2025-06-17 - Greater Belize Media

Hooked on Data: The Hidden Power Behind Every Catch

Tonight, we’re heading to the quiet fishing village of Copper Bank in northern Belize where tradition meets technology, and paddles meet purpose. It’s not your typical race day. Picture this: local fishers, their families, and sleek dugout canoes, called cayucos, lining up for a high-energy race across the water. But this isn’t just about speed. It’s about community, culture, and a new wave of data-driven fishing that’s helping protect the ocean and the people who depend on it. From catch logs to cayuco races, this is a story of innovation, resilience, and the power of paddling forward together. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

When we think about fishing, we often picture the catch: the fresh snapper, the lobster, the bounty of the sea. But behind every haul is something just as important: the data. That’s right, catch data is becoming a lifeline for small-scale commercial fishers across the region. It’s not just about numbers on a clipboard. This data helps protect fish stocks, supports local livelihoods, and ensures that the ocean can keep giving for generations to come.

Juliet Neal, Conservation Finance Officer, WWF

“As part of the licensing process, fisher captains are required to submit a logbook as part of their license requirements. And so, we thought of a way, how might this be easier for fishers to do? And we thought that having an app, it’s more portable than a paper-base which is what they are doing right now, and it also allows them to be able to upload and share information with the Fisheries Department in real time.”

Catch data tells us what’s being reeled in, and how much of it. That might sound simple, but it’s a big deal. This info helps scientists and fisheries managers keep tabs on fish populations, spot any troubling declines early, and make smart decisions about when to fish, how much to take, and when to give the ocean a break. It’s all about keeping our oceans healthy and our seafood sustainable.

Juliet Neal

“So the same information that the Fisheries Department has fishers also have. So that when we talk about how data and having a scientific and data-driven approach to fisheries management that it becomes more understandable for fishers because it quantifies what they are seeing. And then, it allows a lot more interaction and a lot more versatility and quickness in terms of sharing of data with these two platforms.”

Welcome to Copper Bank, a tiny fishing village tucked along the tranquil shores of Laguna Seca in the Corozal District. With its scenic waters, rich cultural roots, and a community built on fishing and farming, Copper Bank is more than just a dot on the map; here, life moves to the rhythm of the tides and tradition runs deep.

Marty Alvarez, Marine Protected Areas Manager, BAS

“We’re here in Copper Bank, during the closed season of conch and lobster, meeting with fishers who are now signed up for an e-logbook which is an electronic cash logbook that fishers will now use to submit their catch data.”

For small-scale fishers, every trip out to sea is a careful balance of time, fuel, and hope. But what if the secret to a better catch, and a better living, wasn’t just in the water, but in the data? By knowing exactly what’s being caught and when, fishers can plan smarter trips, save on fuel and gear, and head straight to the most productive spots. But it doesn’t stop there. This data is also giving them a stronger voice at the policy table, showing just how much they contribute to our economy and food security.

Juliet Neal

“So, to sign fishers up for the e-logbook, they are required to have an email address. What we did for fisher who did not have an email address, we created one for them and explained how that can help them keep track of their data and how they will use it to work with the app and how easy it was. We also demonstrated the use of the app and walked them through it so that they, themselves, got a feel.”

Cayuco racing is more than just a sport, it’s a fast-paced paddle through history. Teams race in traditional dugout canoes, once carved by Indigenous communities in Panama. Today, the boats are sleeker, but the spirit remains the same: every race honors a deep cultural legacy and the power of teamwork on the water.

Marty Alvarez

“We are here with the captains of the vessels and they are the ones who are signing their crew members onto this cayuco race. So it’s a two-man race and we’ve partnered with WWF, DFC, and the Belize Audubon Society to make this possible.”

Juliet Neal

“So we came up with the idea of having a cayuco race because they already have cayucos and this is just another fun way to get the families out and so we’re really excited about the fact that we have participants from neighboring communities: Copper Bank and Chunox. These are fishers who work in the same space, Area Six, largely, and we took this opportunity to get them to sign up.

