Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
transcript of our evening television news script. Many interviews on our newscast
are conducted in Creole. In the interest of clarity for our foreign readers,
we attempt to paraphrase the Creole quotes in English
Tonight, there is tension inside the highest ranks of the Briceño Cabinet. That's after the Prime Minister emphatically called out his colleague, Julius Espat, for remarks he made to 7News two weeks ago.
Espat spoke about the PUP's social justice roots-and suggested that some of his colleagues weren't well-connected to those roots.
Well, the PM didn't like that one bit, and he pounced on Espat this morning on the Love FM Live Morning Show. For context, we first have Espat's remarks:
Julius Espat: "Cordel Hyde... I have never had a relationship with him before Government-Hi-Bye kinda thing. But while we have been in Government, I have had an awesome relationship with him because we are seeing eye-to-eye, because I believe we have a social conscience, because I believe both of us believe in the George Price PUP."
"And people forget that the People's United Party emerged from a... from a... from a union movement, from a people's movement. And our focus has always been that-at the detriment of us."
Jules Vasquez "Not everybody in your party may accept or believe that."
Julius Espat: "That's fine, that's what I told you from the beginning. The table should be filled with people of varying points of view. That makes any leader stronger."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "There is one thing that I vehemently disagree with Francis... Misho, sorry, with Julius Espat when he said about only him and another minister are for social justice. He needs to look at what his Government is doing-we are for social justice. The People's United Party is based on social justice, and the time that we move from that, then we cannot be the People's United Party. So I really want to publicly correct Julius Espat, and I hope he would never, ever say that only he and the other minister... All of us in that Ministry, every Cabinet we have, one Cabinet Minister will come and say, 'Man, you know, we have this problem.' Look at Minister Chebat with the issue of electricity-it was not Julius Espat as the king of social media, and I know he will get upset with me, but it is the truth. It wasn't him that came to Cabinet to say, 'Let's take off the GST'; it wasn't him that came to Cabinet. It was Misho immediately called me and said, 'Prime Minister, we need to be able to take off the GST.'"
We reached out to Espat for a reaction, but he said he would prefer to speak with the Prime Minister before saying anything.
Tonight, a Belize City man is homeless after his estranged common-law partner allegedly burned down the home they lived in.
Jaleeza Roberts tells us she is a wanted woman at this hour:
Tonight, 26-year-old Ashema Chang is wanted by police for questioning in relation to the arson of this home in Belama Phase 5.
The owner is 43-year-old Eugene Thompson. He's now homeless because of the fire yesterday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.-and he blames his estranged partner who lived with him for six months.
Their dispute ended up in court. She took out this restraining order against him and he had to move out of the home they shared.
While he was moving his things, he found his home he worked on for two years up in flames.
Eugene Thompson, Victim of Alleged Arson "When I came house, I got my things, and by the time I came home, I got my things and I was gone. Prior to that, about an hour and a half after, I get a phone call that my house is burning down-young girl just set my house pan fire and gone."
Today, in a sweeping indictment, he blamed the court system for forcing him out of his own house:
Eugene Thompson, Victim of Alleged Arson "I blame this on the court system basically, because I am going through a lot of things with this young lady. And this young lady went to DVU behind my back, Family Court behind my back, and they authorized her to let me evacuate my own house-you check me, from my own house I evacuate! And when I evacuate it, the policeman came and put she in the house by law, and when it happened, I couldn't do nothing about it, none at all. I went back to the court Monday morning, cried to the Magistrate, I cry with everybody in the court, I cry to everybody and told them that something bad will happen to my house-why put the young girl in my house and she has only been with me for six months? And nobody didn't listen to me; they just took me for a joke and they just gave me a summons and told me to come back the 24th of this month for me to come for a court hearing, and I bawled to everybody."
And the two were separating due to domestic disputes, and he told police she sent text messages specifically threatening to burn down his home:
Eugene Thompson, Victim of Alleged Arson "This thing just started on Monday basically, just art... literally Monday evening when they evicted me Monday evening like 5:30, 6-that's it right there."
Reporter "Were you all having issues?"
Eugene Thompson: "Well, domestic issues, yes. You know, everybody has domestic issues, but some people don't understand that when it's time to done, it's done."
And now his possessions are what's done for:
Reporter "What all did you lose in the process?"
Eugene Thompson: "Everything, I don't really have anything at all."
Reporter "What are you doing now?"
