Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Hurricane Milton Intensifies to Category 4

Hurricane Milton has intensified to a Category 4 hurricane. Milton’s winds reached 150 mph early Monday morning. According to the National Hurricane Centre, the storm is expected to make landfall on Florida’s western Gulf Coast, particularly targeting the Tampa Bay area.

Milton is expected to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching Florida’s west coast by Wednesday or early Thursday.

The forecast suggests Milton will maintain its strength as it moves inland. Areas that were recently battered by Hurricane Helene are bracing for another hurricane hit. However, the current path may spare some southeastern states that suffered significant devastation just days ago from Hurricane Helene.

Venezuelan Ex-Presidential Candidate Says He’ll Return as “Elected President”

Venezuela’s former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said on Friday that he will be returning to his country on January 10 to assume office as the “elected president.” Gonzalez contested against Nicolas Maduro in the July 28 presidential election. Maduro was declared re-elected for a third term. But the opposition claimed the results were rigged.

In August, the OAS presented a resolution calling for an audit of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election. The election dispute revolves around tally sheets, known as “Actas.” The Actas serve as official evidence of election results.

The only independent organisation present at the Venezuelan elections, the Carter Centre, presented the Actas on October 2 during a session before the OAS. The Actas revealed the victory of the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. It was revealed by the head of the Carter Centre’s electoral mission in Venezuela, Jennie Lincoln.

This contradicts the results announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro the winner for a third term.

The data, which is only accessible to the regime and the Venezuelan Armed Forces, was obtained via “international mail,” Lincoln stated.

“I was sent this by mail, and I will show it to you… These are original records from Venezuela that have a QR code, which is significant and allows witnesses from thousands and thousands of polling stations to systematically gather information,” explained Lincoln.

González, now in exile in Spain since September 9, said on Friday, “I am going to return to Venezuela as soon as possible, when we restore democracy in our country… I am going on Jan. 10 to take office as elected president.”

US Official Visits Belize to Strengthen Ties on “Shared Priorities”

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian A. Nichols, is in Belize for an official visit from October 5–8. He is expected to discuss key issues affecting the country and the region. Nichols oversees the operations of U.S. diplomatic missions in countries across North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean. Nichols guides operations to represent U.S. interests and build relationships.

According to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of State, Nichols’ meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño and Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca will focus on “security and inclusive economic prosperity in Belize and throughout the region.”

The statement also recognises Belize’s active role in the “Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation.” It also cited the recent signing of a five-year grant agreement valued at $125 million, the “Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Belize Compact for Education and Energy Projects.”

Nichols said in a post on X, “Excited to meet our Belizean partners to discuss cooperation on investment, migration management, security, and other shared priorities. I am grateful to visit this beautiful country.”

Hurricane Milton Forms in the Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. As of 1 p.m. today, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reported that Milton has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph. Milton is still forecast to intensify into a major hurricane by late Monday.

It is expected to reach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.

At the moment, the NHC is monitoring three hurricanes: Hurricane Kirk, located over the central subtropical Atlantic Ocean; Hurricane Leslie, located over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean; and now Hurricane Milton, located over in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bullying Incident Leaves SJC Student Injured

A bullying incident at St. John’s College High School has left a student with a broken hip and requiring emergency surgery. Niall Alvarado brought up the issue on Facebook, saying that the victim is his brother Dominick Alvarado, an honour student at SJC.

Niall said that Dominick’s life-altering injuries, emotional trauma, and financial toll on his family are the result of the serious effects of bullying. “The implications of such acts extend beyond immediate physical harm; they encompass emotional trauma, academic disruption, and financial strain on families,” he said.

According to Niall, Dominick’s experience and need for emergency surgery and recovery have hindered his performance in school. He said, “In the case of Dominick, the administration’s failure to adequately respond not only failed him but also sent a chilling message to other students about the efficacy of reporting bullying incidents.”

“The Ministry of Education and the Board of Directors at St. John’s College High School must conduct a thorough investigation into the bullying incidents,” Niall said. He pointed out that the investigations should include policies and practices that relate to bullying in the school.

