2025 - Greater Belize Media

OAS Donates Third Gun-Marking Machine to Belize

In the fight against crime and the illegal flow of firearms across Belize, a new tool is now in the hands of law enforcement, thanks to a continued partnership with the Organization of American States. Today, the OAS officially handed over a third firearm marking machine to the Ministry of Home Affairs during a ceremony at its Belize City headquarters. Belize first received one of these machines back in 2011, followed by a second in 2023. Both are currently used by the Belize Police Department to mark police-issued weapons. But this third machine? It’s expected to play a broader role in tracking and controlling firearms across the country. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on how this latest addition could help tighten the net on illegal gun trafficking. Here’s that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Organization of American States (OAS) donated a third firearm marking machine to Belize today, aimed at helping track and control guns. The machine will be used by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board as part of ongoing efforts to fight gun violence. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa accepted the donation on behalf of the government.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“This firearm marking machine we are receiving today, thanks to the OAS, has been used in automative, aerospace, medical and by heavy and light industries. It will allow the FACB to permanently mark firearms with unique Identification details, such as country code, serial numbers, model information and other identifying marks. Once a firearm is marked, it will enable the FACB and other relevant authorities to trace the origin and movement of firearms which is crucial in criminal investigations and will also serve as a tool to prevent arm trafficking and to hold gun owners and licensed gun dealers accountable who are in possession, sale or the use of firearms.”

When it comes to fighting gun crime, every detail matters and according to Belize’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bart Jones, that includes the tiny markings on a firearm. Speaking on the importance of firearm marking, Jones says each unique stamp tells a story, from the weapon’s legal origin to whoever ends up holding it. It’s a powerful tool for law enforcement, helping trace guns used in crimes and holding the right people accountable.

Bart Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Police

“Why do markings matter? The unique markings in etched in weapons tell a story. It enables us to trace firearms from its lawful origins to the last point of possession. In practical terms this donation strengthens our investigative reach, reduces time to solve gang related crimes and most important save lives.”

OAS Country Representative, Doctor Luiz Coimbra emphasized the organization’s support for member states like Belize in combatting gun violence. He explained that this support begins with capacity building or ensuring that countries are in possession of the right tools to trace firearms and identify those being used in illicit activities.

Dr. Luiz Coimbra, Country Representative, OAS

“Today the Organization of the American States through the Program of Assistance on the Control of Firearm and Ammunition is donating a third firearm machine to the Government of Belize. PACAM is a comprehensive strategy of the OAS to support the efforts of its member states to reduce armed violence through the prevention and control of the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition. One of PACAM’s components focuses on the strengthening of state capacities to control and authorize access to arms and ammunition, considering the obligations of the Interamerican convention against illicit manufacturing and of trafficking in firearms, ammunition, explosive and other related materials.”

Magistrate Mannon Dennison, who serves on the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board, took a moment to thank the OAS for its continued support. He also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to doing its part, making sure the mandate to regulate and monitor firearms in Belize stays on track.

Mannon Dennison, Member, Firearms Control Board

“We are grateful for the assistance that has been given to us by OAS. Whenever we ask they reach out, whether it is for machinery, tools to assist in the fulfillment of our mandate or for training, they are always there. We are grateful.”

The machine will support the ministry and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board in enhancing firearms traceability and strengthening controls against the illicit trafficking of these items in Belize. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Sugar Industry Declares Crisis, Demands Action

Tonight, the backbone of northern Belize’s agriculture is officially in crisis. In a rare and urgent move, the four major sugarcane producers’ associations have come together to declare a state of emergency in the sugar industry. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association, Northern Sugar Cane Growers Association, and Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association say the industry is under siege from pests, disease, and the growing threat of climate change. Yields are down, quality is suffering, and livelihoods are on the line. In a joint resolution, the associations are calling on the government to act now. Their proposals include a levy on molasses-based alcohol to fund a Cane Sustainability Fund, a price hike on domestic sugar with most of the gains going toward sustainability, and a boost in electricity tariffs from bagasse to support green infrastructure. Without swift and decisive intervention, Belize’s largest agricultural foreign exchange earner could collapse. The resolution has been formally submitted to Prime Minister John Briceño and key ministers. The clock is ticking.

