Month: May 2024

Schoolchildren have their own culture. During their break time, they engage in whatever game is trending. With the advent of technology and the internet, that may be less so for children who prefer to stay connected, but for those of us who grew up in an era when cell phones and the internet were non-existent, there were the seasonal games. In today’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, we bring you the art of spinning the top. And while it was difficult finding a guy who would readily volunteer his skills making a top dance, there were a couple women who did. News Five’s Marion Ali brings you one of the cultural games that has somehow remained through the decades – spinning the top.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The sight of a top spinning may bring back fond memories for those of us whose childhoods were punctuated by this traditional children’s game. Many of us can remember when boys competed for bragging rights by making their top spin the longest. Dr. Miguel Depaz is now sixty years old, but he remembers his childhood very well and spinning top was one of many highlights.

Via phone: Dr Miguel Depaz, Played Top as a Child

“I could remember the top being red, white, and blue with a sharp point, and we used to change it so that we could gamma meaning poke the other guy’s top or try and split the top that was on the ground. And so some of the boys were good at it. I was not too good at it.”

The art to getting a good spin is knowing how to wind the string around the top.

Via phone: Dr Miguel Depaz

“You wrapped from the bottom of the top to the head, so it was upward, but yes, we had to do a first loop on the head of the top and then once we had it wrapped we would unleash it with a sudden jerk, a hand movement. Normally we make that hand movement outwards and then we bring it inwards and then that would unleash the card and allow the top to spin.”

Top spinning was predominantly a male-oriented game at primary school, but we could not find a boy who was willing to spin the top for our camera. Instead, we found a woman who does it with prowess. Having a brother growing up meant that Nikita Black had to learn all the games, including those that were traditionally played by boys. She does so now for relaxation.

Nikita Black, Top Spinner

“I have an older brother and back then, of course, there was no technology, no phone or anything, and the best part of growing up – tops, marbles, jacks and ball, board game and so forth. It’s a bragging thing. I’m a girl, I can do it. I can beat you as a boy. It’s fun and my brother used to also get the pleasure of bragging that his sister can also do it. And it brings a thrill too when it starts spinning – damn, I did it. That’s what basically relaxes my mind. It does relax the mind because it brings back a childhood memory and nothing beats a childhood memory.”

There aren’t many children who spin tops today, compared to the past few decades; however, this game is still part of Belizean culture. The main supplier for tops is Simon Quan Store. Anora Flowers is a sales clerk here.

Anora Flowers, Sales Clerk, Simon Quan Store

“The children, mostly from Holy Redeemer, they want from Baptist, and St. Ignatius, they come and buy because they love tops, especially the boys. Children love tops, and marbles. They buy most of the time.”

The kind that’s available is made of a lighter material and its tip is flattened, as opposed to the pointed tips that were once popular. Flowers says they spin just as well.

Marion Ali

“I find that when I pick one up, it’s not as heavy as the top that I used to know about in my day. Does it still spin as good? Do you know anything about that?”

Anora Flowers

“Yes. You want me to spin one for you?”

It took Anora a few tries, but it has nothing to do with the design of the top. She admits that she has forgotten the art of spinning tops over the years. It’s an art that Nikita Black says she wants to not only keep but pass on to her children.

Marion Ali

“You pass it on to your kids?”

Nikita Black

“I do pass it on to my kids and an advice I would like to give to parents. Most of all with today’s technology, try to take it away, go in the yard, be with your kids teach them something that will have bring, have a memory for them.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Miss Universe Belize, Halima Hoy, is preparing to face off against other contestants on the world stage. She has the support of many Belizeans behind her, including well-known artist Alex Sanker. This afternoon, Sanker unveiled a painting depicting Hoy in a stunning black dress, emerging from a black orchid.  It was a surprise unveiling for Miss Universe Belize and her husband was in on it. He told her that he wanted to stop briefly on Albert Street to inquire about Sanker’s work and shortly after she found out about the piece. Our camera was there to capture the moment.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize

“I am caught off guard. My husband told me to look cute today and I was like awe that is nice. I thought it was just a lunch or something and a bunch of tiny lies led up top this moment. I am overwhelmed with the idea that he took the time to do this, and Alex took the time to incorporate a really strong message in this picture because it speaks volumes. The black orchid is at my toes and it represents a woman of black woman, a woman of black heritage representing the jewel. So, I am very touched by this piece.”

Paul Lopez

“So you are surprised.”

Halima Hoy

“I was, coming towards it I am like this is a nice little show and display but one was covered and for a slight little second it gave it away a little bit.”

