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 are two days away from finding out who will win the nomination as the PUP's Mayoral Candidate: Allan Pollard or Eluide Miller.
775 delegates from the 10 city constituencies will choose one mayoral candidate and 10 councilor candidates from a field of 19.
It's being predicted as one of the most hotly contested conventions in recent PUP history, and the outcome could be widely divisive. That's because national political figures are spearheading the campaigns of the key mayoral candidates-namely Cordel Hyde for Pollard and Anthony Mahler for Miller.
We spoke with both mayoral aspirants today and this is what they said:
Reporter "How are you feeling with the upcoming convention?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "I'm feeling good, very excited, to be honest. I'm really looking forward, uh, to Sunday and all that it will bring. I think it's a really defining moment for Belize City, um, but it's absolutely been a sprint, right? It's been a hectic 3 to 4 weeks of campaigning. Meeting with delegates, uh, at their workplace, in their homes, uh, in the communities. Uh, and so I feel very excited about Sunday."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Feeling good, feeling excited. Um, usual nervousness that comes with any election, um, but overall excited and just want to get to the polls and get the job done."
Reporter "What's your prediction for Sunday?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Well, I would want to bet on myself, right? I think we all get in, uh, we all are candidates in the race and we're all hoping to win. Um, and for me, it's about really putting the work, putting in the work. And I am confident that I have put in the work over the past couple of weeks I have really taken the approach that I want to see all the delegates of our party face to face, and so I have been on the ground sometimes 12, 14, 16 hours a day meeting with delegates. I feel that as a mayoral candidate, the least that I can do is to look them in the face and ask them for their support, communicate my vision to them, share some ideas and some plans that I have for the city with them."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "All right, definitely, definitely a win for me. Um, that's how I feel. Um, that's the reception that we have out there and that's what we're hoping for. Um, as long as the people, they come out and support the people that have pledged, the people that have expressed their concerns to us and expressed their support, once they come out and do the right thing, then I think we're, we're positive."
Reporter "We know that machinery is a big deal and you're not new to the political arena, so you know that. How have you been able to mobilize persons to be on the campaign trail for you over the past 4 weeks?"
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "I think this one is a rather interesting one because it's an internal convention, so I A lot of the machinery is left up to the area reps to mobilize their people and the standard bearers. But most importantly, I think everyone sees the importance of this convention. They know that the person that is elected in this convention will be the person that will ultimately shape the future of Belize City. And so for that alone, I think there's enough incentive for people to come out and participate. So that, that helps with the machinery, certainly."
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Yeah, well, machinery is a huge part of your election day. I must say that I'm grateful that I have the support of quite a few persons from across several constituencies that have joined on to my team, and so they are really running the machinery side of the campaign. Of course, as I shared earlier, my approach has been to see each delegate personally, and so that's where my focus has been. But I must thank all those on my team, and they know who they are, um, for really helping me along and putting in the necessary work to ensure that we have the best, best possible chance at victory come Sunday."
Reporter "When it comes to campaign finances, that is also a challenge. How have you been able to garner enough money, you know, to really go out and put your best foot forward?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Yeah, it's really been mostly, um, family and friends. Of course, you know, this is quite what people perceive to be a contentious convention, and there's a lot of people with their vested interest. But I, I must say that I'm really grateful for the support that I've gotten from, you know, my circle, my closest family and friends, whether it be them trying to, to support me in purchasing t-shirts or flyers, etc. It really takes a village at the end of the day, and I'm so, I'm really grateful to my closest family and friends for always being willing to contribute and for putting their support behind me, not only in showing up on convention day but with resources as well."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Well, we have expressed, um, from the onset that we're the humble side, though, we're the leaner side in terms of campaign. We don't have the monies that the other side is spending, but, um, we got a lot of love, right? And we have a lot of support out here, and the people relationship that we have with the people, that has been taking us so far. Um, so for me, um, I know, you know, I'm not in a money race with anybody. I'm in a race to ensure that we elect the best possible candidate for the mayoral, um, for the mayoral seat."
Reporter "We know, for example, you have Lake I on your side, but your opponent has Pickstock on his side. Um, holding together the scores of delegates is next to impossible. Do you believe that there will be any delegate theft?"
