2024-05-28 - Channel 5 Belize

Fires Dangerously Close to Temples at Altun Ha

As we have been reporting over the past several weeks, the fires observed across the country are raging on. Last week, we took you to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve where, after days of effort, a team was able to control the flames spreading rapidly across the reserve. Tonight, we take you to the Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve, where a fire that began on Monday has edged dangerously close to the Mayan structures housed there. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the site to meet the team working furiously to save this beloved Belizean attraction.

Britney Gordon, reporting

I’m here at the Altun Ha Archeological Reserve standing next to the temple of Masonry, one of its most popular attractions, known for where the Jade Head was discovered. And just a few meters behind me, there is a fire burning. Altun Ha is the archeological site that is closest to Belize City. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the district. Renowned for its diverse flora and fauna and imposing Mayan architecture, the site is a valued historical landmark in Belize. On Monday, as park rangers were making the usual rounds on the site grounds, they observed smoke emanating from somewhere within the reserve. This immediately raised an alarm for park manager, Felix Cruz.

Felix Cruz, Park Manager, Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve

“Yesterday we observed the smoke coming in the plaza. So one of me and the rangers mister Marvin Jones, around eleven thirty in the morning, we went on site in the underbrush to see where the fire was coming from or the smoke. We didn’t find anything at that time. A little bit later on in the evening, around five thirty, me and the security, mister Belisle we came to do another patrol. That’s when we saw a fire over here behind me.”

After discovering the fire, Cruz notified the Institute of Archaeology, the village chairman, and several tour operators, who responded with equipment, water, and manpower.

Felix Cruz

“We also had a truck, water truck that came in from Medina’s Construction that assisted us. So we managed to maintain the fire last night. At this moment, we’re still making fire paths with the rangers, the maintenance team from the Institute of Archaeology.”

Britney Gordon

“Talk to me about what the action taken to maintain this fire looked like. What was the efforts?”

Felix Cruz

“The action taken, the community came out as a team. Everyone assisted by providing drums, buckets, rakes and machetes. Everyone came in with flashlights and we started to do a fire path and we waited about an hour for the fire truck to come in and not the water truck. And from there we managed to maintain this area here.”

The team sprang into action, dousing the flames with gallons of water and creating fire paths with the use of rakes and machetes. Several lines were cleared by the rangers, an effort, that lasted well into midnight.

Devon Jones, Park Ranger

“We are continuing to monitor the fire right about now, but last night we have a full experience about a bushfire and the whole community come out and assist.”

Britney Gordon

“What were some of the activities that you and your team were doing in order to maintain the fire?”

Devon Jones

“We get drums and some water, we got machete, rakes we started to make fire paths in the bush, to keep on out it.”

Cruz says that as the fires are very close to the plaza where the structures are, visitors complain about smoke billowing into the area. While the team is doing its best to manage the flames, there is not much that can be done otherwise.

Britney Gordon

“We recently had one at the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve that was an alarming fire. What about here? Is that a trend that you notice getting more serious?”

Felix Cruz

“The season, we all expect forest fires. So what we try to do is prepare for it. Hence the reason why we try to clean the survey lines, the border lines. There’s nothing much that we can do. It’s a natural event. All we can do is try to manage it the best way we can.”

The task of containing the fire is a new experience for Devon Jones, but as a ranger, he is prepared to manage the park at all costs.

Devon Jones

“It seems like an adventure at the night, but good experience, good to experience something like that. Get your body trained and fit. You never know where that might happen anytime.”

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel like you’re more prepared to handle situations like this moving forward?”

Devon Jones

“I guess I’ll do my best.”

The team managed to contain the flames this morning, but the fires increased late this afternoon, forcing the staff to double their efforts. The situation is still being monitored.

The team is currently seeking assistance from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Development and Housing for the provision of a water truck to the area. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Air Quality is Critical in Toledo and Cayo Due to Wildfire

Wildfires continue to burn through parts of Toledo and Cayo districts. Tonight, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment are advising residents living in the affected areas to stay indoors, keep their windows and doors closed and wear masks. A joint press release says that the air quality in Toledo and Cayo districts has significantly decreased. Wildfires have led to substantial air pollution. So, not only are some residents working overtime to safeguard their livelihood, but they must also now contend with the air they breathe to protect their very lives. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the situation. Here is that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Wildfires have been burning for the past three weeks in Toledo and Cayo Districts. These fires pose a threat to the livelihood of residents in these areas. And now, another concern has arisen, emanating from the wildfires. That is air pollution. It is a concern raised by Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, during a media tour of Mountain Pine Ridge last week.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“You see what happened in San Ignacio and Santa Elena in the past week. The air quality is really bad and you can’t come out on the verandah, jog or exercise, do your bicycling because it is terrible.”

