Last month, leaders from around the globe converged in Cali, Colombia for COP16. The summit aimed to ramp up biodiversity protection and secure twenty billion dollars in funding for preservation efforts. Unfortunately, many participants fell short, raising only about four hundred million dollars—far from the ambitious target. Today, we caught up with the Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, who shared his thoughts on the conference. He acknowledged that while not all goals were met, it wasn’t a complete failure.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“If you look at what you go for, And it all depends on how much time you spend. you can get back something. At the global level some people are disappointed because COP16 didn’t produce what they wanted, especially the twenty billion that everybody’s looking for. But I think there are certain solutions that came about for those who were seeking country level support. I think many of them got some. I think for Belize, we got a few commitments as a region with CARICOM also, and as a region with Central America SICA, we also got some. Looking at the Climate Change COP which is much bigger being held in Baku, in Azerbaijan the Climate Change COP to me, is a little bit more commercial. It’s larger, it’s very impersonal, and so you really have to go there with focus on what you want to achieve. For me though, at all the COPs, I try to make certain that we have some bilateral meetings. With Norway, with the U. S., with Canada, and so that you can have additional sources for projects, apart from what the Climate Change Fund will do. Success stories for Belize, for example, our CEO is on the adaptation fund board, on the global adaptation fund board. We were able in the last year or so to be able to bring about eighteen million for adaptation projects in Belize. We have projects with the GCF, the Green Climate Fund, which we are pursuing. PACT is the accredited agency, so we are trying to see how we can locate some funds for certain projects. There are several projects in the pipeline which we are trying to get along with the support from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance. And so, we can’t just leave it alone. We have to continue pursuing it so that then at the end we can get the funding that we are looking for.”
In just a few days, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, will kick off. This event brings together global leaders to discuss strategies for boosting climate resilience and holding themselves accountable for past environmental promises. This year, Belize is sending a small delegation, including Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai. We spoke with Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet, who shared that the focus of the conference will be on increasing access to funding. Here’s more on that.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Climate Change
“One of the main focus areas for COP 29 will be financing and the one hundred billion that was promised some years ago finally accordingly reached in 2022. But we are looking for a much more than that the top is in the trillions of dollars. I will be leading AOSIS and CARICOM. In the new collective quantified goal, which is trying to see how these developed countries fulfill their commitments based on the Paris Agreement that says that developed countries are to provide the funding for developing countries. As AOSIS, as Caribbean, because we are small, considered small island developing states, we are highest in vulnerability to climate change. And so we are also looking for them to consider our vulnerabilities as part of the consideration for the funding. But we also had some success in the previous cup where the loss and damage fund was approved. It’s somewhere a little bit over four hundred million. We want to see how at this couple can increase. The president of COP 29 that they will try to see how in the first week you can try to scale up that funding. And so if we are around the table, we can start negotiating.”
In Belmopan, young people are coming together to take part in climate-resilient projects, thanks to funding from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action fund. These initiatives are designed to put youth at the forefront of climate action. Today, the University of Belize hosted the Youth Climate Action Symposium, where students learned how they can drive the environmental changes they want to see.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
“Think Green, Act Smarter” That’s the theme of today’s Youth Climate Action Symposium at the University of Belize in Belmopan. The forum brought together one hundred and fifty students from primary, secondary, and tertiary schools to raise awareness about climate change. Samih Young, the president of the university’s environmental club, shared insights on the topics discussed during the event.
Samih Young
Samih Young, President, Environmental Club, UB
“For an example we have, How climate change affects biodiversity loss and forestry. And another one would be, How climate change affects agriculture and food security. All very really good thematic focuses, and then we’ll have experts from different organizations, both NGOs and government organizations, come here, in these classrooms, to provide the students with statistics, and they’re the experts and they’re going to provide us with their information to educate us about how climate change is actually affecting these different things.”
