In what police believe to be a case of driving under the influence, a man is left dead after losing control of his vehicle in Orange Walk District. That is seventy-eight-year-old Catalino Hernandez, who was driving a motorcycle in Blue Creek Village when he crashed and later succumbed to his injuries. Here’s A.C.P Hilberto Romero, with those details.
“On Friday, the thirty-first day of May 2024 in Orange Walk, police responded to a fatal toad traffic accident at Blue Creek Village, Orange Walk. Upon the arrival this, a damaged motorcycle and the saw lifeless body of a male person later identified as Catalino Hernandez. Investigation revealed that Catalina. Hernandez was consuming alcoholic beverage and was driving his motorcycle when he lost control. He was taken to the hospital in morgue and is now awaiting a post mortem examination.“
Reporter
“Is it that he lost control of the vehicle, or?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed and crashed.”
The body of missing caretaker, sixty-seven-year-old Venancio Pop, has been recovered in Sandhill Village. Pop was last seen riding his bicycle, presumably on his way to the farm where he was employed. Pop, however, did not show up for work and his decomposing body was found two days later, near the Philip Goldson Highway. A.C.P Hilberto Romero told us that there were no signs of foul play in this incident.
“On Friday, the thirty-first of May 2024, police responded to a report that a decomposed body was found at Sandhill Village. Police visited the area where they found the decomposed body of a male person identified as Venancio Pop, sixty-seven years. A Belizean caretaker of Sandhill Village. Information is that he was taking care of a farm there. He was last seen two days prior to that riding a bicycle. After which his body was found we are waiting a postmortem examination at this time from the hospital.”
Alistair King passed away over the weekend after fighting a long illness. King was instrumental in the development of Fabrigas, known for providing oxygen to hospitals and to people who need. He was also known for his interest in conducting oil exploration in southern Belize, through U.S Capital Energy Company. News Five spoke today with Mike Peyrefitte who worked closely with King’s company in those days.
Via phone: Michael Peyrefitte, Worked closely with King’s U.S. Capital Energy Company
When I got the news on Saturday night from his family that he didn’t have much time left, my heart certainly sank. I know Mr. King was ill for a while, but even though you accept that certain things are eventualities, there’s nothing like when you face it in real time. And when I got the call from his family that he had passed away, needless to say, it was a very sad moment. Mr. King was a good man, a very decent man, hardworking, family-oriented, and humble individual. To say that we have lost a giant is an understatement, and Belize certainly has lost one of its most outstanding sons. I got the privilege to work with Mr. King in several capacities, most notably with U.S. Capital. And especially when it came to U. S. Capital, I worked with him closely in that regard because of him and not necessarily just because of the compact. I wanted to help him. I know his intentions were pure. His heart was in the right place. And one of the very, very few successful businesspeople who are always very above board and decent. He never wanted to cut a corner. He never wanted to go around any rule or regulation. He never approached me at any time for anything untoward. Just a proper, decent person who wanted hard work to prevail. He believed very much in working hard. I’m going to be doing things the proper way and making sure that success was not just big success, but good success.
Sometimes people get depressed based on the words that other people utter to them. Today, the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute in Ladyville held a brief graduation ceremony for twenty-six students who have completed an eight-week course called Journey to a Life of Significance. It is designed for youths who experience low self-esteem based on what life has dealt them and the effect that other people’s words have on them. Now, having completed the course, the students say they believe they are at a better place in their lives. News Five’s Marion Ali was there when they received their certificates and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The words of the song “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera serve to uplift the spirit and lend a positive mindset to the listener. In the same way, an eight-week long course by Restore Ministries in Nashville Tennessee seeks to restore the hope that youths have lost, either by what they have endured in life or what others have subjected them to. Kenroy Young is the Belize Project Facilitator.
Kenroy Young, Facilitator, Program Director, Belize Project
The journey to a life of significance focuses on the individual self, how we perceive ourselves and how we look at ourselves in relation to this, the descriptions that we give to ourselves and the labels that we give to ourselves. And that’s why it says freedom from low self-esteem, because the book focuses on individuals who have been suffering from isolation, fear of rejection, shame and the levels of shame are very deep. It goes all the way into toxic shame. And when we suffer from toxic shame, these create thoughts in our minds that we’re not good enough.
We spoke with three students who enrolled in the course for various reasons, and they each had a positive outlook on their lives.
Abner Mai, Graduate, Graduate, Journey to a Life of Significance
Things weh yoh have a hole in your chest, weh yoh might never want nobody know then. The course mek yoh just talk about it, relax, and have a good lee time, and then, yeah, I mi really –
Marion Ali
So coming out of it, you feel how now?
Abner Mai
I feel a little bit better now because during the course, I had things weh mi hold me down, and after I talk about it ih just ease my mind and not really think about it again.
Alisha Rivers, Graduate, Journey to a Life of Significance
You should always bring out yourself, know that you are worthy.
