Police are searching for four individuals involved in the theft of a Colombian vessel belonging to Stake Bank Limited.
The investigation began after a report on Thursday, June 6, 2024, indicated that four men, one armed with a firearm, entered the Stake Bank compound on mile 5 on the George Price Highway. According to police, the men assaulted two security guards and stole the company’s Colombian vessel that was docked in the canal.
No injuries were reported.
Police in San Ignacio are investigating a robbery turned murder which occurred earlier this morning in Santa Elena Town. According to the investigation, the victim has been identified as Sheng Wen Wu. He is a businessman.
Reports are that Wu had arrived at his residence on the George Price Highway when he was held at gunpoint by two men on a motorcycle.
The men demanded money from Wu. Wu managed to escape but was followed and shot several times. He died on the scene. Police are investigating.
A 59-year-old man in Mexico has died from a strain of bird flu known as H5N2, marking the first human case of this virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the man, who was hospitalized in Mexico City, succumbed to the virus on April 24 after experiencing symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort.
The WHO stated that the source of the man’s infection remains unclear, although H5N2 has been detected in poultry in Mexico. Despite this, the current risk to the general population is considered low. The UN agency emphasized that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission in this case, and all individuals who had contact with the deceased have tested negative.
In March, an outbreak of H5N2 was reported in a family unit in Michoacan, but it was deemed no threat to distant commercial farms or human health. Following the man’s death, Mexican authorities confirmed the presence of the virus and reported the case to the WHO.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) fired off a press release this morning, denying rumors that an export license was issued for sugar allegedly found being shipped out of the country at a northern Belize border location.
In its release, BAHA says that it is not a “licensing authority for agricultural commodities.”
“BAHA regulates imports to comply with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements as a risk management strategy against plant pests and animal diseases, and to ensure that only safe food is imported. Importers are legally required to obtain BAHA import permits, which details conditions for importation, for this process.”
BAHA says that BSI-ASR and Santander Sugar are the only two companies that receive inspection and certification services for sugar exportation. It says that the only authorized exit points are the Port of Belize LTD and the Port of Big Creek, where BAHA personnel ensure that only certified consignments are shipped out.
BAHA categorically denies any involvement in the irregular export of sugar to Mexico or any other country.
by Javier Villanueva, Senior fishery and aquaculture officer for Latin America and the Caribbean. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
On June 5th, two highly relevant days are commemorated, strongly connected to the sustainability of fishing: World Environment Day and the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
IUU fishing represents a significant threat to the sustainability of the oceans, marine biodiversity, coastal communities, and the livelihoods that depend on fishing. This activity, conducted outside the standards and responsibilities established by international instruments, undermines efforts to conserve and sustainably manage fishery resources. In Latin America and the Caribbean, around 21.6 million people depend on the fishing sector, highlighting the importance of effectively addressing this issue.
The concept of IUU fishing, adopted through international instruments and national legal frameworks, encompasses broad and complex components that often overlap. This multifaceted nature poses significant challenges in its implementation. Understanding and operationally defining each aspect is a crucial first step in adopting effective measures that improve fishery management, considering the particularities of legal, management, institutional, operational, and governance systems.
For some years now, the FAO has developed methods to estimate the scale of IUU fishing, responding to the needs of fishing countries seeking to understand the extent of this activity. There are two main approaches: the first is based on magnitude estimates to mobilize public opinion, political will, technological development, and the financial resources necessary to improve monitoring, control, and surveillance systems; the second approach, focused on indicators, helps fisheries authorities use their data to assess the effectiveness of these systems, identify threats, and ensure that resources are appropriately allocated.
In the region, several countries have taken significant measures to combat IUU fishing. Currently, 15 countries have ratified the Port State Measures Agreement, an initiative promoted by the FAO and unique that establishes a common framework to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing, facilitating information exchange and international cooperation. Its implementation contributes to more responsible and sustainable fisheries management and currently has more than one hundred countries committed globally.
The fight against IUU fishing reinforces the FAO’s work agenda and is a component of the Blue Transformation program promoted by the Organization. This program highlights the need to sustainably expand aquatic food systems, promote healthy and nutritious diets, foster equitable growth, and protect the environment.
In preparation for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in France in 2025, Costa Rica will host the event Submerged in Change on June 7-8 this year. A new edition of the FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report will be launched during this event, emphasizing the strategic importance of measures to advance fishery sustainability.
