June, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Are Primitive Farming Techniques Responsible for Wildfires?

Slash-and-burn farming is an age-old practice that has proven to be more environmentally harmful than it has served any real purpose in agriculture. The wildfires that are being experienced in Toledo District are said to be fires that were being used to clear land for farming. Those fires reportedly got away and the devastation left in their wake has been astounding. While the Government of Belize has allotted a million dollars for relief efforts to families and farmers affected by the fires, there has to be a shift away from this destructive means of agriculture. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

As a small farmer, it is important to understand the need to prepare land for cultivation. The slash-and-burn technique, a method of agriculture in which existing vegetation is cut down and burned off before new seeds are sown, has been practiced throughout much of the world. Shifting cultivation, as it is also known, is widely used in southern Belize, particularly in Toledo District. On the downside, it has significant environmental drawbacks.

Augustine Chub, Farmer, Indian Creek Village

“Sometimes I sit down in my field and say [to myself], what to do to try and change my way of doing the farming. From there, one day a person dropped in and he told me [that] I should change the way of doing farming, you know, so that I could… Yes, I could clean bush, I could chop bush, but I don’t have to burn the place.”

Augustine Chub is a farmer who has spent all his life planting and cultivating crops in Indian Creek Village. Over the years, he has seen the negative consequences of deforestation that have led to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and soil erosion.

Augustine Chub

“In the month of May, we used to burn bush like crazy. But dehn time deh we don’t worry much about the area. We seh bush da bush, we could burn down and clear out, you know, even if we chop or we noh chop, but we just let go fire and fire start get away and go miles and miles eena bush.”

Forests are home to diverse plant and animal species. When we clear them, we disrupt ecosystems and reduce biodiversity. Many of these species rely on forests for shelter, food and breeding.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer

“Some of the wildlife has been distressed because of the heat wave and the fires, etc. And so, biodiversity loss is a concern to us. Water pollution, air quality, poor air quality, et cetera, are also major concerns, and then, to some degree, loss of forest covers.”

Slash-and-burn practices, as well as wildfires, destroy their habitat.

Anselmo Cholom, Village Councilor, Indian Creek

“When this fire burned down…, I believe it chased away all the animals, the animals that were here and, you know, the plants, it destroys the trees. So we will have to, it will take a few years to get back.”

Initially, the ash from burned vegetation provides some fertilization. However, after several years of cultivation, soil fertility declines and weeds increase. This leads to diminishing crop yields.

Augustine Chub

“I learned to do farming with my dad. We underbrush and fall bush, we underbrush with machete axe. Lone man work. We fall bush acres and acres we cut down and we burn it and we plant it. Well, according to my dad, that is the quickest way to do farming and that is the fastest way that you don’t have the weeds right away because you burn all the seeds of the weeds because ih noh will come right away.”

Slash-and-burn generates smoke and particulate matter, polluting the air. Without tree roots to hold the soil in place, erosion occurs. Rainwater washes away fertile topsoil, affecting crop productivity.

Anthony Mai

“One of the major concerns that we have with regards to the impacts that the fire is having and will have is that of the accumulation of ash on the forest floor. As you know, we are entering into the rainy season and as soon as the rainy season starts, the ash will wash into the drains, the drains to the creeks, creeks to rivers, and eventually to the sea. So that is something critical we are thinking about now, in terms of how to measure the impact that that will cause and so we have identified it as a concern.”

In San Miguel, brushfire has decimated farmlands, including fields of crop belonging to Santiago Cus.

Santiago Cus, Farmer, San Miguel Village

“Just recently, Thursday, the fire entered this land, this land here and then burnt up all of the cacao fields, everything it burned up, couldn’t catch the fire. The fire passed and run. I have seven hundred plants of cacao by the boundary line there, all burnt up. I got Inga and then I got my cornfield all burnt up. The Inga was right over there but the help of the people and the helicopter was here on Thursday and that helped a lot. Without the helicopter that piece would have all been finished to ashes. But right now with the help of the helicopter, it saved that piece where I have my pig, I have my bees. I have a lee shed there for my cornfield saved, but all this burn up.”

