While the cane farmers are waiting for assistance from the Ministry, the small farmers in Bladen, Toledo District aren't getting any! One week ago, we brought you the plight of the small-time farmers in the southernmost district whose crops had washed away after the floods in July, compounded with the runoff from the nearby banana farms. One farmer travelled all the way to Belmopan in hopes of speaking with Minister Mai. Well, his trip was futile since the Minister today said that's not his ministry's problem.
The Bladen Farmer, Yonardo Sho, had explained that without crops, the village simply has no food to eat or money to survive.
Belize Coalition Has Major Dredging Concerns
Tonight, the environmental organization known as the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage is calling on the government to put a pause on granting approval for all developments in the cruise tourism industry. This is after word went out that the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, NEAC, was meeting today to consider the Port of Belize's cruise and Cargo Expansion project, and the proposal for the Port of Magical Belize.
As we've reported, the Port of Belize wants to expand its operations to accommodate upgrades to its cargo operations, and they also want to build their own cruise port.
Then, there is the Port of Magical Belize, proposed by the developer, David Gegg, and his partners. This is a concept for a potential cruise terminal, which would be built less than 4 miles south of the Sibun River in the Belize District.
For these projects to take place, it is estimated that there would be a need for massive dredging. Sources tell us that for the Port of Belize's expansion, there would be 5 million cubic meters of dredging. The environmentalists tell us that for perspective, that is equivalent to the length and breadth of the entire island of Caye Caulker at a foot deep. For the Port of Magical Belize, an estimated 7 miles of dredging would have to be done, something which has not been attempted in Belize before.
And where would all that dredge spillage go? Well, the conservationists say that the developers are proposing to dump all of that waste material into the Caribbean Sea, which is a big red flag for them.
So, the environmentalists want the government to pump the brakes on approval. That would allow for independent experts to collect all relevant information to properly inform local decision-making on these cruise ports.
This evening, we spoke with Jamal Galves, the face of manatee protection in Belize. Here's what he told us this evening via teleconference:
The conservationists tell us that they are also surprised that tourism developments are being given this level of priority at this time when the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shut down this industry. Reports are that the NEAC meeting has been rescheduled to next week Thursday.
Rosanna B. Is New Special Envoy
Belize has a new Special Envoy, this one for the development and families and children. And like her predecessor, Kim Barrow, our new Envoy is the wife of the current Prime Minister.
Rosanna Briceno is a career educator, with advanced training in special education, and she's also the current principal of Stella Maris school.
And, today her appointment was announced by the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Affairs with an invitation to a ceremony to be held tomorrow Friday, January 22, 2021.
Mrs. Briceno holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership as well as a master's degree in Curriculum Development and Diagnostic Assessment. She also has a bachelor's degree in Special Education.
COVID Claims Three More
Tonight, The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reporting that two more men and one more woman have died from COVID-19.
According to the Ministry, 303 tests were completed today, and out of that number, 34 cases were newly confirmed. The daily positivity rate is at 11.4%.
There are 51 recoveries, but 13 active hospitalizations, and 2 patients are admitted to intensive care.
COVID Testing Sites Released
And while the Pandemic continues to rage there are those who are either forced or willing to brave the risks of travel, but to do so they'll have to get a negative COVID test.
Throughout 2020 the process of getting a test was quite a daunting one, but that's no longer the case. And on January 14th the government announced plans to expand testing to include persons requiring negative tests for travel to other countries.
Yesterday, they made good on that promise by publishing a list of approved COVID testing sites. It gives a rundown of both Public and Private facilities approved for COVID-19 testing.
It's accompanying Press release also reminds the public that quote: "only PCR and Antigen tests are currently approved by the Ministry of Health and Wellness." The Ministry also took the time to remind the public to be wary of those claiming to conduct any other type of COVID-19 test.
Additional testing sites will be added to the approved lists over the next six weeks.
IOM to Da'Silva
But Belizeans aren't the only COVID-time travellers; in fact, our borders are in constant receipt of irregular migrants, many of whom under the present circumstances end up in quarantine camps. One such Camp is the Mountain Pine Ridge reserve's D'Silva Camp.
It's been struggling to provide them with the necessary assistance and on Tuesday camp personnel received quite a helping hand from the Regional Conference on Migration. It's a donation that included rice, beans, flour, canned food, oil, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, and repellent. It's a part of a contribution to the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security meant to help support the irregular migrants.
And yesterday at the handing over ceremony Head of Office Diana Locke and Lt. Col. Anthony Velazquez expressed the hope that the donation would quote: "help the Belize Defence Force staff to continue providing assistance to migrants in accordance with the COVID-19 sanitary protocolsâ š¬¦".
CCJ On Compliance
This morning, the Caribbean Court of Justice held its first compliance hearing for 2021 to discuss the latest developments on the journey to make Maya Customary Land Rights legally recognized in Belize. That session was done via teleconference, and it was streamed live on the court's YouTube channel.
Back in 2015, the CCJ granted a consent order which recognizes and seeks to protect Maya customary land tenure. This judgment was finalized with the joint approval of the claimants, the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Mayan communities of Toledo, and the then Barrow Government, which was the defendant in this claim. Since then, the CCJ has held regular compliance hearings to monitor the ongoing implementation of Maya customary land rights at the Ministry of Natural Resources. It's been a complex process with various forms of delays, but the Maya have laid the blame at the feet of the then Government for failures to meet certain deadlines.
