Earlier this week, Punta Gorda Town celebrated the grand opening of its very first USpace at the PG Public Library. This new hub is set to equip residents with the digital tools and training they need to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. Toledo East Area Representative, Doctor Osmond Martinez, shared that this is just the beginning of many exciting developments for the community. Late last year, the cabinet greenlit several key initiatives aimed at boosting tourism and sparking economic growth in the south. This includes major infrastructure upgrades and the development of a new marina in Punta Gorda. Doctor Martinez elaborated on these ambitious plans and their potential impact on the community.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“Six out of ten children living in poverty. There is only one secret to get people out of poverty, and that is true education. So, and I am so grateful that under Plan Belize, which I was part of the Ministry of Economic Development when I was the CEO we led the medium-term development strategy, 2022 2026. So it’s the Plan Belize medium term development strategy. It’s well aligned and compatible with the sustainable development goals. You know I remember when we started back in 2020, the main objective was then health. Because it was about saving people’s life and saving the economy. But now there is a lot of investments going into education. And education is the only way to get people out of poverty. That’s how you will increase human capital. That’s how you will become innovative. That’s how we will start to attract investments. And let me tell you something young boys and girls, you know, a lot of opportunities are coming for Punta Gorda. The marina is in its med, as is today, we have the architect and engineers meeting at the Punta Gorda Town Council to start to finalize the building of the marina. We have the call center, which I understand that Monday they will start with some agents already. We have the tourism sector that we’re planning to boost. But there is a lot of more opportunities that are coming that we need to prepare our young people to be ready for it. And young people, please make use of it.”
The Ministry of Education is stepping up its game to support rural communities by boosting access to resources that help residents build their skills. This includes the digital connect sectors and USpaces popping up all over the country. Earlier this week, at the launch of one of these new hubs, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca took a moment to reflect on the ministry’s achievements. He also highlighted the pivotal role that former Education Minister and Prime Minister Said Musa played in revolutionizing education in Belize.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“We’re very, very honored to have with us our former Prime Minister, former leader of our country, the Right Honorable Said Musa, and of course joined by Mrs. Joan Musa but we’re very honored. Prime Minister, I didn’t know you- Yassir didn’t tell me you were going to be here. It was a great pleasant surprise to see you when I got here. You know, and always an honor and pleasure to have you in our presence. You know, Prime Minister Musa, I think will forever be remembered in terms of his legacy as the leader of this country, prime minister of this country. Really, as the education and culture prime minister. He really led transformation of our education system, even, you know, when he was minister of education, that started. But when he was prime minister, he gave his full support to the transformation of our education system. And of course, the cultural revolution that we saw between 1998 and 2008, with the birth of NICH being a prominent component of that legacy. So, when we talk about education and culture, we think immediately of Prime Minister Saïd Musa.”
It’s been over a year since the Ministry of Education kicked off its More campaign, urging everyone to go the extra mile to make education in Belize truly shine. Schools are being challenged to be more creative, digital, inclusive, healthy, and involved. Just this week, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca gave a special shoutout to Methodist Primary School in Dangriga for their amazing contributions to the More initiative. Students there have been getting creative in sewing, art, and music clubs, and they’re also making a real difference in their community through the school’s environmental club. Here’s more on their inspiring efforts.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“ You know my friends, were here in Dangriga. Before I came over here to the library. We stopped in at Epworth Methodist Primary School to recognize them and celebrate their success. They’ve been doing a lot of good work in the community. They’re a part of our, what we call the MORE campaign, right? We launched a MORE campaign at the Ministry of Education about a year ago. And the objective of that campaign was really to inspire and encourage and really, you know, get the message out our education community more involved in the work of our communities and our nation. So we wanted, the challenge was for everyone in education to do more and be more for education in Belize. And so we’re very, very proud to go over to Epworth Methodists and to acknowledge the work that they have been doing in their community in terms of education.”
The President of the North America, Central America, and the Caribbean Volleyball Federation is in town. Belize is playing host to the Central American Volleyball Federation’s general assembly, and he’s here to chair the event over the weekend. Today, he took some time to meet with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism, and the Minister of Sports to push for more investment in Belize’s national volleyball team. We had the opportunity to chat with him about how those discussions went. Here’s what he had to say.
“I Am taking advantage of the visit; we already visit the minister of tourism. We visited the Prime Minister of Belize, and we are looking forward this afternoon to visit the minister of sports. We are requesting the government to provide more support to the Belize National Volleyball Federation. We are doing our part. We have provided in the past couple of years volleyball floors. You have seen here the surface. We have provided three and we are prepared to provide more. But we have one problem, we provide the floors and we don’t have the place to put the floors in order to be used for volleyball. This is why we are visiting the government, different agencies, and ministries, especially the prime minister. We explain to them the problem we are having. As you know, sport is the most significant and most important tool to fight drugs, dealers, crime. It would take the kids out of the street and bring them to a sport and create useful citizens in Belize. How do we achieve that? Explaining our work, providing the necessary tool and looking forward that the government also provides the other part. We cannot do everything. We can do most important part, provide the tools to develop the sports. I cannot come here and say let us build a venue on that piece of land. I don’t own land here. We need to create the know how to the government to let them know their responsibility is that we need their support to join ventures and make it happen.”
