On May 14, 2026, local and international stakeholders gathered for the official launch of the EFOSE project, an ambitious seven-year initiative designed to boost food security, local economic growth and improved nutrition across Haiti’s hard-hit Southeast Department. The program, formally named the Project to Improve Food Security through Sustainable Agriculture, Local Economic Development, and Healthy Diets, is backed by a $23.6 million grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with the funding agreement originally signed between the Haitian government and IFAD in March 2025. The project will run through 2032, targeting 16 communal sections across five municipalities of the Southeast Department, covering more than 1,500 square kilometers and reaching a total of 24,664 vulnerable households. Currently, 45% of the population in the region lives with chronic food insecurity, a crisis exacerbated by recurring climate disasters and economic volatility that have destabilized local livelihoods for years. At its core, EFOSE seeks to lift communities out of poverty while addressing systemic food and nutrition gaps by expanding and diversifying local production of nutrient-dense foods, with a deliberate focus on building long-term resilience to both climate and economic shocks. The initiative is structured into three core components, each designed to address different layers of the food security crisis. The first component focuses on strengthening territorial resilience, local governance, environmental stewardship and critical infrastructure. It works toward two key outcomes: expanding household participation and decision-making power in local development processes, and improving access to reliable drinking water and agricultural irrigation while enhancing local climate resilience. The second component ties production improvements directly to nutrition and economic opportunity, split into two interconnected sub-components. Sub-component 2.1 invests in on-the-ground production support and nutrition education, encouraging smallholder producers to adopt climate-resilient farming techniques and improved nutrition-focused practices to boost output. Sub-component 2.2, by contrast, invests in value chain infrastructure and support services for participating production systems, with the goal of creating new local employment opportunities, expanding consistent food access, and increasing the diversity of nutritious foods available to regional communities. A third, standalone emergency and disaster response component adds critical flexibility to the project, designed to be activated rapidly in the event of a major crisis that threatens the lives and livelihoods of targeted communities. Eligible crises that can trigger this component include large-scale destructive natural events such as hurricanes or major earthquakes, widespread crop or livestock pest and disease outbreaks that threaten livelihoods, acute public health or food insecurity crises requiring immediate intervention, and large-scale civil unrest that destroys productive infrastructure and community assets. To activate the emergency response, a clear causal link must be established between the event and major negative environmental, economic or social impacts to the target population, ensuring the fund is used to address urgent, crisis-related needs. For Haiti, a country that has long grappled with systemic poverty, repeated climate shocks and persistent food insecurity, the launch of EFOSE marks a major coordinated investment in long-term, community-centered development that addresses both immediate nutritional gaps and the root causes of regional food insecurity.
作者： admin
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135 Days! Belize still without an Ombudsman Panton warns
More than four months have passed since Belize’s Office of the Ombudsman was left without a sitting leader, creating a critical gap in the country’s system of public oversight that has already halted legal proceedings and sparked fierce criticism from the nation’s opposition. As of this week, the vacancy stretches to 135 days, with no formal announcement of a confirmed replacement from the ruling administration.
The position became open at the end of December 2025, when the government opted not to renew the term of former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso. While administration officials signaled earlier in 2026 that a formal appointment process would move forward in short order, no candidate has been publicly named or sworn in to fill the role.
Under Belizean law, the Ombudsman acts as one of the country’s key independent watchdog bodies, with explicit authority to investigate public complaints against government departments and state agencies. The office’s mandate covers everything from allegations of abuse of power, maladministration, and public corruption to disputes over Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, giving it a central role in upholding transparency and government accountability.
Opposition Leader Tracy Panton has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the prolonged vacancy, warning that the extended gap in leadership is actively eroding Belize’s systems of public checks and balances. In an exclusive interview with *The Reporter*, Panton described the unfulfilled post as “deeply troubling and unacceptable,” noting that the office serves as a core independent avenue for citizens seeking redress for government wrongdoing.
The vacancy has already had tangible impacts on ongoing government transparency cases. One high-profile FOI appeal, currently pending before the Belize Court of Appeal, has been brought to a standstill as a result of the empty post. The case stems from a 2025 ruling by former Ombudsman Swaso, which ordered the Attorney General’s Ministry to release records detailing public payments made to private legal practitioners. The Attorney General challenged that ruling and the matter is now before the Court of Appeal, but proceedings cannot move forward while the Ombudsman position remains vacant.
