On the heels of those two alleged incidents, the National Women’s Commission is raising its voice loud and clear tonight, calling for urgent, united action to end the sexual abuse of children in Belize. With over a hundred reported cases of unlawful sexual intercourse in just the past year, and experts warning that many more go unreported, the commission says it’s time to confront what they’re calling a ‘silent epidemic.’ Chairperson Kristina Romero says the abuse thrives in secrecy and shame, and it’s time to break that silence. The commission is urging schools, communities, and government leaders to step up with stronger laws, better education, and more support for survivors. The Commission’s stance is firm and resonant: every child deserves to be safe, heard, and protected.
Jeremy Enriquez and his team are celebrating a big legal win. After months of courtroom battles, more than twenty court orders against them have just been thrown out by the Court of Appeal. You might remember back in March, Enriquez tried to stop the 2025 General Election, arguing it was unconstitutional. That effort didn’t succeed at the High Court, so he took the fight to the Court of Appeal. But things took a dramatic turn during those proceedings. Enriquez claims that during a break, a judge’s microphone was accidentally left on, and what he heard shocked him. According to Enriquez, Justice Towanda Hondora was overheard saying he had already made up his mind to dismiss the case. That led to a formal complaint and a call for an investigation. Instead of an investigation, Enriquez says he was hit with a gag order, one of more than twenty orders he claims were issued by the same judge. But now, the Court of Appeal has wiped those orders off the books. So, what’s next for Enriquez and his legal crusade? We spoke with him earlier today for an update.
Jeremy Enriquez
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“Before hearing all our submissions and arguments. He had made some biased statements which we recognized that we had no faith in his judgment. I took that matter, The recording included and filed a complaint to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission about the conduct of the judge in our case. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission received our complaint, acknowledged receipt of the complaint, but did nothing about it. Nothing definitive to address what we were asking for is a investigation into the misconduct of the judge and therefore but that did not happen. Twice asked the Judicial Legal Services Commission for even an update. Once after we submitted our first complaint and still nothing happened. Therefore, we applied to the high court to ask for the recusal of that judge from any other case that involves us. And even during our complaint. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission, the judge went ahead and issued orders without trial, so we did not even have without hearing. So he went ahead and made some orders, which included a gag order against my attorney and I which we challenged in the Court of Appeal and which we were successful in having the Court of Appeal withdraw. That order and the number of twenty orders that we’ve had against us.”
While the dust may have settled on the 2025 general elections, one group isn’t ready to move on just yet. Jeremy Enriquez and his associates are gearing up for a legal battle, claiming the election was unconstitutional. Why? Because Belize still hasn’t completed a long-overdue redistricting exercise. Enriquez argues that without it, the vote violated the country’s supreme law. Today, we caught up with him for an update on his push to take the matter to court, and why he believes this fight is far from over.
Jeremy Enriquez
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“The electoral divisions are severely imbalanced as much as over sixty percent For example, in the case of the Stann Creek West, there is the electoral division is far more, at least, almost five times more than the smallest one in Belize City. Secondly, nine of the electoral divisions in Belize City fall way below average. And there are other electoral divisions like in the Belmopan and in Belize Rural North. All those areas are way above the mean. The constitution of the lease mandates that electoral divisions are to be equal or near as equal as possible with considerations with geographic distribution and all of that. What we have is a persistent imbalance that both political parties have refused to address. This government had promised in their last term of office that they would have rectified this situation, and they didn’t. And so that is why we had this court case during the court case. This government came into office, breaking the supreme law of the country, another unconstitutional election that they imposed on the people of Belize, even after they had promised. I want that noted down in the history of this country, that repeatedly both political parties have broken the Constitution to the silence of many civil society organizations, the Bar Association. That’s one. Secondly. All of this effort comes at a cost. So I appeal to the Belizean public in any way they could support us and meet this cost. The government has its resources using the people’s money to fight the people. So we, from the grassroots level, are appealing for every support we can get in order to see this truth. So that. We do not, again, go into another election ever with a government that continues to violate the Constitution and continue to get away with it.”
