May 2, 2024 - Greater Belize Media

Selection of New Haitian Prime Minister Sparks Division Within Transitional Council

The selection of Fritz Bélizaire as Haiti’s new prime minister has caused a rift within the transitional council entrusted with appointing new leaders for the country. Four out of the seven voting council members announced their choice of Bélizaire on Tuesday, surprising many Haitians and revealing an unexpected political alliance.

Now, council members who oppose Bélizaire, a former sports minister during René Préval’s second presidency from 2006 to 2011, are considering their next steps, which may include challenging the decision or resigning from the council.

The transitional council, tasked with preparing for elections and tackling security challenges, announced Edgard Leblanc Fils as its president and proposed Fritz Bélizaire, a former sports minister, as the new interim prime minister.

Established with support from the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the nine-member council, sworn in at the National Palace last week, includes seven voting members. Its responsibilities include appointing a new prime minister and cabinet.

The council will wield certain presidential powers until a new elected president takes office by February 7, 2026.

Benque’s Deputy Mayor Verbally Resigns

Disunity is stirring within the Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Council as Deputy Mayor Jenny Martinez publicly announced her resignation via social media on Tuesday night. Martinez, appointed to the position following the recent municipal elections, attributed her decision to a perceived preference for a male deputy mayor over a female counterpart.

Martinez voiced her concerns, stating, “We women have the capability. Four men voted in favor of appointing a new deputy because they believe women are incapable of holding high government office.”

Despite receiving the second-highest number of votes and officially assuming the role of deputy mayor on March 19th, the council opted to reassess her appointment last month after being informed that the highest vote count does not automatically secure the position.

In a social media video, Martinez conveyed her disagreement with this decision, ultimately leading to her verbal resignation from the role of deputy mayor.

We’ll keep following this story.

One Dead in Road Traffic Incident

One person lost his life following a vehicular crash on Tuesday afternoon. The victim has been identified as twenty-nine-year-old Marcelino Pop, a delivery man from Belmopan.

According to police, at around 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a traffic accident on St. Mathews Street in the Maya Mopan Area of Belmopan City. They arrived to find a silver Nissan Rogue and a blue Meilun 100cc motorcycle, both damaged.

Investigations revealed that twenty-one-year-old Calvin Martinez was driving the Nissan Rogue on Saint Matthew’s Street. As Martinez approached the corner of St. Jude Street, the motorcycle traveling collided with the left front side of the Nissan Rogue.

The collision caused Pop to be thrown off his motorcycle into the truck’s windshield and then onto the ground. Pop sustained serious head and body injuries and was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away while receiving treatment.