2024-11-01 - Channel 5 Belize

Corozal North Constituents Weigh in on Leadership Dispute

The battle for recognition as the true leader of the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) between Leader of the Opposition and Mesopotamia Area Representative, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, and Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, continues to intensify. Earlier this week, Panton made a bold move by taking over the party headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive in Belize City, asserting her control over the compound and party organs. In response, Barrow has enlisted the legal expertise of Jamaican attorney Doctor Christopher Malcolm to strengthen his position. Meanwhile, the U.D.P.’s First Deputy Leader, Hugo Patt, remains a key figure amidst the factional dispute. News Five’s Marion Ali traveled to the Corozal North constituency, where Patt serves, to ask him if he feels caught in the middle of this U.D.P. tug-of-war. We also spoke with several residents of the constituency to gather their perspectives on the ongoing conflict. Here’s that report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Taegar-Panton may have their differences, but they share one commonality: both have named Corozal North Area Representative, Hugo Patt, as their First Deputy Party Leader on their executive slates. Today, we visited Patt to ask if he feels caught in the middle of this political tug-of-war.

Hugo Patt, First Deputy Leader, U.D.P

“I’ve spoken to both sides and I told him that my position is presently is that I will respect the process that transpired last year in August, if I’m not mistaken, where you had, the National Party Convention basically taking a decision and where an executive was endorsed and so my position is to respect the process. If in the case of Tracy and Shyne, we were to look at the situation, if Tracy had been in the position that on around that Shyne is right now, I would have supported her. If Patrick would have been there, I would have supported her and him. If anybody else was there, I would have supported that person. To maintain in order for the United Democratic Party to have certainty going forward. That is my biggest concern.”

Patt expressed his desire for both factions to reconcile their differences. Despite Panton securing the majority of UDP delegates at the convention two Sundays ago, Patt emphasized that he would have preferred to see both sides come together and mend fences.

Hugo Patt

“I’m aware that there was a substantial number of delegates in the activity that Honorable Panton did. I cannot personally underestimate that. I had advised Ms. Panton, look, wait it out. It’s just a few months, in my opinion, that’s left before we have a general election. Let us work together. Let us focus each on our individual constituencies so that we can put a decent fighting whenever we have the general elections. And I spoke to Honorable Vara as well. I told him, look, we have to sit down together and talk to everybody. We will have differences but let us agree to leave our differences aside. And for the sake of our people, let us make sure that we do the right thing, but that’s as far as I can go.”

But who do the constituents in Corozal North believe is their true party leader? We got mixed responses.

Sinai Arana, U.D.P. Supporter, Corozal North

“I go with whosoever is the leader. I’m not taking no sides.”

Marion Ali

“But both of them are claiming they are the leader.”

Sinai Arana

“Yeah, well, honestly, on my side, as a UDP, I do not agree in the fight they’re having at the moment and that was one of the reasons I was not present. In fact, I was never called for the convention, “so-called” convention they had. I was not called as a delegate. They never consult me or called me or anything. So I was not present at the moment.”

Marion Ali

“You said “so-called” convention. My thinking is that you’re supporting Mr. Barrow.”

Sinai Arana

“No, I’m not supporting anyone.”

Vilma Vellos, U.D.P. Supporter, Corozal North

“I’m not going to take part for any of them, not either Tracy, nor Mr. Barrow because I think both of them can be great leaders, but I think it’s not the time for this at this moment.”

Inecita Hall, U.D.P. Supporter, Corozal North

“I am a supporter of Hugo Patt. I, as a leader of the village – the best we want is to make this problem stop. It’s for the betterment of our party. Well, that’s, I can take part with Mr. Shyne or Ms. Tracy. Everybody has their own opinion, but we only want this problem to end.”

Marion Ali

“So if I were to ask you, who do you think is the real leader of the UDP? Who would you say?”

Inecita Hall

“Well, on the last, um, convention, I vote for Shyne Barrow.”

Hugo Patt felt the need to say sorry to U.D.P supporters for the ongoing feud that’s been tearing the party apart and weakening its stance as the opposition.

