A group of former commissioners from the People’s Constitution Commission (PCC) is speaking out, raising serious concerns about the final draft of the PCC report submitted to the Prime Minister. In a strongly worded letter, the former commissioners say the document doesn’t reflect the true input of the people. We caught up with the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Doctor Louis Zabaneh, to get his take. He acknowledged the concerns and said they deserve to be considered to ensure the final draft truly represents the voices of Belizeans. However, Doctor Zabaneh also made it clear that the final decision on the report rests with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who will ultimately take it to parliament.
Dr Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Constitution Affairs
“Indeed the P.M. has received the final report and I saw in the media about the commissioners coming up with their dissenting views and perspectives. So, I have not had a chance to sit with our people to look at that, but clearly we have to look at all these things. It is critical that we understand the process, how it proceeded and to be able to ensure that our prime minister has a report that we can carry on with the process. At this time I have not had the opportunity to look at that, but that will be done in short time. I think it speaks to our diversity in our country. Instead of seeing it from a negative point of view we should see it as a maturity in our democracy. So it is for us now to be able to, all the time it is a part of the process that the decision will lie with the prime minister and the Cabinet and going through the House of Representatives. So that was always something everybody understood. We want to make sure at that level we get the views of Belizean people. Ultimately that is why it is called the People’s Constitutional Commission.”
Again, while Prime Minister John Briceño and his Cabinet will be able to weigh in on the final draft report, members of Parliament will have the final say. But, that will not be anytime soon, since the P.M. has been granted a twelve-month extension to review the document.
This week, Belize City is buzzing with ideas as passionate Belizeans from across the country come together to tackle one of our most pressing environmental challenges, plastic pollution. The non-profit group Sea of Life has launched the Plastic Solutions Academy, a three-day workshop aimed at finding real, community-driven answers to the problem of single-use plastics. With about twenty-five participants on board, the academy is equipping them with technical know-how and inspiration from both local and international experts. Their mission? To craft innovative proposals that can help restore Belize’s waters and protect our marine ecosystems.
Paulita Bennett-Martin
Paulita Bennett-Martin, Director of Programs, Sea of Life
“We have people from all over Belize that have traveled in to spend three daystogether to study plastic pollution, learn about the technical side of what plasticsare made from, what sorts of threats they create to nature and our own healthand then the people are challenged to come up with a solution. So a businesssolution. Of those solutions that are presented at the end of the three days,there’s potential for two of them to become funded projects, as well as have twoyears of mentoring from either BELTRAIDE or Sea of Life.”
Britney Gordon
“And who are some of the speakers that are here today offering their mentorship and advice?”
Paulita Bennett-Martin
“Yeah, we have Stephen Sangster from the University of Belize. We also have a woman from Rare that’s joining us from Washington, DC online. We have Phil Karp, who is retired from the World Bank and has worked a lot on plastic portfolio work across the world. And then we have Sea of Life speaking as well. And Delmer Tzib, also from the University of Belize who’ll be really connecting us with our roots and talking a lot about natural materials that are bounty full across Belize. And what we used to use before single use plastics.”
Britney Gordon
“So can you tell me a little bit about how you guys have really Belize-ified this this workshop that’s happening here? How do you make it so that it’s applicable to the people that are attending?”
Paulita Bennett-Martin
“Absolutely. So we really try to take a nice deep dive in day one we’ll be exploring all of the different natural materials that are a bounty full of cross ize, and then we do some mind mapping. So what is it that we have here that could replace single use plastics.”
As you just heard, forecasters are already sounding the alarm; it’s shaping up to be a busy hurricane season, with nineteen named storms on the radar. Experts at Colorado State University are predicting nine hurricanes, including four major ones. Now, there’s no way to know if any of those storms will head our way, but the City Emergency Management Organization isn’t taking any chances. They’re already out inspecting hurricane shelters across Belize City to make sure they’re ready, just in case.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“WE have done a lot of training. They have been able to do what you call shelter inspection. They have worked very closely with NEMO. I can say outrightly that this is the best relationship we have had with NEMO as a group, because the structure, the organizational structure of NEMO has really been put in place by the new leadership. We feel that with the coordinated efforts of NEMO and CEMO in the city we want to be prepared.”
Reporter
“Where are we in terms of completion with these shelters and putting out the official list for shelters this year?”
Bernard Wagner
“Again that is coordinated with NEMO and NEMO identifies the shelters. We just go along with them in terms of knowing in what capacity they are you in, are they available, do they need repairs. If they need repairs we assist with that, but in terms of identifying and selecting shelters that is up to NEMO.”
From the comfort of air-conditioned offices to the gritty reality of Belize City’s drains, Mayor Bernard Wagner and his councilors rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty today. With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season fast approaching, the Belize City Council is stepping up its flood mitigation efforts. This morning, staff gathered at Constitution Park before fanning out across the city—led by the mayor himself—to clean drains and clear debris. It’s a job usually left to sanitation and maintenance crews, but today, elected officials joined the front lines. So, what kind of impact did their presence really make? And how is the council preparing for what could be another intense rainy season? News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
They’re usually behind desks in the cool comfort of City Hall, but today, Mayor Bernard Wagner and his councilors traded office chairs for rubber boots. Armed with gloves and grit, they hit the streets to help clean out drains across Belize City.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“What we normally have prior to the rainy season is a symposium. So I told my CEMO liaison officer, Melonie, let us do something outside of the box this year. Instead of going in a conference room sitting out and having a symposium, let us go into the ground, get with hands dirty and really put in the work for the people. This is what you call community. It is community at its best.”
