Authorities in the district of St Michael have formally filed criminal charges against a local 24-year-old man linked to a deadly shooting incident that claimed one life at the end of April. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Adrico Shakur Rudder, a resident of Allamby Gap, Spooners Hill, St Michael, faces two key charges: one count of murder in the death of Terrell Cumberbatch, and a separate violation of local firearm regulations related to the shooting event. Following the completion of initial investigative procedures and formal charging, Rudder’s first court appearance has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, where he will appear before the bench of District ‘A’ Criminal Court to answer the charges against him. Local law enforcement has not yet released additional details about the circumstances of the shooting or ongoing investigation as the case moves through the judicial system.
作者： admin
-
Steep Customs Costs Overshadow Simple Birthday Card
In a surprising bureaucratic incident that has sparked public debate over customs fee policies in southern Belize, a resident of Placencia has spoken out about being hit with more than 200 Belize dollars (over 100 U.S. dollars) in mandatory clearance charges for a simple birthday card mailed to him by his elderly mother living in the United States.
The recipient, who has requested to remain anonymous to protect his family’s privacy, shared details of the frustrating ordeal in a phone interview. Every year, his mother sends a handwritten birthday card through international courier FedEx, paying premium shipping rates to guarantee the item arrives in time for the celebration. This year, she spent nearly 300 U.S. dollars on expedited shipping to meet the delivery deadline. Unlike previous years, when the card was delivered directly to a local pickup point in Placencia with no additional charges, this shipment was held at customs, which issued a formal demand for the unexpected clearance fee.
Beyond the shock of the exorbitant charge for a low-value, sentimental greeting card, the Placencia resident also raised concerns about accumulating daily storage fees that would be added to his bill if he failed to claim the package quickly. When he reached out to FedEx to dispute the charge, the courier disclaimed any responsibility, stating that the fee was levied entirely by Belizean customs authorities.
The situation took another turn after the incident drew public attention: the package was initially cleared for release, then pulled back by the Customs Department for a formal internal review. As of the latest update, customs officials have confirmed that the issue has been resolved, and the original excessive fee has been drastically reduced. However, the resolution has not quelled lingering questions among the public and local communities about why such a steep charge was applied to a small, low-value sentimental item in the first place, and whether inconsistent fee application is a widespread issue for small personal shipments entering the country.
This report is a transcribed excerpt from a televised evening newscast focused on local Belizean affairs.
-
Six men, three juveniles charged after violent disorder incident
A major public disturbance in Barbados has concluded with formal criminal charges laid against nine individuals, marking a key step in the investigation of the violent outbreak that took place earlier this month. On May 17, the disorder prompted a swift law enforcement response, and after days of investigative work, the Barbados Police Service has announced charges against six adult men and three male juvenile suspects.
The six adult defendants, all residents of the parish of St Michael, have been publicly identified by authorities. They are 21-year-old Joshua Greg Belgrave from St Hill Road, Carrington Village; 18-year-old Addagio Marlon Bostic from Laynes Gap, Martindales Road; 26-year-old Leonardo Ricardo Allsopp from Grassfield Gap, Stevenson Road, Delamare Land; 18-year-old Chad Seon Codrington from Licorish Village, My Lords Hill; 18-year-old Donte Ricardo Sealy from Carrington Village, Murrals Road; and 23-year-old Seth Ethan Nathaniel from Blackmans Road, Carrington Village.
All nine suspects face a suite of criminal charges tied to the disturbance. The six adults have been formally charged with three main offenses: violent disorder, serious bodily harm, and two separate counts of robbery. The three male juveniles, whose personal information has not been released to the public in line with standard juvenile justice protocols, have also been charged in connection with the same incident.
Following their processing, law enforcement officials have confirmed that all nine accused are scheduled to make their first court appearance this week. The hearing will take place at District ‘A’ Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 26, where the case will move into the formal judicial process next steps.
-
Baldy Beacon Breach Puts Elvin Penner Back in Spotlight
A high-profile Belizean political figure has reemerged at the center of a criminal investigation, following an alleged breach of a restricted military explosives disposal site in the Baldy Beacon region.
