2025-01-28 - Channel 5 Belize

Elderly Woman Passes in Late Night House Fire

Tonight, a family in Dangriga is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating house fire that tragically claimed the life of their beloved Sonia Sambula. Just before midnight on Monday, flames engulfed a home in the Benguche area of Dangriga, where Sonia and her two adult grandsons were sleeping. Awakened by the smoke, they tried to escape, but heartbreakingly, Sonia couldn’t make it out in time. Witnesses say the fire was too fierce for anyone to help her, and she perished inside. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on this unfortunate incident.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Since the early hours of the morning, these siblings have been tirelessly clearing away the charred remains of their family home, which caught fire earlier today. It’s a grueling task, not just because of the physical labor involved, but also the emotional toll of knowing that just hours ago, their beloved sister, Sonia Sambula, lost her life in the blaze.

Archangel Blanch Sambula, Sister of Deceased

“When I got a call early this morning, I was informed that my sister was perished in a fire. I think it started about After twelve before the and it’s so unfortunate that you know that had happened to my sister because she was a loving, outgoing person.”

Britney Gordon

“Did your sister live here by herself?”

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“No, she lived here with her grandkids and one of her daughters.”

Britney Gordon

“Any of them, did they get any injuries from the fire?”

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“None of them received any injury. My sister was the only one that got killed in the fire.”

Sonia lived in an elevated single-story home with her daughter, Marsha, and her two grandsons. Last night, it was just Sonia and her grandsons at home when the strong smell of smoke jolted them awake. One of her grandsons shared the heart-wrenching story of how he battled between fear and frustration, desperately trying to save himself and his grandmother.

Voice of: Fire Victim

“When I mi sleep, I mi di rest up and then I start see flames start erupt like round eleven thirty so then I rush downstairs and I downstairs and I check weh gone on. And when I check da flames. And then I run upstairs fir try save my granny but then I can’t because smoke done deh inna my lungs already, I di cough up. Fa mi look fi gone to so I just spin round back and run outside. I jump from way top of the veranda. About ten foot.”

Britney Gordon

“So you’re saying that at that moment you couldn’t breathe the smoke was so thick?”

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Yes, thick bad like firehearth.”

Neighbors recall the chilling sound of Sonia’s cries for help echoing through the neighborhood, spurring many to rush over with buckets of water and calls to the authorities. Dreadfully, the fire had already become too intense for anyone to enter, and despite their best efforts, Sonia was overcome by the flames.

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Nobody mi cya help because it mi done too late.”

Britney Gordon

“It was already engulfed in flames?”

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Flames. Flames and two tank mi de in de.”

The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but the family has come together, seeking support and answers. Sonia’s eldest son, Denmark Sambula, who lives in Belize City, rushed down to Dangriga as soon as he could.

Denmark Sambula, Son of Deceased

“I di sleep my phone ring bout twelve-thirty, quarter to one. When I answer my call my uncle, right ova deh so, he ask me if I know weh di goi an? I want know. No. Tell me weh di go an. He seh yo ma house deh pan fire and yo ma deh trap inside and ih can’t come out, I da like what. I jump up and my wife right ya so, she hear the conversation cuz I had it pan speaker and she jump up and bawl to.”

Sambula explains that a wave of helplessness immediately overtook him upon hearing the news.

Denmark Sambula

“Mein I wish I coulda mi fly from Belize City to Dangriga at the moment mami. I wish wa miracle could mi happen but mein the father God know’s best you know. I can’t question his doing and thing,”

Sonia is fondly remembered as a joyful woman with a deep religious faith. Neighbors often recall hearing her sing gospel music at the top of her lungs, her voice filling the air and reaching their homes.

Denmark Sambula

“Mein she da wa loving mother. Every day she go church. She never got time fi stay home. I da like, ma, you not just come from church? She said, well, I gwen again. I have wa lee prayer meeting. I’m leaving. I tell her, ma, relax, ma. Go tomorrow morning. You know, she always find time for church. Every day she got time fi go to church. Yeah, love and she loved all ah we. Ih love ih grandchildren.”

On top of losing their beloved Sonia, Marsha and her sons have lost all their personal belongings and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. The Sambula family is reaching out to the public for any donations to help ease this process. Denmark, Sonia’s eldest son, is stepping up to support his sister and can be contacted at 606-4530 for donations.

Denmark Sambula

“Family from Dangriga, from Belmopan from Belize City, everybody come, unite up and thing and try mek all ah we get over this grief together.”

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“She was wow, somebody who loves to help. It wouldn’t take a dollar for her to help someone. Once you’re in need, she would help you.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

22-Year-Old Arraigned for Murder of Mark Waight

Tonight, a twenty-two-year-old man is behind bars at the Belize Central Prison after being arraigned for the weekend murder of well-known street figure Mark Waight. The accused is Peter Lara, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard in Belize City. Allegedly, on Saturday, twenty-four-year-old Waight, who had previously been acquitted of the murder of news reporter Kareem Clarke, was socializing in front of his girlfriend’s house on Central American Boulevard. A dispute broke out with another man, who then pulled out a gun and shot Waight multiple times. Lara is accused of being the perpetrator of this violent attack. This morning, Lara appeared unrepresented at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder of thirty-three-year-old Francine Herbert, who was critically injured in the incident, one count of dangerous harm, and one count of use of deadly means of harm. Due to the severity of the charges, no plea was taken, and Lara was denied bail. He has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April twenty-eighth, 2025. Meanwhile, Herbert remains in the ICU, fighting for her life.

