hipolito - Greater Belize Media

Belize Beef Fest & Rodeo Returns to Belmopan

The Belize Livestock Producers’ Association (BLPA) has officially announced the return of the highly anticipated Belize Beef Fest & Rodeo. Now in its fourth edition, the 2025 event is scheduled to take place in August at the National Agriculture and Trade Showgrounds in Belmopan.

The annual celebration serves as a showcase of Belize’s livestock industry. According to the association, this year’s event promises a full day of activities, including the crowd-favourite rodeo competition, the sizzling BLPA grilling challenge, and an array of locally produced, high-quality meats for visitors to sample and enjoy.

Organisers say the festival is more than just entertainment. They say it’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships among livestock producers, consumers, and stakeholders.

Belize Begins Wheat Trials

Belize has launched its first major wheat varietal trials, aiming to reduce its heavy reliance on wheat imports. The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with CARDI and CIMMYT, is testing 100 wheat varieties suited for high temperatures and semi-arid conditions.

The trials will take place in the Cayo and Orange Walk Districts, with initial results expected by the end of 2025.

Between 2020 and 2024, Belize imported an estimated 45 to 50 million pounds of wheat and an additional 7 to 8 million pounds of wheat flour annually, amounting to nearly BZ $30 million in yearly import costs.

The ministry sees the wheat trials as a strategic move to reduce this dependency and enhance local agricultural resilience.

Hunt For Murderer(s) Underway

A tragic double homicide has rocked the Cedar Street community in Belize City, where 66-year-old Evadnie Jones and her 39-year-old son, Luke Jones, were fatally shot in their yard on Friday night.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a “senseless and brutal” act of violence against innocent civilians.

“There is absolutely no justification for murder, especially the cold-blooded killing of innocent civilians,” said Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa.

The Belize Police Department has launched a full investigation and pledged to act swiftly to bring those responsible to justice. Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado said, “We will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.“ We are committed to protecting every citizen and working with communities to counter those who seek to disrupt peace and instill fear.”

In response to the incident, additional police resources have been deployed to the area to prevent further violence or retaliation. The ministry said there is an urgent need for stronger gun and gang legislation to address the growing threat of random violence.

PUP Dominates 2025 Village Council Elections

The 2025 Village Council Elections officially concluded on Sunday, July 6, with the People’s United Party (PUP) emerging as the dominant political force across Belize’s rural communities.

According to results, the PUP secured a commanding 83.01% of all available seats, winning control in 158 of the 190 villages or communities that participated in the six-week-long electoral process. A total of 1,330 candidates were elected or endorsed, with 1,104 of them running under the PUP banner.

The main opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), secured 15 councils, while independent and third-party candidates won in 7.

Briceño Backs Bold Justice Reforms at CARICOM Summit

Prime Minister John Briceño is in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he is representing Belize at the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He departed the country on Sunday and is scheduled to return on July 10. In his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde is acting as Prime Minister.

PM Briceño delivered remarks at the swearing-in of Justice Winston Anderson as the new President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Speaking in his role as CARICOM’s Lead Head of Government for Justice and Governance, Briceño praised Justice Anderson’s legal legacy and called him “a force for transformation” in the region’s legal system. He noted that Anderson’s influence has helped shape the court’s evolution over its first two decades.

“His intellect, vision, and leadership have had a profound impact on Caribbean jurisprudence,” Briceño stated.

The Dialogue was convened as part of the regional commitment under the George-Bridge Declaration, signed in November 2024, which outlines CARICOM’s coordinated strategy to combat crime and violence.

The meeting, which respected constitutional boundaries such as judicial independence and the separation of powers, addressed pressing concerns about public safety and the capacity of regional systems to respond effectively to escalating criminal threats.

The 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit continues this week with a focus on justice reform, regional integration, and economic development.

BAPDA Condemns Killing of Disabled Man

The Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) is speaking out against what it describes as a disturbing rise in violence targeting members of the disability community. BAPDA issued a strong condemnation over the weekend following the tragic murder of Luke Jones, a disabled Belize City resident, and his mother, Evadnie Jones.

The two were found shot to death outside their home on Cedar Street Saturday afternoon. Residents reported hearing gunfire in the area the night before.