Former government minister Elvin Penner is currently the subject of an active probe launched by national police after he was accused of entering the fenced active operation zone and attempting to remove material from the site. The country’s Ministry of National Defense has formally submitted an official incident report to law enforcement, opening the door for a full inquiry into the unauthorized incursion.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, confirmed to reporters that investigators have received the official report along with two witness statements, which are currently being reviewed for compliance with the nation’s Dangerous Goods Act. When pressed by journalists to outline what criminal charges Penner could face if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, Smith declined to speculate, noting that investigators must first cross-reference the collected evidence with provisions of the act to confirm whether any offense has been committed.
For his part, Penner has pushed back against the allegations, maintaining he did not violate any laws. He claims the components he collected from the area were mistaken for discarded, abandoned material, and he had no knowledge he was entering an active restricted site.
The investigation comes amid rising local tension over a separate recent incident at the same site: a wildfire ignited during a Belize Defense Force (BDF) operation to destroy stockpiled unexploded ordnance recovered from private lands across the region. In the wake of community pushback and concerns from local landowners over the exercise, military leaders have moved to strengthen communication channels with nearby residents.
BDF Commandant Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez confirmed that he held direct talks with landowner representatives at Baldy Beacon on Friday, where both sides addressed existing damage, the ongoing safety risks posed by unremoved military ordnance, and the urgent need for improved cross-stakeholder coordination going forward. Velasquez emphasized that while the ordnance disposal operations are conducted as a public safety measure to protect local communities, the military acknowledges that it failed to keep nearby residents sufficiently informed and involved in exercise planning.
“The conversation was very productive,” Velasquez explained. “We walked through our position on the work we’re doing, and they shared their concerns with us directly. What we heard is that local landowners actually appreciate the work we’re doing to remove these dangerous devices, which pose a direct threat to their families, children and homes. Many of these devices were reported by residents themselves, after which our teams retrieved the ordnance to dispose of it safely at the Baldy Beacon site. This work is done for the greater good of the entire public.”
Following the meeting, the BDF has moved quickly to implement new, more accessible communication protocols for local residents. Velasquez noted that the military will distribute contact information and printed outreach flyers to all landowners in the area, encouraging residents to report any newly discovered unexploded devices directly to BDF teams. Once notified, military personnel will be dispatched immediately to either destroy the ordnance on location or remove it to the secured disposal site for controlled detonation.
Velasquez also addressed widespread criticism of the military’s choice to hold disposal exercises during the local dry season, when wildfire risk is elevated. He explained that the decision was rooted in safety: during the wet season, rural access roads to the Baldy Beacon site become extremely unstable and treacherous, making transport of unstable, aging unexploded ordnance far more dangerous than conducting the work during dry conditions.
This report is a transcribed excerpt from an evening television newscast focused on national affairs in Belize, originally published online.
-
Government Moves to Lock Down BDF Training Lands
In a response to a serious security breach at a Belize Defense Force (BDF) explosive disposal exercise, the Belizean government has announced urgent measures to secure permanent, exclusive control over military training lands at the Baldy Beacon site. The incident, which unfolded in late May 2026, has exposed critical gaps in perimeter security for military training areas and reignited debate over public access to Defense Force operating zones.
The controversy began when former government minister Elvin Penner entered the unfenced exercise zone and removed explosive ordnance that the BDF was in the process of destroying. Defense officials have labeled Penner’s actions as extremely dangerous, noting that the incident put multiple lives at risk and already contributed to one fatal outcome tied to the unsecured explosives. Despite official claims that multiple advance warnings were issued and on-site security personnel were deployed during the live disposal exercise, on-the-ground footage confirms that the large training site, spanning multiple miles across rolling hills and accessible via unmarked minor roads, has no permanent perimeter fencing. This lack of physical barriers makes unrestricted public access surprisingly easy for anyone choosing to enter the area.
Speaking on the government’s new security push, Minister of National Defence Florencio Marin Jr. emphasized that the BDF’s ongoing explosive destruction work is a necessary public safety operation that should not face avoidable interference. “The military were simply conducting what I don’t think anyone would complain about destroying these explosives. You saw how we lost a life sadly because of it. This is part of the overall effort to destroy them. I’m not sure how anyone ordinary might actually go around there and try to interfere with that work,” Marin said.