Opposition Leader Critical of PUP Social Welfare Programs

This morning, the United Democratic Party held a lengthy press conference at their headquarters, tackling a range of national issues. The head table featured five key members from the U.D.P.’s shadow cabinet, ready to share their thoughts. Over the course of two hours, they covered everything from the People’s United Party’s economic policies to crime, violence, education, health, and transport. This event was a stark contrast to the fighting and division we’ve seen within the U.D.P. over the past twelve months. But the big question remains: can they convince voters that they’re ready to lead the country? Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow kicked things off, taking aim at the Briceño administration’s approach to social welfare programs. His remarks set the tone for a session full of pointed critiques and passionate discussions.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“The hunger pains are not being satisfied. The middle class is being eroded, pushing to the brink of poverty while those already impoverished are now in the abys of the callous PUP government whose heartless policies have erased all social safety nets meant to serve as the guardrails for the vulnerable. What used to social welfare is now used for political warfare. Gone is Boost, gone is the food subsidy program where all Belizean in need use to be able to spend ten dollars to get a fifty dollars grocery bag. Now, you spend fifty dollars to get ten-dollar worth of groceries. The only optimistic thing about a new year is that we as Belizeans can implement operation rescue Belize, implement operation save Belzie form the heartless PUP government in these general elections that are coming.”

Barrow Promises to Restore Social Programs on Day One in Office

Barrow promises that if the U.D.P. wins the election, he will immediately reinstate all the social programs from the previous U.D.P. administration. He didn’t hold back, calling the Briceño administration the worst P.U.P. government ever, a sentiment he believes is shared by the entire nation.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We will stay focus on policies that will make the lives of the Belizean people better. That is what is at stake in these general elections. If you want your life to continue to deteriorate, your quality of life, if you want things to get worse, because we all agree over the length and breath of this country, that over the last five years things have gotten worse. Some argue the worst it has ever been. But the next UDP, Barrow government will on day one reinstates all the social programs that have helped so many Belizeans during our thirteen years. We will not only reinstate but expand those programs, which is what the PUP promised to do. This PUP government by all objective, sober perspective is the worst ever. Everywhere you go that is what you are hearing, from Chunox, to Crooked Tree to Bullett Tree all you hear people doing is complain, wishing for the days of the UDP, Barrow government where we put people first and had a true mixed economy.”

UDP Accuses Police Top Brass of Underreporting Murders

U.D.P. Chairman and former Minister of National Security Mike Peyrefitte didn’t hold back in his remarks on the state of public safety. He delivered strong blows to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa, once again demanding their resignation. Peyrefitte accused them of underreporting murder statistics and giving the public a false sense of security.

Michael Peyrefitte, Former Minister of National Security

“Let me address the issue of underreporting within the police department. The most alarming and heart breaking one is the underreporting of murder stats. The police department recently released a report siting eighty-nine murders for 2024, yet when we examine the actual data and the records we have access to and have been given access to, our research shows there have been ninety-seven murders, not including ten additional deaths that bear all the hallmarks of murder, but which was prematurely and suspiciously classified as mere death investigations. A per capta of twenty-four plus murder per hundred thousand is not an insignificant increase from 2023 when it was twenty-one per one hundred thousand. This discrepancy is not just a minor clerical error, ti is a serious issue. The very trust that we as a community place in our law enforcement agencies in being undermined. The manipulated figures do not only serve to obscure the reality of violence our streets, but they also deprive the public of the knowledge necessary to demand real action.”

U.D.P. Says Teachers Deserve Better

On the education front, Nelma Mortis, the U.D.P. Standard Bearer for Port Loyola, highlighted the pressing issue of teachers’ welfare. Mortis emphasized that the opposition stands firmly with the nation’s teachers and is committed to improving their conditions once elected.

Nelma Mortis, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola

“Our teachers are leaving the profession due to a combination due to an overwhelming number of factors, including workload, lack for support from administration and management, increasing student behavior issues and that is an effect of our social ills, high levels of stress, excessive license requirements, poor working conditions and a feeling of not being valued by the community or parents, which lead to burnouts and a desire to pursue different career goals. Many of them are now moving to call center work. They are on life support. Another area that is defunct in the ministry of education is that of addressing the related issues of salaries, increments and allowances in an efficient manner. A blue bone was thrown at us and I refer to it as a blue bone, because according to the PUP we don’t deserve meat. We were promised that teachers would correct the matter of the increments and outstanding salaries, allowances for teachers. That is a matter of the PUP showing us how good they are at engineering and electioneering. To date six hundred and fifty teachers have not received their two-year increments, salary adjustments or upgrade. While some of these occurrences are beyond the control of GOB, there are some things that could have been done to soften the rough times. This UDP is standing in solidarity with the BNTU as they agree to have a protest on February seventh, 2025.”

