The redistricting exercise, when it does take place, will mean that some constituencies will become smaller and some larger in number of voters. The Belize Rural South division, which comprises San Pedro and Caye Caulker, is the fifth largest in the country. That constituency will likely be redrawn, making it smaller in size. Today Area Representative Andre Perez told us that he is unbothered by the possibility of redistricting.
Marion Ali
“If the redistricting readjusts the size of your constituency, are you concerned about it? And how?”
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“Listen, we cannot be – I’m not concerned about redistricting. Honestly, I do know that I’m a very large – I’m the third largest constituency. I wouldn’t say me – Belize Rural South is the third largest [with] just over 10,000 registered voters. I’d say, so when it comes to redistricting, I understand it needs to be it to be divided up in the right way. And when the time comes for that, I’m prepared. I’m losing no sleep over it.”
Today, both ministers Perez and Habet were asked to speak on major developments that are happening in Belize, primarily in San Pedro, that involve extractive activity or infrastructural developments over the sea. Habet, who was asked to weigh in on these types of projects after Belize has signed a blue bond that supports marine environments, did so candidly. He said that much of Belize is still under protection and that the country needs development but that it is doing so as responsibly as it can. Perez, who was asked about heavy-duty machinery that was recently shipped to San Pedro for development, assured that the protocols are being followed before any kind of activity takes place.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“I did find out that it’s a machine for excavating the quarry there, and that quarry that you’re talking about there, they are very compliant. They have everything in place with all – compliant for doing the mining. It’s just a bigger machine to produce the material that is white marl, which is crucial for the streets. Remember that the town of San Pedro, we have an aim of paving nine miles, but to pave those nine miles, we need to prepare those streets with white marl. If we were to talk about cost, bringing nine loads of white mall on a barge from Belize City to Ambergris Caye would cost somewhere around $15,000. That’s what it costs. Now with this natural resource available, and we’re doing it the right way, correctly, in compliance, this is what is created for the Town Council and for the town to prepare these streets for paving, we’ve saved millions of dollars. So that’s the bright side we need to look at. While it’s true that it’s looking like a huge machinery, the development of Ambergris Caye is growing so fast that we have to prepare. But everything so far shows that it’s being done in compliance.”
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“For national development there are certain risks that we take. Progress, as they say, brings problems, but let’s take it from the standpoint. Belize has a vast amount of land and sea in conservation. We need national development. Some projects that are entertained by one, applying for an environmental impact assessment goes to at least 15 professionals on the N.E.A.C. after a summary of the report comes to them from the Department of the Environment. We go based on their recommendations. I think that we have, as 60 percent of our country is still in forest cover, we have about 39 percent in protected areas, a large part of the logging comes from sustainable logging concessions, and we really have very little mining being done that will affect the forest. Our environment – certainly when a mangrove is torn down, people see it negatively. What we have to start to do now is to also ensure that these companies and these investors can also do some restoration activities. And to work along with us to see how we can still have those development projects, but also be as conservative as possible.”
While participating in a side event at the Small Island Developing State Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management showcased Belize’s Blue Bond Agreement. The event was cohosted by the Government of Belize and the Nature Conservancy with the goal to educate other countries on how debt-for-climate swaps can help their economies. The Belize Blue Bonds was presented as a success study to emphasize how tools such as these agreements can be used to help them reach their nature and climate commitments without increasing the nation’s debt. We spoke with Habet today, who told us more about the presentation.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Climate Change
“We have been in certain conversations in dialogues and our participation to some of these dialogues has been the presentation of our blue bond agreement. We demonstrated to the rest of Caricom and the other SIDS and those other participants that are here at the meetings whole country like ours. Using its natural assets can have debt sustainability by engaging in these types of agreements. Leveraging your assets to reduce your debt. But also to have some conservation funding. And in our case, an additional amount of money is going for an endowment that can increase and can be used for other sources, putting some back to nature, and also some that can go back international development. This has been taken on and seen as something very viable for some states that can have that have those assets. But also, one of the requirements is that you have to have the debt to be able to restructure the debt and then other commitments that can be made from other institutions. In our case, we were lucky to be able to have the development finance corporation from the United States to back up our part of the agreement. And so we were able to be successful in that transaction. So things, all these things have to be put in place so that then it can be done.”
And for those property owners in San Pedro and Caye Caulker who have gone ahead to build seawalls, creating either obstructions to others or concerns about the environment, Perez explained that they are being dealt with in accordance with the law. Today he informed that stop orders have been issued to all those property owners who have insisted on continuing with their construction. He added that having Forestry and the Department of the Environment now represented on the island is already making a positive difference.
