hipolito - Greater Belize Media

British Man Survives Deadly Air India Crash That Killed Over 200

A British passenger has miraculously survived a devastating Air India plane crash that killed more than 200 people on a flight bound for London. Authorities say the aircraft went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, bursting into flames as it plunged into a residential area.

The sole survivor was identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A according to the passenger manifest. Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik confirmed the survivor is currently receiving treatment in hospital. He suffered only minor injuries and was able to walk away from the wreckage unaided.

Footage circulating online appears to show a man emerging from the crash site, adding to the extraordinary nature of his escape.

The aircraft, carrying 242 people including 12 crew members, was en route to London when it went down. Over 204 bodies have been recovered, but the total number of fatalities is expected to rise as rescue teams continue to sift through the charred debris.

Tracy Panton Backs Patt, Slams “Illegitimate” UDP Meeting

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is once again facing internal strife as tensions rise between Hugo Patt and Acting Chairman Alberto August just days before a scheduled National Party Council (NPC) meeting.

Patt has called for the meeting, set for this Saturday, to be postponed. He argues that more time is needed to properly review and verify the list of delegates. However, Acting Chairman August has dismissed the request. In response, August told Patt that the meeting will go ahead as planned and added that Patt is free to skip it if he chooses.

Meanwhile, Moses “Shyne” Barrow continues to insist he remains the rightful UDP leader, and his legal team has warned Patt that any attempts to remove Barrow could lead to legal action.

Patt has accused August of defying his authority and called on other party members not to attend.

Albert Area Representative and Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Taegar-Panton, weighed in on the matter. “When you have more than fifty percent of your caretakers and their respective executive committee excluded from an NPC meeting that we have now petitioned for twice, then you cannot deem that as any effort to unite,” said Panton.

She emphasized that the party’s focus should be on national issues rather than internal conflict. “We have been in dialogue with all colleagues, not just Hugo Patt, to say that when we look at all the glaring issues, the corruption by government, the disregard of public officers, the disrespect to teachers, all that we see in these bloated contracts that have come to life, the issuance of land.. these kinds of stories should be what we ought to be spending our time and attention on,” she stated.

Panton also expressed support for Patt, calling him the de facto leader. “I think it has now become absolutely clear to the Honorable Hugo Patt, who is our first deputy party leader and the de facto leader of the party now that Shyne Barrow resigned and also lost his seat, that he has come to recognition that no amount of talking, no amount of reaching out, no kind of mediative process has yielded any results in the interest of the party,” she said.

Belize Represented at CARICOM’s 60th COTED Meeting

Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Marconi Leal Jr., led the country’s delegation at CARICOM’s 60th Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting held June 10–11 in Georgetown, Guyana.

Key topics included advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), free movement of skilled workers, trade in goods like grains and citrus juice, and regional standards on hazardous chemicals.

Belize also pushed for progress on a Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador. Minister Leal, along with Foreign Trade Director General Gayle Miller-Garnett and Deputy Director Tricia Gideon, also met with leaders from the newly launched World Trade Center in Guyana to explore trade and investment opportunities.

The team invited regional partners to the upcoming Belize Invest Summit in September.

The Reason Why the Stop Lights are Not Functioning

A traffic accident occurred early this morning at the intersection of Vernon Street and Central American Boulevard, where the stop lights have been out of operation since last week.

According to Belize City Deputy Mayor and Councillor in charge of Traffic, Eluide Miller, the malfunction was caused by a recent weather event. “This time it has been caused by the major thunderstorm that we experienced last week Wednesday,” Miller explained. “The power surge caused one of the four cards in the system’s motherboard system to blow and we realized this during an inspection done the following morning, Thursday of last week.”

Since the discovery, the City Council has been working to repair the damage. “We have been working with the technical people bringing in the necessary card. That part is scheduled to be in country this Friday. We anticipate that by the end of the day on Friday the light should be operational again,” said Miller.

