Belize is stepping onto the world stage with pride and purpose. On Sunday, the Jewel celebrated its National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, an international showcase of culture, innovation, and global vision. Under the theme “One Belize, One Purpose: Ecosystems for Life,” the country put its vibrant heritage and commitment to sustainability front and center. Leading the charge was Prime Minister John Briceño, joined by ministers Anthony Mahler and Devin Daly, as they delivered a powerful message of unity and forward-thinking development to the world.
Tanya Arceo, Reporting
From the beat of Garifuna drums to bold, inspiring speeches, Belize brought its energy, culture, and vision to one of the biggest global expos. It was a proud and vibrant moment for Belize on the world stage as the country celebrated its National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Visitors were treated to an immersive experience, interactive displays, colorful performances, and a warm welcome that showcased not just who Belize is, but where it’s headed.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“On Behalf of the government and people of Belize, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government of Japan, the organizers of Expo twenty-twenty five Osaka and all participating nations gathered here in a spirit of shared hope, progress and global unity. It is an honor to celebrate Belize’s national day at this magnificent world exposition, a stage where our collective dreams for the future are not just imagined but actively pursued. Expo twenty-twenty five powerful team of designing future societies for our lives resonates deeply with Belize’s own development path rooted in sustainability, cultural preservation and community empowerment.”
As part of the cultural showcase, Belize unveiled a stunning visual tribute to its Maya heritage, one that resonated deeply with the international audience. Here’s a portion of that presentation that captured the essence of our indigenous roots.
Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, the unmistakable sound of marimba echoed through the Expo grounds, performed live as a proud representation of Belize’s cultural rhythm and celebration. The Creole spirit is the soul of Belize, strong, proud, and deeply rooted in our African heritage. It’s a legacy of resilience that keeps rising, generation after generation. Bringing energy, color and pure Belizean joy to Osaka, our delegation lit up the Expo with a lively carnival presentation complete with dazzling costumes, dance and music.
From ancient traditions to modern beats, Belize showed up and showed out at Expo 2025, reminding everyone that our small nation carries a big voice, rich in culture, unity and purpose. Reporting for News Five I am Tanya Arceo.
Talk about a lucky break; one woman from Corozal is still pinching herself after winning fifty thousand dollars on a Scratch & Win ticket, just as Belize rolls out its brand-new currency. She and her husband were headed to Chetumal when fate stepped in. With the Boledo system down, they grabbed a scratch ticket instead. The first one won them ten bucks, so they went back for another, and that second ticket turned out to be the jackpot. In a twist of fate, the winning number matched the one her husband originally planned to buy in Boledo. Their trip may have been canceled, but their bank account got a serious upgrade.
Voice of: Scratch & Win Winner
“ I was shocked, I’m like, we were in the vehicle when he stopped and buy the ticket and we were going to Chetumal and then he turned back because it was getting late to the place we were going, it was going to be late, so he turned back and he went straight to the store and he bought two tickets I scratched them and we won ten dollars so he went back and he changed it for two more tickets and that was when he drove off I start scratching and I’m like wait stop and he’s like what and he continues driving and I say stop stop I need you to check this I said it was the first number I cleared so he’s like ok right now so he parked and he checked and he said what happened? I said check this out I’m not sure if I’m correct and he said ok let me see it and he checked it and the funny thing is that he was going to buy Boledo in the morning and in Corozal he couldn’t get because the system was down and he went to all the stores he could find and the system was still down so he didn’t get to buy Boledo and when he heard that the one came up he was disappointed he said his number is coming when he heard the eight he said ok its not that because he was going to buy ten and the coincidence is that the ticket number we won with was number ten and the ticket that we bought was fifty those are two numbers he was going to buy in the Boledo and he managed to get it that was like shocking.”
Good evening, I am Paul Lopez with this week’s edition of Sports Monday. The Belize City Civic Center is the stage for this year’s 2025 Central America Regional Under-eleven and Under-thirteen Table Tennis Champions. The tournament features players from six countries, including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Team Belize played its first U-13 Boys Doubles match this morning against Honduras. It was a close one, but unfortunately the team Belize duo, made up of George Espat and Kaiden Aceituno, fell shy of the victory over Honduras. We heard from both athletes.
George Espat
George Espat, Athlete, Team Belize
“We played against Honduras, I think it was a very stressful game. But, we beat my expectations. I thought we would lose bad, but we did pretty good and we played as hard as we could.”
