Taiwan was rattled by a seven-point four magnitude earthquake. This is the strongest tremor that has hit the island nation in more than twenty-five years. At least nine persons have been confirmed dead with hundreds more injured. Authorities have issued warnings of potential aftershocks in the coming days. Many Belizeans are in Taiwan and News Five’s Hipolito Novelo spoke to one of them.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
Belizean teacher living in Taiwan, Melody Wagner recounted the moment she felt her building shaking. She was on the nineteenth floor when the island nation was hit by a seven point four magnitude earthquake at round eight a.m. local time on Wednesday.
Melody Wagner
Melody Wagner, Belizean Teacher Living in Taiwan
“Well, immediately, like I had to kind of regulate myself a bit because your first. First I was, I thought I was just dizzy and I was like, oh wait, it’s an earthquake. So I just kind of sat down for a bit thinking like, you know, let’s just wait until it passes because I live on the 19th floor. So it’s not really smart to try to take the elevators down. So I just kind of sat on my bed was the most safe location in my apartment. So I just sat there waiting for it to pass.”
The earthquake rattled Taiwan’s east coast, claiming the lives of at least nine individuals. Rescuers are tirelessly working to free numerous others trapped under debris caused by landslides and collapsed structures. With over 900 reported injuries and more than 100 buildings damaged, authorities are grappling with the aftermath of one of Taiwan’s strongest earthquakes in 25 years.
Melody Wagner
“From my 19th floor apartment, most earthquakes that are above five would like really have an impact. Like I would feel like I’m swaying, like I’m in a hammock kind of feeling which is quite uncomfortable, but this one was a lot more intense because more things were shaking. Like, behind me I have like shells, but you can’t really see them, but. My shelves things that I have on my shelves, some of things fell down, some of the carvings and stuff that I have up in my apartment fell down. So that made me realize, you know, this might be a bit intense. I just kept hearing like rattling and I have a mirror on my cupboard and that kept like rocking vigorously back and forth. So, it kind of made me realize maybe this is a serious one. Also the duration of it, it was a lot longer than the usual earthquakes that happened. I’ve experienced since living here.”
Wagner is one of many Belizeans living in Taiwan. She says that she got in contact with those she knows to ensure that they are safe. There have been 29 aftershocks since the quake. Forecasts suggest that tremors as powerful as magnitude 7 could occur in the coming days. The earthquake resulted in power cuts affecting more than 91,000 households. Despite this experience, Wagner says she has not reevaluated her stay in Taiwan.
Melody Wagner
“I’ve reached out to the to the people that I am close to and most of them have expressed that they’re okay. We see, um, I think Hualien is one of the greatest locations that’s been impacted. I’ve reached out to the Belizeans that I know there and most of them are, well, the ones that replied to me that I interact with have said they’re fine and everything is okay, but they post on their stories saying, you know, they’re nearby where some of the buildings collapse and stuff like that.”
Hipolito Novelo
Has this experience made you reevaluate whether you want to continue living there?
Melody Wagner
“I think short answer, no, because I feel like anywhere in the world that you choose to live, there are natural disasters that you have to contend with. In Belize, we have hurricanes. Here is earthquake center Earthquakes and typhoons. And you just have to learn how to coexist with these natural elements. So, I don’t think it should be a deterrent for anybody and for me personally, no.”
