2024-05-13 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Discusses Regional Security with ACCP

Improving regional security through law enforcement cooperation was a sentiment that echoed through the room, as representatives from police forces of eighty countries met for the annual general meeting and conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police. This year Belize is hosting a meeting that provides an opportunity for commissioners of police from across the region to discuss strategies in tackling crime as a united front. Over the next four days, these commissioners will discuss how to address issues such as gang violence and border security, as the issues become of higher concern. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the opening ceremony today for more information.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Gun violence, cartel and gang activity are all issues that have been of primary concern for the Caribbean region. Over the past few years, neighboring countries have observed a surge in these types of criminal activities. In 2023, Belize enjoyed a record low crime rate, but this year has proven otherwise. At the annual conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, commissioners from across the region will strategize how to quell these concerning numbers. This year’s meeting is being hosted in Belize.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Not just me, but I think the whole country of Belize should feel honored and privileged to be able to host this conference. As last year we hosted the AGM for the Central America Chiefs and Directors of Police in November. And so this is our second conference in eight months. It goes to show that as a police department as a country, we are progressing. Gone are the days where we see these conferences happening in other parts of the world and we are unable to bring it to our shores. And for us to have been able to do that, I think it’s a great achievement for us.”

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said that Belize’s participation in the event will seek to bridge the gap between Central America and the Caribbean.

Chester Williams

“We will be doing a presentation and our presentation will be focused on How we can tie the Caribbean and Central American region together as you know that I am the president of the Central American Commission, and I’m also a second vice president of this association so I am an executive of both commissions and so as the president of one commission the Second vice president of this one. I see myself as that come with that can bring the two regions together and so we will be focusing on the similarity in the types of crimes that occur in both regions and to show how if we collaborate by bringing both regions together, we can achieve much more in fighting support of crime.”

Attending the event was Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa, who said the meeting was much needed as the Caribbean observed a particularly violent year in 2023.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries.

“To be here for this thirty-eighth annual general meeting of the commissioners of the Caribbean. Extremely important, extremely timely. As you know, 2023 was a violent year all across the Caribbean and it was extremely important that this meeting take place. We are pleased, of course, to be hosting them here in beautiful Belize, but no doubt over the next four days, very, very important deliberations and discussions and presentations happening. And so it’s extremely important. And then, of course, thereafter, we’ll have a report.”

He explained that as neighboring countries struggle with similar issues, conferences like these are a vital part of implementing effective solutions.

Kareem Musa

“Well, of course, strategies we are, we are all facing similar type issues in terms of the influx of illegal weapons into our country. Of course, Belize is more porous than the other Caribbean countries because we do have the, the borders, the illegal border crossings where, guns come across, drugs come across, um, and the Caribbean, of course, is not immune to that either they do have issues at their ports of entry, whereby illegal weapons and drugs enter their country, and so, that’s one of the big issues, of course, gun violence, gang violence, in certain parts of the Caribbean has been extremely, high over the last year. So those are some of the issues and, of course, transnational crime that will be addressed at this conference.”

President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police andCommissioner of Police in Antigua and Barbuda, Atlee Rodney, further emphasized the strength of cross-border collaborations. He explained that the association works not only by sharing information, but by conducting research into what areas need to be prioritized when addressing them as a unit.

Atlee Rodney, President, ACCP

“We basically look at what is happening. We do our research. As most persons know, gun crimes is one of the biggest issues we have in the Caribbean. So that takes top priority. In terms of all the crimes that are happening, even cybercrimes, we look at those things that are predominantly taking place in the Caribbean. We focus on it and see how we can work together. Individually, we try to assist each other by showing if the problem is more predominant in one state, we provide some support and some of our expertise so that they can address it collectively. Especially when it comes to transnational crime, we see how we can improve our networking and sharing of intelligence, sharing of information to curtail the problems that we are facing.”

According to Rodney, Antigua does not struggle with gang activity as much as other countries in the region, making its input in the conference indispensable as other nations will study its strategies to combat the issue.

