Belize is hosting a two-day national workshop to review and strengthen its greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting as part of its ongoing efforts to meet international climate commitments. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Review Workshop brings together technical experts, sector leads, and key stakeholders.
The workshop aims to assess Belize’s GHG inventory using the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines. It follows Belize’s submission of its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Fifth National Inventory Report (NIR) to the UNFCCC in December 2024.
Participants are reviewing data across sectors including energy, industry, waste, agriculture, and forestry. “This workshop not only sharpens our technical readiness but also reaffirms our role as a regional leader in building a transparent, accountable, and data-driven climate future,” a joint statement said.
It added that the workshop is key to prepare “Belize for the upcoming Technical Expert Review (TER), a process that evaluates the quality and transparency of submitted reports.”
The event is in collaboration with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management through the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), with support from the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub (ReCATH).
According to Al Jazeera, Spain and Portugal experienced one of Europe’s worst blackouts, affecting tens of millions of people and disrupting transport, communications, and medical procedures.
The blackout lasted from Monday to early Tuesday, plunging major cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon into darkness. Emergency meetings were convened by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, and a state of emergency was declared in Madrid.
Portugal’s electricity provider, Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN), attributed the outage to a rare atmospheric phenomenon causing severe temperature imbalances.
However, Spain’s national meteorological office, Aemet, ruled out weather as the cause. Investigations are ongoing, with experts suggesting multiple factors might be involved.
Despite the restoration of power, transport systems remain affected, and the exact cause of the blackout is still unknown. Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities, including cyberattacks, although there is no evidence to support this theory at present.
This morning, former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber stood alongside Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton at a UDP press conference in Belize City. Just as he finished his presentation, a team of officers swooped in and arrested him. Faber is accused of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the officer from performing his duties in the early hours this morning. The incident began when Faber allegedly sped through a checkpoint at the foot of BelChina Bridge, prompting a police pursuit. Upon stopping him, officers discovered his vehicle was unlicensed. When asked for his driver’s license, Faber claimed it was at home. The officers followed him to his Belize City residence where he produced the license. While issuing a violation ticket for operating an unlicensed vehicle and having a defective light, Faber began recording the officer and placing his phone close to the officer’s face. The officer reported feeling threatened and uncomfortable. Despite repeated warnings that he was obstructing police duties, Faber’s behavior persisted. After being detained at the Biltmore, Faber was escorted to Queen Street Police Station for questioning, and later to Belize City Magistrates Court for arraignment. This afternoon, he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Speaking outside the court, he claimed the charges are politically motivated.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Senator Designate
“I just think it is politically motivated, much of it. I did not do anything that would constitute any kind of aggravated assault. Nor did I try to stop the police or obstruct the police from doing his job. The police who gave me, they gave me two tickets by the way, one for my tail lights, that is the real reason why they claim they stopped me and they don’t show you all the video. I have not seen what they showed you, but from what people are telling me, they diced and spliced what they want, which is a matter itself. If the police recorded me, how can the video, because I did not share my version of the video as yet, but how can the police video be floating all around. What is their motivate? Clearly it is try to bring embarrassment and shame. I am saying for the record that I am not guilty of those charges and we will wait for the court, for us to have our day and for that to be determined?”
Reporter
“Do you believe this is casting a black eye on a party that is rebuilding, especially since today was your first press conference?”
Patrick Faber
“I think that is the intent. But we have long resisted this kind of thing. This week makes twenty years since I was last charged with aggravated assault against a police officer. Your member. So this is no the first time I have endured such a charge or targeted because of politics in this manner. I am not saying the police did not have a right to stop me and all of that. But I complied with all they asked me to do. I was just trying to make sure I had a version of what happened, for the very same reason. I know very well how they are able to use these things in a politically slanted way.”
Reporter
“Had you been driving under the influence?”
Patrick Faber
“Absolutely not, if the police felt that way, they stopped me in front of Blue Marlin where I came out and they asked me for my license, I told them I did not have my license on me and they insisted that the regulations that says, or what I thought to be the case, that you have twenty-four hours to produce your license, the officer said absolutely not. I told them that I was not too far away from where I need to be to get the license and he followed me there. If he allowed me to do that, as you heard my attorney say. In fact, those who know my I have completely stopped drinking and I only took a drink for my birthday and that was it.”
Notably, Faber has yet to be sworn in as the lead senator for the opposition. So, will his party leader have second thoughts about appointing him to the role after today’s events? That’s the question he’s facing, given public perception surrounding these charges. Here’s how he responded.
Patrick Faber, UDP Senator Designate
“That is ridiculous in my view for you to make the stretch all the way there. Have you heard that I am not guilty of the charges that they have put against me. It is important for us to put in the public that this is a witch hunt, political witch hunt, which wants to obtain the same thing you are asking me about, they want to say Patrick Faber won’t be a Senator, because they want to be eased in the Senate. They would not want me to be there. That is a perception we have to fight against.”
Orson “OJ” Elrington
Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“You guys have dealt with the honorable Faber for decades and what he has not done is shy away from the media, because the media is third estate and as is allowed shape public perception. So, even though his advisors would say to just go and leave, he said no. I am telling you, he said no we will go out and talk to the media and answer their questions. We have nothing to hide and not only are we in a position or right. We are also the victims in this situation and therefore it is imperative we allow the media to carry that story as well. He has his video as well, which he will have to get the opportunity and he will make that determination on whether he wants to share. Though I think the video is clear, people will still create whatever perception they want, if they hate you, they will hate you, but the truth has to be out there.”
