PM Invites NTUCB Leadership to Cabinet Meeting Over Speednet Deal

Tonight, there is news that the leadership of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has been invited to Cabinet on Thursday for a meeting with the Prime Minister.
We did reach out to President Ella Waight for confirmation but up to news time, she had not answered. However, other NTUCB sources do confirm the invitation-but there is some suspense over whether executive members will attend. No decision has yet been taken on that, according to our reports.
The meeting, we are told, will be about BTL's proposed acquisition of Speednet-so that the Prime Minister can hear firsthand why they oppose it. The social partners expressed their position opposing the merger in a release last week.

Tomorrow, Cabinet proper meets on that same subject. And while there won't be any protest as was rumored, all eyes are still on the big room in Belmopan-because reliable reports say that as many as 5 ministers may be squarely opposed to the acquisition.

Belize Communication Workers Union Withdraws Support for Proposed BTL-Speednet Acquisition

Tonight, there are more voices opposing BTL's Speednet acquisition-and an important one emerged this morning.
That's the Belize Communication Workers Union-which initially supported the acquisition in January-has now withdrawn that support for the deal as currently proposed.
A release says the union met with BTL's executive management in January asking for clarity and assurances on many key matters. They left with the expectation that those matters would be addressed.
But they next learned that the board would take a decision on the acquisition last week-and after that, the union convened an emergency meeting. Following that meeting, quote, "the BCWU can confirm that 84% (eighty-four percent) of its members are no longer in support of the acquisition as currently proposed.
This position reflects the concerns of the BCWU membership and the BCWU's request for continued consultation, communication, and assurances on matters affecting workers and the wider Belizean society. The BCWU will now align itself with the NTUCB to determine the way forward on this matter." End quote.

A union executive member declined an interview today but said, quote, "However, since this morning, communication and coordination between the BCWU, our umbrella union, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), and our social partners have intensified."

Social Partners and Independent Media Outlets Unite Against BTL Acquisition

And today, the social partners, namely the independent senators and the Belize Chamber of Commerce, met with independent media owners from KREM-TV, LOVE Radio and TV, and Channel 7 to find common cause in opposing the Speednet acquisition. As they say, you don't have to knock too hard on an open door-and KREM-TV's Mose Hyde stressed that the independent media has been sounding the alarm since June of 2025.

Mose Hyde, Managing Director, XTV
"Well the independent senators invited us here, you can call this meeting here the avoidance of doubt, they needed to know whether the independent media still has their position or they changed their mind. And I am not really certain why that came up, but I think after the meeting it is clear that our position remains as it has been. In fact, a lot of the dissent on this acquisition started mid last year and so it Is kind of just setting out together this coalition of dissent, an opposition to the acquisition in light of what has taken place. And so we had a conversation around that."

"The avoidance of doubt is that nothing has changed, still the same, we oppose we oppose, oppose."

"I think we have the lived experience of seeing where absolute power in control of a monopoly because to say monopoly is not the complete facts you know it is a monopoly in the ands of absolute power, where part the government has the control and we experience certain punitive measures because of positions we have taken, you're vulnerable, especially now more so than ever the importance to the technology and the kind of work that we do and how we reach our audiences and how content is distributed, and it is not just the only aspect of it, it is the leading aspect of it. It is unacceptable."

Hon. Luis Wade, Churches Senator
"The open marketplace of ideas must continue in Belize if we are to have a democracy that works, and if we are to have an open free market economy that can bring about prosperity to every Belizean."

"And so I think the meeting today was very successful as meetings we've had since late last week to bring everybody together to say no to BTL and, and SMART acquisition."

Jules Vasquez, News Director, Channel 7
"DNA for our organizations is grounded, is rooted in a resistance to oppressive situations where there is not a plurality of opinion being shared."

"And I think that any state-controlled monopoly poses a danger to free media. Any fettering of the free media poses a danger to a democracy's functioning."

