Bautista said that the recent rains had delayed the schedule for the spraying of malathion to prevent the mosquitoes from multiplying. And with expanding communities and fourteen units to spread across the country, there’s been a challenge in getting to all the neighborhoods. He says they will get on schedule now that the rains have held up.
Kim Bautista
Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW
“While you may have maybe just under 200 official communities in the localities in the country. There are many others, well over 200 communities that you’re looking at. And so you basically cannot target all of these communities within a reasonable period of time. So we tend to target the larger urban areas first. For example, Belize City is divided into nine sanitary zones. And we target those zones, we have three vehicles target those zones. Within a typical day, you can only spray. I believe it is a maximum of four to four and a half hours because you cannot apply chemicals in using that milk. During the day, because it will basically evaporate, you cannot apply when it is raining, it will not work. And if you apply a after it has really, it would have to be a minimum of one hour after the rain has passed. You basically have maybe let’s see from about 5am to about 6 to 6. 30 in the morning, and then from about six to about nine o’clock in the evening so it’s a sharp window that you have to go and you’re actually driving about roughly about seven, eight miles per hour. to actually do a proper spray. You could imagine that it’s a slow process and then the amount of communities that you need to cover. So basically like the situation improved late last week on Friday somewhat on Saturday, and then the rain started again yesterday and disrupted schedule because we’re, as a ministry, we have given approval for spring to take place even through the weekends to basically catch up on our schedule which, was previously disrupted by extensive rains. Initially, when we start, we will do two to three consecutive, like morning, evening, or morning, evening, morning. And then after that it’s on a weekly basis.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage with some Saturday night softball action in Sand Hill Village. This is the Belize Rural Softball Fast Pitch Tournament. Double Head Cabbage’s male team took on Biscayne’s male team.
Double Head started off the game batting at the top of the first inning. The batter hit the ball towards the short stop which gave the runner on third base a chance to score the first run. There is a strike, the throw to third base and an opportunity for Double Head to secure a second run in the first inning. Number nine for Double Head with the popup ball towards center field. It landed just before the fielder could get there. A third run for Double Head.
Now at the bottom of the second inning, bases are loaded with Biscayne’s number seventeen Lindsford Gideon up to bat. That one is going, going, gone. Run one and two for Biscayne. Biscayne’s number ten up to bat with runners on second and third. He sent a low-ball flying across left field. That converted into two additional runs for Biscayne.
A steal to the home plate for number ten puts Biscayne at five runs. Biscayne made its sixth run off this hit into the right field. And just when there was some hope for Double Head to subdue Biscayne, the left field fumbled a ball, giving way to a seventh run in the first inning. And they were just getting started as they went on to make four additional runs at the bottom of the first inning to bring it to eleven runs in total.
Down twelve runs to three, Double Head finally got something going at the top of the third inning. A big home run hit from Gareth Banner across center field added three more runs to the score board for Double Head. But their third inning performance would not be enough to overcome Biscayne’s fourth inning run. In the end, Biscayne defeated Double Head eighteen to eight runs.
From softball we move into some basketball action. We are talking about the Belize Basketball Association’s Master Over-Thirty-Five League. On Saturday afternoon, team Nash from Belize City took on the Orange Walk Brotherhood.
An early steal by Fenton James for Nash to put his team on the scoreboard with two points. On the other end, a steal by Brandon Mckoy and a bucket under the rim to give his team their first two points. Kenrick Deshield flexing under the rim as he puts up the layup. Jervis Lockwood working his way around three defenders to get the bucket. Lupito Acosta with the jumper over Deshield.
The first quarter ended with Nash on top, sixteen to thirteen points. Second quarter, lucky bounce for Mckoy off the jump shot to count the two-point basket. Mckoy again, gets the offensive rebound and makes the basket count. Mckoy to Ryan Gentle for the easy layup. That basket cut a seven-point Nash lead down to one point. Brotherhood outscored Nash by six points in the second quarter to take a three-point lead at the end of the first half.
The third quarter ended with Brotherhood still in the lead, with forty-one points. But it was only a one-point lead as Nash had forty points. Now in the fourth quarter, Acosta from coast to coast got under the rim easily and made the layup. Acosta again twisting and turning around defenders, like he is in his early twenties, to make the layup.
That puts Brotherhood up by five points, with the game now at forty to forty-five points. Acosta again showing his strength and size under the rim, a bit of celebration after that play. Orange Walk Brotherhood would go on to win the game with fifty-eight points to Nash’s forty-eight points.
