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Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
transcript of our evening television news script. Many interviews on our newscast
are conducted in Creole. In the interest of clarity for our foreign readers,
we attempt to paraphrase the Creole quotes in English |
Mexico CFE Says "No Mas" To BEL (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Tonight, Belizeans in communities all across the country should have their candles, flashlights and fully charged cell phones ready because BEL today announced a dense schedule for land shedding - which, in small change, means "blackout".
At around noon, the company put out a 24 hour schedule for rolling outages going from 10 am to midnight and the same is expected for tomorrow. This was required after CFE in Mexico told the utility "no mas" for Thursday and Friday.
That prompted a press briefing today at the Biltmore where executives discussed the current crisis and the communities that are going to be affected by outages.
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"CFE has agreed to supply us about 20 megawatts up to 3:00 this evening. It's 3:00 already. But as of 3:00, they're going to cut it down to zero, which means that we'll have to take off even more feeders throughout the country."
Jose Moreno, General Manager, Energy Supply & Transmission
"Based on the generation availability at that hour. And given the restrictions imposed to us by, you know, the lack of supply from the lack of adequate supply from CFE and our own generation sources, then we establish a plan taking into consideration areas that we can work on, that we can do early, where it is better to do it later at night."
"And also we take into consideration the size of those areas, the size of those feeders. Belize City, I know it's a business district, so we try. We're trying to if we need to, because we need to right now, especially right now at 3:00, we're going to be short of 30 megawatts. In that case that calls for the outage of an entire Belize City."
"We're not going to do that. So if were touch areas in Belize City, we'll do it at an earlier time than what we will do on a rural area, Right. So I think we have prepared a proposed schedule that I think customer care and PR have already shared with with our customers and employees. And if the load materializes, if those restrictions continue, then those loadshedding schedules are affected."
"So it's something that is fluid."
The Bounce Back From San Pedro's Blackout (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And while that is the forecast - San Pedro residents are still trying to get over what the endured yesterday: a punishing 14 and a half hour blackout - from mid morning to after midnight.
The CEO revised what triggered the outage - and what's been done to fix it:
This sound. The steady hum of a generator could be heard across San Pedro yesterday. For businesses fortunate enough to have one. Those who didn't have had to close down and take a loss for the day. That marathon 14 hour blackout started in the morning at 10:20. And power wasn't restored until after midnight. As San Pedranos labored through a dark and humid night by candlelight and sea breeze.
Back on the main land near Maskall, BEL crews were toiling to replace a failing transformer.
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"And we moved quickly to deploy a mobile transformer that we have in place to the Maskall substation. We started to move right away. It took us about two and a half to 3 hours to dismantle that mobile substation. I say transformer but it's actually a full substation. It was by mile 8 on the George Price Highway. it took us another 5 hours to transport that because it is huge and wide."
"It could not go through the normal route to Maskall. It had to go all the way up to Carmelita and then down along the old Northern Highway. And even so two of the bushings on that mobile substation broke. Had it not been for that, we would have been able to get back San Pedro on line by about 9:30 last night."
"So remember, from 10:20 in the morning, way up to then we actually got San Pedro back on line until 48 minutes after midnight, which is this morning. So they were out of power for about 13, 13 hours. Again, we apologize to all our customers in San Pedro. What we are doing now, we have brought in some help from our contractor based in Guatemala who specializes in fixing those components."
"I think he should be here today or one of their representatives is here today and we hope to get the transformer back in service within the next 3 to 4 weeks. But in the meantime, the mobile substation is capable of supplying the capacity out there. I will say, though, sorry the demand of there I will say, though, that that mobile substation is at its capacity limit, too."
"So we will have to continue to manage demand in San Pedro."
And so San Pedro remains in a precarious power situation. Mencias apologizes on behalf of the company today.
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"Please understand that we are very focused on our mission, and no BEL employee is happy with the situation that we are facing. Our customers are our customers. And that is why I made the point to you. There will be no blaming of any other parties because at the end of the day, the contractual arrangements between us and our customers, they depend on us."
"As one customer told me, when the bill comes, it comes from BEL, Right? So we look to you to provide the solution. So, yes, we are very cognizant of the impacts this has had, and that is why we moved the way we did. Let me see if, for example, to the gas turbine that we are deploying in San Pedro, the total cost of that is $44 million."
"Right? The upgrade to the gas turbine in at Westlake is another $34 million. That's already $70 million that we have had to find."
