What’s up with the overgrown grass on street sides across the city? A drive around certain neighborhoods reveals that many streets and their intersections have poor visibility due to overgrown grass. Here’s Mayor Wagner’s response to concerns raised by residents.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“What we are doing, I would admit it, and so we, since I came into office in 2018, we have noticed that the sort of system we have in place to address maintenance of streets is not working. And so, we are currently putting in place a new system. It’s a grid system and it will be powered by GIS mapping and being able to map out the entire city and have the city divided up into grids. We are currently looking at thirty-one grids across the city, we will have teams assigned to the different grids, and the grids will have cutting teams, it will have patching teams, it will have drainage teams so that when we look at our console, if a complaint comes in on grid fourteen, we will immediately be able to look at grid fourteen, who is the team there, who is the captain, who is the manager there? This is your area, this is your grid, please attend to it. I think that will be more efficient. I’ve seen it work in the Los Angeles area. This sort of system weh we inherit where you have maintenance and sanitation and we’re just sporadic, ih noh di work. And so, we are addressing that with this new grid system and we will give you a full overview of that system as soon as we complete it.”
What is thought to be a different species of hammerhead shark that was recently discovered in Belizean waters might not be new to Belize at all. This is according to a former senior fisheries officer with the Belize Fisheries Department and a marine biologist by profession. George Myvett told News Five today that the Sphyrna alleni, or the shovelbill shark that was discovered near Robinson Point offshore Belize City and near Riversdale Village, Stann Creek might be among a few more species that are living in Belizean waters and we may not know. The sharks were caught between 2016 and 2019 but research on them just confirmed their species in a publication two days ago. According to George Myvett, there are about five hundred and thirty species of shark in the world, and eight of them are known to be in the Caribbean and Belize. But Myvett reasoned that there has not been any exhaustive research on sharks in Belize, so, there can very likely be far more than just the eight living here.
George Myvett
George Myvett, Marine Biologist
“This new species that has been identified is a relatively small species. The record that has been cited is it goes to about three point five feet, which is relatively small. As far as sharks go, I would say that generally speaking, Belize is a living laboratory in as far as marine biodiversity, and as far as general conservation issues are concerned, there’s a lot to discover. In relation to the general public, most people would not know the difference between this new species that has been found and other pre-existing sharks that closely resemble this species. So, for science, it is a new species, and when it comes out, it’s referred to as a taxonomy. There are very fine details that taxonomists will go through, and this includes issues such as the number of gill slits, where the gill overlaps the fins in most issues, such as genetics. So for this one, they went as deep as genetics. So this species has been known but it has been mistakenly or previously classified as another species, and it’s only very, very recently, since 2021 that studies were genuinely begun and the possibility that this species of scallop, it’s a small scallop has been identified as a separate species, but more than likely, there are a range of other species in Belize.”
The Statistical institute of Belize held its third press conference for 2024. Among the first topics that S.I.B. reported on was the Consumer Confidence Index. This study measures consumer sentiments that indicate how households are likely to behave with respect to consumption and saving. Through questionnaires, S.I.B. gathers data on how consumers feel about their households’ present and expected financial situation. They also gather information on how consumers feel about the present and expected future general economic condition. The index also looks at how consumers feel about making major purchases of durable goods, such as furniture, appliances, cars and a home. According to S.I.B. findings, the index was trending upwards between May and July, but saw a decrease in August.
Jaqueline Sabal
Jaqueline Sabal, Acting Manager, Economic Statistics Department
“Now what caused this increase in pessimism among consumers? If we break down the CCI by components not that the drop in durable goods from thirty-nine point eight to thirty-seven point four represents a six-point two percent decrease. That was a main contributor to the overall decline in August. Again, over just the one-month period from July to August. This was followed closely by a five-point four percent drop in the expectation index from fifty-six point one to fifty-three point one, so the main two reasons for the overall decline were expectations and durable goods. Sentiment among urban consumers decreased by one point six percent by forty-one percent to forty-one point one, while sentiments among rural consumers decreased more sharply by five-point four percent from forty-right point three to forty-five point seven.”
