Belize’s protected areas are set to benefit from a new partnership between the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future. Both organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen financing for Belize’s National Protected Areas System (NPAS).
According to a statement, the partnership aims to improve the coordination and effectiveness of funding for the country’s protected areas.
The MOU focuses on key areas such as joint resource mobilisation, standardising financing policies, and increasing stakeholder engagement. It also includes plans for public outreach, including a National Conservation Summit in 2025, to raise awareness about conservation efforts.
Over the next five years, both organisations will work together to support the country’s natural heritage to secure long-term sustainable funding for Belize’s environmental initiatives.
Why would Belize’s Ministry of Education (MOE) issue a warning notice against a promising 20,000-acre university? While it has been over 2 months since the notice was issued, the school has been in the works for years.
For over a decade, The Ultimate Business University (UBU) has been planning to build a massive, Harry Potter-inspired campus in Belize. The size of the school campus would be nearly three times the size of Belmopan.
Except, not any student would be able to enrol in UBU. The university will be “a non-profit organisation designed to support youths at risk”, according to its website. These youths will be U.S. citizens under the age of 18 who would be emancipated and then brought over to Belize on full scholarships.
The day that MOE issued the warning notice, News 5 contacted the ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Dian Maheia. According to her, the ministry received a query about UBU, which prompted MOE to look into the university. The ministry’s research came down to issuing a warning stating that UBU “is neither legally registered nor authorised to operate as an educational institution in Belize and that it has no official affiliation or recognition from the Ministry of Education.”
On February 5th, the former Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, told reporters that his team was alerted, and the ministry was forced to take action. “It was brought to the attention of our communications team that these things were being posted and notices being sent out. So we had to take action,” he said.
Some of these “notices” were actually being sent out to Belizeans who were being recruited to be part of the project. The recruitment process was being done through LinkedIn, a platform professionals use to network, share career updates, and find job opportunities or business collaborations. The Belizeans that News 5 reached out to reported that they were contacted via LinkedIn directly by the founder of UBU.
Most of the names of these Belizeans were also found on UBU’s official website. They were listed as part of UBU’s team alongside the job title or responsibility they would be contributing to the university. Some of these same Belizeans were not aware their names were listed out already, with one saying that they made an application but never received confirmation of the position.
Meanwhile, Fonseca pointed out that the lack of background information about the people behind the school and the large-scale features it plans to implement does not sound “feasible or logical.” He added, “We get lots of proposals from institutions all over the world. You don’t know who the people are; you don’t know anything about them. My own view is that that would not be something that we would consider at all.”
He added that the government needs to be really cautious when considering institutions that want to establish in Belize. There are often concerns about entities that exist to exploit vulnerable people, which is a major reason why the government must always verify the legitimacy of any school operating in the country. “There’s a legal procedure in place for you to apply. Especially if you want to open some offshore school. Especially for those kinds of institutions, because so many of them have been associated with scams, fly-by-night institutions that are just taking people’s money,” Fonseca said.
According to the former minister, there is a legal process for applications of this scale. As stated in the ministry’s notice, UBU has not followed the legal process.
Investors are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war could lead to a global recession. According to The Economist, stock markets were rattled following the announcement of Trump’s new tariffs.
The Russell 3000, one of the broadest measures of the American stock market, dropped 5% on April 3 and another 6% the following day after China retaliated with its own tariffs, according to The Economist.
It also added that gold and the US dollar also showed unusual movements, while oil and copper prices plunged.
Concerns have intensified as bank stocks, particularly those exposed to economic cycles, have tumbled, and several private firms have delayed their public listings. The VIX, a measure of market volatility, has surged, prompting analysts to raise global recession odds to 60%.
Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Iguana Street, Belize City, this afternoon. Initial reports indicate that three people were injured, including a woman and child.
Reports are that two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on the victims before fleeing the scene. The injured have been identified as Marelee Richards, 56; Edgar Choc, 36; and a 12-year-old.
The victims were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) and are reported to be in stable condition. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Police are currently processing the scene. No arrests have been made.
Pope Francis, 88, made his first public appearance since being discharged from the hospital. The Vatican reported that the pope delivered a message about illness as a “holy place.”