Kaiden Aceituno
Kaiden Aceituno, Athlete, Team Belize
“I was pretty nervous, my first time. The game was very intense. I actually got nine points on them which was unexpected, and for the doubles me and him did very well.”
Belize will also be participating in the U-13 Boys Singles, the U-11 Boys and Girls Singles, and the U-11 Boys Doubles throughout the course of the week. The championship tournament is set to conclude on Saturday. The games are free to enter and the President of the Belize Table Tennis Association, Arturo Vasquez, is inviting fans to come out and support Team Belize.
Arturo Vasquez
Arturo Vasquez, President, Belize Table Tennis Association
“We have a pretty new team and we played the team event and came pretty close. The thing with table tennis is you have to watch the game to see how close it is. I think they did a good job. I think our strength is Mexico and Honduras. They have some pretty good players.”
And from fast-paced table tennis action at the Civic Center, we hit rewind and take you back to the Belize Premier Basketball League’s All-Star Weekend, same venue, different vibe. Thursday night was all about star power and friendly competition in the Celebrity All-Star Match. Team Tony Leslie brought out big names like Mayor Bernard Wagner, influencer Wani Arzu, content creator Chosen Kid, and more. They faced off against Team Santiago Castillo Sr., featuring Minister Kareem Musa, Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado, and yes, our very own Sabreena Daly. It was a night of laughs, highlights, and some surprisingly good moves on the court. Let’s take a look back at some of the best moments from Thursday night.
A long cross court pass from Sherwin Garcia to Artist Hubee…..On the other end, Mayor Wagner with the two-point shot off the backboard…Pass from Tyrone Green to Kris “El Toxico” Alpuche… missed the layup. Sherwin Garcia from deep…. Alpuche got the ball, but Attorney Leroy banner fouled him under the rim. Player down and Ozzy D Clown swopped in to render aid….Alpuche was not having any of it. Second quarter action, an open three from Minister Kareem Musa and he banks the shot.
The skills challenge and the rising stars match also took place on Thursday night. Western Ballers Aaron Allison won the skills challenge. The U-21 Cubs defeated the Rising Jaguars, eighty-seven to eighty-four, in the Rising Stars match. Friday night was all about the big all-star matchup between the Mayan All-Stars and the Toucan All-Stars. We have some highlights for you from that match. The Toucan All-Stars dominated with a score of one hundred and thirty-four over their opponents’ one hundred and five points. Friday night inside the Civic also featured the Three-Point Shootout and the highly anticipated Dunk Contest. Here is some of how those competitions played out.
And finally, for tonight, Samira Musa Pott has once again cemented her tennis legacy, after capturing her sixteenth Denise Courtenay National Women’s Singles Championship title in dominant fashion over the weekend. On the other hand, Mike Sosa dominated in the National Men’s Singles Championship. Tennis is alive and well in Belize and champions continue to excel in the discipline. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Police are investigating a shooting in Hopkins Village that left an 18-year-old Dangriga resident hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the leg. The incident occurred early Sunday morning.
Authorities say that Gevin Armstrong was walking near the basketball court in Hopkins Village when he was approached by someone he knew. According to ACP Hilberto Romero, “Gevin Armstrong reported that he was walking when he was approached by a person he knows who pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at him, causing an injury to his leg.”
Armstrong, who identified the shooter, told police that the assailant fired six shots in his direction, hitting him once.
“We are seeking one suspect in regard to this shooting,” ACP Romero said.
As for a motive, Romero stated, “We do not have a motive at this time. As soon as he recovers, we will get a proper statement.”
A fatal crash in the Orange Walk District has claimed the lives of two motorcyclists. Police say the accident occurred on the Yo Creek Road.
According to ACP Romero, “Police went to the area where they saw two motorcycles with damages. The drivers were identified as Alexander Reyes and Angel Mejia. They received serious injuries and were taken for medical treatment, where they succumbed.”
Romero said early investigations suggest both men were travelling in opposite directions when they collided.
“We do not know at this time. We will await the results from the post-mortem,” he said. “As soon as the survivor recovers, we will get the statement, and we will determine what factors may have caused this accident.”
Reyes was 21 years old, while Mejia was 20. Both men were from San Antonio Village and Trial Farm Village, respectively.
