In 2024, Police Constable Deandre Reid was charged with discharging a firearm without authorization, in violation of the Police Act. While on duty at the Governor General’s residence on May 20, 2024, he fired a government-issued 9mm Glock pistol, resulting in the death of a canine belonging to the Governor General. He pleaded guilty before a tribunal on May 24, 2024.
Earlier this week, Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters that “the matter went before a tribunal; the tribunal found him guilty, dismissal was recommended, and I upheld the decision.”
News Five has since received a leaked report of the findings. The report stated, “He was given an opportunity to present his mitigation, which was supported by presenter ASP Mejia, Deputy OC Belmopan, relating to his good character, hard work, and dedication as an officer; his record only reflects one absence without leave. He was fined as follows: Fined: $250.00 to be deducted in two equal installments of $125.00 each, on June 30th, 2024, and July 31st, 2024. He was further advised in relation to section 24(9) of the Police Act: a sentence proposed to be imposed by any superior officer or other person delegated by the Commissioner of Police shall be notified to the Commissioner by the office or person and be subject to the approval of the Commissioner, who may confirm or remit the whole or any part thereof, or may enhance it, or may substitute any other sentence that is authorised to be imposed under this section. He was also advised in relation to sections 26(1) and 26(2) of the New Disciplinary Procedure Rules, relating to the review of the verdict to the Commissioner of Police and Advisory Council.”
News Five has also received reports dated as far back as August 26, 2023. One police officer said that after fearing for his life and being attacked by the dogs, he cranked his firearm and fired three shots. He said the dogs retreated, and he was able to return to the booth.
Doctor Leroy Almendarez has unexpectedly left his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board after a short stint. His sudden departure comes without any explanation. Interestingly, News Five interviewed him just a day before the announcement, in his capacity as C.E.O. Today, the S.S.B. issued a statement welcoming Jerome Palma as the acting C.E.O. and expressing gratitude for Doctor Almendarez’s contributions during his brief tenure. Doctor Almendarez also shared a farewell message, saying, “leading the Social Security Board, an organization dedicated to social protection for Belizeans, was a pleasure and something I embraced with vigor. Being welcomed by the management team and staff across all nine branches is something I will treasure, as we worked together in service to all”. The board wished him all the best in his future endeavors, but no reason was given for his quick exit. Back in August 2024, when News Five interviewed Doctor Almendarez shortly after his appointment, he spoke passionately about the importance of his role.
Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Former C.E.O, S.S.B
“In terms of transition, I must say that understanding the role that social security is supposed to play in our society. The United Nations really basically said it’s human rights when it comes to social protection, when it comes to creation of employment and skill building and those kind of things, and the fact that you should be able to participate. So, for me, it’s really moving into a situation where I think I have an understanding, but it’s until you enter the organization, then you get a full understanding. But for me, like I said, one of the major things where it’s concerned, S.S.B. is concerned, is the fact that it’s contributors’ money. It’s employees, it’s employers and employees money. If you work for yourself, it makes it even more challenging.”
In a pivotal decision on Wednesday, the High Court of Belize delivered a verdict that’s set to impact the future of cruise tourism in the country. Michael Feinstein had taken the Government of Belize to court, arguing that their plan to forcibly acquire twenty-three acres of Stake Bank Island infringed on his constitutional rights. After a four-month legal battle, Justice Rajiv Goonetilleke ruled that the government’s intention to acquire Stake Bank Island does not violate the constitution. As a result, the High Court dismissed Feinstein’s case, giving the Briceno administration the green light to seize the land for public use. Tonight, News Five’s Paul Lopez dives deep into the twists and turns of this case and how we arrived at this critical juncture. Here’s the full report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Wednesday, the High Court of Belize made a significant ruling in the case brought by Michael Feinstein against the Government of Belize. Feinstein challenged the government’s plan to forcibly acquire twenty-three acres of Stake Bank Island, claiming it was unconstitutional. However, the court found that the government’s actions did not violate any constitutional provisions. The Briceno administration had announced its intent to acquire the land back in August 2024, and now, with the court’s decision, they have the green light to proceed. This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of cruise tourism development in Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño (File: Aug 28, 2024)
“As you all know this, there’s a legislation that was passed by the UDP whereby we deemed this project of national importance. And now that it seems that between the different investors, they have been having issues. That project has been at a standstill. We have, I think, approximately two hundred and seventy million dollars. But because there is a dispute with the land, that project cannot be finished. And if you look at the numbers for the cruise lines, they’re going down, we need to be able to finish that project. We believe that as a government, what we did is first to put the first notice of acquisition. What does that trigger? It triggers then the owner to come to the government and to say okay, this is my land, and they negotiate a price.”
The Feinstein Group didn’t hold back in voicing their objections to GOB’s plans. They accused the government of siding with the OPSA Group, a Honduran company financing the project, which later got entangled in a legal dispute with Feinstein. The Feinstein Group also claimed that the Government of Belize couldn’t prove that the land acquisition was in the public’s best interest. As a result, the acquisition has been put on hold.
