Late this evening, News Five caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño at an event right here in Belize City. With the controversial Thirteenth Amendment Bill stirring debate across the country, we asked the PM to weigh in. His response? Direct and telling. Here’s what he had to say.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I could understand the concern from everybody else. If these other legal scholars can show us how it can be done differently, we’re prepared to take a look. But the problem is that we have a serious problem with crime and it’s something that requires the attention and the cooperation and the work of everybody, not only the police, as the government, but also the public. And as much as we’ve been doing everything we can to try to stop these killings, these mostly young men, they don’t seem to get it. And what’s even worse, is that when they would go in a public space and just spray bullets and then innocent people get hurt. So we have to do everything possible to stop them.”
There’s been a lot of chatter lately about a potential shake-up in Belize’s telecom and cable landscape. Word on the street is that BTL may be eyeing a buyout of Speednet Communications and possibly several local cable companies too. But so far, no official confirmation. On Wednesday, businessman Michael Ashcroft added fuel to the fire during an appearance on Open Your Eyes, briefly touching on the rumored deal. Speednet, as many know, is majority-owned by Waterloo, and this evening, Prime Minister John Briceño, whose relatives are shareholders in Speednet, was asked directly about the speculation.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t know, you’ll have to talk to the people at BTL and the people at Smart.”
Reporter
“You are the super majority of the… you appoint majority of the board and your family owns Smart. If this sale were to go through, wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I wish it would be my family that owns Smart, but those things are discussed at the management level and then it goes to the board. I can assure you that if something were to happen, it has to be in the interest of BTL and in the interest of the Belizean people.”
A major step toward energy independence was taken today as Belize Electricity Limited and Blair Athol Power Company signed a historic solar power agreement. The deal will bring an additional fifteen megawatts of locally sourced solar energy into the national grid, a first of its kind at this scale for Belize. But that’s just the beginning. Prime Minister John Briceño says the government is already looking ahead, with plans to secure 80 more megawatts of energy. It’s all part of a bigger push to reduce Belize’s reliance on imported electricity from Mexico.
Prime Minister Jonh Briceño
“I think maybe a month or two the PUC put out asking for proposals and a number of companies applied. I don’t know who are there, but I know a number of them. They’re being reviewed. And then after that, they’re going to compile it to the smaller group because we want to make sure that these companies would be able to, the plan is that once we sign the contract, that they will be able to deliver within one year of energy problem, another eighty megawatts into the grid. As I mentioned earlier it’s. What has happened to us last year is sure how vulnerable we are to another country, to Mexico. Mexico are good neighbors, they’re our brothers, and they’ve done very well for us, but our growth we have to depend on our own future, and that is where we are seeing how we can start to ease up on that dependency, but still have access to their energy.”
At today’s signing of a major energy deal between Belize Electricity Limited and the Blair Athol Power Company, Prime Minister John Briceño took the opportunity to spotlight a bigger picture, the growing need for collaboration between government and the private sector. The agreement marks a step forward in Belize’s push for sustainable energy, but according to the Prime Minister, it’s just the beginning. He says more public-private partnerships are on the way, especially to tackle one costly issue: the government’s massive spending on office rentals.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“What is happening is that there are many instances, there’s so much work that has to be done and sometimes it’s not just for government to do it on itself. That is when they make these purchase partnerships, private public sector, private partnership agreements where, for instance as a good example is right now we are going to build a new area for the magistrate and the higher or the upper court, the complex here, right here on the Lake Independence Boulevard. That’s an example of a PPP where government has signed up with, social security, and I think some of the banks that have already expressed interest into building this complex and then the, instead of paying rent to somebody else, they’re going to pay for ownership. And that is something we’ve been talking a lot about it, I know you guys have been making a lot, a big deal about the rents and you’re right. And it’s something that should have been addressed a long time. But the plan now is to be able to look in areas like Belmopan, orange Walk, where it’s most needed and see if we can create partnerships with the private sector to build these buildings and then instead of paying rent to others, we could rent to own that. And so it, that’s what were talking to with the IDB.”
There’s a dramatic legal twist following a terrifying mid-air ordeal that shook the nation just months ago. The Belize Airports Authority is now facing a lawsuit filed by Tropic Air pilot Howell Grange and two passengers, survivors of a harrowing hijacking back in April that ended with the death of the hijacker, American national Akinyela Taylor. Grange, who was stabbed multiple times during the attack, has since undergone therapy in the U.S. and is now taking legal action, represented by none other than Senior Counsel Dean Barrow. And just this evening, Prime Minister John Briceño broke his silence with a brief comment on the pending case.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Of course, I have to be concerned. I mean I’m a bit disappointed that that’s going to happen, but not surprised. But more than that, I don’t want to comment because quite likely it will end up in court.”
