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Stella Maris Educators and parents are reeling after a tragedy that occurred today. Events started to unfold at noon that led to the drowning death of a 6 year old special needs student. 7News was there when his body was recovered from the sea in the Kings Park area. Jomarie Lanza was one of the first to arrive at the scene and here's what she saw.
It's a sight that could easily make your heart drop to your stomach in a matter of seconds. Seeing the lifeless body of a young child sprawled out near the water's edge. It's a scene that will forever haunt the Orellano family, finding their little one in this state after dropping him off at school no less than 7 hours earlier.
6 year old Pablo Orellano was an autistic student here at Stella Maris Primary school, and somehow during the lunch hour, his teachers lost track of him, and he managed to make his way out of the school compound, and end up here in the Hangar area about a mile away.
Those in the area saw him at the water's edge. The boy removed his clothing and went into the water for a swim. A short time after he was found floating in the sea close to the seawall - he was unresponsive.
Police arrived at the scene around 1:30, followed by a group of distraught teachers from the school, and along with them Pablo's grandmother, who was inconsolable.
Not long after, his father Vidal Orellano and another relative arrived. And that's when the reality of this tragedy began to sink in among them as the Scenes of Crime unit removed his little body from the scene.
It's hard to process how quickly everything happened in the span of an hour. from the time he went missing up to when they began desperately searching for him. And how a small child could make that far of a journey without being stopped by an adult.
We then went to the school where the mother arrived about an hour and a half later - demanding to see her child. Staff approached her to inform her what had happened - but the mother persisted, shouting the boy's name, in the vain hope that he would appear. When he didn't, the grim realization hit her and she fell to the ground, wailing.
As of this evening the Ministry of Education had launched an investigation, and will be releasing a statement. Both parents declined interviews but the father - who has custody of the child - told us off camera that he feels that someone led his son to the water's edge.
The Ministry of Education issued a release just before 6:00 stating that they are currently working with the family to provide support at this time and will continue to investigate the matter to ascertain all The details.
It was a terrifying start to the weekend on Friday night when a football game erupted into mayhem - as shots were fired, leaving a prominent gang figure dead, 3 men shot, and the whole stadium scrambling for their lives. Gang leader Brandon Baptist was killed and thrown over the bleachers at the Marion Jones Stadium.
Baptist has been featured in our newscast frequently as a member of the Back-a-land Crips - known as BLC. But for the past few years, he has been preaching peace in the streets and attempting to change his life. He was said to be on the path to reformation when he was killed.
But this murder leaves many questions: did Baptist trigger the shooting? Didn't police officers check for firearms? And will there be retaliation?
Courtney Menzies visited his home today and spoke with his mother, who has given interviews in the past about officers taking advantage of her sons. Here is the family's version of events.
Marion Jones' bleachers were filled on Friday night as football fans watched the BDFA semifinals, Reggae Boyz vs Survivors. The first half was almost over when gunshots were fired and chaos erupted. When the smoke cleared, the body of 39 year old Brandon Baptist was lying on the ground, and three more persons had been shot.
Baptist was no stranger to the law, the media, or anyone living in the "back-a-land" area. Among his list of charges throughout his life was a murder that he was ultimately acquitted of - twice. A few years later, he was again charged for another murder.
Baptist had spent a chunk of his life in and out of court and prison. But his mother - who has always spoken up for him in the past - said she didn't expect his death since he had made concrete steps to change his life.
Denise Flowers, Mother of Deceased "That is not a pretty feeling. Up to now, I feel, man, you know. Because I think that was very uncalled for and the real thing that's hurting me, my son made peace with all those guys. And they still ended up killing my son. My son changed his life. My son turned to God and the thing that tick me off is that they didn't have to kill me son like that, they chanced my son out of his life."
"They are humans, I am humans, they could die too but I'm not in that world, I am leaving them to God because there is a God. What goes around, comes around."
"They're clapping, they're joyful, they're laughing, they're having parties over my son's head. But when their day comes, I hope they can handle it."
