2025-06-11 - Greater Belize Media

Government Tackles Traffic Troubles in Caye Caulker and San Pedro

Traffic congestion on Belize’s popular island destinations, Caye Caulker and San Pedro, has been a growing concern for residents and visitors alike. But now, the Ministry of Transportation is stepping in with a plan to tackle the issue head-on. Earlier today, Minister Louis Zabaneh and CEO Chester Williams met face-to-face with local traffic committees from both islands. Their mission? To hear directly from the people dealing with the daily gridlock and to find out what’s really causing the traffic headaches. Joining them were top officials from the Ministry of Local Government, including transport and planning experts. The meetings were described as productive, with committee members sharing their concerns and offering practical ideas to improve traffic flow. Minister Zabaneh emphasized the importance of working hand-in-hand with local leaders, saying, quote, this meeting shows our commitment to finding real, sustainable solutions together, end quote. So, what’s next? The Ministry will now review all the feedback and develop a set of recommendations aimed at easing congestion, improving safety, and promoting greener transportation options on both islands. It’s a step forward in building a safer, more efficient transport system, not just for islanders, but for all Belizeans.

Traffic Lights Fail Again at Busy Belize City Intersection

The traffic lights at one of Belize City’s busiest intersections, Vernon Street and Central American Boulevard, are out of service once again. This marks the second time this year the lights have malfunctioned, and earlier today, the outage led to a collision between two vehicles just before noon. We spoke with Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller, who explained the cause of the latest breakdown and what’s being done to fix it. According to Miller, the city is working to restore the system as quickly as possible to prevent further accidents and traffic chaos.

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“This time it has been caused by the major thunderstorm that we experienced last week Wednesday. The power surge caused one of the four cards in the system’s motherboard system to blow and we realized this during an inspection done the following morning, Thursday of last week. Since then we have been working with the technical people bringing in the necessary card. That part is scheduled to be in country this Friday. We anticipate that by the end of the day on Friday the light should be operational again. As you have highlighted this seems to be some recurrent, but each time it is beyond the control of the council. We are looking at measures to put in place to avoid this happening in the future. We are reviewing the option of adding power surge protectors. While it is the light is down, we do have traffic officers on the site at the intersection from six forty-five a.m. to six p.m. from Monday to Friday during the week. On the weekend e even have officers from eight a.m. to five p.m. and they assist traffic flows during peak hours. When the traffic is a bit lighter you will notice them observing or monitoring from a bit of shade. I also understand there was an incident earlier today at this very intersection. I must share that report has revealed that one of the motorist was using a mobile device while driving, which is illegal. So it is really important to clarify that the absence of a functioning light does not excuse reckless driving.”

Belize Joins Global Effort to Protect Climate-Strong Coral Reefs

Belize has officially joined a coalition of twelve nations pledging to protect the world’s most climate-resilient coral reefs. The announcement came at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where Belize stood alongside countries like France, Indonesia, and Palau. The goal? To safeguard coral reefs that are most likely to survive the impacts of climate change—rising temperatures, stronger storms, and warming seas. The pledge is being led by major conservation groups including the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, The Nature Conservancy, and Papua New Guinea. It calls on countries to weave reef protection into their national climate and biodiversity plans, reduce local threats, and support community-led conservation efforts. Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the conference, saying: “As a small developing nation, our valiant conservation efforts alone can’t shield our oceans. The impacts of climate change are too big for any one country. We need global teamwork to protect our oceans for future generations.” The initiative is backed by cutting-edge science, including the upcoming “50 Reefs+” analysis from WCS, and has early support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Global Environment Facility. Belize’s commitment is another bold step in its long-standing leadership in marine conservation, and a reminder that even small nations can make a big impact when it comes to protecting our planet.

Belize’s Fishers Are Now Scientists—and They’re Helping Save the Sea

Before most of us are even awake, Belize’s coastal fishers are already out at sea. But these days, they’re not just casting nets, they’re collecting data. Armed with measuring tools and fish ID guides, they’ve become “fisher scientists,” helping protect the very ocean they depend on. With fish stocks shrinking and species like the Nassau Grouper in trouble, the Wildlife Conservation Society Belize is leading a bold new effort. They’ve launched a two-year project that blends science with local wisdom to make fishing more sustainable, and it’s already making waves. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Long before sunrise, fishers along Belize’s coast are already out on the water. But these days, they’re not just casting nets, they’re collecting data. Armed with measuring tools and species ID guides, they’re becoming “fisher scientists,” helping protect the very ocean they rely on. With fish stocks shrinking and key species like the Nassau Grouper in danger, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Belize is stepping in with a bold plan. Backed by an $800,000 grant from the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, they’ve launched a two-year project that blends science with local know-how to manage fisheries more sustainably. Early findings from Belize City, Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia show that many fish are being caught too young—before they can reproduce. That’s a red flag for future fish populations. But what’s really special? The data is being gathered by seasoned fishers—many retired—who’ve spent their lives on the sea. They’ve been trained to measure, weigh, and identify fish, and their insights are helping shape smarter fishing rules.

