Benita Keme-Palacio - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Has New Chief Climate Change Officer

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change announced the appointment of Edalmi Pinelo as the new Chief Climate Change Officer at the National Climate Change Office. Pinelo takes over from Dr. Lennox Gladden. She holds a master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Governance from the University of Isabel I in Spain and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize.

Dr. Gladden was recently appointed as the director of the ICAT regional climate action transparency hub in Central America.

Before this role, Pinelo worked as the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Officer at the same ministry. She led efforts to update the national greenhouse gas inventory, managed forest initiatives, and organised training for forestry stakeholders.

In an official statement made by the Ministry, it said, “Ms. Pinelo’s influence extends beyond national boundaries through her active participation in international climate negotiations. She served as the Coordinator for Transparency for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) during multiple Conference of Parties (COP) events. Her expertise in data collection, technical analysis, and climate policy has garnered recognition through various certifications and her involvement in high-level climate conferences.”

Collin Mattis who was the Deputy Chief Climate Change Officer also left. We understand that he will be working with the U.N.

Police Identify Body Found at Sea

On Saturday, the body of 23-year-old Victor Bol was discovered floating in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Punta Gorda. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero confirmed Bol’s identity during a briefing today.

Bol, a resident of Punta Gorda Town, had been reported missing by his common-law wife after their last contact last Friday.

Police told reporters that Bol was last seen drinking alcoholic beverages at Central Park before his body was found floating in the sea.

Authorities found no signs of injury on Bol’s body. Police continue the investigation.

Seven Armed Robbers Target Courts Belmopan

The Belmopan branch of the furniture and appliance store, Courts, was burgled on Monday, August 12, 2024, at around 4:30 a.m.

The building’s security guard reported that he was confronted by seven armed men while on duty. The suspects restrained him and then broke into the building.

In today’s police briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero stated that the suspects stole several phones, laptops, and an undisclosed amount of cash from a safe.

An official notice was announced on Court’s Facebook page, advising their customers of the “Temporary Closure of COURTS BELMOPAN store until further notice.”

The investigation is ongoing, with surveillance footage to be reviewed.

Bat-tastic Study, Belizean Scientist Explores Bat Behaviour to Strengthen Conservation Efforts

During the sixteenth “Bat-a-thon”, a group of 80-some researchers converged at Belize’s Lamanai Archaeological Reserve in early May to study close to 80 species of winged mammals—bats.

Gliselle Marin, a PhD biology student at York University in Toronto, is the only Belizean participant of the study in northern Belize.

Marin, who sports bat-themed earrings and a bat tattoo, emphasised the unique behaviours and adaptive abilities of bats, which she believes are crucial for understanding broader ecological impacts. “When I actually started working with them and realising we have close to 80 species of bats,” she says, “I was like, ‘Okay, it’s kind of crazy that I’ve been in science my whole life and was never taught that we have this diversity of bats in Belize.’”

Marin’s research focusses on the dietary flexibility of bats, analysing bat faeces to determine their food sources. This allows a better understanding of how habitat fragmentation affects the diet and overall survival of bats.

As Belize faces increasing deforestation and climate challenges, Marin’s grassroots conservation efforts act as a bridge to local knowledge through scientific research.

For Marin, the core message is straightforward: Everything is interconnected—people, bats, and the forest. “We’re as special as everything else around us,” she says.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Dangriga, Commerce Bight Port Reopens

Belize is set to welcome a new port following a groundbreaking ceremony held on Friday, August 9, at the Commerce Bight Port. The project has been contentious since 2020, when the previous administration awarded Recological Services Limited a 25-year management contract, which the Briceño administration later cancelled.

Despite delays, the Briceño administration proposed transforming the site into a tourism hub. Investors, including Basilio Zabaneh, are expected to invest approximately sixty million dollars in the redevelopment of Commerce Bight Port.

At the ceremony, PM Briceño recalled, “I remember way back as early as probably as 2006, that the PUP, we made a commitment to Dangriga and to the people in the south that we are going to reopen Commerce Bight. Fast forward to today, as you know in December of last year we had to buy over the port of Belize, because no investments were being done.”

The port’s reopening is expected to create significant employment opportunities, with over 100 workers planned for the three-year construction phase and more than 60 full-time positions once it is completed. “We look forward to this project moving forward. All of us have collaborated on making this a reality. Certainly this will have a huge impact in terms of employment, in terms of quality of life,” stated Zabaneh.

