Environment - Greater Belize Media

Sargassum Crisis Hits Businesses and Marine Life in San Pedro

It’s piling up fast and it’s not going away. San Pedro is now under a sargassum emergency. The town council says they’re fighting a losing battle, only managing to clear a fraction of the seaweed before it comes right back. With limited resources and mounting pressure from frustrated businesses and residents, the call is out for everyone to pitch in. The stench is strong, the beaches are brown, and marine life is dying. So, what’s the way forward? News Five’s Paul Lopez went to the island to find out more. Here’s his report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It’s a seaweed invasion and it’s getting worse by the day. Ambergris Caye is now under a sargassum emergency as thick mats of the brown algae continue to blanket the island’s once-pristine shores. Crews with shovels and wheelbarrows are working around the clock, but the seaweed just keeps coming. The stench is overwhelming, the beaches are buried, and coastal businesses, especially those over the water, are feeling the heat as guests complain about the view and the smell.

Franklin Mercado, Bartender, Wayo’s Beach Bar

“It affects the business as a whole. We have a lot of people coming in everyday. And one of the most important thing for us is our beach front view, our ocean view and without that ocean view, you don’t really see the ocean because everything is covered with that nasty seas grass. It affects us as a business where we have people avoiding come too close to the beachside, because of the smell being two strong and it just unbearable.”

Paul Lopez

“A normal day on the beach in San Pedro looks like sitting down, enjoying the sun and the view. But that is not the case today because sargassum has taken over the beach for miles.”

As thick layers of sargassum continue to blanket the shores of Ambergris Caye, local businesses like Wayo’s are doing their best to stay afloat. Despite the challenges, they remain hopeful and determined to weather the storm. But it’s not just the tourism industry feeling the impact. The dense, toxic seaweed is also choking marine life, making it nearly impossible for anything beneath the surface to survive. With both livelihoods and ecosystems at risk, the call for urgent solutions is growing louder.

Luis Gomez, San Pedro Town Resident

“All around here in the front area of the sea, you will find bone fish, small snappers and stuff like that. So, the bone fish, they call them schools. So every time I come and the sargassum is a lot you will see a bone fish floating there and another floating there. Surprisingly even big fish I have seen, like big jacks, they float up and get bloated and it is destroying anything that is in the front, grass, fish, jacks, crabs, you name it, it is dying because they don’t have any oxygen. And the sargassum let go a toxin that they cannot survive in the environment.”

On the island of Ambergris Caye, the fight against sargassum feels never-ending. Every day, a small team made up of local businesses and the San Pedro Town Council works tirelessly to clear the beaches, but the seaweed just keeps coming back. Now, with the situation worsening, the Mayor’s Science Advisor, Valentine Rosado, is sounding the alarm. He says it’s time for an all-hands-on-deck approach. That means more people, more resources, and a united community effort to tackle what’s now being called a sargassum emergency.

Valentine Rosado, Science Advisor, Office of the Mayor

“If we get people to come and assist, near their homes or just volunteers, all we need to do is to take it out of the water, even if they don’t have the ability to take it somewhere else, put it high up on the beach so that when it dries it does not smell. That is the priority and that is what we are asking people to assist with, because right now the council is removing a hundred and thirty-six tons of sargassum a week.”

Residents and business owners all agree that solving the sargassum crisis cannot be a task for the council alone. It requires all hands-on deck.

Miguel Alamilla, Resident, San Pedro Town

“We are tackling the problem when it drift to our shoreline and how effect we are depends on who you talk to, but it is difficult given the amount we have. It is very difficult. Even here we have to have a collective approach.”

Paul Lopez

“Do you that if business and community members come together, put their resources together that they can make a dent in this?”

Miguel Alamilla

“Of course, it is required given the extend of the problem. That is what we need.”

Nicole McRay, Co-Owner, Fresh Express Bakery

“I mean we can all volunteer to help out a little bit, if not volunteer some money to help put up for this, because it does, if affects everybody in the neighborhood and on the island.”

