2025-02-26 - Channel 5 Belize

Trump’s $5M ‘Gold Card’ Offers Wealthy Investors Fast-Track to U.S. Citizenship

Would you be willing to spend $5 million for U.S. residency and citizenship? If you happen to have that kind of money, President Donald Trump’s new “gold cards” could provide a fast track to securing both.

CNN Politics reported that Trump’s “gold cards” will offer their holders green card privileges and a pathway to citizenship. “We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump stated in the Oval Office, adding, “You have a green card. This is a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained the gold card would replace the EB-5 investor visa program. The EB-5 program was introduced in 1992 and allows foreign investors to obtain a U.S. green card by investing in U.S. businesses.

CNN stated that despite its intentions to create jobs, it has been criticised for benefiting the wealthy, including Trump’s own businesses.

Trump suggested the cards could also be sold to Russian oligarchs, stating, “Yeah, possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”

The program’s reform, which Trump aims to implement within two weeks, has already sparked debate over its potential to prioritise money over merit and fairness in immigration, CNN reported.

EBC Issues Correction on Nomination Day Details

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has issued a correction regarding its earlier press release on the nominations for the upcoming March 12th General Elections. The statement revealed errors in the names of two political parties. The Belizean Justice Movement was initially listed as the “Belize Justice Movement,” while the General Opportunity Development Party was listed as the “Good Opportunity Development Party.”

The EBC received a total of 90 nominations on Monday. These include 41 from the United Democratic Party (UDP), 31 from the People’s United Party (PUP), 7 from the Belizean Justice Movement, and one from the General Opportunity Development Party. The People’s National Party secured 2 nominations, the People’s Democratic Party 4, and 4 nominations were made by independent candidates.

As previously reported, the Fort George Area Representative Henry Charles Usher and Pickstock Area Representative Anthony Mahler were declared winners without contest after their opponents failed to show up for nomination. Usher saw his challenger, Melvin Hewlett, absent from the event, while Mahler secured another term after his opponent, Dean Samuels, did not appear for his nomination. Both Hewlett and Samuels were candidates running under the UDP led by Moses “Shyne” Barrow.

Belizeans Show Growing Optimism About Economy in January

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), Belize’s Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for January 2025 showed a major improvement, which means that Belizeans are feeling more “optimistic about the economy and their own economic prospects.”

The CCI jumped from 48.0 to 50.5, a 5.2% increase from December 2024, SIB reported. Key to this increase were improvements in the ‘Present’ and ‘Durable Goods’ components.

The ‘Present’ sub-index surged by 12.9%, reflecting more positive views of current economic conditions. Confidence in making major purchases like homes and cars grew by 5.9%.

Meanwhile, expectations for future economic conditions dipped slightly by 1%, with the ‘Expectations’ sub-index falling to 59.6.

The Cayo district recorded the highest gain, with confidence climbing 11.4% to 52.4, while Stann Creek experienced a 6.5% decline.

While urban consumers saw an 8% rise in confidence, rural areas also showed improvement with a 3.1% increase. Confidence was notably higher among men, whose sentiment rose by 4.7%, while women saw a more modest increase of 0.8%.

The Mestizo/Hispanic group saw the largest rise in confidence, with a 12% increase, reflecting stronger sentiment in both present conditions and major purchases. In contrast, the ‘Other’ group experienced a 6% decline in consumer confidence.

Belize Inflation Rises by 2.2% in January

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reveals that Belize’s inflation rate rose by 2.2% in January 2025 compared to the same month last year, with price hikes reflected in food, housing, and transport. According to SIB, the CPI rose from 117.3 to 119.8.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages saw a price increase of 2.2%, with fruits like watermelon and pineapples rising by over 16%, and cereal products like bread and tortillas climbing by 2.8%. Meanwhile, fresh vegetable prices dropped by 4.2%. The cost of non-alcoholic beverages surged by 7.6%, particularly for fruit juices and purified water.

SIB reported that housing costs also contributed heavily, rising 2.8%, mainly due to higher home rental prices and an increase in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which jumped by $8.21 per cylinder. Transport costs saw a modest rise of 2%, driven by increased intercity taxi fares and higher international airfare prices.

According to the SIB, some categories saw a decline in prices. The ‘Information and Communication’ sector dropped by 1.5%, primarily due to lower costs for electronics like cellular phones and TVs.

SIB’s report revealed that Belmopan experienced the highest inflation among municipalities, with a sharp 4.5% increase in consumer prices, particularly in food, household goods, and transport services.

SIB reported that despite the year-over-year inflation increase, the month-over-month change from December 2024 to January 2025 was a slight decrease of 0.2%, attributed to lower food prices.

Imports Drop 10.9%, Exports Up 2.1% in January

In January 2025, total imports dropped by 10.9%, down to $242.6 million from $272.2 million in January 2024, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). The decrease was driven largely by a sharp decline of $28.5 million in “Machinery and Transport Equipment”—a category that had spiked in 2024.

SIB reported that other categories, including ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ and ‘Chemical Products,’ also saw reductions, primarily due to lower world fuel prices and decreased fertiliser imports.

There was growth in certain sectors. Imports of ‘Food and Live Animals’ increased by $3.8 million, driven by higher demand for orange concentrate and groceries. The ‘Commercial Free Zones’ also saw a slight rise in imports, mainly for cigarettes and handbags.

On the export front, SIB reported that Belize’s domestic exports in January 2025 totalled $17.1 million, a modest 2.1% increase compared to the previous year. Marine exports, especially lobster products, surged by $2.1 million. Citrus exports also surged, with more than doubling from $0.4 million to $1.1 million, due to favourable prices for orange concentrate.