Alex Sanker, Artist

“I think the crown is what sell it. We have never had a crown like this. It was always something that the pageant probably issue and also most importantly it is the first year where women with kids, marriage could enter the pageant and that is ground breaking. So I wanted to do something special and now for a fact that the black orchid is our national flower. And I don’t care what people see through my painting I am all about country, always promoting Belize in every way. When I found out she won, this is my sixth Ms. Universe, but I wanted to do something different, bring her out of the black orchid and bring her to the world. Of course this is not finished. This is going to be a universe with planets and stuff.”

It’s been more than three months since the first e-bus arrived as part of Belize City’s gradual shift from fuel-operated to electric buses for public transportation. The Belize City Council says there’s been a lot of work done over that time to make the transition seamless. Part of that transition is getting the technical personnel who will be responsible for driving, repairing and maintaining the e-buses familiar with the vehicle. So this week, those persons are in training, held by Build Your Dream, the company that manufactured the e-buses. A delegation of from BYD is in Belize to conduct the training with drivers, conductors, and personnel from the Department of Transport. News Five’s Marion Ali went on board one of the buses today and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

At first glance, it looks like any other bus, but this e-bus has features that we, in Belize, aren’t necessarily accustomed to. Before we get into the cool aspects of what the bus can do, the city’s e- Transit Start-up Coordinator, Neil Hall says it’s not just drivers, conductors and technical staff who are receiving the training.

Neil Hall, e-Transit Start-up Coordinator, Belize City Council

“They’ll be training on first responders. So when the police or the EMTs need to access the vehicle for any particular reason, they’ll know the proper way of doing it, so it’s safe for everyone. On Monday, we’ll start doing other types of trainings that are more physical training. At that point, we’ll have the buses actually start hitting the streets and do range testing, heat testing, speed testing, capacity testing and several different types of tests, physical tests for the buses themselves.”

Chad Dietrich is the General Manager for Caribbean Motors, which is participating in the training sessions.

Chad Dietrich, General Manager for Caribbean Motors

“Some of these features that we’re explaining, yeah, they’re new to us in a lot of cases because of the newer versions of the bus that this is.  But as for the difference between diesel and electric, in some cases it’s how do you tow it? Because of the different mechanical systems. How do we maintain it? There’s actually a lot less maintenance required for an electric bus. But it’s making sure that our mechanics and those that are maintaining these buses know exactly the procedures how to do that. Just, it’s a big investment, so we want to keep them in tip top shape so they last a long time.”

Dr. Curtis Boodoo is the UNDP’s e-mobility expert in Belize. The UNDP is the implementing agency for the pilot project, which is funded by the European Union.

Dr. Curtis Boodoo, UNDP’s e-Mobility Expert

“It is our hope, but I am very confident that this will transform the transportation sector in Belize. The inclusion of these two buses, and we have three other buses to come as well as part of the project. Belize uses around 40 percent of your national energy for transport. So that is gasoline, diesel, et cetera, that you import. Having electric vehicles, and in this case, an electric bus, ensures that you more efficiently use your fuel that you import. Electric vehicles, electric buses, around three times more efficient than a normal bus, diesel, or normal car. So you make more efficient use of it. There is a push towards the increasing the use of solar in Belize. The more renewable energy you generate in Belize, the less fossil fuels you burn. So the cleaner the energy becomes.”

And about those cool features I mentioned, Dietrich gives us a first look at those.

Chad Dietrich

“This is a low floor city bus, so it sits low. Number one, it also kneels. So that means it tilts down to the curb level to make it easy for people to get on one one people group that makes it a lot easier for is those that are mobility challenge. So we have a wheelchair ramp here so I can quickly flip that out for you. We have a wheelchair ramp. We also have a call button on the outside of the bus. So if there’s somebody that needs the ramp flipped out. There’s a call button that alerts the driver, and then somebody will get out and assist. So there is a way for us to affix the wheelchair here in the bus, and also when they want to get off, there’s a special button that they’ll press to alert the driver and the conductor so they can be assisted. For those wanting to get off at a certain stop, certainly the stops will be listed up on the screen at the front. I also see time and temperature up there. And then these stop buttons will also alert the driver that somebody wants to be wants to get off at a particular stop.”

The buses are air-conditioned and have USB phone chargers near the seats and free Wi Fi for passengers. But these e-buses, like many of those internationally, accommodates more standees than sitting passengers, with only twenty-three seats, and room for twenty-seven standees with rails to hold onto. Meanwhile, Neil Hall says the launch of the new e-buses is scheduled for July. The plan, he says, is to fully replace all of Belize City’s fuel-operated buses with e-buses at affordable prices. Marion Ali for News Five.

