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OJ Elrington is on Bail for Rape

Meanwhile, in the lower court, Elrington was accompanied by his father, Hubert Elrington, and fellow attorneys Norman Rodriguez and Michelle Trapp. The Senior Magistrate explained to Elrington that due to the nature of the offense, she will not take a plea. When the prosecutor was asked if he had any objection to bail being granted to the accused, he raised no objection. With that, bail was offered in the sum of eight thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. The conditions of his bail include reporting to the Belama Police Station every Tuesday, as well as surrendering his travel documents to the Clerk of Court. We spoke with Hubert Elrington and Norman Rodriguez following the arraignment.

Hubert Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“We believe that it‘s going to be very difficult for any of them to defeat us in a criminal trial. That‘s all.”

Court Reporter

“Can I ask a question? We know that the norm here at court is that persons who are accused and charged with rape, normally there is an objection to bail. Today, there was no objection in court today. As it relates to the law, tell us how that was.”

Hubert Elrington

“I wasn’t in court when that was gone through so you would have to ask somebody who was there.”

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-law

“As it relates to the bail, there was no objection and if there was no objection then we really have nothing more to day.”

Court Reporter

“Okay, but as it relates to the law, does the offense of rape, does it appear as one of those offenses that the court can or cannot grant bail?”

Norman Rodriguez

“It is not listed in Section 16 of the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. As a result of that, the magistrate can grant bail and she did.”

Court Reporter

“Tell us a little bit about the conditions to his bail.

Norman Rodriguez

“It‘s the usual, he has to sign in once a week. He must stay or not come within a certain distance of the virtual complainant or any of the prosecution‘s witnesses. He is to surrender his passport and if he needs to leave the country, he has to get permission from the court. It‘s normal.”

D.P.P. Comments on Charge Dismissed Against Accused Murderer

An accused murderer is a free man tonight after a crown counsel in the D.P.P.’s office failed to show up in court. As we reported on Thursday, Shawn Hertular saw the charge dismissed by Justice Derick Sylvester because no one from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appeared in court. Hertular was accused of fatally stabbing Miguel Zaiden in November 2021. Prior to that charge, he was sentenced to twenty years in prison for a previous homicide. So, the man who was once sentenced for murder and charged with another is now a free man. So, whose fault is it? That’s what we asked the Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, today.

Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“Sometime ago that file was assigned to a particular counsel, and that counsel did not show up to work or to court yesterday. and that matter will be dealt with. I don’t want to speak any further on it.”

Hipolito Novelo

“But the murder charge that has been dismissed, right?

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“That was the indication from the marshal.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Yes. He’s basically a free man.”

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“At the moment. Yeah.”

Hipolito Novelo

“(He) can’t be charged with the same crime again.

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“We will make a determination as to how we are moving forward with the matter.”

Hipolito Novelo

“So who’s ultimately to blame here? Basically no one from the DPP’s office was sent. Is it you to blame?

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“You’ve all been here. When I have matters, I show up on time.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Insubordination from your staff? I know we had issues between you and them in the past and the Attorney General’s office. Indication about ongoing tensions?”

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“I said it will be dealt with. There was a counsel who should have appeared to conduct that trial yesterday and that counsel did not appear and that was the consequence.”

Convicted Criminal Anke Doehm May Face More Charges

Anke Doehm is the sixty-three-year-old American woman who the High Court found guilty of cruelty to a child earlier this week. Doehm was remanded to the Belize Central Prison after a nine-member jury unanimously found that she neglected her adopted daughter, thirteen-year-old Fay Lin Cannon, who ultimately died because of that neglect. She is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday, March fourteenth. Doehm may also be facing additional criminal charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, told News Five that based on what was revealed during the trial, her office will be pursuing additional charges against Doehm.

Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“Yes, Anke Doehm was convicted on Monday of cruelty to a child. Unfortunately, during the course of preparing for and prosecuting that case, a lot more came to light. And it may be that further action may be taken against her in the coming months, it may be.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is your office looking for the maximum penalty in this case?”

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“I don’t think in the circumstances she will get the maximum penalty, but we’re certainly looking at a custodial sentence.”

Hipolito Novelo

“What’s the maximum sentence that she can get?

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“10 years.”

