This strategy seeks to create gateways for Belizeans to become conversation leaders in the science field. This includes providing opportunities for Belizeans to elevate their careers through the use of science. Dr. Leeroy Almendarez, Executive Director of BELTRAIDE explained how the implementation of this strategy can help business owners develop their brands.
Dr. Leeroy Almendarez, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE
“BELTRAIDE deals a lot with MSMEs. It deals with innovation. It does deal with investment. It deals with export development. And of course, we have a training center. And so the role we play in technological development, for example, for MSMEs, for those in that space to become more competitive, there is a need for adaptation to technology, and latest technology. A number of the projects we are undertaking through the IDB, one of them being digitalization of MSMEs to make them more competitive. We also have been launching digital connect centers in partnership with the UNDP to bridge the digital divide. And if you can bridge the digital divide, then it means absence of information, you’re not disadvantaged. You’re able to participate in the whole digital communication. And so this is important for us in terms of innovation. We continue to remind entrepreneurs sometimes it just takes a little bit of differentiation to your service or product that you’re offering to make you more competitive. And so as you adapt to innovation, making things different, coming up with new ideas, because that’s how you become leaders within the market. The more innovative you are, you become a market leader, and others have to follow you.”
The Belize Police Department and the Department of Transport now have better equipment to prevent motor vehicle operators from breaking the law. As we reported, new legislation recently came into effect prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. And, to show how serious they are about road safety, the Belize Road Safety Project handed over thousands of dollars in equipment to both departments to bolster their traffic enforcement efforts. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
To mitigate the increasing number of road traffic incidents on the nation’s highways, the Second Road Safety Project handed over much-needed equipment to the Department of Transport and the Police Traffic Unit at a ceremony in Belmopan. Minister of Transport Rodwell Ferguson was present at the event.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport
“Our responsibility is to try to keep the commuter safe and those who are driving motor vehicles across the country. So, what we received today is just a collaboration between ourselves and the Road Safety Project to make sure we can implement these in our highways. Fortunately, over the Easter I didn’t hear of much accidents. If we can maintain it that way that would be very important. So I am asking now for a collaboration with the police and traffic department to do night patrols. To mitigate the amount of drunk driving and those who are driving carelessly at nighttime. So these will complete what we have already. About a year ago we also got a number of other equipment. WE have also passed legislation so that we can use them. So, with this and those we can improve road safety in the country of Belize. So I feel very confident it is going to work.”
Among the items handed over are handcuffs, reflective vests, binoculars, and handheld radios. Zane Castillo, the project manager at the Road Safety Project, explained that the resources will be shared between the police and traffic departments according to their needs.
“The Department of Transport will be receiving handcuffs, raincoats, reflective vests, uniform caps, retractable speed bumps, traffic signs, handheld radios and base chargers for the radios. The police traffic unit will be receiving traffic cones, binoculars and flashlights, and also reflective vest. They both will also be receiving first aid kits. Especially with respect to the Department of Transport, the equipment should be shared among all the branches within the department for them to have better equipment while on the road doing patrols and checkpoints.”
The Road Safety Project functions under the Ministry of Economic Development. CEO of the Ministry, Doctor Osmond Martinez, says the resources are valued at one hundred and ninety-six thousand Belize dollars. He noted that the funds to acquire the equipment were sourced in part from the Caribbean Development Bank.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, C.E.O, Ministry of Economic Development
“We continue to see road accidents. There is also a need to upgrade the enforcement of our constitution and also support the reinforcement of the transport department. The donation that has been handed over today by the Road Safety which is under the Ministry of Economic Development to Transport, which is also to support all the officers, the men and women who work with the transport department. The total value of the donation to the Ministry of Transport is a hundred and ninety-six thousand dollars and is funds that come through the Caribbean Development Bank. There is also a counterpart funding from the government of Belize.”
And both Minister Ferguson and CEO Martinez had a message for motor vehicle operators. With new legislation passed that prohibits the use of cellphones while driving, Minister Ferguson and CEO Martinez emphasized the fact that one life lost as a result of a road traffic incident is one too many.
