Belize Telemedia Limited wants to bring connectivity to the remote areas of Belize on the same level as the urban areas. To do that, the company is selling two parcels of prime property in Belmopan. The land is what houses the company’s Belmopan office and measures six acres. C.E.O. Ivan Tesucum explained to reporters that they will use the monies from the sale of the property to invest in that connectivity project. Tesucum says so far all they’ve gotten is interest expressed.
Ivan Tesucum
Ivan Tesucum, C.E.O., B.T.L. Digi
“We’re still advertising it and we’re awaiting the, so first of all, the way it works is it’s an expression of interest. That expression of interest requires you to then submit that you’re interested and then we would then send you the pack when you’re, when we send you the information pack, then you then respond back with what you believe is your price. So that’s where we’re at right now. I would say that we’re still going through that expression of interest and we’re waiting. So people have expressed interest. We haven’t received quite a bit of, offers as yet. It’s about using those funds for us to be connectivity because we don’t want to leave anybody behind. And we know that in rural areas, especially don’t so don’t we don’t have connection. So and in those areas as well, you don’t have the population. You might not have electricity, so there’s a lot of more effort that you have to put in.”
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders opened their three-day summit in Grenada on Sunday, with proceedings overshadowed by the ongoing impact of climate change on their nations. Just four weeks into the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the region experienced the devastation of a category five hurricane. The forty-seventh regular meeting of CARICOM will cover a wide range of issues, including agri-food systems, nutrition security, climate change, sustainable development, foreign policy, and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Today, two of CARICOM’s longest-serving heads of government have welcomed the results of the recent presidential elections in Venezuela, though some colleagues have taken a more cautious and diplomatic stance. From Saint George’s, Grenada, Peter Richards reports for News Five. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEekOeupzKc
Goodnight and Welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. On Friday night, Beacon played against Wolfpack in the Belize City Fast Pitch Softball Championship. This one was for all the marbles.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Heavy rains at the end of the week left the Rogers Stadium’s softball field riddled with puddles of water. But the match had to be played after several postponements in the past weeks, also due to the weather. At the top of the first inning, Shadalee Ho up to bat for Beacon with runners on second and third. A catcher’s error from Wolfpack led to Beacon’s first run by Arneek Roland. Jassany Castro, in the batter’s box, makes contact and sends the ball directly to the first base. Wolfpack gets the out, but Shadalee Ho makes it home safe.
Rebecca Nicholson attempted a steal to second base and found herself in a difficult position that she was able to somehow maneuver her way out of. Nicholson successfully made it to second base, while Sharon Vernon made yet another run for Beacon. A pitch to Sherlene Humphreys is fumbled by the catcher. Nicholson makes it home safe.
Beacon made a fifth run in the first inning after Wolfpack’s pitcher fumbled a popup ball, allowing Lynese Alvarez to make it home safely. Wolfpack would not make its first run of the final match until the third inning. By this time, their opponents had already scored a total of ten runs. Their first run came off this hit towards second base and a subsequent fumble that sent number seventy-seven home. Ivana Baptist came from behind with a high-flying hit into center field that led to Wolfpack’s second run. This one was from Alexie Flowers.
Well folks, that was the last of Wolfpack’s scoring run in this match. Beacon Softball Club went on to score four more runs at the top of the fourth inning. Another run from Rebecca Nicholson. Sherlene Humphreys with the steal to home plate. She is immediately followed by a sprinting Kendal Morgan who looked as if she was ready to overtake her teammate. And a final run from number two.
The game ended with Beacon Softball Club scoring fourteen runs to Wolfpack Softball Club scoring two. With that, Beacon is the 2024 Belize City Softball Champions. They are set to represent the Old Capital in the upcoming national tournament.
From softball, we move into some basketball action. The Belize Elite Basketball finals will finally continue Friday night after an extensive break. The controversial game three between the Belize City Defenders and the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes will be replayed as the first order of business. With that, the best of five games series is tied at one game apiece. We heard from B.E.B.L. Commissioner Glenn Gill about how the league has been able to overcome this hurdle and what fans can expect on Friday inside the Belize City Civic Center.
Glenn Gill
Glenn Gill, Commissioner, Belize Elite Basketball League
“So far I guess we have gone over the glitches, especially with the Civic not being available to play the game. And, I can categorically state at this potin that the third game will be replayed Friday at nine o’clock at the Civic Center.”
Paul Lopez
“What is the schedule for the games following that?”
Glenn Gill
“The fourth game will be played on Sunday. The time has not been finalized as yet, but it will be played on Sunday. If there is a fifth game, it will be played the following Thursday which is the eight of August.”
Paul Lopez
“How are the team right now, in terms of heading into these matches? Are they onboard?”
Glenn Gill
“I was made to understand that the teams are practicing. I expect that it will be a highly contested game again this Friday. I want to encourage the fans to come out and see a well-played basketball game.”
And finally, for tonight, the Williams Dawson, Sprite/Digi Basketball Tournament is on its second weekend of games. We have been following the defending champions, Hard Rock Boyz, as they are off to an early winning streak. On Saturday, they played against Hattieville Underdogs at the Yabra Green Basketball Court.
