Reporters caught up with Minister of Natural Resources, Cordel Hyde earlier today in Belize City where he was asked to weigh in on the matter involving Gertrude Hunter. Minister Hyde frowned on reports that police officers were involved in the eviction process, a practice he says should not be countenanced. He further noted that the P.U.P. administration has been trying its best to meet the growing the demand for lands across the country.
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
“I don’t know all the details and so it is hard for me to comment. I would only say that the police ought not to be in the business of evicting anybody from their homes. You can’t evict anybody unless you get a court order. So the police, I suspect is acting on some favor or friendship kind of thing. That is not how it works. There is a process you have to undergo to get someone evicted from a house. As I said, I don’t know all the details but I will find out and see how best to remedy that because in this day and age there has to be a process of working things out. And we have tried as best we can to provide land for first time land owners. WE have really gone hard at that. Lots of sleepless nights, late night, working overtime to try and provide land for our people. We can’t really keep up with the demand, because now more than ever before people are realizing you have to get a piece of the Jewel. Once you have land you won’t be poor. So we have to keep up with that demand. But, off the top of my head the police has a lot more matters to deal with and I don’t know that is one of them.”
The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs was in Big Falls Village over the weekend to consult with residents on the Draft Maya Land Tenure Policy. A release from the ministry states that the consultation exercise was a success. The release noted that villagers gave valuable insights and perspectives. The community is viewed as one where most residents are against customary land rights. So, there was not much resistance to be expected. But, what does the minister responsible for lands think about the ongoing tensions in the Toledo District? He was asked if potential first time land owners that reside outside of Maya communities stand to lose as a result of these new policies and if he thinks these Maya villages have lost trust in the government.
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
“You are right we are in the business of politics and people will say things and you cant be thin skin in this. You have to be motivated and challenged by criticism and try to do better all the time. I don’t know that is the position of the minister. I think she has done a lot of heavy lifting since she got in. She is met with these communities over a long period of time, almost every weekend they are down there trying to engage with the communities and reach some kind of consensus as to the way forward. Just know that this issue has been with us for ears and years. it is a vexing and difficult issue and everybody won’t be happy. She has a string and needle and it will be hard. The only way to get that done is by talking and discussing with each other, and give and take and try to compromise and see eye to eye. Ultimately it is about Belize. We are one nation, one people and we are trying to make sure we have agreement and that we move forward as one nation and people. We are going to have bumps along the way, challenges and we are going to disagree. But it is about sitting down and working through our disagreements. The Africans say we talk until we agree and I believe that. We have been talking. I have been down there with here. I have seen her talk. I have seen her engage. So, I know that she is putting her best foot forward. I know her team is working hard and other arms of government try to provide support so that ultimately in the shortest time possible we can reach to some agreement that everybody can live it. This is a draft policy we are looking at. This is in the infancy stages. We have some ways to go. This is not going to be tabled in the House next week, next month. There is a lot of work that the government has to put in until we are comfortable to say you know what, we have something that can work, that the Mayans can agree to and ultimately we emerge from this as a better nation as a more unified nation as difficult as that might seem right now. I believe we can get that done. There is no problem in this country where there is not a solution.”
Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde was also asked about government’s investments into the delineation process in the Toledo District. Several organizations have reportedly invested significant sums into the process. But, does the Government of Belize have a budget to contribute to the efforts? Here is what the Deputy Prime Minister had to say.
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
“It is not easy. It is ultimately there will be a cost to this thing but it is about agreeing to certain principles and agreeing to the nuts and bolts of it and the granular details. I believe once it is decided how the villages will look and the size of the villages and one village versus another village, once we reach that agreement then government has to find the resources. It is government’s great responsibility to implement this court order, this court order that is coming from the highest court in all of our land. So government can’t have any excuse in implementation. It is just about how that implementation looks and what is the ultimate final make up of that agreement and solution. Government will have to spend and there is going to be a cost and we understand that. But it is just about trying to get things done.”
