Met Service Receives Sea Level Monitoring Equipment

February 7, 2023 - The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative for Belize and Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), today handed-over the National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS) with weather equipment to monitor sea level and upgrade some functionalities of the ‘SURFACE’ Climate Database Management System (CDMS).

The donation includes two radar water level sensors, one measurement and control datalogger, and one weather-resistant enclosure. The equipment is valued at US$10,301.33 for a total investment of US$40,201.33.

Through its climate services, the NMS provides critical support for managing risks and reducing disasters in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, health, the blue economy, etc. The NMS continues to monitor climate trends in rainfall, temperature, heatwaves, and other extremes and share new records of long-term climate change indicators. One way in which this is done is through its Climate Database System ‘SURFACE’ CDMS. Its capabilities go beyond the capture and storage of weather and climate data. It encompasses practical interaction between weather, climate, and water in various sectors within Belize, and is something the NMS has been planning for over the past few years. This database plays an integral role in the NMS’ overall goal of providing meteorological and climate-based products and services to protect life and property and contribute to the enhancement of the social, economic, and physical well-being of the people of Belize.

On September 2, 2022, FAO signed a contract with Elligence Solucoes Em Technologia Ltda. for the upgrading of the ‘SURFACE’ CDMS of the NMS for better coastal management; a deliverable under the project “Enhancing adaptation planning and increasing climate resilience in the coastal zone and fisheries sector of Belize,” valued at US$29,900. The upgrades to the NMS’ CDMS include ocean wave management fea- tures and metadata management features to facilitate ocean wave parameters. A two-day training will be provided to improve the capacity of the Coastal Zone Management

Authority and Institute, NMS, and the Fisheries Department on ocean wave dynamics based on raw data collected.

The database upgrade is a hallmark of the climate change initiative in Belize. The primary goal of the project is to enable the NMS to enhance its data collection and management capabilities to measure and process basic ocean wave information that could support coastal monitoring and modelling activities such as monitoring sea level rise, which has yet to be monitored extensively in Belize.

Belize to Welcome President of Cuba for Official State Visit

Belmopan, February 6, 2023.

The Government of Belize announces an official visit to Belize by H.E. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and President of the Republic of Cuba. The President will arrive in Belize City on February 12, 2023.

The programme includes a Special Sitting of the National Assembly, a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, as well as the signing of two agreements.

The visit will mark the first by a Cuban President to Belize.

Special Envoy H.E. Rossana Briceño to Attend Women Empowerment Forum in Taiwan

H.E. Rossana Briceño, Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children of Belize and the Chairperson for the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Actions Network (SCLAN), will visitTaiwan from February 14 – 17, 2023, to attend the international forum "Empower Women! Empower LAC!" on February 15, 2023.

During her visit, H.E. Briceño will also meet with government officials and representatives from different fields of education, academy, and international organizations to exchange viewpoints regarding matters of women empowerment and other mutual interests inTaiwan.

The purpose of the said forum is to emphasize the cooperation between Taiwan and its Latin American ally countries to empower women during the post-pandemic era and to provide a platform for all the participants to share and exchange viewpoints on the issues regarding women's rights and development through global collaboration. H.E. Mario Abdo Benitez, President of Paraguay; Madame Silvana Lopez Moreira de Abdo, First Lady of Paraguay; as well as Hon. Keisal Peters, the Foreign Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, are also invited to attend the forum.

During the forum, H.E. Briceño will join the Policy Panel Discussion on "Challenges and Prospects for Women's Socio-Economic Development in the Post-Pandemic Era- Public-Private Partnerships and International Collaboration," as well as attend the group panel discussion on "Empowering Women through Education." The Special Envoy will also meet with H.E. Dr. Tsai, Ing-Wen, President of Taiwan; H.E. Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and leaders of women groups in Taiwan to discuss the future partnership between Belize and Taiwan, especially on women and children issues.

Belize and Taiwan began the cooperation project titled "Enhancing the Economic Empowerment of Women in Belize in the COVID-19 Post-Pandemic Era: Technical Assistance for Women's Employment, Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion" in October 2021, which has made many achievements and has benefited many women in Belize thus far. Based on the solid partnership and friendship between the two countries, Belize and Taiwan remain committed to working closely with each other and further enhancing the bilateral diplomatic bond.