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
In tonight's episode of "Keeping Up With The UDP", the Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton has written to acting Chairman Alberto August. She once again requested that he convene a National Party Council meeting.
This is after a signed petition from NPC members, which - according to the party's constitution - should trigger a meeting within 14 days. Following that, a national convention should be held within 35 to 90 days. Seems straightforward enough, but in the UDP, which remains riven by divisions, there's no certainty that the Chairman will even consider the petition legitimate.
The letter than states, quote, "If it is not the intention of the UDP Leadership to adhere to the constitutional provisions of the Party, I will withdraw my interest in leading the UDP and focus my time, efforts and attention to serving as the Leader of the Opposition in House of Representatives and as the duly elected UDP Area Representative for Albert." End quote.
Today we asked Panton if that means she's given up on the UDP:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "Let me say this, Tracy Panton is going nowhere. I am here to fight to ensure that the democracy of this country prevails. I am going to fight to the best of my ability to ensure that the needs and concerns of the people are heard. Alberto August as the Vice Chairman, status quo ante, has a duty, an obligation, a responsibility to convene the NPC. It has been petitioned so he has no discretion where that is concerned. I will not be held hostage to a vice chairman, status quo ante, who refuses to do his job, I will not be undermined by a vice chairman status quo ante and I will certainly not yield to a madman."
Courtney Menzies: "So what's the next steps if the NPC meeting isn't called?"
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "I believe the NPC meeting will be called. If the NPC meeting is not called, we will have to take the matter to court and have the court compel Mr August to hold the NPC meeting."
Courtney Menzies: "But you're not planning to step down from leadership of the party?"
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "Where did you get that idea from?"
Courtney Menzies: "That's what the quote said in the letter."
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "I just answered your question. Tracy Panton is going nowhere. I have the confidence and support of my colleagues. I certainly have the support of the public at large. I will not be held hostage, I will not be undermined and Mr August has a duty and a responsibility to execute and if he loves the party as much as I believe he does, and as much as he advocates that he does, he will call the NPC."
And while she's not giving up the good fight, neither is Shyne Barrow. Last week Wednesday he indicated that he's planning to take Lee Mark Chang to court to challenge his win in Mesopotamia on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation of the UDP. Today both Panton and Chang said: bring it.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "That's his prerogative. I don't usually respond to madmen, I think he's a madman. There was no fraud as he alleges but the legal system is there for any citizen of this country to utilize as they see fit. So that's entirely his prerogative."
Lee Mark Chang, Area Rep., Mesopotamia "If he takes me to court, or takes us to court, it is what it is and the court will decide what is our fate."
Reporter: "Do you feel as though, if it does end up in front of a judge, it could reach as far as having a by-election called?"
Lee Mark Chang, Area Rep., Mesopotamia "First of all, the word fraud that they're claiming, we went in as UDP candidates and the constituents that we don't win by one or two votes, we won by 2:1. If I have to do it again, it will happen again. And it will be the same verdict, just that he will look bad again after that."
On Friday you saw thousands of teachers take to the streets of the capital to demand a salary increase, tax reform, and their increments. The demand for an 8.5% increase was triggered after the CEOs and the CabSec received raises of 15 and 18.5% right at the start of the new. term. The Leader of the Opposition said that their request cannot just be ignored.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "Under a UDP administration there was a salary increase for teachers. I think it was 30% over a period of time and I think that the concerns of the teachers is not limited to an increase but to ensure that what is due them now is being paid and paid in a timely manner. I think there can be a graduated approach to how increases are given and certainly there cannot be increases for CEOs and for the CabSec without considering how that impacts the overall pay scale of the public service."
Courtney Menzies: "What do you make of the prime minister's argument that increasing the CEOs' salaries was only $300,000 added to the budget whereas the teachers would be $64 million?"
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "Certainly that has to be a consideration but why do the CEOs need an increase? What is the justification for giving the CEOs an increase? Even the CEO of Education could not speak to the reason she got an increase. As far as she was concerned, they offered it to her and she took it. The public officers and the teachers are the movers and shakers of our economy, the movers and shakers in our country, they protect and provide public services for the people of Belize and their concerns must be taken into account."
Four people are currently recovering after they were shot while attending an event at a bar in Blackman Eddy. The shooter fired indiscriminately, making it tough for the police to figure out who the target was and why. Courtney Menzies went west to find out more. Here is that story.
