Una jornada de pesca frente a las costas de Punta Gorda terminó en tragedia cuando Delmer Wagner, de 62 años, se ahogó en aguas cercanas a Moho Caye el domingo por la tarde.
Según reportes policiales, David Wade, un pescador beliceño, acudió a la estación de policía de Punta Gorda para informar sobre el incidente. Wade relató que se encontraba en un campamento pesquero en Moho Caye junto con Wagner y otros compañeros, cuando el hombre, presuntamente bajo los efectos del alcohol, entró al agua y no volvió a salir.
Horas más tarde, su cuerpo sin vida fue recuperado del mar. La policía informó que el cadáver presentaba algunas abrasiones, aunque aún no está claro cómo se produjeron esas lesiones.
“La autopsia determinará eso; sin embargo, efectivamente se observaron algunas abrasiones en el cuerpo,” señaló la Asistente Superintendente de Policía, Stacy Smith.
El cuerpo fue trasladado al Hospital de Punta Gorda, donde se le practicará un examen post mortem. La policía continúa investigando el caso para esclarecer los detalles del incidente.
A Mile 8 resident is behind bars tonight after being accused of kidnapping and assaulting his wife, a teacher, during a domestic dispute. Twenty-eight-year-old car dealer Anfernee Conorquie was arraigned in Belize City Magistrate’s Court for kidnapping and common assault. He pleaded not guilty to the assault charge, but no plea was taken for kidnapping, which is an indictable offense. Bail was denied, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. According to police, Conorquie allegedly violated a protection order by confronting his wife at their home, forcibly taking her dog, and later dragging her into a vehicle. She claims he assaulted her, took her phone, and sped off with her against her will. Despite her attempts to signal the police, Conorquie reportedly evaded capture during a high-speed chase across multiple highways before eventually releasing her. He now also faces a separate charge for breaching the protection order.
La policía investiga un audaz robo ocurrido a plena luz del día en Orange Walk, cuando empleados de Triple A Imports fueron interceptados por una camioneta SUV mientras circulaban por la calle Arthur el pasado viernes.
Según los informes, dos hombres enmascarados descendieron del vehículo bloqueador. Uno portaba una pistola y el otro un martillo. Ambos obligaron a los empleados a entregar una suma no revelada de dinero antes de huir en la misma SUV.
La Asistente Superintendente de Policía, Stacy Smith, informó que una persona ha sido detenida en relación con el caso. “No hay indicación en este momento que pueda concluir definitivamente que fue un trabajo interno. Sin embargo, por cómo se desarrolló el incidente, se pueden hacer inferencias en ese sentido,” indicó Smith.
La investigación sigue activa mientras las autoridades tratan de identificar a los responsables y recuperar el dinero robado.
The Caye Caulker branch of the Justice of the Peace Association is calling for urgent national intervention following what they describe as a disturbing pattern of police violence on the island. In a strongly worded release, the group condemned years of alleged abuse by local officers, highlighted by the recent death of a young resident. Justice of the Peace Javier Novelo stated that officers who act as aggressors “forfeit their right to serve,” and called for immediate removal of those with violent histories. The association is demanding an independent investigation, officer reassignment, mandatory retraining, and full judicial accountability. Andrew Novelo, the individual seen in the video being roughed up by Caye Caulker police, is the grandson of Javier Novelo. The Justice of the Peace recounted part of the incident, which involved also a traffic warden, with News Five.
On the phone: Javier Novelo, Justice of the Peace
“So he’s asking and continues to ask the warden, “What have I done wrong? Why did you take my golf cart?” And no one could give him any answers and the male warden walked up to him and chest bumped him and told him, “What yoh gwein do about it?” And he is basically saying, “All I want is answers, tell me why you took the golf cart and if I have committed an offense, give me my ticket and let me go on my way.” He’s all hyped up and they’re exchanging words right there and they could not give him an answer so he decided to take the cart and he was driving out of the compound. He was bringing the golf cart back home when the police were coming and the male warden running out, shouting, “That’s him, that’s him. Stop him!” So he immediately stopped, came out of the cart and put his hands up. The officer just came to him, grabbed him in the sweatshirt that he had on, actually ripped it, and punched him, threw him on the golf cart. He then started questioning them, “Why are you beating me? What did I do? Explain to me why you are beating me and coming to me in this aggressive way. And he’s right there, back and forth with the officers, and basically telling him to shut up and to shut up and the other officer that was there from behind, put him in a headlock. He said it was a very aggressive headlock, that he felt his air going, so he began tapping the officer on the arm and letting him know that he felt his throat burning and tapping him so that they could release him. He was held in that headlock until they put handcuffs on him. They put him back on the golf cart and he was asking, what was happening. Tell me. He’s all hyped up, as anyone would be. You’re trying to get answers and no answers. They can’t tell you why they took your golf cart, what is the reason and no answer is given. They put him and had him on the cart there and the officer just slapped him really hard. You can hear it in the video and he was taken to the police station. This is all the way they’re taking him there, they’re hitting him on the head, on the face.”