According to ACP Hilberto Romero, Meighan was in a vehicle with another male when two men on a motorcycle approached and opened fire. “Information is that he was in a vehicle along with another male person when a motorcycle with two persons came to the area; one of the persons fired several shots in his direction, causing his fatal injuries.”
The attack occurred not far from a police checkpoint. When asked about the proximity, Romero said, “That checkpoint is up ahead. This occurred by Sarstoon Street. The police responded, but they had already fled from the scene.”
Romero confirmed the incident is gang-related. “We have several theories. We know this one is gang-related with Tyrone Meighan, and we are trying to put the pieces together.” He added that Meighan “had been charged in the past, but no, he was not wanted for any crime when this occurred.”
Police recovered expended shells at the scene. “It is of the calibre prohibited.”
Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage. Two suspects are currently being sought.
A woman is celebrating a big win after scratching her way to a $50,000 prize from a Scratch and Win ticket bought in Corozal Town.
The lucky winner told News 5 that she was shocked. “We were in the vehicle when he stopped to buy the ticket. We were going to Chetumal, but it was getting late, so he turned back. We went straight to the store, and he bought two tickets.”
The couple initially won $10 and returned to exchange it for two more tickets. That’s when everything changed.
“When he drove off, I started scratching. I’m like, wait, stop, stop. He’s like, what? He continued driving. I’m like, ‘Stop, stop. I needed to check this,” she recalled. “It was the first number I cleared. He parked, and he checked. I said, Check this out; I’m not sure if I’m correct. And he double-checked it.”
The couple never made it to Chetumal. “We did not go. We went back and waited for today to come and cash out,” she said.
A 56-year-old Belize City woman has been granted bail after being arraigned on charges of manslaughter by negligence and child abandonment in connection with the October 2024 death of a toddler under her care.
Jennifer Fitzgibbon appeared this morning in court, where she was formally read two indictable charges related to the death of 4-year-old King Shakel Wade. The child drowned while in Fitzgibbon’s care.
Defence attorney Norman Rodriguez argued that Fitzgibbon was not a flight risk, had cooperated fully with police during the investigation, and lacked a passport. He also said that Fitzgibbon, a grandmother, had no intention of harming the child.
Ultimately, the court granted bail of $5,000 plus two sureties of $2,500 each, with strict conditions. Chief among them: Fitzgibbon is prohibited from engaging in any form of babysitting or caregiving while the case remains before the court.The magistrate warned that violating this order would result in a breach of her bail terms.
The prosecution did not object to bail but echoed the court’s concern and supported the restriction on childcare duties.
No plea was taken, as the charges are indictable and will be tried in the Supreme Court. Fitzgibbon is set to return to court on October 9, 2025.
Carnival competitions are here; they are the events that set the pace and lead up to the traditional ‘September vibes’.
The winners of this year’s Ms Carnival Junior, Ms Carnival Senior, and the first-ever Mr Carnival pageant were revealed over the weekend. The Belize Carnival Association has held it as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Carnival in Belize.
In the junior category, Kerin Williams of Soca Massive took first place as the Ms Carnival Junior 2025. She was followed by Jonique Spence of Black Pearl in second place and Shanay West of Sunshine Masqueraders in third.
In the senior category, Okoya Neal of Mother Nature Creation claimed the Ms Carnival Senior 2025 crown. Veril Morris of Soca Moca placed second, and Brianna Barela of Trenchtown took third.
Mother Nature Creation also secured the top spot in the inaugural Mr Carnival 2025 competition, with Justin Gill earning first place. Calman Hall of Soca Moca came in second, and Windell Russell of Trenchtown placed third.
The next major event on the calendar is the King and Queen Competition, scheduled for 23 August, 2025.
The European Union has announced it will suspend its planned trade countermeasures against the United States for six months, following a political agreement between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald J. Trump just a week ago on July 27.
The EU had been preparing to introduce retaliatory tariffs this week in response to a recent wave of US tariffs, including a 15% duty on most European goods entering the American market. These countermeasures were due to take effect on 7 August but will now be delayed to give both sides more time to finalise the terms of the agreement.
In a statement, the EU Commission said the deal aimed to bring “stability and predictability for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
According to CNBC, an EU statement on the July deal also stressed that it was a political agreement and “not legally binding.” It added, “Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement.”
