Outside the National Assembly, the Auditor General gave her first public comments since the scandal broke. She stated that in keeping with her organization, the purpose of the report is not to determine the guilt or innocence of any individual named. The Audit is simply a set of findings in response to alleged contraventions of […]
Inside the National Assembly chamber, the Auditor General discussed her interactions with the Immigration Department in compiling and filing the report. Put simply, it was no picnic trying to obtain information from the Department or the Ministry. Dorothy Bradley, Auditor General “Generally, I would want to start by saying that I think the team […]
They called it a sham. They said it could not possibly, as constituted along party political lines, carry out the all-encompassing independent investigation of the Immigration Department that they wanted. They voted against the motion that brought it into being after introducing a few minor amendments. And they boycotted the first two meetings. But all […]
William “Danny” Mason was transported from the Hattieville prison and whisked through the back of the courtroom this morning. Mason and a group of men from Camalote and Roaring Creek Hattieville are accused with the horrific beheading of Pastor Llewellyn Lue in July of this year. Last week Mason, who once enjoyed the company of […]
On Monday, activist Raymond Rivers and his attorney, Kareem Musa, appeared at the magistrate court for charges lodged against Rivers by Councilor Phillip Willoughby following what he says were online threats made against him. But it didn’t happen because according to police officers, the charge sheet was not properly completed and so he would be […]
While at court today, Port Loyola representatives of both political parties appeared for a hearing on the current voters list of the constituency. According to Political Officer Gilroy Usher Junior, the P.U.P. is trying to clean up the voters list because a number of persons registered in the division don’t live nor have lived in […]
Minister Anthony “Boots” Martinez took jabs at his political opponent, saying that Usher Junior is using the tactic of failed politicians. He says that the P.U.P. lacks the on-the-ground intelligence of what’s happening in Port Loyola. Boots won that division in the last election by less than eighty votes. Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Area Rep., […]
The trial of Jonathon Cucul for the chopping death of UB student Corina Co is taking place at the Dangriga Supreme Court. Co was killed in February 2013 in a village in Toledo. Twelve witnesses have started their testimony in the trial which involves a confession statement by the then sixteen-year-old Cucul and an oral […]
The Supreme Court will hear a case brought on behalf of Senator and Government Minister Godwin Hulse in the New Year against former leader of the People’s United Party Francis Fonseca. Back in 2013, Fonseca, as P.U.P. leader, made certain comments about the Won Hong Kim immigration scandal that Hulse considered offensive and defamatory of […]
Two brothers and their friend, John and Sheldon Grinage, along with Brandon Baptist accused of the January thirtieth, 2016 murder of Stann Creek resident, Mariano Castillo, will stand trial for murder in the January session of the Supreme Court. This morning, the duo, saw their case end in a paper committal when they appeared before […]
We have been reporting on firebrand activist Raymond Rivers’ various run-ins in recent weeks. He has been consistently crying out against the Government through the realm of Facebook. His language has been sharp, unsparing and occasionally threatening, prompting Police to call him in almost two weeks ago for intervention. But one of his alleged targets, […]
The case of convicted murderer Gregory August who is serving a life sentence for the stabbing death of seventy-three-year-old Alvin Robinson was heard in the Court of Appeal on Friday. In a milestone judgment handed down at the appellate level by Justices Samuel Awich, Murrio Lucille and Christopher Blackman, that judicial punishment has been overturned […]
The moral argument, according to Courtenay, is whether or not an inmate can be reformed and rehabilitated after serving a lengthy sentence. He says that an inmate who is not entitled to parole faces cruel and unusual punishment. Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Gregory August “There are varying types of scenarios that can occur and […]
Two-year-old Kaylee Alvarez perished in a fire on October twenty-seventh at her house on Ebony Street, Belize City where she was watching television. Police have ruled that the fire was not as a result of arson as originally believed to be case by her grieving mother. But tonight, two persons are facing charges for allegedly […]
After languishing in prison for six years, Gary Sewell is finally a free man. He was apprehended back in February, 2010 but had been on the run since 2007 wanted by the US government for his purported role in the trafficking of drugs into the U.S. Sewell was busted in an anti-drug operation at a […]
But government is settling out of court on another matter. In mid-April of last year, Orange Walk resident Andres Rodriguez was brutally assaulted by three police officers, under suspicion that he was involved in an incident that occurred sometime earlier. The trio was said to be following up on a report that Rodriguez had been […]
In December of 2015, a woman from Palmar Orange Walk and another from Ranchito, Corozal District were accused by a Belize City businesswoman of shoplifting underwear from her store. This morning, Donaela Bernaldita Smith and Johny Netty Lopez, had a change of heart when they appeared in court. They changed their not-guilty plea to guilty […]
A sales representative accused of sexually abusing a minor earlier this year will have to stand trial at the Supreme Court for two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Following a preliminary inquiry, twenty-eight year old Shane Gentle, of Belize City, learnt he will proceed to trial in the January 2017 session of the Supreme Court. […]
Bert Vasquez, who is on remand for murder was before the court today for another allegation against him for which he is charged with forcible abduction and harm upon a sixteen-year old girl. The minor alleges that she was at the Pound Yard Bridge in Belize City in May of 2011 when Vasquez forced her […]
Twenty-one-year-old Justin Hyde, the man accused of shooting up his neighbour’s house in Belize City, will have to stand trial at the Supreme Court for two counts of attempted murder. In the shooting, two persons were injured including a minor. Late on Tuesday, Hyde was told that a prima facie had been established and he […]
He was charged with six counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature in February of 2015, a few months after deciding not to seek re-election in his Orange Walk East constituency. In August, a charge of carnal knowledge, as it was then known, was added. All the charges stemmed from acts of alleged inappropriate […]
The Speaker of the House appeared in court today—both as a claimant and a defendant. In the first case, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin is presiding over a matter before the Supreme Court by Michael Peyrefitte. The claim was filed subsequent to his name being published in the Auditor General’s Special Audit on Passports at the […]
The civil suit coincides with the launch of a senate inquiry into the Immigration and Nationality Department for the period 2011 to 2013. There is a general belief however, that the legal proceedings are simply a means of attempting to thwart the pending investigation. Peyrefitte, on the other hand, says that the inquiry will proceed […]
But shortly that case, Peyrefitte was back in court for a case brought against him by Cayo South area representative, Julius Espat. In late August, Espat was removed by force from the House of Representatives at the behest of Speaker Peyrefitte. The media was also roughed up and instructed to vacate the gallery as pandemonium […]
Since the incident, Espat confirmed that his four-thousand-dollar monthly salary has been withdrawn. There has not been any House meeting since August, but Espat believes the ugly incident constitutes an illegal act and as such he is not only fighting to return to the House but he also wants his constituents to be heard. After […]
