June 3, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Former Ambassador Alexis Rosado Back in Court Over Rape Charges

A high-profile legal case that once sent shockwaves across the nation is back in the spotlight. This morning, former Belizean Ambassador Alexis Rosado returned to court after spending three years out on bail. Rosado, who once represented Belize on the international stage, including at the International Court of Justice, now faces serious criminal charges stemming from allegations made in 2021. The accusations involve a disturbing claim of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, beginning when the alleged victim was just thirteen years old. Rosado has been charged with rape, sexual assault, and multiple counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature. Originally brought before the Magistrate’s Court in 2022, the case has since been elevated to the High Court. At today’s arraignment, News Five briefly spoke with Rosado and his attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, as the legal process moves into its next phase.

Britney Gordon

“Do you have anything to say today?”

Alexis Rosado, Arraigned for Rape

“No miss.”

Britney Gordon

“Any comments on today’s session?”

Alexis Rosado

“Not at all. None”

Britney Gordon

“And how are you feeling going into today’s session then?”

Alexis Rosado

“I good. I don’t have anything to say. Thank you.”

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-Law

“This matter has now come to the High Court, and the ambassador has been basically arraigned in the high court of the country on the allegations that have been made against him.”

Reporter

“Okay. So this was just a regular arraignment.”

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

“It was just a regular arraignment, nothinh special, nothing out of ordinary in the matter. Following an arraignment, procedurally the two sides, the defense and the prosecution would ensure that what is referred to in the lower court as a disclosure up here, we talk about a deposition, that we are all on the same page in terms of what is the deposition, which includes statements, exhibits, medical reports, expert reports, whatever is is. So that was something that came up today as well. And so our side and the prosecution will sort that out between ourselves. So when we return back to court, we have a deposition that is in fact the same thing for all sides.”

Reporter

“Could you remind us of the charges brought against your client?”

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

“The charges are that there is one charge of a sex assault, a charge of rape. I think they have put in an aggravated assault, which normally would be dealt with at the magistrate court, but rather than having a trial there, and a trial here. That is the charge that is against the accused person.. The bail was nothing excessive. It was a signed bail for I think maybe ten thousand or eight thousand dollars. Bail is just a procedure that the court puts person’s through to ensure that somebody would have to be responsible, that they do turn up. Otherwise they will use their land or their money.”

The next court session is scheduled for June twenty-fourth, 2025.

Budna Jailed Again Amid Cyberbullying Claims

A controversial figure is back behind bars tonight. Self-proclaimed journalist Joseph Ryan Budna is spending the night at the Belize Central Prison after allegedly violating bail conditions tied to a previous charge. This latest development follows fresh accusations of cyberbullying, targeting both a male and female complainant. The female victim claims Budna used a Facebook livestream to spread damaging and humiliating misinformation, including salacious claims involving political figures. Budna has pleaded not guilty, but the court denied him bail. He’s expected to reappear on June tenth. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith has more on the arrest.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Friday thirtieth, May 2025. Police formerly arrested and charge Joseph Bunda of Trial Farm Village for two counts of using a computer system to publish computer data to cause a person substantial emotional distress, and one count of using a computer system to disseminate a false information, a false statement with the intent to cause another person to be the subject of public ridicule. This arrest and charge was as a consequence of a report made by a female in relation to several postings of Mr. Budna”

San Pedro Man Admits Killing Cop

A man from San Pedro has admitted to killing a police officer during a night of drinking more than five years ago. Thirty-two-year-old Josue Danilo Villatoro Amador has pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. The incident happened on January eleventh, 2019, when Amador and Corporal Alfonso Guy were drinking together. The two, reportedly intoxicated, went back to Guy’s home. At some point, Guy handed his police-issued gun to Amador for safekeeping. When Guy returned from the bathroom, he took out the magazine and gave the gun back to Amador. Moments later, Amador pulled the trigger, firing a single shot that struck Guy in the chest, killing him instantly. Amador fled the scene but was later found by police and cooperated with the investigation. Originally charged with murder in 2020, Amador has been behind bars ever since. On May twenty-second, 2025, he officially entered a plea deal, admitting to the lesser charge of manslaughter. However, he missed a court date on May 29, prompting a bench warrant. He turned up the next day and was remanded once again. Justice Candace Nanton is now awaiting several reports, including a social inquiry, victim impact statement, and prison report, before deciding on Amador’s sentence, which is expected in July. Prosecutors have recommended a fifteen-year sentence with possible reductions for time already served and other mitigating factors.