Eugene Thompson: "Now? I have to start back from scratch, have to try figure out a way out, because as you can see, nothing is there-not even to sleep on, check. Talk about it hurts me a lot, because you try for people and people aren't real, and the system isn't real to you. The system gets on the woman side most of the time, doesn't even want to hear a man cry, none at all. The system is just for the women. Man have problems too, but nobody wants to hear them."
And for this man, he will need to start his life over:
Eugene Thompson: "I want the system give me justice because it's not right. They caused this, they must could try do something about it. They're in a bad state-I am homeless now because of them, literally because of them, because they put that young girl in my house and put me out for nothing."
Jaleeza Roberts, 7News.
The house was valued at $4,500. At news time, Chang is still at large.
On Monday, vendors told 7News they were paying as much as $235 to $250 for an 83-pound sack of potatoes, while also complaining that some of the produce was spoiling quickly.
Tonight, 7News has sourced information showing that a sack of potatoes in Chetumal is being sold for 97 Belize dollars. After freight and pedimentos, that landed cost rises to approximately $108 per sack.
Yet the current selling price of Mexican potatoes from the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) is $195 per sack at minimum, representing a difference of approximately $87 per sack between the estimated landed cost and the BMDC selling price.
In other words, the reported selling price is about 81% above the stated landed cost, before accounting for any additional legitimate operating expenses.
The figures come as the BMDC has attributed higher vegetable prices to several factors, including the stronger Mexican peso, reduced agricultural production, increased demand, and climate conditions.
BMDC Administrator ValentÃn Carrillo explained that the exchange rate has shifted from roughly 8.50 pesos to the Belize dollar last year to about 7.80 to 7.90 this year, increasing the cost of purchasing Mexican produce.
But if the reported $108 landed cost is accurate, the central question now is not simply why potatoes are expensive in Mexico. It is what exactly accounts for the additional $87 between the reported landed cost and the $195 selling price.
We reached out to BMDC for comment but have not yet received a response.
School buses in rural Belize have resumed their regular runs. The Ministry of Education broke the impasse today and announced that all school bus transportation services are now operational.
The Ministry, in a press release, thanks parents, students, teachers, principals, and school bus contractors for their patience.
Bus operators had suspended runs after three weeks of non-payment from the Ministry. They said they could not continue operations with the price of diesel bordering on $16 per gallon.
A motorcycle accident last night took the life of Bernardo Joel Melara, who would have celebrated his 40th birthday today.
The accident occurred while Melara was heading to work at BSI. He was scheduled to arrive at 5:00 a.m., but his body was found in a drain about three hours later, one mile away from Yo Creek Village.
According to reports, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a culvert near a cane farm.
Two men accused of murder and attempted murder saw their charges dropped after their case was discontinued in the High Court. Twenty-eight-year-old Ulide Allen and 27-year-old Marquis Conorquie appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim for what was supposed to be the start of their trial.
The men were arrested in connection with a murder in June 2024 that took the life of 32-year-old Stanley Moore and injured 27-year-old Joshua Gillett. Moore and Gillett were inside a vehicle on Amandala Drive when two men on a motorcycle drove beside them and fired several shots.
However, today in court, the Crown discontinued the case and entered a nolle prosequi after the main witness, Gillett, could not be located. Justice Pilgrim explained that while the case has been discontinued, it is not an acquittal and they could be recharged.
While Allen was free to go, Conorquie was escorted back to prison to continue serving a sentence for armed robbery. Allen was represented by Michael Peyrefitte and Conorquie by Ronnell Gonzalez.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister urged the Belize Territorial Volunteers not to return to the Sarstoon after the Guatemalan Armed Forces and civilian vessels formed a blockade, preventing them from circling the island.
But ten years ago, Briceno and several of his now Cabinet members made their own trip, asserting their sovereignty and their right to traverse that area. And in the years since that trip, the Guatemalan Armed Forces have repeatedly harassed the BTV and the BDF. The PM has not returned to the area, and in 2026 he's singing a distinctly different tune than when he was Opposition Leader in 2016.
Courtney Menzies took a look at the history of the PUP leadership and the Sarstoon:
Ten years and three months ago, the then-Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, boarded a vessel headed straight for the Sarstoon. Armed with only his life jacket and a look of steely determination, Briceño-along with an all-star list of eager beaver Opposition members, including Eamon Courtenay, Kareem Musa, Anthony Mahler, Cordel Hyde, Henry Charles Usher, and others-ventured first to the Forward Operating Base, then around the island.
At that time, they explained that they felt it was necessary to scope out the area for themselves.
