Construction on the Pueblo Nuevo Bridge in Corozal District continues to progress. Lincoln E. Eiley recently shared aerial photos on Facebook that highlight the ongoing development of the bridge, which spans the New River. The bridge serves as a crucial link between Corozal Town Ferry Road and the Progresso/Copper Bank/Chunox/Sarteneja Roads.
This bridge, which is a collaborative effort between the Government of Taiwan and the Belize Government, is a key component of a broader project spearheaded by the Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC) to upgrade and pave 27 miles of road connecting Corozal Town to Sarteneja. Although the Pueblo Nuevo Bridge was initially slated for completion by September, construction is still underway.
The Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, sponsored by the Costa Rica Tourism Board, are returning for 2024. Voting opened on July 4 and closes on October 28. This year’s awards ceremony will be held at Tate Modern in London on November 6.
This annual event invites travellers to vote for their favourite countries, cities, regions, emerging destinations, airlines, and tour operators. Last year, Belize earned Silver for ‘Best Emerging Destination,’ and voters are encouraged to support Belize again for ‘Most Desirable Country – Rest of the World.’
Belize is once again in contention, this time for ‘Most Desirable Country.’ The Belizean community and supporters are being encouraged to cast their votes in support.
Participants can win one of eight extraordinary trips valued at over £70,000. Prizes include a 5-star holiday with a 3-night stopover in Doha and business class flights with Qatar Airways, a Galapagos voyage from Hurtigruten Expeditions, and a northern lights adventure in the Yukon courtesy of Journeyscape.
To be eligible for these prizes, voters must follow Wanderlust’s Instagram page, @wanderlustmag, or Facebook page. Complete terms and conditions are available on the Wanderlust website.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern due to a significant increase in Mpox cases in Africa. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was declared a global emergency in July 2022 after the disease spread to over 70 countries, resulting in over 99,000 cases and more than 200 deaths between 2022 and 2023. The emergency status was lifted in May 2023 due to a significant decline in cases and the increased availability of vaccines.
However, the recent rapid spread and detection in new regions contributed to the emergency declaration. The outbreaks involve two distinct strains: clade 1a, endemic in northwestern DRC, and clade 1b, which is spreading rapidly in northeastern DRC and neighbouring countries. Both strains spread through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials and present similar symptoms, including flu-like symptoms and rashes.
Sweden’s public health agency reported the first confirmed case of this new strain outside Africa. The patient, who contracted the virus in Africa, is receiving treatment in Stockholm, according to Forbes.
The WHO is implementing a comprehensive response strategy, including providing testing equipment, supporting laboratories, and training health workers. According to Axios, shares for Bavarian Nordic, the maker of an Mpox vaccine, surged by over 12% on Friday following the World Health Organization’s declaration. Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine, available under the brand names Jynneos, Imvamune, and Imvanex, is among the few approved for Mpox and is favoured by healthcare providers for its favourable risk profile.
Hurricane Ernesto is rapidly closing in on Bermuda as a Category 2 storm. Although Ernesto is showing signs of weakening this morning due to vertical wind shear, residents and officials are still preparing for severe weather. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that as of 8 a.m. Friday, Ernesto was 255 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, with sustained winds of 100 mph. NHC maintains a hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda, and they anticipate life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas.
The Category 2 hurricane, which recently battered Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, left hundreds of thousands without power. In Puerto Rico, about 200,000 customers were still without power on Friday morning, reported CNN. The Virgin Islands reported over 10,000 customers without power.
As Ernesto continues its path, it is expected to move close to Atlantic Canada. Swells from Ernesto will affect the U.S. East Coast and other regions, including the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada. Beachgoers should be cautious of dangerous surf and rip currents.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) continues to monitor Hurricane Ernesto, currently situated about 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. Ernesto is moving north at 12 knots, with maximum sustained winds of 75 knots and gusts up to 90 knots. The storm’s minimum central pressure is estimated at 975 mb.
The NHC has indicated that no new tropical cyclone formation is expected in the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico over the next seven days.
In Belize, the 24-hour forecast predicts isolated showers or thunderstorms between Friday afternoon and Saturday midday. There may be a few more showers or storms over the southern regions on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Today, Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, visited the Caribbean Chicken Processing facility in Blue Creek. He was accompanied by his technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture. Gerhard Friesen, Chairman of Caribbean Chicken, and Mai both delivered speeches.
The tour, arranged by the Chairman of the Board, allowed the delegation to view the facility’s operations and learn about recent advancements in poultry processing. The facility, located in Blue Creek, specialises in handling mature birds and utilises state-of-the-art technology to ensure high standards of quality and food safety.