The symposium is part of a broader initiative funded by the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, which offers technical support and funding to over a hundred mayors, helping them engage thousands of young people in creating and managing urgent climate solutions in their cities. Mayor Pablo Cawich mentioned that the groundwork for the hundred-thousand-dollar grant was laid by the previous administration and continued when he took office. Now, the city council is aiming for another grant, this time for two hundred thousand dollars, to support even more projects.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor of Belmopan
“There are many different results that we expect. Yesterday I attended another function for Raquel art, who was also another recipient of the fund. And they have repurposed materials as part of art. There are different projects depend for the different groups. We have in the case of, I think, UB, they had a reforesting initiative for the Ten Cents Creek. We have other agencies that, or other recipients that also had had awareness campaigns. So the results of the fund and the investment. is in different aspects of climate change.”
The money is to be distributed among ten different youth-led projects. Each group put together a proposal detailing their project’s scope and the positive impact it would have on the environment. Doctor Pio Saki, advisor of the environmental club at UB explained that process to us.
Pio Saki
Dr. Pio Saki, Advisor, Environmental Club, UB
“It was very specific and it points directly to what we do as an environmental club. Our motto is serve to conserve and let nature educate. That’s the motto of the environmental club. And this project had an aspect where we’re supposed to engage community on climate impacts and climate action that we need to take, particularly for the city of Belmopan. The project was very, specific, that was, but is very specific. And so our proposal is aimed at creating this awareness among schools and the university of students on climate impact in Belize.”
For many attendees, today’s event was their first experience at a climate-focused forum. Aya Elkishawi, a standard six student from Garden City Primary School, was thrilled to contribute to strengthening Belize’s climate resilience.
Aya Elkishawi
Aya Elkishawi, Std 6 Student, Garden City Primary School
“When you take care of your environment, it’s better for the whole climate and the Earth. And it’s just better because when you start young and try to help, it will be better when you’re older.”
Britney Gordon
“What are some small changes that you think you can make in your life to preserve the environment?”
Aya Elkishawi
“Well, I think that we should stop littering and try to throw them in garbage and not in oceans or lakes or rivers or any of that, take care of the water.”
The Salvation Army Belize is kicking off the holiday season early with the launch of its Red Christmas Kettle initiative. This annual fundraiser has been a beloved tradition in Belize for decades. The official opening ceremony took place today in Battlefield Park. Now, you can spot those iconic red kettles at various locations throughout the city and across the country. The Salvation Army Belize is on a mission to raise one hundred thousand dollars to help those in need this Christmas season.
Eddy Momplaisir
Major Marc Eddy Momplaisir, District Officer, Salvation Army Belize
“AS you all may be aware Salvation Army red Christmas kettle is one of theevents we have every year across the world. It is one for the largest fund raising that we have in the salvation and our aim is to help those who are less fortunate, especially for the kids who are looking for Salvation Army to give them a gift and to provide a happy meal for them. So we are here for them and we believe with the help of the public and the donors, we will be able to achieve our goal. nToday is our opening ceremony. As you can see we have our special guest, doctor Villanueva with us and now Christmas is open. Now we are going to start our campaign Monday eleventh to December. However, we have some letter mails appeal that we have sent out there to different businesses, donor sponsor and we are asking for help. So I am asking them, please do open the letters because we see the need, and we have the beneficiaries but we just need the donors to come along and make it possible.”
While on our journey to find unique stories from handicraft artisans, we stumbled upon a hidden gem: silverware art. This incredible craft turns everyday eating utensils into stunning pieces of jewelry and decor, with some creations beautifully capturing the essence of Belizean culture. In the charming Hopkins Village, we met an artist who is bringing this imaginative vision to life. Here’s his story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Matthew Montague and his wife like to call themselves immigrants, not expats, because they aim to give back to Belize rather than just take from it. When they arrived four years ago, they settled into a modest yet charming home in the heart of Hopkins Village. Surrounded by lush greenery, their imaginations are constantly fueled by their pets and the local wildlife. Beneath this cozy dwelling, Montague has carved out a small workshop where his art comes to life. Amidst running thoughts, bursts of creativity, and the occasional insect, he transforms everyday utensils into unique pieces.
