A prisoner who should have been incarcerated was erroneously released and was walking the streets. The slip-up happened last month and wasn’t discovered until last week. Fifty-year-old Kervisha Harris had been before the court for several months on a charge of burglary. But she had not been appearing in court, so on April fifth, her bail was revoked. On April eighth, however, she was brought from the prison for another charge – possession of utensils – which was a crack pipe. She pleaded guilty to that charge and was fined a thousand dollars but that was where the confusion happened. Instead of sending Harris back to prison because of the revocation of her bail, she was released. This means that Harris was free for over a month, that was from April eighth until last Friday twenty-fourth, when she should have been in prison after her bail was revoked on the case of burglary which she still has to answer to. Police issued a bench warrant last week and picked her up on Friday. She was taken before the court today and was committed back in the custody of the prison authorities.
Tag: 2024-05-27
Cancer Walk Draws Hundreds to the Seven-mile Exercise
The annual Cancer Walk is decades old, but the event is just returning to the prominence it held before the COVID pandemic put a damper on it. Organizers were forced to put a halt to the event at the height of the pandemic and adjust its route from 2022 and 2023. So, this year when it returned to its original Ladyville starting point, it set the tone for a resumption of the tradition. And it did not disappoint, as several hundred persons turned out to walk and even run the seven-mile journey. News Five followed along the route and Marion Ali filed this report.
Sydney Griffith, Participant, Cancer Walk
“I walked because I just had many family members who have died from cancer, survived cancer, and are fighting cancer, and it’s important to me to show support in any way that I can.”
Kash Sankofa, Participant, Cancer Walk
“I do the work because you don’t have to have a cancer before you walk. They say walk to prevent the cancer, so that’s why I come out to do the walking. Many of my friends I’ve never seen them for a long time and here they are today. I saw them, I’m very happy for that.”
Kash Sankofa and Sydney Griffith represent many of those who walked the stretch on Saturday morning. They gathered near Celina’s in Ladyville with minutes to spare and, as the clock struck five a.m., the pair headed on foot towards Belize City. Their destination – the Belize Cancer Society’s headquarters off Coney Drive.
Along the way, there were several water and fruit tables set up where participants could access picker-uppers to continue the journey.
Kim Simplis-Barrow, President, Belize Cancer Society
“We’re still trying to recuperate from COVID-19, so it’s a struggle, but I think it’s getting better. The numbers were double what they were last year and we know it by the sale of the t shirts that we, have because we do keep a record. So we’re very thankful to all the companies and all the individuals who walk with their families and children and their husbands and wives.”
President of the Belize Cancer Society, Kim Simplis-Barrow, a cancer survivor, shared that every day is an uncertainty of how easy or difficult it will be.
“As a survivor, how has it been over the years?”
Kim Simplis-Barrow
“Good days and bad days, but we just find strength in every which way we can and just battle it out. It’s really a blessing. It’s a privilege to be alive, and for me, it’s always really trying to be as positive as I possibly can.”
Catalina Coc is also a cancer survivor. She told us that she can relate to the uncertainty in a day, having just completed chemotherapy.
Catalina Coc, Cancer Survivor
“I didn’t come out to walk but I have my son, and my daughter, and my gentleman that did the walk for me. I’m just recovering from the trauma. Getting over the sickness, so I don’t feel like I have the energy to do it, but I have my family that supported me.”
Marion Ali
“How are you doing?”
“A lot better, a lot better, thank God. I have some harsh days, but thank God I made it through. And I just want to give a little advice to people that have it out there, don’t be scared, don’t be scared. Just be strong. Because everybody can overcome it. But if you begin to stress, then it will get worse. So that’s what I did. I try my best to be strong and eat healthy. That’s the most important part, eat healthy.”
President of the Cancer Walk Committee, Lawrence Ellis told News Five that as the event regains its popularity, they will plan to draw more funds from the participants.
Lawrence Ellis, President, Cancer Walk Committee
“We’re going to propose now is for each walker to donate something. Because really this is a fundraiser and the money goes towards helping people in whatever way we can with their struggle with cancer, noh. We raise anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, but we’re hoping that if every walker would donate a twenty or fifty or a hundred dollars, we could carry this number to sixty to a hundred thousand, hopefully next year.”
