Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
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There are 7 traumatic deaths to report after the long weekend - 4 dead in fatal accidents, two dead from fire injuries, and 1 murdered.
We starts with the tragedy of an 18 year old mother and her toddler son….they are lying in the morgue after succumbed to the burns they sustained in a house fire.
On Friday you heard from the homeowner, Michael Gill, who said that he was at work out of the city when he got a call that his house was on fire. He'd been renting two of the rooms, and 18-year-old Malika August was one of his tenants. August and her child were injured, but Gill didn't know the severity of those injuries. Once she was at the hospital, August fell into a coma. Hours after the fire, her son died, and two days later, she passed away as well.
But what caused the fire that took two young lives? Courtney Menzies found out. Here is that story.
When 18-year-old Malika August realized her home was on fire, she grabbed her 2-year-old son, Zaylon August, and raced through the door. Unfortunately, since the home only had one exit, she was forced to run through the flames to save herself and her child.
They received extensive burns and were rushed to the hospital. But Baby Zaylon passed away that same evening, and August died on Sunday night.
August's cousin said she was sure that she would have survived, even if the little boy didn't.
Voice of: Keana Kelly, Cousin of Deceased "I was at home Friday and the babysitter texted me and told me that she got burnt up in the fire, she and her baby. But I didn't know it was a house fire. She just said, your cousin and her baby got burnt."
"I broke down and I bawled, I couldn't believe that she- I thought that she would have pulled through because maybe the baby couldn't handle it cause he's a baby and I thought she would pull through and we were praying but she's gone."
And according to reports, the fire started because the stove was left on. However, Kelly says she doesn't quite believe it.
Voice of: Keana Kelly, Cousin of Deceased "They said that it was caused by something left on the stove but when I met the owner of the house, he told me that he found noodles, like she put noodles on the stove and then she went to sleep and I'm just going by what people are saying because I wasn't there, I don't know the house, nothing. So they said it was caused by that but I don't believe that."
But while the family is leaning towards arson, the Station Supervisor at the National Fire Service says differently.
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, NFS "We haven't collectively retrieved any evidence supporting such claim. we cannot support the cause as yet that someone threw an external or added flammable liquid to contribute to that rapid blaze. It's frustrating when you are faced with these situations, it's a he said she said type of game. Two lives have been lost, as a community, as a grieving family, especially those who have suffered loss this type of way, this is point where we want to hold somebody responsible so to speak."
"The structure was built in such a way where it had one door which served as its main entrance and exit. We learned that it is alleged that the stove was left on and for some unknown reason, the mother, she went to take a nap and the wind caught a whiff of that open flames, using the curtain as an ignition source. So you're looking at an open flame, and sitting right next to that open flame was a butane tank. It was just a disaster waiting to happen."
And that disaster now leaves the August family to cope with two deaths, and Kelly explained that her cousin was more like her sister.
Voice of: Keana Kelly, Cousin of Deceased "Me and Malika were close, she was my ride or die, we were everywhere, and she told me everything, I told her everything. We fall out, we talk back, we cuss each other, we fight, that's just us, but I loved her."
"She was fun, she liked to catch feelings, you can't tell her anything because everything you tell her, she catch feelings, but she will laugh back with you. She was happy, she was a happy person."
"He was a happy baby, I used to tell her, watch him with his tie-tongue, because he was happy and jovial."
"This rough, this hit home, it's really hard, it's hard, because two deaths, man."
Mortis added that in such a situation, a person should grab some sort of blanket to wrap themselves in, because running through the fire with no outer protection is essentially like cooking your organs.
And the fire that killed August was the second one last week to be caused by an unattended stove. Last Thursday, a house was destroyed after a minor began cooking on his stove and then went to wash his clothes. Today, Station Supervisor Kenneth Mortis emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on any stove that is lit:
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, NFS "We cannot overemphasize the importance of practicing fire safety. I'm in the middle of cooking and I am called or caught up in other activities, turn off the stove. Where does fire safety begin? It begins with us. I can't practice fire safety for you and vise versa you can't for me, I must practice fire safety for me. I don't see anything more important to engage in an outside conversation while having the stove on versus carry out the conversation and turn off the stove. Or who knows, have the conversation in my kitchen, if I want to talk, I'll talk to you in my kitchen. It's a practice that has presented itself over the years. For a time our fire safety campaign had worked whereby that particular contributing cause to a fire had downsized tremendously. Unfortunately in a spate of two days we have the exact same cause contributing to these types of fires. Play it safe, stick to cooking, let the cooking play its course, and then you can engage in open conversation. If we feel we want to take a nap, turn off the stove, go take that nap, do whatever we want to do, however we can't be comfortable in doing both, we can't want to be conversing with Ms Mary across the street while still cooking, it's a recipe for disaster."
