On Tuesday night, News Five shared surveillance videos that traced the heartbreaking journey of six-year-old Gabriel Orellano, an autistic student. The footage shows Gabriel’s path from in front of Puma Gas Station to the sidewalk near Midtown Restaurant. He had left his school, Stella Maris, undetected on Monday. Several cameras captured his movements, starting at 12:43 p.m. on the busy Freetown Road and continuing until 1 p.m. on Princess Margaret Drive.
Today, the community expressed outrage at the public who were along the route that little Gabriel Orellano ran on Monday afternoon before his body was found in the Caribbean Sea near the ‘Hangar.’ As shown on News Five’s Tuesday evening broadcast, several surveillance cameras captured the young boy running through traffic. While reports indicate that a few people tried to stop him at various points, no one was able to catch him. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with a mother who attempted to detain Gabriel when she saw him running. She is heartbroken that she couldn’t save him, and the community is disappointed in those who did nothing to help. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The video of six-year-old Gabriel Pablo Orellano running through the busy streets from Princess Margaret Drive, down Freetown Road, onto Kelly Street, and Marine Parade during Monday’s lunch hour traffic has left many residents outraged. They’re furious because no one stopped to check on Gabriel, take him into custody, and hand him over to the authorities. Less than an hour after these images were captured, his body was found floating in the sea near the ‘Hangar.’ Gabriel, a child with special needs, was failed by those who saw him running and did nothing to help. This inaction has particularly upset Kezia Young, a mother of a child with special needs.
Kezia Young, Concerned Resident
“Soh much people mi deh it out deh, watch this lee bwai deh middle street, middle street! And if unu mi even care as wa society, unu mi wa realize in deh eena wa Stella Maris uniform. Anybody weh know weh Stella Maris School is about, Stella Maris school is a school – da nuh, fi quote-unquote, retarded picnic. Unu get da idea outta unu head one time. It’s for differently abled kids. It’s for kids who have issues hearing, kids who have issues seeing, kids who have intellectual issues. And a lot of people like to stereotype Stella Maris School. They stereotype the school so much that at least a six-year-old boy in his uniform can run down the damn street and get himself hurt because absolutely nobody stops, absolutely nobody stops and address the lee bwai.”
News Five spoke with Brittney Banks, who tearfully recounted how she tried to chase after Gabriel but couldn’t keep up with him. Banks explained that she was at home when she saw Gabriel running past her house.
Voice of: Brittney Banks, Kelly Street Resident
“ What caught my attention was a little boy in middle street and a delivery guy say “Spanish, weh yoh gwein?” So I come downstairs and I look out and when I look out and I realize that he was in a Stella Maris uniform. I left my house and I walked down the lane and by the time I reached the lane by the school on Wilson Street, I saw him already past the Sister Cecilia’s Home. At that same time a guy was passing on a bicycle, and I tell her, catch that little boy, he run with somebody. He was already by Mexican Embassy, going to the direction of Moe’s.”
Voice of: Brittney Banks
“I’m not sure if it was a teacher or security, but I think it’s a helper at the school. She came looking for the little boy. She couldn’t even breathe good because she looked like she was running. So I said, “Were you looking for the little boy?” And I explained to her the direction the little boy went. And I tell her, “Matter of fact, let me get my babies and I’ll take you in the car,” and we went looking. I tell her we’re going the same exact direction he went that I saw he went. So we went and we went to Moe’s, asked the girls inside. They say, yes, he just went so about thirty minutes ago. So I said, “Okay, thank you,” jumped in the vehicle and we drive to the park and I ask the security across the street, “Did you see the little boy?” He said “Yes, he went down more.” So we drive, we drive and I ask the young lady, I said, “What we’re going to do because we’re looking. She said, well, take me back to school. Let me check if someone caught him because it was more than one teachers looking for him. So I dropped her back to school hoping come back, hoping that yes, they caught him.”
Voice of: Brittney Banks
“It hurt me thinking what should I have done more if it was only me, could I have gone further. If it was only me, should I have to go farther looking for him?”
Voice of: Edward Sanchez, Concerned Resident
“If it was me and I see the kid di run, I mi wa put in my effort and not only put in my effort, I mi wa meke sure that I stop him, run up a bike or car and go ahead and ask him what di happen. And when you hear he can’t respond, you take him to the police station or back to the school because he’s got a uniform.”
Linda Tillett, Concerned Resident
“ They should have wa lee consideration and just hold ah, grab ah. Two person could grab dale bwai man. He nuh that strong, you understand? So, I’m so sorry for her about it and my condolences go to the family.”
Voice of: Anthony Cruz, Concerned Resident
“Goh fi the lee bwai. That shouldn’t have happened. That da weh bother me bout the whole thing there. It shouldn’t have happened. Everybody at fault when ih come to the lee boy deh.”
