Breaking Belize News - Channel 5 Belize

Hugh O’Brien Says Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry “Going Quite Well”

Commission of Inquiry Begins Investigation into Belize’s Sugar Industry

The Commission of Inquiry into Belize’s sugar cane industry, established by Prime Minister John Briceño on March 19, held its first meeting on May 29. The Commission, led by Chairman Wayne Piper and commissioners from Belize, Mauritius, South Africa, and the UK, aims to examine the industry’s entire value chain and provide recommendations to the government. The initial meeting outlined plans for visits to sugar mills and production sites across Belize, with commissioners arriving in early June. The Commission’s proceedings will not be public, but updates will be provided through the Lead Coordinator, Hugh O’Brien. The final report is expected by November 30, 2024.

BSI Expresses Concerns Over Commission’s Focus

In a press release dated June 4th, Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) expressed support for the Commission’s role in advising on industry modernization. However, BSI also expressed concern. Its primary concern is sharing proprietary information due to competitive pressures. BSI stated it would not cooperate if the Commission’s focus shifts to negotiating a new commercial agreement, which they consider a private matter. BSI says it is open to discussing reforms to industry regulations and participating in efforts to improve mill efficiency and cane yields in northern Belize.

BSCFA Calls for Public Inquiry and Cooperation

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) later issued its press release on June 6th. BSCFA says that it welcomed the commencement of the Commission’s work, viewing it as long overdue since the last inquiry in 1969. The BSCFA emphasised the importance of this investigation for the sugar industry and urged the Commission to hold public meetings. The BSCFA expressed concern over BSI/ASR’s position on sharing sensitive information with the Commission.

Lead Coordinator, Hugh O’Brien, says Inquiry Going Quite Well

On June 13th, News Five’s Marion Ali caught up with Hugh O’Brien, the Lead Coordinator for the inquiry in Orange Walk Town. When asked how the inquiry is going, O’Brien said, “The inquiry to, in my view so far is going quite well. The ambience between the people that the commissioners have met, particularly, we’ve sat down. We spent a day and a half with BSI. That went extremely well. BSI was very, very open. They shared their information that they had with them and various components of the factory and how the factory operates and their overall program and their views for the industry in terms of what they see is needed for Belize from their perspective. And then the tour of the factory with BSI went extremely well. And then following that the second day they did a tour of field activities, BSI’s operations at the field level, their farms and the services that they are with a view from their perspective that they have in mind. That they can contribute towards helping to modernize the industry in Belize.”

When asked about the commissioners’ views, O’Brien said, “they are calling me because currently they are meeting with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association at the SIRDI office in Buena Vista and the commissioners also yesterday did a complete, they receive a presentation from Santander which have a very different structure and they’ve toured the Santander factory and they also had a complete tour of the Santander fields of sugar cane. So, they’re getting a good view and a good handle of, of what is occurring in Belize? Previous to that, they had presentations from the staff at the Sugar Industrial Research and Development Institute. They had a presentation and discussion with the sugarcane production committee because the way sugar is delivered in the north is very different than the west and is a very intricate system in the north because of the large number of small farmers and people battling to try to get their sugar into the factory.”

When asked about the concerns raised by BSI, O’Brien said, “The commission has never changed its focus. The terms of reference of the commission of inquiry was drafted and there were concerns that BSI raised. That’s when I kind of got involved and the prime minister asked me to, and I said, we’ve had discussion with BSI. They sent back recommendations from their standpoint and we made adjustments to the terms of reference, but we never gave in to what BSI wanted.”

O’Brien said that the commissioners will now create a list of specific items that they want from the two factories.

Injured Manatee Calf Rescued and Rehabilitated

Yesterday, June 12, 2024, the Fisheries Department received a report of a manatee calf in the Belize River that was observed to be unable to dive. In coordination with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), a team from the Fisheries Department responded to this report. Through a joint effort, the male calf was successfully rescued and transported to Orange Walk, where the team met up with Wildtracks who then transported the calf to the rehabilitation center. The calf was unable to dive, was emaciated, sunburnt and had propellor cuts on its tail. “Kevin” the manatee calf is in a delicate condition but is now receiving care from the Wildtracks team.

The Department is grateful for this collaborative effort with its partners CMARI and Wildtracks. Recently, the Fisheries team that responded to this stranding attended a training at Wildtracks for manatee response, rescue and rehabilitation and yesterday that knowledge and those skills gained were applied.

(Statement from the Belize Fisheries Department)

Dangriga PC Under Investigation for Firing Shot at Officer’s Feet

Police in Dangriga are investigating one of their own. Police Constable Harry Bo is accused of firing a single shot near another officer’s feet. It happened on Wednesday night while PC Bo and other officers were in front of Wa-gusina Fast Food. While waiting for their food, PC Christian Koyoc praised PC Jerel Hendy for his performance.

