2024-04-08 - Channel 5 Belize

Preliminary Forecast Indicates Extremely Active Hurricane Season

This year’s Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be the most active ever recorded. Two months ahead of the official start of the season, a team of experts from Colorado State University is forecasting twenty-three named storms, including eleven hurricanes and five major hurricanes. Forecasters are pointing to two main factors that could contribute to an extremely active hurricane season: historically warm ocean temperatures and an impending La Nina. Meteorologists, including those in Belize, hold the university’s forecast in high regard because of the team’s accuracy in their reports. So, today we spoke with Chief Meteorologist, Ronald Gordon, about what Belize can expect this hurricane season.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service

“The forecast from Colorado State University has been issued and they’re predicting a very active, 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season. If my memory serves me right, the figure they issued is for twenty-three named storms, eleven hurricanes, and about five major hurricanes. That forecast is early, preliminary. We are in April and from what we have seen in the past there is some limited skills to those early season forecast. Notwithstanding that CSQ has indicated they have an above normal confidence in this forecast and the reason for this is because the predictors are suggesting it is going to be quite active. In terms of what it means for Belize, whenever you have the odds for a higher than normal season it would indicate that the odds for us are also higher than normal that one could come our way. So we know that the twenty-three named storms that are predicted all of them will not come here or go in one direction, that is a prediction for the entire basin. However, because you know that it is a super active season, the odds of us having one is increased. The figures I have from CSU is that the typical average for us getting a named storm within fifty miles of our coastline, the average is at forty-two percent. This year it is at sixty percent. So there is a higher probability of a storm coming near to us. And one thing I failed to mention in terms of the total numbers is the average. The average for their to fourteen named storms, of those fourteen seven typically becomes hurricanes and three of those become major hurricanes and that is an average over the last thirty years from 1991 to 2020.”

Begin Looking at Your Hurricane Plans

As we mentioned, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season does not officially begin until the first of June. But early forecasts like the one coming out of Colorado State University provide an opportunity to review hurricane plans way in advance. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon is advising the nation to do just that. He warns that those living along coastal Belize should especially put mitigating measures into place to reduce risks.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service

“To mention at this point what level of preparations people should do is at this point you want to review your hurricane plan. We are still of course I believe about two months plus from the start of the hurricane season. We do know that you could have systems out season as well, but the official start is on June the first, so what we encourage our residents to always do is ensure that you are fine tuning those plans at the moment to know what measures you will take, whether you will need to evacuate, what measures you will need to take to reinforce your house to withstand at least a category two or three hurricane or even a major hurricane for that matter and also if you are able to afford insurance now is a good time to look at it because the prediction is going for an active season and as I mentioned before, that means there is a higher risk of one coming our way. So if you can afford insurance that is a good thing to look at and that type of thing nuh to ensure you are prepared for the event that sort of thing comes your way. In terms of any particular part of the country, we do know that our entire coastline is vulnerable to hurricanes. There is no doubt about it. If you are way down south, Punta Gorda and below, it is rare that you can any sort of direct landfall. We do know that you have secondary effects from systems making landfall in Central America, which includes excessive rainfall. So to summarize, there is no particular location on the coast of Belize that is exempt. It is important that all communities that are in the direct path of these systems prepare in advance and take measures to mitigate any possible impact from any possible landfall system this season.”

Motorcyclist Dies in RTA in Benque

A man lost his life in a road traffic accident on George Price Boulevard in Benque Viejo del Carmen Town on Friday night. The victim, fifty-four-year-old Polito August, was on a motorcycle when he collided with a Kia Soul, which was driven at the time by thirty-six-year-old Jimmy Leslie. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters today that Leslie has been served with a notice of intended prosecution.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Information is that the Kia Soul was being driven by Jimmy Leslie, thirty-eight-years when he came out of a lane and the motorcycle being driven by Polito August collided with the vehicle. N. I. P. was served. A sketch plan drawn. Investigation carried out. And since then, Jimmy Leslie, has been arrested and charged for the crimes of drove motor vehicle that you cannot change attention, causing death by careless conduct. He will be taken to court today.”

Reporter

“How did the collision happen?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“The vehicle came out of a lane and the motorcycle collided into it.”

Reporter

“Was alcohol involved?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“A sample was obtained and we await the results of those.”

Man Killed in RTA on C.A. Boulevard

Meanwhile in Belize City, a man was knocked down and killed. It happened on Saturday night on Central American Boulevard. Police responded to a report of a person lying motionless on the road. Upon arrival, they found the motionless body of a male individual who has yet to be identified. It is believed that it was a hit and run. Police are investigating.

Fatal Accident at Santander Sugar Factory

Tragedy struck the Santánder Sugar Factory in Valley of Peace, Cayo, on Saturday. Thirty-four-year-old Khalil Hewlett of Teakettle Village suffered an accident while working and died at the scene. He sustained injuries to his face, head, and leg. Hewlett, who had been employed at the company for more than five years, is the second person to die because of an accident on the compound. In February, fifty-three-year-old Anastacio Vasquez died in a freak accident.

