Paul Lopez, Reporting

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez, a transgender woman, is more than a viral personality, she’s a bold voice changing the online conversation. At twenty-seven, she’s built a huge following by championing inclusivity and giving Belize’s LGBTQ community space to be seen and celebrated. Her upbeat videos and big energy make her instantly likable. But on Wednesday, Bestie shared the part fans never saw, a tough journey shaped by migration struggles and years of living without legal status in Belize. Behind the laughter is someone who fought hard for the chance to belong.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez, Corozal Resident

“For those of you know me know that I have been struggling with my legal status ever since I arrived in Belize. Back in 2007 my mom brought me to this country illegally. She was trying to protect me from sexual…but what I want to emphasize is not that. I want to emphasize that during my period being here in Belize for my entire life, my twenty-seven years of life, I was illegal in this country, I was struggling in this country. I didn’t have a voice in this country.”

In the original video, now topping half a million views, Cortez opened up about how an immigration status kept her from landing steady work or chasing her dreams. She laid out the obstacles plainly, showing viewers just how hard life can be when opportunity is always out of reach. But everything changed for Cortez in 2022, when the Belize Amnesty Program opened a path forward.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

“And today, today I got everything done. If it was not for this fu***ng thing, you can’t do anything in Belize without this. You know how much you have changed my life. I can provide for my family without struggling in the streets.”

Cortez pulls back the curtain on the everyday hurdles immigrants face, things many Belizeans never have to think twice about. Even something as simple as enrolling in school becomes a major battle when your legal status is in limbo. Her story shows how complicated life gets when paperwork, not potential, decides your future.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

“I remember when I hit first form and fourth form I thought I was not going to go to first form because I did not have a social. They were charging a one thousand dollars fee for I believe in Escuela Mexico for you to be able to study. For CCC it was higher. I was not able to go to CCC but I went to Escuela Mexico. They opened up their doors for me and always was there. Until this day I can say that school still had my back. Until six form I went to the college right there and I was unable to finish sixth form due to financial hardships as well.”

Dropping out of sixth form due to financial hardship forced Cortez to seek employment, and the realities of being an illegal immigrant in Belize only kept piling on.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

“When I decided to stop sixth form and seek a job the first thing that everybody would ask would be for a social. I didn’t have a social, and doors were closed every time I would knock on a door they would say, “no, no”. No matter what kind of job you try to do in Belize as long as you don’t have a social no one will hire you, because no one will risk their license being taken away from you, their business license.”

After things fell apart with her mother, Cortez found refuge in a Pentecostal church. She lived there for months, with almost nothing and no job. But she didn’t stay down. She started selling fruits and vegetables on a tricycle for a local vendor, eventually saving enough to buy one of her own. It was a small beginning, but it marked her first real step toward rebuilding her life.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

“I remember my mom loaned me seventy-five dollars and I went to the market and bought like five pounds of each, oh my God I want to cry, I bought like five pounds of each item, and I went and sold and spined it over.”

From pushing a vegetable cart to running his own stall, selling produce didn’t just pay the bills for Cortez, it gave her purpose. In a country where she lived without legal status, that small hustle became her anchor, helping her carve out a place for herself one sale at a time.

Melvin “Bestie” Cortez

“The most common thing you would hear immigrants say in Belize, their Belizean bosses, no shade to any Belizean because I love you all, they are very chancey. When I say chancey, the rate is at five dollars and hour. They would pay you twenty dollars to work. Across the entire country there literally people who will make you clean an entire house for forty dollars, everything wash, clean, iron, the whole entire situation for forty dollars.”

After his video went viral, Cortez became a relatable voice for immigrants living without status in Belize. And her journey is far from over. The amnesty program helped her secure a temporary Social Security card, get a job, and finish her Tourism Management degree. Once an undocumented immigrant, Melvin “Bestie” Cortez is now a proud graduate of Centro Escolar Mexico. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Bestie’s Fight for Belonging Captivates Belize first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration

“So the ministry of immigration does not have purview over what you bring into the country. That is for customs and the police department. From what I am informed, based on media reports, he brought in the firearm into the country and was allowed to leave after that. The Immigration Department can only allow you to leave if you are cleared by the department. Clearly he was cleared by the department before he left.”

The Immigration Minister says his department simply clears travelers to leave once police and customs have done their part, adding that in this case, the businessman was cleared before departing the country.

