July, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Iranian Group Places $40 Million Bounty on Trump’s Head

A religious fatwa from Iran’s top clerics is calling for the assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, with reports claiming an online crowdfunding campaign has already raised more than $40 million as a bounty for carrying out the threat.

The calls for Trump’s death follow recent remarks by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who, during a televised speech, mocked the former president’s security, saying, “Trump has done something that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago. As he lies there with his stomach to the sun, a small drone might hit him in the navel.”

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), an Iranian group calling itself the “Blood Covenant” is behind the online campaign, which includes a website showing Trump in crosshairs and urges supporters to donate “in order to help establish stable peace.” The poster on the site reportedly quotes the Quran: “Strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah,” describing the bounty as a legitimate call for jihad.

The threats come weeks after the U.S. reportedly carried out significant airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. MEMRI says Iran’s religious establishment has recently increased explicit calls for Trump’s assassination.

Travis Scott Samples Shyne, Barrington Levy on New Album

US rapper Travis Scott has once again tapped into Caribbean classics, this time sampling Belize’s own Shyne and reggae icon Barrington Levy for his brand-new album, Jackboys 2.

Released over the weekend in collaboration with his “Cactus Jack” collective, Jackboys 2 has already stirred a wave of reactions across social media. One standout track, fittingly titled Shyne, features rising Memphis rapper Glorilla and has quickly become one of the album’s most talked-about songs.

‘Shyne’ heavily samples the 2000 hit Bad Boyz.

The original track, produced by Ez Elpee, famously blended hip hop with reggae and dancehall, sampling Grace Jones’ Nightclubbing and showcasing Barrington Levy’s iconic vocals and unmistakable “Broader Than Broadway” riff.

Travis Scott’s version goes a step further, with Scott himself attempting Barrington Levy’s trademark “shibbily dabbily” style.

Reacting to the track’s release, Shyne shared his pride in seeing his work inspire a new generation of artists. “I am honored that two of the biggest popular artists out right now have remade my classic song,” Shyne said.

Scott now joins other artists, including Lady London, Sean Price, and Cassidy, who have sampled Bad Boyz over the years.

Major Crimes Drop in First Half of 2025

New data released by the Belize Police Department show that major crimes across Belize have decreased by 9 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

From January to June 2024, Belize recorded 536 major crimes. That number dropped to 489 for January to June 2025, a decrease of 47 cases. Murders saw the biggest decline, falling by 29 percent from 58 to 41 cases. Reports of burglary dropped slightly by 4 percent, robbery by 15 percent, and theft by 26 percent.

However, reports of unlawful sexual intercourse (USI) rose by 5 percent, from 62 to 65 cases. Meanwhile, rape cases remained unchanged at 17 for both periods.

When comparing the first and second quarters of 2025, the data shows mixed results. Murders decreased from 24 in the first quarter to 17 in the second quarter, a drop of 29 percent. Robbery and theft each saw small quarterly drops as well.

But rape almost doubled, rising from 6 in the first quarter to 11 in the second, an 83 percent jump. Burglary also increased, climbing from 130 cases to 142, marking a 9 percent rise in just three months.

UDP Claims “Successful Reunification Meeting”

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has set 5 October 2025 as the date for its National Convention, following Saturday’s National Party Council (NPC) meeting. While the party touted the gathering as a “successful reunification meeting,” unresolved internal disputes indicate otherwise.

In its statement, the UDP said NPC members “voted unanimously to reinstate all members that were expelled and not in good standing except for one individual.” That individual is former party leader and current Opposition Senator Patrick Faber, who was denied reinstatement during a virtual vote held via WhatsApp.

Party Chairman Mike Peyrefitte told the media on Saturday, “We are putting forth to the NPC to not have him return to the United Democratic Party, and I was the first one to vote to not bring him back to the UDP.”

Peyrefitte accused Faber of entering the in-person meeting uninvited and attempting to cause a disruption. Faber disputed that, telling reporters he had every right to attend. “I am the former leader of the UDP and current senator for the party and the caretaker for the Collet constituency; therefore, no invitation is needed.”

He pointed to a court ruling that, he said, declared his expulsion “illegal, void; it never happened.”

Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton took to Facebook, stating, “Whenever the current UDP Leadership Executive is ready to do the right thing and do things the right way, we will be here ready to participate. In the meantime, the UDP Parliamentarian Caucus and I will focus on the national issues.”

The UDP release said, “The UDP looks forward to the coming weeks where 18 Special Constituency Conventions will be held for the people to elect their Caretakers and ultimately the National Convention on October 5, 2025 for the Delegates to elect new Leaders.”

Darrell Bradley says 13th Amendment “Dangerous”

Attorney Darrell Bradley says that the Belize Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2025, is “dangerous.” Bradley shared his view on the matter during his appearance on Open Your Eyes today.

Bradley joins the growing list of legal voices expressing strong concerns over the proposed 13th Amendment. He argues that it risks harming marginalised Belizeans if not accompanied by wider reforms.

“I think that I’m very concerned with that and I do not support it,” Bradley said. “The reason I don’t support it is because you cannot deal with fundamental changes in one sense and not deal with structural changes in the other.”

Bradley explained that granting new powers in a system already marked by inequality could deepen social injustices. “That type of power in a system overall that has inequalities and structural problems can endure to the detriment of a certain element of society, which we’ve oftentimes punished,” he warned.

The proposed 13th Amendment bill introduces several significant changes to Belize’s legal framework in the fight against crime. One key provision allows the Governor General, acting on the advice of the National Security Council, to declare any part of the country a “special area.” In these zones, certain constitutional rights, such as freedom of movement and protection from warrantless searches, could be suspended to address security threats. The bill also proposes the creation of a specialised “Gun and Gang Court,” which would combine the powers of both the Magistrate and High Courts to expedite the prosecution of gang-related cases. Additionally, the legislation includes a retroactive clause that would validate all past States of Emergency and regulations, even those previously declared unlawful, by deeming them constitutional under the new law.

While he acknowledged that Belize faces serious crime challenges, Bradley argued that major constitutional changes must come with safeguards and broader social reforms to balance their impact. “Those kinds of fundamental changes to our constitution and our democratic tradition must be done within the context of other structural changes that rebalances the negative harm,” he said.

Bradley also questioned whether adequate protections are in place to prevent abuse of expanded police powers. “How can we prevent the fact that this tremendous change will not be abused by police officers, will not be abused by the system? I am not satisfied that that is the case,” he said bluntly.

UB Faculty Union: ‘We’re Ready to Do Whatever It Takes’ for the Subvention

At the NTUCB’s 59th anniversary on Saturday, UBFSU President Julianne Pasos told reporters that staff morale is low, but their push for the promised funding continues.

“Our faculty and staff are demoralised at this point. The 9% is ten years coming. In 2015, when we got our 5%, I just got an email that reminded me that at that point we were negotiating for 14%, and we only got five, and we did not get the additional 9%. So this is long in the making. So our faculty and staff are really going to do whatever it takes to get it. I just have to say, Be prepared for whatever,” Pasos said.

Pasos did not rule out the possibility that the union’s next steps could lead to class disruptions.

She said that the union has been requesting a meeting with Oscar Requena, the Minister of Education, and Prime Minister John Briceño but added that it has been delayed but is expected to take place following Tuesday’s Cabinet session.

In the meantime, UBFSU intends to attend the upcoming Cabinet meeting, where the subvention issue is expected to be tabled. “I am going to invite the students to come and join us. Because the subvention does not only impact the faculty and staff but it also impacts the students and the public, it affects all of us. What affects the national university affects the entire country of Belize,” Pasos added.

NTUCB: “A Movement to Make Our Citizens Conscious”

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) marked its 59th anniversary on Saturday with a march and rally under the theme “Only the People Can Save the People.”

Several unions gathered in Belize City to call for better governance, respect for workers’ rights, and economic fairness while celebrating almost six decades of existence.

“Having all these people out here on a Saturday shows that they are interested in what they do as workers, and it also shows that they want serious change in Belize… when it comes to good governance, when it comes to union respect, and to systematic change,” NTUCB President Ella Waight told News 5.

That demand for change was a central message from Public Service Union President Dean Flowers, who said the rally was about demanding accountability. “It is ensuring that we hold the government accountable, ensuring that the monies that are being collected by way of our taxes and the leakages that are occurring cease so that there can be fairer wages, better living standards, and better quality public service.”

