Among the seven reasons that the Orange Walk Running Rebels gave for its withdrawal, the most contentious surrounds the signing of Jeremiah Toney, an American basketball athlete. Toney was initially the Belmopan Trojans’ roster. According to the Running Rebels, they were notified that Toney wanted out of the Trojans, claiming a breach of contract. Their release notes that the Running Rebels had their sight set on signing Toney after confirming with Commissioner Gill that he was not in possession of a contract between the player and the Belmopan Trojans as per the league’s rules. The release goes on to say that Commissioner Gill committed to securing a release from the Trojans for Toney and advised the Running Rebels that they could proceed with signing him and submitting the contract. The Rebels says Commissioner Gill made the matter worse when he later suspended Toney for a year for signing two contracts. This came after the Running Rebels placed Toney on their roster for a game on March nineth.
Glenn Gill
Glenn Gill, Commissioner, B.E.B.L.
“I asked Mr. Manzanero if I can have a copy of the contract with this young man and he sent it to me. The following day I went to Belmopan I went to Belmopan and I picked up Mr. Toney by his apartment and asked him if we could go have a discussion. We did, we were there for two and a half hours. He spoke for the first half hour to forty-five minutes. I asked him, are there any other team owners talking to you about going to his team. His immediate answer was no. I asked him if he had a contract signed with the Trojans. He said yes, I have one. I said, can I see it. He said I can’t produce it right now because it was lost in my phone, it feels at the split in Caye Caulker and so I can’t. He said, unless I get on the phone and call the U.S. and I can get it off my cloud. So, I pulled out my phone and asked him, do you recognize this document. I said, is that your signature, he said yes. I said, do you recognize the person who signed as a witness, he said yes that is my agent. I said ok, I know Mr. Manzanero’s signature. He said, but that is not the contract I ended up with. So, I said could you kindly let me have that as quickly as possible. So I was very shocked, even before the game happened on Friday, I called Mr. Aldo and Troy Gabb Junior and said please don’t play this player, remember this guy hasn’t been released as yet. When Mr. Gabb called me and told me he would send in a document, he asked him if a contract was lodged with the league, I told him I have a contract in my possession that I spoke to the player about. I said I am not a lawyer so I can’t say if it was lodged or not. He knew all of this. If the team didn’t want to keep the young man and he wanted to play with them, of course that would have been a good deal as far as I am concerned.”
The Belize Postal Service has modernized its system and is catching up with delivery services like Amazon. Customers now have more control over their packages. They can see when their items are on their way from the post office and when it has been picked up by the receiver. There is also an option for all queries to be answered through an AI chatbot called “Edith”. It’s an update that has been long in the making. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Belize Postal Services has gone digital. Customers can now track their items and receive real-time updates and notifications on the status of their packages.
Employee
Employee, Belize Postal Service
“What will happen is when the item comes into the post office the item is given a barcode. The individual then comes to the app, where it is, then entered into, whereby the sender’s name, address and phone number which is very important. The phone number is very important. it is an imported into the system. Once that is completed, both the sender and the receiver are going to get a text with a link telling them exactly everything about their package cost the destination the expected time of arrival all that information is there.”
Your items will then be handed over to the drivers that are tasked with transporting these packages across the country. At every step of the process, the package is scanned to provide updates to customers on the status of their deliveries.
Employee
“So they know when the package leaves for example San Ignacio to Belize city. They brought the package at nine a.m. and at one p.m. that package is moving so they know the package left at one p.m.. by four o’clock in the afternoon the packages in Belize city they know that it is ready to be picked up so they have enough information so they can schedule when stopping at the post office because they now know when it is there.”
The Belize Postal Services is also able to deliver packages directly to the homes of their customers with the address provided at the office. Marsha Price, the Postmaster General, says the digitization of their services has been long in the making. She explained that the delay in rolling out the upgrades was due to a lack of the necessary financial resources.
