The Social Security Board has published a public notice of investment informing that it proposes to lend seven million dollars to Caribbean Tire Wholesale Limited. The purpose of the loan is for capital expenditure and cash flow replacement. It will have a term of fifteen years and an annual interest rate of six-point-five percent, payable in monthly installments. Viewers would recall that on previous occasions public outcry prevented S.S.B. from lending monies to pharmaceutical and liquor companies. Anyone wishing to express concerns may send copies of this notice along with comments via email to info@socialsecurity.org.bz
Month: September 2024
Senior Citizen Digital Skills Training Program Launched in Belize
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Technology is advancing at a rapid rate. With it, the world’s archive of information is accessible at the touch of a fingertip; but for those born before this technology was invented, it is difficult to navigate this online world. For every hundred Belizeans, there are about eight older citizens. It is expected that the number will more than double by 2050. That is why Belize is taking steps to ensure that they are equipped with the skills needed to survive in digital landscapes with the launch of a digital skills training program for senior citizens. Minister of E-Governance Michel Chebat detailed the scope of the project.
Michel Chebat, Minister of E-Governance
“This training will have sessions occurring countrywide covering topics such as the basic button functionality of devices. And include more advanced lessons, such as app downloads and usage. We will also ensure that tablet devices are provided for those who wish to learn but do not have a device of their own. Ensuring accessibility for those who need it the most.”
Supported by the United Nations Development Program, this will also equip older adults with essential online skills such as transferring funds, making phone calls, and booking appointments. Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Belize, Micheal Lund, emphasized the need to ensure senior citizens are advancing their skill set as the country moves towards modernization.
Micheal Lund, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Belize
“The Digital Inclusion Program is working to bridge this gap, ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to harness the benefit of technology. With the establishment of fourteen digital connect centers throughout the country, we are already breaking down the barriers to access. However, the value of access only holds true if individuals get the skills to effectively use the computer to computers and the, and navigate online government services.”
The training sessions will be facilitated by the University of Belize, enabling students to conduct the training sessions with elders. UB President, Dr. Vincent Palacio explained how the initiative benefits both parties.
Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, UB
“When we empower our students to help our elders navigate the world of technology, we’re building relationships. Imagine a young person sitting down with a grandparent, showing them how to video call family members or access important services online. In these moments, our elders gain something invaluable, the ability to stay connected, informed, and engaged in a world that’s becoming increasingly digital. We’re truly helping this segment of the population. Our young people are learning just as much, developing empathy.”
In a society that is moving away from the standardization of cash payments, senior citizens may begin to feel frustrated at their inability to manage their finances. Corine Gallego, an older citizen representative, shared her experience with this dilemma.
Corine Gallego, Older Citizens Representative
“The banks no longer issue bankbooks which you can physically check to see your deposits, withdrawals, or checks you have written to see when they are cashed. It’s all done online. When traveling in foreign countries, you’re required to check in your luggage digitally at the airport or better still from your devices at home. Recently I traveled abroad and thought, Oh, I don’t want to run up my credit card any higher, so I’ll pay for baggage with cash. Imagine my surprise when the airline employee told me they didn’t take cash.”
In some instances, senior citizens may need to purchase items such as medication or appliances abroad, but they are unable to do so without assistance. There have been several digital training sessions for senior citizens in the past, but as technology advances, the need for updated programs remains.
IX Chel Poot, Executive Director, NCA
“In 2021, the National Council on Aging held the first round of virtual training in digital literacy in collaboration with CETO. And it brought into focus for us two very important points. One, that older persons are capable of adapting and learning once they are given the opportunity and the space to do so. Two, that the challenges faced when becoming a digital native doesn’t change with age. Our older participants were interested in exiting WhatsApp groups and blocking people on Facebook and knowing how to get out of email trains. So those are challenges that older people were facing.”
Also partnering in this program is the National Council of Aging, which is committed to helping elders gain the confidence to make decisions on their own and take back control over their presence in online spaces. Britney Gordon for News Five.
11-year-old-girl with Debilitating Disease Needs Your Prayers
Scoliosis is a condition where a person’s spine develops an irregular curve that can worsen over time. One brave little girl, diagnosed with this condition in 2023, is in urgent need of surgery. She awaits an international organization’s decision on the best procedure for her. In the meantime, her mother has reached out to the public, not just for assistance, but for heartfelt prayers for her eleven-year-old daughter. News Five’s Marion Ali visited Jenica Jenkins today and found that despite her challenges, she strives to live like any other child her age. Here’s that report. Here’s that report.
