Carib Scope

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  • Mother Seeks Accountability After Infant Dies at KHMH

    Mother Seeks Accountability After Infant Dies at KHMH

    A devastating infant mortality case at Belize’s primary medical facility has ignited national concerns over pediatric care standards and institutional accountability. Alicia Kuylen, a grieving mother from Belize City, is seeking answers following the death of her two-month-old son, Damani, at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH).

    The tragedy unfolded after Kuylen brought her prematurely born infant to the hospital upon noticing concerning symptoms, including sudden feeding cessation. During treatment, medical staff attempted multiple blood extraction procedures while the distressed infant cried uncontrollably. Kuylen reports disturbing interactions with healthcare personnel who questioned her parenting capabilities during this critical moment.

    Damani, delivered at thirty-six weeks gestation, faced inherent health vulnerabilities due to his premature birth. His mother contends that hospital staff discharged them prematurely despite the known medical complexities of preterm infants. The situation deteriorated rapidly when Damani received a blood transfusion using twenty-nine-day-old blood, selected for its type compatibility and immediate availability.

    The infant’s final moments were witnessed by his traumatized mother, who observed rapid chest movements followed by respiratory arrest despite resuscitation attempts. This personal tragedy has amplified existing public concerns following multiple infant deaths at KHMH.

    The hospital administration issued a carefully worded statement expressing empathy while citing complex medical factors including prematurity, congenital conditions, and malnutrition as contributing elements in what they classify as “high-risk” cases. However, the response has failed to satisfy growing demands for concrete answers about procedural reviews and systemic improvements.

    As the Ministry of Health and Wellness collaborates with KHMH under confidentiality protocols, the public challenges whether institutional transparency will lead to meaningful reform. The central question remains whether these infant deaths represent unavoidable medical outcomes or indicate deeper systemic failures in neonatal care requiring immediate addressing.

  • BTL Faces Protest as Retirees Demand Severance Pay

    BTL Faces Protest as Retirees Demand Severance Pay

    BELIZE CITY – A tense standoff has erupted between Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and its former employees as retired workers intensify demands for severance payments legally mandated by a landmark judicial ruling. The Belize Communications Workers for Justice organization has initiated a multi-day demonstration outside BTL’s corporate headquarters, signaling the collapse of diplomatic negotiations after months of unresolved appeals.

    The conflict stems from a November 2025 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decision that established a precedent requiring companies to pay severance to retired employees under the Belize Labour Act, regardless of pension status. While the original ruling applied to ten former employees, the decision has paved the way for dozens of additional retirees to come forward with similar claims.

    Emily Turner, former President of the Belize Communication Workers Union, articulated the protesters’ frustration: ‘We have exhausted all diplomatic channels through numerous letters and appeals. The period for negotiation has concluded—we demand concrete dates for payment disbursement to all affected individuals, not selective settlements.’

    The protest gained momentum as approximately thirty retirees assembled outside BTL’s premises, holding daily demonstrations from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM under a legally authorized six-day permit. The retirees’ demands have gained political traction with Labor Minister Kareem Musa publicly endorsing their cause, stating that the CCJ ruling leaves ‘no alternative or appeal process’ for compliance.

    Adding complexity to the dispute, protesters have highlighted BTL’s concurrent move to acquire telecom competitor Speednet for $80 million. Former union leader Michael Augustus questioned the company’s priorities: ‘If BTL can allocate millions for acquisitions, it certainly possesses the capacity to settle its obligations to the workers who built the company.’

    The Labor Ministry has acknowledged the matter, with Prime Minister John Briceño initiating an investigation that was subsequently delegated to Labor Commissioner Colbert Guerra. However, protesters report no substantive progress since January 2026, despite repeated follow-ups.

    This developing situation represents a significant test for labor rights enforcement in Belize and could establish important precedents for retirement benefits throughout the Caribbean region.

