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  • Parmessar: Behandeling wetswijziging rechterlijke macht vóór reces lijkt moeilijk haalbaar

    Parmessar: Behandeling wetswijziging rechterlijke macht vóór reces lijkt moeilijk haalbaar

    A planned overhaul of Suriname’s Judicial Branch Financial Provisions Act is facing growing delays, and is now increasingly unlikely to be finalized and voted on before the National Assembly enters its recess on September 3, according to the head of the country’s main opposition National Democratic Party (NDP).

    Rabin Parmessar, who leads the NDP parliamentary caucus and also chairs the special committee of rapporteurs overseeing the bill, told local outlet Starnieuws that while initial planning called for the full legislative process to wrap up before the recess break, ongoing discussions have revealed there is still far more work to be done to get the text right.

    Parmessar emphasized that any changes to this law, which governs the core framework for the judicial branch, must be handled responsibly, with full respect for the separation of powers between Suriname’s state institutions. With less than two weeks remaining before the recess begins, the timeline for advancing the bill before the break is now looking increasingly unfeasible.

    The holdup on the legislation carries tangible real-world consequences: 15 newly trained judges are ready to take their seats on the bench to ease existing caseload burdens across Suriname’s court system, and court administration has already assigned them to court sessions set to begin when the new judicial term opens in October. However, their formal appointment process remains incomplete, in large part because the salary regime that will apply to these new magistrates is still tied up in the proposed law changes.

    The candidates have already completed all required training, and their arrival is widely viewed as a critical step to address long-standing high workloads and expand judicial capacity to reduce case backlogs. The Council of Ministers has already signed off on their appointments, but the final presidential resolution formalizing their roles has not yet been issued, pending resolution of the salary framework question.

    At the heart of the legislative debate is the restructuring of judicial pay, a core component of the proposed amendments. The existing salary system has faced criticism in recent years over its structure of incremental pay increases and multiple allowances, which over time have driven total judicial compensation far higher than initial budget projections, creating long-term fiscal sustainability concerns.

    The revision proposal adjusts a range of percentage-based pay scales overhauls how incremental pay increases are structured, with the explicit goal of creating a new salary framework that is more financially manageable for the state budget. Until the law amendment is finalized, there remains no definitive clarity on which pay scheme will apply to the 15 incoming judges. While it remains legally possible to appoint the judges under current law, the unresolved compensation question has put the entire process on hold.

  • Pokie wil in 2027 af van achterstanden sociale uitkeringen

    Pokie wil in 2027 af van achterstanden sociale uitkeringen

    Suriname’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) has laid out an ambitious two-part reform agenda: clearing the persistent backlog of unpaid social benefit claims by 2027 and transitioning the country away from costly cash-based disbursements to a fully digital payment system for all social transfers. Minister Diana Pokie, who leads Sozavo, confirmed the 2027 deadline in an official statement shared via the Communication Service of Suriname, noting that the original one-year timeline for clearing backlogs could not be met due to funding dependencies on the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

    Cash disbursements, currently still the norm for remote inland districts including Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, have been identified as a key barrier to resolving backlogs. Minister Pokie explained that cash payments carry exorbitantly high operational costs, which have compounded delays and made it impossible to clear the accumulated backlog at the current pace. In all other Surinamese districts, social benefits are already distributed via the Monikarta payment card system, a shift that has already streamlined processes in those regions.

    To deliver a nationwide digital solution, Sozavo has partnered with the Suriname Post Savings Bank (SPSB) to develop a countrywide digital payment infrastructure that will reach even the most remote inland communities. Preparations for breaking the country’s long-standing reliance on cash culture are already far advanced, Pokie confirmed, with the end goal of routing nearly all social benefit disbursements through direct bank transfers and other formal digital payment methods.

    The reform also includes a restructuring of Monikarta distribution. Sozavo has signed a new agreement with SPSB that will transfer full responsibility for issuing new cards to the bank moving forward. The ministry will run one final round of distribution for individuals who have not yet collected their pre-issued cards, after which all remaining unclaimed cards will be handed over to SPSB for future distribution. Pokie noted that turnout for recent outreach campaigns urging uncollected card holders to claim their cards has been disappointingly low, prompting the ministry to explore new outreach strategies including targeted social media campaigns to reach this demographic.