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "No, no, no, I wouldn't call it delegate theft. I mean, there's no sides in this thing. I think all everyone in these constituencies are Belizean, Belize City residents at the end of the day. So, um, I don't see- I think there will be people from both sides getting votes from both sides, so I don't see it that way. Um, I think we just have to ensure that we come out, um, get the message to the people, them, and obviously ensure that they vote at the end of the day."
Reporter "We know, for example, that Lake I is with Allan and Pickstock is with you, but holding together scores of delegates is next to impossible. Um, do you believe that there will be any delegate theft?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "I, I wouldn't want to say so. I think what is important here is the delegates of our party, and that is why I have made a significant effort to ensure that I speak to as much delegates as I can. Um, I have been able to reach, I would say, well over 85-90% of the delegates, and I've spoken to them on a face-to-face basis, and I think that's what will really count at the end of the day. And so I'm trusting that the conversations I've had with them, my vision that I have communicated to them, um, that, that will, you know, hold significance come Sunday more than any, um, allegiances or anything of that sort."
Reporter "You need 388 delegates to win, to secure this mayoral seat for the People's United Party. In your playbook, how are you seeing things turning out?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "Yeah, well, again, um, as I shared earlier, we all participate in this process to win. And so my team and I, we have come up with what we find to be the winning formula. And so I would say that we're right around, right around that number at this time. But of course, you know, things change every day in politics, right? And so we will be working as hard as we can right up until the polls open on Sunday."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "You're never too sure in elections, but we have made sure to reach the number that is, um, satisfied, satisfying to us. Um, ultimately though, we have reached, um, all the delegates, so, um, I think that is important and just have to ensure that they come out and do the right thing."
The convention starts at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday at the ITVET and we will have live coverage from start to finish.
The NTUCB escalated protest actions today following continued silence from the Prime Minister's office in response to the union's formal demands.
Today, they held a mini protest-which they call an agitation-outside of the Social Security Board during the lunch hour.
It was only a handful of protesters but their main goal is to let the Government know that they're not backing down. Courtney Menzies was there and has this story.
It's been 10 days since the NTUCB held its press conference where they listed several demands, and four days since they formally wrote to the PM. Within that week, the PM jetted off to Honduras for an official visit, returned to Belize, and less than 24 hours later was on another flight, this time to Ireland on personal leave.
And in that time he has not responded to the NTUCB. The President says they consider that a disrespect and so they are ramping up the agitation.
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB "Along with the President of the Christian Workers Union, we had asked our members at the Social Security Board to come out and support the 11 demands of the NTUCB. We're starting to do these impromptu acts of agitation for lack of a better word to ensure the Government knows that we're trying to bring awareness and also to add pressure because as we mentioned before, we have not gotten any response from the Cabinet or from the Prime Minister to our demands, we have not gotten any response as of 11:00 today when I first checked my phone. So we're very concerned that they have just been disregarding us disrespecting us and that's not what we call social dialogue or ensuring that we're continuing to be stakeholders and partners in the issues of this country."
Reporter "How do you feel that after he came back from Honduras, he left out again without so much as a word to you guys?"
Ella Waight: "I think that is very disrespectful. He always says we're stakeholders, we're partners, it can't be just words, it has to be actions. Even if he knew he was going to leave the country, he has a Deputy Prime Minister, he has an entire Cabinet, someone could have reached out to us and said the Prime Minister will be out of the country, please give us a couple more days and we can meet, that was not done. That is disrespect. When the Prime Minister asks us to go to a meeting, we attend that meeting."
And this mini protest included some members of CWU. The President explained that they're on board for whatever action may follow.
Reporter "When you talk to your membership and what's been going on and the possibility of further agitation, what are the kind of vibes you're getting?"
Leonora Flowers, President, CWU "Everybody is very concerned and I would say Belizeans will talk behind and hide our hands but people are very concerned, our members are very concerned what's happening, we know the electricity issue gave us a great concern over the past week, the Government has to answer, what's going to happen to us in this country when we cannot afford to pay our bills when our bills go from $50 to $150, what's going to us? And these are the members that are working, when you think about the people out there who don't have that specific job to go to, we in the office have a specific job and we are complaining and feeling the pinch, what happens to the people out there who are laborers who are suffering too?"
Reporter "So if it comes to the point of protesting and demonstrations, your membership is ready?"
Leonora Flowers: "I would say yes we are."
And while some may think that these little acts of defiance won't have a big impact, the Union Senator explained that to get to "2005" there needs to be momentum.