Baptist was involved with the Leadership Intervention Unit, among other initiatives he tried to organize in his community. Exactly one month ago, the Commissioner of Police was in the BLC area speaking with him. In 2021, the BLC and their rivals, the PIV gang held a joint press conference to plead for peace, with Baptist as one of the spokespersons.
And according to his mother, he had once saved the life of the very same man who killed him.
Denise Flowers, Mother of Deceased "My son does a lot of programs, my son is with the LIU, and my son is always making the peace. the same one who killed him, I'm not telling lies, that same one who killed my son, they wanted to kill that boy because he did a lot of things. Brandon said, peace again, don't do that, back down. Don't do that, leave the boy, we are making peace. The same one. They did peace with my son to kill my son. Because they same ones came into my yard to have peace with Footy Gongora, came to have peace with them and those same ones turned around and killed my son and that really hurt me."
"Those guys are demons, they're evil people, if they weren't evil people, they wouldn't be thinking about killing, they would be thinking about the Almighty Father and that's why they didn't like B because B was changing his life, so what did they do? They took my son out of the world because I could attest that my son changed."
Flowers explained that her son went to watch his brothers at the football match. He was with his cousin, Cameron Williams, who was also shot during the altercation. Williams said that Baptist went up the bleachers to speak with the rival group and when he was heading back down, the gunshots started.
Voice of: Cameron Williams, Shooting Victim/Cousin of Deceased "When I heard the gunshots, I looked up and saw my family getting into a commotion with the next side. When I saw my family getting into a commotion with the next side I was thinking of popping upstairs and helping my family. I punch the person that was holding down my family three time to let go my family and he didn't let go of my family and the gunman came from upstairs the same time and shot my family underneath his armpit and the next two people who were with them from the next side grabbed my family from his feet and flipped him over. And then I punched the man three times to let go my family, the next one came from behind me to grab me to do the same thing they did to my family, but I elbowed him in his nose and when I elbow him in his nose, that's when they let me go and when I went down the steps, gunman aimed the gun at me and shot my in my hand too because they want to do the same thing that they did to my family."
"They really hurt me and they hurt my hand. I don't want to talk a lot about those things. I just want justice for my family."
Courtney Menzies: "But you guys didn't go there for any- you guys went there to enjoy the game?"
Voice of: Cameron Williams, Shooting Victim/Cousin of Deceased "To go and enjoy the game, they're the ones that came like they're tempting us. They came beside us first, the first crowd came first then a second crowd pulled up and then a next crowd pulled up and they stayed right beside us then when it looked like someone pulled up, one of the big dogs, all of them went over us and I didn't even know when that happened, I didn't even know when they moved from beside us. I don't even know why my family came to the game."
Williams also said that they were never searched by any of 3 police officers who were responsible for keeping the crowd safe.
Courtney Menzies: "Were police searching you guys?"
Voice of: Cameron Williams, Shooting Victim/Cousin of Deceased "No ma'am. nothing happened. The police just left people to walk past them when they put on the bands, the police just left them to walk past. So people could have walked in with more than 10 guns in that spot if they wanted to kill somebody. No kind of security. I don't want to say the word but that's ***obscenity*** that police are doing out there."
And if Baptist hadn't been killed that night, he would've been at church like he is every Sunday.
Linda Evans, Friend of Deceased "He said, I'm going to be a pastor, you know. And so every time we get together he'd talk about that and he talked about that he wants change, and he wants change for Belize and the city and the kids and the yard and how he wanted things to change. And you know when we come to God, it's steps but each month, each week, he's grown closer to God and last Sunday he came to church with me and four other guys who are also wanting change in Belize and he was so excited about coming to church yesterday and he invited people here in the yard, he invited a next "street figure," several of them actually, and he was just excited about the change, he was excited that he was going to be a new person and help people grow and help people change."
But now, Baptist's mother says he can finally be at peace.
