Today, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organization, APAMO, gathered its members and partner organizations to participate in a biodiversity conference with the goal of moving away from just discussing threats to the environment and towards taking actions to implement solutions. Partnering with APAMO was the British High Commission and the B.T.B., to fund the initiatives that will come out of today’s events. We spoke with the Executive Director of APAMO, Jose Perez, for more information.
Jose Perez
Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO
“Today we’re focusing on what we call the five drivers, Biodiversity loss which are pollution over expectation climate change, invasive species, and the use of land and sea the changes. Today we brought together non-government entities academia, University of Belize is here also the private sector, the Belize Chamber of Commerce is here, because we want to move, beyond the discussion to more action the National Biodiversity Office, which is government firstly presented the national policy of framework when it comes to biodiversity preservation and conservation. And so we need to look at that, look at the actions and the gaps that need to be filled. Today we brought together non government entities academia, University of Belize is here also the private sector, the Belize Chamber of Commerce is here, because we want to move, beyond the discussion to more action the National Biodiversity Office, which is government firstly presented the national policy of framework when it comes to biodiversity preservation and conservation. And so we need to look at that, look at the actions and the gaps that need to be filled. But very importantly, today we want everybody to be on the same page to understand what is biodiversity. And what do we lose when we have constant devastation, when we have the constant impact of climate change, which are already seen on the natural resources on the whole. And we want to reflect or we want them to reflect on, as our own organization, what can we do to mitigate the impacts of these five drivers. And so that’s it, that’s the conversation we want to have. And by the end of the day, we’re hoping that Identify some concrete actions moving forward to address this major issue.”
Today, thousands across the world wore mismatched socks in honor of World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. The day is meant to highlight people who have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome and bring awareness to the challenges they must overcome, as well as their achievements. Tonight, we highlight eleven-year-old Zayne Craig, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth and worked along with his former teacher to create a storybook all about himself. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.
Zayne Craig
Zayne Craig, Standard Three Student, B.E.S.
“Hi, I am Zayne. I am ten years old. My mom says that I am a big boy. I am a special boy. Are you a special boy or are you a girl? Hi, I am Zayne and I am a special boy. My favorite color is blue. Blue for boy. Do you like blue or do you like purple?”
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Like many others across the world, life for eleven-year-old Zayne Craig looks a little different from the average person’s experience. Currently, Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder with roughly six million people diagnosed worldwide. Today, in honor of those six million people, the world celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Day and as part of the celebrations, many donned mismatched socks. Zayne’s mother, Marisela Craig, explained the meaning behind the socks.
Marisela Heredia Craig
Marisela Heredia Craig, Zayne’s mother
“Today is March twenty-first. Every year, March twenty-first, they celebrate World Down Syndrome Day because forty-six chromosomes. Children like Zane or adults like Zane, have an extra chromosome of the twenty-first century. So they have a triplicate of that, hence March twenty-first. And so, the reason why they choose socks is because the socks looks just like chromosomes. And so, the crazy socks is to show support acceptance and advocacy for down syndrome.”
Craig said It is important to create awareness, advocacy, acceptance, and inclusions in communities to show that even though children like Zayne may be a little bit different, they are and still able to participate and socialize in the community. She said that there are several interests Zayne enjoys and excels in.
Marisela Heredia Craig
“Zayne is very witty. He has an unusual sense of humor. He brings a lot of laughter to our house, a lot of laughter, I believe, to the classroom as well. Two, he loves everything blue. His whole world is blue. Zayne, is interested in animals. Any animal you probably name, he knows something about that animal. He recently started with karate, doing well there. He loves riding his bike. playing football. Just about everything else. He loves doing puzzles he can. You can show down four different puzzles mixed up together and being well separate them and says, not Peppa Pig, not Paw Patrol and he can separate them out and like that. So he, really loves the challenge of a puzzle as well too.”
According to Zayne, his favorite color is blue, which is why when creating a book all about Zayne, his former teacher, decided to make the book blue.
