It’s that time of year again when we come together to spread some holiday cheer to kids who might not be as fortunate. Many groups are raising funds to buy toys for children who otherwise wouldn’t get any gifts. Traffic safety activist Phillip “Faada” Henry dropped by our office to ask for donations for his Christmas toy drive and party. He also had a special request for the Belize City Council on the day he plans to kick off his toy drive.
Phillip “Fadda” Henry
Phillip “Fadda” Henry, Organizer, Christmas Toy Drive
“The Christmas party comes up on the, it’s actually the 20th of December. Okay. Basically, I am all over the city at this time to try to gain 500 toys for 500 children who will be happy for this Christmas. I am here at Channel 5 also to pledge to Channel 5 to be a part of this initiative to make children happy. The reason for this Christmas party is for the Cinderella Plaza area to be closed off by the traffic department. I appeal to the Mayor of Lee City for closing off of the Cinderella Plaza, whereby all these children will gather on the 20th of December, which is, a day of fun, you know I’m appealing to the entire community, across different community. I will also have 36 elderly women. Why will I have 36 elderly women? These are the women who grandmothers who take children to school and pick them up back. We found 36 elderly lady who have been doing great over the year and coming to the end of the year. I will do a makeover of these ladies they will get a fully makeover dress Well, and they will be taken out for dinner and also be received our pantry for their home As well and gift by different business community Miss Marianne i’m appealing to everybody to try to throw in a toy to be a part of this initiative so that we doesn’t have a child left out. The toy is going to be from a female and male. Any, so a girl toy or a boy toy. If you cannot give a toy, we are asking you to please donate to, um, my, my phone number, which is 600 1288. My name is Philip Father Henry. I also want to show that I have received, a donation from the Princess Ramada Hotel. An overnight stay with breakfast and dinner. And also five tickets to go into the casino, and I will be raffling it for $10. So somebody will get the opportunity to go either with their husband and wife or either with their sister for this Christmas. It’s valid up to 2025 October.”
This year, Belize Electricity Limited (B.E.L) faced a lot of heat over the dreaded “load-shedding” – those planned outages when the power supply can’t keep up with demand. But today, B.E.L held a media session to shed some light on their efforts to boost capacity. Emmanuel Pech, B.E.L’s Senior Corporate Communications Officer, shared that one of their big moves is swapping out street lights for energy-efficient LED ones. He assured everyone that the company is taking steps to ensure they can meet the power demands by 2025.
“We know that energy has been a topic, uh, a heated topic in the media recently, particularly because of the year that we’ve had with all the challenges. But we want to reiterate that we remain optimistic that we will be able to meet our customers energy needs into 2025. Of course, 2025 won’t be without its challenges.”
Marion Ali
“What makes feel sure that what you have acquired or can acquire secure will meet 2025 demands?”
Emmanuel Pech
“Well, again, refer back to the presentation. As you may have heard, we are in a much better position today. We have improved by thirty-three percent our in country capacity, and we continue to implement different initiatives. To on the demand side management of things as you may have heard one of the projects we’re working on is the replacement off streetlights countrywide. To L. E. D. And that will that was just one example of the initiatives that we’re doing on the man’s side management. The other aspect of it is informing our customers with your help as well. of the media to, we had an energy management activity that you guys were able to participate in and could have acknowledged how. Different small initiatives that small acts at home or the office can create a big impact in reducing your overall demand. So it’s a combination of many things. BL has its plan. We are doing our part.”
The National AIDS Commission celebrated World AIDS Day today in Belize City. Although the official date is December 1st, they held the event today since the first falls on a Sunday. This year’s theme is “Take the Rights Path.” We caught up with Enrique Romero, the Executive Director, to discuss some of their successes and the barriers that still exist in accessing services.
