The social partners are calling for full disclosure of documents related to the government’s six-point-nine-million-dollar land acquisition for the new University Hospital. Earlier this month, the Belize Chamber of Commerce, the Belize Network of NGOs, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the Belize Council of Churches invoked the Freedom of Information Act. They sent a letter to Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde and Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard, requesting all pertinent information regarding the land purchase from Kenny Zheng and Annie Zhu. The letter to Minister Bernard specifically asks for a copy of the technical report and the minutes from the hospital’s working group meetings. Prime Minister John Briceño assured that the request will be addressed, at least partially, within a week.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“They’ve been asking for the technical report for the Ministry of Health, and yes, we will turn it over to them shortly.”
Reporter
“As well as the Sale Agreement and all ah dehn thing from Lands and Finance.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t know if they asked for that, but again. We’re flogging a dead horse. We have made everything available. What’s more is the agreement – the DPM has explained what the agreement is all about. There’s nothing more. But I could understand that they want to see the technical report. So we should be able to get that to them probably in the next week or so.”
Belize made a spectacular showing at the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards, held on a beautiful Friday night in Spanish Lookout. The picturesque venue was graced by guests from around the globe, all gathered to celebrate excellence in sustainable travel. Out of the twenty-one winners announced, Belize shone brightly, especially towards the end of the ceremony. In a thrilling moment, Belize was crowned the World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, one of four prestigious awards bestowed upon Belizean sustainable tourism initiatives. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the scene to capture the excitement. Here’s his report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Friday night, the Oakridge venue in Spanish Lookout came alive with a celebration worthy of international recognition, as Belize hosted the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards. Cultural performances enthralled invited guests, while there was more than enough cultural cuisine to go around.
Justin Cooke
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President, WSTHA
“It all began in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. I was lucky enough to be introduced to the Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler and he started to tell me about an incredible sustainable financial initiative that Belize was pioneering called the Blue Bond. I suppose it kinda sparked the idea about how do we share these stories. There is all of this good stuff going on in the world.”
That’s Justine Cooke, the Executive Vice President of the international award which highlights’ the tourism industry’s top sustainable initiatives. The award ceremony places the efforts of global leader in net positive tourism on the world stage.
Nicole Solano
Nicole Solano, C.E.O, Ministry of Tourism
“It really has been a wonderful night, recognizing not only those within Belize who were leaders in sustainability, but from around the world and I think that really is the thing that makes tonight so special, that we are able to see where we fit in the global landscape.”
A global landscape indeed, as Green Initiative, known for its restoration projects in Costa Rica, Peru and Brazil received the World’s Leading Sustainable Organization Award. Andy De Silva, the C.E.O of Hotel Emporium, was recognized as the World’s Leading Sustainable Leader of Tomorrow. And, this is just to name a couple of the awardees, as twenty-one winners in total were announced.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“I think it is wonderful for them to get this first award ceremony to take place in Belize. It is very important, but it showcases and really brings out what Belize has been doing for many years. Now finally we are coming to that time of fruition where Belize is being looked upon really on the larger scale out in the international community.”
And, throughout the course of the night there wasn’t a shortage of awards for Belize-based sustainable tourism initiatives. The first award of the night, the Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project Award, went to Che’il Mayan Chocolate, headed by Julio and Eliadora Saqui in southern Belize.
Julio Saqui
Julio Saqui, Co-Owner, Che’il Mayan Chocolate
“The feeling is great. It is an absolutely great feeling. This is our first international award, but at the same time I feel great that the kind of work we are doing is finally paying off. We try to incorporate our work with culture and sell culture through and selling chocolate through culture.”
Turneffe Atoll Sustainable Association, TASA, was recognized as the World’s Leading Sustainable Marine Conservation Initiative.
Valdemar Andrade
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, TASA
“We take a lot of gratitude and pride. We are humbled by this award, because it is a world award. And we competed with, as you saw, thousands of participants around the world. So, we are appreciative of this, and we continue to do the world.”
For its community engagement, the Belize Tourism Industry Association received the Leading Sustainable Community Engagement Program.
Linette Canto
Linette Canto, Executive Director, BTIA
“So, through our festivals, our advocacy work, our training, we have really made an impact on the Belizean community and tourism industry. So, we are very happy and excited to receive this award tonight.”
The final award of the night, the World’s Leading Sustainable Destination Award, went to Belize. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler says the award is a testament to the fact that Belize is a sustainable destination at core.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“That shows that the policies, the belief we have as a people have been working. So, we need to do a lot more protection of our natural environment and cultural assets that we have. This just to showcase to the world that we are a sustainable destination at core.”
