Oyster pearls may be coming to Belize as the next business venture for the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management. As part of the Blue Investments strategic objective, the ministry is in search of new initiatives to elevate Belize’s nature-based economy. This weekend, government representatives travelled to Mexico to visit an oyster pearl farm and gauge the potential of the industry being introduced in Belize. Additionally, the ministry conducted a feasibility study, exploring the possibilities of sea salt sequestration and production in Belize. The field visit is an integral part of the feasibility study, that seeks to identify learning opportunities, partnerships, and technical guidance on the business endeavor. These steps are a signal to Belizeans to open the doors for sustainable and inclusive uses of blue spaces in the country.
Tag: 2024-08-14
Man Alleged Police Brutalized Him After Getting into Car Accident
Typically, fender benders do not result in serious injuries, but in the case of Omar Matus, he walked away from one drenched in blood. Reports are that on Monday night, the Belmopan resident was in a minor car accident and upon the arrival of the police, a conflict arose between Matus and the officers. Matus alleges that the police proceeded to beat him severely, resulting in injuries to his face. Matus was taken to the Western Regional Hospital, where he received stitches to his right eye. We are awaiting further details from police on this incident.
Shaun Gill Returns from 2024 Olympics in Paris
Olympic runner Shaun Gill was the only Belizean athlete in Paris this year. He didn’t qualify to compete in the track and field events; nonetheless, we caught up with him upon his return from the 2024 Summer Games on Tuesday morning. Gill, who recently completed his studies in engineering, has announced his retirement from the sport, as he shifts focus to finding a job in his field of study. Despite being unable to participate in the Olympics activities, Gill told reporters earlier today that the experience was quite memorable.
Shaun Gill, Belizean Olympian
“The experience was good. Part of the reason the performance was kind of low also was because of the adjustment. It was extremely, extremely hard to adjust. I mean, even before the race, I was already in France probably, maybe a week and a half, closer to two weeks and still could not adjust, the sleep cycle was completely off. The performance, it is what it is, I’ve ran many big races before and it’s sports, you know, not every single time you touch the track you wahn get the performance weh yoh think yoh capable of, you know.”
Isani Cayetano
“You are the only Belizean to represent the Jewel in this year’s Olympics. Describe for us that feeling, perhaps you would have wanted to see more athletes from our country representing as well. What was that like for you?”
Shaun Gill
“You know, as weh ah seh eena one a mi post dehn on Instagram, you know, I had a feeling of a lot of joy, passion. I really felt like I had Belize on my back. You know, I gave this story a couple days ago to one of my friends, when we were doing the opening ceremony and we were going on the boats, you know, I felt normal, like… getting on the boat, it’s a procession, you have to go through protocols and everything. But as soon as, we had a guide and the guide tells you when it’s your turn to be on TV, as soon as the guide said, “Belize, your turn.” It was just an overwhelming feeling of, you know, passion, joy, and that’s why I started waving the flag. It takes a lot. I mentioned in one interview and it kind of went viral, but all I said was the resources here are not as great. That’s literally what I said and it’s the truth, you know. I don’t know who’s responsible for it but we need to start working on it because sports is a big deal and sports unites all athletes.”
Isani Cayetano
“Now Shaun, you’ve essentially announced your retirement from track and field. What next should we expect from you, either in your academic pursuits or any other form of sports?”
Shaun Gill
“Well, this is part of the farewell tour for me. As I mentioned to Sports Max, I probably have maybe one more, I’m not even sure when it is, but it is something that I already told the federation here that I am committed to which is being a part of a relay team.”
Prime Minister Departs the Country
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño departed the country today, 14 August 2024, en route to the Dominican Republic to attend the Presidential Inauguration of the PresidentElect, His Excellency Luis Abinader Corona, being held on 16 August 2024.
The Prime Minister returns to Belize on 18 August 2024. During his absence, Hon. Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources, Mining and Petroleum, will hold over as Prime Minister.
ENDS
Press Release
LOO Moses Barrow Meets with Jamaican PM Andrew Holness Before Elections
Leader of the Opposition Moses Barrow met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the Office of the Prime Minister Jamaica House earlier today.
In a statement made on Facebook, Barrow stated, “We discussed the state of our nations, particularly economic development, education, and citizen security.”
He added that, as Chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union, Holness’s advice is crucial for the UDP’s goal of securing 16 seats in the upcoming General Elections.
“PM Holness is also the Chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union of which the UDP is a member thus it was important I seek his counsel on how best to ensure we deliver 16 seats in the General Elections that are upon us,” Barrow added.