Denise Flowers, Mother of Deceased "A lot of things that used to hurt me with some of the police, everything that happens, they run come to my yard. If a vehicle comes here, they run come here, if a cycle comes, police comes here. It's like we're not living, you don't go anywhere."
"They have a camera right now in my yard, I can't even piss in my yard good. And only here they do it to."
"If a pin drops out there, it's Brandon Baptist. But anyway, I will end it off with this: Brandon Baptist is no more. He won't go through harassment in his death, he's in peace right now. That's the only thing I have to say."
John Grinage also received one gunshot to the right side of the chest and one to the lower back, while Herson Mena received one shot to the right side of the neck.
And today, the Commissioner of Police narrated the events that led up to Baptist's death. From the police's investigation, he explained that Baptist may have had a gun as well.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "The initial information the police had received is that Baptist was not at the game earlier at the inception, was called to the field or to the stadium following some altercation someone may have had with members of the PIV gang. And, upon arrival, he was there hanging out with other members of the BLC. They were at the lower end of the bleacher and the PIV were at the upper end in the same line of bleachers. Brandon got up and he went to where the PIV group were. Some altercation happened. During the altercation, some are alleging that Brandon have taken out a gun, and when he did that, the others from PIV shot him. After having shot him, he continued to struggle with them, and he was eventually thrown over the railing of the bleachers where he his body was later found. In the wake of this incident, I went to Belize city on Saturday, myself and Mr Grinage. We met with the senior command in Eastern Division, Mr Romero and his team, strategizing to ensure that we put things in place to avert any possible retaliation."
And because of the dispute over the circumstances of the murder, right now this is NOT being treated as a murder investigation. Rather it is a death investigation. The Commissioner explained why:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "We have certain information that we are working on. We have some people in custody and the investigation continues."
Jules Vasquez "Do you want to expect to bring charges?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "The file, based on the complexity, as you have even described this morning, what is being said by one side and what is being said by the other side, we will have to send the matter to DPP. Because obviously, the other side are claiming self-defense."
And so while the events leading up to Baptist's demise are unclear, he does leave a void in the LIU's efforts. Up until his death he remained as an active first point of contact in his turf for both the LIU and police.
Dominique Noralez spoke with us today about Baptist's importance within the program and to her personally as an acquaintance:
Dominique Noralez, Chairperson, LIU "Well it's always devastating when it's someone you know and someone who you've grown to like and in many ways, love passes, it's always devastating. Team was on the ground, of course in communication with the Belize Police Department getting as much information as we can, but yeah it's been a particularly personally difficult time for me."
"To us he was one of our first points of contact in the area in which he lived, He was a supervisor on our programme with a work team attached to him. He was as I described to my team the morning when we put together the plan of action. He was a friend of LIU and really my staff, they have more longevity in terms of the relationship he had with them. So I think they are taking it in stride as well but yeah Brandon was one of the employees and beneficiaries of LIU and a friend of LIU."
"I've always known Brandon we are from the same place but we only kind of communicated now that I was in this position, I saw Brandon last Sunday, he was dressed up and I asked him where he was coming from he said he was coming from church and I told him how I would try to arrange for us to go to a service together. Unfortunately that cannot occur now, so yeah I know his little brothers and I mean we all know each other and we might not talk but we all know each other and we are from the same Complex field, the same basketball court, the same Police Street, the same Lacroix Boulevard the same community. So that's why it's hard not to see him again you know so yea."
And despite losing a key ally in their peace effort, is there anything that they could have done to prevent this tragedy? Noralez says that there is no telling when and where every gang related murder could or will possibly occur.
Dominique Noralez, Chairperson, LIU "Reformation Jo is life long work. We are all interconnected, that Haulover creek that separates us, is a geographic feature, and you cannot tell people that they don't deserve a life of safety and peace of mind and recreation and opportunities simply because of where they grow up and who they are related to."
