If you’ve always had a knack for themes, this is your chance to win some extra cash. The National Celebrations Commission launched the September theme competition for Belize at forty-three. The annual competition is open to anyone and the Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, Kim Vasquez went over the details of it for us.
Kim Vasquez
Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts
“We have this annual competition, and the cash prize is 1, 000. It’s open to anyone. So if you want to get your creative writing juices flowing you can send in a couple entries. Definitely you want to keep in mind, ideas like patriotism, unity, cultural identity, where we are with our development as a nation. Those are some things to brainstorm around if you want to participate in the competition.”
Marion Ali
“And the deadline?”
Kim Vasquez
“The deadline is the 26th of April and you can send your submissions in by email. You can go on the social media page, the Facebook page for the National Celebrations Commission. Or, if you want, you can drop them off by hand at the NICH headquarters at Government House.”
The Senate inquiry into Portico’s Definitive Agreement that was scheduled for today was postponed and the notification from the National Assembly building didn’t give a reason for it. However, the Principal of the Port of Magical Belize project, David Gegg, who was expected to give testimony at the hearing today did not attend. Gegg says that the invitation was found on his driveway by his assistant and addressed to his late father, Edgar Gegg. He also wrote a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster, about the Senator leading the inquiry, Janelle Chanona. Gegg tells Webster about a letter sent by Waterloo Holdings C.E.O. Stewart Howard to Senator Chanona a couple of days before she had announced the launch of the inquiry lends itself for anyone to infer an appearance of bias by Chanona, and says that this without mention of other matters, suggests that Chanona is compromised and that she is incapable of objectivity. In the letter, Gegg casts criticism on Chanona and opined that no objective Belizean would believe the timing of the letter from Waterloo was merely coincidental. Gegg wrote that he will not subject himself to questioning by anyone who he thinks is biased. Gegg said that he is prepared to appear before the Committee, but on the condition that Chanona recuses herself. He also took a jab at the committee for referring to its own communication as an invitation instead of a summons. Gegg indicated that he needs notice three days prior to appearing before the committee to give him time to consult with his attorneys. News Five tried to reach Chanona for her reaction to Gegg’s letter but we did not get a reply.
The Statistical Institute of Belize held a press conference today to present its G.D.P. estimates for the fourth quarter of 2024. As well as the consumer price index, external trade statistics for February 2024, and the Consumer Confidence Index. Also shared was the breakdown of the Multidimensional Poverty Index, which is a measure of poverty across various dimensions of wellbeing, such as health, education, and employment. And living standards. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, the economy grew by three point two percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. This growth was attributed to the tertiary sector, which observed an eight point eight increase of about seventy point three million dollars in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2022. SIB credits this growth to the strong performance of the industries within the service sector.
Christopher Hulse
Christopher Hulse, Statistician II, S.I.B.
“The tertiary sector went from seven hundred ninety-seven point one million in quarter four of 2022 to eight hundred sixty-seven point four million for quarter four of 2023. This is an increase of seven point three million or eight point eight percent mainly driven by an increase in the hotels and restaurants industry, transportation. We see arts, entertainment, recreation. The industries that have a tie to the increase in tourism movement. Looking at the other services, admin and support services went up by four point five percent as we see an increase in BPO’s and also travel agencies and tour operators. So two things that are increasing, the call centers and since we have tourism movement we see the travel agencies and tour operators also increasing. We have increases in real estate, one point eight percent, human health, two point four slight decreases for wholesale and retail trade, communication, and other services. Adversely, the primary and secondary sectors contracted, undergoing a three-point one and two-point eight decrease, respectively. This puts the primary sector down by an estimated five million dollars and the secondary sector down by eight point eight million dollars. These declines were attributed to poor weather conditions that negatively impacted water levels and subsequently resulted in low crop outputs and electricity generation. Now, for Banana, if we look at the levels, that 21 3 is still low, But 2022 was such a down year that when we compare the two periods together, we will observe an increase. But compared to before 2022, we see that overall banana is still down. So we will have that trend for most of the crops, that for the entire year. If we look at the sum of it, it will be down due to the weather conditions for most of them. Now conversely, we see an increase for livestock. So overall, livestock saw an increase of eighteen point four percent, where we had cattle up by twenty-four point five percent, pig up by twenty-two point one percent and poultry up by eleven point two percent. So even though we saw declines in the crop, livestock offset that decrease, and that’s why when we look at the primary sector overall Even though the crops were affected, we saw zero point eight percent decline because of the livestock going up.”
