Belize District - Greater Belize Media

Wagner Pleads Public for Patience with E-bus Pilot Project

The E-mobility Pilot Project is coming soon to Belize City and City Hall is asking the public to bet patient as they analyze parts of the project that will be best for the country. The new eco-friendly electric buses will be outfitted with several features such as wi-fi and air conditioning, leading to concerns regarding the affordability of the services. Mayor Bernard Wagner says that he anticipates criticism, but assures the public that the council will use the first run to determine how it can be improved with time. Here’s more on that.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City

“When change comes, people complain, but you have to embrace change. We want to transform the public transportation system at least in the city It has been over fifty years that we have not seen any sort of Growth, any sort of development in the transport system. We have an opportunity here, man, and we have to embrace it. Where you are able to have the residents of the city drive in a modern bus, which is efficient, reliable eco-friendly less pollution in the air. You are able to track it via the app that we have in place on it. And it makes life easier. We have many capabilities for wheelchair commuters. It will have Wi Fi, it will be AC. It’s just a pilot project. I continuously to say that it’s a pilot project. It will inform scaling up opportunities for the city when we reach that point. We have not reached that point yet. I don’t see why people are looking way ahead, two, three years ahead. Let the e mobility pilot project work first. Let us get the required data, which will inform scaling up.”

Reporter

“But you can see how they were concerned, though, because there was a meeting, and there are minutes of meeting, pointing to some entity. That’s What I took from what was in those meetings because it wasn’t clear, but they’re talking about the formation of an entity of which the City Council would own fifty-one percent and I think that is what maybe they stretched a little to say that they would be required to give up a majority shares.”

Bernard Wagner

“That’s far from it. I Just hear that narrative over and over we are doing the pilot project. Let’s focus on the pilot project first. When we reach that road, we will cross that bridge.”

Brian Perriott Avoids Jail Time for Spreading Ex’s Nudes

On Friday, we told you about Brian Perriott who was arrested and charged under the Cyber Crimes Act for spreading nude videos of his ex-girlfriend. The call center agent was facing five years in prison for the despicable act. Today, when the twenty-six-year-old appeared before lower court, he changed his plea to not guilty after lawyering up. Bail was subsequently granted to Perriott in the sum of eight thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. The conditions of his bail include that he is not to engage in any publications on any social media platforms regarding the case. Likewise, he should refrain from responding to any messages regarding the matter. Perriott was also informed that even attempting to make contact with the witnesses via social media will amount to a breach of his bail conditions.

Two-Time Albert Area Rep to Face Off Against Kaya Cattouse

Looking ahead to the 2025 general elections, all eyes are on Belize City Councilor Kaya Cattouse as she hits the ground in the Albert Division. Cattouse is going up against two-time area representative, Tracy Panton. So, is Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow concerned about how Panton will perform against Cattouse? We asked him.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“The honorable member from Alberts is a two-time area representative thus I would bet on her. I believe that she has to be given the benefit of the doubt, she won back-to-back, she won, while the margin was not a large margin, it was in the midst of a blue tsunami, and she held her own against a formidable candidate who had all the resources behind him. So, I don’t believe you take anybody for granted certainly Kaya is a popular councilor and thus the honorable member form Albert will just have to continue doing what she does best because, what she knows to do best has worked in Albert.”

Man Retracts Guilty Plea After Breaking Down in Court

Tonight, a father who claims he was keeping a loaded gun for the protection of his family is on remand at the Belize Central Prison. He is forty-five-year-old Ernie Zelaya, who was charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Reports are that on Friday, July fifth, at around twelve thirty a.m., police were conducting mobile patrol on the Phillip Goldson Highway between Miles seven and eight in Ladyville Village when the officers encountered a taxi with no lights on the highway, belonging to Zelaya. The officers instructed the vehicle to pull over and upon search, they discovered a rusty, three-eighty pistol and three live rounds of ammunition, for which he failed to produce a license. Today, in court, Zelaya, who appeared unrepresented, initially pleaded guilty to the offenses, stating that he only kept the gun for the protection of his and his family’s life, which he claims is under threat by a gang member in his neighborhood. Court proceedings were put on pause after Zelaya broke down crying and his family members phoned to calm him. The sitting magistrate asked Zelaya if he understood the offenses he was pleading guilty to. Zelaya was informed that a fine would not be imposed and that he would be going to jail. After the break, Zelaya changed his guilty plea to not guilty. However, due to the nature of the offenses, no bail could be granted and Zelaya was remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until August twenty-fourth, 2024.

