Tonight, we’ll begin by revisiting the media’s most recent visit to the Sarstoon, the southernmost frontier point in Belize. Reporters were invited to join the Belize Defense Force for the inauguration of the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base. While at the location, they were also taken on a brief tour around Sarstoon Island. We’ll share the Opposition Leader’s position on what transpired elsewhere in our newscast. During the tour of the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base on Thursday, the Belize Defense Force held a briefing where Brigadier General Azariel Loria responded to numerous questions on his soldiers’ activities at the base. One of those questions was, what are troops trained to do in the event they come across persons engaged in illicit activities on Belize’s side of the river? According to the B.D.F. commander, there are protocols in place in the event a situation cannot be remedied by troops on the ground. Here is what he told us.
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defense Force
“Whenever we have a situation here at the river mouth that cannot be remedied by the troops on the ground, by the commander here or the commander of the Sarstoon Village, right across, the GAF. We follow the chain of command; the patrol commander informs the operations officer at Fairweather Camp and the message is transmitted to us. We have our channels of communications open with the Guatemalan Armed Forces. We, however, do coordination with our military attaches. Thankfully we our attaches. I think there is a change, a changeover going on with the attachés. But we have our Belize attaché in Guatemala. And he does coordination. The ultimate one, if it really gets out of control is the foreign affairs ministry and they will say what to do. And, that is higher diplomacy, above the other ministries.”
And while there is a B.D.F. channel of communication in place to report incidents on Sarstoon Island, what happens when the Guatemalan Armed Forces enter Belizean waters and shots are fired? According to Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base functions primarily as an observation base. But where the need arises, B.D.F. soldiers are authorized to take action to arrest any situation and make detentions. He further explained that the Belize Defense Force is always prepared to deploy additional troops to the area for additional security.
Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defense Force
“The intent here, the forward operating base functions as an observation base. The intend here is to observe and try to mitigate the threats as they may come. If you notice on the other side, there is a small amount of Guatemala military as well. That tells you something, they are not here to fight, and we are not here to fight as well. WE are here to maintain sovereignty. Should incase things get out of hand we have our SOP on how to withdraw because with a section in our doctrine we could never fight, but we could see, gather information and withdraw to a safer point and then take it on. That is the intent of this observation post if not we would have built another price barracks post and have a thousand men here. That is not the intent. It is a forward, a remote area. It is a great area of strategic importance. The other one is forty-five kilometers to the west of here that we also man and ensure that we are there. Those that have studied land power, knows the value of it, and hence the reason we are here.”
The Leader of the Opposition has come out swinging at the Briceño administration over Thursday’s encounter with the Guatemalan Armed Forces on Sarstoon River. As we reported, two vessels carrying members of the GAF approached the three Belize Defense Forces vessels that were taking a tour of the island with members of the media. They stated that the vessels were in Guatemala’s territory and demanded that the purpose of our presence be made known. The Guatemalan vessels then followed the tour along the southern channel and into the northern channel of Sarstoon Island. Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the Commander of the Belize Defense Force, was among those present on the trip. Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, has since issued a statement condemning the actions of the Guatemalan Armed Forces and blaming the Briceño administration for their behavior. Here is what Barrow had to say.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Incompetent Briceno’s failure to deliver promised Sarstoon Protocol leads to continued Guatemalan incursions. The opposition registers its condemnation of the Guatemalan Armed Forces breach of our territorial integrity by entering Belizean waters to obstruct our military personnel from completing a trip around our Sarstoon island with members of the press and other distinguished invited guest of our Sarstoon Forward Operating Base earlier on April twenty-fifth. While the UDP condemns the members of our armed forces for exercising restraint in order to ensure the safety of civilians on board, we emphatically deplore the governments inability to deliver on the Sarstoon Protocol they promised while campaigning to form government. According to individuals present on the Sarstoon trip, heavily armed Guatemalan soldiers approached the Belizean vessel carrying Brigadier General Azariel Loria and scolded them for being in Guatemala’s territory which is completely incorrect and abhorrent. Independent media reports go on to say that general Loria in front of members of the Belize press Corp. did not respond. We find no fault in the general’s decision, however we blame the government for putting the general in a situation where he is under attack and aggressed by bullish Guatemalan Armed Forces.”
Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow also called on Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca to summon the Guatemalan ambassador to Belize at once to protest this breach of our borders. He further stated that a diplomatic note must be sent to the Guatemalan president.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“We are a peaceful nation that prefers to live in harmony with our neighbors, including Guatemala. But we will never compromise our territorial integrity. The opposition calls on Prime Minister Briceno and Foreign Minister Fonseca to summon the Guatemalan ambassador to Belize at once to protest this breach of our borders. An urgent diplomatic note must be sent, and engagement must be made with the Guatemalan president, minister of foreign affairs and minister of defense, to underscore the need for the Guatemalan Armed forces to adhere to international law, confidence building measures and other protocols established by the group of friends and the OAS. The Guatemalan Armed Forces entering Belizean territory repeatedly to restrict free movement around the Sarstoon Island is an unacceptable act of aggression that is against international law and established protocols of the group of friends and the confidence building measures which explicitly states that neither nation shall use force or threat to pursue their position with respect to the territorial referendum. The opposition calls on the Briceno administration to protest vehemently the actions of the Guatemalan Armed Forces to the OAS and the group of friends for immediate attention.”
This morning, vehicular traffic was diverted away from the newly built Haulover Bridge, as government officials, including Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Infrastructure Development Julius Espat, cut the ribbon on the replacement structure. It’s a project that was conceived by the previous administration but came to fruition under a People’s United Party government. Coming in at a little over thirty million dollars, the new Haulover Bridge is the longest crossing in the country and was built entirely by Belizean engineers. It’s a spectacle of skill and resourcefulness that was overseen by a woman engineer from start to finish. We begin tonight’s newscast with the inauguration of the new Haulover Bridge. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development
“It’s a wonderful bridge. It is an accomplishment for Belizean engineers and for the Government of Belize.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The Haulover Bridge was officially opened today, several months after a soft launch was held to declare the structure passable. It is a monolith that spans roughly five hundred meters and replaces the previous structure that stood as a relic of Belize‘s colonial past.
Evondale Moody
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
“It’s the longest bridge that we have in Belize and that was because we had to extend the approaches to the bridge because we wanted to avoid consolidation on the approaches.
The new Haulover Bridge is designed to significantly reduce travel time, making transportation more efficient. Over the years, this crossing near the mouth of the Belize River has proven integral to urban and economic development by facilitating the movement of people, goods and services.
Julius Espat
“This new Haulover Bridge, much like its predecessor, holds momentous importance as it symbolizes resilience, strength, ingenuity and embodies the steadfast spirit of our Belizean people. Today is a day of celebration and thanks, a day to celebrate all the hard work that went into the planning design and construction of this bridge and a day to thank all who helped in getting us here.”
Built at a price tag of almost thirty-one million dollars, this well-designed bridge offers a safe crossing point which is particularly important given its location. Its design and construction has pushed the boundaries of engineering in Belize.
Meghan Martinez
Meghan Martinez, M&M Engineering
“When it was found that the old and dilapidated Haulover Bridge had reached its design life and was in desperate need of replacement, the MIDH commissioned us to conduct preliminary studies and presented design options to the Government of Belize. The process of this project has encompassed several years of planning, starting with preliminary design concepts, soil explorations, surveys, peer reviews and final design. When we conducted a traffic survey in 2017, it showed us that there were over thirteen thousand vehicles crossing over the old Haulover Bridge. Today, that number is around seventeen thousand vehicles.”
Under the previous administration, projections for the cost of a new bridge were estimated at around fifty million dollars. What has been built is a superstructure that comes in well under that budget.
Evondale Moody
“This bridge cost us thirty point nine million. We got a loan from the OPEC Fund for twelve million [U.S. dollars] which is twenty-four million Belize [dollars] and so the counterpart was another six [million dollars.] We were able to build the bridge for the exact thirty point nine and the breakdown between the financing for loans is seventy percent from OFID, thirty percent from GOB.”
The Haulover Bridge is not just a physical structure that straddles the estuary of the Belize River, it enables social and economic progress.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We gather here at the mouth of the Belize River to celebrate the opening of a remarkable structure that will not only connect Belize City with the north of our country, but also bridge communities and opportunities. This new bridge spanning the Belize River here at the mouth of the Haulover Creek stands as a symbol of progress, unity and shared aspiration. It is an engineering marvel made in Belize by Belizeans and it reminds us of the power of collaboration, innovation and vision.”