He urged the faithful to see the sickbed as an opportunity for spiritual growth. The Pope highlighted how suffering can lead to transformation, comparing it to the exile of the Israelites and the woman condemned for her sins in the Gospel.
The Pope is still recovering from pneumonia. He called his illness a lesson in trust and gratitude. He encouraged people to embrace vulnerability and accept love, rather than viewing illness as a burden.
The Pope greeted crowds in St Peter’s Square. He appeared stronger and in good spirits, offering a message of hope and compassion to the thousands gathered.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams confirmed that three children have been removed from a house following allegations of abuse. According to Williams, the children have been interviewed and are “in the process of taking them into protective care.” The children will also undergo medical examinations as part of the ongoing investigation.
This comes after a concerned resident took to social media on Saturday, claiming that two young girls, aged two and three, were allegedly being physically abused in a dangerous and toxic environment.
The user said in a social media post, The post stated, “There are 2 little girls getting abused physically, & God knows there’s a possibility it’s sexually too.” According to the user, Human Services was contacted, but no action had been taken.
She alleged that the man living in the house was abusing the children, stating, “These little girls are about 2 & 3 years old.” The post also claimed that the girls and their mother were “getting beat every single day.”
“I have videos of these little girls & their mom on the street late at night when he puts them out, I have voice clips with a family member saying that these girls are being molested,” the user added.
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) has officially opened its newly constructed Main Kitchen and Dining Facilities, a major development aimed at improving the welfare of its personnel.
“This state-of-the-art facility is designed to significantly enhance the quality of life for our soldiers, offering them nutritious meals in a comfortable and modern setting,” the BDF said in a statement.
The new facility includes a modern walk-in freezer, advanced cooking equipment, and expanded dining areas for both senior officers and troops. According to the BDF, “These upgrades will not only streamline meal preparation and service but also ensure that our troops receive the best possible sustenance to support their demanding duties.”
Lieutenant Colonel Williams, Services Battalion Commander, called the opening a “momentous occasion”, adding that the facilities will facilitate “proper nutrition which is essential to the readiness and morale of our troops,” he said.
Authorities are investigating a fire incident that occurred early this morning in Belize City. Reports are that the blaze started around 2:30 in the morning at an abandoned two-storey building on Hunters Lane.
The fire eventually spread onto a nearby home, causing significant damage. Firefighter officials responded and managed to contain the fire from spreading further.
The extent of the fire damage is still unknown. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) announced on Friday the groundbreaking of the new paediatric ward at Northern Regional Hospital in the Orange Walk District. The project is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Orange Walk-District 4250 and LEAP Global Mission. MOHW said in a statement that it reflects “a milestone in our commitment to improving child healthcare services in Belize.”
The $2.3 million initiative will fund the construction of a “modern, 5,384 sq. ft. facility equipped with observation wards, isolation units, consultation rooms, and more,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that the facility will be “tailored to meet the needs of our youngest patients and the heroes who care for them.”
Thousands of protesters flooded streets today across the United States and around the world in response to President Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs and his “America First” economic policies. Dubbed “Liberation Day” by Trump, Trump’s recent trade moves have drawn widespread criticism for their potential to harm global trade relations.
According to CNN, the “Hands Off!” protests are among the largest collective responses to his administration’s agenda, with over 1,400 protests planned in all 50 states in the US. The news outlet also reported that major rallies have also taken place internationally, including in Germany, the UK, and Canada.
Critics argue that Trump’s economic policies benefit wealthy elites, like Elon Musk, at the expense of ordinary citizens. The protesters are calling for an end to what they see as a “billionaire takeover” of government, the reduction of social services, and protection for vulnerable communities, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
CNN reported that the movement is gaining momentum, with nearly 600,000 participants expected. More rallies also continue to unfold worldwide.
Today, Mia Mottley, Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), also warned about the economic impact on the Caribbean. “Regardless of what any of our Caribbean governments will do, we could lower our tariffs to zero in CARICOM, and it will not make a lick of difference because our economies are small and vulnerable,” she stated. Mottley also appealed directly to President Trump, saying, “I say simply to President Trump, our economies are not doing your economy any harm in any way. They’re too small to have any negative or distorting impact on your country. So I ask you to consider your decades-long friendship between your country and ours.”