Fusarium Fallout: Sugar Industry on the Brink

Fifty million dollars in losses, and that’s just the beginning. Belize’s sugar industry is facing a serious threat, and it’s coming from a fast-spreading plant fungus called fusarium. It crossed over from the north in 2024 and wasted no time, covering five miles in just five weeks. Now, not a single sugarcane field in northern Belize has been spared. So, what exactly is fusarium? How does it wreak havoc so quickly? And more importantly, what’s being done to stop it before the next crop is wiped out? News Five’s Paul Lopez breaks it all down in this week’s Five Point Breakdown.

(Where Did Fusarium Originate?)

It started just across the border in Chetumal, and now it’s taken over every sugarcane field in northern Belize. Researchers at the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute, SIRDI, have traced the origins of the destructive fusarium fungus to neighboring Mexico. In just a few months, it spread like wildfire, carried by air, water, and even heavy machinery, wreaking havoc across Corozal and Orange Walk. The fungus attacks the plant’s roots, cutting off its access to water and nutrients, and forcing it to fight for survival.

Marvin Garcia, Extension Officer, SIRDI

“But since this fusarium is so aggressive, it cannot fight it. We need to the plant in this case.”

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Sugarcane is the economic lifeline in northern Belize and now this all-important plant is being wiped out by a deadly soil-borne fungus, fusarium. Today, we found out that of the tens of thousands of acres not a single one is fusarium free.

(How Fusarium Attacks)

Marvin Garcia

“Once the fusarium is in the roots, they concentrate themselves in blocking the xylem, responsible for transporting the water to the plants. Once that is blocked nothing can go up and they start to deteriorate the roots. Once that happens like what you are seeing, this is a plant that has seven leaves; two of them are healthy. The rest are already infected with the yellow coloration. The ones infected are not fully functioning doing photosensitize.”

(Policy Makers Declare Existential Crisis)

There’s growing concern in the sugar industry, and stakeholders are sounding the alarm. If the fusarium fungus continues to spread, the 2026 crop could see some of the lowest sugar yields in history. And the warning signs are already here. Just five days ago, this year’s sugar season came to an early and disappointing end, with Prime Minister John Briceño calling it the worst crop in recent memory. The industry’s projected loss this year is estimated at fifty million dollars. The prime minister declared the fusarium attack an existential crisis.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We cannot and we will not allow, what happened to the sugar industry in the south to happen to our sugar cane farmers in the north.”

The Minister of Agriculture, Jose Mai says the worst may be ahead of us.

Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“We expect that those fields showing mild chlorotic symptoms will produce very little cane this year coming. If we see a field showing one third chlorotic symptoms, by the end of this year the entire field will be covered.”

(Farmers Taking Home Less Income)

Farmers who rely on bank loans to grow sugarcane are feeling the pinch. With crops dying and yields dropping, many are struggling to cover basic needs like education and household expenses. On Monday, four sugar associations came together with a clear message: the industry is at a breaking point. They’re now calling for higher prices on molasses, local sugar, and electricity generation to help offset their growing losses.

Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, BSCFA

“As we speak right now, today is them, and this fusarium is spreading fast. So, if we don’t do anything right now, if we don’t get the assistance needed then we will end up with a sugar industry where we don’t have any production.”

Vladamir Puck, Chairman, CSCPA

“How will they service their fields, how will they feed their families? That is something this government should look after, how this year or how future years will be treated.”

(Trichoderma: The Hope of the Sugar Industry)

But all hope is not lost in the medium and long term. There is a silver lining in this dark cloud, Trichoderma is a fungus proven to be stronger, more aggressive and able to defend the sugarcane plant against fusarium. The experts at SIRDI are studying this defense mechanism, using four strains from different parts of the world, through confrontation tests.

Luis Gongora, Laboratory Officer, SIRDI

“As you can see from the plates, this white stuff is the fusarium affecting the sugarcane. And then the green stuff here is the Trichoderma fungus. As you can observe here it already engulfed the fusarium here.”

Paul Lopez

“How are these one performing?”

Luis Gongora

“Pretty good also. Here at the top is the fusarium and the green stuff here is the Trichoderma. It has reached to the point where the fusarium is. So the fusarium wont continue developing. And this other plate, the Trichoderma has already engulfed the fusarium and you cannot see it here. It means this strain is pretty good, aggressive.”