FACB Defends Firearm Licenses System

A war of words is brewing between a well-known gun dealer and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board over Belize’s newly updated firearm licensing system. The board is defending its process, saying it’s designed to strengthen due diligence and reduce administrative loopholes. But gun dealer Abner Murillo isn’t convinced. He says the system has become overly complicated, so much so that it’s now blocking responsible citizens from legally obtaining firearms. Murillo shared stories of rural applicants traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away and told to return the next day. He also claims he’s being personally targeted. The board, however, has pushed back, clarifying that only one valid ID is required and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by applicants in remote areas. The board also confirmed that Murillo has taken legal action. Here’s what he had to say.

Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded

“When it comes to instructors, I am an NRA certified instructor in the U.S. I can teach anywhere in the U.S. But, what they did, and I don’t want to go too much into detail, but they are victimizing certain people and cherry-picking certain people. We have an instructor that teaches out of Lock N Loaded but it is not me. There are four or five instructors to teach a population of, what is the population right now? The last time I checked it was four hundred thousand, about four to five hundred thousand. So you have about a hundred thousand people for instructors. Does that make any sense to you. And there is a lot of qualified instructors in the country. They have taken away, revoked license. When it went from the police department and they took over, it was not a new application for new instructors. They should have honored everything already established. But they came and began revoking licenses left right and center. They revoked licenses for myself with no justification, no kind of explanation and it just seems like I am going to benefit this one and victimize this one, that is how it feels.”

Gun Dealer Says New Board Hurting Businesses and Citizens

Gun dealer Abner Murillo pointed to the recent Tropic Air hijacking as proof that licensed firearm holders can help stop dangerous situations. He highlighted the role of a passenger with a licensed weapon who helped prevent the incident from escalating. Murillo says he’s not alone in his frustration with the current licensing system; many others feel the same way. But according to him, most people are afraid to speak out, worried they’ll be targeted or face backlash for voicing their concerns.

Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded

“We just had a plane hijacking. When that plane landed, the person with the knife could have killed that pilot. What stopped that pilot from being killed, the guy that hand a license weapon. The girl right down here whose child was being abducted, what stopped that from happening, the person had a licensed weapon. The way to stop evil is to give people a licensed weapon, simple as that. I think the Minister of Home Affairs is doing an amazing job. I have the utmost respect for Kareem Musa. I think he is doing an amazing job. I was very disappointed in his comments that he does not care about the gun dealers, because it is not just the gun dealers. We are talking about all the citizens in Belize, the farmers that are losing livestock. So, I think he did not think through or that he meant it. But all the dealers were hurt by it and not just the dealers, the people, because it trickles down. I have the utmost faith they will do the right thing. But this board is not working. The system they have now is not working and people are frustrated, but the problem is that people don’t want to speak up. Every day you have three, four, five people come into my store complaining. But why don’t they speak up?”

Unions Say “No Thanks” to 3% Raise—Push for Fair Pay

The Joint Unions Negotiating Team, or JUNT, has responded to the prime minister’s latest pay proposal, and they’re not holding back. In a letter dated May thirty-first, the unions made it clear: a three percent salary increase starting in October just doesn’t cut it. After talking it over with their members, they’ve unanimously rejected the offer. But they’re not just saying “no”, they’re calling on the Government to lead by example. While they support the national push to raise the minimum wage to six dollars an hour, they believe public officers, who keep the country running, deserve more than just the bare minimum. They’re demanding a living wage that reflects the real value of their work. Still, it’s not all criticism. JUNT welcomed the government’s promise to follow through on its legal obligations under the 2021–2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement. That includes updating transfer grants and paying what’s owed to public officers who’ve been relocated. The unions are now asking for an official notice confirming the new grant rates. And in a sign of cooperation, they’ve agreed to the Government’s suggestion of a sixty-day window for responding to counterproposals during negotiations.

