The Omar S. Ortiz Scholarship Foundation was founded on June 8, 2018 with the mission of providing annual scholarships that would help empower a new generation of diverse leaders while keeping the vision of the foundation’s namesake alive. This Scholarship Foundation was designed to allow awardees to fully focus on school rather than having to seek out employment to cover education costs.
The Foundation annually honors deserving students with scholarships that include financial support, academic advising, tutoring, and mentorship to ensure that the recipients have the resources necessary to succeed. The foundation will provide a minimum of one scholarship per year for students transferring into Galen University upon acceptance into an Associate Degree program. Scholarships will be awarded for areas of study focusing on Education, Accounting, or Entrepreneurship – which were 3 things Omar was very passionate about.
Since Omar was a past member of the Galen University Board, the University decided to partner with the Foundation by providing the first two scholarships for the year 2018-2019. The continued success of the Foundation can only be attributed to the selfless support of Omar’s close friends and generous sponsors from within the private sector.
An annual bike ride will be held each August to honor Omar’s many contributions to the Belizean society and to assist in raising awareness for the Scholarship Foundation.
Click On The Image to Learn More About the Foundation
Omar was one of the most generous people you’ll ever meet as he gave of himself selflessly by giving of his time, advice and support wherever welcomed. He set the standard for generosity to many, and thru this foundation we hope to be a little more like him in our daily endeavors.
For more information on Omar Ortiz and the Scholarship Foundation visit https://www.oosf.org/.
Belize is a stunning Caribbean nation that boasts hundreds of beautiful tropical islands, dense jungle scenery, and rich marine life. This makes the area an extremely popular vacation destination and the tourism market is growing year on year. With so many opportunities in this developing market, Belize could offer the perfect location for your new business. Here is a complete guide to setting up a business in Belize.
Know the legal requirements
Before you consider setting up a business in Belize, it is vital that you know and understand the legal requirements. In order to start a business in Belize, you must first apply for a work permit from the government. There are a number of different work permits available, so it’s always best to contact a local lawyer for advice on which permit you require. According to the BELTRAIDE, all foreign businesses must be registered under the Business Name Act and/or the Companies Act before they can start operating legally in the area. There are a number of other permits and licenses required, so make sure you seek legal advice on what action you need to take. It usually takes around 45 days to receive all of the necessary permits to start a business in Belize, but this may take longer if there are any delays in the process. It is, therefore, best to apply for these documents at the earliest possible opportunity.
Improve your credit rating
Most new businesses require some form of funding in order to get off the ground. Finding financial support can be difficult, especially when you’re planning on starting a business in a foreign country. You therefore need to do everything you can to increase your chances of being offered financial support. A poor credit rating as a result of unpaid debt or bankruptcy, can result in you being rejected for loans or other financial support that is vital for your business. Fortunately, there are many ways to improve your credit report, even if you’ve been bankrupt or had issues with debt collectors in the past. You can learn more at Crediful.com.
Do market research
For your business to be a success, it is vital that you conduct thorough market research in order to understand both your target audience and competitors. According to statistics Belize has a small population of less than 400,000 people. However, the tourism market is huge with over one million foreigners visiting the country each year. Many tourists are from the USA due to cheap direct flights being offered from major cities including Texas, Florida and New York. Many businesses in Belize therefore focus on the tourism market and target holiday makers and visitors by offering services like tours and local experiences. It is important that you do plenty of research and establish who your target audience will be. Keep in mind that competition in the area is fierce, so you should look for ways to make your business stand out by offering something unique.
Understand the business culture
It is important to be aware that the business culture in Belize is likely to be very different from what you have experienced in the USA or other locations. You should understand what to expect and learn business etiquette and local customs before you move to the area. Try to adopt a more casual approach to business when you start operating in Belize, as their approach is known as being more laid back than some countries. You should also keep in mind that things like internet speed may be slower than what you can get in the USA of other more developed countries.
Find ways to reduce business expenses
When starting any new business, it’s crucial that you try and find ways to reduce business expenses and keep costs at a minimum. This will give you far more flexibility when it comes to your cash flow budget and will help you stay out of unnecessary debt during the startup phase. Fortunately, rental fees are generally fairly low in Belize, so make sure you shop around to find the best location at the best price. You should also do research and negotiate to find suppliers offering the lowest prices.
Belize is a developing country with plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs – it could offer the perfect location to start your new business! Use these tips to help you set up and run a successful business in the beautiful country of Belize.