Rodwell Ferguson
“I want to urge the travelling public that lives really matter because when someone dies it affects the families. So, we are asking you all to make sure there is no drunk driving. We recently passed the cellphone law that you cannot answer your phone while driving. So, I hope the people comply and many time accidents involve drunk driving and cellphone use. So, I hope they get the message and understand clearly what we want to accomplish for them. It is not only for us, but also for all of us.”
Dr. Osmond Martinez
“The loss of one life is too many, therefore it is important for us to be responsible when we are driving on the road. Follow the rules of the transport department also to be responsible and understand that driving a vehicle is similar to having a weapon on you and it is a weapon on you, a weapon that can kill, injure, anyone out there.”
Belize and Guatemala have provided all their written submissions to the International Court of Justice in the first round of presentations to settle the age-old territorial dispute. Today, when we sat down with Foreign Minister, Francis Fonseca, he gave us a sequence of the events to follow. And even while this is happening, he said, we are still engaged in protecting our borders on the ground, particularly in the remote areas where incursions are known to happen.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“Where we are is that we are awaiting a date to be set by the court for oral hearings, the actual oral hearings of the case. We expect that date will be set sometime later this year. That date is likely – it could be late this year or it could be sometime early next year, the early part of 2025, we’re not sure as yet. That’s where we are with that. Again, Belize maintains its very strong confidence that we have a firm, strong case. We believe that this case will vindicate Belize’s position that, in terms of our territorial integrity over our territory or islands or marine spaces, but Belize remains committed to a peaceful resolution of this matter before the I.C.J. So we’re going to see that process work its way out. And at the end of the day, we will respect the decision of the court. We’re very glad to hear that or neighbors in Guatemala have also said the same thing: that they will respect the outcome of the court’s decision. At the same time, we of course continue to have challenges on the ground, at the border. In terms of incursions, farming on Belizean territory. We are tracking these things very carefully – the deforestation that’s taking place, particularly in the Chiquibul area. So these are issues that we are very concerned about, and even though we’re working through the I.C.J process, that doesn’t mean that we’re not working with Guatemala on these issues. We’re engaged with them on these issues with the help and support of the O.A.S. The O.A.S plays a very critical role in terms of that Adjacency Zone. So we’re all committed, I believe Guatemala, Belize, the O.A.S to ensuring that area, this region remains a zone of peace.”
A common practice you may have noticed is people removing excess gravel from roads that have been recently paved. This gravel is typically what’s left after a road project is completed and will likely be disposed of by the contractors working on the road. With that in mind, some take it upon themselves to remove the gravel and use it for their own purposes. If done correctly, this practice is typically well received and sometimes encouraged. However, we spoke with civil engineer Michelan Gilharry in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, who encourages the public to exhibit patience before removing the gravel. Here’s what he had to say.
Michelan Gilharry, Civil Engineer
“What we would ask the people to do is to wait for us to give them the go ahead, because what happened is, yes, there is some excess material and it, in a way, positively helps the contractor to clean up, in a sense, because they would still need to do it. But once we have placed the first layer, then we wait another thirty days to put the second layer. And then after that, we need proper embedment. If they go and take it beforehand, then they can damage the edge of the road. But if they wait as what we want, and after we have swept it and it’s all the way to the edge, or like to the embankment of the road, then it doesn’t typically affect the road structure. But so that’s what I would comment on saying that we just want patience. They will still be able to get the material is beneficial to the community members, just let’s wait, get the go ahead from the contractors in my project, we do speak with the people shoveling the gravel. We explained to them and most of the time they’re very understanding. They know they wait and then afterwards they would come on, pick up the material and use it for whatever purpose they have.”
