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 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...
Umeeda Switlo, owner of Naledo Belize, the renowned turmeric factory based in Punta Gorda, is currently in Taiwan, proudly showcasing her world-class products at an international food fair.
Students from Toledo’s Community College (TCC) are taking a hands-on approach to tackling local flooding by applying mathematics. As part of their project, they recently visited area bridges to develop a mathematical model aimed at reducing flood damage. Through calculations and analysis, the students are working on solutions to improve water flow and strengthen structural...
In Punta Gorda, the Warasa Garifuna drum school, founded by Ronald Raymond McDonald. A former performer with the Belize National Dace company is preserving Garifuna culture through music. McDonald, a passionate musician and educator, teaches drumming, dancing, and drum-making, emphasizing that drumming is a form of storytelling, history, and identity. the school offers interactive lessons...
On May 24, 2025, the Big Falls Eco Warriors took part in a water quality training led by Ya’axche, collecting microbe samples and measuring depth, width, pH, and salinity of the Rio Grande River. Eleven youths ages 12 to 20 participants, working in groups to create presentations on improving the local watershed.
The Belize Fisheries Department has officially announced the closure of the Queen Conch fishery as of May 25, 2025. The department reminds all fishers and the public that during this closed season, possession of conch meat is strictly prohibited and will be considered illegal. Authorities warn that anyone found in possession of conch meat during...
TIDE, the Vector Control Unit of the Toledo Community Hospital, and other local organizations came together for a major cleanup initiative in Indianville. The goal: to remove water-holding trash and debris that could become mosquito breeding grounds with the onset of the rainy season. Armed with gloves, bags, a truck, and a trailer, the dedicated...
Jeremy Enriquez, Chairman of the Board at TIDE, and Executive Director Leonardo Chavarria recently attended PACT’s Award Ceremony celebrating its Conservation Investment Strategy 2.0. Through this initiative, PACT will provide $350,000 each over three years to support three of TIDE’s key protected areas: Paynes Creek National Park, Port Honduras Marine Reserve, and the Sapodilla Cayes...
The Rotary Club was very active this week in Punta Gorda, partnering with visiting Rotary members from Racine Wisconsin to carry out several community initiatives across the town. From hands-on service projects to community support efforts, the collaboration was in full swing. Together, we worked side by side to strengthen our town and demonstrate the...
After nearly a year of speculation, what many thought was just talk has now become a visible reality. Over the weekend, the well-branded and historic James Bus Line underwent a noticeable transformation. Stickers were placed over the company’s familiar logo, replacing it with one that reads National Bus Company. The sudden change has left many...
The Rotary Club of Punta Gorda is giving local sports spaces a fresh new look, as part of its annual Rotary Paints project. This year’s initiative focused on repainting two basketball courts in Punta Gorda, the University of Belize Toledo Campus basketball court and the St. Peter Cleaver R.C. School basketball court.
For months, the People’s National Party (PNP) has been advocating for the new landowners in Cattle Landing Village to have their parcels properly identified. However, last week Toledo East Area Representative, Honorable Dr. Osmond Martinez, stated that PGTV had reported incorrect figures. According to Dr. Martinez, a total of 400 lots were distributed, not 200...
The Yellow-headed Parrot, one of Belize’s most iconic and vibrant bird species, is now facing the threat of extinction as habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade continue to impact its survival. Classified as an endangered species, conservationists are emphasizing the urgent need for public awareness and protection to ensure this parrot does not disappear from...
