Gales Point now enjoys a new preschool, an upgraded primary school, and a fully paved Coastal Plains Highway for easy access. However, for the past few weeks, villagers have had to rely on others with vehicles for rides since the bus service stopped. Area Representative for Belize Rural Central, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, assures that this issue is being urgently addressed.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central
“I don’t have all the details, but I do know that with the completion of the Coastal Plain Highway, the village is more accessible and it will be more accessible for people to go out to Stann Creek, to Dangriga and also to Belize City much easier. I don’t know what has actually happened, but a bus run did start. So I’m going to be looking into the continuation of it for the good of the people, you know. But, but please, thank you for the reminder on that one.”
Marion Ali
“Can you say how soon because they’ve expressed a little bit of impatience, in fact, that every week, students have to come and go from Dangriga.”
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“I have scheduled a meeting with Minister Zabaneh, the new Minister of Transport, and I will be meeting with him and top on the agenda will be a discussion of this. So I think within the next two weeks we should sort it out.”
After a strong re-election win in Belize Rural Central on March 12th, many were surprised when Dolores Balderamos-Garcia didn’t retain her role as Minister of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous People’s Affairs. In fact, she didn’t receive any ministerial portfolio. However, Garcia told News Five that she’s very happy with her new role as Senior Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and doesn’t see it as a demotion.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central
“No, not at all. Not at all. Not at all, Marion, the Prime Minister had a very difficult balancing act to perform, and I am actually very happy that I have been put in a different role – a senior role – because I don’t want the song boassy or anything, but if you notice, I have had many, many firsts and I believe I’m the first Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, and I can assist to define my role. I have said to the Prime Minister that I’m particularly interested in elder affairs. I know in Barbados they actually have a ministry and a portfolio of elder affairs, and so although there’s no actual portfolio for that, I will be lending my support to Pastor Catalina Arthurs and Miss Ichel Pott and Ms. Sandra Hall and them who have been really spearheading the attention not only to policy, but also to the actual wellbeing and welfare of our senior citizens. And in addition to that, I’m still passionate about HIV and AIDS. I am still passionate about our women’s affairs. I have said that I will offer all my help and experience to Minister Thea, to Minister Louis Zabaneh. I will be here to assist Special Envoy for the development of families and children. So I’m actually happy, and you know what, I believe I’ll be able to spend more time, giving more time to my constituency.”
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, BELTRAIDE, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Department of Cooperatives have teamed up to launch an important initiative to empower Belizean communities. The third part of the Sustainable Livelihood Project offers tools, training, and support to help create nature-based businesses and build resilience against climate threats like droughts, floods, and wildfires.
Abil Castaneda
Abil Castaneda, Executive Director, PACT
“Addressing climate change is not just now building infrastructure. Addressing climate change is not just about building awareness. It really has to do with changing behavior, it has to do now in how do we seek ways in which we can build economic resilience for the people that are mostly impacted by climate change. And so, yesterday, PM Briceno made a call and a call for urgency because we are seeing it more and more today that our lives are changing. What the new norm is becoming, we have to acknowledge it, we have to appreciate it, but we also have to act urgently to address it because it will impact us. We are having longer droughts, we are having heavier flood events. We are now having more instances of forest fires and all of these things can impact us, but for the cause of today, they impact, in reality, our food security and I think we, many times, outside of the realm of the agricultural sector, don’t realize how critical and vulnerable that is to ensure that our country and our people have food for the future.”
BELTRAIDE has received nearly eight hundred thousand dollars to help five community groups with business development training, technical support, and market access for sustainable projects. By backing local entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, this initiative boosts Belize’s commitment to climate resilience, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.