Man Arraigned for the Rape of 60-Year-Old Woman

Tonight, a thirty-three-year-old man is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after being charged for the rape of a sixty-year-old woman inside her home. He is Samuel Bernardez, who appeared in court today and was read a single charge of rape. Allegations are that on July third, 2024, at about four a.m., a resident of southside Belize City heard a noise outside her window and upon investigating, spotted a man she recognized to be Bernardez. She further told police that he pretended to leave her residence, however, after she exited her home to seek help, she was dragged back into her home, attacked and raped. Bernardez appeared unrepresented in court today where he was arraigned. Due to the nature of the offense, no plea was taken. However, Bernardez was allowed to plea for bail to be granted to him, to which he stated that he would like to report to work. Unconvinced by his reason, the magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objection to bail and agreed that the safety of the victim must be considered. Bernardez was denied bail and remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until September seventeenth, 2024.

Belize City Resumes Business After Receiving All-clear

This morning, the National Emergency Management Organization declared an All-clear for Belize, confirming that the country is no longer under a hurricane watch. For the past few days, Hurricane Beryl was closely monitored as it tore through the Caribbean and sped towards the Yucatan Peninsula. Ahead of the storm, many Belizeans evacuated flood prone areas or prepared their households to weather the impacts of storm. Today, New’s Fives Britney Gordon took to the streets of Belize City to hear how the public feels now that the threat has passed. Here’s that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Hurricane Beryl has made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize is officially in the clear. The category two hurricane bypassed Belize, as was predicted by the National Meteorological Service, and made its way into Mexico on Thursday evening. As a precaution, many Belizeans put into effect their hurricane plans. On Thursday, several businesses suspended operations to give employees time to adequately prepare, should the storm reroute to Belize. We spoke with Owen Morrison, an employee of Shell gas station, to hear how the station chose to handle the situation.

Owen Morrison, Shell Employee

“What our management did is just to make sure that We are here on time. We are prepared and ready for the customers that when they come, we give them that full service. And that for us, ourselves, they make sure that they close a little early so that we can go home and take care of our family as well.”

As of this morning, most businesses were back in operation. Water taxi services, including San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter, remained closed as they prepared the boats for use. Morrison says that, given the all-clear, the station is ready for customers. Although, he notes that business has been slow.

Britney Gordon

“What time did you close yesterday and what time did you open up today?”

Owen Morrison

“We closed yesterday, four o’clock in the afternoon and then we opened six o’clock this morning.”

Britney Gordon

“So now it’s resumed business as usual?”

Owen Morrison

“Yeah, business as usual, but then it’s very slow today, as you can see.” 0:55

Downtown Belize City was a similar scene, with businesses reopening, but very few people filling the streets. Alejandra Ukan, a resident of Belize District, felt it safer to stay at home until the all-clear was given.

Alejandra Ukan, Belize District Resident

“ Well, I prepare just because I afraid for the flood. But otherwise, I stay right in my house. I got my cement house, right?”

Britney Gordon

“And you feel that this was the right move to make, being that we didn’t get any sorts of rain or flooding in Belize City?”

Alejandra Ukan

“Only yesterday we get wah hard rain. It frightened people.”

To the relief of many, Hurricane Beryl passed with minimal impact on Belize. However, the storm rerouting to another country or gaining strength as it neared, remained a possibility until officials declared otherwise. Stanley Lizama, a resident of Belize City, has no regrets about preparing for the storm.

Stanley Lizama, Belize District Resident

“My preparation was not hard because I am somebody old in the army. So I know exactly what to do. I go close up some of my windows, buy up some groceries, and that was it.”

Britney Gordon

“And do you think this was the right choice to make, given the outcome?”

Stanley Lizama

“I think it’s the right choice and what I find out with this storm, Belize people do everything that they supposed to do. Cause the last hurricane, give us a wake up call.”

Britney Gordon

“So you think this was a better safe than sorry type situation?”

Stanley Lizama

“Definite. Definite.”

With one hurricane avoided, the season is not yet over. Morrison says that he continues to proceed with caution until the season comes to an end.

Owen Morrison

“We always have to be prepared, because we have to expect the unexpected. You could never tell how the weather would have shifted, when it would have shifted, because I heard a story from the older folks that when Hattie was about to hit Belize, it shift. They said it was going to Cuba, but then it end up shift and came to Belize. We always have to be prepared, you understand? It was something sensible to do.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Call Agent Pleads Guilty to Posting Nudes of Ex-girlfriend

Tonight, a twenty-six-year-old call center agent is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to intentionally transmitting an image of woman’s private parts without her consent. He is Brian Perriott Junior, a resident of Belize City. Perriott is accused of sending images of a twenty-year-old woman’s breasts and genitals to another individual. When he appeared before a magistrate in the lower court earlier today Perriott owned to having committed the offence. The woman, also a call center agent, reported to police that she ended a relationship with Perriott on June sixth via a Microsoft Teams App. Four days later, she received a Facebook message from another account whose profile picture was that of Brian Perriott. She opened the message and played a video that the individual had sent to her. It showed her lying in bed naked, it also showed Perriott’s hand in the video. Despite blocking her ex-boyfriend on social media, he reportedly created another profile and posted the nude images. When she inquired how he got access to her other accounts, Perriott allegedly threatened to shoot up her home with her family members inside. Perriott is now facing a sentence of up to five years in prison for the offense which falls under the Cyber Crimes Act. Perriott remains on remand until a sentence is handed down on July ninth.

