Scavone said that if there was one downside to the festival it was the chaos that the overcrowding caused to the traffic in San Pedro. The island town, known for already congested streets during peak time, was overwhelmed this weekend. Scavone said that there are other back streets that have recently been paved that helped in the flow of traffic, but the closure of others impeded the flow in those main areas.
Nichloas Scavone
Nichloas Scavone, Chair, B.T.I.A., San Pedro Branch
“Our roads are not built for the level and the quantity of tourists and golf carts that we get traditionally. Traffic is bad during season on any given day. It was particularly bad because they started closing off roads; they close off usually for Lobster Fest, they’ll close off just the one section by Sacachispas Park. But for this, they closed off the entire street, which really puts a crimp in the ability for carts to get around. Yes, congestion was a real problem; a lot of people, a lot of congestion, a lot of delays, a lot of just – I was reading he was parked by Minnelli’s Ice Cream and it took him half an hour to get a break in the traffic long enough for him to be able to back out of his parking spot. One of my employees here, our concierge, was going downtown and to get one block but for twenty minutes going through town. It was horrendous. But on the plus side, better to have a lot of people and have a little inconvenience than not to have any people and have free-flowing traffic. And we as the town has had a process of paving a lot of the back streets, so there are now alternative areas, alternative ways to get downtown and to bypass some of the main bottlenecks that we have so that has been a help.”
Benksaid Bembe is officially for sale. The Kriol and English storybook written and translated by Belize Kriol language enthusiast, Silvaana Udz, hit the shelves today at the Angelus Press. The publication features illustrations from artist David Smith and promises pages of comedy and Belizean expressions that all readers can appreciate. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the book launch in Belize City for more details on the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
If you have ever been referred to as bembe, then chances are you enjoy a good argument. The word typically carries a negative connotation, referring to a bully or someone who’s confrontational. And nine times out of ten, it is a woman being labelled as such. But Belizean author, Silvaana Udz says that there is a little bit of bembe in all of us. Udz launched her first work of fiction titled Benksaid Bembe today at the Angelus Press.
Silvaana Udz
Silvaana Udz, Belizean Author
“Benksaid Bembe. I believe everybody got a bembe inna dey. But, you know, the idea of this riverbank person weh inna everybody business. But ih da no really a bully bully. So, one of the things with Benksaid Bembe is, she get in a whole thing when tourists just mih dih start come da Belize, foreign visitors. And when they gawn da riverbank, they get in a big thing with what are the difference between Creole drum and Garifuna drum. And that’s basically the story.”
True to Belizean culture, the book is filled with laughter. For Udz, who had never published a work of fiction, it was a passion project. It was through the encouragement of her fellow Belizean authors that she was finally able to step into the genre.
Silvaana Udz
“I want to thank people like David Smith, weh do the cover and the illustrations, because that seemed fih draw in people when I had my first readers. And I also want to thank Ivory Kelly, who do pengereng stories, and lotta otha stories because Ivory Kelly and Colin B. Hyde, a columnist, and of course a writer himself, Invasion of the Mangrove Goons and all of that. I nuh mih a brave enough to do this thing. If they neva read it and tell me, yeah, guh deh strong. And give, then me give me some good feedback too, and mih make lee changes.”
Benksaid Bembe features both English and Creole translations, making it more accessible for children and non-Creole speakers. But it is not the average word-for-word translations. Udz explained that it is a meaning-based translation so that readers can understand the message and emotions of the passages. Krystal Dougal, Marketing Coordinator at The Angelus Press, says that the company was excited for the opportunity to support another Belizean author.
Krystal Dougal
Krystal Dougal, Marketing Coordinator, The Angelus Press
“As you guys know, Angelus Press has been about for many years, for one hundred forty years to be precise. And when it comes to local authors or writers, we’re always all hands on deck with that because we believe that, you know, as a locally made business, we should support our locally made artists and writers and publishers. So that’s what we strongly believe in. Any person can come to us if they have inquiries about printing, all of those stuff, and we’ll definitely support them. Like, we had the luxury of having Miss Silvana’s book launch today. So that’s what we’re doing here, and we’re glad to support her and be the proud publishers for that.”
Udz has a long history with the preservation of the Kriol language and Belizean culture. This endeavor is another step towards ensuring that the language lives on in readers young and old for years to come.
