On Tuesday, a fifteen-year-old girl who was diving with her family, lost a leg after sharks attacked her. The teen, Annabelle Carlson, had reportedly completed a dive with the Belize Dive Pro company between Hot Caye and Halfmoon Caye around eleven-thirty on Tuesday. The girl reportedly jumped back into the water and that was when a shark bit her leg. It’s the first time, at least in recent memory, that an attack of this nature has occurred in Belize. It is one that the Minister of Blue Economy, Andre Perez said should not label coastal Belize as unsafe since this was a very rare incident.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
“One of the most important things I want to share right now is that we are being informed that the victim is okay, is alive, made it. What is the magnitude of the damage, we don’t know as yet, but it’s certainly an unfortunate situation. We’re very saddened about it, but I want to highlight that this is something that is very rare and I don’t think this is a time to say, well, you know, we don’t want to go swimming again or something. There must be some other reason why that happened, but it’s too early to say right now.”
Reporter
“For tourists who may be wondering if it’s safe to swim in our waters, what do you have to say to them?”
Andre Perez
“Listen, this is a very rare case. While we are saddened about it, we look at the facts. For the past thirty years as such, we have never had any kind – this type of accident as such. There’s nothing, I believe there’s, nothing to be worried about, that we’re scared or something, whatever. We’re safe.”
Forty-six-year-old Harish Kishanchand, a businessman of a Church Street address, appeared before the lower court today where he was arraigned on a single charge of trafficking in persons. It is alleged that sometime between January twenty-first and November thirteenth, 2022, Kishanchand took advantage of a twenty-one-year-old man by abusing his position of vulnerability for the purpose of exploitation. The man was compelled to work for Kishanchand under difficult conditions. He eventually ran away and subsequently reported the matter to the police. Kishanchand was represented in court by attorney Jacqueline Willoughby, while the matter is being prosecuted by D.P.P. Cheryl-Lyn Vidal. He was offered bail in the sum of six thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. Kishanchand’s next court date is set for September thirtieth.
Police are investigating the theft of a safe from the Treasury building in Dangriga. The safe was discovered stolen on Tuesday, making this the second such theft at that office in five months. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams told reporters that the thieves had to have familiarity with the interior of the building to have known the steps they took, including turning off the power supply that controlled the surveillance cameras. Williams said that the investigating is looking at employees of the Treasury Office as well.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The safe was stolen. I’m not too sure of the contents in terms of the quantum of money that was in that safe. But again, it clearly shows that this burglary was committed by people who know exactly how the treasury operates and, as a matter of fact, they even went to the extent of turning off the power to the building to disable the camera system from recording before entering the building. So that could only be done by people who understand how inside the treasury building is located and the situation of the cameras on that particular building. So it’s something that the police are looking at. We have to interview people who work there as well to see what they know. At the end of the day, we cannot leave anything out. This is the second or the third time there has been a burglary at that treasury in Dangriga and I think that it is too much. So the police will be probing deep to see if we can identify those persons who are responsible.”
“The time to end child marriage in Belize is now.” That is one of the mottos of the End Child Marriage in Belize Campaign that was launched by the Ministry of Human Development and its partners. The campaign seeks to increase the age of marital eligibility from sixteen years to eighteen. Today, the key stakeholders of the campaign gathered to discuss the proposed changes to the legislation that permits children to marry and the importance of acting on the matter. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there to learn more about this issue in Belize. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
If you are asked whether you know any minors currently married to or in a union with an adult, would the answer be, yes? Chances are it is, because one out of every five girls aged fifteen to nineteen in Belize is in the very situation. As of sixteen years old, teenagers are legally allowed to get married with parental consent. That is the law the Ministry of Human development and its partners are seeking to change by raising the legal age to at least eighteen. Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director of the National Children and Families Commission, explained that this campaign was born from a call to action from participants of the National Children’s Parliament last year.
Shakira Sutherland
Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director, N.C.F.C.
“So the campaign is to showcase the information that we have in regards to the legal aspect of it. So what we’re trying to do is that we’re trying to increase the age of marriage, the legal age, from sixteen to eighteen. And this stemmed from the National Children’s Parliament last year. So the bill from the children was that they wanted to end child marriage and the objective was to increase the age. Not only last year’s parliament, but the year before. Talks about vocational studies and then the previous year about child justice and so it is just a showcase that we at N.C.F.C. are working diligently to allow the children’s voices to be heard working with other stakeholders.”
