Tuesday, June 23, 2026
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Opening of the Lobster Fishing Season

Lobster fishing season

The Belize Fisheries Department would like to advise the public that in accordance with the Fisheries Act (Chapter 210s, revised edition 2003), the open season for the Spiny Lobster Fishery is from June 15th to February 14th, inclusive in any year. The public is advised of the following regulations which relates to the Spiny Lobster (Crawfish) in Belize:
No person shall take in the waters of Belize or buy, sell or have in his possession crawfish-

  1. if the cape length is longer than three inches or tail weight is less than four ounces:
  2. between the 15th February and the 14th June, inclusive in any year;
  3. that is berried, has eggs or spawn;
  4. that has had the berries, eggs or spawn removed;
  5. that is moulting or has soft shell;
  6. fillet or diced lobster tail meat, except under a special permit issued by the Fisheries Administrator.
  7. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (1) above-
  8.  crawfish with a cape length of less than three inches may be taken in the waters of Belize for aquaculture purposes under license granted by the Minister;
  9. crawfish that is berried, (has eggs) may be taken in waters of Belize for aquaculture purposes under a special license granted by the Minister.

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the Fisheries Act commits an offense and shall be liable on summary conviction as stipulated in the Fisheries Act.
The Department hereby makes a special appeal to fishers and the public, to uphold the Fisheries Regulations and urges all responsible citizens to call the Department at 224-4552 / 203-2623 or Crime Stoppers Belize at 0-800-922-TIPS(8477) to report any infractions. The Department can also be reached by e-mail at fisheries_department@fisheries.gov.bz. The public is assured that all information communicated to the Fisheries Department will be treated with the strictest of confidence.
More info: http://www.fisheries.gov.bz/

Ice Machine for Dubique/Stowe Fishermen Association

Donation to the Fishermen Association

$40,000 For Ice Machine for Dubique/Stowe Fishermen Association.

The Dubique/Stowe Fishermen Association has received $40,000 from Government to facilitate the purchase of an ice machine.
The Hon Member of Parliament for Petite Savanne, Dr Kenneth Darroux was pleased to assist in the facilitation of the purchase of this machine which will significantly enhance the economic livelihood of the fishermen.
He explained that “while Fond St. Jean had been the traditional landing site for fishing in the area over the years, [there has been an] increase in fishermen landing their catch at Stowe.”
Hon Darroux is pleased that this piece of equipment will serve the fishermen of both these areas well.
The association includes fishermen from Grand Bay, Tete Morne and Dubique and was created to assist its members with the purchase of fishing gear and equipment and to solve common problems among its members.
Also speaking at the official handing over ceremony, Acting Chief Fisheries officer Riviere Sebastian noted that the association “has landed in excess of 100,000 pounds of fish over the last year with just a few boats fishing two or three times a week.”
He says the ice machine will be useful in helping the fishermen preserve the quality of their catch.
“Not having an ice machine would lead to you traveling to Roseau every day to buy the ice, and return to your community to put it on your boat to go to sea. That’s a lot of headache so hopefully a lot of that headache will be resolved,” he added.
Executive member of the Dubique/Stowe fishing group Kevin Cooke expressed his thanks for the donation.
The funds were made possible through the Citizenship By Investment Programme.

Brazil Assumes Chair of the OAS Permanent Council

Brazil Assumes Chair of the OAS Permanent Council
Photo: OAS
The Permanent Representative of Brazil to the Organization of American States (OAS), José Luiz Machado e Costa, formally assumed today the Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization, a position he will hold for the next three months.
Receiving the mallet symbolizing the authority of the Council, Ambassador Machado e Costa emphasized the Organization’s leading role in the hemisphere today. “In my term as Chair I intend to focus on facilitating dialogue, therefore for me the coordination among regional groups and respect for the rules and regulations of the Organization will be very important,” said the Ambassador.
For his part, the Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the OAS and outgoing Chair of the Council, Diego Pary, also stressed the centrality of dialogue in the Council’s work. “Apart from the positive experience, for us it was a difficult task because it is not always easy for all countries to find common agreement. But we have always tried to seek dialogue and work with each country within the institutional framework of the Organization, “said Ambassador Pary.
The Permanent Representative of Guyana, Riyad Insanally, assumed as Vice-Chair of the Council during the ceremony, attended by the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General and several representatives of the Member Countries.

Over $190,000 for Housing, Business and Health

Catherine Daniel

Over $190,000 for Housing, Business and Health in Colihaut Constituency.

A promise made to residents of Colihaut and Dublanc for small business and housing assistance and also to meet the medical bills of some residents was fulfilled on Wednesday this week, with the presentation of two cheques.
Honourable Member of Parliament for the Colihaut Consitutency, Lady Catherine Daniel presented the first cheque to the Colihaut Village Council.
She says the Dominica Labour Party government is improving the lives of nationals by investing in the development of people in the areas of health, education, culture, business and housing.
“Today I’m delivering to the Colihaut Village Council an amount of $108,000 and that will go towards housing assistance in some cases, towards a little business assistance in some cases and a little health assistance in some cases,” she explained.
Meanwhile the Dublanc Village Council received a cheque of over $91,000.
“Dublanc area – some towards business, some towards culture and a little towards housing because as you know Dublanc is going to celebrate the feast of St. Peter…”