Today, licensed artisanal fisher folk were drawn into a pilot project with the Development Finance Corporation and key conservation NGOs. Before today, fisher folk could only access loans if they possessed land title collateral. But through this project, financing is being made much easier for these micro businesses that rely on marine resources to earn a living. News Five’s Marion Ali was at a meeting involving the relevant parties and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The room full of NGO representatives, licensed fisher folk and the C.E.O. of the Development Finance Corporation discussed a new initiative designed especially for fisher folks. It falls under an upcoming Resilient Bold Belize project. This new loan program will support licensed small-scale fishers who wish to switch to more sustainable equipment, new boats, and other capital needs assistance with diversifying into non-traditional fisheries.
Henry Anderson
Henry Anderson, C.E.O., Development Finance Corporation
“What we did was to look at different levels, different collateral requirements, and at some levels it doesn’t require collateral, it requires a promissory note. At other levels, you take a bill of sale, it’s over the engine, and then you could get a guarantor. And then for the much bigger loans, then you get into, you must provide collateral. So that’s to make it more inclusive. The interest rates are between eight and a half to 12 percent. The lower end is for women.
We’re trying to get more women into the fishing industry.”
One of the organizers of the initiative is the World Wildlife Fund, represented today by Juliet Neal. She said that part of the loan program would be based on character, hence fishers who break the law will be monitored.
Juliet Neal
Juliet Neal, Conservation, Finance and Policy Officer, W.W.F.
“Demonstrating good character is a person who does not break the law, who does not have a history of doing so. And as you will hear from a lot of the fishers in the area, they want fishers to be fishing in grounds that are following the law. So I believe that even fishers would be pointing to, encouraging the fisheries department to ensure that those who are getting licenses are compliant with the law.”
Norman Castillo is the President of the Hopkins Fishermen’s Association and the President of the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. His association also includes women. Castillo expressed frustration over the fact that prior to now, fisher folk have been left on their own to fend for their livelihood.
Norman Castillo
Norman Castillo, President, Hopkins Fishermen’s Association
“There are nothing given to the fisher folks in this country with the exception of meeting, meeting, meeting, consultation, consultation, but nothing back to the fisher folks. There are several people in this country that get grants, but fishermen do not get anything. The protection is that is our livelihood. We have to protect that for us to survive. We have to protect our area. The loan itself now is a great initiative and I hope you go to, in terms of saying, as I have just said, for minimal percentage of rate, but fishermen are eager and honestly wanted to get that loan going forward and we need that loan because this will be the first time again in history of fishing that we get something, if we do get it. Cooperatives are no help to fisher folks in this country. Cooperatives only buy and sell.”
D.F.C’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Anderson explained that this project is a part of a much bigger initiative which involves the development of a Project Finance for Permanence, or PFP, a financing mechanism aimed at attracting resources to take care of protected areas.
Henry Anderson
“The PFPs that you find you have, I think Costa Rica has, you have for Brazil, like in the Amazon, there is none in the blue space. So what Belize is doing right now, this is a first in the world, that PFP will come alive perhaps at the end of this year – early next year. But the testing of this pilot is to give the loan, give training, work with the conservation of the area to ensure that the fishers are adhering and providing data in terms of the sustainable fisheries management of that area. And you’re getting training in how to manage your loan, how to make your business more profitable, how to understand their numbers and everything like that. So, it’s a holistic approach aimed at improving firstly the livelihood of the fisher folk, because it’s about people, and then obviously to get them to protect the area where they live from.”
The loans will extend for periods of twelve months to seven years with interest rates up to twelve percent, with lower rates for women fishers. Marion Ali for News Five.
On January thirty-first, the Development Finance Corporation applied to the Green Climate Fund for green climate accreditation. The move positions the D.F.C. to access up to fifty-million U.S dollars in Green Climate Funds, which will empower it to spearhead transformative initiatives along the path of sustainable development and environmental protection. Today, following the launch of the fisherfolk loans project, D.F.C.’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Anderson told News Five that this move is all part of D.F.C.’s transition to fill the role that it was designed to carry out.
