2024-11-13 - Channel 5 Belize

Charged With Murder

Twenty-one-year-old Armando Tyler Coc has been charged with the murder of 29-year-old Wilmer Alexander Che.

Che was found shirtless with multiple cut wounds in what police suspect to be a murder in late October.Irma Che, Wilmer’s sister, told News 5 that she received a call from police who confirmed her worst fears—that her brother had been killed. For the past five years, Wilmer had battled a mental disability, which had grown more severe, leading him to live in isolation and seek refuge outdoors. Despite the hardships, his family cared for him tirelessly, feeding and clothing him.

Irma recalls her brother as a kind and respectful person who loved to fish and had once dreamed of having a family. Reflecting on the vulnerability of people with mental disabilities, Irma shared the challenges Wilmer faced and the small acts of kindness he received from strangers.

Family Still Reeling from Death of Mentally Disabled Loved One

Tropical Storm Sara Poses Major Flood Threat to Central America

The Atlantic hurricane season’s 18th named storm, Tropical Storm Sara, is projected to form in the western Caribbean and potentially move towards the Gulf of Mexico by next week. However, the storm’s exact path remains uncertain. A low-pressure system, located in the Caribbean between Jamaica, Honduras, and Nicaragua, is expected to develop into Sara. Designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen, this classification allows the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to issue alerts in advance.

The NHC has scheduled a Hurricane Hunter flight to investigate the storm. Tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings are in place for parts of Central America, indicating possible severe weather within 36-48 hours.

Sara could intensify over warm Caribbean waters and low wind shear. If it stays over open water, it may reach hurricane status; however, it could also move closer to land, affecting areas like Honduras, Belize, or Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Sara’s slow movement could bring heavy rainfall, risking catastrophic flooding and mudslides in Central America.

Models suggest Sara could head north towards the Gulf by Tuesday, potentially reaching Florida or western Cuba by Wednesday as it meets a cold front. Forecasts vary, and Sara could range from a weaker storm to a powerful tropical system.

Miss Earth Belize 2024 Returns from Philippines

After a month of fierce competition in the Philippines, Miss Earth Belize Morgan Miles is back home. While Morgan did not place, she told News 5 that she is proud to have represented her country at the Miss Earth 2024 pageant.

Jessica Lane from Australia was crowned Miss Earth 2024 on Saturday at Cove Manila, Okada Hotel, succeeding Drita Ziri of Albania.

Miles focused on environmental advocacy and used her platform to promote sustainability and conservation. She also shared her passion for protecting the planet with a global audience.

“I think one of the things that I definitely took over there was my heritage and my pride that I have for Belize. Belize is so culturally diverse, and there is just so much hidden jewels and hidden adventures, and things that Belize has to offer. And so I took especially my advocacy for conservation and sustainability over there, and I got to share that with everyone over there on the international stage, and that was just mind-blowing,” Miles said.

Mia-Paige Miles, Morgan’s sister and Director of the Miss Earth Belize Pageant, said watching Morgan advocate for Belize on the global stage was a proud moment.

“Seeing Belize on an international stage, our small country, Belize, represents itself very largely when we go abroad,” Mia-Paige shared.

Morgan’s journey doesn’t end here. She will continue her reign as Miss Earth Belize for the next year, hoping to inspire the next generation to get involved in conservation.

Cellular World Hosts Tech Forum on Innovation

Today, Cellular World Belize hosted a live forum to explore advancements in technology and the challenges they bring. With regional partners from Dell and Epson as key speakers, the event aimed to enhance industry expertise and expand commercial portfolios within Belize.

General Manager Joel Cervantez explained that Cellular World’s partnerships with Dell and Epson were strategic for supporting both businesses and consumers. He said Epson’s eco-friendly, cost-effective printer options, particularly useful for education and family needs, and discussed Dell’s focus on emerging areas like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. “We will have training programs for our employees and we need to be ahead of the game. AI is real, cyber security is real, and unless we go and be at the forefront, then we cannot offer that to our customers if we are not trained ourselves. And as leaders in electronics, in cyber security and all that, that we want to be. We have to do that first.”

