A terrifying home invasion in Orange Walk has left a retired American shaken and police on high alert. Around 9:30 on Thursday morning, David Greer was in his yard near mile two on Pine Ridge Road when three men approached him, one of them pressed a gun to his back and forced him inside his home. Once inside, the intruders tied him up and demanded access to his safe. Fearing for his life, Greer gave up the password. The thieves made off with a large sum of cash and a 2022 Toyota Hilux, altogether worth over a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. After they fled, Greer managed to free himself and call the police. So far, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch
“On Thursday David Greer reported that he was at his residence situated at mile two on Pine Ridge road he reported that he was attacked by three male persons who were armed with firearms, they proceeded to tie him up and thereafter they searched his house and stole several electronic items thereafter they stole his Toyota Hilux pick up, thereafter he managed to release himself and made a report several searches were conducted in the area for the vehicle nor the items were recovered”
It’s been three months since the former village council and lands committee in San Jose Nuevo Palmar raised the alarm over plans to subdivide a beloved nature park and now, they’re back in the spotlight with a firm message: they’re not giving up. On Sunday, residents took to the Siibal Yuum National Park in Orange Walk for a peaceful protest, standing their ground to protect what they say is a vital part of their community. News Five’s Britney Gordon has a full story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The fight to save Siibal Yuum Nature Park in San Jose Palmar is far from over, but progress has been slow. It’s been months since former village councilor Orlando Ayuso first sounded the alarm about plans to carve up the park into house lots. Since then, residents, council members, and former land committee reps have been trying to sit down with Area Representative Kevin Bernard, but those meetings just haven’t materialized. Now, frustration is growing. Former Lands Committee member Sonia Tun shares more on the ongoing struggle.
Sonia Tun
Sonia Tun, Former Land Committee Member
“ We haven’t been able to talk with him so that he could mediate with the new Lands Committee. But the reason for the peaceful protest was to make people aware and even the Prime Minister or even our minister here, to see if they can help us assist the people, the villagers. At the end of the day, it’s still it doesn’t matter if it’s red, blue, if we are black or white. The reason for having a park is to help people with their lives, to have better quality life for children.”
The Siibal Yuum Nature Park was officially opened back in October 2024, with the former Village Council chairman and Lands Committee chairwoman proudly in attendance. According to Sonia Tun, the park was always intended to be a protected nature reserve. But now, the current Lands Committee is saying the proposed subdivision is simply a continuation of what the previous committee started, a claim that’s stirring up even more controversy in the community.
Sonia Tun
“I explained to the people that when we were in the past Lands Committee yes, there was a sketch. And then when we saw that they were, the surveyor was trying to measure. I personally went and told him, this area will not be surveyed because our elders left it as a reserve area, which will be used as a park in the future.”
There is a unique land distribution system in place in San Jose Palmar Village. Descendants of the village can use the land freely, with the government acting as a trustee and the Lands Advisory Committee deciding on the distribution. However, according to Tun, the size of the park does not make its subdivision beneficial to the wider community.
Sonia Tun
“But our intention was not for it to be given as house lots. It was to be a park. And that’s the reason why it was in a inaugurated and if we would have given it as house lots. It’s only like twelve small house lots coming out there. And who would benefit from it?”
On Sunday afternoon, about forty residents of San Jose Palmar gathered for a peaceful protest at Siibal Yuum Nature Park. They were there to remind decision-makers how much the park means to their community, from recreation to relaxation. According to former Lands Committee member Sonia Tun, the current committee claims they held a community meeting before deciding to move forward with the subdivision. But Tun isn’t convinced that the wider community was truly heard.
Sonia Tun
“According to them, that is the majority, but it, that is not the majority. A lot of people don’t come out because of the same reason, the same loud, noisy people are the ones who go out there. And those are the ones that make the most noise and the ones that help the least. And at the end of the day, people stay quiet. Our Iand people are very quiet people and especially in areas like my village. They prefer not to do anything and say anything. Just leave it in God’s hands and that’s it.”
The group now awaits a response from the government on the matter. Although they are ready and willing to keep fighting, they claim that time is limited, and very soon, it will be too late to change what has already begun.
Good evening, I am Paul Lopez with this week’s edition of Sports Monday. We begin tonight’s coverage in the Capital City where Kings hosted the Corozal Cerros Suns inside the UB Auditorium. Here is how this one began.
