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Opposition Challenges BEL Share Purchase

A controversial proposal to acquire additional equity in Belize’s primary national power utility has ignited a heated political debate in Belize, centered on whether the government is committing tens of millions of taxpayer dollars without sufficient parliamentary and public oversight. Scheduled for a critical Senate debate this coming Tuesday, the plan, formally introduced as the Belize Electricity Investment Bill 2026 during last Friday’s House of Representatives session, would see the government draw $73 million from the country’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to purchase 8,138,020 convertible, redeemable shares in Belize Electricity Limited (BEL).

Prime Minister John Briceño framed the initiative as a forward-thinking investment in Belize’s long-term energy security, noting that the legislation grants the legal authority for the government to build on its already substantial stake in the critical national utility. Currently, the government of Belize holds 66% of BEL’s outstanding shares, with an additional 30% held by the country’s Social Security Board, meaning more than 96% of the utility is already publicly owned.

However, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton has raised sharp questions about the lack of transparency surrounding the spending plan, arguing that parliament is being asked to approve a nine-figure expenditure of public money without access to all the data required to fulfill its constitutional oversight duties. Panton emphasized that the opposition supports BEL’s success as a people-owned asset, but that the public is owed a clearer breakdown of why this immediate purchase is necessary, and whether the move functions as an unacknowledged bailout for the utility rather than a planned strategic investment.

Minister of Public Utilities Michel Chebat pushed back against the opposition’s criticism, defending the government’s timeline and rationale. Chebat noted that robust economic growth across Belize has driven a sharp, sustained increase in national electricity demand, requiring BEL to make large-scale investments to expand and upgrade the country’s aging transmission and distribution infrastructure. The government argues that increasing public equity in the utility will enable the critical upgrades needed to support growing economic activity, while keeping the power sector entirely under national control.

The proposal has drawn public attention amid ongoing discussions about fiscal responsibility and energy policy in Belize, with the Senate’s upcoming vote set to determine whether the government can move forward with drawing funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the share purchase. This report is adapted from a transcript of an original televised evening newscast.

4 8 月, 2026
Revellers say Grand Kadooment experience worth the cost

As debates continue to swirl around the steepening price tags of Grand Kadooment parade costumes, hundreds of revellers who took part in Monday’s iconic street celebration say the once-in-a-lifetime experience more than justifies the expense — with many international visitors insisting every dollar spent on the festivities was well worth it.

For Zell and Ortez Hurley, the journey all the way from the United Kingdom to join Crop Over with the popular Aura Experience band was a dream come true, and the pair have nothing but glowing praise for this year’s event. Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY on the parade route, the couple labeled the 2024 festival an unforgettable experience that lived up to every bit of their long-held expectations. When asked about the investment they made in their festival outfits, they confirmed each custom costume cost approximately £500.

The Hurleys did not limit their Crop Over experience to just the Grand Kadooment parade, instead packing their schedule with a full slate of pre-parade activities tied to the festival calendar. “The Sundown fete was complimentary for all Aura Experience participants, we also joined the beloved breakfast fete hosted by Island Mas, and we have plans to attend Cohobblopot this coming Tuesday — Ortez has never had the chance to experience it before,” Zell Hurley shared.

While Hurley says he is eager to see the Cohobblopot show, he did admit surprise at the festival organizers’ decision to shift the event from its decades-long traditional slot on Sunday night. “For someone who grew up here on the island, this change came as quite a shock. For generations, Cohobblopot was held the night before Grand Kadooment — it gave audiences the chance to see the competing band kings and queens show off their elaborate costumes, and watch top soca royalty perform. Then you could ease into the big jump-up day on Monday. Moving it to Tuesday does change the traditional flow that leads into Kadooment Day. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still excited to see how the new scheduling works out, we’re looking forward to it all the same,” he explained. Despite the small scheduling shake-up, Hurley emphasized that the entire festival has run seamlessly so far. “I haven’t encountered any logistical missteps or issues at all right now, the whole operation has been really well organized,” he added.

Roshae Daniel, a first-time Crop Over attendee visiting from Queens, New York who has Bajan family heritage, also pulled out all the stops for her first festival experience, purchasing a premium VIP package from Aura that cost close to $2,000 USD. “I asked a lot of people who have attended Crop Over before which band was the best to jump with, and everyone told me Aura was the top choice. It’s my first time ever coming to the festival, so I figured if you’re going to do it, you might as well go all in,” she said.