A mother's day party quickly turned violent after a gunman released a barrage of bullets, injuring four people. It happened on Saturday night at 11:50 in Blackman Eddy Village at this bar. The victims, 23 year old Marleny Ho, 38 year old Derrick Gordon, 36 year old Ashley Vellos, and Rosalia Domingo all received varying degrees of injuries.
Gordon got it the worst - he was shot about 3 times in his torso and 2 times in his face. Up to now, the bullet is still lodged in his jaw. He told us off camera that it's painful for him to even talk.
According to ACP Hilberto Romero, the victims were hit with a shotgun.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Information is that they were at a bar when a male person came there and fired a shot from a shotgun causing their injuries. They have been treated, three have been released and one remains at the hospital in stable condition. Investigation into this report continues."
Jules Vasquez: "Do you all have any idea of what the motive may have been?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We do not know at this time, that is all the information we have, somebody came there and fired the shots at the bar."
Jules Vasquez: "Do you all know if any of the persons were a target?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We do not know, all these persons were inside the bar at the time with other persons."
And while no one was killed in that shooting, last week we told you about the murder of Zinedine Pinelo, the San Pedro resident who was killed on Hunter's Lane. Today the police stated that he came to the city to buy a motorcycle, but was ambushed by six men.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Information is that he went to Hunter's Lane along with another person to do a business transaction. thereafter when he arrived there, there was 6 other persons there. They attacked him, robbed him, and one of the persons shot him causing his fatal injuries. We have two persons in custody in regards to this murder."
Jules Vasquez "What was the nature of the business they were doing?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "He went to do a purchase from a person, he went there with some cash to do a purchase and so stolen from him was his firearm and some cash."
Jules Vasquez "Are you all able to say how much cash?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We do not know at this time, no."
Jules Vasquez "Was it illicit? I don't see any storefront in Hunter's Lane so was it a licit or an illicit purchase?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Information is that he was to purchase a motorcycle. That is the information we got however we are doing more follow up to see what the actual transaction was."
Jules Vasquez "Do you all believe that he was lured to this location?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We believe he was led there, when he arrived, there were six persons waiting there and these were the persons that attacked him."
Jules Vasquez "Do you believe it was their plan to rob him of his money and his gun, was he specially targeted because of this weapon?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Yes, we believe that he was targeted to be robbed yes."
Jules Vasquez "So he had a licensed firearm?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "He had a licensed firearm."
Jules Vasquez "Are you able to say what type?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "A 9mm pistol."
Jules Vasquez "He left San Pedro with an individual from the city I'm told. Has that person, and that person escaped without injury, ran off, was that person..."
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Yes we found that person and he is being interviewed."
Jules Vasquez "Might be be an accomplice?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "We don't know at this time, after the interview we'll know more information."
And as we told you, that murder happened on Friday at noon - three days after the state of emergency had been declared. Today ACP Romero gave us an update on how many men are currently in prison and how many more the police have picked up. But are there some escaped jail time by handing over firearms and drugs? Here's what Romero said.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "The SOE operations continue. So far 35 persons were sent to prison. We have another 35 that are being interviewed and then we will know how much from that amount will be sent to prison today."
Jules Vasquez "How do you respond to the characterization that a number of, especially the heads, have been able to escape the SOE incarceration because they've turned over weapons or in one case a kilo of cocaine?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Several persons were detained, interviews were conducted and then they are vetted and we determine who is taken to prison, that is all I know."
Jules Vasquez "Are you all trading weapons for freedom?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Not that I know of, no."
A 23 year old San Pedro man passed away in police custody this morning. Just before 6:30 this morning, the cops were called to Villa Abrazos by the security guard who informed them that a man was sitting on a log on the beach front and then ran onto the property and began climbing a tree. He refused to come down and told the security guard that he was chased by a dog.
So how did he end up dead? Here's what ACP Romero told us so far.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED "Upon their arrival police saw that this person had climbed a tree. He was ordered to come down. There was a dispute between him and the police. Thereafter he came down and force had to be used for him to be subdued. He was then taken into custody, taken to the San Pedro station where they noticed that he was in distress and had become unconscious. He was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic where he succumbed. He was identified as Selvin Sealy, 23 years of San Pedro."
According to the police report, after Sealy came down from the tree, he jumped into the pool and refused to come out. When he finally did, he slipped and hit his chin on the side of the pool twice. He fell once more before he came out and was subdued.
