Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
transcript of our evening television news script. Many interviews on our newscast
are conducted in Creole. In the interest of clarity for our foreign readers,
we attempt to paraphrase the Creole quotes in English
Tonight, the PUP faithful in the city are either rejoicing or recovering from a Sunday municipal convention that had the electricity and effect of a real election.
After 12 hours under a blazing sun, an endless stream of blue banners and shirts, spirited party jostling, and a nail-biter in the counting room, 787 PUP delegates selected their new municipal slate.
Nominated to succeed Bernard Wagner as the mayoral candidate is his son-in-law, Eluide Miller, who received 427 votes, besting three-term councilor Allan Pollard, who received 341 votes.
But while on the surface this was just a municipal convention, a lot more was at play. Our news team was on the ground from the time the polls opened until the results were announced. Courtney Menzies has this story.
This was the moment of triumph for Eluide Miller-being hoisted upon the shoulders of his supporters after he secured his place as PUP's mayoral candidate for the 2027 municipal elections. But before the celebrations and the fireworks, the day began 12 hours earlier when the polls opened to the 787 delegates.
Both candidates spoke about their excitement but were tight-lipped about who was behind their machinery.
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Belize City "Very excited, the energy is high, I'm a bit tired but because of the adrenaline it keeps me going, so very excited to be meeting the delegates here. It's been a rough 3 to 4 weeks of campaigning but I'm really thankful to all the delegates who have welcomed me in their homes, in their classrooms, at their workplaces, in the barbershop, in the community store; just very excited and really happy about the turnout here today."
"My approach was a bit different. I wanted, especially as one of the mayoral candidates, to look the delegates in the face and respectfully ask them for their support and that was the approach the entire campaign."
Courtney Menzies: "Do you believe you have the support of most of the Belize City area reps?"
Eluide Miller: "I have always prided myself on being a collaborator. I want to work with everybody, I don't take absolutely anything in politics personal and so I will continue. I have always tried my best to collaborate with every area rep or caretaker across the city and that is my mantra and I will continue to do that regardless of the result here today."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant, Belize City "I'm feeling good, energized, excited, surrounded by blue so that's a good feeling. The sky is blue and the shirts are blue so I'm good."
Reporter: "Were you able to get to every single delegate during your campaign?"
Allan Pollard: "One or two slipped me but I caught them today so we're good."
Reporter: "Were there attempts to block you from any constituency?"
Allan Pollard: "No, I been to every constituency, able to walk in all. In terms of getting a formal meeting with all, I would be lying if I said I did. At the same time, we still made other efforts to reach the delegates so that doesn't matter at this point."
Courtney Menzies: "How many area reps do you believe you have the support of? Belize City area reps."
Allan Pollard: "Well I have 700 delegates that I believe I'm getting the support from today."
However, they both agreed that unity was above all else.
Courtney Menzies: "What's the relationship like between you and your opponent?"
Eluide Miller: "Absolutely good. The first thing I did this morning was to hug him when I saw him and then before we walked in to sign our pledges, I rallied everybody together and asked even Allan for us to join for a group photo. I told us I want to end today united so we have to start the day united."
Allan Pollard: "This isn't about team or slate, this is with all PUP. I love my colleagues, I love the new ones and we're pushing unity today, we're not pushing any divisive nothing."
And maybe that wasn't being pushed on the forefront, but behind the scenes, there were powerful political moves at play. Inside the gates of ITVET, Cordel Hyde stood like a sentinel near the entrance, strapped with his backpack and electrolytes, personally greeting every delegate that walked in.
Anthony Mahler could also be seen a few yards away, doing some last-minute campaigning as well. With two of Belize City's strongest area reps going head-to-head, we asked the chairman what that meant for the party.
Courtney Menzies: "Do you feel like this will cause long-term divisions within the party?"
Henry Charles Usher, PUP Chairman, Fort George Area Rep "No, there won't be long-term divisions. Here in the city we always come together, we have a very good leadership structure here in Belize City with the 10 conventions, and 2 if you include the two rural areas on the Eastern Caucus. We're very united and we work together. Yes, you have passions very high right now but we will come together, I'm not worried."
But despite having to play the impartial chairman, Usher is also an area rep and though reports say he and his Caribbean Shores colleague were supporting Pollard, both of them refused to confirm those reports.
Courtney Menzies: "Are you supporting Allan Pollard as rumored?"
Henry Charles Usher: "I am supporting the candidates of my choice for the PUP."
Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean Shores "What we are witnessing out here today is a demonstration of what a real and true democracy looks like. For me to tell you where those 81 votes are going would mean that I would have told my delegates or impressed on them that they have to vote for a particular candidate, and in Caribbean Shores historically we pride ourselves on being free and independent thinkers. And so what we made sure of was to have all candidates present themselves to the Caribbean Shores delegates and from there they make their reasoned decision, and I trust in their decision because they have delivered me successfully over the last three elections."
Kareem Musa: "This is one time I can tell you that it does not matter if it is Allan Pollard or Eluide Miller that makes it out victorious today, Caribbean Shores will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. The work begins tomorrow and come March of 2027 we will deliver a big victory for the PUP."
And while Musa conceded that there was some internal disagreement, he claimed it wasn't so deep as to affect the future direction of the party.
Kareem Musa: "Yeah, this is a fight within our family today, within the very same party and so come tomorrow in my opinion, it doesn't matter who wins, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde will rally behind them, Deputy Leader for the East Anthony Mahler will rally behind them and so we will come together at the end of this. This is an internal convention so yes, while there are tensions today, we have always managed to come together after a contested convention."
Reporter: "The stakes are high and it appears Minister Mahler is flexing to secure additional power in Belize City. Do you vote against him because you too have aspirations to become leader at some point?"
Kareem Musa: "You read minds now, this is not that deep. This is not Anthony Mahler versus Cordel Hyde, those two men can win different conventions on their own merits. Today is between Allan Pollard and Eluide Miller for mayoral seat."
And Pollard spoke about enjoying the support of the constituency with the greatest number of delegates:
Allan Pollard: "It's the General, is that. His support has been amazing not only in terms of machinery but mentorship and advice, that's something that's invaluable and I'm grateful for that. I think we're in a good position, we just have to ensure that we follow through."
Allan Pollard: "Lake I is love and the numbers prove that every time so I'm grateful for their support and it does bring a level of confidence and we just have to make sure we perform in other constituencies as well."
But Miller had the support of the incumbent mayor-his father-in-law-despite Bernard Wagner serving three terms next to Pollard.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City "Both candidates put in the work but at the end of the day the better candidate will prevail and that better candidate in my view is Eluide Miller."
Reporter: "The argument still persists that you essentially paved the way for Mr. Eluide with your endorsement and there's some sort of entitlement."
Bernard Wagner: "There's no entitlement. Both of these young men worked along with me, both of them worked well but at the end of the day Eluide came through the system. He worked his way up through the administrative part of the council, he took the time to understand the workings of the council, he took his time to understand the executive part of the council and at the end of the day, he in my view is the better candidate."
Courtney Menzies: "One could also say Allan worked his way through, he served three terms."
Bernard Wagner: "He did but everybody has their choice, I have my choice, the rest of the people will have their choice as well."
Reporter: "Were you the one who pushed for this convention in the face of them telling Allan to wait his turn?"
Bernard Wagner: "That wait-your-turn narrative, I will speak on that wait-your-turn at another time in my book that I will write when I retire. There is no waiting of turn, but I will leave that for my book."
And indeed, though Pollard held back in previous elections, it did not bode well for him in the end. His disappointment was clear and though he's not sure what's next for him, he said he would be working to support the PUP in the upcoming elections.
Allan Pollard: "It was a good fight, we know it was going to be an uphill battle from the beginning, from the minute we came out and saw the crowds and just hearing the campaign trail and the amount that was stacked against us I mean we went into this thing with the least amount of area reps, at the end of the day, you know it's tough."
Reporter: "What's next for you if you're not going to be on the slate?"
Allan Pollard: "Finish out the term at the council of course, I have a commitment to those people and continue to work for the people, the many supporters that came out today, had a lot of supporters out here today, not only delegates but people who actually came out and gave me that support, I love and appreciate that."
"We'll do what we have to do to ensure the party is successful, that's the bottom line."
Courtney Menzies: "You'll be campaigning for him?"
Allan Pollard: "That's the bottom line."
And while Pollard's supporters went home crestfallen, fireworks lit up the night sky for Miller's win. To the victor go the spoils... and for what it's worth he stressed that there is no bad blood between him and his opponent.
Eluide Miller: "It has been a very hectic, tiring campaign over the past three to four weeks but each and every day I remind myself of my favorite Bible verse, Philippians chapter 3 verse 14, I can do all things and so I have to remind myself of that each and every day to work harder than the day before."
"I am extremely happy about the turnout, extremely happy about the result, and extremely excited about the run leading up to March of next year."
"I especially want to take time to thank all those advisors, all those who gave me advice and held my hand throughout this process. I want to especially thank again Honorable Francis Fonseca, Honorable Anthony Mahler for really standing side by side with me throughout this entire process."
