In less than a week, the kidnapping and blackmail trial against William ‘Danny’ Mason and Belmopan resident Ryan Rhaburn is set to begin. Today, Mason’s attorney, Peter Taylor, appeared virtually before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, requesting an adjournment to May first, 2025. Taylor claimed he hasn’t been compensated by Mason yet. However, with the trial just days away, DPP Cheryl Lynn-Vidal objected, stating that witnesses are ready, and the trial cannot be delayed further. Justice Pilgrim denied the request and informed Taylor that arrangements would be made for his compensation. The trial will proceed as scheduled on April twenty-ninth. Taylor also noted that Mason hasn’t arranged finances to fly him and his team to Belize. Mason and Rhaburn face charges for the kidnapping of Mennonite couple Lloyd and Rosey Friesen on May thirty-first, 2016, with Mason also charged with blackmail. Allegedly, they detained the Friesens by force and demanded $2,500 weekly for protection. Rhaburn is out on bail, while Mason remains at Belize Central Prison.
Last night, we reported that Jeremy Enriquez is urging the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to investigate Justice Tawanda Hondora. The High Court judge presided over Enriquez’s constitutional claim against the Government of Belize regarding the incomplete redistricting exercise. With the claim dismissed, Enriquez alleges judicial bias, presenting evidence to Chief Justice Louise Blenman, Chair of the JLSC. One key piece of evidence is a recording from the judge’s active microphone during a lunch break, where Enriquez claims a group of attorneys in Trinidad heard Justice Hondora say he had already decided to dismiss the case. Today, we heard from Enriquez directly.
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“We wanted to record our concern that was based on statements heard ton be made by the judge hearing our case on redivisioning. There were some attorneys who heard statements he made during the lunch break. That statement was submitted in an affidavit to the Chief Justice. We also wanted to inform and make sure that the matter is investigated to ensure that such misconduct does not continue to occur.”
Paul Lopez
“I gather that one of the most alarming parts of the statement was not recorded and is that because the unofficial recording began immediately after the statement was made?”
Jeremy Enriquez
“Right, it was heard. The attorneys were listening to the entire case and when they heard that statement that was made they quickly decided to record the rest of the statements. But, they swore in the affidavit that those were statements made by the judge.”
Enriquez has submitted an affidavit to Chief Justice Louise Blenman from witnesses who heard the alleged remarks. He’s demanding an investigation and wants Justice Hondora off his case. Although the claim was dismissed, the cost is still being appealed.
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“The focus was what was heard during that break, what was recorded, and we want to ensure that it does not happen again. It distorts the integrity of the justice system and it may call into question the fairness of a judge who is making those statements during that lunch break. The judge will have to answer as to how he had made those kinds of decisions and statements. It clearly made us question the fairness and integrity of the system in which those kinds of decisions are made. This is a serious constitutional matter we brought up. Against all odds, we were fighting to preserve the democracy of Belize and for the government to abide by the constitution, that they had sworn to do and repeatedly said they would do. They did not. That did not happen. So when we took the matter to court, it is because we trusted the court to look at it objectively, to look at the chronological order and to make a reasonable judgement after hearing the entire case.”
Paul Lopez
“What if any response have you received from the Chief Justice in her position as chair?”
Jeremy Enriquez
“No response yet to acknowledge the receipt of our complaint. But those were hand delivered to the office of the Judicial and Legals Service Commission and also to the office of the Chief Justice and also sent by email to the Chief Justice herself.”
Doctor Randall Edgell, a Neurologist who attended Saint John’s College and pursued his medical education in the U.S., has been honored with the prestigious Sydney Souers Award. Edgell, the son of Belizean author Zee Edgell and brother of journalist Holly Edgell, is a Professor of Neurology and Surgery and the Director of the Souers Stroke Institute at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. For the past eighteen years, he has led the institute’s stroke services in education and research. Speaking to News Five today, Edgell shared that he plans to use the monetary award to fund further research.
Dr. Randall Edgell, Award Recipient, St. Louis University School of Medicine
“Sydney Souers was a wealthy philanthropist. I guess he started his life as an admiral in the US Navy in World War II. He actually was the first person to lead the C.I.A. in the United States and unfortunately had a stroke. He was treated at our institution back in the 1970s, and at that time, he felt he received good care. His family was very grateful and then later in the 1980s, his wife left some money to the university to create this position, this endowed professorship in stroke care. And this was the award that I was lucky enough to receive a few days ago. All universities have this type of award in endowed professorship. It’s one of the highest honors you can receive as a university professor, and it’s given to people who stand out in their career for having accomplished special things in terms of teaching or research or national prominence. I don’t get to spend the money itself. I have access to – it is invested in stock market and I get to spend the interest that accumulates on that fund. And so that’s what I have access to each year. I think in my case, I’ll be using it to advance a type of research that I am involved in, looking at stents. Stents are small metal cylinders that are used to open up blocked blood vessels and there’s a particular area in the back of the neck called the vertebral artery that takes blood to the back of the brain and that’s an area where there’s not a lot of research on stenting.”
The tragic death of an eleven-year-old in Guyana has ignited violent protests, resulting in a hotel and a home being burned to the ground. Adrianna Younge, a resident of Tuschen, disappeared on Wednesday while at Double Day Hotel with relatives. The community launched a search party but faced resistance from the hotel owner and law enforcement when trying to thoroughly search the premises. Relatives were allowed to enter late Wednesday night, but their search was unsuccessful. Early Thursday morning, residents gathered in front of the hotel, burning tires and demanding answers from the owner. Shortly after, Adrianna’s lifeless body was discovered in the hotel pool. This discovery sparked a series of events, including the destruction of the hotel and the owner’s home by protesters. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
This shocking video captures the moment when missing eleven-year-old Adrianna Younge was found lifeless in the pool at Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, Guyana. Reports indicate that Younge disappeared around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday while swimming with her family. Her relatives claim that the hotel owner and staff were reluctant to assist in their search efforts. On Thursday morning, protests erupted in front of the hotel, supporting the child’s father, Subrian Younge, just before Adrianna’s body was discovered.