"And once that happen, once that happens, all hell can break loose."

The meeting was held at the Scouts Association conference room in Belize City.

Former PUP Candidate Major Lloyd Jones Urges Area Representative to Reject BTL Deal

And joining the chorus of opposition tonight is a former PUP candidate in the 2015 general elections, Major Lloyd Jones.
Jones has written a letter to his area rep Kevin Bernard in Orange Walk East urging him to vote, quote, "on my behalf, against any matter tabled at Cabinet regarding the patently reckless decision of BTL's board to buy Speednet, including any share purchase agreement."

Jones adds, quote, "...it escapes me why BTL has embarked upon what in my respectful opinion is a crook's errand despite the clear objections of the Belizean people, the NTUCB, the independent senators, and the social partners. I therefore urge you to reject this decision by the board of BTL at Cabinet, in the House, and anywhere else the matter is raised."

Three Men Dead in Massive City Cycle Collision

The Mahogany Street community is forever marked by Sunday morning's devastating events, a motorcycle accident that resulted in a triple fatality-which is rare in Belize City. Jomarie Lanza visited the area this morning to find out more. Here's that story.

It was a gruesome scene, full of screams and the desperate cries of family members, attempting to render aid to not one but three accident victims, sprawled out onto Mahogany Street in between the scattered remnants of motorcycle parts and pieces.

The collision claimed the lives of 2 of the victims on Sunday morning, and the third passed away 24 hours later. ASP Stacy Smith gave us more details on what her officers observed on scene.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"On Sunday 9th August at approximately 12:26am police responded to reports of a traffic accident on Mahogany Street Belize City involving two motorcycles. The investigating officers reported that upon their arrival they observed two extensively damaged motorcycles and they were advised that three gravely injured persons were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. The identities of these individuals were Darwin Monroy, Allan Arnold, and Theodore Swaso, all of Belize City. What has been established is that Arnold was proceeding on a motorcycle from an east to west direction and also traveling on a motorcycle in an opposite direction were Darwin Monroy along with Swaso as his pillion rider. Upon reaching the intersection of Mahogany Street and Tibruce Street, a collision occurred with both motorcycles resulting in the great injury and subsequent death of the three individuals."

Reporter:
"Do you know if they were wearing helmets?"

ASP Stacy Smith:
"One motorcycle helmet was recovered from the scene."

And now a black bow hangs at the front of Darwin Monroy's home, just a few blocks away from where Allan Arnold's bike jacket is also displayed. He was the member of a motorcycle club called HellBoy Motors which is not too far away from where the collision occurred on Mahogany Street. When we spoke to Arnold's older brother this morning he told us his sibling fell in love with motorcycles at a young age. He explained that he had spent Sunday with his brother, and only learned of his passing when a relative called:

Allan Alexander Arnold Jr., Brother of Deceased (Allan T Arnold)
"From my understanding, the news that I got these 2 guys they were you know flying, my brother was coming home from a party with one of his friends, with the club the biking club they were coming home. My brother he was the last one in the back because he doesn't speed you know what I'm saying he rides his bike but he don't speed he takes his time and he was coming and these guys they flew out and I heard there was some pothole up that way that they were trying to dodge and that's when they ran into my brother, burst his bike in half and that's how they took my brother away from me."

Arnold says that both the family and their neighborhood are equally devastated by his brother's loss.

Allan Alexander Arnold Jr., Brother of Deceased (Allan T Arnold)
"Everybody that knows my brother in this neighborhood knows my brother is a loving caring person, everybody, kids you have kids that go by here that goes to school, my brother would just stop and give them some change to get something to eat you know he gives them and I would watch him him and say hey you're well known but I just want everyone to remember my brother as that kind and loving person that he is."

Allan Arnold was 37, Darwin Monroy was 29, and Theodore Swaso was 22, making him the youngest victim of the accident.

