Police have confirmed there were no visible signs of injury or violence on the body of American national Fred Mason Hoffman, whose body was discovered late Thursday night on the Placencia Main Road.
Hoffman’s body was found wrapped in a sheet and lying at the roadside shortly before 10 p.m. Authorities responded to the scene around 9:51 p.m., where they identified the deceased. According to initial reports, Hoffman had last been seen alive earlier that morning.
Belize’s trade activity took a hit in April 2025, with both imports and exports seeing a year-on-year decline, according to the latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).
Imports fell by 16%, down from $263.8 million in April 2024 to $221.5 million in April 2025. This drop was mainly due to reduced spending across several major categories. Imports into the Commercial Free Zone saw the largest fall, plummeting by $17.6 million to $25.8 million. Other notable decreases were recorded in ‘Other Manufactures’, ‘Food and Live Animals’, and ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’.
Domestic exports also suffered a 21.9% drop, sliding from $56.9 million in April 2024 to $44.5 million this year. Although a large shipment of sugar was exported in April, sugar earnings still plunged by over 30% to $19 million, according to SIB. Revenues from molasses, bananas, and citrus products also declined.
Meanwhile, exports of red kidney beans more than tripled, and marine products rose by $0.7 million due to strong lobster and conch sales.
Over the first four months of 2025, imports fell 7.1% to $914.3 million, while exports declined 6.9% to $115.9 million, with sugar and molasses driving most of the downturn.
Belize’s national inflation rate rose by 1.3% in April 2025, driven mainly by rising food and home rental costs, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 119.6 in April, up from 118.1 a year earlier. Food accounted for over half of the monthly price increase, with costs for bread, meats, fruits, and non-alcoholic beverages climbing. Juices saw the sharpest rise at 15.4%.
Home rental prices also contributed, up 2.3% compared to April 2024. LPG prices followed suit, with the cost of a 100-pound cylinder rising by $6.87. Personal care items and household cleaning products also recorded notable increases.
In contrast, fuel prices continued to fall. Premium and regular gasoline dropped by $0.49 and $0.89 per gallon respectively, while diesel prices fell by $1.21. Prices for mobile phones and communication equipment also declined.
SIB also reported that Belmopan and San Pedro recorded the highest inflation rates at 3.5%, while Independence Village saw a 2% decrease in consumer prices due to drops in food, fuel, and personal items.
Year-to-date inflation now stands at 1.6%, with prices for food, rent, and personal care items continuing to lead the upward trend.
Romano Cal, 50, was fatally attacked with a machete outside his home on Sunday, shortly after returning from refueling his bus. Police have detained his brother, 55-year-old Rafael Cal, in Tambran Village for questioning. He is being accused of killing his own sibling.
Romano’s daughter, Modesta Cal, witnessed the attack. She told News 5, “I was shocked to see that happen, because I was there, I saw it. I didn’t know what to do next, because when seeing my dad in that situation I didn’t know what to do after that. We just informed our family and they come assist us as well,” she said.
She believes the attack was driven by “jealousy and hatred,” adding there was no fight leading up to the incident, stating that the attack appened “from nowhere.”
Modesta described her father as “very respected, trustworthy, humble,” and always willing to help others.
The Toledo Alcaldes Association condemned Romano’s killing, calling it a “heinous crime” that violates their core values of peace, unity, and hard work. “We condemn any act of violence in our communities,” it said in a statement on Monday.
Police are continuing the investigation.
The Toledo Alcaldes Association has issued a strong condemnation following the killing of 50-year-old Alcalde Romano Cal, a respected community leader from Medina Bank Village. Cal was found dead on Sunday evening, May 25, with chop wounds to the upper body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Punta Gorda Hospital.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Toledo Alcaldes Association described the killing as a “heinous crime” that violates their core values of peace, unity, and hard work. “We condemn any act of violence in our communities, as it goes against our principles of remaining peaceful, united and hard-working communities,” it said.
It added, “This loss of one life deeply affects our collective peaceful legacy.” The Association has called for a full investigation.
Police detained Romano’s brother, Rafael Cal, 55, in Tambran Village this morning. He is accused of brutally killing his brother.
