2024-05-17 - Channel 5 Belize

Mother Acts Quickly to Rescue Kidnapped Child

A woman is happy that she was able to act swiftly to save her child from what would have likely been a traumatic experience on Thursday. Shandy Pech told News Five today that she was just about to take a shower when another child alerted her that a man had just taken her five-year-old daughter from off a trampoline in their yard. Pech said that she quickly wrapped a towel around herself and bolted up the street in the direction that the little boy pointed where the man went with her daughter. With the help of some neighbours, she said they detained the man, who police took away. While Pech said that she did not know the man, after he identified himself to the officers, she realized that he has been convicted in the past of an unnatural crime upon a child with special needs. Pech decided to make a Facebook post using the man’s name and picture to alert other parents and guardians to be wary of strangers who are passing through their neighbourhood.

Shandy Pech, Mother of Kidnapped Child

“I was about to take a bath when another child that she was playing with in the yard came and he told me, he said that someone is taking your child. So I was like, what? And I jumped up in my lone towel and I came out and then I saw him already down the street going with my child. And that’s when I ran him down and three other neighbors assisted me to get her back.”

Marion Ali

“So he was carrying her in his hands or just walking with her?”

Shandy Pech

“In his hands.”

Marion Ali

“And she was screaming?”

Shandy Pech

“No, she wasn’t screaming and when I talked to her, she said she didn’t scream because she was afraid he would hurt her.”

Marion Ali

“This person, is it the first time you’ve seen him? Do you know him?”

Shandy Pech

“This is the first time, honestly, I’ve seen him. I’ve never seen him before.”

Marion Ali

“So what went through you when you saw that?”

Shandy Pech

“When I saw that, all I did was go into mommy mode and I ran him down. I didn’t even care if my towel dropped. I didn’t care about anything. I was just trying to get her.”

Marion Ali

“Did you have any kind of an exchange with him? What did he say?”

Shandy Pech

“Yes, I had an exchange. When I saw him, I grabbed my daughter from him and I asked him, who are you? He said, oh, this is my niece. I’m her uncle. I’m like, but if this is your niece here, her uncle, I’m her mother. So how come I don’t know you? And that’s when he put the child down and then other neighbors came and assisted me. I’ve looked him up and I’ve seen that he’s a repeated offender. He has done it before. I’ve got messages from several people stating that he did it to someone they know. I want court action because this isn’t the first time that he actually did something like this and I just want parents to be more vigilant and look for their children more.”

Teacher Charged with Rape in Southern Belize

An educator in the south has been arrested and charged for the rape of a student who attends the same primary school where he teaches. The incident happened in Aguacate Village, Toledo District on two occasions in the same week. The teacher has been arraigned on two counts of rape upon the thirteen-year-old student, who, accompanied by her grandmother, went to make a police report against the teacher on Monday. She told investigators that the teacher had sexual intercourse with her last Tuesday and Friday and that the incidents happened inside the school’s bathroom. Following the child’s report, police issued her a medico legal form and on Tuesday, the fifty-year-old teacher surrendered himself to police. He was cautioned and charged with two counts of rape. He appeared on Thursday before the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court, was denied bail and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. His case will be called up on June twenty-seventh. Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia said that the law regarding sexual offenses are about thirty years old and will be updated.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“Just yesterday we heard about the rapes of several young girls, teenagers 13, 14, 15, and so that shows us that we have so much work to do in achieving gender equality, because if our young girls who do not even have the age of consent to sexual activity are being sexually assaulted and raped, then that – there is so much work to do. I just want to flag that and to say that our Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs, we will continue to work hard in terms of promoting that gender equality that we need.”

Reporter

“It’s very disturbing; one of them happened in a school. What are your comments on that?”

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

“Now that one – you would almost want to lock up the offender and throw away the key. Mind you, everybody is entitled to a fair trial, but really that means that there’s so much work to continue doing because a 50-year-old teacher – and what makes it so much more heinous is that a teacher is in a position of trust. A teacher is in a position of trust and responsibility and to know that a teacher is accused of raping a student that is really beyond the pain.”