Jenica Jenkins, Needs Surgery
(Singing…I Love You, Lord…of the goodness of God.)
Jenica Jenkins appears to be a typical eleven-year-old girl, but she faces a critical need for life-saving surgery that has hindered her from enjoying activities other children her age take for granted, like attending school or riding a bike. Diagnosed with scoliosis in January 2023, Jenica’s condition has rapidly progressed, severely affecting her mobility and her ability to perform everyday tasks.
Kezia Young, Mother of Jenica Jenkins
“Within like a few months, we noticed that the curve was starting to be more pronounced in her spine. Like you could visibly see her starting to lean and her body tilted one side. Right now, the situation is the curvature in her spine is at – the last time we checked, was at a sixty-six-degree angle, meaning it’s beyond brace, beyond being able to be braced.”
Jenica’s mom, Kezia Young, took to the public, through social media, and began asking around for referral hospitals that could help her child. Then she decided to contact World Pediatrics, a non-profit organization that offers medical assistance to critically ill children. She got a response that gives her hope.
“We’re waiting to hear back from them between today and Monday. So, thanks to everybody who has been sharing her story, who has been sending prayers and donations. Her case is under review. We have her MRIs because she did get a couple of MRIs, we did those in Mexico. We have her CT scan. So, they have – because Spine Overseas already had a file. I gave them permission to share the file with World Pediatric who will be reviewing the file today and getting back to us about you know, if she needs to go through one more evaluation and what would be the determination of that.”
Jenica has been unable to attend classes because sitting for extended periods and walking cause her significant pain. More recently, the curvature in her spine has begun pressing on her stomach, leading to organ cramping and making it difficult for her to know when she needs to eat or use the restroom. As they await feedback from World Pediatrics, Kezia earnestly asks for your prayers.
“We’re asking just that everybody just keep her in prayers as she goes through this journey, because I know it will be a tough journey for her and for myself. So, right now, we’re just asking for prayers.”
Jenica, who was also diagnosed with autism, attended Stella Maris School, where she took great pride in her English classes. Now, as she transitions to home-schooling, Jenica is doing her best to embrace a normal childhood, despite the challenges she faces.
“I like to decorate my doll house a lot. And it’s so much fun because I can play with them. I can put them to sleep, cook, anything.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
Kezia Young has opened an account at Atlantic Bank under the name Kezia Arnold – account number two-one-one-five-three-four-one-five-one. She has also opened a Go Fund Me page for her daughter where you can assist them through this time. And if you would like to contact her directly, you can call or message her at six-two-one-eight-nine-four-zero.
Preserving the Practices of Herbal Healing
Britney Gordon, Reporting
If you grew up in Belize, you may recall having to drink serosi or bitters as a child. Believed to be a natural way to keep healthy, herbal healing or bush medicine, has been a practice in many cultures for centuries. However, with the advancement of technology and modern medicine, fewer people are learning the traditional ways of healing. That is why stakeholders from across the region are gathered to participate in the second International Conference of Traditional Medicine.
Hugo Carillo, Director, U Chan Muul Yaax K’aax
“We have traditional healers which will be the keepers, and we have medical doctors, nurses. So we have to see both sides, and the importance of it, as the team sees traditional healers, keepers of scientific and technical knowledge, and on our behalf of the Yucatec Maya culture there is a lot of traditional medicine, a lot of traditional beliefs that we share also with our culture, with other cultures.”
Museum Director, Hugo Carillo, presented on traditional Mayan healing systems explaining how to track the body’s natural functions with the moon. He hopes that younger audiences will continue the traditions of his heritage through his work at the museum and conferences such as these.
“And for example, the crew on Garifuna. So we’re bounded. As I mentioned in my presentation, we’re a big family and I think it’s very important to keep the traditional medicine and positive, especially to the youth because time is going a lot of difference, deforestation, climate change and technology. So we must instill that to the younger generation. And we are losing our elders and that is one of the main objectives of the museum to transmit these knowledge to the younger generation and to the Belizean people as a whole.”
The conference is supported by the National Institute of Culture and History which is committed to preserving culture and traditional practices. Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, Rolando Cocom, explained this goal.
Rolando Cocom, Director, ISCR
“The purpose of the conference is to have a conversation between traditional and complementary medical practitioners and formerly certified medical doctors within the healthcare system. It is an important conversation because as we know, most Belizeans in some way or another at some point in their life. The Belizean people have would have used herbs, for instance, to treat an ailment or to treat a disease. And we believe that the both the thermal health care system and the traditional practices should complement one another. There should be linkages. And it’s a conversation that has been happening for years now.”
The conference focuses on traditional medicinal practices but welcomes medical doctors into the conversation. We asked general physician Danny Yacob how balance is maintained between the two.
Dr. Danny Yacob, General Physician
“How do we keep that balance with the traditional medicine? We don’t only focus on the scientific and the medical part. We always try to include the herbal part of it. Because medicine in a whole, it’s a holistic approach. It’s an approach centered not just on medication, but you also have to teach the patients what they have to eat. They have to exercise natural things that they can do at home so that they continue with their health, not only when they come in the office to see us, but also when they’re at home, they know exactly what to do.”
The event highlights topics such as at-home healing, healthy dieting practices, and herbal approaches to mental health treatment. Doctor Maria Lucia Goncalves, a committee member of the conference, emphasized that these teachings must not be overlooked in the medical field. But rather studied, so that doctors can work with patients to determine the best treatment for them.
Dr. Maria Lucia Goncalves, Committee Member
“That is a great opportunity for all the doctors in Belize, for all the people in Belize because everybody have a traditional medication home. You have the abuelita, the grandmother, grandfather, natural healers who tell the neighbors who give you some medication. Sometimes we take a different approach, in a negative way, like during the delivery, the labor delivery patient come in with a tea. And they have complicated the delivery because maybe they take the tea so early. Let’s see what is happening. The agency section sometime necessary, but I don’t take this approach as a negative approach, but we have to be a part of research. We have to know what you take for us to be able to help you medically”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Otoxha Village Gains Improved Water System
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Sanitation is vital in delivering safe and effective healthcare. Without access to clean water, patients face the risk of painful and potentially life-threatening infections. This has been a longstanding challenge for the residents and healthcare providers of Otoxha Village in the Toledo District.
Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Rural Transformation,
“Before soap and water. People used to die in hospitals and then the doctors didn’t know why. But somebody thought you know what, it is bacteria and germs that is killing our patients. And then they started to wash their hands. And they started to save people’s lives by using soap and water. Now we had that same problem in Otoxha. The maternal child health care personnel would come, the doctors would come, but then they can’t wash their hands because there’s no water.”
Nestled on the southwestern border of Toledo District, the remote village has long struggled with unstable access to water and electricity. However, thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Rural Transformation, the village’s health post has now been revitalized. Dr. Jorge Salia, Deputy Regional Health Manager at the Ministry of Health, highlights how this new system is revolutionizing healthcare services in the community, bringing much-needed stability and hope.
Dr. Jorge Sajia, Deputy Regional Health Manager, Punta Gorda Hospital, MOHW
“When we first visited Otoxha, there was a partial water system that wasn’t functional properly. We had a health post that was in very bad shape. So how as a health personnel would we come and offer health services when we don’t have the basic needs? If we will go see a patient, most doctors need to wash their hands before and after. When the nurses come to vaccinate, we need water to wash hands. Through UNICEF, the Ministry of Rural Transformation came true with all of us working together along with the community. Now we have present our health team from the entire district coming to offer the very first health services.”
Dr. Jorge Sajia
“We know that San Teresa, Santa Ana has been having a little bit of difficulties. So that’s the reason why we make these health fairs to come to you guys with the work of the, of UNICEF and rural development. That package is now complete. We have a waiting area, no comfortable waiting area. We have water system right at the foot of the clinics where we could wash our hands. We saw during COVID, all of our numbers for conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal diarrheas went down. Why? Because the basic thing we did was wash our hands. How could we bring that to Otoxha if we didn’t have a good source of clean water. So thank you everyone for making this possible. The health team is compromising to offering more health services to the district of the Toledo district. We will be coming again to Otoxha.”
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“And one of the challenges that he has in the Punta Hospital is to get the experts Like presently, I think you have six posts fpr medical doctors. Who we will be happy to, to um, fill those posts and get the doctors to start to work as soon as possible. The problem is that, where do we get them? And so today I want to encourage you all as well, you know. Make up your mind, study, and become medical doctors. We need some, we need some technicians for x-rays, ultrasound, and what else you need? And lab technicians. So you have an opportunity, turn this Constrained into an opportunity for the community.”
The project was made possible with support from the Republic of Korea and UNICEF. Minister of Rural Transformation, Oscar Requena explained that the ministry is determined to acquire funding for future projects in rural communities.
Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation
“Thank you, UNICEF and our partners for ensuring that we can have good, clean, sanitary facilities for our community. The next big thing, water system. We are getting a new rig very soon. In the next month and a half, we are going to have a new rig in Belize costing the government three million. That’s what we purchased through our ministry. 3 million. So that we can come and we can drill for water. Because all rigs that we have, you know, I don’t know if you know, but they are twenty-four years old. Very old, breaking up. And that is why we made the effort to ensure that we find the funding.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Police Responds to Belize City Man’s Claims: They Attacked an Elderly Man
The Belize Police Department has responded to claims made by a Belize City man on News 5 earlier this week. As we reported, the Belize City man said he is fearful after allegedly being shot multiple times with rubber bullets during a police raid on his property late Monday night. He said that while using the bathroom, he encountered officers in dark clothing, who shot him despite his surrender. The traumatised man, who has a newborn, is seeking legal action and plans to file a report after receiving medical treatment.
In a press statement, the Belize Police Department said that police officers protected and elderly citizen from being attacked.
“On Monday, September 23, 2024, at approximately 10:40 pm, our monitoring system detected an alarming situation on Central American Boulevard (C.A. Blvd), near the Faber’s Road junction.”
The release says that an elderly man was walking southbound along the boulevard towards Trinity Street when three young males emerged from the Matura residence at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Matura Street. It says that the individuals ran toward the elderly man, and moments later, surveillance footage captured them forcibly searching him after he had fallen to the ground. Following the attack, the assailants returned to the Matura residence.
The Department says that upon recognizing the urgency of the situation, the monitoring team immediately relayed the information via radio transmission. This prompted a quick response from a nearby patrol unit. Officers arrived at the scene at 10:43 pm and proceeded to search the residence where the suspects had fled. During the search, one individual, matching the attackers’ description, was taken into custody. When the suspect made a sudden movement as if reaching for something, an officer, fearing for his safety, discharged one non-lethal rubber bullet, successfully subduing the individual.
The suspect was transported to the Racoon Street Police Station by 10:47 pm, where he was processed and issued a medico-legal form before being taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for evaluation at 11:11 pm.
The department has released a video excerpt showing the key moments leading up to the intervention.
2024 Election Analysis: UDP’s Chances Revealed Through Survey and Models
The survey was conducted by Vikings Strategies LLC.
This analysis covers election data in Belize from 1998 through 2020, highlighting voting patterns and trends across constituencies. For each constituency, these were examined:
Historical Voting Trends – A review of past election results.
2020 Election Results – Analysis of the winning party and voting margins.
UDP’s Current Potential – Based on the Belize 2024 Survey, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is projected to secure 42%-44% of the national vote, slightly improving from 37% in 2020.
Probability and Regression Models – We applied statistical models (linear, non-linear, Huber regression, and probability analysis) to estimate each constituency’s likelihood of leaning toward the UDP or People’s United Party (PUP). These models classify constituencies as Safe UDP, Likely UDP, Lean UDP, Toss-up, Lean PUP, Likely PUP, or Safe PUP, depending on current polling.
Explanation of Models
1. Linear Model
This model assumes a consistent relationship between the national vote share and local results. For instance, in Cayo North, if the UDP wins 50% nationally, the model predicts 50.8% in that constituency. However, it may oversimplify real-world dynamics where local factors differ from national trends.
2. Non-Linear Model
This model captures more complex relationships where changes in national vote share don’t lead to proportional changes locally. In Cayo North, a national vote share increase from 50% to 52.5% may lead to a disproportionate local rise from 47.2% to 53.4%, showing that national performance can have outsized effects in certain constituencies.
3. Huber Regression Model
The Huber model adjusts for outliers (e.g., unique candidate popularity, local scandals) and is robust in cases where local results deviate from national trends. For Cayo North, if the UDP receives 50% nationally, the Huber model predicts 50.9% locally, accounting for local dynamics while controlling for extreme deviations.
4. Probability Analysis
This model estimates the likelihood of the UDP winning a constituency based on polling and past results. For instance, the UDP needs at least 49.9% of the national vote for a 50% chance of winning Cayo North. Currently, with national support between 42% and 44%, the UDP’s chance of winning the area is around 40.2% to 41.6%.
UDP’s Prospects in the 2024 Elections
Viking Strategies’ annual Belize Survey reveals shifting political dynamics. The 2024 survey, with a sample size of 968 and a ±3.21% margin of error, highlights key challenges for both the UDP and PUP.
– Definite Support: 9% of voters strongly back the UDP, with 38% open to the party. Comparatively, 18% of voters are firmly behind the PUP, with an additional 40% considering them.
– Potential National Support**: The UDP’s support is projected between 41.6% and 43.7%, suggesting they are competitive but still face challenges.