Panton argues that the delay in filling the post comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Belize’s democratic institutions, when public trust in government bodies is already low. She also raised pointed questions about whether the current administration remains committed to the transparency and accountability commitments it made to voters before taking office.
Going further, the opposition leader called for a transparent, independent appointment process that is fully insulated from political interference. She emphasized that Belize urgently needs an Ombudsman who can carry out the office’s mandate “without fear or favour,” free from pressure from the ruling party to soften oversight of government activity.
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FLASH : PAPEJ program, business plan competition in Haiti
Haiti’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has officially opened applications for a new national business plan competition, marking the launch of the fifth cohort of beneficiaries under the country’s Youth Entrepreneurship Support Program (PAPEJ). Backed by program financial partners, the initiative is designed to uplift young Haitian innovators looking to launch, scale up, or strengthen sustainable, forward-thinking businesses across the nation.
Unlike standard grant programs, PAPEJ combines accessible, tailored financing with structured hands-on technical support, creating a holistic ecosystem for young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into impactful ventures. The overarching goal of the program is to drive long-term economic growth and widespread job creation across Haiti, by nurturing homegrown entrepreneurial initiatives that address local needs.
At its core, PAPEJ was developed to boost youth self-employability, with a particular focus on expanding economic opportunity in underserved rural areas. The program works to build a landscape of viable, competitive, and environmentally conscious businesses that can contribute to long-term national development. Its specific objectives extend far beyond just funding: it seeks to expand the number of youth-led enterprises across the country, cut persistent youth unemployment by normalizing entrepreneurship as a viable career path, and encourage business formalization to build a culture of fiscal responsibility that strengthens national public finances.
To meet these goals, the program offers eligible projects financing of up to 2 million Haitian gourdes, with flexible terms structured to fit the unique realities of young and early-stage entrepreneurs. Funding can be allocated to a wide range of critical business costs, including the purchase and installation of production equipment and materials, development or rental of business premises, acquisition of raw materials, expansion of production capacity, and other core expenditures required to launch or scale a viable project.
The competition is open to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as formal entrepreneur groups, including general partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. Eligible sectors cover a broad range of productive industries, from agro-industry and biotechnology to mechanics, manufacturing, processing, and any other productive sector that meets program requirements.
Once the competition closes, all shortlisted business plans will first undergo validation by the PAPEJ national coordination team before being forwarded to program financial partners for final funding approval. All financing awards remain contingent on candidates meeting full eligibility requirements and passing a rigorous technical, financial, and economic evaluation of their submitted proposal.
To qualify for consideration, submitted projects must meet a clear set of eligibility criteria. Proposals must feature an innovative value-added business idea, be led by a promoter under the age of 40, and demonstrate clear potential for net job creation. Projects are eligible whether they are early-stage startups seeking launch capital or existing young businesses looking to strengthen their operations. Priority is given to formal partnerships and limited companies with at least 5 members, and proposals that prioritize local products and key national growth sectors. Projects must have a total financing need between 50,000 and 2 million gourdes, and must prioritize environmentally sustainable operations. Existing businesses must demonstrate a minimum track record of revenue generation, and all candidates must either be already formally registered or commit to completing formalization within the program’s required timeline.
The credit terms offered through PAPEJ are structured to support young entrepreneurs rather than create unmanageable debt. Funding amounts range from 50,000 to 2 million gourdes, with repayment periods extending up to 10 years. The fixed interest rate is set between 3% and 5%, significantly lower than most commercial lending options for young entrepreneurs in Haiti, and includes a grace period of 6 to 12 months to allow businesses to generate revenue before beginning repayments.
Selected beneficiaries take on clear responsibilities to ensure program accountability: they must adhere to the agreed credit repayment schedule, participate in all capacity-building training sessions organized by PAPEJ, provide regular updates required for project monitoring, follow the technical and managerial guidance offered by program experts, and maintain transparent, responsible financial management of the funded enterprise.
Interested candidates can access the official business planning template, which is available for free download on the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s website. To apply, candidates must submit three core documents: a completed business plan following the official framework, a valid registration certificate from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with relevant business license (Patente) and CIP documentation, and a copy of the project leader’s national identification card (NIU).
