There’s a saying: When America sneezes, Belize catches a cold. With Donald Trump back in the White House as the 47th President, many Belizeans are curious about what this means for our relationship with the U.S. over the next four years. During his previous term from 2016 to 2020, Trump didn’t appoint an Ambassador to Belize, so we had to rely on the Charge d’ Affaires to manage our diplomatic ties. Now, Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca says Belize is ready to work with the new administration. However, there’s a big question mark over how the U.S. will handle migrants, including Belizeans, who sought asylum under Biden’s policies.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We congratulate the president elect, Donald Trump. Um, and we look forward to, uh, 2025. We look forward to working with his administration. We look forward to, again, continuing to strengthen the relationship between Belize and the United States. It’s a very, very important relationship for us. And we are committed to working very closely with any U. S. president and their administration to advance our mutual needs and interests.”
Reporter
You know that Trump ran anti-immigration policy. Do you believe it is particularly concerning for Belizeans who are living there, especially those who sought asylum seekers recently that went over recently to the U. S.?”
Francis Fonseca
“One of the great attributes of the United States of America is that it’s a country of laws. It’s a country that has demonstrated over centuries its commitment to the rule of law. Um, and so, you know, I don’t think that Belizeans who are living there, um, should be in fear. Um, you know, obviously, you’re an illegal immigrant. I, I expect that you’re always, you know, I was a bit anxious about your status, so I guess that will continue. Um, but we certainly hope that, you know, the new administration coming in will fully, as we expect, will fully abide by laws.”
A few minutes ago, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a concession speech at Howard University in Washington, DC., following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. In her address, Harris acknowledged the emotions of her supporters, saying, “Now I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election.”
She shared that she had called President-elect Trump to concede the race. She said, “We will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
While conceding the election, Harris vowed to continue fighting for causes central to her campaign. “I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations,” she declared. She also reiterated her commitment to protecting women’s rights and addressing gun violence, saying, “The women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do. We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence.”
Harris called on her supporters to remain respectful and kind, urging them to continue the fight for “fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.”
Hurricane Rafael intensified into a Category 3 storm on Wednesday afternoon as it passed by the Cayman Islands, heading toward western Cuba, where it was expected to make landfall by evening. According to the National Hurricane Center, Rafael was forecast to strengthen even further before reaching Cuba, marking another challenge for the island, which is already grappling with power outages and recovering from a previous hurricane that killed at least six people in the eastern region two weeks ago.
As of 1 p.m. Eastern time, Rafael was classified as a low-end Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour after a period of steady growth. The hurricane was located about 40 miles northeast of the Isle of Youth and 85 miles south of Havana, moving northwest at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Forecasters warned that Rafael could hit Cuba as a potential Category 4 storm, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding to western parts of the island. The hurricane had already caused heavy rainfall in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday. I
A hurricane warning for the Cayman Islands, in effect on Tuesday, was lifted for Grand Cayman on Wednesday. However, the warning remained in place for Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth.
Donald Trump, 78, was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election early Wednesday, surpassing the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency. Trump won key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina, bringing his total to 277 electoral votes.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was running to become the first woman of colour to lead the country, did not address her supporters on election night. Campaign spokesman Cedric Richmond explained, “We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue, overnight, to fight to make sure that every vote is counted and that every voice has spoken.”
Harris has not yet spoken publicly or conceded. She is expected to speak later today after the final vote tallies. Harris cancelled an appearance on election night at Howard University, where she studied as an undergraduate, as the race tightened.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago watch party, Trump promised a “golden age” for America and declared, “This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”
Donald J. Trump has won the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, securing a second non-consecutive term in the White House. Trump, running as the Republican nominee, defeated the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in a closely contested race that has captivated the nation and the world. Trump is projected to have secured at least the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to return to the White House for a second time after his 2017-2021 term, The Associated Press says.
Trump’s win came after a nail-biting election night, with key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona playing decisive roles. As the final votes were tallied, Trump surpassed the necessary 270 electoral votes, claiming victory despite strong challenges from the Harris campaign and a highly polarised political landscape
The big day is here! Americans are heading to the polls to choose their next leader. This election isn’t just about the U.S.—its outcome will ripple across smaller developing countries and those with diplomatic ties. To see how Belizeans think the results will affect Belize, News Five’s Britney Gordon hit the streets of Belize City. Here’s what she found out.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For many Belizeans, today might feel like just another Tuesday in November. But for Americans everywhere, it’s a pivotal day that will shape their country’s future for the next four years and beyond. It’s the final chance for Americans to vote and decide who will be the next president of the United States. This year’s contenders are Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party and Donald Trump from the Republican Party. Earlier today, we chatted with some Belizeans to see if they’re following the election. Some were very keen on the outcome, while others weren’t as concerned.
Tony Anthony
Tony Anthony, Belizean
“Yes, I’m keeping up with it and what really happened, I ride from Lemonal village, where I live, with my son-in-law. And all that we was talking about is the US election. But he say, man, if you tell me that Trump is in the lead, you go piss me off. I go crash this vehicle. I don’t want Trump in the lead. He want Kamala Harris win.”
Britney Gordon
“So what do you think is the best way to stay informed right now?”
Tony Anthony
“The best way to stay informed, if you have a phone, you click onto YouTube and hit the news about election.”
MIK
MIK, Belizean
“We right here, we keeping up to the elections.”
Britney Gordon
“How are you staying informed?”
MIK
“Well, I’m on the news logging in every day. I’m watching all the election go pass and everything that’s moving. So you know that right now we just want somebody strong coming to power. And get back we Belizeans ney home. Ney one weh need fi come home.”