  • BTL Warns Former Union Leader Over Protest Comments

    BTL Warns Former Union Leader Over Protest Comments

    Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has escalated tensions with labor representatives by issuing a formal cease-and-desist warning to former union leader Emily Turner. The telecommunications company alleges that comments made by Turner during a Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ) press conference could be interpreted as encouraging operational interference with BTL’s infrastructure.

    In a strongly worded legal communication dated January 30, 2026, BTL asserted that Turner’s remarks might inspire actions that could disrupt network operations and service delivery. The company emphasized that any compromise of its systems would jeopardize essential public services, violate legal obligations, and cause significant commercial harm.

    The confrontation stems from recent comments about ‘pulling plugs’ on BTL operations, which company executives interpreted as potentially incendiary. BTL’s letter demands immediate cessation of such rhetoric and threatens formal legal proceedings should the behavior continue.

    In response, both Turner and Michael Augustus—another former Belize Communication Workers Union president—vehemently denied advocating infrastructure damage. Augustus characterized the company’s response as disproportionate, stating: ‘There is nothing about destroying infrastructure—something we built. We are into new houses. Why would we destroy our new house?’

    Turner, who dedicated 24 years to BTL, expressed disappointment at the allegations: ‘I started when I was only twenty-seven years old. There is no way I want to destroy that.’ She described the legal warning as ‘an overreaction from a very scared executive team.’

    BCWJ leadership maintains that their comments were misinterpreted, emphasizing their historical role in building the company’s infrastructure and their commitment to preserving rather than damaging corporate assets. The union representatives suggest the company’s aggressive stance reflects executive anxiety rather than factual grounds for legal action.

  • New Support Program Boosts Belize’s Sugar Industry

    New Support Program Boosts Belize’s Sugar Industry

    Facing an existential crisis driven by escalating production costs, diminishing yields, and mounting climate pressures, Belize’s historic sugar sector is receiving a critical intervention. The Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) has unveiled AgGrowPro, a comprehensive support program designed to reverse the exodus of cane farmers through strategic operational modernization.

    The initiative arrives as numerous family-owned farms stand abandoned, with many traditional growers transitioning to alternative sectors such as cattle ranching. BSI’s Country Manager, Mac McClachlan, expressed deep concern over the proliferation of substandard, low-yield cane fields that have become economically unviable for harvesting. “It’s very disappointing to see the number of cane fields that have just been abandoned,” McClachlan stated, characterizing the situation as a “real travesty” of wasted land and effort.

    AgGrowPro offers a multi-faceted approach including advanced farm management techniques, technical assistance, and crucial mechanization support. The program provides financial flexibility with seven-year repayment terms, allowing farmers to benefit from immediate productivity gains. Additionally, BSI is exploring land lease arrangements with struggling growers as part of the comprehensive rescue package.

    The program has received full endorsement from Prime Minister John Briceño, who praised the initiative as “a wonderful and great program” that addresses the industry’s fundamental transformation needs. Briceño emphasized the critical shift from manual harvesting to mechanized processes, requiring redesigned fields with proper drainage slopes and longer rows to accommodate modern equipment.

    Industry leaders anticipate AgGrowPro will stabilize national sugar production levels while protecting agricultural livelihoods that have sustained Belize’s rural communities for generations. The success of this intervention could determine the long-term viability of one of Belize’s most historically significant agricultural sectors.

  • Bad Roads Hit Cane Farmers Just Days Into New Crop

    Bad Roads Hit Cane Farmers Just Days Into New Crop

    BELIZE – A mere eleven days into the 2025 sugar harvest season, Belize’s cane farmers confront a debilitating recurrence of last year’s infrastructure crisis. Despite commencing with renewed optimism after a challenging previous season, agricultural operations have ground to a halt due to severely deteriorated road networks preventing crop transportation to processing facilities.

    Government officials attribute the infrastructural decay to weeks of torrential rainfall that impeded scheduled repair works across the nation. While meteorological conditions have recently improved, permitting initial rehabilitation efforts, the geographical inconsistency of these interventions has created critical operational disparities among farming communities.

