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  • Number of people deprived of their liberty in the country’s prisons

    Number of people deprived of their liberty in the country’s prisons

    Fresh five-week trend data collected by Haiti’s Office of Citizen Protection reveals a small but measurable uptick in the total number of people held in 13 of the country’s correctional facilities, a shift driven almost entirely by a growing population of detainees awaiting legal processing.

    Between the June 8–12 reporting window and the June 15–19 window, the overall prison population grew by 0.5%, climbing 38 people from 7,256 to 7,294. The breakdown of this growth exposes a stark imbalance: the number of people held in pretrial detention rose 0.7%—an addition of 40 people, moving from 5,890 to 5,93—while the population of convicted prisoners actually saw a tiny 0.1% decline, dropping two people from 1,366 to 1,364. Officials attribute the small drop in convicted inmates to scheduled releases completed over the five-day period.

    A gender breakdown of the overall population growth shows 63% of the 38 new detainees are men, equal to 24 additional male inmates, while 37% are women, adding 14 more female prisoners. This gender split holds nearly identical for the growth in pretrial detention: 63% of the 40 new pretrial detainees are men (25 additional) and 37% are women (15 additional). The two-person decline in the convicted population was split evenly between men and women.

    In a rare positive shift within the data, the total number of minors held in the 13 facilities tracked declined over the same reporting period. The overall juvenile population fell 1.2%, dropping three people from 255 to 252. Breaking this trend down by legal status, the number of minors in pretrial detention fell 0.8% (two people, from 237 to 235), while the number of convicted minors saw a steeper 5.6% drop, falling one person from 18 to 17. Gender analysis of this decline shows the entire reduction came from the male juvenile population: both the two fewer pretrial juvenile detainees and one fewer convicted juvenile are boys, with no change recorded in the number of incarcerated female minors.

    The new figures add to ongoing conversations about Haiti’s overburdened justice system, where lengthy pretrial detention has long been documented as a major contributor to prison overcrowding and poor conditions inside correctional facilities.

  • OAS : Accelerate efforts for security and stability in Haiti

    OAS : Accelerate efforts for security and stability in Haiti

    Diplomatic talks between senior Haitian government officials and representatives of the Organization of American States have wrapped up this week with a shared commitment to speed up efforts to bring long-term security and stability back to the crisis-battered Caribbean nation. The meeting, held at Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was hosted by Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, who received Alberto Fohrig, the OAS Special Representative to Haiti. Fohrig was joined on the visit by Catherine Pognat, the OAS Country Representative for Haiti.

    During the discussion, Minister Forbin outlined the core priority actions advanced by Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s transitional administration. These priorities center on three critical goals: reversing widespread insecurity, rebuilding weakened state institutions, and preparing to hold national elections that meet international standards of being free, inclusive, transparent and credible. Beyond institutional and electoral priorities, Forbin also stressed the non-negotiable importance of three additional priorities: supporting the reintegration of vulnerable youth into Haitian society, addressing the deepening national humanitarian crisis, and fully restoring constitutional order to the country.

    A major focal point of the talks was advancing the implementation of the OAS’s pre-existing strategic roadmap for Haiti. Forbin pushed for the formalization of a clear, binding implementation timeline for the roadmap, while reaffirming Haitian authorities’ long-standing commitment to ongoing collaboration with the hemispheric organization. She emphasized that the ultimate goal of this partnership is to turn agreed-upon policy commitments into tangible, measurable outcomes that directly improve the lives of ordinary Haitian citizens. Both sides left the meeting aligned on the urgent need to speed up all ongoing work to restore lasting security and stability across Haiti.

    Representatives from the OAS welcomed the concrete progress the Haitian government has already made on its core priorities, and reiterated that the organization stands ready to continue supporting Haitian efforts across three key areas: security sector strengthening, democratic governance building, and the development of a functional electoral process.

    The meeting also created space to explore the critical role that religious leaders and grassroots civil society organizations can play in advancing peace, encouraging civic responsibility, and mending fractured social cohesion across Haiti. Forbin shared detailed outcomes from the recently concluded National Conference of Religious Leaders for Peace, Stability, and Civic Responsibility, alongside outlining the next steps for the ongoing initiative.

