2024-04-03 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize’s Heat Wave To Be Broken By Cold Front

On Tuesday, the National Meteorological Service issued a heat alert, warning the public that temperatures were expected to exceed ninety-seven degrees Fahrenheit. Since then, Belize has experienced extreme levels of heat, with some areas rising to one hundred-and three degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, temperatures are expected to fall as a cold front is predicted to pass over the country on Thursday. As conditions continue to change, the National Meteorological Service of Belize is advising all to remain mindful and vigilant of the weather. We spoke with the Chief Meteorologist, Ronald Gordon, for an update.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist
“We issued a heat alert starting yesterday. And it continues today. We issued those heat alerts whenever temperatures inland are expected to exceed ninety-seven degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, or what we observed yesterday was that temperatures varied from about ninety along coastal areas to the lower one hundreds inland. For example, in Central Farm, we recorded one hundred two degrees Fahrenheit, and the highest was in Chaa Creek, which was one hundred three degrees Fahrenheit. These are from our network of automatic weather stations. They are not quality checked as such as it is, so they are preliminary data, but certainly they give us an indication of how hot it was. And that is the reason why we issued those heat alerts. Actually, we are expecting a cold front to come over our area later tonight. And so we will see temperatures decrease a bit. I, therefore today’s actually the last day for this particular heat wave. Tomorrow should be a bit cooler. It’s not going to be cold. It’s not a cool front like in December, but certainly it’s going to be a relief from the extremely hot conditions that we are currently experiencing. One of the measures that we advise our residents to do, of course, is to remain hydrated, you drink a lot of water, fresh juices. Avoid going into the direct sunlight, if possible. I know that’s not possible for everyone, but if you can avoid it, try to avoid it as much as possible. If you’re able to get some sort of shading, try to take that. And of course, the clothes that you wear as well. Try to wear clothes that will be a bit cooler and that type of thing. And then we advise, of course, for persons to look out for each other, especially our elderly, vulnerable population, people with disability and young Children and even our pets. So certainly we need to be very caring of others at this time. Heat, exhaustion and heat stress is real. It can have devastating impact and it can be even fatal. So certainly we advise residents to take these precautions and take them seriously.”

Combating Climate Change Includes Adaptation

More intense heatwaves are one of the effects of climate change, and as Belize continues to bolster efforts towards climate resilience, extreme weather conditions worsen. Belize and other Small Island Developing States emit the least amount of carbon into the atmosphere but still experience the most impacts. Last year, the world observed one of the hottest days in recorded history, and according to the World Meteorological Organization, there is a high probability that this year will break the record. We spoke with Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon to hear what the trends are looking like moving forward.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist
“When you look at the longer-term climate trend, it is very clear that we are in an era where our temperatures are warming up. There is no denying that. So certainly, in the long term, we are seeing an increase in temperatures due to climate change. Climate change due to human induced climate change to be specific. However, there’s a thing called climate variability. So there will be exceptional years where it’s going to be extremely hot other than other years, you will have other years where the temperatures will dip a bit. So it’s the natural variables within the climate system. Last year in particular was extremely hot for two reasons. Of course, I mentioned we have human induced climate change, which is causing temperatures to increase, but on top of that, we’ve had a linear year, which means that conditions are actually hotter and warmer, and drier, in our area, so certainly those factors combined resulted in a very hot year last year, and what we are seeing right now, based on the current trend, is that we’re also heading for a very hot year I must mention that, on the short term, I’m talking about doing two things here. So on the short term, which is the water scale, we are going to see things changing a bit over the next few hours. Indeed looking at what we have done already to the climate system. It is very difficult to see that we can reverse the impacts. Certainly, we can alleviate and that what has that is what is being done, I believe, but the regional and the international level to try to mitigate the impacts now by reducing, of course, our carbon footprint. However, there are, there is already a lot of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and those take some time to actually come out of the atmosphere. They have a long life as such. Therefore, even if we cut emissions at this point. There will be some continuing heating and warming up of the atmosphere. So to answer your second point, I believe you mentioned that we need to adapt and that’s certainly one of the measures that we take in our region, because as most of us know. We are not a major emitter. So countries like ours, we are not the culprit, so to speak, of for what is occurring. So one of the things that we are encouraged to do is to adapt to the effects of climate change.”

Bullet Tree Residents Without Water Amidst Heat Wave

Residents of Bullet Tree Village in the Cayo District say they have been having water issues for quite some time. They say that they have no idea what to do as they have had limited to no access to potable water for over a month. One resident, Dale Holder, told News Five that the village might be facing this problem due to development and population expansion. He says that the village is supplied with water through a pump that is connected to a reserve. Holder says he has been without water for the past two weeks.

Dale Holder, Resident, Bullet Tree Village
“We’ve had water issues ever since I’ve moved here. That’s just normal. I found in Belize. And, you know, the whole area has water issues. But they have developed a new area here next to the village, the government has, and they expanded. So before they did the expansion, they put new system up on the hill, put new tanks and everything. And since they’re developing the other areas around here, the people here have lost some of the water supply. And I hear different things about they don’t have a pump big enough to pump now. And I tried to catch up with the local chairman. And I finally called, caught up with him later this afternoon, just around noon and he said he would meet with me. Because I’m trying to find out from him and secondhand, I’ve never been able to catch up on him and return my calls for some reason, but the new area, there’s quite a few people. I don’t know how many is over in that area now, five hundred to one thousand people. And the very first part of the new area is getting water from what I understand. And other than that, they aren’t getting any water. We lucked out the first night, must have been Saturday night. We got about fifty gallons of water. But I stayed up all night to get that and to haul it up. But, you know, we are getting some. There’s other people that aren’t getting any. We are getting some now. I’ve been able to pump up a few times to the storage tank. The other people in the village don’t have access to an additional pump or anything, and they don’t have no water. It’s dry right now, a lot of them collect water, and they have water for a haul, but the area person here does a lot of the hauling water. He’s broke solid, he couldn’t even get to me because I needed water and we were out. And so it’s becoming a problem for the local people that we can’t get water. Unless they can go to, you know, the river and get it themselves and bring it back.”