The Belize Basketball Federation (BBF) is delighted to announce and congratulate Clency “Coope” Lopez, Belize National Basketball Team’s starting point guard, on his award of a full basketball scholarship from Midland College located in Midland, Texas, USA.
Midland College is a public junior college established in 1972 and participates in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the US. Our National Team Head Coach, former National Team star player and former NBA player, Milton Palacio attended Midland before moving on to Colorado State University, a Division 1, NCAA school.
Milt was instrumental in facilitating Coope’s recruitment by Midland and he continues to seek out similar opportunities for our other young and upcoming players.
Born and raised in southside Belize City, Coope has been a part of the BBF’s programmes since the age of 12 when, ironically, he was left off the U12 National Team which won a bronze medal in Guatemala. A few years later, he was again left off the U16 National Team which won a bronze medal in Honduras. Never deterred, his passion for the game, resilience and determination drove him to continue honing is craft to become a standout player in high school at Sadie Vernon High School, then eventually moving on to the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) where he has been an anchor for the Belize Hurricanes franchise winning two league championships.
In 2017, at the age of 19 years old, Coope made his National Team and international play debut this time at the men’s level, and as the starting point guard, led our Team Belize to a bronze medal in the Central American Games in Managua, Nicaragua. Basketball was the only team sport to medal for Belize in those games. Coope averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game, impressing Coach Milt and earning the respect of the opposing teams.
Coope played big again for Belize in 2018 leading us to a silver medal in the COCABA World Cup qualifier tournament held at the Civic Center in July, 2018. This qualified us for the second round of play which was held earlier this year in February, again right here in Belize. Fans may recall his brilliant performances against regional powerhouses Antigua, Cuba and the Bahamas.
Coope departed Belize on 21 August and we anticipate great achievements from our young star.
A modest but fearless warrior who stands a few inches taller due to the size of his heart, Coope comes from humble beginnings. We know that he will make the most of this opportunity for himself, his family and for Belize.
The BBF expresses gratitude to Coach Milt Palacio, Coach Patrick Rafferty from Midland College, Coach Matthew Smiling, Jay Jex, Mayor Bernard Wagner and the Belize City Council, and VIP Wireless who have all contributed to make this possible for Coope.
BELIZE PORT AUTHORITY WATER TAXI REGULATIONS STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 29 OF 2019
The public is hereby informed of the Water Taxi Regulations Statutory Instrument 29 of 2019 that is in effect. The major provisions of the regulations include:
Effective 1 August 2019:
1. Issuance of Personal Flotation Devices to passengers over one-year old. 2. Submission of Passenger Manifests at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. This requires passengers to provide their names. 3. Cargo Restrictions: Operators are not allowed to carry Cargo with Passenger; only personal effects of passengers are allowed. 4. Passengers’ activities onboard: Passengers who are considered to pose a threat to other passengers may be removed from the water taxi and charged.
Effective 1 September 2019:
1. Water Taxi Permit: An operator is not permitted to operate a water taxi unless in possession of a valid permit and Seaworthiness Certificate issued by the Belize Port Authority. 2. Passenger Fee: A passenger user fee of $1.00 will be included in the passenger fare on the purchase of a ticket.
For more information on the new requirements, kindly contact: Belize Port Authority Tel: (501)-222-5665/5666 or Email: [email protected] Website: www.portauthority.bz
“Maritime Service, Security, & Efficiency —–END OF RELEASE—-
Across the turquoise water by the mangrove, ranger Allan Halliday spots a fishing skiff. “We’re going over to say hello,” he says, before abruptly changing the boat’s direction. But his real task is to check the couple on board have the licence to fish in this part of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, one of nine designated zones in Belize.
“We aren’t complaining but others do,” says Alonzo Reymundo, of the rules that now restrict Belize’s 3,000 commercial fishers to two geographic areas each. He and his wife Anselma have been fishing off southern Toledo for 30 years and their boat is laden with 50 or so pounds of shrimp – more than enough, he says, flashing his licence. Today’s catch will be sold as bait and fetch around 330BZ$ (£135), he says.
You now need a licence to fish in Belize’s closely managed waters – All photographs: Tony Rath Fish stocks are stable and reef health improving, in part thanks to Belize’s substantial ‘no-take’ zones. Now greater legislation is needed to secure progress…
But not all encounters are as friendly for the rangers from the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (Tide), whose job includes enforcing the managed access (MA) programme that since 2016 has given traditional fishers the rights to secured grounds if they obtain licences and report their catch. Illegal fishing has declined, says Halliday, but at night there are illicit incursions from Guatemala and high-speed chases around the reserve’s 500-square miles of pristine sea – a vast space to monitor for just four rangers alternating shifts at their station on Abalone Caye.
