And turning back to the north, on Monday night, police and fire authorities had to respond to a fire at the Matura Family home on the Xaibe Village Road. 

The original owners are deceased, and it was left in the care of a family member. No one was there on Monday,  when it was burglarized and set on fire. 

A family member told CTV-3 that they lost every single thing:..

Jennie Matura says the value was more sentimental than material.  

Today, police told us that someone intentionally lit the 5-bedroom concrete house on fire:

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"Police responded to an information of a fire on Monday, October 22nd, sometime around 9 p.m., where upon arrival at the Matura residence, a 5-bedroom concrete house was seen engulfed in flames. Our initial investigations reveal that the house was unoccupied; it was furnished, and that obviously, the house was broken into before it was allegedly set on fire, as the house had no electricity at the time of the fire. So, this ongoing investigation into this matter."

Daniel Ortiz 
"Have you all be able to identify who the owner is, and have you all been able to contact that person?"

ACP Joseph Myvette
"Yes, we have. We have made contact with the person in charge of house, as both the original owners have died. So, the house was left in the care of a relative."

The cause of the fire has not been determined as yet.

Kelvin's Tale Still Being Told

2 nights ago, we told you about the arraignment of 19 year-old Kelvin Gongora. He's youth who was caught on camera at the Mahogany Street restaurant known as Tastee, as he attempted gun down an unsuspecting customer who was at the establishment.

Fortunately, the gun jammed, and the would-be victim unknowingly escaped what would have been an execution attempt on his life. At today's press conference, police discussed the criminal charge brought against him due to surveillance video:

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Reference a video that was circulating on the social media on the weekend, police conducted an investigation whereby the footage was retrieved by police, and as a result of that, a male person by the name of Kelvin Gongora, 19 years-old of a Mopan Street address, was arrested and charged for the crime of aggravated assault after he was seen pointing the gun at an individual, and then at a group persons, where the gun had snapped several times. Based on that, police arrested Mr. Gongora for the crime of aggravated assault."

Reporter
"What's the motive?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"As what we understand, the target was one of the male persons who had walked away from the restaurant, and he was the first person that the gun was point to, and where the gun snapped twice."

Reporter
"Was there a previous altercation, or they old beef, between the 2 individuals?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, that's an ongoing dispute that is stemming up from different incidents within 2 two of the gang groups in that area."

Daniel Ortiz
"So, essentially, that footage captured what could have been a murder."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, indeed."

Gongora has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December 20th.

Bowen's Charge Will be Upgraded To Murder

Police also discussed the case of 19 year-old Stephan Bowen, who they initially charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm, for the shooting of 49 year-old Elroy Saldano, 10 days ago.

You'll remember that after Bowen was arraigned and remanded, Saldano passed away, which meant that the charges against him were expected to be upgraded to murder.

Police told us today that the process of doing so has already begun, and very shortly, Bowen will be arraigned on the capital offense:

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Reference to the shooting death of death of Mr. Elroy Saldano, police arrested and charged, on the 23rd of October, Keon Bowen, 19 years-old, a Belizean warehouse attendant of a #18 Mopan Street address, for the crimes of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm. However, with the passing Mr. Saldano the following day, he was removed from Hattieville Prison, where the charges will be upgraded to the crime of murder."

Reporter
"Is there any motive for that murder, or is it just that Mr. Saldano just has bad luck of being shot?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"No, what we understand is that he was at a residence at Haulze Street, where there had been an argument between him and other persons who live in that vicinity."

GOB Has Praise For Port & CWU

And, finally, tonight….the Ministry of Labour has sent out a press release to note the positive outcome in the labour dispute between the CWU and the Port of Belize. The Government press release says that on Tuesday, Labour Minister of State Dr. Carla Barnett received a letter from the CWU President informing her of the progress made in the negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. She also noted the CWU's explicit withdrawal of the 21-day notice of industrial action.

The Ministry formally responded today, expressing satisfaction that the negotiations are now proceeding positively, and that progress has been made in key areas of the negotiations that were previously the cause for dispute. The Minister also informed the CWU that there will no longer be need for a tribunal to resolve the issue, and that the ministry will also withdraw its independent observer in the negotiations between the Port and the CWU with immediate effect.