While traditional slash-and-burn practices allowed areas to recover over time, modern techniques often lead to permanent deforestation. Sustainable alternatives like agro forestry and conservation farming are more environmentally friendly. Sustainable land management practices are crucial for both livelihoods and the health of the planet.

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Belize Completes Snapshot Report on State of Environment

Today is internationally recognized as World Environment Day. A day that encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. In alignment with this occasion, the Department of the Environment, the University of Belize, and the United Nations Environment Program have jointly launched the GEO Belize 2024 report which provides a comprehensive diagnosis on the state of Belize’s environment. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the launch earlier today for a more detailed look at what the report entails. Here’s more on that.

Britney Gordon, reporting

It’s been fourteen years since Belize released the first environment outlook report back in 2010 with the United Nations Environment Program. Now with assistance from the University of Belize, the new state of environment report is here. Doctor Francesco Gaetani, Regional Coordinator of the U.N.E.P. told us that that the report is more than just a book, but an aid to strengthening the science policy interface of a country.

Dr. Francesco Gaetani, Regional Coordinator, United Nations Environment Program

“A process meaning creating the conditions where different representatives with different mandates from different ministries and departments of the government, the states, they meet, they work together, they share data and information along with the University of Belize, of course, which is a critical actor for that. And all together, they create the understanding and the knowledge that is the basis to implement any kind of policy response or policy action to reduce environmental degradation, air pollution. We’ve seen in these days, fires and their effects on human health and on ecosystems. But for these to be, something concrete. It’s really important that all this knowledge, all this information, all this data is part of the same process.”

The University of Belize played a key part in the creation of this report. Doctor Vincent Palacio, president of the university, shared his excitement over the opportunity.

Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, UB

“It is a big day for our science faculty. The University of Belize partnered with the Department of the Environment and U.N.E.P. in preparing this report. It’s fourteen years since we did the first one, so this is the second one. And our faculty from the science and technology unit took on this responsibility and developed this program this actual report. So we’re very proud.”

Palacio explained that because faculty members are required to conduct research to promote it within their tracks, the opportunity for the university to partner on the report was ideal.

Dr. Vincent Palacio

“There are several topic areas in the report that required different authors. So we looked within the university for, at our faculty members with their specialties. And we do have persons in soil biology, persons in all types of areas that is needed for the report. So, we brought them to the table and together they worked to develop the final report.”

The GEO Belize 2024 provides a holistic overview of the environment through five data points: driver, pressure, state, impact, and response, focusing not only on the impacts or the state of the environment, but also the causes. Gaetani explained that analyzing all these factors is necessary to reduce these impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Dr. Francesco Gaetani

“The most important part here, I think, is the analysis on the drivers. The drivers are processes or dynamics that are not controlled. By the governments, by in general, by humans, which are essentially relating to macroeconomics processes and dynamics like markets, but also to demography for instance. So in the case of the Caribbean and also central America being Belize, a bridge between the two regions, a very important driver is the tourist, for instance.”

The report will be used to assist government agencies and other stakeholder organizations in formulating solutions to environmental concerns in the country. Ramon Cervantez, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change revealed what points stood out to the ministry in the report.