The post Minister Responds to Airport Firearm Incident first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                    Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration

“The border crossing card is a new concept. We recently introduced it first at the Guatemalan border, but as it is only being utilized for the children who come across for school every single day. And let me make this very clear, they come across every single day acknowledging Belize is a separate country, and I think we have to accept that this perhaps is one of those phenomenon that you look at and say, this is what Belize is all about, welcoming others to our country. They’re not getting any residents, they’re not getting any immigration status, but merely to go to school and they have to pay their way in the institutions. It is something that is now streamlined on our side of the border. I know that officials, our diplomats in Guatemala, the Belizean Ambassador is working on their side to have it accepted, Belizean card accepted by the Guatemalan government. And so you might notice that only the children from Guatemala are using the border crossing part because it’s accepted on our side and on their side, they just accept the children back because they’re Guatemala. But in terms of the adults crossing, they still use the old foldout. Crossing document which is stamped each time, and it takes a very lengthy period for them to actually go over. And so we’re hoping that with some discussion on the Guatemalan side, they will accept the Belizean border crossing card because it’s something, like you said, it’s new, modern, digitized and it’s far more efficient.”

Reporter

“So the cast and who’s producing those?”

Kareem Musa

“I can get that for you. But those are produced by Belize. And we intend to implement it also in the Corozal free zone for all the workers that traverse each day to go into the free zone to work.”

The post Immigration Rolls Out Quick‑Scan Card for Daily Student Crossings first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

According to the press brief issued on Wednesday, the agreement will be formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Belize and the Government of the United States.

The announcement comes just days after Belize and the United States launched a biometric data‑sharing programme on January 12.

A programme that introduces fingerprint scanning and facial recognition technology at airports and key border crossings, aimed at tightening security and tracking movement more effectively.

The post Belize Teams Up with U.S. to Crack Down on Immigration Crime first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                                     Cesar Ross

Cesar Ross, Director, Good Governance Unit

“Today, we are here to present ourselves to our new CEO and to discuss our way forward, what our agenda will be for the upcoming months and for the upcoming year. We are charged particularly with looking at policies of good governance and introducing a good governance agenda. Whether it’s embracing policies from the Plan Belize or the medium-term development strategies, from UNCAC’s recommendations which is the United Nations’ Convention Against Corruption or from the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption under the OAS. What we are laying out are what are the deliverables that can be developed and delivered in the short term and the long term when it comes to looking at policies, when it comes to improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness by the different government agencies and the different government ministries. There are certain recommendations, both from Plan Belize, like the medium-term development strategies that have been endorsed by UNCAC and MESICIC, actually. Things like a Whistleblowers Act, promoting and pushing through a Whistleblower’s Act to protect people who want to report corruption at any levels of governance. There is also, for instance, the recommendation to introduce certain campaign finance legislation and policies that would make it much more clear how political parties and how elections are better coordinated in Belize.”

Here are our public‑interest questions: When will specific timelines and draft bills be published, and how will progress be measured? Who will enforce new rules and what penalties will have teeth? How will whistleblowers be kept safe in practice, not just on paper? If campaign‑finance transparency is coming, will parties and candidates disclose donors before the next election cycle? And in a reshuffled Cabinet, which ministry owns each deliverable, so responsibility doesn’t blur when politics shift?

The post Good Governance Unit Engages Ministry After Cabinet Shake-Up first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                                    Narda Garcia

Narda Garcia, CEO, Ministry of Investment

“We have a meeting on Friday, tomorrow, to look at exactly what will be the requirements. However, I can tell you from a broad perspective is that we have many investors that go through a lot coming into Belize. So for example, we have investors that have BPO in Panama and then have a BPO in Belize and they try to come in and they take them through the mill, so to speak. And that, we believe, is not conducive for investment. It’s not conducive for good business. So we are trying to facilitate that type of situation. And maybe later on we will know exactly what will be the requirements and how we will get to that, but that’s what we are trying to do.”

The post Government Grants Temporary Residencies for Foreign Investors first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                                 Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Lead UDP Senator

“I am willing to bet that if the media people were to take their cameras on the streets, like Two Cents Cam does sometimes, and ask the Belizean people what this means to them, they will tell you all they have no clue. I’m willing to bet that if you go in the churches. I’m willing to bet that if you go to the market. I’m willing to bet that if you go into the business places and ask the employers the potential employers, what is the full scale effect of Belize signing onto this and it coming into effect, today October 1^st; they will tell you that they don’t know, and that is to be put squarely on the shoulders of the government of Belize. One of the other, one of the other four countries, my friends, is Barbados, and the prime minister of Barbados held a press conference to inform. In fact, the minute. I repeat this from the last press conference, the foreign minister of Barbados, the minute he came back from the Jamaica CARICOM heads meeting, where the foreign minister sometimes attends, he went back and held a press conference in his country. And he was able to share what the sectors of the public were doing, what the various ministries were doing. He took on the tough questions, but in Belize, we don’t know. We have not a clue.”

The post Senator Faber Questions Public Awareness of CARICOM Agreement first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Reporter

“Do you know what the CARICOM Free Movement is?

