August, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Tragic Plane Crash in Brazil Claims All 61 Lives on Board, Investigation Underway

A passenger plane operated by Voepass Linhas Aéreas crashed in the city of Vinhedo, São Paulo state, on Friday, August 9, 2024. The plane crash resulted in the deaths of all 61 people on board. The aircraft, an ATR 72-500, had 57 passengers and four crew members. The Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency confirmed that the plane was in good operating condition and that the crew was fully licensed. Voepass revised the death toll from an initial count of 58 passengers to 57, along with the four crew members.

The crash, which occurred in a gated residential community, has led to a significant emergency response. While no local residents were injured, the site of the crash was described as a scene of destruction with a smouldering wreckage. Vinhedo City Hall has been coordinating with emergency services to provide assistance and has declared a three-day mourning period. The Brazilian Air Force is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident, with support from Brazil’s Federal Police and the aircraft manufacturer ATR.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva observed a moment of silence at a public event in response to the tragedy. The investigation revealed that the plane’s black box was found intact, and initial data suggested the aircraft was diving rapidly before the crash. The incident is considered the deadliest airline crash since January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight in Nepal, also involving an ATR 72, crashed, resulting in 72 fatalities.

Belize and United Nations Host National Youth Dialogue Ahead of Global Summit

The Government of Belize, in collaboration with the United Nations, hosted a National Youth Dialogue today in anticipation of the upcoming Summit of the Future. The event, supported by multiple government ministries and the UN Country Team, gathered over 100 young Belizeans, including students and members of youth organisations, alongside policymakers and UN representatives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, highlighted the importance of youth involvement in shaping future global directions. “Our young people are the torchbearers of our future. Their voices and ideas are crucial in shaping the direction of our nation and the global community,” he stated. The dialogue aimed to enhance young people’s understanding of global challenges and involve them in devising solutions, focusing on sustainable development, technology, and the impact on future generations.

UN Resident Coordinator for Belize, Raul Salazar, emphasised that youth engagement is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. “By involving young people in dialogues like this, we are not only ensuring that their voices are heard, but we are also empowering them to be active agents of change,” Salazar noted. The discussions, structured around three key themes from the Pact for the Future, will help inform Belize’s contributions to the global summit in September.

The dialogue included panel discussions with youth representatives from Belize’s major universities and aimed to foster meaningful participation in national and international policy-making. Yannika Dorado, a participant from the University of the West Indies, expressed the collective readiness of the youth to address future challenges. “We are ready to take on the responsibility of working towards the SDGs and to ensure that our future is one of progress, inclusivity, and sustainability,” Dorado said. The event underscores Belize’s commitment to integrating youth perspectives into policy development and global discussions.

New Beginnings Youth Center Hosts Family Day and Calls for Continued Community Support

New Beginnings Youth Development Center, which provides residential, immigration, and psychiatric services for children aged 12-17, celebrated its annual Family Day this morning. The event, part of its summer program, highlighted the center’s commitment to supporting 13 girls and 18 boys through court-ordered placements for behavioural issues or minor offences, with the aid of 30 full-time and 6 part-time staff.

This year’s Family Day was marked by poignant moments as the center supported a minor who recently lost her father while also celebrating another child’s birthday. Despite these emotional highs and lows, the event demonstrated the center’s resilience and dedication to its mission.

With the children on a two-day break, the center is urging continued national support. New Beginnings remains optimistic and calls for ongoing community involvement to enhance its care and rehabilitation efforts.

Animation Bootcamp Reaches Orange Walk for Third Session

The Office of the Prime Minister and Investment, in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the National Women’s Commission, launched a two-week animation bootcamp at Orange Walk Technical High School. Running from August 8th to 16th, this program provides women and girls with essential skills in graphic art and animation through a mix of in-person and online classes.

This program, which has previously been conducted in Corozal Town and Belize City, includes six training sessions divided between in-person and online classes. Attendees will also have the chance to develop and animate original stories, potentially earning copyrights for their work.

Key figures at the launch included Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño and Taiwan Ambassador H.E. Ms. Lily Li-Wen Hsu. The Investment Policy and Compliance Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister and Investment expressed gratitude to all partners involved in the successful rollout of the bootcamps across Corozal Town, Belize City, and Orange Walk Town.

Tropical Wave in Atlantic Shows Potential for Development

The National Hurricane Center reports a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave situated west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

Although the system is moving westward to west-northwestward, any development is expected to be slow over the next few days.

Conditions may become more favorable for development, with a potential tropical depression forming by early next week as it approaches the Lesser Antilles. The system could impact parts of the Greater Antilles by mid-week.

Formation chance through 48 hours: near 0 percent.
Formation chance through 7 days: 60 percent.

Dorothy Bradley’s Auditor General Contract Soon Ends, Who Will Replace?

The contract of Auditor General Dorothy Bradley is coming to an end. Bradley retired on December 14, 2021. However, she was brought out of retirement to serve a two-year contract beginning September 1, 2022. This appointment was unprecedented, as it marked the first time an Auditor General was hired on a contract basis, a move the government deemed necessary due to difficulties in finding a permanent successor.

