The Belize Defense Force celebrated its annual Christmas luncheon today at Price Barracks in Ladyville. Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of National Defence Florencio Marin Junior were there to serve the dedicated men and women of the B.D.F. Earlier, we caught up with B.D.F. Commander Azariel Loria and PM Briceño to talk about this cherished tradition.
Azariel Loria
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, B.D.F. Commander
“From the time I know myself, when I was a cadet, this was what was done every year and they are a Christmas luncheon and it has survived the time. I’m here going for thirty years and we still do it every year. It’s a wonderful tradition that we want to continue to improve. Before, we didn’t have the prime minister. Sometimes, occasionally, we used to have the ministers of defense, but now the tradition is getting better and better. Every year it’s getting better. We’ve had here Prime Minister Briceno for the third or fourth consecutive time. It speaks volumes. At least he shows up, he dishes food to the soldiers and then he goes. But he takes from his busy agenda. We know that during Christmas everybody is committed and he comes to Price Barracks to pay his respects to the soldiers for the work that they have done every year and so do we, the senior NCOs and officers, we do that as well. A wonderful tradition and I think that it’ something worthwhile to keep.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“To me, it’s very important because of the men and women who are at the forefront, right at the front, facing whatever challenges that we may have as a country, be it with the fires, the floodings, hurricanes and storms, fighting at the border, protecting the border. And so, I think it’s the least I can do is to come and symbolically serve them some food.”
Earlier today, the Belize Defense Force celebrated the opening of a brand-new kitchen at Price Barracks. The previous facility faced closure threats from the Ministry of Health and Wellness due to hygiene issues. Commander Loria shares more about this important upgrade.
Azariel Loria
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, BDF Commander
“That kitchen is a godsend. As I mentioned in my speech, we had an old one that the Ministry of Health wanted to close down because it was so unhygienic, but with the efforts of the Ministry of National Defense, with us pushing that we needed a new kitchen, that is now a reality. It’s a state-of-the-art facility and it could accommodate up to… if we push, up to three hundred soldiers.
Reporter
“And you say it’s going to be used as a hurricane shelter as well?”
Azariel Loria
“It could withstand up to a category five hurricane. So that could be used as well, if needs be.”
The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, especially for children. However, not every child gets to join in the fun. That’s why, whenever we hear about a community event for kids, we rush to capture the magic with our mic and camera. One couple who has consistently brought joy to the children of Lake-I for the past twelve years are James and Keisha Young. Even during the tough times of the COVID pandemic, they never wavered in their mission to bring smiles to young faces. And today, despite the rain, the party went on. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This afternoon, the Lakers Cool Spot and Mini Mart in the Lake Independence area hosted a heartwarming event for five hundred children, ranging from one to ten years old. Co-host Keisha Young shared with News Five that she and her husband, James Young, have made it their mission to keep this tradition alive, even through the challenges of the COVID pandemic. They believe every child deserves a bit of holiday magic, especially those who might not have such experiences otherwise.
Keisha Young
Keisha Young, Organizer, Lakers Christmas Party
“This is just our way of giving back in this community. You know, we do this Christmas party. This year was our first Mother’s Day party, too, where we invited over fifty moms, so it’s just giving back in the community. And, you know, it warms our hearts to see the kids out here enjoying at this time of the year that we can do something and give back.”
Young says a lot of the help came from sponsors at home and abroad.
Keisha Young
“ We have families and friends from abroad. We have Joseph and Taylor, Habet and Habet. We have Nolan and Sarita Bradley and of course we have Glenda Trapp. That’s her friend from the States. She does like Barbeques and stuff like that to help us with getting the toys that we have out here to give away.”
One of the kind souls behind this event is Glenda Trapp. Every year, she travels all the way from Los Angeles to ensure her contributions make a difference. Glenda gathers donations and toys from her church community in LA, and today, she was right there, personally handing out the gifts to the children. Her dedication truly brings the spirit of giving to life.
Glenda Trapp
Glenda Trapp, Co-sponsor, Lakers Christmas Party
“I love children and I love Mr. and Mrs.Young and I love what they do for the community. So it takes a village to make it happen.”
Marion Ali
“And so every year you put up, money, toys, what is it?”
Glenda Trapp
“Whatever is needed, we do it.”
Damani Gonzalez told us he was enjoying himself at the event, while Kaylei Dougal has somewhat outgrown her children’s party days and is now a volunteer at the event.
Damani Gonzalez
Damani Gonzalez, Attendee, Lakers Children’s Party
“I deh ya I think since I was two, I’ve been here at this Christmas party.”
Marion Ali
“How old are you now?”
