The National Environmental Appraisal Committee, (NEAC), and the Department of the Environment have rejected multiple proposals to expand the Port of Belize and construct a cruise terminal under its previous ownerships. However, in 2023, the port was purchased by the Government of Belize. Recently, the government has revealed that it plans to upgrade the port’s cargo facilities and is considering the construction of a cruise port. We spoke with Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Mai about whether the new ownership of the port would impact the previous decisions on the upgrades. Here’s what he had to say.
Anthony Mai
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.
“Not necessarily. The environmental law is clear. The environmental law states that any private or public agency that wants to conduct any project that may significantly impact the environment, such an agency has to come to the Department of Environment. to determine whether a project of that nature requires an EIA. So what I’m saying basically is that the environmental law states that both private entity and public entity, in this case government, if they have a project that they want to do and it will have significant impact on the environment, they need to apply for environmental clearance. Case in point, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, most of the work that they do, they go through the EIA process. And several other government agencies, right now we are processing environmental clearance, we are evaluating the hospital or clinic in San Pedro, which is a government project, etc. So not because the project is government or public related, exempts them from coming through the EIA process.”
Fortis Belize is taking steps to bolster the solar plant industry in the country by constructing a thirty mega-watt facility at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. The company submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment to the Department of the Environment for approval to proceed with the project. We spoke with Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Mai for an update on that report. Here’s that update.
Anthony Mai
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.
“So we just wrote to them yesterday with the recommendation from the NEAC and the decision that the D.O.E. has made. As you know, the NEAC is an advisory body. And so the NEAC advises and then the D.O.E. either could accept the recommendation from NEAC or they could not. If we choose to not accept it, we have that authority. But so we deliberated on it and I can speak on it now because we have a problem of what the position is. Basically, NEAC recommended to the D.O.E. that the EIA was incomplete. And so a critical component of the EIA that was not included was the outstanding universal values that the project would have on World Heritage Site. It’s a requirement for all EIA now in an amendment that was done in 2020. And so that information, we believe, or the NEAC felt, was a critical component. And so the dean recommended that the EIA report is incomplete. Fortis has been informed of that. And so the dean recommended that the EIA report is incomplete. Fortis has been informed of that. To improve the EIA report with that information and we gave them some guidance on some other issues that we found within the report. And then they have to resubmit an EIA report. We did advise them that they will need to conduct a second public consultation because that is a critical component of the EIA report. And then after that the NIAC would have to sit again and deliberate on the project.”
In 2023, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow strongly criticized Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler over the Belize International Music and Food Festival. At the time, he contended that the event was carried out with a lack of transparency. Barrow even questioned the value of the festival. He now has a fresh perspective on the festival. On Tuesday, he told us that he had plans to attend the festival this year to stand in solidarity with Minister Mahler. He offered more grace this time around, noting that the UDP will invest when it forms government.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I have been in touch with the minister of tourism, because I was just like to say that I do believe there are certain areas of commonalities that we must embrace of by-partisanship. Actually, I was going to attend the Belize International Music Festival this year but I was dealing with so much, having come out of the by-election and getting back focused on the general elections. But I did speak to minister Mahler and wish him well for the music festival. I was supposed to go out there and stand in solidarity because that is about our musicians. That is about our tourism product. That is not a P.U.P. product. That is not a P.U.P. sector. That is for Belize. Tourism is for all Belizeans. The music industry and the orange sector are filled with people from all walks of life. While we have our criticisms, we still demand greater transparency. We still want to see the number. I told the minister not to attack him, but so that we can improve on this endeavor, let’s see how much was invested, what the return was and areas of improvement. But overall, I said it in the National Assembly I support building this festival and it could take many years. It is not something that will happen overnight. All those festivals in Jamaica didn’t just happen after a few years. It takes time. So, I encourage the investment, we will invest if we form government.”
Recently, there’s been a rise in COVID cases and respiratory illnesses in Belize. According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the cases are not severe, and the increase is to be expected at this time of year. We spoke with Director of the Epidemiology Unit, Russell Manzanero, who told us that COVID is here to stay.
Russell Manzanero
Russell Manzanero, Director, Epidemiology Unit, M.O.H.W.
“We have covid. Definitely. Covid is here. Covid won’t go away. Covid is here to stay. As with all the other respiratory and influenza viruses, it is here. So definitely the measures that we need to do has to be the same. Cough etiquette, hand hygiene that has to continue. As for the severity of cases with covid, we’re not seeing that severe cases. We’re not seeing hospitalized patients. But yes, we have ongoing transmission of covid. We have seen an increase of cases in the past weeks, so definitely there is still a measure that we need to be doing.”
