We spoke via Zoom with the Force Commander, General Loria:..

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "This private Baizar, he has been serving for more than 22 years in the Belize Defense Force, and we know about the disturbed loss for the family, because he has been part of our family as well. But incidents like this do happen across the militaries around the world."

Jules Vasquez "Was alcohol involved from what you've been able to find out?"

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "Mr. Vasquez, alcohol, we at this point in time, we do not rule out alcohol. We asked all the members, it was 14 members, 13 BDF and one police officer that were deployed to Crique Sarco."

"We requested as part of the regulations that they provide blood specimens, blood samples to which all but one complied. So the only person that did not comply is the prime suspect of the fatality."

Jules Vasquez "What would motivate an officer take out his M4 carbine and start firing?"

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "From what we have been updated so far is that yesterday, a private Baizar and Lance Corporal Robinson were bantering essentially outside on the veranda of the building where they are occupying it."

"And it is when the Lance Corporal decided to go inside of the building, he got a smack, a big smack from Private Baizar with allegedly using some words, bwai go inside and leave me alone because of the bantering, I think, that the bantering was getting heavy, but the smack it could be, some could classify it as a super punch. It was too hard. Probably that is what got to the Lance Corporal. And he went into inside the building, cranked his weapon or cocked his weapon in the military term for it and came in back outside and pulled the trigger."

Jules Vasquez "Had the Lance Corporal been troubled for some time and was help being given to him or was it being ignored?"

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "At this point in time, Mr Vasquez, I do not know. I don't have that information. I do not believe that he sought any attention from our wellness facility." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=72999 Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "Alfred was taken into custody of the police where he is currently detained pending investigation. Initial investigation received so far is that the two soldiers were socializing at the BDF outpost in the area when they had an argument between themselves which resulted in Robinson firing a series of gunshots fatally hitting Baizar and another soldier was also hit. That other soldier is currently admitted at the Western Regional Hospital recovering. So that is what we have at this time."

"I don't think you guys expect that we'd be able to stop these type of killings, they're certainly outside the preventative reach of the police. We just need to advise people to try as best as they can to resolve issues utilizing other means as opposed to using fatal injuries, either by way of gunshot or otherwise. It has a lot to do with how you mange yourself at home or within your domestic or social setting and that will determine how we can reduce the amount of incidents we're seeing. For instance when you have situations where persons are socializing in a yard drinking and then they have an argument and one gets killed, how do we tell people not to socialize in their own private yard? We cannot do that. Policing does not allow us to go to that extent of policing people's private home or people's private yards. but it is extremely difficult." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73000 46 year old Private Clive Baizar, had been a soldier for the past 22 years - but his family says they didn't even get the respect of a first call. His son says that he found out his father had been killed through a family friend, also in the BDF.

Damion Baizar, Son of Deceased "I found out because my dad messaged me like a couple hours before that happened and then I thought something was wrong and then I called my dad back but when I called him back it was like I couldn't even get him and then like 9:30 I got a call that my dad passed away and I couldn't believe it because I was just talking to my dad and then that was a shocking feeling because I couldn't believe it so I still can't believe it but I just have to be strong."

Rihanna Baizar, Daughter of Deceased "Well I couldn't believe it because like the BDF didn't even make an effort to call my mom and that's because she is the wife like out of all people they should have called her then when my mom called them they say they have no record of nothing like how will they not have a record how can they not keep track of his wife and that she had three kids like I just don't get the sense of that right there."

"You see the way they killed my dad well the way I heard that they killed my dad he was fighting for his life as well he was trying to get out of a room where they shot him up in and it wasn't one shot, they already shot him in his head why shoot him again."

Baizar's wife says that they were separated and had not divorced, yet she claims that despite this they have begun making funeral arrangements without the family's consent or knowledge.

Glorie Gillet Baizar, Wife of Deceased "No as of right now none of them have reached out to tell me or even tell me they are planning funeral. They haven't told me anything. I just heard that the aunt called my son and asked for my kids names to put on the pamphlet just that."

"That's really devastating and the BDF should be more organized because I am the wife we never got divorced and I have only three kids that he has with me he has no other kids and I don't have any other kids only these three kids and this is his special needs child and they haven't even come to tell the kids condolences these are the only kids he have they haven't come and said anything it's really devastating to see the way the BDF the carry this thing."