Covering all of Belize’s waters, the MA scheme is unique, says fisheries administrator Beverly Wade. “Belize is the only country in the world that has successfully divided all its territorial waters, including functional fishing waters. We direct all fishermen into two of nine areas to build an architecture from the ground up, where a constituent takes ownership of resources because their livelihood depends on it.”
The programme is just part of a groundbreaking approach to ocean protection that has won the tiny country in Central America a reputation as a world leader.
Most recently, in April, Belize expanded the replenishment or “no-take” zones in its marine protected areas from 4.5% to 11.6%, almost tripling zones where fishing is banned, to rebuild fish populations and protect marine habitats. “Nowadays it’s sexy to say ‘this is a no-take area’ somewhere miles out at sea,” says Wade, at her office in Belize City, “but our no-take zone of 16% is a giant achievement for a tiny country like Belize, because all our protected areas are right where people are interacting on a daily basis. That is the hardest thing to achieve.”
Rangers enforce the rules by checking licences, but illegal fishing still occurs, especially at night.
While in other Caribbean countries like Jamaica and the Bahamas, overfishing has depleted stocks of lobster and conch, such steps are helping ensure this does not happen in Belize, she says. MA has had faster results than anticipated, with an estimated 60% fall in illegal fishing, benefiting the two primary seafood exports. “The fact that our lobster and conch have remained stable is a direct indicator of the success of the combination of protected areas and managed access,” says Wade.
Other countries could learn from how Belize persuaded its fishers to give up open access to its waters, says Nicanor Requena, who spent almost a decade visiting remote fishing communities with the US-based Environmental Defence Fund (EDF). “At first they didn’t want to know, but we gained their trust by listening to them, and fishers’ traditional knowledge played a huge part in shaping the programme,” he says.
That message has even been echoed in a weekly radio drama about a fictional fishing village called Punta Fuego, with storylines about illegal fishing and characters tempted to make a quick Belizean dollar, with a phone-in to discuss the risks.
Local fishers’ knowledge has shaped the management programme
But it was two pilot programmes in the Port Honduras and Glover’s Reef reserves that proved to fishers the rights system would secure their livelihoods and win ecological payback: the recovery and preservation of Belize’s outstanding barrier reef – the largest in the northern hemisphere – on which nearly 200,000 people rely because of tourism and fishing. Other countries, including Australia and the Philippines, have been taking note and looking to emulate tiny Belize.
Bordered by Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean sea, Belize is home to a 300km stretch of the Mesoamerican barrier reef, whose stunning array of fish includes whale sharks, angelfish and parrotfish, and dozens of species of coral. In what was hailed as a hugely significant point for marine conservation worldwide, the reef was removed from Unesco’s World Heritage danger list in June 2018, after 10 years. That followed the introduction of regulations to protect mangroves and, crucially, a vote by Belize’s government for an indefinite moratorium on all new oil exploration in its waters, after thousands of citizens joined with environmental groups to push for a referendum on the issue. In its 2018 report card on the health of its reef Belize scored 2.8 – an improvement on 2.3 in 2006, though some way off the top score of five.
The gains are impressive but also fragile, says Nicole Auil Gomez, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, whose scientific research has played a leading role in conservation efforts. “Our actions have been moving faster than the legislation. Now we need laws to buttress this action. Everyone is waiting for the sustainable fisheries bill, which will close loopholes, for example, by making enforcement easier.”
Wade agrees that stiffer penalties in the long-awaited implementation of the bill would help. “Enforcement is our achilles heel because illegal fishing is so hard to police. We are a small country and simply don’t have the resources. We were confiscating boats but noticed the penalties weren’t as effective as they should be.”
At the national fishing cooperative in Belize City, today’s catch of spiny lobster are being processed as chairman Elmer Rodriguez listens to some fishermen complain that they don’t have licences because the machine that prints them has broken down. But all agree the key problem with MA is enforcement, especially of foreign fishers who still use gill nets that damage fish. There is not enough patrolling or monitoring, says Rodriguez. “Why should they follow the rules when others just break them?”
Elmer Rodriguez, chairman of the national fishermen’s cooperative, says enforcement of fishing rules is an issue
In Toledo, Tide’s executive director Celia Mahung says: “I strongly believe the government needs to budget for enforcement. The cost of fuel is so high and NGOs don’t get tax reduction to buy fuel, although they are doing the government’s work.”
