Noralez explained that working with inner-city youths involved in gang activity isn’t straightforward, it takes a lot of negotiation and compromise to make progress.
Dominique Noralez, Leadership Intervention Unit
“In any issue that you have with another individual there has to be some coming to the table or there will be no understanding of a path being charted forward to relieve yourselves of whatever personal issue we may have. But also they can now be called generational trauma that these groups have faced. These people walk by, live by, went to school up to whatever point they went to school with persons who might have hurt members of their family and they have done the same. There has to be some compromise and some voluntary coming to the table. It cannot be solved without coming to the table, it’s just the fact. And it cannot be solved without the social protection system going to these persons because they will not, there’s a distrust of the system in some ways which is in many ways justifiable. And so there has to be a going to individuals. People look at it as us cuddling criminals, as they have called them, but these are persons who deserve opportunities as well, and they deserve to be seen, they deserve to be given an opportunity. When that opportunity presents itself they have to have the tools to be able to take advantage of it.”
On Friday, Belize City firefighters launched a go-slow protest over changes to their work schedule, which they say impacts their salaries. They’re also unhappy with their working conditions and the limited resources they must work with. This protest comes on the heels of recent corruption allegations involving some top officials. Today, some firefighters met with Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union. Afterward, Flowers had a meeting with Kennedy Carillo, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, and other ministry representatives. Flowers shared the details of their discussions with us.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union
“ They are primarily administrative matters. I think there is a great need for the ministry. to really examine the quality of leadership that currently exists within the Fire Department. I think that a lot of the problems that the firefighters ventilated this morning stem from poor leadership, poor administrative leadership. To get into a few of the matters that were discussed. I know one of the pressing matters that was aired on the news Last week was the issue of the cutting of overtime. And I want to state that whilst, yes, they were disgruntled and are disgruntled with the manner in which the new policy was effected, I want to state that it is not as simple as they want to be paid overtime. The issue here is that these officers are severely underpaid and underappreciated. And so, the matter of compensation for the work that they’re doing, the additional services that they’re providing in terms of the ambulance services, um, there were arrangements, internal arrangements made in terms of how that additional work would be compensated and so this new policy would have affected that arrangement and thus they felt that they would have been compensated – they’re not properly compensated for the work that they do. But in addition to that, what was highlighted today is that there are several allowances that several firefighters are being denied. We don’t know why there are officers who are receiving a danger allowance. Some are receiving a hazardous allowance. Others are receiving no allowance. We went through the compendium today and we identified at least five allowances that we believe are due to firefighters. And so that is one of the matters that we will be addressing with the Ministry of Public Service as well as this ministry here.”
Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez, told News Five that the firefighters’ work schedules were adjusted to regular hours because the budget is nearly exhausted as the fiscal year ends. He assured that anyone working overtime will still get paid. Perez also addressed the corruption allegations at the top of the Fire Department, promising an investigation but emphasizing that solid evidence is needed to back up those claims.
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“As a fiscally prudent government we have take heed. We are short of funds and we’re getting to the end of the fiscal year. Sometimes we have to do a little bit of belt-tightening and of course it’s where some of the firefighters are saying, listen, are we not getting any overtime or we’re not giving the opportunity, many other factors, but the first thing I also want to share is that the intake of twenty-four new firefighters, which they have either been volunteers or temporary. Now they are permanent, or they’re fully on board, also is making the provision for another fifty-six firefighters, that’s a new intake. So as we prepare for the following year, we have to make conditions to prepare and that means that everybody will become more efficient. And certainly, we look forward ahead. The end game is to cut that overtime. making sure everybody gets their hours done, and of course, whenever overtime is needed or called for. it will be included. The work that the running of the fire department entails is that we have to have an administrative assistant. That is what we have provided previously, an F.O that is assisting. And in there, we’ve seen that the increments and salary promotions, salary increases that we need to looked at. It has been sitting on a desk whereby it’s been slow to come. So we are saying that in the last ten months, we have been seeing that more and more is being addressed. In terms of the word corruption, there’s always allegations of that, but it would need to be corroborated. But what we’re saying at that meeting, it was listened to, we discussed. I said if you bring forth the evidence if there is rampant corruption, then of course as a minister of this ministry, we will not tolerate these kinds of things occurring. We acknowledge it, that’s certainly, if there is what they are saying, we will do the investigation, but you need to bring proof because it’s only an allegation.”
Last year, Inspector Christopher Martinez admitted to wounding a businessman with a padlock while the man was in police custody. After a long legal battle, Martinez received a five-month sentence, which the High Court upheld. Once he was released, Martinez returned to his role as a Senior Inspector. During a morning talk show, Channel Seven News Director Jules Vasquez suggested that Williams didn’t fire Martinez because they’re cousins. Williams quickly shot down this claim, clarifying that he doesn’t have the power to dismiss senior officers.
