The investigation into the mysterious deaths of three American women at a hotel in San Pedro is ongoing. The women, identified as twenty-three-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad, twenty-four-year-old Imane Mallah, and twenty-six-year-old Wafae El-Arar, were found dead in their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. An autopsy confirmed they died from acute pulmonary edema, but a toxicology report is still pending. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams revealed that surveillance footage showed the women taking a bottle of tequila back to their room. Investigators are now trying to determine if tequila played a role in their deaths.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I had said in an interview I gave to the international press was that they consumed non-alcoholic beverage while they were in that area. They purchased a bottle of tequila which they took with them to the room. We have no video footage of them consuming that tequila. If they consumed it in their room, we will not be able to see that because the rooms do not have cameras.”
Reporter
“It may be someone that look like top shelf they sell, Jose Cuervo or whatever but it is a cheap knock-off that is poisonous.”
Chester Williams
“I have done some research on tequila since the discovery. I do not drink alcohol, not even champagne, wine, I don’t drink. I did my research on tequila and yes even the not so fake one can have deadly consequences at some point in time if it is abused. The National Forensic Service are on top of this and every evidence, including the tequila is being tested to see what they contain. I also had the opportunity to yesterday to have a conference call with all three family members of the young ladies and I gave them an update in terms of what we have done and what we will be doing moving forward with respect to the investigation.”
With just thirteen days left before the 2025 general election, the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) launched its Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto on Thursday night. The event took place in San Ignacio, a strategic choice as the party aims to improve its performance in the upcoming municipal election there. Plan Belize 2.0 builds on the original Plan Belize, promising starter homes, more road construction, another minimum wage increase, and the continued roll-out of National Health Insurance. News Five’s Paul Lopez gives us an in-depth look at the manifesto launch event. Here’s his report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Thursday night, the People’s United Party unveiled its Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto in the lively town of San Ignacio. This new manifesto builds on the solid groundwork laid by the original Plan Belize, promising to continue the progress and bring even more positive changes.
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.
“You know we have not been perfect, and we wouldn’t dare tell anyone we are. But from where we started and where we are now, we have come a long way. The great George Errol once wrote that poverty alights the future. I dare say we are annihilating poverty and lighting up the future.”
Party Leader John Briceño announced several key undertakings that the PUP intends to fulfil once elected for a second term.
John Briceño
John Briceño, Party Leader, P.U.P.
“Thirteen days from now the Belizean people will get a chance to decide who will govern this nation for the next five years. March twelfth is a moment to cherish. On March twelfth we will engage in free and fair elections to decide on those thirty-one people who best represent the interest of all Belizeans. I say to you now, the most qualified, the most destined and the best thirty-one people you can find for this job are right here on this stage.”
Among the PUP’s biggest promises are raising the minimum wage from five to six dollars, constructing five hundred homes with a ten-million-dollar budget, and passing laws to make GST-free weekends a permanent event twice a year.
John Briceño
“I am pleased to announce that right here in San Ignacio, effective next school year Sacred Heart College will be the school to enjoy free education from first form to fourth form. We all remember what it was like in 2019 and 2020 but look at where we are now. Just four years later, we have turned things around. We have steadied the ship of state. There is no weeping or grieving because we are not just back on track but right pan track ladies and gentlemen.”
Briceño also revealed the completion of the National Health Insurance rollout under Plan Belize 2.0, huge investments in solar energy, and an impressive eight hundred-million-dollar public-private investment in the Port of Belize Limited.
John Briceño
“We will transform the Port of Belize that we the Belizean people now own. Under Plan Belize 2.0 we will build hospitals in San Pedro, Belmopan and Punta Gorda. And we will defend our territory and we will win at the I.C.J. Yes we will raise the minimum wage again so that we can continue the fight against poverty and raise the standard of living. And I know the ladies are going to love this. We will pass laws to make GST to make GST free weekends permanent for Christmas and back to school.”
Choosing San Ignacio for the Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto launch was no accident. It’s the only town that voted for a United Democratic Party majority in March 2023 municipal elections. The PUP aims to change that on March twelfth. On Thursday night, all the PUP candidates from the west had a chance to speak directly to their voters. Briceno made it clear what he expects from them.
John Briceño
“Are you ready Cayo? Are you ready for the sweep? We want six. How much? How much? That is right six and most important ladies and gentlemen we have you the starters of the revolution. Together we are the PUP and just as wedelivered on Plan Belize we are going to deliver on plane Belize 2.0.”