    In closing, Forbin praised the OAS for its unwavering commitment to Haiti amid the country’s ongoing challenges, and reaffirmed the Haitian government’s dedication to maintaining close, productive cooperation with all of its international partners as it works to pull the nation out of crisis.

  • APUA Launches 13th Summer Internship Programme for 17 Young Professionals

    APUA Launches 13th Summer Internship Programme for 17 Young Professionals

    On June 19, 2026, a new chapter of youth professional development launched in St. John’s, Antigua, as the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) officially opened the 13th iteration of its renowned Summer Internship Programme. The opening ceremony, held on that Friday, marked the start of a six-week immersive experience for 17 selected early-career professionals, who will rotate through multiple operational divisions of the leading regional utility provider to build on-the-ground industry expertise.

    Melford Nicholas, the island nation’s Minister responsible for Information Communication Technologies, Utilities and Energy, joined the launch event to extend formal congratulations to the new cohort of interns. In his address, Nicholas urged participants to lean into every learning opportunity available through the programme, emphasizing that their emerging perspectives and fresh innovative ideas could play a key role in advancing APUA’s ongoing organizational modernization goals. Beyond skill-building for the interns, he framed the initiative as a critical investment in Antigua and Barbuda’s future workforce, noting that robust youth development programs strengthen the country’s entire public service ecosystem.

    APUA Chief Executive Officer John Bradshaw echoed that sentiment, highlighting the longstanding success of the internship programme that has been refined over more than a decade of operation. Bradshaw pointed to one of the initiative’s most tangible achievements: many past participants have transitioned from interns to full-time employees of APUA, bringing their early familiarity with the organization’s mission and operations to permanent roles across the authority. Today, those former interns continue to drive positive change through their specialized skills and dedicated work ethic, Bradshaw explained, helping to streamline core operations and elevate the quality of utility services delivered to communities across Antigua and Barbuda.

    For 2026, the selection of 17 participants underscores APUA’s sustained commitment to nurturing the next generation of industry leaders, organization representatives confirmed. Over the coming six weeks, interns will work side-by-side with veteran APUA staff, taking on hands-on contributions to active projects that align with the authority’s core strategic mission. APUA leadership expressed full confidence that the 2026 cohort will carry forward the programme’s strong legacy of excellence, and extended well wishes to all participants for a productive, transformative experience that lays the groundwork for their future careers.

  • Three Life Sentences For Elmer Nah: Possible Parole At Age 90

    Three Life Sentences For Elmer Nah: Possible Parole At Age 90

    Four years after a brutal New Year’s Eve massacre destroyed the lives of the Ramnarace family in Belmopan, Belize, a long-awaited reckoning arrived in a Belizean high court on June 19, 2026. Convicted triple murderer and former police corporal Elmer Nah learned his final sentence this week, closing a pivotal chapter in a case that has shaken the small Central American nation’s law enforcement community.

    Nah was first found guilty in May 2026 of murdering three members of the Ramnarace family — Vivian, John, and David Ramnarace — during the December 31, 2022 attack that also left a fourth family member severely injured. In a historic ruling, Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down three concurrent life sentences, with the strict condition that Nah will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served 50 years behind bars. Under the sentence, the 40-year-old former officer will not have a chance of release until he reaches at least 90 years of age.

    The sentencing hearing took an unexpected turn just 10 minutes after proceedings began, when Nah interrupted the process to demand the opportunity to address the court directly. Justice Pilgrim initially reminded Nah that his chance to make a statement came during the prior mitigation hearing, but granted Nah’s request after the former cop claimed his defense attorney, Dr. Lynden Jones, failed to explain the significance of that earlier hearing.

    Taking the stand, Nah repeated his claims of innocence, offered a perfunctory condolence to the Ramnarace family, and made the explosive unsubstantiated claim that another disgraced former police officer was the actual perpetrator of the 2022 killings. Closing his unplanned address, Nah told the court: “Even if I’m sentenced to one hundred years, my conscience is clear.”

