While the Mexican Government seeks to put a lid on the escalating violence in Quintana Roo, it is also moving ahead with the installation of train tracks to facilitate a much faster means of travel between Belize and that part of Mexico. Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Arnold told News Five that the Tren Maya has been a popular topic of discussion, with some parts of the project already coming to fruition.
Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico
“The Tren Maya has been a hot-button topic. It’s one of those infrastructural development that will see about 1500 kilometers of train tracks that will link the entire southern Mexico. There will be a train station at the airport, which is only a few kilometers from the border. And so there are ongoing discussions to see whether or not a train station can be placed or can be built at the border that would enhance tourism. It would enhance travel. It would cut down the cost and the time of travel to areas like Cancun, Playa, Merida, and other areas in the southern part of Mexico. It would also help with cargo. So those discussions are ongoing. There’s been clearings in the area of where the Expo Fair used to be held. The road will run across there for the route of the train. There’s also a lot of work being done right across the airport from Chetumal where the station will be. I think the building has been erected and the supporting services, the buildings for the supporting services, and the wrap-around services are now being worked on. That section of the railway is supposed to be open in late June, maybe early July. That is when it’s slated to be open, and so the work there continues for that. But there are other sections that are already in operation. The route to Merida, the route to Campeche, those have been inaugurated already.”
Earlier this week in the High Court, two men were acquitted of a charge of murder due to a lack of evidence. Their release has raised questions regarding evidence gathering and the use of supporting proof to successfully prosecute suspects. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams weighed in from a law enforcement perspective.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“When the police do arrest and charge someone, we may have sufficient to arrest and where there is some evidence and we believe that we can put that matter before the court then we do so. We’re not going to be the ones to say that the evidence is insufficient. The court may look at a situation differently and may or may not convict. At the end of the day, we feel good that we did what we could have with the evidence we have and respect the outcome of the courts. I can say that unlike before, you’re not hearing much instances where accused murderers are walking. We have had a number of convictions for murders over the past few months or even years and we are hoping that that trend is going to continue.”
Late this evening, three men were arraigned on charges of being members of a gang. Twenty-three-year-old Kenyon Flores, twenty-four-year-old Julian Woodye, and Allen Anderson Junior appeared in the lower courts where they were each read a single charge of being a member of a gang. Woodye was unrepresented in court and before he entered a plea, he asked the Senior Magistrate for a sentencing indication, and subsequently pleaded guilty. He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May twentieth, 2024. Anderson, a resident of Manta Ray Boulevard in Ladyville, also pleaded guilty. He informed the court that he was just released from prison in January and was concerned that upon his return to the facility he will be placed in solitary confinement. Last to be arraigned was Kenyon Flores, no stranger to the court. He has three ongoing cases before the court, including one for harm. He was placed on pretrial detention until June seventh.
Belize’s tasty Garifuna dish, the Hudut, has become part of this country’s cultural tourism. The Martinez family of Hopkins Village has craftily woven the making of Hudut into a cultural experience that they offer to tourists in that village. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali and George Tillett took a tour of Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge. And as their report reveals, Hudut is but one of many components of a tour the family has mapped out for the tourist at heart. We present that story on cultural tourism as this week’s edition of Belize on Reel.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The experience at Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge begins with a one-minute kayak journey across the Fresh Water Creek Lagoon to Kalipuna Island, where Palmento Grove is located. The island is carefully mapped out for the tour the Martinez family has designed. Wasani Martinez, a certified dive master, guides you safely across to Palmento Grove. A quick walk to the main area affords you the choice of changing into a comfortable cultural dress to begin the tour. Leading off, like any spiritual family, the experience takes one through an interesting lecture on history and spirituality by the patriarch, Eugene Martinez. Martinez then leads the visitors on an educational tour about some of the trees, including the cashew and cocoplum fruit trees and the anato tree, used to make recado. The only visitor on the day-long tour today was this woman who gave her name as only Iesha from the state of Maine, USA.
