2025 - Greater Belize Media

Lobster Dispute Turns Violent: Fishermen Survive Gunfire, Drop Charges

Two Belize City fishermen are counting their blessings tonight after a terrifying ordeal at sea. What started as a routine morning unloading lobster at the National Fishermen Cooperative quickly turned into a high-stakes boat chase for thirty-year-old Adrian August and another fisherman. According to reports, four men approached them by boat and suddenly, shots were fired. In a desperate attempt to escape, the fishermen sped off, but the gunmen gave chase. One of the men with August even jumped into the water to avoid being hit. And the reason behind this dangerous encounter? A dispute over lobster. Yes, you heard that right, lobster. It’s lobster season in Belize, and tensions are boiling over. But interestingly, August and his companions have since dropped the charges. After a sit-down with the Leadership Intervention Unit and the alleged attackers, the parties reached an agreement, the gunmen will replace the damaged engine on the fishermen’s boat. Police say this isn’t the first complaint against the suspects. In fact, similar reports were made just three weeks ago. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the investigation.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“Adrian August reported that on the fourth of July he was by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative when a vessel arrived there with four male persons. One of them pulled out the firearm arm and threatened him. Thereafter, the male person fired a single shot towards his direction. He was not injured. He escaped from the area. An investigation has been conducted, statements recorded. We are seeking one person in regards to this shooting incident.”

Reporter

“Week before that there was a similar shooting by bridge whereby they were on a boat and they were shooting at someone who was on land. Has this become a concern?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes we have several reports of this nature. So we are following up, but we looking for this one suspect who heard that shot. And as soon as he is found, he will be charged.”

Britney Gordon

“The victims stated that they don’t want to press any charges. So what action now police be taking?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“We have a report and we will take the necessary action. We have the report, and as soon as this person is found, he will be be charged.”

Gunman Strikes on Vernon Street: Earl Anderson Critical

We have an update tonight on a shooting we led our newscast with on Friday. Twenty-six-year-old Earl Anderson has been identified as the Belize City resident who was rushed to the hospital after being shot at the corner of Amandala Drive and Vernon Street. Anderson was reportedly hanging out in a yard once owned by the late Carlos Diaz when a lone gunman on a bicycle rode up and opened fire. He was hit twice and collapsed on the spot. Tonight, he remains in critical condition. Now, that yard holds deep meaning for many in the community, including Kenneth ‘Big Tom’ Flowers, a close friend of the late Diaz. Over the weekend, Flowers took to social media to condemn the violence and called on rival groups to seek peace and find positive ways to resolve their differences.

Kenneth “Big Tom” Flowers, Belize City Resident

“Roger was my bredrin. We been through a lot. I have been down. I have people that looked out for me. I could go to Roger and he give me a twenty or something. When people did not look out for me, he looked out for me. I saw it as a disrespect in that we the try push positive and violence still happening. SO if we are trying to push positive why violence still happen. We should look in ourselves and say let s try to work out the situation. It is not one person. It takes a village to raise a child. This situation the affect the whole country, not just one person, or one family. It affects all the family. I use to be part of it, so.”

Social Media Post Tied to Shooting? Police Investigate Link to Double Murder

According to police, Earl Anderson may have been targeted after posting a comment on social media, one that may have stirred tensions linked to the earlier shooting. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, tells us how this near-fatal attack could be connected to the double homicide.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Friday, around four ten p.m. police responded to a shooting on Vernon Street in Belize City. Upon their arrival, they found Earl Anderson with gunshot injuries. Information is that Earl Anderson was in that area, along with two other male persons. When a male person came on a bicycle, fired several shots at him causing his injury. Earl Anderson was taken for treatment. He’s presently in a critical condition. We are seeking one person in regards to this investigation.”

Reporter

“Any motive?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“The information we regard is that he allegedly had commented on a post on Facebook thereafter. He was targeted.”

Reporter

“So again, social media?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes. That is the information we have.”

Britney Gordon

“Is this linked to any other incidents?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“It is related to the double murder that happened on Cedar Street.”

