Tonight, we’re diving into a story that’s making waves — literally. Women are stepping up in the maritime world, not just as crew members, but as captains, engineers, and policy shapers. And it’s not just about equality — it’s about excellence. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with more on how women are helping steer the industry into the future.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The maritime world is changing — and women are at the helm of that change. Whether they’re navigating ships or shaping maritime policy, women are bringing fresh ideas and sharp skills that are making the industry smarter and more efficient. So, why does this matter? Because when women succeed at sea, the entire industry moves forward.
Jaeda Sutherland
Jaeda Sutherland, President, WiMAC Belize
“While the doors are slowly opening, our job now is to make sure that women have a fair chance to walk through them. Despite the progress being made, women remain underrepresented in the maritime workforce, especially in technical and leadership roles.”
Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in maritime — especially in technical and leadership roles. But here’s the thing: the industry is facing a serious talent shortage. And women are a big part of the solution. By welcoming more women into roles like seafaring, engineering, and command, the maritime sector isn’t just filling gaps — it’s unlocking new potential.
Valarie Lanza
Valarie Lanza, Deputy Managing Director, IMMARBE
“The history of women in maritime is rich and inspiring. From the first female captains to the women who worked in shipyards during wartime, our foremothers have shown us that resilience and determination can move mountains. Today, we stand on your shoulders, ready to take the helm and chart new courses. To the pioneers who have weathered the storm to pave the way, thank you. To the rising leaders charting new courses, we see you, and to everyone here today, the tide is turning. Let us make sure that it carries us all forward.”
And when we support women in this field, we’re not just creating jobs — we’re pushing for real gender equality. It’s a key part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. And it sends a powerful message: the sea belongs to everyone.
Alma Pinelo
Lt. Cdr. Alma Pinelo, Acting Vice Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
“The ocean covers seventy-one percent of the earth’s surface. Now imagine if women dominated seventy-one percent of the maritime industry and the maritime roles. Let’s strive to create a safe space for women to thrive and to become formidable partners in the maritime industry. The tide is turning and it carries her forward.”
It’s a bold vision — but one that’s gaining momentum. Creating safe, supportive spaces for women in maritime isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s smart business. And here’s something else: when men and women work together on ships, studies show they communicate better and work more effectively as a team. That means safer, smoother operations at sea. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Belize City came alive this morning with the sound of sirens—not for an emergency, but in celebration. Emergency service teams from across the country gathered to kick off International Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week with a vibrant parade through the streets. Running from May 18th to 24th, EMS Week is a global tribute to the everyday heroes who provide lifesaving care on the frontlines. This year’s theme, “We Care. For Everyone.”, highlights the compassion and commitment of EMS professionals who serve their communities around the clock. The public is encouraged to take a moment this week to recognize and thank the paramedics, EMTs, and first responders whose dedication often goes unseen but never unappreciated.
It’s official—eleven village council slates across the country have already secured their seats without a single vote being cast. That’s the outcome from Sunday’s nomination day, where thirty-seven communities were set to nominate candidates for the upcoming May twenty-fifth elections. In Corozal, San Joaquin’s lone slate means an automatic win. Over in the Belize District, five out of six villages, excluding Double Head Cabbage, also saw uncontested nominations. The trend continues in Cayo, where Valley of Peace will go to the polls with just one slate, and in Stann Creek, Sittee River and Sarawee are also uncontested. Meanwhile, in the Toledo District, Boom Creek, Conejo Creek, and Midway Village all saw single-slate nominations, securing their wins by default. With three more rounds of nominations still to come, more uncontested victories could be on the horizon. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how it all unfolds.
The United Democratic Party is setting the stage for a major political reset. On Sunday, the Central Executive Committee met at party headquarters in Belize City to map out the road ahead. Among the key decisions are plans to hold constituency conventions starting in July, all leading up to a National Convention in October. The CEC also voted unanimously to allow expelled members to apply for reinstatement—provided they meet specific conditions, including a public apology and a pledge to uphold party values, as outlined in Article 11 of the U.D.P. Constitution. In the meantime, the current elected leadership will remain in place until the October convention. The party says it’s focused on unity and is encouraging all members to get involved as they prepare for what could be a pivotal moment in the U.D.P.’s future.