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator "It's interesting because the first time we stood here on this BTL issue right over here I said I am starting to feel 2005, that's how many months ago when the Opposition party members went to that bridge and blocked it because they held Yellowman. 2005 we refer to it like a singular period, it's not, what has to happen like 2003 there were tax measures and the society starts coming together, little blocks start to form, you mention the bus owners, we are in communication with Mr. Jones to ensure that they are-because you see, I want to take some time to deal with the bus owners, two sentences. Those people aren't asking for fuel subsidy for themselves. When they can't operate, it's the people who can't afford a car, can't come to work. So you have to really watch the spin-off effects on regular workers. So I want to get back to your question, I know you think it was a lot of talk but this is what has to happen, there has to be a groundswell and I think we are ripe for making 2005 look like pappisho."
But the NTUCB President is hoping it doesn't get to that point-however, that 90-day deadline is quickly ticking away.
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB "If that does not work to get the much-needed attention from the Government it will then lead to what we hope would not be another 2005. As the President of NTUCB and my sister can speak for herself, we would not want that, because we have learned from ILO, International Labor Organizations, for us to progress as a nation with workers and employers and Government, we have to have social dialogue so we promote social dialogue to discuss these issues and to get solutions."
Reporter "But overall you're still giving Government that 90-day window?"
Ella Waight: "Well the 90-day window was to see some kind of activity to reach those goals and those demands, it was not for him to wait to meet us and I'm happy that he did say he was open for discussion, not in those exact words, but he said something to that effect so we were happy for that, we're going to get these demands. He has not even reached out to us concerning meeting with us."
Following today's mini protest, the Cabinet Secretary reached out to the President of the NTUCB and explained that the PM instructed him to inform them that their demands will be taken to Cabinet on Wednesday.
Yesterday we told you about the death of 77-year-old Erlene Gillett who was fatally knocked down by a minivan while walking across the Philip Goldson Highway in front of My Lights.
The incident happened around 11:30 in the morning.
Today, the police gave us more details on that accident via Zoom.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Police have served a Notice of Intended Prosecution on a male person in connection with the ongoing investigation into a fatal road traffic accident which resulted in the death of 77-year-old Erlene Gillett, a Belizean retiree of Burrell Boom. The traffic accident occurred just before 11.30am on 27 August 2026 in the vicinity of Mile 2 on the Philip Goldson Highway. What the investigation has shown so far is that Gillett was struck by a Dodge caravan which was being driven by the stated male person as she was attempting to cross the highway. The motor vehicle has since been impounded as a part of the ongoing investigation and a urine sample has been obtained from the driver."
Gillett was the mother of three children and many grandchildren. We'll keep following the case to let you know when charges are brought.
After 92 days behind bars, Trinidadian national 46-year-old Rubindra Rampersad is free after paying the bill he racked up at Golden Bay Hotel back in May.
As you'll remember, he owed Golden Bay over $11,000 for the month he stayed there. He was intercepted at the airport and later charged and remanded to prison.
But this morning, the charge was dismissed after Rampersad managed to pay the bill.
However, he says that the story is all wrong. He claims he was recruited as a procurement specialist for the Millennium Challenge Account Belize, which deals with the funds received as part of the MCC agreement with the US. Here's how he explained it to court reporter Anita Nembhard.
Rubindra Rampersad, Freed After 92 Days "I think a lot of people are unaware of what really happened when I came to Belize to work with a company called the Millennium Challenge Account Belize which is a Government organization. I was recruited and I was promised relocation support of up to $5,000 US. And I was promised reimbursement of the costs because I paid for my own flight but when I got here, MCA Belize did not provide any financial support which left me unable to support myself in a country that I knew no one and during a state of emergency so I was in a really difficult place but the staff at Golden Bay did allow me to stay there for an extended period of time and I do thank them for that. I'm not a scammer, I came here to work and I came here with good intentions but unfortunately that didn't happen."
"I arrived in Belize on May 1st which was a holiday and I went into the offices of MCA Belize located at the Atlantic Insurance Building on May 4th and I asked them for my employment agreement and I asked them to reimburse me for my costs which was the cost of my flight which was about $900 US and they refused to reimburse me and they refused to give me an employment agreement and made it impossible for me to work with them."
