2024-05-24 - Channel 5 Belize

Saving Belize’s Largest Forest Reserve from Fires

It’s been several weeks of fire-fighting efforts across the country, as an extreme heatwave exacerbates the occurrence of wildfires. On May sixteenth, the Forest Department detected a fire that had broken out at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Cayo District. As the largest forest reserve in the country, an uncontained fire could have severe, long-lasting effects on wildlife, as well as the neighboring areas. To combat these fires the department launched a collaborative effort to contain and extinguish these flames. While the efforts are still ongoing to manage a few of the fires, the department has reassured us that the situation is under control. For more insight into the process of saving the forest, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the reserve and with some of the people who were working first-hand to do so. Here’s that story.

Britney Gordon, reporting

“I’m here at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, standing in front of one of the few fires left to contain before it spreads further into the area.” The team at the Belize Forest Department is hoping that the flames will be extinguished by a nearby creek before it can spread into the area and possibly, into Belmopan.”

The past seven days have been a continuous effort to extinguish the flames making their way through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize’s oldest and largest forest reserve. First established in 1944, the reserve spans over three hundred square miles and is home to rivers, waterfalls, a variety of fauna and as the name suggests, is brimming with thousands of pine trees. However, this natural resource, beloved by locals and tourists for its picturesque views, was recently put at risk when a wildfire broke and quickly started spreading within the area. The fires, which have been burning since last Wednesday, are believed to have been started by a lightning strike. Amin Bedran, Manager at Bulridge Limited, a sustainable logging company that manages Ridge Reserve, says the team jumped into action right away and has since been able to manage the blaze.

Amir Bedran, Manager, Bulridge Ltd.

“The fire started as they mentioned earlier with a lightning all the way by Kinloch. We are, east of Kinloch. The fire continued down towards the dam and we were working on this front. As you can see, if the fire had crossed this line, we are on Baki line. It would have been devastating because it would have burned all the way up to Granite Cairn. There’s no breaks between. The only way you can fight and control a fire in the Pine Ridge is with the roads. You can’t out this with water. You have to fight fire with fire by doing back burns.”

As Bedran mentioned, the fires were not doused with water. Instead, a method called back-burning was used. This process involved burning a counter-set of controlled fires to eliminate the fuel in the path of the approaching flames. Shanelly Carillo Balan, forest officer in charge at the Douglas D’silva Forest Station, explained that in order to create the fire line, which is the barrier to the progression of a wildfire, the team had to quickly open roads. They were able to accomplish this with the help of CISCO Construction.

Shanelly Carillo Balan, Officer in Charge, Douglas D’silva Forest Station

“So at this location where we are right now, we are on line number one which you can see here. This is Douglas D‘Silva. This is where all the camps are, the houses, the offices. The fire was coming south to north, and we had to open this line here as a fire line. The fire was coming in this direction here. So what we had to do is in order to protect the station, the camp on this side, which is very close, we had to back-burn. And this is where you can see the big difference. So when you have the back-burn, you. put it, you make sure that it is done under a controlled environment as much as possible under the conditions that we were, fighting the wildfire and that way we have a fire fighting the wildfire coming back and that way we were able to it helps to make sure that we create a buffer.”

If the team had been unable to contain the fire, it would have put the neighboring camps and resorts at risk. However, they were successful in their mission and that area is no longer a threat.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development & Climate Change

“The ministry, especially the forest department, which is overlooking these forest fires. It’s a concern for them because it falls under their jurisdiction. However, we must recognize also that some of the fires might be intentional fires because they are agricultural landscape fires, and they escape, and they get into the forest without control. Some of them are permitted fires, like what happens in industry. For example, the sugarcane industry, if it’s not controlled, these also get away and then it causes problems. Here in the Mountain Pine Ridge, concern for us because we know we have apart from the logging concessionaires who are up here, this is a real natural resource for the government and people of Belize, but we also have tourism. So we have the resorts, which are a concern because you have tourists, you have people who come up on weekends to spend time with their families. So certainly, a concern.”