The Ministry of Education and the police are currently investigating the matter. Marion Ali for News Five.
In the aftermath of Gabriel’s tragic death, the Belize National Teachers Union (B.N.T.U.) has rallied behind Stella Maris School. In a press release, the B.N.T.U. expressed unwavering support for the school’s teachers, pledging to provide the necessary counseling to help them cope with the shock and grief. The union emphasized that this incident does not reflect the true essence of Stella Maris School, which has long been a beacon of hope and education for some of Belize’s most vulnerable children. Despite the current sorrow, the school remains committed to its mission. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to understand how Gabriel managed to leave the school grounds. Today, the Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, met with Gabriel’s family and the school’s administration. Preliminary findings suggest that Gabriel exited through the main entrance.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“We’re working along with the Belize Police Department as well. The investigating officer is Detective McLaughlin and she joined me this morning at Stell Maris School, where I had an opportunity to meet with Pablo’s mother, his grandmother, and his aunt. I will meet with his father and members of his father’s family later today but we had an opportunity to speak with them, to respond as best as possible to all of their questions and concerns, and to express our full support for them during this very difficult time. I also had an opportunity to of course meet with the principal, members of staff, Pablo’s teacher, a comprehensive investigation is underway. A joint investigation, the ministry along with the Belize Police Department.”
Reporter
“Based on the interim report, it seems that he exited the compound from the main entrance.”
Francis Fonseca
“It seems that way, but again, I’m saying repeatedly, let’s wait for the final report, the final investigation. The police are looking at other videos, so, that is the preliminary view.”
Minister Fonseca announced that once the ongoing investigation wraps up, there will be two reports: an interim one and a final one. Right now, all the details surrounding Gabriel’s tragic incident are being collected. Fonseca assured that all the findings will be shared with both Gabriel’s family and the public once everything is complete.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“An interim report has been produced, but there’s still a lot more to be done. There’s still a lot more to be investigated. They’ve looked, they’ve obviously talked to the principal, teachers, members of staff, school wardens. They’ve also talked to eyewitnesses. As you all know, there have been many people who have come forward saying they saw little Pablo around different parts of the city, so they’re talking to all of those people. They’ve also, of course, interviewed family members, so that is ongoing. They have also retrieved and viewed a number of different videos that have surfaced, both from the school and from the streets. I think some of those have already been made public, so that is ongoing and we hope, over the next few days, a few people have come forward, the police are meeting with them, interviewing them, so we hope, over the next few days, to get a final report on the matter, which we will then, of course, share with the family first, discuss with them, and share with them. Then we will, of course, make that available to the public through the media.”
The deadly football match on Friday night left one person dead, three injured, and many spectators were in shock and traumatized. The alleged shooter has since surrendered to the police, along with his licensed firearm. While no charges have been brought against him for the murder of Brandon Baptist, he faces eight other charges, including attempted murder for the three surviving victims. This morning, shortly before eleven a.m., police escorted twenty-nine-year-old Shevaughn Anthony Gotoy, a resident of Hibiscus Lane, to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court under special escort. Gotoy, accompanied by his attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington, appeared before a Senior Magistrate. He was read eight criminal and indictable offenses. The Senior Magistrate explained that due to the nature of the offenses, no plea would be taken, and she would only ensure that Gotoy understood the charges.
Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton and her Alliance for Democracy are urging attorney Christopher Malcolm, who represents Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow, to reconsider mediation. The United Democratic Party is currently split over its leadership. In a letter from Panton’s law firm, Arnold & Company, they emphasized that mediation could benefit both sides and help avoid a lengthy and costly legal battle. They’ve suggested Deborah Swift or Consuelo Godfrey as potential mediators from the court’s list. On Monday, Panton appeared on the show “Open Your Eyes,” but she didn’t mention any change of heart. Instead, she took the opportunity to criticize the legitimacy of the candidates Barrow has chosen to run against Alliance members in various constituencies.
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“They cannot be considered legitimate United Democratic Party candidates, they cannot. They did not follow the processes outlined in the constitution of the party which we have always defended and I’ve always stood up for the constitution of this party. They have gone through no process. These individuals have been foisted, have been foisted on the people in our constituencies, and let me tell you something; however this is determined, whoever uses the red or the white or the blue, people will know the difference by the quality of the candidate. And I say this with no disrespect to Mr. Uk, he ran in the 2015 general election for the green party and I supported it. I assisted him during the day because he had no infrastructure. So there’s no ill will or disrespect for Mr. Uk, if you go to the people in Albert and you say, is Tracy UDP or Mr. Uk UDP? Who do you think the people of Albert will determine as the United Democratic party’s legitimate candidate?”
