2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Op-ed: It’s Time To Make The “Right To Healthy, Nutritious, And Affordable Food” A Reality.

By Dr. QU Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

This year the theme for World Food Day is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future.” It’s a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate food.

But how do we get from a right to a reality? And why is it so important to think about not just having sufficient food but also the diversity of diets? That’s why I speak of “foods” in the plural, emphasising this diversity as well as food availability, food accessibility, and food affordability for all.

Right now, the world’s farmers produce more than enough food to feed the global population in terms of calories. Yet around 730 million people are facing hunger due to man-made and natural disasters, including conflict, recurrent weather shocks, inequalities, and economic downturns.

Billions lack healthy diets.

Another harsh reality is that over 2.8 billion people in the world are unable to afford a healthy diet, which is a leading cause of all forms of malnutrition.

Simply put, almost one-third of the global population today is not getting the nutrients and micronutrients they need to thrive and, in some cases, survive. This means that the quality of life for roughly half the world is more urgently in need of improvement.

We need a greater diversity of nutritious and affordable foods to be available in our fields, fishing nets, markets, and on our tables for the benefit of all. This is not just about populations’ nutritional requirements but also about ensuring that our agrifood systems are efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable so that they can be respectful of traditional food cultures and healthy diets based on science and in line with personal preferences.

Another crucial consideration is the long-term health and sustainability of the environment on which we rely to produce these foods and which needs biodiversity to thrive.

The right to foods will not in itself fill stomachs or put more diverse diets on plates. But it does help frame our collective aspirations for the kind of just and equitable world we want to live in. It creates concrete obligations for governments and key partners to fulfil, and it should encourage all of us to do our part to ensure it is realised.

This is the reason for action. Now.

FAO’s role

At the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), we are working hard to turn this right into a reality, even in the face of a range of challenges. In conflict zones, access to foods is being disrupted, leading to malnutrition and hunger. In these and other hunger hotspots, FAO’s efforts are focused on rebuilding agricultural infrastructure to ensure food availability and accessibility for long-term food security, with all tools and channels.

Aside from such emergency interventions, key FAO programs such as the Hand in Hand initiative, One Country, One Priority Product, Blue Economy, and Technical Cooperation Programmes (TCPs) also target medium- to long-term food security and nutrition across a wide range of countries.

In many places, dietary changes and market concentration driven by globalisation have led to increased health issues, including obesity and diabetes. School feeding programs supported by FAO play an important role in helping address these challenges, as they source food from local farmers and ensure children receive nutritious meals.

In many countries, across all regions, FAO is working with fishing communities and local governments to expand social protection and economic inclusion of the most vulnerable by helping them diversify their production, build alternative income sources, and connect to new markets.

Inflation, particularly during periods of economic instability, can make food unaffordable. In some African countries, for example, FAO’s initiatives include cash transfers to the poorest households, helping them afford food during hyperinflation.

The climate crisis poses a significant threat to global food security. Erratic weather patterns and natural disasters can devastate crops and livestock. For example, in some countries in Asia, FAO has introduced climate-smart agriculture techniques to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions, ensuring consistent food production.

Furthermore, by working closely with governments, FAO helps develop legal frameworks and has assisted in draughting national policies towards ensuring food security and nutrition for all.

Collective action needed

But it’s not just governments that we call upon to engage in this battle. Collective action can drive substantial change with global collaboration from all sectors and all partners—governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and individuals.

And especially the youth—because a food-secure future is their right. They design and decide the future. All calls from the UN Summit of the Future are determined by their actions.

Farmers can make a difference by practicing sustainable agriculture that enhances biodiversity and manages natural resources responsibly. Businesses can make nutritious and diverse foods available more affordably. Academia and civil society can hold governments accountable by collecting data, identifying areas for improvement, implementing scientific solutions, and measuring progress towards targets.

Science and innovation, including IT, biotechnology, AI, digital agriculture, and others, will be a decisive force for agrifood systems transformation.

Finally, all of us as consumers can and should play our role in reducing the “food footprint,” practicin healthy lifestyles, raising our voices to influence decision-making, reducing food waste, and promoting food diversity.

This World Food Day, let us renew our commitment to build more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable agrifood systems that honour everyone’s right to varied and nutritious foods.

Together, we can get back on track to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—our collective pledge to take action for people, planet, and prosperity. We can accomplish this by transforming global agrifood systems to ensure the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life—leaving no one behind.

Our actions are our future.

Belize National Youth Awards 2024, Nomination Still Open

The Belize National Youth Awards 2024 is an exciting opportunity to recognise the achievements and contributions of young Belizeans aged 14 to 29 who are making a difference in their communities. The awards, organised by the Department of Youth Services, is calling for nominations until November 2nd.

Award categories include:

Youth Minister’s for Youth Leadership and Advocacy Award
Strength through Adversity Award (Unattached Youth)
Athletic Excellence Award (Male and Female)
Youth with Disability Award
Innovation through Technology Award (Individual/Group)
Outstanding Young Musician Award
Outstanding Youth in Visual Arts Award
Social Media Influencer Award
Youth in Agriculture Award
Academic Excellence Award
Youth in Entrepreneurship Award
Environmental Steward Award (Individual/Group)
Youth Club/Group of the Year Award

To nominate a deserving young individual or group, click the link for the online form: Nomination Form.

Taiwan Space Agency Fights Banana Disease with Satellite Technology

Experts from the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) are deploying advanced satellite technology to combat the destructive Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) fungus threatening banana and plantains crops in Guatemala and Belize. At the recent 2024 International Forum on Applied Technology held in Musacae, Guatemala, TASA showcased their innovative use of satellite remote sensing to monitor this disease.

Central America is the world’s leading banana exporter, with Guatemala contributing 10.8% of global exports and Belize’s banana sector accounting for 20% of its agricultural output. Fusarium TR4 poses a severe threat, risking up to 100% yield loss on infected farms.

Chang Li-yu, Deputy Director of TASA’s Satellite Data Group, explained that the FORMOSAT-5 satellite measures how plants reflect near-infrared light to assess their health and growth. According to Chang, after three years of operation in Guatemala and Belize, the project has successfully managed the spread of Fusarium TR4 and set a new standard for satellite analysis in the fight against banana diseases and pests.

Man Charged After Fatal Altercation in San Narciso

Manslaughter charges have been formally filed against 34-year-old Oscar Patt in connection with the death of 41-year-old Nelson Claros. Both men are from San Narciso Village, Corozal District.

According to reports, Patt, his wife, and daughter were waiting for a bus in San Narciso Village when Claros reportedly approached and began harassing them, allegedly threatening Patt’s two-year-old daughter. The altercation, which occurred on August 12, resulted in Claros sustaining critical injuries. Patt was arrested on October 16.

Following the incident, Claros was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 22.

Belizeans Attempt to Save Fallen Child in South Creek Canal

On Tuesday, we reported on the rescue mission at the corner of Fairweather Street and South Creek Street, where a child had fallen into the canal. Tragically, later that evening, volunteers and the Belize Coast Guard recovered the lifeless body of six-year-old King Wade from the water. Today, we spoke with some of the brave volunteers who risked their lives trying to save him, as well as the grieving family. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It takes just about twenty seconds for a child to drown. Tragically, six-year-old King Shakel Wade was in the water for nearly three hours before his body was found in the canal on South Creek Street. What started as a fun afternoon with his three siblings turned into a nightmare when King fell into the water around three p.m. His babysitter, Jennifer Fitzgibbon, who has cared for him since he was a baby, shared with us the heart-wrenching moment she realized something was terribly wrong.

Voice of: Jennifer Fitzgibbon, Babysitter of Deceased

“So I deh upstairs di tend to the baby when I hear his sister come and ask me, where is King? So I tell her, King deh out there pan the refridge. So she gone out there, when she gone out there, she said, King no deh out there. So we start look for ah, I start holler for ah. We noh hear ah, so I come back here ya, and when she come back here, my lee grandson tell her, he say, King there in the kinnel. So she laugh, so I tell her not laugh, I say, cause that could be serious. So we gone, di look round and look round, we got all about we know he could ah mi deh. And we come back, so when we come back I tell she, I she go go check in inna di the kinnel one more time see if you see he slippers. And when I hear she bawl out when I call, I see the two slippers in the kinnel.”

That afternoon, Fitzgibbon had left King sitting on a refrigerator at the back of her yard, away from the canal with strict instructions to keep still, while she tended to the younger children. The moment she realized what had transpired, the search was on. Arenel Smith was the first person to jump into the water.

Arenel Smith, Rescue Volunteer

“First thing, come to my head, da king dat. We always de pan front of the alley and usually lot of people deh front of the alley. I think di chill and thing. But. I don’t really know what gone on there. But that just hurt me when I hear, King deh da water. First thing gone to my head, go home, take off the clothes we yo got on, no hesitation, and jump in the water. Don’t worry about where de down deh, or weh de in deh, just jump da water and try to save the young boy. First time di circle round, I had a circle round, I noh di find nothing. But I still noh di give up hope.”

Smith mentioned that the police and coastguards were already at the scene. Some witnesses criticized the coastguards for hesitating to jump into the water. However, Petty Officer Noel Avila explained that during a rescue mission, officers must first conduct a risk assessment to decide the safest and most effective course of action.

Noel Avila, Petty Officer, Belize Coast Guard

“Upon arriving to the scene there was a bunch of people. Videoing, poking with stick in the water. I went, I did my assessment. The chief talked to the police officer in charge on the scene. He gave us a brief description of what have occurred. The child went in the water around three o’clock. They had not surfaced. He mentioned that a crocodile was in the water. At that time, my parental instinct kicked in, and I told the chief, I’m going in the water. Knowing the debris and all the stuff that’s in the water, I still went in.”

After about twenty minutes of diving, the body was retrieved by Egbert Myers, a cousin of King, who lives nearby.

Egbert Myers, Rescue Volunteer

“When we go there, we meet police, everybody. Di look for the baby. But they can’t find ah. Til inna di night. When I see everybody start jumping in the water, then I say, just mek I go. As I jump da water, I feel, when I gone da bottom, I feel the foot.”

Reporter

“What was going through your head when you felt the foot?”

Egbert Myers

“It mi ruff. I neem mi want go pick up ah. But I mi have to because da mi lee cousin.”

King’s death deals a heavy blow to his family members as it falls on the birthday of his late father, Shakeem Humes.

Egbert Myers

“It’s rough mami. Da just life, tho. We have to do it. Cuz he pa noh de ya, but he mi wa do the same thing.”

King was a lively and energetic child, cherished by everyone in the community. His aunt, Sharon Wade, shared that the grief extends beyond just the family; the entire community is mourning his loss.

Sharon Wade, Aunt of Deceased

“He was jovial, very sweet. Everybody that knew King knew that his personality was very sweet and sour, you could tell when he’s being mischievous. You could tell when he’s very sweet. And with King being the sweet guy that he is, that outweighs the mischievousness that he does, in the time of he being mischievous, then you’ll remember. But this King, he’s just so sweet. Everybody, like the whole entire neighborhood around here because of who King is. And King da friend with big, literally big man round ya.”

Upon retrieving King’s body, the Belize Coast Guard attempted CPR, however, he was without a pulse. Lieutenant Ruperto Pinelo, Unit Commander of the Medical Department, explains how they determined that it was too late to save the child.

Lt. Ruperto Pinelo, Unit Commander, Medical Dept, B.C.G.

“People say that the child was still alive but he did had some movements but, you have to understand that the body is full of nerves and when the nerves get he also moved the muscles, but when I received the body was already in that rigor mortis, and it was very hard for me to present or to make a miracle like for, let’s say for that, but we did our best. We did our protocols, and once he arrived to the KHMH, it was handed over to the doctor.”

Before anyone entered the water, Steve White attempted to rescue the child with a rake. He emphasizes the need for community support to ensure the safety of children.

Steve White, Rescue Volunteer

“The community can’t run without the adults, you know. You need the adults to guide the kids out here. Because the kids are some misguided missiles, you know. They’re innocent, young and innocent. But at the same time too, they don’t got their full sense, you know. Wrong and right every time.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Mayor Wagner: Children Must be Supervised at all Times

On Tuesday, word spread quickly across Belize City that a child had fallen into the canal on South Creek. The search for the child went on for nearly three hours until his body was found shortly after three p.m. That evening, at an event in Belize City, Mayor Bernard Wagner was asked for his initial reaction to the tragic news. Here’s what he had to say.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City

“It’s unfortunate that young children is not supervised most of the times are not. And it’s a supervision issue, and we have had canals from I di I grow up. I’ve never, I think this may be one of the first incidents I’ve heard of someone falling in a canal in my entire life. Again, it’s a one off type, but we can’t lose fact that, listen, a child died, I believe, a child died. We as parents have to be held accountable. We have to be able to know every time where our children are. And so I just can, from the mayor’s standpoint, that parents need to know where their children are at every given moment in time.”

Mother and Two Children Narrowly Escaped House Fire in Dangriga Town

Two men are facing arson charges in Dangriga Town. On Tuesday night, a century-old colonial building was engulfed in flames. At the same time, a nearby wooden home also caught fire. While the colonial building was abandoned, a mother and her two children were inside the second home. The mother believes the same men who set the colonial building on fire also targeted her house, as she saw them leaving the scene. News Five headed south today to cover the story. Here’s the report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On Tuesday night, an old colonial house on Commerce Street was engulfed in flames. By morning, firefighters were still battling the lingering embers among the ashes. The building was completely destroyed. Lisa Cheng, who lives nearby, is a relative of the property owner.

Lisa Cheng, Relative of Property Owner

“I closed my business, impact Dangriga around five thirty p.m. and I noticed that across the street where the big structure would have been, there was smoke coming out from the second floor. I decided to approach my neighbor who has a little food stall in front and I told her about it. We called fire department to let them know there is smoke emitting from the building. They said they would come check it out. By six o clock the entire building was engulfed in flames.”

The structure had been abandoned for years. The owners had been working to dismantle the building, because it was known to harbor suspicious characters. When the fire started, residents saw two young men running away from the property. This has led many to suspect that the fire was no accident, but a deliberate act of arson.

Lisa Cheng

“That is our suspicion, but like I said we will leave it up to authorities. There was nothing in the building, absolutely nothing. We don’t see the reason why they would want to burn it down. We were trying to take it down. Whatever good piece of lumber or wood we were giving it to the community that they can reuse.”

Initially, there were reports that someone had died in the blaze. However, News Five has confirmed that these reports are false. The person thought to be dead is actually a woman who lives across from the colonial house with her two children. They discovered their front porch on fire before the first blaze got out of control. The woman suspects that the same individuals who set the colonial house on fire came back to target her home while she and her children were inside. She shared her story with us off camera.

Voice of: Kamila Rhaburn, Dangriga Town Resident

“I saw them leave and then I went back in my house, because the house is an abandoned building, and it is not unusual for me to see people come and leave for whatever activity was done there. I ignored it, all the signs and went back in my house to lay down. Two minutes later I smell the smoke and I came out. My house was on fire.”

Rhaburn sprang into action and secured her children, a plastic bag with a couple clothing items, and a television, before fleeing the house. Fortunately, fire personnel were able to quell the fire before it destroyed the entire structure with everything inside. The blaze from the colonial house, however, caused some damage to the roof siding of a third home.

Voice of: Kamila Rhaburn

“My two daughters are still traumatized from the ordeal. I am just happy we got our safe, you know.”

Paul Lopez

“There were initial reports suggesting that someone had passed away. Was the assumption that the person was you?”

Voice of: Kamila Rhaburn

“They assumed that it was me and my kids, because while I was in the crowd, everybody was traumatized and shocked because they thought it was me and my kids. While being in the crowd everybody, a guy came up to me and said, Ms. I heard you were in the fire, am I seeing a ghost? I said, no it is me. I was not in the fire. It is still traumatizing for me and my kids because now we are back here after all the effects and my daughter is still traumatized to even be in the house.

News Five has confirmed that surveillance footage of the two suspects has been handed over to investigators. Lisa Cheng described the blaze as the biggest fire Dangriga has ever witnessed.

Lisa Cheng

“It was one of the biggest fires Dangriga has ever witnessed. This building took up four parcels of land. It was half of a block here and we are grateful for the fire department. They reached. It was an old building, broken down, dry so it is going to light up fast. Their fast response along with B.E.L, they took off the electricity because the wires were beginning to spark and we are grateful that a fire hydrant is right next door. So, the two fire trucks came and attacked it. Lucky thing there was not any breeze because it could have been a lot worse.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

CabSec Appears at Senate Inquiry, Promptly Walks Out

This morning, the Senate Special Select Committee picked up its investigation into the hotly debated Definitive Agreement given to Portico Enterprise Limited by the Barrow administration back in October 2020. The public hearings, spearheaded by NGO Senator Janelle Chanona, have been a marathon of testimonies, with several key figures, like developer David Gegg, taking the stand. However, the inquiry has hit several roadblocks, with some witnesses not showing up and others being advised by their lawyers not to answer certain questions. Earlier today, Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie faced the committee, accompanied by Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, who also serves as the Leader of Government Business in the upper house. Here’s what went down.