Two-point layup for John Kelly under the rim. An open Oliver Solis follows up for the Suns with a layup. Jeremiah Toney, a new addition to the Belmopan roster, with the and-one. Second quarter action, no hesitation from Elvert Ariola from the three-point line. Isienie Velasquez with the two-point hook shot for the Suns, over Ariola. A rare shot in these games. The first half finished with the Kings in the lead by three points, forty-one to thirty-eight.
On to some third quarter action, the Suns come up on a steal, ball to Greg “Chippy” Rudon. He goes coast to coast and gets it in around two defenders. Mendez looks around to find Ariola who uses his body to get under the rim and make the layup. Velasquez on the other end, goes up, and a whistle is blown. The Kings are not happy with that call. The foul is called on Mendez. Let’s slow that one down and replay it. Velaquez, pleased with the call.
The Kings maintained their lead at the end of the third quarter with sixty-two points to their opponents’ fifty-five. Now in the fourth quarter, Jevaughn McKenzie to Brandon Flowers, back to McKenzie, wide open and banks the three. A bit of celebration there. The Suns, not letting up and here is a three-point jump shot from Brandon Rogers. But in the end, the Kings were the better shooting, rebounding and blocking team. They won the match with eighty-seven points to the Cerros Suns’ seventy-seven.
The Belize Elite Basketball League highly anticipated 2025 All-Star Week is upon us. On Tuesday afternoon, the league will host an All-Star Kids Camp. On Thursday its all about the Mirage Belize Skills Challenge, with three hundred dollars and a pair of sneakers on the line. That night, we will also see the Celebrity Match. Take a look at who is on the roster for that night, as well as the rosters for the Rising Stars Match. Proceeds from the celebrity match will be going to Liberty and King’s Children’s Homes. The big All-Star Game, three-point shootout, and dunk contests are set for Friday night. Three thousand dollars, all-star jerseys and loads of other prizes are on the line that night. The Public Relations Manager for the league, Terry Gordon, gave us further insight into what fans can expect.
Terry Gordon
Terry Gordon, Public Relations Manager, BPBL
“Tomorrow Tuesday, which is July twenty-ninth we will have an event for the kids ages five to fifteen. They can show up at the Civic and get to meet all the all star players, tomorrow between twelve and four in the evening tomorrow July twenty ninth. On Thursday that is when we start thinks off with the Skills Challenge game, three hundred dollars and a footwear of your choice. That is where the players dribble ball through the cones, take a shot through the hoop, take it to the rock. Who does it the fastest win that challenge. Then we move to the celeb games. That is where we showcase so many people we call celebs in our country.”
Due to inclement weather, the William Dawson Peace Cup was only able to host one of its two semi-final matches on Saturday. Caesar Ridge Football Club took on Rookies Football Club. At the end of regular time, Caesar Ridge came out on top with four goals, while their opponents were only able to score two goals. Caesar Ridge moves on to the championship match. That will go down on Friday inside the Marion Jones Stadium. The outstanding match between Survivors and Tut Bay will be held on Tuesday night, also inside the Marion Jones Stadium. The winner of that match will take on Caesar Ridge FC in the championship game.
And finally, the Belize Powerlifting Association has representation at the North America Powerlifting Federation Championships in the Cayman Islands. Alida Sharp will be competing in the sixty-three kilograms masters- three -category while Joylynne Smith will compete in the sixty-nine-kilogram open category. The tournament began today and runs throughout the rest of the week. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Police are investigating a home invasion in Orange Walk where a retired American was tied up and robbed at gunpoint.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero confirmed this afternoon that the incident occurred around 9:30 on Thursday morning. According to 69-year-old David Greer, he was in his yard when three masked men approached him.
Greer told police that one of them pressed a gun to his back and forced him inside his home. Once inside, the men tied him up, demanded access to his safe, and stole a large sum of cash, electronics, and a 2022 Toyota Hilux, all valued at over $115,000.
Romero confirmed that searches were conducted in the area, but “the vehicle nor the items were recovered.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero confirmed this afternoon that Police Constable Arcenio Cus died after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run on the Philip Goldson Highway.
“Upon their arrival, they saw a motorcycle with damages and other debris. There they found the lifeless body of Arcenio Cus, a police constable attached to Ladyville, with severe injuries. He was taken to the KHMH for treatment, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Romero said.
