News Five is keeping a close eye on government transparency and tonight, we have an update. We’ve received an official acknowledgment from the Ministry of Public Service in response to our Freedom of Information request, sent on July seventh. The letter, dated July eighth, confirms they’ve received our inquiry about government rental expenses. But while that’s a step forward, the clock is still ticking as we await the actual documents. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for a formal response from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding our request for details on the Aaron Guzman advisory contract. Minister Kareem Musa did confirm during an interview that he’s seen the request, but so far, no official word from his ministry.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Yes our ministry received it last week and those documents will be provided this week I am told.”
Let’s face it, when it comes to health, especially mental health, many men still find it hard to open up. But that’s exactly what the Belize Cancer Society is trying to change. Today, in honor of Men’s Health Awareness Month, they hosted their second annual Men’s Health Forum, a safe space where men could speak freely, ask questions, and support each other. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped by the Old Belize Pavilion, where the conversation was real, the energy was positive, and the message was resounding, it’s okay to talk about your health.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
In a society where men still shy away from doctor visits or even basic checkups, the Belize Cancer Society is working to change that. Today, they hosted the second annual Men’s Health Forum, an event designed to get men talking, learning, and taking charge of their well-being. Held at the Old Belize Pavilion, the forum offered everything from open discussions to quick health screenings. One highlight was a simple blood type test, just a QR code scan, a short form, and a painless finger prick. In less than a minute, results were sent straight to your phone. And from the podium, cancer survivor Anwar Barrow shared his powerful story, reminding everyone in the room why these conversations matter.
Anwar Barrow
Anwar Barrow, Cancer Survivor
“I think that social norm in society is for men to endure, to be strong, and to be less talkative and emotional, and I understand that. But when it comes to health, talking about it and sharing it helps to break down that barrier of people going to the doctor. Nobody likes to go to the doctor. I don’t like to go to the doctor regardless of how much I have been there through the course of my life. The easier we can make it to accept that the better the treatment rates and survival rates will be for disease across the board, I would think.”
Also stepping up to the mic today was someone who’s no stranger to the medical world, Dr. Jorge Hidalgo. He’s well known for his work in healthcare, but today, he wore a different hat, that of a cancer survivor. In a room full of men, Dr. Hidalgo shared his personal journey, opening up about the challenges he faced and the strength it took to get through them.
Jorge Hidalgo
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, Cancer Survivor
“Among men that is usually the case. We try to delay things and say I am going to do this, probably next year and when you are fifty and we get afraid. When we reach thirty we say, I am getting old. When we reach forty we say, I am getting older and when we reach fifty we are complete afraid. I reached fifty and at that point no problems, but just immediately after that I faced the diagnosis. Things can happen at any time. If we do those preventative measure, it would allow us to catch things earlier and it will give us the opportunity for better survival and options of treatment.”
Hidalgo and Barrow believe that being open and proactive, especially when it comes to early checkups, can make a real difference in treatment and survival. After beating cancer as a child, Barrow adopted simple habits to stay healthy: yearly blood tests, eating well, and making daily walks part of his routine.
Anwar Barrow
“I have looked at the Belizean diet informally quite carefully, because we have an epidemic of hypertension, diabetes, and all these different diseases which are really driven by diet. We need to focus on looking at reducing the amount of oil and sauces. These are the main things driving the calories and poor health. It is not the potato and rice and carbs that people thing in moderation. It is really the mayonnaise in the potato salad. It is the gravy on the rice. Ketchup not so bad, but the grenaches being fried.”
We also heard from key stakeholders in today’s men forum, including the president of the Belize Cancer Society, Kim Simplis-Barrow and PAHO Advisor Karen Roberts.
Kim Simplis-Barrow
Kim Simplis-Barrow, President, Belize Cancer Society
“This is the second year we are hosting the men forum. For us at the Belize Cancer Society it is very important for us to address some of the difficulties that men faces when they are journeying through cancer or whatever health issues they may have. It is a space for men to talk about the different issues.”