A team from the International Fund for Agriculture and Development, I.F.A.D., has completed a series of studies on the projects implemented through the Resilient Rural Belize Project. These analyses were executed from May seventh to twenty-fourth, through the fund’s Independent Office of Evaluation which seeks to engage with Small Island Developing States such as Belize and Grenada and ensure that these countries adhere to quality standards, including reporting processes. The team conducted meetings and interviews across Belize, with program stakeholders to observe project achievements and better understand key vulnerabilities related to social, economic, and climate change impacts. The goal of these studies is to ensure that the Resilient Rural Belize Project can meet its objectives and that the benefits are equitably distributed among the targeted rural communities. Previously, the project received a twenty million US dollar loan and grant financing package from I.F.A.D., the Green Climate Fund, and the Government of Belize. This funding is allocated to a six-year initiative to reduce the impacts of climatic and economic events on rural small farmers.

Holy Redeemer Credit Union saw a record turnout for its Eighth Annual General Meeting inside the Belize City Civic Center. In its eightieth year, the financial institution has hit a few milestones that were highlighted during the meeting, including breaking ground for its Belmopan headquarters which is scheduled to be completed in 2025. The building will be named after former H.R.C.U. President, Fred Smith.  H.R.C.U. was also connected to the National Payment System in June 2023. One of the major announcements that member owners look out for during these meetings has to do with their dividend and rebate. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Belize’s oldest and largest credit union, the Holy Redeemer Credit Union, held its Eightieth Annual General Meeting on Saturday inside the Belize City Civic Center.

Dr. Carol Babb, Director, H.R.C.U.

“I want to thank you for coming to this very important A.G.M. As Ms. Castillo mentioned we celebrated eighty years of stellar service to the people of Belize. Remember HRCU is a member only organization. We are the owners of this credit union and we are very proud because on the sixteenth of May 1944 we started and now we are celebrating eighty years. Let us say happy birthday H.R.C.U.”

More than two thousand, eight hundred member-owners were present at the AGM. Wendy Castillo, the President of the Board of Directors, noted that an institution which started with seventy-five cents has grown to more than seven hundred million dollars in assets.

Wendy Castillo, President, Board of Directors H.R.C.U.

“Today what started with seventy-five cents, today I can tell you as your president and a member of this board that today we are seven hundred and seventy-three point nine million in total asset. Look at that growth. Who would have thought that seventy-five cents eighty years later would translate into a million dollar institution. give yourselves a round of applause because you did that, the member owners.”

As it pertains to HRCU’s loan portfolio, that has also seen an increase over the last year. Marion Marsden, Chair of HRCU’s Credit Committee, announced that eighteen thousand and sixty-seven loans were issued over the past year. Loans issued went primarily to investments, house repairs and vehicle repairs.

Marion Marsden, Chairperson, Credit Committee, H.R.C.U.

“The credit committee is pleased to report that your credit union continues to have a strong loan portfolio. Credit union policies ensure that our loans are the highest quality and in the best interest of each member. From this activity our loans portfolio grew from two hundred and fifty-seven point eight million to two hundred and sixty-eight point eight million, or an increase of four-point two six percent. Major loan categories were investments, totaling twenty-six point seven million which is thirty one point nine seven percent with six hundred and sixty-seven loans. House repairs and renovations totaling twelve million with fourteen-point three five percent with one thousand seven hundred and eighty -four loans. And vehicle repairs totaling eight point one million and nine point seven percent, with one thousand four hundred and nineteen loans.”

At the A.G.M., close to three thousand members who were in attendance learned that the board of directors is recommending a four percent dividend and a rebate of ten percent.  Castillo made the announcement.

Wendy Castillo

“Dollar value of loans issues accounts to eighty-three point six million. The number of loan issues in 2024, is eighteen thousand and sixty-nine loans to member owners. The total gross profits is forty-two point three million. Total net profit of twenty-seven point nine million dollars. Give yourselves a round of applause. These are really good numbers considering coming out of the COVID pandemic. Your board is recommending a four percent dividend today and a rebate of ten percent. So that is what you the member owner will receive on your investment in H.R.C.U. this year. Give your board and members a round of applause.”

H.R.C.U. is celebrating eighty years of service to the nation of Belize. And this year’s AGM saw the most member-owners in attendance. Clement Usher, the Chief Financial Officer of the institution, sought to emphasize just how significant eighty years of service is.

Clement Usher, Chief Financial Officer, HRCU

“Today at this massive A.G.M., because honestly this is the most people I have ever seen at one of our A.G.M.s, I understand the count has now reached two thousand eight hundred. We celebrated our birthday on Wednesday May fifteenth, 2024. Just imagine, H.R.C.U. is now four scores, eight decades, eighty years, nine hundred and sixty months, twenty-nine thousand two hundred days, seven hundred thousand eight hundred hours and forty-two million forty-eight thousand minutes old. You guys deserve a round of applause for that. I say these numbers to empathize this milestone achievement for H.R.C.U.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.