Damani Gonzalez
“I’m twelve, right now. Yeah. I deh ya every year and I happy. It’s fun, and most of the time over deh you get snacks, so I like it. And I mi just want seh Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to all ah unu.”
Kaylei Dougal
Kaylei Dougal, Volunteer, Lakers’ Christmas Party
“I’ve been doing this since I was a young age and I’m so happy that my aunt gets to do this every year. It’s so good to see the little kids be so happy and to see that some of them don’t have enough money to get gifts every year. It’s just so great to see them.”
Among the joyful faces at the event were Kayla Escobar and her daughter, Tyronnee Young. They were joined by Stacey Moody and her daughter, Tamisha Castillo, both soaking in the festive atmosphere and making cherished memories together.
Kayla Escobar
Kayla Escobar, Mother
“I decide fi bring ah because every year dehn always got good giveaways, good gifts, excitement, have fun. Da wa time to always remember and never forget them.”
Stacey Moody
Stacey Moody, Mother
“I used to live over there, but for the past three years, I am the cook for the Lakers Christmas Party. Well, everybody like the food and I know you will try it, so you’ll enjoy it, too.”
Marion Ali
“Yeah, it seems to be a very fun thing. I see a lot of the parents smiling, not only the kids.”
Stacey Moody
“Yes, man. I mean, when there is love, good people, you know, the children enjoy the gifts, good food, it’s a reason to look forward to Christmas.”
Keisha Young believes that events like these have a lasting effect on children, so it’s important to afford them the opportunity.
Keisha Young
“I grew up knowing what it was like to go to a Salvation Army party so that I’m blessed to be in the position to do for these kids, it’s truly a blessing to be able to give back.”
The spirit of spreading Christmas cheer was in the air today as the Belize Police Department filed right in line with Lakers today in giving to the kids. This afternoon, the Swift Hall in Belize City was the venue of treats, snacks and gifts. Assistant Commissioner, Howell Gillett said that the effort is duplicated in each municipality, but that today in Belize City alone, a hundred kids received gifts. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
A hundred more Belize City children were at another event receiving treats and gifts today. The Belize Police Department spearheaded the event, with sponsorship from the British High Commission and the Taiwanese Embassy. A.C.P., Howell Gillett heads the National Community Policing Unit. He says that in order to pull off today’s event, community policing officers had to venture out into the community and select the children that were in attendance.
Howell Gillett
A.C.P Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community Policing Unit
“Many of them would not have gotten a gift otherwise. So, it’s so important for us to show them from a very early age that law enforcement is not only about making an arrest. We want to show them there’s no need to fear the police. The police are your friends. The more young people we work with at this early stage, that will transcend into less criminals in the future, less gang members.”
Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, Lily Li-Wen Hsu and Acting British High Commissioner to Belize, Christine Rowlands had common perspectives on the importance of being a part of these kinds of social events.
Lily Li-Wen Hsu
Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize
“We just play our very small part, provide some financial support to the Belize Police Department for them to continue this annual event – very meaningful one.”
Christine Rowlands
Christine Rowlands, Acting British High Commissioner to Belize
“We think it’s really important to support the youth of Belize and to give a little back to the community over the festive season. So we’re very proud to be part of it. We donated some money to purchase gifts. We didn’t actually go and do the shopping ourselves. We were a tiny, tiny little team. So, the Assistant Police Commissioner kindly did that on our behalf.”
A.C.P Gillett says that gifts will be distributed by the police in all six municipalities. Marion Ali for News Five.
Even though the ban on gillnet use has been in place for a few years, some people are still using this illegal fishing method. Gillnets are notorious for their indiscriminate capture of marine life, trapping and killing everything in their path. Fishermen often throw the dead animals back into the sea. Coast Guard Commandant, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, explained that seamen must constantly patrol the waters to catch gillnet users. Recently, they’ve confiscated gillnets in Belize City, Gales Point, and Monkey River.
“We are actively always on the lookout for Gillnets, and we have recovered quite a few over the past few months. We have, we have recovered nets from in Belize City. As far as Hunting Key, indeed, but they’re, they’re pretty much all around. So it’s not only an issue of cross border illegal fishing. Wherever our own Belizean fisherfolks are, we are still having this illicit practice of using gillnets. We quite often receive reports of gillnets in the Monkey River area, and also in the Gales Point area. So it’s something that we’re always on the lookout for.”
Earlier this year, the Belize Coast Guard aimed to boost its capabilities by trying to buy two patrol boats worth eight million US dollars. These Sea Axe Class vessels are much larger than the Boston Whalers they currently use. Commandant Rear Admiral Elton Bennett mentioned that they had been in discussions to acquire the boats, but the ones shown by the boatbuilder didn’t meet their needs. As a result, the Coast Guard will be looking for other options.
“We had a tenure earlier this year. We decided not to accept any of the submissions that were made. They did not meet our criteria, so we went back to the drawing table and we’re going to re-tender to try to get the best that we can. So, we will be sending out a tender again for that. This is a eight U.S. million-dollar tender and the submission that were made from the shipyards did not satisfy our needs, therefore we decided not to accept any of them.”
Today, the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association (BWSFA) launched an exciting new mariculture project called “Empowering BWSFA: Strengthening Sustainable Seaweed Mariculture through Capacity Building, Marketing, and Innovation.” This project aims to provide environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive solutions for Belize’s blue economy, which has been hit hard by overfishing, unsustainable practices, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The project has received around $100,000 from the UK Government’s Sustainable Blue Economies Program Blue Social Challenge Fund. BWSFA President Jalima Gold explained that this initiative will help grow Belize’s mariculture sector through training, farm expansions, and community involvement. Here’s more on this transformative project.
Jalima Gold
Jalima Gold, President, BWSFA
“Our goal is to create high quality seaweed products while preserving Belize’s marine environment and supporting our communities by focusing on the framework of the seaweed mariculture industry here in Belize. We currently cultivate two key types of seaweed one is Ecoma isophorum and the other is Capificus albaresi, and these are cultivated using eco friendly practices that protect our waters and bost marine life in the surrounding areas. Beyond just farming seaweed, we are empowering our members to turn this seaweed into valuable products like cosmetics and nutritious food items. As an association, we are promoting sustainable economic growth, marine conservation, climate resilience, and gender equality. All major sustainable development goals for the country of Belize. Our work helps reduce overfishing, provide habitats for marine life, and create opportunities for women and youth in coastal communities. Community impact goes beyond just income. As a women led organization, BWSFA not only creates jobs, but it also empowers women and youth to lead by breaking gender barriers in our community. We build capacity, we provide support in value adding, in farming, and marketing of small businesses within our community. Our methods contribute to a healthier marine ecosystem and more biodiversity, which is a benefit to Belize as a whole, our whole community, and the world at large. Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association deserves this award because we are doing much more than just growing seaweed. We are growing the future of the blue economy here in Belize. Our model proves that the environmental responsibility and economic opportunity can go hand in hand. We’re here as an association to create real lasting change for Belize’s waters, our communities, and the people of our country.”
On Tuesday, we shared the exciting news about a new water system in Guinea Grass Village. Continuing the government’s mission to provide clean, potable water to all Belizeans, the Ministry of Rural Transformation and its partners have now unveiled a new water system in Chunox, Corozal. Before this, the village relied on a single, unfiltered pump for their water needs. Now, with this state-of-the-art system, residents will enjoy 24/7 access to clean water. Clean water is essential for health and well-being, and this new system is a significant step forward. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Residents of Chunox Village are overjoyed as they celebrate the arrival of a newly renovated water system. This marks a new era where clean, safe water is no longer a luxury but a guaranteed necessity in every household. Deputy Village Chairman, Eliomar Santiya, praised this significant development, highlighting its importance for the community’s health and well-being.
Eliomar Santoya
Eliomar Santoya, Deputy Chairman, Chunox Village
“For years, our community has been faced tremendous challenges in our water supplies. Under previous administration, under thirteen years of unsafe, unreliable, and inadequate water for our daily needs. This hardship has deeply affected our Chunoxeños, young and old, everyone in our community. Today, with a breath of sight of relief. As our community has a success and access to purified and safe drinking water, this project ensures better, Help for all families in our community, strengthen the foundation of our community and guarantee brighter future for our children.”
The project kicked off in April 2023, with a budget of nine hundred thousand US dollars. The CARICOM Development Fund provided the funding, and over half a million dollars went into buying and installing the reverse osmosis system. Carlos Tun, the Executive Director of the Belize Social Investment Fund, shares more about this important development.
Carlos Tun
Carlos Tun, Executive Director, B.S.F.
“ The project’s goal was clear, to provide a safe and reliable water supply for domestic and productive purposes. Earlier this year, we celebrated the San Antonio water system. Tomorrow, we will mark the achievement in Georgeville. But today, it’s about this village and the transformative water system we are inaugurating right here. In Chunox, the scope of work carried out included, One, the installation of water measuring and control devices. The installation of new pumping system and chlorinators upgrades to the electrical systems and most significantly the installation of a reverse osmosis water purification system. Now, many of us here have had the opportunity to drink this water and let me say it is good drinking water, clean, safe and refreshing.”
