A heated debate over the U.S. presidential election has landed two Belizean men in court. They are thirty-eight-year-old Joshua Rivero and sixty-three-year-old Leroy Young, who is accused of common assault for allegedly spitting in Rivero’s face. Allegations are that on June twenty-eight, Rivero was at his business located in the Michael Finnegan Market when Young began perusing stalls in the vicinity. Rivero claims that Young initiated a conversation about the U.S. presidential candidates, which quickly turned heated, causing Rivero to say, quote, if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen, end quote. Rivero said the man began to walk away, but while doing so, stopped in front of Rivero’s stall from outside the fence and spat in his direction. Rivero said the spit hit him on the left side of his face, so he informed the market security guard about the incident and the police were called in. Young, who is well-known for selling bottled on herbs on Albert Street, appeared unrepresented in court this morning. He was read a single charge of common assault, which he plead not guilty to. There were no objections to bail being granted so he was offered bail to the sum of two hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount.
Author: news5assistant
Boyfriend Jailed for Stealing from Girlfriend’s Purse
Tonight, a man is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was accused of stealing from his girlfriend’s purse while she was in the shower. He is thirty-six-year-old Albert Perez, a Belize City resident and call center agent. Allegations are that on Tuesday, Perez’s girlfriend, thirty-eight-year-old, Kimisha August, went into her bathroom around six ten a.m. to take a shower and took her purse containing one hundred and fifty-two dollars with her which she hung on the knob of her window. According to August, a few minutes later, Perez entered the bathroom and took her purse before exiting the room. August claims that she followed him out of the room, begging him to return it to her. Upon checking the purse, August saw that forty dollars was missing from inside it. She went to the police for assistance and upon searching Perez, the police found the forty dollars on his person. Both parties were escorted to the police station where a statement was recorded from August who requested court action against her boyfriend. Perez appeared unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was offered bail in the sum of one thousand dollars, plus a surety of the same amount. Before his arraignment concluded, the court record revealed that Perez was in debt to the court from 2020 in the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars of which he was ordered to pay at least two hundred dollars by end of the day. Perez could not make the payment and late this evening he was escorted up to the Belize Central Prison until he can do so. His next court date is set for August nineteenth, 2024.
Belizean Diaspora Gives Back to the Community
This summer, at least sixty children are being provided with the resources and guidance to enhance their learning experience through the Rogers Stadium Physical Cultural Sporting Club. For three weeks students across Belize City participated in supplementary classes and extracurricular activities funded by community members in Belize and the diaspora. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the camp at Gwen Lizarraga High School to learn more about the initiative.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For many Belizeans living abroad, the desire to assist their loved ones at home is shown one way or another. Whether sending a barrel of clothes or school supplies, or providing groceries for those fallen under hard times, there are many ways to give back to the communities that raised them. At the Rogers Stadium Physical Cultural Sporting Club, this is achieved by funding the annual educational summer camp hosted in Belize City. Mike Gentle, the education director who has been teaching for almost thirty years, tells us why he makes the journey from New York every year to participate in the program.
Mike Gentle, Education director, R.S.P.C.S.C.
“I like to think of it as an enrichment program. I do STEM in the state, so I did a couple of classes in engineering, and have just a freethinking kind of thing, try to get these kids to generate their own thoughts and design; so that’s basically where we start with our engineering class.”
Britney Gordon
“And why do you think it’s important to travel to participate in activities like this?”
“It’s important because these kids need to learn how to think. The education system, for the most part, in Belize, and from my experience in the States, is geared to training students. They don’t teach students to think independently or be creative. So education in Belize, especially now that I’m here, is a training system. And we need to start training and start educating.”
Kawhi Enriquez, Student
“Well the camp program is very fun, and the teachers are very helpful, my teachers name miss Cadle, and she is very helpful to me.”
Britney Gordon
“What kind of subjects do you like to learn about?”
“Math, is my favorite subject, language and expressive arts.”
Britney Gordon
“What do you like about expressive arts?”
“That you can express your feelings and your thoughts, through drawing.”
Britney Gordon
“What do you want to be when you get older?”
“I am still figuring that out, but I think I want to be a doctor.”
Rogers Stadium Physical Cultural Club is made up of Belizeans residing in Belize and the Diaspora and supports the advancement of youth in Belize. Sports Director, Harold Grant runs the camp each year so that children will be exposed to experiences beyond what is taught in a classroom and boost their self-esteem so that they can strive towards a brighter future.
Harold Grant, Sports director, R.S.P.C.S.C.
