Tag:
Honorable Andre Perez
Education
Ocean Academy Stands Firm as Government Moves Ahead with New High School
Ocean Academy, the only high school currently operating in Caye Caulker, says it intends to remain a grant-aided institution and does not plan to become a government school. The announcement follows reports that the school rejected the Ministry of Education's (MOE) request to voluntarily surrender its license as the government moves forward with plans to establish a public high school on La Isla Cariñosa.
Community and Society
Area Representative Andre Perez Clarifies Allegations Over Pantry Program
Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Honorable Andre Perez, has responded to allegations of nepotism after a grocery store owned by one of his relatives was identified as a participant in his constituency's pantry assistance program. Social media posts alleged that Perez's office was favoring the business by directing food voucher recipients to redeem their coupons there. Perez dismissed the claims as politically motivated, stating that the pantry program operates through several grocery stores and is intended to assist families in need with basic food items.
Business & Economy
San Pedro Town Council hosts Job Fair
The San Pedro Town Council held a job fair on Saturday, June 6th, at Central Park as part of efforts to fill vacancies within the municipality. Council representatives conducted interviews with applicants for various positions.
Community and Society
Urban Planning Initiative Aims to Address Unregulated Development on Ambergris Caye
Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Honorable Andre Perez, said efforts are currently underway to establish an urban planning committee for San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. The initiative aims to prevent irregular and uncontrolled construction projects on the island. To address these concerns, Perez said all relevant authorities will review the situation together and develop a collective plan as Ambergris Caye continues to grow.
Community and Society
Islanders Hold Peaceful Protest Over Cost of Living and Development Concerns
On Wednesday, June 3rd, a group of islanders led by Celestino Tzul held a peaceful demonstration in downtown San Pedro, highlighting issues affecting many islanders and Belizeans nationwide. Carrying placards, the group denounced the government and called on it to better address the high cost of living, corruption, lack of transparency, and the approval of what they described as unsustainable development projects.
Conservation
Government Temporarily Halts Dredging in Sensitive Coastal Areas
Following outrage from activists and environmental groups across the country, including those in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, over what they describe as unsustainable development practices such as dredging, the government has decided to temporarily halt the activity in sensitive areas.
Community and Society
Authorities say labor shortage affecting San Pedro and the country
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Immigration, Tanya Santos-Neal, has confirmed that businesses across Belize are having difficulty finding employees, with labor shortages affecting industries ranging from agriculture to construction. According to Santos-Neal, areas such as San Pedro are feeling the impact particularly strongly as demand for both manual and skilled workers continues to rise.
Environment
$25 million invested in San Pedro’s fight against Sargassum
The ongoing influx of Sargassum continues to impact Belize's coastline, particularly tourism-dependent destinations such as San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker. Local and central government authorities have invested significant resources to manage the problem. On May 27th, it was confirmed that approximately $25 million has been spent on Sargassum mitigation and beach clean-up efforts in San Pedro alone, yet the challenge remains far from resolved.