The People’s United Party is certain of a victory in Toledo East. That’s according to Prime Minister John Briceño, who is yet to hit the ground in that constituency to lend support to P.U.P. standard bearer, Doctor Osmond Martinez. As we’ve reported, the by-election is set for July seventeenth and three candidates from separate political parties have been officially nominated, including Wil Maheia for the People’s National Party, Dennis Williams for the United Democratic Party and Doctor Martinez for the ruling P.U.P.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I have every confidence in Osmond Martinez. Osmond is a man of the soil. You know, when he was, when I met him and we would go on trips and he would tell me about how he grew up, you know. That’s a story that everybody should aspire or look at and say I’d love if I can be like him. And now, here he is now offering himself to the people where he grew up from, to say, “You know what, I want to be a part of you, I want to see how I can serve you to be able to bring more opportunities for the people. So it’s a success story and a story that Belizeans should look at and say, well, if he can do it then I can do it. And it’s all hard work, determination, making sure that I can get it done.”
Tonight, we have a very unfortunate update on Nipsey, the Staffordshire Terrier, and her pups. Regrettably, all ten of Nipsey’s pups passed away over the weekend. Viewers may recall that on June twelfth, a police officer entered a property on Supal Street seeking the whereabout of an individual. After he was reportedly informed that the individual was not at the location and advised not to venture too far into the back of the property because a nursing dog was there, the officer proceeded against the advice. Nipsey’s owner says she barked at the officer to protect her pups. That is when he pulled out his service weapon and shot Nipsey in the face. The dog survived the ordeal and is at home recovering. Her pups became collateral damage. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Two-year-old Nipsey, a blue Staffy, is recovering after being shot in the face by a cop four weeks ago. Nipsey was nursing her ten pups and a chihuahua when the incident occurred. Nipsey’s owner introduced her to us today. She immediately leaned in and wagged her tail, obviously relaxed as she welcomed petting. The police officer that shot her says he feared for his life while inside the property seeking the whereabouts of an individual. Nipsey’s owner says her dog was simply being protective as a nursing mother. Over the weekend, however, the family’s worst fear was realized. Nipsey’s ten pups passed away.
Royanne Riverol
Royanne Riverol, Nipsey’s Owner
“All of them, within one week, all of them just died. It is devastating for us because we took a lot of time, dedication, sleepless nights to assist these little pups and unfortunately all of them just gone.”
Nipsey spent several days at the Animal Medical Centre after the officer shot her. A scar remains on her face as a reminder of the bullet that entered above her mouth and exited below her jaw. But when she returned home from the vet, she was unable to continue nursing her ten pups due to the medication she was prescribed. Their chances of survival decreased with every passing day.
Royanne Riverol
“We started off with a powder milk, then we went to an expensive one. That process, we had to even put in, blend the puppy chow, mix it with the milk in order for them to taste it and try to eat it. It is not an easy task, it is very difficult. Sometimes they did not want to take it, but we had to force them to take it.”
The pups were not eating despite Riverol and her brothers’ best efforts.
Royanne Riverol
“They needed her, up to ten weeks they needed her milk. Because of all the medication she was taking, antibiotics and inflammatory medication that would have put a toll on the puppies and let them die as well, because the medication as too strong. Up to now Nipsey is still trying to heal.”
Riverol says the family made a report to the Belize Police Department’s Professional Standards Branch against the police officer that shot Nipsey. They are yet to receive an update on the investigation into their report. Riverol says she looks back on June thirteenth with the same level of frustration.
Royanne Riverol
“He did things wrongly. He could have adhered to what had been said to him. My brother was not here at the time and my mom explained to him that they need to come back another time when he is here. He took it upon himself to enter the property without even asking if he can enter. He just barged into the yard and did what he thinks was to be done. I am frustrated about this whole thing that he actually shot my dog and let all my puppy die because of his negligence. He should not have done that because my dog would not have hurt him. Nipsey is one of the family member. She would not have attacked him because she never attacked anybody.”