Drowning Ruled as Cause of Death for Samuel Chi Following Autopsy

Last week we told you that Samuel Chi's family believes foul play was involved in his death. While police are still investigating what exactly happened to him and Albert Vaccaro, the postmortem report ruled that he drowned. ASP Stacy Smith gave us a brief update on the case.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"I know initially what we heard from him is that he was pretty much disoriented and was not able to provide information at that time. I cannot say, I have not had the opportunity to confirm with the investigators to see if they have been able to speak with him and record a statement, I can undertake to do that."

Reporter:
"Were there any signs of violence or trauma on his body?"

ASP Stacy Smith:
"I don't believe the report indicated that. We're guided by the report of the forensic pathologist which gave the conclusion which was asphyxia due to drowning."

Armed Robbers Target Punta Gorda Store and Escape With Cash

The Naybaz store on Cayo Street in Punta Gorda Town was robbed around 10:30 on Sunday night. The 26-year-old store attendant told police that while she was working, two men entered the store. One stood near the entrance and pointed a firearm at her while the other took $6,000 from the cash register. Police are currently investigating.

Belmopan Police Intercept Suspected Organized Robbery Ring Targeting Businesses

And while police are looking for those men, 7News has learned that a group of potential robbers was busted before they could carry out their plans. According to a leaked report, Belmopan police intercepted them as they were heading south to commit burglaries. They reportedly had photos and plans of routes as well as weapons. The police believe they work in groups, and that two of the areas targeted included Western Union in Santa Cruz and Public's in Seine Bight.

The arrest raises many questions and concerns since organized criminals have been executing aggravated burglaries across the country. We asked police to comment on this today, but they refused to provide information.

Police Arrest Suspect Following Saturday Night Shooting on Faber’s Road

In Belize City crime news, a man was shot on Faber's Road on Saturday night by two assailants on a motorcycle. After he made a report, police were able to make an arrest. ASP Smith told us more.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Police have formally arrested and charged 26 year old Elvis Williams of Belize City for the crime of abetment to commit aggravated assault. The arrest follows police investigation into a shooting that occurred on Saturday 8th August 2026 at approximately 7:00pm in the Faber's Road area. The investigating officer reported that a male person visited the police station and reported that while he was at his residence, a motorcycle approached him and one of the male persons who were on the motorcycle fired a single shot. Police are seeking another individual as a part of this ongoing investigation."

Police Address Silk Grass Village Brawl and Call for Neighborhood Watch

A video of a fight in Silk Grass Village showing several men attacking a woman made its way to social media, leading the community to request additional police in the area. ASP Smith explained that while the department is addressing the issue, they're also asking for the community's support, preferably in the form of a neighborhood watch. Here's what she told us.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"As it relates to the incidents that occurred in Silk Grass that has made their way on social media. I can advise that arrests have been made for both disorderly conduct and assaulting a police officer in relation to those two incidents. I know there has been calls from members of that village for increased police presence and certainly that concern is acknowledged by the department and we continue to assess our deployments to see how best we can address that. However I would similarly like to take this opportunity to invite the residents of Silk Grass to see how better they can assist police in our policing efforts. Efficient policing is better strengthened when we have a community that looks after itself and plays a role. I've also been advised that the community policing unit have been tasked to make visits in that area to see how best we can mobilize a community neighborhood watch group in that area."

Courtney Menzies:
"Do you know the motive behind the fight?"

ASP Stacy Smith:
"It would want to appear that it is an increase in intoxication or something to that effect because we haven't been able to establish any clear motive, at least I have not been advised so as it stands right now it is disorderly conduct. I do know the female in particular has made a report. We are awaiting the medico form for the certification of injuries so that that avenue can be pursued."

Mayor Rigo Vellos Outdoes Area Rep and Wins PUP Corozal Convention for Fourth Term Bid

Tonight, three-time Mayor Rigo Vellos is getting ready to launch his campaign for a fourth term. That's after he was elected as the Mayoral Candidate for the PUP in Corozal for the March Municipal elections in a tightly contested convention yesterday.

