While discussing Belize’s garbage dumping hotspots, the mayor mentioned that the council is still cracking down on littering. He pointed out that finding evidence of these violations can be tricky, so he urged residents to report any offenders or help by snapping photos of the act in progress.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“ We have enforced on several occasions in Belize City. It carries a hefty fee and if caught in the act, but it’s a joint effort between the DOE and the Belize City Council. But we have done a lot of work, enforce that on several occasion, but you have to have the real evidence. So it really requires participation from the community as well. If they see people dumping, if they could quickly notify the officials or enforcement team or the D.O.E. and then we could have that evidence to really ticket them and really pursue it the way we want to.”
Today, a diverse group of industry representatives and companies that use chemicals came together for a workshop focused on improving chemical management. The goal? To develop a National Strategy that ensures Belize meets its commitments to four key environmental conventions on managing chemicals that can turn into pollutants. The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change brought in consultant Stephen Sangster to lead the event. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai emphasized the importance of proper chemical management for a healthy environment and hinted at upcoming legislation to regulate this area. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, representatives from various agencies and industrial companies gathered for a workshop that examined how Belize handles chemical waste. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai explained that once chemicals are used, they turn into waste. It’s then up to the Department of the Environment to make sure this waste is managed properly, so it doesn’t harm the environment or our health.
Anthony Mai
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer
“Chemical has the capacity to create significant environmental harm and health-related harm. So it is important for the Department of Environment to put measures in place to be able to reduce the negative impact that chemicals could have on the environment and to human health. Today we’re here because we’ve hired a consultant to develop the base tool that we would need to guide our direction forward. So we have key institutions here because chemicals stretch across all sectors. Chemicals are used at the household level, at the health sector, in the agriculture sector, by academia, by the private sector, so it involves all sectors.”
Belize is already recognized as a trailblazer in the Caribbean and Latin America. To keep up the momentum, the Ministry has brought on board Stephen Sangster, a Chemistry Lecturer from U.B., as a consultant. His mission? To lead the charge in creating a solid framework for new legislation that ensures proper chemical management.
Stephen Sangster
Stephen Sangster, Consultant, Department of the Environment
“Belize is actually one of the leaders in the region when it comes to implementing these agreements, We have a lot of laws and frameworks in place. We do have some reports that we’ve done but there’s more that we can do.”
Sangster emphasizes that as environmentalists and the legal team work on updating the legislation, it’s crucial to launch an education campaign. This campaign would teach people how to properly handle and manage the chemicals they use every day.
Stephen Sangster
“One of the main things that Belize has done is phased out a lot of the very persistent chemicals that stain the environment for long periods of time. We’re making sure we’re not producing it in country, that they don’t come into country, but there are a few that we’re managing as we go. Things like mercury and DDT that we use to control malaria, those chemicals are useful in our current climate but what we want to do is make sure that everybody is aware of how to best manage the use and day-to-day interactions with these chemicals and how do we dispose of it when we’re done with it, making sure that it’s not leaking into our environment. There is a lot of information that these agreements have provided some technical assistance in how do we manage these chemicals.”
Mai points out that although Belize has a solid track record in managing chemical waste, there are new areas the global community is aiming to improve. That’s where we need to direct our attention.
Anthony Mai
“Currently there are some major international conventions that Belize is a signatory to. For example, there’s the Basel Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention, the Minamata Convention and recently there’s the Global Framework on Chemicals Management. All of these conventions are important. All of them look at chemicals from a different perspective and require different obligations from our country.”
Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, said that once the National Strategy is finalized, he will urge the Cabinet to take the necessary actions to implement it.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“I will be taking some of these information papers and memorandum papers to Cabinet for their approval and those that will become the Act and Regulations will also have to go to the House for acceptance by the House of Representatives for them to become the Acts, but very importantly for us is that we comply but also because compliance is also providing human wellness that we need in our country, both for agriculture and human health, and in the broad sense, also for the environment.”
The Department of the Environment keeps a close eye on things, and when they spot violations and find those responsible, they don’t hesitate to take legal action against the offenders. Marion Ali for News Five.