    Longer-term modernization plans also extend to the application process for social benefits. Currently, all applications for support schemes including disability assistance, aid for low-income households, and purchasing power enhancement must be submitted in person through local Sozavo neighborhood offices, with separate registration periods scheduled for inland residents. The full digitalization of the entire benefit pipeline, from application to disbursement, is expected to create a far more efficient system that will prevent future backlogs from accumulating and expand access to support for all eligible Surinamese residents.

  • Leacock remanded over Huntes Street shooting

    Leacock remanded over Huntes Street shooting

    A 30-year-old self-employed individual has been ordered to serve 28 days in Dodds Prison following his initial court appearance on charges linked to a public shooting incident earlier this August. Jason Andre Leacock, a resident of 1st Avenue Friendship Terrace in St Michael, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Manila Renee at the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates Court to face the multi-count indictment.

    Court documents outline four separate allegations tied to the events of August 8 on Huntes Street, a busy public thoroughfare. Prosecutors claim Leacock discharged a firearm without legal authorization, acting in a way that placed two people — Mary Rouse and Renee Rouse — at immediate risk of fatal harm or severe bodily injury. He additionally faces a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm without a valid license issued by local authorities.

    The final charge alleges that Leacock damaged a concrete pillar on a residential property owned by Mary Rouse. Prosecutors contend he either intentionally damaged the property, acted with reckless disregard for the potential damage to the structure, and that his actions placed Mary Rouse’s life at deliberate or reckless risk of harm.

    Leacock is represented by defense attorney Simon Clarke. Under local court procedures for indictable offences, the defendant was not required to enter a formal plea during this initial hearing. He has been ordered to remain in custody at Dodds Prison for the next 28 days, and his case is scheduled to resume in court on September 21 as legal proceedings move forward.

  • BRA to reissue 25 807 land tax bills

    BRA to reissue 25 807 land tax bills

    On Monday, Barbados’ Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn publicly confirmed a miscalculation in residential land tax bills that has impacted 25,807 residential properties assessed at values above $450,000, following a recent adjustment to the country’s property tax-free threshold. The mistake stemmed from a failure to update progressive tax bands after policymakers raised the tax-exempt threshold for residential real estate from $300,000 to $400,000 earlier this year, leaving affected property owners facing incorrectly inflated tax charges.

    Speaking at a press conference hosted at the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) headquarters on Roebuck Street, Straughn laid out the corrected progressive tax structure that will apply to all residential land tax calculations moving forward. To eliminate any confusion, he clarified that the updated bands are structured as follows: 0% tax on the improved property value up to $400,000, 0.1% on any value portion falling between $400,001 and $550,000, 0.7% on the portion between $550,001 and $950,000, and a 1% rate for any value above $950,000.

    Straughn emphasized that the error only impacts properties valued above $450,000; more than 62,000 residential properties assessed between $400,000 and $450,000 were calculated correctly under the new threshold, and their bills will not need to be reissued. Explaining the root cause of the administrative mistake, the minister noted that when the tax-free threshold was raised from $300,000 to $400,000, the remaining taxable bands were not shifted upward automatically as required under the new policy. Under the old threshold, the first taxable bracket ran from $300,001 to $450,000 at the 0.1% rate. After the threshold adjustment, this initial taxable bracket should have expanded to cover from $400,001 to $550,000 — a $150,000 range — but instead only covered $50,000, pushing the higher 0.7% rate into effect thousands of dollars earlier than it should have, resulting in overbilling.

    The minister acknowledged that the error has caused unnecessary inconvenience for affected property owners, confirming that BRA teams have already identified the issue and are working at full speed to resolve it. To prevent the same administrative error from happening again in the future, Straughn announced that new programming protocols will be implemented to automatically adjust tax bands whenever the tax-free threshold is modified in upcoming policy adjustments. “Going forward, we will continue to review our property tax framework,” he said. “The reality is that the bands really should have been programmed automatically to shift with threshold changes from the start, so any future adjustments will include this automatic update to make tax calculations as seamless as possible for property owners.”

