2025-08-05 | Greater Belize Media

Street Legend Tyrone Meighan Executed in Broad Daylight

Brothers, Tyrone and Ellis Meighan are well-known names in the streets of Belize City. Over the years, they have had numerous run-ins with the law, serving time for and beating several accusations. On August first, Belize City was shaken by a brazen act of gun violence when thirty-one-year-old Tyrone Meighan was executed just after eleven a.m. His death comes amid an escalation of violence between feuding groups in Belize City, raising serious concerns about the safety of Belize’s streets. News Five’s Britney Gordon files the report.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Gang violence has claimed another life in Belize City, this time, it’s thirty-one-year-old Tyrone Meighan. Meighan’s name has long been tied to crime headlines. Back in 2012, he and two others were charged with killing B.D.F. soldier James Norales. They beat the case in 2015, but a retrial followed. A witness claimed Norales was targeted for allegedly working with police, but the judge tossed the testimony as weak and circumstantial. Meighan walked free again and spoke of his relief. But now, years later, his life has ended violently on the same streets that once put him in the spotlight.

Tyrone Meighan, Deceased (File: July 17^th, 2018)

“The first thing that comes to mind is that God is good. You can’t never ever turn your back on God because God is good. Six years of this. Experience is very, very, serious. You know you are fighting for your life on the line, it is your life. It is not to play. It is a job for them but life for us.”

Three years after the murder case that made headlines, Tyrone Meighan was back in the news, this time, for a high-profile home invasion. He was one of eighteen people charged in the 2015 burglary at the home of Lebanese honorary consul Sarkis Abou-Nehra. Guns, liquor, and other valuables were stolen. But the most disturbing part? The diplomat’s maid was raped during the break-in, and Meighan was accused of that crime. His mother, Shelly Meighan, publicly defended him, insisting her son wasn’t responsible.

Shelly Meighan, Mother of Deceased (File: December 7^th, 2015)

“Tyrone has alibi witness that he was home. This is a serious offense…for rape. Tyrone is not like that. Eight dark-skinned persons with mask; how could you identify Tyrone Meighan? Tyrone Meighan, Shaquille Meighan, Ellis Meighan look di same so why dehn neva ker my son pan parade ID. They denied Tyrone the swiping weh dehn do all the rest of man. Dehn denied Tyrone hair…Tyrone ask them to take hair and fi swipe ahn just like how dehn swipe the rest. Dehn noh swipe Tyrone none at all.”

A DNA sample later identified Paul Jex Jr. as the perpetrator, and he was subsequently charged for the crime. However, just a few years later, brothers Tyrone and Ellis Meighan were both handed charges for “being a member of a gang”. A charge that the brothers adamantly refuted in court. Their lawyer at the time, Dickie Bradley, argued that the brothers were being targeted.

Dickie Bradley, Attorney-at-Law (File: February 14^th, 2020)

“None of the three persons have ever been convicted of anything in the courts. They have been arrested regularly, but we all know the police are targeting the young men in the city of Belize, particularly young black men, some of who, of course, should be in prison. Let’s admit that some of them are not trying to do good; they are trying to do bad. In this case, we are hoping that what has transpired—the fact that they know they are being targeted, they know that they are being watched, photographed; lies are being told, that their lives are also in danger.”

Ellis and Tyrone were acquitted of the charges in 2023, but not before landing behind bars, once again, when they were accused of violating bail conditions by missing their scheduled court appearance. The brothers had travelled to Mexico, allegedly to purchase medicine for Ellis’ sick daughter. However, they were intercepted by Mexican authorities and handed back over to Belize. Their attorney in this matter, Norman Rodriguez, said that the brothers had not intended to violate the bail conditions.

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-Law (File: March 22^nd, 2022)

“So there was no evidence – the evidence that the prosecution attempted to bring were photocopies of documents unauthenticated. The only evidence that was elicited in court is that the officer went to Orange Walk, received two people from another officer who had brought them from Corozal, but that was, as far as I’m concerned, hearsay because there was no tangible evidence to support that.”

