February, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Why was Millionaire Boris Mannsfeld Murdered?

Police are still trying to determine a motive for the murder of American businessman Boris Mannsfeld, who was shot at the Cocoplum Villas in Placencia on Friday. Mannsfeld, a major real estate developer in Belize for the past two decades, primarily operated in Placencia. He was shot once in the back of the neck and found lying on the ground with his wallet and still-holstered firearm. While the motive remains unclear, Mannsfeld was involved in several fraud cases before the court, both as the accused and the accuser. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The murder of real estate mogul Boris Mannsfeld remains a mystery. On February twentieth, Mannsfeld returned to his beachside villa on the Placencia Peninsula, and by the next night, he was found dead on the front steps. Police believe this was a targeted attack, as Mannsfeld was involved in several high-profile legal battles. In 2024, Mannsfeld sent out emails to media houses across the country, detailing allegations of fraud schemes run by multiple colleagues in the industry, two of whom had been murdered. Several of these emails mention businessman Frik De Meyere, a former associate who severed ties with Mannsfeld in 2023. Mannsfeld accused De Meyere of using Boris Mannsfeld’s website to redirect customers to a separate page, allegedly stealing business. Within forty-eight hours of Mannsfeld’s death, De Meyere was picked up by police for questioning. Attorney Andrew Bennett provides some insight into his client’s ongoing legal dispute.

Andrew Bennett, Attorney-at-law

“Mr. De Meyere tendered his notice of resignation of partnership to Mr. Boris Mannsfeld. Unfortunately, occurring at the same time was the discovery of nonpayment of stamp duties on real estate transactions. This involved the firm of JC Consulting. And as a result of that, there was a further dispute. whereby Mr. Mannsfeld alleged misappropriation of funds by Mr. Frik De Meyere. That led to several lawsuits being filed in the court. We have provided a defense on behalf of Mr. De Meyere. We were going through several of them, but unfortunately, they have not really moved from pleadings In the claim 760 of 2023, which dealt with the allegation of funds being misappropriated by Frik, an application was made to appoint an expert auditor, Cedric Flowers. But as of today that did not move anywhere.”

De Meyere wasn’t the only colleague Mannsfeld accused of fraud. In another email, he detailed a land fraud plot that he claimed involved De Meyere, the late Ricardo Borja, and Darren Taylor. Mannsfeld alleged that the trio commissioned fake passports and bribed government officials to fast-track their scheme. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that these allegations have yet to be proven or disproven.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“For us to be able to investigate, the investigation needs to be triggered by somebody. If it were that there were passports that were fraudulently issued, then immigration would have come to the police and lodged a complaint, and then we would investigate. if it were that situations where, as I read what was posted by Mr. Mannsfeld of, I think it was tax stamp duty, stamp duty fraud. Again, we would need to get a complaint from the Ministry of Natural Resources stamp duty division or section on that matter so that we would be able to investigate. So our investigators are going to touch base certainly with the Ministry of Natural Resources on that issue and see if we will be able to get something from them to prove or dispel the allegations as outlined by Mr. Mannsfeld.”

While Mannsfeld told the media and his clients that he was about to blow the lid off a multimillion-dollar land fraud scheme, he was also facing several claims of unlawful business practices in court. Police Commissioner Chester Williams emphasized that investigators are not overlooking the complexity of this case and are exploring every possible motive.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police (File: February 24, 2024)

“ We’re also looking at the business transactions that Mr Mannsfeld may have with other individuals without being able to see if we will be able to close in on a possible motive and perhaps suspect. So at this time we don’t have much where that is concerned.”

On Monday, Bennett also shed light on the legal battle his client, Frik De Meyere, had along with Mannsfeld against the late Ricardo Borja. With Mannsfeld’s death, it’s uncertain how the legal proceedings will move forward, as they were scheduled to return to court today. De Meyere has since been released from police custody, but his phone, computer, and firearm have yet to be returned to him.