"Mr Dawson and out sergeants are leading the on the ground work and making sure that we remain in contact with the community because you don't want people to feel like "Oh, you only come around when you know something is going to pop off" or you want information, or whatever it is. You want people to know that we are really there and we really care about their well being and we are here to support as much as we can. That is our job at LIU and one that we take very seriously and one we have ensured that my staff has the tools to operate and all the resources they need to do their jobs right."
"No one could have predicted this and I think if we could have predicted every murder we would do our best to stop it. This and every murder that has happened over the past 20-30 years particularly related to gun violence is a logical end to social exclusion. This is what happens when people are not given a chance to thrive and obviously there is some personal responsibility on the individuals as well. But we need to do a better job at making sure our prevention doesn't happen when someone is already embroiled in life like this. Prevention has to happen when people are growing when they want to feel like they have something to live for for tomorrow when they want, you just have to… When you ask a question like that, Jo it makes us feel like there is a blame to be cast, and no one wants this stuff to happen, nobody wants this stuff to happen, but when it does we are reminded of why the work we do is important and why it must not be looked at as coddling criminals which is a term I hear quite often which infuriates me because poverty is violent and poverty either leads to one or two places and so we have to be able to continue to do the work to prevent everything like this from happening."
And before Friday night's wild murder and shooting in the city - there was a calculated killing - at the back part of Cotton Tree village. A man was relaxing on his verandah when he was summoned to his death. Here's more:
On Friday night at 7:30, 30 year old construction worker Seferino Maas was here on his verandah in Cotton Tree village breezing off after work when someone called his name. Moments later, multiple shots were fired at him and he died on the spot.
Alfonso Maas, Brother of Deceased "When I had a shot burst, pop, pop, pop."
Afonso Mass had worked with his brother Sefereno all day - and there was no hint of a threat or danger. He spoke to us off camera - and told us the shooter made no mistake:
Voice of: Alfonso Maas, Brother of Deceased "I don't know what reason. We can't say they came to look for the wrong person because they call his name before they hit the man. I can't say they kill somebody by mistake because they call his name before they hit him."
"I don't have an answer for that one, or I could tell you why if the man was selling a little drugs or something, I would tell everybody and tell my brother to stop do that, but no. He was on his veranda relaxing without shirt and had just reach from work."
Seferino was the father of 5:
Voice of: Alfonso Maas, Brother of Deceased "He has a small one about three months or four months right now. Yes, I am sorry for them because they are too small."
And, today police acknowledged that Cotton Tree is an especially dangerous village - so much so that it has a fixed MIT unit making constant patrols.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "The investigation yielded some information, so we are looking for the two suspects."
Reporter "What is the possible motive?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We do not have a motive at this time."
Jules Vasquez "Cotton Tree is one of the villages with the highest number of violent incidents, and certainly last year, I think it's the village that saw the most murders."
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Yes, there were several murders in Cotton Tree last year."
Jules Vasquez "What is it that causes this in Cotton Tree?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We have different, one is drug activity, and other rivalries between persons in that area. So there is a team that is in that area to try to prevent these shootings."
And, from fighting crime to fighting fires….last week, you heard that firefighters at the Belize City branch of the National Fire Service were planning a go-slow after their overtime pay was cut. They also revealed the conditions in which they were forced to work.
Well, the western branch has joined in, and in a letter to the minister, CEO, and fire chief, they stated that they would enact a go-slow until the government meets with them to discuss the issues they are facing as well as the solutions. They also want adequate compensation for additional responsibilities they are being tasked with - such as EMT and technical rescue services - with accompanying legislation, allowances, and an audit of the department's finances.
Well, today they got the first demand. The Minister, Andre Perez, met with the firemen's representatives to discuss the way forward. He clarified that overtime pay won't be cut completely, but that it will be slashed, and said that the firefighters should learn to live on their base salary rather than rely on overtime.
