And in case you missed, here’s a highlight of last night’s KTV the Remix episode, where contestants jammed out to reggae and Caribbean tunes. Don’t forget to tune in next Tuesday for another night of electrifying displays of talent with judge’s pick- alternative night.
Prominent attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley has come out strongly against the proposed Thirteenth Amendment Bill, calling it an attack on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Belizeans. Bradley did not mince words, describing the legislation as something out of a “Nazi movie.”
“It is an incredible thing that in 2025 we are going to interfere with the fundamental rights and freedom of Belizeans by saying to them, ‘We are going to put in the constitution that you have no rights once the police come for you. That is like out of those Nazi and communist movies. This can’t really be Belize,” Bradley said.
He argued that amending the constitution to allow security forces extra powers in designated ‘special areas’ would strip people of the very protections the constitution is meant to uphold. “It is unbelievable that this is where Belize is, that you could put in your constitution, which is there to protect you, things that are going to take away your protection. It is incredible,” Bradley added.
Bradley rejected the notion and said the real focus should be on working with communities to tackle violence at its roots. “What is happening here that a couple of the new slave masters can come and have a discussion?
Bradley also dismissed the claim that lawyers profit from defending criminals, noting that most people caught up in crime cannot afford legal representation. “It is an emotional argument to talk about lawyers and crime; the people who pick them up can’t pay no lawyer. Only sixteen people successfully sue. They can’t afford to go to any lawyer. I don’t drink and smoke weed, but this is something like you are in a semi-stupor state to know this is happening in Belize,” Bradley said.
According to a report by the BBC, Cuba’s Minister for Labour, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, has resigned after sparking outrage by claiming there are no beggars in Cuba and that those searching through rubbish do so by choice to make “easy money.”
Feitó Cabrera made the comments this week during a session of the National Assembly, saying, “There are no beggars in Cuba. There are people pretending to be beggars to make easy money,” and accusing people who rummage through trash of being “illegal participants in the recycling service.”
Her remarks drew swift backlash from Cubans both at home and abroad, who say the comments ignored the daily reality of poverty, food shortages, and a struggling economy. The BBC reports that even President Miguel Díaz-Canel indirectly rebuked the minister in parliament, warning that the leadership must not “act with condescension” or be “disconnected from the realities” faced by ordinary Cubans.
Public criticism of government officials is rare in Cuba, where anti-government protests are banned and open dissent is often punished. The BBC says a group of Cuban activists and intellectuals even published a letter calling Feitó Cabrera’s remarks “an insult to the Cuban people” and demanding her removal.
Lawmakers, police, NGOs, union reps, and residents gathered at Swift Hall to debate the Thirteenth Amendment Bill, which aims to restore safety in crime-plagued communities.
Assistant Solicitor General Randall Sheppard explained the bill would allow the Governor General to declare any area a special zone for crime control. The proposal would also give security forces expanded powers to operate without a warrant, sparking concern among residents.
Raymond Gongora questioned if entire communities would be unfairly targeted. Others, like Molly Castillo and Keith Yearwood, supported tough measures to stop rising violence.
However, Walter Gillett warned about possible police abuse, asking, “Who is going to police the police?” Deputy Commissioner Bart Jones assured that safeguards and reasonable suspicion are required before acting.
Beyond enforcement, many urged leaders to address the root causes of crime. Sylvia Marin from the Belize National Teachers Union said, “Promote rehabilitation, not incarceration.” Talk show host Alfonso Noble agreed, saying targeted social help is more effective than lockdowns.
Police officers from Punta Gorda took their community policing efforts to Mabil Ha Village today. They conducted a meet-and-greet session with residents.
According to the Belize Police Department, officers visited several homes in the quiet Toledo village, receiving a warm welcome from villagers who expressed appreciation for the police presence. Residents described their community as calm and peaceful but said they value regular engagement with law enforcement to help keep it that way.
During the visit, villagers requested that police conduct similar sessions at least once a month to maintain and strengthen community ties. They also asked officers to visit the local school once it reopens to give educational talks and interact with students.
The Punta Gorda Police Department says community meet-and-greet sessions like this one are part of ongoing efforts to build trust, foster open dialogue, and ensure residents feel supported and heard.
Saint Catherine’s Academy (SCA) in Belize City is on its way to becoming the first school in the country to run entirely on solar power.
The milestone is the result of a partnership between SCA, ProSolar Engineering Limited, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project falls under UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative, which helps developing nations cut emissions and build resilience against climate change.
For SCA Principal Dr. Salome Tillet, the move to solar power is about more than just cutting energy costs, it’s about preparing students to live and lead sustainably.
Dr. Tillet said. “The dream is to one day run all our buildings on solar power. There was a time when it seemed unrealistic because it was so expensive, but through partnerships, we realise it’s possible. It’s already part of our curriculum to look at renewable energy and sustainability, but seeing it in action brings it to life. Our students don’t just learn about it, they live it.”