The upcoming total solar eclipse in North America is scheduled for Monday, April eighth. The totality will last up to four minutes and will span across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. For those outside the path of totality, a crescent-shaped partial eclipse will still offer a mesmerizing view. While Belize won’t experience the total phase of the eclipse, it will witness a partial solar eclipse, beginning at eleven-eighteen with the first contact between the Moon and the Sun’s edge. We spoke with Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon, who gave us some more information.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service
“As it relates to this particular eclipse that will occur actually on Monday, the eighth of April believes is not within the path of totality, which means that we are not going to experience a total solar eclipse. However, we are going to see a partial solar eclipse. From what I’m seeing. We are going to be about forty percent of occlusion, which means that about forty percent of the sun will be covered by the moon. And that indicate that it will not be very dark. You may recall that we had an annular solar eclipse in October of last year. And that was an eclipse in which the moon basically was within the entire part of the or entire coverage of the sun. But there was that. Ring around it because at that point, the distance between the moon and the earth was not close enough for it to entirely cover the sun. So it’s not a total eclipse, but rather described as an annular solar eclipse. In this case, there’ll be even less coverage. In other words, there’ll be even less blockage of the sun, so it will not even be as dark as it was. For the clips that we saw last year. Now, in terms of timing, the information that I have is that it will be starting around about eighteen minutes after eleven here local time. The maximum coverage will be about twelve thirty-one and by about one forty-five or so more or less. It will be all clear. Weather conditions currently, although it’s a bit far away, indicate that we’ll be under an easterly flow. There’s a possibility of isolated showers and the possibility of some cloudiness. We cannot tell for sure if at that particular time, it will be cloudy or not. It’s not possible to see that. But if it is not cloudy, and you’re able to look at the sun, which we advise you to do with specialized sunshades. You will maybe see that there’s an obstruction between the earth and the sun. You’ll see the shadow of the moon, basically, not the shadow, but the actual moon obscuring part of the sun. If you look up, if you are not able to look up with those specialized sunshades, you may not even know that there’s something covering the sun. It may look like a cloud or something, or it might be the level of darkness will not be that significant for you to know that there’s an eclipse occurring. That’s what we expect it to look like at that time.”
On Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the return of Belize Rural South area representative Andre Perez to Cabinet. Perez was reinstated as the Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management after being on leave for months following allegations of sexual misconduct levied by attorney Wendy Auxillou. Perez continues to vehemently deny those allegations. After hearing the news of Perez’s reinstatement, Auxillou took to Facebook, doubling down on him saying that “To date I have not been contacted by anyone in the government to ask to review my evidence or to hear my side of the story”. She also said that “the Prime Minister took my call, but did nothing more.” News Five reached out to Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre and Prime Minister John Briceño for comment. We are still waiting for a response. As for Perez, he told News Five “no comments for now.” We note that Auxillou says she had to flee Belize because she is in fear for her life. But while Auxillou took to Facebook, she has yet to make an official police complaint. She said that she does not need to make a police report or have a judge or the attorney general confirm her allegations. But for there to be a criminal investigation, a complaint must be made. And we checked with Police Commissioner Chester Williams about it today, he told us that none has been made.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I saw the Facebook post, but in terms of a report from here there is none.
Paul Lopez
“Will you guys follow up that Facebook post? We have seen in previous cases where a facebook post would be enough for police to do an investigation or launch further queries.”
Chester Williams
“It is different. We are not in the business of witch hunting people. If it is that she has a complaint against the minister then her duty is to come to the police. We don’t go after people like that. Now if I see a Facebook post with people fighting, that is a matter where the police can be the complainant. I can take that, but in terms of a report like what she is commenting on social media it is not our job to bring her in to make a report, no.”
We also spoke to Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa about the allegations made against his cabinet colleague. Minister Musa says he has seen Auxillou’s latest Facebook. He says that without a police complaint, the post is defamatory.
Paul Lopez
“Are you aware if Mr. Perez was investigated in terms of the allegations that were brought against him initially?”