Andrew Bennett

“We coincidentally, we go to court tomorrow, that would have been another claim which involved the in terms of the stamp duties that Mr. Mannsfeld was alleging was misappropriated by J.C. consulting Ricardo Borja and he had joined Frik De Meyere in those proceedings. That would have been the hearing of an application for the appointment of somebody to represent the estate of Ricardo Borja. So at this point, everything now is in suspense. We will need directions from the court in terms of how it will move forward.”

More details to come as the story develops. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Families Mourn Three Revere Women Found Dead in Belize Resort

The families of three female tourists found dead at a San Pedro resort on Saturday are grieving their tragic loss. Twenty-three-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad, twenty-four-year-old Imane Mallah, and twenty-six-year-old Wafae El-Arar were found dead in their suite at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Their families are in contact with the U.S. Embassy, which is assisting with the investigation. Police Commissioner Chester Williams stated that a pathologist estimated they had been dead for up to 20 hours before being found. The women, of Moroccan descent with U.S. citizenship, were discovered by hotel staff after failing to respond to housekeeping. While no signs of injury were reported, authorities suspect a possible drug overdose due to vomit and froth found around their mouths. However, Mallah’s family told our colleagues at WCVB Boston that they don’t believe that they overdosed.

Muhammed Mallah, Father of Imane Mallah

“My wife talk to my daughter, no call..nothing. After two-thirty p.m. the embassy called me (telling) me that my daughter is dead. What happened? I don’t know if she died in the room, hotel. After that, I don’t know what happened. He came back to my house, her spoke to the other girls parents. Three people, same room, happy birthday vacation. This is not a problem. They are good friends, the best.”

Hajar El Khalfaoui, Friend of Imane Mallah

“So she had spoken to me about wanting to take a vacation and Wafae end Kaoutar made they rest in peace were also very good friends of hers and she was looking for a while. Last year she wanted to go on vacation with her other group of friends but she wasn’t able to because she got sick so this was kind of her redemption. My reaction at first was that it is not true, that she sick sometimes and that she goes MIA on days on end. And it happens all the time where she will be in the hospital and she won’t speak to me for two or three days and then she will just let me know that she is okay, she is in the hospital. So when they first told me I thought it was just that because they hadn’t told me about Wafae end Kaoutar yet. Then when they said it was also three and they said it might be an overdose, I know that that’s not true and I know that that’s a lie because Iman was clean. She wasn’t doing anything. Wafae end Kaoutar would never. The three of the would not die if that is the case. Iman, she is a very smart girl. She knows not to do that. She knows not to put her friends who she loves so much in that situation. There have been times where Iman when I graduated she didn’t want me to go to a party, she didn’t want to go with me because there would be drinking there. That was the kind of person she was. So when they said that it was OD I will never believe that that’s true. I am going to remember her as my sister as my best friend. I will never forget her. Iman means faith in Arabic and I know that Iman is in heaven and I know that she is much happier. She loves so deeply. She felt everything so deeply and so this life wasn’t always that easy for her. I know that God took her because he loves her and she loves God so much. She loves her faith so much. And I know that she is home now.”