    In addition to correcting the billing error, the government has adjusted payment deadlines to give affected homeowners extra time to settle their corrected obligations. Land tax is typically due by March 31 of each year, but corrected bills for impacted properties will carry an issue date of August 31, with extended discount deadlines aligned to 2026. The revised timeline offers a 10% discount for in-person payments completed by September 30, 2026, a 5% discount for in-person payments made by October 30, 2026, and a 10% discount for all online payments and bank transfers submitted by December 1, 2026.

    Importantly, the correction applies exclusively to residential properties; all non-residential land tax calculations remain unaffected by the error. For homeowners who have already paid their incorrectly inflated tax bills, BRA will open refund requests starting September 1. Eligible property owners can choose to receive a cash refund for their net overpayment, request that the overpaid amount be credited to their 2027 land tax obligation, or apply the extra funds to cover any existing outstanding tax arrears.

    As of the announcement, Straughn confirmed that BRA has already received $35.9 million in payments from affected taxpayers, but he noted that this total is not the total amount eligible for refund. The final overpayment sum will depend on how many taxpayers opt for refunds versus credits toward future tax bills. Corrected paper bills are currently in production, and the Barbados Post Office is scheduled to begin distributing them to affected homeowners before the end of August.

    Trevor Forde, BRA’s Director of Tax Audit and Compliance, encouraged all residential property owners to register for the BRA online portal to access their updated tax information faster. Homeowners can use their existing bill number and map reference number from a previous land tax statement to log into the portal and view their corrected bill immediately, without waiting for the paper copy to arrive by post. Forde also reminded taxpayers that online payments qualify for the maximum 10% discount, making digital payment both faster and more cost-effective for property owners.

  • BEL Points to Rising Temperatures, Consumers Want Proof

    BEL Points to Rising Temperatures, Consumers Want Proof

    As temperatures climb across Belize, a wave of consumer frustration over skyrocketing electricity bills has pushed the national power provider BEL and government officials to the table to address growing public discontent. The August 2026 gathering comes as BEL confirms a sharp year-over-year rise in customer bill disputes, with hundreds of residents questioning unexpected spikes in monthly energy charges that have stretched already tight household budgets.

    During a two-hour public explanation session led by BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young alongside Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Leroy Almendarez, officials outlined multiple contributing factors behind the sudden bill increases. Young acknowledged that a small share of jumps stem from administrative and technical errors: some customers were hit with unexpected accumulated unpaid balances they had never been notified of, while inaccurate readings from old meters created a backlog of uncharged usage that only appeared on statements after outdated devices were replaced. In rare cases, the company also identified unauthorized meter tampering that led to catch-up charges appearing on subsequent bills.

    But Young, a trained mechanical engineer, repeatedly emphasized that rising seasonal temperatures are the dominant driver of higher energy consumption across the country. He explained that cooling-dependent appliances work far harder in extreme heat to maintain comfortable internal temperatures: air conditioning units can consume 50 to 60 percent more energy than they do during milder weather to offset the larger gap between indoor and outdoor temperatures. Refrigerators and freezers require extra power to keep food at safe storage temperatures, while even small devices like computers and internet routers have internal cooling fans that run more constantly and use more energy when external temperatures rise. Beyond electronics, increased hot weather also means more frequent water pump use as residents take more showers to cool off, adding to overall household energy demand.

    For many Belizean households already grappling with broader cost-of-living increases, the explanation has done little to ease the financial pressure of bills that have jumped by hundreds or even thousands of dollars in some cases. Minister Chebat acknowledged the severity of the burden facing residents, confirming that the government is not ignoring the growing crisis. “People are complaining that they are facing difficulties to pay these electric bills and it is a reality,” Chebat stated. “Government is not deaf and we are working to see what we can do to alleviate this. We have done a lot of things to try to help reduce the cost of living and burden that people are facing.”

    As the 2026 dry season continues to push temperatures higher, consumers remain skeptical of the official explanation and are calling for greater transparency around billing practices and meter accuracy. For families already stretching every dollar to cover basic needs, the question now is not just why bills are rising, but how many will be able to afford to keep the power on as temperatures continue to climb. This report, based on a televised broadcast from News Five, was filed by correspondent Paul Lopez.