Iesha
Iesha, Tourist, Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge
“I love how immersive it is. It’s not just someone sitting and lecturing. You’re actually in the spaces and seeing the plants and making the foods and the dances and all of that, so I really enjoyed it. Yeah.”
Marion Ali
“You got to climb the tree, take down the coconut.”
Iesha
“I did! I picked my first coconut today, so it was awesome, yeah.”
Marion Ali
“And then you huxed, and then you actually made the Hudut.
Iesha
“All of it, yes, and I do not know my way around the kitchen (laughing) the way I should, but they were very patient and taught me everything, so it was very nice.”
Marion Ali
“And now you’re learning how to dance and to drum.”
Iesha
“Yes, that too.”
It is this kind of educational experience that owner, Uwahnie Martinez says her family wants to share with everyone who signs up for the experience.
Uwahnie Martinez
Uwahnie Martinez, Owner, Palmetto Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge
“The trip across the lagoon – we managed to give you that kayak experience over because our boat was stolen. So instead of giving up again, we relented once more and we said, you know what, maybe it’s for a cause. Why not just count the blessings, despite the situation And turned it into something good. So, that’s how we started with the kayak ride across and it has been embraced by our guests coming as an extraordinary part of the experience. So, the idea here is to actually immerse yourself, be hands on, learn, and make sure you can appreciate the culture, the people, by the time you leave from here, and have fun at the same time. Doing that, we give you a feel of what our clothing is like. It’s nice and cool, you get the opportunity to participate without feeling extra hot despite the heat. We get a lecture from my dad. My family is that of politicians and activists. It’s well known here in Belize, so a perspective from their eyes, their views, telling their own story. Then we move on into the herbal garden, where we teach you and show you some of the herbs that we use for medicinal purposes and food purposes and holistic health on a whole – all part of Garifuna culture. You get to learn about the cassava baking process, you see the implements, you see the murals on the wall, and moves your senses, and that’s the idea of the experience we offer. We want you to be able to hear, see, taste, touch, smell, and feel. That’s for sure. So it moves your senses, it feeds your soul. And it revives your spirit, and by the time you leave from here, you’re well immersed.”
But the tourism package is a relatively young one that complements cultural tourism. The family purchased the land on the island and started the business in 2018, after a major setback.
Uwahnie Martinez
“When we first started here, it was out of necessity. We had an operation in the village, and that was burnt down. We went into financial foreclosure, so we lost that property, with 30 days to find where to go. My dad had this property, so refusing to give up and making sure that we can live to tell our ancestral story, our story from our perspective, we relented to move over here, cleared the place and fashioned it into a traditional Garifuna community where we can actually live culture with dignity and then share it with guests who want to learn.”
Part of that learning is making Hudut, which includes grating the coconut and extracting the milk, seasoning the fish, which today happened to be a barracuda, and frying it. While that is being done, someone is stirring the coconut milk as it cooks, while another beats the combination of boiled green and ripe plantains to complement the dish. The visitor’s experience ends with a session on drumming and dancing to Garifuna music, led by Rayton Martinez and Tiana Nunez.
Marion Ali
“How do you find the reception from the tourists? Do they like it?
Tiana Nunez
Tiana Nunez, Dancer, Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge
“Most guests, when they come, they’re pretty receptive. They want to learn, they want to interact, so it’s pretty easy. Sometimes they do it on their own, or they’d ask if I can do it and then they just follow along.”
Marion Ali
“So tell me this: Rayton teaches by showing us: you start with one hand, and then you tap with the next hand twice, and then you go back to one. Is it the same way with the steps?”
Tiana Nunez
“It is, yes, because if you notice, whatever movement I make, the drum reacts. Yeah. And he also has to be pretty attentive to what I do so that he, knows. Yes, exactly.”
Uwahnie Martinez says the tour can be personalized to suit anyone with any time limit from only one session to all day, and even for overnight visitors. And where tourists want additional tours, like horseback riding, Palmento Grove outsources those portions to other tourism tours in communities that offer them. Marion Ali for News Five.
