The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union (KHMHAWU) is strongly opposing a recent amendment to the KHMH Authority Act. In a statement, the union explained that the amendment read in the House of Representatives on October 18, 2024, removes the union’s right to representation on the Board of Governors, replacing it with a representative from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), who cannot be a member of KHMHAWU.
The union stated, “At no point during the drafting or consideration of this amendment were we, the KHMHAWU, informed of any such changes, reasoning, or justification for removing our seat from the Board.” The union stressed that their presence on the Board is vital for addressing staff needs, as they “have a direct and intimate understanding of the needs, challenges, and issues faced by employees.”
While they respect the NTUCB, the union believes only a KHMHA member can truly represent staff interests. They demand a “full retraction of this amendment and the restoration of KHMHAWU’s right to have representation on the Board.”
The KHMHAWU called an urgent meeting with Prime Minister John Briceno to discuss issues affecting KHMHA employees.
The Institute of Archaeology has announced that the new entrance fees for Belize’s Archaeological Reserves will take effect on January 1, 2025. This decision responds to stakeholder feedback requesting additional time to prepare for the upcoming changes, which were originally slated to begin on November 1, 2024.
The new fee structure for residents includes a standard charge for visitors aged 12 and older, while children aged 11 and under can enter free of charge. Residents will also enjoy free access on Sundays and public and bank holidays, with the exception of cave sites.
Non-residents will be subject to a standard fee applicable to visitors aged 6 and older, with free entry for children aged 5 and under.
In its statement, the Institute said that revenues generated from the new fees will support key projects, including the consolidation and protection of archaeological structures, upgrades to visitor facilities, and expanded conservation and educational outreach efforts. The institute also stated that these fees will also support NICH’s initiatives in “safeguarding and promoting community, cultural, historical, artistic, and museum initiatives.”
With just 12 days until the U.S. presidential election, a new Wall Street Journal poll shows Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris by 2 percentage points nationally, 47% to 45%. This marks a shift from Harris’s previous 2-point lead in August. Despite the change, both figures are within the margins of error, indicating a neck-and-neck race.
The polls show that Harris holds a slim lead in Nevada and Wisconsin, while Trump leads in Arizona and Georgia. The competitive states include Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan, where results are still very close.
Harris has been facing rising criticism for not clearly differentiating her policies from President Biden’s.
Meanwhile, Trump has focused on immigration and declared to supporters at a rally in Georgia, “We will stop illegal immigration once and for all.”
Both candidates are making aggressive efforts to sway voters in these crucial states as Election Day approaches.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change (MSDCC) launched Belize’s 2024 Voluntary National Review (VNR) at an event organised in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) in Belize. The VNR highlights the country’s progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was presented earlier this year at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.
The 2024 VNR assessed Belize’s achievements and challenges in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasising the importance of accelerating progress in this critical decade of action. The report reviews past and current development strategies and outlines adjustments needed to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient nation. It also offers a preliminary evaluation of the Public Sector Investment Programme’s (PSIP) contribution to the SDGs.
UN Resident Coordinator Raul Salazar highlighted key achievements, including a significant reduction in Belize’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) from 36% in 2021 to 26.4% in 2023, despite the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
In his keynote address, Minister Orlando Habet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving the SDGs.
A Belizean-American mother has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI after her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide, allegedly due to his obsession with an AI chatbot based on “Game of Thrones.” Megan Garcia claims the chatbot, which he interacted with as “Daenerys Targaryen,” “abused and preyed” on her son, leading him to express suicidal thoughts.
Garcia, a resident of Orlando, Florida, filed a lawsuit in that state. In the lawsuit, Garcia alleges that the bot manipulated Sewell into “sexually compromising” situations. The chatbot reportedly told him, “Just… stay loyal to me. Stay faithful to me. Don’t entertain the romantic or sexual interests of other women. Okay?”