Although these fires required immediate action to extinguish, fires within the reserve are not uncommon. Every year, the Belize Forest Department and its partners perform what is called a prescribed burn, which is a controlled set of fires set in order to clear debris on the forest floor to preserve the health of the forest and ensure that these decaying materials are cleared should a wildfire occur. The key to a good forest fire is maintaining control. John Pinelo, Deputy Chief Forest Officer at the Forest Department, further explained this process.

John Pinelo, Deputy Chief Forest Officer, Belize Forest Department

“In a pine ecosystem, fires are necessary actually, annually we have fires going through. Preferably, we would like to be the ones burning the fires in the cool months, which we call a prescribed burn, and we make sure that we burn the litter that you see on the ground. If we leave this for a number of years, this will start growing, and it becomes a bigger fuel load on the ground. So when we do have fires, it burns really, really hot, and it causes more damage than help. But ordinarily, the ecosystem needs fires. So you don’t want to say that the fire is causing negative effects. It is in some areas, but mostly it’s a good fire we’re having.”

While the Forest Department led the charge in containing the fires, it was a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders. The Chalillo Dam is used to generate hydroelectricity for Fortis Belize. As it is situated in Mountain Pine Ridge, the company was quick to offer assistance in the fire response mission. Tedford Pate, Operations Manager at Fortis Belize told us about these efforts.

Tedford Pate, Operations Manager, Fortis Belize

“We drove all the way to the location to see the extent of the fire, and we noticed that it was quite significant. So from that point, Saturday, we start to mobilize in collaboration with other stakeholders, the forest department primarily. And also, we had the support of mister Bedran with the Bulridge crew. We had mister David Penner providing support with bulldozers, graders, water trucks, BRC. Cisco construction, FCD eventually came out to assist with foot on the ground as well. And we also had about three quarters of our Fortis Belize crew as part of the boots on the ground extinguishing these fires. Astrum, however, was then summoned with the help of a helicopter to assist in this effort and it was very effective using that form of AIM. support. We wouldn’t have been this successful if it wasn’t for the Astram helicopter dousing the fire with water right here from the reservoir. So we are very grateful for all the support we have gotten.”

Preliminary findings indicate that thirty-eight-point nine percent of the reserve was affected by the fires. According to Habet, most of the trees in these areas are recoverable and will regenerate and produce seedlings within the next two months. For the few trees that are severely damaged, he anticipates that those will have a longer recovery time.

Orlando Habet

“From what we understand is that within three or four months, you will start seeing the seedlings already. Of course, many times on natural conditions, you don’t come out to do the thinning unless you do the planting. But the thinning is actually done by way of doing your burns and prescribed burns are very important. And it is something also where we are looking at lessons learned. Areas which possibly haven’t been burned for a while have now been burned purposely. But also the department is looking at maybe addressing some of these burns. And prescribed burns during the cooler part of the year, maybe November, December after the rainy season has ended to do some of those burns so that then you can still eliminate the extra material and fuel is on the ground before the dry season commences.”

While the teams continue their efforts to contain the few remaining fires, the public is advised to proceed with caution if they are planning to visit the reserve within the next week. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize Forms Task Force in Response to Surge of Wildfires

The Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management has welcomed a new task force in response to the surge of wildfires observed throughout the country. The National Wildfire Response Task Force was designed to provide immediate response to wildfires affecting Belize, particularly those in the Toledo and Cayo districts. The task force is to be led by the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, and is comprised of the National Fire Service, the Forest Department, the Belize Defense Force, Astrum Helicopters and several other key stakeholders. The task force met today and is coordinating several operations across the country, including the improvement of fire responses in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, response to threats in the Elijio Panti National Park, and continued support of communities in the Toledo District being affected by fires.

