Three men, including a security guard, are in police custody following a burglary at a business in the Corozal Free Zone on Sunday morning. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters this morning that the burglars stole millions of Mexican pesos.
He explained, “Based on information, police mobilised and went to the area. They conducted searches, utilising drones, and they were able to locate two individuals who are suspected to have been a part of that burglary.”
Commissioner Williams stated that police also recovered a bag containing various currencies. “Police also found a bag containing some pesos, Mexican pesos, along with a few Belize dollars and a few U.S. currency. The bag of money was taken to the Corozal Police Station, where it was counted, and it amounted to four point something million pesos.” The Commissioner confirmed that two suspects are currently detained, while police are pursuing two additional individuals. Investigators believe the burglary involved collusion with a security guard.
He also confirmed that the suspects in custody are residents of Belize City.
Government officials are assessing the damage and planning for recovery efforts in the Cayo District. In an interview today with Prime Minister John Briceño, he said, “It was important for me to come and take a first-hand look as to what has happened and the amount of damage.” He said that a flyover revealed that the Chalillo Dam is overflowing, with more water expected to flow down the Belize River, which could worsen flooding in areas like San Ignacio and surrounding villages.
“Lots of water… more and more water is going to be coming down the Macal and on to San Ignacio and Santa Elena,” Briceño stated. Many villagers rely on nearby rivers for drinking water, which could be contaminated by overflow from latrines during the floods. Briceño warned, “We have to be actually on the lookout to ensure that nobody gets, you know, in particular cholera or gets sick because of the water being contaminated.”
Farmers have also been severely impacted, with hundreds of acres of crops, especially in Cayo Central and other areas, underwater. “A lot of small farmers… have lost their crop,” Briceño said, adding that there has also been significant damage to infrastructure, including bridges and roads.
While it’s too early to estimate the total cost of the damage, officials acknowledge the situation is “quite substantial.” Recovery efforts are already underway, with teams from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) conducting assessments.
San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp is overseeing ongoing flood recovery efforts in the wake of severe rains that began late last week brought about by Tropical Storm Sara. While the water levels have started to recede, the process has been slow. “The Mopan River is still rising, which means the Macal River will take much longer before it recedes,” Trapp explained. The floodwaters have impacted local businesses, especially in the market area. “We are putting all that we can to ensure that this area gets cleaned up as quickly as possible so that vendors can return to normalcy.”
Trapp also raised concerns about the long-term viability of the market’s current location, given the increasing frequency of storms. “With global warming and climate change, I don’t see it getting better,” he said. He suggested relocating the market to a safer area, noting, “It’s a good idea, and it’s something I will take up as a local leader, and maybe put it in a consultation with the general public.”
Trap said that infrastructure damage from the flooding has been significant, with streets, culverts, and drains all requiring repairs.
In the meantime, while San Ignacio itself has not required any major sheltering, nearby villages saw some displacement, with support from the Belize Defence Force and NEMO.
Police are on the hunt for Kenny Brakeman, who is accused of attacking and kidnapping his ex-wife, Sabela Brakeman, on Friday night. Kenny was last seen in Caye Caulker Village, where Sabela managed to escape and seek help from police.
As we have reported, Sabela, a San Pedro resident, was brutally attacked and kidnapped by her ex-partner, Kenny. He violently awakened her and her roommate, severely assaulting her before dragging her from the bed. After knocking her unconscious, he took her in a golf cart, threatening her. He then placed her on a jet ski, where he continued to threaten her, claiming he would cross the border to avoid capture. Sabela managed to escape when they reached a dock in Caye Caulker, running for help despite her injuries. She later sought refuge at a police station and received medical treatment, including surgery for broken gums and other injuries.
Sabela says she has a restraining order against Kenny and that she left him because he was abusive. “We had three children together. We lived together for 14 years. Since last year, July 27th, I left him. So we were no longer together. I do have a restraining order against him… because he used to abuse me, so I get out of the abusive relationship.”
Regarding prior domestic violence reports, ACP Hilberto Romero noted, “Not that we know of, no,” indicating that this was the first reported incident of such violence between the couple. He further clarified that Brakeman’s last known location was in the Caye Caulker area, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
Romero stated that Brakeman could face several charges once he is apprehended.
