2024-07-24 - Channel 5 Belize

The Dean Barrow Story by Lawrence Vernon

An unofficial biography about the life of Belize’s former Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, was launched today in Belize City. The biography was written by author, editor, researcher, and librarian Lawrence Vernon.

This is his twelfth publication and fifth biography. This is the fourth biography written of a Belizean prime minister.

“Today’s accomplishments for me is one of joy and pleasure,” Vernon told reporters this morning.

Vernon said the book took him two years to research and write “because as I said, I wanted to get everything written about Dean Barrow. From newspapers, in the archives, from press releases, articles, and of course, my interview with him.”

The book can be bought at Angeles Press for $40.

NEMO and BDF Enhance Disaster Response Capabilities at Agile Bear 2.0

Representatives from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) and the Belize Defence Force participated at the Agile Bear 2.0 briefing, a critical training session aimed at refining disaster response strategies and capabilities. Agile Bear 2.0, formerly known as “Keel Billed Toucan,” is a flagship multinational exercise led by Joint Task Force-Bravo.

The briefing is a collaboration with international partners such as the U.S. Southern Command and the British Army Training Support Unit Belize. The week-long briefing focused on scenarios vital for effective rescue operations during emergencies.

Participants expressed gratitude to USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the US Embassy Belize, and other key stakeholders for their support and facilitating Belize’s commitment to advancing its preparedness and response capabilities.

Firearms and Ammunition Control Board Enhances Licensing Procedures with Key Stakeholders

The Firearms Control and Ammunition Board (FCAB) convened a crucial meeting at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan on Tuesday. A press release issued today said that the meeting addressed internal stakeholders and focused on enhancing the management of firearms and ammunition in Belize.

An in-depth presentation detailing the FCAB’s establishment, purpose, and regulatory mandate was covered in the meeting. The Board introduced new procedural enhancements to streamline application, review, and approval processes, complemented by rigorous compliance audits for enhanced transparency and effectiveness.

Sharole Carr, CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries and Chair of FCAB, stressed the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing firearm safety. “This meeting represents a milestone in our ongoing commitment to lawful and secure firearm usage,” she said.

Magistrate Mannon Dennison provided insights into recent legislative amendments under Chapter 143 of the Laws of Belize to clarify legal implications for firearm regulation. Meanwhile, Sr. Superintendent of Police Clement Cacho delineated updated roles and responsibilities, reinforcing the critical functions of specialized officers within the regulatory framework.

Netanyahu to Address US Congress Amid War and U.S. Political Turmoil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday afternoon, marking his first appearance since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages being taken to Gaza. According to NBC News, House Speaker Mike Johnson invited Netanyahu to address Congress despite widespread protests and campus demonstrations. Netanyahu’s speech at 2 p.m. ET (12 p.m Belize time) aims to reinforce bipartisan support for Israel amid a chaotic U.S. election year and ongoing Biden administration efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza, where according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, the death toll has exceeded 39,000.

Criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the war has grown. Some Congress members, including Senator Bernie Sanders, plan to skip the speech in protest. He said, “It will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given that honor. Frankly, this invitation to Netanyahu is a disgrace and something we will look back on with regret.”

Vice President Kamala Harris will not preside over Netanyahu’s address, as she will be in Indianapolis, but she is set to meet with him on Thursday. Biden, who has had a strained relationship with Netanyahu over the war, will also meet with the Israeli leader on Thursday. Former President Donald Trump and Netanyahu will also meet on Friday at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, reported CNN.

Currently, there are ongoing protests outside the U.S. Congress in Washington, DC, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

Belize Hosts Climate Analytics Mission to Strengthen Climate Action Plan

As part of a collaborative effort to enhance its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, Belize hosted the Climate Analytics (CA) mission in July. The four-day mission spanned from July 16–19, 2024.

This collaboration forms part of the NDC-TEC Project, a programme funded by the German Government. The project aims to support countries in the Caribbean, such as Belize, to enhance the ambition of their climate targets, implement transformative actions within the energy and transport sectors, and to facilitate strategic access to climate financing.

In an official statement issued by the Ministry it said, “NDCs are commitments that countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation. These commitments include the necessary policies and measures for achieving the global targets set out in the Paris Agreement. Belize developed its first and updated NDCs in 2016 and 2021 respectively. Belize is currently aiming to develop a new NDC, which delineates updated actions and targets to be achieved in our efforts to address climate change.”

During the visit, the Climate Analytics team engaged with local stakeholders to introduce the project’s objectives, assess emission scenarios, enhance inter-agency coordination, and foster partnerships across energy and non-energy sectors. Integral to these efforts is the collection of precise data to inform future NDC targets.

Sharks off Brazil coast test positive for cocaine

Marine biologists have discovered that sharks off the coast of Brazil are testing positive for cocaine, the BB reported. Thirteen Brazilian sharpnose sharks captured near Rio de Janeiro were found to have high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers. The concentrations detected were up to 100 times higher than those previously reported in other aquatic creatures.

This groundbreaking research, conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, marks the first instance of cocaine being detected in sharks. Experts suggest that the drug is entering the ocean through illegal drug labs or via excrement from drug users. While there is a possibility that lost or dumped cocaine packages by traffickers contribute to this contamination, researchers consider this scenario less likely.

Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist at the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, described the findings as “very important and potentially worrying.” All the female sharks in the study were pregnant, but the effects of cocaine exposure on their fetuses remain unknown.

Further research is necessary to determine whether cocaine exposure is altering the sharks’ behavior. Previous studies have indicated that drugs can have similar effects on animals as they do on humans.

This discovery follows a similar finding last year when chemical compounds, including benzoylecgonine—a byproduct of cocaine metabolism—were found in seawater samples off the south coast of England.