Community and Society
Minister of National Defence and Border Security Welcomes Germany’s Defence Attaché
On Monday, April 12, 2021, Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defence and Border Security, received a courtesy visit from Lieutenant Colonel Reiner Jantos, Germany’s Defence Attaché, at the Curl Thompson Building, Belmopan.
Community and Society
Port of Magical Belize gets Environmental Clearance from DOE; NGOs disappointed
An official note from the Department of Environment (DOE) approving the cruise port project Port of Magical Belize has caused concern across the country. The DOE letter, dated Friday, April 9th, signed by Chief Environmental Officer Martin Alegria, states that Environmental Clearance is granted to Portico Enterprise Limited for the cruise port's construction and operation.
Community and Society
First Pre-schools re-open in San Pedro Town
After months without in-class sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several pre-schools in San Pedro Town welcomed their students back after re-opening on Monday, April 12th. As requested by the Ministry of Education, schools across the country had to submit re-opening plans before operating once again.
Community and Society
U.S. Embassy, Love Foundation, and Kolbe Foundation Launch Community Resource Hub in George Street
On April 8, U.S. Embassy Belmopan, partnering with the Love Foundation and the Kolbe Foundation, inaugurated its third and final community resource hub in the George Street area under “Empowering Communities to Empower Themselves” (ECTET) initiative. The initiative has created three community resource hubs that provide training and serve as startup locations for new businesses, creating alternatives to gang activity in underserved neighborhoods long suffering from violence.
Community and Society
Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Tours Vegetable Seedling Nursery
A total of 18,000 seedlings will be distributed to farmers and producers at all levels, including backyard gardeners. The seedlings were donated as seeds by the OIRSA Regional Emergency Fund to assist vegetable farmers who were affected by the flooding caused by storms Eta and Iota.
Community and Society
San Pedro House of Culture to remain closed; staff terminated
The island’s venue for exhibits and traditional events, The San Pedro House of Culture, will remain closed indefinitely. This is attributed to the pandemic and the reportedly limited finances to support the house of culture. As a result, and after working on reduced salaries for months, the island staff was terminated.
Community and Society
Prince Philip dies at 99; Belize pays tribute
On Friday, April 9, the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honourable John Briceño, on behalf of the Belizean people, sent his condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her husband's passing, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. The Duke was 99-years-old. According to an official note from the Buckingham Palace in London, England, he died peacefully on Friday morning after falling ill in February of this year.
Community and Society
The SP Traffic Department under investigation for an alleged fraud scheme
The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has confirmed that police are currently investigating its traffic department following reports that former employees of that department sold fake insurance stickers, conning a good number of island residents.