2024-11-21 - Channel 5 Belize

Daughter Finds Mother Murdered in Home

Tonight, a family is in deep sorrow after the tragic discovery of sixty-three-year-old Miriam Castellanos’ lifeless body, found with multiple stab wounds. Her own daughter made the heartbreaking find inside their Santa Elena home. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Wednesday afternoon, around 1:30 p.m., a woman went to visit her mother’s home in Santa Elena. Instead of the usual warm greeting, she was confronted with a horrifying scene—her mother’s lifeless body, covered in stab wounds. The sixty-three-year-old’s tragic end left her daughter in shock. Nearby, her sister recalls the devastating moment she received the heartbreaking news.

Voice of: Miriam’s Sister

“I mi de deh work. My son call me and tell me that they kill my sister. I come like five thirty so. That’s when I hear that yes ney kill ah. Ih daughter yes they kill ah and stab up ah and thing. But like I told you, I no know good weh happen. I no know good weh happen right now. I no know noithing weh ney di do.”

Castellanos comes from a large family, having several siblings and four children. Her loved ones are struggling to come to terms with her death, especially her daughter, who had the traumatic experience of finding her.

Britney Gordon

“How have you guys been helping her cope with this as a family during this moment?”

Voice of: Miriam’s Sister

“Well I deh right yah di help ah and support ah and ney thing. Di move bout and thing. I done tell ah mek ih be strong you know because she have kids too. Mek ih be strong towards ney weh di happen. I no no know why ney hurt ah so bad. I noh know why ney hurt ah so bad.”

The family is unsure of what could have led to Miriam’s untimely death as she was friendly and lively.

Voice of: Miriam’s Sister

“Well, when ih go, ih always call me fi go. When ih walk ih she gyal I gwen buy da market or gyal I gwen buy a bread out there or something. And then when ig come ih sit down when ih come in and talk. I know everybody have ney ups and downs I know everybody you know. But me swear to God ney neva shoulda mi hurt ah so bad. Ney neva should mi hurt ah soh bad. I no know who do it or whateva. I no know. I no why ney hurt ah fi wat you know. Cuz she neva tell we nothing. If ih mi have a misundersdtanding with anybody. Nothing like that. I no know why ney hurt ah.”

Castellanos’ sister shares that her grief is deepened by the profound loneliness she feels without her sister by her side.

Voice of: Miriam’s Sister

“Whosoever do it and hurt ah like that and left me especially wiyhout ah sister. And I no have nobody else. Yeah me and she we have ups and downs but yes ig lkeft me without one.bI no know why ney do it to ah. I don’t kniow.”

While police continue to investigate the incident Miriam’s family have come together to lend each other’s support and pray that justice is served.

Voice of: Miriam’s Sister

“Anytime there is a death inna the family we always come together. Noh care how badis is. Like that, we always come together.”

Britney Gordon for News Five

18-year-old Duck Run Resident Killed in Roaring Creek

Police are actively searching for a person of interest in the tragic killing of an eighteen-year-old in western Belize. The investigation began when officers responded to a shooting at an establishment at Mile forty-seven on the George Price Highway late Wednesday night, just before midnight. Upon arrival, they found the lifeless body of Jonathan Josue Leonardo, a young Belizean driver from the Cayo District, in the back of a vehicle, riddled with gunshot wounds. Initial investigations revealed that around 10:30 p.m., Jonathan was socializing with friends at a bar when he had a confrontation with a known male individual. Moments later, Jonathan allegedly left the bar and got into his vehicle with his friends. The suspect then approached the vehicle and fired shots at him, inflicting fatal injuries. Jonathan’s body is now awaiting a post-mortem examination. Earlier today, we visited Duck Run 2 where we spoke with Juan Leonardo, the victim’s father, off camera.