Reporter
“I understand your relative, Inspector Martinez is back on active duty.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“And I hear you spewing nonsense this morning.”
Reporter
“Please, correct me.”
Chester Williams
“The commissioner is not the one who dismiss senior officers. That is done by the Security Services Commission.”
Reporter
“Fair.”
Chester Williams
“So please stop spewing nonsense and feed the people with spoiled food.”
Reporter
”Sir, so Inspector Martinez is back. You have no power to dismiss him to demote him. But you did recommend him for a promotion?”
Chester Williams
“Where you get that from again? When you brought up that spoiled food that you were fed with that, cause your bowel to move in certain places, I had said to you then that because he was not yet convicted. Every senior officer who met the criteria to go before the board and applied were allowed to go before the promotion board. I had also in a subsequent interview told you that he had failed the board. So how you reach at me recommending him for promotion.”
Earlier this month, twenty-four-year-old Emil Rivers was shot in the abdomen by a police officer in Independence Village. The incident began when Rivers, allegedly intoxicated and carrying a large knife, assaulted Inspector Michael Rosado. Rivers was taken into custody but managed to escape. During a standoff with two officers, Rivers brandished a machete. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Officer Sheldon Arzu shot Rivers twice. Rivers was then taken to the Southern Regional Hospital for treatment. The Professional Standards Branch has launched an investigation into the incident, and police provided an update earlier today.
Glen Rivero
Glen Rivero, Commander, Professional Standards Branch
“We have confirmed that on Friday, the twenty-fourth of January Mr. Rivers was detained in respect to an aggravated assault against a senior officer. He was in custody. After fifty-five p.m. Friday, the twenty-fourth on Saturday, the twenty-fifth. Sometime after six thirty a.m. He was escorted to the bathroom to take a shower during which he escaped from the police station. The police went in pursuit. And they encountered Mr. Rivers, who had armed himself with a machete. Like I said, the matter is under investigation, and as soon as we conclude our investigation that file will be sent to the DPP for the DPP to make a decision on it. Our investigation revealed so far that he was shot in the midsection. I can say that there is no indication that the officer who fired the shot intended to hit him in the midsection. From all indications, the officers, the officer who fired the shot intended to use the force necessary to subdue Mr. Rivers by targeting his leg.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The statement of the officer, he said in a statement that he had gone to shoot the man in the foot, but he turned at the same time and he ended up being caught in the abdomen. That’s what the officer said in his statement.”
During the confrontation that led to Officer Sheldon Arzu shooting escaped detainee Emil Rivers, police tried several times to de-escalate the situation without using lethal force. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams admitted that the officers’ methods were ineffective, noting that using profanity doesn’t help. He also pointed out that PC Arzu had been discharged from the Belize Police Department after a deadly shooting in 2003 and served thirteen years in prison before being reinstated. This incident highlights the urgent need for more non-lethal police equipment. Williams believes that the lack of proper tools has only made the situation worse.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It is our drawn conclusion that there must be more training done with police officers and the Ministry of Health, and in particular, the mental health institution within Belize to sensitize police officers in terms of how to address issues like these. We also agreed that we need to look at the weaponry that police officers use in terms of escalating force. When we look at the whole issue of conflicts we look at two, two different stages. We have the stages of de escalation where you try to de escalate a tension that exists and when that does not work, then you look at the escalation of force that the security force is going to use. In this particular instance certainly de escalation of the tension was not working. And so the officers decided that they would escalate the force that they used. But the thing is that they went from words to lethal force, which should not be. You have to have something in between. And so we are looking to see now what we can do to perhaps inject things like pepper spray and teasers. And my fear with pepper spray, as you would know that we used to issue officers with pepper spray. But my thing with it is that when the officers had it, There was an abuse of it. They use it in instances where they don’t need to use it. And then we get a number of complaints. So I banned the pepper spray. We might need to see how we can reintroduce pepper spray with specific instructions and then we’re going to see if we can introduce teasers. I also said to commanders this morning to make sure that they check their armory that they do have the shotgun that we had issued to them before and if they don’t have the bean bags let us know and we’ll provide them with bean bags.”
Athletes and everyday folks who use the Marion Jones Sporting Complex for training or exercise have had to share space with crocodiles and navigate through overgrown mangroves. But that might change soon. Cyclist Colville Murillo has been raising the alarm for weeks, urging for the mangroves to be trimmed for public safety. He’s reported sightings of crocodiles, snakes, and raccoons emerging from the dense vegetation. However, clearing the mangroves isn’t a simple task. Tonight, there’s good news for Murillo and everyone else. The Forestry Department has given the green light to alter the mangroves. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Every day, you can spot people of all ages making their laps, whether on foot or bike, at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. However, a growing safety concern has emerged recently. The tall mangroves have created a blind spot along the track, making an area that was once visible from anywhere in the stadium now barely noticeable even from the highest bleachers. Here’s what one evening runner had to say about it.
