The Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management, along with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), reports that wildfires affecting San Pedro Columbia and nearby communities in the Toledo District have prompted the Governor General to declare a state of public emergency for the district on May 19.
A release from NEMO says that over the weekend, Minister of Disaster Risk Management Andre Perez and Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena visited the affected areas to assess the situation firsthand.
The Toledo District Emergency Operations Centre remains on high alert. Assessment teams are currently in the district conducting damage and needs evaluations. The Belize Defence Force and firefighters from the Punta Gorda Fire Station are actively participating in firefighting and search and rescue operations alongside community efforts.
There is no immediate fire threat to San Pedro Columbia, Crique Jute, Mafredi, Nah Lum Cah, or San Antonio.
During his official visit to Taiwan, Prime Minister John Briceño had the opportunity to meet the recently elected president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lai Ching-te. PM Briceño reiterated Belize’s support for Taiwan’s inclusion in international fora, including the UN and related agencies.
Dr. Lai Ching-te as Taiwan’s fifth democratically elected president, with ceremonies featuring street performances and a military display in Taipei.
Prime Minister Briceno expressed his pleasure at standing alongside regional leaders from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. PM Briceño says he looks forward to continued positive and mutually beneficial relations with President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s administration.
During his visit, Briceño met with Belizean students and the diplomatic team led by Ambassador Dr. Candice Pitts.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing arrest warrants for Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan says that the ICC is also seeking warrants for Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other senior Hamas leaders: Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, known as Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader.
This action marks the first time the ICC has targeted the top leader of a U.S. ally, placing Netanyahu alongside figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant over the Ukraine conflict, and the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was under an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his death in 2011. Khan’s simultaneous pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders may draw criticism for seemingly equating a recognized government with a terrorist organization.
Khan mentioned that his team has gathered substantial evidence to support the arrest warrant applications, including authenticated videos, photographs, and testimonies from eyewitnesses and survivors.
He also asserted that Israel has the right and obligation to recover the hostages, but must adhere to legal standards in doing so.
The body of a male person was found early this morning in San Ignacio Town, Cayo. Preliminary investigations suggest that the body was found after six o’clock at Victor Galves Stadium.
According to reports, the deceased was seen with stab wounds to the back and neck. Police are investigating.
We begin tonight with the significant losses that the recent wildfires have caused to several Maya farmers in southern Belize. In San Pedro Columbia, around one hundred farmers have lost their entire farms, taking away from them the only means of survival they depended on. The fires spread to other Maya communities, doing much of the same damage to farms and rainforest in those villages. Last week, there were wildfires that were being closely monitored in Crique Jute, Mafredi and San Antonio. Another that threatened the Cadenas outpost near the Sarstoon got so grim by Friday, that the smoke in the area made it difficult for the soldiers posted at the outpost to see and breathe. Despite all efforts to save the facility, it was consumed by the flames over the weekend. While that was happening in those areas, Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, NEMO, the B.D.F., the Ya’axché Conservation Trust and Toledo Institute for Development and Environment teams were out fighting fires in other communities in Toledo. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The fires that swept through several communities in the Toledo District have left significant losses in their wake. The fires became a threat to the communities from as early as last weekend when they threatened farms in several Maya villages, starting from San Pedro, Columbia. By the end of the week, the Cadenas Outpost near Graham Creek had also been consumed by the fires. Deputy Commander of the Belize Defence Force, Colonel Anthony Velasquez said the soldiers had to abandon the post.
Via phone: Col. Anthony Velasquez
Via phone: Col. Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander, Belize Defence Force
“We sent air reconnaissance in the area, and about Thursday, the intense smoke forced us to evacuate our soldiers from the, from Cadenas. So they took all they could with them, all movable equipment, and they evacuated to the Sarstoon F.O.B. However, they did daily patrols back to the Sarstoon area and attempted to remove other items as well. On Saturday, they returned and everything was in order, and Sunday, when they returned again the outpost was burned because of the intense wildfires.”
