While Hol Chan’s harvesting boats are out at sea scooping up sargassum, the San Pedro Town Council is tackling the problem the old-fashioned way—shovels, wheelbarrows, and a whole lot of manpower. Every day, crews are clearing the beaches and hauling the seaweed off to be used as landfill. The aim is to transform the area into a scenic community boardwalk. But not everyone’s on board. Some residents say the smell of rotting seaweed is just too much. The council says they’ve adjusted their strategy to cover the sargassum before it starts to stink. But when we asked Area Representative Andre Perez for his take, his response was blunt: “The entire island stinks anyway.”
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“After some days the Sargassum ferments and it releases these bad gases and smell as well, but the area where the San Pedro Town Council is covering is part of a street that should have been like a boulevard. And they’re following it up. And I’m more than sure that we’ll be covering it with sand or to it’s either way. It has to be gotten rid of. But, and that area that they’re using, I agree with it. I’m supporting it that. It is a model and I commended Town Council for doing that work there. But in terms of the smell, it’s everywhere. It’s not only where they are filling. You walk across any area in San Pedro, it doesn’t have a beach. It’s across with everything.with sargassum.”
The United Nations is calling on the Caribbean to boost its efforts in the fight to end AIDS. Earlier this month, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS released a publication that revealed that since the United States pulled funding from the Global Fund, eighty percent of HIV treatment facilities are struggling to keep their doors open. Largely affected are civil society organizations, which conduct outreach and prevention programs. The UN is urging governments across the region to prioritize supporting these organizations as they play a pivotal role in HIV care. News Five ‘s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For decades, the Caribbean has been making real progress in the fight against HIV—fewer deaths, fewer new infections, and more people getting the care they need. But that progress is now under serious threat. Right now, over three hundred and forty thousand people in the region are living with HIV. Every single day, forty-one more are newly infected, and fourteen lose their lives. And just as we need to push harder, a major source of support has been pulled away. The United States has withdrawn its funding from the Global Fund, a move that’s hitting civil society organizations the hardest. These are the groups on the front lines, doing the outreach, the education, the prevention work. And now, many of them are struggling to stay afloat.
Richard Amenyah
Dr. Richard Amenyah, Multi-country Director, UNAIDS
“ It’s not just a data point. These are real people who are impacted. These are real communities who are impacted. These are geographic areas of people who are being left behind, who are impacted. For UNAIDS and PANCAP, we decided to have a better understanding of this situation and to also see how has this funding can directly impacted the beneficiaries as well. And we see there’s a lot of mental health issues. If I know HIV is not curable. And I need to be on my medications every day. And I require social support for certain services that may not be directly be delivered by the health system. Then I need to depend on civil society groups to be able to do some of these things.”
Civil society organizations play a quiet but crucial role in HIV treatment. Every day, diagnosed patients battle against stigma, shame and other mental health struggles. Kimberly Simpson shares how the community often leans on each other through these organizations for support.
Voice of: Kimberly Simpson
Voice of: Kimberly Simpson, HIV Positive
“Yes, we have a group where we support each other and stuff like that. And there are times we have our meetings and we would discuss certain things but like I said, when it come to that part, no longer having that to help us or support us, I know it will be difficult to each one of us. Some of us might be afraid to admit it or say that but it will be difficult because not everyone is brave like me.”
For more than twenty years, countries across the region, including Belize, have been providing life-saving HIV treatment. And in 2023, Belize reached a major milestone by eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the virus. But while medical progress is clear, changing public attitudes is still a work in progress. Chair of the National AIDS Commission, Dolores Balderamos-García, says the government and the commission are working hard to support people living with HIV—not just with medicine, but with compassion and care.
Dolores Balderaos-Garcia
Dolores Balderaos-Garcia, Chair, National Aids Commission
“The Ministry of Health now is fully on board with the National AIDS Commission in utilizing what we call differentiated service models. And why do I call it differentiated service models? Because not everybody might want to go to the clinic, especially if you’re a gay man or if you are selling sex. The stigma and discrimination is still such that. There are some persons in the, what we call the key vulnerable populations who may not want to be out there going to a clinic. And even if it is not absolutely real, the perception of the stigma and discrimination is still significant, even though we’ve been fighting this thing for over thirty-five years.”
Dr. Richard Amenyah stresses that while the region has been making progress, civil society organizations cannot be forgotten from their strategy. He stresses the need to engage the NGOs with the health systems, facilitate training, and build capacity for outreach.
