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
Former Ms Belize Bella Zabaneh tonight finds herself in the middle of a raging public controversy-and it's not because of anything to do with pageantry, it's about politics and that $10,000 procurement threshold.
Zabaneh attended Saturday's National Party Council Meeting as a proud PUP supporter in Stann Creek West. He made a statement from the floor urging the government to raise the ten thousand dollar threshold on transactions that a Ministry's Finance Officer can approve.
As we have been reporting, the government is embroiled in a building scandal where thousands of sub-ten-thousand-dollar transactions were approved for politically connected companies. The transactions were kept under the threshold and approved by the Ministry of Defence Finance Officer to avoid scrutiny and red tape from the Ministry of Finance.
Unfazed by the avalanche of hard proof demonstrating irregularities-which she dismissed as "media propaganda"-Zabaneh told the PM: raise that ceiling.
Isabella Zabaneh, Former Miss Universe Belize "I would like to urge the consideration of a lift of the threshold from $10,000 to a higher number. What matters is value for money and $10,000 is simply too low for ministries to be allowed to spend. It is micromanaging everybody from the top down to the bottom. We need strong oversight, but $10,000 is too low in this economy; maybe 30 years ago it was appropriate. It burdens the office of Financial Secretaries to be micromanaging all of the ministries. Great leaders are remembered for making hard decisions, so I urge this administration to consider making a hard decision. We are not a party of thieves; we are a party of love, and we are not afraid of any other party or the media propaganda that they will push. Thank you."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "I want to commend Bella for being very thoughtful and to be brave to make such a recommendation considering what we are going through. But what we are doing at this time, we have been working with the IDB for over a year coming up with new legislation where we want to set up what you call the Central Procurement Unit."
Well, since that was posted online on Sunday, the backlash against Zabaneh has been merciless. Facebook commenters have heaped condemnation on her for what many feel is upholding corruption.
So much so that today, the Grand Old Party's little-heard-from United Women's Group came to the rescue of Bella, who is the great-grandniece of no less than George Price. They sent a release saying, quote, "Ms. Zabaneh has faced unwarranted criticism and harsh attacks for her stance regarding government procurement thresholds. The UWG unequivocally condemns these attempts to silence a young, articulate female voice in the political discourse. It is profoundly disheartening to witness the malicious backlash directed at Ms. Isabella Zabaneh." End quote.
Last week we told you that the DPP had discontinued cyberbullying charges against Alberto August. And the complainant, Oscar Mira, also confirmed that he had withdrawn charges. But, still, August and his attorney Michael Peyrefitte were obligated to appear in San Ignacio Magistrate's Court this morning to make it official. 7News spoke to them outside the courthouse:
Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney for Alberto August "The matter was brought up from Wednesday to today because the prosecution indicated that they wanted to take certain actions concerning Mr. Alberto August. We assumed that it would be following the directive of the DPP in this matter based on her advice, so we came and the court indicated that it did receive a directive from the DPP, as well as the prosecution indicated that they did receive a directive from the DPP, directing that the case against Mr. August be discontinued and the prosecution offered no evidence."
Jaleeza Roberts: "What happens next? Do you guys plan to sue the government for what they did to your client?"
Mike Peyrefitte: "Well, that is up to Mr. August. He will have to reflect on that and then decide who he wants to instruct to take whatever action he decides on. So we will see where we go from here, but the main thing is the criminal charges are past us. I don't think that they should have been brought in the very first place, and so we just have to see where we go from here."
Alberto August, Former UDP Deputy Chairman "It is always, of course, a good feeling to not have these kinds of things on your shoulder, so it is a good feeling today."
Jaleeza Roberts: "Do you have a concern about safety?"
Alberto August: "Yes, of course, we will always be concerned about our safety. I think there might be little heightened steps I will need to take, but we will take care of it."
Jaleeza Roberts: "Has everything been returned to you?"
Alberto August: "Yes, I got back my two phones. It was only two phones that were taken away, and they were returned to me a few days ago."
Jaleeza Roberts: "Do you plan to sue the government or the police department or Mr. Mira?"
Alberto August: "Well, that will depend on the advice I get from counsel. We will be discussing that matter sometime during the course of today and decide the way forward."
But as for August's attorney, he says that Alberto should not have been arrested in the first place, but perhaps that was some form of good fortune as it led to what he calls the exposure and fall of Marin and Mira:
Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney for Alberto August "Well, you know what? Mr. August was unceremoniously put in jail behind us, detained for a number of hours, but I think even Mr. August could say-if I could guess what he could say is that as a result of that, corruption is being exposed in the PUP. We see the fall of Marin, we see the fall of Mira, following the fall of Mai. I think Musa and Martinez need to be very careful because the M's are not doing very well in this PUP government."
