2025-07-18 - Greater Belize Media

Bullets Spray in Lake Independence, 5 Men Hospitalized

What started as a laid-back evening among friends ended in chaos; five men shot, rushed to the hospital, and a city once again shaken by gun violence. As tensions between rival groups in Belize City continue to rise, and violent clashes among fishermen escalate, police are stepping up their presence. But there’s more brewing beneath the surface. The government is pushing for public support of the controversial Thirteenth Amendment, a bold proposal that would give police sweeping powers in designated zones, create a special gang and gun court, and retroactively legalize past States of Emergency. It’s a move that has many Belizeans asking tough questions. But officials say it’s a necessary step to get ahead of crime. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Earlier this month, Belize City was rocked by tragedy; a mother and her son, Evadnie and Luke Jones, lost their lives in a brutal act of violence tied to ongoing tensions between rival groups. Since then, police say they’ve stepped up enforcement to try and get ahead of the bloodshed. But on Thursday night, just after ten p.m., gunfire once again shattered the calm, this time on Aloe Vera Street, where five men were caught in a hail of bullets. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, head of the Crimes Investigation Branch, has the latest on this disturbing attack.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“On Thursday, police responded to a shooting incident at Aloe Vera Street in Belize City. Upon the arrival, they received information that five persons had been shot. They were all taken to the KHMH for treatment. They have all been treated and are all in a stable condition. They were identified as Aristotle Hughes, James Young, Germaine Smart, Douglas Gill, and Lismo Williams.”

All five victims are said to be in stable condition tonight and one of them, Douglas Gill, who was shot in the calf, has already been released from the hospital. The others weren’t as lucky, suffering gunshot wounds to the neck, arm, finger, hip, shoulder, and even the abdomen. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, the attackers rolled up on bicycles before opening fire.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Information is that all of them were. At a yard at Aloe Vera Street when two male persons came on a bicycle and fired several shots towards the direction. We have several persons in custody in regards to this investigation.”

Police have yet to establish a motive and are investigating whether the attack is gang related.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“There are several issues that are being looked at. One being they’re fishermen and also a rival between two goods in that area.”

Britney Gordon

“Was any one of them the specific target?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“All of them were at the area and all of the shots were fired towards all of them.”

Police aren’t taking any chances. Officers are now on the ground in the Lake Independence area, working to prevent any possible retaliation after Thursday night’s shooting.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“ Yes, we have several persons in custody operations continue in that area and we will enforce our patrols in that particular area.”

Several men have been detained but no arrest have been made at this time. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Eris Gavarette Arrested for Murder of Sister-in-Law

A family dispute turned deadly on Wednesday night, leaving a young woman dead and a community in shock. Twenty-year-old Claritza Granillo Rodriguez was fatally stabbed, allegedly by her own brother-in-law, after an argument over something as simple as the volume of music in their home. The accused, twenty-three-year-old Eris Gavarette, fled the scene but was tracked down by police the next day and is now facing a murder charge. The family had only recently moved to Belize from Honduras, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, they’re now at the center of a heartbreaking tragedy. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the arrest.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“In reference to the murder in Spanish Lookout, we have since resident charge Eris Gavarette, a Honduran National for the crime of murder.”

Reporter

“Was it was she killed because she was playing music?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“That is the information we have. The dispute began when they were playing music and they have been asked to lower the music.”

Reporter

“Does she have a history of domestic violence in this relationship?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Not that we know of. They recently came to Belize from Honduras.”

Reporter

“Three of her family members from the members got detained before the perpetrator was located. Why were they detained?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“An investigation had to be carried out to determine, what actually transferred. So they were brought in and the investigation has now been concluded and that one person has been charged. “

Reporter

“Originally, the police released a wanted poster. Where did they end up finding the suspect?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“The suspect was found in Santa Elena, in the Cayo district.”

Reporter

“Was he hiding in somebody else’s house, was somebody else holding him?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“No. He was in an area at an abandoned house.”

Justice Stacks Up: Danny Mason Gets 24 More Years

He’s the man once known by multiple names: Danny Mason, Rajesh Persaud, Rajesh Oulette, and Ted Oulette, but now, William ‘Danny’ Mason is known for something far more chilling: the brutal beheading of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas. And today, Mason’s time behind bars just got longer. Already serving a thirty-five-year sentence for murder, Mason has now been handed two additional twenty-four-year sentences for kidnapping, one for Lloyd Friesen and another for his wife, Rosie. The sentences will run at the same time, but here’s the twist, they’ll only kick in after his murder sentence ends in 2051. That means Mason, now fifty-five, could be behind bars until the year 2075, when he’ll be ninety-five years old. Justice Nigel Pilgrim made it clear: this could be life behind bars.

