People & Places - Greater Belize Media

Elmer Nah Triple Murder Trial Delayed as New Evidence Emerges

The highly anticipated voir dire in the Elmer Nah triple murder trial has been postponed to June 9, 2025. The delay came after Nah’s defense attorney requested more time to review new evidence disclosed just hours before the hearing. Justice Nigel Pilgrim granted the adjournment, citing fairness to the accused. Before the adjournment, the court addressed several procedural matters. Thirteen witness statements were agreed upon by both sides, and 15 live witnesses are expected to testify during the voir dire. Tensions briefly flared when Nah, despite having legal representation, interrupted proceedings to request enhanced video footage of the shooting. Justice Pilgrim reminded him to communicate through his attorney and warned against further outbursts. The court also discussed plans for the retired lead investigator to testify via video link from abroad. Justice Pilgrim confirmed that rulings made during the voir dire will carry over into the main trial. Notably, no relatives of the victims were present in court. Despite a request for a closed hearing, the proceedings remain open to the public. Security was visibly heightened, with GI3 officers stationed around the courthouse.

No Updates Yet on Selvin Sealy Homicide Investigation

An internal investigation is ongoing into the death of Selvin Sealy, a San Pedro resident who died while being taken into police custody on May twelfth. A post-mortem revealed that Sealy died from restraint asphyxia, he suffocated while being restrained. Police say Sealy was subdued after resisting arrest for trespassing, but his death has since been ruled a homicide. The officers involved have been suspended, and the Director of Public Prosecutions has called for a deeper review of the case. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith provided an update on the investigation.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“As it relates to the Sealy investigation, the department is still awaiting a statement from the examiner as to the nature of the injuries and that will direct what charges will be levied and against who.”

Reporter

“Didn’t the post-mortem reveal that it was homicide and that he died by asphyxia by restraint?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“Yes, the post-mortem did review that. However, the DPP office has directed a more detailed report from the pathologist.”

Reporter

“And those officers remain on suspension?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“Yes, they remain on suspension. And the parallel internal investigation continues. It is anticipated that as the directives are given, they will be placed on interdiction, if so warranted and subsequent actions will be taken.” 2:34

As the police undergo the investigation, the family of Sealy continues to call for due justice to be delivered for his death.”

Government Pushes for Constitutional Changes to Tackle Crime

Tonight, the Briceño administration is taking bold steps to tackle the growing threat of gun violence and gang activity in Belize. Prime Minister John Briceño has introduced a series of constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening the country’s legal tools to fight crime. One of the key drivers behind these changes? Conflicting High Court rulings on a 2020 state of emergency that have left the legal landscape uncertain. The Prime Minister explained that while his government plans to challenge the decision, the case won’t be heard until March 2026, when the Court of Appeal is next in session. In the meantime, these proposed amendments are setting the stage for what could be a major shift in how Belize handles national security and public safety.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Crime evokes strong emotions from the citizen of a country. Families and friends of murder victims, victims of rape and robbery, all citizens who cannot live in peace because of the lawlessness among them. They all deserve strong and decisive action from their government. A judge in a recent case before the high court, pointed out that people should not and I quote, fail to be sensitive to the fact that human life is valuable and the state is responsible for creating an enrollment in which people can live in safety in circumstance where law and order prevails. To do otherwise is to surrender to laws of the jungle. I have publicly stated the government well appeal the recent decision handed down by Justice Nabie. Such an appeal could not come from hearing for at least nine months, in the March 2026 Court of Appeal Session. The state of uncertainty cannot persist for such a long period. So, this is why I am here introducing this, Belize Constitution the thirteen amendment bill 2025 because legislative intervention is necessary. It is no secret that successive government has used the emergency powers provided to the state by the constitution of Belize in the interest of public safety or order or for preventing detecting or controlling crime in the country. There has been proclamation declaring a state of emergency in the southside in 2018 to 2020 and in 2021, 2022, 2023. There were additionally two proclamations in 2024 and one in May of this year. The data shows when an SOE is declared crime goes down dramatically, especially murder. Two recent high court ruling has created an uncertainty about the use by the state of this measure as of the public emergency powers to deceive, prevent and control crime.”

