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  • Belize-Born Man Among Green Card Holders Charged in California Voting Sweep

    Belize-Born Man Among Green Card Holders Charged in California Voting Sweep

    In a high-profile federal enforcement operation announced Monday, U.S. Department of Justice officials have brought voting-related charges against 28 lawfully permanent residents of the United States, with 11 of the accused already taken into custody as of the announcement. Among those arrested is 72-year-old Omar Alexander Muñoz, a Belize-born green card holder who was taken into custody at his home in Commerce, a small Los Angeles County community.

    According to official criminal complaints reviewed by The New York Times, Muñoz, who has never obtained U.S. citizenship, is facing two felony charges: making false statements on a naturalization application and registering to vote through fraudulent means. Prosecutors allege that he cast ballots in three general elections: 2020, 2022, and 2024, though The Associated Press reports the accusations span four separate election cycles. Muñoz remains a legal permanent resident, and like all the defendants in this case, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    The arrest was carried out in a pre-dawn raid by dozens of federal agents, who converged on Muñoz’s cul-de-sac home before sunrise. Witness accounts from his family confirm that agents handcuffed Muñoz while he was still wearing his pajamas and transported him to a downtown federal detention facility.

    Esmeralda Muñoz, the suspect’s 70-year-old wife, has publicly pushed back against the tactics used in the arrest, telling the AP that agents arrived clad in full tactical gear with weapons drawn. She condemned the operation as an unnecessary public spectacle, noting that law enforcement brought camera crews and news helicopters along to the residential raid, calling the heavily armed show of force “a shame.”

    Esmeralda Muñoz further clarified that every member of their immediate family—including herself, the couple’s three children, and 10 grandchildren—are all U.S. citizens. She said the entire family had no idea that her husband was even registered to vote, adding that Omar Muñoz has been an open and vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump in political conversations.

    The sweeping enforcement action, which the Justice Department has branded Operation Protect the Vote, marks one of the largest recent federal actions targeting alleged non-citizen voting. Officials confirmed that 21 of the 28 charged individuals are accused of having cast illegal ballots in past U.S. elections. Beyond fraudulent voter registration, common charges across the case include allegations of making false statements on naturalization paperwork, as federal prosecutors work to crack down on what officials frame as violations of U.S. election integrity laws.

  • VINLEC fuel surcharge rises to 86.71 cents despite $798,000 subsidy

    VINLEC fuel surcharge rises to 86.71 cents despite $798,000 subsidy

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ primary electricity provider, VINLEC, announced Tuesday that it will implement an October 2026 fuel surcharge of 86.71 cents per kilowatt-hour, even after applying a record monthly subsidy of EC$798,591 to soften the impact of global energy market volatility on consumers.

    This new rate marks a 7-cent per kWh increase from September’s charge, and also surpasses the previous all-time high surcharge of 83.20 cents applied to July 2026 electricity bills by 3.5 cents. VINLEC officials confirmed that the $798,591 subsidy applied to October bills is the largest single-month subsidy the company has ever allocated, a direct response to the unprecedented spike in global fuel prices. Without this intervention, the company added, the October fuel surcharge would have climbed above 92 cents per kWh, placing a far heavier financial burden on residential and commercial customers.

    Since the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines rolled out national cost-of-living support initiatives in May 2026, VINLEC’s cumulative subsidy contributions have topped EC$3.9 million, underscoring the company’s efforts to offset steady price increases driven by global market forces. The root cause of the latest surcharge hike, VINLEC explained, is the all-time record high benchmark price for diesel fuel reached across most Caribbean territories in September 2026. This sharp price increase stems from global supply chain disruptions tied to ongoing geopolitical tensions, which have sent ripples through energy markets across the region.

    Even as it navigates short-term market volatility, VINLEC reaffirmed its long-term commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels by expanding renewable energy penetration across St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Two key projects are currently advancing to meet this goal: the recently recommissioned solar farm at the Lowmans Bay Power Station, which has nearly tripled solar photovoltaic generation capacity at the site, and an ongoing Battery Energy Storage System project at the company’s Cane Hall facilities. The Cane Hall storage project is on track to be completed by early 2027, and will provide the grid flexibility needed to support additional renewable energy expansion across the island chain.

