2025-03-25 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Government Defends LPG Importation Reforms at CCJ

Today marks the first day of a two-day hearing before the Caribbean Court of Justice involving a constitutional dispute from Belize. The appellants—the Controller of Supplies, the Minister of Economic Development, and the Attorney General—are challenging a Court of Appeal decision that found that the Government of Belize had violated the respondents’ constitutional rights to work and property by preventing them from importing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into the country. The respondents, four privately owned gas companies in Belize, didn’t succeed in their claims of violations of freedom of association and equal treatment, prompting them to file a cross-appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on those grounds. The gas companies involved are Gas Tomza Ltd, Western Gas Company Ltd, Southern Choice Butane Ltd (Zeta Gas), and Belize Western Energy Ltd.

Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, one of the attorneys representing the government, told the court that the legislation was intended to address critical issues in the sector, including supply insecurity, transfer pricing, product quality concerns, and smuggling.

According to Courtenay, Parliament’s intent was to liberate the LPG sector from the dominance of the Zaragoza Brothers and establish a more stable and regulated system. Evidence presented in affidavits from Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and another outlined the rationale behind the reforms. Courtenay stressed that the government did not act in bad faith or seek to put private gas companies out of business.

The case continues before the CCJ as both sides present their arguments.

Carlos Pinto Rescued After Drifting on Makeshift Raft

57-year-old Carlos Pinto’s unexpected journey at sea left his family in shock. His daughter, Dayna Pinto, told News 5 that she believes he was trying to get home after growing tired of working as a security guard on an island. Without hearing from his boss, Pinto set out on a makeshift raft, taking only his personal belongings, food rations, and a wooden paddle. Dayna explained that her father doesn’t own a cell phone.

“We’d been looking for him since around the time of La Ruta Maya,” Dayna said. “We were told that he went to work out at caye. Upon hearing that, our minds were relaxed a little. We noticed that it was taking a bit too long not hearing from him because we know a day or two is the most that we don’t see him around.”

Dayna confirmed her father’s whereabouts after speaking with her aunt, who assured her Carlos was working on the Caye. Dayna was caught by surprise when she received a call from her uncle, who informed her that Carlos had been found by the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) and taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH).

Initial medical assessment by the BCG indicated that his blood pressure was elevated, but aside from that, he was in a “fairly healthy” condition.

“I know that the young man employed him at the time and that he was watching the island for him. He gave me a call right away when he had seen the news,” she said.

The employer told Dayna he was unaware of how Pinto ended up drifting in the sea. Dayna believes her father simply grew tired of waiting and decided to leave. “I guess my dad, at that point, was just tired of being out there, so he decided to pack up his things and come home … I guess he was tired of waiting on the boss to bring him in,” she told News 5.

Carlos is now receiving treatment at KHMH, with his blood pressure being monitored. “I was amazed because like how my dad was on that thing, and nothing happened to him at the time… Sea rough sometimes,” Dayna added.

According to Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Pinto “seemed quite contented on board that little raft that he was on drifting out at sea.”

Health Ministry Issues Warning on Tainted Supplements

The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) is warning the public about tainted dietary supplements circulating in Cayo, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, and Belize districts. The advisory follows alerts from international health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mexico’s COFEPRIS, and Spain’s AEMPS, as well as MOHW’s own investigations.

The affected products—Artri King, Artribion, Artri Ajo King, and Vitafer-L—have been found to contain undeclared substances that could pose serious health risks.

As a precaution, the MOHW urges consumers not to purchase or consume these supplements and to only buy health products from licensed pharmacies and authorized distributors. The ministry also warns against purchasing medications or supplements from social media, street vendors, or other informal sources, as these products may be unregulated and unsafe.

Anyone who encounters these or other questionable health products is encouraged to report them to the MOHW at drugalerts@health.gov.bz or call +501-880-2363.

Fire Destroys Belize City Building

A fire broke out early this morning at a two-storey wooden building located at the intersection of Victoria and Castle streets. The blaze started around 6:00 a.m., and fire crews responded and managed to extinguish the flames shortly after.

Footage from the scene shows the building destroyed by the fire. Reports indicate that the property was abandoned and had no access to electricity.

Neighbours reported seeing a squatter occasionally entering the building. Fire officials suspect the fire may have been caused by something brought into the property.

No injuries have been reported at this time. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Hummingbird Highway

Police are investigating a fatal road traffic accident that occurred on the Hummingbird Highway on Monday night, which claimed the life of 26-year-old Michael Daniels.

Daniels and his friends had just finished football practice in Saint Margaret’s Village and were heading home to Valley Community when he lost control of his silver Mitsubishi and crashed into a culvert.

In a statement shared on social media, the family stated: “Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the sudden loss of Michael Daniels.” The family described Daniels as a “kind and gentle young man who will forever be remembered for the joy he brought to the hearts of all those who loved him.”

(Updated 3:11 p.m. local time)

Belize Coast Guard Rescues Man Floating 17 Miles Offshore on Makeshift Raft

On Monday, the Belize Coast Guard rescued a man approximately 17 miles south of Belize City, near Blue Field Range, in the Caribbean Sea. The man was calmly sitting in a bucket on top of a round metal makeshift raft.

The Coast Guard appealed to the public for assistance by sharing pictures of the man when he was found after he could not provide any identification.

After the rescue, the man was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, and the Coast Guard was able to contact a family member.

In a social media post, the family member expressed gratitude for the Coast Guard’s efforts, stating, “HE IS FINE SO FAR.”

According to Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, reports came in around 5:00 p.m. of a man drifting on a makeshift vessel. Bennett explained that when they located the individual, he appeared in a “state of uncertainty as it relates to his address” and had a fishing line in the water. “He wasn’t communicating freely; he was sort of hesitant in communicating with us. Apparently, he was last seen three weeks ago, so we don’t know exactly where he was or what mental state he was in.”

The man had with him a black school bag, a smaller bag hanging on his back and two white buckets. In the photos shared by the Coast Guard on social media, the man appeared calm and gazing out at the water. Bennett said the man “seemed quite contented on board that little raft that he was on drifting out at sea.”

Bennett added that it was very fortunate that the team was able to locate the man before night had set in. “We don’t know what would have been the unfortunate situation that he would have encountered at night, out there drifting around.”