The Christmas season is upon us! Sunday, December 1st, the Punta Gorda Town Council, in collaboration with the Area Representative of Toledo East, hosted the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Punta Gorda Central Park. This event marked the beginning of the 12 Days of Christmas celebrations. The Town Council has organized a series of...
For years, Punta Gorda residents have been advocating for the Border Management Authority to extend its services to weekends, facilitating the flow of visitors in and out of the country. On Tuesday, November 26th, Cabinet approved the extension of operating hours to include weekends at the Punta Gorda port of entry. This long-awaited change is...
For years, the Main Street leading into Punta Gorda had been an eyesore, causing frustration for both locals and visitors. In the lead-up to the 19th of November celebrations, the PNP Leader publicly urged the area representative to address the street’s condition. In response to this call, the area representative took action, and today, the...
November is when Punta Gorda sees its highest influx of visitors from out of town, making first impressions more important than ever. With the highly anticipated Battle of the Drums taking place this weekend, the event draws the largest crowd to PG. However, the town’s Main Street is in poor condition—one of the worst in...
In his Independence Day address for Toledo East, the area representative stated that rehabilitation work on Punta Gorda Central Park would commence within a few weeks as part of the ongoing development initiatives for Punta Gorda Town. However, over a month has passed, and there has been no noticeable progress on-site.
For over a decade, the People’s National Party and other community groups have raised concerns about the open waste disposal site in the Water Hole area. Recently, UB students visited the site to witness the severity of the issue firsthand. Many residents remain unaware of the extent of the problem, but it’s not only severe—it...
November is one of the biggest months in Punta Gorda, as it marks the time for Garifuna celebrations. These festivities bring significant economic benefits to Toledo, yet in recent years, these gains have been reduced due to added fees at the border crossings, as well as overtime charges for customs and immigration officers. Today, the...
The Battle of the Drums Garifuna Celebration is just two weeks away, and many visitors are eagerly anticipating spending time and enjoying the festivities in Punta Gorda Town. Annually, this is one of the major events that draws large crowds to Punta Gorda. However, the entrance to the town continues to deteriorate, and the Front...
The first-ever Primary School Battle of the Drum took place on Friday, November 1st, at the Punta Gorda Sporting Complex. This event provided an opportunity for primary school students to showcase their talents in drumming, singing, and dancing. It also created a space for children to interact within a culturally rich environment. Nine primary schools...
Residents have long raised concerns about traffic within the town limits, citing reckless driving and unlicensed motorcyclists as significant issues. Many have voiced these complaints at town meetings and in discussions with the Commissioner of Police. Reports indicate that some drivers engage in reckless behavior, while motorcyclists are often found riding without a valid driver’s...
On Friday October 16th Students, teachers, and community supporters gathered at Central park for a Breast Cancer Awareness School Rally organized by the Belize cancer society Toledo branch. The aim is to promote early detection and raising awareness about breast cancer. Participants dressed in pink, displaying awareness posters, and waving flags in a show of...
Last week, we reported to you that several, up to eight, Guatemalan boats were spotted inside Belizean waters engaged in illegal fishing. The Punta Gorda Fisheries Department evidently took our report seriously and, on Thursday, conducted patrols in the Sarstoon Temash area. They found four gill nets that had been illegally set. The gill nets...
With less than two weeks remaining before Tropic Air ceases operations in Punta Gorda, residents gathered at the airline’s local office today to send a clear message to the government: Punta Gorda need air connectivity and cannot simply be cut off. The demonstration comes as the community prepares for the loss of Tropic Air flights,...
Exactly one month after the Guatemalan armed forces violated Belize’s sovereignty, they did so again on Saturday October 10th, when the Belize Territorial Volunteers made an unannounced trip to the Sarstoon River. The trip discovered that the Guatemalan armed forces continue to occupy the river, but more than that, the trip also found that up...
Toledo District’s very own Ymanoli Garcia has been named Oceana’s 2026 Wavemaker of the Year for the district. The announcement was made during Oceana Belize’s Annual General Meeting. Over 300 Wavemakers, partners, and allies from across the country came together in celebration of their shared commitment to protecting Belize’s marine environment.