Hugo Patt

“I want to tell this to the Belizean people and particularly to the thousands of the United Democratic Party supporters that we have across this country that I must apologize on behalf of everybody for what’s happening. Certainly myself, I feel very disheartened at what has been transpiring for quite some time now, to the point that we have been segregated. And I don’t think that it is fair for, or I think it is a disservice to all of our thousands of supporters that, you know, we are going through this. Many, many Belizeans, many of our supporters, the country is depending on a, on a strong opposition.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Corozal Residents Want Shyne and Tracy

We headed to Corozal Town to get the community’s take on the U.D.P. leadership rift. The three people we spoke with had mixed feelings. Overall, folks think the party needs to get its act together and gear up for the general elections, which might be called early in 2025. Two of them backed Panton as the new leader, but one person felt she was just after the title for the power it brings. Here’s what they had to say about the U.D.P.’s internal squabble over leadership.

Zandon Meyers, Corozal Resident

“Ms. Tracy Panton should take over the U.D.P because when it comes to Mr. Shyne Barrow he has a history, and then he wants to come and manipulate the people. You can’t come and do that, Sir. You got to give someone else a chance. You got to give miss Tracy Panton a chance to be the Leader of the Opposition because I’m not involved in politics. That’s the Opposition right now. I’m working with the Government of Belize, the P.U.P all the way. But what I’m saying, we need a voice from the other side. Right now, the U.D.P is silent, so what I’m saying now, give Ms. Panton a chance.”

Marion Ali

“Who do you think is the rightful leader?”

William Cob, Corozal Resident

“Maybe Shyne.”

Marion Ali

Why?

William Cob

“Maybe they want power. 01:00

Marion Ali

“Who do you say is the real leader?”

Asuceli Chan, Corozal Resident

“Tracy.”

Marion

“Why?”

Asuceli Chan

“Because women, we are more empowered, that we can be more than men.”

Marion Ali

“Do you think Tracy Panton should lead the UDP in the next election?”

Asuceli Chan

“Yes.”

Facebook Poll Shows Strong Support for Panton as U.D.P. Leader

On our Facebook page, we asked our followers who they think is the true leader of the United Democratic Party (U.D.P). Up to news time the poll has gotten a total of one thousand, five hundred and forty votes, with a whopping seventy-nine percent, or one thousand, two hundred and six votes, backing Tracy Panton, who says she’s the interim leader after a recall vote against Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow at a recent convention. Meanwhile, twenty-one percent, the equivalent of three hundred and thirty-four votes, stood by Barrow, who insists he’s still the leader. The poll also sparked thirty-two comments, eleven shares, and one hundred and twenty-four reactions. Just a heads-up, this Facebook poll isn’t scientific and only reflects the views of those who took part.

Mother Walks Away from Murder Charge Five Years Later

Tonight, a mother of four, Shareema Neal, is celebrating her freedom after being acquitted of the murder of seventeen-year-old Jasmine Petillo. Back in 2016, Jasmine’s body was found in Mahogany Heights Village, brutally stabbed multiple times. Five years later, D.N.A. evidence linked blood found in Neal’s home to Jasmine, leading to Neal’s arrest. The prosecution claimed the murder was revenge, as Jasmine was the last person Neal’s late boyfriend contacted before his sudden death. Two months after Jasmine’s murder, Neal’s house was burned down, and while pregnant, she was charged with murder. But tonight, Neal is back with her family. Her attorney, Lynden Jones, shared the key factors that led to her acquittal.

Lynden Jones, Attorney of Acquitted

“The judge stated that The Crown did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was guilty of the offense. She is now a free lady after she was claiming her innocence from the beginning. The trial was done in September. We got a decision today. Trial was a short trial, two days. No person could have identified my client. However, the Crown relied heavily on the investigating officer and on DNA evidence. And we are of the opinion that the DNA evidence did not support the Crown’s case fully. And the investigating officer did not really assist the Crown as much as they needed. We did not get a written submission today. We only got a summary and an oral verdict. But the verdict was positive for my client.”

Reporter

“But tell us, let’s go back a little bit about when this incident first occurred and your client was accused. How did they even link her, aside from the DNA, as a suspect in this murder?”

