Police arrested and charged Jaylil Adanai Clarence E. Usher with the murder of 19-year-old Kean Jamaal Quiros, who was killed on August 11, 2023, in San Pedro Town.
Quiros was shot early in the morning on August 11 after hearing someone shout “Police” outside his door. According to police reports, when Quiros went to check, a gunman opened fire on him.
He was rushed to the polyclinic but sadly died while receiving treatment.
On Thursday, the Department of Transport responded to an assault incident against a traffic warden that took place on November 26, 2024. The incident involved a passenger aboard a bus who targeted a Belize City Council traffic officer.
“Such acts of violence against traffic enforcement officers are unacceptable,” the department said, and reminded the public that these officers have the same powers as Belize Police officers when carrying out their duties.
Thirty-one-year-old Evan Nicholas Cain, a part-time bus conductor and care-giver from Biscayne Village, was remanded to Belize Central Prison until next Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Cain was charged with aggravated assault against traffic officer Kenrick Deshield.
“Any form of aggression toward these officers undermines the rule of law,” the department stated.
The department praised the Belize Police Department for swiftly apprehending the suspect, acknowledging that “quick action underscores the importance of upholding justice.” As a result, the department launched an investigation into the bus company involved and committed to hold them accountable for any violations of their road service permit.
However, the bus company in question had issued its own statement a day prior, stating that it “categorically rejects these allegations as false, misleading, and without merit” and denounced the claims that one of its buses was in violation of any laws. While the company admitted allowing standing passengers at times to keep things moving, it denied that any were onboard during the incident with the traffic officer. The company criticised media outlets for not contacting them for comment, claiming the story was incomplete and damaging to their reputation.
Fu We Transport Service is responding to media reports that alleged the company is operating an unlicensed, uninsured bus with standing passengers.
The company, which is located in Sandhill Village, said in a statement, “We categorically reject these allegations as false, misleading, and without merit,” denouncing the claims that one of their buses was in violation of any laws.
The company insists its buses are fully licensed, insured, and follow all safety regulations. The specific bus in question, which was rented for a temporary assignment, is “in full compliance with regulatory and safety standards,” Fu We Transport Service added. While the company admits that it does sometimes allow standing passengers to keep things moving, it says, “There were no standing passengers onboard during the interaction with the traffic officer, as claimed.” Things took a sour turn when an altercation between a traffic officer and one of their passengers occurred. The passenger was criminally charged.
Fu We Transport Services “strongly condemn any form of violence, especially against enforcement officers.”
Fu We Transport says no media outlet bothered to contact them for comment before running the story. “The story presented to the public is incomplete, skewed, and damaging to our reputation,” the company said. Fu We Transport revealed that the company is taking legal action against this kind of “fake news.”
The Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) is done playing nice. In a fiery statement, the union blasted the Ministry of Education and other authorities for three months of unpaid increments and allowances. The B.N.T.U. says teachers are still waiting on their rural hardship, commuting, and responsibility allowances.
According to the BNTU, the government has been offering nothing but “flimsy excuses” for why these payments haven’t been made. The union made it clear: the situation is out of control. “Time and again our complaints have been met with flimsy excuses,” the union said, calling the issue an annual headache that’s wearing down teachers.
The B.N.T.U. says that teachers have done their part by gathering data and answering surveys and believes this has been a “waste of our time.”
“Some may argue that when the payments do come, they do so retroactively, but the Union condemns this practice and demands that any and all retroactive payments be given tax-free.”
The union isn’t backing down this time, saying, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
The B.N.T.U. says that they are tired of begging for what’s rightfully owed to teachers. The message to the ministry and authorities is clear: “The ball is in your court.”