Teacher Could Lose His Job and All Benefits

And while the law will deal with the teacher criminally, the school management of Aguacate R.C Primary School is also expected to take disciplinary action against him. Under the education rules, teachers who engage in any activity that brings the teaching profession into disrepute, whether on the job or not, can be disciplined if criminally charged, or any act that is unbecoming of a teacher. Even if the teacher is granted bail, an offence of this nature warrants that he be placed on administrative leave, which means he would have been restricted from the compound. Even if the child was a sixteen-year-old student, the managing authority has the responsibility to place a teacher who commits such an offence on leave, based on the medical examination. In cases like these, when the school takes disciplinary action against an offending teacher, and the managing authority holds a full investigation, the Teaching Services Commission is informed of the findings and makes recommendations to terminate the services of the teacher. News Five tried to get a comment from C.E.O. in the Ministry of Education, Dian Maheia, but we were informed that she was out of the country.

Albert Jones Sr. Freed After Serving Time for Murder

Convicted prisoner, fifty-one-year-old Albert Jones Senior is tonight at home with his family after six years on remand for murder. Jones pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the chopping death of Alaine Garcia whose body was never found. Jones suffers from mental illness and alcoholism. Today, when he appeared in the High Court before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, his prison sentence began at fifteen years. Taking into account the time he has served on remand, as well as a six-year deduction, Jones was informed that he was a free man. Following the outcome of the trial, we spoke with attorney Marcel Cardona who represented Jones in court.

Marcel Cardona, Attorney-at-law

“I believe it has been two years or more that we’ve been back and forth from court. I believe that probably we’ve been to court maybe about forty times or more, back and forth on different matters along the way, but I am very, very pleased that today, Albert Emmanuel Jones Sr. has been granted his freedom by the Supreme Court, the High Court of Belize. Justice Nigel Pilgrim has decided this morning that he believes that in Albert Jones’ circumstances, a sentence of six years is proper and given that Mr. Albert Jones has already served six years in jail, then it’s basically time served. And Albert Jones was therefore ordered to be released immediately.”

Reporter

“Give us an idea of this murder that he was accused of and brought down to manslaughter.”

Marcel Cardona

“Well yes, this basically, he stood accused of the murder of a gentleman who, as the evidence demonstrated in the case or showed in the case, the very gentleman who he is accused of murdering was the gentleman who had physically abused his kid, Albert Jones Jr., about two and a half months earlier.”

Oscar Selgado Asks Court to “Render Justice with Mercy”

In early March, the High Court found fifty-four-year-old attorney, Oscar Selgado guilty of abetment to commit murder. Today, Selgado was back in court along with his attorney Arthur Saldivar for the continuation of his sentence mitigation hearing. Nine-character witnesses have been called over the last two mitigation sessions to testify on Selgado’s behalf. Today, Selgado himself testified from the stand. During his testimony, Selgado sought forgiveness from Marlyn Barnes for the suffering she has been through, though during his cross examination it was made clear that he is not admitting to hiring someone to kill her. Selgado is clinging on to his innocence and that probably has something to do with the fact that the verdict will be appealed. Selgado practically threw himself at the mercy of the court, sharing that while this verdict may mean the end of his career as an attorney, he has all intentions to continue being a breadwinner for his family and a productive citizen to society. Selgado told the court that he came from humble beginnings and was raised by a father who worked as a truck driver for the government. He also told the court that at some point in his life he had to generate the necessary funds to send his younger siblings to high school. He further explained that he continues to financially support his diabetic mother, as well as one of his sisters and seven nieces and nephews after his brother-in-law passed away. Selgado did not forget to mention that he did sixty-two court appointed pro bono cases in a span of ten years. Among the character witnesses called to testify today were attorney Michelle Trapp Zuniga, Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington, Selgado’s sister, a childhood friend, and a neighbor. We heard from Selgado’s attorney, Arthur Saldivar outside the courtroom.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Oscar Selgado

“It is not only talking the talk but walking the walk and he has shown the court in every instance that from humble beginning he applied himself, qualified himself and gave back to the community he came from. These are commendable things, these are things that go to his credit, mitigating factors if you will and by virtue of that he is giving himself the best chance of the court’s consideration. How much will It assist? We don’t know until that time comes, but I am hoping that it does move the needle in his direction. I am hoping we reach a point where a fair judgement can be meted out, one that is clear that there is a penalty to be paid for the offense committed while striking the balance of ensuring that a person who has made a mistake from the court’s point of view is given every opportunity to be rehabilitated and returned to society in a way that he can still make his contributions to the benefit of that society. Mitigation by its definition is trying to reduce the impact of whatever is to come so in this particular instance Mr. Selgado is applying for mercy and we are seeking to give the court every instance where it can look to apply its mercy. It reminds me of Porche in the Merchant of Venice, Shakespear, “The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained”.

