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  • Belize, Guatemala Sign Joint Declaration Ahead of ICJ Ruling

    Belize, Guatemala Sign Joint Declaration Ahead of ICJ Ruling

    As the international community awaits a final legal resolution to one of the Western Hemisphere’s longest-running territorial conflicts, Belize and Guatemala have taken a landmark step toward peaceful dispute settlement, signing a joint declaration that reaffirms their shared commitment to abiding by the upcoming ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

    The agreement was reached on June 24, 2026, on the sidelines of the 56th Regular General Assembly Session of the Organization of American States (OAS), which was convened in Panama City. Signing the document on behalf of their respective nations were Oscar Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Carlos Ramiro Martínez, Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Beyond restating long-held pledges, the joint declaration codifies both governments’ legal and political obligation to recognize the ICJ’s final judgment as binding under international law, and to carry out its terms in full good faith. This formal commitment comes months ahead of the ICJ’s highly anticipated ruling on Guatemala’s multi-faceted claim against Belize, which covers contested territorial, insular, and maritime boundaries.

    In addition to committing to the ruling, the two nations issued a joint request for the OAS to sustain its existing diplomatic and operational support for ongoing confidence-building agreements between the two states. They specifically called for the OAS to maintain its long-standing presence in the contested Adjacency Zone, the buffer area between the two countries, until the ICJ delivers its official judgment.

    The declaration also extends a broader appeal to the OAS and the wider global community. Belize and Guatemala are asking for targeted international assistance across several key priority areas once the ruling is issued: formal territorial demarcation, cross-border conflict prevention, resource mobilization to support implementation, and any additional measures that may be required to operationalize the court’s decision.

    The pending ICJ judgment is poised to close a chapter of tensions that have stretched across generations. The dispute, which first emerged decades ago, has cast a shadow over bilateral relations and cross-border cooperation between the two Central American neighbors. With this latest declaration, both governments have signaled their willingness to set aside historical tensions and pursue a peaceful, rules-based resolution to their shared conflict.

  • Unfair Police Promotions? Compol Says “Stop Listen to Stupidity”

    Unfair Police Promotions? Compol Says “Stop Listen to Stupidity”

    A fresh controversy is unfolding within the Belize Police Department, as anonymous insider sources have raised serious allegations of widespread procedural violations in a recent round of senior officer promotions. According to details obtained by local media outlet News Five, multiple officers have been elevated to higher ranks through channels that bypass the institution’s long-standing formal recruitment and advancement rules.

    One of the most high-profile cases at the center of the scandal involves the son of a currently serving high-ranking police official. Sources confirm that this officer previously resigned from the force, only to be rehired shortly afterward, and was fast-tracked to the rank of corporal in the recent promotion cycle without completing the full required evaluation process.

    A second troubling case cited by insiders involves an officer promoted directly to the rank of sergeant, who sources say completed skipped the mandatory written examination and formal interview that are required for all advancement candidates. Compounding these allegations, this same officer was already advanced through the same promotion process in 2022, making them ineligible for a second accelerated advancement under existing department rules. The unnamed officer has also previously been linked to the high-profile Joseph Budna kidnapping investigation, though no formal criminal charges have ever been filed against them in connection to the case.

    When approached by reporters for direct comment on the claims that dozens of promotions were approved for candidates who never took the mandatory promotional exam, Belize’s Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado struck a dismissive tone. “Sometimes you have to stop listen to stupidity,” Rosado told reporters, pushing back against the allegations outright.

    Rosado went on to reaffirm that all police promotions in the department are strictly governed by the formal Police Act, outlining a multi-step, transparent process that requires candidate applications, thorough background vetting, shortlisting of eligible candidates, formal written examinations, and a final selection vote by an independent promotional board.

    Another controversial appointment that has drawn public outcry is the promotion of Wilbert Cob to the rank of sergeant. Cob gained infamy last year after surveillance footage surfaced showing him physically assaulting a woman in Benque Viejo, in an incident that sparked widespread public anger over police misconduct.

    When pressed specifically to address why Cob was approved for promotion despite his documented assault case, Commissioner Rosado defended the department’s decision, saying all formal protocols were followed. “In this case, as I was briefed, the victim asked us to respect her decision, that she would seek family counselling instead of pursuing prosecution. Hence, there was no legal impediment preventing Cob from being promoted,” Rosado explained.

    The promotion has renewed public scrutiny, however, as it directly contradicts Rosado’s previously stated public commitment to a policy of zero tolerance for domestic violence perpetrated by serving police officers.

