In Belize Rural North, the area of the country hardest hit by Hurricane Earl, flood relief continues. The Relief Supplies Management Committee is mobilizing outreach to people in affected communities with food, water and cleaning supplies. Area Representative Edmund Castro, who is also the Minister for NEMO, says that the area of primary concern in the aftermath of Earl is the Belize River Valley.
“Every help that we could get at this time, in the time of need and disaster and the stress that our people are going through, especially in the hurricane belt where the hurricane went through, is much appreciated. It was hit hard or hardest, I believe, in the Belize District area and also in the Cayo District. My constituency was very much affected and I feel the pain of the people in my constituency and across this country, each and every person that has been affected somewhat, whether they lost two sheets of zinc or half of their house blown down or their entire dwelling was destroyed. In most cases, as we go through the different parts of the country, it may not necessarily affect them by blowing away their houses but majority of their things or the things inside of their houses were damaged; bedding, TV, everything. It’s a mess out there and we appreciate every help that we could get and as a friend of Belize, I think Taiwan reaches out to us as a country and we’re always there as brother and sister nations and we are very thankful and I can’t say enough thanks. Thank you ambassador and thank you for having us here and making this contribution to our country at this time of stress.”
The pledges and donations that are coming in are presently being handled by the NEMO National Foreign Assistance Committee chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please make sure the people that are in need, those that were affected by the disaster receive the assistance. Be accountable to the people and governments that provide the help.
In other news, four months after the murder of Carlos Espat, police picked up Nicaraguan National Sylvio Espinoza on Monday. Today he was arraigned for the Murder of forty-seven year old Espat, who was bludgeoned to death on September fourth. Espinoza is said to have known Espat for some time and had been to his apartment at the corner of Albert and King Streets on several occasions. According to information, Espinoza gave a statement to police in which he said that he had struggled in the living room with Espat, who was found dead in the bathroom. In the court of Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie this morning, the Nicaraguan National had to be provided with a translator because he speaks no English and the first matter under question was his immigration status. Espinoza’s brother told the court on his behalf that he came to Belize on a work permit and has been here for at least three years. His brother also noted that Espinoza’s visa recently expired and he lost his passport. The charge of murder was then read to him, and the Chief Magistrate explained that no plea would be taken and that his case would go through a preliminary inquiry to determine whether or not he will stand trial in the Supreme Court. After the arraignment, Espinoza’s brother sought the services of Attorney Dickie Bradley. And while it didn’t come out in court, Espinoza is said to have shown Bradley injuries on his chest and hand that he sustained, allegedly at the hands of police. That matter will be raised when the case comes back to court on January fourteenth. Espat, who was well known in political and educational circles, was found with injuries on the head and chest, caused by a blunt object. There was no evidence of forced entry at the apartment.
Carlos was a honorable and respectful student to me at Holy Redeemer.Surprised at how his death was such low profile in the media.If this Guy is guilty,hang him.
Nicaraguan National arrainged for Espat’s murder and we talking about amnesty.Maybe we need to start doing background checks and then Amnesty.
I agree with BZEpeace, what is the motive, I bet the court know but they won’t broadcast it to protect the reputation of the dead!
y do we allow immigrants to come in our country and do as they feel???? I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF THE IMMIGRATIONS DEPARTMENT WOULD GO DOOR TO DOOR AND WEED OUT THESE IMMIGRANTS!!! They are only adding more burden to Belize’s economy!!!! We certainly cannot do that in their country!!!!
Blah…Blah…Blah, what’s the motive behind him killing Mr. Espat?????? That’s what we all want to know.
I want to see you thread this needle Dickie, Mr. Espat was a prominent member of your party. Last week, you were representing the Guatemalan woman, this week, the Salvadorian boy is knocking on your door. When will we begin to require that lawyers to disclose their fees & verify the source of their clients income.
In Belize, no one really minds their own business, what is the word on the streets? None of the newspapers or TV stations will risk a lawsuit or any party’s wrath by doing a good ole kruffy yerrisoh. Remember the saying “If da noh soh, dah naily soh”. The truth will come out… one day.
What cause him to blunge this man to death? People need to learn how to walk away before things get out of control. Shame, we importing criminals as if we don’t have enough home grown fools.
Belize City police have arrested the thirty-five year old mother of three they detained following Tuesday’s fire on Collet Canal. The woman, Salvadoran Mirna Nunez, has been charged with child neglect. Authorities say Nunez’s three, six, and seven year old children were left home alone in their apartment where it is alleged that they set a mattress on fire. The young children have been placed with Social Services pending a resolution of the case.
In other court news, today a teenager was arraigned in connection with the death of another young man. Eighteen year old Clarence Hemmans appeared before Magistrate Dorothy Flowers where he was formally charged with the murder of twenty-one year old Kevin “Butto” Arnold. The victim was shot at least three times around eight on Sunday night by a lone gunman on Armadillo Street. The accused has been remanded to Hattieville Prison until July fifth.
Two men are tonight free from the charge of murder; Adelso Picon Rodriguez and Nilo Morales Valdez who were accused of the March 2010 murder of Valentin Duarte which occurred in Cowpen Village, Stann Creek District. Duarte was shot on March nineteen and hospitalized for five days until he succumbed to injuries on March twenty-fourth, 2010. The case was tried in the southern regional session of the Supreme Court. The prosecutor was Senior Crown Counsel Linbert Willis who called eight witnesses. The most crucial testimony came from Duarte’s wife, who was the only eye witness to the murder. But the case hinged on identification of the men and Duarte’s wife did not give the police a proper description of the men she claimed killed her husband providing only a vague description. The duo accused of the murder were both Guatemalans and were in the country illegally. Allegations were that there was a third man but she made no mention of that person. Duarte’s wife had identified Picon and Morales in an ID parade, but during the trial, she told the court that when the two accused were arrested, the police showed her a picture of Picon and told her his name. The attorneys argued that the ID parade was flawed and that the prosecution failed to show that there was a joint enterprise even though there was mention of a third man who could have fled back to Guatemala. Attorney for Picon was Michelle Trapp-Zuniga of the Legal Aid office. She submitted numerous reasons why the ID parade was tainted. The two accused gave caution statements, but did not implicate themselves in the murder. They merely stated that they went to a shop to meet Duarte because he was selling a piece of land. The judge accepted no case submissions and the trial ended in the acquittal of both men before Justice Denis S. Hanomansingh in the trial by judge without jury.
Again the police foul up a case due to ineptness. They can’t even get the basic investigation done right.
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