Nearly a month after his decisive victory in the Toledo East by-elections on July 17, 2024, Dr. Osmond Martinez is yet to officially assume his role as the new representative for Toledo East. Securing an overwhelming 70% of the vote, Dr. Martinez emerged as the clear choice of the electorate.
Despite his victory, Dr. Martinez’s swearing-in is yet to be scheduled. Also, he still awaits assignment to a specific portfolio. When asked about it on Thursday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that Dr. Martinez is scheduled to return from a “much-needed family holiday” on Monday. The PM is expected to meet with Dr. Martinez that same day to finalise preparations for the swearing-in ceremony and formal induction as the Toledo East representative.
We start off tonight’s newscast with an update on the missing funds at the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority. The investigation into the matter is still ongoing to determine the magnitude of the crime, how many people were involved, and from what unit of that office specifically. Since the news broke, there have been two different amounts reported, from half a million dollars to double that amount. All that the Ministry of Sustainable Development’s press release stated is that it is investigating an alleged wrongdoing at the authority and that it has been in communication with the Belize Police Department which is investigating the alleged misconduct. Today, the Prime Minister, John Briceño, told the media that the administrator has been asked to take a few days off, and he said that while the government wants the public to know what is happening, he needed to be careful how he spoke in the event the matter winds up in the courts.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The minister informed us in Cabinet of supposedly there seems to be some unaccounted funds, monies that quite likely have been mismanaged. And I need to be very careful how we use the terms. There are many, many instances when we give interviews and the words that we use are used in court to get some of these people off. So, I don’t want to say more. I want basically to tell you that we’re doing a thorough investigation and that any information that’s found out and any wrongdoing that we find, we’re going to have the police involved, which I think the police is already involved. And if there’s any wrongdoing, we’re going to ensure that these people see their day in court and to be able to account to the people. We want people to know that something is happening, but that we’re investigating it and we’re not trying to hide it, but we need to have that investigation. And let the chips fall where they may and whosoever is responsible if something went wrong those persons have to be held accountable.”
Reporter
“I know you can’t give details, but can you say if the Director of the Management Authority is on administrative leave during the investigation?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I’m not sure if she’s on administrative leave at this point, but I did know that she was asked to take a few days off, but if it is merited, it probably is already done. I’ve not been informed, but certainly if they need to put her on administrative leave if it has been done yet, it will be done. It will be done.”
Corozal Bay Area Representative Elvia Vega-Samos has voiced strong concerns over what she describes as disrespect from her own party, the People’s United Party. After becoming the only sitting area representative to face a constituency convention—where she ultimately lost—Vega-Samos now claims she is being forced out of her constituency office. Despite this, Vega-Samos appears resolute in her decision to stay. She took to Facebook, stating, “From major undermining from the very beginning of my term to being the only sitting area rep to be challenged to an unjust convention to now being told that I must leave the office, total disrespect. What’s next? I was elected by the people, and I will serve my term to the end.” Prime Minister John Briceño was asked about it today.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I really don’t want to go in a back and forth other than to say, it is unfortunate that we are bringing this out in public, because it helps no one. That building belongs to the P.U.P. and so I want to leave it as that.”
The United Democratic Party continues to face defeat, even months after a resounding municipal election loss. That is because the High Court has struck out Franklin “Kranka” Polonio’s petition challenging the results of the March sixth municipal election in Punta Gorda Town. The respondents in the matter were Carlos “Obeah” Galvez and Chief Elections and Boundaries Officer Josephine Tamai. In response, Tamai filed an application to strike out the petition, stating that it is an abuse of process and there is no reasonable cause to file an election petition. Polonio argued that the ballots were counted a third time; he was exhausted and did not realise he had signed the overall statement of the polls. He further contended that while he was informed certain ballots were void, neither he nor his agent witnessed the placement of questionable ballots as a separate batch. The Chief Elections Officer argued that the petition was brought under incorrect laws and procedures and that it was inconsistent with the prescribed form of an election petition because Polonio failed to sign the very petition he filed. Tamai further contended that the petition was not supported by an affidavit as is mandated and that it was filed fifty-nine days after the election, as opposed to the ten-day period mandated. As we said, the High Court decided to strike out the petition. Tonight, Carlos “Obeah” Galvez is taking a second victory lap.
Carlos “Obeah” Galvez
Carlos “Obeah” Galvez, Mayor, Punta Gorda Town
“I believe that was a clear initial act of desperation. As I have said over and over that when started counting polling area one, twelve A and those two boxes were counted we had already garnered close to eighty, ninety votes ahead of my opponents. So when all this saying about it is illegal and we have stolen the election, that is misleading information, totally misleading. I must truly say that I am sincerely happy. I know there is a God above and in everything you do you put God first. Of course you need to be guided and I want to applaud and say thanks to the attorney general and all those who have played a great role in ensuring that this claim by the U.D.P., the desperation claim to want to recall for counting, this is nonsense.”
Prime Minister John Briceño says he has been eating a lot of popcorn recently. That’s because he’s been watching the chaos happening in the United Democratic Party. Briceño told the press today that he usually does not spend much time focusing on the internal affairs of the opposition, but of late he finds himself eating a lot of popcorn as he looks at the drama unfold.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We all say that it is important to have a strong opposition. It is a part of our democracy. But they are doing that to themselves, it is not that anybody is interfering. I have been eating a lot of popcorn, watching the drama unfold on television. We never pay attention to what they are doing. We do our work, that the party continues to organize themselves and we are hoping that by the end of August, early September we should have all our candidates in place and that we continue to work as a government and that whenever we feel the time has come to call election that we would be ready and that the Belizean people would agree to give us another mandate.”
