A family in Dangriga is heartbroken this holiday season after their loved one, Richard Aranda, was tragically shot and killed on Christmas night. Richard was walking along Sabal Street in the Lakeland Area when he was ambushed and shot twice, just after nine PM. The incident left the community with many unanswered questions, as Richard, a resident of Rivas Estate, was not known to have any conflicts with anyone. News 5’s Marion Ali brings us more in the following story.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“I mi eena mi bathroom taking a shower, I just got inside and I heard four shots, so I say da pop shots and John Kunu mi di play cross the street deh, the last stop over deh. So I said that nuh wa be gunshots and lotta kids deh rround. So I don’t take my shower and I get outta mi shower fi get eena mi bed fi put on clothes eena mi room and I hear pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And I say, what? So, by the time I said I was going to peep through my window, I see people running through my yard ya. So I said, Oh my God. So I get – I start shaking. So I wait for a long while before I come outside. That time police done deh out ya already, and then I ask if the bwai dead. I aske da who get shot? Richie!”
Marion Ali, Reporting
On Christmas night, twenty-three-year-old Richard Aranda was walking down Sabal Street when tragedy struck. Just after nine p.m., two men on a motorcycle approached him and shot him at close range. Aranda collapsed on the street and was quickly rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital, but sadly, he passed away half an hour later. A resident of Sabal Street, who spoke with News Five, shared that Aranda had left their house only about an hour before the fatal shots were heard. The community is left in shock and mourning as they grapple with this senseless act of violence.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“He spend whole day with me right pahn da chair deh eena da corner. Ih gone buy mi two stour and mi Lala milk and ih tell mi “I gwein give mi kids dehn gift and ah wa come back and ih spend a whole day with me til after six ih gone stand up right deh. About 7:30, I call ah back and say, “Papa, I gwein inside. I tired. Ih help mi ker in all deh chairs, the table, mi box weh I play music. I tell ah goodnight. So that da after 7:30, like going for eight o’clock. I surprised fi see da bwai dead. I can’t sleep all night. I just got to rest this morning before day. I can’t believe it, man.”
For one resident, the spot where Richard Aranda was gunned down brought back chilling memories of losing a relative to gun violence years ago. This tragic incident has stirred up a sense of unease in the neighborhood once again. But who would want Richard dead, and why? His friend is grappling with the same questions. They shared a strange occurrence from that night, almost like an omen, adding another layer of mystery to this heartbreaking story.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“Ih say “My bredda call me and tell me how ih dream dehn shoot me up and kill me – my bredda da jail.” I say, what? So then I look pahn ah and I say, but I have a dream that wa bwai come through the window, and dehn ih drop ih cap right deh soh. I can’t see ih face, then look pahn ah and I say but the person look like you. Then ih laugh.”
Richard Aranda was a father of two young children. Police found several expended shells at the scene, have detained one suspect, and are looking for another, both also residents of Dangriga. Marion Ali for News Five.
It’s been four days since twenty-year-old Joshua Hall from San Antonio Village, Corozal, went missing, and his family is pleading for help to find him. Joshua was last seen on Monday morning when he went to the Corozal Town Police Station to sign in, as required by his bail conditions. Records show that he signed in that morning but never made it back home. Joshua left home on a pink bicycle with a basket on the front, wearing a green shirt, black cargo pants, and black Nike slippers. Today, his sister, Aiyana Hall, took to Facebook to share more details about his disappearance. She explained that Joshua must sign in at the police station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and must be home by six p.m. each evening due to his curfew. If he’s caught out after curfew, he risks being incarcerated. Aiyana believes her brother intended to return home that morning. The family is desperate for any information that could help bring Joshua back safely.
Aiyana Hall
Aiyana Hall, Sister of Joshua Hall
“He left home at 8:36 promising to return to set up a bed, being that he’s waiting his child and him and his girlfriend are supposed to move in. The last message was to his girlfriend that he’s heading out to sign and he will be right back. However, records show that he signed it at the police station at 8:58 a.m., but after that, no one at the police station can confirm that he left. Or no one has, they haven’t picked up any footage that shows him leaving the station or anywhere in Corozal. Right now, we’re suspecting anything. We can’t overlook anything at this point. It’s been too long. No one is talking. There’s no sign of his bike. And I know that he wouldn’t just disappear like that. You know, he looked forward to coming home. He looked forward to come home to my apartment. He would eat. He would never just go and tell nobody anything. Also, I have access to his social media, both Facebook and Instagram, which was his only way of communicating with anyone. And I can verify that he wasn’t supposed to meet any friend that day. He didn’t have any plans further than going to sign and returning home.”
