August, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

FAO launches new analyses on progress in reducing hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean

According to the recent SOFI 2024 report presented at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, world hunger figures have been persistently high for three consecutive years, but Latin America has made significant progress.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean organised the first meeting in a series of events dedicated to analysing the region’s progress in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, based on the results of the State of Food and Nutrition Security in the World (SOFI 2024) report.

According to the SOFI 2024 report, presented in July during the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the percentage of hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean rose from 5.6% in 2019 to 6.9% in 2021, but a progressive reduction was recorded, reaching 6.2% in 2023. This means that 4.3 million people have stopped going hungry, mainly thanks to a recovery in South America.

Brazil is currently one of the countries whose public policies have positively impacted reducing hunger and food insecurity. Thus, through a Master Conference held at the FAO regional office, with more than 400 face-to-face and virtual participants, the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, shared some of the actions undertaken by the Brazilian government in the fight against hunger.

Minister Dias detailed the strategy that positions Brazil as a regional leader in hunger-reduction. “Lifting someone out of hunger and poverty is a one-time investment. After that, it is very difficult for the next generations to go back. So it’s a worthwhile investment,” he said.

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin, emphasised that “hunger and food insecurity are not simply issues of food scarcity; they reflect structural inequalities and systemic failures that affect human dignity and social justice throughout the world and also in the region”.

“Having the opportunity to reflect on these experiences forces us to recognise that hunger is a reality that can be addressed with responsibility, determination, and collective work and to ensure that all people, regardless of their geographic location, gender, or economic status, have access to sufficient and nutritious food,” added Lubetkin.

This analysis process promoted by FAO at the regional level, which began with the keynote address by the Brazilian minister, seeks to deepen the region’s opportunities and capabilities to contribute to a global response to eradicate hunger and malnutrition and address other challenges such as reducing poverty and inequalities. International goals have been established to ensure sustainable development.

Brazil in the multidimensional approach to hunger and food insecurity

Minister Wellington Dias detailed how Brazil has managed to lift 14 million people out of poverty thanks to a social program with two components: social assistance and food security.

This program is based on creating a single social registry that makes it possible to know the multidimensional conditions of poverty affecting a family and to generate an assistance income that adjusts to their needs. “The transfer of resources means implementing access to food and other necessities. That money circulates in the place where they live. And the poorest people usually live where other vulnerable and poor people live. So, in addition to benefiting that family, it benefits that community,” he said.

The minister added that this type of assistance is accompanied by the Safra, or Harvest Plan, to combat hunger and food insecurity. This plan works with small farmers to stimulate production, and then the State can buy a fraction of the harvest to give to those who require it.

Security Guard Shot During Verbal Exchange

We begin the news tonight with a report of a shooting incident in Orange Walk that has left a security guard severely injured. It happened while Tyron Moralez was on duty in Tower Hill Village on Saturday night. He was walking on the street leading to his jobsite when three people in a pickup truck, whom he recognized, engaged him in a verbal exchange. It ended in Moralez being shot. The bullet struck him in the stomach where it is still lodged. News Five spoke with his brother, Eric Martinez, who said that Moralez will need at least one surgery. While the victim recuperates, the police shared what they have so far on the incident. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with that report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Thirty-five-year-old Tyron Moralez was reportedly walking here along this stretch of road in Tower Hill Village, Orange Walk sometime after ten p.m. on Saturday night when he got into a verbal exchange with the occupants of a vehicle. In the process, he was shot. He relayed the incident to his brother, Eric Martinez.

Voice of: Eric Martinez, Brother of Shooting Victim

“He personally call me and tell me I get shot and the man said in him that who shoot and cause he see them got a one person. Several of them. I know like it happened in the dark and somebody come out of a bush or a drive by, in a vehicle that drive by, but the man see and recognize her.”

Marion Ali

“So they had beef or something?”

Voice of: Eric Martinez, Brother of Shooting Victim

“No, no type of beef. No type of beef. Probably. probably it happened fast that some words happen.”

