2025-03-09 - Channel 5 Belize

OAS to Observe Belize’s March 12 Election

For the fourth time, the Organization of American States (OAS) will be deploying an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) for the March 12 general elections.

Maricarmen Plata, a senior OAS official, has been appointed as the mission’s chief.

The team is comprised of 12 observers from seven countries and “will focus its observation on electoral organisation and technology, political-electoral financing, and electoral justice.”

“Ahead of the polls, the Chief of Mission, along with the OAS team, will meet with electoral authorities, representatives of political parties, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss perspectives on the electoral process,” the OAS said. “On election day, members of the mission will visit polling stations from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes and the publication of results.”

The OAS added that post-election, it will release a preliminary report outlining its observations and recommendations aimed at strengthening Belize’s democratic and electoral practices.

Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, and Panama are supporting this mission financially.

Murder in Belize City

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Mark Usher, 33. The incident happened on Saturday night near the corner of Jabiru Street and Faber’s Road Extension in Belize City.

Reports are that Usher had just arrived home and was parking his blue Chrysler when he was shot multiple times. Police found several shell casings.

According to police, an unidentified assailant approached Usher on a small bicycle, firing several shots before fleeing the scene on Jabiru Street. Usher was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) but later died from his injuries.

Three Buses Engulfed in Flames in Lord’s Bank

Police are investigating a fire involving three buses in Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, early this morning. The three buses were engulfed in flames, leaving two destroyed and a third severely damaged. The buses are owned by Bernardo Bennett of Central Transit Bus Service.

A watchman asleep in one of the buses reported to police that he was awoken by one of the bus’s engines getting turned on, in which he then noticed flames coming from the bus. Despite his efforts to extinguish the flames, the fire spread to two other buses next to it.

Initial investigation revealed that two of the buses were insured, and all three together were valued at over $50,000.

The cause of the fire is still under police investigation.

Pickup Truck Crashes Into KHMH

According to reports, a driver with gunshot injuries crashed into the front entrance of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). Initial reports indicate that the driver was making his way to the hospital for medical attention when he lost control of the vehicle.

The crash caused significant damage to the hospital’s entrance and left an on-duty security guard injured.

The driver and passengers were quickly rushed to the hospital’s emergency ward after the crash.

Police are on the scene investigating.