2025-05-08 - Channel 5 Belize

A Dream Come True: Single Mother Receives New Home

In a heartwarming collaboration, Hand in Hand Ministries and Heritage Bank have once again made a family’s dream come true. Today, they handed over a new house to a single mother, allowing her to finally live under the same roof with her three children after five long years. The emotional moment brought tears to her eyes as she expressed her gratitude for the life-changing gift. News Five’s Marion Ali reports on this touching story of generosity and hope.

Rashshida Messam, New Homeowner

“I really appreciate you guys so much. Now I have a home fi me and my kids dehn. (Kids hug her)”

Marion Ali, Reporting

Rashshida Messam’s heartfelt “thank you” to Hand in Hand Ministries and Heritage Bank captures the joy of a single mother who can now live under the same roof with her three young children. After a challenging five-year journey, Messam received the keys to her new home today. She shared with News Five the struggles she overcame to reach this moment, making her new beginning even more meaningful.

Rashshida Messam

“Five years ago I was with my kids’ father and we had something, well – long story short, ih mi arite fi back then, but afterwards it went downhill. So, I had a friend that got a house from Hand in Hands and she encouraged me to go in. So I went in, I did their procedures and everything. And I hadn’t had the help to fill the land, but this time I got the help and it went through.”

Messam’s dream of a new home became a reality thanks to Hand in Hand Ministries. Shannon Stuart explained that Messam’s application was carefully reviewed, and after meeting all the requirements, she received helpful recommendations that led to her success. This thoughtful process ensured that Messam and her three children now have a place to call home.

Shannon Stuart, Social Worker, Hand in Hand Ministries

“We have quite a few people that applied for housing assistance each and every year. Okay. But we provided them with the three that we thought would fit the criteria that they were looking for, which was basically families that are in dire need of housing assistance. Once we were able to identify those families, we then started proceeded to start our process whereby we did our application process. Um, we conducted interviews. We went into the family’s homes just to get a better understanding of what their living conditions were. And we have a financial limit that you have to have a certain set – in terms of income in order to be qualified for one of our homes.”

Hand in Hand Ministries, with the help of past and future home recipients, builds homes for those in need. Once a recipient is chosen, recommendations are sent to the donor, Heritage Bank. At today’s handover, Managing Director Stephen Duncan proudly announced that this marks the bank’s twentieth home donation to a deserving family. This ongoing partnership continues to transform lives, one home at a time.

Stephen Duncan, Managing Director, Heritage Bank

“People are in need out there. They cannot necessarily wait to be able to save to build a house. They cannot wait for a cement house. They cannot wait for different reasons. These houses, for us, serve a very important purpose when people are able to move into their own home. They won’t have a mortgage to pay. So there is no cost to them in that context, and they’re able to start to live a normal life with their family again. It really makes a difference for people. And we have seen over the years that these houses have been able to withstand the test of time. For 20 years, Hand in Hand has been doing these houses. None fall down yet; none blow down yet.”

Today, a two-bedroom wooden house worth around twenty-five thousand dollars was donated, bringing immense relief to its new owner. The single mother shared the emotional toll of spending nights away from her children before receiving this life-changing gift. Her heartfelt words highlighted the profound impact of finally having a place to call home, where she and her children can be together under one roof.

Rashshida Messam

“I could finally have my kids with me because they weren’t living with me; they were living with their father because of the living situation that I was in, which was – it was with my sister. We had like six of us in the house, just a two bedroom house. And we hadn’t had that much space to house them, so I had to leave them with their father. But now they can be with me, which I am very grateful for that I have my kids home with me in our home, our own space.”

The only person happier than Rashshida Messam today is her mom, who received her own home through Hand in Hand Ministries several years ago.

Marion Ali

“When you got yours, she was a kid playing in that house.”

Anna Pratt, Mother

“Yeah.”

Marion Ali

“Now she got her own.”