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero says when police arrived at the scene, they found a wounded Moralez suffering from a gunshot to his abdomen.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Upon arrival, they found Tyron Morales with a gunshot injury to the abdomen. He was taken for treatment. He reported he was walking when a pickup came along and stop near him. He saw three male persons, one who pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot at him.”

Romero says the police are seeking three suspects in connection with the shooting. While they close in on them, the family of Tyron Moralez says he has a long to go before recovery.

Voice of: Eric Martinez, Brother of Shooting Victim

“The man have a big surgery, you know, because they shoot him by abdomen and the man – seems the bullet never pass. So it seems it’s not a big gun, you know, it seems it’s a small gun.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Elderly Motorcyclist Killed in Orange Walk R.T.A.

An elderly man was killed when his motorcycle crashed into another bike on Saturday morning. It happened on the Otro Benque Road in Orange Walk Town and claimed the life of sixty-seven-year-old Honduran, Fermin Lobo. Lobo’s motorcycle crashed into a delivery bike driven by twenty-six-year-old Hugo Vasquez, a delivery man who was reportedly heading in the opposite direction. While Vasquez survived, Lobo was flung to the pavement and died of severe injuries. Today, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters what they had gathered so far.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday, 17th of August, 2024, police responded to a fatal road traffic accident at Otro Benque Road in Orange Walk. Upon arrival, they received information that a male person had been taken for medical treatment. They proceeded to the hospital where they found Fermin Lobo, sixty-seven years, with severe injuries, and he succumbed to his injuries. Investigation reveals he was riding a motorcycle and he collided with a tricycle, causing his fatal injuries. An investigation is being carried out. The other driver of the tricycle has been served with an NIP and thereafter, the file will be forwarded to the D.P.P. for directives.”

Three Arrested in Courts Belmopan Burglary

Two Belize City residents pleaded guilty for handling stolen goods after police caught them with several items that were stolen during a burglary at Courts Belmopan branch just over a week ago. Police conducted a search at the home of thirty-four-year-old Randy Slusher’s girlfriend in Belize City. There they found an Orange Radio Shack bag pack valued at one hundred and twenty-nine dollars, as well as a Samsung cellphone valued at seventeen hundred dollars. Both Slusher and his girlfriend were taken to the Belize City Magistrates Court where Slusher pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

He explained that the only reason his girlfriend was caught up in the investigation was because he was at her home with the stolen items. As a result, she was set free. A search at the home of a second individual, twenty-six-year-old Roy Alvarez, led to the discovery of a Dell laptop valued at twenty-five hundred dollars. Alvarez, like Slusher, pleaded guilty. He explained that he bought the item for two hundred dollars knowing that it was stolen. The magistrate fined Slusher five hundred dollars for the backpack and seven hundred and fifty dollars for the cellphone. Alvarez was fined seven hundred and fifty dollars for the laptop. And while Slusher and Alvarez pleaded guilty and were fined, both were escorted back into custody today. They will be transferred to Belmopan and handed over to police in that jurisdiction, as they are expected to face other charges in connection with the Courts Belmopan burglary.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Reference the aggravated burglary at Courts in Belmopan, police conducted several searches which led to the recovery of some cellphones and laptops and have since arrested and charged Randy Slusher, Tyra Diaz and Roy Alvarez for the crime of handling stolen good. They are all from Belize City. Further investigations are being conducted and other charges are expected to be levied. The items were recovered in Belize City. Yes, at their residents yes.”

Women Targeted in Boom Home Invasion

Two women had a traumatic experience on Sunday night inside their home in Burrel Boom Village. According to police, two armed men entered the residence, held them up and stole an assortment of items. They made good their escape. Police have no suspects.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday the eighteenth day of August 2024 police responded to reports of an aggravated burglary in Burrel Boom Village. Upon their arrival they met a complainant who reported that she was at home along with her mother when they were approached by two make persons who were in camouflage clothing. The two people took out a knife and a machete and held them up. They then searched the house and stole three watches, cell phones and some cash. Thereafter they fled from the area. We are conducting an investigation into this report and so far, there are no suspects detained.”