Silvaana Udz
“And weh mih really, really strike me that some young people who done read it, when I mih di draft and so, they never know a lot of the expressions and sayings. Like, since Hachette da hammer you di wash gyal. They neva know weh that. So I hope da wa lee contribution as miss Ivory and Colin seh, but I hope they’re fun. More than anything else.”
Emancipation Day is almost here, and the Faces of Belize Jazz Festival musicians are ready to put on a show. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the festival which plays tribute to the rich culture and deep history of the holiday with a blend of Jazz, traditional music and orchestra. We stopped by the Ramada Hotel earlier today to speak with a few of the performers who travelled from abroad to be a part of this beloved event.
Jalen Charles
Jalen Charles, Tenor steel pan
“So I’m a student at N.I.U., Northern Illinois University in the United States. And one of the members of the band’s father actually came to N.I.U. for like a week. And he saw us and asked if we would be willing to come and help out the band play and stuff. it’s an opportunity that we are grateful to have been offered. And now we’re really excited that we could be here and just play, not just with a steel band, but with an orchestra as well and just even experience in Belize because this is my first time and all of us This is our first time in Belize. So we’re really excited for that.”
Hannah Sheridan
Hannah Sheridan, Celloist
“So I actually I was pretty lucky. I knew that my friends who were our steel and players were going and there had been a vacancy for a cello and my friend Joshua had said, Oh, I know a cellist. And put my name in and I think they needed me. And so I was here, I’ve been practicing the music for a couple of weeks. And yeah, I’m just really excited to play in this kind of ensemble. Usually I play classical cello and I don’t really get to be exposed to a lot of different kinds of musical ensembles and experiences. So it should be a new and fun and exciting experience.”
Carlos Perrotte
Carlos Perrotte, Director
“We are blending traditional music from Belize, from, with jazz, with classical music. And we have a big amount of musicians that will participate, around seventeen musicians, internationally and local musicians. That will be this Saturday, seven o’clock, in this room, Princess Ramada room. And we are inviting everybody that want to come and enjoy Belizean fusion music.”
Britney Gordon
“And what countries are the artists coming in from?”
Carlos Perrotte
“We have musicians from Mexico. So we have musicians from the US and also from Trinidad and Tobago.
Britney Gordon
“And how much does it cost to come be a part of it?”
Carlos Perrotte
“General is thirty, reserve is fifty. You have to hurry because most of the reserve is already gone.”
Vybz Kartel, the renowned dancehall star, is a free man. The Court of Appeal has ruled that Kartel and his three co-defendants should not be retried for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. This ruling concludes one of the most high-profile cases in Jamaica’s recent history.
“We conclude that the interest of justice does not require a new trial to be ordered,” the court stated.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, comes a day before Jamaica celebrates Emancipation Day.
This marks the end of a nearly 13-year legal saga for Kartel, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones. However, Jones will remain in custody due to a separate, unrelated sentence. The court cited Kartel’s health condition, detailed in a 2023 medical affidavit, as reaching critical levels.
Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, and the men were originally charged in September 2011 and convicted in March 2014. They were sentenced to life in prison but challenged the conviction at the Privy Council, which overturned the convictions due to juror misconduct. The case was remitted to the Court of Appeal to determine if a retrial was warranted.
The prosecution, led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, argued strongly for a retrial, emphasising the need for a fair trial and justice for the deceased. The defence, led by John Clarke and Isat Buchanan, argued against a retrial, citing constitutional breaches, pre-trial publicity, and the significant time elapsed since the incident.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal decided in favour of freedom for the accused, noting the long duration of the legal process and the various breaches of the men’s rights. The ruling reflects the court’s acknowledgment of the inhumane conditions and the profound impact of prolonged incarceration on the appellants’ health and well-being.
The Representative for UNICEF in Belize, Alison Parker, alongside Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa, representatives from the Human Development Ministry and other government officials visited the Wagner’s Youth Facility on Monday to inspect conditions following the detention of a thirteen-year-old boy from Belize City during the ongoing State of Emergency (SOE). The teenage boy is among those held during a ninety-day SOE targeting individuals believed to be gang members.
Parker says that UNICEF is committed to advocating for the boy and other minors affected by the state of emergency.
