A week of grueling activities undertaken by law enforcement officers concluded today with the most demanding challenge that tested the wherewithal of the participants. Both the Coastguard and the B.D.F. took part in the challenges that coincide with the twelfth anniversary of the Coastguard. Endurance, physical fitness and mental acumen were elements required throughout the […]
Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches remains sidelined from active duty in the Belize Defense Force, pending a decision by the incoming B.D.F. commander, Steven Ortega, on the status of his employment. Roches is the subject of an investigation launched by the Ministry of Defense into transactions conducted by the senior officer through a private company he […]
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of contraband seizures reported in the Corozal District within the past few weeks. That’s because customs and police have been working tirelessly to stem the flow of uncustomed goods entering the country from Estero. The community has been featured in the news at least three times […]
An executive summary of the Auditor General’s Report on Belize Jungle Experience Limited, dated the seventh of June, 2017 has been obtained by News Five. It details the transactions between Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches, his company Belize Jungle Experience Limited, and his employers, the Belize Defence Force for training of the German Military. As has […]
Belize may not have fought any wars in its young existence. But every day of their lives, the more than thirteen hundred men and women of the Belize Defence Force train to prepare as if one will be declared at any moment. They are the national shield and sword against threats internal and external, which […]
While the Force was busy training with its international partners, a prior such training involving German soldiers and the costs asked for by a senior officer’s private company remains under scrutiny of an official audit. Belize Jungle Experience Limited is credited with salaries and the use of the then-non-functional helicopter fleet for training in Belize’s […]
The Tropical Dagger Joint Military Training exercise has been ongoing since November fifth, with the participation of security forces from Jamaica, Canada and the United States of America. According to the Belize Defence Force, the aim of this training is to enhance inter-operability, operational readiness and effectiveness within partner nations. The areas of focus during […]
No charges have been laid, but interest is still high in the case of used battle dress uniforms and discarded outboard engines that had been property of the Belize Defence Force. Those items were recovered in Orange Walk Town in July. Police continue their investigations which center on one senior officer, Major Jermaine Burns of […]
Later in this newscast, we will show you what the Customs Department is doing about enforcement on importation of known counterfeit goods. But the Department is practically a sort of border patrol along with Immigration and Nationality. On Friday at the western border, four Guatemalan soldiers and a media crew entered the Champon or so-called […]
Tonight, the Ministry of National Security says four officers who have reached retirement age are well within the law to remain in the Belize Defence Force. Late last week, documents were leaked questioning the status of the officers. But the C.E.O. in the ministry states that a change in policy two years ago, now allows […]
Gunfire and explosions at Saint George’s Caye crash a wedding party in progress as armed soldiers storm the beach. It happed on Thursday night as a group of twenty-six guests, who have been staying at the St. George’s Caye Resort for the past several days, were in the middle of the wedding party. Sometime after […]
The leadership of the Belize Defence Force is under fire tonight, but not from Guatemala. Internal information forwarded to News Five indicates that several senior officers may be in violation of their mandatory retirement ages from the force. This includes the man holding over for retired Brigadier General David Jones. The top leadership is said […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow this afternoon lent his support to a full investigation of Belize Jungle Experience Limited. The company is being audited by the Audit Department for appearing to defraud the government and the Belize Defence Force of monies paid for the training of German soldiers in Belize’s jungles between 2015 and 2017. For […]
The Auditor General is on the case of a senior officer of the Belize Defence Force who is being questioned on whether his private company benefited from an inside connection in the training of a troop of German soldiers in 2015 and 2016. C.E.O. in the Ministry of Defence Felix Enriquez has confirmed to News […]
Today, the U.S. Embassy handed over a renovated hospital to the Belize Defense Force. The U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Civic Action funded the rehabilitation of the medical facility at Price Barracks for over half a million Belize dollars. The hospital will enable the B.D.F. to improve health services offered annually to military and civilian patients […]
Police brutality is a real existence that Belizeans are faced with seemingly on a daily basis. We have reported on numerous occasions the physical abuse of civilians at the hands and feet of law enforcement officers. Tonight, there is a short clip of a policeman beating up a homeless man that has since gone viral. […]
Bomb Expert and Commander of the Belize Defense Force, Brigadier General David Jones, is currently on pre-retirement leave after almost two decades of service with the force. But who will be moving up? Minister of Defense John Saldivar told News Five today that the current acting commander, Colonel Steven Ortega is the most senior officer […]
B.D.F. to Dominica? Yes, says Defense C.E.O. Felix Enriquez. The B.D.F. will be heading to the hurricane devastated island to help with reconstruction. Dominica has been asking for help after Hurricane Maria tore through the island about three weeks ago – destroying almost every structure. And as a part of its disaster relief outreach to […]
A week ago, the Ministry of Defense hosted the third annual multi-national security conference in Belize City. The purpose of the conference was to share Belize’s vision, work and needs on military assistance with our allies and partners. The conference emphasized security cooperation and military capacity building for the Belize Defense Force, Belize Coast Guard, […]
Police were called in this morning at Price Barracks to remove a group of men and a woman hoping to be accepted as recruits for the new B.D.F. intake. They have been there camping out for at least twelve days braving the elements, with little to eat and drink. Today, we found patience was running […]
As Belizeans prepare to start the extended celebration weekend, citizen’s security is a huge concern in light of lethal explosives found in recent days. A number of mass events such as Saturday’s road march as well as concerts and the popular jouvert have the police on high alert. Facing public condemnation for tear gassing Belizeans […]
Are mixed signals being sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs? The Police Department spent upwards of half an hour at its Thursday press conference seeking to justify its treatment of protestors and members of the press, particularly KREM Television’s Marisol Amaya, during Wednesday’s protest turned riot at the Tower Hill Bridge in Orange Walk. […]
The unfortunate incident on Wednesday during which reporter Marisol Amaya was physically assaulted by members of the Special Patrol Unit on the Tower Hill Bridge in Orange Walk, remains a trending topic in the social media realm. The wanton tear-gassing and beat down of journalists during the uproar has seen a number of government officials […]
There is mounting outrage tonight, including from us here at Channel Five, at the unnecessary use of force against the media by the police on Tuesday. Krem’s Marisol Amaya was attacked while executing her duties as a reporter covering the tear gassing of Belizeans at the Tower Hill Bridge. A group of P.U.P. protestors headed […]
Condemnation of Wednesday’s events has come in fast and furious from several organizations. We lead with the statement issued this evening by KREM Radio in support of assaulted journalist Marisol Amaya, which it calls “totally unwarranted and indicative of the violence experienced by women on a daily basis inBelize.” General Manager Michael Hyde says that […]
