We also heard from one business owner on the island that has been participating in the San Pedro Lobster Fest since its inception. Ana Najarro has had to increase her staff from one to fourteen employees during Lobster Fest. She is an example of the economic impact this event has on the island.
Ana Najarro
Ana Najarro, Dianitas Food And Catering
“I was very late and I called Ms. Rebecca and I said Ms. Rebecxa do you have a spot. She said unfortunately they didn’t have and it seemed like when they started they only had like fifteen or twenty booths around and she didn’t have a tent and I said don’t worry about the tent I will find one. So yes I am one of the few that had been there for seventeen years. The only two years I didn’t do lobster fest was when there was COVID. The crawl goes to several businesses. I don’t go into the crawl. I start preparing for lobster fest two or three months before because like I said I have been there. I started with me being solo at my booth to now having fourteen, fifteen staff members for the nights.”
Water, light, and a structure to provide shelter from the elements are things many people have grown to take for granted, but for Yuri Choc and her family of ten, it is all they are asking for. In early May, the family was displaced after a fire destroyed their home and have since been living in a building used by the local church for a kitchen. This structure has no beds, plumbing, and no space for her children and elderly parents to live comfortably. We visited Choc in Trio Village today, so she can, once again, make an appeal to the public.
Yuri Choc
Yuri Choc, Fire Victim
“When the house started burn I think the ashes dropped on top of the house. Then da right there we see that the house don catch fire and we can’t wet it because we no got no water and the well dry. That’s why the house get burned too, if we got any water, at least we got the water in the well, maybe we could try save the house, but we never have no water in the well, it’s dry.”
Britney Gordon
“Where have you guys been living now that the house burned down? Where are you staying?”
Yuri Choc
“We stay in the church and kitchen, that’s where we stay right now. Yeah, because ney tell we make, we stay right there at the church kitchen. Da right with dih stay but we know can’t take long right there.”
Britney Gordon
“What what’s it like living in this house? Do you guys have beds? Water. How is it there?”
Yuri Choc
“I ah tell you the truth, we not got no water. The church weh paat ney have the kitchen. ney not got no water. We barely get some water with neighbor. We just ask some ney have and some ney no have. And we not got no bed and everything get burned in the house and all the kitchen stuff all get burned. Yeah, everything get burned and we don’t got nothing. We never save no clothes.”?
Britney Gordon
“Have you received any help recently? Has anyone reached out to you and offered you support?”
Yuri Choc
“Yes, I want to tell you the truth. We received twenty bags of cement, but only cement we get help for that, but we need them like zinc or blocks or sand at least somebody could support me for the zinc or sand or blocks and steel. We need everything for the house.”
Choc and her family can be reached at the number six-six-five-eight-five-five-seven.
June twenty-first is World Refugee Day, which is a day to acknowledge and welcome the millions of people around the world who are forced to flee their home countries and seek asylum elsewhere due to circumstances like war or persecution. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity, open doors and finding solutions to their plights. Today, news Five’s Britney Gordon visited Trio Village, one of several communities in Belize where asylum seekers are relocated by the U.N. Refugee Agency. The U.N.H.C.R. hosted a football game to bring the community together. Here’s that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
There are over four thousand refugees currently registered in Belize and every year, the country’s melting pot of cultures only becomes more diverse as it gains about five hundred more. About twenty percent of those refugees are living in southern Belize. So today, on World Refugee Day, the team at the U.N. Refugee Agency, U.N.H.C.R. gathered the community in Trio village to participate in a football match. Myrat Myradov, U.N.H.C.R. Head of Office told us why community bonding activities such as these are important for refugee heavy areas.
Myrat Myradov
Myrat Myradov, U.N.H.C.R. Head of Office
“We’re focusing on a number of the community projects because we’re not only looking from legal protection and documentation point of view, but also making sure that people are able to integrate in the community. And we have a number of livelihoods projects income generation, so they’re not dependent, they’re able to have their business opening a possibility of opening businesses. We have English as a second language courses available to children. Access to schools is also available and possible so kids can receive proper education. Projects related to access to health and working with the local. local clinics. So a lot of community related work and the community volunteers, mobilization of community, the matches like that, also a part of sports strategy and engaging youth more in various sports projects as well.”
