May, 2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Transport C.E.O. says Minister will Handle Bus Operator Negotiations

On Wednesday, we brought you the Ministry of Transport’s bold vision to unify the country’s public transit system under a single national bus company. But that vision has hit a speed bump. The Belize Bus Owners Association is pushing back, hard. Their concern? That this proposal could drive independent operators off the road and threaten the livelihoods of dozens of families who rely on the industry. The association is calling for fairness and transparency as the government moves forward. In response, Transport Minister Doctor Louis Zabaneh told News Five that the opposition is not as widespread as it may seem. He claims only a small group of operators are resisting the idea and emphasized that the plan is still in its early stages. But when we reached out today for an update, C.E.O. of the Ministry of Transport, Chester Williams, declined to comment, saying he could not disclose any further details at this time.

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“The minister is the one dealing directly with the bus issue meeting with the different bus owners. Yes, I do attend the meetings with him, but I leave that for him to be able to address. I don’t think I am in a place to be able to comment on that because he’s a lead in that aspect and that’s a policy issue. So that’s a matter for the minister. When he have decided exactly what route will go, then it is passed down to be as the CO to ensure that there’s execution in terms of what the policy of the minister is.” 9:40 So, what’s next for Belize’s bus system? That remains to be seen.”

But one thing is clear—the road to reform may be longer and bumpier than expected.

Big Changes Coming to Belizean Bus Terminals

You may remember the alarming incident last year when two women narrowly escaped serious injury after parts of the Novelo’s Bus Terminal roof came crashing down. While the roof was quickly patched up, the scare exposed a much bigger issue—the terminal is in desperate need of full renovation. Well, change is finally on the horizon. Today, the government made a public commitment to revamping the heavily used terminal. C.E.O. of the Ministry of Transport, Chester Williams, toured the facility alongside Chief Transport Officer Leon Gentle and Deputy Transport Officer Peter Williams to assess the damage and discuss what improvements are coming. We caught up with the team during their walkthrough to find out what commuters can expect from the upcoming upgrades.

Chester Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Transport

“From my tour of the terminal itself, we have seen a number of deficiencies things that we believe needs to be improved. One of the main concerns that people have is that when it rains, the terminals do take water, at least about three inches of water inside the terminal itself. And so they may be a need to bring in a contractor to look at it and see what, if anything can be done to raise the flooring. Perhaps maybe about three inches and that way the water will be able to slide out of the terminals as opposed to coming into the terminal. Again, the seating arrangement inside the terminal is certainly inadequate. We just have one metal thing on the chair that people sit on. I don’t think that it’s comfortable for anybody to, to sit on, and so that needs to be improved. There is nothing inside the terminal that tells the commuter the commuters what are the schedule of the buses. And so we’re looking at putting in screens in the terminals that will be able to depict the bus schedules of each of the different bus companies so that when you come to the terminal and you want and what time, what bus will leave, you can go to the screen just like when I go to on airport and the screen will tell you James will leave at the set time. BWOC will leave at the set time and that will be able to help people to schedule themselves more better. We have bathrooms where that women are using and the doors are broken. People can go and peep on them when they’re using the bathroom. It cannot work. These bathrooms are used by pregnant women on a daily basis. Who traverses the terminal. Again, we have to make sure the bathrooms are in a state of good hygiene. I am happy to see that the terminal supervisor, Ms. Hyde, she seems to be on top of her game. ’cause I can say that while the infrastructure may not be how we want it to be in terms of the cleanliness of the bathroom, it is extremely clean. So I can see that they’re doing well in terms of maintaining the cleanness of the bathroom. And so we will work with them to make sure that we can fix the problem that do exist. Again, the objective is to make sure we provide good quality service to and people.”

Can The Transport Ministry Afford Terminal Renovations?

From crumbling infrastructure to unsanitary conditions, bus terminals nationwide have long needed serious attention. Now, the Ministry says change is on the way. Plans are in motion to renovate these aging facilities, with improvements promised to the bathrooms, seating arrangements, and even drainage systems on the compounds. But as with any major facelift, the question is: at what cost? Today, we spoke with Transport C.E.O. Chester Williams to find out whether the ministry’s current budget can support such an ambitious overhaul. Here’s what he had to say.

Chester Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Transport

“The money in the budget certainly can help us to a certain extent. Yes, it is not all we wanted. But that can be complimented by what the FinTech have not agreed that we’ll be getting back. I must say that separate and apart from the monies collected from the bathroom, we also receive on a monthly basis almost fifty thousand rental fees. People who are renting boots or stalls at the bus terminals. These money also go into general revenue. So we have the rental fees and we have the bathroom fees adding two of them together over a hundred thousand a month that we are collecting from these terminals. So I don’t see no reason why we should not be able to. Tap into that to make sure that we maintain the integrity of the infrastructure.”

