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
Today, roughly 3 years and 5 months after losing their loved ones, the Ramnarace family received the justice they were seeking for the 2022 New Year's Eve murder of Jon, Vivian and David Ramnarace.
Elmer Nah was sentenced to 3 concurrent life sentences for their murder and given 18 years for the Attempted murder of Yemi Alberto.
Jaleeza Roberts sat through the approximately 1 hour court proceeding and files this report:
Today the families of Jon, Vivian and David Ramnarace received justice for the 2022 New Year's Eve triple murder. In court,
Justice Nigel Pilgrim sentenced Elmer Nah to 3 concurrent life sentences with a minimum term of 50 years which will make him eligible for parole when he is 89. Apart from the triple murder he was also sentenced for the attempted murder of Yemi Alberto for which he received 18 years.
But before he was sentenced, Nah surprised the court by asking the judge if he could speak, which the judge grudgingly granted. When he took the stand Nah said the accusation against him was "wrongful." He claimed he had identified the real person who killed the family and named that person.
It was taken on record, and the judge continued the proceedings to deliver the sentence - one of the longest seen in many years.
A stiff sentence for a convicted killer, but today when leaving court, Nah went biblical:
Elmer Nah, Sentenced for Triple Murder "Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reporter "What do you think of your attorney Mr.Nah?"
Elmer Nah, Sentenced for Triple Murder "Bogus, he sabotaged by case."
Even though they declined to speak with us on camera, Vivian's mother said that they are satisfied, which is similar to what sister Vashti Belisle said on May 29 when the court found Nah guilty:
MAY 29Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce "I am glad that justice was served especially for her today and I am proud of my sister I am very proud of her she was fearless, she was brave, very very brave and you know to God be the glory."
But even with the justice they have gotten, Vivian and Jon's daughter will never get back her parents and the family will never get back their loved ones. Together, Jon, David, and Vivian were more than victims in a high-profile criminal case; they were victims of crime whose lives touched many people in different ways, whether through environmental work, friendship, community involvement, or family bonds. Their murders transformed a joyful New Year's Eve celebration into one of the most heartbreaking crimes in Belize's recent history. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
And this triple murder shook the wider Belmopan community.
This afternoon, with some effort, we spoke with Area Representative Oscar Mira to comment on the case. He said the condition and sentence this is proof that the police department is working:
Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs "It is one of those cases that we have been following. In fact, the whole country has been following. I think that justice has been served. I believe that I must commend the Police Department for a very good investigation. And that's what we do. The Police Department has many investigations that are happening. And when an investigation is done properly, when the prosecution is done properly, then we get convictions. And that is what we, as a Police Department, along with the other stakeholders, are doing. It gives us closure. It does not bring us our loved ones back. But it does give us closure. It does give us justice. And we believe that, as a Police Department, we are going to do everything possible to continue those investigations that are open right now. And to make sure that we have arrests and that we have prosecution, proper prosecution, and eventually get a conviction."
And going back now to Elmer Nah's statement in today's court proceedings.
As you heard, he again professed his innocence and pinned the triple murder on another former cop who is currently in jail for drug charges. As we recall, it was Nah's arrest that put him there.
The Ramnarace family acknowledges that name has been floating around since the beginning and they believe that today Nah was - as they put it - grabbing at straws".
But, the record shows, this is a pattern with Nah who has been throwing heavy hints for years. Jaleeza Roberts looked deeper into Nah's many cryptic narratives:
Today in court when Elmer Nah made his claim of innocence it's something he has been telegraphing since he was first charged in January 2023:
Elmer Nah "I just want to say I am being wrongfully accused, Elmer Nah wrongfully accused brother, wrongfully, I am being wrongfully accused."
And the theatrics never stopped as he went to court a total of 21 times but the closer he got to sentencing, the louder he got when he would see the media:
December 15 2025
Elmer Nah "Only lies in the court, only lies, they're full of lies when they see this, this tattoo right here will capture it see this right here that's in the video with the gunman the right hand in the back camera this right here. This is what will prove the truth."
And Yesterday when sentencing was delayed he sent yet another code that sent another cryptic message:
Elmer Nah "No watch me fall, watch me rise."
