June, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Menor de 14 años acusado por divulgar fotos íntimas tras pérdida de celular

Una joven de veinte años vivió una experiencia traumática luego de perder su teléfono celular, cuando imágenes íntimas almacenadas en el dispositivo fueron compartidas desde sus propias redes sociales.

Según informó la Oficial de Personal, ASP Stacy Smith, la víctima denunció el hecho en la estación de policía de Orange Walk el 13 de junio. Las fotos, en las que aparece desnuda, fueron distribuidas a contactos en sus cuentas de Facebook e Instagram, las cuales seguían activas en el teléfono extraviado.

“La Unidad de Tecnología de la Información y Delitos Cibernéticos de la Policía inició una investigación que resultó en la recuperación del teléfono perdido y en la captura y acusación de un menor de 14 años de esa jurisdicción,” explicó Smith.

El adolescente fue acusado formalmente por el delito de utilizar un sistema informático para publicar imágenes de áreas privadas, en lo que constituye un caso grave de vulneración a la privacidad digital.

Altos costos frenan construcción de campus

El Ministro de Servicio Público, Henry Charles Usher, respondió a las críticas sobre los altos pagos de alquileres por parte del gobierno, explicando que la construcción de un campus estatal es un proyecto complejo y costoso que requiere inversión externa.

“No se trata solo de un edificio, sino de todo un campus. Por lo tanto, costará más de los dos millones y medio que mencionó,” explicó Usher.

El ministro indicó que, aunque el gobierno actualmente paga más de doscientos mil dólares mensuales en alquiler, ese monto no es suficiente para cubrir los costos iniciales de construcción. Por ello, la Oficina de Proyectos de Asociación Público-Privada (PPP) se ha acercado al Seguro Social y otras entidades para explorar inversiones en un posible campus tanto en Ciudad de Belice como en Belmopán.

Usher agregó que construir un edificio básico en el mercado actual cuesta alrededor de tres millones de dólares.
“Muy pocos desarrolladores pueden financiar un proyecto así por sí solos, por lo que recurren a bancos o cooperativas de crédito […] Solo en intereses, pagarían unos quince mil dólares mensuales,” señaló, cuestionando la rentabilidad de tales proyectos sin apoyo financiero.

Guatemalan Woman Charged for Allegedly Abducting Lissy Suntecun

Police have formally arrested and charged 56-year-old Sandra Tzul, a Guatemalan woman from August Pine Ridge Village, for the abduction of 13-year-old Lissy Suntecun.

Lissy, who went missing after leaving school last week, was found safe in August Pine Ridge. Her father tracked a suspicious white pickup truck to the village and alerted police, who located Lissy at a relative’s home. The discovery brought relief to her family and community.

She vanished from her school compound in San Jose Succotz. Lissy, who lives in Melchor, Guatemala, with her mother, crosses the border daily with her younger siblings to attend school in her father’s village.

PSU propone que Gobierno construya complejo de oficinas

En lugar de continuar pagando millones en alquiler de oficinas, el presidente del Sindicato de Servidores Públicos (PSU), Dean Flowers, propone que el Gobierno de Belize invierta en la construcción de un complejo estatal.

Flowers señaló que un análisis de gastos revela que el Gobierno ha desembolsado hasta seis millones de dólares beliceños en alquileres en años recientes.
“Si hiciéramos un cálculo adecuado de cinco años, esa cifra ascendería a aproximadamente dieciséis millones de dólares. Con eso podríamos haber construido un complejo moderno por solo diez millones,” afirmó.

El líder sindical pidió que se detenga la entrega de terrenos estatales y, en su lugar, se adquieran propiedades estratégicas para infraestructura pública. Además, desafió al Auditor General a revisar los contratos actuales de alquiler.

“Reto al Auditor General a inspeccionar estos edificios para determinar si realmente estamos obteniendo valor por nuestro dinero,” agregó Flowers, quien también solicitó que el contratista general haga su parte en verificar los estándares de los espacios alquilados.

La propuesta ha reavivado el debate sobre la sostenibilidad de los alquileres del gobierno y la necesidad de soluciones permanentes en infraestructura pública.