We also caught up with Allan Sharp, the President of the Belize Volleyball Association, to discuss how to tackle the shortage of volleyball training facilities nationwide. President Sharp mentioned that if he had access to the funds the government does, he would start by building covers over the existing facilities in primary school compounds across the country.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“I have shared this with some of the ministers already and some powers that be. To me if it was my money and I am investing. I would turn first to government schools and schools in general. They already have outdoor courts. It is just a matter of covering them and managing the time. So many hours for basketball and volleyball. By having that also the school will take much better care of the facilities because it is their facility, they own it for them. There are teams for different sports that will pay to rent the space. So, they can get the income to maintain that facility. So, if it was my money putting out I would recommend we highly we start with schools, because they benefit all day from it. We want more sports in schools. We want to start at a younger age. So imagine like today in Belize City, which school can have P.E., which school can train? Only the few that have covered facilities. So, the rest cant. This is a determent and how many days per year it rains in Belize. So we need to have them covered and that is the quickest way to move forward. Once you have the covered facilities the demand will go higher. There is more demand right now to use courts, whether it be basketball, volleyball, table tennis, karate, they are all demanding use of facilities.”
More Uspaces are on the way in 2025. These digital hubs are set to empower residents in communities with limited access to technology, helping them build their computer science skills. Just this week, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF opened two new hubs in southern Belize, with plans to launch three more by the end of February. But what impact will these centers really have in preparing visitors for the digital age? Director of Science and Technology, Namrita Balani, shares more about their ambitious goals.
Namrita Balani
Namrita Balani, Director of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education
“So what is a USpace? Does anyone know? Don’t worry, I’ll answer that for you. It’s a space for you. It’s a space for us. It’s a space for collaboration, for creativity, and community. It’s a space for you to get connected. Wireless access throughout the library. A space for you to code. Access platforms such as code.org. A space for you to lead like a girl, my personal favorite. Exposing, encouraging, and supporting girls to pursue technology. It’s a space for you to access 501 and unlock digital opportunities. A space for you to digitize and preserve our rich heritage and culture by contributing to our people’s archive. A space for you to design and program robots, coming together and building and designing robots. And competing in robotic challenges. And it’s a space for you to do more. More learning, more innovation, and more growth. USpace is about creating a future where everyone, no matter their background, has access to the tools, training, and inspiration to succeed. It’s about celebrating who we are, while building who we can become. Why is this so important? Because our community deserves a space where creativity, learning, and connection come to life. A space where students, teachers, and community members can feel inspired and supported. This is more than just a room of tools. It’s a place with heart. A place where trained staff are ready to mentor and guide. Where ideas are nurtured and where possibilities are endless.”
The latest report from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) reveals that Belize has exceeded expectations, achieving “Fully Compliant” ratings for 38 out of 40 key anti-money laundering measures. Belize now holds the strongest technical compliance ratings worldwide, surpassing Qatar.
This achievement follows nearly two years of rigorous evaluation and collaboration among Belize’s national authorities. “Now Belize has entered into what is called a regular follow-up process. This is essentially the gold standard. This is where we want to be,” said Leni Ysaguirre-McGann, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
Ysaguirre-McGann says that the FATF and similar organisations use “a system of peer pressure” to get countries to follow their rules. If a country doesn’t comply, it gets put through a review or follow-up process and might even be placed on a grey or black list, which can harm its reputation and relationships with other countries.
According to Ysaguirre-McGann, Belize’s success is crucial for its economic and business viability. “We want to operate in this financial system,” Ysaguirre-McGann said. She pointed out the importance of staying compliant with international financial standards to avoid being blacklisted or greylisted.
The power struggle within the United Democratic Party (UDP) continues, this time with Omar Figueroa shifting his support to Moses “Shyne” Barrow after initially backing Tracy Taegar-Panton. Figueroa now plans to run for the UDP under Barrow’s leadership after meeting with him on Thursday night.
Figueroa had previously written a letter on October 28th, praising Panton’s efforts at unity within the party and suggesting a national leadership convention. However, this convention never materialised.
On January 23, Figueroa, alongside his constituency committee, pledged support for Barrow as the UDP leader. According to Alberto August, UDP Deputy Chair, Figueroa wants to run in the elections as a UDP candidate and sees Barrow as the UDP leader again.
