2024-07-26 - Channel 5 Belize

Budna Charged with Abetment to Murder

Joseph Ryan Budna has been charged with abetment to murder in the matter related to the fatal stabbing of Armando Coy Cacao.

On Saturday, July 24, 2021, police responded to a report on Guyana Street in the San Martin Area of Belmopan. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of 50-year-old Armando Coy Cacao, a Guatemalan resident of Bethel Street, Belmopan City, with apparent stab wounds.

Investigations revealed that Coy Cacao was last seen around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021, riding his bicycle in the San Martin Area. His body was later found by a passer-by.

The body was transported to the Western Regional Hospital, where Coy Cacao was pronounced dead.

Attorney Orson Elrington Committed to Stand Trial for Rape

Attorney Orson Elrington, also known as OJ, has been committed to stand trial for the charge of rape following a preliminary inquiry held this morning in Belize City.

Elrington’s attorney, Hubert Elrington, is expected to challenge the decision in the High Court. He told reporters, “The DPP has brought a case, right? And her first duty is to show that there is a difference between a crime and a non-crime. The magistrate must look at it and says if the evidence discloses a crime or the evidence discloses a non-crime, but she doesn’t even understand that that is the duty. So where do you go? You have to go to the high court.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, stated, We didn’t think that there was any likelihood that he would not have been committed to stand trial.” She says she looks forward to the defendant’s challenge in the high court.

On March 8th, Orson was charged with rape and granted bail of eight thousand dollars plus one surety.

According to reports, two women have alleged that Elrington raped them. In January, Police Commissioner Chester Williams informed reporters, “According to them, while on their way home, the attorney told them they would stop at his house for one final drink before he took them home. They agreed, and upon stopping at his house, they continued to drink and took some shots of tequila. One of the women said she drank to the extent that she could not recall what happened after leaving the nightclub until the next morning when she woke up in the nude beside the attorney, who was also semi-nude. Her friend, who was there with her, told her certain things. According to them, while they were at the house drinking, they began to become intimate, which led to him having sexual intercourse with them against their will. The next morning, when they went home, the woman from Belize City told her boyfriend what transpired, and he advised her to report the matter to the police.”

Belmopan Police Arrest Suspect in Solomon Coleman’s Murder

Investigators believe that 40-year-old Francisco Oscar Gutierrez murdered 36-year-old Solomon Peter Coleman. News Five has confirmed that Gutierrez, a resident of Belmopan City, has been charged with the crime of murder.

Coleman was shot dead on Thursday, May 30th, 2024. His body was discovered on Cemetery Road in Belmopan.

Shooting Victim Dies 18 Days Later, Shooter Still on the Loose

Andrew Muns, 32, has died from injuries sustained in a shooting incident that occurred on July 6 in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo. Muns and 41-year-old Clint Castillo were both shot following an altercation. Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene, while Muns was transported to the Western Regional Hospital.

On July 8, 2024, News 5 reported that the shooting occurred after a dispute among friends escalated into gun violence.

The altercation began on the night of July 6 when Castillo, who had been drinking with a group on the street, went outside to investigate a commotion. He was shot in the face and died at the scene. Muns, who was also present, was critically injured and paralyzed as a result of the shooting. He succumbed to his injuries today, 18 days after the incident.

The State of Emergency, which was declared on June 24, remains active in Cotton Tree through September. The suspected shooter has still not been apprehended, though 23-year-old Jamal Hyde has been charged for allegedly supplying the firearm.

Animation Bootcamp for Belizean Women and Girls Launched

The Ministry of Investment, through its Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU), has partnered with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the National Women’s Commission to launch an Animation Bootcamp for women and girls at the Belize City ITVET.

This bootcamp will take place in Corozal Town, Orange Walk Town, and Belize City, featuring six training sessions in Belize City: three in-person and three online. The programme aims to equip Belizean women and girls with fundamental skills in graphic art and animation, enabling them to create short animated films. These skills are increasingly sought after in industries such as film, television, gaming, advertising, and marketing.

After completing the training, participants will be encouraged to develop an original story and script to animate and share online, with the goal of creating original content that can eventually be copyrighted.

DOE Enhances Air Quality Monitoring in Belize

The Department of the Environment (DOE) is enhancing its national air quality monitoring program to bolster environmental stewardship. This year, the DOE has expanded its passive ambient air quality monitoring to all six districts, including Belize City, Orange Walk Town, and Belmopan City, to collect baseline data on nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and ground-level ozone.

In 2023, the DOE installed a Dust Sentry Pro-active air quality monitoring device at its Belmopan City office to monitor particulate matter, which can cause respiratory issues. Building on this initiative, the DOE, supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Climate Promise Project, has acquired an AEROQUAL AQM 65 system. This cutting-edge equipment will be installed in the Valley of Peace Community and will measure particulate matter sizes 1μm/m³, 2.5μm/m³, and 10μm/m³, as well as key gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. This new system will provide real-time data on a 24-hour basis.

The real-time data generated by these systems will soon be accessible to the public through a Belize Weather app, set to be launched by the National Meteorological Service.

Today, a training session is being held for key agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Pesticides Control Board, University of Belize, and the National Biodiversity Office. Experts from ITS Technologies, the manufacturer of the AEROQUAL AQM 65 system, are conducting the training on installation, operation, and maintenance to ensure optimal functionality and reliability.

The national air quality monitoring program, through both active and passive monitoring, aims to provide critical information to the public and decision-makers about ambient air quality to protect human health and ecosystem function. This data will be particularly valuable during periods of heavy smoke that affect various districts during the dry season. This initiative aligns with Goal 8-Target 8.1.1 of Belize’s National Environmental Action Plan, aiming to establish a comprehensive ambient air quality monitoring network by 2026.

Belize Attends the 44th IICA Executive Committee Meeting to Advocate for Stronger Agrifood Systems

Minister Jose Abelardo Mai, alongside senior sector officials and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), convened at the 44th Regular Meeting of the IICA Executive Committee to address the strengthening of regional agrifood systems amidst global challenges. The two-day session was hosted at IICA Headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Minister Jose Abelardo Mai was recognised for his expertise and leadership, and was nominated Rapporteur at the 44th IICA Regular Meeting. Mai addressed critical issues, including the impact of migration on Belize’s agriculture. “Hurricanes damage our agrifood systems, but we must also talk about mass migration from the region, which leads to economic losses,” warned Belizean Minister José Abelardo Mai, who added the adverse effects of climate change, such as erratic rainfall and increased temperatures disrupting crop growth alongside a rise in pest and disease problems. According to Minister Mai, the spread of New World Screw Worms threatens Belize’s $90 million cattle trade with Mexico.

The meeting facilitated strategic collaborations, with Mai engaging in discussions on joint research and sustainable practices. Accompanied by CEO Servulo Baeza, Mai underscored Belize’s commitment to tackling regional agricultural challenges and supported the creation of the Hemispheric Fund for Agriculture Resilience.