The government of Belize has issued a firm condemnation of the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump.
The statement read, “Belize categorically condemns the assassination attempt on former President @realDonaldTrump. We underscore the importance of free and fair elections as a fundamental principle of democracy. This encompasses the protection of the lives of all political candidates.”
President Joe Biden, in a rare Oval Office address, condemned the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and urged Americans to “lower the temperature in our politics.” Biden had previously ordered an independent review of security measures at the rally where Trump survived the shooting.
Trump, who sustained a gunshot wound to the ear, was quickly escorted off stage with visible blood on his face for safety. The assailant and an audience member were fatally wounded, while two injured attendees are now in stable condition, according to law enforcement. Here’s how the assassination attempt unfolded.
The FBI has identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, asserting that Crooks acted alone. The agency continues to investigate his background, including efforts to access his phone.
The Secret Service is now facing scrutiny, with calls for congressional inquiries into its handling of security during the rally.
Thea Garcia Ramirez emerged victorious in the People’s United Party Corozal Bay convention. She bested the sitting area representative, Elvia Vega Samos.
Garcia-Ramirez clinched a clear victory with 1,799 votes, compared to Vega-Samos, who garnered 1,174 votes. A record 3,029 votes were cast, with 56 votes invalidated.
Vega-Samos became the area representative after winning a by-election following the untimely passing of her brother, David “Dido” Vega, from COVID-19. Vega died on the day he was set to be sworn in as the area representative.
Garcia-Ramirez is the daughter of the CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister, Narda Garcia.
This outcome is notable as one of only two contested conventions announced by the PUP.
In Corozal North, David Castillo was elected as the standard bearer.
Nine people lost their lives over the weekend in tragic incidents across the country.
Tragedy in the South
The first incident occurred on Friday night on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway between the villages of Elridgeville and Jacintoville. It was a vehicular collision. Three people, a man and his two minor children, died in the collision, which involved a Ford F350 driven by forty-three-year-old Emilio Lizama and a Toyota pickup driven by fifty-one-year-old Jose Tush. According to police, Lizama’s truck collided with the Toyota after another vehicle attempted to overtake a motorcycle and hit the front end of Lizama’s vehicle.
The victims include seventeen-year-old Renieta Tush, who was thrown to the shoulder of the highway and died on the scene; her father, Jose Tush, who died behind the wheel; and five-year-old Michael Tush, who succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Other passengers, including thirteen-year-old Nathan Pop, ten-year-old Maki Pop, Eric Teul, twenty-nine-year-old Catherine Salam, three-year-old Kadira Tush, and eight-year-old Kailyn Tush, were injured and treated at Punta Gorda Hospital. A urine sample was taken from Emilio Lizama, and a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was served.
Four Dead in Orange Walk RTA
The second fatal traffic incident occurred on Sunday morning, and it claimed four lives. The victims have been identified as forty-one-year-old Cecilio De Jesus Arana from Orange Walk Town, thirty-seven-year-old Gustavo Chi, Angelita Chi, and an unidentified male. The collision occurred at around 6:40 a.m. between miles forty-five and forty-six on the Philip Goldson Highway. The grey Mitsubishi Montero Sport, driven by Arana, was found on the right-hand side of the highway. Arana was discovered motionless in the driver’s seat, while a Hispanic male passenger, suffering from facial cuts, was trapped in the front seat. Police Constable Andy Garcia was in the back seat with a broken right foot and facial cuts.
A black Pontiac Vibe SUV, driven by Jesus Chi, a teacher from Palmar Village, was located with severe front-end damage. Chi was trapped behind the steering wheel with large cut wounds to both knees. Gustavo was found motionless in the front passenger seat, and Angelita was lying face-up on the pavement near the vehicle with a severe injury. Initial investigations revealed that the grey Mitsubishi was travelling towards Belize City while the black Pontiac was heading in the opposite direction. The Pontiac lost control and collided head-on with the Mitsubishi.
Did Both Men Drowned?
On Sunday morning, Burley Thompson Jr.’s body was recovered from the Macal River in San Ignacio Town. Police responded to a call at the riverbank, where his body was discovered shortly after 11:00 a.m. Thompson was last seen leaving Princess Casino around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, walking downhill near the San Ignacio Hotel. His family had sought public assistance in locating him after he went missing. A post-mortem examination is scheduled as part of the ongoing investigation.
In a separate incident in Ladyville, a man’s body was retrieved from the waters near the marina in the Vista Del Mar area on Saturday afternoon around one o’clock.
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.”
Police in Belize City are investigating an armed robbery that occurred this afternoon on Albert Street. Thieves targeted Munnings Funeral Services.
