The government of Belize recently issued a warning to its citizens regarding the insecurity and violence in Chetumal. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said “The Government of Belize is monitoring the recent rise in violent crime in Chetumal, Mexico and advises Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling across the Northern Border and visiting Chetumal.”
In response, Amir Padilla Espadas, president of Canaco Chetumal, emphasized the urgency for authorities to swiftly address and remove this warning. He stressed that its continuation could adversely affect the influx of Belizean visitors, who significantly contribute to the local economy, representing 30% of economic activity in the town.
He underscored the importance of government-to-government dialogue to coordinate actions and raise awareness.
Padilla urged prompt removal of the alert. He mentioned his role as president of Canaco and their efforts, alongside the Consul of Belize, to communicate with Belizean counterparts, informing them of the situation in Chetumal and the measures being implemented to safeguard tourist and commercial activities.
On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Hipolito Novelo of News 5 Belize writes about how, more than ever, they are advocating for press freedom and the planet.
By Hipolito Novelo, Journalist & Digital Content Creator, News 5 Belize
As we mark World Press Freedom Day under the theme ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,’ here at News 5 Belize, our dedication to covering climate change and environmental stories is deeply ingrained. We understand the vital role of journalism in addressing urgent issues. We are the voice for the voiceless. We are the watchdogs of democracy, equity, and transparency. We have a duty to the public we serve.
Our approach to reporting on climate change and environmental stories is rooted in accuracy, responsibility, and the safety of our journalists. We have realised the importance of climate reporting and our role in raising awareness and properly educating the Belizean public.
The News Five team prioritises the well-being of reporters covering environmental crises. Though the risks are minimal and very few, we ensure that potential risks are considered in the planning process. Our journalists are constantly engaged in training and capacity building throughout the year to better equip themselves with the skills and knowledge necessary to report on the climate crisis.
Accuracy is paramount in our reporting. We conduct fact-checking. Our journalists are constantly in communication with experts. We present a balanced view of these issues. We understand the difference between climate reporting and climate activism. Our aim is to inform and educate while upholding journalistic integrity.
“The public trusts us with the information we share with them. We do not take that trust lightly, which is why quality climate reporting is paramount.”
As we witness the impacts of climate change firsthand, our coverage goes beyond the headlines, beyond the figures. We must make the people care. We humanise the story by spotlighting local perspectives, amplifying marginalised voices such as people with diverse abilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and women and children, and showcasing innovative solutions to combat environmental degradation. By highlighting the environmental, social, and economic implications, our news items empower individuals and communities in Belize to make informed decisions and take meaningful actions to address local climate challenges.
Reporter Paul Lopez and veteran videographer George Tillett
Investigative reporting is also crucial to what we do. Environmental injustices must be exposed. We invest in in-depth investigations that expose corruption, misconduct, questionable practices, and policies harmful to the environment. The public trusts us with the information we share with them. We do not take that trust lightly, which is why quality climate reporting is paramount. It contributes to the development of effective climate policies and initiatives tailored to Belize’s specific needs and challenges.
Collaboration with global partners enhances our understanding of environmental challenges. By sharing resources and insights, we contribute to a holistic view of these interconnected issues.
We are probably one of the smallest newsrooms in the region. They say journalism is an unforgiving career. It’s not an 8-to-5 office job. News is always happening. This means we are always working. We don’t do it for money or fame. We do it because we love it. If we hadn’t, we would have been in another field.
This is why, on this World Press Freedom Day, News 5 Belize remains steadfast in advocating for press freedom and the planet.
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, police arrested and charged Allen Albert Anderson, also known as “Grace,” a 24-year-old Belizean construction worker from Ladyville Village, Belize District, for the offense of belonging to a gang.
On the same day, Julian Emilio Woodye, a 24-year-old unemployed Belizean from Belize City, was arrested and charged for the same offense.
Also on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Kenyon Carlton Flores, a 23-year-old Belizean construction worker from Belize City, was formally arrested and charged with being a member of a gang.
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has announced scheduled power interruptions across various service areas in response to temporary in-country generation shortages and a reduction in supply from Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in Mexico.
