On The Phone: Florencio Marin Jr, Area Representative, Corozal Southeast

“I want to say that Corozal Southeastfor a rural division has three high schools spread across it. One in Calcutta, one Chunox and one in Sartaneja. So we have adequate coverage of education in our area. With the Sarteneja Baptist High School we have a very close working relationship in that we’ve always been helping them. Some years back they had a, they had some bills they had to pay. We helped them pay off their bills. We’re always donating computers. They had a shortage of teachers and we helped them get another teacher and now they need another one. And we’re working with education for that. And then where they were renting the landlord had asked them to leave, so that’s why the Village Council is supporting them to use the place. They do have a land and that we are working with the government to see when they can fit it within the cycle to be able to build them a school. We also have others who are interested in helping, but nothing finalized as yet. So in the meantime, we, you know, with the generosity of the village council, they’re utilizing the community center and some other buildings near it to, to do their work. Thanks to this government, we have free education in Saint Viator. So we, you know, the whole Corozal Southeast here we have free education there. I mean, so there, there is, you know, for those who can’t, who can’t pay the, the tuition or, so they, they have that opportunity because from the surrounding villages there are buses that take them to the school.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Area Rep Presses for Fix to Sarteneja School Crisis first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The meeting focused on the timeline for construction and temporary arrangements to ensure students continue receiving instruction safely while the projects are underway.

Perez described the session as productive and reassuring for the community. “True to our promise held last week when we met with parents and teachers, the community at large, they were very concerned about the issues affecting the Ocean Academy. So we had the team from the Ministry of Education do a site visit and actually make all the plans on what they’re going to be building,” he said.

With construction expected to last 12 to 13 months, officials are exploring solutions to minimise disruption. One option is a temporary structure at the nearby Catholic primary school. “The issue was actually planning out and saying, can we have something on the side to mitigate?… So the option that was discussed is perhaps considering building a temporary structure on the primary school, the Catholic school,” Perez explained.

Community members had raised about $100,000 to support a temporary facility, but Perez said the ministry cautioned against investing heavily in a facility that would be used for a limited time. “We got to be practical,” he said.

Perez also clarified that once government investment begins, the institution will transition into a public secondary school. “Whatever is built there eventually becomes what is called the government high school,” Perez said. “It’s not going to be Ocean Academy anymore.”

The post MOE Discusses Temporary Buildings for Caye Caulker Students first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams, Reporting

Tonight, in Sarteneja Village, eighty‑four high schoolers are still learning without a real campus. Sarteneja Baptist High School, the community’s only secondary institution, has spent more than four years operating out of a community center and borrowed rooms. Administrators say they’re doing everything they can, but the lack of a permanent home is putting real pressure on teachers, students, and the quality of education they can provide. Sarteneja Baptist High is running on grit and goodwill. With only four teachers and a principal who doubles as a full‑time instructor, the staff is stretched thin just trying to keep classes going. The school has no science lab, no computer lab, nothing that most high schools consider basic. Instead, students gather for lessons and assemblies in outdoor sheds pieced together from donated lumber and zinc, a reminder of how far the community is improvising to make education happen.

Darnel Cruz

Darnel Cruz, Secretary, Sarteneja Village Council

“ The last thing that I got to know was that these guys had a parcel close to the airstrip and they were looking for funding to have that building erected? If you might have noticed they’re currently using the community center, what used to be the community center, but we as the Village Council decided that we need to work along with education also. So we have given them the building for them to have their classes there. And I heard that there was plans on, on starting their, their development but there is a problem with funding in that aspect.”

Sarteneja is bracing for a graduating class that its only high school simply can’t absorb. Village Council Secretary Darnel Cruz, who also teaches at the local Catholic primary school, says far more students are finishing Standard Six this June than there are seats available at the already‑overloaded Sarteneja Baptist High. And with the nearest alternative school miles away, this tiny institution is not only important, it’s a realistic option for most families.

Shane Williams

“That’s the only high school in the village?

Darnel Cruz

“Yes, currently, yes. We have that high school, St. Viters one, which is some miles from here going towards the Chunox Village. But it is good to have a high school in our own community, less expensive for certain people. Yeah.”

Shane Williams

“So what’s, what’s the hope in terms of, for the students here?”

Darnel Cruz

“Well, we hope the best there are certain things that are lacking at the high school, for instance, because of space, they need a lab, chemistry lab and other things. It has to grow. But for now it’s the only thing we can do is assist with that building.  hopefully in the future, well, they will have their, their goal achieved, which is the construction of their own facilities.”