    Special Prosecutor Terrence Williams, KC, who led the case for the state, called the last-minute outburst unusual, noting that Nah had the full opportunity to present any defense and witnesses during the months-long trial that preceded his conviction.

    When delivering the final sentence, Justice Pilgrim outlined a long list of aggravating factors that justified the severe penalty. These included the high number of fatal victims, the fact that the attack was carried out inside the Ramnarace family’s own home, the execution of the murders in front of a five-year-old child, the use of a lethal firearm, the status of one victim as a public servant, and clear evidence that the killings were premeditated. Williams added after the ruling that there were no substantial mitigating factors to justify a lighter sentence, making a life sentence the only appropriate outcome under Belizean law.

    Justice Pilgrim opted against issuing the death penalty, however, noting that he could not fully rule out the possibility of future rehabilitation. Under Belizean law, parole eligibility remains available to inmates who can demonstrate they have been rehabilitated, with final approval resting with the national parole board.

    After the ruling, as Nah exited the courtroom, he doubled down on his claims of innocence, accusing his defense team of deliberately sabotaging his case. When asked by reporters for his assessment of his lead attorney, Nah replied bluntly: “Bogus! He sabotaged my case.” He also quoted a biblical proverb to frame the outcome, saying “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

    Nah’s claims of inadequate legal representation open the door for a potential appeal of his conviction and sentence. For the Ramnarace family, who have waited more than three years for justice following the brutal attack, Williams says he hopes the final ruling will bring some measure of closure and healing.

    In a phone interview following the hearing, Williams, who has practiced criminal law for more than 30 years, called the case one of the most emotionally heavy of his career. “It was very emotional experience to hear from [the victim’s] aunt how the young girl has had to cope with losing her mother and father. It is a sadness. I feel assured that she’ll have great family support going forward, and the family of the deceased and the injured will take some solace in the verdict,” Williams said.

    Reporting from the Belize High Court for News Five, Shane Williams contributed to this report.

  • Government Deploys Military in Bid to Calm Urban Violence

    Government Deploys Military in Bid to Calm Urban Violence

    In the aftermath of a chaotic, violence-plagued weekend that shook communities across Belize City, the Belizean government has announced an extraordinary security measure: the deployment of the Belize Defense Force to augment local police patrols and operations in high-crime zones. While the use of military support for domestic law enforcement is typically limited to formal states of emergency, government officials have been clear that this action falls short of that designation, framing it as a targeted, calibrated intervention to de-escalate rising tensions in the former national capital.

    Elton Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Ministry of Home Affairs, outlined the government’s reasoning and decision-making process in a public briefing following the deployment. “We have certainly increased the tempo of operations,” Bennett explained. “Going back to last week’s series of violent activities in Belize City, the Belize Police Department and all participating security forces carried out extensive strategic planning to design operations that would make a meaningful, long-term dent in violent crime. This hardline security push is being paired with ongoing work to address the root causes of community violence, but we determined that coordinated action from both law enforcement and the military was necessary at this juncture to quell existing tensions.”

    Residents can expect to see visible changes across the city: increased personnel at mobile checkpoints, more frequent patrols in well-documented crime hotspots, and a heightened overall security presence throughout high-risk neighborhoods. Despite the visible troop surge, Bennett repeatedly emphasized that the operation does not equate to a state of emergency, and no sweeping restrictions on civil liberties or freedom of movement will be implemented.

    “It is not an SOE; it is just below the threshold of an SOE,” Bennett clarified. “We believe we can find that sweet spot just below the threshold where we can be operationally effective: by positioning the right personnel in the right high-need locations, we can address ongoing violent crime without needing to institute the sweeping measures of a formal state of emergency. This is an attempt to deliver operational success without the far-reaching disruptions of an SOE.”

    Bennett added that while deployments are concentrated in specific targeted areas across Belize City, the operation does not infringe on the rights of local residents, nor does it impose limits on movement for people living in or visiting any community. The primary goal of the increased presence, he noted, is to send a clear signal that the government views Belize City’s ongoing crime crisis as a top priority and is taking decisive action to improve public safety.