It just won’t stop. Day after day, the sargassum keeps rolling in—and despite constant cleanup efforts, the beaches of Ambergris Caye are still buried under the brown tide. The smell? Overwhelming. The view? Far from paradise. Locals and tourists alike are trying to go about their day, but the truth is, if this keeps up, the entire island’s tourism industry could take a serious hit. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Placencia Shoreline Clash Over Illegal Jetties

Over on the Placencia Peninsula, a quiet battle is brewing and it’s all happening along the shoreline. Earlier this year, concerned residents took matters into their own hands, removing unauthorized jetties from the protected reserve in the name of sustainability. But just as quickly as they were taken down, some of those same structures popped right back up, reinstalled by defiant homeowners. One resident says the back-and-forth has become exhausting. After partially removing a re-erected jetty next door, they watched the owner put it right back, again. Even after the Department of the Environment stepped in with removal notices, the same homeowner has reportedly returned, placing rocks in the reserve and dredging sand from the seabed to fill behind them. Now, frustrated neighbors are speaking out, saying some property owners are ignoring environmental rules, dismissing community concerns, and showing little regard for the DOE’s authority.

On the Phone: Concerned Placencia Resident

“So I’m relatively new to my neighborhood and so are my neighbors who have been affected by erosion because of these jetties. And other neighbors that have been there long term have tried getting through with the government and it just doesn’t go anywhere. Recently, this year, we were able to get a hold of the Placencia Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, and they started removing the rock jetties because they’re all on reserved land and that’s in our neighborhood. We did verify that these are non-permitted rock structures and this was also verified by the officials from the DOE that came out on May fifteenth, to look at the jetty that’s by our homes. And so, as far as the jetty that affected us, it was put in March nineteenth and it was removed by the coalition on April fifth. Then it was put back in by the same owner after the coalition removed it on May sixth and then we ended up, after they put it back in, we partially removed it as homeowners on the tenth. And then on May thirteenth, the DOE came out and issued warnings that the rock structures had to be removed. And so the homeowner that had the jetty immediately removed it starting on the fourteenth and fifteenth of May and now they put it back in but then also this time they are dredging sand out of the seabed and filling behind the rock structures.”

Pomona Land Dispute Turns Violent, Leaves One Injured

A land dispute is boiling over in Pomona Village after taking a violent turn. What started as a disagreement over property boundaries for seventy-year-old landowner Miguel Angel Trejo and his son, thirty-five-year-old Samuel Trejo, has now escalated into a serious safety concern. The situation reached a boiling point when Samuel, who works as a caretaker at Lemon Grass Farm, was allegedly attacked with a steel pipe by a man identified as Stoney Ferguson, leaving him with serious injuries.

On the phone: Samuel Trejo, Pomona Resident

“The issue is because they have a cave to my place and then he wants to take the cave he asked for permission to go to my property to access the cave I told him no problem right because I know him from long time but now he wants my place he cause me the problem because he wants to go to my place you know. Well from long time he come in like a friend and he said he wanted coconut so I let him take coconuts every time he comes and from there like how I said he came and he said he want access the caves and he want pass right and everything me di go good then afterwords he start to pass the limit he burn down my bathroom he broke down my things them and then my dad gone make the report because I mi di work I neva have time and nothing get through so and the month weh gone he wait for me under my house with a piece of steel and wait until I come out I have my bathroom outside I walk out side and gone use the bathroom I feel the hit pan my head and he di lash me and I manage to get way and when I turn round and look I track da he and I tell him “watch weh you do to me” I tell ah “this no wa stay so I wah ker this da di police”

TIDE Defends Belize’s Southern Blue Frontier

On Tuesday, we took you to Laughing Bird Caye National Park, just off the coast of Placencia, where we got a close-up look at the incredible work being done by the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future and its partners to protect our precious marine spaces. Well tonight, we’re heading even farther south, this time to the breathtaking Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. There, with support from the Belize Fund, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, and the Belize Coast Guard, a dedicated team is working tirelessly to safeguard not just Belize’s borders, but the rich natural treasures they hold. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Just thirty-seven miles off the coast of Punta Gorda lies one of Belize’s most prized, and most contested, natural treasures: the Sapodilla Cayes. This stunning atoll, rich in marine life, has long been the subject of territorial claims by both Guatemala and Honduras. And with its abundant resources, it’s no surprise that fishermen from across the border often venture into these waters. But there’s a renewed sense of hope for the future of this marine reserve. Thanks to support from the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment is on the ground, making sure these protected areas are truly protected. Executive Director Leonardo Chavarria Jr. gives us a closer look at the impactful work TIDE is doing with the help of the Belize Fund.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr., Executive Director, TIDE

“Under the Belize Fund Project, what we do is that our rangers are fully equipped, so we have the vessels to undertake effective patrols. We have the different capacity building for rangers under the project and the living facilities. The accommodations that you see here on Hunter’s Caye are all funded by the Belize Fund, and of course other partners that have engaged over the years.”

