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
The design for Belize's new currency notes was launched yesterday - and, so far, it's been getting mixed reviews on social media platforms.
Of course, people always resist change - but these new notes are both a stylistic and iconic switch - since they are the first that will no longer feature a British monarch.
While we stress that the currency peg is fixed by law and cannot change no matter whose image is on the notes - we wanted to know how regular folks feel now that Queen Betty notes only have a few more months in circulation - as the new notes will be launched in July.
Here's what Clifford Mejia heard on a walkabout through the city:
And while the design may be criticized - the fact is the new notes will resemble international currency in circulation worldwide and in the Caribbean.
Here's more on that:
Stuart Rost, Banknotes Designer, De La Rue Printers "We wanted to create banknotes that Belizeans would not only use but also cherish."
That hasn't quite been the reaction though. Minutes after Belize's new family of currency notes was launched yesterday, an avalanche of backlash was unleashed on social media and one of the main criticisms was that the new notes closely resembled the Mexican peso.
Well, maybe not only the peso. This YouTube short showing currencies from all over the world depicts the norms of global currency and you can see that Belize's new currency fits right in.
It's part of an attempt to modernize the currency notes.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers "It is important for the Central Bank to consider the wider regional and global trends to ensure it evolves and safeguards the currency against current and future counterfeit threats. Looking around this region Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and the countries of the Eastern Caribbean have all recently introduced new banknotes with enhanced features."
The purpose they say is to make the new notes secure and durable which means that tactile experience will change from that trusty cotton paper.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers "Durability is a key aspect of the new notes. Banknotes work very hard in circulation. They're a vital part of everyday life, passing constantly among citizens, businesses and banks alike. Therefore the new banknotes incorporate materials and processes that ensure they withstand the test of time."
"The traditional cotton banknote paper has been reinforced and coated with special durability treatments to ensure the new series is crafted to withstand the wear and tear and demands of daily use in Belize."
The designers hope it will be embraced as something like a business card for Belize.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers "In featuring notable Belizean figures, iconic landscapes, national symbols and the unique flora and fauna that make Belize so special, we aim to inspire national pride and unity in every citizen so that when you hold one of these banknotes you are not just holding currency, you are holding a piece of Belize itself."
De La Rue has been printing Belize's currency notes ever since the Central Bank was established in 1982.
And while some Belizeans lament the fact that Queen Elizabeth will no longer be on the currency notes - the fact is she can't be.
The queen died in 2022 and her image is no longer licensed for use on currency notes. The Governor of the Central Bank explained this in November:
Kareem Michael, Governor of the Central Bank "With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Central Bank was, it was made very clear to our central bank that when in the ordering of our current family of notes, that there will be a cut-off point where we will be allowed to keep ordering notes with Queen Elizabeth."
"There was a workaround where we could have backdated, but I don't like backdate anything. So the other option then is, well you have to make sure you put the new head of the monarch on your notes."
"And we were faced with that decision and obviously that presented an opportunity for us to really consider should we continue going this way. And this is where that pivot began."
Belize now joins other Commonwealth nations that have removed the monarch's image from their currency. The nations who have done so are Australia, Jamaica, Barbados, Gambia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, and Turks and Caicos.
A cop who extorted a Canadian couple of $100 US dollars is fortunate to have his freedom back but has lost his job. And despite being sentenced to 45 days in jail he is free tonight, based on time served.
Jairo Daniel Amador appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester in the High Court after he was convicted of extortion in October 2024. The now former police officer was the first person to benefit from the new sentencing guidelines as he was facing three years imprisonment but ended up with just 45 days
Justice Sylvester also imposed a fine of $2,500 upon Amador and ordered him to pay back the $100 US dollars to the couple he exhorted back in 2022 at the Hattieville checkpoint. That's when he told the victim she could go to jail for driving without insurance and pulled her into a small booth where he threatened to jail her, then demanded a donation in exchange for not charging her. The woman was crying and that's when her husband tried to make his way into the booth but was stopped by another officer. He told her the donation was for an officer's steak dinner.
Police today found weed and crack cocaine at a home in the Corozal district. Multiple units searched a home in the Alien Town area yielded a small quantity of suspected cannabis.
Police then went to a second property owned by the same person and which is where police uncovered a concealed opening in the floor beneath a cupboard. Inside, officers discovered a substantial quantity of suspected cannabis. Further examination of the room revealed suspected crack cocaine and a single .22 caliber round of ammunition.
As a result, three persons were detained and remain in custody pending charges.