Marsha Price
Marsha Price, Postmaster General, Belize Postal Service
“It allows us to provide what the customers were asking for. People have been asking to see where their packages are, so that allows us to at least bridge some gap in this digital divide, like I mentioned earlier. Financing was the aspect and now we have the support of our ministry that is allowing us or financing us to have these sort of applications that the customers have been requesting for years so that is something that is though it is now available now all our process have been manual so this is one of them we can track internationally but nothing domestically so this helps out customers and it will pull more customers so it is something that we so desire.”
Price says the Belize Postal Services anticipates an increase in its revenue with the new level of visibility it is providing to customers.
Marsha Price
“We have the most affordable prices and er provide same day delivery, so we are doing more for our customers, we provide that culture of excellence, giving our customers the best end-to-end experience. So, affordable pricing, being able to track your packages.”
Xeina Schnarr, the Postal Supervisor at the post office’s express department, explained that customers will no longer be required to spend time in long lines at the post office during drop-offs.
Xeina Schnarr
Xeina Schnarr, Postal Supervisor, Belize Postal Service
“Let’s say you have twenty packages and stand in a line and wait for a receipt you can just drop off those packages because now with this system you will automatically get a text as the sender and the receiver will also receive a message and with real time tracking telling you that you posted it in Belize City and let’s say you are sending it to San Pedro. You will get a message saying that you posted it the time we process it and the time it leaves office when San Pedro receives it and when it is ready for delivery or pickup.”
Paul Lopez
“What information do they have to provide when they drop off the package?”
Xeina Schnarr
“Just like as you address a regular letter the sender’s information which includes the name and address whatever district and the phone number it is the same thing for the receiver’s information it is the same thing just like how you address aregular letter.”
The Belize Gospel Expo is back in town for 2024. The annual two-day event is held in Roaring Creek, to foster a safe environment for wholesome socialization in the community. We spoke with founder Richard Smith, who told us what the event entailed. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Richard Smith
Richard Smith, Founder, Belize Gospel Expo
“Gospel Expo is a multipurpose one. We were looking for opportunity to do something on the Agriculture and Trade Show Ground. To change the culture and the atmosphere that was going on there to Gasper Expo have been served as a means for you local artists to have a perf year where they could perform and showcase their talents and gifting Gasper Expo have also been a place where churches from our district can come together and to have a General day of just praising God in a clean, healthy atmosphere.”
The concert will be held on Saturday and will be followed by a United Church service on Sunday. This year, three international artists will be featured in the event, Pregoneros del Reino, and Jason Mighty from Guatemala, Lionell Taepe from Jamaica, as well as local Belizean Band, Principes Del Rey.
Lionell Taepe
Lionell Taepe, Performer
“So last year for Gospel Expo, we were introduced Mister Richard’s by another artist. He was a guest artist last year, Emron Henry. And so that was our first event when we came last year. I was so blessed. It was my first time in Belize. So I experienced the culture, the fry Jack and all of that. And we were treated well. I mean, I had loved the young people being around them and you know, people that were crazy about worshiping God and everything. I love the vision. And so, you know, the team just fell in love with sir Richard and his family and everything. So we were at their disposal. They invited us later on in the year and we’re here this year again.”
The event kicks off on March sixteenth at ten a.m. with a softball game and will be followed by several workshops in the afternoon for aspiring artists and church leaders and a barbeque. The concert will begin at six p.m. and other performers such as dancers and actors will be featured as well. Smith is encouraging everyone to come learn and worship as a community. And although it is free of cost, donations are encouraged.
Richard Smith
“There’s some display of boots there is at one o’clock. Behind the scene with the artists where we’re encouraging Belizean artists to come and ask some questions. These guys will be sharing their story. What bring them from ground zero to where they are and what are some of the pros and can in being a career musician because our Belizean just do it as a side piece. But it could be a career if you, if your heart is in the right place. And so there’s going to be a workshop for that. There’s going to be a workshop for pastors and leaders, along with a barbecue.”
The event seeks to bring the community together for wholesome socializing and inspire young people to get involved in their church and community.
Lionell Taepe
“I love any activity that is going to be blessing young people. And what I saw last year was a plethora of young people just filling the groans, that were excited about what was going on, looking for something to do. And I saw the vision that mister Richard had, and I saw that it was taking place, and I wanted to be a part of something that is going good.”