While Tyrone Meighan was not wanted for any crimes at the time of his death, police are confident that his murder is gang related.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Unit (File: August 4^th, 2025)

“We have several theories. We know this one is gang related with Tyrone Meighan. And we are trying to put the pieces together, but we cannot conclude if they’re related.”

At this time, no charges have been made in the investigation. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Gang Sign Lands Belize City Man Behind Bars

Tonight, a Belize City man is behind bars after being charged for flashing a gang sign, a gesture authorities say is tied to gang activity. Twenty-seven-year-old Lyndon Alexander St. Claire, a resident of Logwood Street, was arraigned late this afternoon before Magistrate Ludlow Black. He appeared without legal representation. The charge? Promoting gang-related activity, specifically, using a hand signal associated with the Crips gang. The alleged incident happened on July twenty-eighth, and investigators say they spotted St. Claire in photos making the gesture. St. Claire pleaded not guilty, but under Belize’s Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the offense is serious enough that bail can’t be granted at the Magistrate’s level. Magistrate Black advised him to seek legal help and apply for bail through the High Court, but that process could take up to ninety days. For now, Lyndon St. Claire is on remand at the Belize Central Prison, with his next court date set for September twenty-fourth.

BTS Transition Draws Strong Public Reaction Over Data Privacy

It started with a quiet announcement but now, it’s got everyone talking, and fast. Just weeks ago, the Belize Tax Service Department revealed plans to become a semi-autonomous revenue authority. Fast forward to today, and social media is buzzing. The big concern is data privacy. People are asking: Will this new setup give the government too much power to track how we spend and move our money? So, we took the question straight to you, our online community. We ran a quick non-scientific Facebook poll, and over twelve hundred of you weighed in. The results are overwhelming. Ninety-two percent said “No way” to daily transaction tracking. Just five percent were open to it with strong privacy protections, and only three percent gave it a thumbs up. This discussion is only beginning; stay involved.

Business Sector Questions Tax Staff Competency Amid Major Overhaul

Belize’s business sector is speaking out and their concerns are aimed squarely at the Belize Tax Service Department. With the department preparing to transition into a semi-autonomous revenue authority, there’s a big question hanging in the air: Are the current staff up to the task? Here’s the issue, employees who want to stay on board will need to go through an interview process. That’s drawing attention and criticism. If they’ve been handling tax collection all this time, why the need to re-qualify? And if they’re not already qualified, can they really be trusted with sensitive financial data in this new setup? It’s a conversation that’s gaining traction and tonight, we’re hearing from the President of the Public Service Union.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“That is the reality, that is the reality and that is why we are saying, and it needs to be said, because I believe the director would have also said we have engaged in irresponsible remarks. No, we are holding you accountable. We are calling you out and we call out the former prime minister and his administration who appointed somebody who was not trained in tax administration, or tax supervision or tax application, you were not trained. You are an IT specialist and yet you were brought in, created an anomaly where your pay scale is concerned to amalgamate two tax departments and then to further complicate that misfit, this administration would have issued two contracts to somebody who was not fit for purpose and that is a fact, since the want to speak facts. You don’t know what it is like to run a tax department. A bad decision was made. We need to now ask her, you oversee this amalgamation, why the high rate of turnover in the project execution unit? And if you have a high rate of turnover, what project did you execute in the last five years. Where is your staff moral. It is on an all time low. There is a toxic environment. There is no proper reporting. There is no data that is driving this new structural change for SARA, absolutely no data, just emotions.”