Former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has been identified as a beneficiary of lands in the Innovabel Estate, acquired at significantly reduced prices. During the final days of Palacio’s tenure, numerous parcels within the estate were sold at a staggering ninety-percent discount. In some instances, the discounts soared to an eye-popping ninety-five percent. A leaked document from the council has brought to light the findings of the current administration, detailing the individuals who purchased these parcels and the amounts they paid. This ongoing investigation, spearheaded by Mayor Pablo Cawich and his team, aims to uncover the full extent of these transactions. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us the latest on this developing story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
As the Belmopan City Council delves deeper into the controversial Innovabel Estate land transactions overseen by former Mayor Sharon Palacio, a cascade of alarming revelations is emerging. News Five has verified the authenticity of a detailed list that discloses the land costs, authorized prices, and actual amounts paid for forty-three parcels in Innovabel Estate. According to the leaked document, eight parcels went to the former city administrator and his son. The document uncovers a startling discrepancy: although the eight parcels were collectively valued at one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, a mere two thousand dollars was actually paid. The list also implicates former Mayor Sharon Palacio, who is noted to have received two parcels in Innovabel Estate. However, the document remains silent on whether she paid anything for these parcels. Adding to the intrigue, Palacio’s children, grandchildren, and brother are also mentioned, each having paid just two thousand dollars for lands appraised at over nineteen thousand dollars. In one instance, Belize All Phase Limited, a company that is reportedly connected to Palacio’s son, received eight parcels of land at five hundred dollars per parcel, a grossly discounted price. The list also includes names such as Stella Kalu, Celina Danladi, Tabe Beson, Juan Caal, Kahlil Enriquez and the council’s former finance director, Melvyn Edenojie. Danladi is the only person named that paid ten thousand dollars. The document also shows that former City Councilor Hope Amadi received six parcels of land, four under Rosyco Integrated Service and two under Amadi Hope. He allegedly paid thirty-five hundred dollars in total for all six parcels. The leaked document reveals a staggering valuation of seven hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars for the forty-three parcels. Yet, the council’s coffers reflect a mere one hundred thousand dollars from these transactions. Highlighting this discrepancy, current Mayor Pablo Cawich pointed out in a September twentieth press conference that titles have already been distributed for most, if not all, of these parcels. These titles are absolute, and the titleholders are not obligated to make any further payments. He has, however, requested that they visit the council and decide on how to pay the balance out of good conscience.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“I can’t say with any surety that everyone has received their tittles. What we do know is that many of them have received titles. Some of them, as I mentioned, the receipts for the councils will show that some of them paid after receiving the titles as well. The stance we have taken with every single recipient is that we are not trying to take away any opportunity. If it is that you have received eight titles, all we are asking you to do is to create a payment plan to ensure you are paying the full value of the land where we would try to rely on is your ethics and morals knowing that a piece of land in Belmopan is not worth two thousand dollars.”
Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed a letter from N.T.U.C.B. President Luke Martinez concerning the compulsory acquisition of Stake Bank Island Extension. In his response, the Prime Minister reminded the National Trade Union Congress of Belize that the dispute between the private sector parties is currently before the High Court. He went on to say, “completing a berthing facility in the Belize District is uncontestably in the public interest, such compelling interest recognized by Stake Bank Enterprise Limited, Mister Michael Feinstein and the Government in the Definitive Agreement, and the National Assembly with the passage of the Stake Bank Cruise Docking Facility Act of 2014 and its subsequent amendment of 2017”. Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the critical importance of completing the Stake Bank project to reverse the current decline in cruise tourism arrivals. He highlighted that this initiative is important for revitalizing the economic activity associated with this crucial subsector. On Thursday, Senator Glenfield Dennison, representing the trade unions, informed reporters about a conflict between the pieces of legislation being used to acquire the parcels of land in question. Following Dennison’s revealing interview, the Feinstein Group has swiftly issued a statement addressing the prime minister’s recent letter to the N.T.U.C.B. Although the Prime Minister’s letter seeks to defend the G.O.B.’s actions, Feinstein says that it is fraught with inconsistencies, misrepresentations, and attempts to mislead the public. Ultimately, it falls short of addressing the fundamental issues of transparency and accountability. Here’s more from our interview with Senator Dennison.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“I think what’s important for the public to appreciate is that as a social partner, we have done our part to show to the government the other view. The questions that we raised in our letter go to the root of clarifying whether it’s a public purpose because we are not saying we’re right. We are saying that if you are clear about what these questions are then you would be sound in your position that it is a public purpose. So whether or not it is, that’s for Mr. Feinstein and his litigation. But in my mind and in the view of the Trade Union Congress, it isn’t a public purpose. They are acquiring it on behalf of the promoter and really, that’s where you trigger the other piece of legislation. I just don’t know that it’s worth the intervention of the government. I don’t think it’s a simple case before the court, but it’s definitely not a complex issue. Mr. Feinstein would have had an arrangement with the bank. It’s really, I don’t want to test the merits or the demerits of it, but that matter is not very complex. And so, it will be resolved in favor of who is the true owner of the land once that goes through the judicial process. There’s also the option of doing nothing until that goes through.”
