While she may not be able to preside over every House session due to ongoing cancer treatment, Speaker of the House Valerie Woods remains focused on progress. In today’s ceremonial sitting, Woods confirmed that newly appointed Deputy Speaker Marconi Leal Junior will step in when needed. But she also shared her excitement about the future of parliament—highlighting the soon-to-be-unveiled renovated chamber, complete with upgraded tools, revised Standing Orders, and a new Code of Conduct to better guide the work of the House. Despite personal challenges, Woods’ message was one of optimism and readiness for a more modern, accountable legislative process.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House
“ Later this year, after 55 years since the construction of the National Assembly Building, we anticipate the opening of a newly renovated and more accessible contemporary space first. Furthermore, this year, we should witness the implementation of a user-friendly parliamentary website. And the first ever Parliament’s distinctive logo for the legislature as a separate branch of government. Additionally, during this session of the House of Representatives, we should be revising the Standing Orders and establish a code of conduct. In regard to the administrative management under the stewardship of the clerk, we will be implementing the recommendations from the planning tools for enhanced governance, which were made possible with the assistance of the U.N.D.P. Belize office based on the review conducted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.”
Prime Minister John Briceño is setting the record straight: there was no delay in calling the first parliamentary session—just careful planning. Speaking to reporters, the PM explained that the timing of the session is entirely up to the government, and they chose what they believed was the right moment. During that time, the government was also fine-tuning the national budget. Some had speculated that the delay was linked to the U.S. government’s cancellation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant, which had been approved last June for poverty-alleviation projects. But Briceño dismissed that theory, saying the budget adjustments had little to do with the MCC decision.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We wanted to make it. Even a bigger event. We were trying to see if we could have gotten somebody to come to Belize to address the first opening of Parliament. But it did that work out because that person’s schedule just did not work. But it also gave us time to make a readjustment with the budget. The budget was almost finished, but because we changed some departments and some ministries were reconfigured, it took a little bit of time to be able to fix that, so it was not deliberate but here we are today.”
Reporter
“Any of the issues had to do with the cancellation of the M.C.C.? Did that affect the government’s budget?
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No, the MCC is not a part of the budget, so that has nothing do – that played no role.”
Marion Ali
“Then how will the government finish the projects?
Prime Minister John Briceño
“But the point is that the M.C.C. was not a part of the budget. They came here and then we met with them and we did within record time, manage to get a compact sign for $125,000 million U.S., of which 20% have been for energy, and also for teaching. We already knew what are the challenges we face in the educational system. So, they would’ve been helping us and would’ve made it easier. But now they’re not then we have to look and see how we are going to find the money and start to make the adjustments between the educational system.”
The Belize Civic Center buzzed with energy today as over three hundred marketing pros, content creators, and business leaders came together for the Belize Tourism Board’s 9th annual Digital Marketing Summit. The event, now a staple in the local marketing calendar, focused on the latest trends in digital strategy, social media, and content creation. With a fast-changing online world, the summit aimed to give attendees the tools and insights they need to keep their brands ahead of the curve. From cross-industry networking to expert-led sessions, the day was packed with innovation and inspiration. We stopped by to catch the action and hear how Belize’s digital storytellers are shaping the future of marketing.
Perry Bodden
Perry Bodden, Digital Marketing Specialist, B.T.B.
“So we have actually, three signature events for the Belize Tourism Board since yesterday. We had the BOOM forum is pretty much a wrap up of what we did this this last fiscal year and what we’re doing this fiscal year when it comes to other projects, other initiatives, We had our Airlift Conference as well. That is information that has to do with airline traffic to Belize. How we are getting butts in the seats to Belize and heads in beds at the end of the day. We have our Digital Marketing summit. So another signature event for the BTB. And this provides information for online marketing. And so we’re covering four different facets of online marketing, social media, digital marketing, content marketing and strategic marketing as well.”
Blair Cassuto
Blair Cassuto, Brand Manager, Bacardi
“Today’s event has been amazing. I did a presentation on content, social marketing and really figuring out how to emotionally connect with your consumers to drive conversion. And so I did like a few case studies on Nike and, the Faroh Islands did this amazing campaign on tourism and just talking about how, no matter what brand you represent, it’s really all about creating an authentic connection with your consumers. And so we did that and we just finished up a workshop where I had them re-write some Instagram, captions for a new Nike shoe that launched. Because I told them, you can sell a shoe, you can sell anything.”
