A solemn ceremony was held in the village of Big Falls, Toledo, for fallen soldier Corporal Reynaldo Choco. His flag-draped casket was carried from his house in the village, to the Lady of Guadalupe Church and then to the burial site, where he received a gun salute. The corporal was one of four officers of […]
The Belize Defense Force has come under fire for the manner in which it handled the notification of the families of the deceased airmen. As with Jean Baizar, who lost a son in the fatal helicopter crash, Jasmin Choco also found out about the accident that claimed her husband’s life on social media. That was […]
While the B.D.F. effected its internal protocols to confirm that all four men had indeed perished in the crash before notifying their respective next of kin of the tragedy, it is facing serious criticism that the information could have been passed on in a more timely manner. In the case of Jasmin Choco, her tenacity […]
A preliminary report following an investigation into the deadly helicopter crash has been submitted to Rear Admiral John Borland, who is coordinating a probe into the incident that claimed four lives last Thursday. That initial draft was tendered to him earlier today by Captain Elton Bennett of the Belize Coast Guard. While details of the […]
The issue of compensation for the families of the four deceased airmen has been raised in light of the fact that B.D.F. personnel do not qualify for social security benefits. While News Five understands that recompense will be offered to the respective families by government, the Minister of National Security says that details of the […]
The untimely demise of the head of the B.D.F. Air Wing, as well as his second-in-command, has left a vacuum in the leadership of that military unit and in the days ahead, a succession plan will have to be implemented for another officer to assume its helm. While that consideration will be made sooner rather […]
Earlier today, the press caught up with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams outside the gate of the Port of Belize. The Commissioner was there to mediate a matter related to the strike we have been reporting on since Monday. You’ll see our full report on that – but while Williams was there on the ground, […]
And while Belize is still reeling from the deadly crash involved in the last interception of the drug plane off the Coastal Road, there was another aircraft circling over the Belize District on Tuesday night. According to Commissioner of Police, the authorities were lying in wait but the plane didn’t land in Belize. Here’s what […]
A well-known social worker, a counselor in Belize City, was shot and killed on Tuesday evening. He was the first murder victim in a shooting spree on Tuesday evening. From all accounts, Michael Barrera was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Reports are that a killer was looking for his target in the […]
The second murder on Tuesday evening happened about ten minutes after Michael Barrera was killed and this time it took place on the corner of Ebony and Sarstoon Streets in Belize City. The victim, Keith Courtenay, was shot just a stone’s throw away from his mother’s front door. Courtenay was taken to the hospital where […]
In Tuesday’s newscast we reported on the shooting of fifty-two-year-old barber John Crawford. He was inside his business around four-twenty that evening when a man entered the shop and fired shots at him, one of which caught him in the face. Fortunately for Crawford, he survived the attempt on his life and is now recovering. […]
As you heard in our reports tonight, two men were killed and another narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. Today the media asked Commissioner of Police about the eruption of gun violence in Belize City. Williams pointed out that he believes two of the incidents may be related. He also noted that police investigation […]
Less than twenty-four hours after Belize Police Department intercepted one of the biggest drug cargos on record, the deaths of the four Belize Defence Soldiers were reported and that tragedy continues to play out and dominate the news. And so when the press caught up with Commissioner of Police today, we inquired about the drugs […]
Fifty-three-year-old Belizean Moses Anthon Francisco has been sentenced to eighteen years behind bars in the United States. According to news outlets in Iowa, Francisco led law enforcement on a high-speed chase from southern Minnesota into North Iowa on June eleventh, 2019. It is reported that he was observed driving erratically and had pointed a handgun […]
Tensions built up at the Port of Belize today and police had to be called in to cool down the situation. The protesting stevedores grew agitated and blocked heavy equipment from proceeding into the compound on Caesar Ridge Road. The Port’s management has asked to see their demands prior to a meeting with the Labour […]
As new cases of the corona virus are showing up around the world, there are still no confirmed cases in Belize. Health authorities, however, warn that it is a matter of when since the virus is spreading rapidly. In the neighbouring state of Quintana Roo, the Health Secretary Alejandra Aguirre Crespo has confirmed to the […]
Oceana Belize has upped its proposed transitional support to Belizean fishers to two point five million dollars. The N.G.O. has been calling for the absolute ban of the use of gillnets in Belizean waters. In 2019, the Government declared gillnets as destructive fishing gear and since then Oceana has been engaging with government ministries and […]
The meeting between the Christian Workers Union, official representatives for the Port of Belize and the Labour Minister and Labour Commissioner met for more than five hours. C.W.U. President Evan Mose Hyde and Port C.E.O. Arturo Vasquez sat around the table with Labour Minister of State Doctor Carla Barnett and Labour Commissioner Ann Marie Thompson […]
At the conclusion of this afternoon’s meeting, the C.E.O. for the Port of Belize Limited, Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, addressed the media. Vasquez says that several agreements have been reached and believes that the tensions have deescalated. Arturo Tux Vasquez, C.E.O. Port of Belize Ltd. “We have had quite a number of hours of discussion […]
The Public Service Union is echoing the call by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to stamp out corruption as P.M. Dean Barrow had promised years ago when he said he would use his two-edged machete. The P.S.U. has maintained that G.O.B.’s inaction and unwillingness to act forcefully against corruption has made the matter […]
Fire erupted at a small structure in the village of San Joaquin, Corozal District this afternoon around two o’clock. Fire fighters responded to the call of the fire, but the blaze spread quickly consuming the structure. Its cause is not known.
In February, the People’s United Party condemned the decision of Belmopan Mayor Khalid Belisle and his City Council to approve the construction of a gas station immediately in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School on four parcels of prime land designated as a green area. Residents of the area and parents at the […]
Three cops attached to the San Ignacio Police Station are to be placed on interdiction following a charge of extortion. There are concerns that the cops were not placed on interdiction immediately, as they remain on duty. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams responded to questions about why the officers aren’t on interdiction as yet: […]