"I have maintained throughout my campaign that politics should never be personal, there is absolutely no contention between Councillor Pollard and I, I have expressed this to him numerous times in the past, there remains no contention between us and I look forward to working side by side with him so we can finish out this term strongly and that we ensure success come March of 2027."
Returning councilors include Kaya Cattouse, Sherwin Garcia, Edmund Kwan, Dorian Usher, and Stephanne Hamilton. The new names you'll be seeing on the ballot are Kristian "El Toxico" Alpuche-the newcomer who topped the polls-along with Brendan Bouloy, Kirkland Smith, Simon Noralez, and Darwin Leslie.
And while both candidates spoke of unity, Pollard issued a post-convention statement on Facebook, partly directed to his party. After thanking those who supported him, Pollard revealed, quote: "During this campaign, I was defamed, degraded and attacked in ways that only God knows how I managed to endure. But I held it together." End quote.
He then noted that he was supported by what he called "regular Belizeans," and not, as he put it, big businessmen or powerful political figures. He also added that he was supported by only three of 10 area reps who he says went against the status quo.
Pollard then said, quote, "I believe I have contributed greatly to the success of this Party over the years. But I also knew that some of the decisions I made recently would come with repercussions. The good thing is that I can sit here today and live with myself, knowing that when the difficult decisions came, I did what I believed was best for the people of this country." End quote.
He then thanks the PUP for allowing him to serve the people, but adds an ominous, "To the party, I say: message received."
Whether that means Pollard will step down from politics or instead look for new footing is left to be seen.
And while the politics and the polling result were the real news of the day, the political scenery and the scale of the event could not be ignored.
For Jaleeza Roberts, it was like a political pageant. Here's her story:
The signs, the crowd, the tents, the noise, the drummers, the t-shirts, these are all the elements that coalesced at the ITVET to make the PUP Municipal convention seem like a full-on general election:
But the aspiring mayoral candidates played coy, not acknowledging the money machine behind this tremendous political machinery:
Reporter "How much money are you spending out here?"
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Candidate "I couldn't give you that number Paul, I honestly wouldn't know. I see t-shirts out here and I don't even know where they come from."
Reporter "How much money did you spend per delegate?"
Eluide Miller: "I didn't spend any money per delegate."
Allan Pollard, PUP Mayoral Aspirant "No money stone over here so I don't know but I can't speak for the other side, I can only speak for my people out here, only love and support."
But Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa admitted that a political event of this magnitude and scale of pageantry costs a pretty penny:
Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Area Rep "It frightens me as much as it frightens you Marisol, coming out here today it certainly is overwhelming, you look at all the t-shirts and all the tents and everything, clearly a nice penny has been spent out here today; I guess it is concerning but that has historically been the case until we get to campaign finance legislation."
Reporter "I estimate that each candidate would have had to invest at least half a million dollars just based on conversations I've had."
Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Area Rep "I wouldn't say so much but the t-shirts and the tents and the mobilization yeah it's a good amount but I wouldn't go as high as that."
Reporter "I mean you have to look at what's invested to prior to as well."
Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Area Rep "Indeed indeed, it's hard for me to estimate but clearly out here is very robust and energized."
And that energy continued all day into night-with the Miller camp intensifying their display as the victorious outcome became apparent for their candidate.
It was a day of political muscle, a giant flex for a ruling party at the height of its powers-if not popularity.
And where does the mysterious money that fuels the machinery come from? Average Belizeans may be in a cash crunch-but looking at the money flowing out at the ITVET yesterday, you might think we were living in Dubai.
Both Pollard and Miller said all that campaign cash didn't come from their pockets. Of course, we know that well-resourced area reps and financiers pump money into their campaigns, regardless of where that money might have come from. But, the true source of campaign funding remains mysterious due to an absence of campaign finance legislation.
It is one of the 11 demands on the NTUCB's list in a recent letter to Government, and yesterday the Minister of Governance, after lamenting the hundreds of thousands spent on the convention, promised he would try to have that legislation by the end of the year.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Governance "You look at all the t-shirts and tents and everything, clearly a nice penny has been spent here today and so I guess it is concerning, but that has historically been the case until we get to campaign finance legislation which I am hopeful, and I have convinced as the Minister of Governance, this time around we will have that."
"I have met with the NTUCB, I have met with the social partners on that and I have given my undertaking at least from my end that we will have a draft legislation by the end of this year."
And prior to the convention, we questioned the delegate calculations for both Fort George and Pickstock since neither constituency received any votes in the 2025 general elections; they won by default. The number of delegates assigned to a constituency is determined by the number of votes received in the last election.
