Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

CCC Defends Anti-Bullying Policy

On Friday, Corozal Community College (CCC) issued a statement defending “its zero-tolerance policy regarding bullying.” According to the school, “Where instances of bullying come to the attention of administrators, they are investigated, and interventions, as applicable, are implemented to assist the students involved, especially the victims.”

CCC added in its statement that it has held anti-bullying campaigns to raise awareness about its consequences. It also encouraged anyone aware of bullying incidents to contact administrators immediately, stating, “The reports ensure that immediate action can be taken to protect students and strengthen trust and confidence between the college and the community it serves.”

This statement comes after reports were made of a recent bullying incident involving a 13-year-old student. The student was reportedly threatened with a knife by peers in Corozal Town.The mother of the student reported the matter to the police after the school allegedly failed to address the bullying.

KHMHAWU Calls On GOB for Immediate Action on Pension

Workers from Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City staged a walkout earlier today, demanding the government address pension issues that have affected long-serving staff. According to KHMH Authority Workers Union President Andrew Baird, many workers have gone without retirement benefits, relying only on severance.

“We are saying, please, let us sit down; let us discuss and come up with something concrete so that people can retire and have a decent life after retirement. ,” Baird said.

Baird criticised government inaction, stating, “It’s a shame that there are three board members… and it’s a shame that they do not see it necessary to ensure that we have these meetings.”

The union has been pushing for solutions for over a year, according to Baird. He added that union members and staff believe that the only way to get the government’s attention is by taking a strong stand, stating, “This is just the beginning.”

The workers’ message is clear, and they are not backing down until the government addresses their pension rights. If the issue is not resolved soon, Baird said that the KHMHWU plans to escalate their actions.

GOB to Write Off Over $54 Million in Patient Debts at KHMHA

In today’s session of the House of Representatives, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard announced that the government of Belize has approved the write-off of $54 million patient debts at the K.H.M.H.A. in Belize City. Bernard stated that these uncollected debts, between the period April 2009 to March 2022, were incurred during the challenging COVID-19 years.

A period that saw many Belizeans struggle financially, he said.

“This decision is much more than just a financial adjustment. It represents a profound and immediate relief for thousands of Belizeans who have struggled under the weight of these debts.”

According to Bernard, the debt forgiveness is part of the broader healthcare reforms outlined in the Plan Belize initiative, which aims to make healthcare accessible and equitable for all citizens.

The debt forgiveness follows a similar initiative in October 2023, when the government removed all clinical service fees from public hospitals and clinics nationwide. In a press release issued on October 31, 2023, the Briceño administration stated, “Statistics reveal that revenue arrears for hospital care bills reached approximately 50% over the past three years, underscoring the need for change. Removing fees simplifies the billing process and allows healthcare facilities to focus on delivering quality care.”

ComPol Says Those Responsible for Gabriel’s Death Could Be Held Liable

The investigation into the tragic death of little Gabriel Orellano, a 6-year-old autistic and mute student from Stella Maris School, is still ongoing. On Monday, little Gabriel wandered off the school compound unnoticed and tragically drowned near the seaside.

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told reporters earlier today, “It is telling on us as a society to see that the child was seen running through traffic, and several vehicles almost hit him, and nobody stopped to check.”

He confirmed that a police officer did report seeing the child and called 911, but despite efforts, patrols couldn’t locate Gabriel in time.

“We also reviewed the issue with the police officer who had given an interview to the media, stating that she had seen the child and had called 911 and gave the information… and it is indeed true,” William said. “She called, and it showed that immediately after she called, the diary entry showed that she had passed the information onto the patrols that were out.”

According to Williams, the patrols did respond and checked but were unable to locate little Gabriel. He said the reason this happened could be because “the child was moving very fast.”

He said that the police are focusing on whether anyone was negligent in their duty to care for Gabriel to determine if the people responsible for looking after him failed in their legal obligation to ensure his safety.

He added that if negligence is found, those responsible could be held accountable.

“You have not just a moral obligation but also a legal obligation to ensure the safety of that child. And once that obligation is broken by way of negligence, then you can be held liable,” Williams said.

BNTU Stands Firm Behind Stella Maris Teachers Amid Little Gabriel’s Death

The BNTU President, Nadia Martin-Caliz, says the union stands behind the teachers at Stella Maris School following the tragic drowning of 6-year-old Gabriel Orellano.

Little Gabriel was an autistic and mute student who wandered out of the school compound unnoticed and tragically drowned by the Hangar area in Belize City.

Martin-Caliz defended the teachers at Stella Maris by pointing out the challenges those teachers face in special education. While she stated there is importance in taking accountability, she assured the teachers that the union stands by them.

“Everybody who saw that child failed that child. Let’s start there,” she stated.

She added, “I can tell you that these teachers have been registering some of their challenges with the ministry.”

Martin-Caliz commended Minister of Education Francis Fonseca for “not attacking the teachers.” Martin-Caliz said she is “of the opinion” that Fonseca has seen the documentation and concerns raised by the Stella Maris teachers and that he now recognises those concerns are valid.

