2024-08-27 - Channel 5 Belize

CitCo Clarifies No Vending Rule for Carnival Day

The Belize City Council announced earlier today that vending on Marine Parade, Newtown Barracks and Princess Margaret Drive will be strictly prohibited on Carnival Day. That is if you intend to set up stalls to sell food and drinks on the stretch of road to be used for the actual road march. The announcement, however, may not have been clear to many who believed it to mean that vendors are prohibited from selling along the carnival route altogether. Communications Manager Michelle Smith explains.

Michelle Smith, Communications Manager, CitCo

“After consulting with the Carnival Association, it was agreed that yes, no vending will be allowed on the street, on the carnival route, but you are allowed to vend on the shoulder of the street, meaning that you are allowed to vend on what we call the reserve space. Or, if for instance, there is a private property and you get permission from the owner to vend on the property, you are allowed to vend. But we are saying that you’re not allowed to vend on the street and the purpose behind that is just for safety reasons. In the event that the police need to come out, we want to leave the street open so they have access to come out. So basically, it’s not that you’re not allowed to vend, but not on the street of the carnival route.”

Isani Cayetano

“Does the street, just for the purpose of clarity, include both sidewalks?”

Michelle Smith

“Yes, both sides of the street. Yes, we know the carnival is coming from Memorial Park to Marion Jones Stadium, so we have to leave the other half open for safety precaution. and I just want to add that we have vendors who are vending on Rock Park. You have the Sandlighter’s Promenade by Moe’s Pizza where you have people vending and it’s bars and people who are selling food. When it comes to DigiPark, as you may know, we have an agreement with the DigiPark vendors whereby only the vendors in DigiPark can vend. This is nothing new, and so, if we allow vendors to go in the park, it will impact the vendors that are in there and we only find it fair that only the vendors at DigiPark can vend.”

Anthony Mahler, “BIMFF is an Investment, not a Loss”

Late last month, thousands of Belizeans from across the country travelled to San Pedro to support the Belize International Music and Food Festival. 2024 marks three years since the event was established to boost tourism in the country, and while the turnout was the largest the festival has ever witnessed, it still struggles to turn over a profit. When we caught up with Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler, he provided some insight on the successes and failures of one Belize’s biggest events of the year.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“I don’t think that the festival will ever break even. We didn’t look at it as that. I’ve said this from day one, and we don’t consider it as a loss. It’s a budget for it. We consider it as an investment, but it’s getting bigger, and the spillover effect is happening in Caye Caulker as well. A lot of the rooms were booked in Caye Caulker. In fact, entrepreneurs started to offer shuttle services from Caye Caulker to San Pedro and back. The restaurants in Caye Caulker were filled. The same thing in San Pedro. It was buzzing. And so we’re heading in the right direction in only three years. Now, we have to ask ourselves. When we came up there with the idea of the music festival is it was coming out of covid And on emancipation day where we wanted to celebrate being free but the elements the weather Isn’t very cooperative. And so the last three years we’ve had major downpours and so maybe the only thing would change it is a time of year and maybe one of the drier months still in the going into a slower part of the season or where you have a little downturn, maybe in May.”

Reporter

“The leader of the opposition recently called to personally asking for an audit of the festival’s financials. Can I get your take on that?”

Anthony Mahler

“We’ve produced the report on our website and we’ll do so again. In fact, he called me to state that he wanted to join me out there and show a bipartisan approach. I waited for him. He never showed up. But he apologized because his party is in turmoil and I think that’s more pressing than him going to meet Vybes Kartel or being at the music festival.”

Mexican Tourism Market Grew by Almost One Hundred Percent

For decades, Belizeans have supported Mexico’s tourism industry through frequent trips across the border. As Belize’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, the government has been discussing ways to promote Mexicans to return the favor. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler spoke with us about the efforts to introduce Mexican tourist to Belize.

Anthony Mahler. Minister of Tourism

“We’ve had the Mexican market and We’ve been in our cross for some time now. And we can tell you that just for the first half of this year, the Mexican market grew by, I think about 100 percent almost and somewhere around there, and we believe that we can garner bigger part of that market. As we continue to put more initiatives towards marketing in Mexico. We’re also working on a direct flight out of Mexico still. And we believe that there are opportunities there just like other parts of South America. We believe strongly that we can grow the markets there in those areas.”