For first place, is Valdir Santoya and Leovani Tun.

Marty Alvarez

“First place is six hundred dollars… so I gotta count it right. Uno, dos, tres…”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

San Pedro Fights Seaweed Surge with Shovels and Grit

It’s that time of year again in San Pedro when the sun gets hotter, the winds pick up, and the beaches start disappearing under mountains of seaweed. We’re talking about the annual sargassum invasion, and it’s hitting hard. But while high-tech solutions have come and gone, the San Pedro Town Council is going old-school: shovels, wheelbarrows, and sheer determination. Since February, they’ve been tackling the tide of seaweed head-on. News Five’s Britney Gordon takes us to the frontlines of this sandy, salty cleanup battle.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize’s beaches are a hot spot for Easter and summer getaways—sun, sand, and sea drawing crowds from near and far. But just as the vacation buzz kicks in, so does an unwelcome guest: sargassum. This brown, smelly seaweed rolls in by the ton, covering the coastline and turning paradise into a cleanup zone. It’s stubborn, it stinks, and it’s back.

Valentine Rosado, Biodiversity Scientist

“It is usually around closer to Easter, summertime, you know, when the winds pick up, when the sea temperatures are higher. When everyone wants to go to the beach because it’s super hot, that’s when the sargassum is blooming out there. Right. And when the wind picks up, it is just bringing the sargassum from way out there in the Caribbean up to our shores.”

Most of the sargassum drifting through the Caribbean heads north toward Cancun, but some of it still finds its way to Belize. According to the latest forecast, San Pedro and Caye Caulker are expected to see heavy buildups. In response, the San Pedro Town Council has stepped up cleanup efforts and brought in biodiversity expert Valentine Rosado to help tackle the growing problem.

Valentine Rosado

“As an island, we have been dealing with Sargassum for, I believe we’re on year sixteen, maybe year seventeen right now. So the. San Pedro Town Council is focused on town core, which is about a mile from the bridge all the way to the library. And that’s where the focus of the tongue console has been. My involvement has been mostly to come in and advise in figuring out how to be a lot more, um, a little bit more efficient with the cleanup, and then also to come up with some baseline information that would help us look at lessons learned here on the island, other areas and how to tackle the situation as much as possible. Because unfortunately, we get it every year, and if nothing’s done about it, then we live here, we have to smell it every year. And it’s not, it’s not a nice thing.”

Many strategies have been developed over the years to counteract the influx of sargassum that washes ashore annually, but many of these strategies have proven to be too costly or inefficient. This year, the council has taken an old-school approach by increasing manpower and hitting the beaches with shovels and wheelbarrows.

Valentine Rosado

“The main strategy is getting out of the water as quick as possible. I know that one of the big challenges that we keep seeing is all these solutions that people try to come up with big machinery, you know, how can we make the raso disappear? How can we have some kind of bigger effort? And from what we have been looking at, the main thing is getting out of the water and manual is cheaper and a lot more efficient. It might not seem that way, but the thing is that it becomes overwhelming when we have areas that there’s no focus and then one day pass. Two day pass. Three day pass, and you have that whole a accumulation of sargassum. It begins to smell and it becomes, it begins to be super overwhelming.”

After the Sargassum is hauled out of the sea, it is transported to a deposition site to be turned into landfill.

Valentine Rosado

“So what we explored here is looking at what traditionally has been done with sargassum. Traditionally, you take Sargassum off the beach and use it to fill low lying areas. I’ve done a lot of research online to figure out, from a health perspective, what are the recommendations. You know, there’s concern about heavy metals coming in this sargassum, but in the absence of any other major solution, it seems like an option that is feasible and once we use it in an era where we’re not growing fruits and vegetables that we’re going to eat immediately, then the concern about heavy metals seems to not be an immediate issue right now. However, what we’re doing in the deposition site is we’re doing it as long term monitor so we know exactly where the sarum is going, and it gives us that location where you can monitor long term to really continue tracking whether there gonna be any health implications later on.”