Ramon Cervantez, Minister of Sustainable Development Climate Change

“That we need to do some more work for example in in forest cover, for example, which is being you could say depleted a little, by attrition, really when, by agriculture, which are good things, in a way it’s progress. Things like agriculture, infrastructure. And other projects like that those, many of those projects take the depletion of some forest cover and that is what we have to do. Also the mangroves, which we need to address more so that we are mindful of it and keep protecting it.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

BAHA Refutes Claims of Granting Export License for Sugar

Last week, we reported on an incident at the northern border involving several persons who were caught transporting plantation white sugar into Mexico. The individuals allegedly told officials at the border that they were operating under an export license issued by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA. Earlier today, a press release was issued in which BAHA refutes the claims being made. The statement goes on to say, “BAHA is not a licensing authority for agricultural commodities.” Elsewhere in the release, it says, “BAHA categorically refutes accusations of illicit involvement in the irregular exports of sugar to Mexico or to any other country. There is no such document as an export license issued by BAHA given that that is not a function within the purview of the authority. In addition, BAHA does not place quantitative restrictions on any commodity, whether imported or exported, but it abides by such mandates from other regulatory agencies that have that mandate.”

Proud and Free Belize at 43

The National Celebrations Commission has unveiled the theme for Belize’s forty-third anniversary celebrations. Although September is several months aways, the commission said that they wanted to get an early start on preparations. At a ceremony held at the Belize House of Culture this afternoon, the theme, “Proud and Free Belize at forty-three” was unveiled. This theme was selected from a pool of six hundred and fifteen submissions, the most submissions the contest has ever had to date. We attended the ceremony today for more information on the significance of this occasion.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture

“An exciting day. I think highly anticipated every year. I think the Belizean people look forward to the selection of the team. So we’re very proud of that we’re able today to unveil the theme. As you can see behind me, a nation proud and free believes that forty-three so that really kicks off the September celebrations and we look forward to an exciting celebrations that, the Belizean people have an opportunity to be fully engaged and participate in those celebrations. We had, I think, over six hundred, six hundred fifteen, I think, to be exact submissions from across the country. What’s very exciting is that we had all age groups involved, all ethnic groups, people from all over, from every section of the country. I think the youngest was eleven, person who submitted, and the oldest was seventy-eight. We had a hundred and, I think, one hundred fifty-five students. from different schools across the country who also participated and made submissions on behalf of their schools. So that was fantastic.”

David Watson, Theme Contest Winner

“When I saw the advertisement for the that they were accepting themes, that’s the first thing that popped up in my head, and I just submitted right away.”

Reporter

“And when they called you and informed you that you had won, what was your initial reaction?”

David Watson

“I was surprised because I had even forgotten about that.”

Britney Gordon

“And what does that theme mean to you?”

David Watson

“It means that we are forty-three years independent already and as a nation we should be proud of that. And we also because we are a free nation for the past forty-three years.”

Bread Gaan Up; Let’s Understand Why

Bread has been a staple food for humans since time immemorial. On Monday, the price of a sixteen-ounce loaf of bread increased by twenty percent for Belizeans. How is this price increase affecting consumers that are already grappling with the increased cost of goods at the grocery store? And is there a cheaper and more desirable alternative to pack bread? In this week’s installment of Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the regulated product and what the price increase means for consumers. Here is that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The cost of a loaf of sixteen-ounce bread has increased from one dollar and seventy-five cents to two dollars and ten cents.

Some people may view the thirty-five cents increase as marginal. But for many, paying thirty-five cents more for this staple food further diminishes their purchasing power at the grocery store, as we found out from some shoppers.

Voice of: Belize City Resident 1

“I feel like it is kind of ridiculous you know. I mean dah like weh I always say, the cost of living is going up but your pay not going up any at all.”

Paul Lopez

“How often do you find yourself buying packed bread, is it a daily thing?”

Voice of Belize City Resident 1

“Not really because usually my girl would make flour tortilla and thing you know.”

Paul Lopez

“What you think would happen if they decide to carry it up a bit more?”

Voice of: Belize City Resident 1

“Might as well we start eat grass then, honestly, because it is ridiculous, it doesn’t make any sense.”

Voice of Belize City Resident 2

“My thoughts on that are we cant do anything about that. It is just life. We just have to hope that it gets better in a couple years or after the elections, that is all. It does affect a lot people, I guess maybe they could think about raising the pay so that they could help a lot of people manage with groceries and think, especially bread and other things up right now.”