Armed Thieves Escape with $10K

Police in Orange Walk are looking for three men who robbed a store and escaped with $10,000 in cash. The masked assailants targeted the store on San Andres Street. Security footage of the incident shows two of the suspects wearing long-sleeve hoodies, while the third wore a bright yellow construction jacket. Two of the suspects were armed with handguns.

The men barged into the store, confronting a customer at the counter and forcing him to the ground at gunpoint.

One of the armed men stood watch while the other two targeted the cashier. The second thief reached over the counter and grabbed the bag full of cash.

Tropical Storm Milton forms in the Gulf of Mexico

The National Hurricane Centre’s latest reports have confirmed the formation of former Tropical Depression Fourteen to Tropical Storm Milton.

Milton’s trajectory will be influenced by a cold front next week, steering it towards the Florida Peninsula. The storm has the potential to become strong, with forecasts indicating it could reach Florida as a strong Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday.

Currently, Milton is expected to intensify slowly over the next day. Rapid strengthening is anticipated during the week. Heavy rainfall and life-threatening flood hazards are expected in the Florida Peninsula.

Tracy Panton Calls UDP’s Motion “Fraudulent”

Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton is rejecting the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) statement, calling it a “fraudulent attempt” to expel four senior party members without due process.

In a Facebook post, Panton said, “Yesterday’s fraudulent attempt to pass a motion improperly, illegally, and unconstitutionally to expel 4 senior members of the party, without due process, is indicative enough for us to act and to act now.”

The UDP states that its leadership will serve until the National Convention after the next general election, clarifying that no convention will be held before then.

Panton rebutted, “There is no place for a dictatorship in the principles, values, and ideals we must guard zealously. The current Party Leader is unhinged, and it is time for him to step aside in the best interest of the Party.”

Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber supported Panton’s stance, stating, “To make quorum for an NPC meeting, the UDP Constitution requires a majority of its members to be present. If there is no quorum at the initial meeting, the meeting can be adjourned to a fixed date, and at that rescheduled meeting, the members present will form the quorum.”

He explained that “decisions taken at that rescheduled meeting will only be valid if they are carried by at least 40% of the total membership of the Council. By any stretch, 39 people out of 118 can never work.”

Panton reiterated the Alliance for Democracy’s “UDP National Convention” on October 20, 2024, at Birds Isle.

National Hurricane Center Warns of Potential Gulf System Development

The state of Florida is preparing for another potential storm as Tropical Depression 14 is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico, with a 70 percent chance of development in the next 48 hours. “A tropical depression or storm is likely to form later today or on Sunday,” said the NHC in its latest updates. It is likely to make landfall on Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.

The next tropical storm to form will carry the name Milton.

The NHC warned, “Regardless of development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next day or two and over much of Florida late this weekend through the middle of next week.”

This new threat follows Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26, causing widespread flooding and over 200 fatalities across six states.

Additionally, the NHC is monitoring two other hurricanes in the Atlantic: Hurricane Kirk in the central subtropical region and Hurricane Leslie in the eastern tropical Atlantic.

UDP Rejects Calls for Leadership Change

The United Democratic Party says that its National Party Council has confirmed decisions made at the National Convention on August 13, 2023, and reiterated in an April 7, 2024 resolution. This statement comes as October 20th nears—the date when the Alliance for Democracy led by Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton has scheduled a “UDP National Convention” in Belize City.

The UDP says that “The Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader Hugo Patt, Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, and Deputy Party Chairman Alberto August are elected to serve until the National Convention to be held immediately after the next general election.”

It added, “The National Party Council makes it emphatically clear to all delegates, party members, and supporters that the United Democratic Party is not conducting a national convention until it is due immediately after the next general elections.”

“The National Party Council condemns the lies, defamation and personal attacks against our duly elected Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader, Hugo Patt, Party Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, Deputy Party Chairman, Alberto August, and other Party Officials.”

The statement also says that the party supports Peyrefitte in rejecting petitions to alter these decisions and backs the Central Executive’s resolutions regarding John Saldivar, Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, and Beverly Williams, as well as Phillip Willoughby and Andrew Bradley, to align with their reform plans for the upcoming elections.