2025 - Greater Belize Media

Will a Six-Month State of Emergency Quell Gang Violence?

Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado has spoken out about the alarming spike in gun violence that claimed two lives in a single morning. Rosado attributes these incidents to a feud between rival groups in Lake Independence, which has now reached a critical point. During his appearance on “Open Your Eyes” this morning, following the murder of Aaron Lindo, Rosado suggested that a six-month state of emergency might be necessary to curb the violence. He emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to restore peace and safety in the community.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“First of all, we have a wide continuum of policing strategies available to us from community policing to combat policing. And, our strategies on the ground will depend on what is happening on the ground. I do believe there is a need for state of emergency to address security concerns when the violence has reached a critical situation and presently we do have a critical situation in the Martins area and I do believe the guys need a time out. But rather than doing a one month or a three month, we need to pursue a six months period. I would extend it, because if that is the only way that would calm them down, then we must go that route.”

Paul Lopez

“Are we going to see a state of emergency enacted within this week?”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“Honestly, I do believe the situation is critical and it is up for discussion but I will surely support a state of emergency in order to give us the opportunity to assess the situation on the ground and put the necessary thing in place.”

BNTU Prepares for National Demonstration

Teachers are preparing for a massive demonstration this Friday in Belmopan. Last week, around three thousand teachers gathered to vote on taking industrial action, with over two thousand, five hundred members supporting the move. The union’s demands come in response to a recent salary increase for top government officials, including the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Executive Officers. B.N.T.U. is calling for a salary adjustment for teachers and an increase in the minimum wage from five to six dollars per hour. National President Nadia Caliz elaborated on the union’s demands, emphasizing the need for fair compensation for Belize’s hardworking educators.

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teacher’s Union

“CEOs got their twenty percent and we’ve been there waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. And it sounds like I’m exaggerating, but that’s how my teachers feel. And it’s like, we’re not important. So we want for government to understand we matter. We have value. Please consider us. Right now, the demands have to do with an eight-point-five percent minimum salary adjustment to deal with inflation. We’re asking government to put in black and white an agreement that we have for the last CBA. That transfer grant should be one thousand five hundred dollars, but because the Ministry of Finance and other financial officers have not received that in black and white at all, you find that members are still getting, or workers are still getting one thousand two hundred, which means the government owes them three hundred dollars. So if we have an agreement for one thousand five hundred, then put it in so that people can receive what is rightfully theirs. The other has to do with the fact that, which we can put it out there now, if you’re saying that it’s costly for you to pay all public offices and teachers. Then focus on the group that has taken the time out to pay their financial contribution to their union representative, who is actually lobbying on their behalf, lobbying for the demands, lobbying on their behalf. Take care of them. Then you can do the others afterwards. But we know that our group will not cost the big figure that you’re gonna put before us. We are fully aware that, and the union stands behind this, our membership stands behind this.”

BNTU Plans Three-Phase Protest for Teachers’ Increments

Friday’s B.N.T.U. demonstration is part of a three-phase protest plan. The action starts with a public demonstration, followed by a two-day national shutdown, and could escalate to a full strike if necessary. The union is demanding swift action from the government to provide teachers with their overdue increments. B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz highlighted that while the increments have been unfrozen, the rollout has been slow and the mechanisms in place are flawed.

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teacher’s Union

“They’re slow rollout. There’s problem at the management level. Because some of my teachers don’t even have a fine, they can’t find these certificates, so they have to go back and get them done Sometimes. I believe that there is some game being played too, because schools can show where they submitted everything electronically, but yet you have the ministry asking back for these things. So you begin to question from the union standpoint. They need to take this matter very serious. Some are saying, oh, that is twenty people or forty persons. It doesn’t matter how many persons I know. It’s more than that for, I know it’s in a hundred still that I can put my head on the block for, but you need to take it seriously. It needs to be treated with urgency. And like I said, to one media house, not because it’s far less than the entire working population, means you will treat these people like that. Who will pay their financial obligations, who will pay the banks, who will pay the credit unions, who will pay a BEL, who will pay WASA. So while you are there receiving your check and you are caught up in the numbers, they’re suffering. And so we, we can’t take that anymore because we have listened to some of the comments. No, they need to address it. They need to treat their employees, and I’m talking to both management and government. In this case, you need to treat your workers with a level of respect and you need to handle this matter with urgency and government also need to put in place some kind of mechanism to address the fact that teachers are not being paid that they can get something before the next ending of the month. Asking people to wait for another month or two months, or three months is unfair. And so we are now looking at pursuing the legal route because the council voted for that already. And we, I did venture into getting that done. We hold off, but with more and more teachers coming at you, that’s not something we, that we can continue to take lightly.”

