2024-04-09 - Channel 5 Belize

Boyfriend of Deceased Girlfriend Speaks to News Five

Nineteen-year-old Glenford Dougall recounts a tragic accident where his girlfriend, Denia Rowland, lost her life while they were returning from a football game. The accident occurred on the Philip Goldson Highway near the Sandhill Police Station. The couple was in the back of the pickup truck driven by Oscar Alexander Galindo who was reportedly under the influence. Despite Dougall’s efforts to persuade the driver to slow down, the vehicle flipped, resulting in Rowland’s death. Dougall remains admitted at the K.H.M.H. where News Five’s Hipolito Novelo spoke to him. Here is that report.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

Nineteen-year-old Glenford Dougall saw his life flash before his eyes when the Ford Ranger pickup truck he was in flipped several times.

Glenford Dougall, Boyfriend of Deceased

“I just saw a bright light and when I saw bright and I wake up, when I wake up, I never knew that my foot was broken. Nothing.”

But that wasn’t the worst of it. In Dougall’s arms, his girlfriend of one year and four months, nineteen-year-old Denia Rowland dead.

Glenford Dougall

“All I knew that was my girlfriend wasn’t breathing in my arms still as in the accident when I think she flew has flown out. She was in my arms. And then when I woke up, she was still in my arms. And then I was so mad and pissed and I was. I don’t know. I couldn’t help myself that night and I don’t, I, I don’t want to ask God or judge God or anything. Right. But I just said like, why her? Why, why, why couldn’t me as well as I was with her in the accident, I was still with her. So why didn’t me as well?.”

The fatal accident happened on Saturday morning on the Philip Goldson Highway near the Sandhill Police Station. The couple was returning to Belize City from a football game.

Glenford Dougall

“She came to my house at the night and I told her I was going to the Sandhill to watch the game. So I say, like, all your peoples are there, would you want to come too? So she said, yes, I don’t mind, baby, I will come. So then, we take her, we all went, it was at the game. Then, our first driver, with amount of people who was in the car, we went to drop them off, and when we went to drop them off, we, it looked like, when they drop off the first driver, the first driver was high, was drinking as well as the rest, but me and my girlfriend wasn’t drinking. None of that because I just came out of the hospital, I cannot drink, I cannot smoke. When we can drop the driver off with three female friends that he had. So it looked like when we can drop them off, they switched driver or something like to another driver. And then we were still in the back of the pickup truck me, my girlfriend and my friend and the driver was at the front. And it seems like when we was coming back, three of us fall asleep behind the pickup truck with my girlfriend in my arms. To be honest, going when we first left from the city, the first driver was speeding like they was racing with another dirt bike. And then, my girl, she was complaining at the back, make we slow down, they slow down. So I tell my friend and we tell him we slow down. So they start slow down, they did slow down, but look like coming back home, second where we drop asleep at the back, we know the focus where it happened, and the next driver he was drinking too, he was under the influence, and look like he lose control, and the car flipped. When I woke up and I was, my girl was in my hand, I got up. My friend was beside me that invited me to go on the trip cause he invited me and I invited my girl. He, I was talking to him and I was like, why Wilson? Why, why did you invite me? Why, why we end up to come? Why you never tell me that all of this may happen? Things like that. And then. I’ll be honest. I did hit him out of ignorance. I hit him, but I apologized to him because it wasn’t his fault. And then I went to the driver and I saw the driver and then I was, I was crying and I was explaining to him why, why did you do that? What happened? What was the problem? And all he did was watch me in my face, hang on his head and shake his head from side to side.”

On Monday, the driver, twenty-year-old Oscar Alexander Galindo was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrates where he was slapped with several criminal charges. He was charged with manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, drove motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit and negligent grievous harm. Police told reporters on Monday that Galindo was under the influence and speeding. He was offered bail of six thousand dollars which he met. Galindo must report to the Racoon Street police station every two weeks. He is expected to reappear in court on June seventh. Contrary to reports, Rowland was not pregnant. Dougall who suffered a broken right leg, says they had plans to build a life together.