Despite this, certain export categories, like ‘Other’ exports, faced setbacks, with a $1.8 million drop, mainly due to the absence of cattle and alcoholic beverages. Additionally, banana and sugar exports saw slight declines.

His Doctor’s Note Cites Syncope for Absence – But What Is Syncope?

Dean Samuels, Shyne Barrow’s proposed candidate for Pickstock, shocked supporters and the public on Nomination Day by failing to officially register as a candidate. Despite being seen earlier in the day actively engaging with voters and discussing his candidacy on Wave Radio, Samuels suddenly backed out. He later cited syncope as his reason for not attending the Civic Centre for nomination, sending in a doctor’s note.

But what is syncope?

Syncope may sound like a fancy medical term, but it’s actually the scientific word for what we commonly know as fainting!

When someone experiences syncope, their brain isn’t getting enough blood for a brief moment—this leads to the sudden loss of consciousness. It’s often followed by a quick recovery. Imagine you’re standing, and suddenly your blood pressure drops too quickly, or your heart skips a beat. This lack of blood flow causes the brain to go on “pause,” and down you go, ready to be revived with a bit of rest and time!

Most of the time, fainting is harmless and isn’t a cause for concern. However, if someone faints frequently or without clear reasons, it’s important to see a doctor. Sometimes, fainting could be a sign of an underlying health issue, like a heart problem or a neurological condition.

As for Samuels, he issued a public apology for his absence. He acknowledged that his decision denied voters the chance to express their dissatisfaction with the government.

Samuels, along with three other UDP candidates—Dennis Williams, Melvin Hewlett, and Norman Usher—failed to appear for nomination. He explained that his decision was influenced by financial challenges in politics, particularly given that his opponent was a powerful government minister. Samuels revealed that the UDP leadership had decided to allocate resources to constituencies with a stronger chance of victory, making his candidacy financially unfeasible under the current circumstances.

Revere Mayor Demands Transparency in Belize Resort Deaths

Mayor Patrick M. Keefe Jr., the mayor of Revere City, Massachusetts, issued a statement on Tuesday addressing the deaths of the three women found dead in their suite at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on Saturday morning. He stated, “On behalf of the entire City of Revere, I extend my condolences to their families and loved ones during this time of unimaginable loss.”

The women, Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, “were valued members of the Revere community,” he stated. “The information we have received thus far… leaves our grieving community with too many questions.”

Mayor Keefe Jr. added, “I have heard widespread concern from the families and community members about the lack of transparency in this investigation and the media narrative painted by Belizean authorities.” He went on to outline the Travel Avisory that the United States had labelled Belize with in December 2024, where it advised travellers to “exercise increased caution in Belize due to crime.”

The initial investigation in Belize revealed that the police are looking into a possible drug overdose after finding alcohol and gummies among the belongings of the women. “We’re not saying at this time that the gummies cause death, but we’re looking at every possibility,” said Chester Williams, the Commissioner of Police. The results of a postmortem examination is still pending.

Meanwhile, Mayor Keefe confirmed he has been in contact with federal officials, including Senator Ed Markey and Whip Katherine Clark, and that they will “lockstep to bring answers to these families and their communities.”

“We will exhaust all avenues, both domestic and abroad, to ensure a proper and fair analysis of this case,” he said.

Pope Francis Shows Slight Improvement Amid Ongoing Treatment for Lung Infection

Pope Francis, 88, is reportedly in stable but critical condition as he continues treatment for pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican updated the public on his health Wednesday, noting that he had a “tranquil night” and was resting in an armchair. Doctors remain cautious, emphasizing that while the Pope has not experienced any respiratory issues since Saturday, he is still not out of danger.

The Vatican also shared that Pope Francis underwent a CT scan on Tuesday to monitor his complex lung infection. Early results indicate a normal progression of the inflammation. His condition has shown slight improvement, with a return to mild renal function and confirmation of positive changes in recent blood tests.

Despite his ongoing treatment, the Pope has resumed some work duties, including receiving the Eucharist and dedicating the afternoon to light activities. He continues to receive high-flow oxygen therapy and respiratory physiotherapy, with no respiratory crises reported.

Pilgrims have gathered outside the Gemelli hospital, offering prayers, candles, and gifts in support of the Pope, with a special mass held for him at the Argentinian church in Rome.

Three Convicted Jewish Men Sent to Guatemala

Avron Dinkel and Chaim Malka were charged with aiding in the commission of a crime, while Moshe Yhidia Alter faced a charge of illegal entry following their interception in Santa Elena, Cayo. The three men appeared in San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were convicted and fined $1,000 each, with a default sentence of three months in prison. After paying the fines, they requested permission to return to Guatemala.

Two of the men are Americans, while the other is a Canadian.

The men could possibly have links to the extremist Lev Tahor sect, whose members face charges in Guatemala, while its leaders have been detained in El Salvador and Mexico for extradition.

Late last year, Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children and 40 women from the group amid allegations of rape, forced marriages, and human trafficking. Prosecutors also reported the discovery of a child’s remains during the raid.

Trinidad and Tobago’s PM Keith Rowley to Resign on March 16

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced he will resign on March 16, 2025, after opening two major projects—the Central Block of the Port of Spain General Hospital on March 10 and the new ANR Robinson Airport terminal on March 15. Speaking at the renaming of Lisa Morris-Julian Boulevard, he reflected on his tenure, emphasizing that public service is temporary and expressing satisfaction with his contributions. He acknowledged the challenges of governance, particularly managing national projects with limited resources.

The 75-year-old has led the party since 2010.

Reflecting on his tenure, Rowley acknowledged challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and rising negativity in public discourse but expressed confidence in the next generation of leaders to guide the country forward.