2025-06-19 - Greater Belize Media

Father Tracks Down Missing Child in August Pine Ridge

Thirteen-year-old Lissy Suntecun has been found safe after going missing earlier this week, which has brought a wave of relief to her family and the wider community. The teenager vanished on Monday afternoon after leaving school during lunchtime, prompting a frantic search effort.

With only a single lead, and that being a white pickup truck seen near the school, Lissy’s father took the investigation into his own hands. He tracked the vehicle to August Pine Ridge and alerted police, who searched a residence in the village and found Lissy alive and in the company of a relative.

“Yesterday we looked into about the car. My son went to August Pine Ridge,” said Lissy’s grandmother, Oralia Rosado. “When my son arrived in August Pine Ridge, he found the car and then he went to report to the police.”

As previously reported, Lissy had told friends that an aunt was picking her up that day. The family is now waiting for police to complete their investigation into what exactly happened.

The child is currently in police custody and is expected to be released back to her family.

“We’re just glad she’s safe,” Rosado said.

NTUCB Rallies Behind Unions: “Union Leaders Acting Transparently, Collectively and Strategically”

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is turning up the heat on the Government of Belize, just one day after the Public Service Union (PSU) protested at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA). In a press conference held this morning, the NTUCB reaffirmed its support for the PSU, the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM), insisting that their calls for an 8.5% salary adjustment and minimum wage increase are being ignored.

NTUCB President Ella Waight firmly pointed out what she called political attempts to discredit union leaders.

“Union leaders are elected representatives of working people, not political pawns,” she said. “This pattern of scapegoating is a dangerous distraction from the real issues.”

Waight warned that if attacks on union leaders persist, the NTUCB will escalate the matter to the ILO’s Standards Application Committee. She said today’s briefing was intended to display union unity, counter government “propaganda,” and show that industrial action is grounded in fairness.

“Industrial action affects and ultimately benefits the wider public and reassures members and the public that union leadership is acting transparently, collectively and strategically,” Waight added.

The NTUCB, the umbrella organisation, made it clear that it is ready to act in coordination with the unions.

Hurricane Erick Makes Landfall in Mexico as Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Erick made landfall early this morning as a powerful Category 3 storm along Mexico’s southern coast.

Hurricane Erick was at Category 1 and rapidly developed to a Category 3 by nightfall on Wednesday.

Erick came ashore near Punta Maldonado in western Oaxaca with sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and stronger gusts. The storm had briefly reached Category 4 status before weakening slightly ahead of landfall.
According to Mexico’s national weather agency, torrential rains of up to 250 mm are forecast across Oaxaca and Guerrero, with intense rain also expected in Chiapas, Puebla, and Veracruz.

Strong winds and waves up to 10 metres are pounding coastal areas, and a storm surge of up to 3.5 metres could cause significant flooding.

Erick is expected to weaken rapidly over mountainous terrain and could dissipate by early Friday. Meanwhile, the threat of flash flooding, landslides, and overflowing rivers remains high.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel.

Meanwhile, the NHC is monitoring a separate low-pressure system forming near the same region. While development is unlikely in the next 48 hours, conditions may gradually become more favourable as it moves west-northwest along the coasts of southern Mexico once more. The chance of formation over the next seven days remains low at 20%.