Glenford Dougall

“To be honest, words can’t explain, sir. I cry, I still feel like I want to cry, I cried from the day, I cried to know, So much time I think about suicide just for me time because we’ve, I’ve, me and my girl fight, we fight for everything together. So, at this point I feel like, because she gone, I at least want the day we time to fight this too. But everybody tell me it don’t make sense because, she what I want, I be strong, and still help out to the family and thing. But, I put it away that, it just don’t hurt that, it just don’t hurt and, I don’t know how to let go. And I just have to because in a day, only God knows why.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.

Key Witness in Bladen 12 Void Dire Testifies

The Head of the Prosecutions Branch, Alifa Elrington called her ninth witness to the stand today in the Bladen twelve trial. Several of the twelve men accused of facilitating the land of a suspect drug plane in southern Belize are claiming that they were physically abused by police while in their custody. As a result, the court is currently undertaking a void dire, what is commonly known as a trial within a trial, to determine the validity of the men’s claims and the admissibility of their caution statements. It is an issue that will determine the trajectory of this case, and with ten witnesses set to take the stand, it is almost at its conclusion. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Police Corporal Radro Muschamp, attached to the GI3 Unit in Punta Gorda Town testified before the court today in the Bladen twelve trial. Muschamp told the court that he was at home on the night of November fourth when he received information that led him and three other police officers to Bladen Village. He says they made a stop in Indian Creek Village and walked about half a mile along a dead-end dirt road. There they reportedly came across a white Toyota Hilux. According to Corporal Muschamp, two men exited the vehicle, Moses Perez, and Armando Martinez both farmers from Ranchito Village in the Corozal District.

They are currently standing trial in this matter. Corporal Muschamp testified saying that Perez immediately confessed to them that he was there to help a friend he knew as Ferguson in a plane landing.Muschamp testified that Perez was repeatedly cautioned as he continued to say that he was there to help a police officer he identified as a Ferguson. He also told the court that Perez told them that he brought eight men to the area, including Ferguson, two other police men and a Mexican.

Corporal Muschamp says that Perez also told them that the plane’s cargo was left along the Golden Stream Village riverbank and that he was willing to lead them to it. A search was later conducted in the area, but nothing was found. This afternoon, attorney Richard Dickie Bradley crossed examined Corporal Muschamp. In the ongoing void dire, the defense is claiming that several of the defendants were beaten or threatened while in police custody following the discovery and seizure of the plane, and that their caution statements are inadmissible as a result. Attorney Bradley was not able to complete his cross examination before the court adjourned. But, he asserts that Corporal Muschamp is the officer accused of inflicting injuries upon the men.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney- At- Law

“This is an important witness. The allegation made against him by some of the defendants is that he is the one beating, he kicked, stumped, beat them bad. I will not release the photographs and medical papers. I will speak to attorney Banner about this matter. But this is more than just this case. If the allegations are true, we cant proceed this way. When somebody says something to the police or they write something incriminating themselves that is important evidence. The law in our country is that you cannot use anything obtained from an accused if he was threatened, promised anything, coerced and worse if he was beaten or tortured. The law is very clear on that matter. The judges from when all my hair was black they always upheld that important principle. When you say somebody agree to give a caution statement they might not know what is a caution statement. A caution statement is yo the sink yo self. So, it is important. This officer is accused of doing things he should not have done.”

Paul Lopez

“It appears that all he have said an written is contrary to the allegations being raised by these accused?”