Belize reaches an important cornerstone in Border Management

Belize Border

The UN Migration Agency (IOM) reports that an important upgrade to Belize’s Border management system is complete. Particularly, this initiative strengthened the capacity of Belize’s Department of Immigration and Nationality Services (DINS) and its staff to manage the border more efficiently through an upgrade of the recently installed PIRS/MIDAS computerized border information management system.
The MIDAS system has been designed by OIM to be compliant with international standards and is currently operational in 19 countries. It also enables the production of real-time reporting over the 1,5 million border transactions per year in Belize. MIDAS automatically checks all recorded entry and exit data in the border posts, allows the collection of biometric data and more accurate capture of information.
“With this Belize can count on a better risk assessment of those travelling and more targeted interventions at the front line and faster clearance of passengers” said Mr. Jason CLARKE, IOM’s Senior Specialist in Border and Identity Solutions.
The software for the pre-security screening at the international airport through Advance Passenger Information Systems (APIS), and the registration of Residents Permit and other permits and VISAS is now in place. The new system has an enhanced connection to Interpol screening systems to identify persons of interest under various categories.
Mr. Rene CHUC, IOM head of Office in Belize noted: “IOM congratulatesthe Government of Belize for the excellent collaboration that has brought this achievement. An important step to strengthen migration management across the entire country.”
In Belize, more than 80 migration officers are trained in MIDAS and they receive monitoring visits of their regional counterparts. IOM has provided expert guidance throughout the installation process, including training workshops and post-project support to ensure MIDAS’ sustainability.

Opening ceremony for e-commerce workshop

e-commerce

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Gayle Francis-Vaughan, will speak at the opening ceremony of an operational readiness for e-commerce workshop on Monday, July 10, at the Caribbean Postal Training Centre, General Post Office Building, Cheapside, St. Michael, beginning at 9:00 A.M.
The media is invited to send a representative to cover this event.

All Courts closing early on Wednesday

Court

Members of the public are advised that all High and Magistrates’ Courts will close at noon on Wednesday, July 12. This early closure is to facilitate a training exercise for all court personnel. Any inconvenience caused is regretted.

Castries South Disaster Preparedness Committee re-organized

Nemo - St. Lucia

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) with the support of the Social Transformation Officer of the Department of Equity and Social Justice has reorganized the Castries South Disaster Preparedness Committee.
On Tuesday July 4, 2017, a series of planning activities culminated with the appointment ofan Executive Committee which has the mandate to conduct the affairs of the Organization over the next six months.
The Executive comprises:

  • Chairman: Mr. Bengy Eugene
  • Deputy Chairperson: Ms. Anthea Felix
  • Secretary: Ms. Lail Jeremie
  • Assistant Secretary: Ms. Martha Blanchard
  • Treasurer: Ms. Kaynia Francois
  • Assistant Treasurer:Ms. Malika Rosemond
  • PRO: Mr. Fabian Mathurin
  • Trustees: Ms. Tamika PappinMs. Natasha Valcin

The Deputy Director of NEMO, Mr. Julian Du Bois expressed his confidence in the ability of this newly appointed team to competently serve the disaster management needs of the community, as most are currently engaged in developmental activities in the Community.

Maritime boundary agreement signed

maritime boundary agreement
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart signing the Maritime Boundaries Agreement between Barbados and St.Lucia with Prime Minister Allan Chastenet. Foreign Service Officer 1, Sandra Gittens is at left. (C.Lashley/BGIS)

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and his St. Lucian counterpart, Prime Minister Allen Chastenet, today signed a treaty establishing a maritime boundary agreement between the two countries.
The signing was completed in the margins of the Thirty-eighth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), now wrapping up in St. George’s, Grenada.
In a statement following the ceremony, Mr. Stuart heralded the signing as an occasion that demonstrated “the commitment to foster closer regional integration and closer cooperation that is still alive with the regional grouping”.
He added: “The twin issues of ocean governance and the blue economy are becoming increasing topical. Part and parcel of both endeavours is the ability of a state to exercise jurisdiction unimpeded over the ocean space appertaining to it. …To be able to agree with one’s neighbours exactly where their jurisdiction begins and yours ends, and vice versa, is thus a matter of the highest import to the proper conduct of the business of the state.”
He lauded the alacrity with which both countries came to the agreement, noting that it spoke volumes about the “breadth, the depth and the tenor of regional cooperation and the spirit of unity that have traditionally characterised CARICOM interstate relations”.
Mr. Stuart reminded persons that CARICOM Members States not only exist in close proximity to each other, but also share a history and cultural identity that will facilitate “an enduring bond of kinship among our peoples”.
St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines also co-signed a similar agreement today.

Jamaica Signs CCREEE Agreement

CCREEE

Jamaica Signs Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency – CCREEE Agreement.

Jamaica is now a signatory to the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, CCREEE.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness signed the agreement this morning (July 6) ahead of the start of the final day of discussions at the 38th Regular meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM in Grand Anse Grenada.
The CCREEE is designed to address the implementation deficit in CARICOM’s sustainable energy sector and to support or coordinate the execution of the regional renewable energy and energy efficient projects.
The Centre will be headquartered in Barbados.
With the introduction of renewable energy solutions, Jamaicans can expect to see micro-economic decisions manifest in the macro-economy.
The Government of Jamaica is actively seeking to attract renewable energy solutions in order to diversify the energy sector.
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