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, we're looking deep into the BDF's supply chains to see if Ministerial connections play a role beyond former Minister Oscar Mira.
7News has obtained a leaked spreadsheet detailing the official BDF tender allocations for 2023 through 2024. While the documents show the Mira-owned Mount Pleasant Fresh Produce and Mira's Fruits and Vegetables on the roster, they emerge as minority suppliers-taking in a combined $1.3 million out of the total $12.4 million budget.
So who got a bigger slice of the supply pie, and did they also have a political connection at the Ministry of Defence? Well, there's a company named Kukulkan which got 18% of the ration supply, and we're told that also has a political connection-but not to former Minister Oscar Mira. We'll be checking into this.
Tonight, we are also tracking a paper trail involving this Mitsubishi L200 pickup, photographed this morning outside the Ministry of Defence. The vehicle was reportedly part of a four-pickup fleet acquired by the Ministry in 2021.
While we can't confirm who supplied it, a Smart Stream leak from December of 2021 shows ten separate invoices to the Ministry of Defence for a Mitsubishi pickup from electrical contractor F.T. Williams, each priced at exactly $9,603. Those invoices were grouped into two distinct batches of five and pushed through on just two days, triggering a total payout of $96,030.
While F.T. Williams is primarily an electrical firm-with familial ties to the Mira family-it remains unclear how many vehicles this $96,000 payout actually covered. If it was for a single pickup, the price tag is on the high side, as a duty-free Mitsubishi L200 typically retails for around $80,000 on the local market.
We pressed F.T. Williams for clarification today regarding the nature of the transaction. We also questioned the Ministry's CEO, who stated he could not verify the details without access to the files-which are currently in the hands of the Auditor General.
But we're also looking at a car dealership which multiple reports tell us is linked to the Mira family. It's called MW Motor Imports, and car dealers tell us the initials likely point to the owners' names.
7News has also learned that MW Motor Imports competed in a bid to supply Oscar Mira's Ministry of Home Affairs with 15 pickups in March of this year. The MW Imports bid was for $1.157 million. But ultimately, no contract was awarded due to defects in the bidding process.
And there's more bad news for Oscar Mira tonight. The cyberbullying complaint he made against UDP Alberto August has been rubbished.
As one of his first orders of business, last week the new Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat directed the Commissioner of Police Richard Rosado to send the cyberbullying complaint made by former Minister Oscar Mira to the DPP for advice. Espat said that the police department needed independent advice since Mira was the Minister at the time.
7News has obtained a copy of the memo from the DPP which says: "I have carefully considered the evidence provided and advise that the charge against the defendant be discontinued. It follows that his devices must be returned to him."
A police press release today says, "The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the prosecution be discontinued…the Belize Police Department will discontinue the prosecution of this matter. All property retained during the course of the investigation will be returned to its lawful owner(s)."
We did reach out to Alberto August, who referred us to his attorney Mike Peyrefitte. He told us, quote, "I haven't gotten anything official on that as his attorney. I'll continue to prepare a defense for him until I hear otherwise. On July 9, 2026, I'll be preparing as if they're not discontinuing."
Tonight we can confirm that Alberto August got back his phones, which were confiscated when he was arrested on May 30th.
Tonight, we have been informed that a female BDF soldier is alleging that she was raped at a BDF camp in the Toledo District. And, reports say, a fellow soldier is the suspect.
The victim asked to make a police report and was escorted to the PG Police Station to make a statement.
This afternoon, a BDF aircraft along with a psychologist and counselor was sent to escort her on the plane to Price Barracks, where an internal investigation has commenced.
One week ago he filed a corruption complaint against Oscar Mira at the Integrity Commission, and today the UDP Caretaker for Belize Rural Central got a response from the commission. While he would not share a physical copy of the letter today, their response details that there is "sufficient evidence" to support his complaint. He now has 30 days to submit more evidence and find witnesses. We asked him if he is satisfied:
Edward Broaster, UDP Caretaker, Belize Rural Central "Well, today I received an email from the Integrity Commission, confirming that they have received the complaint and that within the context of the complaint being made, they will launch an investigation into the matter."