Atlee Rodney

“There are some other countries having the same experience while quite a few of the Caribbean islands does not experience that. So what we do is to do the investigation, see how we can infiltrate those gangs and to address the problems that they are creating for our region. So best practices, some places, because for instance, in Antigua, we do not have that type of gang problems, but there was a time where it was surfacing, but we basically addressed it. So sharing the best practices, what worked and what did not work, and how we can all improve the situation in the Caribbean is what we do. When we come together as commissioners of police from the Caribbean.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

CARICOM Investigates Potential Gang Franchises

Recently, concerns arose over the possibility of gang franchises establishing themselves across the Caribbean. Lieutenant colonel Michael Jones, head of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, said that these franchises often have ties to members of the Caribbean diaspora, who facilitate the entry of illegal weapons into the region. It is suspected that many of these gangs venture into smaller islands under the guise of music performers. We asked president of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, Atlee Rodney about this investigation. Here is his response.

Atlee Rodney, President, AACP

“What I can say it’s one of our leading intelligence agency, the Caricom IMPACS, and we are paying attention to it. Hearing that information is out there now. We are paying attention to it because within all the Caribbean islands, there are normally some fets. There are normally some shows. There are normally some activities of that nature. So we are not taking that information lightly, and we are going to pay attention to The players involved, the organizers and the performers and see what we can discover from that, but we are mindful of it and we will be taking it seriously.”

Caribbean Nations Still Waiting on Green Light for Haiti Mission

The multinational security support mission that was meant to be deployed in Haiti is still in limbo. In early April, a team of Belize Defense Force soldiers and coast guard officers travelled to Jamaica for advanced military training to prepare for the possibility of a Haiti relief mission. For years, Haiti has been riddled with violence, as gangs engage in ongoing gun battles with police. And while a Kenyan-led support mission has been approved by the U.N., it has yet to act. Today, president of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, Atlee Rodney, was asked about the status of that mission. Here’s what he had to say.

Atlee Rodney, President, ACCP

“Basically, this is a policymaking decision. That’s not really the decision of the individual police forces. And it’s a geopolitics matter, and if the government of the day and the policymakers of the day make that decision, we as law enforcement organizations will have to go with it. What we do in the meantime is to study what is happening. We look at all the intelligence that are coming from Haiti. We prepare our men and women for deployment if that becomes necessary. We do all of that work in the background, but the final decision has to be deployed in a foreign country is left with the policymakers.”

Minister of Border Security Addresses Belize/Guatemala Border Concerns

Minister of National Defense, Florencio Marin Junior says he has been keeping a close eye on the activities of the Guatemalan Armed Forces on Sarstoon River. Today, he told reporters that while the ministry is not concerned with the operational plans of the Guatemalan Armed Forces, a protocol needs to be established to inform the way the shared border will be managed. He also spoke to a concern raised by his B.D.F. commander over the long waiting time in receiving verifications from the Organization of American States as it pertains to incursions in Belize’s territory along border.

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Security and Border Defense

“It is extremely important because we do share a border so that will not change. It is essential that we both are able to do our duties together and to will be even better if we coordinate how we try to maintain security in the Sarstoon.”

Reporter

“Are you concerned after they said they would increase patrols to stop incursions from BDF?”

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Their increasing patrols, how they do their operations that is not our issue, but we will never accede sovereignty. The Belize Defense Force, the ministry, this government has never compromised on the sovereignty of Belize. We will do our work. We are always in communication of OAS to be able to do these verifications remember it is part of the confidence building measure so we must, certain areas, particularly within the adjacency zones we have to get verification before we act on them. So, we will always continue on these operations. We also work with the OAS, informing them in order to get quick verification. Sometimes yes, they are slow, but we need the verification.”

New Treats Introduced at Crooked Tree Cashew Fest

The traditional Crooked Tree Cashew Festival took place over the weekend in that historic village off the Philip Goldson Highway. The annual event draws thousands of Belizeans from all over who have a liking for either the cashew fruit or its many bi-products. And this year, there was no shortage of all that was made from cashew, including Kriol bread and bun, ice cream and even butter. News Five’s Marion Ali was there for the opening on Saturday and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The football field in Crooked Tree Village was booming over the weekend with tasty treats made of the cashew fruit and nut. The event has become a tradition that spans thirty-seven years. Crooked Tree Village Chairman, George Tillett says it all stemmed from a joke.

