2024-09-17 - Channel 5 Belize

ComPol Calls Five-Month Sentence for Police Officer ‘Excessive’

Inspector Christopher Martinez has been sentenced to five months in prison after pleading guilty to wounding detainee Aaron Flowers. According to Flowers, Martinez struck him on the head with a padlock while he was in custody. It is alleged that Inspector Martinez inflicted the injury on Flowers when he discovered that Flowers was the person who allegedly opened fire at his residence with a firearm.

When he appeared in court in June, Flowers said that he has been harassed repeatedly and offered bribes by fellow police officers to drop the charges against Martinez.

Meanwhile, Martinez claims Flowers assaulted him, which led to Flowers being charged with common assault. Last week, Inspector Martinez was sentenced to 5 months behind bars after he pleaded guilty two weeks ago.

When asked about it today, Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters, “Mister Martinez took full responsibility for what he did. I believe that he came to the realisation that he was wrong and he got guilty to the charge. I personally believe that the sentence is excessive in nature.”

Williams added, “It’s a matter for him to decide if he’s going to appeal the sentence or not. And I hope that police officers are watching. Again, we’re seeing a number of instances where police officers are being accused of committing different types of crimes. And they will see that the court system is not plain when it comes to police. We start with Kareem Martinez, where we saw an unusual sentence likewise excessively high, and then now we have Martrinez. It’s something for police to watch out for to look at to make sure that they don’t commit themselves.”

Drunken Brawl on St. George’s Caye Results in Stabbing

A night of drinking on St. George’s Caye ended in violence. On Sunday, police responded to a report by Nelson Pascasio, who alleged that Manuel Avila stabbed him in the chest during an argument.

Pascasio and Avila were taken by coast guard officers to Belize City. Pascasio received treatment and is now in a stable condition.

Manuel Avila has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and grievous harm.

According to police, both individuals were intoxicated at the time of the incident. The reason for their argument remains unknown.

ComPol Says X-ray, Postmortem Proves Daniel Caal Was Not Killed by Police

26-year-old Daniel Caal died while in police custody late last week. Caal, who had been arrested days earlier for handling stolen goods, was found dead in his cell with visible injuries. As we have reported, a post-mortem examination revealed that he died from lung inflammation and chronic alcoholism. Despite these findings, Caal’s family remains dissatisfied with his treatment while in police custody and plans to take legal action.

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams today told reporters that “the police were responsive to his needs.” Williams explained that a request was made to the National Forensic Service to expedite that postmortem. He said that the family was notified.

“The result of that X-ray revealed that there was no sign of violence on the body,” shared Williams. He added, “The result of the postmortem revealed that he died from acute respiratory distress due to alcoholism. I think cirrhosis of the liver, and likewise, the postmortem did not reveal anything to the effect that Mr. Caal was physically abused by anybody.”

According to the commissioner, Caal had a “long medical history” known to the family. “He had been in and out of the hospital,” Williams said.

“We have viewed the surveillance footage from the station, and that too did not show anything to the effect that police had done him anything wrong. And so at this time we can say with some degree of certainty that Mr. Caal’s death was not caused by the police.”

When asked about the family’s claims that they were not informed about Caal’s condition or injuries, Williams acknowledged their right to pursue legal action. He added, “If they believe their loved one was treated inhumanely or that the police had something to do with his death, they have the right to take the matter to court. Our duty is to defend it, and we have substantial proof, including medical evidence, that the police did not cause his death. It will be up to the court to decide.”

New Instagram Features Target Teen Safety to Safeguard Minors

Instagram is set to revamp its privacy settings for users under 18, targeting the safety of its younger users in response to growing concerns. The app’s move comes as lawmakers are also pushing for more robust online safety regulations to better safeguard minors from online dangers.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, explained, “We decided to focus on what parents think because they know better what’s appropriate for their children than any tech company, any private company, any senator or policymaker, or staffer or regulator.” He described the new “Teen Accounts” initiative as aiming to “essentially default” minors into age-appropriate experiences on the app.