This community-first approach builds trust. Former Fisheries Officer Henry Brown says it best: “When I explain why releasing certain fish matters, they listen—because they know I’ve been in their shoes.” WCS is also spotlighting the often-invisible role of women in fisheries—from prepping gear to processing and selling the catch.

Their Women in Fisheries Forum, now with seven chapters nationwide, is giving these women a long-overdue voice. And thanks to local funding, this work is built to last. WCS emphasizes that real conservation success comes from consistent community engagement—not just big offshore projects. Looking ahead, WCS hopes this fisher-led model will guide Belize’s future fisheries policies. As Assistant Country Director Ralna Lamb Lewis puts it, “The people who depend on the sea should be the ones helping protect it.” Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Tracy Panton Backs Patt, Slams “Illegitimate” UDP Meeting

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is once again facing internal strife as tensions rise between Hugo Patt and Acting Chairman Alberto August just days before a scheduled National Party Council (NPC) meeting.

Patt has called for the meeting, set for this Saturday, to be postponed. He argues that more time is needed to properly review and verify the list of delegates. However, Acting Chairman August has dismissed the request. In response, August told Patt that the meeting will go ahead as planned and added that Patt is free to skip it if he chooses.

Meanwhile, Moses “Shyne” Barrow continues to insist he remains the rightful UDP leader, and his legal team has warned Patt that any attempts to remove Barrow could lead to legal action.

Patt has accused August of defying his authority and called on other party members not to attend.

Albert Area Representative and Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Taegar-Panton, weighed in on the matter. “When you have more than fifty percent of your caretakers and their respective executive committee excluded from an NPC meeting that we have now petitioned for twice, then you cannot deem that as any effort to unite,” said Panton.

She emphasized that the party’s focus should be on national issues rather than internal conflict. “We have been in dialogue with all colleagues, not just Hugo Patt, to say that when we look at all the glaring issues, the corruption by government, the disregard of public officers, the disrespect to teachers, all that we see in these bloated contracts that have come to life, the issuance of land.. these kinds of stories should be what we ought to be spending our time and attention on,” she stated.

Panton also expressed support for Patt, calling him the de facto leader. “I think it has now become absolutely clear to the Honorable Hugo Patt, who is our first deputy party leader and the de facto leader of the party now that Shyne Barrow resigned and also lost his seat, that he has come to recognition that no amount of talking, no amount of reaching out, no kind of mediative process has yielded any results in the interest of the party,” she said.

Belize Represented at CARICOM’s 60th COTED Meeting

Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Marconi Leal Jr., led the country’s delegation at CARICOM’s 60th Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting held June 10–11 in Georgetown, Guyana.

Key topics included advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), free movement of skilled workers, trade in goods like grains and citrus juice, and regional standards on hazardous chemicals.

Belize also pushed for progress on a Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador. Minister Leal, along with Foreign Trade Director General Gayle Miller-Garnett and Deputy Director Tricia Gideon, also met with leaders from the newly launched World Trade Center in Guyana to explore trade and investment opportunities.

The team invited regional partners to the upcoming Belize Invest Summit in September.

The Reason Why the Stop Lights are Not Functioning

A traffic accident occurred early this morning at the intersection of Vernon Street and Central American Boulevard, where the stop lights have been out of operation since last week.

According to Belize City Deputy Mayor and Councillor in charge of Traffic, Eluide Miller, the malfunction was caused by a recent weather event. “This time it has been caused by the major thunderstorm that we experienced last week Wednesday,” Miller explained. “The power surge caused one of the four cards in the system’s motherboard system to blow and we realized this during an inspection done the following morning, Thursday of last week.”

Since the discovery, the City Council has been working to repair the damage. “We have been working with the technical people bringing in the necessary card. That part is scheduled to be in country this Friday. We anticipate that by the end of the day on Friday the light should be operational again,” said Miller.

The intersection is known for high traffic volume, and residents have expressed concern over recurring outages at the location.

“As you have highlighted this seems to be some recurrent, but each time it is beyond the control of the council. We are looking at measures to put in place to avoid this happening in the future. We are reviewing the option of adding power surge protectors.”

