Today, Speaker of the House Valerie Woods shared some shocking news: she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She broke the news to her parliamentary colleagues just before the day’s session ended. To make matters even more heartbreaking, she made the announcement on her birthday. Despite this, she assured everyone that she plans to continue her role as Speaker, a position she’s held since 2020, although her treatment might affect her attendance. Here’s what she had to say.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House
“Members before I put the question to adjourn, I feel obliged to inform members that my presiding over the meetings of this house for the remainder of the parliamentary session may be affected in the coming weeks due to my recent diagnoses of breast cancer. Now while I fully intend to discharge my duties, I hope you can understand that I may have to be absent as I undergo treatment. So it goes. So, thank you for your understanding. And with that, I put to question. All those in favor, kindly say I…those against, kindly say no…I think the I’s have it.”
Belize Electricity Limited has alerted the Public Utilities Commission about a looming shortfall in power generation. As a result, the company is urging the commission, through the Government of Belize, to declare a generation emergency. They predict that within the next twelve months, peak electricity demand will surpass the available generation capacity, potentially leading to more load shedding or widespread blackouts. B.E.L has requested that the P.U.C. secure the government’s approval by November fifteenth. Today, we asked Prime Minister Briceño if he believes a generation emergency should be declared.
Paul Lopez
“There are reports suggesting that Belize electricity Limited requested through the P.U.C that the Government of Belize declare a power generation emergency. It is ironic that here we are sitting in a house meeting and only an hour in we lost power.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think it is important that you don’t try to confuse. So don’t ask two questions. Your first question is why do we have a blackout. It is because I am told, I have not spoken to the C.E.O, but Mr. Chebat who is the minister of energy should be informed, that there has been some issue at mojo Hon that is why most of the country was on a blackout, with the exception of Orange Walk and Corozal. Why does two, I don’t know. On declaring the energy, I have not spoken to the C.E.O, but we have had many discussions on this and he has pointed out under the act that we can declare an emergency to quickly get investors to sign up for energy. He believes that if he does that, by the end of next year he could have a sixty or eighty megawatts. I also need to remind you that we have had a discussion with a group of partners that have access to a ship that could bring eighty megawatts. So, for that eighty megawatts to come in to Belize and provide energy during the times when we need it in April, we need to be able to sign a contract with them. To do it you need to sign and emergency. All things equal, there may be or there may not be a shortage in April, May. WE are doing everything in place possible to avoid that.”
Paul Lopez
“What B.E.L is saying is that the next twelve months of generation will not meet peak demands. Are they misspeaking?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Definitely not, I am not going to argue with them. They are the experts. I am not the expert. From my view we are trying to see how we can start to generating the process to go as quickly as possible.”
A cool million dollars is up for grabs in the Belize Government Lotteries raffle! Tickets are already on sale, and the big draw is set for December twenty-first. They’re promoting it as a celebration of the lottery’s one-year anniversary. But remember, the house always has an edge! Despite that advantage, the Cabinet announced in a late afternoon briefing that the profits will be directed to the National Health Insurance (NHI) and other social programs and charities across Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“In this case what we have done is that Boledo is a game of statistics, chance. So, looking at the statistics the people at the Boledo/ lottery believe we can create enough hype to sell more than a million dollars and make money out of it. Imagine paying five dollars and you could potentially win a million, or half a million, or a hundred thousand, depending on how much people win that. For five dollars, people are going for it. I must confess in the U.S. I buy the mega bingo or Power Ball. I pay my two dollars, and you know what, I never check back if I win. But Belizeans know about it. I sure you done buy your number.”
The United States is one of Belize’s closest diplomatic allies. Prime Minister John Briceño has already congratulated President-Elect Donald Trump. As for Trump’s mass deportation policy, P.M. Briceño remains optimistic, saying there’s plenty of work in Belize for everyone.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We do that through the ministry of foreign affairs. The following morning, we did send out a note of congratulation to president elect Trump. As you know the U.S. is our biggest partner and most important partner. We have worked very closely with them. I don’t foresee any major changes for us. Short of the MCC Compact that has just been signed. We believe we are going to strengthen the relationship.”
Paul Lopez
“What are your thoughts on his mass deportation policies, trouble for Belizeans?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Absolutely not, we need more workers in Belize. So if they bring back the Belizeans we need workers. But again, the American people in their wisdom voted for a man that says he is going to do mass importations. We may not agree with the voters, but we have to respect the voters.”