Officer Attacked Outside Club, Four Suspects Sought

A night of fun in Belmopan took a terrifying turn for a police officer who ended up in the hospital after a brutal attack. Twenty-nine-year-old Oliver Giron, a resident of the capital and a member of the police department, was out socializing at a local nightclub when things suddenly spiraled. Just after one a.m., Giron stepped outside to change his shirt, but instead of heading back inside, he was ambushed by four men, beaten, and stabbed. Thankfully, his injuries weren’t life-threatening. He was treated for a stab wound to the shoulder and has since been released from the Western Regional Hospital. Giron says it was a good Samaritan who came to his rescue and rushed him to safety. Tonight, police are investigating what led to the attack and who was behind it.

Belizeans Sound Off on Controversial Amendment

The Thirteenth Amendment—it’s one of the most talked-about pieces of legislation right now, and it’s stirring up a lot of opinions. Some people are strongly against it; others are all for it… and then there are those who aren’t quite sure what it’s even about. So, we hit the streets once again to find out what do Belizeans really know about the Thirteenth Amendment?

Belize City Resident 1

“It is the first time I hear about that first time I hear about it.”

Belize City Resident 2

“When it comes to the 13^th amendment it doesn’t matter what we the people have to say the government will still do what they want to do and its still unfair for the whole people because if we are against it they are still out most so its unfair its unfair and its unfair.”

Belize City Resident 3

“13^th amendment? We need 15^th amendment thirteen is negative. The thirteenth amendment is a possibility I cannot guarantee it you understand? But we are flexible we’re gonna stay equipped with knowledge but after a occurrence what can I do before occurrence I cannot make any possible decision is favorable but after we do not know so the thirteenth amendment I think they should exercise they have the rights to exercise.”

GOB $250,000 Used Vehicle Purchase Raises Eyebrows

And now to a story that’s raising more than a few eyebrows. News Five has gotten its hands on a copy of a government contract, this one tied to the purchase of a pre-owned 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser VX. The seller? Car Guys Belize Limited. The price tag? A whopping two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That’s right, for a used vehicle. Now, to be fair, a dealership’s price usually includes shipping, duties, and all the bells and whistles to get the car on the lot. But still, does that justify a quarter-million-dollar spend of public funds? That’s the question many are asking. We’ll be digging deeper into this purchase and what it means for transparency in government spending in another newscast.

Inside the Deal: Guzman’s $70K Ministry Role Uncovered

Tonight, we’re pulling back the curtain on a government contract that’s raising questions and eyebrows. Just weeks before the last general election, a high-level appointment was quietly signed off, one that gives a retired top cop a powerful new role inside the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. Thanks to a Freedom of Information request by News Five, we now have the documents, and the details, on what Special Advisor Aaron Guzman is being paid, what he’s expected to do, and why this deal could’ve been a legal headache if the election had gone the other way. Paul Lopez has the full story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Thanks to a Freedom of Information request made by News Five, we now have a clearer picture of the role and rewards of Special Advisor Aaron Guzman at the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. Minister Kareem Musa has handed over the official documents: Guzman’s contract and the agreement that gives him access to ministry vehicles. The timing? That’s what’s interesting. The contract was signed on February nineteenth, 2025, just weeks before the March twelfth general election. If the government had changed hands, this deal could’ve sparked some serious legal questions. But that didn’t happen. So, what’s in the deal? Guzman, the retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, is being paid seventy thousand and forty-four dollars for a one-year term. On top of that, he gets access to ministry vehicles and a government-paid SIM card. And when the year’s up? He’s entitled to a gratuity of twenty percent; that’s an extra fourteen thousand dollars.

But what exactly is he being paid to do? According to the contract, Guzman is expected to provide “expert advice” and “strategic guidance” to both Minister Musa and CEO Sharole Carr. His portfolio includes everything from law enforcement and public safety to the development of new growth industries. That means analyzing trends, researching best practices, recommending strategies, and helping shape policies that could impact national security and economic development. It’s a tall order and it raises a few questions.