Completed applications must be sent to the official program email address papej@mci.gouv.ht no later than May 25, 2026. Program organizers note that incomplete application files will not be reviewed for consideration, and only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for next steps. Following evaluation, all approved projects will gain access to the full range of financing and support services offered through the PAPEJ program.
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‘Free Education’ Still Costing FamiliesFamilies Outside ‘EUp’ Still Facing School Costs
A heated political clash has erupted in Belize over the country’s flagship education access reform, with the opposition demanding accountability for hundreds of families trapped in a bureaucratic and financial limbo that threatens students’ academic progress. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton made the explosive allegations this week in a formal press statement, arguing that the ruling government’s repeated claims of expanding free education mask a broken system that still leaves thousands of households grappling with crippling school-related costs.
Panton revealed that her constituency office in Albert Division has been flooded with urgent appeals from desperate parents over the past weeks. Dozens of families reported their children face being barred from graduation or withheld final report cards because of unpaid outstanding school fees, a penalty that upends years of academic work for young learners. What makes the situation more egregious, Panton emphasized, is that many of these families had already completed the full application process for government tuition assistance through the Ministry of Education. In a number of cases, they even received official commitment letters confirming the government would pay all eligible fees directly to their children’s schools.
Yet according to the families’ accounts shared with Panton, the schools have yet to receive a single cent of the promised funding, leaving minors and their caregivers caught between unresponsive government bureaucracy and rigid institutional fee policies. Panton pointed out that most of these families are already stretched thin by overlapping cost-of-living crises, navigating skyrocketing grocery prices, rising rent and utility bills, and a host of other unexpected education-related expenses on top of basic needs.
Beyond the broken payment promises, the opposition leader also called out the proliferation of extra charges that fall outside the scope of the government’s tuition coverage. These additional fees range from mandatory registration and supplementary material costs to graduation fees, institutional mission fees, and required summer program charges, all of which add up to substantial sums that low-income households cannot absorb. Panton also raised alarms about the new online application portal the Ministry of Education rolled out for assistance requests, arguing that the digital system introduces unnecessary red tape and creates new barriers for families without reliable internet access or digital literacy, defeating the purpose of expanding support.
Framing the crisis as a systemic failure of national priorities, Panton argued that Belize is abandoning its young people and working families if access to quality education remains contingent on a household’s ability to pay.
For its part, the ruling government has defended its signature policy, the Education Upliftment Project (EUp), marketed under the slogan “Together We Rise,” maintaining that the initiative has dramatically expanded tuition-free access to secondary education across the country, especially at state-run campuses. According to the Ministry of Education, the program launched in the 2022/23 academic year as a pilot at four government-owned secondary schools in southside Belize City, before rolling out to southern Belize and other districts across the nation. By the start of the upcoming 2024/25 academic term, the government projects the program will extend coverage to nearly half of all secondary school students in Belize.
Education Minister Francis Fonseca confirmed that all students enrolled in government secondary schools now pay no tuition under the EUp initiative, adding that the program also includes extra support for low-income learners: free school uniforms, on-campus meals, transportation stipends, internet access, and personal digital learning devices to close the digital divide.
The core of the disagreement, however, stems from a critical gap in the program’s design: the Education Upliftment Project primarily extends benefits to government-owned secondary schools, while a large share of Belize’s student population attends grant-aided and church-managed institutions, which operate with separate funding frameworks and retain the authority to set their own fee requirements. This gap leaves thousands of students ineligible for the full free tuition benefits the government repeatedly touts.
Economists also add a broader contextual layer to the debate: the term “free education” is often a misnomer, as the model is more accurately described as taxpayer-funded or government-subsidized education. All program costs are ultimately covered by Belize’s public revenues drawn from national taxes, so expanding assistance naturally increases the fiscal burden on the country’s national budget and ordinary taxpayers.
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Global Food Prices Rise Again; Oils and Meat Push Index Higher
After two straight months of gains, global food prices continued their upward climb in April 2026, according to the closely monitored Food Price Index published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The monthly benchmark, which tracks price shifts for the world’s five major traded food commodity groups, hit an average of 130.7 points last month. That marks a 1.6% increase from March 2026 and a 2% rise compared to the same period one year earlier. While the sustained upward movement has raised concerns about new food inflation pressures, the current index still sits 18.4% below the all-time record set in March 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war sent global food markets into unprecedented volatility.
