August, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Digi Donates $50,000 Towards Belize’s Independence Celebrations

The Belize National Celebrations Commission received a $50,000 donation from the Digi team for the upcoming independence celebrations. The announcement was made this morning on Digi’s official Facebook page.

Belize will celebrate its forty-third year of independence this September, with activities set to begin next week. Digi stated, “The funds provided will support the various activities, bringing communities together to honor the nation’s achievements and look forward to a bright future.” The company also encouraged the Belizean community to take part in the patriotic events.

Digi added, “As a company rooted in Belizean soil, Digi looks forward to seeing communities come alive with the colors, sound, and spirit of independence.”

Belize Modernises Criminal Justice System

Belize’s efforts to modernise its Criminal Justice System takes a step forward with a ‘first of its kind’ conference on Criminal Justice Reform from September 2nd to September 6th, 2024, in Belize City.

The Conference, hosted by the Senior Courts of Belize Judicial Education Institute, is titled “Advancing the Caribbean Court of Justice Academy for Law Needham’s Point Declaration.” The five-day event will focus on implementing the Needham’s Point Declaration and addressing backlog issues in the criminal justice system.

The Needham’s Point Declaration covers key areas related to criminal justice reform, including policy and legislative interventions, prosecution, police representation for the accused victims’ rights, and judicial interventions. The declaration emphasises the need for swift justice for the guilty and protection of the innocent.

According to an official statement, the event will bring together judges, magistrates, crown counsel, defence counsel, police prosecutors, forensic analysts, and other stakeholders.

Opportunity for Caribbean Journalists to Cover COP29

Climate Tracker is seeking journalists from the Caribbean who are passionate about climate change to join its international reporting team for COP29. The conference will be held in the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, Baku city. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to cover significant climate issues and amplify Caribbean perspectives.

Climate Tracker is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing climate journalism through training, fellowships, and global collaboration.

In-person fellows will receive comprehensive pre-COP training, attend the conference, and benefit from accommodation and flight coverage, along with a stipend. Online fellows will also receive pre-COP training and a stipend, but will not attend in person.

Both in-person and online fellows will gain exclusive training from climate journalism experts, network with global climate advocates, and receive support to publish their stories.

Applications are open until 6th September 2024. Interested journalists are encouraged to submit an application form detailing their experience and a published climate-related story.

For more information and to apply, visit Climate Tracker’s website.

Alliance for Democracy Slams UDP’s Motion on Constructive Resignations

The Alliance for Democracy has expressed strong criticism of a recent decision by the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Central Executive Committee. The committee passed a motion declaring that Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, Beverly Williams, and John Saldivar have “constructively resigned” from the UDP. The Alliance says that the motion was approved by only fifteen members, of whom just four are standard bearers.

The Alliance for Democracy has labeled this motion as absurd and ineffective. They argue that it falls short of addressing the core issue: the expulsion of senior members. Panton has publicly stated that she has not resigned from the UDP and has no plans to do so. The other three senior members are expected to issue similar statements in an upcoming press conference hosted by Shyne Barrow.

Weather Outlook: NHC Monitors a Weather System in Central Atlantic

This morning, the National Hurricane Centre reported a tropical wave in the central Tropical Atlantic Ocean, producing disorganised showers and thunderstorms. The system is expected to move westward towards the Lesser Antilles. Environmental conditions could support gradual development, with a tropical depression potentially forming by early next week.

The chance of formation within 48 hours is low, near 0 percent, while the chance over the next 7 days is medium, at 40 percent.

The National Meteorological Service of Belize reports sunny skies with cloudy intervals today with occasional outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms in the southern part of the country.

Tracy Panton, John Saldivar, Patrick Faber and Beverly Williams Deemed “Constructively Resigned”

Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar, and Beverly Williams have been declared “constructively resigned” from the United Democratic Party (UDP) “due to repeated violations of the party’s constitution. Specifically, these violations pertain to Article 5(1)(b)(c), Article 5(5)(a)(b)(c)(d), and Article 7(11).”

A statement from the Central Executive of the UDP says that “NPC Resolutions 8/22 and 5/23 explicitly prohibit the aforementioned violations of the Constitution and calls for immediate removal of any member found in breach.”

The release further says that the individuals in question have been involved in the formation of a splinter party, the “Alliance for Democracy,” led by Tracy Panton. It says that Panton’s various media interviews and release under the ‘Alliance for Democracy’ banner are “are blatant violations of the UDP Constitutional prohibition of factionalism, division and the Constitutional requirement of affirmative support of the Leadership have led to the constructive resignation of Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar and Beverly Williams as per the precedent set on March 30, 2011 by then UDP Party Chairman PJ Faber and the Leadership who deemed Orange Walk East Area Representative Marcel Cardona constructively resigned as a member of the Party due to his repeated violations of the UDP Constitution in similar fashion as is being done today.”

The Party’s Central Executive says that this decision was made unanimously.

The decision was endorsed by the Party Leader, Deputy Leader, Party Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Regional Leaders, Zone Coordinators, Chairs of Committees, National Campaign Manager, Secretary General, Director of Women, and Director of Youth.

