And while Belmopan grapes with that stunning and unprecedented event, the holiday weekend started with another, a domestic tragedy that sent shockwaves throughout the entire city.
The City Administrator - the woman whose job it was to keep this city functioning - was killed by her own husband in their bedroom.
Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt had been with her husband, Oswald "Wally" Garbutt - the owner of Blue Steel Sounds - for over a decade. But on Saturday morning at around 8:30, the couple reportedly had an argument, which led to Garbutt pulling out his licensed firearm and firing two shots, one that killed his wife, and the other that took his own life.
Garbutt's brother, who was downstairs, heard the shots and tried calling them. But when he started seeing blood leaking through the floor, he rushed upstairs to find his brother and sister-in-law's bodies.
But what led to the death of a couple with no previous reports of domestic violence? That's the question on the minds of those closest to Lindo-Garbutt.
While her family is too devastated to speak, her team at the City Hall - who have yet to be sworn in - gathered today to remember her.
Courtney Menzies has this story.
Black bows were hung across the city as City Hall employees mourned the loss of Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt, the city administrator for the last six years.
Lindo-Garbutt was shot dead on Saturday morning by her husband, Oswald "Wally" Garbutt, who then took his own life. It happened inside their home on Freetown Road, while their teenage son was there.
While her own family is still trying to come to terms with her sudden death, for her City Council family - who just came off a major win last Wednesday - they say they never expected that she wouldn't be part of their team during this term.
Three days after the murder, they were still in disbelief.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"Shock, frozen in time, I'm still shocked actually, this whole weekend has been a weekend where I'm on the edge like always anticipating like something tragic would happen and so this continues, I know we'll have to heal as a group and I know I have the support of my council, I'm glad to have them around this morning, some of them at least and I know I have that supporting team around me because myself and the City Admin really were the people on a day to day basis led the city so I'm glad I have the support here as well as my team members."
Allan Pollard, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"For me, it's like I'm really still trying to process it, it's very unbelievable, shocking, and it just feels like a bad dream. CA was a lot of things, CA was a hard worker, she was almost robotic in carrying out her tasks, seamless, she worked long hours. One thing she, like mayor said, she was strong willed and she believe in doing whatever it took to make sure the city was in a better position and that is something that I find very honorable."
Stephanne Hamilton, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"When I received the news on Saturday, for me it was a nightmare, I actually could not believe it, I had to make several calls to ensure that indeed we were going through this and for me it's like a devastation. Actually on Wednesday, Stephanie texted me on Monday to wish me all the best and when she received the results, again she was championing me, she said, Councillor, you deserve it, you worked hard. And Stephanie and I had both a professional and a personal relationship."
"We will ensure that we take her legacy because her first and foremost priority was the residence of Belize City."
Javier Castellanos, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"Her husband, I knew them because I grew up on Zeriocte Street and they were on Santa Barbara Street so I grew up with them, all of the guys, they towered me so we couldn't play basketball with them so he was always on my side playing basketball. His sister I went to high school with her, maybe two classes behind them, but I knew them. As one of the 2018 councillors, one of the senior councillors, I knew how to operate with her and when we left the caucus it was very professional so I share my condolences to the family and to everyone."
And though the staff knew the couple, they may not have known was happened behind closed doors. Reports are that their marriage was tumultuous, but the mayor said that - if it was - Lindo-Garbutt hid it well.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"To the best of my knowledge, she didn't demonstrate any sort of signs. I have meetings with the City Administrator every Monday morning and sometimes twice per week. I never saw any signs in respect to domestic violence. But we know domestic violence is prevalent globally, actually it has become a sort of epidemic in itself and we have to at all time be cognizant and be aware of it, that it exists. We may never know when it is there but we have to be mindful at all time that domestic violence and violence against women and children is very prevalent in these times."
And it's not just the City Hall staff who will feel the impact - according to the mayor, it's a loss for the entire city.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"This is a tragic loss for the city, for the family, for all of us as council members and so we grieve and it's a huge loss for us at City Hall, for the city, given the work and the professionalism she has shown throughout the six years she has been leading the city in respect to ensuring that we operate according to the regulations that govern any city and so she'll be missed, she certainly will be missed and there's not enough words to say the impact, the positive impact she has had on the city, in the Belize City Council in leading the efforts for the past six years."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is there any particular project that she was maybe working on prior to elections that you're maybe excited to see some though in her honor?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"The beautification of Holy Emmanuel, they sent a photo this morning in our group where they were doing the planters on the Holy Emmanuel Boulevard and the planters, that was her project, she wanted to see some green along that entire stretch, benches, canisters for garbage, she wanted to see the e-taxis launch, e-buses, it's sad that she won't be able to see those key projects that are underway."
And she won't be able to head into the new term with the new council - but she ensured to congratulate the slate after the elections. They say it was the last text they received from her.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"It's rough, her last text to me was on election night and to see how her mind works. She was on the phone about 1:33 in the night just left the city after I had completed some interviews and she said, mayor, congrats on your big victory, you worked hard for this victory, I'm looking forward ahead to the great things we have planned for this city and that was my last text that I have of her and so it's a rough time for myself."
And one thing the mayor and councillors-elect agreed on was that though Lindo-Garbutt was strong willed, she only wanted the best for the council and the city.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor-Elect, Belize City
"Stephanie was, I wouldn't say that we always say eye to eye but she covered some of my weaknesses and in return I covered some of her weaknesses. I would say what I was weak in, she provided that support and what she was weak in, I provided that support as well so we worked in tandem as a team and ensuring that at the end of the day we look out for the best interest at all times of the city and the staff."
Allan Pollard, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"We had our moments when we buck heads and I'm trying to do something my way and she's trying to get it done her way but at the end of the day we'd always resolve our issues, because at the end of the day what we're trying to do, we both understand is for the best interest of the city and so far over time our relationship really grew into something that I found to be very helpful in my political career."
Eluide Miller, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"I think mayor and our councillors-elect could all attest to the fact that she was a great critical thinker and so she was a good advisor and even in my transition from moving as a staff member and moving into the political scene, she offered great advice and she always expressed how excited she was for me and this new opportunity and all that the future held for myself."
Edmund Kwan, Councillor-Elect, Belize City
"Words can't express how I'm feeling right now, I'm still in this shock, definitely she will be very hard to be replaced."
Lindo-Garbutt leaves behind one son.
Just before news time, the family of Lindo-Garbutt issued a statement, saying that they have been trying to come to terms with the loss. They also said, quote, "Steph has always pushed boundaries and moved mountains that would give others pause. Her fighting and fearless spirit laid the foundation for the amazing woman she became. Steph was a tenacious manager for the city she loved. She always showed up and stood up. Her creativity, vibrance and commitment make us proud. These qualities were no match for her tender soul." End quote.
The statement ends by saying that the Lindo family will now focus its energy on her son.
Notably, this femicide occurred during Women's Month. The PUP's United Women's Group issued a release expressing their condolences and their grief. The release also said that this untimely death serves as a reminder of the need to take action against gender based violence. Such actions include supporting survivors, raising awareness, promoting empowerment, and advocating for policy changes.