So is Nah deranged or does he know something that the investigation has not yet proven? Well today in court when things too a turn Nah asked the judge to speak for himself as he no longer believed his attorney could get the job done. When the judge granted him permission, he requested that this be put on record. Nah spoke to empathize with the Ramnarace family but he claimed that once again he was being wrongfully accused and that he has identified the man who killed their family member. He provided the family with his name and his prison number as he was a former cop who went to prison after being arrested for drug charges. Nah went as far as saying he told his attorney and the CEO at the Kolbe foundation that he was being threatened by this man-that if he enhanced the videos, the man would kill his children. But after the 3 life sentences were placed on Nah, these were the words he had to say today:
Elmer Nah "Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
He's gone from the cryptic to the prophetic to the ominous. Even though he has been sentenced, time will tell if what he said in court today will make a difference in the cards he has been dealt. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 news.
As we showed you last night, we interviewed both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Service about the situation with the acting Chief Forest Officer John Pinelo.
As we've been reporting, he's accused of extorting bribes from the owner of a forestry business, and he's also accusing that businessman of trying to push a bribe on him.
It puts the government in a tight spot with clear proof in the public eye. We looked at their dodgy statement on this prickly situation:
John Pinelo, Ag. Chief Forest Officer "Mr. Godinez approached me after a meeting with my CEO and offered me money to help him facilitate his activities. And I told Mr. Godinez, I don't need any of your money. I am well off how I am, and I will be well off after you disappear from this environment."
Cesar Godinez, Owner - Selva Conservation Ltd. "He reached out and said, if you give this amount of money, I will make sure it goes, and I have, I have proof that I gave him money."
"He would reach out to me, I would give, I would give, I gave him a monies and he would say, if you don't give me the money, I won't make it go through."
Bolstering Godinez's claims we have seen the excerpt of a bank statement with multiple rounded payments from his account to Pinelo. Pinelo says those were for purchases from his computer company; Godinez says he didn't even know that company existed:
Jules Vasquez "What do you make of what you've seen or heard?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I just saw somebody sent me your interview that you did. I was, like, floored."
It had a vertiginous effect on the PM while John Pinelo has reportedly gone on four weeks leave while he is being investigated:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "What I've done is I've asked the Cabinet Secretary to speak with the CEO of Sustainable Development to be able to….I'm told that, ahm, she has spoken to the acting Chief Forest Officer, he has gone on holiday and the investigation will be done."
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service "The bribe is an issue that he will have to explain or the attempt to bribe, I think that is something he will have to explain when that investigation Is carried out by the Ministry of Sustainable Development."
The problem now is - in a department frequently shadowed by claims of corruption in logging enforcement and the issuance of logging concessions - there is a now a reasonable suspicion in the public mind about widespread and deeply rooted corruption.
Jo-
"The entire episode has put a questionable light on things that happen internally at the Forestry Department. Does there need to be a review of other actions carried out by that department?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service "I think that whatever actions need to be taken, the ministry responsible needs to look at those. This investigation might reveal other areas where there is a lack of control, where new controls need to be put into place and certainly those are areas we would try to assist them with when that investigation is completed."
But the proof is out there: Pinelo is listed as a shareholder in a company owned by a logging concession holder.
John Pinelo, Ag. Chief Forest Officer "I was shocked when you sent me a document with my name on it. I never signed anything to be a member of this company. I don't even know what the company is doing. I was asked if I wanted to be a shareholder. Yes, I will say that I never signed anything or accepted to be. I have never participated in any meeting or any discussion with anybody that professes to be the directors or managers of Selva Conservation."
We did ask the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry whether Pinelo's named as legitimately added as a shareholder and via email, they said, quote:
"the documents relating to the shareholder information for the company were filed and recorded in accordance with the requirements of the Belize Companies Act, 2022."
And those requirements include valid ID of all shareholders. So, they're saying Pinelo the shareholder was duly registered - though he denies it.
Perhaps sensing that the fallout from this could be far - reaching - the PM refused to take a position even in the face of glaring evidence:
Jules Vasquez "Who do you believe?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I really can't comment on that. I really again, it's best for me to do it for me to be able to get a true report, a true representation of what has taken place."
