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
For weeks now we've been reporting on those airport security contracts. 11 days ago they announced that the contracts were questionable and payments were being suspended.
Today, they announced that both contracts have been cancelled. A release says that on Friday, quote, "the BAA…secured deeds of release from both of its security service providers, namely Four Diamond Security Limited and ISecurity Limited. This agreement formally concludes all prior contractual obligations between the BAA and both security companies. The BAA nonetheless continues its investigation into the tendering process utilized to award the airport security contracts….and it will take such further steps as may be necessary after the investigation. The BAA also wishes to advise the public that operations continue seamlessly under new arrangements." end quote.
But that's not the tidy conclusion they might wish for - and the release shows little regard for public concerns about two sketchy contracts. First, it says nothing about the more than a million dollars in disbursements already made under the contracts - for which services only started to be delivered in May. Will there be any refunds? Will those funds be clawed back since the contracts were unlawfully signed? Or does the amicable settlement referred to mean that the contractors can keep the money for their trouble - and not sue the BAA? The release is also headlined to say that the resolution comes at no cost to the BAA. We take that to mean no additional cost, since, again, over a million has been paid for which best information says, there has hardly been equivalent value in services.
And, the release refers to "new arrangements" but does not say what those are or if they involve the same two companies that have not proven any qualification or issued a single statement trying to do so?
Again, tonight more questions than answers - but we will continue pushing for all the facts.
And later this afternoon, there was one more confusing twist. The BAA answered our most recent Freedom Of Information request saying, quote, "The BAA's board is currently seeking legal advice relating to the validity of those contracts. The newly constituted board of directors of the BAA is also presently investigating the award of those contracts."
The letter, though, is dated today, the same date as the press release which says that they have been released from those contracts and that all "prior contractual obligations" have been extinguished.
Our Freedom of Information request had asked for 10 items including the minutes of the meeting where the contracts were voted on.
We'll tell you more about what's in that letter tomorrow.
Now, our first Freedom of Information request to the BAA asked for the contracts which they denied. We have since appealed that decision to the ombudsman - as is stipulated under the law. And while that is pending, 7News has obtained a leaked copy of one of those contracts - and going through it - it's fair to conclude that the priority was the contract payout more than it was the delivery of airport ready services.
Jules Vasquez reviewed it:
Signed on Christmas Eve, the Four Diamond contract is remarkable less for what it omits than what it includes.
The discussion of services provided is very general and the only technical specification is that the cameras must be HD. There is nothing specific to aerodromes, or airports, no specific zones of responsibility, no reference to terminals, apron, airside or landside, no requirements of the area of coverage, no term specified for the preservation of security recordings or retrieval of those recordings, no incident reporting and documentation. But, In a curious addition, one of the only things it specifies is that when guards are given keys they have to handle a receipt for it.
And what about those guards? The document does refer to personnel but only says in general terms that they must be qualified and competent and, of course, courteous and polite - no reference to any specialized training or certification, or any international standards, or TSA training, or even that they must be cleared by local Police, Viewers will recall that this plane was stolen by cartel operatives.
There is a reference to calling the airport authority in the case of an event but no defined protocol for incident response and reporting mechanism, including immediate notification to civil aviation authorities.
There is also no provision for performance standards and monitoring.
But one thing that is very specific is the price, 124,610 dollars monthly - that's crystal clear.
And, the automatic renewal - after 10 years and 15 million paid, the contract automatically renews unless the BAA writes to say otherwise.
And then there is the confidentiality clause that does not refer specifically so much to data and protection of sensitive airport and passenger footage, but it does refer to the contract document which must remain confidential. Of course, according to the Freedom of Information Act - "No public contract or other public document shall contain a confidentiality clause and every secrecy provision in a public contract or other public document - shall be wholly void and of no effect,
The contract is signed by Mike Estephan for Four Diamond and by chairman Ricardo Martin and Sandy Roberts for the BAA. It was not signed by the other owner of Four Diamond, BAA board member Nigel Bouloy.
