Rolling Outages Continue To Grip Belize From Afternoon To Night

Tonight, the power crisis continues to grip the country - and today laid shedding across various communities started from 3:00 pm.
At this hour, power supply remains unstable andâ€¦.really, blackout could befall us at any minute.
The latest update shows that at 6:00 pm outages are scheduled for Orange Walk, Corozal, Lake Independence, San Ignacio and Dangriga.
This is the 6:00 pan update, and we expect another coming on to 9:00 pm.
BEL continues to not have enough power generation capacity in country - and Mexico's CFE is able to provide. Them power at this time due to demand son their side.
The Westlake generator which is the key missing piece of generation was slashed to be finished with repairs on Monday but it remains out of commission at this time.

Earlier today,, BEL's CEO said. It could be back by tonight - but we wouldn't bet on it.

PM Says Energy Crisis Borne Out Of Belize's Success

And the Prime Minister was just in Mexico - but did he bring back any power supply agreement from CFE?
He was in the Corozal district this afternoon when we got him to speak generally about the power outages. Using turbine grade power in his political spin machine, the PM chalked it up to Belize being a victim of its own success - with industries like tourism and agriculture booming.
But he reiterated what BEL CEO John Mencias said - this problem started ten years ago - and as you know, during that time, the UDP was in government.

So Briceno used the opportunity to point the finger at them, and to explain what his government has been trying to do to rectify the problem:

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I went on a private visit to Mexico, but whilst when I was on my way, I figured, maybe I tried to get a hold of him to the president. We got along very well, and hoping to see if he can help us to stop the load shedding in Belize."

"But I think that Mr. Mencias rightly pointed out, this is something that was, the seed was planted 10 years ago, and the previous government did nothing. We have been doing something. We have managed to convince the Saudis to lend us $72 million to do a 60-megawatt solar plant."

"But this is not something that, okay, here's $72 million, nobody gives that U.S. There's a whole process we have to do. It's a huge bureaucracy that the Saudis have. And so we have been working with them and one of the Saudi companies that will be able to come in to build the first 20 megawatt. Mr. Mencias, explained to us, he said, listen, the grid as it is can't hold a 60 -megawatt plant all in one spot. So we need to break it up in three, three 20-megawatt plants. So the first one is going to be built by Bomba."

"And from what the reports I got, we expect that that's supposed to be commissioned by July, August of next year. We have been working with the World Bank. We are borrowing about $100 million to be able to set up a battery bank."

"And what's a battery bank? Well, what is it? Is that with this battery bank that there are certain times when CFE's energy goes to two, three cents a kilowatt, like around two o 'clock, three o 'clock, four o 'clock in the morning when there's not hardly any use for this energy."

"So we could buy two or three cents, store it in these battery banks, and then put it on into the grid or sell it onto the grid with our hopes to be able to, if not maintain the price, at least to maintain the price or hopefully with time to be able to reduce the price. So a lot of work has been coming along. We just set up the RFP process. The RFP process is the RFP procurement process now. With that now in place, it has been accepted by the PUC, by BEL, and also by the MCC, the Millennium Challenge Corporation."

"The Millennium Challenge Corporation, remember they're giving us a grant of $125 million. And of that, 20% of that $125 million will be invested in energy, in improving the technology, improving the grid."

"And a part of that is we're going to use a part of that money to help us to finance the battery storage bank that we're working on. Now that RFP process has been approved by the cabinet. Now that that is in place, anybody that has a good business plan. that can show that they have access to the technology and that can show access to the funding. They can come in and put their bid to be able to produce energy for the plant."

But he says that the Mexican president has agreed to help us by setting up a meeting in Cancun with the head of CFE.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"The president, what I can say at this moment is that we had a successful meeting and we had about a two -hour meeting and what he is doing now for Belize is that he will be in Cancun on Saturday and the head of the CFE will be in Cancun because every two weeks he comes to the president to take a first look at the work with the Tren Maya and so he will be here on Friday and Saturday, five o 'clock he will be arriving in Cancun and having a meeting with all the key technical people."

"He will be arranging a meeting with me and I have already invited BEL to join me to meet with the people from CFE to see what we can do to be able to cut out the roll out of the black outs."

Reporter
"In your view, has BEL failed in its duties to provide sufficient power to Belizean people?"