The Statistical Institute of Belize also provided an overview of the G.D.P. report for 2023 and the second quarter of 2024. According to S.I.B.’s data, G.D.P. for 2023 totaled five point one billion dollars. That is an increase of fifty-three million dollars when compared to 2022’s G.D.P. As for the second quarter G.D.P. for 2024, S.I.B. says there has been an increase of one hundred and thirty-five million dollars when compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Christopher Hulse, Statistician 2, S.I.B
“Now looking at the second quarter of 2024, the goods and services produced in that period totaled one point four three two billion dollars. This is an increase of a hundred and thirty–five point nine million, or ten point five percent when we compare that to the second quarter of 2023. The primary economic growth drivers were the tertiary industry, including wholesale and retail trade, accommodations and food services as well as transportation. However, growth was shown across all three sectors. The primary sector was valued at a hundred and seven point eight million dollars. That is an increase of five point eight million or five point six percent when we compare that to the hundred and two point one million dollars in quarter two of 2023.”
The Statistical Institute of Belize also reported that the national inflation rate for August 2024 increased by three point one percent when compared to August 2023. This was driven by an increase in prices in all categories.
Over four hundred water and plumbing fixtures have been donated to the water boards of rural villages across Belize. Today, representatives from the water boards in the Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo districts gathered to receive donations from the Ministry of Rural Transformation. The equipment will allow each water board to connect households in their community to the village water system. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Water is one of the basic needs every person needs to survive. But for residents of rural communities, access to that may be difficult to come by. For decades, villagers have relied on wells and naturally occurring water systems for drinking and washing. Now, the Ministry of Rural Transformation is bridging the gap between these communities and access to this human right with the donation of four hundred and seventy-seven water meters and plumbing equipment.
Valentino Shal
Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Rural Transformation
“Most systems now provide water to their villages twenty-four hours a day. Before, people used to have water five hours a day, six hours a day, and sometimes the systems would go down for weeks. We don’t have those problems anymore. For instance, in villages like Santa Rosa, San Roman, every dry season. No water. San Antonio, Toledo. They get water three hours a day. It’s a very big village. You can’t live like that. You should not live like that.”
CEO IN the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Valentino Shal, explained that for years, local water boards have worked diligently to ensure that members of the community have access to water, but now, the government is ensuring that is accessible twenty-four seven.
Valentino Shal
“But who will fix it? Who will change it? Who can we depend on? Nobody. Just ourselves. We have to do it ourselves. We have to do it together with the government and we have to do it together with our villagers and we have to do it together with our leaders and our board. And I think that we have been doing a very good job together, not just the government, but everybody here. I’m sure that you are proud of the work you have done in your own village, with your own water system. And so we will continue to push for the sustainability of these systems. We want water, people to have water twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year. We want water systems to have money in the bank. And we want people to make sure they’re very comfortable where whichever village they live in this country, it shouldn’t matter.”
The equipment is valued at one hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars. This year, the ministry has purchased and distributed one thousand, three hundred meters.
Oscar Requena
Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation
“One of the first things that we have done is to improve the efficiency of how we support water systems. We support them by drilling new wells, by cleaning existing wells, superchlorinating wells when they are contaminated, support our communities by putting in place water boards. Providing training and capacity building so that they can manage the systems. We have seen where we have donated thousands of meters to water boards to make them sustainable. And that is why we are doing this here today. Because the goal of this is to make our communities and water boards self-sustainable. What does that mean? It means that by using meters, people are going to pay a more equitable price more equitable price for the water that they use.”
The meters will allow for expansion through new connections, water regulation, and conservation, which will help each water board improve its efforts at self-sustainability. Minister of Rural Transformation, Oscar Requena explained that with the installation of the systems, residents will be more conscious of the amount of water they consume.
Oscar Requena
“Because without a meter, people go wash their foot, wash the car, wash whatever on the tap, just di run and nobody cares. But by having a meter, people are going to be more conscious. You know once I turn on that, the meter di run, and that means the cents di go and I have pay. It also means that it allows the water boards to collect more revenue. And that we have seen how that has changed where communities have implemented meters. Their income has increased, has expanded. And if your income increases, what does that mean? It means that you can take care of your expenditure. You can expand water. And when your systems go bad and you need to fix something, you have money to be able to do that. And you don’t have to be depending on the government or the Ministry of Rural Transformation. That’s the big goal.”
Minister of State, Ramiro Ramirez, highlighted the hard work of the members of the village waterboards and the Rural Community Development Organizations. He emphasized the need to provide stipends for the members on the ground ensuring that the needs of the public are met.