Cashew lovers, get ready! The countdown is on for one of Belize’s most flavorful and festive traditions—the annual Cashew Festival and Agricultural Show. This Saturday, Crooked Tree Village will come alive as Belizeans from near and far gather for a day packed with food, fun, and family traditions. From cashew wine to roasted nuts and jams, the event celebrates the many creative ways this versatile fruit is enjoyed—and the hardworking farmers who make it all possible. Earlier this week, News Five caught up with residents as they put the finishing touches on preparations. Spirits are high, and the village is buzzing with excitement. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It may not be December, but in Crooked Tree Village, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas—cashew-style. That’s the festive feeling in the air as residents gear up for the highly anticipated Cashew Festival and Agricultural Show. With farmers roasting, bakers prepping, and cashew lovers buzzing with excitement, the village is ready to roll out its signature celebration. From sweet treats to savory snacks, the festival promises a flavorful weekend full of tradition, talent, and togetherness.
George Tillett
George Tillett, Chairman, Crooked Tree Village
“It is that time year, for some people they call it, Crooked Tree Christmas in a month of. April and May, because you know, that is when a lot of cash is being generated through these famous cash products. And so, you know, it’s a tradition that goes on from year to year only getting better and better.”
Cashews aren’t just a snack, they’re a way of life in Crooked Tree, and Belizeans can’t get enough of them. Beloved for their rich wine and perfectly roasted nuts, cashews are the star of the show this weekend. But as local resident Verna Samuels explains, the fruit’s versatility goes far beyond the basics.
Verna Samuels
Verna Samuels, Crooked Tree Resident
“Lots of stuff going on in there because we are trying to make something. As many things as possible out of cashew, because it’s gonna be a cashew festival, and that’s what we mean. It is a cashew festival.”
Marion Ali
“So you’re sticking to the traditional jams, juices, jellies, deserts, pastries, bread and bone, even butter?”
Verna Samuels
“Yes, yes. We are doing that and we are, we are adding a little, a few more items such as, such as we wanna pickle the cashew for the first time. And we have, preserved some, um, in the past and we wanna do some more of that.”
While jams and wines are popular favorites, she has ventured into less traditional uses for the nuts as well.
Verna Samuels
“Cashew milk, we’ve only tried it once and we are going to do it again.”
Marion Ali
“What does it taste like?”
Verna Samuels
“It tastes pretty much like almond milk or something like that. It’s pretty tasty and people go for it.”
In the world of food innovation, Joan Arana is making waves with an unexpected star ingredient: the often-overlooked cashew fruit. While most people toss it aside, Arana saw potential—and now she’s turning what was once waste into mouthwatering meat substitutes.
Joan Arana
Joan Arana, Crooked Tree Resident
“So this is the cashew fruit with my garlic, onions, sweet pepper, cilantro, oregano, thyme. Because I am doing cashew panades, I use the seasonings that I normally would use for fish like when I’m doing a fish panades and CrookedTree People no eat it of it no have fish, We got fish in abundance, right?”
Marion Ali
“So that the fish with cashew.”
Joan Arana
“This is one hundred percent cashew.”
What started as a simple observation has turned into a culinary breakthrough for Joan Arana. After noticing how many cashew fruits were being thrown away each year, Arana decided to get creative—and the results are turning heads and tricking taste buds. She began experimenting with the often-wasted fruit, and before long, she was whipping up dishes that look, taste, and even feel like real meat.
Joan Arana
“Here you have the cashew meat already prepared that I use for like the patties that I will use for like the burgers. These are in one pong bags already in your freezer. So they have different tastes, different spices.”
Marion Ali
“So that taste like what?”
Joan Arana
“This is regular, like how you would stew. Your grind meat or brown chicken or something like that. This is this And say similar to gr meat.. I made patties from this and took it out when we had a ladies Baptist fond there and they did not realize the difference between the chicken the chicken patty and the cashew patty”
According to Ricky Burns, climate change has become a challenge for many farmers as unexpected floods and droughts ruin the trees’ yields.
Ricky Burns
Ricky Burns, Crooked Tree Resident
“The fruit is very important. Especially for people that make wines, jams, jellies any kind of cash preserve. So we years by years gone by, we used to get the root. The fruits are really amazing. Yeah. Now, because our whole hot and how dry it’s become we don’t have the amount of fruits. Like we used to get.”
Despite the challenges of climate change, which have stifled crops, cashews remain a staple in the village. Burns details how he makes the beloved classic of roasted cashews.