Enrique Romero
Enrique Romero, Executive Director, National Aids Commission
“World Aids Day is observed in December first every year and this year falls on a Sunday. So, we decided to observe it this year Friday under the theme “Take the Rights Path”, which focuses on human rights as a strategy, or as the need to make a significant dent on the HIV response. The Government of Belize has been providing medication free of cost now. Other commodities include condoms, lubricants and so forth. So, to end the HIV response will require strategies and innovative interventions that go beyond the biomedical approach. Evidence and data have shown that one of the key strategies to ending the epidemic is through a rights-based approach. In order to end aids, we need to eliminate all the barriers that prohibit persons from accessing services. In my presentation earlier I spoke about young men being affected by HIV and getting young men to access HIV services. Those are the things we need to ensure. In tandem with that we need to ensure we remove the barriers. For example, one of the critical barriers is the fact that young people consent to have sex at the age of sixteen, but they cannot access health service until they are eighteen. So that disparity creates a huge barrier.”
When we think of handcrafted items in Belize, luxury isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. Instead, we often see them as souvenirs—simple keepsakes rather than high-end, bespoke pieces that celebrate craftsmanship and exclusivity. However, in many parts of the world, luxury and handmade craftsmanship go hand in hand. The story behind each creation, the meticulous attention to detail, and the artistry involved add immense value to every piece. While mass-produced items focus on efficiency and affordability, custom, handmade creations stand out for their intentionality and unique value. This philosophy is at the core of Emilio Perrera’s business. He is dedicated to showcasing the luxury in handcrafted artistry, sharing the rich stories behind each piece, and promoting sustainability. Here’s more of what we discovered in this week’s look on the Bright Side.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Inside this lively studio, designer and artisan Emilio Perrera is fully absorbed in his work, carefully putting the finishing touches on his latest commissioned piece. The soft sound of history podcasts fills the air, perhaps guiding his thoughts as he reflects on a journey that started over a decade ago.
Emilio Perrera
Emilio Perrera, Designer Artisan “It started off as a men’s line and eventually a lot of people were asking me for gifts for their husbands, for their boyfriends, and it was mostly Belizeans. Like 80 percent of my customer-base was Belizean, and my workshop was in Antigua.”
Emilio Perrera’s journey began in Guatemala, where he pursued Civil Engineering at the university level. But it didn’t take long for him to find his true calling. He traded in blueprints and calculations for the deeply fulfilling craft of an artisan, where his passion could truly flourish.
Emilio Perrera “I moved to Guatemala in 2009 to study civil engineering. And throughout that process, I realized it wasn’t for me. Um, there I moved to Lake Atitlan, and in Lake Atitlan, um, moving around with the different people that were living there. And Lake Atitlan is essentially an artisan, uh, how do you say, it’s like a plaza because it’s like a massive lake with volcanoes around, and there’s 12 villages around the lake. And each lake, each village is responsible for a certain craft. After a while, I realized I could do it on my own, so I branched off and started doing Emilio. It began as side projects because a lot of locals in Belize reached out to me in Guatemala asking for gifts, like wallets. I started as a men’s line, making things I liked—wallets, belts, shoes, bags. When I came back home, people saw my stuff and placed orders.”
Initially focused on men’s products and high-quality craftsmanship, Emilio found new opportunities for growth as women began requesting custom pieces. This broader audience helped the business thrive.
Emilio Perrera “It took a turn when these women would ask me if I could make a bag? Can I do this? Can I do that? And then I was like, okay. When I started doing that, they were asking me for another color, and I realized there was something here. It was even more beautiful because, working with other handbag companies, I could see the creativity in material use. You could use fabrics, and now you can use an array of different materials in constructing these designs.”
Every part of Emilio Perera’s work is crafted by hand, from carefully choosing the materials to the intricate stitching of the leathers. His process is so detailed and precise that he can tell you the exact number of stitches in each piece, showcasing the dedication and craftsmanship that goes into every creation.
Sabreena Daly
“One of the things that really shocked me was when you said you don’t use a sewing machine. In this case, the handbag you just showed had 500 stitches, and those 500 stitches were done by hand.”
