Selvin Ismael Ramos has been charged with the murder of Eladio Samael Ramos.
It happened on Sunday in Independence Village. According to the police, the Ramos brothers were engaged in a fight when Selvin shot and killed his brother Eladio with an unlicensed firearm.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander of the Eastern Division, explained the situation: “On Sunday, May 26th, 2024, police responded to a report at the Independence Polyclinic. Upon their arrival, they found the lifeless body of Eladio Ramos, who had suffered a gunshot wound. The investigation revealed that Eladio had a fight with his brother Selvin, who then retrieved a shotgun and fired the fatal shot. Selvin Ramos is in custody, statements are being recorded, and the matter will be sent to the DPP for directives.”
The infamous Ellis Meighan was reportedly detained in San Diego, USA, recently. The Belize City man is wanted for questioning in the murder of 33-year-old Roy Burgess. Back in April, Burgess was shot while inside his vehicle on mile twenty-two along the Placencia Road with Maia James.
They were approached by a male suspect, who opened fire on the unsuspecting pair. James was shot in the face. Meighan is also wanted for her attempted murder.
Police are also seeking twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Vaccaro in relation to this incident.
News Five has confirmed that Stake Bank Enterprise Limited has discontinued claims against the government and other parties. Stake Bank had filed a claim against the Attorney General of Belize, the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, Portico Enterprise Limited, Waterloo Investment Holdings Limited, Belize Cruise Development Limited, and Belize Logistics Terminal Limited.
The notice is dated May 24th, 2024, and it was filed by Barrow and Williams LLP, attorneys for Stake Bank.
Earlier this month, News Five reported that the facilities of Stake Bank were sold to Operaciones Portuarias, a corporation registered under Honduran law and affiliated with brothers Guillermo and David Bueso. The announcement was made by Atlantic Bank Limited. In its statement, the bank noted that it removed the debt owed by Stake Bank from its books and no longer conducts banking business with Stake Bank.
The Government of Belize and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) co-hosted a side event at the 4th International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda. The event, titled “How Debt-for-Nature and Debt-for-Climate Swaps can Help SIDS Economies: Belize Case Study and Tools for Governments,” highlighted the success of the Belize Blue Bonds. This case study demonstrated how debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps can assist SIDS countries in meeting their nature and climate commitments, fostering blue economy strategies, and increasing resilience to natural disasters without escalating national debt.
The TNC Nature Bonds Toolkit was officially launched during this event. Head of Delegation and Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, inaugurated the meeting. Beverly Wade, Director of the Blue Bonds and Finance Permanence Unit, discussed the structure, benefits, and challenges of the Belize Blue Bonds from their inception to implementation. She also highlighted the targeted nature outcomes and impacts achieved to date.
Head of Delegation and Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet
The panels featured Wade, Kevin Bender, Director of the Nature Bonds Program at The Nature Conservancy; Jean Paul Adam, Former Minister of Finance for Seychelles; and Ambassador Jessye Lapenn, Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation from the United States. Ambassador Janine Felson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations, delivered the closing remarks.
In 2021, the Government of Belize, The Nature Conservancy, and the United States International Development Finance Corporation pioneered the Belize Blue Bonds as an innovative financial solution. The initiative enabled a BZD728 million debt conversion for marine conservation, significantly reducing Belize’s debt-to-GDP ratio and national debt by 12%. It also created long-term sustainable financing for conservation and secured commitments to protect up to 30% of Belize’s ocean space, among other conservation goals. To date, BZD18 million has been committed and invested in government and non-government partners through the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future to achieve key marine conservation and responsible blue economy development targets.
Kevin Geban was elected as the new president of the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) during its 55th Annual General Meeting on Saturday. Geban was the former first vice president. Geban and the newly elected officials will join the existing board members for the 2024–2025 term.
A release from BAS says that members convened to review achievements over the past year, highlighted by the presentation of the BAS Annual Report and Fiscal Report, which detailed the organisation’s activities and financial performance.
Pope Francis recently issued an apology for using an anti-gay slur during a closed-door meeting with bishops. The 87-year-old pontiff reportedly made the offensive comment last week, suggesting that gay men should not be allowed to train for the priesthood.
In a statement released by the Vatican on Tuesday, they clarified that the Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms. He extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of the term, as reported by others.
Despite this incident, Pope Francis has consistently emphasized an inclusive stance within the Church.