Joshua Hall, who was granted bail for a robbery charge on November twenty-fifth, had been diligently signing in at the police station three times a week. However, his sister Aiyana Hall mentioned that there’s no footage of him leaving the station, and no one was home to confirm his return that morning since everyone had left after he did. The family searched surrounding villages and areas for Joshua but with no success. Aiyana also alleged that some members of the Belize Police Department have threatened to harm her brother. She is appealing to residents with cameras near the police station to review their footage from Monday to see if they captured Joshua. Today, Aiyana, told News Five that the Corozal police have checked their cameras but have found nothing so far.
On the Phone: Eden Hall, Sister of Joshua Hall
“We just sat down with the commanding officer in Corozal, which is Mr. Carcamo, to update us on what they’re doing because so far we haven’t felt like they have been assisting us. We were told that they have checked certain cameras and they haven’t seen anything. So I asked because at this point, we are suspecting anyone. No one can tell us when they last saw him and the last known location was the police station because he signed in. So, we’re looking at our angles and I explained this to the commanding officer this morning. I told him we need to look at everything at this point, and he says that they are trying to clarify that he did leave the station. The cameras in the station aren’t working. So, so far, they haven’t found anything that shows him on any cameras that they have received footage of. He says that there are two cameras left to check, um, and they will get back to us.”
This morning, Belize Sugar Industries and other stakeholders kicked off the 2024-2025 sugar cane season. Originally slated to start on December sixteenth, the season’s opening was delayed to the twenty-seventh due to poor road conditions. Although the season is just getting underway, stakeholders are already bracing for challenges. Tumultuous weather, rough road conditions, and the rapid spread of fusarium disease across northern Belize are expected to impact cane farmers and sugar producers. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the opening ceremony to get the scoop on what next year holds for the sugar industry. Here’s her report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
This morning marked the official start of the 2024/2025 crop season, kicking off Belize’s sugar production for the upcoming year. Despite the excitement, it’s a slow day at Belize Sugar Industries. 2024 was a landmark year for the local sugar industry, with record-breaking cane prices and the largest raw sugar export in the country’s history. However, stakeholders are cautious about 2025, uncertain if it will match the previous year’s success.
Vladimir Pook
Vladimir Pook, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers
“This symbolic opening is very important. Where it shows unity, the full association, we came here today and do what is best for our keen farmers, right? To the start of a crop. It’s a very challenging crop coming ahead. Reasons, weather, roads, the fusarium, as you all know. And other pests that have been affecting the industry. But I think that at this point in time, there is one major reason why today it looks a little bit sad, I can say. At the beginning of a crop where you don’t see as many trucks as we normally do, right? And that has contributed mostly to the roads. The pest that has done its damage, but now it’s time to deliver. We wanted to have an early start, but unfortunately the authorities did not prioritize on that.”
In late October, cane farmers were overjoyed as sugar cane prices soared to a record-breaking ninety dollars and ninety-five cents. It was a moment of celebration for the industry. However, Alfredo Ortega, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association Committee of Management, warns that tougher times are on the horizon for farmers next year.
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.
“We are seeing the realities novel of climate change, as you rightly said. As we have said before, the problems we are seeing are many of them are caused by climate change. And yes, there’s a situation because as everything has, fuel is up, labor is up. So the farmers are really very tight in regards to what they make and in regards to the sugarcane they have. So it’s not an easy issue, it’s not very easy for the farmers to see when we are getting a huge amount on the sugarcane we produce. Nevertheless, last year we got ninety dollars per ton of cane which has been the highest in history. But when we see all the payments that we have to do in regards to fuels, in regards to social security, that has doubled from five years ago to now what we have to pay for labor from six to ten dollars now for cutting. So it’s a very huge amount that the farmers now have to pay to to get that cane coming here to the mill.”
