Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott

As the investigation continues into the fatal stabbing of Caye Caulker youth Kevin Depaz, 19, allegedly by an off-duty police officer, police will rely on the directives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to proceed with the case. Depaz was fatally wounded in the early hours of Monday, June 30th, during an altercation involving some of his friends and two off-duty police officers.

On Sunday, June 29th, residents of La Isla Cariñosa, Caye Caulker, will head to the polls to elect a new village council. The election will see two slates contesting for leadership of San Pedro’s sister island. These include the incumbent independent slate led by Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott and a slate under the People’s United Party (PUP), led by Celina Jimenez.

The National Health Insurance (NHI) program now covers residents in all of Belize Rural South, which includes San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker. The government program reached the Caye Caulker community on Friday, September 27th. A private clinic and a pharmacy signed contracts with the NHI to provide access to primary healthcare services and medication at a significantly reduced cost. The two accredited institutions are Dr. D’s Clinic and Prescription Value Pharmacy. To join NHI, Hicaqueños can register at these institutions with their Social Security Card. If their cards have expired, island residents can still register using their Social Security number.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) presented five garbage compactor trucks to five municipalities on Thursday, September 12th, in the Capital City of Belmopan. San Pedro Town, Belmopan City, Caye Caulker Village, Hopkins Village, and Placencia Village were recipients. The assets help improve trash collection efforts in these popular tourism destinations.

The island municipalities of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker were acknowledged and honored by the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor, and Local Government for their outstanding contributions from 2023-2024. In a ceremony held on July 19th, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) was the only town administration awarded for its exemplary achievements in championing digital advancement, demonstrating financial stewardship, promoting transparency, and empowering community engagement. The Caye Caulker Village Council was recognized for its extraordinary governance, community stewardship, and steadfast dedication to fostering growth, transparency, and prosperity, which have significantly impacted the local community.

Residents and visitors of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are one step closer to having reliable healthcare services. More than a year after the official announcement of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital, the Government of Belize hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, March 1st, to mark the start of construction. This $33 million project is made possible through a grant from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

In November 2022, Caye Caulker inaugurated a new polyclinic to improve medical services on La Isla Cariñosa. This infrastructure was more than welcomed but did not solve the Hicaqueños problems with medical emergencies. On Sunday, November 5th, Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott reported that her team struggled to help transport patients to Belize City via private boats. As such, they hope the central government will assist the village council with additional resources to cope with the challenges related to such medical emergencies.

Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott and her team were awarded by the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government for their achievements in key areas and development in their village. The recognition is part of a program from the Ministry honoring villages and water boards nationwide.