The controversy arose when two Italian newspapers, Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica, reported on the May 20 meeting, citing sources present. According to their reports, the Pope used the term “frociaggine,” which translates to “faggotry” in English, while discussing the presence of gay men in seminaries.
Corriere della Sera pointed out that the Pope, being Argentine and speaking Italian as a second language, may not have fully realized the offensiveness of his language. The remark reportedly elicited incredulous laughter from the bishops present.
It’s important to note that the Vatican had previously ruled in 2005 that men who are actively gay or have “deep-seated” homosexual tendencies cannot be ordained. Pope Francis reaffirmed this ruling in 2016 and advised Italian bishops in 2018 not to accept gay candidates for the priesthood.
North Korea’s bid to launch a second spy satellite ended in failure as the rocket carrying it exploded mid-flight. The announcement came late Monday, following South Korea’s military report of an “unidentified projectile” launch.
Initial analysis pointed to issues with a newly developed liquid-fuel rocket motor, though other potential causes are still being investigated. Earlier, officials in South Korea and Japan had also indicated that the launch appeared unsuccessful. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff observed North Korea firing an “unidentified projectile southwards” over the Yellow Sea, followed by the sighting of numerous fragments in the sea minutes later.
Following the failed launch, nuclear envoys from South Korea, the United States, and Japan had a phone conversation, condemning the attempt. They emphasised that it violated United Nations Security Council resolutions banning North Korea’s use of ballistic missile technology, posing a severe threat to regional peace and security.
North Korea had notified earlier in the day about its launch plan, stating that the window would remain open until June 4. This comes after North Korea successfully launched its first spy satellite in November on its third attempt, which drew international condemnation. That launch followed a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia, where Putin promised technical assistance to North Korea.
Kim Jong Un had declared at the end of last year that Pyongyang would launch three more military spy satellites in 2024 as part of a military modernization programme that saw a record number of weapons tests in 2023.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Department of the Environment (DoE) are issuing a critical advisory regarding significant air quality concerns caused by ongoing wildfires affecting several communities in the Toledo and Cayo districts.
These wildfires have resulted in a considerable increase in air pollution due to smoke, posing health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The following health advisories are being issued:
Stay Indoors: Residents are advised to remain indoors as much as possible, especially during periods of heavy smoke.
Keep Windows and Doors Closed: Ensure that your living spaces are sealed to prevent smoke from entering.
Use Air Purifiers: If available, use air purifiers to reduce indoor air pollution.
Limit Outdoor Activities: Minimize outdoor physical activities to reduce exposure to polluted air.
Seek Medical Attention: Individuals experiencing respiratory issues should seek immediate medical attention.
Wear Masks: Wear masks when outdoors in affected areas to filter out fine particles.
Efforts are underway to control the wildfires and mitigate the impact on air quality. The DoE is acquiring air quality monitoring equipment to be installed in strategic areas to detect changes in ambient air quality, aiding in the national response and decision-making process.
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) is underway in Antigua. More than 20 world leaders, along with representatives from the private sector, civil society, academia, and youth—nearly 4,000 participants in total—have gathered at the American University to tackle critical issues impacting the future of SIDS.
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) is underway in Antigua
Under the theme “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity,” the four-day conference (27-30 May) will showcase innovations and develop practical solutions to address challenges driven by the climate emergency, spiralling debt, and health crises.
The conference will adopt The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity, outlining the sustainable development aspirations of small islands over the next decade and the support required from the international community.
The session began with a recorded message from King Charles III. During his speech, King Charles III said, “I’ve seen the critical challenges you face and how they can multiply to a terrifying and existential degree. I have also seen how islands are leaders. You are continuously showing the world in tackling climate change, in protecting biodiversity and in stewarding incredibly 1/3 of the global ocean which is absolutely crucial in the fight against both climate change and nature loss.”
Secretary-general of the United Nations António Guterres
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening address, emphasized that SIDS are a “test case for climate justice and financial justice.” He decried the prospect of losing entire countries or cultures due to global warming and the disparities in the global financial system. Guterres called for bold investments from SIDS and substantial support from the international community, particularly from countries with the greatest responsibility and capacity to address these challenges. He underscored the urgency of implementing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and demanded a fair and just global financial architecture.
SIDS, spanning the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea, are home to approximately 65 million people and manage 19.1 percent of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones. Despite their high biodiversity and significant contributions to renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and conservation, these nations face unique vulnerabilities due to their small size, remote locations, and susceptibility to climate-induced disasters.