Britney Gordon

“Was he the only person injured?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“He was the only one that was injured.”

Reporter

“Can you elaborate on what measures, if any police are taking in reference to these social media interactions?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes, this sir cybercrime unit has commenced an investigation. They have all of the videos. And the determination will be made what charges can be Levi on person’s responsible.”

Reporter

“Should there be a concern now that there are an increase of ‘Facebook gangsters?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“We have the cyber unit. They look at this type of evidence and then they make a determination if charges can be levied.”

Highway Horror: Brothers Targeted in Drive-By Shooting

Two brothers are lucky to be alive tonight after a frightening encounter over the weekend. Twenty-three-year-old Jermaine Garnett Jr. and his older brother, twenty-seven-year-old Tyree Bernardez, were heading home from a night out, traveling separately along the Philip Goldson Highway, when gunfire suddenly erupted. Jermaine, who was riding a motorcycle, was hit once but managed to stay in control and drive himself straight to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, Tyree, who was in a separate vehicle, escaped without injury. Police say the shots came from a man in another vehicle, and tonight, investigators are working to piece together what led to the attack. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the case.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Saturday, the fifth day of July, 2025, police responded to a shooting on the Philip Goldson Highway. Upon their arrival they found Jermaine Garnett with a gunshot injury. Information that he was coming from a nightclub and was on a motorcycle in the area when a vehicle came to the area and fired several shots towards his direction causing his injury, Another vehicle that was also in the area received damages. We are presently conducting investigation into this report, and we are seeking one suspect.”

Reporter

“Motive?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“We do not have a motive at this time.”

Britney Gordon

“Is Garnett known to police?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes, he is.”

Reporter

“And could this be linked to anything?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“No. We are not linking this to any of the other reports.”

ComPol Committed to Keeping 2025 Murder Count Down

Coming off a violent weekend that claimed the lives of two innocent people, you might expect police to be on high alert about the country’s murder count. But according to the Commissioner of Police, Doctor Richard Rosado, there’s no panic within the department. In fact, he says the murder rate for the first half of 2025 is actually down. Still, in this digital age, the Commissioner made it clear, fighting crime isn’t just about boots on the ground anymore. The department is now placing greater focus on its Cyber Crime Unit, recognizing that the next big threat might not come from the streets, but from behind a screen.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“I am confident that what we are doing in terms of our prevention, in terms of our intervention and enforcement strategies, we will be able to contain and further bring down the violence.”

Reporter

“Does it raise any concern because we know it started on social media, tiktok.”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“It does and we know the entire community is concerned when the social media platform is used to incite violence, especially during gang conflict and we are working with our partners from the different platforms to address it and not to identify but to bring to justice those individuals who are sharing, promoting, engaging in inciting violence on social media.”

Reporter

“Is this a new type of police officer you will have to recruit? Tik Tok Police.”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“We do have individuals in Cyber Crime Unit individuals that monitor social media platforms to deescalated and prevent any further violence.”

Belize High Court Backs Cane Farmers in Fairtrade Premium Dispute

In a major win for Belize’s sugar cane farmers, the High Court has ruled that it will hear a high-profile case brought by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association against Belize Sugar Industries and T&L Sugars Limited. The farmers claim they were cut out of Fairtrade premium payments for the 2021 and 2022 crop years, and they’re accusing the companies of conspiracy and breach of trust. The defendants tried to get the case thrown out, arguing that any dispute should be handled in London under an expired arbitration agreement. But the judge wasn’t convinced. He ruled that the Belizean courts do have jurisdiction, and that the farmers have a legitimate case worth hearing. The matter is now set to proceed to trial.