And from fires to a murder today…..a 52 year old was lured out of his home by a machete wielding man, who chopped him to death in his neighbor's yard. The police substation is only a few minutes away from where this latest murder took place, and the community feels that a more timely response could have prevented this tragedy. Jomarie Lanza was on the scene today in Maya Mopan and here's what she learned about this fatal chopping.
Just after 1:00 this afternoon in Belmopan, neighbors and bystanders looked on as a young girl in despair and anguish gripped onto the back of a police mobile as officers were attempting to transport the body of her father, who was chopped to death in her neighbors yard
A chilling account was given to us by a neighbor who says that the man responsible for this horrific tragedy was wielding two machetes, and he is still on the loose.
Voice of Neighbor "It started with my neighbor cross the street. He was running to the other neighbors for help but apparently no one could help. The neighbor daughter tried to help, his daughter tried to help the son tried to help no one could get him off. He had two machete two long machete well sharpened."
Reporter "And he chased him over to the other neighbor yard."
Voice of Neighbor "Yes he did and started chopping him, he fell and then he continued, they tried to separate him they couldn't and he went back to finish the guy on the ground."
Reporter "And then after that where did he go?"
Voice of Neighbor "Well me and my neighbor trailed him for like 7 minutes. That's to tell you how long we got no response and with 911 we even got hung up on with the 911 calls. I have four calls I made today to try to get help no help. Everybody try call the police, they took at least 20 mins to reach. Or more honestly that long."
Reporter "You think if police arrived earlier they could have avoided this?"
Voice of Neighbor "Of course we have a police booth back here, we have a substation back here that's why this entire neighborhood is pissed off right now."
The body of the deceased 52 year old Pedro Hernadez, a Belizean laborer now lies at the Western regional Hospital morgue awaiting a post mortem. The accused has not yet been detained but police are looking for a known suspect.
We'll let you know when police track down the suspect.
And now to the rash of weekend accidents which claimed four lives - 3 in the west and one in the north.
We begin out west, at around 4:00 AM in the village of Cristo Rey where a collision snapped a lamppost, and created a fatal hazard for a motorist on the highway who drove straight into a guide wire that was left on the side of the road.
The victim, 30 year old Justin Vasquez - who was heading to work - was clipped by the wire which caused him to lose control of his cycle causing his fatal injuries. His niece who spoke with us today off camera says that the family is devastated by his sudden loss.
Voice of: Claromy Toralla, Niece of deceased "My uncle was a very loving person he never used to get in trouble with nobody and everybody from the village use to hang out with. He was a very hyper person a happy person he use to love fishing and he had his own page on Facebook. Belize freshwater fishing and actually it was him and another guy who were the founders of the Belize freshwater fishing."
Reporter "When was the last time you spoke with him?"
Claromy Toralla, Niece of deceased "It was the day before the night before the incident before because it happened Monday morning and we had a chat with him on Sunday."
Reporter "How much of a shock did it come to the family to hear he was here with you guys and then you heard that that happened?"
Claromy Toralla, Niece of deceased "When we got the call we didn't expect it was him so we went and when we saw him motionless on the ground we couldn't handle ourselves or the pain."
In a press release BEL says that they were informed of both accidents at 8:45 AM and a powerline crew was on site by 9:15 AM. BEL extends its sincere condolences to the grieving family.
And the accident that killed Vasquez was one of four traffic fatalities that occurred over the long labour day weekend. All incidents involved motorcycles, and all were fatal. Today ACP Hilberto Romero gave us a rundown of each accident.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "On Sunday the 28th day of April 2024, police visited an area between miles 77 and 78 on the Philip Goldson Highway. On their arrival they saw a bicycle with damages and a male person later identified as Gabriel Chable with several injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police later recovered a Toyota 4Runner vehicle in Orange Walk, a person was detained, he was identified as Carlos Avila and he has now been arrested and charged for manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention."
