Do you support the government’s boycott of Channel 5?
Tonight’s question is: Do you support the government’s boycott of Channel 5? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com.
Channel 5 loyalty should be to the people and country of Belize and not to G.O.B. of the day. Channel 5 responsibility is to report and inform as is. PUNTO. Therefore, to hell with BARROW!
I say a resounding no that type of behavior is dictatorial and dangerous very dangerous for a democracy.
Of course not… The trademark of a good Politician is his/her ability to let little or nothing penetrate their thick skin & being able to make us believe their vision even when we know it is BS. Every Government should be able to withstand criticisms & challenges & counter them with truth.
Learn from the negative comments & focus on your strengths, allowing anger or frustration to spawn bad policy is not the solution. Give Belizeans some credit, we may surprise you…
Ummm… Aren’t we here commenting because we support you in the first place? A better question would have been, “Do you think the government is justified in their boycott of Channel 5?” In which case, the answer to both questions is no. This “boycott” has had the exact opposite effect they intended, I’m sure. I find it hard to believe that Dean Barrow approved this. I do not agree with much of what he says/does, but I can appreciate that he is an intelligent man (which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for the vast majority of Cabinet). All this does is make the GOB look immature.
No I don’t and I don’t see it fair for the reason given to us. It clearly show this is political and it quiet reminds me of Jugo Chavez I guess our Crime Minister sorry I mean Prime Minister of Belize is sticking too close right bahind. Sameful group of criminals election is coming up we have the last word.
I certainly do not support it and want Barrow removed. He is a dictator with an ego that is blinding common sense!.
No. I don’t support the boycott.
Two things:
1) So far, Channel 5 has the moral upper hand. It needs to maintain this advantage through appropriate behavior, including promoting freedom of criticism itself. That means allowing equal and free vent on this very forum, even to those who express in constructive manner support for the boycott.
2) There’s also the matter of the legality of requiring public officers to observe impromptu, arbitrary, and indeed wrong-headed cabinet directives. Channel 5 may want to ask its legal expert to make a determination on this… or find a public officer with the willingness and the stones to challenge it.
I think BELIZE IS NO LONGER A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. We know that other media houses are politically affiliated to the party of their choices and they broadcast news as per their angles. If Channle 5 is not allowed to air news accordingly, this is victimization again. Channel 5 is professional and among the top media houses of Belize. Boycotting them …..this is getting out of control. It is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. People will favor Channel 5 more for the news because this proves that the others are forced to be bias.
I am a UDP Voter and always have been, i am so ungrateful how UDP Is handling this situation. My family, brothers are UDP Voters. I can clearly see that they will loose my family vote this coming election. They are not euipped to control this country, they are trying to hide what is really happening to the country. Channel 5 is not doing anything wrong, they are just showing to their viewers what is really happening in Belize with their government and its crime. I fully support you Channel 5. I believe the whole country of Belize is with you.
Absolutely not!!! Freedom of the press is a very important and critical organ in a healthy democracy. Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing a serious leadership crisis in Belize.
we do not need to wait for elections just put him on a plane to the us like the honduran president no need to wait lets do it now .
I dont and wont agree with wat dis corrupted government doing channel5 brings out and enlighten us of all the corruption they doing
yes, your news is aired outside this country and it should not be biased in any way.
Ok this is UDP doing pure MADAruh! This is pure nonsense what this Government Ministry is doing! What is the REAL objective?! Now whilst I understand how it could be interpreted that Channel 5 news stories and presentations are not entirely Government friendly, it is objective and a different point of view! I certainly would not want to read or watch Government or any political party propaganda. That is how we become slaves to Governments! I appreciate and respect fair balance real and investigative reporting that benefits the broad majority of Belizeans. But I do implore Channel 5 to ensure that their stories remain objective to maintain its status as a credible news organization that continuously engages all the public about the true and real issues that affects Belize and its people.
Thats a big NO–Channel 5 have been phenomenal with its broadcast and should have been commended instead of been attacked by the Belize Government.
Hell NO!! Belize now joins the ranks of countries like China, Cuba, Venezuela and Iran that attempt to control the press. Remember they already block VOIP. what is next in line facebook and twitter will be blocked. wake up belizeans this is a very slippery slope that this UDP – Barrow administration is taking us down!!!!!!!!!
If it’s true that the country only have two national television stations , then it’s a very bad decision. That means that the news that being broadcast to the nation is not balanced. Each point of view is not objectively being conveyed .
Belize is beginning to look like Cuba, pretty soon the PM will tell the citizens when to go to bed and when to get up. He is a dangerous man, he is looking like a dictator remember Hitler, Castro and all the Barrow type leaders of the Middle East. Belize is beginning to look like a strong candidate for dictatorship. Wake up and stand up Belizeans, you deserve more, demand it, stop selling your vote for a few dollars that only last through one trip to the grocery store, hold out for a decent living.