On Monday night, a couple was allegedly killed by a car dealer after they paid $35,000 for a vehicle three months priori and never got it. Then in December, car dealer Amado Badillo was in a courtroom to face charges for obtaining property by deception - again in a case where he never delivered on a car that a customer claims she paid for.
With widespread training in salvage title vehicles, it seems used car scams are becoming more common and one man came to our studio today claiming to be a victim of one. Gilbert Blair said he paid $13,000 for a van back in February 2024 and though the Magistrate has ruled that his dealer, Eden Crichton, pay up, he still hasn't gotten back his money.
Courtney Menzies spoke to him today and has this story.
Last year Gilbert Blair contacted someone known to him as a car dealer to purchase a 2014 Ford Econoline van. But after making the payment almost a year ago, he still hasn't gotten the vehicle.
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "I have known Mr Crichton since high school, we went to Wesley College, I trusted him. I gave him $13,600 to bring a car from the US to me since February of 2024 and since then he has completely blocked me and we have no communication."
But before Crichton reportedly blocked him, they were communicating via WhatsApp. Blair demanded his money back but Crichton acted like he was confused by the request. Blair then involved the courts.
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "I have taken him to court, the court has ordered that he repays but he's nowhere around, he's been hiding and everything and from what I have learned, it's not only me that he has done this to, it's several people. All I simply want back is my money, I work hard for my money."
Courtney Menzies: "Why did you give this man this much money without getting something in return immediately?"
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "Well, Eden, like I said, he's an old classmate, he wears tie and suit with bible in his hand and preaches God's word. He's also a member of the council in Burrell Boom."
But despite all these green flags, almost a year later, Blair is now left weary, broke, and carless.
Courtney Menzies: "Does this now make you skeptical next time you're trying to buy pretty much anything?"
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "Yes of course definitely, who are you supposed to trust? Because I had… in life you have to put trust in somebody at some point and when things like this happen, it really puts you at point where you have to go through it to understand it because God knows."
Courtney Menzies: "In light recent events where that couple was killed by a car dealer, after seeing that, do you in any way fear for your life?"
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "I have no fear for no man, I fear God, no man."
Jules Vasquez: "Has he threatened you with legal action? I think I saw that."
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "Yeah he has threatened me with legal action because he said it's defamation of character. You know you work so hard and people want to take away what's yours, that's ***obscenity***, the law needs to be stiffer or something because we work hard for our paper for them to just walk up and feel like it's right so?"
Jules Vasquez: "How much is this hurting you financially in real terms?"
Gilbert Blair, Scammed By Car Dealer "We borrow money, I borrowed money, I have to be paying back for something I haven't seen for over a year now, I invested my money to try and make back a little dollar. This man really did me bad."
And this evening - for the other side of the story - we spoke with Eden Crichton. He claims that the delay was caused by COPART, the auction platform that car dealers use to acquire vehicles. He added that the vehicle is sitting in storage in the US and all Blair has to do is pick it up. He spoke to us via Zoom.
Eden Crichton, Car Dealer "Something didn't happen, right? And I eventually learned from Copart, which is the site that we use, I learned that the vehicle wasn't properly identified upon when I sent somebody to go and pick it up."
"So I sent someone to pick up the vehicle because I wasn't there. We sent a transporter to pick up the vehicle. Upon the transporter arriving, the Copart representative says, wow, we have a fleet of vehicle and that particular VIN number is missing. We can't locate it. So you have to come back, give us seven days to find the particular vehicle."
"Well, not a problem. I didn't send the person back in seven days because it costs each time we send a transporter there."
"So I communicated via email. I got the Copart representative phone number. So I could have texted him on Whatsapp, I explained to him that I'm in Belize, and we're sending transporters to move this vehicle."
"So anyway, time had passed and I want to say they didn't locate the vehicle for maybe two months. The customer got irritated, irated and said, man, what's going on? You're stealing my money, that sort of stuff."
"So by him doing that, I said, no, man, I don't have no reason for thief your money. I have brought in vehicle for customers on a regular basis, which far exceed that, alright? But let's not get into that."
"I explained my story to the magistrate at the time and the magistrate said, okay, how are you going to settle this? I said, your honor, the vehicle will be, the vehicle is available, your honor, the vehicle is available at Copart or pickup."
"Give me until Friday to sort out the pickup or whatever it was to sort out the pickup and we will move forward. I said, we could either do that or this man being so angry, he can cancel his arrangement with me and pick up his vehicle on his own."
"Well, he opted for that. He opted for his money to be returned to him. I tell him I don't have his money. Copart has the money. He said well what money I have for him. I said I have the freight value for you."