"Many island businesses racked up losses yesterday and hotels fear tourist cancellations. BEL says they have recognized how much of an impact this has had on businesses and remote workers."
"So we have been bearing these costs to make sure that we are able to provide electricity to our customers. But again, the solution immediately is to put the capacity in place and to make sure that we can provide the reliable electricity that our customers need include, especially including those who work from home very much. There are many employees who also work not only from home, we work from where we are most effective."
"So yes, we understand that and that is why we have apologized and sincerely so for the impacts of of these outages on customers and also businesses, obviously, many of whom have been helping us during this time."
Seeds Of Today's Power Outages Were Planted Ten Years Ago (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And while BEL is facing failure - today's capacity crisis could have been foretold from last year.
In fact, 10 years ago - the regulatory - which is the PUC - knew this need for additional capacity was coming.
Jules Vasquez reports on the failed request for power of 2014:
This was 2014, the pre-bidding meeting that the Public Utilities Commission convened for 44 applicants who had responded to the requests for power. There was optimism and goodwill in the room, sustainable energy sources said. But ten years later, that optimism has dimmed. Replaced by these grim expressions worn by BEL senior managers today, as the company is in the middle of a full blown capacity crisis, one for which there are no quick fixes.
CEO Mencias says that the seeds of today's failure were planted ten years ago.
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"So that means that over the ten years from 2013 to 2022 only eight megawatts of capacity was added to the system. And that really is the story of how we have arrived at the capacity shortages that we have and why 2013 is important is an important year because 2013 is a year where the PUC, in conjunction with BEL, put out what is called request for PRO requests for proposals for 75 megawatts of generation and capacity."
"So you can see from that time everyone was aware of the need for this additional capacity and only 8 megawatts was added. And as a result, as I said, we have ended up in a capacity shortage situation."
And the shortage situation is being addressed by short term fixes.
"Immediately. What we have in place is that we are upgrading or gas turbine, as I said at mile 8, and that is expected to come back on line by early next week. It was originally at 19 megawatts. It's being upgraded to 30 megawatts. So next week 30 megawatts of additional capacity is coming on line. Once that comes on line, we will be able to bridge the generation shortage that we are experiencing right now."
But this is an expensive and unsustainable fix.
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"Just the cost of the diesel of running the machines on diesel per kilowatt hour ranges between $0.45 to about $0.60, sometimes higher. You want to know what is the price of electricity, right? Pretax. The average price is about $0.40. So when we are running those gas turbines, we're already losing money."
Despite Fundamental Failures, BEL CEO Remains Optimistic (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
By now we've all heard that formula of imminent relief for this capacity crisis. But that's coming on next week - and it doesn't help with tonight and tomorrow's power shortage and load shedding.
It's a low moment for the proud and profitable BEL - which is failing its customers right now. But despite that - the CEO says he remains focussed on the future - even when we put the tough questions to him:
Jules Vasquez:
"Your company. The company is failing in its most fundamental responsibility, it's a national outrage. BEL's name is causing national outrage right now..."
John Mencias, CEO - BEL
"So despite your characterisations of the situation, we focus on what we can do, and that's what we are doing and that's what we have been doing. So the emotional state is focusing on what we can do, making sure that we can get the gas turbine deployed by next week, get the gas turbine deployed in in San Pedro by the end of May, making sure that we are reaching out to our customers, thanking our customers who are supporting us, thanking our customers who are bearing patience."
"We can't focus on the past. We have to focus on what we can do."
BDF & BCG Return From Jamaica, Will They Ever Make It To Haiti? (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
One month ago, 31 BDF soldiers and 20 Coast Guardsmen departed Belize en route to Jamaica. They went for special training ahead of a possible deployment to Haiti as a part of a multinational force. But they aren't headed to Haiti just yet. These security force members have returned to Belize and are awaiting the go-ahead. They landed this evening, and the BDF's Brigadier General was at the airport to welcome them back. He explained a bit about the training and the fact that there is the possibility that even after all the preparedness, these soldiers may not even go to Haiti.
Brig. Gen Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"As I understand it, the training that they underwent, it's mostly for to safeguard critical infrastructure on how to confront the the the gangs in Haiti. They also conducted quite a few amount of human rights training, the Geneva Convention and how to approach them, respecting their their human rights and dignity in the area of the sea saga. I think that they did something a bit different that I could recall."