Henry Anderson, C.E.O., Development Finance Corporation
“We have on board an environmental and social management system. We do have a stakeholder engagement and communication policy, and we have a grievance mechanism. When this partner – the discussion around this partnership started because of our new policies. When we introduce a new product, we have to do stakeholder engagement. So with this product, there were a lot of meetings held with the fishers out at Glover’s Reef, in Hopkins, in Dangriga, and that led to several iterations of it, listening to what they need and then making a product that meets their needs. And that’s why it’s four different products we’re offering to meet their needs. So it allowed us to innovate and improve the product we had. And so now we’re testing it. And again, the testing is not only on the product, but it’s also the holistic, improving their lives while at the same time, improving the management of the area.”
St. Martin’s de Porres area just got a little bit brighter with the official launch of the Mahogany Street Marketplace. Over the last few months, over twenty booths on Mahogany Street have undergone a transformation meant to boost attractiveness and security. The project was launched by the Belize Tourism Board in 2022 and plans to extend its efforts into 2024. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the ceremony today to learn all about it.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Mahogany Street is regarded as a place that’s buzzing with activity, akin to that of downtown Belize. In an effort to boost tourism activity and economic flow in the area a rejuvenation project was carried out by the Belize Tourism Board, in which over twenty-five small business owners were provided a new booth in order to carry out their business. Today, that project was completed.
Allan Pollard
Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor
“Mahogany Street today is just one added feature to the many upgrades that we have seen throughout this community. Not too far back, there wasn’t this much interest in commerce on this side of town. Everybody wanted to be in the mainstream areas of the city. BTL Park, Coney Drive, Downtown. No. We are here witnessing the transformation of Southside Belize City, one project at a time. I know both ministers can attest to how many people have called wanting to know how they can get a boot out here, because I personally have received many. At the heart of the Mahogany Street Marketplace Project lies a fundamental commitment to supporting our local vendors and driving economic empowerment within our city. It is no secret and we don’t like to talk about it enough, that many areas and sectors of business have been taken over by foreign groups. But I want to proudly announce, without apology, that every single business out here today is one hundred percent Belizean owned.”
Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler stated that the plan is to keep moving forward with the project and renovate up top thirty-five booths and that this is just one part of the ministry’s plan to reignite areas of Belize with potential to thrive.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations
“Every booth on the Mahogany Street stretch will be upgraded and we have supported the people who operate in those booths with some cash whereby, if they need to upgrade their stoves, their refrigerator or whatever equipment they need to do, we don’t give them the cash, but we buy what they need and so this is a total upliftment. All we did here was to change the look and feel of it. we want it to be a safe area. We want more people to come and visit. This is the heartbeat of Southside, I believe especially for the Deputy Prime Minister and myself. Mahogany Street is the main corridor where all the action happens. But this is just another level of commitment on the south side. You’ve seen it with Berger Field, Constitution Park. We’re doing the Ring Road Park in Lake I that we’re partnering with the DPM. We’ve greened the entire area here so that it can have a good feeling. We believe if we have the infrastructure to support where people live and work, then they will have a different mindset. We advocate for them to take care of the investments it’s theirs. They can invest more in their businesses. If they need help in training, we are willing to do those things.”
The projected started back in 2022 and has grown to new heights. Vendor Ainsley Castro of Naked Chicken was one of the first to be included in this endeavor.
Ainsley Castro
Ainsley Castro, Proprietor, Naked Chicken (File: October 4th, 2022)
“Da wahn nice project, cause first of all dehn mi done mention this to we soh now we look forward to it and the promise is looking like it’s going to be fulfilled cause, yoh know, da mi wahn thing weh everybody mi expect and also weh we like about it da wahn free of cost to, right. Soh, you know, we benefit a lot from it. Soh I noh think nobody should complain and everybody di look forward fi it. I’m excited about it, I cyant wait.”