Dr. Richard Amenyah
“We know civil society organizations, their support for the HIV response. It’s largely within the area of HIV prevention. Working in trying to strengthen community partnership, engagement, advocacy and addressing issues around human right stigma and discrimination and all those wraparound elements which impact structurally and socially On the HIV response. HIV is not just a health issue where you just take medications, but it’s also about community support, peer support, and community solidarity. And so we decided to find out how has this pause in funding or cut in funding impacted the HIV response.”
The Caribbean’s battle against HIV isn’t just about medicine, it’s also about money. And right now, a major roadblock is staring governments in the face: debt. With international funding drying up, UNAIDS is urging regional leaders to stop looking abroad and start finding solutions at home. That means generating their own revenue to keep vital health services running, especially those led by civil society groups. National AIDS Commission Chair Dolores Balderamos-García agrees, it’s a tough but necessary step if the region wants to keep moving forward in the fight against HIV.
Dolores Balderaos-Garcia
“Guyana apparently is doing very well in their HIV fight and also countries like Trinidad and Barbados. But there are challenges in the smaller, maybe Eastern Caribbean countries. I don’t wanna speak what I don’t know because I don’t know each one individually. But looking for funding sources, we will have to look within. In my view. That’s my humble view. Now, what we are asking in terms of our ramped up and, we have to scale up our HIV response now in order to achieve the goal of 2030, that by 2030 HIV would not be a significant health threat to our people.”
The time to act is now, before the hard-earned progress achieved in the region is undine. The fight must be holistic and inclusive to ensure that HIV patients are supported in all aspects of their journey. Britney Gordon for News Five.
In true David Almendarez fashion, the former U.D.P. candidate held a solo press conference in Belize City today and he spoke out boldly. Almendarez launched into a fiery critique of the current government, but not before turning his sights on his own party. He pointed fingers directly at Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton, blaming her for what he calls the U.D.P.’s downfall. It was a press conference full of political punches.
David Almendarez
David Almendarez, Former UDP Candidate
“I want to address the alliance. First, I want to congratulate the first female opposition leader ever, congratulations are due, respect is due. But, if you notice a week ago, we had a set of people where their headquarters is in Euphrates, but when we have a meeting on BelChina they show up. It is amazing because this same alliance was hellbent on destroying our party. They put candidates knowing they could not automatically win an election. That is what you call a blue konkas move. Even if every single one of your candidates had won, you could not mathematically form the government. That was a direct aim at the UDP. So, you can’t beat the PUP. So you damage the same party where you bring your cronies out Saturday to try disrupt. Why you want to be a part of something that you broke up. Why don’t you to Euphrates. You have a big spot at Euphrates. Why are you so concerned about what is happening at this side when dah you broke it up.”
David Almendarez isn’t just talking politics; he’s also raising concerns about the state of Belize’s tourism industry. At his solo press conference, he claimed things are so slow right now that some tour guides are being forced to look for other ways to make a living. But is this just the usual off-season dip, or is there something deeper going on?
David Almendarez
David Almendarez, Tour Operator
“We deh two months in the slow season. Generally, the slow season is six months. Depending on how the easter flows, it will tell you the length of the seasons. This year the season went all the way to April twentieth. That normally demarcates the end of the season. If you listen to the critics, then you would think we are doing wonderful. Check unu change today. Around this time last year I could not get a tour guide to work for me. Now I could get a tour guide to wash my vehicle. You have tour guides doing construction. Not even two months in the high season do we have that happening. I think it is the fact that we keep increasing the cost of a Belizean experience. We keep increasing the cost. I was in Cancun for Easter and to visit Chichen Itza which is a whole day tour, we leave six in the morning and return eight in the evening, sixty U.S. dollars. The entrance fees to Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), dah over fifty dollars, just the entrance fees. It goes to show the market research being done before people implement changes.”
If you’ve ever enjoyed a plate of rice and beans with that perfectly crispy piece of chicken, chances are it came from Quality Poultry. And this year, they’re not just celebrating, they’re celebrating big. Quality Poultry Products is marking its fiftieth anniversary, and instead of throwing one fancy event in one location, they’re hitting the road. The company is rolling out motorcades across the country, bringing the celebration to every district and this weekend, it’s Belize City’s turn. But this isn’t just about balloons and banners. It’s a chance to shine a light on the journey your chicken takes before it hits your plate. From farm to fryer, Quality wants you to see the story behind the sizzle.