Since the November 2020 General election, a new government has taken over, and Prime Minister John Briceno has created a new ministerial portfolio called Indigenous Peoples' Affairs. He appointed Dolores Balderamos-Garcia as the minister in charge of that portfolio, and today, Dolores and her Minister of State, Gilroy Usher Sr., attended today's CCJ compliance hearing. It was a clear signal of the new government's commitment to comply with the 2015 judgment, and this morning, the judges of the CCJ and the litigants warmly welcomed the two cabinet ministers as participants.
Here's that part of the 2-hour hearing:
Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia - Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs "I just want to indicate to the court and to all parties that I believe my appointment signals a new day of respect for our Maya sisters and brothers and other indigenous peoples such as the Garifuna people. And in addition to respect, we want to signal engagement and a level of seriousness. We may not always agree, but I do want to indicate to this honourable court that we will be doing our job in a way of engagement, respect, and consultation. And I will be working very closely with Miss Matute-Tucker to make sure that on our side, the Government fulfils its obligations."
Hon. Winston Anderson - CCJ Judge "Honourable Minister, in concert with my other colleagues, I would very much like to welcome you to these proceedings and to thank you very much for your presence. I believe that your presence is very beneficial to the process. Furthermore, I would encourage that whenever you find it convenient and available, that we would be very happy if you were able to join us in this process."
Leslie Mendez - Attorney for Mayan Claimants "I just wanted to join the court as well in acknowledging the presence of the Ministers and just noting that from our side, we also do see it as positive action on the part of this new government. It's encouraging to hear certainly the positive declarations that have been made with respect to their commitment and their recognition of communal land rights."
But, while the two government ministers of this new administration are treating this matter very seriously, they have to get caught up on the years of intricate groundwork that has taken place before they were appointed to the Indigenous People's Affairs Ministry. Plus, the Mayan claimants are still complaining that urgent issues still remain unaddressed. Here's an excerpt of some of the back-and-forth that took place during today's hearing:
Hon. Jacob Wit - CCJ Judge "There are some new complaints filed, as I understand it, since the last compliance hearing, one in October from the San Pedro Colombia Village, and in December 1 from the Village of Laguna. Or have there been more complaints, Miss Mendez?"
Leslie Mendez - Attorney for Mayan Claimants "One more to add to that, Your Honour, and that is a complaint from Indian Creek. So, in total, there are 3 new complaints since the last compliance hearing."
Hon. Jacob Wit "Now, I supposed because of the COVID situation and all of that, it's not so easy for the authority to travel from the States to Belize, I'm not sure. But I gather she still needs to do that, at least if she thinks it necessary. Now in all the complaints that have come to her, she has given decisions, or advice, recommendations. The last time that we had a compliance session, it was discussed that there would be a certain timeline that needed to be established. I understand, Ms. Mendez, that the Maya Leaders objected to the timelines that were originally suggested. And now that the now Attorney General has revised those. And we have seen several those - I think - investigation of activities that have affected the use and enjoyment of Maya customary lands. That should be dealt with in January and February, the establishment of a consultation process in January to April. Investigation of threats of violence and arrest directed to the respective village, and the representative of third-party actors, should be dealt with in January to March."
Reporter "Miss Mendez, are those revised timelines more in agreement with the Maya Leaders, with your clients?"
Leslie Mendez "Your Honours, unfortunately, despite the updated timeline that was provided on the 14th, the concerns that were communicated in our compliance report remains because essentially, what this updated timeline is, it's a sort of restructuring in its form, rather than its substance. The specific complaints that we had were more as a matter of substance, and as a matter of whether or not really this is a plan that has been presented, as opposed to very general goals, to be frank, already falls within the remit of the government. And the plan itself, or the timeline, just does not seem to be really benefiting from the specificity that was provided by the authority. The specific complainants need to know what will happen to your complaint. The village of Laguna is dealing with a situation of surveying. So, by when will investigate or inquire whether or not permission was granted? If no permission was granted, then by when will you communicate to the person that was seen carrying out the illegal activities."
Samantha Matute-Tucker - Assistant Solicitor General "What was expressed by Professor Segurio in her concluding reports is that certain activities are being done, for example, illegal logging. So, what the government intends to do is to investigate to see if, in fact, that is in the case, and then take the necessary action against that person who is carrying out that illegal activity."
Hon. Jacob Wit "These things are going on for a long time already. Professor Soloria has been there. She's seen it. We've seen the reports. So, a lot of information is there, but we now need to see that the Government is doing something, as far as they can."
The next compliance hearing will take place on May 27th.
Study Leave Suspended
An internal memo from the Ministry of Education informed the Belize Teaching Service Commission that study leave would be suspended for all teachers. The memo notes that with the ongoing pandemic, the Ministry is forced to re-examine its financial prospects and try to minimize expenditure while relocating funds. Long story short, the government's financial situation is hanging on by a thread and they are opting to save money by suspending study leave. The UDP's Shadow Ministry issued a statement on the matter, calling the decision irrational and inequitable.
The release says, quote, "This decision will undoubtedly disproportionately affect teachers in the Southern Districts of Stann Creek and Toledo, especially those teachers in the remote villages, where it is not possible for teachers to pursue educational training unless they are granted study leave with pay. This is due to the fact that they do not have the same level of access to teacher training programs as teachers in other parts of the country." End quote.
They are calling on the Ministry of consider reducing the quota equitably based on the number of teachers trained at each level instead of suspending all study leaves.
