Tag: Belize

Belize, World Bank Develop 10-Year Partnership Plan

The Government of Belize and the World Bank Group (WBG) are moving forward with the development of a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF)—a 10-year strategy aimed at boosting national resilience and fostering inclusive growth.

The Ministry of Economic Transformation (MET) led discussions during an in-country mission by the World Bank team, held to shape the design of this long-term framework. The CPF will serve as the World Bank Group’s roadmap for its engagement with Belize, focusing on key sectors such as the blue economy, education, agriculture, energy, and transportation.

The mission included consultations with line ministries and a broad range of national stakeholders. These meetings are expected to ensure that the final strategy aligns with Belize’s national priorities, including Plan Belize and the Medium-Term Development Strategy.

According to officials, the CPF will be a living document—continuously shaped by local insights and emerging needs. It aims to strengthen the relationship between Belize and the World Bank Group while unlocking increased investment and development support across the country.

Caribbean Islands Devastated by Hurricane Beryl as CARICOM Summit Begins

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, along with Jamaica, bore the brunt of Hurricane Beryl’s fury, with Dominica, St. Lucia, and Barbados also feeling the storm’s impact. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, who has assumed the chairmanship of the 15-member regional integration movement, outlined the extensive damage on the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

“Ninety percent of all buildings on these islands were destroyed,” Prime Minister Mitchell reported. “Homes, schools, commercial buildings, shops, the airport, port facilities, marinas, gas stations, the hospital, health centers, community centers—all severely damaged. The road infrastructure, the shoreline, the coastline, the economic sectors have been reduced to zero. Carriacou and Petit Martinique are primarily fishing and agricultural communities.”

“The boats, engines, and fishing equipment were all destroyed,” Mitchell continued. “Livestock were badly affected, with many animals dying. In summary, the agriculture sector, fishing sector, marine industry, businesses, and tourism were all badly devastated by Hurricane Beryl.”

Similarly, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shared the experiences of his citizens on Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island. In the archipelago of 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, nine of which are inhabited, five of the southernmost islands suffered severe devastation.

“Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, and the resort islands of Mustique and Palm Island were hit hard. Further north, the main Grenadine island of Bequia, while not as devastated as the southern islands, still saw extraordinary damage and loss,” Prime Minister Gonsalves stated. “The main island of St. Vincent also suffered significant damage and loss.”

Grenada is hosting the CARICOM summit, which coincides with its 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain. Prime Minister Mitchell emphasized the importance of showing the world that Grenada is open for business despite the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The ceremonial opening of the summit takes place on Sunday, with usual agenda items including agri-food security, the CARICOM single market and economy, as well as Haiti and regional transportation.

CARICOM Assistant Secretary General Elizabeth Solomon expressed optimism about the developments in Haiti. “This meeting will demonstrate how effective we have been, especially in the last year. The commitment made by CARICOM heads of government to support Haiti through a difficult period has led to significant progress. We now have a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned process with a transitional presidential council and prime minister in place, entirely due to the efforts of Caribbean heads of government.”

During the opening ceremony, the Order of the Caribbean Community will be conferred on former West Indies cricket captain Sir Clive Lloyd of Guyana and Jamaican-born former CARICOM Secretary General Roderick Rainford. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, is the summit’s special guest.

1.2 Million People in the Caribbean Affected by Beryl 

The record-breaking Beryl

The first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl, was historic.

Hurricane Beryl has affected numerous countries and territories, including Barbados, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and Trinidad and Tobago. As of July 4th, the storm has tragically caused ten fatalities across the Caribbean—three in Grenada, SVG, and Venezuela, respectively, and one in Jamaica—alongside five reported missing.

On July 1, Beryl made landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island, unleashing its fury as a Category 4 hurricane. Fueled by unusually warm ocean temperatures, Beryl underwent remarkably rapid and unexpected strengthening.

It quickly surged to become the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane ever recorded, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005.

Beryl also broke records by becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane by over two weeks and ranks as the third earliest major hurricane recorded in the Atlantic. Only two storms, Alma in 1966 and Audrey in 1957, formed earlier in the season.

Beryl became the earliest June major hurricane to develop east of the Lesser Antilles, surpassing Hurricane Audrey’s 1957 record. Its wind speeds dramatically escalated from 65 mph on June 29 to 130 mph on June 30, a rapid intensification of 95 mph in just 42.5 hours.