Will Government Assist Farmers in San Pedro, Columbia?

The fight against the fires brought on by the severe regional heatwave is a continuous effort across the country. The recent fire at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve drew great concern for the Forest Department, as resources and manpower were already divided amongst several fires in southern Belize. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, told us that it is due to the collaborative efforts between several organizations, that all the fires can be addressed and that additional assistance for the affected individuals is in the pipeline.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change

“It was something that we had to make a decision on because we also knew that there were fires down south in Colombia. And so we wanted to share the personnel. But because NEMO had taken the leadership down because it’s now close to communities, they took jurisdiction of that and assistance from some of our fire department forest department personnel from the south in Machaca, and they also got assistance from the N.G.O.’s like TIDE who have a lot of experience doing fire training. And also with Ya’axche, they had a lot of help. So, we decided that it was best that we address this area with the personnel we had. I think within the limits of the towns and villages, it is very important that we stress information and education for the public because it is absolutely necessary for us to educate our public. Sometimes it’s just a small fire in the backyard fire that can get away and then the smoke and everything else is a problem. You see what’s happened in San Ignacio and Santa Elena during the past week. The air quality is really bad. You can’t come out and run or jog or exercise, do your bicycling because it is terrible.”

Reporter

“Sir, Columbia, the villagers have lost a lot of farmlands. I think close to 90 farmers were with Nima earlier this week assessing the damage. Is the government doing anything to assist these people? Because this is their entire livelihood gone just like that.”

Orlando Habet

“Yeah certainly the government will come in to assist. I think right now they’re doing some assessments to see the people who are affected, the farmers who are affected. And as any emergency and any event, a catastrophic event like this, then the government makes these assessments. And if it’s in the agriculture sector, then the Ministry of Agriculture goes in to assist. And then certainly with the housing, then NEMO comes in and then the Ministry of Human Development also comes in to assist. The government will have to use some type of funding, maybe a contingency fund to try to get the funding to assist these people.”

Chalillo Dam Saved from Rampant Wildfires

The Chalillo Dam, which is situated in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Cayo district, was recently at risk of being damaged by a wildfire that broke in the area. Last Wednesday, the team at the Forest Department noticed an uncontained fire rapidly spreading throughout the reserve. The department, alongside several stakeholders sprang into action to contain it. Participating in the mission was a team from Fortis Belize, that felt it was necessary to assist, as the reserve houses the Chalillo Dam. This hydroelectric dam produces seven of the forty-one percent of energy the company provides to Belize. Tedford Pate, Operation Manager at Fortis Belize, told us that due to the fast action of the team, the dam was saved from any potential damage.

Tedford Pate, Operation Manager, Fortis Belize

“Up to yesterday, we still had our personnel on the ground extinguishing the little spots that remain heated and still present a threat. to reignite these fires. But fortunately, up to this point, we have the fire under control So as you notice in the background the main reason for us at Fortis Belize in wanting to eliminate this threat is because what we do at this facility is very important when it comes to providing reliable power to the country. As you all know, we’re in a power crisis right now in Belize. And so ensuring that we maintain power to the grid is our primary concern. Had this fire extended into the transmission system, it could have had some very dire effects to the supply of electricity from this location. So we’re happy that with the help of all our stakeholders and our friends, we’re able to control this fire up to this point. We are working on strengthening our protocols. We do have emergency response plans in place. But right now we’re working closely with the forestry department in strengthening our protocols and in establishing a wildfire safety protocol for Fortis Belize as we speak. This will not only involve our efforts, but it will also mean collaborating with all the stakeholders, especially so the forestry department. FCD that operates in this area, as well as the other stakeholders like Bullridge the contractors that we employ, so that we have a detailed response plan in the event that they should reoccur.”

