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
A freak accident in Gales Point Manatee has left that small community in shock. 46 year old Anton Andrewin was killed by a pig that was wandering close to his yard. At first, the family thought the pig bit the man, but actually, it was the pig's tusk that gored him and caused him to bleed out.
It's a death that the police are still investigating, but for the villagers, while they are distraught, they're not surprised since this pig has been showing aggressive behavior ever since it first broke out of its enclosure.
But who is the owner? And why did it attack Andrewin? Courtney Menzies went to Gales Point today to find out more. Here is that story.
This is the head of a pig that took the life of 46 year old Anton Andrewin yesterday afternoon. Andrewin was sitting here under this shed with his wife and some friends when the pig came nearby.
It's not uncommon for pigs to be wandering around, so they didn't think much of it and was only trying to chase it away. But that's when the situation turned fatal.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased "We started drinking and conversing and the pigs were there and he got up and the dog charged at the big one and he went as well. The pig, he was throwing something at the pig and the pig was really aggressive and charged at him like twice and I screamed and said, stop stoning that pig, that pig will bite you."
"Like the third time when I saw the pig charging, I didn't realize that it bit him or anything but when he was coming the man said a bad word and said that the pig bit the man and he was coming and he was holding it and he was coming and by the time he reached there and the man took him in his hand and I pulled his boxers and I saw a cut opened so wide and blood just gushing out."
"We left and unfortunately we got to the hospital and 20 minutes after, the lady came out and said that he didn't make it."
But it wasn't just a bite - the pig's tusk sliced Andrewin's inner leg like a knife, severing an artery, which caused him to bleed out.
It's the first time his wife has seen something like this happen, but she says that the village is wary of that specific pig. Even the chairman agreed that it's been an issue they have been dealing with for a while.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased "That particular pig is very aggressive. It chases people, it gets really aggressive and as far as I know, well, the owner for the pig is not around, he's probably in prison or something. That pig is aggressive."
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee "Tragic thing, didn't need to have to happen. We've been chasing pigs, we've had issues in the village with animals in general not being fenced. This was a pig that had an owner, was fenced for a long time and then he got into trouble with the law and that led to him not taking care of his pig, his pig went wild, it happened to be the oldest, biggest pig, nearly 400-450 pounds. And he had gone basically feral, wild if you will, and just nothing could stop him, dogs couldn't stop him, all sorts of things. So we were in the process of moving him but it was a little too late because we didn't imagine something like this."
And shortly after the incident, that pig was killed. But now Altschaft is hoping it serves as a warning to other farmers and other villages.
Jason Altshaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee "When we found out that the children's [father] had passed away, of course the son just lost it and started chasing the pig, wanted to kill the pig. He actually got to it and chopped it a couple times but I have a licensed firearm and we put the pig down humanely and basically it became a sacrifice at that point. We just wanted to eliminate the pig and get rid of any signs of the thing. That's what the family needed."
"It's been a serious issue, as a council we've been raising it to people, they've had enough time. It's hard for rural communities to find money to start businesses. We have extra mangoes, we have things like this to actually support livestock around. But now we fully understand it's different when it comes to pig. They need to be contained but they are very difficult to contain because when they get into heat they can break out of anything, especially a pig that size. So you have to be, well, prepared and we were not and I just home this is a lesson for all the villages, all the rural community to pay attention."
Still, for the Andrewin family, they're still trying to come to terms with how their loved one could have been laughing one minute and exsanguinate the next.
His wife said that she will miss his joviality the most.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased "I remember him as a vibrant person. He's funny and everything. He doesn't cause problems, he's not a problem person. When you're around him, you will laugh most of the time. He's such a sweetheart, he is a sweetheart."
"By the grace of God, I'm here. I don't know what to think, what to do, anything, my kids, everything my kids are going through. it's really a hard time for us right now, I recently lost my grandpa, not even a year, and I lost my great grandma like 3 years ago, and I was the person who was taking care of them. And now him, it's a lot. It's a whole lot, I'm just trying by grace. I'm just trying."
