The U.S. State Department has issued a level two travel advisory, urging citizens to be extra cautious when visiting Belize due to high levels of violent crime. The advisory highlights common crimes like sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder, even in tourist areas during the day. It also points out that local police often lack the resources and training to handle serious crimes effectively, leaving many cases unresolved and unprosecuted. We asked Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa how his ministry plans to address these concerns. Here’s what he had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Oftentimes in my discussions with the U.S. embassy raise my concerns, especially over the last two or three years where we have seen a downturn in the number of homicides each year. And I think we are actually beating fifteen or so states in the homicide rate. It could be argued that Belize should be issuing a travel advisory to those fifteen states. We are very close partners with the U.S. Embassy. And it is something that I flag each year that it doesn’t it certainly doesn’t make sense in my opinion why it is that these travel advisories are issued when in fact there is that downturn. But no doubt I think travelers on their own have seen the beauty and charm of Belize. They don’t find it as a violent destination. And so we see that increase, I think by sixty thousand overnight passengers in just 2024, we have increased. Remarkable numbers are coming out of the Ministry of Tourism. And certainly it doesn’t seem that travel advisory is having any kind of negative effect.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. As we kick off 2025, there’s plenty of excitement in the world of sports here in Belize. Cory Williams has already made headlines by narrowly beating Oscar Quiroz in the New Year’s Cycling Classic. And just this past Sunday, Kaya Cattouse stole the show in the Imani Women’s Road Race, which spanned an impressive ninety-five miles from Cotton Tree Village to Santa Elena Town, finishing up in Belize City.
Veteran Cattouse and Junior Rider Iranie Baki rolled into Belize City with a significant lead over the main peloton. On Cemetery Road, Cattouse signaled Baki to rotate the pace heading in. Shortly after, Cattouse launched a massive attack, with Baki right on her wheel. 2:37:35 As Khaya Cattouse neared the finish line, she kept glancing back at Baki, who was hot on her heels. The seasoned rider clinched the 95-mile race in style, with Baki finishing a close second. After the race, some fans argued that Cattouse, with her vast experience, shouldn’t compete in these events, while others felt she should have let the junior rider win as a gesture of support. Later that Sunday, Cattouse took to Facebook, saying, “people hate on LeBron because he’s the goat…that’s the only reason they have…. with 18 years of high-level racing experience under my belt, I am the goat bout ya. Nobody neva gi me this, I earned it!”. She also gave a brief interview to Andrew Ordonez immediately after her victory.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, Pro Cyclist “In terms of the competition, a lot of people might watch he race and say you the race out of your class and so, but I nuh get yah over night. It has been eighteen years of racing and putting in the work to be able to have the legs. I am thirty-five-years-old the race with deh young gial, at some point youth will overcome. Until then we will war to the finish. Kudos to all the ladies weh race today. We have to race. Some teams have to think strategy.”
Switching gears to another talented female athlete, Khaya Gordon from Belize’s National Volleyball Team is set to make her debut in the NCAA Division One Women’s Volleyball Tournament at Clemson University in South Carolina. Gordon, a four-time national team medalist, had an impressive 2023, helping Navarro University secure a third-place finish in the NJCAA. Just three months ago, she hit a career-high with twenty-three kills against Trinity Valley Community College. During her time at Navarro, she earned First and Second Team All-Conference honors, among many other accolades. Now, she’s already training hard at Clemson. We caught up with her to chat about her expectations for the upcoming season.
Khaya Gordon
Khaya Gordon, Student Athlete, Clemson University
“I am new here, but I am up for the challenge. I am ready to see these other high-level athletes. When you see other high-level athletes, you are like I want to do that too, I can do that, let me show you something. And, I just think moving forward our team with that mindset of working hard. We don’t have to rank extremely high, but moving up, that is like a big change for the program. That is how I am thinking. I know my coach Jackie here mentioned how dynamic I am and I would like to run different plays and do all the crazy, fun stuff, to enjoy volleyball and I am very excited for that. I think that our team moving forward with that mindset of working hard and moving up and getting Clemosn and everyone fired up.”
Clemson ranked seventeenth of eighteen teams in the 2024 season. Gordon certainly has her work cut out for her.
On Friday night, the lights were on inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex as the Belize District Football Association continues its 2024-2025 First Division Season. Going into the weekend, TutBay was ranked as the top team this season, followed by Survivors FC in second and Lake-I F.C .in third position. On Friday, Survivors F.C. played against sixth place team Ceasar Ridge F.C. Eleven minutes into this one, Raheem Eagan for Ceasar Ridge capitalized on this pass from midfield. He fought off one defender, the goalkeeper hit the ground, and Eagan made an easy touch into the goal.Seven minutes later, Survivor’s Tyrique Ciego get a beautiful pass in front of the goal. He had time to square up and launch a bullet into the net. At the thirty-fourth minute, Troy Augustine jumped several feet off the ground to put the ball into the goal with a header, off a beautiful corner kick. The second goal for Ceasar Ridge F.C. came at the start of the second half. Devin McCauley secured that one. But, in the end, Survivors F.C. won the match with four goals, to Ceasar Ridge F.C.’s two goals.