Vehicle scams are becoming all too common across the country. Every year, dozens of people are swindled out of their money after trusting someone to buy a vehicle on their behalf. Many of these cases come to light through ongoing court battles or social media complaints calling out the alleged scammers. In tonight’s episode of Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Paul Lopez dives deep into the world of these automobile scams. We’ll hear from a victim, an industry insider, and even an alleged scammer to understand how these scams operate and what potential buyers can do to avoid falling prey. Here’s that report.
There’s been a flood of stories lately about folks getting swindled out of their savings by a sneaky vehicle scam. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people fall victim to these con artists.
Zenaida Moya, Car Scam Victim
“Anytime any errands, he used to carry out my errands and he was the one who really, the main go to person I had to carry out my errands. I entrusted him with the money and I had another vehicle, a van and I had entrusted that with him to sell that for me. He said he was going to sell that for me, and I wanted to get another vehicle to take my kids to school.”
Zenaida Moya put her faith in Melbourne Wade to handle buying her new car and selling her old van. Now, he’s facing the Magistrate Court, accused of swindling her out of over fifty thousand dollars. Back in 2024, Wade was hit with eight separate charges for similar scams. Having worked for Moya for years, she never imagined he’d betray her trust like this.
“In this case it was a 2015 Ford Escape. And so I was giving him money. I was giving him cash. I also gave him money via my bank account. So I was transferring him money. So, he was being paid for it and I wanted to deal with it very quickly so that I could get the tittle in my name. He brought the vehicle to me. I have photos of the vehicle. I have photos of him in the vehicle. I have photos of him standing next to the vehicle. This is not an imaginary nothing. I can show you photos of him with the vehicle.”
After spending weeks behind bars at the Belize Central Prison, Melbourne Wade, the man accused of scamming Zenaida Moya, told the media in January that he’s ready to come clean about his actions.
Melbourne Wade, Alleged Scammer (File: Jan 17th, 2025)
“It was not really scamming or thieving people, it was just bad business going wrong, right, and I am willing to own up to every responsibility, like I said. Four cases have been withdrawn against me and people are going the civil matter way. You know, it’s not the problem of paying back people their money or bad business or fixing what has gone wrong, but I have changed life. I have family that I should be out here for.”
Wade insists he didn’t scam anyone; he claims it was just bad business. He explained that one bad deal often leads to another, as some dealers try to fix one client’s issue using another client’s money, in essence, a Ponzi Scheme. Maho Koch, the owner of Coachella Car Club, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
Maho Koch, Owner, Coachella Car Club Limited
“As a businessman, I advise every single person on the street, even though the vehicles are not really cheap no ah days. There is really nothing for fifteen thousand, ten thousand. It sounds like a lot of money, but when you buy something on the auction in the U.S., as low as one thousand U.S., it cost you here landed after repairs, service, minimum fifteen thousand. So, you have to put your twenty percent, thirty percent profit margin, because you take about two, three months per vehicle. So how do you manage that. And people don’t want to pay the fifteen grand or twenty. They say no man I want cheaper. When you say cheaper that is where they catch you. They are out there waiting for you. They call themselves car dealers, anything you want to hear.”
During a recent press conference, the Financial Intelligence Unit highlighted the car dealership industry as one of the most vulnerable sectors to money laundering. From a law enforcement perspective, they emphasized the risks and challenges this industry faces.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann, Director, F.I.U.
“When we look at sectors, we look at how vulnerable they are and that compared to what threats they might be faced with.”
Paul Lopez
“But a specific one cannot be identified at the top of the list?”
“There are several that have high levels of vulnerability, and I can zone in on the nonfinancial ones. It could be vehicle dealers, real estate, those sorts of things, yes.”
In a recent interview, the Minister of Home Affairs brought up concerns about money laundering in the car dealership sector. Interestingly, at least two senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police, own car dealerships. While this isn’t illegal, it does raise eyebrows about whether police officers should be investing in an industry plagued by scams and laundering risks.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We are not going to go down a road of restricting private officers from having a business. That business has to be legitimate. They have to maintain their reputation in carrying out there business. That is what is important. You have to look at that. If they are swindling people, I fully agree with you that if they are swindling people and have a business of that nature they should come out of the department.”
In August 2024, the Magistrates Court ordered Eden Crichton to pay Gilbert Blair nine thousand, six hundred and eighty-six dollars. Blair had shelled out thirteen thousand for a van he never received and is still waiting to be paid back. Meanwhile, well-known businessman Amado Badillo is facing at least three charges for allegedly scamming hardworking Belizeans. In a shocking turn of events, on January twentieth, a couple was murdered, allegedly by a car dealer who took their money but never delivered the vehicle. Both the victims and the dealer were from the same community, making this one of the most extreme cases we’ve seen.
“So it is not just oh, it can happen to just this person or this person or old or fit the code that they don’t have anybody around them or uneducated. No, it is all different people it can happen to. It is something where everybody, no matter what background, you come from, be careful, just be careful.”
