Good evening, I’m Paul Lopez, and welcome to your weekly dose of Sports Monday! We’re kicking things off in San Ignacio, where the Cayo Western Ballaz and the Belize City Thunderbolts lit up the court in a high-energy showdown. But this one didn’t just bring the heat—it nearly boiled over. Just minutes before the final whistle, things took a dramatic turn. Take a look at what happened.
Police are investigating a shooting incident that happened on Saturday in San Pedro’s San Pedrito area.
Assistant Commissioner Hilberto Romero reported to the media this afternoon that gunmen fired several shots at the doors of apartments belonging to Logan and Mark Espat.
“Several shells were found in the area, and an investigation is being carried out at this time,” Romero said, adding that one was injured.
“We do not know who the suspects are for this shooting, but yes, we know the rivalry they have in San Pedro with other persons,” Romero said.
The two brothers have collaborated with the police to assist the investigation.
Prime Minister John Briceño departed the country on Sunday for personal leave and will soon head to Japan for official duties.
Briceño is scheduled to travel to Osaka, Japan, on August 1, where he will attend Expo 2025 Osaka, a major international exposition expected to attract millions of visitors and showcase innovative solutions to global challenges under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
Belize will join over 150 countries and international organisations participating in the six-month global event, which runs from April to October 2025 on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The Expo aims to promote sustainability, technological advancements, and international collaboration on critical issues such as climate change, clean energy, and economic development.
“From April 13 to October 13, 2025, Belize will take center stage in the “Saving Lives” section of Expo 2025 Osaka, offering visitors an unforgettable journey through its rich heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and promising business opportunities. The Belize Pavilion will be an immersive space where guests can explore the heart and soul of this vibrant nation, from its ancient Maya roots to its modern aspirations,” according to BELTRAIDE.
While in Japan, Prime Minister Briceño will also hold a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba.
The Prime Minister is expected to return to Belize on Saturday, August 5. During his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, who also serves as Minister of Natural Resources, Mining, and Petroleum, will act as Prime Minister.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, 14-year-old Axel Oroman “took the jet ski without the consent of the owner and made his way to the river.”
Oroman was not a licensed operator. “A permit is required to drive a jet ski, but the information we got is that he took that jet ski without the consent of the owner and made his way to the river,” Romero told the media this afternoon.
He also confirmed that Oroman was riding with his friend, Ray Alvarez, when the accident happened.
“Alvarez reported that Axel Oroman lost control of the jet ski and both of them fell into the river. Searches were made, but he was not located. Further searches were done on Sunday, and the body of Axel Oroman was recovered from the river,” Romero said. “We are now awaiting a postmortem examination.”
Romero said that neither man was wearing a life vest and the two were known friends.
“An investigation will be carried out; that is the initial information we have at this time, but a full investigation will be conducted. Also, an investigation will be done by the Port Authority,” Romero added.
Meanwhile, the Belize Port Authority issued a reminder earlier today stating, “Under Belize’s maritime regulations, the operation of any personal watercraft, including jet skis, requires a valid Certificate of Competency.”
It added, “All jet skis must be registered and licensed with the Belize Port Authority. It is also mandatory that life jackets be worn at all times when operating or riding on personal watercraft.”
Romero stated that the investigation will include determining whether the jet ski involved was properly registered.
The Belize Baseball Softball Federation (BBSF) has announced open tryouts for the Senior National Men’s and Women’s Softball Teams ahead of the 2025 Central American Games, scheduled to be held in Guatemala this October.
Open tryouts for Belize’s Senior National Men’s and Women’s Softball Teams will be held over two weekends at Rogers Stadium in Belize City. Women’s sessions are scheduled for Saturday, 26 July and Saturday, 2 August, while men take the field on Sunday, 27 July and Sunday, 3 August. All sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with lunch and water provided.
Eligible players must be Belizean citizens, 17 years or older, and should have previous competitive softball experience. Athletes are asked to bring a valid ID and any personal gear they may have.
Players will be evaluated by BBSF coaches and selectors based on skill, athleticism, game knowledge, and overall team compatibility. The Federation stated that the tryouts are a key step in forming competitive national teams for international representation.
Turtle mommas are back! Sea turtle nesting season has officially begun, and Belize’s sandy coastlines are once again the chosen birthplace for these ancient mariners.
From May through November, endangered sea turtles quietly come ashore at night to lay their eggs to continue a cycle that has played out for generations.
According to Belize Turtle Watch, three species are typically seen nesting in Belize: the Hawksbill, the Green Turtle and the Loggerhead. While green turtles mostly nest in the north, hawksbills prefer the south. Loggerheads can be spotted throughout the country’s shoreline.