"Perhaps the training was a bit more specialised, but all in all, and in principle the Government of Belize supported such training and and that deployment to Haiti. We continue to prepare our troops. We have we have drafted a ten point document. Well, the the ministry and then points on, on those points specify under what conditions we are going to deploy to Haiti."
"And so far the training aspect of it is something that is being accomplished at the moment. We still have to wait and see."
Reporter:
"I know you guys are waiting for the for the word after your draft, The ten point proposal, waiting for the word to say, yes, we need you. Is there a chance, though, that they will never call for you guys? And while you did this training a while, you're prepared. You may not end up in Haiti."
Brig. Gen Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"Yes. As people say, all options are on the table you know. In my case as the commander of the Belize Defense Force I'm just ensuring readiness of of my troops. And likewise, see, the commandant of the Coast Guard is doing the same. Ensuring readiness, and that whenever if the government of Belize says yes, go ahead and deploy, we have to ensure that they are ready training wise, the welfare and administration and everything is okay, that they have all their allowances, their medicals, if they are injured in theatre, that they will be looked after."
"All of that is what we and we are looking after their welfare and administration and it is incumbent on us to signal the Ministry of National Defense and the Government of Belize's say that we are ready, but at this point in time we are in the process of getting ready."
They returned on the Canadian Forces Aircraft.
Is BDF Ready For Narcos In The North? (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And we also asked the commander of the BDF about their operations in the north, which is happening alongside the police department. Brigadier General Loria explained that they have been preparing for the possibility of heavy narco activity from a year ago. He added that they are ensuring that the soldiers are as equipped to handle the cartels as the Mexican security forces.
Brig. Gen Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"We were there because we are always in support. The police always conduct their internal operations. They have the mandate or the or the authority to conduct arrests. We could do detentions. We will always be in support and hand over. If we detain anybody, we must hand over whoever it is that is committing the crimes to to the police department, and they will be responsible to do the remainder, the prosecution, etc., etc.."
"Yes, we did plan yesterday. From last year. This this Caborca Cartel is something that we got wind of from last year in May. I do remember that we went to Mexico to inform the cabinet, the National Security Council, about such problematic in close to our northern border in their case it's the southern border, which they referred us to, to the state of Quintana Roo and the military that was here, and to conduct more meetings."
"So here we are now, they the cartels are in southern Mexico. They are in fights. Some might say it's not it's not serious, as the other others would say it's serious, because on the videos, if you notice the cruelty that is being used for them to target individuals, it's something that is happening within cartels and it could spiral if we don't watch it, it could come into Belize, into our territory."
"We have been conducting operations from last year in May, June, July thereabout, and we continue to do so. And most naturally, if the Mexican armed forces bolstered their security in Quintana Roo in the state of Chetumal, we have to ensure that our security presence is increased. And we have been doing that with the police department as well."
But he conceded that they do not have enough human resources, and at yesterday's meeting, the issue of missing customs and immigration officials was discussed.
Brig. Gen Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"Certainly, we don't have all the assets that we would require, but we wish that we have their , hence, the reason we work at joint interagency with this with the other security elements and something that that we spoke about is that we are at yesterday's meeting, is that we didn't have the the presence of the Immigration and the Customs Department, that they are also force multipliers, that they are responsible to conduct security along the border as well."
"And the more personnel that we have together, it would be better for us. We at present with with with the police department and us, it's a significant amount of personnel that we have in the border, along the border, and we do intend to bolster it. So it is just for our safety precautions and the reassure the Belizean public that we are not standing idly by."
"We were responding to to an emergency that is happening on the other side of the border and we don't want that problem to come across."
Sarstoon Situation Is More Than Military (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And as you saw last Thursday, when the GAF soldiers approached the Belizean vessel, the Brigadier General calmly addressed them. Many were alarmed at his approach - there were criticisms that he was too laidback - since he spoke to them while sitting down and allowed them to follow us while being on our side of the river. But he explained that he has to make the best decision on the ground to ensure the safety of his soldiers.
Brig. Gen Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"You were there. I think that y'all were there. And it is a matter of for us to maintain sovereignty, to ensure that we, are patroling what is ours and what we are doing is to patrol around the island because we are following the 1859 treaty. That is that is what we went to the International Court of Justice, and I don't see no other protocols in place in that sense on Starstoon island."
"So that is the Belizean, the BDF's protocol and that does it and that is what we are abiding by, hence the reason we did what we did last week Thursday we patrolled around it. But they two and they are claiming the river. I listened to the press conference of the of the Guatemalan chief of staff where initially said that the entire river belongs to them."