Anna Pratt

“Yeah, soh that me wa play eena fi she one now. (Laughs)”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Heritage Bank and Hand in Hand Ministries Celebrate Milestone in Home Donations

Heritage Bank has handed over its twentieth house, while Hand in Hand Ministries celebrates surpassing five hundred homes donated. This remarkable achievement is the result of years of collaboration between the two organizations, dedicated to providing homes for those in need. Hand in Hand Ministries, which builds homes year-round with donations from abroad, has found a steadfast partner in Heritage Bank. Together, they have made a significant impact on the lives of many families, and today’s donation is just the latest chapter in their ongoing mission. Representatives from both organizations shared their commitment to continuing this vital work, aiming to improve and enhance the quality of life for even more people through the gift of new homes. This partnership promises to bring hope and stability to countless families well into the future.

Shannon Stuart, Social Worker, Hand in Hand Ministries

“People love what we are doing, so every year we always have people come in that the local community supporting us, the people from apart abroad support us because they love what we do. We are serving people that are in need. Our work group comprises of our building coordinator and his assistance. And also, if you notice on this particular bill, we have Heritage Bank and we do have people that receive homes come out and assist us and people who are also waiting on their homes come out and assist. So it’s a whole collaboration of everyone along with the with it hand in hand ministries.”

Stephen Duncan, Managing Director, Heritage Bank

“It is a big part of our sponsorship budget and our donation budget, but we try to do it every year. So far, we’ve been doing, keeping it going and we’ll go as long as we can. I mean, I can’t make any predictions. It’s not dependent on just me, but so far, we continue to get the support for it, and I wanna see how far we can go. As long as I am still around, I will try to do it, noh.”

Arrest Made in Murder of Hope Creek Village Teacher

Two months after the tragic murder of 23-year-old Simon Arana Junior, police arrested and charged a suspect. Authorities believe that 34-year-old Owen Rhaburn is responsible for the killing. Arana, a beloved teacher at Stann Creek Technical and Vocational Institution, was shot dead on the night of February 10th in Hope Creek Village, where he lived. The arrest brings a sense of justice to the community as they mourn the loss of a dedicated educator.

Belize Embraces Inclusivity with New Lactation Centers

Belize is making strides towards workplace inclusivity for women. Public breastfeeding has long been stigmatized, leaving mothers without practical spaces. But today marks a change. Transparent BPO has opened lactation centers at their Belmopan and Belize City locations, providing safe, clean, and supportive spaces for breastfeeding mothers. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the new facilities to get the full scoop.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Breastmilk is often hailed as a superfood for babies, packed with essential nutrients and antibodies crucial for the first six months of life. UNICEF recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months and continuing with complementary foods for up to two years or more. However, maintaining this can be challenging for mothers returning to work shortly after giving birth. To address this, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Transparent BPO have teamed up to create dedicated lactation centers for nursing mothers in the workforce. Angie Westby, HR Business Partner at Transparent BPO, shares how the idea for these supportive spaces came to life.

Angie Westby, HR Business Partner, Transparent, BPO.

“Within our company we have what we call a suggestion box where our employees can go in and suggest and give us suggestions and we review and what we can make possible. We had a mother who had just returned from maternity leave and didn’t have a. Safe space for her to breastfeed. So she would go upstairs to our section and go into the restrooms and breastfeed. And I think that was a wake up call for us, that we need a space for our mothers so that they could feel safe and comfortable to breastfeed here at work”

Belize is making strides in promoting exclusive breastfeeding among infants, thanks to the Baby Friendly Workplace Initiative. This program, which includes the creation of dedicated breastfeeding rooms, aims to support working mothers in providing the best nutrition for their babies. Recent data shows that thirty-three percent of infants in Belize are now exclusively breastfed, a significant jump from the fourteen-point-seven percent observed in previous studies. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is committed to increasing these numbers even further, ensuring that more babies receive the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. This initiative is a crucial step in improving infant health and supporting working mothers, making Belize a leader in promoting breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.