ComPol Responds to AG’s Opinion on DeAndre Reid’s Dismissal

The Belize Advisory Council has received a Notice of Appeal from the attorney representing DeAndre Reid, the former Police Constable dismissed for using excessive force when he fatally shot the Governor General’s pet dog. Reid was charged with discharging a firearm without authorization after the incident in May 2024. Reid, through his attorney, is exercising his right under Section Twenty-five of the Police Act, challenging Commissioner of Police Chester Williams’ decision to dismiss him from the Belize Police Department. The notice was sent to the council in September last year. Last week, the Attorney General’s Ministry wrote to the council, pointing out a procedural irregularity and a breach of Reid’s right to due process. They found that Reid should have been given five days to decide whether to plead guilty or not after being served with a disciplinary form. On Monday, Williams responded to the appeal against him.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“ I have read the opinion and I disagree with certain aspect of it. And I think that to some extent the learned Council from the AG Ministry was not privy to all information when he wrote that opinion because one, when we have breaches of our disciplinary code, we don’t need to issue a notice of complaint. Like, for example, if a police officer is found sleeping on duty is absent from duty, intoxicated whilst on duty, discharging firearm without the permission of the Commissioner of Police, those are our internal infractions. So once a police officer commits one of those infractions, there is no need for a notice of complaint. Notice of complaint would apply in situations where a member of the public comes to the police, professional standard branch, and make a complaint against a police officer. On the basis of that then, professional standard branch is going to write the police officer, notify him of the complaint, and ask him to respond within so much days why this action should not be taken against him or her. Those are the instances where. We would normally issue notice of complaint. It’s just like when we deal with the criminal aspect of the law. If the police find a person with unlicensed firearm with drugs committing a traffic infraction, this utterly behavior, the police don’t need an arrest warrant to arrest you. But if done public comes to the police and make a complaint against you that you wo them or what you’re committed, a robbery or burglary, the police have to investigate, then issue a warrant for your arrest before they get arrested. So it’s the same principle that applied.”

ComPol Says Same Principle Was Applied to Nah Case

Williams stood firm on his decision, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. He believed that Reid was properly informed of his arrest and that the principles of natural justice were followed. Williams explained that he used his discretion to dismiss Reid due to the severity of the incident. Williams says that the same principle was applied in the case involving Elmer Nah.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“He would have been notified of the complaint when it happened, through the diary where he was instructed to give a duty report, which he provided a duty report. And again, there is straight law that in circumstances where a person is aware of the reason for their arrest, there is no need for the police to tell them. That is, there have been case laws on that. Now, following the tribunal hearing, again, with a view to ensure that the principle of natural justice was adhered to. I did similar to what I did in a cases where the legal office wrote the then explain to him the process in terms of the nature of the offense that he was convicted for and requested from him reasons why in light of the gravity of the offense, he has been convicted for, he should not be dismissed, and I think he was given seven days to respond to that notice. He responded to that notice that respond came to me. I read his response. I took it into consideration and uh having read his response and uh look at the nature of the offense. I exercise my discretion in dismissing him on the basis that the response given was not satisfactory, right? And so for the council to have said that natural justice was not followed, that’s not true. And importantly, he also said that the nature of the offense was indeed a serious one, which, in fact, he agreed with me then, that the offense is a serious one. And as such – but his issue was basically that the natural justice principle was not adhered to, which in fact, we did adhere to. The principle of natural justice. We did that in our case and you all saw how the court ruled on that.”

How TV Helped to Shape Belizean Culture

Television made its debut in Belize in 1981 with Tropical Vision airing on Channel 7. In the early days, there were three main channels: seven, nine, and sometimes eleven, which rebroadcasted programs from North America. By the mid-80s, the Chicago Cubs games and soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and Another World were all the rage. As locally produced programs started to emerge, along with news and sports broadcasts, television transformed over the next decade into Belizeans’ favorite way to get information. Twenty years in, TV was already overtaking radio and newspapers as the go-to medium for staying informed and educated. Now, almost forty-five years later, television has outshone the other mediums, pushing newspapers to the brink of obsolescence. In this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Marion Ali explores how television has helped shape Belizean culture.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The very first TV programs in Belize hit the airwaves in 1981, the same year the country gained political independence. Back then, most of the shows were broadcasts from U.S.-based TV stations. As TV gained popularity, Belizeans became hooked on what was then the prime source of entertainment. Who could forget Harry Carey and Cubs Baseball, or the steamy plots of soap operas like Another World? From its introduction in 1981, even though we didn’t have continuous on-air programming, there were locally produced shows that aired, like the hoisting of the Belizean National Flag and the Independence Day parade. Quite a few shows followed in the early years of Belizean TV. Silvaana Udz wrote, produced, and presented Belize All Over. She believes that television has transformed Belizean culture over the decades.