Paul Lopez

“How often do you buy the pack bread, a day, every two day?”

Voice of Belize City Resident 2

“I would say every two days, because most of the time I put my hand in flour, so I would say every two days.”

We visited Mahogany Street to speak with residents in the Lake Independence community. While there, we noticed several street vendors who were out selling creole bread and buns. On average, these vendors sell a loaf of bread from anywhere between one dollar and twenty-five cents to one dollar and fifty cents. Affordability is key.

Paul Lopez

“With the cost of things right now, your ingredients, how often do you consider raising your price?”

Aridiane Hoare, Creole Bread Vendor

“Well I just had an increase with the bun and I just heard the news and heard them saying that they want to raise sugar, so I am considering my customers and considering my business as well. So I will see how it goes if they do give the increase I might have to bump up, but if not, hey I just remain the same price.”

Sonia Usher, Creole Bread Vendor

“Wow, dah like as you turn things the go up and I really don’t want to raise prices on my things, because everybody the struggle same way.”

Paul Lopez

“How much do you sell your products for?”

Sonia Usher

“The bread dah one twenty-five, the bun dah one fifty, the johnny cake dah fifty cents, the powder bun da dollar.”

Paul Lopez

“At this price are you underpricing your product?”

Sonia Usher

“Yeah, and sometimes I don’t really sell out everything and I have to carry home some things.”

Paul Lopez

“How is it that you are able to sell bread and bun at one twenty-five and one fifty when the grocery store for example has the pack bread for two dollars and ten cents?”

Natasha Samuels, Creole Bread Vendor

“I think basically because the stores have the bags and remember they have to put words and everything behind them. Me dah just me one.”

Denise Flowers, Creole Bread Vendor

“I nuh the look for the biggity, if I make a small amount of money, a twenty, twenty-five I good with that, because that could buy me my thing, my lee kush kush, my lee hair, and fix my thing with my lee money.”

Unlike creole bread, the sixteen-ounce loaf of bread is subject to price control regulations. The Government of Belize regards it as a basic commodity that is essential to the diet of Belizean consumers. It was placed on a list of price-controlled goods to ensure it remains affordable. Price adjustments are therefore considered with detailed studies. Lennox Nicholson leads the decision-making process on behalf of the government.

Lennox Nicholson, Controller of Supplies, Supplies Control Unit

“I must tell you that we did a lot of work and had a lot of discussions with the bakers, and it is not a situation where the bakers provided us with information, and we merely accepted it. We actually looked at customs entries, we looked at records of what L.P.G. used to cost back then compared to now, cost of fuel, and we were able to verify the material submitted to us. So, the decision was taken that an adjustment upwards was necessary, but at the same time a seventy-five cents adjustment that was requested in the last consultation was simply something that the average consumer could not bear.”

According to one spokesperson for the Belize Bakers Association, a thirty-five cents increase is just enough to keep bakers afloat. But it was not the increase they were hoping for. The association says that while their products are still being underpriced, they too must consider public sentiments.

On the Phone: Vic Chu, Spokesperson for Belize Bakers Association

“We greatly thank for the support for the entire Belize community and the country, the government, even though we are struggling, but we try to make what we can, and we hope everyone understand that we don’t intend to increase unless it was necessary. Many factors have been increasing on our behalf and we were forced to increase, but we give our gratitude and thanks to the support for the community.”

As we found out, choosing between purchasing a loaf of creole bread from a street vendor and a pack of sixteen-ounce bread from the grocery store is both a matter of preference and affordability. Whereas one individual may buy creole bread daily because they prefer the taste, another person will purchase a sixteen-ounce pack bread because it goes further around the dinner table for a large family.

Joe, Belize City Resident

“Right now I the buy bread yah for about four years or maybe more.”

Paul Lopez

“Is it because of your preference for creole bread or is it cheaper?”

