2024-09-18 - Channel 5 Belize

Opposition Leader Delivers State of the Nation Response

Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow delivered his State of the Nation address today in response to Prime Minister John Briceño’s presentation on Tuesday. Barrow spoke for forty minutes on matters related to the economy, education, health, crime and more. But, unlike the elaborate setting that was prepared for the prime minister’s speech, today there were no dignitaries, diplomats, or students in sight. Neither was there any other politician in the room other than the opposition leader himself. Notwithstanding the nearly empty room, Barrow delivered his address and got his points across to the nation, live. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there. He filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow delivered his response to the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation address in solitude from the United Democratic Party’s headquarters. His speech ran for forty minutes, twice the length of time PM Briceno took on Tuesday. But the setting was a stark contrast to the pomp and circumstance and fanfare at the Sir Edney Cain Building. Barrow made his remarks to a virtually empty room. That, however, did not faze him, as he painted a picture of national despair from the onset.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“As we celebrate our glorious history, we must yield to our obligation to be mindful of the present State of our nation which unfortunately is floundering. After four years of the Briceno Administration, ask yourselves, are your lives any better? Can you afford the highest cost of living ever? Are you closer to getting your first affordable home? Did you get your first piece of land? Are you getting affordable quality public healthcare? Are we safer? Do you feel safer? Can you afford to send your children to school? Do you have food security? Are you living the Belizean dream or the dreaded nightmare?”

Barrow went on to point out several businesses that have shuttered over the last few years, including Renco, Smiling Meats, Hofius and Bottom Dollar. He used these closures to bolster his argument that the nation’s economy is in dire straits. The opposition leader responded directly to the prime minister’s claim that his administration has recorded a historically high six billion-dollar G.D.P.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“Despite Bricenos annual attempts to deceive Belizeans we do not see the G.D.P. growth he boasts of, nor do we feel it! The State of the Nation is falling when regular Belizeans pay twenty-five percent income tax while special Belizeans pay six percent, and million-dollar corporations pay three percent. The State of the Nation is falling when you fail to collect proper taxes from those making the most especially those price gauging businesses who exploit the vulnerable while evading tax compliance.”

Barrow contended that while the Briceño administration boasts a three percent unemployment rate, the poverty rate remains at thirty-nine percent. On the topic of health, the opposition leader chided the government for spending six point nine million dollars on land in Belmopan to build a tertiary level hospital. He referred to former Minister of Health Michel Chebat as the worst Minister of Health in the country’s history. Furthermore, he argued that the current Minister of Health has created more havoc than health solutions.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“The Ministry of Health’s report card from 2020 to 2024, has been a horrific and unhealthy for the country of Belize. Instead of the Health of our people accelerating to the next level, it has deteriorated since November 2020 over the last forty-seven months under this P.U.P. Briceño administration.”

The Leader of the Opposition spent much of his speech discussing education. Here, he lamented the reported shortage of teachers in the classroom. Barrow also argued that the requirement for teachers to have one hundred and twenty CPD hours in five years is daunting for many educators. He recommended a reduction in the number of hours required for continued professional development.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“We need to reduce the CDP hours. A more manageable requirement for CPD hours will alleviate the pressure on teachers. Reducing the number of hours needed would make it easier for educators to fulfill their professional development obligations without overextending themselves. These and other solutions will provide for a more equitable framework for teacher development.”

Turning to the issue of crime, Barrow declared that homicides have increased by forty percent from the same period last year. The Commissioner of Police maintains that while those figures were accurate at the start of the year, that percentage decreased significantly in the third quarter and continues a downward trend. In response, Barrow noted that he would revisit that figure and make the correction if necessary.

Moses Shyne Barrow

“Our crime rates and the state of our policing system are deeply troubling. Morale within our Department is at an all-time low, hampered by political interference and micromanagement. Ineffective policing has led to the extension of the State of Emergency, a measure that according to John Briceno underscores the failure of the State. It is imperative that we restore confidence in our law enforcement by depoliticizing the process and implementing meaningful reforms.”

Barrow also spoke on national security and the Guatemalan Armed Force’s continued incursions into Belize’s territory. He also touched on Belize’s energy crisis and ended his address by speaking on the issue of social justice.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“But all hope is not lost, the resilient people of Belize have the absolute power to change the State of the Nation in the next General Elections. Long live democracy, long live Belize. Que viva Belize. Dios te bendiga Belize. God bless Belize.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