Flooded streets and soggy yards, it’s a headache Belize City residents know all too well. Clogged drains have been a problem for years, and when the rain pours, the complaints come pouring in too. But with the 2025 hurricane season just two weeks away, clearing out those drains could mean a big difference and maybe even a little peace of mind for folks bracing for the storms ahead.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, Councilor, Sanitation Department
“As you know the hurricane season is June to November, every year in December the sanitation and maintenance team at the Belize City Council start our preparation for the upcoming year. So, we are on the ground digging drains. The issue here in Belize City is that it is below seas level. So, when it rains it will definitely flood. Our job here is to ensure that the flood subsides as soon as the rain stops.”
And while the gloves came out, our cameras did not really capture these elected officials doing much work. To be fair, here is Councilor Cattouse briefly clearing some dirt before handing over the shovel. Councilors Javier Castellanos and Sherwin Garcia were caught assisting to remove a grill. Councilor Garcia once again showed he is not afraid of a little dirt and mud, while Mayor Wagner got on his knees, on the dirty sidewalk, to assess the situation. But the real experts, those who did the heavy lifting, are the councils’ sanitation and maintenance teams.
Paul Lopez
“Is all the fan fair necessary to clean drains across the city?”
Kaya Cattouse
“It just shows our commitment; at the council we are hands on councilors. This iswhat we do on a regular basis, whether the cameras are here or not.”
Javier Castellanos
Javier Castellanos, Councilor, Belize City
“We were prepared already, but this one is the final one touch that the mayor said we are going to finish it off to make sure everything is on time and everything is prepared so we can be able to have that opportunity so if any disaster comes we are already halfway in it.”
The Belize City Council admits that while clearing drains definitely helps, it’s not a magic fix. Some neighborhoods will still see water rising during heavy rains and that’s because much of the city actually sits below sea level. But there’s a silver lining: the goal is to keep those floodwaters moving. So even if the streets fill up, the hope is that once the rain stops, the water will drain away quickly, keeping damage to a minimum.
Bernard Wagner
“We want to ensure that all our drains are cleared of debris, they are connected, reshaped, connected to the canal, they are flowing to the canal, the canal is flowing to the river and the river to the sea. We know we have an issue at the Dean Street Area, Berkley Street, and East Collet Canal. Those are focus areas. We have issues on Queen Street, by the gas station on Freetown Road. Those are key areas. We have the sludge trucks with us today, two sludge trucks which are really getting in those drains and suck out all the sludge and debris in those areas.”
The positive impact of this cleanup effort will only be realized when the rains come. Forecasters are already predicting an above average hurricane season. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
As climate change continues to bring more intense droughts, storms, and unpredictable weather to the Caribbean, the need for accurate forecasting and clear communication has never been more urgent. To help meet that challenge, the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum has revived its media training program, last held in 2017. This week’s session in Grenada brings together meteorologists, climatologists, and journalists to sharpen their skills in reporting on climate risks and preparedness. The goal? To make sure the public gets timely, reliable information about seasonal forecasts and early warnings. Supported by the World Meteorological Organization, the forum is focused on strengthening early warning systems and boosting public awareness across the region. News Five’s Benita Keme Palacio is on the ground in Grenada and spoke with Dr. Jane Strachan of the UK Met Office, who emphasized the vital role media plays in helping communities understand and respond to climate threats.
Jane Strachan
Dr. Jane Strachan, UK Meteorological Office
“The media plays a crucial role in communicating weather and climate information to the public. The national Met services have a real challenge of getting that information in an accessible and relatable way. So, the media, you can connect with the audiences; this is a way to get critical information and action from the public. So, we really wanted to run this workshop to educate the media about weather and climate but also how to communicate that better and how to connect with the national meteorological institutes. The idea is how do you mainstream that information into everyday news, the media making that relevant in stories about farming, in stories about tourism, in stories about what is on the supermarket shelves, making it part of all the stories about the media, and not only in the end. So I think that will be a real transformation. And improving the literacy of the media but also the public about weather and climate. So I think that’s going to be a really big step forward. So, I’m really hoping to see more collaboration between the media houses and the national meteorological centers so that they can get better information out in the public mainstreamed into media.”
Dr. Strachan says this kind of collaboration is essential for building climate resilience, as it empowers both the media and the public to better understand, prepare for, and respond to the growing challenges of climate change.
As experts from across the region gather in Grenada for the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum and a special media training on climate communication, the setting couldn’t be more symbolic. Grenada is still picking up the pieces after Hurricane Beryl tore through the island in July 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Now, with the 2025 hurricane season fast approaching, the big question is: is Grenada ready? News Five’s Benita Keme Palacio sat down with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to talk about the country’s recovery efforts and how it’s preparing for what could be another active season.
