June, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

An Increase in Taxes Looming to Meet Teachers’ Salary Demands?

The Briceño administration says it simply can’t afford to give teachers an 8.5% salary increase all at once, especially not while also restoring two frozen pay raises. And today, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight made that message even clearer. He explained that the government is already struggling to manage its current budget and added that he hopes they won’t be forced to raise taxes to make ends meet.

Paul Lopez

“Talk a bit if you would about the request from the teachers and how you have been able to crunch those figure. The amount it would cost government to increase their. Is it alarming the figure, given how the wage bill has ballooned?”

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary

“And it continues. Every point increase is seven million dollars for one percentage point. Do the math.”

Paul Lopez

“So, you all crunching those numbers.”

Joseph Waight

“We do it everyday to determine how much it would cost. But the bigger question is how will you pay for it?”

Paul Lopez

“So the Briceño administration is saying we cant afford it at this time, is that what you are also seeing.”

Joseph Waight

“We can barely afford what we are doing right now. But we have to look at it see where things can come. Hopefully we don’t have to raise taxes, but you never know.”

Public Workers Still Waiting as Salary Talks Stall

The salary dispute between public sector workers and the Government of Belize is still dragging on, with no clear end in sight. On Wednesday night, the Public Service Union (PSU) held a virtual meeting to figure out their next move—but so far, no official word has come out about what was decided. At the heart of the standoff is an eight-and-a-half percent salary increase that public officers, teachers, and senior managers say they’ve been waiting on for too long. The government recently offered a three percent raise instead, but that proposal was quickly turned down. Cabinet Minister Francis Fonseca has weighed in, saying that any pay raises should be based on performance, a comment that’s sparked even more debate among workers who feel they’ve already earned their due.

Francis Fonseca, Former Minister of Education

“As a responsible government, we have to, as we’ve always been saying, and this should be no surprise to the Public Service Union because in every meeting, and we’ve discussed this, we’ve always said these salary increases should be tied to specific targets. They have to be tied to performance targets. We’ve also been discussing with the joint unions, for years now, cost-saving measures, pension reform and revenue enhancement measures. We have committees that we have established to review all of those issues and come up with specific recommendations. So we have to allow that process to work. We have to have salary increases that are connected to performance targets. I think any reasonable Belizean will say, anybody, where you work, anybody who works in the private sector or works anywhere, salary increases are tied to some performance target. So that has to be an important component of it, as well as pension reform. We have said, for many, many, many years now that the current pension scheme that we have in place is unsustainable.”

Unitedville Landscaper Fatally Shot and Left in Graveyard

Residents of Unitedville were left stunned on Wednesday afternoon after a heartbreaking discovery near the village cemetery. Around four p.m., a young boy on his way to a football game noticed a strong, unpleasant smell. When he looked closer, he saw something no child should ever have to witness, the lifeless body of a man lying among the graves. Police and concerned villagers quickly arrived at the scene, but the man’s identity was initially unknown. It wasn’t until a photo of the body began circulating that family members came forward and identified him as forty-seven-year-old Paul Serano, a landscaper who lived between Unitedville and Belmopan. Authorities reported that Serano’s body was already in an advanced state of decomposition. He had suffered three gunshot wounds, one to the neck, one to the shoulder, and another to the abdomen. The news has devastated Serano’s family and the communities he was part of. A relative shared that the discovery came as a complete shock, they hadn’t even realized he was missing. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Serano’s death.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased

“He was staying with her, with my cousin in Belmopan. And that’s why she knew that it was her dad, because when he left from Belmopaan, he went to United Village. The same Saturday he left, he went there with our next cousin that he was staying with, She noticed that he haven’t returned home Sunday, Sunday night. But that was the same time that people in the village were saying that they heard gunshot within that same period of time in the village, but it was nothing strange due to the fact that they always have a set of boys. Who always shooting for no reason. So people paid no attention. But when they found the body, they thought he went back to his daughter in Belmopan for those days that he didn’t return to my other cousin in Unitedville. They thought he went back to Belmopan. Meanwhile, my cousin in Belmopan was thinking that he was still in Unitedville. So it was a miss crossing, thinking between the family. So we wasn’t even sure if he was, because he’s not a problem person. He’s not a drunken type, and he’s not a violent person to say when he goes, we don’t know where he at. Whenever he goes, we know where exactly he is because he’s a family-oriented person. He is a jovial person. He is this type of person who is very well known in Unitedville. He has no issue with no one. He has no problem with no one. He is someone that you could lift him in your yard to do work, which is, that is what he mostly do. He usually do landscape for people in their property in Unitedville. So it is something that is very shocking because he is a loving, respectable person. He, if he have something that he know you want, he would rather give it to you before any trouble. He would rather avoid problem if you come wrong and problems that he’s that type that will walk away.”

Appeal Court Overturns Murder Convictions Over Coerced Confessions

In a major ruling from the Court of Appeal, two men convicted of murder in 2018 have had their convictions overturned. Marvin Neal and Jaroud Lamb were serving life sentences for the 2013 murder of Steven Valencia in Santa Elena Town. But today, the Court of Appeal ruled that the only evidence used to convict them, caution statements given to police, should never have been admitted in court. The judgment highlights serious concerns about how those statements were obtained. Both men claimed they were threatened, beaten, and pressured into confessing. The court found that the trial judge failed to properly assess these claims and that the prosecution did not prove the statements were given freely and voluntarily. In Neal’s case, the court noted troubling inconsistencies in police testimony and a lack of explanation for why he would confess when no other evidence linked him to the crime. In Lamb’s case, the court criticized the use of a Justice of the Peace who couldn’t recall the event and raised concerns about the conditions of his detention. With no other evidence tying the men to the murder, the court quashed their convictions and sentences, bringing an end to a legal battle that has lasted over a decade.

Cops’ Trial Collapses After Juror Shake-Up

A courtroom twist has delayed the trial of two police officers accused of willfully suppressing a couple they allegedly caught in a compromising situation back in 2020. The case, involving officers Leslie Martinez and Jason Shaw, took an unexpected turn when charges against a third officer, Anthony Villamil, were suddenly dropped, just as the trial was set to begin. That surprise move left the judge scrambling to explain the change to the jury. But things got even more complicated when three jurors had to be excused, two of them revealing personal connections to the defense attorney. With too few jurors left, the trial was aborted. Now, a new jury will be selected on October twentieth, when Martinez and Shaw are expected to face the charges alone. As for Villamil, he may now become a witness in the case after reportedly giving a statement that implicates his former colleagues.

Unearthing the Wonders of Xunantunich

When we think of national treasures, few things rival the majesty and mystery of our ancient Mayan heritage. Towering above the lush jungle canopy, these awe-inspiring structures are more than just stone, they’re silent storytellers of a civilization that once thrived in our very own backyard. Tonight, on Belize on Reel, News Five’s Britney Gordon takes us deep into the heart of the Cayo District, where the iconic Xunantunich site stands tall once more, thanks to the tireless efforts of conservationists and archaeologists. Join us as we uncover the secrets of the past and celebrate the legacy that continues to shape our identity. Here’s that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

“Xunantunich. Its one of Belize’s most popular archaeological sites. Known for its many majestic structures that are still in great condition. What I’m standing in right now is the El Castillo, which was used for a multitude of reasons, But primarily, it was the living quarters of royalty. But did you know that just over a hundred years ago, all this was completely underground.”

El Castillo stands at one hundred and thirty feet, overlooking an altar and residential structures in the plaza.

Britney Gordon

“From the top of the El Castillo structure, you can see the towers in San Ignacio, Santa Elena, but take just a few steps over and you can start to see San Jose Succutz, Benque Viejo, and Melchor.”

