The Belize Government Lotteries is marking its one-year anniversary with a bang by raffling off a million dollars! This special event, fittingly named the “One & A Million Anniversary Jackpot,” is a one-time celebration. According to a release from the Belize Government Lotteries on Monday, tickets are now on sale for just five dollars and can be bought from any of their sub-agents across the country. Ticket sales will close on December twentieth at nine p.m., and the big draw will happen the next day, Saturday, December twenty-first at ten a.m. If there are multiple winners, the jackpot will be split among them. Customers should note that tickets are only valid for thirty days after the draw date and must be fully legible with the QR code and ticket number intact to claim the prize.
Japan’s rich cultural tapestry, woven from its historical roots and modern innovations, makes it a captivating destination for any traveler seeking an immersive and enriching experience. News Five’s Isani Cayetano joined a delegation of reporters, university lecturers and government officials on a trip to Japan, in the Far East, where he took in the cultural and tourism experience for this week’s Kolcha Tuesday. Here’s that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Japan’s culture is famous worldwide, from its stunning art and delicious cuisine to its captivating films and music. And let’s not forget the vibrant world of Japanese pop culture, with its iconic comics, mesmerizing animation, and cutting-edge video games that have fans all over the globe. A few weeks ago, I had the incredible chance to visit this amazing island nation in East Asia. Even though the long flight from New York to Tokyo left me jetlagged, my adventure in the Land of the Rising Sun was truly eye-opening and unforgettable. It was a privilege to embark on this familiarization visit alongside a distinguished group of journalists, professors, and government representatives from across the Caribbean. We were invited to Japan by the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation.
APIC actively participates in a range of development cooperation projects aimed at fostering and strengthening connections with the international community. These initiatives are designed not only to promote global partnerships, but also to cultivate a deeper, mutual understanding between Japan and numerous other nations, including Belize. This was our inaugural journey to such a distant part of the world, making it even more special. Accompanying me from Belize was my dear friend and esteemed colleague, LJay Wade, a familiar face to many of you from Plus TV. Following a grueling, fourteen-hour, nonstop flight from JFK, we finally touched down at Haneda Airport, the bustling hub and busiest of the two international gateways to the Greater Tokyo Area. The excitement of arriving in such a vibrant city was evident as we landed, ready to explore all that Tokyo has to offer.
Our first day in the lively Capital City was packed with exciting visits, including a stop at a prestigious university renowned for its focus on animation and the visual arts. There, we had the privilege of meeting a distinguished professor, a true expert in the field of Japanese animation, who shared fascinating insights into this captivating art form. Our next stop was the iconic Kaminarimon, where a massive red lantern majestically hangs at the center of the gate in Tokyo. Originally constructed in 941 AD by the military commander Taira no Kinmasa, the Kaminarimon was initially situated near Komagata. It found its current home in 1635, during which time the revered gods of wind and thunder were believed to have been enshrined on the gate, adding to its historical and cultural significance. From that point, we embarked on our culinary adventure, heading to our first stop—a charming, traditional restaurant that meticulously honors every custom, making the Japanese dining experience exceptionally unique and unforgettable. The cuisine is a delightful blend of tradition, artistry, and seasonal ingredients. It emphasizes balance, harmony, and presentation, making each meal a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
Given Japan’s island geography, seafood is central to its cuisine. This includes raw fish, or sashimi, grilled fish, and various seafood-based dishes. The staple, however, is rice, often served plain or as sushi. To cap off our day, we immersed ourselves in the enchanting world of kabuki, a classical Japanese theatre that masterfully blends dramatic storytelling with traditional dance. Kabuki is renowned for its highly stylized performances, dazzling and ornate costumes, and the intricate kumadori makeup that transforms its performers into living works of art. Elsewhere during our trip, we boarded a bullet train for Kyoto, a city where ancient traditions and modern life coexist in perfect harmony. Kyoto is celebrated for its breathtaking temples, tranquil gardens, and deep cultural heritage. During our visit, we marveled at the Golden Pavilion, a magnificent Zen Buddhist temple.
