Ledlon was shot while on Iguana Street Extension in the Old Capital.
Regional Commander of Eastern Division, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, confirmed that investigators had already detained several suspects in connection with the shooting. He told reporters on Monday, “Initial investigation is that he was in this area when two persons came, and one fired shots towards him…Initial information is that there is an internal feud with persons in this area.”
When asked about arrests, Romero confirmed that officers had detained three individuals shortly after the shooting. “Yes, we have three persons in custody who were apprehended a short distance away from this area,” he said.
The Institute of Archaeology Belize has announced the passing of Dr James F. Garber, a distinguished archaeologist who made significant contributions to the study of Belize’s ancient history. The Institute expressed deep sorrow at the loss in a social media statement, recalling Garber’s significant contributions to Maya archaeology.
The institute said, “Jim first came to Belize as a graduate student in the late 1970s when he worked with Dr. David Freidel at Cerros in Chetumal Bay. During his time at Cerros, Jim was a key participant in the excavation of Structure 5C-2nd, or what has become known as the Mask Temple at Cerros.”
The Institute stated his PhD dissertation on Maya material culture marked the beginning of a long career dedicated to Belize’s cultural heritage.
After completing his Ph.D., Dr Garber joined Texas State University, where he continued his work on Maya settlements. His research extended to Ambergris Caye, Blackman Eddy, and Cahal Pech, and he later collaborated with the Institute of Archaeology on projects at St George’s Caye, Belize’s first capital.
The Institute praised Garber for his “lifelong dedication” and his lasting impact on Belize’s archaeological understanding.
“Throughout his long and accomplished career, Dr Garber contributed significantly to our knowledge of Belize’s prehistoric and historic past,” the institute said.
The institute added, “It is for these many contributions, and especially for his lifelong dedication to the study of Belize’s cultural heritage, that we will forever remain grateful as we mourn the passing of our friend and colleague.”
Just two nights after the fatal shooting of Elvis Aldana on Electric Avenue, another attack occurred on Monday night in the same neighbourhood. This time, it happened on Cannondale Drive, just two streets away from where Aldana was killed.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in this latest incident. According to police reports, around 8:30 PM, a seventeen-year-old student was walking home from McKay Boulevard when he was attacked. Two youths dressed in black, riding separate bikes, approached him. One of them pulled out a gun and fired several shots at him. The teenager managed to escape by running into his yard, and the attackers rode off towards McKay Boulevard.
Police recovered several shell casings, and a nearby house had bullet holes in its walls. Residents told News Five that the pair on bicycles had been seen circling the area before the shooting. They expressed concern about the recent surge in gun violence in their neighbourhood.
Belize is hosting the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) National Border Control Officers Attachment Programme, supported by the Eleventh European Development Fund (EDF) under the “Strengthening the Framework of CARICOM Integration” programme.
The importance of border officers in ensuring smooth trade and travel, as well as their critical role in regional security, was presented by Amalia Mai, the CEO for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Culture, in her welcome address. “This programme is designed to equip participants with the essential knowledge, skills, and tools to excel in this critical role,” an official statement stated.
Newly sworn-in Minister of State for Foreign Trade Marconi Leal Jr also delivered his address surrounding the importance of border officials in tourism, trade, and economic growth, despite global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belize is the first CARICOM member state to host this week-long initiative, which will be replicated across other CARICOM states in the coming weeks.
Thirty-year-old Shantell Williams is spending her first night in jail after being found guilty of manslaughter in the stabbing death of her common-law husband, Louis Adolphus, 39. The incident happened at their home on Curassow Street in Belize City. Adolphus was stabbed once in the neck, causing him to bleed out. Despite getting help, he died from his injuries.
The doctor confirmed he died from blood loss due to the stab wound. The fatal argument started over an umbrella Williams found at home, which led to a confrontation and then the stabbing. Williams initially told police she acted in self-defence after Adolphus hit her with the umbrella and grabbed a knife. She claimed she stabbed him to protect herself. Late last night, Justice Derick Sylvester found Williams guilty of manslaughter, stating that her use of force was unjustified.
