2025-06-05 - Greater Belize Media

Teachers Summoned to Court Following Blockade

Several teachers who participated in a protest that blocked roads in Dangriga on June 4, 2025, are expecting to be summoned to appear in court and face charges related to an alleged unlawful assembly.

One of those teachers is Eli Villalta, who said on Facebook, “My summons have arrived, two charges which I have to show up to court for next week.”

Villalta is one of eleven teachers whose names appear on court summonses. The list includes Rosalyn Cornelius, Denise Henry, Derrick Martinez, Ifasina Efunyemi, Loretta Montero, Phidalia Castillo, Victor Williams, Clifton Lorenzo, Francis Williams, and Derrick Walton.

They are expected to appear before the Dangriga Court of Summary Jurisdiction on Wednesday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. The documents state that the group “unlawfully assembled with the purpose of committing a riot,” an offense under Section 229 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 101 of the Laws of Belize.

Villalta has also been separately summoned for “causing obstruction to a police officer whilst in the execution of his duties,” under Section 38(1)(a) of Chapter 138 of Belize’s criminal laws.

The protest formed part of an ongoing salary dispute between the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the government. Teachers used their vehicles to block critical road junctions in Dangriga and Bella Vista, severely disrupting traffic flow and restricting movement for residents and emergency services.

Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith noted that while “teachers have the right to express their grievances,” the police are obligated to act when a protest infringes on the rights of others. Smith said authorities gave protestors up to two hours to clear the roadways before taking what she described as “measured action.”

The summonses warn that failure to appear in court may result in ex-parte proceedings or arrest warrants being issued.

South Africa Is Rising And Scientists Now Know Why

South Africa is slowly rising out of the ocean, by up to two millimetres a year, and scientists now believe there’s a good chance that climate change is behind it.

A new study has found that this uplift is strongly linked to severe droughts and the loss of water from reservoirs, soil and groundwater, rather than the previously suspected underground mantle activity.

“We started to think there should be a link between this pattern and water loss,” Dr Makan Karegar, one of the study’s co-authors, told Live Science. “We believe that it [is] also possible that a loss of groundwater and surface water is responsible for the land uplift.”

Using a network of static GPS receivers across South Africa, researchers from the University of Bonn recorded an average land rise of 6mm between 2012 and 2020. The largest uplift was observed between 2015 and 2019, during one of the country’s worst droughts, when Cape Town nearly reached “Day Zero,” which is the point at which municipal water supplies would be shut off.

Christian Mielke, also of the University of Bonn, added that “The total mass of surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater is so large that it deforms the Earth’s crust, like putting pressure on an elastic ball.”

Researchers say the uplift may not be permanent but could be a valuable new tool for drought monitoring.

Caribbean Women Leaders Lead Regional Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence

Six senior female leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Belize’s Minister Thea Garcia-Ramirez, came together this week for a high-level regional dialogue confronting the escalating crisis of violence against women.

The panel that was discussed was titled ‘Challenges in Addressing Violence Against Women in Latin America and the Caribbean’.

The dialogue was hosted virtually by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and brought together other ministers and officials from the Bahamas, Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica, and Paraguay.

Garcia-Ramiez, the Minister of Human Development, Families and Gender Affairs, spoke on the alarming connection between domestic violence and organised crime in Belize.

According to Garcia-Ramirez, the rise in domestic violence in Belize can no longer be seen in isolation, as it is now closely linked to organised crime. She warned that violence against women has expanded beyond the home and is deeply connected to wider issues of national security and development.

“Tackling this crisis requires a whole-of-society response that centres the needs and voices of women and girls,” she said.

The panel addressed shared regional challenges, including underreporting, limited access to justice, and under-resourced protective services. Belize’s participation underscored its continued commitment to regional cooperation and safeguarding the rights of women and girls.

Opposition Demands Transparency on BTL Merger Discussions

Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar Panton has issued a strong statement in response to Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) recent public disclosure regarding potential consolidation within the telecommunications sector, warning against secrecy and urging full transparency.

Panton said that any move toward consolidation must be subject to rigorous public scrutiny, transparent processes, and proper regulatory oversight.

“Access to affordable, high-quality internet and communication services is no longer a luxury, it is a fundamental necessity,” she said.

She warned against any consolidation that could lead to monopolistic control or increased service costs, especially given the Government of Belize’s majority stake in BTL. She also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the lack of clarity on who stands to benefit from such deals.

Panton called on the Government to immediately inform the National Assembly and the Belizean people of any proposed mergers or structural changes at BTL, insisting that no agreement should move forward without stakeholder consultations and Parliamentary approval.

She also urged the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to actively engage in safeguarding consumer interests and maintaining service standards throughout the process.

“This is not a time for secrecy,” she said. “If BTL is to merge ‘for Belize,’ as its statement implies, then the Belizean people must be the first to know, the first to understand, and the first to benefit.”

‘We Want Our Pension’: KHMHA Workers Union Meets with Government

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union (KHMHAWU) met with representatives of the Briceño Administration to press for pension benefits on par with other public sector groups. This highly requested meeting comes after union members took to the streets to demonstrate a ‘lack of communication’ from the government, according to the KHMHAWU Vice President Dr Alain Gonzalez.