Gobierno gasta 2.5 millones anuales en alquiler de oficinas

El Gobierno de Belize gasta dos millones y medio de dólares al año en el alquiler de espacios de oficina para al menos quince ministerios. Esto equivale a más de doscientos mil dólares mensuales, una suma que proviene directamente de los contribuyentes.

El Ministerio de Servicio Público, dirigido por Henry Charles Usher, es el encargado de firmar estos contratos. Usher explicó: “Hacemos todo lo posible para asegurarnos de que esos contratos se mantengan dentro de lo que se puede encontrar comercialmente … No hay una tarifa gubernamental establecida por los propietarios.”

Sin embargo, algunos de estos acuerdos han levantado sospechas. Por ejemplo, el Gobierno paga dieciocho mil dólares al mes por cinco pisos en un edificio en Coney Drive que alberga la oficina de la Región Central de Salud. La propiedad pertenece al difunto H.D. Thompson. Anteriormente, esta oficina estaba en un terreno estatal, junto al KHMH.

Usher explicó que el antiguo edificio estaba en malas condiciones, “Ahora que los hemos reubicado, necesitamos hacer renovaciones para regresarlos o ver si el KHMH se ha expandido para usarlo.”

Consultado sobre un posible favoritismo hacia la familia Thompson, el ministro respondió que “Es un caso de disponibilidad y necesidad.”

Otro caso es el del Ministerio de Economía Azul, cuya oficina en Seashore Drive cuesta catorce mil dólares mensuales. Según Usher, se revisó el costo por pie cuadrado y se determinó que era adecuado para un espacio comercial, aunque la tarifa se basaba en precios residenciales al momento de alquilar.

En Belmopan, el Gobierno también paga veintidós mil dólares mensuales a una persona asiática no identificada por el alquiler de un espacio para el Departamento de Inmigración y Nacionalidad. Usher dijo no conocer el nombre del propietario, “Debemos revisar cuántos pies cuadrados se alquilan y cuál es el precio por pie cuadrado.”

Desafiamos al Ministro a hacer pública la lista de propietarios que arriendan al Gobierno. Usher respondió, “Una vez que el ministerio público diga que está bien, no tengo problema. Es el dinero del pueblo.”

Public Officers March in Capital to Mark Service Week

Public officers from across the country gathered in Belmopan this morning for a national walk to mark the start of Public Service Week. The walk ended at the Governor General Field, where activities continued.

Freya August, Chair of the Public Service Day National Committee, explained the reason for today’s event, stating “We had a national walk, so the public officers coming from north, south, east, and west, including San Pedro, came here to walk to celebrate the fact that we are proud to be public officers.”

According to August, this year makes 20 years since Belize signed on to the United Nations Public Service Day. The theme is: “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future.”

While the event was meant to highlight the work of public servants, it follows a recent wave of industrial actions by unions that continue their firm stance on their demands for salary adjustments and transparency from the Briceño adminsitration.

UDP Senator Patrick Faber to Stand Trial

Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber is scheduled to stand trial on September 16, 2025, for charges of obstructing a police officer and aggravated assault upon a police officer while in the execution of his duties.

Faber is also a former United Democratic Party (UDP) minister and former Collet area representative.

The 47-year-old appeared in court this morning in the company of his attorney, Orson “OJ” Elrington.

During the session, Faber was served with full disclosure in the case, consisting of 23 pages and a CD containing evidence related to the incident.

The charges stem from an altercation that allegedly occurred in the early hours of April 29, 2025, on Bay Street in Belize City. According to police reports, PCs Dante Smith and Giovanni Moody were conducting a checkpoint when a white pickup truck sped past the stop. Officers pursued the vehicle and eventually intercepted it on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard.

Upon stopping the vehicle, the officers say they identified the driver as Faber. After determining the vehicle was unlicensed, police requested to see Faber’s driver’s license. He reportedly asked the officers to accompany him to his residence to retrieve it. Once there, he provided the license, and officers informed him he would be ticketed for driving an unlicensed vehicle and for a defective light.

At that point, PC Smith alleges that Faber began recording the interaction with his phone, placing it just inches from the officer’s face. Despite repeated requests to maintain personal space, Faber allegedly continued the behavior, leading PC Smith to feel threatened. Smith stated that Faber’s actions obstructed him from carrying out his duties.

Smith later filed an official report at the Queen Street Police Station, requesting court action. Faber was arraigned in late April and pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was granted bail of $1,000.