On X, Prime Minister John Briceño shared “Our thoughts are with the government, people and our friends of Taiwan”. The Belizean embassy in Taiwan saying that it responded immediately by liaising with Belizean students located in different regions in Taiwan, as well as universities where Belizean students are studying, to confirm that students are safe. The embassy said that while some Belizeans are understandably shaken emotionally, there has been no report of material effects on Belizeans. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
Haiti continues to be plagued by violence as gangs engage in ongoing gun battles with police. This complicates efforts to find a political resolution to the crisis. Last week, you heard from Haitian Alexandra Pierre, who described the horror Haitians are living in. The need for international intervention is clear. Over the weekend, twenty Coast Guard officers and thirty-one Belize Defence Force soldiers arrived in Jamaica to participate in Exercise Trogon Shield. This brings together service members from Jamaica, The Bahamas, and now Belize as they integrate into a CARICOM Joint Task Force. The exercise primarily focuses on training, planning, and executing a variety of scenario-driven security activities. Exercise Trogon Shield aims to enhance regional cooperation and readiness among Caribbean nations. A release from the Canadian Defence Ministry indicates that approximately seventy Canadian Armed Forces members have been deployed to Jamaica. Their mission is to provide training to military personnel from CARICOM nations who are preparing to deploy to Haiti as part of the United Nations-authorized, Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission. We spoke to the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett.
“This training that we are currently undergoing is actually the second phase of training. We started to train along with the Canadian military in January of this year. And the same, very same team that is currently over in Jamaica did a one-week training here in Belize where the Canadian military came in country to do an introduction to what peacekeeping operations under the United Nations umbrella really looks like. So they looked at, issues such as international humanitarian law, um, use of force policy and so forth. So now we are moving over into Jamaica to do, um, more operational training along with those other countries that will form a part of the joint task force in preparation for a possible deployment into Hattie. So they’ll be there for four weeks and they would do operation operational training that will prepare them for the different scenarios in Haiti. We do understand and appreciate the level of risk that there will be taken into Haiti. Therefore this, this training is very, very crucial to prepare these men for the possible deployment. So you’re looking at peacekeeping and stability, operational, um, serials, what to do in certain events, looking at use of force policy and to ensure the men are best prepared to go into that very high risk environment.”
The Canadian training initiative is designed to prepare CARICOM troops for deployment to support the efforts of the Haitian National Police (HNP) in restoring security for the people of Haiti. According to Commandant Bennett, the men sent for the training are the best that Belize has to offer.
“The guys that are deploying from the Belize Coast Guard. This is our very best These are members of the coast guard special operations group. They’re the best that we have to offer for high risk operations . So they are very well trained. They have been exposed in the region doing exercises, special forces exercises in Jamaica for the past two years. Last year they had the opportunity to go into Columbia to do exercise along with the different maritime forces in the region. So the exposure is there. This will be our very first operational duty. So we can only prepare these men at the best that we can. And, and in this case, the Canadian military is there to help us to prepare them with training and to ensure that they are mentally prepared to go into a situation like this. But we have all confidence that these guys are, are very well prepared to want to take this training and to be prepared for the level of operations that they could possibly be involved with.”
David Gibson, a distinguished Belizean ambassador and diplomat, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday in Belmopan. In a statement released on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed profound condolences to the family of Ambassador David Gibson, recognizing him as a genuine Belizean patriot and one of the nation’s most prominent diplomats. Gibson’s career included serving as the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Dean Barrow’s tenure as minister from 1993 to 1998. He continued his dedicated service under the Musa Administration. Following his diplomatic endeavors, Gibson took on the role of coordinator at the Think Tank Centre for Strategic Studies Policy Analysis and Research (CSSPAR), which he founded in 1995. His contributions to CSSPAR underscored his commitment to strategic analysis and policy research. Notably, Gibson played a significant role in the discussions aimed at resolving the Belize/Guatemala conflict. At CARICOM’s fiftieth anniversary celebration in 2023, Gibson recounted the pivotal role played by regional leaders in supporting Belize’s quest for political independence in 1981. Here is an excerpt of that clip.
David Gibson, Former Ambassador/C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs(File 05-04-2023)
“As Belize prepared for independence, CARICOM ministers converged in Belize to show solidarity and support, as the government faced fierce opposition to the heads of agreement signed by Belize, UK, and Guatemala. This was a last ditch effort to try to establish a basis for future negotiations in the post independence period. Strongly, these heads of agreement, and they were heads of agreement, and they were not actual agreements, strongly opposed by the United Democratic Party, the opposition, with even a suggestion that there might have been some collusion with the British to have the whole matter of independence postponed for 10 years, something which the Guatemalans would have wanted, having seen the cut of the jib and things going in the direction of an independence.”
