2025-02-12 - Channel 5 Belize

PNP Announces Candidate for Belize Rural North

Election bells went off on Tuesday after Prime Minister John Briceño announced the date for general elections, and political parties are now gearing up for March 12.

Today, the People’s National Party (PNP) officially named Andrew “Lion Truth” Reynolds as their candidate for Belize Rural North, a division long contested by major political parties. Specific details about his background and campaign plans were not shared.

Reynolds will be challenging Marconi Leal Jr., the new Standard Bearer for the People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize Rural North. Just a few weeks ago, Leal Jr. took charge of the division after his father, Marconi Leal Sr., announced that he would not be seeking re-election.

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is still facing internal turmoil. Tracy Panton told News 5 on Tuesday that her faction is “absolutely prepared” for the upcoming elections, but the party is still yet to see progress in its mediation process.

Panton specifically blamed Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the area representative for Mesopotamia, for the delay. She accused him of having “no interest in sitting and talking” and obstructing the party’s efforts to unify. “If we are in limbo, it is because he is adamant and he refuses to respect the voices of the people,” Panton said.

CEO Shal Says Major Order of License Plates Almost Ready

The frustration among Belizean drivers over delayed vehicle plates, stickers, and driver’s licences may finally come to an end after a prolonged wait. As reported by News 5 in mid-January, many drivers, particularly those in rural areas, have been left without their credentials for months, and in some cases, even years.

The Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, had said during the Open Your Eyes morning show that his ministry had “made an order for a large amount of license plates, stickers, and cards.” He added that the delay experienced by many drivers would “be an issue of the past” and that “once those license plates are produced and stickers, we can say that the department of transport is on top of that now.”

Yesterday the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government’s Chief Executive Officer, Valentino Shal, announced on his Facebook that the “major order we have placed is almost ready.”

Belizean Man Arrested in Indianapolis Shooting

Albert Ayala, a 27-year-old Belizean, has been arrested in connection with a Sunday night shooting that left a man critically injured on the southwest side of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. According to CBS4 News, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officials confirmed Ayala’s arrest on preliminary aggravated battery charges following an investigation by aggravated assault detectives.

The shooting occurred around 11:01 p.m. in the 7200 block of Vega Way, near Kentucky Avenue. IMPD officers responded to reports of gunfire and found a male victim outside a nearby building with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition after briefly speaking with police.

Detectives split their efforts between the crime scene and the hospital, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. One witness heard the shots and saw the victim running toward them, while another spotted a white pickup truck with dual rear-wheel (dually) tyres speeding away from the area. Police are still investigating whether the truck’s occupants were involved.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.

San Pedro Man Missing for Days

A San Pedro town resident has been missing for several days now, and family and friends are growing concerned as the days go by. According to statements shared by family and friends on social media, Ernesto Lopez has been missing for more than 3 days, and there has been no progress in locating him.

One friend took to Facebook, saying, “Anyone who has seen him or knows his whereabouts, please reach out to me! Ernesto Lopez is like a little brother to me, as we grew up together, and he’s not someone who just goes off without sending me a message!”

He urged that anyone with useful information come forward. “I hope nothing bad has happened to you, bro, and wherever you are, that you’re okay,” he added.

The friend stated that Ernesto was last seen in San Pedro on Saturday night. “His mom is worried and is asking the community of San Pedro if you saw him to please contact us.”

Another of his friends said, “We are all Ernesto Lopez’s real friends. Why haven’t they gathered themselves as friends to make a search? Now is the time to show support.”

Kriol Language Kept Alive Through a Second Edition Dikshineri

Wen laas sohnbadi karek yu Kriol? How gud yu Kriol gud? Noh need fi fret, now- there’s now a revised Kriol-English dictionary right at your fingertips!

This morning, the National Kriol Council of Belize launched the second edition of the Kriol dictionary at the Leo Bradley Library in Belize City. The first edition was released in 2007, and this updated version features new words and revised spellings to more accurately reflect the dynamic culture of Belize. The council hopes that, with this resource, more people will recognise Belizean Kriol as a legitimate language.

Editor-in-Chief Silvaana Udz explained that the dictionary is a tool to encourage young people to stay connected to their roots. She spoke on the importance of making Kriol more accessible, particularly for the youth. She explained that over time, words can evolve and take on new meanings, so compiling all the ways a word is used across generations in one concise book is critical to keeping the language recognised and alive.

