Minister Fonseca announced that once the ongoing investigation wraps up, there will be two reports: an interim one and a final one. Right now, all the details surrounding Gabriel’s tragic incident are being collected. Fonseca assured that all the findings will be shared with both Gabriel’s family and the public once everything is complete.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“An interim report has been produced, but there’s still a lot more to be done. There’s still a lot more to be investigated. They’ve looked, they’ve obviously talked to the principal, teachers, members of staff, school wardens. They’ve also talked to eyewitnesses. As you all know, there have been many people who have come forward saying they saw little Pablo around different parts of the city, so they’re talking to all of those people. They’ve also, of course, interviewed family members, so that is ongoing. They have also retrieved and viewed a number of different videos that have surfaced, both from the school and from the streets. I think some of those have already been made public, so that is ongoing and we hope, over the next few days, a few people have come forward, the police are meeting with them, interviewing them, so we hope, over the next few days, to get a final report on the matter, which we will then, of course, share with the family first, discuss with them, and share with them. Then we will, of course, make that available to the public through the media.”
The deadly football match on Friday night left one person dead, three injured, and many spectators were in shock and traumatized. The alleged shooter has since surrendered to the police, along with his licensed firearm. While no charges have been brought against him for the murder of Brandon Baptist, he faces eight other charges, including attempted murder for the three surviving victims. This morning, shortly before eleven a.m., police escorted twenty-nine-year-old Shevaughn Anthony Gotoy, a resident of Hibiscus Lane, to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court under special escort. Gotoy, accompanied by his attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington, appeared before a Senior Magistrate. He was read eight criminal and indictable offenses. The Senior Magistrate explained that due to the nature of the offenses, no plea would be taken, and she would only ensure that Gotoy understood the charges.
She also informed him that she could not grant bail due to the severity of the offenses, and he would need to apply for bail at the High Court. Gotoy was charged with two counts of attempted murder upon John Grinage and Gerson Mena, two counts of dangerous harm upon Grinage and Mena, three counts of use of deadly means of harm upon Grinage, Mena, and Kameron Williams, and one count of wounding upon Williams for the shooting incident on January thirty-first, 2025, at Marion Jones Stadium. Just before midday, Gotoy’s arraignment concluded, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April eighth. Attorney Elrington is currently applying for bail at the High Court.
On Friday night, shortly after nine o’clock, police responded to reports of shots fired at Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City. Upon arrival, they learned that several people had been injured and taken to the KHMH. At the hospital, they found Brandon Baptist, thirty-nine, John Grinage, thirty-seven, and Cameron Williams, twenty-one, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Initial investigations revealed that the men were watching a football game when an argument broke out, leading to multiple shots being fired. Baptist succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the KHMH. The investigation included recorded statements and video footage of the incident. Based on the evidence, Shevaughn Anthony Gotoy was identified as the suspect. On February second, Gotoy, a Supervisor at Belize Western Energy Ltd., turned himself in at the Queen Street Police Station with his attorney, Ronell Gonzalez. He handed over his licensed firearm, which was sealed and sent for forensic analysis. While in custody, Gotoy admitted to firing shots at Brandon Baptist in self-defense, leading to the eight charges against him, though no charges for Baptist’s death have been filed.
In the aftermath of Friday night’s deadly shooting at the Marion Jones Complex, several individuals suspected of gang affiliation have been detained by the police. This led to the arrest and charging of two Flamboyant Street residents for separate gang-related offenses. Late this afternoon, GI3 police escorted a van to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court with the two men inside. Within minutes, twenty-four-year-old Tafaree Sanchez and twenty-five-year-old Everald Sambula, both from Flamboyant Street, were brought in to face charges related to alleged gang activities. First up was Sanchez, who was charged with promoting gang-related activity. Allegedly, on February first, 2025, Sanchez was seen in photos displaying gang hand signs associated with the Bloods. Sanchez, unrepresented, pleaded not guilty. Next was Sambula, a mechanic, charged with being a member of the Peace in the Village (PIV) gang and engaging in serious offenses. Sambula also pleaded not guilty. Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola informed both men that, under Section 16 of the Crime Control & Criminal Justice Act, she couldn’t grant them bail for ninety days. They were advised to apply for bail at the High Court with the help of an attorney. Both Sanchez and Sambula were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May fifth, 2025. Interestingly, in November 2024, Sambula was acquitted of five counts of robbery from a 2018 incident. The case fell apart when a key witness refused to testify, leading the Crown to discontinue the case. Sanchez also has a pending firearm charge in the Lower Court.