The campaign is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Development and is supported by partners such as the National Women’s Commission. Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos-Garcia says that she is also grateful for the support of the church.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“As I mentioned today, we are very happy that many of the church leaders have joined us this morning. I mentioned that no disrespect at all to the sanctity of marriage from the religious perspective, but that you are married not because you might go into a church, but you’re married because you sign a contract. Signing a contract is when you’re married because you go to church, but it is the signing and the sending of that marriage signature to the vital statistics unit, and it is recorded. That is when you’re married and I don’t believe that anyone under the age of eighteen should be allowed to sign a contract.”
The campaign emphasizes the belief that child marriage is a human rights violation and a form of gender-based violence. Beverly Lemoine Castillo is a survivor of several forms of violence, including child abuse and rape. She uses her story of overcoming such trials to empower children and adults. Castillo shares her observations from working with children in similar situations.
Beverly Lemoine Castillo
Beverly Lemoine Castillo, Child Abuse Survivor
“Most children just keep it in, and then they go out there in the streets and do just things that is not appropriate. Or things that, I wouldn’t say they’re doing, It is bad, but it is things that they’re doing that they’re not aware of, because that’s normal for them. A lot of children do what is normal for them, and I talk about rehabilitation and habilitation. Rehabilitation is return to your normal state of being. Habilitation is to use give the tools necessary to function in everyday life. See, I can’t be rehabilitated because rehabilitation, I can’t, I don’t want to go back to my normal state of being. My normal state of being, like I said, is drugs, alcohol, but you can habilitate me. You can give me the tools necessary to go forward in life.”
The campaign is sending a message that the protection of young people is a priority for Belize and that the time to address these issues is now.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“In other words, the younger you marry, the more likely you are to maybe have a bad pregnancy, the more likely you are to maybe stay out of school, stay out of a job because the earlier you marry, especially it affects young girls, the earlier you marry. You’re taking away your chances of being in school and graduating and having a good career, having a good background, and then having a good career.”
A million dollars have reportedly gone missing from the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change is investigating an allegation of wrongdoing at B-SWAMA. On Tuesday, Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet informed Cabinet of what took place and information will be passed on to the Ministry of Public Service, as well as the Belize Police Department. A release issued by the ministry states, quote, due to the ongoing investigation, the ministry sees it best not to provide details that may negatively impact the investigation. We assure the public that necessary actions will be taken to address the matter accordingly, end quote.
Today, the Ministry of Economic Development, through its Resilient Rural Belize Program, handed over ninety-three thousand U.S. dollars’ worth of equipment to the National Meteorological Service. The donation will enhance the work of the Agrometeorological Section, allowing them to provide real-time weather information to rural farmers. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there to learn how the equipment will be used to assist the farmers.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Over the past few months, Belizeans have endured a spike in the cost of fruits and vegetables. This increase in price was due, in part, to the climate-related damages farmers have been struggling to manage. Now, with help of the National Meteorological Service, farmers will be able to better monitor weather conditions and plan accordingly to preserve their stock. Today, an array of equipment was donated to the NMS by the Ministry of Economic Development for this purpose. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon explains this strategy.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, MET
“In this particular case for twenty weather stations across the country, we have a network of over eighty weather stations but these are targeted to certain specific communities under the RRB project. So what that will do, it will enhance the capability of these stations to monitor what we call agri-med variables. Those are variables that are important for the agricultural sector, including rainfall, of course, temperature, humidity. They want to know the soil moisture and the soil temperature. And just to name a few, once you have that information, farmers will be able to plant better and be able to know what type of weather conditions are occurring in their areas.”
According to Acting C.E.O. of the Ministry of Economic Development Carlos Pol, this project was put together with the objective of addressing food insecurity. By assisting farmers with preserving their produce, the public will have access to more food at lower prices.