Revenue Authority Faces Scrutiny About Outsourcing

Now, let’s turn to a topic that’s sparking serious discussion in public finance, outsourcing under the semi-autonomous revenue authority. The big question is how will that process actually unfold? And just as crucial, how will the board ensure those contracts go to individuals who are truly qualified? These aren’t merely procedural concerns, they strike at the heart of financial accountability in government spending. Flowers weighed in and here is his perspective.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Well one, the minute you take a government department and put it on a board then that legislation gives that board full authority to execute. So, there could be further outsourcing of services from BTSD and like I said, the impact of this will ultimately be felt by the Belizean people, because rather than all these revenues, and of course they will say that all the revenues will continue to be channeled into the consolidated revenue fund, and while that is good, we don’t know what provisions will be in the legislation about what comes out, and so no doubt in anybody’s mind, we are expected the cost to balloon, if not triple, in terms of running this thing, and if you service out to be able to accommodate. Again, how are board appointed? They are appointed by the prime minister. It is political appointment and again this is your largest revenue generating department.”

Belize Carnival Turns 50: A Legacy of Rhythm and Pride

Fifty years ago, a group of forty proud Belizeans came together with a dream to bring the streets to life with music, dance, and vibrant costumes. That dream became the very first carnival road march, and it’s grown into one of the most anticipated celebrations in our cultural calendar. Tonight, we’re taking a step back in time to relive those early days through the voices of the pioneers who helped shape Belize’s carnival spirit. Because understanding where we started is just as important as celebrating where we are now. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us on a nostalgic journey in this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It all started back in 1975, just over a decade after Hurricane Hattie devastated the Old Capital. In the spirit of revival and patriotism, forty Belizeans came together with a spark of inspiration, to bring life back to the Tenth of September celebrations through a vibrant road march. Among them was Solie Arguelles, now seventy-nine years old. Back then, she was in her late twenties and full of energy, helping to shape what would become one of Belize’s most beloved traditions, the Carnival Road March.

Solie Arguelles, Former Member, Committee of Forty

“It was like after the hurricane, the spirit of performing and street dancing had gone to nothing. We were not parading anymore as we used to in bunches, the people’s parade. Mr. Henry and I in that committee of forty decided we needed something to boost up the morale and bring back the colorful tenth of September that we knew.”

So, what was the answer to reviving the spirit of the Tenth? Simple, they took it to the streets with music, movement, and pure energy. Organized street dancing became the heartbeat of a new tradition, and Belize’s Carnival was born.

Solie Arguelles

“And that is how we started, with the street dancing and pretty music. That was the beginning of the generators with music on a truck. We had it in little, small pickups at the time. We did not have those big monstrous trucks today.”

At the time, the sole focus of the event was on children’s participation. So, when Marina Welcome joined the road march eight years later with Jump Street Posse, her junior band was able to fit right in.

Marina Welcome, Band Leader, Jump Street Posse

“In those days carnival was fun. It was not about the money. It was about the love for the children, keep the children off the streets and have a lot of fun. That is what carnival was all about. In those days, you did not have to spend a lot of money. I remember you make out of garbage bag, coconut leaf, crocus bag, but the design was so creative out of it, that the people look forward to see and then you start to improve, and it get bigger and better.”

According to Arguelles, in those early years costume designers used vibrant colors to represent the celebratory mood while exuding national pride. She was a strong advocate for conservative costume designs and dance moves during the parade.

Solie Arguelles

“My thing was that we have too many eyes looking at these children and the thing with that is we don’t know who will become a predator. And, we had too many predators drinking beer, watching these kids.”

Marina Welcome

“They did not have any rules on how to dress the kids, because in those days people were not focusing on abusing the kids, until the violence started stepping in, the committee got stricter with the dressing and the dancing.”

Karen Vernon didn’t just watch history unfold, she was part of it. Back in 1975, when Belize’s very first carnival road march hit the streets, Karen was front and center. Her mother had decided to enter a group in the parade, and Karen, just a young girl at the time, was right there in the spotlight.

Karen Vernon, Original Carnival Participant (File: Sept 2020)

“I was thirteen at the time and this was exciting, this is a parade you actually put on costumes and dance through the streets. We were butterflies and we were very modestly dressed and we had black wings, so we portrayed butterflies. I remember before we moved off from Court House Warf our costumes were starting to rip apart, they were sewing and gluing and putting stuff back together. But we didn’t care, we were ready to dance through the streets and have fun.”

