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The Belize Red Cross is appealing to the public to donate funds to assist the Caribbean nations who were blasted by Hurricane Beryl.
Thousands of those affected still remain in shelters across the islands, many still without access to basic services and communications. We spoke to Lily Bowman, Director General, Belize Red Cross Society who shares the details of the appeal.
Lily Bowman, Director General, Belize Red Cross Society
"The recent hurricane Beryl, as we all know, Belize was spared. Luckily we are blessed for that but our brothers and sisters in the caribbean were not as lucky and I know Belizeans have been asking how they can get help to them and it's not the first time we've always launches appeals of this sort to assist those countries in our region that have affected by disasters. So we decided to launch an appeal for the countries of Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Cayman and to a certain extent"
"Jamaica. We are appealing to the public here in Belize anybody who would like to support these countries who have really been affected by the storm, that could have affected Belize tremendously, that they can donate cash only please to the Belize Red Cross."
For more details on how you can donate locally or internationally,contact the Belize Red Cross Society at 203-3319 or email belizeredcrossdg@gmail.com. This appeal will be open from July to November 2024.
Gun License Audit Will Only Go Back Two Years
As we've been reporting, the Office of the Auditor General is conducting a Compliance Audit for the Firearms Management System at the Belize Police Department for the period of January 2022 to June 2024.
It comes after a 7News investigative series forced a change in the gun licensing authorization process - where the authority is now conferred in a board and not just the office of the commissioner of police.
It's taken a while to get started - and in details revealed to 7news, we see that it will only go back two years, to 2022. The police department has been instructed by the commissioner's office to cooperate fully.
Jules Vasquez questioned the COMPOL about it yesterday:
Jules Vasquez:
"In the directives we received from your office regularly as police officers. I see one has come saying that the audit has commenced and officers in various formations are to make their offices available as necessary for the conduct of this audit. Are you able to speak about that? And that it goes back to 2022."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police
"The audit is something that is welcomed and it is going to be conducted. I have sent out a directive to my officers, instructing them to make sure that they cooperate fully with the auditors and so that is going to be done and we'll see where it goes from there."
Jules Vasquez:
"Should the audit go back to 2020, however i recall at that time is when you change the entire, through your directive, late 2020 is when you changes the system that, you said it was taking too long, right because first it would have to go to the branch commander, then to regional commander, then to special branch then to you. Then you short cutted it saying people were waiting on unreasonable time and that it will only have to go to SB and you, which happened in late 2020. Wouldn't it be more instructive to have an audit from that date?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police
"I don't know where you go that from, that's not true.Historically, we have had instances where commissioners have received applications and from the office of the commissioner it was sent out for vetting to special branch and then when the vetting is done it is sent back to commissioner office so that didn't start with me, that has been historically"
Jules Vasquez:
"I thought it started out at the formation, then to the regional, then to Belmopan."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police
"Well that would have been the practice but again to facilitate processes, historically commissioner's office have received these applications and once it's received there it is sent out for vetting, the vetting comes back to the commissioner's office and the matter takes action from there."
We'll keep following the audit.
Making Work Decent In Belize
In a promising development for Belizean workers, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, alongside the International Labor Organization (ILO), unveiled a new initiative today, called the Belize Decent Work Country Program, which aims to improve working conditions and opportunities for Belizeans over the next five years. In attendance was Prime Minister John Briceno, Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation Community Development, Labor & Local Government Dr. Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team, who shared that this launch was a great milestone for Belize.
Dr. Joni Musabayana, Director ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean
"This initiative represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to promote social justice, economic development and sustained growth in Belize. It also marks a significant milestone in deepening our collaboration between Belize and the international labor organization.Decent work as already been articulated is a fundamental human right that lies at the heart of human progress. It encompasses opportunities for productive employment, fair wages, social protection and freedom to organize and participate in the decisions that affect the lives of men and women."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This program is not just a policy statement, it is a comprehensive and practical plan aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges in our labor market. Building the skills of Belizean workers and ensuring that every Belizean can attain decent and productive employment. In our plan Belize manifesto we committed to building sustainable economic growth, this means delivering decent work for all."
Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister for Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor & Local Government
"As the minister responsible for labor, I want to assure everyone present here of our unwavering commitment to ensure that we pull through, to ensure that this is not only going to be a mere policy document but that it is going to be part and parcel of our wider National Development plan for this country. And yes I heard Mr. Director, the concerns that you've expressed in terms of, we want to see a bigger staff at the ministry of labor, certainly there is the need for increased staff and more resources and we are working towards that. Rest assure As the minister of labor I take these concerns and issues very seriously I will do everything possible to lobby the prime minister and cabinet to ensure that we have representation and that we have the necessary resources to ensure that all the programs that we have undertaken are going to be successfully implemented and that they are going to ensure the kind of social economic development that our country needs to undergo."
The Belize Decent Work Country program will align with all the ministries and portfolios to foster fair and productive work environments in Belize.