…and we witnessed that firsthand today when we met a friendly and playful Nipsey. The family believes they deserve compensation for the resources they have used up to care for Nipsey and her pups following the ordeal, as well as for the loss of the pups and the emotional toll this experience has taken on them. They say that they are seeking an audience with the Commissioner of Police.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police, June 14, 2024
“I know P.S.B. has taken the complaint and so the matter will be dealt with by the Professional Standard Branch. Certainly, the action of the police is not one that the police will condone. We don’t think the officer ought to have used the amount of force he used on that dog and yes there were reasons for the police to be there but the amount of force the police used was not justified.”
Royanne Riverol
“The only thing is that yes, my Nipsey is here with us still. I am grateful that she is still here because my whole little life would have broken down, because they love her.”
Riverol also owns a Chihuahua pup that was born only a day after Nipsey’s pups. Nipsey began nursing the chihuahua because the pup’s mother was unable to do so. The chihuahua, though weak, is the only survivor six weeks after birth. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Along with the frequent rains will come mosquitoes, and the dengue season. The Ministry of Health and Wellness reports that up to the last week that ended on Saturday, there have been a total of over eight hundred dengue cases. And where you live might matter more when you hear where many of the cases originate. Interestingly, the Belize District no longer has the highest number of dengue cases. The Chief of Vector Control Operations, Kim Bautista, gave us the figures this evening.
Kim Bautista
Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW
“As a country, we have reported 865 dengue cases, 383 clinic lab confirmed cases. and 482 clinical confirmed cases. 75 percent of those cases come from the Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts. The Toledo District, the majority of their cases, are from Orange, Cayo, Punta Gorda Town, and of course Bella Vista, which geographically is right on the boundary between the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, but it is administrated by our Stann Creek staff, but for reporting purposes, it is still classified under the data going from the Toledo District. So the Toledo District accounts for 26 percent of our cases or 224. As of this past week, they account for the highest incidents of cases in country at this time. The Orange Walk District has 197 cases total for the year, 23%, followed by the Cayo District 26% of the total cases or 225. The largest urban epicenter believes district believes city and by extension the district used to account for majority of the dengue cases over recent years that trend has shifted quite a bit. At this same point where in terms of week 27, if you compare week 20 up to week 27 of last year versus week 27 of this year, there’s only a 5% increase. At week 27, last year total, you were looking at 823, and this year you’re looking at 863. So there’s a 5% increase. However, at the week 18, which is at the end of April, since the end of April, we have been below that threshold. And we have been below the trend from last year. So following the projections that we’re seeing we were actually on trend to if we follow this pattern to actually end the year, lower with a lower number of cases than we had last year. So last year, as a country, we reported 3,054 cases, 1,370 laboratory confirmed cases and 1,370 clinical.”
Bautista explains that the climate and preparations for the change of weather can add to the potential rise in dengue cases. While in Toledo the increase in transmission occurred during the extensive drought, in other parts of the country when people stockpiled tires as part of beach reclamation, the numbers also spiked in those communities. Overall, however, Bautista advises the public that removing empty drums, buckets containers and coconut shells can prevent an increase in dengue cases.
Kim Bautista
Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW
“When we look at the data that our field officers captured the containers that are most positive for the mosquito that transmits dengue tends to be tires and uncovered drums and buckets and things like that. So though you have a drought if you still have the containers out there, to actually breed these mosquitoes, there is the potential for transmission. When the rainy season comes along, it just, I would say exposes the true situation that is out there in terms of the number of containers that are breeding sites, as we call them, that you have out there. And so you would tend to see an increase in cases. So when you look at the amount of tires and, breeding sites bottles being hoarded for recycling and things like that, these breeding sites are – coupled with the fact that you also have issues in terms of low-lying areas poor drainage and, things like that.”
Bautista said that the recent rains had delayed the schedule for the spraying of malathion to prevent the mosquitoes from multiplying. And with expanding communities and fourteen units to spread across the country, there’s been a challenge in getting to all the neighborhoods. He says they will get on schedule now that the rains have held up.