The future of the planet and future generations depends on the actions and commitments we make today together: governments, the private sector, communities, and international organizations must work in coordination to ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
Only through coordinated and sustainable efforts can we ensure that the oceans remain a vital source of food, employment, well-being, and livelihood for millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Better Production is key to a Better Environment, Better Nutrition, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
The Belize Sugar Industries Limited is expressing concerns over what it describes as the Commission of Inquiry’s change of focus.
In a release, BSI says that “because it operates in a commodity business that is very competitive, it cannot share proprietary and confidential information.”
BSI says it cannot disclose proprietary and confidential information. The company has also informed the government that it will not cooperate with a COI if its focus shifts towards using the process to negotiate a new commercial agreement, as this is a “private commercial matter.”
The Belize Council of Churches a few minutes ago issued a press statement regarding the forest fires that continue to devastate certain parts of the country, particularly the Toledo and Cayo districts.
In its release, the Council says, “The Belize Council of Churches offers its prayers of solace to the victims of the fires in Cayo and Toledo. We also offer prayers of gratitude for the dedicated many who have fought, and continue to fight the fires.”
The release continues, “The Council of Churches has initially sent cases of life-giving water to Toledo with enclosed prayers for the firefighters, as they spend day and night not only in the heat of this dry weather but also the heat of the fire.”
In another case of gun violence this weekend, a young woman is recovering from gunshot wounds after she was approached by three persons and fired upon in San Pedro. On Saturday night, around eight-thirty p.m., twenty-two-year-old Zulmy Camara, her common-law husband, and three other men were socializing in her apartment complex in the San Pedrito area when they were approached by three masked individuals who opened fire on them. Although Camara was the only person to sustain injuries, police do not believe that she was the intended target. Here’s A.C.P. Hilberto Romero with more information.
A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
Reporter
“Was she the intended target?”
Hilberto Romero
“We do not suspect she was the intended target. e believe other persons who were at the ER were the intended target.”
Reporter
“Does she recognize the people who shot her?”
Hilberto Romero
“An investigation is being carried out. That is all I will say.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say whether this yard is known for drug peddling?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, it is known as a drug peddling area, it is always searched by the police.”
Reporter
“Then do police believe that it may be sparked from some war over
Hilberto Romero
“Again, we have not established a clear motive, but we have two rival groups that we are looking at and so they will be interviewed.”
The Hemp Industry Oversight Committee reconvened today to address critical developments in Belize’s hemp sector. A government press release says the agenda included the roles of various agencies in monitoring hemp activities, reviewing legislation, and evaluating an application for hemp research.
A primary focus was establishing a policy for approving hemp research and investments in Belize.
This meeting marks a crucial step in advancing hemp research and development in Belize. The release says that Belize aims to create a strong framework for scientific research and investment in the hemp sector by refining application procedures and regulations. It says this initiative also strengthens the New Growth Industries portfolio, enhancing its strategic marketing and investment potential.
Attendees at the meeting included Sharole Carr, CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries; Hugh O’Brien, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture; Zoe Roberson-Zetina, Managing Director of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA); Lincoln Blake, Director of the Investment Policy & Compliance Unit, Ministry of Investment; Ginéé Neal, Staff Officer and Lead for the New Growth Industries Unit, Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries; Francisco Gutierrez, Director of Plant Health, BAHA; and Frantz Smith, Investment Policy Officer, Ministry of Investment.
Two individuals were hospitalised following a dramatic rescue and subsequent fuel tanker explosion that caused the closure of all southbound lanes of the North Freeway near Tidwell Road for over twenty hours.
Houston police reported that a speeding vehicle collided with an 18-wheeler transporting fuel, causing the tanker to fishtail and overturn at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday.Belizean Armin Franco, present in a neighbour’s yard a block away, heard the collision and immediately rushed to assist, accompanied by two other strangers. The truck was still in motion when they arrived at the scene.
Franco, along with the other good Samaritans, discovered the car’s driver bloodied, unconscious, and trapped.
Just seconds after extricating him from the wreckage, the tanker exploded, propelling the rescuers backward with its force.
Houston Police stated that the driver rescued by Franco remained in critical condition on Sunday.
“Maybe one day it could happen to me. That’s why I ran to help the guy,” Franco explained.
https://www.tiktok.com/@news5belize/video/7376378124004494598?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7363682428676900357
