The National Garifuna Council (NGC) elected a new Executive Committee during its 39th Annual National Convention, held in Dangriga on July 12, 2025. The newly elected members are Alex Nolberto – President, Rafael Martinez – 1st Vice President, Sheena Zuniga – Secretary, Maurice Herrera – Treasurer, Sharrie Gordon – Assistant Secretary and Ifasina Efunyemi –...
Many know Admiral John Borland as the highest-ranking official in the Belize Coast Guard, but few may realize that this distinguished Belizean leader was born and raised in the quiet village of Forest Home. Admiral Borland’s journey began in the Belize Defense Force, where he steadily rose through the ranks to eventually lead the Coast...
Reforestation, typically highlighted during Earth Day, is taking center stage earlier this year as the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) launches a major tree-planting initiative during Belize’s rainy season. Recognizing that this is the most effective time to plant, TIDE isn’t waiting for symbolic dates to act. Globally, reforestation is encouraged because trees...
Copal Tree, a company gaining international recognition for its innovative agricultural practices, hosted a Family Day over the weekend at its farm and distillery. The event marked the end of a successful season and served as a heartfelt thank you to its dedicated team. Family Day is Copal Tree’s way of showing appreciation to its...
On Sunday, July 6th, the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) carried out another beach cleanup, this time in the Punta Ycacos area. The location was chosen because it’s a known turtle nesting site, and this is the season when turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The team collected over 20 bags of garbage and installed...
The Ministry of Investment, in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission, has officially launched a cell phone repair training program for women and girls in Punta Gorda Town. This exciting initiative is designed to equip participants with hands-on skills in phone maintenance and repair, opening doors to self-employment opportunities, especially in underserved communities. Supported by...
The Annual Basketball Training Program is Back! Organized by the Toledo Sports Council, our exciting summer basketball training kicked off on June 30th and runs for two weeks! First session for ages 6 to 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and ages 9 to 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Led by experienced...
The Ministry of Health and Wellness warns that floodwaters can lead to infections, injuries, and waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A. The public is urged to avoid contact with floodwaters and keep any open wounds clean and covered. Due to stagnant water, mosquito breeding is expected to increase, raising the risk of...
The Forest Department held a three-day workshop from June 26–28, 2025, focused on analyzing jaguar and prey dynamics. Participants included staff and partners like CSFI, Ya’axché, Belize Audubon Society, and others working on camera trap data for the national wildlife database. The training covered tools such as R, Excel, GIS, and occupancy modelling programs. It...
The Sustainable and Inclusive Belize (SAIB) initiative held an informative session at the Town Council to present details about its Tourism Grant Program.During the meeting, attendees were guided through the application process and eligibility requirements. The program aims to support tourism stakeholders by offering financial grants along with technical assistance to help recipients grow and...
The fight to end violence against women and girls remains an important issue. in Punta Gorda, efforts to raise awareness and promote prevention continued through a two-day workshop held at the Warsa Drum School. Hosted by the Child Development Foundation, the workshop focused on educating participants and encouraging greater awareness surrounding violence against women and...
Belize has taken a major step toward strengthening the future of sports with the country’s first-ever Sports Summit. Held last week at the Belize Civic Center. Organized around the theme “Building Belize Through Sport: Governance, Youth Development, Health, High Performance and Sports Tourism. Participants discuss the state and future of sports in Belize.
Tensions are heating up in the village of Corazón at Corazón Technical High School. Several parents are upset that their children have not advanced to Fourth Form, reportedly because one teacher claimed that nearly half the class failed English. Typically, when so many students fail, summer classes are offered to help them improve; however, some...
The Ministry of Rural Transformation has announced the winners of the Village Councils of the Year Award 2026. Representing Toledo District, Bella Vista Village Council has been selected as the district’s Village Council of the Year. The recognition comes at a time when Bella Vista is also set to benefit from a major development project. A new market building planned...
After three years of service to the St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and the community of Punta Gorda, Father Eric Serrano is being bid farewell as his time of service comes to an end. A special mass was held in his honor. The farewell was filled with heartfelt moments as parishioners expressed their gratitude through gifts, songs, and...