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Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
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Company Linked to Cabinet Secretary Supplying the BDF
Over the past few weeks, we've exposed a string of politically connected companies favored with multi-million dollar BDF supply contracts. We've reported extensively on corporate clusters linked to former Ministers Oscar Mira and Florencio Marin.
But tonight, there is a new twist. Sources have pointed us to the RSL Group—a company linked directly to Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie. Formed in late 2025, the business lists Stuart Leslie and Roel Cabrera as principals, with three of their initials corresponding to the company name.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that RSL Group has been supplying a variety of seasonings to the BDF for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. While the monetary value appears small, it raises a major question: was even the Cabinet Secretary getting in on the procurement action?
Leslie flatly denies any self-dealing. Speaking with us by phone, the CabSec stated the company is owned by a long-time family friend and that he was only asked to act as a director. He maintains he hasn't earned a dollar from the venture, had no knowledge of the bid to supply the BDF, and never made a call to influence the bidding process.
According to Leslie, the company followed standard procedures and submitted a bid. While they didn't win the primary contract, he says they were eventually called back to provide specific items.
Belize Secures Historic Volleyball Gold
It was a moment that the men's volleyball team waited decades forâ€"the moment when they realized they won the Central American Final 4. The tournament took place in Costa Rica and, for the first time in history, the gold is coming home to Belize. And while these athletes had to train relentlessly to reach this pinnacle, they said that their biggest strength was their unity and how well they played together. But is this the start of a winning streak for them? Courtney Menzies spoke to a couple of members of the team during their layover in Mexico City and has this story.
This was the moment when Belize's men's volleyball team made history by winning the Central American Final 4. It's a win that has taken them almost 2 decades and according to the team's captain, unity is what made the difference this time.
Elton Anderson, Captain/Setter
"It's an overwhelming feeling. It's something that has long been in the waiting. We're just super excited to be coming back home with this gold to Belize."
Courtney Menzies, Reporter
"What do you think was the thing that made the difference this time around?"
Elton Anderson, Captain/Setter
"The biggest thing this time around was that we had our international guys home almost 2 months before the tournament, which helped us with our chemistry and unity. The past tournaments, the guys that were abroad and in school, or playing international, they would have just come and meet us while we were playing and just start playing and then it would have taken us two or three games to get our chemistry. So this time around, we had everybody home and all training was with all fourteen players. Every night we were training for 3 hours together, we built the chemistry and unity that we needed to reach the gold in this tournament."
And the long road to victory did not come without some humiliating bumps along the road, which Anderson reflected on.
Elton Anderson, Captain/Setter
"I'm the player on the team that has been a part of the male national team the longest, over 15+ years, almost 20 years. When I started we were what they called the beat box in Central America where everybody wanted to play us because they knew they could beat us. My first tournament the scores were 25-5, 25-7, 25-6 and then we grew, we stuck with it, we kept on training, a couple tournaments over the past 5 to 10 years, we kept knocking on the doorâ€"third, second, third, second, but never first. But this tournament we felt like this was ours because the training was there, the coaching staff were there, the players bought into what the coaches wanted. Like I said, it really paid off."
But those low scores at the start did not discourage them and over the years, Anderson has had the privilege of training the players that contributed to this big win.
Courtney Menzies, Reporter
"A lot of the young playersâ€"you brought up many of themâ€"so how does it feel to see them being able to shine now?"
Elton Anderson, Captain/Setter
"Well that one gives me cold seed, that made me cry last night because some of these kids I started to train when they were 8, now they're 18, 19 years old and to do it with them is such a tremendous overwhelming feeling. They were crying, they all said, 'Coach, thank you for everything.' They love me, 'Thanks for believing in me.' So that really swelled my heart last night."
And aside from the win, emotions were high when Belize's own Francis Hauze was named MVP.
Francis Hauze, MVP
"It was a great feeling at first, I was happy that we won and then of course we got the awards with me and Kyron, but it's always a good feeling getting rewarded for your hard work. I've put in a lot of work for the past 11 years, I've been playing volleyball for the past 11 years, and now we've finally gotten the gold that we wanted and we got the individual awards."
And now with this win, the team believes this is just the start of a dominant streak:
Francis Hauze, MVP
"This tournament shows that we have the length on the bench to carry this first place a long way in Central America and it also shows that we are really dominant so we could last the next 10 years if we wanted to."