Do you believe, but, but, you know, Mister Pinelo had spoken plainly and said that he has been fraudulent, fraudulently listed as a shareholder in this company.
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Okay."
Of course, it is not OK; far from it. Godinez says that the department is already retaliating against him with these costly cutting permits which he believes were unfairly slapped unto another of his logging companies Arch Timbers just yesterday, a few days after he accused Pinelo of extorting him.
The Belize Energy Workers for Justice are not giving up the fight for their severance. Yesterday, they protested outside BEL's Annual General Meeting, which was held at their corporate headquarters.
It was a closed meeting and the BEWJ had their placards and noisemakers outside as they walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the compound.
Their spokesperson said that if SSB is planning to bail out BEL, she hopes their severance is included in that money.
Dorla Staine, Belize Energy Workers for Justice "We need to get our severance. The law is on our side, all workers are to be paid severance and we want to tell Lynn Young, do the right thing. And by extension we are talking to the prime minister who has the option to do this. as we understand at this AGM, and it has been in the House of Representatives that the government is seeking I think 73 million dollars for some bail out. I pray to God they have our monies in that bail out. And the question to ask is where is BEL's money? When we were at this company working, it has always had a robust dividends, the dividends were doing well, who is going away with the money?"
"Just now the CEO came to me and said Dorla why are you doing this to me? I returned the question, I said I wouldn't be out here if you would pay us our money. You didn't have to go to court when you were getting your money. Because he's saying that ruling is for BTL and not for BEL. That is a shame and the legal people who are advising them, they need to go too."
And we asked the Prime Minster about that 75 million dollars in preference shares yesterday. Government and SSB have to buy it up - but reports say Social Security is having second thoughts abut the Bailout for BEL:
Jules Vasquez "Do you all expect Social Security to buy up that $75 million? Because I hear there's resistance in Social Security."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "It's not $75 million. I think it's less than 75. The government is putting up their portion. And so if you and I are partners in this business and money is expected to put in, then both parties have to put in their shares. I don't know if there's, I've not, nobody have informed me from Social Security that there's resistance, but the difference between preferred shares and common shares, as you know, and these shares are your paid interest."
"So Social Security will be making monies from that. And the most important point is that no government of Belize can allow BEL to go broke, to go bankrupt."
"We have to keep the lights going. So it is the responsibility of us at the end of the day, to people to keep going. And how can we do it? Using tax dollars is certainly not something that we want to do."
"But then the other way could be is then to be more efficient and probably to look at the rates."
Jules Vasquez "But is social security compelled, required to buy in? Like, are you putting that kind of pressure on them?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Really, I don't know. That's the lawyers to decide. I don't know. But we're hoping that they would do the right thing, that they would participate, because again, the government will guarantee. Just like how we guarantee social security, the government guarantees social security."
Over the past two days, our newsroom received 5 different complaints of police harassment. And while the state of emergency has expired, the department has a new crime fighting strategy. But for those who are the targets of the police's operations, they say it's escalated to harassment and use of excessive force. Courtney Menzies spoke to two residents who believe the cops went too far. Here is that story.
And the SOS operation taking place in the city is the department's way of suppressing retaliation after the death of Kiffer Mckenzie.
Despite the state of emergency recently ending, we asked the Minister if he believes they will have another one soon to which he said that once they need them, they will have them.
Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs "But yes, operations are happening all over the city. I think that you realize that after that murder that happened in Albert Street, we anticipated that there would be retaliations. We anticipate that there would be tensions in the city. And we need to do operations to ensure that we keep the peace. It's not an easy job to do. And the police have a strategy in place, the police have a plan in place. And those plans include doing strategic operations around the city and around the country. It's not only happening in Belize City, it's also happening around the country. And those operations will continue as long as we feel that it is needed."
Reporter "Do you see us getting to a point again of calling another SOE, especially due to the past weekend with everything that happened?"
Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs "SOEs are never the first thing that comes in mind for me. SOE is supposed to be one of the last things that we do. So we are doing everything possible to ensure that operations are happening, to ensure that we can have those tensions that are happening in the city reduced. And if that happens, then there will be no need for an SOE. However, if that doesn't work and we have to do an SOE, then I think that the Commissioner of Police will advise that we do one. And I take advice from the Police High Command. And whenever we need them, we will have them."