The destruction

Hurricane Beryl shredded through the Caribbean after making landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on July 1. Beryl’s destruction of Carriacou and Petite Martinique is unimaginable. It is, however, real. Officials painted a grim picture: almost every structure on the islands, where 9,000 to 10,000 people reside, lay in ruins. Structures were completely flattened. Among the casualties were Carriacou’s essential Princess Royal Hospital, its airport, and its marinas. Both islands languished in darkness, cut off from the world with no electricity and communications in shambles in the aftermath.

Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, via video link from Grenada, said, “The entire island is completely affected… that is literally 100 percent of the population.”

A day after the passage of Hurricne Beryl, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell  addressed the nation. He said, “The situation is grim.”

Beryl caused widespread destruction in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). According to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, 90% of the homes on Union Island suffered severe damage or complete destruction. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that approximately 200,000 people have been affected in both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Media reports indicate that around 1,752 individuals in SVG are currently housed in 71 public hurricane shelters. The hurricane also caused significant damage to hundreds of homes, as well as government buildings and multiple churches in Saint Vincent. PM Gonsalve did a fly-over to see the extent of Beryl’s devastation.

Colvin Harry is a journalist working for NBC Radio in SVG. He covered the passage of Hurricane Beryl and continues to report on the devastation left behind. While he understood his responsibility as a journalist, Harry said it was a “scary point for us.”

Beryl struck Barbados on July 1. The Barbados Red Cross reported that around 208,200 people, or nearly 74% of the total population, felt the storm’s effects. Initial assessments revealed that 40 homes sustained damage, including roof loss, partial collapse, and leaks. Boats at the Bridgetown marina were damaged.

Beryl grew in strength as it neared Jamaica. Now, a powerful and dangerous Category 5, Beryl barreled towards Jamaica. It brushed Jamaica’s coast on July 3 as a CAT 4. In its wake, devastation. The storm delivered strong winds, hazardous storm surges, and widespread power outages to Kingston. Beryl, boasting sustained winds of 110 mph, was moving in a west-northwest direction and was forecast to retain hurricane intensity as it neared the Yucatan Peninsula. This prompted warnings and watches along the coastline.

Camol Walker was on the fifth floor of his apartment building when Beryl struck.

Signs of a Worsening Climate

Over the past year, the world’s oceans have experienced an unusual heating event. Since March 2023, global sea surface temperatures have hit record highs daily and remained elevated. As of 2024, temperatures are even higher than those in 2023. And warm water is fuel for hurricanes. Experts believe that this directly contributed to Beryl’s quick intensification.

Regional Coordinator for Climate Tracker Caribbean, Dizzanne Billy, told News Five, “Hurricanes like Hurricane Beryl are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, devastating Caribbean communities.” She said, “The human and economic toll is immense, with lives lost, homes destroyed, and livelihoods disrupted.”

“It’s imperative we address this through climate justice, ensuring those most affected receive the necessary support and resources. Climate finance is crucial in helping these vulnerable regions build resilience and recover swiftly. We need to see action, and we need to see it now.”

The Urgent Need for Climate Finance

Hurricane Beryl has significantly impacted Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica, affecting over 1,280,000 people. On Grenada’s Carriacou and St. Vincent’s Union Island, every resident has been severely affected. Barbados’ southern coastal parish of Christchurch, including Bridgetown port and fishing communities, suffered extensive damage from storm surges. Jamaica’s southern parishes experienced the brunt of Beryl’s force as it moved along the coastline.

In a poignant statement, Ambassador Fatumanava Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), expressed the deepening sense of despair among SIDS populations, stressing that decades of appeals for urgent, ambitious climate action have gone largely unheeded. Despite forewarnings of escalating climate impacts, such as the rapid strengthening of storms driven by rising sea temperatures, small island nations persist in shouldering the primary burden of a crisis not of their making. “Yet, we continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause. Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see,” he said.

Calling for COP29 to mark a pivotal turning point, Luteru demanded concrete actions, including a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “And a new climate finance goal that is fit for purpose for small island developing states is imperative. Developing countries must finally get a commitment from developed countries to provide efficient flows and access to the trillions of mostly concessional climate finance needed to recover from worsening climate change impacts and build resilience.”

Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), said that Hurricane Beryl’s impact underscores the urgent necessity for robust climate action and resilience-building efforts in the region. “The impacts from Beryl lay bare the climate injustice happening in the Caribbean and other small island developing states. The people whose lives and livelihoods have been lost and destroyed did nothing to contribute to the climate change that is now causing these monster hurricanes,” Dr. Young said in a statement. Highlighting the significant losses and damages incurred, Dr. Young stressed the urgent need for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund under the UNFCCC to expedite financial resources to impacted countries.

In a July 1 statement, Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said, “This is a time for all of us as a regional community to stand together and extend our support to those impacted or likely to be impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Let us mobilise the necessary assistance and relief efforts in the true spirit of regional solidarity.”

Restoration efforts have begun. It will take years.

Caribbean Rum Producers Present Special 50th Anniversary Blends to CARICOM Governments

As part of the year-long celebration of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) 50th anniversary, rum producers across the region are set to present specially curated 50th Anniversary Rum Blends to CARICOM governments. These contributions from the rum industry will mark the culmination of a year-long celebration of CARICOM’s 50th anniversary. Producers from all rum-producing CARICOM Member States, a total of thirteen, which are also members of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), will showcase their products to national governments during the month of June. The thirteen distilleries involved include:

  • Mount Gay Distilleries (Barbados)
  • Demerara Distillers (Guyana)
  • Suriname Alcoholic Beverages (Suriname)
  • Angostura (Trinidad and Tobago)
  • West Indies Rum Distillery (Barbados)
  • Saint Lucia Distillers (Saint Lucia)
  • Belfast Estate – Dominica (Dominica)
  • Antigua Distillery (Antigua)
  • Grenada Distillers (Grenada)
  • Travellers Liquors (Belize)
  • Watlings Distillery (Bahamas)
  • National Rums of Jamaica (Jamaica)
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines Distillers (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)123.

The products being showcased by regional rum producers will be distributed to CARICOM Member States, with some products available for sale in local markets. Several of the special edition rums are unique blends that will only be available for this purpose and in very limited quantities.

Why Was Griffith McNaughton Cadle Murdered? 

Police in Belize City are investigating a murder that occurred last night on St. Joseph Street. The victim has been identified as sixty-seven-year-old Griffith McNaughton Cadle. Reports indicate that Cadle was fatally stabbed.

Cadle was in the company of a man believed to be his killer. They were seen walking towards Baymen Avenue and then onto Nurse Seay Street when Cadle was stabbed.

Investigators found a knife believed to be the murder weapon at the scene.

One of Griffith’s neighbours described Cadle as a humble and mannerly man. She told News Five that she was shocked when she learned that Cadle had been murdered.

Police Investigate Murder of Elderly Man in Western Belize

Authorities are investigating the murder of Benito Cal, a 67-year-old man, in Roaring Creek Village, Cayo. According to police, the investigation commenced after officers responded to a report at the Roaring Creek Cemetery earlier today. Upon arrival, officers found the motionless body of Cal, bearing injuries to his face.

Cal was last seen around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12, and was discovered lifeless at approximately 6:30 a.m. the following day.

The body was subsequently transported to the Western Regional Hospital, where Cal was pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing.

Transitional council in Haiti embraces new changes following turmoil as gang violence grips country

Amid escalating gang violence in Haiti, a transitional council tasked with steering the country towards stability is undergoing significant changes. Instead of a single council president, four seasoned politicians will rotate leadership every five months, marking a departure from traditional Haitian politics where power is centralized.

This surprising shift aims to foster shared governance and unity within the council, a rarity in Haiti’s political landscape according to experts.

The four members set to share leadership duties include Edgard Leblanc Fils, Louis Gérald Gilles, Leslie Voltaire, and Smith Augustin. These adjustments come after internal conflicts threatened to derail the council shortly after its inception on April 25. Initial disagreements emerged when four council members unilaterally announced a council president and prime minister, sparking widespread surprise and debate.

The next step for the council involves selecting a new Cabinet, a process expected to involve intricate negotiations with influential political figures.

Against a backdrop of unprecedented gang violence that has ravaged the capital, Port-au-Prince, Haiti grapples with dire humanitarian challenges, including food shortages and escalating crime. The recent release of thousands of inmates following prison attacks has further exacerbated security concerns. 