    In its announcement, VINLEC urged customers to continue practicing electricity conservation wherever practical to help manage individual monthly costs. The company also noted that customers with questions about their October electricity bills or the new fuel surcharge can reach the VINLEC Customer Services Department via email at [email protected], by phone at 456-1701 extension 237 or 238, or through the company’s official Facebook page.

  • UWI Global Campus students push back against return to in-person exams

    UWI Global Campus students push back against return to in-person exams

    When the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus announced a mandatory return to in-person end-of-term examinations for the 2024/2025 academic year, it sparked immediate pushback from hundreds of enrolled students across the Caribbean, who argue the policy change ignores the fundamentally different structure of their online-focused programs and upends the flexible learning model they signed up for.

    Student concerns were first formally outlined in an open letter published by Antigua News Room, which laid out the stark disparities in academic resources between Global Campus students and their peers attending UWI’s traditional physical campuses. According to the letter, students on physical campuses benefit from consistent access to full-time faculty, regularly scheduled small-group tutorials, peer tutoring networks, and on-demand academic support that helps them prepare for in-person assessments.

    In contrast, Global Campus students report that their program is structured around independent, self-paced learning with very limited live instructional time. Many courses offer only four or fewer live sessions per semester, with some sessions cramming coverage of multiple entire course units into a single meeting, while others are dedicated solely to reviewing assignments rather than unpacking complex core content. The letter also highlights persistent issues with a lack of accessible tutorial support, delayed responses from instructors to student questions, and an expectation that students will work through the vast majority of course material independently.

    Students argue that this major gap in academic preparation makes the uniform requirement of in-person exams unfair. They are being held to the same assessment standard as on-campus students without receiving the same level of live instruction and exam preparation support.

    Beyond issues of academic fairness, students point out that the shift to in-person exams undermines the core flexibility that drew many non-traditional learners to the Global Campus in the first place. Working adults, student parents, and other learners who structured their work and family schedules around the fully online model now face significant practical disruptions.

    Similar frustrations have emerged in Saint Lucia, where a second-year Global Campus student spoke with St Lucia Times about the impact of the policy change. She explained that she enrolled in the program under the explicit understanding that both coursework and examinations would remain fully online, a model that worked seamlessly for her during her first year. Back then, exams were administered online via a proctored browser, giving students a broad window of time to complete their assessments, which allowed her to balance her full-time job and academic responsibilities without conflict.

    The 2024/2025 policy change upended that arrangement. Students are now required to travel to designated in-person exam sites on specific scheduled days, a requirement that interferes with work productivity and leads to tangible financial losses. “Some of us lose paid work hours as we’re out of hours due to commute time plus exam time and back,” the student explained. “We may have to use sick days, and you cannot call out every time you have an exam. Imagine having to be out for four days, or in at work and then out and back because you have four exams on different days.”

    Students across multiple Caribbean islands are calling on UWI to grandfather current students into the original online exam model that they agreed to when they enrolled, allowing them to complete their degrees under the terms they started with. To push for this change, students organized a petition that gathered hundreds of signatures. While university officials formally acknowledged receipt of the petition and the concerns raised in it, the institution has so far declined to reverse the policy, leaving many students feeling unheard and facing unnecessary pressure as they prepare for their end-of-term assessments.

  • Machtsstrijd bij TAS escaleert: overdracht mislukt, RvC-leden melden mishandeling

    Machtsstrijd bij TAS escaleert: overdracht mislukt, RvC-leden melden mishandeling

    PARAMARIBO, Suriname – A bitter governance dispute at the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS), Suriname’s national telecommunications regulator, escalated into physical confrontation and political gridlock on Tuesday, after a planned leadership handover collapsed amid clashing legal claims and accusations of misconduct.

    The conflict centers on Wendy Jap-A-Joe, the outgoing TAS director whose five-year statutory term ended on October 19, according to TAS’s Board of Commissioners (RvC) and Raymond Landveld, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism. Minister Landveld formally notified Jap-A-Joe in writing that her term had expired and ordered her to immediately hand over all administrative responsibilities, clearing the way for the RvC to assume interim control of the regulator in accordance with Suriname’s Telecommunications Act.