The court was convinced by the evidence presented by the Crown. During the trial, Williams testified that she acted in self-defence. The argument began in the early hours of August 2, 2022, when Williams confronted Adolphus about an umbrella sent by a woman she believed was his side chick.
This led to a heated exchange about Adolphus’s past relationship with the woman. The last person to hear from Adolphus before his death was his brother, Emmerson Dominguez. Dominguez testified that Adolphus called him, sounding frightened, and said Williams had attacked him with a knife. Dominguez advised his brother to call the police. While on the phone, Dominguez heard Williams say, “I nuh know why yuh call him because he cannot help yuh.” When the police first spoke with Williams, she had visible swelling and abrasions on her lips and fingers.
Patrick Robinson, a forty-four-year-old undertaker and owner of Leiva’s Funeral Parlor, has been found guilty of three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Robinson was accused of having sex with an eleven-year-old girl and continued until she was fourteen. Late Monday evening, Justice Derick Sylvester convicted Robinson on three of five counts. Robinson was represented by Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington and attorney Norman Rodriguez, while the Crown was represented by Shanell Fernandez from the DPP’s office. Still in shock after the guilty verdict, Robinson lay down in the back of the police pickup, despite being told to sit up while being escorted to Belize Central Prison. He will remain there until April 25th, 2025, when his mitigation plea will be heard before sentencing.
Chandra Cansino, CEO of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, is the new Chairperson of Belize’s Social Security Board (SSB). With over 20 years at SSB before joining KHMH in 2021, she brings extensive experience. Her appointment follows Dr. Leroy Almendarez’s sudden resignation as SSB CEO in January after less than a year. She replaces Nigeli Sosa.
A closing ceremony was held on Monday to mark the conclusion of the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Phase II). The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Centre in Central Farm, Cayo District. It celebrated the successful completion of a nine-year initiative that enhanced Belize’s sheep and goat industry.
The event “marked a historical milestone of the Breeding Sheep & Goat Industry in Belize but also highlighted the country’s growth within this sub-sector,” the ministry said in a press release.
According to the ministry’s press release, the combined investment of BZ $12,337,108.00 from Taiwan ICDF and the Government of Belize resulted in significant growth within the sector, contributing to a 100% increase in production over the last decade.
“The project’s achievements included the construction of a state-of-the-art National Sheep and Goat Breeding Centre in Central Farm, the importation of genetic stock of sheep and goats, the training of over 900 farmers, teachers, students, and technicians, the establishment of a traceability system and the establishment of a functioning local market for sheep and goat products and by-products,” the ministry said in its statement.
Government officials and key stakeholders in Belize are stepping up efforts to ensure safer waters after a series of alarming maritime incidents. A high-level meeting convened on Friday was led by Michel Chebat, the Minister of the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics.
The session included key stakeholders such as the Belize Coast Guard (BCG), Belize Tourism Board (BTB), and the Tourism Police Unit (TPU).
The primary goal of the meeting was to discuss recent maritime casualties and how to prevent further tragedies. In an official statement, the Belize Port Authority stated, “The meeting highlighted the need for both immediate and long-term actions to protect lives, enforce lawful maritime operations, and safeguard the marine environment.”
The focus is not just on preventing accidents but also on enforcing lawful maritime operations and protecting the marine environment for the future.