Dell representative Byron Urbina underscored the importance of cybersecurity and AI as key issues for Belize and the wider region, noting how Dell’s products integrate AI to enhance security and provide intelligent monitoring solutions for users. “And the second topic is artificial intelligence, how our products are bringing international intelligence in every aspect of the design of the product, from the hardware design, or even in the monitoring and intelligent monitoring, and help to the end user to be aware of the all AI power from Dell to the hardware.”

Meanwhile, Epson’s Regional Account Manager, Rashmi Ranmarine, emphasised the alignment between Epson’s environmental goals and Belize’s eco-conscious values, explaining that Epson aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 2050—a vision shared by many in Belize. “Epson is a Japanese company, and one of the key pillars of this Japanese company is to be more environmentally conscious, to reduce our carbon footprint by the year 2050. ”

The forum also featured announcements on Cellular World’s commitment to strengthening technical support, as employees will undergo training to enhance customer assistance in areas like cybersecurity and AI. Cervantez stressed the importance of staying ahead in tech advancements, saying, “As leaders in electronics, we need to be at the forefront to offer the best to our customers.”

Flood Warning Issued for Central and Northern Belize

Residents in various regions of Belize are being advised to monitor waterways and exercise caution due to rising water levels. In Region 7, flood stage levels on the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek North, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Roman, and Douglas to the coast are expected to decrease, while above normal levels will persist on the New River at Hill Bank, Tower Hill, and Caledonia.

In Region 9, the Mopan River at Benque Viejo Town is expected to remain at bankfull stage. On the Macal River, reservoir levels at Fortis facilities, Challillo, Mollejon, and Vaca spillways are active, with levels at San Ignacio exceeding the Low-Lying Bridge. The Belize River at More Tomorrow will experience above normal levels, and flood stage levels at Double Run will continue. The Crooked Tree Lagoon is expected to have increasing levels, remaining below the causeway.

In Region 11, caution is advised along the Sibun River at Freetown Sibun where increasing above normal levels are expected, and above normal levels will persist at the Southern Lagoon at Gales Point Village. On the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains and the Sittee River at Kendal Bridge, above normal levels are anticipated to persist. Watersheds along branches of the Monkey River at Swasey and Bladen will also see above normal levels. At the Deep River at Medina Bank, levels are expected to remain normal. The Rio Grande at San Pedro Columbia and Big Falls South, as well as the Moho River at Blue Creek South and Jordan, will experience increasing above normal levels. On the Temash River at Crique Sarco, above normal levels are expected.

Region 13 is also under notice for above normal levels on the Sarstoon River.

A flood warning is currently in effect for rivers and tributaries in the Central and Northern regions, including the Rio Hondo, Macal, Mopan, and Belize Rivers. The San Ignacio Low-Lying Bridge is impassable, and the San Roman and San Antonio access road is flooded.

GOB Approves Overhaul of Public Service Pay System

One of the key outcomes at Monday’s Cabinet meeting was the approval of a comprehensive review of the Belize Public Service’s pay and grading system. According to the report, funded through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), recommendations for modernising the system were made, with a focus on improving efficiency and ensuring “equal pay for equal work” within the public service.

In a separate development, the Cabinet approved an extension for the People’s Constitution Commission, giving the body until May 17, 2025, to complete its final report on the country’s Constitution. This extension will allow the Commission to finalise its findings and submit them to the Prime Minister.

Cabinet also addressed an error in the Social Security Act, which had incorrectly referred to the Chairperson of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Committee. The amendment corrects this mistake and ensures that the decisions made by the General Manager during a period not covered by the law are validated.

Another important change is the amendment to the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, which now includes provisions for responding to emergencies caused by outbreaks of animal or plant diseases or pests.

Additionally, the government introduced the One in a Million Raffle, a new lottery initiative launched by the Belize Government Lotteries Limited (BGLL). The raffle is being held to mark the anniversary of the government’s takeover of the national lottery, and the profits will be used to fund social programs like the National Health Insurance (NHI). A portion of the proceeds will also go to support various charitable causes across Belize.