Karen Roberts
Karen Roberts, Advisor, PAHO Belize
“PAHO is happy to be associated with the second year of this activity geared at encouraging men to take more responsibility for their health and more particularly in the areas of cancer prevention, screening , early detection, treatment and the whole issue of survivor care for men who might already be sick. We feel men need to do more in taking care of their own health.”
The women in attendance were excused from the forum after the opening ceremony to create a space for sensitive conversations among men. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Tonight, we turn our attention to a growing health concern that’s quietly affecting some of the hardest-working people in our country, our farmers and field workers. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is sounding the alarm on a condition called Non-traditional Chronic Kidney Disease, a serious illness that’s not linked to diabetes or high blood pressure, but rather to long hours in the sun, dehydration, and exposure to agrochemicals. On Wednesday, the ministry hosted a sensitization session in Belize City, bringing together employers and health professionals to raise awareness and push for better protections for workers on the ground. Minister Kevin Bernard says this is now a top priority, as Belize joins other Central American nations in tackling what’s becoming a regional health crisis.
Jorge Polanco
Dr. Jorge Polanco, Director of Hospital Services, Ministry of Health
“In the Central American region it has been found there are an increasing number of young persons, especially field workers, males in their productive age appearing with chronic kidney disease. The initial study has shown an association, a relationship with their condition of work in the field, for example extreme exposure to heat stress, long periods of dehydration, absorption of heavy metals and pesticides used the in agriculture field. This raised the attention of the ministers of health a few years ago and in 2018 the ministers of health of central America gave a mandate for the countries to put together plans and intervention to address these environmental risks.”
Jose Mai
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“After reading up on it I realized there is a strong possibility it is affecting our Belizean population. I can speak from the agriculture perspective, especially in the sugar industry where you have cane cutter working from five in the morning to twelve in the afternoon in the blazing sun. If you just walk without working the fields you will feel the heat. That is why the cane cutters will ask for a big coke and food, first it was chips now they are asking for food. Cane cutting is a slaving, inhumane job. If you are not properly hydrated and cutting cane in the heat, you can understand the effects of those conditions on a human being.”
It was supposed to be a routine treatment for a broken bone, but for one San Pedro resident, it turned into a life-altering ordeal. Fifty-six-year-old Generosa Esperanza Bradley says what followed was nothing short of a nightmare: a cast that was allegedly too tight, gangrene, a five-day coma, and now, years of pain and unanswered questions. Six years later, she’s preparing to take legal action against the doctor she believes is responsible. And just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, when she requested her medical records from the K.H.M.H., she claims they were missing. Bradley visited our office and sat down with News Five’s Tanya Arceo to share her story.
Tanya Arceo, Reporting
Back in 2020, Generosa Esperanza-Bradley was simply out for some exercise, walking across the Boca del Río Bridge in San Pedro. But that everyday routine took a sudden turn when she was knocked down by someone on a bicycle. She ended up with a broken bone and was treated at the San Pedro Polyclinic. But what was supposed to be a straightforward recovery quickly spiraled into something much worse.
Generosa Esperanza Bradley
Generosa Esperanza Bradley, Patient
“I was assisted by the doctor but he put the cast too tight and that same day November tenth around ten thirty I went back to the polyclinic in San Pedro requesting to please open the thing because it was so hard I had no circulation and the muscles were tired so I tell him to please open it or do something to relieve the pain but he said no I am sorry but I cannot cut the cast. It was just a simple broken bone. I was not supposed to enter in coma but because it was so tight I got gangrene so the following day on November eleventh I was already in coma I don’t know what time I was for five days right here in Karl Heusner”
According to her attorney, she has a six-year window to file her case in court, and that deadline is fast approaching. But there’s a major hurdle: she claims that when she reached out to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to retrieve her medical records, she was told they couldn’t be found. Despite that, Bradley is holding on to the few documents she does have, including one medical report that outlines her condition when she first arrived at KHMH, along with receipts and test results. It’s not everything, but it’s what she’s clinging to as she prepares to take her fight for justice to court.
