2025-03-06 - Channel 5 Belize

Orange Walk Taxi Driver Murdered in Trial Farm

Orange Walk police are investigating the murder of fifty-one-year-old taxi driver Romualdo Vasquez, who was stabbed to death on Wednesday night. The incident happened around 8:30 PM on West San Martin Street, not far from a new police substation in Trial Farm Village. Police are still figuring out the motive and are exploring a few possibilities as they try to find the killer. Meanwhile, the murder has deeply affected his fellow taxi drivers at the bus terminal taxi stand. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Edward Garnett, Friend of Deceased

“Ih shock mi last night actually. Wa next taxi driver call mi. I mi done deh eena bed already and the taxi man call mi and seh, “Boy, hear weh happen, such and such incident, noh.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

Food vendor Edward Garnett and Romualdo Vasquez had been friends for years, but on Wednesday night, that friendship was tragically cut short. This is the fence on West San Martin Street in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk, where the Volkswagen Jetta driven by Romualdo Vasquez crashed after being stabbed in the throat. The fifty-one-year-old taxi driver was reportedly taking the passenger to a location in the area when he was fatally injured. After being attacked, Vasquez tried to get out of the vehicle but collapsed and died. Today, the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams shared what investigators have learned so far about the incident.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Police were called to this area late last night or early this morning. Upon arrival, they encountered a vehicle that crashed, I think into a building or a tree, and inside the vehicle was the lifeless body of a male person that exhibited stab wounds. The body was taken to the hospital where it was pronounced dead on arrival. Information so far is that the deceased was in the company of some person in the same vehicle and that person may have inflicted the injuries to him and then flee the vehicle and went about his business. So, police are currently actively investigating that matter with a view to see if we’ll be able to identify the person who flee from the vehicle after the incident occurred.”

Investigators are uncertain what preempted the fatal stabbing.

Chester Williams

“It can either be a case of robbery or a case of maybe two friends arguing. We don’t know who the person is that was in the vehicle with him at the time he escaped. So, we’ll have to find out who that person is that we’ll be able to arrive at a more definitive motive.”

Marion Ali

Is anything missing?

Chester Williams

“I don’t think so.”

Police later found the suspected murder weapon, a stainless-steel knife, after canvassing the area. Edward Garnett told News Five that he thinks the killing might have been a robbery and urged for more surveillance cameras in key areas.

Edward Garnett

“Yoh nuh know who da who. Maybe they never get a chance to take the man’s belongings – the lee bit ah money weh ih work hard fa.”

Marion Ali

“Do you think it was a robbery?”

Edward Garnett

“I believe ih cudda be a robbery because things tough right now, you know, but we need to put some more security out on corners and so like cameras, ih help wa lot.”

Garnett said that he counted on Vasquez’s taxi service to transport his food to the bus terminal where they both worked.

Edward Garnett

“He da the one weh goh pick up and do all my runs most of the time when my official taxi man nuh available. He nuh cut his style. He say, “Bwai, let’s go. Sometimes some taxi man will tell him, “Bwai, goh pick up the tamales fi mi. That thing too heavy, I can’t lift it up and put it in the car.” He nuh waste no time. He seh right away, you know, you’re ready fi assist. Da wa very cool guy.”

Vasquez was part of the Community Taxi Service, located outside the bus terminal in Orange Walk Town. His colleague, Justin Chan, worked alongside him at the taxi stand. Chan mentioned that they had their differences, but today, the atmosphere at the taxi stand just wasn’t the same.

Voice of: Justin Chan, Friend of Deceased

“Yes, we had wi differences eena terminal because we think different noh but we used to care good, good. He used to be a person – he deh deh for his family. Ih lee gial dehn hours you mi wa see ah right ya di feed the baby. One o’clock, he ker ah da school back. I feel fi the lee gial, ih wife and thing, because he da man weh work the last bus ya and then from deh he goh home. We feel it because Mr Vasquez, every day we deh together from eight o’clock to five-thity, six.”