No motive has yet been established, and there is no indication of drug or alcohol involvement. Authorities have also confirmed that there were no prior reports of violence involving Rafael.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the Ministry of Agriculture have issued a public advisory following a noticeable rise in paralytic rabies cases among horses and cattle.
BAHA warns that paralytic rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, primarily through the saliva of infected animals. Both domestic and wild animals can carry and spread the virus.
Farmers and the public are urged to exercise caution when handling sick animals. “Signs of rabies include changes in behavior, such as nervousness and aggressiveness, excessive drooling and foaming at the mouth, difficulty eating, drinking, or swallowing, loss of appetite, circling, and eventually death,” BAHA stated in its advisory.
To reduce the risk of infection, authorities recommend vaccinating dogs, cats, and livestock through a licensed veterinarian and maintaining updated records; animals should be kept within property boundaries, and uncovered food or waste that may attract wildlife should be removed.
Suspected rabies cases should be reported immediately to BAHA’s Animal Health Department.
Police have detained 55-year-old Rafael Cal of Medina Bank Village, who is being accused of the brutal killing of his brother, Romano Cal, 50.
Romano, the alcalde of Medina Bank, was found dead on Sunday evening, May 25, just after 8 p.m., with chop wounds to the upper body. He was transported to the Punta Gorda Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
At Monday’s police briefing, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith, confirmed that the incident occurred shortly after Romano returned home. Investigators have not yet identified a motive, and there is no evidence suggesting either drugs or alcohol were involved.
No prior reports of violence involving Rafael have been confirmed.
Rafael was found this morning in Tambran Village, Toledo District.
The Department of Transport (DOT) has reactivated nationwide enforcement operations to tackle the improper use of motorcycles on the country’s roadways. “This initiative is being launched in response to an increasing number of public complaints and observed violations of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday.
Residents have raised concerns about excessive motorcycle noise, especially in residential areas. Authorities have also reported a rise in serious safety violations, including failure to wear helmets and the illegal transport of multiple passengers.
The Transport Department will work along with the Police Department and municipal traffic departments to carry out targeted inspections across the country. These checks will focus on roadworthiness, noise levels, and rider safety compliance.
Motorcycles found in breach of the law will be impounded, and offending riders will face legal penalties.
The national budget debate opened with strong criticism from the Opposition today, as members of the House of Representatives began deliberations over the proposed $1.78 billion budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
Opposition Leader Tracy Panton criticised the Briceño Administration’s financial plan, calling it “optimism passed with selective statistics.”
While acknowledging the expansion of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to the Cayo District, she argued that the government has neglected key social support programmes, including housing, food assistance, skills training, and elderly care.
“I hope to make the case on behalf of all Belizeans that the numbers presented by this Briceno administration do not, and let me say that again, do not signal performance. Rather, it reveals a government that is obsessed with spending and allergic to accountability, reform and measuring the economic impact of their failing social protection policies,” Panton said.
The debate intensified when Panton questioned the allocation of $28 million in airport security contracts awarded under the Briceño administration, suggesting government favouritism and misuse of public funds. She criticised the administration’s spending priorities, stating it “can find the resources for all sorts of programmes and initiatives” but fails to allocate funds to meet the urgent needs of public servants. “Let us find the money to pay our teachers and public officers who are first on call to make sacrifices whenever the needs arise,” she added.
A parent who raised concerns about a teacher at Louisiana Government School in Orange Walk says she received a death threat from an unknown social media user on Wednesday night, May 14.
“Watch your r*** caz all a your family wa get killed,” the message read. “Target da u.”
The parent says this is the first time she has received a threat of this nature. It follows public allegations made by a group of eight parents, who claim a teacher at the school subjected their children to emotional trauma, physical harm, and psychological abuse.
“It seems that is a fake profile,” the parent told News 5. “These threats make me feel unsafe. It shows how insane the person behind the profile is. To threaten to kill a family is psychotic.”
The parent has confirmed that she “will be formally filing a police report of the threats.”
“Any parent with sense of love for their child would speak up, and it is our right to do so to make sure our kids and future kids are protected,” she added.
As previously reported, the allegations have been reported to the Ministry of Education (MOE). In a letter dated March 20, 2025, the parents outlined multiple incidents of mistreatment, including cases of emotional distress, humiliation, and even medical emergencies.
The school administration confirmed the allegations have been shared with MOE and that internal monitoring is ongoing.
