Gunfire erupted near Victoria Street in Belize City sometime around 10:30 on Tuesday night, prompting a swift response from police stationed just blocks away. According to authorities, a routine checkpoint turned into a dangerous exchange of gunfire when an officer confronted a suspicious individual who opened fire. The officer returned shots, and now one person, identified as Clive Hendricks, is in custody and a firearm has been recovered. As the investigation continues, police say it’s still early days.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“An officer who was posted at the checkpoint located on New Road in Belize City reported that whilst on duty, he heard shots coming from the direction of Victoria Street to which he responded. Upon responding, he observed an individual who he saw in a suspicious manner and instructed him to stop and that person responded by firing shots at the officer who, in turn, returned shots in the direction of the individual. The investigation has, thus far, led to the recovery of a firearm and the detention of an individual. The investigation which is still in its infant stage continues.”
Two men already behind bars under a State of Emergency have now been formally charged in a shocking case of attempted murder. Eric Frazer and Jahreem Staine were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for allegedly opening fire on Jimmy Rojas, a man once accused of murder, himself, but later cleared due to lack of evidence. The shooting happened on May third at the corner of Tibruce Street and Croton Lane, where Rojas was working when a gunman exited a tinted Mercedes and opened fire. Rojas survived the attack and is recovering from his injuries. The suspects, now facing multiple charges, including attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm, have been denied bail and remain at the Belize Central Prison until their next court date in September.
The Ministry of Home Affairs insists that its new firearms licensing system is a step toward transparency and accountability, but applicants and gun dealers are telling a very different story. Tonight, we will continue our coverage of challenges at the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board. From long delays to confusing requirements, frustration is mounting, especially among those who say their safety is on the line. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more in the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Ministry of Home Affairs says it’s trying to make the gun license process more transparent, but not everyone’s convinced it’s working. Gun dealers and applicants are pushing back, saying the new system is causing more frustration than clarity. One police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told News Five he applied for a firearm license six months ago. His reason? He wants to protect himself and his family. But after all that time, he’s still waiting. The Firearm and Ammunition Control Board hasn’t approved his application, and he’s not alone.
On the Phone: Police Officer, Gun License Applicant
“Trying to get a gun license is very hard. I try from last year December and keep and trying. When I call the Home Affairs office the lady always tells me that they have limited amount of personnel doing the vetting. When I call again they say the board has not met. It is very frustrating.”
Last week, Abner Murillo, a gun dealer and owner of Lock N’ Loaded, asserted that the application process now requires two valid identification cards. A release from the board refuted that claim. But the officer we spoke with said otherwise.
On the phone: Police Officer
“It was very challenging, because I had to go way to Belmopan, took a day off, sign a book and then they told me I need another id. So I had to go and photocopy another ID at the print shop, came back, gave them the ID and that is how they took my application. I took in my drivers license and my social security.”
Paul Lopez
“Because they ask you for two ids?”
On the Phone: Police Officer
“Yes, two ids.”
Applicants are calling the new gun license ID process frustrating, especially for those traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away for not having multiple forms of ID. One police officer, still waiting six months for approval, says his job makes it critical to legally carry a firearm to protect his family. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa praised the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board during the budget debate, calling it a step toward greater accountability in the licensing process.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“WE are ensuring that those who carry firearm, do so under lawful, well monitored and careful conditions. Mr. Speaker the work for the FACB is essential to national security. But just as important it is essential to national confidence. Through its establishment we are establishing order to an area long plagued byopacity and setting a bold new standard for arms control in the Caribbean.”
The new firearm licensing process may still be experiencing some growing pains. Despite repeated attempts, calls and messages to CEO Sharole Carr, who is also the chair of the board, have gone unanswered. However, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board has issued two statements this week—one responding to claims by gun dealer Abner Murillo, and another notifying dealers that physical inventory checks will begin in June.
Abner Murillo
Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded
“This is something that is a practice with the dealers. I accept it. I think it is necessary. You do have to do spot checks. You do have to do inventory checks. The Dangerous Good Unit did it previously. It is an excellent thing they are doing it. It is nothing new. However, the timing of it does seem, appear to be a little bit retaliatory, as other people have said. I cannot say for a fact that it is or not, but the timing. It is like, you want to speak up, hold yah. We wah come check unu and pressure unu a little bit. It might seem that way, but I don’t know for a fact.”
Murillo’s criticism of the process has been a mixed bag of support and disapproval. Some are of the view that the process has made it harder for responsible individuals to retain a license and that law abiding citizens should bear arms, while others say all guns need to be banned.