Flowers added that the prolonged negotiations with the government showed the unions the value of “strategic organisation.” An important element is that he said he will be “sharing with other affiliates in terms of how to organise because you organise to win; you don’t organise to lose.”

NTUCB President Ella Waight echoed that notion, stating that the rally and recent negotiations are part of a larger effort to awaken public awareness. “Not a movement to agitate, not a movement to demonstrate, but a movement to make our citizens conscious of what the NTUCB stands for and for what we are out here for, to ensure we have good governance and we have a country that is prosperous in the future.”

Darrell Bradley Calls for ‘Real’ UDP Unity Amid Ongoing Infighting

Former Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is weighing in on the ongoing internal rifts within the United Democratic Party (UDP). During his appearance on OYE today, Bradley warned that the party’s disunity is hurting Belize’s democracy and robbing the public of a real alternative to the current government.

“I’m hopeful that the United Democratic Party could get it together and the party could emerge unified on the one leader. And I’m also disheartened because within the democratic space you need an opposition,” Bradley said.

He added that Belize’s two-party system is vital for healthy democracy and accountability, but he believes the UDP is failing to deliver that right now. “You need two vibrant, well organized, robust parties that offer people a division. And it was obvious in the last election that we didn’t really have that choice. And when you don’t have that choice, you don’t really have a spirited public debate about options and where we want to move the country forward,” he explained.

He also pointed out that the lack of a strong formal opposition in the National Assembly cripples the checks and balances of governance. “You need a formal opposition in the centers of government so in the National Assembly, in the house meetings and the Senate, that can get access to information that is there when legislation is being passed, and that can put that perspective to represent a different voice. And without that, our democracy is really crippled,” Bradley said.

Bradley made it clear that the UDP’s current infighting distracts from its real mission: to present Belizeans with a meaningful alternative. “All of this is noise. No one cares about that. Get it together and lead a vision for the country that offers people a viable option to move the country forward.”

On Saturday, the UDP held its National Party Council meeting in Belize City. The gathering aimed to reinstate expelled or suspended members and address internal issues, but tensions flared when Patrick Faber, former party leader and current senator, entered uninvited.

Chairman Mike Peyrefitte accused Faber of disrupting the session, forcing the group to continue voting online via WhatsApp. The main resolution seeks to reinstate all affected members except Faber, whom Peyrefitte called “disrespectful.” Faber argued he did not need an invitation and claimed his expulsion was ruled illegal.

Belizean Involved in Hit and Run in Melchor Dies

Adrian Venicio Cruz, a resident of Benque Viejo del Carmen, has reportedly succumbed to injuries after being knocked by a vehicle in Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala, over the weekend.

He had been hospitalised following the accident. According to reports, Cruz sustained head and body injuries.

Following the accident, one family member explained that Cruz had travelled to Melchor to purchase items for his farm.

The driver of the vehicle remains unknown.

The family is making preparations to bring his body to Belize.

Belize Volleyball Team Stuck in Guatemala Protest

The Belizean men’s national volleyball team is ‘stuck’ in Guatemala after encountering a road blockade during their return trip from El Salvador. The team had just competed in the Centroamericano de Voleibol Mayor Masculino Final Four in San Salvador and set out for Belize shortly after midnight.

Team member Bryton Codd told News 5, “So we left San Salvador, El Salvador this morning at about midnight. We’ve been traveling for about seven hours already. We were stuck in some part of Guatemala right before the cut-off to go towards Belize. But we cannot pass.”

According to Codd, the team was caught in what appears to be a teachers’ protest that has completely blocked the road. “We don’t know how long this protest is gonna last, but it is a protest. The road is blocked. We can’t move. We’re stuck, we’re exhausted, we’re tired. We don’t know when this is gonna end,” he said.

Reports from locals suggested the demonstration could end by mid-afternoon, but the team remains uncertain. “We’re just hoping that it remains peaceful and it doesn’t erupt into any type of civil unrest,” Codd added.

The team says they are safe and remain hopeful they will be able to continue their journey soon. “It seems like it’s a peaceful protest, but the roads are completely blocked. Our bus is parked all the way down there and we’re just stuck,” Codd said.