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commandant of the BDF, explained that the large size of the Baldy Beacon training area has long prevented permanent fencing, even as the military follows standard protocol to alert the public of active exercises. “It’s a huge area. It’s several kilometers, miles wide, so there’s no fence around the area at all. There’s access by some minor roads and by other crossing hills and valleys. So it’s not an area that is fenced off anything like that, right? So people can access the area. However, during exercises we put up warning flags and we deliver a NOTAM so that people know that we’re conducting exercise in the area. And also during the exercise we have sentries out, so there’s no reason why Mr. Penner didn’t know that we were there conducting these exercises,” Velasquez stated.
Moving forward, the BDF has begun the formal process of acquiring permanent tenure for the training lands to eliminate future access disputes. Marin noted that permanent secured control will insulate the military from arbitrary access changes that can come with shifting governmental leadership, ensuring the force always has a dedicated space for critical drills, training, and live fire exercises when required. “The BDF now is in the process of acquiring land so that they can, in the future, don’t have to deal with this issue of whichever government come in or whichever ministers come in they cannot arbitrarily get access to their lands, right? The military needs its training grounds. We have to continue operating. So we are working on that, securing some operating area that they can conduct their drills and training and where necessary, live firing appropriately,” Marin added.
Following the incident, the recovered explosive materials have been turned over to Belizean police as evidence for the upcoming trespassing and unlawful theft case against Penner. This article is a transcript of an evening television newscast, with all Kriol language renderings converted to a standardized spelling system for publication.
-
Social : The FAES-IDB partnership has mobilized over $500M
Against a backdrop of persistent insecurity, widespread displacement, and operational hurdles across Haiti, a joint mission by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Haiti’s Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) has wrapped up a three-day tour of the country’s North Department, highlighting the progress of collaborative development projects and reaffirming both institutions’ commitment to supporting vulnerable Haitian communities.
The IDB delegation traveled across five key northern cities and towns—Cap-Haïtien, Trou-du-Nord, Terrier Rouge, Ouanaminthe, and Fort-Liberté—to conduct on-the-ground inspections of ongoing projects and hold strategic working sessions to align on future cooperation. The tour kicked off with site visits to community-focused projects under construction in Trou-du-Nord and Terrier Rouge, including a critical water crossing infrastructure, a new educational facility, and multiple public works projects designed to expand access to basic services for local residents.
Following the initial site inspections, a core strategic meeting was held in Cap-Haïtien, where FAES leadership presented a full overview of the institution’s project portfolio, detailed the on-the-ground challenges that have delayed implementation, and outlined proposed adjustments to improve program delivery. The delegation then traveled to Ouanaminthe to visit the reception center for displaced populations operated by Haiti’s National Migration Office (ONM), before moving on to Fort-Liberté to assess road rehabilitation work underway in the Cité Nebert neighborhood. Throughout all stops, talks centered on addressing the unmet priority needs of local communities, measuring the real-world social impact of existing interventions, and refining operational mechanisms to boost program efficiency.
In his address to IDB representatives during the mission, FAES Director General Kesner Romilus emphasized the institution’s unwavering commitment to upholding transparency, administrative accountability, and result-driven delivery for social projects that target Haiti’s most marginalized groups. Romilus confirmed that since the partnership was launched in 2018, the collaboration between FAES and IDB has successfully mobilized more than $500 million across multiple development programs, which have already directly benefited more than 650,000 Haitians across every department of the country.
Even as Haiti continues to grapple with a volatile national context defined by rising insecurity, mass internal population displacement, and persistent logistical barriers that complicate project implementation, FAES has committed to continuing its core mission of reducing poverty and addressing food insecurity, with long-term support from the IDB. This latest tour of the North Department marks a key milestone in strengthening institutional ties between the two organizations, providing a clear assessment of progress to date, and mapping out new strategic directions for future interventions that better serve Haitian communities in need.
-
BDF Doubles Ambulances, Debuts Critical Medical Tools
In a transformative upgrade to Belize’s local emergency healthcare infrastructure, the Belize Defense Force (BDF) has announced a major expansion of its medical capabilities: doubling its active ambulance fleet and rolling out the first on-site X-ray machine and automated external defibrillator (AED) in the force’s history.
The life-saving new equipment was gifted to the BDF through a donation from Tonic Life Belize, arranged by local medical sector businessman Issac Fehr, a veteran industry professional who previously built his career operating medical businesses in Mexico. Beyond serving active-duty BDF personnel, the upgraded resources will extend care to civilian residents of the nearby Ladyville and Lord’s Bank communities, addressing longstanding gaps in local emergency access.
