Belize isn't a large contributor by any stretch of the imagination to global greenhouse emissions.
But the majority of our impact certainly comes from combustion engines - especially those old buses that belch black smoke into the atmosphere.
And that reality could be changing, thanks to a 39-month long electric bus project. It's a project that supports the implementation of Belize's updated NDC's on Climate Change as well as the country's low emission strategy.
Tonight we take a look at the project's opening ceremony yesterday where Ministers and Ambassadors gathered to celebrate the move towards low carbon development. Here's more:
The EU E-Pilot project has a big and cumbersome name - it's called, quote, "Towards Low Carbon Transport: Piloting e-mobility within Belize's Public Transport System" and it is funded by the EU to the tune of 5.3 Million USD and administered by the UNDP Belize Country Office.
PM Discusses Defamation Bill
You've already heard a whole lot from the PM tonight - when we spoke to him int he margins of the House Meeting.
That's when we also got a chance to ask Prime Minister Briceno about that Defamation Bill, which today had its first reading in the House of Representatives.
As we've told you, free speech's key stakeholders - the Press - was not consulted - but the PM today insisted that his administration is willing to make changes if the Press can show that where the draft legislation could infringe on the responsible use of the freedom of expression. Here are those comments:
AG Explains Major Changes in Defamation Law
And yesterday, we asked the Attorney General to break down the defamation bill.
Speaking via Zoom, she explained that the current bill is extremely outdated and only covers a portion of ways a person can be defamed. This new bill widens the scope and eliminates the need to differentiate between libel and slander. Here's how she explained it to us via ZOOM:
And some in the media sphere feel as though media houses should have been consulted prior to the bill being presented in the House - or at least made aware that it existed. But there were no attempts to reach out. However, the AG said that consultation usually happens after the first reading.
We note that the draft legislation was widely circulated in the legal community.
Keeping Witnesses Safe Will Make For Better Justice
And another bill that was taken to the House today was the Witness Protection Bill. It's been in the works for some time but the aim is the same - to protect those who have witnessed crimes and want to testify. It's a major gap in our criminal justice system because many eyewitnesses choose not to come forward because they fear for their lives. The AG hopes that this bill will allow for higher conviction rates.