When Belize’s carnival road march first hit the streets, it wasn’t about trophies or cash prizes. The real driving force? Pure love for celebration and national pride. It was built by people who simply wanted to bring joy, unity, and vibrant energy to the community and they did it with heart, not for headlines.

Marina Welcome

“I think it was passion, because in those days the prize was only three hundred dollars and nobody complained. We were good.”

Solie Arguelles

“We did it for the fun, for the celebration of the tenth. I personally wanted a nationalistic spirit, I just have always been that I want to appreciate my flag.”

As Marina Welcome peruses through an old photo album filled with memories of those early days, she reflects on the role she played in shaping what has evolved into today’s carnival. Her contributions, like those of Arguelles, and the Committee of Forty, are invaluable. Their legacy will live on through the decades to come. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Belizean Beats Hit Global Stage at Japan Expo

Belizeans are showing up and showing out on the international stage at the 2025 Japan Expo. Over the weekend, world leaders travelled to Osaka, Japan to participate in a showcase of cultures and talents from across the globe. A team of talented Belizean delegates wowed the audience with a dazzling display of music, dance, and song. To hear more about the weekend’s festivities, we caught up with musician Alex Evans, one of the talented performers who helped bring Belize’s spirit to life on the big stage. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s a dream gig for any artist, and this year, one Belizean is living it. The Japan Expo, a global showcase of culture, creativity, and innovation, is back, and Belize is on the map. Musician Alex Evans is among the talented few representing our country, bringing the rhythm and spirit of Belize to an international stage.

Alex Evans, Musical Performer

“We had Mr. Ian Yacab on the marimba. We had Josh Arana on the Garifuna drums. We had Emelio Thomas, who was also a prominent Garifuna artist. We had Cocono Bwai, the Brukdown Prince of Belize. We had Ernestine Carballo, the Soca Queen of Belize. We had myself playing the steel pan but also playing several different instruments and just filling in to support the other artists as well. And we had a group of dancers led by Christelle Gabriel and the other dancers were Mr. Philip Ramsey and Adana Mendoza. And together we were able to showcase the Maya, Mestizo, Creole Garifuna cultures, as well as to give a little bit of carnival.”

Each nation was given a national day, where the respective delegations showed off the industries that are integral to the nation. The Belize pavilion focused on three main areas, the blue, green and orange economies. Evans was selected for the trip to highlight Belize’s orange economy, which includes the creative arts. While being able to showcase their talents on such a global stage was an exciting opportunity, Evans shares that one of the best parts of the experience has been connecting with other cultures.

Alex Evans

“The opportunity to walk around and interact with our brothers and sisters from neighboring Caribbean countries, Latin American countries, and even some of the West African countries. I definitely personally took advantage of having that opportunity to the Trinidad and Tobago booth and to play a little bit of steel pan with them. Same thing with Antigua and Barbuda. And to go to some of the West African countries like Guinea and Mali and Burkina Faso and to just pick up a drum and to converse with people from these other countries that have a shared historical experience and a shared cultural experience and to communicate in that way. That was definitely one of the highlights for me personally.”

The delegation was carefully curated to display the diverse range of ethnicities Belize has to offer. This melting pot of cultures is something that continues to set Belize apart from the rest and deserves to be highlighted on this grand stage.

Alex Evans

“This experience gave me a lot of perspective because a lot of the other countries that were here and for their national day and for their performances and the way that they chose the things that they chose to represent, they were able to represent their culture in some instances in a very specific way. But for Belize, we are very diverse. So for us to say that we’re representing Belizean culture, but to only just put a Garifuna performance on stage or a Creole performance on stage, or a Maya performance on stage would not do justice to the thing that I believe is the thing that makes us most powerful, the thing, the best thing about us, which is our diversity.”

