March 5, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

U.D.P. 7 Belize City Hopes To Win Big in Old Capital

The United Democratic Party is fielding a team of seven candidates for Wednesday’s municipal elections. Career educator, Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis is leading the charge for the U.D.P. Eleven. They launched their manifesto several days ago and are now hoping that they can reclaim those municipal seats once held by their party. News Five’s Paul Lopez spoke with Mortis and her councilor candidates in this installment of Meet the Candidates.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The United Democratic Party is seeking to end its two-term municipal drought in Belize City. After a longstanding reign in the Old Capital, Belize City residents opted for a People’s United Party municipal slate in the last two municipal elections. Well, Dr. Nelma Mortis, the United Democratic Party’s Mayoral Candidate, and UDP councilor candidates Angelie Perez and Samson Jacobs have placed their names on the ballot and are confident of victory at the polls.

Dr. Nelma Jones Mortis, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City

“I am a thirty years or over experience educator. I am also a researcher, a social activist and I am inspired for two various reasons. I am a person ho believe in service and that is the greatest effort you will get out of me, to serve the people. Additionally I am also trying to make, or at least give a better reflection to the younger woman than me to walk in political leadership where we are not well represented.”

Angelie Perez, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a paralegal and I decided to put my name on the ballot for two reasons, I want to be able to see more young people being represented and as well as women, because I believe we have a voice and in order for my voice and the voice of the young people to be heard there must be representations.”

Samson Jacobs, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a teacher at Edward P Yorke High School. I started off at Sadie Vernon Technical High School but prior to that my first place of employment was Hand in Hand Ministries where I use to work with persons who were infected and affected with HIV and aids. I am social workers by degree but I am also a trained teacher and I have a certificate in grant proposal writing and project management.”

Mortis and her team launched their manifesto last Thursday. The document has three key areas of focus, environment, economy and equity. She says most of the residents she spoke with on the campaign trail were more concerned about national issues as opposed to municipal challenges. She added that issues of food and citizen security are on top of the list of those concerns.

Nelma Jones Mortis

“One of the greatest thing that comes out from the people on the ground is more of national issues and I know I do have to do a lot of work in helping out people to understand the importance of local government. At this point there is not really much thing to say about the local government as much as there is thing to say about national government. And, that has to do with the nexus for food and security. People have to eat, people are hungry. People want to feel secure. Their lives and I have to say this, recently there have been a lot of electioneering where the streets are being fixed and close to election or upon election and that symbolize that us as politicians we are hinging people’s livelihood and quality for life to an election and it should not be that way.”

Mortis noted that the business community in Belize City already raised a number of concerns to her team that they plan to address if elected on Wednesday.

Nelma Jones Mortis

“Parking is a major issue for them, especially on Albert Street and Regent Street. So we have to create a vision for that. Either we do parking that goes up or we cut off a certain are just for parking, that is something that has to be assessed. Two, they speak a lot to the trade license, which is seems there is not equity across the board when it comes to that. Now that is beyond the Belize City Council’s purview, however again, collaboration as the mayor of this city that is where my leadership comes in having to bring this central government to point the way forward.”

And councilor candidate, Angelie Perez, says if young people are questioning what impact a youth can make through politics, she has a message for them.

Angelie Perez

“I think the kind of impact a young person can make, if we shy away from these roles we will never be heard. So we must step up. WE must embrace these leadership roles in order for our voices to be heard. When I decided to put my name on a ballot and told people, one of the questions people asked is if I was ready because politics is a very dirty game and I am very grateful to the good lord that this time it hasn’t been like that and my mayor also doesn’t believe in negative campaigning.”

Councilor candidate Samson Jacobs also voiced several concerns he heard from residents that he believes his team would be able to effectively address.

