2024-11-12 - Channel 5 Belize

Corazon Creek Lights Up With New 24-Hour Solar Power System

Corazon Creek Village in Toledo is set to benefit from a new, 24-hour solar-powered energy system. The official launch of the Corazon Creek Off-Grid Solar System took place on Monday, with government officials, community leaders, and representatives from the German-based CDW Foundation, which funded the project, in attendance. The system includes advanced solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, a generator, and a battery bank to provide continuous power to the community.

The project is the result of a consent agreement signed last September between Corazon Creek Village and Belize’s Ministry of Energy. According to Ministry CEO Jose Urbina, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to expanding reliable energy access to rural communities, which is essential for economic growth, education, and improved quality of life. “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,” Urbina said. He added that Corazon Creek also serves as a hub for nearby communities who rely on it for education and other resources.

CDW Foundation, which began its work in Belize in 2016 with a similar solar project in La Gracia Village, continues to support the country’s clean energy goals. Sarah Link, Managing Director of CDW, shared her excitement about the positive impact of reliable electricity in Corazon Creek and the surrounding areas. “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,” Link said, adding that the Ministry of Public Utilities and Belize Electricity Limited both identified the area’s strong need for dependable power, especially given its high school, which serves over 400 students.

Area Representative Dr. Osmond Martinez highlighted the transformative impact of electrification on communities, noting that access to energy can lift families out of poverty by opening new opportunities. “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,” Dr. Martinez remarked.

Bridging Community and Clean Energy: Leveraging Solar Energy in Belize’s Indigenous Communities

BREAKING: BEL Wants GOB to Declare Power Generation Emergency

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has requested that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) seek government approval to declare a power generation emergency as the country faces an impending shortfall in capacity.

In a letter dated November 8, 2024, BEL CEO John Mencias tells PUC Chairman Dean Molina that “as Single Buyer in the electricity market, hereby gives notice to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of an anticipated material shortfall in generation services pursuant to Section 19 of the Public Utilities Commission (Request for Proposals) Regulations, 2024.

Section 19 of the regulations stipulates that “the Commission, with the approval of the Government, shall declare that an emergency situation has arisen beyond the reasonable control of Belize if, in relation to generation services, the single buyer provides notice to the Commission that there will arise, within a period of twelve months, a material shortfall in generation services.”

BEL projects that peak electricity demand in the next 12 months will exceed available generation, necessitating the procurement of additional services.

BEL attributes this issue to a “systemic failure” in securing new generation capacity, compounded by ongoing drought and heatwaves that have reduced supply from Mexico’s federal power company, CFE. BEL also warns that future curtailments from Mexico may increase, citing recent dispatch shortfalls from CFE.

According to the document, rapid economic growth in the Yucatán Peninsula, including Mexico’s popular tourist destinations, has led to a significant rise in energy demand, similar to trends observed in Belize. Combined with climate change and delays in bringing new generation sources online in both countries, these factors are making it increasingly difficult to meet growing energy demands.

CFE Commits to 75 Megawatts to Belize’s National Grid

Considering the uncertain post-pandemic recovery of demand, the ongoing growth of Belize’s economy, and warmer climatic conditions driving up cooling needs and transmission losses, BEL projects a base case grid peak demand of 139.8 MW in June 2025. This forecasted peak includes the Caye Caulker load, anticipated to be connected to the grid by late April 2025.

BEL anticipates continued capacity challenges from its foreign supplier, CFE, throughout the dry and warmer months of 2025. As seen in 2024, CFE’s supply to Belize is expected to fall below the contracted 55 MW, with projected averages of 22 MW, 7 MW, 8 MW, and 34 MW for May through August 2025, respectively. BEL’s concerns stem from ongoing delays in generation expansion in the Yucatán Peninsula and congestion along the transmission route from Valladolid, which supplies BEL’s interconnection.

BEL is requesting that the PUC secure government approval by November 15, 2024, to declare a power generation emergency, which would enable the procurement of additional generation services.

Belize and Mexico Strengthen Border Security at Commanders Conference

The 18th Border Commanders Conference between Belize and Mexico concluded successfully earlier this week in Belize City. Military and naval leaders from both nations met to discuss security challenges, including drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, illegal migration, and contraband.

Representing Belize were Colonel Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander of the Belize Defence Force, and Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard. The Mexican delegation included officials from the Secretariat of Defence and the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico.

The conference emphasised the importance of military cooperation in ensuring national security and addressing non-traditional threats like climate change, wildfires, and disaster relief. Both countries committed to sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations to combat transnational organised crime along their borders.

Are BDF Soldiers Operating with outdated Communications Equipment?

