June, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Minister Backs Firearms Board Amid Criticism from Gun Dealer

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa is standing by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board amid criticism from Abner Murillo, owner of Lock N’ Loaded gun shop. Murillo has publicly condemned the new licensing process as slow, unclear, and unfair to law-abiding citizens.

Responding to the criticism, Musa said, “He obviously has a right to protest regulations. Obviously a lot of gun dealers thrived when we had zero regulations with the issuing of gun licenses.” He pointed to past issues, saying, “We heard many horror stories, instances of corruption, instances of paying off to get a gun license. A lot of unsavory individuals getting gun license and we have pivoted away from that.”

Musa added, “I know that is going to harm the business of gun dealers and this guy is a gun dealer right, so it going to harm his business naturally… But, he has to understand, we are operating under new circumstances, under regulations.” He praised the board’s efforts, saying, “I think the board has been doing an exceptionally good job… These are positive things, so instead of applauding these things, he is out there complaining because he is not making the kind of money he use to.”

Musa said, “I have to respect that, but at the end of the day my duty is to the Belizean people to make sure we have proper regulations in place.”

Belizean Student in U.S. Speaks Out on Fear Amid Immigration Crackdown

A Belizean student living in the United States has shared his fears about life under the Trump-era immigration policies. He describes a climate of fear that has reshaped how he and many others live their daily lives. The student, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, has lived in the U.S. for more than 11 years and is currently based in Long Beach, California.

He described a heavy emotional toll as federal immigration enforcement ramps up across cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where many of his family members reside. “They’re all citizens… and even they are worried also about what can happen whenever they step out,” he said. “It is just heartbroken to see families just going through all of this… seeing their crying parents that [get] snatched away and the kids just leave there. Parentless. It’s a very sad situation.”

In light of the increased raids and deportations, he said his own lifestyle has drastically changed. “Festival, large crowds are a no for me… Caribbean events are all off-limits for me until I feel comfortable to be around people and safe again,” he explained. “If restaurants are not safe for you to even eat with your family, then it’s a no.”

The student said that fear of being stopped, even with legal status, is widespread. “We all just have to be careful… small little things, they’re looking for a reason to just snatch you and deport you. And when you get deported, you don’t know where you’re going.”

He said that immigration enforcement is affecting everyone, regardless of status. “Not even students are safe on campus… student visas are getting revoked. People are getting sent back to their origin countries for apparent no reason,” he said. “This has stopped me a lot from pursuing my education.”

Though he currently feels relatively safe in Long Beach, he recounted the chaos happening nearby: “They raid all over the places…Home Depots, Italian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, even on buses. People are heading to work, they’re snatching them out. It’s just unlawful.”

He warned that no one is exempt: “Legal, illegal, citizens, green card holders…everyone is at risk… Your Latin features…once looked at a certain way you will get snatched up and deported.”

His legal status is currently being handled by an attorney, and he continues to pay out of pocket for his education while trying to stay afloat amid the uncertainty. “It’s a scary moment for a lot of people here in America,” he said. “Your life and livelihood can [be] cut just like that in seconds.”

PSU President Fires Back at ComPol Rosado

The ongoing tension between Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado and Public Service Union (PSU) President Dean Flowers escalated this week after Rosado publicly linked Flowers’ phone number to a ‘high-profile police investigation.’

Speaking to the media on Monday, Rosado dismissed Flowers’ recent criticisms of police operations, stating, “It is difficult for me to respond to someone who does not understand the dynamics of policing, who does not understand the challenges in policing. I believe that individual just wants to spew nonsense for his own aggrandizement.” He then added, “But I want to ask you in the media to ask him how his phone number, connected to him, is linked to a high-profile investigation involving public officers.”

Flowers fired back this morning, strongly rejecting the claim and accusing Rosado of trying to deflect from legitimate concerns about policing practices. “He does not have an iota of proof linking 6005110 or 615 3110 to any investigation since the Declaration of Self-Government in 1964,” Flowers stated. He said the Commissioner’s remarks stemmed from bruised ego and anger over Flowers’ criticism of police tactics in Dangriga. “You cannot govern and rule based on fear, which is what in my view, the police department attempted to do in Dangriga, instill fear,” he said.

The PSU President also reminded Dr. Rosado that his position is safeguarded by the very union he now seems to be at odds with. “If it was not for the Public Service Union of Belize, he would never be Commissioner of Police,” Flowers said, referencing protections under the public service regulations tied to collective bargaining agreements. “This union has been protecting you from day one.”

Fire Destroys 8 Motorcycles at Police Station

Police in southern Belize are investigating a fire that broke out late Tuesday morning at the Independence police compound, destroying eight motorcycles. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stacy Smith, the blaze started around 10:30 a.m. on the eastern side of the compound, which houses the ISF station.

“Police officers in the Southern Regional Formation were alerted to a fire that was ongoing on the eastern side of that compound,” ASP Smith said. “The police officers observed that there was a high tension wire that became undone and this resulted in a fire.”

Smith explained that the fire engulfed approximately eight motorcycles that had been stored at the location. “The motorcycles were not the motorcycles that were being used by the police officers,” she clarified. “They were actually properties that were in possession of the police as a consequence of abandoned property or property whose owner cannot be identified.”

Due to the involvement of a high-tension wire, firefighters had to wait for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) personnel to arrive before they could fully respond to the scene.

“The fire was subsequently contained and the extent of the damages [was] limited to the said eight motorcycles. The property, the building, was not affected by the fire.”