Senator Eamon Courtenay, PUP Representative, Belize-Guatemala Bilateral Talks "There are two parts to the visit. The first is to continue, like most Belizeans have been trying to do, to assert our sovereignty and to demonstrate to the world that as far as Belize is concerned, we have a right to come here unimpeded and without being interfered with by the Guatemalans. The second part is to educate ourselves as to the geography of the area and to the tensions, the mood, and the general layout of this entrance to this river.
"I am expecting that the Guatemalans will respect our right and understand that we are on the Belizean side of the river and that there will be no incident."
John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition "Being here, taking a firsthand look at what's taking place-it allows you that whenever you are thinking about policy, that you can visualize what really is taking place on the ground. It is important for us as a party and to bring some of the leaders so that we could all take a good look and have a better understanding and appreciation about the challenges that we are facing here on the southern tip of our country."
At that time, it was common for the Guatemalan Armed Forces vessels to form a blockade. However, Briceño noted that he had informed the then-Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, who alerted the Guatemalan President that they would be heading to that area.
And the PUP believed it was because of that that the GAF did not interfere with them.
Eamon Courtenay: "I think, as you are aware, there was some information given to the Guatemalans to expect this visit, and therefore they are perhaps under good behavior. What we need is a permanent, longstanding arrangement that the Guatemalans respect our right."
"But as I say, this was told to them that we will be visiting, and the situation is: what happens when there is no advance notice? How will they behave?"
And in the last ten years, there have been multiple acts of aggression by the Guatemalan Armed Forces on Belize's side of the Sarstoon. In 2024 alone, there were four separate incidents.
In February, BTV Leader Wil Maheia said the GAF came a few feet away from the BDF's Forward Operating Base and told them they were in Guatemalan waters. In March, the situation became tense again when a Guatemalan barge ran aground on Belize's side of the river.
Then in April, when the media was invited to the opening of the newly renovated FOB, GAF followed the BDF vessels-one of which held the then-Brigadier General-as it circled the island.
Finally, in September 2024, the GAF rammed into the BTV's vessel.
In September 2025, Guatemalan soldiers raised their flag in Belizean territory, on Sarstoon Island. Video footage showed that the GAF vessels outnumbered and outflanked the BDF and, through aggressive maneuvers, caused the BDF to rear-end a Guatemalan vessel.
That led to the Prime Minister warning Maheia and the BTV not to take their annual trip, since tensions were high.
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I can't deter, I can only advise, and my advice to Wil-and Wil is a dear friend of mine-is that don't go there right now. Why do I say that? It has nothing to do... by saying that, we are admitting that land is not our land. It is, and we have every right, every citizen has every right. But for instance, if there's a mad bull in a ring, you're not going to jump in there with a red flag because they're going to attack you, and we're just trying to prevent anybody from getting hurt."
It's a far cry from when he was Leader of the Opposition, making his own trip to the area.
However, the BTV did face aggression when they went to plant our flag on the island in September 2025. At that time, it seemed like the tensions were escalating.
Fast forward a year later to September 2026: the Guatemalan military joined with civilian vessels to form the blockade, preventing any Belizean approach to the island-a stark difference from that fearless cruise of ten years ago.
And while the PM commended the bravery of both the civilians and the soldiers, the man who once braved the Sarstoon now says it's best to just leave:
Reporter "Would you advise them to return to the area?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I think we've made the point, and if they decide to go back again, of course we're going to be there with them, but sometimes it's best to just leave things. We've made the point and we continue, and every citizen of this country continues to say the Sarstoon, the mid-channel, belongs to Belize."
And in news of a river much closer to home-and one we can freely navigate-7News has confirmed that a team from the Department of the Environment, the Forest Department, and the Lands Department will make a fact-finding trip tomorrow to examine the seven-acre swath of land along the Belize River at mile 6.5 on the Philip Goldson Highway. They will determine whether there were mangrove clearing violations and whether the 66-foot river reserve should have been observed on this old estate private property.
As we have reported, it was clear-cut last week by the new owner, Rio Caribe Company. The principal owner of that company, Sanju Chulani, told us that he did not tell the contractor he hired to fully clear the land-he only wanted it brushed. As observers have pointed out, it might be the first time that a contractor has done more than they were hired to do. We're told that Rio Caribe is a company formed just for this project.
An extensive rehabilitation of the Corozal Central Park has run into a major snag. A fancy domed structure is now being dismantled after things went very awry. Now, with the contractor gone and hundreds of thousands of dollars blown, the dome is being taken down.