Voice of: Concerned Citizen
Voice of: Concerned Citizen
“The outside track I work with, it is ok, except after the bush, those mangroves is too high for me. When it gets dark I don’t want to do anymore exercise and I want to stay out and do more exercise after hours.”
Paul Lopez
“What is the concern for you, safety?”
Voice of: Concerned Citizen
“Yes, safety. I have heard about, crocodiles and snakes and racoon and I am afraid of those.”
This young athlete shared similar sentiments.
Liliana Stein
Liliana Stein, Concerned Citizen
“So far since I come back the bush needs to cut, because the bush never this talland like you have one two holes in the track that needs to be fixed.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you feel safe at night with the bush so high?”
Liliana Stein
“No, I don’t. I don’t stay out here this late. But I am here because of my sister.”
Cyclist Colville Murillo shares these concerns. For weeks, he’s been navigating the bureaucratic maze to get the necessary approval to trim the mangroves and make the track safer. He’s also eager to revive cycling events at the stadium. However, since mangroves are protected in Belize, it’s not as simple as just bringing in landscaping equipment to clear the area.
Colville Murillo
Colville Murillo, Cyclist
“One evening I came out and I saw a racoon, a huge racoon and a huge snake. Then I realized the mangrove on this side is way too high then the people in the bleachers couldn’t see me. If anything should happen, not only to me, but anybody that is walking around you might have a problem, or anybody could be hiding in the bush to attack a female. So that was one of my main concerns to try and get the place clean up and see if we could have more sports in the stadium than on the streets.”
When we caught up with Murillo in late January, he shared his frustrations. He had approached the National Sports Council but hit a dead end. Undeterred, he turned to the Belize Cycling Federation, which pledged to fund the initiative. The Belize Central Prison even agreed to provide the labor. However, clearing mangroves isn’t straightforward, it requires approval from the Forest Department. So, we reached out to Wilber Sabido, the Chief Forest Officer, for more information.
Wilber Sabido
Wilber Sabido, Chief Forest Officer
“It is a requirement by law for anyone who is interested in altering mangroves, which is essentially cutting down mangroves in layman speak, or to trim mangroves which is essentially cutting the branches off any of the three mangroves species, the red, black and white. Once the applicant is successful and receives their permit, they can go ahead with either the alteration or the trimming.”
News Five confirmed that an application was submitted to the department following Murillo’s persistent outcry for something to be done. And today, Sabido gave us good news.
Wilber Sabido
“What I am seeing is that there are patched of mangroves all along the interior track and they want to do trimming and altering of the mangroves for aesthetics and safety. I know there was an incident with crocodiles seen in the area because of the condition of the area. We did our inspection and found that there was an incident with crocodiles being seen in the area because of the condition of the area. We did our inspections and found that there are patches of mangroves and we asked for the administrator to submit and application and based on the recommendation form our site assessment. We decided it is something we can proceed with so that it serves in this instance for public good.”
Sabido also mentioned that there are plans to relocate the crocodiles currently residing on the grounds. However, he pointed out that the stadium’s fence needs an upgrade to prevent these reptiles from getting in again.
Murillo
“It is either one or the other. Where there are reptiles or things like that we got to separate ourselves, because you could never tell when something is going to happen, or outburst is going to happen. The main factor is you can’t see if there is something happening on the other side. You cant tell what is happening.”
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday! I’m Paul Lopez, and tonight we kick things off with highlights from Saturday’s 2025 ATLIB Track and Field Championship at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. The event saw fierce competition from athletes representing five tertiary institutions: Galen University, the University of Belize, SJCJC, Wesley Junior College, and Independence Junior College. The day started with an exciting three-kilometer race for the female athletes, setting the tone for a day full of thrilling performances.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Roxy Lemus, sporting bright orange shorts for Galen University, took off with determination. Hot on her heels were Elisha Rash and Huzyra Cho from the University of Belize. As the race progressed, with five and a half laps down and two to go, Rash and Lemus managed to lap Cho. Heading into the final lap, Rash was in the lead, with Lemus right behind her. In a thrilling finish, Rash kicked it up a notch and crossed the finish line fifteen seconds ahead of Lemus, clocking in at thirteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds.
Elisha Rash
Elisha Rash, U.B. Athlete
“My strategy was to keep up with the first runner and save more energy with myself and then the last lap two laps use the energy you have saved up.”