    But Jap-A-Joe has rejected this interpretation of the law and refused to step down. She argues that her existing employment contract guarantees job security and continuity in her leadership role, meaning there is no vacancy for the director position as outlined in Section 4, Subsection 2 of the Telecommunications Act. Her legal challenge directly undermines the RvC’s claim to interim governance, turning the question of whether her employment contract supersedes the statutory term limit into the core of the escalating conflict.

    When RvC members arrived at TAS headquarters Tuesday to oversee the handover, the situation quickly spiraled into chaos. The board had previously requested police presence to ensure an orderly transfer of power and prevent confrontation, but according to RvC chair Emanuel Scheek, responding officers said they had received orders from senior officials to withdraw from the site. “We wanted to stay, but we were ordered to pull back by higher-ups,” Scheek told reporters, adding that the board had reached out to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for clarification but has yet to get answers about who issued the withdrawal order or why. Suriname’s national police has not yet issued an official comment on the matter.

    Scheek said the confrontation turned physical after board members pressed for an immediate handover. He claimed he was grabbed, pushed, and pulled by an individual inside the building, sustaining injuries to his back, arms, and shoulder. Fellow RvC member Joan Nibte also said she was pushed hard and suffered an arm injury. Both commissioners have announced they will file formal police reports over the incident. Scheek also alleged that conference room doors were locked during the confrontation, trapping TAS staff inside who needed to leave to pick up their children from school. This claim has not yet been independently verified.

    Rumors circulated Tuesday that the RvC had taken Jap-A-Joe hostage during the standoff, but Scheek dismissed these accusations. He emphasized that the board only sought an orderly handover aligned with the law, did not use violence against Jap-A-Joe, and is not pursuing a personal conflict. “Disagreements over legal status should be resolved through the proper judicial channels,” he said. By 4 p.m. local time, Jap-A-Joe left TAS headquarters under security protection, with no handover of power having occurred.

    The crisis spilled over into Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) Tuesday, sparking fiery debate among lawmakers. ABOP parliamentarian Stanley Betterson questioned the RvC’s actions and demanded the government issue clarity on Jap-A-Joe’s legal status and the board’s statutory authority. Calling the situation unacceptable, Betterson argued that a sitting director should not be treated in this manner. His comments drew pushback from NDP faction leader Rabin Parmessar, who questioned how Betterson could conclude the RvC acted outside its authority without first reviewing all relevant documents, including Jap-A-Joe’s employment contract. The tense exchange led to two adjournments of the assembly session, and the ABOP faction eventually walked out of the meeting. Government officials acknowledged that the issue has their full attention and urged lawmakers to avoid unsubstantiated claims such as the hostage allegation until all facts are confirmed.

  • Antigua plans mass casualty and evacuation drills ahead of CHOGM

    Antigua plans mass casualty and evacuation drills ahead of CHOGM

    As Antigua prepares to host one of the most high-profile international gatherings in its history, emergency response teams across the island are gearing up for two critical preparedness drills over the next two weeks. The exercises are designed to test and refine response capabilities ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to kick off later this month in St. John’s.

    The first drill, scheduled for Thursday, October 22, will simulate a mass casualty incident caused by a multi-vehicle crash at Scotts Hill. Organized to evaluate coordination between first responders and medical facilities, the exercise will involve several simulated injured casualties that will be transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the island’s main public hospital. The drill, which will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. local time, includes participation from personnel from the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the national police force, the fire department, independent local clinics, and the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS). Local residents and commuters are advised that temporary traffic disruptions are expected in the area surrounding the exercise site, and are encouraged to plan alternate routes where possible.

    A second preparedness exercise is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at the newly built Performing Arts Centre on High Street in St. John’s. This drill will focus on a full building evacuation, a critical safety protocol given that the venue has been selected to host CHOGM’s official opening ceremony, which will be attended by dozens of heads of state, senior diplomats, and other high-level delegates from across the Commonwealth. Event organizers have emphasized that participant safety is the top priority for the meeting, and rigorous pre-event testing is essential to ensure emergency teams can respond quickly and effectively to any unforeseen incident.

    NODS has been working closely with all hotels, event venues, and stakeholder organizations across Antigua to update and strengthen emergency response plans in advance of the landmark meeting, which is expected to draw global media attention and thousands of visitors to the island.

