STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics to engage students in dialogues of critical thinking and creativity. This summer, codirectors Orlando Medina and Joseph Stamp-Romero are inviting students to sign up for the Steam Summer Academy in Belize city. This four-week program intends to provide participants with a diverse learning experience. We spoke with Orlando Medina of Educational Scientific Solutions for more information.
Orlando Medina
Orlando Medina, Codirector
“We’re running a summer camp this summer for kids between the ages of eight to thirteen, we’re going to be focusing on various areas. It’s going to be involved arts, science, a little bit of technology in terms of robotics, and we even have sports and karate. So it’s a diverse experience. We’re trying to create a diverse experience for students for the summer. It’s going to be for four weeks. We’re hosting it at Edward P. York High School. And it’s going to be running from Monday to Friday, starting next week, Monday, July the first to the twenty-sixth. We’re planning to do this for four weeks. Try to immerse the kids, allow them to discover the different areas of different talents and interests. We’re still taking registration. So if you’re interested in something that is and it’s a camp that is designed to, it’s something that we’re educators. So it is something that we are putting together a little curriculum for it. We’re putting together all the activities on. We plan to provide snacks for these kids on. We want to do so much. You want to really make it a full experience. The last Friday they will get a to showcase what they learned throughout the camp, but really the structure for the camp that we have is that every week, for example, they will be asked to present what they have been working on for the week, like the little challenges that they have, they would get a chance to look at it and see where is it that they can improve? And then as we go along, we have this grand finale at the end where they’re going to showcase what they have learned in a different areas. And so children will get to showcase and they could choose if they could choose more than one area. So if they want to demonstrate what they have done in science and math and what they want to do, a little bit of art or dance or whatever, they could showcase that as well.”
Nearly one month into hurricane season, the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, NEMO, and the National Meteorological Service are evaluating Belize’s plan for the ongoing season. Day two of the twelfth National Climate Outlook Forum got underway in Belize city this morning, where several organizations discussed the strategies that will be implemented moving forward. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended today’s event to learn how prepared Belize is for the 2024 hurricane season. Here’s more on that.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
In 2023, Belize was spared from all the seven hurricanes that tore through the Atlantic during the fourth most active hurricane season since 1993. Nonetheless, Hurricane Lisa, a category one storm that made landfall in 2022, devastated Belize, leaving in its wake hundreds of millions of dollars in structural damage and economic losses. So, is Belize prepared for another Hurricane? That is the question that key stakeholders are seeking to answer at the twelfth National Climate Outlook Forum. Daniel Mendez, coordinator of NEMO, explains.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, Coordinator, NEMO
“We are in the middle of the hurricane season. So by now, everyone should have had a plan already. You should know where to go, what you’re going to do if there’s ever a storm developing in our area. So what we’re doing with the MET service today is really to understand the outlook for this season for us at NEMO. We need that for planning purposes. So we can know where to go, what to do, and how we’re better guided in our work. But like I said, in the hurricane season we at government, have a plan, and we also want to ensure that every sector, every organization, every home, every person has also a plan on knowing what to do if there’s ever that in our area.”
The intensification of dry and wet season is a direct result of climate change. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon says that extended dry seasons are becoming a more common occurrence.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service
“What we’re seeing is that gradually our dry season is becoming more intense as we saw recently with wildfires and the extreme dry temperatures that we had. We also noticed that sometimes at the start of rainy season, we get rains, but then eventually we get an extended what we typically used to call the maaga season. That’s between around July to August. Sometimes we get an intense dry spell as well. So we noticed that there are changes occurring. And of course, we know that our temperatures are increasing. As we look at our data every year, we monitor our temperatures, they are going up. So It is quite clear that we are in the area of climate change and temperatures are increasing.”
The Ministry of Disaster Risk Management’s preparation includes engaging all partners in information sharing, planning, response and recovery strategies.
Kennedy Carillo
Kennedy Carillo, C.E.O., Disaster Risk Management
“Many times we feel that NEMO is just one organization responsible. But in reality, NEMO is a system, it’s a national system that includes governmental, non-governmental and we have a lot of partners in the private sector community. Everybody, even you, at your home. You are part of Nemo.”
Carillo further explains that the Met Service plays a key role in ensuring that Belizeans are informed and prepared. Stakeholder engagement in this conversation is vital.
