On January first, Belize City was rocked by three separate shooting incidents. The first happened on Levi Slusher Street, where a four-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet, likely due to reckless gunfire during fireworks displays. Around three a.m., the second shooting took place when Jody Ortiz, Dennis Aranda, and Anwar Smith were targeted by a gunman in a white vehicle while they were hanging out in a yard on Linda Vista Street. Less than two hours later, the third shooting of New Year’s Day occurred, with twenty-two-year-old Shemar Gillett getting shot in the arm on Marigold Alley as he was heading home. Earlier today, police visited the Holy Emmanuel Street area, and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams informed us that they are making progress in the shooting investigations.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I’m here because we do have some rising tensions in the area within the BLC. And so I am here along with Mr. Gamboa to see what we can do to try and defuse the issue before it goes any further.”
Reporter
“Have you gotten any useful information so far?”
Chester Williams
“Of course, yes, we’re getting good insight in terms of what actually transpired New Year’s morning. And the information that we’re getting, we will use that to see how best we can stem the issue before it escalates any further.”
Reporter
“I know there are older, maybe former persons that used to be involved in gang activity who are now leading another life. Do they assist in trying to keep the peace, maybe for the younger persons coming into their life?”
Chester Williams
“ Well, of course, and if you listen to my New Year’s message, I was clear that the police department is going to continue to work with LIU to see how best we can provide a way out to those persons who wish to become law abiding and useful members of our society. This is a part of what we want to do to ensure that we provide that avenue for people to be able to make that change that they want to make.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has hit back at claims that he’s in it for the glory. In an interview earlier today, Williams was asked about the suggestion that he seeks public praise. He was quick to shut down the idea, emphasizing that policing is a team effort. Williams highlighted the crucial roles played by the Leadership Intervention Unit and the rest of the Police Department in keeping Belizeans safe across the country.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“You all would be able to know that in every interview I’ve given where the issue of success and reduction in crime is concerned, I have never taken the praise alone. I’ve always said that it is a combination of different factors, and I’ve always put L.I.U. At the center of it because we do recognize and appreciate the work that you does on a daily basis. It contributes to our effectiveness. We cannot discount people who are playing an integral role in terms of what we do. And so L.I.U. Is a part of what we do. But apart from that, we have other factors that we must also give consideration to. So I really don’t understand what she meant by me chasing praises because I don’t do that. I am one man and I alone cannot reduce crime. While I am the head of the police department, I am a policymaker. The policies that I make or the strategies I put together will not worth the paper they’re written on if the people on the grounds do not execute them properly. And so I give the praises to my commanders to the foot soldiers, those constables, corporals, and sergeants who hit the pavement every day and execute our policies. They’re the ones I give the praises to because they’re the ones who are out there doing what needs to be done. So I remain humble in terms of what I do and I am grateful to my commanders and every other organization that works with the police including the L.I.U. and brother Nuri and his team to ensure that we were able to reduce crime the way we did two successive years.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has addressed the allegations of police abuse in San Pedro. On Thursday, we reported on Alex Wade, a San Pedro resident who claims that after being detained for assault, he was denied his right to make a phone call and was beaten by several officers in his cell, resulting in a fractured elbow. Commissioner Williams says that’s only part of the story but assures that the incident has been reported to the Professional Standards Branch for a thorough investigation.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Again it has a lot to do with people being honest about what they said to the media. I spoke to the O.C., or the Divisional Commander of the Coastal Area, Mr. Cowo, this morning on that issue. And my briefing from Mr. Cowo is that these individuals, I think there were three of them detained in a cell with another person having detained them in the cell with the other person, they found out that the other person had some mental disability. Our policy is that once you have a person who is mentally challenged, that person must be detained separately from other prisoners. So the police officers went to the cell block to remove those individuals who were not classified as mentally challenged, out of the cell where this mentally challenged person was. And when the officers went to do that, these three individuals attacked the police officers. The officers received varying degrees of injuries including when transporting them to the hospital. One of them stamped the police out of the vehicle, almost killing him. And the police have since charged those individuals for the injuries they had caused to the police officers. So, we need to be honest and we have to understand that police officers are human beings. And when police are doing their job, we must always ensure we work with them or cooperate with them. Even if you feel like the police officer is wrong, you have a responsibility to cooperate. And after you have done so, you can always make a complaint if you believe the police have wronged you. So again, I personally do not see anything wrong that the police officers did. Nonetheless, I’ve tasked professional standard branch to go out and look at the situation. We may have bit of footages that will be able to help the police investigation.”