PSU President: We’re Not Trying to Dictate CEOs’ Pay

Last week, the Joint Unions Negotiating Team, unanimously rejected the government’s offer of a three percent salary increase, calling it far from enough to meet the needs of public workers. The unions’ frustration is fueled by what they see as a glaring double standard. While public officers are being offered modest raises, CEOs reportedly received over a fifteen percent salary bump following the last general election. President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers, isn’t mincing words. He’s warned the government that the unions are prepared to take swift and disruptive action if their demands aren’t met. Flowers emphasized that the unions aren’t trying to dictate CEO salaries, but they won’t back down from their fight for a fair and equitable pay structure.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“The Public Service Union nor the joint unions for that matter, does not wish to value or put a cost or a price on the work of the CEO. That’s not our place. That is for the experts who do classification of jobs, who value jobs, who can tell you exactly what that word, what their word should be. So we’re not questioning whether a CEO should earn. Sixty thousand dollars a year, seventy-six thousand a year, eighty-eight thousand dollars a year. We’re not questioning that. We’re saying that if we’re all going to contribute to the growth and development of the public service, then the structure has to be one that equitably distribute the benefits. So you cannot say that because I’m the CEO. I’m entitled to a hundred thousand because the reality is you bring limited experience in the public service. When you come here, you come in oblivious to really and truly how the public service run, and that’s the reason why the con, the public service continues to get worse because of your leadership, because of your inability to identify the deficiencies in your ministry, in your department. Whether it’s human resource, whether it’s operations, whatever it is, you are being paid to identify that. So you cannot simply come in, demand a hundred thousand, but nothing fixes. The corruption gets worse, in most cases, gets worse gets worse.”

Police on Alert Should Teachers Attempt City Blockade

The Belize Police Department is bracing for possible disruptions in Belize City. Authorities are on high alert tonight amid concerns that the Belize National Teachers Union may escalate their protest action by blocking key entry points into Belize City. With the union moving into a new phase of their industrial action, police have been instructed to monitor three major bridges, Belcan Bridge, Chetumal Street Bridge, and Burdon Canal Bridge, every hour for any unusual activity. Officers are expected to report their findings in real time to ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety. While no blockades have been confirmed, the heightened vigilance signals just how seriously law enforcement is taking the potential threat. Many will remember a similar moment in recent history. On the morning of May seventeenth, 2021, the unions made a bold move, successfully cutting off traffic into Belize City during the busy rush hour. The result? A massive traffic jam that paralyzed the city for hours. That action sent a powerful message and demonstrated the unions’ ability to mobilize and disrupt. With current talks heating up and the police on high alert, many are wondering, could history repeat itself?

May Plum: A Seasonal Fruit with Timeless Memories

Tonight, we take a juicy bite into a fruit that’s more than just a seasonal treat, it’s a symbol of our shared childhoods and sun-soaked memories. The may plum, yes, the very name hints at its prime time, bursts onto the scene each year during the blistering month of May. Found in abundance across the country, this tangy-sweet delight has long been a favorite for kids and grown-ups alike, often plucked from a neighbor’s tree with nothing but a shirt to carry the bounty. But beyond its flavor, may plums are deeply rooted in Belizean culture. In tonight’s Kolcha Tuesday feature, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us on a nostalgic journey through its vibrant colors, rich taste, and the stories that make this humble fruit a national treasure.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The may plum gets its name from the time of year it shows up in full force—May, the hottest month in Belize. This little fruit thrives in the dry season, and if you’ve ever seen a may plum tree, you know it doesn’t hold back when it’s time to bear fruit. For many Belizeans, just the sight or taste of a may plum brings back warm memories of childhood: climbing trees, sharing with friends, and savoring the sweet, tangy flavor straight from the branch.

Albert, Orange Walk Resident

“I does climb, oh lawd we does shake up deh may plum tree, jump eena the neighbor yard and guh wap ih may plum deh. May plum dah the nicest plum.”

These days, spotting a may plum tree might mean taking a trip out to the countryside. In rural communities, they still grow wild and free. But if you’re in the city, you’re more likely to find may plums being sold by friendly vendors along the streetside, bringing a taste of the village right to the Old Capital. But purchasing a bag of plum from a vendor pales in comparison to climbing a tree and picking a handful to consume.

Paul Lopez

“You have some may plum here. Tell me how was it for you this season as a vendor?”

Voice of: Street Side Vendor

“It was ok. I sell a lot because every year this produce, not like two or three times a year, but when this season comes on May it sell a lot and right now it is the last.”

Paul Lopez

“And this right now that we are seeing is the last?”

Voice of: Street Side Vendor

“Yes, it is the last. After this there will be no more.”

Albert, Orange Walk Resident

“But once it start rain it will catch worm. But once it starts to rain. We eat them with the worm sometimes because the worm is the plum.”

And the rainy season is now upon us. That means the fruit will ripen at a faster rate and fall off the trees, bringing an end to the may plum season. But over at Anna’s Fruit Shop on Coney Drive, there’s still plenty of may plum to go around. They just restocked with a fresh batch from a supplier in Corozal—so for now, the sweet season is still going strong.

