Recently, ads have been promoting Starlink’s internet in Belize for as low as twenty-nine dollars a month. But what does this mean for local internet providers? The PM reassures that local businesses shouldn’t worry because Starlink will only be available in the most remote areas of Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We have to protect Belize first and when you look at Starlink, you’re dealing with the wealthiest man in the world. And so he can come here and give it away and drive everybody out of business and then increase the prices. What the P.U.C. has done, I’ve been informed, they have agreed that Starlink could operate, but only operate in areas where there is no access. Because there are certain areas where there is no access for, for internet. And we want to make it accessible to everybody. So that’s what the position of the PUC.”
The Hague Group, formed on January thirty-first, 2025, is a coalition of nations dedicated to upholding the rulings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. However, Belize wasn’t listed as a member online, so the media asked about Belize’s current stance. The response was clear: Belize continues to support Palestine.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think we need to take a look at Belize’s stance when it comes to Palestine. We have gone beyond the call of duty standing up for what is right. Whether we decided that we want to put a pause on diplomatic relations with Israel, we were hoping that then members in CARICOM and Central America joined us. Nobody did. We went and joined the South Africa case and again hoping that others would join us as a small country. We also rise with – our principles never change, our principles never waver. We also have to take a realistic look at what is happening around us. We continue to support Palestine, we will fight for Palestine. And so, that is our position at this time.”
This morning, a new book was unveiled that offers a fresh perspective on the history of the Yucatec Mayas of northern Belize. Inspired by the life and activism of Jesus Ken, the book presents an alternative narrative to the traditional history. Author Ricardo Moguel’s book, ‘Ken,’ sheds light on different versions of historical events involving the Yucatec Mayas. Much of the change the Mayas experienced, especially regarding their land, was driven by the efforts of Jesus Ken, who is now ninety-two years old. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the launch and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, the book ‘Ken’ hit the bookshelves in Belize. This publication documents the history of the Yucatec Mayas of Northern Belize through the eyes of Jesus Ken, a 92-year-old revolutionary who fought for Maya rights in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Author Ricardo Moguel says the book offers a different take on Yucatec Maya history in Belize. To the Yucatec Maya, Jesus Ken is seen as a hero, Moguel noted.
Ricardo Moguel
Ricardo Moguel, Author
“Jesus Ken is a son of a Maya general in the Maya Liberation War. His father, Wendik, died in battle. They emigrated to Belize because they were afraid of consequences that they would go after him because of the power struggle that always emerges when a leader is surging. And Jesus grew up listening to the stories, to the music, and all that. And then the “abuelitos” used to tell him about the struggles. And then he started being a Maya organizer for the cane cutters that work for Plantation Limited and he became a politician in 1961, got elected to the Legislative Assembly, and made a lot of changes to benefit the Maya. So, he’s a revolutionary.”
Maya researcher Hugo Carrillo shares untold stories about the hardships his ancestors faced, stories that history books have overlooked.
Hugo Carillo
Hugo Carillo, Researcher
“If we want to know the present, we must understand the past. This will break the barriers or learning attitudes of the people. Therefore, the Maya social war exploded in 1847 in southern Mexico, Yucatan. Because of that war, the people were taxed, the women were raped, the young men had to work long hours for little or nothing. The children were separated.”
Jesus Ken championed the cause for Mayas to own the land they farmed sugarcane on, instead of being subservient to colonial settlers. His efforts put significant pressure on Belize’s Premier, George Price, according to Prime Minister John Briceño.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“He put a tremendous amount of pressure on George Price to be able to ensure that then George Pric can go to Tate and Lyle and say, “Well, it is time for us to be able to take these lands and pass it on to Belizean cane farmers in the north. But George was also quite a revolutionary, but also he was thinking long-term, that we could not just seize these lands because if we seize it, then pretty much nobody would want to come to Belize. He knew we had to continue to attract investments in Belize. So what he did, he negotiated a purchase price but a very low price and so that it could be affordable to the farmers.”