The April uptick was led by a sharp surge in vegetable oil prices, which jumped 5.9% month-over-month to hit their highest level since July 2022. Growing demand from the global biofuel sector has been the primary catalyst for the rally: palm oil prices have now risen for five straight months, fueled by both rising biofuel adoption and market jitters over shrinking production outputs across major Southeast Asian producing nations. Prices for soy oil and rapeseed oil also trended upward in April, as biofuel production ramped up in the United States and European Union, boosting competing demand for the agricultural commodities.
Following vegetable oils, the meat category recorded the next largest gain, with the FAO Meat Price Index climbing to a new all-time high in April. Beef prices led the increase, driven by tight cattle supplies in top exporter Brazil and sustained strong international demand, particularly from key importer China. Both poultry and pork prices also moved higher, as ongoing supply chain disruptions and shipping bottlenecks in multiple producing regions kept markets tight.
Cereal prices posted a more modest 0.8% increase in April, with individual sub-sectors facing their own unique supply-side pressures. Wheat prices rose on the back of ongoing drought concerns across major growing regions of the U.S. and forecasts for below-average rainfall in Australia, another top global exporter. Elevated costs for fertilizers and energy have also led market analysts to anticipate that many farmers may scale back wheat planting in upcoming seasons, adding upward support to prices. Maize prices also climbed, as unfavorable weather outlooks have dampened production projections in Brazil and the U.S. Rice prices increased by 1.9% during the month, as higher energy prices pushed up both transportation and production costs for major exporting nations.
In contrast to the upward trend across most commodity groups, two categories moved lower in April. The FAO Sugar Price Index fell 4.7% month-over-month, sitting more than 21% below its level from April 2025. The decline stems from widespread expectations of larger global sugar supplies this season, with increased production projected in top producing nations including Brazil, China, and Thailand. Dairy prices also dipped, dropping 1.1% overall, driven by lower prices for butter and cheese as milk supplies expand across major exporting regions in Europe and Oceania.
For small Central American nation Belize, the latest shifts in global food markets carry mixed economic consequences. As a country that relies heavily on imports for wheat-based products, cooking oils, and many core food commodities, the country is directly exposed to rising international cereal and vegetable oil prices. Higher global costs will likely translate to increased import expenses, upward pressure on domestic food prices, and higher input costs for local livestock producers and food processors.
At the same time, the ongoing slide in global sugar prices creates fresh challenges for Belize’s domestic sugar industry, which has already been struggling with weak international pricing and shrinking profit margins. The 4.7% April drop in global sugar prices adds further downward pressure on the sector’s revenue and profitability.
As a leading benchmark for global food commodity markets, the FAO Food Price Index is tracked closely by policymakers, economic analysts, agribusiness leaders, and food producers around the world. It measures monthly price changes for a weighted basket of the most widely traded food commodities, covering cereals, vegetable oils, meat, dairy, and sugar.
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Lord’s Bank Community in Shock After Another Execution-Style Killing
The tight-knit Lord’s Bank community in Belize is grappling with fear and grief after a beloved local construction worker became the latest victim of brutal gun violence, leaving his family shattered and residents reeling from yet another senseless killing.
George Anglin, a devoted family man who saw construction as more than a trade — as a way to build a stable, rooted life near the people he loved — was gunned down just steps from his own front door on the evening of May 14, 2026. Authorities have confirmed that Anglin had been receiving threats in the period leading up to his attack, though no clear motive has been officially established as the investigation proceeds.
According to witness accounts collected by local outlet News Five, the assailants called Anglin out by name from the street outside his property. Family members initially assumed the person outside had returned Anglin’s motorcycle, which he had taken to a local mechanic for repairs earlier that day. When Anglin walked out to the street to meet the caller, the gunmen opened fire immediately.
Anglin’s niece, who was nearby when the shots rang out, rushed to the scene to find her uncle lying in a pool of blood, with first responders and community members already starting to gather. Still overwhelmed by shock, she described the devastating moment in an on-the-record interview: “I rushed cross there I went through the lee short cut. My uncle was on the ground in a pool of his own blood. By the time I got there, there were already police there, people gathering, talking and I could not hold back tears. Its cruel and it just makes me want to stay far from everybody and want to enclose myself and not mess with anybody, because you never know who is out to hurt you just to hurt you.”
