Tag: 2024-12-20

Urgent Call for Road Safety This Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon Belizeans, and if there’s one thing that the highways will have in the coming days, it’s many Belizeans hitting the roads to visit family and friends. As traffic increases, several public officials are working to promote road safety.

Across the country, police officers, traffic authorities, and health officials are joining forces to raise awareness and sensitise the general public on safe driving. This initiative has become more urgent in light of recent road accidents that have left the nation shaken. This includes the major fatal collision that occurred at mile 68 on the George Price Highway, where 10 people lost their lives, including a young girl. Just days earlier, a group of teenage athletes from Caye Caulker Ocean Academy High School were involved in a serious accident, leaving two in a coma. Sadly, on December 5, one of the victims, Alexander Bainton, succumbed to his injuries.

These incidents highlight the growing concern over road safety. So, if you’re planning to travel in the coming days, here are 10 important tips for staying safe on the road:

  1. Don’t drink and drive: If there’s drinking at your holiday gathering, make sure to pick a designated driver who will stay sober.
  2. Prepare your car: Ensure your vehicle is in good condition, properly maintained, and ready for travel, especially if you’re facing winter weather.
  3. Plan your route: It’s always best to map out your journey ahead of time and check for any weather conditions that might affect your trip.
  4. Buckle up! Always make sure you and your passengers are wearing seat belts or in car safety seats.
  5. Avoid driving while tired: Get plenty of rest before your trip, take breaks during your drive, and if possible, share the driving. If you’re feeling sleepy, pull over to a safe spot to rest.
  6. Have an emergency plan: Keep a cell phone and charger with you, and know the contact details for roadside assistance, just in case.
  7. Don’t text while driving: Avoid using your phone while driving. If you need to make a call, use a hands-free device.
  8. Keep a safe distance: Always maintain enough space between you and the car ahead so you can react if needed. If someone is tailgating, let them pass.
  9. Watch your speed: Follow the speed limits and drive according to road conditions. Allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination so you don’t feel rushed.
  10. Stay calm: If you feel stressed or upset, take deep breaths and stay calm. Avoid letting road rage get in the way of your safety and the safety of others on the road.

Drive safe and enjoy the holiday season!

BSI Prepares to Ship Belize’s ‘Largest Single’ Export to UK

The Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) is ending 2024, hitting a major milestone as the company is getting ready to export a record 39,500 metric tonnes of raw bulk sugar to the UK. According to Communications and Government Affairs Director William Neal, the shipment, valued at over $45 million, is expected to provide a substantial boost to the nation’s GDP. Neal described it as “the largest single payload of any product from the country.”

Neal told News 5 that the company’s logistics improvements not only enhance efficiency but also reduce costs, with savings benefiting both the industry and local farmers. “Before establishing the logistics we have at Big Creek, loading such a large shipment would have taken about 40 days. Now, despite the rain, it will take about eight days,” Neal said.

He added that despite a slight delay due to road conditions and weather impacts, BSI anticipates kicking off the upcoming sugar crop season on December 27.

Amazon Delivery Drivers on Strike

Last time it was the U.S. dockworkers on a 3-day strike for better wages; today it is thousands of Amazon delivery drivers demanding better working conditions, pay, and recognition as company employees. However, despite wearing Amazon vests and driving Amazon vans, many drivers are classified as independent contractors through third-party companies called “Delivery Service Partners” and not direct Amazon employees.

According to CNN, this has been a contentious debate over the employer-employee relationship, particularly in legal battles about whether Amazon should be considered the drivers’ employer, thus responsible for providing better wages and benefits.

Teamsters union members went on strike in several states, including New York, Illinois, Georgia, and California. The workers have cited long hours, excessive workloads, and insufficient support. Amazon claims the strike won’t impact holiday deliveries. However, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed.”

Ash’shura Brooks, 29, from Illinois, stressed the need for better safety measures and work conditions. “You either sacrifice your safety to get things done faster, or you sacrifice your job,” she said.

With Amazon’s soaring profits, drivers believe the company has the resources to improve conditions. Trenton Knight, a delivery driver in Georgia who has been working for Amazon for five months, said that he is striking for improved wages and benefits and for drivers like him to be acknowledged as Amazon employees. “If we weren’t their workers, we wouldn’t be driving their trucks, we wouldn’t be wearing their gear, we wouldn’t be delivering their packages,” Knight said.

Congo Identifies ‘Mystery Disease’ that Claimed Dozens of Lives

Since October, a mysterious illness with flu-like symptoms has been affecting the people in the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The illness that killed over 143 people, mostly women and children, has been identified as severe malaria. The country’s health ministry confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday.

“The mystery has finally been solved… It’s a case of severe malaria in the form of a respiratory illness,” said Congo’s health ministry. The disease, which initially baffled health officials, manifests as a respiratory illness with symptoms like fever, headache, cough, and body aches. The health agency stated that malnutrition in the most affected areas had compromised the local population’s immune systems, which makes them more susceptible to the disease.

The country has faced numerous disease outbreaks in recent years, including typhoid and anemia. The rainy season has also complicated malaria control efforts. In response, the World Health Organisation has distributed anti-malaria medicine and sent additional supplies to control further spread of the disease. 

Belize-based Company Sanctioned for Alleged Russian Defence Ties

Amid escalating international pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom have announced new sanctions aimed at disrupting Russia’s military supply chain. Among the sanctioned entities is Berezia Management, a Belize-based company accused of facilitating operations linked to Russia’s defence industry.

The U.S. Department of Treasury says that Berezia Management is reportedly connected to Perspective Technologies Agency (UPT), a Russian firm specialising in communication networks and submarine cables. According to U.S. authorities, Berezia Management plays a key role in supporting Russian infrastructure projects by operating within commercial networks designed to evade international restrictions.

The move is part of a broader effort by the U.S. and the U.K. to disrupt supply chains sustaining Russia’s war in Ukraine.

According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Berezia Management Ltd is listed as a Specially Designated National (SDN) under Executive Order 14024, which targets entities linked to Russia’s defence, intelligence, and technological sectors. The company, established on February 25, 2016, operates out of Suite 302, Blake Building, Corner Hutson and Eyre Street, Belize City, Belize. The location appears several times in the Pandora Papers.

Berezia Management is one of several global firms sanctioned as part of efforts to cut off Russia’s access to dual-use products and military components. Companies in Turkey, China, Belize, Thailand, India, Hungary, Switzerland, and Cyprus have also been flagged for their role in supplying microelectronics, radio equipment, and industrial machinery that support Russian military operations.

Sanctions on other firms include suppliers of microelectronics, radio equipment, and industrial machinery, which, though often marketed for civilian use, have been repurposed for military applications on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The U.S. is also turning its attention to Latin American companies, warning of potential risks for businesses that may unwittingly engage with firms linked to Russia’s defence sector. Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, companies in the region are being urged to strengthen oversight of their trade partners and ensure transparency in their operations.

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