"But then he as a good tiktoker who rectified that it is a part of the Sibun part of the Starstoon. that belongs to Guatemala. And and we have recommended henceforth that this that we are there. We understand that we are not going to violate any human rights. Their human rights and there too the do understand because he made it crystal clear to that they are not going to come and violate our human rights, but in their mandate they too have a they have the issue of sovereignty."
"That's a blurred area that we understand that with the military. The military is just a and instrument of national power. And that instrument itself will not solve the concern that we have there. And so we have to up it we have to up the anty and pass it on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That's another instrument of national power."
"So they will come and try to broker a solution to for us to be operating peacefully. Well from now until the ICJ has pronounced the verdict. And that's all that we want. We just want to to operate in peace, ensure that we will that we are interdicting the transnational threats. And you have been briefed of what those are."
Two More Lives Lost On Motorcycles (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
After a long weekend that saw four fatal accidents - there were two more this week - again, these victims were on motorcycle. On Tuesday In Belmopan just after 12:30 Pm a delivery man, 29 year old Marcelino Pop was knocked down by an office assistant driving a Nissan Rogue on St Mathew's street in Maya Mopan. Pop sustained numerous life threatening injuries, and later succumbed to them while receiving treatment at the Western regional hospital.
On Wednesday another motorcycle accident claimed the life of a Belizean laborer, between miles 63 and 64 on the Phillip Goldson highway. A motorcycle being driven by 36 year old Pedrito Escalante, collided into 72 year old Thomas Mendez who was riding a green bicycle. Both men were flung onto the pavement, and Mendez sustained severe head injuries. He succumbed to those injuries and was later pronounced dead at the Northern regional hospital.
ComPol Tells Belizeans Don't Underestimate The Police (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Yesterday you heard the Commissioner of Police reassure the public that the Corozal Free Zone was safe from cartels after a photo of a banner went viral on social media. The banner, written in Spanish, said that the Belize Free Zone belonged to a cartel. Since then, the police have met and are strengthening their operations in the north. In the interview the ComPol said that the officers, along with the BDF soldiers, were prepared and unafraid.
But ever the social media lurker, Williams was disappointed at the Facebook comments posted under his interview. He told us that various persons said that he didn't know what he was talking about, and that the BPD is no match for the cartels.
Well this morning on Sunup on 7, the ComPol criticized those comments. He said that the members of the BPD and the BDF should not be underestimated.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"If David would have felt defeat before even confronting Goliath, he would not have defeated him. We can't go into a situation feeling defeated because certainly, we will be defeated. I think that as much as one may say that the cartels are well equipped and well trained, we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by that. We can proudly say as well that our military are well trained. When our military go and do jungle warfare training in other parts of the world or when other military come to Belize to do jungle warfare. You would normally hear that Belizean military personnel normally excel because we know how to maneuver the jungle. Belize is for us and our personnel knows the jungle more than anybody who would come from across the border and so it would be difficult for cartels to come to Belize and believe that they can run Belize as they do in part of Mexico. And as a security force that is tasked to ensure the safety and security of our people, we are not going to be perturbed by what we have heard of the cartels and many of the things being shared on social media right now where the cartels are concerned are old things, things that have been posted long long time before but again you find that the media, certain media in Chetumal are bringing up these things to spread propaganda and to spread fear in people. While we do understand and recognize that we're still not going to take anything for granted and that the reason why we met yesterday with the Minister of Home Affairs as well as the Minister of Defense to look at what we're doing up in the north and re-strategize to some extent, strengthen our presence to make sure that in the event the cartels may decide that they want to move to Belize to seek refuge from what is taking place in Chetumal, that we will be in position to prevent them from doing so. Another important thing that we must do is to make sure that those persons in Belize who we know are operatives of the cartel, we have to ensure that we maintain constant presence on them in the sense of doing operations, searching and these sort of things to make them not be comfortable to want to bring anybody over to Belize and so those are things that we're doing as a part of our operational plan to ensure that we can deal with any eventuality should that arise."
ComPol Seriously Considering Political Career (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And while the Commissioner is preparing in case of an emergency in the north, is he also preparing to run in the 2025 General Elections? The ComPol has hinted and joked many times that he would run in Mesopotamia against the Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow.
But today on Sunup he explained that he has given politics serious thought. In fact, there may still be a chance that he sends in his application. But to which party?
Here's what he told our hosts.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I think that the Honorable Member for Mesopotamia already has sufficient dislike for me, I wouldn't want to further enhance the level of dislike he has for me so I'm going to reserve that for now."
