The Government of Belize and the United Nations held the third Joint National Steering Committee meeting today. Currently, there are nineteen U.N. agencies operating in Belize, aiding in the nation’s efforts towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These meetings give G.O.B. and these U.N. agencies an opportunity to review their achievements and realign their goals for the future. The meeting was held in Belmopan, where the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Belize, Raul Salazar, and the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amalia Mai, were both present.
Raul Salazar, UN Resident Coordinator, Belize
“We have continued leveraging the collective strength of the UN to continue pursue opportunities through joint programming. We have recently an example when I had the opportunity to participate in the closing ceremony of the Spotlight Initiative which was led by the UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA that made significant achievements to end violence against women and children in Belize. There are other initiatives under the Resilient Belize joint program funded by the secretary general specifically to support the advancement of the 2030 agenda. This was support by UNICEF, ILO, and WFP to continue developing the social protection floor.”
Amalia Mai
Amalia Mai, C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Some key accomplishments since our last encounter is the development and execution of the SDG dialogue which supported the prioritization of the commitments expounded on by the prime minister at the SDG Summit in September. The continued work across the UN system, the planning and execution of Social Protection Summit held in October and the execution of a workshop on the development of an integrated national finance framework which we held this year.”
Belize is among a list of eleven countries across Latin America and the Caribbean that has developed and implemented a Multidimensional Poverty Index to assess and address poverty. This morning, the United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Economic Development, along with the Statistical Institute of Belize, signed an agreement to develop a Monetary Poverty Measure. It will serve to complement Belize’s Multidimensional Poverty Index in measuring the prevalence of monetary deprivation in Belize, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of poverty. A government release following the agreement signing says, “being able to use this powerful tool to diagnose the condition of poverty and identify changes over time can lead to innovative and articulated actions within and across the government and civil society organizations that will better address the specific needs of the country’s population”. The agreement comes with six deliverables that are expected to be completed by July 2024.
In January, we showed you the deplorable state of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex’s race track. And the Marion Jones Sporting Complex is not the only sporting facility that is in dire need of upgrades. Across the country, athletes are subjected to training and competing in less than optimal sporting facilities. To the National Sports Council’s credit, we have been sent photos and videos of ongoing repairs to the Russell Chiste Garcia Auditorium and Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga. But Minister of Sports Rodwell Ferguson agrees that greater investments are needed. This morning, during his appearance on Open Your Eyes, Minister Ferguson noted some changes to the government’s sports strategy and budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“As the Minister of Sports, about a month ago, I took a comprehensive document to Cabinet that involved the entire country in terms of facilities and how we can support sports. Cabinet looked at it very fruitful and the prime minister appointed a subcommittee headed by myself, includes Minister Coye, Minister Mahler and Minister Fonseca. We hope to announce to announce to the nation at the budget presentation debate what we are going to do to upgrade our facilities across the country. Beside that I like to be innovative and I came up with an idea for an application to raise money through the app for sports, both nationally and in the Diaspora and the app should be launched sometime in April. We are asking a minimum of a dollar a month. If every month a one hundred thousand people give a dollar that is a hundred thousand locally. And if a hundred thousand give a dollar in the U.S that is two hundred thousand for us because it doubles. I strongly believe the app will work because there are many Americans and organizations in the states that are Belizean led who wants to contribute. But, they want to make sure their money is being spent wisely. So we are committing to them that they are going to get a monthly report of the revenue and expenditure.”
Minister Ferguson also announced that his ministry is committing four thousand dollars monthly to the Belize Elite Basketball League. This is in response to the league’s complaint over the five thousand dollars price tag attached to the use of the Belize City Civic Center for games. It is less than a host team pays to use the Civic, but Minister Ferguson says his ministry is strapped for resources.
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“We have semi-pro basketball going on right now and the group complained about using the CIVIC about the amount of funds that they get from the game might not cover their expenses for the game. From the Ministry of Sports we tried to figure how we can support them with the little resources we have. So we committed two thousand dollars from the sports council every month to them and the Department of Youth Services, I am also the Ministry of Youth, because we are dealing with young people likewise, then you can contribute two thousand likewise. So every month the semi-pro should be getting four thousand dollars from the ministry to support their bid and their cause. I noticed they opened a Pandora box because now every discipline will want the same. But we have to figure out what we can do as the minister of sports.”