Belize City Resident 1

No Ma’am.”

                         Belize City Resident 2

Belize City Resident 2

“I haven’t heard about it. If I want to travel over there, I’ll need my visa and passport to go over there.”

                       Belize City Resident 3

Belize City Resident 3

Not sure. Not quite.”

                         Belize City Resident 4

Belize City Resident 4

“CARICOM Free Movement. No.”

                  Belize City Resident 5

Belize City Resident 5

“Well its like an open border for them to travel and work, study. It’s a good opportunity them as well as its for us.”

                      Belize City Resident 6

Belize City Resident 6

 “That sounds like a scientific thing miss, what are you telling me about?”

                    Belize City Resident 7

Belize City Resident 7

“Well it’s very challenging for Belize because first of all, if you do a crime, you could migrate to any Caribbean countries or vice versa. So here in Belize I would take it as it has its advantages and disadvantages. A good advantage would be if you are a business person and you want to go to any Caribbean countries and want to promote your business, that would be very good. But we want system to be set up for crime, because with a wide country of crimes, we want to see crimes deplete. And also for this back and forth with the Caribbean and Belize and other countries and you could do crime and run to their countries we want that to be fixed. You know, got something in place for that. For the business aspect, it would promote Belize and we would promote other islands. So In that way, it’s good. So I look at it both ways. So that’s my opinion.”

The post How Much Do Belizeans Know About Free Movement? first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

In late July six foreign players entered Belize legally after they signed an agreement with Wagiya Sporting Club to play in the Premier League of Belize Opening Season. Almost two months later, all six players were arrested and sent to the Belize Central Prison for being in the country illegally. One of the players, Devien Bell, told News Five it was a traumatic experience.

                         Devien Bell

Devien Bell, American Athlete

“We were crying, stressed, we had to hug each other and make sure that we were good and it was a total side wipe of what we expected to happen. A lot of the guys said that they are traumatized. It is bad.”

The players were jailed not only because their visitor’s visa expired but also because they were still working, still practicing and playing games for Wagiya Sports Club. All of this with an expired visitor visa and no work visa. The Team’s Owner, Nelson Moss, admitted to News Five that he was aware of this situation, but he still allowed the players to continue to work.

Paul Lopez

“Yet they continued to work for you, practice and play. How should this be interpreted?”

                   Nelson Moss

Nelson Moss, Manager/Owner, Wagiya Sports Club

“It all falls under the tryout agreement we had with their agent. So, I was just holding true to that.”

The players didn’t expect this to be the case. That’s because, according to Bell, they handed their passports to Moss after arriving in Belize with the expectation that Moss would secure their work visas. But that never happened, and Moss allegedly held on to the passports even though the players were repeatedly asking for updates. So what was the reason for the delay?

Nelson Moss

“We had the issue with the money for the payment for the extension and that was to come from the agent. That is what I was waiting for.”

Well, News Five reached out to Mexican Football Agent, Bruno Guerrero for his perspective. For context, Guerrero has been a football agent for the past seven years, connecting players with teams. Bell and two of the Mexican players are clients of his. Guerrero says he is not to blame.

                          Bruno Guerrero

Bruno Guerrero, Football Agent

“It is bad, because it happened with three of my players, but it is a big opportunity for work and give better opportunities not only for the players, but for the teams and region and everything. That is what I think.”

Paul Lopez

“The owner of the Wagiya football club is saying that he was unable to process the work permit for these three players because you did not send the funds for those permits, was that the agreement?”

Bruno Guerrero

“It is not like that. But, like I said, my work is not to talk about anybody. I am working with different teams in all the world and if I say something it is because it is what it is. I don’t like to talk bad about nothing and this problem is with Dangriga in Wagiya. This problem happens with other teams too.”

In addition to having an expired visitor’s visa, no work visa and thrown into jail with hardened criminals, Bell says he did not receive any payment for his employment period with Wagiya.

Paul Lopez

“Were agreements ever made for them to paid during this period and was that to be from the club, the agent?”

Nelson Moss

“The agent himself said he was going to get that money for me to take care of that for them. As a matter of fact, the agent when he met with me, we did not talk about any payment. We talk about giving them an opportunity to move to another club and advancing their career in football.”

Is ATIPS Investigating Wagiya SC?

Paul Lopez

“Who was suppose to pay them and give them their allowance and stipend for going to practice and play games?”

Bruno Guerrero

“The owner for the team, the owner for the team is to be there to work in that. We talked about that. I can’t do nothing because, in my work I am in the middle.”

Guerrero praised Belize and sees the experience as a chance to improve football there. He intends to continue working with local athletes. Meanwhile, concerns grow over the Premier League’s oversight of foreign players’ legal status and compensation.