So, what about those pesky potholes that are turning into craters at the northern and western entrances to Belize City? Chief Engineer Moody explained that the Ministry has been battling the frequent rains to get those repairs done. A particular trouble spot is the section of the Philip Goldson Highway, between the Haulover Bridge and Biltmore, that breaks up every few years due to the unstable ground underneath. Moody mentioned that until they can secure the hefty funds needed to drive piles into the earth to stabilize it, they’ll have to keep up with continuous corrective work.
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, M.I.D.H
“The maintenance crew is out doing those works, but we need to deal with the weather as well in carrying out our work successfully. The idea is to try and see how best we could garner funds to do the piling foundation for that section of the highway because I think I’ve mentioned before that that will continue to settle as time progresses because of the amount of peat that we have underlying the pavement surface there. And so what we’re doing as a ministry is just corrective measures, but that’s only on a temporary basis because that is not a long term solution to fixing the problem. The long-term solution is for us to pile the carriageway similar to what we have done to the approach of the bridges. And also the piling that we’ve done to the roundabout near the Benny’s apartment. Once we could get funding to do that, then we would have a long-term solution to solving that consolidated problem that continuously, uh, bothers us, but until such time, we’ll have to just do the, the regular maintenance that the MIDH is doing.”
Residents of Monkey River Town are deeply worried about their community’s future. It’s a tale many Belizeans know all too well. For decades, this small coastal town has been slowly disappearing into the sea. The situation has only gotten worse over the years, thanks to the effects of climate change. Tonight, the residents are raising their voices about yet another threat to their riverbank—the booming eco-tourism industry. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Just three months ago, this tree stood proudly on the banks of Monkey River Town. Brian Garbutt, a local resident, fondly remembers taking his son there to hunt for iguanas. Now, it’s just another piece of driftwood, claimed by the relentless erosion of the riverbanks. For years, the residents have been battling this erosion, but as Garbutt points out, the problem has only gotten worse.
Brian Garbutt
Brian Garbutt, Monkey River Resident
“In the late 1990’s that’s when tourism get started here in Monkey River, right? About ninety-seven, ninety-eight, right? For the first couple of years, everyone that would do their tour, they would go up pretty slow, right? But on their way back down about noon time, you know, the sun would be up, the humidity would be real high, pretty much at that time. Most of the wildlife would seek shelter to get away from that immediate heat, right? So there’s not much to see. And that’s when these guys started to run their boat full throttle. And I have been I would say get awake about two weeks ago when I went up into the river and I could have seen the effect that are taking place against the river.”
The area has turned into a bustling tourism hotspot, with boatloads of cruise passengers arriving several days a week during the high season. Local tour guides whisk these tourists off to Harvest Caye or Placencia, navigating through the Monkey River waters. While the community appreciates the revenue, there’s a catch—the speed of the boats is causing problems.
Brian Garbutt
“Can you imagine a boat with about twenty people doing about twenty miles an hour within, the widest area within our river? Probably would be about thirty yards. You imagine five, six of these boats just keep banging on direct onto the clay.”
These boats, carrying anywhere from ten to thirty passengers, send waves crashing into the banks as they speed by. But erosion is just one of the negative effects residents have noticed. Ebenezar Gordon, a tour guide since the early 2000s, often joins these tour boats to educate visitors about the local flora and fauna. While his livelihood relies on these tours, it relies even more on preserving his home.
Ebenezer Gordon
Ebenezer Gordon, Monkey River resident
“The whole environment changing because of big companies like the farmingcompanies, you know. They have made big trench for the farm, so it do affect the water around here. When we were younger, when it’s raining, this river used to take long before it goes down. But now, two, two days maybe the longest and it’s get calms around here. If you notice around here, you see a lot of erosion taking place.”
Residents also say that the boats stir up sediments, which the river can’t wash away, leading to shallow pockets of water. Garbutt, a fisherman by trade, mentions that navigating the river is becoming increasingly difficult.
Brian Garbutt
“Let’s say for the day, one ton of sediment would be coming downstream, right? And the impact that these boats are doing to this river at this present moment, one ton would come down and meet with twenty tons. So what would happen? That would just keep trapping up and trapping up. That eventually, what I have seen in my lifetime, if the almighty permits me with another ten years, it would be very impossible for me to get up in the river within a 23 foot Mexican skiff.“
Residents suggest imposing a speed limit for boats passing through the area. They also propose a small fee for tour guides to help fund the town’s maintenance.