And for some Belize Elite Basketball League news update. On Friday, Commissioner of the league, Glenn Gill told News Five, that the league’s appeal committee came to a decision on the protested game three of the 2024 finals. The committee essentially decided that the game must be played over in its entirety. July twenty-sixth was identified as the date to replay game three. But, since then, the Defenders have reportedly asked for the date to be reconsidered because it clashes with the Belize International Music and Food Festival in San Pedro. A meeting was to be held over the weekend between the owners, but that did not occur due to the weekend weather. That meeting is to be held as early as possible this week and a new date is expected to be set. It is possible that game three will be replayed on a weekday.
Glenn Gill
Glenn Gill, Commissioner, B.E.B.L.
“The unfortunate thing is that one will like it and one won’t. I guess it is the nature of these situations. For me I believe it is the fair thing to do, play over the game not just the last minute of the game or anything like that. I know they looked at it. I was forcing them to make a decision earlier and they did not have enough time. I know they went through everything and I am sure they uncovered all they needed to do.”
And finally, for tonight, the stage is set for the Belize Volleyball Association to host the Under-twenty-one Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship. Five nations will compete inside the Belize City Civic Center from the sixteenth to the twentieth of July for the coveted tittle. We will be bringing you more from the team as the week goes by.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez.
The first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl, was historic.
Hurricane Beryl has affected numerous countries and territories, including Barbados, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and Trinidad and Tobago. As of July 4th, the storm has tragically caused ten fatalities across the Caribbean—three in Grenada, SVG, and Venezuela, respectively, and one in Jamaica—alongside five reported missing.
On July 1, Beryl made landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island, unleashing its fury as a Category 4 hurricane. Fueled by unusually warm ocean temperatures, Beryl underwent remarkably rapid and unexpected strengthening.
It quickly surged to become the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane ever recorded, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005.
Beryl also broke records by becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane by over two weeks and ranks as the third earliest major hurricane recorded in the Atlantic. Only two storms, Alma in 1966 and Audrey in 1957, formed earlier in the season.
Beryl became the earliest June major hurricane to develop east of the Lesser Antilles, surpassing Hurricane Audrey’s 1957 record. Its wind speeds dramatically escalated from 65 mph on June 29 to 130 mph on June 30, a rapid intensification of 95 mph in just 42.5 hours.
The destruction
Hurricane Beryl shredded through the Caribbean after making landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on July 1. Beryl’s destruction of Carriacou and Petite Martinique is unimaginable. It is, however, real. Officials painted a grim picture: almost every structure on the islands, where 9,000 to 10,000 people reside, lay in ruins. Structures were completely flattened. Among the casualties were Carriacou’s essential Princess Royal Hospital, its airport, and its marinas. Both islands languished in darkness, cut off from the world with no electricity and communications in shambles in the aftermath.
Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, via video link from Grenada, said, “The entire island is completely affected… that is literally 100 percent of the population.”
A day after the passage of Hurricne Beryl, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell addressed the nation. He said, “The situation is grim.”
Beryl caused widespread destruction in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). According to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, 90% of the homes on Union Island suffered severe damage or complete destruction. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that approximately 200,000 people have been affected in both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Media reports indicate that around 1,752 individuals in SVG are currently housed in 71 public hurricane shelters. The hurricane also caused significant damage to hundreds of homes, as well as government buildings and multiple churches in Saint Vincent. PM Gonsalve did a fly-over to see the extent of Beryl’s devastation.
Colvin Harry is a journalist working for NBC Radio in SVG. He covered the passage of Hurricane Beryl and continues to report on the devastation left behind. While he understood his responsibility as a journalist, Harry said it was a “scary point for us.”
Beryl struck Barbados on July 1. The Barbados Red Cross reported that around 208,200 people, or nearly 74% of the total population, felt the storm’s effects. Initial assessments revealed that 40 homes sustained damage, including roof loss, partial collapse, and leaks. Boats at the Bridgetown marina were damaged.
Beryl grew in strength as it neared Jamaica. Now, a powerful and dangerous Category 5, Beryl barreled towards Jamaica. It brushed Jamaica’s coast on July 3 as a CAT 4. In its wake, devastation. The storm delivered strong winds, hazardous storm surges, and widespread power outages to Kingston. Beryl, boasting sustained winds of 110 mph, was moving in a west-northwest direction and was forecast to retain hurricane intensity as it neared the Yucatan Peninsula. This prompted warnings and watches along the coastline.
Camol Walker was on the fifth floor of his apartment building when Beryl struck.
Signs of a Worsening Climate
Over the past year, the world’s oceans have experienced an unusual heating event. Since March 2023, global sea surface temperatures have hit record highs daily and remained elevated. As of 2024, temperatures are even higher than those in 2023. And warm water is fuel for hurricanes. Experts believe that this directly contributed to Beryl’s quick intensification.
Regional Coordinator for Climate Tracker Caribbean, Dizzanne Billy, told News Five, “Hurricanes like Hurricane Beryl are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, devastating Caribbean communities.” She said, “The human and economic toll is immense, with lives lost, homes destroyed, and livelihoods disrupted.”
“It’s imperative we address this through climate justice, ensuring those most affected receive the necessary support and resources. Climate finance is crucial in helping these vulnerable regions build resilience and recover swiftly. We need to see action, and we need to see it now.”
The Urgent Need for Climate Finance
Hurricane Beryl has significantly impacted Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica, affecting over 1,280,000 people. On Grenada’s Carriacou and St. Vincent’s Union Island, every resident has been severely affected. Barbados’ southern coastal parish of Christchurch, including Bridgetown port and fishing communities, suffered extensive damage from storm surges. Jamaica’s southern parishes experienced the brunt of Beryl’s force as it moved along the coastline.
In a poignant statement, Ambassador Fatumanava Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), expressed the deepening sense of despair among SIDS populations, stressing that decades of appeals for urgent, ambitious climate action have gone largely unheeded. Despite forewarnings of escalating climate impacts, such as the rapid strengthening of storms driven by rising sea temperatures, small island nations persist in shouldering the primary burden of a crisis not of their making. “Yet, we continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause. Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see,” he said.
Calling for COP29 to mark a pivotal turning point, Luteru demanded concrete actions, including a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “And a new climate finance goal that is fit for purpose for small island developing states is imperative. Developing countries must finally get a commitment from developed countries to provide efficient flows and access to the trillions of mostly concessional climate finance needed to recover from worsening climate change impacts and build resilience.”
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), said that Hurricane Beryl’s impact underscores the urgent necessity for robust climate action and resilience-building efforts in the region. “The impacts from Beryl lay bare the climate injustice happening in the Caribbean and other small island developing states. The people whose lives and livelihoods have been lost and destroyed did nothing to contribute to the climate change that is now causing these monster hurricanes,” Dr. Young said in a statement. Highlighting the significant losses and damages incurred, Dr. Young stressed the urgent need for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund under the UNFCCC to expedite financial resources to impacted countries.
In a July 1 statement, Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said, “This is a time for all of us as a regional community to stand together and extend our support to those impacted or likely to be impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Let us mobilise the necessary assistance and relief efforts in the true spirit of regional solidarity.”
Restoration efforts have begun. It will take years.
A murder occurred on Saturday night in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo.
Murder Victim Clint Castillo
Clint Castillo was identified as the murder victim, and Andrew Muns was injured in the shooting incident. Both men were shot multiple times. The incident occurred around 10:35 p.m. near the primary school in the village, which remains under a State of Emergency due to increased crime and violence. According to police reports, an argument among a group of individuals, including Castillo and Muns, escalated, leading to the shooting. Castillo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the Western Regional Hospital early Sunday morning. Muns remains in critical condition, with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and neck. Police have detained one person in connection with the shooting.
Dramatic Rescue at Rio On Pools
Canadian couple trapped in rapids.
On Saturday evening, a daring rescue operation took place at Rio On Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Cayo. A Canadian couple became stranded on a rock as water levels rapidly rose around them. The Belize Defence Force (BDF), Technical Rescue and EMS Teams, BISART, and Spanish Lookout Fire-Rescue-EMS quickly mobilised to the scene.
The rescue, which took hours, required a meticulous setup of ropes, tag lines, and a raft to safely extricate the couple. Both individuals were successfully rescued and treated for mild hypothermia. Authorities stress the importance of exercising extreme caution around rivers and waterways during this rainy period, as flash floods remain an imminent threat.
Controversial Police Incident in San Pedro
Police Officer caught pistol whipping Belize City man
Over the weekend, San Pedro police were involved in a high-stakes pursuit of two armed men. During the detention of one suspect, a bystander captured a video showing a police officer pointing a gun at the detainee’s head, slapping him with the pistol, and using abusive language. The officer then aggressively commanded the bystander to stop recording.
The video has sparked controversy and raised questions about the officer’s conduct.