Silvaana Udz, Producer/Presenter, Belize All Over 1989-90

“Fascinating medium, but my goodness, it makes things larger than life – television. That burger you wanna sink your teeth into it when you see the ad. We crave things because we see it. What is your image of a beautiful person? We constantly are bombarded with these images. Some of the early rappers in Belize, they would rap with a Jamaican accent, or they would bring in Jamaican wording instead of – “They say this and they say that and go, “Dema say – dema this,” which would be more Jamaican. So, it definitely impacts everything, culture, etcetera.”

Belizeans quickly became fans of many U.S. TV shows from the ’80s. There was Solid Gold and comedies like The Jeffersons, Barney Miller, and Different Strokes. Many housewives tuned in to these daily programs back then. Eventually, television began to take hold in Belize. Denvor Fairweather, who grew up watching the lights, cameras, and action of U.S. TV, became a producer while working in television-based jobs. He saw the need for more local TV productions and acted. He is best known for the hit series Noh Matta Wat.

Denvor Fairweather, Local TV Producer

“I realized that there nothing much on TV in terms of entertainment, so I made investment from my salary to get equipment and actually did my first local TV show “You Name It” in 1995. We did actually four seasons of Noh Matta Wat. We did season one in 2005. We did season two in 2006. I believe we did season three in 2008. And we did season four in 2010 because Steve Berry was still a professor at Howard, and he just took some sabbaticals or periods off where he did come back and then we worked on the seasons. In 2017, we teamed up with Kim Vasquez, and we did a pilot for episode season of a sitcom named “Living Mi Life.”

Fairweather recalls his childhood before TVs were in every bedroom and living room. He feels that television has taken away some of the old-time traditions we used to cherish.

Denvor Fairweather

“The social aspect of watching movies in theatres and going out on Sunday evening for ice cream and stuff like that changed people to stay home and watch TV. So it was, let’s say, it had a negative social effect in that aspect. The other negative social, major negative social effect that TV had was, I remember when Colors came out back in about 1987. I think Colors came out around that time. That’s when you started to hear about Crips and Bloods and then the gangbang. And I suppose you had bad man and you had bad areas, but they weren’t affiliated or associated and teaming up as such.”

Stewart Krohn is the former Managing Director of Channel. Having spent several years in TV and News production, Krohn agrees that television is an extremely powerful medium that has had its pros and cons, but he believes that Belizean television is greatly influenced by U.S TV, and some are based on personal tastes.

Stewart Krohn, Former Managing Director, Channel 5

“Things like smoking, you know, fewer Americans smoke now. Guess what? Fewer Belizians smoke. It might be because cigarettes are so much more expensive now, but it might be that people are more health conscious. People work out and live healthier lifestyles more than they used to. Maybe this was a homegrown thing, but maybe, just maybe, it was influenced by what we see on television. It’s a very powerful medium and in many cases it sets the narrative.”

But Krohn also pointed out some more serious issues that television might have influenced.

Stewart Krohn

“Let’s take the instance of environmentalism. It’s my belief that as the United States Culture moved more toward environmentally friendly, um, a more environmentally friendly position. I think Belize reflected that. While you had your forces in Belize pushing toward conservation and that, certainly it got a boost when you saw that culturally the United States got big into conservation. It made it much easier for that message to sell in Belize. I would add to that the same attitudes towards LGBTQ plus things. Personally, I see that as a positive influence. Others might look at it as a negative influence.”

Fairweather would like to see more local culture in Belizean television, but he says it takes a lot of capital investment for these types of programs.

Denvor Fairweather

“When it comes to entertainment based programming that may not have as much viewership as news, albeit it would be more entertaining, but also costs more to produce. For example, when I do, for a season of “Noh Matta Wat,” we would actually spend about six months shooting, planning and shooting. And another two months editing, so we were doing somewhere between six and eight months of work for eight to ten episodes, weekly episodes. Now, if I try to charge, when we look at it, I only have about twelve minutes of advertising.”