For the Anglin family, this killing is not an isolated tragedy — it is the latest chapter in a decades-long cycle of violent death that has haunted multiple generations. Just five months prior, in December 2025, George Anglin’s brother Beris Anglin was shot and killed inside his own home in nearby Orange Walk. More than 20 years before that, the brothers’ father was stabbed to death in the same district.
Authorities have not yet confirmed any connection between George Anglin’s murder and the December 2025 killing of his brother. “There is no information so far suggesting a nexus with the two, however the investigation is ongoing,” explained Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, Staff Officer for the department, in an official statement to reporters.
Community members who knew Anglin remember him as a gentle, dedicated family man and a loving father figure. The half-finished three-bedroom apartment he had been building brick by brick stands as a stark reminder of the life and future that was cut short by the attack.
The killing has renewed fear in a community that has already been shaken by repeated outbreaks of violent gun crime. As police continue their investigation into the attack, Anglin’s family is left to navigate the agonizing process of grieving yet another loved one lost to senseless violence.
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Nieuwe RvC Centrale Bank moet toezien op financieel beleid en economische stabiliteit
On Thursday, the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) received a newly formed Board of Commissioners (RvC), with seven members officially installed for a five-year mandate during a ceremony held at the President’s Cabinet. Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman outlined the core mandate and long-term expectations for the new governing body in remarks following the appointment ceremony, as confirmed by Suriname’s Government Communication Service.
The seven appointed members of the new board are Silvano Tjong-Ahin, Glenn Gersie, Robbie Poetisi, Radjkoemar Kirpal, Dinesh Ramadhin, Saskia Walden, and Reina Raveles. A formal selection process for a board chair is still underway, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.
Wijnerman emphasized that while the primary responsibility of the RvC remains oversight of the Central Bank’s daily operations and the safeguarding of sound fiscal and monetary policy, the board also carries a broader strategic role. She noted that close coordination between the CBvS and the Ministry of Finance is a non-negotiable foundation for consistent, stable economic governance across the country.
“Both the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance hold monetary authority in Suriname,” Wijnerman explained. “This collaborative dynamic is critical to striking the right balance between fiscal policy, which covers government spending and taxation, and monetary policy, which regulates currency and interest rates.” Beyond its oversight duties, the board will also provide strategic advice and support to both the CBvS governor and the Finance Ministry, she added.
The minister also clarified the distinct role the Central Bank plays within Suriname’s broader financial ecosystem, differentiating it from the country’s commercial banking sector. Unlike commercial banks, which focus primarily on issuing loans and delivering retail banking services to individual consumers and private businesses, the CBvS is tasked with overseeing the entire banking industry and all registered financial institutions operating within national borders.
Additionally, the CBvS serves as Suriname’s key monetary liaison to the global financial community, facilitating ongoing cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other major international financial bodies. “The Central Bank’s core focus is on monetary stability, and it sets the regulatory standards that all commercial banks in the country must follow,” Wijnerman said.
Turning to Suriname’s current macroeconomic outlook, Wijnerman acknowledged that the country continues to grapple with significant structural challenges. While the minister confirmed that measurable progress has been made in recent economic stabilization efforts, she warned that volatile global developments continue to pose downside risks to the domestic economy.
“We have not yet crossed the finish line, but we are firmly on the right path,” Wijnerman stated. “Global shifts can still impact our economy, but as long as we maintain a constructive approach and all stakeholders contribute their part, I am confident we will overcome these hurdles.”
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State of Emergency Fuels Crime Sweep in Ladyville
Scheduled for publication on May 14, 2026, this report details an intensifying law enforcement crackdown on criminal activity in the Ladyville community, launched in the wake of a newly declared state of emergency. Despite public speculation that the boosted operations are a direct response to a fatal homicide that unfolded in the area Wednesday night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, who serves as a staff officer for the department, has clarified that the sweep is part of a pre-planned, long-term anti-crime initiative that was already in motion before the killing.
Ladyville was officially added to the state of emergency declaration just last Friday, opening the door for law enforcement to expand their operational scope and ramp up pressure on local criminal networks. Smith explained that the community has long been a priority for police, noting its close geographic proximity to the nearby urban center that makes it effectively an extension of the city. With all of the social and economic amenities the city offers also present in Ladyville, Smith said that population growth and increased activity have naturally led to a corresponding rise in criminal incidents, making sustained targeted operations a necessity.
