Category: Belize District

St. Martin’s de Porres area just got a little bit brighter with the official launch of the Mahogany Street Marketplace. Over the last few months, over twenty booths on Mahogany Street have undergone a transformation meant to boost attractiveness and security. The project was launched by the Belize Tourism Board in 2022 and plans to extend its efforts into 2024. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the ceremony today to learn all about it.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Mahogany Street is regarded as a place that’s buzzing with activity, akin to that of downtown Belize. In an effort to boost tourism activity and economic flow in the area a rejuvenation project was carried out by the Belize Tourism Board, in which over twenty-five small business owners were provided a new booth in order to carry out their business. Today, that project was completed.

Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor

“Mahogany Street today is just one added feature to the many upgrades that we have seen throughout this community.  Not too far back, there wasn’t this much interest in commerce on this side of town. Everybody wanted to be in the mainstream areas of the city. BTL Park, Coney Drive, Downtown.  No. We are here witnessing the transformation of Southside Belize City, one project at a time.  I know both ministers can attest to how many people have called wanting to know how they can get a boot out here, because I personally have received many. At the heart of the Mahogany Street Marketplace Project lies a fundamental commitment to supporting our local vendors and driving economic empowerment within our city.  It is no secret and we don’t like to talk about it enough, that many areas and sectors of business have been taken over by foreign groups. But I want to proudly announce, without apology, that every single business out here today is one hundred percent Belizean owned.”

Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler stated that the plan is to keep moving forward with the project and renovate up top thirty-five booths and that this is just one part of the ministry’s plan to reignite areas of Belize with potential to thrive.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

“Every booth on the Mahogany Street stretch will be upgraded and we have supported the people who operate in those booths with some cash whereby, if they need to upgrade their stoves, their refrigerator or whatever equipment they need to do, we don’t give them the cash, but we buy what they need and so this is a total upliftment. All we did here was to change the look and feel of it. we want it to be a safe area. We want more people to come and visit. This is the heartbeat of Southside, I believe especially for the Deputy Prime Minister and myself.  Mahogany Street is the main corridor where all the action happens. But this is just another level of commitment on the south side. You’ve seen it with Berger Field, Constitution Park. We’re doing the Ring Road Park in Lake I that we’re partnering with the DPM. We’ve greened the entire area here so that it can have a good feeling. We believe if we have the infrastructure to support where people live and work, then they will have a different mindset. We advocate for them to take care of the investments it’s theirs. They can invest more in their businesses. If they need help in training, we are willing to do those things.”

The projected started back in 2022 and has grown to new heights. Vendor Ainsley Castro of Naked Chicken was one of the first to be included in this endeavor.

Ainsley Castro, Proprietor, Naked Chicken (File: October 4th, 2022)

“Da wahn nice project, cause first of all dehn mi done mention this to we soh now we look forward to it and the promise is looking like it’s going to be fulfilled cause, yoh know, da mi wahn thing weh everybody mi expect and also weh we like about it da wahn free of cost to, right. Soh, you know, we benefit a lot from it.  Soh I noh think nobody should complain and everybody di look forward fi it.  I’m excited about it, I cyant wait.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

The news last week that Hofius Store in downtown Belize City is going to close down later this year took many Belize City residents by surprise. While Hofius did not grant an interview to explain the reasons for their decision to call it quits, some of the businesses in the area have expressed a genuine concern that the parking meters that were installed about two years ago have hindered business growth. Like Hofius, the businesses have opted to remain anonymous but have shared their concerns nonetheless. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The historic Albert Street, with all its businesses lined off on both sides from its junction at Orange Street all the way down several blocks, has been an iconic part of Belize City dating back to the eighteen hundreds. But a system that was introduced in the area over the past few years to control traffic has now become a concern among some of the businesses in the downtown area.

Since the installation of the parking meters along that stretch, store owners have complained that they have seen their businesses shrink and their customers kept away. One of the managers at a department store in the downtown area told News Five today off-camera that they have raised the concern to City Hall before. The store manager said that shoppers nowadays will not pay for parking just to purchase one or two items. Also, they will not drive around the circular looking for a free parking space to make their purchase.

