2025-03-08 - Channel 5 Belize

Happy International Women’s Day 2025: A Call for Rights, Equality, and Empowerment

Today, March 8, 2025, marks another chapter for the global celebration of International Women’s Day, centred on the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.

According to the United Nations’ statement, the focus this year is to continue unlocking equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls, with particular emphasis on empowering youth, especially young women and adolescent girls, to drive long-lasting change.

This year holds significant weight as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark document that revolutionised the global women’s rights agenda, driving legal protections, expanding access to services, and challenging outdated social norms. The United Nations (UN) continues to champion this cause.

According to the UN, the origins of International Women’s Day trace back to the Russian Revolution in 1917, with the first known campaign against female genital mutilation emerging from the Egyptian Society of Physicians in 1920. Notably, New Zealand became the first self-governing nation to grant women the right to vote.

Since its recognition by the UN in 1977, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global movement, calling for women’s equality across all sectors—political, economic, and social. The UN adds that the celebration of women’s voices reminds us that gender equality is not just an aspiration but a pressing necessity.

The UN said, “It is a day to honour trailblazers who have broken barriers, empowered communities, and continue to shape the world with their courage and vision.” It added, “From political leaders to activists, artists to entrepreneurs, their voices inspired change.”

20 New World Screwworm Cases Confirmed in Belize

The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic has issued a warning about the growing New World Screwworm threat in southern Belize. In a recent social media post, they urged the public to “#Check your animals for wounds every day. #Leave no wound untreated. #Report ANY suspicious wounds with maggots IMMEDIATELY to BAHA.” The clinic added it is important to note that “this fly larva develops fast (~7 days in wound) and is very small at first.”

The clinic’s warning stems from the Ministry of Agriculture’s 20 confirmed cases of the parasite, first detected on December 26 in Toledo District. Despite efforts to contain the outbreak, 19 more cases have surfaced this year. This is including the first dog infection in January.

In an interview with Minister Jose Abelardo Mai in January, he stated that a team was immediately deployed to monitor the Crique Sarco village and San Pedro Columbia Village in the Toledo District, where the first few cases appeared to be spreading. Despite these efforts, including a nationwide public awareness campaign, the number of cases continues to climb.

The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic advised immediate reporting of suspicious wounds to BAHA. The ministry has also urged the public to report any suspected cases.

Belize Joins 11th Global SHEP Workshop in Ethiopia

Belize was represented at the 11th Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) International Workshop in Ethiopia, with Extension Officer Marvin Blades, Catherine Hob from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Jenilee Donis from the University of Belize in attendance.

The SHEP approach, which encourages farmers to treat agriculture as a business, is being integrated into Belize’s agricultural programs. “SHEP encourages farmers to shift their mindset from simply ‘growing and selling’ to treating farming as a business,” the Ministry said in a statement on social media. Seven farmer groups across six districts in Belize are already involved in the initiative.

Originally introduced in Kenya by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SHEP has expanded to over 59 countries. The approach teaches farmers how to calculate production costs, analyse market trends, and align crops with market demands for maximum profitability.
The workshop aims to facilitate information sharing among participating countries. The event is funded by JICA and the Ethiopian government.

Trump Threatens New Tariffs on Canada, Again

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada once more. This time, threatening new tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products. Trump announced this from the Oval Office on Friday.

According to CNN, Trump claimed Canada had been “ripping off” the United States for years in these sectors, citing a 250% tariff on U.S. dairy exports. “We’re going to charge the same thing. It’s not fair,” Trump stated, and added that he may do it as early as Friday, or “wait until Monday or Tuesday,” CNN reported.

CNN also reported that Canada’s Trade Minister, Mary Ng, swiftly rebutted, calling Trump’s claims “not true” and the proposed tariffs “completely unjustified.” This latest threat comes just a day after Trump announced a one-month pause on tariffs under the USMCA, which offered temporary relief to industries like agriculture and autos.

While the markets initially reacted negatively, the Dow ultimately closed up 222 points, buoyed by positive economic outlooks from the Federal Reserve. However, experts warn that prolonged tariffs could exacerbate the economic uncertainty, particularly affecting housing affordability due to lumber price hikes.

Separate Fires Break Out in San Pedro Town and Orange Walk

A fire in San Mateo, San Pedro Town, destroyed a wooden structure late Friday night. The blaze broke out around 11:00 p.m. and was extinguished shortly after. Footage of the scene shows concerned islanders gathering as emergency teams worked to control the fire. The videos showed large flames engulfing the structure, which was next to the multi-story building, Hero Grocer. The extent of the damage remains unclear.

In a separate incident, another fire broke out in Orange Walk Town on San Francisco Street. Two firefighting trucks responded swiftly and attempted to control large flames coming from a wooden structure with zinc sheets. Initial investigations suggest the fire started in a kitchen at the back of the house. Police were also on the scene.

The cause of fire for both incidents are still under investigation.