The United Democratic Party (UDP), led by Moses “Shyne” Barrow, held a press conference on Tuesday and laid out several of their criticisms of the Briceño administration ahead of the 2025 general election.
Barrow, along with his executive, also outlined their vision and policies if elected. “The people are yearning for the practical, common-sense policies implemented by the UDP that saw our economy grow by 4.5% in successive years,” Barrow stated. He said that Belize’s previous governance with Dean Barrow’s administration, the UDP brought about a record of keeping inflation low, even dipping to as little as 0.5%. “You didn’t have Smiling Meats and Hofius and Santiago and all of these people going out of business during the Barrow administration. We made sure the guardrails were there for the vulnerable, the people in need,” he said.
“It is not that Belizeans want a handout. Belizeans want and need a government that will do their sworn oath of office,” he added.
Barrow made it clear that as the 2025 elections approach, he and his team are positioning themselves as the alternative to the current leadership.
The shooting of 24-year-old Emil Rivers by police on Friday in Independence Village has brought up a major controversy. Rivas was reportedly arrested for alleged aggravated assault with a knife and was shot by PC Sheldon Arzu.
The family alleges that Emil, who is on medication for a mental health condition, was brutalised by police by severely beating him before being shot in the stomach and leg.
In Monday’s police briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero offered a different narrative, stating that Rivas attempted to escape from custody twice. “He jumped out of the back of a police vehicle and sustained some injuries. He was immediately apprehended and taken to the cell where he was detained,” Romero said. According to Romero, while Emil’s cell was being cleaned on Saturday, he escaped again and ran to a nearby house, where he allegedly armed himself with a machete. Police cornered him, and after attempts to disarm him failed, a warning shot was fired.
“At some point, then the police officer shot him in the leg. He’s presently admitted in a stable condition,” Romero said on Monday.
However, after Romero provided the police’s side of the incident, Rivas’s mother, Marlene Rivas, shared on Facebook on Monday, “Police and news can lie.” She said that her son was not shot in the leg; he was shot in the abdomen.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also confirmed that he was shot in the abdomen. This morning, Williams shared a video of the shooting incident.
This is not the first time that PC Arzu has been involved with the law. Back in 2005, Arzu was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the manslaughter of Reuben “Pony” Alarcon, who was shot and killed inside a police station in 2003. Arzu’s sentence followed a two-year fight for justice by Alarcon’s family.
According to the police department’s recruitment requirements, “Individuals who have previously served in the department and who voluntarily resigned may be considered for re-enlistment.” As part of the requirement, it also says that ““persons with previous convictions are not normally accepted unless the offences are of a minor nature.”
The question remains: was the manslaughter of Reuben “Pony” Alarcon and a sentence of 13 years an ‘offence of a minor nature’?
Tonight, a family in Dangriga is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating house fire that tragically claimed the life of their beloved Sonia Sambula. Just before midnight on Monday, flames engulfed a home in the Benguche area of Dangriga, where Sonia and her two adult grandsons were sleeping. Awakened by the smoke, they tried to escape, but heartbreakingly, Sonia couldn’t make it out in time. Witnesses say the fire was too fierce for anyone to help her, and she perished inside. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on this unfortunate incident.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Since the early hours of the morning, these siblings have been tirelessly clearing away the charred remains of their family home, which caught fire earlier today. It’s a grueling task, not just because of the physical labor involved, but also the emotional toll of knowing that just hours ago, their beloved sister, Sonia Sambula, lost her life in the blaze.
Archangel Blanch Sambula
Archangel Blanch Sambula, Sister of Deceased
“When I got a call early this morning, I was informed that my sister was perished in a fire. I think it started about After twelve before the and it’s so unfortunate that you know that had happened to my sister because she was a loving, outgoing person.”
Britney Gordon
“Did your sister live here by herself?”
Archangel Blanch Sambula
“No, she lived here with her grandkids and one of her daughters.”
Britney Gordon
“Any of them, did they get any injuries from the fire?”
