2024-08-13 - Channel 5 Belize

Dr. Osmond Martinez Sworn in as Minister of State at Foreign Trade

We begin tonight’s newscast with news from Belmopan. Today, almost a month after he was elected in a by-election, Doctor Osmond Martinez was sworn in by the Governor-General at Belize House as a Minister of state in the Briceno administration. Martinez soundly defeated his political opponent Dennis Williams by more than two thousand votes at the polls on July seventeenth in the Toledo East constituency. Following his oath of office, Prime Minister John Briceño assigned Martinez as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Economic Development resigned from that post to run for the seat that was left vacant in April when his political boss, Minister of State for Economic Development and Area Representative for Toledo East, Mike Espat passed away. Today, the new Minister of State Martinez explained to reporters why he got that assignment.

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Foreign Trade

“We had our meeting and on that meeting, it was shown that there is a lot of connectivity, you know, within the Ministry of Economic Development, and in order for us to accomplish the pending items on Plan Belize, there is a lot of things that need to be done from the Ministry of Foreign Trade.”

Marion Ali

“When you were CEO, you were able to tap into funds that Belize would have lost out on. Now that you’re a minister, was it your hope that you would have been sworn in as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance so that you could continue with those projects?”

Dr. Osmond Martinez

“Well, remember that once we are elected, we serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister and he is the one who will decide where each individual is more fit to serve. And in this case, he believed that I am more fit to serve in the Ministry of Foreign Trade than I will do it. But based on your question, I think that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Finance. They complement one another and the Ministry of Economic Development. It requires a lot of – when you look at the economic development, it’s not only about grants, you know, that is one of the things that we champion, but it’s also about planning. It’s about coordination. It’s about dictating the pace of economic growth and development. It’s about data analysis. In this case, now, we will be doing – maybe executing now what we were doing at all the planning and coordination that was being done at the Ministry of Economic Development and Finance. Now the Ministry of Foreign Trade will be able to implement it because there is a trade deficit, for example, that needs to be – a gap that needs to be closed. There are more opportunities in terms of negotiating with our countries. There is also the investments in terms of getting the Pacific Corridor and the Atlantic Corridor connected through Belize. Also, all these connections in terms of using Belize, or geographically, you know. Belize is well positioned to become a good trading partner for the southern part of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. And so these are the things that we need to look at that now it’s about implementing what we have planned and coordinated at the Ministry of Economic Development and Finance.”

About Controversial U.B. Hospital Land, Osmond Martinez Says Empirical Data is Key

The newly-sworn-in minister was C.E.O. at the Ministry of Economic Development when the government negotiated the grant for the U.B. hospital. The land identified for that facility has become the subject of controversy because the government has announced that the hospital will be built on lands that will cost millions of dollars to purchase from a businessman believed to be close to a P.U.P. official. When asked if he would have objected to the costly purchase instead of building the hospital on the U.B. campus in Belmopan, Martinez said feasibility studies and empirical data are key in determining what decisions are to be made.

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Foreign Trade
“The main thing with investments is that you have to look at empirical data and scientific studies. And if scientific studies call for a decision, then it’s important to note that a decision, as hard as it may sound, we will have to execute it because the investments is a lot of money. So whenever you have a huge investment, that’s the reason why you will have feasibility studies. That is the reasons why you will have you will have experts, you know, to guide you and I’m sure that the Ministry of Health have received all these studies and guidance. Recommendations from the expert. So it’s important to be objective when you look at these things. Why? Because you know, like in Spanish, we have a saying, whatever you do good from the beginning, it ends well. And so it’s important that when we do big investments, that it’s done well from the beginning.”

Job Creation and improving Human Capital are Priorities for Toledo East

The Toledo East constituency remains a P.U.P. stronghold and was presided over by late Area Representative Mike Espat, who was first elected in 1989. Espat served for six parliamentary terms and was the sitting area rep up to the time of his death earlier this year. We asked Martinez now that he’s taking over with just one year before the general elections, what priority area he has identified for Toledo East. He named two.

Marion Ali

“In terms of what you’d like to get done what would be the first things that you’d like to get done there?”

