Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Belize Launches First Sentencing Guidelines

Belize has introduced its first-ever Sentencing Guidelines as part of the ongoing reform of its criminal justice system. The announcement was made by Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman on Thursday, calling it “a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the criminal justice system.”

In her statement, CJ Blenman said that the guidelines “when implemented will promote consistency, transparency, and fairness in sentencing practices across the criminal justice system.”

Developed through collaboration between the Senior Courts of Belize, legal professionals, and international jurists, the guideline is anticipated to reduce disparities in sentencing.

The initiative aligns with recommendations from the CCJ Academy for Law’s Needham’s Point Declaration on Criminal Justice Reform.

This follows Blenman’s keynote at the Legal Conference on Criminal Justice Reform in Guyana, where she first highlighted Belize’s efforts to address case backlogs and improve sentencing. Over 300 Caribbean legal experts focused on improving the criminal justice system.

Corozal Homeowner Speaks Out After Shooting Incident

A local justice of the peace and community consultant was left shaken after his home in Corozal Town was targeted by gunmen in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Bradley was at his farm when the incident occurred. When he arrived home, he found his house riddled with bullet holes.

He told News 5, “When I opened the gate, I came into the yard, and I went straight to my office. I observed a hole in the glass door, and so I thought somebody probably passed and threw a stone… And that’s when I saw the walls filled with bullet holes.” About 12 to 14 rounds were fired.

Bradley said his daughter, who was at home with his two grandsons, initially thought the shots came from a nearby house.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack.

Having served his community for over 50 years, Bradley says he is baffled as to why his family was targeted. “I really don’t understand why I’ve been targeted and why my home has been targeted like that. I don’t owe anyone. I have no dealings with nobody who is doing any legal activities,” Bradley said.

“I don’t know if this is mistaken identity or I don’t know. I really don’t know. And I myself, we are bewildered by all this,” he added.

Bradley is calling on the public for assistance.

Ladyville Man Reported Missing

Police are investigating the disappearance of 36-year-old Mason Patnett. He was reported missing by his partner, Shene Moody. According to Moody, she spoke with Patnett on Saturday night via phone after she had left their home in Vista Del Mar, Ladyville, the day before.

When she returned on Sunday, she found the door open and Patnett gone.

Police have canvassed the area and reviewed surveillance footage but have found no leads.

Patnett is described as a slim, 5’7″ Creole man with long, curly hair, a brown complexion, and tattoos on both hands. He was last seen wearing a green shirt and green camouflage cargo shorts. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 922 or report to the nearest police station.

NSUB Elects New Executive

The National Students’ Union of Belize (NSUB) has elected a new Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term. The election was held virtually on Sunday.

Tomas Serrut was elected as the new president, with Darien Parham as first vice president and Yannika Dorado as second vice president.

Other key positions include Tristan Rodriguez as General Secretary, Andrea Neal as Director of Student Affairs, Jaleeza Roberts as Director of Events, and Cecilia Moreira as Director of Finance.

Outgoing President Ashley Longford congratulated the new team in an announcement statement, stating, “I am confident that under their leadership, the NSUB will continue to grow and champion the causes that matter most to our members.”

Andre Perez Stresses Consultation Amid Caye Caulker Fuel Depot Concerns

Residents of Caye Caulker are expressing concerns over a proposed fuel station project near the popular Split. Many are worried about potential environmental damage and the lack of proper community consultation. Property owners, especially expatriates, feel they were not adequately informed about the project.

Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez, told News 5 today, “There’s no way that we’re stopping to putting a gas station there and other amenities that serve the community there. I don’t want to say I’m in favour of it.”

Perez added, “I think what we need to do is consultation, and that’s what they have been following everything by the books; they have reached out to the council requesting the no-objection support there… As far as I’m concerned, what they’re doing is following everything as per required by law.”

Mark Leslie, the Director of Petrol Alliance Group Holdings, assured residents on Thursday that all necessary clearances, including environmental approval, had been obtained. “We have done major research before even going into this project, and we actually went ahead and applied for all our clearances and every other thing with the department as well,” Leslie said.

Despite these assurances, residents are also worried about the potential difficulty of securing insurance for properties near the proposed site. Leslie responded, explaining that local insurance providers had no objections to coverage and that alternative options would be available if necessary. “None of them had any objections… the worst-case scenario would be higher premiums or higher deductibles,” he stated.

Police Unit Overhauled to Tackle All Forms of Gender-Based Violence

As reported previously, the Belize Police Department underwent an overhaul of its approach to gender-based violence at the start of 2025. The Domestic Violence Unit is now the Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigative Unit (GVRIU).

Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams pointed out that this comes as an effort to be a more inclusive unit. “We must look beyond the home and address all forms of gender violence,” Williams said.

ComPol Williams added that officers can look forward to more training to properly handle these cases. Williams said, “There certainly is going to be a need for more training for the officers who work within the unit. And not just those officers, but every police officer as well. So they can understand the dynamism of gender-based violence.”

The unit will now focus on addressing sexual violence, human trafficking, and other gender-based abuses.

Earlier this week, Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos-Garcia supported the change, stating that the term “gender-based violence” covers a wider range of abuses, including workplace harassment and street violence, rather than being confined to the home. She added, “Gender-based violence cuts right across the board.”

Police Commissioner Visits Lake-I Amid Rising Tensions

Following a series of shootings and other incidents at the start of the New Year, Police Commissioner Chester Williams visited the Lake Independence area today to address growing tensions within the BLC gang. Though he did not reveal new details of the incidents, Williams explained that his visit’s objective was to help defuse the situation before it escalates further.