This iconic structure stands as one of the most beloved landmarks in Japan’s former capital. At an unassuming yet exclusive restaurant in Kyoto, where securing a reservation requires months of anticipation, I had the unforgettable experience of being introduced to the exquisite delicacy of wagyu beef. Wagyu beef is among the most expensive meats in the world. It boasts intricate marbling, with delicate streaks of fat woven through the red meat, enhancing its tenderness, moisture, and rich flavor. In Kyoto, the women are draped in traditional Japanese clothing, including the national dress of Japan, the Kimono. Our next stop was Kanazawa, a city in central Japan with a population of roughly half-a-million residents. LJay perfectly captured the essence of our weeklong adventure in Japan.
LJay Wade
LJay Wade, Belizean Journalist
“Tokyo is the bustling, modern metropolis that’s filled with innovation, while Kyoto and Kanazawa hold on to ancient and traditional practices with its antique beauty and landscapes. We got to experience traditional practices such as kabuki in Tokyo, the laka method in Kanazawa, and noh in Kyoto. We also got to eat traditional foods such as tempura sushi, sashimi, miso soup and matsukake soup which I hear is super expensive and I got to eat two of them. So I’m very, very thankful for that.”
APIC was founded on September 8th, 1975, with the goal of making it easier for the public to understand and support official development assistance projects by providing accessible information. After a legal revision on April 1st, 2013, APIC became a general incorporated foundation, but it continues to carry out its original mission with the same dedication and purpose.
LJay Wade
“I cannot wait to go back home to Belize and write about Japan which, in my view, is the perfect blend of modernization and cultural preservation.”
The Belize City Council’s Street Damage Assessment Report, released late Monday, reveals that the Collet constituency tops the list for the most expensive repairs needed. Mesopotamia comes in second, while Fort George and Pickstock are the least costly. The total bill for fixing streets damaged by recent rains and floods is nearly one point six million dollars. Interestingly, even though Collet is the priciest to repair, it has only ten streets and thirteen sections needing work. On the other hand, Lake Independence has a whopping twenty-seven streets and twelve sections requiring repairs. News Five’s Marion Ali gives us a detailed breakdown of the streets and the repair costs.
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
“Dehn mi have umpteen time fi do the street before the rain start, long before the rain start dehn couldda mi do it, but dehn nuh do it. Now dehn wa blame the rain now right? The street the bruk up fi we vehicle and everybody else vehicle. Come on, that da past nonsense.”
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
“St Thomas Street, I nuh know who responsible for it but tell the minister or whosoever responsible fi that, tell dehn goh tek a lee drive out deh and see weh di goh on out deh. The roller coaster weh mi deh by the field betta than that.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Many residents of Belize City are frustrated with the worsening condition of the streets, largely due to recent heavy rains. Mayor Bernard Wagner has assured that repairs will begin once the weather clears up. Late Monday, the Belize City Council shared a draft copy of a street damage assessment report, dated October thirty-first, detailing the number of streets and sections in each of the city’s ten constituencies that need various levels of repair. It shows the Lake Independence constituency to have the most streets that need repair at forty. That’s because while there are twenty-seven streets that need repair, three of them have more than one section that needs attention. Two of the streets, which haven’t been named, each have seven sections that need repairs. The estimated cost for materials to fix the Lake-I area is about forty-three thousand dollars.
In stark contrast, Collet, which borders Lake-I, has a list of ten streets, but thirteen sections overall that need repair. The price tag for the material to fix these streets is around four hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars. The Albert Division faces a bill of forty-nine thousand dollars for materials to fix just six streets. Over in Pickstock, eleven streets each need only one section repaired, costing about eight thousand, five hundred dollars in materials. Meanwhile, Fort George has four damaged streets, with repair materials estimated at around twenty thousand dollars. Queen Square has fifteen streets and two of them have two sections each to repair, which brings the number of sections to fix in that area to seventeen. The price for the material to repair is over two hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars.
The Freetown constituency has eleven streets in need of repair, and the cost for the necessary materials is estimated at seventy-three thousand dollars. The Belize City Council will have to spend a hundred and seventeen thousand dollars to purchase material for the Mesopotamia Division, which has four damaged streets to repair. Caribbean Shores has twenty-four streets to repair at a cost of a hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars for the purchase of material. The Port Loyola constituency needs a whopping one hundred and twelve thousand dollars for materials to repair nineteen streets and twenty-seven sections. Both taxi drivers and pedestrians we spoke to agree on one thing: the streets across the city desperately need fixing.
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
“Most ah dehn got potholes soh dehn need fi fix.”
Marion Ali
“Anyone in particular?”