"On Sunday the 28th day of April, 2024, police visited St Matthews Village where there was a report of a fatal road traffic accident. Upon the arrival, police say a Ford 150 pickup and a motorcycle extensively damaged. Police made checks and saw the lifeless body of Elmer Flores, 46 years, with several injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that Adalberto Romero was driving the Ford 150 and he overtook several vehicles and collided into the motorcycle which was coming in the opposite direction. An investigation was carried out and Adalberto Romero has since been arrested and charged for driving motor vehicle without due care and attention, causing death by careless conduct, and manslaughter by negligence."
"On Monday the 29th day of April 2024, police visited Cristo Rey Road where there was a fatal road traffic accident. They saw a motorcycle with damages and found at the scene was a person later identified as Justin Vasquez, 31 years with several injuries to the head and body. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that a pickup truck had crashed into a lamppost and the wires were hanging across the street when the motorcycle came and he got caught in the wires. We are still looking for the driver of that vehicle who fled from the scene after the accident."
"On Saturday the 27th day of April 2024, police responded to a fatal road traffic accident on the Bullet Tree Road. On their arrival they saw a red pickup and a motorcycle with damages. Information is that the motorcycle was being driven by a Jamal Bedran, 63 years. He received several injuries, he was taken to the hospital where he passed away two days after. Rene Quel was the driver of the vehicle involved, a red pickup, he was arrested and charged for failure to provide specimen for analysis."
"Charges will be upgraded since the victim now passed away."
Tonight there are major security situations to report with our neighbors, Guatemala and Chetumal.
First to Guatemala - whose military has responded to Belize's Brigadier General's trip around Sarstoon Island with the media last week.
The coast guard vessel he was in as he and the passengers traversed these Belizean waters was met by an aggressive Guatemalan patrol which harassed the Belizean boat - and told them they ere in Guatemalan waters and they had to follow the Guatemalan immigration protocol.
It was surely an embarrassment - some say an emasculation of Belize's most senior military officer.
But that win; t thee end of it for the Guatemalan military. The high command this weekend held what we consider an unprecedented press conference. It featured the General who is their Chief of Staff of Defence flanked by Navy and Airforce Commanders. The Brig General affirmed that Sarstoon waters are Guatemalan territory and more active partrols by air and sea will be activated in the area to prevent these repeated incursions by Belize Army who must respect their sovereignty.
The clear meaning of this is that they are claiming the Sarstoon as Guatemalan territory.
When we asked the PM today about these threats today he said that it is something they will have to discuss with the minister of Defense:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Well, I think I want to leave that for the Foreign Minister. We agree that he's going to answer that, but as always, we always stand up to defend what legally and historically belongs to Belize and the Sarstoon is the boundary between both countries and that has not changed."
"And then we're going to follow the due process with the OAS, the family, the friends of Belize and everyone to ensure that we can keep Guatemala in check. But the Foreign Minister can give you more details."
A sattement form the Belize Territorial Violunterrs'Will MAheia says, quote, "Today, April 30th marks 165 years since our Belize border was established. Guatemala and Britain negotiated the 1859 Treaty regarding the disputed area. The treaty….formed the modern-day boundary lines of Belize…..So today I find it difficult when we have Guatemalan bullies lie to the world and say the entire Sarstoon river is theirs and our government sit aside with nothing to say! The silence is deafening!!!" End quote.
And from that troubling situation in the Sarstoon to Belize's favorite border city in the north…Chetumal is in a security crisis after narcos sent a strong message this weekend with acts of wanton violence and street style executions. The most high profile killing was that a police officer was executed in broad daylight on Insurgentes Avenue, a busy intersection. We asked the PM if Chetumal's spike in crime rate is of any concern to GOB. Here's how he responded.
Reporter "What knowledge do you have on what's happening in Chetumal, the current crime rates?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I think we just need to be careful."
And while fans of Chetumal worry about that city - tonight Belizeans are worried if their power supply will hold up.
As predicted, BEL has been plunged into an energy crisis - with not enough power to supply Belize's energy needs - especially at peak hours, like night times.
The problem is the Westlake Generator is being upgraded - leaving BEL with insufficient power.
So, what will happen tonight - and will you be next in line for a blackout? The company had a press conference this evening to discuss:
Jose Moreno, General Manager, Transmission and Energy Supply - BEL "This evening, if CFE curtails us again, we will have to rotate some outages. We will have to affect some feeders, given that the demand today was as high as it is, as it was yesterday. So we will have to rotate a few outages for the time during that peak time, because normally it happens at the time that CFE also goes through the peak."
