Caribbean company Naledo overcame fierce competition to win the ‘New Food Product of the Year’ award at Food Matters Live 2020, a prestigious international food event in the UK.

Belizean-based Naledo manufactures the world’s first wildcrafted, whole root turmeric paste as well as fresh juices blended with turmeric.

The social enterprise, which was founded by Umeeda Switlo in 2016, works directly with small-scale growers based in Toledo, Belize.

The Food Matters Live judging panel commended all five finalists in the new products category for their “innovation”.

Nutritionist Freya Strutt, from Chartwells Nutritionist Team, explained why the judges gave Naledo the top prize. She said: “The shortlist was really strong with lots of really good products and it’s exciting to see where the market is going in terms of new food products.

“But one winner was clear in terms of taste, usability, and the whole enterprise around the product itself. I congratulate them on their business.”

After hearing the exciting news, Umeeda Switlo said: “Naledo would like to thank Caribbean Export and the European Union for making sure we could attend the virtual event.

“Thank you to team Belize and all our growers; Spice farm, Texbell, Silk Grass and our distributors Ecoideas in Canada, UNFI in America, and Circle R in Belize. Thanks also to Marie Sharpe for her support and the Government of Belize.

“We couldn’t have achieved this without our Belizean team and our wonderful customers around the world.”

Naledo’s turmeric paste comes in four sizes and two flavours and is currently sold in over 1,000 retailers in Canada, Belize, America and the Bahamas.

The paste is sustainably produced from the forest to the table without any agricultural inputs. This creates a product that is exceptional in terms of taste and with minimal impact on the environment.

Naledo pays its farmers 28 times more than the average turmeric grower and this enables them to invest in education, health care, improved nutrition, and building a better future for their families and communities.

Source: Caribbean Export Development Agency

Belize is making it easier to have an unforgettable getaway. The Prime Minister announced that effective October 19, 2020 travelers will no longer be required to adhere to the safe corridor and remain in their designated Gold Standard Hotel/Restaurant. The Prime Minister stated that these additional safety protocols were established to protect the wider economy, but with COVID-19 positive cases still on the rise, it is obvious that the threat resides in-country and not with incoming travelers.

So rather than mandating that visitors must remain within the safe corridor and utilize only gold standard restaurants, gift shops, tour sites and certified transportation, it is now only a recommendation. Click the links for the full list of Gold Standard approved Hotels and Gold Standard approved Tour Operators.

More changes were also ushered in with the amended statutory instrument to include airport car rentals now being made available to travelers and an increased number of patrons now allowed inside restaurants. The Prime Minister stated that as long as the square footage allows for social distancing protocols, more than ten (10) persons are now allowed to be inside a restaurant so long as no more than ten persons are seated at a single table.

Get a refresher of all existing requirements for International Visitors, and Belizeans and Permanent Residents at the links provided.

The Office of the Prime Minister has officially announced a date for election day in Belize. The 2020 Election Day will be held on November 11, 2020. Their press release also notes that Wednesday, October 21, 2020 will be Belize’s official Nomination Day. The National Assembly will officially be dissolved on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

The lifting of the registration requirement for Belizean nationals and permanent residents is another effort by the Government of Belize to make the return to Belize easier.
All Belizeans and permanent residents of Belize planning their arrival via the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) must:

• Complete the Belize Travel Health App and save the QR Code and TRIP number issued to show the airline at check-in and upon entry to Belize. The results can be printed or saved on a mobile device. http://reporting.covid19.bz:8080/apex/f?p=141:2
• Belizean nationals and permanent residents do not need register to enter Belize – only download and complete questions on the Belize Health Travel App.

Belizeans, permanent residents, and all others who test negative for COVID-19 and head into the community are expected to self-quarantine at home for 10 days and are strongly encouraged to wear masks, maintain social distancing of six feet where possible, regularly wash hands, refrain from touching the eyes, noses or mouths, and carefully disinfect and regularly wipe down all shared surfaces for their safety and the safety of those around them.

Any person testing positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at the PGIA will be required to transfer to the authorized quarantine hotel (Ramada Belize City Princess Hotel) at their own expense for a period of 14 days or until there are two negative PCR test results. For those unable to pay in such cases, the alternative is the Quarantine Authority designated government-sponsored site such as D’Silva Camp in the Mountain Pine Ridge.

It should be noted that in this third reopening phase, land and sea ports of entry remain closed to travelers at this time except for cargo. Therefore, persons needing to enter or depart Belize via Benque Viejo del Carmen or Corozal must continue to obtain clearance via repatriation@mfa.gov.bz to coordinate their safe transit.