"The people that I've met have been incredibly kind and very supportive and I think that the Belizeans are resilient people and they're a generous people and even though my experience wasn't the best I would love to come back to Belize someday."
Rampersad then lamented the treatment he received in prison, even claiming some of his constitutional rights were breached.
Rubindra Rampersad, Freed After 92 Days "I've never been arrested before so prison is not something I'm used to so it was a bit of a shock and there are things you experience that could be quite traumatizing and will haunt you for instance intimate searches where you are stripped and you are searched, I've never had to go through that before so that was really a difficult experience for me. I was forced to sleep on concrete beds with no bedding and for 18 days my constitutional rights were denied. I was denied access to legal advice, I was denied access to inform someone of my whereabouts, I could not inform my family or my consulate that I was in prison and as a result of that my family reaching out to the authorities in Trinidad and asked them to look into my whereabouts because I was missing and they had not heard from me. My mom's 79th birthday was on June 7th and I've never missed her birthday and when I did everybody knew that something was wrong."
Rampersad was represented by attorney Darrell Bradley.
It's an incident that started with a dispute over a hot dog from a street vendor. And today, UDP Street Soldier, Brian Audinett, better known as "Yellowman," pleaded guilty to aggravated assault upon a police officer and was spared a custodial sentence, after changing his plea to guilty in the Belize City Magistrate's Court.
Audinett appeared in court today, where he asked for a sentencing indication which stated that a conviction could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $3,000.
With that Audinett pleaded guilty to assaulting Police Constable Kevin Laing following a January 2026 incident at a King Street food cart. The altercation began over a disputed $20 bill with a vendor, escalating until Audinett allegedly used profanity and slapped the officer's hand away.
As a first-time offender, Audinett was spared jail time and instead fined $500. Outside the court, "Yellowman" made his position clear, saying he would take a fine "any day" over spending time behind bars:
Reporter "Why did you change you plea to guilty?"
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: "I am not into that up and down every minute at court over and over and over and over, I have things to do."
Reporter "You got a fine?"
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: "Yes I got a fine 500 dollars and I will take that over prison any day, I am not worrying about that at all. I am tired of being up and down at court."
Reporter "If you could do anything different, what would you do different about that night?"
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: "That won't happen again, I am innocent you know but the truth is that I can't be up and down in court every day every day so it's better I just crush that and done. Directly they find me guilty because sometimes you know how the court wants to rule as they find you guilty it's a different story."
Reporter "So Yellow won't take no chance?"
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: "I will not take any chance so I just plead guilty and done."
Reporter "Because you heard also under the act you're facing 5 years."
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: "Yea, 5 years why you think I asked the magistrate what will be the sentence if I plead guilty because I need to know once I hear fine right away it's guilty."
A prison inmate has succumbed to his injuries after trying to take his own life one week ago.
Jorge Rodriguez hanged himself inside his cell one week ago. He was a Central American immigrant reportedly being held for unlawful entry charges. He was reportedly despondent because he had served his time but was still being held.
He was hospitalized in critical condition and succumbed yesterday.
A prison representative says that they have doubled counseling over the past 2-3 weeks.
Tonight, Santander Farms is showing us their closed-loop canals up close so as to eliminate the speculation about their farming practices.
On August 3rd the fish kill in the Belize River Valley was reported and many showed a map that showed canals running through Santander Farms which led to Labouring Creek which would in turn discharge runoff into the Belize River. But we saw for ourselves that in fact, Santander is on a flat plain which sits below Labouring Creek.
Here's what the COO at Santander Farms had to say about their closed-loop system that includes the canals:
Juan Cruz, COO - Santander Farms "So a closed-loop system is because we lie on a flat land, it's how the natural terrain is made, we have different systems of canals, main canals, secondary canals, and third-party canals, and they are totally separate from each other. So we have a closed-grid canal that manages the factory effluents, that's the closed-grid canal. It's very important to note that the factory only runs in the dry season, because it's the only possible way where you can harvest the sugarcane, and whenever we are harvesting the sugarcane, this closed-grid canal permits us or leaves us to lead this effluent to the surrounding crops, where it's irrigated to the field, because it has a very positive benefit to the crop, as it brings back the nutrients that were taken off during the harvest and the processing of the sugarcane, and also in the process of doing it, we aerate this effluent with the sprinklers in our irrigation systems."
Reporter "When it comes to the canals leading to the Belize River, can you explain that canal?"
