Benita Keme-Palacio - Channel 5 Belize

Caye Caulker Launches First Weather Station

Under the “Energy Resilience for Climate Adaptation” (ERCAP) initiative, the National Meteorological Service (NMS) inaugurated a new weather station in Caye Caulker. This project valued USD 8,000,000 was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank and co-financed by the Government of Belize.

The initiative installed 23 Automatic Weather Stations, 6 Rainfall Stations, and 6 Hydro-meteorological Stations, increasing the total number of weather stations in Belize to 75.

The ERCAP project is implemented in collaboration with Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-Governance (MPUELE). It aims to improve weather monitoring and energy resilience against climate change impacts. “The installation of these Automatic Weather Stations marks a significant advancement in our nation’s ability to monitor and respond to weather events,” stated Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez.

Additionally, the Minister announced the upcoming launch of a weather application that will provide ‘real-time’ weather updates.

Belize Resumes Re-sensitization of Healthcare Teams as Mpox Spreads Globally

Medical professionals in Belize are ramping up health measures and monitoring efforts against monkeypox as the disease continues to spread across the world. In an interview with News 5, Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness confirmed, “We have now restarted our re-sensitisation to the healthcare workers. We ensure that our surveillance team and border teams are aware of this increase in cases of monkeypox.”

While the new Clade 1b Mpox subvariant is spreading in Africa, it has not been detected in Mexico, including Quintana Roo, according to official reports. “Official reports from Mexico show that none of this new subvariant has been diagnosed in Quintana Roo or in any part of Mexico,” she said.

Dr. Diaz-Musa reassured the public that Mpox, unlike respiratory illnesses, has a much lower transmissibility. She emphasized that the outbreak is being closely monitored and that there is no need for panic.“I want to stress that this isn’t something that should be causing us any panic or for us to be as a country worried about something like a pandemic. At this point, it’s just for us to sensitize our staff, our team,” she said. “It’s just something that we need to monitor,” she added.

In Belize, there have been no reported cases of monkeypox, and earlier tests in 2023 confirmed cases of chickenpox rather than monkeypox.

UNICEF Implements Nutrition-Based Cash Transfer Programme in Southern Belize

UNICEF, with backing from the Government of Korea and in partnership with the Belize Ministry of Health & Wellness, introduced the Cash Plus Nutrition programme in 20 villages in southern Belize. The initiative tackles the issue of hidden hunger, where children suffer from micronutrient deficiencies that lead to stunted growth and developmental delays.

The programme provides families with BZD$200.00 monthly via the Digi Wallet mobile app to help them purchase necessary groceries.

Dominga, a mother of nine from the remote village of Machakilha, has benefited significantly from the programme. The financial support has enabled her to better feed her children, who have shown improved weight and activity levels.

The programme also focuses on nutrition education, with mothers participating in counselling sessions to learn healthier cooking methods and recipes. Community health workers conducted practical cooking demonstrations and lactation coaching to enhance the families’ food preparation skills.

Epidemiological Alert Issued in Mexico for Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak

On 14 August 2024, Mexico’s Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (SINAVE) issued an epidemiological alert regarding the recent rise in Mpox (Monkeypox) cases in the Africa Region, specifically related to Clade I. This alert follows a global increase in cases during the outbreak.

SINAVE highlighted the increased risk of Mpox cases in Mexico due to global outbreaks, especially in Africa, where population movement is high. According to SINAVE’s report, there have been 7,385 reported cases of Mpox in Mexico since 2022, with 4,130 confirmed. From 1 January to 5 August 2024, 212 cases were reported, 49 of which were confirmed across 11 states, with no fatalities confirmed. The report outlines the distribution of these cases across Mexico, with the state of Quintana Roo having the most cases confirmed.

The 49 cases are not related to the new subvariant, Clade 1b, spreading in Africa, which WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.

A probable case is any individual, regardless of age or gender, who exhibits symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, joint pain, or lower back pain accompanied by one or more lesions, such as macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, or scabs.

Mexican health officials urged continued vigilance, strict adherence to current epidemiological surveillance protocols and prompt reporting to manage the outbreak effectively.

BAPDA Supports E-Buses, Criticizes Resistance from Traditional Bus Operators

Private bus operators in Belize City continue raising concerns about how the new electric buses are affecting their businesses. Arthur Saldivar, attorney for City Shuttle Limited, Lopez Bus, and Lemoth and Sons, claims his clients are struggling financially due to the e-buses’ ‘competitive pricing.’

In an interview with News 5 on Friday, Saldivar criticised the price changes of the e-buses, which he claims now compete directly with the private sector. He stated, “They have slashed prices to be in direct competition with the private sector operators.”

