Channel 5’s Editorial Failure: An Act of Cultural Erasure and Economic Shortsightedness

Dear Ms. Cuellar,

It is with great disappointment, and profound concern, that I write regarding Channel 5’s failure to air my interview with Britney Gordon on the occasion of my inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who in America.

As you know, Marquis Who’s Who, since 1899, recognized individuals whose contributions shape history, industry, and culture. My inclusion in this global compendium is not only a personal honor, it is a milestone of national significance. It signals that Belizean talent, heritage, and innovation are being recognized on the world stage.

Yet your network chose to suppress this moment, denying the Belizean public an opportunity to witness and celebrate a piece of their living history. This decision cannot be dismissed as an editorial oversight; it constitutes an act of cultural erasure.

And for me, as a mixed Garifuna and Creole Belizean, this erasure carries a particularly bitter resonance. Our communities have for generations been pushed to the margins, economically, socially, and culturally. We have too often been portrayed as victims, as statistics, as faces in your crime segments. Rarely are we afforded the dignity of being celebrated as creators, innovators, and builders of national progress.

This pattern plays out, day after day, year after year, in your own newscasts. Stories of triumph and excellence from marginalized communities are either overlooked or under-reported, while narratives of poverty and violence dominate. The decision not to air this interview is part of that same cycle, a quiet but devastating suppression of hope and inspiration for young Belizeans who deserve to see what is possible.

The stakes here are not abstract. Through my work as President of Hyde Group, I am reviving a 386-year-old Belizean heritage brand, pioneering sustainable luxury, and building an enterprise poised to contribute meaningfully to Belize’s GDP.

Already this vision is being embraced globally:

• In 2024, I was invited to design for P-Valley Season 3 on Starz.

  
  

• In May 2025, I was invited to appear on Advancements with Ted Danson, a program broadcast to hundreds of millions globally, across Amazon Prime (200M+), Bloomberg (150M), History Channel (92M), Discovery (100M), and CNBC (85M). (Relevant data attached.)

At this pivotal moment, when Belize could be celebrated for fostering a world-class enterprise rooted in our culture and values, your network chose silence. I do not know whether you directly authorized this decision. But as CEO, accountability rests with you. Leadership means recognizing the broader social and cultural consequences of your editorial choices.

Let me state unequivocally: Hyde Group and its affiliated ventures will not consider future business, advertising, or partnerships with Great Belize Media under its current stewardship. This misstep is now known internationally, a permanent historical stain on your much-touted rebranding and credibility.

It is not too late to reflect. Belize deserves a media that celebrates its people’s progress, rather than suppressing it. Until that standard is met, history will record that in this moment, Channel 5 stood on the wrong side.

Sincerely,

Sylvian J. Hyde

President, HYDE GROUP

www.hyde.bz