News - Greater Belize Media

Dengue Cases Surge Amid Rainy Season; KHMH Urges Swift Action

There’s growing concern tonight as dengue fever cases continue to climb, and the country’s main referral hospital is urging everyone to take action now. The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital says its emergency unit has seen a sharp rise in dengue cases over the past few months. It’s a trend that usually comes with the rainy season, but this year’s spike has health officials on high alert. Don’t wait. If you’re feeling feverish or showing dengue-like symptoms, head to your nearest clinic right away. And just as the country breathes a sigh of relief with the measles outbreak now under control, we also checked in with Doctor Laura Friesen from the Ministry of Health for an update on how they’re tackling this latest health threat.

Britney Gordon

“Is there any other outbreaks in the region that we are monitoring closely, just advising people to be on the lookout for, or is it just a me that we are looking at closely?”

Dr. Laura Friesen, Medical Officer, MOHW

“We always have different diseases that are happening. Currently we have, again, an outbreak of whooping cough in the region, and we also have some increase of dengue, which is a seasonal issue as well. Those are things that are being monitored as well. And as always, we encourage everyone to be safe, to get their vaccines where possible and so that they can stay healthy as possible. So we are really encouraging families to take it seriously and protect their children from any risk of these consequences for their children.”

Thirteenth Amendment ‘A Crime-Fighting Tool of Last Resort’, Says Musa

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa says the Thirteenth Amendment is not introducing new powers but strengthening existing laws with clearer oversight. He appeared in this morning’s Open Your Eyes alongside Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre.

Musa defended the amendment, which has drawn public concern over potential government overreach over the past few weeks.

“We are fleshing out the state of emergency in the constitution, but in a way we are saying specifically because the state of emergency is only for public safety,” Musa said.

He added, “We need to flesh it out more to say that this is a crime-fighting, life-saving tool that we want to keep in our toolboxas a measure of last resort, not something to be used every day but something to say, ‘Listen, this is getting out of control, the public are not giving statements; we need to hit the pause button.”

He argued that the amendment simply backs the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act, which has allowed for emergency zones since 1993. Musa insisted the changes will require stricter checks, including approval from a newly proposed security council.

“It’s not just the minister; it’s not just the prime minister; it is not just the police that get to decide anymore under this law,” he said. “It is an entire security council made up of the military, the coast guard, foreign affairs; all of these parties must now listen to the report from the police and say whether it is justifiable that we now call an area a special area for one month, similar to the provision for a state of emergency now with greater oversight.”

Musa added that emergency powers are used to protect lives during gang violence. “There is collateral damage,” he said. “That is why we say we need to have legislation that can counter this.”

BBA Accuses Transport Minister of Acting in Bad Faith

The Belize Bus Association (BBA) is accusing Transport Minister Dr Louis Zabaneh of acting in bad faith over the appointment of Oswin Blease to the National Bus Company (NBC) advisory committee.

The BBA claims Blease is not a member of the association and lacks the experience to represent bus operators. In a press release, they suggested his appointment was politically motivated and aimed at sidelining the BBA.

Dr Zabaneh rejected the accusation, saying Blease was selected for his participation in recent consultations. “Mr. Blease brings a wealth of experience in the business. He has been to all consultations. We feel he will be instrumental in bringing that perspective to the process,” Zabaneh said.

When asked if Blease is a member of the BBA, Zabaneh said, “I guess he is an operator, a listed operator, and if they claim that all the operators are members of the BBA, I guess he is.”

The minister added that the BBA executive was not consulted on Blease’s appointment. “It is an advisory committee to my ministry, and I made the final choice,” he stated.

The BBA maintains the process lacks equity and transparency.

Artists Question AI Use in MUB’s National Costume Submissions

Just weeks after crowning a new Miss Universe Belize, Isabella Zabaneh, the franchise is once again in the spotlight.

Last year’s national costume sparked a backlash after Miss Universe Belize 2024, Halima Hoy, wore a costume inspired by the Mayan Deer Dance. The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) condemned the move, stating, “No Maya person brought up in their culture would ever put on a Deer Dance mask or clothing outside of the rituals.”

This time around, the franchise finds itself under the microscope once more, this time over the designs for the 2025 national costume. At the centre of the debate is whether some of the top entries in the competition were created using artificial intelligence.

The MUB costume competition opened for public submissions in early July. The top five finalists were revealed on Monday, but several artists and critics quickly pointed out that at least one of the entries showed signs of being generated by artificial intelligence.

Local artist Alex Sanker was among the first to raise concerns. “For me it’s obvious because I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I’m pretty sure like I mentioned, I did a post this morning and I said, AI should not be presented in something like this,” he told News 5. “You have artists that could design these, we’d be doing for decades.”

Critics argue that AI-generated images, while visually striking, often borrow heavily from online datasets, which can result in inaccurate cultural depictions and diminish opportunities for local designers. Others see it as a slippery slope for the creative industry.

The controversy has prompted a larger conversation about cultural ownership, artistic integrity, and the role of technology in pageantry.

One Facebook user stated, “Many of the concept designs presented look AI-generated; if not directly, then likely based on AI references. They do not reflect the richness or identity of our country, and they seem to lack that impactful wow factor.”

The organisation has not yet issued a statement addressing whether AI submissions were permitted under the rules.

