2025-03-06 - Channel 5 Belize

Meet the Candidates in Cayo Northeast

Now, let’s head over to Cayo Northeast, where there are only two candidates on the ballot: P.U.P. incumbent Orlando “Landy” Habet and U.D.P. candidate Alberto Fernandez. Habet is aiming for a third term, while Fernandez hopes to follow in the successful footsteps of his parents. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details in this episode of Meet the Candidates.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Corozal Northeast is the smallest constituency in the Cayo district, with six thousand, five hundred and seventy-eight registered voters. In 2020, P.U.P. incumbent Orlando “Landy” Habet won against John August Junior and Nefretery Nancy Marin, securing his second term. Now, Habet is aiming for a third term.

Orlando “Landy” Habet, P.U.P. Candidate, Cayo Northeast

“It was a great honor. I have to be thankful and grateful to the executive committee, my wife and family who were there for me, but certainly my office staff and the constituency voters from Cayo Northeast, from polling area seventy-two to Santa Familia, Billy White, the three Duck Runs, Spanish Lookout and Los Tambos. I think that going forward I can only look forward for their support because they know I have been there for them. They put me there to do a job and I am grateful for that opportunity.”

Habet’s only challenger in Cayo Northeast is UDP candidate Alberto Fernandez. He’s the son of Bernadette Fernandez, a seven-term UDP councilor, and Salvador Fernandez, who won four terms in Cayo North under the UDP.

Alberto Fernandez, U.D.P. Candidate, Cayo Northeast

“Service, service, service. I cam from a family that has delivered service all their lives. First with my uncle Jospeh Andrews and then my father Salvador Fernandez who is a four-term minister and my mother who is a seven-term councilor in Santa Elena and San Ignacio. So, just service, service people you know.”

But can his strong political lineage carry him across the finish line to victory on March twelfth? Fernandez has been on the ground campaigning in the constituency, hoping to swing voters in his favor.

Alberto Fernandez

“Cayo Northeast, all I have been hearing is attention. The current area rep has given Cayo Northeast no attention. Ten years in government and still no attention, development in the area, cost of living and the list goes on and on, just attention Cayo Northeast deserves.”

Well, Habet contends that he has been giving his constituents the attention they deserve.

Orlando “Landy” Habet

“I think the improvement in the livelihood of the people, certainly farm roads, village streets, now we are getting the road paved in the next month or so. But water system, basic necessities in Santa Familia, Billy White, Los Tambos, a potable water system they didn’t have for many years. We now have refurbished schools, a preschool in Billy White we didn’t have before. We have hurricane shelters in Santa Familia, Billy White, Duck Run Three, Los Tambos and one is already being completed in Duck Run one a new Poly Clinic for the entire area which will be able to host the medical facilities for NHI.”

Looking ahead, Habet says that if he’s reelected, he’ll focus on paving more streets, improving sports facilities, and creating tech-based job opportunities for young people.

Orlando “Landy” Habet

“I think we still have to do more in those areas. There are many streets that needs to be repaired, schools that needs to be refurbished. We are completing the one in Ezperanza that were badly needed, sporting facility we did some improvements, lighting and bleachers, but we can do more because we need to address the needs, not only of the wider population but so very important that the young people, because they are the new entrepreneurs with all the skills and technology, artificial intelligence, coding everything else. And they can form and create their own jobs.”

Despite all that Habet has listed as his accomplishments, Fernandez believes that more infrastructure works could have been done in the constituency.

Alberto Fernandez

“Infrastructure in Cayo Northeast. The last attention when it comes to infrastructure is under a U.D.P. administration. The Falcon Field, the Welcome Center, the Farmers Market. All of that was under a U.D.P. administration. With this current government, Cayo North East has gotten no type of infrastructure.”

Paul Lopez

“What is the energy like right now with you and your Cayo North East team and how confident are you going into March twelfth?”