The app will make all such accounts private by default, restrict notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to promote better sleep, and introduce new parental controls that will allow parents to see the accounts their teenagers have recently messaged. However, the updates may not be welcomed by all teenagers. Those who use Instagram to grow their public profiles might find the new privacy settings restrictive.

The new changes will begin rolling out immediately, starting with new accounts for users who identify as minors.

Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, remarked, “These are long overdue features that Instagram should have put in place years ago to keep young people safe online.” Despite these new measures, concerns remain about their effectiveness.

Flood Warning in Effect for Belize City as River Levels Rise

A flood warning remains in effect for the Belize City area as floodwaters continue to flow down the Belize River system, posing a risk of rising water levels in the region.

Region 7:

On the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek North, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, and San Roman, normal water levels are expected. However, from Douglas downstream to the coast, above-normal levels will continue. On the New River at Hill Bank, Tower Hill, and Caledonia, above-normal levels are anticipated.

Region 9:

On the Mopan River at Benque Viejo Town, water levels are expected to remain at the bankfull stage. On the Macal River, reservoir levels at all FORTIS facilities will remain below the spillway, and at San Ignacio, above-normal levels will stay below the low-level bridge. On the Belize River at Double Run, above-normal levels will persist. At Crooked Tree Lagoon, increasing levels are expected but will remain below the causeway.

Region 11:

On the Sibun River at Freetown Sibun, normal water levels are expected. At the Southern Lagoon near Gales Point Village, above-normal levels are forecast. Watersheds on the Eastern Slopes of the Maya Mountains will see above-normal levels, and at Kendal Bridge on the Sittee River, the same trend is expected. On the Swasey and Bladen branches of the Monkey River, below-normal levels are anticipated, while the Deep River at Medina Bank will see normal levels. The Rio Grande at San Pedro Columbia and Big Falls South will experience below-normal levels, as will the Moho River at Jordan. Meanwhile, normal levels are forecasted for the Moho River at Blue Creek South and the Temash River at Crique Sarco.

Region 13:

On the Sarstoon River, normal levels are expected.

Residents in low-lying areas of Belize City are advised to remain vigilant as floodwaters continue to move down the Belize River.

Brazil Faces ‘Catastrophic’ Wildfires Amid Worst Drought in 40 Years

Brazil is currently battling a series of record-breaking wildfires that are endangering key ecological systems and ravaging several regions of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal regions. The country is experiencing its worst drought in seven decades, and authorities report it has contributed to the staggering 57,312 wildfires this month, which has already exceeded the total for September 2023 in its entirety, according to satellite data from the INPE research institute.

These fires have caused significant damage to Brazil’s key crops, such as sugarcane, arabica coffee, oranges, and soybeans. “The soil lacks water. It is the worst water deficit in 40 years,” said Jose Marcos Magalhaes, president of Minasul, a major coffee cooperative.

Residents in nearby towns are choking on the smoke, with densely populated cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro at risk of fires approaching their limits, officials warn. About 60% of all wildfires in Latin America are happening in Brazil, according to officials.

Experts say a significant factor in the fires is human activity, with about a third caused by land clearing for agriculture. Deforestation and severe drought are exacerbating the situation. Rachael Garrett, a professor of conservation and development at the University of Cambridge, highlighted the role of these factors, stating, “Deforestation and drought are contributing heavily to the wildfires.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva noted that the Amazon is facing the worst drought in 40 years. “We’ve had severe droughts before in Brazil, but not to this extent… We are facing a gigantic drought … and a drought that has come combined with fire,” Lula said. He has urged the public to report suspected arsonists to federal police and has vowed to change the existing laws, which currently impose a maximum prison sentence of four years for such crimes.

The Amazon’s degradation is not only affecting Brazil but also neighbouring countries. Bolivia and Ecuador have experienced flight cancellations, evacuations, and school closures due to smoke.