The couple have 5 kids and 3 grandchildren, with more on the way.
The police have taken custody of the pig's head as part of their investigation. The body, however, has become a meal for the dogs in the village.
And in other news - the boy called Brains - that was 18 year old Eaton Thompson, who was killed in Mahogany Heights back in 2021. He was heading back home from buying food for his mother when he was gunned down. Two men were charged jointly for his murder but today they walked free.
26 year old George Hyde and 19 year old Devaun Garcia saw their murder trial come to an end when the DPP entered a nolle pros motion. That's because the crown was unable to locate their main witness, whom their case relied heavily upon. The police have been looking for the witness since April 15th.
Garcia's attorney, Simeon Sampson, said he came to court anticipating that the crown would be making an application to have the main witness statement entered into evidence, not a nolle pros. However, the judge reminded the accused that this submission doesn't mean they are acquitted.
Outside of the courtroom, Garcia's mother spoke briefly to court reporter Anita Nembhard.
Anasellia Castillo, Mother "3 years at prison for something that we don't even know about and at that time, I had my baby at home. It's chancy but money talks in that village, it's Belize."
Thompson was a student at Maud Williams High School.
The police department is investigating a weed importation ring - and it could implicate customs officers. In early April - a box arrived at Customs as part of a consolidated import of packages from the US - the kinds that typically come with shipments of barrels through freight services.
One particular box was found with 15 pounds of high grade marijuana. Now, that's not unusual for customs - people try to smuggle weed all the time - but persons who had an active interest in the box are what's making news tonight.
It turns out that the customs officer inspecting the shipment had received a call from two customs officers - one male, one female, who are relatives, asking him to look out for this specific box and clear it for them. It was addressed to another name- not theirs. They told him it contained bath and body works products.
When he got the box, as a precaution he looked inside, and instead of lotions, and soaps - he found cannabis in plastic bags. He reported it to his supervisor - and called the female customs officer who was on her way to pick it up. Her vehicle was caught on security camera entering the customs compound and then diverting when she got the call.
Shortly after that - she's been reporting sick and unable to work, and the officer who found the weed has given police a statement. Reports say the cops are looking at the possibility of detaining the customs officers who had been calling their colleague to clear the box for them. Investigators suspect it could be a weed smuggling ring that's long been in operation.
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We are told the type of marijuana found in this box is the highest grade - and sells for as much as 800.00 US dollars per ounce - making it a package whose value is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Tonight, a fast spreading bush fire has caused a fatality - even after neighbors attempted to put it out.
It happened on Saturday just after 2:00pm near mile 17 off the George Price Highway.
Jomarie Lanza went to Hattieville and spoke to one of the victim's neighbors who saw his close friend perish in a house fire. Here's that story.
If you follow the burnt pathways in this neighbourhood here in Hattieville village it will lead you to this charred structure where a house once was. But the house wasn't the only thing that the fire took. Its owner, 63 year old Glenford Hamilton affectionately known as "Belleng" was still inside when it burned down. And his neighbour and long time old friend, Godwin Smith says that he still cannot shake the feeling that this never would have happened if persons in the village would stop burning down bushy areas so carelessly.
Godwin Smith, Fire Victim Neighbour "When this fire I believe this fire started early like about 7:00, 8:00 in the morning, but the fire was at the street side the fire wasn't back here the fire wasn't even on this side so I was at Buttercup when my daughter called me and said daddy, a fire is over here but my daughter did not take Gerald's house into consideration because the fire was on the left hand side at the cement house so she said dad you don't have to worry, it won't get across on your side because it's at the cement house and in the next hour or so she called me again and said dad the fire has crossed to Gerald's side. So I told her to go to the neighbour and try to ask them for help."
"So she told me well they are putting out Mr Gerald's house so she said the neighbour, a girl from over there came and helped her out the house but Mr Gerald was saying he didn't feel too well so when they put out the house she didn't even see when Mr Gerald went back inside in the house she thought Mr Gerald stayed outside and went back to his job, but when I came my hog pen was burning down with all my hogs in there and she was back there, she fainted."