Alberto Fernandez

“Motivated, motivated, ecstatic. With my father and my mother on my side, motivated me more and more to just go out everyday and meet with my people.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Channel 5 Launches Its First Spanish Newscast

Tonight, we have some exciting news to share with our viewers. Over the past few months, we’ve been preparing to launch something special for our Spanish-speaking audience to look forward to every Friday night. We’re excited to announce that tomorrow we will be launching our very first Noticiero Cinco Semanal newscast, where we will be bringing you the top stories of the week in Spanish. This segment will be aired every Friday at seven p.m., after our regular newscast and will be anchored by Franzella Hermoso. Viewers can look forward to in-depth news reports, from politics to stories that highlight Belizean culture and everyday life. Producing the newscast is Digital Editor Hipolito Novelo.

Hipolito Novelo, Producer, Noticiero 5 Semanal

“We are launching our Noticiero 5 Semanal this Friday at 7 p.m. It will be the first televised Spanish full-length broadcast, and we think, and so many of our supporters believe, that this is something that we needed, something that a lot of people wanted, and something that Channel 5 will be providing. According to the 2022 census by the SIB, 75% of the population speaks English, 54% speak Spanish, so that means that some people might feel more comfortable consuming news in Spanish, especially in areas where it is the dominant language. Now, Noticiero 5 Semanal helps bridge that gap and makes sure no one is left out of important and, of course, national conversation. If you have any news that you want to share and any ideas that you want to share with us here in Noticiero 5 Semanal, the tip line is 672-5555. We’re excited about this new product, again Noticiero 5 Semanal; it airs every Friday at 7:00 p.m. Tune in to our Channel 5 on YouTube, on Facebook, and, of course, on TV, and you have to keep it to the young people them, on TikTok, so make sure to follow us on TikTok at Noticiero 5 Semanal.”

Police Open New Substation in Trial Farm Village

Today, a brand-new police substation opened its doors in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk. This substation will not only serve the bustling Orange Walk Town and the residents of Trial Farm but also act as a crime deterrent for tourists. After a significant investment of three hundred thousand dollars and several months of construction, the station is now ready for action. Initially, it will be staffed by eight officers, with plans to increase the number of officers later this year. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene for the grand opening and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

This morning, a new police substation opened in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk. The Belize Tourism Board funded its construction, aiming to reduce crime overall, including incidents involving tourists. Prime Minister John Briceno highlighted that tourists from Mexico play a crucial role in Belize’s development.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The tourist Mexican market is one there that is right for the taking. They’re right next door. Many of them could drive over to come to Belize. There’s approximately over a hundred and thirty million Mexicans, I’m sure over thirty million of them can afford to be able to take a vacation to a destination like Belize. So we need to put more effort for the Mexicans to know about Belize and for them to understand how easy it is to come to Belize. And for instance, one issue is that they don’t know – they think that in Belize we only speak in English, pero hablamos bastante en español.”

The Minister of Tourism highlighted that due to the area’s rapid growth, having a police substation in Trial Farm is a smart move for several reasons.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“It’s the fastest growing community in the area. You have a lot of people who work in this area and workers in the tourism industry would come from areas like this. And it is a corridor going into Sarteneja and all those areas to go to Lamanai. So it is important. They said that this is a strategic location. The police department picked this location. Destinations have been destroyed due to crime, like Acapulco, just one coming to mind right now, but a lot of destinations have struggled because they haven’t been able to grapple. In fact, Belize, at times, has struggled, and whenever we have flare-ups in murders and stuff like that, then you go on advisories, some of them unwarranted, most of them unwarranted. But it is important that we continue to collaborate with the police department to ensure that our guests and our Belizeans are safe.”

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that the new substation will enhance the efforts of the existing Orange Walk police station.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“You would know that the Orange Walk Town area has expanded exponentially and so just to have one central station in Orange Walk Town, which even though it is Trial Farm and not Orange Walk Town, it is connected to the town, so it looks like one. And in the past, the one station was servicing the entire area, so to have this substation in this area is going to help to take some of the burden from the central station.”

Williams mentioned that the station will be fully staffed in the coming months.

