The Portico Definitive Agreement, which was signed back in 2020 under the U.D.P. administration included a slew of fiscal incentives. Among them, the developer was exempted from paying several taxes, including business taxes, income taxes, and environmental taxes. As we know, when the Briceño administration took office, the prime minister announced that the agreement would not be pursued because it was not in the best interest of the nation. Gegg maintains that given the magnitude of the investment; the project is deserving of such exemptions. He further noted that Portico Enterprises Limited did not invent these exemptions adding that this is what is expected by investors pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into Belize.
David Gegg
David Gegg, Developer, Portico Enterprises Limited
“If this country is expected to have progress, if we expect foreign direct investments, major projects, infrastructural, agriculture, whatever it is, whoever are the developers and the company behind those projects expects to get the same kind of fiscal incentives, benefits, packages that we got. We did not invent this, companies in Belize have been getting this same kind of fiscal incentives for decades and I am sure the companies in Belize today and tomorrow will continue to get incentives and it is a must. If we don’t provide packages of fiscal incentives to investors who are prepared to put up two, three hundred million dollars they are going to take their money somewhere else. They don’t need to bring money to Belize. There are a lot of places where they can get returns, without the fight, hassle and aggravation they now have in Belize. Mr. Bennet is reminding me that the tax exemptions for Stake Bank are for twenty-five years, and it is very similar to those within our definitive agreement. Thirty years and about double the capital expenditure that Stake Bank was expecting at that time.”
Our Earth has witnessed generations coming and going. Although the lifestyles between generations vary greatly, we all face a common threat: climate change. Each generation has its own perspective on climate change and its ideas about what should be done to achieve climate justice. These ideas range from the simple change in weather patterns to more profound impacts.
I had the opportunity to interview different generations of Belizeans and foreign nationals living in Belize to gain an understanding of how climate change has impacted their lives, their understandings of climate justice, and their recommendations for fostering climate justice within the Belizean community. The meaning of climate change also varies from person to person. Some might think of climate change as merely a change in weather patterns. Others, such as Dr. Kasthuri Henry, see climate change as “the effect of the cancer known as humankind on our Earth.”
A common denominator among these generations is the threat climate change poses to different aspects of their lives. Each interviewee—a high school student, a parent and market vendor, a community empowerment advocate in their 50s, and an elderly person—all see significant changes in weather patterns and increased heat.
The rising temperatures in Belize are nothing new. Dorothy Jean Wade, a resident of Corozal, stated during her interview that over her eighty-nine years of life in Belize, she has seen how the country has become drier. She specifically noted that in the late weeks of May and early June, which she remembers as being rainy in her youth, there is now a lack of rain.
She directly links this to the decreased abundance of crops in Belize. As the daughter of a farmer, she remembers her house being filled to the ceiling with fruit. However, in recent years, she has seen trees in the surrounding villages of Corozal withering away due to lack of rain. The lack of rain and rising heat, she believes, contribute to rising crop prices. Her biggest concern is not just the heat but also the impact that the high cost of fruits and vegetables has on the younger generation. With increased prices, crops become less accessible to the public, which in turn impacts the nutrition of children in families.
Corozal Farmer’s Market Source: Corozal Live
Today’s youth have similar concerns about their future. J.W., a high school student at Sacred Heart College, expressed serious concerns about her future. Her concerns stem from the fact that she has no idea what climate justice is, which she sees as an injustice. Her understanding of climate change is the changing weather patterns that affect the Earth’s inhabitants.
As our climate is changing, so should our people and our education systems. Youths wish for more climate-related topics to be included in their curriculum. In Belize, students are among the most affected by the heat waves over the past weeks. Due to poor infrastructural design of buildings, students at Sacred Heart College are pursuing their education in classrooms that can be compared to ovens.
This has affected students’ health both physically and mentally, causing rashes, anxiety, and increased stress. Students are so focused on finding ways to cope with the heat that they cannot concentrate on their lessons. In addition, due to the unbearable heat, teachers are often forced to give free periods, which delays students’ education. Both teachers and students are frustrated by the heat, which strains student-teacher interactions.