If you would like to book a tour with the Martinez family at Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Healing Lodge, you can contact Uwahnie Martinez at six, six, one, six, zero, three, nine, or you may log on to their website at www.palmentogrove.com
Recently, the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler and a team of Belizean business representatives travelled to São Paulo, Brazil to participate in the World Travel Market Latin America 2024. With twenty-seven thousand professionals and six hundred and twenty exhibitors from across the globe in attendance, this event allows for Belize to meet with other businesses and form potential partnerships. In the Belize pavilion were representatives of Barefoot Caye Caulker Hotel, Muy’Ono Resorts, Table Rock Jungle Lodge, and the Belize Tourism Board. The Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations spoke with us about the significance of this trip.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations
“I just recently visited Sao Paulo, Brazil. I truly believe that Latin America is an untapped market for us. We just haven’t done the heavy lifting that needs to be done in that in those key markets. And we’re talking about that. And certain cities in Brazil, Colombia and Argentina to start and then other parts of Central America. We strongly believe that if we put in the effort, we can get more people to come. For example, getting back to Belize was only a day. You didn’t have to overnight in Miami or anywhere else coming back from Sao Paulo. So those opportunities are there. We just have to go after them. I met, one day we had a press conference and I met with over a hundred writers and people in the trade who package and prepare their guests to come to destinations like Belize. And that was a big moment for us as well. We spoke about the beauty of Belize, the wealth untold that God has blessed us with. And we will continue to do so all across the world.”
The Joint Unions Negotiating Team met with government officials on Wednesday, following a hiatus from discussions with the Briceno Administration related to a number of issues including anti-corruption. PSU President Dean Flowers discussed the issue with reporters following the meeting at the House of Culture.
Paul Lopez
“In terms of the request for the establishment of an anti-corruption commission by the UN, I think the document says that you all believe this is the only approach that is feasible at this point or that can be taken to really address the issue of corruption in Belize.”
Dean Flowers , President, P.S.U.
“When we touched on that, the question to the minister responsible for political and public sector reform, was whether or not there was a difficulty in exploring that option which, as you rightly said, we believe is the only option left available to us. It would be very naïve of us as a people to think that we have the necessary infrastructure and the necessary expertise and the political will in country to adequately tackle corruption and to address and effect the many pieces of legislation that has been passed, including the most recently adopted Civil Asset Recovery and Unexplained Wealth Order Bill. As I stated, that is a beautiful piece of legislation to assist in curbing corruption. The question now that must be taken to the FIU Director is what steps have been taken to: one, recruit competent individuals and two, whether or not they have the requisite resources in including office space.”
The Joint Union Negotiation Team is also advocating for significant tax reforms. According to Nadia Caliz, the Belize National Teachers Union President, some businessmen are evading taxes by declaring items as zero-rated. She contended that middle- and low-income families are bearing the brunt of taxes in Belize.
Nadia Caliz, National President, B.N.T.U.
“During our discussion with government today They were happy that they brought certain things to their attention and they asked for us to spend some time to go back and discuss these things, but at the same time they have already been working on tax reform and so when we meet again with them, they will present to us what it is that they have been doing and what they will do to address the things we have brought to their attention. One of the key things brought to their attention in the area of tax evasion let me talk about that one is we have importers bringing in furniture and different things from across the border and then using receipts that say ramen noodle and ramen is a zero rated, tax free you don’t have to pay taxes on that and that is not fair to the Belizean people any at all.”
The Joint Union Negotiating Team has also requested a detailed report of the country’s debt profile from the Government of Belize. Dean Flowers, the President of the Public Service Union, says that this should be on the minds of every Belizean. He added that G.O.B. did not provide the report on Wednesday but has committed to do so in a timely manner.