Regarding housing, the Plan Belize manifesto promised that the P.U.P. government would build at least ten thousand low-income homes during this term. Today, we asked the PM about the project’s progress. He explained that the government has helped many households, including single mothers, to get their own homes. He assured that this plan will continue if the P.U.P. is re-elected.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“PlanBelize is not a five year document. It’s a 10, 15, 20-year document. Secondly, when we said that we want to see that ten thousand homes being built, it does not necessarily mean that it’s only the government that’s going to build them. We work with the private sector, so the private sector has had several thousands of homes. So when you compare what the government has done, we’re probably not at the ten thousand, but thousands of homes have been built in Belize. What are we doing? As always, as a government of social justice our party that Belize believes and practices social justice. We need to go to the marginalized. We need to go to those that need the most help. And who are those – single mothers that are struggling to be able to have a home for their children, are struggling to pay the rent. So we came up with this innovative idea, building these starter homes. They come for about twenty thousand dollars for the cost. They pay no interest; they pay $100 a month. And then, we look at them, we provide them with the plans. So with time when they save money, they could put another room. These buildings would be expanded to include at least two more rooms, three bedrooms. So, this is what we do when it comes to housing.”
Recently, ads have been promoting Starlink’s internet in Belize for as low as twenty-nine dollars a month. But what does this mean for local internet providers? The PM reassures that local businesses shouldn’t worry because Starlink will only be available in the most remote areas of Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We have to protect Belize first and when you look at Starlink, you’re dealing with the wealthiest man in the world. And so he can come here and give it away and drive everybody out of business and then increase the prices. What the P.U.C. has done, I’ve been informed, they have agreed that Starlink could operate, but only operate in areas where there is no access. Because there are certain areas where there is no access for, for internet. And we want to make it accessible to everybody. So that’s what the position of the PUC.”
The Hague Group, formed on January thirty-first, 2025, is a coalition of nations dedicated to upholding the rulings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. However, Belize wasn’t listed as a member online, so the media asked about Belize’s current stance. The response was clear: Belize continues to support Palestine.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think we need to take a look at Belize’s stance when it comes to Palestine. We have gone beyond the call of duty standing up for what is right. Whether we decided that we want to put a pause on diplomatic relations with Israel, we were hoping that then members in CARICOM and Central America joined us. Nobody did. We went and joined the South Africa case and again hoping that others would join us as a small country. We also rise with – our principles never change, our principles never waver. We also have to take a realistic look at what is happening around us. We continue to support Palestine, we will fight for Palestine. And so, that is our position at this time.”
This morning, a new book was unveiled that offers a fresh perspective on the history of the Yucatec Mayas of northern Belize. Inspired by the life and activism of Jesus Ken, the book presents an alternative narrative to the traditional history. Author Ricardo Moguel’s book, ‘Ken,’ sheds light on different versions of historical events involving the Yucatec Mayas. Much of the change the Mayas experienced, especially regarding their land, was driven by the efforts of Jesus Ken, who is now ninety-two years old. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the launch and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, the book ‘Ken’ hit the bookshelves in Belize. This publication documents the history of the Yucatec Mayas of Northern Belize through the eyes of Jesus Ken, a 92-year-old revolutionary who fought for Maya rights in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Author Ricardo Moguel says the book offers a different take on Yucatec Maya history in Belize. To the Yucatec Maya, Jesus Ken is seen as a hero, Moguel noted.
Ricardo Moguel
Ricardo Moguel, Author
“Jesus Ken is a son of a Maya general in the Maya Liberation War. His father, Wendik, died in battle. They emigrated to Belize because they were afraid of consequences that they would go after him because of the power struggle that always emerges when a leader is surging. And Jesus grew up listening to the stories, to the music, and all that. And then the “abuelitos” used to tell him about the struggles. And then he started being a Maya organizer for the cane cutters that work for Plantation Limited and he became a politician in 1961, got elected to the Legislative Assembly, and made a lot of changes to benefit the Maya. So, he’s a revolutionary.”
Maya researcher Hugo Carrillo shares untold stories about the hardships his ancestors faced, stories that history books have overlooked.
Hugo Carillo
Hugo Carillo, Researcher
“If we want to know the present, we must understand the past. This will break the barriers or learning attitudes of the people. Therefore, the Maya social war exploded in 1847 in southern Mexico, Yucatan. Because of that war, the people were taxed, the women were raped, the young men had to work long hours for little or nothing. The children were separated.”
