The United Democratic Party (UDP) held its National Party Council meeting today at its Headquarters in Belize City. however, some high-ranking members of the UDP held their own meeting at the Biltmore Hotel. That meeting had the participation of John Saldivar, Patrick Faber, Beverly Williams, Ivan Williams, Denny Grijalva and Daniel Guerrero. Reports are that the group and others discussed the removal of Party Leader, Moses Shyne Barrow.
After a lengthy NPC meeting which concluded after three o’clock this afternoon, a confident Barrow told us he has the majority.
Thirty-year-old Nigel Williams was shot and killed last night in Belize City. It happened near Dunn and St. Thomas streets at around eleven o’clock. Williams was in his Toyota 4Runner when a gunman approached him and fired several shots. Williams subsequently lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a drain. He attempted to escape from the gunman on foot but collapsed moments later. Police are investigating.
In an interview with PLUS TV in Belmopan on Thursday, Prime Minister John Briceño said, “What has happened, as we all know, the Jamaican national has made an accusation, and the police have reviewed the tape, and they believe that they have enough information or evidence to be able to do a full-fledged investigation.”
As News Five reported, a Jamaican national lodged an allegation against an immigration officer at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The Jamaican national is accusing the immigration officer of stealing several thousand U.S. dollars from them.
Chief Executive Officer Tanya Santos of the Ministry of Immigration said that, despite earlier social media reports, only one officer has been apprehended for interrogation.
In the interview, PM Briceño, who is also the Minister of Immigration, said, “I’m told that the Jamaican was, and I can’t go into too many details, but basically passed over monies, and then when he tried to leave the country, he was told he can’t leave the country, and so then he got upset and made this report.”
Briceño stressed that this sort of behaviour cannot be countenanced and that “it needs to end now, and we need to find a way to get rid of all of those people that behave in such a manner.”
Belize and Guatemala have called on the Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala to continue to support the work of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone in keeping peace in the area. Belize was represented by CEO Amalia Mai, and Guatemala was represented by Francisco Villagrán Kramer.
The Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala consists of more than a dozen countries, including the United States of America, Spain, Honduras, Mexico, and Jamaica.
The Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala is the only civilian peacekeeping mission deployed in the Hemisphere within the context of a territorial dispute. The OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone plays a crucial role in maintaining peace on the ground, easing tensions, and thus facilitating the ongoing political dialogue.
The OAS also considered the report of the OAS Office in Adjacency Zone 20 years after its establishment. In her speech, CEO Mai thanked the OAS for keeping peace among communities in the area.
The 38th Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) commenced earlier this week in Georgetown, Guyana, with the presence of Ministers and Vice Ministers from all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean including Belize at the Arthur Chang Conference Centre. The President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and the Director-General of FAO, QU Dongyu, inaugurated the meeting.
Director-General of FAO, QU Dongyu
“You have big potential to accelerate progress and to do even more with less within and outside your region,” said QU, noting the Region boasts a large share of the world’s biodiversity and water resources and accounts for 13 percent of global food production and 45 percent of net international trade in agrifood products. He also noted that, although the Region is a net food exporter, the reliance on commodity imports and exports exposes its agrifood systems to macroeconomic volatility, global geopolitical instability, and climate change, which in turn negatively impact food prices and incomes and lead to unfavorable food security and nutrition outcomes.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana
Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, said that creating resilient and climate-protected agrifood systems is an imperative task going forward, and “decision making must be data driven as far as possible,” he said. He also called for a greater focus on nutrition, calling for a shift “back to the bowl from the box.”
High Commissioner of Belize to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Gale Miller Garnett
During Day One of the Ministerial Session, High Commissioner of Belize to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Gale Miller Garnett, shared the impact of FAO and the Government of Belize’s collaboration to advance sustainable agriculture. “FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise has been working on the development a seed policy, an agriculture sector policy strategy and Digital Village to ensure greater linkages to bridge the gap between the tourism market and digital extension program. The digital extension program is what we have benefitted from with partnership with FAO. So this is all being done while enhancing the dynamism and efficiency of our human resources in Belize.”
The High Commissioner further outlined key priorities for the Belize in ensuring sustainable livelihood for local farmers and entrepreneurs. “Our Ministry continues to work with farmers, family farmers and agriculture cooperatives to improve their conditions by introducing contract farming terms and will meanwhile look at new opportunities which are being constantly explored in research, production, manufacturing and value addition.”
A core part of the intervention spotlighted Belize’s current efforts to expand export markets as well strengthen regional and international trade relations.
QU Dongyu explored to the Burma Rice Station. FAO Caribbean-X
“The FAO and Japan Government continue to support value chain addition of locally produced commodities in Belize. The Government of Belize also supports the exportation of excess food from Belize such as live cattle and poultry to neighbouring countries. This provides food security to our neighbours and foreign exchange to our country. Trade ties with Mexico and Guatemala have been strengthened to facilitate trade of agriculture goods as well as for investment programmes with Mexico and CARICOM to increase the production of basic foods and grains such as corns and soya beans”, said the High Commissioner to Guyana.
Miller Garnett reinforced Belize’s commitment to the Mesoamerica sin Hambre, a South-South Cooperation initiative that aims to support healthy diets, nutrition, education, school meal programmes. According to the High Commissioner, the “family farming and school garden concept has taken root in most of the rural areas in Belize.”
The Government of Belize announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will establish “brand new offices in Belize City.” A release from the government says, “This development underscores the IDB’s deep commitment to Belize and marks a crucial step in our joint efforts to foster economic growth and multisectoral development.”