Chairman of San Pedro, Columbia, Basilicas Choco told us today that the teams were able to suppress the fires over the weekend, but that many of the farmers had been affected by the flames.
Basilicas Choco
Basilicas Choco, Chairman, San Pedro Columbia Village, Toledo
“I would say it’s more than more than 70 percent of our farmers have been affected. I don’t think we have any severe homes that are burnt. It’s just like camps that farmers usually make on their farms that store corns, other things that they have stored here, those are the buildings that are burnt down. Cacao is one of the major crops that has been destroyed, I would say about – the majority – more than 50 farmers that have cacao fields. We have farmers losing their corn, as they said. We have farmers losing other fruit trees, coconut trees, other fruit trees that they have, especially the farmers that are that live on their farm.
TIDE’s Terrestrial Manager, Mario Muschamp, said the NGO played a huge part in saving other villages from coming under threat.
Mario Muschamp
Mario Muschamp, Terrestrial Manager, TIDE
“We got a call actually from the folks at Ya’axché Conservation Trust last week Tuesday afternoon, pertaining to a fire that was along the highway next to the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve Field Station. They felt that the station was threatened by this fire. And so we were called to assist them with suppressing that fire. When we got there most of the rangers from had Ya’axché had already controlled that fire. We received a call from rangers that were on patrol into the Golden Stream Corridor Reserve on the boundary line with the Columbia River Forest Reserve. They were saying that there was a fire back in there, and based on information we got from them, that fire was in there already for a couple of days. What we found was happening is there were these rocks were actually rolling down the hills, huge boulders, so it was a little scary for us, but we were able to put fire breaks around those hills to ensure that fire, those fires didn’t come down those hills and then spread off into the forest.”
NEMO spearheaded the effort to suppress the fires, evacuate villagers and has already begun assessments of the losses. Area Representative for Toledo West, Oscar Requena, toured the affected areas along with Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez. The images shared from that tour show extensive damage to the terrain and parched trees where lush greenery once existed. NEMO Coordinator, Daniel Mendez told News Five that as soon as they got the information of how grave the situation was, they mobilized the District Emergency Management Organization.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, Coordinator, NEMO
“We were able to get aerial reconnaissance to really understand the magnitude of the fires. And then we started to provide support, immediate support to the communities that were being affected. There was an on the ground reconnaissance by Honorable Andre Paris, who was the Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Reduction alongside the ever representative Honorable Oscar Requena. And based on that, it was determined that the impact was very severe, and it will require a significant amount in terms of the recovery of these areas.”
Classes in the affected villages were suspended until further notice, as assessment teams continue to monitor the smoke and visibility in those areas. Part of the operation, Mendez said involved a few search and rescue missions and placing a shelter in Crique Jute Village. While the BDF put the loss of the facility to around eighty thousand dollars and say that it will take a few weeks to replace the outpost in that southernmost area of Belize, Col. Velasquez assures that Belize’s sovereignty will not be compromised by this loss.
Via phone: Col. Anthony Velasquez
“Because it has burned doesn’t mean that we will be absent from the area. Our soldiers will remain in the area and we’ll do constant patrols as well from the Sarasota F.O.B to the area until repairs has been done.”
Muschamp warns that the hot weather conditions are a recipe for fire disasters and discourages people entering the forests from lighting fires.
Mario Muschamp
“We have been trying to tell people that during this time of the year, do not use fire because it’s harder to control, and there’s a high chance that you’ll escape. And then when you escape, you don’t know where it’s going to go, what damage it will cause. I think it’s high time now that as a country we start to promote the wise use of fires and address the laws that deals with fire. We currently have a National Wildland Fire Management Policy and Strategy sitting on a shelf that had it been put to use, we could have alleviated a lot of these problems that we’re seeing.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing was also called upon to assist in the firefighting efforts but Chief Engineer at the Ministry, Evondale Moody said they were not able last week because of the location where their heavy-duty equipment was at the time made it impossible for them to reach the villages. But Moody said that they are able to dispatch the equipment if necessary, this week to assist.
