We start tonight’s newscast with a heartfelt plea to drivers to be extra cautious on the roads and a call for authorities to take decisive action. The families and friends of the ten people who tragically died in Saturday night’s traffic accident are urging for measures to slow down traffic on that dangerous stretch of road. This section, known for its sharp curves, has seen multiple accidents with mass casualties. On Monday, a second candlelight vigil was held in their memory. San Ignacio and Santa Elena Mayor, Earl Trapp, emphasized that this area is notorious for fatal accidents.
Via Phone: Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“We had an accident here in 2019 and we had six lives, six lives passed – four Belizeans and two foreigners. It’s an area that probably needs some attention and I think that maybe in the near future, the relevant authorities can look at maybe putting scrubbing board like what I had suggested on Sunday. We’re talking about the reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and the government has to take more stringent measures to address this situation. The way they can address this situation is by maybe amending the laws in upgrading the penalties.”
Joining Trapp at the candlelight vigil were Area Representatives Orlando Habet and Michel Chebat. Today, Habet mentioned that several suggestions have been raised, including driver education, driving schools, and tougher fines for traffic offenses. He assured that the government is considering these suggestions.
Via Phone: Orlando Habet, Area Representative, Cayo Northeast
“Certainly from the public’s concerns, but also some suggestions in regards to making certain that the signs are visible, that there are sufficient signs indicating curbs that are coming up if there’s a merge to an area where you have to merge from two lanes into one lane, that this is clearly painted on the road and on signs to have the speed limits revisited because in town, you don’t want the big speed limits. They also had concerns about the motorists not respecting the motorbikes and also motorcyclists really taking over the road, overtaking left, right, center; the noise pollution from motorcycles. They also addressed the issue of the lighting of certain areas of the road that are really dark and maybe just outside of the town itself, certainly the issue of speed bumps where it is necessary. And those roads, trucks, which would alert you, if you are running off the road to sort of guide you back and bring you back onto the road. But basically, also looking at the issue of road traffic education, driving education. They even proposed driving schools where private sector would be able to have professionals to teach young people to drive and not letting them off with one or two months of learner’s permit and then getting a license. There were concerns that many times the fines that are imposed for violations are not high enough to deter the person who commits this offense and then it becomes a repeat offense because maybe 25 for example for a traffic offense is not sizable enough to stop them from repeating the same thing over and over. And so it was it was really open people were concerned. Of course, some blame the government and that was okay because I think that was the whole purpose for them to let out what they felt inside but I think the communication was lively it was good you and it was back and forth. So I think we took notes and today, myself and Mr Chebat and Minister Balona reported what was spelt out last night at the vigil to the Cabinet and the Prime Minister has taken note and he will also address those.”
In response to the recent accidents, the Ministry of Transport is stepping up its road safety game. Partnering with the police and local traffic authorities, they’ll be increasing patrols and setting up more vehicle checkpoints, especially at night, to crack down on traffic violations. They’ll also be hosting media sessions to share tips and best practices to discourage unsafe driving. Anyone caught breaking traffic laws will face serious consequences. Earlier today, we spoke with Chief Transport Officer Leon Gentle.
Leon Gentle
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer
“This year has seen an alarming number of incidents and I believe between last year and this year, last year we ended with eighty-nine fatal accidents and this year we are all the way up to one [hundred] ten. So there’s a twenty-two percent increase in road collisions that resulted in fatalities. So this is something that is urgent. This is something that as a community, as a department, as the government, as the basic road user, we all need to come together and have a holistic view of protecting each other.”
Peter Williams
Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer
“Traffic data has shown that young people, in particular, young men at that age, they are more risk averse. They are more prone to taking risks and so that is something that we’re fully aware of and it continues to be a challenge in terms of how we address this issue. We continue to look at how we can improve the process of issuing a Belize driver’s license and that’s something that we continue to look at. Even when it comes to certain mental health issues, that’s something that for many years we have not considered when issuing a driver’s license. Primarily, you get a physical examination and that is all you need. We have a lot of people within this country who are suffering their own mental issues and so they need some further analysis before we can issue the driving license because that is a main component, how we put people on the roads. For us, we’re not afraid to fail. When you fail, you’re able to learn from your mistakes and you try to develop new strategies and that is what we’re trying to do at the department. And so, already we have been meeting to develop our new strategy for the new year coming and so you’ll be seeing a spin on how we deliver this road safety message because it’s not getting through to the Belizean people anymore. At one point, some years ago, we use to focus on the data. That was effective at one point. We would put out the data and the public would say, mein, so many persons are dying from road [traffic accidents] and then we would see a reduction. But due to other factors, we are realizing that that is no longer effective.”