Strategically positioned to enhance synergy and resource utilization, the new premises will accommodate an expanding team dedicated to amplifying projects across diverse sectors.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment says, “We are happy to hear about the IDB’s new location in Belize. This investment not only strengthens our partnership but also highlights the IDB’s role in supporting Belize’s journey towards sustainable development and economic resilience. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts with the IDB to address our country’s challenges and opportunities and the well-being of the Belizean people.”
IDB Group Country Representative, Rocio Medina Bolivar, said, “We are excited about this new chapter for the IDB in Belize. The new offices not only signify our growth but also underscore the IDB’s support to deepen our long-term engagement and commitment to the Belizean people.”
For over three decades, the IDB Group has been a cornerstone of Belize’s progress, offering comprehensive assistance through its three arms: the IDB, collaborating with the public sector on developmental endeavours; the IDB Lab, fostering innovation; and IDB Invest, the private sector arm. The IDB Group boasts a diverse portfolio in Belize, spanning initiatives in education, water and sanitation, social investment, agriculture and rural development, state modernization, private sector enhancement, healthcare, financial markets, climate action, natural disaster management, and trade.
After serving the United Democratic Party (UDP), Brian ‘Yellowman’ Audinette has been fired. Lord, who was on the UDP’s Belize City slate, is known as a street captain for the UDP’s Mesopotamia area. It is unclear why Audinette was fired from the party.
Brian Lord’s Facebook post on March 9th 2024
What is clear is that he is upset. Audinette has taken to Facebook media to post several messages. One read, “The war is on I tha noh p&^k”. Another said, “A gwen tha church tomorrow and ask god for forgiveness cause after this it’s going to be an eye for an eye.” Audinette‘s began sharing his thoughts about the UDP’s defeat on March 9th when he posted “Work one month before wah election in these constituency will never bring victory new faces needed.”
On March 15th, former UDP ministers John Saldivar and Michael Finnegan appeared in a photograph with Audinette. The photograph was posted by Saldivar on his Facebook page.
Former UDP Ministers John Saldivar and Michael Finnegan along with Yellowman/Facebook-John Saldivar
Fast-forward to March 18th, and Audinette is fired from the UDP. A day later, he makes an official complaint against UDP leader Moses Barrow.
And on March 20th, a Deed of Settlement between Audinette and the UDP was leaked to News Five. The document says that the United Democratic Party has offered an ex-gratia payment for his years of service.
According to the document, Audinette was dismissed for good and sufficient cause. He was offered an “ex gratia payment of $7,500 to be paid $3,500 upon signing of this Deed of Settlement and the handing over of all Party assets including office keys etc; with the remaining payments in monthly installments of $500 every 21st of the month, it is hereby agreed that Brian Audinett will release the United Democratic Party from all liabilities and future claims related to his employment and all matters incidental to or connected therewith.”
The document also says that “It is further agreed that Brian Audinett his agents, heirs, family, and friends will refrain in perpetuity from any negative, critical, disparaging, public or private statements or commentary about the United Democratic Party, its Party Leaders, Officials, Members, and affiliates.”
It ALSO says that Audinette “will stay away from the UDP Headquarters, adjacent establishments; out of Mesopotamia Constituency political activities and will not work directly or indirectly with any pup, independent or internal opponent of the sitting Area Representative.”
Excerpt of proposed Deed of Settlement
It ALSO says that Audinette “It further agreed that Brian Audinett will send a retraction letter upon execution of this agreement to the UDP Party Chairman withdrawing all complaints against the Party Leader.”
If Audinette breaches this agreement, he, agents, heirs, family, and friends “must must immediately return all payments made subject to this agreement and forfeit any remaining ex gratia payment and be subject to damages caused by said breach.”
National Garifuna Council Belize City Branch held its Annual General Meeting and Branch Elections on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The meeting focused on planning of branch activities for the year, strategies for increased engagement of Garinagu living in Belize District and the election of officers for the 2024 – 2026 term of office.
The newly elected executive members for the Belize City Branch are:
President – Raphael Martinez
First Vice President – Dorla Gutierrez
Second Vice President – Winder Ellington
Secretary – Melissa Zuniga
Assistant Secretary – Agnes Rose Morris
Treasurer – Naomi Guzman
Assistant Treasurer – Matthew Martinez
Councillors – Alvin Rhaburn, Denise Casimiro and Bridget Pearl
Miranda
A press conference is currently underway at the Prime Minister’s office in Belize City between CWU and government representatives. The Christian Workers Union, on behalf of the stevedores, has apparently reached an amicable agreement with the Government of Belize regarding recent issues at the Port of Belize that resulted in a work-to-rule last week.
As we reported last week, employees of P.B.L. effected a work-to-rule after repeatedly demanding that the government compensate them for sugar redundancies after the shipment of bulk sugar was relocated to Big Creek a few years ago.
Police continue to search for Jamie Young, the man investigators say fatally shot thirty-year-old Damion Baptist. According to the official police report, officers were called out to an area near mile nine on the Philip Goldson Highway. At the scene, police found a red Ford Fusion crashed into a lamp post. They also observed bullet holes on the front passenger side.
Scene of crashed red Ford
Baptist was driving the car while twenty-nine-year-old Laneedrah Dawson, Young’s ex-girlfriend, was in the passenger seat. They were travelling from Ladyville Village towards Belize City when Young began following them in his grey Wingle. Between miles eight and nine on the highway, Young overtook them, halted his vehicle, and discharged multiple shots, injuring Baptist. An ambulance passing by rushed Baptist to the KHMH, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