Jomarie Lanza: "What does this development mean to you?"
Edward Broaster: "Well, it means that the process works, and given the public interest that this complaint has generated, it is only right that the public be aware that the Integrity Commission has confirmed that they will be acting upon the complaint."
"The fact of the matter is that we are alleging that the finance act has been breached. Given the section that we court to the Security Services Commission, we expected that the Integrity Commission would act on the complaint that we have registered with them, and it is in the public interest. The payments are very irregular, and the Belizean people deserve answers and accountability to what is being done with their taxpaying money."
"The response was very lengthy. It also include that we have 30 days to provide more witnesses or evidence to substantiate the complaint that we have made."
Jomarie Lanza: "Did you at any point have any doubts that this would be the initial outcome?"
Edward Broaster: "I had no doubt. Like I said before, the Integrity Commission is laden with integrity-or should be laden with integrity-and the Belizean people expect no less than accountability for their money."
Jomarie Lanza: "Did you expect that they would have responded to you so quickly, the Integrity Commission?"
Edward Broaster: "Well, yes, we expected that we would have gotten a response within five business days, right? So we made the report last week Tuesday, so we are satisfied with getting the response today. And the response we have received, we feel encouraged that the process will take its course, and whatever the evidence leads, so be it."
Last week, news emerged that the Prime Minister met with Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller to discuss his candidacy in the upcoming municipal elections.
Tonight, however, Miller is dismissing speculation that Party Leader Briceno instructed or encouraged him to withdraw from the People's United Party's Belize City mayoral convention.
In a statement issued this morning, Miller said he discussed his intentions with the Prime Minister, later confirmed his decision to remain in the race, and stated that PM Briceno respected that choice. He spoke to us today:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City "The purpose of that statement was really to dispel this convenient narrative that I feel has been curated over the past couple of days-a narrative that would suggest that I have been somehow defiant of instruction or a request that has been made by our Prime Minister and party leader, and to categorically state that that is not the case, and that I remain fully intent on participating in the upcoming mayoral convention."
Reporter: "Do you feel any pressure from senior members of the party that you should wait your turn as opposed to running? And we know that last time around, Allan was asked to also wait his turn. So do you feel as though you should do the same?"
Eluide Miller: "Well, I can't say that I have felt that pressure. I have gotten great support from the general public, but also from within the party; I must say that as well. But I think here you have two different situations. I think the last time my colleague intended on participating in a convention, it was the position of the party at the time that they did not want to send a two-term sitting mayor to a convention. This time it's a different situation. You have an open seat and you have two young candidates who are interested in vying for that seat. Both candidates have expressed their interest in participating in a convention and their willingness to participate in a convention. So to me, here you have a completely different scenario. And if both sides are saying they're prepared for a convention, then let's take it to a convention."
Miller will be contesting Allan Pollard Jr. in August at the PUP municipal convention.
And when it comes to Deputy Mayor Miller, one of the criticisms has been that he is not sufficiently experienced to take on the role. He pushed back on that, though, arguing that his seven years at the Belize City Council have prepared him:
Reporter: "Persons have argued that you're qualified, you check all the boxes, but you don't have the experience to be a mayor. What's your comment to that?"
Eluide Miller: "Well, I would certainly go against that sentiment. I would have to disagree with that, simply because I've been at the council for over seven years. While I might have only been a council member for just over two years, I've been at the Belize City Council since 2019, and I have served the council at absolutely every level."
"I've served the council at the administrative level, the management level, and the executive level. And so I know of the challenges and opportunities that exist at each level of the council. And I think that puts me in a very unique position. I don't know that you've had a mayoral candidate or a mayor in recent time that has had that kind of growth and progression through the council. And so I think that's actually a strength rather than a weakness. And it is on that basis that I feel confident participating in the upcoming convention."