Samson Jacobs

“I remember on the campaign trail we were back in Gungulung area and some business owners were complaining about the drainage and the street. One of them actually said when they come to purchase in the store they could not enter because the water the cover the bridge to get in. I believe the same way they consider the north side people to pay their taxes and they get their services, the same needs to be done on the south side and that is where the equity comes in.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

U.D.P. Chides Briceño Administration Ahead of Municipals

This afternoon, the United Democratic Party held a press conference at its headquarters here in Belize City. During the session with the media, Party Leader Shyne Barrow began by criticizing the Briceño administration for promises it has failed to deliver since taking office in 2020.

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We approach the time of the most sacred exercise in our democracy which is tomorrow, March sixth, the dawn of change for the better, because yoh got two kinda change, the PUP change and then the UDP change, for the better is upon us. You know, for the last three, and six in some instances, even twelve consecutive years if you look at Orange Walk Town, who have had four consecutive terms of doing nothing. First they complained about not having a central government that was PUP and now that they have a central government that is PUP, with none other than the prime minister and four other representatives, I believe, being from Orange Walk, they have done nothing for the people of Orange Walk Town. We have just been subjected to broken promises, mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and rampant corruption by the PUP local government. The promise of synergy has never arrived. The optimal benefits that were declared to be looming once you had a PUP central government and a PUP local has turned out to be a marriage of complete disaster. We have suffered, the Belizean people have suffered from this dysfunctional, extremely dysfunctional relationship.”

Patrick Faber Celebrates 21 Years as a Parliamentarian

Also present at the presser this afternoon was Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Of note is that U.D.P. mayoral candidate Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis hails from that constituency. Faber began by acknowledging his twenty-first year as a parliamentarian before speaking about Collet and the campaign trail.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Today, March fifth, makes twenty-one years that I’ve been in the House of Representatives and, of course, under my watch we have never lost the Collet constituency at no level, municipal or general. And, of course, tomorrow, I can assure you, party leader, will be no different. I can assure the country that we will bring victory once again in Collet, but I want to say as well because of my work with the team, I am confident also of a victory citywide. We might not win all constituencies, but cumulatively we will definitely make what it takes to deliver City Hall to the UDP once again. I sit at this table today to have people understand that as we move into the elections tomorrow, we are one united force. The UDP has a record of division, as many would know, and it also has a record of coming together when the country needs us and it is no doubt that if the country ever needed us, that time is now. And so, we have put differences aside in order to make sure that tomorrow we will enter those elections one unified front and bring victory in all nine of our municipalities across the country.”

Faber Anticipates a U.D.P. Victory at the Polls

As far as tomorrow’s municipal elections, Faber says he is optimistic that the United Democratic Party will make inroads across various cities and towns, ahead of a victory at the polls during the 2025 general elections.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“I have had the opportunity to visit with some of the teams across the country. I’ve not gone north but I’ve certainly been south and west and I feel as optimistic as I do about the Belize City team with those teams as well. I feel that we have, in those areas as well, excellent slates and I am looking forward to an early count. I think that the fact that they are counting boxes simultaneously should produce an early result in most of these elections and it’s not going to be, hopefully, like those years gone by where dawn is breaking and we still don’t know who is the winner in some of these municipalities. I think it will be early tomorrow and I look forward to celebrating with my UDP colleagues that victory and to mark the improvement, if you will, but the steps forward in bringing back the United Democratic Party to the government, the national government of Belize. I hope that the results tomorrow will be an impetus for Prime Minister Briceño to call the elections.”

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Celebrates Women’s Day

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is inviting all women to join them in celebrating International Women’s Day. The day, which is observed on March eighth, is meant to promote women’s rights and acknowledge their achievements globally. To participate in the fest ivies, the Muslim community of Belize will be offering an array of services at the Masjid Noor on Saturday. We stopped by today to hear what the event will entail. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Every year, on March eighth, millions of people across the globe participate in the observation of International Women’s Day. The holiday was declared in 1975 by the United Nations as a day for Women’s Rights and World Peace. As part of this celebration, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at hosts an annual International Women’s Day Expo, which is meant to foster a sense of community and provide an array of services for women in Belize. The president of the Women’s Jama’at spoke to us about these activities.