George Price Honoured at OAS as Belize Strengthens US Ties

Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price was honoured this week with the unveiling of his bust at the Organization of American States (OAS) Hall of Heroines and Heroes of the Americas in Washington, D.C.

Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca and OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin led the ceremony, celebrating Price’s lasting legacy as the Father of Belize’s Independence and a symbol of peace, democracy, and regional unity. In his remarks, Fonseca said, “As we unveil this bust, we do more than honour a great Belizean; we renew our collective commitment to the ideals he lived by. May his likeness stand here as a quiet reminder that peace is possible, leadership can be moral and that a dream of a better world begins with each of us.”

While in Washington, Minister Fonseca also met with key US officials to deepen ties and discuss regional priorities. He met with Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to advance Belize–US relations. Fonseca and US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen border security and public safety through better information sharing.

He concluded his visit with a meeting with Congressman Brian Mast, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where they discussed the Belize–Guatemala process, Haiti’s security challenges, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other issues central to Belize–US cooperation.

“I Tried Everything I Could to Get Them Back”: Mother Speaks After Daughters’ Drown

A tragic accident in Bella Vista, Toledo District, claimed the lives of two young sisters on Sunday afternoon. Angie Pimentel, 7, and Laury Pimentel, 8, drowned in an unfinished septic pit around 4 p.m.

Their mother, Delmy Argueta, told News 5 that she had sent them to run an errand at their grandmother’s house. The girls never made it. Argueta believes they may have tried to swim in the water-filled pit and did not realise the danger.

Their grandmother, Ligia Contreras, said she became concerned when Argueta called to ask if the girls had arrived at her home. When she realised they hadn’t, Contreras began searching the area and soon spotted their bicycles and slippers near the pit.

“I found a stick nearby that I used to put in the well, and that’s when I felt it touch one of them,” Contreras told News 5. “I think they innocently got in there; they’ve never tried to go in there before. That was the first time they did something like that.”

Contreras said she immediately called Argueta after feeling something in the pit. “I went there, got in the well, and took out the first one and then found the other one,” Arugeta said.

Arugeta said that the pit was deep enough to submerge her completely. “When I jumped in, the water covered me entirely,” she said.

She attempted to resuscitate the girls but was unsuccessful. “I tried everything I could to get them back, but it was already too late.” Argueta said she had no idea the pit existed or was so deep.

The bodies remain at the morgue as the family awaits their release for burial.

19 Women Complete Cell Phone Repair Training in Belize District

Nineteen women from communities across the Belize District have completed the cell phone repair training programme that took place from July 14 to 19 at BELTRAIDE’s Belize Training & Employment Centre.

The course is focused on improving self-employment opportunities and reducing gender disparity in technical fields. “What was once viewed as a male-dominated trade is now being delivered by over 80 women and girls across the country,” said the Ministry of Investment in a statement.

Participants came from Belize City, Ladyville, Caye Caulker, Lord’s Bank, Hattieville, the New Beginnings Youth Development Centre, the Coral Grove Girls’ Home, and the Fourteen-Miles Girls’ Home.

Over six days, the participants completed 50 hours of training and successfully repaired 103 out of 159 phones used for practice.

Each trainee also received a toolkit with essential items such as soldering irons, magnifying lamps, and electric multimeters to help launch their own repair services.

Former T&T PM Rowley Demands Answers on Interpol Listing

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is demanding answers from his successor Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General John Jeremie, and Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro after discovering his name was placed on an Interpol watch list.

Rowley says he only found out when police stopped him in Antigua while en route to Montserrat for volcanology research. He called the listing “state-sponsored slander” and “political persecution,” insisting he has committed no crime and wants his name cleared immediately.

Rowley stepped down in May and has since returned to scientific work. He says the accusations are baseless and wants officials to explain why he was flagged internationally.

Manslaughter Charge Upgraded to Murder

Police have upgraded the charge against Peter Demetrio August from manslaughter to murder in connection with the death of sixty-one-year-old Ubaldo Ernesto Guzman.

Guzman died on September 12, 2024, after he was allegedly chopped with a machete by August during a drinking session at Guzman’s home in Santa Elena Town. Reports are that the two got into an argument, during which Guzman allegedly attacked August with a machete. August claimed he acted in self-defense.

Guzman’s niece, Shamira Badillo, told News Five that her uncle was never known to be aggressive, even when drinking.

Peace Corps Deploys New Volunteers Across Belize

Twenty-three new Peace Corps Volunteers have been sworn in to serve under the Youth Empowered by Sports (YES) Project, an initiative focused on empowering young Belizeans through mentorship and organised sports.

The ceremony took place in Belmopan on Friday following the completion of 11 weeks of training. These volunteers will now be deployed to communities across Belize and will be joining two existing YES cohorts already in the field.

Peace Corps Belize Country Director Dr Nadine Rogers said, “These 23 Americans came to Belize ready to serve. They came committed, and they’ve sustained that commitment throughout the training period.”

The YES Project is a partnership between Peace Corps Belize and the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations.

Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam highlighted the enduring mission of the Peace Corps, saying, “Although the program goals have shifted over the decades, the mission and values of the organization have not. I note that this current cohort of volunteers will work with one of our most precious assets: the children and youth of Belize.”

Peace Corps Belize will welcome another group of education volunteers next month.