Ramiro Ramirez
Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State, Ministry of Rural Transformation
“As he mentioned, now we have money and I’m glad that he mentioned that you guys deserve a better stipend. Because you work hard, all the insults goes to you. Once they don’t have water, they start to complain. But this ministry is doing our best and let us see who will put on Facebook that you guys are doing something good for them. So thanks to the RCDOs countrywide. Remember, meters are very, very good, very helpful. If you have a leakage in your system, that will show it because the price will go. It’s not only because a meter is just to affect you. The meter will never affect you. The meter will give you a service. Something that you don’t have to be twenty-four hours watching where is the leak. That will identify what is happening in your area.”
The Independence Day weekend was punctuated by road traffic accidents. In Hopkins Village, the access road saw the second deadly road mishap in as many weeks. This time, the victim was not a resident of the village. Twenty-nine-year-old Christian Chuc lost his life when a vehicle knocked him down near the entrance to the village. The driver did not stop to render assistance to him. From what it appears, Chuc was about a mile into the road on his way to Hopkins Village and might have been knocked down from behind. He was left on the pavement bleeding profusely from the head, while the mangled motorcycle he was driving lay several feet away from him. This mishap took place less than a mile from the location where a previous road traffic accident claimed the life of nineteen-year-old Amaad Arana. The police are yet to share details of this accident with the media.
The official 2024 Independence Day Ceremony was held on Saturday in Belmopan. It was perhaps one of the shortest ceremonies in recent times. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition’s address were relatively short and stayed away from the unwarranted spectacle of political mudslinging that often taints this event. Patriotism and unity were the themes of the day. Such was depicted not only in the speeches, but also the musical entertainment composed by Carlos Perrotte and Alexander Evans. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
“A Nation Proud and Free, Belize @ 43”. The nation’s forty-third Independence Day anniversary was commemorated with an official ceremony at Independence Plaza. The ceremony saw the attendance of government officials, Belize’s diplomatic corps, and the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, among other dignitaries. Belmopan Mayor, Pablo Cawich delivered the opening remarks.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“Today, we gather to reflect on a journey of our nation and celebrate the progress we have made together. I stand before you with deep personal pride and gratitude, not only as the mayor of this beautiful Garden City, but also as the son of a visionary leader. In 1998, my father, the late honorable, Agripino Cawich, then area representative of Cayo south which included Belmopan at the time, took the necessary steps to establish the Belmopan Coty Council. His vision was to ensure that our beloved capital would have the leadership and administration needed to guide it into a prosperous future. Today, I am proud to say that Belmopan continues to carry on this vision.”
The Leader of the Opposition was next up to speak. Unlike previous Independence Day ceremonies, the opposition’s speech was not filled with criticisms of the ruling party, a picture of doom and gloom or a “sky is falling” narrative. All that was done days before the official ceremony. So, on this day, his address was focused on unity and patriotism.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It is not just about the past on which we reflect but about the today and tomorrow that the new generation will build for Belize. Let us celebrate that this generation, young and old have the characteristics of our forebearers in our minds, hearts and our souls. We just have to dig deep within and attach ourselves to the ideals od patriotism that transcends, materialism, self-centeredness and momentary satisfaction. Let us today stand proud and free at forty-three and renew our commitment to the Belize we want to see over the next forty-three years.”
His address was immediately followed by a Belizean musical composition from conductor Carlos Perrotte. The composition included Perrotte’s take on Leela Vernon’s “Creole Kolcha”, “Ding Ding Wala” and “Call the Police”. Prime Minister John Briceno’s speech immediately followed the musical interlude.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Our success will always be amplified by our openness, because our strength comes from our diversity. And the symbol of it all, that which especially unites us, whether we live here at home or abroad is the Belizean flag. Lord Rhaburn expressed it best when he said, I am true born Belizean. Another Belizean looks not at another Belizean’s differences, but at what those things we share in common. We learned this from our ancestors who toiled, often against the odds, to build a resilient nation, despite the odds, which subjected them to cruel colonialism. They left for us a moral compass, the persuasion that has left in us the desire to construct societies that celebrate diversity, appreciate openness and values social justice, liberty and national happiness.”
