Police are investigating a drug trafficking operation in southern Belize after anaircraft was found burnt on a makeshift airstrip near Graham Creek, Toledo, close to the Guatemalan border. On Friday, BDF Commander Brigadier General Azariel Loria confirmed the plane’s link to a drug ring and said the investigation is ongoing. One suspect from a nearby village has been detained. Loria stated, “it’s a drug trafficking network that we’re trying to dismantle in the south”. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters today that a team of police and Belize Defense Force officers responded to the area and found the plane’s burnt remains. Williams confirmed there was no cargo on the plane. He added that the team stayed in the area to continue their investigation, and two individuals were eventually detained near the landing site.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Last week Thursday, after midnight, information was received of a plane that had landed in the extreme south of Belize. That is in the Toledo District. A team of police and BDF was dispatched to the area and upon arrival, the burnt remains of the plane were found and there was no cargo. The operations team remained in the area for a number of days, conducting searches in the area with the hope of finding something. And, eventually, they detained two persons who were found not too far from the vicinity of the plane landing and those two persons are currently in police custody being questioned with a view to ascertain if they have any information that could assist the police in determining who are those behind that plane landing. We had two police officers who were brought in for questioning. And, again, that was because of certain information that we were getting and so it was just done with a view to see if in fact the information obtained was accurate and to see if there was any involvement of these officers. But so far, investigators have probed into this matter and we have not found anything to incriminate those two officers as it relates to the plane landing.”
Earlier today in San Pedro, police found a live grenade inside an abandoned building during an operation on northern Ambergris Caye. This morning, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shared more details about the discovery.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“This morning, sometime after eight a.m., a team of officers from San Pedro conducted search in an abandoned building situated north of Ambergris Caye. The search led to the discovery of a grenade, a hand grenade inside one of the rooms. That grenade is currently at a secure location. A BDF bomb expert has been contacted and should be in San Pedro any time now to examine the grenade and to destroy it in San Pedro.”
A tragic incident occurred on Saturday when a student from Edward P Yorke High School drowned just minutes after being baptized in the Sibun River at Gracie Rock Village. Sixteen-year-old Cayden Stewart was on a church trip with other youths from Queen Street Baptist Church. After being baptized, the group planned to go swimming, but the joyful occasion quickly turned into a nightmare when Cayden went under the water and didn’t resurface. His body was found later that afternoon after a frantic search. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with Cayden’s Principal at E.P. Yorke and his counselor, who recently moved to another school. They described Cayden as a role model—a disciplined, respectful, and ambitious young man who was deeply committed to his faith.
Karen Canto
Karen Canto, Principal, E.P. Yorke High School
“He was like the one that kept them together, as in one person told me that, thatCayden did not hold malice. So even if they quiet, you know, teenagers and go out to each other. By the next day, all is well again, and yes, they’re hurting thing. Yes, they are broken, male, female, but also the teachers.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
The student body and teachers at E.P. Yorke High School are grieving the sudden loss of Cayden Stewart, a fourth form student who was just a few months away from graduating. Cayden tragically drowned on Saturday, only minutes after being baptized during a church trip to Gracie Rock. Samson Jacobs, who had been Cayden’s counselor for the past four years, recently moved to another school but knew Cayden better than most. Despite his young age, Cayden has left behind a legacy and set a positive example for many, both younger and older.
Samson Jacobs
Samson Jacobs, Former Counselor, E.P. Yorke High School
“He was an avid church goer. Even on Sundays when I would tell him to come, he would tell me, “Sir, I have to go to church first before I come.” So his grandmother ensured that he kept that spiritual component. He was like a sponge. He knew how to bring his classmates and his teachers together.”
Jacobs said he immediately sprang into action upon hearing the heartbreaking news, knowing that Cayden’s classmates would need support and counseling due to the profound impact he had on them.