Survey Data and Modeling Application
Using survey data and Huber models, the analysis projects potential election outcomes. With the UDP polling between 42% and 44%:
– At 42% national support, the UDP is expected to win 5 seats, with 4 additional seats in contention.
– At 44% support, they may secure 6 seats, with competitive odds in 8 more constituencies.
Constituency-Level Analysis
This section includes detailed narratives and graphs for each constituency, using Huber regression and probability models to assess the likelihood of the UDP securing victories. All data is sourced from the Belizean Elections and Boundaries Commission.
SSB to Loan Caribbean Tires $7 Million?
The Social Security Board has issued a public notice of investment in the newspapers. The SSB is proposing to lend Caribbean Tires Wholesale Limited $7 million. It says the loan is intended for capital expenditure and cash flow replacement. It will have a term of 15 years and an annual interest rate of 6.5% payable in monthly installments.
Members of the public have 10 business days, from Friday, September 13, to submit any feedback on the proposal. Comments can be sent via email to info@socialsecurity.org.bz or mailed to P.O. Box 18, Belmopan, Cayo.
Herbal Healing and Ancestral Knowledge in Focus at Belize Conference
The Second International Conference on Traditional Healing kicked off in the Cayo District today. It brought together traditional healers, complementary medicine practitioners, and medical doctors for a three-day event. The forum serves as a platform to showcase the richness of ancestral healing practices while engaging in discussions on preserving these traditions for future generations.
Hugo Carillo, Director of U Chan Muul Yaax K’aax, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between traditional healers and modern medical professionals. “We have traditional healers, who are the keepers, and we have medical doctors and nurses. We have to see both sides,” Carillo explained. He added that there are rich traditional beliefs of the Yucatec Maya culture and shared the importance of passing this knowledge down to younger generations, especially in the face of challenges like climate change and deforestation.
The conference is supported by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH). Rolando Cocom, Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR), stressed the importance of collaboration between traditional and certified medical practitioners. “It is an important conversation because, as we know, most Belizeans in some way or another at some point in their life. The Belizean people would have used herbs, for instance, to treat an ailment or to treat a disease,” Cocom said. He advocated for a partnership between formal healthcare systems and traditional practices, seeing them as complementary.
General physician Danny Yacob also weighed in on the balance between traditional and modern medicine, saying, “We don’t only focus on the scientific and the medical part. We always try to include the herbal part of it. Because medicine as a whole is a holistic approach. It’s an approach centred not just on medication, but you also have to teach the patients what they have to eat.”
The event features a range of topics, including at-home healing methods, healthy dieting practices, and herbal approaches to mental health. Dr. Maria Lucia Goncalves, a committee member, emphasised that traditional teachings must be researched and integrated into modern medicine. “Everybody has a traditional medication home. You have the abuelita, the grandmother, grandfather, and natural healers who tell the neighbours who give you some medication. Sometimes we take a different approach,” she explained.
Israel Targets Hezbollah Leader in Beirut Airstrikes
The Israeli military has announced that it conducted strikes against Hezbollah targets throughout southern and deep Lebanon, focusing on launchers and facilities used for storing weapons. These operations aim to “degrade and dismantle” Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities.
On Friday, Israel specifically targeted the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during strikes on Beirut, according to an Israeli official speaking to CNN. However, there has been no confirmation from Hezbollah regarding Nasrallah’s status. A senior Israeli official commented that it is “too early to say” whether the strike was successful, noting that intelligence gathering could take time, referencing the weeks it took to confirm the death of Hamas leader Mohammed Deif in Gaza earlier this summer.
The decision to target Nasrallah was described as a “very tough call,” with the official indicating that confirmation may arrive at any moment, depending on the intelligence available. A Lebanese security official, when asked about Nasrallah’s condition following the airstrikes, simply stated, “We wait.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed that he is awaiting further information before commenting on the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, emphasizing that the U.S. was not involved in the operation. “We’re still gathering information…the United States had no knowledge of or participation in the IDF action,” Biden stated to reporters in Delaware.
Reports suggest that Israel informed the United States of the operation only after it was underway, with U.S. officials indicating that they had no prior knowledge of the action. An Israeli official confirmed that the notification was sent shortly before the strike, affirming that the U.S. did not play a role in the operation.
When questioned about the justification for the strikes targeting Nasrallah, Biden refrained from offering an opinion, stating, “We have to get more detail…I don’t know enough to answer that question.” He expressed ongoing concern about the potential for escalating tensions in the region.
The UK’s Foreign Office has urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave at the earliest opportunity. In a statement, the Foreign Office advised Britons to take the next flight available and said that efforts were underway to increase capacity.