"So the entire scenario is unfortunate. It should never have happened. There is no way that police officers, armed police officers, should have stormed Alberto's house, threatened his family with arrest and detention, detain him for more than 48 hours almost, just to come here and say, "Well, you know what? Oops, we shouldn't have done that." It is a very, very, very unfortunate situation, and when you look at it, it is Alberto August. Attention would be paid to something like that, but what happens when it happens to the regular man on the street? A regular person on the street. Not everybody, not everybody has an audience like Alberto August. Not everybody is established like Alberto August."
But even when August was arrested, the UDP Party Leader didn't make any efforts to get him out, and in her press release on the detention, she even refrained from including his name.
But when we asked him today about his relationship with Panton, he says they were never at odds:
Alberto August, Former UDP Deputy Chairman "I have never been at odds with Tracy Panton, you know. I have always been a UDP and I will continue to be a member of the United Democratic Party, so I am not at odds with Mrs. Panton."
Jaleeza Roberts: "Can we expect to see representation from the West on Friday? We know that last time, when it was against the acquisition of Smart, there was representation from the West, but a lot has happened since then. Can we still expect to see representation?"
Alberto August: "Well, I am hoping. I am hoping that the party gets a good turnout. It depends on the coordination and, of course, the organization of the event. I am not sure as to where they are in terms of inviting the Standard Bearers or the caretakers from the West to participate, but I am hoping that they do."
Jaleeza Roberts: "You have played a big role in the party, especially here in the West. You still play a big role in the West. What is your opinion on wanting to send Bernadette Fernandez to a convention?"
Alberto August: "Well, like the Chairman, Senator Peyrefitte, rightly said, it is an internal matter for the United Democratic Party. The party is big and bold enough. The party is addressing the matter. It came up, yes, but the party is addressing the matter."
They called him "Shotta P," and Shane Vargas was shot to death in Ladyville on Friday night. Police Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith told us that he was shot inside his shop:
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have detained three male persons and recovered an unlicensed 9mm pistol as part of an ongoing investigation into the murder of 44-year-old Shane Vargas of Ladyville Village, which occurred around 8:30 PM on Friday, 3rd July 2026, in Ladyville Village. What has been gathered so far in the course of this investigation is that on the mentioned date and time, Mr. Vargas was inside his shop when an unknown male person approached him, firing two shots which resulted in his fatal injury. No motive has been established thus far as police continue to investigate this incident. I know a firearm was recovered, so I'm not sure if ammunition was inside it."
And while responding to a domestic dispute in Belmopan, police are also investigating a freak accident that occurred while attempting to detain a man. Two police officers were also injured in the accident. ASP Stacy Smith explained what happened.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police are investigating the death of 20-year-old Kevaughn Gabriel, which occurred on Saturday, 4th July 2026, in the city of Belmopan. The circumstances of the unfortunate passing of Mr. Gabriel-for which the department certainly wishes to convey its sincere condolences, as well as the ministry-unfolded when officers on duty at Belmopan police formation responded to an emergency call from a 25-year-old female who stated that Mr. Gabriel had entered her residence, damaged a number of items, and threatened her."
"Being in fear of her life, she made a call to the police. However, when police responded on the first instance, Mr. Gabriel was not at that location. The female was informed that she ought to go to the station to make a report. However, sometime shortly after that, after the police had departed, she once again called stating that Mr. Gabriel had returned and continued to damage items in her house. Police once again responded and whilst approaching, whilst taking the female away from the location as Mr. Gabriel had left similarly on that second occasion, Mr. Gabriel was observed in the vicinity of-I believe it is San Francisco Street."
"The officers alighted the vehicle, and in the process of formally detaining Mr. Gabriel, the vehicle began to roll backward, resulting in the three officers who were responding being struck, as well as Mr. Gabriel. The officers received non-life-threatening injuries; however, Mr. Gabriel's injuries were more fatal, and he subsequently passed. Concurrent criminal and internal investigations are being conducted in relation to the death of Mr. Gabriel."
Smith says the entire ordeal was extremely traumatic for all the persons that were present at the scene. She says that they are also prepared in the event that the family of the deceased decides to take legal action against the department.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Yes, the vehicle rolled on them. It would want to appear that Mr. Gabriel became lodged under the vehicle and that is why his injury was more extensive."
