Belize was represented at the 11th Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) International Workshop in Ethiopia, with Extension Officer Marvin Blades, Catherine Hob from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Jenilee Donis from the University of Belize in attendance.
The SHEP approach, which encourages farmers to treat agriculture as a business, is being integrated into Belize’s agricultural programs. “SHEP encourages farmers to shift their mindset from simply ‘growing and selling’ to treating farming as a business,” the Ministry said in a statement on social media. Seven farmer groups across six districts in Belize are already involved in the initiative.
Originally introduced in Kenya by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SHEP has expanded to over 59 countries. The approach teaches farmers how to calculate production costs, analyse market trends, and align crops with market demands for maximum profitability.
The workshop aims to facilitate information sharing among participating countries. The event is funded by JICA and the Ethiopian government.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada once more. This time, threatening new tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products. Trump announced this from the Oval Office on Friday.
According to CNN, Trump claimed Canada had been “ripping off” the United States for years in these sectors, citing a 250% tariff on U.S. dairy exports. “We’re going to charge the same thing. It’s not fair,” Trump stated, and added that he may do it as early as Friday, or “wait until Monday or Tuesday,” CNN reported.
CNN also reported that Canada’s Trade Minister, Mary Ng, swiftly rebutted, calling Trump’s claims “not true” and the proposed tariffs “completely unjustified.” This latest threat comes just a day after Trump announced a one-month pause on tariffs under the USMCA, which offered temporary relief to industries like agriculture and autos.
While the markets initially reacted negatively, the Dow ultimately closed up 222 points, buoyed by positive economic outlooks from the Federal Reserve. However, experts warn that prolonged tariffs could exacerbate the economic uncertainty, particularly affecting housing affordability due to lumber price hikes.
A fire in San Mateo, San Pedro Town, destroyed a wooden structure late Friday night. The blaze broke out around 11:00 p.m. and was extinguished shortly after. Footage of the scene shows concerned islanders gathering as emergency teams worked to control the fire. The videos showed large flames engulfing the structure, which was next to the multi-story building, Hero Grocer. The extent of the damage remains unclear.
In a separate incident, another fire broke out in Orange Walk Town on San Francisco Street. Two firefighting trucks responded swiftly and attempted to control large flames coming from a wooden structure with zinc sheets. Initial investigations suggest the fire started in a kitchen at the back of the house. Police were also on the scene.
The cause of fire for both incidents are still under investigation.
In a harrowing incident this morning, shortly after six o’clock, a Central Transit Bus overturned on the Philip Goldson Highway, leaving thirty passengers injured. The victims, including children, were swiftly transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for urgent medical attention. The K.H.M.H. sprang into action, activating its mass casualty protocol to treat the victims. The accident has raised serious concerns about speeding, road safety, and the condition of public transportation vehicles. Here’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
This morning, speeding and reckless driving led to a commuter bus careening off the road and overturning near mile six and a half on the Philip Goldson Highway. Onboard were over thirty passengers, including Ashanti Can, a teacher at Holy Redeemer School. Can and her children were on their way to Belize City from Lord’s Bank, comfortably seated at the back of the bus.
Ashanti Can
Ashanti Can, Accident Victim
“When we reached at Manatee Lookout, the bump there, we picked up the last set of passengers and the man crossed the bump and from there he picked up speed, and when I say speed, he was speeding very fast, because he did it yesterday. But today it was even faster and when he got there, those curves, there are some very deep curves on that side and he couldn’t take… like he went and he was unable to gain control of the bus again and when I looked up, I realized that the bus di goh soh but di tail ah di bus weh paat I deh noh di goh di same direction like di bus.”
The driver of the Central Transit Bus lost control, causing the bus to briefly veer off the road. He tried to regain control of the steering, but the bus fishtailed and swerved wildly to the other side of the road.
Ashanti Can
“For some reason, thanks, by the grace of God, we did not go in the water. We went around, he swerved again around to the next side of the road and then he swerved again and I guess that’s where he got the blowout and from there he landed on the side and the bus just skate into the bushes weh paat di lamppost deh and everybody, that was it for that bus.”
Many passengers, including children, were injured. Some had scrapes and bruises, while others suffered sprains and abrasions. Darren Slusher, a registered nurse attached to the Accident and Emergency Unit, was on duty at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, ready to help.
Darwin Slusher
Darwin Slusher, Registered Nurse, K.H.M.H.