Early basket for Hattieville under the rim from number ten. Big rebound and put back for Hard Rock’s Earl “Bolo” Johnson to secure his team’s first basket. Hattieville’s number ten again, this time from the three-point line, makes it count. Marcel Richards with the fast break, but he ends up missing the open layup. Raheem Thurton, showing his size under the rim, goes up and banks the bucket. The first quarter ended with Hattieville Underdogs on top. But that changed in the second quarter. Hard Rock finished the first half with seventeen points to Hattieville’s sixteen points.
Travis Bernardez in the third quarter with the early fast break to extend his team’s lead. “Bolo” Johnson with the rebound and the put back under the rim. Hard Rock Boyz outscored their opponents fourteen to three points in the third quarter. Hattieville Underdogs went on a massive run in the fourth quarter. They scored eleven points while Hardrock Boyz was only able to secure four points. But, in the end Hard Rock Boyz won this one with thirty-five points to Hattieville Underdogs’ thirty points.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday Catch you in the next one.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical weather outlook for the central Atlantic Ocean. An area of disturbed weather, currently situated over the central tropical Atlantic, is expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave in the coming days. Forecast models suggest that environmental conditions may become favorable for gradual development. A tropical depression could form by late this week as the system nears the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas.
At present, the likelihood of formation within the next 48 hours remains low, near 0 percent. However, there is a 50 percent chance of development over the next seven days.
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for Guardant Health’s new blood test, Shield, to screen for colon cancer. This decision could significantly impact the rate of screenings for the second-highest cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. The test is designed for individuals aged 45 and older who are at “average risk” for the disease.
While Shield offers a less invasive and quicker alternative to colonoscopies, specialists emphasise that it does not replace the gold standard of colorectal cancer screening. Colonoscopies are more accurate, particularly in detecting precancerous polyps and are recommended every 10 years compared to the Shield test’s recommended interval of every three years. Robert Smith of the American Cancer Society cautioned that a positive Shield test requires confirmation through a colonoscopy: “A test like this is not complete if it’s positive and you have not had a colonoscopy.”
This new approval is expected to address low screening rates; fewer than 60% of eligible individuals currently undergo recommended screenings. “The biggest problem with colon cancer right now is that there’s a significant part of the population that’s not getting screened,” said Dr. Sapna Syngal from Dana-Farber Cancer Center. He noted that the potential for the test to increase the number of people getting screened could have a significant impact on cancer detection.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams addressed the media this morning regarding the recent arrest of controversial individual Joseph Budna. As we have been reporting, Budna has been arrested, charged, and arraigned for abetment to murder. He appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate Court where he claimed that “They are trying to get rid of me.”
Budna was charged in relation to a murder that occurred in 2021, three years ago.
When asked about it, Williams told reporters that a specialised team of investigators has been diligently working on cold cases, including the stabbing murder of Guatemalan national Armando Coy Cacao, with which Budna has been charged.
“I assembled a team of specialized investigators from Special Branch, Major Crime, CIB, and GI3,” stated Commissioner Williams. “I tasked them with reviewing past murders, particularly in the Cayo and Belize district areas where we have the State of Emergency. Their job is to re-interview witnesses, examine video footage, review statements, and see what additional work can be done to identify the perpetrators of these murders.”
According to Williams, the team, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dawson, has made commendable progress.
“They also solved the Coleman murder in Belmopan. Additionally, Budna has been charged with abetment to murder in another case. The principal offender in that case had left the country and was reportedly killed in Honduras,” Williams shared.
“We were able to arrest Budna based on evidence suggesting his involvement in the crime,” he added.
Self-proclaimed journalist Joseph Budna was arraigned this morning in the Belmopan Magistrate Court after he was charged with abetment to murder on Friday. Budna’s arrest is in connection with the murder of Guatemalan national Armando Coy Cacao that occurred on July 23, 2021.
Investigators believe that Budna played a role in Cacao’s death. The deceased was found with multiple stab wounds on Guyana Street in Belmopan.
In handcuffs, Budna claimed that the charges against him were part of a Belize government conspiracy. As Budna was escorted out of the establishment by police, Budna shouted, “The government is doing a witch hunt against me. I had been an activist…I did a Live from in front of the Ministry of police, and when i did that, immediately charges start to come against me even though there is not sufficient evidence.”
Despite his history, Budna insisted that the charges are baseless and that there was no evidence on the charges against him. He claimed he might be found dead in a prison cell, “If they find me dead in my cell, it’s the government to be blamed… If I don’t get my medication it’s not that I denied, It’s that they don’t want to give me my medication. They are trying to get rid of me.”
Grenada is hosting the 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The summit has the participation of regional leaders, addressing pressing issues affecting the bloc.
Outgoing CARICOM Chairman and Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfan Ali, used his address to highlight the media’s failure to report on regional successes, especially regarding the situation in Haiti. “We left our normal duties and sometimes spent six, seven hours in the night working for the people we love, the people of Haiti, to ensure a return to democracy,” Dr. Ali said. He expressed frustration at the negative portrayal of their efforts by various media outlets. “Today, we have a presidential council and a prime minister in Haiti, and we remain committed to ensuring Haiti’s return to full normalcy, democracy, and governance.”
