2025 - Greater Belize Media

Justice Winston Anderson is First Jamaican to Lead CCJ

Justice Winston Anderson made history as he was sworn in on Sunday as the fourth President of the Caribbean Court of Justice during a formal ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The oath was administered by Jamaica’s Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, just ahead of the Forty-ninth CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting. Justice Anderson, a Jamaican national and the first from his country to serve on the CCJ bench, used his remarks to highlight the court’s role in promoting justice, human rights, and sustainable development across the region. He emphasized that his leadership would be part of a broader movement to strengthen the rule of law in the Caribbean.

Winston Anderson, President, Caribbean Court of Justice

“I, Winston Charles Anderson, having been appointed a president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, do hereby swear that I will faithfully exercise the Office of President of the Caribbean Court of Justice without fear or favor, affection or ill will and in accordance with the code of judicial conduct, so help me God. It was just over fifteen years ago, on June 15^th, 2010, that I was sworn in as a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice at King’s House in Kingston, Jamaica. On that Tuesday morning, today’s event would not have been within the reach of my most active imagination. And yet, by the providence of Almighty God, I met the support of family, friends and colleagues. I stand here with humility and preparedness to serve as the fourth president of the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

Justice Anderson’s Appointment Celebrated as Milestone for Caribbean Law

The event drew top regional leaders, including CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, Prime Ministers Andrew Holness and John Briceño, and outgoing CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders. Doctor Barnett described the role of CCJ President as one of great responsibility, requiring wisdom, integrity, and leadership in a rapidly changing world. Justice Saunders praised Anderson’s track record, noting his involvement in over 200 appeals and his authorship of more than 30 legal opinions. Prime Minister Holness called the appointment a proud moment for Jamaica and the region, citing Anderson’s deep legal expertise and commitment to Caribbean jurisprudence.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The unique and aspirational goals of the CCJ cast in its mission at the establishment twenty years on without question, has been realized in even greater measure than the ratifying heads in February 2001 could have envisioned. Unlike any other appellate courts, the judges of the CCJ have this unique ability and role to also sit in the court’s original jurisdiction, fleshing out for greater clarity the provisions of the treaty at issue. And also playing the role of the first instant judges, listening to live evidence as judges of facts. But the CCJ has, during the twenty-year growth spurt, done more than this, that is to say, hearing cases. The fascinating achievements of the court during this period is catalogued and well documented on the court’s webpage, outlining the court’s leading role in developing Caribbean jurisprudence and promoting legal education, judicial independence and access to justice in the Caribbean.”

Justice Anderson will serve a term of up to seven years, succeeding Justice Saunders in leading the region’s highest court.

Belmopan Bursts with Energy at Youth Wellness Fest

It was all smiles and high energy in Belmopan today, as youth, health professionals, and community leaders came together for a day that was all about wellness and empowerment. UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, hosted a vibrant Health Fun Day under the theme “Fuel Your Future.” The event blended sports, education, and mental health awareness into one powerful message: building a healthier, stronger Belize starts with taking care of our young people, mind and body.

Dr. Olusola Oladeji, UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist

“Studies have shown that children who become stunted in feature have problem with cognitive function, some of them cannot perform compared too the children who grew very well, so that’s why each issue has to be taken care as early as possible that’s why UNICEF we are promoting exclusively breastfeeding, that the child is properly breastfed for the first six months of life and then its effect to compliment feeding practices from six months until two years while the child continues to breastfeed but breastfeeding may not be sufficient again after six months got to be complemented but more importantly that every child must be properly fed as much as possible. And also among the adolescent also important we are promoting that heal properly like you know in Belize ice art 5% among the adolescent the risk of obesity issue of hypertension, diabetes, cancer so to live a healthy life nutrition is so critical and that’s why UNICEF works with Government of Belize to address some of these issues look I have even the productive and healthy features in Belize.”

Youth Urged to Power Up with Healthy Habits

We also spoke with Indira Loague, Director of the Department of Youth Services, who encouraged young people to prioritize healthy eating, active living, and mental well-being. Acknowledging the youth’s attachment to technology, she emphasized the importance of raising awareness about maintaining a healthy body, stating that without it, they may struggle to achieve their goals.

Indira Loague, Director of the Department of Youth Services

“They need to determine what are their goals, what do they want to be in the future how sustainable they want to be my message to them would be since we are promoting a healthy life style eat healthy live a healthy life style, take care of your mental health, get the help that you need at the department we offer several mechanisms that we can put in place to help you reach your fullest potential, reach your goals especially when it comes to promoting a healthy life style you know like I said in my remarks, pick up a basketball other than picking up the phone.”

This collaborative effort between UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Department of Youth Services reflects Belize’s ongoing commitment to early intervention and building resilience in youth. Together, through awareness, education, and community engagement, we can build a healthier, stronger future for Belize’s youth.

Berger United Defends Title Against Longtime Rivals Belize United

Goodnight and welcome to this week’s installment of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We kick things off tonight with a look back at the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Championship Match. Or should we say championship rematch? For some time, Belize United dominated the league, earning numerous championship titles. But that changed recently, after Berger United stepped onto the stage. They one the last tittle and this time around they were defending the defending champions facing off against Belize United.

