2024-05-20 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize’s Sixteenth Annual Chocolate Fest

Over the weekend, residents and visitors partook in the annual celebration of the 2024 Chocolate Festival in Punta Gorda. This three-day event highlights the cacao bean, one of Toledo’s most important exports. During the festivities, chocolate lovers were able to purchase a variety of Belizean chocolate and cacao products, as well as other Belizean-made merchandise. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the event to capture the excitement. Here’s that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

If you were in Punta Gorda this weekend, then there is a high possibility you stopped by the 2024 Chocolate Fest. The festivities began on Friday, with an evening of wine, chocolate, and culture and ended on Sunday with the Cacao Cup football match. But it was Saturday’s activities that drew the crowd from across the country. The celebration of chocolate was filled with food, dance music, and of course, chocolate. Dennis Garbutt, Chairman of the Chocolate Festival, shared his excitement over the event.

Dennis Garbutt, Chairman, Chocolate Festival 0f Belize

“The Chocolate Fest, it’s here. We’ve been celebrating the Chocolate Festival for over 16 years now in Toledo and it’s literally Getting people to come and see Toledo. I represent the Belize Tourism Industry Association and our goal is to work along with the chocolatiers and the producers, the farmers, to make sure that we could turn it into some sort of an agro-tourism product. And it has been doing great. I remember when we just started some years ago, over sixteen years ago. When we started, for example, there was very limited chocolatiers. You could only find two or three chocolatiers across the country. Now you have well over ten chocolatiers producing fine quality chocolate for the rest of, for Belize and for the rest of the world. So this is not just a party. This is a way of life for a lot of people here in Toledo.”

As the name suggests, chocolate was the star of the show. A booth that was never without a line was that belonging to Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate. This family-owned business was started back in 2000 and has grown into one of the most popular local chocolate producers. On sale were a selection of bars, jams, and butter made from cacao, but what stood out among the variety of sweets were the bottles of cacao wine on sale.

Henry Cho, Chocolatier, Ixcacao Maya Chocolate Belize

“We produce a long list of chocolates, a total of flavors. We have dark and we only have a few selection of milk chocolates. Our primary focus is always going to be dark chocolate.”

Britney Gordon

“So this wine sounds very interesting. Can you walk me through that process of how you get wine from a cacao fruit?”

Henry Cho

“Well, the first process of making chocolate is fermentation and the outcome of fermentation would be the production of alcohols. So instead of fermenting for cacao to turn into chocolate, we decided to extract only the pulp so that we could convert it into a wine instead. And gradually it developed alcohols, and so we were able to bottle those up and to nickname it as our cacao wine.”

While Ixcacao were the only chocolatiers present at the event, there were several booths selling skin care products that were made using cacao. In celebration of the Chocolate Fest, Indira Andrewin of Coco Love, created a collection of products using chocolate.

Indira Andrewin, Owner, Coco Love

“For the cacao fest you made. Okay. For the cacao fest, I made a chocolate collection. So we have four products. We have a body cleanser, a body exfoliant, a body serum, and a body butter. So a lot of people, when they think of chocolate, they just think to eat and it just tastes good, but actually cacao has so much benefits. It has so much antioxidants and these antioxidants help the skin to be youthful and moisturized. So it definitely is beneficial to the skin.”

Andrewin explained that she had started her company while she was in high school and was celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year at the festival. We also spoke with Jessica Reyes, owner of Reyes Organic Beauty, who told us about her line of sustainable beauty products. She explained that she makes her own cacao by hand for her products.

Jessica Reyes, Owner, Reyes Organic Beauty

“So as I mentioned we do natural skincare products and pretty much we create natural soap bars and natural skin body butters All of them are based with cacao Pretty much is a pity that we do not produce cacao here as a butter. I had to purchase like a 10 pound bag of the cacao seed, mashed it, grinded, cooked it, and took out like about a hundred grams of it. But if we, we have so much cultivation here in Belize, it would be awesome if we can create those things here in Belize.”

Just a few booths down was another selection of cacao infused soaps. Dawn Dean, owner of Barranco Botanics, told us that she prides her products in being one hundred percent Belizean-made.