In just four years, the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve has grown massively, from thirty-eight thousand acres to over three hundred thousand. That’s more than eight times its original size. It’s a huge area to manage, but the team at TIDE didn’t back down from the challenge. After spending more than three years studying the region, they officially stepped in to co-manage the reserve in 2023. And get this, they’re doing it all with just seven rangers. That’s right, seven people covering the entire reserve, without any direct presence from the Fisheries Department. So how do they do it? TIDE’s Project Manager, Florencio Coc, gives us a look at how his team is making it happen.

Florencio Coc, Project Manager, TIDE

“Our mandate is to execute the fisheries guidelines. That is our mandate. So in terms of anything that has to do with illegal entry, that goes channeled on to the immigration officer. Anything else? Immigration officer or the Coast Guard, because again, the Coast Guard also has a mandate as. As us if we are not present here, the Coast Guard has the legal authority to make arrests the same for immigration. So anything else that falls under the Fair Fisheries, it is us that conducts.”

Protecting the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve isn’t without risk. Many of the fishers who cross into Belizean waters are armed and may resist arrest. That’s why TIDE teams up with the Belize Coast Guard. Twice a day, two Coast Guard officers join TIDE patrols to help keep the team safe. Lieutenant Allen Armstrong explains the vital role they play in these joint operations.

Lieutenant Allen Armstrong, Belize Coast Guard

“We also conduct what we call the Operation Lighthouse, or better known as the Dotted Line Patrol. The Dotted Line patrol is whereby we conduct patrols from here out at Hunter’s Caye all the way to Sarstoon. This is along the equidistance line, so this is patrols that is conducted. At least four times per the month, so it’s one per week. Beside from that, we also conduct what we call the Corona Reef Patrols as well. The Corona Reef Patrol are better known as the Cayman Crown Patrol is also conducted once per week, so these patrol are conducted. Four times for the month as well. So we’re looking at eight patrols at the post guard does within the Cayman Crown, and then along the dotted line for the entire month.”

It’s one of the most beautiful, and most vulnerable, locations in Belize’s southern waters. The Cayman Crown area of the Sapodilla Cayes sits right along the border with Guatemala, and that makes it a hotspot for illegal fishing. In just the past two years, authorities have intercepted ninety-eight vessels and seized seventeen pieces of illegal fishing gear, including gill nets and long lines, many of them traced back to this very area.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr

“One of the primary concerns that we have is the issue of this by nature is a transboundary area. So we have a lot of illegal fishing that is carried out by our Guatemalan and Honduran neighbors. So we have fishing communities from Guatemalan and Honduras who are in close proximity, about forty-five minutes from here. And then they engage in illicit fishing activities. So they use gill nets, which are very destructive. They use long lines. They do night fishing. They use illicit spears for example. And so these type of things are already major concern to us because they do not fish like Belizean. These people, we have like hundreds of fishers that are utilizing these waters and doing so illegally.”

So far this year, the Belize Coast Guard has hauled in over fifteen thousand feet of gill nets, that’s roughly a hundred nets taken out of our waters. And they’re not doing it alone. With support from the Belize Fund through the Government Strategic Allocation program, the Coast Guard has stepped up its game. They’ve added two high-tech drones to their toolkit, these can soar up to thirteen thousand feet and cover distances of up to one hundred and ten miles, giving them a serious edge in spotting illegal activity from the sky.

Lieutenant Allen Armstrong

“Of recent, we’ve been using it mostly in what we call area two down south, which is by Barranco. So the drones would, or the drone team would then use these drones to go out, monitor the area, and once we encounter or see any Guatemalan fishers in the area, then of course the patrols would then go out and then intercept these vessels.”

Thanks to support from the Belize Fund, TIDE now has a powerful long-range camera stationed on Hunter’s Caye. It can spot activity up to ten miles away, day or night. On days when the sea is too rough for patrols, this camera becomes an extra set of eyes on the water, helping protect Belize’s marine reserve even when boots can’t be on the ground.

