July, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Thunderbolts’ Charles Garcia Apologizes to Fans, Seeks to Clear Name

It was a tense moment on the court Saturday night, not between players, but between a player and a fan. Belize City Thunderbolts forward Charles Garcia found himself in a heated exchange with Doctor Julio Sabido, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health. But on that night, Doctor Sabido wasn’t there in any official role, just a passionate basketball fan in the stands. Things got a little too intense in the final moments of the game, and today, Garcia stopped by our studio to set the record straight. He admitted he regrets how things played out and offered a heartfelt apology to his fans. He also told us he’s reached out to Dr. Sabido, and the two have since cleared the air. Both men acknowledged they could’ve handled things better; one as a player, the other as a fan. And in the end, they agreed to move forward with mutual respect. Here’s what Charles Garcia had to say about the incident and the lessons he’s taking from it.

Charles Garcia, Player, Thunderbolts

“First of all basketball is my passion, my job, my life, I have been doing it all my life. I am a passionate player, dedicated to my job and craft. You don’t know what a player is going through behind the scenes, he is supposed to perform. If I feel a fan is heckling which I respect, but then you hit someone with a threatening gesture, I am going to react, I am going to react. I have a lot of regrets. I have an image. I am a father. I have a beautiful daughter and I am a family man. My roots start from here in Belize. So of course, I feel some type of way. I couldn’t sleep, because everyone hitting my phone from states, Belize and it kills me. I have an image. I want to maintain that image. I am a good dude and seeing this, that is not who I am. My mom raised me well. It kills me to have this interview to say my piece because I am not trying to throw anybody under the bus, but I have to clear my name and image. Because now I am walking on the street and everybody is looking at me different. I was walking around comfortable now I am feel uncomfortable because of these reports. I just feel some type of way.”

Thunderbolts’ Charles Garcia Apologises to Fans

Belize City Thunderbolts player Charles Garcia is breaking his silence after a courtside clash with a spectator during Saturday night’s game at the Sacred Heart Auditorium. That fan was Ministry of Health and Wellness CEO Dr. Julio Sabido, who attended the match in a personal capacity.

Today, Garcia came to our studios to publicly apologise and clear his name. He said the moment does not reflect the man he truly is.

“First of all, basketball is my passion, my job, my life. I have been doing it all my life,” said Garcia. “If I feel a fan is heckling, which I respect, but then you hit someone with a threatening gesture, I am going to react.”

“I have a lot of regrets. I have an image. I am a father. I have a beautiful daughter, and I am a family man,” he added. “I want to maintain that image. I am a good dude and seeing this, that is not who I am. My mom raised me well.”

Garcia said the backlash has been difficult. “Now I am walking on the street, and everybody is looking at me different.”

Dr Sabido has accepted Garcia’s apology and is not pressing charges.

France’s President and First Lady Sue Candace Owens Over “First Lady Is a Man” Claim

France’s presidential couple is suing U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens for defamation over repeated claims that Brigitte Macron is a man.

The lawsuit follows a year of failed attempts to get Owens to retract the statement and continuous reports. “Each time we’ve done that, she mocked the Macrons; she mocked our efforts to set the record straight,” said the couple’s lawyer, Tom Clare. “Enough is enough; it was time to hold her accountable.”

Clare told CNN they will seek “substantial” damages if Owens continues spreading what he called “lies.” The 219-page complaint includes “extensive evidence” that Brigitte Macron “was born a woman; she’s always been a woman.”

In a YouTube video, Owens dismissed the lawsuit as “an obvious and desperate public relations strategy,” calling France’s First Lady “a very goofy man.”

Owen’s long-standing investigation claims that Brigitte was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux. Conspiracy theories about Brigitte’s gender have circulated for years. The Macrons have been married since 2007.

CTO Appoints Narendra Ramgulam as Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has named Trinidadian Narendra Ramgulam as its new Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism. The role is a newly established position designed to support the CTO’s regional focus on sustainable and regenerative tourism.

Ramgulam joined the CTO in 2024 as a Sustainable Tourism Consultant and has since contributed to advancing the organisation’s Reimagine strategy.

As Deputy Director, he will lead initiatives across member countries, including Belize, to strengthen tourism sustainability, develop regional strategies, build capacity, and monitor program effectiveness.

Ramgulam previously served as Director of Tourism Product Development and Destination Management at the Tobago Tourism Agency, where he led award-winning sustainability efforts and helped strengthen the island’s reputation for safety during the pandemic.

He will begin his new role in mid-August at CTO Headquarters in Barbados.

Absuelven a tres por caso Yo Creek

Tres personas, entre ellas una oficial de policía, un ciudadano mexicano y un tercer acusado, fueron absueltas de los cargos relacionados con una redada policial realizada en 2022 en la aldea de Yo Creek, donde se decomisaron drogas, armas de fuego y municiones.

Alden Lara, uno de los implicados, se declaró culpable y actualmente cumple condena, pero el tribunal concluyó que no existían pruebas suficientes para vincular a los otros procesados con los delitos. El Magistrado Mayor recalcó que estar presente en el lugar de los hechos no bastaba para demostrar culpabilidad.