When I hear and read about Barrow’s bullying of our Country it makes me wonder about his home life. Does he crack the whip so that his family obey his orders——-A BULLY IS A BULLY.
U.D.P, P.U.P! Politics, Politics, Politics! When are we think as Belizeans being one as a whole! Let’s change that!
YES ……….I DO…………….because it will MAKE THEM STRONGER!!!!!!
Absolutely not, Barrow has clearly revealed that he is a weak leader and a bully, a strong leader should be able to withstand criticism and try to correct whatever it is that leads to it. The other television stations should not feel too comfortable, because they too will suffer the same fate once they dare to be critical of this government, this is a dangerous and slippery slope and it will only get worst if Barrow is allowed to continue to come up with these ridiculous policies; it is time that Belizeans begin to stand up to him or else we will soon be living under a dictatorship; channel5, i support you and don\t be intimidated the behaviour of this mad-man.
Most people are confused. GoB can boycott who ever they want so long as they do not make it impossible for who ever they boycott to keep on carrying on their trade. Empahsis on the word impossible. Its like saying that I am not allowed to refuse to buy my fry chicken from Li Chee because I prefer to by it from Chon Saan. I have a right to boycott Li Chee if I want to so long as I do not interfere with Li Chee in a way that makes it impossible for Li Chee to continue serving its loyal customers. So hell ya GoB can chose to boycott Channel 5 so long as they do not interfere with Channel 5 in a way that prevents Channel 5 from carrying on its business with Channel 5’s loyal customers. Its called Laissez Faire and free market economy. Last time I checked the whole world is for free market. Even China is seeing the benefit of it. The only place that rejects it outright is North Korea, but thats another story. So I hope that the people who have commented above realize what I say because they can knock me all they want but in the end I know for sure that I am correct and they are wrong because of the way the question is framed or because they did not consider what I just said. I feel sorry for Channel 5, but in the end Channel 5 doesn’t make most of its money from GoB so its not that much of a loss to Channel 5 is it?
I think that barrow want to do just what chavez did in venezuela closing TV station .But we belizeans
have to stand and stop barrow in not introducing the dictatorship to belize we are not Iraq or cuba,
he think belizeans are not seeing what he is trying to do .the problem that barrow has is that he no
like to be critisize, he want that all the people of belize says things are good and its
the opposite. So channel 5 continue with the good programs and you guys will be stronger.
Well said, Bryan! All politrix, my friend!
TO BEHONEST,… WHAT CHANNEL 5 GETS, ITS JUSS POLITICS, THAT STATION HAS ALWAYS BE PUP…SO WHAT HAPPEN IS NO SURPRISE
I need to see the letter that Min Barrow sent to you guys. Would you explain to us in details why he thought it was necessary. I don’t know what the beef is between Ch5 and the GOB. I bet most Belizeans don’t know. Please explain.
I do not support the boycott. The last time i checked Belize and Democracy went hand in hand. That is why we are a proud and “Independent” nation, where we are free to vote for whomever we want and have the freedom to express ourselves…
I think it is a shame that we as a people or a country do not condemn this latest action by the Prime Minister and his government. A democratic country is nothing without freedom of the press and the government is operating as a dictator sending directives to its employees that they should not engage with Channel 5. A real leader does not censor its critics just because he has the power. For too long now we have watched this government and this prime minister redefine many things. They have redefined nepotism so he can justify actions with his family. He has redefined artificial so he can justify the Foreign Affairs’ Minister use of the term with the Guatemala dispute. He has redefined censorship so that he can block Channel 5 in its reporting on government news. No self respecting democratic country would continue like this and not condemn these actions. Corruption, Nepotism and Mismanagement should not be tolerated whether it is PUP or UDP doing it. And it should be condemned.
Hell NO<<<<<<to the comments made above. The government is not a commoner on the street deciding if they should buy food from here or there when it comes to keeping the people informed. These bunch of hooligans were voted into office by the people; for the people and the people want the promise of transparent goverment like Deano boy was ranting about when he wanted to get into office. Now that he is seated in his high position, he wants to close government mouths because channel 5 isn't painting him as a great leader. Well news flash two face Barrow, you are not doing a good job because you play ignorant to the facts. Many of your ministers are crooks, crime is still high and people getting away with murder while the police don't even know how to secure a crime scene. The list could go on and on but I haven't the time nor the strenght to list all the shortcomings of your ability to lead. The people want a corruption free goverment and they want it now!
No, it’s censorship and akin to socialism.
LETS UNCOVER THE HIDDEN.