The Mediterranean Shipping Company is still keen on Stake Bank. Prime Minister Briceño has confirmed that talks are still in progress for the sale and purchase of the developing cruise port, even with the ongoing court battle. P.M. Briceño has made it clear that he’s not directly involved in the negotiations, emphasizing that his main concern is what’s best for the country.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“That is not a negotiation for me that I am dealing. As far as I know the negotiations continue between M.S.E and the bank. But that is something I am not sitting around the table in the negotiations. I am encouraging both parties, like any other party we would want to partner with the bank or buy over the project to do so. It is in our interest. So the last I heard they continue talking and negotiation and hopefully they could come to some agreement. But again we have to wait until January when the court hears the case that Mr. Feinstein has put against the acquisition of the land.”
Preserving Garifuna heritage honors their ancestors and keeps traditions, language, and stories alive for future generations. This cultural continuity helps to maintain a strong sense of identity and community. Garifuna culture is a unique blend of African, Arawak, and Carib influences, which enriches the cultural tapestry of Belize and the world. By maintaining their heritage, they contribute to the diversity and richness of global culture. It also fosters pride and resilience within the Garifuna community, empowering them to celebrate their history and achievements. Sharing indigenous traditions, music, dance, and language with others promotes cultural understanding and respect. It helps bridge gaps between different communities and fosters a more inclusive and harmonious society. In tonight’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Isani Cayetano looks at the preservation of the Garifuna culture.
Mathew and Virgin Martinez
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
As a couple, Mathew and Virgin Martinez have devoted their lives to keeping tradition alive and preserving the rich heritage of the Garifuna people. Together, they are the embodiment of Garifunaduo, a cultural experience that celebrates the language, music, dance, cuisine, attire, spirituality, and lifestyle of the Garifuna people.
Mathew Martinez
Mathew Martinez, Cultural Activist
“It is a very powerful movement that we are experiencing at this particular point in time. It is a renaissance because a lot of people are now gravitating towards their cultural identity. We need to have more of that so we can strengthen, in order for us to strengthen the true Belizean identity.”
With so many people reconnecting with their cultural heritage these days, the Martinezes are at the heart of this movement. This dynamic husband-and-wife team and a group of passionate advocates are inspiring the next generation of Garifuna boys and girls. Among them is Angela Palacio.
Angela Palacio
Angela Palacio, Belize City Resident
“My parents were very proud Garinagu and they spoke Garifuna to us. So, even though back then it wasn’t popular to be Garifuna, they would try to ridicule you, but my parents, they said you have to be proud and they spoke Garifuna to us. Our friends would come and they would talk to us in Garifuna, and so, our friends knew we were Garifuna. We didn’t have to hide that.”
Back then, being Garifuna and celebrating the culture wasn’t widely accepted. It took a long time for Garifuna pride to truly flourish here in Belize City.
Mathew Martinez
“When we first moved to Belize City in the Eighties, there was still that prejudice, that discrimination, that whole thing about Garifuna, the mix, about people whoare Garifuna, Garifunaduo itself. People were still ashamed of who they are.”
To nurture a strong sense of pride, they came together and created Ugundani, a dance group that still thrives today, almost four decades later. Naomi Guzman is the founder of that collective.
Naomi Guzman
Naomi Guzman, Founder, Ugundani Dance Group
“When I founded Ugundani, it was with the idea that we continue to teach our Garifuna culture and keep the tradition and the traditional dancing, the traditional drumming because we found out that there were certain that take the Garifuna tradition into different directions. We are about keeping it the traditional way.”
Back in 2001, UNESCO honored Belize’s Garifuna language, dance, and music by declaring them a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” This recognition celebrates the rich cultural tapestry and vibrant traditions of the Garifuna people.
Kamin Matura
Kamin Matura Jr., Participant, Lirahinu Ugundani
“It’s important to know about your culture and how to speak it, the cultural dances, the cultural traditions and everything that the culture does.”
To keep this cultural masterpiece alive, Ugundani is passing down each element to a group of children affectionately called Lirahinu Ugundani, or Children of Joy.
Joseph Williams
Joseph Williams, Participant, Lirahinu Ugundani
“I like the dancing and the drumming.”
Isani Cayetano
“You like the Wanaragua, or the John Canoe, right?”
Joseph Williams
“Yes.”
Isani Cayetano
“What about the Wanaragua do you like?”
Joseph Williams
“How to make a fast pace moving.”
Isani Cayetano
“So you like the drums, too?”
Joseph Williams
“Yes.”
Isani Cayetano
“What about the drums do you like?”
Joseph Williams
“I like the sounding of it.”