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Not necessarily and I say this because BEL's mandate is transmission and distribution and I know that in many instances BEL was trying to also do energy to produce energy but that's not their mandate. What has failed is the process previously in the previous government with the PUC and I know the PUC and the BEL have always been having this struggle and my message to both of them has been, listen we have to stop this foolishness and we need to be able to work together and I believe that we are seeing that now the PUC, BEL and the Ministry of Energy all have to be able to work together so on Saturday after the funeral for the late Honorable Michael Espat then I'll have to be able to fly to Cancun to be able to meet with AMLO and his officials from CFE to see how they can be able to stop the roll outs or the black outs in Belize."

"As the CEO of BEL has explained, we have two engines that are going to be commissioned, one supposed to be this week, which is about 30 megawatts, and once we do that then we could be able to hold our own. Fortunately we had already bought a 21 megawatts that is already stationed in San Pedro that should be commissioned by the end of the month."

"Once we have that, that will give us a capacity of about 51 megawatts of electricity. It means then that if CFE would need to cut Belize, these generators could take over without anybody losing electricity. And then once CFE then can provide back again to us and we shut down these engines and get from Mexico."

And if you're wondering whether the PM is affected, he reassured the public that he also experiences the blackouts, since, like most, he doesn't have a generator.

Gegg Appears Before SSSC: Welcome To The Portico Podcast

We'll have more from the Prime Minister later on in the news - but first we go to Belmopan, where the Senate Special Select committee convened today.
While the past few meetings have been disappointments and deferrals - today was a bombshell session.

That's because Portico Developer David Gegg took the stand - and did not plead the fifth. He says he was ready to talk about everything and that included the request for a multi million dollar political donation to get his Portico EIa approved under the UDP. Jules Vasquez reports:

David Gegg sat in the witness chair today and cooly crossed his legs like he was hosting a Portico podcast. He used the platform to play his favorite role - that of Portico pitchman, but he also used it to drop a bomb on the former UDP administration. He says NEAC at first approved and then disapproved the Portico EIA in August of 2020 - and the cost to change the light from yellow to green? Anywhere between 1 and 9 million dollars:

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Around the middle of September, after the August 28 NEAC meeting, which supposedly approved our environmental clearance, I received a message and I interpreted that message as saying to me that the environmental documentation approved on August 28 would not be concluded in the absence of a significant campaign contribution."

Senator Bevinton Cal
"That was mid -September of 2020?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Right."

Senator Bevinton Cal
"By whom?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"I can't say."

Senator Bevinton Cal
"What was the amount asked for?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Seven figures."

Senator Bevinton Cal
"If you would have paid the, you call it the seven figures, do you think you would have gotten an environmental clearance before the general election?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Well, I understood it to be a quid pro quo. After that, there was another meeting of the NEAC called on October 15. My analysis, by then they knew nothing was in the pipeline, and they were hoping for something smaller."

"And they didn't get that either. And the fact that that administration did not conclude our environmental clearance should put that issue to rest. We did not pay anything to anybody."

PUP Senator Bevinton Cal probed that some more:

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Dr. Omar Figueroa."

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Yes, Dr. Figueroa, yeah."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Was he part of any of the meetings you attended?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"No."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Did you get in contact with Mr. Figueroa at any time?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"There were some communications with his office."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Anything directly from him?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"You know, years ago, before he became a minister, I helped Mr. Figueroa launch his Jaguar studies in the Gracie Rock area. And we worked closely with him to carry out those studies."

"When I launched this project, I went to see him, and I thought that he would be very helpful and cooperative. And he was initially, but only initially."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Dr. Omar Figueroa. Did you approach him or him approaching you to expediate any of these processes that you would need to get that environment that clearance?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"No, Senator. I dealt directly with people at the Department of the Environment. There may have been a couple of meetings where his CEO may have been present, but after an initial meeting that I had with Dr. Figueroa, probably, I don't know, maybe 2018, I did not see him again after that."

Gegg also made sure to stress the role of Mike Peyrefitte's law firm:

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Who would have drafted the definitive agreement?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Would have gotten it?"

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"No, drafted."