These social media images and videos capture some of what residents in the Cayo District have been experiencing. The blanket of haze in the sky, stretching for miles, is smoke from wildfire. In Toledo District it is no different. Residents are left with no choice but to inhale this contaminated air.

Voice of: Blue Creek Village Resident

“I think this is the worst I have seen it and a couple days ago here in the village the smoke was really intense, intense to the point that I was worried about the kids and the elders in our community, because this is not normal.”

Voice of: Santa Cruz Resident

“I believe yes, it is the worst fire I have seen around this time here, because it gets really, really, smokey around here and just recently that side was burning day and night and all the smoke was coming this side. Sometimes I have to move from here and go to my parent’s house to spend the night sometime just so that the kids are safe and off the heavy smoke.”

On Monday, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment warned the public that the substantial increase in air pollution due to smoke can lead to health risks for the vulnerable population. This index describes air quality and its associated health effects. The higher the number, the more air pollution is being inhaled. Anything beyond a numeric value of one hundred is unhealthy, all the way up to three hundred where the air pollution becomes hazardous. On Sunday, for example, the air quality in San Jose Succotz was at one hundred and seventy-five. That is where internist and bioethicist, Doctor Marvin Manzanero resides.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Internist and Bioethicist

“And when you look at air quality monitors, the particular situation that they look for is P.M., particulate matter. Two point five micrometers is what will get lodged all the way deep into your lungs. Those are particles that we will never see. Who is at risk then? Just like most other deceases, it is the most vulnerable. So, we are going to have the elderly population, young children, people who have underlying conditions, asthmatics, people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary decease, people who have hypertension and diabetes. There has been links to those not doing so well, people who have cancer, people who are on steroids and other types of immunosuppressants. One thing we ought to highlight is that the WHO recently released its global report and air pollutants have been shown to be the trigger of the building up of plaque in your arteries, so microparticles and even nano plastics are being found in those arteries that are building up in your circulatory walls.”

One of the measures recommended by healthcare providers to limit the risks associated with inhaling air pollution is the use of protective respiratory masks. Additionally, individuals living in the affected areas are being advised to limit outdoor exposure. This also includes children attending school.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“If you have to be outside, wear protective respiratory mask or you try to limit the amount of time you are going to be outside. Even with exercise, I have mentioned it to some colleagues, you really cant be doing strenuous activities when you have so much air pollutants in the air. Even on a person’s note, two weeks ago I tried running and started wheezing after one point five miles. So, exercise had to be cut short because you are inhaling too many pollutants. For example I have two teens and one of the ones that is a little more active I have to limit his outside exposure. They do go to school. They don’t do physical activity in school these days, but as soon as they come home they are in an indoor environment.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Stake Bank Enterprise Drops Multimillion Dollar Lawsuit Against G.O.B.

Stake Bank’s multimillion dollar claim, a lawsuit that was brought against the Government of Belize prior to the company falling into receivership, has been discontinued. On Friday, the law firm of Barrow & Williams issued a notice to the High Court that Claim Number two hundred sixty-nine of 2021, between Stake Bank Enterprise Limited and the attorney general, the National Environmental Appraisal Committee and the Department of the Environment has been withdrawn. Earlier today, News Five spoke with Senior Counsel Dean Barrow who acts on behalf of S.B.E.L.’s receiver, Marlowe Neal. According to Barrow, the company is not in a position to proceed with the claim, given its financial situation.

On the phone: Dean Barrow, Senior Counsel, Attorney-at-law

“We filed that notice pursuant to the instructions of the receiver. You know that the company is, all the world knows that the company is now in receivership and the receiver has to be a sort of jealous guardian of the resources that the company in receivership possesses. There are the receiver’s bringing in as many of the assets as he can and he has to think in terms of satisfying the creditors of the company. In those circumstances the receiver did not believe that the company was in a position to continue with that claim against the attorney general. First of all, if the company had continued the claim, the burden of paying the attorneys who, at the time the claim was filed, in acting for the company, the burden of paying them would now fall on the receiver and so because, as I said, in husbanding, as it were, the resources of the company the receiver has to be very, very careful, very, very prudent and the receiver decided that the company was not in a state in which it could continue the claim against the attorney general. Thus, his instructions to us is to discontinue that claim and that’s what we have now down. What is important is the fact that the receiver is convinced that the company is not in a position to continue that claim.”