It was prepared by William A Lindo - who, months later - would be appointed to the BAA board which he later resigned from.
The contract has now been suspended, and will reportedly be cancelled - but the public does not know at what cost and with how much paid out - and how is it that this lucky company was chosen for this lucrative contract in the first place - what special connection did these Four Diamonds have?
And while that is the Four Diamond contract, we are told the ISECURITY contract is very similar - and in fact may have been modeled off Four Diamond's one.
We've all heard about how dangerous illegal electrical connections can be and how they are often the cause of many fires on the southside. This was proven yet again today after a horse was electrocuted this afternoon. Jomarie Lanza has that report.
This is the sad scene that unfolded this afternoon at the far end of Neal's Pen Road Extension - a motionless horse folded up against a fence - he had been electrocuted by electric wires coming into contact with the fence and conducting electricity.
The horse belonged to a disabled teenager in the neighbourhood - it was his pride and joy - and his livelihood. But this tragic outcome stems from a problem these residents have been dealing with for years, residents who can't get a legal connection to electricity - having to steal power from the main, leading to tenuous connections and very dangerous exposed wiring.
Residents say they have been clamouring for legal connections to electricity, and they fear that the next time a live wire gets loose, the next victim to be fatally electrocuted won't be an animal.
Voice of: Marsha Belisle, Resident, Penn Road Extension "We need to get in the proper utilities back here on Pen road extension, we are suffering back here we've had fires back here because of electrical wires, now a horse has gotten electrocuted back here I mean it could have been a child it could have been a child to get electrocuted back here we need help, proper help and we aren't talking, we are tired of talking until someone dies, literally then they will come and do something to help people back here, we need help."
"It's unfortunate that it was a horse yes and it wasn't just a horse it was a family member to us because that is the horse of Kyron Green, you understand? That child takes care of his horse, you wouldn't have wanted to see how he broke down when that happened to his horse and we broke down with him because we felt for him the same way. The horse became a family member to us. Do you understand me?"
Kyron Green, a victim of gun violence which left him paralysed in 2019, procured feed and supplies to care for his horses by selling their manure. His mother says it was a major investment for them, and it was something her son enjoyed doing in hopes of making a living by raising and selling horses.
Marsha Belisle, Resident, Penn Road Extension "My son always wanted to be a veterinarian he has had a passion for animals from ever since he was a child, before his injuries when he was shot at the age of 10,11 he used to take care of horses, dogs he used to climb on a bucket to wash horses so it was something he loved as a passion so being that he has graduated now from Canaan High school the child had the dream to mate horses, raise them and sell them off just like how people do with dogs. Get some good breed dogs, raise them and sell them, that's how he would make his money because that was a passion he loved. So now when that happened to his horse of course he would break down, we just hope that he could have gotten breed off the other horse, the horse died trying to mate with the other horse so we are hoping the other horse gets pregnant and brings out an offspring for him."
But aside from the dangerous electrical issues in the area, for Belisle she has a bigger burden on her hands, getting her son another horse to care for.
Marsha Belisle, Resident, Penn Road Extension "I have to try and see how I can get him back another horse miss because at the end of the day that was his passion, and I will go out of my way to get back a horse for that child, he deserves it. For being in his situation and still able to take care of that horse and it's something he loves I have to do something for him."
Those who wish to assist Kyron Green to get a new horse can contact his mother at 605-5794.
30 expended shells were recovered after a ruthless execution in Camalote Village took the life of 21 year old Travis Swift. Swift was at home on Friday night when the gunman barged into his yard and fired shots through the window. He was killed almost instantly - the second son of his mother to be gunned down.
And even today, she had no idea why her son was murdered since she said he was a homebody. And while she's grieving Swift, she also has to take care of her other son, who saw his brother take his last breath.
Courtney Menzies visited their home today and has this story.