But any guarantee of electoral success is heavily dependent on which senior ministers support a candidate and whether or not the delegates in their constituencies will come out and work for that candidate. According to Miller, he is diligently doing his groundwork:
Eluide Miller: "I can promise you that I will be reaching out to every single delegate across all ten constituencies in Belize City. And so there's absolutely no doubt about that. I think, thankfully, I participated in a convention back in late 2023 leading up to the 2024 municipals."
"And so I have a bit of experience in these conventions. I achieved great success in that convention. And so I will be applying essentially the same formula going into this convention. But I will certainly not be leaving absolutely any delegate behind."
"Yeah, I think I share an excellent relationship with the delegates, but also with the various Europs across the city. One of the things I've always prided myself on is being a team player, right, and a collaborator."
"And I have done my best to collaborate and remain accessible and available and responsive to the needs of the various constituencies across Belize City. So I remain in constant communication with the various EU representatives across the city, but I also stay connected with our people."
But reports suggest that Miller has not been able to garner the support of the Deputy Prime Minister and Area Representative for Lake Independence, Cordel Hyde, who also happens to be his wife's uncle. Hyde is supporting Pollard. But Miller says he doesn't feel betrayed:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City "I did not feel betrayed in any way. Any area representative, just like the delegates in Belize City, they have a right to support who they want to support. And so he has that right, and I respect his decision at the end of the day. But as I shared with you earlier, I have been nothing but a collaborator. I have always worked along with all area reps in Belize City, and that will not change."
Since reports emerged five days ago that Miller was being pressured to stand down before the convention, his five-day silence raises questions about why he waited so long to address it.
But according to Miller, he does not need to be reactive to everything:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City "I think in this business it's easy for us to come out and respond to those kinds of things. But I think we have to be extremely disciplined. We have a responsibility to the party, but we also have a responsibility to the residents who elected us. And that is exactly why I felt that today was the most appropriate time to make that statement-to make clear that no specific instruction or request was given by our party leader and that I fully intend on participating in the upcoming convention."
But all this doesn't change the fact that he is the mayor's son-in-law. Miller says that he has spent his entire political career trying to eliminate the narrative that he was "silver spooned," which has led him to work twice as hard:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City "I have consistently said that I do not expect for anything to be given to me. I think sometimes that the narrative around that entire situation-that has been created around that situation over time-is what really drives me to work twice as hard. I feel that I have to prove that I am willing to work for it, and I absolutely am. And so in no way do I expect that I am entitled to anything. I have always said that I am interested in participating in the clearly defined process under the umbrella of the People's United Party, which is the convention. And I remain fully interested in participating in that process."
On the day Miller submitted his application for mayor, he brought seven councillors with him. Pollard brought none. Miller says this just shows how tightly knit they are:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City "In terms of putting our applications in together, the intention there was to show a sense of unity. As you know, all my colleagues will be facing off in the convention as councillor candidates. But despite that fact, I think it sends a message that we are still able to come together and support each other through this process-despite the fact that they will essentially be contenders in the very same race in the next few weeks or over the course of the next month or two."
Shifting parties and regions, we head out west to the City of Belmopan. Isidoro "Richie" Galvez has announced that he will be running for mayor under the UDP banner.
Galvez was elected a Belmopan City Councillor in the 2018 municipal elections-on a slate which was led by then-Mayor Khalid Belisle.
Galvez is a well-known promoter and the curator behind the majority of Belmopan's nightlife. So will the promoter-now-politician be able to unseat Pablo Cawich?
Isidoro Richie Galvez, UDP Mayoral Aspirant - City of Belmopan "To be honest, Jay, for five to six years now, I've been approached numerous times to get back in politics, and I believe it has a lot to do with the community work, the projects that I've been executing and leading around Belmopan, in Belmopan and around the villages here. And honestly, I've always respectfully declined the offer, because I wanted to focus more on my personal businesses, and also I didn't want it to affect the route that we were heading when it came to the community projects, the initiatives that we were executing. I never want to disturb that, so I always declined."