Prime Minister John Briceño won’t be announcing the date for the general election at Friday’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives. This was confirmed by Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay in response to a pre-action letter sent to the Attorney General, the Speaker of the House, and the Chair of the Elections and Boundaries Commission on February 4th. On Tuesday, Trinidadian attorney Anand Ramlogan, who is also called to the bar in Belize, wrote to these officials on behalf of his clients: Jeremy Enriquez, Rudolph Noralez, and Jessic Tulcey. The letter raised concerns about a potential breach of their constitutional rights if elections are called and held based on the current electoral district boundaries. The letter emphasized that before any general election can take place, the state must implement the proposals from the Election and Boundaries Commission regarding the new electoral boundaries. This follows a consent order from the High Court related to a 2019 case brought by Smith et al. against the Attorney General and others. Both the state and the Commission acknowledged that the current voter distribution made it necessary to redefine the electoral boundaries. As a result, they agreed to amend the Representation of the People’s Act to reflect these new boundaries. Although Courtenay Coye’s response didn’t tackle the concerns raised in the pre-action letter, it did clarify that the law firm represents both the Attorney General and the House Speaker. Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, via Marine Parade Chambers, is handling matters for the Elections and Boundaries Commission.
Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton and her Alliance for Democracy are urging attorney Christopher Malcolm, who represents Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow, to reconsider mediation. The United Democratic Party is currently split over its leadership. In a letter from Panton’s law firm, Arnold & Company, they emphasized that mediation could benefit both sides and help avoid a lengthy and costly legal battle. They’ve suggested Deborah Swift or Consuelo Godfrey as potential mediators from the court’s list. On Monday, Panton appeared on the show “Open Your Eyes,” but she didn’t mention any change of heart. Instead, she took the opportunity to criticize the legitimacy of the candidates Barrow has chosen to run against Alliance members in various constituencies.
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“They cannot be considered legitimate United Democratic Party candidates, they cannot. They did not follow the processes outlined in the constitution of the party which we have always defended and I’ve always stood up for the constitution of this party. They have gone through no process. These individuals have been foisted, have been foisted on the people in our constituencies, and let me tell you something; however this is determined, whoever uses the red or the white or the blue, people will know the difference by the quality of the candidate. And I say this with no disrespect to Mr. Uk, he ran in the 2015 general election for the green party and I supported it. I assisted him during the day because he had no infrastructure. So there’s no ill will or disrespect for Mr. Uk, if you go to the people in Albert and you say, is Tracy UDP or Mr. Uk UDP? Who do you think the people of Albert will determine as the United Democratic party’s legitimate candidate?”
Vehicle scams are becoming all too common across the country. Every year, dozens of people are swindled out of their money after trusting someone to buy a vehicle on their behalf. Many of these cases come to light through ongoing court battles or social media complaints calling out the alleged scammers. In tonight’s episode of Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Paul Lopez dives deep into the world of these automobile scams. We’ll hear from a victim, an industry insider, and even an alleged scammer to understand how these scams operate and what potential buyers can do to avoid falling prey. Here’s that report.
Someone I Trusted Scammed Me
There’s been a flood of stories lately about folks getting swindled out of their savings by a sneaky vehicle scam. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people fall victim to these con artists.
Zenaida Moya
Zenaida Moya, Car Scam Victim
“Anytime any errands, he used to carry out my errands and he was the one who really, the main go to person I had to carry out my errands. I entrusted him with the money and I had another vehicle, a van and I had entrusted that with him to sell that for me. He said he was going to sell that for me, and I wanted to get another vehicle to take my kids to school.”