Chan mentioned that the murder of his friend has changed the working hours for all the taxi drivers at the terminal because they’re now worried about their safety.

Voice of: Justin Chan

“Right now we di try neem work da night. We nuh wa work da night. Wi nuh wa mess wid that because we can’t trust nobody right now. You don’t know who might want to hurt you. So, now we di try to plan. We neem want work da night again. No calls da night. Maybe if da yoh customer weh yoh really trust, yoh maybe do it but somebody who just cll yoh like that, cho.”

Edward Garnett shared that just an hour before he was killed, Vasquez gave him some lasting advice.

Edward Garnett

“Mi son usually come help mi lock up shop and soh, soh he said, “Bwai I nuh want she it behind your back, I wa she it right front ah yoh son.” He said, “talk to him, bwai because yoh son ride da bicycle crazy and he could get hurt.” So I tell ah, “Bwai, thanks fi tell me,” right in front ah my son. And I start tell mi son about it, you know, about the bicycle weh he could get hurt, you know, if he ride that bike too wild out deh.”

Marion Ali

“That was the last time you saw him?”

Edward Garnett

“Just last night. That’s why it was so shocking to me to hear the news.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Graves of Michael Whitaker & Aaron Tun Desecrated

The graves of two Belizean men found in Chetumal, Quintana Roo on Saturday morning were desecrated between Wednesday night and this afternoon. Michael Whitaker’s casket was opened, and his body was defiled. This morning, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shared what he knew about the incident. He mentioned that Aaron Tun’s grave was tampered with, and it looked like someone had poured gasoline on his tomb and tried to set it on fire. On Monday, Williams told reporters that investigators were sure that the previous murder of another Belizean, Raheem Usher, discovered a week ago, was committed by locals and that they had good leads on the suspects. He added that two of those suspects are also dead. Incidentally, all three men were laid to rest on Wednesday. Earlier today, Williams said they were investigating the desecration of the two graves.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Police visited the grave site this morning and they saw the grave was disturbed. The body was exhumed and a check of the body revealed that the skull is missing, so that’s the matter the police are looking at this time.”

Reporter

“And the second young man?”

Chester Williams

“The second young man from what I was told, he was not dug up, but they had bore some hole on the tomb and had tried to light it fire. That’s what I was told about the other one.”

Reporter

“ComPol, this is definitely a sign. What kind of sign would the police department take this as?”

Chester Williams

“Obviously, there is someone who is trying to send a message. I don’t know how dead they want these men to be dead, but it’s something we’re looking at.”

ComPol Says Anti-Cartel Efforts Successful in Northern Belize

While the police are investigating the clear message sent by cartel operatives, we asked Williams for an update on how effective the police efforts are in curbing these activities in northern Belize. The government has invested over a million dollars in this effort. Williams said the department has used the funds to buy various police equipment and protective gear for officers patrolling the borders alongside the Belize Defense Force.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The government has spent over a million dollars, not a million – a million was in the first instance. Since then, we have gone back to the Prime Minister and made requests of additional funds, and those were also approved. As I’ve said before, the government has shown the commitment in making sure that we’re able to police the Northern corridor as well as the northern border areas. And so the monies have been spent in that area, looking at resources for the team to operate effectively. We have purchased ammunitions, we have purchased firearms, we have purchased vehicles, drones, body armour, you name it, we have done it. So, what I do is to make sure that officers who work along the northern border, are equipped and safe and yes, one can say that we still see incidents now and then, and certainly the border area is extremely huge and very porous. And so there are going to be incidents now and then, but truth be told, we have seen a tremendous reduction in those incidents. I think that the team, the police and the BDF, working along the northern irregular border area are doing exemplary work and the work that they’re doing have yielded great success, and we have seen a significant reduction in the activities of cartels coming over into Belize.”

