Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Caribbean Policy-Makers Urged to Intensify Efforts Against HIV Among Youth

HIV infections among young people in the Caribbean are on the rise, with alarming statistics revealing that 27% of new cases in 2023 affect those aged 15-24—up from just 15% in 2020. The Multi-Country Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Dr. Richard Amenyah, warns that without urgent action and innovative strategies, the region risks falling further behind in the fight against this devastating epidemic, jeopardising the future of its youth.

Despite global efforts, the decline in new infections among adolescents and youth has not been sufficient to control the epidemic.

Dr. Amenyah stated that young people aged 15–24 represented 28 percent of new HIV infections worldwide in 2023. In the Caribbean, this group accounted for 27% of the 15,000 new cases reported, a significant increase from just 15% in 2020. Additionally, 25% of all pregnant women living with HIV globally are between 15 and 24 years old.

Dr. Amenyah noted, “This rising proportion… warrants further investigation and serious attention if we are to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.” The situation is particularly alarming in countries like Barbados, where the total HIV incidence ranges from 14% in Suriname and Guyana to 37% in Barbados. Belize sits at an 18% HIV incidence. This “warrants further investigation and serious attention, if we are to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” remarked Dr. Amenyah.

While there has been some progress since 2000, the decline in new infections has stalled, especially among adolescents aged 15-24. Dr. Amenyah highlighted that in 2023, “71% of new HIV infections among adolescents aged 10-19 years were among girls.”

Several structural barriers contribute to the epidemic’s growth among young people. Issues such as social norms and a lack of comprehensive sexuality education have made HIV prevention challenging. Stigma around HIV further deters young people, “Fear of rejection by peers and family members forces many young people to hide their HIV status,” Dr. Amenyah stated. He added, “Mental health services tailored to the needs of HIV-positive youth are often limited.”

To combat this crisis, policymakers are encouraged to adopt tailored strategies. Dr. Amenyah outlined several key approaches:

Education: Integrating rights-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education in schools can empower young people with knowledge about HIV prevention.
Youth-Friendly Healthcare: Creating safe environments for young people to access confidential health services is crucial.
Targeted Prevention: Programs should focus on vulnerable populations, addressing legal barriers that hinder access to services.
Youth Empowerment: Engaging young people in designing and implementing HIV programs will ensure their needs are addressed.
Leveraging Technology: Digital platforms can be used to educate and connect young people with health services.
Evidence-Based Approaches: Investing in robust data systems will help track the epidemic and inform policies.

Dr. Amenyah’s statement concluded, “Without greater attention to HIV among adolescents and youth, the world will not achieve its goal of ending the epidemic.” Urgent action is needed to reduce new infections and “make meaningful progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat in the Caribbean by 2030,” he ended.

Drunken Brawl on St. George’s Caye Results in Stabbing

A night of drinking on St. George’s Caye ended in violence. On Sunday, police responded to a report by Nelson Pascasio, who alleged that Manuel Avila stabbed him in the chest during an argument.

Pascasio and Avila were taken by coast guard officers to Belize City. Pascasio received treatment and is now in a stable condition.

Manuel Avila has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and grievous harm.

According to police, both individuals were intoxicated at the time of the incident. The reason for their argument remains unknown.

New Instagram Features Target Teen Safety to Safeguard Minors

Instagram is set to revamp its privacy settings for users under 18, targeting the safety of its younger users in response to growing concerns. The app’s move comes as lawmakers are also pushing for more robust online safety regulations to better safeguard minors from online dangers.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, explained, “We decided to focus on what parents think because they know better what’s appropriate for their children than any tech company, any private company, any senator or policymaker, or staffer or regulator.” He described the new “Teen Accounts” initiative as aiming to “essentially default” minors into age-appropriate experiences on the app.

The app will make all such accounts private by default, restrict notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to promote better sleep, and introduce new parental controls that will allow parents to see the accounts their teenagers have recently messaged. However, the updates may not be welcomed by all teenagers. Those who use Instagram to grow their public profiles might find the new privacy settings restrictive.

The new changes will begin rolling out immediately, starting with new accounts for users who identify as minors.

Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, remarked, “These are long overdue features that Instagram should have put in place years ago to keep young people safe online.” Despite these new measures, concerns remain about their effectiveness.