Andre Selgado
Andre Selgado, Manager, Quality Poultry Products
“This year, Quality celebrates our legacy year which is fifty years in existence as Quality Poultry Products. We were established in 1975, and we’ve been in operation continuously, nonstop being the number one poultry provider in Belize. So, we wanted to do something different, every company that does reach fifty years, they normally just have one event and at a centralized location. So, what we’re trying to do is celebrate with the entire country, which makes everyone an active participant in what we’re doing. So, what we decided to do is that every district, the main city or town in that district, will be having a motorcade in celebration of Quality. So, we’re celebrating it with you as our customers, as our supporters and we’re giving back to you. So, this Saturday in Belize City is going to be the motorcade. We start at eleven a.m. and we go through the principal streets of Belize City. We’re kind of taking the same route as the fire engine parade. What is the motorcade about? Again, some people take it for granted, not knowing how, when they go and buy that plate of rice and beans and chicken, or when they go to the shop and buy dehn lee fry chicken, they don’t know what it takes for us to get that chicken to you. So Quality Poultry, the motorcade, it highlights a little bit of the process of how we get stuff to your plate.”
Back in 1988, she wore the crown, the sash, and the smile that lit up a nation, Gayla Lopez, Belize’s Queen of the Bay. But what if I told you that was just the beginning of her story? Today, we’re turning the page on a journey that’s far deeper than pageantry. From the grace of the stage to the quiet power of a journal, Gayla has transformed her platform into a mission: helping others heal, grow, and express themselves through creativity and reflection. It’s a story of elegance, empathy, and emotional empowerment, and it’s all coming up in this week’s inspiring edition of The Bright Side.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
She was just a young woman in 1988 poised, graceful, and full of promise when she stepped into the national spotlight as Belize’s Queen of the Bay. Her name? Gayla Lopez. The crown and sash made her a symbol of pride for an entire country, but that moment was only the beginning.
Gayla Lopez
Gayla Lopez, Mental Health Advocate
“Queen of the Bay, back then, in my days, it had a lot to do with your elegance, your poise, your grace, your intellect, how intelligent you were, because we did have to answer questions. Um, but a lot to do with your grace, your elegance, your beauty, your poise, and um. That was pretty much a scene then 37 years ago.”
Times have changed and so has the crown. Gayla Lopez has watched the evolution of the pageant with pride—where today’s contestants are not just symbols of grace, but voices for change, championing causes and stepping into advocacy roles.
Gayla Lopez
“It gives you a sense of pride, you know, to be a part of history, to be, it’s a part of our heritage. Like I said, queen of the Bay is just something that’s, um, kind of embedded, you know, so it does, it brings a smile to your face.”
For Gayla, that pride also planted the seeds for something deeper, a journey of healing and self-discovery that led her to help others, beginning with children. Out of her personal journey came a powerful idea, one that’s now helping young people navigate their own emotional worlds. Inspired by her transformation, Gayla Lopez created 5 Journal, a guided tool that blends creativity with reflection.
Gayla Lopez
“I created a children’s journal called, called Five Journal. It deals with, um, children being able to recognize, to express and to embrace their emotions. It’s a way for them, because a lot of people are not able to verbalize, they can’t articulate what they’re feeling and to be able to articulate what you’re feeling, it empowers you as well, because the emotions are messengers.”
Gayla’s personal journey of healing and self-expression inspired her to use creativity as a bridge for emotional growth. Through her work, she encourages children to find their own voice, often turning to art to communicate feelings that words alone can’t capture.
Gayla Lopez
“I’ve used art as a tool, a part of my life. When I was processing my own life growing up, I resorted to art as my escape. So what I’ve done is incorporate art as a tool for children to verbalize what they’re feeling and express themselves. It’s kind of like speaking colors when words cannot.”
And while her focus initially began with children, Gayla Lopez acknowledges that her work has revealed a deeper truth—adults, too, can benefit from the resource as they learn to better understand and process their emotions.
Gayla Lopez
“Since then to now I’ve had to step back, like I said, because I recognize that adults are not able to articulate or to verbalize their own feelings, and they’re the people that I need to be able to assist children in this journey as well. So I’ve had to step back and I, so I offer sessions for adults primarily, but also for children. I think a lot of it has to do with how we were brought up as adults. We’re from different generations, so the way I was raised is very different from how my children are being raised now—or how their children will be. It’s like different stages. And I think one of the hindrances is how we often tell boys, for example, that they have to be tough—“you’re not supposed to cry.” I mean, that’s basically telling them not to feel. But they’re human beings too.”
After nearly four decades of service, reflection, and impact, Gayla Lopez sees her journey as more than personal, it’s patriotic. For her, patriotism isn’t just about waving a flag; it’s about rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work to move your country forward.