What if the seaweed piling up on San Pedro’s shores could actually become something good? That’s exactly what the town council is aiming for. Instead of just clearing away the sargassum, they’re planning to transform the area into a vibrant public space for sports and recreation, turning a coastal nuisance into a community win. It’s a fresh take on an old problem, and it’s got locals talking. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The sargassum removal efforts will continue until the end of the season.

Pacing the Way for Electric Vehicles in the Caribbean

You’ve probably noticed them zipping around on the streets, electric vehicles are no longer a rare sight. Over the past decade, they’ve quietly become a go-to option for cleaner, greener travel. But while EVs are gaining ground, there’s still a gap when it comes to keeping them running. That’s because not many people are trained to fix or maintain them—yet. This week, that’s changing. Technicians from across the region are in Belize City, getting hands-on training at the Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize is taking bold steps toward a cleaner, more modern future and it started with a quiet hum. Last month, the Belize City Council rolled out the e-Ride taxi service, giving residents a new way to get around quietly, cleanly, and sustainably. It’s the latest move following last year’s launch of electric buses. But while the city is charging ahead, many drivers across the region are still pumping the brakes. High costs and a lack of trained mechanics are keeping electric vehicles from going mainstream. That’s why this week, technicians from across the region are gathering at ITVET in Belize City to get hands-on training in EV maintenance.

Kevin Grant, Trainer

“ I have a passion for renewable energy and anything green and is always a joy to share that knowledge with people, whether local, regional, or international.”

Britney Gordon

“What are some of the topics that are being covered during this training specifically?”

Kevin Grant

“Specifically as you have the internal combustion engine and then you have your hybrid or your electrical. So what we want to do in the first case is make sure participants have a firm understanding of the internal combustion engine, and we explain the slight differences between the internal combustion engine versus the hybrid and the electric vehicles.”

This week, a regional training effort is bringing together minds and mechanics from across the Caribbean. It’s a powerful collaboration between Belize’s own Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, the University of Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago’s National Energy Skill Training Center. And for Jamaican technical trainer Emele Clarke, it’s more than just a workshop, it’s an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable transport in the region.

Emele Clarke, Participant

“ It’s so far, so good. Being here in the EV environment or the EV era of electric vehicles, it has been full of knowledge where we can pass on. I’m also a technical trainer in Jamaica, so I’m carrying back all of this wealth of knowledge that I will gain here right in Belize back home to my country. That’s Jamaica to impart to my students as a trainer.”

Grant, who has been working with electric vehicles and other forms of renewable energy for almost a decade, says this training is a key step towards popularizing the vehicles in the region.

Kevin Grant

“So a lot of people are hesitant to buy electric vehicles because they are of the belief there is no one to maintain them. And this training here is really a train the trainer where we will expose these trainers present and they will now go back and teach their students to make them well equipped to deal with both hybrid and electric vehicles.”

Clarke plans to take this information back to Jamaica, where he will pass it on to the youth and adults he educates,

Emele Clarke

“It’s good to share information go to communicate with each other, good to learn from all the manufacturers that have been in the vehicles and our safety. Safety is one of the most important things with honest to this hybrid and EV. So safety first. What sort of safety steps to take to end knowledge and to embrace it and to move forward with the era of EV and hybrid.”

Participants were not only educated in how to maintain these vehicles but were exposed to different models that may not be available in their country yet.

Emele Clarke

“Other parts of the Caribbean get different types of make vehicles. For example, now we have a dual here where in my country we don’t have it. We must have our BYD, we can have our MG, right? So it’s different type of matter vehicles, but it’s good to share knowledge and that’s what I’m doing now, sharing knowledge for everyone else.”

About twenty technicians are participating in the week-long training, and by Grant’s assessment, they have been high performers.