Local media conducted interviews with key stakeholders involved in the donation rollout, including Belize’s Minister of National Defense Florencio Marin Junior, BDF Commandant Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, and Fehr himself, all of whom framed the donation as a paradigm shift for the BDF’s healthcare services.
Minister Marin highlighted the sweeping impact of the new additions during the interview, noting that the standalone, fully outfitted X-ray unit eliminates the need for the BDF Hospital to outsource diagnostic imaging for service members. “It’s a significant game changer for the health sector of our Belize Defense Force,” Marin said. “As now they can do their own X-rays. I was just getting a tour. It is fully equipped with everything. It is standalone. So the Belize Defense Force Hospital now can do its own X-rays. There’s also a defibrillator for those, let’s hope we don’t have to use it very much, for those who suffer heart attack and definitely an ambulance that will also be used within the surrounding area. So it’s not just for the BDF, but for the wider Ladyville and Lord’s Bank community.”
Commandant Velasquez expanded on the scale of the capacity boost, explaining that prior to the donation, the entire BDF operated only one functional ambulance. “Presently, the Belize Defense Force, we only have one functioning ambulance, so this will be a great, like a fifty percent exponential capacity building for us, right? And we have had several need, several reasons to deploy ambulances so the ability to have another one is a great game changer for us. The X-ray machine, we’ve never had one before, and we’ve always needed to send our soldiers for various injuries to get X-rayed.”
For Fehr, the donation grew from a core mission to reduce preventable death and support vulnerable communities in Belize. After connecting with skilled BDF medical personnel, he saw an opportunity to pair his access to medical equipment with the force’s existing trained staff to create a fully functional, sustainable emergency care program. “Why it started? Saving lives. Be there for the suffering people and for that reason I get to know some of the BDF medics. It has been amazing being part of it. Today I had the equipment but not the professionals. So now the BDF do have the professionals. Bringing those two things together, that makes one complete,” Fehr explained.
A BDF spokesperson confirmed that all donations undergo a formal vetting process before being accepted into service, to ensure alignment with the force’s operational and community care standards. This report is adapted from a transcribed evening television broadcast, originally published online.
-
Corazon Creek School Expansion Opens Doors for Rural Students
In a landmark development for rural education in Belize, Corazon Creek Technical High School has formally opened the doors to its brand-new $2 million campus expansion, marking the start of a transformed learning journey for hundreds of young learners across the region.
Supported through a collaborative funding partnership between the national government, the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF), and international development partners, the new facility addresses longstanding gaps in educational access and infrastructure for rural communities. Beyond expanding the school’s physical capacity, the project delivers a safer, upgraded learning space that equips local youth with the foundational resources they need to pursue academic and professional growth.
Alvin Pop, chairman of the Corazon Creek Village council, framed the completion of the building as far more than a construction milestone for the region. “Today marks a major milestone for future education in our community,” Pop shared. “This building is more than concrete and classrooms. It is a symbol of hope, progress, opportunity, and the strong belief that our young people deserve the very best foundation for their future. This new facility will provide a better learning environment, and create greater opportunity for both technical and academic development.”
Carlos Tun, executive director of the Belize Social Investment Fund, outlined the scope of the new construction and the broad reach of the project, noting that the facility serves learners far beyond the boundaries of Corazon Creek itself. “This new facility was designed to significantly enhance the learning environment for students and teachers while also expanding access to secondary and technical education,” Tun explained. “This school serves not only Corazon Creek but also students from sixteen surrounding buffer communities who will all benefit from this investment.”
The scope of work for the expansion includes eight new fully equipped classrooms, dedicated administrative office spaces, separate restroom facilities for male and female students and staff, two storage areas—one under the building’s stairwell and a second dedicated space for janitorial equipment—and an accessibility ramp to ensure full access for people with disabilities. All new classroom and office furniture was also included as part of the completed project.
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, joined the opening celebration and shared a surprise announcement for graduating students ahead of their upcoming ceremony. “I will take this opportunity to congratulate all of you who are graduating this year, most of whom are here from fourth form,” Martinez said. “Unfortunately, your graduation is scheduled for June seventh, and I will not be able to attend as I have to travel to the Bahamas for the Caribbean Development Bank annual meeting. But I can share this good news with all of you: your graduation fees have already been paid. You can go home and tell your parents that you do not need to pay anything for the ceremony.”