7 years after the murder of his brother, 21 year old Travis Swift was gunned down inside his own Camelote home. Swift had just entered his mother's bedroom when a gunman came up to the window and fired a barrage of bullets. And while Swift had reportedly lived a calm life, the police confirmed that he was indeed the gunman's intended target.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Initial investigation has revealed that Swift had departed from his mother's residence at about 8:15pm en route to a neighborhood shop and shortly after he returned, it is believed that an unknown individual entered the residence and fired multiple shots, fatally injuring Swift. Police are currently seeking two male persons who they believe can assist with this investigation."
Courtney Menzies: "Any motive?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No motive has been ascertained so far."
Courtney Menzies: "Is he known to police?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "He is not known to police."
Courtney Menzies: "Do you believe he was followed from the shop?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "The information that we're getting suggests that that was the case and that he was the intended target."
Courtney Menzies: "Are the two suspects from Camalote as well?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Yes."
And just like the police, his family has no idea why he was targeted. His mother explained when her younger son called her and said there was a shooting, she couldn't have guessed that Swift was injured.
Rosita Orellana, Mother of Deceased "It really hurt, it was shocking, and everything because I couldn't believe it. My younger son called me and told me that they just came to shoot up the house. But I thought they just came to shoot up and nobody got hurt. He told me they shot Travis. I told him to call the police, 5 minutes after that I called him back and he told me Travis was dead already."
"What hurts me a lot and this pain, I don't know if it will ever go, Travis is somebody who doesn't give trouble. He's somebody that's always there to help people. He's a sweet person, kind person, everyone who knows him knows the kind of person he is. I don't know why they killed him, what is the reason they targeted him, and why did they wait until he went into the house to shoot him. They shot him from through my window from outside, he just came in like 2 minutes, 2 minutes after he entered the house, they killed him. Like I said everybody that knows him, they don't know him as a trouble person. 21 years of his life, never once a complain came home about him. And for them to target him like this and just take away his life like that, it's not fair. And I would really want justice to be served for it because Travis didn't deserve this."
And she's hoping this case doesn't follow a similar suit to that of her other son, Oswald Arnold, who was killed back in 2018.
Rosita Orellana, Mother of Deceased "My other son that was killed 7 years ago, no justice, up to now, no justice. So I'm begging the police to please get to the bottom of this and at least let us get justice for Travis."
For now, Orellana is just grateful that her younger son wasn't injured.
Rosita Orellana, Mother of Deceased "They shot up at the little brother too but none of the shots caught him. When Travis called out to his brother when they shot him, they aimed at my other son but like God is a wonderful man, he shielded my other son so that nothing happened to him because my son said all the other bullets passed him but none touched him so God really shielded him so that nothing happened to him."
"It's hard and everyday he gets up off him, it really hurts him because he was the last one with him."
"It's hard but we have to take it one day at a time and God will give us the strengthen that we need, I believe that man up there, he will give us the strength we need to make us go through whatever we're going through right now."
Swift worked as a deliveryman for his mother, taking her baked goods to customers in the village.
And that was one of three killings that occurred over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon - hours before father's day - 59-year-old Rubio Salazar was killed by his own son, 39-year-old Daniel Salazar. The argument that led to this fatal chopping stemmed from an incident involving a pet dog. But Daniel Salazar may have a case for self-defense. ASP Stacy Smith told us more.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Police are investigating the death of 59 year old Rubio Salazar of San Mateo area, San Pedro, which occurred on 14th June 2025 at approximately 3:30 p.m. the investigation has so far revealed that Rubio Salazar and his son, 39 year old Daniel Salazar, got into an altercation with each other, where it is alleged that Rubio struck Daniel with a stick and Daniel inflicted a chop wound to the upper part of Rubio Salazar's body, fatally wounded him. Daniel Salazar was detained, where it was observed that he had a wound to the temple for which he sought medical attention. Daniel Salazar is currently in police custody, where it is expected that charges will be brought against him during the course of the day."
Courtney Menzies: "Can Self-Defense be applied in this case?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Self defense certainly arises on the facts however for a defense of self-defense to be successfully sustained, proportional is the question. The office of the Director of Public Prosecution will give directions as to what charges are to be levied under the circumstances."