Teresita Ulloa Honoured with the Beverley Smith Lopez Prize for Acting

Teresita Ulloa has been awarded the Beverley Smith Lopez Prize for Acting in Theatre and Film. The announcement was made on the National Institute of Culture and History’s official Facebook. Ulloa, a senior library assistant at the San Ignacio Public Library, has worked in the public library system for over 15 years.

The Beverley Smith Lopez Prize honours the late Beverley Smith Lopez, a renowned actress and advocate for the arts. Lopez was celebrated for her significant contributions to theatre and film and her dedication to promoting the arts within her community.

Ulloa is known for using drama and theatrical elements to encourage reading. She creates engaging videos as “Teresita The Librarian” on social media, where she combines humour and creativity to promote literacy.

In addition to her work at the library, Ulloa trains teachers and parents on storytelling techniques to boost children’s reading habits. Her efforts highlight the role of parental involvement in literacy development.

PM Briceño Explains Stake Bank’s Compulsory Acquisition

The Government of Belize is compulsorily acquiring a disputed twenty-three-acre extension of Stake Bank Island. The news made headlines on Tuesday evening when a statement was issued following a cabinet meeting during which G.O.B.’s move was finalized. Well, tonight the Feinstein Group, the original proprietor of the island, says it will challenge G.O.B.’s compulsory acquisition. In a late afternoon release, the company referred to the decision as an unfair and improper high-handed interference in a private sector dispute that is live before the High Court. The release outlines several reasons why the Feinstein Group is challenging the acquisition. Among them, the group asserts that G.O.B. is siding with Honduran businessmen of questionable business practices. They are referring to the company out of Honduras that acquired the sixty-two million dollars loan associated with the Stake Bank cruise port project back in May after the project went into receivership. The release further asserts that these businessmen possess no experience in developing cruise ship port facilities. The Feinstein Group says it is aware that the decision to acquire the twenty-three acres came on the heels of a recent private meeting between one of the Honduran businessmen and Prime Minister John Briceño. This morning, we heard from Prime Minister John Briceño on the decision to take over the twenty-three acres on Stake Bank Island. Here is what he had to say.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“First of all, well, it’s like what you said, how you can compare oranges with apples. There are two different instances. In the first instance with the issue of the land for the hospital, there was a buyer and a seller. They met together, they negotiated one, had one higher price, they a lower price. They negotiated and then they settled on a price. On the Stake Bank land, as you all know this, there’s a legislation that was passed by the UDP whereby we deemed this project of national importance. And now that it seems that the, between the different investors, they have been having, issues. That project has been at a standstill. We have, I think, approximately two hundred and seventy million dollars. But because there is a dispute with the land, that project cannot be finished. And if you look at the numbers for the cruise lines, they’re going down, we need to be able to finish that project. We believe that as a government, what we did is first to put the first notice of acquisition. What does that trigger? It triggers then the owner to come to government and to say okay, this is my land and they negotiate a price. If a price, a suitable price cannot be worked out then we go to the second stage when there is compulsory acquired and then the courts take over after that. So it’s a simple issue.”

PM Says Compulsory Land Acquisition Won’t Cost Belizeans Anything

Of note, the prime minister was rushing off as the media approached him to get an interview at an event in Belize City. We did, however, get to ask whether the compulsory acquisition of lands on Stake Bank Island will cost Belizean taxpayers, and if so, then how much? Here is more from his explanation of the acquisition.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well, the problem is not with the center part. The problem is the area that was dredged around the island with only a two-hundred-meter opening for the land. And if we want to finish that project, then that land is essential as it is right now because no work is taking place. I’m told that probably as much as five acres have already been washed away, so we really need to move with a sense of urgency.”

Paul Lopez

“How much will this cost taxpayers?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It will cost taxpayers not one single cent, and why do we say that? When that was brought up to the Cabinet, the Cabinet then said the only way we’d consider this is if there’s an indemnity agreement. That when this is settled by the courts, if we go to the courts, then the investors they’re the ones that is going to be responsible to pay for that. And also apart from them just sending an indemnity we also have the financial backing. There’s a deposit in the government’s account as a down payment, plus also from another financial institution that will be responsible for the payment. So that’s there’s nothing much more to add to it.”

PM on $6.9 Million Land Purchase, “We have moved on.”

Prime Minister John Briceño was unwilling to speak any further on the six-point-nine-million-dollar hospital land purchase in Belmopan. He says the experts already spoke on Tuesday and answered all the questions. So, when he was asked whether the government will consider reversing the deal, he said, we have moved on.

Reporter

“Amidst the social and physical protests about the hospital land that’s been going on will the government consider moving it back to the UB land, especially since Godfrey Smith has said that you could change the location on the land?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well, I think honestly guys, if we were to do that, it would still cost us millions of dollars because a sale has been consumed. There’s a contract and any lawyer that’s worth its salt will tell you there’s a contract, unless the seller would want to come and say you know what I want back my money. Even if you’re to ask, so I think we have moved on. I think we’ve answered all the questions. The technical people have come on board and explained as to why they preferred this position. So, I don’t have any more to comment on that.”