“No More Docks”: Minister Warns Waterfront Buyers

A heated confrontation over an illegal barricade has brought up broader concerns about the public spaces in Caye Caulker Village. On Wednesday, the village council drew a line between access to public beaches and streets, stating it cannot be compromised for private gain.

Are the real estate agencies misleading buyers? In an interview with the area representative for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez, he said, “We need to get to the root of the problem, and one is the real estate agencies.” Perez added, “When you sell a property to somebody, you cannot guarantee these things. We have people soliciting our offices saying, ‘Minister or mayor, can you help me? These people want a golf cart; they want this, that.” 

Perez said that developers and real estate agents must clarify the realities of property ownership, particularly in sensitive areas like reserves. He pointed out that waterfront properties, while desirable, do not entitle buyers to build docks. “Buying a waterfront property does not guarantee you that you will be building a dock. In fact, we are making it clear: no more docks,” Perez said.

He added, “That goes not only for private individuals who want to close off their properties, but investors and business people, resorts, restaurants, everything.”

He also addressed the issue of beach reclamation, clarifying that while temporary usage might be allowed, it cannot result in permanent privatisation of public spaces.

This comes after Wednesday’s clash over an illegal barricade that escalated between Caye Caulker Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott and resident Wendy Auxillou. The council was reportedly trying to remove wooden posts blocking a public road. Auxillou, responsible for the barricade, tried to stop the removal, but police intervened, reopening the road to the public.

Villanueva-Pott told News 5 that Auxillou had previously created a temporary fence in the area, which was removed last year but reappeared earlier this week. And once again, the barricades obstructed public access.

In an official statement, the Caye Caulker Village Council stated, “We agree unanimously, as does the law, that beach access must be available to all Belizeans and visitors. Furthermore, these areas are nationally owned areas that exist for the benefit of everyone in our community. For us this means visitors and locals alike.”

 

Belizean Activist Michael Reid Seeks Public Support

Known for his deep commitment to his community and his work with “Reid Between the Lines,” Michael Reid is now in urgent need of surgery to remove damaged prosthetics from both of his legs and undergo a hip replacement procedure.

Having already experienced multiple joint replacements, Reid’s situation has become more pressing. The prosthetics in his legs are severely damaged, and if not removed soon, they pose a serious risk of puncturing vital organs. Reid says that the left one has grown completely out of the socket and causes him a lot of pain and discomfort. The right side prosthesis is also in need of surgery, but the priority is the left one.

While the prosthetic removal can be done in Belize, Reid will need to travel abroad to Mexico for the hip replacement surgery. He is scheduled to leave next week to consult with doctors and determine if the surgery can move forward.

To cover the costs of these necessary procedures, Reid is reaching out to the public for support. Anyone who would like to contribute can donate to his Atlantic Bank account 211-553-371, under the name Michael Reid, or to his GoFundMe page.

He can also be reached directly at 615-6436 for more information.

 

Traffic Accident Claims Life of Guatemalan Woman

A tragic road traffic accident on Thursday night claimed the life of 50-year-old Maria Caal Xi, a Guatemalan national residing in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo. The incident occurred around 7:20 p.m. near the intersection of NEMO Drive and the George Price Highway, close to El Rancho Restaurant.

Roaring Creek Police arriving at the scene observed a grey 1999 Toyota pickup truck, driven by 70-year-old Manuel Juarez of Camalote Village. The vehicle sustained extensive damage. Trapped inside the pickup was the lifeless body of Caal Xi.

Juarez was travelling east from Belmopan toward Cotton Tree to drop off a worker. Upon reaching the entrance of NEMO Drive, he reportedly saw an oncoming vehicle speeding toward him and felt an impact on the right side of his truck before losing consciousness.

Approximately 30 feet away from the pickup, police discovered a heavily damaged grey 2025 Chevrolet Camaro.

Witnesses indicated that the car’s driver fled the scene by jumping over a roadside barrier and into nearby bushes.

