2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Aziel KU and CodeTech, Finding Tech Solution For Real World Challenges

App development may still be considered a niche market in Belize, as local technological advancements are finding their place in the day-to-day lives of Belizeans. Undoubtedly, however, as our society advances, the demand for innovative technological solutions will increase. That is why Aziel Ku and his team at Codetech are tapping into this market to provide everyday technological solutions for real-world challenges in business. The company’s name may not be familiar, but you may have likely interacted with some of their work. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more for us in tonight’s installment of Belize On Reel.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Meet Aziel Ku, the owner of Codetech, a tech company based in Orange Walk Town that has been developing apps that make a difference.

Aziel Ku, Owner, Codetech

“We have been very blessed that God has given us options and our technology has now adapted really by the government to see its potential and they have embraced technology in moving forward, and the postal services reached out to us about the technology we have done. As Vistro we did live tracking, you could track the food order in real time and those were the components that helped a lot for the postal service. We worked with the sports council where they wanted a way to help federations and the ministry be self-reliant with fund raising both internationally and here locally. So we built a platform where they can share, sell tickets and fundraise and provide revenue for the different federation.”

Recently, Ku and his team collaborated with the Orange Walk Town Council on a software programme that allows drivers to renew their driver’s licence online. And the process is as simple as it gets. The licence holder simply opens the software, scans the barcode on their licence, and follows the steps provided, including paying online. As you heard, Ku is the developer behind Vistro, a popular delivery service app.

Aziel Ku

“My question is always, why do you want to do it, what is the reason. As a developer if you want to do it for money, it won’t work, because it is hard. And at the end of the day all you have is your passion. All I have is my passion, so when it is hard, no one is using it, you promote it, push it on Facebook, pay for ads, it doesn’t work then all you have is that dream and passion and that is what you need. That is where the project should start. Vistro didn’t make it in the first five months. We pushed it and nothing happened, until the sixth month we got one or two people that started to use it and realized how helpful it was and overnight thirty thousand people started to download it and we were there.”

Aziel Ku has been featured in the U.S. Embassy Entrepreneur Spotlight Initiative. He was also the recipient of the Belize Youth Award in the Innovation in Technology category. With his ability to develop innovative software, one would think that Ku spent years in school to develop the skills he now possesses. On the contrary, he says that he is self-taught.

Aziel Ku

“I learnt a lot of it online and practice and failing and burning a lot of computers. My passion is that I want to be someone that helps. I want to build stuff that helps people, make a difference and inspire other people and I found my gift is in technology to be able to understand and explain to others how they can use technology to help them forward. My story is not much different than anybody’s one. My mom is a taxi driver, my dad is a teacher, I just had to be passionate about it and go through it. So, I feel like it is niche, but it is because of the hard work.”

Recently, Ku and his team have been pushing their interactive artificial intelligence (AI) software called Edith. The Belize Postal Services is already using A.I. Centaur Communications is also using the service.

Aziel Ku

“She is an AI software that connects to company system. Centaur is one of our clients where she connects to their own internal software so people can chat, get an account information and balancer through messenger. We also developed Edith so anyone can use her. You can take a picture of a homework, a parent can do so and ask Edith to explain it in Spanish, Mandarin and she will break it down, provide questions, teachers can upload their curriculum to Edith and she will help them develop plans. That is our vision for this year.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Send in Your September Celebrations Theme Now

If you’ve always had a knack for themes, this is your chance to win some extra cash. The National Celebrations Commission launched the September theme competition for Belize at forty-three. The annual competition is open to anyone and the Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, Kim Vasquez went over the details of it for us.

Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts

“We have this annual competition, and the cash prize is 1, 000. It’s open to anyone. So if you want to get your creative writing juices flowing you can send in a couple entries. Definitely you want to keep in mind, ideas like patriotism, unity, cultural identity, where we are with our development as a nation. Those are some things to brainstorm around if you want to participate in the competition.”

Marion Ali

“And the deadline?”