George Tillett, Chairman, Crooked Tree Village

“It came in a time when Crooked Tree was transforming, turning into a wildlife sanctuary, And at that time, the livelihood of the people, Of the inhabitants of the village, We’re into traditional fishing, traditional hunting, and stuff like that. And everybody wanted this to stop. A guy by the name of Tom Grassi, along with the late John Jackson, Rudy Crawford, decided that let us start a festival, a cashew festival because cashew grows wild in this village. If you notice, these aren’t bushes, these are all cashew trees. And it was like a joke at first. What is a cashew festival? A cashew festival. But it started, and gradually, along with the casual aspect, the agricultural aspect also came in, plus the village life.”

Charlene Flowers and Verna Gillett-Samuels had on sale some new treats they came up with.

Verna Gillett-Samuels, Resident, Crooked Tree Village

“From the fruit. I make the wine, the jam, the syrup, the let’s see, what else, oh when we make things like the cake and fruits that we put in the cake and then from this, from the nut, we make the cashew butter. We make, the cashew sham, like what we had today. And then we also make cashew fudge, cashew bun.”

Charlene Flowers, Resident, Crooked Tree Village

“We got cashew hot sauce. You’ll have the cashew cake, cashew cream pie, and cashew, stew cashew.”

Marion Ali

“You make cashew jam as well?”

Charlene Flowers

“Yes, ma’am, and jelly, but tomorrow, and the ice cream we’ll have here today.”

Marion Ali

“Ice cream?”

Charlene Flowers

“Yeah, cashew ice cream. It’s not hard for me. I just sit down and think about different ingredients to put together and made it.”

Barbara Flowers travelled from Double Head Cabbage, several miles away, to attend the event for the very first time.

Barbara Flowers, Attendee, Crooked Tree Cashew Fest

“This is the first time.

Marion Ali

“And then you bought two products?”

Barbara Flowers

“Two products. The because I believe I will enjoy it. That’s the cashew bread and the cashew fudge.”

Marion Ali

“Okay. So you’ve tried the cashew butter and the cashew bun?”

Barbara Flowers

“Yes. Not as yet, but I will look forward before the day out to try them. Not really into drinking to that, so yeah. So I did not believe I will try the wine.”

One thing that was not traditional to Crooked Tree but is rooted in Cayo were the herbal remedies by Harry Guy Sr. of Jungle Remedies. His son, Harry Junior, was on hand to offer natural medicines that could come in handy if you overdid the sweet treats from the weekend event.

Harry Guy Jr, Owner, Jungle Remedies

“We bring out a variety of almost all the products that we make. We have a high blood pressure, cholesterol, we have cancer, we have any kind of stomach problem, diabetes (medicine), we have a little bit of everything out here today. We’re in business now for more than 35 years. Well I recently started the business with him. Now, we have a lot of testimonials from people who I meet, people who are like amazed. They’re like, hey, your dad did this for me. I’m alive because of your dad and you don’t get a lot of good respondent thing from people. So it’s proven that yes, that’s why we’re still in business. My dad help this one.”

The Crooked Tree Cashew Fest is now a far cry from the joke it started out to be thirty-seven years ago. In fact, the chairman says it generates the kind of funds that helps the village to grow more.

George Tillett

“The proceeds that we are getting from these festivals is second to none. For example, last year was alarming. Last year we came up with a profit of over$ 21,000 from the festival. Which was used for what? This process is used for the development of the village, for the cleaning of public spaces. We used to have little bush booth out of cojone leaves and sticks and we have developed the, to a permanent, permanent booth, commercial booth, kitchen, and stuff like that. So our infrastructure have improved. Taking out garbage and stuff like that and sometimes we assist people in need.”

The villagers now look forward to a day when their products can be exported on a wide scale to promote further growth. Marion Ali for News Five.