Tonight, a tourist from Texas, Isaac Jeremy Flores, is out on ten thousand dollars bail after a magistrate in San Pedro granted it on Monday. Initially, there was a warrant to remand him to prison until he could post bail with Belizean surety. However, attorney Dickie Bradley stepped in late this evening to secure his release. Flores, thirty-nine, was vacationing in San Pedro with his fiancée, Jennifer Dawn Hernandez, forty, when a tragic incident occurred on December sixth. While driving a golf cart on Secret Beach Road, Flores hit a bump, causing Hernandez to fall out and suffer fatal injuries. Three days later, on December ninth, Flores was charged with four traffic offenses: causing death by careless conduct, reckless driving, driving without due care and attention, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He appeared before Magistrate Tehru-Ann Brown in San Pedro Magistrate’s Court. Attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley explained that the prosecutor objected to bail, citing Flores as a flight risk and strong police evidence. Despite this, Bradley successfully argued for bail, set at ten thousand dollars with one Belizean surety or two sureties of five thousand dollars each. Police suspect Flores had been consuming alcohol at the time of the incident. Flores mentioned he has yet to speak with Hernandez’s family and assist with her funeral arrangements.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-law
“Mr. Isaac Flores is part of a group that came to visit Belize and on Friday night an unfortunate incident occurred where I have gone to the island, I’ve seen the photos. He was driving a golf cart with the person he was supposed to propose to, and even the police are confirming that they hit a bump in the road. As a consequence, the young lady fell off the golf cart. They did everything they could but she passed away. So, Mr. Isaac, he’s not fully himself right now, he’s gone through quite a traumatic experience. He was charged for a number of offenses, not driving properly, causing death by careless conduct and so forth.
Isaac Flores
“First time leaving the country and traveling out of the country together. It’s my first time being in Belize.”
Reporter
“So you are saying that you have not been able to speak, you have been in custody since Friday.”
Isaac Flores
Isaac Flores
“Yes, I haven’t been able to contact the family, I haven’t been able to make arrangements, but thankful for others in the group, two of them that are still here that have communicated with the family. I’ve been incarcerated with no access to communicate to anybody in the States. And that’s what hurts the most, I gotta go back home.”
On Monday, the government rolled out some exciting news: GST-free shopping. For the next two weekends before Christmas, you won’t have to pay the usual 12.5% General Sales Tax on your purchases. Mark your calendars for December fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-second. This perk is for those paying cash for retail items and non-alcoholic drinks. It’s the government’s way of lightening the load on your holiday spending. Just remember, this doesn’t apply to items bought on credit, layaway, hire purchase, wholesale, or consignment. Plus, some businesses are sweetening the deal by offering their own customer rewards.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Alongside the government’s offer to waive the twelve-point-five sales tax this Christmas, we’ve discovered some businesses are adding their own discounts. The V Department Store on Coney Drive is celebrating its first anniversary with special deals on selected items and wines. Just look for the store’s colorful stickers to spot the discounts. General Manager Michael Theus shared that these deals are part of their anniversary celebration.
Michael Theus
Michael Theus, General Manager, The Vee Department Store
“We offer a great amount of savings to persons who are on a thin budget and eventually we can take you through shopping for something items here at the V to show you exactly what that converts to and what the actual sticker price is and what the price will actually be after you have not paid the GST portion on it at the V. Similar likewise, we are running some promotions on some of our sticker items. So the V Department Store is also contributing. by offering additional savings to customers at 5, 10, 15 percent discount on certain items and then you get the GST off that similar too. So, I was running through some of our sales then to show you what you actually would have paid and what you will be saving when shopping at the V. On your regular days then, be it Monday through to Friday, then what we have our sticker sales on that discount will apply only and the GST will be applicable at that point there.”
Marion Ali
“And then of course you said there are some limitations as to what it applies to?”
Michael Theus
“Yes, we cannot do on liquor sales. We cannot do on sales that are called credit sales, where persons do a higher purchase and has to pay down the road after, we cannot do that. Likewise on wholesale items, we can do wholesale items. So it’s basically what the items you have in the store, our customers come in and purchase that are not exempted on the retail side that we can actually offer the GST exemption on the Saturday and Sunday.”
Marion Ali
“It would be basically anything that is retail?”
Michael Theus
“Pretty much, yes.”
Theus showed us how much a customer would be saving on a bottle of men’s cologne that currently costs eighty-four ninety-nine.