"A delivery truck passed by and he called us, he was blowing and he said this house is burning down over here so I left the hog pen burning down and when I came across here I couldn't do nothing but my daughter told me "belleng" is here, he was here because his bicycle is here, and I told her "belleng" is in the house. For 15 years "belleng" would not leave his bicycle out here without being in the house."
"I went out there back and when I looked, when the house already burn down an extra light started, like an extra flame came up so when I came back I looked and I got the experience from my granny she told me when a body is burning another flame will start and when I peeped in there he had already, I saw the white skull and I saw the pelvis and so I called them guys and I told them that Gerald is out here."
Smith says that he has lived in the village for 2 decades and they have lost many homes and lives due to the lack of fire fighting resources.
Godwin Smith, Fire Victim Neighbour "I don't know who start these fires but these fires are not bush fire they are man made. Because most of the time at the back here there are 2,3, 4 fire lit on the road side and we have to out them. But my thing is I am pleading to the Hattieville villagers we need to get out and try to help our neighbors because the more neighbors who come out we would have been able to save a life this is my third fire in the last 2 or three days."
"I am trying to lobby and that because if we had a water truck at the police station the police could help we because when we call the police they can't do nothing all they do is run out here and watch the thing and, and so I am trying to lobby for them to put a water truck at the police station Hattieville is big enough, because if we can't get a fire station then put a water truck there, train the police men to drive the water truck because we can save lives we can save houses because whenever the fire trucks get here the thing has already burned down, bush fires move fast in a space of time."
And within that short time frame, this fire claimed the life of his close friend who was also like family to him
Godwin Smith, Fire Victim Neighbour "Whenever you start your fire you make sure you clean it and observe it when you observe it you are protecting a life, it hurt me man to know that this man serve the whole village and everyone calls on him, sometimes he is working for me and they call him, everyone in this village, Gracie Rock and Hattieville, everyone knows Gerald, Gerlad helps everybody you understand and it hurts me to know I couldn't get here, it happened because this place burns every year and I was the one who is always here and make sure he isn't here and his house is protected. Gerald took care of my kids, from when they were small he carried them around, it hurts me. Everyday we sit-down and make sure at my house, we wait to make sure he comes home, if he doesn't come home we go and peep on him to make sure."
Smith says they will be holding a candlelight vigil for Hamilton tonight at his house.
We spoke to the Fire station Supervisor this afternoon about the fatal fire, and while he only have the initial report so far, he told us more about what firefighters saw when they arrived at the scene.
Gladstone Bucknor, Station Officer, Belize City NFS "We received the call around 1:51 that day and the guys responded and on their arrival at the location they observed a wooden structure, probably about 10 by 15 completely destroyed by fire however I am sad to say that there was one person inside the building at that time and he perished under the fire."
"It started as a bush fire that led to the structural fire."
"That one is also right now under investigation, the guy hasn't finished his report as yet but as soon as we finish the report then we will know more about it."
Yet still the neighbors maintain that Hamilton could have been saved had there been firefighting resources like a water truck in the village. Bucknor says that this is something they are working on with the department to expand and improve their response efficiency in rural areas.
Gladstone Bucknor, Station Officer, Belize City NFS "The department along with the ministry they are looking into putting in fire stations throughout the villages particularly Hattieville, and probably through Boom area. They are looking at that. I haven't confirmed as yet but that's one of the main areas they are looking at, bushfires, actually cause a lot of damage. If you remember the one in PG just by bushfire alone it caused so many damages."
And hopefully with an expansion they will be able to prevent not only loss of life but also loss of physical structures, as we saw with another fire that happened in Sand Hill on Thursday night. The owner of the home says the house had no electricity but was solar powered. Bucknor says that they are still trying to establish the cause of the fire.