Elton Anderson, Captain/Setter
"We believe that with this group because this group is a mixture of old and a lot of youth, not old but veteran and a lot of youths, and the youths that we have on this team are very promising, most of them are on scholarships in America of which they're gaining more experience and I believe this is the start of many to come."
Elton Anderson
"We plan to do a little celebration as a team and we're hoping that the government or sports council can do something for us, I believe they will have something planned for us, we're just waiting to see what's the next move when we reach Belize."
The team expects to land in Belize at 8:00 tonight.
New Appointments Recommended for the High Court of Belize - AG Says It's Not Final
And in other news, two more foreign judges are bound for the High Court bench.
7News has seen leaked official correspondence revealing that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission has recommended two new elevation appointments to the bench.
According to a memorandum from Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie to the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister is formally seeking the Leader's views before advising the Governor General on the appointments, as mandated by Section 97 of the Belize Constitution.
The first recommended appointee is Ms. Sheiniza Smith, whose tenure is set to take effect on September 1st, 2026. She is Guyanese.
The second recommendation elevates Mr. Peter Carter to the bench, effective September 15th, 2026. He is Trinidadian.
But two qualified Belizean applicants were not even shortlisted. Those applicants were registrar Trenia Young and Former Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser.
But today the AG had a different spin. He said that despite the signed letter we have seen, no appointments have been made and the process is still ongoing. Here's how he explained it.
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"There has not been any formal appointment of any judges, so as part of the process, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, they engage in their process. They're a separate body, separate from government, separate from any other entity, so they're the ones that does the reviewing of applications, reviewing of CVs, interviews, etc. They would make a recommendation with respect to who are the successful applicants. Once that recommendation is received, that recommendation is submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister, which submits it to the Leader of the Opposition to request, to this particular case, the honorable Tracy Panton, her views on the matter. As things currently stand, she has written to the government and she has requested certain information, so the process is still ongoing and no final determination has been made on that matter as yet."
Reporter
"How long will that process take to complete more or less?"
Anthony Sylvester
"That process continues. Obviously, consultation requires reasonable opportunity, and this is what the jurisprudence of this area would suggest: a reasonable opportunity for the opposition to receive her feedback and, if that is the case, for her to make further inquiries. So the process is still ongoing and no formal decision has been made as yet."
From our experience, "consultation" in these cases simply means informing the Leader of the Opposition who does not have veto power over appointments.
Attorney General Challenges Ombudsman Recommendation Over Legal Fees Disclosure
The Attorney General's office is currently challenging the ombudsman's recommendation that his office should disclose the information requested in Jerry Enriquez's freedom of information request. That information is the cost of the top-tier attorneys the government retained to fight his injunction to block the elections before redistricting was completed. That case saw its first case management earlier this week and today the AG defended the government's right to challenge a constitutional office, even if the office is currently vacant:
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"As with most case management, what would occur is that the court would give time managements as it relates to the filing and in this particular case, the court gave a timeline for filing of affidavit in response. So this is an appeal that was made by the Attorney General Ministry with respect to a decision that was taken by the Ombudsman. That decisionâ€"and I need to state this so as to disabuse persons from what has been actually said in the public. I know it has been said and much has been made that, well, how will the state challenge a constitutional office? There's nothingâ€"well, first of all, the rule of law, that's a part of the, a constituent part of democracy. What that means simply is that every single office holder, whether it be the Prime Minister, whether it be the Ombudsman, whether it be a judge, that they must, in exercising their function and duty, they must comply with the dictates of the law. And the purpose of launching that review of the Ombudsman decision was so that the court could in fact indicate, which we believe wasn't the case, whether the Ombudsman actually operated fairly in coming to the decision that he came. I won't go into the specifics and the facts because the matter is in front of the court, but as the essence and the rationale and the reason why the matter was challenged. Additionally to point out, there's nothing new; there are precedents. So you've had, for instance, the Attorney General; in two recent cases they've actually challenged the decision of the Public Service Commission with respect to disciplinary actions, their decision in respect to the disciplinary proceedings that were taken against public officers. So in summary, the challenge by the Attorney General or by the state of another constitutional office is nothing new. It's something that part of the process of a constitutionaldemocracy which all persons, all office holders are held to account and their decision can be questioned and challenged in a court of law."
