New H.I.V. infections are on the decline globally, but according to the Joint United Nations Programme on H.I.V. and AIDS, there is still much work to be done to end the pandemic. The disease has been a challenge for the Caribbean for decades, particularly in countries such as Haiti and Jamaica. However, while some countries like Belize have made strides in preventative measures, there is still work to be done to decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths. Doctor Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, provided us with some insight on those numbers.
Dr. Russell Manzanero
Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit, MOHW
“For the past years, the numbers for H.I.V. pretty much have plateaued. It has not, I have not seen a decrease in the numbers as other countries have done. But I haven’t also seen that sharp increase either. So we have maintained or self-retained that like two hundred. It’s not, it differs probably just a little bit or go down and go up. So those numbers have not changed. We still have H.I.V. related deaths. So that is something that we also are seeing a decline in other areas. But in Belize, we’re still seeing that we do have HIV related deaths yet. Based on what we’re doing, as a ministry and as an entire response, because with the call on the National AIDS Commission and everybody that’s a part of that is how do we address the situation right now? How is it that we’re going to look at what is the best way to address this? To be done and do we need to do more targeted interventions with specific groups? Do we have this epidemic concentrated in a certain population? So those are the things we’re trying to work at.”
The Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF have teamed up, once again to host a data needs assessment workshop for the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. This survey is used to gather critical data that will inform policies and programmes to improve the lives of women and children in Belize. The workshop consisted of participants from across the country and representatives from the S.I.B. and UNICEF. We spoke with Wendy Benavides, Mixed Coordinator at S.I.B. for more information on the training. Here’s more on that.
Wendy Benavides
Wendy Benavides, Mixed Coordinator, S.I.B.
“So we have a group of trainees from across the country. People from Corozal, in Orange Walk, down to Toledo district that are here on their first day of training. We’re going to be training them for a duration of four and a half weeks. We have here field supervisors and interviewers. Then we’re going to be joined later on August first with other persons and their role will be that of measures.”
Britney Gordon
“So this training is supposed to benefit women and children in Belize. What type of strategies are they learning in order to achieve that?”
Wendy Benavides
“So we’re going to give them a walkthrough of all the topics in the questionnaires. We have questionnaires related to, in general, the household characteristics, getting information on all members of the household. We’re going to also inform them about the purpose of it. The use of the data. We’re going to invite some experts that are knowledgeable on the topics and for them to be knowledgeable of what or how the information have been, has been used in previous rounds of the mix.”
Britney Gordon
“So how is this supposed to affect Belize and benefit the country?”
Wendy Benavides
“So we want to, mostly this information will be helpful in to help in the identifying or getting more information to close the data gaps. So there is some outdated information there. We have done the mix, the last mix was done in 2015. So you want updated information for the policy makers to make informed decisions.”
The Belizean classics that have entertained people for decades are back for a new generation to enjoy. The Belize Music Project and the Belize Tourism Board partnered to celebrate Belizean culture with four musical ensembles consisting of over seventy-five artists. This weekend, the musicians will unite to perform new interpretations of traditional songs to bridge the gap between young artists, audiences, and their cultural roots. News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the Artist Development Center today to meet a few of the performers participating in the event.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The traditional music that many Belizeans grew up with continues to resonate in the hearts of many to this day. However, it is at risk of being lost to newer audiences. To preserve these rich musical traditions and innovations, the Belize Music Project and the Belize Tourism Board are uniting, for the first time, four musical ensembles featuring more than seventy-five musicians from all corners of the nation. Al Ovando of the Belize Music Project spoke with us about this historic endeavor.
Al Ovando
Al Ovando, Belize Music Project
“It’s a research and history research and initiative. And the main objective is to document the history of music in Belize and based on the records in the archives, It shows that we have music based from the 1920s. It’s the earliest existence of music in the archives, Belize archives. So we’re using that, and we’re using that coming up. So now, and we use that as a, especially with the broke down with combo, we’re exploring all these sounds, all these this harmonies, these melodies that we find, and we are incorporating it with these new people, these new energies we have our own, and we’re trying to make it one new sound, but at the same time, celebrating the past and all this work that happened before. Each of the four combos is comprised of three generations of Belizean musicians and singers who have prepared an arrangement of songs spanning over one hundred years of music, from early logging days camp chants to popular tunes from the 1970’s and, of course, punta and dancehall. Singer Barabara Herrera of the rock band combo explained how this project is bridging the gap between generations.”