Sickout at the KHMH?

Reports of a sickout at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the national referral hospital, have flooded our newsroom.

As we reported, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union (KHMHAWU) remains in dispute with the KHMH Authority over pension and ex gratia payments.

The Authority has proposed one-time payments for staff employed between 2001 and 2017 to be issued upon retirement or departure as a gesture of recognition for years of service.

However, the union has rejected the revised offer, calling it a step back from earlier promises and criticising the hospital’s portrayal of basic benefits as generous incentives. KHMHAWU also accused the Authority of using divisive tactics to deflect from demands for fair compensation.

News 5 has reached out to the KHMH for comment.

Tensions between the Authority and the Union appear to be escalating, as multiple staff members called in sick today in what appears to be a coordinated “sickout

President of the Union, Andrew Baird confirmed that he and several other employees reported sick and stressed their legal right to do so. “We are entitled to be sick,” Baird stated. “I visited my physician, who advised bed rest. I understand others are also out sick, but I don’t know their specific conditions.”

We’ve also seen a text message sent to KHMHA staff informing them that “radiologists have call-in sick. Due to this, we will not be able to facilitate ultrasounds and contrasted CT scans.”

Baird added that working conditions and recent developments could be taking a toll. “When people are under discomfort or pressure at work, it can affect them mentally and physically,” he said.

While Baird did not confirm the exact number of workers out sick today, he noted that, institutionally, employees have the right to use their certified and uncertified sick days without needing union approval. “Sick leave is not a favor. It’s an entitlement,” he said.

In terms of hospital operations, Baird said that was a matter for hospital management. “Maybe some bacteria or something is going around the hospital,” he added with irony, suggesting management should investigate.

Bus Association Slams National Bus Company Plan

The Belize Bus Owners Association (BBA) is calling on the Ministry of Transport to halt its promotional campaign for a proposed National Bus Company. BBA warned that the plan lacks essential data and financial backing and criticised the government for “guesswork” and misleading the public with uncosted promises of modern coach buses, digital ticketing, and terminal upgrades.

The association, which represents 31 licensed private operators, said in a statement, “The concept is being promoted first and studied after. That is not planning. That is guesswork.”

BBA added, “The Minister claims that 16 of the 31 licensed bus operators have agreed to participate in the NBC. However, none of these operators have made public statements or been presented with the kind of details necessary to make an informed business decision.”

The BBA said that no feasibility studies, financial models, or fare projections have been released. “Commuters… are now being promised a first-class, digital, modern transport experience. It sounds wonderful. But where is the math?”

The association also dismissed comparisons to Mexico’s ADO, and warned that Belize’s smaller fleet cannot achieve similar efficiencies. “To deliver the kind of nationwide transformation the minister is promising – brand-new buses, upgraded terminals, digital ticketing systems, fares in Belize would likely need to at least double to cover its cost.”

Tax Department: “Taxes Are Not Optional”

The Belize Tax Service is taking a hard stance on delinquent taxpayers. The department published a list of defaulting businesses with outstanding tax arrears totalling millions of dollars.

Director General Michelle Longsworth says the move is supported by law and comes only after all attempts at collection have failed. “The legal basis is fully grounded in the law, Section 64A of the Tax Administration and Procedure Act (TAPA). This empowers the Director General to publish a notice… This notice really serves as a final call to those who have remained delinquent in paying their taxes,” Longsworth told News 5.

According to Longsworth, the named businesses were given ample time and opportunities to dispute, negotiate, or arrange their tax payments.

“We’ve done everything trying to collect from them. “It’s important to know that none of these defaulters listed ‘just received a bill out of nowhere with no warning,'” she said. “We tried working with them, and we still continue to try working with but they refuse to engage in meaningful discourse. So, each one of them was afforded the rights all taxpayers receive: audit reviews, payment arrangements, dispute if they wanted to dispute any of the assessments they were engaged in.”

Longsworth added, “The publication of this specifically is where it’s a reminder to the public that taxes are not optional, and they don’t just go away; taxes must be paid. It’s unfair to pressure those who pay their taxes and leave those who don’t pay their taxes.”

The public list includes companies from across the country and nearly every sector and names well-known businesses along with their total tax owed.