"The Ombudsman is accountable and responsible to Parliament, so that office can make a request through the clerk's office, the Clerk of the National Assembly, for an attorney to represent the Ombudsman. So you don't necessarily need to have an office holder in place at this point in time."
Government Advertises Vacancy for Ombudsman Amid Transition to Human Rights Office
" And while that case is ongoing, the government has finally started to advertise a vacancy for the ombudsmanâ€"6 months after the important post became vacant. The notice is available on the National Assembly's Facebook page. But what is the procedure now that the office is transforming into a human rights office? Sylvester said that it will be a three-year-long process."
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"As I had explained on the last occasion, that is and was a commitment that was made by the government. Now if you look at the vacancy, the vacancy indicates that it would be preferable if someone is applying and the successful applicant would have knowledge and experience in that area. That MOU that was entered into with the Ombudsman's office and the European Union, it's a three-year project, so the idea is that to have the new Ombudsman, whoever that person is, would have carriage and will continue to work to ensure that that office, the National Institute of Human Rights, that be set up properly. So that is why the request is made in the vacancy for persons who are applying for the job, and it would be preferable that that person has such experience and knowledge and be able to help with facilitating and accelerating the process."
"There will be review of the current legislation, and I would imagine that there would be recommendations for amendments of the legislation. That has and must take place to ensure to give effect to an NHRI to be implemented and to be established."
Enriquez Takes Government to CCJ Over Vacant Ombudsman Post
And aside from the case against the ombudsman, the AG's office is also tackling several matters brought to the CCJ by Jerry Enriquezâ€"including a new case in which Enriquez is suing the government for leaving the ombudsman's office vacant. Here's what he said about those cases.
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"The redistricting matterâ€"so Mr. Enriquez had made three appeals to the CCJ. The written decisions would have been handed down I think about a couple weeks now. He was successful on two and not successful in one of them, so what that means is that the matter now goes back before the Court of Appeal for hearing. Those are what lawyers would refer to as interlocutory applications, meaning they don't deal with the substantive matter. We are in July 2026; that matter was called in February, so a year and months later we still haven't gotten to the substantive matter, which is the question of whether the current boundaries are actually unconstitutional."
Reporter
"Does he have a case as well regarding the ombudsman?"
Anthony Sylvester
"Yes, so that's what we were speaking to. So he has as well brought a claim in which he seeking the court to order the government to appoint an Ombudsman. So as you asked earlier and you indicated earlier, that process already started with respect to the vacancy, and that is a process which is handled by a committee of the National Assemblyâ€"that is the Ombudsman Reports Committee, which comprises both government and opposition members."
Orange Walk Police Charge Suspect in Brutal San Lazaro Machete Attack
Earlier this week we told you about the elderly man who was murdered in San Lazaro, Orange Walk. Police have arrested and charged 26-year-old Christian Navel Velasquez for the murder of 68-year-old Virgilio Carillo. Carillo was on his way to his farm when he was brutally attacked and chopped to death.
Arthur Hill Convicted of Brother-in-Law’s Murder
Two years after he was charged for the murder of his brother-in-law, 20-year-old Levan Aldana, a resident of Biscayne, Arthur Hill began his trial for murder in May of 2026. The trial lasted 8 days and a trial-within-a-trial was held to determine the admissibility of an important piece of evidence, where the deceased named his killer to a police officer in his dying breath.
Aldana succumbed from multiple stab wounds and a neighbor testified that he had seen both Aldana and Hill together minutes before Aldana was fatally stabbed. And when police arrived at the scene, Hill was observed in a change of clothes and blood on his elbow. Hill was represented in court by attorney Norman Rodriguez, and despite his attempts at a no-case submission, Justice Candace Nanton ruled that there was sufficient evidence made out against Hill. Upon analyzing all evidence, Justice Nanton found Hill guilty of Aldana's murder and was satisfied with all findings beyond a reasonable doubt. Hill's sentencing has been set for September 18, 2026.
Court of Appeal Hands Down 10-Year Prison Sentences to Former Officers in Custody Death
Over eleven years after the tragic death of 18-year-old high school student Hilbert Sotz in police custody, the Court of Appeal has sharply corrected what it termed an "unduly lenient" sentence, ordering former police constables Hallet King and Leonard Nunez back to prison.
Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman, presiding alongside Court President Minnet Hafiz-Bertram and Justice of Appeal Michelle Arana, quashed the original nine-month sentences handed down in 2019 and substituted them with terms of 10 years and 2 months.
The case dates back to June 8, 2015, when Sotz was detained on Caye Caulker in connection with a series of burglaries. While locked in a interrogation room, Sotz was severely beaten by King and Nunez. Sotz was pronounced dead on arrival at the local health centre from head trauma that caused fatal blood clotting.
In July 2019, a jury unanimously found both officers guilty of manslaughter by unlawful harm. However, at sentencing in August 2019, the trial judge erroneously treated the conviction as a lesser form of manslaughter by negligence. The judge imposed a mere nine-month sentence and, because the officers had already spent 10 months in pre-trial detention, they walked out of court completely free on time served.
DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal SC immediately sought leave to appeal the sentences. Meanwhile, the officers appealed their convictions, which a previous Court of Appeal panel controversially quashed. The battle went all the way to the CCJ, which reinstated the manslaughter convictions on January 20, 2026, and ordered the Court of Appeal to hear the DPP's appeal regarding the sentence.
In its decision today, the Court of Appeal ruled that a nine-month sentence for a fatal custody beating was "wholly outside the permissible range" and a gross distortion of the jury's verdict. Using the newly established 2025 Senior Courts Sentencing Guidelines, the panel calculated a baseline sentence of 15 years, which was adjusted to 18 years due to aggravating factors - specifically the extreme breach of public trust by law enforcement officers.
The court reduced the sentence to 15 years to account for the officers' prior clean records, and shaved off an additional 4 years as a remedy for the state-caused pre-trial delays, bringing the sentence to 11 years. After granting full credit for the 10 months they originally spent on remand, the final net sentence was set at 10 years and 2 months.
King and Nunez have been ordered to surrender themselves to the Queen Street Police Station in Belize City by 10:00 AM on July 29, 2026, to begin serving their time at the Belize Central Prison.
Belize Defense Force Welcomes One Hundred Thirty-Four New Recruits
Yesterday, the Belize Defense Force saw 134 new recruits pass out as intake #69.
Apart from the passing out, there was also the change of command for the Force Sergeant Major.
Jaleeza Roberts was there and reports:
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) celebrated two major milestones during a passing-out parade at Price Barracks yesterday, welcoming 134 new soldiers from Recruit Intake #69 and marking a historic change in leadership within its enlisted ranks.
After successfully completing 18 weeks of intensive military training, the 134 recruits, including 20 women, officially joined the ranks of the BDF. In his speech, Prime Minister John Briceño reminded the new soldiers that the uniform represents much more than just a piece of clothing:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"As you begin your military careers, remember your greatest strength will not only be your skills but your character. Uphold the values of loyalty, integrity, discipline, selfless service, and professionalism in everything you do. The Belize Defense Force places great trust in each of you, and I am confident that you will serve with pride and distinction wherever duty calls."
The event also marked a historic first for the BDF as Warrant Officer Class 1 Dee-Ancor Reyes officially assumed the appointment of Force Sergeant Major, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the BDF's history. She succeeds Warrant Officer Class 1 Wilfredo Majano. Reyes said the moment was not simply about making history but about duty, service, and responsibility:
Dee-Ancor Reyes, Incoming Force Sergeant Major, BDF
"I accept this appointment with a clear understanding of its responsibilities to support your command intent, offer honest advice, uphold discipline and standards, and serve the members and families of the Belize Defense Force. To the Former Sergeant Major Wilfredo Mojano, I respectfully acknowledge your leadership and dedicated service. Thank you for your contribution."
Dee-Ancor Reyes
"As the first woman appointed Force Sergeant Major, I recognize the historic nature of this occasion. I accept with gratitude while remaining focused on the work ahead. This appointment is ultimately about duty, service, and responsibility. To every member of the Belize Defence Force, I know that respect is earned, trust is built through consistency, and leadership is demonstrated through action."