Parents told News Five they’re worried about the poor infrastructure and lack of resources at the high school. Management wouldn’t speak on camera. Meanwhile, students are still trying to learn without basic services or enough classroom space. Families in Sarteneja say they need officials to step in now with a real, long‑term fix. Shane Williams for News Five.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Sarteneja’s Only High School Still Homeless After Four Years first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The institution has just four teachers and a principal, who not only leads but also teaches full-time due to staffing shortages. There are no science or computer labs, and some classes are held outdoors in sheds made from donated materials.

Sarteneja’s Village Council Secretary Darnel Cruz, who also teaches at the local Catholic primary school, explained the current challenges. “The last thing that I got to know was that these guys had a parcel close to the airstrip, and they were looking for funding to have that building erected. If you might have noticed, they’re currently using the community center…And I heard that there was plans on starting their development but there is a problem with funding in that aspect.”

With eighty-four students enrolled and more graduates expected this June than available spaces, parents are worried. Cruz stresses the importance of keeping education local, saying, “It is good to have a high school in our own community, less expensive for certain people…hopefully in the future they will have their goal achieved, which is the construction of their own facilities.”

School management declined to comment, but families are calling for officials to step in with a long‑term solution. For now, students continue their studies without proper facilities, as the community waits for progress on a permanent building.

The post Sarteneja Students Have Gone Years Without a School Building first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams Reporting…

Beverly Williams walked away from a comfortable life in Dangriga to chase her dream of studying medicine in Cuba. She knew the move would mean discomfort, limited access to basic goods and a break from the constant buzz of social media. But nothing could prepare her, or the other twenty‑seven Belizean students on the island, for the level of hardship they’re facing now, as intensified U.S. pressure further strains Cuba’s already struggling economy. Internet service is so unreliable that an on‑camera interview or even a quick video message is nearly impossible. Still, Williams managed to send us a text, one rare connection, sharing what life is like on the ground right now.

“The ongoing power outages and fuel shortage in Cuba have deeply impacted my daily life. I was initially renting outside, but due to the constant outages, which can last anywhere from eight to twelve hours, I had to move back to my school residence. The lack of electricity had made even basic tasks difficult especially since I rely on an electric stove to cook. When there’s no power, I can’t cook. Thankfully, the school has done its best to keep us supplied with electricity so far. They’ve connected the residence to the hospital’s power circuit, which is prioritized, ensuring we have some continuity. But it is uncertain how long that will last. However, not everyone is so fortunate. In some parts of Cuba, people are enduring twelve to eighteen hours without power.”

Williams says as bad as things are now, she fears the worst is ahead and believes they may soon be fully disconnected from the world outside of Cuba.

The scarcity of fuel is also having a profound effect on the prices of transportation and essential goods like food and toiletries. With transportation becoming harder, getting supplies has become a challenge, and everything has gotten more expensive. The poor connection already makes it difficult to stay in touch with loved ones, and as the situation worsens, that fear of complete disconnection becomes more imminent.

It’s hard to know what the future holds, but the fear of things worsening is very real. If we don’t secure more fuel soon, we’ll likely face even longer power outages, and with it, the possibility of not being able to contact family, attend school, or cook meals.

For Williams and the other students, the one bit of reassurance comes from the Government of Belize and the Belize Embassy in Cuba, which have assured them that their health and safety remain a top national priority.

“Despite all this, it’s reassuring to know that the ambassador is staying in constant communication, checking in to ensure our well-being. But even with this support, we can’t help but wonder: How much longer can we hold out? The future feels uncertain, and the growing shortage of resources casts a dark shadow over what’s to come. But i am trying to remain hopeful that all will be well.”

Shane Williams for News Five.

The post Belizean Med Students in Cuba Struggle Through Deepening Hardships first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

A restaurant isn’t supposed to be a classroom, but for months, it’s been one of the only places Ocean Academy students can gather after floods, mold, and a mosquito infestation shut down their campus. Since then, teachers and students have been bouncing between borrowed rooms or logging in online just to keep classes going. It’s been a tough stretch, and Principal Noemi Zaiden says the kids are simply craving something every school should provide: stability.

                 Noemi Zaiden

Noemi Zaiden, Principal, Ocean Academy High School

“We have been asking since mid-November to be granted permission to build on the land at the back. We have a campus, and you’ll hear some more about that. Where we have, we’ve brought in the engineer, we’ve brought in the health department, and they have approved for us to use. The second and the third floor. The first floor, we can’t use the first floor. So it’s a campus that cannot host all of our students.”

