Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Belize City Council Launches September Celebrations

    Belize City Council Launches September Celebrations

    As Belize prepares to mark its 45th year of nationhood, the Belize City Council has officially opened the month-long September national celebrations with the traditional flag-raising ceremony held at the flag monument roundabout in the country’s former capital, Belize City.

    This year’s launch has infused the historic coastal city with a renewed wave of national pride, with dozens of national flags hoisted across the roundabout and main thoroughfares that will remain on display through the end of September. These flags are not merely decorative; organizers emphasize they stand as a permanent, public symbol of shared patriotism, cultural celebration and collective civic pride for all Belizeans.

    Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller of Belize City delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, where he reflected on the meaning of national pride beyond public displays of patriotism. Miller noted that September holds a unique, special place in the hearts of all Belizeans, a time when citizens across the country unfurl national flags, wear clothing emblazoned with Belize’s national colors, and gather to celebrate the country’s rich, diverse cultural heritage.

    However, Miller argued that genuine civic pride extends far beyond these visible acts of celebration. “Our love for Belize is most meaningful when we translate it into how we live, how we work and how we treat one another,” he told attendees. This year’s official celebration theme, “Look at Me I am Belize @ 45”, frames a quiet challenge to every Belizean to engage in honest self-reflection: as the nation enters its 45th year, the country itself is a reflection of the character, actions and collective contributions of its people.

    Miller stressed that meaningful contribution to Belize does not require holding public office, leading a major national organization, or carrying out extraordinary, headline-grabbing acts. Instead, the true measure of a person’s love for their country is shown in ordinary, daily life: through consistent honesty, personal discipline, small acts of kindness, and a commitment to doing what is right even when no one is watching.

    This news piece is a transcript of a televised evening newscast, with all Kriol language quotes transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility. The full video broadcast of the opening ceremony is available to view on the original outlet’s digital platform.

  • St Kitts PM sent overseas for medical observation

    St Kitts PM sent overseas for medical observation

    The leader of the Caribbean federation of St Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, is receiving specialized off-island medical care in Martinique after being hospitalized over the weekend for acute uncomfortable symptoms, according to official government statements and regional reporting.

    On Sunday, Dr. Drew—himself a trained internal medicine physician—first presented at the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital in Basseterre, the nation’s capital, reporting mild persistent discomfort, nausea, and a severe headache. The St Kitts and Nevis Cabinet Secretariat released an official health update on the Prime Minister’s condition in the early hours of Monday, confirming that clinical teams immediately admitted him for overnight observation and a full diagnostic workup.

    Over an 18-hour period of continuous care, a team of attending physicians and in-house specialists monitored the Prime Minister closely. Following the completion of all initial testing and clinical reviews, treating providers confirmed that Dr. Drew remained fully conscious, alert, and clinically stable, and they expressed overall satisfaction with his initial response to care. However, out of an abundance of caution and in line with clinical recommendations drawn from their initial observations, the JNF medical team advised that the Prime Minister travel abroad for additional specialized observation and precautionary ongoing monitoring.

    A source with close ties to the St Kitts and Nevis administration told regional outlet Barbados TODAY on Tuesday that the Prime Minister was transported to Martinique by air late Monday. The Cabinet Secretariat has publicly requested that citizens keep Dr. Drew in their prayers as he undergoes care, with the goal of a full and speedy recovery.

    The government has also moved to reassure the public that all routine state business will continue without disruption amid the Prime Minister’s medical leave, and that regular updates on Dr. Drew’s health status will be released to the public as more information becomes available.

    Dr. Drew made history as the fourth Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis following the nation’s 1983 independence, taking office in August 2022 after leading the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to a decisive victory in that year’s general election. Beyond his role as head of government, he holds multiple key cabinet portfolios, including minister of finance, national security, citizenship and immigration, health, human resource management, and social security. Prior to entering politics full-time, Dr. Drew built his career as an internal medicine physician, practicing both at JNF General Hospital—where he was admitted this weekend—and in private care.

  • Marion Jones Challenges Belize to Build Champions

    Marion Jones Challenges Belize to Build Champions

    Twenty-six years after a iconic Olympic moment that put Belize in the global sporting spotlight, former track-and-field athlete Marion Jones has returned to her mother’s home country with a clear, urgent call to action: build the systems needed to turn Belize’s raw athletic talent into world championship success.