Juan Cruz: "So we have a big grid of canals that lead to one single effluent point, that's very important to mention, we have one single effluent point, because as I said before, the natural slope of the area, all of the water heads to the east side of our property, where we are located at here, you can see three canals that come from totally different directions and they all flow to the same direction, and they all lead into here. It's important to mention that all of our canals are designed and created with an RTK technology with a zero slope, and they all lead naturally here, this is something that was required for us in our ECP, and it's also something that makes it way easier to closely monitor all the water that is going to the Belize River."
Reporter "Did you guys get permits for the canal that leads to the Belize River?"
Juan Cruz: "The canal was opened, if I recall, around 11 years ago, there was some controversy on the canal when it was opened, but it's something that is way past, behind, and we do have a permit, and we have cleaned it once, it was last year, and every time that we get in, it's because we have the proper clearance of the Department of Environment in order to get into that property, so yes, we do have a permit to have this canal."
We will have more on this story in Monday's newscast.
The investigation into the death of Samuel Chi remains open, weeks after his body was found at sea on August 4, roughly 36 hours after he and Albert Vacarro were reported missing during a fishing trip. A postmortem established that Chi died from asphyxia due to drowning, but police say the manner of death remains undetermined. ASP Stacy Smith says investigators have conducted follow-up interviews with Vacarro, who maintains that he cannot remember what happened:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Yes the cause of death was determined, I disclosed that at the last occasion, the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning however I must state that notwithstanding that the cause of death has been concluded and drowning the manner of death remains outstanding and that is the reason why the investigation is ongoing. I know on the last occasion I had advised that I would speak with the investigator, I have done so and what they have advised me is that they brought in Mr. Vacarro and sought to have follow-up interviews with him, however his position remains pretty much the same in that he cannot recollect however the investigation is not closed, I was advised that somebody had stated that they would have provided some kind of information and that angle is being pursued and as more development is made, the media will be advised."
Tonight, after weeks of silence, the Police Department says it is closing in on a group believed to be behind a series of robberies occurring at scattered locations across the country. According to the department, investigators have identified a pattern and deployed a special team and intelligence operations, which police say have already yielded results:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "What I will say without getting into too much of the specifics is the Department is cognizant of these incidents and we have noted that there's a level of organization. We have deployed several intelligence apparatus and those have proven successful and it will be a matter of time because we do believe that it may be persons who have committed these incidents in the past that continue to commit it and I will also say that regrettably it would want to appear that there is some level of assistance being provided by some members of an organized department."
"Suffice to say the Department is cognizant of the issues, we have deployed a special team to look at these incidents inroads are being made and as I stated it is a matter of time before those persons will be brought to be held accountable."
Reporter "Being that it's in scattered locations that this is happening, do you believe that it's one group of people that are committing these crimes?"
ASP Stacy Smith: "I cannot say that there's a nexus between all the incidents but we have noticed a pattern so yes there is a particular group that we are looking at and as I stated we strongly believe that it's a matter of time before that group would be brought to justice."
Yesterday we also asked the top cop what it's been like working with his new Minister, Julius Espat.
Espat took over as the interim Minister of Home Affairs on June 22, 2026.
So what have the two months been like? Rosado said that Espat has a balanced way of policing:
Richard Rosado, ComPol "With any other minister, they come with different perspectives and their perspectives challenge our assumption of how we do policing. It allows us to create better policing strategies in policing our communities. I do believe that our Minister supports a balanced approach where we have effective policing along with targeted social intervention programs. Because we do believe that if we have a balanced approach, it will not only suppress crime today, but it will prevent crime from happening tomorrow."
The Belize Tax Service hosted an expo today for business owners and entrepreneurs to learn more about electronic invoicing-which will be implemented under the new Revenue Authority Bill.
The event was full to more than capacity-a good indication of the urgency businesses feel about the sweeping new initiative.
I was there with the crowd and found out what answers businesses were looking for:
"E-Invoicing from a Conversation to a Reality" was the theme of today's Belize Tax Service's E-Invoicing Solutions Expo.
The event drew a strong turnout of business owners, entrepreneurs, and service providers eager to learn more about the new system. Attendees engaged with seven featured solution providers to get a sense for how it will work.