Kim Bautista
Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW
“While you may have maybe just under 200 official communities in the localities in the country. There are many others, well over 200 communities that you’re looking at. And so you basically cannot target all of these communities within a reasonable period of time. So we tend to target the larger urban areas first. For example, Belize City is divided into nine sanitary zones. And we target those zones, we have three vehicles target those zones. Within a typical day, you can only spray. I believe it is a maximum of four to four and a half hours because you cannot apply chemicals in using that milk. During the day, because it will basically evaporate, you cannot apply when it is raining, it will not work. And if you apply a after it has really, it would have to be a minimum of one hour after the rain has passed. You basically have maybe let’s see from about 5am to about 6 to 6. 30 in the morning, and then from about six to about nine o’clock in the evening so it’s a sharp window that you have to go and you’re actually driving about roughly about seven, eight miles per hour. to actually do a proper spray. You could imagine that it’s a slow process and then the amount of communities that you need to cover. So basically like the situation improved late last week on Friday somewhat on Saturday, and then the rain started again yesterday and disrupted schedule because we’re, as a ministry, we have given approval for spring to take place even through the weekends to basically catch up on our schedule which, was previously disrupted by extensive rains. Initially, when we start, we will do two to three consecutive, like morning, evening, or morning, evening, morning. And then after that it’s on a weekly basis.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage with some Saturday night softball action in Sand Hill Village. This is the Belize Rural Softball Fast Pitch Tournament. Double Head Cabbage’s male team took on Biscayne’s male team.
Double Head started off the game batting at the top of the first inning. The batter hit the ball towards the short stop which gave the runner on third base a chance to score the first run. There is a strike, the throw to third base and an opportunity for Double Head to secure a second run in the first inning. Number nine for Double Head with the popup ball towards center field. It landed just before the fielder could get there. A third run for Double Head.
Now at the bottom of the second inning, bases are loaded with Biscayne’s number seventeen Lindsford Gideon up to bat. That one is going, going, gone. Run one and two for Biscayne. Biscayne’s number ten up to bat with runners on second and third. He sent a low-ball flying across left field. That converted into two additional runs for Biscayne.
A steal to the home plate for number ten puts Biscayne at five runs. Biscayne made its sixth run off this hit into the right field. And just when there was some hope for Double Head to subdue Biscayne, the left field fumbled a ball, giving way to a seventh run in the first inning. And they were just getting started as they went on to make four additional runs at the bottom of the first inning to bring it to eleven runs in total.
Down twelve runs to three, Double Head finally got something going at the top of the third inning. A big home run hit from Gareth Banner across center field added three more runs to the score board for Double Head. But their third inning performance would not be enough to overcome Biscayne’s fourth inning run. In the end, Biscayne defeated Double Head eighteen to eight runs.
From softball we move into some basketball action. We are talking about the Belize Basketball Association’s Master Over-Thirty-Five League. On Saturday afternoon, team Nash from Belize City took on the Orange Walk Brotherhood.
An early steal by Fenton James for Nash to put his team on the scoreboard with two points. On the other end, a steal by Brandon Mckoy and a bucket under the rim to give his team their first two points. Kenrick Deshield flexing under the rim as he puts up the layup. Jervis Lockwood working his way around three defenders to get the bucket. Lupito Acosta with the jumper over Deshield.
The first quarter ended with Nash on top, sixteen to thirteen points. Second quarter, lucky bounce for Mckoy off the jump shot to count the two-point basket. Mckoy again, gets the offensive rebound and makes the basket count. Mckoy to Ryan Gentle for the easy layup. That basket cut a seven-point Nash lead down to one point. Brotherhood outscored Nash by six points in the second quarter to take a three-point lead at the end of the first half.
The third quarter ended with Brotherhood still in the lead, with forty-one points. But it was only a one-point lead as Nash had forty points. Now in the fourth quarter, Acosta from coast to coast got under the rim easily and made the layup. Acosta again twisting and turning around defenders, like he is in his early twenties, to make the layup.
That puts Brotherhood up by five points, with the game now at forty to forty-five points. Acosta again showing his strength and size under the rim, a bit of celebration after that play. Orange Walk Brotherhood would go on to win the game with fifty-eight points to Nash’s forty-eight points.
And for some Belize Elite Basketball League news update. On Friday, Commissioner of the league, Glenn Gill told News Five, that the league’s appeal committee came to a decision on the protested game three of the 2024 finals. The committee essentially decided that the game must be played over in its entirety. July twenty-sixth was identified as the date to replay game three. But, since then, the Defenders have reportedly asked for the date to be reconsidered because it clashes with the Belize International Music and Food Festival in San Pedro. A meeting was to be held over the weekend between the owners, but that did not occur due to the weekend weather. That meeting is to be held as early as possible this week and a new date is expected to be set. It is possible that game three will be replayed on a weekday.
