The debate over Belize’s proposed national bus company is picking up steam, and this time, it’s all about the bottom line. The Belize Bus Owners Association is sounding the alarm, claiming that without a fare hike, the new company won’t turn a profit. But Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh isn’t buying it. He says the goal isn’t just profit, it’s better service at a better price. And according to him, the real reason some operators aren’t seeing the returns they expect? Well, that’s a whole other story.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“From our perspective, what the national company will be able to do, because it will have a wider spread between revenue and cost and when I say revenue go up I don’t mean price go up. What I mean is that the money that should be for the company is coming into the company bank account. What is happening right now is that a lot of people, especially conductors and drivers, are stealing the money. Let us be plain. That means your revenue could have been up here. So now you will get more of your money. It does not mean prices will go up. It just means what is due to the owners of these buses is coming to them. But,. Because your cost go down and you have a bigger margin there is less pressure to increase prices. If you are doing this for public purpose then what do you want, give them the best service for a lower cost. So, this is the only way we can ensure in the longer run that we don’t have pressures to increase prices, which I think the press release, we have discussed this two or three times, ignored from the discussions we have had before.”
As the conversation around Belize’s proposed national bus company rolls on, we caught up with someone who’s been in the driver’s seat of the industry for years, Joel Armstrong of Armstrong Bus Line. He’s a veteran member of the Belize Bus Owners Association, and while the group has been vocal in its opposition, Armstrong’s take was a bit more measured. He told us he’s still listening and learning, but if the playing field is fair for everyone, he thinks the plan could actually work.
Joel Armstrong, Bus Operator
“Buying into the plan, I always believe in listening so that I can learn. I have had one on ones with the minister and in public. It is a good plan while it is applied in the right way and you have responsible people. We tend to think one sided. That is to say Vaughn is my friend so I will give you better opportunity and we nuh wah worry about him, he is small time. We need to be on a level playing field and make everybody get equal. You wont say like how this man could get five bus we will just squeeze Mr. Armstrong out and make him a janitor. We need to give everybody, everybody is valuable. That is the way I believe as a human. We all work together. We are all one chain and once one pop everything shattered.”
Tonight, there’s a developing and deeply concerning story out of western Belize. A desperate search is underway for thirteen-year-old Lizzie Suntecum, a primary school student who vanished from the San Jose Roman Catholic School compound on Monday afternoon. Lizzie, who was supposed to remain on campus for the school feeding program, reportedly told a friend her aunt would be picking her up just before one p.m. But when she didn’t return to class, the school quickly alerted her family. Lizzie and two of her siblings make the daily cross-border journey from Melchor to attend school in San Jose Succotz, a routine that’s common in the area, but one that adds a complex layer to this already troubling situation. Her mother is from Melchor, while her father’s family lives in Succotz. We spoke with Lizzie’s grandmother by phone earlier today. Here’s what she had to say.
On the Phone: Oralia Rosado, Grandmother of Missing Child
“We went to see the principal what happened and the principal say they don’t know nothing, only the children saying that she told a student that at twelve forty-five her aunt will come and get her. When the teacher noticed she hadn’t come in class, the principal call the mom and from hat time we hear she disappeared. I know there is a warden and the school has camera and they say that they don’t see her. Only the students saying that she told her that 12:45 her aunt will come and get her, but she don’t have any aunt, only the man have an aunt in San Felipe named Sandra and she was around this weekend. I don’t know if she takes her.”
Paul Lopez
“And the school since they have a warden and cameras, you suspect they would have seen when she left the campus?”
On the Phone: Oralia Rosado
“The principal knows that the children in the feeding program they don’t go out from school, they stay there. How they will not know what happened. The person that has her, please release her. We are desperate. Thank you.”
This afternoon the family was informed that Lizzie was seen using the restroom at Westrac in Roaring Creek Village. They have since made their way to the business establishment to request surveillance footage. We will continue to follow.
Belize is taking a big step forward in protecting its most vulnerable citizens, its children. On Monday in Belize City, the Department of Human Services launched a national training program aimed at sharpening the skills of frontline social workers. It’s a week-long initiative designed to help these professionals produce stronger, court-ready reports, key tools in cases involving custody, adoption, and child protection. The training is being led by social policy expert Doctor Greg Nunez, with support from UNICEF, and it’s all about making sure every child’s best interest is front and center.