External Trade reports from February 2024 revealed an increase of thirteen point seven percent of imports and an eight point one percent decrease of domestic exports. The most notable contributors to the increase in imports were machinery and transport equipment, as well as minerals, fuels, and other lubricants. The decrease in domestic export revenue was attributed to several key exports.
Ronald Orellana
Ronald Orellana, Statistician II, S.I.B.
“Animal feed revenue plummeted from ten point one million to two point eight million as exported quantities fell by more than two thirds during the period. Likewise, sugar exports saw a notable decrease of six point eight million, dropping from ten point seven million to three point eight million, with earnings down by sixty-four percent. Reduced exports of lobster products and shrimps during the period. Led to trip led to a three point eight million decline in revenues from marine products dropping from seven point one million to three point two million. Diminished volumes of orange concentrate also contributed to a downturn in exported citrus declining from four million to one point seven million. Despite the general decline in domestic exports, Bananas experienced a significant increase of seven point four million, surging from five point one million to twelve point five million, with quantities more than doubling for the period. Additionally, other exports category went up by one point eight million, from six point two million to seven point nine billion, due to wooden furniture and crude soybean oil.”
The Consumer Price Index shows that Belize experienced a three-point, nine percent increase in the cost of basic goods in February 2024. As observed throughout 2023 and into early 2024, higher food prices were the primary contributor to the overall inflation rate, followed by prices for restaurant services and home rental costs. The effects of the increase were slightly offset by the price of motor vehicle fuels, liquified petroleum gas, and international airfares, which were all lower than they were in February 2023. Statistician Melvin Perez explains.
Melvin Perez
Melvin Perez, Statistician II, S.I.B.
“So now looking at the major categories affecting the cumulative inflation rate of four point one percent. First, we have the food and non-alcoholic beverages category with prices increasing by seven point five percent and I must mention that this was the main contributor to the overall increase. It was followed by the restaurant and accommodational services, with prices increasing by twelve point six percent. Then we had the hosting water, electricity, gas, and other fuel, with prices increasing by two point one percent. Now looking at the last category in our list, we have the transport category, which recorded a decrease of eight point one percent. So now that we have identified the major categories affecting the cumulative inflation rate, now we will break down each one of them to see what contributed to the increase or decrease within the category. So first let’s look at the food and non-alcoholic beverages category with prices increasing by seven point five percent. The food subcategory alone was the main contributor in the category increasing. As prices rose across all types of food items, such as cereal products, fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and cooking oil. Looking at the table, we can see that most of the items went up by almost more than ten percent. Specifically, natural milk, evaporated milk, powder milk, orange, celery, cilantro, onion, green corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, plantain, black beans, and sugar. Nonetheless, there were lower prices recorded for some items, such as flour, lime, cucumber, and sweet pepper. Now looking at the first two months of the year 2024, we can observe how food prices decreased from January to February. While looking at the same period in the year 2023, we can observe an upward trend in food prices, but when we compare the cumulative inflation rate averaging both January and February of 2024 to the same period of the year of 2023, food prices for the year of 2024 are still higher compared to the same period of the year 2023.”
According to Manzanero, two Cabinet ministers participated in a flyover of the Chiquibul Forest. Minister of Defence and Border Security, Florencio Marin Junior, and Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, saw firsthand the devastation happening in the Chiquibul. Manzanero hopes that with this information, the government can act more appropriately.
Rafael Manzanero
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, F.C.D.