The BDFA is hosting an exciting Regional Under-Fifteen Females Tournament. On Saturday, Alvian Strikers faced off against Royal Fusion at Berger Field. Sheren Humes put Fusion on the board with a goal in the ninth minute, but Demika Jones leveled the score for Alvian Strikers in the seventeenth minute, ending the game in a draw. In the second match of the day, Goal Getters took on KP Strikers and dominated the field, scoring twice—once in the tenth minute and again in the forty-eighth minute. Unfortunately for KP Strikers, they couldn’t find the back of the net.
Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
A 26-year-old man from Corozal, Moises Verde, is recovering after being shot by Sarteneja police on Thursday. Verde, who was wanted for aggravated assault with a firearm, allegedly pulled out a gun and fired several shots at officers who were trying to apprehend him.
Today, the Police Commissioner, Chester Williams, said that further details on this matter are still unclear. “ That’s a matter in certainty. At this time, that’s the matter in Sarteneja; I don’t have any further details.”
Williams said that Verde awaits arraignment; as soon as his health conditions are determined suitable to be arraigned, he will be arraigned. “He will be charged by the police for aggravated assault,” Williams added.
Reports indicate that police had been searching for Verde when they spotted him walking with another man. When they ordered him to stop, he reportedly drew a .38 pistol and fired at the officers.
The police returned fire, hitting Verde in the leg.
Authorities recovered the .38 revolver at the scene, along with three live rounds and expended shell casings.
The nine-and-a-half-mile stretch of road from Bullet Tree Village to the Spanish Lookout Community is scheduled to be paved. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday in Santa Familia Village.
The road is critical as it is used by farmers to transport livestock, grains, and other produce.
According to Cayo Northeast Area Representative Orlando Habet, over half of Belize’s cattle exports to Guatemala pass through this route. “All the corn and all the beans exported pass through this road. When we have flooding events, it is important, because apart from those commodities, we have chicken, egg, beef, milk, ice cream, you name it—all the food items that have to pass through here when the lower-lying bridges are closed. So, it is important.”
The paving project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Spanish Lookout Community. According to Julius Espat, the Minister of Infrastructure Development, this public-private partnership has enabled the project to bypass bureaucratic delays. “It is the Spanish Lookout community coming together with the government and financing the project to make it work. It was one of the ways we found to fast-track the bureaucratic way of doing road construction.”
Cayo North Area representative Michel Chebat described the project as phase one of Plan Belize. “This is just another example of that commitment to making people’s lives better under Plan Belize. This is Plan Belize phase one, because in a few months we are going to have phase two of Plan Belize.”
The paving of the road is expected to be completed within 18 months.
It’s more common to see animals abused than to hear about someone being charged for it. However, the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, told reporters today that if there is enough evidence of someone beating a dog, they can face charges.
“If it is that there is evidence that can substantiate the charge, then certainly yes, that is going to be the case,” said Williams.
Last week, police officer Mauricio Wright was charged with animal cruelty after video footage showed him repeatedly hitting a dog with a machete in Orange Walk.
The footage was sent to the Humane Society in Orange Walk.
In response, the Humane Society of Orange Walk issued a statement on social media, “Section 326 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 101 of the Substantive Laws of Belize (Revised Edition) 2020. This is the section of our Belizean law that states that animal cruelty is a CRIMINAL offence that can be LEGALLY punished.”
It added, “Legal measures MUST be taken in cases of animal abuse; it simply cannot continue…It is just as serious as other forms of abuse and violence… ANIMAL CRUELTY IS A CRIMINAL ACT!”
Commissioner Chester Williams added that after the video was reported to the Humane Society in Orange Walk, it was then sent to the police. “Based on that complaint, police acted, and the police officer was charged for that matter.”
Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters this morning that his department is seeking to have JR’s Bar’s license suspended. He said, “I just told the legal officer this morning in conference to write the Toledo Licensing Board and seek to have the license suspended.”
The directive comes after a video on social media shows a violent brawl that erupted at the bar in Punta Gorda Town on Saturday night.
The bar is located just a block from PG police station.
The video shows a group of men at the bar with one of them speaking with one of the women behind the bar. A dispute between them quickly escalated when he grabbed one of the women by the arm. The woman threw a pint bottle at the man.
The confrontation spiralled out of control with the men hurling bottles across the bar.