P.U.P. To Make Announcement on Toledo East Convention

The People’s United Party will decide in the coming days about a convention to select a standard bearer in Toledo East. The seat in the division was left vacant when sitting Area Representative, Mike Espat, died on April twenty-second. Espat had fallen ill some months ago and up to the time of his death, was the Prime Minister’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment. Interestingly, the C.E.O. in that ministry, Doctor Osmond Martinez, has expressed his intention to run for the seat.

P.U.P. Politics Heats Up in Corozal Bay

Things are heating up in the Corozal Bay constituency for the People’s United Party. Viewers may recall that back in November 2020, the late David “Dido” Vega was elected to the seat for the People’s United Party. Following his passing, his sister, Elvia Vega-Samos, was elected in a by-election to succeed her brother. But, with the 2025 general elections coming up the People’s United Party has made a call for applications from interested candidates. One such individual is the Chair of the P.U.P. Northern Caucus, Thea Garcia-Ramirez. She has thrown her hat in the ring for the constituency, though the People’s United Party is yet to indicate whether a convention will be held in that area. There are reports, however, that tensions are high between supporters of the sitting area representative and Garcia’s camp. We asked the Corozal Southeast Area Representative, Florencio Marin Junior, about those reports today. He gave a brief response.

Florencio Marin Jr, Area Rep., Corozal Southeast

“The party has a democratic process. Right now we are still in the period where the deadline for all applications is on May twenty-fourth. So when that time finishes we will be able to know for sure what will happen in the Corozal Bay division.”

No Final Decision on Salary Adjustments for B.D.F. Soldiers

The Belize Defense Force made an administrative error back in 2019 that had soldiers being overpaid. As a result, their salaries must be brought in line with those of the police and coast guard. Now, it is not being described as a pay cut but rather a correction. Today, we asked the Minister of National Defense for an update, and he said that it is not as simple as it looks and that the process will include various ministries and the introduction of a new allowance for soldiers.

Florencio Marin Jr. Minister of National Defense

“I like how you put it, we keep bringing it up every single time. This is not a one time we fix. We have to thoroughly go through a full review of the soldier’s salary. We have to do this with the ministry of the public service, the ministry of finance and our ministry. It is not a onetime fix; we don’t just move them up a scale or bring them down a scale. It will be resolved. We have to move through the thing thoroughly and we have to move very quick. We are also including the new allowances that will be put in for the benefit of our soldiers. I know you are bringing it up every time and it is not a speed that everyone likes, but it is an urgency for the ministry.”

AstraZeneca to Withdraw COVID Vaccine, MOHW Weighs In

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is being withdrawn after more than three billion doses. It is estimated that the serum has saved the lives of millions during the pandemic; however, it also caused rare, and sometimes fatal, blood clots. According to the pharmaceutical company, it was a commercial decision to withdraw the vaccine. Earlier today, we spoke with Health Minister Kevin Bernard for a local perspective on the latest development regarding the vaccine.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“From my checks, as in any medication, any type, there will always be some level of side effect in some cases. Now, from the information I have, the AstraZeneca vaccines were recalled not necessarily because of the side effects, that is one component of it. However, the main reason for the recall has been because there has been zero demand for the vaccine and there were many in supply and I know that from the information [that] I have received as well, and I did check with my, our counterparts at WHO/PAHO in terms of what is the reality behind all of this. What we found out is that yes, the company has decided to do the recall, yes, there have been some issues of thrombosis in some cases. However, there is nothing in there to say that the vaccine hasn’t proven its efficacy. And so from the understanding that I have, this decision was made, [but] it’s not something to be alarmed about or to be frantic about. As you know, even in Belize, the demand for vaccines has also dropped tremendously. COVID has gone past us but that doesn’t say that COVID still doesn’t exist. We still have the Pfizer vaccine in country. I don’t think we have any of the AstraZeneca, those that we had had expired and I think we had disposed of those. So that gives us also that relief.”

Softball Federation’s 2024 Fast Pitch Season Gets Underway

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The Belize Softball Federation’s 2024 Fast Pitch Season is officially underway. The back-to-back national champions Beacon started off the Mother’s Day weekend with a game on Friday against Lady Impact inside Roger’s Stadium.