Ellis says the money they raise is used to help cancer patients.
“Sometimes they need a mammogram or a pap smear, or they need passage money to go to Merida. We can’t fully cover anybody cancer care, so we assist in any way that we can.”
Ellis says it is difficult to say how many people in Belize are suffering from cancer because there is not a cancer registry in the country to keep a record of that number.
But to prolong good health, Simplis-Barrow says that keeping a healthy diet and exercise are two key factors in living a healthier life.
“Get the tests that they need to get, to do the examinations that they need to get. Going to the gym, working out, eating well, and yeah, just surround myself with as much positivity as I possibly can.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
Special Olympics Athletes Secures Regional Bocce Medals
Two Special Olympics athletes from Stella Maris competed in the Caribbean Special Olympics Bocce Event in Grand Cayman and brought home four medals. Elijah Martinez and Kiefer Simon were greeted at the Philip Goldson International Airport this afternoon by the school’s marching band. They then headed over to Stella Maris where the celebration continued. Students held up posters and shouted in celebration when the team arrived at the school’s entrance. We spoke with their coach, Sheree Selgado who also underwent training in Grand Cayman to become a certified bocce coach. We also heard from Marshall Nunez, the Disability Desk Coordinator, who joined the athletes on this journey, as well as the athletes themselves.
Sheree Selgado, Coach, Special Olympics Bocce Team
“We actually did a lot of practice before we left for grand Cayman to participate in this competition. Bocce is almost, they would say the cousin to bowling. It entails a small ball that is called a pallino. Each teams would get four balls to play and the objective of the game is you need to get your balls as close as possible to that pallino. It means so much, we went out there. We just practiced in our school yard. WE didn’t even have a proper facility compared to the other regions that we played against. We went optimistic. The boys kept saying we are coming back with gold. We fell short by one point for that gold but we came back with medal.”
Marshall Nunez, Disability Desk Coordinator, Ministry of Human Development
“We attended the special Olympics Caribbean initiative, the first ever Caribbean Bocce Tournament in Grand Cayman, the tournament was from Thursday until Saturday. They had twenty participating countries. Our boys, Keifer Simon and Elija Martinez participated in the individual competition. Elijah won bronze and Simon won silver and in the team competition we won silver medals. So we got three silver medal and one bronze.”
Elijah Martinez, Bocce Athlete
“Well ih feel good for me and for Belize.”
Paul Lopez
And what was going through your mind when you were over there competing?
Elijah Martinez
“I never think I would win any medal for Belize. I think my coach, I thank Belize, My mom, my dad, all my family and Stella Marris School.”
Paul Lopez
“How does it feel to bring home two medal?”
Kiefer Simon, Bocce Athlete
“I feel good.”
Paul Lopez
“What was it like competing, what was going through your mind?”
Kiefer Simon
“Brining gold.”
Paul Lopez
“Anybody you would like to big up?”
Kiefer Simon
“My coach and Belize and my school.”
ACES Founder, Chris Summers Dies
He was the Belizean version of Crocodile Dundee and was known all over for his fearlessness of crocodiles and snakes. On Sunday, news broke of the death of Chris Summers, the founder and director of operations at the Aces Wildlife Rescue. Summers was the backbone of the organization since its inception, traveling the length and breadth of Belize to rescue trapped or tortured crocodiles or to remove others that posed a threat to humans and other forms of life in residential communities. Aside from crocs, Summers was also called to remove snakes that had found their way into people’s yards and homes. On Sunday, ACES posted on its Facebook page that Summers passed away at his island home. Today the organization informed that it awaits the family of Summers to arrive and deal with the memorial and funeral arrangements.
P.C.C. About to Complete Data Collection After Public Outreach
An inaugural meeting was held in November 2022 and since then, the P.C.C. has held public consultations, lectures, launched simplified and condensed versions of the Constitution, and prepared an interim report. But the People’s Constitution Commission has been quiet for a while now. Today we checked in with the Chairman Anthony Chanona, who informed us that the commission is in the process of finishing the compilation of data it collected following the public outreach campaign. He added that the commission was also awaiting written confirmation to grant it the six months recommended to complete its final report. And as an overall summary, Chanona informed us today that, (quote), “the Commission is currently engaged in a two-fold exercise – one is to conduct a comprehensive review of the Belize Constitution. This is being skillfully led by attorney Darrell Bradley. The second aspect of its work has been delegated to a working group of Chairpersons of the Thematic Committee to categorize the extensive data into thematic areas of the Belize Constitution. This is slated to be completed May thirty-first,” (unquote). Chanona indicated that the commission had circulated hundreds of brochures titled “P.C.C. Update” at the National Agriculture and Trade Show where it had a booth.