Evans says that this experience has put into perspective just how important it is to understand how beautiful Belize’s diversity is and recognize the strength that unity brings. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Hooked on Sharks: Belize Tags Along for Conservation

Sharks often get a bad rap thanks to those teeth and Hollywood thrillers, but here in Belize, they’re playing a much bigger role. These ocean giants are helping scientists unlock secrets about marine life, and local fishers are right there with them, diving into a new kind of work that’s all about conservation. Tonight, we will take you twenty-eight miles off the coast of Riversdale, Stann Creek District, to Glover’s Reef, where a passionate team is tagging sharks, tracking their movements, and helping protect the delicate balance of our underwater world. In collaboration with the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, News Five brings you the story of one family’s dedication to shark research and conservation. Here’s News Director Isani Cayetano.

“Sharks are the lions of the sea, and without them, the ocean’s ecosystem would collapse.” – Paul Watson, Canadian-American Conservationist

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

When you think of sharks, you probably picture fierce predators, but did you know they play a vital role in keeping our oceans healthy? Sharks are at the top of the marine food chain, and that makes them crucial caretakers of the sea. They help control the populations of other marine animals, which keep things in balance. For example, by keeping prey numbers in check, sharks prevent overgrazing of seagrass beds and coral reefs, two habitats that are essential for ocean life.

Jessica Quinlan, Exec. Dir., Fishers for Science

“They are most often thought of as a top predator, but they fulfill different roles, you know, they are top and meso-predators. And so, that means that they help to maintain populations of other fish, if they are prey, and what that does is help keep things in balance. So, sharks will eat their prey in certain numbers, so that their prey doesn’t become overabundant and then, you know, decimate what their prey eats…and then we get this collapse and this imbalance of things.”

Did you know Belize is a shark hotspot? With over forty different species swimming in our waters, it’s no wonder marine biologists are so fascinated by our coastline. From vibrant coral reefs to lush seagrass beds and winding mangrove forests, Belize’s diverse marine habitats offer the perfect home for these incredible creatures.

Hector Martinez, Vice Chair, Belize Shark Fishers Association

“Sharks are important for many reasons. They’re important to the marine ecosystem to balance the food chain. If they’re a sick fish on the reef, they can clean up that fish. They’re sort of like the garbage truck of the ocean, especially the tiger shark.”

We’re heading out to sea, twenty-eight miles off the coast of Riversdale in the Stann Creek District, where a small but passionate team is diving into shark research. Hector Martinez and Jessica Quinlan are leading the charge on this expedition to Glover’s Reef, a stunning, partially submerged atoll that marks the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef. It’s a chain of islands, twenty miles long and seven-and-a-half miles wide, teeming with marine life. Joining them are three young seafarers, all family, and all second-generation fisherfolk, bringing their deep-rooted knowledge of the sea to the mission. Together, they’re helping scientists track the migration patterns of sharks in Belize’s southern waters.

Hector Martinez

“With the Belize Fund, the work we’ve been doing is setting down Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations. They’re called BRUVS and the idea behind that, what we do with that data is they can monitor the shark abundance in Belize. So, the bigger part of that is part of Fin Print and they’re sampling in fifty-two different countries, I think it is. There’s probably ten years of BRUVS footage for Glover’s Reef and so, over the ten years, they can monitor when the sharks went up, when they went down or when they’re staying at a normal amount.”

Today, the team is taking a plunge and will descend to a depth of about seventy feet. They gear up, double-check their diving equipment and slip into the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. Each diver is given a receiver and, after bobbing on the surface for a few minutes, they begin their descent. Beneath the surface, they will replace the Baited Underwater Video Stations that have been submerged for nearly a year.

Anderson Martinez, Fisherman

“The BRUVs, you know, we set an underwater camera for two hours, no, for one hour and thirty minutes, you know, they get set and we see sharks, all kinds of sharks. We see hammerhead, we see reef sharks, and all types of fish. So that’s a very, very good thing.”

Sharks aren’t just roaming the ocean aimlessly; there’s a purpose for their journey. Their migration helps mix up the gene pool, giving populations a healthy boost in diversity. It also lets them find mates, hunt for food, and stay in tune with changes in their environment. In short, these ocean travelers are following nature’s cues to keep their species thriving.

