Carib Scope

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  • ComPol Denies Blocking UDP Protest Permit

    ComPol Denies Blocking UDP Protest Permit

    BELIZE CITY – Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado has formally addressed mounting speculation regarding protest permits and police preparedness following recent demonstrations in Belize. The Commissioner explicitly denied allegations that the police department rejected the United Democratic Party’s application to protest outside the National Assembly Building.

    In an official statement delivered on February 2, 2026, Commissioner Rosado clarified the procedural details: ‘I was briefed that an application to protest was received on Friday afternoon. The application did not state the date. The commanding officer then informed the person who brought the application that a date needs to be stated.’

    The Commissioner explained that after consultation with party leadership, the applicant subsequently submitted a properly documented application for Wednesday, which received official approval. ‘Otherwise it is totally untrue,’ Rosado emphasized regarding claims of permit denial.

    Addressing concerns about police readiness following last week’s demonstration outside BTL headquarters, where officers appeared outnumbered, Rosado outlined the department’s calibrated response strategy: ‘We have a protocol in place for public order demonstrations. For us to escalate, certain things should have happened to warrant moving to the next stage.’

    The Commissioner reaffirmed the department’s commitment to balancing protest rights with public safety: ‘The Police department does recognize the right of individuals or groups to protest, but they must do so within the context of the law.’ Regarding last week’s event, Rosado noted that while the situation escalated, it remained ‘at a manageable level that uniform personnel could manage.’

    The clarification comes amid heightened political tensions and increased public scrutiny of protest management procedures in Belize.

  • ComPol Rosado Explains Media Exclusion from CompStat

    ComPol Rosado Explains Media Exclusion from CompStat

    Belize’s Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado, has provided clarification regarding the recent exclusion of independent media from the police department’s annual CompStat meeting in Belmopan. The gathering, which typically attracts significant public interest for its crime data assessment and explanation, notably proceeded without media presence for the first time in recent memory.

    In an exclusive interview, Commissioner Rosado challenged media characterizations of the exclusion as unprecedented, asserting that journalists had never been formally invited to attend the actual CompStat proceedings in previous years. “The media has never been invited for the CompStat meeting,” Rosado stated. “They are invited after the meeting to ask questions, but they have never been invited to the CompStat meeting itself.”

    The police commissioner characterized this year’s approach as an experimental shift in protocol, explaining that the decision regarding media access was delegated to the Government Press Office. When pressed on whether limiting media access potentially undermined institutional transparency, Rosado maintained that the exclusion was not intended as a permanent policy change.

    “This year we wanted to try something new,” Rosado explained, adding that he has “no objections or reservations” about reinstating the previous practice of allowing media questioning following future CompStat meetings. When directly questioned about media access for next year’s meeting, the commissioner responded simply: “No objections.”

    The development has sparked discussion about government transparency and the public’s right to information regarding crime statistics and law enforcement methodologies in Belize.

  • Students March to a Brighter Rhythm at St. Martin de Porres

    Students March to a Brighter Rhythm at St. Martin de Porres

    The rhythmic pulse of marching drums has transformed the atmosphere at St. Martin de Porres Primary School in Belize, marking the beginning of an exciting musical journey for students. This transformation follows a significant donation from Fort George Hotel and Spa, which provided the school with its first set of marching drums and cymbals during the hotel’s second anniversary celebrations.

    The initiative originated from Principal Roxanna Encalada’s observation of students naturally expressing themselves through improvised drumming during breaks. Recognizing both the enthusiasm and unmet potential, she reached out to community partners for support. The hotel management responded enthusiastically, aligning the donation with their commitment to nurturing Belizean youth and cultural development.

    General Manager Eddison Trapp emphasized that the contribution extends beyond musical instruments, describing it as an investment in discipline, structure, and teamwork. The donation, which had been planned since 2025, came to fruition at a special ceremony where students demonstrated their innate talent with an impromptu performance that visibly impressed hotel representatives.

    Among the excited students is twelve-year-old Lemar Flowers, a seasoned bass drum player with nearly six years of experience. He expressed profound happiness about the donation, noting that drumming provides him with emotional release and opportunities for collaborative fun with friends.

    The overwhelming student response has already created new challenges, with Principal Encalada now seeking additional instruments to accommodate the surge of interest. The school has ambitious plans to expand beyond drums to include minorettes and other instruments, currently relying on guidance from a school alumnus while exploring formal instruction opportunities.

    This partnership demonstrates how targeted community support can unlock hidden talents and create transformative educational experiences, striking a chord that resonates throughout the entire school community.

  • People with disabilities and Cooperstown Hall of Famers receive new ID cards

    People with disabilities and Cooperstown Hall of Famers receive new ID cards

    The Dominican Republic’s Central Electoral Board (JCE) has advanced its pioneering national identification program by distributing new biometric cards to both disability advocates and baseball legends this week. This strategic rollout represents the initial controlled phase of a comprehensive digital identity modernization effort.

