2024-09-05 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Hotel Association Hosts 2nd Annual Trade Show

Today, the Belize Hotel Association hosted its second annual allied trade show. This event is an opportunity for members of the association to come together to network and share information about the goods and services they offer, as well as promotions for members and non-members alike. Earlier today, News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the Caribbean Motors showroom for more information. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize is eight thousand, eight hundred and ninety-six square miles, but across the tiny country, there are approximately eight-hundred and thirty-two hotels and accommodations. Of that number, only seven percent, or sixty-one of those hotels belong to the BHA. Today, the association hosted its second annual trade show to bring these members together. Membership and Services Coordinator Keisha Reyes, provides more details.

Keisha Reyes, Membership & Services Coordinator, BHA

“We have thirty-eight of our members, they are all businesses here in Belize and we have one of our allied international who is also here. And the main focus for this trade show is to have them network with themselves as well as other persons from outside the association. So they have some booths, they have information, some have goods, some have services. They’re all here on display for everyone to take advantage of.”

The Belize Hotel Association is a non-profit organization that works to sustainably grow the tourism industry in the country. Aside from the hotels, there are sixty other businesses that make up the membership. Christine Tun, of Belize Commercial Laundry and Linen, says that the company has been a member for three years and the show allows them to introduce the towels and linens that they offer to the hotel industry.

Christine Tun, Belize Commercial Laundry and Linen

“We’ve been a member of this association for about three years. And the trade show is a great opportunity for members and non-members alike and all those in the hotel industry to know about our services, which is providing commercial laundry services to hotels, resorts, vacation hotels, Airbnbs. We’re able to make life really easy and simplified by not having to worry about that. We take the load of laundry off of you.”

Another business that contributes to the tourism industry is the T-Shirt Factory Belize. As September Celebrations are underway, the company is here to showcase a variety of products offered to Belizeans and tourists. Manager and designer Ritisha Hohenkirk says that they could not miss the opportunity to participate.

Ritisha Hohenkirk, Manger, T-shirt Factory Belize

“We are a part of BHA. We’re very heavily involved with the tourism sector. We do a lot of gift shop items, t-shirts as well souvenir stuff. We did actually decide it would be a great opportunity for us to come out here. We thought that we can get our brand out more.,I mean people do know T-Shirt Factory, but, some people might not be aware. And also, people can’t mak it to the store, so we brought the store to them.”

It is Hohenkirk’s first year participating in the trade show, but she is already seeing the benefits of her participation.

Ritisha Hohenkirk

“And I feel like there are some, I like members here that probably didn’t know about tshirt before and so know us being here, they can introduce themselves, we can introduce ourselves as well and create a connection.”

Celia Humes and her family are among the first visitors to stop by. Humes says that she’s glad they made the trip.

Britney Gordon

“What made you come down and decide to see what’s going on at the show today?”

Cecilia Humes, Customer

“Well I got an invite from Belize Hotel Association.”

Britney Gordon

“And are you usually interested in things like this? How has it met your expectations so far? Are you satisfied with what you’re seeing?”

Cecilia Humes

“It’s been great so far. There’s a lot really interesting things and I’m going to…”

Britney Gordon

“Make use of them?”

Cecila Humes

“Yes, make use of them.”

Britney Gordon

“Is this your first time attending the show?”

Cecila Humes

“Yes, this is my first time.”

In only two years the event has grown significantly, a trend that the Belize Hotel Association believes will continue.

Keisha Reyes

“It will be just as worth it because last year we have a lot of our members say to us that, we got some great connections, we were able to connect with members and non-members that they, weren’t expecting to be connected with. So this year they asked us to do it a little bigger, so of course we came to a bigger venue. And of course, they’re here, everything that they could take advantage of, whether you’re a business or not, you can come. So the feedback last year compared to this year, I believe it will be even better.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Sunnyside Bakery: The Taste You Dream About

It’s day four for the staff at the Sunny Side Bakery at its new location and business is just as plentiful as ever. The family-owned bakery has been in the process of relocating for several years and finally, during the week of the death anniversary of late owner Elon Pitterson, the new bakery is here. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the bakery today to hear how the family is keeping that same great taste and quality after nearly seventy years of service.

Britney Gordon

“You made the trip all the way here today to get something even though the old location is near your house. So why did you come all the way here to get them?”