While money was flowing and the town was percolating on political capital, in the end, the challenge to the incumbent that had been building up for months wasn't even close. Our team was out on the ground doing 13 hours of extensive coverage, and Jaleeza Roberts files this report:

Those were some of the sounds on the ground at the Corozal PUP Municipal Convention yesterday at Saint Francis Xavier School in Corozal Town.

The 93-degree weather did not stop over three thousand supporters from coming out in their political colors to represent for the candidate they thought would be the better mayoral candidate, newcomer Shajarie Rogers or 3-time mayor, Rigo Vellos. Both sides displayed well-oiled machines-and the signage and T-shirts suggested well-funded campaigns in this border town.

Polls opened at 8:00 am and closed at 4:00 pm. And in the intervening hours-it was like a political bazaar, abuzz with the wild noises, cash, and combustion of a real election day-except this was only a convention. But there was a lot at stake: area rep Thea Garcia wanted to unseat the mayor, and he wanted to prove that he could outmatch a big-money, big-power opponent.

While we saw skirmishes throughout the day, the real showdown started when the polls closed and it was time for counting.

An impressive 3,425 registered voters participated-and while a convention-especially one of this scale-can be divisive, Chairman of the party Henry Charles Usher says the voter engagement is a good sign:

Henry Charles Usher, PUP Party Chairman
"After every passionate convention like this, we have to make sure that both sides come together, that we rally around the team that is the PUP team going into the municipal election, and I'm sure we will get that done. And I'm sure we'll deliver here in Corozal Town."

"So, you know, it is going to be a winning team no matter what the team is. But I'm confident that we'll be able to come together after this and deliver a massive victory here in Corozal Town."

But, it will take time for these wounds to heal: on one side, an area rep's slate rejected by her voters; on the other, a 3-term mayor who felt the party executive should never have allowed a challenge:

Henry Charles Usher, PUP Party Chairman
"Well, I think that it's always good for the people to decide on who they want to represent them. So, you know, conventions are good, it's healthy."

Reporter:
"But in this case, it created a level of division for the party. One would say it doesn't bode well for the party going into the municipal."

Henry Charles Usher:
"I think, as I said, whenever passions are very high, whenever there's this type of excitement, energy, whenever you have sides that are very excellent, both sides have very excellent players, very excellent persons coming to offer themselves to run. You know, you will have this, what you would call, have to come together after the convention. We have to be able to come together, and that's what we're going to do."

And when the news from the inside started coming out that Mayor Vellos had taken a commanding lead, his supporters started their chants and shared their feelings with us:

Supporter #1:
"Rigo Vellos and his slate will do a great job once again, believe you me, they will continue doing a great job. Finally, we have concluded this campaign and we will focus into the municipal elections again and into the general elections in 2030."

Supporter #2:
"After this, Rigo will no longer be a Mayor, we people of Corozal want him to run for our Minister."

Supporter #3:
"Rigo is working for the people and Rigo is not a part of that family that wants to control and amass power, Rigo is humble, Rigo is trying to be good for the people of Corozal and that's what we want, someone who we can relate to."

Supporter #4:
"Briceno, this is the man, this is the man that will make Corozal proud, get the news today. This is the man, 4-time, you can't defeat this."

And when the results officially came out, Vellos won easily over newcomer Shajarie Rogers with 1,799 votes to her 1,175.

Vellos and 6 members of his slate were elected, along with one from the Rogers slate, leaving the councillors as Hugo Gonzalez, Miguel Montalvo, Rodolfo Narvaez, Baldemar Pech, Otoniel Riverol, and Marleni Tapia. But Rogers did not go down in defeat; instead, she said that this is not the last from her team:

Shajarie Rogers, PUP Mayoral Aspirant
"I'd like to thank all my supporters including my campaigners, my machinery, my councillor candidates. We all put up a good fight. It's not over for Team Rogers. We will be coming back. And of course you care for us more."