Woman Shoots Robber

A man is hospitalized at the Western Regional Hospital after being shot by a woman. Forty-nine-year-old Ronald Gibson is also under police guard and that’s because he attempted to rib the woman who shot him. It happened on Friday night along Independence Park. Police Commissioner Chester Williams said Gibson will be charged after he is released from the hospital.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“On Friday night, a lady was working on the sidewalk in Belmopan upon she and her daughter were accosted by a male person who demanded that they hand over their properties. The lady took out her license firearm and ordered the person to stop and he made a move towards her and she fired one single shot at him with her license firearm causing injuries to his stomach region. He was taken to the hospital or the Western Regional Hospital where he received treatment and is currently admitted in a stable condition and a police guard. It is our hope that once he is released from the hospital that he’ll be charged for the crime of attempted robbery.”

Miss Universe Belize Unveils Belize Themed Crown

It is officially pageant week for the Miss Universe Belize 2024 contestants, which signals the approach of competition day. For months, ten women have been preparing to become the next candidate to represent Belize on the world stage. Today, as a start to Pageant Week, the crown that will adorn the head of the next Miss Universe Belize was unveiled. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the big reveal today to learn more about its creation and the preparation for pageant week. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Miss Universe Belize Pageant 2024 is just a few day away and the contestants are eager to participate. Pageant week was officially launched today with the reveal of the crown that the next Miss Universe Belize will wear during her reign. The National Director of the Miss Universe Belize Foundation shared her excitement over the reveal and its proceedings.

Destinee Arnold, National Director, Miss Universe Belize Foundation

“Today kicks off the official pageant week for the Miss Universe Police Delegates. Today, right now specifically, we are revealing the crown that a title holder will continue to wear in the next coming years. About three years we plan to utilize this crown. This is a crown that’s very special to us. It took a lot of thought and specially designed by one of our designers. So the crown is special because it is unique to Belize. Um, Belize was the inspiration behind the design of the crown. I don’t want to get into too much detail because we will be disclosing that during the crown reveal. But no one will have this crown but our title holder. So we are really excited about it. Specifically, even the material that it is made out of, um, is quite special. So I’m really excited to reveal it all to you all.”

We spoke with a few delegates to learn how they are feeling in the days leading up to the pageant in Mexico. Contestant seven, Monilee Aspinall said that she was excited to see her training in action on the big stage.

Monilee Aspinall, Delegate, Miss Universe Belize 2024

“I am super excited. It’s definitely been a journey of highlighting all the things that I’m capable of personally, the areas that I need assistance with, as well as developing a really great sisterhood along with the committee and the other delegates. I think at this point, it’s just carrying through with the preparation we’ve been doing for the past few months. Outfits, hair, walking, training with the way we do it. the way that we’re carrying ourselves and our words. And so now it’s just kind of an accumulation of all that hard work that we’ve been putting in and I’m super excited to see it on stage.”

Contestant one, Mikayla Gongora expressed that while she was nervous, she was also eager to showcase her hard work.

Mikayla Gongora, Delegate, Miss Universe Belize 2024

“I’m feeling extremely anxious, excited. Overall preparation for this. It’s been, it’s been a journey. It’s been exciting. Mostly the hesitation has been all about the mental work for all of this, but I feel extremely prepared more than excited, ready to hit the stage with all of. I think that I’m really prepared for this.”

Contestant ten, Maryam Abdul-Qawiyy said that she was determined to be an ambassador for her country and showcase her talents during the show.

Maryam Abdul-Qawiyy, Delegate, Miss Universe Belize 2024

“I’m feeling really good. I feel very prepared. Um, I worked really hard up until this point preparing, like, in an all encompassing way with not just working out, but walking, question and answer, things like that. So I feel really good. I feel really prepared. And the emotions are excitement because now the week is here and this is just a week long job interview. That’s how, that’s how I’m looking at it because, um, to be a Miss Belize, means that you’re an ambassador for your country and you have to be a diplomat and leverage that to put Belize on the map. So, I take that very seriously. And so I’m excited to put my best foot forward when it comes to that.”

The crown was made by a local engineering student, Inga Woods-Waight who modelled the crown to emulate Belize. She said that the crowns gold accents, draws inspiration from the Belize’s national flower, the Black Orchid. Five black orchid-shaped flowers embellish the crown to reflect the rich diversity and allure of Belize. The clear glass symbolizes clarity of purpose and vision, while the gold accents represent resilience and strength. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Skies Were Cloudy In Some Areas During Partial Eclipse

The total solar eclipse that occurred today in some parts of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada was only a partial one in most other countries. In Belize, for those who tried to capture the event, it was a mere forty percent blockage of the sun by the moon. But your efforts might have been in vain, depending on where you were, because some parts of the country were cloudy just as the eclipse was occurring around eleven-eighteen this morning. Chief Meteorologist, Ronald Gordon said the sky did get dark, but cloud cover was an issue to contend with.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service