Subrian Younge
Subrian Younge, Father of Deceased
“I tell you all again, like I tell social media, these people in there knows about my daughter, from the staff, to the boss, to everyone that was in there from one o’clock between two o’clock knows what is happening in there. I could move, I could get up from here right now and go home, you all give me my daughter let me go home. The soonest you give me my daughter I will go home.”
Younge’s body was discovered in the pool two hours later. Here’s what Younge’s aunt had to say to a reporter in Guyana.
Aunt of Deceased
Aunt of Deceased
“We were beginning the police to lock down the place so that we can search. They did not do that. A police by the name of Reece said he will lose his job if he does that. Day Day son is claiming that she left. He never offered any sympathy anything. They never allowed us to search as a family until after eleven going unto twelve.”
Videos and images from the late Wednesday night search show that Adrianna Younge was not in the pool at that time. The gruesome discovery of her lifeless body was made by a search party on Thursday morning. Her father, Subrian Younge, is seen jumping into the pool to retrieve her body.
Voice of: Guyana Resident
“We checked this pool. We checked this morning. This girl was not in this pool. This girl was not in the pool. This girl was not in this pool.”
Suspecting foul play, the situation quickly escalated into a violent protest. The Double Day Hotel was looted and later set ablaze. Following the discovery, the father gave an emotional statement.
Subrian Younge
“We search the pool this morning. We searched the pool at six this morning with police. I didn’t go there, but six of my family. They searched the whole building. I was standing there watching them and the pool was righter there. Nobody did not see the body. After ten, my daughter body appeared just so magically, dead. They would have wait for us to go away for them to move the body. But here is what I said, I would have never moved until I see her body. If it was today, I would have stand here today, tomorrow I would have done the same thing. The next day I would have done the same thing, but God.”
Protestors then turned their attention to the home of the hotel proprietors, just three streets away. It was also set ablaze and burned to the ground, while a main road was blocked. Newsroom in Guyana reports that the hotel owner has been detained by police. President Irfaan Ali issued a statement shortly after Adrianna Younge was discovered, announcing the formation of a special team to lead the investigation. He emphasized that the full truth must be uncovered, and no resource will be spared to achieve this. He also requested a detailed explanation from the police regarding their actions since the matter was reported. President Ali visited the family on Thursday evening. The protest continued today as the community seeks answers. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
The coffin of the late Pope Francis will be officially sealed during a solemn rite on Friday evening, which will bring an end to public viewing ahead of his funeral on Saturday morning.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will lead the Rite of Sealing, a traditional Vatican ceremony marking the final stage of papal preparations before burial. According to The Vatican News, the ritual will take place inside St Peter’s Basilica and will be attended by senior Cardinals, Vatican clergy, and papal staff.
More than 50,000 mourners have paid their respects since the Pope’s body was placed in state on Wednesday. Public viewing concluded early Thursday morning, following extended hours at the Basilica.
The funeral Mass for Pope Francis is set for 10:00 AM on Saturday and will be led by Cardinal Re. It will also begin the Novemdiales, nine days of mourning Masses, continuing until May 5.
Tensions between the US and China flared again on Friday, with both sides offering starkly different accounts of ongoing tariff negotiations. President Donald Trump claimed in an interview with TIME magazine that talks with Beijing were underway, even asserting that Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him directly. China swiftly denied any such discussions, accusing the US of “creating confusion.”
The mixed messages have deepened global uncertainty over trade policy, just as world finance leaders wrap up the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings in Washington. While US officials speak of swift progress, many international counterparts remain sceptical. IMF chiefs warn that the lack of clarity could put jobs and global growth at risk.
Signs of de-escalation have emerged, with China easing some tariffs on US goods. Yet Trump’s unpredictable stance, including threats of further duties, continues to rattle markets. Analysts say this chaos leaves key economies scrambling for clarity amid rising global stakes.
A Guatemalan labourer was arrested in Bella Vista Village, Toledo District, after being found with unlicensed ammunition during a police operation on Thursday, April 24.
Police reported that officers searched 46-year-old Carlos Alberto Gonzalez Marroquin and discovered three 12-gauge cartridges in his pocket.
Gonzalez Marroquin was unable to produce a valid gun licence and was taken into custody. He has been formally charged with Kept Ammunition Without a Gun License.
A fire that destroyed a wooden house in Sandhill Village, Belize District, is now under police investigation. The incident occurred on Thursday, April 24, at Mile 16 on the Philip Goldson Highway.
According to police, they found the wooden structure fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters responded and brought the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby homes.Police reported that 23-year-old Darnel Arnold, a local fisherman, spotted smoke coming from his neighbour Darnell Gideon’s house and raised the alarm. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are still working to determine the total value of the damages.
Police are investigating an armed home invasion that occurred around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at Mile 11 on the Old Northern Highway in the Belize District. The homeowner told police he was at home when a man with a firearm approached his residence. Fearing for his life, he fled, leaving a staff member and a friend inside.
According to the victim, the armed suspect entered the home and stole a grey Honda Pilot SUV with license plate BZC-33404, registered to his son.
An undisclosed amount of cash and several cell phones were also taken. No injuries were reported. Authorities are pursuing leads as the investigation continues.