Robyn Daly, Technical Advisor for Nutrition, Ministry of Health and Wellness

“Some of our strategies would be looking at the marketing that is done to women because that affects breastfeeding. So when a woman is pregnant, sometimes they get exposed to, I would say to beliefs, that maybe formalize better than breast milk. It’s easier, it’s better, but it’s also not true. Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for that child. We also have efforts that we work along with private sector, which is what we see here today. Having supportive measures as having workplace support for women, because that helps us with our campaign and also with our promotion to improve breastfeeding in Belize, when we have good partnership, intersectorial collaboration, it helps us to achieve our goal of increasing breastfeeding.”

Transparent BPO and UNICEF have unveiled a specially designed room to support nursing mothers. This serene space features soft lighting, soothing music, and a comfortable chair, all aimed at creating a relaxing environment for mothers to bond with their infants.

Angie Westby

“We also have a cabinet full of amenities such as wipes Lysol spray to disinfect the area. We offer snacks and a little fridge so that they could store their breasts milk in between their shifts so that it doesn’t go spoiled. So we thought about every possible thing that we could implement. Internal wise, we have an internal system where they could go in and have different time slots available. So they could see when the room is available to breastfeed, they could book their room that way we don’t have any overlapping of mothers. And one good feature about the room is, we have a scan feature where only our mothers have access to it. They’re added to a distro. They go in, they scan with their IDs, and then only them will have access to the lactation room.”

The Government of Belize supports the creation of more spaces like this across the country. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Belize’s Minister of Human Development, emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to ensure the success of a new initiative. She highlights that a multi-sectoral and inter-ministry strategy is essential for the program to truly thrive. By bringing together various sectors and ministries, the initiative aims to create a comprehensive support system that addresses the diverse needs of the community.

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Minister of Human Development

“We fully support it. We are going to encourage that other workplaces have similar spaces, safe spaces that make breastfeeding dignified. We want to make these spaces safe spaces, clean spaces, appropriate spaces where mothers can welcome their children, maybe perhaps during their lunch break, have the child come over breastfeed and then go where they can express milk, pump milk and have it stored, and then take it home and leave it there for the following days use or something like that. I think that this reduces the barriers, takes away at least one of the biggest barriers to women staying within the workforce.”

A newly created space for nursing mothers is setting a new standard in workplace support, reflecting a significant shift in societal expectations. Recognizing the vulnerability of women’s bodies after childbirth, this initiative aims to provide essential support and upliftment for both mothers and their babies.

Robyn Daly

“Stress can affect milk production and milk flow. So it’s very important for women to be stress free, I would say, and to be relaxed and also to have good mental health because that can affect flow and it can and can also put the woman at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, which sometimes happen when women give birth. So the woman is, she really does need to be relaxed and anything that can help to promote relaxation and reduce stress is encouraged.”

UNICEF maintains that encouraging healthy relationships between infants and mothers leads to stronger family bonds and empowered societies. Britney Gordon for News Five.

White Smoke Signals Election of First American Pope

After two days of deliberations, white smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel chimney, announcing the election of a new pope. Sixty-nine-year-old Robert Prevost, the first-ever American pontiff, has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Although American, the cardinal is also recognized for his Latin American influence due to the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru, before becoming a bishop there. Today, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion shared a message of encouragement, highlighting the significant challenges facing the world and the Church, including mass migration, war, poverty, and division. He welcomed Pope Leo’s commitment to building bridges through dialogue and his call for visible unity without fear. The Government of Belize also extended warm congratulations, joining the Catholic community and the world in prayer for peace, unity, and hope under Pope Leo’s pastoral guidance. Belize looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Holy See in education and social development.

Belizean Appointed to NCDA Board

Laura Tucker-Longsworth of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition will represent the Caribbean on the Board of the NCD Alliance (NCDA) for the 2025–2027 term. Her appointment was confirmed during the NCDA’s virtual General Assembly, the alliance’s highest governing body, which convenes every two years.

