Tag:
Hon. Andre Perez
Community and Society
Sargassum Harvesters Prove Useful, but Community Partnership Still Needed
Record-breaking sargassum blooms affected coastal communities across Belize in 2025, including San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. According to regional data, more than 37.5 million tons of the brown seaweed were recorded in the Caribbean this year, placing heavy strain on shoreline management efforts nationwide.
Education
Caye Caulker and San Pedro to Get New Schools in 2026
Area Representative Hon. Andre Perez has announced that new school projects for Caye Caulker and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, are slated to begin in 2026. Perez shared the update while outlining planned development projects for Belize Rural South at the end of the year.
Community and Society
Saca Chispas Field to Undergo Major Renovations in 2026
The Hon. Louis Sylvestre Sporting Arena, popularly known as Saca Chispas, located in downtown San Pedro, is set to undergo significant renovations in 2026. The facility is expected to be transformed into a modern, dome-like venue capable of hosting larger-scale sporting events, concerts, and other entertainment. The upgrades will be commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism and are projected to take approximately ten months to complete.
Environment
Reports of Siete Canales Lands Being Subdivided; Minister Confirms Parcels to Be Vested in Hol Chan
Concerns have surfaced over reports that lands in the Siete Canales area, including four small islets, are being surveyed and subdivided for private individuals. The claims, widely circulated on social media, raised alarm because the area forms part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a site considered vital to the marine ecosystem.
Conservation
Belize hosts 1st Annual World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards
On Friday, September 27th, Belize celebrated Tourism Day by hosting a gathering of global leaders during the 1st Annual World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards at the Oakridge Venus in Spanish Lookout. The event aimed to acknowledge individuals and organizations contributing positively to tourism and pioneering sustainability initiatives. Among other countries, Belize stood out and was awarded for being the leading sustainable destination, recognizing its efforts to implement sustainable tourism practices, preserve natural and cultural heritage, and promote responsible tourism worldwide.
Community and Society
Island residents appeal for public consultation for proposed San Pedro Artisan Market project
On Tuesday, September 24th and Thursday, September 26th, a small demonstration occurred in downtown San Pedro at the “El Embarcadero” regarding a proposed project to develop the San Pedro Artisan Market. The project, supported by Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, and Hon. Andre Perez, aims to provide artisans with an improved marketplace on Nurse Shark Street next to the lagoon. However, protesters expressed concerns over the government's lack of community consultation in the proposed project's decision-making process.
Government
New Blue Economy Innovations to Catapult Belize’s Nature-Based Economy
he Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management, in accordance with its Blue Investments strategic objective, is vigorously exploring new blue industries that can contribute to growing Belize’s Blue Economy in a manner that is sustainable and inclusive.
Community and Society
NEMO Belize hosts CDM Validation Workshop supported by the CDEMA CU
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in Belize recently hosted its Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Validation Workshop supported by the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, to assess the country’s progress at each phase of the disaster management cycle, guided by the CDM Audit Tool. On May 8th, 2024, over 60 stakeholders came together for the workshop, which was one of four in-country audits being undertaken through CDEMA’s Building Resilience in the CARIFORUM States to Disaster Risks and Climate Change Impacts (BRICS) Programme funded by the European Union.