PC Bo quickly interjected, saying, “I am the sickest. You no work with me yet. You need to work with me one of these days.” Wanting to prove that he is the “sickest”, PC Bo reportedly pulled out his service weapon and fired a single shot near PC Hendy’s feet.

PC Hendy reported the matter to higher-ups.

It is unclear if alcohol was involved. We are told that PC Bo refused to provide a urine sample.

A request for comment has been sent to the Belize Police Department.

G7 Leaders Agree to Lend Ukraine $50 Billion Using Frozen Russian Assets

On Thursday, G7 leaders reached an agreement to lend Ukraine $50 billion this year, backed by profits from frozen Russian assets, to support the country’s war efforts and rebuilding initiatives.

This plan, which has been in development for years, is a win for US President Joe Biden, who has been advocating for the deal amid some European countries’ hesitation. The agreement will be formalized in the summit’s concluding communique.

However, key details of the plan still need to be ironed out. While the US is prepared to offer a loan of up to $50 billion, the exact amount the US will lend remains uncertain. Other countries will contribute to share the risk.

Officials anticipate that while it will take time for the funds to be disbursed, the process will begin within this calendar year. The funds will be allocated for military, budget, humanitarian, and reconstruction support.

The loan can be considered “secured” due to the interest generated from the Russian assets. Although there are scenarios where the income stream “may not flow,” reparations could provide a solution.

If a peace settlement occurs, the assets could either remain immobilized, continuing to generate interest to repay the loans, or Russia could be held accountable for the damage caused.

Interview with Hafiz Muminjanov on FAO’s Coconut Initiative in Belize

The FAO’s One Country, One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative has launched its inception workshop to begin a project aimed at enhancing Belize’s coconut value chain. This global initiative will produce a comprehensive value chain analysis and a three-year development plan for Belize’s coconut sector.

The workshop included over 110 stakeholders, discussing project implementation and regional and national priorities for OCOP. To date, around USD 15 million has been mobilized to support 54 countries. In Belize, activities involve creating a national task force and a collaborative work plan with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise.

To get a better understanding of the project, News Five spoke with Hafiz Muminjanov, OCOP Global Coordinator, OCOP Secretariat, Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO.

1. What is the objective of the FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative?

FAO has developed the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative to build more sustainable food value chains of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs), which was globally launched on 7 September 2021. Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) are agricultural products with unique qualities and special characteristics associated with geographical locations, farming practices and cultural heritages. Compared to staple food crops, SAPs have not yet fully benefited from agricultural and rural development programmes.
The FAO OCOP initiative aims to enhance food security, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and income generation for rural populations through the sustainable development of SAP’s value chains, from sustainable production to storage, processing and marketing.
The initiative supports countries in the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. OCOP is not an initiative that promotes monocropping production systems but focuses on diversification, unlocking the untapped potential of agricultural products, and identifying and addressing gaps in the value chain.

2. How is the OCOP initiative funded, and what is its total budget?

The implementation of the OCOP initiative started with the formulation of the Global Action Plan and application guidance for the countries and the conducting of a series of training sessions.
The activities in the field began with the implementation of the global project funded by FAO Flexible Voluntary Contributions (FVC) in 2022, starting in five demonstration countries in five FAO regions – Bangladesh, Egypt, Malawi, Uzbekistan and Trinidad and Tobago. Further funding was received from various sources, including a trust fund project supported by JICA in Ghana, the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme, FVC, and allocations from the FAO Regular Programme. Regional and national projects funded by the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) have also supported the initiative.

As of 1 June 2024, about USD 18 million has been received to support the implementation of OCOP in 60 countries.

*National Coconut Stakeholders Seminar and Market Fair 2023*

3. Can you name the countries participating in the global project and their selected Special Agricultural Products (SAPs)?

To date, 85 Members from all five FAO Regions – Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East and North Africa – have expressed strong interest in promoting the sustainable development of the value chains of 54 Special Agricultural Products (SAPs), including 28 horticultural and 15 field crops, 6 livestock products and 5 forest products.
From the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 countries are promoting 12 SAPS. The countries and SAPs include:
- Bahamas: Poultry
- Belize: Coconut
- Bolivia: Quinoa
- Chile: Honey
- Colombia: Sugarcane
- Ecuador: Cocoa
- Guatemala: Coffee
- Jamaica: Ginger
- Mexico: Amaranth
- Nicaragua: Low-Carbon Livestock Production
- Panama: Coffee
- Peru: Potato
- Trinidad and Tobago: Cocoa
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Coffee

For more information, please visit the OCOP global website which is in all six official UN languages https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/about/special-agricultural-products-(saps)/en

4. How does the OCOP initiative contribute to the development of smallholders and family farms?

OCOP promotes diverse and integrated food systems, creating sustainable development and market opportunities for small-scale farmers. It places smallholders and family farms at the center of its efforts, using their unique strengths.
OCOP provides tailored support to countries to strengthen the value chain of their SAPs opening doors to regional and international markets.