Jesus Ken was a dedicated PUP activist, known for his fiery personality, which some believe led to his estrangement from the mainstream PUP. However, Briceno, who compared Ken to the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, insists that Ken remained a loyal PUP supporter. The lifelong struggles and victories Jesus Ken experienced in his fight for Yucatec Maya rights are deeply personal for his daughter, Dr. Ninfa Ken.
Ninfa Ken
Dr. Ninfa Ken, Daughter of Jesus Ken
“We were growing up as children, that was the time he was in the big struggle and leading the cane farmers, you know, in trying to acquire the land for the cane farmers at the time, so he was like a warrior fighting all the time. And then, well, we were just there listening to all what they were saying. And apparently you liked all the slogans “Patria o muerte, venceremos.”
Marion Ali
“Which means?”
Dr. Ninfa Ken
“Patria o Muerte -that’ll be, patria is the nation, right. Country or death.”
Belize is making strides to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. This week, the CARICOM Development Fund and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center signed a Memorandum of Agreement to support Belize’s efforts in cutting down fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Economic Development is also backing this initiative. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more details on this exciting development.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Caribbean region is one of the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) is the only CARICOM institution specifically designed to tackle these effects. Despite its crucial role, the CCCCC was the first non-subvention entity in the community, meaning it doesn’t receive funding from CARICOM. This makes the collaboration between the CCCCC and the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) essential in the fight against climate change. Together, they are working to protect our region and build a more sustainable future.
Colin Young
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director, CCCCC
“ The Five C’s as an institution, the successes we’ve had really is because of our ability to forge these strategic partnerships with member states and governments with international partners and governments and regional institutions, and you see CDF here. Again, these are all mandated institutions of CARICOM. They have different roles. They have different responsibilities, and the Five Cs is here from a climate change space to help them to execute their mandate, but to incorporate the climate change.”
This week, the CCCCC, the Caribbean Development Fund, and Belize’s Ministry of Economic Development teamed up to sign a Memorandum of Agreement. This partnership aims to boost the Credit Risk Abatement Facility project, which is all about strengthening and securing small and medium-sized businesses in the renewable energy and climate sectors. Rodinald Soomer, the CEO of the Caribbean Development Fund, shared some fascinating insights into how this agreement came to be.
Rodinald Soomer
Rodinald Soomer, C.E.O., Caribbean Development Fund
“CDF has had this MOU with the Five C’s for quite a while now. There was a very short, intervention that we did together, which actually resulted in us being able to present a very rigorous proposal to the board of directors. For the co financing of the project in Barbados, and that for us was a good example of what we could have achieved together working as regional institutions. And of course, you were aware of our launch of the CRAF and the promise that it held for assisting with the energy transition in the region, particularly in the private sector. And so you obviously saw the importance of supporting us in trying to rule out this facility throughout the region, which is what I was signing today will allow us to do.”
The CRAF project is all about cutting down on our dependence on fossil fuels, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and boosting the country’s climate resilience. The Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) is on a mission to tackle social and economic inequalities and foster unity and growth across CARICOM, especially in the sectors that need it the most.
Rodinald Soomer
“What this means in a practical sense is that we have to treat with development challenges in the region that are multidimensional and cross cutting, linked to the smallness of our economies, the openness and the low levels of diversification. And we have to do this with severe resource constraints and these resources have to be assigned to dealing with competing development priorities and in particular, climate change related in the food, water and energy sectors.”
Soomer and Young highlight that this collaboration is a shining example for other regional organizations. It shows how partnerships can effectively bring people together and build stronger social and economic bonds.