For now, 134 recruits now join the ranks to help protect and serve Belize. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Breaking Barriers: Meet the BDF’s First Female Sergeant Major
And while the BDF now has the first woman Force Sergeant Major, who is she? And how did she get to that post? Usually Sergeant Majors are known to be tough, hard-nosed men, but tonight, we get a glimpse of who she is outside the uniform and the titles. Jaleeza Roberts sat with Warrant Officer Class One Dee-Ancor Reyes to discuss her achievements:
For more than two decades, Warrant Officer Class 1 Dee-Ancor Reyes has quietly built a career defined by discipline and sacrifice, and this week, that journey reached a historic milestone as she officially assumed the role of Force Sergeant Major, becoming the first woman ever to hold the Belize Defence Force's highest enlisted appointment. For Reyes, the promotion is more than a personal achievement; it represents the culmination of a lifelong commitment to service:
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes, Force Sergeant Major, BDF
"Most of my family members are either police, coast guard, or BDF, so I come from a family that is military. So I joined the volunteer battalion. In 1999, I passed out at Salamanca Camp. And I served four complete years with the volunteers and ever since then I appreciated the military. At that time, I wanted to either be a nurse or a teacher, but I did not have the finance to carry on with my career. So I enlisted into the regular force in September of 2003. And the reason for doing that is because I knew that the Belize Defence Force provides scholarships for soldiers, and you also receive training abroad and you could have a career joining the army."
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes
"Like I wanted, I was sent to the University of Belize to do nursing. In 2005, I graduated. So I was grateful for that, that I get to accomplish that mission that I always wanted."
A defining moment in Reyes' career came in 2022 when she became the first female Belizean soldier selected to attend the prestigious Sergeants Major Academy in El Paso, Texas. The intensive leadership program, run by the United States Army, not only sharpened her military leadership skills but also resulted in a bachelor's degree in Leadership and Workforce Development. She returned to Belize determined to implement lessons learned abroad while adapting them to the realities of the Belize Defence Force. That qualification ultimately became a deciding factor in her promotion. Attendance at the academy is one of the key prerequisites for appointment as Force Sergeant Major. As her predecessor prepared for retirement, Reyes had already met every requirement. But more than the title, she expressed her greatest achievement: being a mother of 3 and a wife:
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes, Force Sergeant Major, BDF
"Besides from being a soldier, I am a wife. I'm married to Dr. Elfryn Reyes. He's a Lieutenant Colonel of the Belize Defense Force. He works at the medical center. We have three children."
Reporter
"To have all of this ambition and to have a family as well, how were you able to balance that throughout the years?"
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes
"At first, it was difficult. But it became easy after I got married, because my husband is in the force as well. It balanced out because whenever I had to go on any trainingâ€"which is at least six weeksâ€"we leave our family. We go out in the jungle, or we go to the district to complete our training. And that time you need to leave your family behind. And I have two girls. When they were pretty young, I still had to do what I needed to do to complete my training so that I could get promoted. So I had to leave them behind, and their dad took on the responsibility, and helped out and take care of them during all the time that I've been away. Even when I've been to the United States, more than once for over a year, he was there, provided all that help and care for the children."
Reporter
"But how did it feel as a woman to leave your children?"
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes
"It's hard. It's difficult. Sometimes you would sit down and cry because you got to be out in the jungle, and your young child is at home. And of course, sometimes we need to leave them even when we are breastfeeding. So it's even harder then. But I am a strong person. I tell myself, in order for me to complete anything that I'm doing, I need to accept the fact that I need to leave them behind and just pray that everything is okay."
Perhaps the most compelling part of Reyes' story lies not in her military accomplishments, but in where they began. She grew up in St. Martin's, one of Belize City's most economically challenged communities, during a period when gang violence cast a long shadow over daily life. Having overcome this, she has a message for persons who also come from there:
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes, Force Sergeant Major, BDF
"Coming from the St. Martin's De Porres area, at the time when I was growing up, gang was really serious."
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes
"At that time, there, I could recall vividly in the evening, you couldn't walk the streets because, you know, the guys were out with their gun. So at a certain time, you need to stay in. And then growing up in the St. Martin's area, I see a lot of children who grew up on the streetâ€"you know, the things that they saw, they practiced. And I said to myself that I won't be one of those people that would, what I see I will practice, and I need to get out of it."
