MUST Watch: The Official Premiere of “Wealth Untold” on Belize TV This Weekend

This weekend on Channel 5, a new Belizean documentary, Wealth Untold, will premiere. Saturday, May 24th at 3pm is the first showing.

I was lucky enough to get a preview last weekend and, spoiler alert it’s absolutely incredible…beautiful. If you live in Belize and love her, you might need a hanky. I had to pause it 3 or 4 times. I started crying at about minute three. By the end, you’ll be bursting with pride, love, and probably a bit of anger too.

Here’s the trailer!

But let me back up a bit…

The title, Wealth Untold, is a line from the second verse of Belize’s National Anthem:

Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold…

It captures, so beautifully, how this tiny country, about the size of my birth state of New Jersey, but with fewer than 450,000 people (NJ has 9.5 million), is overflowing with almost an unfair amount of natural riches. From the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere to three of its four atolls, to the famous Blue Hole, our stunning mountains, and hundreds of miles of limestone cave systems — the wealth is real, and it’s pretty extraordinary.

We’ve been given this gift, but whose job is it to protect it?

Here’s the full verse:

O’er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader, this heritage bold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes to tomorrow’s noon.

Wealth Untold tells the story of some Belizeans — against global and local pressures that often feel insurmountable — have become determined leaders in conservation.

Since I started this blog in 2011, my favorite favorite thing is meeting people across the country who are doing incredible things, often quietly. This documentary introduces you to a dozen or more of them in under 90 minutes.

It begins with a short talk with Dr. Sylvia Earle — a world-renowned American marine scientist — who reminds us how not long ago, the ocean was considered “too big to fail.” But the rest of the story? That’s all Belize.

The film takes place along the coast, where half of our population lives. And it is almost entirely told by the conservationists who are from Belize — the majority of whom are women. In fact, over 90% of the leaders in Belizean ocean conservation are female.

(I have a few theories why that is — and I think you’ll pick up some strong clues from the film.)

You’ll recognize many of the names and faces – some of the folks I’ve met are:

• Janelle Chanona from Oceana
• Rachel Graham from MarAlliance
• Chef Jennie Staines from San Pedro favorite Elvi’s Kitchen
• Kirah Forman (formerly of Hol Chan, now with MarAlliance)
• San Pedro’s Carina Paz and Madi Edwards
• Jolie Pollard in Placencia making fantastic hair care products with locally grown seaweed
• Luz Hunter, who I met during her Hawksbill turtle cleanup project in Gales Point Manatee
• Khadija Assales (aka Kaj), talented jeweler and national ambassador
• Stewart Krohn, long-time activist and owner of Naia Resort
• Marissa Telez, who researches and educates about crocodiles

And others like Nadia Bood of WWF Belize and Julie Robinson, and more. So incredible!

All of them — whether born here or chose Belize as their home — are working to protect what makes Belize so special.

It’s a story of science, perseverance, and community. Of women who understand that protecting our environment means bringing everyone along — not just implementing top-down mandates. They know how vital our natural resources and culture are — especially in a country where 1 in 4 jobs is tied directly to tourism.

The documentary also doesn’t shy away from our HUGE challenges — from shortsighted development, cruise tourism, and even our own government — which often seek quick profit at long-term cost. “Dolla tourists” brought in by cruise ships spend little that stays local, while the environmental burden stays behind.

But Belize has also seen tremendous conservation victories:

• The establishment of Hol Chan Marine Reserve in 1987
• The country’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Coral reef regrowth off Placencia after Hurricane Iris in 2001
• Saying NO to offshore oil drilling
• The ban on gillnet fishing, thanks to the hard work of conservationists with the Belizean fishermen

The struggle continues.

It’s easy to focus on the negative, social media seems to make it even easier! The endless sargassum, the litter, the discouragement. It can feel overwhelming.

But Wealth Untold shook me out of it.

If you love Belize — if you want to be inspired by her people, understand her history and cutlure and natural beauty more deeply, and feel hope for her future – you’ve got to watch this! It’s incredible that we live in the same country as these amazing women and men.

Tune in to Channel 5 Belize on May 24 and again on May 31 to watch Wealth Untold.

For more information, please visit their website. And seriously…WATCH THIS. And stick around until the end…for the fantastic song written for the film. The music video is coming soon 🙂