Tag: 2025-05-26

Opposition Leader Explains Brief Break During Budget Debate

Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar Panton paused her maiden address in the House of Representatives on Monday to take a brief break, citing recovery from a recent medical procedure on her right knee.

Panton, who was delivering her first speech as Opposition Leader during the 2025–2026 Budget Debate, stood for over an hour before requesting the pause. She later explained that the extended standing aggravated her leg, which is still healing following surgery for a torn meniscus.

“After being on my feet for 1 1/2 hours I had to take a short break before completing my presentation,” Panton said. “As many of you may know, I had a procedure on my right leg for a radical tear of my meniscus. While I am on the mend, and am in the process of rigorous therapy, this [was] the first I had an opportunity to test the leg, standing for a longer period of time, since the procedure.”

The Speaker of the House granted the break with support from members on both sides of the aisle. Panton returned shortly afterward and completed her presentation.

Tracy Panton: “The Numbers Presented by this Briceño Administration Do Not Signal Performance”

The national budget debate opened with strong criticism from the Opposition today, as members of the House of Representatives began deliberations over the proposed $1.78 billion budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton criticised the Briceño Administration’s financial plan, calling it “optimism passed with selective statistics.”

While acknowledging the expansion of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to the Cayo District, she argued that the government has neglected key social support programmes, including housing, food assistance, skills training, and elderly care.

“I hope to make the case on behalf of all Belizeans that the numbers presented by this Briceno administration do not, and let me say that again, do not signal performance. Rather, it reveals a government that is obsessed with spending and allergic to accountability, reform and measuring the economic impact of their failing social protection policies,” Panton said.

The debate intensified when Panton questioned the allocation of $28 million in airport security contracts awarded under the Briceño administration, suggesting government favouritism and misuse of public funds. She criticised the administration’s spending priorities, stating it “can find the resources for all sorts of programmes and initiatives” but fails to allocate funds to meet the urgent needs of public servants. “Let us find the money to pay our teachers and public officers who are first on call to make sacrifices whenever the needs arise,” she added.

Opposition Leader Back for Debate

Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton is back for the Sitting of the House of Representatives today to continue her budget presentation.

Earlier today, Panton had asked for a break during her budget speech and was heard saying that she felt she was going to faint.

An ambulance was called to provide care.

After undergoing knee surgery a few months ago, she needed to take a brief break due to the extended period of standing. A medical practitioner was called to assess her condition and confirmed that she is otherwise in good health.

After a few minutes, Panton returned to provide her presentation.

 

 

 

Ladyville Woman Dies in Motorcycle Crash

A tragic motorcycle accident in Ladyville claimed the life of a young woman on Sunday night.

The fatal crash happened around 9 p.m. near the junction of Marage Road and the Philip Goldson Highway. According to reports, Celia Carballo, a resident of Ladyville, was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle driven by her boyfriend when they collided with another cyclist. The impact threw Carballo onto the roadway. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene, but sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Celia’s close friend, Doritha Witzil, spoke with reporters through tears, recounting the moment she learned about the tragedy. “On this moment, I can’t even digest it yet because I cannot believe—I just find out like 15 minutes ago that that is she,” Witzil said.

“Earlier this morning I just knew that she was in an accident. I didn’t know that she passed away until a while ago. That is hard for me, you know, just to find out something like that.”

Witzil described Celia as a joyful and strong woman who remained positive despite personal challenges. “She is a happy person regardless of what she’s going through. She’s very happy, regardless of her daughter or not here. She’s happy with her daughter that is here, this smaller one with her,” she said.

Witzil added, “Saturday she was here laughing… she’s supposed to, I supposed to see her early this morning, but it didn’t happen—and that’s why, um, that’s the concern when we never see her early this morning.”

 

Gun & Gang Court Coming Under New Bill

The Briceño Administration has introduced the Belize Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2025, a sweeping legislative proposal aimed at strengthening national security and the state’s ability to respond to crime.

The bill, tabled by Prime Minister John Briceño, seeks to amend Chapter 4 of the Constitution to allow for the declaration of “special areas” in the interest of public safety, public order, and the prevention or detection of crime.