Fairweather revealed that he’s working on a new program set to air in December. The series will be called Clutches. Marion Ali for News Five.

The UDP’s Color Controversy is Settled!

After a late evening meeting, the Elections and Boundaries Commission decided that all forty-one United Democratic Party candidates, under the leadership of Shyne Barrow and Tracy Panton, will be assigned the color red. This decision is based on the fact that the High Court won’t rule on the UDP leadership dispute until after March thirty-first, well after the general election. The debate over the color red arose because both Barrow and Taegar-Panton claim leadership of the embattled party. On March twelfth, voters will head to the polls, where the ballots will feature a red block with the names of the candidates, without any distinctions for the UDP.

Meet the Candidates in Belmopan and Cayo South

Tonight, we will continue our “Meet the Candidates” series. In this segment, we’re heading west to Belmopan and Cayo South. Voters in these areas will have to choose between the incumbent P.U.P. candidate and two U.D.P. candidates. It’s shaping up to be an unprecedented election season for these divisions. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The race is really heating up with just two weeks to go before the March twelfth general elections. Constituencies in the Cayo District nominated their candidates on Monday and are all set to cast their votes. In Belmopan, it’s a three-way showdown between two United Democratic Party candidates and one People’s United Party candidate. P.U.P. incumbent Oscar Mira is hoping to secure a second term in office.

Oscar Mira, P.U.P Candidate, Belmopan

“It is a humbling experience. It is an honor a very few have gotten the opportunity. I thank the Lord for giving me that opportunity. I also thank the people of Belmopan for putting their trust in me.”

Mira says his team has made significant investments in the Capital City over the last four years. He says equitable educational and healthcare access were also priorities.

Oscar Mira

“The infrastructure work in Belmopan must continue. We are growing too fast, and we must keep up with the demands of infrastructure, the demands of water and light and all the utilities we have to have in Belmopan. Another high school for Belmopan, a vocational high school for Belmopan, as well as the hospital for Belmopan. It is not time that we in Belmopan have a covered infrastructure for sports.”

But to secure a second term, Mira will have to overcome two U.D.P. candidates on March twelfth—a challenge no P.U.P. candidate has faced before in Belmopan. Luckily for Mira, his U.D.P. opponents, John Saldivar and Ralston Frazer, are at odds with each other. Frazer has claimed that the Capital City has become divided under the PUP’s leadership.

Ralston Frazer, U.D.P Candidates, Belmopan

“In one word you can call it inequity, fairness is not being applied in Belmopan. I am going to touch on this a bit. I know it is going to be controversial. There is a growing segregation in Belmopan. We all know, and I think we need to make every effort to let it not be. This did not happen by the will of the people in Belmopan. There are certain elements among us in Belmopan who are propagating this, because they benefit from it. The whole divide and conquer situation. And we cannot afford this anywhere in the world, in Belize and Belmopan, we do not want it in Belmopan.”

On the other hand, John Saldivar argues that Belmopan has been rapidly deteriorating under Oscar Mira’s representation. Saldivar is hoping to regain control of the constituency after failing at the polls in 2020.

John Saldivar, U.D.P Candidate, Belmopan

“Land issues has become a serious issue. People’s land has been taken away from them. Pantry programs have been ripped away from the poor and elderly of this city and people are going to rebel against that when election day comes. I don’t think the people of Belmopan will be confused at all. They know what is happening and who the traditional leader is here in Belmopan, and they understand the leadership riff which has nothing to do at all with who is on the ballot in Belmopan. They understand that John Saldivar is the man for Belmopan.”

The Cayo South constituency, which borders Belmopan to the west, is made up of thirteen villages. In the upcoming March twelfth general election, two U.D.P. candidates are competing for the seat. However, they’ll have to unseat the incumbent area representative, Julius Espat, who is aiming for a fourth term in office.