Brazil Faces ‘Catastrophic’ Wildfires Amid Worst Drought in 40 Years

Brazil is currently battling a series of record-breaking wildfires that are endangering key ecological systems and ravaging several regions of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal regions. The country is experiencing its worst drought in seven decades, and authorities report it has contributed to the staggering 57,312 wildfires this month, which has already exceeded the total for September 2023 in its entirety, according to satellite data from the INPE research institute.

These fires have caused significant damage to Brazil’s key crops, such as sugarcane, arabica coffee, oranges, and soybeans. “The soil lacks water. It is the worst water deficit in 40 years,” said Jose Marcos Magalhaes, president of Minasul, a major coffee cooperative.

Residents in nearby towns are choking on the smoke, with densely populated cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro at risk of fires approaching their limits, officials warn. About 60% of all wildfires in Latin America are happening in Brazil, according to officials.

Experts say a significant factor in the fires is human activity, with about a third caused by land clearing for agriculture. Deforestation and severe drought are exacerbating the situation. Rachael Garrett, a professor of conservation and development at the University of Cambridge, highlighted the role of these factors, stating, “Deforestation and drought are contributing heavily to the wildfires.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva noted that the Amazon is facing the worst drought in 40 years. “We’ve had severe droughts before in Brazil, but not to this extent… We are facing a gigantic drought … and a drought that has come combined with fire,” Lula said. He has urged the public to report suspected arsonists to federal police and has vowed to change the existing laws, which currently impose a maximum prison sentence of four years for such crimes.

The Amazon’s degradation is not only affecting Brazil but also neighbouring countries. Bolivia and Ecuador have experienced flight cancellations, evacuations, and school closures due to smoke.

Experts warn that further degradation of the Amazon would be “catastrophic” for the region’s already delicate ecosystems.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested on Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Charges

54-year-old rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan on Monday night following a grand jury indictment. The arrest occurred at the Park Hyatt New York City around 8:30 p.m. by Homeland Security Investigations officers.

The charges against Combs were revealed the morning of September 17.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams confirmed that federal agents took Diddy into custody based on a sealed indictment filed by the Southern District of New York.

The indictment claims that Combs ran a “criminal enterprise” involved in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, and other crimes. The charges are linked to several new lawsuits and allegations, some dating back to 1991.

Combs is scheduled to appear for an arraignment at a federal courthouse in Manhattan. If convicted of sex trafficking by force, Combs could face a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of life.

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, responded to the arrest, saying, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.”

Agnifilo further added, “He is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgement until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Iowa Tourists in Critical Condition After Fatal Head-On Collision in Belize

Two Iowa women, Baylee O’Brien and Kelsey O’Connor, are in critical condition following a fatal head-on collision in Belize, with both now facing intensive medical care. The accident occurred on September 11 on the George Price Highway, between miles 36 and 37, resulting in severe injuries for both women and the death of 28-year-old Estevan Chiac.

The crash involved a head-on collision between a white Chrysler van and a Ford Escape driven by Dennis Kevin Perez and Jaime Alberto Correa, respectively. The impact forced 27-year-old tour guide Perez’s van off the road, causing injuries to his occupants, O’Brien and O’Connor.

Following the accident, O’Brien and O’Connor were treated in Belize City for emergency surgeries.

Family friends have reported that O’Brien sustained a perforation of the small intestine. Meanwhile, O’Connor suffered liver contusions, pancreatic lacerations, and fractures to her L1 and L2 vertebrae as well as her coccyx.

O’Brien was airlifted to a Florida hospital on Sunday, where further examination revealed a partially collapsed lung and multiple broken ribs.

O’Connor is to be transported to a specialised medical facility in Texas. Both women are in stable condition but continue to receive care in the intensive care unit.

Woman Dies After Vehicle Overturns Near Gran’s Farm

Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred on the George Price Highway near Gran’s Farm on Saturday morning, September 14. According to the investigation, 30-year-old Tiffany Tifara Licona from Blackman Eddy Village lost control of her green 2009 Chevrolet Tracker while attempting to overtake a pickup truck on the left side, causing the vehicle to overturn. Licona was en route from Belmopan to Belize City.

