2025-01-25 - Channel 5 Belize

Corozal Construction Worker Missing

29-year-old Belizean construction worker Raheem Usher has been reported missing. The resident of Libertad Village, Corozal District, was reported missing on Saturday.

Usher was last seen wearing black shorts and a red T-shirt and is described as having a dark brown complexion, being about 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds, and of slim build. He is of Creole descent.

The Belize Police Department is calling on the public for any information that could help locate Usher. Any information on his whereabouts can be reported to Crime Stoppers Belize at 922, using the P3 app, or reporting it to the nearest police station.

Fatal Shooting in Belize City

Police are investigating a murder reported tonight on Central American Boulevard, Belize City. According to initial reports, a man was shot dead and a woman wounded. Residents reported hearing more than a dozen gunshots.

Police found the man unresponsive in a drain, while the woman was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The identities of the victims have not yet been revealed.

This is a developing story.

Sacred Heart College Condemns Student Fight

Sacred Heart College (SHC) in San Ignacio has condemned a fight between two students that was recorded and shared on social media. In a statement released today, the school stressed it does not tolerate violence and will take action against all involved.

“This is a very serious matter to address, as the school does not condone this type of behaviour from any student in and out of school, as our responsibility is to safeguard and protect all our students,” SHC stated.

The administration also clarified that all individuals involved in the incident, including those who recorded and shared the footage, will face consequences in line with the school’s student handbook.

“The students involved in the fight, as well as those who recorded and shared the video, will be dealt with accordingly as outlined in our student handbook,” SHC said, adding that “fighting and any actions that undermine the reputation of the college will not be tolerated.”

Mexico Refuses U.S. Deportation Flight

Mexico blocked a U.S. military deportation flight from landing due to a paperwork issue and miscommunication with the U.S. Defence Department on Thursday, which delayed plans to return illegal immigrants. While two other flights to Guatemala went ahead, the flight headed for Mexico was stopped.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, reaffirmed that her country has not agreed to accept non-Mexican asylum seekers, despite the U.S. reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” program.

In a statement, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Mexico has a very good relationship with the United States government, and we cooperate with respect for our sovereignty on a wide range of issues, including migration.” It added, “When it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms. Mexico embraces you.”

Before taking office, President Trump vowed to carry out mass deportations, focusing first on criminal immigrants, and to enforce stricter immigration rules and checks. He also sent 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border to increase military presence there.

Trump’s Aid Review Hits Belize CARSI Fundings

The U.S. government’s recent review of foreign aid programs has placed funding for key projects at risk. Local organisations focused on youth programs, better governance, and crime prevention, funded by the U.S. under CARSI, may lose their funding.

Recent reports indicate that local NGOs in Belize were recently notified that CARSI-funded projects would be put on hold as part of a broader foreign assistance review.

The halt in funding follows a series of executive orders signed by the newly inaugurated 47th U.S. President, Donald J. Trump. The orders include a review of various foreign assistance programs, and this includes CARSI.

The review process is reportedly to ensure whether these programs align with the U.S.’s recent national interests.

What is CARSI?

The Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) has been an important and major support towards civil society and good governance in Belize, Panama, and Costa Rica. Since its inception in 2012, the U.S. government has invested over $12 million in programs targeting issues such as crime prevention, transparency, and youth empowerment. CARSI has funded initiatives to address the root causes of criminal behaviour, improve governance, and strengthen the rule of law in these countries.

The most recent CARSI grantees in Belize include:

Galen University – Project to strengthen good governance and transparency at the municipal level.
UNDP Belize – Project to strengthen governance for transparency and accountability.
RET International—Project to Nurture Connections by Empowering Parents, Teachers, and Adolescents for Healthy Relationships
Love Foundation – Project to promote youth engagement in political action and advancing integrated municipalities.

A Critical Moment for Regional Cooperation

While the CARSI initiative is not solely responsible for the region’s security challenges, its funding has played a crucial role in fulfilling its purpose. Under President Barack Obama’s administration in 2013, CARSI, along with other security investments, helped Central American governments make streets safer, strengthen the rule of law, and protect human rights. The United States took a broad, coordinated approach to fighting transnational crime and improving safety and opportunities for people across the region.

This latest freeze comes on the heels of other significant cuts in foreign aid programs, including the suspension of funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The impact of these cuts on public health and community programs could be severe, with experts warning that halting such assistance could lead to setbacks in progress made against HIV/AIDS and other critical global challenges.

“This is a matter of life or death,” said Beatriz Grinsztejn, IAS President. “It makes no sense to suddenly stop this incredible catalyst of our global progress towards ending HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.”

Trump’s Order Freezes HIV Treatment Funds

U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing foreign aid funding has now impacted the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This makes yet another affected foreign project that raises global concerns.

The International AIDS Society (IAS) says this action will affect the lives of over 20 million people who rely on the program for HIV treatment.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an order halting new foreign aid spending. This was followed by a “stop-work order” on January 24, which froze funding to PEPFAR, including existing grants and contracts.

Since its launch in 2003, PEPFAR has saved 26 million lives and invested over $110 billion in the global fight against HIV. The IAS is calling on policymakers to restore funding, stressing that without it, HIV could resurge and lives will be lost.

Senator’s Pickup Damaged in Belama Shooting

Police are investigating a shooting that was reported this morning in Belama Phase 2, Belize City. Officers investigated reports of gunfire near Jackfruit Crescent.

A landlord revealed that one of his tenants found bullet holes in her back door and fridge.

Senator Collet Montejo, 55, also reported damage to his Chevy Colorado after two bullets struck his truck—one hitting the tailgate and the other the side. Montejo, Vice President of the Senate, was unharmed. Police found eight shell casings at the scene, but no injuries were reported.

Youth Take Climate Action with $50,000 Grant

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is taking steps toward a sustainable future after securing a $50,000 grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The funding will fuel a series of youth-driven initiatives focused on raising climate change awareness and promoting action in environmental conservation and sustainability.

“The grant will facilitate a series of interactive educational activities, including youth-focused community events, digital campaigns, and forums that highlight the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living,” said the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport.

Key projects include the “Our Future, Our Planet” digital campaign, which already engaged student participation across eleven schools. The department also hosted a Climate Change Youth Forum, where students showcased innovative solutions at a Project Design Competition.

During that forum, Muffles College students took the top three spots, with their projects ranging from eco-bricks made from plastic waste to coconut husk-based water filtration systems. The first-place winners, Gianna Flowers, Adir Castillo, and Alexandra Blanco, presented Solar Synergy Schools, which focused on reducing carbon emissions in classrooms by replacing traditional lighting with solar-powered LED systems.

The second-place Husk Flow, developed by Leilani Tun, Jarel Cordova, and Ziraili Narvallez, focuses on using coconut husks to create affordable water filtration systems for rural areas.

Meanwhile, the Eco Bricks team, including Marcel Riverol, Brianna Castillo, and Marvin Flores, seeks to repurpose plastic waste into sustainable building materials.