On December twenty-first, a man was fatally stabbed in Corozal after being found inside a teenage girl’s house. Reports say Anthony Lewis, who was out on bail for engaging in sexual relations with a minor, visited the girl’s home and got into a heated altercation with her family. During the intense brawl, Lewis was fatally stabbed. The incident has been ruled as self-defense. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shed some light on why this wasn’t classified as a murder case.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“When an issue of self-defense is raised, In any debt investigation, it is not the police who determine the charges, it’s the DPP office. And so we have sent that file to the DPP for instructions on that matter, and we await that. Bear in mind though, that if a person comes into your home and when you get there, you are attacked by that person. The law will give you some leverage so that you can protect yourself and your home. I’m sure that those are things that the DPP or the DPP rep is going to take into consideration in determining that matter. This person was already charged with carnalities against your child. You come home, you find him in your home with your same child. What would be your response? How would you deal with it? And if there’s a scuffle and he end up getting injured and died, I don’t see how the person could be held accountable for that, no.”
Last month, Nicaraguan doctor Carlos Saborio Coze was charged with administering noxious substances after a man claimed he was drugged by him. The accusation comes from a Venezuelan nurse who says he was drinking with Coze at Little John’s Restaurant in Belize City and briefly left his drink unattended. He alleges that Coze slipped something into his drink, causing him to wake up at home several days later with no memory of how he got there. There were no signs of sexual assault. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams provided an update on the case, revealing that evidence of blackmail has surfaced.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“ That’s a very complex issue. I know that there is some allegations of blackmail being involved in the whole issue. I’m not sure if a report was made to the police officially, but the attorney for the doctor did reach out to me and has sent me some information to suggest that indeed there was some element of blackmail in that whole situation. And so the police is going to look at it if an official complaint is made and then we see how we go from there.”
Since late 2024, word has been going around that the Belize Port Authority would bring back the one-dollar one-way tax they had previously removed from water taxi travelers’ expenses to and from San Pedro and Caye Caulker. This dollar was part of a three-dollar fee that’s been around for years, covering the Port Authority’s inspections of the vessels. During the height of COVID, the government cut it down to two dollars. Now that things are back to normal, they’ve reinstated the dollar charge as part of the overall fees. This change took effect on New Year’s Day. While most travelers haven’t made a fuss when buying their tickets, there’s been some confusion, with some thinking it’s a new tax. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with the relevant parties and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
It’s peak tourism season in Belize, and the Caribbean Sprinters Water Terminal at the foot of the Swing Bridge was buzzing with activity today. Since New Year’s Day, everyone taking a commercial water taxi to or from Caye Caulker, San Pedro, or Belize City has noticed a dollar increase in their ticket prices compared to last week. But don’t worry, this isn’t a new tax—it’s just bringing the fee back to its original three-dollar rate. Andre Perez, the Area Representative for Belize Rural South, which includes San Pedro and Caye Caulker, assured everyone that this extra dollar isn’t an arbitrary price hike.
On the Phone, Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“It’s not an increase in ticket fees. That’s not true, alright. They – while the taxis are still charging a fee, they have not increased, you know. There is a rider fee or a port fee for every person that that boards the ports, and that is what they’re charging, but before it used to be three dollars, but during the COVID, it went down to two dollars. So now that we’re coming into the new year, and I think they made a press release on the 15th of December stating that it is only going to revert back. It’s not an increase. It’s just reverting back to what was the original fee, the rider fee, if you want to call it the passenger fee of three dollars. So, it’s only going back to what is normal. So that’s not an increase.”
The fee is only collected from passengers on these specific routes because they fall within the taxable price range of ten to a hundred dollars. The money goes to the Belize Port Authority, which uses it to conduct inspections at the departure and arrival points. Acting Ports Commissioner Kaylon Young told News Five that the three dollars collected are reinvested into services to ensure passenger safety.
Kaylon Young
Kaylon Young, Acting Ports Commissioner
“It’s ideal that we do this because of the plans we have for the maritime sector and services that we offer. Um, the inspection of vessels. We do want to do the inspection for waterways and do some surveying and do some Check the routes make sure roads are safe. Make sure we have adequate lights Adequate markers in the in the area and do some community outreach in the special areas like San Pedro and Caye Caulker. We must ensure that the water taxis are not overloaded with – that they are not taking, for example, cargo and passengers are not supposed to be on these boats. These boats are either registered for commercial cargo or commercial passengers, to ensure that they have proper life jackets, have first aid kits, have all of the safety equipment that would be needed in the case of an emergency.”
