Month: August 2024

Changing the Narrative on Suicides in Belize  

For Belizeans everywhere, September is a time of celebration as the country observes the Tenth of September, Independence Day and accompanying festivities. However, September is also a month to raise awareness for various mental health issues as the country observes Suicide Prevention Month. Belize recorded seventy-nine cases of suicide between 2022 and 2023, with males accounting for the majority. To shine a light on the prevalence of suicides in Belize and end the stigma against seeking mental health assistance, the Western Regional Hospital is hosting its annual 4K Glow Walk on September fifth. We spoke with Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Anne Link for more information on the resources available for those struggling with their mental health.

 

                                     Anne Link

Anne Link, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Western Regional Hospital

“With our theme for this year, suicide prevention it is changing the narrative. So being that’s the team, it’s all about focusing and saying what your narrative is. And in order to change it, we have to hear, we have to be able to communicate it. So, to be able to reach that point, we have to hear others be able to show this is what I’m going through and then someone else will be, you know what, I’m going through that too. And by creating that bond that their thoughts and their feelings are heard and validated, and that’s something that should be quiet about or shouldn’t be spoken about. And that’s one of the things that lets the person that’s going through it. lengthened the time before they get help is that they don’t want to see what they’re going through. So, by making it something we acknowledge that someone can go through, it is more easier for someone to say, it’s happening to me too. What have you done to help to make it through those moments?  One of the things that’s very difficult is stigma. Those who do  look for help,  they’re afraid of being seen as someone that is not stable. And for instance, always, once you hear mental or psychology, Everyone that hears that you think or what they’re saying is not validated. And that’s far from the truth that we want to ensure that person is heard. It does not mean that you’re crazy as a lot of people want to think. It means that you have feelings and thoughts that needs to be addressed. And the first step is talking about.”

 

Link encourages those struggling with their mental health to visit the Western Regional Hospital or contact them via their Facebook page or phone number.

Hurricane Centre Monitoring Two Tropical Waves with Development Potential

The National Hurricane Center released its latest tropical weather update this afternoon, highlighting two systems under observation. The first, a tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic, is associated with showers and thunderstorms but remains disorganised. The Centre notes a medium chance of gradual development over the next few days, with a potential to become a tropical depression next week as it moves westward across the Caribbean Sea. Currently, the formation chance through 48 hours is near 0 percent, but increases to 40 percent over the next seven days.

Additionally, another tropical wave near the Cabo Verde Islands is being monitored. Although it is producing minimal activity, some slow development is possible as it progresses west-northwest over the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. The formation chance through 48 hours is near 0 percent and rises to 20 percent through 7 days.

75-year-old Found Dead in San Pedro, Young Man Found Dead in Cayo

Police officers are examining the death of 75-year-old Linda Carter of San Pedro, whose decomposed body was found at her residence on Thursday, August 29. There were no visible signs of injury on Carter’s body. 

In San Ignacio Town, authorities are looking into the death of Cory Anthony Cruz, a 21-year-old Belizean, found with facial injuries in an open lot at the corner of 15th and Vaca Street. Cruz’s body was discovered by a passerby around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, August 30, and he was pronounced dead on arrival at San Ignacio Hospital.

In a separate case, police are searching for two suspects involved in a robbery at Yam Witz Restaurant and Bar on the Hummingbird Highway on Thursday, August 29. Marvin Fernandez, the manager, reported being attacked and robbed of $90 BZD, electronics, and other items by two men who arrived asking for water.

Belize Hosts High-Level Regional Climate Change Dialogue

The Government of Belize, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is hosting the Third High-Level Dialogue of the Regional Climate Change Platform for Economy and Finance Ministries of Latin America and the Caribbean in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, from August 30-31, 2024.

Prime Minister John Briceño, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration, is leading the Belize delegation. The event has gathered ministers and high-level representatives from 18 countries, alongside regional agencies, IDB executives, and bilateral partners.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, participants will approve the new work plan for the 2024-2025 period and oversee the transfer of the pro-tempore presidency from Chile’s Ministry of Finance to Colombia’s Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. The dialogue aims to formally adopt a unified regional approach to sustainable finance among the participating ministries.

