Wednesday morning began in San Jose Village, where officials unveiled an upgraded system designed for long-term reliability. The project includes solar panels and a backup generator to ensure consistent water service.

Later, in Yemeri Grove, a new water system was launched to meet the growing needs of residents. Until now, the village had to share a water supply with neighbouring Laguna, which created challenges for both communities.

The system includes a production well, a raised reservoir, and a submersible pump, all connected to the distribution network and BEL power, providing reliable water to 121 households.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister Oscar Requena, UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist Dr Olusola Oladeji, Ministry CEO Valentino Shal, village leaders, and community members.

The post Running Water for Two Villages in Toledo first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It all kicked off with the unmistakable sound of the south, marimba music floating through the air as dancers, dressed in their vibrant traditional wear, glided across the plaza with effortless grace. Residents came out on Monday for the opening of the Punta Gorda Welcome Center, a new landmark designed to showcase the soul of the Toledo District.

                                  Carlos Galvez

Carlos Galvez, Mayor, Punta Gorda

“They say Dangrgia is the Culture Capital. I wont dispute that. But I can tell you that Punta Gorda Town and the Toledo District have the very important ingredient, diverse culture. We have it all right here in this district and we need to build on that and sell what we have. All the different ethics groups are here.”

The new center, an eight‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar investment, now stands just steps from the shoreline, greeting visitors with sweeping views of PG’s coast and an open invitation to explore the district’s rich heritage. Inside, it doubles as a one‑stop information hub, guiding travelers to the best of the south: from cultural hotspots to ecological treasures and all the unique experiences in between. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler says the Toledo District is filled with wealth untold.

                              Anthony Mahler

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“We have wealth untold. Just look at the Snake Cayes. Look at all the amenities, Lubantun, Nimlipunit, the mountains, the cocoa growing you have going on down here. The indigenous people, all that you have here, we have everything. The growth path and development for tourism is in the south, the deep south. We have had consultants from the Caribbean. WE have had consultants from the U.S. We have had consultants from Canada and they have said the same thing. My God Toledo has wealth untold, just like the anthem says.”

But it is more than a point of reference. The design, the displays, and the celebration all reflect a deep intention to preserve and promote the multi‑ethnic identity that makes Toledo unlike any other district in Belize. Toledo East Area Representative Osmond Martinez emphasized this point.

                               Osmond Martinez

Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East

“When you have a diamond and you get a solid piece of rock, that diamond will not be able to make it to the market and be appealing to the people if it does not go through its process and today that wonderful diamond is going through its process. Today the building you are getting, the Welcome Center is not just walls and here to beautify the Punta Gorda Town and by extension the Toledo District and Belize. It is also here to a main purpose and a role and that is to promote our tourism sector in Belize.”

Inside the building, visitors can experience the stunning art exhibit “Pieces for Peace,” curated by cultural scholar and artist Doctor Ludwig Palacio. His collection weaves together the district’s Maya, Garifuna, East Indian, Mestizo, and Creole influences, each piece encouraging unity in a region where diversity has always been its strength.

                             Efren Perez

Efren Perez, President, Belize Tourism Industry Association

“I think it is a very opportune moment for us, especially for the BTIA and its chapters in Toledo. WE are definitely working to enhance our visibility in tourism. We are working directly with stakeholders and partners. This provides us a platform and venue to do multiple things  in working towards enhancing the tourism environment in Toledo and really showcasing it, not only to locals but also to our international guests.”

The Punta Gorda Welcome Center has officially opened its doors, poised to become a cultural gathering point for both residents and visitors, and a proud showcase of the Toledo District’s rich heritage. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

The post PG Unveils New Cultural Landmark Celebrating Toledo’s Living Heritage first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                                        Lizette Bell

