July, 2025 - Greater Belize Media

Illicit Fishing Threatens Belize’s Southern Sea

With just seven rangers and growing threats from cross-border illegal fishing, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) is stepping up protection of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve with the support of the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future.

The reserve, which is just 37 miles off the coast of Punta Gorda, is home to rich biodiversity and contested territory but is also one of its most vulnerable.

In recent years, the area has seen a spike in illegal activity by Guatemalan and Honduran fishers who have been using destructive gear like gill nets and longlines. Some are even armed, prepared to resist arrest. Despite the scale of the task, the area is patrolled by just seven TIDE rangers.

“Under the Belize Fund Project, what we do is that our rangers are fully equipped, so we have the vessels to undertake effective patrols. We have the different capacity building for rangers under the project and the living facilities,” said TIDE Executive Director Leonardo Chavarria Jr.

The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future has been critical in bolstering the effort, providing patrol vessels, ranger training, and even paying ranger salaries. But resources are stretched thin, and illegal activity persists.

The reserve was expanded in 2020 from 38,000 acres to over 300,000 acres. Since TIDE began co-managing it in 2023, patrols have intensified. Still, with limited manpower and no direct Fisheries Department presence, the team relies heavily on partnerships.

In just the past two years, the Belize Coast Guard has intercepted 98 vessels and removed over 15,000 feet of illegal gill nets. Much of it traced back to the same stretch of sea.

Two surveillance drones and a long-range camera on Hunter’s Caye now aid in identifying illegal activity up to 10 miles out, especially when conditions are too rough for sea patrols.

“The drone team would then use these drones to go out, monitor the area, and once we encounter or see any Guatemalan fishers in the area, then of course the patrols would then go out and then intercept these vessels,” Lieutenant Allen Armstrong of the Coast Guard stated.

“One of the primary concerns that we have is the issue of this; by nature, this is a transboundary area,” said Leonardo Chavarria Jr, Executive Director of TIDE. “We have a lot of illegal fishing that is carried out by our Guatemalan and Honduran neighbours. So we have fishing communities from Guatemala and Honduras that are in close proximity, about forty-five minutes from here. And then they engage in illicit fishing activities. So they use gill nets, which are very destructive,” Chavarria added. “They use long lines. They do night fishing. They use illicit spears, for example. And so these types of things are already a major concern to us because they do not fish like Belizeans.”

Belize banned gillnets in 2020, which was considered a landmark accomplishment for marine conservation. Yet, while the law protects Belizean waters on paper, enforcement at sea remains a challenge.

Foreign fishers continue to flout these regulations, threatening both marine ecosystems and Belize’s sovereignty and efforts to secure its southern blue frontier.

Ashcroft on BTL-Smart Rumour: “How’s This Going to Affect the Consumer?”

Lord Michael Ashcroft has weighed in on reports that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is considering acquiring Speednet Communications, better known as Smart.

“I mean, well, first of all, I would have to declare where my interest is in this particular one before I answer the question. Speednet, which is one of the companies that is talked about whether it comes in with the cable companies, is majority owned by Waterloo Charitable Trust. And that trust also owns the hospital here, Universal Health Services,” Ashcroft disclosed.

“Competition in the telecommunications industry changes all the time. If you just cast your mind back, we had a lot of problems here when voice over internet protocol came in. The law here said that was illegal to protect the domestic BTL at the time. But eventually, that had to be abandoned because the internet, WhatsApp, and all the rest of it came in and took the revenue away. And then the telephone companies have to compete on that.”

On whether BTL’s reported interest in acquiring Smart should raise alarm, Ashcroft said concerns about monopoly must be balanced with the fact that the state owns nearly all of BTL. “Now, where BTL is concerned, the first reaction is, how’s this going to affect the consumer? ‘Monopolies are terrible, awful, and shouldn’t be allowed,’ is the first reaction. In this particular case, there are some fundamental differences. The monopoly through BTL is owned 95 percent by the government and the Social Security Board. So whatever happens to BTL and whatever the profits are, low or high, is in control of the government.”

Ashcroft noted that strong BTL earnings can help ease pressure on taxpayers. He also stressed that BTL is already facing competition that will only grow. “In the future, BTL will be under competitive pressure from things like Starlink, which will be the next thing that comes. So it won’t be a monopoly per se. It will be them reorganising to get into place for this country to compete with the international carriers that come in.”

He also warned that failing to adapt could backfire if global players dominate the market. “If they decide that they want low cost here, which they may have to in any event when Starlink and other satellite-based companies come in, do you want a BTL and a Speednet to both go bust and give Starlink the monopoly?”

Belize and Cuba Achieve 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Belize and Cuba are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic ties, a relationship that’s brought Cuban doctors to Belizean hospitals, sent Belizean students to Cuban universities, and offered support through tough times.