“We had the opportunity of taking the Minister of Sustainable Development Honorable Habet and also Honorable Marin from Border Security, we had the opportunity of playing them over the area of Chiquibul and Columbia River. And so they do have the firsthand information in terms of what is happening along that area, which you know, for me, I would just hope then that by themselves seeing it firsthand, they certainly do know the gravity and the magnitude of these problems. And that it really should be, you know, of course, at the governmental level, really to address, you know, these boundary issues. We have noticed that it does take that footwork’s, it does take the patrols, it does take to have a presence in the area. For But it needs to have a presence that is, and the key word is a person that is assertive. That is important because you can have men there, but if you are not really assertive, then you’re still cannot really be able to do the work. So, my feeling is that in the Columbia River, it has to be boosted up with that assertive move. We have documented from early this year that Columbia River really has a lot of other issues beyond the Chiquibul. So we feel that there is now a movement of more people, human footprint. Expansion in the Columbia River Forest Reserve and frankly, by seeing the kind of the bridges, that means that they have really felt a level of comfort. They have felt a level of confidence that they can be able to do an extraction of timber in truckloads from that area there.”
In December of last year, the Belize Peace Movement got the High Court to issue a consent order, requiring the Elections and Boundaries Commission to submit to the claimants a report with recommendations. Those recommendations have to do with how the redistricting process will be carried out. But the report has not yet been tabled for debate at the National Assembly, and today the Belize Peace Movement’s attorney, Arthur Saldivar, said they are concerned.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Belize Peace Movement
“In terms of whether or not that proposal is one capable of addressing the malapportionment that was originally sought to be addressed, it falls woefully short. It is a joke. And I do believe that this is why the government is even embarrassed to even bring it to a debate because it will be thoroughly exposed for what it is – 100% exercise in gerrymandering where you’re talking about bringing people from Caye Caulker and making them a part of a constituency in Belize City, when you’re talking about leaving all of these constituencies in Belize City that are now obsolete, obscure in relation to their numbers, it is certainly something to be said in terms of seriousness or the lack thereof, of the administration in doing what is necessary to ensure that the democracy is given a fair chance of operating the way it should, but not only that. It is telling every person in this country who is of a mind to do things against the law, that you have a government that supports you. The Order was negotiated in good faith between both parties and it was signed off on. Where it has signed off on, there is a legitimate expectation that what was agreed upon will be carried through. In the least, you can debate that nonsense that is tabled before the National Assembly, vote it down and let the Elections and Boundaries be put back to do a proper job. But doing nothing is basically signing off on an unconstitutional state of affairs which will not bring about a legitimate government if an election is called. And I’m hearing this nonsense that there needs to be this census done before we get to do..”
Reporter
“It would have been better to have the data from that available.”
Arthur Saldivar
“Nonsense. You have already done a re-registration exercise. When it comes to the electorate and the re-divisioning of constituencies, it has nothing to do with the general population, It has everything to do with the voting population.”
Belize now has a gender policy, after thirteen years. The 2024-2030 gender policy was approved and adopted by the Cabinet on Monday. Consultations were held with the various stakeholders over the past three years and according to the chairperson of the National Women’s Commission, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, the policy is an overarching one that addresses marginalized groups.
Thea Garcia Ramirez
Thea Garcia Ramirez, Chair, National Women’s Commission
“What it does for people who are marginalized, and I know that this is a point of contention, but this is from the government’s point of view and the government has is duty bound to ensure that it does the same for all citizens. And so in areas of discrimination, it speaks to how we can true social and behavioral change. And there’s a whole strategy that we are implementing now to ensure true education to advocacy that those incidences are certainly minimized we’re going to use education, we’re going to use advocacy and sensitization really live and let live. The feedback from the Council of Churches and other groups, I’m happy to say the consultations were extensive over three years of consultations with various groups. Even the media was invited, was sent the draft and were given an opportunity to peruse it, to ask questions. We also consulted withwomen in leadership positions in churches, and so they are definitely what this policy speaks to in terms of even, women within very conservative communities like Christian and church. And they also supported unanimously as a group. They supported the national gender policy.”
The Belize Defence Force destroyed two bridges built by Guatemalans inside the Columbia Forest Reserve in Belize. The bridges were used to facilitate illegal logging by Guatemalans. The discovery of the wooden bridges was made in late February. It was not until last week that Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) brought it to the media’s attention, saying that a road stretching over two kilometers into Belize was observed. The wooden bridges facilitated truck access for timber extraction, which may involve rosewood and other valuable woods. Aerial observations reveal active and recent human activity, with stacks of timber visible. Deputy Commander of the B.D.F., Colonel Anthony Velasquez, told News Five that troops remain in the area to deter any further incursions.