"The magistrate says well if that's the matter return the man's freight money, give him his paperwork for his vehicle and that is what I did. I returned to him his freight, his freight value which was I want to say four thousand dollars which is two thousand US dollars very very cheap for such a thing."
"So I returned that to him. Thereafter he wanted the money to the value of the vehicle. I said that's not the agreement for the magistrate. So what I did the proper thing I wrote him a letter. It took some days to do all of this so time passed."
"So I wrote him his letter explaining to him that his vehicle is in a particular address I gave him a copy of the title, I gave him whatever documents he needed for the vehicle, and I also informed him that the vehicle is in America at the location and accumulating storage."
Last night we told you how 1,500 cases of Corona beer have been imported into Belize legally for the first time.
It will be sold in 12 ounce bottles and came in through Guatemala on a permit granted by the Department of Supplies control.
As you heard, Belize's leading bottlers, Bowen and Bowen complain that it, quote, "creates an opportunity for thousands of illegal contraband cases…"
Speaking today via Zoom the CEO In the Ministry of Agriculture defended the permit - saying the beers will be prohibitively priced:
Servulo Baeza, CEO, Min. of Agriculture "There was a license that was issued with certain conditions. Some concerns were raised, and so the issue in terms of the requirements that were put in place, which are basically two things. One, was that every single beer bottle that would have been imported had to have the Belize market on it, who is importing it, and the address for every single bottle."
"The other issue was the issue of duties, that they had to pay all the duties applicable under the law for this product to come in, because it's not a CARICOM product. They have paid a bit over $194,000 in duties."
"The market that they're looking at is the tourism sector. The reason why is very clear. If you're paying over $194,000 in duty for 1,500 cases, you do the math. One case of beer would have to sell over $100 a case of beer."
"Who in Cayo or Belize or Orange Walk will buy a case of beer for over $100?"
Reporter "With this, it increases the likelihood of contraband Corona increasing, because we've always had it."
Servulo Baeza, CEO, Min. of Agriculture "I mean, contraband is always contraband. It always exists. I mean, the product is clearly defined as one that is legal because of the Belize market, just like liquor that is contraband, just like whatever other products that are contraband."
"This issue about the market label was discussed at length with customs, and they were the ones who were saying, once it's properly labeled that we can identify which one is contraband and which one is legal, then we minimize this particular issue of contraband."
Corona is considered the biggest beer brand in the world. Up until now - Belize was the only country in Central America not to have it legally available.
And while Bowen complains about Corona, one of their subsidiaries, BELIZE IMPORTS & GOODS has announced that they will start importing products from Grupo Bimbo, the world's largest baked goods company - and it's causing some concern from local bakers.
According to a Bowen spokesperson though, the only bread product they will be importing is Bimbo toasted bread slices.
But it will mainly be pastries like Pinguinos, Submarinos and others.
And while those products are not regulated and thus need no supplies control permit - just the presence of the brand Bimbo in Belize has caused disquiet amongst bakers.
The CEO for Agriculture said it is a commercial arrangement that they have no regulatory power over.
Servulo Baeza, CEO, Min. of Agriculture "As it is right now, it will only be an issue with in terms of food safety, where they will have to go through the procedures with BAHA to ensure that they adhere to all the whatever regulations or whatever we have in terms of food safety."
"Some of the bakers have already reached out to the ministry saying, I mean, how is this possible? We have products being produced locally. I mean, how do you allow this? I mean, what can we put in place to have some kind of regulation for these products?"
Baeza says that if sliced bread is imported, they would have to draft an SI to control its importation.
Tomorrow the Belize Volleyball Association is hosting a Regional Volleyball Meeting. It will be attended by the presidents of 7 Central American volleyball federations as well as the Vice President of the International Federation.
Ahead of the meeting, we spoke with the president of the BVA, Allan Sharp, who explained that the meeting will go over this year's calendar of events, but it also provides an opportunity for the international federation to speak with Belize's government.
And the VP explained that while the international federation can provide financing and equipment, what the country really needs is infrastructure.
Over the last 5 decades, the Belmopan Rotary Club has sent 455 children to the US for orthopedic medical treatment. It's part of their flagship program, the Belize Children's Project. The club works with medical teams from the US who conduct clinics in various locations in Belize. Select patients are then recommended for further treatment, and their trip as well as all surgery costs are completely free.
This year, the clinics will be held next month and the club is calling out all parents whose children require orthopedic care. Today we spoke with a member of the club as well as the president-elect via Zoom.