Leah Myers
Leah Myers, Belizean
“To be completely honest, I’m not. That’s not really much of my business, but I do have family across there. I’m not sure if they’re keeping up to date with it either because we haven’t discussed or spoke about it. But I’ve seen, a couple of videos and people voting and I’ve seen that people are voting for the female to come in. But I’m not sure, I’m not really looking into it like that.”
While the political climate in the U.S. might not be a top concern for some Belizeans, it’s a different story for the estimated one hundred thousand Belizeans living there. Many are anxious about the wellbeing of their family and friends who now call America home.
Tony Anthony
“I’m concerned about it because some people say that Trump is a nonsense man and Kamala Harris has got a little black blood, Haitian blood, going up against a white man. The last time Trump been in, he mi di deal with a lot of immigrants. And you can’t stop immigrants. People got to live. You know a lot of Belizeans weh deh ova soh and a lot of other countries we deh dah America. They take America as their savior country, U.S. dollars, yeah.”
Britney Gordon
“So do you have family in the states that you’re worried about?”
Tony Anthony
“I got a lot of family. A lot of family I got. Sisters, nephews, aunts.”
Mark Peyrefitte
Mark Peyrefitte, Belizean
“The candidates, when they speak, certain things come out of their mouths. The first thing they will do when they come to office, Trump say what, what he will be the biggest. deportation of migrants and Belizean people, so Belizean people or whoever over America, they need to take this serious. Because if they choose that guy again, they’re going backwards. And to make it better, worse for them, they’re going home.”
The election also sets the stage for diplomatic relations between Belize and the United States. During Trump’s presidency, he didn’t appoint a U.S. ambassador to Belize. It wasn’t until the Biden administration that Michelle Kwan took on the role as the current ambassador to Belize. Belize and the U.S. collaborations have also increased through the Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund (CARSI-ESF). CARSI annually supports civil society and good governance initiatives in Belize with funding from the United States government.
Gary Matus
Gary Matus, Belizean
“The election is be the same thing. I all want the world. Everybody have to suffer. If Trump come inna power, everybody have to cry. You know, they are legalize everybody, deport everybody back da ney country. Everybody have to work for for surviving. Can’t survive. We can’t even eat. I have to pray for God and everything to give the strength of Jesus Christ and everybody have to start to believe in Jesus.”
Police were at the home of independent legislator Asot Michael, who wastragically found dead this morning in a pool of blood at his Saint John’s, Antigua residence. Authorities have yet to release a statement about the discovery of the Member of Parliament for Saint Peter, but his death has sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Crowds gathered outside his Dry Hill home on the outskirts of the capital. Born on December twenty-first, 1969, in Guadeloupe, Michael had previously served as a minister under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He ran as an independent candidate in the January 2023 general election after parting ways with the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Here’s a report from our colleagues at ABS News.
A tragic incident unfolded during a local league soccer match in central Peru on Sunday when a lightning strike killed one player and injured four others.
The match, held at Coto Coto Stadium in Chilca, a town about 70 kilometres southeast of Lima, had been paused due to a storm when the lightning struck. Footage from the game shows players walking off the pitch when suddenly several collapsed as the lightning hit. A brief flash and a small plume of smoke appeared near one of the players, as seen in a broadcast by local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelica.
Among those struck was Hugo De La Cruz, a 39-year-old defender, who was identified as the deceased by local authorities and state media. The incident occurred 22 minutes into the match between the teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca. Other players initially struggled to get back on their feet after the lightning hit.
As of Monday evening, two of the injured players had been discharged from the hospital, while two others remain under observation. One goalkeeper, who was critically injured, had shown signs of improvement, according to state news agency Andina.
A disturbing incident occurred during a match between São Paulo rivals Corinthians and Palmeiras in the Brazilian championship, where a pig’s head was thrown onto the field. The object was hurled onto the pitch as Palmeiras prepared to take a corner in the first half. Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto quickly ran over from the penalty box to kick it off the field before the game resumed.
South American football correspondent Tim Vickery commented on X, “It’s a new one for me—during the big São Paulo derby, someone threw a pig’s head on the pitch (the pig is Palmeiras’ symbol).”
The incident echoes a similar occurrence in 2002 when Barcelona fans famously threw a pig’s head onto the field as Luis Figo, their former player, returned to the Nou Camp with Real Madrid.
Both Globo and ESPN Brazil reported that police are investigating the matter. Two fans were arrested following the incident but were later released.
The pig has been associated with Palmeiras since 1986 when rival fans chanted “pig” during a match against Santos. Palmeiras fans embraced the term, responding with chants of “Go for it Pig! Ole Ole Ole.”
Today is the day when voters in the United States will choose their next president. Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice President, and Donald Trump, the Republican former president, continue running a neck-and-neck race. The election will be decided by the Electoral College, and a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win.
The election is expected to come down to key swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where polls are extremely tight. While past elections have seen winners declared quickly, this year’s competitive race may mean a longer wait. In some states, “narrow victories”‘ could trigger ‘”recounts,” particularly in Pennsylvania, where a margin of less than half a percentage point would require one.
On the final day of voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris is reaching out to voters through a series of radio interviews. In a conversation with a radio host in Atlanta, Harris made her closing argument, saying, “I think this is an inflection point. This is the moment where we have two very different visions of the future of our nation.” Harris emphasised that her vision is focused on “progress” and on “investing in the ambitions, and the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people.”
Former President Trump expressed confidence in his chances, saying, “It won’t even be close” and adding that while he expects a victory, “it’s gonna take a long time to certify.” As the results start coming in, early vote counts may not reflect the final outcome. In 2020, Trump led in several states on election night, only to be overtaken later as mail-in ballots, which tend to favour Democrats, were counted.
If there is a tie with 269 electoral votes for each candidate, the House of Representatives will choose the president, while the Senate selects the vice president. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025, marking the beginning of the new president’s term.
