2025 - Greater Belize Media

KHMH Union Blasts Management Over Payment Proposal

Tonight, things are heating up between the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority KHMHA Workers Union. In a late evening press release, the hospital announced its support for an ex-gratia payment to staff who served between 2001 and 2017, payments that would only be made upon retirement, resignation, or release. The hospital also highlighted a list of thirteen benefits currently enjoyed by staff, but made it clear: a pension plan is off the table. That didn’t sit well with the union. In fact, they say the release was issued in bad faith, right in the middle of an emergency meeting in Belize City. Union President Andrew Baird quickly called a press conference, saying members weren’t even given a chance to respond before the proposal went public. Here’s what he had to say.

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union

“I can say to you that what is being presented to us with a four percent ex gratia payment is no way better than what we had with the four percent of the employer portion of the provident fund. Our members make it clear to negotiating team and the executive that this four percent of ex gratia is unacceptable and they must wheel and come again. Then we noticed that about a half hour a press release form the government press office comes out and while the letter ask us to be in confidentiality I believe the confidentiality was away from the media. They didn’t even give us an opportunity to meet and respond to members and discuss what was proposed. Then they put out a press release talking a bunch of nonsense. Shame on them indeed. Let me remind the CEO of this, in 2021 when then CEO Rosado sent out a letter to the staff of KHMH asking us to come over to the board, they made it clear that our benefits would be better than what was offered in the government service. What is offered is pittance and a slap in the face.”

Paul Lopez

“Is it your release that this press release was issued in bad faith?”

Andrew Baird

“From the get go at the table it was all bad faith, even when the government said to us on the fifth of June that we no longer negotiate with the government, we negotiation with Karl Heusner, that was in bad faith.”

Paul Lopez

“With this action by the government of Belize, does it fuel now the union to continue with its actions?”

Andrew Baird

“Over resounding yes is the answer, and I can tell you that starting tomorrow, they will get the sense. They will get the sense. You want to take us lightly CEO and government, then it will be on your hands. It will be on your hands and you can come and threaten us with the law. We are prepared. We are ready.”

Businessman Shot Dead at Home, Nothing Stolen

A quiet night in Bullet Tree Village turned tragic last night, as the community woke up to shocking news, the murder of a well-known resident, Ulric Willoughby. The sixty-year-old real estate agent was inside his home in the Vanilla Hill area when gunmen reportedly opened fire from just outside. Police responded around 7:45 p.m., only to find Willoughby’s lifeless body inside. Investigators recovered three expended nine-millimeter shells, but so far, no suspects have been identified. And this isn’t the first time Willoughby’s name has made headlines—back in 2011, he survived a violent burglary at his business that ended in a fatal shooting. Now, police are once again piecing together the details of a case that’s left a community stunned. ASP Stacy Smith has more on the investigation.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Sunday, twenty-second June 2025, police responded at approximately seven-forty p.m., responded to a shooting incident on Bullet Tree Road Cayo District. Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the unresponsive body of Ulric Lyndon Willoughby. A six-year-old Belizean real estate agent was observed, which exhibited apparent gunshot wounds to the upper part of the body. Initial investigation revealed that at approximately 7seven thirty p.m., Willoughby was in the living room of the residence when an individual fired three shots from the veranda into the living room, which resulted in the fatal injuries of Willoughby. Willoughby is not known to be engaged in any criminal activities and the investigation into this matter continues.”

Reporter

“Are there any suspects?”

Stacy Smith

“No suspect has been identified so far.”

Reporter

“We know that he’s a real estate agent. And we know that a real estate agent had been executed some months ago in Placencia. Might he have been targeted because of his profession?”

Stacy Smith

“There is no information at this time to suggest that there is an excess between the incidents.”

Reporter

“So there’s no motive at all?”

Stacy Smith

“No motive has been asserting so far.”

Reporter

“But have he been receiving threats?”

Stacy Smith

“That information is not in the position of the police.”