Glenn Gill
Glenn Gill, Commissioner, B.E.B.L.
“The unfortunate thing is that one will like it and one won’t. I guess it is the nature of these situations. For me I believe it is the fair thing to do, play over the game not just the last minute of the game or anything like that. I know they looked at it. I was forcing them to make a decision earlier and they did not have enough time. I know they went through everything and I am sure they uncovered all they needed to do.”
And finally, for tonight, the stage is set for the Belize Volleyball Association to host the Under-twenty-one Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship. Five nations will compete inside the Belize City Civic Center from the sixteenth to the twentieth of July for the coveted tittle. We will be bringing you more from the team as the week goes by.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez.
The first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl, was historic.
Hurricane Beryl has affected numerous countries and territories, including Barbados, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and Trinidad and Tobago. As of July 4th, the storm has tragically caused ten fatalities across the Caribbean—three in Grenada, SVG, and Venezuela, respectively, and one in Jamaica—alongside five reported missing.
On July 1, Beryl made landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island, unleashing its fury as a Category 4 hurricane. Fueled by unusually warm ocean temperatures, Beryl underwent remarkably rapid and unexpected strengthening.
It quickly surged to become the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane ever recorded, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005.
Beryl also broke records by becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane by over two weeks and ranks as the third earliest major hurricane recorded in the Atlantic. Only two storms, Alma in 1966 and Audrey in 1957, formed earlier in the season.
Beryl became the earliest June major hurricane to develop east of the Lesser Antilles, surpassing Hurricane Audrey’s 1957 record. Its wind speeds dramatically escalated from 65 mph on June 29 to 130 mph on June 30, a rapid intensification of 95 mph in just 42.5 hours.
The destruction
Hurricane Beryl shredded through the Caribbean after making landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on July 1. Beryl’s destruction of Carriacou and Petite Martinique is unimaginable. It is, however, real. Officials painted a grim picture: almost every structure on the islands, where 9,000 to 10,000 people reside, lay in ruins. Structures were completely flattened. Among the casualties were Carriacou’s essential Princess Royal Hospital, its airport, and its marinas. Both islands languished in darkness, cut off from the world with no electricity and communications in shambles in the aftermath.
Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, via video link from Grenada, said, “The entire island is completely affected… that is literally 100 percent of the population.”
A day after the passage of Hurricne Beryl, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell addressed the nation. He said, “The situation is grim.”
Beryl caused widespread destruction in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). According to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, 90% of the homes on Union Island suffered severe damage or complete destruction. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that approximately 200,000 people have been affected in both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Media reports indicate that around 1,752 individuals in SVG are currently housed in 71 public hurricane shelters. The hurricane also caused significant damage to hundreds of homes, as well as government buildings and multiple churches in Saint Vincent. PM Gonsalve did a fly-over to see the extent of Beryl’s devastation.
Colvin Harry is a journalist working for NBC Radio in SVG. He covered the passage of Hurricane Beryl and continues to report on the devastation left behind. While he understood his responsibility as a journalist, Harry said it was a “scary point for us.”
Beryl struck Barbados on July 1. The Barbados Red Cross reported that around 208,200 people, or nearly 74% of the total population, felt the storm’s effects. Initial assessments revealed that 40 homes sustained damage, including roof loss, partial collapse, and leaks. Boats at the Bridgetown marina were damaged.
Beryl grew in strength as it neared Jamaica. Now, a powerful and dangerous Category 5, Beryl barreled towards Jamaica. It brushed Jamaica’s coast on July 3 as a CAT 4. In its wake, devastation. The storm delivered strong winds, hazardous storm surges, and widespread power outages to Kingston. Beryl, boasting sustained winds of 110 mph, was moving in a west-northwest direction and was forecast to retain hurricane intensity as it neared the Yucatan Peninsula. This prompted warnings and watches along the coastline.
Camol Walker was on the fifth floor of his apartment building when Beryl struck.
Signs of a Worsening Climate
Over the past year, the world’s oceans have experienced an unusual heating event. Since March 2023, global sea surface temperatures have hit record highs daily and remained elevated. As of 2024, temperatures are even higher than those in 2023. And warm water is fuel for hurricanes. Experts believe that this directly contributed to Beryl’s quick intensification.