So, how do incredible structures like El Castillo rise from the jungle once again? It’s all thanks to the careful and determined work of archaeologists like Antonio Beardall. Back in 2022, Beardall and a group of students rolled up their sleeves and began the painstaking process of uncovering one of the smaller buildings at the site. He explains what makes Xunantunich stand out from other ancient structures and why it continues to capture the imagination of so many.

Antonio Beardall, Archeologist

“What is most unique about this is that Xunantunich did not really come to power until very late. And it was a huge city at that time for about one hundred and fifty years. So you have other sites around the place like Cahal Pech a site called Actun Kan to the North. And these sites had people for centuries, people were living here, but it took a while for them to establish dominance in the region. And that’s what makes it interesting is that some of these structures were built in a single construction phase, whereas other sites, the structures have many different phases going down. On the El Castillo, there are many interesting parts of it that people might not notice at first. Right here, we have the sun god called Kinich Ahau, which can be identified by its crossed eyes and its buck teeth.”

Once these ancient structures are uncovered, the real challenge begins: keeping them standing. Belize’s national conservationist, Jorge Can, leads the team in charge of that mission. They don’t rebuild anything new; instead, they focus on strengthening what’s already there using special materials. But figuring out exactly what works best takes careful testing and analysis.

Jorge Can, National Conservator, Institute of Archeology

“They were using cement and sand. But then later on we began to see that no, it is damaging the structure, the stability of the structure, although the cement and the sand is very hard for a modern building. But over here we have to use soft materials that could bend contracts with the structure.”

Now, the team at Xunantunich uses mainly materials utilized by the ancient Mayans for conservation. However, this method doesn’t work for everything. The Freize, an intricate carving on the El Castillo, was reconstructed entirely to preserve the original.

Jorge Can

“Everything was disintegrating, deteriorating very fast. So we had to end up with a next technique that we actually, we came about with the, with our neighboring with the Mundo Maya, with Mexico and Guatemala and Copan, which is Honduras. We began to use fiberglass replica. So we are using replica now. So actually, the original stays at the box. We buried the original and we place a replica in front.”

The story of Xunantunich is far from over. As the sun rises over the ancient stones, teams of researchers continue to dig, both literally and figuratively, into Belize’s rich Mayan past. But what’s truly inspiring is who’s doing the digging. Archaeologist Antonio Beardall points out that many of the latest discoveries aren’t just coming from seasoned experts, they’re being made by Belizean students. These young researchers are getting hands-on experience at one of the country’s most iconic sites, helping to uncover buried artifacts and long-lost structures.

Antonio Beardall

“We knew that something was there because the people who had worked in the courtyard previously had documented. That they had found this deposit in front of the structures. So we figured we will probably find something similar. And we did. And it was essentially like a small carpet of artifacts. Everything from stone tools to broken pots, to tools that the Maya women used for weaving all in this one area. And to see these things and for the students to understand like what this small little thing means and how long ago it was it was made unused. It connects who we are in the present to the people who were there in the past.”

It’s a powerful reminder that the future of our history is in good hands. Britney Gordon for News Five.

BAA Suspends Security Contracts to ISecurity and Four Diamonds

The Belize Airports Authority has hit pause on two security contracts that were awarded under its previous board. The contracts, given to ISecurity and Four Diamonds, are now under investigation by the current board of directors. In a public statement, the BAA said it has asked its legal team to review the contracts and give an official opinion on whether they’re valid. Meanwhile, the authority plans to start a fresh, transparent bidding process to find qualified security providers for the country’s local airstrips. Former BAA General Manager and now government minister, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, also weighed in. She clarified that while she was on the board at the time, she didn’t have voting rights and never signed or approved any security contracts. In fact, she said she raised concerns about the contract and advised that it be reviewed by a lawyer before moving forward. Garcia-Ramirez pointed out that under the BAA Act, only one of the three ex-officio board members, the Financial Secretary, has voting power. When asked about the contracts today, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight was tight-lipped, saying he had no knowledge of them.

Paul Lopez

“Would you have been privy to the information on the BAA security contract, that twenty-eight million dollars?”