Host:
"So in a general question now, not necessarily Mesop, but do you see a future in politics?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"It is something yes I am contemplating but again I just don't want to make a move, I want to be able to look at the landscape and see how more or less it would go. I was looking to see if there was going to be the redistricting. That would have created some leverage I believe but that did not occur. Hopefully after this coming election, that may be done and I will look at more holistically. In terms of this coming election, I am not sure as yet, I am in deep contemplating."
Host:
"You have until May 24th, you know."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I've not made any preparations, so at this time, I am not going to say yes, I am not going to say no. if I do decide my. Mind before May 24th, then I'll hand in my application and see how it goes."
Host:
"Since a certain Mesopotamia area rep and party leader, you said, has a strong dislike for you, does that mean that your name, should you decide to put it on a ballot, will be on a blue ballot?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't want to "Mesop" the man. I'm not going to say at this time which political party but if you ask Jules Vasquez he will tell you. Because he knows."
No Severance For Public Servant After Fifteen Years (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
In other news, Shellymae Young had been working in the public service for 15 years before she was terminated. While she accepts the termination, she claims that in the year or so since she had been transferred to the Ministry of Natural Resources, she was mistreated, which led her to lash out. And now that she has been fired, she has not received any severance package. This has put a massive financial strain on her since she has bills to pay, and a 13-year-old son to look after. She came by our studio today to explain her situation.
Shellymae Young, Employed 15 Years With GOB
"I would find myself frequently in front of the AO trying to defend myself in accusations as usual. False accusations at all times. Oh, Ms Young, you were outside for three hours talking to the policemen, and stuff like that, which was false."
"One time she came and called me in and told me that she's going to do my appraisal and she gave me 4 on my appraisal, bear in mind, while she was doing my appraisal, she said, if it was left to me I would give you a D. But she gave me most of them were C's and she gave me 4% on my appraisal out of 10. I went back to my desk and I was crying and while I was crying a friend, ex-coworker, she called me on the phone and she asked me why I was crying so I explained to her, it's my AO, she gave me 4% on my appraisal."
"She was telling me to stop but while she was ranting and raving, I was emotional, I was crying, I didn't know a lady was sitting there writing everything."
"I went on a week leave, sick leave and when I came back I was handed a letter stating that I was on two months suspension. So I was on suspension from January up to February."
"I went in front of the Commission, the AO had like 7 people testifying, they made false accusations against me saying I said certain things about the AO and stuff like that. I didn't have a chance to defend myself either in front of the Commission."
"At the end, I was terminated for calling the AO a demon and a **obscenity**."
Reporter:
"And so after 15 years of working for the government, you didn't receive any type of severance or anything like that?"
Shellymae Young, Employed 15 Years With GOB
"Nothing, I received nothing at all. The letter just saying that I'm terminated for major misconduct."
"I'm here today, I'm asking for my money for 15 years plus 5 months"
We did reach out to the CEO In Natural Resource, but at news time had not gotten a comment.
Forest Fires Cause Low Visibility On Highway (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Earlier we told you about two more traffic fatalities this week. Well, drivers need to be warned that due to forest fires there are dangerous road conditions on the George Price Highway right now.
These pictures and videos were taken at 5:30 between miles 35 and 37 on the GP highway. Drivers are urged to be very careful due to low visibility.
Unions Encouraged By GOB's Response To Watchdog Agency (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Going back to yesterday's meeting between the Joint Unions and the Government - the unions felt they got some encouraging signals from the government on the possibility of an independent UN funded watchdog agency. Conceptually, it would be something like CICIG - the "INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION AGAINST IMPUNITY IN GUATEMALA" which put at least one Guatemalan president in jail.
Of course, the approval of such bodies things are usually lip service, but PSU president Dean Samuels said that they put out the proposal and it least it wasn't rejected.
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"Because they had to concede none of our oversight bodies have the requisite expertise in the in the numbers that is required, nor do they have the proper infrastructures in place to be able to effectively implement these these different pieces of legislation, including the most recently passed civil asset recovery and unexplained wealth order bill. And so we've said to the government, similar to what our neighbors did in Guatemala, that we seriously need to approach the UN and see if they are prepared to fund such a commission and to spearhead the establishment of such a commission and to lead such a commission over the next 3 to 5 years."
Reporter:
"Are they amenable to accept such a proposal?"
