Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Sheinbaum Defends Mexico’s Sovereignty over US Tariffs

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rallied tens of thousands of supporters in Mexico City’s Zocalo square on Sunday. The event celebrated the U.S. decision to delay tariffs on Mexican goods as a diplomatic win. Sheinbaum said the delay followed a “respectful dialogue” with US President Donald Trump on the 25% tariffs on USMCA-covered goods until April 2.

The tariffs were initially imposed by Trump over concerns about fentanyl imports, which took a brief effect on March 4. On Sunday, Sheinbaum said in her address that Mexico would always defend its sovereignty and economic contributions to the U.S.

Sheinbaum refrained from announcing retaliatory measures at the rally and focused on national unity instead. She said in her address, “We are not extremists, but we are very clear that there are principles that cannot be renounced. We cannot give up our sovereignty, nor can our people be affected by decisions made by governments. In cases like those, we will always act immediately.”

Sheinbaum added that Mexico should be spared from the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has said are to come into effect on April 2. She said that “for the past 30 years, there have been two signed trade agreements, which state that Mexico does not impose tariffs on them nor they on us, which means that it should not be applied.”

Meanwhile, new tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy are expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. This is something that will roll into the new Canadian prime minister’s desk, Mark Carney. Carney is taking over from Justin Trudeau.

Mark Carney to Replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s Prime Minister

Mark Carney, the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has won the leadership race for Canada’s ruling Liberal Party on Sunday. The 59-year-old, with no prior political experience, will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister. Trudeau announced his resignation in January following a sharp decline in his approval ratings after nearly a decade in power.

Reuters reported that Carney, 59, triumphed with 86% of the vote, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a contest that saw just under 152,000 party members participate.

Carney’s win comes at a critical juncture, with the country embroiled in a trade war with the United States under President Donald J. Trump. According to Reuters, Carney addressed Trump’s tariffs in his acceptance speech, stating, “There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy… He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed.”

Reuters reported that Carney has vowed to maintain retaliatory tariffs until the U.S. shows Canada “respect.”

“This won’t be business as usual,” Carney added. “We will have to do things that we haven’t imagined before, at speeds we didn’t think possible.”

According to The Guardian, Carney also seized the moment to directly call out Trump, dismissing his jokes about Canada becoming the 51st US state. He said, “From one old guy to another old guy. Stop this nonsense. Canada will never join the United States.” He added, “No one will starve us into submission because Canada is and will remain the best country in the world. Vive le Canada!”

Carney’s rise to prime minister is historic. His election makes him only the second prime minister in Canadian history without a seat in parliament, reported Reuters.

While there’s no rule preventing this, The Guardian reported that Carney will likely call a federal election shortly after taking office, where he is expected to face Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

OAS to Observe Belize’s March 12 Election

For the fourth time, the Organization of American States (OAS) will be deploying an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) for the March 12 general elections.

Maricarmen Plata, a senior OAS official, has been appointed as the mission’s chief.

The team is comprised of 12 observers from seven countries and “will focus its observation on electoral organisation and technology, political-electoral financing, and electoral justice.”

“Ahead of the polls, the Chief of Mission, along with the OAS team, will meet with electoral authorities, representatives of political parties, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss perspectives on the electoral process,” the OAS said. “On election day, members of the mission will visit polling stations from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes and the publication of results.”

The OAS added that post-election, it will release a preliminary report outlining its observations and recommendations aimed at strengthening Belize’s democratic and electoral practices.

Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, and Panama are supporting this mission financially.

Murder in Belize City

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Mark Usher, 33. The incident happened on Saturday night near the corner of Jabiru Street and Faber’s Road Extension in Belize City.

Reports are that Usher had just arrived home and was parking his blue Chrysler when he was shot multiple times. Police found several shell casings.

According to police, an unidentified assailant approached Usher on a small bicycle, firing several shots before fleeing the scene on Jabiru Street. Usher was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) but later died from his injuries.

Three Buses Engulfed in Flames in Lord’s Bank

Police are investigating a fire involving three buses in Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, early this morning. The three buses were engulfed in flames, leaving two destroyed and a third severely damaged. The buses are owned by Bernardo Bennett of Central Transit Bus Service.

A watchman asleep in one of the buses reported to police that he was awoken by one of the bus’s engines getting turned on, in which he then noticed flames coming from the bus. Despite his efforts to extinguish the flames, the fire spread to two other buses next to it.

Initial investigation revealed that two of the buses were insured, and all three together were valued at over $50,000.

The cause of the fire is still under police investigation.