Honduran Man Jailed for Illegally Entering Belize

After one week in Belize, a Honduran national has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison on a charge of Illegal entry. He is thirty-one-year-old, Francisco Maldonado Hernandez, a Honduran national who was brought in by police on Saturday for allegedly entering Belize through the banks of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo del Carmen. He appeared in court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to the offense and was imposed a non-custodial sentence of a fine of one thousand dollars, plus a court fine of five dollars. Hernandez was unable to meet the fine and was imposed a six-month prison sentence in default. The Belize Immigration Department has made an application for Hernandez to be removed from the country either upon paying his fine or after serving his prison term which was granted.

Woman Allegedly Throws Pint at Mom’s Face While Arguing About Roaches

Today, a woman was taken to court by her own mother for allegedly throwing a glass bottle at her face. She is thirty-five-year-old Kimberly Jones, a Belize City cook who was arraigned on a single charge of harm upon her own mother, sixty-six-year-old, Glenda Jones. The mother and daughter live near each other, with their homes being about three feet apart. Glenda Jones claims that the amount of dirty clothes and trash left by her daughter in the area is a reoccurring issue. Reports are that on August twenty-third, Glenda returned home to find dirty clothes piled under her house on an unused toilet. She allegedly demanded the removal of the clothes, claiming that they attract rodents and roaches to the area. This is when Glenda alleges that her daughter threw a brown pint bottle at her from about two feet away, hitting her in the face. Jones filed a report against her daughter and was taken to the K.H.M.H. for treatment. Kimberly Jones appeared unrepresented in court today, where she pleaded not guilty to the crime. She was offered bail of one thousand, five hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount with conditions which she met. Jones next court date is set for October twenty-eight, 2024.

Forest Department Investigates Deforestation in Manatee Reserve

When the Coastal Plain Highway was inundated by floodwaters back in June, concerns over deforestation within the area were heightened. The Maya Forest Corridor Trust, a group of NGOs committed to preserving the forest along that area, sounded the alarm. They called on the Government of Belize to seriously investigate reports of deforestation within the Manatee Forest Reserve. News Five visited the area several weeks ago and found out that concern is shared among residents and businesses along the highway. Today, we spoke with Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, who informed us that his ministry has been doing its investigation. He revealed that several parcels of land within the reserve have been privatized. The ministry also found squatters within the reserve.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“The Prime Minister has advised us to form a subcommittee, the same committee with agriculture, natural resources and sustainable development. We had met with the people from Maya Forest Corridor Trust, but also from other NGO communities who are concerned because of some of the deforestation happening. In this case it was particularly because of the problems we had on the coastal road, some of the eroding, which shouldn’t have happened. So, part of the blame was being put on deforestation in the Manatee. So we were to investigate what that deforestation entailed. We got our technical teams together. They went to do the survey along with the NGOs and private sector. They discovered that there are some lands that are given out from past administration and they are titled, surveyed and everything in place. There are lands being squatted upon which we will have to address, which will have to come out. Then there are some illegal logging which is a perpetual problem that we will have to try to continue address. So we are asking even the NGO community, the private sector community that in these cases they also have to assist us because we don’t have the personnel to be in every corner of the country, all the mountain sides at the same time. So it is difficult. So the police might have to assist. The NGO can assist the community can assist to say we heard a motor saw in this area come and do the investigation. So, the committee has met two times. We are meeting a third time. I saw an email this morning from the Forest Department asking for a third meeting. Then we will come up with a report that will be sent to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.”

100 Solar Energy Kits Donated to Belizean Pig Farmers

One hundred solar energy kits have been donated to pig farmers across Belize. The donation is part of an effort to promote renewable energy solutions and reduce the reliance on traditional, less sustainable energy sources. The donation of the pico solar kits comes from the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-governance as part of the Lait [Light] Up Belize Technical Assistance Project with funding from the European Union. These compact solar systems can assist farmers in rural areas by reducing energy costs and providing lights in areas for increased security. The ministry collaborated with the Pig Council Association and the Belize Livestock Producers Association to ensure the effective distribution of the kits and provide technical support.

Which KTV Finalist Will Take Home 10,000 Dollars?

It’s the final night of KTV the Remix Season six and tonight, viewers across the country will find out who is the winner of the ten-thousand-dollar prize. It’s been seven weeks of intense battles and displays of vocal abilities, but only one contestant will walk away the champion. The finalists are Elijah Noralez, Flor Augustin and Chelsy Castro. After weeks of voting, a winner has been decided. KTV producer, Viannie Reyes, filled us in on what to expect for the season finale.

