2024-08-20 - Channel 5 Belize

Crossing the Barrier Between the Deaf, Mute and Law Enforcement

The Belize Police Department is taking steps towards inclusivity and accessibility by training officers in sign language. For one week, thirty officers from across Belize city will engage in valuable lessons so they can better communicate with deaf or hard of hearing victims and community members. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the Queen Street Police Station to see how the officers were doing on day two of the classes. Here’s the story.

Rasheed Coleman, Police Ser, Family Violence Unit

“It’s R-A-S-H-E-E-D. Rasheed.”

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Upon meeting someone, a name is usually the first thing you learn about them. Sharing your name can be the beginning of a friendship, a relationship and the beginning of trust. But for many people that are deaf or mute, they are unable to take that first step to establishing that connection with police officers because they are expressing it in a language the officers does not speak. That disconnect is changing now that members of the Belize Police Department are learning how to speak sign language. A.C.P. Howell Gillett, National Commander of the the Community Policing Unit spoke with us about the importance of making this effort.

A.C.P. Howell Gillett, Nat’l Commander, Community Policing Unit

“We have the community policing officers, and we also have the officers from the family unit. Those are the ones who take complaints of a sexual nature. from victims. So it’s important for them to be able to speak with these people who are have hearing impairment, who have who are mute. So if we are to truly be policing the entire population, we have to include those with special needs.”

Whether someone is hurt or in fear is vital information for police officers to know, but the communication barrier between hearing officers and deaf or mute victims is difficult to overcome without an interpreter. This is especially challenging with small children who cannot write yet. With assistance from the Stella Maris School, officers are working to overcome this barrier. Sign instructor, Erlett Thomas says that this is a challenge that has always existed for the community.

Erlett Thomas, Sign Language Instructor

“I have worked with ministry of education for the past thirty-odd years. And one of the things that we would sometimes we would get children or past students, youths who have been to the police station for a while and because of the inability to communicate with them, they end up being there for a long while and sometimes it’s something simple that could have been solved by just by communicating with them. So I think it’s extremely important that the police officers learn how to communicate with people who are deaf and also to identify when they are deaf so that they can use whatever they need to use to get a message across to them.”

After completing the initial phase of the training, officers will return in a few weeks to for more advanced lessons.

Erlett Thomas

“We’re trying to work with words that will suit the police department. So we’re doing basic now. They’re learning the alphabet and numbers because it’s extremely important for you to learn your alphabet. If you can’t sign something, you can spell it out and the person, the deaf person, will understand what you’re saying. Versus you just stand there and you do nothing. That’s So you spell out the word, and then you can continue. Even if I am talking to someone who is deaf and I don’t know the sign for the word, I can spell the word and I’ll tell them, sign that word for me and they will sign the word for me and we will continue with the conversation.”

The officers have been receptive to the training and the police sergeant in the family violence unit is proud of the progress that she has made so far. She says that everything learnt will be used to make her better at her job.

Britney Gordon

“What’s one thing that you’ve learned that stood out to you so far that you feel you’ll be taking back into your job?”

Rasheed Coleman

“Everything. Everything. We’re starting from scratch and some of us were completely clueless. And so definitely everything.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

One Health: Tackling Zoonotic Disease in Belize

A zoonotic disease is an infectious illness that has jumped from animals to humans. They can be transmitted in many ways, such as bacteria or parasites, but may even spread through unconventional agents such as food, water or the environment. Today, stakeholders in the health sector and environmental organizations participated in a workshop with several regional partners to discuss twenty-eight diseases that pose a threat to the region and identify how to tackle at least five primary concerns for the country.

Russell Manzanero, Director, Epidemiology Unit, MOHW

“We’re gathered here the different ministries we have from environment, agriculture. We have from administrative health and wellness. We’re gathered here with different stakeholders, of course, to look at what is the prioritization of diseases in the country. We’re part of an entire membership within the globally of how we want to prioritize the different illnesses within our own country. Yes, we might be following different illnesses, but definitely when we start to look at prioritization of illnesses, we can look at different agendas, we can look at the strategies that would be geared towards what we would call under the One Health approach. What this means is that we can now follow diseases, we can put into strategies and follow, monitor these illnesses at the different levels within the different ministries. As we mentioned, we really cannot work alone when it comes to following illnesses and surveillance. It’s basically a network. It’s basically working under the One Health approach with the different ministries and agencies towards that goal.”