One of the most anticipated and celebrated days every year in Belizean culture is November 19th, with many counting the days to celebrate one of the richest cultures in Belize. This morning’s episode of Open Your Eyes delved into the rich history of the Garifuna people, from their origins in Saint Vincent to their settlement across Central America. “Garifuna is a person comprised of three groups: the Amerindian Arawak, the Carib, and the African,” explained Sebastian Cayetano, a local Garifuna leader.
The Africans, hailing from countries like Nigeria and Ghana, and the indigenous Arawaks and Caribs originally settled in the Caribbean before European colonization. According to Cayetano, the Garifuna people were exiled by the British in 1797, with 5,000 survivors sent to the island of Balliceaux, where half perished. Later, they were relocated to Roatan, Honduras, marking the start of their diaspora in Central America, including Guatemala and Belize. Over time, their language and culture faced attempts at suppression, particularly after British colonisation banned the Garifuna language and practices.
In Belize, however, the Garifuna people slowly integrated and became vital contributors to society, particularly in education. They eventually gained acceptance through their community contributions.
“We were not accepted at first…we imposed ourselves,” said Cayetano.The Garifuna community now celebrates their heritage proudly, particularly during Garifuna Settlement Day, which marks their arrival in Belize. This holiday, officially recognised in 1977, honours the Garifuna people’s resilience and cultural contributions.
Today, efforts to preserve the Garifuna language and traditions continue through initiatives like the Battle of the Drums and Yurumein, a re-enactment of the Garifuna people’s arrival. The Yurumein celebrations will take place in both Belize City and Dangriga.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining, Paul Thompson, knocked down and killed a man on Friday evening.
The fatal traffic accident occurred on the George Price Highway in Cotton Tree Village at around 5:50 p.m. The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Zacharias Tescecum. He was found facing down with severe head and body injuries, as well as a broken right foot above the ankle. He was unresponsive and not breathing.
According to investigators, Thompson, who was driving a 2020 Grey GMC Terrain SUV, suddenly saw a man walking on the highway. Thomspon told investigators that to avoid hitting Tescecum, he swerved left but still struck the pedestrian. According to police, Tescecum was dragged approximately 160 feet beneath the vehicle before Thompson came to a stop. Tescecum died on the scene. His body was later transported to the Western Regional Hospital, where it now awaits a post-mortem examination.
At this morning’s weekly police press brief, ACP Hilberto Romero would not release Thompson’s name, saying, “The driver has not been charged, so I won’t say it.” Reporters told Romero that in prior instances the name of the driver is released, especially if they have been served with a notice of intended prosecution (NIP).
Thompson was served with an NIP, and samples were taken from him. The investigation continues.
Sabela Brakeman was visibly shaken and afraid when she spoke to News 5 today. Brakeman, a resident of San Pedro Town, was brutally beaten and kidnapped, allegedly by her ex-partner, Kenny Brakeman, on Friday night.
Sabela told News 5 that she and her roommate were asleep at home when they were violently awakened by an intruder. “When she screamed, it was my ex with some gloves on his hand and a stick that he was knocking her, and when I woke up, I was frightened. Then I just saw him knock her, then I just screamed too, and then he knocked me,” Sabela recalled.
She described how, despite her efforts to defend herself, he dragged her from the bed and began assaulting her relentlessly. “He hit me on my head, my forehead, and my mouth,” she said, visibly shaken by the memory. Her roommate managed to escape to seek help.
After knocking her unconscious, he dragged her outside, placed her in a red golf cart, and began driving towards his home. “He kept driving in his direction where he lives, and he says, ‘let me see which @%$hole will save you now. You don’t want to be with me. If you are not for me, you are for nobody else.'”
She was taken to a dock, where she was then placed on a jet ski. “We drive off…maybe 30 minutes. When we drove off now, he said, ‘I think that is Chetumal. This is Corozal. And that one, I don’t know which part that one. But if you relax and don’t say anything, I will let you go to Corozal. And I’m going across the border because police won’t catch me.'”
