The Sugar Industry and Cogeneration Project Bill was also debated today in the Senate, although it had moved from the House in December of last year. The bill seeks to extend tax and duties exemptions for BSI and BELCOGEN for the continued development of the cogeneration energy project.
But the Union Senator, Glenfield Dennison, said that the focus should be placed on paying the BSCFA farmers their Fairtrade premium. He added that the government should start using AI to write its bills.
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
"This is the real number, 1 million dollars in fertilizer, that we know, that's a number we know, that's how much the government of Belize offered farmers. Conditionally, but at least it was offered, the farmers want it, no conditions. Leave our case alone, we're going to test it, we're going to go to the CCJ if we have to. All the board try haul and pull the farmers, no, they understand dollars and cents and on million dollars in premium can't do anything when they're owed their fair trade premium. Pay the people their fair trade premium then we could talk about this."
"My estimates, not me, sorry, I couldn't estimate it, the AI had to estimate it. The AI did, it, I'm not afraid to tell you but you need to be afraid of my AI though I could tell you that. And I don't use chat nothing, I use real AI. And then I use my brain too and the brain of technical people who know what to put in. And you want solutions? Because I hear they're asking for solutions down in the House, you could ask the AI to give you solutions too, they could draft a new bill too. See it here, give the AI ten minutes it will blow your mind. We need to start use AI in the government. But I guess that will take out the discretion for the hustling so maybe not. On one side the multinational. On the other side BSCFA who are in a struggle, who are litigating to receive their fair-trade premium. The question before us is simply this, do we prioritize multinational profits or do we stand with the Belizean farmers?"
The Elegant Simplicity Of A Home Test For HIV
Last night we discussed the two new policies implemented by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, one of them being the National HIV Self Testing Policy. Jaleeza Roberts walks you through what the experience taking a self test is like, using her colleague Courtney Menzies as the subject:
HIV self-testing gives people a private, convenient way to know their status early, helping them access treatment sooner and prevent further transmission:
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"And now that we're back in the office, we got our own test and now I will be having one of my coworkers demonstrate what it's like for you guys at home."
Belize is one of the few countries in the Caribbean that has systems in place to support self testing, Courtney, being our test subject opened the kit which came with the instructions on how to go about and all the pieces, making it s user friendly experience:
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Press the flat pad firmly against your gum and swab it along your upper gum once and your lower gum once, like this right?"
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"Yeah, upper, lower."
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Okay here it goes. Put the flat pad all the way to the tube until it touches the bottom. Leave it there for 20 minutes, 20 minutes?"
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"Alright ready, I am starting to time it."
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Before reading the results."
And within those 20 minutes, we were able to ask Courtney about her experiencewaiting to find out if she was reactive or non reactive:
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"It's like waiting for a pregnancy test, it's that same feeling you get, I'm hoping for a negative."
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"How does it feel taking this?"
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Kinda scary, you never know, I was living in ignorant bliss, NO but I think this, to be able to take a test without having to draw blood that is my dream because I am very scared of needles."
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"So do you think that this will encourage more individuals to want to take the test?"
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"I think it should, I think these should be available. You know when you walk into clinics and they have condoms and stuff I think this should be available in the same way that somebody can just walk into a clinic, BFLA, one of those places and just be able to pick this up and take a test at home and to see If they need to get further treatment or what not."
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"Have you taken a HIV test before?"
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"This is my first HIV test, I know I should have been taking it."
Jules Vasquez
"I see why you nervous."
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Exactly."
And the feeling isn't new - especially within younger men - the demographic which is seeing the greatest number of new HIV cases.
Despite the widespread availability of testing, many choose ignorance:
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"I think they have a false sense of security, I don't think people are using condoms as much as they used to a few years ago. I think people are really just, I guess the whole notion of you get HIV and you die, that's the end of your life, that isn't there anymore and so people they just don't use protection that they need to be using."
But what self testing does is create an environment of which persons can get tested without stigma and after the 20 minute wait, here were the results:
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"One line, non reactive, I am HIV free, yeah."
Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"So how do you feel right now?"
Courtney Menzies, Test Subject
"Relieved." (smiling)
Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Self testing kits are available at any NAC office.
Who Was the Most Wondrous Woman in Belize's Security Forces?
They ran in the pouring rain and climbed obstacle courses in the beating sun all for the title of Wonder Woman 2026. Today was the final leg of the competition - known as the crucible and we stopped by this afternoon just in time for the most intense challenge, a series of obstacles. Jomarie Lanza was there and here's her report.