Reporter: "Can you confirm if the father was drinking at the time?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "I can confirm that samples were taken from persons that were present and statements were recorded."
The DPP is deciding whether Salazar should be charged for murdering his father.
The third killing was in San Pablo, Toledo where the body of an elderly man was found on his farm on his Friday. When police arrived at the scene, they saw that the body of Roberto Dominguez had several injuries on it. ASP Smith gave us more details.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "On Friday, 13th June 2025, at approximately 4:15 p.m., police officers attached to the Bella Vista Police substation in southern Belize visited a banana farm on San Pablo Road where the unresponsive body of Roberto Vasquez Dominguez, a 71 year old Honduran farmer was found. The body, which was already in a state of decomposition, exhibited injuries consistent with chop wounds and gunshot wounds. As a consequence of the ongoing investigation, police have learned that Dominguez was last seen alive on Monday, 9th June, where it is alleged that he indicated to an individual that he was going to do some work on his farm. The investigation into this matter continues."
Reporter: "Any suspects?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No suspect has been identified thus far."
Courtney Menzies: "Did he disclose if he had any problems with anybody else?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No information has been ascertained in relation to that question."
Courtney Menzies: "Was anything stolen?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No, not at this moment. We haven't been able to ascertain if anything was stolen and no motive into this incident has been ascertained."
There was an armed robbery in Orange Walk over the weekend.
It happened at KAB Technologies where the robber entered the store as a customer, and then pulled out a firearm and demanded money. He then stole several phones out of the showcase. Smith told us more.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Police are investigating a robbery which occurred at approximately 10:44 a.m. at KAB technologies, located on San Antonio Road in Orange Work District. The proprietor of that store reported that a Hispanic male person entered the business place and pointed a firearm at the cashier, demanding that she handed over money and cell phones. The male person stole a total of six cellphones and made good his escape. Police's investigation into this matter continues."
Reporter: "The value of the items?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "That has not been quantified as yet."
Last week we reported that Hanisha Castro's ex son-in-law, Sir Andrewin, attempted to burn down her house by setting her couch on fire. Fortunately, while there was some damage, the home was not destroyed. Today the police told us that Andrewin was charged over the weekend:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "As a consequence of the arson report made by Hanisha Castro on 12th June, on 14th of June 2025, police formally arrested and charged Sir Hugh Anthony Andrewin, 21 years old, Belizean construction worker for the crime of arson."
Courtney Menzies: "Do you know what he used, how he started the fire?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "That information has not been ascertained as yet, we're awaiting the information from the fire personnel to assist in that regard."
Andrewin was unrepresented in court this morning where he was read a single charge of arson. No plea was taken since the prosecutor is awaiting the DPP's orders on whether the matter will proceed on indictment or summarily. He was offered bail of $1,500 plus one surety. He will return to court on August 11th.
In political news - the UDP saw another sad chapter in its long saga of ruin unfold on Saturday.
That was when the Shyne Barrow leadership had planned a National Party Council meeting - but without Tracy Panton and her supporters.
When a gas or diesel powered vehicle stops working you can easily take it to the regular old mechanic. But who do you go to when it is an electric vehicle?
That's where ITVET comes in. They have launched a program to provide training on how to service and repair these E-vehicles. Jomarie Lanza attended the opening ceremony for the workshop this morning and here's how that went.
For the next 5 days these trainers will participate in a level 3 hybrid electric and battery electric vehicle service and repair workshop. Learning the in's and outs of how an electrical vehicle functions, It's a skill that only few tradesmen possess and with the increase in the number of these E-vehicles, soon enough there will be more demand for these types of mechanics. The Manager of the Belize City ITVET told us more about the partnership that made this workshop possible
Reul Black, Manager, ITVET Belize District "As you know in the fourth industrial revolution, and this is part of the technology for that we are happy that the UNDP was the first one that invited us for some consultations and there we knew we had our role to play the ITVET has a role to play so we continuously seek places where we can empower our trainees and instructors to do these types of trainings. But not only Belize district, as the former president of the ITVET managers association I sent out invitations to all ITVETs and all technical schools in Belize to attend this workshop because in every place we need to have technicians capable to deal with these electric vehicles and you know once they are new it will not give trouble it is when they start giving trouble that we need these technicians and so we have to start now and that's why when UWI contacted us we were happy to do this, the next step is we will have our own charging systems here in ITVET compound in the near future."