                       Ian Haylock

Ian Haylock, President, Premier League of Belize

“But again, we have a league a federation to ensure there is some sort of platform that is there to assist clubs, to assist the league from a federation perspective to ensure that players are handled properly, that clubs fulfil their obligations, and that the league try to ensure hat measures are in place to ensure that clubs and players are up to date with their legal requirements.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

The post Foreign Player Agent Weighs in on Football Investigation first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It is nobody’s dream to go to another country to play the sport they love only to end up behind bars and later deported to their homeland. But that is what American football athlete Devien Bell says he experienced when he came to Belize to play for Wagiya Sporting Club. So, how did it get to that? Well, Bell claims that it wasn’t his fault. He says his passport was withheld by the team’s manager, Nelson Moss. Bell’s visitor’s visa later expired, and before he knew it, Bell was illegally in Belize.

Devien Bell

Devien Bell, American Athlete

“From the beginning it was not just me, it was players from other countries. When we all finally got together, we started talking about how we got here and what our plans were. We all came in with a visitors pass on our documents. So, we got in contact with the president after a few days. He finally picked us up from the hotel and we were asking him based on what we talked about in the contract if we will get a work visa or an extension. So, we were promised a work visa from the beginning. We gave him money, paid him in order to get the work visa to work for him.”

Bell is referring to Moss, who is also the owner of Wagiya. Moss has been at the helm of the team for the past two decades. Wagiya is one of the oldest semi-pro teams in Belize. Moss does not deny receiving the foreign players’ travel documents but says he was only trying to help them get their work permits.

Nelson Moss

Nelson Moss, Manager/Owner, Wagiya Sporting Club

“They started training, we got the accommodation, everything in place for them. Everything went well, training, basically playing couple matches. The one month expired, cause there was an issue with the scout who should have provided the money for all of that and that money took a while to come and it overlapped into the one month. So, we had an issue there. By the time that money came it was time to take them to Belmopan, and that is when the issue started.”

So, American athlete Devien Bell claims that they provided the funds for the work permit in the initial phase, while Moss says he was waiting for the money from the players’ agents. Moss claims that those finally came, but communication obtained by News Five between Moss and Bell shows that Moss requested that Bell’s parents use Zelle to transfer three hundred and fifty US dollars, or seven hundred Belize, to address the issue. Two hundred Belize per month for three months for immigration fees and one hundred for service fees. When Bell inquired about the service fee, Moss responded, saying (quote), “you have to pay the man to use his Zelle account, Sergio Chuc.”

Chuc is the president of the Football Federation of Belize. We asked President Chuc about the transaction. He told News 5 “He did ask me if I can accept a Zelle of 200 in my account since he does not have that app.  The money never came and later he said it was a player’s mom sending money for the player visa extension”. On September first, Bell gave Moss two hundred U.S. dollars for passport renewal and the American athlete made sure to have Moss sign for the funds on a piece of ripped paper. This amateur video, captured by one of the players, reveals one instance where they queried about their documents and Moss’s response.

Voice of: Nelson Moss

“En este semana, voy a regular todos passaportes, con permisso deh trabajo.  Manana voy a la frontera para triel todo en regrasse a la tarde.”

Voice of: Foreign Player

“And he says the passport will be given on Monday?”

Voice of Foreign Player

“On the week, maybe on Monday, but it is during the week?”

And the discrepancies persist. In this letter dated August twenty-seventh, to Immigration Director Deborah Baptist Estrada, signed by the league’s General Secretary, Wilhelm Miguel, Devien Bell is referred to as a coach for Wagiya, participating in the PLB 2025 season. League President Ian Haylock has confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Ian Haylock, President, Premier League of Belize

“Yes you had a club who had a responsibility in respect to the players. That was only brought to the attention of the league when the incident happened. Currently, both the league and the federation are in discussion. An internal investigation is underway to see what is the basis of these allegations and we holistically are putting together an investigation to see what will be unveiled from that investigation.”

Is ATIPS Investigating Wagiya SC?

Bell recounted his experience behind bars at the Belize Central Prison.

Devien Bell

“My parents and others had to call the government and the federation to figure out, we were suppose to get out two days ago and now it is fourth day and now we were in there with bad criminals, we were in there with core and they were talking about how there were drug smugglers, murderers, rapists and we are just a bunch of young adults, not even twenty-one and we are in here because of what we feel like is someone else action got us here. I know a couple of the guys, in there including, myself, we were crying, stressed, we had to hug each other and make sure we were good. It was a complete side swipe of what we expected to happen.”

We will continue to press the league and the federation for updates on their investigation. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

The post Six Wagiya SC Foreign Players Deported Amidst Immigration Woes first appeared on Greater Belize Media.