Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t make it to Belize during his recent whirlwind visit to the Caribbean, but he called Prime Minister John Briceño this morning. Rubio wanted to emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Belize partnership and congratulate Briceño on his March 12th election victory. He recognized Belize’s significant efforts to counter illegal immigration, support Haitian security efforts, and combat transnational organized crime. Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Briceño discussed tariffs and Belizean commitment and engagement with both the ICJ and Guatemala regarding the Sarstoon River. Secretary Rubio thanked Belize for its efforts as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti. Additionally, Secretary Rubio committed to working with Prime Minister Briceño to strengthen the investment climate for U.S. firms in Belize. The call concluded with both leaders expressing their commitment to deepen the strong and cooperative relationship between the United States and Belize.
On Saturday, a bush fire in Hattieville Village turned tragic, burning down a small home and claiming the life of its owner. The victim, sixty-three-year-old Gerald Hamilton, was a friend, neighbor, and employee of Godwin Smith. Smith told News Five that Hamilton had helped put out a bush fire in the morning but felt sick afterward and went to lie down. Unfortunately, when another bush fire spread to Hamilton’s house early that afternoon, no one realized he was still inside. The fire quickly engulfed the home, and when villagers checked the scene, Hamilton was already dead. Godwin Smith, who was a close friend of Hamilton, shared this heartbreaking story.
Godwin Smith
Godwin Smith, Friend of Deceased
“My oldest son is forty-three years old, and he mind him from baby. I was living in Gracie Rock and he was there with me. I come here and we met here. So every day he come at my house, we sit down out there just to wait to see when he get in at his house. He out a first fire then apparently he went in his house. He went in the house and the car. He tell my daughter he feel bad and he went in the house. So. my place start catch over there and my daughter went over there. When he went over there, my son called from Belize and tell the wife to come and hail Gerald mek Gerald help her out the fire. But when they come here, the door was open and the bike was there and they only knock on the wall and we hail Gerald but Gerlad nuh answer, so they said Gerald mussi gone. So when I come, immediately I come and I help them out there. When I start helping them out there, then somebody passed by, one truck passed by and tell wi look, one house di burn down here. So I left the hog pen di burn and when I run come here, my daughter tell me Gerlad bike was there too. And then I tell ah definite if Gerald bike there, then Gerald in the house. The house was burned down. When I look, I see another fire sparks open when I look there, I see Gerald head and I see a pelvis. That’s why I call some people and say a body is down here. Gerald’s body is down here.”
Earlier today, we heard from Jason Altschaft, the Chairman of Gales Point Village, as the community came together to catch a pig that had tragically killed one of the villagers. Altschaft, who has served two terms as Chairman, is not eligible to run for a third term. He shared with News Five that the role is incredibly demanding and often offers no relief. Although he won’t be sitting in the chairman’s seat anymore, he might still serve as a councilor to support the new leader. The date for the village council elections hasn’t been set yet, but the season is fast-approaching, and Altschaft is ready to lend his support to whoever steps up.
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Village
“I did two terms. It’s very challenging, very hard, a lot of stress and everything is on you. And when you reach out for help, a lot of times you just have to tell people, “I’m sorry, there’s no help,” and I don’t like that. I’m now on the DAVCO and we’re trying to make it more of a thing for rural communities to get more money, so that there would be opportunities to make things done correctly. We all want the right thing, but the ways and means are not always there, but you still have desire and ganas to try.”
Prime Minister John Briceño is backing Carolyn Trench Sandiford for another term as President of the Senate. After consulting with the United Democratic Party, they’ve thrown their support behind her re-appointment. PM Briceño appreciates this bipartisan cooperation for the nation’s benefit. This decision marks a continuation of Trench Sandiford’s leadership in one of the highest legislative roles in Belize, reinforcing her influence and commitment to the nation’s governance. As the Senate reconvenes under her leadership, Belizeans can expect continued efforts towards legislative reforms, social equity, and economic development. Meanwhile, discussions with the Social Partner Senators are still ongoing.