Leornardo Chavarria Jr.

“The Belize Fund has also provided the Belize marine protected areas network of which TIDE is a part of with, allocation for ranger salaries for an additional two year basis. So in other words the Belize Fund currently pays rangers working out here. And likewise, we have a big project that is about to complete in the next year or so, and we are eligible to reapply for another project.”

From north to south, Belize’s ocean spaces are getting a boost, thanks to the Belize Fund. Whether it’s protecting coral reefs, supporting marine patrols, or funding high-tech tools, BFSF is helping organizations across the country keep our waters safe, healthy, and thriving. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Biodiversity Communities

Today, the National Biodiversity Office, under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, launched its very first National Biodiversity Dialogue. The theme? “Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Empowering Communities through National Collaboration.” It’s more than just a mouthful, it’s a mission. This event brings together key players from across the country to strengthen partnerships, protect our ecosystems, and ensure that Belize’s protected areas are managed effectively and sustainably. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there and brings us the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

There are no borders when it comes to nature. Across Belize, hundreds of ecosystems are linked, not just by plants and animals, but by the people working hard to protect them. These natural networks provide vital resources, and it’s the efforts of conservationists that help keep them thriving. Today marked the kickoff of Belize’s first-ever National Biodiversity Forum, a space where those on the frontlines of conservation came together to share ideas, tackle challenges, and align their goals. Saul Cruz, Director of the National Biodiversity Office, explained why this kind of collaboration is more important now than ever.

Saul Cruz, Director, National Biodiversity Office

“Really what the National Biodiversity Office is looking forward to is just having an open dialogue where we share a lot of what we’ve been doing in terms of our national policies, structures, and governance. But really also to provide a space for our unsung heroes to also provide some updates and some information in terms of what they’re doing. Some of the challenges. Some of the achievements and some of the opportunities for collaboration and partnership really the theme is just built around that. How do we strengthen partnership? How do we strengthen collaboration from government to our NGOs and to our protected area managers and even amongst government entities? And so it’s really focused around strengthening partnership, strengthening collaboration. And one way that we see that coming is through just information sharing, showing everybody what is it that we’re doing and what our plans are for the next coming years.”

The two-day forum drew participants from the north to the south of Belize. Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director of the Turneffe Atoll Sustainable Association (TASA) explains that his participation is a testament to TASA’s dedication to protecting Marine spaces, and the industries that depend on them.

Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, TASA

“The marine environment itself contributes millions of billions of dollars in terms of the Belize economy. In 2024, the tourism industry alone was one point two-four billion. And so all of that is based on the biodiversity, right? That’s based on diving, snorkeling, fly fishing, those industries that contribute to the economy and that employ lesions. I think it was almost about twenty-five thousand people that were employed through the tourism industry. There are another three thousand fishers that are employed through the fishing industry and there are also about fifteen thousand families in northern communities southern communities, and across this country that depend on fishing, for example.”

The forum is the first of its kind for the National Biodiversity Office (NBO), drawing attendees from government ministries, co-management partners, civil society, and academia. According to Cruz, the event comes at a crucial time for conservationists.

Saul Cruz

“This is the very first event the National Biodiversity Office has been created in 2020. And from since then we’ve not been able to have. This sort of a national dialogue. And so it’s very critical at this point in time. It’s very important in terms of ensuring that we have a very strong communication and collaboration process with all our partners.”

Protecting Belize’s natural beauty isn’t just about passion, it’s about planning. And today, the National Biodiversity Office laid out exactly how that plan will unfold. During today’s session of the National Biodiversity Dialogue, the NBO presented its roadmap for how stakeholders, from government agencies to grassroots groups, will work together to protect our ecosystems. The aim is to make sure everyone knows their role in keeping Belize’s environment healthy, thriving, and accessible for generations to come.

Saul Cruz

“In our role, we are the co-manager of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. And so we basically are ensuring that we run the day-to-day management of the reserve, ensuring that whether you are a fishing stakeholder or a tourism stakeholder, or the general public, engaging with the reserve, that you comply with the rules and regulation and ensure that you’re not taking more than you should. You’re taking it within the rules. For example lobster season just opened. We have to ensure that everybody has their licenses for their boats, as a fisher. The same thing for tour guides, tour operators. We check with them to be able to ensure that they have their licenses and ensure that they’re doing proper things and not again jeopardizing the very biodiversity that they depend on for their livelihoods.”