Oscar Selgado Seeks Non-Custodial Sentence Due to Diabetic Illness

Attorney Arthur Saldivar is fighting for a non-custodial sentence for his client Oscar Selgado. Over the last two hearings, Selgado’s diabetic condition has been a focal point of the court conversations. Reports are that his health has deteriorated while inside the Belize Central Prison, in the absence of the necessary nutrition and a full-time doctor inside the prison. The High Court is also hearing these concerns. Several witnesses, including medical professional and the Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Central Prison Virgilio Murillo have been called to testify. Here is what Selgado’s attorney told us on this matter.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Selgado

“No it has not improved. He is a chronic diabetic. He struggles with his condition. There is the problem he has where the food is not adequate for him and as a result, he is relying heavily on his family to bring him food that he can actually eat. Outside of that he is having the problem because there is no doctor available twenty-four seven at the prison, especially on a day like today, until Monday, Doctor Novelo who is the only one will not be there. So, if something is to happen to him while doctor Novelo is not there, there is nobody to tend to him other than an inmate who is not capable of providing medical care. Furthermore, for some strange reason his family cannot give him food over the weekend. So, Saturday and Sunday he must either not eat or simply eat what is given to him at the prison, and everybody know that once you have diabetes you cannot eat processed food, balloni, hotdogs, that is not what you want to have a diabetic person eat. Within the law there are provisions that would allow for it and it is now our task to bring forward reasons that the court could consider in brining ourselves to a position like that.”

Second Hottest Day in Belize’s History According to Preliminary Data

Preliminary data indicate that today was the second hottest day in the country’s history. Belize’s hottest day was recorded in 1976 at one hundred- and ten-degrees Fahrenheit. That was recorded in Belmopan. A National Meteorological Service field station in Chaa Creek has reported temperatures as high as one hundred and eight degrees today, two degrees Fahrenheit shy of the record. But apart from the numbers, there is no denying that it has been unbearably hot over the last two to three weeks. Chief Meteorological Officer Ronald Gordon says that partially has to do with the fact that we are in May which is the hottest month of the year in Belize.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorological Officer, NMS

“That coupled with favorable conditions in terms of a high-pressure ridge that is suppressing upward motion and sort of keeping us under this sinking air and as many of us would know sinking air warms up. That is contributing to the excessive hot temperatures apart from the seasonality we know that climate change is real so the extremes we have experienced before are becoming more extreme and severe and hence the reason why we are having these temperatures. This started in early May and have been going on for the last two to three weeks now. So, a very severe heat wave across the country. To make matter worst we have a lot of wildfires and bush fires, agricultural fires, with this sort of weather condition and the increase smokiness and Sarah Dust, it is the perfect combination for the sweltering unbearable condition we have been feeling for the past few weeks. We have not done a thorough analysis at this point to tell you if it is the worst heat wave ever in terms of duration. I can say one data we have or one element we have is that it has not been the hottest ever. The hottest ever recorded, as we have said before, is a hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit and that was in Belmopan May twenty-third, 1976, and we have not reached that level of heat as yet this year and I don’t expect to get there. However, it has been comparable in some ways. We have preliminary reports from one of our weather stations in Cha Creek indicating that today may have reached a hundred- and eight-degrees Fahrenheit which is two degrees Fahrenheit less than all-time high for the country.”

When Will Belize Experience Relief from Heat Wave?

With the unbearable temperatures that Belizeans have been experiencing, the question on everybody’s mind is, when will we receive some relief? The good news is that temperatures are expected to be a bit cooler on Sunday. And according to the Chief Meteorological Officer, rains are forecasted for the early parts of June.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorological Office, NMS

“Let me first go to the short term forecast and I can say that tomorrow is not going to be any big relief, so it is not going to be any significantly cooler than today. So, it is still going to be hot tomorrow. But indications are that on Sunday, on Sunday because our winds are going to shift more to the east rather than the southeast, we are going to be a bit cooler than today, Friday and even tomorrow. So Sunday we should see some sort of relief from the excessive heat. It will still be hot because we are in the tropics, and it is May, and we are in Belize. But it is not going to be as severe heat as we saw today and tomorrow. So, the peak of this heat wave we are on it right now. Today is the peak. In terms of the long-term projections, caution your viewers that long term forecast carries a lot of uncertainty. We know that climatology speaking, late May, early June we do get the initial rains and I was looking at the model forecast going to two weeks which again I repeat have a lot of uncertainty. But there appears to be a slight shift. We see a lot of moisture coming in. There seems to be a little transition around the early parts of June into a wetter pattern. Of course, we need to monitor it and see if that comes through but climatology tells us that is what should occur at that time.”

