2025 - Greater Belize Media

BREAKING: One BDF Soldier Shot and Killed, Others Injured

Reports emerging from southern Belize are that a shooting left one Belize Defence Force soldier dead.

The incident occurred earlier tonight at the Crique Sarco Conservation Post.

Information reaching to News 5 that at least two others were injured. They are from the Support Company First Infantry Battalion.

Details of what led to the incident are still forthcoming.

Brigadier General of the B.D.F. Azariel Loria told News 5 that “That’s the news we got. We have dispatched a ptl (patrol) along with police to investigate the incident.”

This is a developing story

BTIA Hosts 39th AGM with Focus on Climate Change and Tourism

The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) held its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday in Belize City. Themed “Tourism in a Time of Climate Change,” the event featured a panel discussion with experts addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change to Belize’s tourism sector.

The discussion centred on practical recommendations for safeguarding Belize’s tourism industry against climate-related risks.

Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, delivered remarks highlighting key developments and achievements in the sector. Senator Janelle Chanona delivered the keynote address, offering passionate and thought-provoking insights that tied into the event’s theme.

Stewart Krohn, who served as president for four years, officially handed over the reins to Efren Perez, chair of BTIA’s Corozal Chapter. Perez will lead the organisation as president for the next two years. Javier Gutierrez was elected as the 2nd Vice President, and Chris Rothing as Secretary, while Raineldo Guerrero and Tamara Sniffin continue their roles as Treasurer and 1st Vice President, respectively.

Trump’s First Immigration Raids to Target Chicago

Donald Trump’s incoming administration plans to launch its first immigration raid in Chicago on Tuesday, targeting over 300 individuals with violent crime histories, according to reports from unnamed officials. The operation, slated to last a week, will involve deploying 100 to 200 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to the city.

Chicago, known for its strong sanctuary city policies, has drawn criticism from Trump and his incoming border czar, Tom Homan, who vowed to prosecute local officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

While ICE officials have indicated that enforcement efforts will occur nationwide, including in New York and Miami, advocates fear the raids will sweep up individuals without criminal records or those with legal status. Community groups in Chicago have been mobilizing, educating immigrants about their rights, and preparing phone trees to alert residents of ICE activity.

Chicago officials, including Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, reaffirmed their commitment to sanctuary policies, with local Democratic leaders urging immigrants to stay calm, know their rights, and avoid granting officers access to their homes without warrants.

As Trump’s administration prepares for large-scale deportations, immigrant rights groups are bracing for legal challenges while attempting to shield vulnerable communities from the anticipated crackdown.

Guatemala has expressed willingness to accept citizens from other Central American countries deported from the United States as part of its efforts to foster a positive relationship with the incoming Trump administration. According to Prime Minister John Briceño, Belize will not.

When asked about possible pressure, he added, “We are a sovereign nation, and they cannot force us to accept people that are not citizens from this country. And as far as I am concerned, we are not going to accept any citizen that is not Belizean.”

Family Seeks Help After Vendor Dies in Highway Crash

The family of Maria Caal, a 50-year-old market vendor from Cotton Tree Village, is reaching out for financial assistance to cover funeral expenses estimated at $1,700 USD following her untimely death in a tragic road accident.

Caal, the mother of seven, including one residing in Houston, was well-loved and known for her dedication to her family and work at the Belmopan market.

The fatal accident occurred on Thursday night near Mile 47 on the George Price Highway. Caal was travelling in a Toyota pickup driven by 70-year-old Manuel Juarez, a vegetable vendor, when their vehicle collided with a speeding Chevy Camaro. The impact killed Caal, who was trapped inside the wreckage, and left Juarez hospitalised. The occupants of the Camaro, identified as Jose and Leli Mendez, reportedly fled the scene on foot into nearby bushes.

In an emotional interview, Caal’s son, Samuel Cal, recounted the devastating moment he learnt of his mother’s death.

“I saw a message on Facebook. One of the people posted that they saw an accident happen near Mile 47 on the George Price Highway, saying that the victim was Maria Caal. So I called one of my people that I know closely, and I told them that something happened and my mother had gotten into an accident, and I rushed and tried my best to reach there,” Cal shared.