    Salvador Martin, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association, reveals Northern Belize growers face particularly severe logistical challenges. Farmers in his jurisdiction report daily losses exceeding thousands of dollars as they struggle to transport approximately eight tons of cane – a fraction of their typical 80-ton daily quota. The cumulative deficit has already surpassed 1,000 tons of undelivered produce since the season’s commencement on January 19.

    In an exclusive interview with News Five, Chairman Martin expressed profound disappointment regarding unfulfilled governmental commitments. “We have been disappointed because it’s almost ten days since crop started,” Martin stated. “I feel so ashamed with my people because I made the tour with the government and I assured them that it would happen.”

    While acknowledging the administration’s “good intentions,” Martin emphasized the impracticality of operating on promises alone. The chairman highlighted the emotional and economic toll on agricultural workers who face both financial losses and diminished credibility within their communities.

    The farming sector now urgently appeals for immediate governmental intervention to restore Northern Belize’s sugar roads, enabling timely crop delivery and mitigating further economic damage to this vital agricultural industry.

  • Passing Out Parade Marks Arrival of 150 New Soldiers

    Passing Out Parade Marks Arrival of 150 New Soldiers

    The Sir Colville Young Parade Square at Price Barracks in Ladyville served as the backdrop for a significant national event on January 30, 2026, as the Belize Defense Force formally integrated 150 new soldiers into its ranks. The traditional passing-out parade ceremony culminated seventeen weeks of intensive training that transformed civilians into disciplined military personnel.

    The newly graduated cohort, comprising 144 male and 6 female recruits, displayed their precision and regimented training through coordinated marching formations under the afternoon sun. The event drew emotional family members and distinguished dignitaries who witnessed the transformative journey of these young Belizeans.

    For attending parents, the ceremony represented both a proud achievement and an emotional transition as their children officially embraced the solemn responsibility of national defense. The rigorous training program has equipped the recruits with essential military skills and instilled the values of discipline and commitment required for service.

    The formal induction ceremony marks these 150 individuals as full members of Belize’s primary military organization, ready to contribute to national security and emergency response operations. This intake represents the latest reinforcement to the BDF’s operational capabilities, continuing the force’s tradition of developing skilled personnel through demanding training protocols.

  • Social : US bishops urge the Trump administration to extend TPS

    Social : US bishops urge the Trump administration to extend TPS

    In a significant humanitarian appeal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called upon the Trump administration to reverse its decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 300,000 Haitian immigrants facing imminent legal limbo. With the February 3rd, 2026 deadline approaching, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Chairman of the Conference’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, emphasized the critical nature of the situation in a January 29th statement.

    The religious leaders highlighted the severe security conditions in Haiti that make repatriation impossible, citing the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 travel advisory warning of ‘life-threatening risks’ including widespread kidnapping, civil unrest, and terrorist activities. Adding to these concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a complete flight ban from all U.S. cities to Port-au-Prince, effectively eliminating safe return corridors.

    While acknowledging that TPS was designed as temporary relief, the bishops emphasized that current circumstances demand executive action. They noted that despite previous calls for congressional legislation to create pathways to permanent status for long-term TPS holders, no such legislative solution has materialized, leaving the administration with both the authority and moral responsibility to act.

    The statement concluded with a powerful invocation of solidarity with the Haitian community worldwide and a prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, patroness of Haiti, seeking divine intervention for a population facing unprecedented uncertainty and danger.

  • BDF Soldiers Question Transparency in Equipment Procurement

    BDF Soldiers Question Transparency in Equipment Procurement

    Growing unease has emerged within the ranks of the Belize Defense Force regarding the transparency of military equipment procurement procedures. Service members have expressed concerns about recent structural changes that transferred authority for sourcing essential gear—including weapons and footwear—from military personnel to the Ministry of Defense.

    The shift in procurement responsibility has sparked questions about contract allocation processes and overall transparency in governmental decision-making. The concerns circulating among soldiers highlight potential issues in how critical defense resources are acquired under the new system.