WARNINGS AND WATCHES ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA…

NHC is issuing advisories on newly formed Tropical Depression Twenty-Five. The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Punta Herrero to Cabo Catoche, and a Tropical Storm Watch south of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa Maya and west of Cabo Catoche to Dzilam. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area by early Saturday, and are possible within the Tropical Storm Watch area on Saturday and Sunday.

At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Twenty-Five was located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea about 220 miles (355 km) southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. It’s moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), and a gradual turn toward the north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of the tropical cyclone should be near the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast to take place, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm by Saturday morning. When that occurs, it will be named Gamma.

The depression is expected to produce rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches, in portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and far western Cuba. A separate area of significant rain is expected to develop well away from the center in the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco, and northern Chiapas, with rainfall of 8 to 12 inches and isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with maximum amounts of 5 inches is expected in the Bay Islands of Honduras.

The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 5 p.m. EDT with an intermediate advisory at 2 p.m. EDT – www.hurricanes.gov

There is a tropical wave over the eastern Caribbean Sea that is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds. This wave is forecast to move westward at 15 to 20 mph during the next several days, and environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for development when the system is over the central or western Caribbean Sea early next week. It has a near zero chance of formation during the next 48 hours and a low (30 percent) chance during the next five days. – www.hurricanes.gov

Belize City, Belize, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 – Belize officially reopened the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) today welcoming back inbound leisure travel for international visitors, with approved hotels and tour operators only. PGIA has been closed since late march due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Travelers planning to visit Belize in 2020-2021 can choose from a new schedule of year-round, non-stop flights offered by American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines. Beginning Oct. 1, Belize will welcome non-stop flights from Miami (via American Airlines) and Houston (via United Airlines). Similarly, Delta Airlines will resume flights on Nov. 20 with non-stop service from Atlanta. The restoration of direct-flight service enables visitors to get to Belize in approximately three hours or less.

In this initial phase of reopening for international visitation, tourists to Belize will travel within a Tourism Safe Corridor which will include hotels, restaurants and tour operators that have achieved “Tourism Gold Standard” Recognition. The Gold Standard Recognition Program is a 9-point program that seeks to enhance the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviors and procedures to ensure both employees and travelers are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s tourism product. Businesses that meet the requirements of the Tourism Gold Standard Program are certified and promoted as having implemented these enhanced measures with a Gold Standard Seal of Approval. This seal certifies industry stakeholders who’ve embraced the safety protocols, and will be visible for all guests where practical, such as tour operator vehicles and vessels, hotel lobbies, primary doors of entry, etc.

The first weekend of operation is expected to be a busy one. American Airlines returns with a full flight (72 passengers) on Thursday, and United Airlines makes its commercial return on Friday with 177 passengers. American Airlines will provide service to Belize Thursday through Monday, while United will fly Friday through Sunday. Full flights are expected from both airlines throughout the weekend. Foreign tourist traffic is anticipated to climb as we near our traditional ‘high season’ in November and the latter part of 2020.

All travelers are required to follow new arrival and departure processes to enter and leave the country, all of which are available on https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety. As the situation continues to remain fluid, these protocols are subject to change. For questions or concerns, contact the BTB at Tel 227-2420 for via email at info@belizetourismboard.org.

Belize is on the fast track to reopening to leisure travel via its Philip Goldson International Airport on October 1, 2020. This exciting news ushers in many questions for potential travelers. Belize has implemented a five-phase travel reopening plan along with the launch of a Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program. Both measures aim to enhance and enforce standard operating procedures to ensure optimum cleanliness, safe social interactions, and the like, while allowing visitors to enjoy their stay with minimal impact from the changes brought on by COVID-19.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Government of Belize does not currently have any travel bans in place for potential visitors. However, with the introduction of the “Belize Travel Health” App, new procedures have been established to safeguard the health of Belizeans and visitors alike.

Aside from the regular temperature checks conducted at the International Airport, all travelers are now required to download the “Belize Travel Health” App and register for entry into the country within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Belize. (Note that this eight-step application process should NOT be done more than 72 hours prior to arrival as the unique QR code issued via the App will expire and the process will then need to be repeated.) If registration is not done prior to arrival on the App, attendants will be on hand upon arrival to assist with downloading the app and completing the entry requirements. You will then be required to present the unique QR Code upon arrival at the International Airport.

Here’s a quick tutorial to guide you through the process:

Remember, you must have the device used to register on the App with you when you arrive in Belize and continued internet connectivity is recommended since you will be required to check in daily via the App. The App will then track your movement around the country within Belize’s “safe corridors” for contact tracing should the need arise.