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, DOE

“Zoonotic issues is the transfer of disease from animals to humans. Alright? The idea is that everything in the environment is connected. And so As different disease comes up, emerge and spread globally, the scientists and the doctors are looking at the sources of those disease and several of those sources comes from directly from the environment in terms of bacteria, microorganisms, animals, et cetera, that is within the environment, basically. But when the tricks of urbanization and development expands, people become exposed to different things within the environment that they were not exposed to before. And so because of these tricks. When exposure happened, normally disease could be transmitted from animals to humans through that means.”

Will Belize acquire Monkey Pox Vaccines considering Emerging Variant?

Recently, the World Health Organization announced that a new variant of Monkey Pox was identified in Africa, however, according to the Ministry of Health, none of the variants have been detected in Belize. Since the 2022 outbreak of the disease in the country, the ministry has kept an eye out for a possible reemergence in Belize. We spoke with Russell Manzanero, Director of the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health, about the possibility of acquiring vaccines in country.

Russell Manzanero, Director, Epidemiology Unit, MOHW

“It is a concern. August fourteenth, WHO did declare it a public health emergency of international concern. Mainly because of the increase of cases within Africa. If you do understand MPOCS is, has different clades. Different variants. We have clade one and two. When we had the first outbreak in 2022, which basically affected globally, we did see that scenario was based on clade 2. Now that we’re seeing this increase of cases within Africa, that’s a different clade, that’s clade 1b. It has been sparking some interest there because of the outbreak of cases, especially among adults and children. And the concern there is that it is no longer a sexual mode of transmission, but now it has been moved now towards a more direct contact between individuals. Of course, the concern of why it became a public health emergency was because of the different limitations that you might see in Africa. Of course, you look at the impact may have on the general population. You look at what the health system in existence is there. So definitely with movement with people, then definitely you can have that potential spread to other parts of the world.”

Reporter

“In terms of vaccination are there vaccines available? What’s the likelihood and possibility of Belize actually getting?”

Russell Manzanero

“I am certain that our management is looking at that option along with PAH on WHO. But definitely before you start looking at vaccination procedures, you want You want to look at the impact it’s having on different countries. The availability is limited. So right now, they will start to look at the concerns within Africa. They will start to target that area. And if they can control it in those points, then of course, transmission is lowered.”

U.D.P. Leader Disowns Alliance for Democracy

Last week, we told you about a group within the United Democratic Party calling itself the Alliance for Democracy. Well, the Leader of the United Democratic Party, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, says he does not acknowledge any factionalism or division within the party, including the alliance. As we reported, the alliance was formed by a group of U.D.P. faithful intent on seeing Albert Area Representative, Tracy Panton, replace Barrow as party leader. Well, Barrow says that according to the party’s constitution, any such alliance is prohibited.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Internally we will address our matters. I just put on record though that any alliance is illegal according to our constitution. I see that, or I have heard there is a campaign going on and people are going to media houses every week talking about the constitution. But the fact of the matter is, the constitution. There is a part of the constitution that totally prohibits factionalism, prohibits any type of alliances, any party within a party, it is prohibited by the constitution. They call it factionalism and division. It is totally prohibited by the constitution and furthermore the constitution gives the National Convention the highest authority of the party. I said that the last time and I will say it again, I was elected by the National Convention, not once, but twice. And the second time I waws elected, the National Convention elected me to serve until the general elections. So, there is nothing anyone can do about that, and my urge is for people to put their selfish ambitions aside and focus on the national issues that are hurting our Belizean citizens. There is no such thing as an alliance within the U.D.P. So, I don’t acknowledge any factionalism or division. I don’t acknowledge anyone other than a U.D.P. and the party chairman will deal with whatever letters he has to respond to.”

Paul Lopez

“Do you vouch for the character of the party chairman who is being attacked personally as well, accusations that he is bias.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“The party chairman is an extraordinary person. All my colleagues that are focused on the next general elections, that is all we want to do, focus on our constituencies.”

Dean Barrow on U.D.P. Turmoil, “I prefer to not even think of it.”

Former Party Leader Dean Barrow, who led the U.D.P. from 1998 to 2020, shared brief thoughts on the chaos that has erupted within the party. While he refrained from casting blame, Barrow says that the internal strife that continues to plague the party does not bode well for a healthy opposition.

Isani Cayetano

“What are your thoughts about what’s been taking place within the United Democratic Party as of late? We’re less than a year or so from the next general elections.”

Dean Barrow, Former Party Leader, U.D.P.