Kim Vasquez

“The deadline is the 26th of April and you can send your submissions in by email. You can go on the social media page, the Facebook page for the National Celebrations Commission. Or, if you want, you can drop them off by hand at the NICH headquarters at Government House.”

Marion Ali

“And you can submit more than one entry?

Kim Vasquez

“Oh, you can submit more than one entry, yes.”

Senate Inquiry into Portico’s Definitive Agreement Postponed

The Senate inquiry into Portico’s Definitive Agreement that was scheduled for today was postponed and the notification from the National Assembly building didn’t give a reason for it. However, the Principal of the Port of Magical Belize project, David Gegg, who was expected to give testimony at the hearing today did not attend. Gegg says that the invitation was found on his driveway by his assistant and addressed to his late father, Edgar Gegg. He also wrote a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster, about the Senator leading the inquiry, Janelle Chanona. Gegg tells Webster about a letter sent by Waterloo Holdings C.E.O. Stewart Howard to Senator Chanona a couple of days before she had announced the launch of the inquiry lends itself for anyone to infer an appearance of bias by Chanona, and says that this without mention of other matters, suggests that Chanona is compromised and that she is incapable of objectivity. In the letter, Gegg casts criticism on Chanona and opined that no objective Belizean would believe the timing of the letter from Waterloo was merely coincidental. Gegg wrote that he will not subject himself to questioning by anyone who he thinks is biased. Gegg said that he is prepared to appear before the Committee, but on the condition that Chanona recuses herself. He also took a jab at the committee for referring to its own communication as an invitation instead of a summons. Gegg indicated that he needs notice three days prior to appearing before the committee to give him time to consult with his attorneys. News Five tried to reach Chanona for her reaction to Gegg’s letter but we did not get a reply.

Southside Resident Alleges Police Brutality Under SOE

A Ceaser Ridge resident visited our studio today to make a complaint against the Belize Police Department following the enactment of State of Emergency in Belize City. The resident, Ashley Flowers, says she opened her door at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday after hearing police officers out front. Flowers says she was unaware that a State of Emergency had been declared so she questioned the intentions of the officers and sought to cooperate with them. She alleges that two officers physically assaulted her, pulled a gun at her boyfriend who was taking a shower, and then left without detaining anyone or finding anything illegal. Here is what she told us.

Voice of: Ashley Flowers, Belize City Resident

“While I had them entering into the home I told them morning and I asked them what are they looking for and if I could help them. No reply, just one lady answer and ask you and who live here. Just my son, my boyfriend and my granddad. But, I could really know what the go on and how I could help. So, she ask, who dah your bway, weh your bway name? So I said he is in the bathroom taking a shower, but I just want know what is going on, no answer. That is when one of the officers started to kick in and stomp in the door and they managed to open it. My boyfriend just gets to pull up his pants, not even had boxers on or anything like that. While they kick open the door deh shout hands up, put up your hand. That is when I pull out my phone, because I was cooperating with the officers. But they got me to the next point where I was being disrespectful and using obscenity and I was asking the officer why would you point the gun into his face. When he noticed the person in the bathroom wasn’t who he was looking for he went from there and started walking in my direction. I started to back up because he was in my face. I didn’t know it was a state of emergency until he started choking me and said if I don’t know what is a state of emergency. After he choked me he stone me between a stove and some tools my dad had and he stamped me to the side and punch me to the face. I still have swelling to the side of my head and the scratches and bruises on the side of my stomach.”

Flowers told News Five that she sought medical attention for her injuries and is currently on painkillers. She also alleges that a female police officer squeezed her shoulder with force and only let go when she informed them that she suffers from a heart condition. Flowers added that her rights were violated, and she hopes that she gets her day in court.

A Firsthand Account of Haiti’s Crisis

Haiti finds itself amidst one of its most severe crises in decades. The collapse of the central government has left the prime minister stranded abroad, while gangs rampage through Port-au-Prince, to prevent the establishment of a new transitional government. However, in certain regions of Haiti, the memory of living in a functional state has faded. Tonight, we bring you a firsthand experience from a Haitian whose life has been turned upside down. Her name is Alexandra Pierre. She is twenty-five years old and says that this is the first time she has experienced such a crisis.