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
“Vernon Street right deh. Vernon Street need fix. The streets dehn terrible, especially King Street, Euphrates Avenue, Amara Avenue – all dehn streets full ah water when ih rain. And nuh ask bout potholes.”
Driver
Driver
“One ah the streets that needs to be repaired is Rivero Street because it’s in a really bad condition. That’s one of the main streets on the southside.”
Marion Ali
“Has it affected the maintenance of your vehicle?”
Driver
“Nuh really. I know for my aunt, cause my aunt lives on that street, so I think they need to fix that street. The streets dehn wa fix in due time.”
Marion Ali
“Does it affect your vehicle?”
Driver
Driver
“Yeah ih affect the vehicle but wi can’t do nothing right now because the rain nuh want give break and hold up fi mek wi fix the street dehn but as soon as the rain hold up I think the guys wa fix the street. Some ah the streets dehn bruk up and I find dehn got a lotta water, especially when it rains, and stuff like that. I think dehn need fi do something to the streets dehn.”
On Monday, the Government of Belize kicked off the Fourth High Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics with an opening ceremony. The event brought together representatives from across the region in Placencia to celebrate the impressive milestones achieved by the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians. It was a gathering of minds and a celebration of progress in the world of statistics.
Diana Castillo-Trejo
Diana Castillo-Trejo, Director General, S.I.B.
“In a year during which the regional and international statistical communities celebrate a number of major milestones, including the fiftieth milestone of the standing committee of Caribbean statisticians and the sixth anniversary of the endorsement of the regional strategy for the development of statistics, as well as the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations fundamental principles of official statistics, and the tenth anniversary of their endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly. The Statistical Institute of Belize is equally delighted to have our colleagues, our partners, join us in this setting. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of our everyday routine for a week of collaboration, delegation, planning and coordination. Today’s high level advocacy forum, as well as the week’s various meetings being held under theme, “Improving lives through statistics, strengthening and innovating together.” It provides a unique opportunity to bring together an array of officials from across the region, representatives of various international agencies, regional experts and heads of national statistics offices, with a view to strengthening the partnerships that are among the most critical to the development of statistics in our region.”
In a pre-recorded message, Prime Minister John Briceño spoke to the gathering, emphasizing just how crucial the work of statisticians is across the region. He highlighted their efforts and the significant impact their data-driven insights have on shaping policies and driving progress.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Our Caribbean National Statistics Office has faced numerous challenges in their efforts to operationalize it. These were even further exacerbated in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak when national statistical systems were required to provide date to support government’s response in almost real-time. You all had to work with significantly reduced budgets and hundreds or even thousands of lives depended on the accuracy of the data your office produced. To their great credit, data systems around the world were able to adopt and innovate, supporting the largest ever data-driven response to a global crisis. This is nothing new for small countries with limited resources by necessity, adoptability and resourcefulness at all levels.”
Today, San Narciso Village in the Corozal District received materials for a brand-new water system. This event is part of an ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Rural Transformation and UNICEF Belize. Minister of State Ramiro Ramirez and UNICEF Country Representative Alison Parker were on hand to mark the occasion. It’s a significant step forward for the community, ensuring better access to clean water for everyone.
Ramiro Ramirez
Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State, Rural Transformation
“Down south when we started, I was chatting with Dr. Angela the good momentsthat we had there and the worst moments that we had there. The first time that we went to Macahakil Ha, we had to walk couple hours in bush on a harsh trail, but now today, thanks to UNICEF, thanks to the Government of Belize, for rural transformation, we have a nice road, you can take your Prado or Lexus or anything you desire to go and visit that beautiful village now.”
Alison Parker
Alison Parker, UNICEF Country Rep, Belize
“We have been together, both in the southern part of Belize, as well as the north, where we recognize that persons especially in the rural areas do not have access to safe water.”
On Saturday, residents of Orange Walk District came together to celebrate finishing the Cell Phone Repair Training Course. Organized by the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit, this training aimed to help women explore new opportunities and boost their financial independence. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Orange Walk District just saw a boost in women entering the STEM field, thanks to a cell phone repair training course. On Saturday, the graduates celebrated their achievement alongside Prime Minister John Briceno and the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit. Narda Garcia, CEO of the Ministry of Investment, congratulated the women on their impressive accomplishment.