Dr. Colin Young
“ We have over a hundred million projects in Barbados that we are managing from the Green Climate Fund, all in the water sector. And I’m very pleased to say that CDF had a role to play in this project because the Five C’s would’ve worked with the CDF to essentially broker an agreement between the government of Barbados and CDF to provide twelve million in loan that serve as a co-finance for this project to do nine kilometer of pipeline project. We’ve already worked together to mobilize climate finance for our countries. And currently, our portfolio is actually one hundred sixty million is what we are currently managing on behalf of our member states in twelve countries”
The Belize Police Department is hosting its first-ever drum line competition at Berger Field in Belize City. Eight secondary and primary schools are battling it out for first, second, and third place prizes, along with bragging rights. The event is led by the Community Policing Unit, under A.C.P. Howell Gillett. Gillett mentioned that this is just the beginning, and with support from the business community, the event will expand to other districts.
Howell Gillett
A.C.P. Howell Gillett, National Commander, Community Policing Unit
“It’s a crime prevention tool, to bring young people from across the different zones within the city to show them that you can’t compete against each other in a healthy way, and that’s what that’s one of the things we intend to achieve. Another thing that we are trying to achieve is to bring parents, teachers and the community at large together in an environment like this. We’re in a non-enforcement way there are many police officers out here. They’re not enforcing the law We’re here to help our young people to show them there’s a better way or there’s a an alternative to crime. We don’t want gang members. We don’t want criminals, especially in our young people. So we are trying to stop it from an early age.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has confirmed that alcohol was involved in the tragic drowning of two university students at the Guanacaste Park Riverside swimming area in Belmopan. The victims, Henry Osorio and Alexander Munoz, were both promising biology majors, nearing the completion of their bachelor’s degrees.
Osorio, Munoz, and two female friends arrived at the popular swimming spot around 2 p.m. on Thursday. Less than three hours later, the young men were found dead.
According to Commissioner Williams, police responding to the scene found the two female companions in a frantic state. They informed officers that their male friends had gone underwater and failed to resurface. A search was immediately conducted, and both bodies were pulled from the river, but by then, it was too late. The two were transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had been drinking, which is permitted in the area. Williams stated that one of the young men went into the water for a swim but began drifting away. His friend attempted to rescue him, but both were quickly pulled under and never resurfaced.
The Guanacaste Park swimming area is a well-known relaxation spot for locals and tourists, offering affordable entry at just one dollar. The tragedy has left friends and classmates devastated. Zoe Sutherland, a close friend of Munoz, shared fond memories of their time together.
“We skipped chem, and he’s like, Let me show you the river. And this was like five because we had a very late chem class. So we left, and we stopped by the store. We got some snacks. And he showed me a river over there, and we just sat, and we just talked, and we laughed, and then he’s like, Okay, let’s study chem. And I was like, what? And he’s like, yeah, you thought I took you out of chem? No. So he went over the whole topic and everything. And he’s like, I brought you here so I can teach you. And that’s one thing I will always miss: his enthusiasm and his okayness to do anything, especially for me. He always helped with anything. If I needed him there, he would be there. And he was the main reason that I passed chemistry in my second semester.”
Police Commissioner Chester Williams has acknowledged that some members of the Belize Police Department may be entangled in cartel-related activities and hinted at another potential reshuffling of officers in the Northern districts.
In response to questions about the recent discovery of Raheem Usher’s body and the note found at the scene, Williams reiterated his long-held stance on law enforcement officers engaging with criminal elements.
“If you decided to lie with dogs, you’re going to catch their fleas,” he stated. “If you get yourself entangled with the cartel, then you must suffer the consequences of it.”
Williams confirmed that the department had recently conducted a major personnel reshuffling in the Northern districts due to intelligence suggesting police officers were involved in cartel activities. Now, he said, another transfer of officers may be necessary.
“We moved a lot of people from there, but it looks like the time is coming again where we will have to look at reshuffling,” he said.
The commissioner made it clear that officers suspected of involvement in illicit activities would not be shielded from consequences.
“I’m not going to say we will provide protection to those officers who have gotten themselves entangled,” he asserted. “It wouldn’t be in the best interest of the department to keep them in these areas.”