According to Corozal Southeast Area Representative, Florencio Marin Jr, the water system is just one of many investments made for the betterment of the community.
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr., Area Rep., Corozal Southeast
“Chunox is the most heavily invested village in Corozal Southeast. Chunox got the NHI system that has significantly improved healthcare in this village and the surrounding areas. Chunox now have free education at St. Viator. Thanks to these people of the United Party Government. And, now, Chunox has the most modern water system in the country. And perhaps the cleanest, most healthy water for the country that I believe. I’m very proud to be the area rep. I’m grateful to the Ministry of Rural Transformation.”
In mid-September, Belize Defence Force officers Ermil Coh and Claudio Quiroz arrived in Haiti to support a critical multinational security mission aimed at restoring order and paving the way for free and fair elections.
The senior officers departed Belize on September 7 and landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport as part of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699. The resolution enables CARICOM countries to collaborate on stabilising Haiti, where escalating gang violence has hindered the country’s ability to hold elections.
Coh and Quiroz joined an initial CARICOM contingent that included 20 soldiers and four police officers.
Two BDF officers have already been deployed as part of an advance team, working with the Jamaica-led Hurricane Joint Task Force. Their objective is to ensure that everything is in place for a potential larger deployment of forces from both Belize and Jamaica, should the need arise.
Commander of the B.D.F., Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, confirmed that while no set date has been confirmed for the larger deployment, Loria stated that it could happen at any time. “It could be tomorrow, it could be January, it could be February,” he noted, adding that the decision will be made in consultation with the Ministry of National Defence and the Cabinet.
“These two officers are serving as staff officers, gathering information on the situation on the ground and sending it back to us,” Loria explained. “Based on their reports, and once we receive the necessary kit and equipment, we will deploy the rest of our soldiers. But we will not deploy until conditions are favourable.”
He also responded to concerns about the allowance package for deployed soldiers, which had sparked complaints among some ranks. Brig. Gen. Loria contrasted the current allowance package with what soldiers received during his earlier missions. “It’s a platoon of us that deployed back in ’94. And then we had rotations. All that we were provided in terms of allowance per diem was five dollars a day. Five US dollars a day to deploy in a hostile situation. And we deployed under Chapter 7 of the U.N. operation. So, we were allowed to use our weapons, deadly force, as the case may be. Five dollars. We did it. I did it because I wanted experience. The soldiers wanted experience. And we did it from the heart, from the willingness to serve, from the heart. From the willingness to serve, going there to Haiti and trying to make a difference. Now, the allowances that will be provided to the soldiers, the 30 or so soldiers that will be deploying, they are going to get 50 US dollars a day plus the allowances that you have. 50 U.S. dollars a day, plus what you have mentioned about the risk and hardship allowance, in addition to the fifty. So you can do the math.”
Haiti’s government, weakened by political infighting, has been unable to rein in the escalating power of armed gangs in and around the capital. These groups have been accused of carrying out indiscriminate killings, gang rapes, and ransom kidnappings while also exacerbating food shortages across affected communities.
Prime Minister John Briceño has described the recently introduced “No GST Weekend” as a success on multiple fronts. He said that this had economic benefits for Belizean shoppers and its unexpected advantages for the Belize Tax Service Department (BTSD).
Briceño said that while the initiative was primarily intended to offer financial relief to Belizeans during the holiday season, it also exposed irregularities in how some businesses report their GST collections.
“I think that this free GST weekend has had some other unexpected, I’m trying to find the right word, win for the Belize Tax Department,” Briceño explained. “It allowed them to see who are the ones that are questionable, what is it that they’re doing with their reporting of the GST. I know some stores they closed down, they didn’t want to participate, and you need to ask why. Or some of them coming up with some sort of excuse, or it’s already in the price, but yet they do not discount it in the invoices.”
The Prime Minister said the observations made during the weekend have prompted the BTSD to plan follow-up actions. “So what that has done is that has alerted the BTAs that we need to go and visit these businesses to see how they’re managing their operations. Probably do some audits to see if they are, what they’re collecting is being reported back, if they’re collecting it the right way. Not that we see them doing anything wrong, but it makes us question,” he said.
Beyond tax compliance, Briceño stressed the positive impact of the initiative on Belizean consumers. “Our citizens were excited because they felt like they were getting a discount,” he said. “That extra money gave them more spending power, allowing them to have a better Christmas.”
Briceño acknowledged that some hiccups occurred, but he expressed confidence that subsequent GST-free weekends would run more smoothly. He hinted that the initiative could become a recurring feature of the holiday season.