Justice Tawanda Hondora’s courtroom was busy today with the legal battle between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Taegar-Panton. Both sides brought in top-notch lawyers to argue their case about the October twentieth unity convention that took place last year, as well as the ensuing expulsions. Doctor Christopher Malcolm flew in from Jamaica to represent Barrow, while King’s Counsel Peter Knox came from the UK to represent Panton. Interestingly, Hugo Patt, one of the original claimants, has withdrawn from the case. With Barrow having already stepped down as party leader, is this just a matter of proving who’s right and who’s wrong? Panton thinks so, but Barrow argues that it’s about defending democracy and the rule of law. News Five’s Paul Lopez spent most of the day in the courtroom, listening to all the arguments. Here’s his report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Moses “Shyne” Barrow is moving forward with his case against Tracy Taegar-Panton and former UDP Secretary General, Phillipa Griffith-Bailey in the High Court of Belize. Despite losing the election on March eleventh and stepping down as leader of the UDP, Barrow is asking the court to decide if the unity convention on October twentieth, 2024, led by Panton, violated the party’s constitution. The court is also being asked to rule on the validity of Panton’s expulsion and that of several other members. Barrow was present at today’s proceedings, represented by Dr. Christopher Malcolm.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Former U.D.P. Leader
“I heard the learned Justice Hondora repeatedly question the defendants as to their contradictory position which is that the rules were not followed in regards to the expulsion of Tracy Panton, yet when it comes to the rules and the compliance necessary for the October twentieth event that they held, they are saying they didn’t have to follow the rules, once their right was being infringed upon themselves to do whatever.”
The courtroom was packed, mostly with supporters of Panton and her party executive. Representing Barrow, Malcolm argued that the October twentieth convention was held without proper authorization. He also pointed out that there’s no evidence showing that the delegates who voted at the convention were eligible to do so.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“Those who want to be prime minister of this country one day or to sit in Cabinet or the national assembly, we have to demonstrate to the public that we adhere to the rules of law and that we will be compliant with whatever oath of office we take.”
On the other hand, King’s Counsel Peter Knox contends that the UDP delegates have a right to vote and that such right cannot be taken from them. He argued that even though some members of the party executive distanced themselves from the convention, they still had a duty to uphold the delegates’ right to vote.
Peter Knox
Peter Knox, Attorney-at-law
“On the expulsion case we say the constitution is clear. There is no room for any doubt what it meant at all. To the point as whether Ms. Panton could call the convention, our point simply was that the constitution did not say one way or the other as whether she could or not, therefore she could.”
Reporter
“They are arguing that roles and functions are usurped and there was a breach of the contract.”
Peter Knox
“They are saying that. We say there is no breach. The reason we say that is because they were not doing what they were supposed to be doing, so of course Ms. Panton was entitled to give effect to the delegates’ rights the way she did.”
In one of his arguments, Dr. Malcolm pointed out that Panton didn’t involve the Secretary General in organizing the national convention. The Secretary General is responsible for validating the list of eligible delegates before a convention. Knox, however, countered this argument.
Peter Knox
“We had all the information anyway, we had, in practical terms, all the information she would have had. So we would have been able to communicate with all the people she would have been able to communicate with. Of course, if that had not been the case, the fact that we did not go through the secretary general might have been important. We say so what, we had all the information she had, so we sent out all the relevant information and minutes and agenda that she would have done, so why does it matter that she didn’t do it?”
Justice Tawanda Hondora has decided to reserve his ruling for a later date. But with Barrow stepping down as party leader and Panton being endorsed as the new leader, is this just an academic exercise to determine who was right and who was wrong? Barrow argues that there is real damage involved, as Panton’s leadership challenge led to him and many of his colleagues losing their seats.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“When the campaign was initiated against me, the key words were structure, rules, the constitution , we have to follow the rules, dictatorship, one person, a few people, the partly leader and the Chairman can’t do what they want. So, we need to see that all the way through for the benefit of the institution of the U.D.P.”
Attorney Knox says otherwise.
Peter Knox
“In one sense, they are a little bit moot, because in one sense Panton is the leader of the opposition. In practical terms she would say, for all intent and purposes, the leader of the U.D.P. So what is the point of this litigation when one of the question was who is the leader of the U.D.P. There was an issue about that before the general election, now in real life there is not an issue about that particular point at all.”
