One hundred thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount; that’s the cost of Andrew Bennett’s freedom after appearing before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer this morning as extradition proceedings against him begin. Represented by a trio of fellow attorneys led by Anthony Sylvester, the forty-six-year-old was escorted into the lower court free of manacles […]
In his submission, Sylvester made the point that Bennett was not a flight risk and had to prove to the court that his client would not abscond should he be granted bail. Sylvester and his legal team, which includes attorneys Illiana Swift and Gavin Courtenay, went as far as providing the Chief Magistrate with stringent […]
Representing the United States government in the matter is Solicitor General Nigel Hawke. In court, the SolGen did not offer much, save for an objection to bail as more of an official procedure than a serious concern. Nigel Hawke, Solicitor General “We issued our formal objection because of our treaty obligations in respect of […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, who signed off on the bundle of documents presented to him on January tenth, also weighed in on Bennett’s dilemma as an embattled attorney. Elrington says on record that Bennett’s right to practice law should not be taken away on the strength of an allegation. Isani Cayetano “As a former […]
Errol Elrington, he is the sibling of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington who fled to Belize in 2014 as a fugitive of the United States. The doctor is being sought by authorities in respect of his alleged role in defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of almost half a million U.S. dollars. He absconded back to his home […]
On the heels of a vote at the United Nation’s by Belize against the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, Belize is among three countries removed from the temporary work visa program. Along with Haiti and Samoa, effective today, Belizeans will no longer be able to acquire H-Two-A and H-Two-B non-immigrant work visas. […]
Shots rang out again on Wednesday night in an area of the city where gang-related violence has erupted. Twenty-eight-year-old Quency Gentle was two blocks away from his Wilson Street house when he was shot by a lone gunman just before midnight. He was transported to the hospital, but succumbed within minutes. Though police say he […]
Investigations are also ongoing in the death of twenty-one-year-old Joselin Dominguez. A post-mortem conducted on her body was inconclusive. Police have ordered a toxicology report to determine the cause of death of the woman. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch “The post-mortem results show that the cause of death is pending toxicology […]
On Tuesday night at the western border crossing in Benque Viejo, a fifty-second surveillance footage from inside the Customs area of the Belize offices, captures three Guatemalan soldiers dressed in their military fatigues, similar to that of the Kaibiles, enter Belizean territory from the Guatemalan side. The video, courtesy of Belize Breaking News, shows the […]
As we said, Escobar Lopez is a reporter attached to Prensa Libre and Guatevision in Peten, Flores. He claims he was assaulted by a police officer after being spotted at the western border taking pictures of the customs and immigration offices. According to the journalist, he was going about his business documenting the work of […]
In May 2017, the burnt remains of a body were discovered in a vehicle in the Gracie Rock area, Belize District. After the discovery, it was widely believed that the body was that of Pamela Lino, a teacher from Belmopan. Seven months later, a DNA test has determined that the remains were that of the […]
Police have one suspect in custody for the murder of Alfredo Cowo. The San Pedro man was killed shortly after mid-night on Sunday as he hung out with his girlfriend across from the Jaguars nightclub in San Pedro. Cowo predicted his demise one week earlier saying his life was under threat. While a motive has […]
We reported on the matricide that happened in Carmelita, Orange Walk on Tuesday morning. Twenty-five-year-old Andy Rhaburn used a crowbar to hit his mother, fifty-four-year-old Braulia Pech on the head. Pech’s daughter found her bleeding and injured in the back yard. That same day, Rhaburn attacked another woman; luckily, a resident rescued her. As for […]
U.S. President Donald Trump last week created a firestorm when he made disparaging remarks about small and developing nations and countries such as Haiti, El Salvador and others in Africa as ‘shithole countries. If anything, the inflammatory statement served to raise the ire of countries around the world, including those in CARICOM that have condemned […]
PC Tevin Aranda was charged with manslaughter for the killing of Mario Vernon this past weekend. The Punta Gorda community is crying foul; they say that charge should have been murder. As we reported this week, Police said that Vernon was carrying a firearm and Aranda fired the shot fearing for his life. Since the […]
We’ve been reporting on the case of missing man Mark Pollard since last year. There are several reports that Pollard has been killed and his body dumped, but so far all search efforts have failed to locate a body. A recording was released on Wednesday by the family in which someone believed to be a […]
Jamal Humes is another missing man we’ve been reporting on since December twenty-seventh. Earlier this week, the family said the police was doing enough. ASP Alejandro Cowo said today that the department has been working to help the family find their loved one. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City “I know that the […]
Twenty-three-year-old Justin Stephens was shot on Monday night and police are now looking for one person to question. Stephens was shot at the corner of Dolphin Street and Cemetery Road shortly before eight. ASP Alejandro Cowo says that Stephens was the target of the shooting and that it may be connected to another shooting that […]
Police say they are looking for one person in connection with the shooting of Damion Cattouse and Carolyn Revers. The couple was shot on Tuesday night while they were on North Front Street. Cattouse remains hospitalized at this time. Here’s what police have to say on the shooting. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize […]
This Friday night at the Belize Elementary School Gymnasium in Belize City, the National Elite Basketball League semi-pro season officially opens with a matchup between Smart Belize Hurricanes and the Verdes Basketball Club, formerly the Cayo Western Ballaz. It’s a home game for the Hurricanes, who say they plan to bring the win back to […]
U.S. news outlets have been reporting a severe flu epidemic that has swept across the United States for over a week of. In comparison to last flu season, the U.S. is seeing more cases of the flu leading to hospitalization and more flu-related deaths. If the adage is true that when the north sneezes we […]