This morning, parents, teachers, and village council members sat down with Area Representative Andre Perez to lay out their worries and get straight answers about the future of Ocean Academy. Perez told them the school has the government’s full backing, and construction on a brand‑new facility is set to start in July. But even with that commitment, everyone agrees, students still need a safe, temporary home while the bulldozers get to work.

                      Andre Perez

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“Remember this  meeting here we are discussing is that they are trying to present a plan to build some temporary buildings. And I understand the urgency behind it. But as I told them, it’s not just putting up a building, it has to be done the proper way. And that is why whenever the team comes in, they can inspect and give all the approval. I’m supporting it. And of course Ministry of Education is supporting it, obtain permission, but it’s okay because the campus is huge. It’s huge. But we have to make sure it’s built somewhere and it’s not going to be in any way of the construction that begins. Remember, it has to be done properly. Electricity, water this the bathroom facilities. I just mentioned to today whether if it’s I understand the amount is being invested. But if they say it’s going to be repurposed of something else eventually because you don’t want to invest a hundred  thousand dollars in something that is just going to be temporary. It has to be done with a long term because it’s a substantial amount of money.”

Although the school is grateful for the borrowed spaces, they are not always available for use and as third-form student Iyianni Magana explains, online classes are often difficult to follow.

                          Iyianni Magana

Iyianni Magana, Student, Academy High School

“Certain subjects like information communication technology, which is ICT, it’s hard to learn it on an online platform because you can’t, you have to split your screen and then the tabs are a little bit too small for you to figure out exactly what you’re doing for that class. And in some classes they’re doing coding, which is better to do on face-to-face than online because they have stuff that easily distract you, like your phone, for example. And you’re scrolling on your phone and you’re not paying attention in class. And also it’s better doing face to face because then you’re actually actively learning in the class than being distracted at home.”

Perez says officials from the Ministry of Education will sit down with him and the school on February eighteenth to map out a long‑term fix for Ocean Academy and go deeper into plans for the new campus. And Principal Zaiden stresses that whatever solution they land on, it must give students a safe place to reconnect, socialize, and simply be kids again.

Noemi Zaiden

“We get students asking us like, when will we have our campus? When will we be together learning online, because we don’t have spaces to accommodate all our students, so we have to have a rotational schedule where some have to shift online so others can use the locations that we do have. I have to say, immense gratitude to the Caye Caulker community who have been partnering with us to just lend us restaurant spaces above bars, spaces, but for the kids it is challenging to be, shifting online because they learn of course better when they’re face to face. They need to socialize. They just need to feel like there is stability is stability.”

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has committed to providing all one hundred and seventy-two students with free education next school year.

Andre Perez

“Several high  schools across the country get free tuition free education for going to college. In the case from Ambergris Caye. I think the ones in Cayo as well, they did get that as well. And I recall speaking with minister Fonseca  back then and he has assured me that they could not do it for the last year. I was clamoring from last year. No, not because of the budget and planning. He did assure me that this fiscal year it’ll be included.”

For now, classes will keep shifting around the village, and some will stay online, while officials work out a new temporary solution. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The post New Ocean Academy Building to Begin Construction in July   first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Area Representative André Perez said Ministry of Education officials are scheduled to visit the island next week to assess the site and finalise plans. In the meantime, temporary classroom structures will be installed to address immediate space needs.

Perez stressed that even temporary buildings must meet proper standards. “It’s not just putting up a building ad hoc; it has to be done the proper way.” He said facilities such as electricity, water, and bathrooms must be included to ensure the structures can serve a long-term purpose.

In addition to the construction plans, the government has confirmed it will cover tuition for 172 students beginning next fiscal year, bringing Caye Caulker in line with similar tuition-free arrangements already in place at other public high schools nationwide.

Perez said the initiative will ease the financial burden on families and encourage more students to remain in school. “Several high schools across the country get free tuition… in this case, it’s about 172 students that they’ll be covering tuition this year.”

The tuition funding had previously been delayed due to budget and planning constraints, but Perez said approval has now been secured. “He [Education Minister Francis Fonseca] did assure me that this fiscal year it’ll be included,” Perez said.

