标签： Belize

Mexico is grappling with a devastating humanitarian crisis as torrential rains from Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond have caused catastrophic floods and landslides, leaving at least 47 people dead and 38 others missing. The states of Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla have been the hardest hit, with Veracruz reporting 18 fatalities, Hidalgo 16, and Puebla 12. Rescue operations are underway, with the Mexican Army, Air Force, and National Guard mobilizing to deliver essential supplies, including food, water, and medical aid, to affected areas. In some regions of Veracruz, floodwaters surged to over 12 feet after rivers overflowed, exacerbating the destruction. President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the impacted towns on Sunday to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts. The Civil Protection agency has confirmed the ongoing search for missing individuals, while rescue teams work tirelessly to evacuate residents and provide emergency care. The dual tropical systems have now dissipated, but the aftermath continues to pose significant challenges for recovery and rebuilding.

In a shocking turn of events, twenty high-ranking members of the notorious Barrio 18 gang orchestrated a daring escape from Guatemala’s Fraijanes II maximum-security prison in the early hours of Saturday, October 11, 2025. The facility, located in the municipality of Fraijanes, is specifically designed to incarcerate the country’s most dangerous criminals, making this incident particularly alarming.

On October 12th, Belize joins the Americas in commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the resilience, culture, and enduring legacy of Indigenous communities. This significant occasion replaces the outdated narrative of ‘discovery’ with a focus on resistance, acknowledging that the lands Christopher Columbus encountered in 1492 were already inhabited by thriving societies. For decades, the day was observed as Columbus Day, but a deeper understanding of history has led to a profound shift in perspective, redefining the day to honor Indigenous peoples who resisted colonization and preserved their way of life. In Belize, the day pays tribute to the country’s two main Indigenous groups: the Maya and the Garifuna. The Maya, one of the region’s oldest civilizations, continue to uphold ancestral practices such as farming, spiritual ceremonies, and community traditions. Belize is home to three distinct Maya groups: the Yucatec Maya, the Mopan Maya, and the Ketchi Maya, each maintaining their own language, customs, and cultural identity while sharing deep historical and spiritual ties to the land. Many Mestizos in Belize also carry Maya ancestry, a legacy of intermarriage between Indigenous peoples and Spanish settlers during and after colonization, forming a unique cultural identity that connects Mestizo communities to Maya heritage. The Garifuna, descendants of West and Central Africans who intermarried with Indigenous Caribbean peoples on the island of St Vincent in the 17th century, are also honored today. Their culture, recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, is celebrated for its language, music, dance, storytelling, and communal rituals. Beyond cultural expression, the Garifuna play a vital role in local governance, education, and the defense of ancestral lands, ensuring their heritage and identity remain alive for future generations. Today’s observance serves as a reminder of the need to protect Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and land security, while also calling for reflection on Belize’s multi-ethnic identity and shared history.

Authorities in the old capital are probing a tragic incident that unfolded on Simon Lamb Street, where two individuals were found dead in a two-story residence. The event, which took place shortly before noon, has been preliminarily classified as a suspected murder-suicide. The victims, identified as 26-year-old Keira Gentle and 27-year-old Harrison Arnold, were discovered in separate locations within the home—Gentle on her bed and Arnold on the floor. A black 9mm pistol was found near the scene, further corroborating the initial findings. Surveillance footage from the vicinity captured the sound of multiple gunshots, adding weight to the theory of a violent altercation. Law enforcement officials are focusing their investigation on a potential domestic dispute as the underlying cause of the tragedy. The community has been left in shock as details continue to emerge, with police urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Belize City, Police Constable Oswald Young, aged 44, was fatally shot on Friday night while en route to his duty at the Belama Police Station. The attack occurred around 9:40 p.m. in Unitedville Village, where Young, dressed in uniform, was ambushed. The Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries has confirmed that the shooting was a deliberate assault on a member of the Belize Police Department.

In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry expressed its unequivocal condemnation of the crime and pledged full support to the ongoing investigation. ‘This was a targeted attack on a member of the Belize Police Department, and it is being treated with the highest level of urgency,’ the Ministry declared. ‘We stand firmly behind the efforts to bring those responsible to justice.’

Police Minister Kareem Musa echoed the Ministry’s sentiments, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. ‘We will not rest until the person or persons responsible are found and prosecuted,’ Musa asserted. ‘PC Young was a public servant in uniform, and his murder is an attack on the rule of law itself.’ The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of law enforcement officers and the broader implications for public security in Belize.