“And we need to give back to the kids. Our kids is not as educated as the kids in the states. So, we have to make sure that we give back to them and try to in, in some way, let them know that they are somebody to be loved by people love themselves so that they can learn and be educated like the rest of the people in the world. No, our kids here in Belize, they are behind, with education, far. So, mister Gentle, he comes in from the diaspora, and he will teach the kids, and to take them on computers or stuff like that, he will be teaching them. We’re teaching them algorithms. We’re teaching them robotics. Last year, one of the kids took them, put a robot together. You know, so, he have some very interesting things for the kids them to learn here and Belize that we don’t have here, in Belize. So, he’s the man that’s really pushing behind this, this education thing.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Learning How to Assess Suicide
Thirty-three participants from across the public service attended a workshop today where they learned how to conduct assessments on suicide. Every year, as many as thirty-six Belizeans die by suicide. What the Community Rehabilitation Department has sought to do is train the trainers in an effort to detect suicide ideation and provide the necessary resources for persons to get help.
Onando St. Bernard, Counseling Coordinator, C.R.D.
“We are providing a train the trainers training on suicide assessments and safety planning. So the reason why we are doing this is that we want to train as many people as possible to go out there and train people on how to better assess for suicide and creating a safety plan. So the participants that we have today are people from the different government offices, the different ministries and what we’re trying to do is that we’re trying to make sure that we’re looking after our government’s staff. So many of these participants do also include counselors, social workers, doctors, the P.N.P. nurses. What we want them to do is we want them to go back to their offices and train their staff, so that they can provide the support for their staff and also for the public that they serve as well. So it’s twofold in that sense, right. So that they’ll go back, train their staff and then their staff will be better, they’ll have more knowledge on how to better assess and do those safety plans for their staff and then also for the individuals that they serve. So it’s three parts, we’re going to train them on how to do the assessments, how to do the safety plans and then also on how to connect them to the counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists who are the individuals who will then take on the safety plans, things like that and continue on working with those individuals who are showing suicide ideation or suicide intent. All these are very important because if you look at the numbers, the statistics, at about thirty-six individuals on a yearly basis, more or less who commit suicide and so we want to bring that number down.”
Three Life Sentences for Ranguy Triple Murder
The infamous triple murder of the Skeen and Vellos family in 2012, concluded in court today after twelve years. In November of that year, Robert Vellos Senior, his wife Karen Skeen, and her daughter, Teena Skeen, were callously murdered inside their Ladyville home, having all been shot in the head and, in the case of Karen Skeen, her throat was cut. The suspect in the grisly homicide was Karen Skeen’s son, Jared Ranguy. The trial was a long-drawn-out affair, having taken over twelve years to arrive at a conclusion. Today, the Vellos and Skeen families breathed a sigh of relief after Ranguy was handed three life sentences. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been twelve long years since a family said goodbye to a mother, a father and a daughter after they were brutally murdered inside their home in the early hours of November twenty-fifth, 2012. Robert Vellos Senior, his wife Karen Skeen, and her daughter Teena Skeen, are the victims of this heinous crime and since that day, their surviving family members have fought for justice to be handed down to the suspected murderer. That man is Jared Ranguy, the son of Karen Skeen, who was today sentenced to three life sentences in prison for the execution of his stepfather, sister, and mother. Krystal Holder, niece of the late Karen Skeen, expressed the family’s relief after the final trial today.
Krystal Holder, Neice of Deceased
“I would say that we’re feeling emotional relieved and grateful that this long journey is finally over And that justice has to be served. The loss of our loved ones, it was immense. It was profound because we’re such a poor state. And, so it was shocking, and it was truly a tragedy. And we have been coming here to these court sessions for twelve years. Some of the family behind me have been, they’ve been at every court session. So we are relieved. However, the sentence, it does not take away the. The deep pain that we feel and that we will continue to feel probably for the rest of our lives because the absence of Aunt Karen, Teena, and mister Robert, it’s felt every single day and they are dearly missed, but we are grateful for this closure.”
File: July 19th, 2023, Rene Skeen, Sibling of Deceased
“Justice for, like I said, my sister Karen, my niece Teena and my brother-in-law Robert. Justice for them, that’s the most important thing at this point. However, what I want to see, or what we want to see, we want to see him found guilty and spend the rest of his life in jail, that’s what we want to see. At this point, the way the family feels is that “justice delayed, justice denied”. It’s not about just us, the family, the surviving family but the three victims. It becomes a point where we feel like Jared, who allegedly committed these murders, is manipulating the system and it’s working on his behalf.”