The post 172 Caye Caulker Students to Get Free Tuition first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

At the Saint Catherine Academy gym, the crowd may bring the noise, but it’s the cheer team that brings the fire. For more than twenty years, these spirited athletes have rallied behind every SCA sports team, keeping the energy high and giving players that extra push when it matters most. And guiding them is teacher Tamera Locke, a former SCA cheerleader herself, who now coaches the squad to step out with confidence every time they pull on their uniforms and grab their pom‑poms.

                      Tamera Locke

Tamera Locke, Cheer Moderator

“The cheer team is like the main support team system here at SCA so we get them ready through preparation. So it’s not just a one season just for one sport. The cheer team is an all year-round sport. So we have them practice from summer. So they have their summer practice where they come in and they do cheers. They get ready for pep rallies because that’s part of their job as well. They do pep rallies, get the school ready for games before the season starts, and then they go to the games themself and they cheer for them. with as much joy has they have.”

The squad is now twenty‑five girls strong, representing all four academic levels, and getting a spot on that lineup is no walk‑in. Every hopeful must push through a series of drills that test not just their athletic ability, but their commitment and their sense of responsibility. It’s all designed to make sure that when these girls step out on the court, they’re more than performers, they’re the voice that fires up the entire student body.

Tamera Locke

“It’s important because the team needs that support and sometimes the entire school can’t make it. And so we have a represented representation of the school here. And so the cheers, the cheerleaders, they do just that. They’re just the main support, the heart of the school.”

Seventeen-year-old Kalise Kisling isn’t spending her birthday with cake and candles, she’s spending it on the court, getting her squad game‑ready. As team captain, and a proud member of the cheer squad since her freshman year, Kalise sees every matchup as a chance to pump up school spirit and build even stronger bonds with the girls she leads.

                       Kalise Kisling

Kalise Kisling, Captain, SCA Cheerleaders

“I feel as though we play  a very strong role in the student like school spirit section. There are days whereby it’s just us supporting our team. So I feel we don’t miss a game. And even if the student body is not able to come out, then we are always there to give the team that the moral sport that they need.”

For thirty straight years, SCA has dominated the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association Girls’ Volleyball Championship, bringing home gold every single season and cementing their legacy as the team to beat. It’s a badge of honor that the team wears with pride.

                       Sara Safa

Sara Safa, Captain, SCA Volleyball Team

“I love the cheer team the cheer team. We definitely have a strong connection. They’re there for every single day game. They have not missed one yet, and they’re usually like behind us while we’re playing. So when I would go serve, they would be like, you got this, Sara. Get it in. You got it. And I’ll be like, oh my gosh, stop. You’re making me smile. You’re making me a little nervous. But their support definitely helps us a lot. It shows that. They’re by our side, despite whether we lose the point or we win the point,”

The team trains twice a week, ramping up to daily sessions before pep rallies. And their commitment doesn’t stop when school does, some girls even spend their summer break coming up with new chants and routines.

Tamera Locke

“Cheers are made up of stomps and chants that they themselves make up them themselves. So that’s what they do during the summer. And then they also do for pep rallies, they do dances, they do splits, stunts, back flips. So we have some very athletic girls here as well. So we want to make sure that they know that chair is not just being in a short skirt, but they also put the hard work and the talent into it.”

And helping to crank up that energy even more is Mercy the Seahawk, the school’s beloved mascot, who jumps right in with the squad to get the crowd roaring. Libero, Demi Solano, always looks forward to seeing the energy the squad will bring to each game.

                      Demi Solano

Demi Solano, Libero, SCA Volleyball Team 

“We’re like an girls school, so a lot of sisterhood. We always support each other so much. We like celebrate each other’s success a lot and so we know our weaknesses and our strengths, so we work together to become one team and I think that’s really important for any successful team to have.”

Britney Gordon

“Do you think that balances out with the support from the cheer team? Is there a sisterhood there?”

Demi Solano

“Oh yeah, of course. I think our cheerleader just give an extra amount of support and more, school spirit to our team and just like uplifts us. If we’re like losing some points, we get that back from our cheerleader, I think. So they play a really big role in our success.”

At Saint Catherine Academy, sisterhood comes alive at every game, as players and cheerleaders celebrate every win together, moving as one, united and unstoppable. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The post SCA Cheer Squad Powers a Legacy of Sisterhood first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

Ten-year-old Carolina Martinez is in one of her happiest places: school.

Carolina Martinez, Student

“When we come to school, the first thing we do is for a line before we go into class. Then we come in and do our work.”