Gladstone Bucknor, Station Officer, Belize City NFS "One in Gardenia, the guys they responded to the scene and when they arrived at the area the house was already completely destroyed by fire, a couples, the Dawson family. We are still investigating that fire at this moment."
"Like I said we can't, I can't discuss that one as yet because it's under investigation and police do have certain information and we will be working on that."
Reporter "Was the house wired?"
Gladstone Bucknor, Station Officer, Belize City NFS "It has electricity if that's what you're asking. As far as we know it has electricity, as far as I know at this present moment so when we finish the investigation then I will know more."
"It can also cause fires but like I said at this moment I don't have anymore information about that particular fire."
In an eerie and tragic coincidence, two men fell to their death in San Pedro over the weekend.
The second one is the one that has police looking for answers. It happened on Sunday, when a Canadian national reportedly fell from balcony on the third floor of the WaterMark Hotel in San Pedro.
It happened on Sunday just after 8:00 AM, and what's puzzling police is that he had company over a few hours before it happened - some locals who appeared to be socializing with him until the early morning. ACP Romero shared more details with us today.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division "Police responded to the discovery of a body outside of the watermark hotel in San Pedro, upon the arrival they saw the lifeless body of a male person with head injuries , he was later identified as Loran Randchenko Canadian national. Information is that Loran was staying at the hotel for the night then his body was discovered in the yard outside of the room an investigation is being carried out and several persons have been brought in for interview."
"We have information that he was in the company of other persons at the room but they left sometime during the night."
"Yes the information that we have is that they had been drinking."
Randchenko was 47 years old and also registered at another more upscale hotel. He had checked in along with a female and at 2:30 am they were joined by 2 men who remained in the room with him until 4:47am where they both left along with the female leaving Radchenko alone in the room.
And he was the second person to fall to his death in the island town over the weekend.
The first was a construction worker. On Saturday Afternoon San Pedro police responded to a construction site where a worker had reportedly fallen off the zinc roof. ACP Romero gave us more details.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division "On Saturday the 26th day of April 2025, police responded to a report in San Pedro where information was received that a person who was working on a building had fallen to the ground and police visited the area where they saw the lifeless body of one Pedro Torres a Mexican National with injuries and information is that he was working at a building when he fell, his body was taken as they are awaiting a post mortem examination."
Another fatal cycle accident in the West has claimed the life of a 34 year old Belmopan businessman. It happened on Sunday evening on the George price Boulevard in Belmopan. ACP Romero told us more:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division "Police visited the area where they saw a motorcycle and a van with damages and information is that the motorcycle was being driven by Skyler Williams who had a passenger with him and the van was being driven by Teresa Reyes and at some point they collided and Skyler Williams was taken for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries, an investigation is being carried out into this report."
And, in other news, there was a high-level diplomatic call today between the United States and Belize.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Prime Minister John Briceño. A synopsis from the US State Department says Rubio reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two countries and praised Belize for its efforts to counter illegal immigration, combat organized crime, and support security efforts in Haiti. The two leaders also discussed economic issues, including tariffs, and Belize's continued engagement with the International Court of Justice and Guatemala regarding the Sarstoon River.
Secretary Rubio, quote, "pledged U.S. support to help strengthen the investment climate for American businesses in Belize."
The call ended with both leaders committing to deepen the close ties between the United States and Belize.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is providing an update on the ongoing response to the measles outbreak.
The outbreak began earlier this month with two confirmed imported cases, and since then, five more cases have been identified among close contacts. These new cases were confirmed between April 9th and 13th.
The Ministry reports that 22 school contacts were also identified - with 12 fully vaccinated, 5 unvaccinated, and 4 with unknown vaccination status. Close contacts are being carefully monitored for any symptoms.
Meanwhile, heightened surveillance continues across the country. Fourteen samples were recently sent to Mexico for laboratory testing - and all results have come back negative.
The national vaccination campaign remains in full swing, and the Ministry is urging the public to visit the health centers where the MMR vaccine is available.
For more information you can call the Ministry's toll-free hotline at 0-800-MOH-CARE.