Kennedy Carillo
“The Met Service engages a group of technical experts who on a regular basis are being trained. They’re identifying areas, new areas for to be trained. They’re also improving in terms of their technology. And so I think that our country can really feel proud. That we have a met one of the best met service in the region so much so that countries in the Caribbean and even in the US depend on us for information, and I think this is what we’re getting from these forums. The opportunity to recognize where there are areas for improvement.”
The outcome of Belize’s 2024 Hurricane season is yet to be determined, however, Mendez assures the public that NEMO and its partners are doing their part to ensure that Belize is as prepared for the season as possible.
Daniel Mendez
“We are doing our best to strengthen our systems. We have been doing a lot of revision of our plans. We know that we have to strengthen our plans, and we also have to be better understanding the increased hazards, the increased capacity of these hazards to cause damage. So we are in the middle of a review of all our plans and strengthening those, not only within NEMO, but also within all our partner committees. Also with the different villages and municipalities in the country.”
This week’s Look on the Bright Side is another highlight of exemplary work being done in Belize’s education system. An example of doing more through inclusion is acknowledged in Horizon Academy’s approach to incorporate paraprofessionals in their school system since its inception. Who are paraprofessionals? That’s what Sabreena sought to find out. Here’s that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Pedro Magana has been enrolled at Horizon Academy since kindergarten and is also diagnosed with autism. He is a success story and an example of what support to children with special needs can accomplish. His mother, Azalia Magana, shares that this is achieved because he attends a school that not only embraces students with special needs, but has a system in place for continuous learning of special needs.
Azalia Magana
Azalia Magana, Mother
“These teachers are continuously getting education on how to deal with special needs kids and it gave me assurance knowing that my child won’t be the first child that comes with a disability. He won’t be the first child that has autism. The teachers would have had previous experience and we learn from it. Even though maybe they don’t have a master’s degree in special ed, they have that experience and they have people that do have that education background that will pass on that knowledge to them. So that was one of the reasons why I chose Horizon.”
Ensuring that everyone can learn, regardless of their ability or disability, is essential for fostering an inclusive society. In Belize, the Ministry of Education is actively working towards this goal. Leading the way in this effort is Horizon Academy, arguably the only school that has independently championed this inclusive approach. Elvia Avilez is the school’s principal.
Elia Avilez
Elia Avilez, Principal, Horizon Academy
“Since Horizon Academy’s inception in 2009, inclusion was at the heart of its beginning and it just lends itself to the guiding principles that we refer to as CHIP, which is Child centered, Holistic, Inclusive, and Progressive. And so all of these principles link together in making Horizon Academy one of the very few schools in the nation who has embraced inclusion fully. This is intentional and it again it it’s just because we fully embrace the philosophy of inclusion and a part of that philosophy is indeed for all of our children to be in the classroom and we have created a special education division that intentionally has a plan in ensuring that all our students’ learning needs are met and they are included in the regular classroom where we have our children who are neurotypical and our children who are neurodiverse as well.”
Horizon Academy’s growing student population includes twenty-five students with special needs. To support these students, the Special Education Department employs dedicated individuals who provide essential assistance and guidance, also known as paraprofessionals.
Elia Avilez
“These services are provided in collaboration with the teacher, the parent, and our support teachers, and that term is now being recognized as the paraprofessionals. Where we only had one, and then two, over the years that number has increased. This year we have eight paraprofessionals with our special education coordinator who also acts as a paraprofessional, making it nine persons who are a part of the special ed division.”
Inga Sandoval
Inga Sandoval, Special Education Coordinator, Horizon Academy
“Firstly, we provide support in the classroom with the paraprofessionals. The paraprofessionals serve as a bridge between the special ed department and the classroom. So they work with the students inside the classroom and they work with them based on the curriculum that is being given. We work with them on a slower pace you’d say or we do adoption and we also do modification on the work so that these kids can learn and understand and get the work done.”
Paraprofessionals have been formally integrated into Horizon Academy’s staff since its inception. In contrast, many other schools require parents to independently provide a paraprofessional. Pedro met his paraprofessional, Gilda Broaster, three years ago. Now supporting him in Infant 2, Broaster has become an integral part of his academic journey at Horizon. She shares with us what their interaction has been like.
Gilda Broaster
Gilda Broaster, Paraprofessional, Horizon Academy
“When I met him it took a lot of structuring, social learning and even the relationship that I have with his mom, keeping communication on what we’re working on, what works, what doesn’t work, as well as tips from them on what works at home. Also he’s very smart and a good listener. His level of learning is, to me, very high. So, it’s just figuring out what works for him and trying to stick to that.”