Since the state of emergency took effect, officers have been carrying out coordinated joint operations that have already yielded measurable progress. Smith highlighted one early success from two to three weeks prior, when two male suspects were taken into custody in connection with an illegal firearms case. More recently, the expanded sweep has resulted in multiple arrests on felony charges, a outcome that Smith says reflects the proactive, investigation-driven posture law enforcement has adopted in the area. As operations continue, police are maintaining a tight presence in Ladyville as they work to dismantle criminal groups and improve public safety for local residents.
This report is adapted from a televised evening news transcript originally published online by the outlet.
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High-Speed Police Chase in Belmopan Ends in Gunfire, Two Detained
On the morning of May 14, 2026, a coordinated multi-unit operation by the Belize Police Department ended in a dramatic high-speed chase through Belmopan, culminating in officer-involved gunfire and the detention of two male suspects. What began as targeted surveillance by the department’s surveillance and tactical response teams tracked the two men as they navigated city streets in a black Nissan Altima, with police quickly moving to intercept the vehicle and bring the pursuit to a close.
When the pursuit ended, responding officers discharged their weapons at the suspects. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a substantial cache of illegal weaponry: a fully loaded 9-millimeter pistol with six live rounds in its magazine, plus an additional eight loose 9-millimeter rounds, 28 7.62 millimeter rounds, and 16 .22 caliber live rounds were also seized. Investigators also found two distinct uniforms inside the car: one standard security guard uniform, and a second uniform belonging to the Belize Defense Force, raising questions about the suspects’ potential planned activities.
The mid-morning incident unfolded in plain view of Belmopan residents, leaving many local witnesses shaken by the sudden outbreak of violence in the capital city. In an official briefing to reporters, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, confirmed the details of the operation.
“Police have detained two male persons for firearm related offences, following a joint operation which consisted of surveillance and tactical response teams,” Smith stated, adding that the operation concluded at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Per standard departmental protocol for all officer-involved shootings, an internal review process has been launched to examine the circumstances of the gunfire and ensure compliance with operational policy. Smith noted that she could not release additional details about the suspects, potential motives for their activities, or the ongoing investigation at this stage of the process. The incident has prompted renewed discussion of illegal firearms activity in Belize’s capital, as local law enforcement continues to crack down on weapons-related crime across the country.
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Land Dispute Turns Violent in Lemonal, Woman Shot
A long-simmering land disagreement in Lemonal Village erupted into shocking violence on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, leaving a 33-year-old woman wounded and a licensed gun owner in custody facing serious criminal charges.
According to official police statements, 54-year-old Rupert Gentle, a local driver, was operating a bulldozer to clear a plot of land when he was confronted by Stacey Middleton, who demanded he immediately halt his work. Middleton was not alone at the scene; she was accompanied by one other adult and an underage minor, adding another layer of gravity to the confrontation. What began as a verbal dispute escalated into physical danger in a matter of seconds. Investigators working the case confirmed that Gentle first maneuvered the bulldozer directly toward the group of protestors, an action that put Middleton and her companions in immediate danger.
Startled and fearing for her safety, Middleton threw the contents of a water bottle toward Gentle. In the heat of the moment, Gentle told responding officers he believed the clear liquid was actually corrosive acid, and claimed he felt a burning sensation on his face. Convinced his life was under immediate threat, Gentle drew his legally licensed firearm and fired a single shot that struck Middleton in the body.
Emergency responders rushed the injured woman to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment, while law enforcement officers quickly secured the crime scene, recovering the weapon and unused ammunition from the area. Gentle voluntarily surrendered his firearm to authorities shortly after the shooting and was taken into police custody without further incident.
On the following day, Wednesday, Gentle was provided access to a Justice of the Peace as required by law, and exercised his right to decline making a formal statement to investigators. Police subsequently formally charged him with two severe offenses: use of deadly means of harm and wounding. Due to the severity of the charges against him, Gentle will not be released to home confinement while he awaits trial. Under the provisions of Belize’s Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the courts have no legal authority to grant bail in these circumstances. As a result, Gentle has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison, where he will remain held in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for July 10, 2026.