This afternoon, the United Democratic Party held a press conference at its headquarters here in Belize City. During the session with the media, Party Leader Shyne Barrow began by criticizing the Briceño administration for promises it has failed to deliver since taking office in 2020.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“We approach the time of the most sacred exercise in our democracy which is tomorrow, March sixth, the dawn of change for the better, because yoh got two kinda change, the PUP change and then the UDP change, for the better is upon us. You know, for the last three, and six in some instances, even twelve consecutive years if you look at Orange Walk Town, who have had four consecutive terms of doing nothing. First they complained about not having a central government that was PUP and now that they have a central government that is PUP, with none other than the prime minister and four other representatives, I believe, being from Orange Walk, they have done nothing for the people of Orange Walk Town. We have just been subjected to broken promises, mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and rampant corruption by the PUP local government. The promise of synergy has never arrived. The optimal benefits that were declared to be looming once you had a PUP central government and a PUP local has turned out to be a marriage of complete disaster. We have suffered, the Belizean people have suffered from this dysfunctional, extremely dysfunctional relationship.”
Also present at the presser this afternoon was Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Of note is that U.D.P. mayoral candidate Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis hails from that constituency. Faber began by acknowledging his twenty-first year as a parliamentarian before speaking about Collet and the campaign trail.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Today, March fifth, makes twenty-one years that I’ve been in the House of Representatives and, of course, under my watch we have never lost the Collet constituency at no level, municipal or general. And, of course, tomorrow, I can assure you, party leader, will be no different. I can assure the country that we will bring victory once again in Collet, but I want to say as well because of my work with the team, I am confident also of a victory citywide. We might not win all constituencies, but cumulatively we will definitely make what it takes to deliver City Hall to the UDP once again. I sit at this table today to have people understand that as we move into the elections tomorrow, we are one united force. The UDP has a record of division, as many would know, and it also has a record of coming together when the country needs us and it is no doubt that if the country ever needed us, that time is now. And so, we have put differences aside in order to make sure that tomorrow we will enter those elections one unified front and bring victory in all nine of our municipalities across the country.”
As far as tomorrow’s municipal elections, Faber says he is optimistic that the United Democratic Party will make inroads across various cities and towns, ahead of a victory at the polls during the 2025 general elections.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“I have had the opportunity to visit with some of the teams across the country. I’ve not gone north but I’ve certainly been south and west and I feel as optimistic as I do about the Belize City team with those teams as well. I feel that we have, in those areas as well, excellent slates and I am looking forward to an early count. I think that the fact that they are counting boxes simultaneously should produce an early result in most of these elections and it’s not going to be, hopefully, like those years gone by where dawn is breaking and we still don’t know who is the winner in some of these municipalities. I think it will be early tomorrow and I look forward to celebrating with my UDP colleagues that victory and to mark the improvement, if you will, but the steps forward in bringing back the United Democratic Party to the government, the national government of Belize. I hope that the results tomorrow will be an impetus for Prime Minister Briceño to call the elections.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is inviting all women to join them in celebrating International Women’s Day. The day, which is observed on March eighth, is meant to promote women’s rights and acknowledge their achievements globally. To participate in the fest ivies, the Muslim community of Belize will be offering an array of services at the Masjid Noor on Saturday. We stopped by today to hear what the event will entail. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Every year, on March eighth, millions of people across the globe participate in the observation of International Women’s Day. The holiday was declared in 1975 by the United Nations as a day for Women’s Rights and World Peace. As part of this celebration, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at hosts an annual International Women’s Day Expo, which is meant to foster a sense of community and provide an array of services for women in Belize. The president of the Women’s Jama’at spoke to us about these activities.
Maham Warraich
Maham Warraich, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Women’s Group,
“This is the third year that we’re having this. And it’s basically celebrating International Women’s Day. It is the month that we’re celebrating women. And we’re offering the same free services that we’ve offered in the previous years as well. And a lot of our locals obviously enjoy that. So some of the services are henna, paint, henna, and hair braiding, and nail painting, and eyebrow OUT 0:46 threading.”
As the holiday is meant to be a reflection of women’s achievements and a day to prioritize the progression of their rights and wellbeing, the Jama’at stated that this event will be an opportunity to offer health and wellness services.
Deshawn Ellis
Deshawn Ellis, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at
“It’s more than just an event. We want it to be an experience for the women. I think that one of the themes for this year’s Women’s Month is Invest in Women. And that’s what we want to do with this expo. You know, we’re gonna have the free services, we’re gonna even have free vital screening, so that you can prioritize your health. And so it’s really investing in women.”
As part of the goal to elevate and empower women, several small female-owned businesses will be given the opportunity to showcase their products and services as well.
Maham Warraich
“So our main goal for this event was also to support our local Belizean ladies and to have a platform where they can come and they can obviously expose their business to other people. And so we have obviously food stalls that people are selling their baked goods and their food. And then we also have an individual who’s selling skincare, bracelets, and then we also have pre loved clothing that they’re trying to sell. And then we also, as It’s for us to have the knowledge of Islam, that if anybody’s interested in learning about Islam, they can come and we’ll have a book stall, and we also have the try on a hijab. That’s a huge hit. A lot of ladies come and they try it on and it’s a loving experience for everyone.”