Mira refused to answer anything pertaining to his family matters or the Ministry of Defence Smart Stream payments to his family-owned businesses when he was Minister.
And, we can see why he doesn't want to comment. Tonight, we have more Smart Stream leaks of invoices paid out to those family businesses to the tune of millions of dollars.
We got more than 50 screenshots a few hours ago and our newsroom has been poring over them.
So far we have tallied millions of dollars in payments to MP Farms during the period when their brother was Minister, continuing right up to last week. Here's what we've found so far:
2.3 million dollars - that's how much the government paid the Mira family owned MP Farms for fresh produce and groceries between September 23, 2024 and June 8, 2026
A new tranche of 53 screenshots of the Smart Stream system captures 627 invoiced payouts to MP Farms, where Brian Mira is the contact and Stanley Mira is the owner.
We've already told you about September 25, 2025, when 44 invoice approvals for Mira's MP farms totaled 389,795.85 - with all of the 44 invoices under the $10,000 threshold.
But the new leaks show that earlier that month, on September 4, 2025, MP Farms received a single-day payout of $280,314.94 BZ spread across 33 invoices.
Three of them were cancelled, followed by three separate invoices in a row for $9,610.42. And then another three separate invoices in a row for $8,743.97.
Two days ago the CEO told us this is not irregular:
Francis Usher, CEO - Ministry of Defence and Border Security "I don't think it's a way to escape oversight. I think it's a way to escape the bureaucracy of getting paid. I think this is a mechanism used by providers to get paid quicker."
And to get paid substantial sums for goods provided. Usher says he can assure that value for money is gotten but here is one telling feature.
Of the hundreds of entries reviewed, one really stands out: on December 3, 2024, there was a single payout of $152,834.28 BZ which shows that the Ministry of Defence had the full capability to log, approve, and disburse a single, six-figure payment to MP Farms when they wanted to. There was another identical payment in January 2025.
This brings into question why they decided to break down the other millions of dollars in payments into payments all under $10,000.
And there's one more tell of suspect business at the Ministry of Defence - when MP Farms began to supply groceries to the Prime Minister's office in 2025 and 2026 - it didn't keep all payments under 10,000 dollars.
Why did the invoices suddenly cross the ten-thousand-dollar mark at the Prime Minister's Office? Because that office is also the Ministry of Finance. You can't look like you're trying to duck government's financial watchdog when you are sending the bills straight to the watchdog's desk.
We're still tallying up the dozens of screenshots and the toal figure is now over 5 million dollars. We'll have more on Monday.
And, in more exciting political news - Belize City's PUP supporters are getting ready to participate in the sunup to a heated convention for a mayoral candidate.
Allan Pollard and Eluide Miller are both interested in the job. We asked the PM who he favors:
Jules Vasquez "The last time we spoke to Allan Pollard, you know, he had spoken out a little against the party. You spoke to him, you counseled him, you said that, you know, you told him everything is time, right? It's time."
"But now he's waited his time and now he faces a challenge from a relative newcomer. How do you feel about the Belize City Municipal?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister "That would be a tough choice for the delegates because we have two excellent guys. And Alan has paid his dues without a doubt. And I have great respect and regard for Alan, young man that grew up in the hood per se and could have easily gone astray, but he'd have done something with his life."
"So I have great respect and regard for him. And I believe that should he be elected as mayor, he will do a really good job. He has the energy, he has vision, he has ideas. But the same thing could be said about Eluide."
"You know, Eluide has been there for two terms. So 3 years difference. You know, it's not a lot. Eluide also, I think, meet those qualities, you know, that he has worked exceptionally well and a humble individual."
"Yes, I think he was originally from Corozal, but he has been living in the city. And so I think that it's going to be a tough choice for the delegates. And luckily, I don't have to make that decision."
"But we will work with any one of them. But we have two good people."
And the PM says that as he gets ready to go out on the campaign trails for municipals - he's hoping to capture one more long sought after municipality:
Jules Vasquez "Month from your 66th birthday."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Why do you do that?"
