Tonight, a Dangriga car dealer is out on bail after being accused of obtaining property by deception. Thirty-year-old Keenen Anthony Flores, who claims to be a car dealer from New Site Area, Dangriga Town, was arraigned this morning in the Belize City Magistrate Court. Flores, who appeared without legal representation, faced a single charge of obtaining property by deception. The allegations date back to Monday, December thirtieth, 2024, when Flores allegedly deceived forty-five-year-old Carlos Cardinez into giving him a three thousand, eight hundred downpayment for a red 2006 Ford Escape. Cardinez, a manager at Caribbean Paper Mills, reported that Flores promised to deliver the vehicle that same day but never did. Feeling duped, Cardinez reported the matter to the police and sought court action.
Tag: 2025-01-06
Jamaican Denied Entry; Detained; Claims Assault
A Jamaican man is planning to sue the government after he claims immigration officials assaulted him. Christopher McIntyre arrived in Belize on New Year’s Eve for his first visit, encouraged by his friend Sheila Williams, who has been here several times. However, his trip turned into a nightmare. He was denied entry because his travel documents didn’t meet immigration requirements and was detained for a couple of days. When he was supposed to be sent back to Jamaica, he missed his flight and alleges he was assaulted. Sheila Williams visited News Five today and explained that the mix-up happened because she mistakenly put his hotel address in her name. When she tried to clarify the situation with immigration authorities, they were rude to her.
Christopher McIntyre, Denied Entry to Belize, Assaulted
“I came in Belize on the 29 of December. I came in Belize the 29th of December for my birthday. My birthday is December 31st, but unfortunately, I got detained by the immigration. The reason for the detention, they said I didn’t have a reservation in my name. And the next thing, when they had me detained, they said they were gonna have me sent back on the 3rd of January. So on the 3rd of January, they made the flight miss me. So when they had the flight miss me, I said to them I wanted to go home and such forth and instead of them make me feel better, they pulled me on the ground, the immigration made the police pull me on the ground, hit me on my face right here and then hit me in my ribs. And they tell me like, shut up, shut up, and relax, shut up, like I shouldn’t speak. And, you know, I didn’t have any rights. I came here to just meet with family and such forth in Belize and once I got detained, this is the treatment I got.”
Sheila Williams, Friend of Christopher McIntyre
“He arrived, and myself and a friend of mine, who’s Belizean, Sheldon were outside. And I said, this is taking too long, so Sheldon went up and asked the officer and they said, well, he’s being detained inside. So, the officer went in. I said, can I see him? I mean, he’s never left Jamaica. He’s got to be scared. So they did bring me in and let me talk to him. And they said it’s the Air B and Bs. I was on the phone trying to get them to change the reservation to Christopher’s name.”
Marion Ali
“They explained to you that that was the issue?”
Sheila Williams
“That was the issue and then this woman, she said she was a supervisor. She came and she says, time’s up. We don’t have enough time for that. She pulled me aside and she basically told me I’m American. I have no rights in Belize to invite anybody to Belize because I am not a Belizean citizen. And I said, well, I’ve got my friend outside. He’s a Belizean citizen. Can he speak? And she says, the matter is done. You need to leave and go back outside. He’s being detained.”
Attorney for Jamaican Says He Will Sue Immigration Department
As we mentioned earlier, McIntyre is from Jamaica. Many Jamaicans use the freedom granted to CARICOM travelers to move between member countries and eventually make their way to the US. However, McIntyre insists this wasn’t his intention. He’s now lawyered up, and his attorney, Norman Rodriguez, is ready to fight the case. Rodriguez pointed out that this isn’t the first time he’s had to step in for tourists mistreated upon arrival at the P.G.I.A. He believes his client was assaulted to silence him.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Christopher McIntyre
“This was something that was done to shut him up because he was shouting, I want to go home, I want to go home. He did nothing wrong and I advised him, comply with them, don’t do anything so that they can bring any other charge or any charge on you. Okay. All right. Um, and so he has left now? No, he’s still detained. He’s still here. He’s still here. But he was supposed to be returned to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital today for him to make an, for him to make an application for the records. of his visit from the alleged beating that he received, the hitting in his ribs. And now he’s supposed to be taken to make a report. He had been calling out for that. And like I said, I’m hoping that they do not try to spirit him away, allow him to make his report, and let the Belize Police Department do what it should, investigate, and charge him there to charge. That is what he wants, right? But if he’s not the one to stay and he, he has already voiced he wants to leave, but he has retained you to represent him. Then where would he be staying? They usually keep them at the global village hotel until their departure. My understanding is that Copa airlines would normally cover the expenses for hotel and food up to a certain point. And then My statement to the Belize Immigration Department because they’ve tried to get me to cover the expenses after a certain time and I’ve said to them, You’re the one who have this person detained. Have they done so in this case? Well, today would be the day that test will come, but in the last, the last three people that I represented, I totally did not pay any attention to them.”