    Jones’ connection to Belize runs deeper than a single race. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, after claiming gold in the women’s 100-meter event, Jones completed her victory lap carrying both the U.S. flag and the Belizean flag — an unplanned, heartfelt gesture honoring her dual heritage as the daughter of a Belizean-American mother. “When I crossed the finish line, my eye went straight to my mom in the crowd,” Jones recalled of the moment. “My uncle had the Belizean flag with him, and I grabbed it instinctively. Both countries are my home.”

    That spontaneous act earned Jones a permanent place in Belize’s national story. When she visited the country two years after the Sydney Games, Belize embraced her as one of its own, and she immediately began giving back: visiting local schools, meeting emerging young athletes, and investing her own money to upgrade substandard community sporting facilities. It was on that first visit that Jones truly understood how deeply Belize claimed her, a bond that would shape her work decades later.

    Her life took a devastating turn in 2007, when Jones admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs ahead of the Sydney Olympics and lying to federal investigators. She was stripped of all five of her Olympic medals, served six months in federal prison, and saw her legendary track career end in disgrace. For years, she stayed away from Belize, grappling with the hurt her choices had caused a country that had celebrated her so openly. “One of the hardest parts of that whole experience was knowing I disappointed Belize,” Jones shared. “It hurt me deeply to see the people who loved me let down. I needed time to make amends to myself, to my family, and to come back ready to contribute something good.”

    After retiring from professional sport — which included a stint in the WNBA after her track career ended — Jones rebuilt her life as a motivational speaker and sports development consultant. Now, she is back in Belize to headline the country’s first ever National Sports Summit, with a singular mission: to help build a cohesive national strategy that nurtures local talent from childhood to the international podium.

    Jones argues that while Belize has no shortage of gifted young athletes, the country lacks the coordinated investment and planning needed to compete on the global stage. “The talent is already here. People have been working hard behind the scenes for decades to develop that talent, but we don’t have a unified plan for sport, funding, coach training, or equipping our coaches to build world-class athletes,” she explained.

    Pointing to neighboring small Caribbean nations like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados and Saint Lucia that consistently produce Olympic and world champions, Jones noted their success stems from intentional, cross-sector collaboration. “These countries are similar in size to Belize, but they have a dedicated national strategy for sport,” she said. “We need government, sports federations, the National Sports Council, and the Belize Olympic Committee to all sit down together, acknowledge that what we’ve been doing isn’t working, and build a real plan. No more signing a document and putting it on a shelf — we need actionable, sustained change.”

    For many of Belize’s young athletes today, Jones is best known as the name attached to a local sporting stadium, and few witnessed the 2000 Sydney moment that first connected her to the country. But now, after weathering the highest highs and lowest lows of public sporting life, Jones is focused on giving the next generation the opportunities she never had. Through her work at the summit and beyond, she aims to help a new generation of Belizean athletes create their own unforgettable moments on the world’s biggest sporting stages.

  • Government Moves to Calm Tax Service Employees

    Government Moves to Calm Tax Service Employees

    A nationwide strike by Belize Tax Services Department employees, which disrupted government operations across the country last week, has pushed the Briceño administration into urgent negotiations to address worker anxieties over a sweeping institutional restructuring plan. At the heart of the industrial action is the controversial Revenue Authority Bill, legislation that would convert the existing tax department into a new semi-autonomous public body. While the government frames the change as a reform to improve tax collection efficiency, striking workers have raised two core objections: widespread fears that the restructuring will erode existing job protections for current staff, and broader concerns that the bill concentrates excessive regulatory power in the office of Prime Minister John Briceño, who also serves as the nation’s Minister of Finance.

    In a bid to de-escalate the conflict and bring striking employees back to work, Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher has publicly intervened to reassure workers of the government’s commitment to fair treatment during the transition. Speaking in a recent televised address that was transcribed for online distribution, Usher emphasized that his core mandate is to protect the interests of all public sector employees amid institutional changes.

    “As the minister of public service my job is to ensure that the employees of any government institution are treated fairly, get the information they need so that they can make an informed decision going forward,” Usher stated. He confirmed that the policy to establish the new revenue authority has already received official government approval, but stressed that his office would prioritize transparency and worker rights regardless of the final outcome for staff. “Whatever happens with those employees, if they are going to remain there in the new entity, if they come into the wider public service, or if they decide to move on, we have to make sure to get the information, that they are treated fairly and they have an opportunity to make an informed decision,” he added.