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"Morales Peyrefitte law firm, and it was done, I must admit, in conjunction with lawyers from Boskalis in the Netherlands, but the primary drafting agency was Morales Peyrefitte."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"And was the AG Ministry ever consulted or involved in the drafting of the definitive agreement?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"I heard it said that he was, but I don't have first -hand experience of that."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"Sorry?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"I heard it said that he was, but I don't have first -hand knowledge of that."

Bevinton Cal, PUP Senator
"So you cannot confirm if the former AG Peyrefitte would have?"

David Gegg, Portico Developer
"No, I cannot confirm that."

Gegg wrapped up his testimony today still talking, still pitching for Portico and saying he's ready to come back.

We did reach out to former UDP Minister with responsibility for the Department of the Environment Omar Figueroa and he expressed shock and dismay at Gegg's statement. He told us, quote, "I never asked David Gegg for anything - my knowledge of that project was that it was far from getting any kind of clearance." In reference to the request for a campaign contribution, He added, quote "I don't know who David Gegg is talking about - he should say the name of whoever the request came from. He called his allegation cowardly.

SSSC Chair Laid Down The Law

And while Gegg almost had to be ripped from in front of the microphone, Chairman of the Committee Janelle Chanona opened the day by making it clear that the Special Select Committee can impose serious sanctions:

Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"Your committee will not shy away from using its powers under the law to ensure that those witnesses whom the committee has determined can share pertinent information appear before the committee. I want to highlight that those powers, as they exist now, are quite draconian and we do not use that word lightly."

"It is quite draconian and we really and truly do not want to have to resort to such mechanisms even though we are reminded that those draconian powers are being applied to Belizeans today by the courts."

"We really do not want to use those draconian measures until absolutely we have no choice and it is a measure of last resort."

And while the Committee has been talking verbal abuse from politicians and personalities with allegations about bias, she also said that has to stop

Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"Take this opportunity on behalf of the committee to highlight to any witnesses, anyone in writing or verbal that would seek to defame, slander, or libel any member of this committee. The committee will not be bullied or intimidated into not using its powers to ensure that that does not happen and that if it does happen that we will take every action empowered under the law to defend itself against any such accusations."

Chanona also asserted the Chair's authority when she shut down the attorney for today's other witness, Sanjay Hothandani. Yohanseh Cave appeared for him but Chanona would not let him get a word in edgewise:

Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"No, just Mr. Hothandani. That has been the protocol we established, so we cannot give you privileges that we have not afforded others, so that... Sorry, Mr. Cave."

Yohanseh Cave, Attorney
"As it pleases you, Madam Chief."

Janelle Chanona, Chair
"It does not please me, sir."

"Please, I have just outlined that we have asked Mr. Hothandani to be here. We will be getting responses from Mr. Hothandani. You are here to consult him."

Yohanseh Cave, Attorney
"I was just making the point, Madam Chairperson...."

Janelle Chanona, Chair
"Sorry, Mr. Cave. Would you like a suspension so that the clerk and the committee can explain to you that only Mr. Hothandani will be answered?"

Yohanseh Cave, Attorney
"Not at all. I am simply making the point to you."

Janelle Chanona, Chair
"Sorry. Can you please take off your microphone, please, sir? Because I don't know where the lack of clarity is. Only Mr. Hothandani is invited. You are here to consult and to be available to Mr. Hothandani. Mr. Hothandani, is that clear to you? I will not be addressing your attorney further. I am addressing you."

Lucky Land Owner Sanjay Appeared With Attorney

The say started with Hotchandani. He is the landowner who on November fourth scored with the approval of some major land purchases for properties later bought up by Portico.

He opened up with a statement saying he was just acting as a private businessman:

Sanjay Hothandani, Director of Companies
"I'm not a beneficial owner or director of Portico Enterprise Limited, which is now public knowledge, is a party to the definitive agreement. I was not involved in the formulation, negotiation, or drafting of the definitive agreement, nor am I able to assist this committee with any information as to how the definitive agreement was formulated, negotiated, or drafted."

"As such, my testimony on those matters are unnecessary in addition to being outside of the range of the matters this committee has empowered to investigate."

PM's Impromptu Meeting With Mexican President

Earlier in the newscast we told you that the PM has just arrived back in Belize from his trip to Mexico City. While he was there, he had sort of an impromptu meeting with the Mexican president. He explained that he decided to call him, and once the president realized he was in the city, quickly arranged for them to meet to discuss several issues.

