2025-07-07 - Greater Belize Media

Fatal Highway Collision Claims Life of Corozal Farmer

A tragic road traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway has left one man dead and another in police custody. The incident occurred this morning between miles 70 and 71.

Police responding to the scene discovered two extensively damaged vehicles: a silver Jeep Compass with a crushed front end and a red Toyota Tacoma that had veered off to the right side of the road, also with severe front-end damage.

According to police, the silver Jeep Compass, driven by Marcos Villanueva, was traveling northbound from Orange Walk to Corozal when it collided head-on with the Toyota Tacoma, which was heading in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Tacoma, 61-year-old Jesus Chicas, a farmer from San Roman Village in the Corozal District, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Villanueva has since been detained by police as investigations into the fatal crash continue.

Devastating Floods Kill Nearly 100 in Central Texas

At least 95 people are confirmed dead, and dozens remain missing following catastrophic floods that swept through central Texas over the weekend, with the tragedy hitting especially hard at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp along the Guadalupe River, where 27 campers and counsellors lost their lives. Ten campers and one counsellor are still unaccounted for.

Emergency responders continue to search the region for survivors, with officials warning that the final death toll could still rise. The mayor of Kerrville, Joe Herring Jr., where at least 75 of the deaths occurred, said he received no prior warning about the torrential rains that led to the disaster.

In the wake of the disaster, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a federal watchdog investigation into staffing shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS), questioning whether the lack of personnel may have delayed flood warnings that could have saved lives.

“The roles left unfilled are not marginal, they’re critical,” Schumer stated in a letter to the Commerce Department’s Inspector General. “We must do everything possible to provide answers as to why the community was not alerted sooner.”

The NWS offices responsible for monitoring the Guadalupe River region reportedly issued multiple flood watches and warnings but have been operating with reduced staff following cuts under the previous administration.

The scale and intensity of the flooding highlight a troubling trend: climate scientists say extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise, largely due to fossil fuel emissions. Central Texas—a region crisscrossed by rivers and prone to flash floods—remains particularly vulnerable.

Belize Beef Fest & Rodeo Returns to Belmopan

The Belize Livestock Producers’ Association (BLPA) has officially announced the return of the highly anticipated Belize Beef Fest & Rodeo. Now in its fourth edition, the 2025 event is scheduled to take place in August at the National Agriculture and Trade Showgrounds in Belmopan.

The annual celebration serves as a showcase of Belize’s livestock industry. According to the association, this year’s event promises a full day of activities, including the crowd-favourite rodeo competition, the sizzling BLPA grilling challenge, and an array of locally produced, high-quality meats for visitors to sample and enjoy.

Organisers say the festival is more than just entertainment. They say it’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships among livestock producers, consumers, and stakeholders.

Belize Begins Wheat Trials

Belize has launched its first major wheat varietal trials, aiming to reduce its heavy reliance on wheat imports. The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with CARDI and CIMMYT, is testing 100 wheat varieties suited for high temperatures and semi-arid conditions.

The trials will take place in the Cayo and Orange Walk Districts, with initial results expected by the end of 2025.

Between 2020 and 2024, Belize imported an estimated 45 to 50 million pounds of wheat and an additional 7 to 8 million pounds of wheat flour annually, amounting to nearly BZ $30 million in yearly import costs.

The ministry sees the wheat trials as a strategic move to reduce this dependency and enhance local agricultural resilience.

Hunt For Murderer(s) Underway

A tragic double homicide has rocked the Cedar Street community in Belize City, where 66-year-old Evadnie Jones and her 39-year-old son, Luke Jones, were fatally shot in their yard on Friday night.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a “senseless and brutal” act of violence against innocent civilians.

“There is absolutely no justification for murder, especially the cold-blooded killing of innocent civilians,” said Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa.

The Belize Police Department has launched a full investigation and pledged to act swiftly to bring those responsible to justice. Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado said, “We will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.“ We are committed to protecting every citizen and working with communities to counter those who seek to disrupt peace and instill fear.”

In response to the incident, additional police resources have been deployed to the area to prevent further violence or retaliation. The ministry said there is an urgent need for stronger gun and gang legislation to address the growing threat of random violence.

PUP Dominates 2025 Village Council Elections

The 2025 Village Council Elections officially concluded on Sunday, July 6, with the People’s United Party (PUP) emerging as the dominant political force across Belize’s rural communities.

According to results, the PUP secured a commanding 83.01% of all available seats, winning control in 158 of the 190 villages or communities that participated in the six-week-long electoral process. A total of 1,330 candidates were elected or endorsed, with 1,104 of them running under the PUP banner.

The main opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), secured 15 councils, while independent and third-party candidates won in 7.

Briceño Backs Bold Justice Reforms at CARICOM Summit

Prime Minister John Briceño is in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he is representing Belize at the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He departed the country on Sunday and is scheduled to return on July 10. In his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde is acting as Prime Minister.

PM Briceño delivered remarks at the swearing-in of Justice Winston Anderson as the new President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Speaking in his role as CARICOM’s Lead Head of Government for Justice and Governance, Briceño praised Justice Anderson’s legal legacy and called him “a force for transformation” in the region’s legal system. He noted that Anderson’s influence has helped shape the court’s evolution over its first two decades.

“His intellect, vision, and leadership have had a profound impact on Caribbean jurisprudence,” Briceño stated.

The Dialogue was convened as part of the regional commitment under the George-Bridge Declaration, signed in November 2024, which outlines CARICOM’s coordinated strategy to combat crime and violence.

The meeting, which respected constitutional boundaries such as judicial independence and the separation of powers, addressed pressing concerns about public safety and the capacity of regional systems to respond effectively to escalating criminal threats.

The 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit continues this week with a focus on justice reform, regional integration, and economic development.

BAPDA Condemns Killing of Disabled Man

The Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) is speaking out against what it describes as a disturbing rise in violence targeting members of the disability community. BAPDA issued a strong condemnation over the weekend following the tragic murder of Luke Jones, a disabled Belize City resident, and his mother, Evadnie Jones.

The two were found shot to death outside their home on Cedar Street Saturday afternoon. Residents reported hearing gunfire in the area the night before.

Luke Jones was a member of BAPDA and had been living with a physical disability.

In its statement, BAPDA called the recent wave of attacks against persons with disabilities a “grave violation of human rights” and an example of “deep-rooted stigma and discrimination.” BAPDA says that all disabled persons deserve to live with dignity, safety, and access to equal opportunity, without fear of violence or marginalization.

“We are devastated by this senseless act and extend our deepest condolences to the Jones family in this time of unimaginable grief,” BAPDA wrote.

It added, “Such violent attacks are not only repulsive crimes, but they also expose vicious social attitudes that dehumanize and exclude people with disabilities.”

BAPDA is calling on government authorities, civil society groups, and the wider public to take a stand against ableism and to work toward creating a safer, more inclusive Belize.

“No one’s life should be considered less valuable because of a disability,” the group concluded.