A “fast lane” has been established at the International Airport allowing for an expedited immigration process. All visitors will be allowed to utilize the “fast lane” (including children under 16 years of age) once a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Belize is presented. If no prior testing is done, a double rapid test will be done upon arrival at a cost of USD $50.00 per person. The double rapid test includes a Rapid Antigen Test (nasal swab) and an antibody IgG/IgM combo test (finger prick blood test). Those who test positive will be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at an approved hotel and at the traveler’s expense until they are cleared as negative. It is highly recommended that you obtain travel insurance prior to departure in the event that you become sick while on vacation.

As with most countries, public use of face masks is mandatory in Belize and social distancing is enforced in all public areas.

Learn more about traveler classifications and entry requirements for when travel resumes on October 1, 2020 in the infographic below.

NEW TRAVEL PROTOCOLS

Belize has implemented new travel protocols for visitors which include enhanced health and safety protocols for hotels, tour operators, archeological sites, and national parks. These are outlined as follows:

1. Hotels
   • Online check-in/out, contactless payment systems, and automated ordering/booking systems
   • Hand sanitizing stations across the property
   • Enhanced room cleaning and increase sanitization of public spaces and high touch surfaces
   • Daily health checks for guests and employees
   • Designated ‘Isolation/Quarantine rooms’ for suspected Covid-19 cases and action plans for handling suspected employees or guests.
2. Tours, Archaeological Sites & National Parks
   • New capacity restrictions for all tourism sites to ensure social distancing can be maintained
   • Smaller tour groups to provide a more intimate tour experience
   • Sites and Parks to manage tours by appointment to limit the number of persons on site
   • Enhanced sanitization of tour equipment

Since you are not allowed to explore Belize on your own. You are required to book your stay only with approved hotels and tour operators who have been trained to operate in this new environment. To reiterate, only approved Gold Standard Hotels and Tour Operators that are certified for enhanced health, safety and cleanliness will be allowed to host international visitors.

WHAT TO BRING

COVID-19 does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s important to keep in mind that even on vacation precautions must be taken. Consider bringing along the following to help make your trip an uneventful one:

1. Face Masks
2. Face Shields
3. Hand Sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol)
4. Allergy Medication
5. Cold and Flu Medication
6. Other Necessary Medication
7. Travel sized Lysol to disinfect your surroundings in the airplane
8. Clorox Wipes
9. Small denomination notes (to avoid having to deal with receiving change)
10. Sun Block
11. Bug Repellant
12. Anti-Itch Cream
13. After Sun Cooling Gel
14. Cool/Airy Clothing
15. Cap/Hat
16. Water Shoes
17. Sandal/Flip Flops

THINGS TO DO IN BELIZE

There is so much to choose from when it comes to passing the time while visiting Belize. Nothing is off limits if you are an adventurer. From hiking in the rainforest, to exploring the deep blue sea – you are sure to find an exhilarating activity with one of our Gold Standard Tour Operators. Consider a few of our recommendations:

• Get up close and personal with sea turtles – Belize is recognized as one of the world’s premier scuba-diving destinations and the sheer variety of this unspoiled reef’s ecosystems make it easy to get up close and personal with sea turtles

• Roam the majestic Maya Mountains – As the only true pine forest in Central America, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is one of the nation’s best spots for hiking, mountain-biking, and horse riding.

• Dive or Snorkel the World’s Second Largest Barrier Reef – Belize is recognized as one of the world’s premier scuba-diving destinations, but the snorkeling on the UNESCO Mesoamerican barrier reef system – the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia – is just as rewarding.

• Journey through subterranean caves – Belize’s cave network offers adventurers thrills, dramatic scenery, and impressive archaeological sites.

• Diving at Half Moon Caye – Half Moon Caye is a hidden gem of a location that is perfect for diving. The island serves as a breeding ground for the red-footed booby birds and as a nesting ground for endangered sea turtles.

• Swim with Nurse Sharks and Sting Rays in Caye Caulker – The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve is an awesome diving spot for those seeking underwater adventures. Tourists can enjoy dives at prime spots like the Hol Chan Marine Reserve or the Blue Hole.

• Explore Southern Belize – A great place to get a “best of both worlds” experience would be in Southern Belize. There are many destinations and activities to enjoy in the South from the rich culture in villages like Hopkins or Placencia to tours of ancient Mayan ruins to off-the-beaten path experiences in the offshore cayes (islands).

• Visit Maya Ruins – Belize is part of the southern Mayan lowlands of the Mesoamerican culture area. The country is estimated to have thousands of Maya ruins with few found and excavated by scientists but most are still undiscovered.