Fort George had 67 delegates, but how did they get to that number? Henry Charles Usher rejected our criticisms saying they made a projection of the number of votes they would have gotten if there had been an election:
Henry Charles Usher, Area Rep., Fort George "Tell Jules he has the calculations wrong on Monday because he was saying there were 70 delegates. Fort George has 67 delegates and it was determined by a formula where you had the projected margin of victory and the turnout. I think we were shortchanged to be honest with you because in Fort George we always have a bigger turnout than the average, but I think it was done in a fair manner. It was done in the same way for Pickstock. Pickstock has a 127 delegates and it was again determined by the turnout and margin of victory."
The wild, wild west-that's what it's been like in parts of the Cayo District recently where criminal gangs have been engaged in a deadly turf war.
It erupted into three broad daylight street murders between Saturday and Monday.
Jomarie Lanza has this report.
There's been a string of murders in the West in the past 3 days.
The first murder happened on George Price Boulevard in Santa Elena at noon on Saturday-where one man died on the spot, while his friend succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Police were quick to make detentions:
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have detained two male persons and impounded a vehicle of interest as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of 35-year-old Rasheed Hyde of Georgeville Village, Cayo District and 36-year-old Gil Pineda of Dangriga. The investigation commenced at around 12:10 p.m. on Saturday, 29th August 2026 when Santa Elena police were alerted of a shooting on George Price Avenue in that municipality. What has been gathered so far in the course of this ongoing investigation is that both Hyde and Pineda were in front of a residence when they were fired upon by individuals onboard a Nissan Rogue. Both Hyde and Pineda were struck and subsequently ferried to the hospital for medical attention; however, Hyde succumbed shortly thereafter whilst Pineda passed away on Sunday, 30th of August while undergoing treatment."
"There are two motives that are being pursued and as it becomes necessary to be disclosed, they will be disclosed."
And one of those motives is leaning towards a turf war for the sale of drugs:
ASP Stacy Smith: "What I will say, I already disclosed that we have 2 motives we are following up on. What I will say is that the Department has taken note, as on previous occasions, of the incidents in that area and our operations have been increased over the past. What I can say is that our statistics show that a total of 49 firearms have been removed from the Cayo District and a total of 19 persons have been arrested for firearm-related offenses. The Commander of the Western Region is a very active commander and she has stated that increased operations will continue to happen. But to answer your question, no connection has been established, but we cannot turn a blind eye to the number of incidents that have been happening in that municipality and on the last occasion I indicated that the motive has been established as turf wars for the sale of drugs."
The third murder-possibly related-happened before midday on the George Price Highway today. The victim, Kareem Garcia, was employed by the contractor doing road works near the Kings Children's Home in Cotton Tree.
Police speculate that these murders may have some kind of connection in terms of the tensions between the communities out in the West.
ASP Stacy Smith: "Police are investigating the murder of 23-year-old Kareem Garcia of Unitedville Village which occurred at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 31st August 2026. What has been learned so far in the course of this investigation is that Garcia was along with coworkers in Cotton Tree Village when he was approached by 2 male persons onboard a motorcycle and one of those male persons produced a firearm and fired several shots at Mr. Garcia, fatally injuring him."
"We have not established a motive so far, but what I will say though is that Mr. Garcia is known to police; he has a matter before the court."
And police know that the trafficking and sale of drugs in the West is driving this spate of violent crime.
ASP Smith spoke about the alarming emergence of hard drugs as a gateway drug for many:
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "The Department has always been cognizant of the issues that are attendant when it comes to the sale of drugs and that is why, as minuscule as it may seem to some, that when persons are arrested for drug trafficking that matter is made public and I make it my business to have those persons who are alleged to be engaged in such activities be known to the public because as stated we know that it is the sale of drugs that fuels these rivalries. Not only does it cause the loss of life of persons in terms of the violence, but the degradation of the family structure, the fact that persons in the neighborhood are not at peace when their properties are being hunted for persons who want to have a quick fix. I must also say, given that I review a number of the sitreps, I have noted, and quite concerningly, that I am seeing more and more persons, young persons who were not traditionally known to be persons who engage in hard drugs, i.e., crack cocaine or cocaine, are now being arrested on a daily basis. There is not a day that a sitrep is not produced whereby someone is arrested for crack cocaine or cocaine, and gender does not matter, age does not matter, social status does not matter, so there is an issue. I don't know if those students in the country or those persons who are keen to know what may have triggered this change, but the Belize Police Department remains available to provide the statistics to see what occurred over the past few years, at least from my anecdotal view, that has resulted in this transition from marijuana being one of the mainstream drugs to cocaine and crack being used, whether recreationally or part of a habit, so it is a concern. And in terms of the operational efforts in Western Belize, they are afoot and we are adjusting. We are cognizant that this most recent incident pertains to someone of interest and we are tailoring our operational efforts in that regard."