Belmopan City Council Clears Social Security Arrears

After years of outstanding payments, the Belmopan City Council has successfully settled hundreds of thousands of dollars in arrears. This brings the Council into full compliance with Belize’s social security requirements.

The Belmopan City Council stated earlier today, “In just nine months, Mayor Cawich, along with the Councillors and their team, has managed to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in arrears to Belize Social Security—an achievement the Council is immensely proud of.”

In a formal statement from the Social Security Board (SSB), it was confirmed that the Belmopan City Council is now fully compliant with Social Security legislation.

“I write to confirm that the employer, Belmopan City Council, bearing employer number D333, is currently fully compliant with the Social Security Legislation and its ensuing regulations as it relates to the payment of Social Security contributions for his full cadre of employees,” said SSB in the letter.

In June 2019, a Belmopan City Council employee was denied sickness benefits by the Belize Social Security Board (SSB) due to a lack of contributions. The mayor at that time, Khalid Belisle, confirmed that the council had fallen over $100,000 behind in payments but had made an agreement with the Social Security Board to pay off the arrears by July. He clarified that once the arrears were paid, the council would stay current with future payments. To address this, the SSB introduced a policy to publicly shame employers who fail to make contributions, alerting employees to the issue.

Similarly, the Belize City Council had also owed around $77,000 in unpaid contributions, which was later addressed by PUP Mayor Bernard Wagner.

 

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a nationwide ban on TikTok unless the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests ownership to a U.S.-based entity. The ruling, announced on Friday, aligns with congressional and Department of Justice concerns over TikTok’s potential threat to U.S. national security.

The U.S. Department of Justice welcomed the court’s decision.

Lawmakers who pushed for the ban argue that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance poses significant risks. They claim the Chinese Communist Party could exploit the app to manipulate Americans and spread propaganda.

TikTok has resisted divestiture, stating in legal filings that selling to a non-Chinese company is “not commercially, technologically, or legally feasible.” The app’s potential removal has drawn backlash from creators, civil liberties groups, and First Amendment advocates, who argue the decision amounts to censorship and sets a troubling precedent.

This means TikTok, which is used by 170 million people in the US, will no longer be available for download in app stores starting on Sunday 19 January.

Belmopan Student Injured After Confrontation with Mental Health Patient

A video capturing an altercation between high school students and a male mental health patient has reportedly left one student seriously injured in Belmopan.

The video footage shows a group of students approaching the man, who already appeared to be agitated. One male student walked up to the man with what appeared to be a stick in his hand. The video shows the students inflicting a whip.

The man responds by striking back, injuring the student. The student is immediately heard saying, “bwai, man chop me mein!”

The man is seen walking away after the incident. The student was left with a wound on his back. 

 

900+ Guatemalan Students Cross Border Daily for Belizean Education

More than 900 Guatemalan students cross the border every day to attend primary and high schools in the Cayo District. It’s nothing new. In fact, this has been occurring for decades. On Wednesday, Education Minister Francis Fonseca told reporters, “There has always been a steady flow of Guatemalan students who come into our education system mainly to learn English. And we have always, as a matter of policy for the government of Belize, regardless of which administration, welcomed them, and we’ve treated them with dignity and respect.”

Since being regularised in 2017, the number of Guatemalan students attending schools in Belize has increased by hundreds.

A recent bottleneck at the Belize-Guatemala border caused delays for the students. It raised concerns about the efficiency at the border. Fonseca said, “Anytime these issues arise, yes, we try to address them; we engage with the immigration authorities to try to work out whatever bottlenecks exist. So, yes, we are engaged on that issue, and whatever issues have arisen, we are trying to address them.”

And since the issue was reported, a lot of Belizeans are asking if these students benefit from free education paid by Belizean taxpayers. When asked, Fonseca said, “Belize has a long-standing policy of engaging with our neighbours. We have been a welcoming society. As you all know, we welcome citizens from all over Central America to our country. In terms of the Guatemalans, they have primary schools, and, as you know, they have very, very minimal fees. For the most part, primary education in Belize is free. So that policy remains in place. These are young students, young people who want to learn English and participate in the education system in Belize. And we don’t want to deny any young person an opportunity to get an education.”