  • Fort Young Hotel secures 13 diving awards, eight more than last year

    Fort Young Hotel secures 13 diving awards, eight more than last year

    A waterfront resort in Dominica’s capital Roseau is celebrating a landmark achievement in global diving tourism, after scoring a historic haul of honors in one of the industry’s most prestigious annual awards. Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, a popular destination for diving enthusiasts exploring Dominica’s pristine Caribbean marine ecosystems, walked away with 13 accolades at Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2027 Readers’ Choice Awards, a massive jump from the five awards it earned just one year prior in 2026.

    This year’s results represent a new record for the resort, with recognition spanning both its luxury accommodation offerings and world-class diving services. For the first time in the resort’s history, several of its core dive operations earned top rankings from voters, highlighting steady improvements across every area of its guest experience. Among its standout wins, Fort Young secured a spot in the Top 10 for Quality of Rooms, and also earned high praise across a wide range of competitive categories: Quality of Resort, Quality of Restaurant, Quality of Training & Courses, Attention to Safety, Quality of Dive Boats, and Best Overall Dive Resort.

    Unlike industry awards judged by a small panel of experts, the Scuba Diving Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards are decided entirely by public votes from the international diving community. This makes the results a direct reflection of how actual guests and diving practitioners rate the quality of a resort’s services and experiences, giving the honors particular weight in the global travel space.

    In an official statement released by the resort, leadership credited the sweeping recognition to the combined hard work of its hospitality and diving teams, who have prioritized consistent improvements to guest services, dive training, professional-grade equipment, and industry-leading safety protocols.

    “These awards reflect our team’s passion for diving, commitment to safety, and dedication to delivering outstanding experiences for every guest,” said William Lawrence, Dive Operations Manager at Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort. “Alongside the growing recognition of Dominica as a top-tier diving destination, these honors reinforce our island’s reputation as a truly exceptional place to dive, and we are proud to be such a core part of that story.”

    Fort Young already holds the prestigious PADI 5 Star Resort certification, a designation that confirms the resort meets global standards for high-quality dive education and accessible services for divers across all experience levels, from first-time beginners to seasoned professional enthusiasts. Nestled along Roseau’s scenic waterfront, the resort operates as both a full-service accommodation provider and a specialist dive hub, catering specifically to visitors eager to explore Dominica’s rich, biodiverse marine environment.

    Looking ahead, resort leaders say the expanded collection of awards, paired with Dominica’s rising global profile as a must-visit diving destination, is expected to draw more international divers, professional travel advisors, and specialist diving tour operators to the island. This growth in visitor interest is poised to benefit not just the resort, but the broader local tourism economy that relies on diving as a key economic driver. More information about Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort and its offerings is available on its official website, fortyounghotel.com.

  • Saint Lucia cricket hones speedsters with Windies coach

    Saint Lucia cricket hones speedsters with Windies coach

    Over the last year, Ramesh Subasinghe, head coach of the West Indies Academy, has become a familiar presence on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. His repeated visits have centered on a clear mission: lifting the capabilities of local cricket coaches and nurturing emerging talent through the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre (SLCHPC). Last week, that ongoing partnership culminated in an intensive five-day training camp dedicated to refining the skills of some of the island’s most promising young fast bowlers at the SLCHPC facility.

    A former professional medium-pace bowler himself hailing from Sri Lanka, Subasinghe centered the camp’s curriculum on targeted technical skill-building. The camp gathered a standout cohort of young fast-bowling prospects, including McKenny Clarke and Selena Ross, both members of the West Indies Under-19 squad, Keon Gaston who represents the Windward Islands, and up-and-coming speedsters Shawnil Edward and Kethan Charlemagne, alongside other emerging local talents.

    In his assessment of Caribbean fast-bowling prospects, Subasinghe highlighted the inherent advantages that young athletes in the region bring to the pitch. “Caribbean cricketers are blessed with outstanding natural attributes,” he explained. “They are first-rate athletes, and Damique Walters, the local strength and conditioning coach, has already done exceptional work building their physical foundation. Now that that base is in place, our focus has shifted to honing their core bowling skill. I’ve seen extraordinary natural athleticism across this group, and our work this week was centered on unlocking each bowler’s full individual potential through tailored technical adjustments.”