Students from Belize City Five High Schools Visit Prison

Everyday, adolescents who are caught violating the law are processed through the justice system and incarcerated upon conviction. Many times, these youths are enrolled in a school setting and end up losing the chance to complete their formal education. Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Howell Gillett attempted to reduce this trend when he took students from five high schools across Belize City to visit the prison facility. The youths were taken through the facility’s security system like any other visitor and were brought face-to-face with what prison life is like when they entered the holding cell at the facility. News Five’s Marion Ali was present for the visit and filed this report.

Michael Gladden, Chief of Security, Belize Central Prison

“Full black is not allowed. Any excessive jewellery is not allowed. Right now, I will ask you if you have any money in your pocket, you need to remove it. If you have any electronic devices, you need to move it. Why I’m telling you this is because when you enter to my prison, you will be searched. Everybody here will be searched.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

The first phase of the visit that the forty high school students experienced was an introduction by chief of the prison’s security, Michael Gladden. He advised the youths on the do’s and don’ts when visiting the facility. After the students were searched, they were escorted by prison guards and police officers to the sections of the facility that were prepared for their visit. The tour was an initiative undertaken by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Howell Gillett, who also heads the Community Policing Unit. He told News Five that the visit aims to discourage the youths from engaging in a life of crime.

A.C.P Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community-oriented Policing

“We strategically pick kids from different areas across the city to come and see the end state – what occurs when a crime is committed in the streets. We do so because we are fully aware that some of the behaviours, the actions that brought these inmates here, there are corresponding behaviours withing the communities that these children come from. So, we want them to see not just what they are seeing everyday on a frequent basis, but what the result would be like if we choose that kind of life. We want them to make better decisions for themselves. We want them to see the justice system because the prison is a part of the justice system.”

Virgilio Murillo is the Chief Executive Officer of Kolbe Foundation, which manages the Belize Central Prison. He said that when Gillett contacted him a month ago with the request to have the students visit, he gladly accepted, in the hopes that it is going to deter them from ending up at the facility, not as guests but as inmates.

Virgilio Murillo, C.E.O, Kolbe Foundation

“We’re going to have a few prisoners who will be sharing their personal life stories of what it’s like being in prison because some people have the idea that prison is a bed of roses, but it is not, and it should not be either. The prison is the last option available to the courts to manage those persons who have failed alternative punishments. When the judge or the magistrate sends a person to the prison, obviously there was no other way to control that person or steer that person away from a life of crime, so they had to send them to the prison. My job as the superintendent is to ensure that we rehabilitate them properly, we discipline them properly, so that they do not want to come back.”

Murillo had candid advice for the youths upon their arrival.

Virgilio Murillo

“My message to them is: stay away from the prison. Crime does not pay. I told them a while ago in there that the only next place that they will end up is burial ground – six feet under. It is as blunt as that.”

The youths were deliberately selected from schools in some of Belize City’s crime-ridden zones. A.C.P Gillett says he believes that that reality does not mean that the youths who come from these areas will be criminals.

A.C.P Howell Gillett

“We at the Community Policing Unit know some of the issues that are affecting our communities that we police so the children were chosen from different schools that come from the areas that we want to bring this message that you could live a crime-free life, but it’s a choice that you have to make.”

And for Gillett, the sky is the limit.

A.C.P Howell Gillett

“With the possibility of them choosing a career path in law enforcement, in becoming a social worker, a judge or a magistrate, any part of the system itself.”

Gillett says that a study that has been done on the Community Policing Unit’s engagement with youths over the past decade shows that the unit has interacted with eighty thousand youths over that period and that a large percentage of those youths have gone on to not commit any egregious breach of the law. Marion Ali for News Five.

Ukrainian National Charged for Fatal RTA

Thirty-two-year-old Alinna Estell, a Ukrainian national, was slapped with three traffic offenses, including manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention, when she appeared before the lower courts today. The charges stem from a fatal road traffic accident that occurred on the Philip Goldson Highway on May ninth. Estell, a naturalized Belizean, was driving a Honda Civic near mile nine when she knocked down thirty-one-year-old Gilbert Stephens Jr., a car washer of Lord’s Bank Village. Stephens was riding a motorcycle when Estell crashed into him. He succumbed to his injuries on May twenty-first. In court today, Estell was arraigned on three counts. No plea was taken from her and she was offered bail in the sum of five thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same.