The family is asking for prayers and any contributions to help with the funeral expenses. Donations can be made via PayPal, Venmo, or by check.

Caal is the second Belmopan market vendor to lose her life in a fatal collision in recent weeks. On December 3, 2024, Miriam Cordon, known as Miss Pretty, also died in a road accident on the George Price Highway.

CCJ Rejects Appeal Over Fraudulent Land Transfer Case in Belize

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an application for special leave to appeal a judgement involving misrepresentation and fraudulent conveyance of property in Belize. The decision, issued on December 17, 2024, and explained in further detail today, also denied a request to stay the enforcement of the judgement.

The case centres on a 120-acre property in Serango Bight, Stann Creek District, owned by Belizean businessman George Dueck. Dueck had entrusted the late Thomas Pound, a U.S.-based real estate broker and missionary, to assist with the property’s development for tourism. Acting on Pound’s advice, Dueck transferred ownership to him to facilitate potential investments from U.S. buyers. However, Pound later transferred the property to a Belize-registered entity he controlled, Kingdom First Ministries International (KFMI).

In 2014, the Belize High Court found Pound liable for misrepresentation and fraudulent conveyance. Although the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in April 2024, it reduced the damages payable to Dueck.

The latest legal challenge was filed by Kyle and Darin Pound, representing Pound’s estate and KFMI. They sought special leave from the CCJ to appeal, as they had missed the 42-day deadline to file an appeal with the Court of Appeal, as required by the Caribbean Court of Justice (Appellate Jurisdiction) Rules, 2024.

The applicants attempted to circumvent the rules by making a late appeal to the Court of Appeal, which had no jurisdiction to extend the deadline. After their application was denied, they filed for special leave from the CCJ, claiming the refusal constituted grounds for their appeal.

The CCJ deemed this approach an abuse of process and dismissed the application. Additionally, the court reviewed the intended grounds of appeal and determined they had no realistic prospect of success. As a result, the CCJ refused to grant special leave and dismissed the request to stay the original judgement.

Department of Transport Opens New Office in Independence

Residents of Independence and neighbouring communities now have easier access to critical transport services with the opening of a new Department of Transport office at the George Murray Bus Terminal.

The office is designed to improve service delivery for thousands of residents in the southern region. At the opening ceremony, local leaders and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting event, where government officials spoke of the benefits of this new facility.

The office will offer key services, including vehicle registration, the issuance of driving and motor vehicle licenses, traffic management, and enforcement. This expansion ensures that residents no longer need to travel long distances to access these essential services.

Transport Minister Rodwell Ferguson said that the new office will improve access and convenience for residents.

Police Find Stash of “Gorilla Glue” Weed in Lake I Home

Yesterday, police found a quantity of marijuana branded as “Gorilla Glue” during a search operation at a residence in the Lake Independence area of Belize City.

A tip led officers to a two-bedroom home on Lavender Street where they searched a room identified by the 46-year-old homeowner as belonging to his teenage son.

During the search, officers discovered an opening in the ceiling. There they found five parcels of marijuana. Four of the parcels were sealed with the label “Gorilla Glue,” a name associated with a potent and popular strain of cannabis, while one of the parcels had already been opened.

The marijuana was seized, and the homeowner was arrested and taken to the Raccoon Street Police Station. The drugs, which weighed 4.5 pounds in total, were processed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace.

Authorities are treating the case as drug trafficking and are now searching for the homeowner’s 16-year-old son, who is believed to be connected to the stash.

The “Gorilla Glue” strain is known for its high THC content and popularity among recreational users.

Another Belmopan Market Vendor Dies in a Two-car Pileup

Police are on the lookout for two suspects involved in a deadly crash near Mile Forty-seven on the George Price Highway Thursday night. The tragic accident claimed the life of fifty-year-old Maria Caal from Cotton Tree Village. Reports indicate that Caal was in a Toyota pickup driven by seventy-year-old Manuel Juarez, a vegetable vendor at the Belmopan market. They were exiting NEMO Drive near El Rancho when a speeding Chevy Camaro collided with them. The impact killed Caal, while Juarez was rushed to Western Regional Hospital for treatment. The occupants of the Camaro, identified as Jose and Leli Mendez, reportedly fled the scene on foot into nearby bushes. Caal, who also worked at the Belmopan market, was trapped inside the wreckage. Earlier today, News Five spoke with Samuel Cal, who shared his insights on the tragic incident.

