P.S.U. President Dean Flowers has criticized the government’s response to the joint unions’ April 22nd letter to the prime minister. Flowers described the reply, received yesterday, as sheepish and lacking any concrete information on how the government plans to address their demands. He expressed frustration, stating that the Briceño administration’s disrespect towards the unions continues. This development adds fuel to the fire ahead of Friday’s planned protest in Belmopan.
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“Last month we would have issued a joint letter to the prime minister of Belize who responded sheepishly yesterday to acknowledge receiving, that was the extent of his letter, I hereby acknowledge receiving your letter and the government negotiating team will be in touch with you, absolutely no response to the issues we raised, to the request we made, to our framework that we submitted to him as far back as November. So, the disrespect of John Briceno continues. If Stuart Leslie wants to be paid like a CEO of a fortune five hundred company, then Dean Flowers wants to be paid like an employee of a fortune five hundred company and every single public officer that I represent has the right to be paid the salary of a fortune five hundred company because we do the heavy lifting. We are the laborers of this country, not the CEOs.”
Today, Belize took a significant step in disaster preparedness by hosting the first national consultative workshop for the UN’s Early Warnings for All Initiative. Launched in 2022, this global project aims to ensure everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to early warnings for natural disasters. The workshop, organized by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the National Meteorological Service, focused on fostering collaboration and driving national ownership of the project’s action plan. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction conducted a gap analysis to identify the program’s strengths and areas needing improvement. Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator at NEMO, provided further insights into the initiative’s progress and goals.
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“So this first event is looking at the Early Warning for All Initiative, which is an initiative by the United Nations General Secretary. And the idea behind this is for us as a system to be able to provide early warning for all hazards for all people. So we are doing our part in implementing that in Belize. So we are looking at ways. How we can look at all hazards, multi hazards, not only hurricanes, but fires, floods, everything and have the ability to reach every single person in Belize and provide them enough for warning so they can make educated decisions.”
Britney Gordon
“What kind of systems are being implemented through this initiative, then in order to get those warnings early?”
Daniel Mendez
“Okay, so this is called a system of systems. So there are already systems existing among all our partners, so the Ministry of Health already has a system where they send out the risk information, the Ministry of Agriculture and so on. But it’s how can we as a system combine all of these in order for us to be able to coordinate and to provide that information to people and give them enough time. So it it’s a really a way of how we can collaborate as it’s a system of collaboration so we can make sure that we don’t miss anything.”
Today, the United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNDRR) and the Government of Belize signed on to the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative. This unique cross-stakeholder project aims to enhance local resilience by building partnerships between cities and encouraging knowledge sharing. UNDRR Regional Chief Nahuel Arena Garcia explained how the organization plans to create a roadmap for urban resilience in Belize City, helping the city better prepare for and respond to natural disasters. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a safer and more resilient future for Belize’s urban areas.
Nahuel Arena Garcia, Regional Chief, U.N.D.R.R.
“We support countries at national level, but also local level to implement what’s called the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction. The Sendai framework is the global blueprint for reducing disaster risk. So it was adapted in 2015 by the General Assembly and it supports countries or provides guidance for countries to enhance risk knowledge, to enhance disaster risk governance to make sure that every investment, be public or private, contributes to resilience and not to create any new risk and to ensure that countries and the national systems have the right capacities to prepare and response effectively and build back better from disasters.”
Britney Gordon
“So it’s not necessarily the launch of a program, but more so signing on to a commitment.”
Nahuel Arena Garcia
“Exactly. You put it very well. So this is a commitment to engage in a systematic and methodical path to develop the vision, the strategies, the plans that will put both Belize City, but also the national level in a path to resilience. The government of Belize at national level is doing very good advances. However, it requires a strong governance across different sectors. Different ministries need to be involved. The private sector needs to be involved. Reducing disaster risk definitely has to be a whole of society approach. So we are here to support the government of Belize in that in that endeavor.”
Last week, a group of parents gathered in front of Corozal Methodist School to protest the suspension of two preschool teachers. The teachers were placed on administrative leave after organizing a meeting with parents to discuss graduation plans, defying the administration’s orders. The protesting parents demanded the teachers’ reinstatement, arguing that the teachers were defending their rights to be involved in the graduation planning process. Initially, the school declined to comment on the matter. However, in a letter issued to parents and guardians today, the school explained that the decision to place the teachers on leave was due to repeated instances of professional misconduct. The letter assured parents that the school’s priority remains the safety, academic development, and holistic well-being of students, and that steps are being taken to ensure minimal disruption to the quality of education during this period.