“It seems like every time we want a meeting with the government, we have to go to a demonstration… We have communicated with the government three times, and they have lacked to communicate back to us; they haven’t returned our emails, and they haven’t come back to us. And so we are like, ‘these people are not taking us serious,’ and so this is why we get to the point of demonstrating and doing the plan of action because we have to make sure we are being heard,” Gonzalez said on Tuesday during a morning episode of Open Your Eyes.

Union President Andrew Baird met with members outside the hospital before the closed-door meeting to reinforce the union’s position. He made it clear that pensions remain the union’s top priority.

“We are focused, and as you heard just now, our focus is that we want our pension,” Baird told News 5. “They have added the coast guard to their pension; they have added the grant-aided teachers to receive full pension from the government, and we deserve the same treatment. We are equal among animals.”

The union is calling for immediate progress on their pension demands to match benefits offered to other public service entities. The talks will involve Minister of Health Kevin Bernard, Director of Public Health Dr. Melissa Diaz Musa, and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight.

When asked about his expectations heading into the meeting, Baird said he anticipates a possibly rough start to the talks. “First of all, I think it will start with a blame game,” he stated.

Shyne’s Facebook Accounts “Permanently Disabled”

The former Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow is calling on Meta Platforms Inc. and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to reinstate his Facebook accounts, which have been permanently disabled despite his appeals.

Barrow shared screenshots of communications from Facebook informing him that his accounts had violated the platform’s Community Standards and were first suspended and later permanently disabled.

Barrow expressed frustration, stating in his caption: “Who can help me? @facebook @meta @zuck does not believe I’m Shyne and since Sunday they have permanently disabled my Facebook accounts.”

One of the notifications from Facebook reads: “Your Facebook account has been permanently disabled… we still found that your account, or activity on it, didn’t follow our Community Standards. You can’t request another review.” Another message grants him 180 days to appeal the suspension of a different account under the name “Moses Shyne Barrow.”

Shyne, who rose to international fame as a rapper before entering politics, has maintained an online presence.

Chinese Couple Smuggled Dangerous Pathogen into U.S.

A Chinese researcher at the University of Michigan and her boyfriend have been charged with smuggling a highly dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States, according to federal court documents unsealed on Tuesday.

Yunqing Jian, 33, a postdoctoral fellow at the university, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, are accused of conspiring to import Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that causes severe crop diseases and is considered a potential agroterrorism threat.

The fungus is known to damage wheat, barley, maize, and rice. It was discovered hidden in Liu’s backpack during an inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Officers found four plastic baggies of the reddish plant material concealed in tissues.

According to NBC News, officials further allege that Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. They also claim she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

“Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials,” the complaint says. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP Officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”

Text messages from 2022 suggest the couple discussed smuggling seeds previously. Jian has been denied bail and labelled a flight risk. Liu remains outside the country, NBC News reported.

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon called the charges “of the gravest national security concerns.” The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division is leading the investigation.

BTL Addresses Consolidation Rumors and Future Plans

Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has issued a public statement addressing recent media speculation surrounding potential consolidation within the country’s broadband and cable telecommunications sector. The company emphasized that such discussions are not new and have been ongoing both locally and globally for several years.

“Over the years since 2018, BTL and operators have exchanged and discussed proposals for amalgamation,” the company said.

BTL further stated that any future consolidation efforts would be carefully considered. “Any potential future consolidation would be guided by the goal of strengthening Our National Telecom to the benefit of the people of Belize.”

“These efficiencies could translate into better services, expanded access for underserved communities, improved value for consumers and employees, and stronger returns for our more than 1,500 shareholders,” BTL added.

Decomposed Body with Gunshot Wounds Found in Unitedville Cemetery

San Ignacio Police are investigating an apparent murder. This follows the discovery of a decomposed body in the Unitedville Village cemetery, Cayo District.

The body was found around 3:44 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025.

Officers observed the body of a male in an advanced state of decomposition. He was wearing a green T-shirt over a black undershirt, black three-quarter pants, a black baseball cap, and black-and-white Nike slippers.

The body showed three apparent gunshot wounds, one to the left side of the neck, one to the left shoulder, and one to the abdomen. A single expended S&B brand shell casing was found approximately three feet from the body.

The body was later transported to the National Forensic Science Service Lab in Belize City, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity. Attempts to identify the individual by the village chairman and other community members were unsuccessful. Police investigations continue.

Charges Drafted Against Dangriga Teachers

Charges have been drafted against teachers in Dangriga who participated in a road blockade protest yesterday.

The protest, part of an ongoing salary dispute between the Belize National Teachers Union and the government, involved teachers using vehicles to block key road junctions in Dangriga and Bella Vista. This action disrupted traffic flow and restricted the freedom of movement for residents and emergency services.

Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith explained that while the teachers have the right to express their grievances, the police cannot allow protests that infringe on others’ rights. After giving the protesters up to two hours to disperse and remove their vehicles, law enforcement took measured action when the blockade continued.

The police have reviewed relevant legislation, including the Criminal Code, Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, and Control of Public Meetings and Public Processions Act, to draft charges. Possible offenses include obstruction of traffic, unlawful assembly, obstruction of officers, and aggravated assault.