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Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
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Belmopan City Hall Senior Employee Reportedly Terminated Following Sexual Harassment Investigation
 
Tonight, reports say that senior Belmopan City Council employee Efrain Novelo has been terminated. That's after 7News last night exposed a report into allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and inappropriate conduct at the Belmopan City Council. Novelo was the subject of an investigation led by former Human Resources Manager Sharole Carr. In August, she presented the council with a 59-page report which found, quote, "substantial support for a recurring pattern of reported unwanted personal attention toward female employees, personal invitations and requests extending beyond ordinary workplace interactions, and representations of workplace influence or authority that employees experienced as intimidating."
But, we stress, the report did not find any specific documented evidence of wrongdoing against Novelo and concluded, quote, "The primary allegation of unwanted physical contact… remains disputed and was not independently witnessed or established through physical or electronic evidence." Also, when questioned by the team, Novelo, quote, "denied the allegations and stated that they may have been fabricated… to extort money from him or in retaliation for his involvement in disciplinary action against Traffic Department employees."
We did reach out to Novelo for comment, but got no response. We also reached out to the Mayorâ€"but, again, no response.
But the council was in an emergency meeting until this evening, following the Mayor visiting Novelo at his home this morning.
The City Council released a statement this evening, but it doesn't disclose much. It says, quote:
"Allegations of this nature are taken seriously and are addressed through a fair, impartial, confidential and evidence-based process, without preferential treatment based on an individual's position or status... At no time was there any instruction to dismiss, minimize, ignore, suppress or otherwise disregard the allegation... The Council will… not disclose confidential details of the investigation or related personnel decisions beyond what is appropriate and legally permissible."
And so while the council dances around the issue, the question is: what role did Novelo play there? We found one March 2025 document which referred to him as Economic Development Advisor to the City of Belmopan, while another source told us he is the Mayor's advisor, and staffers told us he is the acting HR Manager.
As to his alleged termination, we could not get official confirmation, and the council release did not disclose anything. But staffers tell us Novelo was not at work this afternoon.
We note that the report found clear suggestions that concerns about his conduct were raised prior to the investigation, but proper follow-up actions were not taken by the council.
Acting Prime Minister Cordel Calls on Cabinet Colleagues for Humility
Yesterday, you heard from the Deputy Prime Minister about the current state of his party. He lamented the significant allowances they receive while the cost of living remains high for the average Belizean. He also said he believes there's something "off" in the party and that they require some soul-searching to fix it. He spoke of the need for humility and for the PUP to return to its roots.
Strong words, especially following the PM's public scolding of Julius Espat one week ago for suggesting only a few in the PUP still care about social justice.
So, Hyde's comments are even more remarkable for that time, and to keep the totality of it in context, here's a supercut of what all he said:
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"I think we as a Government have to tighten our own belts, have to make some sacrifices, have to look at our own allowances too, because we can't be living one way and have the people living another way. I think that we have to really do something in that regard so that people understand, because if we don't do anything, then it will only allow people to continue to say that we are disconnected and out of touch, and we don't want that to happen. We don't want that stain to be on us. I think we have to really put some dent in our allowances to show people we are living in the same space and we understand what is happening out here."
"I think that we have to face the reality, and the reality is that we aren't this sleek running machine that we were as a party a year and a half ago when we were winning elections by record margins."
"We have some issues. We have to look inside ourselves and try to renew ourselves, try to rejuvenate ourselves, try to refresh ourselves, try to recalibrate and get ourselves back on track and remember where we came from."
"We do not want to go back to our losing ways, and the country demands so much from us and they expect us to be at our very best. And it doesn't matter how you frame it, something is off, something doesn't feel right, and we have to figure out what that is and get that corrected so we can get back on track. And it involves us having some real soul-searching, having some serious conversations around the table."
"Power does that to you. Power gets you... you get carried away. I've seen that for the longest possible time, and I think we in power have to tame our darker impulses. We have to understand that power is temporary, it's fleeting even, it doesn't last forever. This can quickly change. It may be that it's changing already, we don't know, but we can't wait until that message is sent to us in black and whiteâ€"we have to act before it does. And I think that we have to be far more humble, listen more, fear the people. We can't go wrong fearing the people, because when you fear the people, then you'll do right by the people. But the minute you get carried away with your power and you think you're God's gift to the world, some of the people help you tooâ€"they fluff you up, they blow you up, they make you feel like all is well, and is not well."
"We have to be real. We have to get back to what we were before, we have to get back on track, we have to stay humble, we have to listen, we have to be more loving, we have to be what we were when we started to win, how we started to win, if we intend to continue winning."