"But there was always that cry and that push from the community, from young people, for me to re-enter politics. What's different this time? I think that frustration is at an all-time high from our young people, the business community, the sporting community, and the cries around Belmopan. It's severe, and sometimes I get emotional-like some of the messages I read, some of the people that reach out to me, some of the situations that people are in. You know, I try my best to help. I can't solve all the problems all the time, but I try my best to give a helping hand at times when I can. There's only certain things I can do."
"I believe that if I can serve as mayor, I would have the luxury to serve as mayor. We can do so much more. We already started the work. We already started the initiative. It's not like I'm just jumping out of any hole. The people know me. I've been doing hardcore community work, especially for the last nine years, starting in 2017 when I first entered politics, and then I paused in 2021, but the work never did stop. You know, I got more involved in the community and made sure that I look out for youths. I came up with different projects to make sure that they stay busy and they use their time wisely. In 2020, me and a couple of small business owners created what we call a small business boost program to help other small businesses. I think the time is now."
Reporter: "You mentioned that you have a lot of community work going on. You have the 6K match. You have different fundraising events that you have going on. You have community events. You're a community man. One of the criticisms that we saw initially when you announced that you wanted to run was that people were saying that all these years you were doing that because you knew you wanted to get back in politics eventually."
Isidoro Richie Galvez: "Wow. That's why when I read the comment, I said, 'Wow.' You know, if it was so, I would have already entered politics a long time ago, but I understand that my beliefs and my goals, some of my policies, don't really align with what the political parties have to offer. That one right there played a huge role for me because before I made my decision, I had to sit down with everybody, including the party leader, explain myself to her. What are my goals? What are my initiatives? I don't want to be too much involved in the old school politics. I think it's time to get rid of it, especially here in Belmopan. The fight is not really red versus blue. It has a lot to do with the old system versus the new movement."
Even with political tensions high in Belmopan, Galvez says he will not use the allegations surrounding the PUP Area Rep for political gain. While acknowledging the controversy could benefit his campaign politically, Galvez said he prefers to remain focused on a positive campaign and leave the matter for the people of Belmopan to judge:
Isidoro Richie Galvez, UDP Mayoral Aspirant - City of Belmopan "I have to be honest. Yes, in politics, it is-it's in my favor. But what I won't do is kick a man while he's down, right? I'd rather the people of Belmopan deal with that situation. They will have the last say. So, if you follow me on social media, I've never shared anything negative about the Mira allegation or anything. I've never pushed on it. I'd rather take its own course. And like I said, the people of Belmopan will deal with that part. I stick to my lane. I want to remain positive. I don't want to come with that old school politics that I fight back negative when they come negative at me. I believe that the best beating will go against somebody that with love and success."
Galvez came into politics as a staunch loyalist to both Khalid Belisle and John Saldivar. Today, we asked how he plans to distance himself from their controversial reputations. Galvez insists he has already spoken to both men, making it clear he is nobody's puppet:
Reporter: "You were the deputy when Mayor Belisle was mayor. We know that he did not leave an unimpeachable record. That's the reality. How will you be able to build the trust of the Belmopan people? Because some would say that you're probably being controlled or you're tied to him and also John Saldivar as well. So can you comment on how you've been able to or how you're attempting to separate yourself from the reputation of both men?"
Isidoro Richie Galvez: "To start off, I've had the conversations with both gentlemen separately. And as much as they've contributed to the growth and development of this city, I believe that the people have the last say. When it comes to Mr. Saldivar, I believe that the people have voted for a new option, a new way away from Mr. Saldivar. No disrespect to him because he has contributed a lot to Belmopan as well. Same with Mr. Belisle. I have made sure that I made it clear that this is my slate. I am no puppet. Nobody controls me. And me and my slate are fresh and new. And this is the change Belmopan is looking for."
"When I came into City Council 2018, I was a rookie councillor. I thought that when I reached there was a budget and everything would be ready and I could get things done. It's not that way. And the present councillors could attest to this. When you're in there as a rookie councillor, you have no say. A lot of decisions are made without your consent, without your approval. You don't have much say in it."