BNTU President Stands Firm on Union Members’ Rights Ahead of Demonstration

Students will remain at home this Friday, as their teachers are expected to attend a massive demonstration in Belmopan. But as the Belize National Teachers’ Union gears up for Friday’s protest, president Nadia Caliz is reminding its membership of their constitutional right to take industrial action. Caliz cites Section Thirteen of Belize’s constitution, which guarantees the freedom of assembly and association, including the right to form or join trade unions. Caliz advises school managements across the country not to intimidate or threaten union members participating in the demonstration, emphasizing the importance of respecting these fundamental rights.

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teacher’s Union

“Every teacher has a constitutional right known as Freedom of Association. It’s connected to their fundamental rights within our Constitution. And even our Trade Union Act have a right to be a part of a union. You have a right to engage industrial action. All of those things cover us legally, and where we can prove that they’re being intimidated and denied up their rights, we’ll take it up legally too, because we cannot have this. Let me tell you, when you talk about a democracy like Belize. Inclusive participative democracy, not we’re talking about, we’re talking about allowing everybody to play their part. This is a part of democracy. Democracy means that people will disagree with you at times, they will agree with you, but don’t deny people of their constitutional right, because what they’re doing is not in alignment with your vision of stifling growth. That’s what they call it. ’cause this is a part of growth. Challenges of this nature is growth. We come out better, the union comes out better, the government better everything, because you’re addressing a concern that members have.”

Father Hospitalized After Machete Attack by Son

A family in Corozal is reeling tonight after a violent altercation left father Sair Witz hospitalized. On Sunday night, Sair was viciously attacked with a machete by his son, Zakir Witz, during a heated argument that erupted while the two were socializing and consuming alcohol. In the process, the father was maimed. Police report that Sair is in stable condition, but Zakir remains at large. ACP Hilberto Romero provided further details on the incident, which has left the community in shock and the family distraught.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, fourth of May, 2025, police responded to a chopping incident at Louisville Village in the Corozal district. Upon their arrival, they saw Sair Witz with injuries to the body, information that he was involved in a fight with his family members, at which point his son Zakir Witz inflicted several chop wounds to him. He is presently at the hospital in a stable condition. We’re looking for Zakir Witz, and he has not been located since. they have been consuming alcoholic beverages. And that is what led to a fight, and that is what led to this chopping incident.”

Reporter

“Is the, is he on the run?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yes, he is. He has not been located, as yet.”

Reporter

“Were they intoxicated?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yes. They were.”

Reporter

“Can you go to the nature of the argument that led to chopping?”

Hilberto Romero

“Some family dispute? They had a fight ensued and that is what led to this chopping.”

San Ignacio Mourns Tragic Loss of Young Football Star

The San Ignacio community is heartbroken after the tragic drowning of fifteen-year-old Deshawn Nazir in the Macal River over the weekend. Nazir, a promising football player, is fondly remembered by his peers and loved ones. Saint Ignatius High School, where Nazir was a beloved second form student, described him as having a bright spirit and kind heart. The Football Federation of Belize also mourned the loss, highlighting Nazir’s passion for the game, discipline on the field, and the lasting impact he made on those who knew him. The community grieves the loss of a young star whose potential was cut short far too soon.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday thirtieth, May, 2025, around 8:55 AM police responded to a report of a drowning by the Hawkesworth Bridge in Cayo. Upon their arrival, they learned that a male person attempted to swim across river and he went under. Searches were conducted thereafter. The lifeless body of a male person was retrieved. He was identified as Deshawn Nazir, fifteen years. He was immediately rendered CPR, taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that Deshawn was swimming with other persons in the area when he went under and thereafter his body was located.”

Reporter

“Any alcohol involved?”

Hilberto Romero

‘Not that we know of, no.”

