A man who was caught red-handed in possession of wild animal body parts was found guilty this week and fined two thousand dollars. The prosecution followed a search at the premises of Ruben Beiler of Springfield in the Cayo District last week. Officials confiscated pieces of dead animals as well as live ones being held […]
Today, a Hol Chan Marine Station was officially inaugurated in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It also came with the unveiling of a new logo for the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. A News Five crew was on the island today and files this report. Duane Moody, Reporting The Hol Chan Marine Reserve encompasses a large […]
The regulation banning single-use plastics will come into effect about a month from now. While the law zeroes in on those types of plastics that are used locally, there are more complex instances when the law will more difficult to apply. Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, says that government will have to make amendments […]
The Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, traveled to Panama recently to take part in a meeting of Central American Environment Ministers. It had to do with an agenda for the next few months as Panama takes over the leadership of that organization. Among the discussed topics was the establishment of a regional Meteorological Centre. […]
Last week some residents of Barranco Village had protested logging concessions given out for logging activity in their village to people from other areas of Toledo. Minister of the Environment, Orlando Habet has been out of the country, but today we asked for his perspective on their concerns. Orlando Habet, Minister of the Environment […]
We also asked Minister Habet whether the government will help to salvage what’s left of the Barranco beach after aggressive erosion has washed away much of the shoreline. He said they are waiting for a report from a Cuban research team on what steps to take. Orlando Habet, Minister of the Environment “It’s a […]
Earlier this week, Barranco residents turned out to protest logging concessions. The villagers say they have been excluded from conducting logging in the area and also from any consultation to discuss the matter. A News Five team took the trip south to Barranco Village to look into the issue. Beatrice Mariano, Community Activist, Barranco […]
Barranco Village was established in the eighteen hundreds. Its residents are mostly Garinagu who rely on fishing and farming for their livelihoods. The laid-back community also makes for a great tourist attraction, but over the years, Barranco has been losing its beach. It is a natural progression that the people have been appealing for help […]
If you love lobster, you better buy it or order it at your favorite restaurant within the next few days. The season closes February twenty-eighth and does not reopen until June thirtieth. The Fisheries Department is reminding the public this spiny lobster closed season aligns with the regional lobster regulations implemented by the Organization for […]
Today was the first in a 3-part webinar series hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the National Climate Change Office. The partnership is using the opportunity to highlight the importance of climate finance for developing countries. So, today’s session shared expertise advice on what can be done at various stages to access climate […]
The James A. Waight Conservation Award was presented by the Belize Audubon Society to Jose “Elito” Arceo on Wednesday night during a virtual ceremony. The award was presented to the well-known San Pedrano by Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Protected Areas Manager, Roberto Rivero. The conservation award is the hallmark event of the conservation community, held […]
A new project was launched today for climate resilience in the coastal zone and fisheries. The Ministry of Economic Development, Green Climate Fund, Climate Finance Unit and the Ministry of Blue Economy are all part of the steering committee that met virtually. The goal is to increase resilience in the face of rising temperatures and […]
A six point eight magnitude temblor rocked buildings in Guatemala early this morning, and claimed two lives. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction in Guatemala has reported that the first earthquake occurred at a depth of sixty miles and caused landslides on roads, light damage to houses, and power outages. The two people who perished […]
A three-day workshop on the migration environment and climate change concluded today in Belmopan. The objective of the NEXUS project is to improve the management of internal migration caused by climate change. Through partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the Government of Belize is enhancing its capacities, evidence, and policy planning. So what does […]
Seeking to offer some clarity on repairs on the Prime Minister’s office, Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government business said several offices, including the Cabinet room, are also within the office of the Prime Minister. Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business “General administration, dah weh that? Given the public who doesn’t have this document in […]
Businesswoman Nancy Marin has turned to the media to help her to find out why, after following all the procedures and requirements to get an import permit for ostriches, her application was first granted, but then revoked. Marin, who is also the leader of the Belize People’s Front Movement, told News Five that she has […]
We asked the reason for her interest in the ostrich, which is not a bird Belizeans are very familiar with. She explained that these birds can be income generators for those in the agro-industry sector. Nancy Marin, Businesswoman “I have volunteered at ostrich farms in California. I visited and worked at some in New […]
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has gotten a donation of eight hundred small beetle traps from the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health. The traps were purchased in Australia and will help Belizean farmers who are battling the small hive beetle, a scavenger and parasite of honeybee colonies. The pest is native […]
When was the last time you went to the Belize Zoo? Was it when you were a child on a school trip, or more recently, on a socially distanced day out with family or friends? The Belize Zoo, now over thirty years old, is becoming more research-oriented under new leadership, and even more conscious of […]
Tonight we share a part two on the plight of Monkey River, a small village where residents are trying to save their culturally rich community from becoming just a memory. Now reduced to only fifty-two families, the eroding landscape and encroaching sea threatens their homes. They may have to relocate entirely since the end of […]
…And, if you think this is only happening in places like Monkey River, Doctor Colin Young says not so fast. Populated coastal areas like Placencia and even the cayes are at risk of erosion as an effect of climate change. Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director, CCCCC “What Monkey River is showing us, Duane, is […]
2022 is the year of the census, including a population count for aquatic species of birds that are native to Belize. The exercise began a few weeks ago and is scheduled to conclude on the fifteenth of February. The annual count is being led by the Belize Audubon Society and will cover specific protected areas […]
Back in 2019, the community of Chan Pine Ridge in the Orange Walk District claimed it was being affected by air pollution from B.S.I. Residents were especially concerned that the ashes emitted might contain hazardous chemicals. B.S.I. has since made a significant investment in its air emission system to drastically reduce the level of ash […]
With its latest upgrades, which also include the water cooling system that was commissioned at the start of the sugar crop, will B.S.I. be able to shake off the negative public perception that it has garnered over the years? The company has been accused on numerous occasions of being one of the main water and […]
With all the talk about global climate change and man-made environmental issues, it’s easy to lose sight of actual people being affected by changes beyond their control. Tonight, Duane Moody has the story of a small place and small group of residents who are literally watching the Caribbean Sea swallow their community. They keep moving […]