Western Dairies Employee Charged Allegedly Staging Robbery

Today, five individuals, including a former employee, were charged in connection with the armed robbery of a Western Dairies delivery truck that took place on Monday in Burrell Boom Village. According to reports, two Western Dairies employees were driving the company vehicle when they were stopped by four men who appeared to be customers. Suddenly, the men pulled out a gun. They climbed into the truck and made off with four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-seven dollars in cash and goods, including an iPhone belonging to one of the employees. The employees involved are twenty-three-year-old Willman Aspinall and forty-one-year-old William Bermudez. Police managed to catch the suspects and have charged Deandre McKoy, Tarique Gillett, Christian Castillo, and Emory Lino with conspiracy to commit robbery. Evidence found on Aspinall has led the police to believe he was involved in the crime, and he has also been charged. Aspinall’s attorney, OJ Elrington, provided more details on the case.

OJ Elrington, Attorney-at-Law

“The persons before the court were charged jointly for robbery and for conspiracy to commit robbery. And so, our argument was that while the, for those who were charged under the offense of robbery, we know that falls under section sixteen of the Crime Control and Justice Act. Our submission was that the one client, Mr. Willman Espinal, was not in the same position since he was solely charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, which we submitted did not fall under section sixteen of the Crime Control and Justice Acts, which prohibits a magistrate from granting bail to an accused. The magistrate agreed that it did not fall under section sixteen. However, she submitted that she would exercise her discretion and not granting bail still. And so obviously now we’re in the process of applying for bail for the defendants in the matter. My client has put on record. He told me, and he said that he submitted when he was interviewed that he was beaten by the police and forced to open a phone. And that he was he was subject to police abuse, essentially that the police were trying to force him to make certain admissions, which he did not agree with.”

Reporter

“And also this client, Mr. Aspinall?”

OJ Elrington

“Yes.”

Reporter

“Is he one of the truck drivers for the company?”

OJ Elrington

“ Yes. He is one of the persons who is a driver for Western dairies, I believe it is.”

Man Charged for Allegedly Firing Gun While Riding Motorcycle

Tonight, twenty-five-year-old Edward Saldano, also known as “Scrubby,” remains in police custody at the Queen Street Police Station. He was detained after reports of gunshots on George Street around 8 p.m. on February twenty-third, 2025. Video footage showed a man, identified by police as Saldano, riding a motorcycle and firing shots into the air. After initially evading capture, he was caught on March fourth at the Michael Finnegan Market with a gun in his possession. Saldano, who claims he was shot in the foot by police, was handcuffed to a wheelchair and taken to court where he was charged with one count of discharging a firearm in public and two counts of gun-related offenses for the firearm and ammunition. Represented by attorney Leroy Banner, who couldn’t appear in court today, Saldano argued he was only served two charges. However, it was confirmed that he had been served all three charges before coming to court. Following his arraignment, Saldano was taken to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot injuries after complaining of pain.

Ramlogan Withdraws Appeal; Ordered to Pay Half of Wasted Costs

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan has informed attorney Eamon Courtenay that his client, Jeremy Enriquez, has decided to withdraw the request for a fast-tracked hearing filed on February eleventh. Courtenay represents the Attorney General in a case brought by Enriquez and two others about the overdue redistricting exercise. Although the High Court dismissed the claim, Ramlogan appealed to the Court of Appeal, which hasn’t heard the case yet. To speed things up, Ramlogan asked the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for special permission to review Justice Hondora’s decision. Earlier this week, the CCJ dismissed the request, saying it had no merit. In a related update, earlier today, Justice Tawanda Hondora finalized his decision on the claim filed by Jeremy Enriquez, who tried to halt the general election. The ruling was prefaced by the High Court’s position on wasted costs. These are expenses caused by a lawyer’s improper, unreasonable, or careless actions. The court can order the lawyer responsible to pay these costs. It’s basically a way to make sure lawyers are held accountable for actions that drive up litigation costs unnecessarily. Elsewhere in his decision, Justice Hondora wrote, “it is Mister Ramlogan’s omissions and negligence that resulted in the unnecessary and unsuccessful interim applications filed, which were based on fatally defective affidavits, and which caused the defendants to incur unnecessary litigation costs. Had the three applications been dismissed solely on the merits, it is highly unlikely that any adverse costs order would have been made considering the general rules on costs in constitutional matters”. In this case, the Attorney General was represented by the law firm Courtenay Coye LLP, and it wasn’t done for free. So, Ramlogan has been ordered to pay half of the wasted costs.