"We're going to be supporting Team Rigo because we are one PUP family. So we will be supporting Team Rigo."

While area rep Thea Garcia was nowhere to be seen-and didn't give us an interview during the polling-the 3-time mayor-who faced his first party convention-cried; he sighed in relief and said that this time around, he was deeply tested:

Rigo Vellos, Corozal Town Mayor
"Hard one, hard battle. You know sometimes you get tested to the extreme."

"And this was one time, we were taken to the extreme, but I want to thank my supporters, I want to big up Miss Shajarie's team, we went into a convention that was not necessary and I hope that after this you can join me, me and my team to work together, you know. It's time for us to rebuild our own party and as young leaders people expect that from us. I am happy, a bit emotional, but it all comes with victory so I am very comfortable."

Jaleeza Roberts:
"What can we expect from your team going into the municipal elections in March?"

Rigo Vellos:
"Nothing else but hard work, hard work and getting closer to our people."

Henry Charles Usher:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our municipal team for 2027, Rigo Vellos."

Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.

In 2024, Vellos was able to garner 2,791 votes in the municipal elections. The total amount of ballots cast being 3,425 would still be more than what he won by then.

PUP Chairman Calls for Unity Following Intense Corozal Mayoral Convention

But even with this win, the question remains: will Vellos and Area Representative Thea Garcia be able to mend their relationship and move forward? Garcia faced a humiliating defeat while Vellos proved his mettle in a contest against the PUP power base.

But when we spoke with Party Chairman Usher before he went into the counting room, he explained that both candidates will need to move forward together:

Henry Charles Usher, PUP Party Chairman
"The people have, if they choose Mr. Vellos, and it certainly seems that way, then he will have that support, he will have that mandate from the people going forward into March, and it will make him even stronger going into March of 2027."

Jaleeza Roberts:
"And being that a newcomer, it was alleged that the area rep was supporting her, do you think that this undermines her in any way?"

Henry Charles Usher:
"No, I don't believe so at all, and as a matter of fact, I think that the numbers are showing that Ms. Rogers also received a lot of support from the residents. So, it just shows that there were two strong candidates contesting this election for mayor, for the convention, for the PUP candidate for mayor. And, you know, the people made their choice, that's why I say this is a victory for the people of Corozal Town."

Reporter:
"In your view, is Ms. Thea's popularity in trouble here in this constituency, given reports that she supported Ms. Rogers?"

Henry Charles Usher:
"No, I don't think so at all. This was a convention of two very strong teams, and I think that when it comes to being the area representative of Corozal Bay, the Honorable Thea Garcia has a lot of support from the people, from the residents, and she will continue to do well here in Corozal Bay."

Corozal Convention Facing Allegations of Voter Incentive "Bacon Houses"

And behind every group hug of post-convention party unity is the hidden reality of every electoral contest in Belize. It's what we call the "bacon house," where voters go to collect so-called "incentives" after they vote. Well, yesterday's fiery convention in the north could not be complete without similar allegations.

Who was cooking the bacon in the bacon house, and was the 93-degree weather in Corozal making it sizzle? Well, we found out:

Our team went driving around town in search of the bacon house when voters pointed us to this-alleged bacon house-where voters go to collect their money.

When various members of the media asked them what they were doing, they said they went to collect. One voter-who asked to remain anonymous-told us that he did it for 50 dollars. We distorted his voice to conceal his identity:

Reporter:
"How much you collect, sir?"

Anonymous:
"$50, $50."

Reporter:
"From where you collect? By where did you go so you could collect?"

Anonymous:
"Back a Skeleton Town."

Reporter:
"Tell me the process."

Anonymous:
"Don't talk hard, don't talk hard."

Reporter:
"Tell me the process."

Anonymous:
"It is easy, you dip your finger."

