2025-02-22 - Channel 5 Belize

Pope Francis in Critical Condition

Pope Francis is in critical condition after suffering a prolonged respiratory crisis, The Guardian reported. The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalised since February 14 for a complex lung infection and has been receiving intense treatment to address his condition.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, confirmed on Saturday that despite his condition, the pope remains conscious, alert, and in more pain than the previous day, though his prognosis is “reserved.”

Doctors have cautioned that the pope’s primary concern is the potential onset of sepsis, a life-threatening complication from pneumonia. His medical team remains focused on his recovery. It is reported that he is responding to treatment.

In a rare interview with Corriere della Sera, Parolin firmly denied speculations regarding the pope’s resignation due to health issues. Parolin called such speculations “useless” and reaffirmed that the focus should be on the pope’s recovery.

For now, the pope is expected to remain in the hospital for at least another week as doctors continue their efforts.

PUP Expels Elvia Vega-Samos Over Independent Run

Elvia Vega-Samos has officially been expelled from the People’s United Party (PUP) following her decision to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections.

The PUP Corozal Bay Executive Committee announced the revocation of her membership today, citing the party’s constitution, which prohibits members from seeking office without the party’s endorsement.

In a statement, the committee stated, “The decision of Mrs. Elvia Vega-Samos to contest the upcoming general elections as an independent candidate has necessitated her automatic expulsion from the People’s United Party (PUP).” It added that “this course of action is in strict adherence to Article 9, Sections 1 A and 1 B, and Article 25 (1) of the PUP Constitution, which unequivocally prohibits members from seeking public office outside of the party’s endorsement.”

On Friday, Vega-Samos announced her candidacy as an independent contender for the Corozal Bay constituency on March 12. She stated that after listening to her constituents and consulting with her family, she made the decision to step forward once again to represent the division. “After carefully listening to my beloved constituents of Corozal Bay and having a heart to heart discussion with my family, I have made the decision to offer myself to the people of Corozal Bay as an independent candidate for the upcoming General Elections.”

Overdose Suspected in Deaths of Three Women in San Pedro

As previously reported, three women were found dead in a hotel room at the Royal Kahal Resort, located on Coconut Drive in San Pedro Town. According to recent reports, the bodies were discovered just before midday. The resort’s general manager contacted authorities after staff reported finding three motionless bodies inside the room.

Initial reports suggest that the cause of death may be a drug overdose. The scene was processed for approximately four hours by a scene of crime team.

Reports indicate that the women are US nationals born in Morocco, between the ages of 24 and early 30s.

Police are still investigating the incident. This remains a developing story.

Official Police Report on 200-Year-Old Church Destroyed by Fire

A devastating fire destroyed the historic Queen Street Baptist Church in Belize City early on Friday, February 21. According to an official police report, the fire started around 4:35 a.m. at the back of the two-story building. Police were called to the scene at 4:50 a.m., where they found the church in flames.

The church building, which includes a school and kitchen on the lower floor, was severely damaged. The fire caused extensive destruction to the church, while a portion of the school building also sustained damage.

Police said that Pastor Lloyd Stanford, 72, reported securing the building at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night and ensured all lights were off. He was alerted of the fire the following morning. There were no injuries reported, and according to the police, the building was insured.

Fire investigators believe an electrical issue, possibly triggered by a power outage between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m., caused the blaze that destroyed the historic 200-year church. Four fire trucks were deployed to contain the blaze.

The police report added that the “estimated cost of damages is yet to be determined.”

Driver Held Up in Ladyville Robbery

Police are investigating a robbery that occurred in Ladyville Village on Friday evening. According to police, around 7:30 p.m., 35-year-old Marlon Cal, a Belizean sales representative, was driving on the Philip Goldson Highway near Mile 9 ¾ when the incident took place.

Cal reported to the police that while slowing down at a speed bump due to traffic, a man approached him on a motorcycle. The suspect allegedly pointed a firearm at Cal and demanded his bag and vehicle key. Cal complied, handing over a knapsack with an undisclosed amount of cash and his car key. The suspect then fled the scene on his motorcycle.

Authorities are working to identify the suspect and recover the stolen items.

“Shyne” Barrow Calls Belize a ‘Failed State’

During his address at the launch of the United Democratic Party’s political campaign, leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow once more condemned the rise in violence in Belize. Barrow cited the recent murder of real estate mogul Boris Alexander Mannsfeld, stating that Mannsfeld had recently sent an email to clients accusing the government of being involved in a large fraud scheme.

“This gentleman, about a month ago, sent an email to clients, talking about government involvement in multimillion-dollar fraud and the murders of Ricardo Borja and Darren Taylor,” Barrow said.

Mannsfeld was found shot in the neck at his luxury project in Maya Beach, with police investigating connections to his legal disputes. According to recent police reports, Mannsfeld was found around 9 P.M., with his personal belongings intact, including his wallet containing cash and his loaded firearm still holstered.