Three people, including a woman police officer and a Mexican national, have been cleared of serious charges stemming from a 2022 police raid in Yo Creek, Orange Walk. The bust had led to the discovery of illegal firearms, crack cocaine, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest. Initially, four people were charged: Alden Lara, who later pleaded guilty and is now serving time, and three others, police officer Stephanie Cima, Joshua Hall, and Mexican national Misael Varella. While Cima and Varella were granted bail after months in jail, Hall absconded. Despite that, his trial continued in his absence. Today, nearly two years after the trial began, Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers ruled there was no case to answer. She found that the prosecution failed to link the accused to the illegal items beyond a reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that simply being present at the scene wasn’t enough to prove guilt, especially since Lara had already taken full responsibility for the items. Varella, who had been behind bars since June 2022 due to immigration concerns, was ordered released and escorted to the border. The Chief Magistrate expressed concern that he is not detained again, noting he had already served time for a prior immigration offense. The case, once described as complex, ultimately fizzled out due to weak evidence and a lack of credible witnesses. All three accused, Cima, Hall, and Varella, are now free.
Firefighters in Placencia and San Pedro just got a major boost to their emergency response game. The Ministry of the Public Service, Governance, and Disaster Risk Management has handed over two brand-new Honda UTVs to the National Fire Service, and they’re already making a difference. These rugged four-by-four utility vehicles are designed to go where traditional fire trucks can’t, especially in beachside communities like Placencia and San Pedro. They’ll help firefighters quickly transport portable pumps to water sources and get water flowing to the scene faster than ever before, potentially saving homes, businesses, and lives. The official handover took place in Placencia, where Minister Henry Charles Usher presented one of the UTVs to the local fire station. The second was sent to San Pedro. Community leaders and fire officials say this is a game-changer for fire response in hard-to-reach areas. And in a touching moment, local volunteers and government officials were recognized for their ongoing support in keeping these communities safe.
Troubling signs are emerging from the New River Lagoon, where scientists say crocodiles are in serious decline, and pollution may be to blame. A research team from Rio Bravo has found crocodiles suffering from severe health issues: emaciation, rotting tissue, skin discoloration, and even signs of immune system failure. Blood samples are now being analyzed to trace the impact of pollutants like agricultural runoffs, heavy metals, and banned chemicals such as DDT. Even more alarming, researchers observed a reduction in reproductive organ size in some crocodiles, pointing to possible long-term endocrine disruption. As apex predators, crocodiles are vital indicators of ecosystem health. And scientists are warning: if the crocs are in trouble, the entire watershed could be at risk. We’ll have more on this urgent environmental concern coming up.
The countdown is on, less than two months to go before the Belize Investment Summit 2025. Hosted every two years by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Investment, this high-profile event brings together hundreds of investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from around the world. This year’s theme, ‘Bridging Markets, Building Resilience,’ is all about creating stronger connections between global and regional investors while helping Belize build a more robust and adaptable economy. We spoke with Lincoln Blake from the Ministry of Investment, who shared how this summit is shaping up to be a major opportunity for Belize to shine on the international stage.
Lincoln Blake
Lincoln Blake, Director, Investment Policy & Compliance, Ministry of Investment
“Belize has an objective to become an investment hub for Central America by the year 2030, and it’s all within the strategic plans and actions of the national investment policy and strategy. So the Belize Investment Summit is one of those actions, and with that we want to attract not only foreign direct investment, but also local investment nto the country as well to develop and continue growing the economy.”
Britney Gordon
“Can you talk about the success that this summit has seen so far? You mentioned that it grew from three hundred people to five hundred attendees in the latest one.”
Lincoln Blake
“Yes. One of the successes of the investment summit is the networking. The summit has actually created an environment that were the investors and some of the senior government officials and technocrats would be able to meet with investors so as to make the investments happen. And that has worked well. From the first investment summit in 2021 to date we have seen a growth in the amount of investors coming in with interest. And also we have seen the data from the central bank where the foreign direct investment specifically has been growing from since 2021 to date. The small businesses mainly contact us when they need to engage with financiers or other investors that will be able to have some sort of equity investment within their specific projects, especially if they want to grow or expand. And that type of opportunity, the investment summit also has given to some of the local investors. But in most cases, a lot of them have also come to the investment summit to garner new ideas. Because when they go in there, we have presentations and where they be able to listen to new strategies and also new sectors that offer new opportunities for them to grow.”