    Unlike many security deployments that have a fixed end date, the current military-backed operation will remain in place until tangible results are achieved, Bennett confirmed. There is no pre-set timeline for withdrawing troops, as the government’s priority is reducing violence rather than meeting an arbitrary deadline. The government has also urged residents to remain calm, continue with their normal daily routines, and work with security forces to address longstanding crime challenges in the city.

  • BDF Finances Under Scrutiny as PM Acts on Corruption Claims

    BDF Finances Under Scrutiny as PM Acts on Corruption Claims

    Nearly five and a half years after first vowing to crack down on systemic public sector corruption, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has taken formal action to open a full audit of the Belize Defense Force’s (BDF) financial records, responding to long-standing misconduct allegations tied to the previous administration.

    The announcement, made public on Thursday, marks a key milestone in the People’s United Party government’s commitment to root out graft — a promise Briceño first laid out in the House of Representatives just weeks after his party took power from the United Democratic Party (UDP) in January 2021. During that initial address, when introducing the landmark Good Governance Motion, the prime minister committed to full investigations and legal consequences for any public official found to have engaged in corrupt practice.

    Speaking in the legislature, Briceño reiterated that promise to the Belizean public in Kriol, saying: “We promised the Belizean people that we are going investigate and who wrong gwen dah jail fi we find them guilty.”

    He emphasized that 13 years of UDP rule left a pattern of systemic embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, and holding corrupt actors accountable through the judicial system is the only way to end this pattern. “The only way this type of corruption and stealing that happened under thirteen years of the UDP administration is going to stop is that when you hold the people that plunder the treasury and rob from the Belizean people, that we hold them accountable and they have to go to a court of law,” Briceño said.

    The prime minister also framed the crackdown as a warning to current sitting officials, noting that it sends a clear message that any public servant who deviates from ethical governance will face the same consequences. “And it is important to that because I can tell my colleagues also, see what happened to them. If you don’t walk a straight line, you are going to end up like that,” he told opposition leader in the house.

    Briceño stressed that the investigation is not a politically motivated personal attack, but a necessary step to restore public trust in government institutions. “It is not personal. But this is the only way we are going to stop the stealing and the plundering of the Belizean people money,” he said.

    The BDF audit, Briceño confirmed, is only the first phase of uncovering the full facts surrounding what are known as the “Mira corruption allegations.” This report is a transcribed excerpt of an evening television newscast, with Kriol language remarks reproduced using a standardized spelling system for public accessibility.

  • 11 students in top 10 spots amidst multiple ties in CPEA results

    11 students in top 10 spots amidst multiple ties in CPEA results

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Education has released preliminary results for the 2024 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), naming Draádon A. Ackie from Richland Park Seventh-day Adventist Primary School as the nation’s top-performing student. Ackie secured the first-place position with an exceptional overall score of 98.20%, and also ranked among the top nine scorers in the exam’s language section with a 96% mark. The 2024 ranking features multiple tied positions across the top 10 spots, with a total of 11 students earning placement in this elite group.

    Following Ackie, Naailah Azziza Stevenson of Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS) claimed second place overall, as well as the second-highest rank among female test-takers. Three candidates tied for third place overall: Amiah Kristal Anderson from KPS, Uliano Ozarie Ryan of Dickson Methodist Primary School, and Michael E. Febuary, Ackie’s schoolmate from Richland Park SDA. All three also earned second-place rankings in their respective gender categories.

    A three-way tie for sixth place went to Anniah Aysia John (KPS), Philan B. Lewis (Richland Park SDA), and Akili Adekola Neverson (Sugar Mill Academy). John took third place among female students, while Lewis and Neverson tied for fourth in the female rankings. Damien Skyler Franklyn of Windsor Primary School secured ninth place overall and sixth rank among male participants. The 10th spot was split between Orijé Orando Brewster (KPS) and Zuri Sarina Salandy of Brighton Methodist, with Brewster ranking seventh among boys and fourth among girls.