A charity to save the Garifuna language, sponsor a track for the youth in Stann Creek and uplift commendable elders in the community have all been planned for the next ten days. The Yurumein project is hosting a concert, ball and walkathon all in the name of community. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke with the organizers of these events to learn all about it. Here’s that story.
Jeremy Cayetano
Jeremy Cayetano, Managing Director, Belize Yurumein Project
“The Yurumein project was formed in order for us to lift the Garifuna language. What we would like to see is for the Garifuna language to become prevalent in all Garifuna communities again. And so we do things like teaching Garifuna. We encourage speaking of the language within and among ourselves. And it’s something that we’re really pushing this year. As a matter of fact, we’re launching a campaign to get folks to practice to speak and so that we could we could lift our language. That’s the main thrust of the year.”
Britney Gordon, Reporting
International Director of the Belize Yurumein Project, James Cordes hails from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He explained the significance of the Garifuna language to his country and why he wishes to help preserve it.
James Cordes
James Cordes, International Director, Yurumein project
“This project is important to me because first thing we have a Garifuna components here. Our people’s exile. You might have heard it many times. 1797 there was exiled to British Andrews wrote on. And so that’s half of our family. Over two thousand persons made it here. And so I’ve always known that I have brothers and sisters here. And when we excel in track and feel in terms of bringing Saint Vincent on the forefront of track and field, I felt like we shouldn’t leave Belize behind. So we came in search of young stars with talent, and then we’ve exposed them to the Penn Relays as well from 2018 to now.”
Cayetano explained that several events will be hosted over the next ten days.
Jeremy Cayetano
“Our first concert symposium is going to be at the Civic Center on Tuesday the 19th of March, and then we’ll be at Stann Creek Ecumenical College on Wednesday the twenty-eighth, Independence High School Thursday the twenty-first, and Toledo Community College on Friday. We also have our run for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which is another fundraiser on Saturday morning in Dangriga, starting at the Ecumenical College. And then on Sunday night, we have our ball. Our ball, for the first hour of our ball, we’ll be honoring ten elders from the Dangriga community. That is something that we do that we do every year and then following that we have a ceremony and then we have the Melisizwe brothers will perform”
Special guest performers are the Melisizwe brothers, Seth, Marc, and Zacaray, who earned the title of most talented family in America a few years back. Their parents are also from Saint Vincent and inspired a desire to contribute to the preservation of the language in them.
Marc Melisizwe
Marc Melisizwe
“I’m most looking forward to, you know, interacting with, you know, the youth of Belize and just coming to do the symposium most importantly. And also get to interact with our culture, which is the Garifuna culture, which is here in Belize because our parents are, our parents are actually from Saint Vincent and the Garifuna culture. And Saint Vincent is related. The Garifuna are actually originally from Saint Vincent. So, being here again, getting to interact with the culture and the language again, is really a treat for me.”
Cordes is a primary sponsor of the Penn Relay Program in Belize and noted a need for a track and field facility in Stann Creek.
James Cordes
“We have guys like Usain Bolt, all these guys attended it. Right now we have a female from St. Vincent, her name is Shafiqa Maloney, who came to my program as well since she was 13 years old. She is now the fastest, the second fastest, second, second. She’ll be the fastest soon. She’s the second fastest female in the 800 meter track category. And we also have a young man handle robe and he holds the, the records all time, 800 meter high school record at the Penn release. So this program actually bring children to their perfection when it comes to track and field. And it also provide them with a path, an educational path. We’re using sports as an academic and an economic vehicle. And so we have a number of students, over 15 students since 2011, that has graduated with either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. And we have seven students currently in college in the United States through the program.”
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been highlighting schools nationwide that exemplify the ethos of the Ministry of Education’s More Campaign. This week took us on a trip to Belize River Valley, where King’s College has captured our attention. We discovered a testament to creativity and innovation. Students set out to demonstrate a solution that the world has been discussing, a doomsday event. An out-of-this-world alternative where civilization can exist. Is Mars habitable? Would we be able to produce food on this planet? These are just some of the questions for which we are still gathering scientific evidence to support the future likelihood of life beyond Earth. It takes in-depth research, and we never expected to get some answers from a class of students at King’s College. Illustrating their ingenuity and forward-thinking mindset, lets just say… their presentation was “out of this world’. Sabreena Daly tells us more.