On the phone: Samuel Cal, Son of Deceased

“I saw a message on Facebook. One of the people posted that they saw an accident happened near Mile 47 on the George Price Highway, saying that the victim was Maria Caal. So I called one of my people that I know close and I told them that something happened and my mother had gotten into an accident, and I rushed and tried my best to reach there. When I reached, a lot of cars were parked. We reached and the officers were right there doing their job. I see wah pickup bruk up and a next car was on the side of the road, but there was nobody in that car, looked like the guy ran away. So I say, “I hope it’s not my mom.” Well the guy, I told the guy that that’s my mother, Maria Caal. That is her, who was in the accident. When I gone, I saw my mom unconscious. I gone check on the other side and I asked one of the police what had happened with the other driver. He said he ran away. How? Nobody knows. Like how I said, when I reached just a little late but I still got the chance to see my mom in the pickup and then they put her in the police car and took her to Belmopan, but there was no space so they had to send her to Belize. We are really sad, my mother left seven of us, six here and one in Houston and we are really sad and don’t know what to do. We all need the people’s help because my mom was a hard-working lady, she was working at the market in Belmopan.”

The police are still investigating this tragic accident. Sadly, Maria Caal is the second female vendor from the Belmopan market to lose her life in a deadly collision in just five weeks. On December 3rd, 2024, Miriam Cordon, affectionately known as Miss Pretty, also died in a road accident on the George Price Highway.

Mental Patient and High School Student Clash in Belmopan

In Belmopan, a seventeen-year-old high school student from Our Lady of Guadalupe High School suffered a nasty cut on his back during a confrontation with a mentally unstable man. The video shows the third-form student confronting someone when the man briefly chases him with an object and strikes him in the back. Residents have been voicing concerns about the mentally ill individual wandering the streets of Belmopan. The student’s family has chosen not to comment on the incident.

Three Charges Dropped Against Alleged Scammer, Melbourne Wade

Tonight, the man known to Belizeans as Melbourne Wade Junior, the alleged scammer accused of swindling money from at least eight people in late 2024, is back in the spotlight. Wade reportedly took down payments from these individuals, promising to buy them vehicles, only to disappear along with the cars. One high-profile victim is former City Mayor Zenaida Moya, who has a pending case against Wade in Court #5. This morning, Wade caught a break as three of his alleged victims withdrew their charges of theft and obtaining property by deception. Appearing unrepresented in court, Wade faced two separate hearings where three victims requested no further action, leaving him with four pending cases. Outside the courtroom, the thirty-two-year-old Belama resident and car dealer claimed he’s a changed man. Wade insists his actions were ‘bad business’ rather than deception and says he’s working with the complainants to find a better resolution than jail time. He hopes to prove he’s not the con artist social media has painted him to be, but rather someone who made poor choices and is seeking redemption. On Monday, Floyd Ford appeared in Court #2 and requested no further action against Wade. This morning, two more women followed suit, though they are pursuing their money through civil court. One of the women has already reached an agreement with Wade for repayment in installments. Wade is due back in court on January thirtieth, 2025. His case with former Mayor Moya and three others is still pending. Wade remains optimistic that these cases might also be resolved through civil action.

Melbourne Wade, Criminally Charged

“I was spending my last time in jail, laying back thinking about things that people have accused me of wrongfully doing. It was not really scamming or thiefing 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 a changed life. I have family that out here that I should be out here for. So I have a little son that is ten and I am willing to do my utmost best to fix my name because all you have in your life is your name. There’s a lot of young folks out here running around and I am one of them trying to make a life for myself. It’s 2025, you know, I’m trying to make my life better and different. If anybody feels like, if I do you anything wrong, there’s the court way, there’s the civil suit way. There is the criminal way but it’s just gonna prolong me, to go to jail, not being able to take care of bills that I created, you know, and I’m not running from anyone.