Archangel Blanch Sambula
“None of them received any injury. My sister was the only one that got killed in the fire.”
Sonia lived in an elevated single-story home with her daughter, Marsha, and her two grandsons. Last night, it was just Sonia and her grandsons at home when the strong smell of smoke jolted them awake. One of her grandsons shared the heart-wrenching story of how he battled between fear and frustration, desperately trying to save himself and his grandmother.
Voice of: Fire Victim
Voice of: Fire Victim
“When I mi sleep, I mi di rest up and then I start see flames start erupt like round eleven thirty so then I rush downstairs and I downstairs and I check weh gone on. And when I check da flames. And then I run upstairs fir try save my granny but then I can’t because smoke done deh inna my lungs already, I di cough up. Fa mi look fi gone to so I just spin round back and run outside. I jump from way top of the veranda. About ten foot.”
Britney Gordon
“So you’re saying that at that moment you couldn’t breathe the smoke was so thick?”
Voice of: Fire Victim
“Yes, thick bad like firehearth.”
Neighbors recall the chilling sound of Sonia’s cries for help echoing through the neighborhood, spurring many to rush over with buckets of water and calls to the authorities. Dreadfully, the fire had already become too intense for anyone to enter, and despite their best efforts, Sonia was overcome by the flames.
Voice of: Fire Victim
“Nobody mi cya help because it mi done too late.”
Britney Gordon
“It was already engulfed in flames?”
Voice of: Fire Victim
“Flames. Flames and two tank mi de in de.”
The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but the family has come together, seeking support and answers. Sonia’s eldest son, Denmark Sambula, who lives in Belize City, rushed down to Dangriga as soon as he could.
Denmark Sambula
Denmark Sambula, Son of Deceased
“I di sleep my phone ring bout twelve-thirty, quarter to one. When I answer my call my uncle, right ova deh so, he ask me if I know weh di goi an? I want know. No. Tell me weh di go an. He seh yo ma house deh pan fire and yo ma deh trap inside and ih can’t come out, I da like what. I jump up and my wife right ya so, she hear the conversation cuz I had it pan speaker and she jump up and bawl to.”
Sambula explains that a wave of helplessness immediately overtook him upon hearing the news.
Denmark Sambula
“Mein I wish I coulda mi fly from Belize City to Dangriga at the moment mami. I wish wa miracle could mi happen but mein the father God know’s best you know. I can’t question his doing and thing,”
Sonia is fondly remembered as a joyful woman with a deep religious faith. Neighbors often recall hearing her sing gospel music at the top of her lungs, her voice filling the air and reaching their homes.
Denmark Sambula
“Mein she da wa loving mother. Every day she go church. She never got time fi stay home. I da like, ma, you not just come from church? She said, well, I gwen again. I have wa lee prayer meeting. I’m leaving. I tell her, ma, relax, ma. Go tomorrow morning. You know, she always find time for church. Every day she got time fi go to church. Yeah, love and she loved all ah we. Ih love ih grandchildren.”
On top of losing their beloved Sonia, Marsha and her sons have lost all their personal belongings and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. The Sambula family is reaching out to the public for any donations to help ease this process. Denmark, Sonia’s eldest son, is stepping up to support his sister and can be contacted at 606-4530 for donations.
Denmark Sambula
“Family from Dangriga, from Belmopan from Belize City, everybody come, unite up and thing and try mek all ah we get over this grief together.”
Archangel Blanch Sambula
“She was wow, somebody who loves to help. It wouldn’t take a dollar for her to help someone. Once you’re in need, she would help you.”