The nesting process takes place every two to three years, and each turtle lays between 100 and 150 eggs in a teardrop-shaped nest dug with her flippers. After six to eight weeks, hatchlings begin their journey from sand to sea, though only about one in 1,000 will survive to adulthood.
Sightings have been recorded on beaches from Ambergris Caye to the Sapodilla Cayes, Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover’s Reef. Belize Turtle Watch is encouraging residents, especially those living near the coast, to help protect these vulnerable creatures and ensure safe nesting grounds.
It is illegal to disturb or harm sea turtles under Belize’s Fisheries Resources Act. The law states, “No person may take, have in their possession, disturb, mutilate, sell, offer for sale, molest, transfer, harass, destroy, or cause to be destroyed any marine turtle, its nest, or eggs at any time.”
Violators can face up to two years in prison “or be fined $50,000, or both, plus an additional penalty of not less than $1,000 but may extend to $5,000 for each sea turtle, or part of a sea turtle, including its egg.”
Anyone who witnesses a violation, or spots a nesting turtle or hatchlings is encouraged to contact the Fisheries Department at 224-4552.
The Belize Port Authority (BPA) is reminding the public of vital maritime safety rules following the tragic death of 14-year-old Axel Oroman in a jet ski accident near the Haulover Bridge in Belize on Saturday.
Oroman was driving the jet ski with 55-year-old Roy Kittler as the passenger when they both lost balance and were thrown into the water.
While Kittler managed to make it to shore, Oroman went under and never resurfaced. A search effort followed and concluded with the discovery of Oroman’s body on Sunday afternoon.
In its statement, the BPA said that under Belizean maritime law, anyone operating a personal watercraft, including jet skis, must hold a valid Certificate of Competency and ensure that the craft is registered and licensed with the BPA.
The public is also reminded that life jackets are mandatory at all times when operating or riding on personal watercraft. Officials say this critical safety measure can help prevent drowning and save lives during accidents.
Belize’s Under-23 Women’s National Volleyball Team secured a strong start to the 2025 U23 Central American Volleyball Championship. The team defeated Panama in straight sets at the Belize City Civic Center over the weekend.
The victory marked the team’s opening match in the regional tournament, which is being hosted in Belize. They are scheduled to face El Salvador in their next match today.
The women’s win adds on to the Men’s National Volleyball Team’s recent achievement. Last week, the men’s team earned silver at the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four Championship held in El Salvador.
As previously reported, the government of Belize has approved the nationwide rollout of a new national identification system. This project is part of Belize’s digital transformation agenda, and its pilot project has already been completed.
Jose Urbina, the CEO in the Ministry of E-governance, told News 5 that the pilot project kicked off earlier this year. As of April, the project has successfully onboarded approximately 600 persons to the system.
CEO Urbina confirmed that the national ID will use biometric technology to properly authenticate each applicant, going beyond traditional forms of identification such as social security cards or passports.
“We are hoping that in September, we launch the civil registry in vital statistics, a new system of the vital statistics unit. We recently launched the criminal record registry (CRR) so that our citizens can apply for police records online. How do you log in to these systems currently if I reference the CRR? It’s simply by using your email, and you get a 2-factor authentication code by means of email,” Urbina said.
He added, “But we cannot do that for critical services. If you look at banking, if you want to apply for a loan. The social security card or passport is what they ask for. But we’re hoping that in the future, as we drive digitalisation, you would be able to apply for a loan from the comfort of your home.”
The national ID will feature end-to-end encryption and multiple security layers.
“It’s not something that’s being prepared loosely,” Urbina said. “We are ensuring that all the security layers are in place to protect the transmission of the information and also to safeguard the database.”
Urbina clarified that the national ID will not immediately replace existing IDs. He said this has been one of the biggest misunderstandings of the public. He explained that functional IDs such as social security cards, driver’s licenses, and voter IDs each serve different purposes and will remain in use for their purpose.
“The social security card is used to track your employment, contributions, and benefits,” he explained, while a license “identifies driving rights,” and a voter’s ID is strictly for voting.
The long-term aim is to have the National ID replace all forms of identification.
Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, met today with his Guatemalan counterpart, Carlos Ramiro Martinez Alvarado, to discuss key areas of mutual interest aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
During their meeting in Washington, D.C., “the ministers are discussing key areas of mutual interest, including trade, regional cooperation, and ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations,” according to the statement.
The two ministers committed to peacefully resolving the longstanding territorial, insular, and maritime dispute currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They also underscored the importance of maintaining mutual respect and constructive dialogue throughout the process.
Discussions covered trade, regional cooperation, and ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between the neighbouring countries.
Minister Fonseca is in the United States on an official visit, where he is holding a series of high-level meetings at the Embassy of Belize with representatives from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and U.S. government officials.