Belize Music Project Launched to Preserve Musical Heritage
Today, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MoECST) and the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations announced the launch of the Belize Music Project. This initiative, operating under the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and within MoECST, aims to document Belize’s diverse musical history.
The project is guided by three principles: research, education, and innovation. It will build an archival library by digitising all forms of Belizean music, including those recorded on outdated technologies. Experts will work over several months to compile this digital collection and continue researching undiscovered artists from the past.
The Belize Music Project seeks to connect younger generations with their cultural roots and establish a lasting legacy for future generations.
WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent upsurge of Mpox, previously called monkeypox, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and several African nations a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The decision follows the detection of a more dangerous strain of the virus, clade Ib, and the recommendations from the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “The emergence of a new clade of Mpox, its rapid spread in the eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying.” He highlighted the need for a coordinated international response to control the outbreaks and save lives.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the Emergency Committee, warned that the mpox surge, including a new sexually transmissible strain, poses a global emergency.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared the outbreak a public health emergency of continental security earlier this week, reported CNN.
This is the second PHEIC declaration for MPoX in two years. The disease, endemic to central and west Africa, saw a global outbreak in 2022, which was declared over in May 2023. The current outbreak has led to more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths in the DRC, with a concerning new strain, clade 1b, spreading through neighbouring countries.
The WHO has released US$ 1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and anticipates a need for US$ 15 million to support response efforts. WHO is also facilitating access to vaccines and other medical tools.
Government Explains Acquisition of Land for New Hospital in Belmopan
The Briceño Administration has issued a release in an attempt to explain the acquisition of land for the new tertiary hospital in Belmopan. According to the release, in April 2023, Cabinet approved the construction of a modern national referral and university hospital for the University of Belize, funded by a US$45 million loan from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Arabia Fund for Development.
The project was later approved by the House of Representatives on May 19, 2023, and signed into law in June of that year. “On 16th April 2024 Cabinet gave its approval for the relocation of the proposed Belmopan Tertiary Hospital, to a more accessible location near the George Price and Hummingbird Highways.”
According to the release, after a thorough review and technical report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Cabinet determined that the original site proposed by the University of Belize was unsuitable for meeting the government’s commitment to universal health coverage. The release says that the original site, 9 kilometres from the George Price Highway, posed several challenges, including circuitous access routes, lack of nearby utilities, the need for additional land purchases, and inconvenient travel for hospital employees. It added that the new site for the hospital offers several advantages, including better road access for patients from western and southern districts, improved access for Belmopan residents using public and private transportation, proximity to the Belmopan Airstrip for easier airlift, enhanced road connectivity, and improved healthcare climate resilience.
Additionally, the site provides extra land for the University of Belize.
The release says that following the decision to relocate, valuations were conducted, and a final price of $6.9 million was agreed upon for 15 acres of roadside land owned by Annie Zhu and Kenny Zheng, which was significantly lower than the initial asking price.
Belize Blue Economy Initiatives: Belize Considers Oyster Farming and Sea Salt Production
Belize is taking steps to enhance its Blue Economy with the introduction of new industries. This weekend, Kennedy Carrillo, CEO of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management, and a team including Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, visited an oyster pearl farm in Mexico’s Hermosillo.
The trip, featuring Nancy Marin, an innovation consultant who developed the pearl farming proposal, is a key part of a feasibility study to determine the viability of oyster farming in Belize. The study aims to explore learning opportunities and establish potential collaborations.
Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez, has called on Belizeans to present creative and sustainable ideas for utilising the nation’s blue spaces. This initiative supports the government’s Plan Belize and National Blue Economy Policy, which focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. The Ministry is also reviewing the potential for sea salt production as part of its broader strategy.
University of Belize Addresses Registration Issues and Implements Improvements
The University of Belize (UB) has announced improvements to its registration process following recent technical difficulties. At the start of the August semester registration, students faced slow access and frequent outages on the Xenegrade portal. “Despite these challenges, over 4,500 students have now registered successfully,” stated an official statement by UB on Tuesday.
The university acknowledges ongoing problems with invoices and class availability. In response, the administration has removed the late fee for this semester and is increasing advisor availability during the drop/add period.
In the statement, it said, “We recognise the need to do better and are pooling all our key resources to focus on immediate, short, and long-term solutions that meet our mandate as the flagship institution of tertiary education.”
Additionally, the university is forming a registration oversight body to explore alternative technologies to prevent future disruptions.
Students experiencing invoice discrepancies are advised to contact the university directly for corrections.