    A total of 1,766 sixth-grade students registered for this year’s assessment, which concluded its on-site testing phase on May 14, and 1,760 candidates completed all required components. Preliminary data shows an overall pass rate of 88.47%, with 1,557 students meeting the passing threshold – a small but noticeable improvement over the 2023 pass rate of 87.34%. Of the successful candidates, 732 are male and 825 are female. To pass, students must earn a minimum of 250 marks, or 50% of the maximum 500 total available points across the assessment’s two components.

    CPEA final scores are calculated by combining results from two core components: an external national assessment and a school-based assessment (SBA). The SBA contributes 40% of a student’s total grade, with a maximum possible 200 marks, while the external exam accounts for the remaining 60% (300 total points). The external assessment consists of multiple-choice tests covering four core subjects: mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. The SBA, by contrast, evaluates students through a diverse set of in-school work, including a cumulative research project, writing portfolio, book report, teacher-created unit tests, student-developed assessments, and practical skills exercises across the four core subject areas.

    In the external assessment component, several students earned perfect 100% scores in individual subjects. Amiah Anderson and Uliano Ozarie Ryan both achieved full marks in mathematics. Four candidates – Akili Neverson, Amauri Greaves (both Sugar Mill Academy), Jediah Luke (Windsor Primary), and Noah Yorke (Mustique Primary) – scored 100% in science. Nine students tied for the highest language arts score at 96%, including top overall performer Ackie, alongside Kelleigh Kirby (Windsor Primary), Shanae Joseph (Richland Park Government), Faith Ballantyne (KPS), Damari Williams (CW Prescod Primary), Isabella Currency (Sugar Mill Academy), Havanna James (New Grounds Primary), Gabrielle Glasgow (Lowmans Windward Anglican), and Rockell Ballantyne (Clare Valley Government). For social studies, four students earned perfect 100% scores: Naailah Stevenson, Amiah Anderson, Michael Febuary, and Damien Franklyn.

    In an official press statement announcing the results, the Ministry of Education extended formal congratulations to all students who completed the assessment. The statement also expressed gratitude to headteachers, teaching staff, school personnel, and all education stakeholders for their ongoing support of student learning and preparation for the national assessment.

  • FOIA Dispute Escalates Over Alleged Smart Stream Irregularities

    FOIA Dispute Escalates Over Alleged Smart Stream Irregularities

    A growing conflict over transparency and accountability in Belize’s public service has escalated in recent weeks, after the president of the nation’s Public Service Union launched a formal push for investigation into alleged payment irregularities within the government’s Smart Stream digital financial system.

    On June 11, 2026, Dean Flowers, head of the union, submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Office of the Contractor General seeking details about claims of unauthorized payment splitting in the platform. But the agency’s response left his questions unanswered, prompting Flowers to issue a scathing five-page rebuttal that rejects the office’s claim it lacks jurisdiction over payment processing and monitoring activities.

    Flowers argues that clear provisions laid out in the Contractor General Act grant the office explicit authority to launch a probe. He specifically cites Section 16(2) of the legislation, which states the Contractor General is empowered to receive and investigate complaints or tips from public body employees regarding potential violations of laws, rules and regulations, alongside mismanagement, gross public fund waste, fraud, and corruption. In an interview with local outlet News Five on June 19, Flowers pushed back against the agency’s attempt to avoid the investigation, noting that both the incumbent Contractor General and Auditor General are new to their roles. He emphasized that the positions are not political appointments, and expressed expectation that the officeholders possess the necessary competence to fulfill their statutory oversight duties.

    The Office of the Contractor General is not the only oversight body that has declined to meet Flowers’ demands for public records. Following a separate FOIA request to the Office of the Accountant General, that agency also deferred action, stating it would only cooperate with an ongoing audit ordered by Prime Minister John Briceño led by the Auditor General. Flowers criticized this response as a blatant buck-passing, noting the Accountant General failed to confirm whether it would review Smart Stream records to identify patterns of improper payments by public financial officers, or release the names of officers allegedly implicated in the practices.

    Flowers claims all three oversight agencies — the Accountant General, Contractor General, and Auditor General — are following the same playbook to avoid disclosing information. He argued that the release of existing records held by the agencies would not compromise the ongoing audit ordered by the prime minister, contradicting the Auditor General’s claim that public disclosure would prejudice its investigation.

