标签： Belize

BELMOPAN, BELIZE – In a formal ceremony recognizing exceptional career commitment, twenty-one members of Belize’s National Fire Service were decorated with Long Service Awards on Friday, February 16, 2026. The event, orchestrated by the Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, celebrated personnel who have devoted between ten and a quarter-century to public safety.

The honors were distributed across various ranks and specializations, underscoring the diverse roles essential to the fire service’s operations. Seven individuals were commended for a decade of service. The cohort celebrating 15 years included three officers, among them two radio-telephone operators and a finance officer. Four leading firefighters were acknowledged for their 20-year tenure. The most prestigious honors were bestowed upon seven senior officers who have served for 25 years; this distinguished group comprised station officers, a substation officer, a radio-telephone operator, and an assistant fire chief.

Presiding over the ceremony, Minister Henry Charles Usher delivered a poignant address, lauding the awardees for their unwavering discipline and profound personal sacrifice. He emphasized the inherent perils of the profession, noting that firefighters and support staff consistently jeopardize their own safety to safeguard citizens and property, a testament to their profound dedication to national service.

In a significant development for Guyana’s media landscape, Stabroek News—one of the nation’s most influential daily newspapers—will permanently cease print publication on March 15, 2026. The announcement was formally made to staff members on Friday by Brendan de Caires, Chairman of Guyana Publications Inc., citing unsustainable financial pressures including declining circulation numbers and diminishing revenue streams.

The publication, originally established in 1986 by attorney David de Caires and his spouse Doreen de Caires, transitioned to daily distribution in 1994. For nearly four decades, it has maintained a reputation for independent journalism and civil discourse within Guyanese society. The publishing company is now preparing to initiate voluntary liquidation procedures in the upcoming weeks.

In a poignant farewell article titled ‘The End of an Era,’ Brendan de Caires and his sister Isabelle de Caires reflected on the publication’s legacy: ‘We exit as we entered—unbowed, with heads held high, and beholden to none. The full measure of this newspaper’s contribution to Guyana’s democratic processes and its facilitation of respectful national dialogue will now be for others to assess. Stabroek News has cultivated generations of readers, writers, intellectuals, and commentators. The time has come to pass the baton.’

The closure marks the conclusion of a notable chapter in Caribbean journalism, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing traditional print media in the digital era.

In a significant development within the Belize law enforcement community, Corporal Kenrick Bol has been officially suspended from active duty following a contentious dispute over his religious expression. The suspension, enacted on February 13, 2026, was formally communicated through the Police Department’s Standards and Accountability Branch.

The disciplinary action was implemented under Section 8(1) of the Police Act, citing multiple alleged misconduct violations that authorities claim jeopardize departmental integrity and operational efficiency. While specific details remain undisclosed, the suspension letter confirms that several allegations are already undergoing separate disciplinary proceedings.

Despite his suspension, Corporal Bol will continue receiving full salary benefits during the investigation period. His police powers have been temporarily suspended, though he remains obligated to participate in departmental inquiries when summoned.

The controversy centers on Corporal Bol’s adherence to Rastafarian religious practices, particularly his refusal to comply with departmental grooming policies requiring the cutting of his dreadlocks. This religious accommodation dispute has drawn attention to the intersection of institutional regulations and individual religious freedoms within the police force.

Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado recently addressed the matter, emphasizing the department’s commitment to policy compliance while revealing that the case has been referred to the Attorney General’s Ministry for legal guidance. “We take policy implementation seriously,” Commissioner Rosado stated, indicating the complexity of balancing religious expression with uniform standards.

The ongoing situation highlights broader conversations about cultural sensitivity, religious accommodation, and institutional conformity within Caribbean law enforcement agencies.

Belizean authorities have intensified their investigation into a January homicide case with the arrest and formal charging of two additional suspects. Izaiah Nigel Beeks and Camryn Lozano now face murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Elroy Edward Bainton, bringing the total number of accused individuals to three.

The developments come approximately three weeks after the initial incident, which occurred on the evening of January 25, 2026, in the Ladyville area of Belize District. According to police reports, the violent attack took place outside the Jew Apartment Complex on Yellow Tail Street, where Bainton sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Emergency services transported the victim to a medical facility, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Law enforcement officials have indicated that this killing represents one of two interconnected fatal shootings that evening, with both incidents allegedly stemming from an internal dispute within drug trafficking circles.

The investigation previously led to the arrest of twenty-one-year-old Caryl Paul Rodas, a construction worker from Burrell Boom, who had been the sole suspect charged until this recent development. The expansion of the case suggests ongoing investigative efforts by Belizean police to identify all parties involved in the organized violence.

Authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects remain at large or if further charges are anticipated as the investigation continues to unfold. The case highlights ongoing challenges with drug-related violence in the region and law enforcement’s response to organized criminal activities.

The Belizean capital of Belmopan was struck by tragedy on Friday evening as two young men fell victim to a fatal shooting incident. Calvert Webster, 20, from Mahogany Heights, and Zamar Alvarez, 21, a resident of Belmopan City, were fatally shot while walking with companions at approximately 7:45 PM.

Official reports from the Belize Police Department indicate that an unidentified assailant discharged a firearm in the direction of the group, striking both victims multiple times and inflicting critical injuries. Emergency services transported the wounded men to a nearby medical facility, where attending physicians subsequently pronounced them deceased.

The community response has been characterized by profound grief and disbelief. Social media platforms have become virtual memorials where friends and acquaintances express their shock and sorrow. One tribute described Webster as “a very humble, very mannerly young man,” while another mourner expressed being moved to tears by the tragedy, emphasizing that neither victim deserved their fate.

Law enforcement authorities have not yet disclosed any potential motive for the violent attack. The Belize Police Department has announced plans to provide additional information to media representatives during a scheduled briefing on Monday as their investigation continues to develop.

After a protracted seven-year judicial process, Belize’s High Court has finally rendered judgment in the brutal 2018 murder of eighteen-year-old Bobby Garcia. Pablo Catzim, who was fifteen at the time of the offense, received a fourteen-year sentence for the killing that occurred at the Cahal Pech archaeological site. The court acknowledged Catzim’s juvenile status at the time of the crime, ordering a parole eligibility review after three years of incarceration.

The case involved particularly disturbing circumstances, with evidence indicating Garcia was lured to the location before being subjected to multiple stab wounds to the chest and severe lacerations to his face and throat. The assailants documented the murder through photographs during its commission.

Justice Cumberbatch presided over the sentencing, weighing both the brutality of the crime and the defendant’s demonstrated rehabilitation efforts during his seven years in remand. Catzim completed secondary education with distinction and participated in over a dozen rehabilitation programs while incarcerated.

The court considered mitigating factors including Catzim’s traumatic upbringing marked by domestic violence, the loss of his biological father, subsequent abuse by his stepfather, early cannabis use from age eleven, and documented struggles with suicidal ideation.

Only one of the two originally charged teenagers faced conviction, as the alleged accomplice was acquitted after cooperating as a crown witness.

Bobby Garcia’s family expressed profound disappointment with the sentence. Oscar Garcia Sr., the victim’s father, emphasized the irreversible nature of their loss, contrasting their permanent tragedy with the perpetrator’s opportunity for eventual reintegration into society.

Defense attorney Bryan Neal characterized the judgment as balancing accountability with redemption, noting Catzim’s contrition and apology to the Garcia family and society. Legal provisions for juvenile offenders mandated the court’s structured approach to sentencing and potential rehabilitation.

The case has sparked broader societal conversations about youth violence, parental responsibility, and juvenile justice reform in Belize, with both the judicial decision and family statements serving as a poignant reminder of the human impact of violent crime.

A multi-generational ranching family in El Pilar, Cayo District, is confronting an agricultural crisis as their cattle herd suffers mysterious fatalities that have claimed sixteen animals since January 2026. Despite comprehensive vaccination protocols and professional intervention, the unexplained deaths continue to devastate the family’s livelihood.

Adrian Balan, representing the family-operated ranch, reported discovering three additional deceased animals during a routine vaccination visit on February 13th. The ranchers have implemented all standard preventive measures, including vaccinations against blackleg, rabies, and tick fever—diseases common to Belize’s cattle industry. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has conducted extensive testing, including water quality analysis and blood work, yet all results have returned negative for known pathogens.

“We vaccine every year back-to-back and we are still losing,” Balan stated in an emotional account. “The animals appear completely healthy before suddenly dying. Even with Ministry of Agriculture assistance, we cannot identify the cause.”

The family’s frustration is compounded by the financial impact of each loss, with no clear solution in sight. Agricultural officials have ruled out blackleg based on post-mortem examinations but remain uncertain about the actual cause. While tick fever was initially suspected, multiple vaccinations against this disease have failed to stop the fatalities.

This ongoing situation highlights vulnerabilities in local agricultural systems and the critical need for advanced veterinary diagnostics in rural farming communities. The Balan family continues to seek answers as they watch their traditional livelihood diminish with each unexplained death.