2025-04-10 - Channel 5 Belize

Juvenile Jaguar Killed Near Maya Centre

A young male jaguar was found dead early this morning near Maya Centre village in what appears to be the latest case of roadkill incidents involving the endangered species.

The big cat was discovered between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. by a local tour guide, about a mile before entering the village. According to the tour guide, the jaguar showed clear signs of injuries that indicated it was knocked down.

The tour guide transported the jaguar to Savanna Forest Station, where the staff weighed and prepared the cat for burial.

Residents and tour guides in the area are pleading with all drivers to slow down and remain alert, particularly on the southern highways where wildlife tend to traverse.

They stress the need for safer driving to protect both wildlife and people. “This is not the first time that we find jaguars dead because of getting knocked down,” the guide told News 5.

The public is urged to report reckless drivers to the relevant authorities and to notify the Forest Department of any wildlife collisions. Reporting these incidents helps ensure jaguar remains are recovered and properly disposed of by the department.

Belize Joins High-Level Labour Meetings in Guyana

Belize recently participated in two significant regional meetings focused on addressing labour issues across the Caribbean. The meetings were held in Georgetown, Guyana, from April 6 to 8, 2025. The discussions were hosted by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the CARICOM Secretariat.

On April 6, a Senior Officials Meeting set the stage for the ministerial session, finalising key documents. The Caribbean Ministers of Labour then gathered on April 7 to tackle emerging labour market challenges, explore regional cooperation, and assess progress on promoting decent work. The discussions also aimed to align labour policies with evolving economic and environmental conditions.

The final session on April 8, was the Thirty-Fourth Special Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD).

Minister of Labour & Local Government, Florencio Marin Jr, reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to regional cooperation and social protection.

Two American Fugitives Deported from Belize

Two American fugitives have been deported from Belize to the United States to face serious criminal charges, including weapons trafficking and rape, according to a statement from the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

The return of the suspects was announced on social media by the DSS, which praised the coordinated international effort behind the operation. The arrests and deportations were carried out in partnership with multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Belize Police Department, Tennessee law enforcement and other law enforcement entities.

The fugitives were tracked down and returned with assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Belize.

The identities of the individuals and specific case details have not yet been released.

‘Onny’ Under Vet Care After Vicious Machete Attack

“Onny”, the horse that was viciously attacked by three teenagers, is now under the care of veterinarians from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA).

A video that circulated on social media showed the three teenagers, aged 16, 17, and 19, viciously attacking the defenceless animal on Pitter Street in Belize City.

Another video of the animal after the attack showed maggots already infesting the wounds.

The three teenagers were detained today by police. According to the police, they are believed to be members of the Bone Yard Crips.

Trump Pauses Tariffs for 90 Days, Markets Surge Before Falling Back

President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for over 75 countries negotiating on trade and refraining from retaliation. This temporarily eased global trade tensions but kept pressure on key rivals like China.

The decision caused a short-lived rally on Wall Street on Wednesday, with stocks showing an upward trend. Major indices posted historic gains before stocks resumed their downward trend this morning.

Under the new policy, the U.S. will suspend most of its recent tariff increases, though a 10% base tariff remains on nearly all global imports. China is an exception, where tariffs on its goods will rise dramatically to 125%, with some items facing a total of 145% in levies.

This has escalated the ongoing trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.

The European Union welcomed the pause, suspending its own retaliatory measures in a bid to restart dialogue with Washington. Meanwhile, Beijing doubled down on its stance and issued more aggressive rhetoric and maintained its retaliatory tariffs.

Analysts continue to warn the trade war is far from over, and with rising U.S. Treasury yields hinting at investor unease, volatility is likely to persist.

Injured Horse Found in Yard Raises Concerns Over Animal Abuse

One week after removing the carcass of a dead horse, a concerned Belize City resident is now dealing with a new, troubling situation—an injured horse found in their yard, accompanied by another healthy one. The resident says they have no idea how the animals ended up on their property or who owns them.

“All I want is the authority to look to things like these these animals are been use and abuse,” the resident pleaded.

The incident has raised alarm over the ongoing mistreatment of horses in the area and calls for stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws.

Earlier today we reported that three teenagers, aged 16 to 19, were detained after a viral video showed one of them brutally chopping a defenceless horse in Belize City.

At the start of this month, a Facebook plea to help a starving horse abandoned in a drain on Kraal Road reignited calls for stronger animal welfare enforcement in Belize, after rescue efforts failed and the horse died from neglect.

Who Is Stealing License Plates?

Residents of Maris Deena Street in Southside Belize City are facing costs they did not anticipate after their licence plates were stolen earlier this week.

Early Tuesday morning, thieves targeted at least nine vehicles in the area, stealing license plates and two car batteries. Some plates were left damaged beyond use.

Victims now face the inconvenience of filing police reports and making multiple trips to the Traffic Department to replace their stolen plates — a process residents say is both time-consuming and expensive.

Police have not yet determined a motive, but the department issued a bulletin for the missing plates. Residents are concerned that the stolen plates could be used on other vehicles to commit crimes or traffic offences, wrongly implicating the original owners.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Belize Pushes Regional Action as U.S. Tariff Threatens Economy

Belize took centre stage at a high-level CARICOM consultation today, warning of the economic fallout from the United States’ newly announced 10% reciprocal tariff under its “America First” trade policy.

At the regional meeting, Director General of Foreign Trade Andy Sutherland presented Belize’s case, stating that over US$45 million in national exports, especially sugar, marine products, and pepper sauces, are at immediate risk. He stressed the potential impact on livelihoods, calling for urgent and united CARICOM action.

Belize proposed the creation of a Regional Emergency Competitiveness Fund, to be managed through the Caribbean Development Bank and national development banks. The fund would provide low-cost credit to help MSMEs and vulnerable sectors offset rising costs and navigate shifting trade dynamics.

The Government has also instructed its embassy in Washington to engage U.S. officials directly, seeking clarity, advocating for exemptions, and reaffirming Belize’s commitment to rules-based trade under the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

Belize underscored the need to protect the CARICOM Common External Tariff, speed up the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, and pursue new markets to build long-term resilience.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on all “reciprocal” tariffs on over 70 countries, except those imposed on China.

Teens Detained After Viral Video Shows them Viciously Attacking Horses

Three teenagers have been detained in connection with a video that surfaced showing a defenceless horse being viciously chopped in the head on Pitter Street in Belize City. The group of teenagers aged 19, 17, and 16, are also accused of stealing 15 horses from a farm near Ladyville, owned by local tour operator Joshua Trapp.

Trapp discovered the animals were missing on April 7 while his family was away; seven were later found tied up.

The viral video shows a group of young men attacking one of the horses with a machete. Trapp stated that it was one of his animals and said the assault happened not far from his property.

The act shown in the viral video left many Belizeans outraged.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams condemned the attack as “inhumane and senseless,” and said the Belize Police Department is taking the matter seriously.

Williams added, “We will do everything in our power to ensure those responsible face justice.”