Selgado to be Sentenced on June 14th; Will He Get Prison Time?

Sentencing for embattled attorney Oscar Selgado is set for June fourteenth, when High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim will decide whether Selgado, who has been convicted of abetment to murder, will be given prison time for the crime he committed. The past two weeks have seen Selgado’s legal team put to the court several reasons why a non-custodial sentence should be handed down, including the fact that he is diabetic and is in poor health at the Belize Central Prison. While that is the view of attorney Arthur Saldivar, the Director of Public Prosecutions is of the firmly held position that Selgado should be given a prison sentence, notwithstanding his health condition. At the conclusion of today’s session, attorney Saldivar spoke with reporters about the court’s deliberations.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-law

“The court is guided by certain principles when it comes to exercising judicial reasoning in meting out a sentence under these circumstances. The court has to give consideration to the issue of deterrence, of rehabilitation, of prevention and certainly the court also has to give consideration to retribution. Every crime is an offense against the state, so the interest of the general public looms large under these circumstances. Suffice it for me to say that what also looms large is the particular status of the offender in this case, him being an attorney-at-law and a person imbued with a special knowledge of the law and what is right legally and what is wrong, not only legally, but morally. So these things loom large and these things have to be taken into consideration. Also, what has to be taken into consideration is the health of the offender. So with all this, myself, in representing and advocating on behalf of Mr. Selgado had to place as many as possible, issues for the court to consider in his favor, while at the same time not negating the existence of those issues that go against him. And, of course, the other side, Madam D.P.P. had to take out that similar exercise with more of an emphasis on that which should be considered to his discredit. So, insofar as that process goes, it was comprehensive, it was lengthy and we believe that the court has more than sufficient information that we provided, as well as what it has on its own to come out with a decision that would be fair and just and certainly acceptable to the Belizean public.”

Should Selgado be Given Jail Time for Abetment to Murder?

During this afternoon’s hearing, Selgado’s attorney put forward that the convicted lawyer also has a mortgage that he is required to pay and that he stands to lose his life, as well as other properties, should he be given a custodial sentence. Attorney Saldivar was also asked about the chances that the court would consider the mitigating factors presented on behalf of the defense.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-law

“This punishment may lead to him losing his life, it may also lead to him losing other things, if not his life, things that he was actively pursuing for his own benefit and the benefit of his family. But that is not to say that because of the existence of these things he is to be considered favorably, to the exclusion of any other person in society under similar circumstances, no. That is not what we are saying at all. What we’re saying and what I am saying is, this is simply a part of the compendium of factors that are peculiar to him and what weight is given to that consideration and the consideration of that is certainly within the sole purview of the court. There is legislation and in so far as legislation exists to make this a possibility, my sole consideration is to avail my client with everything that may be able to give him the best possible outcome. I don’t look to see whether or not I have a ninety percent, eighty percent or seventy percent chance of anything occurring, save and except that I will do my utmost best to put everything at my disposal before the court for a decision to be made. Given the facts that the court had to consider and the elements that were laid out, there are many aggravating factors that do not look good for the convicted Oscar Selgado. Suffice it to say that where the guidelines are concerned, the ones from the UK that we were tasked to look at, the issue of harm is set against the issue of culpability. So where those two things coincide or oppose each other, there is a consideration for a downward look at where to start. In this case, yes, there is high culpability because of the role of Mr. Selgado, his status as a person of trust, having been a lawyer for Ms. Barnes and then being the prospective lawyer of Mr. Ramirez. But then there is also the mitigating factor that no harm came to Ms. Barnes, and the truth of it is that, well, Ms. Barnes only learned of this threat after the threat was neutralized by law enforcement.”

Top-Spinning is Still Part of Belizean Culture

Schoolchildren have their own culture. During their break time, they engage in whatever game is trending. With the advent of technology and the internet, that may be less so for children who prefer to stay connected, but for those of us who grew up in an era when cell phones and the internet were non-existent, there were the seasonal games. In today’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, we bring you the art of spinning the top. And while it was difficult finding a guy who would readily volunteer his skills making a top dance, there were a couple women who did. News Five’s Marion Ali brings you one of the cultural games that has somehow remained through the decades – spinning the top.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The sight of a top spinning may bring back fond memories for those of us whose childhoods were punctuated by this traditional children’s game. Many of us can remember when boys competed for bragging rights by making their top spin the longest. Dr. Miguel Depaz is now sixty years old, but he remembers his childhood very well and spinning top was one of many highlights.