Reporter: "Was Mr. Gabriel restrained by handcuffs while this vehicle was rolling?"
ASP Stacy Smith: "I am not sure. That is not on the face of the report. I will have to make inquiries."
Reporter: "Was the woman in the vehicle?"
ASP Stacy Smith: "Yes, the female, as well as two minor children that were along with her, were in the vehicle at the time, and it was a joint effort from bystanders and the police officers to assist everybody in this most unfortunate incident."
Jaleeza Roberts: "This is a very rare situation that the person being apprehended dies. Has the department put out anything for the family? Or are you guys prepared that they may want to take legal action against the department?"
ASP Stacy Smith: "Well, certainly that is their right and, as I stated in this briefing I am giving, the department is sincerely expressing its condolences for the passing. And certainly the family-if it has not happened as yet, I cannot go on record to say it has happened-would be contacted because certainly the circumstances is not one that was desired and the police officers were responding. I believe it is a traumatic situation for each and everyone involved because I was also made to understand that the female is with child for Mr. Gabriel. So, for the police officers, for the family of Mr. Gabriel, as well as the woman and children who were also there witnessing this. So, as I said, concurrent investigations are being conducted to determine what exactly transpired in terms of what allowed for such a situation to come to fruition."
And the officers involved in Gabriel's death are not the only members of the department currently under investigation. Smith also told us about an apparent firearm discharge investigation that is underway after three off-duty police officers were apprehended for firing shots off Raccoon Street Extension.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "On the 5th of July at around 9:10 PM, police officers responded to shots being fired in the vicinity of Raccoon Street Extension, and as a consequence of directives or information from the Crime Fusion Center, a vehicle was apprehended. A vehicle of interest was apprehended, and onboard that vehicle were five persons, three of whom are police officers. And as a search of that vehicle led to the discovery of two 9mm pistols, for which two persons who were aboard are the holders of a firearm license, a scene was established and I think four or so expended shells were recovered."
"We spoke to those persons; however, they have not been forthcoming with information. However, the process is that the expended shells will be submitted for comparative analysis with the firearms as a part of the ongoing investigation. Those persons are still in custody at the moment. As of now, it is being treated as a discharging of a firearm because no person has come forward indicating that they were fired upon, so that is the status of the investigation at this moment."
He broke into a church and stole the father's cash pan.
47-year-old Denfield Lemott has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison after being accused of burglarizing Divine Mercy Church and stealing $2,000 in cash.
Police say the theft occurred while the church's administrator briefly left her office, and although she and a gardener attempted to stop the suspect as he fled, he escaped on a motorcycle.
In court today, Lemott pleaded not guilty to the burglary charge but was denied bail due to another pending burglary case and remains on remand until October 2nd.
Turning back now to those Smart Stream screenshots, tonight we're looking at the Mira family-owned MP Farms, and how it was ascendant in 2025-2026-coinciding with the time when Oscar Mira became Minister of Defence.
Invoices we have seen from that time show that MP Farms-which was the #4 supplier of rations to the BDF in 2023-2024-saw its volume of deliveries grow by 311% year-to-year to increase sales revenue from the Ministry of Defence from 1.05 million dollars in 2024-2025 to 4.3 million dollars in the following year-again, the same year when Oscar Mira became the full Minister of Defence.
And the Chamber of Commerce has stepped into the dialogue over government procurement malpractice. One week ago, it fired off a blunt mandate to Prime Minister John Briceño, demanding immediate electronic handcuffs on the government's accounting software.
To kill the institutional culture of sub-ten-thousand-dollar invoice splitting, the Chamber is demanding ten mandatory digital firewalls-including automatic software blocks on same-day invoice avalanches and duplicate billings.
BCCI President Giacomo Sanchez urges the PM that there is absolutely "no reason to wait" for long investigations. The Chamber says these fixes can and must be coded into the system immediately.
For the second time in four months, the per-pound price of chicken has increased again.
In March it went up by 6 cents, and effective today, it has increased by 12 cents per pound, bringing the total increase for 2026 to 18 cents per pound so far. But what is driving it? Jaleeza Roberts takes a look:
Belizeans will now pay more for chicken after the Belize Poultry Association today announced an immediate increase in poultry prices, citing rising production costs. The price of whole chicken has increased by 12 cents per pound effective today, while other poultry products will also see price adjustments depending on the cut or level of processing. And what caused it? Manager of the Belize Poultry Association says it's primarily fuel and other inputs:
Armando Cowo, Manager - Belize Poultry Association "When you look at the price of corn and soybean going up in the local market, that is being triggered in itself by the cost of other inputs that the farmers are facing. So that is one issue. The other issue is fuel. Our industry runs on fuel. The last time, Channel 7 did a documentary, and you can see how much the industry runs on fuel."