Trio village is one of several southern communities where refugees are integrated into. A resident, who goes by the name Cristina, said she’s grateful for being able to make a life for herself in Belize.
Cristina
Britney Gordon
“Do you like being a part of this community?”
Cristina, Refugee
“Yeah, I like it.”
Britney Gordon
“Have you been able to make friends with the Belizeans here? Do you feel like a Belizean living here now?”
Cristina
“Yeah, I like it.”
Britney Gordon
“How long have you been living here”
Cristina
“Twenty years.”
Britney Gordon
“And now being a part of this program, do you feel like it’s made your life better?”
Cristina
“Yeah, for me better.”
Britney Gordon
“Would you recommend other people to be a part of this program too if they need the help?”
Cristina
“Yeah, I recommend to people who want help and make them go look for them.”
The U.N.H.R.C. helps to ensure that displaced people can access documentation, education, work and healthcare. Grayson Rash, a Trio Village community volunteer, told us how much he loves being part of that mission.
Grayson Rash
Grayson Rash, Community Volunteer
“It has given me many experience. It has given me ideas and it does even changing the way I see. Society or persons, because a lot of time we might see individuals walking in the streets, running, but we don’t know exactly why are they walking, why are they running, or where are they going to. And then, this has opened opportunities for me to speak to these people, to get to know people, get to know agencies, and also to provide more information to these persons or refugees who need help. So this also helps me to get more knowledge about these refugees.”
What may have looked like an average football game to onlookers, is but one small part of a greater endeavor, ensuring that the millions of people who are forced to flee their countries from war or persecution are able to call their new host countries home. Aida Escobar, U.N.H.C.R.’s Senior Information Assistant, said that offering the support and peace to the refugees that were not able to find in their homes is a great way to create a close-knit community.
Aida Escobar
Aida Escobar, U.N.H.C.R.’s Senior information Assistant
“We wanted to bring together both refugees and members of the community. And it’s very important for us to do that because in Belize, refugees live side by side with Belizean, with others who live here all We see that for the most part, once you get to know them, once you welcome them a little, you say hi. They’re really nice. They’re very grateful to be here. They’ve gone through a lot of traumas and tragedies because refugees, they didn’t have a choice. They were forced to flee their home because their life was in danger. They were in a situation that was unsafe in their countries. And so they found peace in Belize. They found asylum. And so coming here, when you talk to them, they’re super grateful and they just want to give back to the community.”
The Ministry of Education has responded to the University of Belize’s Faculty and Staff Union. As we reported on Thursday, the U.B.F.S.U. raised serious concerns regarding the subvention that the university receives from the Government of Belize. According to the union, the Briceño administration promised to increase the annual subvention but has failed to keep its word. Earlier today, the ministry issued a statement in which it says, “the government currently provides an annual subvention of seven point six million dollars to U.B. In addition to this, the MoECST has provided scholarship and financial assistance to U.B. students at an unprecedented level of seven point five million dollars annually from 2020 to 2023, compared to the 2019 total of one point five million dollars. Notable, as well, is the level of support being provided to individual members of the faculty and staff to further their education and upgrade their capacity to serve the U.B.” U.B.F.S.U. President, Doctor Pio Saqui shares other concerns that the union has raised.
Dr. Pio Saqui
Dr. Pio Saqui, President, U.B.F.S.U.
“There is one other promise that was made in that same communication in 2021, I believe, where the government or then P.U.P. made it a commitment to include the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union as part of the board of the University of Belize because then it did recognize the disrespect that the university administration showed the union during that time of COVID when we were asking the question of financial exigency, et cetera. And that needs to be something that’s also is made good on because currently we do have a faculty representative on the board in the person of Mr. Tim Dami; however, there is limited representation for our staff and other members of our employees at the University of Belize. So having a union representative on the board would be something that’s absolutely important and that is a process that I think should happen and it shouldn’t take very much. The University of Belize’s U.B. Act is being amended and this should be something that is included so that we are given the respect and treated as equal partners of the university in every sense of the situation, you know, because the University of Belize is made up of its faculty and its staff and the union representatives do need to go, the faculty and staff union needs to go and it needs to be included as a partner on the board and be represented very well. The staff are very important for the U.B. equally.”
