May 21, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Zabaneh Confirms Corruption Probe at Transport Ministry, DPP Now Involved

A sweeping investigation is now underway at Ministry of Transport, with potentially serious consequences for how the department has been managed over the past four years. Minister of Transport, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, has confirmed to News Five that a file detailing alleged irregularities has already been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review.

Recently Public Service Union President Dean Flowers challenged both Minister Zabaneh and Transport CEO Clyde Williams to take immediate action to address claims of corruption within the ministry. Minister Zabaneh said that the investigation began two months ago.

“When we came in we found, irregularities across the country,” Dr. Zabaneh stated. “And in fact, we have a case with the DPP… we’re investigating.”

While Dr. Zabaneh declined to disclose specific details of the case due to its ongoing nature, he saidthat the ministry is taking the matter seriously. “We feel that until we are able to, in a sense make an example of rogue employees who are there stealing the resources of our people… maybe until then, it continues business as usual,” he said. “Hopefully at that point people start to get the message that we’re serious.”

According to the minister, the issue appears to involve deep-rooted collusion within various levels of the ministry. “What we’re seeing is that there’s collusion between various levels,” he explained. “When you don’t have a system in place where you have clear terms of reference for people, who is responsible for what, then there’s always a setting where people can point fingers and say, it wasn’t me. It was that one. It was the other one.”

We’ll keep following this story.

This story was updated at 3:38 p.m.

Behind Bars, Beyond Reach: SOE Detainees Denied Attorneys

The State of Emergency (SOE) currently in effect in Belize City and parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts has entered its second week, drawing increasing scrutiny over the suspension of basic legal rights. While the government maintains that the SOE is a necessary response to a surge in gang-related violence, concerns are mounting over how the rule of law is being applied, particularly regarding access to legal representation.

Dozens of young men, mostly from neighborhoods like Lake Independence, remain detained at the Belize Central Prison. Among them is at least one inmate whose attorney has reportedly been denied access, raising significant legal and ethical alarms.

Under normal circumstances, every Belizean citizen has the constitutional right to legal representation. But during this SOE, that right appears to be under threat. Reports indicate that the Belize Central Prison has blocked attorneys from meeting with clients detained under the emergency measures, citing security reasons. This decision has drawn strong criticism from members of the legal community, who say it sets a troubling precedent.

Attorney-at-law Leeroy Banner expressed disbelief at the actions of prison authorities. “Just yesterday a colleague of mine shared with me an email from the prison, and I can’t believe that the prison would put this in writing,” Banner said. “One of my colleagues went to the prison to see someone who is detained under this current SOE and the prison will put in an email, ‘You can’t see your client because he is detained under the SOE.’ Like, you really would put that in writing? How can you be so bold and misguided to say to an attorney that your client cannot see an attorney and he needs a court order for him to see an attorney? That is ridiculous.”

Legal experts warn that denying detainees access to legal counsel not only undermines constitutional protections but also places the justice system at risk of long-term damage.

Belize Champions Health Equity and Taiwan’s Inclusion at World Health Assembly

Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, is representing the country at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, where global health leaders have convened to address urgent issues such as health emergency preparedness, equitable healthcare access, and international cooperation.

In his address to the Assembly, Minister Bernard said Belize remains steadfast in its commitment to the principle that health is a fundamental human right. “We continue to advance universal health coverage, strengthen our primary healthcare system, and improve health outcomes for our population,” he said.

Bernard highlighted Belize’s focus on equity, resilience, and community engagement, stressing the country’s determination to ensure that no one is left behind. He noted recent national progress, including the expansion of digital health, improvements in mental health services, and efforts to combat non-communicable diseases. The Minister also underscored the importance of preparedness, stating, “We are improving public health surveillance and emergency preparedness, recognising that in today’s interconnected world, no country is truly safe unless all are protected.”

A key part of Belize’s strategy, he said, is investing in the health workforce through training, retention, and supportive environments. Bernard also pointed to climate change as a critical health threat, noting that “climate resilience remains a key part of our strategy, particularly as we confront the health impacts of rising temperatures and extreme water events.”

Belize’s participation in the WHA also served as a platform to stress international solidarity and multilateral cooperation. “One World for Health must mean access to health, knowledge, innovation, and cooperation for all,” Bernard said, expressing Belize’s gratitude for its partnerships with PAHO, CARPHA, and the World Health Organization.