The Director General for the Belize Tax Service explained how this approach will enable them to phase in the E-invoices:
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service "Over the past twelve months we have been having sensitization sessions we have been having our pilot project we have been working with businesses and solution providers to bring us where we are today so today is about us BTS saying to taxpayers this is what you need to have in place to be prepared for when E-invoicing comes on stream the solution providers here today are here to showcase the solution that forms a bridge between a business accounting system and Vertex Belize the E-invoicing system, today we offer the opportunity for taxpayers, businesses to ask the questions, get comfortable, know what they need to have in place this is the time for us to support them this is the voluntary phase so the voluntary phase starts now, the mandatory phase starts next year so we want to use this period for them to prepare so there is no, next year you hear you have to put it in place no we want to support you through the process so it is a phased approach."
E-invoices provide the Tax Department with the same invoices businesses issue but in a standardized, electronic format. It works only for business-to-business transactions, not for business-to-consumer transactions, and it also reduces a paper trail. Longsworth explained what has worked in the past may not be feasible anymore.
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service "Presently the tax system is retrospective meaning that you file your return you issue invoices and maybe 6 years later the tax department comes in and says we are going to do an audit 6 years ago you have to provide to us all those invoices that you issued 6 years ago what happens then? They have to go into their store rooms maybe the paper has deteriorated maybe they were using some electronic format but that format is an old system so you have many reasons why there are delays with them. This is why for us as a tax administration to have those real-time which then lessens the need to do audits on all businesses and then we are able to identify audits or validations that we need to do based on risk."
Longsworth says that by the following year most, if not all businesses should already have phased in their E-invoice filing.
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service "Well I don't want to say deadline, we have an anticipated timeline of March 2027 but I need to be clear that does not mean that if a large taxpayer is not ready in 2027 that would mean that they would be penalized so I need to make that very clear it means that we will continue to support those taxpayers to ensure that they understand what it is that they need to have in place in order to meet the needs of E-invoicing so we start now 2026 it gives you enough time but we will not let go of your hands come 2027 we will continue to provide that support."
But the fact is that e-invoicing is often conflated with the Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority, known as SARA. Director General Michelle Longsworth detailed the difference between SARA and E-invoicing.
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service "We need to understand something, electronic invoice and move to the Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority are two different modernization issues so whether we move to a SARA or not, electronic invoice is still another step to modernize the way you do business with the tax administration in the whole aspect of moving to a digital economy it is totally different."
Reporter: "And are there any challenges identified that SARA would address? Moving to an autonomous system would address?"
Michelle Longsworth: "So SARA is looking at the workforce that will support all the reform initiatives that we have undertaken over the past 7 years because that's how long we have been modernizing the tax administration. So when you look at the different areas of specialization and let me be clear here, specialization is not about our audit section or large taxpayers section it is about the new way the tax landscape is evolving, whether it is data analytics whether it is forensic auditing, whether it is risk-based auditing whether it is international cooperation because we have a lot of international obligations that we have to ensure that we meet, we need to ensure that our staff continues to evolve and also that we have the opportunity to ensure that they have opportunities within the organization to grow, to shift and to grow so the SARA provides opportunities for staff that already exists within the BTS."
Longsworth also spoke about this month's tax-free weekends. They happened on August 15th and again tomorrow, the 29th-timed to ease expenses for families preparing for back to school.
Longsworth says this year is special because they also included laptops in the back-to-school tax-free benefits.
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service "Tax-Free Weekend is always a good thing for the Belizean populace I think it is something that people now look forward to businesses anticipate now that it is going to be there so they make sure that they check with us early in the year to say are you sure that it will be in August? And I think that our Belizean people make the most of it and I think this year was extremely special because we added in laptops."
"And that was something that people ask for and Government said yes let's add that in because now we are moving to that digital stage, children have to take laptops to school and they need it so I think it is an ongoing thing that we should look forward to as Belizeans."
Last week, Belizeans rang a loud, collective alarm after many saw a major spike in their light bills.
One consumer, Demmy Williams, told us she had been out of the country and the only appliance plugged in was her refrigerator, yet her bill remained the same as if she were at home using everything.
Well, today she got the bill for August and noticed that it was significantly less. We spoke to her about it over the phone.
Voice of: Demmy Williams, Consumer "It is considerably less than it was the previous month and I haven't been home. So I don't know what magic has happened where the bill is 50 something dollars less than what they told me it was the previous month, but I mean I'm not complaining about $35 but it's like the juxtaposition between you telling me I use $84 worth of electricity and I wasn't home and now you're doubling back and it's actually $35 the following month. It's kind of crazy, but it's not even just that bill because I also pay my mom's light bill and her bill with just her being there by herself is also considerably less."