The revenue and appropriations bill, it's the expression of the most fundamental duty of parliament: deciding how the people's money will be collected for and spent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
That is made flesh in the annual budget presentation - which is usually presented before the start of the fiscal year on April first, but was delayed this year due to the March general election.
But, in his second major speech before parliament in as many working days, the Prime Minister said the presentation may be later than usual - but it's not lacking or lackluster. Here are the highlites:
In his fifth budget presentation, titled "From Promise to Performance" Prime Minister Briceno seemed at ease - and he had the numbers to back him up:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "In 2024, according to the recently published IMF data. The IMF, not us. Belize had the highest GDP growth rate in the Western Hemisphere at 8.2%. Second only to the oil exporting nation of Guyana."
"97 out of every 100 Belizeans who seek work are now working. The government has achieved a primary budget surplus each year whilst we have been in office. The minimum wage was raised for all workers by almost 50% to $5 per hour, which affected thousands of workers. And foreign direct investment has totaled $1.12 billion over the past four year period."
And with that strong tailwind behind him, the PM laid out a budget that spoke to sound fiscal stewardship and strong tax collection, even in an election year:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "It is important to point out that previous administrations, almost without exception, overspent in the period leading to an election."
"Politicians spend and borrow to win elections. This administration defied that norm. Overall, recurrent revenue outperformed its target by $136 million, or 9.2%, led by $100 million outperformance in tax revenues and $36 million in non-tax revenues."
"On the expenditure side, total spending for the fiscal year was $1.664 billion, or 3.7% higher than the approved budget amount."
And, the PM emphasized three times what a large part of expenditure that wage bill comprises:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Government spending on salaries for its estimated 15,000 workforce, all teachers and public officers was $503 million, with an additional $132 million spent on pensions and ex-gratia payments. Put it differently, $0.52 of every dollar of government recurrent spending goes to salaries and pensions. $0.43 of every tax dollars was spent on salaries and pensions."
And, the PM made it clear, government intends to keep that already high wage bill in. check:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Having included in today's presentation the immense sums being spent on wages and pensions, I wish to underscore that government genuinely appreciates the value of the contribution to national development being made constantly by teachers, public servants and members of the security forces."
"At the same time, we are obliged to protect for all Belizeans the fiscal gains achieved over these four years, so that default and devaluation can never again stalk public finances and the country. At current levels and as a percentage of revenues, the public sector payroll in Belize exceeds, and in many cases by large margins the public sector payroll in the Caribbean and Latin America."
And while keeping the wage bill in check - the PM also stressed how important tourist earnings are to the economy's performance:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Compared to 2023 arrivals jumped by 19.6%, whereas cruise visitors numbers were almost identical."
"Any decline in international visitors will have a negative spillover across related industries such as transportation, restaurants and accommodation, and as well as distributive trade."
And the emphasis now appears to be cruise tourism:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I am pleased to report that the master plan has been completed for the port, as well as the adjoining almost 7,000 acres that government had also acquired. Some of the top consultants in this field believe that a new cargo and bulk facilities, along with the necessary channel and harbor works, are operationally and commercially viable if combined with a cruise berthing facility."
"Given the massive investments required, approximately 400 million USD, the master plan is to be implemented in phases, but would provide Belize with a state of the art cargo, bulk and tourism hub."
And the PM also outlined a long list of Capital 3 projects that will aid that tourism sector:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
$9.0 million for the construction of a Solar Energy Plant funded by the Saudi Fund for Development."
$5.3 million for the upgrading of the Corozal to Sarteneja Road."
$20.0 million for the Upgrading of the George Price Highway from Belize City to Hattieville '
$6.6 million for the Caracol Road Project - Phase 2.
$18.0 million for the Upgrading of the Philip Goldson Highway
$1.5 million for the Upgrading of the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway
With the unlikely - for the PUP- trinity of sound fiscal management, infrastructure spending and big money cruise tourism - the PM oddly harkened back to social justice in his closing flourish:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I truly believe this land of ours to be the world's most Bountiful garden. It blossoms abundantly, enabling every Belizean the promise of prosperity together as collective gardeners, as benefactors of generations to come, and with the guidance of our creator. Let us always stand with competence and conscience. The prolific flowering of national prosperity on the soils of social justice."
The budget presentation lasted 83 minutes, which the PM said is a compressed version.
As you heard, the Prime Minister also addressed the unions in his budget speech.