NFS says Belize Needs More Fire Stations

The past several weeks have been wrought with discomfort, as Belize experiences one of the worst heatwaves to date and while forest fires are not an uncommon occurrence for this time of year, the severity of the weather condition has made them especially difficult to manage. Earlier this week, a raging wildfire in San Pedro, Columbia destroyed up to fifteen hundred acres of farmland in Toledo. And heading northwest, several fires have laid waste to land along the George Price Highway and Mountain Pine Ridge. As these fires rage on, communities struggle to contain these infernos with limited resources. Today, we sat down with Kenneth Mortis, Station Officer at the National Fire Service, to learn how the department is combating the issue.

Kenneth Mortis, Station Officer, National Fire Service

“The statistics will show that houses destroyed as a result of open bushfires are relatively on the rise. Again, that is something that we’re looking at. So what we need to do from a fire department standpoint is take a step back on and try to dialogue with the ministry as best as we can or the government or the powers that be to see how we can now start setting up midpoint in between heavily dense area versus lower area. If you look at Belize, for example, you have Belize, then there’s a station in Ladyville, but there isn’t anything between Belize and Hattieville. So people say, well, oh, so why we have Ladyville then? You know if I send from Ladyville to eight miles on the north on the western or as Westlake then that entire Ladyville stretch is abandoned. And if I take one of my trucks from Belize and I send that to the eight-mile community then I leave Belize City handicapped because I have one truck actually for coverage. A couple nights ago, we were experienced with a bushfire on Freedom Street Belize city but then the lady called and says there’s a bushfire threatening house in eight miles. I had to respond. The last thing I want somebody to say is, we’re continuously being negligent in, in how we respond to these emergencies. Is that some of the smartest move to make? No, it’s not. But at the end of the day, as a fire department, then we must be prepared to do what we sign up for, and that is to protect this country from fires and other related disasters as best as we possibly can. So we will continue to be faced with this type of situation. The dry is upon us. It’s here. There isn’t anything we can do. It will be an extended heat wave for an extended period of time. So the best that we can do is start the fire safety from within. Whether it’s you as an individual, you as a family, you as a community, you as a neighborhood, let us see what we can do to prevent the loss of structures.”

14 Newly Trained EMT Technicians Receive Certificates

Fourteen newly trained EMT technicians received certificates after successfully completing the three-month course today. The training was offered by the Belize Emergency Response Team, BERT, whose Executive Director, Susan Ferguson told News Five that the training covered topics that first-responders would find and must deal with in patients. The valedictorian, Chassen Rodriguez said that he is the head of security at B.S.I. in Orange Walk, so having this training comes in handy for on-the-job scenarios that might arise.

Chassen Rodriguez, Valedictorian, EMT Graduation

“I already work in security field where we deal with emergency incidents and so forth. So it’s just something that I really wanted to do something that I’ve seen that I’ve had a passion in, and just decided to take on a challenge. I live in Orange Walk, so it was just basically traveling every day. To be a part of the class putting in that extra hour to study, going home, standing on the bus. It’s just basic sacrifice that you need to do if you want to excel in something. Being a first responder, knowing how to deal with different situations, different patients, you have medical patients, trauma patients. You get to a scene, you don’t know what you’re gonna expect, you just gotta be ready. The training prepared us to deal with all of that. Different types of sicknesses diseases, and different types of injuries, how to approach the scene, just ensuring overall safety.”

Susan Ferguson, Executive Director, BERT

“In this course, they learn everything from the jargons needed in EMS field. They learn about lifting, you learn about blood, about…”

Marion Ali

“CPR.”

Susan Ferguson

“Yes, they learn about CPR, all the different measures to save lives. They learn how to do a correct IV, different medications. They learn about while they are not able to administer them, but they are knowledgeable in the field of what to give and what not to do. It is a very challenging field and one of the main purposes, so one of the main source, it has to come from family support. And so you found that while your passion may be towards EMS, the timing that it takes you from family, from enjoying your life conflicts with that. And you have to have a passion for EMS. You have to have that passion within you to continue, that road that you’re on.”