Just five minutes into the first period, Berger United found themselves in hot water after a costly handball by Lionel Soberanis inside the penalty box. The ref didn’t hesitate, whistle blown, yellow card out, and Soberanis was sidelined. That opened the door for Belize United’s Shae Gordon, who stepped up to the spot and calmly buried the penalty, putting his team on the scoreboard early. Talk about setting the tone! But at the eleventh minute Soberanis atoned for his early error, with a timed kick off a high-flying ball. That one goes into the goal and ties the game.

Both teams were tied at one goal apiece going into the third and final twelve minutes period. But only three minutes in, Errol Peters for Berger United launched a rocket towards goal from just outside the penalty box. The ball rolled directly past the goalkeeper and into the net. Berger United erupted in celebration. Here is the goal of the match. A goal kick across the field to Zadlen Jones. And just like that, Jones delivers a moment of magic. He slips past one defender, and just as a second one closes in, he lets it rip. The ball sails high, right over the keeper’s head and into the net. That makes it three to one with only five minutes left on the clock. What a strike, and what a statement as this match nears its final whistle. Three minutes later, Belize United found some life off this sideline throw in. Kayden Castillo got that goal. Well folks that is how this one ended. Berger United successfully defended their title. They are the 2025 Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Champions.

Let’s take a quick trip to Switzerland, where Belize just made basketball history once again. Our Over-55 Men’s National Team went head-to-head with Brazil in the gold medal match at the 17th World Maxi Basketball Championships. And guess what? Belize came out on top, eighty to seventy, clinching yet another gold on the international stage. A huge win and a proud moment for Belizean basketball.

Now, back home, week seven of the Belize Premier Basketball League is heating up. Friday night saw the undefeated San Pedro Tiger Sharks take on the EZ Investments Dangriga Dream Ballers at the Belize City Civic Center. Let’s dive into the highlights from that showdown. Jihad Wright exploded in this one for the Tigersharks, finishing with eighteen points and six rebounds from twenty-nine minutes of playtime. But he was not the only Tigersharks player to end the night with double digits. Keon Rowland finished with sixteen points, just ahead of Malik Hunt who had fourteen points at the end of the match and the balling junior minister, Devin Daly with twelve points. And Brian White may not be putting up big points, but he is efficient with the rebounds and the stats do not lie. White ended the night with fourteen rebounds.

Friday night brought a bit of drama before tip-off for the Dangriga Dream Ballers and not the kind you’d expect on the court. Kirk ‘Shabba’ Smith Jr. made his much-anticipated debut, but things got off to a confusing start when both teams showed up wearing the same color jerseys. That’s right, same colors, same court, total mix-up! The Dream Ballers had to improvise fast, throwing on red jerseys over their uniforms. But here’s the kicker, Smith didn’t get his red jersey until late in the first half. Talk about a debut with a twist. The Dream Ballers down double digits at this point and they were unable to work their way back. Despite the late start, Smith entered the game off the bench and finished with eighteen points and nine rebounds. It shows that Smith could have made a bigger difference to this one, had he entered the game at the start. Daniel Conorquie finished with fourteen points, though he was not his usual self from the three-point line, scoring only one of four attempts. MVP candidate, Deshawn Brackett may see another fall in his MVP ranking after finishing with eleven points and three rebounds.

Ultimately, the San Pedro Tigersharks came out of this one with the big W, defeating the EZ Investments Dream Ballers, ninety to eighty-two points. The Sanpedro Tigersharks now holds on two eight wins to zero loss record. They are the only undefeated team in the league and the favorites to make it to the Jaguar Cup in their division.

Also, the Cayo Western Ballers overcame the Belize City Thunderbolts in Belize City on Friday night, eighty-seven to eighty-two points, while the Corozal Cerros Suns blew the Punta Gorda Panthers away inside the Andres Campus Civic Center. That match ended with seventy-two to forty-nine points. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

Court Rejects Bid to Strike Out BSCFA Claim

The High Court of Belize has ruled that the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) can proceed with its claim against Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and T&L Sugars Ltd., rejecting efforts by the latter to strike out the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds.

Justice M. Javed Mansoor delivered the decision, following arguments centred on whether the Belize court has jurisdiction to hear the BSCFA’s claim for unpaid Fairtrade (FT) sugar premiums for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 crop years.

T&L Sugars Ltd., a UK-based company, had filed an application to strike out the claim, arguing that any dispute must be resolved through arbitration in London under the terms of the now-expired 2021 Letter of Enhanced Agreement (LOEA), or by the High Court of England and Wales if arbitration was declined. They contended that the court in Belize had no authority to hear the case and further argued that the BSCFA failed to disclose the existence of the arbitration clause when it sought permission to serve the claim outside Belize’s jurisdiction.

The BSCFA, however, maintained that the LOEA had expired and had not been renewed or extended for the crop years in question. Therefore, they argued, the arbitration clause did not apply to the current dispute, and the Belize court retained jurisdiction.