Young mentioned that inspection officers are dispatched to the terminals daily to carry out inspections. Additionally, the authority conducts random sea patrols and enforces regulations. Despite the reinstated dollar fee, Joel Ah, the Cargo Agent for Caribbean Sprinters Water Taxi, reported no complaints or slowdown in business.
Joel Ah
Joel Ah, Cargo Agent, Caribbean Sprinters Water Taxi
“We have a lot of customers traveling at this moment.”
Marion Ali
“Are they questioning what’s this added dollar?”
Joel Ah
“No, they’re not questioning, they’re just paying what it is, yeah.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, so now to travel to San Pedro would cost how much?”
Joel Ah
“It is forty-four dollars.”
Marion Ali
“It is 43?”
Joel Ah
“Yeah.”
Acting Ports Commissioner Young explained that other commercial ferries, like those running between Placencia and Independence in southern Belize, charge less than ten dollars for the lagoon crossing, so no taxes are added to those fares. However, Young assured that the Port still conducts inspections and patrols at those locations too. Marion Ali for News Five.
In mid-December, residents of an upscale ex-pat community in Caye Caulker voiced their opposition to a proposed fuel depot in their neighborhood. But just as quickly, a group of tour operators on the island came out in support of the project. The Caye Caulker Tour Operators Association even issued a press release and a ‘No-objection’ letter backing the depot, proposed by Petrol Alliance Group Holding Company Limited. If approved, the depot would be located on parcel nine-fifty-seven, Block twelve, on the northern side of the village. When News Five spoke with Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez today, he said he’s staying neutral on the issue.
On the Phone: Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“ It’s a small community, right. However bearing in mind that the huge contribution of this community contributes not only to insect, but to the economy, you know. And it’s a, it’s an excellent location. It’s still we have to be mindful of the, of the community in terms of how nice and laid back it is there. When you go there, I myself, when I go there, I enjoy myself to spend overnight. You know, it’s a different experience as compared to San Pedro, right? So it’s important. We have leaders that we preserve that, that type of, um, you know, ambience and atmosphere and environment. But, of course, mindful of the feelings of the, of the community and I say community. We’re not only talking about the voters or the local, right? We’re talking, of course, that there’s a community of experts who chose or choose to be their home every time and home far away. I mean, from home they come, but in terms of development up north, the development is happening up north of is coming up quick and the vast majority. In fact, most of the land is privately owned already. Right. It is privately owned. There’s no such land as any public lands out there, except for a piece that is reserved. Right and that is actually held as a reserve by the government as an agreement. No, as not developed, you’re seeing more resource going up high rise buildings going up. You’re having more the added of water, which is the reaching the area there and eventually also electricity coming from the southern point of Burgess. You could join the northern part of and hook them up to the grid. So, as development happens, I mean, there’s no way that we’re stopping to putting a gas station there. I don’t want to say I’m in favor of it, but certainly I believe, and I think what we need to do is consultation and that’s what they have been following the entire, um, everything to the books they have reached out to the council requesting the no objection support there. And they are doing all their compliance as far as I’m concerned, what they’re doing is they’re following everything as per required by law. So, with that said, um. That that remains a weather consultations to be done and let the people speak about it as well. Although it’s a sensitive part of speaking about the gas station. But then again, let’s not forget the other side about the necessity of it. I didn’t need to serve the community because as a speaker, I don’t have 1 gas station. So, we have to be fair with, and I remain impartial. But in the end is the will of the people, uh, in Cocker. That it’s in their interest there, whether they want to support you or not. And, um, and I know the council are receptable receiving and having a discussion with the, with the interested, uh, people who want to invest there.”
2025 started off with a bang—or rather, a splash! For Belizeans in the northeastern parts of the country, New Year’s Day was all about rain instead of fireworks, with rainfall totals reaching between five and seven inches. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon explained that these showers are due to a lingering front over the region. When we asked Gordon about the upcoming weekend weather, he told us to expect more rain and cooler temperatures.