House Sitting Suspended Due to Power Outage

The Special Sitting of the House of Representatives has been temporarily suspended due to a power outage that is affecting several parts of the country. Prime Minister John Briceño had risen to introduce the bill to amend the Social Security Act when the power outage happened.

Affected areas include Belize City, Belmopan, and San Pedro.

At the start of today’s special sitting, Briceño outlined what his administration has accomplished in the past four years. He reflected on the task his administration faced in “fixing what was, at the time, a broken nation.” He acknowledged the overwhelming mandate the People’s United Party (PUP) received, describing it as “not an occasion for wild celebration,” but rather a “sobering and humbling experience,” as they were entrusted with leading the country through one of its most challenging periods.

Although significant strides have been made to steady the nation, PM Briceño stressed that the work is ongoing. Progress, he said, is incremental, and his administration is keenly aware of Belizeans’ concerns over the cost of living. Briceño pointed out that even a superpower like the United States grapples with inflation’s impact, underscoring how challenging it is for smaller nations like Belize to combat global inflation pressures. Nonetheless, he reaffirmed his commitment, declaring, “We are not afraid. We will not give up on the Belizean people.”

Belize, Electricity Limited!

Cop Charged with Extorting Tourists at Checkpoint

A police officer is facing serious allegations of extortion following a complaint by a Spanish-Mexican couple, who claim they were forced to pay money during a checkpoint stop on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. Manuel Ortiz, a 50-year-old mechanic, and his wife, Maribel Vargas, 51, reported to police that they were stopped last Friday, where an officer asked for vehicle documents they were unable to produce. According to their report, the officer then allegedly threatened to detain them until Tuesday unless they placed money on the back seat of the police vehicle. Ortiz complied, leaving 210 euros—about $580 Belize dollars—which the officer allegedly took.

After filing a report at Queen Street Police Station, police arrested and charged 38-year-old Police Constable Ausberto Daniel Pelayo, from Corozal Town, with extortion. Pelayo appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court alongside his attorney, Sharon Pitts, and pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail of $6,000 with two sureties of $3,000 each, which he met. Pelayo is expected to reappear in court on December 23rd, while police are considering potential disciplinary action against him.

6-y-o Injured in Corozal Shooting

Tropical Depression Likely to Develop in Caribbean by Week’s End

The National Hurricane Center reports that a tropical wave in the central Caribbean Sea is generating disorganised showers and thunderstorms, with environmental conditions favourable for development. Forecasters anticipate that this system could strengthen into a tropical depression by the end of the week as it gradually moves westward into the western Caribbean.

After reaching the western Caribbean, the disturbance is expected to slow down and linger over the area throughout the weekend before shifting northwestward early next week. Residents in the western Caribbean are advised to keep an eye on the system’s progress.

Chance of formation within 48 hours: 40%
Chance of formation within 7 days: 80%

If it strengthens, it could become Tropical Storm Sara.

Haiti Swears in New PM as Gunfire Grounds Flights

Haiti’s international airport in Port-au-Prince shut down on Monday after gunfire struck a Spirit Airlines flight approaching from the United States. Hours later, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister, replacing interim PM Garry Conille. Fils-Aimé pledged to prioritise national security amid escalating violence.

The attack on Spirit Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale forced its diversion to Santiago, Dominican Republic. The airline confirmed damage from gunfire, with one crew member sustaining minor injuries. Following this incident, Spirit and American Airlines suspended flights to Port-au-Prince, while local officials closed the airport to commercial traffic indefinitely.

Fils-Aimé, a businessman with limited political experience, takes office in a volatile climate. Since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has faced rampant gang violence, deepening a humanitarian crisis and forcing over 700,000 people from their homes. Conille, backed by the international community, struggled to establish stability during his term. The presidential council dismissed him following accusations of inaction and disregard for local advice.

Spirit Airlines Flight to Haiti Diverted After Reported Gunfire Strike

Shots Fired at Police Officer’s Home

Shots were fired at the home of police corporal Martin Marin on Jaguar Street in Finca Solana area of Corozal. Marin, 35, was inside his home preparing for bed when he heard four loud bangs, which he immediately recognised as gunshots around 11:30 p.m. on Monday. After stepping outside, he heard a motorcycle speeding away.

A white Jeep Cherokee belonging to Inspector Kimara Lopez, parked in the yard, was struck by bullets, with one shot piercing the front windshield. A bullet hit the home’s front screen door. Crime Scene Technicians processed the area, retrieving several 9mm shell casings from the street. Surveillance footage has yet to be reviewed, no suspects have been identified, and statements are still pending as investigations continue.