Sabela, still struggling, managed to escape when they reached a dock in Caye Caulker Village. “That’s when I knocked him, and I managed to escape him. I reached a dock, where I climbed the dock. And while I was climbing the dock, I was already feeling dizzy. I climbed the dock. When I climbed the dock, I continued to walk. I was running, crossing the street all over. Because the blood was too much on my face. Then, I see two golf carts go this side, this direction, yes. So I said, no one…I can’t see any people on the street. So I said those two golf carts. I have to follow them to seek help.”
She eventually found refuge at a police station, where she recounted the traumatic events. She was taken to the Caye Caulker Polyclinic for treatment, where doctors informed her that she would need surgery for broken gums and multiple other injuries, including bruises and cuts on her body.
“What I can say is he had an intention of killing me because he had even gloves on. He had on gloves.”
On day eight of COP29 in Baku, key concerns over climate finance and the urgent need for more action on global warming have surfaced.
As the conference progresses, participants have made initial progress on carbon market standards, but talks on climate finance remain slow. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), urged delegates to focus on broader issues, saying, “We can’t lose sight of the forest because we’re tussling over individual trees.” He warned against “bluffing, brinkmanship, and pre-mediated playbooks” that could waste critical time needed for ambitious decisions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also stressed the need for stronger leadership from the world’s largest economies, declaring, “Failure is not an option” in the face of the climate crisis.
Meanwhile, children and young people made their voices heard at COP29, calling for more attention to the impact of climate change on their lives. They urged decision-makers to involve them directly in climate discussions. UNICEF estimates that nearly 1 billion children are affected by climate change, facing risks like air pollution, floods, and droughts, which disrupt their health, education, and well-being. As one young activist put it, “No decisions about us without us!”
As COP29 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan, the climate conference has seen growing tensions over protests, stalled gender talks, and the global push for climate finance.
On Day 6, climate activists attempted to make their voices heard but were restricted by strict security rules. The protesters were told they couldn’t march through the streets and were limited to a rally inside the conference venue. Eduardo Giesen from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice expressed frustration, saying, “It was like talking between ourselves.”
Discussions on integrating gender equality into climate policy have also stalled. The renewal of the Lima Work Programme, which aims to promote gender equality in climate action, has hit a deadlock due to disagreements over human rights and finance. Countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are blocking key elements of the proposal, raising concerns that the talks could collapse or be delayed until next year.
The energy transition is another area of tension at COP29, with conflicting proposals on how to phase out fossil fuels. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for a dialogue on the energy transition, while countries like China and Saudi Arabia are pushing for a stronger focus on climate finance instead. Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad emphasised the importance of finance, stating, “Finance is critical for a successful fossil fuel transition,” and called for a robust climate finance goal to support this shift.
There are also concerns about the lack of women in leadership roles at COP29. Only 8% of world leaders attending the conference are women, a significant drop from last year, raising questions about gender equality in both leadership and policy.
On Day 7, the focus shifted to climate finance, with UN climate chief Simon Stiell urging delegates to “find common ground” and finalise a new climate finance agreement. He stressed the urgency of reaching a deal to help developing countries fight climate change.
The European Union has called for wealthier countries like China and the Gulf states to contribute more to global climate finance. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said, “With affluence comes responsibility,” but added that contributions could be voluntary, offering flexibility to countries resistant to formal commitments. He also acknowledged that private sector investment will be key: “There will never, ever be enough public money—from any source.”
COP29 has also seen criticism directed at certain countries. South Korea was awarded the “Fossil of the Day” for blocking a deal to end $41 billion in annual subsidies for oil and gas, with Climate Action Network (CAN) accusing the country of an “unconstructive negotiating position.” Finland also faced backlash for allegedly misreporting its climate finance contributions by counting market-based loans instead of actual funds, earning it a “dishonourable mention.”
Belize High School (BHS) announced its participation in the 10th consecutive Model Organization of American States (OAS) Debate Conference, set to take place at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., from November 20-22, 2024.
The Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS) offers students from across the Americas an immersive simulation of the political and parliamentary processes of the OAS General Assembly and Permanent Council. The event aims to foster democratic values, enhance leadership and communication skills, and provide students with hands-on experience in diplomacy and negotiation.
This year, BHS will be represented by 13 delegates who will assume the roles of Ecuador and Jamaica during the conference. This global engagement opportunity provides the students with a platform to showcase their leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, and networking skills on an international stage.