Barabara Herrera
Barabara Herrera, Lead Vocalist
“The importance of preserving this culture is to identify our culture and keep it alive. So I believe this project is very important for both the young and the old because I believe that this culture in particular had never been displayed this much. I feel like we should keep this project alive.”
Joining Herrera is singer Crysel Gabourel-Moro. She says that she is honoured to be singing alongside legends in the industry.
Crysel Gabourel-Moro
Crysel Gabourel-Moro, Lead Vocalist
“I’m extremely excited because I’m the newest of them all. And I’m, among legends here, being a part of something that, just coming out and already being a part of the big international stage is really like a one of the goals that I had and I didn’t know it was going to happen so quickly, but it did and I’m, I really am appreciative of, teaming up and being on, this dynamic female duo right here.”
Following in his father’s footsteps is the son of the famed musician Aurelio Martinez, Newani Aurelio Martinez. He is one of the youngest artists to join the ensemble, at eighteen years old. Martinez will be playing the guitar as well as performing some of his father’s songs.
Newani Aurelio Martinez
Newani Aurelio Martinez, Musician
“Being young in this, me and Diane we’re here learning more about our culture as well as representing. It’s good for us because, there’s a lot of, kids in our culture that don’t want to express and be a part of their culture. So this is gonna show them that, I’m a Garifuna, I can do big things too. So it’s just gonna help us as the younger generation to be confident in who we are as Garifuna people and continue to build that legacy as well.”
On Thursday, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, APAMO, held a press conference to voice concerns about proposals made by the Ministry of Sustainable Development that would affect the relations between comanagers and the government and how comanagers operate daily. During the press conference, APAMO members said that voicing their concerns was a necessary course of action after letters from the organization went unanswered for weeks. As a result, APAMO demanded more respect and acknowledgement from the government. In an interview with Doctor Kenrick Williams, C.E.O. of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, he told us that the government plans to deliver on those requests.
Dr. Kenrick Williams
Dr. Kenrick Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Sustainable Development
“The approach that Belize have is very unique, certainly you can see that and a passion coming out in these people. It is hard work. It’s not an easy feat to be on the ground, to mobilize the resources and to protect things like research, to do biodiversity monitoring and all of that is, it’s quite expensive. It’s quite difficult and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s no profiting venture. No. And so government recognized the importance of these agencies and these partners in co-management. Now, there’s a couple things that have been happening in the national level. As we have been looking at how do we improve the financial year, in terms of how much we need to support the National Protected Area System. And as part of the Blue Bond Initiative, as part of several of these national initiatives, we’ve been trying sustainability of this protected air system. Recent studies show that we are about at a gap of about twenty million per to mainstream, improve coordination and collaboration between government and the partners. And So, to be able to do that, we have to strengthen the systems that we have in place. We have to make sure that on the government side as they’ve been saying, there’s been a lot of weakness, and so we need to put in the systems. We need to put in the agencies. We need to strengthen the forest department. We’re creating a new agency. Cabinet In 2021 endorsed the establishment of the National Biodiversity Office. Because when we came in, we saw that there is no clear champion on the government side for protected areas. Management. There was a forest department who does primary businesses and forest management, forest concession on the extractive side. But there was nobody focusing on the conservation side and the preservation side. And that’s why we instituted the National Biodiversity Office, to help us to support and work with these co managements.”
During the press conference, APAMO also raised concerns regarding how changes to the legislation surrounding co-managers and their partners would have on the tourism sector. According to APAMO, changes to operations and policies may affect the livelihoods of those employed in this sector. C.E.O. Doctor Kenrick Williams told News Five on Friday that the ministry acknowledges the concerns of APAMO and plans to strategize accordingly. However, Doctor Williams maintains that the goal is to improve the tourism sector.
