On Wednesday, the Prime Minister told reporters that he does not listen to B.S.C.F.A. press conference. As you may be aware, the association holds a number of press conferences to ventilate its concerns to the public. They also use the opportunity to get across direct messages to political leaders like PM Briceño. The association did just that on Tuesday. We asked Ortega for his response to the PM’s remarks.
Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“The prime minister well knew before he was elected how the sugar industry was. He was the one who said that once he is elected he would work for the betterment of the sugar industry, that the industry would be one of his priority that he would be creating the marketing committee in the first one hundred days of government. That has not happened as yet. So, we do believe that as the prime minister of this country to look over the sugar industry and to see that the industry has the necessary tools for it to be viable.”
Reporter
“Who is not listening to your press conferences is the prime minister. He said so yesterday, what is your response to that?”
Alfredo Ortega
“Well it is a pity that now that he is elected to give that type of response. I think that as the leader of the country he has a moral responsibility to the sugar industry.”
During his contributions to the budget debate, Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, confirmed that he and Prime Minister John Briceño have a difference in opinion over the commission of inquiry into the sugar industry. Mai noted that the commission of inquiry has been gazetted and as a result is now law. He further stated that while there is resistance, he believes this is what is best for the industry.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“The recent protest was handled well. It would have been under the UDP the security forces would have been led by some rough neck UDP, man handle the cane farmers, they would have roughed them up, have their guns raised and let us remember who shot to death Anastacio Guiterrez of Asan Victor, Prime Minister Barrow refused to meet with cane farmers to address the matter. This is unlike our PM who cl4early we do have difference of opinion, but nevertheless have taken his time to meet with both sides and I am hopeful we will put this sugarcane matter to rest. And while there were some delays with the signing of the commission of inquiry, it has been signed and it is law. We do expect resistance but again I am convinced we all want the best for this industry.”
Angela Rayner is one of the most arresting figures in British politics today. A self-declared socialist, she pursued an unorthodox route into politics, leaving school aged 16 while pregnant having gained no formal qualifications. After becoming a care worker, she was a trade union representative before entering the House of Commons in 2015 as the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne. She served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Education for four years from 2016 and was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party in April 2020.
Rayner’s life story has earned her a reputation as an authentic working-class voice and, thanks to her own power base and combative performances in the Commons chamber, she is widely considered to be a standout figure among Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet.
But who is the real Angela Rayner? What does she actually believe in? What is she like behind the scenes? Can she unite the factions of her party to endorse the Starmer project? And does she harbour ambitions for the top job? This careful examination of her background and career seeks to answer these questions and many more.
Michael Ashcroft’s new book follows the journey of a politician who has quickly become an outspoken and charismatic presence in British public life and who promises to be a lively addition to the government should Labour win the next general election.
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.
An Ohio woman abandoned her sixteen-month-old daughter to go on a vacation for ten days. The child, Jailyn, died. The mother, Kristel Candelario, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of child endangerment in a plea deal last month. She was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Candelario let Jailyn alone in a playpen with a few bottles of milk. Upon her return on June 16th of the previous year, Candelario discovered her daughter lifeless.
During her sentencing, forensic pathologist Elizabeth Mooney described the excruciating suffering endured by Jailyn, emphasizing the prolonged agony of abandonment, starvation, and extreme thirst.
Judge Brendan Sheehan delivered a stern rebuke, condemning Candelario for abandoning her child in a “tiny prison” while indulging in leisure.
He characterised her actions as a betrayal of the sacred bond between mother and child, denouncing her neglect as an act of ultimate treachery.
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.”
Belize Sugar Industries Limited fired off a press release saying that it denounces a commission of inquiry into its private affairs. BSI says that Prime Minister John Briceño announced the Commission of Inquiry (COI) “with a mandate to delve into the private affairs of BSI, with the sole purpose of providing ammunition for one cane farmer association, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), to continue its relentless effort to coerce BSI to pay more for cane without any economic or business justification.”
BSI asserts that the three other cane farmers’ associations that represent “roughly half the cane do not support the COI.”
According to BSI, “This decision is politically driven and totally erodes ASR’s investor confidence as the largest US investor in Belize and undermines representations made by the Government of Belize to ASR in 2012 that it would receive fair treatment.”
BSI says that it will not be compelled to “produce proprietary and confidential commercial information, the rights over which are protected by law.”
“BSI sees this Commission of Inquiry as a further assault on its business interests and outright bad faith by the government.”
The Association of Beneficiaries and Retired Public Officers has mobilized its members for a second public protest in Belmopan today to express disappointment and dissatisfaction with the Government’s failure to honor the then Prime Minister’s pledge made in December 2022.
According to ABRPO, it was promised that Public Service Workers’ Trust Fund would be dissolved so that beneficiaries can receive monies owed to them since 1997.
The PSWT’s audited financial statements reveal concerning mismanagement, including the write-off of over $101,000 in loans to unions, associations, and individuals purportedly affiliated with beneficiaries. Additionally, more than $500,000 has been allocated for legal services from the Trust fund.
The Association holds successive Attorney Generals responsible for disregarding legally sound recommendations. It says that this situation represents clear discrimination against the elderly, many of whom have passed without receiving compensation.