BPM Provides Update on Unconstitutional Voters List

In other news, the Belize Peace Movement (BPM) has updated us on a claim before the High Court. This issue also involves redistricting, but the BPM is arguing that the voters’ list is unconstitutional because it’s so unevenly distributed, making it unfit for elections. The BPM’s release further states, “we remain perplexed by the government’s refusal to correct the blatant malapportionment in the voters’ list. The Election and Boundaries Commission and the Attorney General continue to resist necessary reforms, despite the administration’s 2020 campaign promise to address this issue before the next election. This promise has proven false. Worse, although our case was before the court in November 2024 and general elections were not due until November 2025, the Prime Minister disregarded judicial proceedings and called elections early. While he has the constitutional right to do so, this action undermines the principle of separation of powers and prioritizes political interests over equal treatment of Belizean voters”.

Belize Rural North Candidates Holds Public Debate

It’s not often that political candidates across the country engage in debates, but the candidates in Belize Rural South have set a new standard this election season. On Wednesday night, the four candidates participated in a public debate in San Pedro. They discussed key issues like conservation, development, land ownership, and energy. The event was streamed live by Reef TV. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Political campaigns are in full swing, with only six days left before the March twelfth general election. In Belize Rural South, the four election candidates took a break from the campaign trail to participate in a debate.

Mahmoud “Dani” Lagha, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“My name is Mahmoud Lagha. I have known as Dani. I am running for Belize Rural South under U.D.P. democratic party under Mr. Shyne Barrow.”

Abner Bacab, B.J.M. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“Belizean Justice Movement as the name is. We want to promote social justice for each and every Belizean, including here in San Pedro, everyone.”

Manuel Heredia, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“I have won four general elections and two municipal elections. Having served Belize Rural south for seventeen and a half years with humility, dignity and respect.”

Andre Perez, P.U.P. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“Of course tonight we are here to discuss many issues, the way forward and I remain open, looking at the past four years and our accomplishments, but also the way forward.”

Moderator Tamara Sniffin asked the candidates how they plan to balance conservation and development. Belize Rural South is a top tourist destination with great opportunities for private investments. But how do they plan to protect the natural resources that make the area so attractive to tourists?

Abner Bacab

“For sustainable development, I think a very important part is the consultation process with the people it is affecting, like our island. Most of the time, it is already done, the laws are passed, without any type of consultation.”

Manuel Heredia

“The cutting of mangroves, that is crucial, something very crucial. Today there is no regard to the cutting of mangroves, to the dredging where silt will end up at the reef. What will be the future of our children?”

Andre Perez

“Let us look at the mangroves, when we talk about dredging and cutting of the mangroves, that is a development we have inherited for many years all our watersides were being sold off. We have been struggling because these mangroves are now private lands.”

U.D.P. Candidate, Mahmoud “Dani” Lagha, did not remain on the stage long enough to respond to question.

Tamara Sniffin, Moderator

“Did we lose a candidate. I guess we will keep on moving on.”

Lagha informed the moderator that he was experiencing a bout of fatigue as he is observing Ramadan. During the open forum segment of the debate, the candidates continued to discuss environmental conservation and development, highlighting that this is a pressing issue for the residents of the constituency.

Manuel Heredia

“It is a serious issue, taxi drivers are asking, developers are asking, how do people get these permits so easy. Do you have anything to do with those permits or any recommendations given by yourself or anybody else for these projects to go ahead?”

Andre Perez

“If I was your duly elected area representative in 2008, believe you me, all those mangrove waters given all up north, piece by piece, even the water, would have never pass through my office. It was given under his ministry, his watch or maybe he did not really see, or was not aware of what was being done in Belmopan. This is what we inherited.”

Property ownership was also a heated issue raised in the hour and a half long debate. B.J.M. candidate Abner Bacab accused Perez of unfairly distributing lots on Ambergris Caye.