Jules Vasquez "I have to ask. I'm just asking, we're entering another political campaign season, municipals. How do you see your role in these municipals as an elder, not elderly, elder statesman of the party?"
"How do you see your role in terms of, you know, I know you always want to win San Ignacio. You still have that fire in you to go and stomp on the campaign trail."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "You know, you are one man that could give a compliment, but really. Backhanded. They say something else. That's okay. As a politician, you want to win everything. I mean, that's why you're in politics. Or in any game, when I was a young man, I used to play a lot of sports."
"So you always have that will that you want to win. You're going to fight to win. I mean, you're going to work hard. And that is still the way I feel, that I want to win. And so we're going to work hard to win everything."
"We're going to work and campaign in every municipality from Corozal Town, all the way to Punta Gorda, and certainly, San Ignacio, Santa Elena. You know, that's the holy grail that continuously, we get close to it, we touch it, but we have not managed to grasp it."
"Maybe this is the time. I believe that in San Ignacio Santa Elena, our leaders are united right now and they're prepared to be able to work together and to put a good team and to work with the community and to point out to them that, you know, with this good team, I think we'll be able to do a lot more for the people of San Ignacio, Santa Elena."
"So I am optimistic. I am optimistic. I'm not, you know, I wouldn't say I'm 100%. If I were to say that, I would be an arrogant person. But I'm optimistic. I'm going to work hard to be able to win."
Currently the PUP controls 61 of 67 municipal seats countrywide.
UDP Deputy Secretary General Evalee Skeen Engleton passed away suddenly yesterday at the party headquarters.
The Secretary General holds broad responsibility in party organization - and Skeen was a beloved figure in the UDP. Tributes have appeared across social platforms to honor her memory and her larger than life energy.
We spoke with UDP Leader, Tracy Panton who said that Skeen did all the heavy lifting when election time was near:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "We are profoundly saddened and deeply devastated by the passing of our, sudden and unexpected passing of our Deputy Secretary General of the United Democratic Party, Ms Evalee Skeen Engleton. She, the UDP is an institution but Evalee in an institution unto the institution. She has been here for almost 20 plus years she is, she was the kind of the light, the heart of the day to day operations of our UDP secretariat, always serving with a smile, love, with wit. She was very passionate about the work she did for the UDP and for all 31 constituencies. She handled all the mechanics, all the heavy lifting making sure the voters list was in place make sure she dealt with all the administrative work that we had in a very timely and efficient manner."
"And so this a huge loss for us we are still trying to process it. It is a huge loss for her three daughters, for her 2 grandsons for her parents for her brothers for her extended family and friends, we were not expecting it we did not see it coming. The incident happened here in our headquarters."
"And so as I was driving home last night I said this morning Evalee was making coffee and tonight she is in a morgue, the reality of that really strikes, it stabs at your soul."
"I will remember Evalee just as a genuinely, caring, loving and supportive friend. You know yesterday when I came in she asked if I wanted Coffee and she made a pot of coffee for us to share and I didn't get around to drinking the coffee because I got busy and so when I was leaving she said but party leader I made you the coffee and you didn't have some and I said you're right and I turned back and I am so so glad I did that, and she and I sat in this office and we had a cup of coffee and we shared the pot of coffee. And had I not done that...yeah."
And turning now to governance matters, the Public Service Union has sent in a Freedom Of Information Request asking for details behind government's contracting a firm named Neo Peoples.
The FOIA request has gone unanswered but the Minister of the Public Service spoke freely about it yesterday:
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service "So, well first of all, it is a contract with E-Data, Neo People is the service being provided-that is the particular software used-and the contract is actually with E-data. And yes, meetings have been held with the Public Service Union, with the APSSM and with the BNTU. A presentation was made to them by the proprietors of E-data, particularly in reference to this contract for, for the government and the registration of public offices and the digitization of the services being provided. So, yes that contract is completed, that contract is being carried out, and it's still in discussions with PSU."
As Minister with responsibility for the Fire Department we also asked Usher about a series of small fires set weeks ago at the Five Blues Lake National Park.
