News Five was contacted by a source at the Southern Regional Hospital. The person explained that in the early hours of this morning, two individuals were involved in a traffic accident four miles outside of Dangriga. The incident prompted an urgent response from local medical staff. The person explained that nurses on duty at the time heard the vehicle’s horn and immediately recognized the situation as an emergency. They swiftly opened the front door and came out with a hospital bed to assist the patients, who were then secured inside the facility. The door was locked to prevent other people from gathering in the area. Despite these precautions, attempts were made to force entry through another door and window. The police were contacted after midnight and arrived at the emergency room after two a.m. Due to the severity of their injuries, the patients needed to be transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The nurse and driver left without security escort. Meanwhile, threats were made against the staff by individuals attempting to gain access to the emergency room. There were three female nurses and two doctors on duty at the time. Although security personnel were present, they were unarmed, necessitating the call to the police. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was informed of the incident this morning and has pledged to investigate the matter. Adding to the challenges faced, it was noted that the emergency room’s security camera was not operational at the time of the incident.
We have been following his development as a boxer, and on Saturday night twenty-three-year-old Amir Rudon will face off against his toughest opponent yet. Juan “El Toro” Mendez has more recorded fights under his belt. He is five years older than Rudon and aims to knock out his opponents. This match is Rudon’s Super Lightweight debut at one hundred and forty pounds. He describes it as a steppingstone towards much bigger titles. On Saturday, News Five’s Paul Lopez joined Rudon inside Alpha Boxing Club. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
He is about to face his most challenging opponent to date. On Saturday, July twentieth, Amir “King Mir” Rudon will go head-to-head with Guatemalan Juan “El Toro” Mendez in a six round super lightweight bout.
Amir Rudon
Amir Rudon, Boxer, National Lightweight Champion
“It seems to me that he has a power punch or a knockout punch, his record is a eight wins, three losses, but seven of his victories are by way of knock out.”
On Saturday, Rudon gave reporters a sneak peek into his training routine inside Alpha Boxing Club. Against his sparring partner, Rudon shows a great balance between speed and patience as he looks for the openings his opponent may present. With much precision, Rudon lands a few punches to his opponent’s body and couple to the face. His combinations are quick and show off his ability to manage the space between his opponent and pounce at any given moment. Rudon took a couple blows and dodged many of the shots directed towards him.
Amir Rudon
“I keep wanting to fight against better opponents, better names, bigger fights, step up into the competition and fight for regional titles and those stuff, so this is definitely sort of a test, I think it’s safe to say it’s a test to see if you want to say, “if we are ready for what’s to come”, and I’m confident in passing the test for sure.”
Paul Lopez
“The more we talk to you over the years, we continue to see our circle of influence grow, we continue to see you inspire more and more young boxers because of your discipline and the commitment you have to that. How do you feel about the level of influence you have right now and the inspiration that you’re creating for many young boxers?”
Amir Rudon
“It is with upmost pride and honor to be in this position, and I don’t take it lightly, or anything like that. It’s definitely been a long journey and I appreciate all the support I am receiving. You know, I’m not alone, although it’s a lonely sport, I’m not alone, I have a great team of people around me. I got you guys; I got the country’s support and I appreciate every single thing and we’ll go to the top together.”
Rudon’s eyes are set on winning a world title for Belize. As a twenty-three-year-old boxer with a promising future in boxing ahead of him, getting there requires focus on the opponent at hand. Mendez is coming into this one with two consecutive wins under his belt. Rudon is five years younger than Mendez, and this will be his first time fighting at one hundred and forty pounds.
Paul Lopez
“How well do you believe you could hold out for 6 rounds, against such a high caliber of a opponent like the one you’re facing next week?”
Amir Rudon
“100% confident that I will be able to go 6 rounds with him, I’m preparing for much more than that, its only that this fight is going to be 6 rounds but I’m confident that could do more rounds, next week Saturday or you know, anytime its presented.”
Steven Heusner, one of the members of the group that manages Rudon, is confident that he is currently in the best form to face off against Mendez.
Steven Heusner
Steven Heusner, Member, Amir Rudon Managing Team
“He was three and zero, but now it is six and zero with three straight knock outs, and you know it’s been a lot of work behind the scenes training, getting, you know, we just came back from Houston from a five-week training, which was very extensive. You know so, the level is going up, it’s a lot of hard work, you know I’m calling Amir almost every day. His mom, Mr. Marin, my wife, you know the support team is there all the time.”
Paul Lopez
What sort of contributions does your team Make in deciding who’s the next opponent for Amir?