“Our shift supervisor made the call to announce that there was a mass casualty in effect. And so, with that said, we had to mobilize nurses, doctors and support and auxiliary staff from the various patient care units to the Accident and Emergency, being that the number that we were informed was greater than six which constitutes our mass casualty plan. How the plan works is, we’d have one of the senior nurses on duty, such as myself who would then tag and triage these patients as they enter through the main gate.”
Can was among the many victims who were brought in by ambulance. She complained of a sharp pain in her right leg.
Ashanti Can
“I felt the pain. Like one spell, I couldn’t even move. So I sat on the side of the road and that was it, I could not move from there. My leg was unable to move, it was starting to go numb and the BERT people said not to move, that they would get a stretcher to take me to the hospital. So that’s how I came to the hospital, me and my other daughter.”
When they arrived, Morris Westby, a Senior Supervisor on duty, was already waiting. He efficiently directed the flow of victims as they poured into the hospital.
Morris Westby
Morris Westby, Senior Supervisor, K.H.M.H.
“The most difficult part would be the family members because, remember, nobody is begging to be in this hospital. People come here because they need medical attention and some family members get contacted, “Your family member was just in a crazy bus accident, they are doing bad.” All sorts of things, so you get all the family members rushing in and all people want to know is that their family members are receiving medical service and that’s why we, the security officers, the frontline people, the nurses, the doctors, give that assurance.”
Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. The KHMH quickly activated its mass casualty protocol and began treating the injured without delay.
Tylon Tillett
Tylon Tillett, Public Relations, K.H.M.H.
“This is what we are designed and trained to do. We are the only hospital that can respond to a level of care that was required this morning. This morning, our security officers did an awesome job of doing their duty as security officers and chipping in where necessary to get the work done, to get the Belizean public back on par.”
As we reported, this morning, a bus traveling from Lord’s Bank to Belize City on the Philip Goldson Highway suffered a blowout and overturned, injuring up to thirty passengers. The former Belize Rural Central Area Representative, Beverly Williams, has stepped forward to offer her support to those affected and highlight the poor condition of many buses in the constituency. Here’s what she had to say.
Beverly Williams
Beverly Williams, Former Area Rep., Belize Rural Central
“I believe if you take a look at the tires on the bus. I understand there was some blowout on the rear tires. And when we passed by, you look at that bus. They’re not adequate. And if you have a blowout of that nature, the bus flipped. Some people were hurt. I offered some prayers immediately for them. And hopefully, those are some of the things that we can join hands with this community. And that we can enhance in terms of ensuring that we look at the safety and security of our people in this area. We need to ensure that proper licensing are done and monitoring that the buses provide a safe environment. That’s what I’m saying because when you look at the quality of the buses, it’s inadequate and therefore it bears heavy risk on the passengers and safety. This morning was just such a bad example. As two of my personal people were injured, civilian, injured. I saw the pictures. I don’t want to see, they were severely injured, but one person had the entire ear cut. And then so I see stitches straight across here to save the aear. So like I say, we have to ensure that we join hands in looking at the issues within this constituency and transportation, adequate and safe transportation for the people of this community here.”
Andre Gray has filed a defamation lawsuit against two media houses in Belize City: Tropical Vision (Channel 7) and RSV Limited (Love FM). Gray, known for his various inventions, is seeking damages for defamation and falsehood. He claims that several televised programs, including news segments and viral social media posts, have defamed him. Viewers might remember that when Gray visited Belize in January 2023, his credibility as an inventor was questioned. Reporters from both media houses tried to expose him as a fraud. Through his attorney, Gray is suing for damages, special damages, punitive damages, costs, and any other relief from the High Court.
Tonight, forty-five-year-old Deborah Sutherland and her twenty-year-old boyfriend, Dejon Medwood, are back behind bars. The couple was allegedly found with thirty-four bullets hidden in their home. Medwood initially pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping ammunition without a gun license, while Sutherland pleaded not guilty. This morning, both returned to court, represented by attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington. Medwood changed his plea to not guilty after seeking a sentencing indication. The Senior Magistrate informed him that he faced a prison term of three and a half years. Attorney Elrington argued for a non-custodial sentence since Medwood is a first-time offender. With the sentencing indication rejected, both Medwood and Sutherland were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until June 4th. Elrington has begun the bail application process for both, which could be heard as early as next Friday.
Police have formally arrested and charged twenty-seven-year-old Samuel Bolanos, a resident of Dangriga, in connection with the November eight, 2024, murder of Matthew Moses. As we reported, Moses got into an altercation with an individual near the Secret Beach area on Ambergris Caye. Moses was shot and left for dead. Bolanos’s charge comes four months later. Initial reports indicated that a licensed firearm was taken from the suspect after he was taken into custody.