In March they raised the price by 6 cents, which triggered our newsroom to take a visit to all the poultry plants from start to finish to understand what we were dealing with. At the time, the increase was due to wages, but even then, other factors were cited:
Poultry Industry's Increasing Cost Of Labor Triggered Price Increase
April 17, 2026
Raymond Barkman, General Manager - Quality Poultry Products "We haven't gone up with chicken in four or five years. We had the minimum wage increase and we had the other one that is going to happen soon, or so they say. So what we did at our company, we already made it happen. The minimum wage increase is both the one that already happened and the one that is coming. So we set that price up to where it's going and that's... In fact, I've done the numbers because percent-wise, our wage, our labor has gone up 27%, but we're only raising the chicken 3%. So that is just literally to subsidize some of the labor costs."
Poultry Industry's Increasing Cost Of Labor Triggered Price Increase
April 17, 2026
Armando Cowo, Manager - Belize Poultry Association "Part of the justification in raising like I said is to meet the labor force demand, one, and two, to meet the innovation and sustainability that you are currently seeing with your own eyes."
And what happens to the industry will impact the price of a plate of food. But Cowo is not convinced that a 6-dollar increase in the cost of a 50-pound crate of chicken is the main driver of increasing food prices:
Armando Cowo, Manager - Belize Poultry Association "Those businesses-and I repeat because I have said this before in past increases-those businesses that are telling you that they are not making it, it's kind of hard to buy into their argument because if you are not making it, you would close your business. That's one."
"Two, you would look at where else you can shift your resources and juggle it up so that you come at the top, bearing in mind that this is an increase of 12 cents for the meat. And I've said it before, they must have other hidden costs that they are not telling the consumer, which is why they might not be profitable or they might not be making the profit margin that they expect to make."
Jaleeza Roberts, 7News.
The increase works out to $6 dollars per 50-pound crate.
Today the Department of Transport held the opening ceremony for its Inter-Agency Traffic Enforcement Capacity Building Program. It's a training that will enhance the expertise and field capabilities of traffic enforcement personnel across different agencies. Facilitators for this training are from the Bureau of Standards, the Department of Transport, and the Caribbean Forensic Services. Here is a snippet of that ceremony.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transportation "It is imperative for us as a government and respective departments to make sure we do our best to collaborate with each other to be able to enhance road safety. Having over 100 persons dying on our highways annually is unacceptable, and it is something we are trying to curb. But it is not going to be done by the Department of Transport alone, or by the police alone, or by the respective municipal bodies alone; it will require the support and input of every department that has a responsibility for road safety."
"During this training, you will be going through a number of things. Looking at the helmet standardizations, looking at the use of breathalyzers and other stuff. Breathalyzers are very important, and I'm trying to see how best we can get some breathalyzers in-country to be able to be used on our highways daily."
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer "There's gonna be five modules that we will be looking at. First one would be the duties of traffic wardens, power of arrest, and the legislative amendments as it relates to DUI. The second module looks at report writing, and CEO would stand bravely and said he's the best teacher that you will come across. I'm not sure how true that is, but we'll see how it goes. And then we look at motorcycle helmets and its standards."
"And then we have on Wednesday, we will look at the proper use of breathalyzers and then we'll do some training relating to that. On Thursday, we then look at electronic evidence as it relates to the changes in legislation and the use of the body cams and dash cams. And on Friday, of course, we'll be doing a simulation on a case file preparation."
On Sunday, a demonstration for justice was held in San Pedro Town to honor the lives of murder victims David Harmouche and Daniel Jones. Harmouche, who was a father of six-the youngest being a 6-month-old child-was targeted at his business in a ruthless, street-style execution where close to 60 rounds were fired by four gunmen.
No arrests have been made, and the community fears the case has gone cold.
The protestors-led by members of the island town's large Lebanese community-are now urging the public to come forward if anyone has any knowledge about their killers.
San Pedro Protestor "If you know anything, the media is here and I want them to put this out. If you know anything, if you have seen anything, if you know who are these criminals, give the police the information and let the police do their job because no crime can go unseen. Somebody has heard something, somebody has seen something, and so we are pleading to anyone who has seen or heard anything to come forward with information. Come forward with information."