Tonight, a twenty-two-year-old man is behind bars at the Belize Central Prison after being arraigned for the weekend murder of well-known street figure Mark Waight. The accused is Peter Lara, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard in Belize City. Allegedly, on Saturday, twenty-four-year-old Waight, who had previously been acquitted of the murder of news reporter Kareem Clarke, was socializing in front of his girlfriend’s house on Central American Boulevard. A dispute broke out with another man, who then pulled out a gun and shot Waight multiple times. Lara is accused of being the perpetrator of this violent attack. This morning, Lara appeared unrepresented at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder of thirty-three-year-old Francine Herbert, who was critically injured in the incident, one count of dangerous harm, and one count of use of deadly means of harm. Due to the severity of the charges, no plea was taken, and Lara was denied bail. He has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April twenty-eighth, 2025. Meanwhile, Herbert remains in the ICU, fighting for her life.
This morning, the United Democratic Party held a lengthy press conference at their headquarters, tackling a range of national issues. The head table featured five key members from the U.D.P.’s shadow cabinet, ready to share their thoughts. Over the course of two hours, they covered everything from the People’s United Party’s economic policies to crime, violence, education, health, and transport. This event was a stark contrast to the fighting and division we’ve seen within the U.D.P. over the past twelve months. But the big question remains: can they convince voters that they’re ready to lead the country? Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow kicked things off, taking aim at the Briceño administration’s approach to social welfare programs. His remarks set the tone for a session full of pointed critiques and passionate discussions.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The hunger pains are not being satisfied. The middle class is being eroded, pushing to the brink of poverty while those already impoverished are now in the abys of the callous PUP government whose heartless policies have erased all social safety nets meant to serve as the guardrails for the vulnerable. What used to social welfare is now used for political warfare. Gone is Boost, gone is the food subsidy program where all Belizean in need use to be able to spend ten dollars to get a fifty dollars grocery bag. Now, you spend fifty dollars to get ten-dollar worth of groceries. The only optimistic thing about a new year is that we as Belizeans can implement operation rescue Belize, implement operation save Belzie form the heartless PUP government in these general elections that are coming.”
Barrow promises that if the U.D.P. wins the election, he will immediately reinstate all the social programs from the previous U.D.P. administration. He didn’t hold back, calling the Briceño administration the worst P.U.P. government ever, a sentiment he believes is shared by the entire nation.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“We will stay focus on policies that will make the lives of the Belizean people better. That is what is at stake in these general elections. If you want your life to continue to deteriorate, your quality of life, if you want things to get worse, because we all agree over the length and breath of this country, that over the last five years things have gotten worse. Some argue the worst it has ever been. But the next UDP, Barrow government will on day one reinstates all the social programs that have helped so many Belizeans during our thirteen years. We will not only reinstate but expand those programs, which is what the PUP promised to do. This PUP government by all objective, sober perspective is the worst ever. Everywhere you go that is what you are hearing, from Chunox, to Crooked Tree to Bullett Tree all you hear people doing is complain, wishing for the days of the UDP, Barrow government where we put people first and had a true mixed economy.”
U.D.P. Chairman and former Minister of National Security Mike Peyrefitte didn’t hold back in his remarks on the state of public safety. He delivered strong blows to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa, once again demanding their resignation. Peyrefitte accused them of underreporting murder statistics and giving the public a false sense of security.
Michael Peyrefitte, Former Minister of National Security
“Let me address the issue of underreporting within the police department. The most alarming and heart breaking one is the underreporting of murder stats. The police department recently released a report siting eighty-nine murders for 2024, yet when we examine the actual data and the records we have access to and have been given access to, our research shows there have been ninety-seven murders, not including ten additional deaths that bear all the hallmarks of murder, but which was prematurely and suspiciously classified as mere death investigations. A per capta of twenty-four plus murder per hundred thousand is not an insignificant increase from 2023 when it was twenty-one per one hundred thousand. This discrepancy is not just a minor clerical error, ti is a serious issue. The very trust that we as a community place in our law enforcement agencies in being undermined. The manipulated figures do not only serve to obscure the reality of violence our streets, but they also deprive the public of the knowledge necessary to demand real action.”
On the education front, Nelma Mortis, the U.D.P. Standard Bearer for Port Loyola, highlighted the pressing issue of teachers’ welfare. Mortis emphasized that the opposition stands firmly with the nation’s teachers and is committed to improving their conditions once elected.