After the tour, a small opening ceremony was held at the Caribbean Chicken auditorium. The visit showcased Caribbean Chicken’s advanced poultry processing techniques, emphasising the facility’s commitment to food safety and quality. This aligns with ongoing efforts to support and enhance local agricultural practices in Belize.
In July 2024, the European Union (EU) funded and launched the E-Mobility Pilot Project in Belize City, introducing two electric buses. The project, budgeted at 4.5 million euros, aims to advance low-carbon transportation with electric buses. It includes the deployment of electric buses, the development of a national transit app, and the creation of a comprehensive transport policy.
Nonetheless, City Shuttle Limited expressed concerns about Belize City’s electric vehicle (EV) bus pilot project, citing potential financial impacts on June 25, 2024. The company, which has served Belize City for over 35 years, argues that the pilot project could severely affect its revenues. In a letter to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Katherine Meighan and the Belize Business Bureau’s Arturo Lizarraga, City Shuttle Limited stated, “Our objection to the proposed EV Bus Pilot is however rooted in the reality that the Pilot i.e. (The EV buses managed by the Neil Hall and the City) will have a significant adverse impact on our daily gross revenues and financially destroy City Shuttle Limited within a few months of the launch.”
The company criticised Mayor Bernard Wagner’s claim that higher fares for EV buses would not affect City Shuttle Limited’s clientele, saying, “It is very difficult to defend the Mayor’s “assumptions” to support his thesis, i.e., that City Shuttle Limited and the other stakeholders’ clientele will not be affected in any way due to the impact of the additional BZE $1.00. being levied by the EV buses. Logic and common sense dictate that a portion of City Shuttle clientele will indeed make the shift. (especially in the early months after launch).”
City Shuttle Limited questioned the understanding of the Mayor and Neil Hall, noting, “The assertions on TV by the Mayor and Mr. Neil Hall confirm one of two things: either (i) Neither of them understand the fundamentals of the bus transportation industry or (ii) the objectives of the Mayor and Mr. Neil Hall are not as presented to the nation.”
In response, the UNDP and Belize City Council clarified that the pilot project’s goals include transforming the transport sector and exploring new business models in an official statement issued on August 14, 2024. According to the statement, the goal is to assess the buses’ performance under private-sector management, evaluate financial feasibility, and develop a business case for a potential public-private partnership to support both sectors.
The statement explained, “We recognise the concerns of the private sector and their critical investment in Belize’s bus industry. As a result, this pilot project is designed not only to transform the transport sector but also to explore innovative business models and financing mechanisms, which are vital for cultivating a more advanced, private sector-driven development process,” the statement noted. “To achieve this objective, the project incorporates the adoption of EVs to enhance both inter-district and intra-city transit systems. As an executing agency for the intra-city pilot, the Belize City Council, through adaptation of its existing structure, manages and operates two electric buses as a part of its broader sustainable cities program. In contrast, the inter-district pilot will be managed and operated by the private sector. To support this initiative, the Cabinet has authorised the use of a two-year contract for managing and operating three additional electric buses,” it added.
The E-Mobility Pilot Project aims to improve low-carbon transportation and integrate modern energy services. It includes two intra-city and three inter-city electric buses. It aims to create frameworks for expanding electric vehicle use with contributions from key stakeholders, including financing bodies and government agencies.
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño departed the country today, 14 August 2024, en route to the Dominican Republic to attend the Presidential Inauguration of the PresidentElect, His Excellency Luis Abinader Corona, being held on 16 August 2024.
The Prime Minister returns to Belize on 18 August 2024. During his absence, Hon. Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources, Mining and Petroleum, will hold over as Prime Minister.
Leader of the Opposition Moses Barrow met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the Office of the Prime Minister Jamaica House earlier today.
In a statement made on Facebook, Barrow stated, “We discussed the state of our nations, particularly economic development, education, and citizen security.”
He added that, as Chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union, Holness’s advice is crucial for the UDP’s goal of securing 16 seats in the upcoming General Elections.
“PM Holness is also the Chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union of which the UDP is a member thus it was important I seek his counsel on how best to ensure we deliver 16 seats in the General Elections that are upon us,” Barrow added.
Today, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MoECST) and the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations announced the launch of the Belize Music Project. This initiative, operating under the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and within MoECST, aims to document Belize’s diverse musical history.
The project is guided by three principles: research, education, and innovation. It will build an archival library by digitising all forms of Belizean music, including those recorded on outdated technologies. Experts will work over several months to compile this digital collection and continue researching undiscovered artists from the past.
The Belize Music Project seeks to connect younger generations with their cultural roots and establish a lasting legacy for future generations.