Belize Gears Up for an Above-Average Hurricane Season

With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season fast approaching, experts are warning that this year could be busier than usual. In response, the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management and the National Meteorological Service of Belize have launched new initiatives aimed at boosting the country’s preparedness. The focus? Better access to weather and climate data, a crucial step in strengthening early warning systems that can save lives and reduce damage when disaster strikes. The launch event took place at the MET office in Ladyville, where we heard from NEMO Minister Henry Charles Usher about what Belizeans can expect this season, and how the government is working to keep communities safe.

Henry Charles Usher, NEMO Minister

“As a matter of fact, Cabinet was just briefed by the director of NEMO, the National Emergency Coordinator and the Chief Met Officer and what is expected is an above normal season. I think the normal season call for fourteen named storm, they are expecting sixteen or seventeen named storms. I think the normal season calls for four major storms, I think they are expecting five our six major storms this season. So it will be an above normal season but what is important, some weeks ago NEMO actually launched an early warning system and that is critical. You need to get that information early enough to have proper planning. In terms of all the different committees NEMO oversees, those committees are headed by different government departments. We are getting all the reports so that we can have our plan in place.”

NEMO Marks 25 Years of Service and Strength

Speaking at a recent event, Minister Henry Charles Usher stressed that public confidence in agencies like NEMO, especially during emergencies, is absolutely vital. He highlighted that NEMO has been operational for twenty-five years, and over that time, the departments and organizations under its umbrella have significantly strengthened their ability to respond when disaster strikes.

Henry Charles Usher, NEMO Minister

“Recently we also launched the national disaster risk management plan. This is also something that the NEMO Act, the legislation calls for to be updated every year, we are happy to have to comprehensive plan in place now. As you rightly said, the father of the nation is the first minister responsible for NEMO. NEMO is now in its twenty-fifth year, celebrating twenty-five years and it is important that the public knows, have confidence in NEMO, in the work it is doing, confidence in all the different departments and organizations responsible for disaster mitigation.”

Experts Warn of Active Hurricane Season as Caribbean Leaders Meet in Grenada

As the calendar inches closer to June, forecasters are raising red flags about what could be a turbulent 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, is predicting a sixty percent chance of an above-normal season, with up to nineteen named storms expected to form. Of those, as many as ten could strengthen into hurricanes, and up to five may reach major hurricane status, packing winds of one hundred and eleven miles per hour or more. NOAA says it has seventy percent confidence in these projections, citing warmer ocean temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions as key drivers behind the forecast. Meanwhile, in Grenada, regional climate experts are taking action. The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum is underway, bringing together scientists, meteorologists, and disaster response teams from across the region. Their mission: to improve how we communicate and prepare for climate-related risks, especially as the region braces for what could be a very active season. News Five’s Benita Keme Palacio is on the ground in Grenada and brings us the latest insights and strategies emerging from the forum.

Another Wild Cat Killed—Conservationists Alarmed

It’s a sad day for Belize’s wildlife. An ocelot, a small, spotted wild cat, was found dead along the Hummingbird Highway near the Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant. It appears the animal was shot. This is the third wild cat death in just over a month. Back in April, a jaguar and another ocelot were also found dead near Maya Center. These repeated incidents are raising serious concerns among conservationists and animal lovers. Experts are urging the public: don’t try to handle wild animals on your own. If you see one, call the wildlife authorities. These animals are protected and play an important role in nature. We spoke with Dr. Celso Poot, head of the Belize Zoo, who explained that wild cats like ocelots and jaguars help keep the ecosystem in balance by controlling other animal populations. He also shared that these deaths might be happening more often because of habitat loss or fear from people who don’t understand the animals’ behavior.

On the Phone: Dr. Celso Poot, Managing Director, Belize Zoo

“As development as development is happening, these animals are being pushed into areas with human interaction. So they’re being pushed at the, what we call interface. So there’s contact with human and contact with human, not necessarily mean people directlyt. They’re, for example, small mesocarnivores, they’re chicken, their rabbit, whatever they’re raising. And so then people would retaliate and kill them. But this is mainly because these animals are moving across the landscape, looking for food, looking for shelter, or even looking for a mate. So then you start having this conflict. We don’t know much about the incident that was posted this morning. We haven’t gotten any information. All we noted was that the ocelot was shot and killed. So the circumstances are known, and as such, we cannot comment on that particular case. Generally speaking, as these develop, you will have more interaction with wildlife and people at the interface because they’re moving, they’re searching for food, they’re searching for water, shelter, and mate.”

