So far tonight, we've shown you the teacher protest on the stairs of the National Assembly, and a few of the highlights from all the official House business. But, there are a few more topics of urgent national attention that came up in today's House Meeting. During the segment on questions to ministers, UDP Area Rep. Tracy Taegar-Panton asked the Tourism Minister for updates on the recovery of this important industry.
Today, he responded by saying that his Ministry is working hard to convince the airline companies to resume their flights to Belize:
Hon. Anthony Mahler - Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations
"Madam Speaker, I just want to go back a little bit with regards to the airlines that we have reached out to, and we are working [with]. And like I said, we're at about 50% of where we were. It is important for me to tell the Belizean people about how far we have come because there were no airlines coming in. So, the resumption of American Airlines from Los Angeles, the resumption of American Airlines from Charlotte, resumption of American Airlines from Dallas, resumption of United Airline from Chicago, resumption of United from Newark, announcement and commencement of a Saturday-only flight from Denver, resumption of Delta Service from Atlanta, the announcement of Delta from Minneapolis. Copa is going to start flying back in June or July. Alaska Airlines will start back later this year. Southwest will be back later on this year, and Southwest represents 25% of the capacity coming into the country. So, it is very important. West Jet out of Canada will start flying back later on this year, and we're talking to Air Canada to resume their flights, if not later on this year, early next year. We are in consultation and discussion with European carriers, and we're excited about one specifically, and so, we're working hard. And, we're talking to some of the low-cost carriers out of the United States. As I said, airlift into Belize is the lifeblood of the industry, and we're working to get those back."
When is Cruise Coming Back?
Minister Mahler also discussed the latest attempts from his Ministry to also restart the local cruise tourism industry. He told his colleagues that some of the cruise companies have responded favorably to ongoing talks:
Hon. Anthony Mahler - Minister of Tourism
"We've had extensive discussions with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, and specific lines. We were advised by Norwegian that their first voyage to Belize would be a test run on August 4th, and the first official voyage to Belize would be a test run on August 4th, and the first official voyage to Belize with passengers would be on August 7th out of Montego Bay. They're looking to change out of Montego Bay and go back to one of the home ports in the United States. We've spoken recently to Carnival, and Carnival represents over 70% of the capacity in the country. And they were saying to us initially that they would have returned later on this year. It is good to note that they will start in July with 4 voyages, 4 in August and 6 in September. It is just a start, but it is a good start, and I believe that by the end of the year, with robust bookings that the cruise lines have been talking about, that will have cruise tourism back to its full capacity sometime early next year."
PM Talks Superbond's Soft Default
Turning now to the Government's impasse with the creditor committee representing Belize's Super-bondholders, the Prime Minister provided an update at today's House meeting.
As we told you, the Government did not make its May 20th Superbond coupon payment, and is now asking bondholders for four months grace. Here's what the Prime Minister had to say about the latest back-and-forth discussions between his administration and the bondholders:
Due to to time constraints, we'll have more important stuff from today's house meeting on Monday's news.
Cops Closing In on Bomb Threat Mischief Maker
On Wednesday, the Tax Department and the Treasury Department employees were sent home after a bomb threat was called into their respective buildings. But while no bombs were found, the police department is still investigating. According to ComPol, they've already put together some pieces of the puzzle.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We have obtained the number that made the call, we have also obtained a name. but you know that people do fictitious applications, nonetheless we are looking at the information we have obtained with a view to see if we can ascertain who the owner of the phone is and if we can get to that information then the owner will have to give account as to how his or her number was able to call the treasury department in Belize City and report the bomb threat."
"I listened to an interview given by Dean Flowers, the first VP of the PSU, I think it was that same morning where he said they're leaving it now to the members to determine the course of action they would like to take. Maybe that is one of their course of action, I don't know, it can be deduced that it's members of the unions who did it, our deduction can be right, it can be wrong, but we have no evidence at this time to say definitively that it came from a member of the union."
Vaccine Double Date?
And before we left the ComPol, we made sure to ask if he's gotten his vaccine. He says not yet, but he's planning on getting the jab with Jules. Yup, it's kind of a vaccine double date with our News Director. Here's how he put it:
Jules is scheduled for his second jab on June 11th, but he hopes to bring that date up.
A COVID Death
And he might want to get that vaccine soon since another life has been lost - the 324th - in the fight against the virus.
It's been exactly one month since we reported our last COVID death, but tonight, there isn one more. The patient was a male from the Stann Creek District.
In addition, there were two new cases, but with two recoveries, our active cases still stand at 77. Here's the full breakdown from Bridget Rhys, the communications officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
