It’s still unclear how much revenue the Government of Belize lost during those two GST-free weekends in December. The figures were supposed to be released by now, but Prime Minister Briceño says they’re not ready yet. He was also asked if the initiative was a tactic to win over voters ahead of the general election.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“It has nothing to do with the elections. It is simply something we believed its time had come. We could not have done it earlier because we were trying to recover, rebuild and regain the confidence of our citizens and the private sector. When that idea came up, we said, it is not a bad idea. It is a good idea and to be able to build on it. If it was just for the election, we would not do it this year.”
Reporter
“Were you concerned that you could have lost more than you could afford?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Not necessarily, because we felt the economic movement or what we could generate, remember in economics there is this thing that with every dollar you spend moves around four to five times. So, the economic generator of that dollar spending in Belize we, we will be able to get it back with taxes in other area.”
On Tuesday, during an appearance on Open Your Eyes, businessman and investor Michael Ashcroft announced that he’s moving his investment finances elsewhere. Ashcroft criticized the Government of Belize for not fostering a climate conducive to foreign investment, expressing regret that he couldn’t do more for Belize. When we asked Prime Minister Briceño for his response to Ashcroft’s criticism, he said that it’s his decision, his money, he can do whatever he wants with it.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Michael Ashcroft has done very well in Belize, exceedingly well. If he wants to take his money elsewhere, he should take it. It doesn’t bother us one bit. Foreign investment in Belize continues to increase. In 2024, we have a record foreign investment. It is his decision, his money, he can do what he wants with it. I don’t know what climate he talks about. If we want a climate where we bend over and give him what he wants, that is not going to happen in Belize. We got into government, we met with him and negotiated with him hard. I think we got a good deal with the settlement. It is unfortunate that then P.M Barrow chose the route of litigation, cost us hundreds of millions of dollars. I think that I come from a business background, and you are negotiating to settle. The port was going nowhere because he was not getting clearance from NEAC. Then he wanted to beat us into submission and took out endless ads. But that still did not beat us into submission. We are a sovereign nation, and we decide what is in the best interest. Now he wants to take his money elsewhere he is welcome to do so. He wants to sell out the Belize Bank, he is welcome to do so. I think Belizeans will be happy. Because he has been use to getting what he wants and that is ok. Every businessman or woman wants to get what they want. We welcome his investments. If he wants to continue investing in Belize, we welcome it, but it has to be under our conditions and what we believe is in the interest of Belize. When you see the deals he signed with previous government, I remember telling them him, I don’t know what these people were thinking, I would have never signed those agreements.”
The Government of Belize is teaming up with a Miami-based company to develop a masterplan for the Port of Belize Limited. Prime Minister Briceño claims that after acquiring the port, the previous owner wanted to charge an exorbitant amount for their already finalized masterplan. So, the G.O.B. is funding its own plan, which will include the construction of a world-class cruise and cargo port. But what does this mean for Stake Bank Enterprises?
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The Cabinet has already agreed. I presented a paper to the Cabinet several months ago on what could be the different options. A is the cruise and container port and be is to be able to do just the container port and we saw the options and Cabinet felt it is in the best interest to do both. We are working on the master plan to do that. The previous owners were working on a master plan, but they wanted to just charge us an exorbitant amount of money if we want to take over that plan they are working on. So, we will do our own, pushing us back a few months. There has been a number of companies expressing interest. MSE has interest, Carnival has expressed interest and other investors have expressed interest, but we are not going to do anything until we say this is the plan, who are going to be the strategic investors. There are many people that voice interest, but we don’t want to just jump on it. We need to have a plan. So I believe that by the end of the next government we should have a cruise port and a modern container.”
Reporter
“So does that mean Stake Bank is dead. It makes no sense to have two mega cruise port in the Belize District within miles of each other.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We all knew that Stake Bank was short to medium term investment. The berthing facilities cannot take the big shop. These cruise ships wants to berth on land. The tendering is a big issue. We know that was a temporary fix and we have to build somewhere nearshore.”