El ciudadano mexicano, quien había permanecido en prisión desde 2022 por asuntos migratorios, fue liberado y escoltado hasta la frontera.

Gobierno oculta contratos de alquiler

News Five expone cómo se usan los impuestos de los beliceños y lo que el gobierno se niega a mostrar. A través de una solicitud de acceso a la información, se pidió conocer todos los contratos de alquiler vigentes del Gobierno de Belize. El Ministerio de Servicio Público entregó solo parte de la información: una lista de propietarios, ubicaciones y ministerios involucrados, pero no reveló los contratos, amparándose en la Ley de Acceso a la Información y argumentando que publicarlos afectaría la economía nacional.

El ex Primer Ministro Dean Barrow, citado por el ministerio para justificar la negativa, aclaró que su comentario original se refería a tierras nacionales y no a contratos con propietarios privados. Aun así, el gobierno insiste en que divulgar estos documentos podría elevar los alquileres y el presupuesto anual.

Lo que sí se sabe es que entre junio de 2024 y junio de 2025, el gobierno paga el alquiler de 116 oficinas en todo el país. Belize City encabeza la lista con 29 espacios rentados, seguida de Belmopán con 28 y Punta Gorda con 11. Algunos nombres de propietarios se repiten: H.D. Thompson Limited arrienda cuatro espacios en la ciudad, Dinesh Bhojwani y Victor Awe aparecen con múltiples propiedades, y Fuk William Tam, Geev Abadi, Alexis Rosado, William Maheia y Karim Adle también figuran entre los arrendadores.

Entre las dependencias con más alquileres están el Departamento de Elecciones y Límites, la Oficina de Correos y el Ministerio de Transformación Rural y Trabajo. Sin los contratos, sigue sin respuesta la pregunta clave: ¿los ciudadanos obtienen valor por su dinero? News Five continuará investigando.

Said Badi Guerra Free on 10K Bail, Claims Innocence

Former Mayor of Benque Viejo and ex-Ambassador to Cuba, 50-year-old Said Badi Guerra, was granted bail this morning after appearing in the Benque Magistrate’s Court. He was charged with sexual assault, harm, and procuring defilement by threat.

The complaint was filed last week and involves a minor, whom Guerra confirmed was a “16-year-and-seven-month-old” male from San Ignacio who alleges that the incident occurred on July 14 in Benque Viejo. The teen was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Guerra confirmed he knows the complainant, describing him as “16 and seven months.”

Guerra maintained his innocence. He told the media this afternoon, “Belize knows me because I’ve worked with children and young people over the years since I was very young, and this is the very first time that these allegations have popped up, the first time I’ve seen myself involved in these kinds of things.”

According to Guerra, the public has wrongfully judged him, stating that “society needs to be more compassionate.” Guerra added, “Don’t take the position of God. Society, what would Jesus do?”

He said, “Every time there’s an incident that some people happen to do things, the society immediately jumps up and condemns and crucifies when it’s only an allegation. I will emphasise the word allegations because you’re innocent until proven guilty. Today it is still an allegation.”

Guerra was released on $10,000 bail with two sureties of the same amount.

Joven Acusado de Violar Niño

El joven de 21 años Keon Belisle, de Rancho Dolores, está tras las rejas esta noche, acusado de violar a un niño de cinco años. El presunto incidente ocurrió el lunes en una zona rural del Distrito de Belize.

Según la policía, Belisle, quien trabajaba en la finca de la familia del menor, lo llevó al campo y lo obligó a realizar un acto sexual. Según los informes, un testigo le gritó al sospechoso, lo que provocó que huyera de la escena. No se aceptó ninguna declaración y, debido a la gravedad del cargo, se negó la fianza. Belisle quedó en prisión preventiva hasta el veinticinco de septiembre.

Comisión exige frenar abuso infantil

La Comisión Nacional de la Mujer alzó su voz con fuerza esta noche para exigir una acción urgente y conjunta que ponga fin al abuso sexual infantil en Belize. Con más de cien casos de relaciones sexuales ilegales reportados solo en el último año y expertos advirtiendo que muchos más no se denuncian, la comisión advierte que el país enfrenta una “epidemia silenciosa”.

La presidenta Kristina Romero señaló que este delito prospera en el secreto y la vergüenza, y que llegó el momento de romper ese silencio. La comisión hace un llamado a escuelas, comunidades y autoridades para reforzar leyes, mejorar la educación y garantizar más apoyo a las víctimas.

Su mensaje es claro: todos los niños merecen estar seguros, ser escuchados y protegidos.

Investigan robo de arma registrada

Una pistola legalmente registrada desapareció de una vivienda en Caye Caulker y la policía sospecha que fue sustraída por una mujer que pasó la noche allí.

El Asistente Comisionado de Policía, Hilberto Romero, explicó los detalles del caso.

“El domingo, un tal Dennis Guelina, de setenta y cinco años, reportó que invitó a una persona a su casa a pasar la noche. Él tenía su arma consigo y reportó que al despertar por la mañana se dio cuenta de que su arma había sido robada y que la persona ya no estaba, estamos buscando a esta persona para la investigación.”

Las autoridades mantienen la búsqueda de la sospechosa mientras continúan las investigaciones.