Community and Society

From January 12th to 16th, a team of dentists from the United States, part of the Belize Mission Project (BMP), returned to San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, to provide free dental services to the community. The visiting team, joined by local volunteers and specialists, held clinics for hundreds of island residents at the San Pedro Lions Den.

On January 15, Belizeans remembered and honoured the late Right Honourable George Cadle Price, the “Father of the Nation.” The national holiday recognizes Price’s pivotal role in leading Belize to independence from British rule in 1981, fostering national unity, and paving the way for social justice and public service. His political movement also inspired Belizeans to follow his legacy by contributing to the nation’s development.

As the new year begins, the Belize Tourism Board, alongside Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez, has completed construction of a new modern artisan market facility at the El Embarcadero site on Nurse Shark Street in downtown San Pedro. The new, weather-resistant structure is designed to accommodate ten vendors and meets all required safety and accessibility standards. Despite the facility’s completion, no official move-in date has been announced, as authorities continue to finalize logistics and operational directives. Meanwhile, preliminary proposals have surfaced for the future use of the current artisan market site, including potential redevelopment beyond the initially rumored conversion to a parking lot.

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) dispatched a second team of power line technicians to Jamaica’s Westmoreland Parish on January 4, 2026, to assist with ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

The Division 4 Police Departments, which oversee San Pedro and Caye Caulker, have outlined their first-quarter strategy for 2026, building on a reported ten percent reduction in major crimes in 2025, making Division 4 one of the few jurisdictions nationwide to see an overall decline. The strategy aligns with the national Crime Control and Prevention Strategy 2025–2029. Police priorities for the first quarter include maintaining tourist safety, addressing petty theft, gang activity, drug-related offenses, and traffic violations, while expanding community outreach initiatives.

Following a series of accidents involving the transport of prefabricated homes, the government imposed an immediate ban on moving these structures on highways. However, after further discussions within the Ministry of Transport, the measure has since been modified to allow prefabricated homes to be transported in sections rather than as complete structures.

San Pedro’s third annual First Responders Charity Event was held on Sunday, January 4th at Playa de Sala, beginning at 6PM. The gala-style fundraiser brought together members of the San Pedro Fire Service, Police Department, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), along with residents and business owners, to raise funds for essential equipment and support for local emergency services.

The Belize Postal Service (BPS) is pleased to announce the resumption of all outbound shipments to the United States, effective January 7th, 2026, following the temporary suspension implemented in August 2025.