Shanti Morrison-Novelo
Shanti Morrison-Novelo, Director, Belize Family Court
“If we are to be concerned about the best interest of children, then we must be serious in continued education and training that impact the paramount consideration in all cases. To properly serve families and children, the court requires accurate reports, social workers who understand the importance of law and its legal requirements. Without continued training for social officers, we will have failed our society at large. I am most grateful for the desk review and subsequent review of the court-mandated social reports, the SIRs. They focus on ensuring accuracy, objectivity, and an adherence to establishing standards for social workers and the practice. In final, if we are serious about the work we do, my recommendations are as follows. To ensure that we have enhanced training for report writers on standardized report writing and objective assessments, continued training for social officers in capacity building, continued training on court practices and procedures for social workers.”
A Belize City man is behind bars tonight after a dramatic encounter with police that ended in gunfire. Forty-four-year-old Clive Hendricks, a construction worker from Pickstock Street, is accused of opening fire on officers at a checkpoint earlier this month. Police say they returned fire, injuring Hendricks in the hand before he fled the scene. He was later caught, treated at the K.H.M.H., and today, appeared in court, his hand still bandaged, where he was formally charged with aggravated assault with a firearm. Hendricks pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison, with a return date set for August twelfth.
It’s a story of connection, compassion, and community—powered by a water taxi. Caribbean Sprinter isn’t just moving passengers between islands; it’s helping save lives. In partnership with the Island Donors Squad, the company has been quietly supporting blood donation trips from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker to Belize City. And just recently, that effort made a big difference for one beloved island resident, affectionately known as the ‘Coconut Lady.’ Thanks to quick coordination with Emmanuel Pentecostal Church and two generous donors, she received the blood she needed just in time. But the mission didn’t stop there. A donor drive at the church brought in twenty new blood donors and offered free health checks, with a few lucky participants winning hemoglobin tests from Ambergris Hope Hospital. It’s all part of a growing movement to boost voluntary blood donation across Belize. And with the next drive set for July fifth, the call is out: give blood, give hope, and help keep this life-saving momentum going.
And we’re back to our headline story, Belize’s proposed national bus company. One of the big questions raised at today’s media briefing with Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh was about job security. Specifically: what happens to the bus drivers and conductors already working in the industry? Well, the short answer? There are no guarantees. Minister Zabaneh made it clear, anyone hoping to work with the new company will have to go through a screening process. Only the most qualified candidates will be hired. So, for many in the industry, the road ahead might come with a few unexpected turns.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“We are not going to say that you are all guaranteed to get jobs, because that is going to be reckless. We have to have a certain standard as to persons employed in the company. So you come in and meet those standards, do those interviews, have your qualifications. You are a driver and you drive properly, you pass certain interviews that will speak to your character. We are having a very dangerous situation where drivers are texting, they park and hang out and drink liquor. We know these things. So we have to have certain standards of who can come in and work with this company in the best interest, in terms of safety, and the comfort of our people.”
Paul Lopez
“It is left to be asked, why should I buy into this if I already have a job as a driver, conductor and I am already in the industry and now you are telling me I have to go through a screening process to determine if I will still keep my job or walk out of it unemployed.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“Right, that is where government has a responsibility to commuters and country to say if you want to stay out of it fine, there is others who have decided to join. I believe that anybody who takes that stand it is because they are afraid of a certain standard and they are the ones we don’t want in the industry.”
And before we wrap up this story tonight, let’s clear up one more question that’s been circling the national bus company conversation: can current bus owners choose to stay independent? The answer, according to Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh, is yes, they can continue operating under the existing system. But there’s a catch. He made it clear that whether you’re in or out of the new company, the standards will be the same. So, if you’re hitting the road, you’ll need to meet the same level of service and accountability expected from the national fleet.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“What is likely to occur, we don’t know the future, but the south and west will be all on board. The south and west will likely be owners of national and a few in the north will come on board. We are hoping everyone will come on board. But if the south and west is shaping up there is no reason for those two regions to come fully on board. We don’t want to exclude anybody from the market because they could take us from court. We have a case right now with James and Floralia. So we are not excluding anybody they can have their permits. But even for people there now, we are ramping up our enforcement and rules, eight now as we speak.”
