Prime Minister John Briceño spoke at the seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City today. During the Summit of the Future, he emphasized the urgent need for stronger international cooperation to tackle issues like climate change, poverty, and inequality. He also discussed the effects of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Additionally, various Heads of State and Government addressed significant challenges and gaps in global governance revealed by recent global crises.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The adoption of the pact for the future, the global digital compact and the declaration on future generations must not be seen as an end, but rather as a beginning. While these outcomes lay a foundation for action, they represent only a floor for a much greater ambition that is needed to transform our world for present and future generations. The world faces a triple planetary crisis and a development crisis. Human and planetary capacities are approaching limits from which there may be no rebound. Our development and climate goals are slipping farther away from our reach and yet there has been no effective global response. To say we will do what we have failed to do will not suffice. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, every year has seen record-breaking climate impacts. For the first time over a twelve-month period, spanning February 2023, to January 2024, global warming exceeded one-point-five degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. If that trend persists then Paris alone will not be enough, nor will our promise to accelerate the implementation of our 2030 agenda.”
Youth voices are crucial in the fight against climate change because their perspectives and ideas are vital for creating sustainable solutions that will affect their future. They often bring fresh, innovative ideas and approaches to problem solving. Young people regularly speak with a moral clarity that can cut through political and economic interests.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“In Belize, the youths are calling for opportunities to harness individual and technological potential. They need sustained investments in good, decent education, comprehensive healthcare and a green or a blue economy that targets support for micro, small and medium enterprises and startups. We can go farther faster with international support, but that support must be tailored to the unique characteristics of small island developing states. The Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS is a forward-looking blueprint for resilient prosperity. It defines our vision and what the international community can do to help us achieve that vision. My country, like other small island developing states, still lack representation where decisions are being made on our behalf.”
Over the festive weekend, a resident of Ladyville lost his life after he was run through by a length of steel. Paul Evans was a career technician who established himself several decades ago as the go-to engineer in radio and television broadcasting. He may not have been known to the public, but his diligent work in the background ensured that the signals for many of your favorite radio and television stations stayed on. On Saturday, Evans’ lifeless body was discovered at his home near Perez Road. He had reportedly fallen from a veranda onto a jutting rebar below and was impaled in the process. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the tragic story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Paul Evans was a towering figure in radio and television, standing shoulder to shoulder with the legendary personalities who have etched their names into the records of broadcasting history in Belize. He made his name by being the technical mind behind most of what you heard and saw over the airwaves.
Luis Sosa
Luis Sosa, Technician, Channel 5
“When I heard the news I was actually on my way to Orange Walk for the carnival and I had just passed Ladyville and I got a call from a colleague of mine telling me about the tragic accident that happened at his home. I was very shocked to hear that from my colleague because I had just spoken to Paul in the week before it happened and I was very shocked to hear that bad news that happened to him.”
Evans was at his home in Ladyville over the weekend and was having a few drinks, when he reportedly fell from a second-floor veranda, impaling himself on a piece of steel that was jutting out of the concrete below.
“On Saturday, September twenty-first, police visited a house at Ladyville Village where they saw the lifeless body of Paul Evans with an injury to his abdomen. Information is that he had been drinking and when police visited the area they saw him with a piece of steel in his abdomen. Police are investigating the circumstances of what transpired.”
News of his death sent shockwaves across the industry, particularly among other seasoned technicians and cameramen. Videographer George Tillett began his career working under Paul Evans.
George Tillett
George Tillett, Cameraman, Channel 5
“We started out as coworkers in the mid to the late eighties at the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize. We were technicians for the radio, that was Radio Belize AM and Friends FM and we both worked as repair technicians. I was second to him, he was the main technician at that time and Paul was very efficient at what he did.”
His contributions were as impactful and enduring as those of the most celebrated icons in the industry. He was responsible for bringing a young Luis Sosa to Channel 5 in 1998. A few years earlier, they were also working at Radio Belize together.
Luis Sosa
“He actually got me the job at Channel 5. He had pushed me to get the job along with Stewart Krohn and that’s where I started working with Paul.”
Isani Cayetano
“What can you tell us about Paul, as someone you knew very well?”
Luis Sosa
“He was very skillful with his job. He was one of the few broadcast TV engineers in Belize. He knew his job very well when it comes to TV broadcast transmitters and stuff like that. He use to help us with repairing and installation. He did that Channel 5 and anytime I needed help to d repairs on the transmitters or antennas, he would be there for me and side-by-side, we worked together to get it done.”
According to ACP Hilberto Romero, despite no tell-tale signs of a crime being committed, police are still investigating the incident.
Hilberto Romero
“This piece of steel is attached to the ground and it appears that he fell on that piece of steel.
Paul Lopez
“Any cause for suspicion of foul play?”
Hilberto Romero
“Not at this time but an investigation is being carried out.”
In July 2007, thieves hit a Channel 5 transmission site on the George Price Highway and stole several feet of copper wire from that facility. In that story, we interviewed Paul Evans.
Reporter
“At the Channel 5 transmission site, engineer Paul Evans estimates that twenty-five feet of cable was damaged.”