Sacred Heart College Classrooms
J.W. is concerned about how this hindrance to their education will affect their future career opportunities. Adaptation strategies need to be implemented nationwide to ensure that students receive the education they deserve. Most importantly, she encourages students to speak up about their right to an education in a comfortable setting. We should voice our concerns and work on solutions together.
Of course, as a society, it is no single nation’s fault or one person’s duty to combat the effects of climate change on crops and education. Dr. Henry touches on the topic of taking accountability and responsibility toward the environment. We must all consider ourselves caretakers of the Earth. Dr. Henry works in rural communities, teaching children about gardening, pickling, bottling, and integrating these skills into family life. She believes in promoting a connection with nature and understanding its wealth through hands-on learning and sustainability practices.
Recycling plastic to make Christmas ornaments – an initiative with Dr. Kasthuri Henry, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management and Minister Orlando Habet’s Team.
The term “climate justice” exists because we have been using resources unjustly. To move toward a more equal society, we need to break the cycles of neglect that have been placed on our environment, with an emphasis on teaching youth, supporting teachers, and empowering creative problem solvers. Apart from showing up, we must be consistent and persevere when faced with resistance.
Emotional Intelligence – Summer Youth Leadership Camp at St. Ignatius High School
The perspectives on climate change and climate justice from various generations in Belize underscore the urgent need for collective action and education. It is evident that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a social and economic one that impacts food security, health and education. By fostering a deeper connection with nature, promoting sustainable practice and integrating climate education into our curricula we can empower the next generation to take informed and effective action. Together, we can create a more just and sustainable future for Belize and beyond.
by Anwar Wade
This story was published with the support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture of Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations.
The search continues for Alicia Jacome of La Gracia, Cayo. The elderly woman reportedly went missing on Friday afternoon while everyone was asleep.
The chairman of Buena Vista Village said, “I sent a team from Spanish Lookout with 3 drones, and they couldn’t find any leads.” It has now been four days since Jacome went missing.
The chairman has asked the Belize Defence Force for assistance. She was last seen near Clifford Sabala Farm, located in the La Gracia area, at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
One person close to the family posed on social media. “So far, the search has been going on and no sign of her. We are asking volunteers to go do a search to find the person.”
If you have any information that can help locate Jacome, you are asked to call 6336024 or the nearest police station.
One person was killed following a road traffic accident on Tuesday night in Santa Elena Town.
The victim has been identified as twenty-one-year-old Jaylen Flowers, a resident of Unitedville Village. Flowers reportedly lost control of his Meilun motorcycle near La Loma Luz Boulevard. He sustained severe head and body injuries.
Businessman Dake Yu was shot during a robbery at 61 Supermarket in San Ignacio Town.
Shots were heard in the Santiago Juan Layout area. Witnesses say that two armed men barged into the store and held Yu and employees at gunpoint. According to reports, Yu was shot once.
Thirty-three-year-old Devain Flores was charged with two counts of cruelty to a child. The Neals Penn Road resident is expected to return to court later today. Flores was charged after a video of him physically abusing a male child was posted on social media. He was initially charged with common assault.
The shocking footage shows the individual slapping, kicking, and punching the infant multiple times on two separate occasions.
The Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, addressed the viral video when he appeared on Open Your Eyes on Tuesday. He said that further measures would have been taken against the individual if the police had obtained the video before he was brought to court.
By Hivy Ortiz Chour, Better Environment Officer. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Biodiversity is essential for life on our planet. Despite the technological advances of today’s world, human beings will always depend on healthy ecosystems for water, food, medicine, clothing, fuel, shelter, and energy, among other essential elements.
Healthy ecosystems are critical for maintaining agricultural, forestry, aquaculture, livestock, and food production systems, combating climate change, reducing the risk of pandemics, and protecting livelihoods. Failure to protect biodiversity, especially when agricultural practices that ignore the natural environment are promoted, puts our well-being and future at risk.