C.C.J. Dismisses Murderer’s Appeal

The Caribbean Court of Justice today dismissed an appeal brought by Nevis Betancourt. He is the man who was convicted of the murder of Jose Castellanos. In July 2017, Castellanos was shot inside a restaurant in Santa Elena Town. Betancourt was subsequently indicted and tried for murder. He was convicted and sentenced to twenty years in prison. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction. Betancourt appealed to the C.C.J. on the ground that the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the trial judge’s rejection of the defense of self-defense. The trial judge accepted the case for the prosecution, which was that Betancourt entered a restaurant, shot Castellanos twice before Castellanos chopped him with a machete. Betancourt continued to shoot Castellanos, who left the restaurant and thereafter died. The C.C.J. ruled that Castellanos did not act in self-defense, but rather that he was the aggressor. The Crown was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal.

Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“Yes, I had to unfortunately come out of court to go to receive that judgment and the appeal was dismissed and the conviction was affirmed.”

Hipolito Novelo

“On what grounds?

Cheryl Lynn Vidal

“Their argument was that there was a third version of events that the trial judge had not taken into account and so there was a resulting miscarriage of justice. Our response was that there was in fact no third version because on the facts that the trial judge accepted she had already found that he was not in fact acting in self defense. He was the aggressor and the court found favor with our arguments.”

PM Briceño Introduces 2024 Budget

This morning, during a sitting of the House of Representatives that succeeded a landslide victory at the polls in the recent municipal elections, the Briceño administration presented the 2024 budget. It’s another billion dollar financial plan that is expected to be implemented as of April first, the start of the new fiscal year. Prime Minister John Briceño broke down the budget into recurrent expenditures, including government’s massive wage bill, goods and service, as well as debt servicing.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“A total of $1.604 billion is proposed. Of this sum, approximately $1.1 billion will be recurrent spending covering wages, pensions, goods and services and transfers and debt service interest costs. In addition to recurrent costs, $430.7 million is programmed for capital investments during the new fiscal year of which some one hundred and forty-six million dollars or so-called Capital 3 funding drawn down from the various loans and grants already approved. One hundred and thirty million dollars is the amount projected for amortization payments. That is the repayment of principals on loans already contracted. The primary surplus is projected at $30.6 or 0.46% of GDP, while the overall deficit is projected at $85.842 million or 1.3% of GDP. Let me put this into perspective for all of us to understand the purpose of each dollar government spends. Thirty cents of every dollar will be for the wages of public officers. Seven cents of every dollar for public officers’ pensions. Eighteen cents of every dollar for operational costs to government, such as utilities and transportation. Seven cents for interest on loans and the remaining twenty-seven cents for capital expenditures which includes the funding of all projects and programs undertaken by government.”

G.O.B. Says 23 Cents of Every Dollar is Spent on Programs and Projects

PM Briceño then proceeded to emphasize that of every dollar government earns, only twenty-three cents is invested in social programs and infrastructure projects. He also spoke on public investment programs, including the expansion of National Health Insurance.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“In effect, seventy-three cents of every dollar simply keeps the machinery of governance running, leaving twenty-seven cents of every dollar for programs and projects. Now when we took office in 2020, the percentage of total spending available for programs and projects was at twenty-three cents on the dollar spent. In just three years then, we have managed to shrink government’s operating cost by more than five percent, allowing more money to finance programs and projects that will benefit the people. To a sampling of the principal capital projects that will be included in this year’s public investment programs. Of course, these all line up with Belize’s medium term development strategy, as well as the overarching goals of Plan Belize. Thirty-five million dollars to fund the continued expansion of NHI. Three point five million dollars for hemo-dialysis support programs. Twenty-one million to help fund the growing payables related to UDP land acquisitions. Ten million dollars for the repair and maintenance of major highways. Seven point five million dollars to support the ongoing expansion of solid waste transfer stations. Six million dollars for low-income homes and housing repairs. Five point seven million dollars for another phase of the PSW Goldson Highway rehabilitation, four million dollars for the upgrading of the Guinea Grass Road. The paving of the road, Abi Mai, yes.”

PM Briceño Focuses on Health in 2024 Budget Speech

The prime minister only focused on two primary areas, including health, during this morning’s budget presentation. PM Briceño also spoke about the recent breaking of ground for the construction of the San Pedro General Hospital. He also spoke about CABEI’s involvement in funding assessments of existing health facilities across the country.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Now turning to my favorite minister, the Minister of Health. Turning now to health and wellness, among the highest core priorities of this administration is the provision of health and wellness care and services. Based on this conviction, so many massive investments are being made across the public healthcare system. These investments include, for example, CABEI’s funding of a modernization assessment of hospitals in Punta Gorda, Orange Walk Town and Belize City. This needs assessment will be followed by project financing to implement the modernization projects. Only last week, accompanied by the area representative and our mayor of San Pedro, we broke ground for the new hospital in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. How many times we mi vote da money in the National Assembly? The former Deputy Prime Minister could remind me. We bring dis bout three times eena di budget, that we were going to build, but it was never built. But this government, through the cooperative bill with Taiwan, government will invest thirty-three point four million dollars in a first-class, fully equipped hospital. As the saying goes, dehn talk, we work. Dehn promise, we deliver.”