Britney Gordon
“What do you think contributes to the increase that we see at certain periods during the year and what can we do to minimize that?”
Russell Manzanero
“Influenza viruses or respiratory viruses tend to have their peaks. Yes We usually see it at the beginning or the ending of the year. It contributes somehow with the with how the conditions are with climate it’s also a factor of how we do with movement of people, the interaction we have between our networks. So definitely if you see right now it’s on the lower end, but the moment we start going back to school and everybody start going in, you’re going to see that rise in cases again. Definitely, that’s why we recommend that you get the vaccines for influenza pretty much in the last part of the year, early part of the years for the same reasons that you start seeing those increases.”
A group of young basketball enthusiasts are breaking basketball’s barriers. Today, just over a dozen young girls under the age of twelve participated in the International Basketball Federation’s “Her World, Her Rules” campaign launch in Belize. It is one of the most recognized initiatives in women’s basketball. Commonly branded as #H.W.H.R., the campaign is designed to unite women and girls through basketball and help to define grassroots projects. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped in at the launch inside the Saint Catherine’s Auditorium in Belize City. He filed the following reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
In Belize, basketball is mostly considered a male sport. A handful of school and community teams exist to develop basketball skills among girls, but most of the major basketball competitions are played among boys and men. It is a fact that Jacob Leslie, the President of the Belize Basketball Federation, acknowledges.
Jacob Leslie
Jacob Leslie, President, Belize Basketball Federation
“I think it is one of the sport that has neglected our females for far too long. I think you can see female participation in volleyball and football, but it has been nonexistent in basketball for far too long. Like you said, as a parent, but as a former basketball player, basketball has really impacted my life significantly and the things that I have learnt through basketball have translated into my personal life.”
Today, a group of girls, between the ages of six and fifteen, gathered inside the Saint Cahterine’s Auditorium to change that narrative. Led by Yenny Pinilla, Coach of FIBA’s “Her World, Her Rules Campaign”, they engaged in a series of basketball drills.
Yenny Pinilla
Yenny Pinilla, Basketball Coach
“The name is Her World, Her Rules. So, when we say welcome to the playground. It is this is my place where I feel comfortable, strong, where I can do better things for me and this is the place where you can have dreams and improve your skills not just on the court but off the court as well. So I was a basketball player. I played all the time when I was six-years-old. So, I played in the national teams, I played all levels, South American Tournament, Pan American Tournaments, Pan American Tournament, I was the captain in my country.”
From the youngest to the oldest girl in the group, they ran across the basketball court practicing their dribble, taking close-range shots at the rim, practicing their passing, and most importantly playing and laughing through the process.
Yenny Pinilla
“It is not only here. In my country it is the same. The sports and basketball is only with boys. They support more boys than girls. The goal here is that the government and the ministers see that the girls can play basketball and can represent the country, and this is the way we can do that. So, if you are not going to start with young girls and babies like her, then nothing happens.”
Three years ago, nine-year-old Kenya Gillett, a resident of Crooked Tree Village, played a game of basketball with her cousin and immediately fell in love with the sport, as she tells it.
Kenya Gillett
Kenya Gillett, Basketball Athlete
“One day I just mih the play with my lee cousin and I start to like it and I asked teacher mek I join the team.”
Paul Lopez
“Tell me a bit about why you like playing basketball?”
Kenya Gillett
“Because it is fun, and you get to meet a lot of people. I learn a lot of things about a lot of people. I learnt a lot of new activities that we never did in Crooke Tree.”
Gillett’s dream is to one day play in the WNBA. She has already developed the view that basketball is more than just a sport for boys.
Kenya Gillett
“I don’t think that is true, anybody could play basketball.”
Gillett’s much younger peer, Presly Parchue, is just as enthused about the FIBA Her World, Her Rules event.
Presly Parchue
Presly Parchue, Participant
“I like basketball when you have to fun and then you can beat other people in games.”
Paul Lopez
“How did you get to know about basketball?”
Presly Parchue
“Because one time I was at my niece house and I was starting to play, because the older kid he teach me how to play. That is why I love basketball now.”
Today’s activities come as the launch of FIBA’s Her World, Her Rules initiative in Belize. Coach Pinilla says that she will return to Belize in short order. In her absence, Federation President, Jacob Leslie, has committed to keeping the initiative alive through weekly engagement. His long-term vision is to secure athletic scholarships for these young talents to study abroad and further develop their skills.
