2025-07-10 - Greater Belize Media

Pomona Land Dispute Who Owns This Land?

Tonight, we return to Pomona Village, where a heated land dispute continues to cause friction between residents and the Ferguson family. In this report, Minister Rodwell Ferguson and his nephew, Aaron Ferguson, speak out to share their side of the story. The Fergusons strongly deny all accusations against them, including allegations of threats and political meddling. Here’s News Five’s Tanya Arceo with the latest.

Tanya Arceo, Reporting

A long-running land dispute has turned personal, with residents accusing the Ferguson family of claiming property they say is theirs. Now, Minister Rodwell Ferguson and his son Aaron Ferguson are responding to those allegations, insisting they have done nothing wrong. And while both sides argue over who owns the land, there’s an important fact: under Belizean law, even if there’s a cave on the property, that cave remains property of the state. Any artifacts or relics found inside belong to the Government of Belize and are protected by national heritage laws. Today, we’re speaking with everyone involved—asking the questions, demanding the documents, and trying to clarify who truly owns this contested land.

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Rep. Stann Creek West

“I want to go back in history because the younger folks today don’t know the existence of this cave. In the seventies when I was a child the ministry of infrastructure used to be the ministry of works used to blast this cave to get materials for wood works. For every two or three days there was a blasting so it affects the whole structure of the cave. Even the stone that you see there I told him Stoney no matter what I will not allow you to apply for the land where the cave is on it doesn’t matter who you are you can be my son you can be whoever you are I will not allow you to apply for the land where the cave is on. As a matter of fact this cave has a water system for the Pomona Village Council so the tank for Pomona water system is at the top of the cave. I am not fighting for this piece of land for no family member.”

Tanya Arceo

“You are not offering him ten acres of land either?”

Rodwell Ferguson

“I told him we will go and look for ten acres of land for you where we can find it to make sure you are satisfied that it becomes a beneficiary piece of land for your family it’s my commitment to them.”

We then headed to the home of Miguel Angel Trejo, who insists the land, including the area with the cave, rightfully belongs to him and his family. Trejo disputes the Fergusons’ claim and says he has the lease to prove his ownership, while Minister Ferguson maintains that those documents are not valid.

Miguel Angel Trejo, Landowner

“Well I got those documents in the lands department but I am now seriously concerned with everything that is going on mainly because there has been serious death threats because of this claim Mr. Rodwell son Stoney has threatened me so I spoke to minister Rodwell present here today.”

Rodwell Ferguson

Tell Mr. Trejo I want him to understand I have nothing against him and I will do everything in my power for him to get a piece of land.”

Tanya Arceo

“The minister wants you to understand that he has nothing against you and that he will do everything in his power to get you a piece of land.”

Rodwell Ferguson

“Trejo will get a piece of land I gave him at least six months to move out I will never ever do that to you sir.”

Tanya Arceo

“He is denying that he chased you out of the property like you told us saying that he would never do anything against you.”

Miguel Angel Trejo

“I have the video here if you would like to see.”

Rodwell Fergusson, Minister

“What I am saying as the elective representative for Stann Creek west this is no prejudice of anything I will ask the ministry to tell Mr. Trejo to evacuate this piece of land I di find piece for him.”

Miguel Angel Trejo

“Another thing he promised me ten acres of land and this bis the day where he has not given me anything I was a young person when I cleaned al that land now I am in my seventy’s I do not have the same strength to clean all that land if he gives me a clean piece of land I will accept to be moved. But why don’t they want me living here and Mr. Canton leaves right here as well? Or is it because I am poor he does not want to give me a piece of land here? If I had money they would have let me live here but there is a family living right close to this property and they say its against the law to live here why don’t I get my acre to live here too why am I bothering here?”

While Mr. Ferguson left the property to avoid further dispute with the Trejo family we also spoke to the Chairlady Melida Ingraham for clarification.

