2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Lots of Political Banners Means “Cloth di Sell Like Crazy”

Campaign season is in full swing, bringing a burst of color and excitement to cities and towns nationwide. Lampposts are decked out in party colors, and banners stretch across streets, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the elections. Tonight, we’ll dive into the world of campaigning and explore how constituencies are transformed with the colors of your favorite parties and the faces of their candidates. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with more.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The People’s United Party flag proudly waves above a sea of supporters at the Belize Civic Center. This huge blue and white banner, made from several yards of fabric, is a familiar sight at PUP rallies and conventions, and today is no exception. Smaller flags decorate lampposts throughout Belize City and beyond. The red, white, and blue emblem of the United Democratic Party isn’t as widespread, but you can spot it in key areas. It’s campaign season and the materials needed to sew these flags are in high demand.

Teresita Garbutt, Employee, Mikado Store

“The demand for the political material, it started a bit earlier this year, before the election date was out because we started advertising this material since it’s election time. But the demand has been more than usual for the fabrics because it’s selling a lot, so both parties are buying the red, white and blue or the blue and white.”

Banners are a great way to get a candidate or party noticed. They make it easier for people to recognize who’s running and what they stand for. With catchy slogans and key promises, banners highlight the campaign’s main values and goals. As the general election approaches, both parties are stepping up their game, using banners to build excitement and rally support, inspiring more people to get involved.

Iris Flores, Employee, Mikado Store

“Right now the material dehn di sell like for the political themes and it gives other people, like the seamstress and tailors jobs. They make the flags and then the person that buys the material they get the material back to hang it or do whatever they want to do with the material.”

Nowadays, fabrics are sold in large bundles. Customers flock to Mikado, placing big orders for cloth. When it’s not campaign season, buying these materials in bulk and storing them can be expensive and a real hassle.

Teresita Garbutt

“It stores at the warehouse. It’s nicely kept so it doesn’t catch dust, it doesn’t… no animal eats it, you know, fabrics. We move them around from one corner to the next so it can be nicely kept and stocked for the next election or whenever it’s needed.”

Inside the store, there are eye-catching displays showing off creative ways to use the material. Loyal supporters from both parties can choose skirts instead of banners. Mikado hopes this trend will catch on fast. Besides that, customers are buying fabrics in all sorts of sizes.

Iris Flores

“Some of them buy by yard, but right now most of them buy by the roll. So they get it by the roll, and then, well, we offer other stuff too, like the umbrella. We have readymade flags and the tassels.”

Isani Cayetano

“Makes a lot of money selling political cloth?”

Teresita Garbutt
“Well only this time of year, yes.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Belize Prepares for Online Criminal Records Registry Launch

Sixteen Belize Police Department officers are now at the forefront of modernising law enforcement and public service as they successfully completed training on the new Online Criminal Records Registry (CRR). The training was held on Friday, February 14, at the National Police Training Academy.

In a statement, it said that this new system will allow the public to apply, pay, and receive police records entirely online, enhancing convenience and transparency. It said, “This initiative focused on the effective use of the Online Criminal Records Registry (CRR) system, with sixteen participants successfully completing the training.”

Supported by both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Utilities, this initiative is expected to transform record-keeping and governance in Belize. The trained officers will be passing on their expertise to peers across the country.

EBC Rejects Omar Figueroa’s Request to Remove 124 Voter Names

Back in December, UDP’s Cayo North Standard Bearer, Omar Figueroa, alleged electoral fraud and called on the Election and Boundaries (EBC) to remove 124 names from the constituency’s voter list. On Monday, the EBC issued a statement reaffirming that there has been no electoral fraud and that all voter registration processes comply with the Representation of the People Act.

Orlando Espat, EBC Commissioner, said today that the situation is far from settled and that the People’s United Party is appealing the decision, which prevents the commission from removing the names.

“Well, just remember, it is an appeal. So, if you go to court and the magistrate or the high court tells you they find you guilty and sentence you, but you launch an appeal, there is nothing you can do until the Court of Appeal listens to it,” Espat said.

Espat explained that the matter is now in the hands of the High Court. “We cannot remove any elector and disenfranchise them from the voters list without the authority of the High Court. If they say keep them, we keep them,” he added.

Espat explained that until the appeal process is resolved, those 124 names will remain on the list.

What will be the Symbols to Differentiate the Two UDP Factions?

On Tuesday, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) ruled that Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Panton will both appear on the ballot in the traditional United Democratic Party (UDP) red, but with different symbols.

Election Day on March 12 is drawing near, and this decision has raised major questions.

EBC’s Commissioner Orlando Espat weighed in on the growing colour dispute between the two factions of the UDP. Espat confirmed that both sides of the UDP have requested the colour red for the upcoming election ballot. Espat told reporters this morning that “in the case that the political parties cannot agree with a colour, then there’s a section in the representation of the People’s Act that empowers the commission to assign colours or symbols to the political parties.”