Julius Espat, P.U.P Candidate, Cayo South

“We built a primary school in Saint Matthews which was extremely important. We are building a primary school in Roaring Creek which is much needed. We have paved about half of the villages, the main arteries. We have opened farmers roads. We have dealt with most if not all the education assistance request. NHI is now in Cayo South. It will start in about a month’s time. That will alleviate the health problems. We continue, there is a lot of employment and work going on. We are working on every facet of life. The idea is to raise the quality of life for rural residents so that they will be on par with urban residents and I think we have come a long way.”

The U.D.P. candidates in Cayo South are Dr. June Young and Jose Samayoa. We caught up with Dr. Young to hear what she’s been hearing from constituents on the ground.

Dr. June Young, U.D.P Candidate, Cayo South

“Some of the challenges are the same. We have some constituencies where people are clamoring for light, water, for land to have access to their homes in some areas to the back of the villages. They do not have access where vehicles can take them to their homes. So, they need to walk for miles to get to their homes. So those are the issues. We know the issue of crime. The other day Mr. Samayoa was shot in Arizona. The villagers are telling us we need a substation in the village, polyclinic and if possible a multigrade school so our children do not have to walk that far to go to school.”

In our conversation with Jose Samayoa, he conceded that Julius Espat is a strong opponent, while asserting that Espat has been unable to fulfill his promises to the people.

Jose Samayoa, U.D.P Candidate, Cayo South

“What inspires me is that we are hurt in Cayo South. We had this area rep out there. He is very strong because he is within the government. He promised a lot to the people of Cayo South. He is a liar. We know already. The reason why I am here is to serve the people of Cayo South and I guess I am ready. I am telling my people of Cayo South I am ready and let us make Cayo South great again.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

70 Schools Gain Internet Through ConnectED Project

Seventy schools across the country are now connected to high-speed internet, thanks to the ConnectED project. This fantastic initiative is a joint effort between the Ministry of Education and Digi, ensuring that schools not only get fast internet but also receive top-notch technical support, maintenance, and continuous monitoring. The big signing ceremony happened at Our Lady of the Way Roman Catholic Primary School in Ladyville. It was a lively event with students, teachers, and key stakeholders all coming together to celebrate this significant leap towards digital integration. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the full story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The digital divide is closing fast. Since its launch in 2022, the ConnectEd project has been transforming education by boosting wireless connectivity across school campuses. As of this month, two hundred and eighty-three schools are now connected, benefiting almost seventy-eighty thousand students and four thousand, five hundred teachers. Minister of Education Francis Fonseca recently announced the rollout of phase two, which will connect seventy more schools. This initiative is truly revolutionizing learning in Belize.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“You had schools where they had some access to the internet, right? They had access. But very often it was in a computer lab or in an office, in the principal’s office, right? Or somebody in a main office. And we recognize that was not enough, that was not sufficient, that was not adequate. We want to make sure that our young people, wherever they are on this beautiful campus, that they will have access to the internet. You no have to di go run inna the teachers lounge or the office or going just in the computer lab. So that’s an important component of this initiative and that’s why the government of Belize has invested millions of dollars in this initiative.”

Fonseca estimates that about seventy-five percent of schools are now digitally connected, but he assures us that the government’s mission won’t stop until every single school is online. The launch of phase two was celebrated with a signing ceremony at Our Lady of the Way Primary School in Ladyville. During the event, the Ministry of Education also gifted the school with twenty-two Chromebooks. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia highlighted just how crucial internet access is for the community.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, BRC

“Digital connection for education is so very important. I want to recall minister, three years ago, I had the distinct honor of joining you and your delegation in London for the Education World Forum. After COVID. It was being stressed the importance of digital learning worldwide. And now that we see BTL working with the Ministry of Education to bring this project online today and to increase the Internet connection of this very large school. Principal, how much enrollment? Three hundred and sixty students. Wow. And I know Ladyville Evangelical has another three hundred and odd and Ladyville SDA, Seventh Day Adventist, they have what mussi bout three hundred as well. So you can see the impact that this community is having on education for our children.”

