Belize’s Women’s Volleyball National Team has achieved a historic milestone by securing a bronze medal at the Central American Games, often referred to as the Olympics of the region. This marks the first time the team has advanced to the semi-finals and clinched a medal in the tournament, which is held every four years. The team’s triumphant return to Belize was celebrated at the Belize Olympic House, where News Five captured the emotional moments and insights from the players and their head coach. Lawrence Bennett, the team’s head coach, expressed immense pride in the players, highlighting their resilience despite injuries and illnesses during the competition. Team captain Nelissa Ramirez emphasized the team’s dedication, with rigorous training sessions twice daily. Shantel Arnold, a senior team member, shared her joy in concluding her 18-year national team career on a high note. Herdie Castillo reflected on the thrilling yet exhausting experience of representing Belize and competing against other nations. This achievement not only marks a significant moment for Belizean volleyball but also inspires future generations of athletes.
标签： Belize
伯利兹
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NGC Launches Calendar for November Celebrations
As November approaches, Belize is gearing up for a month-long celebration of Garifuna culture, with the National Garifuna Council (NGC) Belize City branch announcing a packed calendar of events. The festivities commence on October 25th with the Miss Garifuna Belize City Pageant, setting the stage for a series of cultural highlights. Key events include a panel discussion on November 11th, a tribute to T.V. Ramos on November 13th, and a vibrant music and food festival on November 18th. The grand finale will be the Yurumein reenactment on November 19th, marking the historic arrival of the Garifuna people in Belize. Raphael Martinez, President of NGC Belize City, shared details of the celebrations, emphasizing the significance of the reenactment and the community’s efforts to make this year’s events even more spectacular. The festivities will take place at the Belize Civic Center compound, featuring traditional Garifuna cuisine, music, and dance. Denise Casamiro, a member of NGC Belize City, also highlighted the upcoming pageant and cultural bash, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in Garifuna traditions.
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New Eco-Economy Center Set for Belize City
Belize City is poised to become a hub for sustainable economic education with the establishment of the country’s first Center for Blue and Green Economy. Located at ITVET Belize City, the project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Belize and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with an investment of nearly two million dollars. The initiative aims to transform an existing structure into a state-of-the-art training facility, equipping Belizeans with the skills needed for emerging job markets in sustainability and environmental management. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on October 23, 2025, marked the official start of this transformative project. Minister of Education Oscar Requena highlighted the center’s focus on preparing young people, particularly women, for careers in renewable energy, marine resource management, and sustainable construction. The facility will feature advanced laboratories, including a GIS lab and an engineering lab, and will be designed to meet green building certification standards. IDB Country Representative Karla Gonzalez emphasized the center’s role in addressing skill gaps and fostering innovation in education. This project is part of a broader government strategy to enhance technical and vocational training across Belize, contributing to national development and economic resilience.
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Immigration Proposes Strategic Plan to Improve Services
The Ministry of Immigration in Belize has taken a significant step toward addressing long-standing issues with its services by unveiling a comprehensive strategic plan. On October 23, 2025, the ministry hosted a stakeholder consultation in Belize City to present the draft plan, which aims to streamline processes, improve transparency, and enhance overall service delivery. The initiative, nearly a year in the making, involved extensive internal discussions with staff across regions, from Toledo to San Pedro and the Banque border. The plan focuses on key areas such as improving human resource performance, addressing service deficiencies, strengthening enforcement, and refining the refugee support system. Tanya Santos, CEO of the Ministry of Immigration, emphasized the importance of stakeholder input, inviting feedback from public and private sector partners, international organizations, civil society, and other government agencies. The consultation marks a pivotal moment in the ministry’s efforts to modernize and optimize its operations, with the goal of resolving persistent challenges faced by users of immigration services.
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Honduras President Underscores Unity at Travel Market 2025
The Central America Travel Market 2025, hosted in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has become a focal point for regional tourism collaboration. The event’s second day featured dynamic business-to-business meetings and networking sessions, but the highlight was the unexpected visit of Honduras’ President, Xiomara Castro. Her presence not only highlighted national pride in hosting the event but also reinforced Honduras’ dedication to fostering tourism growth both domestically and across Central America. President Castro toured the exhibition floor, engaging with private sector representatives and regional stakeholders, including Belize’s Pro Tempore of FEDECATUR, Efren Perez. Vice Minister of Tourism Reizel Vilorio emphasized that the President’s participation symbolized unity and collective effort, showcasing Central America’s potential as a premier global travel destination. Vilorio noted that Castro’s visit underscored the government’s support for the private sector and its commitment to developing tourism products that benefit the entire region. The President expressed her admiration for the event’s scale and the collaborative spirit among participants, further solidifying the region’s reputation as a hub for innovative tourism initiatives.
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Central America Targets Connectivity Fix to Boost Regional Tourism
Central America is taking significant steps to address its connectivity challenges, which have long hindered the growth of its tourism sector. Despite marketing itself as a unified, multi-destination region, the lack of seamless air and land routes continues to restrict travelers’ ability to move freely between countries. Efren Perez, Pro Tem President of the Federation of Central American Tourism Chambers and President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, emphasized the importance of this issue during a recent regional meeting. Key organizations such as the Central American Tourism Agency and FEDECATUR are collaborating to develop solutions that improve cross-border access, revisit the CA-4 Agreement, and strengthen partnerships with regional airlines. Perez highlighted that these efforts are part of a broader strategy to make travel within the region more accessible, encourage longer stays, and elevate Central America’s position on the global tourism map. During the meeting, Perez also discussed the need for regional immigration reforms and the integration of the private sector into promotional strategies. He provided an example of how travelers moving from Honduras to Belize might not require a round-trip ticket if they are engaging in multi-destination travel, which is a key focus of the region’s tourism promotion. Perez stressed the importance of balancing border security with the need to maintain a smooth flow of tourists. The private sector is actively working with government agencies to propose solutions that enhance connectivity and improve the overall tourism experience. These initiatives are expected to be a central topic in ongoing regional discussions, with the goal of fostering a more integrated and attractive tourism market in Central America.
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Senator Pitts Challenges Belizeans to Confront Abuse
In a compelling and heartfelt speech on October 23, 2025, UDP Senator Sheena Pitts called on Belizeans to take a stand against domestic violence, address the stigma surrounding psychosocial support, and demand accountability from government institutions. Pitts emphasized the critical need for empathy and early intervention, urging the Ministry of Education to integrate lessons on respectful relationships and gender education into school curricula.
Pitts underscored the lasting impact of childhood abuse, noting that children exposed to domestic violence often perpetuate or endure similar patterns in adulthood. She highlighted the importance of early education in breaking this cycle, stating, ‘Bullies in school often come from families where abuse is present. It’s essential to recognize that education must start early and be part of the curriculum.’
Her comprehensive call to action included training teachers and counselors in gender-based violence referral procedures and establishing sexual harassment protocols in schools. Pitts also criticized systemic failures in protective measures, citing the tragic case of Angelita Magaña, whose death exposed gaps in follow-up and enforcement.
Pitts stressed that ending gender-based violence requires both individual accountability and a cultural transformation. ‘This is life. This is what we are living every day,’ she said. ‘Stop pretending like we don’t see it. Stop being desensitized by it.’ Her impassioned plea resonated deeply, sparking conversations about the urgent need for societal change.
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$1.9 Million to Rehabilitate ITVET
Belize’s Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) is set to undergo a transformative $1.9 million rehabilitation project, aimed at bolstering its capacity to produce skilled professionals for the workforce. The initiative, announced by Minister of Education, Science & Technology, Oscar Requena, is funded through a collaborative effort between the Inter-American Development Bank and the Ministry of Education. The project will focus on renovating a building within the ITVET campus in Belize City, equipping it with two state-of-the-art laboratories: a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lab and an engineering lab. These facilities are designed to prepare students for careers in the burgeoning blue and green economy sectors. Minister Requena emphasized the project’s potential to attract more young people, particularly women, to technical and vocational training, thereby addressing critical areas of national development. Additionally, the government is partnering with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to enhance infrastructure and equipment across ITVET institutions nationwide, ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical education. The initiative underscores Belize’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce and empowering its youth with practical, career-oriented education.
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Panton Warns Belize Becoming “Dumping Ground”
In a scathing critique of the recently signed ‘Safe Third Country’ Agreement between Belize and the United States, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton has raised alarms over its potential consequences for Belize’s sovereignty and social infrastructure. Speaking at a UDP press conference on October 23, 2025, Panton condemned the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, which was signed on October 20 without public consultation or parliamentary debate. She described the secrecy as a troubling pattern of the Bricenio administration.
The agreement permits the U.S. to transfer asylum seekers from Central America (excluding Guatemala) and CARICOM nations to Belize for processing. While the Belizean government asserts it will retain full discretion over admissions and receive financial and technical support from the U.S., Panton questioned the absence of full disclosure. ‘The comprehensive text, including annexes, transitional arrangements, and cost-sharing commitments, remains undisclosed,’ she stated.
Panton also expressed concerns about Belize’s capacity to handle the influx of asylum seekers, pointing to underfunded immigration systems and strained social services. ‘How many asylum seekers will Belize accommodate? 5,500? 5,000? It’s anyone’s guess,’ she remarked, highlighting unresolved issues related to housing, healthcare, education, legal representation, and societal integration.
She further criticized the government for failing to consult civil society, border communities, and parliamentarians, emphasizing that such lack of transparency is unacceptable in a democracy. Panton argued that Belize, already grappling with domestic challenges, is ill-equipped to take on additional burdens. She warned that the agreement risks undermining Belize’s independence and could transform the nation into a ‘dumping ground’ for migrants rejected by other countries.
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Maduro Flaunts Russian Missiles Against Trump’s Military Threats
In a bold response to escalating tensions with the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced the deployment of over 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles across the nation. Maduro emphasized that these short-range weapons, capable of targeting drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft, have been strategically positioned in “every mountain, town, and city” to fortify Venezuela’s air defenses. This move comes amid heightened U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, where approximately 4,500 Marines and sailors have been stationed to combat alleged drug-trafficking networks. U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged authorizing covert CIA operations in Venezuela and hinted at potential land-based military actions. Despite the growing friction, Trump has denied pursuing a regime change in Venezuela. The situation underscores the deepening geopolitical rift between the two nations, with Maduro framing the missile deployment as a necessary shield against external aggression.