Voice of: Juan Leonardo, Father of Deceased

“Well, I suddenly didn’t know anything because they told me at about 11 at night. They told me what had happened. They only told me to go to the hospital, but without any answer as to what had happened. I found him when I arrived at the scene because I saw that he had already passed away what every father goes through. I was devastated. Very sad. Not because he is a son who has grown up with me by my side, working since he was little every day and I have been with him every day. They have never given him away for anything. I don’t understand why he is there. Why? Ah, well for me he is a person who, as I tell him, has been with me every day. For me, I have never seen anything bad in him. I can guarantee that because he is with me every day. I had to know something, but nothing. He simply came home from work. As always, we leave every day at dawn. In the afternoon he went out to the store, but with whom I don’t know who he went with, I don’t know what problem he had or they had with him or I don’t know. I still don’t understand. I have a lot of, eh, eh? Let’s say unanswered questions. He never said he has problems with anyone or that someone wants to hurt him. Not at all. Because as I repeat, he only spent his whole life with me since he was 13 years old. He let me go to school. He hung out with me and until now that he was 18, he got his license. So now he helps me make deliveries as he goes. I make deliveries all over the country. So, from what I know, he has never said anything to me and I have never seen him do anything. As far as I know, he has never, ever been involved in anything. He doesn’t even play soccer. He doesn’t leave the house. I don’t know what brought him here, no, I didn’t even know where he was. When I called him I realized that something had happened to him, and I’m still on that, that. I don’t know why and I would like to know who did it or why they did it or justice. Well, more than anything, that’s what I need. They don’t know that that person has a reason to hurt you or. I think they were drinking. And why is that, eh? Well, I don’t think they have reasons, because we give ourselves reasons for someone to hurt me, eh? I don’t know, no, I’m still in shock that I don’t understand why. I don’t even know any of them. I don’t know anyone, no one. I don’t know why that happens. No? He is the third of my children, two girls and then he becomes a boy. But I have always, always been with me, as I tell him, I’ve been with him all the time.”

Kidnap Victim Still Needs Your Help

It’s been five days since Sabela Brakeman endured a brutal attack and kidnapping in her San Pedro home. Her estranged husband, Kenny Brakeman, allegedly broke in, beat her severely, and then took her on a jet ski. Sabela managed to escape near Caye Caulker and sought help from the police, identifying Kenny as her attacker. She had left him due to domestic violence and was living with a roommate. They shared custody of their three kids, aged eleven, nine, and four. Around one a.m. on Saturday, he allegedly broke in and beat her so badly she felt dizzy and nauseous. Kenny is still on the run, and the police are actively searching for him. Meanwhile, Sabela needs urgent surgical and dental treatment to fix a broken cheekbone, and teeth damaged during the assault. Her terrifying ordeal is, unfortunately, a reality for many facing domestic violence. Tonight, we’ll hear from an official at the National Women’s Commission about the support they offer to victims, and from Sabela herself, who has relocated with her children out of fear for their safety. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

On the Phone: Sabela Brakeman, Kidnap Victim

“All I wish is get him a message, let him turn himself in, let him turn himself in. I won’t deny my kids the right to visit him, if that is what he fears about, for giving himself in.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

Tonight, Sabela Brakeman recounts the terrifying ordeal where her estranged husband viciously beat her, dragged her from her home, and took her on a seemingly endless jet ski ride. He threatened to kill her but then changed his mind, saying he’d drop her off at the Corozal shores. Seizing a moment of courage, Sabela struck him, jumped into the sea, and swam to safety, finding help at a nearby dock. Though she survived, Sabela’s injuries are severe, requiring urgent medical and dental care. Her story is a stark reminder of the many who endure gender-based violence. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chairwoman of the National Women’s Council, sheds light on the complex and often dangerous process of leaving an abusive relationship.