ComPol Williams refutes Opposition’s Crime Stats

In the previous story, we told you that Commissioner of Police Chester Williams refuted claims made by the opposition leader during his State of the Nation live broadcast. Barrow stated that the murder rate has increased by forty percent year-to-date. ComPol Williams has since issued a press release stating that the data Barrow presented is false. The release noted, and we quote, “while we would all agree that crime continues to be an issue for us, the Belize Police Department with the support of our ministry and government continues to employ a number of strategies to address the scourge of crime across our country. We are surely not where we want to be but are proud of the significant progress we continue to make. Thanks to the efforts of the hardworking and brave men and women of the Police Department, major crimes are down by fifty-four percent when compared to the same period last year”, unquote. In his release, ComPol Williams provided statistics showing that the murder rate has increased by one point five percent year-to-date. According to the Commissioner of Police, between September 2022 and September 2023 there were sixty-six murders while for the same period between 2023 and 2024 there have been sixty-five murders. Secondly, the Leader of the Opposition stated that twenty-six-year-old Belmopan resident Daniel Cal was murdered by police. ComPol Williams says Barrow’s statement is both reckless and desperate.

Opposition Leader says PM Briceño Raised the White Flag

Reporters spoke with the Leader of the Opposition, following his State of the Nation address. He was asked to comment on the agreement he reached with the prime minister to deliver their State of the Nation Address ahead of the Independence Day ceremony. Barrow says that Briceño was the chief political mudslinger while in opposition and now that he is in government he cannot handle the heat.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I believe that the state of the nation speech is important. Thee prime minister had reached out and we discussed the matter and we agreed that we would forgo the normal Independence Day attacks, which again, the prime minister is such a dishonest person. It’s hard to be cordial with him and find common ground with him because he lies profusely. Everyone knows that John Briceno as a leader of the opposition was one of the worst terrorists of Independence Day. He would go, it would be the Independence Day massacre when he would go and attack Dean Barrow. It was terrible and you the media those of you like Marisol, you have been there. You’re a senior. You remember that You He never gave any statesman speech or any patriotic speech. So, to pretend as if my speeches were anything different, what he can’t do, he can’t win that battle. So, he has put up the white flag and say, you know what? I can’t take it please. However, I do concede that there is a time and place for everything and it is long overdue that certain days be de-politicized, the 10th and 21st, two of our most important days in the calendar should certainly qualify for that. So, I had no difficulty restraining my remarks in the Independence Day speech to patriotism and celebrating the 21st, our independence, and to just give the state of the nation today.”

Was PM’s Address “Safe, Superficial and Lacking Depth?”

Barrow was also asked for his thoughts on Prime Minister John Briceño’s twenty-minute State of the Nation address. He described it as safe, superficial and lacking depth. Here is what he told reporters.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I think his speech was quintessential John Briceno, thirty years status quo, safe, light, you know, superficial, nothing in depth, nothing groundbreaking. Again, when you talk about the tax, raising the threshold, what he needs to talk about is tax compliance. What he needs to talk about is collecting taxes from all of those people that are evading taxes, talking about million-dollar corporations. What they need to do is talk about the tax disparity, where, as I said, working class Belizeans are paying twenty-five percent tax, while certain special Belizeans are paying, six percent tax. and three percent. And you have these corporations that are price gouging, that are exploiting Belizean people, evading taxes. That is what we need to look at.”

Reporter

“So, I also have to point out the difference between the atmosphere here versus this prime minister’s speech. You know, he brought out the entire show. He had his CEOs, his ministers, Children from my school, I guess, develop on. Whereas you seem to be out a one-man band today. Yellow man is in the audience. There’s like three people in the audience. You know, we had Mr. Jones and we had Shane. We have people who work here as well as people who are always here. It’s a, it’s a huge disparity, a huge difference.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“Well, it is typical. This is the opposition. He used the government’s tax paying dollars to put on this show. And it is normal for any response of the state of the nation that the opposition gives to be based on substance, not hype. So, I was not interested in putting on a facade and pomp and circumstance.”

Tourism, B.P.O. Officials Agree with PM on Tourism Stats and Unemployment

On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño told the country in his State of the Nation address that the inflation rate has gone down by two-point-five percent. The persons we checked with about their shopping experiences disagreed with the PM, citing instances where basic food items went up by significant amounts. Briceno also said that the economy was performing very well, and that the unemployment rate was down to three percent. The Statistical Institute of Belize shared that same percentage figure several months ago. The PM also said that the boost in employment in the B.P.O. and tourism sectors was so that it has brought about a skilled labour shortage. News Five checked today with two officials in these respective fields of work who agree with the PM. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Never before have so many jobs been available and never before has the minimum wage been so high. In fact, as employers can attest, the jobs boom in the B.P.O. sector and in the tourism industry, as two examples, have brought about a skilled labor shortage.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

The skilled labor shortage that is being experienced is because of the high employment rate in the B.P.O. industry, according to Prime Minister John Briceño. The PM shared that Belize’s unemployment rate currently stands at three percent. This was a figure that the Statistical Institute of Belize shared only months ago when it circulated the country’s latest statistics. Today, Business Senator and C.E.O. of Protel B.P.O., Kevin Herrera said that the PM’s figures are reflected in a labour shortage they are experiencing in the industry.