And ASP Smith says it's not as easy to raid the hotspots and drug houses as the public may believe.
And as proof that police have been doing their best, she shared some of the statistics on recent seizures in the Cayo District:
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "I don't think there is a drug base in whatever part or whatever corner of this country that is not the subject of continuous police operations."
"When there are known areas, that is a part of the routine operations that police officers conduct."
"But what also happens is that given that they know if the drugs are found within their premises that they will be charged, we have drugs that are found in neighboring properties, and knowledge is an integral part of proving, um, possession for a conviction, so that is an issue."
"I know many a times when we come with one property, um, the suggestion of those nefarious intentioned person is that, "Oh, it's been planted." But no, it is, um, truly what those, um, drug dealers are doing because the pressure is coming on."
"So, um, as it relates to the assertion that much is not been done by the police in relation to targeting drug base, what I can say is that our data shows that over thirty-five thousand grams of cannabis, two thousand four hundred and sixty-eight grams of cocaine, one thousand two hundred and fifty-three grams of crack cocaine, as well as a thousand and forty-three grams of methamphetamine have been removed from the streets within the Coyote District."
"And that has resulted in a number of persons being charged, namely seventy-six for cannabis, forty-eight for cocaine, and fifty-two for crack cocaine for the Coyote District."
"So much is done certainly. Um, there continues to be a need for more to be done and more innovative ways, and that is why we have been investing in technology in that regard."
"So, um, I don't think it's a fair comment that police officers are not targeting drug base. However, we are guided by the law, and we cannot just go and shut down people whose that is their place of residence."
"Certainly, we want to interdict criminal activities that happen there, and we have been doing so."
And while police are trying to control crime out West, there was a shooting in the city on Friday, and the victim is in critical condition tonight-while the shooter is a licensed firearm holder. ASP Smith explained what happened.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have detained a male person and seized a licensed firearm as part of an ongoing investigation into a shooting incident which resulted in the injury of 29-year-old Fredrick Sutherland of Belize City. The investigation commenced just before 8:00 p.m. on the 28th of August when officers on patrol were alerted to the sounds of shots being fired in the vicinity of Banak Street and Amandala Drive. What we have established so far in the course of the ongoing investigation is that Sutherland and another person were on board the motorcycle when they were fired upon by a male person. Mr. Sutherland is currently hospitalized and undergoing treatment where he is listed in a critical condition."
The shooter is said to have used his weapon in self-defense. ASP Smith says they are still working to ascertain whether he was within his right to draw his weapon.
ASP Stacy Smith: "We have not taken an official position on that as I stated it is an ongoing investigation; however, the male person who was in custody averred that he felt that he was under threat and that is why he took the course of action that he did, however we are pursuing statement from other persons who we believe can provide clarity in that regard."
A Mexican national passed away late last week following a suicide attempt one week earlier at the Belize Central Prison.
Jorge Rodriguez had been on remand for an immigration offense since December of 2025.
ASP Smith explained what had happened at the prison resulting in his loss of life.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police are investigating the death of 50-year-old Mexican national Jorge Rodriguez who died whilst undergoing treatment at the KHMH where he was hospitalized since the 22nd of August 2026. What the investigators have established is that at around 11:25 p.m. on the 22nd of August, the guards at the Belize Central Prison were alerted by inmates who shared a cell with Mr. Rodriguez that Mr. Rodriguez was unconscious and suspended from the cell gate. Mr. Rodriguez was taken down and the EMT at the Belize Central Prison performed CPR where they were able to successfully restore his breathing; however, he still remained in a largely unconscious state. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted on Mr. Rodriguez tomorrow."
We have been trying to get comment from the Ministry of Immigration because reports were that Rodriguez had become despondent when no moves were made to try and repatriate him to his home country.
And going back to San Ignacio, following an operation in the Boiton Area of that town, police have made a double arrest for controlled drugs and possession of firearms. ASP Smith told us what they uncovered.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have formally arrested and jointly charged 30-year-old Darwin Dawson and 30-year-old Carlton McKoy, both of the Cayo District, for the offense of kept a firearm without a gun license, kept ammunition without a gun license, possession of firearms with serial number tampered as well as possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. The charges stem from an operation that was conducted at a residence in the Boiton Area of San Ignacio on Tuesday, 26th August 2026, which led to the discovery of a Taurus-brand pistol, 9mm, as well as 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, 25 .40-caliber ammunition and 79 grams of suspected cannabis."