Luke Jones was a member of BAPDA and had been living with a physical disability.

In its statement, BAPDA called the recent wave of attacks against persons with disabilities a “grave violation of human rights” and an example of “deep-rooted stigma and discrimination.” BAPDA says that all disabled persons deserve to live with dignity, safety, and access to equal opportunity, without fear of violence or marginalization.

“We are devastated by this senseless act and extend our deepest condolences to the Jones family in this time of unimaginable grief,” BAPDA wrote.

It added, “Such violent attacks are not only repulsive crimes, but they also expose vicious social attitudes that dehumanize and exclude people with disabilities.”

BAPDA is calling on government authorities, civil society groups, and the wider public to take a stand against ableism and to work toward creating a safer, more inclusive Belize.

“No one’s life should be considered less valuable because of a disability,” the group concluded.

Man Injured in Early-Morning Highway Shooting

A 23-year-old Belize City man is recovering after being shot during an apparent attempted murder early Saturday morning on the Phillip Goldson Highway.

Police say that around 5:00 a.m., officers were alerted that a gunshot victim had arrived at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Upon arrival, investigators met Jermaine Garnett Jr., a resident of Jasmine Street, Belize City, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the body.

Initial investigations revealed that around 3:40 a.m., Garnett was riding a black and red Meilun motorcycle on the highway, heading into Belize City from the direction of Ladyville. He was reportedly being followed by a blue Buick SUV driven by another man.

As they passed in front of Agua Magica Water, another vehicle pulled up alongside the SUV and opened fire. Seconds later, the same vehicle drove up next to Garnett and fired several more shots, one of which struck him.

Scenes of Crime technicians processed the area and recovered several expended 9mm shell casings. Garnett was issued a medico-legal form and treated for his injury. He was later released from the hospital.

Woman Alleges Rape After Meeting Man She Knew in Nightclub

Police are investigating an alleged rape that reportedly took place in the early hours of Saturday morning near Newtown Barracks, following a night out at a popular nightclub.

According to police, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on July 5, 2025. A Belize City woman reported that she had gone to Shisha Lounge with friends to socialise. While at the club, she encountered a 21-year-old man she knew.

She told investigators that the man asked her to go for a walk, and the two left the club together. They walked to the area near the corner of 9th Street and Newtown Barracks, where a vehicle was parked. Once inside the vehicle, the woman claims she was sexually assaulted.

A formal statement was recorded, and the scene was visited by investigators. A medical examination was conducted on the complainant, and the vehicle in question was photographed and impounded.

Police have confirmed that the person of interest from Jasmine Street, Belize City, is currently under investigation.

Fisherman Escapes Gunfire In Belize City

A Belize City fisherman says he narrowly escaped with his life after being pursued and shot at by four armed men last week Thursday afternoon.

Thirty-year-old Adrian August reported to police that he was unloading lobster at the National Fishermen Cooperative when a white and green boat approached with four dark-skinned men onboard. August told investigators that one of the men, known to him as “Red Head,” threatened him verbally, while the other three brandished firearms.

Sensing danger, August boarded his 20-foot black fishing boat Kristina along with a crew member and left the dock, heading toward Lindo’s Alley to refuel. As they passed under the Swing Bridge, August noticed the same white and green vessel trailing them closely.

He accelerated in an attempt to evade them, but near Conch Shell Bay, his passenger jumped overboard as the pursuing boat caught up. One of the assailants reportedly shouted, “I wa kill you, hag, I wa kill you!” before the group opened fire. Gunshots struck the vessel and disabled one of its engines.

The armed men then fled the scene, and August returned to the cooperative to report the incident.

More Details of Broad-Daylight Shooting

More details have emerged regarding Friday afternoon’s shooting on Amandala Drive in Belize City.

Around 4:16 p.m., 26-year-old Earl Anderson, a Belizean handyman of Vernon Street, was socialising with three other men in the yard when a gunman on a bicycle rode up and unleashed a volley of gunfire.

Anderson was struck twice in the body. Miraculously, the other men escaped unscathed.

Police responded quickly to the scene, and Anderson was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit in very critical condition.

Authorities have not yet released a motive for the shooting, but the investigation remains active.