As Belize continues to grow, finding ways to live alongside our wildlife is more important than ever.

Belize Wins 2025 CREF Industry Award for Clean Energy Policy

Belize has earned regional recognition for its leadership in clean energy reform, as the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics has been awarded the 2025 CREF Industry Award for Best Clean Energy Policy or Programme.

The accolade was presented at the 7th Annual Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF), held in Miami, Florida, and organised by New Energy Events. Belize’s award-winning project, LAIT UP BELIZE!, was commended for its transformative and inclusive approach to reshaping the country’s energy landscape.

Funded by the European Union, LAIT UP BELIZE! is a central pillar of the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to electricity by 2030. The initiative combines sustainability, innovation, and equity, principles that led to its selection by a distinguished advisory committee overseeing the CREF Industry Awards.

“We are honoured to be recognised among regional leaders in clean energy,” said Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics. “This achievement reflects the Government of Belize’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development and energy access for all. This recognition is a proud moment for our country and a signal that we are on the right track.”

BNTU Postpones Strike Vote as Government Offers 3% Raise

The Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has delayed a scheduled vote on its next industrial action following a new proposal from the Government of Belize (GOB), which includes a partial salary increase and other offers. The decision to postpone the vote comes as the union continues to deliberate on its next steps in response to GOB’s letter issued Wednesday.

The proposal follows a May 13 meeting between the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT) and government officials. At that meeting, the unions outlined several key demands, including the full reinstatement of an 8.5% salary adjustment and the unfreezing of two increments that had been halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, the government has offered a 3% salary increase starting in October 2025, and the unfreezing of one of the two frozen increments at the beginning of the 2026–2027 fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2026.

Speaking to reporters today, Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher addressed concerns about the potential for a nationwide teachers’ strike. “I think they did issue a notice last week Wednesday. A week has passed. Now I believe that was all part of their plan, they had said that they would have certain steps that they would take. They would have the sit down, they would be going to level two, level three. But we hope that we don’t get to level three,” Usher said.

“We hope that with these proposals… the membership of the PSU, the membership of the BNTU and all of the broader teachers, public officers… can see that these are reasonable proposals. These are proposals that are sustainable,” he added. “As I always say, it’s always better to talk to each other than at each other.”

When asked whether the government’s offer of 3% and a deferred increment formed the core of the proposal, Usher clarified, “So you’re speaking to only one item on the seventh point one of seven.”

Usher explained, “It’s a three percent salary adjustment starting in October, and then in April or the start of the next fiscal year, the unfreezing of one of the increments that were frozen during the COVID time.” He confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the remaining 5.5% of the requested adjustment and the second frozen increment.

U.S. Embassy Confirms First-Ever Charter Flight of Deportees to Belize

For the first time, the United States has repatriated Belizean nationals via a charter flight rather than the usual commercial routes. Speaking to the media this morning, Luke Martin, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Belize, confirmed the change and provided details on the nature of the flight and the individuals aboard.

The flight, which landed today at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, carried 21 Belizeans. Martin said, “It’s not like they were just scooped up off the street and put on a plane, okay. Everybody had the right to due process, went to court, had their hearings, had their appeals. So this happened through, you know, legal means for sure.”

“By putting people on a charter flight like this and also including other countries in it, it is some kind of a cost efficiency that happens as well,” he explained.

While this initiative has drawn attention locally, Martin dispelled notions of aggressive immigration enforcement. “This was not knocking down doors and walking into houses. These were people that were all illegally [in the U.S.]. The majority of them had crossed into the United States illegally, and then the rest of them were overstays… The majority of them did have some kind of criminal offense in the United States as well,” he said.

“There are no children on this flight,” Martin confirmed, though he noted that in other cases, such as in Honduras, family units have voluntarily returned via self-deportation programs.

Martin also addressed the broader message of the deportation. “This is a new message to Belize… Illegal immigration is not something that has been tolerated. There’s a zero tolerance policy,” he said.

On the topic of future flights, Martin said it’s likely that more charter flights will occur if they continue to prove efficient.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other agencies, coordinated to verify their identities and ensure proper documentation. The returnees were processed like all others repatriated by foreign governments. The Ministry stressed its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all Belizeans abroad, regardless of immigration status, and reaffirmed that all Belizeans are welcome home.