Today is the day when voters in the United States will choose their next president. Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice President, and Donald Trump, the Republican former president, continue running a neck-and-neck race. The election will be decided by the Electoral College, and a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win.
The election is expected to come down to key swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where polls are extremely tight. While past elections have seen winners declared quickly, this year’s competitive race may mean a longer wait. In some states, “narrow victories”‘ could trigger ‘”recounts,” particularly in Pennsylvania, where a margin of less than half a percentage point would require one.
On the final day of voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris is reaching out to voters through a series of radio interviews. In a conversation with a radio host in Atlanta, Harris made her closing argument, saying, “I think this is an inflection point. This is the moment where we have two very different visions of the future of our nation.” Harris emphasised that her vision is focused on “progress” and on “investing in the ambitions, and the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people.”
Former President Trump expressed confidence in his chances, saying, “It won’t even be close” and adding that while he expects a victory, “it’s gonna take a long time to certify.” As the results start coming in, early vote counts may not reflect the final outcome. In 2020, Trump led in several states on election night, only to be overtaken later as mail-in ballots, which tend to favour Democrats, were counted.
If there is a tie with 269 electoral votes for each candidate, the House of Representatives will choose the president, while the Senate selects the vice president. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025, marking the beginning of the new president’s term.
Belize faces ongoing challenges in maintaining a stable power supply. With rising demand in Belize and persistently high temperatures, the risk of power outages looms. Belize stands at a critical crossroads with a record number of power outages due to “load shedding” earlier this year. The country saw temporary electricity cutoffs to maintain stability in the national grid.
Belize relies on the Mexican energy supplier, Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), which normally provides “up to 55 MW of capacity to the grid,” according to Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). While CFE has been a reliable partner since the 1990s and helps keep costs down, it has faced its own generation and transmission issues this year, leading to numerous disconnections in Belize. Under a Power Purchase Agreement signed in February 2018, BEL has been buying “opportunity cost energy” from CFE, allowing for additional power purchases when prices are low but also making this supply vulnerable to interruption.
But as Belize’s economy grows, the demand for energy rises. This highlights the urgent need for the country to develop its own electricity generation capacity to meet peak demand and reduce reliance on CFE.
Solar Sisters: Women Leading the Solar Charge
Leading Belize’s renewable energy movement within indigenous communities are three Maya women who are bringing solar power to their villages, transforming lives and fostering sustainable change. Since 2016, Florentina Choco, along with sisters Miriam and Cristina Choc from the Toledo District, have been bringing solar power to remote, off-grid areas.
Through the Small Grants Programme (SGP), managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), they underwent six months of solar energy training at Barefoot College International in India.
Florentina Choco, the pioneer, was the first woman to receive this training in 2013. Motivated by the need for electricity in her community and its impact on local education, she decided to take action. “I didn’t know anything at all… just heard about it, but eventually I knew how to connect solar. I can see my village… there is no light, no electricity. I want to help the community and the children in school,” she said. Two years after returning to Belize, she helped install light systems in her village and three others: Santa Elena, Graham Creek, and Machakilha.
In 2017, sisters Miriam and Cristina followed in her footsteps and travelled to India for their own solar energy training. “After the installation, the people are very grateful to see the lights in their homes,” Miriam noted. “Our plan is to electrify all communities without access to electricity.” As a result, schools gained access to modern technology like projectors and computers.
While traditional gender roles can be rigid in some indigenous communities, the women have effectively navigated these challenges. Miriam stated, “It’s bringing a change in the Maya women’s culture; it empowers… like we open the way so that other women… can participate in any projects or any trainings.”
“The three women being indigenous themselves… were able to relate to the culture in ways that I never could,” said Mark Miller, the retired executive director of Plenty International Belize Limited, who facilitated the solar training in India.
Cristina added that during installations, they teach local women how to install and maintain solar systems. “We train them… how to take care of their system,” she said.
As they gained experience, the women realised their skills were underutilised in their own villages. They are currently working in six villages, including Yalbac in the Cayo District.