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chair, National Women’s Commission

“A victim of domestic abuse or gender based violence will try to leave a bad situation an average of eight to nine times before they’re finally successful. The problem with it is that violence keeps escalating. So you will notice that where it started out as a push or a slap, after a few times it turns into punches, it turns into more serious injuries. And every time you go through it, it gets worse and worse. And that’s the problem that we have in the sense that then sometimes you don’t make it out alive because you get caught up in the violence.”

Garcia-Ramirez points out that abusers often try to isolate their victims, cutting them off from friends and family. That’s why it’s so important for victims to keep a strong support network around them as they navigate their way out of these harmful situations.

Thea Garcia-Ramirez

“As a friend and family of a survivor, your job is not to ensure that the person goes to court and somebody goes to jail. It should, the foremost thing in your mind should be The stability and the integrity of the person who has undergone such a traumatic event and that they are well and that they get the help, the psychosocial help that they need. We’re not there to make sure that certain things happen because that’s what we want to see. We’re there to support. We’re there to help. Ensure that the person has as many of the options as possible and support them with the decisions whether or not they align with ours.”

Sabela Brakeman is asking for your help to deal with her medical needs so she can get her life back on track.

On the Phone: Sabela Brakeman

“I have trouble for eating still since all my teeth are shaking. I have received some support from people from the key for some bedroom that are there supporting me and some people that watch the news. I’m just here taking medication that I get from the hospital in KHMH. I haven’t started any treatment. My sister is the one that has been cleaning my injuries. My nose is broken. My top gum is broken. All my teeth are shaking. They’re very soft.”

Marion Ali

“So you also need dental work?”

Sabela Brakeman

“Yes.”

Thea Garcia-Ramirez shares some crucial signs to watch out for to help prevent situations like Sabela’s. She emphasizes that anyone feeling unsafe should seek help immediately, reassuring that support is available for those in need.

Thea Garcia-Ramirez

“At all the human services departments in each and every municipality, and in the cities, there’s one. You can seek out help through a different civil society organizations in different areas of the country. There’s, for example, POA in the south that does a lot of these things. In the north, there are some as well. You can ask for help through the police department through health services, and at your local Health facilities, government health facilities, they are required by law to call in a social worker when they suspect that something is wrong.”

Sabela Brakeman can be reached at 665 5083 if you want to help. Marion Ali for News Five.

Senate Passes Amendment to Marriage Act, Making Marriage Legal at 18

In a historic session today, the Senate, joined by youth parliamentarians, passed a Bill to amend the Marriage Act, Chapter 174 of Belize’s laws. This amendment raises the legal marriage age to eighteen and eliminates the provision allowing parents or guardians to consent to the marriage of minors. This significant change was driven by a group of passionate teens who brought the issue to the House of Representatives, highlighting its importance on the national stage. The Bill received unanimous support from the Senate, including endorsements from the Leader of Government Business, Eamon Courtenay, and the Lead Opposition Senator, Mike Peyrefitte.

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, P.U.P.

“Madam President without any contradiction or condition, it is the position of the members of the senate and indeed the Government of Belize that this Bill is important. It is transformative, it is in the Belizean people’s interest, and we seek the support of the entire Senate for this modernizing piece of social legislation. Madam President, we are debating a matter of constitutional importance. This is a human rights issue. I put it as high as that because for too long, we have allowed in our country infants to be married and infants to be married with the consent of their parents.”

Mike Peyrefitte, Senator, U.D.P.

“There have been instances when children are pressured to, in some cases some would say practically sold off to grown men who want to marry little girls, especially because that’s the target of that criminal activities that have been taking place in terms of this consent. Madam President, what I know for sure, in the criminal courts in particular, you would have these men who would commit the crime of unlawful carnal knowledge, who would be engaged in sexual acts that young girls under sixteen, to protect from prosecution, they would go and bribe the parents or bribe the people to have these children marry them so that they can’t under the law, as their wide, testify against them in a court of law, which gets them Scott free from that very egregious crime. It is a very good piece of legislation, Madam President, I think that marriage is such as serious act and a serious responsibility that you can only be engaged in that act on your own free will.”