Kevin Herrera, CEO, Protel BPO

“What we’re experiencing in Belize is a labour shortage and whether you’re looking at persons working on the farm or farm owners needing workers, or whether you’re looking in the city at B.P.O.s needing workers or in tourism, I think we share that common need for more labour from persons who are committed. What we found is you really have to go there and search and dig pretty hard to find the type of persons to work that you need, and so I think that goes right back to what the Prime Minister is saying, you know, is that the unemployment rate has fell to around three percent are the official figures, and I think that has certainly created some type of stress in terms of employers trying to source the necessary or the required labor that they need.”

Herrera says that he has seen a significant difference in the number of people applying for B.P.O. jobs five years ago to the companies now having to hunt for individuals to hire. The PM also said that while unemployment is down, tourism arrivals are at an all-time high, surpassing pre-COVID era numbers.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The tourism industry, for example, is one of those areas where, as one of the fastest growing sectors in the Caribbean and Latin America, we have made remarkable strides. The first half of this year, overnight arrivals have surpassed pre-pandemic levels by fifteen percent and increased by twenty-six-point five percent compared to last year. This historic productivity spread across multiple economic sectors have seen our annual gross production grow by more than thirty-four percent since 2020.”

In this sector, the PM also got support from the President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Stewart Krohn.

Stewart Krohn, President, BITA

“I think the Prime Minister’s figures were exactly correct. The tourism numbers are at a record high. We’ve exceeded the 2019 numbers. So we’re way ahead of where we were then. And we’ve greatly exceeded the 2023 numbers, in other words, thus far anyway. So I do not see how statistically, the industry could be doing better, in terms of aggregate numbers, I would add to the Prime Minister’s figures, the fact that not only are the number of arrivals up, but the amount that tourists are spending both on hotels, transport, food and such, that is up even greater than the number of visitors is up.”

But only a few weeks ago, the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize held a press conference to share concerns about the tourism industry and the Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler indicated that cruise tourism was on a decline because Belize was not equipped with a cruise port berthing facility.

Yhonny Rosado, Member, FECTAB

“The people inside FSTV are getting older, tired, and they are making less money. If it is not so, the people inside FSTV can hold their press conference and state that we are lying. We thought the new government, Anthony Mahler would help us uplift the industry. We are so wrong. The government still has a few years to be in. And the way the opposition is going, to be specific, Mr. Shyne as the leader, is very discouraging because in a good country, in a stable country you need a strong opposition to scare the government in power to do the right thing.”

This would be a facility that Krohn says would improve cruise tourism for Belize.

Stewart Krohn

“My familiarity with the cruise industry is not as strong as it is in overnight, but as far as the cruise industry goes, it’s been kind of a fiasco, but let’s face it on many levels. I think the thing that’s important about the cruise industry is that if we’re going to have a cruise industry, and I think We ought to have a cruise industry. It should be the best that it can be. It’s clear that the present open roadstead and tendering that is going on presently is not the way we want to go. We need a cruise port, whether it’s Stake Bank, which I think will work fine, or another cruise port.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Pastor Victor Hernandez is Charged for Rape

The National Evangelical Association of Belize is under fire, following the arraignment of Pastor Victor Hernandez. The sixty-five-year-old is the president of NEAB and heads up the Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center. Hernandez has been charged for two counts of sexual offenses, including rape and sexual assault, on the heels of allegations made by thirty-eight-year-old woman. The alleged victim reported to police that on two occasions, in August 2015 and March 2016, she was raped by Pastor Hernandez at his place of business and at his home in Jacintoville, Toledo District. Sometime in 2021, Pastor Hernandez reportedly groped the woman’s breast in the presence of her teenage daughter. Subsequently, the matter was reported to Punta Gorda police and the D.P.P.’s office handed down instructions that led to his arrest. In court, Pastor Hernandez was granted bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. It is the second time in a little over a year that NEAB has been brought into disrepute by the purported actions of its members. In August 2023, the Evangelical Association faced similar public outcry when Mervin Budram, a worship leader affiliated with one of NEAB’s churches, was also accused of sexual abuse. Budram was arrested and charged for the offenses he allegedly committed. Late this evening, NEAB issued a statement regarding the arrest of Pastor Hernandez. The release states, quote, the National Evangelical Association of Belize was saddened and shocked today to learn from News of the arrest and charges against Rev. Victor Hernandez for sexual crimes. Situations like this are extremely serious and violate God’s Biblical standards for leadership, as well as NEAB’s Code of Ethics. As such, Reverend Hernandez has been removed from NEAB Executive Leadership effective immediately while the investigation is ongoing. Reverend Launcelot Lewis is currently serving as President pro tem. It is imperative that Police do a thorough investigation in this matter. We have reached out to those close to the victim, who is under the care of a licensed trauma therapist as well as loving family, end quote.