"I don't know if police have on previous occasions found drugs there for me to describe it properly as a known area of illegality; however, as I stated to Mr. Williams earlier when he placed an inquiry, we continue to invest in intelligence and our operations are intelligence-led."
And-also in the twin towns-on Friday, police made another arrest, this time in Santa Elena for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. ASP Smith told us what they found.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "Police have formally arrested and charged 38-year-old Roy Thompson of Santa Elena Town for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license, kept ammunition without a gun license as well as drug trafficking. These charges stem from a joint operation executed at the residence of Thompson located on Abella Street at around midday on Friday, 28th August 2026. This operation led to the discovery of a 9mm Taurus-brand pistol, 3 magazines containing a combined total of 46 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and 376 grams of suspected cannabis."
In other news, police have arrested a Coast Guard officer for a robbery in Caye Caulker last week. ASP Smith says that they used surveillance footage to make an arrest.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "As a consequence of the ongoing investigation into the robbery of an establishment in Caye Caulker which occurred on the 26th of August 2026 at approximately 10:45 p.m., police have formally arrested and charged 33-year-old Anthony Neal, a Belize Coast Guard officer, for the crime of abetment to commit robbery. The business owner reported that on the aforementioned date and time she was at her establishment when four masked persons who were armed entered that establishment and robbed her of a sum of money as well as assorted liquor and other personal items. Police are seeking 4 individuals, 2 of whom are known to police and are from Belize City. These male persons arrived on board a boat and committed the robbery before departing via that means. Several video footages have been retrieved and proved useful in this ongoing investigation."
"What I will say is that the officers were able to respond not too long after the incident happened and they sought the assistance of the Coast Guard; however, due to mechanical issues I am told they were not able to facilitate such."
He was recently charged for possession of firearms and controlled drugs, but three weeks ago Carlton McKoy was the victim of a shooting incident in San Ignacio, and caught in the crossfire was a 5-year-old minor. ASP Stacy Smith gave us the details of that report.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer "On 3rd August 2026 at approximately 7:40 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Collins Boulevard in San Ignacio Town which resulted in the shooting injury of 30-year-old Carlton McKoy and the injury of a 5-year-old male minor. The investigation has indicated that Mr. McKoy, who is known to police, was the intended target and he reported that he had left from a business establishment and upon passing a parked vehicle on Collins Boulevard, he observed that the back glass of that vehicle was lowered and upon looking in that direction, a male person therein fired several shots in his direction, injuring him."
Forty-year-old American army veteran Nathan Mikesell was fined and confined today after pleading guilty to damaging property at Divine Mercy Church on the Philip Goldson Highway.
Mikesell, who lives in San Pedro, appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Mannon Dennison and pleaded guilty to one count of damage to property. He was fined $2,000 to be paid immediately, or spend five months in prison. He was unable to pay and was taken to Belize Central Prison.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening around 5:30 p.m.
Canadian Pastor Robert Scott was preparing for Mass when Mikesell entered the church and became aggressive, threatening to kill him. Police say Mikesell attempted to hit Scott with a processional crucifix, then damaged the crucifix by repeatedly striking it against the ground. He also damaged a bathroom gate, three hymnbooks and the church's Divine Mercy statue.
Scott told police Mikesell later used a pole to strike the statue, causing an estimated $12,000 in damage. Scott was not injured. Police eventually subdued Mikesell and took him to KHMH for evaluation after he appeared mentally unfit and was unable to provide a meaningful account of the incident.
The mass fish kill along the Belize River early this month has raised questions about what may have entered the waterway and where it came from.
Agricultural runoff, including possible chemicals and wastewater, is one of the areas under scrutiny.
So, is Santander Sugar Group the source of it? Many have pointed to their cane fields as a major source of pollution because that is one of the major agricultural operations in the watershed.
Jaleeza Roberts visited the farm to find out how the company manages water and factory effluent.
The investigation into the mass fish kill along the Belize River has turned attention toward agricultural activity in the watershed, including Santander Farms. With questions surrounding possible chemical runoff, wastewater and drainage, we visited the farm to examine its canal system and hear directly from the company about how water moves through its operation. Santander Farms Chief Operating Officer Juan Cruz says the company operates a "closed-loop" system for managing factory effluent:
Juan Cruz, COO, Santander Farms "So a closed-loop system is because we lie on a flat land, it's how the natural terrain is made, we have different systems of canals, main canals, secondary canals, and third-party canals, and they are totally separate from each other. So we have a closed-grid canal that manages the factory effluents, that's the closed-grid canal. It's very important to note that the factory only runs in the dry season, because it's the only possible way where you can harvest the sugarcane, and whenever we are harvesting the sugarcane, this closed-grid canal permits us or leaves us to lead this effluent to the surrounding crops, where it's irrigated to the field, because it has a very positive benefit to the crop, as it brings back the nutrients that were taken off during the harvest and the processing of the sugarcane, and also in the process of doing it, we aerate this effluent with the sprinklers in our irrigation systems."