The BDF won with a total of 670 points followed by the Belize Police Department with 620 points and finally the Belize Coast Guard with 519 points.
Belmopan Terminal Gets Major Upgrade in Creature Comforts
Commuters in the Belmopan area will now be able to take advantage of a renovated space at the Belmopan Bus Terminal. Today, half of the renovated terminal was unveiled and it features improvements that project a fresh, new aesthetic for the battered Belize Bus Industry. Jaleeza Roberts reports:
Today half of the renovated Belmopan Terminal was unveiled and this upgrade marks major progress from one that didn't meet basic standards.
This upgrade comes with air conditioning, new ticketing booths, new seating and even new vendor stalls.
After 3 months of renovation by Coleman Construction, it is finally complete with the other half to be finished next.
When done, it will be able to seat about 250-300 persons. At the unveiling, NBC CEO Susana Vanzie outlined what this means for commuters:
Susana Vanzie, CEO NBC
"Today is not just about a physical upgrade, it represents something much larger, it speaks to the investment in people, investment in public service and in the systems that connect us day to day. From a development perspective, improvements like this are critical, safe, functional and well managed transportation hubs are essential to economic activity, accessibility and national growth. It will allow people to move with dignity, reliability and confidence. But beyond that, this terminal belongs to the people of Belmopan and the wider public. It is a shared space, one that should reflect pride, order and opportunity."
And this renovation is simply a preview of coming attractions as CEO Chester Williams confirmed that more is coming but he is calling on citizens to care for the improvements:
Chester Williams, CEO - Ministry of Transport
"I am pleased to say to you that at the beginning of the next fiscal year that we will see the compound and the other half of this, will commence renovation."
"While enjoy the nice atmosphere, Mr.Shaw, you're the manager of this area, you will have an extremely difficult task in making sure that the good work that is done here is not destroyed quickly, we know how people go. Our Belizean people, they complain, complain, complain and when you give them what they want they quickly destroy it. Maintenance is going to be critical because at the end of the day, if we don't maintain what has happened here, very quickly we'll see it deteriorating."
We have seen that many of the improvements have become victims of destructive tendencies. The Belmopan Terminal is the first glint of hope in the promise of what is a changing transportation industry. Dr.Louis Zabaneh, the Minister of Transport said that more terminals will be seeing renovations as well.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"We have already started to do some renovations at the Dangriga terminal, some renovations have occurred in the Independence terminal, a new terminal in due course will be built in Punta Gorda, a new terminal in San Ignacio, one in Benque Viejo and a new one in Orange Walk. The one in Belize City, we will be moving over to a new facility that will be built on the Chetumal boulevard area and then we must work quickly on Corozal."
A plan for rapid progress -and for a commuting community that's suffered years of neglect and substandard operations - it can't come quickly enough.
Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Belize City Terminal To Be Renovated
And with the Belmopan terminal getting its overhaul, the Belize City terminal will be seeing new renovations in the interim before the new terminal is built in the Chetumal street area. With the new budget, the terminal will see upgrades to make it more amenable to commuters:
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"There will be a renovation at the Belize Terminal as CEO mentioned, CEO Williams mentioned earlier.The government has in this budget allocated $2.4 million, part of it which will go to the facility here at this terminal in terms of the specialty parking area and then Belize City. So, Belize City will need to receive urgent upgrading because a lot is to be desired there. And then the terminal, which will be the crown jewel in Belize City, will take a few years to build. So, in the meantime, we cannot have our people still suffering."
Trinidadian Foreign Minister Says They Were Blindsided By Barnett Reappointment
As Secretary General, Belize's Dr Carla Barnett holds the most senior post in CARICOM - and earlier this week, the current Chairman of CARICOM Dr. Terrance Drew announced that she had been approved to hold another term, when the current one ends in August. He said the decision was taken at the Heads of Government meeting in February.
But, tonight, that announcement is under scrutiny after Trinidad's Minister of Foreign Affairs today said in his country's parliament that Trinidad and Tobago was completely blindsided by Barnett's reappointment. He questioned the transparency of the process:
A Book Cataloguing The Life And Work Of 46 Women Artists
How familiar are you with our women Belizean creatives and artists? You can now get to know 46 of them in a publication that catalogues their lives, backgrounds and creations. The Imagination Factri released the 116 page book "Know Ourselves" earlier this week, and today we spoke to one of the researchers, Katie Numi Usher.
If you want a hard copy of the book, it is priced at $50 and can be purchased from the Imagination Factri.
But, it's available for free online at the 501 academy and you can find a link to that one our website.
(https://501academy.edu.bz/2026/03/24/know-ourselves/)