The University of Belize and The I.L.S. Phoenix proudly announce the signing of a groundbreaking agreement today, appointing Miss Noelia Hernandez, the reigning Miss World Belize, as the Brand Ambassador for U.B. This collaboration includes a comprehensive Masters’s Scholarship for Miss Hernandez to pursue an M.B.A. program at the University of Belize, further strengthening the ties between education and community leadership. The official signing ceremony was held at the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences Campus, marking a significant achievement in the university’s efforts to enhance its visibility and recruitment initiatives. The agreement was signed by representatives from both U.B. and The I.L.S. Phoenix, symbolizing a shared commitment to educational excellence and community engagement.
Dr. Vincent Palacio
Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, University of Belize
“Very, very important partnership with the ILS Phoenix Group with Miss World Belize where it is that we will use her as a brand ambassador for our university and have her go around and talking about our programs and also providing her with some opportunities as well. She will do a full MBA scholarship from us, so it’s a mutual relationship but we’re happy to have her and to know that she’s a graduate of UB as well. So we know that she’s coming back home to UB to do her MBA, so it’s a very good program.”
Reporter
“How did the collaboration start?”
Dr. Vincent Palacio
Yes, we were approached by the ILS Phoenix Group with the proposal, the dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences and this is the program where the MBA comes under. He embrace it and said let’s run with it. And I am the leader that likes to think outside of the box and welcome new initiatives, I embrace it as well and that is how it started.”
Reporter
“How do you think her image and her participation in going to different schools and being posted on fliers will assist with especially enrollment into UB?”
Dr. Vincent Palacio
“Yes, I think it will help tremendously.”
Noelia Hernandez
Noelia Hernandez, Miss World Belize
“Well, I was extremely excited because I’ve always wanted to do my Master’s Degree in the first place, and then when the opportunity arose, I was like, oh my gosh, I’m actually going to do it. Plus, being an ambassador is something exciting since I already have the background as well. Since Dr. Vincent already said, I come from UB so I was ready for the challenge and it is a challenge indeed, but I think I’m ready.”
This week, our quest for inspiring stories in entrepreneurship—a field where many aspire, but few succeed—led us to a remarkable young businessman. At just thirty-one years old, Andre Pitts manages several businesses simultaneously. How does he do it? That was the question on our minds. Sabreena Daly sat down with him for a brief chat and filed this report.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
If you stop at the Old River Bar and Grill, you’ll likely meet its owner engaging with staff or customers in a branded shirt representing one of his growing number of businesses. This week, when we stopped in, we saw him dressed as Headway Marketing’s rep. Andre Pitts is also the owner of Old River Bar and Grill and several other businesses.
Andre Pitts
Andre Pitts, Entrepreneur
“Well for me it’s not about having my own business or being my own boss. I just really love dealing with numbers. I love doing marketing and logistics. So, owning businesses is a way to keep myself occupied with the things that I enjoy. That’s how I really look at it.”
It all began with Headway Marketing seven years ago. It’s a platform that allowed Pitts to channel his love for writing and creativity. Then during the Covid-19 pandemic, he launched another business, expanding his entrepreneurial pursuits.
Andre Pitts
“Brain freeze, that was a COVID baby; Locked up at home, thirsty, stressed. So I just started playing with mixed drinks and then frozen drinks. Started playing with margaritas and my recipe went from very bad and then it got bad and then kind of good and good and I kept working on it and after a couple months I was very happy with the taste of my margarita.”
And so were many others who tried the alcoholic beverage. Anthony Wagner was there from the start.