Generosa Esperanza Bradley
“I am suing the doctor or whoever is responsible. I asked a lawyer, a government lawyer and he told me that here in Belize, I don’t know nothing about law I only know about making food and mind my house, and that’s all and the lawyer I ask him about the issue that I have and he said here a limited due date of six years so that that’s the reason why”
Tanya Arceo
“You have a statute of limitations”
Generosa Esperanza Bradley
“That’s what he told me”
Generosa Esperanza-Bradley is holding on to hope, that justice will come for what she’s endured. After being diagnosed with gangrene and slipping into a coma, she says her life hasn’t been the same. Once independent, she now relies on others for even the simplest daily tasks she used to handle on her own.
Generosa Esperanza Bradley
“I only had an injure in my foot now its now not only my foot because of that because when I fall I could move my hands do anything and now when I wake up I cannot tie my own hair I cannot so I have to depend from other people. It’s not easy for me being an adult being an independent woman I always look for myself and due to that horrible experience that you have to clean somebody else. I am a Belizean I am originally from San Jose Succotz Cayo District born in Benque proud of being from the West and I wish that things here in Belize city change for the better for everybody”
It’s a painful reality, but one she’s determined to speak out about as she fights for accountability and closure. I am Tanya Arceo for News Five.
They brought home gold in 2024 and now, Belize’s National Women’s Volleyball Team is gearing up to do it all over again. Next week, our under-23 squad hits the court at the Central American Volleyball Championship, ready to take on some of the region’s toughest teams. And if you ask them, they’re more prepared, and more fired up, than ever to make Belize proud. The action unfolds right here at the Belize City Civic Center, and fans can expect nothing short of a show. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on the golden girls chasing glory once again, in tonight’s edition of Belize on Reel.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
One year ago, they made history. Belize’s National Under-21 Women’s Volleyball Team pulled off something no other local team had ever done; they brought home our very first gold medal in volleyball at any level. It was a moment of pride, passion, and pure celebration. And just like that, they earned a new name, the Golden Girls.
Gareth Bruce
Gareth Bruce, Team Captain, Volleyball National Team (File: July 22, 2025)
“This is such an emotional and happy feeling. Belize made history, our first gold medal ever. This is so amazing.”
In just three days, the journey begins again. The same team that made history last year is back; this time, aiming to strike gold in the Under-23 Championship Tournament. With their eyes set on another title, Belize’s rising volleyball stars are putting in the work. We dropped in on one of their intense practice sessions at the Belize City Civic Center, where we caught up with Team Captain Gareth Bruce, who shared how the team is feeling ahead of the big showdown.
Gareth Bruce
“The pressure is there. It is more than previous tournaments, but I am very excited to know that I have made history and I would love to keep making more history for Belize. It was just a start for us and I feel like this year we can be a gold medal team as well.”
But Bruce’s confidence does not come only from her ability to lead her team to victory. The conviction she holds rests on the very foundation built by the skills of the teammates around her, like outside hitter twenty-two-year-old Samanatha Jones. For Jones, volleyball is more than just a sport. It gave her a new path away from the personal challenges she faced while living in Chicago.
Samantha Jones
Samantha Jones, Outside Hitter, Volleyball National Team
“It means family, it means union. I get to play volleyball not only with my family here in Belize. But, when I did live in Chicago I feel like it brings out the best in me. It took me out of my environment, while living in the streets, in the hood of Chicago. So, I feel like it was always love. It always pushed me to be a better woman. And it makes me happy. I like to be happy, have fun and just play ball.”
And then there is nineteen-year-old Jevia Leslie, who was also a member of the Golden Girls in 2024. Leslie brings height, strength and skillful awareness as a middle blocker. She shared how she has been able to keep her head in the game over the last year, while basking in her historic accomplishment.
Jevia Leslie
Jevia Leslie, Middle Blocker, Volleyball National Team
“Winning our very first gold medal was something huge for us. It was an original experience. We had a great time playing and we trained very hard for that tournament. Going into this tournament we also expect the same outcome. So we are training with the same intensity, staying humble and motivating each other to continue to do and come out with that same energy we did last year so that we can maintain the streak.”