Here's what he said:
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service "It is the first I am hearing about it but it is of concern that anybody would try to do something of that nature. Forestry department will be the one that would be looking into that but certainly if a crime was committed, also a report has to be made to the police department, so I'm glad that some type of tracking system was able to capture it and they were able to determine who the person was."
Today was the final day of police week and the department ended it with a sports day between the different units. The competition brought to end a week of many events from the police department. We spoke to Police Minister Mira who explained why events like this are important:
Yesterday in the village of San Roman Rio Hondo, the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association - along with UNDP and other agencies had a project launch for the establishment of a bio factory to produce eco friendly fertilizers.
The idea is to enhance soul health and climate reliance while also escaping the soaring cost of imported fertilizers. Here's more from the Ceremony on the San Luis Road in the Orange Walk District:
Ginnel Ozaeta, Program director, PSCPA "At it's core this project is about one thing, helping our farmers remain productive, profitable and resilient in changing agricultural landscapes, the sugar industry continues to face many challenges, farmers are experiencing rising production costs, increasing pressures for climate variability, declining soil health and emerging threats such as the fusarium disease, these challenges not only affect you but also the long term sustainability of farming families and communities throughout northern Belize. As an organization representing over 800 cane farmers we recognize we cannot continue addressing tomorrow's challenge with yesterday's solutions this is why progressive with the support of the global environment facilities small grants programs is embarking on initiative that is both innovative and profitable. This project will establish Belize's first farmer led bio factory complete with a technical laboratory dedicated to the production of eco friendly bio fertilizers. What makes this intuitive unique is that it places farmers at the center of the solution. Too often farmers are viewed solely as consumers of agricultural products, through this project our farmers become producers, innovators and stewards of sustainable agriculture."
John Briceno, Minister of the Sugar Industry "Well we know that our Cane farmers have been going through a very difficult time but for us in Belize in the north it is more than just an industry it is a way of life, it is cultural and it is important for us to be able to find innovative ways to help our farmers and our farmers have to innovate. They have to change."
"And the overuse of chemicals and pesticides really destroy our soils using biological, methods to be able to inject into the soil, to be able to enrich the soil and by extension, for us to be able to have, better yields of our sugar cane."
Reporter "How will an effort like this help home grown efforts to remain competitive?"
John Briceno, Minister of the Sugar Industry "Because the costs continue to go up you know it makes it almost impossible for a cane farmer to be able to be profitable. And so you see now, a number of them are leaving the sugar cane industry to go into cattle but we can't allow that to happen in the North. So we have to find ways. And I said we have to innovate. And this is one way. So we are hoping that our farmers will then understand the necessity, the need to innovate, to make changes and to be able to find more effective, efficient ways to be able to increase their productivity. And this is certainly one that is and the expectation is that it is going to be cheaper."
"Once this starts to work and we expect it to be successful and we can then convince other industries and say, look, we can increase productivity. And, so then for you to be able to use. So I do believe that you know I'm, I'm optimistic by nature that we will be able to do more and to be able to assist the other industries here in the North and also in the rest of the country."
And with the sugar cane industry facing existential challenges the Prime Minister - who is also Minister of the sugar Industry - says the good old days of government bailouts are over:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I do believe that once there is a willingness on our part as a government, but also a willingness on the cane farmers and the associations, I mean and I stress the association's that they have to be able to understand and to realize that the good old days are over, the good old days when government can step in and just give them free money. It is over and we don't have that And so and we have to change, we have to innovate, and we have to continue to be able to work, not necessarily harder, but smarter to be able to be successful in this industry."
And while the good old days of government bailouts are finished, what about future days in the cane industry? Will there even be a future for this troubled industry? Here's what the PM said:
Jules Vasquez "But I know this is not just an idle question this is existential for the north but in 10 years do you believe we will still have a sugar cane industry will all that is happening with climate change and also the entire culture of the north you know a lot of the farmers don't want to adapt."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Once this starts to work and we expect it to be successful and we can then convince other industries and say, look, we can increase productivity. And, so then for you to be able to use. So I do believe that you know I'm, I'm optimistic by nature that we will be able to do more and to be able to assist the other industries here in the North and also in the rest of the country."