Voice of: Martian King
Voice of: Martian King, Student Narrator “In the not so distant future, humanity had set its sights on the ultimate frontier– Mars. As Earth’s resources dwindled and the need for a backup plan became more urgent, a remarkable plan was set in motion to make the red planet habitable.”
Amid global discussions on the fate of our planet, there emerges a visionary solution—an otherworldly alternative where humanity could potentially thrive: Mars. Is Mars truly habitable? Can we sustainably produce food on its surface? These are just a few inquiries driving our quest for scientific understanding, as we explore the prospect of life beyond Earth. Such endeavors demand extensive research, yet unexpectedly, enlightening insights have emerged from an unlikely source, a group of students at King’s College.
Gwendolin Correa
Gwendolin Correa, Teacher, King’s College “Basically, the prompt was, how would we grow food on Mars? How can we make that a reality? And some research they did do, and it was very extensive because they had to learn about the food, food products, the energy source that they were going to do. How are they going to construct their greenhouse? In the end, they decided to do a film, a film to really engage other students and I would say viewers, because they didn’t want to do a regular PowerPoint presentation. They really wanted to make something entertaining, and this is where the film was born.”
This initiative stemmed from Pathlight International. Recognizing it as a valuable opportunity for exposure, Pedro Reyes, principal of King’s College, enthusiastically encouraged the students to take on the challenge.
Pedro Reyes
Pedro Reyes, Principal, King’s College “I introduced it to the teachers and asked, can we do this? They said definitely, let’s give it a try. It would be a wonderful experience and exposure for our students to learn. So, the teachers pulled a team of students, and the process of the project was really time consuming. Dedication, you know, the students spent a lot of time putting effort and interest into this project.”
Their sci-fi short film vividly portrays the futuristic tale of a scientist awakening from a comatose state in outer space. Upon regaining consciousness, he is greeted by his colleagues who share the many advancements made during his prolonged unconsciousness. The most profound revelation, they are now inhabitants of Mars. Ediel Reyes told us more.
Ediel Reyes
Ediel Reyes, Student, King’s College “It all came to the research. Each one of us had a certain part on my part about the structure of the greenhouse. You know, um, Making it good so that no, um, any contaminated oxygen or thing could affect us. And there were other parts that we’re talking about like. We talked about how long it would take to reach from Earth to Mars.That was basically a lot of information. Every evening we had to research a lot.”
Ithiel Reyes awakens from deep unconsciousness and learns of the developments.
Ithiel Reyes
Ithiel Reyes, Student, King’s College
“I was having a hard time understanding what my colleagues were talking about. Um, this information, the technology and all this stuff there, once you’re waking up from a coma, you’re lost, right? And you don’t have, um, understanding your loss, and it was a very hard time. Processing all of this.”
Johana Pineda
Johana Pineda, Student, King’s College “So my role comes after the doctor. The doctor takes the coma boy to me and my role is to show him where we have our vegetables, the lettuce, the corn and we also had crickets.”
Yet, the question persists: can humanity adapt to inhabiting a world so markedly different from Earth, as we know it? The glaring differences in environmental conditions raise doubts about the human body’s resilience to such extremes. Nevertheless, it appears that the students have discovered an alternative.
Hayyim Torres
Hayyim Torres, Teacher, King’s College
“The main film is just about a group of astronauts that went to Mars and they are going to be the first group to colonize Mars. They built an entire structure underground, not on the surface on Mars, but it is using lava tubes underground. With the research that we did, we actually found that there are gigantic lava tubes and all these structures, these greenhouses were built underground.”
Jenny Perez
Jenny Perez, Student, King’s College “I introduced the The nuclear energy source and how it is the main function and for what we will use it for, which will use it for the electricity and to use thewater from Mars to get water from there and also for oxygen.”
