On Wednesday, we reported on questionable transactions queried by certified public accountant and auditor Cedric Flowers in respect of the 2016-2017 audit of the Public Utilities Commission. He questioned among other things excessive spending on salary and payments to Commission members totaling four point five million dollars. There were also unauthorized purchases on the Commission’s […]
The Office of the Attorney General has completed the requisite paperwork and is awaiting Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington’s signature before proceeding with the extradition request for attorney Andrew Bennett, who is wanted for extradition to the United States on money laundering charges. His freedom, however, may be cut short in the days to come as […]
Tonight there is more from the family of Fareed Ahmad, whose claiming that despite Fareed’s murder, they continue to be under surveillance. As we reported on Wednesday night, the family claims it was in possession of threatening text messages, which they have already showed the police. News Five has seen text messages said to have […]
Friday morning’s meeting of the House of Representatives is a special session. It is expected to be closely followed as the motion for payment of more than ninety million dollars in principal and interest owed to the Belize Bank is debated. The Bank made a loan to the then-Universal Health Services’ principals in 2004 as […]
A fun trip to the Sarstoon River for members of a youth basketball team from Southside Belize City this morning threatened to become an international incident when members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces intervened to stop Wil Maheia’s Belize Territorial Volunteers’ boat crew from going around the Sarstoon Island, which both countries claim. The soldiers […]
An eleven-year-old student from Trial Farm Government School in Orange Walk is tonight recovering at the K.H.M.H. following a near fatal blow to the head at the hand of another resident in that northern village. On New Year’s night, Jahmar Ferguson was walking with his brother and cousins in the village when two persons rode […]
According to the family, it was not until today, when Ferguson regained consciousness that a statement was taken by investigators, even though there were witnesses to the incident. But the family is even more concerned since Jahmar may not be able to walk. Sasha Thomas, Aunt of Victim “I just want justice for my […]
In part two of our series on community policing in U.S. Cities, we take you to Boston, Massachusetts where News Five joined a team of journalists from Central America on the U.S. State Department sponsored reporting tour. The journalists went into communities of Latin American and Caribbean nationals to find out how crime and other […]
Michael Juan, chairman of Unitedville Village in the Cayo District, is in a pickle tonight. One of his villagers has complained that his land appears to be unfairly being taken away from him and squatted on while he is in the process of securing it at the Lands Department. Omar Cruz was surprised to find […]
The holiday season was probably a period when many eat too much or drank more than the usual. So shedding those extra pounds to get back in shape is a priority at the start of the New Year. Eating healthy is as important as exercising. So if you’re looking for a way to burn those […]
Tonight, there is information that tells a tale of obscene spending at the Public Utilities Commission. News Five has obtained a copy of an audited report done by certified public accountant Cedric Flowers for the year ending March thirty-first, 2017. In a letter dated August eleventh, 2017, he addresses P.U.C. chairman John Avery on several […]
Now to the vigil which is underway on Euphrates Avenue in honor of Fareed. The late-evening peace march is organized by family and friends of the Muslim brother who was shot and killed inside his vehicle in Hattieville on December twenty-seventh. Dozens of customers, friends and family members descended on King Street for the short […]
Is 2017 the deadliest year ever? The official count for homicides stood at one hundred and forty-four when 2017 came to an end. But there are three cases involving four persons for which the results of DNA are still pending. If confirmed, this would bring the total number of murders up to a staggering one […]
The tradition of the New Year’s Address is fairly recent. It gives the government an opportunity to boast about accomplishments, to replenish national resolve, or to announce new strategies and ideals. For the Opposition, it’s a chance to present their alternative view and make a case for a change in leadership or strategy. Prime Minister […]
Could Belize lose Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin later this year? It depends on happenings in his native Guyana, where today President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met to discuss the posts of Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice. Benjamin has officially been recommended for the former post, which is described as […]
Over the years, we’ve reported the Belize Department’s community policing initiatives. Locally, a number of programs are used to combat crime – but it is no secret that this softer side to policing is not fully embraced by all rank and file of the department. While a full report to show its impact is not […]
Dale Trujeque is no longer the President of the Christian Workers Union, having served less than a year. According to the CWU, Trujeque resigned in the latter part of last year. An internal memo was issued to the membership to inform them of Trujeque’s resignation on the grounds of personal matters. Vice President Basil Brannon […]
2017 was a record year for murders in recent history – one shy of the 2012 murder count. And three days into the New Year, there have been two murders already. It is still too early to tell what the numbers will look like for the rest of the year, but the concern is real […]
Earlier we told you about the PM’s New Year’s Day message. And while more than half of the message highlighted the infrastructural projects, the PM didn’t miss the opportunity to make brief mention of the CCJ’s judgment on UHS loan. He said the matter goes before the House this Friday, where representatives will vote to […]
While there are some baseball fans in Belize, especially of major league teams like the Chicago Cubs, the sport hasn’t been actively played here in a quarter-century. Softball is still popular, but the last regional glory was about a decade ago on the women’s side. A popular and recognized player in men’s softball who is […]
On the night of December twenty-seventh, WPC Brown reportedly signed off from duty at the Raccoon Street Police Station around eight p.m. and is said to have departed the compound with her service weapon. That firearm, a Bersa brand nine millimeter handgun, as it turns out, was to have been delivered to her superior. When […]
While police offered details of their investigation this morning, two of the Ahmad siblings, Taheera and Abdul, flanked by the leader of the Muslim Community, Kaleem El-Amin, their father Abdus Ahmad and attorney Dickie Bradley, made known their views on Fareed’s murder this afternoon. Expressing gratitude for the support they have been receiving in their […]
The Ahmad family has since been told that while the internal inquiry is being carried out by ACP Chester Williams, Inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino is heading the murder investigation. The family also took the opportunity to dispel all allegations that Fareed and the WPC were involved and that information shared with the Professional Standards Branch suggests […]
This is not the first incident involving the Ahmad family. Back in June of 2016, the Special Patrols Unit conducted an early morning raid at their family homes. Later on, a cousin was killed in Philippines during a purported recruitment to join ISIS. While police has made no links to this, one of the last […]
Fareed’s father was philosophical about the way of life of his family. He believes that following the Muslim religion has led to a straight and narrow up-bringing of his children. Abdus Ahmad, Father of Deceased “We have made a lot of striving a lot of effort; sacrificing the discipline from our religion, our conduct […]
