Last night, we told you that A.S.R./B.S.I. denounced Prime Minister John Briceño’s decision to launch a Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry. It was gazetted on March nineteenth, prompting a statement from the multinational company. The miller contends that the decision is politically motivated and erodes B.S.I.’s investor confidence. Today, members of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association’s executive team were present for day two of the budget debate inside the National Assembly. They were there to support Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture and a member of the B.S.C.F.A. Alfredo Ortega, the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Management commented on B.S.I.’s position.
Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, BSCFA
“Like in any case it is a pity they behave in that way because in all, before they had said that they want to put two commissioners on which they had named them, from Brazil two join the other three persons from Marishous. So they were on board long before this thing with the commission of inquiry. It is nothing new, so it is a pity to hear from them now on this date that they will be coming out and say they will not support the commission of inquiry. I think that the prime minister has to take better steps and better decision in regards to this commission of inquiry, because as you can recall, the prime minister and the minister of agriculture have mentioned many times that once the commission of inquiry brings out their information that information will be used by the cane farmers, not only the BSCFA but the other associations to get better commercial agreements and also it will assist the Government of Belize to produce a modernized sugar industry. So to us the BSCFA is not a surprise, but we believe that Belize should not admit that multinationals comes and place in our throats or in our mouths what they want things to happen in their way. Belize is a nation of laws and rules and rules must prevail. If, look, I will use this example, whenever a Belizean opens a small business and GST gets to know there is a business, they come directly to the business and investigate so that person can pay their GST. So if they do that to small Belizean people, why shouldn’t they do that to the multinationals?”
In its release, A.S.R./B.S.I. noted that it will have to reevaluate its options in Belize. Well, B.S.C.F.A. says if A.S.R. wants to leave Belize then let them leave. Ortega says, the industry will not collapse in the absence of A.S.R.
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“Of course yes, if we the BSCFA were prepared to buy the mill we had the money in hand ready to do so. It is a pity that the government at the time didn’t give us the opportunity to buy it over but rather they chose to give it to BSI. So if they want to go, let them leave. The industry will not die because they want to leave. There are other investors that want to come into the country. But because the design of the Sugar Industry Act, many of them that come just go away because as it is in the monopoly of BSI/ASR. SO we are not afraid if they want to pack and go because we know that will never happen. They are just trying to threaten us and the government so that we fall at their knees and do as they please.”
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister told reporters that he does not listen to B.S.C.F.A. press conference. As you may be aware, the association holds a number of press conferences to ventilate its concerns to the public. They also use the opportunity to get across direct messages to political leaders like PM Briceño. The association did just that on Tuesday. We asked Ortega for his response to the PM’s remarks.
Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“The prime minister well knew before he was elected how the sugar industry was. He was the one who said that once he is elected he would work for the betterment of the sugar industry, that the industry would be one of his priority that he would be creating the marketing committee in the first one hundred days of government. That has not happened as yet. So, we do believe that as the prime minister of this country to look over the sugar industry and to see that the industry has the necessary tools for it to be viable.”
Reporter
“Who is not listening to your press conferences is the prime minister. He said so yesterday, what is your response to that?”
Alfredo Ortega
“Well it is a pity that now that he is elected to give that type of response. I think that as the leader of the country he has a moral responsibility to the sugar industry.”
During his contributions to the budget debate, Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, confirmed that he and Prime Minister John Briceño have a difference in opinion over the commission of inquiry into the sugar industry. Mai noted that the commission of inquiry has been gazetted and as a result is now law. He further stated that while there is resistance, he believes this is what is best for the industry.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“The recent protest was handled well. It would have been under the UDP the security forces would have been led by some rough neck UDP, man handle the cane farmers, they would have roughed them up, have their guns raised and let us remember who shot to death Anastacio Guiterrez of Asan Victor, Prime Minister Barrow refused to meet with cane farmers to address the matter. This is unlike our PM who cl4early we do have difference of opinion, but nevertheless have taken his time to meet with both sides and I am hopeful we will put this sugarcane matter to rest. And while there were some delays with the signing of the commission of inquiry, it has been signed and it is law. We do expect resistance but again I am convinced we all want the best for this industry.”