    Despite the gridlock over immediate public disclosure, Flowers has voiced support for Prime Minister Briceño’s order to audit the accounts of the Ministry of Defense, tied to broader demands for accountability in the ongoing Mira scandal. He called the planned audit the only source of comfort for stakeholders pushing for transparency, saying he expects the Auditor General to complete a comprehensive review of the irregularities.

    Flowers laid out a clear path for immediate action, noting that the Accountant General holds real-time access to Smart Stream data across all government ministries. He said the agency could immediately release evidence of suspicious payment patterns, including system entry screenshots and the names of implicated financial officers and incumbent or former ministry leaders, to jumpstart accountability efforts. Going forward, Flowers said the union will await the findings of the audit to determine whether formal disciplinary action is warranted against any public officers found to have violated financial regulations or engaged in corrupt practice.

    News Five reached out to Belize’s Integrity Commission for comment on the dispute, but the agency declined to issue a direct statement on the ongoing case. A representative of the commission explained that it only launches formal investigations after receiving a signed formal complaint, which is then reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

  • Woman sues over health problems following COVID-19 jab

    Woman sues over health problems following COVID-19 jab

    In what legal experts are calling an unprecedented legal case in Barbados, a female plaintiff has filed a landmark lawsuit against the Barbados government, alleging that she developed life-altering, long-term health complications tied to two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine she received in 2021. The 2024 claim, which marks the first vaccine injury case of its kind to be heard before the island nation’s Supreme Court, names the Attorney General of Barbados as the official defendant. The plaintiff alleges that the government, which oversaw the country’s national COVID-19 immunization initiative through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, bears legal responsibility for the permanent injuries she attributes to the vaccine.

    Represented by one of Barbados’ most respected veteran constitutional lawyers, King’s Counsel Larry Smith, the case centers on the plaintiff’s core allegation that the AstraZeneca vaccine administered to her was defective. Under the island’s Consumer Protection Act, she argues the government failed to deliver a product that met the reasonable safety standards she was legally entitled to expect, opening the state up to liability for her personal harm and all resulting economic and quality-of-life losses.

    Court filings reviewed by local media outlet Barbados TODAY outline the timeline of the plaintiff’s illness: she received her first AstraZeneca dose around April 23, 2021, with the second booster dose following in June of that same year. Roughly eight weeks after her second injection, she first noticed an unusual swollen bruise paired with intense pain below her right knee. As additional alarming symptoms emerged—including crippling chest pain and persistent shortness of breath—she sought medical care twice, but on both occasions, treating physicians were unable to identify the root cause of her declining health.

    Over time, her condition deteriorated dramatically. Bruising began to spread across her entire body, her breathing difficulties grew more severe, and her energy levels dropped to the point that she could no longer maintain regular daily activity. She was eventually referred to a hematology specialist for specialized testing and assessment, and placed on extended medical leave from work.

    As part of the official post-vaccine adverse event protocol, the Pharmacovigilance Team of the Barbados Drug Service launched an investigation into her case, focusing on a suspected adverse reaction tied to the specific batch of her second AstraZeneca dose. Blood samples were analyzed at the Barbados Reference Laboratory, and test results confirmed her symptoms were consistent with vaccine-induced blood clotting. The final official medical assessment classified her condition as a suspected case of vaccine-induced vasculitis, linked directly to the June 25, 2021 AstraZeneca dose.

    According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff spent more than a year attempting to resolve the matter outside of court. Between January 2022 and July 2023, she sent five formal letters to the government, notifying officials of her condition and requesting accountability and relief. The government never issued a substantive response to her claims, the suit says. The only correspondence she received came from the Prime Minister’s Office: first, a February 2022 email acknowledging receipt of her initial letter and confirming it had been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer for follow-up, then a second email in May 2022 stating that her case was under assessment for possible compensation under a previously announced government support mechanism for people experiencing severe vaccine side effects. That correspondence also confirmed the Chief Medical Officer would be in touch shortly with next steps, but the plaintiff says she never received any further update or meaningful action from government officials despite multiple follow-up inquiries. After the pre-action request for compensation sent to the Chief Medical Officer received no response, her legal team moved forward with filing the formal lawsuit.