With extreme fires, devastating hurricanes, and heartbreaking floods, who wouldn’t? Belize has been increasingly exposed to natural disasters, and many people do not understand why. There is a dire need for human intervention in terms of climate change adaptations. However, are the present and future generations truly prepared to combat this crisis?
How do we adapt with the limited knowledge of climate change, especially when younger generations are often kept outside the loop or have limited exposure to these issues? Do these younger generations want to be more included when it comes to their environment?
Fun fact: they do! A survey conducted with high school students revealed their interest in integrating climate change topics across different forms of education. Here are the demographics and results of the survey:
A total of 29 responses were obtained, with the largest number coming from third form students, a crucial transitional period as high school students choose their specialized field of study. Of the responses, 69% of participants were interested in having climate change-related topics integrated into their curriculum, while 24.1% were neutral on the topic.
Belize has made significant strides in climate education, such as the 1.5 Degree Initiative from the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, which provides modules for educators to implement into their curriculum. Belize’s Environmental Research Institute also has a future project titled ‘Empowering Youth to Embed Curriculum Change, Agency, and Action Related to Natural Risks’. There have also been numerous outreach activities in schools by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Caribbean Community Climate Change Center’s 1.5° to Stay Alive Curriculum Training Source: Caribbean Community Climate Change Center
However, as the threat of climate change grows more severe, this form of education should no longer be periodic but a solid part of high school curriculums. Education prepares us for the future with subjects such as Math, English, and Science. But what future are we preparing for if we cannot enjoy it due to the negative effects of climate change?
Not only are students interested in environmental topics, but professionals in the field also emphasize their importance in the curriculum. Dr. Ivis Chan, Science Program Manager for Sustainable Landscapes, shared her thoughts on the issue. She expressed her deep concern about informing kids from an early age about what is happening to their homes. This will prepare future generations to understand better what their future might look like, whether it involves food shortages or increased hurricane damages, and how to prepare for these possibilities.
Dr. Chan also stresses the importance of viewing climate change as a tangible reality rather than something nebulous. To remove the haze surrounding the topic, it is crucial to provide education to younger generations.
University of Belize Environmental Research Insitute project: Building Community Environmental Stewardship in the Maya Forest Corridor through Avian Ecology.
Of course, such a feat is not an easy task. It is important to face the reality that teachers have packed curriculums and children already have a heavy workload. Grades and examinations are of the highest priority, but are they truly the priority when we have underlying environmental and societal issues?
Dr. Chan shared her opinion on the true challenge of implementing climate education. Overcoming the barriers to climate education requires challenging the status quo. As mentioned above, we place high priority on grades and examinations. Although it is important to be prepared for national exams, safeguarding our planet is just as critical. As we step into the future of mitigating climate change, this requires innovation. We need to return to the roots of education, which involve investigation and critical thinking.
However, all is not bleak. From the survey, it is clear that high school students show an interest in climate education. In fact, they are not only interested but also aware of what climate change is.
Yet, as seen from the survey, more work needs to be done to increase students’ exposure to concepts such as climate justice. A large percentage of students were only somewhat familiar with the concept, and 27.6% had only heard about it but were unsure of what it is. A significant percentage were completely unsure of its meaning.
According to World Vision Canada, “The ultimate goal of education is to help an individual navigate life and contribute to society once they become older.” The survey results clearly show that youths need more work in terms of their preparedness for climate change and their interest in being better equipped for a sustainable future.
In line with this a workshop was conducted on June 15th to further gauge students’ interest in learning about environmental and sustainability topics such as Climate Justice. 58.6% of students expressed interest in the workshop.
Due to the willingness of students to participate, the workshop was held at the House of Culture in San Ignacio Town, covering topics such as Environmental Justice, Ways to Help the Environment, and Planning for Climate Change. The workshop was not only informative but also a means of teaching youths how to integrate sustainable practices into their lives and find practical solutions to climate issues.
Although the youths who joined the workshop only got the tip of the iceberg in terms of climate justice, they all shared increased confidence regarding climate action. They also hoped for increased participation in similar initiatives.
To reiterate the meaning of education, our goal is to prepare future generations. A future that is clearly at threat from climate change. In a world where we only have one life to live, let’s think about the lives that come after us and prepare them as best as we can in every aspect of their lives.
Stay tuned for the next story to hear how these kids want to contribute towards a sustainable future.
By Anwar Wade
This story was published with the support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture of Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations.