Alexandra Pierre, Haitian

“I’m 25 years old, I’ve never lived that situation in Haiti since I was born. So I’m used to, and somehow I’m used to the instability of the country. I’m used to regular strikes, mobilization in the streets. But we’ve never been in a situation where you cannot go out anymore. Usually you have the mobilization during the day. And at night you can spend some time outside. Even though you don’t have mobilization, everybody’s so afraid. So the streets are empty. And even during the day, everybody is afraid when you don’t have mobilization, you’re so scared that you don’t go in the street in just in case there is mobilization and everything is closed right now in Haiti, the main infrastructure schools are closed, they are online. Hospitals are closed. So the pharmacy are closed. So you’re afraid if you have any kind of injuries. If you are in any way injured, though, you don’t have the basic support to for your health. So that’s, that’s the situation right now in Haiti. And every time you’re here shooting, you’re so afraid. And it’s so regular right now. So even though sometimes a person is testing his gun just in case to be able to preserve itself in case of any attack and then when you have to go to the bank, I was telling I was telling you yesterday that I couldn’t have the meeting because Monday is when you go to the bank. You spent five hours in the line and then you cannot even have the amount that you requested to make every time you go. You can only have 100 US dollars due to the instability of the currency, the Haitian currency. Most of us going in and out of Haiti, we keep our savings in US dollars. It’s a more stable money and then you can change it to buy your groceries. So that’s why I have my savings in US dollars and you can only have 100 US dollars. So each week you spend five weeks five hours in the line to get 100 US dollars when the bank is open.”

Violence in Haiti Escalating

Approximately two hundred armed gangs hold sway over Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They are wreaking havoc by burning police stations, releasing thousands of criminals, and perpetrating kidnappings and killings that force residents to flee their homes. They have pillaged hospitals and halted commerce. Persons have been fatally shot, decapitated, and burned in the streets. The violence is intense, and according to Pierre, it is not something someone forgets so easily.

Alexandra Pierre, Haitian

“Well, it’s not something that you can get over. It’s, it’s, it’s the violence and then You’re just trying to live with that violence because you have no choice. It’s either the gang or the inhabitants. So this is the situation and then I’m not telling that they did it, they didn’t do it right for cutting heads. I’m not telling that they, well, it’s just, It’s just a chaos right now. It’s difficult to have to stick to some kind of morality and say, okay, this is, you should preserve life. You should preserve dignity. It’s just, you should preserve your life. So, and then this is, I think, this is the violence. It’s the way they have killed the, the gang members for me. And this is the most cruel part I’ve ever lived in Haiti. And, I live in the island. It’s been 35 years. And then the, the prices are higher as well because with the gangs in every in the main entrance of the Capitol. So you don’t get the fruits as you used to, you know, get the rice as you used to. So even the money that you get hat you have, it has so much pressure on it. Then it’s not enough, right? Anyone can live with only hundred per week, and we are three in my family. So we are three on this hundred dollars. So, this is this is a situation and I’m very sad.”

S.I.B. Reports 3.2% GDP Growth for 2023

The Statistical Institute of Belize held a press conference today to present its G.D.P. estimates for the fourth quarter of 2024. As well as the consumer price index, external trade statistics for February 2024, and the Consumer Confidence Index. Also shared was the breakdown of the Multidimensional Poverty Index, which is a measure of poverty across various dimensions of wellbeing, such as health, education, and employment. And living standards. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, the economy grew by three point two percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. This growth was attributed to the tertiary sector, which observed an eight point eight increase of about seventy point three million dollars in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2022. SIB credits this growth to the strong performance of the industries within the service sector.

Christopher Hulse, Statistician II, S.I.B.

