Community and Society

From May 23rd to the 25th, the San Pedro Lions Club, along with the Belize City and Belmopan clubs attended the 83rd Annual Lions Istmania Convention held in San Salvador, El Salvador. The Belizean delegation, which forms the Belize Lions Zone 59, was led by its Chairman, Lion Nigel Belisle, and accompanied by the zone's queen, Rebecca Paredes.

A public meeting, a crucial step in the process, was held on Thursday, May 23rd, at the Lions Den to discuss the possibility of expanding the current boundaries of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. This Municipal Boundaries Re-Delineation Exercise campaign, led by the Department of Local Government, is being held across the seven towns in the country. The aim is to engage the local communities, recognizing their importance in shaping the future of their town, especially in areas where there are no readily distinguishable boundaries or traditional boundary lines are not definitive. The session saw many island residents voicing their opinions about the project and suggesting ideas for its successful implementation, emphasizing the significance of their input.

San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, is celebrated as a Child-friendly Municipality in Belize. Known as "La Isla Bonita," it continues progressing toward fulfilling the Children's Agenda. Councilor Dianelli Aranda plans to advance further the current administration's efforts for the children of San Pedro, recognizing them as the country's future.

The brand new and colorful food casitas (booths) at Central Park in downtown San Pedro are almost ready to be inaugurated, tentatively in June. The booths are complete, painted with Caribbean hues, and connected to the electricity service. The concrete structures underwent another upgrade from May 16th through the 18th, with the connection to running water installed by Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL).

The current dry season combined with a heat wave is to blame for wildfires affecting several farmers in southern Belize. The uncontrollable flames have gutted entire farms, destroying acres of crops. Many of these farmers and their families are left without their primary source of income and need assistance to move forward in the aftermath of this natural disaster.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve held its Annual Reef Fest 2024 Primary School Trivia Competition on Wednesday, May 22nd, at the Lions Den in San Pedro Town. The tight competition started at 9:00AM, with the participation of nine contestants from five different schools: Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES), San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS), The Island Academy (TIA), Isla Bonita Elementary School (IBES), and the Holy Cross Anglican School (HCAS). The participants showcased their knowledge of the reef and marine ecosystems.

On Tuesday, May 21st, the San Pedro Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Committee reactivated following a meeting at the National Institute of Culture and History conference room. The gathering included discussions on committee duties and future events. These events include general meetings, training sessions, and awareness campaigns against domestic violence. Stakeholders on the island will carry out these activities with support from the National Women Commission (NWC).

On Sunday, May 19th, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) held a community family fun day at Boca Del Rio Park. The event started shortly after 11PM and ended at 4PM. Several island families attended, and the day was filled with fun activities, performances, music, games, and prizes.