Reporter:
"Tell me, we aren't catching your face don't worry about nothing. So you need to dip your finger? What do you do after you dip your finger? They put you in a bus and they take you right?"

Anonymous:
"No, not me, not me because I live here in town. Yes, I walk gone because I live here at town, baby."

Anonymous:
"You dip your finger and you get 50 dollars, and ______ is right there giving you money. The _______"

But this is nothing new in political circles and conventions as the money machine is always the oil that keeps conventions and elections moving.

So it was in 2023 at the UDP Belmopan convention where the Bacon House was on St. John's Street:

Mon, February 6, 2023
Reporter:
"Good afternoon, Channel 7. Wanted to talk to you guys-sir, what's this line for? Who tell you to stand up in this line?"

Voter:
"I noh sure."

Reporter:
"Hi, good afternoon, Channel 7. Wanted to talk to you guys, why are you standing in this line for? Food?"

Voter:
"Yes."

Reporter:
"So they are serving food at the end of this line?"

Voter:
"Yes."

Reporter:
"What kind of food?"

Voter:
"What kind of food you eat?"

Reporter:
"Who is handing out food? Is it Mr. Lovell? Is it Mr. Emil Torres? Anybody else know what this line is for?"

Voter:
"Miss, get that camera out of my face."

Reporter:
"You have any information about this line?"

Man:
"This is private property."

Reporter:
"Okay, thanks."

And while it's rare to ever get solid answers on these bacon houses, we know one thing's for sure: something is always cooking. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.

According to the Representation of the People Act, it is illegal to give, lend, or offer promises or money to induce a voter to vote. We stress that does not apply in conventions-which are managed by the political parties and not the Elections and Boundaries Office.

Chamber of Commerce Invited to Join NTUCB at Cabinet Meeting With Prime Minister, But Will They

At the top of the news, we told you that the Prime Minister's Office was inviting the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to discuss the Speednet acquisition at a meeting in the Cabinet room on Thursday.
Well, turns out he's also inviting the Chamber of Commerce.
NTUCB President Ella Waight responded to our text inquiries a few minutes ago saying, quote, "Yes, NTUCB has been invited to a meeting on Thursday, but we will only attend if BCCI attends as they have been invited as well."

We'll be following up tomorrow.

Department of the Environment Continues Investigation into Belize River Fish Kill

What's causing the fish kill on the Belize River? One week later, and, still, no one knows. A release issued on Saturday from the Department of the Environment says, quote, "At this stage, the Department has not determined the source or responsible party associated with the fish kill." It cautions residents: "The public is therefore advised not to consume fish or other aquatic resources from the affected areas and not to use untreated river water for drinking, cooking, food preparation, livestock, or pets until further notice."
An aquatic ecologist working at the Savanna Field Station reported on Sunday that a trip between Flowers Bank and Isabella Bank found two dead Hicatee turtles and a dead crocodile, in addition to large numbers of decomposing fish. Most appeared to be catfish, including Blue Catfish, Mayan Catfish, and Rhamdia species, along with large numbers of snook.

The Department of the Environment has collected water and fish samples, with low dissolved oxygen identified in preliminary testing, although that has not established the cause of the deaths. Savanna Field Station says the presence of dead turtles and a crocodile raises further questions about whether low oxygen alone can explain the scale of the mortality. The group believes the incident has the signs of a possible toxic contaminant entering the river, but that has not been scientifically confirmed. The investigation remains ongoing, and samples have been sent for testing.

Online Business Registry System Restored Following Security Incident

Who hacked the Companies Registry and why? The Online Business Registry System is back online as of 8:00 this morning. This follows a cybersecurity incident on August 4th. BCCAR identified documents that were downloaded during the period of unauthorized access, and they have been marked with a warning icon in the OBRS so that relevant users can identify them. BCCAR also emphasized that there is no evidence that any marked documents were amended or deleted, and the validity hasn't been affected. Additional security measures include a temporary limit of 100 document views or downloads per user per hour and the temporary disablement of passport-based registration for limited public user accounts. BCCAR's investigation identified this registration method as a system vulnerability that was exploited to gain unauthorized access. It has not been revealed who did it.