Not surprisingly perhaps, neither the PUP area rep nor the town Mayor showed up for the protest.
In Belize, where many dream of owning a business but are held back by limited resources, one young entrepreneur is proving that determination can travel farther than money ever could. Tonight, reporter Jaleeza Roberts takes a look at how some people inherit opportunity, while the owner of Faith and Fades builds it with his own hands:
Reporter Behind me may look like just another old bus at the side of the road, but for one entrepreneur it's a unique business opportunity: Faith and Fades barbershop, the barbershop that can take haircuts literally to the streets. Let's take a look inside:
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt, thousands of Belizeans found themselves asking the same question: What's next? For 27-year-old Daniel Coleman, unemployment became the catalyst for reinvention. Unable to find stable work during one of the country's most uncertain periods, Coleman decided to learn a skill that could not only provide an income, but create opportunities where none seemed to exist. Armed with little more than determination and free YouTube tutorials, he taught himself the art of barbering:
Daniel Coleman, Faith & Fades Barbershop Owner "Getting a job was a little bit difficult during the pandemic. And I saw that there were some barbers who were still cutting hair. So I saw that they were one of the ones who were a bit flexible during that time. And I said, 'Man, it's a good trade to have, you know.'"
But his journey started with a dream and a small zinc shop. Now, inside what was once an ordinary bus is a fully equipped mobile barbershop, complete with professional barber chairs, sanitization equipment, running water, and all the amenities customers would expect from a traditional salon. It is a business model rarely seen in Belize:
Daniel Coleman, Faith & Fades Barbershop Owner "I actually, when I first started, I started going to people's houses, and then I rented a little small zinc shop. It was a vegetable shop first, and it wasn't working out. And so I said, 'All right, I'm going to rent another spot.' And so I rented another location, which is right up the road from here. And it still didn't work out. And I said, 'You know what? I'm going to go mobile. I'm going to go mobile'."
"And I went, I started to go to people's houses on bicycle, riding to their houses with my little knapsack, with all of my equipment and everything in my bag. And I loved it. And the people, they loved it as well. But I always had the desire to offer more to them. I wanted to do hot towel. I wanted to do steam. I wanted to wash their hair, but I was unable to do all of that. And so the idea came to me: Why don't you do a full mobile barbershop?"
For many entrepreneurs, two failed locations would have marked the end of the dream. For Daniel, it became the beginning of a better idea. And coming from a background where dreams are often limited, he didn't look at his bank account as an indicator of his future possibilities:
Daniel Coleman, Faith & Fades Barbershop Owner "The biggest challenge, as is for many people, is the financial challenge. I am a poor man. I came from a poor family. And so even to get the bus was a big expense for me, but thank God I am here. You know, it has been a bit, a lot of challenge, but thank God, every step of the way, God has provided. He has opened the way. And yeah."
Reporter: "You say that you're a poor man. You come from a poor family. What does this mean in terms of poor people getting an opportunity to still dream?"
Daniel Coleman: "Well, I always encourage my fellow Belizeans, especially the lower class of which I am a part of. One of our biggest challenges here in Belize is not job opportunities, but rather innovation. There's a lot of jobs and innovation that we can do and we can have."
"But I believe it's just like I always say: many people out here, they have a lot of good ideas of how to start a business and stuff. But at the end of the day, it's just an idea unless you step out and do something. And so I always try to encourage our people. The biggest, the hardest part is just to step out there. You might not be able to see around the corner, but if you step out, something might happen along the road. It happened to me. I stepped out with what I had, and that was nothing. And here I am today."
His start challenges one of the most common misconceptions about success: that great businesses begin with great wealth. Sometimes an original idea is more appealing than deep pockets:
Daniel Coleman, Faith & Fades Barbershop Owner "I went into the health department because, you know, health has to do inspection. And I said, 'Miss, I was wondering if I can get a health inspection today.' And I said, 'I brought the business here.' And everyone in the spot, everyone laughed. They said, 'You brought the business here?' I said, 'Yes, I brought the business here. It's a mobile barbershop.' They didn't believe me. And everyone came out wondering what kind of... what kind of thing I'm coming up with. And, you know, everything got through in one day. Thank God."
Today, he serves busy professionals, tourists, families, and local residents, offering haircuts at convenient locations or directly at customers' homes. His mobile setup allows him to provide services beyond what was possible when he traveled by bicycle, creating a premium experience while bringing convenience directly to his clients. His dream is to build a nationwide network of mobile barbershops:
Daniel Coleman, Faith & Fades Barbershop Owner "The future of my business is to renovate more buses and rent them across the country. So we create a chain across the country. We have a mobile barbershop or two in Orange Walk, or two in Corozal, in Toledo. So we have it across the country so that everyone can benefit from this new experience in barbering."