The news last week that Hofius Store in downtown Belize City is going to close down later this year took many Belize City residents by surprise. While Hofius did not grant an interview to explain the reasons for their decision to call it quits, some of the businesses in the area have expressed a genuine concern that the parking meters that were installed about two years ago have hindered business growth. Like Hofius, the businesses have opted to remain anonymous but have shared their concerns nonetheless. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The historic Albert Street, with all its businesses lined off on both sides from its junction at Orange Street all the way down several blocks, has been an iconic part of Belize City dating back to the eighteen hundreds. But a system that was introduced in the area over the past few years to control traffic has now become a concern among some of the businesses in the downtown area.
Since the installation of the parking meters along that stretch, store owners have complained that they have seen their businesses shrink and their customers kept away. One of the managers at a department store in the downtown area told News Five today off-camera that they have raised the concern to City Hall before. The store manager said that shoppers nowadays will not pay for parking just to purchase one or two items. Also, they will not drive around the circular looking for a free parking space to make their purchase.
The manager also pointed out that the majority of the big shoppers are people who drive and use the convenience of the free parking that existed before to fill their vehicles with grocery or other items. One supervisor who did give us an on-camera interview works at Dibary’s. Mario Lopez said that the parking meters bring for them some good and some bad. The majority of their customers, however, have not stopped going there to shop.
Mario Lopez
Mario Lopez, Store Supervisor, Dibary
“In a way, it has a positive side and a negative side, but as I’m saying, I think it’s a very good idea because it also keeps rotation in the main artery, I would say, in Belize City, whereby first, used to park here for a whole hour, two hours, or a whole day, but now You come here, you pay a half an hour ticket, you pay a one hour ticket, and so you could enjoy the amenities.”
Marion Ali
“So it hasn’t reflected much on business or affected negatively?
Mario Lopez
“Not on our side at least. You’re here and there, you’re here and there people will still find a way to park, especially they’re using the Frontier a lot.”
Today we tried to get a comment from Mayor Bernard Wagner on the concerns that the business owners have raised over the impact that parking meters have had on their business, but he declined comment. Marion Ali for News Five.
The Fort George Constituency in Belize City has a new digital connect center. Established through a partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Belize, the center will provide a space for students and residents to access digital devices, and high-speed internet. The official opening of the center was held over the weekend. We heard from Bernard Wagner, the Belize City Mayor, Lily Li-Wen Hsu, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Henry Charles Usher, the Area Representative for Fort George.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“The establishment of the digital connect center really represents a significant step on our mission to bridge the digital divide to ensure that all members of our community have equal access for the opportunities afforded by the digital age, free access to computers, the internet and various digital technologies. This center will serve as a catalyst for empowerment and education. In today’s rapidly evolving world, digital literacy is no longer a luxury it is a necessity and by providing resources and training to our residents, especially those in underserved areas, will empower them to thrive in the digital economy and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our beloved Belize City and country.”
Lily Li-Wen Hsu
Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador, ROC (Taiwan)
“It is truly a pleasure to join everyone here to celebrate the launch of a digital connect center in Fort George. Fellow residents of Fort George we at the embassy feel especially x cited that our community and neighbors now can have free access to this community that offers computers, internet connection and have the opportunity to be empowered with digital knowledge and skill this center is part of the digital inclusion program jointly implemented by the government of Taiwan and Belize that aims to promote digital inclusion and bridge the digital divide. With this joint endeavor we were able to inaugurate five digital connect centers in different communities across the country last year and this year we are planning to add four more.”