‘Police Officers Stole My $11’

Two police constables are under investigation following allegations that they robbed a Belize City resident during a traffic stop. Edlin Perez claims the incident occurred on June 8, 2025, as he was riding his bicycle against the flow of traffic along Orange Street.

According to Perez, what began as a routine stop quickly escalated. He alleges that the officers searched him and then demanded money from his pocket, ultimately taking eleven dollars. The incident was reported to police shortly after it occurred.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith confirmed that the matter is under active investigation. “Edlin Perez reported to police that… he was intercepted by two police officers who conducted a search on him,” ASP Smith explained. “At the conclusion of that search, Mr. Perez alleges that one of the officers requested money that was in his possession and he handed it over.”

Placencia Council Demands Gov’t Action on Land Dispute

The Placencia Village Council (PVC) is urgently calling on the government to take immediate action in a land dispute that it says threatens the community’s most cherished public space, Placencia Point. In a letter sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde on June 9, PVC Chairperson Warren Garbutt demanded a resolution to the issue, which he says has dragged on for over a decade.

The 1.8-acre parcel of land has been at the heart of Placencia life for more than 50 years. It is used for hosting major cultural and economic events like Lobsterfest and the Art Festival. Despite long-standing community use and official requests dating back to 2013, the land was sold to a private company without the council’s knowledge.

The village has tried multiple times to formally acquire the land, reaching out to several ministers and even the Prime Minister over the years. Surveys later revealed inconsistencies in the land’s size, with one survey suggesting that nearly half an acre of shoreline, currently not titled, could belong to the village.

The council says the Ministry of Natural Resources previously committed to helping reclaim the land, including publishing acquisition notices and negotiating with the new landowner. But those promises were never fulfilled, and each year the village faces legal threats during Lobsterfest, which generates critical revenue for local governance.

The council says Placencia Point is a vital part of the village’s culture, identity, and environment, especially as climate change and erosion reduce beach access elsewhere.

The PVC has now given the government until June 12 to respond with a clear plan or face public pressure through the media.

ChatGPT Goes Down Leaving Users ‘To Type Their Own Emails’

A major outage hit ChatGPT today, leaving users around the world unable to access OpenAI’s popular chatbot. The disruption affected not only ChatGPT but also related services like APIs and the AI-powered video tool Sora.

According to OpenAI, users were experiencing “elevated error rates and latency.” The company confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 10:22 a.m. ET that engineers had identified the root cause and were working swiftly to resolve the issue.

As of early afternoon, OpenAI reported that systems were gradually recovering, though the company continues to “monitor the fix” and push toward full service restoration.

Outage tracking site DownDetector showed the number of reported issues peaking at nearly 2,000 just after 11 a.m. ET, but by 2:30 p.m., that number had dropped to around 500, indicating progress.

GBM Leads the Pack in 2025 CBU Media Awards with Record Number of Nominations

Greater Belize Media (GBM) has emerged as the top nominee in this year’s 36th annual Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards. With a staggering 103 entries submitted across multiple categories, GBM outpaced competitors from across the Caribbean, including Jamaica’s media giant RJRGLEANER Communications Group, which secured 95 nominations.

GBM’s nominations span both traditional and digital platforms, including Best Documentary, Best Magazine, and top categories for News, Sports, Investigative Reporting, Entertainment, and Commercial content. GBM is also recognised for impactful journalism on key social and environmental issues, earning nods in all three Child Rights Champion categories and for coverage of mangroves, coral reefs, healthy nutrition policy, land degradation, and financial literacy. Additionally, the network stands out for its celebration of Caribbean arts and culture, and its behind-the-scenes talent received nominations for Best Videographer, Best Producer – TV, and Best Director – TV.

The announcement comes as part of a record-breaking year for the CBU Media Awards. A total of 551 entries were submitted by 30 media organisations across 11 countries and territories, plus one pan-regional entity, marking a 13% increase in submissions compared to last year.

GBM’s strong showing was further highlighted in the People’s Choice category, which saw 13,339 total votes cast via social media across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Belize was among the five territories with entries in the newly revamped short-form digital content format in areas such as News, Comedy, Music, and Education.

Full list can be found here.

BSCFA Warns: Don’t Give “Rose” Your 6-Digit Code

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) has issued an urgent warning to its members about a potential cyberattack targeting cane farmers.

According to the association, several members have reported receiving suspicious Zoom invitations from a person identifying herself as “Rose.” The calls, reportedly scheduled for 8:00 p.m., claim to be aimed at “empowering cane farmers” and ask recipients to confirm their identity using a six-digit code and provide their email addresses.

The BSCFA is urging farmers not to share any personal information, warning that the calls are not affiliated with the organization and may be part of a scheme to gain access to individuals’ phones or bank accounts. Some farmers have even reported losing access to their WhatsApp accounts after engaging with the call.

Belize Bank Issues Urgent Warning About Rising Phone Scams

Belize Bank has issued a public alert warning customers about a surge in fraudulent phone calls impersonating bank representatives. The alert urges the public to remain vigilant and protect their personal and financial information.

According to the bank, several customers have reported receiving suspicious calls from individuals falsely claiming to be from Belize Bank. These scammers attempt to extract sensitive information such as full credit card numbers, PINs, usernames, and passwords.

“Belize Bank NEVER asks for personal or credit card information over the phone.”

The bank is reminding customers of its core security principles, known as the “Golden Rules,” which include:

Never provide your credit card information, PINs, usernames, or passwords to anyone over the phone.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links.

Use the bank’s Secure Online Message Center, BBL Assist, for official communication.