Aside from the energy crisis, they also spoke about the narco situation in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. He warned the president that if they didn't act now, Belize would see detrimental effects in the next decade.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I did not expected to have a meeting with the President. I was trying to get a phone call, just to talk to him about energy, about the crisis that we're facing at the moment. And when he heard that I was in Mexico City, he immediately said, you know, I want to meet with him in person."

"And the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned to our Ambassador they have never managed to be able to have to receive a head of state in such a short time. This was done in about three or four days, just over the weekend, and decided that he's going for us to be able to meet."

"We spoke about many issues, but certainly the issue of the threats from the cartel in Mexico is nothing new for us. We have been dealing with this. When I met Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Homeland, Mallorca, the deputy head of the CIA, and all of the officials in the American government, my message has been to them that we need help now."

"That if we do not get help now, 10 years from now, we can have a totally different Belize. We have to do everything possible to keep out the organized crime from Mexico, as we refer to them as the cartels."

"We do not have the money. We do not have the ruthlessness that they have. So they're working on it. What is so ironic to me is that the leader of the opposition was there to criticize the government. I remember last year, I think it was in August when we did a supplementary budget for about a million dollars to help us boost our presence here in the North."

"He was one of them who was criticizing us that here we're coming voting for more money. I know he's saying that we're not spending enough. So I think he needs to get his act together. The point is that we have been fighting this from day one. And we're working on plans. But this is not something that you could invite the NGO community and you invite the media to say, hey, this is what we're doing. This is national security."

"We can't be able to discuss these things openly. With Mexico, what we did is that we have this....., I think it's where the security apparatus of Mexico and from Belize now have met. We restarted that collaboration between the two countries."

"And so since last year, we're meeting and we've been working together. We've been doing patrols together. We've been sharing information. So I don't think we need to get too excited, concerned? Of course we have to be concerned."

"But when I spoke to the President, he said what he has done, he has immediately sent in help from the Federal police that have come in and that have already been settled down, and he expect to be able to keep pressing on them to ensure that Chetumal can once again be looked at as a peaceful city."

The PM also assured President Lopez Obrador that the Cabinet has decided to make travel to Belize easier for Mexicans.

PM Says No Need To Disclose Private Trip

And as he explained, the trip to Mexico City was a private one, which he says is why he didn't make a public announcement, as he usually does.
But still, he's the prime minister, and the norm is that even when a Prime Minister is on personal leave it is announced because an acting Prime Minister is appointed.

He didn't see it that way and said that he didn't understand why our news director was making such a "big deal" about it.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I think it was a private trip. My wife had medical attention, so I went there. It was not a trip that I was going to go and meet the President. I had a suit, simply because I was to go to Dallas for a meeting with the MCC."

"They invited me for a meeting on Monday night, but to me, it was more important to meet the President because of the challenges we are facing with electricity and also of the products that we want to sell in to open up new markets for Belizean products into Mexico, including sugar."

"To me, I think that the precedent. So it was a private trip with my wife. And Jules Vasquez knew it, so I don't know why he's making a big deal about it."

PM Says Shyne Is Reckless

And you heard the PM take a jab at the leader of the opposition regarding his comment about Belize being a "narco-state." Briceno doubled down, saying that the comments were reckless and that he should not be speaking about Belize in that manner.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think it is quite reckless of the leader of the opposition because he needs to remember that all of us lives in this country and when you speak like that then you can hurt us internationally. We know it is not true but he is trying to get attention and is trying to get some kind of pity I don't know why he believes that people would want to support him for something like that but he knows we are nowhere close to that. I think it's unfortunate and reckless on his part and I hope that people would call him out for being so reckless when it comes to Belize we could fight on many issues but when it comes to the country Belize country we must always speak in one voice."

PM Fine With ComPol In Cabinet

And we also asked PM Briceno his thoughts on the Commissioner of Police's political interest in the Mesopotamia constituency. He said that Williams has not brought it up to him, but he's welcome to apply, just like any other Belizean. And he also suggested that Jules Vasquez's name should also be on a ballot come 2025.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I don't know why you are making a big deal about it he has not spoken with me about that but like any Belizean like yourself if you want to put your name you can. Jules Vasquez has all the answers to all the problems he should put his name on the ballot you know I mean everyone should have the right to put their name as long as they can be productive legislators and politicians that want to be able to address the problems we are facing in this country."