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. From an entertainment point of view, the Belize City Defenders spared no expense in giving fans a show on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. A thirty-foot monitor was hoisted inside the venue for the first time. Fans were able to view replays and see themselves. But, everyone was there to watch the game between the Belize City Defenders and the Dangriga Dream Ballers.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Dangriga’s Delvon Henderson over the rim with a hot start to the game. Five minutes left on the clock in the first with Rebels up six points to four, Defenders’ Nigel Jones puts up the ball over three bodies under the rim. The first quarter ended with the Belize City Defenders on top, fifteen to fourteen points. Baller Brandon Rogers over Devin Daly at the start of the second quarter. Daly, on the other end, responds from the three-point line. Up, thirty points to twenty-seven, Henderson makes a basket from deep to give his team their largest lead of the game.
The first half ended with Dangriga on top, thirty-seven to thirty-six points. Right out the gate in the second, Lorenzo Dillard finds Jones over the rim. Dillard, this time with the three-point shot off the assist from John Kelly Devon Campbell from just under the arch gives his team the largest lead of the game with forty-six to thirty-nine points. Richard Smith, the Third, showing muscle under the rim with this play. The Defenders outscored their opponents by twelve points in the third, maintained their lead in the fourth, and went on to win the game. Here is more from Dillard and Jones.
Lorenzo Dillard
Lorenzo Dillard, Belize City Defenders
“We finally figured out what we are playing for and that is each other. We went in the locker room, we were down one, we talked. We came together; see what we could do to bounce back and we did just that.”
Nigel Jones
Nigel Jones, Belize City Defenders
“I feel like tonight they had a couple problems adjusting to the way we switched up in the second half, they tried to go man and when they go man it opened it up for us and that gave me a chance to find the lane to cut and my teammates were able to find me.”
Let’s jump into some football action. We continue with our coverage of the William Dawson Peace Cup. Tonight, we bring you highlights from the match between Westlake FC and Kelly Street. Thirteen minutes into the game, Kelly Street’s Francis Andrews sprints ahead of two defenders. The referee does not call an offside. In front of the goal, he fires with his left foot and makes it count. At the twenty-six minute mark, West Lake’s Dylan Jones beats three defenders inside the penalty box to put his team on the scoreboard. Ten minutes into the second half, Kelly Street’s goalkeeper collided into one of his opponents’ knee. He fought to maintain consciousness on the ground and left the field with an injury to the face. West Lake went on to seal another victory, with a pass all the way from midfield that landed in front of the goal for the finishing touch.
In cycling, Derrick Chavarria was crowned the champion of the 2024 Annual DigiWallet Valentine Tour. In the Individual time trial on Friday night, Derrick Chavarria topped the scoreboard in the Men’s Elite category, finishing the two-mile ride with a time of three minutes and fifty-seven seconds. In the second leg of the tour, riders raced from Belize City to Dangriga through the Coastal Road, for seventy-three miles. Chavarria was among a large group of riders that was the first to make it across the finish line. And on Sunday, the circuit race in Santa Elena Town ended with a photo finish between Chavarria and Oscar Quiroz. Chavarria was declared the champion with his final times for all three stages combined.
Well Folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Twenty-two-year-old Steven Diaz is tonight in police custody after handing in himself in the presence of an attorney. On Tuesday, we reported that the Orange Walk resident was wanted in connection with the murder of nineteen-year-old Joshua Ku which occurred in the predawn hours of February eleventh. Ku, a baker of Orange Walk Town, was at an establishment on Saturday night when he reportedly left in the company of several individuals, including Diaz. It was not until the following night that family and friends grew concerned when Ku did not return home from the nightclub. A search party was immediately dispatched in an attempt to find him alive. It was not until Monday afternoon that Ku’s lifeless body was found near a dirt road in the vicinity of Rhaburn Ridge. He had been fatally stabbed and dumped in a secluded area. Steven Diaz has since been arrested and charged for Ku’s murder.