The joy Carolina carries today is the result of years of effort, helping her grow into life and a school that feels as normal as possible. Two years ago, at eight, she had already undergone several surgeries. Born with a cleft, a medical condition affecting her face, and blind in one eye from glaucoma, she still wanted the simple things: a classroom, friends, and the chance to be herself. Every child has the right to be seen, heard, and supported and, when given the chance, children can inspire, lead, and positively impact their schools and communities. Her mother, Briseidy Montecinos, shares in the joy of seeing her daughter thrive.

Briseidy Montecinos, Mother

“When I see her enjoying herself, I’m happy too, and I think she’s so grown up. I tell her she has to be a smart girl, that he’s just putting other kids down. That’s not good, and they shouldn’t learn that. She has to be a girl who likes to study. And she has to work to become independent, and maybe she can be even better than me, something I never did.”

Milagro Garel is the Country Director of World Pediatrics, an international organization that has spent the last twenty‑five years changing young lives, providing critical medical care to more than twenty‑five thousand children around the world. She met Carolina the day she was born, and from that moment on, World Pediatrics has walked alongside her every step of the way. Just a week ago, Carolina returned for another procedure, her palate was repaired, and some scar tissue that had been causing challenges was removed. All of this is in preparation for a major transformation surgery, which is expected to take place between the ages of four and five years.

Milagro Garel, World Pediatrics

“ For our organization, World Pediatrics, we are never about just fixing the issue at the moment, we are lifetime lifesavers. Wherever the road may take the child, we want to be there for them. So it’s from birth until we are finished with their care, with education, social support, emotional support, mental, whatever it is that we need to offer to the children. Even if we don’t have it, we seek it out.”

The journey hasn’t always been easy. As Carolina tried to live a normal childhood, she also faced painful moments at school, experiences no child should ever have to endure. The bullying became overwhelming, pushing Carolina to move to a new school in hopes of finding the safety every child deserves.

Briseidy Montecinos, Mother

“Like any mother, I didn’t want to see my daughter crying every day when she got to school. She would say, “Mom, the kids did this to me,” or “Mom, the kids did that to me. They used to tease her, laugh at her, even hit her in class and lock her in the bathroom. I would tell her that she’s going to grow up and be an example for many children.”

Now ten years old, Carolina Martinez is a vibrant presence in her Standard One class at her new school, Ladyville SDA Primary. She participates eagerly in lessons, shares everyday moments with her friends, and isn’t afraid to be herself. Her teacher, Shantel Velasquez, says it’s a joy to have a student like Carolina in the classroom, a young mind full of curiosity, energy, and spirit.

Shantel Velasquez, Teacher, Ladyville SDA Primary School

“ Here at Ladyville SDA primary school, in our standard one class, it’s very amazing to have somebody like Carolina. She’s a free spirit. She’s eager to learn. She’s always participating and everybody in the classroom gets along with her.”

Sabreena Daly

“What are some of the work that they would give you to do?”

Carolina Martinez

“Mathematics, Language Arts, Spanish and Belizean Studies.”

Sabreena Daly

“Do you like Belizean Studies?”

Carolina Martinez

“Yes.”

Sabreena Daly

“What do you like about Bellizean Studies?”

Carolina Martinez

“Reading.”

At a new school and stronger than ever, Carolina Martinez is flourishing, learning, growing, and teaching us that joy can lead the way. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.

The post A Voice in the Classroom: How Carolina Martinez Thrives and Inspires first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The agreement, announced at a launch ceremony in Santa Elena on January 22, will allow one female student each year to study at UPB in its information technology and digital innovation programme. The initiative will run through 2029 and is meant to encourage more Belizean women to enter careers in technology.

Principal Jeaneane Neal said the school expects the partnership to produce at least five Belizean software engineers over the next few years. “Every year we are to send a female student to study at UPB. So praise God, hopefully by 2029, 2030, we should have 5 software engineers in the country of Belize,” she said.

Neal explained that students are chosen through an assessment process and are supported with mentorship before they leave to study. She said they are currently being guided by Byron Cera, whom she described as Belize’s only licensed network engineer.

Neal added that selected students must be academically strong in STEM subjects to qualify for the scholarship while encouraging young women to believe in themselves and consider careers in engineering and technology. “We want to ensure that our young girls know that anything is possible,” she said.

The scholarship covers full tuition, provides mentorship, and connects students to an international network of women working in technology.

The post New Scholarship Opens Door for Girls in Tech first appeared on Greater Belize Media.