Over the past few weeks, daily electricity demand has fluctuated between 85 MW and 125 MW, while in-country generation capacity is currently capped at a maximum of 95 MW. This has led to increased reliance on CFE, which typically provides up to 55 MW of capacity to the grid. However, BEL has received communication from CFE indicating challenges in sustaining energy supply to Belize, with potential curtailments expected over the next 48 hours.
To manage these supply shortages, BEL will implement load shedding measures starting at 10:00 a.m. this morning. Initially, areas such as portions of Orange Walk will experience interruptions. In the early afternoon, load shedding will extend to portions of Corozal, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and Independence. This action is necessary to balance the available energy supply effectively.
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has provided an update on its efforts to enhance power generation capabilities amid ongoing challenges with supply from Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in Mexico.
The gas turbine at Westlake on the George Price Highway, a key backup power source for BEL, is currently undergoing upgrades and is temporarily offline. This unit is expected to resume operation early next week. Additionally, BEL is in the process of installing a gas turbine in San Pedro, with completion anticipated by the end of May. These additional generation sources will significantly bolster BEL’s capacity to meet demand over the next year, even in the event of supply curtailments from CFE.
BEL expresses gratitude to its customers for their patience and understanding during this period. The company remains committed to maintaining a safe, reliable, and sustainable energy supply across all service areas nationwide.
The selection of Fritz Bélizaire as Haiti’s new prime minister has caused a rift within the transitional council entrusted with appointing new leaders for the country. Four out of the seven voting council members announced their choice of Bélizaire on Tuesday, surprising many Haitians and revealing an unexpected political alliance.
Now, council members who oppose Bélizaire, a former sports minister during René Préval’s second presidency from 2006 to 2011, are considering their next steps, which may include challenging the decision or resigning from the council.
The transitional council, tasked with preparing for elections and tackling security challenges, announced Edgard Leblanc Fils as its president and proposed Fritz Bélizaire, a former sports minister, as the new interim prime minister.
Established with support from the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the nine-member council, sworn in at the National Palace last week, includes seven voting members. Its responsibilities include appointing a new prime minister and cabinet.
The council will wield certain presidential powers until a new elected president takes office by February 7, 2026.
Disunity is stirring within the Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Council as Deputy Mayor Jenny Martinez publicly announced her resignation via social media on Tuesday night. Martinez, appointed to the position following the recent municipal elections, attributed her decision to a perceived preference for a male deputy mayor over a female counterpart.
Martinez voiced her concerns, stating, “We women have the capability. Four men voted in favor of appointing a new deputy because they believe women are incapable of holding high government office.”
Despite receiving the second-highest number of votes and officially assuming the role of deputy mayor on March 19th, the council opted to reassess her appointment last month after being informed that the highest vote count does not automatically secure the position.
In a social media video, Martinez conveyed her disagreement with this decision, ultimately leading to her verbal resignation from the role of deputy mayor.
One person lost his life following a vehicular crash on Tuesday afternoon. The victim has been identified as twenty-nine-year-old Marcelino Pop, a delivery man from Belmopan.
According to police, at around 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a traffic accident on St. Mathews Street in the Maya Mopan Area of Belmopan City. They arrived to find a silver Nissan Rogue and a blue Meilun 100cc motorcycle, both damaged.
Investigations revealed that twenty-one-year-old Calvin Martinez was driving the Nissan Rogue on Saint Matthew’s Street. As Martinez approached the corner of St. Jude Street, the motorcycle traveling collided with the left front side of the Nissan Rogue.
The collision caused Pop to be thrown off his motorcycle into the truck’s windshield and then onto the ground. Pop sustained serious head and body injuries and was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away while receiving treatment.
According to a new special report by the agencies, the cost of inaction on hunger and food insecurity represents an average of 6.4% of the GDP of the countries studied.
The new report Financing Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean, jointly produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the World Food Program (WFP) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), warns that the costs of not combating hunger and malnutrition may be higher than the costs of solutions to ensure food security and better nutrition.
According to the report, the cost of inaction in the face of the impact of hunger and malnutrition represents an average of 6.4% of the GDP of the countries studied. In contrast, the average cost of working to close the income gap with transfers for access to healthy diets is 1.5% of GDP, not including management and implementation costs.
The report identifies different types of financing for food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean and their relationship to regional GDP: (i) financing of food consumption and production; (ii) public spending related to agricultural and non-contributory social protection expenditures; (iii) international development flows; and (iv) financing from the banking system and capital markets.