Abigail Pollard
Abigail Pollard, Student, King’s College “Well, my research is that Mars is kind of challenging to grow food on the planet because the soil is very toxic and it’s about 4 percent of the soil that is very toxic to humans. So basically we had to like put a greenhouse on the ground and Since the planet, it has a very thin atmosphere. So in the night, it gets really cold for plants.”
According to King’s College, they did not imagine that the final product would have turned out so well. The students took full advantage of tech support by teaming up with a video production agency. And after eight weeks of grueling research and practicing their lines, these young researchers turned actors, have a final product to be proud of. According to Gwendolin Correa, all they could want is that the students learn while working together.
Gwendolin Correa “I have to say I’m immensely proud of them and their work because they showed that they could apply several skills, not only the research skills, which is very important, but they were also able to collaborate with each other and communicate effectively. Because, you know, when communication doesn’t exist, then some Students might not be willing to do their part, but everyone in our group was able to have a week to be a leader. And all of them showed that theycould be leaders and they could lead.”
FAO’s launches innovative approach to prioritizing water management investments in Belize
The FAO Investment Centre today launched a study highlighting FAO’s new methodology to identify and prioritize investments in irrigation and drainage in Belize. The study outlines a practical framework for policymakers and private sector investors to address climate-related risks and bolster agriculture resilience through investments in water management.
Mohamed Manssouri, Director of the FAO Investment Centre, said; “It is vital that we boost strategic irrigation and drainage investments, with the goal to elevate agricultural productivity and support Belize’s smallholders to deal with climate challenges.”
‘Priority areas for irrigation investments in Belize’shows how data-driven investments in water management – alongside improved data availability and strategic resource allocation – can reduce climate risks to Belize’s agriculture sector.
Urgent need to support farmers facing climate threats
Belize remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate-related risks. Threats of sea-level rise, intensified tropical storms, decreased precipitation, and rising temperatures, underscore the urgent need for investment to boost climate resilience.
In 2019 a severe drought devastated agricultural production and hampered economic growth, with Belizean farmers collectively losing as much as USD 38.5 million. The sugar industry was severely impacted, necessitating government intervention to provide financial aid for affected producers.
Climate-induced shocks have not only jeopardized food security and damaged infrastructure, but also triggered widespread economic repercussions – including increased transportation and food prices.
Identifying investment priorities
Recognizing the urgency, the Government of Belize is prioritizing water management – as demonstrated in the National Agriculture and Food Policy (NAFP) 2015–2030 and the National Climate Resilience Investment Plan.
To support these goals, FAO’s innovative approach aims to guide policymakers and private sector investors in identifying investment priorities within water management infrastructure.
Roble Sabrie, Economist, FAO Investment Centre and lead author of the study, said; “We sought to develop an evidence-based decision-making system that is practical and tailored to improving national and local planning, and supporting efficient resource allocation. To prioritize projects effectively, we considered technical, financial, economic, social, and environmental aspects – ensuring the approach is both comprehensive and practical.”
FAO employed a dynamic mix of on-the-ground data and advanced tools like EarthMap and Google Engine to map out Belize’s irrigation and drainage needs. This proposed approach combines diverse data sources, including temperature, precipitation, water deficit, and land use. It considers climate trends, assesses impacts, and estimates required investments for sustainable water access, focusing on priority watersheds.
Luis Loyola, Senior Irrigation and Drainage Specialist, World Bank – who was part of the FAO project team – said; “The methodology supports informed decisions and helps to identify priority areas for strategic irrigation and drainage investments – while factoring in climate change. We are aiming to enhance decision-making for more effective and responsive water infrastructure development.”
The initiative draws on learnings from FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) conducted in 2019-2021, and builds on the World Bank Infrastructure Prioritization Framework (IPF) to prioritize investments using climate, natural resources, and socioeconomic data.
It complements ongoing programs by the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) focused on enhancing climate change resilience in agriculture.
Next steps for forging water-tight investments
Despite these advances, there is a need for more comprehensive assessments on water availability and climate data in Belize – particularly for surface water and groundwater resources – to help ensure a resilient and adaptive agricultural future.
