Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Community and Society

Island Emergency Services is now offering free services to Belizeans

The management and team of Island Emergency Services (IES) has announced that its ambulance services are now free of charge for Belizeans on the island. IES is a private 24-hour emergency company funded by Mr. Abner Bacab, and it is equipped with ambulances to respond to medical emergencies on the island. This decision comes from IES’ commitment to the well-being, health, and wellness of all local community members and providing professional, pre-hospital care for those in need.

Two San Pedro Police officers and a Special Constable recognized

The San Pedro Police Formation continues to recognize the work of its members serving the island community. For February, they awarded Corporal DJenn Cayetano for outstanding leadership qualities. Julian Lopez was distinguished as Special Constable of the Month, and the Police Officer of the Month award went to Detective Constable Hubert Bermudez with the GI3 (gang intelligence) Unit.

Miss San Pedro to highlight Women’s Month with 5K/10K run; registration open

March is celebrated as Women’s Month in Belize, and events are held nationwide. In San Pedro Town, different activities take place to inspire and empower women. Miss San Pedro Mariel Calderon is organizing a 5K and 10K run through her foundation Empow.Her and partner, SHINE, are set for March 23rd. In-person registrations for the event,’ Stride for Change: Celebrating Her,’ took place on Saturday, March 16th, and participants had a free paint session.

Island community enjoys Women’s Business Empowerment Fair

As part of Women’s Month, on Friday, March 15th, an empowerment fair for women in business was held at Central Park from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The event, “Count Her In,” was organized by former Women’s Development Officer (WDO) Ms. Gianne L. Gillett to promote and empower women who own small businesses.

Islander Alexandria Boiton assists graduates with prom gowns

Islander and entrepreneur Alexandria Boiton has launched a project to assist female graduates with gowns. Dubbed ‘Gowns for Grads,’ the program aims to reward deserving high school graduates with a gown to wear when attending prom.

RRR hosts successful third annual Poker Run

The Rickilee Response and Rescue (RRR) team hosted their third annual Poker Run on Friday, March 9th to raise much-needed funds for their operations. The funds support RRR’s daily challenges in responding to medical emergencies in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The annual event saw the participation of many islanders who, along with generous donations, contributed to the grand total of BZ$40,000, benefiting the island’s volunteer-based emergency response team.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Visit Belize

Seven Returned Peace Corps Volunteers visited the Peace Corps headquarters March 6, 2024. They are in country to visit decades after having served as volunteers and to learn about the work that Peace Corps Belize is currently doing in the education and youth development sectors.

San Pedro Christmas Collection 2023 Fundraising Efforts and Results

After three years of growth and pandemic recovery, the San Pedro Christmas Collection changed its focus in 2023. It raised funds to provide sustainable resources to local children to enhance their education and livelihood. We aimed to raise $40,000 BZD by holding eight fundraisers at local venues from August to December. Funds were raised at these events through prize raffles, auctions, and participant entry fees.