2024-07-29 - Channel 5 Belize

Earl Trapp Wants Patrick Faber Out of the UDP

San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Mayor Earl Trapp wants the United Democratic Party to expel Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber.

Trapp, who is the only UDP mayor in the country, wrote to party chairman Michael Peyrefitte on July 26th. In the letter, Trapp tells Peyrefitte that Faber committed violations and made “disparaging remarks regarding the Party Leader and the Party, which bring our entire Party into disrepute and violate the Party Constitution as well the August 20, 2022 and May 27, 2023 NPC Resolutions which prohibit members according Article 5(5) from engaging in behavior that is injurious to the Party.”

“Recently, when I spoke of the need for the UDP to reform, this is exactly one of the points that needs to be addressed, Party Officials whose repeated actions are not in the best interest of the Party must be held accountable,” he continued.

Trapp stressed that the party cannot allow repeated violations of its Constitution or NPC Resolutions without penalty. He said Faber’s destructive behaviour erodes public trust in the UDP and undermines their chances in the upcoming general elections.

He called for Faber’s expulsion, in accordance with NPC Resolution 5/27/23, to rid the UDP of internal elements with ulterior motives.

Trapp believes that Faber’s continuous disrespect for the Constitution and disregard for the party’s best interests necessitate his expulsion.

The matter is expected to be addressed at the NPC meeting on August 3, 2024.

On July 25, Faber took to Facebook to post: “I do not support dictatorship and censorship! If I’m unable to say how I feel in the party’s internal structures, I’ll say it here loud and clear! I don’t support the dictator leader of the UDP and he must go!”

Caribbean Islands Devastated by Hurricane Beryl as CARICOM Summit Begins

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, along with Jamaica, bore the brunt of Hurricane Beryl’s fury, with Dominica, St. Lucia, and Barbados also feeling the storm’s impact. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, who has assumed the chairmanship of the 15-member regional integration movement, outlined the extensive damage on the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

“Ninety percent of all buildings on these islands were destroyed,” Prime Minister Mitchell reported. “Homes, schools, commercial buildings, shops, the airport, port facilities, marinas, gas stations, the hospital, health centers, community centers—all severely damaged. The road infrastructure, the shoreline, the coastline, the economic sectors have been reduced to zero. Carriacou and Petit Martinique are primarily fishing and agricultural communities.”

“The boats, engines, and fishing equipment were all destroyed,” Mitchell continued. “Livestock were badly affected, with many animals dying. In summary, the agriculture sector, fishing sector, marine industry, businesses, and tourism were all badly devastated by Hurricane Beryl.”

Similarly, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shared the experiences of his citizens on Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island. In the archipelago of 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, nine of which are inhabited, five of the southernmost islands suffered severe devastation.

“Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, and the resort islands of Mustique and Palm Island were hit hard. Further north, the main Grenadine island of Bequia, while not as devastated as the southern islands, still saw extraordinary damage and loss,” Prime Minister Gonsalves stated. “The main island of St. Vincent also suffered significant damage and loss.”

Grenada is hosting the CARICOM summit, which coincides with its 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain. Prime Minister Mitchell emphasized the importance of showing the world that Grenada is open for business despite the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The ceremonial opening of the summit takes place on Sunday, with usual agenda items including agri-food security, the CARICOM single market and economy, as well as Haiti and regional transportation.

CARICOM Assistant Secretary General Elizabeth Solomon expressed optimism about the developments in Haiti. “This meeting will demonstrate how effective we have been, especially in the last year. The commitment made by CARICOM heads of government to support Haiti through a difficult period has led to significant progress. We now have a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned process with a transitional presidential council and prime minister in place, entirely due to the efforts of Caribbean heads of government.”

During the opening ceremony, the Order of the Caribbean Community will be conferred on former West Indies cricket captain Sir Clive Lloyd of Guyana and Jamaican-born former CARICOM Secretary General Roderick Rainford. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, is the summit’s special guest.

PISLM Unveils Phase 2 of SOILCARE Project to Strengthen Caribbean Land Management

The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) held an inception workshop on July 18, 2024, at the Brix Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago, marking the commencement of Phase 2 of the CSIDS SOILCARE Project. This new phase aims to extend the project’s impact across the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS) by introducing sustainable land management practices and enhancing soil health.

Phase 2 builds upon the successes of Phase 1, which included national soil surveys and capacity building in six Caribbean countries. Executive Director Calvin James highlighted that the current phase will focus on mitigating land degradation and incorporating a comprehensive Drought Management Plan. SOILCARE will, “Find measures to mitigate against the drivers that are degrading our land space,” James stated, and added that it is, “poised to expand throughout the entire Caribbean and include a Drought Management Plan.”

The workshop gathered key stakeholders to discuss the project’s expansion into six additional Caribbean countries. FAO Representative Neila Bobb Prescott praised Phase 1’s achievements, emphasising the project’s role in promoting environmental sustainability and resilience. To date, six countries have completed national soil surveys, and over 500 regional technical staff have been trained. The Caribbean Soil Support Group continues to engage in international forums to advance these efforts. The Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) Environment has also tasked the framework group with integrating sustainable land and soil management into climate change adaptation strategies.