Community and Society

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in Belize recently hosted its Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Validation Workshop supported by the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, to assess the country’s progress at each phase of the disaster management cycle, guided by the CDM Audit Tool. On May 8th, 2024, over 60 stakeholders came together for the workshop, which was one of four in-country audits being undertaken through CDEMA’s Building Resilience in the CARIFORUM States to Disaster Risks and Climate Change Impacts (BRICS) Programme funded by the European Union.

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) is currently using sargassum as a landfill and mixing it with material to build a new boulevard in the San Pedrito subdivision. This innovative approach not only puts the seaweed to good use but also keeps the smell down, making the community a better place to live.

To show solidarity with fly fishers across the country and to continue sending a strong message against developments threatening their livelihoods, a group of fly-fishing guides held a peaceful protest in front of Cayo Rosario on Wednesday, May 15th. Cayo Rosario is a small island within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Zone IV off the west coast of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The surrounding area is home to some of the best fly-fishing areas in the country, but a proposed tourist resort on the small island is of concern to many as it could disrupt their fishing grounds. Fly fishers on Ambergris Caye depend on this sports fishing activity involving the three protected species of bonefish, permit, and tarpon.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve's Reef Fest is back! The 2024 edition will be celebrated from May 19th to May 24th, with the theme "Saving the marine ecosystem is a priority; education is key to sustainability." Paris Kelly and Karisha Rubio, winners of last year's slogan competition at San Pedro High School, suggested this year's theme.

On Saturday, May 11th, the annual Mother's Day Extravaganza, a unique celebration in San Pedro Town, was held at the Honourable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena. Hundreds of mothers gathered to enjoy various activities, including a lively karaoke competition, captivating local and international performances, and exciting giveaways.

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Government of Belize announced the successful completion of the Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass upgrade in Belize - a significant milestone in the UK’s and the Bank's longstanding partnership with the Government and people of Belize.

In an effort to promote community engagement and foster inclusive governance, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government announces a series of public sensitization sessions regarding the proposed expansion of municipal boundaries.

San Pedro Town has activated a response to tackle the current influx of the brown seaweed known as sargassum, with the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) leading the campaign. On May 3rd, they offered more job posts to keep the beaches sargassum-free and are also partnering with the private sector to jointly remove much of the seaweed from the shoreline. All tourism stakeholders are encouraged to share their response efforts as the seasonal natural phenomenon affects the coasts beyond the downtown area.