Security Guard Remanded After Alleged Gun Incident

Akeem Elijah Tench, a forty-year-old security guard employed by Priority Security, is currently on remand at Belize Central Prison. Tench faces charges of keeping a firearm without a license and discharging a firearm in public. The incident occurred on Sunday, May fourth, 2025, when Tench allegedly fired shots to ward off intruders at his home on Vernon Street. He claimed he took his work-issued firearm home to deal with the situation. Appearing before Magistrate Ludlow Black, Tench explained that he was on duty when he received a call from his daughter about the break-in. Upon arriving home, he saw two men fleeing and fired shots. Tench pleaded guilty with an explanation, stating that his firearm was issued by his security company for use while on duty. However, there was no statement from his employer to support his claim. Magistrate Black adjourned the case until May twelfth, 2025, and remanded Tench due to the nature of the offenses. Tench expressed distress over being remanded, as he is the sole provider for his wife and daughter.

Minister of Sports Responds to PSU’s Concerns Over Job Cuts

Anthony Mahler, the Minister of Youth & Sports, has responded to the Public Service Union’s strong opposition to potential job cuts at the Department of Youth Services and the National Sports Council. Mahler criticized the union for taking an uninformed stance, suggesting they should have reached out to him for more details on the restructuring plans. Speaking with News Five, Mahler highlighted that the P.S.U.’s concerns might have been better handled with some straightforward communication. He believes this would have helped everyone get a clearer picture of the proposed changes.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“To me, and I will tell you this first, my father was a union leader, and my adopted grandfather was prominent union leader, so I come out of union households. I had a picture with me, with my placard protesting in front of BEC with my child when I was a dad. So, I respect unions, but how can you go public without picking up the phone and call minister, “hey what did you say really”? What is it that you want to accomplish. That is the true meaning. You get out there and say a whole pile of thing when you only hear one side of the story. To me if you have almost three hundred people working with both entities and most of the programs are failing miserably then something has to be done. I don’t believe in taking bread out of people’s mouth. There are those concession stand out there to build up people and I don’t believe in firing hard working people. But if you are doing nothing, a ghost worker, you go home and have no apologies for that. Should it continue? There are no final numbers, the youth department is a government department. The National Sports Council is a statutory board, so it is ran by a board and the youth department and just fire people. That is how it works. Unu know me as being stupid, from what you see, you know my work right, tourism zero to highest record right.”

Tourism Minister Addresses Aircraft Hijacking Incident

Three weeks after an American national hijacked a Tropic Air flight and was fatally shot, Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler is addressing the incident’s impact on Belize’s tourism sector. Mahler has been working closely with the National Security Council to ensure safety measures are in place. He reassures potential visitors that Belize remains a safe destination, emphasizing the country’s commitment to security and the well-being of tourists.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“We were a part of the entire discussion from the whole thing started. We were in constant communication with the security people and we had a national security council meeting that we were invited to on that same morning after the tragic event happened. I want to say thank you to the pilot and all the people on board who withstood that madness.”

Reporter

“Do you think it will have any negative impact on the tourism industry?”

Anthony Mahler

“Anything like that has an impact. It will, so we have to do damage control and send out the right information, that Belize is still a safe destination, compared to many and that it is still worthwhile coming to Belize.”

Primary School Sports Tournaments Put on Hold Amid Restructurings

Plans to restructure the National Sports Council have led to a temporary pause in primary school sports tournaments. These annual events, which see schools competing in various sports at regional and national levels, are a highlight for many young athletes. Minister of Sports Anthony Mahler informed News Five on Saturday that while the tournaments are expected to resume by the end of the year, the current setup cannot continue as it is. The restructuring aims to improve the organization and effectiveness of these beloved events.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“We want to adjust the finances, adjust those programs. WE have some ideas on how we can improve those programs. But also, to me the biggest fall off in sports in Belize is in high school. There is a lack of competition in Belize, a lack of proper training, there is a lack of facilities. Victor Galvez in Cayo, we have invested in a brand new court, so they have a brand-new hard wood court down there for that stadium and we will continue to invest, but the program has to be focused and have to have some goals to say we will achieve these things.”

Paul Lopez

“So, will primary schools sports be held this year?”

Anthony Mahler

“We are putting it on pause for now and then we will reboot soon. Hopefully we can start the tournaments in October and November, when we restructure the national sports council and the finances.”

Paul Lopez

“So it is about restructuring. What was happening that was causing it to be chaotic or inefficient?”

Anthony Mahler

“Well, I am not saying it was chaotic or inefficient. It was just status quo and status quo does not work for me, status quo does not work for Minister Daly.”