Marvin Garcia

“This is a very serious pest we have. It is going to really affect us. But after all I have this confidence that the roots are going to get clean over again and we are going to continue. We might be living along with this pest, but we will still be able to produce.”

The Government of Belize has already committed five hundred thousand dollars to a pilot project that will see this biological control applied to fields to combat fusarium. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Sugar Industry Faces Delays Despite Progress, Says Minister Mai

So, while those confrontation tests are yielding positive results, Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai says the industry will likely have to wait an entire year to see vast improvements. That spells trouble for the next sugar crop, as biological threats to the industry multiply.

Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“But we also hope to have positive results from what we are doing now. The cure for brining back the industry has to start now. We may not see results immediate this year, but next year we may start to see positive results. Right now we are only looking at controlling the fusarium fungus and we are now informed that it is not only fusarium. It is accompanied by other pathogens. Nematodes could be one of them, but we have sent samples for testing for nematodes. Fusarium is not working alone. It is a compliment. We know fusarium is one, stemborer is another one. We suspect nematodes but we have sent samples for testing. So yes the situation is serious.”

TIDE Defends Belize’s Southern Blue Frontier

On Tuesday, we took you to Laughing Bird Caye National Park, just off the coast of Placencia, where we got a close-up look at the incredible work being done by the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future and its partners to protect our precious marine spaces. Well tonight, we’re heading even farther south, this time to the breathtaking Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. There, with support from the Belize Fund, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, and the Belize Coast Guard, a dedicated team is working tirelessly to safeguard not just Belize’s borders, but the rich natural treasures they hold. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Just thirty-seven miles off the coast of Punta Gorda lies one of Belize’s most prized, and most contested, natural treasures: the Sapodilla Cayes. This stunning atoll, rich in marine life, has long been the subject of territorial claims by both Guatemala and Honduras. And with its abundant resources, it’s no surprise that fishermen from across the border often venture into these waters. But there’s a renewed sense of hope for the future of this marine reserve. Thanks to support from the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment is on the ground, making sure these protected areas are truly protected. Executive Director Leonardo Chavarria Jr. gives us a closer look at the impactful work TIDE is doing with the help of the Belize Fund.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr., Executive Director, TIDE

“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. The accommodations that you see here on Hunter’s Caye are all funded by the Belize Fund, and of course other partners that have engaged over the years.”

In just four years, the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve has grown massively, from thirty-eight thousand acres to over three hundred thousand. That’s more than eight times its original size. It’s a huge area to manage, but the team at TIDE didn’t back down from the challenge. After spending more than three years studying the region, they officially stepped in to co-manage the reserve in 2023. And get this, they’re doing it all with just seven rangers. That’s right, seven people covering the entire reserve, without any direct presence from the Fisheries Department. So how do they do it? TIDE’s Project Manager, Florencio Coc, gives us a look at how his team is making it happen.

Florencio Coc, Project Manager, TIDE

“Our mandate is to execute the fisheries guidelines. That is our mandate. So in terms of anything that has to do with illegal entry, that goes channeled on to the immigration officer. Anything else? Immigration officer or the Coast Guard, because again, the Coast Guard also has a mandate as. As us if we are not present here, the Coast Guard has the legal authority to make arrests the same for immigration. So anything else that falls under the Fair Fisheries, it is us that conducts.”

Protecting the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve isn’t without risk. Many of the fishers who cross into Belizean waters are armed and may resist arrest. That’s why TIDE teams up with the Belize Coast Guard. Twice a day, two Coast Guard officers join TIDE patrols to help keep the team safe. Lieutenant Allen Armstrong explains the vital role they play in these joint operations.

Lieutenant Allen Armstrong, Belize Coast Guard

“We also conduct what we call the Operation Lighthouse, or better known as the Dotted Line Patrol. The Dotted Line patrol is whereby we conduct patrols from here out at Hunter’s Caye all the way to Sarstoon. This is along the equidistance line, so this is patrols that is conducted. At least four times per the month, so it’s one per week. Beside from that, we also conduct what we call the Corona Reef Patrols as well. The Corona Reef Patrol are better known as the Cayman Crown Patrol is also conducted once per week, so these patrol are conducted. Four times for the month as well. So we’re looking at eight patrols at the post guard does within the Cayman Crown, and then along the dotted line for the entire month.”