Reporter
"How would you feel about a man like the commissioner being a part of the party?"

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I think that he has a lot of competency. He has shown that he is about public service. He has been a police officer for several decades and highly qualified."

"I think he is liked and respected by most everyone, except the leader of the opposition. I wonder why."

Remate Receives Makeover

We caught the prime minister at the Remate Bypass inauguration ceremony today, which was a 7 minister event, that needed all 7 of them to cut the ribbon across the Philip Goldson Highway marking the end of a 3 year long project. It's a 93.6 million dollar project that began back in May of 2021 and runs from Mile 24 of the northern highway all the way to the Belizean Mexican border.

Minister of infrastructure Julius Espat told us it's a project close to his heart, as a minister of a rural area. The PM says that it will create a world of new opportunities for trade and export for them.

John Briceno, Prime Minister of Belize
"I think that for those that live here in the north whenever we think about the, we use to refer to it as the remate road but also the Corozal bypass during the dry season during the dust or during the rainy season about mid so many times we try to avoid using this road but my point is that this is plan Belize at worn that the foundation of plan Belize is about people and how it is that we are going to make the lives or people better and in doing the remate road and upgrading the Phillip Goldson highway it's all about the 3 million dollars that has been invested of which we are grateful to the United Kingdom who donated approximately around 37 million dollars as a grant and working with the CDB. And what is important to point out is that when would you hear that the ministry of infrastructure and development or as many people knew as works would be building something for what was less than what was budgeted and that's exactly what MIDH has done. That they had considerable savings that was used to continue to be able to work in other areas."

Julius Espat, Minister of infrastructure and development
"Who will use the road all Belizeans but in general most of the cane farmers and the villagers that support the can farming industry that is a critical component economically for Belize and as the minister had mentioned, cutting down the cost of transportation for them will only yield more profits for them in the industry which I think is very good but it helps the villagers. And why rural? Rural communities have not received any attention for the past 20 years when it comes to infrastructure and they are as equal as us and any Belizean and they deserve it so we have embarked on spending a large portion of our Budget in the rural communities."

Julius Concedes To Emotional Outburst Against Ozzy

And keeping the attention on Julius Espat, the Pm had recently spoken to us about the comments he made about his cousin and colleague Mike Espat's passing. He claimed that Espat died with a broken heart after CEO for economic development Osmond Martinez had declared candidacy for Toledo East. The PM says that Julius was being emotional, and when we asked him about it today he agreed.

Reporter
"What is your response to the remarks you made regarding Minister Mike Espat? The PM said that you were being emotional, were you?"

Julius Espat, Minister of infrastructure and Development
"Yes, I am a human being. I speak from the heart. I use that as a badge of honor. A large portion of the success that I have experienced in life is because of that. Being truthful can be interpreted as being emotional. I would like to interpret it as being passionate, but if emotional is an analogy that I want to use, I'm comfortable with it."

MIDH Minister Said Belcan Bridge Is Urgent, MOF Seems Unconvinced

And to pick up with the infrastructure conversation from the last segment, we turn to the Belcan Bridge. The last time we spoke to the MIDH minister, speaking about the urgent condition of the bridge, he said, quote "If somebody gets hurt, it's going to be a problem."

And a problem it is indeed to gather the funds to repair it. Today we asked him again for an update as to how far along they are in the bidding process to begin repairs, here's what he told us.

Julius Espat, Minister of infrastructure and Development
"I have no clue as to what is in their plans when it pertains to giving us the budget. We have done our job. Our job is to analyze the structures, to alert them as to the emergent need of replacing it."

"We have done the feasibility study, we have done the design, we have secured the loan. It's up to the Ministry of Finance to make the final decision and I have no real input in that."

Reporter
"This can't be news to you. I'm sure you will get updates and information as time passes."

Julius Espat
"That's gossip. I don't deal with gossip. I deal with what decisions are made in Cabinet."

Reporter
"So you are basically still waiting for a response after doing the study?"

Julius Espat
"From day one we are waiting for a response. But it's not our decision. Remember, we are service providers and if the allocation is given to us, the work will start immediately. If they believe that there are other priorities, then I have to respect that."

The Belcan Bridge opened in 1969.