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes
"I want the young people to know that despite where you come from, despite the challenges that you face along the way, that once you tell yourself and believe in yourself and with God's help that you want to make a difference, make a change, you want to come out of that environment, you want to be somebody in society, then that's the way to go. Once you have that in your mind, you just push towards that goal and you can accomplish it."
But being the first woman to hold this title in the BDF, one would think she would be anxious about her new post, but Reyes says she has prepared for this:
WO1 Dee-Ancor Reyes, Force Sergeant Major, BDF
"At this time, I'm excited. I'm not nervous because I've been preparing for this moment. I've been doing the work along the way, so I know what is expected of the Force Sergeant Major. I've been working closely hand in hand with the Force Sergeant Major. I've been learning from him. And so, knowing the roles and responsibility, I know that I could carry out my duties to the best of my ability. Yes, there will be challenges along the way. As the first female, this is something new to the military. This is something new to the gentlemen in the force. This force has always been run by males in authority. And now that we have a female, I know that I will face some challenges along the way. But I am good otherwise because I know my roles and responsibility and I know how to deal with it."
As she assumes responsibility for the welfare, discipline and professional standards of Belize's enlisted soldiers, her story stands as a reminder that history is often made not in a single promotion ceremony, but through decades of consistent work towards a dream only she could see. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Briceño Dismisses UDP Protest Turnout During Granddaughter Outing
On Friday, when the UDP held its protest, the PM was pictured having an ice cream outing with his granddaughter in Belize City.
Many interpreted it that the PM was not taking their protest seriously. But according to him, he's the PM, he is a grandfather, but based on what he saw at the protest, the people are still not taking the UDP seriously:
Prime Minister Defends Social Security Board Investment in Hydro Belize
And the Prime Minister is also standing by the Social Security Board's decision to invest $20 million in Hydro Belize Ltd., insisting the move is both secure and financially sound.
Under the proposal, the SSB would purchase almost 700 thousand shares at $29 apiece. The PM says the investment will provide stable, long-term returns while strengthening the fund's portfolio:
Unified Child Justice and Protection Committee Officially Launched
Today officially marked the launch of the Child Protection and Child Justice Steering Committee, a unified national body aimed at strengthening coordination between child protection and the justice system to better safeguard children from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The committee brings together government ministries, the National Commission for Families and Children, the Office of the Special Envoy for Families and Children, UNICEF, and other key partners to oversee reforms and implement a five-year action plan focused on child welfare and justice. The AG commented on how this came about:
Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General
"What has been done is that through the auspices of the National Commission for Families and Children, there were two committees that addressed it. There was a Child Justice Committee and there was a Child Protection Committee; they were bifurcated. Experience has shown us over time that it's best to have a collaborative effort so you have stakeholders from various agencies, whether it be law enforcement, the court, whether it be in social service, all coming together to address the issue of child protection and child justice."
"There are various areas that they will be targeted, that they will be doing, is that they're providing to the government certain recommendations in respect to policies that need to be revamped, that need to be tweaked, and a part of the membership of this committee includes the Attorney General's Ministry, and so that helps in terms of ensuring in a more timely manner we'll be able to have legislation which touch and concern families and children."
But the new committee must be able to face many gaps within the justice system, especially when dealing with children. Chairperson for the board, Justice Natalie Creary Dixon, said that many times, when dealing with sexual violence against children, the victims are rarely ever supported:
Justice Natalie Creary Dixon, Chairperson - CPJSC
"We are looking towards a trauma-centered, victim-centered approach. So we are looking at ensuring that all children in Belize, the heart and rights of children in Belize are protected. This was a response to an assessment which exposed critical gaps in the child protection system. So what we sought to do was to integrate the Child Services Centre, Social Services Centre, and the judiciary. A child who goes to court therefore will see a less intimidating process, they will see that their needs are met. It's a child-centered, victim-centered trauma approach that we are moving all across Belize. We are ensuring that the rights of children are at the heart. It is at the heart and center of every decision made involving children."
Reporter
"What have you observed from the High Court level that are some challenges when it comes to justice with children?"