Abner Bacab

“The only people that benefit are the parties, their families and their cronies, very close allies to people.”

Andre Perez

“I have to respectfully ask him if he has any proof on that because he is making some serious accusations, allegations here that is unfounded. So, I don’t want to answer that, because what he is saying, he needs to show proof. He said about mass robbing; anybody can stand right now to say mass robbing is not happening in San Pedro or Caye Caulker. That is totally false, and I do not appreciate it.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Zipping Through Belize’s Rainforest with Dark Night Adventures

Belize is famous for its stunning and diverse jungles. Every year, thousands of tourists explore these lush landscapes to experience their beauty. But jungle adventures aren’t just for visitors. In tonight’s edition of Belize on Reel, we head west to Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures to discover how ziplining offers Belizeans a unique way to see their country’s hidden gems. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Over half of Belize is blanketed by dense rainforest, making it one of the most forested countries in Central America. These jungles teem with wildlife like jaguars, toucans, and monkeys. But how can you see these wonders up close? Bradley Paumen, owner of Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures, says ziplining is one of the easiest ways to experience Belize’s natural beauty.

Bradley Paumen, Owner, Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures

“Some of our favorite guests are local guests. We do a lot of tours for, we got some, private groups that come in and we work with some other tour operators that bring their guests here. And resorts, and then we, we do a lot with teachers. We’ve got teachers groups that come in. And a lot of the companies up in Spanish Lookout, they, they really enjoy bringing a family day. So we have big groups with the locals and stuff. So we do probably ten, twelve percent is locals and resorts. And then the balances with the cruise lines.”

Ziplining is an exciting adventure activity where you’re strapped into a harness and slide down a thick steel cable between two points. Dark Night offers various packages for exploring the area’s caves and jungles. These include walking on suspension bridges over the rainforest canopy, tubing through ancient caves, and of course, ziplining through the lush trees. Site Manager Benjamin Mas explains how the team gets visitors ready for a day of zipping through the trees.

Benjamin Mas, Site Manager, Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures

“Everybody has fun and you don’t have to have experience to be able to do our tours. So we do everything for you, and we explain in detail. We give safety talks, safety speeches, orientations to our guests. And we also remind them that prior to getting into, onto the lines. We also remind them that if they don’t remember, we continue reminding them throughout the tour. So it becomes, at the end, a fun tour. And you don’t need any experience, so we do the work for you.”

The tour starts with a short walk over a suspension bridge, hundreds of feet above the forest canopy. This brings us to the first zipline platform, the Chicken Run line. Here, guests get suited up and get a taste of what it’s like to zip through the air. Assistant Supervisor, Liticia Cartagena, enjoys the thrill that comes with the job.

Liticia Cartagena, Assistant Supervisor, Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures

“For me, it’s exciting and funny, very funny and I feel like the breeze on me and that’s everything.”

Britney Gordon

“And how does your heart feel when you’re doing it?”

Liticia Cartagena

“It’s beating very fast.”

Over the canopy, fortunate zipliners may encounter animals such as howler monkeys. Mas tells us that typically, the animals are shy but on quiet days, they may make an appearance.

Benjamin Mas

“Today we might be more lucky than during a normal operation because it’s very quiet. But we have monkeys, spider monkeys. We have toucans. We have coatimundis, such animals. We have many more, but I wouldn’t be able to give you a big promise because you have to have a sharp eye.”

Zipliners also dive into darkness as they enter the ancient caves. With headlights on, they’ll see natural mineral formations, with stalagmites rising from the floor and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Some caves even feature intricate Mayan carvings on the walls.

Bradley Paumen

“It starts out in a Rock Shelter Cave, and then it goes into and through Tiger Cave. It’s a beautiful cave. And then you finish with have an exit out of Tiger Cave on a suspension bridge, and then you got a couple more lines over the river. So seven lines in all, and when you get off the cave tube, or zip line, you actually just enter right into Cape Tubing, your tubes are waiting for you and you float through Dark Night Cave and you finish with a, a nice float that cools you off.”

