Dylan Vernon

Executive Director, Belize Policy Research Institute, University of Belize (BELPRI)
Bridging Knowledge to Power

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

This is a first-of-its-kind web-based tool for Belize that will allow policy makers, policy stakeholders, students and the public to easily access, track and discuss the nation’s public policies.

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

We are sailing to Cuba, bringing critical humanitarian aid for its people. https://t.co/Adk4yLERM0

[Ryan Grim @ryangrim]

If you want a sense of how dire the situation is in Cuba now, here is a list of the measures the Cuban president says the nation has started taking to try to keep people in nursing homes and hospitals alive while Trump and Rubio choke the island of essentials, which the Cuban government is now referring to a "genocidal blockade" -- which is absolutely will be if it is allowed to persist.

Cuba is not at war with anybody yet we are starving them...because why? Because Marco Rubio wants to?

From the office of the Cuban presidency:

This Friday, measures adopted by the country’s leadership were announced in response to the nation’s current situation, amid the intensification of the #GenocidalBlockade.

⚡| Energy Sector
•Prioritize available fuel for essential services: public health, water supply, food production, defense, and hard-currency-generating activities.
•Continue and accelerate the installation programs for solar photovoltaic parks and solar modules for households.
•Speed up the delivery and installation of solar modules sold to Health and Education workers.
•Install 5,000 solar modules in isolated homes and plan an additional 5,000 for social centers (nursing homes, children’s homes).
•Expand incentives for the installation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in companies and households.
•Concentrate core administrative activities from Monday to Thursday.
•Adjust fuel sales to the public until the situation normalizes.
•Continue developing domestic oil production.

🚚| Transport Sector
•Ensure fuel for port and airport operations, imports/exports, and the transport of vital cargo (food, fuel, medical supplies).
•Reduce the Nueva Gerona–Batabanó ferry frequency to two trips per week (Tuesdays and Saturdays).
•Extend the frequency of national passenger trains to once every 8 days (starting February 8). Temporarily suspend other rail services.
•Reduce national bus departures, maintaining a basic daily service from Havana. Suspend the waiting list service.
•Offer full refunds within 30 days for tickets for canceled services (rail or maritime).
•Maintain guaranteed Medibus services (for patients) and transportation for students and teaching staff.
•Reorganize local public transportation according to fuel availability in each territory.
•In Havana, establish a new transportation service specifically for Health personnel.
•Strengthen the electric mobility strategy: install solar charging stations and distribute electric vehicles.

👩‍🏫| Education Sector (General Education)
•Prioritize early childhood: maintain the operation of daycare centers (possibly with reduced hours).
•Maintain in-person classes in Primary Education with flexible schedules, allowing early dismissal due to transportation needs.
•For Lower Secondary, Pre-University, and Technical Education:
•Implement blended-learning or condensed schedules (by days or subject blocks), decided locally.
•Give special attention to grades marking the start and end of cycles (e.g., 7th and 9th grade, 12th grade).
•Temporarily redistribute enrollment from some IPVCE schools to urban pre-university schools.
•For students in the final years of technical/pedagogical programs, shift to a training model in schools near their homes, with periodic in-person sessions.
•Resume and adapt the “essential content” experience used during COVID-19.
•Accelerate the delivery of solar panels to teachers.

👨🏾‍🏫| Higher Education Sector
•General transition to blended learning, adapted by degree program and university.
•Transport students back to their provinces of origin.
•Support teaching activities through institutions in the student’s territory (CUM, branch campuses, workplaces).
•Strengthen faculty in municipalities by relocating professors from central campuses.
•Use telework as the main modality, with limited ICT support due to the energy situation.
•Prioritize strategic research and development projects remotely.
•Ensure completion of studies (final exams, thesis defenses) for students close to graduation.
•Reorganize the admissions process for Higher Education.
•Postpone the “University 2026” event.

👩🏿‍💻| Labor and Social Security Sector
•Issue no new labor regulations, applying existing contingency rules.
•Promote telework and remote work modalities.
•Adjust work schedules according to the needs of each workforce.
•Reassign workers to key economic activities or areas of social interest.
•If necessary, apply temporary work interruption with guaranteed pay equivalent to the basic salary during the first month.

🚜| Food and Water Sector
•Increase food production at the territorial level, prioritizing productive hubs with the greatest potential.
•Promote alliances among all forms of productive management (state and non-state) to address commercialization and prices.
•Use Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in food production.
•Allocate fuel to guarantee essential water pumping.
•Concentrate industry on producing and supplying chemical products for water treatment.

➕| Other Sectors
•Tourism: Design a plan to reduce energy consumption and consolidate facilities, taking advantage of the high season.
•Culture and Sports: Make adjustments to programs and activities.
•Science, Technology, and Environment: Guarantee resources for early warning systems.
•Special Education: Do not modify its operation; create a special scheme to guarantee services due to its high sensitivity.

[Ryan Rozbiani @RyanRozbiani]

These are some of the names and faces of the thousands of civilians Israel stole from us.

Palestinians are not just numbers; they're artists and poets, scientists and doctors, journalists, and so much more.

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Budna, ‘Duro Mano’ and the 13th Amendment Bill https://t.co/oOPOUNyrrA
#timecomeBelize, #constitutionalreformBelize, #dylanvernon

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Happy #44 Belize!!

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Belize's Foreign Policy at 44 took place today at the University of Belize. See this Instagram post by @universityofbelize https://t.co/SYY7eet2YF

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Petition by Liberation 9/21 of Belize: Remove Belize's Visa Waiver for Israeli Passport Holders - Belize · https://t.co/kWcc5LdPTg https://t.co/pb2A0uXPwQ

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Reminder. Belize’s Foreign Policy @ 44. This Thursday. 10 am, Central America time. #universityofbelize, #BELPRI

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

BELPRI is hiring! Come be a part of building a new policy institute with a mission to bridge knowledge to power.
#belpri, #universityofbelize,

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

On August 27, the office of the Belize Policy Research Institute (BELPRI) was launched at the University of Belize. It coincided with UB's 25th Anniversary. BELPRI's Executive Director, Dr. Dylan Vernon joined UB's President, Dr. Vincent Palacio the ribbon cutting.
#belpri, #UB

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

NEW TIME COME post: Belize, Palestine, and Israel (& Guatemala): A Chronology of Relations
https://t.co/yDtX67uNpK

#FreePalestine, #StopTheGenocide

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

REMINDER!
Come discuss how we in Belize can act in solidarity for Palestine! In this past week: famine officially declared by UN in Gaza, more illegal settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem green lighted by Israel, Gaza City military takeover by Israeli forces underway.

[Dylan Vernon @DylanVernonBze]

Belize! Call to Action for Palestine. #freePalestine