Maham Warraich, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Women’s Group,

“This is the third year that we’re having this. And it’s basically celebrating International Women’s Day. It is the month that we’re celebrating women. And we’re offering the same free services that we’ve offered in the previous years as well. And a lot of our locals obviously enjoy that. So some of the services are henna, paint, henna, and hair braiding, and nail painting, and eyebrow OUT 0:46 threading.”

As the holiday is meant to be a reflection of women’s achievements and a day to prioritize the progression of their rights and wellbeing, the Jama’at stated that this event will be an opportunity to offer health and wellness services.

Deshawn Ellis, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at

“It’s more than just an event. We want it to be an experience for the women. I think that one of the themes for this year’s Women’s Month is Invest in Women. And that’s what we want to do with this expo. You know, we’re gonna have the free services, we’re gonna even have free vital screening, so that you can prioritize your health. And so it’s really investing in women.”

As part of the goal to elevate and empower women, several small female-owned businesses will be given the opportunity to showcase their products and services as well.

Maham Warraich

“So our main goal for this event was also to support our local Belizean ladies and to have a platform where they can come and they can obviously expose their business to other people. And so we have obviously food stalls that people are selling their baked goods and their food. And then we also have an individual who’s selling skincare, bracelets, and then we also have pre loved clothing that they’re trying to sell. And then we also, as It’s for us to have the knowledge of Islam, that if anybody’s interested in learning about Islam, they can come and we’ll have a book stall, and we also have the try on a hijab. That’s a huge hit. A lot of ladies come and they try it on and it’s a loving experience for everyone.”

Member of the Jama’at, Khadija Hassan, spoke on the importance of helping others as a part of the Islam beliefs.

Khadija Hassan, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at

“You know, so we introduce ourself to the community. We integrate ourself in the community by helping the community. We are not separatist. We’re not isolationist. We are here to help and to serve. The promised Messiah, peace be upon him, said that his advent was to bring people back to God and to bring them back to respecting and helping each other. Service is a big part of her community.”

Hassan informed us that the event will not only serve to uplift women in Belize, but will also assist families suffering from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Maham Warraich

“So as we know that there’s a huge crisis happening in Gaza, and it’s been going on for almost six months, and we thought that it was something that needs to be brought to attention. And so all the proceeds that are going to be from this event, they’re going to be donated to Gaza to help with aid there, because it’s really, really needed. As a Muslim, it is our job to give service to the community, but a huge part is also giving charity as well”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

The event will be hosted on Saturday, 9th of March, from ten a.m. to four p.m. at the Masjid Noor.

Belize Bank and MasterCard Introduce Girls4Tech

Eight years ago, MasterCard created Girls4Tech, a STEM program that inspires girls to build technology skills that will help them to become leaders of technology in the future. Today, that program is being introduced in Belize for the first time through a partnership between the Belize Bank, MasterCard and the Ministry of Education. This morning, at the Matalon Building, a brief ceremony was held to unveil the interactive, hands-on curriculum that connects the foundations of business to STEM principles.

Agata Ruta, COO, Belize Bank

“This the first time that we have Girls 4 Tech in Belize. This is teach girls about different parts of technology. So today and for the entire week, they are learning about algorithms, all digital, cryptology and fraud. They have a lot of different activities to bring those topics to light, so they are learning how to write their names in binary code. In the Navajo code and MasterCard is teaching them when the Navajo code was used and how the US was using the code in World War II so they can really see how to encrypt messages. They are finding secret messages different tasks. They are learning about fraud and how to recognize fraud in daily transactions. So it‘s a program that‘s full of activities and we hope that this is just a beginning. This is the first time in Belize, but we hope that they will be coming [back] and having the program with us on an annual basis.”