Jesus Ken championed the cause for Mayas to own the land they farmed sugarcane on, instead of being subservient to colonial settlers. His efforts put significant pressure on Belize’s Premier, George Price, according to Prime Minister John Briceño.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“He put a tremendous amount of pressure on George Price to be able to ensure that then George Pric can go to Tate and Lyle and say, “Well, it is time for us to be able to take these lands and pass it on to Belizean cane farmers in the north. But George was also quite a revolutionary, but also he was thinking long-term, that we could not just seize these lands because if we seize it, then pretty much nobody would want to come to Belize. He knew we had to continue to attract investments in Belize. So what he did, he negotiated a purchase price but a very low price and so that it could be affordable to the farmers.”
Jesus Ken was a dedicated PUP activist, known for his fiery personality, which some believe led to his estrangement from the mainstream PUP. However, Briceno, who compared Ken to the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, insists that Ken remained a loyal PUP supporter. The lifelong struggles and victories Jesus Ken experienced in his fight for Yucatec Maya rights are deeply personal for his daughter, Dr. Ninfa Ken.
Ninfa Ken
Dr. Ninfa Ken, Daughter of Jesus Ken
“We were growing up as children, that was the time he was in the big struggle and leading the cane farmers, you know, in trying to acquire the land for the cane farmers at the time, so he was like a warrior fighting all the time. And then, well, we were just there listening to all what they were saying. And apparently you liked all the slogans “Patria o muerte, venceremos.”
Marion Ali
“Which means?”
Dr. Ninfa Ken
“Patria o Muerte -that’ll be, patria is the nation, right. Country or death.”
Belize is making strides to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. This week, the CARICOM Development Fund and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center signed a Memorandum of Agreement to support Belize’s efforts in cutting down fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Economic Development is also backing this initiative. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more details on this exciting development.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Caribbean region is one of the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) is the only CARICOM institution specifically designed to tackle these effects. Despite its crucial role, the CCCCC was the first non-subvention entity in the community, meaning it doesn’t receive funding from CARICOM. This makes the collaboration between the CCCCC and the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) essential in the fight against climate change. Together, they are working to protect our region and build a more sustainable future.
Colin Young
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director, CCCCC
“ The Five C’s as an institution, the successes we’ve had really is because of our ability to forge these strategic partnerships with member states and governments with international partners and governments and regional institutions, and you see CDF here. Again, these are all mandated institutions of CARICOM. They have different roles. They have different responsibilities, and the Five Cs is here from a climate change space to help them to execute their mandate, but to incorporate the climate change.”
This week, the CCCCC, the Caribbean Development Fund, and Belize’s Ministry of Economic Development teamed up to sign a Memorandum of Agreement. This partnership aims to boost the Credit Risk Abatement Facility project, which is all about strengthening and securing small and medium-sized businesses in the renewable energy and climate sectors. Rodinald Soomer, the CEO of the Caribbean Development Fund, shared some fascinating insights into how this agreement came to be.
Rodinald Soomer
Rodinald Soomer, C.E.O., Caribbean Development Fund
“CDF has had this MOU with the Five C’s for quite a while now. There was a very short, intervention that we did together, which actually resulted in us being able to present a very rigorous proposal to the board of directors. For the co financing of the project in Barbados, and that for us was a good example of what we could have achieved together working as regional institutions. And of course, you were aware of our launch of the CRAF and the promise that it held for assisting with the energy transition in the region, particularly in the private sector. And so you obviously saw the importance of supporting us in trying to rule out this facility throughout the region, which is what I was signing today will allow us to do.”
The CRAF project is all about cutting down on our dependence on fossil fuels, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and boosting the country’s climate resilience. The Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) is on a mission to tackle social and economic inequalities and foster unity and growth across CARICOM, especially in the sectors that need it the most.
Rodinald Soomer
“What this means in a practical sense is that we have to treat with development challenges in the region that are multidimensional and cross cutting, linked to the smallness of our economies, the openness and the low levels of diversification. And we have to do this with severe resource constraints and these resources have to be assigned to dealing with competing development priorities and in particular, climate change related in the food, water and energy sectors.”
Soomer and Young highlight that this collaboration is a shining example for other regional organizations. It shows how partnerships can effectively bring people together and build stronger social and economic bonds.