But, it's worth noting the language used and the full context of his remarks which were conciliatory and not confrontational:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "Some days ago, labor unions representing teachers converged and subsequently demanded pay increases from government. I imagine sister unions representing public workers will align with the request for a wage increase. With a voice of reason and a hand of friendship, Cabinet has authorized its negotiating committee to engage with the union representatives in good faith, recognizing that for the unions, time is of the essence."
"And it should be clear that government has a duty indeed, and ought to ensure that decisions are in the national interest that is, in the interest of all taxpayers, not just the fraction that our government employees. I hope and expect that discussions can unfold constructively."
And while the Leader of the Opposition didn't want to delve into the budget just yet, she did tell us about some of the figures that immediately jumped out at her. She believes the government is pulling funds from some important sectors. Here's how she put it.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition "A lot of figures jumped out at me. The devil is always in the details and so I will reserve my comment on the budget presentation until the 26th when I respond. There seems to be quite a lot of money being invested in infrastructure and my cursory look at the budget estimates suggest that where it matter for the Belizean people, in education, in health, in housing, there's going to be some serious adjustments in terms of the government's investments. So we wait and see."
"Ultimately there has been, in my cursory review of the estimates, listening to the prime minister this morning, there's no contingency planning for what happens for example with the global trade wars that are imminent and the impact that will have on our economy. There's not indication of how we're going to deal in a holistic way the energy crisis that we're already feeling the implications of, those kinds of things. So those things matter to the Belizean people. He talked about 40%, 45% of the budget being used for emoluments and pensions and yet we have the teachers crying out because they're not being paid, even at the current levels. So there's lots to review, there's lots to analyze, and there's lots that we will respond to come the 26th of May."
Panton will lead off the debate with her formal response when it starts on May 26th. The debate is scheduled for May 26, 27th and 28th.
And, in his speech today - the Prime Minister gave a full and formal response to the report - three weeks ago that the 125 million US dollar Millennium Challenge grant was being cancelled by the Trump Administration in the US.
And right that he should because last year the MCC grant comprised an entire section of the budget speech where it was touted as the equivalent of 4 percent of GDP. Well, that was never budgeted, but it's gone now. Or is it? The PM was still holding onto hope:
John Briceno, Prime Minister "On the 20th of January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order which mandated a 90 day pause on new obligations and disbursements of United States government development assistance funds for foreign governments, including funding for the MCC compact with Belize."
"Just over three weeks ago, we received unofficial word out of Washington that the MCC board would be terminating the compact agreement with Belize. But to date we have not received any official word to this effect. In the meantime, Belize has expressed its concerns at every high levels in the United States government, and we have received assurances that the matter is being further examined to see if there is scope to retain the Belize program intact."
"We are therefore guardedly optimistic that the program will be retained. However, should the program indeed be terminated, we will be actively seeking alternative alternate sources of funding from our development partners."
For two weeks now - we've been reporting on the investigation into two customs officers - a male and a female who are relatives. Police were called in after they both asked a fellow officer to clear a box of bath and body works items that came into the Port of Belize via a freight service. But when the colleague looked inside, he found 15 pounds of high grade marijuana. Police investigated for weeks - because the female officer who had asked her colleague to clear it for her - never took possession of the box and her name was not written on the box. But, more than four weeks after the cannabis was detected, reports tell us that the female officer was today detained by police. We'll keep following the story.
A former store manager has been convicted of stealing nearly five thousand dollars from her previous employer, Belize Comex Paint Ltd.
30-year-old Maritza Isabel Padilla pleaded guilty to two counts of theft after admitting she took the money while managing the company's Albert Street branch.
Padilla told the court she planned to repay the funds before an inventory uncovered the missing cash-but she failed to do so in time.
The stolen amounts-over four thousand dollars from a delivery to General Mart in Benque, and another five hundred from a customer deposit-were never returned.
She was fined one thousand dollars and must pay by June 30th or spend six months in jail.
Magistrate Ludlow Black warned Padilla that future offenses won't be treated as lightly.
On the 7th of December, Belize saw its worst traffic fatality ever when 10 people were killed in a fiery collision. 9 of them were crammed inside a Toyota Corolla.
It's a lesson no one should forget anytime soon - and to make sure they don't a real estate company named Keller Williams Belize teamed up with the San Ignacio Town. Council to put up a memorial at the site of the accident. Here's what they unveiled on Saturday morning:
Earl Trapp. Mayor - San Ignacio "What is happening right now is that we are about to have a short unveiling ceremony for this memorial tombstone that Keller Williams reality and in collaboration with the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council have constructed the memory of the 10 victims that perished here on the 7th of December last year."