Justice Natalie Creary Dixon
"First of all, we have to overcome some cultural barriers because we find, for example, in sexual offenses cases, unfortunately, children are not supported by their very family members. So you find that it is very difficult to even get them to a stage where they are prepared to give evidence in court. What we have had to do, what becomes very critical at this stage would be social workers who can work with them, get them to a stage where they can give information, they are prepared to participate in court proceedings, and they have reported it first of all, because they are not supported by family members. We have that hurdle to overcome. So there is the cultural difficulty that we have to overcome. Then there are persons who believe it is a rite of passage to be sexually abused, unfortunately. And so they are not encouraged to report these matters and we don't get their full support. We also have a difficulty with our scarce resources. There are scarce resources. And so you find that even a child who comes to court ought rightly to be coming with a social worker, a community rehabilitation officer, but because there aren't enough such persons, then you find that the child comes to court alone, the child is not supported. The child ought to be counseled after a traumatic incident. That does not always happen."
YMCA Summer Program Wraps Up on Brand New Volleyball Court
A few weeks ago, we told you about the construction of a volleyball court at the YMCA headquarters on Faber's Road. The construction was completed just in time for the beginning of its annual summer program, and today we visited the camp as the program comes to a close. Jomarie Lanza has this story.
Though it's the end of the YMCA Summer Program, these kids are still bubbling with energy, having spent the last 3 weeks learning how to play different sports and even trying their hand at coding. The camp's director explained what the coding curriculum looked like over the past week:
Clara Cuellar, Executive Director - YMCA
"What YMCA has done this yearâ€"last year we started using Scratch for the summer program, but we have really been doing Scratch since 2020, and then we got an opportunity to send 5 of our youths to the coding program, the robotics program that Minister Musa has, and they were impressive, so we knew there and then that we had to offer it to the broad base of children who had done the Scratch here, the Scratch coding,"
"We got volunteers and we introduced the coding aspect, especially to those who have done Scratch. We have children from age 7â€"12. The 7 and 8-year-olds did the Scratch program where they develop their own games, they develop their own stories; the older kids started doing the robotics, so it was a huge improvement, a huge investment, and I thank all the donors that we have, and we have several."
30 kids signed up for the program and they were divided off into groups of 12, so they all got a chance to learn a new sport and a skill.
Clara Cuellar, Executive Director - YMCA
"All children are taught coding, all children are taught basketball, and all children are taught volleyball, so we train our volunteers. All volunteers, they just sign up and we decide. And one thing I have learned this year, we did have some volunteers who preferred to do coding because they have experience, and we already told them so that they be an example for our kids, they have also to do an hour of sports."
We also spoke with the kids about what they learned and what they enjoyed the most about the camp.
Meikah Williams, YMCA Summer Program
"My experience was fun, enjoyable, and I definitely learn a lot from it."
"My favorite was coding and volleyball, but coding was so fun. I learned how to make games, stories, and other activities that can learn from in the future."
"I enjoyed doing and playing basketball, doing volleyball, and coding."
Samuel Williams, YMCA Summer Program
Jasleen Brown, YMCA Summer Program
"My experience is funny, excited,"
Jomarie Lanza, Reporter
"What did you enjoy at the camp?"
Jasleen Brown
"Basketball and volleyball."
Lova Boy Speaks Out on Owning Up to His Crime
Last night on Uncut, recently deported Daniel "Lova Boy" Cacho gave his first interview since he was sent home after serving time in a US jail for robbery and other offenses. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in the US labeled him the "worst of the worst." But now he's making a local comeback and says he accepts responsibility for what he was convicted of:
Lova Boy, Belizean Artist
"If you talk about the crime, you know I didn't get away with a crime. You do realize I went to prison? You do realize I pled guilty, I accepted responsibility we could go into that or not but the truth, the fact is I did my time, and I do understand that consequences go beyond prison time, and whatever that means for me, I am here to accept it. I am not lazy; I am ready and willing to do the work. I miss my people."
Jules Vasquez, Reporter
"But the issue is that you at your peak with Tornado, you were a popular artist with childrenâ€""
Lova Boy
"Yes."
Jules Vasquez
"Kids loved that song, they performed it at their school play, so how can the community trust you again? When they have this nagging perception that Lova Boy is sketchy and he has a sketchy reputation when it comes to minors because he has been accused found innocent, but accused of sexual assault on a minor."
Lova Boy
"I can't answer that."
Jules Vasquez
"How can you bridge that piece?"