The game is now at the bottom of the first inning. Lady Impact was unable to secure a run at the bottom of the first. Beacon’s number thirty inside the batter’s box with two strikes and two balls. She hits the ball towards third base. The fielder fumbled, and she makes it safe to first base. Beacon’s Sharette Vernon came from behind with a smooth bunt that gets her to first and her teammate to second. On the first pitch after that play, two Beacon runners stole bases. Runners are now on second and third. The third batter knocked the ball towards first base. She did not get there in time, but her teammate was able to secure the first run. With Vernon now on third base, Jasany Westby hits a ground ball towards second. She also did not make, but Vernon got home safe, two runs in the first inning.

Beacons were up three runs to zero at the bottom of the fourth inning. Number twenty-four Shadelle Ho started off the bottom inning inside the batter’s box. Ho walks to first base after the pitcher pitched four balls. Number twenty-two Rebeca Nicholson came from behind with a hit that went flying past both the third base fielder and the short stop. She made it to second base. With runners on second and third, another Beacons player made it on. A bad pitch from Lady Impact’s pitcher led Ho to steal a base and count the run. Number twenty Kayla Henry got out of the batter’s box, but she did not make it to first. Her teammate, Rebecca Nicholson, however, made it home. Again here, another bad pitch sent a third Beacon runner home. Three runs in one inning, the game ended at the bottom of the fifth, seven runs to zero in favor of the Beacons.

From Softball we move into some football action. We continue to follow the Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Tournament. These young and promising athletes are being molded by their coaches to one day represent Belize on the world stage. For now, they are competing inside Berger Field. The first match of the day was between Port F.C and Phoenix F.C. Nine minutes into the match, in the first period, Port F.C.’s Errol Gentle scored off a corner kick. The ball bounced in front of the goalkeeper and went into the net. The young athlete celebrated with some back flips. Young Kiven Brown opened the third period with a second goal for Port F.C from inside the penalty box. And only four minutes later he would do it again, finding his footing and sending the ball across the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. Port F.C came out on top, three goals to zero.

In the first female match of the day Goal Getters played against Phoenix F.C.’s female team. That match ended in a tie with zero goals apiece. In the third Saturday morning match, Ladyville Rising Stars took on Ebony Lake. Rising Stars scored six goals in total. Ebony Lake was unable to secure a single goal this time around. Rising Star’s first goal was scored at the kick-off from midfield. Nigel Hulse sent the ball lower than the goalkeeper was able to reach in time. The ball bounced into the net. In the second period, beats the defenders, makes room for himself inside the penalty box, faces off with the goalkeeper and fires into the net. And here is some team celebration in front of the camera by Ladyville Rising Stars. Fredrick Garbutt scored the third goal. Ebony Lake was unable to clear the ball from near the goal. The Rising Stars capitalized on that and after several attempts Garbutt scored the goal. Again, that game ended with six goals to zero.

Belize Elite Basketball League is now heading into its 2024 playoffs season. Two “best of three” series will be played in the first round of the playoffs. Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, the number one seed, and Dangriga Dream Ballers, the number four seed, will begin their series on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks and the Belize City Defenders will begin their series on Sunday afternoon, also inside the Belize City Civic Center. And as we head into the playoffs, the question on the minds of BEBL fans is, who will be the 2024 regular season MVP.

Four athletes have been identified. They are the Belize City Defender’s Nigel Jones. Benny’s Belize Hurricanes’ Bourama Sidebe, San Pedro Tiger Shark’s Jihad Wright and the Dangriga Dream Baller’s Delvon Henderson. The league’s executive says the winner will be selected by a voting panel of one hundred ballots distributed across all spectrums of the Belize basketball landscape, including owners, managers, coaches, media, past players, etc. The results will be announced during the BEBL Finals. Our question to you is, who do you think is most deserving of this title from the players listed? Let us know in the comments.

And finally for tonight, Verdes Football Club won their first match against Port Loyola Football Club in the Premier League of Belize’s 2023-2024 Closing Season Finals. The first game of the finals was played on Sunday inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. Verdes won that match one goal to zero. They are set to face off against Port F.C. over the weekend in the second and final leg of the championship. We will continue to follow.

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