Is the Ministry leaning too heavily on one advisor to steer the ship on such critical issues? And where does that leave the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado, in all of this? What role does he play in shaping the future of law enforcement? Now, about those ministry vehicles, Guzman wasn’t assigned a specific one. Instead, he has access to any available vehicle in the ministry’s fleet, strictly for official duties. So, at face value, Aaron Guzman isn’t just a special advisor, he’s become a central figure in shaping policy for law enforcement, public safety, and economic innovation in Belize. And when we asked Minister Musa back in June why CEO Sharole Carr couldn’t take on these responsibilities herself, here’s what he had to say…

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs (File: June 27, 2025)

“This is not a cronies contract. You are talking about somebody with institutional experience and knowledge as a deputy commissioner of police. And as the deputy prime minister mentioned today, the act of governance no doubt today requires all hands on deck. None of you are asking how you get the results each year you do, that we stand fourteen murders less than last year. Nobody is looking at that and I am not saying that all of that is attributed to Mr. Guzman. I am saying that there are several pieces to this puzzle starting with the officers of this department have been doing a phenomenal job in terms of the training that they’ve been getting in terms of the LIU intervention and all these programs implemented and the way crimes have evolved so much. We are not talking about just gang violence and domestic violence. We are talking about cyber security. We are talking about our ministry is being asked and tasked to look at animal welfare, if you remember the issue with the horse. So there is a lot of policies and strategies that somebody like Mr. Guzman can offer his advice to the ministry, not the CEO. Because, you ran with that like he is some special advisor to the CEO. I think it was you that said that. It is not just to the CEO, it is the entire ministry that he assist in terms of the policies, programs and strategies.”

News Five will be keeping a close eye on the impact of Aaron Guzman’s work as special advisor, and whether his strategies truly move the needle at the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

UDP in Freefall: NPC Meeting Implodes, Peyrefitte Quits Again

For weeks, we’ve been tracking the growing calls for unity within the opposition and now, another major shake-up. Over the weekend, what was supposed to be a key National Party Council meeting ended in yet another breakdown. The fallout? Chairman Michael Peyrefitte has resigned, again. But was this meeting doomed from the start? Documents obtained by News Five suggest there were serious disagreements even before the meeting began, about how it should be run and who should be in the room. News Five’s Paul Lopez has been digging into the details. Here’s his report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The United Democratic Party is facing what may be its deepest internal divide yet. And just when there seemed to be a plan to bring the party back together, things took another chaotic turn. A twelve-point unity proposal was drafted after Michael Peyrefitte returned as chairman. But instead of bridging the gap, it’s widened it. One major sticking point? A recommendation to exclude all constituency leaders who ran under the “Tracy Ticket” from the National Party Council list. That didn’t sit well with Opposition Leader Tracy Panton and her team. The proposal was meant to set the stage for a smoother NPC meeting on July twelfth but instead, it ended in disarray, and Peyrefitte has since resigned… again.

Patrick Faber, Former Area Rep., Collet

“You have these standard bearers who ran under supporting the honorable Tracy Panton and some who supported Shyne. Show me where the candidates who supported the honorable Tracy Panton were ever expelled from the party. You show me, I asked them. Show me.”

Recommendations were also made to exclude Tracy Panton and Patrick Faber from the NPC meeting, and to have the NPC reinstate them and all of Panton’s candidates as the first item on the NPC agenda.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“If the meeting was genuinely to bridge the gap, to bridge to divide, to hold hands and say it is not going to be perfect, but let us find a way to move forward together, there would be no reason to exclude a former party leader, the lead senator for us in the senate, and the caretaker for us in the Collet.”

There’s also some confusion surrounding the list of delegates used for Saturday’s National Party Council meeting. A recommendation had been made to go with the list that existed before the October 2024 meeting led by Tracy Panton. But here’s the thing, there are now questions about whether that actually happened. Did the party stick to the agreed list, or was something else at play? That uncertainty is only adding fuel to the fire in an already divided UDP.

Patrick Faber

“Mister Salazar and honorable Hugo Patt wrote to Alberto August. I don’t know if that letter managed to reach the public. But they protested that the list was not the proper list. They changed up secretaries for at least five constituencies. They insisted that standard bearers who were status quo ante would not make the list and that they would put on their list.”