NBO believes that by working together and crossing the borders that hinder them, that environmental stakeholders will start to see progress.

Saul Cruz

“And so it’s understanding that biodiversity spans beyond our protected areas. And so it includes community, it includes people, and so understanding that interaction of people, our communities with our biodiversity and our protected areas is very essential to being successful in managing our protected areas.”

The national biodiversity office is charting the way forward in the way stakeholders design conservative strategies to ensure that the biodiversity is managed and remains in a healthy state. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize Makes Waves in Ocean Protection, But Is It Enough?

There’s a ripple of excitement in the conservation world, and Belize is right at the center of it. We are making serious strides toward protecting our planet’s oceans. Back in 2019, the country joined a bold global mission to safeguard thirty percent of the world’s marine spaces by 2030. Well, fast forward to today, and Belize is not just on track, we’re ahead of schedule. But while the numbers look promising, there’s a bigger question bubbling beneath the surface: how protected are these waters, really? That’s where the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future comes in. Since 2022, this private conservation trust has been quietly empowering local stakeholders by funding everything from scientific research to sustainable fishing practices, to ensure these marine areas are more than just lines on a map. News Five’s Britney Gordon took a deep dive into the story, visiting some of the protected zones supported by the Belize Fund to find out what it really takes to keep Belize’s blue spaces thriving. Here’s what she discovered.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Imagine diving into Belize’s crystal-clear waters, expecting a vibrant underwater world, only to find silence, emptiness, and lifeless coral. It’s a haunting image, and one that raises a serious question: are Belize’s protected marine areas truly being protected? While the country has made impressive strides toward the United Nations’ goal of safeguarding thirty percent of ocean space, hitting the target is just one part of the journey. The real challenge? Making sure those areas are sustainably managed and thriving for generations to come. That’s where the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future comes in. Since its launch, BFSF has been channeling resources from the Blue Bond to support conservation efforts across the country. Executive Director Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts explains how this initiative is helping turn policy into real, lasting protection beneath the waves.

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director, Belize Fund

“That’s a big focus of the fund. Trying to make sure we find the right partners to connect with to support initiatives and projects that can create meaningful and impactful changes and lasting changes on the ground. So all our grantees, they’re selecting true calls, and those calls look at particular areas of priorities and in, and today the areas we’re looking at are directly relating to protection for biodiversity and focus on marine protected area management.”

Climate change has taken a serious toll on our oceans, and Belize’s coral reefs are no exception; many have been slowly dying, struggling to survive rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns. But there’s hope beneath the surface. Thanks to support from the Belize Fund, a local non-profit called Fragments of Hope is leading the charge to restore what’s been lost. From replanting corals to studying the effects of bleaching in places like Gladden Spit and Silk Caye, they’re working hard to bring our reefs back to life, one fragment at a time.

Natasha Gibson, Fragments of Hope

“Laughing Bird Caye, it was one of the best sites ever when I started to work because it had been hit tremendously by a storm and we had lost about ninety something percent of coral coverage around here. And that at that point when I started the coverage was billing up back, meaning we were out doing a lot of work here, a lot of out planting, everything was thriving and looking great. Again, once again, the climate change and everything has been changing. We have had devastating losses, especially last year. We have lost tremendous amount of corals around Laughing Bird Caye.”

In a country like Belize, where tourism is a major economic driver, a rich and diverse marine ecosystem isn’t just beautiful, it’s essential. But with climate change shifting the balance underwater, what’s happening to the species that draw visitors from around the world? That’s exactly what MarAlliance is working to uncover. With support from the Belize Fund, they’re tracking how marine life is responding to these changes, helping tour operators better understand and predict where key species might be found. Program Coordinator Kirah Foreman shares how this research is shaping the future of marine tourism.

Kirah Foreman-Castillo, Program Coordinator, MarAlliance

“We’re looking at what we call megafauna. So everyone knows is those big iconic species like your sharks, your turtles, your rays. One of the things that Southern Belize is known for is whale sharks. And within the past, within recent years, we are just not seeing those numbers. A matter of fact, we’re not seeing any at all. I think this year there were somebody who saw one whale shark, which is almost nothing. So our Belize Fund project is to that project. We’re trying to figure out what’s going on with our whale shark. Where have they gone? Will they come back? And what’s going on with the other species of sharks? Raise turtles, the rest of the megafauna within the area.”