Azalia Magana
“When we came he did preschool, infant one and now infant two and I was blessed enough to have Ms. Gilda Broaster. She’s the paraprofessional that’s with him. Pedrito immediately fell in love with her. She is a teacher, she’s a mother, she’s a friend all in one.”
At Horizon Academy, the level of aid provided to students with special needs, like Pedro, is tailored to their individual requirements. The Special Education Coordinator says that they support a wide range of special needs, from physical disabilities to severe learning challenges, while emphasizing the importance of classroom inclusion.
Inga Sandoval
“This is beneficial, you see, for both the child who is a special learner and also the normal students because it’s kind of like a sensitization then where they learn and understand that, hey, there’s other children who learn differently, you know. So when they do leave Horizon and they’re out there in society, they already know, okay, there’s other kinds of disabilities, not just normal, you see, normal people within the community.”
Gilda Broaster, Paraprofessional, Horizon Academy
“What we do is we observe their behavior. We observe how they interact, the academic level that they’re at. We do something called benchmark where we test to see where they’re at academically. And then we go from there based on the child, the things that they like, the things that they gravitate to, when it comes to learning, because we try to incorporate everything into learning.”
The goal is to provide the necessary support to these students until they no longer need it. Azalia Magana says it’s a reality she did not think would come this soon. Pedro has not only advanced in his level of learning, but shows promise of parting ways with his parapro, Miss Broaster.
Azalia Magana
“The principal, Ms. Elia, told me our goal is to help him until he doesn’t need us anymore. And I thought, no, he’s going to need a paraprofessional throughout the years. I thought that he would always need it. But the support was greater when he was in preschool and infant one, but he’s gotten more independent. And so this year in infant two, we got to the point that Miss Gilda would tell me, Pedro doesn’t need me that much. It’s such a blessing that we’re living here in Belize City and we had the opportunity to have him in a school like this. My heart goes out to all those parents that don’t have the opportunity to have their kids with a paraprofessional in the class when they need it because, I don’t know, had this not been possible, I don’t know if I would have moved to a different country, or quit working to be able to be that paraprofessional. I know that he needed it, and I think it’s essential.”
Belize is in mourning following the passing of one of its most cherished and iconic figures, Jennifer Lovell, affectionately known as Jenny. Jennifer Lovell passed away in her home in Belmopan, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, compassion, and service that has touched countless lives across the country.
Lovell, who was in her early seventies, was well known for her bubbly and positive personality. She was a staple on Channel 5’s KTV The Remix as a permanent judge, a role she had embraced since the inception of the popular show. Her lovable character made the audience fall in love with her and appreciate her insights and iconic facial reactions. Throughout the seasons, Lovell coached and grew Belizean artists. Her popular catchphrase, “I love it,” became an instant crowd favorite. She then gained an additional affectionate name: “Jenny ‘I love it’ Lovell”.
Jennifer Lovell as Judge for the KTV The Remix Season 6 Auditions
Her presence on the show was marked by her genuine enthusiasm and candid commentary, which endeared her to viewers nationwide. KTV host William Neal said, “Jenny was a really amazing human being. She had the incredible talent, not just in singing but to make you listen and make you feel seen. When she said ‘love it, love it, love it’, that is what she was all about.”
Lovell was also a recurring guest on Channel 5’s Open Your Eyes, where she provided guidance and advice on several social issues, such as mental health and domestic violence. In her recurring segment, ‘Bruk It Down, Miss Jenny’, she spoke on several topics, including self-care, how to communicate with women, generalised anxiety disorder, and divorce. Undoubtedly, the wealth of knowledge she shared has helped thousands of Belizeans. Channel 5’s Chief Executive Officer, Marleni Cuellar, knew Lovell for almost her entire adult life. “The Jenny they saw on TV is the Jenny in real life,” Cuellar said. “She really did make you feel like you were special. She really would tell you like it is. She was just a lovely person to be around.”
CEO of Great Belize Productions, Marleni Cuellar
But Lovell was more than just a bubbly, lovable on-air talent. She was a Belizean who dedicated her life to the development of the country.