  • BEL Admits Meter Errors, Denies Overcharging

    BEL Admits Meter Errors, Denies Overcharging

    As complaints over unexpectedly high electricity bills continue to flood in from consumers across Belize, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has broken its silence to acknowledge occasional human errors in meter reading while strenuously rejecting allegations of systemic overcharging of customers.

    In an official press interaction, BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young emphasized that the utility maintains full confidence in its billing infrastructure, and urged consumers to trust the company’s invoicing processes. He explained that isolated instances of misread meters — such as when staff mistakenly log a 9 instead of a 6 — do occur, but the company has clear protocols in place to correct these mistakes promptly once identified.

    Young pushed back against claims that the company intentionally manipulates billing to inflate charges for select customers, noting that such a scheme would be functionally nearly impossible to pull off. “If you understand how our billing system works, it is entirely run through automated computer infrastructure,” Young explained. “Pulling off a targeted manipulation of the system to overcharge specific customers would take an extraordinary level of technical skill that simply isn’t being deployed here. Nothing is impossible, of course, but this scenario is not remotely plausible.”

    He also acknowledged that widespread public skepticism of large corporations is common across all industries, drawing a parallel to the scrutiny that media outlets like Channel 5, the reporter’s outlet, face for their coverage. “We are committed to being transparent and factual about any issues that arise,” Young said. “When we make a mistake, we own it immediately and fix it for consumers.”

    A core point of consumer frustration has centered on BEL’s ongoing rollout of new electronic smart meters, a decades-long modernization effort that the company aims to complete by 2028. To date, more than 40,000 old analog meters have already been replaced across the country, and many consumers have reported seeing their bills jump immediately after their meter is upgraded, leading to widespread speculation that the new devices are deliberately inflated readings.

    Young refuted these claims, instead arguing that the new electronic meters deliver far more accurate usage measurements than the aging analog units they replace. According to Young, electronic meters have a tolerance margin of just ±1.5%, compared to the ±3% accuracy range of older analog models. He added that when analog meters malfunction, they are far more likely to under-record energy use rather than over-record it, due to the design of their internal coil systems. When these inaccurate old meters are replaced with precise new devices, some consumers see their bills adjust to reflect their actual energy use — leading to an understandable but misplaced perception that the new meters are overcharging.

    This report is a direct transcript of an evening television broadcast, with Kriol language terminology transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.

  • BEL Faces Multimillion-Dollar Power Debt With CFE

    BEL Faces Multimillion-Dollar Power Debt With CFE

    As of August 24, 2026, Belize’s primary energy provider Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is confronting a severe financial and operational crisis, anchored by a multimillion-dollar outstanding debt owed to Mexico’s state-owned energy utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The company’s top leadership has confirmed that current operating revenues are insufficient to cover all recurring costs, and that the Briceño administration has stepped in to provide emergency financial support to keep the national power grid operational.

    In a public press briefing, BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young shared updated details on the scope of the debt, noting that the total obligation had fallen from $55 million in early January 2026 to roughly $30 million as of the latest reporting period, with approximately $20 million of that sum currently overdue. Young explained that the debt has mounted steadily over recent months due to a persistent gap between elevated wholesale power generation costs and regulated retail electricity rates charged to consumers.

    To illustrate the stark imbalance facing the utility, Young outlined the company’s weekly cash flow: BEL collects approximately $6 million in total weekly revenue, while diesel fuel costs alone currently run to $3 million per week. After accounting for non-negotiable payments to CFE, domestic hydroelectric provider Hydro Belize, full-time staff salaries, and contractor invoices, all available operating revenue is exhausted, leaving no buffer to cover the full cost of imported power. While a recently implemented COPA fuel price adjustment is intended to close this gap, Young noted it only covers a fraction of the increased costs. In one recent month alone, extra generation costs hit 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, while the COPA adjustment only added 1.5 cents to retail rates, leaving a 3 cent per kilowatt-hour gap that translated to a $5 million monthly shortfall – a gap that has been covered partially by government assistance.