Jules Vasquez has the story:
This is the Canary Wharf Crossrail station in London, a sleek architectural marvel.
And this is-or was meant to be-the Canary Wharf structure in Corozal Central Park.
Work started two years ago as part of an overall rebuild of the park spearheaded by Area Rep Thea Garcia.
But last week, work crews were seen dismantling the incomplete structure. Reports said that the project was abandoned by the contractor in December.
The concrete and steel were left exposed to the elements, and today, a release from the Corozal Central Park Rehabilitation Committee says, quote:
"An independent engineer was engaged to assess the affected work. The assessment raised concerns about several structural elements, including deviations from the design drawings and issues with construction quality. Based on those findings, the engineer recommended demolishing and reconstructing the affected elements. Corrective work on the affected Canary Wharf elements is now underway. The Committee intends for the remaining work to proceed under appropriate professional supervision and in accordance with applicable construction and safety requirements."
What the release doesn't say is how much has been spent on the project thus far-our reports say it's in the hundreds of thousands.
And while the failure of the structure is a public embarrassment, the larger issue is the cost of that failure, what will be the cost of salvaging it, what was and will be the source of funds-public or private-and what, if any, legal measures will be taken to recover the funds lost to the defective work.
Right now, we understand the Area Rep is in conversations with a new contractor.
As for other elements of the still-unfinished park project, the Saint Francis Xavier Credit Union discloses in its annual report that it sponsored the walkway at a cost of $150,000. It also claims in that report to have paid for the mother of all vanity projects-the Thea Garcia-branded park benches that line the still-unfinished park. That credit union says it is satisfied that the walkway is built to specs.
Today's release from the Committee says it remains focused on addressing structural concerns while continuing to make progress on the broader park rehabilitation project.
An interesting sculpture display opened today at the National Assembly building.
It features two giant bronze busts of George Price by sculptor Steven Okeke. They are now dramatically rendered in what he calls German Gold.
It's a piece he says tells the story of the struggle for independence, which he titles "The Two Pillars of Belize's Independence."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor
"It is titled 'The Two Pillars of Belize's Independence,' which is an idea that-from the story I have heard, the historical story I heard-one person initiated the concept of Belize being a sovereign state. And the same person took it to the end and realized it against all of the ends, and pushed back and resisted. So you can say one of these pillars is the initiation of the concept of a free Belize state, and the same person, the same pillar, brought it to fruition. Now, if you say 'The Two Pillars of Belize's Independence and Democracy,' then you could be talking of one person being the pillar of independence and another person being a contributing factor of democracy and participating governance."
"In this exhibit, it is exclusively about the independence, so the two pillars there are the same persons-so two sides of the same coin with the same image. So one of them is George Price; the other is a replica of that one."
"Here, you are telling a story using a visual dialogue, and the visual dialogue is staying in the story of Belize: one person initiated the idea, 'We can do it by ourselves. We can become independent,' had all the fights and pushback. And at the end, he was there to execute his idea. The same person..."
But the National Assembly is merely a temporary home for the sculptures, and Okeke claims that he has signed a contract to only exhibit the works there until September 30th.
Jules Vasquez had some tough questions for him today, asking about the German Gold finish, which Okeke says lasts four thousand years:
Jules- "I don't need to know the technical terminology I am saying they tend to degrade because you are telling me this one lasts 4000 years that is what your flyer says."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "But you have to ask me to clarify before you begin telling me it is cheap paint you said it is cheap paint."
Jules- "I am just asking."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "No you're not asking you're telling me it is cheap paint."
Jules- "You said it's German Gold."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "Do you know what that means it is a technical terminology."
Jules- "Okay but will it really last 4000 years because the other ones are not doing that well."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "Because that one is not metal. Come on Man."
Jules- "So it will really last 4 millennia?"
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "If you are around and you find it."
Okeke argues that his work is of high value and provides touristic opportunities for Belize, and that without them, the country would be a blank canvas with no historical sculptures:
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "But when your reaction is first of all you will make money off of it, come on man."
Jules- "Because you have a pattern. Let me tell you the pattern I know you for 30 years Steven I have been reporting on you for 30 years."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "And over the years you have been part of the problem. Your reporting has been part of the problem."
Jules- "I have promoted you ceaselessly Steven."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "The Promotion is that you have not been able to transition from your trade of controversy to your other aspect , your duty and responsibility as. Social citizen to educate the public."