Since establishing ties on 15 July 1995, both nations have built strong cooperation across health, education, disaster response, and technical training.

Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the milestone as “a milestone of enduring friendship, mutual respect, and unwavering solidarity.” It reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to deepening ties with Cuba in “the spirit of solidarity and shared progress.”

Cuba’s embassy in Belize also commemorated the occasion, stating the “excellent relations between our two nations, based on respect, mutual cooperation, friendship, and solidarity.”

Since the 1990s, over 1,000 Cuban professionals have worked in Belize, especially in healthcare. Hundreds of Belizeans have studied in Cuba, many returning as doctors, teachers, and technicians.

UB Union March for Delayed Subvention

The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) staged a peaceful march in Belmopan this morning to demand the government honour its long-standing promise to increase the university’s annual subvention to 10 million dollars.

Union members and students gathered outside of the Prime Minister’s Office during the weekly Cabinet. UBFSU President Julianne Pasos explained that the Briceño government has failed to live up to its 2020 election pledge to gradually raise the subvention by one million dollars each year. After nearly five years in office, no increase has materialised.

Pasos added that when UB was created in 2000, the government granted a 10 million dollar subvention to support operational costs. That figure peaked at 11 million in later years but was cut under the UDP administration. The current administration, then in opposition, condemned the cut and promised restoration and annual increases.

Despite that, the national budget tabled earlier this year by the Briceño administration in its second term included no such increase.

She pointed out that the staff were promised a 9% salary increase in January, with confirmation that it would take effect by the end of UB’s fiscal year on July 31st. But earlier this month, the university’s board announced the raise would now depend on whether the government increases the subvention.

“When the joint unions were negotiating, we did not have an issue; we had already been promised the 9%. We had already been told that 9% will take effect by the end of UB’s fiscal year. The board met on July 3rd, and at that July 3rd meeting, they then said that the 9% is contingent on the subvention. And so that is why we are out here now, because the ballpark changed after that meeting,” Pasos said.

She clarified that while the government provides the subvention, it is ultimately the responsibility of UB’s administration and board of trustees to ensure salaries are paid and adjustments are met. She stated that if the subvention does not come through, the union plans to hold the university’s leadership accountable for finding the money to cover salaries.

Pasos also pushed for a more sustainable funding model. She stated, “One of the things that the union has been saying is let’s link it to our GDP. Most countries link the subvention to their tertiary institution to the GDP, and if we do that, then it’s based on the profits of the country. So it is linked to that. And so it won’t be an issue of when or how it would be increased; there is a formula that would be in place for it.”

Ashcroft: UDP Must Bring in New Blood or Risk Irrelevance

Lord Michael Ashcroft has weighed in on the ongoing rift within the United Democratic Party (UDP). He is urging the embattled opposition to open its doors to new leadership or risk failing the country’s democracy.

“Some of the dinosaural politicians of the UDP need to stay out completely. Their time is up,” Ashcroft said in a frank assessment of the infighting that continues to divide the party. “The UDP have got themselves into an almighty great mess, which to this day has not been sorted.”

Ashcroft’s comments were made during this appearance on OYE earlier this month.

Ashcroft warned that the country faces a dangerous imbalance of power if the UDP remains fractured. “For me, it is always important in any country that there is a thriving democracy. The thriving democracy means an effective opposition. And opposition is often a combination between the main opposition party and the media,” he explained.

Ashcroft pointed to what he described as unchecked wrongdoing within the current administration. “Now we have a situation with the fight, with the PUP having absolute control. And I don’t think I’m saying anything that any citizen doesn’t know, but the level of naughtiness that is happening in the government today is very high indeed,” he said.

He noted that the governing People’s United Party holds enough seats to make sweeping changes. “It’s very important that the UDP get their act together and together with the media, hold this government to account with the vast majority that they have in the House, which even gives them the okay if they wish to change Belize’s Constitution.”

Ashcroft described the UDP’s internal dispute as a clash of egos between factions loyal to Moses “Shyne” Barrow and those who back Tracy Taegar-Panton. “Shyne wants a future in politics, Tracy and many others do not want Shyne to have a future in politics. And so you have oil and water here trying to mix in the same pot. And egos are running am mock on the old established UDP at the moment.”

“The only way the UDP can get itself together is if there is an open election for the leader and an open election for who will be the representatives for the various constituencies around the country. And this is where the resistance is at the moment,” Ashcroft said.

He warned that the power struggle could drag on indefinitely if both sides remain stubborn. “They have the headquarters, they by law are the appointed representatives of the party and they’re doing everything they can to ensure that there is not a free choice for UDP supporters to decide who should be the leader. And until that is broken, this can go on for a long time.”