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East

“Creation of jobs. It’s very important when you look at Punta Gorda and surrounding villages in Toledo East. Unemployment is very high and it’s historical, even when you look at the data from 1981, the biggest challenge is to create jobs and to even sustain jobs in Toledo East; and the second part Is to increase the human capital, and the only way we’ll be able to do this is through education, and when we talk about education we need to be able to diversify our expertise. At some point we might need to reskill the labour force to mitigate the mismatch of the supply and demand of the labour force that we currently have. So those are the two things that we want to accomplish, and those are the outcome. To increase the human capital and to be able to increase the income per capita through sustainable jobs.”

P.U.P. Endorses Dr. McKay in Queen Square

On Sunday, the People’s United Party held a convention to endorse a standard bearer for Queen’s Square. Retired educator, Doctor Lorna McKay was endorsed to do battle for the party in the next general elections. McKay will square off against Godwin Haylock, who defeated Shane Williams at a U.D.P. convention in 2023. Interestingly, the constituency has been dominated by the U.D.P. for decades, and in the last general elections, Denise “Sista B” Barrow won over newcomer, now Deputy Mayor, Alan Pollard by three hundred and thirty-one votes. McKay says she sees a need for growth and development in the constituency.

Dr. Lorna McKay, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Queen Square

“I have been walking through the area with my campaign team, and there are a lot of room for growth in Queen Square, so far as education, so far as housing, so far as repairs to housing, so far as community projects, those are very needed in Queen Square. Queen Square right now is basically dead. Nothing is happening in Queen Square. It is very important that projects and plans and proper plans are put in place to make the people of Queen Square proper residents and to make sure that they are able to live just like everybody else.”

Marion Ali

“What plans, what proper plans are you talking about?”

Dr. Lorna McKay

“We’re talking about implementing projects for kids, implementing healthcare projects for people who are shut ins, um, looking at the housing situation in Queens Square, making sure that people can get some sort of assistance, so far as sometimes it’s just a sheet of zinc that a person needs to stop the water from coming in; looking at other things like community projects so far as parks, playgrounds, making people comfortable to live in that space.”

P.U.P. Leader, Prime Minister John Briceño wrote on his Facebook page, quote, “The blue wave was strong in Queen Square as our Party leadership and supporters turned out for Dr. Lorna McKay’s endorsement convention. Dr. McKay is a career educator now seeking to elevate her community service to the national level as standard bearer for Queen Square,” unquote.

Two Arraigned for Murder of Fisherman Mark Francisco

Just over a week ago, Belize City fisherman Mark Francisco became collateral damage in an incident that ended with his murder. Fifty-four-year-old Francisco was shot and killed while preparing for an early morning fishing trip and, according to police, was not the intended target of the crime. Today, twenty-five-year-old Kentroy McFoy and twenty-five-year-old Degron Joseph were arraigned for murder. Just hours following the incident, the duo was picked up under the state of emergency and later linked to the crime by police who used surveillance footage to trace the perpetrators route in a borrowed vehicle following the incident. Police were also able to identify the owner of the vehicle, who notified police that Joseph had borrowed it the previous night. Both men appeared unrepresented in court and were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until their next court date on October tenth, 2024.

Foster Sibling Stabs Younger Brother in Las Flores

Twenty-one-year-old George Gabourel has been arrested and charged for the attempted murder of his foster brother, following a stabbing incident in Belmopan on Sunday night. According to Devon Bevans, he was at home in the Las Flores area around eleven p.m. and was about to play a video game when he was attacked by his older sibling. Bevans reported to the police that Gabourel jumped on his back and a struggle ensued. During the altercation, Gabourel inflicted multiple stab wounds to the body.

Pair Busted at Belmopan Terminal with Unlicensed Firearm

Elsewhere in Belmopan on Sunday, thirty-one-year-old Nisani Garcia and nineteen-year-old Vevaney Nolberto were busted at the Belmopan Bus Terminal with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The pair was on a bus when police searched a school bag belonging to Garcia. Inside the knapsack was a nine-millimeter pistol and several rounds of matching ammunition. Garcia and Nolberto were unable to produce a license for the weapon and were subsequently charged for possessing a firearm and ammunition without a license.

Josue Padilla is Charged for Rape

Meanwhile in Toledo District, twenty-two-year-old Josue Padilla has been charged for the rape of a twenty-eight-year-old woman. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday night when the woman alleged that a male person she knows had sexual intercourse with her against her will. A medical examination was subsequently conducted and confirmed that the woman was sexually assaulted.