All his children want is for them to carry out a thorough investigation, and for the BDF to give them a proper notice of the passing of their father.

Damion Baiza, Son of Deceased "I just want them to do their job correctly and thing cause I am my dads only son. I have two little sisters. One of them can't talk and nothing they did, they didn't come out so I just want them to do their job correctly. I just want justice got my dad too."

"They did chance my pa out of his life I could say that yes they chance him out if his life."

"My dad was a good person like when he was drinking and stuff you know, he would make you laugh and thing but my dad was a nice person to me."

]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73001 Today we asked the Brigadier general why Baizar's wife and children were not the next of kin to be informed first, Loria says that he was told that Baizar and his wife had divorced:

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "Don't feel insulted we were trying to ascertain who is the next of kin for the private soldier."

Jules Vasquez "Which is her son?"

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF "No well initially he had that it was the wife, the wife is the next of kin, but we were told last night with the information that we got was that they got separated and divorced, so he had as his second next of kin, his mom and that is what we, we followed our books, our 108 what we call our forms, we followed out books and notified the mom who is the second next of kin which in this case if they with the information that was provided at the time we believe that they were legally divorced, but if such is the case and our staff officers have contacted her I will take the opportunity here to express out condolences too because I know that we are hurting."

And as for Baizar's beneficiaries, Loria says that the courts will decide on that matter. ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73002 Well, today 46-year-old Fidel Ramirez tried to take the rap for it - but when he told the court he had no knowledge of how the weed got there, the magistrate changed his plea to not guilty drug trafficking.

According to Ramirez, he lives w?th his teenaged son at the house.

He received bail of $1,500 plus dollars.

Ramirez's next court date is set for March 25, 2025. ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73003 The Eaton fire in California destroyed the home that transplanted Benquena Araceli Mendez and her children called home.

She says she saw the fire but it seemed like an impossible distance away:

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "Behind the house we could have seen it, but I said it would 10-15 minutes' drive to get to them. It's far and there is no way in hell that fire could run all the way down here. I don't think that the fire fighters would have allowed the houses to catch fire. But anyways we pack a little overnight outfit for the next day and I told my son don't pack a lot, because we will come back tomorrow morning."

But when she got into the car she realized that tomorrow morning might never come:

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "We are driving and about 60-80 miles per hour winds like hurricane, no rain, just wind lashing on the car. You see the fire. It's like the gates of hell opened up."

Opened up and swallowed her home.

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "I lived on a property that had 3 houses and all 3 houses went down - all 3 families we pack just an overnight. Everything gone. We weren't ready for this. We didn't think this would have happened."

The scale of ruin still boggles Mendez:

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "The school burnt down. We were watching the videos and we couldn't believe it. We were like there is no way that the school burnt down. The school has to be protected. The school went and the houses went down."

"I got notification that the fire was a block away from my house - that's it."

And now - she hasn't even been able to go back to sift through the charred remains:

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "As you can see here, they still have everything locked up. They have the national guard. We can't go up. We can't even have that last closure. All I want to do is go up and see maybe pictures survived, you know, anything."

"I lost my dad one year ago and to think that it's like I lost him all over again, but this time for good, because I don't have pictures, I don't have nothing. (Sigh)"

So much loss, so much regret - but also the recognition that it could have been so much worse:.

Anaceli Mendez, Fire Victim "We were going to sleep on the couch. Had no idea that we were looking to wake up in heaven of we have fallen asleep. If my neighbour hadn't come to look for us knocking on our door, I wouldn't be telling you this story right now."

Anaceli's co-workers have opened up a Gofundme to help her get back on her feet. You can find a link to it on our website.

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]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73005 Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "It is something that the government decided to do, it went through parliament, it's the law, and it's not about how I feel about it, it is what the law is and it is there for all to comply with it. If it is that a person feel like they can apply for the expungement of their record then they're free to do so to the boards that have been established and once the board grants it when we have to abide by it." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73006 Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "The file went to the DPP office and the DPP's representative has directed that the police do more investigation because there may seem to be some element of self-defense." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73007 ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73008 Cherisse Halsall: "What kind of intelligence does the embassy have about the number of Belizeans flagged for deportation?"