Abner Murillo
“You have to have a recommendation letter from a Justice of the Peace. The problem is there is a handful of Justice of the Peace in the country. People are getting turned around and turned around to get a JP letter because they are not comfortable giving recommendation letters for a firearm because of the nature of it. They are saying, I don’t want to give a recommendation letter and it comes back to me. Before you didn’t need a recommendation, you needed the firearm certificate, the training and a clean police record and the vetting.”
Once again, our requests for comment from the board chair went unanswered. Meanwhile, questions are growing about whether the board has the capacity, and the authority, to effectively manage its role as the country’s gun license watchdog. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Earlier this week, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board announced in a press release that Abner Murillo has taken legal action against them. While Murillo isn’t sharing the details of his claim just yet, he says he wants the matter to play out fully in court. He also expressed concern over the board’s decision to go public with the lawsuit, suggesting it may have been premature.
Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded
“I wish they would not have commented on the court matter. That is not something I want to bring the to the public and I hope you guys do share. There is a lot of things there that will make them look bad and I am not trying to make them look bad. Aright, if you don’t want to listen to me, you are a public servant. Go listen to the public. Go online and read the comments, listen to the vast majority. The vast majority are in agreement. I would say over ninety percent. Most comments would say ban all guns, take away the guns. We have a very high crime rate. The moment we don’t have crime, I myself will give up my guns, excepting my hunting, because I like to hunt and I like my game meat. But, if there was not a high crime rate there would be no need for special protection firearms. The moment we have no crime I could close down my shop. But it is not about that. It is not about me. It is about the process that has become so frustrating.”
Long-time U.D.P. figure and now retired politician Michael Finnegan is throwing his support behind Tracy Panton in her bid for party leader. But some are asking, should he share some of the blame for where the party stands today? After all, it was Finnegan who handed over the reins in Mesopotamia to Moses “Shyne” Barrow… and, well, the rest is history. So, does Tracy Panton think Finnegan bears any responsibility? We put that question to her, here’s what she had to say.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I think pointing fingers will not help to solve the problem. What has been done in the past cannot be undone. I think we have to find a way forward. I appreciate that at this point in time, the honorable Michael Finnegan has stepped forward. Would I have wanted him to step forward sooner, of course. I think we would have avoided some of the hemorrhaging that has happened. But he has stepped forward and I hope there will be more senior members of this party, for the interest of protecting this institution, that we refer to as the UDP and it is an institution of the people, that they will also have their voices heard.”
The United Democratic Party is planning a unity meeting on June fourteenth, but there’s already controversy brewing. Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton says she wasn’t invited, and she’s not the only one. According to her, several other parliamentarians were also left out. “If this is supposed to be about unity, then why are key voices being shut out?” she asked. With the party struggling to rebuild and bring people together, this move raises serious questions about its direction. We spoke with Panton to find out what this could mean for the future of the UDP.
Tracy Taegar Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I do understand that a meeting has been scheduled for the fourteenth of June. It is being promoted as a meeting that seeks to reset and unify the party. It is anything but that. There are at least fifteen caretakers, elected representatives of this party along with their executive committees who have been excluded, have not been invited to attend this meeting and if we are going to reset and unite the political organization then we need all hands od deck, to hear from all persons. Some of what has been said or what has to be heard, may not be easy. But that is the place to trash it out. It is not in the public domain. It should not be in the public domain. It should be in spaces where we can work together to find the solution that ultimately serve the people. We are exploring the legal remedies that may be available to us on the matter of the NPC but it is unfortunate that we would have to go that route to have an internal discussion.”
Today, teachers across Belize once again marched through the streets, sending a clear message to the government: they’re not backing down in their fight for fair wages. The protest is part of a larger movement that began in April, when the Belize National Teachers’ Union, along with the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, called for an eight-point-five percent salary increase for public officers and educators. But the government turned down the request, arguing that the country’s wage bill is already too high. Still, the unions aren’t giving up. They say this is about standing up for what’s right and they’re determined to keep pushing until their voices are heard. In tonight’s Five-Point Breakdown, we’ll take a closer look at what’s fueling the unions’ frustration and why they believe now is the time for action. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the full story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The fight is far from over. For nearly two months, the Public Service Union of Belize, the Belize National Teachers’ Union, and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers have been united in their demand for an 8.5% salary increase for public officers and teachers. From peaceful protests and organized sickouts to bold road blockades, the unions have shown they’re willing to take their fight to the streets, and they’re not backing down. According to Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union, this isn’t just about numbers on a paycheck. It’s about fairness, dignity, and long-overdue recognition for the people who keep the country running.
Workers Demand Fairer Wages
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union
“ The government came to us in 2020. We acceded an increment. We also gave up on some allowances because several officers were impacted where the allowances were concerned, where the gratuities was concerned and so on. In 2021 when the Briceno administration took over in November of 2020 when there was election, they also came to us and they said, you know what we need to do? We need to take some additional last thirty measures. Okay, that now included not only, the continued freezing of increments, but they also went one step further to say, we need to also cut your salaries. And so they introduced a ten percent cut.”