    When pressed on the second major criticism from the Public Service Union (PSU) – that the bill represents an overreach of executive power by concentrating too much authority in the Minister of Finance – Usher deflected the question to the finance portfolio. “I think that question should be asked of the Minister of Finance, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Secretary. My job is look out for the employees of the institution, to look out for all the public officers to as I said, make sure they get the right information,” he explained.

    As of September 1, 2026, the government’s outreach has not yet resulted in a formal end to the strike, with union leaders still waiting for written guarantees on job security and amendments to the controversial provisions of the bill. This report is a transcribed version of an evening television news broadcast from Belize, with Kriol language portions translated and formatted using a standardized spelling system for online publication.

  • NeoPeople Pilot Moves Forward Despite PSU Objections

    NeoPeople Pilot Moves Forward Despite PSU Objections

    Scheduled to launch in September 2026, Belize’s controversial NeoPeople pilot employee management program is moving forward despite sustained pushback from the nation’s Public Service Union (PSU), which has raised red flags over unapproved implementation, potential personal data security risks, and unanswered questions about corporate ownership and potential government conflicts of interest.

    The core of the PSU’s initial objection centers on the government’s decision to roll out the pilot without first securing the union’s formal consent. Union leadership has warned its members that the new digital system could expose public servants’ sensitive personal information to unauthorized access, prompting the organization to encourage members to opt out of participation.

    But Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher has pushed back against these concerns, confirming that a cohort of public officers have already voluntarily joined the pilot, and framing the program as a critical component of the government’s long-term public service modernization agenda under the national Plan Belize initiative. Usher emphasized that digitizing employee records and streamlining public service workflows is non-negotiable for improving government efficiency, noting that delaying the transition would only leave the public service stuck in outdated, inefficient operating models.

    “Everyone who has participated in this pilot project and it is a voluntary pilot project for now. You don’t have to respond if you don’t want as a public officer, but those who have responded are very happy with the system,” Usher told reporters. He added that participating officers have praised the platform for its simple onboarding process, easy access to personal employment records, and simplified digital processes for routine employee requests.

    When pressed on the PSU’s complaint that a required digital impact assessment was never shared with the union for review, Usher acknowledged the union’s concerns and confirmed that the ministry is currently in ongoing negotiations to address all outstanding points of contention. He added that the ministry has prepared a formal written response to the PSU’s official letter of objections and will share the document with the public once finalized.

    The controversy has since expanded beyond data privacy, with the PSU now demanding full transparency over the ownership of the firm that provides the NeoPeople software to the Belizean government. Union president Dean Flowers has filed a formal freedom of information (FOIA) request asking whether any sitting government official held a financial stake in the company at the time the contract was awarded, a question that has lingered for months without a clear answer.

    When reporters directly pressed Usher on the ownership question during a recent press appearance, the minister declined to provide a direct response, instead redirecting inquiries to e-Data, the firm behind the software. “You would have to check with them,” Usher said when asked why he, as the minister overseeing the contract, could not disclose basic ownership details to the public. When pressed further on whether any sitting government official held a stake in the company when the agreement was signed, Usher only confirmed that Juan Carlos Namis signed the contract on behalf of e-Data, and again directed reporters to direct their questions to Namis.

    To date, five months have passed since the PSU submitted its FOIA request, and the union says it has yet to receive any formal response from the ministry, leaving the ownership question unresolved as the pilot moves forward. This report is a transcript of a televised evening news broadcast, with all Kriol language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.

  • ‘Project CARE’ relaunches as long-term food security drive

    ‘Project CARE’ relaunches as long-term food security drive

    Four years after it was first rolled out as an emergency response to widespread COVID-19 economic disruption, Barbados’ Project CARE has been reborn as a permanent national initiative focused on lifting vulnerable households through sustainable agriculture, improved food security, and income generation. What began as the Community Agriculture Response and Empowerment, a stopgap measure to counter pandemic-era supply chain breakdowns and widespread income loss, has evolved into a core pillar of the country’s social and economic development strategy, with a new mandate to build long-term household resilience, nurture agricultural entrepreneurship, and strengthen national food and nutrition security.

    The relaunch event brought together a cross-sector coalition of stakeholders, including ministers from the social care and agriculture portfolios, sitting parliamentarians, local community leaders, and representatives from two leading regional and global agricultural bodies: the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Unlike the original programme, which centered on distributing basic inputs for backyard gardening, the revamped Project CARE expands its scope to include hands-on technical training, instruction in climate-smart farming practices, support for small-scale aquaponics systems, and training for small livestock rearing operations. Through intentional alignment with existing national social development programmes, officials are working to create clear pathways for participants to grow from small-scale household food production to full-fledged commercial agricultural businesses.