Reporter

“Was there any robbery or theft element?”

Stacy Smith

“No. The individual would’ve fired shots from off the veranda into the residence and made good his escape.”

Reporter

“So might it be related to his work in real estate?”

Stacy Smith

“That information remains to be determined by the investigation.”

Drive-By Shooting in PG Leaves Man Wounded

A quiet Wednesday night in Punta Gorda was shattered by gunfire, as a man was shot right outside his home. Just before midnight on June eighteenth, forty-eight-year-old Danny Martinez was at his West Street residence when a gunman on a motorcycle rode by and fired a single shot, hitting him in the shoulder. Police say Martinez, who is known to them, was treated and released from the Southern Regional Hospital. Investigators recovered a single nine-millimeter shell from the scene, and tonight, they’re working to figure out what led to the shooting, and who pulled the trigger.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police are investigating a shooting incident which occurred at approximately 11:48 on Wednesday, June eighteenth, on West Street, Punta Gorda Town. The information that police have gathered thus far is that on the aforementioned date and time, Danny Martinez, a forty-eight-year-old self-employed Belizean was at his residence when a male person, who was on a motorcycle, fired a single shot which wounded Martinez to his left shoulder. The scene was processed where one expended nine-millimeter shell was recovered. Martinez, who is known to the police, was treated and released from the Southern Regional Hospital. Police investigation continues.”

Reporter

“Was there any, do you all know if there was any rivalry between the men or had they been socializing or that type of thing?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“He was, Martinez was at his residence and the information that we gathered was that somebody passed the residence and from off the street they would have fired the shot.”

18-Year-Old Loses Life in Maskall RTA

A tragic morning in Maskall Village has left a family grieving and a community in shock. Eighteen-year-old Triston Ortiz lost his life in a devastating road traffic accident on Sunday. Police say Ortiz was a passenger in a Toyota Hilux driven by thirty-four-year-old Gilbert Graham when the vehicle lost control and slammed into a bridge. Sadly, Ortiz didn’t survive the crash. Tonight, we take a closer look at what happened and what police are saying about the incident.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Sunday twenty-second June 2025 at around five-thirty p.m. police responded to reports of a fatal road traffic accident that occurred at Old Belize River Bridge located in Maskall Village. In the course of responding, police met a pickup truck where Triston Ortiz, an eighteen-year-old Belizean of Maskall was observed with visible injuries to the body. Ortiz was ferried to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital; however, he later succumbed to the injuries sustained. Initial investigations reveal that at approximately five o’clock a.m. Oritz was in a Toyota Hilux which was being driven by Gilbert Graham, a thirty-four-year-old Belizean when upon approaching the Old Belize River Bridge the truck collided on the railing of that bridge causing the truck to fall about twenty-feet into the riverbank. Police has detained Graham and a urine sample has been taken from him.”

Minister of Transport Calls on Drivers to Take Responsibility

Sixteen-year-old Terrel Cardines was simply riding his bicycle to the store when his life was cut short—fatally struck by a Floralia bus. His death has left residents outraged and grieving, reigniting concerns about speeding drivers and the dangers of navigating areas near the highway. Today, we spoke with the Minister of Transport, Doctor Louis Zabaneh, about what’s being done to make these roads safer—and whether this tragedy could finally be the wake-up call for change.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Last year, Belize saw an alarming spike in deadly road traffic accidents, more than ever before. That alarming trend sparked public outcry, with many calling for tougher traffic laws and better enforcement. And while the government has stepped up highway checkpoints, a recent crash along the George Price Highway is shining a light on another serious concern: road infrastructure. In places like Hattieville, where homes sit just off the highway, residents say simply getting around can feel like a life-or-death risk. Today, we spoke with the Minister of Transport, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, who says the government is now working on strategies to make roads safer, especially for cyclists.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Ministry of Transport

“This is the tragedy of underdevelopment and that’s why we have to do things like we’re working on so that we can have more resources to do things better. I want to commend our Minister of Infrastructure Development, who in this project, going on the on the George Price Highway, they’re considering now the shoulders, you need to have shoulders so that you can have bicycles on the shoulders. We know that on the Western Highway, George Price Highway, we have cyclists, our cyclists who train right for all the races that occur throughout the year, Holy Saturday race, et cetera. And we know as drivers how it could be quite dangerous. You have to have a certain level of empathy to the rider so that you’re not blowing them and because they’re in front of you. So a number of things are needed. So you need to have those shoulders, those riding lanes in the villages. So that people can be safe.”