Regional Coordinator for Climate Tracker Caribbean, Dizzanne Billy, told News Five, “Hurricanes like Hurricane Beryl are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, devastating Caribbean communities.” She said, “The human and economic toll is immense, with lives lost, homes destroyed, and livelihoods disrupted.”
“It’s imperative we address this through climate justice, ensuring those most affected receive the necessary support and resources. Climate finance is crucial in helping these vulnerable regions build resilience and recover swiftly. We need to see action, and we need to see it now.”
The Urgent Need for Climate Finance
Hurricane Beryl has significantly impacted Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica, affecting over 1,280,000 people. On Grenada’s Carriacou and St. Vincent’s Union Island, every resident has been severely affected. Barbados’ southern coastal parish of Christchurch, including Bridgetown port and fishing communities, suffered extensive damage from storm surges. Jamaica’s southern parishes experienced the brunt of Beryl’s force as it moved along the coastline.
In a poignant statement, Ambassador Fatumanava Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), expressed the deepening sense of despair among SIDS populations, stressing that decades of appeals for urgent, ambitious climate action have gone largely unheeded. Despite forewarnings of escalating climate impacts, such as the rapid strengthening of storms driven by rising sea temperatures, small island nations persist in shouldering the primary burden of a crisis not of their making. “Yet, we continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause. Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see,” he said.
Calling for COP29 to mark a pivotal turning point, Luteru demanded concrete actions, including a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “And a new climate finance goal that is fit for purpose for small island developing states is imperative. Developing countries must finally get a commitment from developed countries to provide efficient flows and access to the trillions of mostly concessional climate finance needed to recover from worsening climate change impacts and build resilience.”
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), said that Hurricane Beryl’s impact underscores the urgent necessity for robust climate action and resilience-building efforts in the region. “The impacts from Beryl lay bare the climate injustice happening in the Caribbean and other small island developing states. The people whose lives and livelihoods have been lost and destroyed did nothing to contribute to the climate change that is now causing these monster hurricanes,” Dr. Young said in a statement. Highlighting the significant losses and damages incurred, Dr. Young stressed the urgent need for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund under the UNFCCC to expedite financial resources to impacted countries.
In a July 1 statement, Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said, “This is a time for all of us as a regional community to stand together and extend our support to those impacted or likely to be impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Let us mobilise the necessary assistance and relief efforts in the true spirit of regional solidarity.”
Restoration efforts have begun. It will take years.
A murder occurred on Saturday night in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo.
Murder Victim Clint Castillo
Clint Castillo was identified as the murder victim, and Andrew Muns was injured in the shooting incident. Both men were shot multiple times. The incident occurred around 10:35 p.m. near the primary school in the village, which remains under a State of Emergency due to increased crime and violence. According to police reports, an argument among a group of individuals, including Castillo and Muns, escalated, leading to the shooting. Castillo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the Western Regional Hospital early Sunday morning. Muns remains in critical condition, with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and neck. Police have detained one person in connection with the shooting.
Dramatic Rescue at Rio On Pools
Canadian couple trapped in rapids.
On Saturday evening, a daring rescue operation took place at Rio On Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Cayo. A Canadian couple became stranded on a rock as water levels rapidly rose around them. The Belize Defence Force (BDF), Technical Rescue and EMS Teams, BISART, and Spanish Lookout Fire-Rescue-EMS quickly mobilised to the scene.
The rescue, which took hours, required a meticulous setup of ropes, tag lines, and a raft to safely extricate the couple. Both individuals were successfully rescued and treated for mild hypothermia. Authorities stress the importance of exercising extreme caution around rivers and waterways during this rainy period, as flash floods remain an imminent threat.
Controversial Police Incident in San Pedro
Police Officer caught pistol whipping Belize City man
Over the weekend, San Pedro police were involved in a high-stakes pursuit of two armed men. During the detention of one suspect, a bystander captured a video showing a police officer pointing a gun at the detainee’s head, slapping him with the pistol, and using abusive language. The officer then aggressively commanded the bystander to stop recording.
The video has sparked controversy and raised questions about the officer’s conduct.