Reporter
"Many felt that there shouldn't have even been a convention in the first place."
"I'm one of those who felt there shouldn't have been a convention."
"I didn't have a choice. My conscience would not have allowed me to not get in the fray and stand up for this young man. Like, I've just seen how many times they've done things to this young man, and it's just not fair. Like, what is his crime?"
"There comes a time when you have to stand up, when you have to say enough is enough."
Hyde is acting Prime Minister until next Monday when the Prime Minister returns from the UN General Assembly in New York.
DPM Hyde Discusses Impact of SmartStream Ministry of Defence Scandals Ahead of Municipal Elections
And the need for that soul-searching also follows the recent SmartStream scandals in the Ministry of Defence. Former Minister of State Oscar Mira and Minister Florencio Marin Jr. remain on leave while an audit is taking place.
But with those public black eyes, can the PUP still top the municipal elections? Hyde explained that if the 'blu' machine still wants to win, they would have to work harder than ever:
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"I can't sayâ€"I was never good at predicting stuff. What I can say is that we have to be cautious, we have to work harder than we've ever been before. We have to be honest with our people, we have to take care of our people, we have to do right by our people, we can't take anything for grantedâ€"the results of 2025, that's history, that's not gonna happen again. This municipal election coming in March is going to be interesting; it's going to be the first real test for this Government since 2025 in an environment that's not what we are used to. So we're going to have to be better than we've been, but we have the talent, we have the capability, we know what we need to doâ€"it's about getting together and getting that done."
NTUCB Formally Rejects PM's Response and Warns of Impending Actions
And while Hyde's caution is telling, there's one more red flag for Belmopan tonight. The standoff between the Government and the unions has escalated, with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize formally rejecting the Prime Minister's response and warning of impending actions.
In an official follow-up letter sent today, NTUCB General Secretary Timothy Dami sharply criticized the Prime Minister's September 15th correspondence, noting it arrived 18 days past the union's deadline and failed to satisfy a single one of their eleven demands. The NTUCB accused the Government of completely ignoring key issues, including a firm timeline to appoint an Ombudsman.
The NTUCB also stressed that social partnersâ€"including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Network of NGOsâ€"remain firmly aligned on core governance reforms. They are jointly demanding the passage of legislation fully compliant with the UNCAC convention, campaign finance reform, whistleblower protections, and the immediate halting of the Revenue Authority Bill.
Dismissing the Prime Minister's offer of quarterly meetings as "talk and empty promises," the NTUCB confirmed that its leadership has met with Joint Social Partners to coordinate a response. The union warned, quote, "We are preparing activities and actions in the coming days. These will increase in effectiveness and resolve until all 11 demands and the will of the people are achieved."
Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 2024 Murder of Brother-in-Law
Thirty-year-old Arthur Hill will spend at least 30 years in prison after being convicted of murder. He was found guilty of killing his 19-year-old brother-in-law, Levan Aldana, in February 2024 and received a life sentence. However, as his attorney Norman Rodriguez explained, he is eligible for parole after three decadesâ€"and can even try for an appeal:
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"He was sentenced to life in prisonâ€"that was for a conviction of murder with a starting point of 30 years. That is what he will have to serve before he become eligible for parole, with adjustment: one year for aggravating factors and two down for mitigating factors, bringing it to 29. But that sentence would have begun on the 1st of February 2024, so he would have already served two years, seven months, and 23 days of the 29 years he was sentenced to for that crime."
Norman Rodriguez
"Depending on my client's instructions, an appeal, of course, can see an overturning of the judge's decision or may just affirm it."
The incident occurred around 10:00 at night when Aldana was socializing with Hill. Moments later, Hill stabbed Aldana and went to his neighbor's house to ask for a phone call. Later, those neighbors acted as witnesses in court. However, the most crucial piece of evidence was that Aldana told an officer the name of his killer before he died.
Hill's trial started in May of this year and lasted eight days.
35-Year-Old Alfred Mahler Hospitalized After Shooting Incident at Maya Ranch
A 35-year-old is receiving medical treatment after being shot in an incident at the contentious Maya Ranch area in Cayo.
It happened between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. yesterday when Alfred Mahler was approached by a gray pickup truck and later followed along Pine Ridge Road by a red truck.
Shots were fired, hitting Mahler, while the red pickup truck fled the scene.
Police have since detained one person and seized his licensed .223 semi-automatic rifle as the investigation continues.
Now, a .223 license is not the easiest to getâ€"and in fact, they were under a moratorium until recently.