Up to 30 trainers have registered, 10 of them being from other CARICOM countries. One of the instructors for the workshop hails from Trinidad and Tobago, He possesses extensive knowledge in
Automotive and Heavy Equipment, And gave us more details on what he will teach the trainers for the next few days.
Russel Sookoo, Campus Manager, NESC, T&T "Well exactly what the introduction was today about electrical vehicles and we want to get them involved with the technology and understand the way to have these equipment and vehicles repaired as the case may be. However they must have the formal introduction to automotive internal combustion engine because you will be using the electrical aspect to get the vehicle mobile so you must understand the ICE, which is internal combustion engine and the regular vehicle before going into that so we will do a little but of introduction to ICE and hopefully with the participation of the people we need to understand their background before and we will use interactive training, it is more to train these individuals and train the trainers so that when they go back out to give the information to their trainees that they will be able to know the method of show, tell, and do, and practice."
Mayor Bernard Wagner who attended the opening ceremony as a guest speaker says he is in full support of the workshop because of the City council's E-mobility initiative.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City "This event this five week training course is much needed in Belize City and as you know the landscape for E-mobility is expanding and you need to have the expert the trainers who would be able to facilitate repairs, servicing of these vehicles and so this collaboration between the ITVET and the UWI and UB I think is very needed and so I fully support it."
"With E-mobility anytime you look into to expand E-mobility it creates more opportunities it creates job opportunities and the way how I look at the evolving of E-Mobility within the scope of Belize City I can only speak for Belize City is that there is always the need for service men, technicians who are able to, if you need repairs if you need servicing, quick servicing of these vehicles that we have them in place here in Belize City."
In other municipal news, last week the Belize City Council's Sanitation department set out to conduct a clean up in the North Creek canal - which is usually chock full of garbage. We asked the mayor about it today and he gave us more details on what his team encountered at the site.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City "That's a real sore eye area North creek has always been a sore eye it's a situation, its how the water flow beside the people littering there is a water flow area that how the canal flow from certain areas in the city and then it accumulates there and so our team always have to go in there to take out the debris but If we just get less pollution, less people throwing in their mattress throwing in the fridge in the canals the canals are not made for that sort of activity, the canal is sort of a water flow to aid and alleviate flooding and have the water flow properly but when you throw in debris and then you come to the city right and we are flooding out no you have to begin to look after your environment take care of your environment."
According to Bernard this is just one of the many clean ups being conducted in preparation for hurricane season. As we have shown you, that preparation also includes prevention of flooding and water damage in flood prone areas. He discussed the preparedness plan:
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City "That plan is well underway as you may know we had our first big amount of rains from my reports I have received according to the reports I have received in respect to the rains that came the water ran off pretty easy, there are areas that still require some sort of maintenance I think we focus a lot of the six key flood prone areas and we may have to now look at the other areas, we may have to some extent not put in the work in some of the other areas, but our team is aware of that and our team is out to ensure that we at best, at best because you will never be able to alleviate full flooding, at best we are able to have the water flow off pretty quick."
"We have some in coney drive area, in the button wood area, behind the Belize Healthcare partners some of the streets that attach off coney drive some of them get flood, even streets along the seashore drive area I have some residents who reached out to me in respect to flooding in that area so there are areas that still require some maintenance."
A man escaped with minor injuries after the jet ski he was riding exploded on Saturday morning in San Pedro. While the police and fire departments are still investigating, we asked the police whether any charges can be levied since the jet ski was a rental.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "On Saturday, 14th June, at approximately 10:30 a.m., police responded to reports of an explosion in the lagoon by Gas and Go gas station in San Mateo area, San Pedro. The initial investigation revealed that the operator of the jetski, Jeffrey Molina, had just refueled the jet ski at the gas station, and shortly thereafter there was an explosion which caused him to be flung into the water. The jet ski then drifted a bit and subsequently caught fire. Fire personnel were summoned to the scene."