Via phone: Dr Miguel Depaz, Played Top as a Child

“I could remember the top being red, white, and blue with a sharp point, and we used to change it so that we could gamma meaning poke the other guy’s top or try and split the top that was on the ground. And so some of the boys were good at it. I was not too good at it.”

The art to getting a good spin is knowing how to wind the string around the top.

Via phone: Dr Miguel Depaz

“You wrapped from the bottom of the top to the head, so it was upward, but yes, we had to do a first loop on the head of the top and then once we had it wrapped we would unleash it with a sudden jerk, a hand movement. Normally we make that hand movement outwards and then we bring it inwards and then that would unleash the card and allow the top to spin.”

Top spinning was predominantly a male-oriented game at primary school, but we could not find a boy who was willing to spin the top for our camera. Instead, we found a woman who does it with prowess. Having a brother growing up meant that Nikita Black had to learn all the games, including those that were traditionally played by boys. She does so now for relaxation.

Nikita Black, Top Spinner

“I have an older brother and back then, of course, there was no technology, no phone or anything, and the best part of growing up – tops, marbles, jacks and ball, board game and so forth. It’s a bragging thing. I’m a girl, I can do it. I can beat you as a boy. It’s fun and my brother used to also get the pleasure of bragging that his sister can also do it. And it brings a thrill too when it starts spinning – damn, I did it. That’s what basically relaxes my mind. It does relax the mind because it brings back a childhood memory and nothing beats a childhood memory.”

There aren’t many children who spin tops today, compared to the past few decades; however, this game is still part of Belizean culture. The main supplier for tops is Simon Quan Store. Anora Flowers is a sales clerk here.

Anora Flowers, Sales Clerk, Simon Quan Store

“The children, mostly from Holy Redeemer, they want from Baptist, and St. Ignatius, they come and buy because they love tops, especially the boys. Children love tops, and marbles. They buy most of the time.”

The kind that’s available is made of a lighter material and its tip is flattened, as opposed to the pointed tips that were once popular. Flowers says they spin just as well.

Marion Ali

“I find that when I pick one up, it’s not as heavy as the top that I used to know about in my day. Does it still spin as good? Do you know anything about that?”

Anora Flowers

“Yes. You want me to spin one for you?”

It took Anora a few tries, but it has nothing to do with the design of the top. She admits that she has forgotten the art of spinning tops over the years. It’s an art that Nikita Black says she wants to not only keep but pass on to her children.

Marion Ali

“You pass it on to your kids?”

Nikita Black

“I do pass it on to my kids and an advice I would like to give to parents. Most of all with today’s technology, try to take it away, go in the yard, be with your kids teach them something that will have bring, have a memory for them.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

3 Senses Lounge: An Outdoor Fine-dining Experience in Cayo

Over the weekend, special invited guests attended the soft launch of a new restaurant and lounge in Cayo District. It’s called 3 Senses and it’s a fine-dining experience that appeals to the faculties of sight, smell and taste. The brainchild of a husband and wife couple that migrated to Belize from Germany, 3 Senses is an extension of Vanilla Hills Lodge and its their initiative to bring European wine culture to the Jewel. In a sponsored segment we’ll take a firsthand look at the new 3 Senses. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

At the pinnacle of gourmet dining, the harmonious marriage between a well-chosen bottle of wine and a dish transcends taste boundaries. Wine does more than accompany a meal; it complements, contrasts, and enhances each bite, unfolding layers of complexity that captivate the senses.

Claudia Konig, Owner, 3 Senses Lounge

“The concept behind 3 Senses is really that we want to specifically provide a very nice experience for our Belizean guests, not only for the tourists. And the name 3 Senses comes from the fact that if you want to have a nice meal, or a nice experience with food and beverages, all three senses they need to be pleased. You need to see something, it needs to be appealing for the eyes, if you smell it, it should smell very nice and finally, the taste buds, they need to be satisfied as well.”

The soft glow of string lights glimmer across wood and glass architecture, fire dances on water, and the air is infused with the aroma of wine and food. Each sip and bite are carefully choreographed and designed to create a distinct sensory experience. Welcome to 3 Senses, a restaurant and lounge nestled in the heart of Vanilla Hills, just outside of San Ignacio.