Tucker-Longsworth joins a 14-member board composed of global leaders in noncommunicable disease (NCD) advocacy and policy.

“It has been such a privilege and an honour to have served as the NCDA President over the past two years,” said the outgoing President, Dr Monika Arora. “I have every confidence NCDA will continue to go from strength to strength under the leadership of Leslie Rae Ferat and the new Board during these next two years.”

Leslie Rae Ferat will now be leading the new board for the next two years. The new board is expected to play a critical role as the NCDA approaches the fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. “. I look forward to working with the Board, the NCDA team and our members around the world to deliver meaningful change for the millions of people at risk and living with NCDs,” Ferat said.

UDP’s Morning Show Suspended After On-Air Clash Between ‘Fonso’ and ‘Shyne’

In the wake of a fiery on-air confrontation between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and host Alfonso Noble, the United Democratic Party’s morning show “Fuss Ting Da Mawning” has been suspended.

That’s according to a WhatsApp message reportedly sent by the party’s acting chairman, Alberto August.

August informed that the decision was made in the interest of party unity during what he described as a “critical juncture” in the UDP’s ongoing internal restructuring.

“The public back-and-forth airing of the Party’s challenges on the Party’s radio cannot and will not be allowed to continue,” August wrote, noting that the program had become “fertile grounds for the propagation of disunity,” particularly with live callers contributing to the fray.

The move comes just hours after a heated exchange on the show between Barrow and Noble. The verbal exchange shows deep rifts still simmering within the party following its recent electoral defeat and ongoing leadership disputes.

August said the morning show would remain off-air “to allow the leaders of the Party to get the job done with minimized hindrance.”

PM Appoints High-Level Cabinet Team to Negotiate with Unions

Prime Minister John Briceño appointed Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, Francis Fonseca, Oscar Requena, Minister Henry Charles Usher, and Chris Coye to negotiate the Public Service Union, Belize National Teachers’ Union, and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers.

This is what the Prime Minister told the unions in a May 6th response letter. Briceño wrote, “I am in receipt of your letter on 22nd April 2025 where you raised several concerns. After carefully reviewing these concerns, I am gratified by your openness to constructive dialogue.”

The team has been tasked with addressing the matters raised by the unions, including proposals from the Joint Standing Committees related to revenue enhancement, cost-saving initiatives, and pension reform. Once the discussions conclude, the delegation will report back to the full Cabinet for further decision-making.

“The Government remains committed to continue the engagement, which so far has been successful in producing outcomes which, as you put it, ‘will move the process forward,’” Briceño wrote.

The unions will be demonstrating on Friday in Belmopan during the inaugural joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Attempted Murder in Corozal

Police are investigating the attempted murder of 34-year-old Charles Itzab in Corozal Town on Wednesday night. According to police, Itzab was attacked while riding his bicycle on Diego Street just before 7:30.

Reports are that an unknown assailant approached and opened fire, hitting Itzab in several parts of his body. He was first taken to Corozal Community Hospital and then transferred to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Police have not disclosed the motive behind the attack, and no suspects have been detained.

Queen Conch Season to Close May 25

The Belize Fisheries Department has announced that the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishing season will officially close at the end of the business day on May 25, 2025. The closure comes after the national production quota for the 2024–2025 season was met.

The decision is in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012 and will be formally declared by the Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, Hon. Andre Perez.

All conch fishing activities must cease on the specified date, and the season will remain closed until it reopens on October 1, 2025. The Fisheries Department is urging fishers, establishments, and the public to use, consume, or properly dispose of any Queen Conch meat in their possession by the deadline.

Anyone found in possession of Queen Conch after May 25 will face prosecution under Belize’s Fisheries Regulations.

To report illegal fishing activities, the public is encouraged to contact the Fisheries Department at 224-4552.