Figueroa’s shift in support came less than two weeks after Ivan Puerto, another supporter of Tracy Panton, stepped down as the standard bearer for Corozal Bay. Puerto had been a prominent figure at the Panton-led Unity Convention in October. On the same day Figueroa publicly backed Panton, Elodio Aragon Jr., the UDP standard bearer for Orange Walk East, also pledged his support to her. However, when News 5 spoke to Aragon today, he confirmed that he still fully supports Panton.
Epworth Methodist Primary School in Dangriga is setting a powerful example in Belize’s “More” campaign. The school is proving that education can be both creative and community-driven. Launched over a year ago, the initiative encourages schools to go beyond traditional teaching methods and embrace creativity, inclusivity, and community engagement.
Recognised this week by Minister of Education Francis Fonseca, the school has embraced the challenge to “do more” by engaging students in innovative activities that go beyond the classroom. “The challenge was for everyone in education to do more and be more for education in Belize,” he stated. “And so we’re very, very proud to go over to Epworth Methodists and to acknowledge the work that they have been doing in their community in terms of education.”
The school’s students have shown remarkable involvement, particularly through the school’s environmental club, art, music, and sewing clubs.
In the fertile fields of Belize, a crop that should be a symbol of agricultural success has become the backdrop for a growing crisis. Carrot farmers across the country, particularly in the northern districts of Orange Walk and Corozal, are watching helplessly as their bumper harvests wither away unsold.
Sabino Yam, a farmer from Patchakan Village in Corozal, sums up the frustration felt by many: “It is the selling of the carrots we are having a problem with right now. I have contacted some of my buyers, and they are not buying.”
A market oversaturated with carrots, compounded by competition from cheaper, imported Mexican produce, has left many local farmers with no buyers—and low income.
Oversupply, Competition, Contraband, or Seasonal Fluctuations?
The oversupply problem can be traced back to the unpredictable weather patterns of 2024. After a drought in the latter half of 2023 delayed planting schedules, farmers found themselves all harvesting at the same time in December. This created a glut in the market. Andrew Mejia, acting director of extensions for the Ministry of Agriculture, says the surplus is due to the unfortunate timing of planting and harvesting.
However, many farmers believe there’s another issue at play: the illegal influx of Mexican carrots. “I have not seen much. As a result, I can conclude that this contraband is passing through the border,” Yam said. Despite official statements denying any new imports from Mexico, locals suspect contraband produce is flooding the market, driving prices down and further undercutting Belizean growers. “We have our doubts. We think that contraband has something to do with how they are not buying carrots from us right now,” says José González, a farmer in Indian Creek Village.
Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, denied claims of contraband carrots, stating that Belize does not import carrots when there is enough local supply. He said, “The Ministry of Agriculture has never and will never issue importation permits when we are harvesting carrots.” Mai explained that the issue is seasonal, with all crops maturing at once, leading to high supply and slow sales. He added, “As for contraband, the Ministry of Agriculture does not control contraband. We try to work with customs, immigration… We closed borders. Up to now, we haven’t seen enough evidence of illegal import of carrots because the quality is known.”
A Creative Solution as a Lifeline for Farmers
Well, hard times often bring about the most innovative ideas. In response to the surplus, the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) has teamed up with Silk Grass Farms to introduce a new solution: all-natural carrot juice.
This fresh, vitamin-packed drink is made from locally grown carrots and a taste of Belize’s agricultural pride. It is not just another beverage; it represents a potential lifeline for farmers struggling with unsold produce.
“It’s more than just juice—it’s a taste of Belize, straight from the farm to your table,” the BMDC said. ““By choosing this refreshing drink, you’re supporting local farmers and embracing the goodness of healthy, Belizean-made products.”
A Long-Term Vision: Diversification for Stability
Beyond immediate solutions like the carrot juice project, the Ministry of Agriculture is working on a broader, long-term strategy to ensure the stability of Belize’s farming industry. In January, a delegation led by Minister José Abelardo Mai visited Guatemala, where they explored innovative farming practices and new crop varieties that could transform Belize’s agricultural landscape.
With plans to introduce new potato varieties that can be processed by major companies like Frito-Lay, the ministry is looking to diversify the country’s agricultural portfolio, making farmers less reliant on single crops like carrots.
The ministry said in an official statement that it “focuses on adding value to other perishable crops, aiming to create long-term solutions for farmers.” By exploring new varieties and processing opportunities, Belize’s farmers could access new revenue streams and markets, potentially avoiding the overproduction and market saturation seen with carrots.
The ministry says that diversification offers the potential for a more resilient agricultural industry, less vulnerable to the whims of nature and market forces.
As Belizeans sip on a glass of Belizean-made carrot juice, they are reminded that the country’s agricultural future depends on both innovation and a commitment to supporting the hard-working farmers who are its backbone.