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management "I want to make clear that that firefighter brought up, they're valid concerns to the point what I want to clarify it was never that they were being neglected or not being looked at. Of course he did say certain things about corruption and embezzlement, that is something, and putting a thing to the fire chief to the point that it's him, and to make clear that the fire chief is just the fire chief, he doesn't run in terms of funds, we have ministry that runs that. So just to clarify that but indeed that stems out from the concern, relates to what happened today, the discussions again when the union and with our CEO. What it boils down to is just an amicable discussion, valid concerns. I do know that the concern that they're not getting paid their overtime, they won't be incurring overtime, to make it clear, no salary cut, we're not taking away from the pay, what we're just saying as a ministry to clarify is as we come to the end of the fiscal year, we need to do some belt tightening. Any prudent ministry looks at these things in February and March for the end of the fiscal year and we have to see that belt tightening."
"Now we're not saying that only your flat salary, which is what you agreed to is having a salary. There will be of course overtime coming in but certainly not to that extreme where some of those firefighters are getting almost double their salary. That's not right, not for them, but rather, in terms of becoming an efficient ministry, I expect my FO and my CEO to bring it to my attention that if someone is incurring so much overtime consistently, then we have to rectify these things."
Courtney Menzies: "But in their perspective, they're already used to making this and that's what they use to sustain themselves, their family, their loans, whatever else they're paying, so in their mind, even though it's not a salary cut, it's still less salary that they'll be taking home."
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management "Well, let me tell you something. it is very clear, laid out right here that anywhere you go to work, you didn't go there with the intention that you'll be surviving on overtime. When you budget out, you have to budget that this is my flat salary for the week and I will budget around that then any overtime that comes in I certainly can allocate for that."
Courtney Menzies: "Will you appealing for maybe a higher budget next fiscal year to try and build that building?"
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management "Certainly had that discussion this morning with my FO and my AO and of course the fire chief, preparing the next year for the budget. Again, that doesn't expect to be approved but the point is to rightfully asking that no prudent ministry is going to be engaging in creating that same budget for the following year knowing that at the end of the year this is what is going to come, finding yourself in the red, and at the last minute trying to dig here, somewhere finding funds to allocate and to fit for the salary of our firefighters."
Turning back now to police - the Professional Standards Branch is investigating the police shooting of Independence Villager 24 year old Emil rivers. Today The OC for Professional Standards says the officers showed maximum restraint - even when they had three guns posted at the mentally ill man:
Sr. Supt. Glen Rivero, OC - PSB "I can say that there's no indication that the officer who fired the shots intended to hit him in the midsection. From all indications, the officer who fired the shot intended to use the force necessary to subdue Mr. Rivers by targeting his leg."
Jules Vasquez "It was at point blank range. It was 2 feet difference."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "I think Jules, the statement of the officer, he said in his statement that he had gone to shoot the man in the foot, but he turned at the same time and he ended up being caught in the abdomen. That's what the officer said in his statement."
Jules Vasquez "When you make an assessment with a file like this, you have to take into fact that you are dealing with an officer, the officer who fired the shot has a history of the use of violence or the use of lethal force, sorry, the use of lethal force in the line of duty."
Sr. Supt. Glen Rivero, OC - PSB "I can clearly say that our investigation so far have not indicated that the officer who fired the shot intended to cause the injury to Mr. Rivers directly as they encountered him. Those officers who were on the scene, they had use from our investigation extreme, extreme patience."
Jules Vasquez "But sounds like you've already prejudged and reached a conclusion that there is no wrongdoing."
Sr. Supt. Glen Rivero, OC - PSB "No..."
Jules Vasquez "You said they showed every restraint."
Sr. Supt. Glen Rivero, OC - PSB "I am saying that so far from our investigation, the officer did not, because from your question, it would imply that the initial encounter force was used. So I'm saying that our investigation is not showing that."