For Daniel, the hefty price tag was completely justified by the quality of the experience. “It was 100 percent worth the investment. The band provided continuous fresh food throughout the parade, they gave out amazing goodie bags filled with custom cups, useful accessories and all kinds of great extras, everything was really well thought out. I would do this whole experience a thousand times over without a second thought,” she shared.

Daniel also made sure to pack her trip with as many diverse Crop Over activities as possible ahead of Grand Kadooment, attending the popular Neon Jouvert and Sun Mas events to soak up every part of the culture. “I absolutely love the Bajan culture here, the incredible sense of community that wraps around the whole festival… it’s just so much fun,” she said with a laugh, adding “I already got to meet the artist Spice while I’ve been here, that was such a cool surprise. Fingers crossed I also get the chance to run into Rihanna while I’m on island.”

Daniel, who is staying at the Sugar Bay resort during her visit, also praised the hotel’s warm hospitality, noting that the wide variety of high-quality vegetarian dining options available exceeded all of her expectations.

4 8 月, 2026
Belize Faces Power Pressure as Mexico’s Grid Struggles

Dated August 3, 2026, this report examines a growing energy security crisis rippling across Central America, where Mexico’s struggling national power grid has left neighboring Belize facing growing risks of blackouts and spiking energy costs for residential and commercial consumers.

For decades, Belize has structured its national energy mix around three core sources: imported electricity from Mexico, domestic fossil fuel generation, and locally produced renewable energy, all overseen by the national utility Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). But in recent years, this long-standing model has fractured, as Mexico confronts a deepening domestic energy crisis driven by overlapping climate and infrastructure challenges.

Lynn Young, Executive Chairman of BEL, explained that climate change has amplified strain on energy systems on both sides of the border. Rising average temperatures driven by global climate change have triggered a surge in electricity demand, as households and businesses ramp up air conditioning use to cope with extreme heat. “They have been having similar challenges to us with the challenges brought on by climate change,” Young noted in an interview. “That’s something that happens everywhere. It’s happening in Mexico too, so they are having challenges meeting the demand. And when they have the challenges, then sometimes they can’t supply us.”

While Mexico has begun developing new gas-fired generation facilities to close the supply gap, the projects have faced persistent delays linked to fuel supply shortages. Young acknowledged that these infrastructure upgrades will take years to reach full operation, leaving Belize vulnerable to unreliable imported power through the medium term.

The crisis extends beyond supply reliability: as Mexico’s domestic demand outpaces supply, the cost of imported electricity has jumped sharply, passing higher expenses directly to Belizean consumers. Rosanety Barrios, an independent energy consultant based in Mexico, confirmed that the crisis has escalated steadily in recent years. She emphasized that Mexico’s core issue is a long-standing shortage of energy infrastructure that has slowed broader economic growth, as industrial investors avoid the country over concerns about consistent power access. “We have a problem with insufficient infrastructure,” Barrios explained. “On top of that, of course, demand normally rises every year as a result of both a growing population and let’s say, the heat, which is becoming an increasingly significant factor worldwide.”

With Mexico’s crisis showing no near-term resolution, Belize has floated the idea of diversifying its foreign energy imports by adding Guatemala as a second supplier. Early exploratory talks between the two nations have already begun, and preliminary feasibility studies are being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). But Young warned that a cross-border transmission connection with Guatemala is not a quick fix. “Just the studies alone might take another year or two before we come up with what’s the right size transmission lines, and then you have to start negotiating commercial agreements, not to mention the country level political aspect of it,” Young said. “So that’s gonna take a while before we can do that.”

Instead, BEL is focusing on a long-term domestic strategy to reduce Belize’s dependence on foreign power. The utility is moving forward with plans to scale up local solar energy generation and accelerate development of other domestic energy resources, with the explicit goal of cutting reliance on costly, unreliable imports from Mexico. Young acknowledged that Belizean consumers are already feeling the financial pressure of higher monthly electricity bills, but he expressed optimism that targeted investments in domestic energy will deliver lower, more stable costs for households within the next several years. This report from Britney Gordon aired for News Five, Belize’s leading evening news broadcast.