Parker told News 5 that they decided to make a visit to the facility to get a firsthand look at the situation.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and the Minister of Human Development and Social Transformation have addressed concerns over the boy’s detention. Attorney Leslie Mendez was denied access to the boy without a court order. In a letter to the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, Mendez argued that both the Belize Constitution and recent statutory instruments guarantee detainees’ right to legal representation. She highlighted concerns about the boy’s detention conditions, noting that he is being held in solitary confinement, which she claims violates international human rights conventions, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Commissioner Williams stated that the boy is detained for being a threat to himself and others.
Kingston, Jamaica – Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has been released from prison after the Court of Appeal ruled that he and his three co-accused will not be retried for murder. This decision comes just a day before Jamaica’s Emancipation Day, marking the end of a nearly 13-year legal saga. Kartel’s journey included arrests, trials, convictions, and a triumphant appeal, culminating in his long-awaited freedom.
UDP Mayor of San Ignacio/Santa Elena Earl Trapp says he doesn’t want Patrick Faber expelled anymore. In another leaked letter to News 5, Trapp tells Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, that he is retracting his July 26th letter. The letter, originally intended for the eyes of UDP Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, found its way into the public domain.
Trapp says that since the leak, he received numerous calls, text messages, and personal requests from dedicated UDP supporters, urging him to reconsider his stance. “I am here as a servant of the people, and I am guided by their concerns,” Trapp stated. Trapp says he now believes that the expulsion of Patrick Faber would inflict more harm than good on the party.
“I sincerely hope that the party accepts this retraction and does not proceed with this matter. Thank you for your understanding,” Trapp concluded.
The Catholic Church in Belize issued a stern rebuke against the 2024 Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, describing it as a “sacrilegious” affront to Christianity. The Church denounced the French Olympic Committee’s portrayal of the Last Supper—a central Christian moment—by depicting Jesus and his apostles in drag, accompanied by what it called “sleazy sexual innuendo.”
In response to widespread outrage, the French organizers issued a statement expressing regret for any offence caused but defended their intent to promote ‘community tolerance.’ In an official statement issued on July 29, 2024, the Catholic Church rejected this response as insincere and evasive, accusing the organizers of “woke duplicity” and failing to offer a genuine apology.
In the statement, it said, “A spokesperson for France claims that they “tried to celebrate community tolerance,” and added, “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we are really sorry.” This is not an apology; it is a masterpiece of woke duplicity. 2.6 billion Christians have been offended. If you want to apologize, you say, “We apologize. We made a mistake.” You are hypocritically intolerant of the billions of followers of Jesus Christ. Christians were offended because what you did was offensive, and now you want to blame us for “taking offence.” Insult upon injury.”
The controversy has sparked a global debate over the balance between artistic freedom and respect for religious sentiments.
There are new fears war in the Middle East could spread after Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed early Wednesday morning in Tehran by an airstrike, which Iran and the militant group have attributed to Israel. The strike occurred just hours after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president and followed a similar Israeli operation targeting a Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
In a statement on his official website, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed revenge. This has heightened the risk of direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. Khamenei said revenge was “our duty” and that Israel had “prepared a harsh punishment for itself” by killing “a dear guest in our home,” reported the Associated Press.
The U.S. and other international actors are scrambling to avert further escalation, as the killing threatens to unravel ongoing cease-fire negotiations and exacerbate existing tensions in the region. The potential for a broader conflict looms large, with significant implications for regional stability.
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) was presented with a substantial donation of medical supplies and equipment valued at over $250,000 Belize dollars from the Straughan Foundation. The ceremony, held at Price Barracks in Ladyville, was attended by distinguished guests from various sectors, including officials from the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security, representatives from Build Belize Inc., and key members of the Belize Defence Force.
This donation is set to bolster the operational capabilities of the BDF Force Hospital, which has been working to update and expand its inventory. Although representatives from the Straughan Foundation could not attend, their generous contribution underscores a commitment to Belize’s healthcare and national security.
The BDF issued a statement saying, “The BDF extends its deepest gratitude to the Straughan Foundation, Build Belize Inc., and the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations for their invaluable support and dedication. This donation not only strengthens the Force Hospital’s capacity to serve but also reflects the profound impact of collaborative efforts in advancing Belize’s national interests.”
