It was a way for the public to greatly assist law enforcement authorities and since the special constables programme was first established in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, similar efforts have been set up in Dangriga, Punta Gorda, and now Placencia. Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid spoke with News Five about the latest class of […]
Government has made up its mind over who will meet with U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his Central American counterparts next week in Miami. The delegation will be led by Home Affairs Minister Ralph Fonseca. According to a Press Office release, Fonseca was selected over Defence Minister Vildo Marin because the themes of the […]
A few years ago, a report of Guatemalan soldiers anywhere on Belizean soil would have been cause for commotion, even fear. But these days, when a Guatemalan contingent arrives, it’s more likely to be a part of confidence building measures… or, as in one case this week, to learn English. News Five was at the […]
On Monday at the opening of a military seminar, Minister of Defence Vildo Marin spoke of the many threats facing Belize. These include trans-national organised crime involving illicit drugs, human smuggling, arms trafficking, and money laundering, not to mention challenges such as corruption, environmental degradation, terrorism, natural disasters, and pandemics like HIV/AIDS and Dengue. But […]
In some late news from Belmopan, the National Security Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, has decided to offer material assistance to those residents of Louisiana digging out from Hurricane Katrina. The government is offering to send a contingent of B.D.F. soldiers to assist in relief and recovery operations. It will be recalled that Belize […]
Belize’s newly created Coast Guard is in need of resources and last week a high level delegation travelled to Washington looking for help. Minister of Home Affairs Ralph Fonseca and Coast Guard Commander Cedric Borland held talks with officials of the U.S. State Department, Department of Defence and U.S. Coast Guard. They were accompanied by […]
This morning in Belmopan the Belize Police Department’s newly established Scenes of Crime Unit received some much needed help in the form of six computers. The donation was made possible by the Social Security Board, which according to its Chairman Yasin Shoman, feels compelled to help in the effort to reduce crime. In her closing […]
Ceremonies were held today in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye where sixteen special constables were sworn in to augment the island town’s police detachment. The constables completed a week-long course conducted by officers from the training academy and, as of tonight, will operate with the full status of law enforcement officers.
The contingent is nowhere near the thousand men who safeguarded Belize’s sovereignty with Harrier jets, armoured vehicles and artillery… but while the British military presence in Belize has lost some muscle over the last thirty years, it is no less fit and ready. Today the media was allowed a brief look at what goes on […]
The embattled, demoralized and–did we forget–bankrupt, Development Finance Corporation finally has a new board of Directors. Leading the attempt to revitalize the government lending institution–or at least give it a decent burial–is highly respected accountant Arsenio Burgos. Burgos, who will also act in an executive capacity, is joined by board members: Kay Menzies, Maurice Underwood, […]
The horrific events of September eleventh have left the world, especially the United States of America, increasingly concerned over the threat of another terrorist attack. That fear has spawned several international initiatives designed to beef up the state of national security in countries around the globe. This week in Belize, the National Emergency Management Organisation’s […]
The men and women on the front line of this crisis, the members of the Belize Police Department, are tonight recovering from hits sustained during the clashes with demonstrators. According to officials, ten officers were wounded, several with serious injuries including a fractured skull, broken limbs, cuts, bruises, and blows to the head. This morning […]
He took over command of the department two weeks ago and today Commissioner of Police Gerald Westby made the first of what will be a series of stops at police formations around the country to introduce himself to the rank and file. Flanked by Deputy Commissioner Maureen Leslie and other members of the high command, […]
If you’re watching this newscast at home right now, it probably means that you’re in the minority of Belizeans who have chosen not to head out of town for the long Easter holiday weekend. And while thousands of Belizeans will spend the next four days either at the cayes or some relaxing spot inland, one […]
Right now it’s a coastguard in name only, an amalgamation of equipment and personnel put together from Police, BDF, Fisheries, Port Authority and other units involved in patrolling our far reaching waters. But come the new financial year those forces will begin to coalesce into a body that will hopefully live up to its name. […]
They received their baptism under fire on Friday, January twenty-first when they were the first to man the front line at the National Assembly in Belmopan. A week later, the men and women of recruit squad number eighty-one stood in formation, not to face sticks and stones but to graduate from the police-training academy. Eighty […]
The following day in Ladyville the leadership of the Belize Defence Force changed hands as Brigadier General Cedric Borland passed the sword and flag of command to the new BDF Commandant, Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett. Speaking at the occasion was Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Said Musa, who expressed great confidence in both the […]
The video footage is now part of the nation’s folklore of rebellion, right up there with the Tower Hill Bridge and streets of Benque Viejo. But if you thought that the Star Wars like precision of the riot squad and ballet style choreography of Assistant Commissioner Crispin Jefferies were spur of the moment decisions, think […]
Patrick Jones ?It is important that Belizeans on a whole feel safe this Christmas and be able to celebrate this joyous occasion without having to worry all that much. There are some simple basic things that people can do to stay safe and to talk a little about that, I am joined at this time […]
The rumours have been flying for several weeks and today it’s official: the next commissioner for police will be Gerald Westby. According to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Westby will take over on April twenty-fifth, 2005 following a three month transition period supervised by outgoing commissioner Carmen Zetina. Along with the […]
It was once a fixture of the September celebrations and a popular one at that. After disappearing from the programme for a while the military tattoo is back…and once again it looks like a winner. Patrick Jones has a preview. Patrick Jones, Reporting It’s not the battlefield of some far-flung war zone. But the sound […]
With close to two hundred miles of mainland coastline, a barrier reef, three atolls and scores of cayes, patrolling the territorial waters of Belize is a near impossible task. But to at least make a start on that job cabinet today approved legislation that will establish a National Coastguard. Initially the Coastguard will consist of […]
In an update to a shooting incident which left a homeless man injured and a police officer under investigation, tonight the wounded has been charged. Thirty year old Norman Bernard will answer to the charge of aggravated assault against Police Constable, Geovanni Denis. It is alleged that on Tuesday night, Bernard attacked the cop with […]
While the police appear to be closing in on the high seas robbers, the National Security Council today moved one step closer to creating an integrated force to deal with modern day pirates. At a meeting held at the Racoon Street Police Station, representatives of the different agencies that will form the backbone of the […]
Each year around this time we try to cover the training exercise of the BDF volunteer element. Usually the story takes us to the Mountain Pine Ridge or dense jungle of the Cayo, Stann Creek or Toledo Districts. This morning, however, our coverage was much closer to home… Jacqueline Woods, Reporting If you recently travelled […]