5. What are the activities planned for Belize under the regional OCOP, and who are the key partners involved?

The promotion of OCOP in Belize will be supported in the framework of the new project funded by the FAO Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) mechanism.
The project with a total budget of USD 1 million will be implemented from 01 March 2024 to 31 December 2025. The project will cover 11 countries from all FAO regions located in the tropics, drylands, mountainous zones as well as the Small Island Developing States.
This global project aims to expand the implementation of the OCOP initiative on a global scale. .
In the project framework, Belize will promote coconut as the SAP. The key activities in Belize include establishing OCOP technical networks, capacity development of farmers and stakeholders, conducting the value chain analysis and upgrading national strategy on coconut sector. The project will also establish the mechanism for coordination and communication – such as national task force and will raise awareness among a wide range of stakeholders.
The OCOP global partners include UNIDO, UNODC, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, etc.
The key National Taskforce Partners in Belize is likely to include the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), University of Belize (UB), International Trade Center (ITC), Financial Institutions, Processors, Exporters, Cooperatives/Associations.

6. What were some of the highlights discussed during the inception workshop held on April 3, 2024?

OCOP is inherently country-owned and country-led, tailoring strategies to each country’s specific needs, priorities, and comparative advantages.
Customizing approaches to fit unique contexts is paramount for effective implementation, focusing on establishing technical networks, enabling environments, and coordination mechanisms.
Project countries show great potential to promote the synergies between OCOP and other initiatives, programmes and projects at FAO and beyond.

Notably, six project countries are engaged in the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative and five in the Digital Village Initiative.

7. How many participants attended the inception workshop, and what was its main purpose?

Over 110 participants attended the virtual inception workshop of the project, where the project objectives and implementation modalities were discussed, challenges shared and priorities for the OCOP initiative at regional and national levels defined. The overall objective of the project is to improve food security, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and income for rural populations through the sustainable development of special agricultural product value chains.

8. Can you list some of the challenges and priorities discussed during the workshop regarding the implementation of the OCOP initiative?

This included strengthening financial, technical, and human resources at the global, regional, and country levels; engaging a wide range of stakeholders to support activities at the country and field levels; and monitoring and facilitating OCOP projects.

Mexico and Belize Collaborate to Enhance Sanitary Protocols for Certified Cattle Importation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is aiding Central American nations by sharing advanced techniques and technologies to bolster their agricultural, livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries sectors.

To facilitate the safe importation of cattle from Belize to Mexico for immediate slaughter and terminal fattening, thereby strengthening the domestic industry’s raw material supply, the agriculture ministries of both countries are developing a sanitary control mechanism. This mechanism aims to ensure the cattle are free from pests and diseases of quarantine significance.

Currently, Mexico imports around five thousand certified cattle annually from Orange Walk County, Belize, under an existing import protocol validated by the Central American health authority.

The updated protocol seeks to include more certified producers from Belize. These producers must demonstrate through clinical tests that their cattle are free from bovine tuberculosis (Tb), brucellosis (Br), and ticks and pass a sanitary inspection conducted by Mexican veterinarians.

In a meeting with Belize’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, José Abelardo Mai, and the Belizean ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Lorenzo Arnold, Javier Calderón Elizalde, head director of the National Agro-alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality Service, highlighted the shared cultural ties, friendship, and sanitary challenges between the two nations, noting that pests do not respect borders.

Elizalde emphasised that Senasica’s mission is to protect agri-food production and facilitate the trade of healthy and safe products for national supply, building bridges rather than closing borders.

Agriculture supports small and medium-scale producers in Central America by sharing techniques and technologies that enhance their agricultural, livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries development.

The meeting also addressed the cattle screwworm threat in Panama and Costa Rica, which poses a risk to regional livestock. Health authorities are urged to collaborate and allocate resources to prevent the insect’s northward spread. Mexico has proposed a pest eradication plan to the International Regional Organisation for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) to halt its advance before it reaches Nicaragua.

The General Coordination of International Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed the priority of its relationship with Belize, committing ongoing support from the ministry’s technical and scientific institutions to their Central American counterparts.

Minister José Abelardo Mai highlighted that Belize, with over 5,400 livestock producers, primarily small-scale, sees livestock exports as a key opportunity for community development. He noted improvements in Belize’s livestock sector through the acquisition of Mexican stallions, better grass varieties, and infrastructure investments.

Mai also acknowledged the significant contributions of the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) in boosting the production of soybeans, soursop, coconut, and pitahaya in Belize.

