June, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Stronger Together, Rising Forever: Belize at 44

September might still be months away, but the excitement for Belize’s 44th Independence anniversary is already building. This afternoon, the National Celebrations Commission officially revealed this year’s patriotic theme at a lively ceremony held at the Belize House of Culture. The winning theme? “Stronger Together, Rising Forever.” And for the first time, two individuals share the spotlight as co-winners. Their powerful message was chosen from hundreds of entries submitted by proud Belizeans across the country. We caught up with the two men behind the theme to learn more about their inspiration and what this message means for Belize as the nation prepares to celebrate another year of independence.

David Pena, Winner

“I was seeing how together as the Belizeans, we can be stronger, as the theme says stronger together, and we can rise together as Belize.”

Reporter

“Is this is the first time you’ve entered the competition?”

David Pena

“No, I entered last year also, and then I got inspired by my parents this year.”

Reporter

“So how did it make you feel to know when you finally won?”

David Pena

“Actually when I reached from college after school, myy parents told me I have something to tell you. And I was worried like, if I do something bad, and then they told me how I win and then I said, I can’t believe it. And and I cried to then they showed me the picture where I was invited to right here.”

Holly Vasquez, Winner

“It was my first time entering the competition and I’m a person into the international pride, and I was sitting and pondering upon the team and I said, what a fitting team for this year. Belize at forty-four, stronger together, rising forever. Belize has been through a lot of economic hardship. We went through the pandemic and we managed to rise above it, so it was just fitting that I put that team together and it was selected by me and Mr. David, and it came as a shock to me as well, that I was selected as one of the winner as well. So I’m grateful for it and it’s just fitting for this year’s theme.”

Gunfire Erupts on Victoria Street, One Man in Custody

A routine police checkpoint turned violent on Tuesday night when gunfire broke out near Victoria Street in Belize City. The incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m., just a few blocks from where officers were stationed on New Road.

According to ASP Stacy Smith, “An officer who was posted at the checkpoint located on New Road in Belize City reported that whilst on duty, he heard shots coming from the direction of Victoria Street to which he responded.”

The officer proceeded toward the sound of gunfire and encountered a man behaving suspiciously. When he ordered the man to stop, the situation quickly escalated. “He observed an individual who he saw in a suspicious manner and instructed him to stop and that person responded by firing shots at the officer,” ASP Smith explained. “The officer, in turn, returned shots in the direction of the individual.”

Police have since detained one man, identified as Clive Hendricks, in connection with the shooting. A firearm was also recovered as part of the ongoing investigation.

Child Raped By Stepfather in Corozal

Police say that a 12-year-old girl was raped by her stepfather in Corozal.

The investigation began on May 29, when a woman and her daughter visited the Corozal Police Station to report a series of incidents involving the child’s stepfather. The girl disclosed that the abuse began in June 2019, when she was allegedly subjected to inappropriate touching and forced contact. She further reported that the abuse escalated to sexual intercourse later that year and occurred again on two separate occasions in 2025.

A medical examination was conducted following the report, and a medical officer confirmed that the minor had been carnally known.

KHMHWU: ‘Every Time We Want a Meeting, We Have to Demonstrate’

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Workers’ Union (KHMHWU) is calling on the government to urgently address unresolved pension concerns affecting hundreds of employees.

According to the union president, Andrew Baird, workers have been in a “struggle” for nearly six years to secure pension benefits promised under the Karl Heusner Act.

He said this morning during Open Your Eyes that while a mandatory provident fund was introduced for new employees from January 1, 2018, workers employed between 2000 and 2017 were left without any pension or fund coverage.

“Those workers, according to the Karl Heusner Act, in Section Eight, it states that the workers at Karl Heusner are pensionable in accordance with the Pension Act. So our claim is for those services,” Baird stated.

He added that while some older staff opted into the voluntary fund, many did not and remain without any pension plan. Of the 1,700 KHMH employees, around 350 are union members, mostly senior staff affected by this gap.

“From day one, our position is that we want full pension, and we’ve always said that we are open to flexibility,” Baird said.

Vice President Dr Alain Gonzalez said these workers have received no compensation for years of service and that union leaders have repeatedly sent requests for meetings with the government but have gone unanswered.