The publication highlights the importance of investing in agriculture and the need for other interventions to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition. It shows that the main problem does not stem from a food shortage, but from a lack of physical and economic access, especially in rural areas with high level of poverty. The document underlines the need to estimate the costs associated with implementing policies, programs, and interventions as a prior element to analyzing food security and nutrition financing. It also highlights the importance of improving information collection on the different financing flows.
“Aligning social, economic, and trade policies and the objectives of improving food security and nutrition in our Latin America and the Caribbean region is critical, even more so when food spending represents 22% of regional GDP,” said Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lubetkin also emphasized that comprehensive interventions that address income and access to nutritious food, consumer preferences, regulations on nutritional front-end food labeling, and support to family farming through public procurement systems can contribute to strengthening agrifood systems and equitable access to healthy diets.”
For his part, ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs indicated that “the incidence of extreme poverty in the region was 11.4% in 2023, according to ECLAC estimations, which means that more than 70 million people in the region do not have sufficient income to purchase a basic food basket.”
“That incidence is higher among women, the indigenous population, and people living in rural areas. Therefore, it is imperative to foster inclusive public policies and promote better targeting of public spending, which can directly impact populations in vulnerable situations. Currently, more than half of all cash transfers in Latin America and the Caribbean go to households with per capita incomes above the poverty line,” said Salazar-Xirinachs.
ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs
“Lack of income to access a healthy and nutritious diet is among the main causes of hunger and food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean. In fact, this region has the most expensive healthy diet in the world,” said Lola Castro, WFP regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, adding that ‘it is unacceptable that the most vulnerable populations continue to pay such a high cost on account of undernutrition, overweight and obesity or double burden of malnutrition when the continent produces enough food to feed its entire population.’
The Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero, said that “the task ahead of us now is to conduct similar analyses at the country level in the context of comprehensive plans and programs for strengthening and improving food systems, operationalizing the objectives, instruments and institutional framework, with a clear estimate of costs and, of course, their financing, taking a broad view of the six main financial flows, as set out in the document.
Israel has expressed concerns over potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) targeting government officials for actions during its conflict with Hamas. The ICC is investigating Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza.
In response to reports that the ICC may issue warrants against senior Israeli officials, Foreign Minister Israel Katz urged Israeli embassies to enhance security due to the risk of increased antisemitism. Katz emphasized Israel’s expectation that the ICC refrain from targeting its political and security leaders. He said that Israel is determined to resist any such actions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that ICC decisions would not impact Israel’s policies but could establish a dangerous precedent. Israeli officials fear potential arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others over alleged violations in Gaza. The ICC is also reportedly considering warrants for Hamas leaders.
Israel, not a member of the ICC, disputes its jurisdiction, but Palestinian territories were admitted as a member state in 2015. The U.S., an ally of Israel and not an ICC member, does not support the investigation.
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues, penned a letter to the Biden Administration. They expressed their endorsement for giving more attention to Belize within the U.S. strategy aimed at tackling the underlying causes of irregular migration. The letter underscores Belize as a key democratic ally of the United States and emphasizes the necessity for heightened focus and resources to counter the increasing menace posed by foreign malign and criminal elements.
“Belize is experiencing a rise in the same risk factors that have negatively impacted its neighbors including: transnational criminal activity, high homicide rates, large swaths of ungoverned territory including porous and sparsely-populated borders, and ineffective law enforcement and judicial institutions,” wrote the lawmakers. “The Government of Belize has demonstrated a strong willingness to work with the United States and the international community to address these vulnerabilities.”
“Belize continues to demonstrate a commitment to shared ideals and global alliances with the United States, making it a partner that is increasingly rare in the region. Belize’s continued diplomatic ties with Taiwan shows its shared values of democracy, self-determination and respect for international law; with democracy in decline in so many countries throughout the world, we must not take these values for granted, and work with the government to counter the People’s Republic of China’s continued efforts to negatively influence the region,” continued the lawmakers.
“We believe there are a number of ways the Administration could signal our ongoing partnership and commitment to the relationship, including a Security and Strategic Dialogue, support for a multi-year national security strategy and a U.S. commitment to support its implementation.”