Strengthening collaboration with authorities and institutions for data-gathering and sharing is a crucial step toward enriching future analyses and enhancing the accuracy of assessments.
Yet, these innovative initiatives driving data-driven decision-making and investments from FAO and other partners mark significant strides towards building a more sustainable and resilient water sector in Belize.
In celebration of women’s accomplishments and historical contributions, Cognella presented a special title catalog for Women’s History Month. The featured titles, which span the disciplines, underscore the struggles and successes of women throughout history. Cognella’s spotlight title is Marie Sharp: Made in Belize (The Authorized Biography). Written by Deborah Wagnon, the book tells the story of an extraordinary woman from Belize who overcame societal barriers, as well as personal and professional setbacks, to build a hugely successful worldwide business, Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods, Ltd.
As a business led and owned by women, Marie Sharp’s farm currently has over 125 full-time employees, with 85% of the workforce being women. At 84-years-old, Marie takes pride in being recognized as the “Queen of Habanero” throughout Belize and in kitchens globally. To purchase Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods, Ltd.
In a press release, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) is telling Prime Minister John Briceño to “stay pan track.” The BSCFA says that it is appalled by statements made recently by PM Briceño in the media regarding a court judgement.
On February 29, 2024, High Court Judge Rajiv Gooretilleke delivered a judgement on a claim filed by BSCFA and Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Associations (CSCPA) against the Attorney General of Belize, the Minister of Agriculture, the Sugar Industry Control Board, and the Controller of Supplies. Within their claim, BSI/CSCPA sought court orders to declare nine regulations unconstitutional, with the judge ultimately deeming five of these regulations null and void.
Representing BSI, Godfrey Smith, Senior Counsel, questioned the purpose behind these regulations, suggesting they unfairly targeted BSI. However, BSCFA says that the reality of the situation lies in decades of strained relations between BSI and cane farmers. BSCFA says that Smith’s assertions are misleading.
BSCFA Oscar Alonzo holding a “PM do not abandon the cane farmers” sign during a protest in December 2023.
BSFCA says, “Equally appalling are the statements of the Prime Minister regarding the Commission of Inquiry (COI)…The Prime Minister states that he heads the COI, that he is the one who has responsibility for the COI, and that it is his responsibility to ensure that there are proper consultations by everyone. Yet he unfairly blames Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, for not properly consulting all stakeholders on the COI. The Prime Minister conveniently disregards the fact that the record shows that both BSI and all associations were invited to be a part of the consultation process, but only two associations…”
The release ends by stating, “The BSCFA calls on the Prime Minister to “STAY PAN TRACK” and to appeal the judgement on the regulations and to establish the Commission of Inquiry forthwith, or shall the BSCFA have to remind him where is “THE TRACK”.
In a statement responding to the withdrawal of the Orange Walk Running Rebels, the Belize Elite Basket Ball League said, “All records pertaining to the Rebel’s aborted participation will be expunged, including points won and lost.”
The OW Running Rebels announced its withdrawal on Thursday, saying that the “tournament as it has become excruciating operating, organising, and competing under the present structure and leadership.”
BEBL said, “The Rebels have failed to respond to several attempts to work through these matters, choosing instead to take their petition to social media, which is a clear violation of the league’s policy.”
“This week’s scheduled game between the Belize City Defenders and the Rebels is cancelled, but the rest of our weekend schedule is on track on Saturday night in Dangriga and Belize City. The schedule for the remainder of the 2024 season is being redone to account for the withdrawal of the Orange Walk team and will be published as soon as possible.”
Jared Ranguy pleaded guilty a short while ago to triple murder. Justice Nigel Pilgrim has reserved sentencing until after mitigation pleas are submitted. Ranguy pleaded guilty to the murders of his mother, sister, and stepfather in Ladyville in November of 2012. In court, the relatives of the deceased persons sobbed as Ranguy admitted that he killed the victims without provocation.
His guilty plea came after having gotten a sentence indication, meaning that he decided to plead guilty without going to a trial. News Five will have the full details, including an interview with the family, in our newscast live at 6.