Lizette Bell, Deputy Director of Hospital Services, MOHW

“We are in the process of doing a feasibility study for the possible development of two new hospitals. One of them is in Punta Gorda Town and the other is in Orange Walk. So with regards to the Punta Gorda Hospital project, as that facility has been there for almost fifty-five years, the facility has really outgrown its current needs and capacity. It is important for us to look at the functionality of the current facility and that is going to determine whether we progress to a new one. There are other factors that we also consider with the Punta Gorda Hospital. For example, the issue of the distance it has to the next level of care. As its referrals center is Stann Creek, the Southern Regional Hospital. So it’s almost two hours away from the next level of care and it does not have surgical services offered at Punta Gorda. With regards to the Northern Regional Hospital similarly we are at the point of doing the feasibility study. That facility however is almost forty-four years old and you can see that the facility literally also has outgrown its capacity. There are many times our maternity ward is at a bit occupancy of over a hundred percent where we have to be finding space in the surgical unit to host these patients. The emergency room, I know you are aware that the emergency room as well is very small. The area for accessing for trauma care and even the observation. The population in Orange Walk has been growing. We must remember too that the Northern Regional Hospital also provides services to Corozal District.”

The post Government Moves Forward on Two New Regional Hospitals first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                         ACP Hilberto Romero,

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crime Investigation Branch

“We are following up on a missing person report of Alred Pliel, a Canadian national. We received information about a week ago that he had not gone to where he usually dines. He has not been seen since in Punta Gorda. We are making checks and doing searches, but so far he has not been found.”

Reporter

“Reports indicated that he was found in a shallow grave.”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“That is incorrect. He has not been found at this time. The only thing we found was his car in Punta Gorda.  He use to hang out with some friends in Punta Gorda. Those persons have been interviewed. But we have no leads as to his whereabouts at this time. He lived in Punta Gorda a couple months.”

The post Urgent Search for Missing Canadian in PG first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“This investigation commence on fourteenth December when officers attached to the Punta Goda police station were advised that two male persons were seeking medical attention at the Punta Goda Hospital for stabs that they had sustained. What the investigators have discovered so far in the course of this investigation is that the male persons were along with a relative socializing, and when they asked this particular relative to depart she is reported to have broken up pint battles, which she used to inflict the injuries on these individuals. The relative has since been detained as a part of this ongoing investigation.”

The post Toledo Woman Arrested for Stabbing Two Brothers first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

According to ASP Stacy Smith of the Belize Police Department, “Investigators have so far established that approximately 11:30 PM on the aforementioned date, 25-year-old Kelly Stevens and 41-year-old Martin were at an establishment on George Price Street in Punta Gorda Town when a male person entered that establishment and fired several shots at them, which resulted in their injury.”

During the investigation, police reviewed multiple surveillance videos, which proved to be of evidential value. Bennett, who had been identified as a person of interest, was initially detained shortly after the incident. “At that time of his detention, he gave police a false name,” said ASP Smith. “He was charged with mischievous act and was subsequently released, as at that time sufficient information was not there to lay a charge against him.”

As investigators continued their work, they gathered the necessary evidence to issue charges and a wanted person poster. When attempts to locate Bennett in Punta Gorda proved unsuccessful, officers in the Western region apprehended him in Camalota Village and handed him over to Punta Gorda investigators, where he was charged with attempted murder.

Regarding the motive, ASP Smith stated, “The motive that we are suspecting to have caused this incident is drug related. As a matter of fact, as a part of police investigation into that incident, an operation was launched by the GI3 personnel in their continued efforts to stem the illicit trafficking of drugs in that area.”

The operation included searches at a residence on Queen Street and an unoccupied property. During the course of the search, police recovered “a nine millimeter pistol, two nine millimeter magazines, one of which is an extended magazine, 31 live rounds of nine millimeter ammunition and approximately 60 grams of crack cocaine separated in just under 300 small parcels.”

“The firearm, believed to have been used in the shooting of Martin and Stevens, was packaged and submitted to the National Forensic Science Services Laboratory for them to conduct testing to determine whether it was in fact used in that incident,” ASP Smith added.

The post Police Charge 24-Year-Old for PG Shooting, Motive Established first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

According to police, “The ongoing investigation commenced in November 2025. The female, who was accompanied by a social worker and a family member, reported that during the months of October and November 2025, two of her brothers allegedly had sexual relations with her on several occasions, while her stepfather allegedly sexually assaulted her.”