Ebenezer Gordon
“We have that stuff in place for a long time and it’s not having enforcements. I wish they could enforce it for us?”
Britney Gordon
“Who would be the persons in charge to enforce that?”
Ebenezer Gordon
“Well, I think it’s BTB, you know, because the guys there know, but they just want to ignore us because we don’t have the laws to back it up.”
A few years back, locals were filled with hope when they heard about a project aimed at saving the riverbank from erosion. Residents say funds were collected, but unfortunately, the plan never materialized.
Brian Garbutt
“And it’s pretty sad, you know? That guy went over there and raised that fund, have to come through the government. Literally for sure sixty percent would go to the government. So many people comes in and do their research. So much goes out. I hope that we get about a hundred thousand. Because it’s pretty sad. We have a job that would be much bigger than what they are about to do, that is done by a local writing placentia done for a house right here on our coastline in Monkey River.”
The future might seem uncertain, but the residents remain hopeful and determined to save their cherished community where the river meets the sea. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The Belize City Council is finally paying off the eight hundred-thousand-dollar debt owed to the Belize Waste Control, which caused a garbage crisis in the Old Capital late last year. Thankfully, garbage collection resumed before the end of 2024. Mayor Bernard Wagner credited Prime Minister John Briceno for bringing both parties to the table to reach an agreement. When asked if the central government bailed out the council, Mayor Wagner clarified that the council is handling the debt repayment. He also continues to advocate for a garbage collection tax for Belize City residents.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“I have not shied away from that. I have been saying for years that the residents must. It is your garbage and the city has the responsibility to ensure that we are not utilizing funds that would be normally used for street rehabilitation and other operational purposes on your garbage. That has to be at some point addressed. Why is Belize City different from other municipalities? All the other municipalities has legislation to collect a garbage fee. I have not shied away from that. I do believe we have residents who want to pay. I have had residents who say mayor we want to pay a fee because we are a responsible contributor to our city.”
Paul Lopez
“Did the central government bail out the council where that outstanding balance was concerned?”
Bernard Wagner
“We are paying those outstanding balance. It is always a cashflow problem. Cash flow is how you manage it. During the slow season there will be a slow down of revenues coming into the council’s coffers. So it is about managing it, but we are, as we speak keeping up to our obligations to the Waste Control Board, as a city.”
Paul Lopez
“So there was not a bail out?”
Bernard Wagner
“We had very good discussions with the prime minister and he helped us with getting the parties to the table and formulating a plan and that plan is being adhered to as we speak.”
This week, the Belize Audubon Society wrapped up its participation in the hundred and twenty-fifth Christmas Bird Count. This international bird-watching event runs from December fourteenth to January fifth across the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. This season, bird watchers recorded a staggering forty million, eight and seventy thousand and thirty birds, though the numbers continue to show a worrying decline despite increased preservation efforts. The count documented between one hundred and eighty-three and two hundred and sixty-five species at various field locations. Environmental Education Officer at the Belize Audubon Society, Miguel Sho, shared some insights into the bird count as the team made their rounds in Belize City. Here’s more on that.
Miguel Sho
Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer, B.A.S.
“ So fifteen miles in diameter is a really huge circle and we have several teams trying to cover the entire area. For the sector that we are in, we are covering the Belize River. Then we will be covering the left of Ladyville when you’re heading up to Orange Walk, the left side Lords Bank area, and other feeder roads that is within our sectors. Because it’s hard to get to the section by foot or by vehicle, we’re using water transportation provided by the Belize River Lodge to conduct our count on the Belize River itself. And currently, we have seen a good amount of birds so one of the highlights of which is a flyover was the Keel Bill Toucan and a Blue-Winged Teal that we saw on the water as well. And we also saw some wading birds, like the Great Blue Herons Snowy Egrets, and of course the, a majestic bear throated Tiger Heron”
Cameraman
“Why is it important to do the bird count?”
Miguel Sho
“The bird count is important because you are able to get so valuable data that can help promote conservation within Belize itself because each year we put do the count you would be able to see trends in bird populations and you would be able to get information such as bird movements within Belize itself. The data that we also gather from these counts can show you information on diversity of birds and also that indicates the ecosystem health because if there’s no birds, that means that something is wrong. But if you’re seeing more birds, then. That means that we are doing something good within the country itself because birds they need a good habitat in order for them to thrive.”
