Miss World Belize-The Certified Beekeeper

Miss World Belize is a certified Beekeeper!

In September of 2021, I was accepted into the Ministry of Agriculture’s Belize Honey Production Re-Development Support Project. A project with the objective of expanding the honey production subsector in Belize, targeting the delivery of new and additional capabilities to women and disadvantage youth to reap the advantages of employment and empowerment through sector specific knowledge acquisition. As a representation of both women and youth from a rural setting, I was eager to be a part of this venture. After months of intensive theoretical learning and practical training, I was successful in learning the trade and graduated with a certificate in beekeeping. Thereafter, as a part of the project, the students were given hives to begin their very own apiary, which I care for today on my own farm in the village of Biscayne.

The importance of Bees

Belize has always had a rich history in Beekeeping, dating all the way back to the native Mayans. Due to the increase of population of Africanized bees within the region, there was a decline of beekeepers in the 90’s due to the fear of said Africanized bees. Through this program, the number of beekeepers is currently on a steady rise. Bees play a pivotal role in food security, because they are responsible for producing 1/3 of all the food consumed by the world. Beekeeping in itself is a trade that not only fights against the plight of world hunger, but also the issues caused by climate change that we face. Nearly 90% of flowering plant species on the planet require pollinators to aid in reproduction. This not only provides a food system for wildlife, but it also creates shelter for animals. Bees aid in the pollination of these plants, and that is why it is so important for us to protect them. As a beekeeper, I am supporting the implementation of positive environmental impacts as well as increasing food security.

Beekeeping and I today

Today, I still have my hives with the hopes to expand and extract honey within the coming year. Harvesting honey, propolis, bee pollen and all the other products that bees provide, allows for the generation of income. I have done and will continue to have tours of my hives with a focus on children to inspire those around me to develop a passion for beekeeping. Beekeeping is more than just a career; it is a way to save the world that we live in from the environmental stress it is currently experiencing. This is why I also rescue bees when called by individuals in several nearby villages. I ensure that bees are safe, fed and able to carry out all their duties.  I see it as my additional contribution towards increasing food security in my nation. As Miss World Belize, I want to use the platform that I’ve been given to increase the appreciation of not only bees but the beekeepers that tend to them, as well as inspire other women and youth to become beekeepers.