Ricky Burns
“I’m separating the cashew fruit. They’re a few days old, so that’s why they’re not yellow or anything like that, but we still gotta collect them because we want the nuts. The nuts is very valuable as everybody know. So I’m separating this, the nut from the whole fruit. And then and then there’s a process after that you wash them. I personally wash them and dry them because I am, they last forever if you do that to them. So I wash them and I dry them, and then after that we roast them.”
The two-day festival kicks off on May tenth in Crooked Tree. Britney Gordon for News Five.
For years, Carlos Lopez was a familiar sight on the streets of Belize City, known for his steady hands behind the wheel and his commitment to getting passengers where they needed to go. As a pioneer in the local bus industry, he built a reputation for affordable, reliable service — and earned the respect of an entire community. But life took a sharp turn when Carlos suffered not one, but two strokes. The road he once knew so well changed overnight. Now, instead of navigating city traffic, Carlos is navigating a new path — one defined by resilience, faith, and a deep sense of purpose. Though he’s no longer driving buses, he’s still moving forward, inspiring others with his strength and spirit. In tonight’s edition of The Bright Side, Sabreena Daly brings us the story of a man who, even in the face of loss, has found new meaning in the present.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
If you’ve ever waited too long for a bus or squeezed into one that felt more like a sardine can, you’re not alone. Belize’s public transport system has long tested the patience of commuters, with aging buses, overcrowding, and unpredictable schedules becoming the norm. While some reforms are slowly rolling out, daily riders still face an uphill battle. But one man has been sounding the alarm, and offering solutions, for decades. Carlos Lopez, a veteran of the transport industry, is widely respected for his deep knowledge and unwavering commitment to better service. From behind the wheel to behind the scenes, Lopez has spent years pushing for change, earning him a reputation as both a pioneer and a people’s advocate.
Carlos Lopez
Carlos Lopez, Former Owner, Lopez Shuttle
“I love being in a bus. I love driving a bus, and all I knew at the time were buses, so that’s why I opened the company to provide service for people. My priority were the customers, more specifically, small children and elderly women. I made sure I took care of them and in turn, they took care of me.”
Lopez began in the 1980s as a conductor. His legacy rolls through the streets of Belize City every day — in the form of affordable, comfortable, and accessible city shuttles. Many of them still follow the very routes Carlos Lopez first mapped out years ago. His vision didn’t just move people — it moved an entire system forward.
Carlos Lopez
“ Well, one of the primary things I Initiated when I started the bus runs was a different service at the time. At the time there was just a regular bus and so I introduced what I called “Dalla Ice”. At the time the fuel prices were only $3, so I could actually offer a service, an extra service with air condition buses. I pioneered the West Landivar route. From West Landivar, Central American Boulevard, Yabourough and Downtown, I pioneered that bus run to get people to have a service available to go across the city. Instead of catching one bus at Faber’s road, and then going downtown, changing bus to Western River, I had one route across town.”
For years, Carlos Lopez was the driving force behind city transport, literally. Through his company, Lopez Shuttle, he set out to raise the bar offering Belizeans affordable, comfortable, and reliable rides across the city. But today, you won’t find Carlos behind the wheel. After surviving two strokes in 2023, Lopez now watches the very buses he once drove from a new vantage point, seated in his wheelchair along Princess Margaret Drive. It’s a quieter journey, but one filled with reflection and resilience.
Carlos Lopez
“ I cried many days because I was in bed and I couldn’t come out at all because I couldn’t move. My whole left side died, so I couldn’t move. And many days I cried in my bed, but when I got up, I told the Lord that he got me up and now. I now operate where I come and see buses run every day.”
Sabreena Daly
“While at the side of the road or the street?
Carlos Lopez
“What are you, what are you looking to see? Well, I’m making sure that headlights are working, I’m checking passengers in the bus, making sure that we’re operating positively.”
Grief doesn’t always come with goodbyes at a funeral. Sometimes, it’s the quiet ache of stepping away from a life you loved. Psychologist Nasima Reyes reminds us that grief can also mean losing a sense of purpose. For Carlos Lopez, that may be the hardest part, watching from the sidelines as the transport world he helped shape rolls on without him.
Nasima Reyes
Nasima Reyes, Psychologist
“ Grief is any sense of loss, not necessarily with a loved one or death. It’s a universal response, or a normal response to any sort of loss that is causing significant distress within a person.”
Carlos Lopez
“ I grieved that I couldn’t drive my buses, first of all, and second, this year, in January, I lost my mother, so I had extra grief in my heart. But everything, all the grief that I have. I took it to the Lord in prayer and he soothed my heart.”
After years of battling emotional and physical pain, Carlos Lopez has reached what psychologists call the final stage of grief: acceptance.