Farmers in San Carlos Village, Orange Walk, are feeling the frustration as they struggle to sell their produce at a fair price. Several farmers have planted thousands of dollars’ worth of carrots, ready for harvest and sale. However, they claim that competition from other carrots on the market and a lack of interested buyers have left their crops rotting in the ground. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited some of these farmers to hear their pleas for government intervention.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
What you’re seeing is a carrot field on two hundred acres of farmland. It belongs to Ruben Perez, a farmer from San Carlos. In about two weeks, his carrots will start to rot. They’ve been ready for sale since December, but Perez says there haven’t been any buyers.
Ruben Perez
Ruben Perez, Carrot Farmer
“The problem we have right with carrots is that we cannot sell. We have problem with selling carrots. We don’t have buyers and we are ready from first week of December. That’s one month now. And the problem is that we call the buyers who import the Mexican carrots and now when we call them, some of them say, we can’t sell too much, we just could sell lee bit. And they are big importers of Mexican product and now when we have the local product, now they don’t want a lot and I don’t understand why.”
Farmers are saying their carrots aren’t selling because of competition from both imported and contraband carrots. However, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai clarified that Belize doesn’t import carrots when there’s enough local supply to meet demand. He insists that this issue is just a political ploy, a tactic used by several political figures in the past.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“Carrots is a bad topic to use for political mileage. That’s primary school politics. Tracy tried it, she failed. Shyne tried it, and he also failed. This is a matter of supply and demand. The Ministry if Agriculture has never and will never issue importation of carrot permits when we are harvesting carrots, when our farmers are. That is a fundamental rule in the Ministry of Agriculture. That will not happen. As to contraband. The Ministry of Agriculture does not control contraband. We try to work with customs, immigration, military customs, quarantine, Baha. But we have porous borders, but up to now, we haven’t seen enough evidence of illegal importation of carrots because the quality is known.”
He also pointed out that part of the problem is the short shelf life of carrots, which makes it even harder to sell them quickly.
Jose Abelardo Mai,
“What we have is a problem we have every year with carrots. We have ninety acres planted in the country right now. Fifty acres is planted in the Cayo District, and twenty-five in Orange Walk. Another five or six acres in Corozal, another six acres in Stann Creek. Alright? The problem is that the carrots seem to come into maturity all at one time. Why? Because it’s seasonal. So everybody brought it at the same time. Secondly, carrots have zero shelf life.”
Cornelius Schmidt shared that it takes about one hundred and twenty days for carrots to be ready for harvest. If they stay in the ground any longer, they risk rotting.
Cornelius Schmidt
Cornelius Schmidt, Farmer
“What we have here once its beginning to brown like we have no then its ready to harvest.”
Perez is puzzled about why importers are hesitant to buy local carrots. He suspects that the wax coating on imported carrots makes them more attractive to buyers. With about fifteen thousand dollars invested in this year’s carrot crop, Perez fears this challenge could spell trouble for the future of his farming career.
Ruben Perez
“They need the pressure of the Minister of Agriculture because I could see how if they buy forty thousand pounds when they are importing they buy that weekly. That amount. And now that we have they can’t buy the same amount and that’s why I call the news that they could help us and we are here to tell the Minster of Agriculture, the Prime Minister too to make them help us. Because this is our job that we do and we depend in totality in this work.”
This is an issue that the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges and has been attempted to rectify.
Jose Abelardo Mai
“We encourage them to buy from the local producer. So we said to them, if you want to continue importing, if you want to continue benefiting from your farmers, you need to buy our local products. Okay? So right now, yesterday I sat down with the government, issues, governments, and we’re reviewing analysis. And if they can’t prove to us that they are supporting our farmers, we will have to put the brakes on them. And I said that to them in no way, we will allow them to continue importing if they do not buy from our local farmers. I’m sorry.”
Just a short distance from Perez’s farm, another farmer is anxiously waiting to harvest about eight million dollars’ worth of potatoes. He’s worried that he might face the same challenges when it comes time to sell. Minister Mai has tried to reassure farmers, stating that there are no active licenses for potato imports. However, despite the Ministry’s assurances, local farmers say they haven’t received any government assistance and are uncertain about their next steps. UDP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk South claims that several farmers are hesitant to speak out, fearing persecution.