Zenaida Moya put her faith in Melbourne Wade to handle buying her new car and selling her old van. Now, he’s facing the Magistrate Court, accused of swindling her out of over fifty thousand dollars. Back in 2024, Wade was hit with eight separate charges for similar scams. Having worked for Moya for years, she never imagined he’d betray her trust like this.
Zenaida Moya
“In this case it was a 2015 Ford Escape. And so I was giving him money. I was giving him cash. I also gave him money via my bank account. So I was transferring him money. So, he was being paid for it and I wanted to deal with it very quickly so that I could get the tittle in my name. He brought the vehicle to me. I have photos of the vehicle. I have photos of him in the vehicle. I have photos of him standing next to the vehicle. This is not an imaginary nothing. I can show you photos of him with the vehicle.”
After spending weeks behind bars at the Belize Central Prison, Melbourne Wade, the man accused of scamming Zenaida Moya, told the media in January that he’s ready to come clean about his actions.
Melbourne Wade
Melbourne Wade, Alleged Scammer (File: Jan 17th, 2025)
“It was not really scamming or thieving people, it was just bad business going wrong, right, and I am willing to own up to every responsibility, like I said. Four cases have been withdrawn against me and people are going the civil matter way. You know, it’s not the problem of paying back people their money or bad business or fixing what has gone wrong, but I have changed life. I have family that I should be out here for.”
Wade insists he didn’t scam anyone; he claims it was just bad business. He explained that one bad deal often leads to another, as some dealers try to fix one client’s issue using another client’s money, in essence, a Ponzi Scheme. Maho Koch, the owner of Coachella Car Club, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
Beware of “Cheap”
Maho Koch
Maho Koch, Owner, Coachella Car Club Limited
“As a businessman, I advise every single person on the street, even though the vehicles are not really cheap no ah days. There is really nothing for fifteen thousand, ten thousand. It sounds like a lot of money, but when you buy something on the auction in the U.S., as low as one thousand U.S., it cost you here landed after repairs, service, minimum fifteen thousand. So, you have to put your twenty percent, thirty percent profit margin, because you take about two, three months per vehicle. So how do you manage that. And people don’t want to pay the fifteen grand or twenty. They say no man I want cheaper. When you say cheaper that is where they catch you. They are out there waiting for you. They call themselves car dealers, anything you want to hear.”
A Hot Bed for Money Laundering
During a recent press conference, the Financial Intelligence Unit highlighted the car dealership industry as one of the most vulnerable sectors to money laundering. From a law enforcement perspective, they emphasized the risks and challenges this industry faces.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
Leni Ysaguirre McGann, Director, F.I.U.
“When we look at sectors, we look at how vulnerable they are and that compared to what threats they might be faced with.”
Paul Lopez
“But a specific one cannot be identified at the top of the list?”
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“There are several that have high levels of vulnerability, and I can zone in on the nonfinancial ones. It could be vehicle dealers, real estate, those sorts of things, yes.”
In a recent interview, the Minister of Home Affairs brought up concerns about money laundering in the car dealership sector. Interestingly, at least two senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police, own car dealerships. While this isn’t illegal, it does raise eyebrows about whether police officers should be investing in an industry plagued by scams and laundering risks.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We are not going to go down a road of restricting private officers from having a business. That business has to be legitimate. They have to maintain their reputation in carrying out there business. That is what is important. You have to look at that. If they are swindling people, I fully agree with you that if they are swindling people and have a business of that nature they should come out of the department.”
Anyone Can Fall Victim
In August 2024, the Magistrates Court ordered Eden Crichton to pay Gilbert Blair nine thousand, six hundred and eighty-six dollars. Blair had shelled out thirteen thousand for a van he never received and is still waiting to be paid back. Meanwhile, well-known businessman Amado Badillo is facing at least three charges for allegedly scamming hardworking Belizeans. In a shocking turn of events, on January twentieth, a couple was murdered, allegedly by a car dealer who took their money but never delivered the vehicle. Both the victims and the dealer were from the same community, making this one of the most extreme cases we’ve seen.
Zenaida Moya
“So it is not just oh, it can happen to just this person or this person or old or fit the code that they don’t have anybody around them or uneducated. No, it is all different people it can happen to. It is something where everybody, no matter what background, you come from, be careful, just be careful.”