Britney Gordon

“On Thursday, just before eleven a.m., a young man lost his life on this very highway sixteen-year-old Tyrel Cardines was on his way to the store on his bicycle when he was suddenly struck by a floral bus. It is alleged that Cardines rode into the path of the bus and the driver was unable to avoid him. But what you may not know is that just up ahead, there are three rumble strips meant to slow drivers down before they arrive at the curve. But are drivers actually slowing down?”

When there’s no traffic officer in sight, what’s keeping drivers from speeding? According to Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh, the answer is simple—speed bumps. He says these traffic-calming tools are a key part of the government’s road safety strategy, especially in areas where constant enforcement isn’t possible.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“It’s a highway and then have the appropriate speed bumps where they need to be once it’s within the village to make sure that you control the speed and then the enforcement, the enforcement that is, as I talked about earlier, that is lacking. And we have to accept that these are things that have to be improved. And I, again, as I said, I’m pleased that CEO Williams is there now working very hard on the side of enforcement, on the side of training. So that we could do these things.”

While Zabaneh acknowledges the need for more development, he is calling on all drivers to take responsibility and hold themselves and others accountable on the road.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“And then for the buses for the drivers to be better trained so that they know where speeding limits and we have to put up the signage, right. This is thirty miles an hour. And then as a country, we have to start obeying law. If you see thirty people just fly through. You have stop signs. People just fly through the light red sometimes and people just cut in front of you. These are things now that as a nation for this to work. And that’s why I appealed everywhere I go that for things like this to work, we have to come together and change the bad habits that we’ve developed over the years.”

He is appealing to the public to call out unsafe driving habits among family and friends. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Teen Arrested After Stolen Phone Leads to Shocking Cybercrime

A troubling case of cybercrime has stirred up concern in the Orange Walk community this week. A young woman’s lost cellphone turned into a nightmare when private photos were shared without her consent through her own social media accounts. But thanks to swift action by the Belize Police Department’s Cybercrime Unit, the device was recovered, and a fourteen-year-old male has been arrested and charged.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Tuesday, June 16^th, 2025, a twenty-year-old female visited the Orange Walk Police Station and reported that she had lost her cellphone on June 13th, which contained several nude photos of her. The female stated that someone had utilized her Facebook and Instagram accounts that were logged into on the lost cellphone to send several nude photos to her friends on those social media platforms. The police Information Technology and Cybercrime Unit of the Belize Police Department launched an investigation which resulted in the recovery of the lost cellphone and the arrest and charge of a fourteen-year-old male minor of that jurisdiction for the offence of using a computer system to publish images of a private area.”

It’s a stark reminder of how quickly technology can be misused—and how important digital safety really is.

Belmopan School Burgled, Chromebooks Stolen

A recent break-in at a primary school in Belmopan has left teachers and parents deeply concerned. Sometime between June thirteenth and fourteenth, thieves targeted United Evergreen Primary School, making off with seven Chromebooks from the principal’s office. Principal Rosalia Witty says she locked up the school around 4:30 p.m., only to be alerted the next evening by the school watchman that her office had been broken into. Police have since launched an investigation and detained one person in connection with the burglary.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police are investigating a burglary incident which occurred between June 13^th and fourteenth, in the city of Belmopan. Rosalia Witty, the principal of United Evergreen Primary School, located at the corner of Ambergris Avenue and Trinity Boulevard, reported that at approximately 4:30 p.m. on June thirteenth, she left the school compound after ensuring that it was properly secured. At approximately 6:20 p.m., on June fourteenth, she was informed by the school watchman that her office was broken into. Principal Witty inspected the office where she observed that a box containing seven Chromebooks were no longer present and she had summoned the police to the scene where statements were recorded and the scene was processed. Police detained one individual in connection with this ongoing investigation.”