Samson Jacobs
“Immediately when I got the report, I contacted the Belize School Counselors Association to ask them if they would be willing to come to E.P. Yorke on Monday, which is today, to lend support to the students and staff. So, when I reached there this morning – I had communicated with my principal to go over also to lend support since he was my student from First Form. So, when I went over this morning, I was happy to see the counselor from Wesley College. We had Pastor Lloyd who went over, also the counselor from Nazarene High School to lend support.”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero shared that Cayden drowned in an area of the river that is very deep.
“On Saturday, police responded to a report of a drowning at Gracie Rock. Upon arrival, they saw the lifeless body of Cayden Stewart, sixteen years old. Information is that he was along with several other persons swimming when he went underwater. He did not resurface. Persons in the area began to search and found his body. No signs of injuries were observed on the body. He was taken to the morgue and is awaiting a postmortem examination.”
Reporter
“Is it directly connected to a baptism?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes. They had a baptism prior to them going swimming in that area.”
Reporter
“And there were no personnel that could have helped him, to your knowledge?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“The area is deep, and he went under and he was not seen until the persons began to search.”
According to Jacobs, Cayden was a leader and set good examples for the rest of his class.
Samson Jacobs
“I had them in a chat group and when we’d meet on Saturdays and Sundays, I would say, “Guys, we will meet at school for eight o’clock. Cayden would be the first one to put in that chat group on Saturday morning “I done deh da school; weh everybody else deh?” So, he prided himself on punctuality. Another thing is that he dreamt of being an engineer. And one of the things I believe that he wanted to be, he believed that he owed that to his grandmother. His grandmother was the one who was his immediate caregiver, provider. And so, he said, “You know what, Sir? I want to go and study.” He already had a university in the States. He had applied. His death impacted me because I saw him progress and growing.”
Principal Canto said he was also very intelligent.
Karen Canto
“He’s an advanced industrial studies student. He’s in the group that we tend to call our elites, and that’s where our engineers come from. He was in first place, currently in second term; he was in first place for Industrial Studies (advanced) set to graduate.”
The Ministry of Education has expressed heartfelt condolences on the passing of Cayden Stewart, extending their sympathies to his family, friends, teachers, and classmates. In their statement, they noted, “His passing is an immense loss not only to his school community but to the entire education family.” Cayden Stewart will be laid to rest in Dangriga on Sunday, which would have been his seventeenth birthday. Marion Ali for News Five.
When will Commissioner of Police Chester Williams step down and start his new role as C.E.O. in the Ministry of Transport? Did he get a letter from the Prime Minister’s C.E.O. about his upcoming departure from the Belize Police Department?
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I will only say that the CEO has no authority to write such letter. I’ve not seen it, but if that is so, she has no authority. My appointment comes from the Governor General and so only the Governor General can alter the terms of my authority as Commissioner of Police, or the Prime Minister. So that is all I’m going to say in respect of that. In terms of my timeline, I have advised the Cabinet Secretary that I want to leave as quick as possible. It’s a matter of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary working out my exit package and once that is done then I am prepared to leave. I am excited about going to take over my new role, I believe that it is going to be something good for me. It’s a new opportunity for me to be able to go and apply myself with a view to see how I can continue to contribute to the safety of this country.”
In a heartwarming ceremony earlier today, Smart and Hand in Hand Ministry handed over a brand-new home to a single mother in Belize City. This generous act marks another milestone in their mission to support families in need. The new homeowner, Jenay Stewart, surrounded by friends and community members, expressed her deep gratitude for the life-changing gift. Here’s more on this inspiring story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
For Jenay Stewart and her kids, getting the keys to their new home through Hand in Hand Ministries is a moment of pure joy and gratitude. It’s a dream come true for this single mother, who has worked tirelessly and persevered through many challenges. The feeling of finally having a safe and secure place to call their own is simply indescribable.
Jenay Stewart
Jenay Stewart, Homeowner
“I mi always wahn have my own home, but something weh I noh haffi pay rent. Something my kids could call their own home. Soh I mean wahn whole lot to me.”