The best way to avoid getting scammed when buying a vehicle is to make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for every agreement. Maho Koch advises that no one should take the process of purchasing a vehicle lightly.
“You got to touch it, you got to feel it. You have to test drive it. Many people have been buying imaginary items in Belize. It is not only vehicles. It is phones, furniture, even properties, real estate. We have seen what is happening in Belize. When I look at the statistics, most of the time it is friends, people who know each other that are suing each other, because of the trust you put on your friends. Don’t trust that easily. You have to look black and white, are you buying a vehicle, sir, do you give warranty? Please give me in writing. Keep everything in writing just in case you come across something, you have supporting documents. But many people like man, I don’t have time. How much is it? Twenty, here you go, just bring it. You are not buying panades, it does not work like that. This is not tacos. This is a vehicle, a big investment.”
Paul Lopez for News Five.
Today, teachers at Belmopan Baptist High School staged a sickout to protest the school administration’s behavior. Seven out of the school’s nineteen teachers called in sick. Despite this setback, classes continued as usual. News Five’s Britney has more details.
Nearly half of the teachers at Belmopan Baptist High School didn’t show up for work today, calling in sick to protest against several actions taken by the school’s administration. Despite their absence, the school continued to operate. We spoke with one of the teachers participating in the sickout to get their perspective.
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 1
“Most recently we had a security officer who was wrongfully terminated. And and all of this has led to amount of frustration amongst the staff members. And we are asking for A meeting with the entire board of management and at this juncture they have refused to have such a meeting. And that is the reason why we are taking these actions today.”
The teachers allege that since the new principal took over in August 2024, several employees, including those with over seventeen years of service, have been unfairly terminated. However, Pastor Ashley Rocke, chairman of the school and President of the Baptist Association of Belize, insists that these staff changes were necessary for the school’s improvement.
Ashley Rocke, Chairman, Belmopan Baptist High School
“ I’ve watched as our school was manipulated by people that did not even belong to our association. So Baptist decided we’re going to take back our schools. We’re going to run our schools the way we want. And the way we feel that it is right to make sure that the kids get the education they need. We’ve had resistance. The last principal left. He resigned and he left. And so we were saddled with the responsibility of getting a new principal.”
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 2
“To come and tell us then know that, come and tell the teachers that the principal left because the teachers frustrate him is totally untrue because he himself condoned it. It is under their management, so how could it be that it is our fault? So that is one of the things that we see we are noticing. The buck stops with the chairman in this case and he can step out, step in and select who should run the school, a true leader. Recently, the chairman told us that they intentionally hired the current principal right now. I don’t know what he means by that.”
Ashley Rock
“My contention as it relates to Baptist School in Belmopan is that I get the impression that the teachers want to continue to tell us how the school should be run. And I will not have it. I wasn’t afraid to say to them, this is our school. And if you don’t want to stay, you are free to leave. That was the reason they felt disrespected. But we have a process how we are going. We, even in the Baptist Association, we have decided how we are going to rec, captivate our schools and make sure that they’re under our guidance.”
Ashley Rock
“As a board we were gonna sit down, listen to our directors, what they found, and then chart a way forward as to how to engage or better. Work with the teachers, if you will. But they didn’t want to give us that chance. They told us, you have to do what we want. We want all a unu come. And the last time that all of us went, it was a disaster. They were very embarrassing. Some of the things that they did while the meeting was going on was wrong. And I felt to myself, I will not be ambushed again. I will not go into no meeting where nobody will ambush me and try to pin me into no corner. So I told, I asked the three directors and they were willing to go.”
According to Rocke, the teachers have not been receptive to the changes brought by the new principal and continuously push back against her authority.
“ The principal came on board and did revolutionary things for our school, right? But ever since she came, they continue to fight her. They continue to fight her. To bring her down. They continue to say strange thing about her. All the ladies’ intention was she knew how schools are on. She was once a vice principal in a high school. She came to our school trying to help us”
The teachers continue to push for better treatment and demand that their concerns be taken seriously. They maintain that mutual respect is conducive to a healthy work environment.
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 2
“We hope to get this matter rectified and all in the relevant stakeholders that they get on board and that we see that this matter be addressed, including the Ministry of Education. Because at the end of the day, we have our students interests at hand, and that is our ultimate goal, that they receive the best education.”
Rocke says that he is open to hearing the teachers, but has put his foot down about the way the meeting will be conducted.
Ashley Rocke
“ They either come and meet with the three directors and give us the opportunity to hear from the directors what the issues are. Because I’m not gonna meet with them again. I will not be embarrassed again. Last time we had a meeting, I was embarrassed and I felt the, the disrespect that they talked about was the disrespect they gave to me as the chairman of that school board”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