Gayla Lopez
“For me, patriotism means love of country, right? Um, there’s lots of work that needs to be done. I try to live my life as best as possible to be patriotic. Uh, for the love of my country, but there’s, to be real honest, there’s lots of work to be done. Um, I don’t think one person can do that. You can try.”
While being a beauty queen can be an empowering experience, it’s important to remember that a title does not define your true worth. Crowns and sashes may fade with time, but the strength of your character is the crown you wear for life. That’s the real legacy—one of resilience, growth, and purpose beyond the spotlight. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
Among the growing number of unions voicing their discontent with the Briceño administration, the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) added their voice in solidarity during Thursday’s National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) press conference.
UBFSU called on the government to fulfil its pledge to increase the university’s subvention to $10 million. UBFSU Acting President Julianne Pasos said the current $7.65 million subvention is insufficient to meet the university’s needs and called on the government to restore its pledge to increase funding to $10 million.
“They promised to restore the $10 million subvention and increase that by $1 million every year should they become the government of Belize. They have been in power since 2020, if I’m not mistaken. Ironically, the subvention of the university from 2021 to 2024 has been at its lowest at $7.65 million,” Pasos said.
She added that despite official statements committing to sustainable development and funding increases, the 2025/2026 budget again allocates only $7.65 million with no increase projected.
“Our issue is the government keeps making promises. The subvention is not just something we are calling for; it’s something that the university needs,” she added. “The subvention goes towards the operational costs of the university. Without the subvention, it adds the constraints to the institution.”
Pasos revealed that Belize’s national university is facing serious challenges, including difficulty retaining faculty and staff due to brain drain and uncompetitive salaries.
Public Service Union President Dean Flowers is once again calling out government spending, this time on vehicles. In Thursday’s NTUCB press conference, Flowers said the Government of Belize is spending $17 million annually on overtime payments. He pointed to what he called a “continuous hustle” in vehicle purchases between 2021 and 2025.
Flowers said $10.2 million was spent on vehicles in the 2021–2022 fiscal year alone, just after the pandemic. What stood out, he said, is that 20% of those funds, roughly $2.2 million, went not to established car dealers but to a group of 16 private individuals.
“There wasn’t much purchasing in 2022–2023,” he added, “but by 2023–2024 and again in 2024–2025, the same group, this time only five individuals, were responsible for selling $1.2 million worth of vehicles to the government.”
“I am saying that that’s another area of abuse and corruption that the Ministry of Finance is well aware of. Over the three years, they would have spent almost 22 million dollars,” he stated.
Flowers also demanded that the Briceño administration table financial statements from statutory bodies such as the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), IMMARBE, the Financial Services Commission, and the Belize Airport Authority. He extended the call to include BELTRAIDE, the Social Investment Fund (SIF), COCESNA funds, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), Belize Port Authority, Pesticide Control Board, NICH, and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
He said, “These organisations are all mandated by law to lay on the table their financial statements.”
“Make it public, or your integrity will continue to be called into question along with those associated to you,” Flowers said to the Briceño government.
Former UDP candidate David Almendarez has re-entered the public arena with sharp criticism of the Briceño administration’s handling of union protests. This morning, Almendarez held a press conference under his new title as the founder of the Belize Local Tourism Guides and Operators Association.
Almendarez criticised the government for “union busting” and crossing the line with police action against public servants.
“Police, listen to me, you are out here arresting the teachers; put their vehicles on a tow truck. Never in my life, and I am a seasoned fighter, but there are some barriers that you don’t cross, some things you don’t touch,” he said.
He pointed out that the fight of the teachers and public servants for a salary adjustment dates back more than a decade, which also includes negotiations with the previous administration. “It’s not only this administration, it’s from the previous administration they’re negotiating that same 8.5%.”
“I remember when the teachers were picketing to the then prime minister and the then the leader of the opposition, he was front stage and center with them,” Almendarez said, referring to John Briceño, who now serves as Prime Minister.
Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca has confirmed that this year’s Carnival parade will follow the same route as last year’s, running along Marine Parade in Belize City.
Fonseca expressed full confidence in the decision, citing strong support from all stakeholders.
“Absolutely, 100%, we are sticking with the route we had last year,” Fonseca said. “I think we’ve received unanimous support for that route. The Carnival Association is very happy, and most Belizeans who participated in or watched the carnival last year believe it was a great idea.”
Fonseca added that the Belize Police Department also favoured the change, noting the improved ability to manage the crowd and ensure safety.
“The police certainly loved the fact that they were able to have more control over the carnival,” he said. “So yes, we are full steam ahead with the route from last year.”