Dawn Dean, Owner, Barranco Botanics

“I make soap, natural soap. And what makes my soap unique is that it’s one hundred percent Belizean ingredients. The coconut oil that’s in my soap, because soap is oil, that’s what soap is made from, is all produced by ladies in their households from grated coconut, and they bring it to my factory and sell it to me, and then I use different local plants, like jackass bitters, cacao, green banana, madrida cacao, yellow ginger, honey. All of it one hundred percent Belizean.”

The event carried on until late into the night, after a day filled with cultural dances, music, and entertainment provided by Ozzy the Clown. The night ended with drinking competitions of Belize’s own Belikin chocolate stout. For anyone who wanted to taste this Belizean specialty, Belikin was there to provide a free sample of the beverage.

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Port Loyola FC is PLB Closing Season Champions

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Playoff season for the BEBL has officially kicked off. Number one seed, the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes are playing the number four seed, the Dangriga Dream Ballers in a three-game series. The first match of that series was played on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The Hurricane made a statement in game one.

In the first quarter, Victor Evans, guarded by Edgar Mitchell, makes some space and gets the jump shot in. On the other end, Kevon Laurie goes up big, draws the foul and makes the basket. Glency “Coope” Lopez comes up with the steal and makes good on the bucket. Here is some game time action from veteran Alex Carcamo, showing the youngsters how to get it done.

At the start of the second quarter, Hurricanes were up by only five points, a twenty-six to sixteen ball game. Deshawn Brackett coming into the paint hot does a pump fake mid-air and gets the ball in. Eyan Rene finds Lopez on the fast break. Things really started to go downhill for the Dream Ballers in the third quarter. The Hurricanes outscored them by nineteen points. Mitchell finds Kyron Molina at the three-point line, and he drills it over Carcamo. Kirk Smith Jr. goes up surrounded by four defenders. He is blocked but somehow manages to recover the ball. He gets it into the hands of Evans and the MVP did what he does best. Lopez again slithers his way through the Ballers’ defense, catches a glimpse of Sidibe Bourama, passed and Bourama finished with the dunk. Dunk of the night goes to Tyrie Orosco off the assist from Evans. That play looks much better in slow motion.

The Hurricanes won game one hundred and five to seventy. They are heading to Dangriga on Friday night for game two, as the Dream Ballers face elimination.

And then on Sunday evening, the Belize City Defenders and the San Pedro Tiger Sharks faced off in the second three-game series in the playoffs. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks are hoping to make it to the finals two years in a row, while the Defenders are looking for redemption after their 2023 performance. And this was not a match to miss.Nigel Jones with the early dunk off a fastbreak assist from John Kelly. Daniel Conorquie responding for the Sharks from beyond the three-point line. Jones again muscles his way in to get the basket. Bobby Arthur-Williams, big inside for Sharks over two defenders. D’von Campbell, from way beyond the three-point line, drills it in.

The first half of the game played out evenly on both ends of the court. The two teams ended the first half with thirty-seven points apiece. At the end of the third, the defenders were trailing by only one point with the game at fifty-one to fifty. Williams for the three and he misses, Conorquie in position at the three and he makes the bucket. Conorquie again from the three-point line extending a Sharks lead to seven points in the fourth quarter. The Defenders slowly chipped away at the Sharks’ lead. The Defenders are down by two points with just over a minute left in the game. Jones finds Daniel Estes who slams it in. Big points for the Defenders.Defenders now with a chance to take the lead with fifteen seconds on the clock. Jones works his way around Keith Pollard along the baseline and gets a big basket.Six seconds left on the clock, Jihad Wright to Arana and watch Pollard as he slides under the basket. Arana is aware, passes the ball and Pollard sends the game into overtime.

The Defenders would go one to win game one eight-six to seventy-nine points.

From basketball, let us now move into some football action. Port Loyola Football Club is your 2024 Premier League of Belize Closing Season Champions. Here we see fans celebrating Port F.C.’s first goal against Verdes inside the Norman Broaster Stadium. Belize City fans celebrated the goal as their team came into the second leg with a defeat under its belt.