Britney Gordon

“What has the feedback been like thus far in terms of participation? Are they receptive? Are they learning and really, gathering the skills that you’re trying to impart on them?”

Kevin Grant

“I would say yes. They’re very receptive. They’re very motivated and hopefully, they can make a positive impact in the CARICOM region.”

The regional electric vehicle workshop wraps up this Friday, and then the journey continues. Trainers will be packing up their toolkits and heading to the next stop: Grenada. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Minister Defends National Bus Company Plan

Plans to launch a national bus company by January 2026 have stirred debate in Belize’s transportation sector, with the Ministry of Transport facing pushback from private bus operators concerned about transparency and profitability.

Today, Transport MinisterDr. Louis Zabaneh sought to address the concerns and clarify the government’s approach.

The Belize Bus Owners Association has voiced resistance to the initiative, demanding detailed financial information and assurances before supporting the plan. Minister Zabaneh acknowledged that these details are not yet finalised, stressing the importance of accuracy before releasing numbers.

“When I spoke to Mr. Shaw I said we discussed these two or three times already, we cannot give them that information until we do the evaluation,” Dr. Zabaneh explained. “We need the data, the information, otherwise it would be guestimates. When it is off they will see, ‘oh you see you are giving us wrong information and trick us.’ We have to do this thing the right way. Give us the time that is necessary for the auditors to do their work and then present us with the data and we can take that data and provide proper information.”

He further described that once evaluations are complete, the government will be able to provide bus operators with clear comparisons between their current earnings and the potential income from shares in the national company. “You can say this is what you are doing right now. This is what the national company is doing and based on your shares see what your income will look like,” the Minister said.

The Bus Owners Association insists that without fare increases, the national company will struggle to be profitable. Minister Zabaneh refuted this, pointing instead to revenue losses due to theft by some conductors and drivers.

“What is happening right now is that a lot of people, especially conductors and drivers, are stealing the money. Let us be plain,” said Dr. Zabaneh. “That means your revenue could have been up here. So now you will get more of your money. It does not mean prices will go up. It just means what is due to the owners of these buses is coming to them.”

Belize Represents at UNESCO Expert Meeting on Urban Cultural Heritage

Rolando Cocom, Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR) at NICH, participated in the UNESCO Expert Meeting on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urban Contexts, being held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

The gathering brings together heritage experts from around the world to explore how living traditions such as oral practices, rituals, and festivals can be protected in rapidly urbanising environments.

The aim is to develop concrete policy guidance for states and stakeholders, in line with the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

According to NICH, Cocom’s presentation “highlighted Belize’s experiences with community-based safeguarding in our cities and towns. To date, Belize’s national inventory has featured various cultural celebrations such as Yurumein, Bram, Finados, Carnaval, and Bram, among others. His key message is that despite the many challenges, towns and cities can be powerful spaces for living heritage—when cultural leaders and communities are engaged, included, and supported.

The Paris meeting represents the first phase of a two-part initiative. A follow-up session will be held online from September 18–19, 2025, to finalise a draft guidance note. The recommendations developed from this global consultation will be presented to the Intergovernmental Committee at its 20th session, scheduled for December 8–13, 2025, in New Delhi, India.

Belize Hosts Regional Electric Vehicle Training

A regional Electric Vehicle (EV) training initiative is equipping trainers from across the Caribbean with essential skills in EV and hybrid vehicle maintenance, which supports the region’s transition towards sustainable transport.

The week-long training is currently taking place in the Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) in Belize City.

The “train the trainer” programme is focused on building foundational knowledge of internal combustion engines before advancing to hybrid and electric vehicle systems.

“A lot of people are hesitant to buy electric vehicles because they are of the belief there is no one to maintain them,” said Kevin Grant, a trainer from Trinidad & Tobago. “This training here is really a training where we will expose these trainers present, and they will now go back and teach their students to make them well equipped to deal with both hybrid and electric vehicles.”