It’s one of the most beautiful, and most vulnerable, locations in Belize’s southern waters. The Cayman Crown area of the Sapodilla Cayes sits right along the border with Guatemala, and that makes it a hotspot for illegal fishing. In just the past two years, authorities have intercepted ninety-eight vessels and seized seventeen pieces of illegal fishing gear, including gill nets and long lines, many of them traced back to this very area.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr

“One of the primary concerns that we have is the issue of this by nature is a transboundary area. So we have a lot of illegal fishing that is carried out by our Guatemalan and Honduran neighbors. So we have fishing communities from Guatemalan and Honduras who 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. They use long lines. They do night fishing. They use illicit spears for example. And so these type of things are already major concern to us because they do not fish like Belizean. These people, we have like hundreds of fishers that are utilizing these waters and doing so illegally.”

So far this year, the Belize Coast Guard has hauled in over fifteen thousand feet of gill nets, that’s roughly a hundred nets taken out of our waters. And they’re not doing it alone. With support from the Belize Fund through the Government Strategic Allocation program, the Coast Guard has stepped up its game. They’ve added two high-tech drones to their toolkit, these can soar up to thirteen thousand feet and cover distances of up to one hundred and ten miles, giving them a serious edge in spotting illegal activity from the sky.

Lieutenant Allen Armstrong

“Of recent, we’ve been using it mostly in what we call area two down south, which is by Barranco. So the drones would, or 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.”

Thanks to support from the Belize Fund, TIDE now has a powerful long-range camera stationed on Hunter’s Caye. It can spot activity up to ten miles away, day or night. On days when the sea is too rough for patrols, this camera becomes an extra set of eyes on the water, helping protect Belize’s marine reserve even when boots can’t be on the ground.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr.

“The Belize Fund has also provided the Belize marine protected areas network of which TIDE is a part of with, allocation for ranger salaries for an additional two year basis. So in other words the Belize Fund currently pays rangers working out here. And likewise, we have a big project that is about to complete in the next year or so, and we are eligible to reapply for another project.”

From north to south, Belize’s ocean spaces are getting a boost, thanks to the Belize Fund. Whether it’s protecting coral reefs, supporting marine patrols, or funding high-tech tools, BFSF is helping organizations across the country keep our waters safe, healthy, and thriving. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Biodiversity Communities

Today, the National Biodiversity Office, under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, launched its very first National Biodiversity Dialogue. The theme? “Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Empowering Communities through National Collaboration.” It’s more than just a mouthful, it’s a mission. This event brings together key players from across the country to strengthen partnerships, protect our ecosystems, and ensure that Belize’s protected areas are managed effectively and sustainably. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there and brings us the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

There are no borders when it comes to nature. Across Belize, hundreds of ecosystems are linked, not just by plants and animals, but by the people working hard to protect them. These natural networks provide vital resources, and it’s the efforts of conservationists that help keep them thriving. Today marked the kickoff of Belize’s first-ever National Biodiversity Forum, a space where those on the frontlines of conservation came together to share ideas, tackle challenges, and align their goals. Saul Cruz, Director of the National Biodiversity Office, explained why this kind of collaboration is more important now than ever.

Saul Cruz, Director, National Biodiversity Office

“Really what the National Biodiversity Office is looking forward to is just having an open dialogue where we share a lot of what we’ve been doing in terms of our national policies, structures, and governance. But really also to provide a space for our unsung heroes to also provide some updates and some information in terms of what they’re doing. Some of the challenges. Some of the achievements and some of the opportunities for collaboration and partnership really the theme is just built around that. How do we strengthen partnership? How do we strengthen collaboration from government to our NGOs and to our protected area managers and even amongst government entities? And so it’s really focused around strengthening partnership, strengthening collaboration. And one way that we see that coming is through just information sharing, showing everybody what is it that we’re doing and what our plans are for the next coming years.”

The two-day forum drew participants from the north to the south of Belize. Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director of the Turneffe Atoll Sustainable Association (TASA) explains that his participation is a testament to TASA’s dedication to protecting Marine spaces, and the industries that depend on them.

Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, TASA

“The marine environment itself contributes millions of billions of dollars in terms of the Belize economy. In 2024, the tourism industry alone was one point two-four billion. And so all of that is based on the biodiversity, right? That’s based on diving, snorkeling, fly fishing, those industries that contribute to the economy and that employ lesions. I think it was almost about twenty-five thousand people that were employed through the tourism industry. There are another three thousand fishers that are employed through the fishing industry and there are also about fifteen thousand families in northern communities southern communities, and across this country that depend on fishing, for example.”

The forum is the first of its kind for the National Biodiversity Office (NBO), drawing attendees from government ministries, co-management partners, civil society, and academia. According to Cruz, the event comes at a crucial time for conservationists.

Saul Cruz

“This is the very first event the National Biodiversity Office has been created in 2020. And from since then we’ve not been able to have. This sort of a national dialogue. And so it’s very critical at this point in time. It’s very important in terms of ensuring that we have a very strong communication and collaboration process with all our partners.”

Protecting Belize’s natural beauty isn’t just about passion, it’s about planning. And today, the National Biodiversity Office laid out exactly how that plan will unfold. During today’s session of the National Biodiversity Dialogue, the NBO presented its roadmap for how stakeholders, from government agencies to grassroots groups, will work together to protect our ecosystems. The aim is to make sure everyone knows their role in keeping Belize’s environment healthy, thriving, and accessible for generations to come.

Saul Cruz

“In our role, we are the co-manager of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. And so we basically are ensuring that we run the day-to-day management of the reserve, ensuring that whether you are a fishing stakeholder or a tourism stakeholder, or the general public, engaging with the reserve, that you comply with the rules and regulation and ensure that you’re not taking more than you should. You’re taking it within the rules. For example lobster season just opened. We have to ensure that everybody has their licenses for their boats, as a fisher. The same thing for tour guides, tour operators. We check with them to be able to ensure that they have their licenses and ensure that they’re doing proper things and not again jeopardizing the very biodiversity that they depend on for their livelihoods.”

NBO believes that by working together and crossing the borders that hinder them, that environmental stakeholders will start to see progress.

Saul Cruz

“And so it’s understanding that biodiversity spans beyond our protected areas. And so it includes community, it includes people, and so understanding that interaction of people, our communities with our biodiversity and our protected areas is very essential to being successful in managing our protected areas.”

The national biodiversity office is charting the way forward in the way stakeholders design conservative strategies to ensure that the biodiversity is managed and remains in a healthy state. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Caye Caulker Mom Speaks Out After Alleged Police Brutality

A video showing two police officers manhandling a young man in Caye Caulker has ignited public concerns about excessive use of force by police.

21-year-old Andrew Novelo is seen in one of the videos raising his hands and walking toward officers before being forcefully restrained. One officer puts him in a chokehold, followed by the other officer violently slapping Novelo in the face. This was despite Novelo already being handcuffed. There is an inaudible verbal exchange between Novelo and the officers who slapped him. The video shows that Novelo made a sudden move towards the officer before being hit.

His mother, who spoke exclusively to News Five, says the attack was not only unprovoked but could have easily turned deadly.

According to the mother, the confrontation began after her son questioned why a traffic officer-in-training had moved his golf cart from where it was parked. Novelo had reportedly left briefly to use the bathroom and returned to find the cart being driven away.

She said Novelo gave chase on his bike and followed the cart to the Caye Caulker Village Council (CCVC) compound.

“He kept asking if he did something wrong … And instead of telling him what the issue was, the individual just laughed and replied he can impound any vehicle he wants to,” the mother said.

Video footage shows Novelo attempting to retrieve the golf cart with his bicycle placed on the back of the cart and reversing out of the CCVC compound. At that moment, a police golf cart intersected his way with two officers on board. Novelo is seen stepping off the cart, raising his hands when the confrontation escalated.

“They forcefully grab him! Slap him! Pin him against the fence! Put him in a chokehold,” the mother said. “Instead of the officers trying to assess the situation and calm the matter down, they in fact did the COMPLETE OPPOSITE and made matters worse.”

According to the mother, her son was beaten again after being taken into custody. Images of his injuries sustained shows scrapes on his ankle and bruises on his upper body, and neck, and wrists where the cuffs would have been placed.