Stabbing in Santa Martha Leaves One Man Injured

A heated family dispute turned violent in Santa Martha Village on Sunday night, leaving a 26-year-old man hospitalised with stab wounds and another relative in police custody.

Police reports indicate that around 11 p.m. on July 13, Miguel Angel Valledares, who is self-employed, visited the home of his brother-in-law, Jairo Godoy Cortez, who was asleep at the time.

According to investigators, Valledares entered the residence and woke Cortez, which sparked a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight, Cortez allegedly armed himself with a knife and inflicted three stab wounds to Valledares’ left abdomen.

Cortez has since been detained by police and is expected to be formally charged and arraigned in the coming days. Meanwhile, Valledares remains hospitalised while recovering from his injuries.

NPC Votes to Reinstate Expelled Members Except for Faber

Just when you thought the political drama within the United Democratic Party had simmered down, think again. One month after a National Party Council meeting descended into chaos, the U.D.P. gave it another shot this past Saturday. This time, things were quieter outside the party’s headquarters, but inside? A different kind of storm was brewing. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, who recently returned to the helm after stepping down post-election, was determined to bring unity to a fractured party. But the meeting took a sharp turn when Opposition Senator Patrick Faber showed up uninvited. What followed was a standoff, a refusal by police to intervene, and a vote that ended up… on WhatsApp. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full story on this latest chapter in the U.D.P.’s ongoing saga.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Inside the UDP headquarters, chaos once again took center stage. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, freshly reinstated and hoping to steer the party toward unity, found himself presiding over yet another political showdown. The tension hit a boiling point when Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber made an uninvited entrance, behind familiar faces, including Area Rep Miguel Guerra, Deputy Chair Alberto August, and former candidates like Jose Espat and Omar Figueroa. And it didn’t stop there. August was soon seen calling on police to remove Faber, while another controversial figure, Brian ‘Yellow Man’ Audinett, also showed up.

Brian “Yellow Man” Audinett, Member, U.D.P.

“Mister Faber is a part of the NPC. Mister Faber has absolutely nowhere to go.”

And then this happened, an exchange of expletives between Audinett and Almendarez that got close to becoming physical.

Paul Lopez

“You think you deserve to be a part of this meeting?”

David Almendarez, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“I dah wah Belizean, I deserve to be anywhere I stand. I dah wah lion, sih lion, Belizean. No comments.”

Inside the meeting room a resolution was put on the floor for voting: reinstate all expelled members of the U.D.P., except for Patrick Faber. And with that Chairman Michael Peyrefitte suspended the meeting and the vote was moved to Whatsapp.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.

“The resolution is that everybody who was expelled from the party and not in good standing with the party, except for Patrick Faber, we are putting that these people be invited back into the party and we proceed with our conventions and national convention on October fifth. But the resolution right now, given his behavior and given his disrespect today, we are voting and putting to the floor of the NPC to not have him return to the UDP and I was the first one to vote to not bring him back to the UDP.”

And we challenged Peyrefitte about the validity of a Whatsapp voting process on such a weighty decision. Here is how he responded.

Michael Peyrefitte

“We have done Cabinet meeting by Whatsapp. It is a matter of a resolution for a decision. It is that simple.”

By five o’clock, the results were in and the message was loud and clear. The National Party Council voted unanimously to welcome back all previously expelled members… all except one: Patrick Faber. The only person who didn’t cast a vote was former Cayo Central candidate Mark O’Brien, who chose to sit this one out. So, what does Faber think about being the lone man left out? We caught up with him right after the meeting to hear his take on the day’s events.

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“Mister Peyrefitte could say what he want. I have been here longer than he. I have worked for this party from fourteen years old. Dah nuh for me, deh nuh the have no convention in Collett. That is not one of the divisions in any danger for a convention to be held. But we must do what is right. You show me, they could say what they want to say, that is fine. Ultimately I know my value, not only for this party but as an individual as well, so it does not matter what they say.”

Faber then asserted that Almendarez physically pushed him while inside the building.

Patrick Faber

“He was pushing me through the door until saner minds intervened. So, expect that I am going straight to the Queen Street Police station to make a complaint.”

As the crowd trickled out of the UDP headquarters, the mood was far from celebratory. Several members didn’t hold back, expressing frustration over yet another in-person NPC meeting that ended in disappointment.

Ralston Frazer, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Belmopan

“I am very disappointed, but I do know that when you have genuine legitimate cause to carry one then you stand and carry on and sometimes in leadership you have to stand and carry on alone.”

Jose UC Espat, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Albert

“To be honest, I myself am getting tired of this. It seems that one person destroyed this whole meeting, Patrick Faber. If we cant get we act together this party wont go anywhere and to be honest I the get tired of this.”

Macario Augustine, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Stann Creek West

“It is one party and it is so disappointing of what is happening up there at the moment, but my main focus is uniting the party and moving forward.”

So, is this the final chapter for Patrick Faber in the UDP? Or is there still a twist in the tale? And the bigger question—can the United Democratic Party ever truly come together under one roof? Reporting for News 5, I am Paul Lopez.

UDP Closes Door to Faber; What is His Future in Politics?

Saturday’s NPC meeting marked Chairman Michael Peyrefitte’s first time back at the helm since his return, and it didn’t take long for tensions to flare. After Patrick Faber’s surprise appearance, Peyrefitte made his position quite clear: as long as he’s chairman, Faber won’t be running under the U.D.P banner in any future election. Here’s how Peyrefitte put it in his own words.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.

“Patrick Faber he think he big and bad, he think the rule does not apply to him. But the UDP is not an abused woman. The UDP is not to be bullied. The UDP will not have its doors kicked down, by a sick deranged individual. What the UDP will do, what I believe will happen by five oclock is to say that we don’t want Patrick Faber in the UDP anymore.”

Paul Lopez

“Is that then the end of him and his run in the UDP while you are chair?”

Michael Peyrefitte

“I know that while I am chair, when the applications come for conventions for the different divisions and Collet is one of them, Patrick Faber’s application will not be accepted if he chooses to apply him.”

Paul Lopez

“Why did you all not just remove him out of the meeting and continue with it here?”

Michael Peyrefitte

“We spoke to the police. We are decent people. I know that people like you would love to see a fight. People like you would love to see June fourteenth. But that is not going to be repeated today. Nobody will commit a crime and try to remove anybody. You know what we do, remove him form the UDP. Remove him from the UDP is better than dragging him from upstairs. We called the police and they made it clear that unless there is a fight they wont intervene. So the political directorate of this country wants a fight. They say they will send the police if you start a fight, Peyrefitte if you start a fight then the police will come. We are not going to do that in the UDP, not today.”

Faber Fights Back: Says NPC Has No Power to Expel or Reinstate

Patrick Faber isn’t backing down. He’s pushing back hard, saying the NPC has no authority to vote on reinstating him, or anyone else, for that matter. According to Faber, the High Court already ruled that those expulsions were illegal in the first place. And when it comes to removing him from the party? Faber says the NPC can’t just pass a resolution and call it a day. He insists that’s not how it works under the U.D.P’s own constitution.

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“This party is democratic. If they want to bring a charge against me, to say I am disruptive or I have breached the constitution of the party, I have no problem with that. Do it the proper way. Bring the charge, take it to the central executive and say Faber has to go and then send it to the ethic committee. The ethic committee will come in and say Faber why did you do this and give us your answer. Then the ethic committee will say, Faber you know what, you really out of order, you got to go. Here is your expulsion or suspension or a hundred dollars fine or a letter of reprimand. Those are the four outcomes from the ethics committee. Again, you will understand the court was clear there was no expulsion. So they cannot vote to reinstate me. I am a member of the party. What they may do is decide that they want me expelled and they have to go through the process, which is to bring a charge through the central executive committee. I the tell them how to do it.”

Faber Questions Legitimacy of Espat and Almendarez Representation

All eyes are on the internal dynamics of the United Democratic Party as Senator Patrick Faber raises a new concern: how will the party manage future NPC meetings when some constituencies now have two caretakers? Take Belize Rural South, for instance, both Beverly Williams and David Almendarez are holding the fort until a convention is called. And in Albert, while Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is the sitting area rep, there’s still the question: will Jose UC Espat continue as caretaker there?

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“Ok, so they will reinstate everybody. What will happen in the subsequent NPC. So you will have Mr. Uk and the honorable Panton in the meeting? You will have Ms. Williams and crazy man Almendarez in the meeting? The convention is a stretch to take this party under Shyne Barrow and Michael Peyrefitte a little bit longer to October. The constitution of our party says the NPC is always active. So if you have some standard bearers that did not get appointed back as caretaker, there still is an NPC because each constituency has a chair and secretary. They change up the chair and secretary. They are preparing the party for Tracy Panton they say, but yet Tracy Panton cannot give her input on what is right for the party in terms of the list. All we are asking is for them to do what they ought to do by the constitution of the party. So show me where the eleven people who supported Tracy was expelled. Better yet show me where the process that was endorsed by the constituencies. I sure Belize Rural Central never endorse Almendarez. Not a single soul from the UDP Belize Rural Central endorse Almendarez. They never asked, they never bring it to NPC. So how Almendarez become a candidate. Then he must come to the meeting and vote, but Ms. Bev, who was duly put there, cannot come and vote.”