Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Belize Courts Struggle with Mould Infestations

Despite renovations to its sister building, the oldest courthouse in Belize continues to face issues of rats and mould. Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre confirmed that plans are in place to refurbish the structure, similar to the work done on the adjacent building, which previously housed the Prime Minister’s and Chief Justice’s offices.

He stated that the renovation project is expected to cost approximately $2 million, a price tag that is consistent with the cost of previous renovations. Sylvestre told reporters that the previous repairs, “ran about 3 million, a little bit over 3 million… I would say in the range of 2 million” for the current one.

When asked about the recent closure of the Magistrate’s Court due to severe mould infestation. He explained that the closure would last until Monday and assured the public that a temporary facility is in place for affected individuals. “That is just a temporary facility. There is still a plan, but of course, it’s all subject to the will of the people, and if the government were to be re-elected,” he said.

Earlier this week, News 5 reported on the complaints from court staff from the Belize City Magistrate Court on Coney Drive. One employee told News 5 on Tuesday, “They have said that they’re trying to work on it, but it’s nothing so far. So, we just decide as a staff that we need to take action to make them decide what they will do now. Don’t give us no small solutions. We need a big solution to fix the problem right away.”

On Wednesday, the Belize City Magistrate Court announced its closure from midday today until Monday, February 17, 2025.

In Punta Gorda, similar mould issues are affecting the Family Court, which is expected to be addressed in the new fiscal year. “The family court issue at Punta Gorda, that is an issue that would be addressed in a new fiscal year,” Sylvestre added.

PNP Announces Candidate for Belize Rural North

Election bells went off on Tuesday after Prime Minister John Briceño announced the date for general elections, and political parties are now gearing up for March 12.

Today, the People’s National Party (PNP) officially named Andrew “Lion Truth” Reynolds as their candidate for Belize Rural North, a division long contested by major political parties. Specific details about his background and campaign plans were not shared.

Reynolds will be challenging Marconi Leal Jr., the new Standard Bearer for the People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize Rural North. Just a few weeks ago, Leal Jr. took charge of the division after his father, Marconi Leal Sr., announced that he would not be seeking re-election.

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is still facing internal turmoil. Tracy Panton told News 5 on Tuesday that her faction is “absolutely prepared” for the upcoming elections, but the party is still yet to see progress in its mediation process.

Panton specifically blamed Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the area representative for Mesopotamia, for the delay. She accused him of having “no interest in sitting and talking” and obstructing the party’s efforts to unify. “If we are in limbo, it is because he is adamant and he refuses to respect the voices of the people,” Panton said.

CEO Shal Says Major Order of License Plates Almost Ready

The frustration among Belizean drivers over delayed vehicle plates, stickers, and driver’s licences may finally come to an end after a prolonged wait. As reported by News 5 in mid-January, many drivers, particularly those in rural areas, have been left without their credentials for months, and in some cases, even years.

The Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, had said during the Open Your Eyes morning show that his ministry had “made an order for a large amount of license plates, stickers, and cards.” He added that the delay experienced by many drivers would “be an issue of the past” and that “once those license plates are produced and stickers, we can say that the department of transport is on top of that now.”

Yesterday the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government’s Chief Executive Officer, Valentino Shal, announced on his Facebook that the “major order we have placed is almost ready.”

San Pedro Man Missing for Days

A San Pedro town resident has been missing for several days now, and family and friends are growing concerned as the days go by. According to statements shared by family and friends on social media, Ernesto Lopez has been missing for more than 3 days, and there has been no progress in locating him.

One friend took to Facebook, saying, “Anyone who has seen him or knows his whereabouts, please reach out to me! Ernesto Lopez is like a little brother to me, as we grew up together, and he’s not someone who just goes off without sending me a message!”

He urged that anyone with useful information come forward. “I hope nothing bad has happened to you, bro, and wherever you are, that you’re okay,” he added.

The friend stated that Ernesto was last seen in San Pedro on Saturday night. “His mom is worried and is asking the community of San Pedro if you saw him to please contact us.”

Another of his friends said, “We are all Ernesto Lopez’s real friends. Why haven’t they gathered themselves as friends to make a search? Now is the time to show support.”

Kriol Language Kept Alive Through a Second Edition Dikshineri

Wen laas sohnbadi karek yu Kriol? How gud yu Kriol gud? Noh need fi fret, now- there’s now a revised Kriol-English dictionary right at your fingertips!

This morning, the National Kriol Council of Belize launched the second edition of the Kriol dictionary at the Leo Bradley Library in Belize City. The first edition was released in 2007, and this updated version features new words and revised spellings to more accurately reflect the dynamic culture of Belize. The council hopes that, with this resource, more people will recognise Belizean Kriol as a legitimate language.

Editor-in-Chief Silvaana Udz explained that the dictionary is a tool to encourage young people to stay connected to their roots. She spoke on the importance of making Kriol more accessible, particularly for the youth. She explained that over time, words can evolve and take on new meanings, so compiling all the ways a word is used across generations in one concise book is critical to keeping the language recognised and alive.

This new edition boasts “more than 560 new entries, and a new entry might be a new sense ah the word,” Udz said. “This particular edition has been in the works since 2018,” she added. While the Kriol-English Dictionary is available in print, it can also be accessed for free on the 501 Academy website and downloaded online.

At the launch today, the special price was $35, and physical copies will soon be available at Angelus Press in Belize City.