The situation remains urgent, requiring decisive action to address the root causes of violence and ensure justice and security for all Haitians.

Op-ed: Anticipating the La Niña Phenomenon: The Importance of Understanding and Mitigating Its Impacts

By Ángela Blanco, Emergency and Resilience Officer at FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean Marion Khamis, Specialist in Resilience and Disaster Risk Management 

The forecast of the La Niña phenomenon for the second half of 2024 revives the urgency of strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems against extreme weather events in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

After a year marked by El Niño, which brought droughts, heatwaves, and floods, we now face a new phenomenon, the potential effects of which we must understand to act and protect agriculture, a pillar of our economies and livelihood for millions in the region. 

From FAO, we warn about the increasing risk to global agriculture from multiple threats, including extreme climate events like El Niño and La Niña and pests and diseases affecting animals and plants. 

Currently, agriculture and its subsectors absorb 23% of the total economic losses caused by these events, i.e., almost a quarter of the losses caused by disasters globally are concentrated in the agricultural sector. In our region, this represents an average loss of 975 calories per capita per day, directly impacting the population’s food security. 

Marion Khamis, Specialist in Resilience and Disaster Risk Management

In this context, it is imperative not only to respond to current emergencies but also to prepare for future ones, strengthening our capacities to prevent and mitigate their impacts through a holistic approach. This includes profoundly understanding the consequences of climate phenomena on agri-food systems and developing targeted strategies to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities. 

Today, we face significant challenges in identifying and measuring how these phenomena affect agri-food systems. This requires methodologies to capture the differentiated effects of threats and consider ethnic-racial, gender, age, and geographical variables to ensure inclusive and effective responses. Moreover, the results of these measurements must be used operationally to formulate public policies and social assistance and protection programs. 

In this scenario, the Emergency Data Information System (DIEM) from FAO emerges as a crucial tool, acting as a thermometer for the situation of the agri-food systems and offering key input for assessing the potential impact of adverse climate events on agricultural production and livelihoods. DIEM identifies particularly vulnerable areas and communities, such as those that have already suffered losses in their livelihoods and food security in previous records and are located in areas exposed to the new threat. 

Additionally, DIEM can measure immediate impacts through its DIEM Impact version. A successful example of this tool is the use by FAO in assessing the impact of fires in Colombia during 2024 on agriculture and livelihoods through the Southern Oscillation Index (El Niño). This allowed a precise allocation of resources and recovery efforts toward the most vulnerable areas and communities, demonstrating the importance of assessment tools for effective emergency management and impact mitigation on agri-food systems. 

Ángela Blanco, Emergency and Resilience Officer at FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean

As we prepare to face La Niña, it is essential to recognize the importance of advancing in the generation of impact data, implementing anticipatory measures such as reinforcing infrastructure, and distributing agricultural inputs resistant to adverse conditions to minimize the scale of damage. It is also important to establish rapid response systems in emergencies that allow the agile distribution of support and provide direct financial assistance to affected families to meet their immediate needs. 

This requires close collaboration between governments, international organizations, donors, academia, and civil society organizations, as well as the participation of family farmers, rural women, youth, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants. 

As we progress, the goal must be to improve and increase the assessment of disaster impacts. DIEM is a step forward in this direction, and the information it provides will help us commit to continuous improvement and collective action to face the challenges ahead. 

Only in this way can we adequately prepare for La Niña or other events that may impact food security and agricultural livelihoods, ensuring a safer, sustainable, and resilient future for all and guaranteeing better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

BREAKING: Hamas says it accepts ceasefire proposal

Hamas has approved a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war put forward by mediators Qatar and Egypt, the Palestinian group says, although Israel has yet to comment on the proposal.

The announcement follows a mass exodus from eastern Rafah as Israel instructs tens of thousands to evacuate. Specifics of the proposal remain unclear.

The statement was issued as residents of southern Gaza’s Rafah began fleeing in response to Israel’s evacuation orders amid escalating fears of a significant military operation. Over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians seek refuge in the region.

Israel and Hamas have engaged in indirect negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Egypt regarding a potential Gaza war ceasefire and the exchange of captives. Egyptian and Hamas officials have suggested a multi-stage ceasefire involving the release of Israeli captives by Hamas in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.

It remained uncertain whether the agreement would meet Hamas’ main demands, including a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of displaced families to their homes.

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