German Tillett
German Tillett, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk South
“I was speaking and I was telling them, convincing then to come up. To step up and give their interview about what is really happening with their crops and everything but they always say that they are afraid, so that whenever help comes, the little help that comes, they will not be able to get that. Because they come out and say what is happening. But what I usually tell them is that should not be afard because the help comes to everyone, to every farmer and if you get victimized by this government that means that something is really wrong..”
Minister Mai is optimistic that the demand for carrots will pick up within the next two weeks. Looking ahead, he revealed that the ministry has big plans to industrialize the sector over the next five years by setting up an agro-processing facility in Orange Walk. This move aims to add value to Belize’s local crops and boost the agricultural industry. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The sugar roads in northern Belize are in rough shape, making it really difficult for cane farmers to transport their harvest to the mill. Even though the new sugar crop season started on December twenty-seventh, deliveries have been slow, which is impacting sugar production at Tower Hill. On Tuesday, industry stakeholders like the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and A.S.R./B.S.I. shared their thoughts on the issue and its impact on the sector. This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño added his voice to the discussion, speaking on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, the sugar roads, look at the weather. We have set aside the money, we have signed contracts, but I constantly tell our farmers that we will be wasting money if we try to fix the road right now because then, one day or two days later, it’s going to break up. So, we have the money, we’ve signed the contracts. We’ve set aside even another million dollars plus to be able to fix the sugar roads. But, until the rain clears up, there’s not much that we can do.”
The Belize Livestock Producers’ Association (BLPA) just got a major boost with a hundred thousand USD donation from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). After Tropical Storm Sara wreaked havoc, farmers in the Belize River Valley and Cotton Tree areas suffered huge losses in feed, livestock, pastures, and their overall livelihoods. This generous initiative aims to help ten cattle farmers in the Belize River Valley and Crooked Tree recover from their losses and build resilience for future disasters. The donation was made possible thanks to a collaboration between NEMO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Embassy of Taiwan. National Emergency Coordinator Daniel Mendez shared more details about this much-needed support.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“This project is not just about recovery, it’s also about building resilience and ensuring the long term sustainability of our livestock industry. Over the past few months, we have seen the first-hand impact of Tropical Storm Sara. And in fact, that impact continues to be felt today because there are still many places, particularly in Crooked Tree, that remain underwater. So the flooding has caused significant damage to pastures, leaving animals without feed and causing a great deal of livestock losses for the farmers in these communities. And we know that this is a source of their livelihoods. Today, we take an important step forward with this project. Which addresses both the immediate needs of our farmers and they’re building their long-term resilience. Phase one of this project will address the urgent need of farmers by providing silage and mill feed to ensure that livestock can survive and thrive in the short term. Looking at phase two, the focus will be on establishing water-resistant pastures and building the capacity of farmers in advanced techniques for silage production, veterinary care, and pasture management. Given this recovery and emergency assistance, we are empowering our farmers with the tools and knowledge to withstand and manage future natural hazards, ensuring that they are better prepared.”
Bennett explained that whether it’s Guatemalan naval vessels, illegal fishers, or suspected drug traffickers navigating our southern waters, the Coast Guard takes swift action when they encounter them. He noted that, unlike land borders, there are no specific lines or buoys to mark our sea boundaries. However, there are methods to determine which side of the border you’re on when navigating the seas.
“We’ve never done that that demarcation exercise out at sea. Whilst we know where our land border is, the exercise has never taken place out at sea. And hopefully with the ICJ ruling, then we’ll be able to do that. So, for now, there are no buoys or markers to determine exactly where the official border lies. What we do is to go by equidistance. Say half a distance of sea space between Belize and Guatemala, and then that’s the border. That’s how we exercise our jurisdiction. Uh, we believe this is Belizean waters. They would say this is Guatemalan waters. Whenever we would encounter, uh, fishermen or fisher folk in that area, and it is within what we believe is Belize sea spaces, we would arrest, detain, and we will exercise jurisdiction over that. Unlike what you see happening on land where there’s an adjacency zone and there’s a organization of American States office that manages incidents in there to verify. location and action to be taken that does not exist in the sea spaces. So, the confidence building measures does not extend anywhere out at sea. So, it’s completely down to the two countries to try to, um, use diplomatic measures to try to mitigate, um, and try to manage these incidents.”