  • Compol Says Four Murders Solved During SOE

    Compol Says Four Murders Solved During SOE

    Nearly three weeks after the expiration of a controversial state of emergency (SOE) in Belize District, the nation’s top law enforcement official is pushing back against widespread criticism of the security measure, highlighting key progress that the extra powers brought to long-stalled homicide investigations. The SOE, which concluded its run on June 8, 2026, has faced sharp public pushback after multiple fatal shootings, including a high-profile murder in a busy central location, occurred within the designated security zones the measure was supposed to protect.

    Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado defended the policy in a press briefing this week, pushing back on narratives that the SOE represented a failure of Belize’s policing strategy. He emphasized that public safety observers and critics have misunderstood the core mandate of the recently implemented emergency order.

    “One of the primary goals of this state of emergency was to give our investigative teams space to advance their work without obstruction from criminal networks or outside interference,” Rosado told reporters. “On that front, we delivered: we were able to close out at least four murder cases that would likely have remained open without the expanded authorities we received during this period.”

    The extra law enforcement powers granted under the SOE gave detectives critical leeway to pursue leads, interview persons of interest, and break through barriers that had frozen progress on cold and active homicide investigations for months, Rosado explained. Without these special provisions, many of these breakthroughs would not have been possible, he added.

    Dr. Rosado also addressed one of the most high-profile questions raised by critics: how a murder could take place on Albert Street, a heavily policed central commercial corridor, during peak Saturday afternoon traffic, when pedestrian and vehicle activity is at its highest. The incident has fueled speculation that criminal groups have grown emboldened and no longer fear intervention from Belizean law enforcement.

    In response, Rosado acknowledged that criminals will always exploit gaps in security when they believe an opportunity exists to act. He reaffirmed the police service’s core commitment to holding violent offenders accountable: “Regardless of when or where criminals choose to strike, our mandate remains unchanged: we will identify every perpetrator, address every act of violence, and bring those responsible to justice.”

    The debate over the effectiveness of emergency policing measures in Belize District continues, with residents and public safety advocates split on whether the temporary expansion of police powers delivers enough public good to justify the potential restrictions on civil liberties that come with SOE declarations.

  • Three Injured in Lords Bank Shooting; Police Investigate Attempted Murder

    Three Injured in Lords Bank Shooting; Police Investigate Attempted Murder

    A violent shooting incident in rural Belize has left three local men wounded, sparking an active attempted murder investigation by law enforcement authorities, according to official reports. The attack unfolded on Thursday evening in the quiet community of Lords Bank Village, located within the Ladyville area of Belize District.

    First responders received the emergency call shortly before 8 p.m. local time, directing officers to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City. Upon arrival at the main public medical facility, investigators encountered two of the wounded victims – 24-year-old Alfredo Flores and 19-year-old Giovanni Gillette – already undergoing emergency care for multiple gunshot wounds.

    Preliminary investigative details outline that the three targets had been gathered with a small group of other people socializing in an outdoor yard when the gunman approached the property from outside. Without warning, the attacker opened fire on the assembled crowd, striking all three men before fleeing the scene. As of the latest update, no suspects have been taken into custody, and police have not released a confirmed motive for the attack.

    Among the three victims, 42-year-old Edgar Flores – Alfredo Flores’ relative, per local naming conventions – also suffered non-life-threatening gunshot injuries in the attack. Unlike the other two wounded men, Edgar Flores declined formal medical treatment at the hospital and has not yet provided a formal statement to investigating officers. Police have appealed to any members of the public who were in the Lords Bank area the evening of June 25 with information about the shooting or the attacker’s identity to come forward anonymously to assist with the probe.

  • What Would a Permanent ‘Tehran’s Tollbooth’ on Oil Mean for the World?

    What Would a Permanent ‘Tehran’s Tollbooth’ on Oil Mean for the World?

    The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, could soon become a permanent fee-collecting corridor if Iran advances its proposed policy, a shift that experts warn would upend decades of global energy market stability and reshape international maritime norms. The proposal emerges against a fragile new diplomatic backdrop: following the recent signing of a tentative memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, behind-the-scenes diplomatic negotiations have intensified, and Iranian officials are already planning long-term changes to how shipping is managed through the strategic waterway.

    Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at Tehran’s Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, shared details of Iran’s long-term vision in an interview with Al Jazeera, noting that Tehran sees the current 60-day diplomatic cooling-off period as a stepping stone to permanently revise maritime rules governing the strait. “For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz after 60 days … will be subject to receiving fees for the services that are provided,” Aslani stated, confirming that the country intends to formalize the “Tehran’s Tollbooth” system that has been floated by hardline factions within the Iranian government.