"And normally that is between 7 and 10 o'clock at night. The reason why we load shed is because we come up with a situation where we cannot meet the demand. And that happens only if Mexico tells us, listen, I have a situation in my system, I need you to back off. I need you to curtail the supply. Until then, we don't know. We cannot go ahead and forecast and put advisories out there if things are not going to happen. And that's why the advisories that we have been sending out to our customers as general, just telling them, listen, we are in this precarious situation. We might need you to come off or we might have to take out the feeder in your area out of service. Now, last night we did mostly feeders in Belmopan, in San Ignacio. We had two feeders out in San Ignacio, We had the rural Belize feeder. And one feeder in San Pedro, feeder four. That is the southern part of the island. If we need to today, we don't expect to touch those feeders again."
And last night load shedding was implemented - meaning the lights were cut out to certain communities because BEL simply did not have enough power to keep everybody's lights on.
So there were Emergency power outages to portions of the Corozal, Belize, Stann Creek and Cayo Districts, and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
This happened after Mexico's CFE told. BEL that it could not supply them power for last night - due to high demand in Mexico.
Moreno explained:
Jose Moreno, General Manager, Transmission and Energy Supply - BEL "Last night, basically, we had one of those days where they call us and they tell us we need to curtail your supply. And you guys, so that you guys need to zero the transfer of power at the interconnection point, right?"
"When that happened, we had to bring up all the generation that was available. And that was not enough, so that we could zero. So, thereafter, we had to do some load shedding. We opened a few of our distribution feeders in order for us to be able to meet that requirement."
"Now, what is happening to us nowadays is, you know, it's something that we foresaw happening, and we took action. I think we went ahead and purchased another gas turbine, and we have deployed that to San Pedro."
"However, that project is still not commissioned. It is expected to be commissioned by the end of May."
And then again this morning around 7:30, another blackout! It w3as another unplanned outage and Moreno told us what made the system collapse:
Jose Moreno, General Manager, Transmission and Energy Supply - BEL "Early this morning, we had a fault on our transmission line between Chan -Chen. Chan -Chen, or the Jose Espat substation, as it was recently named, is a new substation that we commissioned last year. And that supplies service to the Corozal service center."
"Yeah, so we had a fault between that substation and Belcogen, right At the time that this happened, we had Mexico supplying us at maximum capacity, right And therefore, we had limited resources in country to be able to match the demand of the system that stayed in place, and therefore, the system collapsed."
"So the fault that we had on the transmission line early this morning is something that I had never seen before. We had fire on a cross arm, right, on the transmission, on a transmission structure, right."
"So this is most likely can be attributed to forest fires. You know, you get a little amber up there, you have a lot of breeze, and the thing starts to burn, right. So that is what we are up against."
The latest notice says there will be two 5 minute planned interruptions tomorrow morning in Orange Walk.
He's the first attorney in memory to have gone to prison - and Oscar Selgado has been there since March 8th - awaiting his sentencing for abetment to commit murder.
The mitigation hearing leading to that was adjourned today - partially due to a power outage at the courthouse. But, also because the court must wait for reports - including one on his health.
His attorney Arthur Saldivar discussed it today. He says his client's diabetes is being mismanaged in the prison:
Arthur Saldivar, Selgado Attorney "Of course the social inquiry report that deals with the victim impacts, It deals with whatever medical conditions he would have had as you know, it is not the secret. Mr. Selgado is a chronic diabetic He also suffers some hypertension As you would have seen his condition is a bit gaunt Having been where he is."
"We know that the facilities at Kolbe don't have the resources or the facilities to treat a person with this condition. I think The last time a person with diabetes went to that facility for an offense similar was ____, he was sentenced to six years for the same abetment to murder and He died in less than a year."
"Well, we can query the prison authorities and remind them that he has a prescription for the dosage of insulin he should receive Where they are giving him more they're endangering his life and they should know that they'll be held responsible If something should happen to him as a result of it."
Saldivar is also the attorney for the Belize Peace Movement. That group has been frustrated by government's refusal to initiate a re-districting exercise - which would create proportionality between the country's 31 constituencies.
The Prime Minister recently dodged the issue and said it is in the hands of the Minister in charge of Elections and Boundaries, Henry Charles Usher.