Godfrey Smith
Godfrey Smith, Attorney-At-Law (File: Oct 17th, 2024)
“The end goal is vindication that the twenty-three point three acres standing in his name which was issued to him by the ministry of natural resources, he validly holds title to it, and it is lawfully his.”
The Briceño administration presented the compulsory acquisition to the public as an attempt to resurrect the cash strapped multi-million-dollar tourism project, to save Belize’s cruise tourism industry. Just days before the High Court’s preliminary hearing, Prime Minister John Briceño dropped a bombshell on “Open Your Eyes.” He revealed that Mediterranean Shipping Company, one of the giants in the cruise and shipping industry, was keen on taking over the project. This announcement added a new twist to the unfolding drama.
Prime Minister John Briceño (File: Oct 7th, 2024)
“They’re saying, “Well, now, we’d be interested, but we don’t want to get into this mess. The only way we’d be interested is if this mess is settled, and we buy over then.” So that the only way we can do that is by compulsorily acquiring land.”
Godfrey Smith, Attorney-At-Law (File: Oct 17th, 2024)
“That is why we are in court, because the instruction from our client is that he does not believe it is for a legitimate public purpose and a number of other grounds. His position is he intends to challenge that. Within the land being vested to the government it cannot be transferred to MSC or OPSA or Stake Bank or anybody else.”
Well, after nearly four months of deliberation, High Court Judge Rajiv Goonetilleke delivered his verdict. He ruled that the compulsory acquisition of Stake Bank Island is not unconstitutional and aligns with the idea of acquisition for public purposes. The Feinstein Group couldn’t substantiate their claims, leading to the dismissal of their case. This ruling is a significant win for the Briceno administration. Looking ahead, the future of the project is intriguing, especially since Prime Minister Briceno recently announced plans for a similar development just a few miles away at the government-owned Port of Belize Limited. What will this mean for cruise tourism in Belize? Only time will tell.
Prime Minister John Briceño (File: Jan 22, 2025)
“I believe that by the end of the next government we should have a cruise port and a modern container.”
Reporter
“So does that mean Stake Bank is dead. It makes no sense to have two mega cruise port in the Belize District within miles of each other.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We all knew that Stake Bank was short to medium term investment.”
Earlier this week, that latest statement by PM Briceño received heavy criticism from Michael Peyrefitte, the Chairman of the UDP.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“Sometimes I don’t think he appreciates that he is the head of government for a sovereign nation. By saying this is temporary, what has he done? He has essentially killed that project with his words, because how do you go to cruise lines and say come somewhere that is only temporary.”
Interestingly, on January fourteenth, during an appearance on “Open Your Eyes,” Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler was asked which port project in Belize he thought was the most feasible and practical to complete. He threw his support behind Stake Bank. Mahler also suggested that both Stake Bank and the Port of Belize Limited could coexist harmoniously in the same area.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“That would be Stake Bank if you have to look at it honestly, because that is nearer to be completed. We are working on a master plan for Port of Belize which should be completed in March. But that has two components to it, cargo and cruise and they can work together. It is done all over the world. People who want to push their own agenda would say no, but they can work together.”
Belizean investor Michael Ashcroft, who owned the Port of Belize Limited, has weighed in on the Stake Bank situation. He expressed his doubts about the government’s true intentions for the island, adding another layer of intrigue to this developing story.
Michael Ashcroft
Michael Ashcroft, Investor
“On something like Stake Bank, what is the plan? What do they need Stake Bank for? Is it a temporary measure? Is it a permanent measure? Until they sort that out, nobody knows what is going to happen on that. Nobody knows if there is a secret agreement or arrangement. But at this point everything appears to be flat.”
The Feinstein Group is set to appeal the High Court’s decision on the government’s compulsory acquisition of land on Stake Bank. They see this ruling as just a temporary setback and are confident they’ll win the appeal. In their release, they stated, “as a Belizean company that has invested in Stake Bank for the past twenty years, we knew taking on the combined forces of the Government of Belize, Atlantic Bank Limited, and the Honduran bankers would be a long and tough battle. But we won’t give up the fight for justice, fair play, and what rightfully belongs to us as a Belizean company”. The Feinstein Group believes compulsory acquisition is unconstitutional and not for a genuine public purpose. They’ve instructed their attorneys to immediately file an appeal. The release ends with a strong message that the Feinstein Group will use all resources at its disposal to, “defend itself and expose the wrongdoing of the government, wherever it may lead”.
On Wednesday, we found out that Marconi Leal Senior, the Belize Rural North Area Representative, decided not to run for a second term. According to a P.U.P. press release, he’s stepping back to focus on his health and personal life. The party said they would consult with the constituency committee to find his successor. Well, it didn’t take long! Just a day later, a flier featuring a photo of Leal and his son, Marconi Leal Junior, confirmed that Leal Junior would be stepping into his father’s shoes as a candidate in that constituency. Leal Junior, one of two C.E.O.’s in the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous People’s Affairs, was initially appointed C.E.O. in the Ministry of Transport, Youths and Sports, before being transferred to his current role.
