分类： society

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has escalated its opposition to a proposed acquisition deal involving Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), demanding comprehensive national public consultations before any agreement is finalized. NTUCB President Ella Waight has declared the union’s multifaceted strategy to challenge the transaction, citing insufficient stakeholder engagement from BTL management.

Waight revealed the labor organization has initiated legal proceedings to explore potential courtroom challenges to the acquisition’s validity. The union leader emphasized that BTL’s previous presentations to stakeholders appeared designed solely to secure approval rather than facilitate genuine dialogue about the deal’s implications.

“Their ultimate goal was for us to say yes, we agree to it,” Waight stated, characterizing BTL’s engagement as insufficient for an institution of its national importance. The NTUCB president confirmed the union is coordinating with other concerned entities who similarly oppose the transaction, noting this represents broader societal concern beyond just labor organizations.

Waight issued a definitive ultimatum: if administrative and legal channels prove unsuccessful, the union is prepared to organize public demonstrations as a final measure to ensure their objections receive adequate attention. This warning signals potential civil unrest should the process advance without addressing the union’s demands for transparency and public consultation.

A severe house fire has left an elderly Belize City resident with critical injuries and his home completely destroyed. The incident occurred on Sunday at a metal-structured residence located on Rio Bravo Crescent in the Faber’s Road Extension area.

Emergency services responded to the scene after reports of an explosion and ensuing blaze. Upon arrival, firefighting personnel discovered the small dwelling fully engulfed in flames. Despite their rapid intervention to extinguish the fire, the interior of the home sustained total devastation.

The sole occupant, identified as Kenneth Flores, was transported urgently to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) where he is currently undergoing treatment for serious burn injuries. According to preliminary investigation details provided by ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of the National Crime Investigation Branch, the incident appears to have originated from a stove explosion.

ACP Romero confirmed that Flores was in the process of lighting the stove when a sudden explosion occurred, leading to both his injuries and the rapid spread of fire throughout the structure. Police authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and subsequent fire, examining all potential factors that may have contributed to this dangerous incident.

Medical officials at KHMH have reported that despite the severity of his injuries, Mr. Flores remains in stable condition as of the latest assessment. The investigation continues as authorities work to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

In a brazen pre-dawn assault at Northern Shops, multiple perpetrators ambushed a security guard stationed at Medina’s House of Jewelry approximately at 3:00 AM on January 26, 2026. The assailants restrained the guard with bindings while brandishing a firearm during the harrowing incident.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, Head of the National Crime Investigation Branch, confirmed authorities are investigating the aggravated burglary. “Upon arrival, the security guard reported he was held up by several male persons,” stated Romero. “They tied him up, pointed a gun at him and broke into the building.”

Investigative teams are currently examining surveillance footage to determine potential stolen items and quantify losses. When questioned about possible insider involvement, ACP Romero maintained that “we do not know at this time,” indicating the preliminary stage of the investigation. The police continue collaborating with business representatives to establish a comprehensive timeline of the criminal activities.

Authorities in Belize have launched an intensive investigation following the disappearance of Alfred Pliel, a 64-year-old Canadian national residing in Punta Gorda. The search operation entered its seventh day with growing concerns for Pliel’s welfare after his vehicle was discovered abandoned in the Toledo District town.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, head of the National Crime Investigation Branch, Pliel had been living in the Indianville area for several months prior to his disappearance. The investigation began approximately one week ago when local authorities received reports that the Canadian expatriate had failed to appear at his regular dining establishment, triggering immediate concern among both law enforcement and community members.

Police have conducted multiple interviews with individuals known to associate with Pliel, particularly those he frequently spent time with in Punta Gorda. Despite these investigative efforts, authorities confirm they have yet to establish any substantive leads regarding his current whereabouts or circumstances. ACP Romero specifically addressed and dismissed circulating rumors about the discovery of remains, clarifying that no evidence of foul play has been established at this stage of the investigation.

The case has mobilized both official resources and community members in the southern region, reflecting the close-knit nature of the expatriate and local populations in the area. The Belize Police Department continues to pursue all available avenues in their search for the missing Canadian citizen, while urging anyone with potentially relevant information to come forward.

A coalition of more than 130 former Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) employees is intensifying its campaign for severance benefits allegedly withheld for years, now threatening public demonstrations if their demands remain unmet. The group, operating under the name Belize Communication Workers for Justice, has gained significant legal leverage following a landmark November ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The court determined that pension benefits cannot legally substitute for severance entitlements, effectively mandating compensation for hundreds of former telecommunications workers.

The dispute centers on claims that BTL, Belize’s dominant telecommunications provider, systematically marginalized long-serving employees who helped build the nation’s telecom infrastructure. Former union leaders, including past presidents Paul Perriot and Emily Turner, have joined the growing movement, emphasizing that their pursuit is not a request but a demand for legally mandated compensation. Their position is strengthened by the CCJ’s judicial decision, which they assert leaves the company with no valid justification for further delay.

Complicating the situation is BTL’s concurrent advancement of an $80 million acquisition plan for Speednet, a move that former employees cite as evidence of the company’s financial capacity to fulfill its obligations. The workers maintain that their fight transcends monetary compensation, representing broader issues of corporate accountability, workers’ rights, and respect for years of service. Ivan Puerto, a 20-year BTL veteran, articulated that the struggle is for dignity and recognition of contributions made by himself and colleagues facing post-employment hardships.

The group has announced plans to outline specific escalation strategies, including potential marches on BTL’s corporate headquarters on St. Thomas Street, should management continue to disregard both their demands and the CCJ ruling. This developing situation highlights ongoing tensions between corporate interests and worker rights in Belize’s evolving telecommunications sector.

In a significant stride for international youth development, Belize City has dispatched two promising young leaders to Miramar, Florida, for an immersive governance exchange program. Youth Shadow Councilors Sanaa Rowland and Arthur Butler, accompanied by Councilor Stephanne Hamilton who oversees Sister City Relations, arrived on Saturday to participate in a meticulously curated week-long agenda focused on municipal governance.

The delegation received formal welcoming ceremonies from Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam and his executive team on Monday morning, marking a substantial advancement in the bilateral partnership between the coastal municipalities. This exchange program represents a cornerstone initiative within the broader sister city framework established between Belize City and Miramar.

Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner provided exclusive insights into the program’s strategic importance, highlighting the comparable demographic scales between the two cities—approximately 150,000 residents in Miramar versus 70,000-80,000 in Belize City—which creates unique synergies for mutual learning. The partnership framework specifically prioritizes economic development, cultural exchanges, and youth development initiatives.

The Youth Shadow Councilors’ itinerary includes observational sessions at Miramar’s city council meetings, comprehensive briefings with both fire and police departments—unlike Belize City’s structure, Miramar’s municipal government maintains direct oversight of these services—and evaluations of recreational facilities and youth programming. This hands-on exposure aims to provide the young Belizean representatives with practical insights into alternative models of civic engagement and community development.

Mayor Wagner emphasized the program’s role in fostering sustainable international relationships while providing transformative professional development opportunities for the next generation of Belizean leadership. The exchange represents a significant investment in cross-cultural understanding and the development of practical governance skills among youth participants.