The timbre of the primero and Segundo are unmistakable. Together, the polyrhythms of the Garifuna drums are indeed a spiritual experience. What makes Wanaragua truly special is that the dancers take the lead, with the drummers following their rhythm. This unique dynamic creates an engaging and lively performance that captivates everyone watching. However, dancing is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to reviving and preserving our culture. There’s so much more involved in keeping these rich traditions alive.
Mathew Martinez
“It is a powerful start. With the children, they are interested in whatever we do, in the language, especially, in the music, in the dance, they are interested. So hopefully now, we will be moving into the history of the Garifuna people. So we will be teaching that, hopefully next year, we start that in January.”
COP29 is in full swing in Azerbaijan, and it’s all about setting new goals for climate finance and making sure every country can ramp up their climate action. Belize has been sending its top technical experts and government officials to these conferences for years, and this year is no exception. We caught up with the Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, who is gearing up to head out on Friday to join the action at COP29.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“In this case I have not been able to go. I had to stay for this house meeting, so I will be leaving on Friday. The last week is when most of the negotiations will reach the stage when it cant go further based on the negotiators then they will call in the high level which will be the ministers or the prime ministers if they are there. So, my responsibility, apart from Belize, is that I have been selected to championing the cause for AOSIS and CARICOM and CARICOM is also considered the small island developing states, so we are members of AOSIS. So, our jobs would be to still seek out the possibility of advancing the NCQG to see how we can upscale the finances coming through for climate change and make certain that we try to get as much as possible. As you realized their past finance goal was a hundred billion per year, now countries are saying that is not enough, we have taken too long, so we are trying to see how else we can do it.”
Late Monday night, a police officer’s home in Corozal Town came under fire, and an investigation is underway to uncover the motive behind the shooting. According to a report, gunmen targeted a vehicle parked at Corporal Martin Marin’s residence. The incident occurred sometime before midnight on Jaguar Street in the Finca Solana area. Corporal Marin reported that he was getting ready for bed when he heard four loud bangs, which he immediately recognized as gunshots. Rushing outside, he saw a motorcycle speeding away and noticed that a Jeep Cherokee, belonging to Inspector Kimara Lopez, had been hit on the front windshield. The white Jeep was parked in the yard at the time. Another bullet struck the front screen door of the house. Crime scene technicians recovered several nine-millimeter shell casings from the street, but it’s unclear if any surveillance cameras captured the shooters. So far, no arrests have been made, and the reason for targeting the residence remains unknown.
Today in the House, bill number ten was up for its second reading. This bill aims to amend the Marriage Act, Chapter 174 of the laws of Belize, revised edition 2020, to raise the legal marriage age to eighteen. It also removes the provisions that allow parents or guardians to consent to the marriage of minors. The second reading saw several teens in attendance, many of whom participated in the 2022 Youth Parliament Debate. While the bill sets the legal age for marriage at eighteen, it eliminates the ability for anyone to allow, perform, or consent to the marriage of individuals under eighteen, whether for traditional reasons or otherwise. The bill received support from representatives on both sides of the aisle. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Madam Speaker last year it was unprecedented but something very good happened in this country when our young people were able to meet in the Youth Parliament in November, so it was about a year ago, to propose and to pass their own Marriage Amendment Bill. I would like to mention that the Opposition side were even proposing that the age of marriage be raised to twenty-one.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
About a year ago, the teens in the Youth Parliament passed a bill to set the legal marriage age in Belize at eighteen. Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia explained that this proposed law gained overwhelming support from various sectors, including the churches. She highlighted that while child marriage and unions impact both boys and girls, the consequences are often more severe for girls.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“The major burden, Madam Speaker is on girls because it prematurely exposes them to health risks of early childbirth or unwanted pregnancies and related complications, and it increases their risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It also increases a child’s vulnerability to domestic violence and as well Madam Speaker, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.”
In making her presentation, Balderamos-Garcia explained why increasing the legal age of marriage is the right thing for Belize.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“Madam Speaker, moving to the adulthood age for marriage is a good thing to do because marriage is a contract. I have said it before, no disrespect to any church leader whatsoever, but I have said that you’re married not because you went to church, but because you signed a binding contract which I believe only adults should be able to do. So I put it to this House this afternoon that ending child marriages and early unions will have a positive multiplier effect on promoting all our strategies for gender equity and equality in Belize. I believe that the strong consensus in favour of raising the legal marriage age to eighteen years is a good thing and I therefore make my contribution and I urge others to do the same.”