But that celebration seemed to have taken a turn when a fence in the stadium broke under the weight of cheering fans. A couple of those fans continued pulling at what was left of the fence and the celebrations continued. Notwithstanding that display, Port Loyola F.C. has an incredible story to tell, going from a team that was struggling to carve out a name for themselves in the league four years ago, to becoming a championship team in the PLB. This also means that Port Loyola F.C. will represent Belize in CONCACAF.

And in other football action, the Anthony Mahler Under- Thirteen Mundialito Tournament continued Saturday. Here are some highlights from the match between Ladyille Rising Stars and Sampson Academy.

Eight minutes into the match, Sampson’s Anthony Cowo converts a spot kick into his team’s first goal of the match. Twenty-one minutes in, Rising Stars’ Akeem Eiley makes good on a loose ball in front of the goalpost to tie the game. Immediately after, Jaron Lewis sent one flying from midfield, outplacing the goalkeeper. The disappointed look on the faces of his teammates. Ladyville Rising Stars would come from behind to score two more goals and secure the victory.

In a second game on Saturday, Reality Youths took on Leaders of Tomorrow. Reality Youths’ Javen White goes full speed into the penalty box, sees an opportunity and puts the ball over the head of the goalkeeper and into the goal. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Leaders of Tomorrow’s Darwin Hernandez kicks towards the goal and the goalkeeper seemed to have been under the impression that the ball would go out of bounds. He left in and the rolled right into the net. That match ended one goal apiece.

Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

Public Outrage as Man Caught Abusing Child

Public outrage is increasing by the minute as more social media users view a video of a man abusing a male child. The disturbing video was posted on Facebook.

The police say that an investigation has been launched.

The heartbreaking video shows the man throwing the boy to the ground. He slaps and kicks the vulnerable boy repeatedly. The boy cries as the man continues to attack him.

*Public Outrage as Man Caught Abusing Child*

During one of the instances, a woman intervenes. News Five has not confirmed where the incidents took place.

At today’s police press briefing, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division, told reporters “an investigation is being carried out in regards to that video that was on Facebook.”

On Facebook, users are expressing their disgust at the man. One wrote, “This makes my stomach turn, I am so angry. That man is a perfect example of what ails this nation. Disgusting. Fire him. Jail him. Somebody deal with ah.”

Another said, I hope he is found and rots in prison…”

Earlier today, UNICEF issued a release calling for urgent action to end violence against children. UNICEF said it is “gravely concerned by the spike and gravity of incidents of violence that have been impacting children in Belize over the last couple of months.”

IMF Concludes Article IV Consultation with Belize, Endorses Staff Appraisal

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Belize, endorsing the staff appraisal without a formal meeting.

Economic Performance in 2023:

Belize experienced moderated economic growth and inflation in 2023. Real GDP growth slowed from 8.7% in 2022 to 4.7% in 2023, driven by sectors such as tourism, construction, retail, wholesale trade, transport, and business process outsourcing. Inflation decreased from 6.3% in 2022 to 4.4% in 2023, largely due to lower transport and utility prices, despite rising food costs. The fiscal position remained robust, but debt dynamics became more challenging. The overall fiscal deficit widened, influenced by a reduced primary surplus and increased interest payments on external debt. Public debt slightly declined from 67% of GDP in 2022 to 66% in 2023 following the acquisition of the Port of Belize and the settlement of foreign investor litigations.

Future Economic Outlook:

Real GDP growth and inflation are expected to further moderate. Growth is projected at 3.4% in 2024 and 2.5% from 2025 onwards, with inflation anticipated to drop to 1.3% in the medium term, aligning with declining commodity prices and global inflation. The primary balance is expected to remain at 1.2% of GDP from FY2024, with public debt projected to decline slowly but remain above 50% of GDP through 2034 due to slower nominal GDP growth and high global interest rates. Key risks include higher global food and fuel prices, prolonged high global interest rates, and climate-related disasters.

Executive Board Assessment:

Belize’s key policy priorities involve reducing public debt to 50% of GDP by FY2030 by raising the primary fiscal balance to 2.0% of GDP from FY2025 onwards. This entails increasing priority spending on infrastructure, targeted social programs, and crime prevention, financed through additional revenues and expenditure reprioritization. Structural reforms aimed at boosting inclusive and resilient growth and vigilant financial stability measures are also crucial.