Haiti finds itself amidst one of its most severe crises in decades. The collapse of the central government has left the prime minister stranded abroad, while gangs rampage through Port-au-Prince, to prevent the establishment of a new transitional government. However, in certain regions of Haiti, the memory of living in a functional state has faded. Tonight, we bring you a firsthand experience from a Haitian whose life has been turned upside down. Her name is Alexandra Pierre. She is twenty-five years old and says that this is the first time she has experienced such a crisis.
Alexandra Pierre
Alexandra Pierre, Haitian
“I’m 25 years old, I’ve never lived that situation in Haiti since I was born. So I’m used to, and somehow I’m used to the instability of the country. I’m used to regular strikes, mobilization in the streets. But we’ve never been in a situation where you cannot go out anymore. Usually you have the mobilization during the day. And at night you can spend some time outside. Even though you don’t have mobilization, everybody’s so afraid. So the streets are empty. And even during the day, everybody is afraid when you don’t have mobilization, you’re so scared that you don’t go in the street in just in case there is mobilization and everything is closed right now in Haiti, the main infrastructure schools are closed, they are online. Hospitals are closed. So the pharmacy are closed. So you’re afraid if you have any kind of injuries. If you are in any way injured, though, you don’t have the basic support to for your health. So that’s, that’s the situation right now in Haiti. And every time you’re here shooting, you’re so afraid. And it’s so regular right now. So even though sometimes a person is testing his gun just in case to be able to preserve itself in case of any attack and then when you have to go to the bank, I was telling I was telling you yesterday that I couldn’t have the meeting because Monday is when you go to the bank. You spent five hours in the line and then you cannot even have the amount that you requested to make every time you go. You can only have 100 US dollars due to the instability of the currency, the Haitian currency. Most of us going in and out of Haiti, we keep our savings in US dollars. It’s a more stable money and then you can change it to buy your groceries. So that’s why I have my savings in US dollars and you can only have 100 US dollars. So each week you spend five weeks five hours in the line to get 100 US dollars when the bank is open.”
Approximately two hundred armed gangs hold sway over Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They are wreaking havoc by burning police stations, releasing thousands of criminals, and perpetrating kidnappings and killings that force residents to flee their homes. They have pillaged hospitals and halted commerce. Persons have been fatally shot, decapitated, and burned in the streets. The violence is intense, and according to Pierre, it is not something someone forgets so easily.
Alexandra Pierre, Haitian
“Well, it’s not something that you can get over. It’s, it’s, it’s the violence and then You’re just trying to live with that violence because you have no choice. It’s either the gang or the inhabitants. So this is the situation and then I’m not telling that they did it, they didn’t do it right for cutting heads. I’m not telling that they, well, it’s just, It’s just a chaos right now. It’s difficult to have to stick to some kind of morality and say, okay, this is, you should preserve life. You should preserve dignity. It’s just, you should preserve your life. So, and then this is, I think, this is the violence. It’s the way they have killed the, the gang members for me. And this is the most cruel part I’ve ever lived in Haiti. And, I live in the island. It’s been 35 years. And then the, the prices are higher as well because with the gangs in every in the main entrance of the Capitol. So you don’t get the fruits as you used to, you know, get the rice as you used to. So even the money that you get hat you have, it has so much pressure on it. Then it’s not enough, right? Anyone can live with only hundred per week, and we are three in my family. So we are three on this hundred dollars. So, this is this is a situation and I’m very sad.”
A sixteen-year-old student from Belize High School has been accepted to the Young Global Scholar Program at Yale University. Yale is an Ivy league university ranked among the top ten best colleges in America. Sandra Lindo was selected, among a few others, from a pool of ten thousand applicants to participate in the two-week summer academic enrichment program for high school students. In tonight’s episode of Belize on Reel, we spoke with Sandra to learn more about her journey to this achievement. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.
