Community and Society
SAGA to Host Largest Free Spay and Neuter Clinic of the Year
SAGA Humane Society will host its largest free spay and neuter clinic of the year from July 22nd to 27th at the SAGA Shelter and Clinic in San Pedro. The weeklong event will offer free spay and neuter surgeries and vaccinations. Pets receiving surgery will also qualify for additional free post-operative services provided by San Pedro Pet Outreach, including nail trims, ear cleaning, flea and tick prevention, microchipping, engraved ID tags, and collars.
Community and Society
San Pedro Lobster Fest Block Party Draws Large Crowd for an Evening of Food and Entertainment
The 2026 San Pedro Lobster Festival concluded with its annual Block Party on Saturday, July 11th, at the Hon. Louis Sylvestre Sports Complex, also known as Saca Chispas Field. The celebration capped off more than a week of activities, including the popular Lobster Crawl, which invited residents and visitors to sample specialty lobster dishes and drinks at participating restaurants islandwide.
Community and Society
NEMO Reviews Hurricane Readiness with San Pedro and Caye Caulker EOCs
To strengthen preparedness for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) met with members of the Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in San Pedro and Caye Caulker last week. The meetings focused on reviewing each island's level of readiness and refining emergency response plans in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster.
Community and Society
Caye Caulker Miss Lobster Fest Delegates Visit San Pedro Ahead of Pageant
Contestants competing in the 2026 Miss Lobster Fest pageant in Caye Caulker visited San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, on a promotional tour ahead of the July 17th pageant. Hosted by reigning Miss San Pedro Miley Chi, the delegates toured the island, participated in interviews, dined at El Fogón, and visited the Hol Chan Marine Reserve as part of efforts to promote the pageant and strengthen ties between the sister islands.
Community and Society
Caye Caulker Youth Complete First Fly-Fishing Conservation Camp
Fourteen children from Caye Caulker recently completed the island's first fly-fishing camp, led by San Pedro guide Omar Arceo, popularly known as the "Dr. of the Flats." The five-day program combined hands-on fly-fishing instruction with lessons in sustainable fishing and marine conservation, culminating in a fishing excursion on the western flats off Ambergris Caye on July 10th.
Community and Society
San Pedro Food Bank Expands Community Support Through Business Partnerships
The San Pedro Food Bank is expanding its community outreach through a new partnership with several island businesses to assist more families facing food insecurity. The initiative encourages residents and visitors to donate non-perishable food items through collection bins placed at participating businesses across San Pedro.
Community and Society
Foundation for Belize Donates Body Cameras and QR Patrol System to San Pedro Police
The Foundation for Belize has donated more than a dozen body-worn cameras to the San Pedro Police Formation as part of an initiative to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public safety on Ambergris Caye. The handover took place on Monday, July 7th, during a formal ceremony in San Pedro Town. The donation was presented by the Foundation for Belize founder, Joseph Cooper, to Officer in Charge Inspector Jorge Lemus and Sergeant Gabriel Martinez, who accepted the cameras on behalf of the patrol officers who will use the equipment.
Community and Society
San Pedro Lions Club Marks 39 Years of Women in Lionism
The San Pedro Lions Club joined Lions Clubs International on July 4th in recognizing the 39th anniversary of women becoming official members of the global service organization, celebrating a milestone that transformed leadership and community service within Lionism. The occasion also coincided with the start of the 2026-2027 Lions Club year and highlighted the important role women now play at the local, national, and international levels of the organization.
Community and Society
U.S. Embassy in Belize Celebrates America’s 250th Independence Anniversary
The United States Embassy in Belize commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence with a special celebration held on Wednesday, July 1st, at Di Bruwri in Ladyville, just north of Belize City. The event brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and invited guests to celebrate the historic milestone while highlighting the longstanding relationship between Belize and the United States.
Community and Society
Belize to Introduce New Coins in September
Following the introduction of a new series of banknotes in August 2025 featuring Belizean national heroes, the Central Bank of Belize is preparing to introduce a new series of coins, which will begin circulating in September. According to the Central Bank, the new coins will circulate alongside the existing coins bearing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II, which will remain legal tender. The current coins featuring the former British monarch will be phased out gradually through normal circulation.
Community and Society
Island Notes from a Woofer – From Sweet Basil to Legends to Larimar
Island Notes from a Woofer is a column by Melody Sanchez Wolfe, an artist, writer, wedding planner, entrepreneur, mother of three, and proud San Pedrana who notices a little too much and writes about it. Blending island life, culture, humor, nostalgia, community conversations, random observations, personal experiences, art, business, relationships, social commentary, and whatever else happens to wander through her beautifully chaotic neurodivergent brain that week, this column is part island diary, part storytelling, part open journal, and part love letter to San Pedro - the old, the new, the beautiful, the frustrating, and everything in between.