It also proposes the establishment of a specialised Gun and Gang Court and aims to validate past State of Emergency (SOE) proclamations, including all regulations and actions taken under them.

In his address to the House, Prime Minister Briceño stated, “Uncertainty in the law cannot persist unchecked for such a long period. That is why I’m introducing this bill—the 13th Amendment—because legislative intervention is necessary.”

A central provision of the amendment is the introduction of a mechanism by which the Governor General, acting on the advice of the National Security Council, may declare an area a “special area.” Within this area, certain constitutional rights may be limited for a specified period. The advice must be grounded in reasonable justification and will come from a multi-sectoral body that includes the Commissioner of Police, the heads of the Belize Defence Force and Coast Guard, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General.

Briceño said that the reasonable grounds required for declaring these areas align with the same threshold courts use when assessing the validity of SOEs. He argued that the proposed amendments not only provide legal clarity and structure but also reinforce the state’s ability to act decisively against rising levels of violent crime.

¿Quién Quería Muerto a James Mendez?

La búsqueda de un hombre desaparecido de Corozal terminó en tragedia después de que la policía descubriera el cuerpo de James Mendez, de 49 años, en el fondo de un pozo en su finca en San Pablo Village, Orange Walk.

Mendez, mecánico y vendedor de autos, fue reportado como desaparecido el 21 de mayo, luego de salir de su casa alrededor de las 6:00 a.m. para lo que se creía era un trabajo relacionado con su oficio. Según la policía, su hijo informó que un hombre desconocido lo recogió para un trabajo mecánico, pero nunca regresó.

Las autoridades informaron que el cuerpo de Mendez fue encontrado alrededor de las 11:00 a.m. del viernes, sumergido en un pozo. La policía observó múltiples heridas de arma blanca en el pecho y el cuello. El cuerpo se encontraba en avanzado estado de descomposición. Su muerte está siendo investigada como un homicidio.

 

Who Wanted James Mendez Dead?

The search for a missing Corozal man ended in tragedy after police discovered the body of 49-year-old James Mendez at the bottom of a well on his farm in San Pablo Village, Orange Walk.

Mendez, a mechanic and car dealer, was reported missing on May 21st after he left home around 6:00 a.m. for what was believed to be a work-related trip. According to police, his son reported that an unknown man had picked him up for a mechanic job but he never returned.

Authorities say Mendez’s body was found around 11:00 a.m. on Friday, submerged in a well. Police observed multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

 

Climate Change Could Fuel Spread of Deadly Fungi

Rising global temperatures could dramatically expand the reach of deadly fungal infections, CNN reports, citing a new study from the University of Manchester.

The research focuses on Aspergillus, a common fungus that can cause life-threatening lung infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. One species, Aspergillus flavus, could expand its global range by 16% if fossil fuel emissions remain high, while A. fumigatus may spread by over 77% by 2100—potentially affecting millions in Europe.

“These fungi can ‘eat you from the inside out’ if the immune system fails to stop them,” said Norman van Rijn, one of the study’s authors.

CNN notes that fungal diseases currently kill around 2.5 million people each year, yet remain under-researched. The World Health Organization has already classified Aspergillus flavus as a critical public health threat due to drug resistance.

 

Heavy Police Presence as Accused Murderer Elmer Nah’s Trial Starts

The long-anticipated trial of former police officer Elmer Nah officially began today at the Supreme Court in Belize City under a heavy police presence. The case, which has drawn national attention, is unfolding under heightened tension both inside and outside the courtroom.

Video of Nah shows him being escorted into the courtroom under heavy police guard.

Last week the court moved into voir dire—a trial within a trial—starting with the admissibility of a statement made by Vivian Ramnarace, one of the key elements of the prosecution’s case. A second voir dire on video evidence from the night of the fatal shooting is scheduled to follow.

Nah’s sole defence attorney, Dr. Lynden Jones, requested that these preliminary hearings be held behind closed doors, citing serious safety concerns, including death threats allegedly made against him during earlier stages of the case. However, Justice Nigel Pilgrim denied the request. He said that the court has sufficient security in place and reaffirmed the principle of open justice, particularly in a matter of such public significance.

Nah is charged with the execution-style murders of three members of the Ramnarace family in Belmopan during a horrific shooting in December 2022.

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