In a historic session today, the Senate, joined by youth parliamentarians, passed a Bill to amend the Marriage Act, Chapter 174 of Belize’s laws. This amendment raises the legal marriage age to eighteen and eliminates the provision allowing parents or guardians to consent to the marriage of minors. This significant change was driven by a group of passionate teens who brought the issue to the House of Representatives, highlighting its importance on the national stage. The Bill received unanimous support from the Senate, including endorsements from the Leader of Government Business, Eamon Courtenay, and the Lead Opposition Senator, Mike Peyrefitte.
Eamon Courtenay, Senator, P.U.P.
“Madam President without any contradiction or condition, it is the position of the members of the senate and indeed the Government of Belize that this Bill is important. It is transformative, it is in the Belizean people’s interest, and we seek the support of the entire Senate for this modernizing piece of social legislation. Madam President, we are debating a matter of constitutional importance. This is a human rights issue. I put it as high as that because for too long, we have allowed in our country infants to be married and infants to be married with the consent of their parents.”
Mike Peyrefitte
Mike Peyrefitte, Senator, U.D.P.
“There have been instances when children are pressured to, in some cases some would say practically sold off to grown men who want to marry little girls, especially because that’s the target of that criminal activities that have been taking place in terms of this consent. Madam President, what I know for sure, in the criminal courts in particular, you would have these men who would commit the crime of unlawful carnal knowledge, who would be engaged in sexual acts that young girls under sixteen, to protect from prosecution, they would go and bribe the parents or bribe the people to have these children marry them so that they can’t under the law, as their wide, testify against them in a court of law, which gets them Scott free from that very egregious crime. It is a very good piece of legislation, Madam President, I think that marriage is such as serious act and a serious responsibility that you can only be engaged in that act on your own free will.”
The Senate also addressed the Social Security Amendment Bill, which permits the retroactive appointment of a general manager for the National Health Insurance Scheme and a Chair for the N.H.I. Committee. Business Senator Kevin Herrera voiced concerns about the amendment, highlighting that it shifts more power to the government instead of balancing it with other sectors in the decision-making process.
Kevin Herrera, Senator, Business Sector
“I come to realize within Government that we need a lot of oversight and a lot more oversight than we currently have and I just see what we have here as increasing the power of government and perhaps things that might balance that power we’re almost taking it out or nullifying it to a certain extent. We see here, Madam President, in the same Clause Seventy A-2 that Senator Peyrefitte referred to, says that “the General Manager shall be subject to this Act and any directions by the Minister.” Even though she should be reporting to a board and I would imagine that’s what a board is there for – to oversee the functions of the general manager. Still you have this clause in there where it states that “subject to the directions by the Minister.” It can give the Minister tremendous power over the scheme and this is compounded even so, Madam President, because the government also appoints the Chair of the Board.”
Today, the residents of Saint Matthew’s Village joyfully celebrated the opening of a brand-new school building, replacing the one that was destroyed by fire over a year ago. This project was a collaborative effort, with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing and the business community pitching in to complete the construction. Earlier today, the school principal, the village chairlady, and Area Representative Julius Espat were all on hand for the inauguration ceremony. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
It’s been more than a year and a half since a devastating overnight fire in St. Matthew’s Village wiped out a section of the government primary school. The blaze, likely caused by an electrical short, left over one hundred and ninety students without a school. In the aftermath, Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, who also serves as the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, promised to rebuild. Today, that promise was fulfilled with the inauguration of the brand-new school building.
Shakera Berry
Shakera Berry, Principal, St. Matthew’s Government School
“Today, we gather on this momentous occasion to celebrate not just a new building but a renewed sense of strength, resilience and hope. This very location, once marked by loss and heartbreak, now stands transformed into a symbol of triumph and new beginnings. The fire that destroyed our previous building was a painful chapter in our history. It took away a place that held countless memories, laughter and learning. But from that disaster, we have risen stronger. This new building does more than replace what was lost, it allows us to forget the weight of our loss and embrace the magnitude of what we have gained.”
Espat attended the opening of the new building, reflecting on the devastating fire that destroyed the original structure. He shared his relentless efforts to lobby the government for the necessary support to rebuild, ensuring the community could rise from the ashes.