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

“Well if you have been around the block and hang around Wagner’s lane and the street side, as I said in court, no police ever ever come to court and say yes your honor I kick ah eena ih mouth, I kick out ih teeth, dah me burn ih testicles, never, never, never. So we are not gullible. He will come and say that. Why did he give them water? The man seh he gives them water to wash ih face because he was under blood. No mark deh pan ih farrid. They have pictures. Deh nuh beat deh self. A man batty buss right up, he nuh beat himself. In fact, when they went to court just two or three days afterwards they made the complaint and showed the matter and the police had taken them to hiospital. Does anybody ever just get up and tell the police, oh guess what happen, dah me mih the off load the plane and mister so and so help me. People act like that? My bway if you the deal with cartel and you open your mouth you gwen dah burying ground. Nobody does that. That stupid mein.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Two Men Charged with Police Officer’s Murder

Two men have been charged with the murder of Dylan Anthony. They are twenty-nine-year-old Hugh Middleton and eighteen-year-old Marlon Gideon. Investigators believe that the two men fatally shot PC Anthony on the Roaring Creek Bridge on March twenty-third. PC Anthony was on his motorcycle heading home to Camalote Village when he was murdered. He was mistaken for another individual and targeted. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters on Monday that Gideon was the driver and Middleton was the pillion rider. The Compol explained that Middleton and Gideon, along with the intended target, are all currently at the Belize Central Prison under the State of Emergency.

Lincoln Bejerano Convicted of Murder

Thirty-three-year-old Lincoln Bejerano has been convicted of murder. The High Court found that Bejerano murdered taxi driver Isidro Suar in January of 2016. He had been on the run for two years after he escaped from police custody in Belmopan in October 2016. He was later listed on Interpol’s most-wanted list. He was captured by Guatemalan authorities in 2019. The body of Isidro Suar was found on the George Price Boulevard. He had been shot to death. Bejerano now awaits sentencing.

Man Pleads Guilty To Common Assault After Throwing Toilet Bowl at Man’s Head

Recently, a video depicting a man being physically assaulted by two men went viral. In the video, a young man with dreadlocks was depicted beating up another before another man joined in to assist in holding down the assailant. The victim of the assault has been identified as Mark Avilez. The footage also shows that, during the assault, a toilet bowl was thrown at Avilez. The incident occurred on March thirtieth but was not reported until a week later. The perpetrator has since been identified as thirty-year-old Emmerson Garnett, who was arraigned for two counts of common assault, to which he pleaded. As Garnett was a first-time offender for a violent offence, he was imposed a fine of five hundred five dollars, including cost of court, which he was given until July fourth to pay in default of three months’ imprisonment. Garnett explained why he pleaded guilty.

Emerson Garnett, Guilty of Common Assault

“The reason why I plead guilty da because I noh wa waste the court time and I noh wa waste my time because I goy my job an di noh want lose my job same way to. You understand?”

Reporter

“You know in my view, you watched the video. You saw the video, right?”

Emerson Garnett

“Yeah, I saw the video.”

Reporter

“The video look like you? That person look like you?”

Emerson Garnett

“The person noh look like me but end of the day da me so I wat ek the weight of what come my way. You understand? Once I do something, I noh mind tek the weight of it tek the consequences weh come behind it. Besides that, once I neva do it, I just mi ah plead not guilty but I noh want waste the court time because I know I do it. So I just wat ek the weight of what come my way because I know I do it.”

Reporter

“You were charged with common assault, the magistrate questioned the charge.”

Emmerson Garnett

“Yeah.”

Reporter

“You believe that was common assault?”

Emerson Garnett

“Yeah because I noh use no weapon or nothing like that. I just slap the person. I just slap the person about three or four times.”

Reporter

“How about the bowl?”

Emerson Garnett

“I noh really want to talk about that part.”

Reporter

“But at the end of the day, did the virtual compliant want any court action?”

Emerson Garnett

“Well from the time they mek the report and thing and they charge me, it look like da mi wa court action ney wa so I noh mi wa waste the court time, waste my time, waste nobody time. So I just plead guilty. You understand.”