Talking to environmentalists in Belize, there is a clear sense of pride in their success, along with fishers, scientists, the government and others, but also pressure to keep up sustainable initiatives. A bigger commitment is needed from the tourist industry, which accounts for almost 40% of GDP, they say.
One species that is still suffering the effects of overfishing is the Nassau grouper fish whose declining numbers are like “watching extinction in action”, says Auil Gomez.
Compounding the challenges is the climate crisis. Emerging threats include Belize’s white sand beaches being swamped by sargassum ocean seaweed and the arrival of the mysterious stony coral disease, which is believed to be linked to warming ocean waters.
“The weather is more unpredictable, the seas are rougher and fishers have to go farther out. We have seen a lot of coastal erosion,” says Mahung, adding that the shrinking numbers and size of fish are forcing communities to look for new sources of income.
Punta Negra resident Paula Jacobs Williams says the climate crisis is visible in the rising sea waters
Before heading back to the mainland, the Tide rangers stop for lunch in Punta Negra, where village chairperson Paula Jacobs Williams serves red snapper and rice in the building that used to be the school. She co-runs this restaurant with three other women, as part of a project to diversify income in fishing communities. A few years ago 250 people lived here; now there are just 35.
“About 10 years ago they told us we should move because the sea was going to wash us away and every year it’s worse. Now the water is lapping at the steps of my house,” she says. “But I am not going anywhere else. The women of Punta Negra have a lot of talents.”
Despite the challenges, says Requena of the EDF, Belize’s natural wonders continue to offer up surprises. In 2012–2013 scientists discovered a largely unknown area of the reef with unusually rich and varied wildlife and virtually intact coral. They are still working to uncover how this area, which known as the Corona reef, has survived in its unspoilt state in the hope of learning how to increase resilience elsewhere.
“Belize is a little corner of the northern hemisphere where people and nature really are working together,” says Requena. “This is the vision for the future.”
There is one final detour on the way back to the mainland, as the rangers head into an area that’s a known habitat for manatees. The marine reserve was established in 2000 to protect local populations of the gentle sea giants who rely on the freshwater. There is a swirl of mud beneath the sea and then five whiskered manatees resurface to breathe. “Not long ago the manatees in this area were disappearing because fishers from Guatemala used to poach them,” says Halliday. “But they are back. We turned it around.”
Marine reserves have been successful in protecting the number of manatees
PRESS RELEASE – Launch of the Belize Tax Service Department
August 1st, 2019 marks the historic amalgamation of the Income Tax Department and Department of General Sales Tax into the newly formed Belize Tax Service Department- a department under the Ministry of Finance. The amalgamation will be done in a phased approach through to 2022. Taxpayers will experience better service by a newly trained cadre of tax professionals, efficiency, productivity and better tax compliance to further develop the country.
In October 2014, the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) approved a technical assistance mission to support the Government of Belize’s medium-term action plan to Modernize Tax Administration. The objective of that program was to strengthen institutional reforms in tax administration.
In January 2018, on the request of the Government of Belize, a Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) mission was deployed to assess the current operations and technology systems that support tax administration in Belize and provide guidance and advice to support the decision process to evaluate alternative technology solutions for the Tax Administration’s operations.
The Government of Belize established a Program Office for the Modernization of the Tax Administration of Belize (MTAB) and appointed a Program Manager in October 2018. The main objective of the program is to establish a modern service-oriented Tax Administration, integrated with other government agencies and financial institutions, all businesses and the citizens of Belize. It will also achieve a redesigned business operation according to the current good practices and standards for tax administrations, deliver services to taxpayers and optimally use its own human resources and knowledgeable staff to manage compliance according to risks utilizing a wide range of internal and third-party data. The Program introduces significant changes in legal, organizational, operational and technology frameworks for administering taxes in Belize.
The Belize Tax Service Department aims to serve as Tax Professionals of the future, with a new mission, vision and values.
If you’re older than 30, like me, you probably have fond memories of a day at the “Animal Park” with your entire family. What beautiful days those were…
Well, Creme De La Creme is bringing back good, clean family-friendly days at the reinvented park by the lighthouse! They adopted what was previously known as the “San Cas Park” and, with sponsorship from the Belize City Council and awesome businesses like SMART, they’ve installed male and female bathrooms, a new play set, cleaned, painted, landscaped, and even replaced lighting.