He also confirmed that of the two police officers named in the note found near Raheem Usher’s body, only one is currently stationed in Orange Walk, while the other is assigned to the Cayo District. However, he stressed that authorities would continue to assess the situation and determine whether additional transfers were necessary.
When asked whether he believed there was truth to the note’s claims about police involvement in drug plane landings, Williams did not deny the possibility.
“I’m not going to hide anything,” he stated. “The public is fully aware that we do have police officers; I have said it on numerous occasions. We members of security forces are in cahoots with these plane landers in land planes. If i say that I don’t know then I would be lying and I am not going to lie to the Belizean people.”
Authorities have dismissed speculation that the killing of 29-year-old Raheem Usher was the work of a drug cartel. According to Police Commissioner Chester Williams, the crime appeared to have been carried out by locals attempting to mimic cartel-style violence.
Usher’s body was found near a bridge in San Antonio Village. He had been missing since January 25.
According to Commissioner Williams, initial observations by investigators revealed what appeared to be two gunshot wounds. A handwritten note, listing several names, was also found on a canvas near the body. The scene was processed, and the body was later transported to the hospital, where Usher was officially pronounced dead.
Despite public speculation linking the murder to organised crime, Williams expressed scepticism, stating that there were no clear indicators of cartel involvement.
“There has been much talk in the media and among the public that this is a cartel hit or a cartel-style killing,” Williams said. “But I believe this was not done by a cartel, but rather by locals trying to make it look that way.”
He pointed to several inconsistencies, including the location where the body was found, the use of English in the note, and the manner in which the body was wrapped and disposed of. According to Williams, these details did not align with known cartel execution methods.
“If you’re trying to paint a picture and make something look a certain way, you’ll do your best to make it appear that way,” he stated.
While the commissioner ruled out direct cartel involvement, he acknowledged the possibility that those responsible had ties to organised crime.
“ That is a possibility that the persons who we believe are behind this killing do have cartel connections. So we’re looking at that as well. But again, having cartel connections and the cartel doing something are two different things.
The International Regional Organisation for Health in Agriculture (OIRSA), along with the Resilient Rural Belize Programme (RRB), the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), has announced the expansion of the Biological Control Insectary at the National Agriculture Showgrounds in Belmopan.
The insectary has been operating since 2003 and has been important in controlling pests like the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug using parasitic wasps. Now, under a new mandate from regional agriculture ministers, the facility will produce additional beneficial insects, such as the Sitotroga cerealella moth and Trichogramma pretiosum wasps, to combat pests like borers, aphids, and whiteflies.
In a statement, MED stated that this $123,000 expansion will help reduce pesticide use, safeguard human health, and promote environmentally friendly farming practices. OIRSA and RRB are also working to educate farmers on using natural pest control methods. “This initiative aims to reduce the irrational use of insecticides in agriculture, protect human health and the environment, and promote the production of safe agricultural commodities for consumers,” the ministry added.
The expanded insectary will support local and regional agricultural sustainability efforts by providing accessible, eco-friendly pest control solutions.
Pope Francis is showing signs of improvement after 15 days of treatment for bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican reported Friday that the Pope had a restful night and continues his breathing physiotherapy. Although his condition is “complex,” Vatican sources confirmed that the Pope is not in critical condition.
His health updates have been closely followed, with recent tests showing a “normal evolution” of the infection and an improvement in kidney function. However, doctors remain cautious, as his prognosis is still guarded. The Pope, 88, has battled respiratory issues in the past and had been showing signs of fatigue before his hospitalisation on February 14.
Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis remains active, spending time in prayer and receiving the Eucharist. He also engaged in work-related activities, sending messages to the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. His supporters have gathered outside the hospital, expressing their care and prayers for his recovery.
The Pope’s condition continues to stabilise, but the Vatican urges ongoing prayers for his full recovery.