Tonight, we return to Pomona Village, where a heated land dispute continues to cause friction between residents and the Ferguson family. In this report, Minister Rodwell Ferguson and his nephew, Aaron Ferguson, speak out to share their side of the story. The Fergusons strongly deny all accusations against them, including allegations of threats and political meddling. Here’s News Five’s Tanya Arceo with the latest.
Tanya Arceo, Reporting
A long-running land dispute has turned personal, with residents accusing the Ferguson family of claiming property they say is theirs. Now, Minister Rodwell Ferguson and his son Aaron Ferguson are responding to those allegations, insisting they have done nothing wrong. And while both sides argue over who owns the land, there’s an important fact: under Belizean law, even if there’s a cave on the property, that cave remains property of the state. Any artifacts or relics found inside belong to the Government of Belize and are protected by national heritage laws. Today, we’re speaking with everyone involved—asking the questions, demanding the documents, and trying to clarify who truly owns this contested land.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Area Rep. Stann Creek West
“I want to go back in history because the younger folks today don’t know the existence of this cave. In the seventies when I was a child the ministry of infrastructure used to be the ministry of works used to blast this cave to get materials for wood works. For every two or three days there was a blasting so it affects the whole structure of the cave. Even the stone that you see there I told him Stoney no matter what I will not allow you to apply for the land where the cave is on it doesn’t matter who you are you can be my son you can be whoever you are I will not allow you to apply for the land where the cave is on. As a matter of fact this cave has a water system for the Pomona Village Council so the tank for Pomona water system is at the top of the cave. I am not fighting for this piece of land for no family member.”
Tanya Arceo
“You are not offering him ten acres of land either?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“I told him we will go and look for ten acres of land for you where we can find it to make sure you are satisfied that it becomes a beneficiary piece of land for your family it’s my commitment to them.”
We then headed to the home of Miguel Angel Trejo, who insists the land, including the area with the cave, rightfully belongs to him and his family. Trejo disputes the Fergusons’ claim and says he has the lease to prove his ownership, while Minister Ferguson maintains that those documents are not valid.
Miguel Angel Trejo
Miguel Angel Trejo, Landowner
“Well I got those documents in the lands department but I am now seriously concerned with everything that is going on mainly because there has been serious death threats because of this claim Mr. Rodwell son Stoney has threatened me so I spoke to minister Rodwell present here today.”
Rodwell Ferguson
Tell Mr. Trejo I want him to understand I have nothing against him and I will do everything in my power for him to get a piece of land.”
Tanya Arceo
“The minister wants you to understand that he has nothing against you and that he will do everything in his power to get you a piece of land.”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Trejo will get a piece of land I gave him at least six months to move out I will never ever do that to you sir.”
Tanya Arceo
“He is denying that he chased you out of the property like you told us saying that he would never do anything against you.”
Miguel Angel Trejo
“I have the video here if you would like to see.”
Rodwell Fergusson, Minister
“What I am saying as the elective representative for Stann Creek west this is no prejudice of anything I will ask the ministry to tell Mr. Trejo to evacuate this piece of land I di find piece for him.”
Miguel Angel Trejo
“Another thing he promised me ten acres of land and this bis the day where he has not given me anything I was a young person when I cleaned al that land now I am in my seventy’s I do not have the same strength to clean all that land if he gives me a clean piece of land I will accept to be moved. But why don’t they want me living here and Mr. Canton leaves right here as well? Or is it because I am poor he does not want to give me a piece of land here? If I had money they would have let me live here but there is a family living right close to this property and they say its against the law to live here why don’t I get my acre to live here too why am I bothering here?”
While Mr. Ferguson left the property to avoid further dispute with the Trejo family we also spoke to the Chairlady Melida Ingraham for clarification.
Melida Ingraham
Melida Ingraham, Chairlady
“To allocate or approve the land in this area is usually done by the minister or sometimes he gets in contact with the village council to send recommendations. For the land that they are claiming I know its government property because its located right by the cave which is owned by the village council so the lands that are in this area are surrounded is owned by the village council and and the government. We sure will do a review on the land titles and have a sit down with minister Cordel Hyde and see what can be done about this land that is here that is owned by the government because the village council have works that need to be done at the cave.”