The manager also pointed out that the majority of the big shoppers are people who drive and use the convenience of the free parking that existed before to fill their vehicles with grocery or other items. One supervisor who did give us an on-camera interview works at Dibary’s. Mario Lopez said that the parking meters bring for them some good and some bad. The majority of their customers, however, have not stopped going there to shop.

Mario Lopez, Store Supervisor, Dibary

“In a way, it has a positive side and a negative side, but as I’m saying, I think it’s a very good idea because it also keeps rotation  in the main artery, I would say, in Belize City,  whereby first, used to park here for a whole hour, two hours, or a whole day, but now You come here, you pay a half an hour ticket, you pay a one hour ticket, and so you could enjoy the amenities.”

Marion Ali

“So it hasn’t reflected much on business or affected negatively?

Mario Lopez

“Not on our side at least. You’re here and there, you’re here and there people will still find a way to park, especially they’re using the Frontier a lot.”

Today we tried to get a comment from Mayor Bernard Wagner on the concerns that the business owners have raised over the impact that parking meters have had on their business, but he declined comment. Marion Ali for News Five.

The Fort George Constituency in Belize City has a new digital connect center. Established through a partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Belize, the center will provide a space for students and residents to access digital devices, and high-speed internet. The official opening of the center was held over the weekend. We heard from Bernard Wagner, the Belize City Mayor, Lily Li-Wen Hsu, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Henry Charles Usher, the Area Representative for Fort George.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“The establishment of the digital connect center really represents a significant step on our mission to bridge the digital divide to ensure that all members of our community have equal access for the opportunities afforded by the digital age, free access to computers, the internet and various digital technologies. This center will serve as a catalyst for empowerment and education. In today’s rapidly evolving world, digital literacy is no longer a luxury it is a necessity and by providing resources and training to our residents, especially those in underserved areas, will empower them to thrive in the digital economy and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our beloved Belize City and country.”

Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador, ROC (Taiwan)

“It is truly a pleasure to join everyone here to celebrate the launch of a digital connect center in Fort George. Fellow residents of Fort George we at the embassy feel especially x cited that our community and neighbors now can have free access to this community that offers computers, internet connection and have the opportunity to be empowered with digital knowledge and skill this center is part of the digital inclusion program jointly implemented by the government of Taiwan and Belize that aims to promote digital inclusion and bridge the digital divide. With this joint endeavor we were able to inaugurate five digital connect centers in different communities across the country last year and this year we are planning to add four more.”

Henry Charles Usher, Area Representative, Fort George

“It is the hub of information in our community. Because Fort George is not only a community it is a constituency. We are not only residents in this area we are family so I am always happy that we could be here to celebrate something new at this center. This center is the vision of the former Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Said Musa. It is his legacy that we continue today.”

Attorney Says Claim Against Him is Driven by Greed

News Five contacted attorney Orson Elrington for a response to the claim being brought against him.  While Elrington told us that the matter is before the court, he did mention that the matter was initially taken on as a pro bono case which he believed was a landmark case for gender equality.  He explains what created the disagreement with his former client.

On the phone: Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“We effectively did the matter almost on a pro bono basis, on a contingent basis because the person said they essentially had no money to bring this claim.  But I often tell people that I went to law school not to gain any money but because I want to do what is just and what is right for people.  So what it is essentially is that we brought a claim on behalf of Dozieh [Ifeanyichineke] based on the fact that a provision in the Social Security Act discriminated against men.  Effectively, a provision in the Social Security Act treated men differently than it treated women.  It had a higher threshold where there were persons where their wife would have died, were treated differently than a woman if their husband had died.  And so, we thought that the matter had very good merit and therefore we took the matter to the court on behalf of Dozieh.  However, when the date that the matter was supposed to go before the court, Dozieh contacted us and effectively said that how he no longer wants to accept what he had already accepted because he discussed with his family.  That is the crux of it.  We informed Mr. Dozieh that that is simply not something that we can do.  We informed him that the matter was completed, that we had entered into a consent agreement based on his instructions and, therefore, we could not simply just go back and say we no longer want to accept what he had already accepted.  And so, that is where the issue lies.  We thereafter told him that he could provide us with his banking information and he subsequently said that he wanted not only the sums which the Social Security had settled on, but he also wanted for us to surrender what would have been our agreed portion and so for me it seems and I believe it is nothing more than greed.”