The intersection is known for high traffic volume, and residents have expressed concern over recurring outages at the location.

“As you have highlighted this seems to be some recurrent, but each time it is beyond the control of the council. We are looking at measures to put in place to avoid this happening in the future. We are reviewing the option of adding power surge protectors.”

In the meantime, the Council has deployed traffic officers to help manage the flow at the busy intersection. “While the light is down, we do have traffic officers on the site at the intersection from six forty-five a.m. to six p.m. from Monday to Friday during the week. On the weekend we even have officers from eight a.m. to five p.m. and they assist traffic flows during peak hours. When the traffic is a bit lighter you will notice them observing or monitoring from a bit of shade,” he noted.

Commenting on this morning’s accident, Miller shared, “I also understand there was an incident earlier today at this very intersection. I must share that report has revealed that one of the motorist was using a mobile device while driving, which is illegal. So it is really important to clarify that the absence of a functioning light does not excuse reckless driving.”

Belizeans Dumping Excessive Garbage on Highways

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development is urging both the public and municipal authorities to take greater responsibility in keeping Belize’s roadways clean, after ongoing efforts to clear litter are repeatedly undone within hours.

The ministry voiced its frustration, saying, “Sometimes it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle. Our teams can leave a roadside spotless today, and hours after, it’s littered with garbage.”

The ministry said that municipal authorities, particularly those transporting garbage to transfer stations, are often careless in their handling of waste—contributing to the ongoing issue.

“We’re appealing to our people, and that includes municipal authorities who transport garbage to their transfer stations recklessly—please understand that the resources we spend on picking up garbage could be much better spent elsewhere,” the statement continued.

Utility Unions Stand in Solidarity with Teachers

The Belize Communications Workers Union, Belize Energy Workers Union, and Belize Water Service Workers Union, collectively known as the Utility Unions, are standing in solidarity with the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU).

The Utility Unions are calling for immediate and fair resolution to the teachers’ long-standing grievances over stagnant salaries and economic inequality.

The statement added, “These actions stem from prolonged salary stagnation amidst rising inflation, and they reflect a broader systemic disparity in the treatment of workers, particularly between those employed at the lower echelons of the public service and those at the upper levels, especially in relation to salary adjustments or giving tax breaks.”

“This state of affairs contradicts the promises made to the Belizean electorate during successive political campaigns and undermines the principle of equity in governance,” the release states.

They stressed that fair compensation for educators is not only a matter of justice but also a strategic investment in Belize’s future. “Such investment not only enhances the national education system but also stimulates domestic economic activity and contributes to increased government revenue through taxation”

The unions are urging all stakeholders to return to the negotiating table and reach a fair and timely agreement.

Alberto August to Patt: Respect the Constitution or Step Aside

Acting Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Alberto August, has responded to Hugo Patt who asked party delegates to boycott Saturday’s National Party Council meeting.

August says that the UDP Constitution does not grant the Party Leader, any interim leader, or a Deputy Leader the power to direct the Party Chairman in such matters.

“Article 7(6) of the Party’s Constitution clearly states: ‘The National Party Council shall meet at least once every three (3) months. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson'”

August says that given that the last NPC meeting occurred on January 25, 2025, the upcoming meeting is not only valid but overdue.

August also recounted efforts to seek legal guidance on party matters, noting that although Patt initially suggested consulting attorney Aldo Salazar, no progress was made.

August says he took the initiative to contact Salazar himself after failed attempts. However, he stressed that the authority to determine NPC membership lies solely with the Central Executive Committee, as outlined in Article 8(2)(e) of the UDP Constitution. He further explained that a meeting of the Central Executive Committee was convened on May 18, 2025, at the UDP Headquarters in Belize City. Despite Patt’s absence, first due to scheduling conflicts and later despite being offered the option to attend virtually, the meeting proceeded as planned.

