2025-06-16 - Greater Belize Media

Drilling Vessel Titania FE to Anchor Briefly Off Belize

The Belize Port Authority has confirmed that the semi-submersible drilling unit MV Titania FE is scheduled to arrive in Belizean waters on Tuesday for a brief, regulated stopover.

According to a press release, the vessel’s visit is strictly for “the purpose of replenishing stores and comply[ing] with regulatory requirements set forth by Mexican authorities.”

Due to its size and draft limitations, the MV Titania FE will not enter Belize City Harbour. Instead, it will anchor outside English Caye, where all inbound and outbound clearance procedures will be conducted by Belizean authorities.

The vessel is expected to remain in Belizean waters for approximately four hours before returning to Mexico. The Belize Port Authority said that under international maritime law, MV Titania FE is legally recognized as a ship, and “Belize is obligated to facilitate such port calls.”

Importantly, the public is advised that “MV Titania FE is not authorized to engage in any activity beyond the approved resupply operations while within Belizean waters.”

BNTU President: “We Ain’t Opening Any Classrooms”

During her live video statement on Saturday, BNTU President Nadia Caliz issued a direct warning to the Ministry of Education: no salary adjusment, no back-to-school.

She said, “We ain’t doing anything until you recognize our contribution and you treat us with the respect that we have. And if we still cannot achieve that, we ain’t opening any classrooms.”

“Come August, 5,000 workshops? We’re not going there. We ain’t painting no classroom. We ain’t buying any materials… we ain’t opening any classrooms,” she added.

Caliz also told the government that is “propaganda campaign” is backfiring.

“You are hemorrhaging,” she said to persons behind anti-JUNT ads opposing the union’s demands. “Look at your comments. The people of this country, they’re not fools. They’re awakened. They understand what is going on.”

Caliz condemned the portrayal of unions as “greedy” for seeking state assistance, despite those funds being legally allocated. “It’s taxpayer’s money. It does not belong to any one of them individually,” she stated.

UDP National Party Council Meeting Fails to Proceed

A Saturday meeting intended to unify the United Democratic Party (UDP) instead exposed deepening divisions that boiled over to the event ultimately failing to proceed. The UDP’s National Party Council (NPC) meeting, scheduled for Saturday, ended in disarray with the Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton claiming that her attendance and that of Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt were excluded from the gathering.

Panton criticised the process as illegitimate. “Anybody that Shyne Barrow believes is not supporting him remaining in a position he’s no longer qualified to hold is not invited to the NPC; that is unacceptable,” she said. “He will not be allowed to hijack the UDP.”

Police cordoned off the area as invited delegates made their way into the UDP Secretariat building on Youth for the Future Drive.

Police cordoned off the area as selected delegates entered the building. Meanwhile, several UDP members, including Panton and her supporters, were left outside and uninvited.

The meeting was ultimately abandoned after hours of standoff, which UDP’s Shyne Barrow called “a shame and disgrace.”

Meanwhile, videos of Panton showed her in a verbal exchange with police officers.

Israel-Iran War Escalates into Fourth Day, Iranian State TV Broadcaster Attacked

The war between Israel and Iran has entered its fourth day, with escalating airstrikes and rising casualties on both sides.

According to CNN, Iranian missiles struck an Israeli oil refinery and power infrastructure over the weekend, while Israel claims to have destroyed around one-third of Iran’s missile launchers.

Tehran has launched over 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones, successfully hitting 30 sites in Israel, according to Israeli officials.

At least 24 people have been killed and 592 injured in Israel. Iran’s health ministry reports 224 fatalities since hostilities began on Friday.

Tensions intensified on Monday as the Iranian state television complex in Tehran’s District 3 claimed it was attacked by Israel. Images of the building housing the Iranian state television channel IRINN showed the glass-walled headquarters in flames, with parts of the building blown out.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog accused Iran of using nuclear talks with US President Donald Trump as a smokescreen to secretly advance its nuclear weapons programme, CNN reported.

“The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X. “The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for unity and defended his country’s nuclear program, stating, “The people of Iran must join hands and stand strong against the aggression that has been launched against us.” According to CNN, Pezeshkian further stated that the Iranians were “not the aggressors.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has declined to sign a G7 statement calling for de-escalation, which has worsened the divisions among world leaders over the crisis.

CNN reported that an official attending the G7 summit revealed it is “not a done deal yet; this is something that will be discussed at the leader level,” and that “It’s too early to speculate on what will or will not come out of that conversation” with President Trump.

The G7 summit is currently taking place in Canada and will last through Tuesday, June 15.

USDA Flags Screwworm Outbreak in Belize, Imposes Import Curbs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has added Belize and El Salvador to its list of regions affected by New World Screwworm (NWS), a dangerous parasitic pest that poses serious risks to livestock, pets, and wildlife. The designation follows confirmed outbreaks in both countries, prompting import restrictions on horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs entering the United States.

These animals must now be inspected and treated before entry to prevent reintroduction of the pest.

In Belize, the outbreak is rapidly spreading. As of May 7, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) reported 70 confirmed cases of NWS, primarily in southern and western regions including Toledo, Stann Creek, Cayo, and parts of the Belize District.

While 90-day quarantines have been lifted in infested zones, movement permits and NWS Health Inspection Certificates remain mandatory. Treatment with Ivermectin (or Doramectin for horses) is required before moving animals from infested to non-infested areas such as Corozal and Orange Walk.