Since her reappointment, the Briceño Administration has faced challenges in finding a permanent successor. But, as Bradley’s acting term concludes, the focus shifts to identifying a new Auditor General to continue the critical oversight the role calls for.

Earlier this year, President of the Public Service Union (PSU), Dean Flowers, publicly criticized Bradley’s performance. Flowers argued that her tenure has not met expectations, and called for a new appointment with greater competence and experience to fulfill the role of Auditor General effectively.

When asked about it on Thursday, PM Briceño said, “I think that is something the financial secretary is working on, and I’m sure that we will be able to find somebody that can be able to take on the, to be at the helm of the auditor general’s office”

Ukraine Pushes Deep into Russia as Putin Declares a State of Emergency

Ukrainian forces have launched a significant incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, prompting President Vladimir Putin to call in reserve troops and declare a federal-level emergency. The Ukrainian advance, now in its fourth day, sent shockwaves through Moscow and Russia’s military ranks. President Volodymyr Zelensky praised his army’s ability to “surprise” and “achieve results,” though he did not directly reference the ongoing raid.

Around 1,000 Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, reportedly penetrated more than six miles into Russian territory, breaching two defensive lines and a stronghold. Despite Russian attempts to control the narrative, claiming the situation is under control, the state of emergency and evacuation of 3,000 residents reveal the severity of the incursion.

Ukraine struck a Russian military airfield in the Lipetsk region, more than 100 miles from the border, igniting a large fire and damaging bomb stockpiles at a site housing advanced warplanes.

A Russian missile hit a supermarket in Kostiantynivka, a Ukrainian town near the frontline in the Donetsk region, killing at least 14 people and injuring 43 others. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the attack as another act of terror as emergency services continue to search for survivors.

Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that reinforcements, including heavy artillery and tanks, are being deployed to the region to counter Ukraine’s bold advance.

When Will Dr. Osmond Martinez Be Sworn In?

Nearly a month after his decisive victory in the Toledo East by-elections on July 17, 2024, Dr. Osmond Martinez is yet to officially assume his role as the new representative for Toledo East. Securing an overwhelming 70% of the vote, Dr. Martinez emerged as the clear choice of the electorate.

Despite his victory, Dr. Martinez’s swearing-in is yet to be scheduled. Also, he still awaits assignment to a specific portfolio. When asked about it on Thursday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that Dr. Martinez is scheduled to return from a “much-needed family holiday” on Monday. The PM is expected to meet with Dr. Martinez that same day to finalise preparations for the swearing-in ceremony and formal induction as the Toledo East representative.

Is Administrator’s Leave from B-SWAMA Linked to Missing Funds?

We start off tonight’s newscast with an update on the missing funds at the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority. The investigation into the matter is still ongoing to determine the magnitude of the crime, how many people were involved, and from what unit of that office specifically. Since the news broke, there have been two different amounts reported, from half a million dollars to double that amount. All that the Ministry of Sustainable Development’s press release stated is that it is investigating an alleged wrongdoing at the authority and that it has been in communication with the Belize Police Department which is investigating the alleged misconduct. Today, the Prime Minister, John Briceño, told the media that the administrator has been asked to take a few days off, and he said that while the government wants the public to know what is happening, he needed to be careful how he spoke in the event the matter winds up in the courts.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The minister informed us in Cabinet of supposedly there seems to be some unaccounted funds, monies that quite likely have been mismanaged. And I need to be very careful how we use the terms. There are many, many instances when we give interviews and the words that we use are used in court to get some of these people off. So, I don’t want to say more. I want basically to tell you that we’re doing a thorough investigation and that any information that’s found out and any wrongdoing that we find, we’re going to have the police involved, which I think the police is already involved. And if there’s any wrongdoing, we’re going to ensure that these people see their day in court and to be able to account to the people. We want people to know that something is happening, but that we’re investigating it and we’re not trying to hide it, but we need to have that investigation. And let the chips fall where they may and whosoever is responsible if something went wrong those persons have to be held accountable.”

Reporter

“I know you can’t give details, but can you say if the Director of the Management Authority is on administrative leave during the investigation?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I’m not sure if she’s on administrative leave at this point, but I did know that she was asked to take a few days off, but if it is merited, it probably is already done. I’ve not been informed, but certainly if they need to put her on administrative leave if it has been done yet, it will be done. It will be done.”

P.U.P. Leaving Elvia Vega Out in the Cold?

Corozal Bay Area Representative Elvia Vega-Samos has voiced strong concerns over what she describes as disrespect from her own party, the People’s United Party. After becoming the only sitting area representative to face a constituency convention—where she ultimately lost—Vega-Samos now claims she is being forced out of her constituency office. Despite this, Vega-Samos appears resolute in her decision to stay. She took to Facebook, stating, “From major undermining from the very beginning of my term to being the only sitting area rep to be challenged to an unjust convention to now being told that I must leave the office, total disrespect. What’s next? I was elected by the people, and I will serve my term to the end.” Prime Minister John Briceño was asked about it today.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I really don’t want to go in a back and forth other than to say, it is unfortunate that we are bringing this out in public, because it helps no one. That building belongs to the P.U.P. and so I want to leave it as that.”