New Station For Rangers At Reserve

And switching now to other newsâ€¦.imagine being in the middle of the forest, with zero cell phone service, surrounded by wild animals, and all you have for protection is a small hut with a thatched roof.
That's basically what the rangers at Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in Cayo had to deal with. But today, their brand new ranger station was inaugurated and we can tell you, it's a huge upgrade.

Courtney Menzies was at the ceremony today in western Belize, and has this story.

The Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve is Belize's first nature reserve, and with over 6,000 acres, it protects a thousand species of plants, 55 mammal species, and over 340 bird species - and including some endangered and vulnerable animals.

And the rangers who look after this reserve have an extremely important task, which they've been carrying out while residing in less than ideal conditions. But now, they have a brand new ranger station, - the Jaguar Station - and according to the Belize Karst Habitat Conservation, it's not any ordination station.

Aaron Juan, BKHC Executive Director
"For the ranger team and the researchers, this building means a lot, it's safety, it's comfort and when we decided to go with this style of structure, we had to do so some talking, some discussion, some convincing because why aren't we getting sort of the norm so to speak whereby most small ranger stations are wooden structures, usually we have just the Mennonite houses, it would have been much quicker and much cheaper. We were working within a budget of 100,000 Belize dollars and as we quickly found out, there's no way we could have completed this concrete structure with 100,000 Belize dollars but we pushed on."

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"They have done a job that is commendable, the work that we see here now, the construction of the ranger station is certainly important because you can't have rangers in an accommodation where they were for too long so this is definitely a big improvement."

And Minister Habet emphasized the importance of the location of this reserve.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"We have a lot of things here to protect, you have a very important eco-system, an area of very large biodiversity for wildlife but important also as we mentioned, the issue of water. on one side you have the Barton Creek, on the other side we have the Roaring Creek and they have also commenced doing some work in water testing for water quality because you have communities that are close by, the buffer communities that you don't know what going into the streams and rivers. Also we have to look even further up in the Mountain Pine Ridge where the Roaring River originates, we have to look at those headwaters because now it's not a matter of quality, it's quantity, how much water is coming out because there's some development in that area."

"Certainly very important for conservation and also because you have these buffering communities around this area and as I mentioned in my talk we have to look out for the livelihood of the people and if they are not comfortable, they don't have a source of income, then they will come into the reserve to find something to do."

And while the project itself amounted to $450,000, about a quarter of that was funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program. The National Coordinator explained why they decided to collaborate with KARST.

Leonel Requena, National Coordinator, GEF/SGP
"They're doing amazing work to protect nature and when we protect nature and invest in people we will always have positive returns and we need to invest in safeguarding the wealth untold that we have here and we need to also replicate and upscale this model in other communities and in other protected areas so on behalf of the GEF Small Grants Program, we congratulate the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the National Biodiversity Office and Belize KARST Conservation for doing an amazing work here, protecting nature and investing in conservation efforts here."

And while the reserve is named after the national animal, the station got its name because of the jaguars and pumas that have been seen lurking around the area.

Minister Says PACT Must Move Forward

Keeping it on environmental news, the government has proposed amending the National Protected Areas Legislation and PACT legislation and a large section of the environmental NGO community isn't happy about it.
According to reports, they've been selective on who was consulted.

Sources tell us that only those who have signed co-management agreements were invited, so community-based organizations and those who manage private protected areas weren't there. And many NGOs aren't happy with the direction the changes are going. Today we asked the Minister of Sustainable Development about it.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"PACT has traditionally done a lot of work in grants but you can't continue with only grants, there has to be an investment strategy so that PACT came move forward but also so that you can have the membership and the stakeholders who get these funding to be able to do something with the grant but also when it's from outside because basically what PACT does, the funding that they give is not enough for doing the work that the conservation groups do so it certainly assists in leveraging so that you can get monies from private sector and organizations whether local or foreign and so there's a consultation investment strategy within PACT now, I think it's CIS2 where you have a portion of grants but you also have some investments, some monies that go towards payments possibly for rangers and other equipment like fire equipment and everything else so they might not be comfortable with the percentage of grants versus the investment on the other side and so that is something we have to work out with them."

Courtney Menzies:
"Will funding for APAMO be discontinued?"