"When I became Deputy Mayor in, I think it was 2020, March, unfortunately, I only enjoyed one week of it because the following week we had the COVID pandemic that had us on a total shutdown. So I couldn't do anything as a Deputy Mayor. But yeah, the people of Belmopan know who I am. As much as the politicians, they're going to use it against me. They know who I am. They know what I stand for. And they know that I try my best to maintain a clean image and a clean name. And I have proven that."
Police have arrested and charged a Belizean welder and a 17-year-old minor for the Dangriga murder of 16-year-old Isiah Noralez.
The adult is 25-year-old Naheem Bonilla. Noralez was reportedly gunned down while riding his bicycle home in the Benguche area when two males on a motorcycle approached him, and one of them fired a fatal shot.
Efforts to reform Belize's juvenile justice system took a critical step forward today. The National Commission for Families and Children, alongside UNICEF, convened a validation session with more than a dozen key stakeholders to finalize new guidelines for youth in conflict with the law. The initiative aims to strengthen legal protections and improve outcomes for minors navigating the justice system. Our reporter, Jomarie Lanza, attended the session this morning and has this report.
UNICEF and the National Commission for Families and Children are collaborating to strengthen Belize's juvenile justice system through the establishment of new Child Justice Guidelines. Designed to standardize protocol when minors encounter the legal system, the guidelines are being finalized today during a validation session with key stakeholders. NCFC's Shakira Sutherland outlined the scope and objectives of these ongoing consultations.
Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director, National Commission for Families & Children "So today, the National Commission for Families and Children, in collaboration with UNICEF and our Ministry of Human Development, Families, Inclusion and Gender Affairs, is conducting the final validation session for the Child Justice Guidelines. And so we want to highlight that we have been doing consultation throughout the country in regards to ensuring that we have the stakeholders, children, parents' feedback in regards to this Child Justice Guideline that we are discussing today."
"And so it is important to know that the National Commission for Families and Children, we have been working tremendously looking at the parenting aspect, looking at the child justice and child protection aspect of policies that need to be implemented or created from out stand point. And so it is important to know that we have recently had the launch of the merger for the Child Justice and Child Protection Committees, and also to know that because of the merger, we are having the validation. And so this Child Justice Guideline validation looks at children: how do we protect and support children in terms of children who have been victimized, children who are claimants, children who have been in conflict or in contact with the law, and how do we put children and child protection at the center of these policies."
One of the key facilitators in this process is the Department of Human Services. The director highlighted critical gaps in coordination across departments, identifying key areas where agency cooperation falls short of protecting a child's best interest.
Shawn Vargas, Director, Department of Human Services "The Department of Human Services carries the mandate for child protection, and we are one of the biggest departments within the Ministry of Human Development looking at the role of children in the justice system. We play a very important role because we have from intake to termination-it is part of the services that we provide. So whether the children come into care for protection purposes, or for the justice system, or just regular support, the department plays an important role in meeting the needs of the children."
"While we have a system that is opened for a lot of interpretation, but it is all... this will bring us together in terms of the coordination with especially the Medical Department, the Ministry of Education, and bring immigration into the fore. Because the reality is that child protection is just looked at in terms of just Human Services and the Police Department, when it is bigger than just these two government departments. It includes the justice system, the Health Department, Police, immigration as I mentioned, because we are seeing a lot of unaccompanied minors, and those children require protection also and require some level of support. So that is why it is important to have everyone here on the table to look at the coordinated effort."
UNICEF's Child Protection officer further explained why it is important to ensure these mechanisms are in place when children come into contact with the justice system, often as perpetrators of a crime and sometimes witnesses.
Michelle Magan, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Belize "There was coordination, but in many instances it was varying and fragmented. In 2023, we did a child protection system evaluation, and the results from that evaluation informed us that a lot of the interagency coordination was missing. Some agencies work together, but it could be stronger, it could be coordinated, and it is not all the relevant actors in one space. And so we are definitely trying to strengthen the Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee by merging those two groups to be able to work together in the best interest of children."