In response, the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) has expressed support for the new electric buses. In a press release dated August 17, 2024, BAPDA praised the e-bus initiative for improving accessibility and service for persons with disabilities. BAPDA criticised the existing bus operators for their resistance to fleet improvements saying, “For many years, the city and district buses were asked to improve their fleet, to upgrade, to become more safety aware and to offer better services to their commuters and, for years, they have resisted, found fault with and basically ignored all warnings, edicts, proposal to do better.”

BAPDA noted that despite minor issues, the new electric buses are already a significant improvement, stating, “There are minor kinks to work out but they are running and better serving the community of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and, for that, we are highly appreciative.”

San Carlos Road Upgrade Kicks Off with $1.19 Million Program

A ceremony to sign the Resilient Rural Belize Program took place this morning in San Carlos Village, Orange Walk District. The event was attended by Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, and other officials from the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government, A&N Construction.

The program, managed by the Ministry of Economic Development, focusses on upgrading San Carlos Road, which spans 3.07 miles. The initiative aims to enhance farmers’ access, enabling them to produce and transport food and vegetables more efficiently, and to support the tourism industry by supplying produce to this sector.

The project is valued at 1.19 million Belize dollars. Minister Abelardo Mai stated, “We’ve reached the point where we cannot continue to produce more and more and more, and have losses. so we are looking now at another step, industrialising the sector.” He added, “this road, essentially, will help the farmers tremendously,” making their products “healthier, wholesome, it will reduce your cost of transportation to Belize City.”

Belize Green Dream: Belize Gears Up for $150M Regional Development Surge

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, led by Minister Orlando Habet, hosted a session focused on “Promoting Sustainable Development through Regional Cooperation” in partnership with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD). The event was held at the Ministry’s Green Complex Building in Belmopan and centred on enhancing regional collaboration and tracking the impact of sustainable development initiatives.

According to an official statement issued by the Ministry, CCAD has invested approximately $11 million USD in sustainable development efforts in the region, including five key areas such as environmental quality and forest restoration. The initiatives are benefiting 20 protected areas and communities through capacity building and data management enhancements. This effort is expected to lead to an additional $150 million USD in future projects.

The statement also indicated that Belize is hosting the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub, one of only three such hubs worldwide.

Belize Meets with MPA Co-Managers to Strengthen Marine Conservation Efforts

The Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management (MBEDRM) convened an important meeting with the co-managers of Belize’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to discuss the future of marine conservation. The meeting was led by Minister Andre Perez and CEO Kennedy Carrillo. The session aimed to evaluate the current state of MPAs, address ongoing and upcoming projects, and tackle advancements and challenges related to marine management.

In a press release, the Ministry emphasised its commitment to marine conservation, stating, “The protection of marine resources and ecosystems remains a top priority for MBEDRM and its NGO partners.”

The discussions focused on five primary components of co-management agreements: enforcement, research and development education, tourism, community development, and sustainable financing. The meeting also highlighted new initiatives, including advanced technologies like high-resolution cameras and drones for better enforcement and infrastructure projects aimed at promoting sustainable tourism.

Burgos, alongside the co-managers, will seek funding opportunities for these projects and work on long-term financial sustainability.

Man Arrested in Connection with Stanley Moore’s Fatal Shooting

Police have arrested 26-year-old Ulide Allen in relation to the shooting death of Stanley Moore on Friday, August 16, 2024.

Allen, a Belizean from Belize City, is charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, Use of Deadly Means of Harm, and Dangerous Harm.

The arrest comes as part of the investigation into the incident that occurred when a gunman targeted Joshua Gillett and Stanley Moore in the Lake Independence area. Witnesses reported that Gillett and Moore were travelling in a BMW when they were attacked at the junction of Mahogany and Santa Barbara Streets. Gillett, who was driving, rushed to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital with Moore already dead in the passenger seat.

‘Youth Ambassadors’ Sent to Guatemala to Strengthen Diplomatic Ties

Fifty ‘youth ambassadors’ from Taiwan will begin a 12-day trip to diplomatic allies Belize and Guatemala next week, following two weeks of training in Taipei. The trip is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program, reported Focus Taiwan. The initiative aims to enhance bilateral relations and boost awareness of Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung spoke at a send-off ceremony, urging the ambassadors to “boost awareness of Taiwan” and help “further bilateral relations” with Belize and Guatemala. He emphasised that these exchanges would “deepen the bonds” and “elevate the role that Taiwan plays in the international community.”

The selected students, who are all Taiwanese undergraduates aged 18–35, will be in Belize from Aug. 21 to Aug. 25 and in Guatemala from Aug. 25 to Aug. 29. Their itinerary includes seminars, volunteer work, and cultural exchanges.

MOFA revealed that this year’s ambassadors were chosen for their English or Spanish proficiency, academic excellence, or artistic talents. Since its inception in 2009, the program has selected over 1,800 students.