Ashly Cole, Customer

“Because Sunny and Tan is the best and always been the best from ever since from I was a little boy. And I was born in what, 1958 and I start go to Sunny from I was about five years old.”

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Customers are waiting to enter Sunny Side Bakery in Belize City, also known as the famous Sunny and Tan Bakery. It’s only been four days since the bakery opened the doors of its new location, and already, the loyal customers are back and for good reason. The Sunny Side Bakery is one of Belize’s oldest and most beloved bakeries in the old capital. Zebedee Pitterson started the business in 1959, and today, his granddaughters Elony and Christiana Pitterson are carrying on his legacy.

Elony Pitterson, Manager, Sunny Side Bakery

“This family business is very important to me because from when my grandfather had it was, he was doing really great and it was something for me and my sister to look up to. So that’s why both of us wanted to continue the bakery.”

Britney Gordon

“So growing up in a baking family, do you feel that influenced your love for the craft of baking? Is it something that you take pride in doing?”

Elony Pitterson

“Yes, it is something that I take pride in doing because ever since I was about eight years old I have always been in the bakery with my dad doing pastries after school learning to make pastries, so it’s something that I really love.”

The bakery offers a variety of pastries such as cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and cakes, but it is the Sunny and Tan bread and buns that Belizeans cannot get enough of. Norman Melton, a customer that has been coming to the bakery since he was a child says that he just can’t get bread like this anywhere else.

Norman Melton, Customer

“Well, I used to go there because they got the best bread, you know, and Sunny and Tan bread is nicer than everybody else bread. So we want the best all the time for our money. We don’t want bread that we buy it today, tomorrow it done look spoil, jun de pon you know. But for them bread could last you three, four days before it gets spoiled or hard.”

Elon Petterson, the son of Zebedee Pitterson, was at the forefront of thebusiness for decades. It was his dream to take the bakery to a new location so he designed the new store himself. However, Elon died of a heart attack in 2021, so it was up to his wife and children to make his dreams a reality. Christiana Pitterson tells us that it is a bittersweet feeling to see her father’s dreams accomplished without him.

Christiana Pitterson, Manager, Sunny Side Bakery

“It was his dream. He wanted to relocate the bakery. So when suddenly my dad passed away while he was renovating it. So this was mostly like a shell, but we had the design and the idea of what he wanted. And so now we’re here in this beautiful bakery and making his dream come to life. We’re very excited that we we’ve opened up the bakery. This is our fourth day opening and we have an amazing customer base who love the building, love the location, even our products, so we’re very grateful for them again. lastly too, I want to say thank God for giving us health and strength for us to continue this legacy as well.”

Sunny Side Bakery, at its core, remains a family business. And it is the love that each member has for the craft and for their customers that keeps people coming back for years to come.

Britney Gordon

“How long have you been going to the other location?”

Rupert Robinson, Former Employee

“Oh, man, many, many. I used to work for mister Pitterson himself, the boss.”

Britney Gordon

“And what was that experience like for you? How was he as a person?”

Rupert Robinson

“He was a very good guy. Good gentleman. He had his wife. He had his two sons and he had a daughter and I usually was a good boss to me in the 1990s.”

Britney Gordon

“And so you feel good to come out and support the family that’s trying to continue his legacy?”

Rupert Robinson

“Well, I know that the family was torn apart by death of the father and one of the son so I’m trying to support them.”

Pitterson says that despite the change in location, business has been booming just as much as ever and she is grateful for the people that continue to enjoy the food after so many years.

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel that the customers have really been turning up to your doors now that you’ve moved here? Or have you noticed like maybe a dip as people get used to the new location?”

Christiana Petterson

“No, there’s been a great increase in customers. It has been amazing. So again, we’re very grateful for it.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Flash Flood Alert Issued for Areas in Belize District

A Flash Flood Alert is now in effect for the Maskall area in Belize District and surrounding watersheds off the Eastern Slopes of the Mayan Mountains. In an official Flood Forecast, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining urged residents to “closely monitor waterways and take caution.”

The Ministry’s Flood Forecast warns of elevated river levels over the next 24 hours. Above-normal levels are expected on the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek North, Santa Cruz, and San Antonio, with near-normal levels downstream at San Roman and Douglas.