"So I don't know what's going on, what they changed. I'm not complaining about a cheaper bill but it's like how interesting that all of a sudden now the bill is what it should be."
Reporter "Right, so do you think it was like this public pressure and all of this outcry that you know BEL, I don't know what they did but that that resulted in lower bills?"
Voice of: Demmy Williams, Consumer "It's all too convenient, that the minute the people took to every form of media to complain about it and we were very critical of them that all of a sudden the numbers start numbering because I created a post on on Facebook. I read the comment section and other people are saying the same thing that oh now their bill look like it's the correct amount. It's reflecting what they what they would normally use this time of year. So I mean BEL of course they will refute it till the cows come home."
"I'm sure they'll never change their narrative, but it's all too convenient that after a wave of complaints all of a sudden now the bills look okay."
Reporter "So this bill that you got now that's for August?"
Voice of: Demmy Williams, Consumer "Yes that is August, but I have not been in that unit since June."
Reporter "Right and the previous bill was for July?"
Voice of: Demmy Williams, Consumer "Yes and that was the $84."
Reporter "So literally nothing changed at all with your household?"
Voice of: Demmy Williams, Consumer "Nothing has changed. No nothing has changed. People was telling me oh well remember you still have your refrigerator plugged in? It's still plugged in."
"The wi-fi is still plugged in the same way. Everything that's plugged out is plugged out. No one has been has crossed that threshold. It's locked."
More than 350 schoolchildren received school bags filled with essential supplies yesterday as the Belize Police Department, Crime Stoppers Belize, the Leadership Intervention Unit and the Rotary Club of Belize joined forces for a back-to-school initiative.
Jaleeza Roberts reports on the effort that targeted primary and high schoolers:
Also in line with back-to-school prep, the Belize Coast Guard was out in Battlefield Park today offering free haircuts and braiding for children, ensuring they are properly groomed to return to school.
Their Lieutenant Commander, Ardon Budna says that his officers are putting their other skills to work today, as barbers and hairdressers. He says they have had quite the clientele.
Between Monday and Thursday, the Guardsmen cut and braided the heads of 400 children countrywide.
Last night capped off four wild nights of soca, sweat, and show-stopping designs-Mas Camp 2026 officially went out at maximum volume as Belize's carnival bands made their final showcase before the road march.
We take a look at Titans and defending champions Soca Mocha:
Night 4 wraps tonight with senior bands Soca Mocha and Titans.
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Tonight, we are two days away from finding out who will win the nomination as the PUP's Mayoral Candidate: Allan Pollard or Eluide Miller.
"I'm feeling good, very excited, to be honest. I'm really looking forward, uh, to Sunday and all that it will bring. I think it's a really defining moment for Belize City, um, but it's absolutely been a sprint, right? It's been a hectic 3 to 4 weeks of campaigning. Meeting with delegates, uh, at their workplace, in their homes, uh, in the communities. Uh, and so I feel very excited about Sunday."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant
The NTUCB escalated protest actions today following continued silence from the Prime Minister's office in response to the union's formal demands.
"Along with the President of the Christian Workers Union, we had asked our members at the Social Security Board to come out and support the 11 demands of the NTUCB. We're starting to do these impromptu acts of agitation for lack of a better word to ensure the Government knows that we're trying to bring awareness and also to add pressure because as we mentioned before, we have not gotten any response from the Cabinet or from the Prime Minister to our demands, we have not gotten any response as of 11:00 today when I first checked my phone. So we're very concerned that they have just been disregarding us disrespecting us and that's not what we call social dialogue or ensuring that we're continuing to be stakeholders and partners in the issues of this country."
Leonora Flowers, President, CWU
"It's interesting because the first time we stood here on this BTL issue right over here I said I am starting to feel 2005, that's how many months ago when the Opposition party members went to that bridge and blocked it because they held Yellowman. 2005 we refer to it like a singular period, it's not, what has to happen like 2003 there were tax measures and the society starts coming together, little blocks start to form, you mention the bus owners, we are in communication with Mr. Jones to ensure that they are-because you see, I want to take some time to deal with the bus owners, two sentences. Those people aren't asking for fuel subsidy for themselves. When they can't operate, it's the people who can't afford a car, can't come to work. So you have to really watch the spin-off effects on regular workers. So I want to get back to your question, I know you think it was a lot of talk but this is what has to happen, there has to be a groundswell and I think we are ripe for making 2005 look like pappisho."