Amber Tillett-Lopez
Amber Tillett-Lopez, Zayne’s former teacher
“So, creating the book with Zayne was pretty easy, I would say, because I spent a lot of time interacting with him in the classroom. And I decided to do it in a first-person perspective because I wanted the readers to kind of hear his voice whenever they are reading it to have a little peek into what his world looks like because our world is one thing and Zayne’s world is blue. Zayne’s world is filled with animals and dinosaurs, and I think it’s very important for us to be aware that even though Zayne might not look exactly like other people or other students.”
Craig further explained that navigating life with Down Syndrome and being a mother supporting her child through the process, is difficult at times. But she and her family try to look for the positives in every situation and champion moments of accessibility and support for Zayne rather than the negative comments or isolation they may face on occasion. One aspect of Zayne’s life that Craig has found success in adapting, is his school schedule.
Marisela Heredia Craig
“I will not tell you that I was open up from early on to the accommodations and the modifications for him because I fell in that rabbit hole just like every other parent and wanting him to do what everybody else was doing. So first I had to accept that. When I accepted that, then it became much easier. So Zane does not come from 8 to 3 like everybody else. His program is modified. I had an aid last year because it helped. Initially it helped with him sitting down and doing the work and actually writing for him, but now he’s more involved. He’s writing his own notes now. Zane is making presentations in class now. He’s engaging with the students more and the students are engaging with him more. So, everything now is falling into place for me.”
As part of his accommodations, Zayne works with classroom aid, Irma Skeen, who says that working with Zayne has been a wonderful experience because she learns from Zayne just as much as he learns for her.
Irma Skeen
Irma Skeen, Zayne’s Aid Assistant
“Well, with Zayne, he can read and he does a lot. He has his own method of doing things. And not only that I am learning with him, but he teaches me as well. So, it is very wonderful to work with him. And, working with a, with somebody like him, it is awesome because, as his mom and the teacher says, that he has his own idea and his own things. And, as a mom and a grandparent also, I learn from him. So, working with someone very special like him gives me that pleasure, and he has changed a lot in my life also, so. It’s wonderful, right?”
Zayne showed off his book to us, explaining that it was filled with all his favorite things, which included his family, who are his greatest support system.
Britney Gordon
“What’s that that you’re holding?”
Zayne Craig
“My book. It’s all about me.”
Britney Gordon
“It’s all about you? Can you show me some pictures?”
Zayne Craig
“Yup, I’ll show you some pictures.”
Britney Gordon
“So, did you create this book with your teacher?”
Zayne Craig
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“Why did you want to create a book?”
Zayne Craig
“I get reading.”
Britney Gordon
“Do you like to read?”
Zayne Craig
“Yeah.”
Britney Gordon
“Okay, that’s great.”
Zayne Craig
“And this is my family. It’s me, my dad, my mommy, and my sister.”
On Wednesday, B.D.F. Commander Azariel Loria spoke briefly about the presence of an illegally built road inside the Chiquibul National Park. Earlier today, Friends of Conservation and Development issued a release in which it is presumed that the road is being used by Guatemalan ranchers to access water. This was determined by a flyover of the area last week. According to FCD, a similar road which stretches for a little over a mile was observed inside the Columbia River Forest Reserve in Toledo District. Of note is that the FCD does not have co-management jurisdiction in the Columbia River Forest Reserve, despite the fact that both protected areas are adjacent to each other. The release goes on to say that the nearest Guatemalan community is an area known as El Carrizal. Illegal timber extraction is known to take place in that area of the forest reserve for many years. It would seem, however, that the practice is better organized with wooden bridges being built to facilitate the movement of trucks carrying valuable timber, including rosewood. These illicit activities are reportedly close to the Machaquilha Conservation Post which is less than a mile from the Belize/Guatemala Adjacency Line.