Udz shared that this is just the beginning, and the team is working on developing an app to make the dictionary even more accessible with just a click or quick search.

The online version will be updated annually, and the third edition of the printed version is already in the works.

Police Seize 72 Rounds of Ammunition in San Pedro

Police uncovered a stash of seventy-two live rounds of ammunition in San Pedro during an operation on Tuesday night.

The operation focused on areas north of San Pedro Town, where law enforcement uncovered a variety of ammunition. Items recovered included an AK-47 magazine containing twelve 7.62mm live rounds, a red box with twenty-three 5.56mm rounds, and a 60-round capacity magazine with thirty-seven 5.56mm rounds.

Authorities confirmed that no one was present at the scene during the operation. The items were promptly labelled, sealed, and deposited as found property.

In a separate operation, conducted on Monday, three men were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Belize City Magistrate Court Closed Due To Mould Infestation

The Belize City Magistrate Court has announced its closure from midday today until Monday, February 17, 2025. This measure follows after News 5 reported on the complaints from court staff who have reported health issues, including kidney problems, migraines, and chest pains, due to prolonged exposure to the mould.

One employee told News 5 on Tuesday, “They have said that they’re trying to work on it, but it’s nothing so far. So, we just decide as a staff that we need to take action to make them decide what they will do now. Don’t give us no small solutions. We need a big solution to fix the problem right away.”

Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola confirmed that this closure is necessary to address the hazardous situation, with operations resuming on Tuesday, 18th February 2025.

In the meantime, court dates have been rescheduled: cases originally set for 13th February will be heard on 18th February, those for 14th February on 19th February, and cases for 17th February will be heard on 20th February. Urgent applications will be heard in exceptional cases.

Election Day Announced as Public and Bank Holiday

March will now see two public and bank holidays within the same week. On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that general elections will be held on March 12. Shortly after, the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries issued a notice declaring that the day will now be observed as a public and bank holiday. The announcement, which follows the dissolution of the National Assembly, was confirmed under the Holidays Act.

“It is hereby notified that Wednesday, March 12, 2025, will be observed as a public and bank holiday. This declaration is made in accordance with Part II, Section 9 of the Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011,” the ministry stated.

In lieu of Sunday, March 9, National Heroes and Benefactor Day will be observed on Monday, March 10, which falls within the same week as the date of the general election.

Three Arrested in Major Firearm Bust

26-year-old Daniel Anthony Lagos, 23-year-old Zephaniah Mariano, and 21-year-old Zylon Kihal Castillo were arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences after an operation north of San Pedro Town. The operation was conducted on Monday, February 10, in a bushy area where a camp was located.

Lagos, Mariano, and Castillo were discovered at the camp, where authorities found a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine containing 22 live rounds. The three men are facing charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a license, and the illegal possession of firearms with serial numbers removed.

Police reported uncovering a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition, including high-powered rifles and a loaded pistol.

Additionally, an AR-15 rifle was seized, along with two magazines holding 25 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 26 rounds of .223 ammunition. A black SG rifle with 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition was also found, as well as additional rounds, including two 5.56mm rounds, one more 5.56mm round, and 15 live .223 rounds.

Tracy Panton: ‘Shyne Barrow Has No Interest in Mediation’

March 12 of this year is officially the day Belizeans will be marching to the polls and casting their votes, and despite the ongoing legal battle within the United Democratic Party (UDP), Tracy Panton stated today that her faction is “absolutely prepared” for the upcoming elections.

Panton said that the recent “demonstration of the teachers, the sickout by the firefighters, the concerns of the Belize Defence Force, the undercurrence in the public service, and the concerns expressed by our healthcare providers is indicative” of the need for “new leaders to take up the governance of this country,” she said.

While she expressed readiness for Decision 2025, the UDP is yet to come to a common table and come through with mediation. She claimed that Mesopotamia’s area representative, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, is the reason behind the delay in the mediation process. She said, “Shyne Barrow has no interest in sitting and talking, has no interest in finding a solution for the United Democratic Party, and he certainly doesn’t have any interest in us to make our strongest case for the Belizean people to become the next government.” Panton added, “If we are in limbo, it is because he is adamant and he refuses to respect the voices of the people.”

In about 30 days from today, the ballots will be in the hands of many Belizeans, and reports made by Hot Off the Press suggested that the Election and Boundaries Commission had recognised two factions of the UDP and would allow both to use the traditional red party colour on official ballots.

Panton stated that the 31 candidates under the UDP flag include candidates that support her leadership and those that support that of the “status quo because the institution and the colour red, they believe, are going to be a determining factor in the next election—that is their prerogative,” she said.

Barrow and his legal team did not hold back and formally requested clarification from the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) regarding recent reports about ballot designations for the 2025 general elections in a letter issued on February 10. The letter, sent by attorney Christopher P. Malcolm, challenges the claims that the EBC would allow two factions of the UDP to use the party’s red colour on ballots. Malcolm warned that any such decision would overstep the EBC’s authority and urged a swift public clarification to prevent misleading the public and damaging the electoral process.

With a date now set for Election Day, will the UDP come forward in mediation? Panton stands in that “the people in the United Democratic Party can be assured that our action that we in good conscience and good faith have done everything we humanly can to find a solution. Shyne has expressed zero interest in that matter. In fact, he has used the narrative to suggest that we are weak because we want to sit at the table.” She added, “I am a member of the United Democratic Party, and Shyne Barrow or his attorney cannot declare me not a member.”