Things are heating up in the Corozal Bay constituency for the People’s United Party. Viewers may recall that back in November 2020, the late David “Dido” Vega was elected to the seat for the People’s United Party. Following his passing, his sister, Elvia Vega-Samos, was elected in a by-election to succeed her brother. But, with the 2025 general elections coming up the People’s United Party has made a call for applications from interested candidates. One such individual is the Chair of the P.U.P. Northern Caucus, Thea Garcia-Ramirez. She has thrown her hat in the ring for the constituency, though the People’s United Party is yet to indicate whether a convention will be held in that area. There are reports, however, that tensions are high between supporters of the sitting area representative and Garcia’s camp. We asked the Corozal Southeast Area Representative, Florencio Marin Junior, about those reports today. He gave a brief response.
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr, Area Rep., Corozal Southeast
“The party has a democratic process. Right now we are still in the period where the deadline for all applications is on May twenty-fourth. So when that time finishes we will be able to know for sure what will happen in the Corozal Bay division.”
The Belize Defense Force made an administrative error back in 2019 that had soldiers being overpaid. As a result, their salaries must be brought in line with those of the police and coast guard. Now, it is not being described as a pay cut but rather a correction. Today, we asked the Minister of National Defense for an update, and he said that it is not as simple as it looks and that the process will include various ministries and the introduction of a new allowance for soldiers.
Florencio Marin Jr. Minister of National Defense
“I like how you put it, we keep bringing it up every single time. This is not a one time we fix. We have to thoroughly go through a full review of the soldier’s salary. We have to do this with the ministry of the public service, the ministry of finance and our ministry. It is not a onetime fix; we don’t just move them up a scale or bring them down a scale. It will be resolved. We have to move through the thing thoroughly and we have to move very quick. We are also including the new allowances that will be put in for the benefit of our soldiers. I know you are bringing it up every time and it is not a speed that everyone likes, but it is an urgency for the ministry.”
The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is being withdrawn after more than three billion doses. It is estimated that the serum has saved the lives of millions during the pandemic; however, it also caused rare, and sometimes fatal, blood clots. According to the pharmaceutical company, it was a commercial decision to withdraw the vaccine. Earlier today, we spoke with Health Minister Kevin Bernard for a local perspective on the latest development regarding the vaccine.
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness
“From my checks, as in any medication, any type, there will always be some level of side effect in some cases. Now, from the information I have, the AstraZeneca vaccines were recalled not necessarily because of the side effects, that is one component of it. However, the main reason for the recall has been because there has been zero demand for the vaccine and there were many in supply and I know that from the information [that] I have received as well, and I did check with my, our counterparts at WHO/PAHO in terms of what is the reality behind all of this. What we found out is that yes, the company has decided to do the recall, yes, there have been some issues of thrombosis in some cases. However, there is nothing in there to say that the vaccine hasn’t proven its efficacy. And so from the understanding that I have, this decision was made, [but] it’s not something to be alarmed about or to be frantic about. As you know, even in Belize, the demand for vaccines has also dropped tremendously. COVID has gone past us but that doesn’t say that COVID still doesn’t exist. We still have the Pfizer vaccine in country. I don’t think we have any of the AstraZeneca, those that we had had expired and I think we had disposed of those. So that gives us also that relief.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The Belize Softball Federation’s 2024 Fast Pitch Season is officially underway. The back-to-back national champions Beacon started off the Mother’s Day weekend with a game on Friday against Lady Impact inside Roger’s Stadium.
The game is now at the bottom of the first inning. Lady Impact was unable to secure a run at the bottom of the first. Beacon’s number thirty inside the batter’s box with two strikes and two balls. She hits the ball towards third base. The fielder fumbled, and she makes it safe to first base. Beacon’s Sharette Vernon came from behind with a smooth bunt that gets her to first and her teammate to second. On the first pitch after that play, two Beacon runners stole bases. Runners are now on second and third. The third batter knocked the ball towards first base. She did not get there in time, but her teammate was able to secure the first run. With Vernon now on third base, Jasany Westby hits a ground ball towards second. She also did not make, but Vernon got home safe, two runs in the first inning.