4 8 月, 2026
PM Briceño Says Broadcasting Bill Is Not Censorship

As the proposed new Broadcasting Bill continues to spark fierce public debate, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has stepped forward to push back against accusations that the legislation is a deliberate effort to censor free media, framing the proposal as a long-overdue regulatory update for the modern digital media landscape.

Briceño emphasized that the core goal of the bill is not to silence independent voices or restrict press freedom, but to address a growing regulatory gap created by the explosion of revenue-generating social media and online news platforms. For years, established traditional media outlets including television channels, radio stations and licensed print publications have operated under clear industry guidelines and accountability standards, but unregulated online news outlets and blogs have been able to operate entirely outside these rules, even as they earn significant revenue from advertising and other commercial activities, the prime minister explained.

He argued that this unequal regulatory framework has put traditional licensed media outlets at an unfair competitive disadvantage. Many unregulated online platforms routinely publish unvetted information and unconfirmed rumors without fact-checking, eroding public trust in news overall while still profiting from their content. Because these outlets deliver a public service through news distribution, Briceño said, they must be held to the same rigorous journalistic and operational standards that apply to established outlets such as Love FM, KREM, Channel 7 and Channel 5.

“There’s nothing about censorship. I don’t know how you can come to that,” Briceño told reporters. “Technology has changed, so we can’t continue using the same legislation that was addressing technology of the 1990s. We have to keep up with that, so it has absolutely nothing to do with censorship.”

As of August 3, 2026, the proposed Broadcasting Bill remains in the public consultation phase, with stakeholders and members of the public still able to submit feedback and recommendations before the legislation moves forward for formal debate and voting. This report is adapted from a transcript of a televised evening newscast.

4 8 月, 2026
Kadooment vendors chase festival profits

When thousands of revellers and spectators flooded the streets for Grand Kadooment 2026, the parade route transformed into a bustling open-air food market, where local and visiting food vendors offered attendees a diverse spread of beloved Caribbean and regional culinary staples. From savoury fried fishcakes and juicy grilled burgers to hearty warming soups and ice-cold refreshing beverages, vendors worked nonstop to meet the steady demand from crowds gathered to watch the vibrant, colourful festival procession unfold.

One of the first vendors to set up and start serving for the day was Elijah Tafari, chef and founder of Rubes Extraordinary Fishcakes, a well-known local eatery that has built a loyal following across Barbados. Tafari was at his fryer by early dawn, prepping batter and cooking fresh batches of his signature product to serve the steady stream of early arriving festival-goers. Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY from his stall on Pelican Island, Tafari shared the secret behind his brand’s decade-long success: his commitment to authentic, filling fishcakes packed with actual fish, which stands as the business’s flagship offering. “Fishcakes are our core product, seven days a week. We offer other items between our main preparation – ham cutters, steakfish sandwiches, and weekly chicken soup on Wednesdays – but we would never open for business without our signature fishcakes ready to serve,” he explained. Now 11 years into running his business, which Tafari launched from a small spot in Collymore Rock, this Grand Kadooment marked his third time participating as an official parade route vendor. With business moving at a steady, strong pace, he shared that he was already pleased with how the day was going, and joked confidently about his product’s superiority over competing vendors: “We take first, second and third place, we leave the rest of the competition to fight for the spots after that.”

Further down the parade route in the Eagle Hall neighbourhood, first-time Grand Kadooment vendor Shane Thomas, a Jamaican cuisine specialist, called out cheerfully to passing crowds, inviting attendees to sample his signature pigtail red soup. Starting his day at 7 a.m., Thomas has leaned into the authentic roots of his dish, which is made with traditional red peas, slow-cooked pigtail, fresh okra, and creamy coconut milk to deliver an authentic taste of Jamaican street food to festival-goers. “Hot ready red soup, yard man style, good for man, woman and child – everything is fresh and clean, come stop by for a bite,” his call went out to passersby. By midday, Thomas reported that business had exceeded his expectations, and he already confirmed his plans to return as a vendor for Grand Kadooment in 2027, saying simply: “I won’t leave next year.”

