2024-12-11 - Channel 5 Belize

BREAKING: Bodies of Missing Men Found

The body of missing men, Marvin Cante and John Raymundo, were found earlier this evening. According to reports, the decomposed bodies were found in a shallow grave off Dollar Bank Road in Hattieville.

This is a developing story.

As we have reported, the cousins were reported missing at the end of November. Concerns grew when thirty-two-year-old Raymundo failed to respond to messages from his common-law wife. By the following day, the family of Raymundo and his cousin, thirty-seven-year-old Cante, reported them missing to the police, who promptly launched an investigation.

Shortly after, the vehicle Juan had been driving was discovered abandoned near mile twenty-four on the George Price Highway. Since then, family and friends had been tirelessly searching for any clues regarding their whereabouts.

Haiti Gang Murders Over 110 Elderly Residents Accused of Witchcraft

Over 110 elderly residents have been brutally murdered by gang members in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The violence erupted after a local gang leader’s son fell ill and died, with a voodoo priest blaming elderly locals practicing “witchcraft” for the boy’s illness.

The United Nations reports that gang violence in Haiti has claimed a staggering 5,000 lives this year. 184 people were killed over the weekend in violence orchestrated by a powerful gang leader.

Reports indicate that gang members targeted residents over 60, forcibly removing them from their homes and brutally killing them with knives and machetes. Witnesses described seeing mutilated bodies burned in the streets.

Some younger individuals who tried to protect the elderly were also killed. Local media reported that elderly people believed to practice voodoo were singled out due to the gang leader’s belief that they caused his son’s illness.

Haiti has been plagued by gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Recent attempts by gangs to expand their territory have led to increased violence against ordinary residents.

With gangs controlling an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince and large parts of the countryside, hundreds of thousands of Haitians have been displaced.

Gang members often use sexual violence to terrorize the population. Meanwhile, the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), tasked with organizing elections and restoring democratic order, is in disarray. The TPC recently replaced the interim prime minister but has made little progress towards elections. GI-TOC’s Romain Le Cour Grandmaison described the council as “reigning over a mountain of ashes.”

Approaching Cold Front Brings Stormy Weather, Triggers Alerts for Belize

The Belize Meteorological Service has issued multiple weather advisories as an approaching cold front brings moist and unstable conditions across the country.

A Small Craft Caution is in effect due to gusty winds and locally rough seas, particularly near areas of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Operators of small vessels are urged to exercise caution while navigating coastal waters.

A Strong Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northern and central parts of the country. Intense thunderstorms have already been observed in these areas and are expected to persist throughout the day and into the night.

Residents are advised to stay informed of weather updates and seek shelter if necessary, as the stormy conditions could pose a threat to safety. The Belize Met Service continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as needed.

Multidimensional Poverty in Belize Decreases

According to the latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), Belize recorded a decrease of 4.4% in multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty measures deprivation not just in income but across several key areas such as health, education, employment, and living standards. The index considers both the proportion of people affected (incidence) and the severity of their deprivation (intensity).

The SIB reports that the improvements in sanitation, internet access, and dependency ratios have helped reduce poverty levels. Yet, the overall intensity of poverty remained largely unchanged from 38.4% to 38.0%.

Rural poverty dropped significantly from 39.9% in 2023 to 30.9% in 2024. In contrast, urban areas saw a slight increase from 8.3% to 9.7% in poverty.

Toledo remains the hardest hit with 67.9% of its population living in multidimensional poverty. Meanwhile, the Belize District reported the lowest rate at 9.5%.

Households with no formal education face a poverty rate of 36%.

Family size and household composition are also significant factors. Households with more children or elderly members face higher poverty rates. Those who are unemployed face a 50.2% poverty rate, compared to 18.6% for those not in the labour force.

Higher Food and Rent Costs Push Belize’s Inflation

Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported a 2.1% rise in the country’s overall inflation rate for October 2024. The national Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 119.7, up from 117.2 in October 2023. This jump is largely attributed to higher costs for food, restaurant services, and home rental prices. Fuel prices and certain communication equipment saw a decline.