Participants will also learn the importance of safety and knowledge exchange. A participant all the way from Jamaica, Emele Clark, said that it is crucial “to share information, communicate with each other, and learn from all the manufacturers that have been in the vehicles and our safety.”

Caos y divisiones marcan la fallida reunión del Consejo Nacional del UDP

El Partido Unido Democrático (UDP) continúa enfrentando profundas divisiones internas tras la derrota electoral y la controvertida convención anulada por la Corte Superior. El intento de realizar una reunión crucial del Consejo Nacional el pasado sábado terminó en un fracaso vergonzoso, evidenciando la falta de unidad y dirección dentro del partido.

Roosevelt Blades, exvicepresidente del UDP y veterano de 35 años, no ocultó su frustración al criticar la permanencia de Shyne Barrow como líder del partido, pese a su renuncia y pérdida de escaño.

“Shyne ha renunciado, y si quiere sentarse allí como un exlíder, está bien. Pero no puede permanecer allí como el líder actual, eso es de sentido común”, declaró Blades.

Por su parte, Tracy Taegar-Panton, líder de la oposición y rival política, calificó la reunión como ilegítima, cuestionando la validez de los miembros convocados.

“No puedes seleccionar a dedo a personas y preguntarles si van a asistir. Se nombró a alguien presidente sin ninguna convención, lo que es inaceptable”, afirmó.

El expresidente Alberto August también lamentó la anarquía en el partido, enfatizando la diferencia entre las responsabilidades de la oposición y las actividades internas del UDP.

La tensión escaló hasta el punto que José Luis Uk Espat, miembro del partido, intentó bloquear la entrada del reconocido simpatizante Alfonso Noble, quien exigía su derecho a participar en la reunión.

“Él no puede decidir por mí ni tomar decisiones que me afecten. No tiene una posición legal dentro del partido”, expresó Noble.

Uk Espat, sin embargo, aseguró que su intención era promover la unidad y el respeto.

“Vine para ver cómo podemos avanzar como partido. Ese es mi objetivo aquí hoy, nada más”, dijo.

Shyne Barrow denuncia “violencia política” en el UDP y critica a Tracy Panton

El líder saliente del Partido Unido Democrático (UDP), Shyne Barrow, criticó duramente a Tracy Panton y sus seguidores por lo que calificó como “violencia política” que amenaza la estabilidad y la democracia dentro del partido.

Barrow describió como “repugnante” el comportamiento de la facción de Panton, señalando que su expulsión del UDP fue necesaria debido a acciones que violan la constitución y socavan la autoridad partidaria.

“Fue repugnante, algo que intensifica el discurso en Belize más allá del de la diferencia de opiniones y filosofías, hasta llegar a la violencia. Esta es la misma razón por la que Tracy Panton y su facción fueron expulsados del Partido Unido Democrático, por actuar fuera del marco que guía nuestra institución, que es la constitución. Siguen demostrando un nivel de anarquía, un desprecio por la autoridad que me asusta, y por eso ha sido difícil entregar el partido a personas que se comportan más como una empresa criminal que como servidores democráticos y comprometidos con el pueblo beliceño. Y es bastante lamentable porque lo que hubiera pasado hoy habría impulsado al partido hacia adelante”, expresó Barrow.

En otro pronunciamiento, Shyne afirmó que ese tipo de personas no deberían liderar ninguna institución política ni ocupar cargos en el gobierno.

“Ese no es el tipo de personas que queremos liderando ninguna institución política. Ese no es el tipo de personas que, Dios nos libre, quisiéramos como primer ministro o miembros de nuestro gabinete. Debería haber sido una lección aprendida desde el 20 de octubre. Debería haber sido una lección aprendida desde el 27 de octubre, cuando tomaron por la fuerza y de manera criminal, la sede del UDP y tuvimos que ir a los tribunales para que el juez determinara que Tracy Panton no tenía autoridad y nunca fue líder del partido. Como su líder saliente, prometo que haré todo lo posible para unir a este partido, para que podamos reiniciar y reconstruir, siendo inclusivos en esta transición hacia un nuevo liderazgo. Pero debemos seguir los procesos y la estructura establecidos en nuestra constitución”, añadió.