Making Solar Work for Everyone
With increasing recognition of solar energy’s potential, Belize is exploring strategies to harness this essential resource for economic growth, particularly in tourism and agribusiness. The country is taking steps to reduce dependence on imported electricity and diversify its energy generation mix by expanding renewable sources where commercially viable.
Indigenous communities, such as Corazon and Indian Creek, have welcomed solar technology through private-government partnerships. However, transitioning to solar energy requires significant investment.
Interest in solar energy is growing, driven by financing options like special loans from the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Projects. Solar Energy Solutions Belize (SESB), operating for 13 years, is one company facilitating community transitions to solar energy.
Co-founder Silvan Kuffer explained the inefficiencies of traditional generators in many Maya villages. “A little generator is not efficient. You run that thing one night just to have a fan blowing on you—five gallons of gas gone,” he explained. “Now, power from a solar system through a meter, they can blow the fan all night… and it’s going to cost them the same 80 cents or one dollar it’s costing another Belizean for the power.”
However, as the demand for solar energy grows in Belize, there is an urgent need for trained solar technicians. “Yes, there are no moving parts, but all of them need maintenance. They need cleaning. And that is, if the industry goes so quick, we’re going to have a lot of boats on the water, but not many captains.” He noted that a structured approach from the government to address this rising issue would be beneficial.
Vision for Renewable Energy in Belize
The Belizean government is committed to a sustainable energy future, with recent policy changes facilitating solar power integration, particularly for marginalised communities. Belize’s adoption of solar energy contributes to sustainability and reduces carbon emissions, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
In the 2023 Belize Energy Policy, the Government of Belize committed to becoming a low-carbon, energy-efficient nation by 2040, addressing climate change and energy system interconnectedness. The policy emphasises enhancing resilience, supporting energy transitions, and ensuring equitable benefits for all citizens, including indigenous communities.
Belize is doing relatively well compared to other Caribbean nations in supporting small solar projects. Previously, small solar users connected to the grid without contributing to stability. A lack of rules, like feed-in tariffs, limited the ability of solar panel users to sell excess energy back to the grid, helping to maintain the overall energy system. However, the new Electricity Licensing and Consent Regulation passed on March 1, 2024, modernises the regulatory environment for electricity supply, transmission, distribution, and energy storage. The new regulation outlined in Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 39 “is actually geared at opening up the energy market and the energy sector,” said Minister of Energy Michel Chebat, adding, “For the first time in Belize, in the history of Belize, you see a piece of legislation that is actually opening up the energy sector.”
A woman is in police custody after her common-law husband, Kenroy Lanza, was stabbed during a domestic dispute in Hattieville Village on November 3. Lanza was rushed to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and is “presently admitted in a critical condition,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero. Police say “Kenroy Lanza had a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, and she alerted her brothers, who then came.”
Authorities have the girlfriend in custody and are searching for her two brothers.
Police continue to investigate a stabbing incident that occurred on Sunday night at Jaguar Avenue in Belize City. The victim, Shawn Ortiz Sr., 43, was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, initial investigations indicate that Ortiz, a taximan, was involved in a fight “with other persons, one of whom inflicted the fatal stab injuries to him.”
Police are currently seeking three suspects in connection with the incident.
At the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Small Branches Conference, Speaker of the National Assembly of Belize, Valerie Woods, was elected as the new chairperson. Woods emphasised the need for small legislatures to collaborate on common challenges and share their experiences.
In her acceptance speech, she expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am honoured to have the trust of the Members of the CPA Small Branches.” She plans to focus on strengthening support for small branches and their parliaments during her tenure.
Woods takes over from outgoing Chairperson Joy Burch from Australia. The election occurred as part of the larger 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which brought together over 700 parliamentarians and staff.
The U.S. presidential election is one day away, and the world is watching the polls closely. A vote in favour of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will affect not only American climate policy but also the worldwide fight against global warming.
