2024-06-18 - Channel 5 Belize

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detains Belizean

A Belizean man finds himself on the wrong side of the law in the U.S. After serving about half of his thirty-year sentence in prison for a home invasion in Lake County, Illinois, forty-five-year-old Alejandro Requena Junior was released earlier this year.

However, that was not the end of his troubles in the U.S. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) still had its eyes on him.

After his release, ICE issued a detainer, requesting his transfer into federal custody for deportation. ICE located Requena at his workplace in Villa Park, a Chicago suburb, after two weeks of surveillance.

ICE intercepted Requena, who was also in the company of his wife, as he drove off in the vehicle. He was taken into custody for immigration proceedings.

Governor-General Issues Writ of Election for Toledo East By-election

Governor-General Froyla Tzalam has officially issued a Writ of Election for a By-election in the Toledo East Electoral Division, as announced by the Elections and Boundaries Department. The writ sets the nomination day for candidates for Tuesday, July 2, 2024, with the polls scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

According to the Representation of the People Act, only individuals whose names appear on the division’s register as of Nomination Day are entitled to vote in this election. The deadline for new voter registrations was June 10, 2024, ensuring ample time for the necessary due diligence, including the publication of supplementary lists and the holding of revision courts. Any application received after this cut-off date will not be eligible for the upcoming By-election.

In preparation for the By-election, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, along with Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai, has appointed Therese Martinez, Assistant Comptroller of Customs at the Belize Customs & Excise Department, as the Returning Officer. Additionally, Marion Nolberto, Education Officer I, and Venancio Ack, Acting Finance Officer III, have been designated as Election Clerks. This team will oversee the election process in the Toledo East Electoral Division, ensuring a fair and orderly vote.

Tropical Storm Warning Issued for the Northeastern Coast of Mexico

At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the disturbance was about 355 miles (575 km) east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico. The system is moving toward the north near 6 mph (9 km/h). A gradual turn toward the west-northwest and west is expected is expected tonight and Wednesday, and the system is likely to approach the western Gulf coast late Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.

Some increase in strength is likely during the next 36 hours, and the disturbance is forecast to become a tropical storm by Wednesday. It has a high (80 percent) chance of formation during the next 48 hours and the next 7 days.

The disturbance is quite large with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 290 miles (465 km) to the northeast of the center.

RAINFALL: Potential Tropical Cyclone One is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas, with maximum totals of 15 inches possible. This rainfall will likely produce flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding. Mudslides are also possible in areas of higher terrain across northeast Mexico.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…