Henry Charles Usher
Henry Charles Usher, Area Representative, Fort George
“It is the hub of information in our community. Because Fort George is not only a community it is a constituency. We are not only residents in this area we are family so I am always happy that we could be here to celebrate something new at this center. This center is the vision of the former Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Said Musa. It is his legacy that we continue today.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. A category five hurricane blew through the Belize City Civic Center on Friday night. The highly anticipated basketball match between the Bennys’s Belize Hurricanes and the Orange Walk Running Rebels brought out fans from both teams for this thriller.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
BEBL’s Rookie, the African Giant, Sidibe Bourama dropped fifteen points for the Hurricanes, with a seventy-five percent shooting average for the night, and six rebounds. Hurricane’s Jamal Harris followed closely behind with fourteen points at the end of the game. He is a clutch three-point shooter and big under the rim, finishing with ten rebounds Captain Victor “Vito” Evans led his team in scoring, ending the game with sixteen points. He is a play maker and an executer with a high IQ on and off the ball. Running Rebel’s Mathew Young put on a valiant effort for his team, completely dominating under the rim, racking up twelve rebounds, with an efficient fifty-five percent shooting average from the field for the night, ending the game with twenty-one points.
2023 Season MVP contender James Stanback is off to a slow start in the season, banking only four of his nineteen attempts from the field. Notwithstanding his sluggishness from the field, Stanback was a hundred percent from the free-throw line. But, ultimately the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes secured its second straight win with eighty-nine points to the Rebel’s seventy-one points. The name of the game here was defense, and overall the Hurricanes was more structured on the defensive end and took advantage of the Rebel’s poor defensive display. We spoke with a few players from the winning team after the game.
Sidibe Bourama
Sidibe Bourama, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes
“One of my focus is to play harder, to bring the toughness for my team, protect the rims and make sure I run the floor. Whatever jump shot I got around, to make sure I make that and bring the time together that is my focus most of the time.”
Victor “Vito” Evans
Victor “Vito” Evans, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes
“I have been blessed in the last like eight years to be mentored by some really good guys in Meta World Peace and Cory Maggette . They though me a lot about the game as far as just, I should never go down the court and predetermine what I will do. I should always see the floor and know where everybody is at and then go on my instinct from there.”
Paul Lopez
“For the season, do you guys feel like you are getting comfortable and hitting that sweet spot?”
Clency Lopez
Clency Lopez, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes
“Yes, we don’t want to feel like that, because if we feel like that, because if we feel like that teams wah come and beat we and we just want to continue pushing it. 1:39
Let’s move over to some football action. The Central Secondary School Sports Association hosted its regional championship games on Saturday inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. Here is more from those games. The match for third place between Sadie Vernon High School and Saint John’s College male teams ended in a penalty shoot-out after thirty minutes of overtime. Up by one, after scoring their first kick and blocking SJC’s first shot, Sadie Vernon’s goal keeper executed another massive block.
Number fourteen for Sadie Vernon came behind with a kick that completely missed the goal. Ultimately, two massive stops from SJC’s goalkeeper would secure the bronze medal for his team. In the female finals, Wesley College took on Gwen Lizarraga High School. Gwen Liz came into the last of this best-of-two matchup with two goals, leaving their opponents with no other options than to score more than three goals and stop Gwen Liz from scoring. Five minutes into the match, Wesley’s Zairah Gentle launched this superb free kick from beyond the penalty box that flew right pass Gwen Lizarraga’s goal keeper.
Gentle lit a fire in her teammates that would ultimately burnout under the sweltering heat of the day and ninety-minutes of play time. Gwen Lizarraga High School finished the game on top and secured their spot in the upcoming National Championship. In the male finals, the very same schools went up against each other. And, as fate would have it, Wesley College’s male team was also down two goals coming into the second and final game. Twenty-seven minutes into the game, Wesley’s Jacob Joseph was awarded a penalty kick after a nasty foul from number seventeen for Gwen Lizarraga. Joseph scored the penalty shot. Early in the second half, the referee blew a whistle against Wesley for a hard tackle, giving Calvin Thurton an opportunity to extend the lead. And, Thurton did just that. With only eight minutes left in the game, a hand ball was called against Wesley inside the penalty box. Christon Linares secured the gold medal for Gwen Lizarraga with that penalty kick. Gwen Lizarraga High School male team is also moving on to the Nationals.
Well Folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday.
