The Financial Services Commission of Belize (FSC) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming an associate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) as of May 20, 2024.
“This milestone marks a significant step in fostering international cooperation in Belize’s financial services sector.”
IOSCO, recognized as the global standard-setter for securities regulation, serves as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. It is instrumental in developing, implementing, and promoting adherence to internationally recognized standards for securities regulations. By joining IOSCO, the Belize FSC underscores its commitment to upholding these global standards, thereby enhancing investor confidence and promoting market integrity in Belize.
Claude Haylock, Director General and Deputy Chairman of the FSC, welcomed the news, stating, “We are delighted to join IOSCO as an associate member. This membership will enable us to collaborate more closely with global regulators, share valuable insights, and continue to enhance our regulatory environment to meet international benchmarks.”
The Belize FSC is poised to actively participate in IOSCO’s initiatives, contributing to the collective goal of strengthening securities markets worldwide.
FFB To Take Disciplinary Action Against Three Players
Three football players, Michael Salazar, Nanah Mensah, and Deshown Nembhard, are accusing the Football Federation of Belize of “continued mistreatment.”
The players shared a statement on social media following the FFB’s announcement of its decision to take disciplinary action against the three players. The FFB said that the three players chose not to participate in the June 8th match against the Nicaraguan team. The FFB said, “this decision was made just four hours before kickoff, significantly impacting the team’s performance in tonight’s match.”
In its statement, the FFB said, “The players in question were training with their national team counterparts for over a week. The FFB invested significantly in ensuring optimal conditions for the team, including substantial investments in travel expenses, accommodations, and stipends to support our athletes.”
The statement continued, “The sudden withdrawal of these three players, two of whom were part of the starting eleven, necessitated critical last-minute changes by the coaching staff.”
The FFB said it was disappointed and that the matter would be referred to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the FFB for revision.
The Players’ Response
The three players, Michael Salazar, Nanah Mensah, and Deshown Nembhard, responded to the FFB’s statement on social media. The players said, “While it was an extremely difficult decision, we felt it necessary to take a stance against the continued mistreatment we have received from the Football Federation of Belize. On several occasions over the years, there has been unprofessional communication, lack of organization and poor conditions and accommodations.”
The players said they have “sat down with the FFB multiple times to express our concerns and discuss possible solutions to move forward.”
“However, at this time, nothing has been done to remedy the situation.”
They said that they did not feel it “fair or responsible to continue to be asked to play under such conditions and lack of professionalism.”
“Because of the current state of the actions being taken against us, we will not be able to give specific details at this time, however, when the time is right, we will provide further insight.”
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $10 million loan to support sustainable urban development in Belize’s northern municipalities. The initiative includes improved access to urban services, better drainage infrastructure and bicycle lanes.
The IDB’s Board of Executive Directors also approved a USD 2.5 million non-reimbursable facility for the same purpose.
This program aims to improve access to selected urban services, foster local economic growth, and facilitate social and economic integration of vulnerable populations, such as women and migrants.
Vulnerable neighbourhoods and prioritized urban areas will see improved access to essential urban services such as drainage, sewage, sidewalks, pavement, and bike lanes using the new or enhanced sidewalks with universal design. Integral investments include upgrading public markets, accommodations for local vendors, tourist centres, kindergartens, primary health care and cultural centres.
These projects will improve the tourism product and potential in Orange Walk (OW) and Corozal while fostering the social and economic integration of vulnerable populations.
This initiative will benefit an estimated 40,000 Orange Walk, Corozal, and San Pedro residents. The direct beneficiaries will be residents of vulnerable neighbourhoods, users of public spaces, local vendors, consumers, small business owners, and workers in the tourism and commerce sectors.
The program also finances institutional strengthening actions, both local and national, which will also strengthen local capacities to guide the sustainable urban development of cities in a planned and controlled manner. This initiative underscores the IDB’s commitment to fostering inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development in Belize.
The IDB loan is for a 25-year term and has a grace period of five and a half years.
Police have identified the man who was found with a gunshot wound last night. An official report from the Belize Police Department says the person has been identified as Alfredo Enrique Rodriguez David.
David’s body was discovered around 5:00 p.m. Police are investigating.
Next week, a group of Russian naval ships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will visit Cuba as part of the “historically friendly relations” between the two nations, according to the Cuban government.
The fleet will dock in Havana between June 12 and 17. The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces emphasized that none of the ships carry nuclear weapons and that their visit does not pose a threat to the region.
Cuba noted that visits from naval units of friendly nations are a longstanding practice.
This visit marks the largest Russian naval presence in Cuba in years. It follows last July’s visit by the Russian Navy’s training ship Perekop and comes amid Cuba’s increasing reliance on Russian oil and aid during its worst economic crisis in decades.
The announcement also follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russian territory with American munitions, prompting a strong response from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The U.S. State Department and Pentagon anticipate increased Russian naval and air activity near the U.S. this summer, as part of routine maneuvers leading up to a global naval exercise in the fall.
A man from Mullins River Village was found dead at sea earlier this weekend. He has been identified as sixty-one-year-old Gilbert Flowers.
His body was retrieved near Deadman Caye near Turneffe Atoll.
His nephew, Alberto Magdeleno of Ladyville Highlights said, ” He was one of the original guys who worked on sand boat sailing to Robinson point and back to Belize city on those classic sailing boats such as RADIO AND UNITED.”
