2025-02-09 - Channel 5 Belize

Mexican Authorities Tackle Migrant Surge and Smuggling at Belize Border

Quintana Roo authorities have intensified border security operations along the Mexico-Belize frontier in response to rising concerns over illegal migration. The Yucatan Times reported that Julio César Gómez Torres, Quintana Roo’s head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), confirmed that the state has ramped up efforts to prevent unauthorised entries, particularly after a surge in migrants from Cuba.

“We are strengthening actions in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defence (Sedena) and the Navy to patrol the border with Belize, in addition to maintaining joint operations with authorities of that country,” Gómez Torres told The Yucatan Times. The state has also seen an uptick in fraudulent documentation attempts at international airports, prompting enhanced surveillance.

According to The Yucatan Times, in regions like Río Hondo, Mexican authorities are more focused on curbing smuggling and informal trade. “We have not registered seizures of migrants in this area; what does prevail is informal trade and trafficking of illegal products,” Gómez Torres told the news outlet. Meanwhile, drug trafficking continues to be the state’s top security concern, fuelling violent conflicts between rival criminal groups, reported The Yucatan Times.

Trump Plans to Reverse Biden’s Plastic Straw Ban

US President Donald Trump is set to overturn yet another of President Joe Biden’s policies. According to The Guardian, this time the ban will be on plastic straws in U.S. government buildings and national parks. “I will be signing an executive order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for paper straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

He added in a separate post that Biden’s “mandate” for paper straws was now dead: “Enjoy your next drink without a straw that disgustingly dissolves in your mouth!!!”

The move comes as part of Trump’s push to reverse Biden’s efforts to phase out single-use plastics by 2035, a policy aimed at curbing plastic pollution. Despite environmental concerns, Trump has repeatedly criticised paper straws.

California pioneered the push against plastic straws in 2019, with several other states, including New York and Washington D.C., following suit.

The Guardian also reported that global plastic production has doubled since 2000, reaching around 460 million tonnes annually, and it’s expected to quadruple by 2050. However, less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled, and the rest ends up polluting the environment. Experts estimate that a truckload of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute. “Much of this trash is composed of single-use plastics, such as straws, which make up about 40% of plastic production,” The Guardian reported.

Princess Catherine Shares ‘Previously Unseen’ Tour Photos in Belize

Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, recently shared two nostalgic photos on Facebook. The images, shared on Facebook, brought back memories from their visit in March 2022, part of a week-long trip to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. She captioned the photos, “Previously unseen photo from the hotel in Belize where William and Catherine stayed during their Royal Tour of the Caribbean.”

Their arrival was met with a warm reception from Belize’s governor general and Prime Minister Johnny Briceno. However, the tour was not without controversy.

A planned stop at the Akte ‘il Ha cacao farm in Indian Creek village was cancelled following local protests. Residents voiced concerns over land disputes involving Fauna and Flora International (FFI), a charity of which William is a patron. Issues were also raised about the helicopter landing site, which locals claimed they were not consulted on. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that the visit had been relocated to another venue due to “sensitive issues.”

Despite the setback, the royal couple continued their tour, which also included a sailing event in the Bahamas and celebrations of Jamaica’s cultural heritage.

Belize Strengthens Public Health Resilience with e-SPAR

Belize stepped up its efforts to protect public health with a key new assessment that strengthens the country’s ability to respond to emergencies. By completing the 2024 e-SPAR under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), Belize has taken a big leap forward in ensuring its health security.

The initiative is supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW). It is designed to strengthen Belize’s capacity to prevent, identify, and tackle public health risks.

“This workshop plays a key role in developing a comprehensive national action plan that contributes to Belize’s health security and broader global health,” said Dr. Ana De La Garza, PAHO/WHO Technical Advisor. The process helps identify gaps in Belize’s health system and strengthens emergency management capacities.

The workshop implemented the One Health framework, collaborating with stakeholders from health, agriculture, environment, and security to reflect the connection between human, animal, and environmental health in building a more resilient public health system.