LEAKED: Internal Plan Reveals UDP Moves to Reunify Party Members

News 5 has obtained a leaked internal communication detailing a strategic plan by the United Democratic Party (UDP) to restore party unity, including the controversial reinstatement of expelled members such as Tracy Taegar-Panton.

According to the confidential information, UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, is expected to hold a closed-door preliminary meeting with senior party figures including Party Leader Shyne Barrow, Deputy Leader Hugo Patt, former Chair Alberto August, Ethics Committee Chair Aldo Salazar, and regional representatives Omar Figueroa and Tony Herrera. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalise the National Party Council (NPC) agenda and approve the list of delegates.

The working list of NPC members will be based on the roll used during Tracy Taegar-Panton’s October 2024 convention. However, individuals who ran as her candidates in the March 2025 general election will be excluded, at least temporarily. They, along with Taegar-Panton and other expelled members, will not be allowed to attend the upcoming NPC meeting due to their current disciplinary status.

However, News 5 has learned that the first item on the NPC’s agenda will be a motion to immediately reinstate Taegar-Panton and all expelled members, including those barred for running on her “Tracy Ticket.” This maneuver would effectively restore their full standing within the party.

Barrow’s general election candidates, even in constituencies where Tracy also fielded contenders, will be invited to the NPC meeting. However, their respective chairpersons and secretaries will be excluded from the session.

The NPC is also expected to trigger a series of constituency conventions to select new caretakers and national delegates. These will take place in areas that did not contest the 2025 general election, including Pickstock, Fort George, Dangriga, and Toledo East. Conventions will also be held in the 10 constituencies where both Shyne and Tracy had rival candidates.

No further constituency conventions will be held. In constituencies with sitting UDP area representatives, or where general election candidates lost but remained active, those individuals will continue to serve as caretakers and will select delegates to the National Convention.

The leaked communication reveals that the NPC, scheduled for July 12, 2025, will confirm October 5, 2025 as the date of the party’s National Convention.

In a separate and official press release, the UDP said, “Adherence to this roadmap should lead us to the reunification and reset necessary to rebuild our beloved United Democratic Party.”

Peyrefitte Shrugs Off “Crossroads” with Tracy Panton

UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte has responded to the leak of a private message he sent to Tracy Panton, saying he’s not surprised and isn’t backing down from the push for party unity.

The leaked message, obtained by News 5, revealed Peyrefitte’s frustration over what he described as a breakdown in an internal agreement among senior UDP figures. Writing directly to Panton, he said that he had only returned to the chairmanship on the assurance that she, Shyne Barrow, Hugo Patt, and Alberto August had agreed on a path forward.

But this morning, Peyrefitte said the leak, while unfortunate, isn’t cause for alarm.

“Leaks will happen,” he said. “Not even presidents of big countries can stop leaks… If it leaks, it leaks. It’s not secret, we are a mass party, and I would love for the people to know every step that we are taking to get back to that place of unity and strength.

In his communication to Panton, Peyrefitte wrote, “We are at a crossroads again, and it seems that I have un-resigned only to come back to a situation that is exactly what I didn’t want to come back to.”

Despite the ongoing discord, Peyrefitte insists the communication was not misleading or malicious.

“Was it ever my desire for it to become public? No,” he said. “But nothing in there was ignitious; nothing in there was a lie and hopefully the public can see that it was an attempt to try and make peace in the party so it is what it is.

Minister Mai: Fusarium Battle May Take Another Year

Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai says the sugar industry may not see major improvements this year despite promising tests underway to combat the deadly fusarium fungus.

Mai confirmed that Belize’s current biological treatment trials could take up to a year to show significant results, which has raised concerns for next season’s sugar crop.

“The cure for bringing back the industry has to start now. We may not see results immediately this year, but next year we may start to see positive results.”

But he warned that the situation may be more serious than initially believed. Alongside fusarium, other pathogens may be threatening the country’s sugarcane.

“We are now informed that it is not only fusarium. It is accompanied by other pathogens. Nematodes could be one of them; we have sent samples for testing.”

Fusarium, which is believed to have originated from across the Mexican border, has now spread to several sugarcane fields in northern Belize. The disease has already cost the industry an estimated fifty million dollars this year.

Belize’s four sugarcane producers’ associations declared the industry’s current situation as a “critical and unprecedented crisis.” They called on the government of Belize in a joint resolution for “immediate and decisive intervention.”