Jorge Gentle, Acting Manager, SBDC
“The sector has faced its own challenges, looking at the ever-changing climate change. Also looking at fluctuating commodity prices and also access to modern farming technologies. In recent years, more frequently droughts, unpredicted rainfall and also rising production costs that have strained farmers and agrobusinesses. Additionally, small farmers often struggle in securing access to finance which we are glad that this project also has a component that aims to provide access to finance, access to markets and integrating into the value chain. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for innovation, improved sustainability and market expansion that can help to strengthen the sector and drive long-term success. Again, we received a very detailed description of the components of the project which Dr. Williams was able to share. Again, it doesn’t only as… I’ve had the opportunity of sharing many of the projects that BELTRAIDE has collaborated with stakeholders in the past as good practices within the region and, again, I’m glad that this project also is not one that just provides training, not just one that provides finance, but it is a very holistic approach where it looks at hand-holding throughout the phase of developing, again, looking at climate resilient enterprises.”
The Caribbean Development Bank is currently reviewing its projects in Belize, focusing on key development and financial strategies. Major infrastructure projects like the Coastal Highway Project, Philip Goldson Highway, and the Eighth Road Project are under examination, with presentations from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. Dr. Martin Baptiste, an official from the Caribbean Development Bank, is in the country to review the bank’s portfolio and discuss ways to improve processes with the government. He provided detailed insights into these areas.
Dr. Martin Baptiste, Chief, Social Sector Division, C.D.B.
“We came to discuss with our colleagues here, Ministry of Economic Transformation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Technology and all of our partners to discuss how the projects are progressing to look at the status of each and to co-create and to discuss solutions so that we can improve the implementation rate so that in the end, the portfolio that we have here in Belize would continue to be a high performing portfolio so that the development outcomes that we want for each of them can be realized in a timely manner.”
Marion Ali
“What have you found so far?”
Dr. Martin Baptiste
“Well, Belize is one of the countries where we do significant work and the work that we have been doing over the years is progressing quite well. And so we were able to identify where there are successes. We are able to identify any success factors and lessons learned. And so we identify some of the areas where we will continue to engage with our partners here to make sure that the projects and programs that we’re implementing can continue to be done in a way that would realize the outcomes which the Government of Belize has for this country as well as our work as a development partner.”
Marion Ali
“Can you share maybe a couple of the successes that you spoke of or areas where we have strengths and weaknesses as well?”
Dr. Martin Baptiste
“Well, we have very good implementation units here in Belize and so in terms of the procurement, contract management, looking at supervising the work that is to be done, there are very good stories here and we encourage that that kind of engagement will continue to be expanded so that across all of the projects and programs, we can continue to have a very excellent relationship and deliver on the projects that have been approved and are under implementation.”
Marion Ali
“And we need help in what areas?”
Dr. Martin Baptiste
“Well, certainly, across the region, one of the areas that we continue to support countries is in the area of procurement. It’s one of the areas where the countries are building out the procurement systems, so that we can have timely engagement of consultants, suppliers, and contractors. And in doing so, you’re able to maintain the implementation period so that you don’t have too many delays. And so when a project is approved and you are promising the impact to the beneficiaries within a timeframe, you’re able to deliver on those outputs in a timely manner. Contract management is a really important matter, and of course it is something that across the region we are working with our countries and our partners to continue developing.”
A hundred years in business is no easy feat to accomplish, but that is just what James Brodie and Company Limited has been able to do. In fact, in twelve years, the company will celebrate one hundred and fifty-years in business. Over the last century, the company has changed leadership from its original Scottish owner to at least four others. Today, Edward “Billy” Musa sits at its helm, and he is preparing to make his exit in due course to make way for a new generation. In tonight’s installment of Belize on Reel, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at storied history of one of Belize’s longest standing companies.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
In twelve years, James Brodie and Company Limited will celebrate one hundred and fifty years in business. The company was founded in 1887 by James Brodie, a Scotsman who arrived in British Honduras in 1872, hoping to make his mark in Britain’s newest Crown Colony. Today, the company is led by Chairman and Managing Director, Edward ‘Billy’ Musa Senior.
Edward “Billy” Musa
Edward “Billy” Musa, Chairman, James Brodies and Co. Ltd.