School may be out, but for a group of young Belizeans, the learning hasn’t stopped just yet. About twenty children from across the country are in Belize City this week, taking part in a special camp, but this isn’t your typical summer program. It’s a juvenile diabetic support camp, hosted annually by the Belize Diabetes Association. They are empowering kids and their parents with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to manage diabetes and live healthier lives. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on this inspiring initiative.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
You’ve heard it before, non-communicable diseases like diabetes are one of the leading causes of death in region. It’s a concerning issue that countries like Belize have been grappling with for years. But it’s not just older members of the population that are fighting these diagnoses. Many children across Belize are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and it’s something they must manage for the rest of their lives. Seventeen-year-old Adon Awe says he was diagnosed at just four years old after his mom suspected something was happening to her son.
Adon Awe
Adon Awe, Diaagnosed with Diabetes
“She noticed the signs and, she knew that something was off. So she went to take me to the hospital and when they test me and did whatever they diagnosed me with diabetes. So that from since then she put me in this organization and yeah, from since then, that’s when the journey started.”
For children and teenagers like Adon, managing their diabetes can be a terrifying and overwhelming ordeal. Fortunately, they are not alone on their journey. Every year, the Belize Diabetes Association hosts a three-day summer camp, where juvenile diabetics and their parents can learn more about the crucial resources available. Health Educator Tylon Tillett from the Belize Diabetes Association says this camp is about building friendships, learning together, and giving these kids the confidence to take control of their health.
Tylon Tillett
Tylon Tillett, Health Educator, Belize Diabetes Association
“Part of being a diabetic is testing regularly, daily, sometimes twice daily, and testing supplies is very expensive and oftentimes hard to come by. So by being a member of the association or membership gets access to these machines, the strips, you get access to education, pamphlets, education sessions, monthly, like I said, to become a better diabetic. We try to network with international diabetes foundations to provide the latest cutting edge. And also a big part of the management is taking medications, insulin, and so forth. And all of these benefits are received by the membership. And so this camp is one of the bene benefits to our membership.”
The camp is sponsored by the Belize Diabetes, Heart, and Stroke Association of New York, which has provided resources such as meals, transportation, and t-shirts since 2012. This year, however, the camp’s entire budget was supported by the association. Ava Tucker, a member of the association, explains why camps like this are vital to diabetes support.
Ava Tucker
Ava Tucker, Belize Diabetes, Heart, & Stroke Association of New York
“I’m not a diabetic, but I’m an educator and I see how this transitions to the school system where, kids come in lethargic, adults are I feel dizzy, and you don’t think that. It goes beyond just being, oh, they had hangover, or the kid is just lazy, too much TikTok, whatever. They’re ill. So it’s important for us to come on board, especially with the education part of it, but we are the diaspora and our association is hoping to see a domino effect where, how else beyond this camp? The education that they’re projecting here and the information that they’re giving, how can this be projected on our community at large?”
The camp welcomes both children and their parents to participate. This ensures that both parties will be informed of the best treatment and management methods for a healthy life.
Tylon Tillett
“It’s juvenile diabetes, and so it’s children that are going through this condition and, the child cannot treat themselves, so it is important that the parent is there as a support system for the nutrition of that child, the daily monitoring of the child to see how they’re interacting with the world while going through this affliction.”
The camp hosted a range of participants, from as young as four to seventeen years old. Adon shares how helpful this camp has been as he navigates transition into adulthood and becomes responsible for managing his diabetes on his own.
Adon Awe
“ When I was younger she used to take care of me, but like now since I’m older, I have to like, take up the responsibility myself and it’s hard to be disciplined and, checking the sugar every day, getting the insulin and stuff, when I was small my mom had to do that for me, but I’m getting older now and I can’t depend on her every day to do these things for me.”
Britney Gordon
“So do you find a camp like this useful, especially given that you have to keep up those responsibilities on your own?”
Adon Awe
“They give us supplies and that has really helped me. And also they give us advice as well, how to maintain this disease. Yeah, and it’s good to know that there is at people that I can relate to, and then to just think that I’m the only one on myself in this situation.”