Paul Evans
Paul Evans, Engineer (File: July 30th, 2007)
“They haven’t taken any of the electrical equipment. They haven’t taken it; it’s just basically that. They didn’t touch any of the transmitting equipment, I mean, the only way we found out that this had happened over the weekend was that in the process of pulling the brackets off the wall, they disconnected the cable and we had an off-air situation in Dangriga which is fed from here and that’s how we found out.”
Evans, by all accounts, was virtually singular in what he has done for radio and television broadcasting in the country.
Luis Sosa
“He was one of the pioneer engineers in the country. I’m sure he would have done a good job in transitioning our station to digital TV. He was about to approach a project for us and unfortunately, he’s not here again with us.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Belize is gearing up to shine on the international stage once more in volleyball. A group of under-seventeen female volleyball players travelled to Managua, Nicaragua to compete in the inaugural Under-Seventeen Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship. A total of six countries will be competing in the tournament. Belize plays its first match on Tuesday afternoon against Costa Rica. We spoke with Allan Sharp, the President of the Belize Volleyball Association ahead of the games.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“Before they use to have under twenty-one, under-nineteen for male and for female under-twenty and under-eighteen. But the FIBE changed everything to be the same, so it is under-twenty-one, under-nineteen and under-seventeen. So, the under-seventeen carries a similar cutoff age to what use to be the under-eighteen prior. But this is the first under-seventeen competition that the region is having.”
Paul Lopez
“And of course, the association and the girls couldn’t pass up this opportunity to compete.”
Allan Sharp
“Not at all. We have a total of eight indoor competitions at the internation level to compete in this year. This is the fifth or sixth one. We still have two more. We try to compete, because this is part of the development, a part of preparing the girls and the players to play at the next level as we keep growing. We play against archrival Costa Rica, first game tomorrow at one thirty and then the following day we play Guatemala, another powerhouse. Then after that we play the host Nicaragua. So, we play what are anticipated to be the top three teams, back-to-back to back, then we finish off with Honduras and El Salvador for the week. Five straight days of playing. I think nobody takes us lightly. Every country gets to choose a match and that is why Nicaragua did not choose us as its first match. So, they just had to take us how it landed with the formula did is used. They did not choose us first and I don’t think anybody wants to play us first.”
The games will be streamed live. From volleyball we move into some basketball action. The 2024 William Dawson Sprite Basketball Tournament is well underway. In week ten of the tournament a total of eleven games were played. We bring you highlights from two of the matches played on Sunday. The first between Mahogany Heights and Freetown Ballers. Mahogany Heights is in the blue jersey, their opponents, Freetown Ballers, are in the maroon jersey. Mahogany Heights wins the tipoff. Ball to Jerson Grinage. He looks for the pass and turns the ball over. Freetown Ballers made good on the turnover on the other end to start the scoring.
Larson Marin with a deep three to put Mahogany Heights on the scoreboard. The first quarter ended with Mahogany Heights on top with seven points. They kept Freetown Ballers at three points in the first quarter. Here in the second quarter, Grinage out to Kendale Clare, jump shot of the screen. Rebound and back to Grinage who passes off to Larson Marin and that’s two points. Mahogany Heights now at nine. On the other end, Russel Humes goes in strong under the rim for the bucket. The second quarter ended with a score of twelve to eight points with Mahogany Heights still on top. Freetown Ballers continued to close the gap as the game progressed.
A throw in for Freetown Ballers early in the third quarter. Ball to Matthew Young under rim. He muscles his way up to the rim for the and-one play. Raheim Flowers, down the court, finds Russel Humes under the rim for the beautiful layup. Mahogony Heights’ lead was cut down to one point at the end of the third. The game score was seventeen to sixteen points. Freetown Ballers had their best quarter in the fourth. They went on to score twelve points in a dominant display. Mahogany Heights scored eight points in the final quarter. Ultimately, after losing three quarters, Freetown Ballers won the match. I.G. Ballers also played against Third World Ballers on Sunday. I.G. Ballers played in the green and white jersey, while Third World Ballers played in light and dark green jersey.
An early start for I.G. Ballers with a layup from Augustine Pitterson. Pitterson picks up the turnover and hands the ball off to Jayson Orosco who makes it look easy on the other end. On the other end, Tafaree Sanchez gets the rebound, spins, puts in the ball and draws the foul. He also made the free throw count. Kerdel Tench with the layup to put his team at seven points and gain the lead. The first quarter ended in favor of Third World Ballers with nine points. They held I.G. Ballers down to four points. Glency Coope Lopez with the and-one in the second quarter.
Immediately after, on the other end, Orosco went in for the slam dunk over three defenders, a young superstar that also plays for the under-nineteen national team. This one ended in favor of Third World Ballers with thirty-nine points to I.G. Ballers’ thirty points. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
As September celebrations wind down, Belize’s next highly anticipated event approaches.
Today, the National Garifuna Council announced the theme for this year’s November 19th Celebrations: “Afeduha waméi wagücha, afareinha waméi wanichigu! – Celebrating our roots; sharing our culture.”