Not all vendors experienced the same level of success, however. Collis King, who set up his burger and hot dog stall directly opposite the Eagle Hall Library – a spot where hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the parade bands pass – said that business had been far slower than he anticipated. King has been set up since 9 a.m. selling burgers, hot dogs, and cold beverages, and shared that his decision to return for the 2027 festival will depend entirely on whether he can turn a profit by the end of the day.

Across the entire parade route, vendors offered a wide range of treats beyond signature dishes, including fried chicken, additional fishcake options, popcorn, assorted packaged snacks, and a variety of cold beverages to keep attendees cool through the day. To protect public health, local health inspectors also made regular rounds throughout the event, conducting unannounced spot checks to confirm that all vendors were following required food safety and handling standards. This routine monitoring ensured that festival-goers could enjoy their meals without unnecessary health risks during the day-long celebration.

4 8 月, 2026
Government Moves to Rename DFC as Development Bank of Belize

In a parliamentary debate held on August 3, 2026, the government of Belize introduced a proposal to rebrand the country’s 63-year-old Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as the Development Bank of Belize, framing the name change as a foundational step to revitalize the institution and expand its role in driving national development. The initiative, however, quickly devolved into a heated public exchange between opposition lawmaker Lee Mark Chang and Prime Minister John Briceño, drawing attention to unresolved questions about the DFC’s controversial history.

Chang, the area representative for Mesopotamia, pushed back against the proposal, arguing that a superficial name change cannot erase past scandals and mismanagement linked to the long-standing financial institution. He challenged the government to be transparent about the motivations behind the sudden rebranding, noting that the move appears aimed at shedding the DFC’s damaged reputation rather than addressing underlying systemic issues. “We have to look back to what happened in the past to understand why this name change is being pushed forward right now,” Chang stated during the debate, rejecting the government’s framing of the change as a simple administrative adjustment.

Briceño defended the proposal, emphasizing that the legislative session was only tasked with approving the name change itself, not reopening debates about the DFC’s history. The exchange quickly turned personal when Briceño attempted to dismiss Chang’s questioning, suggesting the lawmaker’s judgment was clouded by heavy medication following a recent surgery. The comment drew an immediate point of order from Chang, who denied he has remained on medication since the second day of his procedure and accused the prime minister of improperly discrediting his arguments by implying he was unfit to deliberate.

Briceño doubled down on the personal jab in follow-up remarks, reiterating his claim that Chang struggles with clear reasoning without medication, further escalating tensions on the parliamentary floor. Founded in 1963, the DFC has operated under its original name for more than six decades, and the rebranding proposal represents one of the most significant changes to the institution in its modern history. While the government positions the name change as part of a broader push to strengthen Belize’s development finance infrastructure, critics like Chang argue that the government is avoiding accountability for past missteps by focusing on a rebrand rather than substantive reform.

This report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of evening television news in Belize.

4 8 月, 2026
Sex Offenders Registry Bill Gets Broad Support in the House

Nearly half a year of public and legislative debate has culminated in a pivotal step for Belize’s criminal justice reform, as a bill to open the country’s National Sex Offenders Registry to public access has advanced to floor debate in the nation’s National Assembly.

The Criminal Code Amendment Bill, which would codify the public registry framework, underwent its second reading in the House of Representatives on Friday, August 3, 2026, and earned widespread backing from across the legislative chamber. Despite this broad consensus on the core goal of increasing public transparency and community safety, leading opposition figures have pushed for greater accountability around the supporting systems needed to make the new law effective.

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton emphasized that the debate over the registry must not end with approving public access. In remarks to the House, Panton confirmed that the opposition bloc would support the legislation, but pressed the ruling government to confirm that sufficient resources and infrastructure are in place to serve victims, who stand as the primary beneficiaries of the reform.

Panton outlined a range of unaddressed needs, including a sufficiently trained corps of investigators, upgraded forensic testing capacity, expanded and fully funded victim support services, dedicated counseling staff, safe emergency shelters for survivors, sustained DNA testing capabilities, and specialized prosecutors trained to handle sexual offense cases. She noted that without these critical supporting structures, a standalone law amounts to little more than an unenforceable policy suggestion.

“Laws without having the level of support necessary for operationalizing and protecting the primary beneficiaries of this act is really a mere suggestion,” Panton told the chamber, echoing concerns raised by fellow legislator representing Orange Walk East.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, responding to Panton’s remarks, acknowledged the validity of her concerns. He confirmed that multiple government ministries and a wide range of stakeholders have been involved in crafting the bill from its earliest stages, and all parties have recognized the urgent need for supporting infrastructure to give the law tangible impact.