Messages of congratulations to Belize on its forty-third Independence Day anniversary came from several nations. U.S Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the U.S. and Belize’s shared commitment to democracy. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Belize. CARICOM Secretary General Doctor Carla Barnett, a Belizean herself, praised Belize for its contributions to regional integration and environmental protection. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
The import permit that the Government of Belize granted to Goliath Investment Company to import ten thousand cases of Corona Beer from Mexico has been put on hold. Today, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture, Servulo Baeza, confirmed with News Five that the permit is on pause and that the company has not brought in any of the beer since the permit was granted a couple weeks ago. But who are the principals of Goliath Investment Company? From our research, we discovered that there are at least two shareholders, Jose Aldana and Emily Melissa Waight of a Tenth Street Address in San Ignacio, Cayo. The company, as far as we’re informed, was registered recently and is not a member of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. And while the news that Goliath and its investors will not be allowed to act on their permit, Bowen and Bowen and Caribbean International Brewing Limited, brewers of Belikin and Mine beers, respectively, were still up in arms over the decision to grant the permit in the first place. With taxes included, a case of imported beer was estimated to sell at a hundred and thirty-five dollars a case, which calculates to a million, three hundred and fifty thousand dollars at the end of the last sale. But the reason why the two breweries are upset goes beyond the legal importation. They estimate that for every case that is imported legally, there are several more that are contrabanded. Today, Bowen and Bowen’s Corporate Relations Manager, Rosanna Villanueva told us that it goes beyond just the loss of revenue for what is imported legally, but the long-term repercussions to the industry. Similarly, Caribbean International Brewery’s Communications Director, Fortunato Noble told News Five this afternoon that the importation would have affected everybody.
“It will affect the economy. It’s – you’re opening a kind of one that you don’t want to get into that messy situation because if you allow, and let’s say the permit is granted for argument’s sake for ten thousand cases. Who is going to monitor the fact that only ten thousand cases will come in? Because we know our porous borders. We know that you can bring in ten thousand cases and you can bring in, a hundred thousand cases the same way. Who is going to monitor that It’s ten thousand cases that they brought in? So it would affect us, of course, it would affect the beer industry in Belize, both Belikin and Mine, because people – you want something new, ih nuh matter if it costs five dollars, people will go for it and that will take away from our sale, that’s a given. But how does that affect our local industry? We cannot compete with a market from Mexico. And they say, okay, the tariff will be a hundred percent. Yeah, okay, yes, I agree, but who is going to see that that is carried out? We don’t have no problem with it. They say they’ll pay the taxes, but there is the danger that they will abuse it. And we, as it is, the country cannot police the borders properly. We are at least, for the time being, assured from what he said on the media that, hey, we de pull the permit right now, we put it on pause, and I am sure cooler heads will prevail, and sense will prevail, and the person or the company that is being allowed to bring in the Coronas will not get that permit.”
Agriculture C.E.O. Servulo Baeza explained to News Five that Goliath had not met the requirements to proceed with the importation of the beers, and now their permit has been put on pause. He said that the permit was granted because resorts were asking for the availability of Corona beer in Belize.
Via phone: Servulo Baeza, C.E.O., Ministry of Agriculture
“The conditions were that one, each bottle has to have the “Belize Market” and the address of the importer and that they have to pay all the duties. And as far as I know, they have not brought anything in to show that they are meeting the requirements because they would have to show that each bottle is labeled the Belize Market and so forth. I understand that there are bigger setbacks because for that amount of product, no big company wa goh do that, nuh and will take on the expense for going there, because that will be an additional expense for the labeling. So that is why even from the onset, I really thought that this thing wouldn’t fly. But they wanted to try it. The tourism sector is demanding and is always asking us for different things. This is one of the things that some of the resorts are asking us for, so that is how it came about.”
While the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry agrees that there does seem to be a high percentage of employment in Belize, the matter of how much people are being paid for their labour is quite another topic. The B.P.O. industry seemingly advertises the most job vacancies in Belize. We’re told that people with degrees are now being employed at B.P.O.s across the country. At the start of the new school year, News Five was made aware of a teacher shortage at a few schools. It is a situation where teachers are reportedly leaving the classroom to seek either more convenient jobs closer to home or better-paying ones in other fields of work, including the call center industry. We asked the President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Katherine Meighan if the wages that people are earning are fair.
Katherine Meighan, President, B.C.C.I.
“There’s always that challenge where you may have an employee that feels as if they’re not being fairly paid. The question is: what is that employer doing and what is that employee doing? And you have to approach it from a solution-based perspective because what you don’t want is an employee that is not achieving their best within that company and an employer doesn’t want that because it doesn’t work. It’s not going to be sustainable into the future. So it’s really – that is very specific of a question, but what I would say is these are discussions that any business that’s looking to grow and develop, they’re going to have these discussions and they’re going to encourage their employees to have these discussions with their relevant managers so that they can find solutions.”