In the meantime, the Council has deployed traffic officers to help manage the flow at the busy intersection. “While the light is down, we do have traffic officers on the site at the intersection from six forty-five a.m. to six p.m. from Monday to Friday during the week. On the weekend we even have officers from eight a.m. to five p.m. and they assist traffic flows during peak hours. When the traffic is a bit lighter you will notice them observing or monitoring from a bit of shade,” he noted.

Commenting on this morning’s accident, Miller shared, “I also understand there was an incident earlier today at this very intersection. I must share that report has revealed that one of the motorist was using a mobile device while driving, which is illegal. So it is really important to clarify that the absence of a functioning light does not excuse reckless driving.”

Belizeans Dumping Excessive Garbage on Highways

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development is urging both the public and municipal authorities to take greater responsibility in keeping Belize’s roadways clean, after ongoing efforts to clear litter are repeatedly undone within hours.

The ministry voiced its frustration, saying, “Sometimes it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle. Our teams can leave a roadside spotless today, and hours after, it’s littered with garbage.”

The ministry said that municipal authorities, particularly those transporting garbage to transfer stations, are often careless in their handling of waste—contributing to the ongoing issue.

“We’re appealing to our people, and that includes municipal authorities who transport garbage to their transfer stations recklessly—please understand that the resources we spend on picking up garbage could be much better spent elsewhere,” the statement continued.

Utility Unions Stand in Solidarity with Teachers

The Belize Communications Workers Union, Belize Energy Workers Union, and Belize Water Service Workers Union, collectively known as the Utility Unions, are standing in solidarity with the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU).

The Utility Unions are calling for immediate and fair resolution to the teachers’ long-standing grievances over stagnant salaries and economic inequality.

The statement added, “These actions stem from prolonged salary stagnation amidst rising inflation, and they reflect a broader systemic disparity in the treatment of workers, particularly between those employed at the lower echelons of the public service and those at the upper levels, especially in relation to salary adjustments or giving tax breaks.”

“This state of affairs contradicts the promises made to the Belizean electorate during successive political campaigns and undermines the principle of equity in governance,” the release states.

They stressed that fair compensation for educators is not only a matter of justice but also a strategic investment in Belize’s future. “Such investment not only enhances the national education system but also stimulates domestic economic activity and contributes to increased government revenue through taxation”

The unions are urging all stakeholders to return to the negotiating table and reach a fair and timely agreement.

Alberto August to Patt: Respect the Constitution or Step Aside

Acting Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Alberto August, has responded to Hugo Patt who asked party delegates to boycott Saturday’s National Party Council meeting.

August says that the UDP Constitution does not grant the Party Leader, any interim leader, or a Deputy Leader the power to direct the Party Chairman in such matters.

“Article 7(6) of the Party’s Constitution clearly states: ‘The National Party Council shall meet at least once every three (3) months. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson'”

August says that given that the last NPC meeting occurred on January 25, 2025, the upcoming meeting is not only valid but overdue.

August also recounted efforts to seek legal guidance on party matters, noting that although Patt initially suggested consulting attorney Aldo Salazar, no progress was made.

August says he took the initiative to contact Salazar himself after failed attempts. However, he stressed that the authority to determine NPC membership lies solely with the Central Executive Committee, as outlined in Article 8(2)(e) of the UDP Constitution. He further explained that a meeting of the Central Executive Committee was convened on May 18, 2025, at the UDP Headquarters in Belize City. Despite Patt’s absence, first due to scheduling conflicts and later despite being offered the option to attend virtually, the meeting proceeded as planned.

August says that during the meeting, four major resolutions were passed: the reinstatement of all expelled party members, the scheduling of special constituency conventions for all 31 constituencies beginning in July 2025, the setting of a National Convention for the first week of October 2025, and the continuation of the current leadership executive until a new one is elected at the National Convention. August confirmed that the required 14-day notice for the NPC meeting was issued on May 28, and that all members have been informed and consulted accordingly.

August concludes by telling Patt, “The Party has been going through hell for over five years. We went into the March 2025 general elections totally divided. This division must come to an end. Since the recent resignation of the Chairman, I have been engaged overtime in the effort to unite our Party. We are now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, please do not convert that glimmer of hope into the headlight of an approaching train. While it is our desire to have you in attendance, not attending the scheduled meeting of the NPC is totally up to you, all we ask is that you seek not to usurp the authority of the Central Executive Committee, the Party Chairman and by extension the National Convention of the United Democratic Party.”