Nurses are the unsung heroes of our healthcare system, tirelessly working weekends and holidays to care for the nation’s sick. Their dedication often goes unnoticed, and it’s not uncommon for them to skip meals to attend to their patients. During Nurses Week, the Fort George Hotel and the Belize Bank took a moment to honor these hardworking professionals by hosting a special breakfast at the K.H.M.H Kitchen. This gesture acknowledges the incredible efforts of the hospital’s nurses throughout the year. News Five’s Marion Ali was there to capture the event and share the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
In a refreshing change of pace, nurses at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital began their day with a nutritious breakfast. These dedicated healthcare providers, who tirelessly advocate for their patients’ well-being, often skip their own morning meals due to the demands of their job. Today, however, they took a moment to practice what they preach, fueling up with healthy food to better serve their community.
Kereen Birch, Nursing Supervisor, K.H.M.H.
“Eating is important, but we find out that we do it afterwards because we are focusing on the person that’s in front of us that needs the care. Many nurses come to work and they have not yet eaten, and so they go straight into work and sometimes they don’t eat until lunchtime. So we thought that this would be a nice start to the day and offer some healthy food.”
In a touching gesture of gratitude, Fort George Hotel and Belize Bank teamed up to provide a healthy breakfast for the hardworking nurses at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Hotel staff were on hand at the hospital’s dining area, serving up nutritious meals to say “thank you” for the sacrifices these nurses make daily. The event saw over a hundred nurses from various units and departments come together, enjoying a moment of appreciation. Shauna Arnold, Marketing Executive at Fort George Hotel and Spa, expressed the hotel’s commitment to honoring the dedication of these healthcare heroes.
Shauna Arnold, Marketing Executive, Fort George Hotel and Spa
“The Fort George partnered with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to kind of step away from our normal everyday activities to really honor and appreciate nurses and all the commitment that nurses have made to the hospitals, to our communities, to clinics, all of that, and to offer them this special breakfast. Through the work of the Human Resource Department here. I think they really brought us together. They wanted to offer something special to nurses, and with the quality of breakfast that we offer, I think it was a great opportunity for us to really showcase and really give back and share. The nurses, I think have made tremendous sacrifices for with their lives, but also for the community as well. I mean, whether it’s in time of crisis or just that steady everyday rhythm of helping other people and giving back. I think it is, it is time or it is due that we give something back to them, and I think it is only fitting. Some of them work long hours, or a lot of them work long hours. I think it was only fitting that we then offer them breakfast.”
Nursing Supervisor Kareen Birch at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital reveals that appreciation for nurses isn’t limited to Nurses Week. Birch shared that these healthcare heroes receive thanks in various forms throughout the year, whether it comes from within the institution or from everyday people. This ongoing recognition highlights the community’s deep respect and gratitude for the nurses’ unwavering dedication and hard work.
Kareen Birch
“Our efforts are always appreciated and recognized. Maybe not to the degree that some people expect, but there’s always some form of appreciation being offered, maybe not from the organization. Sometimes it’s just a patient that comes in. Sometimes it’s someone that you’re walking on the street might say a kind word. So appreciation is always shown just that it showed at different levels in different degrees.”
Breakfast is just the beginning of celebrations at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for Nurses Week. Sharine Reyes, the hospital’s Financial Controller, unveiled a packed agenda filled with various activities to honor the nurses’ hard work and dedication. From wellness events to fun gatherings, K.H.M.H. is making sure their nurses feel appreciated and celebrated throughout the week.
Sharine Reyes, Financial Controller, K.H.M.H.
“It’s a full week of events. This evening we’re taking part in the float with the nursing council, and tomorrow we have our sporting day. So it’s a full week of event that the nurse have lined up. They have a committee that they put everything together. And due to the fact that we don’t have the finance to be able to do all of this for them, some of our sponsors stepped in. Yesterday we had a appreciation ceremony that all of them, well, all the units took part in and I think they’re, they’re really feeling the appreciation. Our nurses do do a lot of hard work. They’re here 24-7, sometimes their shortages and they take cover.”