This theme, submitted by Biviana McDougall, a teacher at Gulisi Community Primary School, was selected by the Garifuna Language Commission.
In its press release, the council highlighted the theme’s focus on honouring cultural origins and the importance of passing down knowledge to future generations. “It reminds us of the responsibility adults have as role models, and educators, ensuring that Garifuna culture and identity continue to thrive through the younger generation,” the Council stated.
Scientists from Florida International University have identified a new species of hammerhead shark, Sphyrna alleni, named in honour of the late Paul G. Allen, an advocate for shark conservation.
Previously unnoticed due to its similarity to the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, the locally known shovellbill shark has been found from Belize to Brazil and now faces the threat of extinction.
FIU researcher and lead author of the research, Cindy Gonzalez, explained, “DNA analyses provided the first clue that the bonnethead sharks, as we knew them, were at least two species in the Atlantic and not one.” However, Gonzalez noted that DNA alone was insufficient to define a species, prompting a team to investigate physical differences.
The Global FinPrint study revealed that sharks in this region are overfished, particularly due to destructive fishing practices.
“These sharks have played a critical role in shaping the culture and economy of many local communities in many Latin American countries, so it is important to work hand-to-hand with the fishermen on conservation efforts,” Gonzalez remarked.
The next phase of the project will evaluate shark health in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across 26 nations.
“It is tragic that we have only just recognised that this species exists, and we are already running against the clock to prevent its extinction,” said the research team lead, Demian Chapman. He commended Belize for its proactive steps in shark conservation, adding, “Belize has taken proactive steps for shark conservation that may help this species, such as collaborating closely with shark fishing communities to manage shark catches, establishing protected areas, and implementing a nationwide gillnet ban.”
Police are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred during the carnival celebration in Orange Walk District. According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, Francis Bustamante Sr., 48, and his son, Francis Bustamante Jr., 28, were working at a bar when a male approached them and initiated an argument. This individual then brandished a knife and stabbed both men.
Reports indicate that the argument may have been over a drink that the assailant wanted to purchase.
Francis Bustamante Senior is recovering in the hospital, while Francis Bustamante Junior is in critical condition.
World leaders gathered at the 79th United Nations General Assembly for the Summit of the Future, adopting the Pact for the Future Resolution. This initiative includes the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, aimed at bridging digital divides and ensuring a sustainable world for future generations.
During the Summit of the Future, Prime Minister John Briceño called on global leaders to see the adoption of the Summit Outcome documents as the starting point for transformative change. He stated, “The adoption of the pact for the future, the global digital compact, and the declaration on future generations must not be seen as an end, but rather as a beginning.” Briceño emphasised that these agreements serve as a foundation for future action.
Briceño pointed out the challenges posed by what he described as a “triple planetary crisis and a development crisis.” He warned that “human and planetary capacities are approaching limits from which there may be no rebound.” The Prime Minister noted that climate and development goals are slipping further away, with recent data indicating that global warming has exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time in a twelve-month period.
Briceño called for unprecedented actions across all levels of governance, stating, “These are unprecedented times; they demand unprecedented actions.” He underscored the need for investments in education, healthcare, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, particularly in small island developing states.
He also cited the “Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS” as a “forward-looking blueprint for resilient prosperity.”
“My country, like other small island developing states, still lacks representation where decisions are being made on our behalf. As a placebo, we may be given the privilege of a five-minute intervention on a matter that will have consequential impacts on our future,” Briceño added.
The Department of the Environment (DOE) recently concluded a training session aimed at enhancing environmental compliance monitoring, a crucial step in safeguarding Belize’s natural resources.
Over three days, from September 17-19, 2024, experts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) provided guidance to representatives from over ten government agencies, including Public Health, the Forest Department, NICH, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining.
The training involved practical exercises and discussions designed to enhance participants’ monitoring skills.
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, highlighted the importance of compliance, stating, “Compliance is not just a checklist; it’s a critical aspect of maintaining trust and integrity in our operations.” He noted that the training offered a valuable opportunity for professionals to exchange knowledge and address common challenges.
Team Belize is primed to represent the nation at the First Global Challenge 2024 in Athens, Greece, to showcase its innovative robot, Wagüchi.
While the name Wagüchi translates to “our father” in Garifuna, it also symbolises the team’s strong connection to their ancestral roots, with an adopted figurative meaning of “ancestral roots.”
The team comprises five dedicated high school students: Team Captain Aurayanna Shepherd, 16; Lia Hunt, 16; Ximin Huang, 15; Liam Lizarraga, 15; and Leandro Avila, 13. Together, they have worked tirelessly with a larger school team to design, build, and program Wagüchi and enhance its functionality.
The team, made up of students from first to fourth form, departed this morning to Greece.
The First Global Challenge is an international robotics competition that encourages youths from around the world to tackle pressing global issues through technology. Taking place from September 26-29, 2024, the event will see participants from over 190 countries gather in Athens.
The competition aims to make science and technology as celebrated in the same manner traditional sports do, inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM fields.