“I believe that Belize is one of the few countries around the world, that we don’t monetize our waterways and seafront,” said Minister Anthony Mahler at the ceremony. “Commerce Bight was once the epicenter of commerce in this entire area, for agriculture, logging, cargo. Now, it is transitioning to what we are catering for these days. It’s transitioning to nautical tourism, which I strong believe, it is a sector of the tourism industry that we haven’t fully developed as yet,” he added.

The port will accommodate large vessels and cruise ships, aiming to enhance tourism, improve accessibility, and boost economic activity in southern Belize.

National Hurricane Center Monitors Potential Tropical Disturbance Five

The National Hurricane Center issues advisories on potential tropical cyclone Five. The disturbance is currently a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

There is a high chance of formation, with a 90 percent probability through both 48 hours and 7 days.

The next named storm for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be Ernesto.

Training on Greenhouse Gas Reporting for Belize’s Transport Sector

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, through the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), hosted a three-day training on greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting for the transport sector in Belize from August 6th to 8th, 2024.

Supported by the Initiatives for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) and National Communication Biennial Transparency Report (NC/BTR) projects, the training aimed to enhance skills in monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of GHG emissions.

With the transport sector contributing 40% of Belize’s GHG emissions, the training was critical for effective emission management. Participants were provided with technical knowledge on the reporting process and necessary data collection to meet obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

This training comes as Belize prepares its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) to the UNFCCC.

Climate Risk Information System (CRIS) extends IDB-Funded Climate Data training in Belize

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, through the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), has extended its Climate Risk Information System (CRIS) training in Belize. This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), the University of Belize (UB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), took place at the Jaguar Building in Belmopan. The training was funded by the IDB.

CRIS focuses on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of essential climate data. The recent training aimed to enhance the capabilities of agriculture field officers and other key stakeholders. It also provided important insights into the use of CRIS in the tourism and agriculture sectors, helping participants understand its practical applications.

The collaboration between NCCO and its partners aims to enhance climate resilience and sustainability in Belize. The training is designed to support informed decision-making and strengthen the country’s ability to manage climate-related challenges.

Shark Attack Survivor Annabelle Carlson Receiving Treatment in Miami

Annabelle Carlson, 15, from Aspen, Colorado, is now receiving medical care in her home country. The teenage girl was injured in a shark attack while scuba diving between Hot Caye and Halfmoon Caye in Belize.

Carlson was flown to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where she remains in paediatric intensive care and is scheduled for at least one more surgery on her leg.

A family friend launched a GoFundMe page to support Carlson’s recovery journey. The page said, “On a family vacation to Belize, Annabelle was scuba diving with a tour group and her family. After she was finished scuba diving and was on the boat, she jumped back into the water for a swim. That’s when the unimaginable encounter happened. The odds are 1 in 11.5 million that this could happen. That unimaginable encounter was a shark attack. It was a very aggressive, very traumatic, terror-filled fight for her life.”

It continued, “Annabelle was able to fight off the attack as best as she could but was critically injured in the fight. The emergency responders in Belize acted very quickly. She was airlifted by helicopter to a trauma medical center in Belize City. The quick action from the emergency response team in Belize saved her life. They were able to stabilise her, at which point she was medically flown to the United States and is currently receiving care at the top trauma center. Annabelle will have a very long road of recovery ahead of her.”

The GoFundMe page aims to fundraise its $250,000 USD goal. A total of $155,288 USD has been raised so far.

Belize Indigenous Groups Demand Climate Action on Indigenous Peoples Day

On International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, August 9, 2024, the Toledo Alcaldes Association and the Julian Cho Society have highlighted the resilience and contributions of Belize’s Indigenous communities. This year’s observance focuses on the Maya Q’eqchi, Mopan, Yucatec, and Garifuna Peoples, along with their organisations under the Belize National Indigenous Council (BENIC).

An official statement addressed the severe impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities in southern Belize. Recent forest fires in the Toledo and Cayo Districts, resulting in $8.4 million in damages, have disproportionately affected the Maya communities, despite their minimal contribution to climate change.

The Julian Cho Society and the Toledo Alcaldes Association launched a comprehensive relief initiative, which includes distributing 78,500 pounds of food, planting materials, and rebuilding three homes destroyed by the fires.

The organisations call for continued collaboration from the Government of Belize, civil society, and other stakeholders to support Indigenous communities effectively. They advocate for adherence to international standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), to ensure no one is left behind.