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing
“When the fire happened, it was a very sad situation. We felt it. That had the possibility of destroying this community. That had the possibility of destroying the future of our children and we did not have a choice. We rolled up our sleeves and we made a decision, we’ll get it done. We spoke to the chief, we spoke to the CEO, I did my part, I went and I lobbied and I lobbied, and I lobbied and I lobbied hard. In all honesty, the Government of Belize did not give us too much negative feedback because they also saw that it was important and they left it in our hands to do it properly, and properly it was done.”
Esperanza Arriaza, the chairwoman of St. Matthew’s Village, echoed the heartfelt sentiments of her area representative. She spoke passionately about how much the school means to their community, highlighting its vital role in bringing everyone together.
Esperanza Arriaza
Esperanza Arriaza, Chairlady, St. Matthew’s Village
“Today marks the turning of a new page in the history of St. Matthew’s Government School, a day of triumph born out of resilience. On March twentieth, 2023, our community faced a devastating loss when the school building was reduced to ashes. For our students and teachers, it was not just a loss of a physical structure, but of their second home filled with cherished memories. However, out of this tragedy came hope. This remarkable, new structure is a testament of a collaboration and vision. The building can now accommodate eight spacious classrooms, each thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and conducive learning environment. It is a space where our students can thrive academically and personally. This through success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of some truly remarkable leaders.”
Espat mentioned that to finish the project, they had to reach out to the business community for help in furnishing the school grounds.
Julius Espat
“That is what people don’t realize when a project is done, it is not just the facade that you are seeing, it is all the human effort, the technical effort and what is behind the scenes that at times is not given the recognition but it is the backbone and the essence of projects we work tirelessly.”
Less than a week has passed since the Miss Universe 2024 Pageant ended, and Belizeans are grappling with another year without placing. While many praised Belize’s representative, Halima Hoy, for her stunning display of Belizean culture, criticism has also emerged. Today, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, SATIIM, released an open letter calling Hoy’s national costume and presentation of the Deer Dance sacrilegious. The letter states, “the Deer Dance is a religious ceremony of Maya communities. While its origins are a mystery, it is a tradition that enacts the Maya view of what is sacred. No Maya person brought up in their culture would ever put on a Deer Dance mask or clothing outside of the rituals. To do otherwise is sacrilegious and invites misfortune”. The organization acknowledges the well-intended purpose of the performance but insists that without proper adherence to the dance’s protocols, it fails to honor its true meaning. The statement concludes with a call for cultural policy and legislation to properly protect and promote Mayan culture.
It’s common to see male wood carvers, but have you ever heard of a woman who can carve, crochet, and create handicrafts? Today, we met forty-five-year-old Paulette Ottley at Fort George Artisan Alley. She makes a living doing all three forms of art. Ottley shared that her crochet skills have been her mainstay, providing her with a steady income. News Five’s Marion Ali brings you this week’s edition of Belize on Reel with a visit to Ottley’s booth. Here’s the report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
If you’ve ever strolled through the Fort George Artisan Alley near the Tourism Village, you’ve probably seen Paulette Ottley hard at work. Whether she’s weaving macrame, knitting crochet, stringing beaded jewelry, or sanding a new wood carving, she’s always busy perfecting her craft. Paulette has turned crochet into her lifelong occupation and main source of income, a skill she picked up at just eleven years old at All Saints Primary School. And it’s certainly paid off for her.
Paulette Ottley
Paulette Ottley, Owner, Sweet P Crochet World
“We used to have Tuesday, Thursday sessions at All Saints Primary School and that’s where I learned it.”
Marion Ali
“So you’ve taken it with you through life?”
Paulette Ottley
“Yes ma’am, all my years I’ve been doing this for a living. This what sent my son to S.J.C.J.C. and I also own a three-bedroom house from it.”
Ottley used to sell her crafts from home, but in 2016, she decided to go public by renting a booth at Artisan Alley. Surprisingly, her biggest customers are fellow Belizeans.
Paulette Ottley
“When you have concerts and so on or tenth or 21st, and my highest peak is Easter with the swimsuits and stuff because I do cover ups like this. I do two-piece bathing suits; I do wraps, I do different stuff. 0I do have local Belizeans that are my biggest supporters as well as tourists. Belizeans are my biggest supporters.”