“Brodies advertised for an office manager. I applied and I got the job, and I was hired in nineteen sixty-four.”
Covering the company’s hundred-and-thirty-eight-year history would take a book with hundreds of pages. But there are some key moments worth highlighting. For instance, the original store was where the Downtown Plaza now stands on Albert Street. James Brodie bought that Albert Street location thirty years after opening, from Hofius and Hildebrandt.
Edward “Billy” Musa
“It goes way back to 1872 when a young man from Scotland came to Belize to seek its riches. From then the company has grown and changed shareholders. From that date it has changed about four controlling shareholders. This gentleman was not a social guy. Whenever he left work he would go to his home across from Saint John’s Cathedral and stay there for the rest of his day or night. He was not sociable and that is why they called that home “The Retreat”.”
In 1915, knowing his time was running out, the elderly Scotsman turned James Brodie into a limited company, allowing shareholders to come on board. The cover of the ‘100 Years of Brodies in Belize’ magazine, published for its centennial in 1987, shows Barry Bowen leading the company. The magazine featured congratulatory letters from then Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel, Father of the Nation George Price, and then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce Cresencio Sosa. It also included congratulations from partner companies like General Mills, Kiwi, Canon, and General Foods. The first page even had an ad for Rolex watches.
Edward “Billy” Musa
“During that time we had many good companies, representing many good companies. Rolex was one of them, but not the ordinary man can by a Rolex. When tourist came they would by it, but over the years the business just dwindled. There are many items we had to get out of because of competition in Belize and across form Chetumal. But our main core, business is food, dry goods, agro-chemical, veterinary products and of course drugstores, medicines.”
Interestingly, in the early 1970s, there was a time when David Estephan, the former majority shareholder, thought about selling his shares to Santiago Castillo Limited. That’s when Musa, who was the board secretary back then, stepped up and took action.
Edward “Billy” Musa
“So I went to him and said Don David, why not give me a chance to see if I canraise the funds and buy the shares. He said, I will give you one month. Duringthat one month, I spoke to Barry Bowen and we were able to come up with themoney he wanted and that is how Bowen got involved with myself.”
Musa later bought Bowen’s shares and became the major shareholder. Under his leadership, James Brodie and Company Limited has flourished. Brodie’s International Corporation was set up in the Corozal Freezone, and Brodie’s Superstore opened on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The Albert Street location expanded to include a pharmacy and deli, with a department store across the street. Belmopan now boasts an expanded branch, and a new agro and veterinary outlet is in the works. At the heart of this century-old business are its dedicated staff members. Brodie’s employs over four hundred people across all its locations.
Edward “Billy” Musa
“The staff, we give them loans for health, education, and we give scholarships to members of the staff, for their children. So they are happy with us. The managers and supervisors have health insurance free. We don’t give it to the regular staff, because the turnover is so fast. We have a problem because everybody wants to go to the call centers.”
However, today’s business world brings new challenges. Call centers are offering higher salaries, and competing stores are providing alternative products at very competitive prices.
Edward “Billy” Musa
“We strive on excellence when it comes to quality. We believe in quality and in today’s business world, many people are not looking for quality but pricing. That is affecting us a lot now.”
Paul Lopez
“What does the future of this company look like?”
Edward “Billy” Musa
“I think it has another hundred years, with my boys taking over.”
Gales Point Village now boasts a new preschool and an upgraded primary school for its kids. This morning, the community celebrated with an opening ceremony. The project, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank at a cost of a little over one million dollars, was carried out by the Social Investment Fund. The preschool’s construction began just a year ago. News Five’s Marion Ali was there for the inauguration and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This morning’s ribbon-cutting in Gales Point Village symbolized a bright future for over seventy primary school kids and those who will join the new preschool. Principal Shermadine Samuels-Andrewin highlighted how crucial the school will be for the village’s children.