Jacob Leslie
“I think we are sensitized. So, because our young men are committing all these crimes and different interaction, we try to find things to occupy them, and we forget our young ladies who are falling victim to teenage pregnancy and to different abuse and face the same challenges the young men face. These things are societal values. So, through sports we can impact the lives of these young ladies to engage in positive things, because they also need it and many times they are forgotten.”
Former President Barack Obama delivered a vigorous address at the Democratic convention on Tuesday, August 21, endorsing Kamala Harris and criticising Donald Trump.
Obama declared, “The torch has been passed” and praised President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside for the sake of the country, who was absent from the event. He described the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, as “a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.” Obama described Trump’s approach as outdated and likened him to “the neighbour running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day.”
Obama portrayed Harris as a supportive and capable leader, stating, “Harris is not the neighbour running the leaf blower — she’s the neighbour rushing over to help when you need a hand.” He referenced Harris’s experience and her alignment with the values of the Democratic Party.
In his speech, Obama framed the election as a choice between a vision of collective responsibility and a more divisive approach.
Harris, who was campaigning in Milwaukee, was absent from the event.
Fifty-six protesters were arrested after violent clashes with police outside the Israeli Consulate, near theDemocratic National Convention in Chicago, on the second night of the convention. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling described the situation as “a danger to our city,” adding that the protesters “showed up with the intention of committing acts of violence, vandalism.”
The unrest began when some protesters charged at police, who were in riot gear. Despite efforts to de-escalate, the police response was forceful. Among the arrests, 30 were for disorderly conduct, one for felony resisting police, and nine faced misdemeanors. Two protesters were hospitalised with minor injuries, and two officers were injured but did not seek medical attention. Some protesters burned a US flag.
The protest was part of ongoing demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Unlike a ‘largely peaceful’ protest on Monday, this event saw heightened tensions. Monday’s protest reported 13 arrests.
Protester Mohammed Ismail, a 29-year-old psychiatry resident who lives in Chicago, criticised the police response as “excessive” and called on Democrats to stop funding Israel. Snelling defended it as appropriate and denied accusations of illegal tactics.
More protests are expected throughout the week, with police prepared to manage and de-escalate tensions.
As the United Democratic Party (UDP) loses its standard bearer for Belize Rural South, Ramon Vasquez, it gains another three for the areas of Caribbean Shores, Port Loyola, and Freetown for the upcoming general elections.
This afternoon, the party officially announced Dr. Nelma Jones-Mortis as the party’s standard bearer for Caribbean Shores. Dr. Jones-Mortis, a career educator and former mayoral candidate in Belize City, will now challenge the current Area Representative, Kareem Musa. Previously, she lost to Bernard Wagner in the Belize City mayoral race.
Dr. Abraham Flowers has been selected to represent the UDP in Freetown and is expected to face off against Francis Fonseca.
In Port Loyola, former Area Representative Anthony Martinez has reemerged to challenge current PUP Area Representative, Gilroy Usher Sr.
CARICOM Youth Ambassador and Chairman of Red Bank Village, Kenroy Cal, stands accused of rape. According to police, a 21-year-old from Independence Village reported to police that on Sunday, August 18, 2024, sometime after 3:30 a.m., she was taken to a dark building behind Delicious Restaurant in Santa Cruz Village by an acquaintance she had accompanied to the Happy Ranch nightclub and whom she identified as Kenroy Cal.
While inside the building, Cal allegedly forcibly touched her inappropriately and threatened to harm her if she screamed. She expressed fear for her safety as another individual, known as Ralph, stood guard at the entrance.
According to the report, Cal then allegedly removed her clothing, turned her around, and raped her.
The victim managed to push him away, quickly grabbed a piece of clothing, and ran towards her friend, who was calling for her. Both women went to the Santa Cruz Police Station.
News Five reached out to Cal via Facebook for comment.
The People’s National Party categorically condemns what it describes as the shocking decision by the People’s United Party to authorize a staggering payout of $6.9 million in taxpayer dollars for land, a sum grossly inflated compared to the Belmopan City Council’s valuation of merely 1/20th of the sale price.
A release from the party says, “This is an outrageous misuse of public funds, especially given that the proposed national referral tertiary care hospital was intended to be constructed on the grounds of the University of Belize, Belmopan – at no cost for land use. We implore the Government to urgently reconsider this decision. The selected property is not suitable for such a critical healthcare facility, and the excessive cost is an affront to prudent fiscal management.”
The PNP says that public monies should be spent judiciously, particularly when funded through a US$45 million loan from the Saudi Arabia Fund for Development. it says that it is time for the Government to demonstrate true responsibility and redirect this vital investment to better serve the people of our nation.