Saldivar said he's not buying that:
Reporter "Do you have any observation or comment to make in relation to the response of the Prime Minister when he was asked about the redistricting and the fact that it's not happening, another election is upon us in some months, I'd say, and he said it's the Minister of Elections and Boundaries who's responsible for that, Mr. Henry Usher, but it isn't really, it's whoever decides what the agenda will be in the National Assembly. To your understanding, who is that person?"
Arthur Saldivar "Well, first and foremost, what behooves me is that the Prime Minister himself has no knowledge of the Constitution. Above that, once the election and boundaries submits its report, that is submitted to Parliament, not to the Minister responsible, to Parliament. Once it goes to Parliament, there's a responsibility on the part of the parliamentary clerk to make it known that this has been done, and then it is for the leader, the Speaker, to make her submissions in terms of putting it on the table, tabling it for consideration at whatever caucus meetings they are going to have before a special meeting at a house would take place."
"Now, this is cause for a special sitting because we're in a constitutional crisis. Before now, there was the luxury of the administrations doing piecemeal work with addressing the issue of equality in the electorate, but where the court has decided and there is an order in place that no longer exists, there's no luxury for you to kick the can down the road, there is a requirement for it to be addressed, and addressed comprehensively."
"Otherwise, now, we'll have a situation where the court, by virtue of its inherent jurisdiction, in interpreting the Constitution, would have to act."
Reporter "There are pressures that can be put by the leader of government for that not to get on to...What's happening?"
Arthur Saldivar "Well, what is happening is that there is some level of comfort in having an unconstitutional state of affairs continue to exist, and it seems that the administration is hellbent on having the court having to dictate, but not only them."
"It seems that both political parties have forgotten their responsibility under the Constitution in terms of upholding it and ensuring that it is given full effect and preeminence in the conduct of public affairs."
"This is shameful because it shows the world that... Not only do we have an administration that does not understand or appreciate its role, but we have an opposition that is equally culpable in the same corruption that the administration is involving itself with."
There was a special Joint Parliamentary Service to honor 6 term Toledo East Representative Mike Espat today.
Both sides of the house gathered to honor the longest serving and most elderly member of the house who died on April 22nd.
The main speaker was the Prime Minister who said Mike Espat was irreplaceable:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I think it's the least we can do for as tribute and honor to the work of Honorable Mike Espat. Because as I've been telling everybody, he has always been a man of service and service to the people. And repeated again, he started off as a teacher, a principal."
"And then he went on to electoral politics to be able to believe that at that level, he can be able to bring more development for the Toledo District. Many people can't comprehend where Toledo, the Toledo district was in 1989 when he was first elected."
"And the tremendous work that he did pushing for the Southern Highway ensuring that we could put more infrastructure in the Toledo district, and more schools, and clinics, and making opportunities available for the Toledo District."
"He was a true embodiment of a man of service, a man that truly loves his people and loves to work that he does."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition "Mike Espat was the gentle giant, iron Mike. And what I mentioned in there is that he was so tenacious and indomitable, because they talk about him winning six times, but they don't talk about the times that he lost."
"And to me, that is what is most impressive, because everyone loves a winner. But when you lose, it is extremely difficult to overcome the insecurities, the self-doubt, the detractors, the naysayers."
"And Mike was able to do that and go on to build the storied political career that he did. And to me, that is what I take from him."
Espat's ashes were also brought into the house - and members also signed a condolence book.
Though today's events were centered around remembering Espat throughout his journey as a politician and leader, his seat now remains vacant and both political parties now have 90 days to decide who they will select to replace him in a bye election. Here's what the PM and Leader of the opposition had to say about possible successors today.
And while a smooth succession would be desirable, politics is not a fairy tale - and there are few happy endings.
The fact is the PUP is divided on who should succeed Mike Espat.
Last week his first cousin Julius Espat made sharp and stinging remarks directed against CEO for economic development Osmond Martinez. He said - more or less - that Martinez's audacious declaration of candidacy caused Mike Espat to die with a broken heart.
Of course, Martinez is the PM's CEO - and it is widely believed that the PM supports him as a possible candidate for Toledo East.
When we asked the Pm about the whole flare up today he said Julius is just being emotional.