“I prefer to not even think of it. It is extremely upsetting to anyone in this country who believes in democracy. I am not, of course, going to get into why the U.D.P. is in the state it is in or who is to blame. What I will do is to express the sincere hope which seems ultimately to be nothing more than a kind of pious wish that somehow the party would get its act together and find a degree of unity that can restore some confidence in people that at least we have a functional opposition party which is an absolutely essential requirement for a democracy.”

Opposition Leader Returns from Trip to Jamaica

Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow returned home today after a visit to Jamaica where he met with several key political figures and investors in that country. Barrow paid a visit to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness who is also the chairman of the Caribbean Democratic Union of which the U.D.P. is a member. Barrow also met with Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Mark Golding, politician Lisa Hanna, as well as billionaire investor, Michael Lee Chin, to name a few. When we sat down with Barrow today, he told us that the purpose of his visit was to receive council from Prime Minister Holness ahead of Belize’s general elections.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I personally met Prime Minister Holness two years ago at the International Democratic Summit that we have every year in Washington and I have stayed in touch along with former Prime Minister Chastanet from Saint Lucia who is also a member of the Caribbean Democratic Union, former Prime Minister Doctor Keith Mitchell who is now the leader of the opposition, Chastanet is also the leader of the opposition. We are all members of the union. And the purpose of that collective is to do exactly what I sought in Jamaica to get council, to get advise as we approach the general elections. Holness has won two consecutive terms and he was prime minister when he took over from Prime Minister Golden when he resigned. He has a wealth of institutional knowledge on how to deliver the victories. So it was very important to meet with him and get his guidance and strategize with him and soak up all that information he has to offer as a senior parliamentarian and very successful prime minister.”

Opposition Leader Says Meeting with Vybz Kartel Was “Moving”

But, it was the opposition leader’s meeting with Vybz Kartel that went viral on social media. The Jamaican dancehall recording artist was freed from prison a few weeks ago, after spending thirteen years behind bars in connection with the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Kartel became a free man and after only a couple weeks of freedom, U.D.P. Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow met with him in Jamaica. The musical legend endorsed Barrow’s bid for prime minister and committed to visiting Belize in the coming weeks. Barrow explained that he visited Vybz Kartel along with U.D.P. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte several years ago, while the artist was still incarcerated. He described the meeting this time around as moving. But there are critics who are of the view that it is not a good look for the Leader of the Opposition to associate with Vybz Kartel. We asked him for his thoughts.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“To see the journey to freedom and to be a part of that, because obviously when you go to visit someone and you see them in captivity you pray for them, their family, their freedom and to see he has gotten his freedom it is a testament to his resilience, and I believe it is something all of us could learn from, especially the youths. I know a lot of the youths in Belize look up to him. Even people my age grew up listening to his music. I am forty-five. But life teaches you whether you want to learn or not. But innocence or guilt, I believe we go through these journeys and challenges to learn lessons. So, my prayer for him is that he would have learnt whatever the universe wants to teach him and that he would be patient with himself. Obviously we are musical brothers, and we have that comrade. He means so much that I travelled to Jamaica to see him. And, we have stayed in touch so when I was visiting with the prime minister and other political figures and investors I didn’t forget my roots. So, it is not that because I am a member of parliament and the opposition leader that I would forget my music roots. No, never.”

Paul Lopez

“We saw that he endorsed your bid for prime minster here in Belize. What does his endorsement do for your campaign?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“He is in Saint Vincent right now and he met with the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent Ralph Gonzalves. I appreciate a friend being a friend, but I have to do the work along with my colleagues. We have to get sixteen seats. This is not the U.S or other democracies where the people vote for their prime minister or president. But I appreciate his vote of confidence for what it is worth. But we have a lot of work here to do in Belize.”

Paul Lopez

“There are those critics who say that a man of your stature who is vying for national leadership shouldn’t be associating himself so closely with somebody who pushes this type of artistry that promotes vulgarity, lewdness and even violence in some cases.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“I believe in freedom of speech and as I said Prime Minister Gonzalves just met with him. So, I do not judge the artist. I embrace artistry. I don’t believe in restricting the creatives. I believe it is the responsibility of the state to change the circumstances that a lot of these artists sing about and ig they change the circumstances then they can’t be popular because what they sing about will not be a reality.”

Mai says San Pedro D.O.E. Substation is a Success

In late June, San Pedro welcomed its own office for the Department of Environment. There, the D.O.E conducts several duties, such as managing natural resources, preserving and protecting the environment, and controlling pollution. Today, Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai provided an update on the duties of the station and he told us that it has been a great success.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.