Business Senator Raises Concern over NHI Amendment

The Senate also addressed the Social Security Amendment Bill, which permits the retroactive appointment of a general manager for the National Health Insurance Scheme and a Chair for the N.H.I. Committee. Business Senator Kevin Herrera voiced concerns about the amendment, highlighting that it shifts more power to the government instead of balancing it with other sectors in the decision-making process.

Kevin Herrera, Senator, Business Sector

“I come to realize within Government that we need a lot of oversight and a lot more oversight than we currently have and I just see what we have here as increasing the power of government and perhaps things that might balance that power we’re almost taking it out or nullifying it to a certain extent. We see here, Madam President, in the same Clause Seventy A-2 that Senator Peyrefitte referred to, says that “the General Manager shall be subject to this Act and any directions by the Minister.” Even though she should be reporting to a board and I would imagine that’s what a board is there for – to oversee the functions of the general manager. Still you have this clause in there where it states that “subject to the directions by the Minister.” It can give the Minister tremendous power over the scheme and this is compounded even so, Madam President, because the government also appoints the Chair of the Board.”

St. Matthew’s Government School Welcomes New Building

Today, the residents of Saint Matthew’s Village joyfully celebrated the opening of a brand-new school building, replacing the one that was destroyed by fire over a year ago. This project was a collaborative effort, with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing and the business community pitching in to complete the construction. Earlier today, the school principal, the village chairlady, and Area Representative Julius Espat were all on hand for the inauguration ceremony. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the story.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

It’s been more than a year and a half since a devastating overnight fire in St. Matthew’s Village wiped out a section of the government primary school. The blaze, likely caused by an electrical short, left over one hundred and ninety students without a school. In the aftermath, Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, who also serves as the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, promised to rebuild. Today, that promise was fulfilled with the inauguration of the brand-new school building.

Shakera Berry, Principal, St. Matthew’s Government School

“Today, we gather on this momentous occasion to celebrate not just a new building but a renewed sense of strength, resilience and hope. This very location, once marked by loss and heartbreak, now stands transformed into a symbol of triumph and new beginnings. The fire that destroyed our previous building was a painful chapter in our history. It took away a place that held countless memories, laughter and learning. But from that disaster, we have risen stronger. This new building does more than replace what was lost, it allows us to forget the weight of our loss and embrace the magnitude of what we have gained.”

Espat attended the opening of the new building, reflecting on the devastating fire that destroyed the original structure. He shared his relentless efforts to lobby the government for the necessary support to rebuild, ensuring the community could rise from the ashes.

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing

“When the fire happened, it was a very sad situation. We felt it. That had the possibility of destroying this community. That had the possibility of destroying the future of our children and we did not have a choice. We rolled up our sleeves and we made a decision, we’ll get it done. We spoke to the chief, we spoke to the CEO, I did my part, I went and I lobbied and I lobbied, and I lobbied and I lobbied hard. In all honesty, the Government of Belize did not give us too much negative feedback because they also saw that it was important and they left it in our hands to do it properly, and properly it was done.”

Esperanza Arriaza, the chairwoman of St. Matthew’s Village, echoed the heartfelt sentiments of her area representative. She spoke passionately about how much the school means to their community, highlighting its vital role in bringing everyone together.

Esperanza Arriaza, Chairlady, St. Matthew’s Village

“Today marks the turning of a new page in the history of St. Matthew’s Government School, a day of triumph born out of resilience. On March twentieth, 2023, our community faced a devastating loss when the school building was reduced to ashes. For our students and teachers, it was not just a loss of a physical structure, but of their second home filled with cherished memories. However, out of this tragedy came hope. This remarkable, new structure is a testament of a collaboration and vision. The building can now accommodate eight spacious classrooms, each thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and conducive learning environment. It is a space where our students can thrive academically and personally. This through success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of some truly remarkable leaders.”