    Neil Rowe, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and MP for St Michael North West, emphasized the programme’s transformative potential for marginalized groups and whole communities when supported by collective action. “Agriculture can help us build second chances,” Rowe remarked. He highlighted the diverse range of people the initiative is designed to serve: residents who have past mistakes and are looking to rebuild, young people yet to find their professional path, families struggling to make ends meet with insufficient income, and individuals who simply need a vote of confidence to pursue their goals. Rowe stressed that sustained impact cannot be achieved by parliamentarians or farmers working alone, noting, “When the government, communities, farmers, schools, businesses and individuals work together, we can create opportunities that have a lasting impact.” He framed the relaunched initiative not as just another agricultural policy, but as a targeted investment in people, local communities, and Barbados’ long-term future.
    Adrian Forde, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, centered his remarks on the interconnectedness of social development, agricultural innovation, and climate change adaptation. He noted that local farmers play an irreplaceable role in national stability amid accelerating environmental volatility, drawing a parallel between the vulnerabilities of low-income households served by social programmes and the challenges facing Barbados’ agricultural sector. “Our agriculture is fierce with the vagaries of climate change,” Forde said. “In the same way that persons in the One Family programme are faced with vulnerabilities as it relates to poverty, lack of proper housing, and lack of proper food and nutritional supplies, our agriculture is equally faced with pests and climate change vulnerabilities.”

    Forde praised the programme’s integration of climate mitigation strategies, including natural drainage systems adapted from traditional Barbadian conservation practices, and paid tribute to the ingenuity of local producers. “Farmers turn what is called the soil – Barbadians may call it mud as we know it – and produce money. If farmers are magicians, don’t forget it. You are the only people who can turn soil into money, and that, my friends, is true magic,” he said. Forde concluded that the revamped Project CARE positions Barbados as a proof of concept for small island developing states, demonstrating that even nations facing unique structural challenges can build resilience, address food insecurity, and move closer to the goal of national food self-sufficiency.

  • Port Loyola Fire Destroys Two-Story Wooden Home

    Port Loyola Fire Destroys Two-Story Wooden Home

    On the morning of September 1, 2026, a devastating fire tore through a two-story wooden residential property on Ground Dove Street in Belize’s Port Loyola area, leaving the structure completely destroyed. While early investigations point to an origin in a first-floor room of the home, official confirmation from fire response teams is still pending as authorities work to compile a full formal report on the incident.

    Six residents were living in the home at the time of the blaze, and the rapid spread of the fire left them no time to salvage any personal belongings. Every piece of property inside the residence was lost in the destruction. Critical gaps in emergency response have also emerged: local reports confirm that firefighters arrived at the scene a significant amount of time after the fire first ignited. Despite the delayed arrival, response teams successfully extinguished the blaze before it could spread to adjacent neighboring properties, preventing further damage to the community.

    In the wake of the total loss of their home, the displaced family has issued a public appeal for urgent assistance from the community. Their most pressing immediate need is access to safe temporary housing, but the family is also seeking donations of clothing, basic daily necessities, and financial support to fund future rebuilding efforts. Community members who wish to provide support can contact the family directly at the phone number 630-5508.

    As of this update, no official incident report has been published by relevant authorities. News outlets will continue monitoring developments in this case and provide updates as more information becomes available. This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with Kriol language remarks transcribed using a standardized spelling system.

  • Mealybugs Put Sugar Production Under Pressure

    Mealybugs Put Sugar Production Under Pressure

    Scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026, this report reveals that a rapidly spreading tiny insect pest has emerged as a critical threat to Belize’s iconic sugar industry, compounding preexisting challenges that have already pushed the sector to a breaking point.

    Mealybugs, a tiny sap-sucking pest, have been expanding their reach across sugarcane fields in northern Belize, sapping nutrients from growing cane stalks, weakening plant health and accelerating an already steady decline in annual harvest yields. To draw public attention to the escalating crisis and highlight ongoing containment efforts, industry stakeholders led media tours through affected farmlands this week, giving journalists a first-hand look at the damage inflicted across the region. Compounding the pest-related stress, widespread labor shortages across the agricultural sector have added further strain, with industry officials issuing urgent warnings that rapid coordinated action is required to avert catastrophic financial and production losses that could reshape Belize’s agricultural economy for years to come.