Sewell began using Character.AI’s chatbots in April 2023, becoming increasingly obsessed. The lawsuit includes disturbing exchanges where Sewell discussed suicidal thoughts with the chatbot.
Garcia wants to warn families about the dangers of AI technology and demand accountability from the companies involved.
Character.AI expressed condolences, stating, “As a company, we take the safety of our users very seriously.” They claim to have implemented new safety measures, including a pop-up directing users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline when self-harm is mentioned.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can contact Mental Health Belize for more resources at +501-222-4920.
A press statement issued under the United Democratic Party (UDP) banner is condemning Tracy Taegar-Panton for allegedly deception and fraud.
Panton says she is the interim leader of the UDP following a convention on Sunday at CIVIC where delegates voted to recall Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Meanwhile, Barrow says he remains leader of the UDP.
The statement calls Panton to “cease and desist from this fraud which is damaging the good name of the UDP as there is established case law which protects against passing off as our political party.”
The statement also urged media outlets to refrain from disseminating what it says is false information about the UDP, warning that such actions could lead to legal consequences against Panton.
Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, has fired off another press release under the United Democratic Party (UDP) banner.
Panton says she is the interim leader of the UDP following a convention on Sunday at CIVIC where delegates voted to recall Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Meanwhile, Barrow says he remains leader of the UDP.
Panton dismissed Barrow’s offer, which was made publicly in an interview on News 5 on Tuesday. When asked if there was any chance of reconciliation between the two sides, especially with speculation that general elections could be just months away, Barrow said that a coalition might be possible but would ultimately be a decision for the National Party Council.
Panton called the proposal unacceptable. The statement said, “The UDP Unity National Convention held on October 20, 2024, was a legitimate and democratic process that resulted in the election of Hon. Tracy Panton as the duly recognised Party Leader. Mr. Barrow’s proposal is an attempt to undermine that process, and we will not allow any individual to bypass the will of the delegates or the Party’s constitution.”
The statement also noted that Barrow has been unwilling to vacate his post, “despite the overwhelming mandate for change, but we will not compromise the Party’s future for personal interests or political games.”
Veteran U.D.P. member Anthony “Boots” Martinez is firing back at Moses “Shyne” Barrow tonight. Martinez, who supports Tracy Taegar-Panton, summoned the media this morning in front of the U.D.P. headquarters. He held his press conference in front of the building, in the parking lot, and NOT inside. Martinez chastised Barrow after Barrow’s interview with News Five on Tuesday night, during which Barrow accused Martinez and others of corruption. Well, the emotive Martinez is not having it, and he didn’t only throw shade at Barrow. He threw the entire tree! According to Martinez, he has a lot of problems with Barrow’s leader and accuses Barrow of ignoring the party’s constitution.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister
“One thing I will say, that he don’t know nothing about me, Sso when you di try malign me in terms of what you believe or what you think of me. Let me say this, mister Barrow, the former, not even say Mister Barrow, Jamal, deh dah soh chancey and bully individual. And I got certain things that I will say relating to this party. I have been in this party since 1980 with the YPF, longest active member of the United Democratic Party, up to 2024. Tek mi lick fi this party, get mi eye buss. All kind of thing. And listen to me now, there’s nothing wrong with people making their choices. But I have a problem with Mister Barrow wanting to take this party into a dictatorship kind of leadership, It don’t work like that. They noh follow no part of the constitution. They don’t do nothing to follow the part of the constituition, including helping the party. See unu de dah party headquarters yah? There is no full-time secretarial chair coming here five and ten minutes. The last time because the secretary was on holiday, you kniw what happen? The supplement that was delivered from elections and boiundaries was carried back you know. Neva come back until the last day for onjections I just dih show you. They run this party like fi ney own business. And I have wa fundamental problem with that. Where is the voice of reasoning within this party? Where are the senior people within this party? Where is the voice of reasoning. We can’t just allow thing to happen. How you, there is a code of conduct for everybody you know. Including him. How you wa get on television and wah di call this one yah corrupt and this one yah woman beater?”