Reporter
“Urgency, sir.”
Glenfield Dennison
“I get the call for urgency, I don’t share the view. The situation with the cruise industry has been known for quite a while now and it’s now, all of a sudden, they’ve put Mr. Feinstein through quite a bit and now it’s urgent that the port finishes, you see.”
The Social Security Board has published a public notice of investment informing that it proposes to lend seven million dollars to Caribbean Tire Wholesale Limited. The purpose of the loan is for capital expenditure and cash flow replacement. It will have a term of fifteen years and an annual interest rate of six-point-five percent, payable in monthly installments. Viewers would recall that on previous occasions public outcry prevented S.S.B. from lending monies to pharmaceutical and liquor companies. Anyone wishing to express concerns may send copies of this notice along with comments via email to info@socialsecurity.org.bz
Starting today, patients in Otoxha Village, Toledo District, will no longer face unsanitary conditions at their health post, thanks to a significant upgrade. The Ministry of Rural Transformation, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea and UNICEF through their Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program, has tackled the pressing issue of poor sanitation caused by the village’s limited water supply. This initiative marks a new era of improved healthcare and hygiene for the community. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Sanitation is vital in delivering safe and effective healthcare. Without access to clean water, patients face the risk of painful and potentially life-threatening infections. This has been a longstanding challenge for the residents and healthcare providers of Otoxha Village in the Toledo District.
Valentino Shal
Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Rural Transformation,
“Before soap and water. People used to die in hospitals and then the doctors didn’t know why. But somebody thought you know what, it is bacteria and germs that is killing our patients. And then they started to wash their hands. And they started to save people’s lives by using soap and water. Now we had that same problem in Otoxha. The maternal child health care personnel would come, the doctors would come, but then they can’t wash their hands because there’s no water.”
Nestled on the southwestern border of Toledo District, the remote village has long struggled with unstable access to water and electricity. However, thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Rural Transformation, the village’s health post has now been revitalized. Dr. Jorge Salia, Deputy Regional Health Manager at the Ministry of Health, highlights how this new system is revolutionizing healthcare services in the community, bringing much-needed stability and hope.
Jorge Sajia
Dr. Jorge Sajia, Deputy Regional Health Manager, Punta Gorda Hospital, MOHW
“When we first visited Otoxha, there was a partial water system that wasn’t functional properly. We had a health post that was in very bad shape. So how as a health personnel would we come and offer health services when we don’t have the basic needs? If we will go see a patient, most doctors need to wash their hands before and after. When the nurses come to vaccinate, we need water to wash hands. Through UNICEF, the Ministry of Rural Transformation came true with all of us working together along with the community. Now we have present our health team from the entire district coming to offer the very first health services.”
The ministry installed a ten-thousand-liter water storage tank and upgraded a nearby well with a solar-powered, submersible pump. A new waiting room was constructed for patients, fitted with solar lights for nighttime medical care.
Dr. Jorge Sajia
“We know that San Teresa, Santa Ana has been having a little bit of difficulties. So that’s the reason why we make these health fairs to come to you guys with the work of the, of UNICEF and rural development. That package is now complete. We have a waiting area, no comfortable waiting area. We have water system right at the foot of the clinics where we could wash our hands. We saw during COVID, all of our numbers for conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal diarrheas went down. Why? Because the basic thing we did was wash our hands. How could we bring that to Otoxha if we didn’t have a good source of clean water. So thank you everyone for making this possible. The health team is compromising to offering more health services to the district of the Toledo district. We will be coming again to Otoxha.”
Residents can now access clean water through a standing pipe conveniently located near the newly built waiting area. The villagers have long emphasized that the lack of accessible healthcare is one of their major concerns. Toledo East Area Representative, Dr. Osmond Martinez, shared how he collaborated with Dr. Sajia to devise a solution to this pressing issue, bringing much-needed relief to the community.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“And one of the challenges that he has in the Punta Hospital is to get the experts Like presently, I think you have six posts fpr medical doctors. Who we will be happy to, to um, fill those posts and get the doctors to start to work as soon as possible. The problem is that, where do we get them? And so today I want to encourage you all as well, you know. Make up your mind, study, and become medical doctors. We need some, we need some technicians for x-rays, ultrasound, and what else you need? And lab technicians. So you have an opportunity, turn this Constrained into an opportunity for the community.”