Dr. Kenrick Williams
Dr. Kenrick Williams, CEO, Ministry of Sustainable Development
“So the intention is to improve the system that we have, right? When you look at the tourism product that some of these protected areas, it certainly can be improved, right? And the services and stuff like that. The whole idea of this new framework is trying to, again, strengthen that. How do we engage the Ministry of Tourism as part of the national discussion? How do we engage the respective B.T.B. and all the other agencies in the process? We have to look at services that these protected areas provide and see possibly how we can leverage new resources. There’s opportunities for concessions, private sector investments within these protected areas that can then benefit the protected areas. Co-managers have to look at those opportunities. This is 2024. There’s some unique opportunities out there. We’ve been discussing things like carbon credits and these concessions and opportunities for investment in these protected areas. We can’t do one and not strengthen the system which we’re going to do that in, and so that is the intent of the revised changes in the legislation.”
A resident of Little Belize in the Corozal District won big over the weekend on a Scratch and Win ticket. The individual visited J & F Store in San Estevan Village after work on Friday to purchase a ten-dollar ticket. Much to his delight, after scratching the ticket he discovered that he had won fifty thousand dollars. He says he has big plans for the money.
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“We always stop there on Friday evening when we are back from work. We always scratch. J & F San Estevan.”
Paul Lopez
“So, you always scratch? Have you won anything before?”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“This is my first time. I have just won for exchange before.”
Paul Lopez
“This ticket when you bought it, did you scratch it immediately?”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“Yes, first I bought a two dollar one and I won nothing, so I went back and bought the highest so and I won.”
Paul Lopez
“Tell me a bit about the experience.”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“First, I started scratching and I looked for the winning numbers and I scratched the winning numbers and I saw I have a ten and another ten. I saw I have one thousand dollars and then I see the X 50 so that means a thousand times fifty.”
Paul Lopez
“Was it unbelievable at first?”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“I didn’t think nothing of it, but I was happy.”
Paul Lopez
“So, what do you plan to do with the money?”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“Well, I said the first thing I am going to is buy a land, because I don’t have my own land yet.”
Paul Lopez
“Any plans for this land?”
Voice of: Scratch and Win Winner
“Well, it is just a property I want to live on, I have my house. I just want to live there so I want the property.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you say to people out there buying, now that you have won?”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Tonight, the nation is celebrating Belize’s National Women’s Under-Twenty-One Volleyball Team’s historic gold medal win in the Under-Twenty-One Central American Volleyball Tournament. The highlight match of the entire week took place on Saturday night between Belize and Guatemala. This was for the gold medal. We bring you these highlights courtesy Go Live Belize.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Zion Henderson opened the match with an excellent serve. A huge dig from Dasailyn Thurton. Kaleigh Cardinez finds Gareth “Might Mouse” Bruce, who gave Belize its first point in this one. Up nine to eight points, Blessed Omamurhe with the serve. Belize sought to block, and the ball went out on the block. The point went to Guatemala. Jevia Leslie with the serve. Gareth Bruce with the dig. Henderson sets Nisan Martinez. Belize’s lead went up to seventeen. Match point for team Belize, with Guatemala at seventeen points. That serve from Guatemala went straight into the net. Set number one went to Belize.
Tied at the start of the second set, Guatemala served, and that one was too strong for team Belize to stop. Guatemala down by one point up to serve. Henderson again to Martinez. It is blocked, but Jevia is alert and she brought it down to give Belize a point. Game tied at eighteen a piece, Bruce picks up the serve, Henderson back to Bruce and “Mighty Mouse” did what she does best. Because of their excellent performance throughout the week, Team Belize only needed to win two sets to secure the gold medal.
Akili Jones with the serve. Jevia Leslie with a block. Guatemala sent the ball out of bounds, and Belize secured the gold in the second set. But the game was not over. A win for team Belize would put Guatemala in third place and Nicaragua in second place in the tournament. We fast forward this one to match point for team Belize in the third set. With everyone inside the Civic Center on their feet, Bruce serves the ball. Ball back to Belize’s side. Bruce to Avianka Avila, over to Martinez for the spike, and that one went out of bounds, off Guatemala. The entire stadium erupted in celebration.