Will PM Briceño Call General Elections Early?

Tonight, Prime Minister John Briceño is celebrating victory in eight municipalities, following Wednesday’s municipal elections. He says that the results at the polls indicate that Belizeans continue to support Plan Belize. PM Briceño thanked voters for coming out to exercise their democratic right. So, will Prime Minister Briceño call the general elections early? Here is what he told us.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Certainly I think I need to start by that I am humbled by the results. I was quite optimistic. I was out campaigning across the country and I was feeling, you have a sixth sense after a while, and I felt that we were going to win and that we were going to do well. What I didn’t not expect was to do so well. The margin increase is almost unprecedented, to hear that after four years in government that your approval ratings usually ninety nine out of a hundred you are starting to go down. IN this case we improved the approval ratings by the people because we won by an even bigger margin than what we did in 2020 and 2021, so I am humbled by that, but at the same time it comes at a great responsibility because it means that the people are going to expect even more work from us. And it is something we take seriously and we expect to continue to work very hard to be able to deliver to the Belizean people.”

Reporter

“With the success of municipals elections, will this prompt you to call early elections.”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“No, we are not going to call elections. Elections is slated for 2025 and so no there is going to be no elections in 2024.”

Why Aren’t Youths Showing Up To Vote?

The data from polling stations across the country from Wednesday reveals that voter turnout among the youth demographic was significantly low. Prime Minister Briceño was asked if the figures are a sign that youths are disenchanted with both major political parties and are not buying into their ideals. He responded by saying that the voter turnout among youths has consistently been low.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Let me put it this way that has always been the case. All the time, because young people in many instances they are not thinking about a mortgage or what we are doing. They are concentrated in school work, their social life or concentrated in getting settled in their work. That has been not only in Belize but all over the world. It takes time for young people to really start to get engaged. Even my sons who live in apolitical family, they go to vote and support the PUP, of course they support me, but they would not be keen in discussing what government is doing unless there is something to say ok well hey dad is this true. That is normal everywhere, when you see the numbers start to go up, when you see they hit thirty and above you see people start to become more concerned about the government, because now they have a family, they have to make sure their children could go to school, make sure we have hospitals, they can get scholarships, that they could get a decent jobs, making sure the government is not wasting their money, increasing taxes, these are the things that happen as we become and adult and that is normal everywhere. Orange Walk Town had one of the highest; almost sixty four percent of people turnout, but the point is that our people came out to vote. It is the opposition; their supporters are disheartened they do not like what they are seeing in their party so they chose not to come out. If they do not want to come out that is not my problem, t hat is their problem. My challenge is to ensure that our people come out and vote and our people came out in record numbers to support the PUP government.”

PM Briceño Says Belmopan Residents Rejected John Saldivar

The People’s United Party is also celebrating victory in Belmopan. This is the second consecutive municipal elections in the Capital City that the P.U.P. has secured. Only this time around, the results reveal that the United Democratic Party has made some gains in that municipality when compared to the March 2021 results. PM Briceño was asked if P.U.P. Area Representative Oscar Mira should be concerned about John Saldivar’s candidacy in Belmopan for the 2025 general elections, given the figures.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well if that is the case we also in Orange Walk we also lost some ground because the last time we won about eighty-five percent and this time we won by about eighty-three percent. I think that it is much ado about nothing. Belmopan we won convincingly and that is what was important. Also, to make the point that when it comes to Mr. Saldivar, I think that he was probably a part of the reason why the people rejected the UDP candidate here in Belmopan, because he made this a referendum on him. And, he got, now I think he knows exactly what the people of Belmopan think about him, that his days are over and he needs to try and find a job, because the people do not want his kind of leadership. I believe that Mr. Cawich will do an excellent job as mayor. He is not combative. He is humble, hard working and liked by everyone. He will be reaching out to everyone and he immediately demonstrated that when he reached out to the area representative because it was no secret that the area representative was inclined to support another candidate. They put that aside and decided to work, so we saw the results of that partnership.”