Lynden Jones

“My client was in a relationship with a known person to the law. And that person was lured to his death. They alleged that the last person who had communication with her deceased common-law was the person who was murdered, Miss Jasmine Petillo. However, that is what the Crown wanted to state, that it was revenge, that Miss Shareema Neal had some involvement or was the main person for the murder of Jasmine Petillo due to the fact that Her ex-commandant in law was worried to her death When they did luminal testing in the house, a little bit of blood was found in the house, and it was sent out for DNA testing abroad, and that’s when they found partial matches of what was could have been Miss Jasmine Petillo’s blood. It was not one hundred percent certain and therefore that is why Miss Neal was charged for the murder of Miss Jasmine Petillo. But we had discrepancies in the case as it pertains to, was it the exact house? Was it twenty-eight where Miss Neal resides? Or was it twenty-eight B, another house? Or what could have been another house? As was stated in the search warrant, where they exactly found the blood is still in question, for since then one of the homes has burned up.”

Belizean American Firefighter Acquitted of Attempted Murder

After nearly two months behind bars, American national Gilbert Lightburn Junior is finally a free man. The forty-one-year-old firefighter faced several criminal charges, including three counts of attempted murder, following a September incident at Shisha’s nightclub in Belize City. The altercation escalated, resulting in three people being stabbed, which led to Lightburn’s charges. However, he insisted he was only defending himself and had no intention of harming anyone. During the chaos, Lightburn was robbed of personal items, including two gold chains worth around seventy thousand Belizean dollars. Today, Lightburn, who had been on remand at the Belize Central Prison, was brought to court where all charges were dropped, and he was declared a free man. The virtual complainants, Ian and Javon Abraham, Mark Usher, and Giovanni Abraham, who Lightburn was accused of attempting to murder and using deadly means of harm against, discovered they were related to him and decided to drop all charges.

Over 100 New Soldiers Join B.D.F

Today, the Belize Defense Force proudly bolstered its ranks with the graduation of one hundred and fifteen new soldiers. The ceremony at Price Barracks in Ladyville was a momentous occasion, celebrating the achievements of these dedicated recruits. Among the honorees, Naomi Baki stood out as the Female Champion Recruit, while Jeffrey Eric earned the title of Male Champion Recruit. Nixon Coc was recognized as the Champion Shot, and the Champion Physical Training awards went to Giselle August and Keiron Cal. Brigadier General Azariel Loria shared that the journey began with one hundred and twenty recruits, though a few did not complete the rigorous training.

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“We started 120 but as time went by, the weeks passed by, some of the participants started to drop out and we had to work the standby list. About three hundred or so got called and this is the result, one hundred and fifteen. We were slated to pass out one hundred and twenty and five were injured. And so far, a hundred and fifteen made it. We congratulate them. They are brand new private soldiers now.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Injured during the training?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“Yes, minor injuries, um, but nothing major.”

Drug Plane Was in Southern Belize for 3 Weeks Before Discovery

Last week, a suspected drug plane was unearthed in the remote Graham Creek area of Toledo. The Belize Defense Force swiftly dispatched soldiers to investigate the scene. Today, Brigadier General Azariel Loria revealed that they believe the aircraft had been there for two to three weeks, conspicuously marked with a Mexican flag.

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“That plane was a Cessna 210. We discovered it by chance. We sent a patrol in that area of Graham Creek because the CSI is a radar from the Americans that did not pick up the signal. And also our radar here did not pick it up. So, it was pure coincidence and a bit of intelligence too as well that we sent that patrol at Graham Creek and that is the result – that’s what we found. And we were responding at a recently cleared air strip in that area. We were going to do a reconnaissance patrol, but we found the illegal airstrip and the Cessna at the same time.”

Hipolito Novelo

“How long was the plane there?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“We don’t know, but we believe that by what we found – we found GPS and other equipment. I think that we found a satellite phone. So, we believe that the plane was there for like two or three weeks maximum. We don’t know.”

Hipolito Novelo

“I believe you found some sort of Mexican markings?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“Oh, the origin of the plane itself, we do not know, but the plane had markings, and it had a Mexican flag on the nose.”