Lynn Young, Belize Ambassador to the United States And to the Organization of American States "Well, the reality is that deportations are already happening frequently, and it's something that continues. The new administration has stated they intend to step it up, but we've been through this before. During the Obama years, President Biden eased up on deportations initially, but towards the end of his term, he intensified the immigration crackdown."

"Whenever ICE is deporting someone, we receive the papers, process them, and prepare for their return to Belize. There has been an increase in deportation cases over the past few months. Will this trend escalate under the new administration? Probably."

"However, I'd venture to say that we've managed this before, and I believe Belize has the structures in place to handle these issues."

"Not all deportees are criminals; some are individuals who simply got caught for being undocumented. When they return home, they restart their lives with whatever resources they've accumulated here. My sense is that while the effects on Belize may not be as dire as some fear, it's still too early to tell. It remains to be seen how these policies will unfold, and honestly, Cherisse, it's anybody's guess at this time." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73009 Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "Let's congratulate President Trump for taking office today. Like what was said this morning on the Beef it's a historic moment for America and certainly the world is watching, the world is waiting to see what is going to happen. In terms of people who may be sent back to Belize, I will invite Jules to come and work with us because he has given a number of how many people left the country who are- it looks like everybody who left Belize and went to the States according to Jules stats are gang members so I hope none of you go because you'll be classified as a gang member. But again we will wait to see who will be coming back, we are certainly looking forward to certain people coming back that are wanted by the police to face charges here in Belize so we welcome that." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73010 Lynn Young, Belize Ambassador to the United States To the Organization of American States "It's very rare for a president who has lost an election to come back and get re-elected, so it is very significant. And of course, as we all know, the events in the world today are, well, historical. The situation in Europe, the situation in the Middle East, the migration problems within the region, the situation in Haiti, and the situation in Central America-these are all unprecedented. I would say that in recent times, it has been far more difficult than at any other time in my lifetime, for sure."

"In that sense, President Trump is taking over the presidency at a very crucial time in the world. So yes, even from that perspective, it's historic."

"This particular president does not show his hand, so you don't always know when he's serious about what he's doing. He's hard to read. If nothing else, I think we know there will be a lot of uncertainty, and we must remain flexible, especially on a bilateral basis with the United States."

"The U.S. is our biggest trading partner. Our diaspora in the U.S. is the largest group of Belizeans outside the country, and the remittances back home are huge for us. U.S. policies affect us in terms of immigration and international crime. U.S. leadership is essential, not just for Belize but throughout the region."

"We must watch carefully to see what changes in policy might be enacted. The media reports many things, but at the end of the day, what actually gets implemented is what truly matters. For Belize, in the next few months, we need to engage at both the multilateral and bilateral levels to understand how the new administration plans to implement its policies."

"Honestly, I don't think any of the policies are directly aimed at Belize, but there will be spillover effects that we'll have to manage." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73011 Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Transport "The transport department the transport sector is an economic sector, it moves workers it moves families and it enables people to go to school, access health services it does a lot, it is like an archery in the body of the country and an archery is important to the human body. And transport the transport sector is equally important and critical to an economy, Independence used to just be a stop on the way going from Belize to PG, and then from PG to Belize City. A little dusty village but that is not Independence anymore it has changed, it is changing and it is growing its a very big town now and so the services the the government provides must keep up with that growth and those changes that we are having. And so this is one but there are other government services that are not yet provided here and so Mr Chairman, you and your council and your villagers and your residents here must continue to advocate for those things."

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport "And now we are here in Independence this afternoon too officially open a traffic office for Independence. Ever since I became a politician I was always asking for Independence to have many many different government offices because by itself it is a catchment area. It benefits the people of Bella Vista of Trio and all the villages on the southern highway, instead of going to Dangriga then you come to Independence which is much closer to where you live and so it is a real catchment area and it has the potential to become a town but many times people are reluctant because I heard the CEO talk about how we will Bring trade licenses directly to Independence. Trade licenses, and so nobody wants to pay taxes. But we fail to realise that our taxes we contribute make our economy strive, without taxes there will be no government, and so we have to figure out how we all sustain the government of Belize to be able to give back to you." ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=73012 More on this in tomorrow's news.

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