He no longer dreams of returning to the driver’s seat or reliving the fast-paced days of Belize’s transport hustle. Instead, Carlos is learning to embrace a quieter, more reflective life—one grounded in faith. That faith, he says, has become both his refuge and his compass, guiding him through the uncertainty of change and helping him find peace in the present.
Carlos Lopez
“The Lord has given me strength. As i said earlier, I couldn’t walk. I could only pray. It was so bad. But I thank God that God gave me the strength.”
Nasima Reyes
“ It all comes back down to coming to a place of acceptance and recognizing where you are, recognizing what did not work and how you can move forward, with the tools and with the resources that you have gained.”
Lopez Shuttle may have a new face at the helm, but its service is still near to the heart of the Lopez patriarch.
Sabreena Daly
“Do you feel fulfilled with the legacy that you’ve led and you’ve left.”
Carlos Lopez
“To be honest with you, my heart is a joy because I’m able to pass on something that I worked on for my family and my wife. My two daughters and my son have been behind me and I feel good that I can leave it.”
This morning, Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton held a press conference at her constituency office to address the recent ruling by Justice Tawanda Hondora. The decision, handed down on Wednesday afternoon, declared that Panton’s expulsion from the U.D.P. was unlawful and that the October twentieth, 2024, convention she held was not an official U.D.P. event. Panton stated that she respects Justice Hondora’s decision and believes it sets the stage for the party to chart a new path forward in selecting a new executive team. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on Panton’s reaction and the implications for the U.D.P.’s future.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Wednesday, High Court Justice Tawanda Hondora delivered a pivotal ruling in the United Democratic Party’s internal conflict involving Tracy Taegar-Panton, Moses Shyne Barrow, and others. The thirty-seven-page judgment declared Panton’s expulsion from the UDP unlawful and stated that the October twentieth convention she led was not an official UDP National Convention. Today, Panton responded to the ruling, marking a significant moment in the ongoing leadership struggle within the party.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“It leaves the party having to make a determination on a way forward, not post October twentieth, post March twelfth and we all know how March twelfth played out. The former party leader of the U.D.P. lost his seat and what the U.D.P. constitution dictates, if you lose your seat you cannot serve in the capacity of leader.”
Justice Tawanda Hondora has ruled that Tracy Taegar-Panton’s expulsion from the UDP breached several articles of the party’s constitution. The judgment highlighted that no evidence was presented to show that the Central Executive Committee investigated. Additionally, Panton was expelled without a hearing, and the decision was made by individuals with apparent grievances against her. However, Justice Hondora stopped short of declaring that Panton is or remains a member of the UDP.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“If it was not valid, I was not expelled, I was not constructively resigned, I am a member of the party, I ran under the U.D.P umbrella, I won under the U.D.P umbrella, I have been appointed as leader of the opposition under U.D.P umbrella. I think you have the answer. It is not for any court to step within a membership organization, a political organization and tell the membership how it ought to conduct it affairs. I think he made that explicitly clear in his judgement.”
In an interesting turn of events, Justice Hondora has ruled against the expulsion of several key party members. Attorney Sheena Pitts announced that the ruling not only affects Panton but also nullifies the expulsions of Beverly Williams, Patrick Faber, and John Saldivar.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-Law
“When the claim was filed, honorable Panton counterclaimed and in her counterclaim other parties were sought to be added in the form of honorable Faber, Mr. Saldivar and Beverly Williams. So the expulsion point in the counterclaim covered all such members and what happened in the case the judge said to save cost we will not add these members but we can address the expulsion point as a preliminary issue and we will deal with in turn, address it for honorable Panton and the ramifications for honorable Panton applies to those person.”
Justice Hondora has declared the October twentieth meeting invalid, stating it did not adhere to the UDP constitution’s guidelines for national conventions. According to Hondora, a legitimate national convention must be organized and held by the Central Executive Committee. However, this meeting was orchestrated by Panton and her supporters. Furthermore, Hondora emphasized that the UDP constitution grants the National Party Council the exclusive authority to set the date for a national convention, which must be chaired by the council’s chairperson. This ruling raises questions about the legitimacy of the decisions made during the controversial meeting.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“We felt compelled. The decision makers of the party was clamoring. The situation was completely untenable and so we took action, we made, and we respect that, procedural missteps. I can assure you that will not happen in the future.”
Pitts has conceded that her appointment as interim chair of the UDP, made on October twentieth, is invalid. This acknowledgment follows Justice Hondora’s ruling, which found the appointment did not comply with the party’s constitutional requirements.