Barrow added that despite government claims, “We would wish that we lived in the Belize that John Briceño and his deplorable cadre talk about,” calling it a “deplorable state of our nation.”

Barrow did not hesitate to call Police Minister Kareem Musa “extremely incompetent, who has never showed up for the last five years.”

He said the country is suffering because of poor leadership, particularly from the police minister Musa, and the rise in violence is scaring away both citizens and investors, calling Belize “a failed state. Lawless with the lowest quality of life and the highest cost of living ever.”

Man Shot by Police in Stann Creek

30-year-old Francisco Mendez was reportedly shot by a police officer during an altercation in San Juan Village, Stann Creek, on Friday.

Mendez, a father of three and a banana farm worker, was socialising outside a Chinese store when he was reportedly harassed twice by a police officer, according to his brother.

Mendez’s brother, Steven, told News 5 that “Eyewitness is saying he was harassed two times by a police officer, and the third time he was beaten with a baton.” He said that this led to Mendez defending himself with a machete, “that is what triggered my brother Francisco to use a machete against the police officer.”

Mendez was injured and transported to the Dangriga Clinic and later transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City.

Mendez’s sister, Gabriela Mendez, told News 5, “My brother got shot in his right leg; he was transported at Dangriga yesterday evening, then they shifted him to Belize City around 1 this morning.”

No official police report has been filed yet, but the family is considering it. News 5 reached out to Police Commissioner Chester Williams for comment.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow Announces Candidates for General Election 2025

United Democratic Party’s Moses “Shyne” Barrow has officially kicked off his campaign for the upcoming general elections on March 12, 2025. Today, his faction unveiled a slate of 30 candidates at the UDP headquarters on Youth For The Future Drive in Belize City, alongside the release of the party’s “U Deserve Better UDP Manifesto.”

The Barrow-led UDP’s campaign is centred around key issues such as higher wages, a lower cost of living, improved housing, and an overall higher quality of life for Belizeans.

The party did not field a candidate in Corozal Bay. According to Barrow, the party will be supporting former Area Representative Elvia Vega-Samos, an independent candidate. Vega-Samos is currently running as an independent candidate.

Here’s his list of candidates:

Moses “Shyne” Barrow—Mesopotamia

Hugo Patt—Corozal North

Alfonso Sanchez—Toledo West

Norman Usher—Dangriga

Macario Augustine Jr.—Stann Creek West

Yara Cal Villeda—Orange Walk Central

Ralston Frazer—Belmopan

Albert Fernandez—Cayo Northeast

Nelma Mortis Jones—Port Loyola

Mark O’Brien—Cayo Central

Tony Herrera—Corozal Southeast

David Almendarez—Belize Rural Central

Omar Figueroa—Cayo North

Dean Samuels—Pickstock

Shane Williams—Queen Square

Tyrone Louriano—Caribbean Shores

Eustace Shaw—Belize Rural North

Jose Uc Espat—Albert

Martin Rivera—Corozal Southwest

Miguel Guerra—Cayo West

Mahmoud “Dani” Lagha—Belize Rural South

Carlos Zetina—Orange Walk North

Melvin Hewlett—Fort George

German Tillett—Orange Walk South

Dennis Williams—Toledo East

Abraham Flowers—Freetown

Lance Palayo—Orange Walk East

Raymond Rivers—Collet

Samuel Cutkelvin—Lake Independence

Antonio Samayoa—Cayo South

Three Female Bodies Found in Resort Room in San Pedro

Police are investigating reports of three female bodies found at the Royal Kahal Resort on Coconut Drive. According to the initial investigation, the resort’s general manager called 911, alerting authorities that resort staff had found three motionless women in a hotel room.

The women are reportedly in their 30s. Police are currently processing the scene. Details surrounding the incident are still unclear.

This is a developing story.

American Boris Mannsfeld Murdered in Placencia

Police are investigating the murder of 56-year-old Boris Alexander Mannsfeld, an American real estate developer. Mannsfeld’s body was found on Friday night at his luxury project, Cocoplum Villas in Maya Beach, with a gunshot wound to the neck. Authorities found a spent shell casing at the scene.

According to police reports, Mannsfeld was found with his personal belongings intact, including his wallet containing cash and his loaded firearm still holstered.

Mannsfeld was originally from Colorado but moved to Belize in 2006, where he built the Villas at Cocoplum, which was considered one of Placencia’s top real estate developments. In a January 2025 email, Mannsfeld described a high-profile fraud case as involving stolen assets, money laundering, and the deaths of two associates, Ricardo Borja and Darren Taylor.

In the email, Mannsfeld stated that he had securely stored important evidence and shared it with trusted individuals, instructing them to release all files—such as names, bank details, receipts, messages, and passwords—to major news outlets and US lawmakers if anything were to happen to him.

Police are now looking into connections between Mannsfeld’s murder and his legal disputes. No suspects have been identified as yet.

This is a developing story.