Jessica Quinlan

“My very first trip to Belize was back in 2017, where I began working with the Belize Fisheries Department to rollout a new protocol or monitoring system to monitor catch landings of the shark fishery. So, alongside the logbooks that fishers are required to submit, we ask them to remove a specific fin from each shark that they landed and from that fin, we were able to determine, we were building a program to determine what species were being landed, how many, and then also calculate what size individuals were being landed.”

It’s Fernando Castellanos’ first time scuba diving in open waters and helping Hector.

Fernando Castellanos, Fisherman

“He mi tell we ih had wahn trip fi set out receivers and ih tell we if we interested well let me know. I tell ahn yes, I wahn go fi go get more experience. This is new to me and I love the experience.”

By studying shark populations and migration patterns in the Caribbean Sea and Belize, researchers can inform conservation efforts, promote ecosystem balance, and support sustainable management practices.

Hector Martinez

“We go out and we tag sharks, and Gladden [Spit] is one of the spots that we tagged a bunch of sharks and they are trying to track the movement of sharks within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. And so, you tag the shark, you give the shark a little surgery on the body cavity area, put a little acoustic tag in there, sew it back up and you release the shark. And then you set these receivers at different spots. Usually, you set a couple around right where you caught the shark, but then you go and set them at random spots, hoping that the shark will swim by there or another shark that someone else had tagged will swim by there and the receiver will pick up that tag. The tag releases a signal, and the receiver will pick that up and with that we can say, “Oh, this shark was tagged at Gladden and someone got it on their receiver up in Isla Mujeres, so it’s traveling.” And maybe every year it comes at Gladden at this specific time when the snappers are spawning. And so, you can track movement like that.”

For members of the Belize Shark Fishers Association, tagging sharks is part of a bigger picture; it’s a smart way to earn a living while protecting the ocean. It’s a sustainable alternative that helps them manage fish stocks responsibly, all while playing a key role in marine conservation.

Anderson Martinez

“So all of this BRUVS, I think it’s a very good thing because, you know, I’m a lobster diver, spear fishing, so when you give us jobs like that, it takes [away] a lot of pressure from the lobsters and the fish stocks. So then, it’s a good thing and I do it along with my brothers and my father and so, it brings all of us together.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Narco Ranches Push Into Belize Forests

Belize’s western forests are under attack, and the threat isn’t just environmental, it’s criminal. Illegal cattle ranching is creeping deeper into protected areas like the Vaca Forest Reserve and the Chiquibul ecosystem. Experts say it’s being driven by cross-border encroachment, organized crime, and a serious lack of enforcement on the ground. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo saw it firsthand in Chiquibul back in 2023. Now, he’s diving into a new report that lays out the scale and impact of this growing crisis. It’s a troubling look at how Belize’s natural treasures are being chipped away and what’s at stake if the trend continues.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

A new report by Friends for Conservation and Development, or FCD, reveals that over three thousand five hundred acres of forest in the Vaca Forest Reserve and Chiquibul Ecosystem have already been cleared. The ranches cross Belize’s protected areas and many point fingers across the border.

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“Although we have been collecting and doing monitoring and enforcement along with the Defense Force and the police in areas like Caballo, Valentin, Rio Blanco, and Cebada which are right along the border, the study that was done, the research concluded last year, 2024, the research shows that the Vaca Forest Reserve which is seventeen kilometers with Guatemalan there is approximately one thousand seven hundred acres being used by cattle ranchers.”

So that’s the Vaca Forest Reserve alone, in the Chiquibul ecosystem? The number is slightly greater.

Rafael Manzanero

“There is approximately one thousand nine hundred acres that we consider to be pasture lands used for cattle ranching. These are purely Guatemalans. So what it shows then is that cattle ranching has not been halted in that activity. It is crossing the adjacency zone of one kilometer. There are particular hotspot areas that we can clearly see. Valentine in the Caracol area is really one which is targeted, south of Caballo conservation post. Then we see the guys north of Rio Blanco.”