Anthony Velasquez
Col. Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander, B.D.F.
“In late February, the Belize Defense Force patrols have discovered a network of tracks in the area, as well as, two reinforced bridges that was constructed from wood, from timber. And, we have discovered these things, and again, we have done our due diligence sent up the verification to the ministry for onward transmission to the Organization of American States. But, in addition to that, we have launched operations in the area and the two bridges have been destroyed and we have troops on the ground in the area right now to deter any further incursions in the area. For the moment, we have presence in the area, so we know that during the dry season, they would most of these activities would increase. So, we have increased active military presence in the area over this period to ensure that they do not return and continue their legal activities. So, one team would dismantle the bridges. The other teams would conduct security overwatch. The Belize Defense Force will continue to protect and defend our territorial integrity. And we continue to conduct patrols in these areas. However, these are vast territory, prime jungle, et cetera, et cetera, with numerous terrain features. From time to time, these incursions will occur. The moment they occur, the police defense force will be there to ensure that these activities are halted, where they started, and the environment will return back to the pristine nature that it was before.”
Guatemalans have also built a road into the Chiquibul Forest. That road originates from across the border, and it is highly believed that it was commissioned by wealthy cattle ranchers living in Guatemalan towns. The Belize Defence Force is also aware of the threats this road poses, and plans are being put in place to destroy it. Deputy Commander Colonel Anthony Velasquez says they are keeping a close eye on the area.
Col. Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander, B.D.F.
“On the 7th of March, a patrol of Beliz Defense Force soldiers was tasked to go into this area to do a reconnaissance and it was it was discovered that, yes, there’s a road that extends well over a one kilometer into Belizean territory. And it’s a road that was cleared by heavy machinery, so it’s a pretty open road. Since then, the Belize Defense Force has been monitoring the area. We have sent patrols to the area to keep a close eye on the area, to monitor any movements in the area and to detained anyone found in the area. So we have we have a presence there at the moment to monitor this road. Another thing that we did was to get grid references for this road and send it to our Ministry of National Defense and Border Security where they will send it to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send it to the Organization of American States here in Belize the office and they will do a verification of the area and of the grid references to verify that it is in Belizean territory. Thereafter, after that verification is complete, we will then have options on whether to, on how we can go about destroying the road or limiting access to the road by anyone in the area.”
Hipolito Novelo
“When you say that there would be the need for verification that is simply a process, a procedural thing, because we know it’s in Chiquibul. We know that part of it is in Belize territory.”
Col. Anthony Velasquez
“Yes, it’s within Belizean territory. However, it’s part of the confidence building measure sent by Belize and Guatemala. Anything one kilometer within our territory, we have to inform the OAS so they can do a verification to ensure that it is in Belizean territory. And thereafter, we will take measures to destroy this road”
Four days ago, the Ministry of Human Development announced that Gustavo Requena had been appointed as the Director of the Office of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. The ministry said that Requena was born and raised in a Maya community and brings firsthand experience and understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by indigenous populations. But the Toledo Alcaldes Association says otherwise. The association fired off a press release, saying the government failed to consult them on Requena’s appointment. Spokesperson Cristina Coc told News Five that Requena has made public statements against Maya land rights.
Cristina Coc
Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, MLA/TAA
“We were not informed 1st of all that, that this appointment was already decided. In fact, we learned of this through a press release, a government press release. So we were never formally informed of this decision. And I think that this would have been a critical decision to have informed the Toledo Alcaldes Association in particular, given that we are appellants to the Maya land rights case. And it is a case that this office seeks to further advance and implement. Now, the Toledo Alcalde’s Association has taken the position to denounce the appointment of Mr. Requena primarily on the basis that he has made public statements against the Maya land rights. And, we have heard him on numerous occasions, making these public declarations against, customary land rights, against the claims of the Toledo Alcalde’s Association. And so then, we asked the question how can he be fit to implement in an objective way this very important case. So that’s our main and primary concern.”