Godfrey Smith, Attorney of Ranguy
“We would have preferred a fixed sentence, which means it’s fixed. And once you’ve done a certain amount of time, then you would be free. The main, or one of the main things we were relying on was the forensic psychiatric report of the United Kingdom Forensic Psychiatrist and a sleep specialist. Unfortunately, those reports could not be conclusive without having hooked up mister Ranguy to sleep machines, sleep study machines in the prison. The cost was too prohibitive. We couldn’t go that far and as a result, the experts could only go so far as to say non-REM parasomnia, in common parlance sleepwalking, could not be ruled out.”
“I think it would have been better if he had spoken to us and apologized. I think that would have meant much more. We are grateful that he pled guilty and that today is the last day that we have to be here and this is over. I think that now, individually, all of us have our own journeys that we want to get to forgiveness. We want to be at peace, and we hope that today, our family members are able to finally sleep in peace.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
M.O.H.W. Investigates Threats Against Southern Regional Hospital Staff
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is investigating a violent incident reported at the Southern Regional Hospital on the night of July fourteenth, 2024. The investigation was launched after the incident was reported by this news station on Monday night. As we reported, two traffic accident victims were brought to the hospital, where nurses promptly secured them and locked the doors to prevent overcrowding. Despite these precautions, a group attempted to force their way inside, prompting a police call after midnight. The injured persons were subsequently transferred to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital without a security escort, and staff received threats from those trying to enter the emergency room. The ministry’s investigation revealed that the staff at the Accident and Emergency Unit faced violent behavior from individuals claiming to be friends or relatives of the accident victims who arrived around 10:54 p.m. Approximately thirty minutes after the victims’ arrival, these individuals forced their way into the triage area and tried to enter the Emergency Department. In response, the A&E doors were closed to allow staff to provide uninterrupted care. A female voice was heard threatening to break down the door if access was not granted, accompanied by loud banging. Hospital security attempted to defuse the situation but were unsuccessful, necessitating police intervention. In its release, the minister condemned the aggressive and threatening behavior, emphasizing that such actions hinder medical staff from performing their duties effectively. The Ministry stressed that medical emergencies require staff to have adequate space and privacy to provide life-saving care and that any obstruction or threat to medical personnel is unacceptable.
G.L.C. Fines O.J Elrington and Orders Him to Pay Pastor Dozie
Attorney Orson “O.J.” Elrington has been fined by the General Legal Council to the tune of fifteen thousand dollars after findings of grave professional misconduct. The G.L.C. determined that he breached three rules of the Legal Profession (Code of Conduct) Rules. The decision follows a complaint against Elrington that was filed by a former client. In May, 2022, Pastor Dozie retained Elrington to institute a constitutional claim against the Social Security Board to challenge certain provisions of the Social Security Act which deals with the recovery of widower’s pension under its provisions, which were alleged to be discriminatory. After the filing of the claim, settlement discussions between Elrington and S.S.B. resulted in the filing of a Consent Order in September 2023. Pastor Dozie later complained that Elrington entered into the consent order without his approval and that Elrington was,(quote), derelict in his duty in not securing the approval of Pastor Dozie as to the terms of the consent order, (end quote). The G.L.C., in its decision, also ordered that Elrington pays Pastor Dozie a sum of forty-six thousand, five hundred and eighty-eight dollars by July nineteenth. Earlier today, we spoke with attorney Elrington.
Orson “O.J” Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“The GLC, I respect their decision and the decision has already been adhered to. It’s already been paid.”
Isani Cayetano
“What do you take away from this entire ordeal, in the sense that you had a client, the business relationship between yourself, as a council, and your client, at some point, went sideways, for want of a better description, and you were brought before this particular body?”
Orson Elrington
“Well, of course the historical context of that is very important because, again, this is one of the many matters which I have taken on essentially pro bono on behalf of people. This was one of them and so oddly enough, it is in trying to assist others that we are in this position right now. Mr. Dozie contacted us, he had applied for a benefit from social security which was refused. He got zero dollars. On that challenge, I advised that he could bring a constitutional claim to challenge the legislation itself, the constitutionality of the legislation. Of course, you would know [that] it is rare in Belize’s history that you challenge the legislation itself and we were successful in convincing the officials and the government that it made no sense to proceed to further litigation because we were already in litigation and the point was that it was unconstitutional and we came to a settlement. But what is of importance here is that Mr. Dozie went from zero dollars to almost fifty thousand dollars.”
Isani Cayetano
“So while you were successful at arriving at a landmark decision it is marred by the fact that you have been brought before the General Legal Council for misconduct. That’s bittersweet for anybody who would say, “Look, I have litigated for something that is groundbreaking on one hand, but on the other hand, I am being dragged before a body to review my conduct.”