    The stakes of this proposal are enormous: roughly 20% of the world’s total petroleum supplies pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz daily, bound for markets across Europe, Asia, and North America. Energy policy analysts argue that institutionalizing a permanent transit fee would amount to de facto maritime extortion, forcing Western powers and global energy consumers into an untenable position: either formally recognize the fee and send billions in revenue to an adversarial Iranian regime, or refuse and risk disruptions to global oil supplies that would fracture already fragile supply chains and send energy prices skyrocketing.

    Diplomatic efforts to mitigate the risk have already hit major roadblocks. In an attempt to bypass Iranian control of the strait, the U.S. has pressured Oman to develop a new southern alternative pipeline corridor that would carry oil from Gulf producers to global markets without passing through Hormuz. But according to Al Jazeera’s reporting, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s most powerful military and security body, has issued an outright rejection of any alternative route that would cut off Iran’s leverage over global energy shipping.

    The United States has issued a firm rejection of Iran’s proposal, with top administration officials doubling down on opposition at a recent gathering of Gulf allies. Speaking at a tense Gulf Cooperation Council summit hosted in Bahrain, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear that Washington has no intention of compromising on the issue. “There is no reconstruction fund or financial compromise on the table for Tehran,” Rubio stated, adding that the U.S. has seen “zero support” from regional Gulf states for what Western allies uniformly characterize as unacceptable maritime extortion. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has also publicly refuted Iran’s right to impose any transit toll on commercial shipping moving through the strait, framing the proposal as a direct threat to global energy security.

    As the 60-day diplomatic window ticks down, global energy markets and geopolitical actors are bracing for a potential showdown over one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes.

  • Over 100 Dead After Two Earthquakes Hit Venezuela Seconds Apart

    Over 100 Dead After Two Earthquakes Hit Venezuela Seconds Apart

    On the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2026, Venezuela suffered one of its worst seismic disasters in recent history, when two major earthquakes struck just seconds apart, leaving a staggering toll of death and destruction across the country’s northern region. As of the latest official updates, at least 164 people have been confirmed killed, and close to 1,000 more have sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe, life-threatening conditions. The two seismic events, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, hit within 60 seconds of one another at approximately 6:00 p.m. local time.

    Geologists note that both earthquakes originated at shallow depths of less than 30 kilometers below the Earth’s surface, a geological trait that significantly amplifies the shaking and damage experienced at ground level. Unlike deeper quakes, which often dissipate energy before it reaches the surface, shallow high-magnitude events almost always lead to widespread structural collapse and heavy casualties.

    Northern Venezuela’s La Guaira state has borne the brunt of the disaster, with local reports confirming dozens of building collapses across the region. One of the most devastating losses is a 10-story hotel that was completely leveled, leaving rescuers scrambling to locate any potential survivors trapped in the rubble. The impact also extended to the national capital Caracas, where emergency response teams have been working around the clock to clear debris and extract survivors from collapsed structures. Multiple unconfirmed social media reports state that rescue teams have heard cries for help coming from beneath broken concrete and steel.

    User-posted video footage circulating across digital platforms captures the chaotic moment the tremors struck, showing homes and high-rise buildings shaking violently, with glass shattering and furniture tumbling across rooms. The scale of the disaster has prompted alarm from international geological bodies: the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a warning that the final death toll could eventually exceed 10,000 as search and rescue teams reach more isolated, heavily damaged areas.

    In response to the catastrophe, Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has moved quickly to authorize a $200 million emergency reconstruction fund, which will be allocated to rebuilding destroyed housing, repairing critical damaged infrastructure, and supporting ongoing rescue and relief operations across the impacted region. International humanitarian organizations have already begun mobilizing resources to support local response efforts, as rescue crews continue the search for survivors amid the wreckage.

  • Asking Miller to Step Aside for Pollard?

    Asking Miller to Step Aside for Pollard?

    Internal jockeying for the People’s United Party’s (PUP) mayoral nomination in Belize City has entered a new, covert phase, multiple insider sources confirm to News 5. After weeks of open party rhetoric touting a transparent, competitive convention to select the PUP’s candidate for the upcoming municipal election, well-placed sources say actors aligned with prospective candidate Allan Pollard Jr. are lobbying top party leadership — including Prime Minister John Briceño himself — to convince sitting Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller to withdraw his candidacy.

    Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde is reported to have already brought the request for Miller’s exit to the Prime Minister’s desk, according to the sources. Crucially, insiders clarify that Miller has not received a formal, binding order to step down; instead, senior allies of Pollard have only issued informal appeals for Miller to reconsider his campaign and clear a path for Pollard’s nomination.

    But Miller has shown zero willingness to exit the race. Multiple contacts close to the deputy mayor confirm he remains fully committed to seeing his candidacy through to the scheduled convention, where registered PUP delegates will cast votes to select the party’s nominee.