“I certainly don’t have the specialized equipment to go there and look at the sun. So I did not do that. But I want to say that, from my own observation, it got a bit darker. I think it wasn’t that significant that I had predicted, or as we had mentioned, I believe before that it was a 40 percent occlusion for this particular eclipse, a partial eclipse. So we didn’t expect it to even be as dark as the one that we had in October last year, which had more. Obstruction or occlusion, so certainly it wasn’t as dark as that 1 and I think unfortunately for residents in my area. I don’t know about where. The entire country, but certainly in Belize today, even with a little area, it was a bit cloudy. So certainly if you had the. The specialized sunglasses to go there and look at it, it may have been a bit disappointing because for the most part, it was a bit cloudy.”

This Weekend in Sports, BEBL and William Dawson Peace Cup

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage with highlights from this weekend’s Belize Elite Basketball League matchup. On Friday night, the Belize City Defenders took on the Belmopan Trojans inside the Belize City Civic Center. After losing two games back-to-back, the Defenders had something to prove. And they did just that in this game against the youngest team in the league. The Defenders came out on top with one hundred and seven points, while the Trojans secured seventy-one points.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Man of the match goes to the Defenders’ Forward Fenton Bradley. He finished with twenty-five points, four of five from the three-point line, an efficient seventy-six percent field goal percentage, seven rebounds and four assists. And of course, former league MVP, Nigel Jones made significant contributions to the game. Jones scored a total of twenty points. He snatched up fifteen rebounds, twelve of which were defensive rebounds. Jones was less efficient from the three-point line this time around but overall had a fifty-three percent field goal percentage. We also saw big double-digit contributions from Captain Devin Daly, Andrew Ortiz, Lorenzo Dillard and Devon Campbell.

For the Belmopan Trojans, Jayden Lopez continues to impress. He finished with twenty-one points, eight of seventeen from the field and seventy-one percent from the field. Eyes must be kept on this player. With seven games played, the Belize City Defenders now sits on top of the league’s standing. But that can all change in one weekend. Also on Friday night, the Cayo Western Ballaz played its first game under a new head coach, Bernie Tarr. It was a nail-biting overtime game inside the Sacred Heart Auditorium between the Ballaz and the Dangriga Dream Ballers. However, that one finished in favour of Dream Ballers, eighty-seven to eighty-three points. But the big question here is why, the former head coach for Cayo Western Ballaz, Karim Juan, resigned. Well, we spoke directly with Juan and here is what he told us.

Karim Juan, Former Head Coach, Cayo Western Ballaz

“As a coach I became frustrated with the structure of the league at this time. I felt that the league, I feel that the league is still predominantly influenced by certain teams in the league and that all teams and rules are not fairly executed. So, there were a few incidents I thought were unfair. Because of those issues as a coach, I felt I was participating in a league that in the roughest of terms, a league that is rigged, so I decided to simply step away. In regard to the direct incident in Belmopan, me personally as a coach and I am not in no way representing Western Ballaz, me as a coach felt that a particular referee in that game was intentionally making calls to ensure my team did not win. I could challenge anybody to watch the video, to go and see how many calls were made by that referee and to see how many fouls were against my team. So, no matter what we did we would not have won that game. So, I felt as a basketball coach at that time that the actions of that referee were way more obtuse than me throwing a chair in protest at the end of that game. That was another issue that further encouraged me to step away. We are running our top basketball league without any trained referees in Belize. So, the basketball referee association is not officiating our games. What the league has done in the third week, they have been scraping up any referee that has a whistle and putting them at the court. I find that to be beyond unacceptable.”

We reached out to BEBL Commissioner Glenn Gill who contended that the league has referees from the association and certified Guatemalan referees assisting.

From basketball, we move into some football action in the Willam Dawson Peace Cup. This weekend was retribution weekend, and he brings you highlights from the match between Port Loyola FC and Hattieville United. The teams lined up just before the start of the game. The referee gave the starting players a brief reminder of how the game would run as he sought to ensure that match would go incident free. The guys then paid their respects to each other, before the starting whistle was blown. Early in the game, Port Loyola FC tries to convert a corner kick into a goal with eight Hattieville defenders inside the penalty box. Each of Port Loyola’s offenders got a crack at the goal attempt, but ultimately the defense proved successful.

On the other end of the field, Hattieville United, also with a corner kick sought to put the first goal of the match on the score board. Every attempt to get the ball to the goal was countered by a defender on the prowl. The play ended with a wild shot from center field that completely missed the target. Here at the start of the second half, number two for Port Loyola FC is rewarded with a free kick just outside the penalty box. He swings the ball around the wall, but it is an easy stop for Hattieville’s goalkeeper. And this is the one and only goal scored in this match, off a header from midfield, Kenyon Lewis finds the opening and puts it in. Port Loyola FC won that game, one goal to zero. Lewis was named the man of the match.

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