Belize’s very own Filly the Jaguar is on her way to the United States! Filly was rehabilitated at the Belize Zoo in 2019 after being identified as a conflict animal, preying on livestock in the San Felipe area. Now, she’s set to be transferred to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin as part of the Species Survival Plan. Earlier today, News Five’s Britney Gordon caught up with the team at the Philip Goldson International Airport to get more details on this remarkable collaboration.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been about five years since Filly the Jaguar was taken in by the Belize Zoo for rehabilitation. She was identified as a conflict animal, preying on farm animals due to habitat loss in the San Felipe area. After years of dedicated care and training from the team at the Belize Zoo, Filly is now ready for her next adventure—heading to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. Director of the Belize Zoo, Dr. Celso Poot, shared more details on Filly’s exciting move.
Dr. Celso Poot
Dr. Celso Poot, Director, The Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center
“Over the years, our program has transformed from just removing the cats from the wild and keeping them at the zoo to rehabilitating them and releasing those that can be released back into the wild with GPS collars so that we can track their movement. The whole idea is to have Jaguars and Deleuze running around wild and free the way they should be. However, some of these cats come to the zoo with injuries. They’re injured, and they cannot be released back into the wild because they would return to be conflict cats. What we do is we assess these cats. And those that can be part of the breeding program with the Species Survival Plan are then assessed reproductively to see if they are viable.”
The Jaguar Species Survival Plan is all about keeping the genetic diversity and sustainability of jaguars in zoos. Filly is the second big cat to make the journey to the Milwaukee Zoo, following Pat the Jaguar back in 2008. Excitingly, Filly is being considered as a potential mate for Pat’s youngest son, Frankie. Katie Kuhn, the assistant large Mammal Curator at the Milwaukee Zoo, will be traveling with Filly, along with a vet and Filly’s primary caretaker.
Katie Kuhn
Katie Kuhn, Asst. Large Mammal Curator, Milwaukee Zoo
“Genetic diversity is important because otherwise, you get the effects of what inbreeding would look like. So the animals can get different health concerns. They can get certain diseases a lot easier. They could have deformations in their body and how they grow from the time that they’re young. So genetic diversity is very important to any population, whether it’s jaguars or whales or people. It’s important to maintain that genetic diversity so that we can have the healthiest population and individuals possible.”
As many Belizeans know, jaguars are a protected species, and Belize is proud to have the world’s first jaguar sanctuary. Filly, named after San Felipe, where she was found, is just one of several jaguars that have been rehabilitated by the Belize Zoo.
Dr. Celso Poot
“ Since 2003, the Belize Zoo has been working with the government of Belize to address and try to reduce wildlife conflict, particularly those with jaguars and cattle ranchers or livestock owners. In the past, these cats were killed indiscriminately. They were either shot or they were poisoned. And we work with the government to try and strike a balance along with farmers on how jaguars, wildlife in general, can coexist with society, with farmers, with ranchers.”
Filly is known for her calm demeanor, though she can be quite shy. At the Belize Zoo, she wasn’t put on display for public interaction. Kuhn mentioned that Filly’s new caregivers at the Milwaukee Zoo plan to respect her boundaries and give her the space she needs.
Katie Kuhn
“When Filly gets there, she’s not going to be on habitat for people to see right away. We give them plenty of time to acclimate. We go at their pace. We kind of read what they’re telling us. So she’s going to get to be in her spaces without being viewable to the public until she’s ready. So we’re going to watch her fuse and once she says I want to be out there, then she will. So we’ll keep the public informed on our end when we’re ready for that stuff. But this entire process has just been one step at a time.”
Filly has been training for her long journey for several months and the team at the Milwaukee Zoo is ready to welcome her when she arrives.