The new ice cream smoothie shack (their frozen drinks are a-ma-zing! Not to mention their famous paletas varieties!) and snack shop (with their loaded burgers) are welcome additions to give the entire family a relaxed and satisfying evening at the park. A portion of the revenues from the ice cream shack and snack shop go directly into the upkeep of the park and restrooms.
To add to the enjoyment of the kiddos, they’ve even added a trampoline and bouncy house which costs a mere $3 per 15 minute stint and can be paid for at the ice cream shop. Businesses like these deserve to be supported and encouraged, as it takes an entire community to keep these efforts alive. Visit Creme De La Creme by the Lighthouse Park and support a worthy and invaluable cause.
Creme De La Creme – Making a Difference one bite at a time!
Tucked away in the top right tip of Central America is the stunningly beautiful country of Belize. The former British colony is the only English-speaking country in the narrow Central American strip – making it a hot spot for US and UK visitors.
Over 700,000 tourists flock to the country every year from these two countries, coming to enjoy the natural beauty, laid-back way of life and terrific weather. A fixed exchange rate of two Belizean dollars to one US dollar is also helping to boost another form of tourism: gambling.
More and more people worldwide are seeking out holiday destinations for their gambling offerings. While Belize is some way off the likes of Las Vegas in terms of the abundance of casinos (there are only three in Belize) it is still an attractive proposition for gambling tourists.
The Belizean government has taken a relaxed attitude to gambling – as they recognize its economic potential – and is one of a select few countries on the planet that fully legalizes both online and land-based gambling. But how does Belize’s gambling industry stack up to other countries?
Gambling in Belize: the current landscape
Gambling in Belize is safe, legal and increasingly popular at establishments like The Placencia Hotel and Casino
Traditionally the Belizean economy has been dependent on the export of crops such as sugar, citrus and bananas and before that Belizean rosewood. These exports have been key to the country’s economic development since the arrival of British colonialists in the 1800’s. Major crop exports account for 6.2% of Belize’s gross domestic product (GDP), bringing in annual revenues of $154.5 million.
Belize has had a close relationship with gambling for many years. In 2004 it legalized online gambling – becoming one of the first countries in the world to do so. And it couldn’t have picked a better time – as this is when online gambling really started to take off. It’s now worth around $60 billion on a global scale – and going from strength to strength in our increasingly connected digital era.
As such, gambling in Belize is an activity that’s popular among residents and tourists alike. Exact figures for gambling revenues are currently unknown in Belize, as the government publishes a joint figure which includes the revenues brought in by foreign companies registering for a licence in the country.
In 2004, the licence fee was reduced from $50,000 to $15,000 in a bid to boost tourism.
Should Belize follow the British model?
The UK and Belize have been inextricably linked for almost 200 years so it is perhaps no wonder that the two countries have a similar outlook towards gambling.
The UK is often used by gambling experts as the shining example of a country that implements strict gambling controls without hurting profits. In the UK, all major forms of gambling are legal while remaining strictly monitored by the government.
Despite having similar gambling laws to Belize, the UK has benefited further from private sector involvement, which has driven its market to new highs. By opening its industry up to international gambling operators and game developers, UK consumers have more choice than ever. The level of competition has pushed game standards up to greater levels of quality.
What’s more, UK-based gamers can also benefit from expert advice when they’re playing their favorite casino games. Experts such as world renowned gambling author John Grochowski, for example, reveals some money-making tips in this detailed guide about how to play craps – an absolute must-read for anyone playing the game online.
This level of quality makes all the difference to the bottom line. In 2017 the British Gambling Commission reported total revenues of $19 billion, with $6.34 billion of that coming from the remote sector.
The Belizean government could do little wrong in following the example of the UK – and opening its market further to international developers – to boost its own gambling revenues.
Belize’s gambling laws compared with international neighbors
Here’s how Belize’s gambling industry compares with other markets across Central America.
Mexico
If you travel north of the border you could be forgiven for thinking that Mexico shares a similar attitude to gambling as we Belizeans do. Betting on all forms of sports and team activities is a common pastime in Mexico and remote betting terminals are becoming more popular.
However, due to a 1947 act that was passed by the Mexican government to kill of gambling, it is still technically illegal. Before that law came in, the country was home to an abundance of casinos – all of which were forced to close their doors and turn customers away.
The tide of public opinion seems to be turning, though. It is expected that land-based gambling at least will be legalized in the coming years. That groundswell of opinion is largely being driven by American businesses who have plans to open at least 35 casinos within 50 miles of the Mexican-American border.