Forty-eight-year-old Osmar Correa, a businessman from Belmopan, will be extradited to the United States where he will be tried in a court of law in the state of Texas. Earlier today, Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola handed down that decision in a sixteen-page document and concluded that, “I am satisfied that the evidence contained is sufficient according to the laws of Belize to justify the committal for trial of the defendant, Osman Eliasar Correa, as if the offense of which he is charged had been committed in the territory of Belize”. Correa is wanted in Texas on a charge of intoxication manslaughter, following an incident on March twenty-third, 1998 that resulted in the death of two persons, including someone inside an ambulance. Before leaving the courtroom, Correa was informed that he has fifteen days before the proper proceedings for his extradition are concluded, referring to all the documents that are needed to be prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Correa was represented by attorney Bryan Neal, while the state was represented by the DPP and Senior Crown Counsel Stacy Martinez.
U.S. citizen Joseph Camp has written to Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa to request an investigation on the actions of the Belize Police Department’s Commissioner, Chester Williams and another member of the department. Following this letter, he has also written to Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, seeking a prosecutorial inquiry into the actions of the department. Last month, thirty-nine-year-old U.S. citizen, Joseph Camp ran into trouble with the department after he took to social media to air his grievances about a shooting incident his family member was allegedly involved in. Camp was charged spreading false news for information he shared during a Facebook livestream on the night of the shooting. He pleaded guilty to this charge and was ordered to pay a fine of six hundred Belize dollars, however, on April twenty-third, Camp wrote Belize’s Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam, asking for a pardon for the offense. In the letter to the Governor General, Camp said that while he accepts full responsibility for his actions and understands the gravity of the situation, the information he spread had been provided to him by a Belize police detective. In his letter to Musa, Camp wrote, “on the days following the events Clyde Chester Williams, in his capacity as Commissioner of Belize Police Department, seemingly endorsed actions that led to, quote, the suppression of my freedom of expression and freedom to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment as guaranteed under the Belize Constitution. This suppression and treatment occurred in conjunction with an unprovoked physical assault on my in-laws and I by an unidentified officer. These actions took place without any provocation from our side, thus exacerbating the already distressing situation surrounding my brother-in-law”. He ended his letter by requesting the immediate suspension of Commissioner Williams and officers involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation. When asked about the letter, DPP Videl told us that the constitution does not grant her the power to investigate criminal offenses. Camp has said that he has written to the United States State Department and U.S. Embassy in Belize about the incident.
Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat is the first cousin of the late Toledo East Area Rep. Mike Espat. He is also an executive of the People’s United Party. This morning, Espat did not hold back his thoughts and feelings regarding the untimely death of his relative, as well as what he considers to be an act of contempt and disrespect by C.E.O. Osmond Martinez when he openly announced his interest in challenging Mike Espat in the Toledo East constituency. Here’s what the outspoken deputy leader had to say.
Julius Espat, Executive, People’s United Party
“He was disrespected. His CEO went out to do something that was not authorized by the executive of the People’s United Party. I am an executive member and nothing was told to us, and he was disrespected. His dignity was taken away and that’s not good, for anybody. As a nation, we have to look out for our elders. We have to give them respect. This man has won five times, six times. This man beats us up in Cabinet whenever he comes or whenever ih sih we, nothing for himself. Always for ih village, for ih people. He was disrespected and I stand by that and I called him and said, “Mike, what’s happening?” And I could feel it in his… Mike noh emotional, I am, he isn’t. But I sensed it, and my God, one week after that di man dropped dead.”
Isani Cayetano
“How do you reconcile that with one’s personal, political ambitions though because if we’re looking at what the CEO aspires to and how he went about it…”
Julius Espat
“The People’s United Party has rules and conventions are not open. We haven’t even. Today, we are having a meeting at two o’clock to decide if conventions will be open or not. I wahn sih di cherry-picking, I really wahn see it. But I called Mike and I said, “Mike, anybody that goes after you, I am willing to go with you to a convention and stand beside you. Cayo South will stand with you.” He said, “Bwai, di last man I think mi wahn call me and tell me that.” I tell ahn, it’s a matter of principle, it’s a matter of respect, it’s a matter of dignity and if we can’t have that, we are lost. That’s how I feel.”
On Tuesday night, we told you that thirty-three-year-old Kathleen Belisle was charged for dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit after almost fifty thousand dollars of the Belize Government Lottery was deposited into her bank account.