Melida Ingraham, Chairlady

“To allocate or approve the land in this area is usually done by the minister or sometimes he gets in contact with the village council to send recommendations. For the land that they are claiming I know its government property because its located right by the cave which is owned by the village council so the lands that are in this area are surrounded is owned by the village council and and the government. We sure will do a review on the land titles and have a sit down with minister Cordel Hyde and see what can be done about this land that is here that is owned by the government because the village council have works that need to be done at the cave.”

And while both sides disagree on many things, they agree on one: that the cave does not belong to either of them. Tanya Arceo reporting for News Five.

Littered Highways Threaten Belize’s Beauty and Budget

If you’ve driven along Belize’s highways lately, chances are you’ve seen it, piles of trash scattered along the roadside, turning our beautiful landscapes into something far less picture-perfect. It’s a growing problem, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is speaking out. They say littering isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a threat to wildlife, the environment, and even public health. And the cost? It’s not just environmental. It’s also draining resources that could be used to fix roads and build better infrastructure. Here’s Britney Gordon with the following story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

You see it in the water, on the streets, and lining the highways, trash is everywhere. And it’s becoming a big problem. Belize is known as “The Jewel”, a nickname that reflects its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Every year, thousands of visitors come to experience our lush rainforests, vibrant wildlife, and crystal-clear waters. But there’s a not-so-pretty side to this picture: litter. From north to south, garbage piles up along our highways and public spaces, and it’s hard to ignore.

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH

“Littering has become a huge problem because every week we pick up more than the previous week, and we have noticed that the locations that we’re picking up beverage from, we are also picking up household garbage. So it seems as though residents are taking their household garbage and leave it out there for us to pick up. And the MIDH is not a garbage company. Honestly, we pick up the garbage because when we cut the highways to do vegetation control, the garbage are there. So it doesn’t make sense for us to leave it there. And so we try to ensure that once we’re doing vegetation control, we come behind and we pick up the garbage at the same time.”

Trash is a serious health hazard, not only to people, but to the wildlife living in those areas as well. According to Chief Engineer Evondale Moody, cleaning the highways has been costing the ministry a significant amount of time and money- resources that should be spent repairing and developing infrastructure.

Evondale Moody

“The littering is a significant additional cost that we have incurred, and we continue to incur. The ministry basically has to spend at least two days out of the six days because generally we work up until Saturdays. So at least two days out of every week, we have to be spending time picking up garbage along our highways. This is not just for the George Price Highway. It’s all the highways countrywide. And so that has a cost to it because we have to employ personnel to do that type of work. We have to provide safety vest for them to utilize. We have to pay for the garbage bags for us to load the trashing we have to pay for gloves. We have to pay for the transportation because it’s not just five miles. We have to do the entire length of the highway and each district is responsible for a certain section.”

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is urging Belizeans to step up and show more civic pride. In a recent statement, the Ministry warned that our bad littering habits are slowly destroying the very environment we all say we love. And it’s not just MIDH raising the alarm. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler, says the growing trash problem is a serious concern for his ministry too. That’s why they’re rolling out a new campaign, the “Clean Belize Initiative”, aimed at tackling the issue head-on and restoring the beauty of our country.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“But we have to take the lead on all of those things. If the rivers are congested before La Rutra Maya, we have to go in there, clean up the river with lags and debris all over the place If it’s silted, then we have to try get some dredging happening. So all of those things come into play. But the Clean Belize Initiative, I think is going to be a great program for us moving forward. to focus on beaches, to focus on the major highways and to focus on just keeping Belize clean and healthy.”

The trash is making Belize look bad. It’s as simple as that. According to Mahler, the lack of civic pride is becoming evident on Belize’s reviews.

Anthony Mahler

“I’ve also spoke about the amount of litter that we have all over the place, because when you have exit surveys, those are the things that or guests are saying on the surveys. Now this da wa issue, derelict vehicles all over, stray dogs .All of these things.”

In 2024, the marine conservation group Sea of Life collected over eighteen thousand pieces of trash, and a whopping seventy-five percent of it was plastic. These plastics don’t break down easily. Instead, they end up polluting our land and sea, causing long-term damage to the environment. While efforts to move away from single-use plastics are underway, there’s still a long road ahead. In the meantime, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH) is asking everyone to do their part, starting with something simple: hold on to your trash until you can throw it away properly.