Who is the Alcalde Really in Charge of Indian Creek?

There is a situation that’s brewing in Indian Creek Village where there is confusion among members of that southern community regarding the alcalde who is in charge. The chaos over who has control of that jurisdiction which falls under the Inferior Courts Act has resulted in letters being issued by the Attorney General, as well as the law office of Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith on behalf of the government and the Toledo Alcaldes Association, respectively. A letter from Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre was sent to Superintendent Brent Hamilton on August fifteenth, informing the Officer Commanding the Toledo District police formation that three individuals representing the Toledo Alcaldes Association are challenging his decision to remove Jose Choc and Felipe Sam as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde of Indian Creek Village. They are also challenging the A.G.’s decision to appoint in their place Manuel Ack and Nicolas Choc as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde. Earlier today, we spoke by phone with Ancelmo Cholom, a member of the Indian Creek Village Council.

On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council

“The matter is before the court and it’s a challenging and confusing situation that is happening in our community since there was an alcalde that was being removed and there is a new alcalde that is elected by the community of Indian Creek. The Toledo Alcaldes Association took the government [to court] to challenge the decision made by the community to the High Court. That is affecting our residents now because it is confusing and letters are flying around and they are trying to reinstate back this ousted alcalde while there is a split in duties, but then we are getting to understand that the attorney general, for the applicants, is not satisfied with the decision of the government or the decision of the court.”

Isani Cayetano

“So what is the actual effect of that on the ground?”

Ancelmo Cholom

“The effect of it is because the people that elected the new alcalde, there’s an old alcalde and if the old alcalde gets back into power then there will be a lot of confusion and chaos within our community. The community is divided at this point, they don’t know who is their alcalde now. They believe that they elected a new one and it’s causing a confusion within our community.”

Press Conference Scheduled for Indian Creek Over Alcalde Issue

In the Attorney General’s letter to Superintendent Hamilton, he wrote, quote, I have asked the new alcaldes to deliver the ceremonial staff to the Old Alcaldes and to have a new one made with the name of the Alcalde Jurisdiction Court clearly marked there for use in court proceedings only. While I do not believe that your intervention will be necessary to compel compliance with these requests, in compliance with the Court Order, I nonetheless hereby formally request your assistance in facilitating the return of the above-described items for use by the old alcaldes in their customary roles as alcalde and deputy alcalde, end quote.

Isani Cayetano

“I understand that several items were taken into custody by the police department down there in Toledo. Is that to your knowledge and can you speak on that?”

On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council

“The new alcalde was elected, the letters were sent to the attorney general. The Attorney General’s Ministry approved those signatures from the election process that took place on the sixth of November and after it was approved, there was a handing over that took place at the Punta Gorda Police Station. The items that the old alcalde was using were handed over to the new alcalde for them to perform their duties. So then, after that, there was an interim injunction, they are trying to claim back everything and those are some of the things that the community, or the residents of Indian Creek are now arguing that as much as we understand that there are items that are probably purchased by the Toledo Alcaldes Association, we also believe that not every item that they are claiming back is purchase by them because we know in our village what we purchase or what we give the alcaldes to use. For example, the key. Definitely we do know that the T.A.A. did not purchase those keys. We purchased it under the village council.”

Isani Cayetano

“Talk to us about what’s to happen tomorrow. You guys have called a press conference to bring awareness to this issue at hand.”

Ancelmo Cholom

“The reason why we are calling a press conference tomorrow is for the country or the people to understand what is affecting the community of Indian Creek. We are a Maya community and it looks like the Maya leaders who are representing the community of Indian Creek are not respecting the decision of the Maya people. Why are we fighting among the Maya people. We must respect a decision, I mean they are appealing to the government that the government does not care to understand or see what is happening in Indian Creek. Likewise with the Toledo Alcaldes Association, they are not here, they are not seeing what is happening in our community. They only took the matter from one or two individuals or from the ousted alcaldes and then say, okay they went to their attorney and took it to court. They were not here to even analyze or see, or, you know what, trying to mediate with both parties what is happening, they just took the matter to court.”