    The ongoing debt crisis has pulled back the curtain on longstanding structural vulnerabilities in Belize’s national energy sector, which relies heavily on imported power from CFE while facing limited domestic power generation capacity. Young pushed back against criticism of past policy decisions that led to the country’s heavy reliance on Mexican imports, noting that decision-makers acted on the best available information at the time. CFE, as the national utility of an energy-rich nation, was long viewed as a cheap, reliable supplier, and no one could have predicted the operational instability it would face in recent years. “Everybody lose sometimes man,” Young noted, emphasizing that the focus now must be on moving forward rather than assigning blame for past choices.

    While BEL works to address its immediate cash flow crisis, a key long-term project intended to strengthen Belize’s energy independence remains stalled. In 2023, the Briceño administration signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to fund a $77 million utility-scale solar project designed to boost domestic generation capacity and reduce reliance on imported power, but the funding has yet to arrive amid lengthy Saudi bureaucratic approval processes.

    Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat explained that Saudi Arabia’s rigorous procurement process includes additional requirements, such as a mandate to use Saudi engineering teams for most core components of the project, which has extended the timeline. Chebat reaffirmed that the government is prioritizing the project and pushing for approval as quickly as possible, noting that the delayed solar investment is badly needed to address the country’s current generation shortfall. He added that the government recently secured a $125 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a large portion of which is earmarked for reducing national power costs, as part of a broader push to stabilize Belize’s energy sector.

  • Smith Gunned Down Months After Murder Charges Withdrawn

    Smith Gunned Down Months After Murder Charges Withdrawn

    On a quiet Sunday morning in Belize City, the crack of gunshots shattered the calm just after 1 a.m., leaving a tragic outcome that has rocked the local community. Hours after residents reported the gunfire, law enforcement officers made a grim discovery: 23-year-old Christopher Smith Jr. lay dead from multiple gunshot wounds on Arlington Drive, his life cut short in a killing that investigators are now racing to solve.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, staff officer for the department, outlined the details of the investigation in a statement to local media. “At approximately 7 a.m., police control received word that Smith’s body had been located on Arlington Drive,” she explained. “Responding investigators found an unresponsive body with clear gunshot injuries, and several spent bullet casings were recovered at the scene. Witness accounts place the shooting around 1:20 a.m., matching earlier reports of gunfire in the area, but first responding units were unable to secure the crime scene immediately after the shots were reported. The department has pulled surveillance footage from the crime fusion center, which has generated promising leads that investigators are actively following up on right now.”

    Smith’s killing comes just months after a high-profile criminal case against him came to an abrupt end. In 2024, Smith was arrested and charged alongside two other men in connection with the double murder of cousins Marvin Cante and Juan Raymundo, whose remains were discovered in a shallow grave outside the village of Hattieville. But in a surprising turn last November, the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered all charges against Smith be withdrawn, and he was released from custody.

    For his family, the young man who was killed was ready to turn his back on a troubled past and build a new, honest life. His grandmother, who raised Smith until he was five years old and remained a close part of his life into adulthood, shared that he had explicitly told her he planned to change his ways. “He told me that he was going to change his life. He said, ‘Grandma, I’m not living that life anymore. I’m going to get a job and do the right thing,’” she recalled. “I told him okay, son. His uncle was going to give him a job working as a baker, so he could earn an honest living.”

    She remembered her grandson as a loving, helpful young man who frequently checked in on her. “Every time he came to visit, he’d say ‘grandma I love you so much. Granny you know how much I love you granny,’” she said. “I’d tell him yes grandson I love you too. Oh he’s always helpful. Always willing to do whatever I needed done. If I had fish to scale, he’d do it right away without being asked. That was just who he was.”

    Smith was the son of a serving police officer, a detail that adds another layer of interest to the ongoing investigation. While he had prior interactions with law enforcement, investigators have not yet drawn a definitive connection between his killing and the 2024 double murder case he was connected to. Police stress that all possible motives are currently on the table as they work to identify and apprehend the shooter. “We have not been able to establish any confirmed motive,” ASP Smith noted. “This remains an active, ongoing investigation.”

    Smith’s two former co-defendants in the 2024 double murder case are still scheduled to go to trial this coming October, as the Belize City Police Department continues its work to unravel the circumstances of Smith’s death. This report was prepared by Britney Gordon for News Five.