Evondale Moody

“The volume of garbage that we’re receiving is horrendous, and I think it’s ridiculous. And it basically shows honestly that we have a nasty society. That is just putting it real and we have to do something about it because littering and defacing of our assets, it basically diminish, diminishes us. As a country. We have a beautiful country, but it also compromises the road of safety and it increases the maintenance cost. So our idea is to try and get that out to the public honestly, and to see how best we could get a positive reaction from the general public on these issues.”

Every Belizeans is encouraged to take pride in their country and its wealth of natural resources. That means doing their part to ensure that it remains clean and safe for all to enjoy. Britney Gordon for News Five.

A New Discovery in Caracol Highlights Site’s Significance

A major discovery at the Caracol Archaeological Site is making headlines internationally, and for good reason. Researchers have uncovered what they believe to be the tomb of Caracol’s very first king, a find that’s shedding new light on the ancient Maya world and its complex network of diplomacy and power. Led by renowned archaeologists Doctors Arlen and Diane Chase, the Caracol Archaeological Project is once again putting Belize on the map for groundbreaking Maya research. And as News Five’s Paul Lopez shows us in this week’s Belize on Reel, this discovery could change how we understand Caracol’s role in Mesoamerican history.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A discovery nearly seventeen hundred years in the making is turning heads at the Caracol Archaeological Site. Archaeologists have uncovered a burial site dating all the way back to 331 AD—and it’s no ordinary tomb. It’s believed to belong to Te K’ab Chaak, the very first known ruler of Caracol and the founder of its royal dynasty. The exciting find was made by the Caracol Archaeological Project, led by the husband-and-wife team, Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase, who’ve been uncovering the secrets of Caracol for decades.

Diane Chase, Provost, University of Houston

“One of the question is how important was Teotihuacan to the establishment of rulership in the Maya era. We selected one area, the northeast acropolis, that we have worked on for many years overtime because we knew it had remains of the correct time period to answer those exact questions.”

The tomb that archaeologists discovered contained an assortment of jadeite ornaments, carved bone tubes, pottery vessels and more. Doctor Melissa Badillo, the Director at the Institute of Archaeology explained that all these items reflected local and traditional connections with central Mexico, suggesting diplomatic relations at the highest level.

Dr. Melissa Badillo, Director, Institute of Archaeology

“One of the more significant features of the tomb is that there are some pottery vessels and other obsidian artifacts that clearly show that connection to central Mexico. It shows that Teotihuacan influence early on. So, it pushes back the time for that Mexican influence and it shows that even as early as the first founder of Caracol and his reign that there was networking happening between Belize and the Maya area. Even though they were not, they did not have the comfort of modern transportation as we do now. There was significant trading, networking happening still within the region.”

Arlen Chase, Professor, University of Houston

“What we discovered this past year is the tomb of someone that we believe was the first member of the royal dynasty at Caracol. This would be the first individual we found that actually matches with the hieroglyphic text. Not just the first ruler in name because it matches the monuments, but the first one we actually found. That, in and of itself, is huge.”

Doctor Badillo says the discovery is of national importance. She explains that it reinforces the country’s critical role in the ancient Mesoamerican networks, while highlighting the value of preserving our archaeological heritage. The discovery also adds a new layer of intrigue to a site that draws visitors from across the world.

Dr. Melissa Badillo

“For sure it will put Belize on the forefront of Maya archaeology. It shows the significance of the development that we had early on in the development fo the maya history within this region, the networking and everything that came along with it. It shows the political significance and the strategies that Caracol had in place and linking with these regional cities across the Mesoamerican Area. It will provide another intriguing feature for visitors to Caracol. Of course these things are not yet on display as we working through more analysis and gather all the information we need to. In the near future we can expect to have this information available in the public.”

