2024-11-02 - Channel 5 Belize

Belmopan Bandits Rebranded as Belmopan F.C. Under New Ownership

The Belmopan Bandits Sports Club has officially undergone a transformation, now operating as Belmopan Football Club under new management. Cruz Gamez, a seasoned football executive and youth coach, has acquired the club from John Saldivar, although the financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed.

Gamez is no stranger to Belizean football, having successfully managed several youth teams in the Cayo District and served on the executive board of the Football Federation of Belize. Gamez told News 5, “The decision to acquire the Bandits Football Club, now the Belmopan Football Club, the negotiation has been ongoing for a while now.” He added, “We had meetings with the previous owners, and we decided it is an opportune time to acquire the team and start to rebrand a new team in Belmopan for all that has been happening in the Bandits Club.”

Gamez said there is a need to reignite enthusiasm for football in Belmopan. “Presently, we are strategically planning our next move. We are doing our best to bring back football to Belmopan, because I think that the level of football in Belmopan has dropped a lot,” he said. “With this new initiative, I think we will be able to bring back football to Belmopan to the glory days that the Belmopan Bandits had at the time.”

Gamez is looking to forge international partnerships to strengthen the club’s structure and competitiveness. “I am about to partner with some strategic partner in Mexico,” he revealed. “We have the DBC Stars that recently was a meeting with them to partner with them so that they can assist us in turning the entire structure of the club. They are connected with a team in Oaxaca, Mexico, whereby they play on the second division, below the top league in Mexico. We are about to sign a partnership with them and hopefully that will work through.”

BDF Officer Falls Asleep on Road, Gets Run Over

Just over a week ago, a BDF officer was run over by a military pickup truck after he fell asleep on a road in Price Barracks in Ladyville. The officer was returning to his quarters in the early morning following a regimental dinner.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander of the Belize Defence Force (BDF), said that the incident occurred last Thursday when the officer “fell asleep on the road.” Brig. Gen. Loria added, “The officer was trying to walk back to his room, but for some reason he fell asleep on the road. It’s an area that is poorly illuminated, and there were a slew of vehicles that were trafficking to go back again to their bedrooms to sleep, and it so happens that one of those vehicles run him over.”

According to Loria, the officer suffered minor injuries only and “by the grace of God, he is doing well.”

“I don’t know what he is made of, but he did survive. He was run over properly by a pickup truck, and he is at home recuperating.”

When asked about the driver’s potential intoxication, Loria said, “I don’t know if it was drinking or not. An investigation is being conducted into that.” He added, “Whenever anyone gets into an accident, his driver’s license is suspended depending on the outcome of the investigation.”

3 Days Away Until U.S. Presidential Elections

Voters in the United States are three days away until the presidential election takes place on November 5. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in key Midwestern swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin.

At rallies on Friday, Harris criticised Trump for his comments about former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, whom he suggested should have “guns trained on her.” Trump defended his statement, claiming it was a valid critique of Cheney’s foreign policy.

Polls indicate a tight race, with Harris leading nationally by 1.3 points, but her advantage in critical swing states is shrinking. In Michigan, she has a narrow lead of about 1 point, while Trump leads in Nevada by 0.4 points. In Wisconsin, Harris’s lead has increased slightly to 0.8 points.

Looking ahead, Harris will campaign in Charlotte, North Carolina, promising a star-studded rally to rally support in a state Democrats haven’t won since 2008. Trump is also headed to Charlotte, where he maintains a slight lead in the polls.

Both candidates are focusing on persuading undecided voters as they enter the final stretch of the campaign.

Construction Worker Injured in Machete Attack

A construction worker named Marlon Ocampos, 26, was injured in a machete attack during a dispute with a coworker on Sea Shore Drive in Belize City.

Reports indicate that police found him bleeding from a deep cut on his left arm. Ocampos explained that the injury allegedly happened after an argument at a nearby construction site.

He chose not to take legal action against the attacker and did not want to provide more details to the police. Ocampos was taken to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City for treatment.