Two days ago, we reported on a fire at the Cayo transfer station facility. While the blaze didn’t halt garbage collection, it significantly slowed down operations. Although the fire has been extinguished, smoldering trash underneath is still being doused to prevent reignition. Today, San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp informed us that there’s still a delay in offloading garbage at the facility. We spoke with Rojelio Pop, Operations Manager of Belize Solid Waste Management, who explained that aside from the fire, space constraints at the facility are causing additional issues.
Rojelio Pop
On the Phone: Rojelio Pop, Operations Manager, BSWAMA
“Once we have charred or burned materials on the ground, it is a highly – what would be the best word – improper. Yes. It’s not logical for us to place any more waste on the compound, so until we can finalize that the fire is completely out, there’s no sort of embers, there’s nothing that can trigger an outbreak of the fire, then we’ll completely push all that waste down the hill, cover it with clay, so that it’s fully contained, then we can resume taking more waste. Currently, we have capabilities to manage right now because the compound isn’t clear. Thirdly, the transfer station has a certain capacity, and right now for it to work as it should, it cannot be overfilled. Right now it’s overwhelmed with waste because San Ignacio produces a lot of waste and then you combine it with other communities, Benque, other private providers, the system is so small that the capacity is overwhelmed easy. So the machines cannot go into the transfer station and for them to load from the chute, the machines have to go into the transfer station, they have to have maneuverability. That doesn’t exist currently. So really it’s about capacity. There are many challenges that the contractor is facing. So, it’s multifaceted, but even with that, if we push all of that chart burned waste from where it is right now and clear the component, and we – my aim would be to clear that off by next week, then we would be able to place more waste. And yes, we would not see behind the curtains of what is actually occurring because there’s that lingering problem with the contractual issues. That is a long-term problem. I’m not sure we are going to address that within a short period of time, but we would be able to place more incoming waste onto the compound because it will be safe, but the problem would still persist.”
The Trump administration is shutting down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a foreign aid agency that collaborates with over fifty countries, including Belize, to boost economic growth. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, announced the decision in an email to employees on Tuesday. The Millennium Challenge Corporation currently manages over five billion dollars in active grants across twenty lower-income countries. These grants are either signed or in the process of being implemented. On September fourth, 2024, the Government of Belize and MCC signed a landmark five-year US$125 million Grant Agreement. This funding would have been directed towards significant investments in Belize’s education and energy sectors. The Education Project focused on increasing the number of post-primary graduates with skills relevant to the current and future job market. This would be achieved by transforming teaching methods, improving access to secondary education, and strengthening the legal and institutional framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Meanwhile, the Energy Project aimed to reduce electricity costs by facilitating new power purchase agreements for affordable renewable energy, modernizing the grid to handle variable power generation efficiently, and supporting the Government of Belize in enhancing policies and regulations for the effective use of renewable energy. Both projects were to be managed by the newly established Millennium Challenge Account-Belize (MCA-Belize Authority), a statutory body formed in August 2024. Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño represented the Government of Belize, while CEO Mrs. Alice Albright signed on behalf of MCC. Project implementation was set to begin in 2025. The Department of Government Efficiency’s move to target MCC adds to the Trump administration’s broader efforts to cut back on foreign aid groups.
Residents from a Guatemalan fishing community claim Belizean authorities are violating their human rights by preventing them from fishing in their waters. The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) has responded to these claims. Leonardo Chavarria, TIDE’s Executive Director, explained that the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve was recently expanded to over three hundred thousand acres to protect the newly discovered Caiman Crown Reef. While most of this reef is within Belize’s territory, part of it falls within Guatemalan waters. Chavarria noted that in 2020, Guatemalan authorities declared their portion a protected no-take zone. However, following the fishermen’s allegations, the Guatemalan government has reversed this declaration, leading the fishermen to believe they can fish beyond Guatemala’s marine border.