    Throughout the five-day camp, Subasinghe collaborated closely with SLCHPC leadership, including head coach John Eugene and assistant bowling coach Larry Edward. The coaching team held detailed discussions around training load management, mapping out appropriate weekly bowling volumes to protect players while supporting steady development. For Subasinghe, intentional technical work remains non-negotiable for long-term success at the highest level of the sport.

    “Consistency, which every fast bowler strives for, only comes when you can replicate a well-honed bowling action nearly every single delivery,” he emphasized. “That makes refining and entrenching proper bowling technique one of the most critical parts of a young bowler’s development. It is essential that we carve out dedicated time in the entire 12-month training calendar for specific technical work, because that is what unlocks a bowler’s full potential. For some prospects, improved technique translates to more repeatable, consistent actions. For others, small technical adjustments can unlock significant gains in ball speed. No matter the prospect, ongoing attention to technique is always a priority.”

    Subasinghe added that he left the camp encouraged by the engagement of the young players he worked with, noting that he received thoughtful, probing feedback and no shortage of questions from the group. He says this level of curiosity and proactivity is a very positive sign, because self-awareness is a critical trait for any bowler looking to advance to elite levels of the sport.

  • Nieuw Vriendschapspaviljoen markeert 173 jaar Chinese vestiging

    Nieuw Vriendschapspaviljoen markeert 173 jaar Chinese vestiging

    On October 20, Suriname marked a historic milestone for the nation’s multicultural heritage as President Jennifer Simons officially unveiled the nameplate of the newly completed Friendship Pavilion, located along Jagernath Lachmonstraat in Friendship Park. The ceremony was held to commemorate 173 years since the first Chinese immigrants arrived on Surinamese soil, celebrating the deep, enduring ties between the Chinese community and broader Surinamese society.

    The commemorative event was organized by the Suriname Chinese United Association (SCUA), the umbrella federation representing Chinese community groups across the country. In her keynote address at the gathering, President Simons reflected on the outsize contributions that generations of the Chinese community have made to Suriname’s national development over the past 17 decades.

    Recalling the origins of the project, President Simons noted that exactly one year prior, on October 20, 2025, she joined SCUA representatives to lay the cornerstone for the pavilion in Friendship Park. Today, that vision has been brought to life: construction is fully complete, the finished structure stands as a striking public landmark, and the nation gathered to officially unveil the new site.

    According to Suriname’s Communication Service, President Simons emphasized that the inauguration was intentionally timed to align with the 173rd anniversary of the first arrival of Chinese immigrants in 1853. She highlighted that these early pioneers brought with them far more than just the courage to build new lives in a foreign land: they also brought a robust work ethic and deeply held values that have shaped Surinamese society ever since.

    Over the generations, the Chinese community has become an inextricable part of the Surinamese national fabric, the president added. Their contributions extend across every corner of national life, from economic growth to cultural enrichment, and they are a core part of Suriname’s unique national identity. “You have become part of our heritage, our national identity, our economy, and our culture. So many Surinamese count Chinese ancestors among their family trees,” Simons stated.

    The 173rd anniversary commemoration also served as an opportunity to center Suriname’s rich cultural diversity and the critical importance of mutual respect between the nation’s many different ethnic and community groups. For Simons, the Friendship Pavilion is far more than a public building: it is a permanent, tangible symbol of the close bond between the Chinese community and all other segments of Surinamese society. The structure will also serve as a reminder for future generations that collaboration, shared vision, and perseverance deliver lasting, meaningful progress for the whole nation.

    President Simons closed her remarks by expressing her hope that the pavilion will continue to strengthen connection and friendship between all communities in Suriname for generations to come.

  • Christmas barrel concessions start November 1

    Christmas barrel concessions start November 1

    Starting November 1 this year, Saint Lucia will roll out its long-awaited annual Christmas barrel concession program, a policy designed to ease household import costs for personal goods through the end of February 2027. Under the newly approved scheme, every eligible household in the country is permitted to import up to two duty-free barrels of approved goods, with each barrel capped at a maximum value of 3,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars.