Case Against Accused Murderer Falls Apart

Twenty-six-year-old Leeroy Bardalez is today a free man after the Office of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, effectively discontinuing the case.

Crown Counsel Sheiniza Smith stated that the prosecution could not continue as two crucial witnesses were unavailable: one was unwilling to testify, and the other could not be located by police.

Bardalez was charged for a 2020 Faber’s Road shooting that killed Ricky Nelson Miguel and injured Thalia Westby. He initially faced charges of murder, attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm. Following a preliminary inquiry, the case was moved to the High Court for trial.

In 2019, Bardalez was charged with the attempted murder of Belize City resident Melroy Pelayo. Pelayo was shot in the leg while on Rio Grande Crescent in the Faber’s Road Extension area. Pelayo received treatment and was later released. =

Motorcyclist Killed in Orange Walk Collision

Juan Carlos Castellanos tragically lost his life in a traffic collision on Tuesday night in Orange Walk Town. The accident occurred around 9 p.m. as Castellanos was riding his motorcycle along Tate Street. He collided with the side of a freight truck.

The 50-year-old truck driver reported that he was making a left turn onto Munoz Lane when Castellanos struck the right side of the truck. Castellanos was immediately taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The truck driver is currently in police custody.

COP29 Day 3: Finance Text Still in Flux, Brazil Updates Climate Targets

On Day three of COP29, negotiators focused on a complex draft of the new climate finance goal, while Brazil unveiled its updated climate plan, aiming for a 59–67% emissions reduction by 2035.

The early draft of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance caused concern among negotiators, as it ballooned to 34 pages with multiple options and proposals. Developing countries are pushing for a significant increase in the $100 billion per year finance target, with proposals ranging from $1.3 trillion to $2 trillion annually. The draft includes options for who should contribute, with developed countries expected to shoulder the bulk of the financial burden. The High Ambition Coalition, which includes G7 members like Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, reinforced this position, stating, “Trillions of dollars are required… Developed countries must continue to take the lead and live up to existing finance commitments.” Negotiators have requested that the co-chairs streamline the draft by removing redundancies and clarifying options.

Meanwhile, Brazil presented its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), aiming to cut emissions by 59% to 67% from 2005 levels by 2035, largely by preserving its carbon-storing forests. However, critics point out that Brazil’s plan contradicts itself by also aiming to increase oil and gas production by 36% by the same year. Shady Khalil from Oil Change International stated, “Brazil cannot claim to be at the ‘forefront of the global energy transition’ unless it puts an immediate end to new fossil fuel projects.” The updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) reflects Brazil’s push to end deforestation by 2035, with plans to improve land management and potentially use carbon credits to raise funds.

In other developments, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have committed to ramping up climate finance, with a goal to reach $170 billion per year by 2030, a 30% increase from 2023. However, Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank, acknowledged the need for further action, saying, “The family of multilateral development banks is walking the talk.”

High Chance of Tropical Storm Sara Forming in Caribbean

The National Meteorological Service is closely monitoring a broad low-pressure system over the central Caribbean Sea, which continues to produce extensive showers and thunderstorms. This system, referred to as Invest 99L, has a high chance of developing into a tropical system within the next 48 hours as it moves slowly westward toward the western Caribbean Sea.

As the Atlantic hurricane season nears its end, this development could lead to the formation of the season’s 18th named storm, future Sara, possibly heading toward the Gulf of Mexico next week. However, the track and intensity remain highly uncertain.

Model forecasts indicate that this system may soon become Tropical Storm Sara once it strengthens into a depression later this week. With favorable conditions, such as low wind shear and record-warm waters for mid-November, it could potentially strengthen to hurricane status in the western Caribbean.

While the track remains complicated and subject to change, the system is expected to move slowly westward toward Central America and the Yucatán Peninsula through early next week. This slow movement could result in heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding or mudslides in the region.

Forecast models show that a cold front moving across the U.S. might influence its path, potentially pulling it northward toward the Yucatán, the southern Gulf of Mexico, or western Cuba by Monday or Tuesday. There is a possibility that this cold front could then accelerate its movement eastward, possibly affecting Florida or Cuba by mid-week.