    Olivia Carballo-Avilez, Cane Farmer Relations Manager at Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), broke down the scope of the production gap the industry is already grappling with before the mealybug outbreak worsened. BSI’s main processing mill is engineered to process up to 1.25 million tons of sugarcane annually, translating to a finished sugar output of between 123,000 and 125,000 tons per growing cycle. But this year, the total harvest delivered to the mill has fallen to just 823,000 long tons of cane. That sharp decline follows a 10 to 20 percent production loss recorded in 2025, which was caused by an outbreak of fusarium, another widespread crop pathogen.

    Carballo-Avilez explained that the mealybug outbreak itself is linked to shifting climate patterns across the Central American region, noting that higher average temperatures and more extreme fluctuations between temperature and moisture levels have created ideal growing conditions for the pest. What makes the threat even more serious is that the infestation is not confined to Belize; sugar producers across the entire Central American isthmus, including major growing regions in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, are all currently fighting the spread of what industry leaders now classify as an economically critical invasive pest. Before recent years, mealybugs were not considered a major threat to regional sugar production, making their sudden spread all the more alarming for producers.

    Beyond the immediate damage to crop yields, the production shortfall creates cascading financial pressures for both mill operators and independent cane farmers. Processing mills carry substantial fixed operating costs that do not change based on the volume of cane processed: whether the facility runs at full capacity of 1.25 million tons or reduces operations to process just 700,000 tons, these fixed costs remain the same. This dynamic pushes per-unit operating costs sharply higher when harvest volumes drop, creating significant financial stress for the mill. For farmers, the impact is equally severe: lower total cane and sugar output means reduced revenue, at the same time that cost increases are passed down the supply chain.

    *This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with original Kriol language text transcribed using a standardized spelling system.*

  • There is an Affordable Electric Ride for Every Belizean!

    There is an Affordable Electric Ride for Every Belizean!

    A quiet but transformative shift toward electric transportation is unfolding across Belize, where long-standing preferences for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles are slowly giving way to accessible, cost-competitive electric mobility options for residents across all income brackets. What was once seen as a niche luxury limited to wealthy consumers is now expanding into private passenger vehicles, commercial taxi fleets, and public transit networks, marking a milestone in the country’s sustainable transport transition.

    On Friday, global automotive manufacturer BYD launched its latest plug-in hybrid electric SUV model, the Ti 7, in Belize’s market. The model, which packs premium comfort and convenience features typically reserved for high-end luxury SUVs from brands like Range Rover, carries a retail price of approximately $130,000. Unlike fully electric models that require consistent access to charging infrastructure, the Ti 7 offers dual flexibility: owners can charge its battery at home or public stations, or refill a gasoline tank for longer trips, removing a key barrier to adoption for consumers nervous about the transition to electric drive.

    Ryan Marin, managing director of BYD’s Belize operations, emphasized that the vehicle delivers exceptional value for its price point, far outstripping what competitors offer in the same segment. “The transition for a lot of people is a lot easier with a vehicle like this,” Marin explained. “Apart from that, you get a lot of luxury features, and a lot of space for the whole family. It might look like a very expensive SUV at first glance, but compared to other offerings on the market at this price point, it’s a strong deal. You can’t find another brand-new vehicle with a full warranty and robust after-sales support matching what we offer here, which is why we’re so excited to bring this model to Belize.”

    BYD’s launch is just one part of the growing electric ecosystem being built by Belize’s private sector. Local electric mobility firm E-Volution already operates a fleet of roughly 60 electric vehicles across the country, including all-electric SUVs priced starting at $60,000 – a price point that brings electric mobility within reach of middle-income consumers. The company’s current flagship offering is the Honda eNP1, which delivers 320 miles of range on a single full charge.

    Isani Napata, program director at E-Volution, pointed to the long-term cost savings that make even the upfront purchase price of electric vehicles competitive with traditional gas-powered models. “When you buy a newer gas or diesel vehicle for around $30,000, you’re still on the hook for ongoing fuel costs that add up to the equivalent of a much more expensive purchase,” Napata explained. “Compare that to a $60,000 electric SUV that only costs $20 in electricity to drive all the way from Belize City to Punta Gorda. That’s around the same price as a bus ticket for that route, but you’re traveling in the comfort of your own private vehicle. You can’t beat that value.”