Sheena Pitts
“The appointment for me as interim chair cannot hold, I am not the chair and especially backed up by the judgement, I am not the chair. But we knew that since general election, because those interim appointment only lasted until the general election. The general election was definitive in that it is the great reset.”
As the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) navigates its future, Tracy Taegar-Panton has made a striking revelation: the party currently has no leader. Panton asserts that Barrow, having lost his seat in Mesopotamia and subsequently resigned, no longer has the authority to make decisions for the U.D.P. When asked about the party’s leadership, Panton’s response highlighted the uncertainty and need for a clear direction moving forward.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I think the leadership will be determined when we have a leadership convention. In the absence of a leader, the deputy leader is tasked with taking on some of those responsibilities. In the absence of a chair, the vice chair is asked to take on some of those responsibilities, but there is no leader of the U.D.P. There is a first deputy leader and a second deputy leader who will step into that role until a leader has been determined.”
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-law
“On March eighteenth and before the media, all members, all caretakers and area representatives met at the Biltmore Plaza and there the Honorable Hugo Patt stood up and declare his support for the intended leadership of the honorable Tracy Taegar Panton. It is correct to appreciate that since the great reset, there is no party leader, the former party leader not only lost his seat, but also resigned, a resignation you cannot take back. The former chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, has also resigned and has not gone down the same road of trying to take back that resignation. So it creates two voids, for party leadership and for chair.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton has initiated the process to convene a national party council meeting to set a date for a leadership convention. At this convention, party delegates will choose the U.D.P.’s new leader. With no current chairman, Alberto August is stepping in as acting chairman. Panton confirmed that August has already indicated they will proceed with the NPC meeting to finalize the date for the leadership convention. This step marks a crucial moment for the party as it seeks to establish its future direction.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“We are definitely adhering to the process. As I said, two weeks ago we started collecting the signatures for an NPC to be convened, to mandate it, because once it is petitioned, it must be convened. Those signatures have been delivered to the vice chairman status quo ante. Those signatures have been delivered to the secretary general. In my conversations with Alberto August earlier this week, there was an agreement and he wrote to me formally to say we will proceed with an NPC and that NPC a date will be determined for a leadership convention to be held.”
Paul Lopez
“We heard Mr. Barrow speak about October, are we concerned any at all about the apparent hold he has on the process and how it may frustrate this entire timeline and the plans we are setting out.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“This party does not belong to Tracy Panton, it does not belong to Hugo Patt, it does not belong to Beverly Williams. It does not belong to Beverly Williams. It does not belong to Jamal Barrow. The party belongs to the people.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow is contemplating filing a claim against Tracy Taegar-Panton and her supporters, alleging fraud. Barrow argues that the October twentieth convention, now deemed illegitimate by the High Court, set off fraudulent events that deprived him and his supporters of a rightful claim to be the sole U.D.P. in the recent general election. With these serious allegations, the question arises: is Panton worried about potential exposure?
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney- at-law
“First of all you are asking me to be, enjoy the status of lord and Jesus Christ, because I don’t think it is my place to understand the irrationality of someone who is clearly belaboring from a delusion. I would ask you to allow me not to take the invitation to sort out that foolishness. What I can say is understanding the process within the U.D.P. there was nothing fraudulent in that it is his own constituency executive together met and decided that they had had enough of him as an area rep and they were dissatisfied of his leadership and they opted to go for somebody else. And guess what on the day of the election, if it is that we was still popular as he makes himself out to be, he still had that opportunity, he was still permitted to run, and it turned out the people signaled to him that the way we are going to show you that we are dissatisfied with your leadership is by voting for the alternative.”
In other U.D.P. news, Patrick Faber has been tapped to lead a constitutional reform committee, a move driven by Tracy Taegar-Panton’s call for urgent party reforms. However, this appointment has sparked controversy. Acting Chairman Alberto August is reportedly unhappy with Faber’s new role and is calling for the committee to be dissolved immediately. Here’s what Panton had to say about the situation.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“We also need urgently the reforms in the constitution. There are some ambiguity in the constitution as it now stands. The honorable Patrick Faber was tasked to put together a working group that will start collecting recommendations for reform that will then be put forward for whoever the legal entity is, the Central Executive and national party council. I don’t see why Mr. Alberto or anyone else would see that as a legal approach. We cannot change the constitution and we will not change the constitution in the absence of hearing from the stakeholders of this party. Their voice is important and their voice will be taken into account when this party makes its decisions. Gone are the days when unilateral decision are taken on behalf of the party by a madman.”
