Anita Nembhard highlights struggle to get police officer to charge woman who assaulted her

In mid-October, court news reporter Anita Nembhard filed a report against Ephifania Caliz after Caliz allegedly assaulted her. Caliz, the wife of accused murderer Elmer Nah, was exiting the Belize City Magistrate’s Court when she pulled down her mask and allegedly coughed in Nembhard’s face. Today, Caliz was arraigned before Magistrate Khiana Gordon on a single count of common assault. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail of eight hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same, which she managed to meet. Her trial was adjourned for January 3, 2024. Nembhard, who has spent the last 21 years reporting court news, says she had to struggle to get the police to charge Caliz.

Anita Nembhard, Court Reporter: “From the first time I went to give my report I had worse feeling when I went into the Belama police station but I also did what I was supposed to do I gave a report only to find out a week later that my report was not supposed to have been given at that station and elsewhere. And then I get dragged out of court to give another report and another report. Like I’ve given two reports already why has nothing been done ? But I have to give credit to the inspector who actually saw that wrong was being done to me and came called me, investigated the matter even when I was out of the country for a couple days he did what he was supposed to do and when I came back I finally saw something being done and he told me that we finally been able to find her and she will be charged and he told me today was the date. I personally had to actually go and do a lot of stuff and question a whole lot of stuff why they were dragging their feet. I have to just always say congrats to who chooses to do their job but we’re not supposed to pray and hope they do their job. The department is there to do a job, investigate all sides and then do what you’re supposed to do. I challenge the department to do their job. I don’t care who it is all of us in this country deserve that the department will do their job when we go and we make a report. Because if I decided to have done something that day to Ms.Caliz my right would have turned wrong. All I want them to do is to do their job.”

The Government of Belize recently introduced amendments to Belize’s Criminal code to allow for greater protection of the media, public offers, and the judiciary by redefining some offenses and increasing the penalties.