Arlen Chase

“There are eleven ceramic vessels, a lot of them are polychrome. Eleven vessels in the tomb dating to 350 AD is a lot of vessels. What is even more impressive is the iconography that is on top of or painted on top of the lids, because one of the lids shows a portrait of the god Ek Chuah, the Maya merchant god who is generally not known from the classic period, and there he is at 350 AD, the god of trade.”

Future analysis will include ancient DNA studies, isotope testing and the reconstruction of artifacts such as the jadeite mask. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Teachers Rethink Learning in the Age of AI

Textbooks? Still important. But these days, more students are turning to tech, specifically AI tools like ChatGPT, to help with everything from homework to full-blown research papers. It’s a digital shift that’s changing the way classrooms work, and while it’s opening up exciting new possibilities, it’s also raising some tough questions. How do educators keep up? How do they make sure students are still learning the skills they need, not just copying and pasting answers? From Florida to Belize, teachers are rethinking how they teach, how they assess, and how they prepare students for a world where AI is here to stay. Paul Lopez has the story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

These days, students aren’t just turning to textbooks, they’re turning to tech. From homework help to full-blown research papers, large language models like ChatGPT are becoming go-to tools in classrooms around the world. But while technology is opening new doors for learning, it’s also raising some big questions. How do educators strike the right balance between embracing innovation and ensuring academic integrity? Lee McLoughlin, who teaches Anthropology and Geography online at Florida International University, is one of many educators navigating this new digital frontier.

Lee Mcloughlin, Lecturer, Florida International University

“In 2022 bang, all of the language started changing and all the answers starting sounding the same and I was working with the professors there and something to change. Obviously paying attention to what is happening in the news and Chat GPT is becoming more and more wide spread and trained as more and more people using it and students were using it to feed the questions into the and copy and pasting the answers coming out on the other side. Obviously, that is a problem.”

One of the biggest concerns with students leaning too heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT? Plagiarism. It’s becoming a real issue in classrooms. And it’s not just about copying and pasting. As the Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice at Galen University points out, when students rely entirely on large language models, they miss out on building the critical thinking and writing skills they need to succeed, not just in school, but in life.

Zain Dueheney, Program Coordinator, Galen University

“When you enter the workforce, you kind of short change yourself in terms of your viability in the workforce you are cheating yourself in terms of your viability in the workforce. You are cheating yourself out of those skill sets that you would have developed if you do it correctly. Because, you take professions such as engineering, social work, these require to be intimately involved with persons you are working with. And, people will see through you day one.”

Let’s face it, AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re only getting smarter. And educators like Dale McDougall, an Adjunct Lecturer at Galen University, are leaning into that reality. Instead of fighting the tech, he’s rethinking how he teaches.

Dale McDougall, Adjunct Lecturer, Galen University

“Teachers are now required to try and think out of the box. How is it that we can have students use A.I. as a tool rather than a replacement. And, I have my own mechanisms that I use for my course. For example, I start off with different types of assessments to determine students writing styles early in the term.”

Lee Mcloughlin

“If we suspect that they just copy and paste, one of the measures we take is to ask them for a one-on-one meeting and ask them to verbally express why they have written why they have written.”

Sure, AI in the classroom is shaking things up, but educators aren’t backing down. In fact, many are stepping up, becoming part-time tech experts just to keep pace. Still, there’s a growing call for clearer guidelines and more open conversations about how tools like ChatGPT should be used in schools. And as Dr. David Aguilar, Computer Science Coordinator at Galen University, puts it, this tech is evolving fast. That means the education system must stay flexible, ready to adapt as the digital landscape keeps changing.

Doctor David Aguilar, Computer Science Coordinator, Galen University

“So we are trying to guide students through a forest we have not been through ourselves yet. so, it is tricky. We need to be in our game. we need to be creative in our own approach. We need to see where the world is going so that we can move in that direction. Mister McDougal talked about editing his assessment to make sure he gets what he wants out of his students. I think that is the way it has to be. We cant do things the way we have been doing them so far. We will be stuck in the past. We cant jump too far ahead. The technology might go in a direction we did not expect. So, we have to be adaptive. I think that needs to be the key word.”