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“The Ministry of Education is very, very pleased to partner with the Belize Bank and MasterCard International to have this workshop, Girls 4 Tech. It‘s one of the priority areas for us at the Ministry of Education, making sure that our girls are included in the science and technology revolution that‘s taking place across the world. So we don‘t want our girls to be left out. You know, traditionally, girls have not been a part of science and technology. Science and technology have been viewed traditionally as areas for men and boys. So there is a global effort and Belize certainly wants to be a part of that effort and the Ministry of Education is working to ensure that girls are included, that they have the opportunity to develop the skills that are important to science and technology. So I think it‘s an absolutely important initiative, we have been doing this work at the Ministry of Education for the past two years as well. So we were happy when they called us and asked us to collaborate with them.”

Mahiba Sharp, Principal, Belize Elementary School

“I think it’s an absolutely amazing opportunity for our girls to be a part of this program. Technology is male dominated and based on what we heard here today, the gender gap probably won‘t close until 2095, so that‘s far away from our lifetime and that‘s a shame. So I think that starting to pique their interest at this age, very young, our students are here from Standard One to Standard Six. So that is between age seven to age thirteen, so I think opening up the horizons for them and letting them know that from now they can be a part of technology. I think it‘s very important. The CEO of YouTube is a female. Before that, she was a marketing manager of Google. So they are female role models in technology, things that these girls can aspire to. So I think it‘s very important that programs like this, thanks to Belize Bank and MasterCard, are held for them so that they can get the exposure.”

Belize Host Seaweed Mariculture Symposium

Today, Belize participated in its first ever Seaweed Aquaculture Symposium. The event was organized by the Nature Conservancy in collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and the Belize Fisheries Department in order to transfer knowledge of the works in the industry that is being done in other parts of the countries and develop relationships with colleagues from other parts of the world. We attended the event earlier today for more information. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, reporting

Today, several stakeholders from various countries gathered in Belize City to exchange valuable information about the growing seaweed industry in hopes of fostering partnerships and gaining knowledge that would aid in the industry’s development. Saleem Chan, of the Nature Conservancy, spoke with us about the event and its participants.

Saleem Chan, Mariculture Specialist and Safety Officer, The Nature Conservancy

“Today is quite a day. We’ve been working towards organizing the symposium jointly with the Belize Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil really to bring our partners from other parts of the world to Belize in sharing their work into seaweed farming. So we have people from Tanzania, Indonesia, people as far as Puerto Rico in Belize and as well as seaweed, local seaweed farmers in Belize sharing our journey with our guests.”

Also partnering in the event was the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. Director Felicia Cruz expressed the ministry’s desire to expand the industry for Belizean fishers and farmers.

Felicia Cruz, Director, Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation

“It is a very momentous occasion for the Government of Belize because it really signals an opportunity to showcase all of the excellent work that has been happening within the seaweed mariculture industry. From a ministerial perspective, our ministry is very proud of achieving this milestone. The seaweed industry is still immature. There’s still a lot yet to be done to help the industry elevate at a level in which we can derive the requisite socioeconomic and environmental benefits that we know the seaweed industry can contribute.”

Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Carrillo further affirmed the necessity of providing opportunities in the industry.

Kennedy Carrillo, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation

“We work very closely with the Nature Conservancy and obviously our fisheries department is involved in the seaweed working group as well as other activities that are related to the seaweed sector in Belize. We work very closely with the communities and the seaweed farmers in Placencia, for example, our fisheries department works very closely in providing support. And of course, looking for other opportunities for them globally.”

Participating in the event was the president of the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, Jalima Gold, who expressed her gratitude for the event and its proceedings.

Jalima Gold, President, Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association

“We are the Belize Women’s Seed Farmers Association. we are an association from Southern Belize and we’ve been working for the past four years to try to help create and legitimize the mariculture industry. So it’s very important. We’re very happy that we’ve been asked to be here. We’ve been seen as like a stakeholder in the industry and so we are thankful that they asked us to be here.”

Local fisher woman, Isela Martinez, also commented on the impact of the growing seaweed industry.

Isela Martinez, Fisherwoman & Research Assistant

“So I do think that the seaweed is really important to our economy because it’s another source of income for our country. As fishermen, it is very important for us.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.