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Michael Lund said that initiatives like this are part of a broader push to tackle climate change in Belize. “Our job is to keep the focus on climate change and clean energy every day.”
ProSolar Belize provided and installed the solar system free of charge. Business Coordinator Isaias Valle explained that the system includes ten solar panels and a five-kilowatt battery, with plans for possible expansion. “SCA has plenty of roof space ,it’s the perfect location for more solar panels, and we’re already discussing future collaborations.”
Convicted kidnapper and murderer William “Danny” Mason is expected to be sentenced on Thursday. He will find out how many more years he’ll spend behind bars.
Mason, who is already serving a life sentence for the brutal 2016 murder of Dangriga pastor Llewellyn Lucas, was back before the High Court earlier this week for sentencing on two counts of kidnapping. In May 2025, he was found guilty of abducting Mennonite couple Lloyd and Rosie Friesen.
Justice Nigel Pilgrim explained that he needs more time to consider the special circumstances of the case before handing down his decision.
Mason and his attorney, Peter Taylor, appeared alone for mitigation pleas on June 30 after no family members or supporters came forward to speak on his behalf. Mason says he will appeal the kidnapping conviction.
If you thought teachers were the only ones leaving Belize for greater opportunities, you may have overlooked the opportunities students also get. For 36 years, Belize has shared a strong and collaborative diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. At Monday’s Senate meeting, that relationship was reaffirmed in a rare moment of unity among senators from both government and opposition, and Taiwan was called a valued ally and development partner.
But while the ties remain firm, UDP Senator and former Minister of Education Patrick Faber raised a long-standing concern: many Belizean students who receive Taiwanese scholarships are not returning home.
“Let me also make a plea,” said Faber. “Because one of the many gifts that Taiwan gives to this country… is access to education for our young people… We need some kind of greater understanding that our students who go to Taiwan to study return to this nation because it is not an individual gift given to individuals who go to study.”
Faber added, “It is the intention of both our nations that once our students go, they will come back and contribute to Belize’s development.”
Leader of Government Business Senator Eamon Courtenay agreed and assured the Senate that the issue has been raised with Taiwan.
“We have engaged the government of Taiwan on this issue,” Courtenay said. “It is counterproductive, and it is counterintuitive… to educate our Belizeans and then… give them a work permit to teach English… and allow them to stay, a residence permit in Taiwan.”
Senator Courtenay added that while there are legitimate reasons for staying abroad, the larger concern must remain focused on strengthening Belize’s human capital.
“As a true partner, we need to find ways to reduce the number of Belizeans who remain in Taiwan after having the benefit of a scholarship,” Courtenay said.
The Government of Belize has proposed a bill that seeks to reform how bail is granted, but senators across the aisle and social partner representatives raised major concerns, which led to withholding the legislation for further review.
The Bail Bill aims to consolidate six existing laws and modernise the legal framework and introduce tools like electronic monitoring. But while the intent was to streamline and strengthen the system, concerns quickly surfaced over how the proposed changes could harm vulnerable communities and expand police powers without sufficient checks.
UDP Senator Patrick Faber said the opposition could support the bill with amendments but flagged major issues. He said a major concern is “the dangerous expansion of police bail discretion. This section allows for commission officers to decide on bail for offences punishable upon summary conviction. The problem with this is that police officers are not always impartial adjudicators.”
Faber added, “Their discretion risks arbitrary denial, particularly in marginalised communities where people know each other; police may have some kind of vendetta against the person or against a family in the community.”
Leader of Government Business Senator Eamon Courtenay insisted the bill carries no malicious intent, stating, “There is no intention, has never been the intention here, to prejudice, punish, or marginalise sectors in our society,” Courtenay stated.
The bill also proposes that bail for certain offences, from immigration breaches to traffic and firearm infractions, be granted solely by a judge, potentially creating access barriers for accused persons.
Meanwhile, union Senator for the Unions Glenford Dennison welcomed a clause that mandates the release of an uncharged detainee after 48 hours but called out ongoing abuse of detention powers. “The abuse of the detention period needs to stop, and police officers, you know who you are, stop doing it.”
News Five has confirmed that Michael Peyrefitte has once again stepped down as Chairman of the United Democratic Party. When he returned to the position, Peyrefitte said he had clear expectations for unity and order within the party. However, ongoing infighting and recent turmoil at the UDP’s National Party Council appear to have derailed those plans, leading him to resign for a second time.
On Tuesday, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton and fellow parliamentarians rejected a recent vote to reinstate them as party members, a vote that excluded Patrick Faber. Panton says the National Party Council meeting lacked quorum both in person and online, calling the process undemocratic and “pure madness.” She also criticised the lack of communication from party leaders, arguing that claiming silence equals agreement is not democracy.