The prohibition of gambling in Mexico has led to its illegal implementation in less than savory events such as cockfighting and bullfighting, which, like gambling, are illegal in the country.
Guatemala
Despite chronic under investment and repeated corruption scandals, the Guatemalan economy is still the largest in Central America – largely owing to the country’s sizable population.
One area that Guatemala does not rake in revenues is gambling, an act which has been strictly prohibited by law since 1980 and the passing of the Penal Code. Guatemala is a country with a strong religious association and this is often cited as one of the main reasons behind gambling prohibition.
As is the case in Mexico, the bygone laws are not necessarily a barrier to those determined to gamble. There are hundreds of unlicensed and unregulated betting facilities throughout the country, with local law enforcement often persuaded to look the other way for a few Quetzales.
Online gambling wasn’t a concern in 1880, when gambling was first prohibited in Guatemala and as such, citizens can have a flutter online by default. Only foreign companies offer their services in Guatemala, with a large amount of them being based in Belize.
Honduras
Another Central American country with a liberal attitude to gambling is nearby Honduras, where tourists can find a smattering of casinos and poker rooms. There is a disparity between legal and illegal casinos in Honduras with the latter being eminently more abundant.
Tourists are advised to play with the licensed, legal casinos as violence and unfair game rigging are prevalent in unlicensed establishments. Also it is not currently advisable to travel to Honduras due to the ongoing political and social upheaval in the country.
Summary
With just three land-based casinos and a legal but small online gambling industry, Belize is hardly on the scale of Macau and Las Vegas. However, compared to its neighbors and considering its favorable exchange rate, it’s one of the best places to have a flutter in Central America.
As a result of Belize’s second place win in the 2019 Central American Women’s Volleyball Championship that was held in Belize City from August 4-8, 2018, Belize’s Female National Team now qualifies to two important world-level championships, one of which is an Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Belizeansingjay Stig Da Artist has high hopes that Girls Dem Suga, his collaboration with Beenie Man, will be a big hit.
“Well, it’s a good feeling to have a song with a dancehall legend, especially on a tamale of his classic Girls Dem Suga. I’m pretty sure the song will go places and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity,” he told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.
Girls Dem Sugar, released in 2000, was a massive hit for Beenie Man and pop singer Mya.
The 24-year-old Stig Da Artist hails from Belmopan City, and says his career began at an early age. His love for music was so intense, he decided to chase his dreams after leaving Belmopan Comprehensive School where he majored in the arts.
“From around the time I was eight I had an unusual love for music, real passion at such a young age. After high school I had a few jobs here and there (he was head bartender at a well-known bar in the capital), but right after me quit that bartending job and began taking my music career more seriously, doors started opening up for me. I think that was in 2016,” he said.
Stig Da Artist (given name Earlyn Hutchinson) credits his manager and producer for making the link with Beenie Man.
“My producer (Devin Peyrefitte) had sent me the rhythm (Sexting) a while back in 2018 and I had voiced for him probably the same day he sent me. Upon hearing that I made reference to Beenie Man’s song, my producer and manager (Brandun Murillo) worked behind the scenes to bring this ‘collab’ to life. And luckily, the rhythm ended up being much bigger than my song. Beenie went in and did his thing, we liked what we heard and now we’re here,” he explained.
Girls Dem Suga is co-produced by DJ Perf, Stadic and Jonny Blaze.
Other artistes on Sexting include Konshens, Dovey Magnum, Kes The Band, Stone Bwoy, Chris Martin, Mya and Ding Dong, Hey Choppy and Patrice Roberts
Stig Da Artist is no stranger to partnering with Jamaican artistes.
“I’ve done songs, released and unreleased, with Jamaican artistes before. On the Carefree rhythm (which was produced by Kalex and Jelly) me and Kalex have a song named Carefree. The rhythm was initially made for myself, him and other artistes to ‘collab’ on, before Popcaan came in and did his thing. I also have an unreleased song with Samantha J also featuring Abner Babil from Belize,” he disclosed.
Born and raised in southside Belize City, Coope has been a part of the BBF’s programmes since the age of 12 when, ironically, he was left off the U12 National Team which won a bronze medal in Guatemala. A few years later, he was again left off the U16 National Team which won a bronze medal in Honduras. Never deterred, his passion for the game, resilience and determination drove him to continue honing is craft to become a standout player in high school at Sadie Vernon High School, then eventually moving on to the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) where he has been an anchor for the Belize Hurricanes franchise winning two league championships.