Barrow insistió en que el UDP debe respetar sus estatutos y trabajar en unidad para superar la crisis interna.

Hijo acusado de matar a su padre en San Pedro el Día del Padre

El Día del Padre se tornó trágico para una familia de San Pedro, luego de que Daniel Salazar, de 39 años, fuera acusado de asesinar a su padre, Rubio Salazar.

Según la investigación policial, el incidente comenzó con un altercado entre ambos, durante el cual Rubio habría golpeado a Daniel con un palo. En respuesta, Daniel supuestamente le causó una herida mortal con un cuchillo en la parte superior del cuerpo.

“La investigación reveló que Rubio Salazar y su hijo Daniel Salazar tuvieron un altercado entre ellos, donde se alega que Rubio golpeó a Daniel con un palo, y Daniel infligió una herida de cuchillo en la parte superior del cuerpo de Rubio, hiriéndolo fatalmente”, explicó la oficial de personal ASP Stacy Smith.

Vecinos de la zona mencionaron que las tensiones relacionadas con perros podrían haber desencadenado la confrontación. Por su parte, la madre de Daniel, Erminia Muschamp, expresó sorpresa ante los hechos, asegurando que nunca vio a su hijo como una persona violenta.

“No lo podía creer; estaba sorprendida. Daniel no es ese tipo de persona. Nunca ha sido violento. Ni siquiera puedo empezar a explicarlo. Siempre ha sido tranquilo, responsable y educado. No es alguien que beba en exceso o salga a socializar. Es el mejor hijo que he tenido”, comentó Muschamp.

La mujer también señaló que Rubio, su exesposo, tenía antecedentes de agresividad, y sugirió que ese comportamiento pudo haber provocado la reacción de Daniel durante el altercado.

“Cuando vivía con él, él era alguien que solía pegarme y ser violento conmigo. Pero en cuanto a los niños, y con los años que han pasado, realmente no puedo decir. No sé en qué tipo de persona se convirtió después. Vivir con alguien y luego estar separado son dos realidades muy diferentes. Honestamente, no puedo hablar de quién era Rubio ahora o cómo vivía su vida recientemente”, agregó.

La policía aún evalúa si la defensa propia puede ser considerada en este caso. “La defensa personal es ciertamente un factor basado en los hechos presentados; sin embargo, para que una defensa de esta naturaleza sea válida, el tema de la proporcionalidad debe considerarse cuidadosamente. La Oficina de la Directora de la Fiscalía Pública determinará qué cargos, si los hay, son apropiados bajo estas circunstancias. Puedo confirmar que se recolectaron muestras de las personas presentes en la escena y se han tomado declaraciones”, señaló ASP Stacy Smith.

Buscan a hombre armado tras robo en tienda de Orange Walk

La policía local está en la búsqueda de un hombre de origen hispano que robó seis teléfonos celulares en K.A.B. Technologies, ubicada en la calle San Antonio del distrito de Orange Walk.

Según informó la oficial de personal ASP Stacy Smith, el robo ocurrió alrededor de las diez de la mañana cuando el sospechoso ingresó al establecimiento, apuntó con un arma a la cajera y exigió dinero y teléfonos celulares.

“La policía investiga un robo ocurrido alrededor de las diez da la mañana en KAB Technologies, ubicado en la calle San Antonio, distrito de Orange Walk. Los dueños del establecimiento reportaron que un hombre de origen hispano ingresó al local, apuntó con un arma a la cajera y exigió dinero y teléfonos celulares. El sujeto se llevó seis celulares antes de huir. Las investigaciones continúan”, explicó Smith.

Las cámaras de vigilancia captaron al sospechoso, y las imágenes ya están en manos de las autoridades, quienes solicitan la colaboración del público para identificar al responsable.