On the topic of cattle screwworm, Mai, a veteran of eradication efforts 30 years ago, announced plans for an awareness campaign and a fund to support regional health initiatives.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Senasica’s general director of Animal Health, Juan Gay Gutiérrez, and of Plant and Animal Health Inspection, Jorge Luis Leyva Vázquez, as well as Belizean representatives such as the director of the Citrus Revitalization and Diversification Programme, Hugh O’Brien, the general director of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Zoe Zetina, and BAHA’s director of Animal Health, Roxanna Álvarez.

“Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!”

This year’s World Day will focus on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999, No. 182). It also presents an opportunity to remind all stakeholders to improve their implementation of the two fundamental Conventions on child labour – Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment or Work (1973).

Although significant strides have been taken in reducing child labour over time, recent years have seen global trends reverse, underscoring the pressing need to unite efforts in expediting actions to eradicate child labour in all its manifestations.

With the adoption of Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7, the international community made a commitment to the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025.

Now is the time to make the elimination of child labour a reality!

This World Day Against Child Labour, June 12, 2024, we are calling for:

The effective implementation of the ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour;
Reinvigorated national, regional and international action to end child labour in all of its forms, including worst forms, through adopting national policies and addressing root causes as called upon in the 2022 Durban Call to Action;
Universal ratification and effective implementation of ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age, which, together with the universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved in 2020, would provide all children with legal protection against all forms of child labour.

In his message on World Day Against Child Labour, Labour Minister Oscar Requena said, “Our children deserve a childhood free from exploration with access to education and opportunities to realize their full potential. it is our duty as a nation to protect and provide the necessary support to achieve these fundamental rights.”

Full video message can be viewed here:

A report from the U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs says, “In 2022, Belize made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government approved the National Child Labor Policy and Strategy 2022–2025, which aims to eliminate the worst forms of child labor by 2025 and prioritizes addressing legislative and information gaps, increasing child labor law compliance, and reducing barriers to education. The Ministry of Human Development also introduced new standard operating procedures on human trafficking and trained 85 percent of social workers, 80 percent of labor officers, and 78 percent of immigration officers on using the procedures to refer victims to care. However, children in Belize are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in dangerous tasks in agriculture and construction. Belize does not meet the international standard for prohibitions of hazardous work because children over age 14 are permitted to work in dangerous activities like mining and construction. In addition, Belize has not adequately prohibited the use of children in illicit activities, including the production and trafficking of drugs.”

U.S. Government Donates Essential Equipment to Support Belize Military Operations

On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Belize handed over essential equipment to the Government of Belize as part of its commitment to enhancing security cooperation throughout the region.

This donation includes IT equipment, vehicle maintenance equipment, boat engines, and a bomb disposal suit, benefiting the Belize Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JOIC), Belize Coast Guard, and Belize Defence Force. It is valued at US $616,000.

It is expected that the equipment will help address transnational criminal threats, enhance border security, and promote national security. The support aims to bolster Belize’s joint intelligence, interagency collaboration, and intelligence-driven operations, thereby enhancing maritime interdiction capabilities and the safety of Explosive Ordnance Detachment technicians.

*US Ambassador to Belize, Michelle Kwan*

In her keynote address, Ambassador Michelle Kwan praised the success of Belize’s joint law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational criminal threats through collaborative operations coordinated by the JIOC. She emphasised the importance of a coordinated, multi-agency approach, highlighting the involvement of various U.S. government agencies in the donation event.

JIOC Director Freddie Ku remarked, “The JIOC is a testament that when we pool resources and expertise through joint efforts, a whole lot more can be achieved.”

*U.S. Government Donates Essential Equipment to Support Belize Military Operations*

Cabinet Outrage at Incident at San Ignacio Community Hospital

The entire Cabinet shares the outrage of the Belizean people at the incident which occurred at the San Ignacio Community Hospital on June 1. Cabinet is grateful that medical practitioners, staff and patients were not harmed by those criminal elements who stormed the facility. Decisive action has been taken.

Instructions have been issued, firstly, for the escalation of the operation to round up not only those persons who participated in the attack on our medical facility and staff, but ALL gang elements operating in San Ignacio and Santa Elena.

Secondly, Cabinet has offered its full support to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Belize Police Department as they launch an intensive operation to address the security concerns of businesses in Santa Elena and San Ignacio. Instructions have been given for an internal assessment of the Police Command and structure in that jurisdiction, with a view to making any changes necessary.

Finally, Cabinet has directed that teams from the Ministry of Health & Wellness, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, conduct an immediate assessment of security protocols at the San Ignacio Community Hospital and all public health facilities. The safety of medical practitioners, staff and patients MUST be always assured.

(Press release)