He said they remain uncertain about how he died.
The investigation has revealed that Flowers and others left for Deadman Caye on May 31st in preparation for the lobster season, which begins on July 1st. Flowers stayed on the island, while the others reportedly returned to Belize City. When they went back to the island, Flowers was nowhere to be found.
His body was found on Tuesday morning by Coast Guard officers.
Police in Belize City are investigating an apparent murder. The body of a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds near the Port of Belize in Belize City yesterday. The unidentified man is believed to have been fishing in the area when he was murdered.
Investigators found a backpack, bucket, and bicycle near the body.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the Canadian government, has launched a $14.6 million project titled Gender Responsive Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean. Running until December 2028, this four-year initiative will focus on climate change, youth and gender constraints in value chains and build capacity so that all value chain actors benefit from increased market access and increased incomes.
The project will be implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture in eight (8) Caribbean countries. The project aims to promote and encourage the use of climate-smart technologies in viable agricultural value chains in Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We recognise the disproportionate impact of food and input price inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate change in the Caribbean, which has exacerbated pre-existing food insecurity,” said High Commissioner Chatterjee at the regional launch event on Monday.
The project was originally announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Canada-CARICOM summit last October. She underscored the importance of empowering women, describing them as “powerful agents of change” in achieving sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.
According to the High Commissioner, the project represents a major commitment under Canada’s feminist international assistance policy. It will develop inclusive, gender-responsive, climate-resilient value chains in the named Caribbean countries. It addresses challenges faced by producers and farmer organizations, such as weak business planning and limited access to finance.
Renata Clarke, FAO’s subregional coordinator for the Caribbean, stressed the project’s alignment with broader efforts to transform value chains in the sub-region.
Project coordinator Vermaran Extavour outlined goals including the adoption of climate-smart technologies and improving community facilities with renewable energies to enhance food quality and reduce waste. The initiative aims to build the capacity of women and youth producer organizations to run viable businesses within these value chains.
Since 2017, Global Affairs Canada has invested over $2.5 billion in global agriculture and food programming. High Commissioner Chatterjee expressed confidence that this project will complement other efforts to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship and food systems in the region.
The FAO-Canada initiative will initially operate in eight Eastern Caribbean countries, with detailed implementation plans forthcoming.
Nominations for the 35th Caribbean Media Awards were announced on Wednesday. Great Belize Productions, Channel 5, received twenty-five nominations—the most for a single outlet in the Caribbean Region.
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union said, “2024 continues to break records with the CBU Secretariat receiving four hundred and eighty-four (484) submissions for sixty-three (63) categories from a total of thirty-four (34) organisations representing thirteen (13) countries and territories in the Dutch, English, and Spanish Caribbean.”
The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) is the Title Sponsor.
Great Belize Productions was nominated in the following categories:
Best News Story: Digital
Best Investigative Report: Digital
Best Climate Change Investigative Report: Digital
Best Commercial Spot: TV
Best Public Service Spot: TV
Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Mangrove and Seagrass Beds: TV
Coverage of Healthy Nutrition Food Policy: TV
People’s Choice Award
Best Documentary: TV
Best Magazine Programme: TV
Best News Story: TV
Best Sports Story: TV
Best Investigative Report: TV
Best Entertainment Programme: TV
Best News Story on Poverty Reduction and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups: TV
Best Climate Change News Items: TV
Belize Climate Change Investigative Report: TV
Best Production on Land Degradation Neutrality: TV
Financial Literacy Journalism: TV
Health Education Journalism: TV
Best Social Media Content Creator
Best Videographer
Best Director TV
Best Producer TV
Best Sound Engineer TV
Channel 7 Belize was nominated in four categories: Best Documentary, Best News Item, Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Mangrove/Seagrass Beds and Belize Climate Change Investigative Report. Also from Belize, NVision LLP was nominated in the best documentary category.
This is the full list of nominations:
The CBU also shared that “there has also been an unprecedented response from the public to the People’s Choice Award nominees. The twelve (12) entries in this category published on the CBU website www.caribroadcastunion.org attracted more than three thousand online votes altogether by the close of voting on June 1, 2024.”
According to the CBU, the top performing nominees are from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Belize. Leading the nominations is Jamaica’s RJRGLEANER Communications Group, with 29 nominations across its television, radio, and print services. Close behind is Trinidad & Tobago’s One Caribbean Media Group (OCM), securing 28 nominations across its print, television, and radio services.
The single outlet with the most nominations is Great Belize Productions Limited, with its television service, Channel 5, earning 25 nominations. Following is TTT Ltd, with 13 nominations.
Trinidad and Tobago had the highest number of nominated organisations, with eight outlets spanning television, print, radio, and digital media. Barbados followed with six locally based media organisations operating in radio, television, digital, and print services.
The 35th NGC CBU Caribbean Media Awards ceremony will take place at the Umaya Hotel in Placencia, Belize, on August 13, 2024. It will be broadcast on Channel 5.
Police are searching for four individuals involved in the theft of a Colombian vessel belonging to Stake Bank Limited.
The investigation began after a report on Thursday, June 6, 2024, indicated that four men, one armed with a firearm, entered the Stake Bank compound on mile 5 on the George Price Highway. According to police, the men assaulted two security guards and stole the company’s Colombian vessel that was docked in the canal.