Sandra Lindo
Sandra Lindo, Belize High School Student
“So I hurriedly opened it, and when I opened it, I started crying, and I made sure to hurriedly call my mom. And she’s like, what happened? And I was like, I got accepted, and she’s like, oh my god! And she’s so happy, and she’s like, doing like, what all moms do, and she started posting it, and my dad started posting it. And I don’t know, I just felt so happy, and I felt so proud to like, achieve this dream, and to have like, my biggest supporters by my side.”
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Ten thousand applicants from one hundred and fifty countries, that’s how many students sixteen-year-old Sandra Lindo was up against for a chance to participate in the Young Global Scholar Program at Yale University. A spot that she would later secure, despite the odds. This program offers sessions on various topics, such as literature, science, politics, and law. Sandra, a third form humanities major at Belize High School, decided to apply to the law program.
Sandra Lindo
“I currently got accepted to Yale Young Global Scholar, which is a summer program at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. Okay. And there’s four categories, but my, the one that stood out to me the most is politics, law, and economics, as it’s something that I want to do in the future and I thought that this would be a great experience, because in my freshman and sophomore year, I did some dual credit courses, and I did criminal justice, and that really solidified my dream and saying yeah, I really want to become a lawyer.”
Sandra recently participated in the HACIA program which is the Harvard Association for Cultivation of Inter-American Democracy. It is a debate conference that serves as an opportunity for youths to come together and create solutions to real world problems.
Sandra Lindo
“HACIA, I think, is like a really great program that we have here, because it’s with Harvard and it’s the summit, and there’s like different committees based on what you like. So I know PAHO is based on like medical, you had CELAC, which is based on like issues that are happening, and I knew they were doing like poverty for women, like reproduction care, but I chose court, and I did court last year as well, and it’s just to help learn the foundation of what it’s like to be in a court, and the simulation of it, so you have the judge, you have the plaintiff, and the defense. And I think that’s a really great experience because we not only learn, but we also have fun as well.”
She said that although it was difficult at times, through the support of her mentors and peers, she was able to successfully complete the HACIA events, which she believes will influence her future success at the Young Global Scholars Program.
Sandra Lindo
“There were countless days where we’re working on these papers, getting all the research, all the notes, and I feel like that’s really going to help me with this program, because it’s going to keep me organized, and I’m going to, have an understanding of what the law is, thanks to this program and I was like, I really enjoyed it because I had to do judge a day. I had to do defense, and it really gave me an opportunity to give my strong points and say yeah, I really believe that this slate has the right, and as a judge, I had to listen to both sides, and it really helped to like, become me like which side do I want to take, and it was a hard decision overall.”
Sandra’s teacher, Judy Carillo, was not only a mentor at the HACIA program, but also a great support to Sandra during her application process, encouraging her, as well as writing a recommendation letter. According to Carillo, she had no qualms about writing a recommendation for Sandra since she has always been a hardworking and dedicated student, who she believes will be a great ambassador for Belize.
Judy Carillo
Judy Carillo, Sandra’s Teacher
“So last year Sandra approached me and asked me if I can complete her recommendation form for this program and I have always admired Sandra because despite the challenges she has gone through she has always remained consistent and determined to engage in any activity that will contribute to the career she wants to pursue in the future. And I did so happily and with the hope that she would be accepted because I know it’s a great opportunity for her to develop her leadership skills but also get more exposure into what it takes to be part of that career that she wants to pursue.”
Sandra’s Mother, Souad Barrow recalled what it was like receiving that call from her daughter, informing her that she’s been accepted to the program.