Patrick Faber was represented in court today by attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington. Elrington explained that his client tried to file a counter report to share his side of the story but was denied the opportunity. He noted that Faber is prepared to file a counterclaim against the officer involved in the incident. Regarding the actions described as obstruction, Elrington says that Faber was within his rights to record the encounter on his phone. He also questions the basis of the assault charge, expressing confidence that the case will not hold up in court.
Orson “OJ” Elrington
Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“It is not the first nor the last time that the police officers will assault citizens who are doing nothing more than recording them, which they have a right to do. The case of Shamar Foster prove that police officers can assault you if they slap the phone out of your hand, which is the exact circumstances we are looking at right now. This is the exact pattern, except Shamar Foster is a young man.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Based on the officers interpretation of Faber’s action, he is accusing Faber of obstruction?”
Orson Elrington
“That is what I am saying. I don’t know what is the basis on which they will find that obstruction charge, because you have to be doing something for a person to obstruct. Recording under no law, recording and this is critically important for us to put on record, recording, because this is what the police consistently, over and over do, they violate the rights of citizens by being abusive. This is an assault. You have no authority to slap the phone out of somebody’s hands. If you are doing your duty, slap that phone out of your hand, I would be committing an assault. So what prevents a private citizen from recording what a police officer is doing in the middle of the night, what prevents them from being subject to assault charges?”
Reporter
“Have you guys tried to file a counter complaint?”
Orson Elrington
“We tried to which the police completely ignored and denied. We have it on record saying we want to make a complaint. That is why we were so late here. The police did not even do an investigation. Mr. Faber arrived at the police station to a charge sheet, without getting his side of the story.”
Despite the events following the 2025 general elections, turmoil continues to brew within the United Democratic Party (U.D.P). Former Area Representative “Shyne” Barrow stepped down as party leader after losing to Lee Mark Chang in Mesopotamia. However, just last week, Barrow claimed that he still has strong support, and his followers are calling for his return. He insists that until the court decides, he and the executive elected at the last convention will remain in place. In response, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton has firmly rejected Barrow’s bid for leadership. At the U.D.P. press conference held earlier today, Panton laid out her new vision and path forward for the party, emphasizing a fresh direction and unity.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“ The party is moving forward. The party, as I’ve said before, will have a National Party. Council will determine a date for a national convention to be held and will hold a legal convention that will set in motion a new mandate for its leadership team. We will not wait for decision to be made by Justice Hondora. For this reason only, whatever decision is taken by Justice Hondora, the leadership team still needs to be formally installed and still needs a fresh mandate. And so, we hope in the interest of leaving the media circus behind that we will be able to receive a judgment from Justice Hondora, which we have every intention to respect, but the party if you were in court, I know Channel Seven was in court that day, you would’ve heard the judge yourselves, that made a very strong recommendation that the party needs to sit down and sort itself out.”
UDP’s Patrick Faber appeared before the Magistrate Court this afternoon, where he was arraigned with aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer. He pleaded not guilty to both offences.
Faber, 47, was granted bail of $1,000 with one surety and no conditions. He is represented by attorney OJ Elrington. The case was adjourned to June 24. Faber is said to be filing a counter-complaint.
The charges relate to an incident involving police officers during a traffic stop near the Bel-Can Bridge in the wee hours of Tuesday, April 29. Faber was accused of failing to stop at a checkpoint and was later intercepted on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard. Officers claim the vehicle he was driving was unlicensed and that he initially said his driver’s licence was at home.
Police escorted Faber to his Bay Street residence, where he later presented the licence. During the issuing of traffic tickets, PC Dante Smith alleges that Faber recorded him at close range, refused to step back, and acted in a threatening manner, actions which led to the assault and obstruction charges.
Patrick Faber appeared at the Belize City Magistrate Court this afternoon to face charges following a confrontation with police officers during a traffic stop near the Bel-Can Bridge in the wee hours of Tuesday. According to reports, Faber allegedly failed to stop at a checkpoint, which prompted officers to pursue and stop his vehicle on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard.
Police say the vehicle was unlicensed, and Faber initially claimed his driver’s licence was at home. Officers followed him to his Bay Street residence, where he later produced it. During the process of issuing traffic citations, one of the officers, PC Dantae Smith, alleges that Faber aggressively recorded him with a mobile phone at close range, refused to step back when asked, and made the officer feel threatened.
The incident was filmed and has circulated widely online. A formal complaint led to Faber’s arrest. Sources say Faber is filing a counter-complaint against the officer involved.
Faber was arrested after leaving a UDP press conference this afternoon in Belize City.
Former United Democratic Party (UDP) Collet Representative, Patrick Faber, is in police custody after being accused with aggravated assault and obstruction of a police officer. The arrest follows an incident involving a heated exchange between Faber and a police officer at a checkpoint.
The confrontation, captured on video and circulating online, allegedly took place over a disputed traffic matter. Police say the officer involved, identified as Dantae Smith, filed a complaint leading to Faber’s detention.
Faber had just spoken at a UDP press conference at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel when police approached him. He left the venue in a private vehicle, followed by officers, and later presented himself at the Queen Street Police Station, where he was officially arrested and charged. Faber has been in police custody since.
According to internal police reports, Faber was informed of the allegations before being cautioned and taken into custody. While no official public statement has been made by authorities, sources say Faber is now filing a counter-complaint against the officer involved.
Faber left the Queen Street police station moments ago, and is appearing at the Magistrate Court in Belize City.