    The initiative, which received formal sign-off from the Cabinet via Conclusion No. 8444 of 2026 on September 28, is outlined in official Customs Notice No. 10 of 2026. It grants a full 100 percent waiver on standard customs duties for a broad range of qualifying items including personal use products, groceries, apparel, children’s toys, and other common household consumables. Notably, electronic devices are explicitly excluded from the duty-free benefits to align with the policy’s core focus on supporting household needs.

    To prevent commercial abuse of the concession, strict usage rules are in place. The two-barrel limit is applied strictly on a per-household basis, and all imported goods must be used exclusively for personal, non-commercial purposes. Customs authorities have confirmed that standard administrative penalties and financial fines will be enforced against any parties found misusing the scheme for commercial resale or trade.

    In an additional expansion of benefits, the Cabinet has also approved the submission of targeted legal amendments to Parliament. If passed, these amendments will extend exemptions to qualifying barrels imported during the concession period, eliminating both the Health and Citizen Security Levy and the standard Value Added Tax (VAT) on these shipments. Even with these broad exemptions, a 6 percent Customs Service Charge will still apply to all qualifying items, a small fee designed to cover administrative processing costs for the program.

  • UN Week to Focus on Belize’s Development and Partnerships

    UN Week to Focus on Belize’s Development and Partnerships

    Ahead of the United Nations’ 81st anniversary on October 24, 2026, the small Central American nation of Belize is preparing to host a dedicated UN Week focused on advancing inclusive national development, deepening regional cooperation, and forging stronger cross-sector partnerships between the UN system, the Belizean government, and domestic private enterprises.

    This year’s gathering is set to deliver two landmark agreements that will shape collaboration between Belize and the UN through the end of the next decade. First, participating stakeholders will formalize the signing of a new five-year cooperation framework covering 2027 to 2031, which will set strategic priorities for all UN agencies operating in the region. Second, 61 major private sector companies operating in Belize will sign a declaration of intention, binding them to align their business operations and investments with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Raul Salazar, the UN Resident Coordinator for Belize, explained that the new strategic framework will guide all UN system activities across Belize and neighboring Caribbean nations over the coming five years. The framework is designed to target pressing shared regional challenges that continue to hinder inclusive growth: accelerating climate change adaptation, strengthening citizen safety and security, and responding to shifting demographic needs across the region.

    Looking back to measure the impact of the outgoing 2022–2026 cooperation cycle, Salazar highlighted tangible progress delivered through past partnership. Over the five-year period, the UN system implemented 161 standalone development projects across Belize, with an average annual investment of approximately $25 million.

    One flagship ongoing initiative is the Prosper Project, a joint effort launched by the International Labour Organization and the European Union, with backing from Belize’s Ministry of Economic Transformation. The program works directly with Indigenous communities in the Toledo District, supporting local leaders to co-design and implement custom economic resilience plans that center community priorities, rather than external development frameworks.

    Beyond inclusive economic development, the UN has prioritized rural infrastructure improvement through its support for Belize’s National Rural Development Strategy. Key achievements to date include expanding access to renewable solar electricity for rural schools, and rolling out community-led projects to expand access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation in underserved rural settlements.

    “We have been doing a lot of work in the rural communities, also around the National Rural Development Strategy, bringing new modalities of rural electrification for solar panels in schools,” Salazar noted in comments ahead of UN Week.

    For the private sector commitment, 61 large companies operating across Belize have already committed to sign the voluntary declaration, which encourages firms to adopt responsible business practices aligned with the SDGs. The agreement also creates a platform for participating companies to share best practices, exchange lessons learned from sustainable investment projects in other markets, and collaborate on collective impact initiatives across Belize.

    Salazar also offered praise for Belize’s progress on two key national priorities: poverty reduction and marine ecosystem conservation. Highlighting the nation’s global leadership in ocean protection, he noted that Belize stands among a small group of countries worldwide that have already met the global 30×30 target, protecting 30% of its territorial waters from overexploitation.

    Beyond formal agreement signings, this year’s UN Week will also serve as a moment for UN personnel based in Belize to reflect on their collective work over the past cooperation cycle, strengthen collaborative ties with domestic government and civil society partners, and raise public awareness across the country of how UN programming supports sustained, inclusive national development.