So the fate of the Forward Operating Base now lies in the hands of the O.A.S., and the territorial integrity of Belize will lie in the hands of the ICJ, if and when the dispute goes before that tribunal. For now, everything seems to be on hold, and Elrington says that is how it will […]
In June, a Guatemalan gunboat GC-651, the Tecum Uman, crashed into the reef near Middle and Long Cays, causing damage estimated at around forty-eight thousand dollars. With all dispatch, the vessel was pulled off its perch and allowed to return to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, with a bill to follow. Well, that bill has been sent, […]
Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, or Shorty, as he is otherwise known, was first arrested in 1993, broke free in 2001 by reportedly taking cover inside a laundry cart and remained on the lam until 2014 when he was caught inside a Mexican beach resort. At the time of his arrest, Guzman was worth an estimated […]
As we told you earlier, the Guatemalan government is yet to respond on a bill from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for damages caused to the reef when its naval gunboat ran aground near Glovers Reef in June. C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security says they are yet to receive a response from Guatemalan […]
There are major changes to the top brass of the police department in the City. First, there is no more Eastern Division. That was revealed today at a press briefing this afternoon hosted by Senior Superintendent Chester Williams flanked by his new deputy, Senior Superintendent Alden Dawson. Williams recently returned to the country after acquiring […]
Exactly two weeks after a Guatemalan gunboat ran aground in Belizean waters near Glovers Reef, another maritime vessel has beached in shallow waters south of Blackadore Caye. This time, a Polaris Interceptor, one of forty-four boats in Mexico’s patrol fleet, is stranded on the mud flats and shoals near the island. Sometime in the wee […]
Last week, we tried to get an official comment on the assessment of damages cause by the Guatemalan gunboat, Tecum Uman, running on the reef near Middle Caye. That comment was not forthcoming, but today PM Barrow confirmed that it is completed and a dollar figure has been assessed. According to the PM, that bill, […]
Phase Two of the annual Trade Winds exercise is underway in Belize, as officers with various armed forces from across the region are taking part in a series of drills on land and at sea. This afternoon, off the coast of La Isla Bonita, a team of navy divers descended into the choppy waters beyond […]
If you see increased military activity in your neck of the woods, don’t be alarmed. It is a well organized military training taking place. Personnel from the US, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are taking part in Trade Winds 2015. The exercise is two-fold: to improve regional capacity to fight the drug war and to […]
On Wednesday, Guatemalan gunboat GC-651, Tecum Uman, allegedly suffered mechanical difficulties and crashed into the reef just off Middle Caye in the Glover’s Reef system. By Saturday morning, it was pulled off by a Guatemalan tug and was under tow, on the way back to Puerto Barrios. There was serious concern about the presence of […]
The detention of five Belizeans in Guatemala, and the alleged abuse of those detainees, has resulted in a formal protest being forwarded to Guatemala. It’s an incredible story which started making the rounds on Saturday – five Belizeans who were allegedly hanging out in the Guatemalan village of Santa Cruz, just across the border from […]
Despite the worst fears of the detained men, they were not shot and left in that grassy pasture as they expected. Instead they were taken eight more kilometres where they met up with a mobile unit and were subjected to a preliminary interrogation. Voice of: Ashton McKenzie, Detained in Guatemala “They rubbed us down. […]
McKenzie and his companions were taken back to the Police Station without being allowed to speak on their own behalf. They were first put into a cell with other Guatemalan prisoners, but say that when they witnessed the conditions of the cell they begged to be allowed to stay outside the cell in an open […]
As we told you earlier, a formal note has been sent to Guatemala through diplomatic channels, following the reports made by the men. According to Acting C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Wallace, they had no inkling of the abuses which are now being alleged. Voice of: Audrey Wallace, Acting C.E.O., Ministry […]
Tonight, News Five can confirm that Guatemalan military vessel GC-651 is still high and dry, perched on the reef between Middle Caye and Long Caye in the Glover’s Reef system, thirty-six miles from the Dangriga mainland. The Coast Guard has stated that the passage of the vessel through Belize’s territorial waters is allowed, under the […]
What is a Guatemalan naval gunboat, unauthorized at that, doing in Belizean waters? That was the million dollar question after reports surfaced early this morning. Coming on the heels of an incident in the Sarstoon two weeks ago which spawned much anti-Guatemalan sentiment, conspiracy theories ran rampant. The Guatemalan naval vessel, reportedly navigating international waters en […]
According to C.E.O. Lovell, Mexican officials have confirmed that the Guatemalan coast guard vessel was indeed on its way to the small island town. To allay concerns that may arise out of the incident, Lovell says that despite appearing to be a legitimate voyage, the matter will be dealt with at the highest level between […]
A special ceremony was held earlier today to honor ten brave officers of the Belize National Coast Guard who were involved in a standoff with the Guatemalan navy. That confrontation took place on the Sarstoon Island where a forward operating base is being constructed. It started on Thursday and concluded on Friday and according to […]
Present for the occasion was Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, who commended the officers for their bravery in the face of adversity. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security “Short but very significant ceremony. A ceremony to acknowledge the bravery and courage in a situation of great odds of ten of the members of […]
The Belize National Coast Guard and the Guatemalan Navy were involved in a lengthy standoff on the Sarstoon Island last Thursday. Information has been provided about the incident by the ministries of National Security and Foreign Affairs and not all has been in concert. The public has also weighed in on the hostility in Belizean […]
As we said, there seem to be varying accounts of the directive given to the coastguard unit by the Ministry of National Security. Vice Commander Bennett categorically maintains that the coastguard held its ground firmly until the mission was completed and personnel safely then “extracted” from the area because it would have been cowardly to […]
This morning, we asked the Foreign Minister of Belize about the location of the island from where the coastguard was extracted. According to Wilfred Elrington, he got a situation report from the Guatemalan Chief of Intelligence since he was in Guatemala City at the time the incident unfolded. Marleni Cuellar, Host “The island that […]
William Neal, this morning, pressed Foreign Minister Elrington if the Guatemalan navy acted in provocation since it was well within Belizean waters. William Neal, Host “So, when ordinary Belizean citizens do it, it is seen as an act of provocation that could lead to something else, but when the Guatemalan military come over and […]
Just after twelve noon today, four helicopters heard and seen flying relatively low in Belizean airspace. We have since learnt that the aircrafts are from North Carolina, U.S.A. and had stopped in Belize to refuel before continuing on its journey to Honduras. Commandant of the B.D.F., Brigadier General David Jones, told News Five that they […]
There is tension tonight following a twenty-six hour stand-off between a Coast Guard Patrol and Guatemalan naval personnel in two vessels near the mouth of the Sarstoon ended at midday today. The confrontation, as it is being called by the Ministry of National Security, happened at ten am Thursday when Guatemalan soldiers in a small […]