A study done by UNICEF and the Statistical Institute of Belize five years ago revealed that only twenty-four percent of Belize’s children have the support of their fathers as they grow up. The study shows that a mother’s presence is not guaranteed as well, with only sixty-eight percent caring for their children in their first year of life. Established in 1998, the Families and Children Act provides a legal framework for advancing the rights of children, with their best interest as its main priority. From its inception, a man has been required to maintain the children of any of his children, under certain circumstances. That portion of the act is not as commonly known as the part that mandates a man to maintain his own children. But, it became the center of a heated debate inside the Senate on Thursday. The questions everyone now asking are, should grandparents be required, by law, to maintain their grandchildren in the absence of the biological parents, or should this section of the act be repealed and replaced? News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Thursday, members of the Senate debated a controversial amendment to the Families and Children Act.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Lead U.D.P. Senator
“The biological father or the biological parents of a child under no circumstance should be relieved of the responsibility of maintaining their children and putting it on the shoulders of someone else.”
The legislative amendment was encouraged by a High Court ruling back in September, 2023. The court ruled that Section 48, Subsection 1 of the Families and Children Act was discriminatory.
Magali Marin-Young
Magali Marin-Young, SC, Attorney-at-law (File: September 7th, 2023)
“That section is discriminatory because it imposes a liability on a man to maintain not only his children, but also to maintain the children of his wife who are living with him at the time, whether are those children are his biologically or not.”
With the High Court ruling in favor of the unconstitutionality of that sub section, an amendment was necessary to reflect the judgment. But, a section that may not be common knowledge also exists under section forty-eight of the act. Section (b) states that every man is required to maintain his own child and the children of any child of his.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“The point of the matter is that the law is there, the Families and Children Act in order to ensure that the child is maintained. That is the first and foremost, responsibility that the act is putting on people, adults, when you are in a family situation. You could adopt a child, fostering a child and that child becomes what you call a child of the family.”
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, the Minister of Human Development, explained that the obligations to a child falls on the either the paternal or maternal grandfather under special circumstances.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“But here is the thing that was mentioned, why would you place responsibility on a grandparent? We are not saying that elderly people should be minding picni, but if you read the thing carefully, and that is why I say, some of them just like to argue, if you read the thing carefully it is saying that you look at the responsibility only where the biological parent, mother or father, they cannot be located, they are ill or they are able to maintain themselves.”
Notwithstanding the fact that this has been enshrined in the laws of Belize for many years, Michael Peyrefitte, the Lead U.D.P. Senator, argued on Thursday that parliament has an opportunity to make certain changes.
Michael Peyrefitte
“The court is the court and if the court has made a decision, if they interpret the law in such a way as it has written and it comes with a result that we do not accept or like. With all due respect to the court, we are parliament and they can make a decision in the High Court, but we in Parliament, we make the law. This is an opportunity, Madam President to make a law that is sustainable to people and makes sense.”
Paul Lopez
“Would Cabinet consider changing this approach if there is a great deal of public concern that warrants such?”
Dolores Balderamos- Garcia
“I would not say so, we have rich discussion in Cabinet about the social issues of our country and we have many people, all I would say, who are very concerned about our social issues. But I wouldn’t say we should prolong the conversation. I say and I repeat the best interest of children has to come first.”
And, concerns did not only come from Senator Peyrefitte. Other senators raised issues of unfairness.
Kevin Herrera
Kevin Herrera, Business Senator
“I know there seems to be an effort to secure the wellbeing of children and I think that is a noble effort. But I think in the instance in the grandparent where it becomes mandatory where their children are unable to, whether through lose lifestyle practices; I think it is extremely unfair.”
Elena Smith
Elena Smith, NTUCB Senator
“I look at for example my own father who passed away a year or so ago. He was ninety-two. So just imagine my brother had children he didn’t take care of, my grandfather who was ninety-two, based on this law, this was the law back then, could have been held accountable for any child my brother didn’t take care of. So, how then could my poor father, the grandfather of these children, not working anymore, being ninety, ninety-one, ninety-two take care of these children.”