The nurses will test their fitness capabilities during a day of sports on Thursday. Marion Ali for News Five.
Belizeans can now enjoy a new level of convenience with the launch of an innovative money transfer service, thanks to a partnership between the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Western Union. Starting this week, Digi Wallet account holders no longer need to visit physical Western Union locations to receive international money transfers. This morning, News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the feature launch to bring us more details on this exciting collaboration.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Since 2022, Digi Wallet has been revolutionizing financial services in Belize, offering universal access to all citizens, especially the unbanked. Now, the app is taking another significant step towards inclusivity by partnering with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Western Union. This collaboration aims to further enhance accessibility and convenience for Digi Wallet users across the country.
“So the app traditionally has been a payment service provider. You can pay your bills, you can purchase stuff up, you can pay at merchants. We have over fifteen hundred merchants countrywide and growing. What the Digi Wallet is now venturing into is wallet-adjacent services. Which means we are looking at offering services that provide more access, more convenience. A lot of these things are apps can do, it’s just creating the correct format for them to perform it for the public.”
Digi Wallet users can now receive Western Union funds directly into their digital wallets, eliminating the need to wait in line at physical locations. Akmar Codd, Business Development Manager at the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (B.C.C.I.), shares insights on how this innovative partnership came to fruition.
Akmar Codd
Akmar Codd, Business Development Manager, B.C.C.I.
“We have been moving money for quite some time, the fastest and easiest way to move money. So we’ve noticed new ways to move money wallets. So we have this wallet in Belize. We have Digi Wallet, And so we saw it fit to partner with them. They reach out to try to move this initiative forward. It’s something that has been introduced within the region. So we in Belize, we are catching up on this. It’s just the way that we think we need to go. It’s accessibility, it has the ease of doing business. It really gives our customers options.”
Starting May fifth, Digi Wallet users can enjoy the convenience of receiving Western Union transfers directly through the app. With just one simple click from the home screen, accessing funds has never been easier. Monique Ford-Vicente, Marketing Manager at Digi Wallet, explains how this new feature works and its benefits for users.
Monique Ford-Vicente
“Once you select the button, you will be presented with the Western Union form whereby you just input the regular requirements to your MTCN, the relationship of the sender to you, the purpose, the amount, and then you press submit within ten minutes maximum twenty minutes, you will receive your Western Union funds in your Digi Wallet account. There is no additional fee up outside of this, so there is no fee when you go to the physical store. There is no fee when you utilize it with the digital wallet account.”
For nearly three decades, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been a master agent of Western Union, with around thirty sub-agents across the country. While the Chamber considered launching its own digital wallet, Business Development Manager Akmar Codd revealed that partnering with Digi Wallet proved to be the more beneficial option. This collaboration aims to streamline money transfer services and enhance convenience for users nationwide.
Akmar Codd
“As mentioned Digi Wallet is a member of the Chamber. Of course, we thought about doing it ourselves, but Digi Wallet has already created this part of the wheel. So it was best for us to, as I said, partner with our members. Digi is a well-renowned company in Belize, so we definitely saw it fit to go along with them.”
To receive a Western Union transfer through Digi Wallet, users must be the account owner and cannot accept transfers on behalf of others. The good news is that there are no additional fees for this service. However, all standard rules for Western Union and Digi Wallet transactions still apply.
Monique Vicente Ford
“As for the amounts those are regarding in the same as your Digi Wallet holding at com. So as a subscriber, you have different holding limits. When you initially subscribe, you’re automatically provided with a silver wallet and you can hold up to fifteen hundred in your silver wallet at any one time. You can always upgrade to gold or platinum, which has higher limits for transacting. So if you know that you’re going to be receiving frequent transfers, you can always reach out to us. We will let you know how to upgrade your wallet and it’s usually pretty simple. Provide us with a recent utility bill and a job slip and we can upgrade your wallet.”
Digi Wallet also plans to provide users with the ability to send money internationally from Belize at a later date. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, which signalled that the first ballot in the conclave to elect a new pope ended without a decision.
The 133 cardinal electors, the largest number ever to participate in a conclave, failed to reach the required two-thirds majority of 89 votes. According to the Vatican News, only one round of voting took place on the first day. The result delays the selection of a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.
