Belize - Greater Belize Media

Three Guatemalans Detained in Chiquibul

Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) is reporting that three Guatemalan men were detained on April 11 in the Chiquibul Forest in Belizean territory. They are Rigoberto Caal (51 years old), Hector Canan Hernandez (48 years old), and Isaias Caal Coc (32 years old). Each individual was found to be in possession of a firearm, including a .22 rifle, a 16 gauge shotgun, and a homemade wooden handgun. Live ammunition was discovered in their possession.

The three individuals were detained and escorted to the San Ignacio Police Station via an extensive route through Rio Blanco, Ceibo Chico, Natural Arch, Tapir Camp, and onwards to San Ignacio, where it is anticipated that charges will be filed by the Police Department, Immigration Department, and the Forest Department.

According to the FCD, it was determined that the individuals were located 400 meters within the boundaries of the Chiquibul National Park. They are from the nearby village of Monte Los Olivos and were en route to a plantation. Given the presence of firearms, it is likely that they were also engaging in hunting activities.

PM Briceño on Andre Perez Investigation: No Laws Were Broken

Prime Minister John Briceño was asked this morning about the investigation into allegations made by attorney Wendy Auxillou against Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez.

In August 2023, News Five broke the story of a sitting minister of government being accused of sexual harassment by a female attorney. Later that month, a release from the government was issued, stating that PM Bricecño “has accepted a request from Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, for a leave of absence from the Cabinet.”

That release also stated that “during his leave of absence, an investigation will be conducted into the recent allegations against Minister Perez. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs will advise the Prime Minister on whether there has been any actionable wrongdoing.”

Today, when asked if there was an actual investigation, PM John Briceño told reporters, “The investigation was that no laws were broken. You could question the judgement of the person, but no laws were broken that came to light.”

The PM stated that no one provided evidence to the Office of the Attorney General.

Auxillou alleges that no one from the Attorney General’s office approached her for the evidence she says she has. Auxillou has yet to file an official police report against the minister.

Perez denies all allegations. He was reinstated as Minister of The Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management in April 3, 2024.

Will Iran’s Attack Lead to Higher Fuel Prices?

Increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to higher fuel prices. Experts are expecting that Iran’s recent attack on Israel will potentially cause fuel prices to soar and disrupt global supplies if the conflict escalates further. Israel’s war cabinet has assessed military strategies for possible retaliation against Iran. Israel has declared its intent to retaliate and “exact a price” following the unprecedented drone and missile assault.

While oil prices initially surged in anticipation of such an escalation, they later stabilised. The International Energy Agency says that the escalating conflict underscores the vulnerability of oil markets. The recent attack by Iran also raises concerns about potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This is a critical passage for the global oil trade. Any significant disruption could have a profound impact on oil supplies and prices worldwide.

Strait of Hormuz/ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION

While the conflict presents risks to oil markets, factors such as production from non-OPEC+ countries may offer some relief in mitigating these impacts in the short term.

Oil prices have surged alongside escalating tensions in the Middle East this month. U.S. benchmark crude futures rose by 5%, while global benchmark Brent crude gained nearly 6%. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical factor.” Iran’s ability to block the Strait of Hormuz is its secret weapon. The Strait serves as the world’s most important oil-transit chokepoint. Global oil inventories are already low, and any disruption to supplies could further deplete them, leading to higher oil prices.

“Boots'” Recall Petition Fails

A recall petition launched by former UDP Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez has failed. These petitions were intended to trigger a recall referendum aimed at removing sitting Area Representative Gilroy Usher Senior from office.

Port Loyola has 4,950 registered electors. This meant that Martinez would have needed to collect 1,485 signatures, or 30% of the total number of voters in the division.

Martinez submitted 1,654 signatures, or 33.4%, to the Governor General. However, the total number of signatures approved totaled 1,389, or 28.06%.

The total number of rejected signatures totaled 265, or 5.35%. According to the Governor General, 188 signatures did not match the Elections and Boundaries Department’s record of registered voters; 14 petitioners were not registered; 41 petitioners are not registered in the division; 1 petition did not have a signature; and 21 petitions were submitted more than once.

Martinez is also told that it is an offence for a person to forge the signature on a recall petition or to willfully sign the petition more than once.

Iran Attacks Israel

Israel’s war cabinet is expected to reconvene soon to discuss actions in response to Iran’s attack.

Overnight on Sunday, a barrage of drones and missiles surged towards Israel, increasing tensions in the Middle East. The assault, launched by Iran, was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month. Several Iranian generals were killed in that attack.

Iran and its allies from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon launched approximately 350 rockets, comprising over 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles. The majority of these were intercepted, with minimal impact on Israeli territory, as reported by Israeli military sources and the White House.

The unprecedented attack marked a significant escalation in the region.

Israel continues to face pressure from its allies to refrain from escalating towards open warfare and instead pursue a path of de-escalation.

Patient Neglect at Northern Regional Hospital?

A video making its rounds on social media has forced the Ministry of Health and Wellness to launch an investigation. The video, which was recorded inside the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town, shows individuals, including a woman, who were seeking medical attention.

The person recording the video says the woman was suffering from heart pain, and officials from the hospital refused to help. Other patients were reportedly pleading with the hospital’s staff to help the woman. That did not work, and the woman decided to bring public attention to the incident.