A significant highlight of the ceremony was the admission of Curacao as the sixth associate member of CARICOM. Prime Minister Gilmar Simon Pissers of Curacao assured that this membership would not affect their relationship with the Netherlands. “Our membership and commitments within the Kingdom of the Netherlands will not compromise our regional integration objectives,” he stated.
During the ceremony, former CARICOM Secretary-General Roderick Rainford and former West Indies cricket captain Sir Clive Lloyd were honoured with the region’s highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community. In his acceptance speech, Lloyd urged the region to prioritise health issues, specifically prostate cancer. “It’s important for men to get tested. You don’t need to die; there are treatments available,” he emphasised.
Although not all leaders were present at the ceremonial opening, they are expected to participate in the formal deliberations starting Monday. The summit, originally scheduled for July 3-5, was postponed due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada thanked the region for its support in the hurricane’s aftermath and announced that he would champion an ambitious digital transformation agenda as CARICOM’s lead on ICT.
“We have an opportunity in the Caribbean to ensure we are not left behind in this technological revolution. We owe it to the next generation to provide them with the tools and education to apply their skills globally while living in the Caribbean,” Mitchell stated.
The CARICOM leaders will also review progress towards achieving a 25 percent reduction in food imports by 2025, among other key issues. As the summit continues, the focus will be on ensuring sustainable development and regional integration for the benefit of all Caribbean citizens.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony stirred up global ‘side eyes’ following a drag performance that critics argue disrespected Christian sensibilities. The performance included a segment that imitated Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ with drag performers dressed provocatively.
Catholic leaders, including representatives from the Vatican and French bishops, condemned it as “derisive” and disrespectful to Christianity. Bishop Emmanuel Gobillard, a spokesperson representing the Holy See for the 2024 Paris Olympics, told NBC News, “The fact that our religion should be mocked is usual, and we are used to blasphemy in France, but the context isn’t the same. In an event that brings together all or part of the population, I found this staging hurtful and out of place.”
After receiving global backlash, the Paris 2024 Olympics Committee has issued an apology, emphasising that the intention was to celebrate diversity and inclusion, not to offend. Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the Committee, asserted that the performance aimed to promote community tolerance, though she acknowledged that the execution may have inadvertently caused offense. “We really did try to celebrate community tolerance. Looking at the results of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we are, of course, really, really sorry,” Descamps said.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Thomas Jolly, the artistic director, defended the performance as a tribute to diversity and French culture rather than a deliberate mockery of religious iconography. He said, “My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide. In France, we have freedom of creation, artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country. I didn’t have any specific messages that I wanted to deliver. In France, we are republic, we have the right to love whom we want, we have the right not to be worshippers, we have a lot of rights in France, and this is what I wanted to convey.”
On July 26, the Games’ official X account shared additional images, revealing that the performance was instead inspired by the Feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. The statement emphasised that the depiction was meant to highlight the absurdity of violence and celebrate community tolerance.
Nicky Doll was among the drag queens who carried the Olympic flame and also performed during one segment of the ceremony. Doll responded to the criticism, saying, “The opening ceremony did ruffle some feathers… and I LOVE it. Doll wrote on his Instagram Stories on Monday morning: “You know why? Because the Olympics are the biggest stage in the world and we queer people have always been the audience to other people’s lives and achievements. It is time that we are welcomed into this space.”
Venezuela faces international scrutiny as both President Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez have declared victory in Venezuela’s presidential election. This has triggered global doubts about the validity of the official election results. The election was held on Sunday.
The National Electoral Authority, which is allegedly controlled by Maduro loyalists, announced shortly after midnight that Maduro secured a third term with 51% of the vote to 44% for González.
The delay in official results—six hours after polls closed—has fueled scepticism and led the opposition to reject Maduro’s presidential win.
According to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, independent exit polls suggest a landslide victory for Gonzalez, who reportedly received 70% of the vote. The Council was criticised for not releasing the tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide, only promising to do so in the “coming hours,” hampering the ability to verify the results.
The election period was marked by tension and sporadic violence, including a fatal incident in Tachira state and confrontations at polling sites in Caracas, reported Reuters. Police intervened to disperse a protest in Catia, a stronghold of Maduro’s supporters. The election results held heavy implications for Venezuela’s future. Amid an ongoing economic crisis and mass emigration, opposition leaders and supporters hoped that a change in leadership could restore stability. The country, grappling with severe inflation and widespread shortages, has been yearning for economic and political reform.
International reaction has been swift. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several Latin American leaders, including Chile’s Gabriel Boric and Guatemala’s Bernardo Arevalo, expressed concerns about the credibility of the results. Blinken stated, “We have serious concerns that the results announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
Blinken criticised the Venezuelan National Electoral Authority, questioning its independence and alleging it serves as an extension of Maduro’s government. Maduro’s previous re-election in 2018 has been widely denounced as fraudulent by the international community.