Jules- "Art has value I have a problem with the model, the model is based on leveraging guilt you guilt people you guilt the society into buying your sculptures I have no problem with an artists operating in the open market."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "Let me tell you this we can be intelligent but we can also be intellectually sophisticated. Nobody doubts that you are intelligent."
"Think about it if I had not done this job for almost 25 years now Belize would have been artistically blank or naked. Nobody else has done them."
Jules- "You are the sole creator of high art in Belize?"
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "Nobody else have done them."
Jules- "You have a monopoly on high art."
Steven Okeke, Sculptor "In exchange for what? You continuously try to undermine it. As promoting me."
"Drums of my father is the second most photographed man made object in Belize apart from the Maya ruins, it is in the license plate people are making money from it, it is an official letterhead it is everywhere."
"Look at Albert street right now your main thing that gives tourists a break after seeing all we have that is all you show to them and the second one in the park you see tourists go and take pictures, tour guides take pictures everybody is making money but they are still bitter because of the kind of poison you sow."
You can see the sculptures in the lobby of the National Assembly building until the end of the month.
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John Briceno, Prime Minister
Tonight, a Belize City man is homeless after his estranged common-law partner allegedly burned down the home they lived in.
"When I came house, I got my things, and by the time I came home, I got my things and I was gone. Prior to that, about an hour and a half after, I get a phone call that my house is burning down-young girl just set my house pan fire and gone."
On Monday, vendors told 7News they were paying as much as $235 to $250 for an 83-pound sack of potatoes, while also complaining that some of the produce was spoiling quickly.
School buses in rural Belize have resumed their regular runs. The Ministry of Education broke the impasse today and announced that all school bus transportation services are now operational.
A motorcycle accident last night took the life of Bernardo Joel Melara, who would have celebrated his 40th birthday today.
Two men accused of murder and attempted murder saw their charges dropped after their case was discontinued in the High Court. Twenty-eight-year-old Ulide Allen and 27-year-old Marquis Conorquie appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim for what was supposed to be the start of their trial.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister urged the Belize Territorial Volunteers not to return to the Sarstoon after the Guatemalan Armed Forces and civilian vessels formed a blockade, preventing them from circling the island.
Senator Eamon Courtenay, PUP Representative, Belize-Guatemala Bilateral Talks
"Being here, taking a firsthand look at what's taking place-it allows you that whenever you are thinking about policy, that you can visualize what really is taking place on the ground. It is important for us as a party and to bring some of the leaders so that we could all take a good look and have a better understanding and appreciation about the challenges that we are facing here on the southern tip of our country."
"I can't deter, I can only advise, and my advice to Wil-and Wil is a dear friend of mine-is that don't go there right now. Why do I say that? It has nothing to do... by saying that, we are admitting that land is not our land. It is, and we have every right, every citizen has every right. But for instance, if there's a mad bull in a ring, you're not going to jump in there with a red flag because they're going to attack you, and we're just trying to prevent anybody from getting hurt."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
And in news of a river much closer to home-and one we can freely navigate-7News has confirmed that a team from the Department of the Environment, the Forest Department, and the Lands Department will make a fact-finding trip tomorrow to examine the seven-acre swath of land along the Belize River at mile 6.5 on the Philip Goldson Highway. They will determine whether there were mangrove clearing violations and whether the 66-foot river reserve should have been observed on this old estate private property.
As we have reported, it was clear-cut last week by the new owner, Rio Caribe Company. The principal owner of that company, Sanju Chulani, told us that he did not tell the contractor he hired to fully clear the land-he only wanted it brushed. As observers have pointed out, it might be the first time that a contractor has done more than they were hired to do. We're told that Rio Caribe is a company formed just for this project.
An extensive rehabilitation of the Corozal Central Park has run into a major snag. A fancy domed structure is now being dismantled after things went very awry. Now, with the contractor gone and hundreds of thousands of dollars blown, the dome is being taken down.
An interesting sculpture display opened today at the National Assembly building.
"It is titled 'The Two Pillars of Belize's Independence,' which is an idea that-from the story I have heard, the historical story I heard-one person initiated the concept of Belize being a sovereign state. And the same person took it to the end and realized it against all of the ends, and pushed back and resisted. So you can say one of these pillars is the initiation of the concept of a free Belize state, and the same person, the same pillar, brought it to fruition. Now, if you say 'The Two Pillars of Belize's Independence and Democracy,' then you could be talking of one person being the pillar of independence and another person being a contributing factor of democracy and participating governance."
But the National Assembly is merely a temporary home for the sculptures, and Okeke claims that he has signed a contract to only exhibit the works there until September 30th.