B.D.F Investigates Patrol Commanders for Bribery Allegations

Last month, reports emerged of Guatemalans offering food and produce as bribes to B.D.F. patrol commanders stationed in the remote southern border areas. Allegations pointed to two patrol commanders in the Machakil Ha community of Toledo who accepted these bribes. These commanders are now under investigation at Price Barracks. Today, B.D.F. Commandant Brigadier General Azariel Loria disclosed that other patrol commanders in different areas are also being investigated.

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“Whenever other security forces are operating in the area here, aren’t they bribed? You see, we are not immune to these things. The BDF, we are not immune. What we need to continue to do Is to supervise and that is what we’re doing. Because of the constant patrolling in in that area, we increase our patrols responding to the illegal logging reports that we got, and because of that, we kinda bumped into Guatemalans. The Guatemalans, we have it on recording, and I believe that it has been leaked to the media too, as well. That is part of our investigation. And as part of our investigation, we know now that they’re, the Guatemalans are bribing our patrol commanders. And that is something that is being finalized and it will be coming in front of me for disciplinary procedures.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Okay, so do you concede that the reason why B.D.F. soldiers are accepting bribes by Guatemalan loggers is because when the pay too cheap, the government pays them too cheap?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“No, the pay is average at this point in time..”

Hipolito Novelo

“But appropriate or average?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“It is average, it is appropriate, we can survive. You know the cost of living is going up and, but that is another discussion.”

Hipolito Novelo

“But can they survive on that pay?”

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“Yes, we could. We could survive. It’s more than a thousand soldiers that are getting paid and, and there will be the elements, the bad guys there that are going to come and try to extort bribes. If persons come bribe more, then there are some that will take it, others that will not. I am being taught in my force about the virtues and the values that we espouse. So, all the alleged bribes – it’s not everybody’s getting bribed. It’s only one or two commanders, rogue commanders.”

Belize’s Marine Expansion Plan Sparks Data and Inclusion Concerns

On November 4, 2021, Belize signed the Blue Bonds agreement with The Nature Conservancy to restructure debt and enhance marine conservation. The deal mandates that twenty-five percent of the country’s ocean space be protected, with roughly twenty percent already designated as Biodiversity Protection Zones. To meet the November 4, 2024, Milestone Four target, Belize must designate an additional five percent as Medium Protection Zones. However, concerns from fishers and experts regarding data reliability and inclusive planning highlight the need for transparency in fish stock assessments and balanced conservation efforts. Digital Editor, Hipolito Novelo, has the following report.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

The government’s latest conservation proposal includes regions like Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glovers Reef Atoll, and areas east of Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve. However, some local fishermen and other stakeholders are concerned that they haven’t been properly consulted in these decisions. As Belize approaches a key deadline for its Blue Bonds commitment to protect thirty percent of its waters, tensions are rising. Fisherfolk express concern that the push to meet these conservation targets may overlook their livelihoods, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach to marine protection. Career fisherman Dale Fairweather missed the Belize City consultation while out at sea. Fairweather believes consultations should be more than procedural steps and stresses the importance of firsthand knowledge to avoid misunderstandings.

Dale Fairweather, Fisherman

“To me, it was basically a consultation just to meet their obligation to the Blue Bond. Well, I think that fishermen should attend all of these things so that they know what happened. I don’t think it’s a waste of time. I think it’s for the fishermen to attend because if they don’t attend, then they will be blind to what’s going on. Under the Managed Access Program, you’re allowed to fish two areas. So, if I don’t have a license for Lighthouse Reef, I might get pushed out and can’t go fish the deep water around like those reef later on then down the strip They might bring in rules because right now they say there’s no rules Say maybe here to down the road inside to put expand the inside rules all the way out to the boundary then I won’t be able to go and fish around like those reef, you know the blue water because Did this law come into effect now? But right now they say there is none. So basically, I don’t know, to me it’s like a double edged sword, you don’t know. Are you worried about that? Yes, I am worried because I’m investing in going into the deep, deep sea fishing.”