Former President Trump has repeatedly called global warming a “hoax” and has claimed it was “created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.”
During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, he repealed over 100 environmental regulations and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement. Although the U.S. rejoined it in 2021 under Joe Biden, Trump has continued to dismiss climate change, saying it is “one of the great scams of all time” and claiming that “people aren’t buying it anymore.” He has also falsely stated that the planet “has actually got a bit cooler recently” and suggested that rising sea levels will create “more oceanfront property.”
This may pose challenges for Belize’s climate efforts if he wins again. Belize has committed to the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming and address climate change. The country relies on international support, including funding from the U.S., to carry out projects focused on renewable energy and protecting its natural resources. If Trump were to become president again and reduce U.S. involvement in global climate initiatives, Belize could face significant setbacks.
In a recent interview, we asked Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, about the potential impact of a Trump victory. He expressed concern, stating, “If they pull out on the Paris Agreement, certainly we will be worried. But, perhaps—maybe on the global stage—we don’t know what happens with the relationship with individual countries. Maybe that still remains the same.”
The worry is that if the U.S. steps back from its climate commitments, it could weaken global efforts to fight climate change.
It is the last day before the U.S. presidential elections, and thepolls continue to show Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump running neck-and-neck, both nationally and in most swing states. Early voting has already surpassed 77 million.
A Trump victory would make him the first president to serve non-consecutive terms, while Harris hopes to become the first woman and first person of South Asian descent to be elected president.
Harris campaigned in Michigan on Sunday, while Trump visited North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Harris is campaigning in Pennsylvania, and Trump is touring North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Trump talked about the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, saying, “It was horrible. Many people died” and criticised FEMA for its response, claiming it was inadequate. Despite his claims, FEMA has allocated over $100 million to help affected families in the state.
In addition to Harris and Trump, several third-party candidates are also on the ballot. Jill Stein from the Green Party and Chase Oliver from the Libertarian Party are notable contenders. Stein is polling at 2% in Michigan, while Oliver has the same support in Arizona. Robert Kennedy, Jr. is still on the ballot in some states despite suspending his campaign, polling at 3% in Michigan.
On Sunday, Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow and other members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) visited flood victims in the Orange Walk District. There he and others assessed the challenges faced by residents.
The visit follows reports of villagers expressing concerns that “NEMO was playing politics with emergency food aid,” claiming it was only given to certain families. Reports from the UDP officials indicate that villagers also voiced concerns on the need for more boat trips to dry land and access to clean drinking water.
The UDP officials also noted that in Douglas, the primary need was for grocery assistance, which “The UDP Leader will work with… the Village Chairman to provide emergency food aid.”
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is currently monitoring two active weather systems in the Atlantic. The first is Tropical Storm Patty, which is located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, east of the Azores Islands.
The second system, Potential Tropical Cyclone Eighteen, is positioned in the south-central Caribbean Sea. The NHC says that the likelihood of this system developing into a tropical cyclone is very high, with the “formation chance through 48 hours…high…near 100 percent” and “formation chance through 7 days…high…near 100 percent.”
The NHC warns that there is a risk of “dangerous impacts from hurricane-force winds and storm surge” in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday and are possible in portions of Cuba early Wednesday. Warnings are currently in effect. Tropical storm conditions are anticipated in Jamaica this evening.
The system is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico later this week. However, the NHC said “it is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts could occur.”
Police are investigating two fatal motorcycle accidents that occurred in the Orange Walk and Toledo districts over the weekend.
The first incident took place in Toledo. A motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in Trio Village, resulting in the motorcycle rider’s death at the scene. First responders are investigating the cause of the accident, with no identities released yet.
The second fatality occurred on the San Felipe Road and claimed the life of 28-year-old Ellias Cowo from San Felipe Village. Reports indicate that Cowo was found lying face down in a pool of blood. Cowo was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to the Northern Regional Hospital. According to reports, the accident was caused by an elderly man, who was intoxicated, stumbling onto the road.