Emilio Perrera
“By hand. Yes. Yes.” A decade later, after navigating growing pains and even an identity crisis, Emilio Perrera looks back and reflects on just how far he has come. His experiences beyond his home country and his deep appreciation for handmade work have shown him the true value and luxury that are often overlooked in handmade art.
Emilio Perrera “I saw something out there and knew I could contribute in Belize because the luxury industry was changing and shifting, especially in Europe, Asia, and America, where societies were moving towards handmade products. Having been part of this industry for a long time and being involved in the conversations, I foresaw the future of handmade, and that future was green.”
Perrera puts sustainability at the core of his work, using raw materials sourced from all over the country. He believes this approach adds both value and uniqueness to his creations, allowing each piece to tell its own story.
Emilio Perrera
“I had to get creative with the materials and making these bags, so I started outsourcing and looking for other alternatives. I discovered a whole new dimension in the creative industry because the forest offers so much. We have all these heritage crafts and traditional skills that I didn’t even know existed. There are artisans hidden away, often known only by word of mouth or found on the side of the street. It was about going out, investigating, researching, and finding these people, then working with them over time to see how the materials complemented the designs I wanted. It’s not about the piece, but the process and the base materials it comes from. All these questions lead up to understanding where each part originates and the hands that made it—this is the ultimate luxury for me. I can trace where the leather comes from, where the coconut comes from, and the artisans who crafted it. The story behind each piece is what truly sells it and what matters most. This also ties into the sustainability factors, emphasizing the importance of knowing the production chain. Having full control over all of this meant I needed to base everything here.”
In the end, it’s the dedication to quality, sustainability, and storytelling that sets Emilio Perrera’s handmade creations apart. Each piece is more than just a luxury item; it’s a testament to rich heritage, exceptional craftsmanship, and a deep connection to the land and people of Belize. Looking on the Bright side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
A tragic accident in Bella Vista Village on Wednesday night left a father of four dead and a teacher injured. TV repairman Jose Samuel Hoppington was riding his red Skygo motorcycle into Bella Vista from Independence when he crossed into the opposite lane. This led to a head-on collision with another motorcycle driven by a schoolteacher, right in front of the Toledo Teachers’ Credit Union at the village entrance. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with Hoppington’s wife, who now faces the daunting task of caring for their four sons alone. She shared that her husband had gone out to collect payment for a job earlier that day. Although he received the money, his wallet was found empty after the crash. Here’s that report.
Gritchin Hoppington
Gritchin Hoppington, Wife of Deceased
“I ask God I seh why? It’s not just to my husband this happen. I get his wallet empty. Yesterday some PC come and pick up dehn TV and paid him. He had in his hand around eight hundred dollars. That was earlier in the day. And they returned me his wallet – I can’t judge anyone because I nuh see. I just can’t believe how people could have dehn kinda heart because I have four pikni.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Tonight, Gritchin Hoppington is grappling with many questions: what caused the tragic accident that took her husband’s life, what happened to the money he had in his wallet, and how she’ll manage to move forward and care for their four sons without him. She vividly recalls the last moments she saw her husband before he left home around nine on Tuesday night to collect payment for a job.
Gritchin Hoppington
“Yesterday evening he tell me “Babe I gwein get wa money weh I have to collect in Big Creek. So he mi di tell mi goh wid he but I tell he I have to mek the tamales for today. Soh he tell mi well okay, I weh goh. When I hear the news, I neva believe it. I can’t believe it. I mi di think da just wa accident and he deh da the hospital. When I gone da the place, I couldn’t believe it. What I feel, lotta people love him and appreciate him because he was a hard-working man.”
Marion Ali
“Have you asked the police, you know, maybe somebody moved the money out of the wallet before they got on the scene, if they have they investigated that aspect of it?”
Gritchin Hoppington
“I asked the police and they said they had to change shift soh I didn’t talk to any police so I cannot tell you. I have faith in God and I trust he’’s going to give me the strength weh I need and I know I have to fight it out and I have to mek it. I nuh have no choice.”