Last week, Harrison Sutherland, also known as “Dr. Sutherland,” was slapped with an unusual charge. He was arrested for carrying a water bottle in a way that allegedly hindered his control of his bicycle.
The 34-year-old said that he was helping an elderly woman by transporting her water. Following public outcry, Police Commissioner Chester Williams announced on his Facebook that the charge would be withdrawn.
But does he possess the power to do so? When we asked him what power enables him to withdraw a criminal charge, he said, “I guess you’re listening to some stupid person on Facebook. I’m not going to answer that question.”
According to Williams, the charge did not take into account everyday situations such as transporting water or grocery bags.
“We have to look at even in the absence of the good gesture that Mr. Sutherland was performing…to arrest a person for carrying a five-gallon water on a bicycle. It’s not reasonable, and I think as police officers we have to apply best judgement.”
Williams told reporters that bicycles are a primary mode of transportation for many people, and the law is meant to address issues like dangerous loads that impede traffic, such as large furniture or lumber, not water bottles or grocery bags.
Although instructions were given for the charges to be dropped, a $200 bail was set for Sutherland. Williams clarified that the bail is not paid in money but rather a signed commitment.
Fifty-two-year-old police constable Peter Graham has been charged with theft after he was caught stealing $550 from a store in Belize City. Graham was assigned to special duty at J&Y Block Factory on Mahogany Street.
The incident took place on January 6.
The footage shows the officer rummaging through a cash pan and taking money from behind the store’s counter. The owner, Jiabi Wang, told police that she briefly left her office, and upon returning, found Graham behind her desk. When questioned, Graham claimed he was locking a padlock. Wang later realised that $550 was missing and immediately reported the theft to the police.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters that he was disgusted with Graham’s actions.
“I really and truly wonder what goes through the minds of some police officers. His conduct is disgusting,” Williams stated. He added that, after receiving a report from the store proprietor, he had directed for Graham to be arrested and charged.
“I was told that he eventually took back the money with the hope that the matter would not be pursued. But, believe you me, what I saw on that video footage is certainly something that is unforgivable,” Williams said.
The legal office has been instructed to send Graham a letter, giving him 14 days to respond and explain why he should not be dismissed. “ So, I cannot say at this time what the outcome is going to be. It will look as if I have already made up my mind. But in fact, I will have to wait until I can hear from him and consider his response.”
The Prime Minister has yet to announce the date of this year’s general elections. But political observers expect it sooner rather than later. And while we remain on the edge of our seats, one thing is clear: PM John Briceño is keeping his cards close to his chest.
With the United Democratic Party in turmoil, can the People’s United Party (PUP) sweep the elections? They’ve done it twice pre-independence. The possibility exists, but PM Briceño does not believe that it will happen.
During his appearance this morning on Open Your Eyes, he said that a “full sweep” for the PUP would be difficult to achieve.
Briceño also said that he’s been consulting with various people and his Cabinet on the election timeline. “We’ve done our complete assessment in the national campaign management… also in readiness in our constituencies, most of them are pretty much almost there. I’ve also consulted the cabinet… Most of them from last year they wanted us to call elections… Some of them are of the opinion that it does not matter if you hold elections in February or November; we’re still going to win.”
“If you’re not properly prepared for elections, then you can’t win election day… You have to have success in the work you’ve provided and done well as a government—that’s the first thing,” Briceño said.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) remains divided. Both Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton and Opposition Leader Moses Barrow claim to be the legitimate leader of the party. That battle is now before the court.
This morning, on Open Your Eyes, Prime Minister John Briceño weighed in on the ongoing leadership crisis within the UDP. He said, “I don’t really have time to be able to look at all the imaginations from the two sectors or the two UDPs. Which one is the real UDP? Well, I guess that’s left to be seen.”
Briceño called the situation unfortunate, adding, “Sometimes leaders, I think some leaders within the UDP believe that sometimes you have to broke down the dolly house and build it up again. And I guess that is what they are attempting to do.”
Briceño is no stranger to internal party woes. He experienced this back in 2011 when he resigned as leader of the People’s United Party (PUP). Briceño stated, “I said I’m going to step down because I was going to unite the party, and I still had different factions that refused to come around the table, so I walked away, but I did not try to be destructive about it. And I supported Francis Fonseca 100% and never tried to undermine him.”
Meanwhile, Panton opened a new party headquarters in Belize City last week.The office is located in the Mesopotamia Division and was facilitated by party vice chairman Lee Mark Chang. She added, “We have 18 standard bearers and 20 constituencies that align themselves with the work that we are doing.”
Despite this, Barrow maintains he is the UDP leader, focusing on preparations for the next general elections. “We have been campaigning, and we are prepared. We have intensified our campaign in recent months and weeks, and we continue to intensify, and we are ready to go,” Barrow stated.