San Pedro Teacher on Bail for Sexual Assault of Student

A teacher in San Pedro was arraigned on Thursday in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court on three counts of sexual assault. The incidents allegedly occurred between January and March of this year with three students who are enrolled at the same school where he teaches. One of the victims is fourteen and the other two are fifteen years old. He appeared in court with his attorney, Ronnell Gonzalez, and was offered bail of nine thousand dollars which he met. He is to surrender his travel documents, not to apply for new travel documents, not to leave Belize without permission of the court, not to contact complainants and not to be within a hundred yards of the complainant. He is to report back to court July seventeenth.

Mid-afternoon Shooting on Banak Street

As many as a dozen rounds were fired on Banak Street this afternoon when a gunman let loose a shower of bullets at an unsuspecting target who was reportedly riding a motorcycle in the vicinity. News Five understands that the victim was injured in the leg. Scenes of Crime personnel arrived at the location sometime after the incident and processed the scene where markers littered the street near its intersection with Central American Boulevard. Police are yet to share details on the mid-afternoon shooting.

Prison C.E.O. Says Facility is Capable of Tending to Diabetic Inmates

On Thursday, attorney Arthur Saldivar, on behalf of his client, Oscar Selgado, questioned the fitness of the Belize Central Prison when it comes to the care of inmates who are diabetic. Selgado, an attorney-at-law, has been found guilty of abetment to commit murder and is awaiting sentencing in the High Court. His health condition, however, is of serious concern because Selgado complains that the facility isn’t adequately addressing his illness and his health continues to deteriorate while incarcerated. Earlier today when we visited the prison, we spoke with Chief Executive Officer Virgilio Murillo, who took the stand yesterday to attest to the prison’s capability of tending to inmates living with diabetes.

Virgilio Murillo, C.E.O., Kolbe Foundation

“They always say the proof is in the eating of the pudding. As far as I am aware and as far as my belief goes, my opinion and my thought goes, it‘s all about sensationalism and I will not pay much attention to that. We can be tested and I am sure we‘re going to pass with flying colors. We have diabetics in this prison who have been diabetics for the last twelve years and counting.”

Marion Ali

“Two have died.”

Virgilio Murillo

“Two have died. It has nothing to do with the prison. I don‘t know how I prevent a person from dying when they choose by their own free will to stop eating because of depression. I can‘t open their mouth and feed them like a bird. It doesn‘t work that way.”

Marion Ali

“But the report that Mr. Selgado gave is that the person he was assigned to or the medical officer assigned to him that day was a fellow prisoner.”

Virgilio Murillo

“That‘s a practice that was practiced in prisons all over the world. These people are not less of a human being because they have come to prison, let us understand that first and foremost. They have the capability to be trained in different fields and sciences and all of that. They are very brilliant people, they just made mistakes and got caught and they are here to pay the consequences.”

Atlantic Bank No Longer Doing Business with Stake Bank Enterprise

Earlier today, the Atlantic Bank Limited issued a press release stating that on May first, the facilities held with the embattled Stake Bank Enterprise Limited were sold to Operaciones Portuarias, a corporation that is registered under Honduran laws and is an entity that is affiliated with brothers Guillermo and David Bueso. The statement continues, quote, the bank has therefore removed from its books the debt owed by S.B.E.L. As of that date, the bank no longer carried on banking business with S.B.E.L. As we’ve reported, Stake Bank Enterprise has gone into receivership and several lawsuits have been filed between the bank and the development company owned by businessman Michael Feinstein. It is unclear what becomes of those claims, as well as the future of the multimillion dollar Stake Bank project.