Steven Heusner
“Well, you know, it’s a, we’re building, so as we go along, we’re going up in the opponent’s quality, you know so this is the biggest step for him so far, and if we get past this one, September will be a bigger step for him as well.”
Amir Rudon
“Sorry to interrupt, when, when not if, when.” *laughs*
The fight is set to go down inside the Swift Hall in Belize City.
Steven Heusner
“It is going to be exciting, Amir has improved juristically, and we are guaranteeing a victory, and we want to see the opponent on the canvas.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Tournament has come to an end. Champions were declared for both male and female categories on Sunday.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
In the female category, Royal Fusion went up against Alvian Strikers for the championship trophy. Three minutes into the match Royal Fusion’s Amina Burgess sprinting down the other end, made the pass at midfield, got it back and wasted no time disposing the ball into the net. That’s one goal for Royal Fusion. Only two minutes later, Alvian Striker’s Aisha Reyes found an opportunity in front of the goalpost off a corner kick, and she made it count, tying the game. And just before the end of the first half, the referee called a handball against Alvian Strikers inside the penalty box. Jocelyn Zuniga gave Royal Fusion a two-to-one lead.
Up by one with one minute of play time remaining, Amira Burgess, up against multiple defenders found the opening at the top of the penalty box and sealed the victory for her team. The award for Best Forwards went to Royal Fusion’s Jocelyn Zuniga. Akila Baizar received the Best Goalkeeper Award, while Amina Burgess received the Most Goal and Playoff M.V.P. awards. Alvian Strikers also walked away with four personal awards, including the Regular Season M.V.P. and Best Coach.
The male finals were played immediately after that game. By this time, fans had filled the stands inside Berger Field. They were all in a celebratory mood as the atmosphere was filled with drumming and cheering. This was 2023 finals rematch between Ladyville Rising Stars and Belize United. Rising Stars lost to Belize United then and so they had something to prove. Belize United sought to defend their title and secure a fourth consecutive championship. After thirty-six minutes of hard-fought playtime from both teams, that even left Belize United’s goalkeeper gasping for air, this one came down to a penalty shootout.
Fredrick Garbutt was the first penalty kicker for Rising Stars. He managed to outplace goalkeeper Noe Flores. Belize United’s Ralph Mendonza sent the ball to the left of the goal. The goalkeeper predicted the kick but just could not get the stop. Kent Noralez kicked was the second kicker for Rising Stars and he easily counted the goal.
Belize United’s Jaime Dominquez returned the favor. The penalty shootout was now two goals each.Unfortunately for Rising Stars, Zion Gibson’s penalty kick was stopped by goalkeeper Noe Flores. Schae Gordon launched a rocket to goal for Belize United to put them up, three goals to two.
Jahan Kingston kept Ladyville Rising Stars in this one with a necessary goal. Christopher Gilharry counted the fourth straight made penalty shot for Belize United. Nigel Hulse Junior with the most critical shot for Rising Stars. Goalkeeper Noe Flores again with the stop and players and fans alike erupted in celebration.
Belize United secured its fourth straight Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Championship. Noe Flores was awarded the playoff M.V.P. trophy. So that brings an end to an exciting season for these young and promising athletes.
Over the course of the five days, Belize’s National Senior Women Football Team fought Bermuda in two friendly matches. The first match was held on Thursday night inside the F.F.B. Stadium. Belize won that match two goals to zero. A rematch was held on Saturday night at the same venue. Unfortunately for the National Senior Women Football Team, Bermuda came out on top in that one. They scored two goals, while team Belize was unable to get one in. The team will be travelling over the coming months to play additional friendly matches.
F.F.B.’s National Amateur Interdistrict Championship is well underway. A total of eight teams have qualified for the quarterfinals. What is making news tonight is Saturday night’s match between Napoles F.C. and Ceasar Ridge F.C. inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. These highlights are courtesy Accion Deportiva Belize.
The referee called a handball inside the penalty box against Ceasar Ridge at the eightieth minute. As you can see, the call is made off a play directly in front of the goal. A penalty shot was awarded to Napoles.
Moments later, a Ceasar Ridge player is issued a red card after he confronted the referee. That player’s anger clearly increased and attacked the referee, physically assaulting him on the field. Two police officers intervened, and a struggle ensued between the player and the officers as he was being escorted to the locker room. The F.F.B. is yet to issue a statement on this incident. Napoles went on to win the match four goals to zero.