Kenrick Theus
“The price of this one is $84.99 and after our ten percent discount and after the GST removal, you’ll be paying $64.22, so that’s a savings that we’re passing on so people can enjoy.”
We took a tour around the city and found out that J and W Shopping Mart on Sixth Street is already spreading the holiday cheer! Owner William Zhou shared that they’re offering discounts on selected items. Plus, they’ve got an exciting raffle where the top three winners get prizes every month for a whole year!
William Zhou
William Zhou, Owner, J&W Shopping Mart
“We have specials for customers they get special discount.”
Marion Ali
On selected items or everything?
William Zhou
“Yes, selected items. Every customer who come by this store, every 10 get a raffle ticket. We have 10 prizes. First prize you get a hundred dollars every month for one year. Second prize, seventy-five dollars shopping for a year, monthly. Third prize fifty dollars monthly for a year.”
The Government also announced that for the entire month of December, picnic shoulder hams, smoked ham legs, and imported turkeys will be zero-rated. We went over to Campos Smiling Meats that specializes in hams. Co-owner and manager, Alyssa Majil said they have specials at Christmas and year-round and their specials are not limited to hams.
Alyssa Majil
Alyssa Majil, Co-owner, Campos Smiling Meats
“The picnic hams is 6. 50 a pound. Ham legs is 8. 50 a pound. And, um, boneless turkey ham, 11. 00. Well, these are dropped rates, right? Because normally, on a normal occasion, we would sell the picnics for $7. The leg hams, we sell those for $9. But you know da Christmas time, we want everybody feel dehn Christmas. Let’s say, a customer walks in and they only have thirty dollars. Miss, I only have thirty dollars and I want a little piece of ham because it’s just me and my kid, or me and my husband. Not a problem. I will make sure I find you a $30 ham. And this is not just a monthly thing that I do only because it’s December I do this all year round if a customer walks in and say well, I want to have six dollars I need a little piece of meat for six dollars. We give them what their money could and people can tell you I don’t I don’t sting you with my meat. I make sure they walk out of here satisfied.”
Majil’s meat shop has something special for everyone, including beef hams for those who don’t eat pork. Wondering how the GST waiver works? The government explained in a press release that businesses registered with the GST Unit and using cash registers that add GST will simply not include it on sales during the specified dates. Shoppers are advised to check their receipts to make sure GST isn’t mistakenly added and to report any issues to the Belize Tax Services Department. Marion Ali for News Five.
A new tertiary level teaching hospital is in the works. Earlier today, the Government of Belize signed an agreement with Dar Al Omran International Engineering Consulting Company to design and oversee the project. Under the contract, DAO will handle the architectural and engineering design for a hundred-and-fifty-bed hospital complex in the Belmopan area. They’ll be in charge of the entire project, from the layout and construction to the landscaping of the complex. The company will make sure that the hospital complex is designed and built to meet all the necessary standards and specifications. The value of the contract is the equivalent of three point two million Belize dollars. Back in August, the Briceno administration came under fire when it was revealed that the Government of Belize chose not to use land owned by the University of Belize. Instead, they opted to purchase a fifteen-acre plot from businessman Kenny Zheng. This land is set to be the site of the new hospital. Interestingly, Zheng and Annie Hong Zu had originally purchased the land for a much lower price than what the government paid. That private property was purchased for a whopping six-point-nine million dollars. Residents were also worried about how close the site is to BWS’ sewer pond, which is just around the corner. Earlier today, Minister of Health & Wellness Kevin Bernard spoke about the contract signing.
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness
“I want to, as well, thank you all for this opportunity and I think that it’s been long awaited and this is a true commitment to the people of Belize in improving healthcare and I am appreciative of the fact that we were able to reach this stage today. As you know, Belize’s only tertiary facility that exists is at the Karl Heusner and this will add to the services that we now offer and bring benefits in providing quality access to healthcare. So, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the wider government, I want to thank you all and I look forward to the work and commencement of this very important project.”
Yacoub Shubeilat
Yacoub Shubeilat, Managing Director, Dar Al Omran
“It’s our pleasure to be appointed for this project which is important for Belize. We are glad that we represent a Saudi firm to lead the design and supervision consultancy services for the Belmopan hospital and we look forward to a fruitful coordination and work relationship with all the stakeholders in Belmopan so that we can deliver this hospital as per the client’s expectations. Hopefully we can see and we can meet again while we open this hospital within the forecasted period for the design and construction. Thank you very much.”
