Breaking Belize News - Channel 5 Belize

Accused Child Kidnapper Criminally Charged

His name is Kareem Emory Hamilton and he has been charged with kidnapping. This is after a Belize City woman, Shandy Pech, reported to police that her five-year-old daughter was taken by a man. It happened on Thursday.

Wrapping herself in a towel, Pech ran up the street in the direction of the man. With the help of neighbours, they detained the man until the police arrived. Though Pech didn’t know the man, he identified himself to officers, revealing a past conviction for an unnatural crime against a child with special needs.

Belizean Appointed a Resident Magistrate in Grant Turk

Belizean Patricia Arana, former Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), has been appointed as the new Resident Magistrate in Grand Turk, the nation’s capital. This is being reported by Turks and Caicos Weekly News

Arana was officially sworn in on Monday and has since commenced her duties in the new role. Arana initially joined the Judiciary of the Turks and Caicos Islands as Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court in April 2022. Before that, she served as the Deputy Registrar General at the Supreme Court of Belize.

Arana began her judicial career as a Magistrate in 2010 and was promoted to Senior Magistrate in 2015. As Senior Magistrate, she worked in several districts in Belize and acted as Chief Magistrate on multiple occasions. Additionally, she was seconded for two years as Legal Counsel to the Financial Intelligence Unit of Belize.

Arana is an alumna of the University of the West Indies, where she earned a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) Degree, and the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, where she obtained her Legal Education Certificate. Notably, she was awarded the H.H. Dunn Memorial Prize for Legal Drafting and Interpretation at the Norman Manley Law School.

Regionally, Arana serves as an Executive Member of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) on behalf of the Judiciary of the Turks and Caicos Islands. She is also an active member of the Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ) and the National Garifuna Council (NGC) Orange Walk Branch.

ComPol Williams Elected 1st Vice President of the ACCP

At the 38th Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) Annual General Meeting, held in Belize City, Belize, Commissioner of Police Chester C. Williams was elected as the 1st Vice President. In the previous executive, Commissioner Williams served as the 2nd Vice President.

Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney from Antigua and Barbuda was re-elected as President. Commissioner of Police Crusita Descartes-Pelius from St. Lucia was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer, while Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander from the Bahamas was elected as the 2nd Vice President.

This year, Belize hosted the event, providing a platform for commissioners of police from across the region to discuss strategies for tackling crime as a united front. During the conference, police commissioners addressed pressing issues such as gang violence and border security.

A U.S. judge rules that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches

It’s a question that has stood the test of time—and one that sparked a legal battle in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the U.S.A.

Are tacos sandwiches? According to Allen County Superior Court Judge Craig J. Bobay, the answer is yes, including burritos. In a ruling on Monday, Bobay declared tacos and burritos “Mexican-style sandwiches.” This decision arose from a case on whether “Famous Taco” could open in a Fort Wayne shopping centre.

The zoning policy for the property bans fast food but allows restaurants to sell “made-to-order” or Subway-style sandwiches. Although the city commission initially denied the request, Bobay ruled that Famous Taco fits the criteria of serving “Mexican-style sandwiches,” noting that the policy doesn’t restrict to American-style sandwiches.

This isn’t the first legal consideration of food categorization. The USDA in 2005 labelled a burrito as a “Mexican style sandwich-like product.” Additionally, the Cube Rule, which categorises food by starch placement, would classify a burrito as a calzone and a taco as a taco.

For now, Judge Bobay seems to have settled the debate in Fort Wayne. “No amendment was necessary,” he wrote.

Alaine Postpones Reggae Sundays Performance

If you bought tickets and made plans to attend this weekend’s Reggae Sundays event, well, we have news for you.

The featured guest, Jamaican-American singer Alaine, has rescheduled. In a video message, Alaine says these are doctor’s orders. She said she is recuperating from the flu.

I will not be able to make it this week…doctor’s orders, but I promise that I will be there next weekend, and we are going to have the best time together.”