Evondale Moody
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
“Last week we were in touch with NEMO as well and they had requested the assistance of MIDH to provide water trucks and also heavy equipment such as backhoes and excavators to assist them in dealing with the wildfires down south. However, because we were working in the Bella Vista area we were not able to provide that support. However, this week we expect to provide that support to them as best as we can.”
The equipment might very well be needed because late this evening, Chairman of San Pedro Columbia Village, Basilicas Choco told News Five that the fires that were suppressed and weren’t any longer a threat were again raging in the village. We’ll follow up on this story on Tuesday.
On Friday, we led our newscast with an upsetting story involving a foiled kidnapping attempt. An individual, whose criminal history includes a guilty plea for an unnatural crime, was apprehended by Belize City police after he snatched a five-year-old girl from a trampoline in her yard. The harrowing incident happened on Thursday, while twenty-five-year-old Shandy Pech was about to take a bath. Her daughter was outside in the yard playing when a male suspect, identified as Kareem Hamilton, appeared on the scene and attempted to abduct the minor. It wasn’t until another child who witnessed the ordeal reported to Pech what had taken place that she sprung into action and was able to catch up with the would-be kidnapper. When she did so, Hamilton reportedly refused to let go of the child, telling Pech that the little girl was his niece. That’s when the mother began screaming for assistance. Several neighbors responded and were able to take away the minor, while subduing Hamilton. Earlier today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero told reporters that thirty-three-year-old Kareem Hamilton had been arrested and charged for the crime of kidnapping.
“On Thursday, May sixteenth, 2024, Shandy Pech reported that she was at home when she was alerted that a male person had taken her daughter. She immediately responded and followed a male person who took her daughter. An investigation was carried out and persons assisted her in the area and a person was detained. After the investigation, one Kareem Hamilton was detained, thirty-three years [old] has been arrested and charged for the crime of kidnapping.”
Paul Lopez
“Sir, is this individual known by police for this type of behavior?”
Hilberto Romero
He’s known to police, yes.
Reporter
“Has he tried to kidnap a child before?”
Hilberto Romero
“No, he had an incident with a child before.”
Kareem Hamilton appeared unrepresented before the lower court this afternoon where he was charged with on count of kidnapping and has since been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until July twenty-third.
Public outrage is increasing by the minute as more social media users view a video of a man abusing a male child. The disturbing video was posted on Facebook.
The police say that an investigation has been launched.
The heartbreaking video shows the man throwing the boy to the ground. He slaps and kicks the vulnerable boy repeatedly. The boy cries as the man continues to attack him.
Public Outrage as Man Caught Abusing Child
During one of the instances, a woman intervenes. News Five has not confirmed where the incidents took place.
At today’s police press briefing, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division, told reporters “an investigation is being carried out in regards to that video that was on Facebook.”
On Facebook, users are expressing their disgust at the man. One wrote, “This makes my stomach turn, I am so angry. That man is a perfect example of what ails this nation. Disgusting. Fire him. Jail him. Somebody deal with ah.”
Another said, I hope he is found and rots in prison…”
Public Outrage as Man Caught Abusing Child
Earlier today, UNICEF issued a release calling for urgent action to end violence against children. UNICEF said it is “gravely concerned by the spike and gravity of incidents of violence that have been impacting children in Belize over the last couple of months.”
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Belize, endorsing the staff appraisal without a formal meeting.
