2025-01-30 - Channel 5 Belize

Marconi Leal Jr. to Replace Leal Sr PUP’s Standard Bearer in BRN

Marconi Leal Jr. is set to become the new Standard Bearer for the People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize Rural North (BRN), following the announcement that his father, Marconi Leal Senior, will not seek re-election in the upcoming general elections.

In a statement issued today, the PUP confirmed that after careful deliberation, the BRN Executive Committee unanimously recommended Marconi Leal Jr. as the successor. This recommendation was ratified by the National Executive earlier today.

The committee extended its gratitude to Marconi Leal Sr. and “looks forward to a seamless transition and continued dedication to the people of Belize Rural North under the leadership of Marconi Leal Jr.” The date for his official swearing-in was not disclosed as yet.

“At today’s meeting of the National Executive, this recommendation was formally ratified. Moving forward, the Chairman of the Eastern Caucus will collaborate with the BRN Executive Committee to finalize arrangements and set the date for the official swearing-in of Marconi Leal Jr. as the new Standard Bearer,” the Committee said.

Marconi Leal Jr. now steps into the political spotlight, taking over from his father, who served the constituency for one term.

Belize City Receives Second Compactor Truck from Japan

Belize City has received its second compactor truck from Japan to assist with the city’s waste management. The donation is part of a broader initiative by the Japanese government to assist Belize in improving its waste disposal systems.

The first truck for Belize City was donated back in February 2024, and similar compactors were also donated to the Belmopan City Council and other municipal governments.

During a ceremony at Memorial Park, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner pointed out the importance of community involvement in waste management. He stated, “Receiving this new compactor also reminds us of the role each of us must play: Keeping our city clean cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the Belize City Council or the machinery at our disposal; it requires every resident, every community, and every organisation to be involved.”

The new trucks are especially valuable for tackling waste in problem areas. “In many of the south side areas, we have a lot of what we refer to as ‘hotspots,’ which are abandoned properties that are used as garbage dumps,” Wagner told reporters. He said the additional truck, along with existing dump trucks, will help the city operate more efficiently in addressing waste management challenges.

SSB Issues Terse Statement on Dr. Almendarez’s Departure

The official statement issued by the Social Security Board (SSB) starts by welcoming Jerome Palma as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and then acknowledges “with gratitude the valuable contributions that Dr. Leroy Almendarez made during his brief tenure as CEO.

According to the statement, Dr. Almendarez’s “to play a leadership role at the Social Security Board, an organisation that embeds social protection to the people of Belize, was a pleasure and something I embraced with vigour. To be embraced by a management team and staff across all nine branches is something I will treasure, as we worked as a team, in service to all.”

The Social Security Board extends its best wishes to Dr. Almendarez in his future endeavors.

Police Officer Who Shot GG’s Dog Fired

An officer stationed at the Governor General’s residence has been dismissed from the Belize Police Department after fatally shooting the Governor General’s pet dog. According to reports, the incident involved a small, temperamental dog, which had previously caused trouble for officers on duty.

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams confirmed the dismissal, stating, “The matter went before a tribunal; the tribunal found him guilty, dismissal was recommended, and I upheld the decision.” Williams added, “If you have a policeman who deliberately follows a dog and shoots and kills a dog, something is wrong with you.”

The case has prompted questions from the public about why similar incidents involving police shootings of pets during operations don’t always result in similar consequences. Williams addressed this, clarifying that while the dog had shown aggressive behaviour in the past, “at the particular moment when the dog was shot, that was not the case.”

Did Holiday Cheer Drive Belize’s Confidence Up in December?

Are Belizeans starting to feel more optimistic about their finances and the economy? According to the latest report from the Statistical Institute of Belize, there is a notable 7.6% rise in the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for December 2024.

The CCI measures how people feel about the economy, their own finances, and whether it’s a good time to make big purchases like homes or cars. It helps predict how people might spend, save, or invest in the future, which in turn gives us a clue about the economy’s growth.

The durable goods component saw the largest increase, rising by 35.5% to 39.3, reflecting a 10.8% boost in consumer optimism towards major purchases. Similarly, perceptions of current financial conditions improved by 8.6%, with the index climbing from 41.1 to 44.6. Additionally, future expectations grew by 4.9%.

Urban areas saw a 9.7% rise in confidence, with durable goods purchases surging by 15.7%. Rural areas also reported growth, with an overall 6% increase, particularly in durable goods and current financial outlooks.