“You Are Not Buying Panades”
The best way to avoid getting scammed when buying a vehicle is to make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for every agreement. Maho Koch advises that no one should take the process of purchasing a vehicle lightly.
Maho Koch
“You got to touch it, you got to feel it. You have to test drive it. Many people have been buying imaginary items in Belize. It is not only vehicles. It is phones, furniture, even properties, real estate. We have seen what is happening in Belize. When I look at the statistics, most of the time it is friends, people who know each other that are suing each other, because of the trust you put on your friends. Don’t trust that easily. You have to look black and white, are you buying a vehicle, sir, do you give warranty? Please give me in writing. Keep everything in writing just in case you come across something, you have supporting documents. But many people like man, I don’t have time. How much is it? Twenty, here you go, just bring it. You are not buying panades, it does not work like that. This is not tacos. This is a vehicle, a big investment.”
Today, teachers at Belmopan Baptist High School staged a sickout to protest the school administration’s behavior. Seven out of the school’s nineteen teachers called in sick. Despite this setback, classes continued as usual. News Five’s Britney has more details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Nearly half of the teachers at Belmopan Baptist High School didn’t show up for work today, calling in sick to protest against several actions taken by the school’s administration. Despite their absence, the school continued to operate. We spoke with one of the teachers participating in the sickout to get their perspective.
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 1
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 1
“Most recently we had a security officer who was wrongfully terminated. And and all of this has led to amount of frustration amongst the staff members. And we are asking for A meeting with the entire board of management and at this juncture they have refused to have such a meeting. And that is the reason why we are taking these actions today.”
The teachers allege that since the new principal took over in August 2024, several employees, including those with over seventeen years of service, have been unfairly terminated. However, Pastor Ashley Rocke, chairman of the school and President of the Baptist Association of Belize, insists that these staff changes were necessary for the school’s improvement.
Ashley Rocke
Ashley Rocke, Chairman, Belmopan Baptist High School
“ I’ve watched as our school was manipulated by people that did not even belong to our association. So Baptist decided we’re going to take back our schools. We’re going to run our schools the way we want. And the way we feel that it is right to make sure that the kids get the education they need. We’ve had resistance. The last principal left. He resigned and he left. And so we were saddled with the responsibility of getting a new principal.”
The teachers shared that the previous principal was problematic, so they were initially excited about the new leadership. However, they now feel that the new principal consistently disrespects the staff.
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 2
“To come and tell us then know that, come and tell the teachers that the principal left because the teachers frustrate him is totally untrue because he himself condoned it. It is under their management, so how could it be that it is our fault? So that is one of the things that we see we are noticing. The buck stops with the chairman in this case and he can step out, step in and select who should run the school, a true leader. Recently, the chairman told us that they intentionally hired the current principal right now. I don’t know what he means by that.”
Rocke explained that there’s been a recent push within the Baptist community to reclaim ownership of their schools. This movement has brought about leadership changes, which haven’t been welcomed by all staff members.
Ashley Rock
“My contention as it relates to Baptist School in Belmopan is that I get the impression that the teachers want to continue to tell us how the school should be run. And I will not have it. I wasn’t afraid to say to them, this is our school. And if you don’t want to stay, you are free to leave. That was the reason they felt disrespected. But we have a process how we are going. We, even in the Baptist Association, we have decided how we are going to rec, captivate our schools and make sure that they’re under our guidance.”
To resolve the issues, the teachers requested a meeting with the entire administrative team. However, they were informed only three directors would be in attendance. Rocke maintains that this approach is the best way to approach the situation.
Ashley Rock
“As a board we were gonna sit down, listen to our directors, what they found, and then chart a way forward as to how to engage or better. Work with the teachers, if you will. But they didn’t want to give us that chance. They told us, you have to do what we want. We want all a unu come. And the last time that all of us went, it was a disaster. They were very embarrassing. Some of the things that they did while the meeting was going on was wrong. And I felt to myself, I will not be ambushed again. I will not go into no meeting where nobody will ambush me and try to pin me into no corner. So I told, I asked the three directors and they were willing to go.”