Romero reported that the 36-year-old was riding his motorcycle near mile five when the vehicle hit him and fled the scene. “We are currently on investigation. So far we have nobody in custody, as the person involved fled from the scene,” he added.
Cus was recently recognised as the ‘Most Outstanding Field Training Officer’ in a 12-week program.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact the nearest police station immediately.
“If this will be problematic, I am prepared to take it down; I have no problem,” Mayor Earl Trapp told News 5 in response to criticism over the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Hall’s new title, the “Earl Trapp Building.”
According to Trapp, the decision to rename the town hall was made during a council meeting. “I want to go on record to say that I have 23 years in local government, 12 years as a councillor and 12 years as a mayor. Some of my councillors heard of many people mentioning why I have not named the synthetic football turf after my name or the town hall after my name,” Trapp said.
He added, “Someone took it seriously and brought it to the table as a resolution. To accredit my valuable contribution to this community… At the moment I said, To avoid public negativity, I prefer not to.”
Trapp explained that after continued dialogue, the decision was made to go with naming the building after him. He added that the building is also getting a fresh coat of paint to mark its tenth anniversary.
Chronic viral hepatitis continues to claim around 1.3 million lives annually, despite being largely preventable, treatable, and in some cases curable, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This World Hepatitis Day, observed today, July 28, health experts are urging global action to break down financial, social, and systemic barriers that block access to testing, treatment, and prevention.
This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” calls for the end of stigma and a push towards integrated, people-centred care. Investment in timely diagnosis and services like vaccination, safe injection practices, and treatment could prevent up to 2.8 million deaths by 2030.
New findings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have also reclassified hepatitis D virus as carcinogenic to humans. It joins hepatitis B and C as known cancer-causing infections.
The World Health Organization notes that 10 countries, including China, India, and Indonesia, account for two-thirds of all hepatitis B and C cases globally. Despite advances in care since 2015, the pace of implementation remains slow.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Since 2000, investment in expanding global hepatitis B vaccination has already prevented almost 900,000 hepatitis B virus infections and over 65,000 hepatitis B-related deaths in the United States, saving $7.8 billion in estimated costs by 2070.”
“Hepatitis elimination is not only possible but achievable if we all work together to make it happen,” the World Hepatitis Alliance said in its statement. The organisation is calling for greater public awareness, stronger political support, and an end to stigma. It added that informed choices, adequate resources, and collective action are key to achieving the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Six new community researchers have begun their journey with the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), starting with their PADI Open Water Diver Certification.
The group will continue building skills in data collection and research techniques over the coming months. Once qualified, they will support ongoing scientific work in key protected areas, including the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
These reserves are home to rich biodiversity and contested territory but are also one of its most vulnerable.
“Many of them free dive in Belize’s rivers and sea, and they are all keen to experience being underwater exploring our natural heritage using their new scuba skills,” TIDE said in a social media statement.
The training was led by instructors Nedia Chaplin and Moses Terry of Mango Creek and was supported by IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas and the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund).
Belize hosted a workshop this week focused on combating illegal firearms trafficking and improving coordination among Caribbean law enforcement agencies.
The 3-day event brought together the Belize Defence Force, Customs, Police, and the National Forensic and Science Service. The training included firearms tracing, identification, and marking.
Sharole Carr, CEO in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the workshop strengthened coordination across agencies. “The results included a practical understanding of the complete tracking cycle, familiarisation with real forms and platforms, and improved coordination between police, prosecutors, and international actors.”
UNODC also donated drones to Belize for firearm detection and investigation. Roberto Rodríguez Codesal of UNODC said, “We understand the difficulties of conducting certain surveillance and investigations, and we believe that these drones can certainly help Belize.”
Rodríguez Codesal said integrated firearms centres are being promoted regionally to improve cooperation. “Firearms are a global crime, and it needs a united response, a global response… We think if all the regions have similar procedures, it will be easier for everyone to achieve the goals of these integrated firearms centres.”
This training was led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from CARICOM IMPACS and the Government of Belize.
Police are investigating the death of Police Constable Ascenio Cus, 38, who was killed in a suspected hit-and-run early Monday morning. PC Cus was attached to the Ladyville Police Station.
Reports are that the incident occurred around 1:25 a.m. on the Philip Goldson Highway near Hakim Shipyard Bar & Grill.
PC Cus was heading toward Belize City on a motorcycle when he was knocked down by a vehicle on the Philip Goldson Highway near Hakim Disco Bar.
He was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he was pronounced dead.