    In a landmark move for inclusive governance, JCE officials personally issued the advanced identification documents to prominent members of the National Council for Disability (CONADIS), including Diego Castillos Yarull, Yahaira Peña Mota, Miguelina de Jesús Susana, and Pablo Lemuel Taveras. Simultaneously, the institution honored Dominican baseball icons Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez, Vladimir Guerrero, and David Ortiz—all Cooperstown Hall of Fame inductees—with their new national IDs.

    JCE President Román Andrés Jáquez Liranzo articulated that this initiative embodies the organization’s dedication to inclusion, a cornerstone of its Strategic Institutional Plan. ‘Through coordinated efforts with CONADIS and our specialized Inclusion Committee,’ he stated, ‘we are systematically dismantling barriers to official documentation access.’

    Benny Metz, President of CONADIS, characterized the initiative as a transformative act of social justice that fundamentally strengthens citizenship rights. The baseball Hall of Famers who participated expressed admiration for the streamlined process, describing it as both efficient and exemplary. They jointly encouraged public participation in the nationwide registration campaign scheduled to commence April 12, which will follow a birth-month staggered approach.

  • Families of Jet Set victims file RD$2 billion lawsuit against the State

    Families of Jet Set victims file RD$2 billion lawsuit against the State

    SANTO DOMINGO – Grieving families of the Jet Set disaster victims have initiated landmark legal proceedings against the Dominican government, alleging systemic administrative failures that exacerbated one of the nation’s deadliest urban tragedies. The civil lawsuit, formally submitted on January 29, 2025, targets the Dominican State, the National District City Council, and former Housing Minister Carlos Bonilla for their purported roles in the catastrophic incident.

    The litigation seeks approximately RD$2 billion in comprehensive damages, comprising RD$909.9 million for material losses and RD$1.07 billion for moral reparations. The plaintiffs contend that governmental negligence directly enabled the circumstances that claimed nine lives and left one survivor with injuries. Notably absent from the defendants is current Mayor Carolina Mejía, as legal accountability has been assigned to the late Christian Alejandro Tejada Pichardo, former Urban Planning director who perished in the tragedy.

    Juridically anchored in the Administrative Litigation Jurisdiction, the claim methodically references prosecutorial investigations confirming the State’s violation of multiple regulatory frameworks. The families have explicitly challenged President Luis Abinader’s characterization of a ‘legal loophole,’ maintaining that existing statutes provided unambiguous oversight mandates. The filing further condemns the administration’s failure to implement promised investigative commissions and highlights the absence of substantive support systems for the 236 bereaved families and over 100 injured survivors.

    The plaintiffs – representing victims César Augusto López, Deneska Shalimar Pérez, Nathalie Miledys Guerrero, Joselyn Rosado Baldera, Dahiana Patiño Martínez, Ruth Elisa Seija, Daniela Henríquez Joshua, Aracelis Rodríguez, and Héctor Eduardo Brito Peña – seek not only financial compensation but also judicial recognition of institutional accountability in preventing future urban governance failures.

  • US convicts former Google engineer who shared Ai technology secrets with China

    US convicts former Google engineer who shared Ai technology secrets with China

    A federal jury in California has delivered a guilty verdict against a former Google software engineer for pilfering and transferring proprietary artificial intelligence technology to companies based in China. The conviction marks a significant development in the ongoing technological and economic tensions between the United States and China.

    The defendant, who held a position within Google’s elite team working on AI and machine learning infrastructure, was found to have systematically downloaded thousands of confidential files related to the company’s advanced computing and data中心的架构. Evidence presented during the trial detailed how the individual subsequently transmitted this sensitive intellectual property to two Chinese tech firms, one of which was a startup he had founded himself.

    This case, prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice, is one of the first major convictions under the Initiative for Protecting American Trade Secrets. The prosecution argued that the stolen technology was critical to national economic security and provided an unfair advantage to foreign competitors. The defense contended that the actions did not constitute criminal theft, a argument the jury ultimately rejected.

    The verdict underscores the increasing focus by U.S. authorities on combating the theft of advanced technologies, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and semiconductors. It also highlights the vulnerabilities that major tech companies face from insider threats, prompting calls for enhanced internal security protocols across the industry. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, where the former engineer could face substantial prison time and financial penalties.

  • Record-Breaking Cold Swept Across Belize

    Record-Breaking Cold Swept Across Belize

    A severe and unprecedented cold front descended upon Belize on February 2, 2026, shattering long-standing meteorological records for the month of February. The nation experienced a dramatic plunge in temperatures, creating unusually frigid conditions for the region.

