7 News Belize

A Warning From A Ras
posted (June 19, 2020)
It's been a minute since Belize has heard new music from Ras Indio, but the Reggae star is back this time with his brother Nkrumah Obi to bring us a new single that's as ominous as it is upbeat. This week Indio released the lyric video for Warning, a song inspired by what he says are the perils of the times we're in. We caught up with the Ras in Belmopan where he sang us a few lines from the track.

You can catch the lyric video for Warning on Reggaeville's youtube channel.






This Weekend's Flood Forecast

At the top fo the new we told you about flooding and the highways. Well, the National Hydrological Service reports that many riverways are still rising and a flood warning remains in effect.

Flood levels on the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Roman, and Douglas are rising. The New River at Tower Hill and Caledonia is above normal and rising.

On the Macal River, reservoir levels remain above the spillway at the Chalillo, Mollejon, and Vaca facilities. At San Ignacio, water levels are above the low-level bridge. The Mopan River at Benque Viejo is at the bank-full stage but falling. On the Belize River, levels at Banana Bank and Double Run area above normal and rising. The Crooked Tree Lagoon is below the causeway and rising.

The Sibun River near Freetown Sibun is at flood stage and continues to rise. Levels are rising on the Southern Lagoon, near Gales Point Manatee. The Swasey and Bladen Branch of the Monkey River is at flood stage. Levels are rising on the Rio Grande at San Pedro Colombia and Big Falls. The Moho River at Jordan is above normal and rising.

The weekend flood warning is in effect for all parts of the country.






A Safe Future For Hospitality

The Belize Tourism Board has a new list of Guidelines which it hopes that Hoteliers and restauranteurs will abide by. This new protocol is for when the Airport eventually opens up, and tourists start coming back to Belize.

It has the stamp of approval from Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia Jr., just in time to respond to his political opponent, who sent him a letter accusing him of having no plan for the recovery of the tourism industry. We'll tell you about that letter shortly, but we start first with the protocol.

This 9-point program is focused on enhancing hotel and restaurant cleaning practices, social interactions, workplace policies, and standard operating procedures. The BTB thinks that if it is followed, the protocol will improve Belize's tourism product by fostering confidence in higher standards of cleanliness, health, and safety.

Some of the enhanced protocols include enforcing social distance and the use of face masks while in public places, and the installation of hand hygiene and sanitization stations across the property.

Also, technology should the deployed to provide for online check-in and check-out, contactless payment systems, and automated ordering/booking systems. These are intended to reduce physical interactions between the tourism employee and the guest.

There should be enhanced room cleaning and increased sanitization of public spaces and high touch areas.

The protocols also include a requirement for training for all employees in the new protocols.

Training sessions for the entire accommodation sector will be held next week.






Andre Vs. Manuel
And while that provides some leadership to the tourism sector, Andre Perez, the PUP Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South, is calling out Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia for appearing to have no economic recovery plan for his San Pedro and Caye Caulker voters.

Today, Perez sent an open letter to Heredia to remind him that the residents of these communities and the rest of the tourism sector are waiting for details on how the industry's recovery will work.

Perez writes quote, "there has been no public address by you, the Director of Tourism and the Director of Civil Aviation on the most devastating tourism crisis to hit Belize. After 3 months, at minimum, one should have heard from your Ministry on what plans, procedures or processes are being worked on to help with a slow restart of the industry, to guide the industry on preparing for the coming difficult months..." end quote.

He points out that many islanders, who were laid off from hotels, restaurants, the local airlines, and tour companies, have had to travel to the Belize City mainland in search of jobs.

He closes his letter asserting quote, "Your lack of action and response on the biggest crisis that has hit this industry and Belize Rural South is unacceptable." End quote.


Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize