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  • Primary School Students Celebrate Belizean Culture and Identity

    Primary School Students Celebrate Belizean Culture and Identity

    As Belize gears up for its annual September Celebrations leading to Independence Day, the Belize Civic Center played host to a dynamic, youth-centered showcase of national pride on September 11, 2026. Hundreds of primary school pupils swapped their usual classroom routines for a day of celebration at the annual Children’s Rally, turning the large venue into a sea of patriotic red, blue, and white, filled with the sound of original music and traditional performance.

    This year’s gathering marked a welcome return to full capacity after the 2025 event was canceled mid-program due to heavy rain, which left most schools unable to attend. Education Minister Francis Fonseca shared his enthusiasm for the 2026 rally, noting the contagious energy that radiated from the young participants. “It’s always a great pleasure to join these kids. You can feel how much they love Belize, and how much joy they bring to this day,” Fonseca explained. “After last year’s rain-out, it’s incredible to have every participating school here under one roof this year. This is exactly what the spirit of September and the spirit of Belize is all about.”

    Among the largest contingents was St. Martin de Porres R.C. School, which brought more than 200 upper-primary students from Standards Four, Five, and Six. School principal Michelle Murray Gordon says that participating in the rally is a long-standing tradition for the institution, one that delivers lasting value to students beyond the fun of the day. “This event is such an important tool to help young people build a sense of patriotism and genuine pride in our country,” Murray Gordon said. “It also gives them a rare chance to enjoy themselves in a safe, supervised space outside of the classroom, to cut loose and just be kids. Our students love the day; every year when we can’t bring every student, the ones left out beg to come along. It’s easily one of the most anticipated events on their school calendar.”

    The 2026 rally featured a packed program of student-led performances, including traditional folk dance, patriotic choral singing, and original poetry that centered Belizean identity. For 11-year-old Anwar Perez, a student at St. Martin de Porres, the day’s core purpose goes beyond celebration: it is an opportunity to reframe the global narrative about his home country. “The most important part of today is that we get to celebrate our country and show the world who we really are as a people,” Perez explained. “A lot of people talk about the bad things that happen in Belize, but days like this show we have so much more to offer. I think we have one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and even though we have our flaws, if we get the chance to show that to the world, I know we could be known as one of the best.”

    When asked what makes them proud to call themselves Belizean, the young attendees offered warm, heartfelt answers. Sixth grader Jah’Niyah Jones summed up the sentiment shared by many: “I’m proud to be a Belizean because Belizean people are so nice.” Classmate Jaylee Dawnson echoed that thought, pointing to the country’s rich culinary traditions and tight-knit cultural community as her biggest sources of pride. “It’s the food, the culture, and just how kind everyone is here,” Dawnson said. For Austin Madrid, another student participant, no short list could capture his national pride: his answer was simply “Everything.”

    While the main rally for Belize District was held on September 11, schools across all other districts of Belize will hold their own local Children’s Rallies on September 18, continuing the season of national celebration leading up to Belize’s Independence Day on September 21. This report was compiled by Britney Gordon for News Five.

  • Trinidadian Steel Band Makes Pan Yaad Debut

    Trinidadian Steel Band Makes Pan Yaad Debut

    As Belize prepares to mark its annual September national celebrations, one of the country’s most anticipated cultural events is breaking new ground by welcoming a piece of Caribbean musical history to its stage. Pan Yaad, the flagship steelpan gathering of the celebrations, is back this year with its signature “Fete and Foam” concept, bringing together Belize’s top homegrown steel ensembles for a weekend of rhythm, community, and cultural celebration. For the first time in the event’s history, a visiting steel band from Trinidad and Tobago — the birthplace of the steelpan instrument — will join the lineup, marking a historic moment for cross-Caribbean cultural exchange.

    The 2026 Pan Yaad lineup features a stellar roster of Belizean talent, including fan favorites Pandemonium, UB Steel, SJC Rebels, Panerrifix, and SCA Unplugged, who will share the spotlight with Trinidad’s trailblazing 868 Ignition. Beyond the upbeat rhythms and festive atmosphere, organizers frame the event as far more than just an entertainment outing: it is a deliberate celebration of the shared history, boundless creativity, and unified regional identity that connects all Caribbean nations through the universal language of steelpan music.

    To make the event accessible and enjoyable for all attendees, organizers have built flexibility into the popular “foam and fete” format, explained Kim Vasquez, director of Belize’s Institute of Creative Arts. “The foam experience is completely optional,” Vasquez noted. “We recognize that not everyone wants to join in that part of the celebration, so we’ve sectioned off a dedicated foam area. Guests who want to join the fun can dive in, while those who prefer to stay dry and enjoy the music are free to do just that.”

    Vasquez added that Pan Yaad 2026 ranks as the largest steelpan event of the year in Belize, and ticket sales have been moving at a steady pace. Remaining tickets are still available for purchase through multiple channels, including on-site at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, via the official quick pass entry system, and through the NICH Belize official website.

    For the visiting Trinidadian ensemble, the invitation to perform at Pan Yaad carries profound meaning. 868 Ignition band leader Josef Ward shared that he has followed the growth of Pan Yaad since 2017, and has long recognized it as one of the standout events of Belize’s September national celebrations. “As the first steel band from Trinidad to ever perform at this event, this opportunity means the world to us,” Ward said. “We’re incredibly excited to be here, to share our music, and to connect with Belizean steelpan lovers and artists.”

    Ticket pricing is structured to welcome guests of all ages, with adult admission set at $15 USD and children’s tickets priced at just $5 USD, making the cultural celebration accessible to families and casual attendees alike. This event comes as part of a broader calendar of activities for Belize’s 2026 September Celebrations, highlighting the country’s ongoing commitment to centering Caribbean cultural heritage and fostering regional artistic collaboration.

  • ‘Sweet life done’ for robber

    ‘Sweet life done’ for robber

    A 25-year-old Greenfield resident has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars after pleading guilty to a street robbery that targeted essential personal items, including asthma inhalers and toiletries. Rico Ricardo Grazette entered the guilty plea before District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, admitting that he stole three boxes of inhalers valued at $90, a mobile phone charger worth $50, $13 in toiletries, and $20 in cash from victim Uriah Smith during the August 25 incident.

    Court testimony from Constable Troy Tudor laid out the sequence of events that led to the robbery. According to Tudor, a man familiar to Smith first approached the victim, demanding items from him and attempting to yank Smith’s mobile phone out of his pocket. Smith managed to push the unknown man away, who fled the area only to return shortly after with Grazette in tow.

    What followed quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. During the physical altercation between Smith and Grazette, Grazette pulled a knife and made multiple stabbing attempts toward the victim, while his accomplice punched Smith repeatedly in the face. In the chaos of the scuffle, Smith’s shopping bag fell to the ground, which Grazette grabbed before fleeing the scene alongside the other man.

    In a surprising turn of proceedings, Grazette acknowledged the prosecution’s outline of facts but maintained that he played no active role in the robbery or theft. He told Magistrate Jared Richards that he was just accompanying the man he called “Sweet Life” when he arrived at the scene. He claimed he stepped back and intended not to get involved in the fight between the other man and Smith, and only left the area after the commotion broke out, insisting he never took any stolen items with him.

    When pressed by the magistrate about why he would plead guilty to a crime he claims he did not commit, Grazette offered a starkly practical explanation: he said he pleaded guilty simply to speed up the court process because he had a steady grass-cutting job he feared losing, and threw himself on the mercy of the court for a lenient outcome.

    Magistrate Richards pushed back on Grazette’s explanation, noting that the narrative made no logical sense: if Grazette was truly innocent, he would have contested the charges rather than admitting guilt. The judge also referenced Grazette’s prior criminal record, which included previous robbery convictions. Further, the court learned that Grazette had violated bail conditions from a separate ongoing case, having failed to show up for required court dates since May, a move Grazette brushed off by saying he had been focused on his work.

    Calling Grazette’s choice to skip bail and plead guilty to a crime he denies an insult to the judicial system, Magistrate Richards handed down the 18-month prison sentence, noting “so for now, sweet life done” as Grazette was led out of the courtroom dock.

  • BMA seeks forex gains despite stiff competition

    BMA seeks forex gains despite stiff competition

    As Caribbean manufacturing firms grapple with a widening gap between skyrocketing operational expenses and stagnant sales, leadership of the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA) has issued a stark warning that industry-wide staff cuts could become inevitable if current economic pressures do not ease. In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Friday, BMA President Rosie Noel outlined the precarious position facing local producers, who are pinning their hopes for a turnaround on the upcoming winter tourist season and expanded export volumes to offset mounting cost burdens.

    “Costs are continuing to climb at a rapid pace, but we are cautiously optimistic that the arrival of the winter tourist season will lift demand and improve market conditions,” Noel explained. “Global economic volatility has made keeping overheads in check an enormous challenge for our members. Producers can only absorb elevated input and operating costs for so long. If sales fail to pick up to match rising expenses, layoffs become a possible outcome – but this is absolutely a measure of last resort for our sector. Manufacturers work tirelessly to retain staff and avoid this step whenever possible.”

    Beyond the direct strain of rising costs, Noel emphasized that the cost disparity between Barbadian producers and their international competitors has eroded the sector’s competitiveness both in domestic markets and across global export channels. “Competition is one of the most pressing challenges we face right now,” she noted. “Our overseas competitors operate with far lower overheads than we do, which puts us at a major disadvantage when competing for market share. This holds true for domestic sales and export activity alike. Even so, our members remain committed to expanding their international footprint, because growing exports is key to bringing more critical foreign exchange into Barbados’ economy.”

    When asked to assess the overall current health of Barbados’ manufacturing sector, Noel acknowledged that industry stakeholders are projecting moderate growth in production and export activity in the coming months. However, she reiterated that unsustainable cost growth remains the most critical barrier to long-term sector stability. “We are actively working toward increasing output and boosting export volumes in the near term,” she said. “But none of those gains will hold if we cannot get control over rising operating costs that are squeezing producers across the island.”

  • “Welcome to the Club”: PSU Defends Union Senator Against Attack Ad

    “Welcome to the Club”: PSU Defends Union Senator Against Attack Ad

    In a developing political controversy emerging out of Belize dated September 11, 2026, the head of the nation’s Public Service Union (PSU) has publicly thrown his support behind union-aligned Senator Glenfield Dennison, following the spread of a damaging attack advertisement targeting the lawmaker on social media platforms. The incident has sparked sharp accusations that the administration of Prime Minister John Briceño is misappropriating public funds to silence political opponents who speak out against government policies.

    PSU President Dean Flowers, who says he has faced identical targeted smear campaigns during his own tenure as a government critic, framed the attack on Dennison as part of a repeated pattern of intimidation against public officials who challenge the ruling party. Offering a measured yet firm show of solidarity, Flowers told the senator, ‘Welcome to the club,’ referencing a common local proverb that ‘nobody stones an empty mango tree’ — a metaphor that frames these aggressive attacks as proof that Dennison’s criticism has struck a meaningful chord with the public and pressured the government.

    The controversial ad emerged only after Dennison delivered a public rebuke of Prime Minister Briceño, questioning whether top government officials can truly understand the crippling financial burdens that ordinary Belizean households navigate on a daily basis. Dennison argued that there is a fundamental gap between official visits to struggling communities and actually living with the persistent economic stress that impacts most citizens.

    Flowers pushed back hard against the smear campaign, emphasizing that the ruling administration holds access to a $1.9 billion public budget, and is directing a portion of those resources to attack a single low-profile public servant who simply spoke truth to power. For the union leader, the attack is not a new shock; it aligns with longstanding tactics the government has used to stifle dissent, and it will not deter the union’s core mission. ‘This is what we do. We tell the truth and we try to inform and educate the Belizean people,’ Flowers stated.

    Flowers reaffirmed that the misleading attack ad does nothing to undermine the core validity of Dennison’s criticism, and urged the senator to remain undeterred in his advocacy. He called for an immediate end to the deceptive smear campaigns, noting that while these attacks are temporary, the union’s work to advocate for the Belizean public will continue indefinitely. ‘That is just noise and only idiots and fools support those ads and add commentary to them,’ Flowers added, dismissing the ad as a hollow distraction from the substantive economic issues Dennison raised.

  • Here Is How Strong Belize’s Passport Is

    Here Is How Strong Belize’s Passport Is

    In the 2026 edition of the annual global passport ranking released by Passport Reports, Belize’s travel document has fallen eight positions to claim the 89th spot worldwide, marking a notable decline from its 81st place ranking in 2025.

    According to the report’s mobility scoring system, which measures a passport’s access to global destinations through simplified entry policies, Belize’s current mobility score stands at 101, down just one point from its 2025 score of 102. This relatively small dip in score has translated to a steeper drop in ranking amid shifting access policies for other nations around the globe.

    The 101-point score translates to visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival access, electronic travel authorization (eTA) approval, or other streamlined entry processes for 101 separate global destinations for Belizean passport holders. Breaking down the access categories, 58 of these destinations allow fully visa-free entry, 37 offer visa-on-arrival or other simplified entry arrangements, and an additional six destinations require an eTA approval before arrival. Combined, these accessible locations represent 51% of all tracked global destinations, leaving 97 destinations that require Belizean citizens to secure an advance travel visa before entry.

    Regional analysis of Belize’s passport access shows that the Caribbean remains the strongest region for the country’s travelers: Belizean passport holders enjoy 100% access to all Caribbean nations via visa-free, simplified entry, or eTA rules. In North America, Belize maintains a 90.9% access rate across the region, though both the United States and Canada still require advance visas for Belizean visitors. For key European destinations, the United Kingdom only requires an eTA for Belizean travelers, but all nations in the Schengen Area continue to require full advance visas for entry.

    The ranking shift highlights ongoing challenges for Belizean citizens seeking streamlined international travel, even as overall mobility access has remained largely stable in recent years. While regional access across the Caribbean remains unobstructed, major global economic and travel hubs still impose significant entry barriers that limit the passport’s overall global standing.

  • Barbados explores Suriname for construction materials

    Barbados explores Suriname for construction materials

    As Barbados ramps up large-scale infrastructure development across the island, the Caribbean nation is facing a growing shortage of key construction materials, forcing it to look to neighboring CARICOM member Suriname for reliable supplies of silica sand and aggregate, according to senior government official Kerrie Symmonds.

    Symmonds made this announcement during high-level talks held Friday at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, where he met with Surinamese government representatives and a senior leadership delegation from N.V. Grassalco, Suriname’s fully state-owned mining enterprise. The senior minister emphasized that steady access to these essential natural resources is a non-negotiable foundation for Barbados’ goal of accelerating and expanding its national infrastructure investment program.

    “When we talk about natural resources needed to drive our infrastructure agenda in this region, silica sand and aggregate top the list,” Symmonds told the delegation. “These inputs are absolutely critical for our country as we work to boost both the pace and scale of our infrastructure upgrades.”

    For decades, Barbados has met most of its demand for silica and aggregate through domestic extraction. But Symmonds confirmed that local reserves have been depleted to critically low levels after years of continuous use, leaving the country with no choice but to import the majority of these materials to keep infrastructure projects on schedule.

    The push to secure new supply chains from Suriname is not just about solving an immediate material shortage, he noted. It is also a core part of a broader strategy to deepen economic integration and cooperation between the two CARICOM nations. Suriname’s position on the South American mainland gives it unique access to abundant natural resources, creating significant mutual benefits for bilateral trade, Symmonds added.

    He also called on both governments to revive the cooperation framework laid out in the 2018 Brokopondo Agreement, a comprehensive bilateral deal that was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down cross-border collaboration. The original agreement covers a wide range of priority sectors, including air and maritime transport links, tourism development, agriculture and food security, trade and investment promotion, natural resource development, and renewable energy collaboration. Beyond construction materials, Symmonds pointed out that Suriname’s growing oil and gas sector and its expanding renewable energy capacity open up additional avenues for partnership between the two countries.

    “COVID-19 is now in the rearview mirror, and it is time for us to get back to advancing the full cooperation agenda that the Brokopondo Agreement set out for us,” Symmonds said.

    Friday’s discussions marked an important milestone in turning the long-standing historical and regional ties between the two Caribbean nations into tangible, practical economic gains for Barbados, he added.

    Founded in 1971, N.V. Grassalco — short for Grasshopper Aluminium Company — is a 100 percent state-controlled mining firm focused on developing Suriname’s diverse mineral reserves, which include gold, dimension stone, and industrial construction materials.

  • “My Baby Gaan From Me Too Quick”: Jaheim Sanchez Shot Dead

    “My Baby Gaan From Me Too Quick”: Jaheim Sanchez Shot Dead

    A young Belize City resident with hopes of turning his life around has been killed in a shooting on T Street, leaving his family grappling with a devastating second loss in just over a month. Twenty-one-year-old Jaheim Sanchez was the victim of the fatal attack, which was confirmed by local authorities following his arrival at a local hospital.

    Shanice Ysaguirre, Sanchez’s mother, shared her story of overwhelming grief with reporters this week, recounting the moment she received the shocking news of her son’s shooting. She was at her family home when her partner broke the news that Jaheim had been hit by gunfire. Ysaguirre immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confronted with the devastating confirmation that her son had succumbed to his injuries.

    In the midst of her pain, Ysaguirre highlighted a little-known side of her son: in the months after his family relocated from their former neighborhood to start fresh, Jaheim had been actively working to rebuild his life and surround himself with positive influences. He had made clear to his mother that he was ready to leave old patterns behind, telling her, “I need to find friends who want to see me uplift.”

    Tragically, this shooting is not the first act of violent death the family has endured in recent weeks. On August 31, just under two weeks before Sanchez’s killing, Ysaguirre’s cousin Brianna was murdered in a separate shooting. Sanchez had been deeply shaken by Brianna’s death, and the loss has left the entire family reeling from compounded grief. After Brianna’s killing, Ysaguirre had asked her to watch over her son from beyond; now, she faces the unthinkable pain of losing Jaheim far earlier than she ever imagined.

    “My baby gaan from me too quick,” Ysaguirre said through tears, a heartbroken statement that captures the raw pain of a family torn apart by ongoing gun violence in Belize City.

  • NTUCB Wants New Representation for Small Shareholders in BTL Board

    NTUCB Wants New Representation for Small Shareholders in BTL Board

    Ahead of Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for September 17, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and a coalition of its affiliate unions have launched a contested push to replace long-serving board member Eric Eusey, throwing the small-shareholder representative seat open to a competitive vote.

    The union coalition has nominated Erven Marin, a former BTL staff member who spent more than three decades with the telecommunications firm, as their candidate to take over the small-shareholder seat currently held by Eusey. According to official BTL records, Eusey stands as the longest-tenured member of the company’s board of directors.

    In an official statement announcing the nomination, NTUCB highlighted Marin’s decades-long track record of commitment to core governance principles: open communication, transparent accountability, and unwavering institutional integrity. The nomination and coordinated union support marks a direct challenge to Eusey’s tenure on the board, with background context pointing to a past key vote that shaped the coalition’s opposition: Eusey previously supported BTL’s acquisition of telecommunications rival Speednet, which operates under the brand name Smart.

    Notably, the unions backing Marin are not outside stakeholders — each of the supporting organizations, which includes the Belize Communication Workers Union, Belize National Teachers’ Union, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union, and Public Service Union, holds a small stake in BTL as institutional shareholders. This status gives them the standing to put forward a competing candidate for the dedicated small-shareholder board position.

    The contest will now let all BTL shareholders cast their vote to decide the future of the seat: whether to return incumbent Eric Eusey to continue representing small shareholder interests, or to usher in new leadership with Erven Marin at the September 17 general meeting.

  • More Tomorrow Primary School’s Future Still in Question

    More Tomorrow Primary School’s Future Still in Question

    For the 30 families with children enrolled at More Tomorrow Primary School, a small rural campus in Belize’s Cayo District serving students from early childhood through sixth grade, the start of the 2026 academic year has been defined by persistent anxiety. While Belize’s Minister of Education Francis Fonseca has offered a short-term guarantee that the campus will not close immediately, he has stopped short of reassuring the community that the school will survive long-term, leaving parents and local leaders in limbo.

    In comments made to local outlet News 5 on September 11, 2026, Fonseca confirmed that the ministry has already taken steps to address immediate staffing gaps at the school, adding one new educator to the existing team of two – one of whom currently fills the dual role of principal and classroom teacher. The ministry’s short-term plan calls for growing the total teaching staff to three full-time positions, a move meant to stabilize operations for the coming months. But even as the government rolls out these incremental adjustments, Fonseca acknowledged that core questions about the school’s long-term viability have not been resolved.

    “We have put in place measures to tackle the immediate challenges we face here,” Fonseca explained. “But we cannot avoid taking a hard look at the long-term outlook. The question of whether it is sustainable to keep this school operating at its current location remains unanswered, and we will continue our review of that question.”

    The minister’s latest update comes just 10 days after the Ministry of Education first confirmed that no final closure decision had been made, amid widespread rumors that the small campus would be shuttered. At that time, multiple reports indicated that education officials were weighing a range of contingency plans, including organizing free bus transportation to move all More Tomorrow Primary students to a larger, more established campus nearby if the review finds keeping the current school open is unfeasible.

    Local leaders, however, are already rallying to save the community school. Michael Myvette, chairman of the local village council, told reporters that the entire local governing body stands ready to provide any support needed to maintain operations at More Tomorrow Primary, emphasizing the school’s critical role in serving the small, tight-knit rural community that relies on it for accessible local education. For parents, that leaves a tense waiting game: while the doors are open for now, no one can say how long that will last.