A Legacy of Service in Mental Health
Jennifer Lovell was a revered mental health professional who dedicated her life to the betterment of her community. With an extensive career that spanned work with both the Government of Belize (GoB) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Lovell’s contributions to psychological services and organisational development were profound and far-reaching. Her expertise in mental health and her tireless advocacy made her a pillar of support for many in need. She did volunteer work with the Belize Defence Force. She was scheduled to be at the BDF base in Ladyville this morning for the completion of a two-week course that Lovell and four students from the University of West Indies (UWI) led.
Major Megan Aspinalll
Major Megan Aspinalll runs the wellness centre as the wellness officer. She told News Five, “Miss Jenny has been with the force for over ten years. She started off volunteering in terms of going to different camps, talking to soldiers about mental health and their wellbeing. About five years, it went more in-depth in terms that we needed to give them more counselling than just the pop in talks/session.”
Many people might not know this, but Lovell was a retired Navy officer. Before her illustrious career in Belize, Lovell served in the United States military, where she honed her skills and developed a strong sense of duty and service. Her retirement from the military marked the beginning of a new chapter, one in which she would become a cornerstone of mental health advocacy and support in Belize. “She loves working with soldiers, and she wanted to volunteer. Miss Jenny was here as a volunteer to help the soldiers of the Belize Defence Force,” said Major Aspinall.
Jenny Lovell’s desk at the BDF camp.
“Most of us are still in shock because the last time we saw Miss Jenny was on Tuesday when she said to us that she wasn’t feeling well but the lady from UWI could continue the training, and then to hear today, she passed. We are still in disbelief.”
Lovell was the first director of the Community Rehabilitation Department in 1991. Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos Garcia said, “She served with distinction in that role, and she is also currently our senior trainer for our community and parent empowerment programmes under the Department of Human Services.”
Lovell’s work extended into critical areas such as domestic violence and marriage counseling. Her commitment to helping individuals and families navigate difficult circumstances showcased her dedication to fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
Jenny Had Talent
The beloved icon was able to be an excellent judge on KTV and its variations because she was a singer, a great singer. Lovell was the lead singer for the Mission Singers, a group of twelve individuals created for the Mass in Blues album, a collection of songs composed and written by Francis Reneau. He first heard Lovell sing many decades ago at Saint John’s College, where she was studying. “That is when I thought, this voice is exactly what I need.” He said, “What I was attracted to was the quality of her voice. There was a purity of song and her understanding of music even though she may not have studied music the way I had studied music was actually something quite natural. It was quite astounding that she could actually turn a phrase in music that was communicative and expressive.”
Francis Reneau, Composer and Writer
The pair also collaborated on a second album, Celebration. “The last thing which I did with her which was ‘We are Belize’. All through those times she has been a source of strength for me as well because she was a very bubbly personality. She was also a very force right person. She will tell you exactly what she thought about something. I will miss her a lot.”
A Final Farewell
During the opening of today’s Sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Johnny Briceño said, “This morning the nation woke up to the sad news that we lost Jenny Lovell, the incomparable Jenny.” “That voice, remember Mass in Blues—I guess one of the most, probably the best album Belize has every produced with Frankie Reneau. All of them were just little kids when they took out Mass in Blues. She was a national treasure.” Also sending condolences was the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa.
Online, Belizeans from all walks of life are expressing their condolences, saying that even though they never met her, she changed their lives.
CEO Cuellar said “you can’t replace a Jenny Lovell.”
Jennifer Lovell is survived by her son. Funeral arrangements are being made.
The management and staff of Channel 5 send our condolences to all of Lovell’s family and friends. She was a part of the Channel 5 family, and we will deeply miss her. <3
On Friday, June 28, 2024, around 5:15 a.m., the lifeless body of an unidentified Hispanic male was pulled from the sea near North Front Street, Belize City. The body has since been listed as John Doe. The Belize Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. If you have any information that can assist in this investigation, please call Crime Stoppers at 922, use the P3 APP, or report to the nearest police station.
News Five has learned that members of the Opposition are planning to boycott today’s Sitting of the House of Representatives in Belmopan.
News Five has a team in Belmopan and will bring you the latest update.
As we have reported, Opposition Members lodged a formal protest against the scheduled House Sitting for today, citing a deviation from the established protocol of providing five clear days’ notice. In a letter addressed to House Speaker Valerie Woods, the Opposition argued that the failure to follow the five-day notice protocol, as mandated by Standing Order 19(3), disenfranchises the Opposition by obstructing their ability to pose crucial questions to ministers.