The National Meteorological Service issued a small craft warning in the wake of the passage of Hurricane Beryl across the Yucatan Peninsula. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon also spoke about a tropical cyclone that will likely produce rainfall over the country this weekend.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, NMS
“We do maintain a small craft caution because winds will become gusty especially after persons operate small vessels, we advise them to be very cautious. We are open, it is all clear, but certainly we need to take heed and to ensure we take precautions against anything out there. In terms of the weather conditions, we expect continued showers as I said before. There is another tropical wave coming in behind Beryl that we were monitoring previously. That system no longer has a chance of becoming a tropical cyclone, but certainly it will produce some more rains over the weekend. We are not out of the rainy season so expect more rains and we will keep monitoring and operating. And of course, as you all know we forecasted and expect a very busy Atlantic basin season so certainly it is possible that we may see another threat before the season is over. We take lessons learnt from this system to ensure we are better prepared in every way possible.”
With an all clear issued, Daniel Mendez, the National Emergency Coordinator, says the organization will resume normal operations as it continues to prepare for what lies ahead. This hurricane season is forecasted to be extremely active. Mendez says Hurricane Beryl presented an opportunity for NEMO to fine tune its operations for the remaining five months.
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“NEMO now resumes back on its preparation state. We are again, we have resumed our normal operations, and we are back on preparedness. As the chief met said we are in the middle of a very busy hurricane season and so we ourselves at NEMO have been taking note of all the lessons we have seen. We are taking steps to improve our organization. As you are all aware this is an unprecedented year. WE have been responding to many types of hazards and we have been working diligently to improve our systems and we will continue to do so for the rest of the year. We no longer are preparing just for hurricanes. As you have seen with the fires and floods, we have to be prepared for everything and so we are also continuing our efforts to improve. We have, with the support of our minister and C.E.O. We have been able to push these things ahead, so I want to thank them for their support, leadership and interest in improving our system. As we have consistently been saying since the begging of the season, preparedness is really important. So, the question we should be asking ourselves is, if the system had come our way were you ready for it. That is a good question to ask everyone and if you were able to say yes you were ready then you are really looing forward to this season. For those who were not ready, it is time to take those measures and improve.”
Hurricane Beryl showed the inaccuracies of the intensification models used by meteorologists to determine the strength of tropical systems. Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified and it maintained its strength as a major hurricane for days leading up to its landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, contrary to what was being forecasted in several instances. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon addressed these inaccuracies this morning.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, NMS
“Indeed I have always indicated that we have low confidence or not as much confidence in terms of intensity forecast cause we already know that the rapid intensification of these systems is something our forecast models have difficulty with and that has been for sometime and it has not changed much. There have been some improvements but there is still challenges so if in regard to your question about lessons learnt, that lesson has been learnt from long before. Whenever there is a hurricane coming our way and it is forecasted to be a category one, I always indicate that it could be a category two or three at landfall because we know these things tend to intensify especially when it moves over our area with very warm water, so we need to look out for that. In terms of wind shear if there is very strong wind shear there is nothing much that can, in terms of counteracting. It all depends on which is stronger. If the wind shear is strong it is going to disrupt the hurricane no matter what and that is just the scientific aspect of it.”
This morning, the National Emergency Management Organization declared an all-clear for areas in the country that were under a tropical storm watch. Hurricane Beryl made landfall early Friday morning north of Tulum, along the Yucatan Peninsula. A tropical storm watch was still in effect for Belize City all the way up to the Belize-Mexico border with the expectation that northern Belize would experience incessant rainfall and tropical storm force winds. But Hurricane Beryl shifted its course further north throughout the night. Except for two shorts periods of rain on Thursday night, the northernmost town in the country remained dry and free from tropical storm force winds. There was a bit of panic among residents of Corozal leading up to Thursday night. But this morning, worry turned to a collective sigh of relief, as residents in northern Belize went about their daily routine. News Five’s Paul Lopez spent the night in Corozal Town. He filed the following report.
Paul Lopez
Paul Lopez, Reporting It is approximately seven a.m. in Corozal and it appears as if the town has been spared any sort of excessive rain throughout the course of the night or tropical storm force winds. If you look behind me the sea is calm. There is some overcast right now and a bit of drizzling. But everyone seems to be going about their morning routine seemingly without any fear, concern or worry. On Thursday morning, Hurricane Beryl was forecasted to make landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula. It was projected to bring rains and tropical storm force winds to northern Belize. As a result, most businesses in Corozal Town closed at midday, except for a handful of grocery stores that remained open to accommodate last-minute shoppers.