Narda Garcia
Narda Garcia, C.E.O., OPM, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration
“Congratulations on completing the phone repair training. Your dedication and hard work have paid off and will continue to pay off. You have acquired valuable skills that will serve you well today and in the future. Remember that you are capable of achieving great things and that this is just the beginning of your journey in the tech industry. As Thea said, tech industry is evolving and evolving fast. Very dynamic. And from this, you will start to something greater. Keep pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes and inspiring others. With your passion and expertise, we are proud of you and excited to see where your newfound skills will take you.”
Garcia expressed her desire for all the graduates to receive their trade licenses quickly so that they may start receiving income from the new skill. Several graduates expressed their excitement about applying these new techniques in their everyday lives.
Training Course Graduate
Training Course Graduate
“Phone is the most important thing. In a home right now because you can you don’t use it only to do calls, but you can use it to do chit chatting, you can use it to do, to pay your bills, you can use it to do paying bills of social security or so forth it’s also you can do withdraw or sending money from one person to another, so it’s important in a home right now for using phones when the phone is spoiled, we get frustrated, right? Because we will not be able not to be able to communicate with our loved ones or to communicate at an emergency or something. So if we are be able to repair our own phone or repair the phone of our loved ones at a minimum cost, it is very suitable for us.”
The participants started from the very basics such as changing a screen and slowly advanced to more complex techniques such as welding and button replacements.
Training Course Graduate
“The girl that is back there, she managed to open the iPhone. iPhone is different from other phones. It has a special screwdriver that you have to use it. You cannot open it as how you can. She managed to open, I think, three of them, three iPhones. Also, there was one of us who said that they would bring a speaker, so they brought speakers and they started to repair speakers because the speaker could not charge, and so they charged, they changed the port because it was similar to a phone. So at the end of the week, we were all happy and we enjoyed being together and repairing phone. We were, this is not a stop, but this is just a beginning for us. I hope you ladies. Do take it in consideration and continue, because it’s just a beginning.”
Although the course was just two weeks long, the participants are eager to keep learning and growing in this field, driven by their own dedication and the support of the community. Britney Gordon for News Five.
A tragic incident unfolded during a local league soccer match in central Peru on Sunday when a lightning strike killed one player and injured four others.
The match, held at Coto Coto Stadium in Chilca, a town about 70 kilometres southeast of Lima, had been paused due to a storm when the lightning struck. Footage from the game shows players walking off the pitch when suddenly several collapsed as the lightning hit. A brief flash and a small plume of smoke appeared near one of the players, as seen in a broadcast by local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelica.
Among those struck was Hugo De La Cruz, a 39-year-old defender, who was identified as the deceased by local authorities and state media. The incident occurred 22 minutes into the match between the teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca. Other players initially struggled to get back on their feet after the lightning hit.
As of Monday evening, two of the injured players had been discharged from the hospital, while two others remain under observation. One goalkeeper, who was critically injured, had shown signs of improvement, according to state news agency Andina.
The National Women’s Commission (NWC) announced the launch of a Digital Poster Competition with the theme “#NoExcuse” to raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote gender equality. As part of addressing gender-based violence and incorporating elements from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Commission encourages participants to create digital posters that reflect this theme.
The competition will recognise the top five winners, with prizes for each place. First place will receive a laptop and a gift package containing hygiene or school supplies. Second place will win a tablet and a gift package, while third place will be awarded a cash prize and a gift package. Fourth and fifth place winners will each receive a gift certificate.
The competition is open to everyone, and submissions are accepted until November 8, 2024. Anyone interested is encouraged to submit their digital posters via email to programme.officer.nwc@humandev.gov.bz.
Tropical Storm Rafael is forecast to intensify into a hurricane as it passes near or over the Cayman Islands within the next 12 hours, bringing dangerous conditions. According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to produce damaging hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and destructive waves in the region. Further strengthening is anticipated as Rafael approaches western Cuba and the Isle of Youth by Wednesday. A hurricane warning is in effect for these areas, with similar threats expected.
Tropical storm conditions are also projected to affect the Lower and Middle Florida Keys beginning on Wednesday and continuing into Wednesday night.
It remains unclear whether Rafael will impact the northern Gulf Coast, and residents in that region are advised to closely monitor updates and remain prepared.
In addition to the strong winds, Rafael is forecast to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the western Caribbean through early Thursday, affecting Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and southern and western Cuba. The heavy rain could lead to flash flooding and mudslides, especially in the higher terrains of Jamaica and Cuba. Residents in these areas are urged to take necessary precautions.