Member of the Jama’at, Khadija Hassan, spoke on the importance of helping others as a part of the Islam beliefs.
Khadija Hassan
Khadija Hassan, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at
“You know, so we introduce ourself to the community. We integrate ourself in the community by helping the community. We are not separatist. We’re not isolationist. We are here to help and to serve. The promised Messiah, peace be upon him, said that his advent was to bring people back to God and to bring them back to respecting and helping each other. Service is a big part of her community.”
Hassan informed us that the event will not only serve to uplift women in Belize, but will also assist families suffering from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Maham Warraich
“So as we know that there’s a huge crisis happening in Gaza, and it’s been going on for almost six months, and we thought that it was something that needs to be brought to attention. And so all the proceeds that are going to be from this event, they’re going to be donated to Gaza to help with aid there, because it’s really, really needed. As a Muslim, it is our job to give service to the community, but a huge part is also giving charity as well”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
The event will be hosted on Saturday, 9th of March, from ten a.m. to four p.m. at the Masjid Noor.
Eight years ago, MasterCard created Girls4Tech, a STEM program that inspires girls to build technology skills that will help them to become leaders of technology in the future. Today, that program is being introduced in Belize for the first time through a partnership between the Belize Bank, MasterCard and the Ministry of Education. This morning, at the Matalon Building, a brief ceremony was held to unveil the interactive, hands-on curriculum that connects the foundations of business to STEM principles.
Agata Ruta
Agata Ruta, COO, Belize Bank
“This the first time that we have Girls 4 Tech in Belize. This is teach girls about different parts of technology. So today and for the entire week, they are learning about algorithms, all digital, cryptology and fraud. They have a lot of different activities to bring those topics to light, so they are learning how to write their names in binary code. In the Navajo code and MasterCard is teaching them when the Navajo code was used and how the US was using the code in World War II so they can really see how to encrypt messages. They are finding secret messages different tasks. They are learning about fraud and how to recognize fraud in daily transactions. So it‘s a program that‘s full of activities and we hope that this is just a beginning. This is the first time in Belize, but we hope that theywill be coming [back] and having the program with us on an annual basis.”
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“The Ministry of Education is very, very pleased to partner with the Belize Bank and MasterCard International to have this workshop, Girls 4 Tech. It‘s one of the priority areas for us at the Ministry of Education, making sure that our girls are included in the science and technology revolution that‘s taking place across the world. So we don‘t want our girls to be left out. You know, traditionally, girls have not been a part of science and technology. Science and technology have been viewed traditionally as areas for men and boys. So there is a global effort and Belize certainly wants to be a part of that effort and the Ministry of Education is working to ensure that girls are included, that they have the opportunity to develop the skills that are important to science and technology. So I think it‘s an absolutely important initiative, we have been doing this work at the Ministry of Education for the past two years as well. So we were happy when they called us and asked us to collaborate with them.”
Mahiba Sharp
Mahiba Sharp, Principal, Belize Elementary School
“I think it’s an absolutely amazing opportunity for our girls to be a part of this program. Technology is male dominated and based on what we heard here today, the gender gap probably won‘t close until 2095, so that‘s far away from our lifetime and that‘s a shame. So I think that starting to pique their interest at this age, very young, our students are here from Standard One to Standard Six. So that is between age seven to age thirteen, so I think opening up the horizons for them and letting them know that from now they can be a part of technology. I think it‘s very important. The CEO of YouTube is a female. Before that, she was a marketing manager of Google. So they are female role models in technology, things that these girls can aspire to. So I think it‘s very important that programs like this, thanks to Belize Bank and MasterCard, are held for them so that they can get the exposure.”
Today, Belize participated in its first ever Seaweed Aquaculture Symposium. The event was organized by the Nature Conservancy in collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and the Belize Fisheries Department in order to transfer knowledge of the works in the industry that is being done in other parts of the countries and develop relationships with colleagues from other parts of the world. We attended the event earlier today for more information. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Today, several stakeholders from various countries gathered in Belize City to exchange valuable information about the growing seaweed industry in hopes of fostering partnerships and gaining knowledge that would aid in the industry’s development. Saleem Chan, of the Nature Conservancy, spoke with us about the event and its participants.
Saleem Chan
Saleem Chan, Mariculture Specialist and Safety Officer, The Nature Conservancy
“Today is quite a day. We’ve been working towards organizing the symposium jointly with the Belize Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil really to bring our partners from other parts of the world to Belize in sharing their work into seaweed farming. So we have people from Tanzania, Indonesia, people as far as Puerto Rico in Belize and as well as seaweed, local seaweed farmers in Belize sharing our journey with our guests.”
Also partnering in the event was the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. Director Felicia Cruz expressed the ministry’s desire to expand the industry for Belizean fishers and farmers.