Jose Zetina
Jose Zetina, Resident, Corozal Town “We just get a little heavy rain right now, a heavy rain shower but according to what I know the hurricane is moving a little upward so we have been receiving some rain and I don’t know if in the night, but that is as far as I know.”
By late Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Beryl began to move further north of Belize. Yet and still, residents took no chances and secured their homes. In Calcutta Village, hours before the tropical system was projected to make landfall, one family sat around a table in front of a fast-food restaurant enjoying a meal with little to no concern.
Adrian Tun
Adrian Tun, Resident, Calcutta Village “We just experienced like two episodes of rain. That is everything. The palm tree not even the move and it has a wasp nest on it. So nothing the go on. I think that thank God because we always have to give God thanks because nothing the go on and we hope to keep it that way. We hope the weather doesn’t deteriorate or anything like that. But at this moment in Corozal everything all right. I am glad that everybody do the necessary hunker down. I see they have plywood on their windows, and we have to heed the warnings but thank God everything is alright.”
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, NMS
“Hurricane Beryl made landfall this morning, just after four a.m. as a category two hurricane about five miles northeast of Tulum Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Fortunately for us here in Belize we had minimal impacts from the hurricane. The last time I looked the highest wind gust was thirty-four miles per hour recorded up in the north at Ranchito in the Corozal District. We were spared the strong winds from this system. In terms of rainfall, we are very grateful that God has blessed once again. We had about one to two inches but that was not in the north. The north got about half an inch or rainfall.”
At seventy-thirty a.m., Daniel Mendez, the National Emergency Coordinator, declared an all-clear for the areas that were under a tropical storm watch.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“I want to reinforce the message that Belize is under a state of all clear. We believe there is no longer a threat president from Hurricane Beryl. Based on the advice from the N.M.S. we advised the prime minister that businesses should reopen today.”
In Ranchito Village where the National Meteorological Service of Belize recorded slight tropical storm force winds, we spoke to one resident who told us that he may have slept through those winds.
Marvin Rancharan
Marvin Rancharan, Resident, Ranchito Village
“We feel good because everything gone through good and no disaster, everybody wake up feeling good, village clear. We had a little rain like around seven the showers dropped and we didn’t hear anything else after that. We were prepared, we bought enough groceries, water, food, light, we were prepared for the weather.”
In Corozal Town, Eric Donn was up early and off to work.
Eric Donn
Eric Donn, Resident, Corozal Town
“The way I feel, I feel glad because we serve a big God and only God could move that storm. So, that is just to show the nation that we serve a big God. So, whether we believe or not, we can do better, but only he could move that storm, no man could move that storm. We just board up the house, get some rations and the normal way you suppose to be prepared, try to be safe as much.”
Paul Lopez
“How concerned were you?”
Eric Donn
“We had to be concerned, because this weather is nothing to play with. Anything could happen in a storm, so we have to be concerned. But we never get no rain or anything so we have to thankful to God bout it.”
We also heard from Corozal Mayor, Rigo Vellos. He and his team at the town council spent the night monitoring the movement of Hurricane Beryl. Mayor Vellos says that he is pleased with the level of caution taken by residents in the town. He says Hurricane Beryl gave the council an opportunity to better prepare for the remainder of the hurricane season.
Rigo Vellos
Rigo Vellos, Mayor, Corozal Town
“Last night we stayed vigilant making sure that we follow every single step this storm was taking, listening to the reports. That is what we had to do to ensure we stayed abreast of what is happening with the storm. Luckily, we were fortunate. We are blessed by God that it went a bit north and did absolutely no kind of damage to Corozal Town or to the district. That is the good relief we had this morning waking up knowing that all clear is given and we did not receive absolutely any damages. I do believe what made a huge difference is the information coming through NEMO. They did their part in making sure they informed the public, the Corozalaneos of what was happening, what to expect, how to prepare. By now we are well educated when it comes to preparing for a storm and of course NEMO doing their part, the town council doing their part. We were prepared, people took it seriously. Of course, you will never have a hundred percent of your people who would take it seriously. But the majority took it seriously. I can tell you that when I was out between twelve and one there was no one on the street. That is a good sign that everybody stayed indoors monitoring the system. What it did gave us an opportunity to prepare a bit better. It is never a perfect score. There is always room for improvement and this storm that passed allowed us to do that. Just like the weekend before when we had all that rain and a bit of flooding that helped us to distinguish the areas we needed to improve when it comes to the drainage system. Last night it only taught us how we can prepare a bit better, what else we need to add to improve whatever system we already had in place.”
