Mada Fyah

Belize is racing toward protecting 30% of its ocean by 2026 —but what does that look like on the water? This latest investigation delves into the daily reality of marine rangers: 4 a.m. patrols, dangerous encounters, rescues of trapped wildlife, and long weeks away from their families. From drones and 360° camera towers to the expanding risks of transboundary fishing, the story reveals the pressur...

What’s really happening on Belize’s buses? From near-disasters on the highway to overcrowding, breakdowns, and a struggling industry weighed down by high fuel costs and low fares, this in-depth investigation reveals the daily realities of commuters and the uphill battle of operators. Journalist André Habet takes you inside the stories of passengers, drivers, and bus owners to uncover the risks, fr...

In this episode of Mada Fyah, André Habet and guest Yaya Marin Coleman continue their conversation on the proposed cruise terminal and cargo expansion project at Port of Belize following the September 1 public consultation about the revised Environmental Impact Assessment. They discuss how the consultation went, the difference between a hearing and a consultation, and how environmental regulation...

On the first episode of Mada Fyah after our extended hiatus, André Habet talks to returning guests and comrade YaYa Marin Coleman about the Escazú Agreement,  an international treaty signed by 25 Latin American and Caribbean nations concerning the rights of access to information about the environment, public participation in environmental decision-making, environmental justice, and a healthy...

On this episode of Mada Fyah, Andre talks to Dassia Regada and Jonathan Tremillo of the Crocodile Research Coalition regarding their efforts to relocate crocodiles and teach people about the significance of crocodiles to Belize as biological indicators.  Crocodile Research Coalition FB page https://www.facebook.com/crocodileresearchcoalition/ Mada Fyah FB page https://www.facebook.com/MadaFya...

On this episode, André Habet talks to Tom Hines, a videographer with Feste Films and the creator of several videos chronicling the effects of climate change on Dangigra and the surrounding area. André spoke to Tom about what made him decide to develop these videos and how they align with his goal of increasing awareness of the effects climate change is already having on Belize. 

For this episode, host André Habet spoke to Jolie Pollard, founder, formulator, and manager of the haircare brand Ikooma. Ikooma is a seaweed-based line of haircare products that Pollard created over years of trial and error. Now two years into selling her products, Pollard spoke to me about her journalism past, her formulation process and her work with Placencia seaweed farmers whose labor forms...

In this episode of Mada Fyah André talks to Belizean youth climate activist Kiefer Mes. Kiefer is the president of the Southern Youth Development Organization and was recently selected to represent Belize at the Global Conference of Youth in Scotland, the largest youth event that unites youth activists to discuss with global leaders solutions to environmental problems such as climate change. Kiefe...

In this episode, I’m sharing an interview with Yaya Marin Coleman, a community organizer and grassroots journalist currently investigating Port Loyola constituent’s familiarity with the Port of Belize Expansion project in Belize City. She shares with me her start in community work from an early age, her thoughts on how organizing can be made most effective, and her take on how Belizeans might proc...

In this episode, André Habet talks to Allie Johnstone who both independently and as a part of Caye Caulker Strong has dedicated much of the past two decades towards mangrove restoration projects on and around Caye Caulker. André and Allie discuss the origins of her interest in mangroves, her early days of guerilla planting on the island, and Caye Caulker Strong's efforts to shift people's views of...

André talks to Maria Pech from Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association (STACA). The two talk about environmental education, how STACA works to maintain community involvement and their efforts to conserve the North Stann Creek and Mullins River watersheds through data collection and community dialogues. Check out STACA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacaassistant28

Continuing our pause in our usual coverage, this week on Mada Fyah we bring you an interview with Alexander Evans, the composer, musician and teacher behind the Mada Fyah theme song in addition to co-founder of the Belize Afro-Indigenous Institute For The Visual And Performing Arts. They will be hosting a virtual event on August 1, 2021 called Sambai to commemorate Belize's first state-recognized...

For this episode, we're taking a break from our regular coverage to bring you a conversation with friend of the podcast, Zyania Alonzo. In addition to being a brilliant artist, Zyania is also the owner of the kombucha company Longivetea and her eponymous crocheted item store Zyania. We talk about her curiosity, her passion for experimentation and taste test three kombucha flavors she’s working on....

On this episode, André and Digna talk about hurricanes with Shelton Defour, National Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to discuss NEMO’s role in emergency response during hurricanes, the role civilians play in emergency response, and how global warming is altering the way storms move and change. Additionally, André interviews Katie Numi Usher and Mercy Sabal, tw...

On this episode of Mada Fyah, André Habet talks to Nadia Bood of the World Wildlife Fund about mangroves. They go over the significance of mangroves to Belize's ecological well-being, their role in coastal conservation, and efforts to educate the public on their restoration and ecosystem services. André also doubles up on his moment of gratitude and minute of rage in Digna's absence. ‘Eye of fire’...

In this episode of Mada Fyah andré and Digna talk to Mr. Ismael Teul and Mr. Andre Marsden from Belize's Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), a unique nationally conservation financing organization, to help better understand PACT’s scope of work and to talk about where PACT is now after 25 years since its founding. andré also talks to his nephew Theo about his theory on what killed the dinos...

Our third installment in our series on the gillnet ban that went into effect in November 2020. andré talks to fishers that support the ban, Digna shares her experience receiving her first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and the two share their thoughts on where they've landed in regards with the ban. Plus, their moment of gratitude|minute of rage, and a special cameo from andré's niece and nephe...

On this episode of Mada Fyah, andré and Digna talk about Covid-19 and the vaccines. They get into medical racism, vaccine hesitancy, and André's experience getting the first dose. In the episode's interview they also talk to Dr. Beer from the Ministry of Health and Wellness to get some answers to our listeners' questions submitted to our Facebook page. Get the vaccine. It'll save your life. Interv...

On this episode of Mada Fyah, André and Digna talk to Dr. Elma Kay of the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UBERI) about forest conservation in Belize, including the Maya Forest Corridor in Central, a new trust in development intended to connect Belize's Maya Mountains and Northern Reserve. They also discuss carbon and carbon rights, Dr. Kay's early experiences in the forest a...

On the seventh episode of Mada Fyah, Digna and André talk permaculture with Christopher Nesbitt, farmer and steward of Maya Mountain Research Farm (https://www.facebook.com/MayaMountainResearchFarm). The hosts and Nesbitt talk about how permaculture differs from the industrial monocrop paradigm, and how industrial agriculture can adapt to better care for the environment and profit employees. Liste...

Digna and André talk forest fire management with Eugenio Ah and Gustavo Requena of Ya'axché Conservation Trust and Mario Muschamp of Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment (TIDE). The three guests share their insights and experiences developing forest fire management programs in broadleaf, pine, and savannah ecosystems in Belize and discuss the causes of fire and ways Belizeans can b...

In this episode, André uses Digna's time back-a-bush to get some poetry with Khaila Gentle (https://kgentlewrites.com/) whose debut poetry collection 'Crossroads' will be released on May 18, 2021.    After that, André follows up on episode 3's coverage of the gillnet ban with an interview with members of the Belize Fishermen's Cooperative Association who are opposed to the ban and are se...

In this episode, André and Digna introduce a new segment, discuss the importance of watersheds then interview the Rio Grande River Keepers regarding their efforts to restore the Rio Grande watershed. Youtube link https://youtu.be/7oDoUQn2hnI Interview Transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/13VJCcl2GQ4_Fdo5jasaAQWo5UJPVR6VP-LZxLAbZdF4/edit?usp=sharing

On Mada Fyah's third episode, Digna and André discuss the history of fishing in Belize then talk about the gillnet ban that went into effect in Belize in November 2020.    They first discuss their relationship with fishing before talking to Andrew Roe, Chair of the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries.   Transcript for Interview with Andrew Roe, Chair of the Coalition for Sustainable...

In Mada Fyah's second episode, Digna and André talk about the three cruise developments currently undergoing consideration and development in the Belize City area. First, they talk about their prior knowledge about the cruise ship industry then provide commentary about Michael Ashcroft's April 23rd appearance on Open Your Eye , dissecting his argument regarding the benefits of the port expansion p...