Costs in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ category increased by 4.7%. This was driven by increases in the prices of fresh vegetables, fruits, and bakery items.“Notable increases were recorded in prices for fresh vegetables and pulses, such as cabbage, lettuce, black beans, and red kidney beans (8.3%),” reported the SIB.

Higher rent and dining-out costs were also recorded. The ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ category saw an increase of 4.9%. Home rental prices contributed to a 1.5% rise in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ category.

However, lower fuel prices contributed to transport prices decreasing by 3%. The cost of diesel dropped by $1.55 per gallon, while both premium and regular gasoline prices fell as well.

Belmopan experienced the highest inflation, reflecting an increase of 5% in prices, while Independence Village had the lowest. It recorded a nearly flat inflation rate of -0.03%.

For the first ten months of 2024, the year-to-date inflation rate stood at 3.5%. While fuel prices and some communication equipment have seen reductions, the higher costs of food, rent, and restaurant services are contributing to the ongoing rise in living expenses for Belizeans.

Family of Leonard Baltazar Speaking Out to News 5

Just two weeks before Christmas, a family in Dangriga is grappling with the sudden death of 22-year-old Leonard Baltazar. Early Wednesday morning, Baltazar was found dead outside a cabana at the Reef’s End Lodge on Tobacco Caye.

Around 3:00 a.m., Dangriga police were alerted after resort workers discovered a man lying face down and unresponsive near a cabana. The workers moved him to a safer location and attempted to revive him, but he showed no signs of life. Reports indicate that two tourists staying at the resort were awakened by noises inside their room. Upon waking, they allegedly found a man rummaging through their personal belongings. A confrontation ensued, leading to a physical struggle. During the altercation, the man was reportedly thrown over the cabana’s balcony and later died.

Baltazar’s uncle, Leo Baltazar, expressed disbelief: “I woke up, surprised, shocked because I just saw him yesterday. Most people saw him yesterday, talking, walking, laughing as usual. So, when my sister came by and told me he had passed away, I was stunned.”

“He’s always laughing, talking, joking around with everyone, popping up to everyone’s birthday party. He lived his life in joy and celebration,” his uncle said.

Known affectionately as “Uzi,” Leonard spent much of his time on the caye, fishing, diving, and harvesting lobster and conch to make a living. “He was doing pretty good,” his uncle noted, reflecting on his nephew’s passion for the sea.

Police investigations continue.

Cayo Residents Demand Road Safety Reforms After Tragic Crash

Belize recorded its deadliest car crash on December 7 on the George Price Highway. The head-on collision claimed 10 lives, including a 4-year-old girl, and left 4 others injured. The crash occurred between miles 71 and 72 near Kontiki Service Station. A Ford Expedition SUV with four occupants collided with a Toyota Corolla carrying nine people, causing the Corolla to burst into flames, killing all inside. A motorcyclist behind the SUV also crashed into it and died on impact. The SUV’s four occupants survived but were injured.

The victims have been identified as Ruduel Parham (driver), Shailer Lopez, Abigail Bradley, Keilin Pinelo, Jaheim Inglesias, Aimie Hernandez, Dennis Williams, Jasmine Rodriguez, Jazelle Rodriguez, and Alessandro Carrillo.

Fundraising efforts to help the victims, including those who survived, have been launched.

Habet welcomed the community’s input, noting that while criticism of government agencies was expected, the dialogue remained respectful. Concerns were raised about the performance of traffic departments in municipalities, the Transport Department, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH). Issues ranged from a lack of vehicle inspections for tires, brakes, and lights to the need for better-marked roads, more visible road signs, and timely maintenance of faded markings.

One notable concern was the absence of driving schools in Cayo, which residents believe could help young drivers gain proper experience before obtaining a license. Other suggestions included addressing political interference in traffic law enforcement, with calls for an end to instances where politicians allegedly pressure police to release certain individuals from traffic violations. “That has to stop. We cannot continue like that,” Habet stated firmly.

The community also called for spaces where young people can socialise responsibly, with a focus on curbing over-drinking. Habet echoed this sentiment and urged families to take an active role in guiding youth, whom he described as “valuable to our communities and valuable to our country.”