Local education stakeholders say the expansion will remove longstanding barriers to secondary and technical education for rural youth, opening new pathways for employment and higher education that many students were unable to access before. The project reflects a broader push to upgrade public educational infrastructure across underserved rural areas of Belize, with cross-sector partnerships playing a key role in delivering community-focused public investment.
-
Hundreds Join March To Raise Cancer Awareness
In a pre-dawn gathering that stretched across the highway from Ladyville to Belize City, hundreds of Belizeans turned out on Saturday, May 25, 2026, for the annual Cancer Walk, transforming the route into a vibrant wave of neon solidarity. This year’s event brought together cancer survivors, grieving and supporting family members, and public health advocates unified under the rallying slogan: “Early Detection. Equal Access. End Cancer.”
What would otherwise be a routine annual demonstration of community support took on new, urgent significance this year, unfolding against a charged public health backdrop: the Catholic Diocese of Belize has recently raised formal objections to the provision of the HPV vaccine in diocese-run schools. The HPV vaccine is universally recognized by leading global and national health authorities as a critical, evidence-based intervention to drastically reduce rates of cervical cancer, one of the most preventable yet deadly forms of the disease affecting women across Belize and the Caribbean.
Organizers and participants framed the 2026 walk as more than a fundraiser or show of solidarity for those impacted by cancer. It emerged as a bold, collective call to action for expanded public health education, greater access to free and low-cost early cancer screenings, equitable access to life-saving treatment for all Belizeans regardless of income or location, and accelerated investment in evidence-based cancer prevention strategies across the country. The event drew cross-community participation, with attendees emphasizing that consensus around saving lives from preventable cancer transcends institutional and ideological divides. (Video footage from the event is scheduled to be uploaded to the publication’s digital platform at a later date.)
This report is a transcript of an evening television newscast, with Kriol-language remarks transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.
-
FLASH Sunrise Airways New direct route between Cap
Haiti-based carrier Sunrise Airways is set to launch a groundbreaking nonstop air link connecting Cap-Haïtien’s international airport (CAP) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on June 1, 2026, marking a major step forward in boosting transportation ties between northern Haiti and the densely populated New York-New Jersey metropolitan region.
For decades, Haitian diaspora members living in the northeastern United States have faced inconvenient layover requirements to reach northern Haiti, typically routing through connecting hubs in Florida or other parts of the U.S. This new direct service eliminates that extra travel time and hassle, creating a more streamlined connection between the community and their home country.
Gary Stone, chief executive officer of Sunrise Airways, emphasized the deep significance of the new route for the global Haitian community. “With this direct route between Cap-Haïtien and Newark, Sunrise Airways is strengthening a vital link between Northern Haiti and one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States,” Stone explained. “We are proud to offer the diaspora a simpler and more direct connection to Haiti.”
Strategically located just outside the core of New York City, Newark Liberty International Airport stands out as one of the most accessible major air hubs on the U.S. East Coast. It provides seamless connections to Manhattan, dozens of surrounding suburban and urban centers across New Jersey and Connecticut, and integrates directly into the region’s expansive highway, rail, and public transit networks. This makes the new route convenient not just for travelers departing from the New York area, but also for those connecting from other parts of North America.
The new round-trip CAP-EWR-CAP route aligns with Sunrise Airways’ long-term corporate growth strategy, which centers on building robust air connections between Haiti and the large Haitian diaspora population settled across North America. Beyond simplifying travel for family visits, the airline expects the route to drive tangible economic benefits for Cap-Haïtien and the broader northern region of Haiti, supporting growth in local tourism, cross-border commerce, and small business development that relies on easier travel links.
Flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with an estimated scheduled flight time of roughly 3 hours and 45 minutes for the transoceanic journey. The new service will operate on a weekly schedule: the outbound flight from Cap-Haïtien to Newark departs every Monday, while the return flight from Newark to Cap-Haïtien departs every Tuesday.
Travelers interested in booking tickets can purchase fares through multiple channels, including Sunrise Airways’ official website www.sunriseairways.net, the airline’s dedicated mobile application, by contacting customer support representatives directly, or by visiting any authorized Sunrise Airways sales outlet.