And while both sides disagree on many things, they agree on one: that the cave does not belong to either of them. Tanya Arceo reporting for News Five.
If you’ve driven along Belize’s highways lately, chances are you’ve seen it, piles of trash scattered along the roadside, turning our beautiful landscapes into something far less picture-perfect. It’s a growing problem, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is speaking out. They say littering isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a threat to wildlife, the environment, and even public health. And the cost? It’s not just environmental. It’s also draining resources that could be used to fix roads and build better infrastructure. Here’s Britney Gordon with the following story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
You see it in the water, on the streets, and lining the highways, trash is everywhere. And it’s becoming a big problem. Belize is known as “The Jewel”, a nickname that reflects its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Every year, thousands of visitors come to experience our lush rainforests, vibrant wildlife, and crystal-clear waters. But there’s a not-so-pretty side to this picture: litter. From north to south, garbage piles up along our highways and public spaces, and it’s hard to ignore.
Evondale Moody
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
“Littering has become a huge problem because every week we pick up more than the previous week, and we have noticed that the locations that we’re picking up beverage from, we are also picking up household garbage. So it seems as though residents are taking their household garbage and leave it out there for us to pick up. And the MIDH is not a garbage company. Honestly, we pick up the garbage because when we cut the highways to do vegetation control, the garbage are there. So it doesn’t make sense for us to leave it there. And so we try to ensure that once we’re doing vegetation control, we come behind and we pick up the garbage at the same time.”
Trash is a serious health hazard, not only to people, but to the wildlife living in those areas as well. According to Chief Engineer Evondale Moody, cleaning the highways has been costing the ministry a significant amount of time and money- resources that should be spent repairing and developing infrastructure.
Evondale Moody
“The littering is a significant additional cost that we have incurred, and we continue to incur. The ministry basically has to spend at least two days out of the six days because generally we work up until Saturdays. So at least two days out of every week, we have to be spending time picking up garbage along our highways. This is not just for the George Price Highway. It’s all the highways countrywide. And so that has a cost to it because we have to employ personnel to do that type of work. We have to provide safety vest for them to utilize. We have to pay for the garbage bags for us to load the trashing we have to pay for gloves. We have to pay for the transportation because it’s not just five miles. We have to do the entire length of the highway and each district is responsible for a certain section.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is urging Belizeans to step up and show more civic pride. In a recent statement, the Ministry warned that our bad littering habits are slowly destroying the very environment we all say we love. And it’s not just MIDH raising the alarm. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler, says the growing trash problem is a serious concern for his ministry too. That’s why they’re rolling out a new campaign, the “Clean Belize Initiative”, aimed at tackling the issue head-on and restoring the beauty of our country.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“But we have to take the lead on all of those things. If the rivers are congested before La Rutra Maya, we have to go in there, clean up the river with lags and debris all over the place If it’s silted, then we have to try get some dredging happening. So all of those things come into play. But the Clean Belize Initiative, I think is going to be a great program for us moving forward. to focus on beaches, to focus on the major highways and to focus on just keeping Belize clean and healthy.”
The trash is making Belize look bad. It’s as simple as that. According to Mahler, the lack of civic pride is becoming evident on Belize’s reviews.
Anthony Mahler
“I’ve also spoke about the amount of litter that we have all over the place, because when you have exit surveys, those are the things that or guests are saying on the surveys. Now this da wa issue, derelict vehicles all over, stray dogs .All of these things.”
In 2024, the marine conservation group Sea of Life collected over eighteen thousand pieces of trash, and a whopping seventy-five percent of it was plastic. These plastics don’t break down easily. Instead, they end up polluting our land and sea, causing long-term damage to the environment. While efforts to move away from single-use plastics are underway, there’s still a long road ahead. In the meantime, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH) is asking everyone to do their part, starting with something simple: hold on to your trash until you can throw it away properly.
Evondale Moody
“The volume of garbage that we’re receiving is horrendous, and I think it’s ridiculous. And it basically shows honestly that we have a nasty society. That is just putting it real and we have to do something about it because littering and defacing of our assets, it basically diminish, diminishes us. As a country. We have a beautiful country, but it also compromises the road of safety and it increases the maintenance cost. So our idea is to try and get that out to the public honestly, and to see how best we could get a positive reaction from the general public on these issues.”