    The behind-the-scenes maneuvering has already sparked public pushback from a sitting PUP Belize City councillor. Kaya Cattouse recently took to Facebook to publicly endorse Miller and condemn the last-minute efforts to upend the party’s initial commitment to an open contest.

    “A week ago, we were told that everyone had the right to run and that democracy should take its course. Today, because the numbers are not lining up the same way, there are now attempts to force a different outcome,” Cattouse wrote in her social media post. She doubled down on calls for the full convention process to proceed unimpeded, arguing that ordinary party delegates deserve the final say over who will lead the PUP into the next municipal election cycle.

    As of Wednesday, neither Miller nor Pollard has issued any public statement addressing the latest developments in the nomination fight. The unfolding intra-party drama comes as the PUP prepares for upcoming municipal elections across Belize, with the Belize City mayoral post widely viewed as one of the most high-profile contests on the ballot.

  • The MP Farms Story: A Trail of Payments and Questions

    The MP Farms Story: A Trail of Payments and Questions

    An ongoing investigative probe by local outlet News Five has uncovered a series of troubling financial irregularities in government payments made to MP Farms, a private company tied to the sibling of Oscar Mira, Belmopan’s sitting Area Representative. The investigation, which traced hundreds of processed invoices dating back to late 2024, reveals a shifting pattern of disbursements that has sparked urgent questions about oversight and potential mismanagement of public funds.

  • Top Finance Officer Suspended Amid Payment Probe

    Top Finance Officer Suspended Amid Payment Probe

    In a developing controversy centered on irregular government payments, a top finance official who authorized multiple high-profile questionable transactions has been removed from active duty pending a formal probe. Local outlet News Five has verified that Salvador Alas, the financial officer who oversaw payment approvals at Belize’s Ministry of Defense and National Security before a recent departmental transfer, has been placed on paid administrative leave while investigators examine the case.

    Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the probe confirmed the development, noting that Alas was recently reassigned from the defense ministry to the Ministry of Sustainable Development prior to the launch of the formal investigation. The transfer, which was initially framed as a routine personnel change, has now drawn additional scrutiny as auditors begin tracing the full paper trail of the transactions in question.

    At this stage of the inquiry, investigators have not publicly confirmed whether the approvals granted by Alas constitute intentional misconduct, administrative error, or another unreported issue. The focus of the probe remains on documenting the full scope of the questionable payments and clarifying the role Alas played in authorizing each transaction. Government officials have not yet released an official statement on the timeline for concluding the audit or announcing any potential disciplinary action if wrongdoing is uncovered.

  • Shyne Lashes Out at UDP Hypocrisy, Including His Father and Brother

    Shyne Lashes Out at UDP Hypocrisy, Including His Father and Brother

    In a startling rebuke of his own party dated June 24, 2026, former United Democratic Party (UDP) opposition leader Shyne Barrow has launched a scathing attack on senior party leadership, calling out widespread hypocrisy over recent corruption allegations leveled against party figure Oscar Mira. Barrow argues that the claims facing Mira mirror long-unaddressed controversies tied to top UDP officials — including members of his own immediate family.

    Barrow’s criticism centers directly on current UDP leader Tracy Panton, whom he accuses of turning a blind eye to systemic corruption within the party’s own ranks while targeting others for similar misconduct. At the heart of his argument is the high-profile Boledo lottery contract, a decades-old controversial deal that Barrow calls the most “flagrant and deviant” example of the party’s corruption. He alleges that the deal, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was awarded to shell corporations and trusts where the then-prime minister’s son held hidden shares — a relationship that party insiders deliberately concealed from public view.

    That son, Barrow confirms, is his own brother. Barrow stresses that he was never involved in the transaction and did not benefit from it, a fact that he says gives him the standing to call out the misconduct openly. He further pushes back on Panton’s criticism of another party member, Khalid, drawing parallels between Khalid’s ties to controversial figure Lev Derman and corruption allegations against John Saldivar. Barrow confirms he has photographic evidence showing Khalid traveling with both Saldivar and Derman, the same connections that have led to corruption claims against Saldivar. Adding another layer of scrutiny, the Belmopan City Council is currently conducting an audit into Khalid over claims millions of dollars in public funds went missing during his tenure.

    Barrow also extended his criticism to another senior UDP figure, Patrick Faber, arguing that Panton’s ongoing public support for Faber and other tainted party members automatically disqualifies her from positioning the UDP as a trustworthy alternative government. Until the party confronts the corruption allegations within its own ranks, Barrow says, it cannot credibly claim to offer Belizean voters a clean alternative to the current administration.

    This report is adapted from a verbatim transcript of an evening television newscast.