New Variant of Monkey Pox Not

It’s a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread from animals to humans and from human to human when bodily droplets from an infected person are transmitted through open wounds, injuries and lesions. The World Health Organization has announced that a new variant of Monkey Pox has been identified, however, none of its variants have been detected in Belize. Today, Director of Public Health and Wellness, Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa said the advisory was given because of an upsurge of cases in the African region. Even though we are literally halfway around the world from each other, since air travel puts us one flight away, Belize’s health officials are on the alert at the points of entry.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director, Public Health & Wellness

“We ensure that our surveillance team and border teams are aware of this increase in cases of monkeypox. So the difference this time around is that monkeypox, they have identified a subvariant or a clad as we call it, subvariant 1-B. So this is the new subvariant that was identified in 2024, and this is the subvariant that’s spreading in the African regions. And for that reason, the notification to the public and the information is now being shared that there is a new subvariant, but you mentioned that in Mexico there is an issue, but official reports from Mexico shows that none of this new subvariant has been diagnosed in Quintana Roo or in any part of Mexico. Of course, Mexico has the original Mpox. They have forty-nine confirmed cases of the original variant, but none of this new subvariant.”

Gastroenteritis Cases are Spiking in Belize

On the rise in Belize are cases of gastroenteritis, also spread through bodily droplets. Musa explained that while cases of dengue rise and fall from week to week, gastrointestinal cases are among the most common of the communicable diseases that are on the increase. If you happen to be experiencing belly or stomach pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, chances are you have gastroenteritis and should visit your doctor.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director, Public Health & Wellness

“Gastroenteritis is in the alert zone for most of the country, and that’s in over five and under five as an issue. Dengue and upper respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory tract infections fluctuate over the week. So those are better controlled at this point, but gastroenteritis, we’re still reporting and seeing increased cases of this. Gastroenteritis most commonly is caused by viruses, again, spread through droplets, and respiratory droplets. So this is just something for the community to be aware that there is a slight increase of gastroenteritis.”

BAPDA: Can’t Go Back on Progress, the E-buses Must Stay

Exactly one month ago, the Belize City Council, the United Nations Development Programme and their partners launched E-buses pilot project, in which two electric buses hit the streets of the Old Capital. The project has been met with mixed reviews, as private city bus owners claim that the buses pose a serious threat to their livelihoods. On the other hand, many citizens maintain that the buses are a step in the right direction that bus operators should have taken years ago. Not only are the buses equipped with wi-fi and A.C., but they are also designed to be accessible to all passengers. We spoke with president of the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities, Kenrick Theus to hear how this project has been received by members of BAPDA.

Kenrick Theus, President, B.A.P.D.A.

“We understand the plight of the bus owners as well, but they must also understand that as a country, we need to move forward. They have had more than one, ten, fifteen, twenty opportunities to fix this. They have done nothing about it. Belize has signed on to different international treaties and stuff, such as the Millennium Development Goals, and this is a part of that, where buses and vehicles and taxis and all that will have to fall in line. And so it’s high time that disabled persons, injured persons, pregnant women can have smooth access onto a bus as opposed to the situation now at the station where they’re actually pushed onto the ground. So anything that falls in line with that and offers a better service than we are for. Here we are one month later working, and they say affecting them negatively. I do not see how it would affect them negatively because if you have your set customers and your customers are loyal to you as they said they were a month ago, then this system should not have been flourishing the way it has. So obviously people are upset overall, not happy with the level of service that they’re getting. As a disabled person, me in a wheelchair, for example, I cannot access any of these buses here. And even if it is someone in there to help, if let’s say they put a conductor in there to help, to assist me, there aren’t any, nobody’s there to assist you with anything. The driver is he’s bound to his position. He can’t move from there. So he can’t assist you. So finally now we have something that for me works I’m able to take the bus for example at the corner of the street here by my house and the bus takes me all the way right in front of my clinic, my NHI clinic for one dollar Belize one dollar and it’s nothing about the money. It’s about the fact that I have access to it now where I can do it on a bus.”