On July twentieth, five teams from five countries will converge inside the Belize City Civic Center for opening night. When it comes to volleyball in Belize, Allan Sharp is a name that stands out. As president of the Belize Volleyball Association, he’s once again at the forefront, making sure that this year’s regional tournament is not just successful, but unforgettable for every team and country involved. From logistics to hospitality, Sharp is leading the charge to ensure Belize shines on and off the court.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“This is right next to the seniors so we have a lot of the big guns coming and we have our own big guns. Five teams, so all of Central America, but Nicaragua and Costa Rica said they cant make it this time. In the case of Costa Rica, no surprise, we felt as if they might not want to come again. The other five countries will be here to battle. The teams arrive July eighteenth and departs the twenty-fifth. The tournament will begin on Sunday the twentieth and it runs Sunday through Thursday.”
Gareth Bruce
“You all being out here and cheering us on, the fan and everything, it is a greatfactor to the team and to myself. We look out to see you guys out here. We are not just playing for ourselves, but for you guys. There are fourteen players on the team and three coaches, but you guys are a major factor in what we may do on the court. You are a big part.”
Team Belize is scheduled to play on Sunday Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
It was a proud and emotional day at the Belize Central Prison on Wednesday, as seventy-five inmates, both men and women, walked across the stage not in shackles, but in celebration. They graduated from programs at the Ashcroft Rehabilitation Center, or ARC, a facility inside the prison that helps inmates confront personal struggles like drug and alcohol addiction. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa was there to witness the milestone and shared a powerful message with the graduates. He reminded them that while life doesn’t wait for anyone to be ready, what matters most is the choice to face your challenges head-on.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“I thank you for allowing me to witness the important moment in your journey. I do say the word journey, as this facility is only one step as you make additional steps beyond these walls. To each of you, I say thank you for being a part of this massive transformation. You all, seventy-five of you, completed the ARC program, the RRC program or the trauma course. Each one of these requires discipline, reflection and action. Now let’s be honest, for just a second, life does not wait for anyone to be ready. It throws you into situations that test you, but what brings you here today is not what you’ve been through. It is the choice you made to face it. Some of you, when you were outside, you were once referred to as promising. People saw potential in you, but maybe you did not understand what it takes to act on that promise. The truth is, promise without a plan is just a story we tell ourselves.”
You might remember her name. Back in 2015, Tzib, a former coastguard sailor, was charged with the attempted murder of a fellow officer. Just a year later, she faced another serious charge, manslaughter, after a domestic dispute ended in the stabbing death of her boyfriend in Lord’s Bank. Fast forward nearly a decade, and Tzib is back in the headlines, but this time, for something entirely different. She’s now one of several inmates who just graduated from a rehabilitation program at the Ashcroft Rehabilitation Center inside the Belize Central Prison.
Keyren Tzib, Inmate, Belize Central Prison
“For me, I am here at Kolbe Foundation; however, this wasn’t my plan ordestination. I set high standards for myself and when I was shocked at having to receive the designation of inmate in prison, I became shattered. I gathered the parts of my life throughout this course and steps five through eight taught me how to do that. I became responsible for things in and out of my control and accepted powerlessness so I can work on the inner me. By the time I reached step nine, justice, I felt my personal breakthrough. At night I pray to God, my higher power, to help me. The road was filled with hard punishments but I kept my heart absorbed in Christ, while trusting for justice and hoping for deliverance. At steps eleven and twelve, I began accepting culpability for where I am and who I am. Where I am is not where I want to be. I pray often and have a faithful confidence in God’s love for me. As I go on in life, I try every day to be humble and to cultivate the nine fruits of God’s spirit. These virtues have been a great and positive help for me. My plan is to keep centered in Christ and to become compassionate and trusting that God’s victory is certain for them that keep their minds and hearts safe upon Him.”
New recruits are on the way to both the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard, and they’re not just preparing for traditional threats. In this era of climate change, protecting Belize’s land and sea is more important than ever. From stopping poachers in their tracks to seizing illegal fishing gear, these men and women are stepping up to defend not just borders, but biodiversity. It’s a tough job, and it takes all hands on deck. But with more boots hitting the ground soon, Belize is doubling down on its commitment to safeguard its natural resources.