The Caye Caulker Justice of the Peace Association says it stands with the Caye Caulker Village Council and pledges to support victims through legal and advocacy channels.
Un trágico accidente de tránsito en la Carretera Thomas Vincent Ramos cobró la vida de Jeffery Cal, un joven de veinte años originario de la aldea San Isidro. El incidente ocurrió cerca de la milla 45, cuando su motocicleta colisionó con un peatón identificado como Aaron Cal, de diecinueve años.
Ambos resultaron heridos y fueron trasladados de urgencia a la Policlínica Independence. Sin embargo, Jeffery Cal no sobrevivió a las lesiones sufridas.
La Asistente Superintendente de Policía, Stacy Smith, brindó detalles del accidente. “Las investigaciones preliminares revelaron que Aaron Cal caminaba cerca de la milla cuarenta y cinco, dirigiéndose a Bella Vista, cuando fue impactado por una motocicleta conducida por Jeffery Cal,” explicó Smith.
Las autoridades continúan investigando las circunstancias del incidente para determinar si hubo factores adicionales que contribuyeron al fatal desenlace.
A routine drive home turned into a nightmare for Sandra Vallesteros on Monday night. She says another driver, identified as Marvin Williams, slammed into her vehicle, causing it to flip. Miraculously, she walked away without serious injuries, but her car was left badly damaged. Now, Sandra is speaking out. She says despite what happened, authorities have refused to charge the other driver. Tonight, she’s sharing her story, seeking answers, accountability, and justice.
Tanya Arceo
“Where exactly did the accident happen?”
On The Phone: Sandra Vallesteros, Accident Victim
“The accident happened after twenty minutes after I left my work site and I went to drop a product by after green estates by Lords Bank and then coming back to Ladyville Mr. Marvin speed up and crashed to me I work in the Lord Banks road and he came from a small road and he crashed to my right side to the back door near to the back booth tire.”
Tanya Arceo
“What injuries did you sustain as a result of the accident?”
On the Phone: Sandra Vallesteros
“Well no bones broken I just have a lot of pain especially my neck area, my shoulder, my truck turn over I don’t know how many times but I am sure that I was driving twenty-five kilometers per hour because I had just crossed a bump
Tanya Arceo
“Were you alone in the vehicle.”
On the Phone: Sandra Vallesteros
“Yes I was alone in the vehicle and I was a professional cyclist for years so I guess that helps a lot. The police reach like 37 or 40 minutes after I don’t know who call the police because my phone was on the truck.”
Tanya Arceo
“Did you receive any medical attention following the accident.”
On the Phone: Sandra Vallesteros
“Yes after the accident the police told me to better find a way to the hospital because I was in pain.”
Tanya Arceo
“I also understand that they refused to charge Marvin Williams were you given any explanation as to why Marvin Williams hasn’t been charged?”
On the Phone: Sandra Vallesteros
“Yeah I have asked why he has not been detained he is free they told me that it’s not a crime crashing into somebody.”
Tanya Arceo
“And what type of damage did your vehicle sustain.”
On the Phone: Sandra Vallesteros
“The vehicle is not good for nothing anymore I guess that turned over like two times I don’t know that was so fast I don’t know how exactly I just remember that a light came in from that small road that hit me hard.”
Despite the rollover and the complete loss of her vehicle Sandra Vallesteros is grateful to have walked away without major injuries but the emotional and financial toll remains and so do the questions, Sandra says she is left wondering how someone can cause so much damage and walk away without accountability. “It all happened so fast” she says, now she is hoping her story leads to answers and action.
Tras las devastadoras inundaciones que afectaron a comunidades en el Distrito de Orange Walk, muchos residentes se preguntan cómo pudieron haber sido tomados por sorpresa. Sin embargo, la Organización Nacional para el Manejo de Emergencias (NEMO) asegura que sí se emitieron alertas tempranas.
El Coordinador Nacional de Emergencias, Daniel Méndez, explicó que tanto el Servicio Hidrológico Nacional como el Servicio Meteorológico de Belize habían advertido sobre la posibilidad de lluvias excesivas e inundaciones en las áreas afectadas.
“El Servicio Hidrológico Nacional había emitido advertencias, incluida una vigilancia de inundaciones para las áreas afectadas,” indicó Méndez. “El Servicio Meteorológico también proporcionó actualizaciones, pero predecir exactamente dónde ocurrirán estos eventos es extremadamente difícil.”
Méndez reconoció que, aunque los sistemas de alerta funcionaron, cada emergencia representa una oportunidad de mejora. “Reevaluaremos nuestra estrategia y haremos las revisiones necesarias. Como he dicho antes, cada evento sirve como una oportunidad de aprendizaje,” afirmó.
Las autoridades insisten en que es vital que el público preste atención a las alertas oficiales, ya que el cambio climático continúa generando eventos climáticos extremos cada vez más impredecibles.
El Director del Servicio Meteorológico, Ronald Gordon, explicó que fue el sistema del viernes el que trajo la mayor cantidad de lluvia, con precipitaciones concentradas en zonas específicas.