"A number of the people that are not, I have to be careful how I use this word, that they're not serious cane farmers, they're getting out. all the people that are serious cane farmers that have really have invested in the industry they are going to remain and then they will be able to have an opportunity to be able to scale up."
Email
Print
Today, roughly 3 years and 5 months after losing their loved ones, the Ramnarace family received the justice they were seeking for the 2022 New Year's Eve murder of Jon, Vivian and David Ramnarace.
Elmer Nah, Sentenced for Triple Murder 
"I am glad that justice was served especially for her today and I am proud of my sister I am very proud of her she was fearless, she was brave, very very brave and you know to God be the glory."
Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs
Today in court when Elmer Nah made his claim of innocence it's something he has been telegraphing since he was first charged in January 2023:
"Only lies in the court, only lies, they're full of lies when they see this, this tattoo right here will capture it see this right here that's in the video with the gunman the right hand in the back camera this right here. This is what will prove the truth."
As we showed you last night, we interviewed both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Service about the situation with the acting Chief Forest Officer John Pinelo.
"Mr. Godinez approached me after a meeting with my CEO and offered me money to help him facilitate his activities. And I told Mr. Godinez, I don't need any of your money. I am well off how I am, and I will be well off after you disappear from this environment."
"He reached out and said, if you give this amount of money, I will make sure it goes, and I have, I have proof that I gave him money."
"I just saw somebody sent me your interview that you did. I was, like, floored."
The problem now is - in a department frequently shadowed by claims of corruption in logging enforcement and the issuance of logging concessions - there is a now a reasonable suspicion in the public mind about widespread and deeply rooted corruption.
The Belize Energy Workers for Justice are not giving up the fight for their severance. Yesterday, they protested outside BEL's Annual General Meeting, which was held at their corporate headquarters.
"Just now the CEO came to me and said Dorla why are you doing this to me? I returned the question, I said I wouldn't be out here if you would pay us our money. You didn't have to go to court when you were getting your money. Because he's saying that ruling is for BTL and not for BEL. That is a shame and the legal people who are advising them, they need to go too."
And, we can see why he doesn't want to comment. Tonight, we have more Smart Stream leaks of invoices paid out to those family businesses to the tune of millions of dollars.
And, in more exciting political news - Belize City's PUP supporters are getting ready to participate in the sunup to a heated convention for a mayoral candidate.
UDP Deputy Secretary General Evalee Skeen Engleton passed away suddenly yesterday at the party headquarters.
"We are profoundly saddened and deeply devastated by the passing of our, sudden and unexpected passing of our Deputy Secretary General of the United Democratic Party, Ms Evalee Skeen Engleton. She, the UDP is an institution but Evalee in an institution unto the institution. She has been here for almost 20 plus years she is, she was the kind of the light, the heart of the day to day operations of our UDP secretariat, always serving with a smile, love, with wit. She was very passionate about the work she did for the UDP and for all 31 constituencies. She handled all the mechanics, all the heavy lifting making sure the voters list was in place make sure she dealt with all the administrative work that we had in a very timely and efficient manner."
Yesterday in the village of San Roman Rio Hondo, the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association - along with UNDP and other agencies had a project launch for the establishment of a bio factory to produce eco friendly fertilizers.
"At it's core this project is about one thing, helping our farmers remain productive, profitable and resilient in changing agricultural landscapes, the sugar industry continues to face many challenges, farmers are experiencing rising production costs, increasing pressures for climate variability, declining soil health and emerging threats such as the fusarium disease, these challenges not only affect you but also the long term sustainability of farming families and communities throughout northern Belize. As an organization representing over 800 cane farmers we recognize we cannot continue addressing tomorrow's challenge with yesterday's solutions this is why progressive with the support of the global environment facilities small grants programs is embarking on initiative that is both innovative and profitable. This project will establish Belize's first farmer led bio factory complete with a technical laboratory dedicated to the production of eco friendly bio fertilizers. What makes this intuitive unique is that it places farmers at the center of the solution. Too often farmers are viewed solely as consumers of agricultural products, through this project our farmers become producers, innovators and stewards of sustainable agriculture."