In response, Speaker Valerie Woods informed Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow that the notice for today’s sitting does not contravene the Standing Orders. Woods explained that the Clerk of the National Assembly was notified by the Cabinet Secretary on Sunday, June 23rd, and the notice was issued on Monday, June 24th, after verifying the Orders of the Day. She acknowledged the concern about notice but maintained that the notice period for this meeting was compliant with the Standing Orders.
1. Western Caribbean/Southwestern Gulf of Mexico (AL94): A broad area of low pressure over the western Caribbean Sea associated with a tropical wave continues to produce widespread shower and thunderstorm activity. Development of this system is not expected today while it moves west-northwestward at around 15 mph, and an Air Force reconnaissance mission planned for today has been canceled. The disturbance is then expected to move westward over the Yucatan Peninsula and emerge over the Bay of Campeche late Saturday or early Sunday, at which point some development will be possible. Regardless of development, heavy rainfall associated with the tropical wave will affect portions of Central America and Mexico through the weekend. It has a low (30 percent) chance of formation in the next 48 hours and in the next 7 days.
2. Central Tropical Atlantic (AL95):
A low pressure system located about 1500 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands is gradually becoming better defined. Showers and thunderstorms are also showing signs of organization, and a tropical depression or tropical storm will likely form later today or on Saturday. This system is expected to move westward at 15 to 20 mph and approach the Lesser Antilles by the end of the weekend. Interests there should monitor the progress of this system. For more information, including gale warnings, see High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service. It has a high (90 percent) chance of formation in the next 48 hours and in the next 7 days.
3. Eastern Tropical Atlantic:
A tropical wave centered several hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some slow development of this system is possible next week while it moves generally westward across the central and western tropical Atlantic at 15 to 20 mph. It has a near zero chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a low (20 percent) chance in the next 7 days
The Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, has received a formal response to his protest regarding the notice period for the House meeting scheduled for today.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Valeria Woods, tells Barrow that the notice for today’s sitting is not in contravention of the Standing Orders.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly was notified on Sunday, June 23rd, by the Cabinet Secretary on behalf of the Executive for June 28th to be set aside for a House meeting. This was brought to my attention and the notice went out on Monday, June 24th when the Orders of the Day were verified. I do appreciate the concern on notice; however, the notice for this meeting is not in contravention of the Standing Orders.”
She noted that since assuming office, efforts have been made in collaboration with the Clerk’s Office and the Cabinet Secretary to enhance notification practices. Although the Standing Orders do not specify a notice period for regular House meetings, the practice of providing at least one week’s notice has been adopted to facilitate the application of Standing Order 19(3) on Notice of Question.
“This effort has been undertaken since in Belize, by practice, all administrations to date have not utilized Standing Order 11 (1) of establishing House meetings weekly on Fridays,” Woods said.
The Speaker reminded Barrow that the notice of meetings and other Standing Orders are currently under review for proposed amendments. The Committee on Standing Orders is expected to set a date to consider these amendments before the year’s end.
A long, violent dispute that resulted in the shooting death of thirty-seven-year-old Leslie Gillett in January 2022, was decided upon in the High Court this morning. Earl Baptist, a resident of Police Street, who stood trial for the murder of the Burrell Boom businessman, has been found guilty. He appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester and gave an unsupported alibi, telling the court that on the evening of the deadly shooting he was with his father and common-law wife at the Northern Fishermen‘s Cooperative. Despite providing the court with an explanation of his whereabouts, Baptist did not call on anyone to testify on his behalf. As we’ve reported, Gillett, otherwise known as Dimes, was gunned down by a pair of men who entered Matilda’s Shop on the night of January twenty-first, 2022. The men were there to exact revenge for a murder that took place in the village two years earlier. After pretending to make a purchase, the gunmen fired multiple shots at Gillett, who died at the scene of the shooting. During the subsequent trial, Sergeant Rollington Fuller testified that shortly after the shooting, he was invited to view the surveillance footage that was retrieved from cameras mounted inside the shop. Under oath, the police officer told the court that, from the video, he saw a Hispanic male with a white shirt and a camouflage facemask. Moments later, he saw two males approaching the shop. One of them was seen wearing a black face mask, with black stockings, and dreadlocks covering it. While Fuller was unable to determine the identity of the second person, he was able to positively identify Baptist. July fifteenth has been set as the date for mitigation pleas to be heard on Baptist’s behalf.