Belize's Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, Jose Mai, is in San Salvador this week, chairing a regional meeting of Agriculture Ministers from Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. The meeting, organized by CIRSA and OIRSA, is focused on tackling the spread of the New World Screwworm - a dangerous pest threatening livestock across the region.
Minister Mai, who currently serves as Chair of CIRSA, led Belize's presentation, reporting that since the first case was detected on December 26th, Belize has identified 63 screwworm cases to date. Notably, the north of the country remains largely unaffected, with no cases in Corozal and just two in Orange Walk.
Compared to its neighbors, Belize's situation is far better. Nicaragua, for example, has reported over 121,000 cases - including 94 human infections - while countries like Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras are also grappling with widespread outbreaks.
Agriculture Ministers are also developing a regional plan and budget to eradicate the screwworm. That proposal will be submitted to U.S. and international agencies for possible funding support.
Minister Mai is accompanied by a Belize delegation including CEO Servulo Baeza, Senior Advisor Hugh O'Brien, and OIRSA Representative Fermin Blanco.
Belizean moviegoers generally have 3 options when a movie they want to see premieres: hope that it is available at the Ramada Cinema, pirate it for free at home, or travel to another country - likely Chetumal - to view it.
For those that were excited about "Sinners" - a film that came out on in the US on Thursday - they were pleasantly surprised to see that Ramada would be having two viewings yesterday. However, what they didn't expect was that the whole movie would actually be a bootlegged version. And on top of that, the logo from the website that it was pirated from was dancing across the screen the entire time.
It's a blow to all the moviegoers who paid almost $20 per ticket - and don't ask about snacks. One of those viewers spoke to us today about his experience.
Victor Quinonez, Moviegoer "It was awful,, very hard to even know what you'd actually see and hearing was over-modulated, it was like distorted and the movie is 50% based on music and african rhythm and and the slave, you know their music."
"So it was really really hard to see and understand. Of course you could make the different stars and what is happening, but you don't get the full detail and to know that the movie was shot with IMAX cameras it's a complete dis-service to the movie itself."
Reporter "And the logo was bouncing on the screen right?"
Victor Quinonez, Moviegoer "Despite the logo bouncing from screen to screen, I mean it was like about two minutes in or less and then it started to bounce from left to right, center, middle and I mean when you grow up in Belize and you bought your bootleg DVDs for $5 for it and you get what you used to get."
"But going to this and having it just premiered for one day and they're telling you just two viewings and still charging me 18 dollars and I took my wife, so thirthy six dollars and then I spent 20 dollars in soft drinks and stuff - 56 dollars outing and I got something I could have watch free on the laptop."
"I was pissed and I was like I was like surprised that they had the *explkicit* to even go ahead and continue showing it. I thought it was a gag for like the beginning, I'm going like okay maybe it's just uh they had they had to show like a bootleg beginning and then the the movie was gonna actually pick up and start showing a HD. But at the same time what I wasn't gonna do, get up and nobody would not follow me and go up and make a lot of noise then I get banned from the cinema or what? they're not giving me back the 18 dollars you know and I already told my wife we're gonna have an outing and everything so we're already dear she's pissed, I am pissed and what can you do? But it just feels like they had a heist, but no plan to pull it off because any movie that's going to show from here, we're going to have to question if it isn't going to be in HD quality, is it going to be to a theater standard?"
"So for common people who love movies like me, the theater experience, we don't have always the funds to go Chetumal to watch a decent movie in a good theater surrounding. So we rely on the Princess, to give you some kind of standard quality for movies."
We reached out to Operational Director at Ramada, George Blasco, who told us that while he does not follow the operations of the hotel at that level, they only buy original films. He explained that there is a Mexican technician arriving tomorrow to fix the projector and he wants to believe it was a problem with the system. However, he committed to investigating the matter further and contacting to manager to get to the bottom of it. He also stated that they take copyright laws very seriously.