Beacons were up three runs to zero at the bottom of the fourth inning. Number twenty-four Shadelle Ho started off the bottom inning inside the batter’s box. Ho walks to first base after the pitcher pitched four balls. Number twenty-two Rebeca Nicholson came from behind with a hit that went flying past both the third base fielder and the short stop. She made it to second base. With runners on second and third, another Beacons player made it on. A bad pitch from Lady Impact’s pitcher led Ho to steal a base and count the run. Number twenty Kayla Henry got out of the batter’s box, but she did not make it to first. Her teammate, Rebecca Nicholson, however, made it home. Again here, another bad pitch sent a third Beacon runner home. Three runs in one inning, the game ended at the bottom of the fifth, seven runs to zero in favor of the Beacons.
From Softball we move into some football action. We continue to follow the Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Tournament. These young and promising athletes are being molded by their coaches to one day represent Belize on the world stage. For now, they are competing inside Berger Field. The first match of the day was between Port F.C and Phoenix F.C. Nine minutes into the match, in the first period, Port F.C.’s Errol Gentle scored off a corner kick. The ball bounced in front of the goalkeeper and went into the net. The young athlete celebrated with some back flips. Young Kiven Brown opened the third period with a second goal for Port F.C from inside the penalty box. And only four minutes later he would do it again, finding his footing and sending the ball across the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. Port F.C came out on top, three goals to zero.
In the first female match of the day Goal Getters played against Phoenix F.C.’s female team. That match ended in a tie with zero goals apiece. In the third Saturday morning match, Ladyville Rising Stars took on Ebony Lake. Rising Stars scored six goals in total. Ebony Lake was unable to secure a single goal this time around. Rising Star’s first goal was scored at the kick-off from midfield. Nigel Hulse sent the ball lower than the goalkeeper was able to reach in time. The ball bounced into the net. In the second period, beats the defenders, makes room for himself inside the penalty box, faces off with the goalkeeper and fires into the net. And here is some team celebration in front of the camera by Ladyville Rising Stars. Fredrick Garbutt scored the third goal. Ebony Lake was unable to clear the ball from near the goal. The Rising Stars capitalized on that and after several attempts Garbutt scored the goal. Again, that game ended with six goals to zero.
Belize Elite Basketball League is now heading into its 2024 playoffs season. Two “best of three” series will be played in the first round of the playoffs. Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, the number one seed, and Dangriga Dream Ballers, the number four seed, will begin their series on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks and the Belize City Defenders will begin their series on Sunday afternoon, also inside the Belize City Civic Center. And as we head into the playoffs, the question on the minds of BEBL fans is, who will be the 2024 regular season MVP.
Four athletes have been identified. They are the Belize City Defender’s Nigel Jones. Benny’s Belize Hurricanes’ Bourama Sidebe, San Pedro Tiger Shark’s Jihad Wright and the Dangriga Dream Baller’s Delvon Henderson. The league’s executive says the winner will be selected by a voting panel of one hundred ballots distributed across all spectrums of the Belize basketball landscape, including owners, managers, coaches, media, past players, etc. The results will be announced during the BEBL Finals. Our question to you is, who do you think is most deserving of this title from the players listed? Let us know in the comments.
And finally for tonight, Verdes Football Club won their first match against Port Loyola Football Club in the Premier League of Belize’s 2023-2024 Closing Season Finals. The first game of the finals was played on Sunday inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. Verdes won that match one goal to zero. They are set to face off against Port F.C. over the weekend in the second and final leg of the championship. We will continue to follow.
Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
The 12th Festival of Cultures and Peoples organised by the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, recently concluded. It was held under the theme, “Here is the World.” The festival featured 3,114 diverse events and activities catering to families, children, and the wider community.
Visitors from various segments of society greatly valued the festival’s offerings.
The Belize booth placed fourth in the judging. One of the participants told News 5, ” is considered a huge success as our booth was one of the smallest but which dished out significant information on Belize’s tourist industry. ”
The festival organizers confirmed that the festival had an increased number of attendees, which is in line with the significant development the festival has experienced compared to previous years.