Erwin Wills, Member, Rotary Club Belmopan "Essentially we're reaching out to all the parents who for whatever reason would not be able to afford orthopedic medical care. Some cases we see across the country would be conditions affecting the neck of the child, the spine, shoulders, arms, elbows, hands, but mainly we're seen a lot of feet. Essentially we've had some children who had gone to the US late last year, we're getting updates from them, the surgeries have been going very well. They stay at the Ronald McDonald House. And of course their parents get to go along with them free of cost. While they're there, they get a chance to integrate into American Society so one of them are staying with host families, they get the chance to go to baseball games, visit zoos and so forth. So while they're there for medical care, we also realized that them feeling at home is also important to recover fully."
"We've seen them leave - well for the most part everyone is happy when they leave, but of course when they return, they're smiles are bigger, they feel refreshed, they feel renewed, especially the children. Some of the children leave not being able to walk and they return walking. Some children are up to the age of 18 and when they return to us, they express their interest in joining the Rotary Clubs in their local communities, they express interest in joining the Rotaract clubs in their local communities because they realize the impact that Rotary is making in their lives."
Adele Catzim Sanchez, President-Elect, Rotary Club Belmopan "This wine and cheese event is the main fundraising event for the Children's Project. The wine and cheese this year will our 17th annual wine and cheese event and it will be held on March 1st at Oakridge Venues on the Spanish Lookout Road. The Signature or the main thing that people like about our wine and cheese is that we have amazing offerings in our silent auction as well as prizes and raffles and so if people contribute to this worthy cause to help the children of Belize, then we make sure that there's also items that you can bid on so you can take something home. When you come to this wine and cheese, you don't leave there empty handed and of course you also have the reward of knowing that you're contributing to something that really impacts children who are very vulnerable, the ones who have spinal conditions, club foot, things that we are not able to take care of in Belize but things that through surgery we can give people back their lives."
Tickets for the wine and cheese event cost $150.
The first clinic will be held in Santa Elena at La Loma Luz Hospital on February 17th at 9:00, then it will move to the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan at 3:00. On February 18th, they will be at the Southern Regional Hospital, then at Belize Healthcare Partners on the 19th, and Northern Regional Hospital on the 20th.
And, in UDP news, there's more bickering to report, except this time it's going to court. Last week, the attorney for Shyne Barrow made an application to have an urgent hearing for contempt against Tracy Panton. The judge has agreed to hear it and has told the attorneys for both sides to agree on a date.
This is the week's second legal announcement from the very litigious party. Earlier this week, Tracy Panton announced that her faction of the UDP will be filing suit to prevent Shyne Barrow's faction from appointing candidates to run against those she deems to be duly elected, and endorsed standard bearers of the UDP.
In other news, Panton may have lost one more key ally. Shyne Barrow has circulated pictures of him meeting with the Cayo North Committee and its standard bearer Omar Figueroa. That group had switched allegiance to Panton's camp at the end of October.
But. Last night Shyne Barrow issued a statement saying, he'd had, quote, "(a) Great meeting with the next Area Representative for UDP Cayo North, brother Omar and his Executive Committee to plan victory for the General Elections!"
And finally tonight, the Belize Equal Opportunities Bill first emerged in 2020 and five years later it still hasn't been passed due to resistance principally from the churches.
The Bill would provide protection from discrimination and to promote equal opportunities for multiple classes of people. But The politicization of gender has made the bill too hot for legislators to handle. But apparently not for the Prime Minister who boldly pledged support for the bill on Sunup yesterday:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Well, if you were to hold elections in a month or two or three months, we don't have enough time to pass the bill. We have discussed the bill, there's general support for the bill, but there are a few little things yet that the churches or more the small conservative churches are having issues with."
"So we need to try to address some of those. But let me start by saying this. I believe in a merciful God. I believe in a God of love. I believe that God loves all of us. And so when some of these churches say, oh, you can't do this with, oh, these are gay and God is going to..."
"I tell them, that's not for me to judge, nor you to judge us between that person and his or her creator. And so I support this bill, and that's my full support. And so I want to give a commitment that we are going to pass the equal opportunity bill."
"I hope we could do it by the end of this year. But we do, we have to do a little bit more of consultation, because like in everything, we need to make sure that we try to bring people together as best as we possibly can."
"We can't please everybody, but we will try to do our best to have a bill that's workable. One of the main issues that they were having is that there were this issue of, I think they were having like a commission that would be separate from the judiciary, that anybody could go and say, oh, I've been taking advantage because of my views."
"It don't have to be about sexuality, it could be anything, you know, and that is one of the main concerns, and even the private sector was worried about that. So I think that has been addressed, but we have a little bit more work, but we should be able to..."