Anthony Wagner
Anthony Wagner, Friend “He said, bro, it’s perfect. Bars could buy this from us and they don’t have to worry about it. They can still sell it for the price. They just need a little bit of tweaking. The tequila is perfect. I just needed a little bluer. And I think one of the first times we did it was just, it was either at Smoked on a Saturday afternoon, or it was a pop up we did at one of the parks. Me, Andre, a bunch of cups, a blender, and then it went from one regular blender to a Ninja blender to us having ten blenders. Next thing you know, there’s a trailer, there’s this. You have me grinding on people at the Agriculture Show and brain freeze just took off.”
Brain Freeze developed a unique identity, quickly becoming the beverage of choice at many events. Pitts even expanded the brand by introducing a non-alcoholic version, Brain Freeze Slushies, inspired by his daughter.
Andre Pitts
“With brain freeze margaritas, my daughter, she’s a bit attached to me and she would always want to help out and be next to me. But it always felt strange to have her around alcohol. Plus she would always want something to drink in a fun packet. So I would make non alcoholic drinks for her. And so I don’t remember what. Really triggered the idea but definitely inspired by her and so we launched brain freeze slush it together She’s the co-owner and she has a lot of creative input slash demands and that has been Extremely fulfilling to do along with her. She gets her dividends monthly and She checks in on what’s happening and where we’re going. So that is extremely fulfilling and fun.”
Dana Rhamdas is Pitt’s mother. She is also a businesswoman. He credits much of his inspiration to her. According to Rhamdas, she has always been in awe of Andre’s entrepreneurial spirit from a young age.
Dana Rhamdas
Dana Rhamdas, Mother “One day, I was on the veranda looking out and somebody passed by who knew us. And they said, oh when is the art show? And I was like, what art show? This time, Andre has to be like eight, nine, right? And I said, what art show? And she said, see the flyer right there? I looked over the veranda rail and there was a big poster where he announced that in about a week there was going to be an art show at my house. He always had this leadership thing going, even amongst like the cousins, even though he was younger than some, they always looked up to him as a leader because he always had something going on. But. That weekend, he had all of them. They were doing art. Everybody was busy, busy, busy. And the next Saturday, they did it. They came and they put up their art throughout the house, in the living room. And they sold like 35 worth of art.”
Andre Pitts “You have to figure it out. Those three words alone is a massive foundation for everything. You just have to figure it out, figure it out. So just seeing her being relentless and creative and sacrifices and sticking through the good and bad times with business, that’s a huge inspiration because saying it sounds one dimensional, but seeing it and experiencing it and living it. That’s three dimensional and it really played a big role.”
In the heart of downtown Belize City, the Old River Bar and Grill is teeming with activity. Pitts revealed that this new venture was a symbolic door he built for himself after facing rejection.
Andre Pitts
“This was a product of, I would say, rejection or frustration. With Brain Freeze Margaritas, with the growth of the brand and the growing popularity, it became a competitor for promoters and venues. So, my invitations started to decrease. I would apply to participate in certain events. I would start to get more and more rejection. So I knew that it would become important for me to create my own platform where I could sell my products.”
And now, there’s much more than Margaritas on the menu.
Christopher Carillo
Christopher Carillo, General Manager, Old River Bar and Grill
“I definitely feel like we brought some type of energy and life to the downtown area, especially in the evening times. Cause you know, we’re like the only business downtown in the city that’s open and caters to the public and we sell very good food and drinks. And it’s hard to find somewhere like this, especially with good prices.”
Pitts’ ventures have not only brought new life to the bustling streets of Belize City, but also employment opportunities for others. He now has a staff of fifteen at his restaurant, including his latest hire Jermaine Nickolas. Jermaine stopped by recently, and openly expressed his desire to make an honest living while admitting to having a criminal record.
Sabreena Daly
“What do you do here, Mr. Jermaine?”
Jermaine Nickolas
Jermaine Nickolas, Staff, Old River Bar and Grill
“What do I do here? As a workman, I do the dishes, maintenance, looking around to see if anything is not good. If something is needed like mopping, I help. Like my customers.”
Andre Pitts “He was straight up. He said he had a police record, but he just wants to work. And so we decided to give him an opportunity, and he has been a great addition to the team. He has a very bubbly personality, very silly and funny, but extremely, extremely hardworking and reliable.”