National Forensic Science Services Launches Campaign to Identify Skeletal Remains

The National Forensic Science Services is embarking on a project to identify skeletal remains that are currently unidentified. These remains have been there for years-some for almost 3 decades. The NFSS is now asking the public who have missing loved ones to fill out a form which may provide closure for them. The executive director told us more today.

Gian Cho, Executive Director, NFSS
"In 2014 there were about roughly little bit less than 20 sets of unidentified skeletal remains that were there in storage, moving, transitioning from the police department into the NFSS and then we added some more, we ended up receiving some more in 2014, 2015, 2017, up to about 2020. It's a combination of what existed prior to 2014, skeletal remains as far back as 1998 that were collected by police or by the authorities and there was no presumed identity or DNA testing did not occur to confirm the identity and so those remained in storage."

"But we can't forget about the forgotten, they've been there since 1998 so I know there is some concern about reopening some of these wounds and the grieving families who may have already tried to move beyond and I appreciate and understand that human side of it. We also need to understand that these are human beings as well that have a right to be identified, they have a right to not be forgotten."

"We have tried something new, when you're dealing with more humanitarian forensic work, it's different than the traditional criminal investigative work. So we're trying a community engagement approach where we created an online form that members of the public can submit their information if they believe their relative or their friend or loved one are one of these sets of skeletal remains from 1998 to 2020."

Courtney Menzies:
"How do you preserve these skeletal remains that have been there for decades to ensure that you can still extract DNA that's not contaminated or that's strong enough to be able to get enough markers?"

Gian Cho:
"That is a reality that we have to factor in that there might have been contamination from somebody that might have handled the remains or degradation occurs or some of the remains were recovered from coastal areas where bleaching, salt water, ultraviolet, radiation, bacteria really reduces the amount of DNA you can get, or it makes it harder to get usable DNA from those samples. So that's a reality we are dealing with the older cases and we are working with a lab that does what we call mitochondrial DNA analysis so it uses maternal lineages to try to identify if you came from basically the same maternal ancestor and that's one way to identify scientifically that's how older remains are being identified by ancestral lineage to say if it's the person we suspect it to be."

"It's DNA comparison so we extract DNA from the skeletal remains but without something to compare it to we won't know who that person is, we just have a profile that we could enter in a database and we just wait for a database hit to occur as more profiles are entered into a database and that can take years. So this form is really helping us narrow down potential identities, potential family members and then reach out to them with the assistance of the police to try to get the person to understand the project and to provide a voluntary DNA sample."

So far, they have identified one missing person, bringing closure to that family. The form is on their social media page.

NFSS Trains Senior Police Investigators on New Forensic DNA Legislation

While that project is ongoing, the NFSS is also training senior police investigators on how to use the new DNA legislation. It states that police can get a court order to compel a suspect to give a DNA sample if they refuse. The team will travel around the country to different regions, starting today at the Eastern Division. We learned more about the training.

Gian Cho, Executive Director, NFSS
"We started to plan out trainings with our police department colleagues for Crimes Investigation Branch and the gender based violence response unit so those are the two police department units that we're focusing this first rollout operationalization if you want to call it that of the DNA legislation and it mainly will impact the way investigations operate and progress now that you can compel a suspect to give a DNA sample if they don't consent and if certain requirements are satisfied for a magistrate to issue a court order."

"The police officers aren't the ones that collect the evidence, in the DNA act it specifies what an authorized person is, a crime scene technician or medical practitioner. The routine types of samples we collect, the types of supplies we use, the cotton swabs or recently we started to use nylon swabs that are better at releasing DNA, those continue, we have been using them for years, so those continue to be the preferred to collect a suspect local swab."