“The tertiary sector went from seven hundred ninety-seven point one million in quarter four of 2022 to eight hundred sixty-seven point four million for quarter four of 2023. This is an increase of seven point three million or eight point eight percent mainly driven by an increase in the hotels and restaurants industry, transportation. We see arts, entertainment, recreation. The industries that have a tie to the increase in tourism movement. Looking at the other services, admin and support services went up by four point five percent as we see an increase in BPO’s and also travel agencies and tour operators. So two things that are increasing, the call centers and since we have tourism movement we see the travel agencies and tour operators also increasing. We have increases in real estate, one point eight percent, human health, two point four slight decreases for wholesale and retail trade, communication, and other services. Adversely, the primary and secondary sectors contracted, undergoing a three-point one and two-point eight decrease, respectively. This puts the primary sector down by an estimated five million dollars and the secondary sector down by eight point eight million dollars. These declines were attributed to poor weather conditions that negatively impacted water levels and subsequently resulted in low crop outputs and electricity generation. Now, for Banana, if we look at the levels, that 21 3 is still low, But 2022 was such a down year that when we compare the two periods together, we will observe an increase. But compared to before 2022, we see that overall banana is still down. So we will have that trend for most of the crops, that for the entire year. If we look at the sum of it, it will be down due to the weather conditions for most of them. Now conversely, we see an increase for livestock. So overall, livestock saw an increase of eighteen point four percent, where we had cattle up by twenty-four point five percent, pig up by twenty-two point one percent and poultry up by eleven point two percent. So even though we saw declines in the crop, livestock offset that decrease, and that’s why when we look at the primary sector overall Even though the crops were affected, we saw zero point eight percent decline because of the livestock going up.”

External Trade reports from February 2024 revealed an increase of thirteen point seven percent of imports and an eight point one percent decrease of domestic exports. The most notable contributors to the increase in imports were machinery and transport equipment, as well as minerals, fuels, and other lubricants. The decrease in domestic export revenue was attributed to several key exports.

Ronald Orellana, Statistician II, S.I.B.

“Animal feed revenue plummeted from ten point one million to two point eight million as exported quantities fell by more than two thirds during the period. Likewise, sugar exports saw a notable decrease of six point eight million, dropping from ten point seven million to three point eight million, with earnings down by sixty-four percent. Reduced exports of lobster products and shrimps during the period. Led to trip led to a three point eight million decline in revenues from marine products dropping from seven point one million to three point two million. Diminished volumes of orange concentrate also contributed to a downturn in exported citrus declining from four million to one point seven million. Despite the general decline in domestic exports, Bananas experienced a significant increase of seven point four million, surging from five point one million to twelve point five million, with quantities more than doubling for the period. Additionally, other exports category went up by one point eight million, from six point two million to seven point nine billion, due to wooden furniture and crude soybean oil.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

S.I.B. Reports 3.9% Inflation for February 2024

The Consumer Price Index shows that Belize experienced a three-point, nine percent increase in the cost of basic goods in February 2024. As observed throughout 2023 and into early 2024, higher food prices were the primary contributor to the overall inflation rate, followed by prices for restaurant services and home rental costs. The effects of the increase were slightly offset by the price of motor vehicle fuels, liquified petroleum gas, and international airfares, which were all lower than they were in February 2023. Statistician Melvin Perez explains.

Melvin Perez, Statistician II, S.I.B.

“So now looking at the major categories affecting the cumulative inflation rate of four point one percent. First, we have the food and non-alcoholic beverages category with prices increasing by seven point five percent and I must mention that this was the main contributor to the overall increase. It was followed by the restaurant and accommodational services, with prices increasing by twelve point six percent. Then we had the hosting water, electricity, gas, and other fuel, with prices increasing by two point one percent. Now looking at the last category in our list, we have the transport category, which recorded a decrease of eight point one percent. So now that we have identified the major categories affecting the cumulative inflation rate, now we will break down each one of them to see what contributed to the increase or decrease within the category. So first let’s look at the food and non-alcoholic beverages category with prices increasing by seven point five percent. The food subcategory alone was the main contributor in the category increasing. As prices rose across all types of food items, such as cereal products, fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and cooking oil. Looking at the table, we can see that most of the items went up by almost more than ten percent. Specifically, natural milk, evaporated milk, powder milk, orange, celery, cilantro, onion, green corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, plantain, black beans, and sugar. Nonetheless, there were lower prices recorded for some items, such as flour, lime, cucumber, and sweet pepper. Now looking at the first two months of the year 2024, we can observe how food prices decreased from January to February. While looking at the same period in the year 2023, we can observe an upward trend in food prices, but when we compare the cumulative inflation rate averaging both January and February of 2024 to the same period of the year of 2023, food prices for the year of 2024 are still higher compared to the same period of the year 2023.”