The Forward Operating Base at the mouth of the Sarstoon River began to deteriorate soon after its construction in 2016. Eventually, the Belize Defence Force had to limit its occupancy to only daylight hours because its structural integrity had come into question due to erosion. But a reinforced structure was opened recently, and again, B.D.F. soldiers are there to keep Belize’s southernmost boundary intact. And Commander of the B.D.F., Brigadier General Azariel Loria told News Five that the refurbished facility offers a much more spacious and comfortable working environment for the soldiers.
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F
“Finally we have a better building, a better place for our soldiers to work in, with dignity. That’s how we envision that they must be treated, that their work. They are soldiers, we understand, but if we could create an environment so that they could live better, work better. The working conditions are a bit better. I believe that if that is possible, that we should give it to them. The building is completed. It has been refurbished and also as an attachment to that building is a kitchen that will be used as a little mini auditorium for visitors. If there are any visitors, it could be used as a briefing room or a briefing house.”
A Belize Defense Force soldier remains on the run after he was found to have been responsible for taking an M4 Commando rifle from Camp Belizario in Cayo last August. In that incident, several persons were confined at Price Barracks. The weapon was later recovered in Belize City and one soldier was found to be the culprit, but he has been on the run ever since the incident, as Brigadier General Azariel Loria told us.
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F
“That one we have recovered it. We recovered that weapon and we had the ruling. We’ve sent our recommendation to the Security Services Commission and they agreed. But the person right now, he’s on the run. He escaped.”
A forgetful Lance Corporal of the B.D.F. is spending a year behind bars for misplacing a high-powered weapon near the Xunantunich Maya temple. The officer was on duty at the Xunantunich Observation Post in Cayo last October and left his post to go to a friend’s house and when he returned, could not determine where he had left the M4 Commando rifle. The soldier was taken before an internal court of inquiry and was found to be culpable. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment at Price Barracks.
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F
“The person that left the weapon behind, he was sentenced to one yearimprisonment.”
Marion Ali
“So he’s serving his one year?”
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
“He’s serving his one year.”
Marion Ali
“He’s Belize Central Prison?”
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
“That is where we are trying to get a warrant for him to do so at Kolby.”
Kaya Cattouse and a team of five riders from LA Sweat are gearing up for the Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic scheduled for this weekend. The riders are hosting their team camp in Belize City ahead of the big race. Part of their team camp is a ride along with young riders from across the country. That was held just before news time. Riders gathered in front the Marion Jones Sporting Complex and journeyed to Ladyville. We heard from Cattouse and one of her teammates.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, LA Sweat Rider
“As you guys know the Women’s Cross-Country Classic is coming up on Sunday. Team LA Sweat is here to compete, and we are also having a team camp this week and a part of our team camp is giving back to the community. That is what we do everywhere we go. That is no different in this team camp in Belize City. We are having a community ride engaging the Belize City youths and youths in cycling from across the country. We have some youths from Griga coming in. We have from Cayo, so that is what we are doing today. We would like to say a big thank you to our local sponsors, the Belize Tourism Board and Honorable Anthony Mahler, Kareem Musa, National Sports Council of Belize. WE also have Mayor Bernard Wagner and the Belize City Council as well as Loans to Go.”
Mia Scarlato
Mia Scarlato, LA Sweat Rider
“Oh my, the cycling community here is amazing. Everybody is so supportive and so kind and welcoming. It has been more than I could ever ask for. I am so grateful. I think just being able to ride with the kids and show them there are opportunities in cycling. I am a collegiate cyclist as well. I am on a scholarship to ride in college. There are so many opportunities, things to help you go forward in life beyond riding that are available to them. So, showing them those opportunities are there and they are more than capable of doing it is so important.”