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“I think they’re looking at stop orders already. And I did speak with the different departments this morning because it’s not only that wall, to be honest with you, that’s being brought to light, because one thing, I thank the Caye Caulker people for bringing it to light. There are many concerns up in Ambergris Caye as well, and I’ve been reaching out. So I’m thankful now that the Department of Environment and Forestry has an office, and know they are doing the work, and we’ve expressed the support as well from the council that’s providing any kind of support that we can do with them, as well as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. So all is coming into place, and let them know, especially those people are developing up there, we’re not calling any names – foreigners that come in there. We simply just want to make it clear to them that we are a country of standards. There is a way development can happen, but there are ways and means how to do it. There’s a legal process and a lot of that has gone unchecked because it’s a huge place. The municipality is overwhelmed, but having the right departments in permanent place is going to make a difference and it’s making a difference already.”
The National Emergency Management Organization often meets around this of year for a disaster communication workshop as part of its preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. But with climate change and forest fires having so much impact on the environment, the City Emergency Management Organization included all these occurrences in the discussions. Today’s workshop had the participation of all the relevant departments that would be first responders in the event of a natural disaster. Because Belize City is low-lying, flooding and erosion are primary topics. News Five’s Marion Ali was present for the early part of the workshop and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This morning, teams from various government departments met with personnel from the Belize City Council for a workshop to streamline their communication capacity to better respond to natural disasters. Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez pointed out that because the world is under constant threat due to climate change, the discussions can no longer be centered on hurricane preparedness.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“It’s no longer June to November. We’re talking about not only storms now, we have the serious threat of fire. Climate change is real and rising sea level, erosion, everything is affecting this city, which is the hub, the economic hub of the entire country. So it’s crucial, and we have that focused and organize leaders as it relates to NEMO to be prepared. It’s always about preparedness as we enter into the hurricane season. And today’s session invited all the relevant departments to conduct a session to see where we can work together in terms of when storms come around or when we have the threats of other potential dangers that come to the city.”
CEMO Liaison Officer, Melanie Dawson says today’s session was key because having optimum communication among a working group of first responders can spell the difference between a good and bad outcome.
Melanie Dawson
Melanie Dawson, CEMO Liaison Officer, Belize City Council
“This is our preparation phase at this point right now, so basically we are in preparation of getting our internal staff and our stakeholders ready. And this time we took a different approach and we are working on our communication line within the E.O.C. So we want to ensure that we enhance our communication patterns within the E.O.C. This way we can execute our roles and responsibilities in a more effective and efficient way for the residents within the city.”
Communication capacity aside, does the Belize City Council and its partners have the wherewithal to respond in a timely fashion to the needs of a rapidly expanding municipality should a hurricane or tsunami render the population in need?
Melanie Dawson
“This is why we collaborate with other stakeholders when it comes to resources. This is where we extend and we work in collaboration to get resources that we need. Within a tsunami plan, all of these components are being included in it. Right now at this point we are working along, with Captain Daniel Mendez to finish a plan that we actually had started for Belize City.”
Dawson says that when the plan is completed it will be shared with the public. Marion Ali for News Five.
Since the fire station compound on Cleghorn Street was sold and the structure torn down, there has been no construction of a new headquarters. The office is currently on Albert Street, while the trucks are parked at the Marion Jones Stadium. But today when he was asked about a permanent fire station for Belize City, Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez said that he has a plan not only for a Belize City fire station, but for others that are needed elsewhere as well.
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“Actually we are working because remember there’s funds already. The land has been secured there on Chetumal Street. We are working on it. It’s going to be a slow process. Again, we’re stuck with what we inherited from the last administration, and I’m new into this ministry here as well, the disasters management and the Fire Department falls under it. Actually, I want to share with you. I’ve done a tour. I’ve been to the south along with the C.E.O.s and the Fire Chief, and NEMO as well. I did a tour down south, visited the fire station in Dangriga, which is a fine station, very nice. Of course, Independence needs a big upgrade, as well as the town of Punta Gorda. So we’re working on that. The funding is where we’re going to work and we have a plan. We do recognize that there’s lots of improvement in that department. Certainly private sector has to play a role. I will call out, again, in Independence, there are many business people there near that port. We’re going to reach out to them, and I’m sure they’ll be collaborating with us to see how we can improve because eventually, God forbid, a disaster happens in the port, the Fire Department will be called upon. So that’s my method of approaching, not only relying on government. Government can lead, government can try to get the funds, but there are stakeholders that are involved and we must reach out to them. And I’m sure they’re waiting for us to sit down with them to make things better, not only for report, but for area.”
Today, at the Image Factory, Belizean author, Melissa Bradely debuted her second book, titled Mahagni Gyal. This book tells the story of a young girl as she navigates life, puberty, and love in Belize. The book also features illustrations from Belizean artist, Nisa Sanchez, who also illustrated Bradley’s first book. We attended the book launch today, where Bradley told us that she wrote this book with the goal of capturing the essence of lived experiences, while allowing others to interact with a story that carries on the heritage of Belize.
Melissa Bradley
Melissa Bradley, Author
“One of the reasons why I really wanted to implement Creole, I wanted to do this a long time. And my studies at this moment really pushed me because at one point I was looking for Creole stories in my, for my dissertation work and I could not find Creole stories. When I looked around, I would find folklores, but we are not looking for folklores, we are looking for lived experiences of Belizean people, Belizean Creole people, because I was looking for Creole stories. And so I said, you know what? I need to start writing this because we need to start seeing more of us in our literature in school. And when I say us, I am talking about all ethnic groups in Belize. We need to give more power to the languages we speak and to our identities. Because I am an advocate for using all of our language within the classroom. I’m not saying go and teach all these languages in the classroom. What I’m saying is allow students to use their language so that they can understand the content that you are teaching. Because sometimes, we do not say things the best in English because even as teachers, English is not our first language. It’s not our first language. We have a multicultural society, yet our language of instruction is English. If we do not see something wrong with that picture, then something is wrong with us.”
Nisa Sanchez
Nisa Sanchez, Illustrator
“It was so wonderful when she approached me. I felt so happy that she approached me again. Because, it was another opportunity to work with her. And the best thing about working with MISS Bradley is that she really lets me just have this open canvas. I can interpret the story, I can interpret the characters however I want. I can propose to her new ideas and she’ll interact with them. I think, for me I was excited to work with her again.”
The Senate Special Select Committee’s public hearing on the Portico “Definative Agreement” is being postponed, again. This time it’s because former UDP Minister, Erwin Contreras has declined to participate, according to the committee.
The next hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the National Assembly building in Belmopan.
The committee says that it had anticipated the attendance of Contreras, who has since indicated his unwillingness to attend.
“The Committee is most disappointed at this information as Mr. Contreras has already admitted that he signed the “Definative Agreement”, which committed the Government and the people of Belize to grant Portico financial concessions worth hundreds of millions of dollars for 30 years. Mr. Contreras is the only person and former Government Minister who can explain why he signed the Agreement.”
The committee is urging Contreras to reconsider his decision and attend the hearing.
The government of Belize today reaffirmed its solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
In a statement, the Belizean government expressed “concern over the recent escalation of actions by the People’s Republic of China in the Taiwan Strait. These actions pose a threat to international peace and stability in the region and undermine the right to self-determination upheld by the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan).”
As we have reported, tensions are escalating in the Taiwan Strait, as China has initiated two days of military drills encircling Taiwan, only days after the democracy inaugurated a new leader who has long been disfavored by Beijing.
China’s military says the drills are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over Taiwan.
Belize is urging the People’s Republic of China to cease these provocations to prevent further escalation of tensions and to respect the democratic values cherished by the people of Taiwan.
“Belize stands in solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).”
Mexico is set to elect its first female president, with Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, leading in the polls. Her main opponent is Xóchitl Gálvez of the conservative PAN party. Despite this historic milestone, the election is overshadowed by unprecedented violence, with at least 34 political candidates or applicants murdered since June 2023. Chiapas, a crucial area for smuggling from Guatemala, exemplifies the desperate pleas from citizens for safety from gang control.
The country faces around 30,000 homicides annually, and a staggering 95% of crimes go unpunished. Femicide rates remain high, with significant impunity for such crimes. Mexico leads globally in political gender equality due to a 2019 constitutional reform, but it remains dangerous for women.
Both Sheinbaum and Gálvez have not provided detailed plans for addressing security issues and have not dismissed the military’s role in combating organised crime. Experts argue that militarization alone won’t resolve issues of impunity and corruption. The current administration’s attempts to demilitarise have largely failed, with criminal organisations maintaining their influence.
The paradox of electing a female president amid pervasive gender-based violence underscores the complex realities of gender and security in Mexico.