Reporter: "The level of injuries?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "He received minor injuries."
Courtney Menzies: "Can there be any charges levied on - it wasn't his jet ski, right?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "It was a jet ski that belonged to a company."
Courtney Menzies: "So can any change be levied on them for maybe not properly checking their equipment or anything like that?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "Certain that will require that inspection to be done, which leads to that conclusion."
A man was injured on Sunday after he let his attacker into his home. According to police, the attacker called him by his name, introduced himself, and then asked to use the bathroom before pulling out his weapon. ASP Smith told us more.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "On Sunday, 15th June, at approximately 8:45 p.m., police responded to an aggravated burglary report on Antelope Street, Belize City, where they met with Miguel Alpuche who reported that at around 8:35 p.m., he was at his residence on the said street when he was approached by a male person who called his name and requested to use Alpuche's restroom. However, after this male person gained access to the house, he produced a knife and demanded money from Alpuche. A struggle ensued between Alpuche and the individual, which resulted in Mr. Alpuche receiving cut wounds. The police are now seeking one male person in connection to this incident."
Reporter: "Did he know the person?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "The information that we have ascertained is that the male person gave his name to Mr. Alpuche, and would have called Mr. Alpuche by his name. However, he is not quite certain as to whether you recognized the person."
Courtney Menzies: "Was anything stolen?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No. Yes, there was a demand. However, the struggle that ensued would caused the person to subsequently flee without receiving anything."
And on Thursday night, a man was injured in a shooting after someone he had been socializing with pulled out a gun. The victim and his attacker reportedly had an altercation that turned into a shooting. Smith gave us more details.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "On Thursday, 12th June 2025, at approximately 11:35 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Maskall Street Police City. It was learned that Jevon Ramclam was injured as a consequence of the shooting and was ferried to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. So far, the investigation has revealed that Ramclam was at his residence socializing with a group of male persons when an argument ensued between Ramclam and one of the individuals who is alleged to have pulled out a firearm and fire several shots at Ramclam, injuring him. Police have since arrested and charged Lyndon Maskall, a Belizean tour guide of Maskall Street for the crimes of use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm."
Courtney Menzies: "So these two people that are friends?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "They are familiar with each other, yes."
Reporter: "Were they drinking?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "They were socializing. I believe they were drinking indeed."
Courtney Menzies: "The firearm was licensed?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer "No, Mr. Maskall is not known to be the owner of a a licensed firearm."
Reporter: "Are any of these persons known to police?"
In other news, the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support, and Gender Affairs have partnered with UNICEF through the Department of Human Services to conduct a week-long national training to improve casework standards by educating frontline social workers on how to conduct proper social inquiry, investigative, custody, and adoption reports. Their press release details that " These reports serve as critical tools in assessing child welfare, informing judicial decisions, and guiding interventions that uphold the best interests of the child." Here are the highlights from the launch ceremony today.
Belize's senior courts are slowly getting back up to speed after a cyberattack by a sophisticated ransomware named Qilin. But - after reportedly refusing the ransom and basically rebuilding the system from scratch, the Courts today announced that the Registry at the Senior Courts of Belize is now operational and functional. They add that Registry business, such as marriage licence applications, apostilling of documents and receipt of payments for court and registry business, are being dealt with manually at the Registry.
The Court of Appeal has been sitting continuously without interruptions, while the High Court has been sitting both in person and virtually to ensure court matters continue to be heard.
A release adds that "some measure of internet connectivity has been restored in the Senior Courts of Belize."
Rebuilding the system with a firewall reportedly cost in the range of 400 thousand dollars.
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For weeks now we've been reporting on those airport security contracts. 11 days ago they announced that the contracts were questionable and payments were being suspended.