Katie Kuhn
“The staff is pretty excited. There’s been a lot of anxiety and, you know, this is a long process. It takes a lot to move any animal anywhere. Nut they’re excited to have a new friend for our jaguar. I think he’s ready. But we’re just excited to get to learn Filly and what makes tick and who she is as an individual. The staff here at zoo has done a a fantastic job with her. She knows a few behaviors already. So the staff is just really looking to continue to connect with the keepers here so that we can continue that training and her care at our zoo.”
Belize has reported its fifth case of New World Screwworm just under a month after the first case was identified in the Toledo District. News Five has confirmed that four of them were discovered in cattle and the fifth in a dog. With the cattle industry being one of the largest contributors to Belize’s exports, there are concerns about the potential impact if infections aren’t contained. However, Prime Minister Briceño reassures everyone that there’s no need to worry—protocols have been put in place, and Mexico is still accepting cattle from Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minster John Briceño
“It is expected. We did not bring the screwworm it is a stupid mistake done in Panama when they released the insects in error and that progressively came to us. They didn’t put enough effort to stop it back then. Now it is here and we are trying our best to contain it. What is important is that we are worked out a protocol with the Mexicans on how to export our cattle. This is not something that affects the meat. If you see the animal with the screwworm you cure it and five days later it is a healthy animal. So the plan is we have a coral area where we inspect the animal in Belize and it goes over to the Mexican side and they inspect. If they see any animal with signs of screwworm, they send it back, we cure it and five six days later we can send it back.”
The Briceño administration is pouring two million dollars into fixing the sugar roads up north. As we’ve reported, many of these roads are in terrible shape due to weeks of relentless rain. Repair work has already started, but the weather is still causing delays. Today, Prime Minister Briceño announced that, on top of the one million dollars already set aside for road repairs, the government has earmarked an additional one million dollars. Besides the awful road conditions, the quality of sugarcane has significantly deteriorated over the years, leading to a drop in sugar production. Here’s what the Prime Minister had to say about these issues.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Yes we have the support of the cane farmers. We have done very well for them. If you remember, the previous government gave them four hundred thousand dollars. What we have done, we have signed a contract in December but we cant control the rain. It has been raining since October virtually nonstop. And, the only way we could fix these road is if it gets dry and we know that. But of course, there is impatience and I understand the impatience. What we have done is put another million on top of what we have signed. So, it is going to be two million. We have never put that kind of money and they know that and they are working with us. But even the factory is not going well for them because the cane has too much water. The content is so high. The ton of cane for a ton of sugar is way too high. Usually, we have about nine tons of cane for one ton of sugar. We are about eighteen tons of cane to one ton of sugar. The amount of mud that comes in is wrecking up the equipment of BSI. So maybe we should have held back a bit more for the conditions to change.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is gearing up to upgrade a significant stretch of the Philip Goldson Highway, from mile eight to twenty-four and a half. This ambitious project, set to last thirty months, will bring the highway up to international standards. After securing funding from the Central American Bank for Economic Development (CABEI) and Taiwan in 2023, the contract was awarded to Teichroeb and Sons for forty-four million dollars. Construction is slated to begin next month. News Five’s Marion Ali has more on the scope of this extensive project.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Chief Engineer Evondale Moody shared that the Philip Goldson Highway Project, covering miles eight to twenty-four and a half, will involve a complete overhaul of the highway. Several new features will also be added as part of this extensive rehabilitation.
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, M.I.D.H
“We will be widening the road to an international standard, including shoulders. The section between Ladyville and Lords Bank will be transformed into a boulevard to accommodate the amount of traffic that we have within that corridor. We will also be doing significant drainage improvements within the Ladyville area because that area is usually inundated by floodwaters throughout the years. And so we will be incorporating some new line drains within that section. And these will be covered line drains that will be utilized as sidewalks as well on both sides of the carriageway in an effort to improve road safety as we traverse through the Ladyville and Lord’s Bank community.”
Moody assured that safety will be a top priority in the design.