Chester Williams

“If you notice the station here is still not yet furnished. It still requires some amenities, and so we will be working on those amenities to make sure that we bring it to a certain standard that the police officers will be able to have the equipment that they need to function where they should. We will start off with about a compliment of eight, for now, and then, when recruit pass out, the number will go to around thirty, so it will have a good compliment of officers.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Tombs of Man Murdered by Mexican Cartel Desecrated

Authorities are investigating a disturbing case of grave desecration after the body of Michael Whittaker, 27, was exhumed and beheaded. Police Commissioner Chester Williams confirmed this information. He said, “Police visited the grave site this morning, and they saw the grave was disturbed. The bodies were exhumed, and a check of the body revealed that the skull is missing.”

The grave of Aron Tunn, 18, was also targeted, but the body inside was not removed. Instead, an attempt was made to burn the tomb by drilling a hole into it and lighting a fire. “I was told he was not dug up, but they had bored some hole in the tomb and had tried to light it on fire.”

Commissioner Williams suggested that the acts may have been intended to send a message. “I don’t know how dead they want these men to be, but it’s something we are looking at,” he stated.

Whittaker and Tun were among five bodies discovered near the Rio Hondo River in Sacxan, Quintana Roo, Mexico, this past weekend. Williams said the murders were drug-related, noting that the victims exhibited signs of torture and gunshot wounds to the head. Two of the bodies were found with cardboard signs, one of which warned against extortion and theft from criminal operations.

Police believe that the victims had been working for Mexican cartels, collecting fees but failing to report the full amounts to their superiors.

New Police Substation Opens in Orange Walk District

A new police substation has officially opened in the Orange Walk district, specifically on West San Martin Street in Trial Farm Village. The inauguration ceremony was led by Orange Walk North area representative Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes.“

This new and much-needed Trial Farm Police Substation. Indeed, it is a big deal, because it enhances the security of our citizens,” Cervantes said in his address. “It adds to that feeling of safety.”

Cervantes pointed out the station’s “strategic location,” stating that it will support more efficient deployment of police officers within the village and surrounding areas within the district.

The inauguration of this new police station comes less than a week before general elections on March 12.

Enriquez Withdraws Expedited Redistricting Hearing Request

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan has informed Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay that his client, Jeremy Enriquez, has decided to withdraw his application for an expedited hearing regarding a case over overdue redistricting. The application was initially filed on February 11, in which Courtenay represents the Attorney General.

This comes after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rejected an appeal for special leave earlier this week. Ramlogan had sought the CCJ’s intervention to speed up proceedings, following a dismissed claim at the High Court and an ongoing appeal at the Court of Appeal.

“I have advised that it would be pointless to pursue the instant application for an expedited hearing of the appeal filed herein. There would be nothing urgent in the appeal to justify an order for an expedited hearing,” Ramlogan said in his letter to Courtney.

Ramlogan explained that with the general election scheduled for March 12, the appeal holds no urgency, making an expedited hearing unnecessary. He said that the withdrawal was intended to save time and avoid further costs for all parties involved. “It would be pointless to pursue the instant application for an expedited hearing,” Ramlogan stated in his letter.

Ramlogan added, “I have advised that it would be pointless to pursue the instant application for an expedited hearing of the appeal filed herein. There would be nothing urgent in the appeal to justify an order for an expedited hearing.”

Orange Walk Taxi Man Stabbed to Death

Police are investigating the murder of 51-year-old taxi driver Romualdo Bartolo Vasquez, who was fatally stabbed on Wednesday night in Orange Walk.

According to reports, around 8:30 p.m., authorities responded to a call on West San Martin Street in Trial Farm Village, where they discovered Vasquez’s crashed Volkswagen Jetta taxi.

Vasquez was found outside his vehicle with multiple stab wounds. The attack reportedly followed an argument with a passenger.

Reports indicate that Vasquez tried to drive away despite his critical injuries but lost control of his car and crashed. He was transferred to Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities recovered a stainless steel knife with a yellow handle inside the taxi.