But today, her biggest customer was a visitor from Mississippi. Mike Altom bought not one, but three jewelry sets to take home as gifts for his family.
Mike Altom
Mike Altom, Tourist
“They were beautiful pieces. They’ll go with any kind of outfit that they want to wear.”
Marion Ali
“Your grandkids are into these types of jewelry?”
Mike Altom
“Well, I just got one that’s fourteen. The other two are daughters, so they’re on up in age, but they’ll like it. If they don’t. I’ll give it to my girlfriend, right?”
To gather materials for her beaded jewelry sets, Ottley travels all the way to Cancun. She’s a self-taught artisan who has developed her own unique style, creating each set with care for her appreciative customers. Ottley encourages young people to explore this trade, as it can be a therapeutic and rewarding way to make a living.
Paulette Ottley
“Girls and boys could do this because it is a unisexual job. It’s not only for females. I would encourage them to pick up the course. They would profit off it, because like I told you, I profit from off it. It’s very relaxing, for me it’s peace of mind.”
If you’re interested in any of Ottley’s unique pieces, feel free to reach out to her at 608-3136. Marion Ali for News Five.
Today, the United Nations Population Fund donated several boxes of reproductive health supplies to the Ministry of Health. The handover ceremony took place this morning at the National Vaccine Storage Facility in Belmopan. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene to find out how this donation will help bolster Belize’s support in reproductive health.
Britney Gordon. Reporting
Earlier this year, Belize launched the ‘Leave No One Behind: The Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy Project’ to tackle the high rates of teen pregnancies by promoting the use of contraceptives. Today, as part of this initiative, the United Nations Population Fund donated a range of contraceptive methods to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. U.N.F.P.A. Program Officer Mackeva Neal was present to highlight the importance of this contribution.
Mackeva Neal
Mackeva Neal, Program Officer, U.N.F.P.A.
“What is so unique about this project is that for every year that the project is being implemented, there is a component that speaks specifically to the procurement of much needed SRH commodities. So today is the outcome of year one. Of that project component. So we are very excited to be able to present to the Ministry of Health this as well as to strengthen the partnership. I would say their mandate is perfectly aligned with that, with U.N.F.P.A. in ensuring that there is z maternal death, there is unmet need for family planning and to strengthen SRH services and commodities as well.”
The donation includes a variety of sexual reproductive health supplies like contraceptive pills, condoms, and IUDs. These will be distributed nationwide, with a focus on Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo Districts. Dr. Natalia Beer, the Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Health, shared more insights on the Ministry’s collaboration with UNFPA.
Natalia Beer
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal & Child Health Technical Advisor, MOHW
“These products having them accessible at all health facilities help us to reduce maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. And we also have in place the postpartum contraception. So every female that assists to hospitals for delivery, and they receive counseling and if they accept, they walk out with a contraceptive method. And we prefer to encourage women to use lung acting reversible contraceptives, because it takes a longer time. Compare, let’s say, let’s say the pill. Between the pins and the implant, we promote more the implant. Getting the implant, you can retrieve it or remove it after three years. Whereas the pins is daily and require a little bit more effort.”
The UNFPA also supported Belize’s healthcare workers by organizing a workshop focused on managing reproductive care supplies. This workshop, led by a consultant from Kenya, aims to address some of the key concerns of the Ministry and UNFPA.
Mackeva Neal
“One of those that came out very strongly from our engagement with the ministry was that there tends to be stockouts of Communities SRH commodities to be specific in certain parts of the country what we did, we came up to the decision that it would be beneficial for the country with the Ministry of Health as a partner to partner with U.N.F.P.A. to host a two-day training that looks at the Reproductive Health Commodity Strategies training. This is a countrywide training that includes persons from the different regions, from the four regions who has a responsibility for ensuring that their SRH, essential SRH commodities in their regional offices for distribution and accessibility to patients, patrons, clients, et cetera.”