On Friday we told you about Jerry Enriquez's case that could shake up the high court. He's accused Justice Tawanda Hondora of judicial misconduct and bias for allegedly pre-judging his case before the trial finished.
He hand delivered the complaint to the Chief Justice's office and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission last week. And today, they both wrote back to him acknowledging receipt.
The Judicial and Legal Services Commission says in their letter that the matter is engaging their attention. The body is expected to meet in May and the complaint could be on the agenda. We'll wait and see if they agree to appoint a body for a hearing.
For students across Belize, classes resumed today after the Easter vacation. And while there's a holiday on Thursday, their schools may also be closed again on Wednesday. That's because the BNTU is planning to have district meetings with members from all over the country. They informed the Ministry of Education with a memo dated April 24th and asked them to allow members to attend.
The next day MOE replied, stating that they felt that the tone of the memo was, quote, "directive rather than collaborative."
They added, quote, "The timing of the notice provided is insufficient... Advance notifications of this nature are necessary to ensure that proper arrangements can be made by managing authorities and administrators to ensure the continuity of instruction. It also facilitates better planning and coordination among all stakeholders." End quote. They then ask the BNTU to resubmit their request, providing a more adequate notice period.
But the BNTU is still planning to meet on Wednesday, and the president is asking members to come out in numbers:
Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU "As a responsible organization, we have decided that it is time for you to formally register that discontent. Again, being a responsible entity, we have notified our stakeholders of the action that we're about to take. Why? They are custodians of children, they need to know how to prepare for Wednesday. That memo that was sent out to our stakeholders in no shape or form is disrespectful. This is what we do when we are getting ready to register our discontent because that is the table at which we are currently sitting."
"On Monday we saw 1,995 teachers coming out to that convention, history in the making. The first time we have seen that. Now, we need for you to come out in record breaking numbers on Wednesday. You know why, members? You asked us for that platform to formally register your discontent and the only way we can continue is if you go out and vote and give us the mandate."
"I was surprised on Friday when I received calls from teachers who have been working, were being paid, met the criteria for a new license before the expiration date but somebody at the ministry did not notify the treasury so our teachers were kicked out of the system and they were not being paid and this has been happening now two months. that should never happen because we have an agreement."
We'll be there to let you know how it goes on Wednesday.
A Supreme Court ruling has declared the government's acquisition of a prime parcel of land in San Pedro unlawful. The court found that the Ministry of Natural Resources breached the Land Acquisition Public Purposes Act by failing to consult and properly notify Reef Village Development II Limited, the rightful owner, before compulsorily acquiring Parcel 5203, Block 7. The judge ruled that the failure to consult invalidated the acquisition entirely.
The court also dismissed the argument that a letter sent by the Mayor of San Pedro satisfied the government's legal obligation to initiate negotiations. It was not proven that the Minister of Natural Resources had delegated his authority to the mayor, and without such evidence, the court ruled that the required statutory negotiations never occurred.
As a result, the Registrar of Lands has been ordered to restore Reef Village Development II Limited as the registered owner of the parcel.
Reef Village was re3presented by Dena Barrow and his junior Adler Waight.
On Friday we showed you how Shyne Barrow had to get a grinder to cut his way into the UDP. Headquarters after operatives loyal to Tracy Panton changed the locks on him. Well, Barrow changed it back on Friday - and then, guess what happened?
Well. On Saturday morning those Tracy loyalists were back - to change the locks on Shyne again. And, again, Barrow changed them back. That's where it stands tonight - and the matter has been reported to the police.
We always tell you when things go badly on the Sarstoon -when the Belize Territorial Volunteers go on their usual flag planting exercise. Well, tonight the news is better. On Sunday, the BTV team left out from Punta Gorda with a BDF escort.
Here's Will Maheia at the start of the trip:
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A freak accident in Gales Point Manatee has left that small community in shock. 46 year old Anton Andrewin was killed by a pig that was wandering close to his yard. At first, the family thought the pig bit the man, but actually, it was the pig's tusk that gored him and caused him to bleed out.