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary

“No, I don’t. I am not on the board so I don’t know. No, no, no, ok.”

BTL Confirms Talks on Industry Consolidation

There’s been growing buzz about a possible shake-up in Belize’s telecom industry and tonight, Belize Telemedia Limited is setting the record straight. In a statement released today, BTL addressed speculation about a potential consolidation in the broadband, cable, and mobile telecom sectors. The company says these conversations aren’t new, in fact, discussions with other operators have been ongoing since 2018. BTL emphasized that any future consolidation would be aimed at strengthening the national telecom network, ultimately benefiting Belizeans through better service, broader coverage, and cost savings. The company says that in any economy, big or small, cutting down on duplication and making better use of existing resources leads to greater efficiency. And that, they say, is good news for customers and stakeholders alike. We’ll continue to monitor this story as it develops and bring you updates on what it could mean for your connectivity and your wallet.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring at Raccoon Street Police Station

A heavy downpour on Wednesday night turned the Racoon Street Police Station in Belize City into a soggy mess. Videos making the rounds on social media show water gushing through a leaky roof, flooding the station’s floors and leaving officers scrambling. This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about the condition of police buildings. Officers have long voiced frustration over poor maintenance, and this latest incident has only added fuel to the fire. In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries issued a statement acknowledging the issue. They pointed to decades of neglect and underinvestment in public infrastructure as the root of the problem, and assured the public that the concerns are being taken seriously. The ministry further committed to repairing these dilapidated structures, stating “In response, ministry has already initiated a phased nationwide improvement plan aimed at enhancing the working and living conditions of our officers. We are currently pursuing temporary accommodations to relocate critical units operating from Raccoon Street Police Station” .

New Book Unpacks Roots of Gang Violence in Belize

A powerful new book is shedding light on the complex realities of gang life in Belize City, and it’s sparking important conversations about violence, identity, and community. Today, sociologist Doctor Adam Baird officially launched his latest publication, From South Central to South Side, at the University of the West Indies. The book, published by Cubola, explores gang transnationalism, masculinity, and what Dr. Baird calls ‘disorganized violence’ in Belize City. Doctor Baird has spent years researching gang dynamics in Belize and beyond. His work connects the dots between local struggles and international patterns, offering a fresh perspective on how violence takes root, and how it might be addressed.

Dr. Adam Baird, Sociologist & Author

“The book is a history of gangs in Belize, particularly on the south side and it focuses on how gangs came, the Bloods and Crips, from the USA into Belize, how the gangs grew, how the violence escalated. Critically, what I am trying to do in the book is to provide some sustainable solutions and responses to gang violence because, as everybody knows, it’s a critical issue in the country and we’re struggling to find solutions.”

Isani Cayetano

“What was the motivation behind putting this book together? You said you’re a researcher, you’ve done extensive work here in the country. What brought you to the point where you decided to the point where you decided to put all of this in writing?”

Adam Baird

“Well I first came here in 2011 and I designed a gang intervention program for the UNDP called the South Side Youth Success Program. What really struck me were two things: the first thing was the very high levels of violence in the country; and the second thing, myself as a gang researcher, I went to the academic literature and said, what can I find on a history of gang violence in Belize and there were very few publications. These did begin to come out, Dr. Herbert Gayle, Nelma Mortis-Jones wrote that book, “Like Bushfire” and also, Nuri Muhammed wrote his book on insights into gang culture. For me, it was very important that a foreigner comes to the country and casts an eye over what’s happening to give you a bit of an outsider’s perspective on what’s going on inside the country. And in the first book launch here at the University of West Indies, I think there was a confirmation that we share a lot of the same type of analysis about the reasons that we have gang violence and what drives gang violence in this city. So I left that first session today feeling very hopeful that we can collaborate together and generate new ideas about how to solve gang violence.”

From South Central to South Side is now available through Cubola Publishers. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the deeper issues shaping our communities.