An accident took place at 5 miles Phillip Goodson Highway this evening at around 4:30. Reports say there was a collision between a pickup truck and a GMC Yukon driven by Tony Novelo which ran off the road.
No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported so far but traffic was being diverted to the George Price Highway for commuters to utilize the John Smith Road to re-connect to the Phillip Goodson Highway.
Green Belize Initiative Will Plant A Million Trees
"A Million Trees for Climate and Sustainable Development." is the goal for Greening Belize, a new initiative launched under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, with an objective to speed up reforestation and restore our forest cover. This initiative is also a A microgrants program to partner with other organizations within the Belize River Watershed who share the same goals to contribute to the long-term preservation of Belize's forests. Here are the highlights from today's launch ceremony.
John Pinelo, Acting Chief Forestry Officer
"Why greening Belize, Belize's forests are vital for climate mitigation biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Our forest cover is declining especially after the fire season, the greening Belize activities align as minister said the Belize National landscape restoration strategy or NDC's, the bond challenge and a number of commitments that we have regionally, nationally and internationally."
"So the key objectives, plant at least 1 million trees in wildfire affected and degraded areas by 2035, pilot a forestry incentive program, where a grant scheme will be developed sustained forest management, and this will start in the Belize river watershed first it will work for 2 years and if it works out well we will try and make it across the country at a broader scale, develop a national data and monitoring tool app that is actually why we are here today to show off the launching of the app and how you can use it to strengthen institutional legal and community framework within this is the upgrading of the Forest Act so this year we will revise the forest act and hopefully get it past through cabinet so that we have a new act that takes into consideration the current situation in our country, takes into consideration climate smart activities and all the other things that we did not think about before when we had the act in 2017."
Michael Lund, Deputy Resident Rep, UNDP
"So this initiative of greening Belize is an action that tries to restore the forest cover and restore the forest. And it is an initiative that speak to the real co identity of what I can see is being Belize, we heard it this morning as well Sub Umbra Floreo, under the cover of trees under the shade we flourish and the trees are part of the wealth of Belize so we are investing in the wealth not only of Belize but also in the world by making the world a little bit healthier, the planet a little bit healthier."
Credit Card Fraud And Fast Food Delivery, A Dangerous Combination
Almost three weeks ago, the owner of Chon Saan, Lee Mark Chang, posted on his page about credit card fraud being carried out by call center employees. He alleged they would use stolen credit cards to order food from his restaurant's very popular delivery service. And from there the problems would compound - even going as far as getting gangs involved. Jaleeza Roberts reports:
Tomorrow we will take a look at a similar scam taking place with a popular ticketing app in Belize.
Can New PG Welcome Center Turn Sleepy Southern Town Into Tourist Hub?
The grand opening of the Punta Gorda Welcome Center took place today in Toledo, highlighting a major tourism milestone for the community and Southern Belize. The $800,000 project was funded by the Belize tourism board and will function as a central hub for visitors where they can access information on local attractions, culture and activities. The opening of the hub comes right on time for PG Day oncoming up on the weekend:
Carlos Galvez, Mayor of Punta Gorda
"I can tell you that Punta Gorda Town and Toledo district have the very important ingredient, diverse culture, we have it all right here in this district and we need to build on that and sell what we have all the different ethnic groups are here and all of them are going to come out this Saturday, come out. The food the dance, the language, come out and enjoy what we have prepared for you all so please spread the word that PG day is this Saturday and we encourage everybody all walks of life all over to come in and join as we celebrate PG day."
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations
"This project like others that we are working on throughout the country was designed and is being delivered by Belizeans we have spoken to the communities, we have spoken to tourism stakeholders in what needs to be done to ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure to improve the quality of the visitor experience and so never sell yourself short. No one in a suit and tie that comes can come and tell us anything that we don't know already and that is the message I want to give today."
"The improvement of the front street the building of this welcome center the construction of the marina that is going on, the road to Nim Li Punit that was upgraded and the other training sessions that we have done are all part of a developmental process for an area one says that it has been forgotten."
Celebrating Government's Biggest Revenue Collectors
Some may see Customs as one of the first lines of national protection at our legal points of entry - while others see them as a hassle. And for all the revenue that they generate year round, Customs has its own day of recognition. In celebration of international customs day 2026, 20 members were honored with an award of merit. Here are the highlights from that ceremony.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness
"As we commemorate international customs day 2026 under the very powerful and timely theme, customs protecting the society through vigilance and commitment, let me begin by extending sincere commendations to the leadership and staff of the customs and excise department of Belize for your dedication professionalism, and unwavering service to our country has been highlighted before customs is one of the first line of national protection. When we think of customs, many may immediately think of trade facilitation, revenue collection and border control and indeed those are essential."