Sgt. Holly Vasquez, Legal Officer, BPD
"This act to be honest it will help the officers, useful in the field. Myself having used DNA in the past without having the act was a struggle but we did secure a conviction. Now this makes it very easy for the investigators in the field to use this act because now it empowers us to get samples and if the suspect refuse these samples we can now use this legislation to get a consent order from the court so it empowers us now, it makes it very easy for the officers in the field."

Reporter:
"As you know, there are myriads of complaints about how civilians are treated in detention. How do you emphasize to these officers to a, not abuse the legislation, and b, not use too much excessive force when obtaining DNA from somebody who is not compliant?"

Sgt. Holly Vasquez:
"A part of our training today is to sensitize the officers about human rights and those who breach this law, we have in this law as well consequences for officers to be charged under this act, if you abuse this law, so we're also sensitizing them about the entire legislation, how you go about taking these samples and not violating a person's right."

Police Officers Undergo Specialized Training on Rapid DNA Technology

The officers are also training on rapid DNA, which has been available in the country for some time. The acting supervisor of that section of the NFSS detailed the differences between rapid DNA and conventional DNA testing.

Roberto Melendez, Acting Supervisor, Rapid DNA Operators, NFSS
"What rapid DNA does is that it provides a genetic profile, we call it a forensic profile, within 90 minutes versus conventional DNA that is outsourced currently to the United States or some other accredited lab that we were using. Normally it takes roughly 3-6 months depending on the backlogs they have. But rapid DNA is here to try to speed up those processes by providing that DNA profile. So the collection methods that we were trying to utilize currently with rapid because it differs from conventional, we have different methods for collection, one for rapid DNA, one for conventional DNA."

"In genetic profile we do what is called STR testing, basically stands for short tandem repeats those repeats are normally found on the different sections of our chromosomes so we have currently been testing 24 STRs are normally spread out on the chromosomes of the human beings which doesn't give you any ancestry, hair color, skin color, etc, what it gives is just gender and other sections of the STRs that provides statistically whenever you have a DNA profile comparing it."

"Right now we are currently using it for investigative leads for police officers to try to move their cases forward for example if there is a suspect in custody, there is blood found on a crime scene then we can compare that blood that was found on the crime scene and then compare it to the suspect."

Garifuna Collective Returns Home Following 20th Anniversary European Tour

Following their 14-day European tour, the Belize Garifuna Collective is back in Belize after performing at venues and festivals in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany. Their tour also marks the band's 20th anniversary celebration.
Members of the group were on SunUp this morning and shared more details about their historic swing through Europe:

The collective released a new single last month.

Vashti Thompson Crowned Miss Earth Belize

Last week we introduced you to the four Miss Earth Belize delegates, and on Saturday, Vashti Thompson was crowned the winner. She appeared on SunUp on 7 this morning, where she spoke about her experience at the pageant.

CCJ Facing Internal Crisis After Leaked Emails Reveal Judges' Accusations Against President

Belize's highest appellate court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, is facing an unprecedented internal crisis after explosive leaked emails reported on by the Trinidad Express newspaper revealed that five of six sitting judges have accused CCJ President Winston Anderson of dictatorial rule, panel-fixing, and anti-democratic leadership. The feud, which began over a unilateral proposal for a new judicial dress code, quickly escalated into severe allegations of administrative overreach, including the controversial removal of Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji from a hearing panel. Senior judges warned that the bench is approaching a critical boiling point that threatens the independence and impartiality of the regional court.

Seeking local input, 7News reached out to Dr. Dylan Vernon, Belize's representative on the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission-which appoints judges to the CCJ. We asked him whether the oversight body will convene an urgent meeting to address the complaints against President Anderson. In response, Commissioner Vernon stated that individual commissioners do not comment to the press on court matters, but confirmed that an official statement from the RJLSC Secretariat regarding the leaked reports will be released soon.

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