  • Weekend Motorcycle Collisions Leave Three Riders Dead

    Weekend Motorcycle Collisions Leave Three Riders Dead

    A devastating series of separate motorcycle collisions over a single weekend in Belize has claimed three lives, leaving three local families to cope with sudden, devastating loss and leaving law enforcement working to untangle the circumstances of each fatal crash. The victims have been identified as Elvin Chub, a 23-year-old volunteer soldier with the Belize Defense Force from Maya Mopan Village; Jaime Cattelan, 46, of San Marcos Village; and Patrick Chun. Investigations are still ongoing in all three incidents, with authorities already moving to hold parties accountable in two of the three cases.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, shared detailed accounts of each crash with local media. The first of the three incidents unfolded shortly before midnight on Friday, August 21, 2026, when police received an emergency report of a collision on the road between Duck Run and Billy White Village. First responding officers arrived on scene to find Cattelan unresponsive with severe, life-ending injuries. A damaged Lifan motorcycle, which investigators confirm Cattelan was operating, was found at the crash site. A second motorcycle, ridden by a man who has since been taken into police custody, was located off the main road with only minor damage. Early evidence confirms the crash was a head-on collision between the two motorcycles, Smith said.

    The second fatal crash occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, near Silk Grass Village. When officers responded to the emergency call, they found a multi-vehicle collision involving one motorcycle, a sport utility vehicle, and a commercial delivery truck. Chub, the motorcycle rider, was found trapped partially under the damaged front bumper of the SUV with critical, fatal injuries.

    The third fatal crash took place at roughly 7:20 p.m. over the weekend, where investigators responding to a tip found a parked bus on the left side of the roadway with visible damage to its driver’s side. On the opposite right shoulder, officers discovered Chun’s Milium motorcycle, which had sustained catastrophic damage in the collision. Early investigative findings indicate Chun was attempting to overtake another vehicle when his motorcycle collided with the bus, resulting in injuries that proved fatal despite any potential emergency intervention.

    Law enforcement has issued notices of intended prosecution for all three incidents as investigations continue to confirm fault and liability for the deaths. This report is based on a transcribed evening television newscast originally published by local Belizean media, with all statements from official sources retained in their original context for accuracy.

  • Targeted Law Enforcement Operations Uncover Illegal Firearms

    Targeted Law Enforcement Operations Uncover Illegal Firearms

    In a series of coordinated law enforcement actions across Belize City and Ladyville, local police have taken multiple unlicensed firearms and rounds of ammunition off the streets, resulting in criminal charges against five men. The operations, carried out between August 17 and August 23, 2026, were targeted at reducing street violence and stemming the flow of illegal weapons in the region, according to official police details released by Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, Staff Officer for the department.

    The first operation unfolded just before 9 p.m. on August 17, when members of the Violence Prevention and Enforcement Unit executed a search at a Peter Street residence in Belize City. During the search, officers uncovered a black 9-millimeter Glock pistol, leading to the arrest and joint charges of unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm against 20-year-old Gregoria Pitter and 19-year-old Aaron Pitter. Of the two suspects, Aaron Pitter has already entered a guilty plea and remains remanded at Belize Central Prison as he awaits his sentencing hearing.

    Six days later, on August 23, Ladyville police carried out a court-ordered search of a residence located on Monterey Boulevard, belonging to 30-year-old Anderson Martinez. The search turned up a loaded black Remington pistol, with its magazine holding 14 live 9-millimeter rounds. Martinez now faces two separate charges: possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed ammunition.

    In a third incident in the St. Martin’s area of Belize City, personnel from the GH3 anti-crime unit encountered a speeding SUV shortly after 3:40 a.m. during a routine patrol. Officers pursued the vehicle and successfully intercepted it, and a subsequent search of the car uncovered a Smith & Wesson pistol. The vehicle’s owner, 33-year-old Lloyd Perchue of Croton Lane, Belize City, was taken into custody and charged with both unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition possession.

    The fourth and final arrest took place at the Belize City residence of 27-year-old Tyrese Gladden, located on Frederick Alley. A planned search of Gladden’s home yielded another 9-millimeter Glock pistol, loaded with a magazine holding 10 live 9-millimeter rounds. Gladden was formally arrested and charged on weapons possession charges following the discovery.

    This report is a transcribed version of an evening television newscast, with all Kriol language phrases transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.