Raffle to Support Dr. Cecilio Eck’s Cancer Treatment

In July, we reported that Dr. Cecilio Eck was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. To help with his medical expenses, family and friends are holding a raffle. Alina Saldivar and her husband from Island Magic Villas have donated a prize: a fully paid two-day trip for four to Caye Caulker, including meals and a catamaran sunset tour.

Tickets cost $100 each and can be bought online through OneLink until the raffle on January 6, 2025. Payments are secure and accepted via local and US debit and credit cards.

In Friday’s episode of Open Your Eyes, Dr. Eck shared positive updates on his health. He said, “I’m feeling pretty good. When I left Belize, I was really sick.” After three sessions of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, he noted, “My latest scans, which were done on Tuesday this week, actually showed that there are no new lesions in my body, and of the ones that were there, they are getting smaller.” Dr. Eck explained that his cancer treatment plan includes six to eight cycles of chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy over two years. He will also need surgeries to address damage to his right humerus and possibly his pelvis after completing chemotherapy.

Despite the vigorous treatment plan, Dr. Eck sees his latest treatment results as good indicators. “My spirits are up, my appetite is back, my weight is going up, and I don’t feel as ill as I first started.” He mentioned that his oncologist views this as “very positive news.”

GoB and NTUCB Discuss Key Issues

Prime Minister John Briceño met with representatives of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) on Friday. PM Briceño said they “discussed a range of issues,” including the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, representation on the KHMH Workers Union Board, appointments in the judiciary, SPV-SSB Committee, Amendment to Finance and Audit Act, Tertiary Hospital Act Amendment, Starlink to Belize, and Auditor General Post and Office.

Briceno said it was a “very constructive meeting and agreed on most of the issues on a way forward.”

The meeting took place at the Eleanor Hall Building in Belize City. The NTUCB said the meeting was amicable and proved fruitful.

Eight months ago, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government announced that Cabinet approved amendments to the OSH Bill, which replaces the Factories Act. The new legislation establishes the National Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Inspectorate to oversee workplace safety.

Initially presented in January 2011, the OSH Bill has undergone major revisions after receiving feedback from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the NTUCB. Extensive consultations took place in late 2023, culminating in proposed amendments submitted to Cabinet on January 30, 2023, which have now been approved.

Belizeans Confidence in the Economy Decreases

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in Belize fell to 38.9 in September 2024, a significant 10.9% decline from 43.64 in August. This marks the second consecutive month of decreased confidence among consumers after a period of growth. The CCI measures sentiment regarding economic conditions and household financial situations, with a scale ranging from 0 (completely pessimistic) to 100 (completely optimistic). Scores above 50 typically indicate a positive outlook among consumers.

The decline was largely driven by a 34.5% drop in the “durable goods” component, which fell from 37.4 to 24.5. This indicates growing pessimism about making major purchases like homes and cars. Additionally, the “Expectation component decreased by 3.1%, from 53.1 to 51.4, reflecting reduced optimism about future economic conditions. Conversely, the Present sub-index saw a slight increase, rising 0.7% to 40.7, suggesting a marginally better view of current economic circumstances compared to the past year.

Regionally, both urban and rural consumers reported declines, with rural areas experiencing a more significant drop of 16.5%. The durable goods sentiment among rural consumers plummeted by 43.9%. Urban consumers saw a smaller overall decline of 3.1%, primarily due to a 21.6% decrease in their durable goods sentiment. In terms of gender, male confidence decreased by 16%, while female confidence fell by 5.4%.

Consumer confidence also varied by age and ethnicity. The most substantial declines were among those aged 55 and older and 45 to 54, who reported decreases of 20.7% and 20.4%, respectively. In contrast, individuals aged 35 to 44 saw a minor increase in confidence. Among ethnic groups, Maya consumers experienced the largest decline at 15.2%.

These trends reflect growing concerns among Belizeans about their economic situation as 2024 progresses.