“Horse” Garnett Remanded for Abetment to Robbery

Well-known street figure, Jermaine “Horse” Garnett has been charged for abetment to robbery and is being held without bail at the Belize Central Prison tonight. Garnett has been on lock down since August when he was swept up under the State of Emergency. He was brought down to Belize City earlier today under a removal warrant and appeared before a magistrate. It is alleged that on Wednesday, August first, Garnett deliberately aided Tyrese Usher to commit the crime of robbery. Garnett pleaded not guilty to the charge and was further remanded to the Belize Central Prison until November seventh, 2024.

Policeman Remanded to Prison for Aggravated Assault

Thirty-five-year-old David Gongora, a police constable and resident of Roaring Creek Village, appeared in court unrepresented this morning, where he was charged with two counts of harm and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm. The charges stem from an incident here in Belize City on September first, when P.C. Gongora allegedly injured two persons, including fellow police officer Kersha Pelayo, and Astry Burgos. He is also accused of one count of aggravated assault with a firearm upon Elroy Casimiro, a secondary school teacher. It is reported that the trio was standing in line waiting to purchase food from a vendor near the corner of King Street and Amara Avenue when Gongora arrived at the location. He allegedly entered the line in front of the Pelayo and the two other people when an altercation ensued. During the exchange, Gongora reportedly struck Pelayo twice in the face before threatening Casimiro with his firearm. In the magistrate’s court this morning, Gongora pleaded not guilty to the charges. Due to the nature of the offense, bail was not granted, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until November fifteenth, 2024.

Belize City Council Says Sudden Flooding not a Drainage Issue

This weekend, Belize City residents were shocked when they discovered that several streets across the city were flooded with up to four inches of water, despite the lack of rainfall. According to the National Hydrological Service, the floodwaters are making their way down the Belize River and emptying out into the Haulover Creek, subsequently flooding several areas along the path. To address the flooding, the Belize City Council has implemented a pumping station to drain the excess water. Over the past few days, the floodwaters have ebbed and flowed in different areas without warning. Deputy Mayor, Allan Pollard tells us that the flooding is more than just a drainage issue.

Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“In most of the areas it has gone down, so that we have, we are very thankful for that. But as the expert have indicated to everyone, it’s really It’s a unique situation where the river is actually coming above normal heights on that mixed with high tide is a recipe for disaster, right? We had a meeting yesterday with the mayor and you know we cannot stress enough how much that we have to sensitize people to understand that climate change is real. It’s here. Everybody talks about, in the future when it comes to climate change, but we are actually living in examples of what. What we’re seeing, I’ve never personally seen the river that high. I’ve never seen streets being that flooded without any rainfall. It just shows that it’s not so much of a drainage issue, but just climate change in general. If you look at the seas, for example, someone sent me a video of the area by Hanga yesterday, and to see the sea level that high as well, it just shows overall what we’re going through is something that is very alarming. And we have to make sure that, We are putting the right measures in. The pumping station is one effort, but that alone cannot drain all the water out of Belize City and that’s a pilot program. We have to look at other areas, and we have to ensure that we are keeping up with the maintenance of the city as well to ensure that the water drains off as quickly as possible.”

More Streets to be Fixed After September Celebrations

There are several streets throughout Belize City that are in desperate need of repairs. For months, Belizeans have complained about the state of Saint Thomas Street, that was left in disrepair due to the work on the underground water system. Deputy Mayor, Allan Pollard, explained that these complaints have not gone unheard. He tells us that the Belize City Council is working toward addressing the issue as soon as possible.

Reporter

“People are complaining about the state of St. Thomas Street and Mahogany Street, there’s another street, both major streets that are in need of some care.”

Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“Correct, excellent that you brought that up. St. Thomas Street is, long overdue, as you may know. We have most streets that we are doing in the city has mostly been either government or city council. This one is a bit of a mix. It’s city council, it’s government, and of course, we have involved the utility companies as well. As you know, there had to be some level of paperwork to ensure that each participating body is getting their fair share of the deal So we have had liaised with the B.T.L., we have liaised with Belize Water Services, also with the Belize Shelter and also Belize City Council. We had a lot of contractual setbacks in terms of getting the contractor to agree to the terms that we usually provide, and also to get us to agree as well. And of course, the other stakeholders to get in there as well. But I’m confident that right after the September celebrations, we should start that project very soon. I know the residents are clamoring for this to be done and I know myself. I can assure the community that, that will be done very soon.”