Tourism Ministry Investing to Raise Carnival Standards

Tonight, a quiet storm is building inside the Belize Carnival Association, one that could redefine the country’s biggest September celebration. News Five has confirmed that several Belize City carnival bands have been meeting behind closed doors with a team of investors promising to take Carnival to the international stage. But that ambitious plan comes with a price: removing the long‑standing leadership led by President Patrick Thompson. And if that wasn’t enough, confusion is swirling over whether the association is even due for elections this year, or if its term has quietly stretched to 2027 because of the pandemic gap. Through it all, the Ministry of Tourism, one of Carnival’s biggest backers, says it doesn’t matter who’s in charge. Minister Anthony Mahler says he’s ready to work with any executive, as long as Carnival steps up and delivers a world‑class show.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“Our goal is to make it much bigger and better. I think we brought an expert from Trinidad to look at it and they say we are a long ways from making it export ready and internationalize it. And so we, one of the changes was the route. We did that already. And so I understand that in a few months there should be change in leadership or something.  There are elections and we’ll see where that goes. But we are willing to work with any group, and I did it many years ago when I was at the B-B-T-B-I, I supported the carnival bands. Um, and I think it’s a good thing for Belize now, how we modernize it and how we become creative in terms of the costumes we can get training for that and all of that. Right? That’s one. Those are some of the things that we’re looking at.”

 

Facility Overhaul Aims to Boost Sports in Belize

 

And as that uncertainty plays out, another transformation is underway, this time in Belize’s sporting landscape. Mahler, also Minister of Sports, says the redevelopment of Rogers Stadium has entered a new phase, starting with interior upgrades that will allow the venue to host both little league baseball and softball. He argues that modern facilities are essential if Belize is to compete regionally, pointing to the overwhelming demand at Berger Field as evidence that investment is long overdue.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“We are working on the plans. We have some resources to start the interior fence and the field. And then we’ll go to the outter fence and then we’ll start the bleachers and the other facilities that, but we will shift out the fence a little bit more with some architectural design. And so it could be used as a little league baseball field and as a softball field. So, for me, baseball was my first love that I grew up playing that. And then I moved out into football and other and basketball specifically. But I, I believe that we can compete with this region if we have the proper facilities and we have the proper training.”

 

Shane Williams

“And any timeline for the start?”

 

Anthony Mahler

“Hopefully we can finish the interior fence I think by April or June,  April or May.”

 

Reporter

“How much has social activity or sporting activity increased as a result of the upgrade at Berger Field?”

 

Anthony Mahler

“Well, as you can see, that field has become overused, so we are trying to curtail it. Right now, we have to change the pitch already, the turf, and so we’ve ordered it already and then we’ll go in there. But that has created tremendous excitement in Belize City and what we’re doing right now at the National Sports Council is looking at all real estate that is out there, whether it’s a basketball court somewhere; it’s a football field, softball field and how can we go into those communities to improve them so that when you have a Rogers Stadium, then you don’t have to have competitions there. You don’t have to have practices there and everything. You can only have competition. And then you have practice fields where they can go by. Same thing with football, same thing with basketball.”

 

Fish Fry Project to Boost Economic Activity in Pickstock

 

Mahler is also pushing a second wave of revitalization, this time on North Front Street. His long‑planned fish market and weekly “fish fry” are finally taking shape, promising new energy and economic activity for Pickstock. He says the project isn’t just about building stalls; it’s more about identity and culture. Inspired by the lively fish markets he’s seen abroad, Mahler wants Belize City to create its own version, authentic, flavorful, and buzzing with community life, where locals and visitors can eat, gather, and experience a true Belizean vibe.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“Whenever I travel, I like to go and see the fish markets. And so that came from an idea that I saw in the United States. That why can’t we have a nice fish market for people to go?  The smaller booths, if you want your fry jack and you want your flour tortilla and yo beans and thing da night or da day, da morning – whenever it is you could go there and get it, but it, it’s a fish market. And we’re going to introduce this thing called fish fry. You know, I’ve seen it in the Caribbean in many of the islands. And so maybe a Thursday night or a Saturday night, we have entertainment to bring some vibrancy to the area.”

 

Mahler says the new fish market and weekly fish‑fry will give North Front Street the lively, authentic Belizean atmosphere he’s seen in places like Barbados, turning the area into a location where people can eat, gather, and feel the neighborhood come alive.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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