For Hand in Hand Ministries, the joy of gifting a new home to a family in need is truly heartwarming and fulfilling. Seeing the smiles and tears of happiness on the faces of families as they receive their keys is a profound experience. Knowing that they’ve helped provide a safe, secure, and loving environment for them is incredibly rewarding. For Shannon Stuart, it’s not just about giving a house; it’s about offering hope, stability, and a fresh start. Each home built strengthens the community and brings people closer together, creating a deep sense of connection and purpose that makes this work so special.
Shannon Stuart
Shannon Stuart, Hand in Hand Ministries
“It’s always an amazing opportunity to work with an organization that builds for families that are in need of housing assistance, providing not only homes but stability, hope, and a foundation for them to build a better life for themselves. If you notice the house, it’s an upgrade from our other houses that we build. It comes with electrical, plumbing, ceiling inside, aluminum windows and a veranda.”
As a corporate citizen, building community through partnerships with organizations like Hand in Hand Ministries is incredibly important. These partnerships allow Smart to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. By working together, Smart and its partner can pool resources, expertise, and passion to create lasting positive change.
Karina Canto
Karina Canto, PR & Communications, Smart
“This is our third home that we have partnered with Hand In Hand Ministry. It’s a privilege for us to be a partner with Hand In Hand Ministry as we look to invest in our communities. Outside of being a mobile service provider, we look at things that we can do, not only to improve our services but also the community because that helps them in the long run to feel empowered and really, just on a whole, contribute to Belize’s economy because once they feel that they are worth it, they provide positively to the community.”
Supporting initiatives that provide safe and secure homes not only improve the quality of life for individual families but also strengthens the entire community. It promotes stability, encourages economic growth, and enhances social cohesion. Moreover, these efforts reflect a commitment to corporate social responsibility, showing that the company cares about the well-being of the communities it serves. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Earlier in the newscast, we reported on the legal battle between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Taegar-Panton, who are once again facing off in court. We also heard from former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber, who was expelled from the party by Barrow. Faber claims that proper procedures were not followed, and no charges were brought against him, making him confident that the court will rule in Taegar-Panton’s favor. Here’s what he had to say.
Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet
“As we are concerned and we could have seen there is only one way in which members of the party could be expelled, and that is through the ethics committee. The ethics committee, after considering a charge agreed upon by the central executive, would have to consider whatever is being brought and one of the possible penalties could be an expulsion. None of that was done in the case of myself and my colleagues. And as far as we’re concerned. There is no other way for an expulsion to happen that did not happen. There are other ways of making changes, if you will or removing people from the NPC, from the central executive and so on. But none of that speaks to expulsion. And so when it is that an expulsion is pronounced in the manner in which Shyne and Peyrefitte did that has to be completely illegal and cannot stand and I’m pretty confident that the court is going to rule in our favor in that manner because the law is very, or what was the rule, was very straightforward in terms of that.”
Reporter
“At what point was there to have been an ethics committee meeting?”
Patrick Faber
“Once a charge is brought, somebody would’ve had to put something in writing. And we all know that this came because we were very outspoken about the injustices that we felt were happening within the party structure. And so somebody would’ve had to put pen to paper and a complaint to the central executive. The central executive would then need to determine whether this was something valid, send it to the ethics committee, and then the ethics committee go through the process, which by the way, is where due process and natural justice comes into play. You cannot expel somebody without giving them a chance to speak up for themselves. And then of course, there is the right to appeal even after the ethics committee pronounces you as expelled or suspended or whatever other penalty can me. You have a right then to appeal to the NPC, which was never afforded to us. So that is how you know, again, that the process was flawed.”
The United Democratic Party has announced its three senators for the National Assembly. One of them is Patrick Faber, the former Collet Area Representative, who lost his seat to the P.U.P. candidate Devin Daly in this year’s general election. Today, we spoke with Faber about his transition into this new role. Here’s more on that.
Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet
“Considering that we’re still fighting the enemy, the PUP, it’s very much the same. It’s a different role after twenty-two years in the lower house. I was joking with with the fellow senator Senator Courtney, I’ll tell you. And I told him. you’ve always maintained you people who have been senators, you’ve always maintained that the Senate is the better behaved, well-behaved of the two houses. So I guess we’ll have to see. But one thing for sure that I’m going to struggle with whether you in the media, who know, especially at budget time I’m known to go on for a bit, because of course we have a whole lot to talk about. One of the things that I’m sure is going to be a handicap is the time limit which is afforded to members of the Senate. I think it’s only forty-five minutes while in the house you are inhibited, providing you’re not repeating yourself on.”
Paul Lopez
“ How much did you personally bid for this role? Did you see it as important for the future of your political career?”
Patrick Faber
“To be honest with you, I did not anticipate that at all. I, in fact, when I was asked by all party leader, I gave it consideration. One because it is a role that we’ve often said, should not be a kind of reward for candidates who have failed. And I do put myself in that category because I did not bring home the seat. But I also looked at the fact that the party needs good, strong debaters at this time in the Senate and in the house. We need good voices. And so when I was approached with it from that angle asking me to support not only my Senate colleagues, but also my new colleagues who are house members I could not turn my back on the party. And so I agreed that I would do it for the strength of the party.”
After representing the Collet area for twenty-two years, Patrick Faber lost his seat to political newcomer Devin Daly by just under two hundred votes. Following his defeat, Faber announced plans to refurbish his office to continue serving as Collet’s Community Education and Resource Center. We spoke with him earlier today about his loss. Here’s what he had to say.
Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet
“I conceded I am not the kind that will cry fall. I believe that there are many things that happened and I think that it was very blatant in, in most regards what happened. But a loss is a loss. I understood that very well from the night of the election. And I believe that I still have a place with the people of color. I am not quick to abandon them. They have made it very clear to me that they still want me to be there as their representative. And so I I’m considering that very strongly. Not quick to. To make a decision there, but I don’t think that I’ll be going anywhere in that regard. But I also believe that I have a very huge role to play in terms of helping to put the pieces back together, if you will, of the party. And so that is my primary role in these early days after the election.”
Paul Lopez
“How do you assess the criticism that you spent a lot of time away from your constituency? And is it you intend to change that if you find that to be a fact? Over the next four years.”
Patrick Faber
“You’ve, I think you’ve asked me this already on your morning show, Paul, and that it was not an intentional abandonment. In fact, I did not live abroad. I live here in Belize. I made very clear to persons even through the National Assembly every chance that I got that I was and still am trying to complete my studies. I intend to finish with my doctoral degree in public administration in a few months time. And so that does not mean that means that I don’t have to any longer do the kind of traveling that I used to do. I take some responsibility of course, for the loss. I, like I said, I’m not one who will cry fall. I’ve never been in a situation where I would have to explain a loss before. But I’m not one who will sit down and cry, fall, and claim that it’s not a loss. A loss is a loss. I had a fair run and with the people of Collet for twenty-two years. I’ve been their representative. I’ve been their leader as the UDP person in the constituency for much longer, maybe not twenty-seven years. And so for me, it is an opportunity again for me to reassess my position. And to see where we’re going. But that certainly does not mean an abandonment of my people.”
Recently, Party Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton and members of the UDP visited Cayo North to meet with election workers and scrutinizers about serious concerns during the recent general election. Allegations include voters photographing ballot sheets, misusing the proxy vote system, and participating in fraudulent voter transfers. Former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber explained how these issues might have contributed to his recent loss in the constituency he held for over twenty years.
Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet
“ I’m not one who cries for all of these things, but I think something must be said. And I applaud the people of Cayo North for sounding the alarm before Omar Figueroa and the Cayo North folks, for instance succeeded in the court to prove fraud when it came to those voters that were transferred illegally. We would’ve thought, oh, these things just are run of the mill, spoken about, but not real until we saw where, there was some gain made in terms of proving it in the court. And I think that sent a signal for the nation. Even though as we look at what happened during the election, there is no doubt in my mind that some of those same irregularities happened in Collet. There was an abundance of people coming to vote along with the PUP operatives who claim all of a sudden, these are people who have known all my ideas in Collet all my twenty-five years or so in Collet, all of a sudden they can’t read, they can’t hold a pen, they don’t know how to mark an X. These things were very real. I complained to our returning officer on record quite a few times about photographing ballots that was very real on election day. Again, while personally I am not one to sit down and cry about the results, these things are very real. It may be, as I said in my post about Cayo North, not something that we want to use to try to overturn the election results now, but if we don’t pay attention to these things because they’re very real, if we don’t pay attention to them and make complaints about them this system of democracy that we practice in this country that we’ve enjoyed so a very long will crumble if those of us who have something to say and know what’s going wrong, don’t say anything about it, we are going to suffer the consequences.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The cricket pitch in Bermudian Landing came alive on Saturday for the Belize National Cricket Association’s Annual Marathon. Area Representative for Belize Rural North, Marconi Lead Junior, was present at the opening ceremony, as was Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, Devin Daly. Leal handed over ten thousand dollars to support the association’s efforts, while both him and Daly participated in the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the marathon. Daly, an experienced basketball player, pitched like he has been practicing his throw, while Leal was able to connect ball to bat. We spoke with newly elected President of the Belize National Cricket Association, Dwight Gabb, about the upcoming season set to begin this weekend.
Dwight Gabb
Dwight Gabb, President, B.N.C.A.
“We are looking at a revamp of the season, because it will be short. We are trying to make maximum use of the weather. Last year we were inundated with water and we had issues completing the season. So we are going to revamp the season and change the format so we can have a completion of this year. I have been involved in cricket for years. I have been in the executive position before. So I have some knowledge. I was up to vice president as one point and I took a step back, but I was still involved as an umpire. I formed part of the dispute committee and appeals committee. I was chair of both those committees. I finished my degree in sports leadership and manager from the university of West Indies. I said I can contribute to further development of cricket and try to elevate cricket to the next level. It will take a lot of commitment, finance. My vision is to have one of those IPL teams come to Belize and play. We need venues. We need training, and finance as I said. Without that, and a serious commitment form the government, especially in sports, and all sports. I encourage the government to elevate all sports in Belize.”
A total of eight teams participated in the marathon. Double Head Cabbage Armstrong won first place, while the Bermudian Landing Summer Fever secured second place. Third place went to Surprise from Lemonal, while the Belize Defense Force team finished in the fourth position. And from the cricket pitch we move to the basket court for the Ahmadiyya Basketball Tournament.
Its playoff time for Ahmadiyya basketball. Tonight, we bring you highlights from the playoff match between two under twenty-two teams. They are the Dream Chasers and Maya Men. This one was hotly contested folks. Both teams scored thirteen points in the first quarter. Number nine for Dream Chasers dominated his team, from the start of the game, while the other end of the court saw their number seven leading the charge and putting up critical points. But, after that first quarter break, Maya Men came out firing on all cylinders, led by a couple three pointers from their players wearing number eleven and seven jerseys. They scored a total of twenty-two points in the second quarter and held Dream Chasers to fourteen. At the end of the first half, Dream Chasers had twenty-seven points, while Maya Men had thirty-five points. Well, after the half time break, Dream Chasers returned to the court with renewed energy. They made a total of seventeen points in the third quarter, while holding their opponents to thirteen points. Dream Chasers were able to cut the lead down to three points, placing victory in their reach. The fourth quarter was the most decisive of them all. Both teams left heart and soul on the basketball court. Dream Chasers needed to pull off a dominant basketball display to recover from their deficit and win this one. But they were only able to secure ten points, the least of all four quarters. Their opponents, Maya Men, had its second-best scoring quarter in the game with fifteen points. In the end, Maya Men came out on top with sixty-two points to the Dream Chasers’ fifty-two points. The Ahmadiyya Basketball playoffs continue next week as the season quickly comes to an end. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