Espat mentioned that to finish the project, they had to reach out to the business community for help in furnishing the school grounds.

Julius Espat

“That is what people don’t realize when a project is done, it is not just the facade that you are seeing, it is all the human effort, the technical effort and what is behind the scenes that at times is not given the recognition but it is the backbone and the essence of projects we work tirelessly.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Indigenous Community Says Miss Universe Desecrated Deer Dance

Less than a week has passed since the Miss Universe 2024 Pageant ended, and Belizeans are grappling with another year without placing. While many praised Belize’s representative, Halima Hoy, for her stunning display of Belizean culture, criticism has also emerged. Today, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, SATIIM, released an open letter calling Hoy’s national costume and presentation of the Deer Dance sacrilegious. The letter states, “the Deer Dance is a religious ceremony of Maya communities. While its origins are a mystery, it is a tradition that enacts the Maya view of what is sacred. No Maya person brought up in their culture would ever put on a Deer Dance mask or clothing outside of the rituals. To do otherwise is sacrilegious and invites misfortune”. The organization acknowledges the well-intended purpose of the performance but insists that without proper adherence to the dance’s protocols, it fails to honor its true meaning. The statement concludes with a call for cultural policy and legislation to properly protect and promote Mayan culture.

A Woman Entrepreneur Who Does Crochet, Carvings & Crafts

It’s common to see male wood carvers, but have you ever heard of a woman who can carve, crochet, and create handicrafts? Today, we met forty-five-year-old Paulette Ottley at Fort George Artisan Alley. She makes a living doing all three forms of art. Ottley shared that her crochet skills have been her mainstay, providing her with a steady income. News Five’s Marion Ali brings you this week’s edition of Belize on Reel with a visit to Ottley’s booth. Here’s the report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

If you’ve ever strolled through the Fort George Artisan Alley near the Tourism Village, you’ve probably seen Paulette Ottley hard at work. Whether she’s weaving macrame, knitting crochet, stringing beaded jewelry, or sanding a new wood carving, she’s always busy perfecting her craft. Paulette has turned crochet into her lifelong occupation and main source of income, a skill she picked up at just eleven years old at All Saints Primary School. And it’s certainly paid off for her.

Paulette Ottley, Owner, Sweet P Crochet World

“We used to have Tuesday, Thursday sessions at All Saints Primary School and that’s where I learned it.”

Marion Ali

“So you’ve taken it with you through life?”

Paulette Ottley

“Yes ma’am, all my years I’ve been doing this for a living. This what sent my son to S.J.C.J.C. and I also own a three-bedroom house from it.”

Ottley used to sell her crafts from home, but in 2016, she decided to go public by renting a booth at Artisan Alley. Surprisingly, her biggest customers are fellow Belizeans.

Paulette Ottley

“When you have concerts and so on or tenth or 21^st, and my highest peak is Easter with the swimsuits and stuff because I do cover ups like this. I do two-piece bathing suits; I do wraps, I do different stuff. 0I do have local Belizeans that are my biggest supporters as well as tourists. Belizeans are my biggest supporters.”

But today, her biggest customer was a visitor from Mississippi. Mike Altom bought not one, but three jewelry sets to take home as gifts for his family.

Mike Altom, Tourist

“They were beautiful pieces. They’ll go with any kind of outfit that they want to wear.”

Marion Ali

“Your grandkids are into these types of jewelry?”

Mike Altom

“Well, I just got one that’s fourteen. The other two are daughters, so they’re on up in age, but they’ll like it. If they don’t. I’ll give it to my girlfriend, right?”

To gather materials for her beaded jewelry sets, Ottley travels all the way to Cancun. She’s a self-taught artisan who has developed her own unique style, creating each set with care for her appreciative customers. Ottley encourages young people to explore this trade, as it can be a therapeutic and rewarding way to make a living.