So, the classroom is no longer just about administering lesson plans and issuing grades. It is an entirely new landscape where humans and machines must coexist. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Caribbean Cuts HIV Deaths, But Gaps Remain

The Caribbean is making real strides in the fight against HIV. Since 2010, new infections have dropped by twenty-one percent, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by an impressive sixty-two percent. But while the numbers are encouraging, the full picture is more complex. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

“The Caribbean has made real progress in the fight against HIV. Since 2010, new infections have dropped by twenty-one percent, and AIDS-related deaths are down sixty-two percent. But behind those numbers lies a more complex story. According to UNAIDS, about three hundred and forty thousand people in the region are living with HIV. Most know their status, and many are receiving treatment, but not everyone. Children and men are less likely to be on treatment or have their virus under control compared to women. Young people aged fifteen to twenty-four make up a quarter of the new infections, often because they lack access to prevention services designed for them. And for key groups, like gay men, transgender people, and sex workers, the risk remains extremely high. In some countries, HIV rates among transgender people reach a staggering sixty percent. Money is another challenge. Over two-thirds of HIV funding in the region comes from international donors. That means programs are vulnerable if that support dries up. Haiti, for example, relies almost entirely on outside funding. Legal and social barriers also stand in the way. While some countries have decriminalized same-sex relationships, others, including Trinidad and Tobago, still criminalize them. Sex work and drug possession are also illegal in most places, making it harder for people to get the help they need. The Caribbean has come a long way, but the fight isn’t over.”

BEL Flips the Switch on Solar Future

Belize is turning up the power toward a greener future. Belize Electricity Limited made history today by signing a groundbreaking agreement for the country’s very first utility-scale solar power plant. The new facility, set to rise in Buena Vista, Corozal, will generate fifteen megawatts of clean energy, marking a major step in reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels. It’s a proud moment for Belize’s sustainability journey, and BEL Chairman Andrew Marshalleck shared more on what this milestone means for the nation’s energy future.

Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman, Belize Electricity Limited

“The significance of it is that we all know and all agree that utility scale solar is the future for energy generation in the country. This is the furthest we’ve ever reached down the road of actually putting a plant on the ground, and we thought it was worth celebrating and documenting.”

Reporter

“We had the signing today. What comes next?”

Andrew Marshalleck

“What comes next is that they now move to start building out a facility and it’s a twelve-month proposition. And so by next year you should see a plant on the ground and utility scale solar being put on a grid. And that’s a very good thing for everybody.”

Reporter

“Can you explain why the signing of the PPP happens before actual construction?”

Andrew Marshalleck

“Because it sets all terms for operations, it sets all operating parameters that must be met and it also sets all price. And it also is an arrangement under which BEL agrees to buy the power that this plant will produce at a pre-approved price.”

Reporter

“Since it’s a pilot though, can those terms actually change when it comes on stream?”

Andrew Marshalleck

“No. They’re based on projections and that’s what part of the reason why it takes as long as It does. They’ve put forward the price, they’ve worked out what it’ll cost to build the plant, and they’ve put forward a price and we’ve sought to negotiate down and they, the results have been reviewed by the PUC and approved.”

BEL Advances Energy Independence with Solar Project

There’s good news on the horizon for Belizeans; lower electricity bills could be coming soon! That’s thanks to a major leap toward energy independence: Belize’s first utility-scale solar power plant is officially in the works, which will provide Belize with fifteen megawatts of power. For years, we’ve relied heavily on imported energy, about half of our power comes from Mexico. But when an energy crisis hit there, Belize felt the shock, with temporary power cuts that exposed just how vulnerable our grid really is. Now, with this new solar plant set to boost local energy production, there’s real hope that prices will drop and reliability will rise. BEL Chairman Andrew Marshalleck has more on what this means for your wallet, and the country’s future.

Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman, Belize Electricity Limited

“It should be lower, and this is why solar is needed, because it’ll exert a downward pressure on the average cost of power.”

Reporter

“You already to the price?”