Mario Quijada Perishes in Motorcycle Pileup
Over the weekend, a tragic road accident claimed the life of a motorcyclist. Mario Quijada, aged forty-two, sadly became the first motorcycle fatality of the new year. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more details on this unfortunate incident.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Sunday, January fifth, police responded to a fatal road traffic accident at mile forty-seven on the Hummingbird Highway where they saw a Toyota Hilux and a motorcycle with extensive damages. Information revealed that Veronica Majil was driving the Toyota Hilux and she collided with a motorcycle being driven by Mario Quijada, forty-two years old. Mario Quijada was taken for treatment where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An investigation is being carried out to determine whether any charges will be levied.”
Reporter
Was any sample taken?
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, a sample was taken.”
Grieving Mother Asks Key Questions About Her Son’s Accident
Today, a heartbroken mother took to Facebook, exactly one month after losing her son to a tragic traffic accident. Overwhelmed with grief and questions, she shared her sorrow and concerns. The students from Ocean Academy High School in Caye Caulker were on their way to Orange Walk for a basketball game when one of the vehicles had a blowout and flipped multiple times. Tragically, Alex Bainton succumbed to severe injuries a few days later. His mother, Nikita Marin, questioned why her son was in a private car when she had signed a document for him to travel by school bus. She expressed her frustration, noting that no teacher had contacted her to ask if it was okay for him to travel in a private car. Marin also raised concerns about whether the car was insured, who owned it, and why the students weren’t wearing seat belts. She is left wondering who will be held accountable for her son’s untimely death.
Is PCC Reneging on Its Own Mandate?
The People’s Constitution Commission has been given an extra six months to wrap up its tasks, including preparing a report with recommendations for the prime minister. Doctor Dylan Vernon, who was initially brought on as a consultant for the P.C.C., has since parted ways with the commission. We reached out to him to get his take on this extension.
Dr. Dylan Vernon, Political Scientist
“I was basically trying to understand why there was an extension and the answer is that the work was not finished. But one of my concerns that I expressed was that the P.C.C. promised that there would be a public consultation phase and from my analysis and understanding, such a phase was never officially started or announced. I think it got merged into the education phase. Clearly, some surveys were done and people did express some views, but the idea was that some interim sort of report would have gone back to the people and that interim report was never produced. And so, the final report that, I understand, is being worked on will not be going back to the people as far as what the Chairman of the P.C.C. is saying. A little bit more alarmingly to me is the statement coming out of the P.C.C. that produced a final report. They are going to have and recommend that the government share it and do consultations with people. For me, that is the P.C.C. reneging on its own mandate because the P.C.C. is supposed to do that consultation and use that as part of the input to prepare the recommendations that will then go through the prime minister to the House of Representatives. This in-between phase, giving the government that responsibility, as opposed to an independent body doing it, doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Tracy Panton Ready For Mediation
Attorney for Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton has written Registrar Treina Young, indicating that their client is ready for mediation. In the letter, Arnold and Company states, “We write pursuant to Court Order dated the 23 day of December, 2024, in which Mister Justice Dr. Hondora at paragraph 14 ordered: ’14. The parties are strongly encouraged to resolve their dispute with the assistance of a mediator of their choice or through a court-facilitated mediation programme. If the parties require the assistance of the court, they shall write to the court office by 6 January 2025.'”
He says that the Defendants, Panton and Phillipa baily, “therefore now inform the Court that they require the assistance of the court to facilitate mediation.”
“It is anticipated that Counsel shall continue dialogue in order to identify an agreed Mediator.”
Panton and Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow remain locked in a leadership battle within the UDP, which political scientist Dr. Dylan Vernon describes as being in “self-destruct mode.” On Friday, Panton’s faction, Alliance for Democracy, met in Belize City and rejected two proposals from a major party donor: a coalition involving four constituencies under Barrow’s leadership and a compromise recognising Barrow as leader in exchange for allowing Panton’s candidates to run as UDP.