Son Chokes Mother in Violent Outburst

Twenty-five-year-old Jose Fuentes was arraigned today for allegedly choking his mother during a fight on Saturday at their residence near mile twenty on the George Price Highway. Fuentes initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault. He told the court that he wasn’t in his right mind because he was drunk. He later changed his plea to guilty, but despite his plea, the magistrate emphasised that intoxication does not excuse violent behaviour and reminded Fuentes of the seriousness of his actions. He was fined two hundred dollars plus a five-dollar court fee. He is expected to pay the fine by May fifteenth. He was bound over to keep the peace with his mother for one year, with a warning that any violation would result in a three-month jail term.

Regional Opposition Leaders Form New Grouping

On Saturday, seven opposition leaders from the Caribbean region convened in Saint Lucia to inaugurate the ‘Leader of the Opposition Political Parties Forum’. The gathering included Allen Chastanet from Saint Lucia, Doctor Keith Mitchell from Grenada, Doctor Godwin Friday from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamal Pringle from Antigua and Barbuda. Additionally, Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow from Belize, Doctor Ronnie Yearwood from Barbados, and Roy McTaggart from the Cayman Islands were present. As stated by Chastanet, the initial meeting focused on enhancing awareness regarding the constitutional significance and ensuing responsibilities associated with the Opposition’s role. Here is a clip courtesy of HTS Channel Four Saint Lucia.

Allen Chastanet, Leader of the Opposition, St. Lucia

“The preliminary meeting brought into sharp focus the need for higher levels of awareness On the constitutional significance and resultant responsibility that comes with the office of the leader of the opposition. The solution meeting also seeks to develop a framework for parliamentary oppositions. Caribbean countries to share best practices to further strengthen the effectiveness of their constitutional rules in government.”

Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow, Leader of the Opposition, Belize

“How egregious is it to present the budget to the leader of the opposition days before two days. You’re talking about in our case, it’s about three, four, 5 billion. I don’t know how much it is in St. Lucia, but such a crucial undertaking as far as analyzing the budget and making sure that the people’s monies are being spent and being able to come to parliament and to debate how the people’s monies would be spent. That’s what I mean. Or we mean when we say best practices, we should get that we should have meetings with the Ministry of Finance and the public officers to help plan the budget.”

Dr. Ronnie Yearwood, Leader of the Opposition, Barbados

“Come up with standardized understand what this consultation when a government say it consults look like. The Guyanese constitution is a perfect example that actually defines the term consultation. It sets out what that consultation is to look like, how you are not prime minister is supposed to write to the opposition parties, the timing, the response, a whole process. And perhaps that’s something that needs to be formalized in each of our different countries, depending on the culture, but consultation has to be real. We cannot have this facade that governments often have this consultation. And we have to figure out what is the best practice for real consultation.”

Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

“I do believe, you know, that it’s an important initiative for us. to say that irrespective of the tendency we see all over the world towards authoritarianism, that we are seeing in the Caribbean, we have reached a stage where our political process is sufficiently mature for us to recognize that opposition is an essential part of governance in our country.”

2022 Census Reveals Unanticipated Low Population

On Monday, the Statistical Institute of Belize released the preliminary results of the 2022 census. In that report, it was revealed that Belize’s population has increased by twenty-three percent since 2010, with just over seventy-five thousand more people. This number was lower than what was initially projected by the S.I.B., and the data shows that the population has been declining by a larger number of people each year. Several factors contributed to this, which were further detailed in the census review. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

In the preliminary results of the 2022 Census , Belize demonstrated a steady decline in population due to the dwindling birth rate. Director General of the SIB, Diana Castillo-Trejo expanded on these trends.

Diana Castillo-Trejo, Director General, S.I.B.

“And what we can see here from the population series that has been revised for 2011 to 2021 is that one, our population has been growing at a slower rate than was previously estimated. We also see that the rate of growth for our population has been decelerating. We grow by less and less every year, and this is due in large part to declining fertility rates.”

The data also revealed a decline in the number of people married across the country.

Diana Castillo-Trejo

“We also see some slight shifts with respect to marital status. So, the percent of our population that reported that they had never been married for 2022, both males and females, was somewhere around sixty percent. For males, it was over sixty-two percent. For females, it was over fifty percent and both of these were up a few percentage points from 2010, and this corresponded with a slight decrease in the number of persons who reported that they had been married.”