Good evening and welcome to this week’s installment of Sports Monday! I’m Paul Lopez, bringing you the latest and greatest from the world of sports across the nation. This past Friday, the energy was electric inside the Belize City Civic Center as the long-awaited Belize Premier Basketball League tipped off its inaugural season in grand style. The evening began with a patriotic march past, proudly led by the Belize Coast Guard, setting the tone for a night of unity and competition. All seven teams participating in this historic season made their presence known, parading across the court with pride, team banners flying high and jerseys gleaming under the arena lights. With the Tony Leslie Toucan Cup, the San Cas Mayan Cup, and the Benny’s Jaguar Cup all up for grabs, the stakes are high, and the excitement is just getting started.
Gilbert Gordon
Gilbert Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, B.P.B.L
“We believe that this premier basketball league is going to be beacon, it is going to be the light that transcends basketball to a different level for the next ten to fifteen years.”
It was a fun start to the night as Minister of Sports Anthony Mahler stepped up to take the ceremonial opening shot, but let’s just say it took a few tries. After missing his first six free throws, Mahler finally sank one, earning a big cheer from the crowd. But don’t let his warm-up performance fool you, the real action was just getting started. The Belize City Thunderbolts faced off against the EZ Investment Dream Ballers in a high-energy matchup packed with highlight-worthy plays and crowd-pleasing moments.
Dream Ballers’ Deshawn Brackett with a long range three early in the first quarter. He ended the night with nineteen points. Eyan Rene with the fast break on the other end to get the Thunderbolts on the score board. He scored fifteen points in this one. Victor Evans on fire in the third quarter nails a three-point shot. He finished at eighteen. The first quarter ended with Dream Ballers in the lead with twenty-points to their opponents twelve. The second quarter kicked off with a bang as Thunderbolts’ Tyrone Hall lit up the court. He nailed a three-pointer while drawing a foul, setting himself up for a rare four-point play—and that was just the beginning. Hall’s clutch shot sparked a dominant six-minute run, with the Thunderbolts racking up seventeen unanswered points. By the end of the quarter, they had outscored the EZ Investment Dream Ballers twenty-six to five, heading into halftime with a commanding thirteen-point lead.
Dream Baller s’ Daniel Conorquie stuck out like a sour thumb in the third, hitting four back-to-back three pointers. He made the first three over Matthew Young. Victor Evans switched on Conorquie but that was not enough. Evans on the other end, responding with a three-point basket. But, Conorquie was not quite done, again catching Young sleeping at the wheel. His fourth made three-pointer and fifth consecutive basket. He finished the night with twenty-four points. Victor Evans kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter, showing off his sharp shooting and helping seal the deal for the Belize City Thunderbolts. The final score? A commanding 108–81 win over the EZ Investment Dream Ballers.
Saturday night was packed with action across the country. In San Ignacio, the Western Ballaz cruised past the Capital City Kings with a 77–57 victory. Meanwhile, up north in Corozal, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks made a splash, overpowering the Corozal Cerros Suns 74–47. Week two of the league’s inaugural season continues this weekend, with the Punta Gorda Panthers set to make their much-anticipated debut.
And it wasn’t just basketball grabbing attention—over in Sandhill Village, softball fans were treated to a day-long marathon showdown. In the women’s championship match, Double Head Cabbage faced off against the Tiga Town Red Necks, who were first up to bat in the fight for the marathon trophy. Jada Moralez hits towards third base and made it safely to first. Sherice Moralez swung and sent a ground ball into the outfield. That led to Jada Moralez scoring the first and only run for her team in the starting inning. Double Head Cabbage did not score a single run in their first and second innings.
In the Tiga Town Red Neck’s second inning, Richard on third base made it across the home plate off a hit from Jada Moralez. That’s two runs for the Red Necks. Trailing 3–0 in the third inning, Double Head Cabbage sparked some hope with a clutch hit that brought a runner home and put them back in the game. But in the fourth and final inning, the Tiga Town Red Necks added two more runs to their tally. Double Head Cabbage answered with two of their own, but it wasn’t enough. The Red Necks held on for a 5–3 win, taking home the marathon trophy in a hard-fought women’s championship match in Sandhill Village.