Despite the looming challenges, farmers remain resolute. Alfredo Ortega notes that many have already started planting seeds for the next crop season. Likewise, Belize Sugar Industries (B.S.I.) is preparing for the year ahead, ready to tackle whatever comes their way.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“Symbolically, it’s a good day in that we have an agreement with all our associations, which paves the way for the crop. That’s really the most important thing you need to have, a successful crop. If you have an agreement with all your associations for the cane, that makes, planning the crop much easier. I think we certainly know what are the challenges this year. We’ve heard from farmers and their leaders that sugar roads are in a bad state. And that’s making it difficult to get the cane in. So we’re expecting that today might be a very slow day in that respect. We know as well about the disease fusarium, which will result in lower-quality cane. So what we need to ensure from the mill standpoint is that the mill has been maintained properly so that we can deal with this cane. From our standpoint, we’ve done that. We put in about fourteen million Belize dollars just in out-for-crop replacement of maintenance equipment. And general maintenance to get the prop on the middle ready for today.”
So far, only a handful of trucks loaded with cane have made their way to the B.S.I. compound. However, BSI’s financial director, Shawn Chavarria, is optimistic that the operation will ramp up to full speed very soon.
Shawn Chavarria
“ We were currently doing some phone calls to the different leaders and groups to find out how much cane they have ready. We’re still getting some numbers. We’re trying to at least get quantity of our own fifteen hundred assured before we start putting on our cane shredder and our cane knives because that really then requires a lot of power to start receiving the cane. So we need to be assured a certain quantity before we can get that. I would expect maybe by late this afternoon, we will probably have an indication of sufficient quantity. Then we will be able to make a start with the milling, but we’re hopeful that by tomorrow, we start seeing a steadier level of cane coming in and start getting into full force.”
The bleak outlook for sugar production is a major concern for B.S.I., which relies on fixed assets. Low output makes running the mill costly. While B.S.I. assures that the local sugar market won’t be hit hard, Cane Farmer Relations Manager Olivia Carballo-Avilez warns that international sales are expected to drop.
“We will be able to supply for the Belizean market. It’s only ten percent output. of the total production that’s for the Belizean market. And of course, if we are, if we don’t have the sugar production, we can’t sell those amounts. The local market has, we don’t have to worry about that, but yes, we will be selling less sugar if there is less sugar.”
Belize’s sugar roads are in terrible condition, according to cane farmers across Northern Belize who are struggling to make their deliveries. Today, the 2024-2025 crop season finally kicked off, sixteen days later than planned, mainly due to the poor state of the roads. Belize Sugar Industries’ Financial Director, Shawn Chavarria, shared that this has been a long-standing issue for the industry, making it difficult for farmers to get their cane to the sugar producers.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“I think it’s really, a long term failure that has been occurring with respect to Sugar Roads. Infrastructure is critical for any sector, any industry, especially ours, which requires transportation of their raw material to the mill. And so without the proper infrastructure, it’s difficult for us to be able to make a good start. And we’ve seen that. We have proposed to start the crop on the sixteenth of December of December. Farmers, I said, look, I am willing to start, but I can’t get to my fields. And so that has set, that’s about two weeks. But the state of the roads is not one that just occurred this year, or the year before. It’s been successive years of inadequate maintenance and repairs to these sugar roads for a critical industry. It’s still one of the largest agricultural industries in Belize. It’s the highest contributor to GDP from the agricultural sector, bringing the highest level of foreign exchange. I think a long-term solution really needs to be put in place to address the matter of sugar roads because now it’s costing us money because it’s delaying the start. If we have to push the crop into the rainy season, it will cost the industry to lower cane quality and less recovery of sugar. So really, we need a long term solution for the matter of sugar roots so that, we remove one obstacle that we have.”
In January, Belize Sugar Industries and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association finally reached an agreement, ending their prolonged negotiations. Just a year ago, the dispute had escalated to public demonstrations and road blockades. This year, however, the sugar industry faces new challenges: climate change, inaccessible sugar roads, and fungal diseases affecting the crops. We spoke with several stakeholders today, who emphasized the strong commitment of both entities to work together and tackle these issues head-on.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“Certainly a welcome treat for us to be able to, have a Christmas break where really you didn’t have to worry about trying to negotiate a commercial agreement and when we will start. So that’s certainly welcome compared to a year ago. And so having, put that aside, then the focus now is really in ensuring that we make the most out of this crop. We try to minimize our losses and maximize revenues as best as we can. And so that really requires a collaborative effort with all stakeholders to ensure that we achieve them.”
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.
“As you know last year we signed a two year extension addendum of the agreement. So this year we don’t have anything to sign. We are already in peace for this year, as you rightly said. So we have to continue on when time comes that we need to negotiate. Then we will start negotiating again with the men. So at this point in time, everything is okay between us. We have signed for at least this coming year again. So we need to work in peace because at the very end, what we want to see is our farmers really get the benefit of their labor.”