Contrary to the declining marriage rates, the number of people reported in common law partnerships increased.

Diana Castillo-Trejo

“Similarly, when we look at union status, there is a shift, a slight shift away from being married, living with a spouse, to common law living arrangements. So there’s a decrease in both males and females in the percent of the population that reported that they were married and currently living with their spouse.”

According to Castillo-Trejo, the decline in population is consistent with the trends observed in a number of other countries around the world, such as China and Korea. In 2021, data from the World Bank revealed that Korea had the lowest birthrate worldwide, which has only declined since, resulting in the implementation of several government initiatives to boost the birth rates, such as subsidized housing for newlyweds, discounted postpartum care for new mothers, and payments of over two thousand dollars for every newborn. She further explained that not only has the population decreased, but it has also aged as a result of the low birth rate.

Diana Castillo-Trejo

“We can take a look at how our population has changed just in a snapshot form over the past several decades, and we will see that there have been not only changes in terms of growth of the population, but also changes in terms of our general age structure. So you’ll see over time that the very base of our pyramid, which indicates our younger population, has been steadily widening right up until 2010, which was the first census in which we observed that our very base, our children aged zero to four years old, was actually narrower relative to the age groups just above it. By 2022, we can see that this trend was even more pronounced, and this is signaling at least the beginning of a gradual aging of our population. Remember, fertility rates are declining, people are having less children, base of our population is shrinking, and we are starting to age as a population over time.”

Another contributor to the low population was the decline in people who were born abroad migrating to Belize. Doctor Osmond Martinez, CEO of the Ministry of Economic Development, stated that the number of people who migrate to Belize for work is still significant; however, they are operating in informal positions such as construction and agriculture, which he stated were in need of more employees. As a result, the question was posed to the CEO about whether or not the borders should be opened for these workers.

Dr. Osmond Martinez, C.E.O., Ministry of Economic Development

“I don’t think that we need to open the borders. I think there needs to be, and the Ministry of Labor is working on the work permit. But we have to be clear, and it is visible that there is still a lot of crime in Central America, criminals in Central America, gang members, so it is important that who comes to Belize is well screened and that all the background is done and all the due diligence that needs to do by our security department is being done. And so, I don’t think it needs to open the border, but yes, we need to improve especially for the private sector and new investors that are coming into Belize. It’s important to enable that environment where visas can be issue on a more timely manner and the work permits. I am happy to say, that the Ministry of Labor have and it’s working continuously to improve that system.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Everything Creole, Belizean Sweets, Treats And More

The Belize from your childhood is here to stay. It is common knowledge that food always been a major aspect of Belizean culture with various dishes becoming a staple in the average household. This included the wide variety of sweets and pastries many grew up making at home or purchasing from the shops in their neighborhoods. In tonight’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, we stop buy the Belizeans Sweets and Treats shop in Belize City to look at what owner, Sharlene Coooper Williams, is hoping will one day be the one-stop place to find everything creole. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belizean Sweets and Treats was launched in 2021 by a mother of eight, Sharlene Cooper Williams after she faced challenges in supporting her family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Using knowledge and skills she already possessed, Williams decided to become and entrepreneur to preserve Belizean culture with her children.

Sharlene Williams Cooper, Owner, Belizean Sweets and Treats

“It was herded out of necessity during COVID. I had an existing business that was deemed a non-essential and we had to survive. So my family and I, we were a part of a partnership that didn’t continue and we decided to continue on our own. And my family, my Children, it’s literally a family business. We decided to push it forward. My Children are able to make all of these. So we teamed up and we pushed. We literally only started doing the tamarind and the pepitas and things like that. And slowly our vision expanded so did our product line. One of our main mission is to be the landmark for everything Creole. I represent the Creole culture and Belize is a melting pot. But even though the Creole culture is the majority in Belize, our culture is dying. I really admire the others for promoting their culture. And a lot of our children don’t know the great heritage that we have as Creoles. So one of the other purposes of this food is to promote and preserve that culture through language, through dress, and whatever avenues that are made available to us.”