"No, I really believe we must have it done, we must, and I'm giving you my commitment."
Email
Print
And while the design may be criticized - the fact is the new notes will resemble international currency in circulation worldwide and in the Caribbean.
Well, maybe not only the peso. This YouTube short showing currencies from all over the world depicts the norms of global currency and you can see that Belize's new currency fits right in.
"Durability is a key aspect of the new notes. Banknotes work very hard in circulation. They're a vital part of everyday life, passing constantly among citizens, businesses and banks alike. Therefore the new banknotes incorporate materials and processes that ensure they withstand the test of time."
"With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Central Bank was, it was made very clear to our central bank that when in the ordering of our current family of notes, that there will be a cut-off point where we will be allowed to keep ordering notes with Queen Elizabeth."
A cop who extorted a Canadian couple of $100 US dollars is fortunate to have his freedom back but has lost his job. And despite being sentenced to 45 days in jail he is free tonight, based on time served.
Police today found weed and crack cocaine at a home in the Corozal district. Multiple units searched a home in the Alien Town area yielded a small quantity of suspected cannabis.
On Monday night, a couple was allegedly killed by a car dealer after they paid $35,000 for a vehicle three months priori and never got it. Then in December, car dealer Amado Badillo was in a courtroom to face charges for obtaining property by deception - again in a case where he never delivered on a car that a customer claims she paid for.
"I have known Mr Crichton since high school, we went to Wesley College, I trusted him. I gave him $13,600 to bring a car from the US to me since February of 2024 and since then he has completely blocked me and we have no communication."
And this evening - for the other side of the story - we spoke with Eden Crichton. He claims that the delay was caused by COPART, the auction platform that car dealers use to acquire vehicles. He added that the vehicle is sitting in storage in the US and all Blair has to do is pick it up. He spoke to us via Zoom.
"Well, not a problem. I didn't send the person back in seven days because it costs each time we send a transporter there."
Last night we told you how 1,500 cases of Corona beer have been imported into Belize legally for the first time.
"The other issue was the issue of duties, that they had to pay all the duties applicable under the law for this product to come in, because it's not a CARICOM product. They have paid a bit over $194,000 in duties."
And while Bowen complains about Corona, one of their subsidiaries, BELIZE IMPORTS & GOODS has announced that they will start importing products from Grupo Bimbo, the world's largest baked goods company - and it's causing some concern from local bakers.
And while those products are not regulated and thus need no supplies control permit - just the presence of the brand Bimbo in Belize has caused disquiet amongst bakers.
Over the last 5 decades, the Belmopan Rotary Club has sent 455 children to the US for orthopedic medical treatment. It's part of their flagship program, the Belize Children's Project. The club works with medical teams from the US who conduct clinics in various locations in Belize. Select patients are then recommended for further treatment, and their trip as well as all surgery costs are completely free.
"Essentially we're reaching out to all the parents who for whatever reason would not be able to afford orthopedic medical care. Some cases we see across the country would be conditions affecting the neck of the child, the spine, shoulders, arms, elbows, hands, but mainly we're seen a lot of feet. Essentially we've had some children who had gone to the US late last year, we're getting updates from them, the surgeries have been going very well. They stay at the Ronald McDonald House. And of course their parents get to go along with them free of cost. While they're there, they get a chance to integrate into American Society so one of them are staying with host families, they get the chance to go to baseball games, visit zoos and so forth. So while they're there for medical care, we also realized that them feeling at home is also important to recover fully."
"This wine and cheese event is the main fundraising event for the Children's Project. The wine and cheese this year will our 17th annual wine and cheese event and it will be held on March 1st at Oakridge Venues on the Spanish Lookout Road. The Signature or the main thing that people like about our wine and cheese is that we have amazing offerings in our silent auction as well as prizes and raffles and so if people contribute to this worthy cause to help the children of Belize, then we make sure that there's also items that you can bid on so you can take something home. When you come to this wine and cheese, you don't leave there empty handed and of course you also have the reward of knowing that you're contributing to something that really impacts children who are very vulnerable, the ones who have spinal conditions, club foot, things that we are not able to take care of in Belize but things that through surgery we can give people back their lives."
And, in UDP news, there's more bickering to report, except this time it's going to court. Last week, the attorney for Shyne Barrow made an application to have an urgent hearing for contempt against Tracy Panton. The judge has agreed to hear it and has told the attorneys for both sides to agree on a date.
"Well, if you were to hold elections in a month or two or three months, we don't have enough time to pass the bill. We have discussed the bill, there's general support for the bill, but there are a few little things yet that the churches or more the small conservative churches are having issues with."