Belize Women Celebrate Completion of Animation Bootcamp

Belizean women are stepping into new career opportunities after completing the Animation Bootcamp for Women Empowerment, a program designed to equip them with essential digital skills in animation and graphic design. This initiative is providing the tools needed for success in the expanding global market.

The bootcamp, which reached Corozal, Belize City, and Orange Walk, taught women and girls how to create original animated content that they can copyright and share online. A total of 76 women were awarded certificates during the closing ceremony, with the event concluding by recognising the top three participants for their outstanding work in animation.

After five months of training, the graduates are now ready to contribute to industries like film, gaming, and marketing, playing a key role in the growing “orange economy.” This sector, part of the global creative industry, contributes 3-6% to the world’s GDP.

The Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lily Li-Wen Hsu, congratulated the participants and welcomed them to the digital world. “Use this new tool to tell stories… and transform your creative ideas and content in the ever-changing digital world.”

First place winner, Sogelyn Cabrera, called the bootcamp “a wonderful experience.” Third place winner, Pricilla Acosta, added that despite challenges along the way, she unlocked the creative side in her.

At the launch of the workshop in Orange Walk in August 2024, Prime Minister John Briceño stated that the animation industry could offer flexible job opportunities, especially for women unable to leave home due to caregiving responsibilities.

The program was led by the Ministry of Investment’s Investment Policy & Compliance Unit, the Taiwan Technical Mission, the National Women’s Commission, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

And The Fighting Continues…

Albert Area Representation Tracy Panton says Opposition Leader Moses Barrow abandoned the mediation process. Both are locked in a battle for the leadership of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Panton issued a statement under the UDP banner, though the design and template are different from the ones we’ve seen before this dispute.

She says, “By walking away from efforts to amicably resolve the leadership dispute, Shyne has demonstrated his refusal to allow a fair and transparent process—particularly one that may include the holding of a leadership convention.”

Barrow recently filed a second application to the court seeking contempt charges against Panton. This, she says, indicates his unwillingness to mediate. “This move to undermine the mediation process underscores his intention to disregard the voice of the Party’s delegates and avoid any process that can jeopardise his position,” the statement said.

Panton says she remains committed to resolving the dispute in good faith. “She has submitted the names of two proposed mediators to the Court and has expressed her willingness to engage in a mediated settlement, even if it involves holding another convention to determine the Party’s leadership,” the statement added.

She further accused Barrow of undermining democratic principles. “Shyne’s actions are not only a blatant disregard for the Court’s processes but also a direct threat to the democratic values and principles that guide the United Democratic Party. This dictatorship-like approach will be met with resistance. We will fight tirelessly to ensure that democracy prevails, and the voice of the delegates is respected.”

Belize Hesitant to Send More Soldiers to Haiti?

Media in Haiti are reporting that the Belizean government is hesitant in sending more Belize Defence Force soldiers to Haiti. This comes after Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, told Belizean press that Cabinet was recently briefed on the matter by the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security. He said that guidelines remain. “I think there are a few outstanding issues that have to be resolved in terms of ensuring that our soldiers are ready. They have been training. So I think, around the end of the month, they will do another assessment. Around the end of January, they’ll do another assessment of where they are, and then they will report back to Cabinet.”

Belize joins Barbados as the second country to delay or reconsider its plans to send troops to Haiti.

Earlier this month, a contingent of 150 Guatemalan soldiers was deployed to Haiti to support an international mission aimed at restoring order in a country plagued by violent gangs.

Belize’s involvement currently includes two Belize Defence Force officers as part of the CARICOM Joint Task Force.

Haiti remains in a state of emergency, with gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince and having freed approximately 3,700 inmates earlier this year in major prison breaks. Kenya has contributed nearly 400 police officers as part of the mission, which is expected to include 2,500 officers from multiple countries.

Exit mobile version