-4179.

UNICEF Aid Container Looted by Gangs in Haiti

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Saturday that one of its aid containers, containing crucial supplies for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, was looted at Haiti’s main port, amidst increasing control of the capital by gangs.

Approximately 260 humanitarian-owned containers are under the control of armed groups. Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, condemned the looting. He emphasised its detrimental impact on children in urgent need of assistance. The looted container contained essential items such as resuscitators and related equipment. Maes called for an immediate end to looting and emphasised the necessity of ensuring safe humanitarian access amid the escalating crisis. Armed groups breached the main port a week earlier, disrupting the flow of essential food and supplies to the capital.

Haiti is experiencing a critical shortage of basic healthcare and nutrition access for women in the Port-au-Prince area. Nationwide shortages of electricity, fuel, and medical supplies have crippled hospitals, with six out of ten facilities unable to operate effectively.

Haiti continues to grapple with a protracted political and humanitarian crisis, resulting in severe hunger and life-threatening malnutrition in parts of Port-au-Prince.

In response to the crisis, unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced plans to step down once a transitional council is established. However, the capital remains heavily influenced by armed gangs, leading to widespread violence, including killings, kidnappings, and sexual assaults.

Police Officer Charged with Aggravated Assault

Police have charged one of their own for the crime of aggravated assault with a firearm. Thirty-six-year-old police officer Felix Hernandez was charged with shooting Richard Valerio on Thursday, March 14th.

The incident happened at the Punta Gorda sports auditorium. Fernandez told police that he and his common-law wife were attending a basketball game when they were harassed by Richard Valerio, the ex-partner of Fernandez’s wife, who made threatening remarks. Fernandez attempted to avoid confrontation by relocating, but Valerio persisted with profanity.

When Fernandez decided to leave and requested an escort to his vehicle, he discovered Valerio damaging his car with rocks, prompting Fernandez to intervene. After Valerio threw a rock at Fernandez, missing him, Fernandez fired a single shot from his licenced 9mm pistol in Valerio’s direction. Valerio sustained injuries to his lower back and was taken to the Punta Gorda Hospital for treatment.

The firearm was retrieved for ballistic testing.

Jamie Young Wanted for Murder

Police continue to search for Jamie Young, the man investigators say fatally shot thirty-year-old Damion Baptist. According to the official police report, officers were called out to an area near mile nine on the Philip Goldson Highway. At the scene, police found a red Ford Fusion crashed into a lamp post. They also observed bullet holes on the front passenger side.

Baptist was driving the car while twenty-nine-year-old Laneedrah Dawson, Young’s ex-girlfriend, was in the passenger seat. They were travelling from Ladyville Village towards Belize City when Young began following them in his grey Wingle. Between miles eight and nine on the highway, Young overtook them, halted his vehicle, and discharged multiple shots, injuring Baptist. An ambulance passing by rushed Baptist to the KHMH, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Young remains a wanted man.

Belize City Youth Gunned Down

Police in Belize City are investigating the shooting murder of twenty-six-year-old Liston Williams. Williams was shot several times on Saturday night in Belize City. Police say that at around 9:50 p.m., Williams was riding his motorcycle on Woodpecker Street when he was approached by the gunman, who fired several shots in his direction. Police are investigating.

Shots Fired as Brawl Breaks Out at Football Match

Exclusive footage captured by News Five shows the moment when a member of the Belize Police Department had to fire two warning shots to break up a fight. The brawl broke out on Sunday morning at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, following a match between Kelly Street FC and Fort George FC.

Despite the two warning shots, the brawl continued. Officers on the ground later took control of the situation.

Teams and supporters gathered at the MCC Grounds for the William Dawson Peace Cup 2023-2024.

Click here for the video