    Former Defense Minister Oscar Mira addressed the matter cautiously, noting, “It would not be appropriate for me to comment on a ministry I no longer lead.” Mira detailed the established tender process during his administration, emphasizing strict adherence to procedural protocols. “When I was at the Ministry of National Defense, that tender process was followed to the letter,” he stated, describing a system designed to prevent issues through comprehensive oversight, including final approval from the contractor general.

    When questioned about potential familial connections to defense contracts, Mira acknowledged that relatives had previously participated in tender processes and received contracts under prior administrations. His comments come amid ongoing discussions within military circles about whether current procedures maintain the same level of transparency as previous systems.

    The emerging internal dissent highlights broader questions about governance and accountability within Belize’s defense infrastructure, with soldiers seeking reassurance that equipment procurement remains free from preferential treatment or procedural irregularities.

  • Double Cold Front to Chill Belize This Weekend

    Double Cold Front to Chill Belize This Weekend

    Meteorological authorities in Belize have issued a weather advisory warning citizens to prepare for significantly cooler conditions as two consecutive cold fronts approach the nation. The first frontal system is projected to arrive by Saturday afternoon, with a secondary, more potent front following closely behind.

    The most pronounced temperature drop is anticipated from Sunday evening through Monday morning, creating unusually cold conditions for the region. Coastal areas should expect temperatures descending into the low 60s Fahrenheit, while interior regions may experience mid-50s readings. The elevated mountain districts could see temperatures approaching the upper 40s Fahrenheit—exceptionally cold by Belizean standards.

    Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon provided historical context, noting that while these temperatures represent a substantial cool snap, they are not expected to break historical records. “These are quite low for Belize in the Belizean context, but they are not record lows,” Gordon stated after reviewing archival data.

    Historical records indicate that the lowest temperature recorded for February 2nd was 59°F (15°C) at Central Farm, with the absolute monthly minimum being 46°F (7.8°C) at the same location. For Philip Goldson International Airport, the historical minimum for February 2nd stands at 56°F (13.3°C), with the monthly record being 52°F (11.1°C) from February 22, 1978.

    Gordon characterized the event as “a very cold snap, an arctic blast as some people might say” while emphasizing that temperatures may approach but not exceed historical extremes. Residents are advised to take appropriate precautions, including wearing warmer clothing and using additional bedding, as the Belizean population is generally unaccustomed to such cool conditions.

  • Chasing Dreams, Creating Community: The Sol Clay Story

    Chasing Dreams, Creating Community: The Sol Clay Story

    In an inspiring entrepreneurial narrative, Belizean creative Landee Longsworth has transformed pandemic isolation into a thriving jewelry business and community movement. The founder of Sol Handmade Clay Jewelry recently shared her five-year journey with reporter Sabreena Daly, revealing how a leap of faith during COVID-19 quarantine evolved into a meaningful enterprise.

    Longsworth’s brand name ‘Sol’—Spanish for sun—draws inspiration from her mother’s affectionate nickname ‘Sunshine.’ What began as experimental curiosity with polymer clay has grown into a distinctive jewelry line featuring intricate designs inspired by Belizean flora and fauna, including Scarlet Macaws, hibiscus varieties, and Monstera Leaves.

    The entrepreneurial path required significant courage, with Longsworth initially balancing her creative venture alongside full-time employment before committing fully to her business ambitions. She credits her mother Denise as her foundational support system, noting how she dedicated weekends to assisting with pop-up events despite maintaining her own professional responsibilities.

    Beyond creating wearable art, Longsworth has cultivated what she affectionately calls her ‘solshines’—a community of supporters who have become integral participants in her journey. This connection has inspired her latest initiative, ‘Clay and Connection,’ which brings creative workshops directly to customers’ chosen venues, fostering hands-on artistic experiences.

    Reflecting on her unexpected entrepreneurial evolution, Longsworth acknowledges the challenges of self-teaching business fundamentals like accounting and taxation. Despite the obstacles, she expresses profound gratitude for the growth achieved and wishes she had trusted her capabilities sooner. Her story stands as testament to how passion, family support, and community building can transform creative curiosity into sustainable enterprise.