According to Rocke, the teachers have not been receptive to the changes brought by the new principal and continuously push back against her authority.
Ashley Rocke
“ The principal came on board and did revolutionary things for our school, right? But ever since she came, they continue to fight her. They continue to fight her. To bring her down. They continue to say strange thing about her. All the ladies’ intention was she knew how schools are on. She was once a vice principal in a high school. She came to our school trying to help us”
The teachers continue to push for better treatment and demand that their concerns be taken seriously. They maintain that mutual respect is conducive to a healthy work environment.
Voice of: Baptist Teacher 2
“We hope to get this matter rectified and all in the relevant stakeholders that they get on board and that we see that this matter be addressed, including the Ministry of Education. Because at the end of the day, we have our students interests at hand, and that is our ultimate goal, that they receive the best education.”
Rocke says that he is open to hearing the teachers, but has put his foot down about the way the meeting will be conducted.
Ashley Rocke
“ They either come and meet with the three directors and give us the opportunity to hear from the directors what the issues are. Because I’m not gonna meet with them again. I will not be embarrassed again. Last time we had a meeting, I was embarrassed and I felt the, the disrespect that they talked about was the disrespect they gave to me as the chairman of that school board”
This morning, at least seven teachers at Belmopan Baptist High School called in sick as part of a protest. They’re upset over what they describe as unethical and disrespectful actions by the school’s administration. The teachers are also demanding an audit to investigate potential mismanagement of funds. Minister of Education Francis Fonseca has acknowledged the situation, stating that the Ministry is aware of the teachers’ concerns and is taking steps to address them.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“ Yes, I’m aware of it. It was brought to my attention, I think on Monday and yesterday I asked the Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Cecilia Smith Ramirez, Ramirez Smith to go to the school to engage with them to meet with them. So I think it’s something that , she is working on. But we are aware of the issues and the concerns that have been raised. We are going to, of course, we have to as well work with the management and the board. You know, it’s not a government school. So we have to engage with the managing authority and the board. But yes, the ministry is actively looking into that matter.”
Last week, the Ministry of Education issued a warning about an entity called “The Ultimate Business University.” This organization claims it plans to bring five thousand students from the U.S. to Belize and hire a whopping thirty-five thousand teachers. It also asserts that it’s registered as an educational institution in Belize. However, the ministry clarified that this business is neither registered nor legally recognized in Belize and has no official ties to the Government of Belize. Earlier today, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of verifying such claims.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“ I know it doesn’t sound to me at all feasible or logical, it’s just my view. Listen, I can tell you, we get lots of proposals from institutions all over the world. Every month you get one or two from all over the world. You don’t know who these people are, you don’t know anything about them. My own view is that would not be something we would do. consider at all, but they would have to make a, as I said, there’s a procedure in place. There’s a legal procedure in place for you to apply, especially if you want to open some offshore school. There’s a special regime in place, especially for those kinds of institutions because so many of them have been associated with scams. Fly by night institutions that are just taking people’s money. So we have to be extremely careful with those types of institutions. In fact, we, we’re looking to close down some that got licenses previously. Yeah, but that would have to be looked at carefully.”
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport, through the Department of Transport, has amended the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Regulation of Transport at Border Points) Regulations under Statutory Instrument No. 19 of 2025, published on February 3, 2025.
The amendments, developed in consultation with Corozal and Benque Viejo Municipal Authorities and Belizean commercial truck operators, address concerns over inadequate border transport regulations. Among the key changes is a reduction in road service charges, lowering the fee from $100 per vehicle axle to $30 per axle for both foreign-registered and Belizean-registered cargo transporters.
These reforms aim to increase revenue for border municipalities, which will be allocated to public road improvements and essential infrastructure projects. Additionally, the updated regulations will prevent fee evasion by foreign cargo transporters, ensuring a fairer system that safeguards Belizean businesses and strengthens the country’s commercial transport sector.
Minister of Transport Rodwell Ferguson said, “These updates demonstrate our commitment to strengthening Belize’s land transportation infrastructure while ensuring an efficient and transparent system for cross-border trade and travel.”