    The suit outlines four key allegations of negligence on the part of the Barbados government: first, that the state failed to establish and activate promised support mechanisms for people experiencing severe vaccine-related complications under the national immunization program; second, that officials failed to respond to the plaintiff’s repeated inquiries about her condition despite having full knowledge of her case; third, that the government made no tangible efforts to remedy her situation or provide the relief she requested; and fourth, that the state failed to uphold a reasonable standard of care for the plaintiff as a participant in the national vaccination program.

    Today, the plaintiff continues to live with persistent symptoms: ongoing blood clotting issues, widespread bruising, severe shortness of breath, and chronically reduced energy levels that have entirely eliminated her ability to work full-time. Court documents emphasize that before receiving the vaccine, she enjoyed an active, healthy lifestyle with no pre-existing conditions that would have predicted her current health decline. She is now seeking multiple forms of legal relief: general damages for physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of quality of life; special damages covering lost earnings and ongoing medical expenses; coverage of all legal fees; six percent annual interest on awarded damages; and any additional relief the Supreme Court deems appropriate for her case.

    At present, the matter is in the case management stage of proceedings before the Supreme Court, with no timeline set for a full trial as of yet.

  • NTUCB Leads Charge to Protect Vulnerable Workers

    NTUCB Leads Charge to Protect Vulnerable Workers

    Scheduled high-level talks between Belize’s peak labor body and the national government got off to a chaotic start this week, even as the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) ramps up a landmark initiative to secure basic rights for one of the country’s most underprotected workforces: domestic workers.

    Backed by technical and institutional support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the NTUCB’s new organizing drive centers on bringing domestic workers together to advocate for their own interests, regardless of whether they formally join a union. As NTUCB President Ella Waight explained in comments following the organization’s meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño, the effort is rooted in a gaping hole in Belize’s upcoming labor regulation framework: current drafts of the new Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill explicitly exclude domestic workers from coverage, leaving thousands of employees who work in private homes without basic workplace protections.

    Waight pushed back against the government’s primary argument for the exclusion, which centers on concerns over privacy for private households. She noted that existing Social Security Board programs already require inspectors to enter private homes to verify working conditions, proving that targeted oversight is logistically and legally feasible. Beyond closing the OSH coverage gap, the NTUCB’s campaign is also pushing to guarantee domestic workers access to core benefits including paid vacation time and compliance with national minimum wage standards, rights that many in the sector are currently denied.

    The NTUCB’s policy priorities extend far beyond domestic worker protections, as laid out in the outcomes of the fraught June meeting with Briceño. The talks, originally scheduled for 9 a.m. in the capital city of Belmopan, were abruptly relocated to Belize City at the last minute, forcing union leaders to rush across the country for a delayed session that ended before 1 p.m. despite months of advance planning. Despite the logistical misstep that cut short discussions, both sides still made progress aligning on key shared policy goals, particularly around governance and anti-corruption reform.

    Waight confirmed that talks on a long-awaited national whistleblower protection bill, first opened in December 2025, remain on track. Briceño told union delegates that the draft legislation is scheduled to go before the national cabinet for review by the end of July 2026, a key milestone for a bill the NTUCB has prioritized as a tool to ensure public resources are managed responsibly and transparently.

    Dialogue on other long-promised reforms is moving at a slower pace, however. The NTUCB raised the issue of campaign finance regulation during the meeting, and while Briceño confirmed that a preliminary draft of the legislation exists, no timeline for formal debate has been set. The union has requested a copy of the draft for its review by the end of June 2026 to inform its input on the proposal. Talks on national redistricting, meanwhile, remain tied to a 2025 pledge to complete the full process by the end of 2026, with ongoing discussion around the legal requirement to maintain a minimum of 31 parliamentary seats. Progress on implementing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) has also stalled, with scheduled working group meetings paused for more than 18 months, Waight confirmed.

    Despite the logistical blunder and uneven progress across different reform areas, Briceño has committed to reconvening formal talks with the NTUCB in December 2026 to provide updated progress reports on all outstanding issues.