The project was made possible with support from the Republic of Korea and UNICEF. Minister of Rural Transformation, Oscar Requena explained that the ministry is determined to acquire funding for future projects in rural communities.
Oscar Requena
Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation
“Thank you, UNICEF and our partners for ensuring that we can have good, clean, sanitary facilities for our community. The next big thing, water system. We are getting a new rig very soon. In the next month and a half, we are going to have a new rig in Belize costing the government three million. That’s what we purchased through our ministry. 3 million. So that we can come and we can drill for water. Because all rigs that we have, you know, I don’t know if you know, but they are twenty-four years old. Very old, breaking up. And that is why we made the effort to ensure that we find the funding.”
The Belize Network of NGOs, in partnership with the Belize Council of Churches and other social partners, including the National Trade Union Congress, has written to the Minister of Health and Wellness requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act. The request has to do with information being sought regarding the purchase of land from businessman Kenny Zheng, for the construction of the University Hospital in Belmopan. Viewers would recall that the Government of Belize purchased fifteen acres of land for a little under seven million dollars in August, after deciding that the land being offered for the construction of the tertiary facility on U.B. land was not suitable. The letter, written by Senator Kevin Herrera, requests information regarding the projected costs, potential impacts on local healthcare services, among other factors. Earlier today, we spoke with Senator Glenfield Dennison.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“ The reference to the purchase of the hospital land, that position would have been taken by the social partners early on, but the delay would have been attributed to lack of information and so we thought it necessary to join forces to make the request because, other than that there is strength in numbers. We represent the social partners in the senate and the oversight mechanisms that are existing in the senate may or may not be triggered depending on the management of the issue from the government side. And so, we, as social partners, and I want to be very clear, we are partnering for the development of this country. We think that this is an issue that needs ventilation, that needs clarification from not just a commonsense approach but from the questions being raised by taxpayers.”
Isani Cayetano “Invoking the Freedom of Information Act in an attempt to get government to be as transparent with the information as possible has, over time, proven extremely frustrating for anyone who attempts to go in that direction.”
Glenfield Dennison
“That is so, and the process that would next obtain, especially if we tale the judicial review route requires that you exhaust the other options that are available to you. So whether it is in fact a lesson in futility, it would, in my mind, be a legal route if we are to make a successful claim before the court because the request that will first come, I imagine, would be a request for the disclosure from the government through the court. But it would be incumbent upon us to make the request so that we can, by our evidence, show the court that we have tried that and that it failed.”
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has received a response from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding the compulsory acquisition of the Stake Bank Island Extension. Prime Minister John Briceño, in his written response, told the umbrella organization that the decision to compulsorily acquire the properties in question was carefully considered. But the N.T.U.C.B. is not entirely convinced. Here’s Union Senator Glenfield Dennison with the N.T.U.C.B.’s position on the matter.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“I would say it’s rooted really in the constitutional protection of arbitrary deprivation of property. Inherent in that would be that you can reasonably take away someone’s property. The methodology that the government chose to use is what we are trying to do our part as social partners to highlight to the government. This is not a criticism of the government as such. This is us looking through our lens and saying, hey there are two pieces of legislation on the law books, over seventy-five years old. The acquisition of property exists, to me, at the intersection between the private interest of the Feinsteins, the commercial interests of the receiver and the government in its responsibility to the public. As we’re trying to unpack that, we can see that there definitely will be a lawsuit and I won’t comment about the lawsuit itself, but insofar as the two pieces of legislation that exist for acquiring land, it’s important that they both achieve the same thing, the compulsory acquisition of private lands, but they vest that ownership in two different places. So under the promoters legislation, it would vest the compulsorily acquired land in the private entity, but in the public purposes acquisitions act, it vests the interest in the government.”
Today, Galen University and its partners launched a regional research project to collect data on indigenous communities in Central America and their relationship with the pursuit of higher education. The study is spearheaded by a team in Mexico and has selected Belize to be one of the focal points. Galen University’s research team provided more details about the project. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Roughly eleven percent of Belize’s population is comprised of indigenous people. Of that eleven percent, less than a third have sought higher education. A new study has been launched to analyze the factors that contribute to this trend. The Supporting Policies and Practices for Indigenous Peoples in Institutions of Higher Education and Academic Research in Central America Project was created to gather data on the phenomenon with the goal of curbing the numbers. Doctor Filiberto Penados provided us with some more details of the regional study.