Dreams rarely arrive fully funded. More often, they arrive disguised as risk, and for Daniel, the risk has proven worth it. Jaleeza Roberts, 7News.
Anyone wishing to book a haircut can contact 636-6894.
Police also made several drug busts over the weekend by way of intelligence and joint operations. And they continue to show the increasing prevalence of cocaine as a drug of choice for many.
The first bust occurred on Friday in Belize City.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have formally arrested and charged 18-year-old Malachi Vernon, of Gill Street, Belize City, for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license. The arrest follows the execution of a preventative patrol by officers attached to the violence prevention and enforcement team at around 9:30 AM on Gill Street, Belize City, on Friday, 3rd July. The arresting officer reported that whilst on operation, he observed Mr. Vernon whose conduct aroused his suspicion, and when Mr. Vernon was intercepted and a search was conducted on his person, this led to the discovery of a black 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 10 live rounds of 9mm ammunition."
And then in Bella Vista Village, Toledo, a suspect was discovered attempting to discard the evidence when this drug bust occurred.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police in Bella Vista have formally arrested and charged 40-year-old Roman Gamboa of Bella Vista Village for the offense of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply another. The arrest follows a joint operation that was conducted by the specialized units operating in that area at 8:00 AM on 2nd July 2026. The arresting officer reported that Gamboa was observed digging in the soil in an open lot in an area that is known to be used by peddlers of drugs, and when the officers approached, he began to walk off and he was observed throwing a plastic bag."
"He was taken to where the plastic landed and that plastic was retrieved, and it was observed to contain 15 small aluminum foils, each containing suspected crack cocaine. Gamboa was also taken back to the location some 10 feet away where he was observed digging, and an additional 15 small foils of suspected crack cocaine were discovered. As a result of these findings, Gamboa was charged for two counts of possession of controlled drugs with an intent to supply, to wit 2.92 grams and 3.44 grams of crack cocaine respectively."
Given the number of crimes and police operations being conducted in the vicinity of Bella Vista, we asked ASP Smith about their ongoing policing efforts in the village. She explained that drug trafficking is what made it a hotspot for them and an area of interest.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Since last year, Bella Vista has become an area of interest. We know there are several incidents and, as I indicated then, they were suggested to be fueled by the sale of drugs. Strategic changes, administrative changes were deployed, and though what is often reported is solely when persons are arrested, I can also confirm that even on that day, a number of major seizures of found property occurred. But I don't normally report on found property, so the operations in that area continue."
"As we say-as we continue to say-the sale of drugs certainly causes a rift in society on different levels, and as a department, we are cognizant of that. We continue to deploy all the tools that we have, be it technology, be it intelligence-led, or good old-fashioned policing to interdict these traffickers and to bring a level of peace to these beautiful villages."
And, finally, a Roaring Creek local was detained in Caye Caulker after several types of drugs were found in his possession. ASP Stacy Smith also shared those details with us.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Caye Caulker police have formally arrested and charged 45-year-old Joseph Lopez of Roaring Creek Village for three counts of drug trafficking following an operation at a property in that village, being Caye Caulker, which led to the discovery of 87.8 grams of cannabis, 2.39 grams of cocaine, and 1.59 grams of crack cocaine. The arresting officer reported that he executed a search warrant at the residence of Lopez at around 6:00 AM on Friday, 3rd of July, which led to the discovery of the reported drugs."
Turning now to a sports controversy, Tut Bay Football Club has a match scheduled for this weekend as part of an ongoing tournament; however, while they thought they would be playing at home here in the city, they were told today the match will be held in Belmopan. And their head coach is crying foul since they already played against the Mango Creek team in that village, and the return match should be held at Marion Jones. Jason Thurton came by our studio today and explained their side.
Jason Thurton, Head Coach, Tut Bay FC "We came this week preparing to play at Marion Jones and they will look at us today and told us that we can't play at Marion Jones because it seems the field is not certified. We played on a field that is worse than Marion Jones this week, so we are asking: why don't you guys want us to play here? When we play at home, our fans support us and we have funding to deal with our team."
"We benefit off our home match. So if we run the bar, we run the stadium, and we get the people to support us, we take the funding and put back into the team. We are trying to arrange a BBQ sale to buy boots for the team. We have been playing in this jersey for the past 15 going on 16 games, which we have not lost since then, and these people are just bitter every time."