Ziplining tours are available all over the country and usually include other adventure activities like hiking, swimming, and rappelling. Cartagena is thankful she found her love for ziplining and now shares that passion with everyone she meets.

Liticia Cartagena

“I used to work here like five years ago. So I used to begin with a dresser. And I get my training and I went to zipline. The most exciting thing for me is to meet new people. And share the knowledge of the zipline.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Meet the Candidates in Cayo West

Cayo West has seven thousand, six hundred and seventy-four voters, making it the second smallest of the six constituencies in the Cayo district. However, compared to other areas like Belize City, it’s quite large. Both major political parties are represented here, with P.U.P. incumbent Jorge “Milin” Espat and U.D.P. candidate Miguel “Mike” Guerra running. There’s also an independent candidate, Esduit Moralez, in the race. News Five’s Paul Lopez gives us the scoop in this episode of Meet the Candidates.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Jorge “Millin” Espat rose to power in Cayo West in 2020 after defeating five-time UDP Area Representative Erwin Contreras by just over two hundred votes. Espat is back, asking voters in his area to support him again so he can win a second term.

Jorge “Milin” Espat, P.U.P. Candidate, Cayo West

“It is a constituency that needed all the support and needs all the support it can get. Cayo West was abandoned for more than twenty plus years, but now under this People’s Untied Party, under the great leadership of Prime Minister John Briceno I can gladly say that Cayo West is moving ahead. Cayo West is shining once more and Cayo West will deliver once more.”

Espat’s main challenge in his bid for a second term is UDP candidate Miguel “Mike” Guerra. He had a sizeable showing of support on nomination day in Benque.

Miguel “Mike” Guerra, U.D.P. Candidate, Cayo West

“This is the support. I feel good with the support of west constituency, even though I don’t have the resources to employ campaigners. I think what you see here is campaigners that are voluntary. I want to thank God for that. I think it is not about resources. It is not about flags. Cayo West is filled with blue flags. It is about personality. The problem here in Cayo West is not the P.U.P., it is the area representative.”

So, what are the commitments being made by these two candidates for the residents of Cayo West? Guerra says, he is not one to make promises to constituents.

Miguel “Mike” Guerra

“Nothing, I am not a person who will come out and promise anything. Maybe I am not a politician. I am not a politician. I am a hard-working man and a resident of Benque Viejo. If God gives me the opportunity then I can see how we will work. The amount of resources that the area representative gets I think he can manage to work in all of his division, including the villages. But, that can only happen if you are a hard working man. If you are not a hard working man, even if you have the resources, you don’t know what to do with your resources. What is being done right now in Cayo West, employing the money in flags. You don’t see a flag from the United Democratic Party on the post, not at this moment. I don’t believe in flags. The flags will not come out on the first of March.”

Guerra believes that economic hardship is the biggest issue facing Cayo West residents. He says that if he had the resources, he would provide food assistance to help them out. On the other hand, Espat plans to keep building on the progress his team made with Plan Belize by rolling out Plan Belize 2.0.

Jorge “Milin” Espat

“The priority for me is my constituents, giving them an opportunity to continue to uplift the constituency for better opportunities, such as employment. The health issue is a very important factor for my constituency. We have a building that was left under the last administration that it was so called a clinic. We are going to uplift that giving the residents under the NHI the benefits for all Belizean. Also my next accomplishment that I really want to do is brining the bus terminal with the marker and all the taxi parking space for that constituency. And that is just the beginning.”

Although there’s a third candidate in the race, independents haven’t had the same success as the major party candidates. In 2020, a third-party candidate only got sixty-eight votes, which is nowhere near Espat’s two thousand, seven hundred and three votes.

Jorge “Milin” Espat

“Four years is a little bit of time to accomplish many things we need. But I can say as a representative of the constituency of Cayo West, I have done many things that were not done in more than twenty years.”

Miguel “Mike” Guerra

“I have managed to unite the people, unite all that was divided, and I got them on track already. We are going to deliver the twelfth of March.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez