Farmers in the Corozal District are on high alert as the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) has issued a critical warning about a rapidly spreading fungal infection. This infection, known as fusarium, has been wreaking havoc on sugar cane crops for the past month, causing widespread wilting and yellowing. The situation is dire, with the infection already affecting approximately three-fourths of the district’s crops. The rise in temperatures has created an ideal environment for the proliferation of these harmful pathogens, exacerbating the spread of the disease. Marvin Garcia, Research Extension Officer at SIRDI, provided further insights into the crisis. He emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further spread. Farmers are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their crops from this devastating infection.
Marvin Garcia
Marvin Garcia, Research Extension Officer, SIRDI
“It is through something that creates an opening to the plant can be environmental or can be true best creates an opening and then the fusarium gets in the plant and infect the plant. We have had a long drought season, and I think this is one of the main reasons we have this problem. The soil starts to crack whenever it cracks. It destroys the roots underneath and it creates openings for the plant. Once the plant is weak, the fusarium will infect also, we have stem worm and we have sugar cane weevils that bore through the stem of the cane create openings and the fusaium also goes in there. And also also you were asking if the fusarium will affect humans if we consume it. No, it’ll not. What we’ll do to cane, If it is severe, it depending on the variety of the cane. We have different varieties. Some of them, yes, it can destroy completely and some can be tolerant to it. And that we’re working on it and seeing which varieties are more tolerant. What we have seen in the variety that is more than sixty percent of the sugar industry is B79, 474. It is susceptible. To this fusarium, and we have seen even some areas with the mortality of this, this variety with the fusarium.”
Farmers are advised to clean all fire lines and equipment thoroughly and to avoid using potentially contaminated seeds.
Belize, a paradise for bird lovers, boasts over six hundred native bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers. This vibrant avian diversity has made birdwatching a beloved activity among enthusiasts. However, a recurring issue has been noted by these keen observers: many artworks and images across the country feature bird species that aren’t native to Belize. To delve deeper into this trend, we spoke with several passionate birdwatchers. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more on this intriguing story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Birds are an omnipresent symbol in Belize, gracing our buildings, clothing, and even our currency. They have become an integral part of the country’s iconic branding. However, there’s a troubling discrepancy. Despite their widespread depiction, many of these birds are not native to Belize. Avid birdwatcher Rudy Burgos has voiced his concerns about this issue. Here’s more on his perspective.
Rudy Burgos
Rudy Burgos, Bird Watcher
“People want to use bird images in their advertising, whether it is t-shirts for national celebrations, or they put murals on the walls. For example, the education department put a mural on a wall with a bird or any or national monuments, like real bridges and arc and like that. And sometimes they just go to the internet and do a search. And they based on whatever image they find, which is really shameful because sometimes they come up with strange things that you would find.”
The keel-billed toucan is Belize’s national bird. During September celebrations, imagery depicting the animal appeared all over the country, including the Belize City annual independence mural on the wall of the Roger’s Stadium. This painting is true to the likeness of the bird. However, the same cannot be said for other paintings previously commissioned by the Ministry of Education on the side of school buildings.
Rudy Brugos
“Or they say, this is national bird, which is not. And it goes over and over again. A good example would be some years ago, they started repeating schools all over the country and they put the national symbols, national animals. Okay. and they use a wrong token. That is shameful. Imagine an education department that does not know their national animal so to speak.”
Nearly seventy percent of Belize’s overnight visitors touch down at the Philip Goldson International Airport, where they are welcomed by a striking arch adorned with vibrant macaws. Ironically, these colorful birds are a rare sight for guests during their stay in Belize. This curious mismatch between expectation and reality has not gone unnoticed.
Rudy Burgos
“We only have one type of macaw. We have ten species of parrots. One is a macaw, which is a scarlet macaw. Scarlet means red. You’ll see these macaws, they are not red. So it’s easy to see. They’re not Belizean.”
Spotting non-native bird species in Belize is not unheard of, as many birds migrate to warmer climates during the colder seasons of their native habitats. Earlier this week, an injured Caribbean Flamingo was discovered on the outskirts of Belize City, far from its usual home in Mexico. Despite the valiant efforts of the Belize Bird Rescue and the Animal Medical Center, the flamingo sadly succumbed to its injuries. Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer at the Belize Audubon Society, acknowledges the challenge of keeping track of which birds are native to Belize.
Miguel Sho
Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer, BAS
“In Belize you can find over six hundred species of birds, but that both includes the migratory species and the resident species. For the resident species It is, birds that are, that can be found all year round in Belize and getting to identify those birds can be a bit tricky.”
Sho explains that a simple way to ensure that the birds being depicted are accurate to Belize’s diverse environment, is to simply check.
Miguel Sho
“One way that you can get the correct identification of these birds is, by referring to the guides. We have the Birds of Belize guide by by Lee Jones. And there’s some other new editions of books by other authors as well. And those can be very helpful when it comes to identifying birds that are native to Belize.”
By educating Belizeans about what animals are native to the country, visitors will also become more informed about what the country has to offer and what they can expect from their stay. While it might seem like a minor issue to many, for those who cherish and seek to represent the true beauty of their country, it is something they simply cannot ignore. The accurate depiction of Belize’s natural splendor is a matter of pride and authenticity for them. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The Belize Audubon Society is calling all birders to flock together for the fourth annual birding festival! This exciting event offers bird enthusiasts a chance to connect, exchange knowledge about Belize’s diverse bird species, and learn about conservation efforts. This year’s festival will take place on October fifth in Spanish Lookout. Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer at the Belize Audubon Society, shares more details on what attendees can expect.
Miguel Sho
Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer, BAS
“The Belize Birding Festival is a huge event that is, it’s the fourth annual event in Belize itself. And it’s very huge that a lot of birders nature lovers can get together, build network and meet people and also get to learn about, conservation in Belize and how, a bird is contributing to tourism in Belize as well. So the entrance fee for the event is thirty-five Belize per person, and that is at the door. You can also register, we have a website that you can register on, which is the belizebirdingfestival.org. But, the price is the same on the website and at the door. So thirty-five and five for kids. And it’s an entire day event. So it’s, there’s a lot of activities. There’s some workshops that is very useful for persons who are interested in learning birds. And we also collect data on a bird species that we haven’t believed. There’s also a workshop that is being done on how these data are used when it comes to conservation and tourism.”
The former Mayor of Belmopan, Sheran “Sharon” Palacio is defending her Innovabel Land Distribution program in the Innovabel Estate. She stated, “I was glad to help ordinary Belizeans who would never have had the opportunity to acquire land.”
Criticising the current administration for attempting to undermine her legacy, she stated, “I am not surprised that the current Mayor and his cohorts are investing time and energy trying to erase my contributions.” She emphasised the need for land among the impoverished, asserting, “Poor people need land too.”
Addressing allegations of personal gain, she stated, “Let it be known that past Mayor Sheran Palacio has not gained a single copper from any land allocated to any of the current owners.”
Palacio highlighted that many city council workers, some employed since 2000, finally became first-time landowners through her program. “Their sweat, blood, and tears finally paid off when they were empowered to become first-time land (lot) owners,” she declared.
Palacio’s statements follow Mayor Pablo Cawich’s investigation into questionable land sales at the Innovabel Estate, where parcels were sold for up to 95% below appraised values. A leaked document lists 43 parcels, including sales to Palacio’s family for as little as $100. Cawich revealed that this resulted in an estimated $2 million revenue loss.
Kahlil H. Enriquez has responded to allegations concerning a leaked Belmopan City Council document that revealed individuals who purchased land in the Innovabel Estate at below-market prices. In his statement, Enriquez denied any wrongdoing, clarifying that he paid $15,000 for his parcel—down from an original price of $20,000—as a first-time landowner. He said that his initial $1,500 payment was part of a structured plan, not the total amount.
“While my name shows by far the highest payment among all on the list, media reports suggest that I might be involved in that scandal. I wish to disassociate myself from any implication of wrongdoing,” Enriquez stated. He added, “I did not negotiate a discount, nor did I perceive the offer as an illicit deal.”
Enriquez learnt from the new city administrator about the land’s undervaluation and adjusted his payment schedule accordingly.
“I remain committed to fulfilling my full payment obligations,” he said. “I want to make it unequivocally clear, therefore, that I did not participate, receive any title, nor have any desire to participate in any ‘land grab,’ hustle, or illegitimate transaction,” Enriquez asserted. “As a Belizean youth, I just want to legitimately own my first plot of land in our jewel.”
These statements follow an investigation by Mayor Pablo Cawich into former Mayor Sharon Palacio’s questionable land sales, where parcels sold for up to 95% below their appraised values. A leaked document lists prices for 43 parcels, revealing significant undervaluations, including sales to Palacio’s family members for as little as $100.
Mayor Cawich noted that the council received only $100,000 from these transactions, resulting in an estimated $2 million loss in revenue. He described some documentation as “fraudulent” and emphasised the need for ethical responsibility among landowners.
Punta Gorda Town Administrator Frank Tyndall has been sent home by Mayor Carlos Obeah Galvez. Reports indicate the escalating tensions stem from financial control within the council.
According to reports, Tyndall’s dismissal stemmed from accusations of being “unprofessional and insubordinate.” We are told that Tyndall is considering legal action. His replacement has not been named.
The Appeals Court in Belize has ruled that British soldier Perry Stratford must face criminal charges for allegedly assaulting and abducting his wife-to-be, Gabriela Vanutterbeeck, on Christmas Eve in December 2022.
In December 2023, Supreme Court Judge Ricardo Sandcroft ruled that Stratford could not be tried in Belize. His reason was that the local justice system had no jurisdiction over him due to his military status.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed Sandcroft’s decision, arguing that the treaty does not apply in this case since Stratford was not attached to the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) at the time of the incident. The appeals court agreed.
Stratford is currently outside Belize and is not expected to return to face the charges.
Claudia Sheinbaum has officially taken office as Mexico’s first female president during an inauguration ceremony in the Chamber of Deputies in Mexico. Sheinbaum was warmly welcomed by supporters chanting “Presidenta!”
Sheinbaum received the presidential sash from Ifigenia Martinez, the 94-year-old president of the chamber. In her inaugural address, Sheinbaum celebrated the contributions of women throughout history.
As the former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum secured nearly 60 percent of the vote in June 2024. She succeeds Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who served as president from 2018 to 2024.
The Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceño, attended the ceremony and congratulated Sheinbaum on Facebook. “A historically significant inauguration for Mexico… H. E. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo officially took office today as Mexico’s first female president,” Briceño said, adding, “We look forward to a continued friendly, positively productive relationship with our northern neighbour.”
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) fired off a press release this morning, saying that more than 130 teachers have not received their September salary. “Many of our teachers were upset to find their hard-earned monthly compensation, which was to be paid in full late last week, was not deposited to their accounts,” the statement said.
The BNTU says that this issue has become an unfortunate and familiar problem, despite the Union’s efforts to raise concerns well in advance. According to the BNTU, some of the affected teachers have not been paid for four to five months. It says that these names have been shared with Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora and her team since July.
“We can report, however, that we have been able to reach Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Cordel Hyde, who has immediately stepped in to ensure that this matter is seriously addressed and that our teachers are paid by Friday of this week.”
The vice presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz in New York City proved to be a fierce showdown.
A CBS News poll immediately after the debate revealed a nail-biting contest. According to the poll, 42% of voters declared Vance the winner, while 41% leaned toward Walz, leaving 17% calling it a tie.
The debate touched on key issues like the economy and Middle Eastern conflicts. Walz excelled in health care and abortion, while Vance was stronger on immigration. Both candidates saw a slight uptick in favorability post-debate.
The poll revealed that some felt Vance focused more on attacking Walz’s running mate than promoting his own positions. While Walz clarified his views effectively.
Walz, who started off shaky, gained confidence discussing sensitive topics like abortion and the Capitol riot. Vance defended Donald Trump’s presidency but faced tension when dodging questions about the 2020 election, which Walz labelled a “damning non-answer.”