On Wednesday night, News Five’s Marion Ali kicked off an environmental series on the state of Belize’s lobster stocks. Research from independent NGOs like the Sea Around Us and the Belize Federation of Fishers warns that overfishing has pushed our lobster populations to dangerously low levels, and without strict measures, they could be wiped out. These findings have been presented to the Government. We also hear from two experienced fishermen who confirm that overfishing is indeed a problem. Tonight, we’ll hear from the experts representing these organizations. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with more.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Authorities are relying on a shift in its management policy that now require the legal-size of lobster tails fished to weigh more than four ounces, along with ramped-up patrols as part of the Blue Bond arrangement (a debt for nature swap) that Belize and The Nature Conservancy signed to in 2021 to give the lobster stocks time to multiply. As a result of the agreement with The Nature Conservancy, Belize must declare and protect at least 30% of our sea spaces. It’s an exercise that Dr Butler says is necessary to protect the stocks that are there now.
Dr. Mark Butler
Dr. Mark Butler
“If it’s done right, they can support really healthy fisheries, you know, and it’s, and it’s, and we, as scientists, it’s one of the things we certainly want to do. We, we’re not trying to protect lobsters. We want to protect the long-term sustainability of the fisheries for the fishermen. We recognize that. But, you know, we humans, if we are not watched and regulated and so on and so forth, we tend to overuse our resources. And that’s why fishermen are just like the rest of us. And if there aren’t regulations, you know, then there could be problems with the fishery. So that’s why we need fishery regulations, not that we’re not trying to keep fishermen from catching fishes or lobsters in this case, we’re simply trying to manage it for the long term.”
Benedicto Perez has been a fisherman for 21 years. He told News Five that there are young fishermen who fish undersized marine products.
Benedicto Perez
Benedicto Perez, Fisherman
“Sometimes it does happen that the newcomers, the new fishermen coming into the industry, don’t have much experience about where to find them and how to find lobster. So they will come and they will just target the easiest thing out there, whatever it is fish, Illegal stuff, whatever – they’ll just go and target the easiest thing because they want to make money.”
Supporting Perez’ observation is Humberto Avilez, who has been fishing for 38 years. He agrees that there is overfishing of lobsters, and he attributes that to what he thinks is an overabundance of fishing licenses and not enough patrols.
Humberto Avilez
Humberto Avilez, Fisherman
“Right now there’s too many fishermen, not like when I used to fish. It was a little bit of fishermen. The boats now are carrying 15 men in one boat. Some are carrying 10 men in one boat. The sea is getting more populated, too many men, overfishing. They got one boat patrol in the morning. By the time he goh to five miles and come back, man, already … then it takes a whole day to come back. They need more patrols. That’s the only way they stop illegal fishing.”
Boat license. two, three, four, five, six; two more persons. Hampton Gamboa told News Five that asking fishermen to produce their fishing licenses has become standard procedure for every patrol, as well as is documenting what they find, including the names of the vessels moored at the locations where they are found. If anything is found to be awry, arrests follow, he assured.
Hampton Gamboa
Hampton Gamboa
“The highest registered commercial fishers for any one given year was 3,800 fishers, and that was a couple years ago – about 2021 or 22. This year so far, we are a little bit more than halfway through the year and we still haven’t had 3,000 fishermen come in as yet. So last year’s number dropped significantly.”
Benedicto Perez said that he has discovered that areas where lobster once populated are bare now and has also seen areas that never had them are populated now.
Benedicto Perez
“This year I have seen more abundant lobster in this particular area because the lobster – you need to understand and I have a lot of knowledge about lobster. My first two trips of this season I did it down south. Lobster was scarcely bad. Some people are saying that it’s because of illegal fishing – people from the neighboring countries coming close because it was all the way down south, so people are saying that. Maybe it could be or maybe it’s just the way lobsters migrate. Okay for me in that case it depends on the weather, tropical storms, cold fronts and things like that.”
Dwight Neal says he believes that there have not been sufficient independent studies done to definitively pinpoint the reasons why the lobsters now populate different areas, but he offered his opinion.
Dwight Neal
Dwight Neal, Marine Biologist
“There are several variables, climate change being one of them, changes in user patterns or usage patterns because if you notice, years ago, there were not as many boats around. There was not as much traffic, particularly between Belize City and San Pedro, that entire corridor that goes just west of St. George’s Caye and goes through Port of Stock and goes to Caye Caulker. When I started with the Fisheries Department many years ago, there were very few boats that were trafficking that area. Now there are boats almost every hour, almost every half an hour. So that in itself is a disturbance to the habitat. It’s incumbent on the scientists and the managers to investigate what’s happening there.”