Jules Vasquez "When you look at it, do you regret that that was the only real alternative the officers had? They didn't have a taser, they didn't have rubber bullets, they didn't have any means of suppression other than the sustained threat of lethal force, which will only produce one result from a mentally ill person."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "We had a lengthy discussion about this matter in our conference this morning, and the commanders were asked to speak openly about it and to give the opinion so that we know what we need to do going forward in addressing issues like this. And it is our joint conclusion that there must be more training done with police officers and the Ministry of Health, and in particular, the mental health institution within Belize to sensitize police officers in terms of how to address issues like these."
"We also agreed that we need to look at the weaponry that police officers use in terms of escalating force. We might need to see how we can reintroduce pepper spray with specific instructions, and then we are going to see if we can introduce tasers."
"I also said to commanders this morning to make sure that they check their armory, that they do have the shotgun we had issued to them before, and if they don't have the beanbags, let us know and we'll provide them with beanbags."
"Clearly, the officers on the ground were not properly trained in terms of dealing with these issue, because listening to Mr. Rivers, his issue of not surrendering to the police was one of fear. He said, I will not go with you at the police, because you all will chance me."
"Obviously, there was one of fear, and the method the police used to de-escalate or to convince him to go with them was, like you rightly said, three guns trained at him and a series of obscenities, right?"
"That is not going to make him calm, it is not going to make him want to surrender, because all he sees is that if he surrenders, he might be killed or severely injured by the police. So we have to find other means to be able to train our officers, that they would know that when you encounter a person in such situation, using the right language to the person, even though they may suffer some mental disability, they still do understand at times, and they would listen."
6 days ago, SSB's CEO suddenly departed his post and since then no explanation has been forthcoming. Tonight, the Christian Workers Union - which represents the Social Security Board workers is demanding answers. They complain, quote, "SSB has yet to put out a credible narrative to explain why barely five months into his three-year contract, the CEO departed under dubious circumstances ... .SSB did not follow proper procedure when it linked hiring a CEO and a Deputy CEO. When the issue was raised it was met with certain defiance from the Board which stated that the legislation allows. The legislation however, refers to an Assistant CEO." End quote.
The CWU says Almendarez, quote, "gained support and respect of staff as he discussed matters of job security."
The union demands, quote, "that the Board acts prudently to make its case and provide a response ultimately assuring our Members and other Belizeans that the cost now appended to this action and to the SSB Fund is worth the end result"
And, the Belize Port Authority sent out a release today blasting Sunup on 7's Monday Morning Beef for broadcasting this schedule of payments which according to our information is associated with a computer system contract that was proposed to the Port Authority.
A stormy release says, quote "The Belize Port Authority categorically refutes the claims and comments made during a segment of..."Sun Up On 7"...which suggested an alleged contract involvement of the BPA with a foreign company known as Jotaefe. The segment included what was referred to as a "payment schedule" underpinning such an agreement. The Belize Port Authority wishes to clarify unequivocally that it has not entered into any contract or agreement with Jotaefe. No such signed contract exists..."
The Port authority says, quote "maritime operations continue to be characterized by reliability and trustworthiness."
And turning back to our top segment story - the most widely circulated image of the bedlam that unfolded at Marion Jones Stadium on Friday night comes from intrepid sports photographer William Ysaguirre. Today he told us what they moment was like:
And anyone who saw that video on Friday night expected that a State of Emergency would be declared the next day - after all, it's a gang leader who was killed.
But, today, the commissioner said they will hold off on that - as long as the peace can hold up:
And though no SOE seems to be in sight, the LIU chair person says that they continue to provide consistent mediation across all points of possible conflict in the city. She also explained why she believes an SOE is not an effective solution at this point.
Dominique Noralez, Chairperson LIU "Mediation continues regardless; we have several other issues happening as well so mediation is always happening and we remain in the communities. I don't think an SOE is on the table, it is something that I have always said that on a personal and professional level I cannot support. But it is a tool that the political directorate uses. Well, I don't think at this point it is necessary: people are grieving and people are going through the changes that this loss will cause inevitably. And our job is to ensure that both the securitisation and peace building efforts remain parallel to each other and of course also intertwined."