Every Belizeans is encouraged to take pride in their country and its wealth of natural resources. That means doing their part to ensure that it remains clean and safe for all to enjoy. Britney Gordon for News Five.
A major discovery at the Caracol Archaeological Site is making headlines internationally, and for good reason. Researchers have uncovered what they believe to be the tomb of Caracol’s very first king, a find that’s shedding new light on the ancient Maya world and its complex network of diplomacy and power. Led by renowned archaeologists Doctors Arlen and Diane Chase, the Caracol Archaeological Project is once again putting Belize on the map for groundbreaking Maya research. And as News Five’s Paul Lopez shows us in this week’s Belize on Reel, this discovery could change how we understand Caracol’s role in Mesoamerican history.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A discovery nearly seventeen hundred years in the making is turning heads at the Caracol Archaeological Site. Archaeologists have uncovered a burial site dating all the way back to 331 AD—and it’s no ordinary tomb. It’s believed to belong to Te K’ab Chaak, the very first known ruler of Caracol and the founder of its royal dynasty. The exciting find was made by the Caracol Archaeological Project, led by the husband-and-wife team, Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase, who’ve been uncovering the secrets of Caracol for decades.
Diane Chase
Diane Chase, Provost, University of Houston
“One of the question is how important was Teotihuacan to the establishment of rulership in the Maya era. We selected one area, the northeast acropolis, that we have worked on for many years overtime because we knew it had remains of the correct time period to answer those exact questions.”
The tomb that archaeologists discovered contained an assortment of jadeite ornaments, carved bone tubes, pottery vessels and more. Doctor Melissa Badillo, the Director at the Institute of Archaeology explained that all these items reflected local and traditional connections with central Mexico, suggesting diplomatic relations at the highest level.
Dr. Melissa Badillo
Dr. Melissa Badillo, Director, Institute of Archaeology
“One of the more significant features of the tomb is that there are some pottery vessels and other obsidian artifacts that clearly show that connection to central Mexico. It shows that Teotihuacan influence early on. So, it pushes back the timefor that Mexican influence and it shows that even as early as the first founder of Caracol and his reign that there was networking happening between Belize and the Maya area. Even though they were not, they did not have the comfort of modern transportation as we do now. There was significant trading, networking happening still within the region.”
Arlen Chase
Arlen Chase, Professor, University of Houston
“What we discovered this past year is the tomb of someone that we believe was the first member of the royal dynasty at Caracol. This would be the first individual we found that actually matches with the hieroglyphic text. Not just the first ruler in name because it matches the monuments, but the first one we actually found. That, in and of itself, is huge.”
Doctor Badillo says the discovery is of national importance. She explains that it reinforces the country’s critical role in the ancient Mesoamerican networks, while highlighting the value of preserving our archaeological heritage. The discovery also adds a new layer of intrigue to a site that draws visitors from across the world.
Dr. Melissa Badillo
“For sure it will put Belize on the forefront of Maya archaeology. It shows the significance of the development that we had early on in the development fo the maya history within this region, the networking and everything that came along with it. It shows the political significance and the strategies that Caracol had in place and linking with these regional cities across the Mesoamerican Area. It will provide another intriguing feature for visitors to Caracol. Of course these things are not yet on display as we working through more analysis and gather all the information we need to. In the near future we can expect to have this information available in the public.”
Arlen Chase
“There are eleven ceramic vessels, a lot of them are polychrome. Eleven vessels in the tomb dating to 350 AD is a lot of vessels. What is even more impressive is the iconography that is on top of or painted on top of the lids, because one of the lids shows a portrait of the god Ek Chuah, the Maya merchant god who is generally not known from the classic period, and there he is at 350 AD, the god of trade.”
Future analysis will include ancient DNA studies, isotope testing and the reconstruction of artifacts such as the jadeite mask. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Textbooks? Still important. But these days, more students are turning to tech, specifically AI tools like ChatGPT, to help with everything from homework to full-blown research papers. It’s a digital shift that’s changing the way classrooms work, and while it’s opening up exciting new possibilities, it’s also raising some tough questions. How do educators keep up? How do they make sure students are still learning the skills they need, not just copying and pasting answers? From Florida to Belize, teachers are rethinking how they teach, how they assess, and how they prepare students for a world where AI is here to stay. Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
These days, students aren’t just turning to textbooks, they’re turning to tech. From homework help to full-blown research papers, large language models like ChatGPT are becoming go-to tools in classrooms around the world. But while technology is opening new doors for learning, it’s also raising some big questions. How do educators strike the right balance between embracing innovation and ensuring academic integrity? Lee McLoughlin, who teaches Anthropology and Geography online at Florida International University, is one of many educators navigating this new digital frontier.