“There are several issues that we have dealt with. So again, the San Pedro substation is our first attempt at decentralization. It is critically important to have an office in San Pedro because it is the fastest developing. And we’ve been there, we’ve been there for a couple months now, and over that period, we have definitely dealt with some serious issues, maybe four or five of them. We currently have one in the pipeline. Have people been persecuted, or are you in the works to persecute them? Yes, we’re in the process of persecuting a few, yeah, a few persons. We also are from, we, and enforcement and persecution is just one aspect of what we’re doing on the island. We have also been providing advice to the Town Council. and the Caye Caulker Village Function in terms of some of the development plans, et cetera. And we are participating in some sensitization training and et cetera, sharing of information in relation to the environment. So it’s much more than just a hardcore enforcement compliance monitoring. We’re doing other support activities as well, but yeah, we do have some enforcement related matters in the pipeline.”

D.O.E. says Dangriga Park Plan Will Undergo Environmental Clearance Process

Last week, the Briceño administration broke ground for the construction of the Dangriga Multipurpose Park. This park is designed to offer several amenities for recreational activities. However, there are concerns that the size of the park will pose a threat to the environment due to possible erosion of the coast. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai says that the proposal will be adequately evaluated.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.

“Yes it does and in fact we’ve been in discussion to ensure that this type of project, in fact this one in particular comes through the environmental clearance process. At this point we were told that the project is being conceptualized. And everything, and so there’s a time when the proposal will come to the D.O.E. for environmental evaluation.”

Reporter

“Even though they already have a design?”

Anthony Mai

“Yes, indeed. So that’s the first step. You need to have the design, but you need to conceptualize what the design will include in terms of operations, right? And so when they have all of that together, they will come to us for environmental clearance.”

Reporter

“You all don’t have anything to do with the erosion aspect to some extent because one of the questions is, you are suffering from erosion, have suffered it from in the past, so how do you create such a huge development there?”

Anthony Mai

“The erosion issues it’s not a singular agency that deals with it. So the Department of Environment have some input to it, the mining unit, et cetera, has some input to it. Coastal Zone Management Authority, collectively we look at these things. In the past we had conducted a study by some support from the Cuban government. We have a good report and recommendation on what is affecting the erosion within that area. In fact, Currently, we have a draft terms of reference that we will finalize soon, where we want to expand the project and the assessment that the Cubans did to understand the erosion that is affecting the Placencia area and all the way down to Monkey River. What they, when we’ve met with the experts from Cuba and what they had recommended to us is that they said, listen, rather than doing this thing piecemeal, let’s do an assessment of the entire coastline. Now, that comes at a cost. And so we are in the process where. We are contemplating if we need to expand the terms of reference to include the entire coastline. And we need to discuss the cost of doing so. Because the current terms of reference that we have for Placencia and for close to the Monkey River, the cost of doing such an assessment is considerably higher. So we are weighing that in relation to having finances to do that versus doing the entire country. But it’s a concern and we are discussing it. There are discussions going on at the moment relation to that.”

KTV the Remix R&B Night Inside the Bliss

The final showdown for KTV the Remix Season Six is here. Tonight, the top three contestants from this season will battle it out to see who will take home the ten-thousand-dollar grand prize next week. You certainly do not want to miss tonight’s live show inside the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. The music genre for tonight is R&B. It all goes down at eight p.m. We spoke with Producer Viannie Reyes about what can be expected.

Viannie Reyes, Producer, KTV The Remix Season 6

“The songs are locked in. Choosing the song is their decision. We don’t have any say. The coach works with them. The judges would probably give ideas of this song matches your voice. But they have some songs that I think majority of the public would know. They are singing two songs tonight, one from the genre and also one they selected from any genre to gain additional points. So, tonight is the night where we will see who will make it to the top three, which is the finally for next week.”

Paul Lopez

“Why should people come out tonight to the live show?”

Viannie Reyes

“It is very different than what you see on live TV. You get to win great prizes. It even sounds different to be quite honest and just the ambiance and the joy of being with the contestants. You get to see the behind the scenes. We also have the halftime challenge where we invite people on stage to be a part of that. You get to see that live but you also get to participate and you never know what you can win when you are at KTV. You can purchase tickets here at Channel Five, Eighty-Eight Shopping Center or at six o’clock p.m. at the Bliss. So be sure to get your tickets, it is only give dollars per person. The earlier you come you get better parking and seat selection as well.”