But we wouldn't even need to be contemplating enhanced mediation and SOE's if it weren't for what were multiple police failures at the Marion Jones Stadium on Friday night.
As you heard earlier, there were only three cops working at the football match, and first hand reports say they weren't searching anybody.
And that's because the BDFA, which is the event organizer, bypassed Eastern Division command - as so many do - and negotiated directly with police officers - which is frowned upon but widely practiced. The compol discussed the problem:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "There is no way on earth would we have allowed, three police officers to work game of such magnitude where there are lone gang gang members."
"And so you will see that there is increased police operations, in the Saint Martin DePorres area. And that operation is going to continue for a very lengthy period of time, because we want to make sure that we have things in place, to prevent retaliation, even up to the funeral and after the funeral. I've also advised the mediation team, brother Nuri and brother Footie that we're not going to engage into no mediation at this time, Because we don't want to bring the group together. Tensions are extremely high, and that might result in further escalation of issues. So we will put aside mediation for now and allow the police to work. And when we believe that heads have cooled down, then we'll see if we can bring them to the mediation table."
"And certainly there is some breakdown in terms of the police officers working at such a game. I can say to you that I was not aware of that game being played. And, I also check with Mister Romero. And he said that he was not aware of the game."
"We are seeing that there is a trend where people are putting together sporting activities, and I would say in good faith to be able to bring rival groups together as a way of doing intervention through sports. But instead of applying to the commissioner of police, for security, they find their own police officers and they get those police officers to provide security for them and many a times, the level of security that they're getting for these events is not adequate."
Jules Vasquez "What was the failing in this case, who had the obligation to realize, okay, we have gang elements It's a night game. It's a Friday night. A lot of bad things can happen. Whose responsibility was it?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "The officers whom, would have gotten the call to work the event ought to have said to the organizers, I cannot work this event without you seeking permission first from the commissioner or the local commander."
"Certainly his response would be not less than ten police. They don't want to pay for ten police. So they would go behind him and go to the officers on the lower level officers to get them to work for them and then let us get three."
Jules Vasquez "Was Mr. Gamboa the contracting officer? Since I see SPU were there."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "Mr. Gamboa is saying no, that on that particular night he was not notified. But he also admitted that on two other occasions he was contacted and he had worked there. And I had said to Mr. Gamboa that as a senior officer, he too would have had an obligation to inform either myself or Mr. Romero or refer to people them to contact myself or Mr. Romero for us to decide how much police officers would have to work the event."
On Friday we told you that the Christian Workers Union sent a letter to the Minister of Labour announcing that it is invoking the twenty-one days' notice to institute industrial action against Port of Belize Limited.
Well, tonight the Minister has responded. He says, quote, "Given the essential nature of the services provided, the Ministry has taken note of the concerns raised and will proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Act. In this regard, steps will be taken to constitute the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal to address the dispute." End quote.
So now representatives will be nominated to the Tribunal, and, the minister warns,"
In the interim, we remind all parties that, as per the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act, no industrial action should be taken while the matter is before the Tribunal."
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Stella Maris Educators and parents are reeling after a tragedy that occurred today. Events started to unfold at noon that led to the drowning death of a 6 year old special needs student. 7News was there when his body was recovered from the sea in the Kings Park area. Jomarie Lanza was one of the first to arrive at the scene and here's what she saw.
It was a terrifying start to the weekend on Friday night when a football game erupted into mayhem - as shots were fired, leaving a prominent gang figure dead, 3 men shot, and the whole stadium scrambling for their lives. Gang leader Brandon Baptist was killed and thrown over the bleachers at the Marion Jones Stadium.
"That is not a pretty feeling. Up to now, I feel, man, you know. Because I think that was very uncalled for and the real thing that's hurting me, my son made peace with all those guys. And they still ended up killing my son. My son changed his life. My son turned to God and the thing that tick me off is that they didn't have to kill me son like that, they chanced my son out of his life."