Lova Boy
"So there are parts of that I can control because you speak about perception, right? Like if I sit down here and answer about rumors and stuff like that, I could be here all night. All I have in my corner is the facts, and wherever the chips may land, that that there, the chips they fall. Do you understand what I mean?"
And while he didn't walk out, he did cry during the show. You can see the whole episode which re-airs tonight on Channel 7.
Wildlife Clinic Swamped with Patients as New Education Lab Opens
Yesterday, we gave you a tour of the newly inaugurated One Health Education Lab operating under the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic. It's where they will be hosting their trainings on wildlife conservation. When we spoke to their director, she told us they are in one of their busiest seasons at present, and are treating more than a dozen animals at the clinic currently. She explained how some of these animals came to be in their care.
Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand, Director, Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic
"So I actually have to look at the files to give you a complete headcount right now. We are slightly under 15 patients in care right now, so it is baby season, it is very busy. We have about 15 coatis, a few squirrels, some opossums, some foxes, some cats, turtles, and what you saw coming through was a turtle that was just brought in, and we are going to see it as soon as we are done here because she was hit by a vehicle. And then we have a snake, a crocodile, we have some birds, and we have a lot of mostly orphans but also some injured animals in care right now."
Stann Creek ITVET Fully Restored Following Five-Year Refurbishment
Proposals were made in 2021 for the refurbishment of Stann Creek's ITVET in an attempt to not only improve the school's infrastructure but also increase enrollment and graduates from the institution. It took an investment of 1.4 million dollars and almost 5 years later, but now the school is fully functional once more thanks to a project made possible by SIF in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today and here are the highlights from that event.
Gwendolyn Garcia Martinez, Manager - Stann Creek ITVET
"We have come a long way, I have to say that, and before I even go further in explaining how we started, I have to give gratitudeâ€"gratitude is a mustâ€"to our Area Representative Dr. Louis Zabaneh, to Ministry of Education, the Government of Belize, and of course SIF and CDB. This project started almost 4 years ago. It has been a whirlwind, but we are here and we are thankful for all that we have gotten, that we will be transforming the lives of the persons who live in the south."
Gwendolyn Garcia Martinez
"We got a total refurbishmentâ€"the leaky roofs, computer lab, the kitchen, everything was refurbished, and it was much needed because now we could better serve our trainees starting all the way from Bella Vista and even further south. Persons who will be coming here to train to get their skills because we do go by our motto, 'skills pays bill.'"
Dr. Hon. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative
"We found this place quite in need where we had very low enrollment, very little attention being paid to the needs of this area of the south, and fortunately we were able to put together a very good team with our chairman and the manager and all the staff that have been employed here to serve our people. So from a low of less than 50 students, we have had graduations of over 200 in recent years, and I have just been told that the applications are quite high for this coming year, so we are really, really pleased that the investment, 1.4 million dollars that has been made here, makes a big difference. We see from the tour that now all the classrooms, the offices, the laboratories now are in good condition. One of the big problems with leaky roofs has been addressed, and so these things will go a long way to ensure that we can do a good job at serving our community and the students who are going to be coming here for this very important training in technical and vocational education."
Seven Ministers Gather to Hand Over Lawn Equipment to Rural Communities
How many ministers and ministers of state does it take to give away some lawn mowers? Well, today in Belmopan it took 7 of them and one CEO to hand over several pieces of lawn equipment. The donation was from the Ministry of Rural Transformation so of course Oscar Requena and Valentino Shal were presentâ€"and spoke at the podiumâ€"but so did Alex Balona, Marconi Leal, Michel Chebat, Osmond Martinez, Ramon Cervantes, and Rodwell Ferguson. The minister today explained that these representatives were necessary since 14 communities would be benefiting from the donation.
Belize Mourns the Passing of Visionary Educator Dr. Dorian Barrow
And finally tonight, we note the passing of respected educator and former Ministry of Education Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dorian Barrow who died at the age of 74.
A distinguished academic and public servant, Dr. Barrow dedicated decades of his life to advancing education in Belize, serving in senior leadership roles at the Ministry of Education, the University of Belize, and most recently at Galen University, where he championed STEM, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Tributes continue to pour in from across the country, with colleagues, former students, and national leaders remembering him as a visionary educator whose contributions helped shape Belize's education system for generations.
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