Matthew Montague
Matthew Montague, Owner, Shady Acres Belize “It’s always funny to watch people’s faces because people don’t recognize that that’s a fork. Or that that’s a spoon. Huh. And so I show them. I’ve got a little speech and I show them and you see the realization and then they’re like, Oh my goodness, that’s a fork!!”
Montague’s business, Shady Acres Belize, showcases a delightful array of his creations, along with his wife’s beautiful pieces. But his best-selling items—jewelry crafted from utensils— are the eyecatchers and conversation starters, originating from a distinctive piece his wife owned.
Matthew Montague “Everything here is made from a fork, a spoon, or a handle of some kind. I start basically with that, right there. A fork. It begins with a fork. Yeah, or if I have a really fancy spoon that has a fancy handle on it, then I can make a nice ring out of that. My wife Angela had this beautiful octopus pendant that she’d gotten 25 years ago at a festival somewhere in California. And every time we’d go to market or do something, people would ask, Oh, did you make that? Where’d you get it? And finally I said, we’ve been asked so many times, why am I not making these? So she said, okay, and gave me her grandmother’s wedding silverware and that’s where it started. And so I ruined a lot of forks figuring this out, but, but here we are and so, yeah, it literally started with that. So far she’s not haunting us, but you know, we’re okay.”
Matthew contends that his business is grounded in a commitment to repurposing and recycling. From bottle caps and wires to biodegradable tree branches, Montague turns everyday materials into stunning works of art. Each piece is crafted with a unique vision, ready to tell its own story.
Matthew Montague “As you can see here, most of the stuff I use I try to recycle. You know, the forks and silverware we purchase, they’re repurposed versus recycled, but all of the wood and the backing and a lot of the other materials that I use in my art are all recycled.”
Sabreena Daly
“Where do you get these items from?”
Matthew Montague
“I pick them up on the beach. A lot of trash I pick up on the beach. Plastics and bottle caps, I scrap it. I even used a lot of the wire from my house when we built this house. Used all the leftover wire that was extra and scraps to make different arts and fish pieces. And, an example, this is just recycled, little piece of recycled wire. So, but I used to make giant ones when I first started. I made huge fish like that. That was where the barracuda came from. And so I’ve been trying to incorporate Belize into my art. I did a fish recently that was an amazing months long project of spoons. And I used all the spoons for the scales. I’ll have to show you a picture because it’s gone. But the head portion was made out of Belikin bottle caps. So you’d know that fish is from Belize. The fish is somewhere in the U. S. right now, but it’s from Belize.”
Montague’s pieces make excellent gifts or striking statement items for personal wear. With the high season approaching, access to these gems can be found in many ways.
Matthew Montague “We’re part of Markets on the Go, and we travel all over Belize with them and to some amazing market events. We’re getting ready for pop-up market season to start again here shortly in December. We’ll have one at Itsana, we’re at Barefoot once a month regularly through the season, Beach Bar and Placencia. And then we support a lot of shops in the area with a lot of our art too. Our biggest supporter is Garamaya here in Hopkins.”
As Montague strives to create a space where he can give back to the country he now calls home, he hopes his artistic journey brings joy to everyone who experiences it.
Sabreena Daly
“What do you hope, uh, for people to feel or, or remember about you as an artist or your work as art?”
Matthew Montague
“I try to create happy feelings for people. Things that you look at and you make smile. You know, jewelry is always amazing. I love jewelry. Um, it makes me happy musicians, you know, I’ve got my band here. Musicians take that and they’re, they’re, they’re pretty, hmm, that it takes it home. It’s something that they identify with. And so if you can find a piece of my art that you identify with, that’s really what I’m trying to do.”
Reports emerging from San Pedro Town are that 46-year-old Matthew Moses was shot and killed. The incident took place earlier this afternoon near the popular Secret Beach. Witnesses say that the shooting was a result of an altercation between Moses and a property owner.
In April 2021, Moses was stabbed, shot, and left for dead. He was sleeping in a hammock when he was attacked and shot by two men.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, is just days away, set to take place in Azerbaijan. Following COP28, this event is another crucial opportunity for countries to be held accountable for their environmental commitments.
Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, spoke to the media today about the priorities for COP29. He said the conference will focus on financing climate change efforts and addressing the urgent funding needs of vulnerable nations, like Belize, which face the highest risks from climate change. A key issue will be scaling up the $100 billion pledge made by developed countries to support developing nations in their climate efforts. “The talk is in the trillions of dollars,” Minister Habet said.
While Belize’s delegation to the conference normally includes around 12 to 14 members from various government ministries, this year it will be much smaller. “It’s a very small team this year,” Habet explained. In addition to Kenrick Williams, the CEO of Belize’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, other officials from the Forest Department and the Ministry of Agriculture will attend. Belize will also send staff from its New York office, including Ambassador Carlos Fuller and one other embassy representative. Habet said that the Ministry of Agriculture is being involved in this year’s COO and will be attending through a different sponsorship.
In a previous interview, Habet stressed the importance of Belize’s participation in these international discussions to protect the country’s interests. However, Minister Mai has been more sceptical about the impact of global climate summits. “They often serve as more of a talk shop than a platform for meaningful action on climate change and other pressing environmental issues,” he said. Despite this scepticism, Minister Mai confirmed that he will still be attending COP29 in Monday’s episode of the Open Your Eyes morning show.
Habet said that the funding for the delegation will largely come from foreign sources, with only limited contributions from Belize.
Belize is joining forces with the UK’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to enhance the monitoring and protection of its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). According to the OCPP, the partnership is focused on “establishing clearer standards and thresholds for tracking the health of marine habitats and species.”
A workshop held on Monday and Tuesday in Belize City brought together stakeholders from the Belize Government, NGOs, and other organisations to develop “a unified approach to MPA monitoring through standardised indicators.” The goal is to adopt “standard protocols for MPAs.” This is to ensure that best practices are followed in monitoring marine health across the country.
Additionally, the OCPP is assisting the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI) by funding MarFishEco, a consulting firm, to help process a backlog of marine data. This will support Belize’s commitment to the Blue Bonds Agreement to protect 30% of its marine environment.
In its statement, the OCPP said that it will “support countries by equipping them with the skills and expertise needed to tackle, reduce, and mitigate marine pollution,” while also helping establish “designated, well-managed, and enforced marine protected areas.”
Tracy Panton today issued a statement following the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the UDP headquarters. The Court heard an injunction request from Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow and others for possession of the building. According to Panton, although Barrow had requested an ex parte hearing, the judge ensured that legal notice was served to Panton and Philippa Bailey, with submissions received on the afternoon of November 7, 2024.
The Court, after hearing arguments only from Barrow’s side, ordered the immediate vacating of the UDP Headquarters. Panton stressed that this order applies strictly to the occupancy of the building and is not a declaration on the leadership of the United Democratic Party. The Court will now proceed with case management and will schedule a full hearing where Panton and Bailey’s legal team will be heard.
Panton also announced that she will begin a national tour on Saturday, November 9, 2024, starting in the Cayo Central constituency at the residence of Ana Molina, Zaiden St, Santa Elena Town, at 7 p.m.
Earlier today, we reported that police are investigating the death of 28-year-old Selvin Humes, who was found with stab wounds on November 7 in Independence Village, Stann Creek. Humes’s cousin, Jeremy Garbutt, spoke to News 5 about the tragic news. “All of us, the family, were stressing… who hands he was under… I never knew the man would distance himself from us like that,” Garbutt said. He explained that Humes had moved out three weeks ago and had been distancing himself from the family.
“He wasn’t a troubled person… He just chilled. He just chilled. He didn’t talk to anyone less,” he said. Garbutt described how he first heard about the incident, saying, “I get the news like everybody else… my auntie Arlene… called me almost 11 o’clock… two fellas came in and were intoxicated… they just tell me, ‘I hear your cousin just get stabbed up.'”
According to Garbutt, the attackers were strangers to his cousin, as he has never seen them socialising with Humes.
Humes’s body was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