Parents of Newborn Appear in Court for Cocaine Possession

Tonight, a mother, a father, and a thirteen-day-old are at home together after the parents were spared a prison sentence for illicit drug possession. Twenty-four-year-old Shakeem Francis Ferguson and twenty-year-old Kelly Alexander Sanchez were charged jointly with two counts of possession of a controlled drug after thirteen grams of cocaine were found in the couple’s home on Monday, an estimated value of six to eight hundred dollars. The two appeared unrepresented in court today where Ferguson entered a plea deal, taking responsibility for the drugs. Ferguson was handed a non-custodial sentence of five thousand dollars, plus one thousand dollars for each count. This offense carries a mandatory minimum fine of ten thousand dollars and or three years imprisonment; however, the judge considered the fact that this is Ferguson’s first drug offense, for which he expressed remorse. Considering Ferguson’s guilty plea, the charges were withdrawn from Sanchez.

Soca Moca: One Band, One Family

September Celebrations are less than a month away and Belizeans everywhere are gearing up for the occasion. For many, the highlight of the month is the carnival road march that sees the streets filled with colorful costumes, music and most importantly, dancing. In just a few short weeks, the streets will be filled as people gather to watch the hundreds of revelers showcasing their love of country and community. In this week’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Britney Gordon caught up with Soca Moca for an idea of what the energy is as the carnival date marches towards us.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Sub Umbra Floreo: under the shade, I flourish. That is what is written at the bottom of Belize’s coat of arms. It is a symbol of Belize’s history and resilience. However, it is under the blazing sun that the members of the carnival group Soca Moca, revel. And this joy is a symbol of Belize’s freedom.

Joslyn Smith, Reveller

“Literally, I ready like now. Honesty I noh di lie. We ready like fah today.”

For carnival fanatics, Soca Moca has become a household name as it has been a part of the celebrations for twenty-two years. Although back then, the group was known as the Southside Masqueraders. Audrey Bradley, the owner of Soca Moca for the past fourteen years, tells us that the new name represents the blend of ethnicities that make up the mas band.

Audrey Bradley, Owner, Soca Moca

“Fortunately that is so easy. Everybody loves Soca Moca. I think we’re the people band. That’s never a problem for us. As people hear Soca Moca, they always want to come and join. Thank God I noh have to di likd beg, di recruit.”

Almost a quarter of the group is made up of Bradley’s family members, but it is never short of new faces. The group’s ability to attract new dancers is something she strives to foster.

Audrey Bradley

“Everybody love us everywhere we go and da like when once they come inna da this circle, this carnival circle, they automatically turn family. We have people from I started fourteen years ago and now they call me cousin and sister. So da family.”

The dancers are comprised of women and men of varying ages. Wilson Bejerano, a reveler for the past two years, says everyone is welcomed here.

Wilson Bejerano, Reveller

“From the first practice you can see that everybody just really accept me and just want to have fun just like this. I just come back and dance again.”

Britney Gordon

“Miss Bradley describes this sort of like a community, like a family. What’s that like for you coming in and being a part of this?”

Wilson Bejerano

“Like just like where she said, like family just come in and that’s happy unconditional love. Really good.”

Taija Flowers is participating in the road march for the first time as a dancer. Bitten by the carnival bug, she immediately knew that Soca Moca was the right choice for her.

Britney Gordon

“And you feel that you feel any kind of nerves being like a newcomer joining a group like this?”

Taija Flowers, Reveller

“No, it’s all love here I love it here. Everybody’s so nice. Everybody’s so sweet. Everybody just pure vibes.”

Soca Moca’s theme this year is an illusionary insanity where madness meets mystical magic. According to veteran reveler, Roslyn Smith, the team is ready to bring that magic to the streets of Belize.

Roslyn Smith, Reveller

“Well we could seh anybody who join our group, we da love. We da like family. Soh as yo come, yo feel the support, you feel the love. Yoh no wah go nowhere, you wah stay cah wr da all about love. When you hear bout Soca Moca yo only think bout family. Yo see the song weh Mashall Montana mi bring out? We rolling with we family? This da the song fi match this group yah. We rolling with the family because we da like one big happy family.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.