This is a developing story…

The post Minor Raped By Her Two Brothers, Assaulted by Stepfather first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                                 ASP Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Crimes Investigative Branch of the Bella Vista Police Station are investigating the death of thirty-five-year-old Guatemalan national Marcus Che. Initial investigation reveals that on Saturday eight of November around eleven forty -seven a.m., Che was inside his barbershop, namely, “Barberia Che”, when an unknown male person who wore a full-face motorcycle helmet entered that establishment and fired a number of shots at Che, fatally wounding him. The male person who arrived at the establishment on a motorcycle subsequently made good his escape. The investigators have detained one person who may be able to aid in the investigation and have also retrieved and is in the process of reviewing several video footages which are believed to be of evidential help. No motive has been conclusively identified; however, we are following up on a number of theories.”

The post Bella Vista Barber Gunned Down in Broad Daylight first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

What you’re seeing in these videos might look unusual, firearm parts being shoveled into a ditch. But don’t worry, they’re not being buried and forgotten. In fact, they’re about to become part of something new. Over the past three years, the Belize Police Department has collected a huge amount of damaged and discarded gun parts. And now, instead of letting them sit in storage, those pieces will help form the foundation of the new Bella Vista Police Station. Construction is officially underway, and Magistrate Mannon Dennison, who serves on the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board, says this is a smart way to put old parts to good use.

          Voice of: Magistrate Mannon Dennison

Voice of: Magistrate Mannon Dennison, Member, Firearms and Ammunition Control Board

“What is unique about this event is that we will be putting in the foundation discarded and damaged firearm parts, parts that came about as a result of firearm destruction imitative over the past three years. The parts were stored simply because we did not have a way to safely dispose of them. One issue many Caribbean countries have been having is how you dispose of them and that is why we have so much parts accumulating over a period of time, because we do not have a safe way to dispose of them. One suggestion given on one of the training we went on is that when they build government buildings they put the parts in the foundation. That allows for safe disposal in an environmentally friendly manner.”

Belize is a signatory to the Caribbean Firearm Roadmap, which means tossing out old gun parts isn’t as simple as it sounds. In fact, figuring out what to do with damaged and discarded firearm pieces has been a hot topic among CARICOM nations. So, what’s Belize’s solution? According to Jason Francis, Senior Policy Advisor at the Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development, Belize has come up with an innovative approach, and it’s turning heads.

                             Jason Francis

Jason Francis, Senior Policy Advisor, UNLIREC

“Belize has embarked on an innovative initiative by taking those cut pieces of metals and disposing of them in the foundation of a police building here. What that means is that those firearms that have been destroyed will never end up in circulation to harm another Belizean or another individual at all.”

As for the importance of the new police station to the residents of Bella Vista Village, Chairman Jose Morales says the population is growing and the security needs are ever increasing.

                         Jose Morales

Jose Morales, Chairman, Bella Vista Village

“We almost have ten thousand people living in our community and as a growing community we believe this centurion of a new police station is a very important project towards our growing community.”

Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa says this construction project is only the start of several new police stations to come, particularly in San Narciso and Santa Elena.

                                  Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Today we are starting the construction of the Bella Vista Police Station which is going to provide security for all of the resident of Bella Vista and surrounding villages and we are extremely excited about this project because it kicks off a series of other police stations that will be constructed across the country, including San Narciso, Santa Elena and much more. In addition to that there is the added benefit of the safe destruction and disposal of so many confiscated firearms that has been accumulated over the last few years.”

The firearm disposal was witnessed by Magistrate Mannon Dennison. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

The post Discarded Firearms Form Foundation of New Police Station first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Flores outshone five other contestants to claim the title in front of a lively crowd celebrating Belize’s Independence festivities.

Currently a Tourism Management student at Independence Junior College, Flores also dreams of becoming an agriculture entrepreneur. She says her vision extends beyond farming: “I hope to cultivate opportunity, especially for young women in rural communities who deserve to see themselves as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.”

The post Ruby Flores Crowned Miss Independence Bella Vista 2025-2026 first appeared on Greater Belize Media.