The grieving wife recalls how she and her husband used to hold Bible lessons every Sunday, feeding the seventy-five children who attended. That was before they returned to their home country, Nicaragua, a couple of years ago. Just hours before his death, he expressed his desire to resume this cherished vocation. She now feels determined to carry on this mission in his honor.
Gritchin Hoppington
“He told me yesterday, he seh “Babes God di bless mi wid wa lee money soh I wa buy a lot of things fi start again with the children’s ministry, “Alpha and Omega.” I seh “that’s good, I glad to hear that.” I didn’t wait for this bad news. And wi mi used to have special needs children and we mi used to deal with different children, like Spanish, Creole, Maya, everybody is welcome for us.”
Marion Ali
“Are you going to continue with that mission you think?”
Gritchin Hoppington
“Yes ma’am. I will do that.”
The teacher, Xiomara Molina, who was riding the other motorcycle involved in the crash, is currently at KHMH with injuries to her forehead, left leg, and left arm. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the accident. Marion Ali for News Five.
Tonight, Xochil Lopez, the wife of businessman Joshua Ashburn from Western Avenue, finds herself behind bars alongside her husband. The thirty-seven-year-old Belmopan resident faces four criminal charges, including possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition, and two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. Late this evening, Lopez appeared in Court #6, represented by attorney Dale Cayetano. She was charged with keeping a prohibited firearm without a license for a black .40 caliber Glock pistol, keeping prohibited ammunition for twenty-four live rounds, and two counts of possessing nearly nine thousand grams of cannabis. Lopez pleaded not guilty to all charges. Due to the severity of the offenses, the magistrate informed her that bail could not be granted under Section 16 of the Crimes Control Criminal & Justice Act. Consequently, she was remanded to Belize Central Prison until January twentieth, 2024. Lopez was advised that she could apply for bail at the High Court with her attorney’s help. She now joins her husband, forty-seven-year-old Joshua Ashburn, who is also in custody.
On Tuesday, a traffic officer was assaulted by up to three people, and tonight, one of the culprits caught on viral amateur footage is behind bars. The suspect, thirty-one-year-old Evan Nicholas Cain, a part-time bus conductor and caregiver from Biscayne Village, was brought to court this morning. Shortly before ten o’clock, Cain, who appeared without a lawyer, was read a single charge of aggravated assault on traffic officer Kenrick Deshield, a public officer performing his duties. Cain immediately pleaded guilty, saying, ‘I wah plead guilty, Mam”. The magistrate, exercising caution, asked if Cain understood what assault meant, to which he replied that he believed he did. After hearing the case details, Cain maintained his guilty plea. When asked what he wanted the court to consider before sentencing, Cain said, “I just want to get over this and get back home to care for my mom”. The magistrate noted his lack of remorse and asked if he wanted to apologize. Cain responded that he would apologize if given the chance, but the officer was not present. The magistrate explained the seriousness of the offense, emphasizing that Deshield was a public officer on duty. She decided to remand Cain pending sentencing and planned to summon the traffic officer so Cain could apologize in person. Cain was remanded to Belize Central Prison until next Wednesday, December fourth, 2024.
A Ladyville man convicted of sexually assaulting a twelve-year-old girl in April 2022 is back out on his old bail, despite the prosecutor’s objections. This morning, in the presence of Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington, the magistrate found 51-year-old Eric Allen guilty and detained him for sentencing at 2 PM. However, the sentencing was delayed when the court received a letter from his attorney, who was occupied with a High Court matter. The Senior Magistrate noted that typically, someone convicted of such a serious charge would be remanded to Belize Central Prison pending sentencing. However, Allen requested consideration for his medical condition, claiming he suffers from high blood pressure and seizures and needs medication twice daily. The prosecutor objected, citing the severity of the offense and the risk of Allen fleeing due to the potential jail time. After considering all factors, the Senior Magistrate decided that since Allen had consistently appeared in court while on bail and due to his medical condition, he would be allowed to go home. Allen was ordered to return to court on Monday, December 2, 2024, for sentencing. During the trial, Allen took the stand and denied the allegations, claiming the girl was lying.