“She is absolutely right, the resources, support infrastructure is important to giving teeth, meaning to these bills,” Fonseca said. “I know that there are a number of ministries that have been engaged in this work, in putting this bill together, a great number of stake holders and I think everybody has recognized that point and pledged their support to making sure we don’t only have the legislation in place but also to provide the supporting infrastructure.”

Beyond legislative circles, the proposed amendment has also garnered broad approval from members of the Belizean public, who have repeatedly called for greater transparency around sex offender residency and conviction data to protect local communities. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process, with commitments from all parties to address implementation gaps before it takes effect.

4 8 月, 2026
Youth Cadets March Forward After Week of Training and Teamwork

DANGRIGA, Belize – August 3, 2026 – One of Belize’s longest-running youth development initiatives has wrapped up its 2026 iteration, bringing together nearly 300 young people from across the nation for a week of immersive training, collaborative team building, and values-based learning.

The 27th National Police Youth Cadet Corps Summer Camp ran from July 25 to August 1 in Dangriga Town, carrying forward a decades-long mission to nurture responsible, service-focused young leaders for the country. Unlike traditional training camps that focus solely on discipline and drills, this annual program prioritizes building transferable life skills: from public confidence and collaborative problem-solving to intentional leadership and a deepened commitment to community and national service.

This year’s gathering brought 279 cadets together with 80 instructors, a mix of active police officers from across Belize and civilian community volunteers. Under the 2026 theme “Command with Honor, Inspire Action, Teaching Young Minds for a Successful Tomorrow,” participants engaged in a packed, diverse schedule that extended far beyond basic drills. The week included structured leadership development workshops, educational sessions on civic responsibility, inter-region competitive sports, cultural exchange activities, and organized community service projects that gave cadets hands-on experience giving back to their host community.

In a formal statement following the camp’s conclusion, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, Staff Officer for the initiative, outlined the program’s key outcomes. Alongside core training activities, cadets took part in promotional competency examinations and inter-regional competitions. A total of 69 cadets successfully earned promotions through the program’s ranking structure, recognizing their growth in skill and leadership over the week. In the competitive events, the Northern Region claimed top honors in both football and foot drill, while the Eastern Region took first place in the basketball and volleyball tournaments.

The week-long program closed with a formal award ceremony honoring top-performing cadets and teams, followed by a celebratory public parade through the streets of Dangriga that showcased the cadets’ new skills and discipline to local residents. Smith emphasized that the camp reaffirms the Belize Police Department’s long-standing commitment to nurturing the next generation of Belizeans, prioritizing the development of disciplined, responsible, and community-oriented young leaders. She also extended gratitude to the department’s Community Policing Unit and all local community partners who donated time, resources, and support to make the 2026 camp a success.

As a signature youth development program run by the Belize Police Department, the annual summer camp continues to serve as a critical pipeline for building civic engagement and leadership capacity among young Belizeans, now in its 27th year of shaping the country’s future leaders.

4 8 月, 2026
Inspector Ester Cal Graduates Valedictorian in Regional Police Course

In a milestone achievement that highlights both individual excellence and growing regional cooperation in Caribbean law enforcement, Belize Police Inspector Ester Cal has graduated as valedictorian of the 2026 inaugural Junior Officers’ Course hosted by the Guyana Police Force Academy. The intensive two-month training program brought together 31 law enforcement and security professionals from 10 Caribbean nations, all gathered to sharpen leadership skills, boost professional capabilities, and strengthen collaborative ties across the region.

Cal not only claimed the top graduating honor but also shared the prestigious Best Academic Paper Award with Assistant Superintendent Chatram of the Guyana Police Force, a dual recognition that underscores her exceptional academic and practical performance throughout the course.

As Deputy Commander of the Belize Police Department’s Mobile Interdiction Unit, Cal’s success is being celebrated as more than a personal win. Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the Belize Police Department, emphasized that the achievement reflects both Cal’s unwavering commitment to ongoing professional development and Belize’s expanding role as a respected leader in regional public safety.