In a strong diplomatic gesture, Belize reiterated its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in global health governance. “We therefore support the meaningful participation of Taiwan in the World Health Assembly and all the WHO technical meetings,” Bernard stated. “Taiwan’s contributions to global health are significant, and its 23 million people deserve representation in shaping the global health agenda.”

Devastating Coral Disease Reaches Laughing Bird Caye

The last known wild pillar corals at Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have now fallen victim to a deadly and fast-moving disease that has been decimating reefs across the Caribbean.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has finally reached the park.

SCTLD was first documented in Florida in 2014 and has since spread across the region, killing over 90% of coral in some areas. It was first reported in Belize in 2019 and has been steadily moving south along the Belize Barrier Reef. Its arrival at Laughing Bird Caye in 2025 marks a deeply worrying development, especially after some of the park’s corals had survived bleaching events in both 2023 and 2024.

“It’s bad. It kills corals so quickly. It’s faster than any of the other diseases we’ve seen,” said Melanie McField, Executive Director of Healthy Reefs for Healthy People.

The disease is relentless, highly contagious, and affects over 26 species of hard coral—many of which are key to reef structure and marine biodiversity. Once infected, corals exhibit rapid tissue loss, revealing their white skeletons before dying entirely.

“It’s terrible. It’s really bad. It’s really awful. So it’s been devastating for the entire Caribbean,” echoed Lisa Carne, founder of Fragments of Hope.

Researchers believe SCTLD may have spread via ballast water from ships or by attaching to biofilms on ship hulls. Its origin is closely linked to environmental disturbances near the Port of Miami, including dredging, coral bleaching, and leaking sewage pipes.

Efforts to contain the disease have been exhaustive but limited by time and resources. Organizations like Fragments of Hope, Belize Audubon Society, TASA, and the University of Belize are at the frontlines, treating infected corals with an antibiotic paste made from amoxicillin.

Victor Faux, site coordinator for Fragments of Hope, has personally treated over 600 corals. “I do see that the treatment has been working to some point where it stopped the disease, but it’s not a fix… The coral can still be re-infected,” he said.

The challenge is vast. During a monitoring mission at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Gabriela Ugarte of the Belize Audubon Society reported that out of 4,000 coral colonies surveyed, 16% were infected and 11% had died completely. “We focused our treatment efforts on hotspots near Half Moon Caye and the Blue Hole—areas critical for tourism,” she noted.

The disease’s spread is a direct threat to Belize’s Blue Economy, which heavily depends on healthy marine ecosystems for tourism and fisheries. According to Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez, “Tourism and the fishing industry are major contributors to the GDP. We must find a balance that preserves our waters for generations to come.”

Without healthy corals, the reef cannot survive. And without the reef, Belize’s shoreline, marine life, and the livelihoods of thousands are at risk.

“Only a living reef can break up wave energy,” Lisa Carne said. “Engineered shoreline protections erode over time, but living reefs grow and adapt.”

The ecological loss is also cultural. The last wild pillar corals at Laughing Bird Caye, once resilient symbols of survival, are now dying.

WHO Members Approve Landmark Pandemic Agreement

World Health Organization (WHO) member countries have approved a new global agreement aimed at improving how the world prepares for and responds to future pandemics. The agreement, three years in the making, was adopted without opposition during the WHO’s annual assembly in Geneva, drawing applause from delegates. The deal is seen as a major step toward strengthening international cooperation and public health systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

World leaders welcomed the agreement, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it “a shared commitment to fight future pandemics with greater cooperation while building a healthy planet.”

However, the United States, traditionally WHO’s top donor, did not participate in the final negotiations or send a delegation to the assembly. U.S. officials have criticised the WHO for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and raised concerns over political influence, particularly from China. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the WHO “bloated” and “inefficient,” urging countries to consider alternative institutions that are more transparent and accountable.

Meanwhile, China pledged up to $500 million in additional support to the WHO over the next five years. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong stressed the need to support WHO’s leadership in global health efforts. In another major move, WHO member states agreed to increase their mandatory contributions by 20% to ensure more reliable funding, as the organisation has historically relied on voluntary, often inconsistent, donations.

Despite its adoption, the treaty still faces challenges. Countries aim to finalise an annex to the agreement by next year that would guarantee equitable access to tests, treatments, and vaccines. Known as the Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing system, it would ensure that up to 20% of pandemic-related products are given to WHO for distribution to developing nations. While the deal marks a significant milestone in global health cooperation, its effectiveness will ultimately depend on how committed countries are to implementing its goals, especially without enforcement measures or full U.S. participation.