The ranches in the Rio Blanco area are controlled by a Guatemalan family known as “The Jimenez” and they’ve been expanding further into Belizean territory for that past few years. Despite joint patrols to dismantle fences and reclaim land, ranchers often rebuild. And there are bigger risks.

Rafael Manzanero

“There have been operations along with rangers and the BDF primarily along the area to cu the fences and removed the posts. I mean, that has happened and I have to thank the BDF over the more recent months that there has been a much more kind of a robust program to do that but there’s so much in terms of fields out there and fences. Some are so that Guatemalans, after two months, they will return back and put back in a fence. We have been highlighting scatter ranching, we still have not been that decisive in putting in the interventions to really have this – it has to be a multi-pronged approach also like many of these things. But, it shows that we still have to do a lot of work. It is rugged terrain. It is difficult to reach, it’s difficult to be out in that zone, you know, but that’s what it’s going to take if we really want to deal with this.”

It’s going to take resources- more boots on the ground, more and better equipment especially communication equipment and of course money for the Belize Defence Force and its soldiers. FCD Comanages the Chiquibul National Park. It is the BDF that enforces the law. And just recently, Minister of Defence and Border Security Oscar Mira told reporters that the BDF will no longer be neglected.

Oscar Mira, Minister of Defense & Border Security

“The Prime Minister has also been very gracious in allowing us to access more funds to ensuring that we buy the equipment and that we have the training that the BDF and the Coast Guard deserves to do their work.”

More and better equipped and trained soldiers will be needed. That’s because the cattle ranching isn’t being done only by poor Guatemalans trying to survive. It is reportedly being orchestrated by Guatemalan drug lords- and its being called narco-cattle ranching.

Rafael Manzanero

“The study also is able to highlight that there could be nexus within the drug cartels also. We only can go in only to describe in terms of other references in the study that we did. We don’t have the pure research data that can show that because we are not into that kind of field. But only looking by what Guatemalans are seeing in on, on their, on their landscape on their areas like Laguna Tigre. I mean, Laguna Tigre still have, you know, thirty thousand heads of cattle right now, and that’s within the Mya Biosphere Reserve. They’re still also trying to tackle that problem. There yes, it’s directly nexus with drug lords. What they would tell us and what other references tell us, is that what you, once you see the trend, it is very possible that could also be the same here.”

The environmental toll is severe…ancient forests are felled for non-native grasses, pushing out native wildlife and destroying biodiversity. The report calls for stronger patrols, modern surveillance, tougher tracking of cattle trade, and new diplomatic ties with Guatemala. But the question remains: can Belize keep its forests from becoming collateral in a cross-border cattle and narco frontier? Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.

The report also calls for advance research and policy development that would address the ecological and socio-economic impacts of illegal cattle ranching.

Belize Sounds Climate Alarm with Intrepid Ocean Project

The Government of Belize, in partnership with Brightwater, has officially launched the country’s first blue carbon pilot project, a major step in the fight against climate change and a boost for marine conservation. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, focuses on Turneffe Atoll, one of the Caribbean’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. They are aiming to protect and restore mangroves and seagrass beds that naturally capture carbon, while also supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage. “This pilot reflects our commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems and creating real economic value for our people,” said Beverly Wade, C.E.O. of the Ministry. The project brings together global experts in marine science, finance, and carbon markets, and includes local partners like the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association. It’s designed to meet international standards for carbon verification and could pave the way for future blue carbon investments across Belize. Brightwater C.E.O. Jessie Stenftenagel emphasized the importance of community involvement and scientific rigor, saying the project will deliver “tangible climate impact and measurable biodiversity gains.” Finance Minister Christopher Coye added that the pilot showcases Belize’s leadership in using innovative finance to benefit both nature and people. With this launch, Belize continues to build on its reputation as a global leader in marine protection and nature-based climate solutions.