By a unanimous vote, the Belize City Council has appointed first-time councilor Eluide Miller as the new Deputy Mayor for the 2025 to 2026 term. Following the announcement, Miller took to social media to express his gratitude to the council for their support and to commend the work of the former Deputy Mayor, Allan Pollard. He wrote, “I am profoundly honored by the trust and confidence placed in me by my fellow councilors. Your support humbles me, and I look forward to taking on the challenges and opportunities of this role. Together, we will continue working toward a stronger, more progressive Belize City. I also want to take this moment to recognize the outgoing Deputy Mayor. Thank you for your service”. Miller began his journey at the Belize City Council as an intern in the finance department and has risen through the ranks over the years, becoming the third-most voted councilor in the recent municipal elections. He also shared his excitement to work closely with Mayor Bernard Wagner, his father-in-law, and ensure that the voices of residents are heard, respected, and valued.
With just days to go before the 2025 general elections, the candidates for Belize Rural Central are gearing up for the big day. Former U.D.P. area representative Beverly Williams, current area representative Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, and U.D.P. newcomer David Almendarez are all in the race. In tonight’s edition of Meet the Candidates, we sat down with each of them to get the scoop on their campaigns. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
There are roughly seven thousand, eight hundred registered voters in the Belize Rural Central constituency. Beverly Williams served as the UDP area representative for five years before suffering a landslide defeat in the 2020 general elections. This time, however, she says residents are eager to bring “Bev” back. She shared her plans to continue where she left off if she is reelected.
Beverly Williams
Beverly Williams, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central
“We had four years of program starting with basketball football program, or Yearly Mother’s Day program. We had a marching band. We did band fest. We did carnival and and Christmas parades huge Christmas parties on the field. And so it is building on those and experiencing and enhancing those because we want to really have interactive programs. Particularly we started with the basketball and football. It was more adult to keep and maybe the youths, keep those at risk youths. In positive activities, somewhere to go, some activity having, but now we’re complaining about absenteeism, so there’s no representation. So we want to enhance on those programs that we had.”
In 2020, the PUP swept through Belize Rural Central, voting Dolores Balderamos-Garcia as the new area representative. She is running for re-election to continue the projects she began during her previous term.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, P.U.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central
“We have done a lot but there is a lot more to do. We have done a tremendous amount, but we can’t get to everybody at the same time. I am asking our P.U.P.. people, our Belizean people, and our people of Belize rural central, I don’t want you to continue to work and we have seven thousand eight hundred voters in the least rural center and we have to work hard for each and every one of them.”
Political newcomer David Almendarez has entered the race as well. Running under the leadership of Moses “Shyne” Barrow, he promises a new era for the constituency, free from corruption.
David Almendarez
David Almendarez, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central
“We want good jobs. We want better infrastructure in our community. We don’t mind you being a minister and everything, but at least be a minister for your area. We really need good infrastructure, drainage, whenever it rain, the street dey broke up, you patch up the street then with white limestone. We don’t want that. We want good, good streets. We want better health care, we di get older. We be able fi, if some a we drop down sick, some of we can’t go da Merida, so we have to make sure the health care system is tight. We want better jobs, because if you don’t make anything less than five hundred dollars a week right now, you’re tight”
Balderamos-Garcia admits that the large size of the constituency has slowed down some of her projects, but she assures residents that progress is ongoing and the work to improve the communities continues.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“Educational support, support for infrastructure, support for our families, support for our children. Making sure, making sure that we try to reach out. Now, we have not reached everybody because one of the things that is pending is the need for land. But Cordell has pledged to us that he will help us to get new surveys in Belize Rural Central for our people so I am asking everybody to have the patience. You wa get yo land if you give us a little time.”
According to Williams, the reception has been warm and welcoming from the constituency. She believes that truly caring for a community means taking the time to get to know its residents and staying open to their concerns.
Beverly Williams
“It’s about love, I think it’s how we interact. Sometimes we would look at a person and say Miss Bev, but when they sit with me that’s where I’m at my best. Interacting on a personal level and so that’s the reason for sharing my contact information, asking them to reach out to me. If you tell me you need to see me, I will come. And so we begin the interaction at that level. And so it’s how we communicate at that personal level that will help us to grow together.”
Almendarez pledges to bring change and accountability. He asserts that he has the constituency’s best interests at heart and is confident that he can be the change he wants to see.
David Almendarez
“I am asking the people of Belize Rural Central. Noh get confused by the noise of the market. Check your change. I confidently walk the streets and everybody have said, they’ve had this one. Cuanto quire? Este? Este? Este or este? All of them are the same thing. I’m different”