DAO is a seasoned architecture and engineering firm with over forty-three years of experience, specializing in healthcare infrastructure. They’ve completed projects in more than twenty countries, including building over six thousand hospital beds and two million square meters of space. DAO also has experience working with the Saudi Fund for Development across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caribbean. The contract with the Government of Belize spans fifty-five months. During this time, DAO will create and get approval for the design, oversee the construction of the complex, and dedicate the last twelve months to addressing any defects and liabilities.
In November, San Pedro resident Sabela Brakeman was taken from her room and beaten by her estranged husband. She recounted how he took her on a jet ski to Caye Caulker, where she managed to escape and seek help from the Caye Caulker Police. Nearly a month has passed since the incident, and Brakeman still needs funds for surgeries to repair her teeth and broken cheekbone. Today, she told us over the phone that she has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow to set a date for the surgery.
Sabela Brakeman, Kidnapping Victim
“Some people assist with donations. I had some friends who did a barbecue fundraising for me in San Pedro, which didn’t come out the way my friends expected, but they did manage to fundraise something for me. So, with that money that I got, I will do my surgery and see how it goes. I do want to get justice because then I care about my life. Like right now, I’m traveling to see a doctor. What if he tries to hurt me or he’s somewhere nearby. So that’s the reason I really would want they catch him before he tries to do me something.”
Christmas is that special time of year when we gather with loved ones and create heartwarming memories. One of the highlights for every Belizean is the delicious food. For many, a traditional Belizean Christmas dinner means rice and beans, turkey, and ham, but that’s not the case for everyone. In tonight’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, we traveled to San Jose Palmar in Orange Walk to explore the tradition of making and enjoying Christmas tamales. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
While many people are busy wrapping gifts in the weeks before Christmas, Isabel Chi is wrapping banana leaves. She’s making tamales, one of her family’s favorite holiday treats.
Isabel Chi
Isabel Chi, Tamales Maker
“For Christmas, right here at my home, we do a lot of cooking. Especially for the twenty-fourth night so that people come in, come here to visit you. We are ready for anybody, anybody who visit us. We have tamales, we have pibil, we have relleno, escabeche whatever. We have this traditional foods for entire people who come and visit us for that day and that day is, especially for our family, we get together on the twenty-fourth the night and then we get together and we have fun and have eating different kinds of stuff.”
For some Belizeans, Christmas isn’t complete without a hearty plate of rice and beans. But for Isabel, the holidays have a different flavor. In her backyard stands her beloved fire hearth, and that’s where the magic of her Christmas tamales happens.
Isabel Chi
“ It is not so much difficult because I get helping hands from my daughter- in-laws. I don’t have no daughter, but my in-laws, they help me a lot, my son, we come together and we prepare ourselves one day before. We cook together. Like the tamales, we get the leaves one day before, get it prepared, the chicken, and then in the early morning we get up and do the rest because sometimes we want to eat fresh tamales. We don’t want to eat the tamales one day before”
Isabel’s tamales are legendary, enjoyed by more than just her family. She also caters and her meals are sought after by people all over the country. The secret to her irresistible tamales lies in her homemade recado, a recipe passed down from her late mother, Juanita Caseres. She grows, dries, and grinds the seeds herself.
Isabel Chi
“I was taught that way by my mom. She said, never do tamales using foil because it won’t give you a nice taste. You will only use a little piece of leaf and it won’t give you the taste that you want of tamales because it’s the leaf that gives you the taste and your ingredients that they put on your chicken like your own ricardo that you do, like how I explained to you, I do my own ricardo and have it there save so that I can, when I want it, I can use it. Because it’s a lot of work to do, Ricardo. Every minute it’s a time. It’s two days that take you to make your own ricardo.”
Isabel is now passing these techniques down to the rest of her family. Her daughter-in-law, Erica Balam, says that learning these techniques is a privilege she is forever grateful for.
Erica Balam
Erica Balam, Isabel’s Daughter-in-law
“First when I was welcoming a family, I didn’t know a bit of cooking. I didn’t know how to cook rice, how to cook beans, but I want to say I’m so appreciative of miss Isabel Chi, who is my mother-in-law. I’ve learned a lot from her, and from her, along with her mother, Miss Juanita Caseres. Actually, it’s a great opportunity, and it’s a privilege for all of these traditions that we have been together as a family. And I’ve learned a lot when it comes to the cooking, .”
Chi explains that making tamales is a family affair. Her husband and sons gather banana leaves from the backyard, while her daughter-in-law and grandchildren help prepare the corn.