Dickon Mitchell
Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister, Grenada
“We have I would say, done a better job, we had a pretty devastating hurricane in 2004. We learned a lot of lessons since then, and so I think we were far better prepared to handle Hurricane Beryl, thankfully. It was mostly the northern part of Grenada and Carriacou and Petite Martinique. But, having said that, I think there are a number of things that we have become better at; financial resilience is one of those. We’ve been able to, over the years, pay for parametric insurance, which allows us to mitigate a lot of the financial losses that we have suffered as a result of Hurricane Beryl. We also purchased insurance for our farmers, so we’ve been able to help them, including some of our fishermen. In that regard, we’ve done well. We also have built into our debt instruments hurricane suspension clauses, which allow us to suspend debt payments to our creditors in the event they need the cash flow to finance the recovery and the rebuilding in the aftermath of natural disasters. In that sense, we have institutionalized financial resilience to address the loss, damage, and consequences of climatic events. Behavior-wise, I think there’s a lot of work to be done, and from an energy perspective, we are still not where we need to be in terms of having more renewable and non-carbon-type energy into the mix.”
The scars of Hurricane Beryl still linger within the country, but PM Mitchell says the country is better positioned to face what’s ahead. The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) officially opens tomorrow, and as we mention we have a team in Grenada and we’ll have more on the forum on Thursday’s newscast.
The Trump administration has accepted a Boeing 747 jet from the government of Qatar, potentially to be used as the next Air Force One. The decision has ignited a wave of bipartisan criticism and raised serious concerns about national security and the appearance of foreign influence over U.S. policy.
The jet, a gift from Qatar, was offered shortly after President Trump’s visit to the Middle East, where he met with leaders in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to discuss business deals. The Pentagon confirmed the acceptance of the aircraft, noting that it complies with federal regulations. However, officials admitted that the plane is not yet fit for presidential use and would need extensive upgrades, including missile defense systems, secure communication equipment, and protection from electromagnetic attacks.
Lawmakers from both parties have expressed alarm over the optics and implications of accepting such a gift from a foreign government. Some fear that the Air Force may be pressured to expedite the conversion process, risking the thoroughness required to ensure the president’s safety. Others have questioned Qatar’s motives, suggesting the plane could be part of an effort to gain influence or even potentially contain hidden surveillance devices.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) was particularly outspoken, calling the jet part of a troubling pattern of foreign governments giving Trump money or valuable gifts in exchange for favorable treatment. “This is the definition of corruption,” he said. “Foreign governments are putting money in the president’s pocket, and the U.S. is giving away national security concessions that hurt our own security.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, defended the gesture, saying it was a normal act between allies and not intended to sway the U.S. government. “I don’t know why people are thinking this is bribery,” he said.
With forecasters predicting an above-average hurricane season for 2025, Belize City officials are taking no chances. The City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO), in close coordination with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), has begun inspecting shelters across the city to ensure they are ready to receive residents if a storm hits.
According to forecasts from Colorado State University, the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to bring 19 named storms, including nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
“We have done a lot of training. They have been able to do what you call shelter inspection,” said Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner. “They have worked very closely with NEMO. I can say outrightly that this is the best relationship we have had with NEMO as a group, because the structure, the organizational structure of NEMO has really been put in place by the new leadership. We feel that with the coordinated efforts of NEMO and CEMO in the city we want to be prepared.”
As for when the public can expect an official list of shelters, Wagner explained that CEMO supports the process but NEMO leads it. “That is coordinated with NEMO and NEMO identifies the shelters. We just go along with them in terms of knowing in what capacity they are in—are they available, do they need repairs. If they need repairs we assist with that, but in terms of identifying and selecting shelters that is up to NEMO,” Wagner said.
Running W Brand Meats has pulled out of this year’s National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) in Belmopan due to a national shortage of live pigs.
In a statement, the company cited “excessive exportation” as the main cause of the shortage, which has driven up prices and raised concerns about food security.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Running W said. “We believe that prioritizing a reliable supply for our consumers is the most responsible choice at this time.”
The company said it is working with local producers to maintain pork supply in stores and thanked customers for their continued support.
Mayor Bernard Wagner and his team joined sanitation workers on the ground today to clean drains in flood-prone neighborhoods across the city.
Instead of the usual City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) Symposium, the council chose to “get their hands dirty” and tackle the issue head-on.
“It’s about identifying some of the six key flood-prone areas in the city and giving an added extra hand towards the work that has already been going on for a number of months,” said Mayor Wagner. “Our sanitation, maintenance and works team have always been on the ground working to ensure that we begin, we prepare for the rainy season.”
Mayor Wagner added, “What we normally have prior to the rainy season is a symposium.”
“And so I told my CEMO liaison officer, let’s do something out of the box this year. Instead of going in a conference room and sitting and having a symposium, let’s go on the ground, get your hands dirty, right? And really put in the work for the people.”
The initiative brought together councilors, sanitation workers, public health officials, and even youth shadow councilors in a display of community spirit.