Paulette Ottley

“Girls and boys could do this because it is a unisexual job. It’s not only for females. I would encourage them to pick up the course. They would profit off it, because like I told you, I profit from off it. It’s very relaxing, for me it’s peace of mind.”

If you’re interested in any of Ottley’s unique pieces, feel free to reach out to her at 608-3136. Marion Ali for News Five.

UNFPA Donates Reproductive Health Supplies to MOHW

Today, the United Nations Population Fund donated several boxes of reproductive health supplies to the Ministry of Health. The handover ceremony took place this morning at the National Vaccine Storage Facility in Belmopan. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene to find out how this donation will help bolster Belize’s support in reproductive health.

Britney Gordon. Reporting

Earlier this year, Belize launched the ‘Leave No One Behind: The Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy Project’ to tackle the high rates of teen pregnancies by promoting the use of contraceptives. Today, as part of this initiative, the United Nations Population Fund donated a range of contraceptive methods to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. U.N.F.P.A. Program Officer Mackeva Neal was present to highlight the importance of this contribution.

Mackeva Neal, Program Officer, U.N.F.P.A.

“What is so unique about this project is that for every year that the project is being implemented, there is a component that speaks specifically to the procurement of much needed SRH commodities. So today is the outcome of year one. Of that project component. So we are very excited to be able to present to the Ministry of Health this as well as to strengthen the partnership. I would say their mandate is perfectly aligned with that, with U.N.F.P.A. in ensuring that there is z maternal death, there is unmet need for family planning and to strengthen SRH services and commodities as well.”

The donation includes a variety of sexual reproductive health supplies like contraceptive pills, condoms, and IUDs. These will be distributed nationwide, with a focus on Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo Districts. Dr. Natalia Beer, the Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Health, shared more insights on the Ministry’s collaboration with UNFPA.

Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal & Child Health Technical Advisor, MOHW

“These products having them accessible at all health facilities help us to reduce maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. And we also have in place the postpartum contraception. So every female that assists to hospitals for delivery, and they receive counseling and if they accept, they walk out with a contraceptive method. And we prefer to encourage women to use lung acting reversible contraceptives, because it takes a longer time. Compare, let’s say, let’s say the pill. Between the pins and the implant, we promote more the implant. Getting the implant, you can retrieve it or remove it after three years. Whereas the pins is daily and require a little bit more effort.”

The UNFPA also supported Belize’s healthcare workers by organizing a workshop focused on managing reproductive care supplies. This workshop, led by a consultant from Kenya, aims to address some of the key concerns of the Ministry and UNFPA.

Mackeva Neal

“One of those that came out very strongly from our engagement with the ministry was that there tends to be stockouts of Communities SRH commodities to be specific in certain parts of the country what we did, we came up to the decision that it would be beneficial for the country with the Ministry of Health as a partner to partner with U.N.F.P.A. to host a two-day training that looks at the Reproductive Health Commodity Strategies training. This is a countrywide training that includes persons from the different regions, from the four regions who has a responsibility for ensuring that their SRH, essential SRH commodities in their regional offices for distribution and accessibility to patients, patrons, clients, et cetera.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Fishermen Agree that Overfishing is Occurring in Belize

On Wednesday night, News Five’s Marion Ali kicked off an environmental series on the state of Belize’s lobster stocks. Research from independent NGOs like the Sea Around Us and the Belize Federation of Fishers warns that overfishing has pushed our lobster populations to dangerously low levels, and without strict measures, they could be wiped out. These findings have been presented to the Government. We also hear from two experienced fishermen who confirm that overfishing is indeed a problem. Tonight, we’ll hear from the experts representing these organizations. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with more.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Authorities are relying on a shift in its management policy that now require the legal-size of lobster tails fished to weigh more than four ounces, along with ramped-up patrols as part of the Blue Bond arrangement (a debt for nature swap) that Belize and The Nature Conservancy signed to in 2021 to give the lobster stocks time to multiply. As a result of the agreement with The Nature Conservancy, Belize must declare and protect at least 30% of our sea spaces. It’s an exercise that Dr Butler says is necessary to protect the stocks that are there now.