On Wednesday evening, reports began circulating of the termination of Belize High School’s long-standing principal, Jamie Usher. This announcement was confirmed by the Belize Elementary and Belize High School Board which released a statement confirming her parting from the institution, reading, “we thank Mrs. Usher for her thirteen years of service as our High School Principal and for her contribution to the development of our school. We wish her success in her future professional career”. The statement did not specify a reason for the parting of ways; the announcement has had a polarizing effect, particularly on the United Women’s Group which recently released a statement declaring its solidarity with Usher. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Jamie Usher has served as the principal of Belize High School for nearly fourteen years, since the school’s inception in 2010. Since then, Usher has gained international acclaim for championing Belize’s progress in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM).
Jamie Usher
Jamie Usher, Former Principal, B.H.S. (File: October 11th, 2019)
“We are motivated by the fact that we are part of the evolution of technology and science in Belize. So first, we used to teach IT as a subject, then we started using IT by bringing in projectors and then we started using technology with our class. So we would have Google Classroom, Google Drive, different elements, but now behind me, you just witnessed where our students are taking technology and engineering and creating which is really a fantastic transformation when you think about we are no longer teaching what is a mouse, what is a CPU, what is a keyboard. We’re actually telling them use everything that has been built up since elementary school and create something that can solve a problem.”
The departure came as a shock to many, as Usher recently led the Belize High School team to victory at the Annual Global Challenge in Switzerland and had stated further plans to elevate the school’s team.
Jamie Usher, Former Principal, B.H.S. (File: October 18th, 2022)
“We already have plans to ramp up ourselves so we are looking for help to get two bigger robots at the hundred and twenty-five pound-level. Because we want them to know that we’re not afraid of remaining competitive and we’re not afraid to level up.”
In a public statement on the matter, Usher stated “I am humbled to have been able to share my talents, gifts, and ideas for just under fourteen years as a RAM. The service to the future of education in Belize has been my passion, and my energies will continue to serve the students of Belize, especially in leadership and robotics. I look forward to the next chapter. I stand proudly behind my commitment to the BHS RAMS Community. Thanks to my husband, children, family, and friends for always motivating me to strive for excellence in everything I do. Thank you to all the parents, of BHS who have messaged to share their words of kindness. Always Team Belize, always a Robotics Enthusiast, and always a STEAM educator. Jamie Usher”.
The United Women’s Group of Belize also spoke up, declaring its stance. A statement released by the group read quote, the news of Usher’s termination deeply saddened and angered the members of the United Women’s Group, who recognize the systemic barriers and biases that often hinder women’s advancement in leadership positions. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to breaking down these barriers and advocating for gender equality in all spheres of society, end quote. The Statement further went on to call upon BHS administration to provide transparency on the matter in order to ensure that fair and equitable treatment of all employees regardless of their gender. No further comment has been given from Usher or the BHS administration at this time. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The opposition is chiding the Briceño administration after Cabinet denied a request from the Senate Special Select Committee. In its request, the committee sought documents pertaining to the Portico Definitive Agreement that were tabled in Cabinet. News Five is in possession of a copy of one response from Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie to the Senate Committee. It says “I have been obliged to seek legal advice on the matter. That advice was sought from the Attorney General’s Ministry. Based on the legal advice received, I regret that I am unable to accede to the request”. As a rule, every member of Cabinet takes an oath to keep Cabinet deliberations confidential. Furthermore, section twenty-three of the Freedom of Information Act prohibits the release of Cabinet documents to the public. Notwithstanding these conditions, a copy of the Portico Definitive Agreement was leaked to the public back in May 2023.But a body like the Senate Special Select Committee that is undertaking such a serious task may not be able to rely on a leaked document for official deliberation. Today, Michael Peyrefitte, the Chairman of the United Democratic Party weighed in on Cabinet’s refusal to release those files.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“The committee asked him for the documents that they considered, they looked at, to help the committee do its work and they have just flat-out said no. And, I don’t know what the committee will do from here. Technically it is like this, you have a committee formed to produce and agreement and the government doesn’t even want to produce the agreement. So, how, what does that tell you and the terms of reference were clear, the terms of reference were clear, we want to know what were the circumstances that lead to the signing of that agreement and we want to know what was the circumstances that led to the Prime Minister tabling that set of papers in Cabinet, asking Cabinet to approve a document with accompanying legislation, even after one of the best lawyers in the world told him that that agreement was essentially trash.”
