There are a number of questions surrounding forty-three-year-old John Roy Smith, a Canadian national who has been charged along with three Belizeans from Sittee River. While he was formally arrested and charged for two counts of abetment to commit murder, those charges have been upgraded. Nonetheless, little is known about the ex-military officer who, according […]
Investigations continue into the murder of notorious street figure Alrick Smith which occurred on the night of July twenty-eighth outside of the Rene Villanueva Media Center on Slaughterhouse Road in Belize City. In the wake of his killing, a state of emergency was declared for the Lake Independence community. But before we go to comments […]
ComPol Chester Williams goes on to share additional details unearthed during the investigation. He confirms that the vehicle involved in the murder was torched on the John Smith Link Road; and says that the owner of the vehicle, Justin Usher, is wanted by police for questioning. Another person of interest with known gang affiliation, who […]
So what was the motive behind the killing of Smith? ComPol Chester Williams says that the primary reason at this time is over a woman. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “Certainly from what we have obtained, it is over a woman. We also have a second information that it may be over money, but the […]
On Tuesday, we showed you Michael Meighan handing himself in to police, in the company of his attorney. The former employee of the National Sports Council is under investigation for the July twenty-fifth murder of Darien Banks at the corners of Ebony Street and Amandala Drive in Belize City. It is believed that the crime […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also commented on the statement made by former Police Minister Michael Peyrefitte that the declaration of a state of emergency on the Saint Martin’s area was premature and unwarranted. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “Man, Mister Peyrefitte was the Minister of National Security; we did three S.O.E. under his […]
ComPol Chester Williams justifies why the state of emergency is needed. He breaks down that feuding gangs within the Lake Independence area have been responsible for seven shooting incidents over the past few weeks; two of which claimed the life of Darien Banks and Alrick Smith. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “The shooting of […]
What began as a cheerful observance of Hopkins Day ended in bloody mayhem, as bodies were strewn across the dance floor inside a nightclub and injured patrons were being carried out to waiting vehicles. It was a horrific scene similar to mass shooting events we’ve observed in other countries, including the United States. The only […]
In the wake of the deadly shooting the Government of Belize, along with several other organizations, including the National Garifuna Council and the National Commission for Families and Children, issued statements condemning the violent act. This morning, we had an opportunity to speak with Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa who commended the police department for […]
The family of twenty-three-year-old Noah Moro is grieving his tragic demise. What was meant to be a happy anniversary weekend in Hopkins Village for Moro and his girlfriend ended in bloodshed and anguish for the couple. News Five’s Paul Lopez visited Moro’s residence in Roaring Creek today where he spoke with family members. Here is […]
Belize City police are continuing their investigation into the murder of former P.I.V. boss, Darien Banks. The Oleander Street resident was slain last Monday when someone took aim at him and shot him in cold blood. But their investigation into the homicide has led them to one individual, an employee of the National Sports Council, […]
Thirty-one young men, described by police as active gang members in the Lake Independence area, have been locked away at the Belize Central Prison for the next thirty days. Those individuals belong to the P.I.V. and Backalands gangs, rival groups that have been embroiled in a bitter feud for several years. Tension between both gangs […]
A suspected drug plane, one of two aircrafts originating from South America on Saturday, touched down in a remote area of southern Belize on Sunday morning. The double engine plane landed on an illegal runway approximately six miles away from Crique Sarco Village. Its cargo was discharged and then the aircraft was set on fire. […]
The rivalry between feuding street gangs in the Lake Independence area may have led to another murder on Thursday night – that of well-known street figure, Alrick Smith. The brazen killing happened as Smith approached his parked vehicle in front of the Rene Villanueva Media Centre on Slaughterhouse Road. Smith, who is associated with the […]
Justice Ricardo Sandcroft handed down another life sentence. This time it was imposed on twenty-four-year-old Keon Dennison, who was charged for the murder of businessman Rueben Perez. Back in November 2015, Perez was executed inside his office on Vernon Street in Belize City. Following the murder, Dennison, who is originally from Dangriga, was charged for […]
He was charged for the armed robbery at the Puma Gas Station at the corner of Fabers Road and the George Price Highway and following his arraignment on July eleventh; Coast Guard Shakeem Richards was remanded to prison. Today, after spending eighteen days behind bars, Richards was granted a fifteen-thousand-dollar bail with stringent conditions, including […]
The Belize City Council today swore in fifty-four more of its traffic officers as special constables, giving them the powers of arrest. Along with that milestone was the launch of the Council’s Enforcement Department out of which the officers will work. It is a merging of two existing units that, under the new system, will […]
The 2021-2022 sugar crop comes to a close on Friday, and while the season got off to a rocky start, the American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries (A.S.R./B.S.I.) says it ended on solid footing. At the start of the year, there was bad weather that caused unforeseen delays and a protest by members of the Belize […]
The dispute between A.S.R./B.S.I. and the B.S.C.F.A. Sugar Cane Farmers Association hovers mainly over them not being able to come to terms on a commercial agreement. But to sign off on that agreement, there are several factors at play. We heard from both sides today about what their gripe is with the other. What they […]
While the two parties continue to negotiate to sign off on a commercial agreement, another issue this year was that there were significant losses from cane that remained in the field, or what is called stand-over cane. The numbers we’ve been given are around a hundred thousand tons of cane that will go to waste […]
Over the past two months, there have been two trucks belonging to Belize Sugar Industries Limited that were involved in serious traffic accidents. Luckily for the drivers behind those vehicles, they were not hurt. Today, we asked B.S.I.’s Director of Finance, Shawn Chavarria what measures the company has in place to ensure proper safety of […]
Cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss a number of issues of national concern, including a proposed seven million dollar loan from the Social Security Board to Pharmacy Express Limited. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Wellness issued a release stating its objection to S.S.B. making available a loan facility to the pharmaceutical company that […]
The Government of Belize has made a proposal for Moises Cal to sit on the Public Service Commission as chairman. Back in 2007, under the Musa administration, Cal, in his capacity as Ambassador to Guatemala, was accused of money laundering and He was being investigated by authorities in Panama after they found a million dollars […]
The Kriol Council of Belize and two youth representatives have been added to the People’s Constitutional Commission, following Monday’s committee meeting inside the National Assembly. Prime Minister John Briceño says no further representatives will be sought to sit on the commission. He made this announcement ahead of a joint release from the East Indian Council […]
P.M. Briceño confirmed with reporters that former Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona has been appointed to chair the People’s Constitution Commission. There are those who criticize the appointment as a conflict of interest, given Chanona’s history within the party. On the other hand, Prime Minister Briceño defended Chanona’s appointment asserting that he best fits the criteria […]