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary

“Members of the committee, I am here at your invitation as Cabinet Secretary and not in my personal capacity. As this committee is aware, documents and deliberations of the Cabinet are strictly confidential and exempt from disclosure. As Cabinet Secretary, I took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of Belize, and I intend to be faithful to that oath. I have been advised that I am not at liberty to discuss any Cabinet documents or deliberations in Cabinet to this committee or otherwise. Respectfully, I am therefore not in a position to assist this committee with any evidence or documents.”

Janelle Chanona

“Colleagues, who would like to go first? [To Stuart Leslie]…You can indicate that you are declining to answer, but…”

Stuart Leslie

“I thought that was what my statement said. Yes, I decline.”

Janelle Chanona

“Yes. So it is just for you to indicate that this is the basis for you declining. We just need to get it on the record that we have asked and you have answered. Hi, good morning, Cabinet Secretary, thanks for coming. I just had a few questions, perhaps you could help me understand…”

Eamon Courtenay

“Madam Chairman, I am sorry interrupt, Senator, but I have advised…”

Janelle Chanona

“Sorry, again, morning Senator Courtenay, I know you’re here as an attorney, but again, as per protocol established by the SSSC, only the witnesses are to convey, so you can indicate that legal advice is advising you not to respond, but you would like to pose the questions.”

Eamon Courteny

“[To Stuart Leslie]… let’s go.”

Stuart Leslie

“I will not answer any questions.”

Chris Coye Walks Out of Senate Hearing, Prompting Adjournment

Next up was Senator Chris Coye, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance. He showed up with his law partner and fellow senator, Eamon Courtenay, from CourtenayCoye LLP. Skipping the formalities, Coye dove straight into a prepared statement and then made a quick exit from the hearing. As he read from his document, he started by explaining how he first found out about the Definitive Agreement.

Chris Coye, Minister of State, Finance

“I became aware of Portico Enterprises Limited and its plans for a new cruise port like almost everyone else, through the news media several years ago, when the UDP administration signed an MOU with Portico. On change of administrations, it was certainly a policy and a priority of this new government to encourage and facilitate new investment in Belize with a view to cause long term sustainable human development, particularly those investments that would bring in much needed foreign exchange and generate substantial employment. It was therefore promising to see an investment of this scale and nature being contemplated with reputable companies like Boskalis, one of the largest dredging companies in the world. This gave credibility to the Portico project. In late 2022, Portico through its attorneys, requested that Government honor the undertaking set forth in the Definitive Agreement signed in 2020 by the past UDP government to enact a law containing the various concessions as promised under the said agreement. I believe I received a copy of the Definitive Agreement in early 2023.”

Has the buzz around the Port of Magical Belize fizzled out?

Is there still any interest from Boskalis and Royal Caribbean in investing in the Port of Magical Belize after the political mess with the Definitive Agreement? Minister Coye, reading from a prepared statement, stressed that there has been zero foreign investment, no capital flow, no job creation, and no foreign exchange generated. He also highlighted that while the country has taken a hit, the only ones who seem to have benefited from this apparently failed project are the entities that sold land to Portico for the cruise terminal development.

Chris Coye, Minister of State, Finance

“As I revisit my experience over the past couple years on this matter, it is unfortunate what has transpired. Since change of government, it became reasonably clear to me that there was serious investment interest from such parties as Boskalis and Royal Caribbean, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. With the barrage of propaganda on this project and even this inquiry, it is unclear where that level of interest now stands. From a development perspective, as it relates to this project, Belize has lost. There has been no foreign investment, no capital inflow, there has been no employment generated, there has been no foreign exchange generated. There has been no economic diversification in this area. In fact, the cruise tourism product has experienced degeneration not modernization. While overnight tourism has been performing tremendously, cruise tourist arrivals continue to fall. Unless a modern cruise port is built soon, the ships and their passengers will just pass us by. While Belize has lost, there have been beneficiaries. Those who sold lands to the Portico entity enjoyed the proceeds of sale. Then there are certain foreign funded NGO’s who in fact raise money on the backs of their purported achievements for conservation while at the same time halting development opportunities to the detriment of our people. The scuttling of such a project of this nature could very well be seen as a victory for those certain special interests.”