Experts warn that further degradation of the Amazon would be “catastrophic” for the region’s already delicate ecosystems.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested on Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Charges

54-year-old rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan on Monday night following a grand jury indictment. The arrest occurred at the Park Hyatt New York City around 8:30 p.m. by Homeland Security Investigations officers.

The charges against Combs were revealed the morning of September 17.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams confirmed that federal agents took Diddy into custody based on a sealed indictment filed by the Southern District of New York.

The indictment claims that Combs ran a “criminal enterprise” involved in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, and other crimes. The charges are linked to several new lawsuits and allegations, some dating back to 1991.

Combs is scheduled to appear for an arraignment at a federal courthouse in Manhattan. If convicted of sex trafficking by force, Combs could face a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of life.

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, responded to the arrest, saying, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.”

Agnifilo further added, “He is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgement until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

New Income Tax Exemption Threshold Announced

Prime Minister John Briceño announced a new threshold for income tax exemption. The announcement was made during his State of the Nation address this morning in Belmopan. He said, “Effective January 1st, in support of employees, Cabinet has approved that all workers who earn less than 29 thousand dollars will be exempt from income tax.’ According to the Prime Minister, by increasing the income tax exemption threshold from $20,000 to $29,000, an additional 2,851 workers will no longer be subject to income tax. “The income tax laws will also be adjusted so that in no instance will an employed person take up less pay when his or her salary increases.”

The amendment is expected to benefit about 733 employed persons.

Briceño also announced that, “As we ring in the new year, the government will pass legislation so that all mortgages, assignments, and cancellations of mortgages for less than 100,000 dollars will be exempt from stamp duty.”

According to the Prime Minister, this exemption will assist lending institutions to compete for business and bring down interest rates.

Iowa Tourists in Critical Condition After Fatal Head-On Collision in Belize

Two Iowa women, Baylee O’Brien and Kelsey O’Connor, are in critical condition following a fatal head-on collision in Belize, with both now facing intensive medical care. The accident occurred on September 11 on the George Price Highway, between miles 36 and 37, resulting in severe injuries for both women and the death of 28-year-old Estevan Chiac.

The crash involved a head-on collision between a white Chrysler van and a Ford Escape driven by Dennis Kevin Perez and Jaime Alberto Correa, respectively. The impact forced 27-year-old tour guide Perez’s van off the road, causing injuries to his occupants, O’Brien and O’Connor.

Following the accident, O’Brien and O’Connor were treated in Belize City for emergency surgeries.

Family friends have reported that O’Brien sustained a perforation of the small intestine. Meanwhile, O’Connor suffered liver contusions, pancreatic lacerations, and fractures to her L1 and L2 vertebrae as well as her coccyx.

O’Brien was airlifted to a Florida hospital on Sunday, where further examination revealed a partially collapsed lung and multiple broken ribs.

O’Connor is to be transported to a specialised medical facility in Texas. Both women are in stable condition but continue to receive care in the intensive care unit.

PM Briceño: “Inflation is down.”

As he continued his State of the Nation address, Prime Minister John Briceño said, “Gross domestic production as of the end of 2023 has now surpassed $6 billion, the highest level in the country’s history, and in the first quarter of this year by another 10%. and the conditions for the continued expansions are compelling.”

Briceño added, “Inflation is down, falling from 6.3% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2024.” He said that bank sector liquidity is abundant, exceeding $800 million. “The Belizean dollar is stronger with over $1.9 billion in foreign assets, and the public finances have been transformed. In just four years, with public debt down to 63% of GDP from 130% in 2020, fortified by a primary budget surplus of 1% of GDP.”

According to Briceño, since November 2020, the Government of Belize has continuously transformed its investment program strategy to attract more foreign investment growth. “The latest Central Bank reports state that total FDI inflows for 2023 stood at 320.2 million USD and in the first quarter of 2024 already stood at 194 million USD. Briceño said this indicated that at the end of 2024 FDI inflows will surpass the 2023 totals by approximately 20%.