The selection started small for Williams, with just a few sweets that she and her family knew to make at home, but over time she was able to expand the variety of treats she offered and even got other women involved to sell various Belizeans products, such as herbal tea, seasoning, pepper, and honey, alongside Belizean classics such as wangla, tableta, and kaasham.

Sharlene Williams

“Like what I said, we started out with only the sweets, and then after us we transitioned into the stew items. We went to the t shirts, the souvenirs, and other women started to get interested. We have, we’re a part of a group eleven including myself. We have women in remote villages that sign on to it. They’re not able to sell their items themselves, so they would channel it through us. The handicrafts, the painting the rocks, the t-shirts, the key chains. So it’s a beautiful collaboration and eleven families helps to live because of this. And at the same time, not only live to provide for their family, but live to promote something that’s beautiful.”

We ran into some tourist purchasing from Belizeans Sweets and Treats what they were most excited to try form the stall.

Britney Gordon

“So what made you decide to stop?”

Russ, Tourist

“Well it looked very friendly as we were coming up to it. And it was really the first open thing that we saw along the road today.”

Britney Gordon

“Can you tell me what you guys bought?”

Breck, Tourist

“We bought some pineapple spices for cooking, habanero, and a keychain, because we like to decorate our Christmas tree with decorations from different places and everything.”

Russ

“And don’t forget the big one. Goat shit.”

Breck

“Oh, the goat shit. Yeah, we gotta try some goat shit later.”

Britney Gordon

“Alright, you guys looking forward to trying some of that?”

Jagger, Tourist

“Very much so, yeah. It’s always a huge pleasure and really an honor to try different foods and share in other people’s cultures. So we’re very happy we found this booth today.”

Williams explained that growing up, she would visit her grandparents in Cotton Tree every summer where they would teach her and her family members how to make various delicacies. Now, Williams is using her skills not only to promote Belize to the rest of the world, but preserve it for the next generation. She has partnered with the Girl Guides Association of Belize to pass on these skills to a next generation.

Sharlene Williams

“We decided to come out at Girl Guides Association. They have given us the privilege of using their yard and also, we have collaborated with them because the little guiders and the Brownies now have the opportunity to start doing these things. And apart from learning these sweets, they’re also learning entrepreneurial skills. And so soon they’re actually working and it’s soon their items will be on display to for sale. We were here monday to friday But we have only cut down now to the tour days and on other days we can be found at thirty-seven Fairweather Street”

According to Williams, one of her best sellers is the Belizean classic Wangla. She said that it is a meticulous process, over the years, she has been able to perfect her recipe.

Sharlene Williams

“And for us, it’s important, one of the things that we do we always get our Wang Le Seed fresh. We have partnered with specific suppliers at the market that make sure that we always have certain things in stock. You wouldn’t want to have an order or you wouldn’t want to have your booth without because this is one of our best sellers, the wangla seed. If you see our ingredients package, it’s wang la Sweet, sugar, and spices because we do also add a little dash of Belizean sweets and treats flavor.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize to Benefit from New Agreement with Taiwan

Belize and Taiwan have shared diplomatic relations since 1989, and since then, our ties have only grown stronger. And while there are additional areas of cooperation that are currently under discussion between our two countries, just this week, Belize signed a new agreement as part of a regional initiative with Taiwan, as Minister Fonseca shared.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Taiwan provides tremendous support to Belize in many different areas. in education, in health, in agriculture economic support. So we are discussing a number of projects, but we – those are still at the discussion stage. And we look forward to new opportunities for engagement. Just, This week, our CEO, her Excellency, Amalia Mai was in Guatemala, where you had an agreement signed between Taiwan and SICA to provide support to SICA, so a number – I think about seven projects are under that agreement in many different areas. So Belize and Guatemala will benefit from those projects in meaningful ways.”