An immigration officer was taken into police custody earlier today, following an allegation made against him by a Jamaican national at the Philip Goldson International Airport. It is alleged that the unnamed officer may have been involved in the theft of several thousand U.S. dollars from the traveler this morning. This afternoon, News Five contacted Chief Executive Officer Tanya Santos, of the Ministry of Immigration, who confirmed that contrary to a report that was published on social media earlier, only one officer has been detained for questioning.
In his contributions to the budget debate, Kareem Musa, the Minister of Home Affairs, reflected on last week’s spate of murders across the country. In the same vein, he noted that the number of murders per year has significantly decreased under the People’s United Party. Crime is one of the issues that the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, used to criticize the Briceño administration during his budget presentation. Well, Minister Musa says Barrow cannot dance behind the statistics.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“I once again take the opportunity to share my thoughts, prayers and condolences with those who lost their loved ones last week. And while yes last week was an extremely painful one for Belizeans, the leader of the opposition, try as he may simply cannot escape the numbers. The raw black and white statistics dictates that crime is exponentially worst when the United Democratic Party is in power. When they left office in 2020 the average number of murders was around one hundred and thirty per year. As of December thirty first 2023, the number of murders in Belize decreased to eighty seven compared to one hundred and thirteen in 2022. We have moved from the sixth most dangerous country in Latin America in 2020 under the UDP, down to eleven in 2022 and in 2023 I am pleased to report we have gone further down that list to fourteen. So try as he may but the leader cannot dance behind the statistics as he said yesterday.”
Less than a week after having taken office, Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner has issued portfolios to the ten councillors. Wagner is taking on Finance, Budgeting, Human Resources, Staff Development and Training, Public Relations, Special Events, and Anti-Corruption. Deputy Mayor Allan Pollard Junior has been given Works and Infrastructure, Urban Development, and Labor Relations. Councillor Kaya Cattouse is dealing with Sanitation and Maintenance, Women and Children, Special Needs and Diverse Abilities Initiatives, and After School Programs. Councillor Malcolm Nunez got Youth, Sports and Wellness; Councillor Evan Thompson will take on Market Management and Community Engagement. Councillor Eluide Miller will tackle Traffic Management, Management Information Systems, E-Governance, Local Economic, Development, Trade and Investment, and Small and New Business. Councillor Stephanne Hamilton has Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Foreign Affairs and Sister City Relations; Councillor Dorian Usher will deal with Cemetery and Public Health; Councillor Edmund Kwan will deal with Municipal Court matters, Enforcement, and Internal Security. Councillor Javier Castellanos will be responsible for CEMO/Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change, Zoning and Planning, and the Building Unit; and Councillor Sherwin Garcia will look after Parks and Playgrounds, and Beautification. These duties and responsibilities will be held for the next three years, or until the mayor decides to reshuffle the council.
The Government of Belize has allocated five million dollars to construct low-income homes for Belizean families. During its campaign leading up to the 2020 general elections, the Briceño administration committed to building ten thousand homes. Three years into their term and just over two hundred homes have been constructed and handed over. That is a far cry from ten thousand homes. And, with five million dollars earmarked this year, Julius Espat, the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, says five million dollars for housing from a one point five-billion-dollar budget is unacceptable.
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure & Housing
“I believe and I am so happy that the member from Queen Square believes that we have not. Ih wah hurt mih heart fih say it, but I agree with the member from Mesop that we wanted more budget for housing. Ah the tell yo, because I have to not because I want. We should lobby the Ministry of Finance that we receive more funds to be able to help the people get shelters over their heads. If we don’t do that the haves will be happy that they believe the have-nots should get. They lobby, mek deh guh dah the bank. Just don’t say it when I am around, because when I am around I will tell them, but how will they go to the bank to get money? They don’t have no jobs, they are single mothers, deh the struggle, they don’t have an opportunity in life, some of them are disabled. You are setting them up to fail. You know they come with their briefcase and say you can go to the bank. You can go to the bank, but the people we help cannot go to the bank. So it is our job and many members here believe in it. I am the only one that voices it often; we need more budget for the housing.”
