Belize Mennonites: News

      Several police vehicles along with the Spanish Lookout patrol truck announced the fact that an extremely important event was occurring today.  Sections of Route 20 East were closed to traffic for part of the day. Two helicopters with the President and his entourage arrived to visit grain processing facilities in the Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout.

     The year 2025 saw an alarming rise in armed robberies country wide, with delivery trucks pertaining to Mennonite-owned businesses increasingly targeted. Quality Poultry, Western Dairies, Country Foods, Caribbean Chicken, etc. having been prime targets of these criminals, with the most recent being the murder of a Caribbean Chicken truck driver. This led several Mennonite business owners to issue a public statement on the matter, calling on the government to do more to protect citizens.

   A few months ago the government of Belize passed a law prohibiting prefab houses from beibg transported during daytime hours. However after 2 fatalities on the road involving flatbed trucks carrying houses the government completely halted the business altogether, citing safety concerns. Mennonites house builders were understandably up in arms over the nonsensical laws which appeared to be made on the fly. Stopping the industry would certainly have far-reaching effects on the economy. Government agents announced they would be meeting with business owners to see what they could work out.

     A tragic event ocurred today in Blue Creek, Orange Walk District. Peter Dyck and his son were mowing with a tractor when they decided to switch places. In the process Peter fell and the mower ran over him, fatally injuring him.

      A teenager was killed in Shipyard yesterday when several wood doors fell on him in the shop where he was working. According to sources he was 14 years and working as an assistant.

     This week, a historic event will occur in the country of Belize. A referendum will be held to determine if Caye Caulker, a tiny but internationally popular island, should move forward with their proposal to legalize the controlled use of cannabis, specifically in regards to its medicinal aspects. According to Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries, the proposal would then move to the Cabinet, then to the House of Representatives, and finally the Senate. While there are many open-minded politicians and doctors in favor, there are also the churches against it. This weekend will see what Belizeans chose.

     A sudden freak thunderstorm yesterday morning swept through Indian Creek village, a community of Old Colony Mennonites in Orange Walk, southwest of Shipyard. Building roofs were ripped off, roads and pastures were temporarily under water, and several heads of cattle were struck by lightning and died. There are no reports of personal injuries or fatalities.