Increased levels are expected on the Mopan River at Benque Viejo Town and above normal levels at San Ignacio on the Macal River, though below the low-level bridge. The Belize River at Double Run will have above-normal levels, while Crooked Tree Lagoon levels are expected to stay below the causeway.

The Sibun River at Freetown Sibun will experience bankfull stages and increasing levels on the Southern Lagoon at Gales Point Village. Watersheds on the Eastern Slopes of the Mayan Mountains and rivers like the Sittee, Monkey, and Deep Rivers will also see above-normal levels.

Above-normal levels are anticipated on the Sarstoon River.

Residents in these areas should stay alert for potential flooding.

Juvenile Bull Shark Found Dead in Belize City

A male juvenile bull shark was found dead near Seashore Park in Belize City this afternoon. The Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management reported that the Fisheries Department – Belize responded promptly to retrieve the shark.

“Initial inspection revealed attack marks on the shark’s body,” the Ministry stated. “The public is reminded that the shark season remains closed until the end of October. Any illegal activities must be reported to the Belize Fisheries Department,” the Ministry Added.

BEL Restores Power in Orange Walk and Corozal Districts After Severe Weather Outage

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) says it has successfully restored power to communities in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts following an extended outage caused by severe weather on Wednesday. The unplanned outage, which began at 12:23 p.m., affected areas from Yo Creek to Blue Creek, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, San Roman, San Luis, and other surrounding communities. Power was fully restored by 11:08 p.m.

BEL says the outage occurred when lightning storms damaged the main transformer at the Orange Walk substation, which supplies electricity to several northern communities. Once weather conditions improved, BEL teams swiftly replaced the damaged transformer, ensuring power was restored to all affected areas.

BEL says it continues to monitor unstable weather conditions nationwide, as extreme weather driven by climate change puts added pressure on the national power grid. It says that customers may experience intermittent outages as protective systems activate to safeguard the grid.

First Phase of Gaza Polio Vaccination Campaign Concludes Successfully

Over 187,000 children under the age of 10 in central Gaza were successfully vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) during the first phase of a two-round vaccination campaign, exceeding the initial target of 157,000 due to population movement towards the area. Conducted from September 1–3, the campaign reached areas outside the designated humanitarian pause zone, ensuring more children were protected against polio.

Polio vaccinations will continue at four major health facilities in central Gaza in the coming days to ensure no child is missed, with additional vaccine doses supplied to meet the demand.

Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed hope as thousands of children received vaccines, crediting the resilience of families and health workers. He highlighted the importance of respecting humanitarian pauses, which enabled the campaign’s success.

A total of 513 teams, including over 2,180 health and outreach workers, administered vaccines at 143 sites, including hospitals, camps, and public spaces. Mobile teams also targeted hard-to-reach areas. Special missions were carried out in insecure areas just outside the pause zone, ensuring children in these regions were not overlooked.

The next phase of the campaign, targeting 340,000 children in southern Gaza, will run from September 5–8, with 517 teams deployed. The third and final phase will be conducted in northern Gaza from September 9–11, aiming to vaccinate 150,000 children.

The campaign, organized by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in partnership with the WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and other global partners, seeks to vaccinate 640,000 children across two rounds to stop the outbreak and prevent further international spread of polio.

MCC CEO and US Ambassador Visit Belize City Schools

Following the recent approval of Belize’s $250 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Alice Albright, CEO of MCC, and Michelle Kwan, U.S. Ambassador to Belize, visited several secondary schools in Belize City, including Edward P. Yorke High School. The visit allowed Albright and Kwan to engage with students and teachers, gaining insight into the key challenges that hinder Belizean students from achieving their full potential in education.

Earlier in the week, Ambassador Kwan had officially welcomed Albright to Belize at the international airport, marking the start of a two-day visit focused on education and energy initiatives. The MCC, a U.S. government-funded organisation, is dedicated to reducing poverty through sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The Government of Belize (GOB) secured the $250 million grant to address two critical areas: approximately 80% of the funding will be directed toward improving secondary education and technical and vocational education training (TVET), while the remaining 20% will focus on reducing energy costs through the expansion of renewable energy sources and modernising the national electricity grid.