But all of those systems lead to this effluent point that we saw here, which was also the canal we observed when we went on the Belize River which was man-made:
Juan Cruz: "So we have a big grid of canals that lead to one single effluent point, that's very important to mention, we have one single effluent point, because as I said before, the natural slope of the area, all of the water heads to the east side of our property, where we are located at here, you can see three canals that come from totally different directions and they all flow to the same direction, and they all lead into here. It's important to mention that all of our canals are designed and created with an RTK technology with a zero slope, and they all lead naturally here, this is something that was required for us in our ECP, and it's also something that makes it way easier to closely monitor all the water that is going to the Belize River."
And many have asked if this canal was approved by DOE. They say it was and that is what puts them out of Labouring Creek as they are situated elsewhere:
Juan Cruz: "The canal was opened, if I recall, around 11 years ago, there was some controversy on the canal when it was opened, but it's something that is way past, behind, and we do have a permit, and we have cleaned it once, it was last year, and every time that we get in, it's because we have the proper clearance of the Department of Environment in order to get into that property, so yes, we do have a permit to have this canal."
"So naturally, the water, the Labouring Creek, it's at a higher bank than the canals that we are set off. There's a corridor of a little highland there, so it's impossible for water to go against the slope, so it's on the north side of the property. It's a totally different water bank, and our only possibility of draining our fields is through this canal to the Belize River."
But Santander acknowledges that agricultural chemicals remain part of its operation. Cruz says chemical use has been significantly reduced and is considered a last resort:
Juan Cruz: "While using chemicals, there's always a possibility of risk. It's important to mention that we have, and we have been all day with you trying to share all of our sustainable practices. Using chemicals, it's our last resource. It's expensive to do so, and we have seriously and significantly decreased the use of chemicals in our operation. We have composting facilities, we have natural predators, we have a big and very robust program of varieties. We have 50 varieties that have been imported from abroad in order to fight any challenges that we have in our crop. It's important to state that the best way to fight any of these diseases or pests is to prevent it, and that's where our main focus and resources are. We do have to spray. We are farmers. We have to produce food, but we do it with a strict and thorough procedure. Whenever you spray something, you want to do it in the proper window. If you have runoffs, it's because you're basically wasting your money because it's not going wherever you intended to go. We have very close systems in order to prevent this from happening."
But Santander Farms is not the only farm in that area. While we took a drive through the property we saw rice fields, cane fields and other produce. Gilbert Canton Jr. says that whatever pollutants were in the river are traceable and they can mitigate it once the official reports are out:
Gilbert Canton Jr., Caribbean Sugar Refineries / Western Sugarcane Industry "So, if you look at the Belize River, it runs through a very large watershed. In Belize alone, maybe about 250,000 acres. Guatemala is a part of that watershed as well, maybe another 250,000 acres. So, of course, the farms, including our sugarcane farms, will have an effect on the river. Of that total watershed, I'd say cane farms make up maybe 10%, 12% of the total watershed. And, of course, we have an effect. But if farming is done responsibly, and we like to use our position as sugarcane farmers to make sure that we have very good, responsible, sustainable farming practices. So, if our practices are done sustainably, we can really minimize the impact that we have on the river with runoff and organic load and pesticides as well."
Reporter "Do you accept that there is a possibility that, well, maybe some of the chemicals in the river are from these farms?"
Gilbert Canton Jr.: "Absolutely. If there are chemicals in the river, and there are pesticides that are used in farming, then absolutely they've come from these farms. But here's what I would tell you. So, pesticides are very traceable. So, you have a process of registering a pesticide when it's brought into Belize. So, it's registered, and then it is distributed. So, if you find pesticides in the river, you can go back and you can ask the questions and say, okay, where did this pesticide come from? Who sold it? Who bought it? It's fully traceable. If it is cane farmers, in the case of Santander Farms Limited or Valley of Peace Farms Limited, the ones that I can speak for directly, our doors are open. We're happy to come and take a look. And if it is from our farms, we'd love to be able to see how we can mitigate any sort of runoff of chemical into the river."