Andrew Marshalleck

“Yes.”

Reporter

“Tell us.”

Andrew Marshalleck

“Yes. But it’s a unit price and you don’t know how much will be produced. And you will have better data once it starts functioning to make better projections. But projections have been made well, it’s not that I can tell you what it’ll be down to the cents but it’ll be lower than a number of sources that we rely on now, so that when you average it together with those sources, it brings down the overall average cost of power. And this is why we say we need to introduce utility scale solar into the system if we want to maintain prices as where they are, because it has a downward pressure on overall costs.”

Empowering Tomorrow: Youth Camp Launches in Pomona

Something exciting is happening in the heart of Pomona. For the first time ever, the village is hosting the Valley Youth Connect Summer Camp 2025, a vibrant new initiative aimed at empowering young people in the community. Chairman of Steadfast Village, Orlando Chuck, shared details about the event, which is expected to reach around two hundred and fifty youths between the ages of fourteen and twenty-nine. From skill-building workshops to fun, interactive activities, this camp is all about connection, growth, and opportunity for the next generation.

Orlando Chuck, Chairman

“So far it’s been going very well and we are transporting our children here to Pomona Community Center and an IT vet where they are doing baking and they also do barbering, wood carving and today we are having the first aid training in the community center behind us.”

Jessica Calis, Chairlady, Alta Vista

“In the community center we have the first aid and CPR training and so as a teacher I took it upon myself to come here today because I don’t think that even as a part of CPD training we get much opportunity to do CPR and first response training I think it’s very very important for persons like teachers who touch a number of lives daily and we do find ourselves in these compromised positions I am in this course right now and I have discovered so many things that I thought I knew and I knew them so poorly or so wrongly and so I was discussing with Ms. Yesenia Trapp the course is being offered by certain emergency services. I am formally inviting you young persons teachers public workers health care workers if you are studying to be a secondary school teacher this is very much needed and I know we are almost worried about CPD hours I’m also discussing as well how we can get collaboration Ministry of education.”

As the Valley Youth Connect Summer Camp continues, the energy and enthusiasm of the young participants are clear signs of its impact. With a focus on empowerment, skill-building, and positive engagement, this first-of-its-kind initiative in Pomona is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected generation. Organizers hope the success of this year’s camp will inspire even greater involvement and support in the years to come.

Flo’s Pristine’s Employee Charged with Allegedly Stealing Thousands in Jewellery

A 26-year-old housekeeper from Ladyville has been charged with burglary after allegedly stealing over $19,000 worth of jewellery and cash from her employer’s walk-in closet in Belize City.

The accused, Samara Moody of Perez Road, Ladyville, appeared before Magistrate Ludlow Black today and pleaded not guilty to a single count of burglary with intent to steal. She was granted bail of $2,000 under strict conditions.

Moody was an employee of Flo’s Pristine, a business that provides cleaning services.

The incident occurred last month, on June 27, at a Belize City residence, a client of Flo’s Pristine. The client told police that she had specifically instructed Moody not to enter or clean any closets in the master bedroom. However, upon returning home later that evening, she found the closet had been cleaned, and several valuable items were missing.

Police say surveillance footage confirmed that only Moody and the homeowners were seen entering and exiting the property that day.

After several failed attempts to get Moody to return the items, a wanted poster was issued by authorities.

Police say Moody later turned herself in and, during a video-recorded interview, admitted to taking the stolen items.

As part of her bail conditions, Moody must stay at least 100 yards away from the complainant, refrain from contacting her or her family, and sign in weekly at the Ladyville Police Station.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for 4 September 2025.

AGRIC Raffle Postponed Again

The highly anticipated raffle for the 2025 Ford Ranger XL has been postponed again. The announcement was made by the National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Committee.

The raffle was scheduled to take place on June 1 before being postponed to July 1 and now is “tentatively scheduled for September 2025.”

This second delay is because ticket sales have not yet reached the required threshold. The committee says ticket sales will continue at all existing outlets.

All tickets already purchased will remain valid for the rescheduled draw.