The government offered a 3% raise in response to union demands for fairer wages, but unions quickly rejected it, calling for a more serious commitment. Their frustration grew after it was revealed that government CEOs and the Cabinet Secretary received a 15% salary increase, boosting their pay from $76,000 to $88,000 a year. Nadia Caliz, President of the Belize National Teachers’ Union, said that raise was a tipping point, one that made it clear teachers and public officers could no longer stay silent.
What Triggered The Unions’ Call To Action
Nadia Caliz
Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers Union
“And when are telling me and this country that our teachers are holding the students hostage, you have been holding these students hostage. You have not provided what you needed to provide for them. You have not provided what you needed to provide for them. Where we applaud the fact that some of them can now get a meal and buying. Teachers no longer have to take out their pocket to give them that, my teachers are suffering because they have been doing a part of your responsibility as a government providing those resources, preparing those schools, and all of those things. So, we, at the BNTU, we don’t take that lightly, and I’ll show you another thing. You are willing to give up millions with the Key Chapel Project. Millions”
Healthcare workers at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital are joining the call for fair treatment. The KHMHA Workers Union, led by President Andrew Baird, is demanding that the government provide pensions for eligible employees, specifically those hired since 2000, who were promised benefits that never materialized. While a retirement package was introduced in 2017 for new hires, long-serving staff were left out. Baird says it’s time for equal consideration, especially given the daily financial struggles many healthcare workers face.
Employees Pay Out of Pocket to Do Their Jobs
Andrew Baird
Andrew Baird, President, KHMHA Workers Union
“What you’re not hearing from many nurses or doctors when there’s a shortage of supplies and equipment in KHMH, we take money out of our pocket as well to buy tapes, we have to buy our own stethoscopes, our own blood pressure equipment and the list goes on. Sometimes doctors have to bring their own operating kits to the institution because Karl Heusner does not have any, but we do not base our plight ongoing into our pocket. We are basing our plight on what we deserve and what should be rightfully us, but we do make those sacrifices.”
The Government of Belize recently partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to review and modernize how public service workers are paid. The 2024 draft report, led by Senior Consultant Malcolm Green, flagged major issues in how employment and payroll are managed. The report urges the government to reform salary and pension systems to ensure fair pay, while also recommending better budgeting and control to manage employment costs effectively.
Government Advised to Make Equitable Pay a Reality
Dean Flowers
“The issue here is not, may not necessarily be that we don’t have money, but we have a spending problem. We have an unchecked spending problem, we have an accountability problem. We’re not giving proper accounts of how we’re spending. We’re not giving proper, proper account of how we are giving away concessions. Are we quantifying those concessions and really appreciating the dollar value that we’re losing as a result of those concessions versus the investment that is being made.”
The negotiation between the unions and the government is ongoing. They have made it clear that until they feel that they have been fairly compensated for the services they provide, the government will hear their cries.
Unions Tell Government To “Get It Right”
Nadia Caliz
“Every single where somebody stop you and give you their story. What is happening in the workplace, and most of these are government entities and I didn’t realize so many people were suffering in this country. So many and you know, they just need to get it right.”
According to Prime Minister John Briceño, Belize’s current national wage bill, stands at around seven hundred million dollars, accounting for nearly fifty cents of every dollar in the national budget. Britney Gordon for News Five.
It’s a new chapter for Belize’s National Assembly as parliamentarians, both fresh faces and seasoned lawmakers, gather for a three-day Post-Election Seminar. Hosted by the National Assembly and led by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and ParlAmericas, the event is all about sharpening the tools of democracy. From mastering parliamentary procedures to tackling modern challenges like social media’s influence, it’s a crash course in better governance. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Parliamentarians stepped out of the National Assembly and into a more relaxed setting at Kiki Witz for a three-day training seminar. The goal? To sharpen their skills and better serve the people of Belize. Led by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the sessions offer a chance to share experiences, tackle challenges, and learn how to shape stronger policies for the country.
Jack Hardcastle
Jack Hardcastle, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
“The post-election seminar is a program that we at the CPA offer to all our members and it is typically delivered in the short period after a general election. So, we were brought here on invitation by the National Assembly and will be delivering sessions to both members of the House of Representatives and Senators. It is open to both newly elected members as well as those more experienced returning members as well.”
President of the Senate, Carolyn Trench-Sandiford is among the participants. She knows all too well about the important work of parliament, and especially parliamentary behavior.