Speaking of national teams, Belize’s National Under-Twenty-One Female Volleyball Team has a big week ahead of them. Belize is hosting the Twentieth U-Twenty-One Central American Volleyball Championship. The tournament is set to begin on Tuesday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The opening ceremony is scheduled for six p.m. Team Belize will play its first match against Nicaragua immediately after. This tournament comes on the heels of Belize bronze medal performance at the U-Twenty-Three Central American Championship in Honduras. Nicaragua won gold in that tournament. We heard from Team Captain, Gareth Bruce.
Gareth Bruce
Gareth Bruce, Team Captain
“I feel like all of us are well prepared, we are well developed and experienced since of our past tournaments. For most of us it is not our first time, but I can tell you that for my first time it was pretty exciting to travel and have your home crowd behind you supporting and have your coaches believing in you that you can do well and represent your country as best as you can.”
Team Belize is scheduled to play Honduras on Wednesday night, El Salvador on Friday and Guatemala on Saturday night. That will be the last game before the award ceremony.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Earlier this week, we heard from the Commissioner of Police on a viral video showing a police officer pistol whipping an individual in San Pedro Town. Today, when we caught up with ComPol Williams at an event in San Ignacio, he provided further details on the incident. As ComPol Williams told us on Wednesday, two minors approached Sergeant Makin and informed him that they were being chased by masked individuals who were armed. He explained that officer Makin pursued the individuals and that is when the encounter unfolded that was captured on camera. Today, ComPol Williams told reporters that he has read the statements provided to police by the two minors, a thirteen and fifteen-year-old. He has since instructed investigators to seek clarity on certain details that the minors provided. Here is what the commissioner had to say.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“As I said before the matter is still being investigated by P.S.B. I managed to get a read of the statements yesterday that were given by the two minors who had stopped mister Makin and reported to him that they were being chased by these individuals. The statements do need further clarification and I have instructed the investigators to go back to these persons and ask more questions so that we can get more clarity on these statements. One of the things that came out is that based on what the minors were saying is that they had passed the place initially with a female and while they were passing one of the persons hanging out may have been cat calling the female and she did not reply to them. So after they dropped her off and went back to go to their respective homes they had to pass the same location again and this is when they were pursued by the people who were masked. The issue is that, again from what I have read, is that after the incident occurred, the young men, the two young men, did not go to the police station right away. They went until the following evening. Now after the incident occurred with Sergeant Makin the young man went to the station and made a report. But at that particular time the police had not received the report from the two minors. So they did not detain him. They issued him the medico form and he went to the doctor. By the time he finished with the medico form the minors and their parents came in and gave their statements. There are some issues to the statement I have. One of the issue is that the minors would not be able to identify who those persons were that chased them, for the simple fact that they were wearing mask. But if we can have some clarity in terms of the type of clothing that the two chasers were wearing and if we can compare with the type of clothing the young man had that had an encounter with Mr. Makin then we can say that is the same person. But it is important to note that the same group that young man was in is the same group responsible for the chasing. Whether or not he was doing the chasing I cannot say at this time until we can have some clarity on the matter.”
Ryan Mendez has reportedly sought the services of an attorney. He intends to take court action against the department. But according to the Commissioner of Police, Mendez remains a fugitive. He says if the attorney wants to help his client, then that attorney should take him to the police station for questioning.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It cannot be that you request court action. The police has to look at the investigation in its totality to see whether or not there is anything there that he can be charged for as well as to see if the police committed a breach that he can be charged for. So, we have to look at everything in its totality. When the investigation is done then we can look at it. The attorney for the young man, if he so wish what he can do is bring the young man into the police station, let the police complete the investigation and that would help us to arrive at a definitive conclusion on that matter.”
Reporters also asked Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa about the viral video involving Sergeant Makin. He says that he was disturbed when he first saw the video. He later found out that the encounter stemmed from a report made by two minors. Minister Musa says he is now leaving it in the hands of the Professional Standard Branch. He is also encouraging citizens to continue recording police officers in events where it is believed that they are acting with excessive force.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“When I saw the video for the first time, like the rest of Belize I was really disturbed because if it is one thing that our administration has been extremely adamant about it us that officers must be accountable for their behavior and they must not use excessive force in detaining individuals. So traditionally as you might know my instant reaction is that this requires immediate action from P.S.B. in terms of an investigation. So even without the complainant going in to say that he, well the suspect in this case, to say that he was the victim of excessive force, I requested of the Commissioner that he get professional standards branch to do an investigation into it. So that is currently taking place. Now let me say this point blank that if it was a random, arbitrary act by this officer, say for instance the had a personal issue with this individual and he would go and act out like this because of a personal issue, nothing to do with a chase or anything like that, I personally do not care if he is mother Theresa’s grandson, it is my expectation that P.S.B. would take immediate action, do an investigation and let the chips fall where they may. Now since then we gave learnt that two minors have gone into the San Pedro Police station to give statements, one is thirteen and one is fifteen. These minors, it is not my belief that they are making this scenario up. They were being chased by a number of individuals. It is believed that the suspect in this case was one of them, the young men altered Mr. Makin who was on his way home, I am told, to this incident and that is what prompted him to respond. Obviously, we only got a short clip, I don’t know if the video was spliced, but I want to encourage members of the public, continue to film instances where officers may be using force. But also try to give us the full picture because I don’t believe that is where the video started.”