Bus Operator
“What will happen when the road service time comes up. Will you still renew the road service permit?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“It will be renewed anyone that is not a member of the national company.”
Bus Operator
“So the persons hat don’t agree.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“They will continue to operate.”
Bus Operator
“So you will renew it back?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“Once they are meeting the eighteen conditions.”
Minister Zabaneh says he will continue to meet with induvial bus owners torespond to their questions and concerns.
Tonight, we’re heading to the quiet fishing village of Copper Bank in northern Belize where tradition meets technology, and paddles meet purpose. It’s not your typical race day. Picture this: local fishers, their families, and sleek dugout canoes, called cayucos, lining up for a high-energy race across the water. But this isn’t just about speed. It’s about community, culture, and a new wave of data-driven fishing that’s helping protect the ocean and the people who depend on it. From catch logs to cayuco races, this is a story of innovation, resilience, and the power of paddling forward together. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
When we think about fishing, we often picture the catch: the fresh snapper, the lobster, the bounty of the sea. But behind every haul is something just as important: the data. That’s right, catch data is becoming a lifeline for small-scale commercial fishers across the region. It’s not just about numbers on a clipboard. This data helps protect fish stocks, supports local livelihoods, and ensures that the ocean can keep giving for generations to come.
Juliet Neal
Juliet Neal, Conservation Finance Officer, WWF
“As part of the licensing process, fisher captains are required to submit a logbook as part of their license requirements. And so, we thought of a way, how might this be easier for fishers to do? And we thought that having an app, it’s more portable than a paper-base which is what they are doing right now, and it also allows them to be able to upload and share information with the Fisheries Department in real time.”
Catch data tells us what’s being reeled in, and how much of it. That might sound simple, but it’s a big deal. This info helps scientists and fisheries managers keep tabs on fish populations, spot any troubling declines early, and make smart decisions about when to fish, how much to take, and when to give the ocean a break. It’s all about keeping our oceans healthy and our seafood sustainable.
Juliet Neal
“So the same information that the Fisheries Department has fishers also have. So that when we talk about how data and having a scientific and data-driven approach to fisheries management that it becomes more understandable for fishers because it quantifies what they are seeing. And then, it allows a lot more interaction and a lot more versatility and quickness in terms of sharing of data with these two platforms.”
Welcome to Copper Bank, a tiny fishing village tucked along the tranquil shores of Laguna Seca in the Corozal District. With its scenic waters, rich cultural roots, and a community built on fishing and farming, Copper Bank is more than just a dot on the map; here, life moves to the rhythm of the tides and tradition runs deep.
Marty Alvarez
Marty Alvarez, Marine Protected Areas Manager, BAS
“We’re here in Copper Bank, during the closed season of conch and lobster, meeting with fishers who are now signed up for an e-logbook which is an electronic cash logbook that fishers will now use to submit their catch data.”
For small-scale fishers, every trip out to sea is a careful balance of time, fuel, and hope. But what if the secret to a better catch, and a better living, wasn’t just in the water, but in the data? By knowing exactly what’s being caught and when, fishers can plan smarter trips, save on fuel and gear, and head straight to the most productive spots. But it doesn’t stop there. This data is also giving them a stronger voice at the policy table, showing just how much they contribute to our economy and food security.
Juliet Neal
“So, to sign fishers up for the e-logbook, they are required to have an email address. What we did for fisher who did not have an email address, we created one for them and explained how that can help them keep track of their data and how they will use it to work with the app and how easy it was. We also demonstrated the use of the app and walked them through it so that they, themselves, got a feel.”
Cayuco racing is more than just a sport, it’s a fast-paced paddle through history. Teams race in traditional dugout canoes, once carved by Indigenous communities in Panama. Today, the boats are sleeker, but the spirit remains the same: every race honors a deep cultural legacy and the power of teamwork on the water.
Marty Alvarez
“We are here with the captains of the vessels and they are the ones who are signing their crew members onto this cayuco race. So it’s a two-man race and we’ve partnered with WWF, DFC, and the Belize Audubon Society to make this possible.”
Juliet Neal
“So we came up with the idea of having a cayuco race because they already have cayucos and this is just another fun way to get the families out and so we’re really excited about the fact that we have participants from neighboring communities: Copper Bank and Chunox. These are fishers who work in the same space, Area Six, largely, and we took this opportunity to get them to sign up.