News Fives caught up with two of the youth parliamentarians who attended today’s house sitting to witness the passage of the bill. Victoria Usher made Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College proud with her impressive representation at the Youth Parliament. Carlos Nah also shone brightly, bringing honor to Corozal Junior College with his participation.
Carlos Nah
Carlos Nah, Student, Corozal Junior College
“For me this issue is really impactful to see the brilliant minds that we had last year. And it’s very inspiring because we are the future generation of Belize. And when we heard about this bill, we never knew anything about it and when we were doing the research, they barely had limited information. So thanks to this movement that we did recently, I did an essay about it, and I really was inspired by looking at the new research that they had this year. And I’m really inspired because the little impact that we did is already changing a movement.”
Victoria Usher
Victoria Usher, Student, Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College
“Coming into a marriage at an early age can cause different situations, possibly girls dropping out of school, even the males dropping out of schools. Many people think that it only affects the females. No, it also affects the males.”
Following the Minister’s presentation, she told the media that today’s passing of the bill was simply building on the foundation that the youths had already laid for themselves.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“We have only carried forward what they presented to us a year ago in November and it was a robust discussion and debate in Parliament for the Youth Parliament. Well, like I said, I call it Children’s Parliament, but I prefer to say youth, you know. This is all about them and big, big kudos to every single one of the youth parliamentarians today.”
On Monday, the village of Corazon Creek in Toledo celebrated the launch of its brand-new off-grid solar system with an official ceremony. This cutting-edge setup features advanced solar photovoltaic panels, a control room equipped with inverters, a generator, and a battery bank system. This project stems from an agreement made last September between the Ministry of Energy and Corazon Creek Village. Funded by the German-based CDW Foundation, this initiative saw the installation of the generation unit and the wiring of homes. News Five’s Marion Ali reports on this exciting new step towards solar electrification.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Corazon Creek Village in Toledo is now enjoying round-the-clock electricity, all thanks to a state-of-the-art Off-grid Solar System funded by the German-based CDW Foundation. Jose Urbina, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Energy, highlighted that the government recognizes the importance of bringing electricity to rural areas to boost economic growth and drive other advancements.
Jose Urbina
Jose Urbina, C.E.O., Ministry of Energy
“Our government has recognized the need to extend reliable energy access torural communities directly impacting economic opportunities, education and quality of life. As a team, we have been able to overcome challenges traditionally associated with rural electrification, such as geographic isolation, high infrastructure cost and low population density. I must say from earlier discussion with the chairman, sixty-five homes, a population of approximately three hundred and sixty-five persons have been impacted. But it’s important to also mentioned as our Honorable Minister mentioned, that Corazon Creek is the hub. Approximately, if I recall the number correctly, fifteen other communities come to Corazon for educational purposes.”
The CDW Foundation’s work in Belize began in 2016, when it supported the first solar off-grid system in La Gracia Village in Cayo. The organization’s Managing Director, Sarah Link, explained that the work has only expanded.
Sarah Link
Sarah Link, Managing Director, CDW Foundation
“By the end of 2023, an additional thirty households had applied to be connected to the solar system, prompting an expansion of that system earlier this year to support the growing energy demand. It is therefore with great anticipation that we are here today to witness the inauguration of the second solar system. I very much look forward to seeing the impact of reliable access to electricity on the daily life in the village, and the opportunities it will bring to Corazon Creek and the surrounding communities. Back in 2021, the Ministry of Public Utilities and Belize Electricity Limited had recognized the strong need of the community for reliable access to energy, especially given the high school, which already currently serves over four hundred students. Both had recommended that the second solar system be installed right here in Corazon Creek.”
The new solar system now powers Corazon Creek Village and its surrounding areas, but it wasn’t an easy journey. The Ministry of Public Utilities had to reach a consensus and finally signed an agreement with the village on September seventh, 2023, setting the stage for this electrification project. Together with Belize Electricity Limited and Solar Energy Solutions Belize, the ministry installed the solar power unit, built the distribution network, and wired the homes. Dr. Osmond Martinez, the Area Representative for Toledo East, emphasized that electrification is a crucial step towards lifting people out of poverty by creating more opportunities for his constituents.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“The kids who are attending primary school and high school will no longer be deprived from having access to energy whenever they want to do their homework or study at night. What electricity brings is a package. It’s a package because then you can bring telephone, internet, even industrial development, manufacturing, you know, but without electricity, we won’t be able to do that. I am so glad whenever we see this type of transformation. This is a transformation. This is people’s transformation. This is a nonpolitical transformation. This is what a government should be doing for its people.”