"A lot of the children who come in conflict with the law as perpetrators are for petty offenses like riding a bicycle up stop, for instance. They are not serious crimes. And those who commit serious crimes are being recruited by older gang figures to commit armed violence and other types of crimes. That is one thing we will be looking at today; we are looking at that from a standpoint of trafficking children for the purpose of committing these criminal offenses, because children are afforded safeguards under the CRC, under Belizean legislation, because they are fundamentally different from adults. Their evolving capacities, their age, their developmental status means that they should be afforded special protections. And so that is taken advantage of not only in Belize but in other Caribbean countries, around the world-globally, it is a trend that they are recruited to commit these violent offenses."
Last week the new police minister, Julius Espat, spoke about working conditions for police. Today, his Ministry of Infrastructure Development launched a major cleanup effort with a countrywide bushing and basic cleanup of police station compounds countrywide.
Teams from the Road Management Unit embarked on ongoing vegetation control and pothole patching at the Ladyville Police Substation.
The Belmopan Road Unit cleaned up the Roaring Creek Police Station, while the Valley of Peace Police Station and St. Margaret's Station are next.
They also assisted the Orange Walk Police Station with landfilling and vegetation control at Belize rural stations.
If you hear a story about a Belizean-American and a large plot of land, it's usually based on a family or private dispute.
But that's not the case with Belizean-American Telma Coyoc Jenkins, who donated 17 acres of roadside land in Bullet Tree to the people of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.
The property-reported to be valued at 2 million dollars-will be used for a new town cemetery.
At the small handing-over ceremony today, the mayor spoke about how this donation will help them address the lack of grave plots and space needed for the town, since the Santa Rita Cemetery is becoming increasingly full.
Earl Trapp, Mayor of San Ignacio, Santa Elena "A cemetery has been one of the biggest demands for many years now, and when I became mayor in 2015, Santa Rita was already filled to capacity. And that was a promise that I promised the people-that I would work for a land for a cemetery. And I tried through the government, I tried privately, but it was very expensive. And when we as a council came in and unanimously decided that yes, we can purchase a land and we will use so much of our revenues, then the guy had already sold the land."
"So I met Ms. Coyoc about two and a half years ago when she said, 'Alright, what we can do is we can... let me determine what we will do.' But one year later she called and said, 'Mayor, we are ready. I decided that I will donate this property to the council for a cemetery.' And that is when we decided that yes, we will go through with it. And she said six months ago that she will be here in June. Thank God she came, and today we are here making this a reality for San Ignacio and Santa Elena."
Telma Coyoc Jenkins, Land Donor "I am very honored to be a part of a group of people that I know have been working hard for the town and everything that we need. And I have been hearing very good words about your leadership and everything that goes on in your office, and so I am proud to be a part of what you are doing today. However, it is a humble offer, it is a humble thank you to the town of San Ignacio, because my father and my mother had 20 children, so they ate up lots of things here."
"20 children-I think there is only 9 of us alive. But the donor, my husband Darrell Jenkins, was the counsel at the embassy 1981-83, and he uprooted me, and so now I was left with the money and I bought this land from somebody. Unfortunately the land-to give you a bit of history, the land was owned by my brother, my oldest brother, Beto. He did all the papers and everything right before he passed away, and that is how the land came into my hands so you all have a history of it. The real owners... maybe a street could be named for Alberto Coyoc rather than Telma."
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Tonight, we're looking deep into the BDF's supply chains to see if Ministerial connections play a role beyond former Minister Oscar Mira.
And there's more bad news for Oscar Mira tonight. The cyberbullying complaint he made against UDP Alberto August has been rubbished.
