2025-04-08 - Channel 5 Belize

BEL Restores Power in San Pedro After Overnight Outages

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has restored power to San Pedro after a series of outages that began Monday evening and lasted into early Tuesday morning.

The disruptions, caused by light rain mixing with heavy dust and salt on equipment, led to electrical faults at substations. According to BEL, the mixture led to a phenomenon known as “tracking”, where electricity escapes from energised equipment to the ground, resulting in faults and power failures.

With help from the San Pedro Fire Department, BEL crews cleaned affected infrastructure and brought the San Pedro Gas Turbine online to support power needs. Further maintenance is ongoing and may require brief outages.

“Over the next few days, we will continue to wash and maintain all other equipment that we suspect has been impacted by severe contamination. This may require short outages to ensure the safety of our technicians.”

UWI Postpones Use of Online Proctoring Software Amid Student Concerns

The University of the West Indies’ Academic Programming and Delivery Division (APAD) has announced the postponement of the planned rollout of online proctoring for quizzes in Semester 2, 2024–2025.

The original memo had informed students in Levels 0 and 1 courses, as well as those enrolled in AI-assisted courses, that they would be required to use the Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor for upcoming quizzes. However, following feedback—particularly from the Guild President and his executive team—the university has opted to delay implementation.

“We sincerely regret any confusion or inconvenience caused,” the university stated in its April 7 memorandum. “Our collaborative conversations went a long way towards shedding light on pertinent considerations, from the student perspective.”

The APAD clarified that the decision to use online proctoring is not a retreat from its flexible learning approach developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather, it reflects a system-wide return to pre-pandemic assessment models, including in-person exams, as grace periods have ended across campuses.

“The use of Respondus for all Level 0 and Level 1 courses will now be rolled out with sufficient notice at the start of a semester,” APAD stated.

The university plans to write to the Chair of the Board for Undergraduate Studies (BUS) to request a phased introduction of the proctoring tool and outline the logistical and technical constraints that influenced the postponement.

Fishermen Walking Reef In search of Cocaine

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard (BCG), has confirmed an uptick in activity along the reefs, with Belizean fishermen suspected of seeking illicit substances. He told News 5, “We have seen an increased activity in the Turneffe area. It is our operational responsibility to ensure that we board, search, engage and interview where necessary all those individuals that we come across.”

Bennett stated that the Turneffe area continues being an area of concern. He said that the Coast Guard patrols “in Calabash Caye are very active in pursuing these individuals who may be involved in criminal activities in that area,” Bennett stated.

On Monday, the Belize Coast Guard operating from the Calabash Caye responded to reports of an individual “who was working in the Turneffe Atoll area and had suspected cocaine in his possession.”

He said the patrol team investigated and “discovered what appears to be suspected cocaine”. The man was detained, and the substance was confiscated. The suspect was handed over to police for further questioning.

Bennett also confirmed that last week, the coast guard had detained another individual who had been “aggressive towards another party in the activities of beachcombing. So we are aware of that, and we are doing our best to keep an eye on these individuals,” he said.

BAPDA Elects New Board to Lead into a New Era of Advocacy, Inclusion

The Belize Association of Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) has elected a new Board of Directors, ushering in a fresh chapter of leadership dedicated to empowerment, advocacy, and inclusion for persons with diverse abilities in Belize.

The election took place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, during BAPDA’s General Meeting at the HUB, bringing together members and supporters for a democratic selection of the organisation’s executive team.

The newly elected board members are:

President: Francisco Cuellar
Vice President: Noel Young
Treasurer: Roy Briceno
Vice Treasurer: Melissa Caretela
Secretary: Emil Mendez
Assistant Secretary: Kennik Garnett

In addition to the executive roles, the following individuals have taken on non-executive positions:

Senior Advisory Member: Kathleen Skeen
Advisory Members: Frank Garbutt III and Warren Smith

The election comes at a significant moment in BAPDA’s history, following the passing of its former President K Raymark Theus, in December 2024.

Wall Street Braces for Recession Amid Trump’s Trade War

Traders on Wall Street are warning of an impending recession as President Trump’s trade war continues to cause massive market turbulence. The Guardian reported that on Monday, stock markets swung wildly after false reports of a tariff pause, revealing the heightened anxiety surrounding US-China relations and global economic uncertainty.

Traders are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of Trump’s aggressive economic policies. According to The Guardian, the volatility has reached levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Many believe the US is heading towards a self-sustaining economy but fear the cost of such a shift could be devastating.

Experts predict that the ongoing turmoil could lead to a prolonged downturn, with markets already showing signs of strain, The Guardian reported. Technical analyst Anthony told the news outlet that, despite short-term opportunities, a recession is inevitable, and consumer spending is likely to slump as the effects of the trade war take hold. “What’s happening is that it’s going to hit the American people, and they’re going to keep their wallet closed in their pocket. Without a doubt, we’re hitting a recession,” he said.

Tracy Panton Rejects ‘Fake’ Meeting Allegations

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition (LOO), is rejecting statements issued by Shyne Barrow in a press statement bearing the UDP’s name on Monday night.

She accused Barrow of having no authority within the party. She said, “The former Standard Bearer of Mesop, who received a mere 300 votes in the most recent General Elections, is NO LONGER the Leader lof the Opposition. He is NO LONGER the Leader of our great United Democratic Party. He is NO LONGER the elected Area Representative of the Mesopotamia Division. He has NO authority whatsoever to act on or behalf of the UDP.”

Barrow lost his seat and position as LOO after being defeated by his UDP rival, Lee Mark Chang as part of Panton’s UDP slate.

Panton’s comments followed a statement from Barrow who denounced Panton’s National Party Council Meeting held on April 5 as a “fake” UDP gathering.

In her statement on social media, Panton insisted that her focus is on rebuilding the UDP, adding that if Barrow and “those who believe they are so entitled insist to facilitate this madness, we will take the appropriate action.”