Wet da Wet! Carnival Road March this Saturday

The first week of Belize’s September festivities unveiled a tantalising preview of Saturday’s Carnival Road March, with Carnival Mas Bands showcasing just a taste of what’s to come. If you think you’ve seen it all, think again. This year’s carnival promises an explosion of vibrant colours, high-energy performances, and extravagant costumes.

However, attendees are advised to prepare for possible rain. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon has reported that a tropical wave is expected to affect Belize. Although Gordon reassured the public that there are no tropical storm or hurricane warnings in effect, he warned of heavy rain and thunderstorms starting tonight: “There is a potential for excessive rainfall tonight and tomorrow. Decreasing on Saturday. So the good news for the activities on Saturday is that the rainfall will not be as heavy,” he stated.

So, hold on to your umbrellas for Belize’s annual carnival experience, rain or shine! Here’s a rundown of more activities for the coming weekend:

Belize City:

September 6: Street Fete at Marion Jones Sporting Complex, 9 PM – PAID
September 7: Carnival J’ouvert, starting at Belcan Bridge and winding through the principal streets of Belize City, 4 AM – FREE
September 7: Carnival Road March, beginning at Memorial Park, proceeding up Marine Parade, onto Barrack Road, then Princess Margaret Drive, and ending at Marion Jones Sporting Complex, 1 PM – FREE
September 8: 5th Martin’s Community Fest at Mahogany Street, 10 AM – FREE
September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service at Fordyce Chapel, SJC, 6 PM

Belmopan:

September 7: Food and Beer Fest at Independence Park, 5 PM
September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service at Independence Plaza, 9 AM

San Ignacio & Santa Elena:

September 6: Senior Citizen’s Day at Octavia Waight Centre, 11 AM
September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

Benque Viejo:

September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

Orange Walk:

September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

Corozal:

September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

San Pedro:

September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

Dangriga:

September 8: National Day of Prayer and Ecumenical Service

Punta Gorda:

September 9: Fire Engine Parade through the principal streets of Punta Gorda, 7 PM

Climate Change Adaptation & Disaster Risk Management Project Launched

The Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management (MBEDRM), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has announced the launch of a new project aimed at enhancing the resilience of Belize’s coastal zones and fisheries sector. The “Community Engagement of the Coastal Zone and Fisheries Sector Through Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Capacity Building” project, valued at USD $200,000, is being funded under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP).

Belize’s vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly those exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts, pests, and diseases, has heightened the need for targeted resilience-building efforts. With 57% of the population living within 25 miles of the coastline, where most of the nation’s infrastructure and human settlements are located, the threat posed by climate change to Belize’s coastal communities is significant.

This project aims to address these vulnerabilities by improving disaster risk management, enhancing livelihoods, and increasing awareness of climate adaptation strategies in key coastal communities. Four pilot communities have been selected based on their particular vulnerability to climate change, with potential expansion to the 27 other coastal fishing communities in Belize.

The project has three key outputs:
1. A comprehensive engagement strategy to increase the capacity of national actors and local communities in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.
2. The development of community-based CCA and DRM plans for coastal fishing communities.
3. Educational materials aimed at improving literacy and financial management among fisherfolk, with a focus on promoting climate-resilient livelihoods.

This initiative reflects a continued commitment to advancing sustainable development and ensuring the long-term protection of Belize’s coastal zones and fisheries sector against the growing impacts of climate change.

BDF Enhances GPS Skills in Adjacency Zone with Expert Training

Officials from the Organization of American States (OAS) recently shared techniques and updates with members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) on the use of GPS to properly perform their activities in the Adjacency Zone (AZ) at Eyles Camp. The OAS says this collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency and ensure accurate navigation and monitoring within the zone.

The Adjacency Zone (AZ) is a buffer area established to prevent conflicts between Belize and Guatemala, who have a long-standing territorial dispute. This dispute dates back to the 19th century, with Guatemala claiming parts of Belize based on historical treaties with Spain.

In 2008, both countries agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final resolution. The ICJ is a principal judicial organ of the United Nations, responsible for settling legal disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on international legal issues.

The OAS has been instrumental in maintaining peace and fostering cooperation in the AZ. The OAS Office in the AZ oversees confidence-building measures, monitors incidents, and promotes community integration and cooperation. This ongoing effort helps to ensure stability and peaceful coexistence in the region.