Tonight, we bring you a shocking story involving two Belize City men, Oliver Sutherland, also known as ‘Spooner,’ and Erlin Smith. Back in March 2021, they kidnapped a fifteen-year-old boy and subjected him to horrific torture. They stood on his hand, cut off a piece of his pinky finger, hit him with a broom, and shocked him multiple times in the chest. The mastermind behind this cruelty demanded to know who sent the boy to find him, keeping the minor captive for hours. This morning, Sutherland and Smith appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester in the High Court after entering a plea bargain. They pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of wounding, having initially faced charges of kidnapping and wounding. The judge considered the new sentencing guidelines and the facts of the case, which included the brutal details of their actions. On March thirteenth, 2021, the duo intentionally and unlawfully wounded the minor, kicking him in the stomach, punching him in the face, and burning him with hot wax. The entire ordeal was live-streamed on Facebook until a knock on the door allowed the boy to escape. He was later treated at K.H.M.H. for multiple injuries. The police investigation led to the arrest of Sutherland and Smith on March fourteenth, 2021. Initially charged with kidnapping, they were later also charged with wounding based on directives from the DPP’s office. The judge considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, including the young age of the victim and the severity of the violence. Although the victim has since died from an unrelated incident, the court did not overlook the gravity of what the men did. The judge sentenced Sutherland to a two-year suspended sentence, meaning he must stay out of trouble for six months or face imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay two thousand, five hundred dollars in compensation to the victim’s father. Both men, having served time on remand, walked out of court as free men and shared positive messages for the youth of Belize.
The Trump administration is moving forward with deporting individuals they consider undesirable, sending many who are in the U.S. illegally back to their home countries. Prime Minister John Briceño has stated that Belize is ready to welcome back Belizeans being repatriated, but the big question is, what’s the plan for helping them settle back into society?
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We do know that that is a policy decision of the new Trump administration and so we do expect some deportees to be coming back, not necessarily violent offenders… One criminal gone, five more grow up the next day. It’s not how this works. Migration has happened since the Seventies and Eighties, it continues to this day, and I know you need a reason to explain away the numbers, but this is a fact of life and yes, we have to prepare ourselves for the deportations.”
Isani Cayetano
“What preparations are we speaking of, in terms of being able to perhaps deal with those who have a criminal past in the United States and are sent back home?”
Kareem Musa
“Well, we are going to deal with whether they have a criminal past here in Belizeor if they are pending charges. For instance, I believe Ellis Meighan is one of them. If there are others then we will, if there is enough evidence, then those individuals will be charged. And so, the police department obviously has a roster of these individuals that they will be keeping an eye on and, if necessary, charge upon their return.”
Despite rumors, the Government of Belize has made it clear that they are not opening borders to non-Belizean deportees. However, Prime Minister John Briceño has warmly welcomed all Belizeans back home. Supporting this sentiment, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner assured that there are jobs waiting for the returning deportees.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“I would say, like what my Prime Minister said, we welcome them back. We have a lot of vacancies here in Belize. Jobs, jobs, jobs – employers need workers, and so I will echo my prime minister. We welcome them back.”
Does the Commissioner of Police’s job depend on which political party is in charge? And does his term end when a new government takes over after a general election? ComPol Williams, who took office under a U.D.P. administration, is now fifty-two and holds the record as the longest-serving top cop in Belize’s history. But the big question is, will he keep his job if the People’s United Party wins the next general election and takes over?
Reporter
“Were the PUP to win another term, should the Commissioner of Police be reappointed or continue in his appointment or if a new PUP government is elected, should that government seek to have a new Commissioner of Police?”
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Well the post of the Commissioner of Police, and I’m sure that the commissioner will explain this to you.. He has up until the age of fifty-five to retire. He has indicated that he wants to offer himself in other areas of public service perhaps politics, ComPol. I don’t know where his mind is at, in terms of that, but I see it as continuing. So while it is that the commissioner reserves that right to continue, I believe that in the new administration it is just going to be, obviously, a seamless transition.”
The Trump administration has put a hold on funding for several projects under the Central American Regional Security Initiative. CARSI has been a key player in boosting Belize’s national security by donating vehicles, equipment, and providing law enforcement training. With this funding freeze, what impact will it have on the Ministry of Home Affairs?
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Upon assuming office in 2020, we got a huge donation of motor vehicles, the CompStat Building, the CompStat office, equipping with our computers, very state-of-the-art center. And so that, perhaps, was the biggest contribution of CARSI in our four-year term. I know that two weeks ago, we had a donation of nine vehicles, but only six are for the police department. So we’re very grateful to the US government and to CARSI for those donations. Obviously, in our crime fighting strategies, narco-trafficking, interrupting narco-trafficking, we will need more resources and that’s something that our government will have to fit the bill, obviously, or if we can rely on external partners like Taiwan. But in the meantime, to answer your question, to some extent, it will be missed.