In a press statement, the Ministry said, “The video suggests that there was a significant delay in a patient receiving necessary medical attention.”

While the situation was resolved, the ministry says it takes “any allegations of patient neglect and staff misconduct very seriously.”

Ministry of Health says it will investigation allegations of patient neglect.

The statement said, “In response to the video and the allegations made, we have already commenced a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding this incident. The Ministry condemns any behaviour that compromises patient care and safety.”

This is not the first time that patients have been ill-treated at the Northern Regional Hospital. In March, Jaime Castillo complained on Facebook that he was disrespected by a female security guard.

Two Men Charged with Police Officer’s Murder

Investigators believe that twenty-nine-year-old Hugh Middleton and eighteen-year-old Marlon Gideon murdered police officer Dylan Anthony on Saturday, March 23rd. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters on Monday that “from our investigation, it tells us that Gideon was the driver of the motorcycle and Milton was the pillion rider and the one who executed the act upon PC Anthony.”

The twenty-nine-year-old Camalote Village resident was on his way home when he was murdered in a case of mistaken identity.

Caribbean Opposition Leaders Form New Grouping

Over the weekend, seven opposition leaders from the Caribbean region gathered in Saint Lucia to establish a platform titled the ‘Leader of the Opposition Political Parties Forum’.

The meeting saw the participation of Allen Chastanet from Saint Lucia, Dr. Keith Mitchell from Grenada, Dr. Godwin Friday from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamal Pringle from Antigua and Barbuda. Also in attendance were Dr. Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow from Belize, Dr. Ronnie Yearwood from Barbados, and Roy McTaggart from the Cayman Islands.

According to Chastanet, the preliminary meeting focused on raising awareness about the constitutional significance and subsequent responsibilities tied to the role of the Opposition. He said that the meeting aimed to establish a framework for parliamentary oppositions across the Caribbean to exchange best practices and fortify their constitutional mandates.

Taiwan Continues Search for 18 Missing After Powerful Quake

Taiwan continues its search for 18 individuals still unaccounted for following Wednesday’s devasting earthquake. The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.2, struck the rugged eastern coast of the island, particularly impacting the mountainous and sparsely populated Hualien county.

Tragically, the earthquake claimed the lives of 10 individuals, with over 1,000 sustaining injuries and many left stranded due to landslides obstructing roads. As of Friday, 18 individuals remain missing, including six hikers and four foreigners.

Rescue efforts have focused on ensuring the safety of approximately 400 individuals stranded at a resort within Taroko National Park. However, the unpredictability of weather conditions, including the potential for rain exacerbating the risk of rockfalls and landslides, poses significant challenges to ongoing search and rescue operations.

Despite the devastation, tales of survival emerge. David Chen, a security manager at a hotel, expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal. Strict adherence to building codes and heightened awareness prompted over 100 residents to opt for outdoor tents over apartment dwellings amidst numerous aftershocks.

Several Belizeans living in Taiwan experienced the tremor. The Belizean embassy in Taiwan shared a statement saying “While some Belizeans are understandably shaken emotionally, there has been no report of material effects on Belizeans. The Embassy advises students to monitor the news and official disaster management agencies’ broadcasts, which will keep them informed on the areas of Taiwan confronting infrastructural and physical damages.”

Forecasters predict ‘extremely active’ 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Weather forecasters from Colorado State University (CSU) have projected an “extremely active” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season due to warm sea surface temperatures and reduced wind shear during the summer and fall months. The report says that current El Niño conditions are likely to transition to La Niña conditions this summer/fall, leading to hurricane-favourable wind shear conditions.

According to the CSU forecast, there are expected to be a total of 23 named storms, with five of them developing into major hurricanes, characterized by winds exceeding 111 miles per hour (178 kph), out of a total of 11 hurricanes.

The report explains that sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Atlantic are at historically high levels and are expected to remain significantly above average throughout the upcoming hurricane season. It says that this heightened warmth in the tropical Atlantic creates conditions favorable for the formation and strengthening of hurricanes.

With high confidence in this early April outlook, CSU projects a substantially increased likelihood of major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.

It’s crucial to note that, despite predictions, every hurricane season carries the potential for significant impact. Coastal residents must remain vigilant and prepare thoroughly, as even a single hurricane landfall can define an active season.

Тhе 2024 ѕtоrm nаmеѕ аrе:

Аlbеrtо

Веrуl

Сhrіѕ

Dеbbу

Еrnеѕtо

Frаnсіnе

Gоrdоn

Неlеnе

Іѕаас

Јоусе

Кіrk

Lеѕlіе

Міltоn

Nаdіnе

Оѕсаr

Раttу

Rаfаеl

Ѕаrа

Тоnу

Vаlеrіе

Wіllіаm

Why are hurricanes given names?

According to the National Hurricane Center, employing concise and distinctive names in both written and spoken communication proves to be more efficient and accurate compared to older methods reliant on latitude and longitude. Additionally, using easily memorable names helps mitigate confusion, especially during periods when multiple storms occur simultaneously.

What happens if the predetermined list of hurricane names is exhausted?

Prior to 2020, when all names were used, the Greek alphabet was utilized, assigning names like Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Zeta, Eta, Theta, etc. This occurred twice, once in 2005 and again in 2020. Now, instead of resorting to the Greek alphabet, a supplementary list of tropical cyclone names will be employed.