Pickup Truck Crashes Into KHMH

According to reports, a driver with gunshot injuries crashed into the front entrance of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). Initial reports indicate that the driver was making his way to the hospital for medical attention when he lost control of the vehicle.

The crash caused significant damage to the hospital’s entrance and left an on-duty security guard injured.

The driver and passengers were quickly rushed to the hospital’s emergency ward after the crash.

Police are on the scene investigating.

Happy International Women’s Day 2025: A Call for Rights, Equality, and Empowerment

Today, March 8, 2025, marks another chapter for the global celebration of International Women’s Day, centred on the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.

According to the United Nations’ statement, the focus this year is to continue unlocking equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls, with particular emphasis on empowering youth, especially young women and adolescent girls, to drive long-lasting change.

This year holds significant weight as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark document that revolutionised the global women’s rights agenda, driving legal protections, expanding access to services, and challenging outdated social norms. The United Nations (UN) continues to champion this cause.

According to the UN, the origins of International Women’s Day trace back to the Russian Revolution in 1917, with the first known campaign against female genital mutilation emerging from the Egyptian Society of Physicians in 1920. Notably, New Zealand became the first self-governing nation to grant women the right to vote.

Since its recognition by the UN in 1977, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global movement, calling for women’s equality across all sectors—political, economic, and social. The UN adds that the celebration of women’s voices reminds us that gender equality is not just an aspiration but a pressing necessity.

The UN said, “It is a day to honour trailblazers who have broken barriers, empowered communities, and continue to shape the world with their courage and vision.” It added, “From political leaders to activists, artists to entrepreneurs, their voices inspired change.”

20 New World Screwworm Cases Confirmed in Belize

The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic has issued a warning about the growing New World Screwworm threat in southern Belize. In a recent social media post, they urged the public to “#Check your animals for wounds every day. #Leave no wound untreated. #Report ANY suspicious wounds with maggots IMMEDIATELY to BAHA.” The clinic added it is important to note that “this fly larva develops fast (~7 days in wound) and is very small at first.”

The clinic’s warning stems from the Ministry of Agriculture’s 20 confirmed cases of the parasite, first detected on December 26 in Toledo District. Despite efforts to contain the outbreak, 19 more cases have surfaced this year. This is including the first dog infection in January.

In an interview with Minister Jose Abelardo Mai in January, he stated that a team was immediately deployed to monitor the Crique Sarco village and San Pedro Columbia Village in the Toledo District, where the first few cases appeared to be spreading. Despite these efforts, including a nationwide public awareness campaign, the number of cases continues to climb.

The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic advised immediate reporting of suspicious wounds to BAHA. The ministry has also urged the public to report any suspected cases.

Belize Joins 11th Global SHEP Workshop in Ethiopia

Belize was represented at the 11th Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) International Workshop in Ethiopia, with Extension Officer Marvin Blades, Catherine Hob from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Jenilee Donis from the University of Belize in attendance.

The SHEP approach, which encourages farmers to treat agriculture as a business, is being integrated into Belize’s agricultural programs. “SHEP encourages farmers to shift their mindset from simply ‘growing and selling’ to treating farming as a business,” the Ministry said in a statement on social media. Seven farmer groups across six districts in Belize are already involved in the initiative.

Originally introduced in Kenya by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SHEP has expanded to over 59 countries. The approach teaches farmers how to calculate production costs, analyse market trends, and align crops with market demands for maximum profitability.
The workshop aims to facilitate information sharing among participating countries. The event is funded by JICA and the Ethiopian government.

Trump Threatens New Tariffs on Canada, Again

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada once more. This time, threatening new tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products. Trump announced this from the Oval Office on Friday.

According to CNN, Trump claimed Canada had been “ripping off” the United States for years in these sectors, citing a 250% tariff on U.S. dairy exports. “We’re going to charge the same thing. It’s not fair,” Trump stated, and added that he may do it as early as Friday, or “wait until Monday or Tuesday,” CNN reported.

CNN also reported that Canada’s Trade Minister, Mary Ng, swiftly rebutted, calling Trump’s claims “not true” and the proposed tariffs “completely unjustified.” This latest threat comes just a day after Trump announced a one-month pause on tariffs under the USMCA, which offered temporary relief to industries like agriculture and autos.

While the markets initially reacted negatively, the Dow ultimately closed up 222 points, buoyed by positive economic outlooks from the Federal Reserve. However, experts warn that prolonged tariffs could exacerbate the economic uncertainty, particularly affecting housing affordability due to lumber price hikes.