Carolyn Trench-Sandiford
Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, President, Senate
“There are parliaments which if you would review the tapes, have become very much out of order. I have seen parliaments where people are juping over the chairs and attacking. Of recent in the Caribbean one of the parliamentarians threw an item at a presiding officer. They had to take them out. We have not reached there. There is the apparent political partisanship with parliament. But within the Senate, I want to say that unlike the lower house, in the upper house we do have the contribution of what we call our social partners. They bring diverse, specific interest conversations to the dialogue, which makes Belize very unique.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Belize’s first-ever female Leader of the Opposition, made history just by showing up, and she was front and center on day one of the seminar. Her new role marks a major milestone for women in Belizean politics. While most people only see parliamentarians in action during House and Senate meetings, Panton says the real work happens behind the scenes, when the cameras are off and the tough conversations begin.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I believe our work in the House committees, the standing committees of both the upper and lower house, that is where we trash things out. That is where the stakeholders group engage with their parliament. Recently I was in a meeting examining the families bill. It took ten hours, but it was important. That ten hours was time well spent. But we were able to hear from the persons that piece of legislation meant to be a beneficiary for. We heard from them what makes sense and what does not serve them.”
Fort George Area Representative and Minister of Public Service, Henry Charles Usher is also a member of parliament. But, despite his experience, he says that there remains room for growth.
Henry Charles-Usher
Henry Charles-Usher, Parliamentarian
“So it is important for new and returning parliamentarians to benefit from some of these sessions. It is a three day course going through different aspects when it comes to representation, standing orders and being a representative of the people. I am here both as the minister of public service and as the parliamentary whip for the government side. I thought it was important for me to be here and stay for a few of the sessions.”
The seminar will be concluded on Wednesday. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
On Tuesday, Ambassador Alexis Rosado stood before the Belmopan High Court, formally arraigned on serious charges: one count of rape, one count of sexual assault, and aggravated assault. The allegations are deeply disturbing; Rosado is accused of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a female complainant from the time she was just thirteen years old, continuing until she was twenty-seven. Rosado, once one of Belize’s most respected diplomats, also holds a critical role as Belize’s co-agent in the ongoing territorial case against Guatemala at the International Court of Justice. And despite the gravity of the charges, the government has made the controversial decision to keep him on that case. The decision has raised serious questions about accountability, justice, and the message it sends, both at home and on the international stage. Rosado remains on bail and is expected back in court on June twenty-fourth for case management. The trial will be held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the allegations.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“Obviously, I’m not in a position to comment on the case, the criminal case before the court. What I can say is that a decision was taken several years ago to keep Mr. Rosado. In his capacity as a co-agent on the ICJ team, along with, of course, ambassador Assad Shoman. And I think the justification for that, the rationale for that was that he had been involved with this process for a very long time. He had a lot of knowledge and experience of engagement with the ICJ process. We were at a critical juncture. We are at a critical juncture in terms of that. The progress of that case before the court International Court of Justice. And the feeling of the government is that we should allow him to continue to serve along with Ambassador Shoman in advancing that work.”
Alexis Rosado
Reporter
“Along those lines and looking at that work how soon can we expect to hear any developments with regard to our case?”
Francis Fonseca
“As the both Belize and Guatemala have made their written submissions to report. So that has been completed. That has been done now for almost a year. What we are doing now is waiting really, with and see mode for the court to set a date for the oral hearings. The oral hearings. And we have to wait until they set a date for that. The court, there’s been a backlog of cases. There have been election of new judges, so there has been a delay caused by their own administrative inner workings of the court. We’re hopeful that we’re very hopeful that a date can be sent. Hopefully we get that date sometime this year or next year early next year. We get that date. And then of course, once the oral hearings have been have been made then of course we then await the judgment of the court.”
June fourth marks a key moment in the Trump administration’s global tariff standoff. Earlier this week, the U.S. gave dozens of countries a deadline—submit your best trade deal offer by today, or risk facing tariffs. But Belize is in the clear. Andy Sutherland, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Belize isn’t affected by this deadline. He explained that CARICOM countries, including Belize, are in ongoing talks with the U.S. to bring back the Caribbean Basin Initiative, a program that allows duty-free access to U.S. markets.
On the Phone: Andy Sutherland, Director General, Foreign Trade
“That ninety-day time frame does not apply to Belize because we are not in active negotiation with the U.S. for a trade agreement that would redefine the tariff structures which the U.S. and any other country. But we are engaged through the diplomatic channels or embassy in Washington D.C. are reaching out to the U.S. DR on reinstating the benefits under the CBI. All the beneficiary countries under the CBI does not maintain a trade surplus with the U.S. and not in any way infringing on the competitive position of U.S. companies and industries. We are also forging with CARICOM and various institutions, the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors to make the pitch of U.S. reinstating the benefits of the CBI to the Caribbean region.”
So while the pressure is on for many nations, Belize is still in the game, working behind the scenes for a better deal.