For now, Santander's position is that its water-management system is controlled and designed to minimize environmental impact. But ultimately, the evidence will have to determine what entered the Belize River, where it came from and whether it was responsible for the mass death of aquatic life.
He's a two-term area rep for Port Loyola, but Gilroy Usher went into his toolbox for a pair of pliers and put on his work boots on Saturday.
Problem is-in a monumental lapse of judgment-he went to cut down a constituent's fence and ended up taking a vicious tongue-lashing from the property owner.
Usher says he had every right to do it, since the landowner was encroaching upon the titled land of two other constituents by erecting an imposing fence.
It was all captured on camera and did not cast the area rep in a good light.
But, Usher sent out a press release today justifying his intervention by claiming that landowner Cozet Maximo had put a fence around the adjoining property of two titled landowners. Usher says that in an attempt to intervene, he made his way to the subdivision and attempted to dismantle the wire fence that was "unlawfully erected across Lot B."
He adds, quote: "To permanently resolve this land dispute, we invite the Ministry of Natural Resources to join in and conduct an official survey with concrete boundary markers on both Lot A and Lot B in the presence of both parties or their legal representatives."
And finally tonight, we note the passing of Milagro Garel, the Country Director of World Pediatrics in Belize.
Garel passed away today after suffering a brain aneurysm on July 25th. She had remained in a coma since that event. After spending more than a month in the intensive care unit of a Guatemalan hospital, she was brought home to Belize on Friday, where she passed away peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by her loved ones.
A post from her family says, "Your beautiful smile, your incredible spirit, and the light you brought into so many lives will remain with us forever."
As Country Director for World Pediatrics, Garel touched and changed the lives of countless Belizean children, helping them gain access to life-changing medical procedures that would otherwise have been unavailable to them in Belize.
Tonight, we remember Milagro Garel for the lives she touched and the difference she made.
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Tonight, the PUP faithful in the city are either rejoicing or recovering from a Sunday municipal convention that had the electricity and effect of a real election.
Eluide Miller, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Belize City
Allan Pollard: 
Henry Charles Usher, PUP Chairman, Fort George Area Rep
Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean Shores
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"It was a good fight, we know it was going to be an uphill battle from the beginning, from the minute we came out and saw the crowds and just hearing the campaign trail and the amount that was stacked against us I mean we went into this thing with the least amount of area reps, at the end of the day, you know it's tough."
Eluide Miller: 
And while the politics and the polling result were the real news of the day, the political scenery and the scale of the event could not be ignored.
The wild, wild west-that's what it's been like in parts of the Cayo District recently where criminal gangs have been engaged in a deadly turf war.
"Police have detained two male persons and impounded a vehicle of interest as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of 35-year-old Rasheed Hyde of Georgeville Village, Cayo District and 36-year-old Gil Pineda of Dangriga. The investigation commenced at around 12:10 p.m. on Saturday, 29th August 2026 when Santa Elena police were alerted of a shooting on George Price Avenue in that municipality. What has been gathered so far in the course of this ongoing investigation is that both Hyde and Pineda were in front of a residence when they were fired upon by individuals onboard a Nissan Rogue. Both Hyde and Pineda were struck and subsequently ferried to the hospital for medical attention; however, Hyde succumbed shortly thereafter whilst Pineda passed away on Sunday, 30th of August while undergoing treatment."
And while police are trying to control crime out West, there was a shooting in the city on Friday, and the victim is in critical condition tonight-while the shooter is a licensed firearm holder. ASP Smith explained what happened.
And going back to San Ignacio, following an operation in the Boiton Area of that town, police have made a double arrest for controlled drugs and possession of firearms. ASP Smith told us what they uncovered.
And-also in the twin towns-on Friday, police made another arrest, this time in Santa Elena for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. ASP Smith told us what they found.
He was recently charged for possession of firearms and controlled drugs, but three weeks ago Carlton McKoy was the victim of a shooting incident in San Ignacio, and caught in the crossfire was a 5-year-old minor. ASP Stacy Smith gave us the details of that report.
Forty-year-old American army veteran Nathan Mikesell was fined and confined today after pleading guilty to damaging property at Divine Mercy Church on the Philip Goldson Highway.
The mass fish kill along the Belize River early this month has raised questions about what may have entered the waterway and where it came from.
Juan Cruz, COO, Santander Farms
Gilbert Canton Jr., Caribbean Sugar Refineries / Western Sugarcane Industry
He's a two-term area rep for Port Loyola, but Gilroy Usher went into his toolbox for a pair of pliers and put on his work boots on Saturday.
And finally tonight, we note the passing of Milagro Garel, the Country Director of World Pediatrics in Belize.