Carlos Pol
Carlos Pol, Acting C.E.O., Ministry of Economic Development
“So in that thinking, the government decided to put together a project that will help us with that security, addressing the farmers needs, addressing the needs of farmers to be able to remove their products from their location to the market. So this project encompasses that rehabilitation of food, assistance of farmers for them to protect their products, provide them with refrigerators and other outputs that will be able for them to store their products because we have seen how much farmers have lost in products. There’s a lot of losses. When they don’t have the proper equipment or the proper tools for them to be able to have their products and then move it to the market for it to be sold.”
The MET service will also be launching a weather app meant to offer real-time data for farmers. They will also be able to access for other risk such as pesticides and potential tropical systems.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“If you look at the figures right now, especially the SIB reports came out for the month of June, that the price of special fruits and vegetables was very well substantial, substantially higher than last year, June. So there are many causes for that as well. But the type of services that the MET service offers is to offer information to the farmers so they can be more informed to plan when it’s time to plant when it’s the best time to plant, when it’s not the best time to plant, especially during dry season. But also, we’re talking about efficiency in terms of production. And of course, in any way to become more efficient and reducing costs because the agriculture is always something that is high risk. You have all the different risk factors coming in, not only weather, but pests and all of these things. So this is what the Met Service is offering today, especially geared to the rural farmers.”
Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez emphasizes the importance of the National Meteorological Service which provides essential information to the public throughout the course of the day. Meteorologists are tasked with managing multiple stations, working odd hours and even holidays. This raises the question of whether the MET Service is adequately staffed to manage the duties or not. Here’s Perez’s response.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“We have done a lot of changes right now. Since the service came on disasters management has passed with us. We have already increased the staff more needs to be done. Of course, we need, we understand that we have meetings with our C.E.O. and with the chief met and of course creating a department where they are the financial officer, the accounting officer, which they did not have. It was only one ministry at the time. So eventually this is becoming more efficient. And what the chief mentioned about increase of staff, certainly we’re looking at that as well, no? But of course, we always have to watch our budget as well. But I think right now what we’re doing is sensitizing and showing to the public the importance of the MET service, the valuable information is being shared. That is very critical. And I want to recognize that the staff here, that they do the work. It’s as the chief mentioned, even on Christmas Day, they’re working as well. You have a lot of different people, doctors and so working. The MET service also is at work, even during the holidays.”
Earlier this year, a pastor from Dangriga made a complaint against attorney, Orson Elrington to the General Legal Council. The allegation of grave professional misconduct for the way he handled а Social Security Board claim and settlement for the pastor was brought before the G.L.C. In July, the Council ruled that Elrington must pay the complainant, Pastor Dozie, over forty-six thousand dollars and fifteen thousand dollars to the Registrar. The G.L.C had indicated that it would forward to the police a suspicion of forgery of documents. On Tuesday, Police Commissioner, Chester Williams clarified that the pastor still needs to file a report with the police.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Even if the G.L.C would refer the matter to us, we’d still need to get a statement from the virtual complainant. The G.L.C cannot be the complainant in the particular matter, especially if they’re alleging that the signature forged was that of Pastor Dozie. We need to get statements from him and specific signatures from him so that it can be compared to ascertain if the signature that G.L.C believes was forged was actually forged.”
The work has begun for the construction of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital. For years, residents of the islands were airlifted to the mainland to receive intensive medical treatment, but they will soon be able to do so on the island. The thirty-three-million-dollar project is being funded by the Republic of China, Taiwan. We spoke with Area Representative and Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez for an update.
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“I believe of course the work has started; the piles are being driven in. And I think they are doing an average of fifteen piles per day, and a total of one hundred and ninety eight piles will be driven. So everything is in set, the construction has started, and everything is on pace right now that we’re setting up. We’re close crossing our fingers that it’s going to last thirty-six months. So yes, it’s ongoing, and every now and again we do an inspection. And of course, the contractor is keeping the abreast, so we’re very excited about that one.”
The Belize Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change announced on Tuesday that an investigation into alleged financial misconduct at the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority was underway. Reports suggest that approximately one million dollars is missing.
Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, has briefed the Cabinet on the matter.
The ministry issued a press release confirming that the Belize Police Department is conducting an investigation. The ministry says that it is withholding details of the case to avoid compromising the investigation.
The Ministry of the Public Service has been notified and will oversee any necessary disciplinary actions. It is reported that a key figure in the ministry has been placed on administrative leave.