PM Introduces Bill to Establish Gun and Gang Court

Big changes could be coming to Belize’s Constitution, as Prime Minister John Briceño rolled out a series of proposed amendments during the latest House Sitting. Among the seven changes, one key proposal would give the National Security Council the power to recommend states of emergency, but only if there are reasonable grounds to do so. The Prime Minister also introduced a move to legally validate past SOE proclamations, dating back to 2018. And in a bold step to tackle violent crime, Briceño announced plans to establish a Gun and Gang Court, which would carry the same authority as the Magistrate and High Courts.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“A new section ninety-four A, establishment of a Gun and Gang Court as a feature of the separation of powers principles enshrined in our constitution of a democratic state like Belize, the judiciary is to be independent of the other branches of government. The power to create a new court should find its sources within the constitution. Currently, there is no power for the creation and establishment of a specialized court, to hear and determine only gang and gun matters and with the court having special hybrid powers of a Magistrate and High Cort judge. This is not how we solve crime. It is a temporary measure to solve crime we need to look at the root causes, the challenges our families are having, children going to school and having access. The challenge that when our young people come out od school they fell they don’t have a future.”

Opposition Thin at Budget Debate as Two Members Absent

As the national budget debate continues in the House of Representatives, questions are swirling—not just about the numbers, but about the presence, or lack thereof, of the opposition. Of the five elected opposition members, only three showed up for today’s session. Notably absent were Hugo Patt and Miguel Guerra. News Five has learned that Guerra has opted out of the debate entirely, while it remains unclear whether Patt will make an appearance over the next two days. So, what does this say about the state of the opposition? We put that question directly to Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton. Her response, coming up next.

Tracy Taegar Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“That is for the honorable Hugo Patt and the honorable Miguel Guerra to respond to. I think we have a duty and we have a responsibility, we have an obligation to the people who elected us to participate in this process, to add our contributions to the National debate. It is a social contract. We need a robust and functioning democracy to have a robust and functioning government. I believe they should be here. I don’t know why they are not here. I know we had villages council elections yesterday in those constituencies, but I don’t accept that as a suitable excuse for not being here on the first of our budget rebuttal.”

Paul Lopez

“What will you do to compel them to come to the budget debate for the next two days?”

Tracy Taegar Panton

“I cannot compel them to do what they ought to be doing. Even before today’s meeting, we have been meeting as a team, as a UDP parliamentary caucus. We have included all colleagues in the truest sense of defending, and promoting and advocating for democracy we have an obligation and they will need to answer for themselves why they are not here.”

UDP Leadership Battle Heats Up as Veteran Politician Backs Panton

The leadership tug-of-war within the United Democratic Party is far from over—and now, a familiar voice is weighing in. Former Mesopotamia Area Representative Michael Finnegan, a seven-time U.D.P. veteran, says Tracy Taegar-Panton is the only one fit to lead the party right now. But with a recent court ruling casting doubt on her leadership claim, and Moses “Shyne” Barrow refusing to step aside despite his March election loss, the U.D.P. remains without a clear direction. Today, Panton responded to Finnegan’s endorsement. Here’s what she had to say.

Tracy Taegar Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“I am not sure that he said that I was the only one who had leadership material. I believe what he said was at this time Tracy Panton is the only one who could serve at the helm of the leadership of the party. While I am the face, I want to make it clear that the leadership also includes the executive of this party and our parliamentarians. It is not one person, we all work together to try and find solutions for the challenges we face internally.”

Government Pitches Proposal to Unions, Citing Economic Progress

Last week, we reported that the Government’s Joint Negotiation Team had officially sent its proposal to the unions, following Cabinet’s green light. Today, that proposal took center stage in the House of Representatives. Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, who leads the talks on behalf of the government, presented the details during the House Sitting. He highlighted key points from the proposal, using them to support his argument that the Briceño administration has not only turned the economy around—but is continuing to strengthen it. The proposal is now in the hands of the Joint Union Negotiation Team, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in government-union relations.

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“Cabinet affirmed its commitment to an increase of six dollars to the minimum wage in line with Plan Belize. Such an increase to come after the requisite engagement and consultation with all relevant stakeholders. On the matter of request of salary adjustment of eight and a half and two frozen increments, Cabinet has improved a three percent salary increase starting October 2025 and an additional increment at the start of fiscal year 2026/2027. So in effect a double increment will be issued then. Cabinet also authorized our negotiating team to reach an agreement with JUNT on the remaining five and a half percent increase and the additional increments, subject to mutual agreements relating to pensions reform and cost saving measures. Cabinet also instructed the Attorney General to give legal effect to government’s assumptions of a hundred percent of gratuity and pension for all teachers in grant aided institutions, effective September 2024. Previously government was only responsible for seventy percent, but because the churches was contributing their thirty percent and retired teachers were not receiving their due, government had to step in.”