Yesterday we told you about the death of 77-year-old Erlene Gillett who was fatally knocked down by a minivan while walking across the Philip Goldson Highway in front of My Lights.
"Police have served a Notice of Intended Prosecution on a male person in connection with the ongoing investigation into a fatal road traffic accident which resulted in the death of 77-year-old Erlene Gillett, a Belizean retiree of Burrell Boom. The traffic accident occurred just before 11.30am on 27 August 2026 in the vicinity of Mile 2 on the Philip Goldson Highway. What the investigation has shown so far is that Gillett was struck by a Dodge caravan which was being driven by the stated male person as she was attempting to cross the highway. The motor vehicle has since been impounded as a part of the ongoing investigation and a urine sample has been obtained from the driver."
Rubindra Rampersad, Freed After 92 Days
Brian "Yellowman" Audinett: 
Tonight, Santander Farms is showing us their closed-loop canals up close so as to eliminate the speculation about their farming practices.
"So a closed-loop system is because we lie on a flat land, it's how the natural terrain is made, we have different systems of canals, main canals, secondary canals, and third-party canals, and they are totally separate from each other. So we have a closed-grid canal that manages the factory effluents, that's the closed-grid canal. It's very important to note that the factory only runs in the dry season, because it's the only possible way where you can harvest the sugarcane, and whenever we are harvesting the sugarcane, this closed-grid canal permits us or leaves us to lead this effluent to the surrounding crops, where it's irrigated to the field, because it has a very positive benefit to the crop, as it brings back the nutrients that were taken off during the harvest and the processing of the sugarcane, and also in the process of doing it, we aerate this effluent with the sprinklers in our irrigation systems."
The investigation into the death of Samuel Chi remains open, weeks after his body was found at sea on August 4, roughly 36 hours after he and Albert Vacarro were reported missing during a fishing trip. A postmortem established that Chi died from asphyxia due to drowning, but police say the manner of death remains undetermined. ASP Stacy Smith says investigators have conducted follow-up interviews with Vacarro, who maintains that he cannot remember what happened:
"Yes the cause of death was determined, I disclosed that at the last occasion, the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning however I must state that notwithstanding that the cause of death has been concluded and drowning the manner of death remains outstanding and that is the reason why the investigation is ongoing. I know on the last occasion I had advised that I would speak with the investigator, I have done so and what they have advised me is that they brought in Mr. Vacarro and sought to have follow-up interviews with him, however his position remains pretty much the same in that he cannot recollect however the investigation is not closed, I was advised that somebody had stated that they would have provided some kind of information and that angle is being pursued and as more development is made, the media will be advised."
"With any other minister, they come with different perspectives and their perspectives challenge our assumption of how we do policing. It allows us to create better policing strategies in policing our communities. I do believe that our Minister supports a balanced approach where we have effective policing along with targeted social intervention programs. Because we do believe that if we have a balanced approach, it will not only suppress crime today, but it will prevent crime from happening tomorrow."
The Belize Tax Service hosted an expo today for business owners and entrepreneurs to learn more about electronic invoicing-which will be implemented under the new Revenue Authority Bill.
"Over the past twelve months we have been having sensitization sessions we have been having our pilot project we have been working with businesses and solution providers to bring us where we are today so today is about us BTS saying to taxpayers this is what you need to have in place to be prepared for when E-invoicing comes on stream the solution providers here today are here to showcase the solution that forms a bridge between a business accounting system and Vertex Belize the E-invoicing system, today we offer the opportunity for taxpayers, businesses to ask the questions, get comfortable, know what they need to have in place this is the time for us to support them this is the voluntary phase so the voluntary phase starts now, the mandatory phase starts next year so we want to use this period for them to prepare so there is no, next year you hear you have to put it in place no we want to support you through the process so it is a phased approach."
Last week, Belizeans rang a loud, collective alarm after many saw a major spike in their light bills.
"So I don't know what's going on, what they changed. I'm not complaining about a cheaper bill but it's like how interesting that all of a sudden now the bill is what it should be."