Nelma Mortis, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola
“Our teachers are leaving the profession due to a combination due to an overwhelming number of factors, including workload, lack for support from administration and management, increasing student behavior issues and that is an effect of our social ills, high levels of stress, excessive license requirements, poor working conditions and a feeling of not being valued by the community or parents, which lead to burnouts and a desire to pursue different career goals. Many of them are now moving to call center work. They are on life support. Another area that is defunct in the ministry of education is that of addressing the related issues of salaries, increments and allowances in an efficient manner. A blue bone was thrown at us and I refer to it as a blue bone, because according to the PUP we don’t deserve meat. We were promised that teachers would correct the matter of the increments and outstanding salaries, allowances for teachers. That is a matter of the PUP showing us how good they are at engineering and electioneering. To date six hundred and fifty teachers have not received their two-year increments, salary adjustments or upgrade. While some of these occurrences are beyond the control of GOB, there are some things that could have been done to soften the rough times. This UDP is standing in solidarity with the BNTU as they agree to have a protest on February seventh, 2025.”
The United Democratic Party’s Shadow Minister of Health is Carlos Perrera, a name that might ring a bell. He previously served as the Director of Finance at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Although his departure from the hospital over a decade ago was under less-than-ideal circumstances, he was never found guilty of any wrongdoing. Now, he’s back, championing the U.D.P.’s cause in the health sector.
Carlos Perrera, U.D.P. Shadow Minister of Health
“What is their report card/ Let us talk about the report card of the PUP since they got into power. It is very lengthy, I wont bore you. But the first hit they got was in February 2021 where several organizations clamored for better health care in PG and Placencia, because the Placencia Polyclinic was abandoned. In August 2022, nurses walked out of the Northern Regional and Corozal Community Hospital. In October 2022, the Southern Region voiced their concern to the ministry of health on medical supplies. October 2023, a continues allegation of neglect in our regional hospital. On April 2024, a neglect of allegation by patience at the Northern Regional Hospital, the backyard of the prime minister and the minister of health. Imagine that, you are the minister of health and the prime minister of this country and you have patients claiming neglect in the northern regional hospital. It should be a shame. Continuous chaos as we heard in 2024 where there were shortage of equipment and medicine at KHMH. We heard the CEO of KHMH talk about being blind sided by the workers union out of grievances, guess she was lost.”
We will have more from the press conference later on in our newscast.
Back in September, the Social Security Board announced plans to lend Caribbean Tire Wholesale seven million dollars for capital expenditure and cash flow replacement. Today, S.S.B.’s C.E.O., Doctor Leroy Almendarez, confirmed that the loan has successfully gone through the full approval process. The loan comes with a fifteen-year term and an annual interest rate of six-point-five percent, payable in monthly installments. Almendarez explained that S.S.B. provides loans like these to avoid prematurely increasing the contribution rates we all pay.
Leroy Almendarez
Dr. Leroy Almendarez, C.E.O, Social Security Board
“ The purpose of giving out loans and it’s loans for development as well, is that that interest income is also added to contributions, but it goes through proper, proper assessment. In essence, you know, if you were to get seven million dollars, the collateral that we get to secure that for us is greater than the seven million. And of course we would have to look, if it says whatever number, it is, we do an amortization table, which is telling you over a period of time of the loan until it terminates. All the payments will come in, how much interest income we expect to get so that we can forecast. We can forecast that money. The other thing we do, of course, is invest. We invest in utility companies, so we have equity in there, and in some cases, thirty-three plus percentage. And that interest income on a large scale, that money is also added. What does that help us to do? It helps us to not even think about increasing the rate of contribution. It also stops us or helps us not to go to government and say, you know what, we have a shortfall here because the other thing we continue to monitor when you’re making these payouts, at what point will payouts be equal to the money that you collect? That’s called the point of equilibrium. Then that becomes a challenge because it simply means after that point, paying these payouts then becomes a challenge.”