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“I know that the attorney General, Mr. Sylvester was tasked to conduct and carry out an investigation into those allegations so to speak. To me there was just a lot of post that have been shared by whatsapp and being shared on social media. So I don’t know if anything went beyond that. I know that at the time, based on that sort of information that was coming out it seemed to have been somewhat of a consensual relationship. So I don’t think there was anything done further. As you know, neither party has come forward to the police department to make any sort of police report and I think that is where that ended up. I am only now seeing a facebook post in which I don’t even want to answer a question to that effect because we might be committing defamation of character when in fact a police report has not been made. So it is always encouraged, if you have any sort of allegation to make, whether it is true or false, the court will decide if it is true or false, and perhaps the chips will fall where they may then. But to me, this seems to be some sort of new allegation being made.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you welcome your colleagues’ return to the cabinet?
Kareem Musa
“Andre Perez has been one of the hardest working ministers. He did a lot at civil aviation and of course , the blue economy. He is now reinstated as the minister of Blue Economy. He contributes a lot to our Cabinet discussions and the decisions we make in the Cabinet.”
As we mentioned on Wednesday’s newscast, Prime Minister John Briceño said that the cabinet reshuffle follows a resounding mandate from the electorate on March sixth. In San Pedro Town, the People’s United Party won by huge margins, and it is for this reason that Perez was invited back to cabinet. Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa explains.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“As you know Paul, the decision for any sort of Cabinet reshuffle lies strictly within the purview of the prime minister and that decision is ultimately his. So, I see from the release issues that reference was made to the overwhelming mandate that was received by the People’s United Party in the recent city and town council election. So that seems to have been the impetus to enable these ministers of state, now ministers of state, to do greater work in their constituencies.”
Reporter
“How do you respond to the criticism that they were elevated so they could eat? You know the salary as opposed to just being an area representative?
Kareem Musa
“I will not categorize it as that. It is certainly testament to all the work that they have been doing as area representatives within their respective constituencies.”
While we were in court on Wednesday covering the Bladen Twelve drug landing case, one of the defendants in that case, slipped us two notes which pertain to another case for which he faces three counts of murder. Elmer Nah, who is charged with the murders of brothers, Jon and David Ramnarace and Jon’s wife, Vivien Ramnarace, claims in the notes that he has been appealing to the authorities to get them to enhance the images to show that he was not the gunman in the triple murder. In one of the notes, Nah names a former policeman as the gunman in the Ramnarace triple murder, a name we cannot show because that former officer has not come under any investigation as a suspect. Today, News Five spoke with Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams about this scenario that has presented itself. He said that Nah is entitled to present a defense when the matter goes to trial.
Paul Lopez
“He says that another officer by the name of Mr.****** is the murderer in the Ramnarace case. Nah also says that he has asked police to enhance the video of the shooting and they will see it is not him. Any response to that?
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I will not respond to that. That is a matter before the court. Nah certainly has the right to mount a defense. We at the end of the day will have a duty to present the case. I will leave it at that.”
Paul Lopez
“He alleges that he was threatened by a police escort.
Chester Williams
“That report is total fabrication. I have consulted with Ms. Alifa Elrington who is head of prosecution branch and thankfully the officers who are engaged in securing Nah do wear body cameras and the bus in which he is escorted also has camera inside. So we do have video footage of his entire escort and nowhere in his escort do we see anybody abusing him or threatening him. Those video footages also have audio. So if it were the officer threatened him using words, the audio would have picked it up and if were that the officer had threatened him by action then the video would have picked it up as well. From our investigation we have found out it is not true.”
The Belize National Teachers’ Union held its bi-election to elect a new national president. Voting began at around two-thirty this afternoon and was completed by four-thirty. Following the counting, Nadia Caliz emerged as victor, besting Ifasini Efuneymi. We spoke with Caliz about her candidature.
Nadia Caliz, President Candidate, B.N.T.U.
“I have been paying attention to the direction our union has been taking and that is not the direction our union should be going and I believe that those of us who are stalwarts understand what BNTU represents to this country. We need it to come back and put us back on the platform where we were. And, being a member for thirty years and serving as rep, school rep, vice president, member of council , being in the forefront of many demonstrations, I have the experience. So I said, let me come forward. I said let me come forward and offer myself and see if they would accept me as their president. So I am waiting to see the results and if that is it then we are ready.”