A new high-tech surveillance camera has been installed at Laughing Bird Caye National Park, named after the Laughing Gulls that live there. The camera can rotate 360 degrees and see up to nine miles, day or night. It’s become a key tool for the Forest Department and the Southern Environmental Association, helping them monitor this fully protected no-take zone more effectively.

Elizabeth Mushchamp, Executive Director, Southern Environmental Association

“Even before the cameras went up at our first fisher forum, we had made them aware that we would be putting up the cameras. And then once they were put up, we made them aware again. So every opportunity we have, we let them know about the cameras, that the cameras are there. What we have shared with them for Fishers is that I think it also gives them a sense of security that if something goes wrong, that they feel that someone is watching it. So yes, it could be a contributing factor as to why we haven’t had any incursions in the areas from our local people.”

The Belize Fund splits its financing into two main streams: one for government projects and another for non-government organizations. Program Manager Josue Oliva says the goal is to make funding simple and accessible. They’ve also launched community grants to help grassroots and emerging groups get the support they need to make a difference.

Josue Oliva, Program Manager, Belize Fund

“It is a competitive process. As much as we would want to fund everyone, you know that, as Dr. Ricketts mentioned, there is just sinking funds, so it has to be competitive. And how do we do it competitively? We ensure that the projects that we get are aligned to one, at least one of our four thematic areas, right? Protection for biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience, or blue business innovation.”

Although the work of the Belize Fund is vital, it will not be around forever. That is why the trust is doing its best to prove how well-managed financing can protect biodiversity, support livelihoods, and strengthen national resilience in the face of climate change.

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts

“The Blue bonds money is not infinite. It is a fixed amount. So we have sinking funds, which means the money comes in, we spend it months, it’s done, it’s gone. We have a total of 80 million US coming in until 2041. We’re three years into that period. So it was a twenty year period. We’ve gone for three years now doing operations and we’ve invested roughly twenty-five to twenty-six million Belize already of that eighty million US.”

Being a conservationist isn’t easy, it takes grit, passion, and a whole lot of patience. But when organizations are given the right tools and support, something powerful happens, they push through the challenges and keep fighting for what they believe in.

Elizabeth Mushchamp

“I have a very committed team, a very dynamic and committed team. And for the last couple years I have found my team to be very committed. Whatever challenges, I like to say we don’t have challenges, we just have situations that we deal with. Because when you put the word challenge, it seems like something so difficult to overcome. I think each area, whether it’s financing, sustainable financing, enforcement, for each one of them comes with their own level of challenges.”

As Belize steps up its efforts to protect our precious marine resources, there’s one organization making sure every dollar counts—the Belize Fund. While stakeholders are out in the field doing hard work, the fund is behind the scenes, ensuring that every investment goes toward projects that will leave a real, lasting impact. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize Takes the Lead in Regional Tourism

Belize is making history in the world of tourism and it’s not just on the national stage, but across the entire region. Right now, the country holds not one, not two, but three major tourism leadership roles, giving Belize a powerful voice in shaping the future of travel in Central America and beyond. At the heart of it all is the Mundo Maya initiative, a regional effort to promote the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Maya civilization. And as Efrain Perez, President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, explains, Belize’s leadership extends even further, holding presidencies in both the private and public tourism sectors across Central America and the Dominican Republic.

Efrain Perez, President, BTIA

“Our participation here as private sector, or as BTIA, certainly allows us to be part of the conversation on a regional level, for us to be able to share experiences based on our private sector interest. And so, I think that is a really good step for us; more so, because the BTIA also holds the pro tempore presidency of the Chamber of Tourisms for Central America and the Dominican Republic. So we come in representation not only nationally, but also regionally, for us to be able to have that conversation and really see how best we would be able to further develop the Mundo Maya brand and also see how we could incorporate the Central American brand within the same, both organizations at the same time. This is a very historic moment for tourism in Belize and I say that simply because of the two presidencies that we have. In fact, we have three presidencies in Belize right now. We have the pro tempore presidency for FEDECATUR which is the private sector arm of the tourism industry and that looks at both Central America and the Dominican Republic. We also have the presidency of KATA which is held by the Ministry of Tourism and that looks more on the legislative side and promotion side of tourism within the Central American region. And Belize also has currently the presidency for Mundo Maya, and so, all of these combined allows us to have a stronger voice as a country and for our private sector, this means that they would be able to take advantage much more opportunities that will arise from both organizations, the Mundo Maya and also the Central American brand.”