Orson Elrington
“And I would double it, to say that it was a pro bono matter. It was essentially a pro bono matter which was based on contingency. We have accepted the fine, it’s a significant fine, but the damage to my legal reputation is far more reaching than that and so it makes us have to question every single matter that we take on pro bono, every matter that we take on on contingency and therefore have to be even more stringent.”
A Tough Year for Attorney O.J Elrington
Viewers would recall that earlier this year, O.J. Elrington was charged for sexual offenses after being accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a pair of women following a night out on the city. While that matter is still before the courts, a few weeks ago, images of the well-known attorney were being circulated on social media. Those images depict various sexual acts in which Elrington was engaged in with several women. The decision of the General Legal Council adds to what appears to be a tumultuous year for him. Earlier today, we asked Elrington how he’s managing under these rather strenuous circumstances.
Isani Cayetano
“From a layman’s perspective, someone on the outside looking in, it would seem as if though you’ve been having quite a difficult year, I mean everything that’s seemingly stacked up against you since the beginning of this year. How are you navigating all of these challenges or these obstacles?”
Orson “O.J’ Elrington, Attorney-at-Law
“With prayer, with reflection, with trying to see what is the lesson. In every obstacle that we face in life there is always some lesson and therefore you have to seek what that lesson is. When you are in the moment it is at times very difficult for you to see what is the lesson, almost impossible at times, but it’s always that we must seek what is the lesson out of this. The Almighty puts his heaviest burdens on the strongest soldiers and so we never try to question him. We always just have to look at what is the lesson out of his and deal with it that way. And with the support of friends and family and everybody and there are persons who, I always tell people this, you know, people who want to hate you will hate you. People who will like you will like you.”
P.U.P. Prepares for Toledo East By-election
Tonight, all eyes are on Toledo East where the two mass parties, as well as a third-party candidate, are preparing for Wednesday’s by-election to determine the next area representative for that constituency. The People’s United Party, since choosing Doctor Osmond Martinez as standard bearer, has been campaigning diligently across all twenty-one villages, and Punta Gorda Town, that make up Toledo East. Earlier today, we spoke by phone with Doctor Martinez who was in the remote village of Machakilha about his campaign efforts leading up to tomorrow’s political showdown.
On the phone: Dr. Osmond Martinez, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Toledo East
“We’ve been working, you know, towards July seventeenth and we are a few hours away from opening the polls, less than twenty-four hours, and we are excited. My team is excited, we are looking forward to just getting out there and cast the votes tomorrow morning, at seven in the morning.”
Isani Cayetano
“Do you believe that given the time that you’ve had to campaign, that you’ve perhaps reached every community that you’ve needed to reach within the Toledo East constituency?”
Osmond Martinez
“I have. I have been in all the communities, the twenty-one communities and one town and I have had the privilege to visit all the communities and the town. You know, one of our challenges is that people want to see us and continue to invite us to their homes and the time is short, but we are doing all our best and we will be visiting people up to six in the morning.”
Isani Cayetano
“What has the reception been in terms of the people that you’ve met on the ground and listening to some of their needs?”
Osmond Martinez
“Well the reception is excellent, you know, and it’s a testimony to what can or where we have seen that the reception is excellent is the response of the people during the Nomination Day. During the Nomination Day we had the largest crowd on Nomination Day and that was the largest of Toledo’s political history, not only Toledo East or Toledo West, where much of the or historically on Nomination Day you would have both constituencies.”
Osmond Martinez is Confident in Delivering Toledo East
Having covered as much ground as is necessary to secure his votes, Doctor Martinez is confident that he can deliver the constituency for the ruling party. According to the former C.E.O. turned politician, the results of the recent P.U.P. convention that saw him emerge victorious as standard bearer is an indication of his popularity in Toledo East.
Isani Cayetano
“How confident are you given the work that you’ve done, in terms of canvassing the constituency, going into tomorrow’s by-elections?”
On the Phone: Osmond Martinez, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Toledo East
“I am very confident and I will give you the historical data so that it can help you to understand why I am confident and this is empirical data. So, for example, in 2020, the U.D.P. candidate received about one thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one votes. During the convention, you know, which was more an internal party convention, it was an internal party convention, I received one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-two votes which means that during the convention I received more votes than what the U.D.P. candidate received in the 2020 general elections. So that on its own speaks for itself, you know, and the confidence and the timing is very important. Since the P.U.P. is the central government, it’s the government right now, the administration that is running the government, it makes it a little bit more viable for me, or much more viable because the people are asking the questions that the citizens are asking, or the residents of Toledo East are asking the opponents, you know, the other candidates. What will you do for us? And so, timing is important.”