Dr. Mark Butler

“If it’s done right, they can support really healthy fisheries, you know, and it’s, and it’s, and we, as scientists, it’s one of the things we certainly want to do. We, we’re not trying to protect lobsters. We want to protect the long-term sustainability of the fisheries for the fishermen. We recognize that. But, you know, we humans, if we are not watched and regulated and so on and so forth, we tend to overuse our resources. And that’s why fishermen are just like the rest of us. And if there aren’t regulations, you know, then there could be problems with the fishery. So that’s why we need fishery regulations, not that we’re not trying to keep fishermen from catching fishes or lobsters in this case, we’re simply trying to manage it for the long term.”

Benedicto Perez has been a fisherman for 21 years. He told News Five that there are young fishermen who fish undersized marine products.

Benedicto Perez, Fisherman

“Sometimes it does happen that the newcomers, the new fishermen coming into the industry, don’t have much experience about where to find them and how to find lobster. So they will come and they will just target the easiest thing out there, whatever it is fish, Illegal stuff, whatever – they’ll just go and target the easiest thing because they want to make money.”

Supporting Perez’ observation is Humberto Avilez, who has been fishing for 38 years. He agrees that there is overfishing of lobsters, and he attributes that to what he thinks is an overabundance of fishing licenses and not enough patrols.

Humberto Avilez, Fisherman

“Right now there’s too many fishermen, not like when I used to fish. It was a little bit of fishermen. The boats now are carrying 15 men in one boat. Some are carrying 10 men in one boat. The sea is getting more populated, too many men, overfishing. They got one boat patrol in the morning. By the time he goh to five miles and come back, man, already … then it takes a whole day to come back. They need more patrols. That’s the only way they stop illegal fishing.”

Boat license. two, three, four, five, six; two more persons. Hampton Gamboa told News Five that asking fishermen to produce their fishing licenses has become standard procedure for every patrol, as well as is documenting what they find, including the names of the vessels moored at the locations where they are found. If anything is found to be awry, arrests follow, he assured.

Hampton Gamboa

“The highest registered commercial fishers for any one given year was 3,800 fishers, and that was a couple years ago – about 2021 or 22. This year so far, we are a little bit more than halfway through the year and we still haven’t had 3,000 fishermen come in as yet. So last year’s number dropped significantly.”

Benedicto Perez said that he has discovered that areas where lobster once populated are bare now and has also seen areas that never had them are populated now.

Benedicto Perez

“This year I have seen more abundant lobster in this particular area because the lobster – you need to understand and I have a lot of knowledge about lobster. My first two trips of this season I did it down south. Lobster was scarcely bad. Some people are saying that it’s because of illegal fishing – people from the neighboring countries coming close because it was all the way down south, so people are saying that. Maybe it could be or maybe it’s just the way lobsters migrate. Okay for me in that case it depends on the weather, tropical storms, cold fronts and things like that.”

Dwight Neal says he believes that there have not been sufficient independent studies done to definitively pinpoint the reasons why the lobsters now populate different areas, but he offered his opinion.

Dwight Neal, Marine Biologist

“There are several variables, climate change being one of them, changes in user patterns or usage patterns because if you notice, years ago, there were not as many boats around. There was not as much traffic, particularly between Belize City and San Pedro, that entire corridor that goes just west of St. George’s Caye and goes through Port of Stock and goes to Caye Caulker. When I started with the Fisheries Department many years ago, there were very few boats that were trafficking that area. Now there are boats almost every hour, almost every half an hour. So that in itself is a disturbance to the habitat. It’s incumbent on the scientists and the managers to investigate what’s happening there.”

This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.