August says that during the meeting, four major resolutions were passed: the reinstatement of all expelled party members, the scheduling of special constituency conventions for all 31 constituencies beginning in July 2025, the setting of a National Convention for the first week of October 2025, and the continuation of the current leadership executive until a new one is elected at the National Convention. August confirmed that the required 14-day notice for the NPC meeting was issued on May 28, and that all members have been informed and consulted accordingly.

August concludes by telling Patt, “The Party has been going through hell for over five years. We went into the March 2025 general elections totally divided. This division must come to an end. Since the recent resignation of the Chairman, I have been engaged overtime in the effort to unite our Party. We are now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, please do not convert that glimmer of hope into the headlight of an approaching train. While it is our desire to have you in attendance, not attending the scheduled meeting of the NPC is totally up to you, all we ask is that you seek not to usurp the authority of the Central Executive Committee, the Party Chairman and by extension the National Convention of the United Democratic Party.”

Shyne to Hugo: I am Party Leader

A legal notice issued by Pitts Pitts & Associates on behalf of Moses “Shyne” Barrow tells Hugo Patt that Barrow is the Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The letter dismisses any claims of an interim leadership and warns of legal consequences for further attempts to ‘unseat him.’

The letter said, “This is a position that he was duly elected to via a National Convention in March 2022 and August 2023. Whereas you continue to serve as the 1st Deputy Leader of the UDP, Hon. Dr. Barrow at all material times continues to be Leader of the UDP. Therefore, we reiterate that there is no “interim” party leader, and there cannot be any without first undergoing the official processes outlined in the UDP Constitution, that would be ultra vires.”

The notice tells Patt that according to the UDP Constitution, any change in party leadership must occur through Article 9(7), which requires a two-thirds majority vote at a special National Convention. The legal team asserts that no such process has taken place, rendering any claims of interim leadership or actions taken by the Alliance for Democracy’s Convention as “null and void.”

“Party Leader Barrow’s March 17th 2025 resignation offer was never accepted by any Party Official which would have required further acceptance by the NPC who would have had to declare the Party Leader’s office vacant then set a date for a National Convention to elect a new Party Leader.”

UDP Power Struggle Continues: Hugo Patt Orders Boycott of June 14 NPC Meeting

Hugo Patt, interim Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), is calling on all UDP delegates to boycott an National Party Council meeting scheduled for Saturday.

According to Patt, the meeting, summoned by Acting Party Chairman Alberto August, is being held against his directive and without proper consultation.

Patt revealed that he had formally instructed August to postpone the meeting to allow time for a joint review of the delegate list. However, August refused. As a result, Patt is urging all UDP members to boycott what he calls a “purported meeting” and instead wait for a properly convened session.

“For the sake of democracy and in the best interest of our beloved party, DO NOT attend the purported meeting,” Patt stated.

He also called on members across the country to rally behind their constituency organizations and support his stance. Patt assured members that steps will be taken to reschedule a legitimate NPC meeting “at the earliest opportunity.”

Belize Backs Global Commitment to Protect Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs

Belize has joined a global coalition of 12 countries pledging to protect climate-resilient coral reefs, signing on to a new commitment unveiled at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France.

The initiative, led by WCS, WWF, The Nature Conservancy, and Papua New Guinea, aims to safeguard reefs most likely to withstand climate change. Signatories, including Belize, France, Indonesia, and Palau, have agreed to integrate reef protection into national climate and biodiversity strategies, reduce local threats, and prioritise community-led conservation.

Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the conference, saying, “As a small developing nation, our valiant conservation efforts alone can’t shield our oceans. The overarching, ever-reaching impacts of rising seas, warming temperatures and extreme weather of climate change dwarfs our actions. We need concerted, coordinated global action to protect our oceans for the benefit of generations to come.”

The pledge is supported by cutting-edge science, including WCS’s upcoming “50 Reefs+” analysis, and early backing from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Global Environment Facility.