A family dispute led to a murder earlier tonight in Gales Point Manatee Village, Belize District. The victim has been identified as Randy Williams, also known as Randy Bowen. We are told that he was stabbed multiple times.
The accused is a relative.
This is a developing story.
A man on a bicycle was knocked down a few minutes ago in Belize City. The incident occurred on mile 1 1/1 on the George Price Highway. The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Keron Ysaguirre of Fabers Road. He was on a bicycle when the incident happened.
He is able to speak and said he had no issues breathing. Ysaguirre complained of back pain.
The driver did not stop and render aid.
Police officers remain on the scene. 911 was called, and BERT officials were informed that they wouldn’t be able to arrive on the scene because their ambulance was at another emergency site.
The BERT ambulance eventually arrived. Ysaguirre was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Caye Caulker Village Council has reiterated its commitment to ensuring equitable access to public beach areas and maintaining community spaces for both locals and visitors. In a statement issued today, the Council said that all individuals, regardless of their resources or connections, must be held to the same standard under the law.
The Council says it has proactively addressed the closure of two public beach areas and one street, adding that access to these spaces is a right for all Belizeans and visitors. “We agree unanimously, as does the law, that beach access must be available to all Belizeans and visitors. Furthermore, these areas are nationally owned areas that exist for the benefit of everyone in our community. For us this means visitors and locals alike,” the statement noted.
The statement explained that the council has engaged with government authorities and other stakeholders over the past two years. Key actions included:
September 6, 2022: A meeting was held with CEO Paul Thompson to address initial complaints.
2023: The Council engaged with the Ministry of Natural Resources and met with Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde to seek support in addressing the issues. The ministry conducted inspections of waterfront properties to assess compliance with national laws.
December 6, 2023: A formal letter was sent to Deputy Prime Minister Hyde requesting further information to assist the Council in resolving these issues.
March 2024: Following inspections, several properties were identified as being in violation of the law. The Council informed property owners of these violations and initiated dialogue to find resolutions.
The council says it has acted decisively when barriers were placed to restrict access to the beach and street areas.
“We cannot continue to allow the slow degradation of Caye Caulker’s public beach access. There is a due process with proper procedures and permission for the use of national land and beautification,” the Council stated. preservation.
The State of Emergency (SoE) in Trinidad and Tobago has been extended for three months following a parliamentary decision late Monday night. The extension was approved after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley raised the motion, which was debated by both government members and the opposition.
The SoE, initially declared on December 30, was enacted after the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service provided credible intelligence about the likelihood of reprisal killings following a mass shooting in Laventille that weekend. The original declaration, set for 15 days, required parliamentary approval for any extension.
During the debate, Prime Minister Rowley explained that the SoE did not restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds reported significant results from the SoE’s implementation. He noted that the country recorded 12 murders so far in 2025, representing a 50% reduction compared to the same period in 2024.
Hinds also confirmed that 137 individuals remained in custody out of more than 500 detained during SoE operations. He assured citizens that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force was actively patrolling communities, with plans to increase their presence in the coming days.
An event to honour Father of the Nation George Cadle Price was held today at his family house on Pickstock Street in Belize City. To celebrate his life and legacy, a compilation of his letters preserved at the Belize Archives was launched under the title Good Belizeans. The compilation includes correspondences during his life as a political leader during which he addressed various topics, including independence.
A botanical garden featuring species from Belize’s flora was created at the residence.
A street exhibit was also opened, showcasing Price’s communications and other elements of his enduring legacy.
Known as the Father of the Nation, Price led Belize to independence in September 1981 and became the country’s first prime minister. He would have turned 106 today.
January 15, the birthday of George Cadle Price, has been a national holiday for four years. Belizeans have taken to social media to say, “Happy George Price Day.” Prime Minister John Briceño stressed the profound significance of the phrase, “Those four simple words,” to all Belizeans, describing it as a call to service and an opportunity to honour the legacy of service. While reflecting on and honouring the profound contributions of George Price, PM Briceño also acknowledged the many Belizeans who stood alongside Price in the fight to defend the nation.
In visiting Price’s historic home, Briceño expressed the honour he felt in reflecting on Price’s values and way of life, which continue to serve as a guide for his own commitment to serving Belize.
Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month conflict in Gaza. The agreement includes an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, marking a potential resolution to a war that has destabilised the Middle East.
