Breaking Belize News - Channel 5 Belize

David Gegg Rectifies Statements Made in Error

Portico Enterprises Limited CEO David Gegg has written to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster, rectifying statements made.

Gegg appeared before the Senate Special Select Committee on May 21 in Belmopan, where committee members asked him about the Portico “Definative Agreement.”.

In the letter, Gegg tells Webster, “After revisiting my records and my testimony, I recognised that the following statements were made in error.” Gegg says that while he sent an email to a personal email, which he believed to be for Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler, he “did not attach the Definitive Agreement. I also note that at no point was the agreement delivered to him.”

*David Gegg’s letter to Cleak of the NA Eddie Webster*

Gegg also clarified that he also sent it to an incorrect email from Prime Minister John Briceño. “I note however that the email I sent it to was to a jbreceno as opposed to jbriceno and as such it would not have reached the Prime Minster.”

“I apologize for the errors and trust that the record will be amended accordingly.”

Commission of Inquiry on Belize Sugar Industry Holds First Meeting

The Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, May 29. The meeting was held virtually.

A government press release says it had the participation of Wayne Piper, Chairman, and the five commissioners: Robert Mariette and Vinod Ramharai from Mauritius, Jeffery Joseph from Belize, Andy Church from South Africa, and Simon Gibbons from the United Kingdom. Also in attendance were Lorena Posada, Secretary to the Commission; Hugh O’Brien, Lead Coordinator for the Government of Belize; Marcos Osorio, Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB); and Krity Neermul, Technical Coordinator for the Mauritius team.

According to the government, the meeting focused on discussing and agreeing upon the general plan for the first phase of work, along with associated logistics. This phase will include visits to the mills at BSI and Santander, as well as farm and field trips to sugar production sites in northern and western Belize. Commissioners are scheduled to begin arriving in Belize during the first week of June, with logistical support provided by the SICB.

This commission aims to examine the entire value chain of the sugar cane industry and provide recommendations to the Government of Belize.

The commissioners aim to complete their report(s) by the deadline of November 30, 2024.

Claudia Sheinbaum Makes History as Mexico’s First Female President

Claudia Sheinbaum achieved a historic, landslide victory. On Sunday, June 2, preliminary figures show the left-wing Morena party candidate secured nearly 60% of the vote, compared to almost 30% for her right-wing opponent, Xochitl Galvez. Sheinbaum’s win is even more decisive than that of her predecessor, current Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), in 2018.

Standing before a Mexican flag, Sheinbaum, who will become Mexico’s first female president, reiterated a frequent message on Sunday night: “I’m not coming here alone, but with all Mexican women.” In the Zocalo, the country’s largest public square, her supporters, who had been gathered for hours, celebrated joyfully. During her campaign, Sheinbaum appeared more relaxed than she had in the past, but her aides affirm she will govern as she always has: with hard work, rigor, and dedication.

Sheinbaum’s name will be etched in history as Mexico’s first female president, breaking the glass ceiling of 200 years of male leadership.

Belizean Man Convicted in Texas for Illegal Re-entry

A Belizean man, previously deported from the U.S., is returning to prison after a federal jury in Del Rio found him guilty of illegally re-entering the country.

Francis Kerr, also known as Francis Deon Flowers, 51, was apprehended by border patrol near Eagle Pass on August 22, 2023. Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced his conviction for illegal re-entry.

Kerr was deported in 2009 after serving a 17-year sentence for robbery and assault. Despite his efforts to re-enter the U.S., a trial revealed his criminal history, including two counts of 2nd-degree robbery, four counts of assault with a firearm, and conspiracy to commit robbery, all stemming from his time in Los Angeles.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas announced the case, highlighting the collaboration between Customs and Immigration Services and the U.S. Border Patrol in tackling illegal immigration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Markovits and Joshua Garland prosecuted the case, underscoring that evading deportation orders and re-entering the country illegally will result in severe consequences. Kerr now faces another prison term, reaffirming that violating U.S. laws to escape a criminal past is futile.

Official Start of the 2024 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season

June 1st marks the official beginning of the 2024 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin, which includes the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. This season runs from June 1st to November 30th each year, though tropical cyclones can occasionally form outside this period.

The 2024 forecast predicts above-normal tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin, with expectations of 17 to 25 named storms. Out of these, eight to 13 are anticipated to become hurricanes, and four to seven are likely to reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or stronger). Typically, an average Atlantic season comprises 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

Two main factors are expected to influence the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season:

High likelihood of La Niña: Developing during the peak of the season, this phenomenon is likely to enhance tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin.
Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures: These temperatures are expected to provide more energy, fueling tropical cyclone development.

What Does this Mean for Belize?

While seasonal predictions indicate the expected activity level of a hurricane season, they do not specify the timing or path of individual hurricanes. Belize, being in a region vulnerable to tropical cyclones, must remain prepared each year regardless of the forecast. Whether one or more of the 17 to 25 named storms predicted this season will impact Belize is uncertain, but preparedness is crucial.

Murder in Belmopan

Belmopan police are looking for one person for questioning in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier today.

The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Solomon Peter Coleman. His body was discovered on Cemetery Road in Belmopan. He had been fatally shot.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Coleman was walking along the street when he was shot and killed.

The body is currently awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Belize Stands With Taiwan as China’s Actions Escalate

The government of Belize today reaffirmed its solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

In a statement, the Belizean government expressed “concern over the recent escalation of actions by the People’s Republic of China in the Taiwan Strait. These actions pose a threat to international peace and stability in the region and undermine the right to self-determination upheld by the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan).”

As we have reported, tensions are escalating in the Taiwan Strait, as China has initiated two days of military drills encircling Taiwan, only days after the democracy inaugurated a new leader who has long been disfavored by Beijing.

China’s military says the drills are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over Taiwan.

Belize is urging the People’s Republic of China to cease these provocations to prevent further escalation of tensions and to respect the democratic values cherished by the people of Taiwan.

“Belize stands in solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).”

Mexico Set to Elect First Female President Amid Historic Surge in Campaign Violence

Mexico is set to elect its first female president, with Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, leading in the polls. Her main opponent is Xóchitl Gálvez of the conservative PAN party. Despite this historic milestone, the election is overshadowed by unprecedented violence, with at least 34 political candidates or applicants murdered since June 2023. Chiapas, a crucial area for smuggling from Guatemala, exemplifies the desperate pleas from citizens for safety from gang control.

The country faces around 30,000 homicides annually, and a staggering 95% of crimes go unpunished. Femicide rates remain high, with significant impunity for such crimes. Mexico leads globally in political gender equality due to a 2019 constitutional reform, but it remains dangerous for women.

Both Sheinbaum and Gálvez have not provided detailed plans for addressing security issues and have not dismissed the military’s role in combating organised crime. Experts argue that militarization alone won’t resolve issues of impunity and corruption. The current administration’s attempts to demilitarise have largely failed, with criminal organisations maintaining their influence.

The paradox of electing a female president amid pervasive gender-based violence underscores the complex realities of gender and security in Mexico.

Belize Engages in Lima Meeting on Global Ammunition Management

CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries Sharole Carr was in Lima, Peru, earlier this month where she participated in a meeting focused on the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management. The framework, adopted by the UN, aims to improve the management and security of conventional ammunition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the meeting, CEO Carr shared Belize’s progress in modernizing ammunition management, revising legislation, and enhancing inter-agency cooperation. Her participation underscored the importance of regional collaboration and Belize’s commitment to high standards in ammunition security. Carr’s role also highlights Belize’s dedication to integrating gender perspectives and promoting women’s participation in security practices.