Confidence was notably higher among men (up 7.2%) and women (up 8%), with women showing a significant 16.7% increase in durable goods sentiment. However, younger consumers (18-24) experienced a slight dip in optimism.

The report reveals that Belizeans are gradually growing more optimistic about both their present financial situations and the future of the economy. But this data comes from a month filled with cheerful holidays, such as Christmas and the New Year; could it have influenced the boost in consumer confidence? People often feel more hopeful and ready to spend during festive times.

Belize Inflation Hits 2.6%, Food and Rent Soar

Everyday essentials like food, housing, and personal care products saw sharp increases in prices in December 2024, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). Belize’s inflation rate for December 2024 surged by 2.6%, SIB reported.

“As has been the case throughout the year, the rise in consumer prices was largely driven by higher costs for food products and home rentals,” SIB stated in its report. “However, notably lower prices for fuel as well as information and communication equipment.” The drop in fuel, including diesel, regular, and premium gasoline, reflected a slight 0.5% decline.

‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ recorded a 5% inflation rate, with substantial price hikes in fruits, vegetables, and fresh meats. For example, limes and oranges saw increases of over 20%, while bread and tortillas rose by 3%. ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ also saw a sharp 7.8% increase, driven by higher prices for juices and soft drinks.

SIB also reported a significant uptick in ‘Housing Costs,’ with home rentals and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices rising by 3% and 8.5%, respectively.

While some municipalities experienced varying inflation rates, Belmopan recorded the highest rise at 4.9%, mainly due to sharp price hikes in food, clothing, and personal care items. The village of Independence had the lowest rate at 0.2%.

In 2024, the national inflation rate stood at 3.3%, with food, housing, and restaurant services seeing the most significant price increases throughout the year.

Dr. Almendarez No Longer CEO of SSB

Dr. Leroy Almendarez told News Five this morning that he is no longer the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board. His response to a question on a different matter was, “I am no longer the CEO of SSB and therefore, not relevant for me to comment further on it.”

On Wednesday, human resources services told staff that “with immediate effect, Deputy Jerome Palma will be acting as Chief Executive Officer until further notice.”

The reason for Dr. Almendarez’s departure has not been confirmed.

In August 2024, the SSB announced Dr. Almendarez’s appointment. The statement said, “Dr. Almendarez is an accomplished professional recognised for leveraging strong team leadership and development to drive progress in trade, investment, policy, strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship nationally & internationally. Highly organised, analytical, detail-orientated leader skilled in building and directing high-performing teams to develop solutions to solve operational, technical, and economic-related problems and successfully implementing systems across multiple and diverse operations.”

Belize’s Imports Reached $3 Billion in 2024

In December 2024, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported that Belize experienced a slight increase in imports, with total goods imported valued at $230.7 million, a marginal rise of 0.1% compared to the previous year. A notable uptick was seen in imports of manufactured goods and chemical products, largely driven by higher purchases of items such as glass bottles, building cement, and fertilisers. However, imports for commercial free zones saw a significant decline, dropping by 21.7% due to reduced purchases of footwear and handbags.

The most striking figure in December’s external trade report was the surge in domestic exports, which skyrocketed by 204.3%, reaching $74.1 million. This increase was fuelled primarily by a bulk shipment of sugar, which saw revenues increase from $4.5 million to $52.4 million. Citrus products also contributed, with earnings from orange concentrate more than quintupled. However, banana exports and marine products, such as lobster and conch, saw declines.

For the entire year of 2024, Belize’s merchandise imports totalled $2.909 billion, an 8.5% rise from 2023. Imports of machinery and transport equipment saw the largest increase. It was driven by high-value items like industrial generators and motor vehicles. On the export front, total earnings reached $459.9 million, a 12.5% increase from the previous year. The primary driver of export growth was sugar. Banana and citrus products were also key drivers.

Trump’s Federal Grant Freeze Faces Legal Setback

A controversial freeze on federal grants and loans that has threatened to disrupt vital government aid has been rescinded after a legal challenge. This follows a reported temporary halt to the order by a judge on Tuesday, just hours after President Donald Trump signed it.

The memo was issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and sparked a widespread panic among Americans who rely on government assistance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.”

According to the BBC, the office later clarified that the move was meant to allow the new administration time to evaluate which grants and loans aligned with their agenda. However, the order led to confusion and disruption, including a brief shutdown of an online portal for federal funds.

Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned the freeze as harmful to families and vowed to continue opposing such measures. Nonprofit groups added that critical services, like housing and disaster relief, could be impacted.