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The organiser of the event said, “I was contacted by Alaine and her management a few minutes ago and informed that the artist due to circumstances beyond her control, is unable make an appearance in Belize this weekend as planned. As a consequence the management of Reggae Sundays is forced to push the slated Reggae Sundays All White Mother’s Day edition to the following Sunday May 26th 2024.”

Some social media users expressed disappointment. One said, “Disappointed. Won’t even be in the country that weekend.” While another said, “Beyond your Control. Get well soon Alaine!”

Over 30,000 Children Cross Perilous Darién Gap in First Months of 2024, UNICEF Reports

More than 30,000 children have crossed the Darién Gap, a dense jungle straddling Panama and Colombia, in the first four months of 2024.

According to UNICEF, the number of minors undertaking this perilous journey has increased by 40% compared to last year. Most of these children are attempting to reach the United States.

Migrants crossing the jungle often fall victim to robbery, extortion, and sexual abuse by criminal gangs. In December alone, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recorded 214 cases of sexual violence in the Darién jungle. The international medical organization reported that armed men detained migrants, forced them to undress, and sexually abused them. While most victims were women, MSF also provided treatment to men and children.

There are no roads through the Darién Gap, and crossing on foot can take a week.

The 50-year-old Male Teacher Rapes Teenage Girl

Police in Punta Gorda are investigating a case of rape. On Monday, May 13, 2024, a woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter visited the Punta Gorda Police Station and reported that on the 7th and 10th of May this year, a male teacher had sexual relations with her in the school bathroom. Police conducted an investigation, after which they formally arrested and charged a 50-year-old Belizean teacher from Toledo District for two counts of rape of a child.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at about 3:30 p.m., a woman and her 15-year-old daughter visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on Friday, May 3, 2024, she went to the apartment of a 33-year-old male person in San Pedro Town, where he had sexual relations with her against her will. Police have since detained the 33-year-old Belizean manager of San Pedro Town as investigations continue.

San Pedro Mayor Not Allowed to Participate in PUP Contested Convention for Standard Bearer

A few weeks ago, San Pedro Mayor Wally Nunez launched his bid to become the next area representative of Belize Rural South. He made the announcement via his Facebook page on April 29th. He said, “The people of San Pedro and Caye Caulker have been asking for quite some time if I will represent them in the next general elections. Well, this is confirmation that I will be sending in my application to represent you all.”

He ends by saying, “Let democracy prevail!!”

Nunez’s ambitions were halted. He was informed that the PUP’s National Executive decided that none of the recently elected mayors are permitted to participate in any contested conventions for the position of standard bearer. They are only allowed to join endorsement conventions, which are uncontested.

Mayor Nunez posted on Facebook, “Guided by the voice of the people, I decided to continue leading them as their area representative. I have now been made to understand that this will not be possible. I respect the decision of our party and hold dear the mandate given to me by the people.”

BDF Confirms Shooting at Fairweather Camp

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) confirmed a shooting that occurred at Fairweather Camp on the outskirts of Punta Gorda Town.

No one was injured.

Chief of Staff Colonel Ricardo Leal exclusively told News that “Yesterday at approximately 5:15 pm, a senior non-commissioned officer for unknown reason discharged six 9mm rounds with his personal weapon into the air within the periphery of Fairweather Camp, Punta Gorda.”

Colonel Leal further told News Five that “The disgruntled Senior non commissioned officer, who was the Battalion Duty Officer, was displeased after he was not given his requested time he wanted to deal with his personal issues.”

He also said that a report has been made to the Punta Gorda Police Station and that the matter is presently being investigated by the Belize Police Department.

The ‘disgruntled senior non-commissioned officer’ has been identified as staff Sergeant Adolfo Williams, who fired several shots from his personal nine-millimeter firearm into the air.

Shots Fired at Fairweather Camp

Police in Punta Gorda Town are investigating an incident that took place at the BDF’s Fairweather camp yesterday afternoon. News Five has learned that police officers are investigating a staff sergeant who reportedly fired his 9-mm firearm several times inside the compound.

The staff sergeant fired the shots in the air. There are no reports of injuries.

The staff sergeant left the scene. News Five contacted the BDF, and we were told that it is a police matter.

This is a developing story.