    E-Volution is also working to expand electric access to public and commercial transport providers. Over the next 12 months, the company plans to invest $1 million in a rent-to-own program that will put 25 new electric taxis on Belize’s roads, alongside adding 7-seater and 11-seater electric vans to the program. The initiative will expand options for driver-owners and lower operating costs for small transportation entrepreneurs.

    While private companies are broadening options for private and commercial drivers, Belize’s public sector is leading the large-scale transition to electric mobility. The country’s National Bus Company (NBC) has already completed a pilot testing program for electric buses, funded by a grant from the European Union, and is now on track to convert its entire 75-bus fleet to fully electric models by 2027.

    Speaking in late August 2026, Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh outlined that the first wave of 25 new electric buses, roughly one-third of the total fleet, was originally scheduled for September delivery but will now arrive in January 2027. “The economic case for this transition is clear,” Dr. Zabaneh noted. “The government is providing input to support the first phase of the project, and once the company becomes more profitable with lower operating costs, it will be able to secure financing for the remaining 50 buses independently.”

    Local municipal governments are also joining the movement. Belize City, the country’s largest urban center, is moving forward with plans to expand its municipal electric transit network, adding new electric buses and e-taxis to serve growing public demand. A recent analysis conducted by UNDP e-mobility expert Dr. Curtis Voodoo found that electric transport reduces operating costs by as much as 41% compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, building a clear case for expanded investment.

    Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner explained that the city is targeting underserved residential areas with the expansion, including Central American Boulevard, Jane Usher Boulevard, Yabra, Pen Road, Fabers Road, and the recently developed Belama Phase 4 and 5 neighborhoods. The city is already in the process of acquiring three additional electric buses to meet unmet demand for public transit in these areas.

    With private sector firms rolling out a range of affordable new models and accessible financing options, and all levels of government investing in electric public transit infrastructure, the transition to widespread e-mobility is no longer a distant future for Belize – it is a current reality that is opening up sustainable, lower-cost transportation across the country. This report from Shane Williams was produced for News Five.

  • Stella Maris Students Shine Bright on Day One

    Stella Maris Students Shine Bright on Day One

    As the 2026 academic year gets underway, students across Belize are returning to classrooms with a familiar blend of nervous jitters, unbridled excitement, and wide grins. For the student body of Belize’s Stella Maris, that first-day energy carried an extra layer of warmth and celebration on September 1, even as the school adapts to a temporary campus.

    Currently, the institution is operating out of borrowed facilities at the University of Belize while critical renovation work progresses on its original permanent building. Far from letting the temporary arrangement dampen spirits, school administrators, faculty, and parent volunteers pulled out all the stops to make every student feel welcomed, valued, and right at home from the moment they walked through the doors.

    The day’s lineup of special welcoming activities included a custom photo booth with a branded backdrop, designed to capture first-day memories and let each student’s unique personality shine. Parents were invited to join their children for portraits, creating keepsakes of the milestone moment. In addition to the photo opportunity, students were served a hot, nutritious breakfast to start their first day off right, and each classroom had small treats and welcome tokens waiting for returning and new learners alike.

    A highlight of the back-to-school effort came through a cross-border sister-city partnership between the Belize City Council and Miramar, Florida. Thanks to this collaborative initiative, every single student at Stella Maris received a brand-new school uniform ahead of the first day, removing a common financial burden for local families and ensuring all students arrived ready to learn with matching, fresh attire.

    In an on-site interview on opening day, Stella Maris Principal Doreth Pascasio-Griffith shared her reflections on the palpable energy across the temporary campus. “The first day of school is full of excitement, so many big smiles and so much enthusiasm,” she said. “You could see that excitement reflected in the parents too. I saw some parents crying today – for many of our new families, this is the first time their child is joining Stella Maris, and those tears rolling down their cheeks are tears of joy and excitement for the new school journey ahead here.”

    When asked about the extra steps the school took to make the first day special despite the temporary campus move, Pascasio-Griffith highlighted the focus on memory-making and connection. “As you can see behind me, we set up a special backdrop where the kids can take photos, and parents can join them for pictures too, because memories matter so much at these milestone moments,” she explained. “In every classroom, teachers have prepared small tokens and treats for the kids to welcome them back to school.”

    This report is a transcript of an evening television broadcast from local Belizean news outlets, with all Creole-language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility. Viewers can access the full video broadcast via the original publication’s website.