Minister Musa was also asked if he thinks that the Commissioner of Police misrepresented the facts of the incident to the media on Wednesday. That is after it was discovered that Mendez did, in fact, make a complaint to police. Here is how Musa responded.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“First of all, the Commissioner was not on the scene and so he is relaying information that was passed to him so you are getting third party information. In instances like that there would be some misinformation which is why I am always careful to tell you what I am told because you might not have the full picture once you are not there. I trust the evidence given by the thirteen-year-old and fifteen year old who was there. So I am not saying I am taking any information from Mr. Makin or from the O.C. in San Pedro. I am saying there are two young men saying they were being chased in a menacing way that they had to stop an off duty officer to intervene. So you have to look at that.”
On Thursday, Patrick Faber, the Area Representative for Collet, revealed that one of his constituents was raped last week in front of his office on Antelope Street Extension. He made the revelation during a Special Sitting of the House of Representative on Thursday. Reports are that the victim has not yet made a report to police. But her family did reach out to Faber to request surveillance footage from his office. He refused to surrender the footage. He gave this explanation.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“A resident of my constituency got raped right in front of my o0ffice in the early hours of the morning last week. The police camera deh right up deh. So when you talk about technology and using technology, they didn’t come to me directly but the family came and asked if I could give them the footage from my office. No sir, because I will not get into any quarrel with the people from my area about snitching. Unu could say what you want but I have to live their and I go there everyday. This is how the rank and file feels. You could say what you want.”
Today, reporters asked the Commissioner of Police for his thoughts on Patrick Faber’s statements. He was also questioned on whether the police can mandate Faber to hand over the surveillance footage. ComPol Williams says he was appalled by the statement and that it is a sad day for Belize.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I was very appalled by the statement from the area representative for Collet. I don’t think that is something he should be happy about. The issue of fighting crime is everybody’s business. For you to be in the House criticizing the police for not being effective in fighting crime and here you are as the area representative who is being paid by the people of this country you have information not just of a Crime but of a woman being raped and to say you would not share the footage to police I think it is a sad day for us. You are basically saying to the nation that you are a contributor to the problem. You can’t expect that the police is going to be everywhere. If you want to criticize the police you give them information and if they do nothing with it you can criticize them. But for you to have the information to help the police solve this crime and you do not do so then you are apart of the problem.”
Reporter
“Is there anything the police can do to force him to surrender this footage?”
Chester Williams
“Well I know now. I have already given information to the investigators to go and recover this footage and if he does not provide it section twenty of the Indictable Procedure Act gives the police authority to be able to use a search warrant and retrieve the footage. The police will be doing that to make sure we get the footage with a view to see if we can solve this crime.”
The Minister of Home Affairs says he was in disbelief when he heard Patrick Faber’s comments regarding the alleged rape incident in Collet. He chided Faber over the comments and called on him to change his philosophy on crime fighting within his constituency.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“When we signed up to run for office, to be elected officials, to represent the people of Belize it is expected that you are supposed to fight for your people, you are supposed to represent all that is good about Belize. To be able to fight crime and to play your part as a parliamentarian in fighting crime to make sure your constituents are safe. As I sat there yesterday in the house I was in complete disbelief at the words uttered by my parliamentary friend because it came across as a surrender, as a cowardly thing to say, that you are not going to cooperate in fighting crime. That is not what you are supposed to be doing. You are supposed to be working along with the police department. He was saying he felt that way even under the U.D.P. So he has been feeling this way for the last two decades that he will not partake in fighting crime within his constituency. So that speaks volumes to the type of individual he is. You have to step up to the plate. You signed up to be the representative to these people not to surrender to criminals. So, I really would hope he would change that philosophy and work with police in fighting crime.”