Franklin Syrowatka, Owner, 3 Senses Lounge

“3 Senses, first of all, it is something that was born between my wife and myself, you know. We have a hotel, this is a hotel here, and we are close to San Ignacio. So what you want to do is give your guests a reason to stay at the hotel in the evening and not go to town, so you want to create something nice. That’s how it started.”

Since then, Claudia Konig and her husband, Franklin Syrowatka, have invested significantly in an outdoor experience that embodies the spirit of Cayo District. The couple fell in love with western Belize when they relocated from Germany over a decade ago.

Franklyn Syrowatka

“I came up with this circular shape of the lounge because, I think, it closes you in a little but it opens up to the pool. Doing it like that, we could create these little nooks, you know, for two people, divided by plants. So that’s how we started.”

The fine-dining experience here goes beyond mere sustenance, it is an art form and a celebration of life’s pleasures.

Claudi Konig

“We’ve created a classy and sophisticated place for our Belizean guests to come here to give yourself a treat, to enjoy the evening and maybe to get an experience you’ve never had before. To taste a whiskey you have never heard of before or just to kind of get use to drinking wine in Belize. Most Belizeans, they are not really familiar with wine and you can’t blame them because in the past it was not really in the culture here.”

The ambiance of 3 Senses whispers sophistication, inviting guests to embark on a culinary journey like no other.

Claudia Konig

“Currently, we have fifty different kinds of wine on our shelves and we try to bring a very good experience with wine to our customers.”

Isani Cayetano

“What do you believe is the draw or the centerpiece for anyone who comes to 3 Senses?”

Franklin Syrowatka

“Well I believe it is the fire and the water, from a visual point of view, and then of course we have a wide selection of wines, you know, so we want to be ambassadors for wine.”

Isani Cayetano

“And whiskey.”

Franklin Syrowatka

“And whiskey, yes. Although I must admit, my heart is where the wine grows because I grew up in a wine growing area of Germany and it was part of the culture there.”

In this symphony of flavors, wine and food intertwine, leaving behind not just a meal but a cherished memory, a sensory masterpiece etched in time.

Claudia Konig

“First of all, I would like to say big thanks to my husband, who is the mastermind behind the concept and to all the workers who participated and who are working for us, to kind of finish or fulfill our dream and big thanks to our amazing staff.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Alex Sanker Surprises Miss Universe Belize With Painting

Miss Universe Belize, Halima Hoy, is preparing to face off against other contestants on the world stage. She has the support of many Belizeans behind her, including well-known artist Alex Sanker. This afternoon, Sanker unveiled a painting depicting Hoy in a stunning black dress, emerging from a black orchid. It was a surprise unveiling for Miss Universe Belize and her husband was in on it. He told her that he wanted to stop briefly on Albert Street to inquire about Sanker’s work and shortly after she found out about the piece. Our camera was there to capture the moment.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize

“I am caught off guard. My husband told me to look cute today and I was like awe that is nice. I thought it was just a lunch or something and a bunch of tiny lies led up top this moment. I am overwhelmed with the idea that he took the time to do this, and Alex took the time to incorporate a really strong message in this picture because it speaks volumes. The black orchid is at my toes and it represents a woman of black woman, a woman of black heritage representing the jewel. So, I am very touched by this piece.”

Paul Lopez

“So you are surprised.”

Halima Hoy

“I was, coming towards it I am like this is a nice little show and display but one was covered and for a slight little second it gave it away a little bit.”

Alex Sanker, Artist

“I think the crown is what sell it. We have never had a crown like this. It was always something that the pageant probably issue and also most importantly it is the first year where women with kids, marriage could enter the pageant and that is ground breaking. So I wanted to do something special and now for a fact that the black orchid is our national flower. And I don’t care what people see through my painting I am all about country, always promoting Belize in every way. When I found out she won, this is my sixth Ms. Universe, but I wanted to do something different, bring her out of the black orchid and bring her to the world. Of course this is not finished. This is going to be a universe with planets and stuff.”

Training Held for Technical Staff of Belize City’s e-Buses

It’s been more than three months since the first e-bus arrived as part of Belize City’s gradual shift from fuel-operated to electric buses for public transportation. The Belize City Council says there’s been a lot of work done over that time to make the transition seamless. Part of that transition is getting the technical personnel who will be responsible for driving, repairing and maintaining the e-buses familiar with the vehicle. So this week, those persons are in training, held by Build Your Dream, the company that manufactured the e-buses. A delegation of from BYD is in Belize to conduct the training with drivers, conductors, and personnel from the Department of Transport. News Five’s Marion Ali went on board one of the buses today and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

At first glance, it looks like any other bus, but this e-bus has features that we, in Belize, aren’t necessarily accustomed to. Before we get into the cool aspects of what the bus can do, the city’s e- Transit Start-up Coordinator, Neil Hall says it’s not just drivers, conductors and technical staff who are receiving the training.

Neil Hall, e-Transit Start-up Coordinator, Belize City Council

“They’ll be training on first responders. So when the police or the EMTs need to access the vehicle for any particular reason, they’ll know the proper way of doing it, so it’s safe for everyone. On Monday, we’ll start doing other types of trainings that are more physical training. At that point, we’ll have the buses actually start hitting the streets and do range testing, heat testing, speed testing, capacity testing and several different types of tests, physical tests for the buses themselves.”

Chad Dietrich is the General Manager for Caribbean Motors, which is participating in the training sessions.

Chad Dietrich, General Manager for Caribbean Motors

“Some of these features that we’re explaining, yeah, they’re new to us in a lot of cases because of the newer versions of the bus that this is. But as for the difference between diesel and electric, in some cases it’s how do you tow it? Because of the different mechanical systems. How do we maintain it? There’s actually a lot less maintenance required for an electric bus. But it’s making sure that our mechanics and those that are maintaining these buses know exactly the procedures how to do that. Just, it’s a big investment, so we want to keep them in tip top shape so they last a long time.”

Dr. Curtis Boodoo is the UNDP’s e-mobility expert in Belize. The UNDP is the implementing agency for the pilot project, which is funded by the European Union.

Dr. Curtis Boodoo, UNDP’s e-Mobility Expert

“It is our hope, but I am very confident that this will transform the transportation sector in Belize. The inclusion of these two buses, and we have three other buses to come as well as part of the project. Belize uses around 40 percent of your national energy for transport. So that is gasoline, diesel, et cetera, that you import. Having electric vehicles, and in this case, an electric bus, ensures that you more efficiently use your fuel that you import. Electric vehicles, electric buses, around three times more efficient than a normal bus, diesel, or normal car. So you make more efficient use of it. There is a push towards the increasing the use of solar in Belize. The more renewable energy you generate in Belize, the less fossil fuels you burn. So the cleaner the energy becomes.”

And about those cool features I mentioned, Dietrich gives us a first look at those.

Chad Dietrich

“This is a low floor city bus, so it sits low. Number one, it also kneels. So that means it tilts down to the curb level to make it easy for people to get on one one people group that makes it a lot easier for is those that are mobility challenge. So we have a wheelchair ramp here so I can quickly flip that out for you. We have a wheelchair ramp. We also have a call button on the outside of the bus. So if there’s somebody that needs the ramp flipped out. There’s a call button that alerts the driver, and then somebody will get out and assist. So there is a way for us to affix the wheelchair here in the bus, and also when they want to get off, there’s a special button that they’ll press to alert the driver and the conductor so they can be assisted. For those wanting to get off at a certain stop, certainly the stops will be listed up on the screen at the front. I also see time and temperature up there. And then these stop buttons will also alert the driver that somebody wants to be wants to get off at a particular stop.”

The buses are air-conditioned and have USB phone chargers near the seats and free Wi Fi for passengers. But these e-buses, like many of those internationally, accommodates more standees than sitting passengers, with only twenty-three seats, and room for twenty-seven standees with rails to hold onto. Meanwhile, Neil Hall says the launch of the new e-buses is scheduled for July. The plan, he says, is to fully replace all of Belize City’s fuel-operated buses with e-buses at affordable prices. Marion Ali for News Five.

Resilient Rural Belize Project Completes International Review

A team from the International Fund for Agriculture and Development, I.F.A.D., has completed a series of studies on the projects implemented through the Resilient Rural Belize Project. These analyses were executed from May seventh to twenty-fourth, through the fund’s Independent Office of Evaluation which seeks to engage with Small Island Developing States such as Belize and Grenada and ensure that these countries adhere to quality standards, including reporting processes. The team conducted meetings and interviews across Belize, with program stakeholders to observe project achievements and better understand key vulnerabilities related to social, economic, and climate change impacts. The goal of these studies is to ensure that the Resilient Rural Belize Project can meet its objectives and that the benefits are equitably distributed among the targeted rural communities. Previously, the project received a twenty million US dollar loan and grant financing package from I.F.A.D., the Green Climate Fund, and the Government of Belize. This funding is allocated to a six-year initiative to reduce the impacts of climatic and economic events on rural small farmers.