Andre’s contribution to business is a testament of resilience and community impact. Turning rejection into motivation, he reveals that there is a lesson in every setback and an opportunity to propel one’s self further. And if you’re wondering whether this is the cap on the businesses Pitts plans to manage, he said not so. This entrepreneur plans to launch a new business idea every year. Looking on The Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
In honour of World Refugee Day, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) organised a football match in Trio Village, bringing together refugees and local community members. The event saw participation from numerous UN agencies, humanitarian and development partners, and civil society organisations.
World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations, celebrates the resilience and bravery of those forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. This year, the focus is on fostering solidarity with refugees and promoting a world where they are welcomed and supported.
Worldwide, over 120 million people are forcibly displaced, including 43.5 million refugees. UN Resident Coordinator Raul Salazar echoed the UN Secretary General’s message, emphasising the importance of honouring the strength and courage of refugees and enhancing efforts to protect and support them throughout their journey. This day underscores the need to assist and welcome refugees, uphold their human rights, including the right to seek asylum, maintain the integrity of the refugee protection regime, and ultimately resolve conflicts to enable their return home.
Belize hosts more than 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
“Celebrating this day helps us reflect on our progress and share our stories with the world,” said Jonathan, a Honduran refugee living in Belize for 11 years. “Today, I felt immense joy being part of something significant, momentarily forgetting the struggles my family and I have faced. I encourage everyone to learn more about refugees, especially now when more people are being displaced globally.”
UNHCR has been supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Belize since opening its office in Belmopan in 1987. “Everyone has the right to seek asylum and safety. This World Refugee Day, I invite you to stand in solidarity with refugees, whether by joining them in a game of football or advocating for their inclusion,” stated Myrat Myradov, UNHCR Head of Office. “Refugees have much to contribute to Belize, and we appreciate the generosity of host communities in welcoming them.”
The UNHCR acknowledges the United Nations’ commitment to refugee inclusion in all UN activities, including the UN Common Pledge 2.0. This pledge aims to enhance refugee inclusion in national plans, budgets, datasets, and service delivery systems, ensuring no one is left behind as efforts under the Sustainable Development Goals are accelerated.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing advises the public that water has receded, and the Coastal Plains Highway is now open for access. Road conditions will continue to be closely monitored as further rainfall is expected throughout the weekend. The MIDH thanks all road users for their patience and cooperation and reminds all to drive with care and attention, take note of the gauges present at the floodways that indicate water depth, use seat belts, adhere to the posted speed limits, do not drink and drive and do not text and drive.
The Ministry of Education today responded to a press release issued by the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU).
As we have reported, UBFSU criticised the Briceño administration over what it described as “unfulfilled promises.”
In its release, the ministry stated that it is “deeply committed to the responsible, sustainable development of the University of Belize (UB).”
“The Ministry’s objective is to have a clear plan for the sustainable, responsible financing of the national university. An element of that plan is to increase the subvention to UB from the current level to BZ$10M in the 2025/26 financial year,” the release further stated.
In an interview with News 5 on Thursday, the union’s president, Dr. Pio Saqui, told the government to “restore the subvention as it was prior to COVID and make good on the promise orhonor the promise that they made to increase the subvention a million dollar each year, up to fifteen million dollars which is where it should be around now.”
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is supporting the UBFSU. In a press release, the umbrella union urged the PUP to “demonstrate accountability,” as they stand in solidarity with “UBFSU’s call for the PUP to honour its commitments to the University of Belize and its faculty, staff, and students.”
Police in San Pedro Town are investigating the fatal shooting of forty-six-year-old Steven Francis Arceo.
Arceo was shot last night at around 9:45 near Secret Beach. An official statement from the police says, “Officers found the lifeless body of a man with gunshot wounds, partially inside a house.”
Police say that twenty-seven-year-old Alexi Marcelo Chavarria shot Arceo several times.
Investigators say that Chavarria was asleep when he heard “strange noises.”
“Investigating the sounds, Chavarria discovered an intruder entering his home through a kitchen window. Chavarria then shot the alleged intruder with his licensed 9mm pistol,” the official police report stated.
Arceo’s body was transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination is pending.