Two days ago, we went to Thelma’s Kitchen on Caesar Ridge Road, but it wasn’t to do a story on her fabulous meals. Our visit was to inquire why there seemed to be a smoke issue that her next-door neighbour, Betty Bradley says is affecting her. Bradley said that the breeze blows the smoke from Thelma’s barbeque grill in the direction of her house at times and it has become a nuisance over the years. Thelma explained to us that she does all her cooking now on commercial stoves in her kitchen and the only days she uses the grill is on Thursdays to boil the plantains for her hudut and on Fridays to boil the pigtail for her boil-up sale. She told us that she has had disputes with her neighbour in the past and that she is convinced that the complaint was solely out of spite since the grill is all the way around the corner and is shielded by a wall. So today, the grill was again in use and News Five was called out again to hear another complaint from the neighbour. Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Two days ago, when Betty Bradley called us to complain about a smoke problem from her neighbour, Thelma Arana’s barbeque grill, the grill was not in use. But earlier today it was when Bradley called us to say that the problem remains the same for her: the smoke that the grill produces makes it difficult for her to breathe. The grill is located around the corner of the lane and behind a wall that prevents much of the smoke from drifting to the other yard. But Bradley said when the breeze picks up, the smoke goes right into her house, and she wants it to stop. Today, she called representatives from the Belize City Council to address the matter and they called the National Fire Service to respond.
Voice of: Betty Bradley
Voice of: Betty Bradley, Caesar Ridge Road resident
“They come yesterday and talk to the lady and everything, and the lady say, how ih wa close down the fire hearth and everything, right? But then, this morning, I get up eena peace from six o’clock, say I wa get up and do my lee washing and thing, and when I di wash everything, I see big smoke. I called the City Council.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, and what happened?
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“And it seemed like city council send the fire department.”
Marion Ali
“The fire is still lit, so I think the fire department…”
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“Soh when the man them come out I asked ah “Sir, did you make the lady out the fire hearth? Ih say that da nuh fi dehn job fi out the fire hearth. So, weh you come do?”
Thelma Arana told us that she does not use pinewood and took us to show us the fire that she had lit. She explained that there’s little to no smoke that goes around the house to the neighbour’s yard, but that she has agreed to make whatever necessary adjustments to channel all the smoke through a chimney.
Thelma Arana
Thelma Arana, Owner, Thelma’s Kitchen
“Da nuh pinewood. I nuh use pinewood. We use the coconut husk and the shell. That da weh I use. But I wa end that soon because I need to build like a chimney, a long chimney.”
Marion Ali
“Okay. And will you have anybody come and inspect it to ensure that it’s approved?”
Thelma Arana
“As soon as I finish, I’ll make the fire department come and check it out and see if it’s okay.”
Marion Ali
“And the city council?”
Thelma Arana
“Whosoever come by, I’ll let them see if it’s alright.”
Thelma says that Friday will be the last day that she will use the grill to boil pigtails for her boil-up before making the adjustments because that will require an investment and time to get it done. Bradley says she can cope with one more day without the chimney.
Marion Ali
“How soon will that happen? Because the neighbor is saying that it’s really affecting her.”
Thelma Arana
“That’ll be maybe Monday. Monday. “
Marion Ali
“Okay. Come next week Thursday and Friday, as you have explained when you need to boil your stuff, that won’t be an issue anymore?”
Thelma Arana
“No, that will be no more. This is the last time. Tomorrow will be the last time.”
Marion Ali
“She’s saying she will only do it for one more day, which is tomorrow.
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“So I fi sacrifice me and mi life.”
Marion Ali
“She’s just asking for one more day.
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“I don’t have nothing with that, mammy. I don’t have nothing with that. This lady could buy ih things tomorrow. Ms Thelma, please, I nuh have nothing against you, Ms Thelma. Please, I’m begging you, all I want to do is to live, to breathe for me and my children them could live and breathe the same fresh air that you guys breathe in.”
Marion Ali
“So she says that by Monday, that problem will be solved.
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“So tomorrow wa be ih last day?”
Marion Ali
“Yes. Is that okay?”
Voice of: Betty Bradley
“It’s okay with me. See, I still di give ah that, Mammy cause me know everybody got to live, Miss.”
The two women, who admit they have had differences in the past, have both expressed that they want the bickering between them to stop. Marion Ali for News Five.
