Cabinet met this morning and one of their decisions was to declare the Stann Creek District and that portion of the Belize district around Gales Point disaster areas. At a press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that they decided on the move after conferring with the UNICEF Representative in Belize, […]
Among the complaints flooding the airwaves since Monday is that residents in the affected areas were not given enough warning for them to get out of harm’s way. This afternoon those in the hot seat responded to the criticisms. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “I know that questions have arisen about whether or not we ought […]
No amount of warning could have prevented the infrastructural damage that broke up the highways, and washed out the bridges at Kendal and Mullins River. But for many people the loss of the Kendal Bridge was surprising as the span was built two decades ago to withstand a hundred year flood. Today Acting Chief Meteorologist […]
Belizeans and visitors who must travel from North to South may need to exercise some patience … but when the floodwaters recede at Kendal the bus companies are ready to swing into action. All they ask is for passengers to take a little boat ride. Operations Manager for National Transport, Philip Jones, says it’s the […]
There may not be much in the way of good news to report in relation to our most recent natural disaster but there is one positive development that should not go unreported. That is the role played by the Chalillo Dam. It will be recalled that the low dry season water levels in the reservoir […]
When a hurricane is threatening Belize we traditionally cross our fingers and keep a close watch on the Eastern horizon. But over the weekend, while steady rains marked an early end to the dry season, a relatively weak Pacific tropical storm name Alma broke up over the mountains of Central America and regrouped over northwest […]
Janelle Chanona Thanks Marleni. Well believe me what I went through today is nothing compared to what the people of south Stann Creek are going through tonight. Just to give you an idea of the time, Rick and I left Belize City at about eight o’clock this morning and we’ll begin with the shots if […]
At two o’clock this afternoon Prime Minister Dean Barrow received a briefing from the National Emergency Management Organisation in Belmopan. Following that briefing he addressed the press. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “This is a national emergency. This is a national disaster. We, first of all, express condolences to those families that have lost loved ones, […]
Janelle Chanona Okay, I’m gonna try to walk us through what we’re gonna see. Rick if you could just roll the footage. It’s just in and I have to say I’m not sure what this is. We think this is Galespoint Manatee and whoo … I’m breathless. The sea has converged with the lagoon and […]
As bad as the human and economic loss was in the south, the damage caused to crops in the north may have even further reaching effects on Belizeans. News Five’s Stewart Krohn spoke by phone to rice farmer Peter Dyck of Blue Creek. His company—Hillbank Agricultural—and others in the area, grow the vast majority of […]
While Janelle Chanona was making her way south, News Five’s Marion Ali was heading in the opposite direction. While she was not able to make it as far as the villages along the Rio Hondo and it’s tributaries, what she saw along the Northern Highway was not pretty. Marion Ali, Reporting The first spot that […]
While most Belizeans only took notice of Arthur upon waking this morning, the folks at the Belize Weather Bureau were watching the satellite data closely for several days. Today News Five’s Kendra Griffith visited the Met Office for a better understanding of how we got hit so hard, so fast. Ramon Frutos, Acting Chief Meteorologist […]
As one of the key players in times of crisis, this morning the Belize Red Cross activated its disaster response committee. According to Executive Director Lily Bowman, Red Cross employees and volunteers are already conducting assessments in Stann Creek, Toledo, Orange Walk and Corozal. Lily Bowman, Dir. General, Belize Red Cross “Our national intervention teams […]
In times of disaster, one of the first organisations to react is the Red Cross. And to make sure members are in touch with the latest in preparedness, for the last two weeks Red Crescent and Red Cross volunteers from across the globe have been participating in a simulation exercise in Belize. News Five’s Kendra […]
For most Belizeans, hurricane preparedness starts when a storm is threatening our shores. But tonight the Belize Red Cross is appealing to residents to get ready early. And to help the hopeless organisers in our midst, the society is promoting its Hurricane Preparedness for Dummies booklets. Karen Diaz, President, Belize Red Cross “This one is […]
A business in the Commercial Free Zone suffered a double whammy when two burglars not only robbed it, but accidentally set it on fire. Just after four a.m. police were responding to a fire at Kali International at Toucan Plaza in the zone when they spotted Antonio Palma and Samir Vivas walking towards Corozal town […]
We didn’t need news of an earthquake in China or cyclone in Myanmar to understand the importance of disaster preparedness. But those two events offer a sobering reminder of the need for planning and training at all levels and across all borders. Janelle Chanona reports on one such important initiative taking place in southern Belize. […]
Details are still sketchy but it appears tonight that an argument between brothers led to an act of arson in Bladen Village on Friday. According to police reports, thirty-six year old Marcus Bah and his family left their home around five in the morning to spend the day in Dangriga. But Bah says when he […]
Hurricane Dean might be a memory for most of us but many of those directly affected by the storm are still coping with its effects. As News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, today one group of hurricane victims received some appreciated relief. Kendra Griffith, Reporting This morning fishermen from Caye Caulker, San Pedro, Sarteneja, and Belize […]
The start of the 2008 Hurricane Season is less than two months away and forecasters are busy making their predictions. This week weather experts William Gray and Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University revealed that once again, they are anticipating an above-average season of fifteen named tropical storms, eight of which are expected to develop […]
Nine days after fire destroyed half a city block in the heart of the commercial capital, the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined. According to Fire Chief Henry Baizar, while investigations at the scene have been completed, the department is now in the process of sending several samples including ash, pieces of […]
Four days after a massive inferno devastated Albert Street, fire fighters were back in action in the old capital over the weekend. Ann-Marie Williams reports. Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting Around five on Sunday evening, fire gutted the wooden house at number fifteen Daly Street in Belize City, leaving B.D.F. solider, Private Donovan Graham homeless. According to […]
It was one of the worse fires to rock the downtown area and as News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports, Wednesday night’s blaze is dying a slow death. Janelle Chanona, Reporting There was renewed anxiety on Albert Street this morning as fresh flames were spotted inside two of the buildings burnt out in Wednesday night’s inferno. […]
There was no loss of life but tonight business owners and residents of the downtown area are still reeling from a disastrous fire that threatened to wipe out the heart of the commercial capital. News Five’s cameraman team captured the powerful images last night and this morning News Five’s Janelle Chanona compiled the story. Janelle […]
With the blue skies and steady breezes that mark the onset of the dry season, the thoughts of most Belizeans are hardly focused on hurricanes. But that’s exactly what officials of the National Emergency Management Organization are thinking about this week. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the story. Kendra Griffith On Wednesday, Minister of National […]