And later this afternoon, there was one more confusing twist. The BAA answered our most recent Freedom Of Information request saying, quote, "The BAA's board is currently seeking legal advice relating to the validity of those contracts. The newly constituted board of directors of the BAA is also presently investigating the award of those contracts."
Now, our first Freedom of Information request to the BAA asked for the contracts which they denied. We have since appealed that decision to the ombudsman - as is stipulated under the law. And while that is pending, 7News has obtained a leaked copy of one of those contracts - and going through it - it's fair to conclude that the priority was the contract payout more than it was the delivery of airport ready services.
We've all heard about how dangerous illegal electrical connections can be and how they are often the cause of many fires on the southside. This was proven yet again today after a horse was electrocuted this afternoon. Jomarie Lanza has that report.
30 expended shells were recovered after a ruthless execution in Camalote Village took the life of 21 year old Travis Swift. Swift was at home on Friday night when the gunman barged into his yard and fired shots through the window. He was killed almost instantly - the second son of his mother to be gunned down.
"Initial investigation has revealed that Swift had departed from his mother's residence at about 8:15pm en route to a neighborhood shop and shortly after he returned, it is believed that an unknown individual entered the residence and fired multiple shots, fatally injuring Swift. Police are currently seeking two male persons who they believe can assist with this investigation."
Rosita Orellana, Mother of Deceased 
And that was one of three killings that occurred over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon - hours before father's day - 59-year-old Rubio Salazar was killed by his own son, 39-year-old Daniel Salazar. The argument that led to this fatal chopping stemmed from an incident involving a pet dog. But Daniel Salazar may have a case for self-defense. ASP Stacy Smith told us more.
There was an armed robbery in Orange Walk over the weekend.
Last week we reported that Hanisha Castro's ex son-in-law, Sir Andrewin, attempted to burn down her house by setting her couch on fire. Fortunately, while there was some damage, the home was not destroyed. Today the police told us that Andrewin was charged over the weekend:
When a gas or diesel powered vehicle stops working you can easily take it to the regular old mechanic. But who do you go to when it is an electric vehicle?
"As you know in the fourth industrial revolution, and this is part of the technology for that we are happy that the UNDP was the first one that invited us for some consultations and there we knew we had our role to play the ITVET has a role to play so we continuously seek places where we can empower our trainees and instructors to do these types of trainings. But not only Belize district, as the former president of the ITVET managers association I sent out invitations to all ITVETs and all technical schools in Belize to attend this workshop because in every place we need to have technicians capable to deal with these electric vehicles and you know once they are new it will not give trouble it is when they start giving trouble that we need these technicians and so we have to start now and that's why when UWI contacted us we were happy to do this, the next step is we will have our own charging systems here in ITVET compound in the near future."
"Well exactly what the introduction was today about electrical vehicles and we want to get them involved with the technology and understand the way to have these equipment and vehicles repaired as the case may be. However they must have the formal introduction to automotive internal combustion engine because you will be using the electrical aspect to get the vehicle mobile so you must understand the ICE, which is internal combustion engine and the regular vehicle before going into that so we will do a little but of introduction to ICE and hopefully with the participation of the people we need to understand their background before and we will use interactive training, it is more to train these individuals and train the trainers so that when they go back out to give the information to their trainees that they will be able to know the method of show, tell, and do, and practice."
"This event this five week training course is much needed in Belize City and as you know the landscape for E-mobility is expanding and you need to have the expert the trainers who would be able to facilitate repairs, servicing of these vehicles and so this collaboration between the ITVET and the UWI and UB I think is very needed and so I fully support it."
In other municipal news, last week the Belize City Council's Sanitation department set out to conduct a clean up in the North Creek canal - which is usually chock full of garbage. We asked the mayor about it today and he gave us more details on what his team encountered at the site.
A man escaped with minor injuries after the jet ski he was riding exploded on Saturday morning in San Pedro. While the police and fire departments are still investigating, we asked the police whether any charges can be levied since the jet ski was a rental.