Leonardo Chavarria
Leonardo Chavarria, Executive Director, TIDE
“What transpired recently is that there is a community which works very close to the Caiman Crown Area, about two miles. That community is entitled San Francisco Del Mar. If you notice, what they do is that they released a video in which they are expressing their dissatisfaction with the type of enforcement that Belize has in that area. In that video they are making a lot of allegations that are untrue. They are saying that we are violating their human rights, taking away their fishing gear and that we have been shooting live rounds and threatening their lives. None of that is true. The truth is these fishers have opened fire on Belizean law enforcement authorities, including the Belize Coast Guard and TIDE personnel. Gunfire was never exchanged with them. So, our authorities exercise restraint. However, the allegations of human rights are really pronounced in Guatemala that the ministry of natural resources and environment and the ministry responsible for protected area designation is issuing a press release in why they are saying that they are not in accordance with a recent bill proposed in the Guatemalan Congress to include Caiman Crown within the protected area. The impression portrayed out there to the Guatemalan communities is that it is a free for all and that status formally held in which the Caiman Crown area was a no take zone. The fishers can fish without real enforcement form Guatemalan NGOS. You will see more illicit fishing gears such a s gill nets, long lines, even in Belize. They are saying they have authority over six miles extending from the Caiman Crown area which brings them well into Belizean territory.”
The United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) has voiced serious concerns about the toxic fire at the San Ignacio garbage transfer station over the weekend. This dangerous blaze, likely sparked by years of unmanaged waste, highlights the current administration’s failure to safeguard public health and the environment. Brave firefighters, civil servants, and community volunteers battled hazardous conditions to contain the fire, many exposed to toxic fumes from burning plastics, chemicals, and mixed garbage without proper protective gear. The U.D.P. blames repeated government inaction and poor safety standards for this crisis. The U.D.P. goes on to say that under the Barrow administration, garbage collection was decentralized and locally managed, ensuring accountability and timely waste removal. However, the current centralized model, plagued by political favoritism, has led to major contracts being awarded to politically connected individuals who subcontract services with little oversight, resulting in delays, mismanagement, and dangerous waste buildup.
On Tuesday, around thirty false killer whales were spotted inside the Belize Barrier Reef system, raising concerns among marine biologists that the creatures might be lost and stranded. These dolphins, named for their resemblance to killer whales, typically live in the deep blue sea but occasionally appear in our waters, as they did in 2018 and 2024. Fortunately, both times they managed to find their way back without any casualties. Today, two marine biologists ventured offshore near Belize City, hoping to locate the school of false killer whales. The good news? There was no sign of them, giving the biologists hope that the whales have safely navigated back to their natural habitat.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, marine biologist Jamal Galves set out to Drowned Caye, about nine miles offshore from Belize City, in search of a school of false killer whales. These dolphins, often mistaken for killer whales, had wandered into the shallow waters of the Belize Barrier Reef. Galves was joined by members of the Belize Fisheries Department and Nicole Auil-Gomez, Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Upon hearing about the whales’ presence, they were concerned and headed out to sea, with us tagging along.
Jamal Galves
Jamal Galves, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
“It’s not an animal that you typically see, especially in coastal waters. It’s known to occupy pelagic, deeper waters a thousand meters in depths. So, for it to be here is very unlikely. It’s not the habitat for it. It’s not where it feeds; it’s not where it used to be. So, there’s cause for alarm.”
False killer whales aren’t common around these shores, so fishermen might not know what to watch for. Marine biologist George Myvett, an expert in fish, gave me some tips on what to look out for.
George Myvett
George Myvett, Marine Biologist
“The killer whale as we know is a kind of black animal with some white features, white on the belly and white lateral spots. The false killer whale has none of those. The false killer whale is really dark with some latitudes of brown, but you know, there’s no mistaking the two species. At times they would be led off course by various things. It could be navigational aids; it could be really some of these animals might be become sick and there’s a kind of leader of the pack and they would follow that leader into areas that are not necessarily native habitat.”
After an hour at sea and checking two spots, no false killer whales were found. This gives Galves hope that the school has safely navigated back through the channel into deeper waters.
Jamal Galves
“They were seen yesterday near the Stake Bank, Drowned Caye areas. By all indications they were headed south. That would lead them to the English Caye Channel, which I presume is where they got into here. We’re hoping once they get into that channel, they’ll be able to figure themselves out. They’re very sharp navigators. If these animals end up beaching that presents a significant problem for us to deal with the carcasses. If the animals are beached and alive, normal interventions would be to try and float them back into sea if they’re alive. Other than that, if it dies, we’ll probably do a necropsy on the animal to determine cause of death. In some cases, these animals are euthanized to avoid suffering, depending on what conditions they are in. But oftentimes it’s not the entire pod that is compromised. It’s usually sometimes one or two animals that are compromised, but due to the tight knit of the pod, they tend to stay together. I’m very much relieved that they weren’t seen and my hope is that they’ve actually made their way out and they’re on their journey.”