Espat added, “What is confirmed is that the two sides will get red on the ballot. What is not confirmed yet is the symbol that they will choose to put on the red.”

While the choice of colour remains settled, the question of symbols is still up in the air. Espat said that the party members will need to return next week with a symbol to distinguish between the two.

But will UDP supporters march to the polls and get confused at the moment of casting their vote? Espat acknowledged the potential for voter confusion, stating that “it is the duty of the political parties to educate people too. It’s not only the duty of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and the department.”

Espat also clarified that while it’s unlikely, a faction could technically request a different colour on nomination day. However, once nominations are in, the EBC will begin the major task of preparing the ballots, and it would be too late to make last-minute changes.

Belize Hosts First-Ever Mobile Air Conditioning Training for Technicians

The Department of the Environment (DOE), in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit under the Ministry of Sustainable Development & Climate Change, is conducting Belize’s first training program focused on Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) systems. The three-day training is designed to equip refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) technicians with the skills needed to service, repair, and maintain MAC systems efficiently.

The training reinforces Belize’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol by equipping RAC professionals with the latest eco-friendly technologies, enhancing technical skills, and reducing the environmental impact of refrigerants.

Participants are receiving hands-on instruction in system diagnostics, troubleshooting, and maintenance of MAC systems, including those in hybrid and electric vehicles. The training also covers best practices for handling refrigerants, with a focus on transitioning to less harmful alternatives such as R-134a and R-1234yf.

Muddy Fields Disrupt Sugar Production

Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) has temporarily halted sugar production for the 2024-2025 season due to ongoing challenges caused by heavy rainfall and poor road conditions. Since October, consistent rains have severely affected both the quality and quantity of sugarcane, which has made harvesting difficult.

BSI’s Communications Director, William Neal, told the media today, “We’ve been having rains since October, and that has made it extremely difficult in terms of the field conditions for farmers.” He added, “The amount of mud and the difficulty that farmers have to extract their cane makes it extremely difficult.” Williams stated that feeder roads to the fields have worsened, which has contributed to the strain in the delivery process.

He added that the situation at the factory is no better, as it struggles to handle the excess mud brought in with the cane. Neal said that “it’s not a good time to be harvesting” because the additional effort required to process poor-quality cane makes the operation unsustainable. “The cost in terms of what we’re spending to try and extract sugar from cane that has very poor quality at this juncture, simply because the rains have been so consistent, makes it just not viable for us to continue,” Williams said.

Lobster Fishing Season to Close on February 28th

The Fisheries Department has announced that the 2024-2025 Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fishing season will officially close on February 28, 2025, in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 126 of 2024. The annual closed season runs from March 1 to June 30, aligning with regional regulations established by the Organization for Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (OSPESCA).

During this period, the possession of lobster is strictly prohibited, and violators will face prosecution under Belize’s Fisheries Resources Act. Fishers are also required to remove all lobster traps from fishing grounds before the closure, as enforcement measures will be in place to ensure compliance.

The Fisheries Department urges the public to report any illegal fishing activity by calling 224-4552 or emailing fisheries_department@fisheries.gov.bz.

Belize City Fisherman Charged for Abetment in Simon Arana Jr.’s Murder

Police have formally arrested and charged 28-year-old Ozen Osburn Rhaburn, a Belizean fisherman from the Belize District, in connection with the murder of Simon Arana Jr., which occurred on Monday, February 10.

Rhaburn was charged with abetment to commit murder and discharging a firearm in public.

The 23-year-old teacher was shot and killed in Hope Creek Village. Initial reports indicated that he had been socialising when gunshots rang out, resulting in his tragic death.

Maria Annel Rodriguez Sworn in as Auditor General

Maria Annel Rodriguez was officially sworn in as Belize’s new Auditor General today at the Belize House in Belmopan. The Government of Belize Press Office said that her appointment marks “an important step in strengthening transparency and accountability within the government. Her appointment, effective from January 1st, 2025, to July 28th, 2047, reinforces Belize’s commitment to good governance.’

Her appointment did not come without criticism. Despite her extensive background, Rodriguez’s appointment has sparked debate in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Concerns were raised regarding the transparency of the selection process and potential issues related to nepotism. Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow questioned her academic qualifications and the legality of her 2014 promotion to Supervisor of Audit.

BREAKING: Magistrate Attacked in Court by Convicted Criminal

News Five has learnt that a female magistrate was attacked by a male convict this morning at the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court. The incident happened this morning.

Details are still forthcoming.

The attacker, we are told, appeared in court on charges of burglary, assaulting a police officer, and three counts of harm and damage to property and had been convicted in Belize City for attempted murder.

This is a developing story.