Tracy Panton

“And I mean no disrespect to Mister Jose Espat, who got less votes than the number of spoilt ballots in the Albert constituency, how can he sit in an NPC meeting and make decisions that affects the greater good of the party, and reflects the will of the people. It makes no sense. It absolutely makes no sense.”

Tracy Panton and her team were upset that former area reps Beverly Williams and John Saldivar were left off the list of names recommended for reinstatement, a move they saw as exclusionary. That was just one of several issues that signaled Saturday’s meeting was headed for failure. Following the fallout, Chairman Michael Peyrefitte resigned, again. Now, Panton is calling for an immediate national leadership convention. But former Mesopotamia rep Moses “Shyne” Barrow says the party will stick to its plan: constituency conventions first, then a national convention in October 2025.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Former Area Rep., Mesopotamia

“And we will commence with either endorsement conventions or the special constituency conventions and we will have the eighteen new or returning care takers and their executives which will proceed to vote in the October national convention for a new leadership executive. And we hope, which is why I don’t want to get into who was not reinstated, I myself want to restrain myself from getting into any further blood letting and hope that we can move forward, keeping internal matters internal and move forward reconciling and trying to bridge the gap where there still may be differences and have the opposition that the country is demanding and deserves.”

With the UDP’s leadership standoff still unresolved, we ask—will Belizeans see a united opposition anytime soon? Or is that still a long way off? Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Starting this December, the Belize Tax Service Department is making a major shift; it’s going semi-autonomous. What does that mean for taxpayers and the way the department operates? Well, it’s all about boosting efficiency and accountability. But unlike a traditional government office, this new setup will be guided by an advisory board with more independence. News Five sat down with Director General Michelle Longsworth to break down what this transition really means and how it could reshape tax collection in the country.

Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service

“So first off, the transition to a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority is another phase in the reform of the tax administration. You have seen over the past five years we have undertaken several reform initiatives to improve tax administration and moving to a semi-autonomous revenue authority is a very strategic decision aimed at strengthening our efficiency or accountability and the effectiveness of how we run our tax administration. So, it gives us more general autonomy as SARA operates with more independence than a traditional government department for faster decision making and improved financial and resource management and more flexibility in terms of staff processes and staff compensation and to enhance our efficiency and to continue to modernize our tax administration. So, basically that is why this is the next phase. This is nothing new. This is a part of the plan to continue the reform initiatives of the tax administration of Belize. Like many other countries, there are fifty other countries in the world. In the Caribbean you have countries like Jamaica, Barbados. In Latin America you have other countries in Africa and Asia. So, this is not just Belize. This is the best international practice.”

No One to Lose Jobs at Belize Tax Service During Transition

With big changes coming to the Belize Tax Service Department this December, one major question has been on everyone’s mind, what happens to the hundreds of employees currently working there? Early reports suggested major job cuts, with only one hundred and fifty-three positions under the new structure. But Director General Michelle Longsworth is setting the record straight. She says those rumors are nothing but mischief and insists that no one is losing their job. So, what’s really going on behind the scenes of this transition? News Five has the details.

Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service Department

“I think what is being on social media is just a form of mischief making. We started having our sensitization with staff and the first thing we say in those sensitization session is that this government’s role is that no one will lose their jobs. So whether staff choose to transition to the SARA they have a choice or they can choose to remain with the public service and be put in a department in the wider public service. So, no one will lose their jobs. And I think for clarity what I need to say is that, they are talking about a hundred and fifty-three positions. Presently, the BTS has forty-two positions. But, we have two hundred and fifty staff members. A cashier position is one position but we have a cashier in each one of our districts. So even though the cashier is one position we have eight cashiers filling that position. A hundred and fifty-three position does not mean a hundred and fifty-three bodies. That is where the mischief making is and I need to clarify that. It is positions we are talking about not the actual incumbent that will hold those positions.”

Paul Lopez

“When it comes to SARA approach, or the statutory body approach, who becomes the overall managing authority of the Belize Tax Service as it moves in this direction?”

Michelle Longsworth

“So it is not a statutory body, it is a semi-autonomous revenue authority. It is not even a full blown revenue authority. So we will still fall under the ministry of finance but we will be governed by an advisory board. The revenue we are presently collecting will continue to be deposited in the consolidated fund. So it is not a statutory body. That needs to be made clear.”