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.”
Owning and operating a successful business is, perhaps, at the top of the list of achievements for Belizean entrepreneurs. Naybaz, a Bowen and Bowen Holdings Limited company, is making this a reality for entrepreneurs across the country. To date, the company has entered into partnerships with more than fifty Belizeans that are passionate about managing their own convenience store. These partners are equipped with all the necessary resources and skills to operate a successful company. They are then released into their communities to do just that. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the business model and how it is empowering individuals and communities. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Naybaz Stores have been popping up across the country over the last few years, leaving many to wonder who owns this franchise and how are their numbers increasing so rapidly. Naybaz is a subsidiary of Bowen and Bowen Holdings Limited. Fifty-two stores are currently in operation. Jason Solis is the Director of Retail Stores at Naybaz.
Jason Solis
Jason Solis, Director of Retail Stores, Naybaz
“The idea is rooted in our mission as Bowen and Bowen. Our mission is to build a stronger Belize and so Naybaz is a direct result of that mission whereby we get to support our Belizean entrepreneurs and in effect we also get to support our local communities across our country.”
Beatrice Flores is a Naybaz Partner. She manages a Naybaz Store on Chetumal Boulevard in Belize City. Flores and other Belizean entrepreneurs, like herself, are the backbone of Naybaz’s operation.
Beatrice Flores
Beatrice Flores, Naybaz Partner
“I started as a cashier for one of the partners up in Ladyville. Basically they gave me the opportunity to work with them as one of their partners. Me as a business person, I like being independent, so I took the opportunity from them.”
Jason Solis
“That is exactly what it is, it is a partnership between Bowen and Bowen and the Belizean entrepreneur, so that partnership is whereby we support our local entrepreneurs. We support them in terms of stock, we support them in terms of marketing, we support them in terms of sale support, inventory, capital support, skill training, IT support.”
Flores is a mother of two. She has been a Naybaz partner for the last two years. She operates her location as an independent entity and receives the majority share of the profits derived from the store’s revenue, according to Solis. Flores started working in retail as a cashier at a supermarket.
Beatrice Flores
“They helped me learning managing, advertise more the business, how to communicate with customers, give a warm feeling to every customer that comes into the store. Honestly it is great. Like I said, they give you an opportunity to flourish, to grow and you feel more positive, the positive energy about yourself that you can actually do something in life, that you can actually manage a sytore on your own without doubting yourself.”
Each of the fifty two stores in operation is managed by entrepreneurs like Flores. Bowen and Bowen is the primary investor in Naybaz Stores, but the products on the shelves are not confined to what they produce.
Jason Solis
“We have seen house wives go from sitting at home to run a Naybaz up from their home. I think that is powerful. We have seen villages like Georgeville, popular individuals get a Naybaz store, they know everybody in the neighborhood, in the village and the profit they get they are able to help out kids in the villages. We are not here to compete against the current retail market that exist. What we are doing is we are looking for where there is opportunity for a convenient shopping experience, where there is opportunity for comfortable shopping experience. We make that analysis and decided whether we feel like a store would be good in this area or not. Our Naybaz partners purchase Bowen products at the same prices. They do not get any preferential price or treatment and Naybaz stores also sells non-Bowen and Bowen products because we have to cater to our communities and the demand.”
Beatrice Flores
“It does give me much pride and my sons look at me and say my mommy can dothis, because I have two sons and I really feel proud.”
Paul Lopez
“How old are your sons?”
Beatrice Flores
“One of them is eight and the next one is seven.”
Paul Lopez
“And they see mommy as a full time business owner.”