Today, we spoke via Zoom with the Chairman of the Firearms and Ammunitions Control Board about this type of weapon used in this shooting:
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of Defence
"As it relates to .223 rifles or weapons, there are various different types. There's bolt-action, there's semi-auto, there are those that could be used for a bigger gameâ€"that's why it falls under the sport hunter's license. And then there are those that are more of a range-type weapons. I don't know what type of weapon this particular case was, so I'll have to get those details."
Maya Ranch has been under dispute since January of this year as farmers are being removed from the private property they squatted on.
BDF Again Deployed on Belize City Streets - Here's Why
We also asked Usher about the return of the BDF to the Belize City streets.
We've been seeing them for the past two weeks at various hotspots.
Here's what the CEO in the Ministry of Defence said about this urban deployment:
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of Defence
"So one of the mandates of the Belize Defence Force is to provide support to civil authority in the maintenance of law and order. And basically, the Police Department did have... we made some intelligence-driven decisions based on some information that was received, where the Police Department requested our support in certain operational areas. And so we were ready and willing to do so."
Francis Usher
"The support that we provide to the Police Department stems from... all of those decisions are intelligence-driven. So when we do have certain intelligence of things that may occur and areas that we can support to minimize those occurrences, we try to help as much as possible."
Reporter
"How many soldiers are we looking at on the ground right now?"
Francis Usher
"Roughly, I wouldn't want to get into details about the numbers, but we have a steady rotation of soldiers, and it's not more than 50."
Reporter
"Okay, and are there any specific areas that you all are targeting?"
Francis Usher
"Those areas are directed by the intelligence received. It rotatesâ€"there are some that are standard patrols and others that are based on the various different pieces of information that both our intelligence cell, the Coast Guard intelligence cell, and the Belize Police Department intelligence cell receive."
Reporter
"And how long can we expect to see them on the ground?"
Francis Usher
"As long as the Police Department requires us to remain on the ground, we will do so."
Everybody's Waiitng for MOD Audit Results - Including The CEO
And when it comes to the pending Ministry of Defence audit, which was promised for this week but has now been pushed back to the end of the month, the CEO says that he has not seen any of the findings or updates as yet, but he knows that it is coming:
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of Defence
"It's ongoing. We have been... you know, we have complied with all the requests from the Office of the Auditor General. I think they're still in the process of conducting interviews. So it's ongoing at this point, and I don't have many updates other than that."
Jaleeza Roberts, 7News
"When it comes to that audit, have you all gotten any updates as yet? We know that when the Auditor General was speaking with us, she explained that she would have certain updates just so that they can make a decision. But have you all gotten any updates pertaining to that as yet?"
Francis Usher
"We have not, no. I think the updates she was speaking to were the various preliminary reports, and I don't think any of those preliminary reports have been finalized as yet."
Jaleeza Roberts
"Okay, and do you have any idea when you can expect to see them?"
Francis Usher
"No, I know that in some interviews the Auditor General had mentioned close to the end of this month would be the first preliminary report, I believe is what she said, but I don't have any confirmation of that."
Belize's Currency Peg: Celebrating 50 Years of Stability
Yesterday, we reported on the 50th anniversary of the Belize dollar's peg to the U.S. dollarâ€"a landmark decision that ushered in half a century of monetary stability.
To mark this golden anniversary, the Central Bank hosted a commemorative event at the Fort George.
Courtney Menzies has the story:
Fifty years ago, Belize made a historic decision. In the face of economic instability as the then British Honduras dollar faced devaluation, the choice was made to peg it to the U.S. dollar. At the Central Bank's commemorative ceremony yesterday, panelists reflected on that decision by first going back to the colonial government's 1949 decision:
Emory Ford, Chief Economist, Central Bank of Belize
"Sterling's devaluation on 18 September 1949 exposed a structural mismatch. The currency was pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, but its reserves were held largely in sterling."
Emory Ford
"On 31st December 1949, the British Honduras dollar was devalued by 30% from 1 U.S. dollar to 70 U.S. cents and linked to sterling at 4 British Honduras dollars to 1 pound sterling. This realignment ended the direct U.S. dollar peg and brought the currency's external value closer to its sterling reserve base. It also reduced purchasing power, increase the cost of imports from the U.S., and demonstrated that devaluation carry both monetary and political consequences."
Emory Ford
"Because the Belize dollar moved with sterling, its implied value against the U.S. dollar also weakened. Belize, therefore, face a defining policy choice: remain tied to an increasingly unstable sterling anchor, or link directly to the U.S. dollar."
Emory Ford
"Belize made that choice on 11th May 1976."