The Belize Diabetes Association and its partners is dedicated to ensuring every Belizean, whether young or old has the support system and the resources they need to not only manage their disease but thrive despite it. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Summer’s in full swing, and while some kids are soaking up the sun, others are diving into something even more exciting, learning new skills and building lifelong friendships. Two of Belize City’s most trusted community organizations, the YMCA and YWCA, are making sure this summer is one to remember. From coding and cooking to swimming and sewing, their camps are giving dozens of children a chance to grow, explore, and shine. Rooted in different neighborhoods but united by a shared mission, both groups are opening doors and shaping futures. News Five’s Tanya Arceo visited the camps to see how these programs are inspiring Belize’s next generation of leaders.
Tanya Arceo, Reporting
At the YMCA Belize, summer is in full swing and it’s buzzing with energy, laughter, and learning. Executive Director Clara Cuellar shared the excitement behind this year’s expanded summer program. Thanks to support from government ministries and private sponsors, the YMCA has packed a whole lot of fun and learning into one location, from basketball and volleyball to coding and more. Kids between the ages of seven and twelve are rotating through each activity, picking up new skills and making new friends along the way. But as Cuellar puts it, this camp is about nurturing the mind, body, and spirit.
Clara Cuellar
Clara Cuellar, Executive Director, YMCA Belize
“This year YMCA is having a wonderful celebration and rejoicing because for many years we had to do programs all over the city we’ve done it at different high schools in the north side different swimming pools and with the help of government we were able to fill all our property that’s here so we are extremely grateful and we can bring the program all to one place.”
Sixteen-year-old Kasey Salam is already giving back, teaching kids how to code using Scratch, a fun, beginner-friendly platform. With colorful blocks and animated characters, these young learners are building games and stories while picking up real programming skills. It’s all about empowering the next generation, one drag-and-drop at a time.
Micha Williams
Micha Williams, Student
“ I am making a game that’s fun and entertaining for both older and younger people and it helps you in a little way and it helps you a little with anxiety.”
Alvaro Mai
Alvaro Mai, Student
“I was working on a story but now I am trying to load up this game for you guys.”
Just a few blocks away, the YWCA is buzzing with hands-on action, sewing machines, crochet hooks, and the smell of home-cooked meals. Their summer camp is all about teaching kids practical life skills. Program Coordinator Lisa Griffith, who usually trains adults, says this summer is about giving kids a space to learn, create, and grow.
Lisa Griffith
Lisa Griffith, Program Coordinator at YWCA
“They have been learning to cook they know all the ingredients that goes in they might not be able to actually get to the stove and do it but they know the ingredients they know the preparation.”
Jenine Henry
Jenine Henry, Culinary Arts Instructor
“They are here, they are learning and whatever they make in class they take it home it’s an experience for them because they have been doing this for we are in the third week now some of them come with their experiences in the sense that they go home they practice with their parents.”
Whether it’s shooting hoops and coding at the YMCA or learning to cook, swim, and sew at the YWCA, one thing is certain, this summer, kids across Belize City are being given the chance to grow, create, and connect. Tanya Arceo for News Five.
The Government of Belize is spending public funds on 116 rental properties across the country but won’t release the contracts.
In response to a Freedom of Information request from News Five, the Ministry of Public Service shared a list of government rental spaces from June 2024 to 2025, including the names of landlords and locations.
Between June 2024 and June 2025, the government has been paying rent on 116 buildings. Belize City accounts for 29 rentals, Belmopan 28, and Punta Gorda 11.
But when News Five asked for copies of the actual tenancy agreements, the ministry declined, saying the contracts are exempt from public disclosure. The ministry argued that publishing rent amounts could inflate market prices and hurt the economy.
The ministry cited advice from the Attorney General’s Ministry in justifying the refusal and even pointed to comments made by former Prime Minister Dean Barrow. They referenced his past defence of keeping rental contracts private when Barrow stated, “The ministry can refuse to release those documents because people would have an interest in knowing the location, for example… because land prices in that area will go up… These are the sorts of exceptions that are absolutely well recognised.”
News Five reached out to Barrow for his take on the issue and will take a closer look at his response, the landlords names and ministries in tonight’s 6 p.m. newscast on Greater Belize Media.