"We started drinking and conversing and the pigs were there and he got up and the dog charged at the big one and he went as well. The pig, he was throwing something at the pig and the pig was really aggressive and charged at him like twice and I screamed and said, stop stoning that pig, that pig will bite you."
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee 
And in other news - the boy called Brains - that was 18 year old Eaton Thompson, who was killed in Mahogany Heights back in 2021. He was heading back home from buying food for his mother when he was gunned down. Two men were charged jointly for his murder but today they walked free.
Anasellia Castillo, Mother
Tonight, a fast spreading bush fire has caused a fatality - even after neighbors attempted to put it out.
"When this fire I believe this fire started early like about 7:00, 8:00 in the morning, but the fire was at the street side the fire wasn't back here the fire wasn't even on this side so I was at Buttercup when my daughter called me and said daddy, a fire is over here but my daughter did not take Gerald's house into consideration because the fire was on the left hand side at the cement house so she said dad you don't have to worry, it won't get across on your side because it's at the cement house and in the next hour or so she called me again and said dad the fire has crossed to Gerald's side. So I told her to go to the neighbour and try to ask them for help."
"We received the call around 1:51 that day and the guys responded and on their arrival at the location they observed a wooden structure, probably about 10 by 15 completely destroyed by fire however I am sad to say that there was one person inside the building at that time and he perished under the fire."
And hopefully with an expansion they will be able to prevent not only loss of life but also loss of physical structures, as we saw with another fire that happened in Sand Hill on Thursday night. The owner of the home says the house had no electricity but was solar powered. Bucknor says that they are still trying to establish the cause of the fire.
In an eerie and tragic coincidence, two men fell to their death in San Pedro over the weekend.
"We have information that he was in the company of other persons at the room but they left sometime during the night."
And he was the second person to fall to his death in the island town over the weekend.
Another fatal cycle accident in the West has claimed the life of a 34 year old Belmopan businessman. It happened on Sunday evening on the George price Boulevard in Belmopan. ACP Romero told us more:
And, in other news, there was a high-level diplomatic call today between the United States and Belize.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is providing an update on the ongoing response to the measles outbreak.
Belize's Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, Jose Mai, is in San Salvador this week, chairing a regional meeting of Agriculture Ministers from Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. The meeting, organized by CIRSA and OIRSA, is focused on tackling the spread of the New World Screwworm - a dangerous pest threatening livestock across the region.
Belizean moviegoers generally have 3 options when a movie they want to see premieres: hope that it is available at the Ramada Cinema, pirate it for free at home, or travel to another country - likely Chetumal - to view it.
"It was awful,, very hard to even know what you'd actually see and hearing was over-modulated, it was like distorted and the movie is 50% based on music and african rhythm and and the slave, you know their music."
On Friday we told you about Jerry Enriquez's case that could shake up the high court. He's accused Justice Tawanda Hondora of judicial misconduct and bias for allegedly pre-judging his case before the trial finished.
For students across Belize, classes resumed today after the Easter vacation. And while there's a holiday on Thursday, their schools may also be closed again on Wednesday. That's because the BNTU is planning to have district meetings with members from all over the country. They informed the Ministry of Education with a memo dated April 24th and asked them to allow members to attend.
"As a responsible organization, we have decided that it is time for you to formally register that discontent. Again, being a responsible entity, we have notified our stakeholders of the action that we're about to take. Why? They are custodians of children, they need to know how to prepare for Wednesday. That memo that was sent out to our stakeholders in no shape or form is disrespectful. This is what we do when we are getting ready to register our discontent because that is the table at which we are currently sitting."
On Friday we showed you how Shyne Barrow had to get a grinder to cut his way into the UDP. Headquarters after operatives loyal to Tracy Panton changed the locks on him. Well, Barrow changed it back on Friday - and then, guess what happened?
Well. On Saturday morning those Tracy loyalists were back - to change the locks on Shyne again. And, again, Barrow changed them back. That's where it stands tonight - and the matter has been reported to the police.