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"No, we haven't spoken about discontinuing funding for APAMO. I think they had requested some additional funding which the board has to look at it to see if its within the reach of PACT to assist with additional funding but in the ten years as I recall, APAMO as an umbrella organization has received about 10.5% of the total funding in the last ten years and as a group, all the membership has received close to 70% of the total investment monies from PACT so they have gotten quite a bit."

Major Mangrove Destruction But Minister Missed The Mail

And over in San Pedro, the residents of the San Pablo area have written to the Minister to ask for the ministry to intervene in what they call out-of-control landfilling and mangrove destruction. The residents of the area have signed a petition, which they sent to Habet via email weeks ago.
Today, Habet said he hadn't seen it yet, but explained that the Departments of Forestry and Environment would have to take a look.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"I think we have to get the Forest Department to go and look at it because the Forest Department is in charge of mangroves, from that standpoint, but also the Department of Environment to see what kind of effect it will have, negative effect of course, on the entire eco-system. We know that it is very challenging, especially in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, along the entire coast because mangroves are so absolutely important for us in terms of storm protection, the biodiversity, especially in the coast area, but also we have the challenge with people who want to do development, whether it's for business as a tourism area or also for housing development which is also a challenge for the government. So it is looking at it to see if there's a way to do it sustainably. If it is not, then more than likely the Department of Environment will put a stop order until things are done legally and put in place."

Colombia Forest Conundrum Continues To Confound Authorities

And in the Colombia Forest Reserve, we've told you about the wooden bridges built by Guatemalan loggers and destroyed by the BDF.

But, reports tell us that as they destroy, the Guatemalans build them back. The Brigadier General explained that because of the vastness of the forest, they aren't able to properly manage it, and requested the assistance of an NGO, in the same way FCD co-manages the Chiquibul. Today the media asked Minister Habet for his thoughts.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"I mentioned just now in my speech that we want to see how we can encourage other community based organizations to be able to manage some of these areas and one of them that I have had specifically in mind for the past few years was the Colombia Reserve. I see it where we can get a group of people to be able to form a CBU, be trained by PACT and by the National Biodiversity Office to be able to do the management. I understand that a lot of BDF soldiers who retire and they really retire young, come from those communities, and so they will be able to do the work for the rangers, the patrols, and then have a group that is trained to do the management and the problem is being exacerbated because we don't have the man power as you mentioned and I think it's mostly Guatemalan incursions coming into Colombia, taking down the trees, and taking out the logwood."

Reports tell us the logging operations are within earshot of the BDF post in the Columbia Forest Reserve.

A New Way At Looking At Blue Economy Resources

Today a Multi-Stakeholder Marine Spatial Planning Workshop was held at the Biltmore in Belize City.
It is a combined effort between multiple stakeholders and NGO's meant to support the development of the Blue economy.
They discussed long and short term goals towards increasing Marine resources protection.
Here are the highlights from today.

Community Police Brings PEACE To Schools

And, in lighter news...
Yesterday at the Bliss, school children gathered along with members of the community policing unit in celebration of the completion of a life changing programming. We learned more about how a. Program named P-E-A-C-E was used to bring peace to these students in their daily lives. Jomarie Lanza reports.

Is Tren Maya Coming To Belize?

And back to the Prime Minister...
While the PM was in Mexico City meeting with President Obrador, he got an update on their latest project: Tren Maya. Will the train also be traveling through Belize? Here's what the PM said.

Fending Off Narcos In The North Is A Multi Agency Mission

And even if the Tree doesn't come, as the Compol said, narco operatives from Mexico are already here.

It is a matter of national security, one in which all forces are involved now including the Ministry of Defence. Today the Minister, Florencio Marin shared with us how he has collaborated with the security forces to monitor the current narco concerns along the northern border:

Corozal Bay Coming Down Like Dogs Of War

And while the narcos are causing tension in the north, in Corozal Bay tensions are also high as we inch our way closer to the upcoming general elections. It

The current PUP area representative, Elvia Vega Samos is facing a challenge form Thea Garcia Ramirez - the daughter of the PM's CEO, Narda Garcia.

Thea Garcia has activated her machinery and has begun her campaign trail towards candidacy. We asked the Minister Florencio Marin who is a part of the Northern Caucus for a comment today on the feuding between his colleagues to which he says it's politics and things will become intense.