Voice of: Ronald Gordon
Voice of: Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist
“We have a front which has been lingering just north of the country. this front is very weak and diffused. And at the moment, extending across the Bahamas, Cuba, into the northwestern Caribbean Sea, up to northern Belize at the moment. Previously it was located over just the north of Yucatan and ahead of the front we have had a lot of prefrontal activity as we refer to it, and that is rainfall. This front is drifting very slowly to the south and will basically dissipate over the country over the weekend. However, it’ll continue, continue to produce some rainfall, which you will share now based on the forecast. So, I’m advancing the forecast frame up to this point, which shows the line of rain associated with the front, extending to Belize. And as we move into the weekend, farther, you will see that most of the activity will drift more to the south of the country. And that will persist throughout Saturday into Sunday, with most of the rainfall being recorded over the southern districts of Toledo and Stann Creek. However, we do expect that we still could expect some light rains over the other parts of the country, but not significant accumulations with this particular front as it dissipates. By Sunday, we should see better conditions as the front disappears even farther. And then what you’re seeing here coming across the United States is another significant cold front. Extending into the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. As I advance the frame up to Monday, you can see the front. Now, this new front extends across the central Gulf of Mexico into the Bay of Campeche and later Monday night into Tuesday, you begin to see these greens again over Belize, And this is associated with prefrontal activity from this next front, which is approaching around the middle. Or the early to the middle part of next week.”
As we mentioned earlier this week, the Belize Police Department will be releasing its latest crime stats next week. But today, while touring the Lake Independence area of Belize City, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams gave us a sneak peek at the murder rate. According to Williams, there were eighty-nine murders in 2024, which is two more than in 2023. He explained that despite their best efforts to keep the numbers down, there were moments when things got out of hand, citing the Monkey River triple murder and the recent incidents in Belize City over the Christmas holidays.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Well you know the devil is always busy. The police worked arduously to try as best as we could have to keep the murder count below last year’s figure, or at least at last year’s figure. That was my hope, and believe you me, I pushed my police officers, and I know that they were out there doing their part. But at the end, the devil got busy. We had the triple in Monkey River and then we had the double with the two persons with the drug deal in Hattieville, you know, then eventually we had the other two, which include one in Belize City. So, it just caught up with us and those were things that I do not see would have fallen within the preventative reach of the police. They happened and it took our number to 89 compared to 87 last year. I still believe that 89 is a huge accomplishment considering the fact that prior to me becoming commissioner of police, we were averaging around 130 to 140 murders annually. And since I became commissioner, we see the numbers steadily decrease. And again, while I do not take the credit for it, because, like I said before, there are different factors, but the leadership that not only myself, but also my minister, and the prime minister, are very instrumental. When we want equipment, when we want recruits, the prime minister always supports us to make sure that we get what we need. to be able to fight crime effectively. So, I have to thank the prime minister and my minister for the support that they had given us, um, to have been able to achieve what we have done, um, over the past few years. Moving forward, we just have to continue doing our utmost best, um, to try and reduce the murder count. It’s the main issue for me. Um, I know that every crime is a crime. But when you’re robbed or your whole home is burglarized or something is stolen from you, you still have your life. When your life is taken away, that is irreplaceable. And so, we must always try to work as best as we can to save lives. Even the lives of those people who we believe may not value their own lives, we must make sure we do what we can to help them to protect their own life as well.”
The Belize Police Department’s decision to rename the Domestic Violence Unit has sparked some controversy. Today, Commissioner of Police Williams addressed the criticism, noting that some people believe the new name, Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigative Unit, panders to the LGBTQ+ community. Williams emphasized that the police are committed to protecting everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or any other differences.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We have had the domestic violence unit in place for quite a number of years now and with the evolving of time, we saw the need to change the name from domestic violence unit domestic violence to gender based violence response and investigation unit. At the end of the day we have to look beyond he domestic issue in terms of what happens in a home between a man woman and child And see how we can encapsulate those other factors where gender violence is concerned and so the unit is now going to be tasked with that responsibility of making sure that we can capture everybody at the end of the day, as a police organization, we cannot discriminate. I know that there are some school of thought out there who are already spewing some of their own agenda, that this is being done with a view to accommodate the LGBTQ, whatever it may be. But, at the end of the day, we have to understand that whether a person is straight, bisexual, heterosexual, or whatever. We as a department must represent them. We cannot tell people that because you’re this, we cannot represent you. We are an organization that is created with the intent to make sure we protect everybody regardless of your race, color, culture, creed, sexual orientation as the case may be. So we are extremely proud of the move that we are making now to ensure that we have a progressive unit within our department to be able to address these issues, all forms of gender, gender based violence in Belize.”