Joe, Belize City Resident

“I don’t like baker bread; I like my creole bread. And to me it last longer, cause I dah sea man. When I guh dah sea, I have deh yah bread yah, three four days deh suh.”

Paul Lopez

“Tell mih mih lee friend., which one you prefer pack bread or creole bread?”

Nisani, Belize City Resident

“Creole bread, because the creole bread taste better, I nuh like the Chinese bread deh.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

A New Sports App to Sponsor Belizean Athletes

On many occasions when athletes travel abroad to represent Belize at sporting events, the Ministry of Sports is heavily criticized for not providing adequate funding for the teams to be better prepared. The Minister of Sports has explained that there is simply not a big enough budget to cover all the teams that need sponsorship. So, he came up with an idea to introduce a Support Sports app that gives everyone at home and abroad a chance to contribute towards that effort for Belize’s athletes. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the National Sports Council’s Conference room when the app was introduced today. Here’s that report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

It’s the latest app in the country, designed to allow Belizeans to make monetary contributions to the National Sports Council so that it can better prepare athletes representing Belize abroad.

Iris Centeno, Sports Director, National Sports Council

“We as a social organization will be the beneficiaries. Let me correct that. The athletes will be the beneficiaries of this creative app.”

National Sports Director, Iris Centeno explained that the app allows anyone to make a contribution to the success of Belizean athletes.

Iris Centeno

“The app basically is going to be the engine that supports the dreams of the Belizean athletes, our future Hall of Famers, and the people that take our national pride to international contests worldwide. This provides the opportunity for every Belizean from every walk of life. regardless of their financial standing to donate to a worthy cause. It is often said that half of Belize lives in other countries. This app ensures that the opportunity for Belizeans with a social conscience also engage in giving back to their country of birth.”

The app allows for transparency when one donates money from anywhere and at any time. It allows for direct deposits from as little as a dollar, using debit cards, to the bank account of the National Sports Council. Aziel Ku is the app creator.

Aziel Ku, Sports App Creator

“What you would have to do is just scan this QR Code or the link that you might receive and you will have access to the app. You will not need to go to make an extra step to download and then register, but anyone can just scan that code or that link and they will instantly get access to the app, whether that be on a website, on their laptop, on their phone, on their iPhone, whichever device they have or tablet. Once you open the app you will see at the bottom there is a “donate now” button and you’re able to click that and it’ll open and allow you to select whether it be a credit card for international donors or you can use your local debit card. You can also use the direct deposit, meaning you can make the deposit via transfer from your personal bank account and then just upload the payment towards their platform and they can register that payment as well. If you choose a provider as Belize Bank, it’ll ask you for your card number and the C.C.D., so that our software will make the deduction on behalf of you directly from your account and then deposit it Into the National Sports Council’s bank account.”

Minister Rodwell Ferguson assures that a board will decide how your money will be best put to use.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“There’s a board of I think 12 or 13 members, so amongst themselves they will decide how the money has been spent based on requests. For example, we have about 40 to 41 federations and I’m telling everybody know that you can’t make a request directly to the National Sports Council unless you come through your own federations. So what this will do is encourage every discipline or every football team or basketball team to register with their federation to make sure they can benefit from this procedure. We at the National Sports Council are going to guarantee you that your money is going to be spent properly. I guess over the years, Belize has become disillusioned with the National Sports Council because every time you hear different misapplication and so forth. I’m hopeful that this will work and everything will run properly.”

The app can be used with all local bank accounts. Marion Ali for News Five.