Economic Performance in 2023:
Belize experienced moderated economic growth and inflation in 2023. Real GDP growth slowed from 8.7% in 2022 to 4.7% in 2023, driven by sectors such as tourism, construction, retail, wholesale trade, transport, and business process outsourcing. Inflation decreased from 6.3% in 2022 to 4.4% in 2023, largely due to lower transport and utility prices, despite rising food costs. The fiscal position remained robust, but debt dynamics became more challenging. The overall fiscal deficit widened, influenced by a reduced primary surplus and increased interest payments on external debt. Public debt slightly declined from 67% of GDP in 2022 to 66% in 2023 following the acquisition of the Port of Belize and the settlement of foreign investor litigations.
Future Economic Outlook:
Real GDP growth and inflation are expected to further moderate. Growth is projected at 3.4% in 2024 and 2.5% from 2025 onwards, with inflation anticipated to drop to 1.3% in the medium term, aligning with declining commodity prices and global inflation. The primary balance is expected to remain at 1.2% of GDP from FY2024, with public debt projected to decline slowly but remain above 50% of GDP through 2034 due to slower nominal GDP growth and high global interest rates. Key risks include higher global food and fuel prices, prolonged high global interest rates, and climate-related disasters.
Executive Board Assessment:
Belize’s key policy priorities involve reducing public debt to 50% of GDP by FY2030 by raising the primary fiscal balance to 2.0% of GDP from FY2025 onwards. This entails increasing priority spending on infrastructure, targeted social programs, and crime prevention, financed through additional revenues and expenditure reprioritization. Structural reforms aimed at boosting inclusive and resilient growth and vigilant financial stability measures are also crucial.
Achieving a 50% public debt-to-GDP ratio by 2030 would ensure debt sustainability and fiscal buffers. This target, aligned with investment-grade emerging market economies, would likely maintain debt below the 70% GDP target in the 2021 Medium-term Recovery Plan. Attaining this goal requires fiscal consolidation to raise the primary balance to 2% of GDP from FY2025, supported by a medium-term fiscal strategy and a potential Fiscal Responsibility Law with robust fiscal rules.
Revenue and expenditure measures can enhance the primary surplus and fund essential spending. Broadening the GST base, increasing excise taxes, rebalancing manufacturing taxes, and improving revenue administration can boost revenue by 2.2% of GDP. Reforming the PPPO could reduce government spending by 0.1% of GDP. Savings would support a higher primary surplus (0.8% of GDP) and expand priority spending (1.5% of GDP), fostering medium-term growth and resilience. Priority spending includes infrastructure improvements, renewable energy investments, childcare and training subsidies for vulnerable women, targeted transfers for food security, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Improving the business climate and developing a disaster resilience strategy (DRS) are essential for medium-term growth. Enhancing access to affordable credit for SMEs, digitalizing land and business registries, and improving government services are key priorities. A comprehensive DRS would support funding for climate mitigation and adaptation, reducing output volatility.
Increasing international reserves would strengthen the currency peg. Belize’s external position is strong, yet international reserves remain below the ARA metric. Fiscal consolidation and structural reforms to increase reserves would fortify the currency peg, especially with rising external financing needs projected when blue loan repayments begin in 2032.
Limiting central bank financing of the government, preserving financial stability, and strengthening the AML/CFT framework are critical. Reducing central bank financing gradually would decrease excess liquidity and support local capital market development. The central bank should monitor financial stability risks, enhance supervision of vulnerable institutions, and enforce the AML/CFT framework, particularly in the IFS.
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) says it is actively responding to wildfires affecting San Pedro Columbia and nearby communities in the Toledo District. The Toledo District Emergency Operations Centre was activated last Thursday.
According to NEMO, an emergency meeting included representatives from the Fire Department, Forest Department, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Ministry of Transport, Belize Defence Force, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, and Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE).
Initial assessments were conducted, and an action plan was created to provide immediate humanitarian support to affected families. NEMO says it maintained communication with the leaders of San Pedro Columbia, Crique Jute, Mafredi, and San Antonio.
An aerial reconnaissance confirmed the extent of the fire, assessed initial damage, and assisted in containment planning.
According to NEMO, there is no immediate fire threat to Crique Jute, Mafredi, or San Antonio.