Isabel Chi
“From younger age, it we started to do it like this because together with my mom and my dad, they teach us this way to be like family reunion, be together. sons, granddaughters, grandsons, and whatever. So we get used to it and we continue our culture the same way continue it until God says I’m not here again and we will, they know how to handle theirself.”
These special moments allow Isabel to remain connected to her family. Now, she gets to recreate those cherished bonds she once had with her mother, with her loved ones.
Erica Balam
“We as her daughter-in-law’s we are part, we are like her daughter also because we help her in what we can, and at the same time, we learn, and that is what I learn a lot from her. It’s a great privilege for me to share all of these secret ingredients that she always makes, and and that is the which is the love, and the care, and how we do the food. And they say, Oh, it’s nice. So what do you put on it? And it’s just a love that how we do it.”
For those wanting to try Isabel’s Christmas tamales, she can be reached by cell at the number 6-6-9-6-2-1-9. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Schools in southern Belize are rallying behind the students of Ocean Academy who were injured in a tragic road accident in late November. The students were on their way to Orange Walk for a regional tournament when a blowout caused their vehicle to overturn. Sadly, five of the twelve students were seriously injured, and one has since passed away. To support the victims’ recovery, Ecumenical High School, Delille Academy, and the Agriculture and Natural Resource Institute organized a walkathon and dollar drive. Ecumenical High School teacher, Olivette Ramos, shared the success of the event with us.
Olivett Ramos
Olivett Ramos, Teacher, Ecumenical College
“ The Friday when that accident occurred, we had regionals in Independence this Saturday. So hearing that news that broke us as teachers, as parents. And so right there, we knew that we had to do something in support of them. It was only a matter of time, and we’re glad that our administrators, they supported us in full force. Also on board, we had Delille Academy and ANRI supporting as well. The event occurred today. It starts at one o’clock in front of Ecumenical College. It was a walkathon However this morning we started with a dollar drive for Ecumenical students and teachers We had a dollar drive written right on the ramp in front of Ecumenical, so we had that dollar drive and after the dollar drive, we went straight into The walk a ton right in the walk a ton. We had we were led of course by the traffic department and all the students, of course, were there from all three schools in the walkathon. We also had students who were pulling up posters and stuff like that.”
Britney Gordon
”Would you say that turnout was good? Were you guys able to garner a lot of support for these boys?”
Olivett Ramos
“I believe that the support was good given the times and of course, it wasn’t something that we advertised a long time because of course, like I mentioned time, right? So I believe that the support from our town was good. And of course, all the students were out there and our students also contributed. So it was not only we’re not only asking for assistance from our community, but we help as well.”
Teachers and students in Southern Belize and banding together for the victims of the tragic road traffic accident that struck the members of the Ocean Academy boys’ basketball team. Earlier today, three schools hosted a walkathon and dollar drive to raise funds for the boy’s recovery, but it was also a signal of solidarity and hope. We spoke with schools that organized the event to hear how they are teaching their students to be allies and champions to their peers. Here’s more on that.
Sharon Valentine-Castillo
Sharon Valentine-Castillo, Vice Principal, Delille Academy
“Today’s activity, the Walkathon, was in collaboration with Ecumenical High School. As we partake in raising necessary funds in support of our brothers and sisters, our colleague, teacher colleague from Ocean Academy in Caye Caulker. The whole idea is to show our support. And to let them know we’re in this together. And so we have our students buy into the walkathon. And so it was smoothly run. Today it was well executed. And at the end of the day, whatever proceeds were collected from the Walkathon will be forwarded to our brothers and sisters and future colleagues in Ocean Academy.”
Anna Brackett
Anna Brackett, Vice Principal, Ecumenical High School
“ We were first thinking about just collecting funds overall with within our school because we have a large population. So we were thinking about just asking for monetary donations from the students, whatever it is that they can afford. But then we came up with the idea that you know what, let’s do something bigger. Let’s do something that we can show awareness And we decided that we would do a walkathon. So we didn’t want it to be only from Ecumenical. So we mentioned that we were going to invite the other schools once they were available and thankfully they both decided to join us. If we had more planning, we would have gone, all the way down south, IHS, Georgetown Tech, Julian Sho, but it was just a spur of the moment and we wanted to do more than just collecting, like Miss Gongora said our students need to know that life is bigger than them. And one of these days, we don’t know when it’s our turn or when we’ll ever be in that situation.”
Victoria Gongora
Victoria Gongora, Principal, ANRI
“For us it was very successful. We saw it as a means of helping the students to develop empathy understanding and ensuring awareness, not just for traffic victims, but just to develop care for our fellow human beings, our fellow students across the country.”
