The first official sitting of the House of Representatives since the March twelfth general elections took place this morning in front of the Sir Edney Cain Building, setting the tone for the Briceño administration’s second term. Members of both the House and Senate gathered for the ceremonial event, which featured speeches from Speaker of the House Valerie Woods, Governor-General Dame Froyla T’zalam, and Prime Minister John Briceño. But it was a moment of real-life heroism that stole the spotlight. The Prime Minister paused to recognize Tropic Air pilot Howell Grange and passenger Jair Castaneda, who helped prevent a potentially deadly hijacking on April seventeenth. Both men were present and received a standing ovation. Another passenger, Fitzgerald Brown, remains hospitalized. Briceño also addressed the recently declared State of Emergency, signaling that serious national issues are already on the table as the new term begins. News Five’s Marion Ali has the full story in tonight’s newscast.
With the sound of the Belize Defense Force band leading the way, the ceremonial Sitting of the House of Representatives officially welcomed the country’s newly configured government this morning. In a formal yet spirited event, Valerie Woods was sworn in once again as Speaker of the House, joined by Marconi Leal Jr., who took the oath as Deputy Speaker. One by one, the newly elected parliamentarians followed suit, taking their Oath of Allegiance and marking the start of a fresh legislative term. Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam is calling on the government to step up its efforts in education, saying it’s key to shaping the next generation of Belizean leaders. She emphasized the need to strengthen critical areas in the education system to ensure young Belizeans are equipped with the tools they need to succeed.
Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General
“Government will continue to work towards greater economic opportunity and social justice to improve the lives of every Belizean with well-paying and meaningful work. As a nation, we must immediately create a technological revolution to support our efforts to enhance our primary and tertiary sectors. Government is proposing an ambitious agenda to keep our country moving on this path.”
Prime Minister John Briceño is promising a more collaborative approach as his government begins its new term, vowing to work closely with all stakeholders to move the country forward. Speaking at the assembly, Briceño also addressed the controversial State of Emergency declared earlier this week. He defended the move as a necessary step to restore calm and crack down on rising criminal activity.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The intra-gang wars that kill Belizeans, that spread fear through our otherwise peaceful neighborhoods and communities, which threatens our way of life must be defeated. My government intends to take every step needed to rid this cancer. In addition to the State of Emergency, which is a temporary measure, we will continue our extensive efforts at mediating and offering alternatives to violence. Our government has dedicated substantial human and monetary resources to mediation. On the other side of the coin, resources and resolve continue to flow to the police department to ensure that additional well-trained personnel can be deployed to problem areas without sacrificing the security of the wider community.”
“All three men were badly injured in an almost two-hour long ordeal, but because they would not give up and because they kept their wits, all passengers survived to tell the tale. Because of the bravery of these men, the hijacker was neutralized before he could harm any other passengers aboard flight that day. Imagine if you will, that were it not for these men and the quick thinking and calm of Captain Grange, that plane could have been forced down in a populated area, causing mass casualties. This is real adversity, and it took real courage to avert it.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We are moving forward with a massive development project that is intended to transform the cargo, bulk, and cruise facilities in an environmentally responsible way. The port is Belize’s marine access to the world. It must hasten to ensure that the on-land facilities and the channel and harbor provide the most cost-effective on-time, efficient link.”
The sugar industry, long considered the economic lifeblood of northern Belize, took center stage in Prime Minister John Briceño’s address during the ceremonial opening of Parliament. Fresh off the heels of a recently completed Commission of Inquiry, the PM announced plans to reform and modernize the sector. Marion Ali for News Five.