FCD says Road in Chiquibul Built by Wealthy Guatemalans

On Tuesday, we told you about the illegal road built in the Chiquibul Forest by Guatemalans. That road originated from a town across the border and is believed to have been used for cattle ranching. It’s a serious problem that Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) continues to face as the co-manager of the Chiquibul National Park. FCD’s Executive Director, Rafael Manzanero told News Five that heavy machinery was used to build this road, indicating that ‘big players’ are involved. He says that Belizean law enforcement authorities need to have a permanent presence on the grounds to prevent these types of illegal activities.

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, F.C.D.

“It is the first time that we are really documenting a road, you know, in terms of that magnitude. So it is one of our high concern to us. And so, it has already been validated, it is in the park, it is within Belize. It is by Guatemalans. And so now the point is what to do with that so in. I am glad that in some of the recommendations that we put forward are probably going to be pursued and that is good for us.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Seeing the road, that, that means that heavy machinery was used to construct the road, which means that as we always suspected, we have bigger or wealthier persons behind these things happening in Chiquibul.”

Rafael Manzanero

“Yes, that’s correct. So we see that with heavy machinery, of course, those are more investments and these are not really done by poor people along the adjacency zone, but More than likely, we believe they are by cattle ranchers in terms of trying to find an area where to get water. We need to provide more for the cattle ranching activities in that southern zone of the Rio Blanco. So this is in the extreme south of the Chiquibu National Park.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is it getting worse?”

Rafael Manzanero

“I think, I mean, if we start to look at in terms of the mobilization of people along the area it is not as extensive as before during the xatero days. But what we see is now a different kind of individuals involved in the territory. So these are more heavy investors, and I will say the cattle ranching activity is still within the 1 to 1. 5 kilometers of the western flank of the Chiquibul National Park and Caracol.”

Hipolito Novelo

“How soon is it expected for that road to be destroyed?”

Rafael Manzanero

“Well, we are going to continue on of course, along with the patrols on the ground, but I tend to think, you know, Hipolito that the destruction of the road, either by using dynamite or explosives, it will basically serve to show the kind of the action being done by Belizean authorities. So that is positive because you bet that I mean, I’ve known in Guatemala, people can go back again and fill it in back again and use it once over. So I tend to think that the 1st action, yes, it’s really to find a way how to destroy that and then to have a presence on the ground to ensure that people are coming back again to refill it or to use it otherwise.”

Columbia Forest Reserve Under Threat

We also broke the news that Belize Defence Force soldiers destroyed two wooden bridges built by Guatemalans inside the Columbia Forest Reserve. Those bridges were used to facilitate the entry of trucks to extract timber such as rosewood and other precious woods. FCD reported that the illegal activity appeared recent, with amounts of timber stacked up. Manzanero says these activities are found dangerously close to the Machaquilha Conservation Post.

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, F.C.D.

“It was shocking to the extent of the area being used and occupied. We do know that illegal logging has been ongoing in the Columbia River way from the early 2000s. So, we do know there has been extraction of rosewood and other hardwoods from that area there, but basically looking at the construction of wooden bridges in the area, it really means that it’s not only forces that are coming in to extract the timber and moving it to Guatemala, but basically it’s also really truckloads that are using that kind of territory for the extraction of timber. More than likely it is Rosewood. If there’s any left around that particular zone there and then also Sapodilla that would be used because these are really more primary woods that are being used in Guatemala these days.”