Community and Society
San Pedro Bids Farewell to Milagro Garel with Special Mass
Family members, friends, and community leaders gathered on September 4th to celebrate the life of Maria del Milagro Garel with a special funeral Mass at the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church. Garel, originally from San Pedro but later residing in Belize City, served as the Country Director of World Pediatrics Belize. She is remembered as a compassionate advocate who dedicated more than 20 years to helping Belizean children access specialized and life-changing medical care.
Community and Society
Electricity Crisis Drives Growing Interest in Solar Power
Many Belizeans are taking a closer look at solar energy systems as Belize continues to experience electricity interruptions and scheduled load shedding. Interest has increased in recent weeks as high demand and reduced available supply have led Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) to implement scheduled interruptions. At the same time, unplanned outages have also affected the island.
Community and Society
Laura Cantun Brings Global Experience to Belize
hree Belizean teachers—Clarisa Gongora, Laura Cantun and Shellon Nuñez-Flowers—shared their experiences of teaching abroad. Cantun has now returned to Belize after completing the five-year program and told The Sun that she is excited to share the knowledge and experience she gained in the US.
Community and Society
Community Run Opens Suicide Awareness Month
Fourteen people participated in a suicide awareness run organized by Coach Kian Trejo of the San Pedro Town Council Sports Department on Tuesday, September 1st. The event began at the southern end of the San Pedrito Highway and ended at Central Park, marking the start of Suicide Awareness Month.
Community and Society
Eco-Museum Belize Earns Silver at 2026 ICRT Responsible Tourism Awards
Eco-Museum Belize, located in northern Ambergris Caye, received a Silver Award at the prestigious 2026 International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Responsible Tourism Awards. The awards recognize outstanding organizations advancing sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community empowerment within the tourism industry.
Community and Society
Traffic Controls Increased for Back-to-School Rush
With schools officially reopening on Monday, August 31st, the San Pedro Traffic Department activated its road safety measures to protect students and other road users. These include regular traffic checkpoints and wardens at key intersections throughout town, particularly during busy drop-off and pick-up periods.
Community and Society
BEL Seeks Emergency Declaration to Address Electricity Shortfall
On Tuesday, September 1st, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) issued a public update reassuring customers that it continues to manage available generation following recent power outages. The company also confirmed that it wrote to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), requesting a formal emergency declaration to begin procuring additional emergency generation.
Community and Society
Omar Arceo Takes Fly-Fishing Camps to Punta Gorda and Placencia
San Pedro’s Omar Arceo continues sharing his fly-fishing knowledge across Belize. This time, the “Doctor of the Flats” held training camps in Punta Gorda Town and Placencia, southern Belize. Participants learned about the importance of Belize’s fly-fishing industry, a multimillion-dollar sector of the country’s tourism industry. Arceo also emphasized sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation, which go hand in hand with fly-fishing.
Community and Society
Free Haircuts Prepare San Pedro Students for School
The San Pedro Town Council held its sixth annual Back-to-School Hair Cutz event on Sunday, August 30th, providing free haircuts to children ages five to 13. The island-wide initiative ran from 9AM to noon and was organized in partnership with the council’s Women, Youth and Children Affairs portfolio and local barbers and beauty professionals.
Community and Society
Flag-Raising Ceremony Signals Start of September Celebrations
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, joined the rest of the nation on Tuesday, September 1st, for the annual Flag-Raising Ceremony. At 6AM, community members and local officials gathered at Central Park, where members of the Belize Coast Guard raised the Belizean flag, officially marking the start of the country’s September Celebrations.
Community and Society
BEL Provides Update on Generation Capacity and Measures to Strengthen Electricity Supply
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) informs its Customers and the public that the Company continues to actively manage available generation and advance measures to strengthen electricity supply and the reliability of the National Grid.