Passenger Melva Elizabeth Myers, 64, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) Morgue. According to her son, Selvyn Myers, she was preparing for a medical checkup abroad. “On Saturday she was to board her flight to the US to go and do some medical checkup, her once a year checkup.” he said. Myers described the moment he found his mother at the scene: “I get a glimpse of my momma lying by the vehicle and the fence. I went there and tried to do chest compression and CPR, pray for a pulse or something, I tap her foot bottom,”

Among the other passengers were three minors: Jamerah Bejerano, 11, Jamilee Bejerano, 9, and Kenton Arnold, 5, who sustained minor injuries. Licona also suffered injuries and reported severe pain. All involved were taken to KHMH for treatment. The incident is under investigation by Corporal Athon Martinez.

Belize Celebrates National Day of Prayer at Fordyce Chapel

On Sunday evening, Belize celebrated its National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service at the Fordyce, Chapel St. John’s College. The event saw the attendance of many key national figures, including Prime Minister John Briceño.

Briceño spoke about the significance of the occasion, saying, “Tonight we gather in prayer of thanksgiving. So much has been achieved, but we are fully aware that our work of nation-building is one that is far from over.”

“Every September, we wear our patriotism on our sleeves. Our cities, our towns, our villages, our homes, and even our cars and bicycles, we address the festive colours that mark our celebration,” Briceño said. He emphasised the resilience of the Belizean people, noting, “It is we, the people, and our love for this nation that always see us through good times and bad ones… This is why we get up every time we get knocked down by a hurricane, a flood, or a devastating fire.”

Reflecting on the event, Briceño remarked, “In our national prayer, we ask God for his protection over Belize, our beloved country. We say this prayer every Tuesday at the start of Cabinet and ask of God, wisdom, and justice to assist our Belizean government and people.”

Police Officer Caught Pawning Stolen Jewelry from LA Firefighter

A local police officer in Belize City has been charged with handling stolen goods following a theft reported on August 31 by a Los Angeles firefighter, 41-year-old Gilbert Lightburn Jr.

The theft reportedly occurred around 2:15 a.m. following an altercation at Shisha’s NightClub on Newtown Barracks. In the incident, Ian Abraham, Javan Abraham, and Mark Usher had to be hospitalised for stab wounds that Lightburn alleged to be ‘in self-defence.’

According to Lightburn, several valuable items were stolen from him that same night, including two Miami Cuban link chains worth $20,000 and $30,000, and a 24-carat American Buffalo Indian Head Coin valued at $7,500.

On Monday, September 9, 2024, local police officer Hersel García, 43, was identified attempting to pawn one of the stolen chains at a local shop.

The investigation was supported by surveillance footage and a house search. García was formally arrested and charged on Saturday, September 14, 2024, for Handling Stolen Goods. Police continue to investigate.

3 Dead in Separate Traffic Accidents

Three persons are dead following separate road traffic incidents that occurred over the weekend.

The first occurred on Saturday morning on the George Price Highway. Melva Myeres from Blackman Eddy lost her life. Myeres was travelling to Belize City with her daughter when the vehicle overturned near Mile 14. Myeres’ daughter, who reportedly lost control of the vehicle, was injured and is receiving medical treatment.

On that same day, another woman lost her life in an accident near Georgetown, Stann Creek. She was in a pickup truck that lost control. Both individuals in the truck were rushed to receive medical treatment, but the woman unfortunately died from her injuries.

Later in the night, a fatal traffic accident occurred on Hopkins Road near the Savannah View Restaurant and Uno Gas Station in Stann Creek District. The collision involved a Saturn SUV and a red and black motorcycle. The motorcycle was found in a roadside drain without a license plate. The motorcycle’s occupants, Amaad Arana and Tkeejan Martinez, were taken to Southern Regional Hospital. Reports suggest the SUV, travelling west to east, struck the motorcycle as it was turning left into the restaurant. Arana died from his injuries early Sunday morning. The SUV driver provided a urine sample for testing.

Meanwhile, a major three-vehicle collision on the Phillip Goldson Highway has left one man hospitalised. Between miles 7 and 8, a gold Geo Prism allegedly side-swiped a black Nissan Rogue driven by a resident of Biscayne Village, subsequently colliding head-on with a black Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by a resident from Ladyville. The Geo Prism driver was identified as Andy Hubert Parham of Belize City. Hubert sustained a head injury and was taken to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. The other drivers were not reported injured.