“There are 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,” Williams said.

Williams said that while he leads the police force, crime reduction is a collective effort. “I am one man, and I alone cannot reduce crime… The policies I make will not work if the people on the ground do not execute them properly. I give the praises to my commanders and the foot soldiers,” he said.

Williams also pointed out the importance of working with various organisations, including the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU), to reduce crime. “Every organisation that can lend to the reduction in crime, I welcome it,” Williams stated.

Established in 2021, the LIU was formed to address gang violence in Belize City. When asked about the role of former gang members who have turned their lives around, Williams confirmed they assist in keeping the peace, especially for younger individuals involved in gangs.

He also reaffirmed the police department’s commitment to working with the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU) to provide a path for those seeking to leave a life of crime. “The police department is going to continue to work with LIU… to provide a way out for those who wish to become law-abiding members of society,” Williams added.

US Surgeon General Warns of Alcohol-Cancer Link in New Advisory

Your “thirsty Thursdays” could be putting you at risk for cancer. Over the last few decades, there have been several things people consume daily that have been linked to cancer. While some experts agree that “moderation consumption” is key to the health risks these habits may cause, a U.S. Surgeon General states that the risk of breast, throat, and mouth cancer increases even with one or fewer drinks a day.

According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, alcohol consumption is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind tobacco and obesity. It contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths each year, he added. The U.S. Surgeon General has called for new health warning labels on alcohol to include the increased risk of cancer. This has prompted Dr. Murthy to demand that alcohol labels reflect this deadly truth.

In a recent advisory, Dr. Murthy pointed out that despite decades of research linking alcohol to cancer, “only 45% of American adults are aware that consuming alcohol increases their risk of developing cancer.”

Alcohol’s carcinogenic effects have long been recognised by global health organizations. The National Toxicology Program classified alcohol as a carcinogen in 2000, and the World Health Organization’s agency did the same in 1987. However, Murthy stressed the public’s lack of awareness on the matter.

Can Belize Expect a 2025 Election Landslide?

2025 is one heavily anticipated year in Belize’s political arena. In the last months of 2024, the opposition party—the United Democratic Party (UDP)—faced a series of challenges in its leadership. It still does. On Thursday, Audrey Matura gave the Open Your Eyes viewers an insight into her political analysis as we enter Belize’s election year.

Matura pointed out strongly the government’s position of strength and the opposition’s fractured state amid the series of troubles the opposition has faced over the last few months. Matura argues that the prime minister, John Briceño, should seize the opportunity to hold elections while the opposition finds itself “at their lowest.”

One of the key moments of the UDP leadership crisis was the October 2024 “unity convention” held by the Alliance for Democracy (AFD), led by Albert Area Rep. Tracy Taegar Panton. At the convention’s conclusion, Panton announced that she had been elected interim leader of the UDP. However, the legitimacy of this convention is now under scrutiny. The court will determine whether it was a valid national convention and if Panton remains a UDP member.

Despite the presence of a constitutional leader within the opposition, Matura stated that the UDP’s inability to unite its members suggests that internal divisions make it difficult for the opposition to pose a serious challenge to the government. “The infighting has not stopped, and the recent court ruling is not helping,” she said.

The court has set a timeline to resolve the leadership dispute within the United Democratic Party (UDP) between Mesopotamia Area Rep. Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Albert Area Rep. Tracy Panton. The court will determine whether the Alliance for Democracy’s ‘unity convention’ held in October 2024 was a valid national convention and whether Panton is still a member of the UDP.

Matura also warned that without a strong opposition and civil society organisations like the BNTU playing their usual role in holding the government accountable, Belize’s democratic system could suffer. “It’s civil society now that should be checks and balances, but civil society itself is very dormant. The most aggressive one used to be BNTU, and they’re just not there right now.” Matura stated.

Guatemala Accepts U.S. Deportees: What It Means for Belize

In about two weeks, the United States of America will inaugurate its 47th president—Donald J. Trump. With this come major shifts under Trump’s anticipated rigorous administration, particularly in the immigration sector, with new policies expected to tighten deportations.

Guatemala is open to accepting citizens from other Central American countries who are deported from the United States as part of efforts to build a positive relationship with the incoming Trump administration. It has also been reported that Guatemala is willing to play a role in the regional response to the increase in deportations expected under President-elect Donald Trump. A Guatemalan official noted, “There has to be a regional response… and we want to be part of the solution.”

This move comes as the U.S. struggles to deport people from countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti, with strained relations complicating deportation efforts. Guatemala, however, is actively preparing for an uptick in deportation flights and is already receiving 14 per week under President Biden. This figure is expected to rise under Trump. Guatemala sees this influx as an opportunity to utilise the skills of the deportees, many of whom have experience in industries like construction and service and speak English. The country aims to integrate these individuals into the private sector, although officials are concerned about the strain deportations may put on the economy, especially if remittances from the U.S. decline.

Neighbouring countries like El Salvador and Honduras are also bracing for an increase in deportees. Honduras has already been receiving 10 deportation flights per week, with their foreign minister stating the country is preparing for a significant rise.

But what could this mean for Belize? Given the already porous nature of its borders, Belize can expect many challenges. Attorney Audrey Matura shared with the viewers of the morning show, Open Your Eyes, on Thursday that this can mean more individuals attempting to cross into Belize. Matura stated, “Our border is porous. These people will find their way back into Belize, maybe trying to make it back to Mexico. We need to prepare for that… It’s going to have a big political impact and economic impact on Belize.”