Next up was the men’s five-kilometer race. Three determined runners took their positions at the starting line: Cayden Flowers and Wilmer Cal from the University of Belize, and Neptali Balam from Galen. Balam struggled early on and was lapped a few times by Flowers and Cal. As the race neared its end, Flowers dug deep and unleashed a final burst of energy, breaking away from the pack. He crossed the finish line in first place, showcasing his endurance and determination.
Cayden Flowers
Cayden Flowers, U.B. Athlete
“The strategy, everyone has their own strategy. Waiting for the last few laps is the safest, because you could finally see where you opponents are. My colleague Wilmer Cal is very strong. I just came out pushed and see what my best capabilities are.”
Flowers crossed the finish line with a time of twenty minutes and ten seconds. Now, let’s move on to the thrilling female hundred-meter sprint. Despite only six runners signing up, the race was split into two heats due to the track’s condition—only five of the eight lanes were usable, with the others deteriorating over the past year. In the first heat, Jade Sanker sprinted to victory with a time of 14.66 seconds. The second heat featured crowd favorites Kendal Morgan and Nayasha Harris in an exciting faceoff. Nayasha ultimately claimed the gold medal, finishing with an impressive time of 12.50 seconds. Morgan secure
Nayasha Harris
Nayasha Harris, SJCJC Athlete
“My mindset is well confident. I know I was supposed to run the race extremely good. I have been practicing during the week and weekends with my coach Mr. Evans and Ms. Carr.”
And then came the male one-hundred-meter sprint. This one was executed in a similar fashion, two heats with the winner being determined based on finish time. Donovan Grinage from U.B. took the first heat with a time of eleven point twenty-one seconds. He was followed closely by Dante Green from IJC with twelve point three seconds. But the gold medalist came from the second heat. Of the four runners, Gary Neal executed an exceptional sprint and finished well ahead of his opponents with a time of eleven point nine seconds, securing the gold medal.
Gary Neal
Gary Neal, U.B. Athlete
“Ever since I was a toddler I had a passion for running. I used to runway to the roadside when I do something wicked.”
The male and female shotput competitions took place just across from the running track. Each male competitor had three attempts to throw the shot, and in the end, it was Steven Sylvester who clinched the gold with the farthest throw.
Steven Sylvester
Steven Sylvester, SJCJC Athlete
“The win feel really great. I came out here expecting a top three and I came out with the gold. I have to thank God, because God come first. Without God I neva mih wah the yah.”
And finally, from the track and field championship, the four hundred-meter women’s race saw an all-out sprint to the finish line between Leanne Segura, Kendal Morgan and Ashanti Carr. From the last place position, Segura overtook her opponents at the last second to win gold.
Leanne Segura
Leanne Segura, SJCJC Athlete
“If I am being honest I was counting myself out. But when I hit the two-hundred-meter mark and realize that the gaps was not that big, I took it up a notch.”
Paul Lopez
“How do you feel when you accomplish something like that, where you go from dead last to winning a race.”
Leanne Segura
“I still the process it. Ih nuh real.”
And finally, to wrap up tonight’s coverage, it wasn’t all doom and gloom at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex on Friday night. The first semi-final match saw Tut Bay, donning their blue jerseys, take on Lake Independence in white. Tut Bay dominated the game, scoring four goals to Lake I’s two. With this victory, Tut Bay was set to face the winner of the match between Reggae Boyz and Survivors FC in the finals. Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
The Department of Local Government, with support from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council (A-TIPs), conducted a series of regional training sessions in January for Trade and Liquor Licensing Boards across Belize’s municipalities.
The sessions targeted newly appointed members of licensing boards across nine municipalities and ten liquor boards. The sessions, aimed at strengthening the boards’ effectiveness, brought together representatives from municipal bodies, the District Association of Village Councils, and private sector partners. Participants received insights from various public sector stakeholders, including the magistracy, police, and health departments.
These entities provided crucial information on the roles and support available to boards in processing trade and liquor license applications. The Department of Local Government called on all license holders to consistently meet regulatory standards to ensure a safer, more productive society.
Earlier today the lifeless body of a young boy was discovered near the hangar area in Belize City. The family identified the child as 6-year-old Gabriel Pablo Orellano.
Police were alerted to the scene just after 1 this afternoon after reports of a drowning. Reports indicate that young Gabriel is an autistic student at Stella Maris School who had reportedly run away during lunch break.
His body was discovered by passersby in the water, who quickly pulled him from the sea and notified authorities.
Initial reports from the Scene of Crime (SOC) team indicated that Gabriel’s body showed no visible injuries. His family identified him at the scene, and his remains were transported to the KHMH morgue for a post-mortem examination.