U.D.P. Shadow Minister of Health Gives PUP A Health Report Card

The United Democratic Party’s Shadow Minister of Health is Carlos Perrera, a name that might ring a bell. He previously served as the Director of Finance at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Although his departure from the hospital over a decade ago was under less-than-ideal circumstances, he was never found guilty of any wrongdoing. Now, he’s back, championing the U.D.P.’s cause in the health sector.

Carlos Perrera, U.D.P. Shadow Minister of Health

“What is their report card/ Let us talk about the report card of the PUP since they got into power. It is very lengthy, I wont bore you. But the first hit they got was in February 2021 where several organizations clamored for better health care in PG and Placencia, because the Placencia Polyclinic was abandoned. In August 2022, nurses walked out of the Northern Regional and Corozal Community Hospital. In October 2022, the Southern Region voiced their concern to the ministry of health on medical supplies. October 2023, a continues allegation of neglect in our regional hospital. On April 2024, a neglect of allegation by patience at the Northern Regional Hospital, the backyard of the prime minister and the minister of health. Imagine that, you are the minister of health and the prime minister of this country and you have patients claiming neglect in the northern regional hospital. It should be a shame. Continuous chaos as we heard in 2024 where there were shortage of equipment and medicine at KHMH. We heard the CEO of KHMH talk about being blind sided by the workers union out of grievances, guess she was lost.”

We will have more from the press conference later on in our newscast.

Caribbean Tires Loan from SSB Went Through Full Process

Back in September, the Social Security Board announced plans to lend Caribbean Tire Wholesale seven million dollars for capital expenditure and cash flow replacement. Today, S.S.B.’s C.E.O., Doctor Leroy Almendarez, confirmed that the loan has successfully gone through the full approval process. The loan comes with a fifteen-year term and an annual interest rate of six-point-five percent, payable in monthly installments. Almendarez explained that S.S.B. provides loans like these to avoid prematurely increasing the contribution rates we all pay.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, C.E.O, Social Security Board

“ The purpose of giving out loans and it’s loans for development as well, is that that interest income is also added to contributions, but it goes through proper, proper assessment. In essence, you know, if you were to get seven million dollars, the collateral that we get to secure that for us is greater than the seven million. And of course we would have to look, if it says whatever number, it is, we do an amortization table, which is telling you over a period of time of the loan until it terminates. All the payments will come in, how much interest income we expect to get so that we can forecast. We can forecast that money. The other thing we do, of course, is invest. We invest in utility companies, so we have equity in there, and in some cases, thirty-three plus percentage. And that interest income on a large scale, that money is also added. What does that help us to do? It helps us to not even think about increasing the rate of contribution. It also stops us or helps us not to go to government and say, you know what, we have a shortfall here because the other thing we continue to monitor when you’re making these payouts, at what point will payouts be equal to the money that you collect? That’s called the point of equilibrium. Then that becomes a challenge because it simply means after that point, paying these payouts then becomes a challenge.”

Fraction of SSB’s Surplus Is Spent on Social Development

Doctor Almendarez shared that the S.S.B. extends its support even to patients who aren’t contributors. This assistance comes from a social development account. Almendarez noted that the help provided for this cause amounts to a minute percentage of the S.S.B.’s surplus.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, C.E.O, Social Security Board

“Whatever surplus remains, point one five percent, that is less than a percent, is actually applied to a social development account and that is administered. And I can tell you, because of the increased prevalence of cancer, non-communicable diseases, a lot of people have been able to be assisted. But what we will not do, for example, is to say, well, we’re assisting this person who is sick. I mean, that’s not what you do because not everybody want that information to be out there. But that’s another thing that we do as well. And that, and that just goes through a process. That one is not even tied to whether you’re making a contribution. This is because, okay, I have cancer, but I really need assistance with, you know, with a CT scan. I need to do a surgery, an assessment is made because we don’t help you 100 percent but that’s another thing. In terms of usage of the monies, these are, these are things that we look at very carefully. I mean, really, these are, in terms of wasting of funds, et cetera, just giving away money. No, even, even when we discuss that, those donations toward people who have cancer. I remember, I think one of the questions is, you’re just giving away. No, that’s not giving away people’s money. There’s something called corporate social responsibility.”

COVID Payments Still Being Paid Under Sickness Benefits

While the COVID pandemic hit Belize hard starting in March 2020, claims for the virus surged throughout 2021 and 2022. Although COVID is no longer a major threat to the general population, Almendarez mentioned that payments are still being made to COVID patients. He explained that these claims fall under sickness benefits.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, C.E.O, Social Security Board

“The prevalence was more around 2020, 2022, something like that because even though we all know that since, there has been a decline, it has not gone to zero. What we also have is really a distribution of the number of different diseases that when it comes to the short term branch and sickness benefit claims, but it’s not that we have stopped, every claim is assessed because at the end of the day, we have a responsibility to make sure that whatever monies are paid out, it’s because they should be paid out.”