Filiberto Penados
Dr. Filiberto Penados, Research Director
“It’s a regional project that involves Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Costa Rica. And it really aims at understanding how indigenous peoples are participating in higher education. And what are the factors that influence their participation or lack of their participation? With a hope to generate intervention, policy, and ideas from changing the participation the rate of participation across the region, the participation of indigenous peoples in higher education tends to be low. Again, it’s the reason for the project.”
The three-year project is led by the Social Anthropology Research and Education Center of Mexico with support from the International Development and Research Center in Canada. Universities across the region were chosen to participate in the study. The team felt it necessary that Belize be an active participant in the study because of its unique culture as the only English-speaking country in the region.
Dr. Filiberto Penados
“The first year is the data collection so both in terms of finding out from the institutions their enrollments, their graduation rates, who is participating, who is not participating, who is dropping out, who is not dropping out, and the reasons why. This, in terms of indigenous peoples, of course. And so we’re gonna collect that data. And then in year two, by the middle of next year, we should have the results. We’re going to be able to present that and invite this network that I’m talking about, who can come and look at that and have a forum where we can generate some policy and intervention ideas and then focus on the dissemination, publication of the results in the third year.”
Often, Belize is excluded form regional studies, so this project shines a light on the valuable data in the small country. Each participating country has a lead university coordinating local data collection.
Lynmara Rosado-Lino
Lynmara Rosado-Lino, Research Assistant
“The end goal of the project with the policymaking, the development of new ideas, and perhaps even new ways of addressing this concern and incorporating Indigenous people into higher education, both as students, but also as decision makers, starts from now. So the aim is to build our network.”
Galen seeks to create a network of researchers from the Mayan and Garifuna communities, as well as the country’s other tertiary level institutions.
Lynmara Rosado-Lino
“We have communicated with the Office of Indigenous Peoples Affairs as well as the Indigenous Association of Belize National Indigenous Association and other stakeholders, other groups to include them within our network so that they may assist us both in tracking down our participants, gathering our data and then thereafter in the end to help us develop those policies, help us to generate ideas, to present those possible ideas, to other stakeholders that are also involved currently, like Ministry of Education and the various universities at LIB and have a conversation among all of us into, as to what we can do with this data .”
Collecting the data is just one part of the project’s objective. The teams are working towards creating a network of stakeholders to advocate for policies that will increase the number of Indigenous people in higher education and use the data to support their recommendations. Research Assistant, Lynmara Rosado-Lino, hopes that through the data, tertiary education institutes will also adapt their curriculums to be more inclusive of indigenous students.
Lynmara Rosado-Lino
“The indigenous voice. I mean, Belize has such a rich Indigenous history. That’s where it all starts. So it is important that there’s a voice and a presence, and representation in our institutions of higher education. So it’s not jut about representation and getting Indigenous people into the schools but also that they are comfortable in these schools, that the indigenous ways of knowing are honored. So it’s not just so western-focused. These are the theories that come from outside, but also what are the theories that we have here when it comes to medicine, when it comes to social sciences. It exist, it’s a whole society. So there is definitely important ways of knowledge that can be incorporated into our curriculum and higher education systems,”
Belizeans who want to be a part of this study or know someone who may assist with data collection are invited to contact Galen University for more information. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Floodwaters across Belize City that have been associated with the king tides have receded and the streets are once again dry. But what is the Belize City Council doing to address the phenomenon that is compounded by climate change? That’s what we asked Mayor Bernard Wagner earlier today, following a decision last week to change the route of the Independence Day Parade in the Old Capital.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“The king tide is here to stay, climate change is here to stay, and so we have to be proactive. We have to recognize quickly that this is out of our control and make the proper provisions in the event it does occur and clearly, you could see the devastation of king tides, having to shift and having to change routes. I am certain that the National Celebration Commission will be looking at how they can alleviate that sort of uncertainty.”
Reporter
“Or change the date and have it before…”
Bernard Wagner
“I don’t know about changing the date, more the route. But the date, you just can’t change dates. There is only like three weekends fi play with and so everybody wants a weekend, right.”
Reporter
“And so, with the debris that came up, with the flotsam that came up during the king tides, how is the cleanup for the city looking?”
Bernard Wagner
“Mein I just want the residents continue to try work along with we mein, dehn bags a garbage don’t reach in those canals on their own.”