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"Well, surprisingly, as I stated, they did not object to it. I know and I can say categorically that this type of conversation with the past administration was a "hell no." I can say that categorically, including some of the past attorney generals. It was a "hell no." This administration has not said no to the establishment of a UN funded and aided commission Anti-Corruption Commission."
"It could be that they are not serious."
Reporter:
"Or just paying lip service. I mean, you've seen how this government treats with requests for a Freedom of Information Act request. I say just FOIA requests and you've seen how they treat with the media. When we're asking things, they are simply just walk away. And I'm talking specifically about the Prime Minister. So they seem to be or seem to have an apathy to be investigated, to even just be questioned by the media."
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"Again, the media cannot be discouraged, similar to how we are never discouraged in championing these issues. And it is important that the Belizean people understand that, no, it is not okay for you not to know whether or not your money is being spent properly. It is unacceptable. It should be unacceptable to the Belizean people when members of the media are asking for contracts takes for example, the infrastructure contracts and there is a, there is lack of cooperation or disclosure by the government of Belize. The only time you have this type of behavior in government is when they are doing something wrong."
Will Higher Wages Keep Teachers At Home? (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Another union leader, the President of the Belize National Teachers Union discussed something far less notional - and that's the brain drain of teachers.They are being attracted to other countries who are trying to recruit them for better pay and better conditions.
The president said she is aware of it:
Nadia Caliz, BNTU National President
"Yes, we are losing members because our members are going and that is the reason why we love the fact that government has agreed to look at that, look at the entire compensation package of workers. They need to look at salaries that are more attractive. Our members are more attracted to what the other countries are offering and that's why they are going. And when you look at people wanting to improve the quality of life, we can't force them to stay. Yes, we're experiencing brain drain and that's why it's important for us to undertake this exercise that government agreed for us to do today."
BNTU Embracing The New (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Another union leader, the President of the Belize National Teachers Union discussed something far less notional - and that's the brain drain of teachers.They are being attracted to other countries who are trying to recruit them for better pay and better conditions.
The president said she is aware of it:
Nadia Caliz, BNTU National President
"So behind the scenes, we're working on our challenges. But I can tell the country right now: the BNTU is stronger than ever."
"That I can tell this country. There's no if, but or maybe about that. We're working with our membership. We're working with our branch leaders and their executives because we have to make certain that the re-branding of BNTU is something for this country to remember for eternity."
Will We Ever Know The Truth About Ruth? (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And while Shoman was basically pushed out of the post because her teaching bona fides were brought into serious question, her replacement says the full story of "Judging Ruth" has never been told:
Nadia Caliz, BNTU National President
"Never before were we asked to provide letters of employment. It is not a requirement at all. But given the challenges that the that our past president went through and the image that was created about the union, we are going to be talking about this, but for us internally it's something we have to address and we have to clarify to the entire nation that some of the information they received publicly was not so, was not so."
She Invested $3 and Won $25k (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
And, in lighter news...
She says it was her last $3 that she spent in exchange for a winning ticket - and for that she got 25 grand.
We today met the winner of a $25,000 scratch card. She says she purchased from Baba's store not knowing what luck she would find:
Scratch Winner
"And I thank God because this is the first time and so me but so my daughter buy. My grandson or my next grandson they both go until yesterday evening the little one said mom let me go and buy I said are you sure this is my last $3 I don't have anymore or else we won't be able to eat. I said well anyway go and do it. He brought it and u said I don't want to scratch it let my daughter scratch it and she scratched it I say on the bed and watched her and she just continued scratching and my grandson said mom! You won! she said No and he said yes mom the last one you win Ma and I said let me see it and so when I saw it I said yes you won. 25K she said No ma 2500 she said No ma $25,000 she couldn't believe it. She was speechless almost fell down I gave her some water and had to put the fan in front of her. She went down on her knees and thanked God. She told me if it wasn't you it was me but we have to do it this was our last $3. I said no problem God is with you he sees where you need it and gives you and we thank god for that. We know we owe people so we have to pay out the bills to whoever we owe and I always say no matter what we will continue and I thank god for that and I appreciate it."
A New Play Called SCAM Raises Money For Mental Health (posted on Thu May 2, 2024)
Scams have been much in the news recently, but there's a different kind of SCAM happening at the bliss tonight.
It's an original Belizean play and a unique comedy performance being staged as a fundraiser for The Mental Health Association in collaboration with the Rotary club of Belize. Here are a few highlights from the green carpet event at the opening night happening now.
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