Meanwhile, the Anthony Mahler Youth Tournament continued over the weekend with more exciting matchups. On Saturday, Sampson Academy edged out Ebony Lake with a narrow 1–0 victory at Berger Field. In the under-10 division, Belize United faced off against the Blazing Strikers in a tightly contested game. Azaire Gaynair scored for Belize United with a brilliant penalty kick that sailed past the keeper. But the Strikers struck early—Jayseon Dennison found the back of the net just two minutes into the match. The game ended in a 1–1 draw, with both teams showing impressive skill and determination. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the winners of the 2025 National Agriculture and Trade Show School Garden (NATS-SG) Competition. The highly anticipated annual event saw the participation of 30 schools from across the country, each showcasing impressive commitment to sustainable agriculture through creative and well-maintained school gardens.
In the Primary School category, first place was awarded to San Victor R.C. School from the Corozal District. Second place also went to San Antonio Government School (Corozal), while Sandy Creek Primary School in Stann Creek secured third place. Rounding out the top five were Chan Chen Government School (Corozal) in fourth place and Bullet Tree Seventh Day Adventist School (Cayo) in fifth.
In the High School category, Belize High School of Agriculture from the Orange Walk District took top honors, followed by Belmopan Comprehensive High School (Cayo District) in second place and New Hope High School (Orange Walk) in third.
The top two schools in each category will receive their official awards during the Opening Ceremony of the National Agriculture and Trade Show, scheduled for May 30, 2025.
The School Garden Competition continues to play a vital role in promoting agricultural education and sustainability among Belize’s youth.
Belizean authorities are asking the public’s help in locating two men wanted for questioning in connection with ongoing police investigations.
Crime Stoppers Belize has issued wanted bulletins for Kijahn Bradley, 39, and Chauncey Bladden, both Belizean nationals from Belize City. According to officials, both individuals are being sought in relation to active police cases.
Law enforcement is urging anyone who may have information on their whereabouts to immediately contact Crime Stoppers at 922, use the P3 Tips app, or report to the nearest police station.
The public is reminded that tips can be submitted anonymously through the internationally operated hotline.
Commissioner of Police Dr. A. Richard Rosado held his first official meeting with senior police officers from the Eastern Region, alongside members of his management team. The high-level gathering marked a significant step in shaping the future of the Belize Police Department under Dr. Rosado’s leadership.
According to the Department, the meeting was designed to outline a clear strategic vision and reinforce leadership throughout the ranks while directly addressing the challenges facing the department. Key areas of discussion included operational priorities, resource management, community engagement, and professional development—all vital components of modern, effective policing.
The session began with introductions and a presentation of Dr. Rosado’s vision for a more innovative, accountable, and community-centered police force. With a strong emphasis on unity, the Commissioner is seeking to foster a culture rooted in trust-building, continuous improvement, and public service.
Belizean authorities, in coordination with the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), have successfully apprehended and returned a fugitive who had been on the run for more than a year.
The individual, whose name has not yet been officially released, was escorted from Belize and handed over to U.S. authorities at Miami International Airport. Upon arrival, the suspect was taken into custody by CBP and DSS agents.
According to officials, the fugitive is wanted in the state of Florida on multiple criminal charges, including burglary and assault on a law enforcement officer.
The High Court wrapped up a high-profile legal battle on Friday involving a major rift between ASR/BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), centered on a factory blockade that occurred in December 2021. At the core of the case is a five-day protest during which cane farmers allegedly blocked deliveries to the factory, bringing operations at BSI and Belcogen to a standstill.
BSI contends that the blockade caused significant disruptions and financial losses. The company is now seeking millions of dollars in damages from the cane farmers’ association. Over three days of hearings, Justice Goonetileke listened to legal arguments presented by both parties, as well as submissions from representatives of the Government of Belize.
The outcome of this case could have major implications for Belize’s sugar industry and the long-standing relationship between cane farmers and the factory. The standoff has highlighted deep divisions within the sector and raised concerns about the sustainability of its current structure.
This morning, Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai weighed in on the broader impact of the conflict. “I think the industry needs energy, focus in the right direction,” he said. “So going to court, fighting over things that probably do not bring any positive change to the industry has to change. We cannot continue like that.”
Mai stressed the urgent need for unity and trust within the sector. “We cannot [continue] operating divided. We cannot continue operating when there is total, complete lack of confidence from both stakeholders, the farmers and the miller. I think some serious reflection needs to be done on how we can move the industry forward.”