Earlier today, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) shared an update on all the roads that are currently impassable due to flooding. For almost two weeks now, folks in northern and western Belize have been dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sara. As the floodwaters travel down the Belize River, communities in rural and central areas are now experiencing rapid flooding. With water levels changing daily, we caught up with Nicole Zetina, the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, to get the latest scoop on the affected areas.
Nicole Zetina
Nicole Zetina, Public Relations Officer, Disaster Risk Management “I will start with the Orange Walk District. So we have in the San Antonio Village, the main access road for that is accessible, but not for heavy duty trucks. So with there’s still water in the road. So we’re asking heavy duty trucks, you know, the big loaders and the dump trucks, not to pass by because with that weight, it will only make it worse. San Estevan, the ferry is closed. As everything that is closed or impassable is still underwater. For the Belize District, we have Burrell Boom, the main access road is impassable for small vehicles. And the road leading to the police station is also impassable for small vehicles. And that means anything that is very low. So if you have an SUV or a four-seater truck that’s a bit higher, that is possible for you for a smaller car. We’re not advising that you pass because the water level is, is high that it will cause some damage to your vehicle or for you not to even be able to cross the road. Grace Bank, the main access road is impossible. Crooked Tree, main access road is also impassible for Lucky Strike. Free Town Sibun, both impassible for small vehicles. May Pen, completely impassible. We have Flowers Bank, Bomba, Rancho Dolores, and the Sunset Park Western Paradise Community, all impassable for small vehicles. In the Cayo District, the San Ignacio Town, the low-lying bridge, is closed. Central Farm Baking Pot Ferry is closed. The Black Man Eddy is closed. Iguana Creek Bridge is now open. The San Jose Succutz Village is closed. So that’s the Xunantunich Ferry. And yeah, that’s about it for today. Every day in the morning, we try to, as early as possible as we get the information, and this is in conjunction with the MIDH, we try to post out this information so that our traversers know to proceed with caution. So we give a daily update as we get this information.“
On Tuesday, we shared the story of Crooked Tree Village residents, who are now relying on boats to get in and out of their flooded village due to Tropical Storm Sara. Folks in Northern, Western, and Rural Central Belize are still wondering when the floodwaters will finally recede. To get a better understanding of the situation, we chatted with Nicole Zetina, the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management. Here’s what she had to say.
Nicole Zetina
Nicole Zetina, Public Relations Officer, Disaster Risk Management
“I can’t give you an exact time period of when we anticipate water is going down. But I will say that we are in communication with the hydrology unit every day. Every morning, every afternoon, every evening, we get some updates on what we can expect. I think they would be best suited to give you a response for that, but I will say that NEMO is ready and prepared to assist however we can for however long it takes.”
Britney Gordon
“And what has that assistance look like in terms of relief and helping these people in and out of these areas and getting them possible to shelters and stuff like that?”
Nicole Zetina
“Okay, so we are currently doing what we call active operations. So currently, we are traversing persons in Crooked Tree by boats. We are being assisted by the Coast Guard, the BDF and the Forest Department. So we’re traversing persons in and out of Crooked Tree. We’re doing the same, however trucks, BDF trucks that’s for a Flower Bank area, and then we’re providing humanitarian aid, aid assistance, and we call this a quick assistance. So for forty-eight to seventy-two hours, we provide you with your basic necessities, and then we hope to sustain this as the weeks go by, if we see the need for it. And also, we’re providing basic groceries and cleaning supplies. in Belize Rural North and Central. We have stopped operations in Rancho Dolores because the water receded in that area. And when I say operations, I mean traversing of persons in and out because the water receded, but that’s how we’re helping. So we’re helping to get people in and out of their communities and also providing food for them and cleaning supplies and where they need assistance with going to a shelter. We’re also traversing persons to and from shelters as well.”