"They say no racism, but it seems like you guys have something again Tut Bay Team. What me, as one of the owners, could feel? I'm out here bleaching every week, Sunday to Sunday, doing music, got these youths trained and rested. If they come to me and say, 'Coach, nothing is happening,' I have to figure out how I will do it."
"It's $500 to register the team, a total of $1,700 to go to Mango Creek because you had to pay $500 for registration and $1,200 for the bus. They said they would give us $500 towards, so we still have to get the next $700. Food... players come back around 1:00. We have players that live in Caye Caulker and on the road; how could we maintain these youths to go home?"
Courtney Menzies: "And so if nothing changes by this weekend, will you guys...?"
Jason Thurton: "Well, right now, how I feel honestly, I don't want to make my team play this match. They only could suspend us, but I have to step up. This is the second time you guys are attacking me."
We reached out to FFB's General Secretary Ian Jones, who explained that Marion Jones' football stadium did not pass their assessment and is in no condition to be used for matches. He said they asked Tut Bay to suggest alternatives but the reality is that there are none in Belize City, and Belmopan was the next best option. He added that they are covering the transportation and that the condition of Marion Jones is out of their control.
Flashpoint in St. Lucia: Trinidad P.M. Fires 22-Page Broadside Against Dr. Carla Barnett
The CARICOM Heads of Government meeting started over the weekend in St. Lucia. And the ongoing tenure of Belizean Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett is a flashpoint.
Despite a friendly gesture towards Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett on stage-Trinidad's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar remains firm in her opposition to Barnett's re-appointment.
In a 22-page letter written to the regional leaders, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that her administration, quote, "does not accept the process by which the Secretary-General was purportedly reappointed, and consequently, is unable to recognise the validity of the purported second term of the Secretary-General." She is asking regional leaders to seek an opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice on the issue and also wants Barnett to be engaged on a "month-to-month basis" until there is a determination by the CCJ.
And while that contentious issue percolates in the background-Secretary General Barnett opened the meeting without any hint of distraction:
Dr. Carla Barnett, Caricom Secretary General "As we gather here in St. Lucia for the 51st regular meeting of the conference, heads will focus on critical issues and decisions that must be taken to strengthen our regional integration process. This will be set against the backdrop of things we have achieved and the challenges of the past several years in order to guide the way ahead."
Belize's contingent to the meeting is led by Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre.
Bench and Bar Mourn Passing of Attorneys Robertha Magnus Usher and Agnes Segura Gillett
Today the Supreme Court held a special sitting to honor two attorneys who passed away in the last year. Robertha Magnus Usher died in Jamaica, while Agnes Segura Gillett-the wife of Fire Chief Colin Gillett-passed away here in Belize. Both women were remembered for their fearlessness, dedication, and passion. Courtney Menzies was at the memorial service today and has this story.
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Former Ms Belize Bella Zabaneh tonight finds herself in the middle of a raging public controversy-and it's not because of anything to do with pageantry, it's about politics and that $10,000 procurement threshold.
Unfazed by the avalanche of hard proof demonstrating irregularities-which she dismissed as "media propaganda"-Zabaneh told the PM: raise that ceiling.
"I want to commend Bella for being very thoughtful and to be brave to make such a recommendation considering what we are going through. But what we are doing at this time, we have been working with the IDB for over a year coming up with new legislation where we want to set up what you call the Central Procurement Unit."
Last week we told you that the DPP had discontinued cyberbullying charges against Alberto August. And the complainant, Oscar Mira, also confirmed that he had withdrawn charges. But, still, August and his attorney Michael Peyrefitte were obligated to appear in San Ignacio Magistrate's Court this morning to make it official. 7News spoke to them outside the courthouse:
"Well, that is up to Mr. August. He will have to reflect on that and then decide who he wants to instruct to take whatever action he decides on. So we will see where we go from here, but the main thing is the criminal charges are past us. I don't think that they should have been brought in the very first place, and so we just have to see where we go from here."
Alberto August: 
But even when August was arrested, the UDP Party Leader didn't make any efforts to get him out, and in her press release on the detention, she even refrained from including his name.