Since then, the Belize dollar has been pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 2:1 ratio, strengthening confidence in the economy and investment. Keynote speaker, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, spoke about what that peg has done for the country:
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"Few countries can point to five decades of uninterrupted exchange rate stability. The Belize dollar peg has remained a cornerstone of our monetary system. Its value extends beyond economicsâ€"stability create confidence, confidence creates and encourages investment, investment supports businesses, business create jobs, and jobs help improve the quality of life of all our people. Predictability provided by the peg has been important for households planning for future, businesses planning their operations, exporters and importers conducting trade, and investors making long-term commitments to Belize. It has helped create an environment where economic activity can flourish with greater certainty."
He then commended the Central Bank for its part in safeguarding Belize's precious currency peg, ensuring economic stability:
Cordel Hyde
"This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated stewardship of the Central Bank of Belize. For five decades, the bank has remained steadfast in its mission. It has worked tirelessly to safeguard the value of our currency and preserve confidence in our financial system."
Cordel Hyde
"Today, the Belize dollar peg stands as more than economic policyâ€"it has become a symbol of prudence, resilience, and continuity. It reflects our nation's commitment to responsible economic stewardship and demonstrates that stability is itself a strategic national asset."
Belize Delegation Didn't Walk Out During Israeli Prime Minister's UN General Assembly Speech
Scores of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall in protest today as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to address the general debate of the 81st session.
But did Belize join the walkout? CEO Oscar Arnold told us Belize simply didn't have anyone from the delegation in the hall when the walkout happened. He said that Belize's small diplomatic team had three other bilaterals that the delegation had to split up to attend.
Belize officially suspended its diplomatic relations with Israel in November 2023 due to the military conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is one of only three countries in the Americas to do so.
Former Mayor Darrell Bradley Discusses UDP Leadership Ambitions on Uncut
Last night, former Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley appeared on Uncut with Jules Vasquez, and the conversation was about his future in the UDP.
Does he intend to run, and will he eventually want to become party leader? Well, after almost 90 minutes of dancing around the subject, Jules finally got him to say he would be ready to lead the UDP:
Darrell Bradley, Former UDP Mayor
"If it wereâ€"we're speculatingâ€"if it were that you would announce that all things change, Darrell Bradley emerges as the leader of the United Democratic Party, no conflict, no challenge. Darrell Bradley emerges, I guarantee you that things will change immediately. You will be seeing that the party will be on a different trajectory."
Darrell Bradley
"What I'm saying is I am an option. I am not saying that I am the correct option, I'm not saying that you have to go with this, but I'm saying that this is an option out there and I know that this can work because we've done it before. The UDP has done it before, and I have done it before, and we can bring this country to the point of reform, and we can deliver a victory in the 2030 election."
Darrell Bradley Asserts Readiness to Return from Canada to Re-enter Belizean Politics
But how is he so sure that 2030 is enough time? Bradley is living and studying in Canada—and his family is also there. But he says he is ready to stay and fight:
Darrell Bradley, Former UDP Mayor
"I can guarantee you that the United Democratic Party can win in 2030. We can be unified, and we don't need that much time. I've seen countries in the Caribbean that put it together in an 8-month period—I'm not saying that we will cut it so close to an election, but we can bring the party together under any leader."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Tracy Panton?"
Darrell Bradley
"Yes."
Darrell Bradley
"I am prepared to stay in the fight. I know other people who are staying in the fight."
Jules Vasquez
"But how can you say you are prepared to stay in the fight and you are living in Canada?"
Darrell Bradley
"I am studying, Jules, so you will fault me for that? I've studied before. I've lived in St. Louis when I was in my twenties for four years—you're gonna fault me for that? So what I'm saying is we are in the fight. I'm in Belize talking to Jules Vasquez, number 1 on Uncut, and we're talking about a change and transformation in Belize because we believe in the country."
Former Mayor Darrell Bradley Weighs Options on Electoral Constituency
But if Bradley was to return, where would he run? Well, getting an answer on that one was also not easy. Would he go back into Caribbean Shores, where he lost by 50 votes in 2015?
He refused to make a commitment on any constituency:
Darrell Bradley, Former UDP Mayor
"To say that our political system is difficult is challenging; to say that it's gonna be very difficult for me to get elected is to give me no information whatsoever. I know that that's going to be difficult, I've already made up my mind that that's gonna be a challenge, and I'm prepared to undertake that challenge. But what I'm saying is that the conversation—and part of the strategy and approach, and what I bring to the conversation—is talking about a broader reform. And I think that this is the place for the United Democratic Party in the conversation. The UDP can center itself as a reform-oriented party, which is what we need."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Do you see yourself returning to the UDP in Caribbean Shores?"