As we reported, an accountant at Nandos Wholesale LLP intended to transfer $50,000 to Lowes Supermarket, a sub-agent for the Belize Government Lottery. However, it was mistakenly transferred to Belisle’s account.
Today, Nandos issued a statement clarifying what happened. The company says that it mistakenly saved Belisle’s phone number as Lowes Supermarket’s. Before the transfer was made, the company’s accountant contacted the number regarding the funds that needed to be transferred. The company alleges that Belisle pretended to be the proprietor of Lowes. Nandos further alleges that Belisle informed the accountant that Lowes’ Bank account number had changed and provided her bank account number instead. Nandos says it only found out because the proprietor of Lowes reached out to say that they haven’t received the funds. According to the company, Belisle spent some of the funds.
In a decision dated April 19th, the General Legal Council found attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington of “grave professional misconduct” and in breach of rules 4, 14, and 22, which constitutes grave misconduct. Elrington is being summoned by the Council to a hearing on May 24th to show cause why any of the sanctions set out in the Legal Profession Act should not be imposed on him.
Under that particular section, the Council may recommend to the Chief Justice:
(a) the removal of the attorney’s name from the Roll;
(b) the removal of the attorney from practice on such conditions as the Council may determine;
(c) the imposition on the attorney of such fine as it may think proper;
(d) subjecting the attorney to a reprimand;
(e) the payment by any party of costs or of such sum as the Council may consider a reasonable contribution towards cost;
(f) the payment by the attorney of any such sum by way of restitution as the Council may consider reasonable.
News Five has reached out to Elrington for comment.
Pastor Dozie brought a complaint against Elrington, alleging that Elrington settled a claim without his consent. Dozie claimed he only signed one engagement letter, while Elrington asserted that two were signed, altering the terms of their agreement.
Dozie provided evidence of his position, including original documents and WhatsApp conversations. Elrington failed to produce original engagement letters despite multiple directives to do so. The Council found discrepancies in Elrington’s testimony and noted concerns regarding his reliance on a paralegal to handle client communication and legal matters.
Ultimately, the Council concluded that Elrington breached professional rules and referred the case to the police for further investigation into the authenticity of the disputed engagement letter. This finding highlighted the seriousness of Elrington’s actions and raised questions about his credibility and conduct as an attorney.
In 2023, Dozie retained Elrington as his attorney to file a claim against the Social Security Board which had denied Dozie’s application for survivor’s grant following the passing of his wife in 2021. SSB told Dozie the Social Security (Benefits) Regulations did not make provision for widowers to claim the survivor’s grant that is payable to a widow on the death of a husband. Elrington commenced action against the SSB and the Attorney General. A percentage of any sums recovered to be paid to Elrington was agreed. The percentage agreed is in dispute. “The dispute arises due to Mr Elrington’s assertion that there was a second engagement letter.”
Following negotiations, Elrington collected the settlement sum of $46,588. “He continues to possess that said sum, and has not paid any portion any portion thereof to Pastor Dozie.” (This is at the date of the decision)
In his defence, Elrington claimed that Dozie did not provide him with a bank account to transfer the money.
In December 2023, Dozie emailed Elrington, demanding all funds received from the SBB, including the initial retainer of $1,500. The sums were not paid to Dozie at the time of this decision. Dozie also confirmed that he did not provide Elrington with banking details.
Dozie says he did not approve the settlement terms. Elrington told the Council that he orally explained the settlement terms to Dozie in September 2023.
According to Dozie, he signed one engagement letter on May 17, 2023, where he agreed to pay Elrington a retainer fee of $3,000. It was also agreed that Elrington was tobe paid a contingency fee of 15% of the sums collected. Elrington says that Dozie signed a second “redrafted” retainer on the same day. According to Elrington, Dozie paid him $1,500 down and agreed to pay 40% of the sums collected. Dozie said that he paid Elrington $1,500 andthe remaining amount would be collected from any funds received. Elrington was unable to provide the Council with the original engagement letters with the wet ink signatures.
“A perusal of the documents by the members of the Council indicates that the scanned copy of the signature of Pastor Dozie on the second engagement letter (denied y Pastor Dozie) is blue, whilst the first one is black, and the signature on the second engagement letter appears to be identical in size and shape, including the points where the signature intersects the alphabetical letters at the bottom of the signature line, that spell out his name. Exactness in two signatures of the same person to such a degree are not usually found and tends more to the probability that the latter signature is a copy made by scanning or copying by machine.”