Dr. Colin Young
“ We have over a hundred million projects in Barbados that we are managing from the Green Climate Fund, all in the water sector. And I’m very pleased to say that CDF had a role to play in this project because the Five C’s would’ve worked with the CDF to essentially broker an agreement between the government of Barbados and CDF to provide twelve million in loan that serve as a co-finance for this project to do nine kilometer of pipeline project. We’ve already worked together to mobilize climate finance for our countries. And currently, our portfolio is actually one hundred sixty million is what we are currently managing on behalf of our member states in twelve countries”
The Belize Police Department is hosting its first-ever drum line competition at Berger Field in Belize City. Eight secondary and primary schools are battling it out for first, second, and third place prizes, along with bragging rights. The event is led by the Community Policing Unit, under A.C.P. Howell Gillett. Gillett mentioned that this is just the beginning, and with support from the business community, the event will expand to other districts.
Howell Gillett
A.C.P. Howell Gillett, National Commander, Community Policing Unit
“It’s a crime prevention tool, to bring young people from across the different zones within the city to show them that you can’t compete against each other in a healthy way, and that’s what that’s one of the things we intend to achieve. Another thing that we are trying to achieve is to bring parents, teachers and the community at large together in an environment like this. We’re in a non-enforcement way there are many police officers out here. They’re not enforcing the law We’re here to help our young people to show them there’s a better way or there’s a an alternative to crime. We don’t want gang members. We don’t want criminals, especially in our young people. So we are trying to stop it from an early age.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has confirmed that alcohol was involved in the tragic drowning of two university students at the Guanacaste Park Riverside swimming area in Belmopan. The victims, Henry Osorio and Alexander Munoz, were both promising biology majors, nearing the completion of their bachelor’s degrees.
Osorio, Munoz, and two female friends arrived at the popular swimming spot around 2 p.m. on Thursday. Less than three hours later, the young men were found dead.
According to Commissioner Williams, police responding to the scene found the two female companions in a frantic state. They informed officers that their male friends had gone underwater and failed to resurface. A search was immediately conducted, and both bodies were pulled from the river, but by then, it was too late. The two were transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had been drinking, which is permitted in the area. Williams stated that one of the young men went into the water for a swim but began drifting away. His friend attempted to rescue him, but both were quickly pulled under and never resurfaced.
The Guanacaste Park swimming area is a well-known relaxation spot for locals and tourists, offering affordable entry at just one dollar. The tragedy has left friends and classmates devastated. Zoe Sutherland, a close friend of Munoz, shared fond memories of their time together.
“We skipped chem, and he’s like, Let me show you the river. And this was like five because we had a very late chem class. So we left, and we stopped by the store. We got some snacks. And he showed me a river over there, and we just sat, and we just talked, and we laughed, and then he’s like, Okay, let’s study chem. And I was like, what? And he’s like, yeah, you thought I took you out of chem? No. So he went over the whole topic and everything. And he’s like, I brought you here so I can teach you. And that’s one thing I will always miss: his enthusiasm and his okayness to do anything, especially for me. He always helped with anything. If I needed him there, he would be there. And he was the main reason that I passed chemistry in my second semester.”
Police Commissioner Chester Williams has acknowledged that some members of the Belize Police Department may be entangled in cartel-related activities and hinted at another potential reshuffling of officers in the Northern districts.
In response to questions about the recent discovery of Raheem Usher’s body and the note found at the scene, Williams reiterated his long-held stance on law enforcement officers engaging with criminal elements.
“If you decided to lie with dogs, you’re going to catch their fleas,” he stated. “If you get yourself entangled with the cartel, then you must suffer the consequences of it.”
Williams confirmed that the department had recently conducted a major personnel reshuffling in the Northern districts due to intelligence suggesting police officers were involved in cartel activities. Now, he said, another transfer of officers may be necessary.
“We moved a lot of people from there, but it looks like the time is coming again where we will have to look at reshuffling,” he said.
The commissioner made it clear that officers suspected of involvement in illicit activities would not be shielded from consequences.
“I’m not going to say we will provide protection to those officers who have gotten themselves entangled,” he asserted. “It wouldn’t be in the best interest of the department to keep them in these areas.”
He also confirmed that of the two police officers named in the note found near Raheem Usher’s body, only one is currently stationed in Orange Walk, while the other is assigned to the Cayo District. However, he stressed that authorities would continue to assess the situation and determine whether additional transfers were necessary.
When asked whether he believed there was truth to the note’s claims about police involvement in drug plane landings, Williams did not deny the possibility.
“I’m not going to hide anything,” he stated. “The public is fully aware that we do have police officers; I have said it on numerous occasions. We members of security forces are in cahoots with these plane landers in land planes. If i say that I don’t know then I would be lying and I am not going to lie to the Belizean people.”