On February second, the Belize City Council issued a letter to the Christian Workers Union informing them of the implementation of a Consensual Workplace Agreement. The Belize City Council claims that it was created to avoid discrimination, exploitation, favoritism, and harassment. The document is to be signed by both parties involved in the relationship, as well as a witness, and it states that, “while a social relationship continues between them, neither of them will request, apply for, seek in any way, or accept a direct supervisor or reporting relationship with the other”. Here’s what president of the CWU, Leonora Flowers, had to say on the matter.

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Worker’s Union

“The feedback from the union has to be that our members were never consulted on that. It was never brought to CWU. All we got was the document that said, this is a consensual relationship agreement. At first glance, and I’m no lawyer, but at first glance for the common man, the reasonable man will look at that and say,  we cannot go ahead, I cannot sign on to this. So we’ve indicated to our members, give us your feedback, did you have any input, and there has been no input from our members to the council. So we’re at a loss as to why or where that originated from. But, CWU will not have any of our members signing on to such an agreement.”

Reporter

“So you expect that, having sent that letter to the union, at some meeting, it’s going to be raised by the council?”

Leonora Flowers

“We don’t know what to expect. To me, it should be a dead issue because that, that is something illegal to me. You cannot go ahead asking people to sign away their rights when a CBA exists. The most the council can do is to create a policy to say we will not allow fraternizing, and if fraternizing has happened, these are the pitfalls and this is what the council will do. But you cannot say you can sign on to a consensual relationship agreement between persons working under this establishment. We cannot bring like that.”

Reporter

“When you say sign away their rights, you are talking about privacy rights, for one.”

Leonora Flowers

“Privacy rights, and you may be in a relationship, so you’re going to make it, put it in an agreement for the council to, to do what?  You cannot have people sign away that kind of rights.”

Earlier this week, we told you that Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams brought charges against his own brother, Arthur Williams, under the Cybercrime Act. Arthur Williams was charged with two counts of using a computer system to disseminate false information with the intent to cause another person to be subjected to public ridicule or embarrassment and one count of using a computer system to intimidate a person. Arthur Williams was fined ten thousand dollars for the offense. Today, reporters caught up with ComPol Williams and asked him about his decision.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“During my mother’s ailing time before she passed, my brother went to social media and referred to my mother with the W and B word. No man should refer to a woman, especially his mother, using the W or B word. I took offense to it and went after him and told him he ought not to refer to our mother in such a way. Because I did that, I became the bad one. He and I had always had a very good relationship. Every time he reached out to me for help I always helped him, but since that particular incident he turned against me and almost every day he was on social media posting negative comments about me trying to belittle me in every way possible. I reached out to our older brother to reach out to him to discontinue. My older brother spoke to him and he did not stop. I reached out to our uncle to speak to him and he did not stop. I reached out to the Ombudsman, because he is a driver for the Ombudsman, and sent him the screen shot of what he posted on social media and asked the Ombudsman to please speak to him to discontinue because he is out there doing what he can to have the public see me in a light I am not. The Ombudsman spoke to him and he still continued. I guess as a person there is nothing much you can do with all efforts made to have him stop doing what he was doing, he did not. So I am hoping now with the matter before the court, the court will be able to get him to discontinue. It is sad that it reached to this. He is my brother. I don’t dislike him. I love him. We share the same mother and father and I wish that he would have taken my advice in the light which I had given him when he referred to my mother with the W and B words.”