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I think that Julius probably got emotional when he was in front of the cameras. Probably got carried away,but pretty much everyone loved Mike Espat and everyone liked being with him. Like I said he looks like this tough person but he is a soft person, one that can be kind and gentle but at the same Time that takes nothing from anybody and he will say it as it is. I remember when the leader of the opposition was talking about Mike being in the house and when he gets up to talk about the budget sometimes I would jokingly tell Mike you know Mike you're in government you are not in opposition but that's what he is and what he represents and so I prefer to leave it as that you know and it was a great shock to everybody like I said I saw him on Monday and he looked relaxed and we were talking about different issues and he was laughing and smiling and so for me it was a tremendous shock when I found out that he just died from a massive heart attack but I guess God works in mysterious ways and Mike has always said that he will serve until the very end and that's exactly what he did he served until the very end."
57-year-old taxi driver Teodoro Pacheco went missing at the beginning of February, and after almost three months, his family finally has some closure. That's because human remains believed to be his were found in Consejo Village. ACP Romero told us why the remains are suspected to be his.
As you heard, police killed the main suspect in his murder, Cruz Castillo in March.
And human remains were also found in northern Ambergris Caye on Friday night - but the identity of these ones are far less clear.
It was in a bushy lot where workers were erecting a lamppost. Officers found a lower jaw bone, femur, and other pieces of bones. ACP Romero told us more.
The area of northern Ambergris Caye has turned up many bodies over the years - most related to wet drops and drug killings.
And, finally for some lighter news….the Stann Creek Ecumenical High School Track Team made Belizeans proud over the past few days when the boys relay team won silver in the 4 by 400 relay.
They returned today and we spoke to them at the airport:
To clarify - the boys won silver in the 4 by 400, not 4 by 1.
And at the airport, we met another Belizean athlete trying to make Belize proud. 21 year oldTrent Hardwick participated in an Olympic qualifier for sailing at the Last Chance Regatta in France.
He was competing for a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics - and while he didn't get it - he told us the experience was invaluable:
Hardwick went to primary, high school and sixth form in Belize and started sailing with the Buttonwood Bay club when he was 7.
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There are 7 traumatic deaths to report after the long weekend - 4 dead in fatal accidents, two dead from fire injuries, and 1 murdered.
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, NFS 
And the fire that killed August was the second one last week to be caused by an unattended stove. Last Thursday, a house was destroyed after a minor began cooking on his stove and then went to wash his clothes. Today, Station Supervisor Kenneth Mortis emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on any stove that is lit:
And from fires to a murder today…..a 52 year old was lured out of his home by a machete wielding man, who chopped him to death in his neighbor's yard. The police substation is only a few minutes away from where this latest murder took place, and the community feels that a more timely response could have prevented this tragedy. Jomarie Lanza was on the scene today in Maya Mopan and here's what she learned about this fatal chopping.
And now to the rash of weekend accidents which claimed four lives - 3 in the west and one in the north.
"On Sunday the 28th day of April 2024, police visited an area between miles 77 and 78 on the Philip Goldson Highway. On their arrival they saw a bicycle with damages and a male person later identified as Gabriel Chable with several injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police later recovered a Toyota 4Runner vehicle in Orange Walk, a person was detained, he was identified as Carlos Avila and he has now been arrested and charged for manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention."
Tonight there are major security situations to report with our neighbors, Guatemala and Chetumal.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
And from that troubling situation in the Sarstoon to Belize's favorite border city in the north…Chetumal is in a security crisis after narcos sent a strong message this weekend with acts of wanton violence and street style executions. The most high profile killing was that a police officer was executed in broad daylight on Insurgentes Avenue, a busy intersection. We asked the PM if Chetumal's spike in crime rate is of any concern to GOB. Here's how he responded.
Jose Moreno, General Manager, Transmission and Energy Supply - BEL
He's the first attorney in memory to have gone to prison - and Oscar Selgado has been there since March 8th - awaiting his sentencing for abetment to commit murder.
"We know that the facilities at Kolbe don't have the resources or the facilities to treat a person with this condition. I think The last time a person with diabetes went to that facility for an offense similar was ____, he was sentenced to six years for the same abetment to murder and He died in less than a year."
There was a special Joint Parliamentary Service to honor 6 term Toledo East Representative Mike Espat today.
"And Mike was able to do that and go on to build the storied political career that he did. And to me, that is what I take from him."
And while a smooth succession would be desirable, politics is not a fairy tale - and there are few happy endings.