Darrell Bradley
"I don't necessarily know in Caribbean Shores, but most definitely. It's always been my desire from I was very young..."
Jules Vasquez
"Most definitely as an electoral candidate?"
Darrell Bradley
"Of course."
Jules Vasquez
"As a standard bearer?"
Darrell Bradley
"Certainly. It's always been my desire to be in electoral politics, and one of the things I realized when I was Mayor is that change comes from the top."
Darrell Bradley Addresses Money Politics and His Mayoral Legacy
But is the former Mayor ready to play money politics? He says that many people fondly remember the rewards of his days as mayor:
Darrell Bradley, Former UDP Mayor
"When I walk past City Hall, people always... 'Mayor, I remember when Christmas time I got my bonus,' 'Mayor, I remember when I got my raise,' 'Mayor, I remember when this'—people remember that because they know leadership that really is about people, and that's what we need and that is lacking in our country."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"But every deliverable that you have discussed, every deliverable that you have delivered costs money. So while you pretend to be a money-agnostic, you don't believe in the politics of money, you have to accept that what people remember... what people remember is when you put the iron in their hand, when you come with the strength."
Darrell Bradley
"But there are differences in relation to the kind of dependency politics that you're talking about and the kind of empowerment politics that I'm talking about."
Belize Port Authority Hosts Educational Expo for International Maritime Day
September 24th marks International Maritime Day, celebrated this year under the theme "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence." Spearheaded by the International Maritime Organization, the initiative focuses on the practical application of cutting-edge technology and enhanced safety protocols across the industry.
To observe the occasion, the Belize Port Authority partnered with key stakeholders across the domestic maritime sector to host an educational expo at Swift Hall. Jomarie Lanza filed this report
Belize is holding an educational expo as a way to inform the public and students about the importance of the maritime sector and the work that they do.
Belize Port Authority's Ports Commissioner says the expo features a partnership with a dozen other stakeholders:
Kaylon Young, Ports Commissioner, Belize Port Authority
"The expo... not just about the Port Authority or the... or the maritime administration, but it is about all the stakeholders who play part in the maritime sector. We are looking at the port operators, the water taxi operators, and so we have all of them here to share knowledge to the students, to the people coming in, to explain to them what the maritime is and what service they offer and how can they benefit from the maritime sector. The water taxi operators, we use them daily, and so to see how they are promoting safety aboard their vessels for those who travel back and forth to the Cayes and stuff like that."
There are numerous opportunities that lie within the maritime sector, and they hope to spark an interest in the youths to explore those opportunities:
Kaylon Young
"So one of the reasons why we wanted to have students here is because a lot of the... the things that are not taught in schools, and so we want to show them that there is more beyond what we see, and the maritime sector is broad, but it is not just another job outlet. And so a lot of people are unaware of the sector, so I would encourage students to go home, Google the maritime sector, talk to people who work in the maritime sector, talk to people about vessels, about safety, get intrigued. Get involved with it and be interns at some of these organizations, learn about it, and I'll tell you, it will spark their minds. And we encourage them to get on board vessels. Eventually, we can have them working on board ships to be seafarers, to be captains, to be engineers, but we want them to understand that there is an opportunity for this and that there are Belizeans that can do this."
Those career pathways also extend to key entities like IMMARBE, where the Managing Director highlighted the diverse professional opportunities available within the maritime sector:
Abilio Dominguez, Managing Director, IMMARBE
"IMMARBE basically deals with the registration of ships for the international trade. We also deal with compliance, governance, international maritime conventions, and seafarers' certification."
Abilio Dominguez
"IMMARBE is a very diverse team. We have in our office... we have engineers, we have lawyers, we have former seafarers, we have administrators, we have fisheries biologists, marine biologists. There is a wide range in a field of opportunities for people at IMMARBE. What we want to do this Maritime Week is to encourage the young people to consider a career at sea. We have also a project for the future where we want to establish here in Belize a training center for seafarers so they can opt to work at sea on ships or particularly in the cruise industry."
Investment Ministry Donates 100 Refurbished Computers and VR Welding Systems in Corozal
100 refurbished desktop computers donated by the Ministry of Investment in partnership with Transparent BPO were donated to five schools today in Corozal Town.
St. Paul's Anglican, Church of Christ, Christiline Gill, Assemblies of God, and Corozal Nazarene Primary School each received 20 desktops.
The Investment Policy and Compliance Unit within the Ministry also donated four state-of-the-art MIG welding virtual reality training systems to the Corozal ITVET.
The unit's director explained more:
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