What we did spot was a group of local dolphins enjoying the sea. The males were paired up and seemed to be following a female, likely trying to mate. Marion Ali for News Five.
A raging fire at the Western Sanitary Landfill has been burning for nearly a day and a half. While it was a major concern on Monday night, an official from the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority assures that the blaze is now under control and will soon be extinguished. The fire started mid-morning on Monday in the brush near the facility, likely set by someone seen in the area just minutes before. This raises the issue of the dangers posed by deliberately set fires that can quickly spread, threatening lives and property. The flames came dangerously close to the transfer station buildings, making it a priority to save them. But there’s good news this evening—the fire is expected to be fully extinguished by tonight. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This video, posted on Monday night, shows a raging fire out of control and threatening anything in its path. This was the scene near the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Sanitary Landfill as night fell. The fire was dangerously close to the facility’s buildings, but thanks to quick teamwork among the National Fire Service, the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the structures were saved.
Rojelio Pop
Rojelio Pop, Operations Manager, BSWAMA
“Our protocol is working reasonably okay. Our priority had to change from actually containing the fire yesterday and we moved to protecting the buildings and the offices that you see here. So we created that buffer – fifteen to twenty feet – away from the building because the waste was really close to the buildings. So that had to be our priority, dowsing with the help of MIDH and private companies providing water. We had about three fire trucks here – continuous operation until we had to move the garbage away from the buildings.”
San Ignacio/Santa Elena Mayor Earl Trapp was one of the first to offer his resources to help.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“I was called out about one thirty in the afternoon and told that the fire was getting out of control and the place was catching fire and they needed support. I tried my best to get the town council’s heavy-duty equipment out there. I had a problem getting the operator, so the best I could have done was to get our water bowser and I had the driver take that out there and that’s how we were basically supplying the fire engine with water. I called some other friends and they came and so we had five bowsers out there.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development quickly stepped in to provide an excavator, which is still at the site helping out. With all the resources working together to extinguish the fire, Rojelio Pop, the operations manager at BSWAMA, is hopeful that the blaze will be completely under control by early tonight.
Rojelio Pop
“We don’t have a definite timeline, but what we’re hoping for is that we can bringit under complete control by this evening. As long as we have a sustained supplyof water – we have these machines, they are willing to work, but water is theproblem. Once we can sustain the flow of water, we should be able to get it undercontrol, hopefully by tonight.”
Pop assured that the work crew fighting the fire is equipped with proper gear to protect them from the toxic fumes coming from the burning garbage.
Rojelio Pop
“Those guys who are operating the machines are receiving some sort of help from the fire service in terms of smoke masks that are complemented with the use of direct oxygen so that oxygen does not get into their lungs or they do notinhale all that toxic smoke. So they’re inhaling oxygen at this point.”
But even though firefighting efforts are in full swing, the business of collecting and dumping garbage continues, according to the Acting Director, Aldo Cansino.
Aldo Cansino
Aldo Cansino, Acting Director, BSWAMA
“If you notice in the background you have two trucks waiting. The process here will not stop. It will continue. We will continue to load garbage from within the transfer station and that will continue to move, hence the priority initially was to make sure that we have the site secured so that the operations can continue. This morning we had a bit of a delay because we still had some issues, but the trucks are here and we should get back on track.”
Mayor Trapp strongly believes that human carelessness is to blame for the blaze.
Earl Trapp
“According to the watchman, he saw someone walk out of the bushes, which is about 2,000 feet from the transfer station and about ten minutes after he saw smoke, So he is believing that’s where the fire started.”
Although there’s no surveillance to identify the culprit, fortunately, there are no residential communities nearby. Plus, the wind is blowing the smoke towards the hills, so it shouldn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. Marion Ali for News Five.