Last month, the Public Utilities Commission (P.U.C.) proposed a consent grant to Belize Energy Cogeneration Limited (BELCOGEN), which generates energy from sugar cane bagasse. This consent would allow BELCOGEN to operate a co-generation power plant, enabling them to generate, transmit, and supply electricity as an independent power producer to Belize Sugar Industries Limited and Belize Electricity Limited. The P.U.C. stated that this consent aligns with the goals of the Belize National Energy Policy 2023, ensuring that BELCOGEN continues to meet the country’s energy needs. Shawn Chavarria, Financial Manager of Belize Sugar Industries, provided an update on this consent grant.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“Belcogen generation license is actually expiring at the end of December. And so with the new regulation, we have to go through a process of applying first for a generation license and then the consent for the facility. So we now have our generation license for the next ten years and the process of finalizing the consent, I think the deadline is today and so far we haven’t heard, we’ve submitted everything that has been requested by the P.U.C. and so we’re expecting that consent should similarly be provided.”
In late August, Belize kicked off the first hearings for the Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry. This inquiry aims to scrutinize the entire value chain of the industry and offer recommendations to the government. Belize Sugar Industries Limited (B.S.I.) was among the organizations under examination. B.S.I.’s Financial Director, Shawn Chavarria, shared an update on these recommendations.
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“We actually heard from the Commission of Inquiry roughly two weeks ago. They had shared a summary of their recommendation. But we haven’t seen the full report and we are requesting the full report because really it’s difficult for us to opine on what the summary of the findings and recommendations are without seeing the rationale for it. So we requested the full report. The commission did ask us not to meet that public as yet because they want to ensure the proper communication is done with all the stakeholders first and get their feedback. But from our standpoint, it was a bit challenging for us to give you back without seeing the full report. And so we requested that. We’re hopeful that we can get that sometime soon.”
Tonight, two teenagers, aged eighteen and fifteen, are out on bail after facing charges of robbery earlier this week. The older teen, eighteen-year-old Randy Cain from Hattieville Village, and his fifteen-year-old relative, a student, were both accused of using force to steal a black Samsung cellphone and an ATM card from Cameron Leon Myvett on December eighteenth, 2024. Appearing before the Chief Magistrate, both teens pleaded not guilty to the robbery charges. Despite the police prosecutor’s strong objections—citing the prevalence of such crimes, the overwhelming evidence against them, and concerns that they might reoffend—the Chief Magistrate granted them bail. The prosecutor argued that the teens had already helped recover the stolen items and feared they might continue their spree if released. He also pointed out that Cain, being unemployed, might negatively influence his younger relative. Additionally, there’s a worrying trend of young men on bicycles committing random robberies, which added to the prosecutor’s concerns. Nevertheless, the Chief Magistrate set their bail at two thousand, five hundred dollars each, with one surety of the same amount. The fifteen-year-old was released into his father’s care and must stay with him in Belize City, away from Hattieville. Both teens must report to their respective police stations—Cain to Hattieville Police Station every Friday, and the minor to Racoon Street Police Station. They are also ordered to stay one hundred yards away from the victim and attend all court dates. Their next court appearance is scheduled for February twenty-first, 2025.
Tonight, a young man is spending his third night behind bars after being sentenced to three months for burglary. Jaheem Young, a twenty-three-year-old boat repairer from Saint Joseph Street, Belize City, appeared in court this morning. He pleaded guilty to breaking into his cousin’s home on Freetown Road and stealing a white speaker valued at two hundred and fifty dollars on December twenty-second, 2024. Young, who was unrepresented, faced two charges, but the second charge of sexual assault wasn’t read as the court awaits further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Despite his guilty plea for burglary, Young showed no remorse, which the prosecutor highlighted, especially since the victim was his own cousin. The prosecutor pushed for a minimum seven-year sentence, but Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola considered that this was Young’s first conviction for a crime of dishonesty or violence. She opted for a three-month sentence instead. Young also had two outstanding fines from previous convictions—one for drug possession and another for a traffic offense. These fines will run concurrently with his three-month sentence, allowing him to clear his record by the time he is released in 2025. The sexual assault charge has been adjourned to January twenty-ninth, 2025, pending further directives from the D.P.P.