Shermadine Samuels-Andrewin
Shermadine Samuels-Andrewin, Principal, Gales Point Primary School
“This project is not just about the present; it is about the future. It is about the generations of students who will walk through these doors filled with hope and ambition. It’s about creating a legacy of learning that will continue to uplift our community for years to come. Let this be a call of action, a reminder that education is the foundation of growth and that when we build schools, we build futures.”
Area Representative for Belize Rural Central and Senior Minister of State, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, emphasized that her top priority is creating bright futures for the community.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Senior Minister of State, Office of the P.M.
“We are moving in the right direction. Vamos bien. I want to repeat that especially for the children, it has been said that this is not just brick and mortar and building but a place where we can really, really improve the lives of our children and create a wonderful future for everyone.”
The new Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Ramon Cervantes, emphasized that education is a right, not a privilege.
Ramon Cervantes
Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, Education
“Education is a fundamental right and the foundation of national development. Investing in our schools means investing in a brighter future in Belize for all Belizeans. This new school building represents progress and opportunity. It is fully equipped with modern classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and storage spaces to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment for our children.”
The project was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust program. Today Dr. Martin Baptiste, the bank’s Chief of the Social Sector Division, was present. The C.D.B. pays keen attention to providing the necessary funding for these kinds of projects.
Martin Baptiste
Dr. Martin Baptiste, Chief, Social Sector Division, C.D.B.
“The completion of this new school and primary school block, in essence a campus, demonstrates our commitment to providing quality learning environments so that children in vulnerable communities in Belize are given equal opportunity to foster academic growth and personal development. Indeed the enhancement of these facilities reflects our broader dedication to expanding access to quality and inclusive education for every student.”
With a one-million-dollar investment, the Social Investment Fund brought the project to life. Narda Garcia, Chair of the Belize Social Investment Fund, shared that along with all the repairs, upgrades, and retrofitting of the primary school, the new preschool was built with modern amenities.
Narda Garcia
Narda Garcia, Chair, Belize Social Investment Fund
“This modern facility includes an open classroom space, a kitchenette and a storage room, restroom facilities for male and female students, teachers, and a separate shower facility and a covered veranda. Also, we have an access ramp for persons with physical disabilities. The students also get new tables, chairs, preschool toys and learning equipment, and for added security, a five feet high chain link fence encloses the preschool compound. The preschool was built in accordance with the International Building Code Standards and the Ministry of Education Science and Technologies regulations.”
Gales Point’s Chairman, Jason Altschaft, urged parents to raise their expectations, helping their children grow into future leaders.
Jason Altschaft
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee
“We parents must raise our standards to meet the evolving needs of our genius kids that are graduating from here. Be ready, you know. Manatee is going to build the homes. Manatee Village is going to nurse the manatees to health. Manatee residents are going to be the business owners, sustaining the village when I’m a hundred, God willing. Manatee Village will be the teachers to our children. So while Class 2034 – I believe is correct – the future preschoolers, you’re going to be able to meet that challenge.”
Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries finally announced the official one-month orderly transition of the Commissioner of Police as the current top cop, Chester Williams, prepares to step down. At the end of this one-month period, Doctor Anthony Rosado will assume Williams’ post as ComPol. Williams will then become the new C.E.O. in the Ministry of Transport. The ministry explained that this transition reflects a commitment to stability, professionalism, and continuity within the leadership of the Belize Police Department. An official handover ceremony will also be held to mark the formal change of command. Prior to the official announcement, Chester Williams shared his enthusiasm for the transition ceremony.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I am certain that is in the making. It’s not like you think, it’s not that I am being pushed out of the way. Certainly this was something that was well planned in terms of me leaving and whoever could transport. It doesn’t matter how it ended up at the end in terms of the actions of the CEO. But the intention of Kareem, my minister, and the Prime Minister, it is good. And it’s an opportunity for me. It’s a elevation in the government service moving from a head of department to a CEO. And so I certainly look forward if there should be that handing over ceremony. I have no issue the participate.”