Marion Ali
So eight weeks later, now, how do you feel about yourself?
Alishe Rivers
I feel good. I feel released. I feel gladness.
Tajan Grant, Graduate, Journey to a Life of Significance
It helps a lot with people who really need to be heard, and, like me, for instance, I don’t really take it so well being alone. I normally just talk to people online. That’s, how I cope with being alone.
Andrew August, Country Director, Restore Ministries
We worth, our worth doesn’t devalue. We might seem wrinkle up and mash up like this $100 because of the experience and trauma and things that we went through in our life, but we are still worth worthy.
Andrew August is the Country Director for Restore Ministries. He used the analogy of a crumpled hundred-dollar note to impart the message that we as humans also never lose our value.
Andrew August
God made us and he values us. And so we have to value ourself no matter where we go through. Just always remember that your life is valuable and people love you.
Kenroy Young used his own life experiences to show that it is possible to do anything with a shift in mindset.
Kenroy Young
Once upon a time in my life, I suffered from low self-esteem by looking at my sisters, both my sisters, having academic achievements before me in life, because I was distracted by my own personal waywardness while I was a youth. and my rebelliousness and while I was locked up in prison they were going for their dreams going for their goals they keep focused and motivated and inside that would really like hinder my mind it’s like I haven’t accomplished enough.
And I came back out here and I said, you know something, I’m going to let the achievements of my siblings be my strength; that I am happy that they are achieving great things. And because of that, that inspired me to come out of that isolated, low self esteem.
For Young, his belief in God is what pulled him through.
Kenroy Young
God opened my eye and said, you don’t need academic accolades. Look at what you’re doing around you. Look at the lives that you’re touching around you. And it’s not because of what I am doing. It’s because of what he’s doing through me.
Mexico has elected its first female president, a climate scientist and Mexico City’s former mayor. Claudia Sheinbaum will also be Mexico’s first Jewish leader and is on pace to win the country’s largest election in history. As the new president, Sheinbaum will face several challenges, including security, organized crime, energy and immigration. Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will not influence newly elected president Claudia Sheinbaum in naming future officials for the country after Sunday’s landslide victory. Lopez Obrador also said he may discuss constitutional reforms with Sheinbaum during the transition period. Sheinbaum will take office on October first. Her term will last six years.
After months of inactivity, the Hemp Industry Oversight Committee which falls within the scope of the Ministry of New Growth Industries, met to discuss essential developments in the hemp sector earlier today. Those include the role of agencies in monitoring hemp developments in Belize. The meeting is a meaningful step towards enhancing the research and development framework for hemp, scientifically known as cannabis sativa. Throughout recorded history, hemp was utilized for its industrial fiber, seed and other oils. It is also recognized for its myriad health benefits. During its meeting, the committee also reviewed an application for hemp research.
Just before news time, Belize’s National Under-Eighteen Basketball team defeated Brazil in their first AmeriCup match in Argentina. Team Belize went into the tournament unranked while Brazil is ranked at eleventh. Coached by Matthew Smiling, the match saw Josiah Moseley finishing with thirty-one points, Douglas Langford with twenty-eight points and Ian Parham with fourteen points. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us the highlights.
Paul Lopez reporting
The Belize National Under- Eighteen Basketball team won its first match in FIBA’s Americup. A team that entered the tournament unranked, brought down Brazil’s Under-Eighteen National Team. Douglas Langford puts Belize on the scoreboard with an open three-point shot. Langford again with the rebound, drives all the way down the court, draws the foul and gets the bucket. That’s an and-one for Langford. He is on fire early in the first quarter, as he puts up a second three-point shot to extend Belize’s lead. Josiah Moseley, big under the rim, gets the basket and breaks the tie.
Down by two points, Elijah Favela drives, makes the basket and gets the foul. Ian Parham makes it look easy, as he gives team Belize the lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Langford to Devin Moody, Moody back to Langford. He spins and puts up a beautiful jump shot. Moody, there to clean up after his own missed layup, showing determination on the court. Brazil trailing with thirty-four points, Moody sets up at the three-point line and puts it in. The half closed with an open three by Langford, extending Belize’s lead to fifty-three points over Brazil’s forty-seven.
In the third quarter, Moseley with the sidestep from the three-point line. Ball to Parham who wasted no time getting it up for a three-pointer. And the fifth three-point shot in the quarter for team Belize had the announcer referring to the team as Golden State Belize. Brazil went on a run late in the fourth quarter. With eighteen seconds left in the game and up by one point, Moseley is at the free throw line. He makes one shot and misses the second. Belize is awarded a turnover with a couple seconds left on the clock. Favela at the line, banks two free throws to extend Belize’s lead to four points. And that is how this one ended, one hundred and six points to one hundred and two points.
Announcer
Douglas, congratulations, you did a great job tonight. What was the key to the win?
Douglas Langford
Its mainly just competing. A running game,. We know they were bigger and stronger but we are little and faster. So our speed is mainly what we emphasized.