Justice Mansoor agreed, noting that there was no evidence the arbitration agreement survived the LOEA’s expiration or that it applied to the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 crop years. The court found that the BSCFA’s claims, including conspiracy and breach of constructive trust, presented real and triable issues, and that striking out the claim at this stage would not be in the interest of justice.

The court also agreed with the BSCFA that the second defendant’s alleged actions are intertwined with those of the first defendant, BSI, which has already filed its defence. Excluding T&L from the proceedings, the court noted, would “hinder the court’s ability to fully adjudicate the conspiracy claim.”

As a result, the application by T&L Sugars Ltd. to strike out the claim and challenge service out of jurisdiction was dismissed. The court ordered that the matter proceed to trial, with both defendants required to answer the BSCFA’s claims. The association was awarded costs of the application.

Spanish Lookout Farming Project Gets Conditional Environmental Green Light

The Department of the Environment (DOE) has granted environmental clearance for a proposed farming development by the Spanish Lookout Community Corporation Limited, following the review and recommendations of the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC). The project, which is to be located near Runaway Creek and the Sibun River along the Coastal Highway in the Belize District, was the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reviewed by NEAC earlier this month.

After careful evaluation of the EIA report and public concerns, NEAC recommended approval with a number of strict conditions aimed at reducing potential environmental, social, and archaeological impacts. These include a prohibition on aerial spraying throughout the project site. Developers are instead required to use only environmentally friendly methods for agrochemical use, such as drone or mechanical spraying.

Additionally, the committee noted that Excel Construction Ltd., which holds a mining license in the area set to expire in July 2026, must not engage in any mining activities within the project site until a full environmental assessment is conducted in consultation with the Mining Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources. A vegetative buffer of 150 feet must also be maintained on both sides of the Sibun River for the duration of the project.

One of the most significant requirements is the legal establishment of a 1,649-acre Conservation Zone identified in the EIA. This area must be permanently protected due to its ecological and archaeological importance. The NEAC also directed that a water catchment system be created within the project area to ensure a stable water source during expected future droughts.

If water from the Sibun River is needed, developers must first conduct additional studies to determine potential environmental and hydrological impacts, and submit their findings to the DOE for a decision in consultation with NEAC.

Fatal Highway Collision Claims Life of Corozal Farmer

A tragic road traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway has left one man dead and another in police custody. The incident occurred this morning between miles 70 and 71.

Police responding to the scene discovered two extensively damaged vehicles: a silver Jeep Compass with a crushed front end and a red Toyota Tacoma that had veered off to the right side of the road, also with severe front-end damage.

According to police, the silver Jeep Compass, driven by Marcos Villanueva, was traveling northbound from Orange Walk to Corozal when it collided head-on with the Toyota Tacoma, which was heading in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Tacoma, 61-year-old Jesus Chicas, a farmer from San Roman Village in the Corozal District, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Villanueva has since been detained by police as investigations into the fatal crash continue.

Devastating Floods Kill Nearly 100 in Central Texas

At least 95 people are confirmed dead, and dozens remain missing following catastrophic floods that swept through central Texas over the weekend, with the tragedy hitting especially hard at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp along the Guadalupe River, where 27 campers and counsellors lost their lives. Ten campers and one counsellor are still unaccounted for.

Emergency responders continue to search the region for survivors, with officials warning that the final death toll could still rise. The mayor of Kerrville, Joe Herring Jr., where at least 75 of the deaths occurred, said he received no prior warning about the torrential rains that led to the disaster.

In the wake of the disaster, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a federal watchdog investigation into staffing shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS), questioning whether the lack of personnel may have delayed flood warnings that could have saved lives.

“The roles left unfilled are not marginal, they’re critical,” Schumer stated in a letter to the Commerce Department’s Inspector General. “We must do everything possible to provide answers as to why the community was not alerted sooner.”

The NWS offices responsible for monitoring the Guadalupe River region reportedly issued multiple flood watches and warnings but have been operating with reduced staff following cuts under the previous administration.

The scale and intensity of the flooding highlight a troubling trend: climate scientists say extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise, largely due to fossil fuel emissions. Central Texas—a region crisscrossed by rivers and prone to flash floods—remains particularly vulnerable.

Belize City Man Charged for Robbing Teen at Gunpoint

A Belize City construction worker has been arrested and charged for allegedly robbing a teenage girl at gunpoint in broad daylight and later escaping from police custody.

Police have formally arrested and charged 26-year-old Omar Morales with the crime of robbery.

The incident occurred last week Tuesday at around 9:50 a.m.

According to police, a 16-year-old female minor reported that she was at the corner of East Canal and Regent Street when she was approached by a Hispanic male who was armed with a firearm.

The assailant reportedly demanded that she hand over her belongings, and fearing for her life, the teen complied. The gunman made off with two chains valued at $50 and a cellphone worth $1,100.

Police say surveillance footage proved instrumental in identifying and apprehending Morales. During the course of the investigation, officers were able to recover the stolen phone.

Morales has also been slapped with an additional charge of escape from lawful custody. Police report that while detained at the Precinct One police station, Morales managed to jump the counter and escape. He was later recaptured by authorities.

Morales remains in custody pending arraignment.