Azariel Loria
Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
“We have sent for the applications, we have gathered quite a number of them. I believe, if I’m not mistaken, that we wanted to kick it off this month. But we were still battling with the budget and the resources per se we’re trying to get, more ammunition more weapons and the equipment that have not arrived as yet. It will be at the end of September, if anything.”
Reporter
“About how many new soldiers are you guys hoping to add the ramps with the intake?”
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
“We have been giving authority to recruit a hundred and fifty and as soon as we culminate with a hundred and fifty, we are going to recruit another a hundred and fifty So it wll be a double intake.”
Reporter
“And like the BDF, I believe you guys are also getting a new recruitment squad.”
“I believe that is that is on a projected forecast. We’ll see how that will play out. Once that is confirmed, I’m sure coast Guard from the Coast Guard headquarters. That information will be shared with the media houses.”
For years, there have been promises, plans to upgrade the living and working conditions of our Belize Defense Force soldiers. But tonight, frustration is boiling over. A member of the B.D.F. has taken to social media, sharing a raw and emotional post about the deplorable conditions soldiers are still enduring. In the post, they describe cold nights in makeshift shelters and even sleeping soaked when rain seeps through the roof and walls. The soldier is now calling on the Minister of Defense to urgently investigate. In response, Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander of the B.D.F., has provided an update on the improvements that are in the pipeline.
Azariel Loria
Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
“Our installations. It’s no secret and I can’t say I’m not tired of saying that those were dilapidated. And the Ministry of Defense came up with intend to refurbish the basis, the military basis. There are not much, about four or five of them, of which the media knows that we have been doing. We have refurbished. We’re in the process of getting for weather camp refurbished at Price Barracks. I believe that we have the barrack rooms. Brand new barrack rooms to withstand a category five hurricane. The brand new dining facility. The at the moment we are paving the parade square is not fully done yet, still in the process, but we’re trying to catch up. The forest has been in existence for more than forty, over forty years. And we are still trying to catch up because we have failed to maintain our bases. So that is what we’re doing now, and we are trying to, to rebuild permanent infrastructure or infrastructure that will that will be easily maintained. And we’re getting rid of the, these in huts. Everything that has to do with zinc. We don’t want to build our soldiers in such places especially when it comes to June, to November, December. We kinda languish, but with such development, I believe that will be no more. We will be in a better position to house our soldiers and look after their welfare.”
Today marked the official media launch of the Thirty-fourth Annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Conference, and it’s a big deal. Hosted right here in Belize, this year’s event is more than just a gathering of experts, it’s a call to action. Here’s Tanya Arceo with the following story.
Tanya Arceo, Reporting
Belize is hosting a major regional event that’s all about connection, collaboration, and clean water. This year, the 34th Annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Conference is coming to our shores and leading the charge is Cornelio Acosta, Executive Chairman of Belize Water Services. At today’s media launch, Acosta called it a landmark moment for the country. The theme this year— ‘Engineering Progress Together: Collective Action for a Connected Region’, isn’t just about pipes and pumps. It’s about unity. It’s about working across borders, sectors, and disciplines to build a more sustainable future for the Caribbean.
Cornelio Acosta
Cornelio Acosta, Executive Chairman, Belize Water Services
“The thirty fourth annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Conference will be more than just a meeting of professionals it will be a gathering of purpose driven partners from technical sessions and innovative showcases to youth forums and policy round tables we will come together to build together a more connected aresilient and more secure water secure Caribbean”
Representing the Caribbean at today’s launch was Candice Santana, President of the CWWA. She’s not just leading the organization; she’s leading with purpose. Santana stood as a powerful voice for the region, championing resilience, innovation, and equal access to water and sanitation for all.
Candice Santana
Candice Santana, President, CWWA
“United by one mission to advance the sustainable management of water, waste water and solid waste for the benefit of our people, the Caribbean development and of course our environment. And this year we are especially proud to mark a historic milestone, for the very first time the CWWA conference will be held on the mainland of Central America in the warm, resilient, vibrant, colorful nation of Belize this is a proud moment for you”