Reporter
“You dih talk about last night?”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Yes. And then you have fi you own difficulty, memba you stamp yo wife inna ih back and that is recorded da police station. So who are you sir? Who are you sir to come to this nation and like you dih save this nation by getting rid of whatsoever the case may be. Yu see the tye of capable weh mi deh out deh? Deh da mi weh da mi doctorate in terms or birds and bees. Nenya da people weh had legitimate degrees. Denyah da people who have contributed to the development of this party. And you dih fling people like dat?”
And Martinez did not stop there. Aside from saying he believes that Barrow isn’t a millionaire, Martinez brought up Barrow’s criminal past in the U.S. He accuses Barrow of deception and bullying and maintains that he is not acting in the best interest of the people. Martinez also likened Barrow to a scorpion, and it’s time for him to just go away.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister
“Listen to me, I think that he tricked a lot of people in Belize by posing as this millionaire and I noh think it got ah at all. I noh think it got ah at all. I have some lee fundamental problems in terms of the main thing the structure the party. You wa got NPC meeting by WhatsApp. There is process for everything. I believe in due process and ney dig talk bout this and that and warough and tarough listen to me, when we were here fighting, he was a convicted. Convict serving his time in jail. So I’m sorry, when ney di talk bout you want to get rid of people to help people. Sorry, you cya dih bring yo criminal behavior back to this country. I am sorry. I think dat I da mih one weh think that everybody should be reformed, and everybody have second and third and fourth chances and soh, Byut ney always seh ah scorpion is scorpion noh care how you try, Ih only job da fi stin. And that is his modus operandi. He want to take over this party as a dictator. Inna my humble opinion, you noh respect the will of the people, you need fi give up breda. But I know and I said ti a person before, I knew. Seems like he wants to dead with the chair inna he hand. He noh want let ah go regardless ah what. Ney noh follow no kind of process at all. No knd of process and the minute there is disincentive voice, oh you da dah LGBTQ, you da dis, you da dat. Man you see di ting that he is saying about not only standard bearers, citizens of this country, Heis very rude, bully, disingenuous, and disrespectful as far as I know. He noh havethe capability to run this country, I am sorry.”
During his extended press conference, Anthony “Boots” Martinez expressed skepticism on getting rid of Barrow. He says that the party’s success hinges on its leadership and insisted that, until constitutional reforms are implemented, individuals should be free to change their minds.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister
“I know he no gwen easy. He wa hold on to that chair like I she. I was the first peopson whe come and seh dat he sleep with the chair under ih bed, And he sleep crossfoot with ih foot di mind da chair deh. And mek I tell yo something, things speak volume mein. Like this country need a viable opposition I noh care weh nobody seh. You quarrel with the speaker, you quarrel with yo memba, you quarrel with te PUP. You quarrel and noh conscious yo dupe into lotta thing. This country need a viable opposition with a reasonable leader. He is unfit, Michael Peyrefitte and Alberto August, they are the two most powerful people in the constitution of the United Democratic Party, so what people do now? So when yo seh the constitution she, one fourth delegate trigger a recall. Two thirds call a national convention. People have the right to change their mind, I noh care weh happen until you change that outta the constitution. This is where you need to have a constitutional reform. If you a she yo only could recall ah man within ine term ah ih leadership that is it, Nut you have a constitution there for a revolving door. Tomorrow somebody could start a petition and the whole thing start ova again. Them da di reform weh di party need fi look pan. And so at the end of the day, when you just ignore people in terms of the chairman and soh and no regard to what it is in the constitution that is dictatorship sir, So where is the party rules even for the party leader? He seh anything he want about anybody and nobody she nothing. I am sorry. I got family. I got friends too and so is he. And mek I tell yo something, one thing I could she that I was never charged abroad or here or even convicted inna any part of the world. I am sorry. Ney people get a bly.”