Evondale Moody
“A number of accidents have occurred within that section of our highway. And so we want to do our best to try and improve road safety within that corridor and for the entire length of the project as we move along. To do that, we have to improve a number of the junctions that we have in place right now. So under the project, we’ll be constructing four new large diameter roundabouts, commencing with one at the airport access road for the Coastal Highway Junction. We’ll be having a second roundabout at Lords Bank Junction. And then a third at the Burrell Boom Junction and then the fourth one will be at the Old Northern Highway intersection with the Phillip Olson Highway. Those are major junctions for us that have always created problems in terms of accidents because of speeding and people not abiding by the traffic signs.”
We caught up with Michael Farrell, a motorist, to get his thoughts as he navigated that stretch of the highway today.
Michael Farrell, Motorist
“The infrastructure is there on all the roadways but the drivers – like the more road they have the more crazy they drive so having the infrastructure, you need to have police on the road with the speed guns that they say they already have. Bring out the speed guns. Vehicles on the roads that needs to be off the road; people need to have their vehicles up to par.”
The project will also include several secondary junctions connecting to the existing highway, like the one at Los Lagos. Additionally, over fifty culverts will be installed to enhance the road’s climate resilience and help it better withstand flooding. Marion Ali for News Five.
So, what about those pesky potholes that are turning into craters at the northern and western entrances to Belize City? Chief Engineer Moody explained that the Ministry has been battling the frequent rains to get those repairs done. A particular trouble spot is the section of the Philip Goldson Highway, between the Haulover Bridge and Biltmore, that breaks up every few years due to the unstable ground underneath. Moody mentioned that until they can secure the hefty funds needed to drive piles into the earth to stabilize it, they’ll have to keep up with continuous corrective work.
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, M.I.D.H
“The maintenance crew is out doing those works, but we need to deal with the weather as well in carrying out our work successfully. The idea is to try and see how best we could garner funds to do the piling foundation for that section of the highway because I think I’ve mentioned before that that will continue to settle as time progresses because of the amount of peat that we have underlying the pavement surface there. And so what we’re doing as a ministry is just corrective measures, but that’s only on a temporary basis because that is not a long term solution to fixing the problem. The long-term solution is for us to pile the carriageway similar to what we have done to the approach of the bridges. And also the piling that we’ve done to the roundabout near the Benny’s apartment. Once we could get funding to do that, then we would have a long-term solution to solving that consolidated problem that continuously, uh, bothers us, but until such time, we’ll have to just do the, the regular maintenance that the MIDH is doing.”
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, many of which will directly and indirectly impact Belizeans. One notable order will temporarily halt US aid to foreign countries until certain policies are revised. We asked Prime Minister Briceño how he thinks this order will affect the financial support Belize receives from the US. He was also asked for his thoughts on the appointment of a US Chargé d’Affaires instead of an ambassador.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We do not get a lot of financial assistance from the U.S. We were awarded and signed a contract with the Millenium Corporation, MCC. The MCC is a private entity, not a government entity. But it is funded by the U.S. Government. So, when we signed a compact that money had already been set aside. So, I believe we will be fine. We will still have access to that money. So, whether the MCC will get more funding for signing other compacts in other countries I hope it could be worked out, because I think MCC is doing a great job in different countries, and we are excited to work with them in education and energy.”
Reporter
“Should we be offended that we are now with a Charge’ and not an ambassador?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“That is for their country to decide. We have been without an ambassador. I am told that Bahamas from 2012 did not have an ambassador and finally Hershel Walker the football player has been nominated to be ambassador. It is up to them. We hope they put an ambassador. I am sure the people close to Donald Trump will realize that there is an opening to come to Belize.”
The Forty-seventh President of the United States has announced plans to invade Panama and take control of the Panama Canal, a crucial shipping route connecting the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Prime Minister Briceño has made it clear that Panama is a sovereign nation and has Belize’s full support.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t see that happening, the United States invading Panama to take over the canal. It is good politics, good to say but I don’t think he will go through with that. But our support is one hundred percent with Panama. Panama is a sovereign country, and the canal belongs to Panama.”