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“As it relates to the profile of the country, I think that is a concern and a matter of high importance that should be on every single Belizean mind. As we all know, we would have restructured our debt, most of our debts in 2021, we would have received three years moratorium on most, if not all of our debts. So several of our debts now become due and payable as we speak. Included in that are the interest payments for the super bond, which matures in 2020. And so we felt that given that there will be no added demand on government finances to meet our national and international debts, that it’s important that we get an understanding of where we are with that and the obligations that will be tied to that. Because if it is that we’re unable to meet those debt payments, then we will be back at square one when the government will be looking at where can it cut expenses. And as we all know, it has always been cutting the public purse in terms of public officers salaries. And so we now have that at the forefront of our agenda in terms of paying attention to that, because any slip up in that can end up costing us money again in the long run. We did not receive that today, but we did receive a very detailed presentation on where we are as a country in terms of our debt and commitment was made by the representative from the Ministry of Finance to provide comprehensive debt profile to us. And so once that is provided, I would have no problem sharing that or speaking on that with the Belizean people.”
Mike Espat’s state funeral is scheduled for the tenth of May. On Wednesday, we spoke with one of Espat’s long-time colleagues, going all the way back to his days as a teacher at the Toledo Community College. Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith taught alongside Espat at TCC. When we caught up with Smith he reminisced on those good old times and the man that he knew Espat to be.
Godfrey Smith
Godfrey Smith, Former Colleague of Mike Espat
“When I met Mike Espat in September of 1987, freshly graduated from St Johns six form, when I met him he was the principal of Toledo Community College where I taught for a year in the English Department, teaching English language and English Literature. I actually lived in Mike’s house for a couple of months until I was able to find a place of my own and I was involved with him in various things. I have a vivid memory of entering a pig stye with him. He was hands on person, very practical, involved in rice production, the pig program at the campus. I remember stepping into the stye and wading in the mud and mock, assisting him, just generally dealing with the livestock. Always outspoken, always a party man and never feared to speak truth to the leadership and always ready to lead a back bench revolt but only going so far.”
In Early April, the Belize Athletic Association held its elections, where Cojac Smith was elected as the president with a vote of thirty-five to thirty-four over Jaheed Smith. With a newly elected council, the association hopes to open a new chapter of better accountability and support for athletes. President of the association, Cojac Smith spoke with us about the goal to secure more sponsorships and raise public awareness for sporting events.
Cojac Smith
Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletic Association
“We recently had an election that concluded, the current vice president, mister Jaheed Smith against myself, a member of the association, and we were vying for the vacant position from mister Deon Sullivan, who had resigned about a year ago. So the conclusion, it was a close race and I ended up winning and winning by a small margin at one vote. So we have a new executive. Now we have some new members, new executive members, as well as some incumbents from the previous executive and we’re trying to move athletics as far Athletics as best as we can in a more Constructive way and being more just be more accountable producing a better product for Belize so that we can vie for more sponsorships and donors and stuff like that. So that’s the direction we’re trying to put it and just move athletics further developing the country developing sports Developing the athletes and the coaching’s as well. So that’s what we’re looking for. Nothing comes without money.”
Reporter
“So my next question is, how do you propose to bring in all those needed funds that will be needed to do all of these things?
Cojac Smith
“We’re looking at partnerships with different businesses, any businesses that are willing to partner with the association. We’re looking into collaboration. So, if anyone that’s listening to this newscast that wants to collaborate with the Belize Athletic Association and partner with us, to see how best it could be beneficial to both parties. We’re open to that. They could reach us at the Belize Athletic Association page on Facebook, or they could reach me at 632-2622, or they could always just contact me then, and I could have them talk to the General Secretary to work that out. But we’re just trying to be as collaborative as possible, and one of the things that Track and Field has not been doing It’s visibility. We’ve not been visible. So that’s probably one of the reasons we’ve had, have the support from the business community as much as we would want to. So it’s just to getting that started and also to push a better product that we’re producing as an executive. Just being more accountable could producing our financials and stuff like that, whereby we could vie for different sponsorship internationally and locally.”