Nigel Martinez, Executive Director of the Belize Federation of Fishers (BFF), criticized the recent consultations as poorly organized and lacking essential information. According to Martinez, the Belize City meeting had minimal attendance and didn’t adequately represent those fisherfolks who are directly impacted by proposed marine zone expansions. He questioned the use of “public consultation,” suggesting it was misleading due to limited transparency, the absence of a detailed management plan, and insufficient participation from the fishing community.

Nigel Martinez, Executive Director, B.F.F.

“When you talk about public consultation, there was no public consultation there. They did not even meet a threshold, you know, so that was alarming to me. And that’s why I came to that conclusion that it was poorly organized. I would have wanted to see a management layout of the new expansion area. Each zone should have a management plan. What are the new requirements for these expansions? How will these impact the area? What is the fisheries management of that specific area? None of those were explained. They came and they made a presentation and because the government have to meet milestone four based on the blue bond commitment, they outright don’t care whether you agree or don’t agree. At the end of the day, the SI is going to be implemented.”

Despite the Fisheries Department’s assurances that consultations are inclusive and involve diverse stakeholders, critics argue these sessions lack genuine engagement, suggesting that decisions may already be predetermined. Acting Fisheries Administrator Rigoberto Quintana points to efforts like community outreach in key coastal areas and good turnout in places like San Pedro and Caye Caulker but acknowledges limitations in reaching the full spectrum of impacted fisherfolk.

Rigoberto Quintana, Acting Fisheries Administrator

“ I must also say that this process, we have the, at the highest level, we have the Fisheries Council, that some of this work has been, the Council has been updated as this work was being done through the Coastal Zone and the Fisheries Department. And we have in that Fisheries Council, we have four representatives from fisherfolk organizations. We have Northern Fishermen, National Fishermen, the Chairman of Chunox Fishermen’s Association and we have the chairman of Hopkins Fishermen’s Association in the Fisheries Council. With this expansion based on the meeting yesterday, I can speak to yesterday and today that they are in support. The area will be open to those fishing activities that fishers are carrying out, and we’re not restricting fishers or any other activities that happen in the general rivers area. I expect that, this meeting with stakeholders will be successful because, fishers right now the sentiment is that once will not be restricted, we can continue to have access to the traditional fishing activities, then we will support this process. And the blue bonds is a legal agreement that the government of Belize signs off. Those conservation commitments by Belize is binding to the nation.”

As Belize advances its plans to expand Biodiversity Protection Zones (BPZs), local fishers and experts question whether these initiatives rely on robust data and inclusive planning. Critics are concerned that baseline data transparency issues and limited stakeholder input might overshadow the needs of fishers and accurate assessments of marine health. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.

Belize to Export Shrimp to Taiwan

Earlier today, a delegation from Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration wrapped up a productive visit to Belize. Over the past two weeks, they conducted thorough site inspections at various shrimp farms nationwide. Belizean producers are keen to export shrimp and other fisheries products to Taiwan. Acting Director for Food and Safety, Natalie Gibson, noted that the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has been instrumental in facilitating the Taiwanese team’s visit.

Natalie Gibson, Acting Director, Food Safety, BAHA

“Our shrimp production sector was very interested in accessing this market and it’s one of the products that’s included in the agreement with Taiwan. We have been exporting lobster, historically, to Taiwan, so this is an effort to expand the scope of products that we can export.”

Isani Cayetano

“And what was included in this process, in terms of, perhaps, inspections and what have you?”

Natalie Gibson

“So we started out with documentation, where we had to submit documentation for them to evaluate, our regulations, what authority we have, what are our standards for different fisheries products, the processing, food safety standards, specifically. So we’ve passed that phase now and now we’ve gone to the onsite inspection where we have three FDA inspectors that came in to physically identify, inspecting our facilities. We’ve been to the port and the airport where the exportations happen. And for the last two weeks, they’ve been to the aquaculture farms and in some of the processing facilities, conducting their evaluation.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do we know when we can either get can get a report or an update from them to determine whether we are export ready, in terms of our shrimp products?”

Natalie Gibson

“YOU know we have been exporting shrimps to other countries, but in terms of accessing the Taiwan market and meeting their food safety requirements, we have received a few findings but they will actually complete their reports over the next three months and then we will have a definitive answer.”