Reporter
“But you should be allowed that. You’re the greatest commissioner in his space. Longest serving for a reason.”
Chester Williams
“I am grateful for your comments. I can’t sing my own praises in terms of whether I’m the best sir or whatever. I have worked with some very good commissioners, Mr. Zuniga, Mr. Zetina, Mr.Westbey, Mr. Hughington Williams. Yeah. I’ve worked on very good commissioners, even Mr. Whylie, as much as we didn’t see eye to eye on many issues I do believe that he set a platform for me. Some of the policies that he had in place. I just continued those. I watched him, I was his deputy in Eastern Division when he was Commander Eastern Division, and I learned a lot from him too. So even though we have diverse views on certain issues I do believe that he do. He did a hell of a job.And he did his part as well. He had his strength and his weaknesses, and we must judge him in his total authority and not just based on his weaknesses.”
Besides the upcoming leadership change in the police department, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa announced an exciting new initiative: the installation of one thousand CCTV cameras across the country. We asked Musa about these plans and the need for more officers in the force. Here’s what he had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Yes absolutely. The biggest splash, so to speak for this year is going to be the introduction of one thousand CCTV cameras. We are already set up here in the Belmopan area. I think when you came into Belmopan, you might have seen them at the roundabouts. We are establishing a headquarters here in Belmopan for the camera room, along with BTL, they will be the service providers. And so we’re growing exponentially, I think by some four hundred percent in the number of cameras. I think currently we have around two hundred or so cameras. And we just want to grow in terms of our use of these assets, these tools like innovation and technology because we have seen where a bulk of our crimes are solved with cameras, whether it is these CCTV cameras or private cameras on establishments, they’re of great use in solving crimes. And so that is going to be the big splash for this year.”
Britney Gordon
“Is there any sort of movement to acquire new officers? Because I know that the department is stretched quite thin right now.”
Kareem Musa
“Yeah, so we, I wouldn’t say we’re stretched thin. I think we are reaching close to the levels we were at in 2015, 2016, around two thousand six hundred officers. We did have a lot of attrition over the last. Early on five years ago, but we are now growing those numbers. We have a recruit squad that will be graduating sometime in June of this year, and then we could look forward after that to maybe enlisting additional officers. As we only have capacity here at the training academy for two hundred twenty-five officers at any given time, and that’s a six month training. So it can’t be that we grow one thousand every single year. We actually have to do it incrementally.”
Belize has always been known for having a trade deficit because we import far more than we export. This means our spending on imports consistently outpaced our earnings from exports. February was no different, with total imports valued at two hundred and eighteen point four million dollars and domestic exports at twenty-three point three million. Interestingly, these figures show a decrease in imports and an increase in exports compared to February 2024. In this edition of Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Marion Ali takes a closer look at the factors behind these shifts, highlighting which import categories saw a decline and which industries performed better.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Our country’s imports and exports can be compared to how well we manage a business. Balancing how much profits we make and how much we spend can be a challenge if our personal expenses outweigh our gains. Similarly, a country’s imports and exports tell a story on how it is performing on the global scale. While we are a far cry from being self-sufficient, in February, Belize managed its imports and exports a little better than February of 2024. We imported four percent fewer goods, a difference of nine point one million dollars, bringing the total down from two hundred and twenty-seven point five million. However, Diana Castillo, the Director General of the Statistical Institute of Belize, pointed out that this doesn’t necessarily mean imports were lower this February. Instead, last year’s figures were unusually high due to significant purchases of large industrial equipment and electric buses.
(Factors that Could Have Contributed to Low Imports)
Diana Castillo
Diana Castillo, Director General, S.I.B.
“What we saw last year in the earlier months of last year was the importation of some major equipment, some of the industrial equipment. So, these are for major industries. And other types of vehicles, including electric buses which is something that was newly introduced to the city last year.”
This chart provided by the S.I.B compares the gross imports and exports for the month of February over the past five years. For imports, the figures have steadily been increasing. Hugh O’Brien, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture pointed out that regardless of how imports perform in a month, our growing population will drive the figures up.