“It seems like every time we want a meeting with the government, we have to go to a demonstration… We have communicated with the government three times, and they have lacked to communicate back to us; they haven’t returned our emails, and they haven’t come back to us. And so we are like, These people are not taking us serious, and so this is why we get to the point of demonstrating and doing the plan of action because we have to make sure we are being heard; our hospital is the number one referral hospital in the entire country, the only tertiary hospital,” Gonzalez stated.

Baird warned that further industrial action is possible, stating, “We do not want our plan of action to extend to where we have to send in 21 days notice of strike action, even to work slow.”

This standoff with the government is part of an even bigger wave of unrest, as the Public Service Union and the Belize National Teachers’ Union have also launched their own protests and industrial actions over the past few days.

Minister Usher Urges Constructive Dialogue Amid Teachers’ Protests

Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher weighed in on the ongoing protest actions by teachers. He said there is need for open and respectful communication between the government and the unions.

Usher stated he supports the unions’ right to express themselves but stressed that dialogue should remain productive. “I believe that they are taking their every opportunity they can to express themselves, which is fine. I don’t have a problem with that,” he said. “But like I say, it’s important to always be discussing it in a productive and a respectful way. We don’t achieve much by just screaming at each other.”

The Minister echoed his preference for meaningful conversation, saying he believes in both sides “talk[ing] to each other, not at each other.” He acknowledged the unions are still awaiting a formal response to their rejection of the government’s latest proposal and confirmed that no official meeting date has been set yet. “I think what is more important is that we can have a reply sent to the unions and then we schedule a meeting for when we can discuss, um, you know, that reply and the response that we receive,” Usher explained.

He noted that despite current tensions, the government is moving ahead with other aspects of negotiations. A meeting is tentatively set for June 18th to discuss and potentially sign a framework for a new round of the collective bargaining agreement. “That’s going to be a whole different set of negotiations and discussions when it comes to what the unions are proposing,” he said.

Belize Monitors U.S. Trade Moves Amid Trump’s Accelerated Tariff Push

As the Trump administration pushes for swift trade concessions from global partners, Belize is navigating a cautious path to safeguard its access to the U.S. market and preserve benefits under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

Director General for Foreign Trade, Andy Sutherland, confirmed that while Belize is not currently a primary target of steep tariffs, the country remains actively engaged through diplomatic channels to prevent potential fallout.

A draft letter from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office revealed the administration’s intent to conclude trade negotiations within five weeks. Countries have been asked to submit their “best offer” on tariff and quota reductions, particularly in U.S. industrial and agricultural imports, by Wednesday, in a bid to wrap up talks that began on April 9.

These negotiations followed a 90-day suspension of sweeping tariffs, set to expire on July 8, which had caused turmoil in financial markets.

“So that 90-day timeframe does not apply to Belize because we’re not in any active negotiation with the US or a trade agreement that would define the tariff structures between the US or any other countries,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland added that Belize remains engaged through diplomatic channels. “ We are engaged through the diplomatic channels. Our embassy in Washington DC reaching out to the USTR on re-enstating the benefits under the CBI because all the beneficiary countries under the CBI do not maintain a trade surplus with the US and as such are not in any way infringing on the competitive position of US companies and industry.”

Central American Officials Face U.S. Visa Restrictions

The United States announced visa restrictions on unnamed Central American government officials and their family members for their involvement in Cuba’s ‘controversial medical export programme’, which U.S. officials describe as a form of forced labour.

The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of State.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the targeted officials are linked to Cuban medical missions that the U.S. says exploit healthcare workers while enriching the Cuban government. Rubio stated the programme denies ordinary Cubans access to essential medical care while propping up what he called a corrupt regime.

“These steps promote accountability for those who support and perpetuate these exploitative practices,” Rubio said. “The Cuban labour export programme abuses the participants, enriches the corrupt Cuban regime, and deprives everyday Cubans of essential medical care.”

Rubio did not name the officials or countries affected, but he urged other governments to join the U.S. in condemning the programme.

Whether Belizean officials are among those sanctioned remains unclear. However, what is clear is that Belize has publicly supported the Cuban medical missions. “Belize has consistently supported our friends in Cuba in any way we can,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca in August 2024.