Digi is all in on this mission. They’ve pledged to support the government’s goal of getting every school in Belize connected to the internet. To make this happen, they’ve signed two contracts: one to keep the ConnectED program running in the 213 schools already benefiting, and another to expand it to 70 more schools. Digi CEO Ivan Tesucum shared his excitement to continue the partnership.

Ivan Tesucum, Chief Executive Officer, Digi

“With this expansion, we’re bringing high speed internet connectivity to more corners of Belize, north to south, east to west. Ensuring that students nowhere are left behind, doesn’t matter where you are, and that they can access equitable quality of education. That is the key. At Digi or National Telecom, we believe that connectivity means more than just accessing the internet. It is the gateway to knowledge, innovation, and empowerment. Connectivity is about inspiring a generation to dream bigger. To think beyond what we see. To think beyond the boundaries. And to shape Belize. Yes, to put Belize on the map. Into the educational sphere. And create an environment where teaching and learning are not just about books. But it’s also about being dynamic. Being able to interact globally. And to be able to collaborate worldwide”

Tesucum encouraged the students at the ceremony to let their curiosity lead them to new heights as they take advantage of the digital world and its opportunities. Britney Gordon for News Five.

PACT and APAMO Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) have teamed up, signing a strategic partnership agreement during a ceremony at the Ministry of Sustainable Development’s Auditorium in Belmopan. The main goal of this partnership is to boost the management effectiveness and operational capacity of community-based organizations that oversee critical protected areas in Belize.

Dr. Kenrick Williams, Chair, Protected Areas Conservation Trust

“We’ve been looking at, how do we, as PACT, continue to support and strengthen the community-based organizations to be able to do the work, the critical work that they need to do on a daily basis. How do we invest in building the capacities of these organizations consistently? How do we ensure that we’re meeting the targets of the protected areas system in terms of those biodiversity monitoring, in terms of the data research. How do we move towards financial sustainability? I think those are some of the key areas that we’ve looked at in terms of supporting these community-based organizations over time. Now, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, APAMO, has been a critical bridging organization in providing that function to the system. And so, the bridging organizations help us then to meet those national objectives. They help us to provide the capacity building. They help us to build the financial management and financial sustainability in these smaller community-based NGOs because, really and truly, what you have from these CBOs is heart and soul.”

APAMO Chair, “The day has finally come!”

Today’s signing reaffirms PACT’s dedication to its conservation partners, including APAMO and community-based organizations, that act as guardians of our natural heritage, protecting its ecological, social, and environmental significance. APAMO serves as an umbrella organization for NGOs and CBOs managing protected areas in Belize. In 2019, APAMO established its Central Resource Center to bolster the institutional and sustainable development of protected areas, offering support in business development, marketing, financial planning, proposal writing, project management and reporting, event planning, and park management. Since its inception in 2007, PACT has collaborated with this non-profit organization to ensure the sustainable use and protection of Belize’s natural resources.

Eli Miller, Executive Director, APAMO

“The day has finally come and I cannot over express how pleased we are that we’re finally here. It’s been a long time in the making [and] it has meant a lot of engagement among our own members. But also with PACT at every level. I always say that PACT and the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, APAMO, is a natural fit as partners. In 2019, we entered the first partnership, but thereafter it was paused. Ever since we’ve been trying to improve and strengthen our partnership and the day has come. So we want to say thank you and we look forward to it not being a short or medium-term partnership. I think history has shown that more medium to long-term partnerships are more effective. APAMO, I would like to say, is one of the longest standing network organizations in Belize. We were established in 2007, with a clear mandate to advocate, to lobby for our members, to have a voice. Our slogan, or our logo is that we are the voice of Belize’s protected areas.”