The Hurricanes are Heading to the B.E.B.L. Finals
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez. The Benny’s Belize Hurricanes are back in the B.E.B.L. Finals. On Friday night, the Hurricanes travelled down to the Culture Capital for game two of their best-of-three playoff series against the Griga Dream Ballers. The Hurricanes were up one win, and the Ballers were facing elimination going into this one.
Evans was engaged in a verbal exchange with some Ballers fans right after scoring a free throw to tie the game at seventy-four in the fourth quarter. He finished with twenty-four points.
Victor “Vito’ Evans, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes
“Whenever I come to Griga they try to attack me from start to finish. So, I decided to get engaged back. I am from L.A., that is what we do, trash talk. I love Griga, I tell people all the time this is the best environment to play in. I love Civic, btu this small environment, this pit, it is amazing, feels like you are at war.”
Jamil Wagner, Coach, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes
“Well going into the finals we can’t expect anything but hard work. To win a championship is never easy, regardless of the talent on your team. We got to go in there and take it.”
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Urgent Advisory on Air Quality Concerns Due to Wildfires
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Department of the Environment (DoE) are issuing a critical advisory regarding significant air quality concerns caused by ongoing wildfires affecting several communities in the Toledo and Cayo districts.
These wildfires have resulted in a considerable increase in air pollution due to smoke, posing health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The following health advisories are being issued:
- Stay Indoors: Residents are advised to remain indoors as much as possible, especially during periods of heavy smoke.
- Keep Windows and Doors Closed: Ensure that your living spaces are sealed to prevent smoke from entering.
- Use Air Purifiers: If available, use air purifiers to reduce indoor air pollution.
- Limit Outdoor Activities: Minimize outdoor physical activities to reduce exposure to polluted air.
- Seek Medical Attention: Individuals experiencing respiratory issues should seek immediate medical attention.
- Wear Masks: Wear masks when outdoors in affected areas to filter out fine particles.
Efforts are underway to control the wildfires and mitigate the impact on air quality. The DoE is acquiring air quality monitoring equipment to be installed in strategic areas to detect changes in ambient air quality, aiding in the national response and decision-making process.
King Charles Addresses SIDS4
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) is underway in Antigua. More than 20 world leaders, along with representatives from the private sector, civil society, academia, and youth—nearly 4,000 participants in total—have gathered at the American University to tackle critical issues impacting the future of SIDS.
Under the theme “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity,” the four-day conference (27-30 May) will showcase innovations and develop practical solutions to address challenges driven by the climate emergency, spiralling debt, and health crises.
The conference will adopt The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity, outlining the sustainable development aspirations of small islands over the next decade and the support required from the international community.
The session began with a recorded message from King Charles III. During his speech, King Charles III said, “I’ve seen the critical challenges you face and how they can multiply to a terrifying and existential degree. I have also seen how islands are leaders. You are continuously showing the world in tackling climate change, in protecting biodiversity and in stewarding incredibly 1/3 of the global ocean which is absolutely crucial in the fight against both climate change and nature loss.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening address, emphasized that SIDS are a “test case for climate justice and financial justice.” He decried the prospect of losing entire countries or cultures due to global warming and the disparities in the global financial system. Guterres called for bold investments from SIDS and substantial support from the international community, particularly from countries with the greatest responsibility and capacity to address these challenges. He underscored the urgency of implementing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and demanded a fair and just global financial architecture.
One Dead, Another Injured in Shooting in Corozal
One person was shot dead on Sunday morning in the Corozal District. The shooting incident occurred at Mi Compa Bar and Grill in Ranchito Village.
The victim has been identified as twenty-four-year-old Jahmor Gabourel. Witnesses say that the shooting was the result of an argument.
Twenty-four-year-old Ethon Galvez was also injured.
Investigators have identified the shooter.
This is a developing story.