They called him "Shotta P," and Shane Vargas was shot to death in Ladyville on Friday night. Police Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith told us that he was shot inside his shop:
"Police have detained three male persons and recovered an unlicensed 9mm pistol as part of an ongoing investigation into the murder of 44-year-old Shane Vargas of Ladyville Village, which occurred around 8:30 PM on Friday, 3rd July 2026, in Ladyville Village. What has been gathered so far in the course of this investigation is that on the mentioned date and time, Mr. Vargas was inside his shop when an unknown male person approached him, firing two shots which resulted in his fatal injury. No motive has been established thus far as police continue to investigate this incident. I know a firearm was recovered, so I'm not sure if ammunition was inside it."
And while responding to a domestic dispute in Belmopan, police are also investigating a freak accident that occurred while attempting to detain a man. Two police officers were also injured in the accident. ASP Stacy Smith explained what happened.
He broke into a church and stole the father's cash pan.
Turning back now to those Smart Stream screenshots, tonight we're looking at the Mira family-owned MP Farms, and how it was ascendant in 2025-2026-coinciding with the time when Oscar Mira became Minister of Defence.
And the Chamber of Commerce has stepped into the dialogue over government procurement malpractice. One week ago, it fired off a blunt mandate to Prime Minister John Briceño, demanding immediate electronic handcuffs on the government's accounting software.
For the second time in four months, the per-pound price of chicken has increased again.
"When you look at the price of corn and soybean going up in the local market, that is being triggered in itself by the cost of other inputs that the farmers are facing. So that is one issue. The other issue is fuel. Our industry runs on fuel. The last time, Channel 7 did a documentary, and you can see how much the industry runs on fuel."
In March they raised the price by 6 cents, which triggered our newsroom to take a visit to all the poultry plants from start to finish to understand what we were dealing with. At the time, the increase was due to wages, but even then, other factors were cited:
"Part of the justification in raising like I said is to meet the labor force demand, one, and two, to meet the innovation and sustainability that you are currently seeing with your own eyes."
Today the Department of Transport held the opening ceremony for its Inter-Agency Traffic Enforcement Capacity Building Program. It's a training that will enhance the expertise and field capabilities of traffic enforcement personnel across different agencies. Facilitators for this training are from the Bureau of Standards, the Department of Transport, and the Caribbean Forensic Services. Here is a snippet of that ceremony.
"It is imperative for us as a government and respective departments to make sure we do our best to collaborate with each other to be able to enhance road safety. Having over 100 persons dying on our highways annually is unacceptable, and it is something we are trying to curb. But it is not going to be done by the Department of Transport alone, or by the police alone, or by the respective municipal bodies alone; it will require the support and input of every department that has a responsibility for road safety."
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer
On Sunday, a demonstration for justice was held in San Pedro Town to honor the lives of murder victims David Harmouche and Daniel Jones. Harmouche, who was a father of six-the youngest being a 6-month-old child-was targeted at his business in a ruthless, street-style execution where close to 60 rounds were fired by four gunmen.
In Belize, where many dream of owning a business but are held back by limited resources, one young entrepreneur is proving that determination can travel farther than money ever could. Tonight, reporter Jaleeza Roberts takes a look at how some people inherit opportunity, while the owner of Faith and Fades builds it with his own hands:
"Getting a job was a little bit difficult during the pandemic. And I saw that there were some barbers who were still cutting hair. So I saw that they were one of the ones who were a bit flexible during that time. And I said, 'Man, it's a good trade to have, you know.'"
Police also made several drug busts over the weekend by way of intelligence and joint operations. And they continue to show the increasing prevalence of cocaine as a drug of choice for many.
And then in Bella Vista Village, Toledo, a suspect was discovered attempting to discard the evidence when this drug bust occurred.
And, finally, a Roaring Creek local was detained in Caye Caulker after several types of drugs were found in his possession. ASP Stacy Smith also shared those details with us.
Turning now to a sports controversy, Tut Bay Football Club has a match scheduled for this weekend as part of an ongoing tournament; however, while they thought they would be playing at home here in the city, they were told today the match will be held in Belmopan. And their head coach is crying foul since they already played against the Mango Creek team in that village, and the return match should be held at Marion Jones. Jason Thurton came by our studio today and explained their side.
"They say no racism, but it seems like you guys have something again Tut Bay Team. What me, as one of the owners, could feel? I'm out here bleaching every week, Sunday to Sunday, doing music, got these youths trained and rested. If they come to me and say, 'Coach, nothing is happening,' I have to figure out how I will do it."
"As we gather here in St. Lucia for the 51st regular meeting of the conference, heads will focus on critical issues and decisions that must be taken to strengthen our regional integration process. This will be set against the backdrop of things we have achieved and the challenges of the past several years in order to guide the way ahead."