Macarena Rose, Keller Williams Realty "I think people forget what happens when there is a death and there is a saying in Spanish that the dead are only dead when they are forgotten and when I contacted Earl, Mayor Earl, is a dear friend and always is there to help our community."
"He was like, mek we do this and so it is beautiful what they have done because the families are touched, they have somewhere to come, they have something that is proper and in respect for them and must we never forget the passing of our community."
"And it also shows, party colors don't matter, colors doesn't matter, it's us all coming together as one community."
Earl Trapp. Mayor - San Ignacio "The essence behind this is to show the world, show the people that we care, you know. Something happened in December of last year and it left the community shaking, it left us all broken. We are here to unveil this tombstone and believe me we are shaken, it just happened yesterday. In the future or everyday or whenever the family member or friends want to come bring a candle or some rose or some kind of wreaths, they can come and bring it, you know, in honor of their loved ones."
What do you do when you show up to the first House Meeting post elections wearing - not blue - but pink? Well, that's what first term rep Marconi Leal Junior did today as he took on his role as Deputy Speaker of the House. But while some raised concern because his coral colored shirt did look closer to red than pink - he explained his fashion choice - even though the PM didn't seem quite convinced:
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In tonight's episode of "Keeping Up With The UDP", the Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton has written to acting Chairman Alberto August. She once again requested that he convene a National Party Council meeting.
"Let me say this, Tracy Panton is going nowhere. I am here to fight to ensure that the democracy of this country prevails. I am going to fight to the best of my ability to ensure that the needs and concerns of the people are heard. Alberto August as the Vice Chairman, status quo ante, has a duty, an obligation, a responsibility to convene the NPC. It has been petitioned so he has no discretion where that is concerned. I will not be held hostage to a vice chairman, status quo ante, who refuses to do his job, I will not be undermined by a vice chairman status quo ante and I will certainly not yield to a madman."
And while she's not giving up the good fight, neither is Shyne Barrow. Last week Wednesday he indicated that he's planning to take Lee Mark Chang to court to challenge his win in Mesopotamia on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation of the UDP. Today both Panton and Chang said: bring it.
Lee Mark Chang, Area Rep., Mesopotamia 
On Friday you saw thousands of teachers take to the streets of the capital to demand a salary increase, tax reform, and their increments. The demand for an 8.5% increase was triggered after the CEOs and the CabSec received raises of 15 and 18.5% right at the start of the new. term. The Leader of the Opposition said that their request cannot just be ignored.
Four people are currently recovering after they were shot while attending an event at a bar in Blackman Eddy. The shooter fired indiscriminately, making it tough for the police to figure out who the target was and why. Courtney Menzies went west to find out more. Here is that story.
"Information is that they were at a bar when a male person came there and fired a shot from a shotgun causing their injuries. They have been treated, three have been released and one remains at the hospital in stable condition. Investigation into this report continues."
And while no one was killed in that shooting, last week we told you about the murder of Zinedine Pinelo, the San Pedro resident who was killed on Hunter's Lane. Today the police stated that he came to the city to buy a motorcycle, but was ambushed by six men.
The revenue and appropriations bill, it's the expression of the most fundamental duty of parliament: deciding how the people's money will be collected for and spent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
"97 out of every 100 Belizeans who seek work are now working. The government has achieved a primary budget surplus each year whilst we have been in office. The minimum wage was raised for all workers by almost 50% to $5 per hour, which affected thousands of workers. And foreign direct investment has totaled $1.12 billion over the past four year period."
As you heard, the Prime Minister also addressed the unions in his budget speech.
And, in his speech today - the Prime Minister gave a full and formal response to the report - three weeks ago that the 125 million US dollar Millennium Challenge grant was being cancelled by the Trump Administration in the US.
A former store manager has been convicted of stealing nearly five thousand dollars from her previous employer, Belize Comex Paint Ltd.
On the 7th of December, Belize saw its worst traffic fatality ever when 10 people were killed in a fiery collision. 9 of them were crammed inside a Toyota Corolla.
"What is happening right now is that we are about to have a short unveiling ceremony for this memorial tombstone that Keller Williams reality and in collaboration with the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council have constructed the memory of the 10 victims that perished here on the 7th of December last year."
"I think people forget what happens when there is a death and there is a saying in Spanish that the dead are only dead when they are forgotten and when I contacted Earl, Mayor Earl, is a dear friend and always is there to help our community."