    The most extreme cold was concentrated in northern and western territories, with coastal regions including the Belize District experiencing comparatively milder, yet still unseasonably cold, weather. Preliminary meteorological data confirmed that the small communities of Libertad in the Corozal District and Gallon Jug in the Orange Walk District registered the nation’s lowest temperatures, an astonishing 5.4°C (41.7°F). This reading is preliminarily confirmed as a new all-time national low for the month.

    This historic event was not isolated. Multiple weather stations across Belize documented record-breaking lows. The town of Tower Hill recorded 7.8°C (46.1°F), while the official reading at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport near Belize City was 10.5°C (50.9°F). In the elevated terrain, Baldy Beacon dropped to 6.6°C (43.8°F), and the station at Melinda also matched the airport’s reading of 10.5°C (50.9°F), all setting new February benchmarks for their respective locations.

    The National Meteorological Service of Belize has provided a forecast indicating that this arctic blast is temporary. Officials anticipate a gradual return to seasonal norms, with temperatures expected to steadily climb over the ensuing days, offering relief from the exceptional chill.

  • Police Constable Charged for Murder of Shakeem Ferguson

    Police Constable Charged for Murder of Shakeem Ferguson

    In a significant development in Belize’s law enforcement community, 24-year-old police constable Kenroy Allen has been formally arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of Shakeem Ferguson. The incident occurred on January 25, 2026, in the Ladyville neighborhood, where Ferguson became the first of two friends killed within minutes of each other in the same vicinity.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith confirmed the charges, stating that Allen’s arrest followed thorough investigative work and evidence recovery. While authorities have not established a clear motive for the shooting, preliminary investigations suggest possible connections to drug-related activities. “Drugs may be the motive,” Smith indicated during the official announcement.

    The investigation remains active, with authorities not ruling out additional charges against other potential suspects. Smith emphasized that updates would be shared with media as developments occur. In a broader context, police are examining possible connections between Ferguson’s killing and other recent murders, including those of Elroy Bainton and Darwin Valerio, to determine whether these incidents are interrelated.

    This case represents a rare instance of a police officer facing murder charges for an on-duty shooting in Belize, drawing significant public attention and scrutiny of police conduct and accountability measures within the country’s law enforcement system.

  • Corozal Man Charged with Burglary and Drug Possession

    Corozal Man Charged with Burglary and Drug Possession

    A 26-year-old resident of Chan Chen Village has been formally charged by Corozal police following his alleged involvement in two distinct burglary cases and drug possession. Dennis Eck now confronts serious legal consequences after law enforcement connected him to both criminal incidents occurring within days of each other.

    According to police reports, the first break-in occurred on Sunday, February 1st, within the Dominguez Hall Layout district. Authorities state that Eck illegally entered a private residence and removed a container storing $750 in cash. The subsequent incident, reported on Saturday, January 31st around 8:00 p.m., involved a juvenile female who alerted police after hearing unusual noises emanating from her bedroom. The victim reported witnessing an unidentified male intruder who promptly escaped through a window upon detection.

    Police investigators developed Eck as a primary suspect through forensic evidence and witness statements. During his apprehension, officers conducted a personal search that revealed 1.3 grams of suspected cocaine in his possession. The comprehensive police operation culminated in Eck facing two separate burglary charges alongside an additional count of possessing controlled substances.

    The Corozal Police Department has emphasized its continued focus on reducing property crimes and drug-related offenses throughout the region. This case marks another successful investigation demonstrating coordinated police work addressing multiple criminal activities simultaneously.

  • Port Authority Investigates San Pedro Water Taxi Mangrove Grounding

    Port Authority Investigates San Pedro Water Taxi Mangrove Grounding

    Belizean maritime authorities have launched a formal investigation into a concerning marine incident involving a commercial water taxi that grounded in protected mangrove ecosystems. The event occurred on the morning of Sunday, February 1st, 2026, when the vessel Tropical Star, operated by San Pedro Belize Express, deviated from its course shortly after departing Caye Caulker en route to Belize City.

    Official reports from the Belize Port Authority confirm the vessel was carrying 67 passengers and crew at the time of the incident. Despite the dramatic nature of the grounding, which left the craft immobilized among dense mangrove roots, no injuries were reported among those aboard. Preliminary visual assessment of photographic evidence suggests no apparent structural damage to the hull.

    This maritime safety probe falls within the Port Authority’s statutory mandate to enforce compliance with maritime regulations, ensure passenger safety, and protect Belize’s delicate marine environment. The investigation gains particular significance as it marks the second such incident within weeks, following a similar grounding of a Caribbean sprinter vessel in December 2025.

    San Pedro Belize Express has acknowledged the incident, confirming that an official statement has been submitted to investigating authorities. The company has deferred all additional media inquiries to the Port Authority, indicating coordinated cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The recurrence of such incidents has raised questions about navigation protocols in Belize’s waterways, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones.