Belize just hit a major milestone in the fight against climate change. The Belize Maya Forest, one of the last intact tropical forests in northern Central America, has officially been validated under global carbon credit standards. That means the country can now trade nearly thirty million carbon credits, essentially turning forest conservation into a revenue stream. The Government of Belize, the Belize Maya Forest Trust, and The Nature Conservancy are celebrating this as a win for the environment, the economy, and local communities. The forest is now permanently protected, and the first payout, roughly one-point-five million Belize dollars, is already on its way. But here’s where the conservation conversation gets interesting: How will the long-term proceeds from these carbon credits be managed? Will the communities living near and depending on the forest see real, lasting benefits? And as Belize enters the global carbon market, how do we ensure transparency and equity in how these funds are used? This project is being hailed as a model for the region. But like any model, it’s worth asking: who’s at the center of success and who might be left out?
Is it creativity, or just code? That’s the question lighting up social media across the country after the Miss Universe Belize Committee unveiled the top three finalists in its National Costume Design Competition. The theme centered around our vibrant national bird, the keel-billed toucan. The designs are bold, intricate, and eye-catching. But some artists and Belizeans are questioning what they see, pointing out odd similarities and inconsistencies that suggest these costumes may not have been sketched by hand, but generated by artificial intelligence. So, what really goes into creating a costume that represents Belize on the world stage? And does AI have a place in that process? News Five’s Britney Gordon takes a closer look at the controversy and the craftsmanship behind national pride.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The countdown is on, just five months to go until Isabella Zabaneh, Miss Universe Belize 2025, steps onto the global stage to represent the Jewel. She’s got the poise, the presence, and the personality, but there’s one piece of the puzzle still in progress: her national costume. Earlier this week, the Miss Universe Belize Committee revealed the top three finalists in the costume design competition. Belize’s majestic toucan is this year’s theme. But instead of applause, the designs have set off a heated online debate. Belizeans, especially local artists, are questioning whether these intricate creations were made by human hands or generated by artificial intelligence. Among the critics is Alex Sanker, a well-known artist who’s supported the pageant in the past with hand-painted pieces.
Alex Sanker
Alex Sanker, Visual Artist
“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. First of all, you have artists that could design these, we’d be doing for decades. Generally, I think I have a saying to doing this because I took a burden on myself to paint the last seven Miss Universes, which we saw something traditional. But when I saw the images, yes, it’s pretty. But there’s nothing there. It’s like a kid, ten years old. I have the knowledge of AI could create something like that.”
The selected designs have all incorporated the national bird; nonetheless, social media users were quick to point out the similarities in style and color scheme. Curious to see what AI could do; we decided to test it ourselves. We entered our own prompt into ChatGPT, and the results were strikingly similar to the designs online. To get a better sense of how these costumes came to life, we reached out to Monilee Aspinall, one of the designers. She teamed up with visual artist Nissa Sanchez to co-design their submission, and shared insight into their creative process, raising even more questions about where human creativity ends and machine-generated art begins.
Monilee Aspinall
Monilee Aspinall, Costume Designer
“My first thought was, I don’t want to do regular toucan, where there’s like that beacon that hit that gives like children’s costume. We’re so tired of seeing that. So I wanted something where you would be able to incorporate the tuan within the body. My next thing was I didn’t want to do like over the shoulder or something that’s also done so regularly. So I wanted it where. Bella is so tall and slim, I wanted to be able to use that to our advantage. So using her arms to create the bee and her body to simulate the body.”
Other artists like Maureen Navarrette and Khashief King brought bold, creative flair to the competition, one with a toucan in flight, the other blending flowers and the national flag. But critics aren’t impressed with the finalists. They’ve pointed out mismatched colors, awkward feather details, and even the wrong species of toucan, fueling suspicions that AI, not artists, may be behind the designs.
Alex Sanker
“I went on the web on Miss Universe, and I saw they’re getting the most votes, but then I don’t want to hear, oh they could adjust it. No, that was something I was selected to be the top three. And it’s not even our toucan, it’s not our national bird. It’s a toucan. Yes. It’s a keel-billed. That’s not what it is. And that’s the one that’s getting the most vote because. Again, people do think without considering the value of what they’re presenting to the world.”
The popularity of these pieces highlights the subjectivity of art. Whether the sketch is created by a human or not, some people will still gravitate towards the designs overall aesthetic. But there is more to a costume design than just its looks. An artist must consider the practicality of the costume and how it can be executed off the page.
Monilee Aspinall
“I know we love a like huge costume, and I love the idea of that as well. And I think that sometimes. That large costume, we don’t want it to overpower the toucan, that’s the theme that they’re going for. So we had to think about small things like if we use the arms for beak that means that certain parts of the body will have to be softer or easily moved. So we thought about like gymnastic costumes where there’s that beading and bedazzlement in certain areas, but then there’s still that, flesh tone fabric under the arms that allows them to move, but gives them that continuity or down the arms, down the legs.”
Artist Alex Sanker is speaking out against what he sees as a troubling trend, AI-generated art taking the spotlight from real, human creativity. He hopes that by continuing his work and advocacy, young artists will not become demotivated to pursue their passions in art.
Alex Sanker
“ I have a lot of parents, this is the new thing now where parents will bring their kids that an artist and they just blown by your work. And I tell them one thing, them and their parents, don’t do this for the money, don’t do it for the fame. Do it because you love it. If you do it because you love it, everything gonna fall into place. Listen, we have top of the line, international type level of talent here.”
The spotlight remains firmly on the designs, but not just for their bold colors or toucan-inspired flair. The real debate is whether artificial intelligence has a place in creating a costume meant to represent Belize on the world stage. As the public casts their votes to decide which design will come to life, questions are swirling: What are the rules for submissions? And is AI a fair reflection of Belizean artistry? To get some answers, we spoke with Miss Universe Belize Director, Destinee Arnold. She says the committee is open to criticism but sees AI as just another tool in the creative process. Here’s more on that conversation.
On the Phone: Destinee Arnold, Director, Miss Universe Belize
“Artificial intelligence is a tool that multiple people from multiple industries can utilize for whatever purpose they deem fit. In this case, there were some designers or creatives that utilize this tool to bring their vision to life. We did not anticipate an uproar from the public in response to someone utilizing that tool. Nor were we looking out to distinguish drawn designs versus artificial intelligence. We do recognize that we are in a modern age of technology. There are different ways in which you can present whatever your vision is, and we appreciate people being resourceful and we also appreciate those who take their pen to paper and draw out the designs. The focus is making sure that we include the public in national costume design because this is a costume that represents our culture, and we want to make sure that we are maintaining the focus on that goal. We don’t want to feed into any type of negativity. We want to continue to celebrate the fact that Bella is making waves right now in the pageant industry. She’s receiving a lot of positive international attention and we want to make sure that we maintain that celebration. And just recognizing that I. We can’t run away from artificial intelligence. We can’t run away from the evolution of technology. We can embrace it and just make sure that we are properly utilizing tools that are now at our disposal.”
Arnold also assures that the team will work with a Belizean designer to ensure that the costume is accurate to Belizean culture and can be worn comfortably on stage.
There’s some good news on the public health front tonight, Belize’s recent measles outbreak has officially been contained. That’s the word from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which says it’s been two full incubation cycles without a single new case. The outbreak, which started back in April, was traced to unvaccinated travelers returning from Mexico. It quickly spread through the Corozal and Cayo districts, infecting 34 people and sending one to the hospital. Thankfully, everyone has recovered. So, how did health officials manage to stop the spread? We spoke with Doctor Laura Friesen from the Ministry of Health to find out what worked.
Laura Friesen
Dr. Laura Friesen, Medical Officer, MOHW
“This of course was due to the efforts of public health and also all the healthcare workers on the ground and also the communities that were affected. So it included a lot of different. Text, there was a communication component, just educating the public, letting people know what’s happening, what they should do to protect themself, what they should do to if they get ill. And also vaccination campaigns were a big part of the strategy. Because the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. The vaccine is very safe, very effective. So that was a very large part of our strategy as well. So it was mostly vaccination and communication. And then we had our surveillance teams on the ground as well where we monitored and reviewed cases of fever and rash to make sure. If it was a measles case and how we should be managing them if they were confirmed as measles cases. So it was a multi-dimensional strategy. So the most important advice right now is to get vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, make sure that your children especially those the age of one and one and a half, get their scheduled measles vaccines. And also, if you are intending to travel to any country in the Americas, every country is right now somewhat at risk. But if you’re traveling. Planning to leave Belize. it is the best that you get your vaccine two weeks ahead of time if you have never been vaccinated for measles, which will then give you that protection, should you go into a situation where you get exposure that you don’t get sick and bring that back into the country. So that is what we are strongly recommending. Vaccination is the safe the safest and the most effective way to prevent outbreaks in in Belize right now.”
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
Un tiroteo ocurrido en la comunidad de San Pedrito, en San Pedro, ha dejado más preguntas que respuestas, luego de que hombres armados irrumpieran violentamente en la residencia de la familia Espat. Aunque nadie resultó herido, el ataque dejó a la familia conmocionada. Sin embargo, lo que más ha sorprendido a la comunidad es que, en lugar de perseguir a los agresores, la policía arrestó a los hermanos Logan, Mark y David Espat, generando dudas sobre lo que realmente ocurrió esa noche.
El Jefe de la División de Investigación Criminal, ACP Hilberto Romero, ofreció detalles preliminares del caso. “El sábado, la policía respondió a un tiroteo en la zona de San Pedrito, en San Pedro. Al llegar, se informó que alguien llegó al área, sacó un arma y disparó varias veces contra dos puertas de un apartamento. Las habitaciones pertenecían a Logan Espat y Mark Espat. No hubo heridos, y se encontraron varios casquillos de bala en el lugar. Actualmente se lleva a cabo una investigación. No sabemos quiénes son los sospechosos de este tiroteo, pero sí conocemos la rivalidad que tienen en San Pedro con otras personas.”
La policía no ha revelado los motivos detrás de la detención de los hermanos Espat, ni ha confirmado si están siendo investigados como víctimas o como parte de un conflicto mayor. Mientras tanto, la comunidad espera claridad sobre el caso y exige una investigación transparente.
La situación en San Pedro ha tomado un giro inesperado tras el tiroteo en la residencia de la familia Espat. Aunque inicialmente se reportó que hombres armados irrumpieron en la propiedad y dispararon contra las puertas de los apartamentos de Logan y Mark Espat, la policía terminó arrestando a los hermanos, acusándolos de pertenecer a una pandilla. Esta decisión ha generado indignación y confusión, especialmente entre los familiares de los detenidos.
Gilberto Espat, padre de los jóvenes, expresó su frustración en una entrevista telefónica. “Denunciamos el incidente a la policía, y en vez de investigar y encontrar a los responsables, vinieron a arrestar a mis hijos. Estuvieron detenidos cuarenta y ocho horas, y luego las autoridades dijeron que los acusarían por ser pandilleros—afirmando que ellos mismos estaban involucrados en el tiroteo. Pero ¿cómo pudieron haberse disparado a sí mismos si las cámaras de vigilancia muestran claramente a otras personas entrando al patio?”
Según Gilberto, dos de sus hijos fueron trasladados a la prisión de Hattieville, mientras la familia busca representación legal para solicitar libertad bajo fianza en la Corte Mayor. “No queremos que vayan a la cárcel después de casi perder la vida. No puedo decir que mis hijos sean parte de ninguna pandilla. Quienes realmente los conocen saben que son pescadores.”