She added that the union stands strongly behind the Stella Maris teachers, saying, “We stand behind them as a union. We’re going to give you all the support that you need. And if the evidence is showing that maybe there’s a little slip here and there, then we need to put the system in place to correct that.”

BNTU President Leads Rally for Teacher Rights and Systemic Change

“Over 3,000 plus teachers are here today. And I haven’t seen this level of support for the BNTU in years,” said the president of the BNTU, Nadia Martin-Caliz. She told News Five that the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) came out to demand systemic changes in the education sector. During their demonstration, the members of the union expressed frustration with ongoing issues in teachers’ working conditions, pay, and recognition.

“It is clear that their mandate is exactly what we’re standing up for: value teachers. We matter. They matter. They are the backbone of education,” said Martin-Caliz.

She added that “today is the launch of a campaign” by the teachers. The “Value Teachers We Matter” campaign aims to address not only salary discrepancies but also the deep-seated challenges teachers face daily, from fundraising for school supplies to paying utilities.

One of the key issues discussed was the inefficiency in managing teachers’ compensation. Despite acknowledgement from the Ministry of Education, Martin-Caliz said, “While they want to be able to give teachers what is rightfully theirs, there is no documentation to support some of those things.” This, she said, delays necessary reforms.

According to her, some important issues have yet to be addressed. She stated, “If I say that we have not been making strides, then the union is being disingenuous.” She added that if the government doesn’t act in good faith on these unresolved issues, the union is prepared to take stronger action, stating that the union is prepared to “take it up a notch.”

Manuel Novelo Returns with New Book: “A Belizean Story”

Ten years after his debut, The Sacred Maya: Smoke Shell, Belizean author Manuel Novelo is back with a captivating new release. Set in 1960s Orange Walk, A Belizean Story brings Novelo’s original characters into real historical events, weaving a tale that resonates with the Belizean public. The book will soon be available at bookshops across the country.

“This is my new book I would like to present to our Belizean public, our Belizean readers, hoping that not only children, but not only children going to school, but like everybody, adults, everybody will enjoy this book,” Novelo told News 5.

He added, “I always loved writing, creative writing… I’ve done that since I was a child.” He says that his passion for storytelling led him to write several works over the years, though A Belizean Story is his latest published piece.

The book follows three young boys—Patli, Kadal, and their friend—through adventures that intertwine with the history of the village of Palmar. Novelo reveals, “I relate the story or the real history of the village… and how they were forced out of their lands by the British Empire.”

This new book aims to captivate readers of all ages, from children to adults, offering a unique perspective on Belizean history.

Bikers Honour Little Gabriel Orellano’s Passing

Over 28 bikers gathered to honour 6-year-old Gabriel Orellano in a moving tribute following his tragic drowning on Monday. The group arrived at little Gabriel’s grandmother’s house in Belize City and presented a box of monetary gifts.

Gabriel’s uncle told News 5 that the bikers came out in blue and “rode and traced the steps of my nephew for the bike rally, to where he died.”

This comes after Gabriel, an autistic student from Stella Maris School, drowned near the hangar area in Belize City after he wandered off the school grounds unnoticed on Monday afternoon.

An investigation is ongoing to understand how Gabriel managed to leave the premises. On Thursday, Stella Maris held a heartwarming vigil in remembrance of little Gabriel.

Is NRH Being Investigated after Patient Dies 1 Hour after Discharge?

A man dying just one hour after being discharged from the Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) has brought attention to the hospital once more. According to reports, the incident has triggered an investigation into potential medical malpractice.

When asked about the incident, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard declined to comment, stating, “I cannot comment to that. We are doing our investigation.” He added, “I do not run on social media issues because there are many times information that are posted on social media are not factual.”

Bernard said that his team is looking into the matter and that he would await a full briefing from the regional manager Jorge Polanco, who is the Director of Hospital Services and Allied Health. Bernard added that the investigation is ongoing, adding, “I prefer to wait until I get a full briefing…before I can comment.”

Stella Maris honours Little Gabriel with Vigil

Today, Stella Maris School held a candlelight vigil to honour little Gabriel Orellano, an autistic student who tragically lost his life after wandering off campus.

As we have reported before, little Gabriel drowned in the sea near the hangar area in Belize City after leaving the school grounds. The vigil was organised to provide a space for students and parents to grieve together, with a call for people across the country to wear blue in honour of Gabriel’s life and autism awareness.

A sanitation worker, David Henkins, told News 5 he recalled seeing Gabriel running down Freetown Road, stating, “We mih want stop ah you know, because we know dah something wrong.” However, he explained that he didn’t stop him because he believed two individuals just behind little Gabriel were likely the child’s family members. Henkis later learnt of Gabriel’s tragic death, and said “that play in my mind whole day, all day, because i just mih want the Father just touch we fih mek we could go stop that the lee young bwai. We cried and all.”