Owner Andrew Munnings said, “Our main office on Albert Street was just rubbed at gunpoint. I am sick sick sick and disappointed….Holding my mom a sickly woman at gun point is beyond crazy to me. “
After battling his recovery from COVID-19, fifty-one-year-old Doctor Cecilio Eck has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The beloved paediatrician confirmed his life-threatening cancer diagnosis during an interview with News 5 at the Coral Grove Medical and Paediatric Center.
“I spoke with our interventional radiologist, Dr. Carillo, and we arranged a biopsy, which was done on Wednesday… We did the two samples from the liver and the shoulder, and it revealed it is an adenocarcinoma.”
According to Dr. Eck, he was informed of his diagnosis after he participated in a test of the KHMHA’s new CT machine. The CT scan showed multiple lesions throughout his body, which indicated stage four adenocarcinoma. “The KHMH recently got a new CT scan machine, and they were doing tests on CT scans to screen people’s hearts… My heart was fine, but the technician said he saw something in the lungs.” Dr. Eck said that a full CT scan with contrast “showed multiple lesions throughout my body, involving the ribs, the shoulder, my pelvic bone, and also found the lesions in the liver and, of course, the lung.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with his medical expenses. All contributions made through the GoFundMe platform offer everyone an opportunity to help with Dr. Eck’s urgent medical care.
“We have the power to make a difference in his fight against cancer,” urged the GoFundMe organiser, Milagro Garel. Contributions, regardless of size, are important in ensuring Dr. Eck receives the care he needs. “By contributing to this fund, you’re not just helping Dr. Eck – you’re ensuring that his legacy of compassion and care continues.”
Despite this adversity, Dr. Eck continues to serve his community, embodying the selflessness that defines his career.
Dr. Eck’s Belize account is Cecilio Eck 130259010220025, Belize Bank.
The Minister of Health and Wellness has strongly criticized “self-made journalist” Joseph “Ryan” Budna for his ‘disruptive behavior’ at Corozal Community Hospital on Thursday evening.
The ministry said, “Budna’s actions, which included placing a camera in the face of the Acting Chief of Staff and disrupting vital medical services, are deeply concerning and unacceptable.”
Budna allegedly disrupted medical services and caused a disturbance.
A livestream on Budna’s Facebook platform appeared to show a heated confrontation between Budna and Dr. Rafael Riverol, the Acting Chief of Staff, in the presence of policemen, during which Dr. Riverol allegedly assaulted Budna. Budna said he will press charges.
The Ministry said, “It has come to our attention that Mr. Joseph “Ryan” Budna, who claims to be a self-made journalist, recently engaged in highly inappropriate behavior at the Corozal Community Hospital.”
The Ministry further said, “While we acknowledge the valuable role that journalism plays in our society, it is imperative that this role is carried out with integrity, respect, and adherence to professional standards… The Ministry of Health and Wellness has a duty to protect our staff from any form of harassment or harm, whether it comes from criminal elements or individuals masquerading as journalists. Our healthcare workers are on the front lines, tirelessly serving the community, and they deserve a safe and respectful working environment.”
Budna, in response, has released video footage alleging the mistreatment by the hospital’s Acting Chief of Staff and accusing the Ministry of not holding Dr. Riverol accountable for his actions.
Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber says a woman was raped in front of his office sometime in the morning last week. Faber shared this when he spoke of public safety and the use of technology to fight crime during the adjournment of the Sitting of the House of Representatives on Thursday in Belmopan. He said, “A resident of my constituency got raped right in front of my office in the wee hours of the morning last week. The police camera is right up there.”
According to Faber, family members asked him for video footage his cameras captured. He denied their request. “The family came if I could lend them, if I could give them the footage from my office. No sir, because I’m not getting any quarrel with the people in that area about snitching.
Faber not only expressed his own fear of reporting crime but also criticised both the current Briceno Administration and the previous administration under Dean Barrow for failing to provide the security that citizens in Belize desperately need.
Faber stated, “I’ve always been amazed by the Ministers of National Security or those responsible for the police, even under the UDP administration. It’s absurd to say that crime rates were here, here, and here under the UDP and now under the PUP, murders are here… On the streets and in people’s minds, there is a major concern about security. So, your commissioner can present all the fancy statistics, saying this is down and that is down, but even under the UDP, I felt the same way. Nobody wants to hear that. People want to know they are safe. So your justification that ‘it’s not as bad as when the UDP was in power’ doesn’t help.”
Faber continued, “The Leader of the Opposition is right when he says both administrations need to get serious about promises like DNA testing….All you do is boast about the job you and your commissioner are doing, but that doesn’t resonate with the people because we do not feel safe. It is your responsibility. You publicly declared that solving the problem is simple and easy. You did that, and the record will show it.”
