If the COVID hospitalizations get worse, a concern is that there will be a shortage of nurses. Since the migration of a significant number of Filipino nurses two months ago and the completion of the tour of duty for the Cuban medical brigade, the K.H.M.H. has gone ahead to source other nurses to fill the void. […]
The heavy rains today and on Sunday night are typical of the rainy season, but severe weather conditions during this time can put people in life-threatening situations. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon says while today’s heavy rains that caused a power failure in some areas is already history, there’s more rain ahead. Ronald Gordon, Chief […]
The rains today came with lightning strikes that even affected some of the Belize Met Service’s own telephone lines. Gordon advised people in the southern part of the country that as these rains continue over the weekend, they should take precautions. Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist “We do advise residents to be on the alert for lightning […]
On Monday night, we told you the results of a racial profiling case heard in the Supreme Court. Justice Westmin James handed down a decision in the case brought against the Belize Police Department by Greg Nunez and Bryton Codd, two young black men. The judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for police to take […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams spoke about the growing problem of young perpetrators of violent crime in Belize. He called on protestors to take to these streets with the same passion when a youth is accused of murder. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “While we look at this whole situation, I need the public […]
And, while it comes after a fourteen-year-old boy lost his life in Placencia allegedly at the hands of a police officer, the police department says it is about to release policy guidelines for interactions with children. ACP Bart Jones, Commander, Compliance Department “I am happy to say that soon to be released to the […]
Charges have been filed against two police officers following a beating of a man in custody that was captured on video. Police say that Wilton Justin Montero and Jerome Emanuel Ingram, both officers attached to Santa Elena Town, have been charged jointly with one count of harm. The charges arise from a report filed by […]
Last week we reported on the appointment of three new Justices for the Court of Appeal. But tonight, the Opposition is challenging the way the government went about making these appointments. Today, Chairman of the U.D.P., Senator Michael Peyrefitte spoke with the press via zoom to say that the formal process of “consultation” was not […]
While in Opposition, the U.D.P. agitated for Chief Justice Manuel Sosa to be removed back in 1998. One of reasons given was that the consultation process wasn’t meaningful. So, will the U.D.P. challenge these Court of Appeal appointments, considering that they are not satisfied with the consultation process of the Briceño Administration? Michael Peyrefitte, […]
Today, Senator Michael Peyrefitte was asked if he believes there is any connection between the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and Belize’s proposed Eleventh Amendment. Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Senator “Indeed UNCAC talks about raising the bar for a number of different things; but UNCAC’s main thrust was transparency and firmness and frankness. And no […]
In education news, the University of Belize announced today the appointment of three faculty deans. Doctor Vincent Palacio will head the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences; Doctor Nadine Tun, the Faculty of Education and Arts, and Doctor Sherlene Enriquez Savory, the Faculty of Science and Technology. According to a release from the Office of […]
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management has just completed rehabilitation works at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. And now, they want Belizeans to take ownership and help with the upkeep. News Five was there for the unveiling of the new facilities. Andrea Polanco, Reporting The Mountain Pine Ridge […]
Five Belize City men, including a well-known underworld figure, have been charged for what is quickly becoming a social media trend, gang members flaunting deadly weapons during a live stream. Beyond flourishing the illegal handguns is the fact that they were each equipped with extended cartridges that are equally prohibited. The disturbing video of Brandon […]
A mother of three children died over the weekend. And tonight details continue to emerge about the circumstances surrounding her sudden death and her husband and three women are in police custody tonight. Today News Five travelled to outskirts of Belmopan to find out more about the last hours of Jessica Choc’s life. Andrea […]
Around six-thirty this morning, Corozal police responded to the community center in Xaibe Village where they discovered the lifeless body of forty-four-year-old Feliciano Tzul. When the officers investigated the incident they learned that Tzul had been drinking with some friends around eight a.m. on Sunday morning. When it began raining an hour later, the men […]
A sizeable haul of contraband liquor, soft drinks and food items was made over the weekend in San Victor Village where Aldo Cobb was subsequently arrested. When a team of customs and police officers visited Cobb’s home, they discovered a stash of beer, cigarettes and soft drinks hidden in an underground space beneath a bedroom. […]
Over the last few weeks, COVID-19 positive cases have been increasing drastically, pushing the country into its third wave of the pandemic. The overall positivity rate is up to eight point four and there are now three hundred and thirty-two deaths associated with COVID-19 in Belize. Going into the weekend, there were eight active hospitalizations, […]
It has been confirmed that at least one COVID-19 variant is in Belize, but which one has still not been determined and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is awaiting results from Baylor College where samples have been sent. There is speculation that it may be the Delta variant. While symptoms associated with COVID-19 were […]
While S.I. seventy-four puts in place quarantine regulations to mitigate the spread of the virus, Doctor Diaz-Musa implores residents to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to act responsibly. Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Deputy Regional Health Manager, Central Health Region “The virus moves when we move. The advice for us here at the Belize District, […]
Section eleven (one) of Statutory Instrument number seventy-four that was passed earlier this month has drawn concerns among some government workers who do not want to take the COVID vaccine. The new S.I. requires all frontline workers to get vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test result every two weeks, starting August first. A number of […]
The postmortem examination conducted on Laddie Bryson Gillett who was killed in Placencia on July fourteenth has determined the cause of death to be hypervolemic shock, internal exsanguinations due to a single gun wound to the chest. Laddie’s death has therefore been ruled as a homicide. One doctor clarified with a media house that for […]
He was visiting their community on a family vacation last Wednesday when he was killed, allegedly by a police corporal. On Sunday night, villagers in Placencia gathered to pay their respects for a young life gone too soon and to air their feelings about rising crime, and police response, in their community. Paul Lopez, […]
As protests continue in person and on social media following the shooting death Laddie Gillett, News Five sought legal opinion on the manslaughter charge against the alleged shooter, police corporal Kareem Martinez. Here is what Attorney Darrell Bradley told us. Darrell Bradley, Attorney-at-law “Justice does not mean that we are rash in going to […]
A community activist from out west has weighed in on Laddie Gillett’s death. Julian Sherrard is currently the Chairman of the San Ignacio Police Advisory Board, working alongside the department for over two decades. He now finds himself in a difficult position because he is also a close family friend of Laddie’s legal guardian and […]
Laddie’s aunt also had to process how to tell her teenage children that he had been shot and killed by police. Sharon Meighan told Open Your Eyes hosts that she tried to balance telling them the truth, and maintaining their respect for the police. Sharon Meighan, Aunt of Laddie Gillett “At the first beginning, […]