They praised the efforts and presentations of 500 participating university students, who represented 95 countries worldwide.
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) says it has initiated investigations into an incident related to the distribution of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate® (CSEC®) Principles of Accounts Paper 02 at specific examination centres.
CXC® acknowledges the potential anxiety caused by such uncertainties and assures candidates and parents that these matters are being addressed with utmost urgency. “Upon completion of our investigations, appropriate action will follow.”
No information was given as to when or where this alleged action happened.
A Taiwanese NGO, the Cao Zhong Zhi Foundation, donated US$25,500 in medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The donation was made today during a ceremony hosted by Health and Wellness Minister, Kevin Bernard and Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lily Li-Wen Hsu in Belmopan.
The donation includes 240 adult wheelchairs, 50 children’s wheelchairs, 80 steel commodes, 160 aluminium walkers, and 400 aluminium walking sticks.
A release from the ministry says, “Today’s donation underlines Taiwan’s commitment to aiding communities worldwide, particularly in times of need, and emphasises the importance of solidarity and cooperation in addressing global public health challenges.”
Minister Bernard stated, ““It is imperative for all global players, including Taiwan, to have the opportunity to contribute effectively to international health initiatives.”
The United Democratic Party (UDP) is calling for the immediate resignation or removal of Michel Chebat from the Ministry of Public Utilities. In a statement, the UDP criticised Chebat’s leadership in the ministry. The party said that it has led “unwarranted suffering of the Belizean people, especially the people of the Cayo North constituency.”
The UDP says “Chebat must go in order for the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Public Utilities Commission to prioritise the needs of the public once again.”
In a statement to News 5, Chabet said, “I was elected to serve all the people of Cayo North. Since my election I have been in discussions with BWS to bring water to the communities in Cayo North that do not have access to water. This particular area has increased significantly and the people are without the basic neccessity that water provides. It is my duty to find a permanent solution to that issue. This is not about band aid solutions like the UDP doing.”
Chebat further stated, “The residents deserve to have access to clean running water. And I make no excuse for lobbying to bring water to them.”
According to Chebat, “BWS will regain their initial investment through water bills. That is what plan Belize is all about…we are about bringing permanent solutions for the people and not about grand standing like the UDP.”
Last week, an immigration officer, forty-eight-year-old Saul Lisbey, was arrested for the crime of wounding. He stands accused of assaulting a woman at the western border office on Monday, May 6.
The video shows an immigration officer exiting his booth, andwalking towards the woman before pushing her to the ground. The woman hit her head and was taken to the hospital.
Tanya Santos, the Chief Executive Officer of Immigration, confirmed that Lisbey had been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. In an interview, Santos stated that the incident involved an immigration officer and a member of the public, with video footage corroborating the details. Santos emphasised that such behaviour was unacceptable and assured the public that thorough measures would be taken to address the matter.
CEO of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, Dr Osmond Martinez, officially launched his candidature for the upcoming general elections. Dr Martinez announced this on his Facebook page. He wants to represent the constituents of Toledo East. Voters there will participate in a by-election following the passing of Mike Espat, who represented the constituency for six terms.
The late Mike Espat
In his statement, Dr Osmond offers “deepest condolences to the Espat family and friends as we continue to mourn the loss of the late Minister Mike Espat. Understanding the grieving process, I realize there is never a perfect time. However, in honoring his legacy, we must carry on the work. Minister Mike Espat’s contributions to our nation and specifically to the constituents of Toledo East have left an indelible mark on our hearts and our community.”
Dr Martinez says that he has “diligently worked to secure funding and support for initiatives aimed at fostering growth and prosperity across our nation. Under my leadership, project implementation within the Ministry has soared, increasing by 40% since 2019, with substantial investments now totaling BZ$208 million annually. These achievements underscore our dedication to prudent resource management and effective governance for the betterment of our citizens.”
“My candidacy is founded upon a proven track record of leadership, integrity, and results. As your Area Representative, I pledge to serve with unwavering dedication, advocating tirelessly for the interests of Toledo East and its residents. Together, let us embark on a journey of progress, prosperity, and unity, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.”