"He said, I'm going to be a pastor, you know. And so every time we get together he'd talk about that and he talked about that he wants change, and he wants change for Belize and the city and the kids and the yard and how he wanted things to change. And you know when we come to God, it's steps but each month, each week, he's grown closer to God and last Sunday he came to church with me and four other guys who are also wanting change in Belize and he was so excited about coming to church yesterday and he invited people here in the yard, he invited a next "street figure," several of them actually, and he was just excited about the change, he was excited that he was going to be a new person and help people grow and help people change."
And today, the Commissioner of Police narrated the events that led up to Baptist's death. From the police's investigation, he explained that Baptist may have had a gun as well.
"The initial information the police had received is that Baptist was not at the game earlier at the inception, was called to the field or to the stadium following some altercation someone may have had with members of the PIV gang. And, upon arrival, he was there hanging out with other members of the BLC. They were at the lower end of the bleacher and the PIV were at the upper end in the same line of bleachers. Brandon got up and he went to where the PIV group were. Some altercation happened. During the altercation, some are alleging that Brandon have taken out a gun, and when he did that, the others from PIV shot him. After having shot him, he continued to struggle with them, and he was eventually thrown over the railing of the bleachers where he his body was later found. In the wake of this incident, I went to Belize city on Saturday, myself and Mr Grinage. We met with the senior command in Eastern Division, Mr Romero and his team, strategizing to ensure that we put things in place to avert any possible retaliation."
"Well it's always devastating when it's someone you know and someone who you've grown to like and in many ways, love passes, it's always devastating. Team was on the ground, of course in communication with the Belize Police Department getting as much information as we can, but yeah it's been a particularly personally difficult time for me."
And before Friday night's wild murder and shooting in the city - there was a calculated killing - at the back part of Cotton Tree village. A man was relaxing on his verandah when he was summoned to his death. Here's more:
"The investigation yielded some information, so we are looking for the two suspects."
And, from fighting crime to fighting fires….last week, you heard that firefighters at the Belize City branch of the National Fire Service were planning a go-slow after their overtime pay was cut. They also revealed the conditions in which they were forced to work.
"I want to make clear that that firefighter brought up, they're valid concerns to the point what I want to clarify it was never that they were being neglected or not being looked at. Of course he did say certain things about corruption and embezzlement, that is something, and putting a thing to the fire chief to the point that it's him, and to make clear that the fire chief is just the fire chief, he doesn't run in terms of funds, we have ministry that runs that. So just to clarify that but indeed that stems out from the concern, relates to what happened today, the discussions again when the union and with our CEO. What it boils down to is just an amicable discussion, valid concerns. I do know that the concern that they're not getting paid their overtime, they won't be incurring overtime, to make it clear, no salary cut, we're not taking away from the pay, what we're just saying as a ministry to clarify is as we come to the end of the fiscal year, we need to do some belt tightening. Any prudent ministry looks at these things in February and March for the end of the fiscal year and we have to see that belt tightening."
Turning back now to police - the Professional Standards Branch is investigating the police shooting of Independence Villager 24 year old Emil rivers. Today The OC for Professional Standards says the officers showed maximum restraint - even when they had three guns posted at the mentally ill man:
Sr. Supt. Glen Rivero, OC - PSB
6 days ago, SSB's CEO suddenly departed his post and since then no explanation has been forthcoming. Tonight, the Christian Workers Union - which represents the Social Security Board workers is demanding answers. They complain, quote, "SSB has yet to put out a credible narrative to explain why barely five months into his three-year contract, the CEO departed under dubious circumstances ... .SSB did not follow proper procedure when it linked hiring a CEO and a Deputy CEO. When the issue was raised it was met with certain defiance from the Board which stated that the legislation allows. The legislation however, refers to an Assistant CEO." End quote.
And, the Belize Port Authority sent out a release today blasting Sunup on 7's Monday Morning Beef for broadcasting this schedule of payments which according to our information is associated with a computer system contract that was proposed to the Port Authority.