Breastfeeding Awareness Month Ends with New Lactation Suite at Western Regional Hospital

Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan unveiled its new Lactation Suite, marking the end of Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The suite, donated by SAM Limited Consultants, is a major step forward in creating a supportive environment for nursing mothers. The facility promises to enhance the well-being of both new mothers and their infants.

The Ministry applauded the administration of the Western Regional Hospital for this “progressive and supportive initiative for the welfare of nursing mothers” and noted that such facilities encourage mothers to return to work after maternity leave and support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

“A supportive environment in the workplace encourages the mother to want to return to work after maternity leave and more importantly it also helps to exclusively breastfeed the newborn for the first six months of life,” the Ministry added. 

Weekend Activities to Begin Celebrating Belize’s Independence

September is here, and celebrations are about to kick off this weekend as we dive into Belize’s Independence month. This weekend is set to be a blast with music, laughter, and plenty of fun. Events this weekend are lined up to honour our beautiful country. It is not a weekend you want to spend home, it is one to spend out and about showing your Belizean pride! So if you’re wondering what to do and where to go, here are some ideas: 

August 30 & 31, 2024 (Belize City)

  • Event: Sir Barry Bowen Belikin Bash
  • Location: Marion Jones Sporting Complex
  • Time: 6 PM
  • Admission: Paid

August 31, 2024 (Belize City)

  • Event: Carnival King and Queen Competition
  • Location: Marion Jones Sporting Complex
  • Time: 5 PM
  • Admission: Paid

September 1, 2024 (Belize City)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony
  • Location: Flag Monument
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free.

September 1, 2024 (Belmopan)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony and Launch of Belmopan Calendar of Events 
  • Location: BNE Roundabout 
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free

September 1, 2024 (San Ignacio and Santa Elena)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony
  • Location: Town Hall Roof Top 
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free

September 1, 2024 (Benque Viejo)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony
  • Location: Town Council 
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free

August 21, 2024 (Orange Walk)

  • Event: Fiesta FM Anniversary 
  • Location: Fort Cairns Market
  • Time: 10 AM 
  • Admission: Free

September 1, 2024 (Orange Walk)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony
  • Location: Town Hall 
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free

September 1, 2024 (Dangriga)

  • Event: National Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony 
  • Location: Town Council 
  • Time: 6 AM
  • Admission: Free

Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry Public Hearing Rescheduled

The public hearing for the Commission of Inquiry into the Sugar Cane Industry, initially scheduled for today, Friday, August 30th, has been postponed. The stakeholders who were set to testify today will now appear on Thursday, September 5th.

While the commissioners will continue to work and review additional information submitted during the hearings, today’s meetings and discussions will not be livestreamed.

Public hearings and livestreaming will resume on Saturday, August 31st, at the conference room of Escuela Secundaria Mexico in San Roman Village, Corozal District. These sessions will be broadcast live on the Government of Belize Press Office Facebook page. The stakeholders scheduled for Saturday’s session include the Northern Sugar Cane Farmers Association (NSCFA) and various arms of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB), such as the Sugar Cane Production Committee (SCPC) and the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI).

On Monday, September 2nd, the hearings will move to the Ministry of Agriculture’s conference room at the agriculture showgrounds in Belmopan, where Santander Sugar will present before the Commission on Monday and Tuesday, September 2nd and 3rd, discussing their sugarcane production operations and factory practices. On Wednesday, September 4th, the hearings will return to Escuela Secundaria Mexico’s conference room, where Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will participate.

The final public hearing will be on Thursday, September 5th, with the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA) and the Progressive Sugar Cane Farmers Association (PSCFA) scheduled to appear at Escuela Secundaria Mexico. The conclusion of these hearings will mark the end of the public inquiry process.