One week ago he filed a corruption complaint against Oscar Mira at the Integrity Commission, and today the UDP Caretaker for Belize Rural Central got a response from the commission. While he would not share a physical copy of the letter today, their response details that there is "sufficient evidence" to support his complaint. He now has 30 days to submit more evidence and find witnesses. We asked him if he is satisfied:
"The fact of the matter is that we are alleging that the finance act has been breached. Given the section that we court to the Security Services Commission, we expected that the Integrity Commission would act on the complaint that we have registered with them, and it is in the public interest. The payments are very irregular, and the Belizean people deserve answers and accountability to what is being done with their taxpaying money."
Last week, news emerged that the Prime Minister met with Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller to discuss his candidacy in the upcoming municipal elections.
Eluide Miller: 
And when it comes to Deputy Mayor Miller, one of the criticisms has been that he is not sufficiently experienced to take on the role. He pushed back on that, though, arguing that his seven years at the Belize City Council have prepared him:
But all this doesn't change the fact that he is the mayor's son-in-law. Miller says that he has spent his entire political career trying to eliminate the narrative that he was "silver spooned," which has led him to work twice as hard:
On the day Miller submitted his application for mayor, he brought seven councillors with him. Pollard brought none. Miller says this just shows how tightly knit they are:
Shifting parties and regions, we head out west to the City of Belmopan. Isidoro "Richie" Galvez has announced that he will be running for mayor under the UDP banner.
"To be honest, Jay, for five to six years now, I've been approached numerous times to get back in politics, and I believe it has a lot to do with the community work, the projects that I've been executing and leading around Belmopan, in Belmopan and around the villages here. And honestly, I've always respectfully declined the offer, because I wanted to focus more on my personal businesses, and also I didn't want it to affect the route that we were heading when it came to the community projects, the initiatives that we were executing. I never want to disturb that, so I always declined."
Even with political tensions high in Belmopan, Galvez says he will not use the allegations surrounding the PUP Area Rep for political gain. While acknowledging the controversy could benefit his campaign politically, Galvez said he prefers to remain focused on a positive campaign and leave the matter for the people of Belmopan to judge:
Galvez came into politics as a staunch loyalist to both Khalid Belisle and John Saldivar. Today, we asked how he plans to distance himself from their controversial reputations. Galvez insists he has already spoken to both men, making it clear he is nobody's puppet:
Police have arrested and charged a Belizean welder and a 17-year-old minor for the Dangriga murder of 16-year-old Isiah Noralez.
The adult is 25-year-old Naheem Bonilla. Noralez was reportedly gunned down while riding his bicycle home in the Benguche area when two males on a motorcycle approached him, and one of them fired a fatal shot.
Efforts to reform Belize's juvenile justice system took a critical step forward today. The National Commission for Families and Children, alongside UNICEF, convened a validation session with more than a dozen key stakeholders to finalize new guidelines for youth in conflict with the law. The initiative aims to strengthen legal protections and improve outcomes for minors navigating the justice system. Our reporter, Jomarie Lanza, attended the session this morning and has this report.
"So today, the National Commission for Families and Children, in collaboration with UNICEF and our Ministry of Human Development, Families, Inclusion and Gender Affairs, is conducting the final validation session for the Child Justice Guidelines. And so we want to highlight that we have been doing consultation throughout the country in regards to ensuring that we have the stakeholders, children, parents' feedback in regards to this Child Justice Guideline that we are discussing today."
Shawn Vargas, Director, Department of Human Services
Michelle Magan, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Belize
If you hear a story about a Belizean-American and a large plot of land, it's usually based on a family or private dispute.
"A cemetery has been one of the biggest demands for many years now, and when I became mayor in 2015, Santa Rita was already filled to capacity. And that was a promise that I promised the people-that I would work for a land for a cemetery. And I tried through the government, I tried privately, but it was very expensive. And when we as a council came in and unanimously decided that yes, we can purchase a land and we will use so much of our revenues, then the guy had already sold the land."
"I am very honored to be a part of a group of people that I know have been working hard for the town and everything that we need. And I have been hearing very good words about your leadership and everything that goes on in your office, and so I am proud to be a part of what you are doing today. However, it is a humble offer, it is a humble thank you to the town of San Ignacio, because my father and my mother had 20 children, so they ate up lots of things here."