Lee Mcloughlin
Lee Mcloughlin, Lecturer, Florida International University
“In 2022 bang, all of the language started changing and all the answers starting sounding the same and I was working with the professors there and something to change. Obviously paying attention to what is happening in the news and Chat GPT is becoming more and more wide spread and trained as more and more people using it and students were using it to feed the questions into the and copy and pasting the answers coming out on the other side. Obviously, that is a problem.”
One of the biggest concerns with students leaning too heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT? Plagiarism. It’s becoming a real issue in classrooms. And it’s not just about copying and pasting. As the Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice at Galen University points out, when students rely entirely on large language models, they miss out on building the critical thinking and writing skills they need to succeed, not just in school, but in life.
Zain Dueheney
Zain Dueheney, Program Coordinator, Galen University
“When you enter the workforce, you kind of short change yourself in terms of your viability in the workforce you are cheating yourself in terms of your viability in the workforce. You are cheating yourself out of those skill sets that you would have developed if you do it correctly. Because, you take professions such as engineering, social work, these require to be intimately involved with persons you are working with. And, people will see through you day one.”
Let’s face it, AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re only getting smarter. And educators like Dale McDougall, an Adjunct Lecturer at Galen University, are leaning into that reality. Instead of fighting the tech, he’s rethinking how he teaches.
Dale McDougall
Dale McDougall, Adjunct Lecturer, Galen University
“Teachers are now required to try and think out of the box. How is it that we can have students use A.I. as a tool rather than a replacement. And, I have my own mechanisms that I use for my course. For example, I start off with different types of assessments to determine students writing styles early in the term.”
Lee Mcloughlin
“If we suspect that they just copy and paste, one of the measures we take is to ask them for a one-on-one meeting and ask them to verbally express why they have written why they have written.”
Sure, AI in the classroom is shaking things up, but educators aren’t backing down. In fact, many are stepping up, becoming part-time tech experts just to keep pace. Still, there’s a growing call for clearer guidelines and more open conversations about how tools like ChatGPT should be used in schools. And as Dr. David Aguilar, Computer Science Coordinator at Galen University, puts it, this tech is evolving fast. That means the education system must stay flexible, ready to adapt as the digital landscape keeps changing.
Doctor David Aguilar
Doctor David Aguilar, Computer Science Coordinator, Galen University
“So we are trying to guide students through a forest we have not been through ourselves yet. so, it is tricky. We need to be in our game. we need to be creative in our own approach. We need to see where the world is going so that we can move in that direction. Mister McDougal talked about editing his assessment to make sure he gets what he wants out of his students. I think that is the way it has to be. We cant do things the way we have been doing them so far. We will be stuck in the past. We cant jump too far ahead. The technology might go in a direction we did not expect. So, we have to be adaptive. I think that needs to be the key word.”
So, the classroom is no longer just about administering lesson plans and issuing grades. It is an entirely new landscape where humans and machines must coexist. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
The Caribbean is making real strides in the fight against HIV. Since 2010, new infections have dropped by twenty-one percent, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by an impressive sixty-two percent. But while the numbers are encouraging, the full picture is more complex. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
“The Caribbean has made real progress in the fight against HIV. Since 2010, new infections have dropped by twenty-one percent, and AIDS-related deaths are down sixty-two percent. But behind those numbers lies a more complex story. According to UNAIDS, about three hundred and forty thousand people in the region are living with HIV. Most know their status, and many are receiving treatment, but not everyone. Children and men are less likely to be on treatment or have their virus under control compared to women. Young people aged fifteen to twenty-four make up a quarter of the new infections, often because they lack access to prevention services designed for them. And for key groups, like gay men, transgender people, and sex workers, the risk remains extremely high. In some countries, HIV rates among transgender people reach a staggering sixty percent. Money is another challenge. Over two-thirds of HIV funding in the region comes from international donors. That means programs are vulnerable if that support dries up. Haiti, for example, relies almost entirely on outside funding. Legal and social barriers also stand in the way. While some countries have decriminalized same-sex relationships, others, including Trinidad and Tobago, still criminalize them. Sex work and drug possession are also illegal in most places, making it harder for people to get the help they need. The Caribbean has come a long way, but the fight isn’t over.”