Voice of: Vendor, Anna’s Fruit Shop

“They call it May plum because it is only on May we see them around. That is why they call it may plum. The way how I grow up, how I work at the fruit shop, I meet them and start to like it. Oh yes it is nice. I prefer it when it is ripe, because it is more sweeter. You can eat it too when it is green. Sometimes it has that little reddish color, like the color of a tomato and sometimes it has the orange touch.”

Paul Lopez

“Some people say that when it gets overripe it has worm. But some people say they don’t mind the worm.”

Voice of: Vendor

“Oh no, I don’t like it with worm.”

No Belizean may plum experience is truly complete without that classic two-dollar bag—tangy, sweet, and sprinkled with a dash of salt and pepper. It’s a simple tradition that packs a flavorful punch and brings generations together over a shared love for this seasonal snack. And if you’re wondering about quality, rest assured. A quick taste test confirmed that these ripe, golden plums are not only bursting with sweetness, but also completely worm-free. That’s right, just pure, juicy goodness in every bite. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Strong Warnings Against Use of “Honey Pack”

It’s a product that’s gone viral online and is being marketed as a natural boost for men, but health officials are raising the alarm. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is warning the public about Royal Honey, also known as “honey packs,” saying they’re unsafe, unregulated, and potentially dangerous. Despite being promoted as a male sexual enhancement supplement, experts say Royal Honey contains undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, and the side effects can be serious. We’re talking about everything from low blood pressure and allergic reactions to hearing loss and even vision changes. So, what’s really in these honey packs? And why are they still being sold so easily? News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the ministry’s warning and what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also saying about this trending product. Here’s that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Royal Honey, also known as the “honey pack”, has become a trending product among young people around the world. It’s gained so much attention that even viral internet personalities like iShowSpeed and Kai Cenat featured it during one of their live streams, adding to its buzz online.

“Is that a honey back, don’t drink that, don’t drink it, no don’t drink it.”

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging Belizeans to steer clear of a trending product called Royal Honey, also known as the “honey pack.” While it’s being sold as a natural sexual enhancer, health officials say it’s anything but safe. According to the ministry, Royal Honey contains undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, meaning you could be taking powerful drugs without even knowing it. And Belize isn’t the only country raising the alarm. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health have issued similar warnings. Despite the risks, the product is shockingly easy to find. We found a vendor selling it for just ten dollars a sachet on Facebook Marketplace. After a quick chat online, we were able to arrange a pickup right here in Belize City.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

“You have the product I have the money here. Alright, thank you. Ok so this is the Royal Honey or Honey Pack that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is warning the public against purchasing and consuming this product.

According to label it contains various ingredients, chief among them being honey. There are other ingredients that I can’t necessarily pronounce, but there is one I am familiar with that says ginseng. People, based on the seller’s information, people consume it directly. They also put it in a drink and in some instance they put in on food. And as is being described by the ministry of health, it is being recommended or advertised for sexual enhancement. It is a sexual enhancement product.”

Our seller informed us that the product is in high demand. Most of her customers are young men, drawn in by promises of boosted performance. But health officials are warning that this popular product could be doing more harm than good. These can be especially dangerous for people with existing health conditions or those taking prescription medications. A recently published Medical News Today article warned against the product due to its adverse effects. It lists several, including headaches, a drop in blood pressure, vision changes, hearing loss and long, painful erections.

Paul Lopez

“Yesterday the Ministry of Health warned people about this thing, it is a Royal Honey or a “honey pack”. It is something that the young people are using, mostly men, as a sexual enhancement.”

Albert, Orange Walk Town Resident

“Can I take this? I need a little enhancement because I the get old. I am not young as before.”

Paul Lopez

“But the ministry warned that it might have ingredients that is illegal or ingredients that might cause negative effects like headaches and it might give you an uncomfortable erection?”

Albert, Orange Walk Town Resident

“Hold yah then I don’t need that. Once a woman, I just smell my wife and I get deh kind ah way. The lone smell when she come around me. No.”

Paul Lopez

“There are many questions to be asked here, including how this product gets into the country, who is the supplier, what sort of checks and balances are at our points of entry ot vet and ensure these are not coming into the country and if you take it and experience any adverse effects, what sort of remedies can you seek, who can you hold accountable, where can you go demand relief or compensation. What sort of policies of policies are being put in place to protect against these unauthorized products in Belize?”

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has committed to answering our questions on Wednesday. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez