The University of Belize (UB) and Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance educational and technical capacities, focusing on human capital development, student internships, and advancements in soil analysis and tissue culture technologies.
This partnership aims to invest in young professionals by offering critical experiences through internships and job placements. UB students are expected to gain practical experience through thesis dissertations, field visits, and real-world applications, bridging the gap between classroom lessons and professional practice.
A key component of this collaboration is the enhancement of the Hummingbird Analytical Laboratory (HAL), transforming it into a comprehensive agricultural soil testing facility. With a recent donation from BSI, HAL is now equipped with the necessary reagents and equipment to perform a full suite of chemical, physical, and soil health tests. This advancement addresses a critical gap in the Belizean agricultural sector, enabling farmers and agronomists to make timely, cost-effective decisions to maximise yields and reduce the overuse of agrochemicals, fostering sustainable agricultural practices.
Additionally, the partnership will focus on improving micropropagation technologies to ensure the phytosanitary health of agricultural crops. Micropropagation, a tissue or cell culture technique, allows for the efficient growing, storing, and maintaining of large numbers of plants, making it a cost-effective solution. The collaboration aims to enhance disease testing techniques, micropropagation methods, and capacity building, particularly in response to the increasing prevalence of plant diseases due to climate change.
The Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye is known as a laid-back tourism getaway several miles from San Pedro Town. But on Thursday night, the high-end entertainment hub was the scene of a fatal shooting. Forty-six-year-old Steven Arceo, who lives and works on the beach, was shot and killed inside a property on Thursday night. The complainant told police that Arceo had entered the property through a window and was shot dead. But family and friends of the deceased say that while Arceo had a troubled past, he had tried to reform his life and was really someone who could be trusted in the area. News Five’s Marion Ali went to Secret Beach to find out what transpired. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Forty-six-year-old Steven Arceo was shot and killed on Thursday night, as he reportedly entered this house through one of its windows. The incident happened sometime around nine p.m., in the Secret Beach area of Ambergris Caye. Police say that twenty-seven-year-old Alexi Chavarria and his family were asleep when he heard noises inside his house and discovered an intruder entering the house through a kitchen window. Chavarria told police that he shot the man with his licensed nine-millimeter pistol. But family and friends of the deceased are at a loss as to why he was there because he was considered a trustworthy individual after he had reformed his life.
Evan Hynes
Evan Hynes, Friend of Steven Arceo
“Eena life everybody goh through dehn differences, but the man dah wa very nice man. If you get to know him, I know him over, I wudda she 15 years. And Stephen, now a well-known person, especially back at Secret Beach. We call him the president of Secret Beach cause when you think about Secret Beach, you think about Steven.”
Marion Ali
“He’s been back here for how long?”
Evan Hynes
“I’d say at least 10 years.”
Marion Ali
“He’s been back here, what working, living?”
Evan Hynes
“He does a little hustling; he sells a little coconut. I wudda put my head on the block that Steven back ya wudda more protect back than bruk in. Or if somebody du bruk in anywhere back he wudda stop dehn like wa security back ya.”
Today, Arceo’s fellow coconut water vendors in the area paid respect to his memory with his name on their sign boards. His aunt, Suzana Arceo told News Five that her nephew’s killing reopens an old wound, one that she never got justice for.
Suzana Arceo
Suzana Arceo, Aunt of Deceased
“He was a good guy at Secret beach. Everybody knows him as Coco Steven, because he sells his coconut right now, we went through his things. We find where he has his tread license. He finds everything is a lot. He has his lot everything that he was doing to sell his coconut there and everybody knows that he goes there and sell his coconut.”
Marion Ali
“What do you believe happened?”
Suzana Arceo
“What I believe really happened, I think that guy that shoot him have an issue with him. I don’t know the guy, but that’s what I really believe. Because if, even though if Steven went to thief, give him a warning shot. Shoot in the air, shoot his foot, but not his head and the way he shoot my nephew. No, man, this open a wound to me, 10 years ago, I lost a son on gun violence and nothing, no justice, nothing was made. And I think the same thing is gonna go for Steven. There’s no justice.”
Arceo says there’s little that the police could tell her today other than the matter is under investigation. Evan Hynes says if the incident had not happened, Arceo would have been his usual self, making them laugh today.
Evan Hynes
“He mi wa deh right there and here who are the conversation apart from that man Secret Beach last one Good person very good person like I said, I don’t know what actually went on but I know the guy Very good guy. Good hearted guy.”
Police are investigating the incident. Marion Ali for News Five.
The Belize Police Department has brought charges against a trio of men for their alleged involvement in gang activity. Earlier today, forty-four-year-old Ian Arthurs, a resident of Rivero Street was charged with being a member of a gang. Also charged were twenty-four-year-old Kenroy Linares and twenty-four-year-old Eric Thompson.
Eric Thompson Kenroy Linares
These individuals are the latest to be arraigned for being members of a gang. On Thursday, thirty-one-year-old Austin Underwood and forty-eight-year-old Doris Grant were also arraigned on a similar offense. As we reported, the couple came under gunfire on Sunday morning while driving home from a concert even here in Belize City. Underwood and Grant were both injured in the shooting. They were treated and released before being arrested and charged.
Inspector of Police Christopher Martinez appeared before the Chief Magistrate today in a sensational case where the law enforcement officer is accused of physical abusing an individual who was in detention at the Raccoon Street Police Station. Aaron Flowers, a businessman, was inside a holding cell when he was reportedly struck over the head with a padlock. It is alleged that Inspector Martinez inflicted the injury on Flowers when he discovered that Flowers was the person who allegedly opened fire at his residence with a firearm. In court today, Flowers said that he has been harassed repeatedly and offered bribes by fellow police officers to drop the charges against Martinez. His attorney sought clarification of the sentencing indication should the officer plead guilty. The Chief Magistrate, who has set the matter for trial indicated, that her range of sentence will be guided by the law. Martinez is looking at possible jail time due to the nature of the offense. The Chief Magistrate also made it clear that she would be imposing a custodial sentence. With that, Martinez rejected the court offer and a date for trial was agreed upon. Of note is that Martinez’s attorney, Andrew Bennett, has since recused himself from the matter, leaving the police officer unrepresented.
If you were driving along the Coastal Plains Highway today, you may have had to reroute due to the heavy flooding that overtook a large portion of the road. While some drivers in larger vehicles were willing to take the risk and push through the water, smaller vehicles were forced to turn back when faced with up to thirty inches of water. Around midday, the road was closed for maintenance as the Ministry and Infrastructure and Development and Housing worked on resolving the issue. Tonight, we report that the water has since receded and the road is once again, open for access. The M.I.D.H. issued a statement informing the public that the ministry will continue to closely monitor the road conditions as further rainfall is expected throughout the weekend and advising all drivers to proceed with due care and attention. Motorists should also take note of the gauges present at the floodways that indicate water depth, use seat belts, adhere to the posted speed limits, and to not drink or text and drive simultaneously.
This morning, the Government of Belize inaugurated a new office space in San Pedro that houses the National Emergency Management Organization, the Department of the Environment and the Forestry Department. The opening of a D.O.E. office on Ambergris Caye is significant because of the rapid development that’s taking place on the island. The office space is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management and the Ministry of Sustainable Development. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“As we open the doors to these new offices, it is a testament to our unwavering dedication to conservation, to sustainable development and continued growth in our nation. This momentous occasion underscores our shared responsibility to nurture and protect the natural wonders that grace our nation, as well as the livelihoods of the people.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Ambergris Caye continues to develop rapidly. To keep up with the growth of the island, the Government of Belize has opened a multipurpose space in San Pedro. It includes an administrative center for the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, as well as an office for the Department of the Environment. Area Representative Andre Perez is also the Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Minister, Disaster Risk Management
“I want to especially welcome the DOE as a symbol of the government’s commitment to work hand in hand with our community to protect and sustain our precious environment. Development is important. Development, especially on Ambergris Caye, is fast-growing, but with that growth we also have to be very careful. As the person from the invocation said, we have to do it in a very sustainable manner. We have to be very… guiding ourselves with that very fine balance of development but at the same time preserving our environment that it is sustainable.”
As area rep for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez promised his constituents that all major government departments would have offices in San Pedro to facilitate an ease of doing business. The Ministry of Sustainable Development has made good on its word.
Orlando Habet
“The establishment of these sub offices of the Department of the Environment, the National Emergency Management Organization and the Forest Department signifies the Government of Belize’s commitment really signifying that this is part of Plan Belize. The primary mandate, collectively, for these departments will be to ensure that the entire Ambergris Caye and surrounding areas, including Caye Caulker and Caye Chapel, develop in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.”
The DOE’s presence on the island ensures that all major development projects are properly monitored and environmentally compliant.
Orlando Habet
“This will be done through operational, advisory and regulatory strategies to address current and future anthropogenic threats to the islands such as rapid tourism development, clearing of mangroves, the dredging of the seabed, land filling and improper management or liquid, solid and hazardous waste.”
Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Mai reiterated the importance of a collaborative approach to safeguarding the environment.
Anthony Mai
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer
“I always say this and I will say it again today, that the environmental challenges that affect Belize cannot be resolved by the DOE alone and so we need all key partners in order for us to manage the Jewel.”
Development and conservation can coexist harmoniously when sustainability is prioritized. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
The rains of the past week have brought on new challenges for people in the flood-prone areas, but it was just over a month ago that the country was praying collectively for some rains to quell the raging wildfires that were sweeping through so much of the rainforest and farmland. Today News Five asked the Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet for an update on how bad the wildfires really were. He said that NEMO was preparing a final assessment and so was the Forestry Department.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“From our side, the Forest Protection Agency, we’re doing a comprehensive assessment. We’re looking at satellite images trying to move out those areas that were affected last year and fires from two years ago. And so you can only hone down on what happened this year and to really come up with those pictures and possibly a value because of emissions. So it’s underway; we already have some pictures, already satellite images. We have been collaborating with other institutions, NASA, and so we’re getting that information and hopefully within the next week or so we’ll be able to finalize that and take it to Cabinet to do a Cabinet information paper.”
How all of this will factor into Belize’s standings at this year’s COP Conference in terms of carbon credits and the benefits we are seeking is yet to be determined. Habet said that while a lot of the forests were burnt, only about ten percent of it was irretrievably destroyed. The rest, he said will regrow with time, and the current rains, coupled with the ashes that formed after the infernos are good for that regrowth to occur.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“We lose some credits if we cannot show that we prevented certain emissions. Really, we initially painted a picture of the area got burned and destroyed. It wasn’t burned and destroyed. They were affected by fire, but only about 10 percent from the information I’m getting was damaged to the extent that it will not regenerate. But most of it will regenerate. Now that the rains have come out, now all those seeds that are on the ground will find fertile soil, especially with the ashes providing a natural environment for growth. And so some of the fires were good for the Pine Ridge Mountain. The area near San Antonio, where we have the protected area for the Elijio Panti National Park, there was some damage, not extensive, but there was some damage. And so all that will be assessed so that we can put a value to it.”
Two weeks ago, the business community of Santa Elena and San Ignacio came out to meet with the Commissioner of Police to share concerns on the issue of crime. Of recent, there has been a few robberies and a murder, particularly since the Hawkesworth Bridge was closed a month ago for refurbishment. Robbers have used that closure to their advantage and have staged attacks on persons on the Santa Elena approach of the bridge, out of the reach of the San Ignacio Police Station. Today, Cayo Northeast Area Representative, Orlando Habet told News Five that a group is to be formed to address the crime issue in the twin towns.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Area Representative, Cayo Northeast
“I know that they have met amongst themselves with the police department. There is a group that was supposed to be formed, and that group needs to be formed quickly. I think the mayor is still out of the country. So that then there is that collaborative effort amongst all the players. So the police, the Area representatives for the three constituencies, and also with the municipality through the mayor.”
The 2024 Lobster season opens at the beginning of July. Lobster is a huge income earner for fisherfolks and restaurant owners in prime tourist destinations like Ambergris Caye. So, islanders go big at the start of the season with their thirteen-day Lobster Fest. It’s the largest celebration at the opening of the season in the country. Last year, Lobster Fest drew more than five thousand visitors to the island. Ahead of this year’s calendar of events, the Belize Tourism Board organized a press trip to get an inside look at how Lobster Fest has evolved across the country over the years and its impact on the communities that host them. Rebecca Arcero chairs the event’s planning committee.
“Originally it started with the idea that June and July were slow months for San Pedro for tourism. We needed to build up Tourism and we needed an idea to draw people in. So the idea was that the opening of Lobster season was an ideal draw. Everyone loves lobster. So these association members came up with the idea that we will do a pre party in the night before everyone is gearing up to go the following the day. Then we would have an opening day event followed by a block party. Originally we had three days, a pre-party and opening party and then a block party. The first year had about eight participants in terms of businesses in terms of booths. We are now up to twenty five booths and two weeks of events leading up to that block party and last year we had five thousand people attend. And I have to say it is really the dedication of the community that has thus growing because they participate, organize the event. We coordinate, but it’s their venue that makes it exciting, makes it appealing.”