Viannie Reyes, Producer, KTV The Remix Season 6

“We’re in for a lot of different performances from starting with the contestants. Then we moved to the judges, the vocal coach, and also we had to bring back the champion from last year Haziel Alanis. He will be here surprising us with a wonderful performance. We’re looking forward to having the contestants bring their original track to the stage tonight. So they took their time out in writing it, getting the audio perfect and everything. So we’re going to be able to see that part of the talent tonight on stage. And also it’s an opportunity for them to share their talent with a judge, or also a past contestant from this season or also from last season, or Belizean artist. So there’s different performances that we’ll be able to see tonight before we announce that winner. It’s emotional because everybody wants to win, but I think the talent this year really showed us exactly that there are people in this country that is worth taking a risk on when it comes to providing you with that beautiful voice on stage. We have seen that some of these contestants are already being booked for events across the country, which is something that we’re grateful for, and that’s what KTV is for. You get on stage, and even if you win or don’t win, there’s still chances for you to perform outside, to make that extra cash on the side, and also to be known. We’re looking forward to seeing exactly who’s going to win tonight because also, Elijah and Flor, they both went in battle rounds. So to see them at the finals, it’s wonderful to see that the hard work pays off.”

Tickets are available for purchase at the eighty-eight shopping center on Central American Boulevard, the Channel five office on Coney Drive or at the Bliss.

Disputed Stakebank Extension to be Acquired by GOB for a Public Purpose

Belmopan, August 27, 2024.

The Government of Belize announces that, with the approval of the Cabinet, the Minister of Natural Resources has today signed a notice of intention to compulsorily acquire the disputed 24-acre extension of Stake Bank Island.

The parcel, identified as Fiat Grant 881 of 2021, and given to Michael Feinstein, the former Chairman and Shareholder of Stake Bank Enterprises Ltd., is currently the subject of an ownership dispute at proceedings in the High Court. Unfortunately, that dispute is detrimental to the completion of a project that is in public interest.

Once the acquisition and assignment to Stake Bank Enterprises is finalized, the cruise berthing facility, which has been halted since the company entered receivership in March of this year, can proceed to completion.

The Company’s receivership and the subsequent land dispute regarding ownership of the island extension has frozen works on the project, resulting in significant delays to construction and crucially, delays to completing a facility that, for the first time, would provide cruise ship passengers with a dock disembarkation.

Cruise tourism arrivals have continued to fall due to the lack of proper berthing facility in the Belize District.

Stake Bank’s Receiver and Creditors petitioned Cabinet consideration for the acquisition in order to rescue the project and its BZ$ 270 million investment to date. The Creditors have provided a comprehensive indemnity to Government so that all costs, if any ultimately arises from the acquisition, are to be paid by the Creditors and not the Government.

Ten years ago, the then Government enacted the Stake Bank Cruise Docking Facility Development Act of 2014 which provided various investment incentives and committed Government to supporting Stake Bank’s Completion, in the context of a much-needed cruise berthing facility. This berthing is even more urgent today as cruise ships have become larger. Having a dock for cruise ships, extending the tours times for visitors and salvaging a major investment project underline the rationale for Cabinet’s decision.

Press Release

Petition Filed to Recall UDP Leader Moses Shyne Barrow

This afternoon, Tracy Panton and Beverly Williams submitted a petition to the Secretary General of the United Democratic Party (UDP), calling for the recall of the United Democratic Party Leader, Moses Shyne Barrow. A statement from the Alliance for Democracy says that the petition has been signed by 208 delegates from 17 constituencies.

The statement also says that according to Article 9(7) of the UDP Constitution, the Party Leader can be removed from office at any time if a petition is signed by at least one-third of the registered delegates of the National Convention and if at least two-thirds of the registered delegates in attendance vote in favour of the petition.

The Alliance for Democracy says it is confident that the Party Chairman has no discretion to reject this petition. The Alliance says the Constitution states that the removal of the Party Leader can occur at any time.

The petition to recall Barrow stems from significant internal divisions within the party. Key figures, including Panton, Williams, and former leaders Patrick Faber and John Saldivar, have expressed dissatisfaction with Barrow’s leadership.

A meeting of UDP standard bearers in Orange Walk focused on “general reform” and highlighted the growing support for Panton as a potential new leader.

The removal of Andrew Bradley as the Caribbean Shores Standard Bearer under Barrow’s leadership has further fueled discontent.