Hivy Ortiz Chour, Better Environment Officer. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Latin America and the Caribbean.
This year’s celebration of International Biodiversity Day calls on us to “Be part of the plan” and seeks to motivate governments, indigenous peoples, local communities, NGOs, legislators, businesses, and citizens to actively collaborate in implementing the Biodiversity Plan approved at COP15, sharing their contributions and committing to the cause. Everyone has an essential role to play and can contribute to the plan’s success.
The Convention on Biological Diversity has mandated the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to integrate biodiversity use and conservation criteria into production systems. This means agricultural systems must be analyzed in an integrated manner, considering soil, water, living organisms, biological corridors, and pollinators. All of these are essential for achieving efficient production systems that generate well-being for communities.
A fisher at work in the River Tista in Panjarbhanga, Bangladesh
FAO must ensure these aspects, and the ministers of agriculture at the last Regional Conference, the main governing body of the Organization in Latin America and the Caribbean, stressed the importance of promoting more sustainable and resilient agriculture.
This issue will undoubtedly be central to the COP16 on Biodiversity, which will begin on October 21 in Cali, Colombia. At the event, the 196 participating countries must commit to the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework, signed two years ago in Canada, to restore ecosystems.
FAO promotes a solid work agenda of sustainable production practices in various regions. In Brazil, the REDESER project promotes sustainable agroforestry management to conserve biodiversity and improve local livelihoods. In Chile, the +Bosques project focuses on restoring native biodiversity, reducing emissions, and recovering landscapes. In Guatemala, forested land is being reclaimed, and natural forests are being managed.
In Honduras, progress is being made in creating a biological corridor connecting protected areas, facilitating wildlife movement, and promoting conservation. With FAO support in Paraguay, the Ava Guarani indigenous people are planting yerba mate trees to preserve their tradition and protect the environment.
In Peru, FAO is leading projects for sustainable management and restoration of dry forests on the northern coast and initiatives in the Amazon forests. In Venezuela, the project Conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity in the Caroni River basin seeks to strengthen capacities for the sustainable use of the landscape.
FAO also promotes technical cooperation in protected areas and the creation of networks to address common challenges in the region, such as forest health and invasive species, among other initiatives.
Preserving, restoring, and sustainably using biodiversity is a monumental task that requires the commitment of all sectors: governments, civil society, and the private sector must work together to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.
It is time to move from agreement to action to ensure a healthier and more prosperous world for future generations. A Better Environment is key to Better Production, Better Nutrition, and Better Life, leaving no one behind.
Tonight, police have another murder on their hands to solve. This time, the incident took place in San Ignacio. That’s where the victim, Jose Mejia, also known as Kocho, was stabbed overnight. The crime scene is a popular sporting facility – the Victor Galvez Stadium. Mejia was last seen with a friend socializing at the location on Monday night. His body was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest. While Mejia’s friends are gripped by the news, police are trying to close in on who’s responsible and why he was killed. Mejia, an errand man who liked to drink, was not known to trouble anyone. The area where the incident happened is on a main road. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The body of Jose Mejia was found early this morning in the Victor Galvez Stadium in San Ignacio. Mejia had been stabbed to the neck and chest and left for dead. A pool of blood near a bench in the middle of the stadium showed where he took his last breath. A friend of his, Sahib Espat, told News Five that he saw Mejia earlier in the day, but nothing seemed awry.
Voice of: Sahib Espat
Voice of: Sahib Espat, Friend of deceased
“I know him quite some years since I’ve been working with my dad. This is his place to be. He was working here with the neighbor, and I know him on the streets. All in all, he was a respected man, respectable person, always hailing people, a fun person, always full of jokes and stuff. And he used to come here in his free time, he used to come here smoking cigarette, come for lunch. My stepmom used to invite him for lunch and he used to be our friend here, family friend. Every day he used to pass on the street there, always giving us the time, and always a friendly person.”
Marion Ali
“And the last time you saw him?”