Souad Barrow
Souad Barrow, Sandra’s Mother
“Overjoyed and proud would be an understatement to say, I started crying immediately. I think Sandra did as well. And then we just cried on the phone for a bit. They’re all saying that fisha man noh say ih fish stink. I have nothing but pure joy to speak about how wonderful a child Sandra is. “Her empathy and love for her community, her family, and especially her little brother, always amaze me. Sandra will come and say, Mom, I have an idea and I go, Oh, here we go again. And it would be a cleanup program or she did a fundraising with her sister and brother fundraising for Christmas to raise toys and food for the children’s home, Liberty Children’s Home. This is the third time she’s done an event like that. She does clean up. She does everything under her sun. Sometimes I say, take a break.”
Barrow said that her daughter has always had law influencing her life, as both parents, and several family members are lawyers.
Souad Barrow
“She is a lover of the arts. She’s a lover of Belize. And she comes from a long line of law influenced people. She has grown up around lawyers. She’s seen her dad go study. I’ve studied from here, long distance. She’s been with Honorable Senior Counsel Dean Lindo, who has been a role model for her. And she always says the term touch your brother light and watch the field because of him. So she’ll watch and say I think I want to do this and think is not, not in her vocab. She goes straight on, head on.”
Sandra hopes that she can attend Yale as a student one day but is open to keep trying for other schools as well. She said that Belizeans should apply for more programs like this because anyone can achieve it if they don’t give up.
Sandra Lindo
“Dreaming is not only about believing but achieving and I felt so proud of myself that I’m like one out of ten thousand out of one hundred fifty countries. And I feel as a Belizean, I’m very proud, because I’m like, not many of us have this opportunity, and I’m happy to like, put us on the map more, and further our things. But I feel like everyone has a chance, like if they have this dream, they should go for it, and they should achieve what they want.”
Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong stepped down from his position, announced by the Communist Party on Wednesday, marking yet another departure of a senior official likely implicated in an extensive anti-corruption campaign. The party confirmed the acceptance of his resignation, citing his violations as tarnishing the reputation of the Communist Party.
Thuong’s resignation coincided with a special parliamentary session addressing personnel matters, following the recent arrest of the former head of Quang Ngai province for corruption.
Assuming office in March 2023 after his predecessor’s resignation due to corruption scandals, Thuong’s departure highlights the enduring impact of Vietnam’s anti-corruption efforts under the leadership of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
FILE: Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong addressed media. 2023/AP
Thuong, seen as a protégé of Trong, faced scrutiny for his alleged transgressions, which prompted his resignation, although specifics remained undisclosed. The timing, following the arrest of a former provincial head under his supervision, suggests implication in the anti-corruption campaign, overseen by the Central Inspection Commission.
The announcement of Thuong’s resignation triggered a buzz across Hanoi, emphasizing the significance of the event, echoing concerns about the broader implications of the anti-corruption drive on political stability and economic policies.
While the campaign has bolstered Trong’s authority, it has also fueled factional tensions within the party. Moreover, concerns persist about its impact on Vietnam’s business climate and foreign investment, even as the country navigates its strategic positioning amidst U.S.-China competition.
On Monday, Governor General Froyla Tzalam received letters of credence from five newly appointed ambassadors to Belize at the Belize House in Belmopan. The ambassadors were appointed from Portugal, Finland, Pakistan, Russia and the Holy See. Their appointments signal Belize’s desire to form relationships with these countries. This was supported by the ambassadors, who each expressed their hopes of forging stronger bonds with Belize during their tenure. Ambassador Santiago De Wit Guzman, of the Holy See, said “I have been very lucky today in presenting my credentials to the people, to the governor General, and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and everything has gone very well. They have shown completely attention and this vulnerability, and they were very kind to me and understanding very well the role a Catholic church plays in the country and their will to support and to encourage”.
Every two years, FAO holds a Regional Ministerial Conference in Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together its 33 Members in the region to monitor progress and address the challenges towards fighting hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and inequalities, and to achieving the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO’s agrifood systems approach has been effective in supporting countries in accelerating the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to FAO’s latest estimates, the prevalence of undernourishment in the region decreased in 2022 to 6.5 percent, from 7.0 percent in 2021, which means that 2.4 million people are no longer suffering from hunger. However, such progress has occurred in South America (from 7.0 percent to 6.1 percent), while the prevalence of hunger has remained almost the same in Mesoamerica (from 5.0 percent to 5.1 percent). In the Caribbean, undernourishment has risen, from 14.7 percent in 2021 to 16.3 percent in 2022.