It’s a proud moment for Belize, and one that opens the door to even greater opportunities for the country’s tourism industry.

Placencia Residents Protest Sand Mining as Erosion Threat Grows

Just weeks after rallying for the return of Placencia Point, residents of the coastal village are raising another red flag, this time over what they say is illegal sand mining along their windward coast. The community staged a demonstration last week, warning that the mining activity could worsen the beach erosion that’s already threatening their shoreline. And with the coastline literally slipping away, they’re demanding answers. So, what’s being done about it? We put that question to the man in charge Minister of Natural Resources and Mining, Cordel Hyde.

Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources

“The mining director was out of the country the entire of last week, so I have not seen that letter. But, basically the last time we met with the village council we met with the mining director and went through those allegations previous to that. I know our people have been there trying to figure out what is happening. So I will communicate with the mining director for her to get on that pretty soon.”

‘Costly but Effective’: Tackling San Pedro’s Sargassum Crisis

If you’ve been anywhere near the coast lately, you’ve probably seen it and smelled it. The sargassum crisis in Belize is back with a vengeance, and some residents say this year’s wave of rotting seaweed is the worst they’ve ever experienced. It’s not just an eyesore, it’s affecting tourism, daily life, and the environment. That’s why earlier this year, Area Representative Andre Perez and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve launched a three point five million dollar harvesting project to tackle the problem head-on. But while the effort was initially praised, critics are now questioning whether it’s a long-term fix, or just a temporary cleanup. Today, Perez gave an update on the investment and what’s next in the fight against sargassum.

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“I think the last I think the last time where it was really really bad was back in 2018. Last year it was not bad, ut this year it has come relentlessly. It has been across the entire region. I live in San Pedro and I can tell, of course, Caye Caulker sometimes it extends across the shorelines as much as far to fifty feet and it’s horrible. You know when we’re when we were tackling the Sargassum, we have to put all our hands on it. We have to come up with innovative ideas. Trial and error is important. You know, we cannot just sit and say what is cheaper? Of course we need to look at that. But what is practical? And I can tell you right now, these two harvesters are working Monday to Friday. We’re soon releasing all the data we’re gathering in terms of the cost. Yes, indeed, it’s a bit costly, but it is very effective. It has been working primarily off the coast of where the southern part of Ambergis Caye is right now. Some resorts, they have partnered with us because it’s like, how say it’s not cheap. Right. But to criticize it. No, and that’s not, that’s unfair. I don’t know who said, I’ve never heard anybody criticizing it. No. However, it’s working. What we need to do is that it’s proving itself now is to increase it. We need more than two, especially this year. What is it? Put it put to test as ever before.So it is working and it is clear that we need more.”

San Pedro Area Rep. Says the Entire Island Stinks

While Hol Chan’s harvesting boats are out at sea scooping up sargassum, the San Pedro Town Council is tackling the problem the old-fashioned way—shovels, wheelbarrows, and a whole lot of manpower. Every day, crews are clearing the beaches and hauling the seaweed off to be used as landfill. The aim is to transform the area into a scenic community boardwalk. But not everyone’s on board. Some residents say the smell of rotting seaweed is just too much. The council says they’ve adjusted their strategy to cover the sargassum before it starts to stink. But when we asked Area Representative Andre Perez for his take, his response was blunt: “The entire island stinks anyway.”

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“After some days the Sargassum ferments and it releases these bad gases and smell as well, but the area where the San Pedro Town Council is covering is part of a street that should have been like a boulevard. And they’re following it up. And I’m more than sure that we’ll be covering it with sand or to it’s either way. It has to be gotten rid of. But, and that area that they’re using, I agree with it. I’m supporting it that. It is a model and I commended Town Council for doing that work there. But in terms of the smell, it’s everywhere. It’s not only where they are filling. You walk across any area in San Pedro, it doesn’t have a beach. It’s across with everything.with sargassum.”