Habet said that he has raised concerns during the construction of the highway from Belmopan to San Ignacio. At the time, he proposed to then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow that the government acquire more land to build a four-lane highway, rather than the existing two-lane design. “From what I hear from the Transport Department, a high percentage of head-on collisions occur because of overtaking, and that’s because we only have two lanes on the road,” he explained. Habet stressed the need to address this issue gradually but decisively as part of a long-term solution to improve road safety in Belize.

SIB Reports a Growing Willingness to Spend

Are Belizeans willing to spend more money? According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), the country saw an increase of 14% in consumer confidence for the month of October. The SIB reported that the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) jumped from 38.9% in September to 44.3&.This shows that Belizeans grew confident about making major purchases and their financial outlook for the year ahead. The main driver behind the increase in the CCI was the “durable goods such as homes, cars, furniture, and appliances.”

In terms of regional differences, urban areas saw a 6.6% increase in consumer confidence. Meanwhile, rural areas experienced a more significant boost of 19.8%.

When broken down by gender, male consumer confidence increased by 11.8%, while female confidence grew by 15.9%. The SIB says that both genders became more optimistic about their financial situations and the economy over the next year.

Younger consumers, particularly those aged 18-24, reported the most significant improvement in confidence. Consumers aged 25-34 also showed a strong increase of 21.1%. These age groups transitioned from pessimism to optimism, driven by an improvement in sentiments regarding durable goods purchases. Older age groups, including those aged 45-54 and 55 and older, also reported notable increases in confidence.

Ethnic groups across the country reported improved consumer confidence, with the Maya seeing the largest rise of 30.6%. This was largely driven by a 93.8% increase in the durable goods component. Mestizo/Hispanic groups also saw significant improvements, with their CCI rising by 18.8%.

Belize Breaks Ground on Marine Rescue Centre

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, officially broke ground this morning for the Belize Marine Rescue and Education Centre.

As the region continues to face a steady decline in marine life, the need for stronger conservation efforts has become more urgent. Jamal Galvez, Coordinator of the Belize Manatee Conservation Program, says the centre will play a critical role in protecting vulnerable marine species.

“This centre represents a proactive step toward safeguarding our marine ecosystems,” Galvez said. “With growing threats to marine life, having a dedicated space for rescue, rehabilitation, and education is essential for long-term conservation.”

Galvez says projects like this are needed as there has been an increase in the number of manatees, sea turtles, and other marine species in need of rescue.

Anthony Mahler, the Minister of Tourism, explained that the discussion about the project began some time ago with Galvez and other community members. He said it was part of the government’s manifesto promise and a planned release. Mahler noted the need to go through the necessary processes, including drafting the plans and designs, to create an environment where marine animals, including manatees, can be brought for care and research. In terms of a timeline, Mahler said the project could be completed within the next year to a year and a half.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, told News 5 that the initiative goes beyond rescuing and managing manatees when they are injured. He said research and education are key components. “This facility will provide opportunities for students from schools and universities not only in Belize but also regionally and internationally to engage in research and educational activities,” he stated.

Meta’s Platforms Face Widespread Outage, Disrupting Billions Worldwide

On Wednesday, Meta’s suite of applications—Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads—experienced significant outages, leaving billions of users worldwide grappling with limited or no access to the platforms. The tech giant acknowledged the disruption, attributing it to a “technical issue” but has yet to reveal the specific cause.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) at 1:48 p.m. ET, Meta said, “We’re”We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience.”

Instagram echoed the sentiment in a similar post on X, using the hashtag #instagramdown to highlight the issue. Meanwhile, WhatsApp confirmed its disruptions but reported that services were “starting to see a return to normal for most people.”

Reports of issues surged dramatically, with Facebook receiving over 97,000 incident reports and Instagram exceeding 67,000 in the same timeframe.

Concurrently, Meta’s status page for business services indicated “major disruptions” affecting Facebook Ads Manager, Messenger APIs, and other tools like Workplace from Meta, some of which were noted as “recovering.”

Adding to the chaos, user reports of downtime flooded platforms like X and Bluesky, fuelling frustration among individuals and businesses reliant on Meta’s services for communication, advertising, and daily operations.