San Pedro Resident Left Desperate Amidst Land Dispute

A San Pedro man is claiming that he is being denied access to his land on the island. Fifty-eight-year-old Victor Gotay and his wife separated in 2020 but still live at the same address. He claims that he is being denied access to enter their shared business, Gotay Fruits Shop, or receive any profits from it. According to Gotay, the land is his, and all efforts to get authorities involved have failed. This is why he turned to the media to seek assistance.

Victor Gotay, San Pedro Resident
“My issue is I’m concerned about my piece of land in San Pedro. I have an issue with my ex wife. We have a problem with the front of the land. The business that the two of us own. But the thing is that she seemed like she want to be the one who I want to have more rights over the land than me. And that’s why I told her I tell her the problem is here. I own the land and the way she talked the way how she won, but the way I say always she want to Like she just want to kick me out of the place and not make me have no rights for the piece of place And got me that back and only she have rights over the business.”

Britney Gordon

“And are you two officially separated yet?”

Victor Gotay

“Well, I dih go through the process right now. It’s not really official like that, but then the problem is that this problem here, she continue doing things inside the place without my concern. And they make, nice in the place and so the last time I come for work, I hear a lot of nice and so I tell them where are the problem there and the first thing they got a police there, they mind the business, and the police tell me the boss lady come and tell, tell me to come out of my own place. I don’t have nothing against the police, he’s doing his job, but he don’t know where they going there. That’s why he didn’t ask me where I was going. He asked me where I was going and take me out of my place. That really made me upset. Because I said, I’m the one who built this place. How can someone just come and take me out and, you know, and tell me to just come out and come out of it?”

Britney Gordon

“So, are you still having any involvement in the business at all? Are you still receiving any income from that? No kind of income.”

Victor Gatoy

“I have nothing to do with it. That’s how they treat me. They tell nobody. And that’s the way it really concerned me too. And the next thing when she do, she want put maintenance for me. And make me maintain the kids. I don’t have nothing wrong with maintaining the kids. But how is she, the way I see it, if she want make me maintain the kids and she must have the business. So I don’t understand what she want try do with me.”

12,765 Amnesty Applications Still Under Review

Thousands of amnesty applications are still being reviewed. The government says that applications for twelve thousand, seven hundred and sixty-five migrants from thirty-two countries are still being vetted in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. The new expected date of completion is the end of September 2024. Stakeholders are reminded that the valid “white” Amnesty Program receipt is a legal document entitling migrants to remain and work in the country until a final decision is made on their application. The Amnesty Program is being implemented for the purposes of national security, managing migration, economic development, and humanitarian assistance.

Belizeans safe following 7.4 magnitude tremor in Taiwan

In a statement, the Belizean Embassy in Taiwan said it “responded immediately by liaising with Belizean students located in different regions in Taiwan, as well as universities where Belizean students are studying, to confirm that students are safe.”

The embassy said, “While some Belizeans are understandably shaken emotionally, there has been no report of material effects on Belizeans.”

In the statement, the embassy advises students to monitor the news and official disaster management agencies’ broadcasts, which will keep them informed on the areas of Taiwan confronting infrastructural and physical damages.

On X, Prime Minister John Briceño said, “Our thoughts are with the government, people and our friends of Taiwan. This morning a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred just offshore the east coast of the island nation, and felt in its capital city Taipei and many counties. The quake experienced was the strongest in 25 years.”

BDF Soldier Charged with Grievous Harm

Belize Defence Force soldier Lieutenant Clonal Omar Tzalam was read a single charge of grievous harm when he appeared in the Punta Gorda Magistrate court on Tuesday. The charge stems from a domestic dispute that occurred on March 29th, 2024. He pled not guilty and was offered bail.

Previously, Tzalam was recently charged internally for assault on a B.D.F. female. The Security Services Commission has yet to decide on Tzalam’s future in the B.D.F.

Taiwan Hit by 7.4 Magnitude Tremor

At least nine fatalities and over 900 injuries were reported following Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday. Amidst the chaos, 50 hotel employees remain unaccounted for as rescuers work tirelessly to bring trapped individuals to safety using ladders.

Dramatic footage aired on television depicted buildings leaning in the mountainous and thinly populated eastern region of Hualien, near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude quake.

Subsequent aftershocks reverberated across the island.

Fatalities primarily occurred in Hualien County, including three hikers in Taroko Gorge and a truck driver on the Suhua Highway, where rocks caused fatalities and extensive damage. Collapsed buildings, power outages affecting thousands of homes, and landslides on major highways further compound the aftermath.

Authorities have warned of potential aftershocks up to magnitude 7 throughout the week. Military personnel have been deployed for disaster relief, while schools and workplaces suspended operations.