These statistics only scratch the surface of the current challenges facing agrifood systems in the region, which include the impacts of the climate crisis, economic disparities, and an over-dependence on commodities.
Although the region is a net food exporter and responsible for 13 percent of global food production, reliance on commodity imports and exports exposes its agrifood systems to macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical instability, which in turn negatively impact food prices and incomes and lead to unfavourable food security and nutrition outcomes.
FAO Director General QU Dongyu and Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali/QU Dongyu
The 38th FAO Regional Ministerial Conference will be held in the Caribbean nation of Guyana from 18 to 21 March 2024. This conference is a significant opportunity for member countries to enhance their individual and collective innovative thinking and build capacity to adapt to the changing landscape of agrifood systems across the region, and beyond, and be prepared for possible future scenarios.
With the engagement of governments and all partners, the conference aims to forge a consensus on tailored action plans for food and agriculture and to uphold the fundamental human right to food in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner.
The experience in Latin America and the Caribbean shows that achieving sustainable agrifood systems requires concerted multi-sectoral efforts. Fighting hunger is an act of collective responsibility, and thanks to a thriving regional integration, tangible results have been achieved. FAO continues to work through relevant international and multilateral fora in the region, and beyond, to continue to highlight the food security agenda and accelerate actions to advance the transformation of agrifood systems.
Ownership and leadership by FAO Members, and collective efforts by all development partners and stakeholders, are critical. Shared vision, foresight, responsibilities, and implementation arrangements are needed to achieve our goals. I would like to emphasize the significance of collaborations and partnerships across the Latin America and the Caribbean region.
In recent years, significant strides have been taken to bring together diverse perspectives and reach a regional consensus that will provide the blueprint for the Organization’s work in the region for the next biennium.
FAO is currently implementing around 400 national, sub-regional, and regional projects in Latin America and the Caribbean that have added millions of households to the agrifood value chain.
Moreover, there is evidence that FAO’s global initiatives, such as the Hand-in-Hand, the 1000 Digital Villages, and the One Country One Priority Product, have positively impacted farmers, especially smallholders, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and marginalized groups and rural populations.
At the Regional Ministerial Conference, FAO will focus on four interconnected regional priorities reflecting the “four betters” set out in the Organization’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 – better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. These priorities aim to catalyze the transformation of agrifood systems by enhancing efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability in production; eradicating hunger and advancing food security and nutrition; promoting the sustainable management of natural resources and adaptation to the climate crisis; and addressing inequalities, poverty, and fostering resilience.
Guyana Rice Development Board applying technological innovation to better production/QU Dongyu
The comprehensive Strategic Framework for the next decade provides us with an opportunity to take a wide-ranging look at our agrifood systems, identify areas that need improvement, and take appropriate actions. Members benefit from FAO’s technical expertise, assistance, and support through its headquarters, as well as regional, subregional, and country offices, to ensure effective implementation in support of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. My focus is on strengthening FAO’s country offices to maximize their impact on the ground and support the work of Members at the country level.
Our main goal for the region remains clear: to improve food production and ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food, while protecting natural resources and reducing inequalities, poverty, and hunger. We must produce more with less. To this end, we need to leverage the potential of cooperation, trade, investment and the utilization of innovation and technology within the region and with other regions.
At FAO, we have realigned and refocused our efforts towards supporting Members in accelerating the transformation needed. We have adopted agile operating strategies, offered tailored and timely data and analytical support, enhanced our engagement with governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and international financial institutions, and have established transformative partnerships with all key players. The reformed and restructured FAO is now better equipped, fit-for-purpose and already working towards this transformation for the benefit of people, planet, and prosperity.
By QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