Minister Kareem Musa: “We Cannot Tolerate Lawlessness”

The Briceño Administration has established the Emergency Powers Review Tribunal, a crucial body mandated by “Regulation 21A of the Belize Constitution (Emergency Powers) Regulations,” to oversee detentions that extend beyond one month under the state of emergency. The Tribunal will review cases of individuals detained under emergency powers that exceed one month.

The Tribunal will be led by attorney Jose M. Alpuche as the Chairman, and will include former police commissioners Gerald Westby and Jose Carmen Zetina.

In an interview with the media on Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa defended the government’s approach to policing amidst rising criticism and addressed concerns about the perceived focus on suppression over community policing. “Over the last three years, we have the least amount of complaints of oppression and suppression, in the history of that, at least in the last 10 or 20 years,’ Musa said. 

Responding to criticism about the detention of a 13-year-old under a state of emergency, Musa told reporters, “At the end of the day, we cannot tolerate lawlessness. So whether you’re 13, whether you’re 15, whether you’re 40, age doesn’t really matter. But we have to ensure that we play a pivotal role in that young man’s life moving forward so that he does not end up in prison.”

The Tribunal is expected to operate independently and in accordance with the regulations set forth by the Belize Constitution.

Beverly Williams: “I Have Not Resigned” 

The UDP’s Standard Bearer for Belize Rural Central Beverly Williams has taken to Facebook to ensure her supporters that she has not resigned. She said, “Dear BRC. I HAVE NOT RESIGNED NOR DO I HAVE ANY INTENTION OF RESIGNING. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UDP AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE UDP. I AM YOUR BRC UDP STANDARD BEARER.”

Williams joins Tracy Panton, John Saldivar, and Patrick Faber, who all have taken to social media to stress that they have not resigned. This comes after the UDP’s Central Executive Committee deemed the group “constructively resigned.”

The dramatic expulsions come amid accusations that the four politicians formed a breakaway faction, the “Alliance for Democracy,” in direct violation of the U.D.P.’s constitution.

On Facebook, Faber challenged the move, boasting of his long tenure and questioning, “Do you really think you can constructively resign me?”

John Saldivar also slammed the decision as “hogwash,” urging his fellow standard bearers to oppose what he sees as an unfair and unconstitutional power grab.Former UDP Belmopan Mayor Khalid Belisle has been endorsed as the party’s standard bearer for that constituency.

Panton insists she has no plans to resign.

Attempts to mediate the escalating feud have failed spectacularly. A team of mediators, including Reverend David Goff and former House Speaker Laura Longsworth, has abandoned the effort, citing an inability to reconcile the warring factions after a single meeting.

As the U.D.P. seems to spiral further into chaos, the “Alliance for Democracy” has announced a press conference for Monday, promising more revelations in this political showdown. Stay tuned for further updates as this scandal unfolds.

 

BELTRAIDE Exchanges Knowledge with Costa Rica’s Model for Investment Processes in Belize

BELTRAIDE is making a bold move to transform Belize’s investment landscape by sending a high-level delegation to Costa Rica. Over the next two days, Jalen Avila, Acting Manager of BelizeInvest; Danielson Correa, Senior I.T. Officer; and Wendy Hernandez, Senior Projects Officer, will engage in a knowledge exchange mission with Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER). Their mission is to study Costa Rica’s acclaimed Single Investment Window (SIW) system.

The delegation is tasked with studying Costa Rica’s highly efficient Single Investment Window (SIW) system to improve Belize’s foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade performance by simplifying and automating investment procedures, enhancing investment promotion tools, and streamlining trade processes.

“This exchange mission is a pivotal part of the broader Trade and Investment Facilitation Project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and being implemented by BELTRAIDE,” BELTRAIDE stated in its press release. 

The insights gained from PROCOMER’s system is expected to guide BELTRAIDE in tailoring a similar approach to Belize’s needs. “By studying PROCOMER’s experiences, challenges, and successes, BELTRAIDE’s representatives hope to gather critical insights that will inform the implementation of a similar system in Belize,” BELTRAIDE added.

Exit mobile version