Along with the gold medal, team Belize also took home three individual awards. The Most Valuable Player Award went to Nisaan Martinez. Gareth Bruce received the Best Attacker Award, while Zaine Henderson received the Best Setter Award.
Nelissa Martinez
Nelissa Martinez, Coach, National Women’s Volleyball Team
“To start with we had two workouts every day, Monday to Friday. And the preparation was real tough. They did weights and had to do preparation with other coaches like Larry, Kyle, Ms. Lupita. And for me I teach them what I know, as a player and a coach.”
Paul Lopez
“What was it about this week’s competition that Belize clicking on all cylinders in order for them to go undefeated with a perfect score?”
Nelissa Martinez
“First of all I must say home advantage. We must say thanks to the fans. We really appreciate you guys. Also everyday we spoke with the girls and made sure they understood, you know what, we got to take this home. And they did just that. Congratulations to the team. They certainly made the entire country proud. And that was not Guatemala’s only defeat on Saturday night in Belize. Belizean boxer Amir “King Mir” Rudon defeated Guatemala’s Juan “El Torro” Mendez by unanimous decision. Rudon fought Mendez in a six-round super lightweight bout inside Swift Hall. We also send our congratulations to Rudon and his entire team.”
Let us now move into some basketball action. The William Dawson Sprite/Digi Basketball Tournament is back. The first two games of the 2024 season were played on Friday night at the Yabra Green Sporting Complex. Here are some highlights from a matchup between defending champions Hard Rock Boys and 2.0 BZE.
An early two pointer for 2.0’s Oliver Solis. Travis Bernardez returned the favour under the rim at the other end. Back again for another season, Earl “Bolo” Johnson with the layup off the breakaway. Marcel Richards with the wide open two-point shot. Alrick Olivera gets it and puts an end to Hard Rock’s run with a two-point jumper. Down by two points at the start of the second quarter, Joshua Franklin with a hail Mary of the backboard. Johnson again fumbles the ball, manages to get it back, spins around, and quickly puts it up. Franklin passes off to his teammate on the fastbreak, and that’s a smooth two-point layup. Bolo Johnson with the turnout jumper. What a beautiful shot! Solis to the rim; find Donovan Baird who puts up the layup to end the first half. Ultimately, Hard Rock took home their first win of the season with thirty-four points, while their opponent was only able to secure twenty-nine points.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow is speaking out, two days after the United Democratic Party experienced a historic defeat at the polls in Toledo East. As we have reported, Doctor Osmond Martinez secured seventy percent of the ballots cast on Wednesday. The United Democratic Party has never lost that badly in the constituency. We tried speaking with the opposition leader on Wednesday night at the counting station, but he avoided the media and left the area hours before the counting was concluded. Today, he called a press conference to answer some questions. The first was, what happened? Barrow predicted a victory for the United Democratic Party in the by-election. But, as we now know, that was not the case. He made a similar prediction for the municipals in March that also did not come to past. So, is Barrow deluding himself into thinking the U.D.P. is battle ready? Here is how he responded to that question.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It is not the outcome that we had hoped for, but I thank the candidate and his team for putting forward a valiant effort. I congratulate Osmond Martinez and his team. They did what they had to do and the people decided that they want Mr. Martinez to represent them in the House of Representatives. As the leader of this great United Democratic Party, I have a responsibility to project confidence. I have a responsibility to fight for every seat. There is not one seat that I can just say we will lie down. Certainly, there were many factors that led to a pathway to victory. But in politics, what you see and what you get don’t always correlate. But the fact that there was a division, we all know there was a division within the People’s United Party, split in three ways. You had the Galvez faction that, you know, he wants to be a rep. You had the Melhem Espat faction. Where they were totally devastated by the convention lose similar to Eliva where she’s railing up On the Facebook right now saying that you know she was shafted. And so those divisions were very real and it was our hope, where we’ve seen a collaboration those forces be fruitful before as with the municipal elections. Because the results in municipal elections were not like this, we actually won the first recount and then lost by twenty. You know, it was a different candidate. We cannot discount the fact that you have a government with millions of dollars in resources. We helped thousands of people in Toledo East. I could tell you that for a fact. You know, school papers, medical bills, all types of help that the people desperately need. But the government has the power to triple that to quadruple that. Um, but you know, nobody owes anybody a vote.”
Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow was also asked if the party’s recent defeat at the polls affects his credibility to lead the U.D.P. to victory in the upcoming general elections. He pointed back to the losing days of the People’s United Party, while contending that the pendulum has swung in the Briceño administration’s favor. However, Barrow is confident that U.D.P. will soon have its turn back in office. He was also asked if he thought about resigning after witnessing the results of the Toledo East by-election.
Paul Lopez
“How do you think this loss affects your credibility as a leader to lead the United Democratic Party to victory in the general elections?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It is really absurd to me that the leader whose name is not on the ballot, you’re asking me about me before you ask me about the candidate.”
Reporter
“So what are you saying? Who is to blame?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It is we all share the burden. But what I’m telling you is politics is about time. So, we are in opposition. John Briceño lost. Francis Fonseca lost three terms, three consecutive terms, 2008, 2012, and 2015. It is normal. Dean Barrow, the right honorable, I think the greatest prime minister we’ve ever had lost two consecutive terms, ‘98 and 2005, sorry, 2003. It is par for course, right?”
Reporter
“So then U.D.P. will continue to lose.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
Sir, it is a matter of time. U.D.P. will continue to fight. I don’t look at it the way you look at it. I am resilient. I am focused. The issues are there, but we have to keep fighting this idea. The historical pattern, the historical data is two terms for the P.U.P. For me, it was three terms that they had to wait for the pendulum to swing. The pendulum swung in their way, and we have to fight every day to swing it back. This idea, this idea, no matter who you put in this seat, it will still be a matter of time. No one else that wanted to be in the seat had the resources to fight. None of them.”
Reporter
“Did you consider or contemplate resignation?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“Absolutely not. That is absurd. That is ridiculous. I am not John Briceno. I am not going to quit on my party. I am a fighter. I am going to keep fighting. That is one constituency. That is not a reflection of the wider party.”
Opposition Leader Barrow went on to explain that he funded the U.D.P. candidate’s entire campaign from his personal coffers. On the other hand, there are suggestions that Williams did not present himself as a candidate prepared to win the by-election. Unlike his opponent, Williams was not easily accessible to the media. Some may argue that he was not even accessible to voters. He was either too busy running errands or avoiding the spotlight. Today, Barrow revealed that while he and Williams now share a close friendship, he initially supported former P.G Mayor Ashton Mckenzie to run in Toledo East. He contended that it was Patrick Faber and John Saldivar who thrusted Williams into the position.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I did everything. I spent every dollar, every dollar. You know, when I reached out to donors they said, you know, Shyne general elections we coming big, but by-election, how are you going to ask us for by election money and that’s a P.U.P. seat? That seat was won during Dean Barrow’s time. So, I said, okay, no problem. And I took a significant amount of the reserves that I have. And I made it available to the candidate and to the team. That is my personal fortune. And that is my responsibility to make sure that every dollar is provided and then there’s accountability for the dollars. And I did that, and the rest was up to the candidate and the campaign manager Cranka Polonio who’s very popular there as he was a candidate that we fielded for the municipals. So, I gave everybody what they needed because then I don’t want to be accused of taking over and doing things my way. Whatever finance was asked for, the finance was provided. But let me say it again so that you understand, you know, brother Desho is a friend and a brother, and you know all he has to do is learn from this. Pick himself up, look in the mirror and see everything that went wrong. And if he feels that he has an opportunity there, he’ll keep working and keep going because the pendulum swings. The candidate has to be able to convince the people that he is the person that they want. The candidate was elected in an endorsement convention. The application process was open. And then let me tell you this. You want to talk about the candidate? It was John Saldivar and Patrick Farber that came together to put that candidate there as caretaker. That is my friend and brother. No, so I am not distancing myself from him, but I’m just telling you everybody wants to criticize the candidate and throw the candidate under the bus now. When I was supporting Ashton Mckenzie we went to a constituency meeting and John Saldivar and Patrick Farber came together and they elected brother Desho.”