Paul Lopez
“Is it your view then that a request from the senate committee trumps the constitutional convention which indicates that Cabinet papers are considered confidential?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Show me in the constitution where documents in Cabinet can never be released to the public, show me that.”
Paul Lopez
“Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act states that Cabinets documents are exempted from disclosure.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“When we were debating the bill, none of the six PUP senators, not even the leader of government business who many like to think is the greatest lawyer since Terry Mason, not even he objected to this because Cabinet papers are confidential and cannot be released to the public based on this particular law. Nobody said that until now, where you get that from? The committee in its request did not ask for a tape recording of the Cabinet. It said, listen the documents that were sent to Cabinet, what are those?”
But, is the Chairman of the United Democratic Party being sanctimonious in his criticisms against the Briceño Administration? On Wednesday when the former Lands Commissioner, Wilbert Vallejos, was called before the Senate Special Select Committee, he was reluctant to answer any of the questions posed to him. Vallejos served under the U.D.P. administration as lands commissioner for eleven years. He appeared before the committee with Senior Counsel Dean Barrow, former Prime Minister and U.D.P. Leader. Hugo Patt, the Deputy Leader of the U.D.P. and former Minister of Natural Resources, has also indicated to the Senate Committee that he does not intend to answer any questions his legal counsel deems irrelevant to the investigation.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“There is a reason why you have terms of reference and you must stick within the terms of reference and the committee yesterday, in my view, was trying to go outside its terms of reference. And, this is the thing. If you don’t like the terms of reference then change it. We were in a Senate meeting last week. Mr. Barrow was right in telling Mr. Cal that it is a shame you nuh adjust your terms of reference to indicate where you want to go with your investigation.”
Reporter
“You can’t have it both ways. You cannot be criticizing the PUP for a lack of transparency when all the UDP personalities involved in the land transaction or adjacent to the land transaction have been willfully obfuscatory. Now, the former prime minister has appeared to block any ventilation of this Portico adjacent issue.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“That nuh mek no sense. You have the terms of reference. If it is so important to the Portico investigation, if it is so critical, so central, such a thing that it cannot exist without it, well put it in your terms of reference. If it is not in the terms of reference of an investigation you cannot go into it. That is a simple thing. And I don’t care what anybody says, it is not having it both ways, it is one way. We have terms of reference. When they called me to testify I went. They could call me back if they want. But what I am saying you cannot go outside the terms of reference and if you want that to be in the inquiry then put that in the terms of reference.”
Outside the considerations of the Senate Special Select Committee, Peyrefitte was asked if he believes that the seventeen questionable government land transactions that occurred only weeks before the 2020 general elections warrant an investigation. As we reported, some eight hundred and fifty acres of public land were sold and seventeen titles were issued for them, all on November fourth 2020. These parcels are located in close proximity to the proposed site for the Portico cruise ship project. Here is how Peyrefitte responded.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“If you are a private individual, and attorney representing your client or whatever and you are engaged in transactions that has to be approved by the government, say for example, I buy a piece of land from you and I have to take that to the Natural Resources Ministry to get the transaction approved in terms of stamp duty or whatever. Or if I am buying land from the government and the government has to approve the sale of it, it was enunciated very well in a court appeals case recently, the responsibility lies on the government or the public official. You and I can do whatever we want to do, the government still has to approve it. So, you and I can get into a million ideas of what we want to do with government land or the transfer of land. All of that has to be stamped and approved by the government. So, if two private individuals gets into land transactions and it is approved by the government, then how can you blame those private individuals. In a case like that you will have to question the minister and those who approve it, yes. But that is not for this terms of reference with Portico, that is a separate thing all together. Whatever questions they want to ask Mr. Vallejos or the honorable Hugo Patt, just check the records. Go to the ministry of Natural Resources and ask them to produce the records of all transactions and the committee can have it.”