(Why Imports Will Continue to Grow)
Hugh O’Brien
Hugh O’Brien, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture
“In terms of trying to reduce our – or let me not even say the word reduce because as our population grows, we will find that our importation will continue to grow because, as a country, we buy more things from abroad and we don’t produce these things here.”
O’Brien went on to explain that Belize uses a lot of the items that we do not produce locally, such as vehicle parts and cell phones.
Hugh O’Brien
“We are not producing vehicle parts. We are not producing cars; we’re not producing electronic equipment. We’re not producing lots of the stuff that we consume in the country. When I say consume, not consume from a food perspective, but that we use – your watches, your cell phones, your clothing, your chain, your footwear.”
Belize’s exports for February reached twenty-three point three million dollars, marking a twelve point three percent increase compared to February 2024. Diana Castillo highlighted the factors that contributed to this spike.
Diana Castillo
“We saw earnings doubling from three million or so to over six million dollars in the first two months of this year. This is an increase in exports of things like lobsters, conch, lobster tails. We also saw a notable increase in exports of sugar.”
Reyhan Rosado, a policy analyst with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spends his days analyzing trade data from the S.I.B. He noted that sometimes the higher revenues we see aren’t just from exporting more goods, but also from fetching better prices on the global market.
(Factors that Could Have Driven Revenues Up)
Reyhan Rosado
Reyhan Rosado, Policy Analyst, B.C.C.I.
“Citrus exports from 2023 to 2024 were at point four, four million gallon in 2023, when I think the total export value of that was sixteen million. But in 2024, the total export value was point four, five million gallons and total export value was thirty million for the entire year. So that just goes to show how much commodity prices can affect the value of imports, even though production hasn’t really gone up or gone down.”
Rosado explained that similarly, Belize’s import bill is largely impacted by external markets.
Reyhan Rosado
“When the global food prices are skyrocketing, a great example, like during the Ukraine war, when prices just saw a huge increase – our food bill – the food prices that we were paying also went up significantly just across the board.”
Belize’s economy is rooted in agriculture, with most of our exports being farm produce. Despite this, we still bring in a lot of processed meats from abroad. But there’s good news. Thanks to recent investments in two major poultry processing plants, Belizeans can now buy locally produced poultry. Plus, we’ve achieved self-sufficiency in soybean concentrate, which is a key ingredient in animal feed. It’s a great step forward for our local agriculture.
(Belize Self-Sufficient in Processed Meats & Soybean Production)
Hugh O’Brien
“The two main poultry processing plants in Belize have both made significant investments, both of them in 2024 and they have moved towards producing now poultry – chicken bologna, chicken ham, turkey ham, and so you’ll have different types of chicken sausages that they have on the market. And for the last three years, Belize has been self-sufficient in the soybean that we no longer import soybean concentrate from abroad and that is now being processed locally into animal feed.”
While these investments are not expected to make a significant dent in our overall imports bill, they are expected to show reductions in these categories. For Belize to transition from a country with a trade deficit to a country with a trade surplus, we need a complete shift of our mindset. O’Brien believes it has to do with how we are educated.
(Shifting from Trade Deficit Country Requires a Mindset Shift)
Hugh O’Brien
“We are not cultured, educated, or trained even to be scientists. We are trained to be employees. We are trained to be tour guides and so forth now, and yes, we are trained to do some farming, but we do not have any institution in Belize – we do not have any polytechnic institution, not even helping in terms of how best to make concrete better, in terms of building homes. So, with that kind of background, there has to be a major mindset shift that begins with creating an institution within Belize, a model institution that starts to produce.”
Diana Castillo said that the S.I.B. will begin to do more in-depth analysis this year, particularly on what drives consumer confidence, which is an indicator of how people feel about their spending power. Notably, on a scale of one to a hundred, in February, consumer confidence was below fifty. Marion Ali for News Five.