“Tuvimos cantidades muy significativas de lluvia sobre el Distrito de Orange Walk,” detalló Gordon. “En Tower Hill se registraron alrededor de trescientas treinta milímetros de lluvia, equivalentes a unas doce pulgadas. Y en Douglas, un poco más al norte, se registraron casi trece pulgadas.”
Según el funcionario, la mayor parte de esta lluvia cayó entre el viernes y la madrugada del sábado, lo que provocó un rápido aumento del nivel del agua en comunidades como San Pablo, dejando a varias familias damnificadas.
El sistema meteorológico continúa vigilando el desarrollo de nuevos fenómenos climáticos mientras las autoridades evalúan los daños causados por estas lluvias excepcionales.
The legal hits just keep coming for the Belize Tourism Board. Another courtroom loss has landed and this time, it’s former IT head Norman Young walking away with over two hundred and thirty thousand dollars after the High Court ruled his contract was wrongfully terminated. And that’s just the latest in a growing list. The Court of Appeal recently upheld a massive payout, seven hundred and seventy thousand dollars, for former Director of Tourism Karen Bevans. And let’s not forget Misty Michael, the former Director of Marketing, who was awarded over two hundred thousand dollars back in 2023. It’s a costly trend that’s raising eyebrows, and now, Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler says the BTB may be taking its fight all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. So, what’s behind this string of legal defeats, and what could it mean for taxpayers?
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“Those monies have already been paid you know. These are not new things. What we did was to appeal the judgment and we lost. Now, we are seriously contemplating about going tot eh CCJ. We feel there are ground whereby certain things went wrong. If you read the judgment, it says that there was no board oversight in signing the contracts. That is a fundamental principle in this. You are saying there are issues elsewhere in this, the board did not see the contract, approve the contract and the chairperson or the head of that institution signed off on the contracts. That is the same thing that happened in the BTB. There were other things that happened in the past administration that we were left with. If you look at those contracts, they were unbreakable on one side. So it is not like that we are taking advantage of those individuals. The contracts were one sided in their favor just in the event that something like this would happen.”
Tonight, the spotlight is on a fifty-four-million-dollar question, where exactly did all that money go? The Belize Tourism Board’s 2023 bond is under scrutiny, and P.S.U. President Dean Flowers along with Opposition Senator Sheena Pitts are demanding answers. They’re calling on Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler to show the receipts; how has the Ministry invested those millions, and what’s the real impact on the tourism industry? Well, Minister Mahler isn’t dodging the heat. Appearing on Open Your Eyes, he responded, saying the B.T.B. is regularly audited and that a full report is on the way to show how the funds are being used to strengthen Belize’s tourism sector.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“At times when a camera and a mic are put in someone’s face they have to grand stand. They have to come with some level of energy. That is the business. Like I said before I grew up in a house hold is a union household. So I understand that. But there has to be mutual respect. You cant say there is mutual respect but when you go out there you say all kinds of things about the prime minister, about government ministers. There has to be some level of respect. Like I said, both major private sector organizations are on the board of directors for the BTB. There is an audited financial done every year and we put those reports forward to the government and so that will not stop. I have asked for the report to be put together for the bond and I will present those to the nation. What I can tell you is that I have an arsenal to let go on the previous administration, with them getting over ninety million dollars in their term, with nothing to show for it. And I can tell you that each of the project we are working on right now, none of them comes close to the cost of what the previous administration did out of ninety million dollars. And I heard the leader of the opposition talk about mortgaging tourism’ future. Ninety million back then compared to fifty-four million, pales in comparison.”
Más de veinte pulgadas de lluvia cayeron en el Distrito de Orange Walk la semana pasada, provocando inundaciones repentinas que obligaron a varias familias a abandonar sus hogares y buscar refugio. En el poblado de San Pablo, la situación se tornó crítica la noche del viernes, cuando el agua subió con rapidez alarmante.
Algunos residentes se refugiaron en el Centro Comunitario San Pablo, donde hoy intentan recuperarse tras perder casi todo.
Juan Pech, uno de los afectados, relató con angustia el momento en que las aguas inundaron su vivienda. “El agua llegó tan rápido – en un minuto aproximadamente – y de repente, todo estaba inundado. Ni siquiera puedo describir cómo sucedió; fue un shock total,” expresó. “No hubo tiempo de agarrar nada; solo tuvimos que correr hacia un área segura lo más rápido posible. Lo perdí todo.”
Actualmente, Pech y su familia de cinco personas permanecen en el refugio, donde las condiciones son modestas, pero al menos cuentan con un espacio seco para descansar.
El Coordinador Nacional de Emergencias de NEMO, Daniel Méndez, informó que ya se están realizando evaluaciones de daños. “Los equipos están trabajando en las áreas afectadas para determinar las pérdidas,” dijo. “También estamos haciendo visitas de seguimiento para asegurar que las familias reciban alimentos, agua, artículos de higiene y para dormir.”
A medida que continúa la evaluación de daños, se prevé que algunas familias permanecerán en el refugio por un tiempo prolongado. Las autoridades han asegurado que el apoyo se mantendrá mientras sea necesario.