The ceasefire comes after months of negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators with U.S. backing, finalised just before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, collaborated with outgoing President Joe Biden’s team to expedite the deal, with Trump warning of severe consequences if hostages were not released.
The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen breached Israeli security barriers, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and abducting over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 deaths, according to Gaza health officials, and leaving the territory devastated.
The deal may alleviate domestic outrage in Israel over the October 7 security failure, which led to the deadliest day in the nation’s history. Additionally, the agreement follows Israel’s targeted killings of top leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, which bolstered its position amid broader regional tensions involving Iran-backed proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
In September 2024, Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca addressed the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City and touched on several global issues, including the Israel-Hamas war.
“In our region. Mr. President, Belize rejects the continued denial of self-determination of the Palestinian people and calls for the eradication of the system of colonial domination and apartheid being imposed upon them, as Belize stated to the International Court of Justice,” he said.
Minister Fonseca added, “In the recent advisory opinion, Israel could not be permitted to continue flouting one of the most fundamental principles of international law with impunity.”
In November 2023, Belize severed diplomatic ties with Israel. Belize also withdrew its approval for Einat Kranz-Neiger to serve as Israel’s Ambassador to Belize. All operations of the Israeli Honorary Consulate in Belize and the appointment of its Honorary Consul were suspended. Belize also suspended its Honorary Consulate in Tel Aviv.
The Belize Department of Transport, led by Deputy Chief Transport Officer Peter Williams, conducted a one-day traffic enforcement training for members of the newly established Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) on Tuesday.
The training emphasised key procedures, including issuing traffic violation tickets and conducting vehicle checkpoints, equipping officers with critical skills to enhance road safety and operational effectiveness.
HIT, launched by the Belize Police Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, aims to address traffic law enforcement while combating serious crimes such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and the illegal transport of firearms.
In 2024, Belize recorded 115 road traffic-related deaths and an alarming increase in crimes linked to drug operations. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa stressed the dual focus of the HIT team: enforcing traffic laws and targeting transnational crimes.
“And so it is my hope that this team, this Highway Interdiction Team, will also play a significant role in curbing the number of traffic fatalities and traffic accidents,” Musa stated.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said that Belize’s highways are often exploited by local and international criminals for illegal activities. The HIT is tasked with deterring these operations and ensuring highway safety.
The initial team of 14 officers will be stationed across key locations, with plans to expand as new recruits join. Special focus will be placed on the northern and southern regions, where criminal activities such as drug plane landings and contraband smuggling are prevalent.
Musa added, “And so it is expected that along the northern border we will be seeing a lot of the highway interdiction team, as well as in the south, where we have a lot of pain landings. Yes, it is in very remote areas in Dolores, where we have most of the pain landings. But hopefully this year we can get our forward operating base established in Dolores, along with the U.S. Embassy.”
Essential tools like speed guns, breathalysers, and vehicle inspection equipment are being secured to enable the team to carry out their duties effectively. Williams also noted ongoing discussions to amend road traffic regulations, enhancing enforcement capabilities. “As long with other equipment that will be used to inspect and search vehicles on the spot, those are things that the Embassy we’ll be providing to the team so that they can be able to discharge it in the best way they can. We are currently in discussion I think should be finalized by now, the different amendments to the road traffic regulation hat will deal with the issue of the use of fertilizers and strengthening some of the land.”
In a statement made just days before leaving office, U.S. President Joe Biden announced Cuba’s removal from the list. Initially added in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan, Cuba was taken off in 2015 during the Obama administration but reinstated on January 12, 2021, during Donald Trump’s presidency.
President Biden’s decision follows a comprehensive review, concluding that Cuba no longer meets the legal criteria for inclusion on the list. “The Government of Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding six months and has assured it will not support such acts in the future,” Biden stated.
This move is expected to strengthen U.S.-Cuba relations and promote regional stability in the Caribbean. It also significantly impacts travel to the United States, particularly for individuals subject to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
A Cuban foreign ministry statement said the decision reflected the “humanitarian nature of the Cuban justice system” but did not tie the prisoner release to the Biden announcements.
Cuba’s government called the breakthrough a step in the “right direction,” but accused the U.S. of continued “economic warfare” against the island, warning that the measures could be quickly rolled back and that the Cold War-era U.S. trade embargo against Cuba remained.
Last year Belize marked the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Cuba, with Cabinet expressing gratitude for the strong partnership. Acknowledging Cuba’s significant contributions in healthcare and education through its doctors and teachers, the government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with this key Caribbean ally.