In an official statement released following the graduation, the Belize Police Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs extended formal congratulations to Cal. Officials noted that her outstanding performance showcases the professionalism, dedication, and commitment to excellence that define Belize’s law enforcement community, while bringing national pride to the small Central American nation on the Caribbean regional stage.

This accomplishment comes as Caribbean law enforcement agencies increasingly prioritize joint training and cross-border collaboration to address shared transnational security challenges, from organized crime to illicit trafficking. Regional training programs like the Junior Officers’ Course are designed to build a unified, skilled network of law enforcement leaders equipped to tackle these complex issues across national borders.

4 8 月, 2026
Art Becomes a Call to Protect Placencia Lagoon

Nestled along the southern coast of Belize, the waters of Placencia Lagoon have been the quiet backbone of local livelihoods for generations. For small-scale fishermen, it provides daily catches to feed their families; for tour guides and local tourism operators, it draws visitors eager to experience its rich mangrove ecosystems and unique marine wildlife; for generations of residents, it has been a gathering space for recreation and cultural connection. But today, this vital coastal ecosystem faces growing pressures that threaten both its ecological health and the communities that depend on it, prompting a creative new approach to conservation that centers local voices. On August 3, 2026, residents of Independence Village unveiled a large, community-created mural on the village shore, marking the official launch of a new public awareness campaign to protect the iconic lagoon.

The campaign is a collaborative effort between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Belize’s Southern Environmental Association (SEA), tied to the broader Reef Guard Project: Sustaining Life and Livelihoods initiative. This project works to strengthen management of four key marine protected areas across southern Belize, including South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. Unlike top-down conservation campaigns that often exclude local input, this effort centers the experiences and needs of communities that have lived alongside the lagoon for decades.

Abigail Parham Garbutt, a marine conservation officer with WWF, explained that the mural project is the first step of the new communications campaign, with more public art installations planned for other communities bordering the lagoon, including Placencia and Stann Creek. “These murals are meant to capture the layered history of how people have interacted with this lagoon, from generations past to the present day,” Garbutt said. “They hold the personal memories and lived livelihoods that tie this community to the water, and make clear just how critical this ecosystem is to everyone who lives here.”

Unlike many conservation efforts that frame protection as separate from community needs, the Placencia Lagoon campaign works to strike a balance between ecological health and economic survival, emphasizing that successful long-term conservation cannot leave behind the people who depend on the lagoon’s resources. Community liaison Diego Lozano, based in Independence Village, notes that local buy-in is the foundation of any effective protection effort. “So many different people rely on this lagoon every single day: tour guides earning a living, small-scale fishermen bringing food home to their families, residents coming here to relax and recreate,” Lozano explained. “That’s why we need to protect it, but we have to do it in a way that respects all of these needs and finds a sustainable balance.”

The threats facing the lagoon are multi-fold, according to conservation leaders. Calvin Gonzales, senior project manager at SEA, outlined the key challenges threatening the ecosystem: unsustainable and illegal fishing practices, including both local and transboundary illegal fishing, harvesting of undersized or out-of-season marine life, unregulated coastal development, and the global pressure of climate change, which has driven coral bleaching across Belize’s reef systems that are connected to the lagoon. Gonzales added that lasting protection will require both stronger enforcement of existing conservation rules and ongoing scientific monitoring to track ecosystem health over time.

The Independence Village mural was painted collectively by more than 20 community members, ranging from local school children to professional conservationists, overseen by local artist Anton Leslie. Leslie explained that the design draws directly from the real experiences of people who live in the village, rather than a generic vision of coastal nature. The work depicts the lush mangrove habitats that form the foundation of the lagoon’s food web, alongside iconic local touches: the Hokie Pokie water taxi that serves the village, native manatees that frequent the lagoon’s shallow waters, and a child climbing through mangrove roots, capturing the intergenerational connection local people have to the ecosystem. “It covers all the different parts of life that happen here in this lagoon habitat,” Leslie said.

This first mural is just the opening step of the wider campaign, which aims to build a grassroots, community-led movement for conservation across the Placencia Lagoon region. By turning personal stories and lived connection into public art, organizers hope to inspire more local residents to join protection efforts and build widespread public support for policies that will safeguard the lagoon for future generations. The event was covered by News Five’s Britney Gordon on location in Independence Village.

4 8 月, 2026