Prime Minister John Briceño confirmed today what News Five reported weeks ago which was that the new Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board (S.S.B.) will be Doctor Leroy Almendarez. Doctor Almendarez leaves BELTRAIDE to head S.S.B. This development comes after C.E.O. Deborah Ruiz announced that she would not be renewing her contract. Her last day is August fifteenth. Ruiz has been employed at S.S.B. for the last forty-two years. P.M. Briceño thanked her for her service and says he is hopeful that S.S.B. can move to the next level under the leadership of Doctor Almendarez.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Yes, they went through a long process. The post was advertised. First of all, I want to put on record my appreciation to Ms. Ruiz who has been almost all he professional life at social security and the work that she has done over the years at the C.E.O. position. After the lengthy process of advertisement and screening and interviewing they have chosen Dr. Leroy Almendarez who has been
Prime Minister John Briceño
at the helm of BELTRAIDE, who has been doing a fantastic job. While I feel sad that we are losing him here at BELTRAIDE, we are happy that he is going to social security to continue to manage one of the most important institutions in the country with the largest trust fund. The people’s money and to find ways, him coming from the private sector and BELTRAIDE to see how we can find ways to invest that large pool of money. We have about a hundred million dollars. And, if we can’t invest in it then we may have to increase contributions, and we don’t want to do that. I am hoping he can come in and help to take social security to the next level.”
The investigation at the Solid Waste Management Authority that the Prime Minister spoke of earlier in this newscast is not the only one that is underway over missing public funds. We reported this week that thieves removed an entire safe from the Treasury building in Dangriga. It is a matter that the police suspect strongly involves inside coordination, if not involvement. The meticulous way the thieves went about their deed leads investigators to think they knew their surroundings well and knew exactly what to do to go undetected. The thieves disconnected the power that controlled the surveillance equipment before they entered the office. The amount that was in the safe is still not determined, but Prime Minister John Briceño says he’d like for the police to make an arrest.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“In many instances, whenever you have this kind of, um, of crime or burglaries and robberies in any institution or, or business, most of the time, it’s because there’s an inside job that somebody from within tells them, um, What’s going on? Where could go and so forth. So, um, I’m appealing to the police to investigate and try to find the perpetrator. But at the same time, if it is an inside job for us to try to find who are the people that are giving all this information and when we find them that we deal with them, um, using the justice system.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say how much money went missing.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No, I, um, I’ve not been informed. Um, as yet, I probably, I’m, I’m thinking that, uh, they’re probably trying to, to find out and to ascertain the exact amount.”
The Benque Viejo Town Council has reported a loss of fifty-eight thousand dollars for its recently held Benque Fiesta. The Council’s financial records show that expenses for the event amounted to one hundred and seventy-seven thousand dollars, while it earned just over one hundred and nineteen thousand dollars. The council referred to the loss as a “real shame.” They attributed it to bad weather and a lack of support from residents. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño was asked about it, seeing that it is a P.U.P. town council that made huge losses.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No I have not been appraised, but in these instances sometimes you don’t have the proper people to do the proper collecting and record keeping. That is very important in these situations and I hope it is not so. But if it is so and you can find the people that are responsible then we need to hold them accountable. Just as important that next year they learn from the errors and mistakes to make sure this is never repeated again.”
Cabinet announced today that the Belize Police Department will soon undergo a significant expansion, with two hundred and twenty-five new officers to be recruited nationwide. According to the Cabinet, this initiative aims to open a new precinct in Santa Elena Town and strengthen specialised police units to enhance public safety and reduce crime. On the healthcare front, Cabinet reviewed a comprehensive study by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration on the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Following detailed discussions, Cabinet endorsed the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s proposal to build a modern, patient-friendly tertiary-level hospital in Belize City. To support economic diversification, Cabinet approved the creation of key positions within the New Growth Industries Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. This move is intended to strengthen the unit’s ability to manage and promote emerging sectors vital to Belize’s economic growth. Cabinet also tasked the Minister of Sustainable Development with leading a national tree-planting initiative, targeting one million trees over the next five years, focusing on urban and suburban areas. This project may include policy and legislative changes to promote the greening of Belize, including coastal, marine, and terrestrial zones.
Transfers for police officers from one district to another normally take place around this time of year, but one transfer has raised the interest of some individuals. The transfer of Corporal Anastacio Uh on August first from San Pedro Town to Belize City is of interest to those who are familiar with the circumstances of an incident that occurred on the island back in July. It came on the heels of an incident on July seventh when the same corporal took a statement from a minor who did not implicate a man who a sergeant of police was seen gun-butting and kicking on the street. The report was that Sergeant Devon Makin was off-duty when he got a report from a minor that two masked men were chasing him. Makin pursued and apprehended twenty-two-year-old Ryan Melendez, and the video that was circulated showed how Makin manhandled Melendez. It turned out that the statement the child gave in no way pointed to him as one of the suspects. Corporal Uh received his letter not long after that, stating that his transfer would have become effective on August first. In it, he was informed that he would gain one hundred dollars in patrol allowance but that he would lose two hundred dollars for jungle and maritime allowance and three hundred and fifty dollars for hardship allowance. When he was asked on July tenth about the incident involving Makin and Melendez, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained that Makin was informed that the suspects may have been armed, which required him to take out his own weapon. Williams also said that Melendez resisted kneeling on the ground when he was ordered to do so, and that was when Makin hit him. The commissioner did say, however, that he did not condone Makin pistol-whipping Melendez because the weapon could have gone off and resulted in injury. Williams has since authorised the matter to be investigated by the Professional Standards Branch, upon request from Melendez, who had indicated from the start that he was not one of the men chasing the minor.