This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.
With a little under twenty-four hours left before COP29 wraps up in Azerbaijan’s capital, negotiators are still at an impasse over a new climate finance goal to help developing countries tackle flash flooding, drought, wildfires, and other natural disasters worsened by human activity. The first draft of a potential agreement was released early Thursday morning, receiving mixed reactions from government negotiators and civil society groups. The draft, divided into two main sections, outlines proposals from both developing and developed countries. However, some key issues, including funding goals, remain unresolved.
Speaker 1
“I’m really sorry to say, but the text we now have in front of us, in our view, is imbalanced, unworkable and unacceptable.”
Speaker 2
“In the current text, some of these calls are hidden, pared back, or minimized. These shouldn’t be hidden, we showed own them and be proud of them and reinforce them. This is a big step back and it is not acceptable at this current moment of crisis.”
Speaker 3
“The current proposed text is severely lacking in ambition, but it can serve as a starting point for enhancing the mitigation action required to reach the 1.5 target. In addition, the text does not cover the full scope of issues that we have been discussing over the last few weeks and we will seek a way of reintroducing them where possible.”
Speaker 4
“So far, our development partner has not responded to our request of a figure because without a figure, the rest is really important but we need a figure as a headline to really determine whether we are making progress and the people outside of this room are expecting us to come up with that.”
Speaker 5
“Negotiations are moving far too slowly to meet the scale of the challenges we face.”
Speaker 6
“Unfortunately, the document still lacks substantive elements such as a concrete number on quantum. We hope that very soon, we will find the number which is commensurate with the needs and priorities of the developing countries.”
Doctor Kenrick Williams, the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, is currently in Baku, Azerbaijan. On Thursday, he took the stage at COP29 to highlight the devastating and irreversible effects of climate change on Small Island Developing States like Belize. He passionately called for climate justice and equity, stressing the urgent need for fair treatment and support for these vulnerable nations.
Dr. Kenrick Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Sustainable Development
“While we gather here, the climate emergency continues to tighten its grip on vulnerable nations like Belize, continuously and consistently eroding any progress we make. Every day, our communities are experiencing and living the escalated impact of the climate emergency. Irreversible impacts unfold with each increasing fraction of a degree, magnifying the devastation while every moment of inaction exacts a toll on lives, ecosystems and livelihoods. Every climate disaster serves as a profound reminder. Adaptation investment is not a luxury nor is it a charity; rather, it is indispensable for our survival. Like other SIDS, we face unique vulnerabilities with limited capacity to adopt. Just this past Sunday, Tropical Storm Sara made landfall in Belize, bringing intense rainfall, widespread flooding, and threatening the livelihoods of our people. Coupled with the most severe wildfires this year, and Hurricane Lisa in 2023, the aggregate loss and damage stands over two hundred million dollars, or over six percent of GDP in just two years. Regrettably, this cycle of loss and damage occurs much too often. This is why we need doubling of adaptation finance and we need fast-tracking of loss and damage finance. Belize, a small nation with an overwhelming stake in this crisis, stands here, not just with words, but with the weight of our people’s future. Our position is clear: climate justice and equity must prevail.”
Earlier today, Running W Brand took to Facebook to address a photo making the rounds on social media featuring one of their products. They confirmed that while the item is indeed theirs, it had exceeded its shelf life. They also clarified that the price and mark-up shown in the photo don’t reflect their retail pricing. The image quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion about prices and product quality in Belize. One user humorously commented, “With the price of ham these days, I might stick with Hudut all through Christmas”. The ham in question was priced at almost eighteen dollars per pound, totaling a whopping three hundred and twenty dollars for the Smoked Ham Leg. Brodies, the store selling the ham, also responded on Facebook. They stated that the product had not exceeded its shelf life and that the pricing was accurate at the time of stocking. It said, “we are aware of a social media post claiming that a product sold at our stores exceeded its shelf life and displayed incorrect pricing. We would like to clarify that the product in question did not exceed its shelf life. The pricing on the tags accurately reflected the price at the time of ordering and stocking”. Running W Brands Meats added, “We encourage all our valued customers to always check the “Best By” date on our products to ensure freshness and quality”.