Burglar Arrested After Failing to Steal TV

Two separate burglaries, two men behind bars tonight. Police have charged Kevin Navarrete and Jafari Gonguez in connection with two unrelated break-ins—one in San Pedro, the other in Belize City. Navarrete is accused of sneaking into a San Pedro home and making off with two cell phones worth over seven hundred dollars. Meanwhile, twenty-four-year-old Jafari Gonguez allegedly broke into a woman’s home in the city and tried to steal her television, but she caught on just in time. ASP Stacy Smith has more on both cases and the charges these men now face.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police have arrested and charged two male persons for the crime of burglary, which occurred in two separate stances. In separate parts of the country. On Tuesday sixteenth June, 2025, police formally arrested and charge Kevin Navarrete, twenty-eight-year-old Bel Reason of Boca del San Pedro for the crime of burglary. This arrest is as a consequence of. Police investigation into a report made by a female who stated that on fifteenth June, 2025 at approximately one thirty p.m. she left her apartment and visited another room on the apartment building, and her attention was drawn to some rattling sounds coming from the direction of her apartment. Upon making checks, she saw a male person exiting her apartment, and upon inspecting her room, she observed that two cell phones valuing a total of seven hundred and fifty dollars were missing. As it relates to the other arrest for burglary. On Friday, June twentieth, 2025, police formally arrested and charged Jafari Gonguez, twenty-four-year-old Belize of Pearl Thompson Street, for the crime of burglary. This arrest is of the consequence of police’s investigation into a report made by a female. Who stated that on twenty-fifth, May, 2025, she returned to her residence and observed that four of the louvers from one of the windows on her home were missing, and her television was placed near the window. Which was not where she had left it. The scene was processed by scenes of crime technicians, which yielded useful potential evidence. Nothing was stolen.”

Benque Teen Missing, Police Seek Man for Questioning

A family in Benque Viejo is desperately searching for answers tonight after a fourteen-year-old girl vanished from her home. Aurora Gonzalez was last seen on Sunday morning, June twenty-second, when her stepmother discovered her missing from her bedroom. Since then, there’s been no sign of the teenager. Police are now looking to speak with Florentino Iglesias of Benque Viejo in connection with her disappearance. Gonzalez is described as fair-skinned, about five-foot-five, and weighing roughly a hundred and five pounds. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Sunday, June 22^nd, 2025, Dania Redondo, a Honduran housewife, visited the Benque Viejo Police Station and reported that she had made checks in her stepdaughter’s room, Aurora Gonzalez, at about nine o’clock a.m., where she discovered that Gonzalez was not there. Efforts to locate Gonzalez have proven fruitless and police seeking Florentino Iglesias of Benque Viejo for question in relation to this report. Gonzalez is of fair complexion, stands at approximately five foot, five inches in height, fourteen years old and weighs approximately one hundred and five pounds. Persons are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 922 or the nearest police station if Gonzalez or Iglesias are seen.”

Reporter

“Is he an adult?”

Stacy Smith

“Yes.”

Time is critical and your tip could help bring Aurora home.

World Bank Backs Belize’s Bright Future

A major step forward for Belize’s economic future—this past week, the Ministry of Economic Transformation wrapped up a high-level mission with the World Bank Group. Top officials from both the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation were in the country, exploring ways to boost Belize’s logistics and infrastructure. Their visit included a stop in San Pedro, where they got a firsthand look at local efforts to tackle sargassum using nature-based solutions. And the mission ended on a high note, with the signing of a new agreement aimed at unlocking investment opportunities through public-private partnerships.