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The nation is behind the National Under-Eighteen Basketball team currently competing in FIBA’s Americup in Argentina.
They arrived in Argentina on Saturday and participated in a media day where their portraits were taken ahead of the start of the tournament. The games tipped off today and Belize played its first match against Brazil.
They are scheduled to play the U.S. on Tuesday and Argentina on Wednesday. We are certainly proud of the effort our young basketball athletes are displaying in Argentina. From Basketball, we move into some softball action.
The Belize City Softball Association’s Fast Pitch Softball Tournament continues inside the MCC Stadium. The association schedules at least four games over the course of the weekend.
On Friday night, Wolfpack faced off against Lady Impact. Wolfpack is batting at the top of the first inning. Bases are loaded and Wolfpack’s number fourteen is up to bat. She hits the ball just over second base, sending one runner home. Bases remained loaded when Amoria Mejia sent one flying into center field. Another two runners made it home safe in that inning. Lady Impact’s first batting inning saw no runs. At the bottom of the second inning, Wolfpack continued to add runs to their scoresheet. Runners on second and third, with number seventeen inside the batter’s box. The catcher missed the pitch, didn’t recover in time and Wolfpack scored its fourth run. The pitcher was changed after numerous foul balls.
Number fourteen for Wolfpack is once again inside the batter’s box and bases are loaded. She hits the ball across third base, just far enough for it to be a fair ball. The Wolfpack counted two additional runs on that hit. That’s five. Wolfpack would go on to make two more runs in that inning. It was not until the top of the third that Lady Impact would begin to see some headway. A hard hit to the shoulder of Impact’s Kimani Gillett. She walked to first base. With runners on second and third, Wolfpack’s catcher missed the ball and Gillett finds her way home. A needed run for Lady Impact. Alberta Bailey sent a ground ball into the right field that translated into two more runs for her team. Folks, this one ended in the seventh inning, with a victory for Wolfpack as they secured fifteen runs in total. Lady Impact finished with six runs.
The Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Football Tournament is a highlight event over the weekend for young footballers across the Old Capital
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This past Saturday was no different and we are bringing you highlights from two of the matches played that day. The first is between newcomer Berger United and Phoenix F.C. Berger United’s number eleven wasted no time in putting his team on the scoreboard off the throw in. Only four minutes later, Latrel Frazer got one in after a solid defensive tackle by his teammate in front of the goalpost. And just before the end of the third period, number eleven again, breaks away and gets in his second goal. Late into the second period, Khayri Martin makes some room inside the penalty box and sends a bullet into the goal, putting his time up by four goals. Less than a minute later Breylin Middleton scores Berger United’s fifth goal with an easy touch past the goalkeeper.
Berger United would go on to win that match, eight goals to zero. In our second highlight match, Tutbay F.C. took on Port F.C. Tutbay made a statement early in this one. Watch young Scott Johnson from Tutbay F.C. as his pass inside comes back to him. He disposed of it quickly into the back of the net. Number ten, Kyrone Martinez gave Tutbay its third goal off a beautiful .pass that only needed some finishing touches. Less than a minute later, Alden Coleman once again, this time with an impressive kick off the header from a defender. Tutbay F.C. won that match five goals to zero.
Well Folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday
The Hemp Industry Oversight Committee reconvened today to address critical developments in Belize’s hemp sector. A government press release says the agenda included the roles of various agencies in monitoring hemp activities, reviewing legislation, and evaluating an application for hemp research.
A primary focus was establishing a policy for approving hemp research and investments in Belize.
This meeting marks a crucial step in advancing hemp research and development in Belize. The release says that Belize aims to create a strong framework for scientific research and investment in the hemp sector by refining application procedures and regulations. It says this initiative also strengthens the New Growth Industries portfolio, enhancing its strategic marketing and investment potential.
Attendees at the meeting included Sharole Carr, CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries; Hugh O’Brien, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture; Zoe Roberson-Zetina, Managing Director of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA); Lincoln Blake, Director of the Investment Policy & Compliance Unit, Ministry of Investment; Ginéé Neal, Staff Officer and Lead for the New Growth Industries Unit, Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries; Francisco Gutierrez, Director of Plant Health, BAHA; and Frantz Smith, Investment Policy Officer, Ministry of Investment.
The first meeting of the Joint Cooperation Commission between Belize and Panama for the 2024–2026 bilateral programme was co-chaired by the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Amalia Mai, and Panama’s Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Yill Otero.
The session was held at Padre Guardia Jaén Hall in the Bolívar Palace, Panama City.
Both leaders highlighted the significance of enhancing friendship and bilateral cooperation through the new cooperation program. This initiative promotes the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and experiences, with the goal of strengthening institutions and improving the quality of life for citizens in both countries.
The Bilateral Cooperation Program 2024-2026 includes projects focused on tourism, special education, language exchange, environmental protection, and disability inclusion.