Felicia Cruz
Felicia Cruz, Director, Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation
“It is a very momentous occasion for the Government of Belize because it really signals an opportunity to showcase all of the excellent work that has been happening within the seaweed mariculture industry. From a ministerial perspective, our ministry is very proud of achieving this milestone. The seaweed industry is still immature. There’s still a lot yet to be done to help the industry elevate at a level in which we can derive the requisite socioeconomic and environmental benefits that we know the seaweed industry can contribute.”
Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Carrillo further affirmed the necessity of providing opportunities in the industry.
Kennedy Carrillo
Kennedy Carrillo, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation
“We work very closely with the Nature Conservancy and obviously our fisheries department is involved in the seaweed working group as well as other activities that are related to the seaweed sector in Belize. We work very closely with the communities and the seaweed farmers in Placencia, for example, our fisheries department works very closely in providing support. And of course, looking for other opportunities for them globally.”
Participating in the event was the president of the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, Jalima Gold, who expressed her gratitude for the event and its proceedings.
Jalima Gold
Jalima Gold, President, Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association
“We are the Belize Women’s Seed Farmers Association. we are an association from Southern Belize and we’ve been working for the past four years to try to help create and legitimize the mariculture industry. So it’s very important. We’re very happy that we’ve been asked to be here. We’ve been seen as like a stakeholder in the industry and so we are thankful that they asked us to be here.”
Local fisher woman, Isela Martinez, also commented on the impact of the growing seaweed industry.
Isela Martinez
Isela Martinez, Fisherwoman & Research Assistant
“So I do think that the seaweed is really important to our economy because it’s another source of income for our country. As fishermen, it is very important for us.”
Tonight on Meet the Candidates, we hit the streets with the People’s Democratic Movement, a third party led by Estevan Perera Senior. They are contesting the seats at City Hall and are hoping to form the next Belize City Council. In tonight’s episode, we will introduce you to several of the candidates who share their reasons for joining the political fray. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The viability of a third-party option in today’s political landscape is one that the masses of Belizean voters are yet to fully grasp. Traditionally, most of the ballots cast on election day are in favor of the established mass parties. Independents and third party candidates are often seen as nothing more than nominees whose votes take away from either of the two recognized political organizations, in this case, the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party.
Estevan Perera Sr.
Estevan Perera Sr., Mayoral Candidate, P.D.M.
“The time is ripe. It is not me who’s going to win this election, it is the people of Belize that will win this election because they are fed up, they are tired and they want something new. They want changes and the only changes [that] will come is with the People’s Democratic Movement.”
Estevan Perera Sr. is not a newcomer to electoral politics. In fact, he has run on previous occasions and those bids were unsuccessful. This time, however, he has assembled a team of councilor candidates that is supporting his bid for City Hall. Together, they are the People’s Democratic Movement.
Marcela Meighan
Marcela Meighan, Councilor Candidate, P.D.M.
“Being a part of PDM is simply because with my identity, I want to be able to bring that to Belizeans as well. Know who you are, know what you stand for so that at the beginning of the day and at the ending of the day you are confident with the things that you have done with the choices that you have made.”
PDM boasts three female candidates. Alisha Eaghan is twenty-one years old and this is her foray into politics at the municipal level.
Alisha Eaghan
Alisha Eaghan, Councilor Candidate, P.D.M.
“As a young person, all of us want change and I want a change too. I just want all of us to come together, it doesn’t matter what age you are, we all have the same basic needs and the same wants too, so that’s why I decided to join PDM.”
Isani Cayetano
“How prepared are you that once you are elected on March sixth that you hit the ground running, in terms of getting the work done?”
Alisha Eaghan
“I am very prepared. I am very prepared. I am willing to, you know, do what it takes and also, I am taking this head-on, I come with all the power I’ve got, so there is nothing no one can do or say that will change my attitude or our attitude as a movement for our country Belize.”
Third parties often focus on specific issues that may not receive adequate attention from the major parties. By championing niche causes, they bring these topics to the forefront of public discourse.
George Myvett
George Myvett, Political Advisor, P.D.M.
“My reason for stepping to the fore, in terms of the PDM, is that I feel that the time has come for change. The both of the, quote-unquote, mass parties have been playing musical chairs both at the municipal level, as well as at the national level and it has not been well for the citizens of Belize City and certainly not the country, and you can measure it any way. You can measure it in terms of crime, you could measure it in terms of poverty, you can measure it in terms of literacy. All the indicators are there.”
And the PDM is looking closely at those pointers with a view to address the root causes from a social perspective. As a movement, it seeks to give a voice to the marginalized communities and advocate for their rights.
Zenobia Young
Zenobia Young, Councilor Candidate
“We all are taxpayers, so they are saying [that] we need to stop the wasteful spending of taxpayers money. So, as a result of that, if we are elected on March sixth, thirty days after that, post election, thirty to ninety days, I’d say, we are going to work on releasing an audit report to the public so that we can include the citizenry in what we’re doing.”
Wayne Joseph
Wayne Joseph, Councilor Candidate
“I’ve been on the ground working and campaigning and I’ve interacted with a lot of folks and if the Belizean people, they vote like how they talk, we shouldn’t have a problem. We should be…easy victory for us because a lot of people, a lot of Belizeans are fed up with both parties. They are fed up and they want a change and the People’s Democratic Movement is here for that.”