Minister of Sports Congratulates Belize Basketball U-18 Team

The AmeriCup Basketball Tournament taking place in Argentina has taken the Belize National Under-18 Basketball Team on a whirlwind of experiences on their first two days of play. In their first match, Belize beat Brazil but in their second game, they took a trouncing from the United States team. And today when we caught up with him, the Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson put things into perspective on the Belize team’s representation. Ferguson said that whatever the outcome of the games, the Belize team will receive a warm welcome back home.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“We are like the David amongst the Goliaths. Argentina has a big population. I know Brazil population is 215 million and the U.S. is likewise, I think, over 230 million. So number one, Belize, I’ve never been there. But locally, we defeat a big country with 130 million Mexico to reach there. And so we won our first game against Brazil, which I have to go away. And that, by itself, if we don’t win another game, that, by itself, exalts Belize, and I’m happy. When we met the U.S. yesterday, I guess we were a bit intimidated, and we got very nervous, and we lost by almost 100 points. With that, I still give my guys all the kudos, all the hooray, because they put Belize on the map. Imagine a country with 397, 000 people, I guess not even in Brazil or Argentina, but Belize is full. But Belize is not on the map. So I will give them my full and a lot of support, and the guys have a lot to do in the end. We are going to meet them at the airport. I’m going to congratulate them for a wonderful job that they FIBA America.”

Belize Trails Argentina at Halftime in Americup 2024

Belize’s National Under-Eighteen team is currently playing against host team Argentina in FIBA’s Americup 2024. At halftime, Argentina is in the lead with fifty-seven points, while team Belize has forty-two points. Josiah Moseley has made nineteen of those points. He made seventeen in the first quarter. Douglas Langford got off to a slow start. He has a total of twelve points in two quarters. Elijah Favella secured nine points at the half. Team Argentina has been breaking apart Belize’s defense at the three-point line to get a lot of open looks. We will continue to follow this one and update you on the final score in a subsequent newscast.

A Dry Run of Newly Proposed Carnival Route

The Belize Carnival Association is considering conducting a test-run of its upcoming carnival performances, implementing the newly proposed route suggested by National Celebration Commission. It begins the parade at Memorial Park and concludes at the Marion Jones Stadium. At the proposal of this new route, the association has expressed skepticism but the National Celebrations Commission, the Belize Tourism Board, and Belize Police Department claim that it is an ideal route for the safety of the public. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture gave us some more insight into the situation.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture

“We’re working very closely with the Carnival Association. They are represented on the National Celebrations Commission. My own personal view is that the new proposed route is fantastic. I think it’s ideal and it’s not something that, we just came up with out of thin air the B.T.B. got a consultant to do an evaluation, a review of the carnival last year. And they made some very good recommendations. And then we reviewed that at our National Celebrations Commission. We discussed the matter with, of course, the Belize Police Department. They are also represented on the commission. We discussed it with all the stakeholders represented on the commission. And the general consensus was that we should propose this new route to the Carnival Association. But, of course we have to respect the role of the association. So we tabled that proposal with them. They have taken it back to their members. They wanted to carry out, as you rightly pointed out, a dry run. they did so, we arranged for that with the police and the Belize City Council. I think generally their feedback has been very positive. But, we will wait for them to make a final decision on that matter before we announce formally this new route.”

Twin Towns to Receive Equal Celebration Funds

The preparations for Belize’s forty third anniversary celebrations have commenced, and the National Celebrations Commission is ready to begin work in every municipality. Currently, all but one of Belize’s nine municipalities are P.U.P-governed, with the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena as the sole U.D.P. represented. Today, at the unveiling of Belize’s forty-third anniversary celebrations theme, Francis Fonseca, Chairman of the National Celebrations Commission, told us that all municipalities will be treated equally.

Francis Fonseca, Chairman, National Celebrations Commission

“They have gotten the same amount every single year for the past four years that I have been the commission. That was not the case under the previous government when the P.U.P. city councils got zero from the National Celebrations Commission. So that, for the past four years, that has been our mark. In terms of ensuring and Mayor Trapp is right here. That’s why he comes to our events because he understands that we are partnering with him and working with him. So there’s no question about that. We treat Mayor Trapp, we treat the U.D.P. Town Council the same way we treat every other Town Council.”