Louis Wade Jr. Comes Out Swinging at Dissenting PCC Commissioners

Earlier this week, we reported that eight former commissioners of the People’s Constitution Commission voiced strong objections to the final draft of the P.C.C. report submitted to Prime Minister John Briceño. But tonight, a new voice is entering the conversation, and he’s pushing back. Former commissioner and current Church Senator Louis Wade Junior is challenging the narrative put forward by his former colleagues. In an exclusive interview this afternoon, Wade described their claims as a “misrepresentation” of what actually took place during P.C.C. meetings. Wade emphasized that none of the eight dissenting commissioners were part of the Thematic Chair Committee, the group responsible for shaping key sections of the report. As such, he argues, they lack firsthand knowledge of the discussions and decisions made within those sessions. He also revealed that the P.C.C. chairman and deputy chairs are currently unable to speak publicly, pending the creation of a formal mechanism that would allow them to share their perspectives. Until then, Wade says he’s stepping up to clarify the record and represent the church’s position.

Louis Wade Jr., Former Commissioner, P.C.C.

“It is very interesting that this is the frame that the former commissioners chose to put forward this attack at what I consider to be an attack on the report itself and against the chairman who in our opinion, the vast majority of commissioners, have done an excellent job at being able to put twenty-one different organizations, twenty-one different backgrounds together, and with limited funding, because we needed about seven million dollars, we received about one to two million, yet within the two year period a lot of work was done to bring to the fore what the wishes of the mases of Belizeans wanted as it relates to the constitution. Now to have an attack from within that seeks to give the impression that millions of dollars were wasted and two years were wasted because some commissioners were disgruntled, it is an unfortunate situation that I cannot remain silent about.”

Former PCC Member Backs Chanona, Urges PM to Take Criticism Seriously

George Myvett, a former Alternate Commissioner for Third Parties, has stepped forward to support former P.C.C. Chairman Anthony Chanona. In a message to the media, Myvett expressed hope that Prime Minister John Briceño will take the recent criticisms seriously and not dismiss or derail the process. He emphasized that the final draft report submitted to the Prime Minister is both meaningful and valuable. We also asked Wade for his thoughts on concerns raised by former Commissioner Caleb Orosco, who believes the final recommendations may have been compromised during the process. Here’s what Wade had to say.

Louis Wade Jr., Former Commissioner, P.C.C.

“The P.C.C. process started out with consultation and education and over forty thousand people showed up, over a hundred and fifty thousand were on the stream, almost half a million different accounts interacted over the two-year process. So, this P.C.C. consultation is probably the largest in Belize’s history, the only thing closest to it I could think about is yes to No to the I.C.J., which is seven million. And I am going to say that in the future I am going to release in emails to show that there has been a constant attack from certain commissioners, not on the process but on the integrity of the chairman himself and that the individual also leaked the entire report. So, they write in the letter they did not have the report in their hand. They mean literally, because they had the report, they had all the drafts. They chose to leak the report to frustrate the process, but the thematic chairperson found a way to let the process move forward. So, the last report just before it went to the prime minister, it is true that it did not get into their hands. But it simply means they could not hold it. But this is modern era where it was shown electronically and we went through the entire document and agreed this is what would be presented to the prime minister. So why did they not write why they could not hold it in their hands, it is because we were afraid they were going to leak it again, before it gets to the prime minister.”

Big Changes for Teachers & Public Workers; Is GOB Giving in to Pressure?

The Briceño administration is rolling out a new set of reforms aimed at improving the lives of thousands of teachers and public officers across Belize. After a Cabinet meeting on May twentieth, the government announced several key decisions following fresh negotiations with the Joint Union Negotiating Team. One of the biggest changes is a new Collective Bargaining Agreement framework, which is expected to be in place by June eighteenth. Unions will have sixty days to respond with any counter proposals. As part of its Plan Belize 2.0 agenda, the government is also sticking to its promise to raise the minimum wage to six dollars, pending final consultations. Public officers can look forward to a three percent salary increase starting October first, 2025, with another bump coming at the start of the 2026–2027 fiscal year. However, discussions are still ongoing about restoring the remaining five-and-a-half percent in salary cuts and a second frozen increment, both tied to broader reforms in pensions, cost-saving measures, and boosting government revenue. In a major win for educators, the government will begin fully covering pension and gratuity payments for teachers in grant-aided schools starting this September. Looking ahead, the government says it wants to take a more rounded approach to negotiations, focusing not just on salaries but also on quality of life and productivity. Topics on the table include cost of living adjustments, tax relief, access to land and housing, education scholarships, and better union benefits. Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, who signed the official letter, emphasized the administration’s commitment to respectful and responsible dialogue with unions. Still, not everyone is ready to celebrate just yet. The Belize National Teachers Union is holding off on any decisions for now. Members were expected to vote later today on how to move forward after last week’s meeting with the government. With the government’s latest proposal, that vote has been put on hold, while the union goes over its details carefully.