Pet and backyard animal owners are being urged to inspect wounds regularly and report any signs of myiasis (larval infestations). Entry and transport of animals across control points, Sandhill, Bullet Tree Falls, and Jalacte, must comply with strict declaration and inspection protocols. Violations of Statutory Instrument 143 of 2024, which governs screwworm control, carry penalties of up to $5,000 BZD or three years’ imprisonment.

In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told the House Agriculture Committee that she is preparing to unveil a groundbreaking federal strategy to tackle the growing threat. She characterised the plan as “unlike anything seen before” and said she expects strong congressional backing.

Weekend Payment Disruption Ahead

The Central Bank of Belize has announced that its Automated Payments and Securities Settlement System (APSSS) will be temporarily offline from 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 20 June 2025, until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 23 June 2025 to facilitate a major system upgrade.

In a release, the Central Bank explained that during this period, “domestic financial institutions will not be able to access APSSS services.” However, the public will still have access to some payment options. “Instant Funds Transfer (IFT) services will be available starting Saturday afternoon and will remain active throughout the remainder of the weekend,” the Bank stated.

This scheduled maintenance is part of a broader initiative to modernise Belize’s National Payment System. The Central Bank, in partnership with the Government of Belize and domestic financial institutions, is upgrading APSSS to implement “the ISO 20022 international standard for financial messaging.” The new standard is expected to “improve the efficiency, security, and interoperability of payment processing across Belize’s financial system.”

The Central Bank is advising customers to “check with their respective financial institutions for updates and for information on available payment options during the temporary disruption.”

Trump Joins G7 Talks in Canada

Canada is rolling out the red carpet for some of the world’s most powerful leaders of industrialised nations as the Group of 7 summit kicked off in Alberta, Canada. The leaders gather against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical and economic challenges and rising diplomatic tensions.

The three-day meeting began Sunday, June 15, and brings together leaders from the G7 nations, which are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, along with the European Union. The summit will last through Tuesday, June 17.

Though not members of the G7, additional guests include the heads of India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, South Korea, Ukraine, and NATO, according to The New York Times.

US President Donald Trump’s presence has drawn heightened attention, with tensions running high over his recent tariffs on G7 nations and inflammatory remarks about making Canada the US’s 51st state.

Talks will focus on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as Ukraine, economic resilience, wildfires, smuggling and access to critical raw materials.

“8.5 Is 8.5”: BNTU President Slams GOB

President of the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), Nadia Caliz, delivered a fiery public address this weekend. Caliz condemned what she described as government attempts to politicise and discredit the union’s call for the 8.5% salary adjustment.

“8.5 is 8.5. Nothing will discourage this movement,” Caliz said. She accused the government of waging a “smear campaign” against the unions and trying to manipulate public perception through what she described as misleading advertisements. “They can put out 1,000 videos… but their very own people are not supporting them,” she said.

Caliz also pushed back against claims that fulfilling the salary adjustment would cost the government $100 million. “Let’s look at how it started $13 million, then $20 million, then $40 million, then $60 million, now $100 million. The politics they’re trying to use to distort the pain and suffering of the Belizean people will not work,” she said.

She said that teachers, along with other workers, bore the brunt of the country’s economic recovery through frozen increments and a 10% wage cut. “Three frozen increments and a 10% cut. Look at your salary now, put it back in, and see what you contributed to the rebounding of this country,” she challenged fellow public officers.

Belize Participates in Brazil-Caribbean Summit Ahead of COP30

Belize took part in the Brazil-Caribbean Summit held on Friday in Brasília, where leaders from CARICOM and Brazil gathered to strengthen regional cooperation on key issues such as “food and nutrition security, climate change, energy transition, disaster risk management, and connectivity.”

Dr Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, represented Belize. In a government statement, he reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening ties with Caribbean partners and Brazil to tackle shared development challenges, particularly in agriculture, renewable energy, digital transformation, eco-tourism, and climate adaptation.

Minister Martinez also reiterated Belize’s priorities in “regional integration, climate diplomacy, and sustainable, inclusive development,” particularly as world leaders prepare to convene in Brazil for COP30 in the coming months.

“I hope this summit can be the launchpad for a compact between the Caribbean and Brazil, where we take our shared experiences of resilience and make them part of the global solution,” Martinez said.

PUC Finaliza Decisión sobre Revisión Anual 2025 de BEL

La Comisión de Servicios Públicos (PUC) ha emitido su decisión final sobre el Proceso de Revisión Anual 2025 de Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), correspondiente al período tarifario del 1 de julio de 2025 al 30 de junio de 2026.

Tras una revisión exhaustiva de la propuesta presentada por BEL, la PUC ha decidido mantener sin cambios las tarifas eléctricas, los cargos y los valores regulados. Según BEL, esta decisión busca equilibrar la asequibilidad para los consumidores con la sostenibilidad financiera de la empresa, en cumplimiento con la Ley de Electricidad y las normativas correspondientes.

Como parte de su resolución, la PUC ha ordenado a BEL que tome dos acciones específicas. Primero, deberá presentar a más tardar el 30 de junio de 2025 un informe detallado sobre la creación de una nueva empresa generadora mayorista, Synergy Power Belize Limited, incluyendo las tarifas propuestas que planea aplicar. Además, la empresa debe presentar una propuesta integral para una nueva estructura tarifaria basada en el costo real del servicio, respaldada con datos y análisis pertinentes.