Voice of: Sahib Espat
“The last time I saw him was yesterday around this same time – around midday, maybe 1 or 2 pm. He passed there. I remember he hailed me. He was like, hey, yeah, Tuls, he tell me. And he crossed the street and ih seh I di come back, but from then, I never seen him again.”
Espat said Mejia indulged frequently in alcohol and thought that he had some undesirables as friends, but he did not expect to hear of his murder.
Voice of Sahib Espat
“In the night I never hear anything and two of my friends saw him and told me that they saw him drunk with another friend. And then in the morning I woke up to the bad news that it was him that who got murdered.”
Marion Ali
“Do you know if anybody was threatening him?”
Voice of Sahib Espat
“For the moment, I don’t know if he was being threatened or anything. But I know that with the friends and his company he had, they were not good company.”
Marion Ali
People known to police?
Voice of Sahib Espat
“People known for using drugs. And I think anybody under the influence of drugs are bad company, you know.”
So far, police have not detained any suspects for the murder and are investigating. Marion Ali for News Five.
In his capacity as First Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, Chester Williams says the proliferation of guns has been plaguing every country in the Caribbean. During last week’s A.C.C.P. conference held in Belize, ComPol Williams called out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobago, Firearms and Explosives over the increased number of firearms coming into the region from the U.S. ComPol Williams says that he has been advocating for stronger legislation to crack down on the importation of illegal firearms at commercial ports.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I almost got into trouble with ATF because I am saying to them that the same way how the U.S. blacklisted us when drugs passed into our country and go into the U.S., even though they know we are doing our best to prevent it from occurring then who blacklist the U.S. when their guns are coming in from the U.S. into our countries and these guns are being used to kill our people? It is a fair comparison. But, I give them credit for the fact that I know that they are doing what they can, but I believe they can do more. One of the issues for me is that when we had the intersectional meeting in Maya last year we had the opportunity to visit the port in Miami and we were given a briefing in terms of what the port expects from persons who are sending packages abroad and there is little to nothing. I can go to the port today and send a package in a name, go back this afternoon use another name and go back this evening and use another name. So there is nothing there to ensure that the persons who are sending these packages are real people. What I am saying to them is they need to have some law within the U.S to regulate these things to ensure that persons cannot use fictious names to send packages abroad. Since the U.S is reluctant to do that we will have to do something in Belize and the Prime Minister has said to us that the Comptroller and I need to sit down to see how we can come up with some draft legislation in terms of how we can address this issue. Even in Belize we had this same issue. We have the candies that came in. Recently we have barrels that came in with guns.”
There is also the issue of gangs in the Caribbean, a plague to most CARICOM nations. In an interview with the President of the A.C.C.P., Atlee Rodney, he stated that there is a direct correlation between music that promotes violence and the establishment of criminal organizations. ComPol Williams says that he agrees with President Rodney’s analysis. Taking it further, the commissioner of police proposed that certain musicians be banned from performing in Belize.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We can find that more in Jamaica and Trinidad. I think those are the two main areas we are seeing occurring. It is not far away from reaching our shores. We are lucky we don’t have that volume of musicians that Jamaica and Trinidad do have. But when we look at for example, Trinibad, even though Trinibad is not an artist, they are a group of DJs that goes around the Caribbean and perform, but when you look at the type of music they promote, they promote violence. And, in many instances when they do in or through the music, they promote say something, it happens. And I was shocked to see that we brought Trinibad to Belize during the Agric Show. While I do understand that promoters want to make money, there are other ways to make money without putting our country at risk. When you bring those type of people to our shores it is just to influence our young people to do certain things that we don’t want them to do. Here we are trying to say to our young people that there is a need to walk certain lines, to be law abiding, but yet we are going to bring people into the country who are going to be influential to influence them to be negative.”
Sabreena Daly
“What can we do about that though?”
Chester Williams
“We need to do what some for the countries in the Caribbean do, there are certain artists that can’t perform in the Caribbean. They are banned because of the type of music they promote.”
