And we managed to meet the PM at the airport today as he flew in from his trip to South Korea. He was there to attend the World Climate Industry Expo - Leaders' Summit in Busan. He delivered a keynote address, speaking on the threatening effects of climate change on food security, the economic model Belize has created through the Blue Bond, and the importance of investing in ocean conservation.
But while he was there, he also networked with the Prime Minister of South Korea, and is hoping their support will assist Belize to be eligible for the World Bank's IDA funds. He explained more today.
John Briceno, Prime Minister "What happened is that the World Bank has a special fund called the IDA, the International Development Agency and through that agency you have access to lots of grant and very low concessionary financing for climate programs or climate projects that countries want to do. Unfortunately, Belize, the United Nations looks at Belize as an island state but the World Bank doesn't and so what we've been doing, we've been lobbying with different countries, we've lobbied with many countries and we lobbied with the foreign minister from South Korea and also the prime minister and they all promised that they're going to support our efforts. Hopefully when that goes to the World Bank, either November or December, we hope that we can get enough support that Belize can become eligible to access those funds."
Chester To Conference And the Commissioner of Police also just returned from an international meeting. His was the 27th ACCP conference in Port Of Spain, Trinidad.
That conference brought together commissioners from all over the region to learn about and discuss transnational organized crime as well as violent crime.
And this morning during the police press brief we asked him how it went and how he'll be implementing lessons learned back here in Belize.
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "The conference was, focussing more on the issue of transnational organized crime, we had a number of presentations from different organizations including FBI, ATF, CARICOM in pass just to name a few, focusing on the whole issue of transnational crime, cyber crime being the most salient transnational crimes that was discussed along with the whole issue of counterfeiting, um, we also focussed on matters affecting the Caribbean region, there certainly is an increase in violent crime within the Caribbean and I am happy to say that Belize is one of the only countries within the region where we can say that violent crime is not going up but is on a downward trend."
Jules Vasquez: "Including murders."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "Yes, those are violent, I said violent crime. Understand the difference."
Jules Vasquez: "So there is now major crime, violent crime."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "I said violent crime Mr Vasquez."
Jules Vasquez: "So, violent crime is different from major crime?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "Is a burglary a violent crime?"
Jules Vasquez: "It may be but..."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "Very rarely right."
Jules Vasquez: "A crime against property."
Chester Williams, Commissioner Of Police "Thank you, I'm being specific violent crime, violent crime will be crimes like involving the use of firearm or weapons that you cause injuries to persons those are violent crimes and that was the focus, um. I know that you have the tendency of not wanting the police to look like we are doing something but you can give credit where credit is due ok."
Gas Tomza Employee Robbed
And, finally tonight...there was a daring daylight robbery in Orange Walk Town today.
Around 11:30 this morning, 29-year-old Roque Cortez was parking a Gas Tomza pickup truck on Market Lane in Orange Walk Town when he was approached by two men on a bicycle. One of them jumped off the handle bars and pulled out a firearm, pointing it at Cortez and ordering him to get out of the vehicle. The man then stole a bag from Cortez which contained about $9,000 dollars that Cortez was taking to the bank, and a cellphone. The other robber then got off the bicycle and left it on the side of the street. Both men jumped into the vehicle before driving off.
However, not long after though, the vehicle was recovered in Palmar Village, Orange Walk. Still, no cash or suspects were found.
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"What happened is that the World Bank has a special fund called the IDA, the International Development Agency and through that agency you have access to lots of grant and very low concessionary financing for climate programs or climate projects that countries want to do. Unfortunately, Belize, the United Nations looks at Belize as an island state but the World Bank doesn't and so what we've been doing, we've been lobbying with different countries, we've lobbied with many countries and we lobbied with the foreign minister from South Korea and also the prime minister and they all promised that they're going to support our efforts. Hopefully when that goes to the World Bank, either November or December, we hope that we can get enough support that Belize can become eligible to access those funds."
"The conference was, focussing more on the issue of transnational organized crime, we had a number of presentations from different organizations including FBI, ATF, CARICOM in pass just to name a few, focusing on the whole issue of transnational crime, cyber crime being the most salient transnational crimes that was discussed along with the whole issue of counterfeiting, um, we also focussed on matters affecting the Caribbean region, there certainly is an increase in violent crime within the Caribbean and I am happy to say that Belize is one of the only countries within the region where we can say that violent crime is not going up but is on a downward trend."
And, finally tonight...there was a daring daylight robbery in Orange Walk Town today.