ComPol Blames ‘Violent Minority’ for Murders, Urges Support for 13th Amendment

We return now to a story we brought you at the top of the hour, the tragic murder of Evadnie and Luke Jones. It’s a case that has shaken the community and raised serious questions: Was this senseless act of violence the result of the police’s failure to keep criminal elements in check? Well, according to the Commissioner of Police, Doctor Richard Rosado, the answer isn’t so simple. He says the real blame lies with a small but dangerous group, a minority, as he puts it, determined to hold the country hostage through violent crime. And in response, he’s urging the public to rally behind the proposed Thirteenth Amendment, which he believes is key to turning the tide.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“This is why I believe that I want to beg and implore the public to support the police department as a united front as a resolute support for the amendment for the gang and gun laws being proposed in the 13^th Amendment of the constitution. I do believe that 13^th Amendment is a needed enhancement of the legislation that will assist us, not only in protecting the community and in ensuring he at the rule of law is upheld but also in assisting us to dismantle the entrenched network of violence that exist. I do support that we have a number of citizens, including the at risk com unities, who have demonstrated positive response to rehabilitative and preventative programs. But we do have a hardened minority who is hell bent, who will do what it takes, and they have demonstrated that they will continue their criminality and we cannot allow these dangerous few to hold the country hostage.”

Reporter

“If this is a police failure, how can you seek to go extra constitutionally or legally, to solve a problem just because police wise you are unable to solve it?”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“As a law enforcement agency we will use all available legal framework to break the cycle of violence.”

Night Out Turns Nightmare: Woman Alleges Rape by Acquaintance

Now to a deeply disturbing story out of Belize City, what started as a night of fun and laughter ended in horror for one woman. She had been out with friends at the popular Shisha 8 on Saturday night when someone she knew, an acquaintance, approached her and asked to go for a walk. But what happened next took a dark turn. After leaving the club and getting into a vehicle with the man, she was allegedly raped. It’s a chilling reminder of how quickly trust can be shattered. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the investigation.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Saturday, the fifteenth of July, 2025, a female reported that she was at Shisha Bar. When she was taken by a male person who offered her a ride, she alleges that the person took her in a vehicle and had sex with her against her will. An investigation is being carried out at this time. So far no one has been charged, but the investigation continues.”

Elderly Man Killed in Valley of Peace Crash; Driver Charged

Heartbreak ripples through the Valley of Peace community as loved ones mourn the tragic loss of Andres Marin. The elderly Cayo resident was simply out for a walk along Penner Road when his life was suddenly cut short, struck and killed by a vehicle over the weekend. Police say the driver, twenty-five-year-old Jonathan Vasquez, was behind the wheel of the car that hit Marin. The impact left the vehicle badly damaged, and Vasquez now faces a string of serious charges, including manslaughter by negligence and causing death by careless conduct. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the investigation and what led to this devastating incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Saturday the fifth day of July, there was a fatal road traffic accident at Penner Road at the Valley of Peace. Police responded where they saw a Toyota car with extensive damages they saw the lifeless battle of a male person in the windshield. Information is that the driver of that car was driving on the road when he collided with the male person. The victim was identified as Andres Marin, and he was taken for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. As a result of this investigation, Jonathan Vasquez has been arrested and charged for manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, and driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention.”

Reporter

“Was alcohol involved?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“A blood sample was taken, but that charge has not been levied until we get the result.”

Placencia Tour Guide Busted in Drug Raid

A tour guide from Placencia is in hot water tonight after police uncovered a stash of suspected drugs and cash at his apartment. Twenty-eight-year-old Emmanuel Vasquez, better known on the peninsula as “Manny”, was reportedly seen bolting from his home as officers approached. Unexpectedly, he tossed a bag behind the building and tried to hop a fence, but police were quick on their feet and caught him before he could get away. When they brought him back to retrieve the bag, they opened it right in front of him, and what they found was no small haul. Inside was a large quantity of what’s believed to be crack cocaine and cannabis. But that wasn’t all. A further search turned up just over one thousand, nine hundred dollars in cash, in various denominations. At the Placencia Police Substation, officers weighed the suspected drugs, three hundred and thirty-five grams of crack cocaine and two hundred and eighty-seven grams of cannabis. Vasquez is now facing two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, and formal charges are on the way.