Achieving a 50% public debt-to-GDP ratio by 2030 would ensure debt sustainability and fiscal buffers. This target, aligned with investment-grade emerging market economies, would likely maintain debt below the 70% GDP target in the 2021 Medium-term Recovery Plan. Attaining this goal requires fiscal consolidation to raise the primary balance to 2% of GDP from FY2025, supported by a medium-term fiscal strategy and a potential Fiscal Responsibility Law with robust fiscal rules.

Revenue and expenditure measures can enhance the primary surplus and fund essential spending. Broadening the GST base, increasing excise taxes, rebalancing manufacturing taxes, and improving revenue administration can boost revenue by 2.2% of GDP. Reforming the PPPO could reduce government spending by 0.1% of GDP. Savings would support a higher primary surplus (0.8% of GDP) and expand priority spending (1.5% of GDP), fostering medium-term growth and resilience. Priority spending includes infrastructure improvements, renewable energy investments, childcare and training subsidies for vulnerable women, targeted transfers for food security, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Improving the business climate and developing a disaster resilience strategy (DRS) are essential for medium-term growth. Enhancing access to affordable credit for SMEs, digitalizing land and business registries, and improving government services are key priorities. A comprehensive DRS would support funding for climate mitigation and adaptation, reducing output volatility.

Increasing international reserves would strengthen the currency peg. Belize’s external position is strong, yet international reserves remain below the ARA metric. Fiscal consolidation and structural reforms to increase reserves would fortify the currency peg, especially with rising external financing needs projected when blue loan repayments begin in 2032.

Limiting central bank financing of the government, preserving financial stability, and strengthening the AML/CFT framework are critical. Reducing central bank financing gradually would decrease excess liquidity and support local capital market development. The central bank should monitor financial stability risks, enhance supervision of vulnerable institutions, and enforce the AML/CFT framework, particularly in the IFS.

NEMO Mobilizes Response to Wildfires Near San Pedro Columbia

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) says it is actively responding to wildfires affecting San Pedro Columbia and nearby communities in the Toledo District. The Toledo District Emergency Operations Centre was activated last Thursday.

According to NEMO, an emergency meeting included representatives from the Fire Department, Forest Department, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Ministry of Transport, Belize Defence Force, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, and Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE).

Initial assessments were conducted, and an action plan was created to provide immediate humanitarian support to affected families. NEMO says it maintained communication with the leaders of San Pedro Columbia, Crique Jute, Mafredi, and San Antonio.

An aerial reconnaissance confirmed the extent of the fire, assessed initial damage, and assisted in containment planning.

According to NEMO, there is no immediate fire threat to Crique Jute, Mafredi, or San Antonio.

Shyne Denounces Diddy’s “Repugnant” Behavior

Opposition Leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow says he vehemently denounces the “repugnant behavior of Sean Diddy Combs captured on the video in which he is seen physically assaulting Mrs Cassie Ventura-Fine.”

CNN aired security video that showed him beating singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.

Diddy took to social media on Sunday to apologize. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that,” Combs begins in a brief recording shared on Instagram. “I was ****ed up … I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions.”

In his statement, Shyne said “There is no place for Violence against Women anywhere on the planet. As a father of a precious daughter, a global citizen and the next Prime Minister of Belize I want absolutely nothing to do with people who engage in this pattern of diabolical behaviour.”

CNN’s report is the latest public relations crisis for the former hitmaker, who also finds himself at the centre of a federal investigation after agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in late March.

According to CNN, the investigation was handled by the Department of Homeland Security’s team that handles human trafficking crimes.

Accused Child Kidnapper Criminally Charged

His name is Kareem Emory Hamilton and he has been charged with kidnapping. This is after a Belize City woman, Shandy Pech, reported to police that her five-year-old daughter was taken by a man. It happened on Thursday.

Wrapping herself in a towel, Pech ran up the street in the direction of the man. With the help of neighbours, they detained the man until the police arrived. Though Pech didn’t know the man, he identified himself to officers, revealing a past conviction for an unnatural crime against a child with special needs.