Three months ago in March, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard echoed that support, stating that Cuban doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have long worked in Belize. “I don’t want to get into that diplomatic issue, but all I can say is that I know that Belize continues to enjoy the relationship we have with Cuba. We also have a good relationship with the United States of America, and I’m very sure that the two Foreign Affairs Ministries are working it out and having discussions with the government, clearing up some of the concerns that the U.S. government had.”

That same month, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley also strongly defended Cuba’s medical missions in the Caribbean. “I don’t believe we have to shout across the seas, but I am prepared, like others in this region, that if we cannot reach a sensible agreement on this matter, and if the cost of it is the loss of my U.S. visa, then so be it,” she declared.

Cuba’s foreign ministry has yet to respond to the U.S. announcement. Havana has long dismissed similar accusations and defended its medical missions as acts of international solidarity.

Belizean Students Graduate from Top Universities in Taiwan

Six Belizean students have successfully completed their studies at two of Taiwan’s most respected universities.

On May 27, 2025, Tracy Maria Quetzal, Krissy Constance Sutherland, and Nadir Kevaun Mendoza graduated from Taipei Medical University. Mendoza, who served as Class Representative, was selected to deliver the graduation speech, earning special recognition for his leadership role.

Just days earlier, on May 24, Kristie Sosa, Joshua Vernon, and Sheryl Ann Leslie received their degrees from the Graduate Institute of International Human Resource Development at National Taiwan Normal University.

For years Belizean students have been earning degrees in Taiwan.

Teachers Might Be Arrested, Charged Following Road Blockades

Tne Belize Police Department has been monitoring and responding to two acts of civil disobedience in Southern Belize by members of the Belize National Teachers Union, said Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith. The incidents, which began around 5:00 AM, are part of the industrial action related to the ongoing salary dispute between the union and the government of Belize.

Both incidents involved teachers using vehicles to block roads at junctions in Dangriga and Bella Vista, respectively. ASP Smith stated, “The department appreciates and the country most appreciates that whilst teachers have their right to freedom of expression, which I understand to mean in this instance them registering their discontent, them expressing their right cannot be done in such a way that infringes on the rights of others.”

She said that “a relevant right in this instance is the right to freedom of movement, which is impacted by the blockage of roads, which certainly prevents citizens from getting from one point to another or to organize the day, and it may also have a cascading effect on their personal plans and the provision of emergency services by respective authorities.”

The department exercised restraint and discretion by giving the teachers “up to two hours to remove their vehicles and disperse,” according to ASP Smith. “It was only after this request was not met that actions were taken and the actions that were taken were very measured.”

The police are reviewing relevant laws, including the Criminal Code, the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, and the Control of Public Meetings and Public Processions Act, to identify offenses such as “obstructing the free flow of traffic, unlawful assembly, obstruction of the officers in the execution of their duties, and aggravated assault.”

ASP Smith stressed that the police commissioner has emphasized the importance of ensuring “all actions that are taken are measured, respectful, and in alignment with effective and lawful management of civil dissent.” She added, “While the department recognizes the importance of democracy to a healthy nation, the actions that are taken in pursuance to democracy must be done within the confines of the law.”

The police have warned that teachers involved in blocking the roads may face arrest and charges if they continue to obstruct public order.

CEO Shal Fires Back at PSU President

A Chief Executive Officer took to social media to hit back at Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union (PSU). The CEO of the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government’s, Valentino Shal, a News 5 article with the caption, “Huh? This bally oblivious to the what CEOs do or the pretend to be oblivious.”

Shal’s remarks follow an interview in which Flowers criticised the performance of some CEOs, saying their high salaries don’t reflect their results.

According to Flowers, the unions are not challenging CEO-earned salaries but rather calling for a fair and balanced salary structure across the service; public servants also “contribute to the growth and development of the public service.”

Flowers also stood behind the Joint Unions Negotiating Team (JUNT) unanimous rejection of the government’s proposed 3% salary increase for public officers. He called the offer inadequate, especially since Cabinet CEOs received a 15% raise post-election, on top of existing perks and allowances.

“We’re not questioning whether a CEO should earn sixty thousand dollars a year, seventy-six thousand a year, or eighty-eight thousand dollars a year. We’re not questioning that,” Flowers said in the interview on Tuesday. “We’re saying that if we’re all going to contribute to the growth and development of the public service, then the structure has to be one that equitably distributes the benefits.”