Why Was Godfrey Hyde Murdered?
Police have not been able to establish a motive for the first murder of 2025. 59-year-old Belize City fisherman Godfrey Hyde was found dead on Turneffe Atoll over the weekend. He had been shot to death.
The Belize City fisherman had been working alone at the fishing camp when his body was discovered by 52-year-old Fedrick Dougal. Dougal had arrived around 6 a.m. on Saturday to deliver supplies and alerted the Belize Coast Guard after finding Hyde’s body.
During a police briefing this afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero said, “Information is that the caretaker of the island was there for a while and someone brought supplies to him. After which the body was found.”
When asked if robbery was a possible motive, Romero stated, “Nothing has been established as missing.” Authorities have also not identified any prior threats or conflicts involving Hyde.
While the area where the murder occurred is not typically a focus of patrols, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, said that “Tuneffe itself has different characters with different groups that would normally fight over fishing turf.”
Daughter of Murder Victim Speaks to News 5
The lifeless body of 59-year-old Belize City fisherman Godfrey Hyde was discovered over the weekend on Turneffe Atoll. Hyde was found face down at a wooden fishing camp with gunshot wounds, making him the first murder victim of 2025. Hyde’s body was later taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City for a post-mortem.
Hyde’s daughter, Josephine Neal, told News 5 that she had not heard from him since he left in mid-November. She added that Hyde was expected to return home for his birthday on the 30th of November. “For some strange reason, I couldn’t get to him at no given time… I did call him for his birthday, but I didn’t get any response,” Neal added.
“His last words to me were to get his wallet from the taxi driver for me and hold on to it. That was the last time we talked,” Neal said.
According to Neal, her father was known for being social, always interacting with other fishermen. “He can be a total stranger, but he is always open. It doesn’t matter what”
She added, “Whosoever did it, I hope whatever you went there for, you got. I know he wouldn’t have fought with anybody. He would’ve given anything willingly. Even if it was something he found, he would have given it up. He wouldn’t have held on to something that is not his.”
Hyde had been working alone on the island before his body was discovered by Fedrick Dougal delivering supplies on Saturday morning.
Jamaican Man Detained in Belize, Allegedly Assaulted
Jamaican national Christopher McIntyre is currently detained in Belize. When McIntyre arrived in Belize last month, customs officials flagged his accommodation. American Sheila Williams, who had invited him to Belize, told News 5, “The allegation is that he did not have the, um, hotels in his name. They were in my name. But I had invited Baby Bro to Belize for his birthday, which was on the 31st of December.”
Williams was the partner of McIntyre’s older brother, who passed two years ago. She considers McIntyre her little brother.
They had planned to visit a Mayan spiritual healer in San Antonio and enjoy a short vacation.
Upon McIntyre’s arrival on December 30th, Williams and her Belizean friend, Sheldon, waited outside the airport. Concerned about the delay, Sheldon enquired with the immigration officer and learnt that McIntyre was being detained.
“I mean, he’s never left Jamaica. He’s got to be scared. So they did bring me in and let me talk to him. I was there on the phone trying to get them to change the reservation to Christopher’s name.”
She continued, “That was the issue. And then this woman, she said she was a supervisor. She came, and she says, Time’s up. We don’t have enough time for that. She pulled me aside, and she basically told me, I’m American. I have no rights in Belize. I have no right to invite anybody to Belize because I am not. And I said, Well, I’ve got my friend outside. He’s a Belizean citizen. Can he speak? And she says, The matter is done. You need to leave and go back outside. He’s being detained.”
Williams then contacted attorney Norman Rodriguez for assistance.
Williams believed McIntyre would be released and placed on a flight to Panama, where they intended to continue their vacation. She rebooked their itineraries, but upon boarding her flight, she discovered that McIntyre was not on the plane.
“And I got on the plane, and there’s no baby bro. My Chris isn’t on the plane. I’m on the plane. I’m stuck. I’m going to Panama. And he’s not on the plane. I know they changed his itinerary because I bought the ticket. They changed it for him to be on the plane.”
Later, she learnt that McIntyre had been prevented from boarding and allegedly assaulted during the incident.
After arriving in Panama, Williams immediately began arrangements to return to Belize via Miami and Minneapolis to ensure her little brother’s safety and advocate for his release.
McIntyre remains in detention in Belize, and the family is exploring their legal options to resolve the situation.