Belize Carnival Association Gets $20,000

Today, the National Celebrations Commission (NCC), demonstrated its commitment to the upcoming 2024 Carnival Road March by presenting a donation of twenty thousand Belize dollars to the Belize Carnival Association. This financial support aims to bolster preparations for mas camps and the vibrant celebrations scheduled for September 7.

This year’s official theme for the 43rd Anniversary of Belize’s Independence is ‘A Nation Proud and Free: Belize@43.’ The NCC announced in June that this year’s new carnival route will start near Memorial Park, via Marie Parade, Barrack Road, Princess Margaret Drive and ending at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex with the judging area designated on the entire length of Digi Park.

According to the NCC, “After experiencing logistical challenges over recent years, the Commission explored several alternative routes to find the best option to eliminate these challenges.” The commissioner said that two test runs were conducted with the “police and the association recommended this route as it addressed the standing logistical concerns and offered an excellent opportunity for an enhanced carnival experience.”

Former Central Bank Governor is Victim of Home Invasion

On Tuesday, an elderly man was ambushed, tied up and robbed at his home in Burrell Boom Village. He is seventy-eight-year-old Alan Slusher, former governor of the Central Bank. Reports are that Slusher arrived at his residence around six p.m. and upon existing his vehicle, he was accosted by four men, three of whom were armed. Slusher was then led into his house and bound with duct tape. The men proceeded to strip him of his nine-millimeter Luger Brand Pistol and ransacked the house, making off with a magazine containing fourteen, live, nine-millimeter rounds of ammunition, two air rifles, and Slusher’s 2017 Toyota Hilux Pickup, the value of the stolen items amounts to ninety-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty Belize dollars. After the assailants fled the scene, Slusher was able to untie himself and contact the authorities. Police are currently investigating the crime.

Fuel Stations in the City Close Early

The various service stations across Belize City made their own individual hurricane preparedness plans when Beryl took aim at this region. Some of those gas stations revised their plans, but most of them decided to go with early closure to give their employees a few hours to batten down and do hurricane shopping, just as a precautionary measure. News Five went about the city and spoke with employees at two of the fuel stations. Marion Ali filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The uncertainty of Beryl’s trajectory earlier this week prompted several fuel stations to shutter down early as a precautionary measure. Even when the hurricane’s path became clear today, most of the stations still stuck to their original plan.

The Ekron Service Station at mile one on the Philip Goldson Highway, also known as Puma, closed at two o’clock this afternoon.

Marvin Sanabria, Pump Attendant, Ekron (Puma Northern) Service Station

“We are closing at this time because that’s the rules we have to follow and because we don’t know what we expect later. So, that’s why we’re closing early. We put on the shutters because we don’t know what might happen later, you know? I don’t know if they want to come break in. So – but we di open 6 o’clock in the morning, but we also closed early because to be sure that we’re safe home or, you know, everybody’s safe home. And everybody done deh home safe.”

Marion Ali

“They’re giving you time to go and take care of –“

Marvin Sanabria

“Yeah, giving us time fi mek wi go home and see what else need to get done or get ready for later, so.”

Marion Ali

“Okay, but 6am for sure you’ll be here?”

Marvin Sanabria

“Yes, 6am in the morning.”

According to Isaac Logan, the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road pushed back its closing time from midday.

Isaac Logan, Pump Attendant, Shell Gas Station

“Wi mi wa close 12 but dehn change it and we are set and seven are closed. Four. Right. The reason why, because due to the weather already left so, and it get weakened. So according to the boss and NEMO that everything is already on a basis. Today we going till 4 because this plan was already set for the workers then, right? So we have to do the process – finish off the process and do what we have to do at home, right, cause we still got the lee weather, you know, lee rain and breeze weh di come to as well, right?”

Marion Ali

“So you open what time in the morning?”

Isaac Logan

“We are working from six, from six till, till –”

Marion Ali

“Usual time?”

Isaac Logan

“Usual time.”

The usual time for the convenience store is ten p.m., but the station will resume its twenty-four-hour pump service on Friday.

Over at Puma Faber’s Road, at its junction with the George Price Highway, they decided to also close early. When we got there, they were already closed.

One station that we found will be open until ten tonight was Uno at the junction of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road. Marion Ali for News Five.