The conclave began earlier in the afternoon with a solemn Mass, followed by the cardinals’ procession into the Sistine Chapel and their oath of secrecy. Despite expectations that the first smoke signal would appear around 7 p.m., it was delayed by two hours due to the large number of votes to count.
Vatican News estimated that around 45,000 people filled St Peter’s Square, waiting for the traditional signal. While most did not expect a result on the first day, they gathered to witness the historic ritual.
Voting will resume on Thursday, with up to four ballots possible each day until a new pope is chosen.
Temu and Shein, two Chinese e-commerce giants, are facing steep tariffs after President Donald Trump closed a U.S. trade loophole. According to CNBC News, despite the disruption to their low-cost import model, experts say the companies remain well-positioned to compete in the American retail market.
Shipments from China no longer qualify for the de minimis rule, which had exempted imports under $800 from tariffs. The change exposes platforms like Temu and Shein to duties as high as 120%, or flat fees set to double to $200 in June. Prices for direct-from-China goods have already surged, which has prompted Temu to cease direct shipments to the U.S.
Critics long accused both companies of abusing the exemption to “undercut” local businesses and import counterfeit goods. But analysts caution against assuming their downfall.
CNBC reported that Temu has moved to fulfil orders from U.S. warehouses, while Shein is expanding manufacturing in countries like Turkey and Mexico.
The impact is already reaching Belize since many people shop on Temu and Shein using U.S. shipping addresses and freight services. Since the tariffs took effect, several Belizean Shein resellers have adjusted their prices.
A recent ruling by Justice Hondora has invalidated the October 20, 2024 meeting widely referred to as the “Unity Convention” under Tracy’s Panton Alliance for Democracy. The justice declared it did not meet the constitutional requirements to be recognized as a legitimate National Convention.
In a statement today, Panton accepted the Court’s ruling and stressed the broader issues of constitutional defiance and internal reform that gave rise to the meeting in the first place. She said, “With the Party’s leadership refusing to follow its own constitution, and after lawful petitions for a National Convention were submitted and dismissed without justification, Hon. Panton and her supporters were left with no choice but to act. The Unity Convention held on October 20, 2024, was a direct response to that refusal—a catalyst to restore legitimacy, uphold internal democracy, and, most importantly, to allow the voices of the Party’s delegates to be heard. Though the Court ruled that the Convention did not conform strictly to the letter of the Party’s Constitution, the judgment does not erase the critical context: it was the outright obstruction and constitutional defiance by Barrow and Peyrefitte that forced reform-minded members to act.”
“The judgment does not erase the context,” Panton added. “It was the outright obstruction and constitutional defiance by Barrow and Peyrefitte that forced reform-minded members to act.”
The Court also ruled that Panton’s August 2024 expulsion from the UDP was unlawful, citing violations of the party’s constitution. Justice Hondora also ordered that if the parties cannot agree on legal costs within 14 days, they must submit written arguments for further directions.
Receiving money from abroad is now faster and more convenient for Digi Wallet users. A new feature launched this week allows users to access Western Union transfers directly through the app, removing the need to visit physical locations. The service is a partnership between Digi Wallet, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (B.C.C.I.), and Western Union.
The new service allows users to receive international funds with just a few taps on their mobile devices. “Once you select the button, you will be presented with the Western Union form… Then you press submit; within ten minutes, maximum twenty minutes, you will receive your Western Union funds in your Digi Wallet account,” said Monique Vicente Ford, Marketing Manager at Digi Wallet.
“What the Digi Wallet is now venturing into is wallet-adjacent services… that provide more access, more convenience,” Ford added.
Akmar Codd, Business Development Manager at the B.C.C.I., described the partnership as a natural progression. “It’s something that has been introduced within the region. So we in Belize, we are catching up on this. It’s just the way that we think we need to go. It’s accessible; it has the ease of doing business. It really gives our customers options,” he said.
There are no extra fees for using the digital service, but users must own the account receiving the funds. “As a subscriber, you have different holding limits. When you initially subscribe, you’re automatically provided with a silver wallet and you can hold up to fifteen hundred in your silver wallet at any one time. You can always upgrade to gold or platinum, which has higher limits for transacting,” Ford explained. “So if you know that you’re going to be receiving frequent transfers, you can always reach out to us.”