For first place, is Valdir Santoya and Leovani Tun.
Marty Alvarez
“First place is six hundred dollars… so I gotta count it right. Uno, dos, tres…”
It’s that time of year again in San Pedro when the sun gets hotter, the winds pick up, and the beaches start disappearing under mountains of seaweed. We’re talking about the annual sargassum invasion, and it’s hitting hard. But while high-tech solutions have come and gone, the San Pedro Town Council is going old-school: shovels, wheelbarrows, and sheer determination. Since February, they’ve been tackling the tide of seaweed head-on. News Five’s Britney Gordon takes us to the frontlines of this sandy, salty cleanup battle.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Belize’s beaches are a hot spot for Easter and summer getaways—sun, sand, and sea drawing crowds from near and far. But just as the vacation buzz kicks in, so does an unwelcome guest: sargassum. This brown, smelly seaweed rolls in by the ton, covering the coastline and turning paradise into a cleanup zone. It’s stubborn, it stinks, and it’s back.
Valentine Rosado
Valentine Rosado, Biodiversity Scientist
“It is usually around closer to Easter, summertime, you know, when the winds pick up, when the sea temperatures are higher. When everyone wants to go to the beach because it’s super hot, that’s when the sargassum is blooming out there. Right. And when the wind picks up, it is just bringing the sargassum from way out there in the Caribbean up to our shores.”
Most of the sargassum drifting through the Caribbean heads north toward Cancun, but some of it still finds its way to Belize. According to the latest forecast, San Pedro and Caye Caulker are expected to see heavy buildups. In response, the San Pedro Town Council has stepped up cleanup efforts and brought in biodiversity expert Valentine Rosado to help tackle the growing problem.
Valentine Rosado
“As an island, we have been dealing with Sargassum for, I believe we’re on year sixteen, maybe year seventeen right now. So the. San Pedro Town Council is focused on town core, which is about a mile from the bridge all the way to the library. And that’s where the focus of the tongue console has been. My involvement has been mostly to come in and advise in figuring out how to be a lot more, um, a little bit more efficient with the cleanup, and then also to come up with some baseline information that would help us look at lessons learned here on the island, other areas and how to tackle the situation as much as possible. Because unfortunately, we get it every year, and if nothing’s done about it, then we live here, we have to smell it every year. And it’s not, it’s not a nice thing.”
Many strategies have been developed over the years to counteract the influx of sargassum that washes ashore annually, but many of these strategies have proven to be too costly or inefficient. This year, the council has taken an old-school approach by increasing manpower and hitting the beaches with shovels and wheelbarrows.
Valentine Rosado
“The main strategy is getting out of the water as quick as possible. I know that one of the big challenges that we keep seeing is all these solutions that people try to come up with big machinery, you know, how can we make the raso disappear? How can we have some kind of bigger effort? And from what we have been looking at, the main thing is getting out of the water and manual is cheaper and a lot more efficient. It might not seem that way, but the thing is that it becomes overwhelming when we have areas that there’s no focus and then one day pass. Two day pass. Three day pass, and you have that whole a accumulation of sargassum. It begins to smell and it becomes, it begins to be super overwhelming.”
After the Sargassum is hauled out of the sea, it is transported to a deposition site to be turned into landfill.
Valentine Rosado
“So what we explored here is looking at what traditionally has been done with sargassum. Traditionally, you take Sargassum off the beach and use it to fill low lying areas. I’ve done a lot of research online to figure out, from a health perspective, what are the recommendations. You know, there’s concern about heavy metals coming in this sargassum, but in the absence of any other major solution, it seems like an option that is feasible and once we use it in an era where we’re not growing fruits and vegetables that we’re going to eat immediately, then the concern about heavy metals seems to not be an immediate issue right now. However, what we’re doing in the deposition site is we’re doing it as long term monitor so we know exactly where the sarum is going, and it gives us that location where you can monitor long term to really continue tracking whether there gonna be any health implications later on.”
What if the seaweed piling up on San Pedro’s shores could actually become something good? That’s exactly what the town council is aiming for. Instead of just clearing away the sargassum, they’re planning to transform the area into a vibrant public space for sports and recreation, turning a coastal nuisance into a community win. It’s a fresh take on an old problem, and it’s got locals talking. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The sargassum removal efforts will continue until the end of the season.