This new edition boasts “more than 560 new entries, and a new entry might be a new sense ah the word,” Udz said. “This particular edition has been in the works since 2018,” she added. While the Kriol-English Dictionary is available in print, it can also be accessed for free on the 501 Academy website and downloaded online.

At the launch today, the special price was $35, and physical copies will soon be available at Angelus Press in Belize City.

Udz shared that this is just the beginning, and the team is working on developing an app to make the dictionary even more accessible with just a click or quick search.

The online version will be updated annually, and the third edition of the printed version is already in the works.

KHMH Workers Keep Up Pension Fight, Government Agrees to Meeting

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) Workers Union is keeping up the pressure on the Government of Belize. The union continues to demand the return of a pension scheme for hospital employees. Following a recent press release from the union, the government responded, confirming a meeting scheduled for Monday, February 17, in Belmopan.

Union members say they are determined to hold the government accountable, saying that they have been advocating for a pension plan for years. According to union representatives, they fear that if they ease off their demands, the government may not take them seriously.

Vice President of the union, Dr Alain Gonzalez, told reporters, “And we want everyone to know that we are serious; we have put in the work, and we deserve our pension.”

While some speculate that their renewed activism is linked to the upcoming March 12 general elections, union members insist their fight has been ongoing. “We already have this in the pipeline already. We had this already planned that we wanted to make sure that today we come out strong. If all this is out here by the numbers, we are much bigger than when you came out Saturday,” said Gonzalez.

The pension dispute primarily affects long-serving staff members employed between 2000 and 2017, as those hired after 2018 were automatically enrolled in a Provident Fund. The union estimates that about 230 to 250 employees—including doctors, nurses, and support staff—are impacted.

Police Seize 72 Rounds of Ammunition in San Pedro

Police uncovered a stash of seventy-two live rounds of ammunition in San Pedro during an operation on Tuesday night.

The operation focused on areas north of San Pedro Town, where law enforcement uncovered a variety of ammunition. Items recovered included an AK-47 magazine containing twelve 7.62mm live rounds, a red box with twenty-three 5.56mm rounds, and a 60-round capacity magazine with thirty-seven 5.56mm rounds.

Authorities confirmed that no one was present at the scene during the operation. The items were promptly labelled, sealed, and deposited as found property.

In a separate operation, conducted on Monday, three men were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Belize City Magistrate Court Closed Due To Mould Infestation

The Belize City Magistrate Court has announced its closure from midday today until Monday, February 17, 2025. This measure follows after News 5 reported on the complaints from court staff who have reported health issues, including kidney problems, migraines, and chest pains, due to prolonged exposure to the mould.

One employee told News 5 on Tuesday, “They have said that they’re trying to work on it, but it’s nothing so far. So, we just decide as a staff that we need to take action to make them decide what they will do now. Don’t give us no small solutions. We need a big solution to fix the problem right away.”

Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola confirmed that this closure is necessary to address the hazardous situation, with operations resuming on Tuesday, 18th February 2025.

In the meantime, court dates have been rescheduled: cases originally set for 13th February will be heard on 18th February, those for 14th February on 19th February, and cases for 17th February will be heard on 20th February. Urgent applications will be heard in exceptional cases.

Election Day Announced as Public and Bank Holiday

March will now see two public and bank holidays within the same week. On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that general elections will be held on March 12. Shortly after, the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries issued a notice declaring that the day will now be observed as a public and bank holiday. The announcement, which follows the dissolution of the National Assembly, was confirmed under the Holidays Act.

“It is hereby notified that Wednesday, March 12, 2025, will be observed as a public and bank holiday. This declaration is made in accordance with Part II, Section 9 of the Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011,” the ministry stated.

In lieu of Sunday, March 9, National Heroes and Benefactor Day will be observed on Monday, March 10, which falls within the same week as the date of the general election.

Three Arrested in Major Firearm Bust

26-year-old Daniel Anthony Lagos, 23-year-old Zephaniah Mariano, and 21-year-old Zylon Kihal Castillo were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. The operation was conducted on Monday, February 10, in a bushy area where a camp was located.

Lagos, Mariano, and Castillo were discovered at the camp, where authorities found a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine containing 22 live rounds. The three men are facing charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a license, and the illegal possession of firearms with serial numbers removed.

Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Additionally, an AR-15 rifle was seized, along with two magazines holding 25 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 26 rounds of .223 ammunition. A black SG rifle with 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition was also found, as well as additional rounds, including two 5.56mm rounds, one more 5.56mm round, and 15 live .223 rounds.