This morning in the House of Representatives, it was also announced that the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Education, will be covering the full salaries of the faculties and staffs of all grant-aided secondary and tertiary institutions across the country. The announcement which came as welcome news to the Grant-aided Management Authority of […]
But how will the pension plan work, considering that the existing configuration is a seventy-thirty split with grant-aided schools? It’s a question that was posed by the former Minister of Education to his successor, who provided a financial breakdown in response. Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet “I’m not clear, Madame Speaker, as to what […]
The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs is a few steps closer to completing an outline for putting into practice a consent order as directed by the Caribbean Court of Justice. This is in respect of the Maya land rights issue in southern Belize. Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia provided an update on where government is with the […]
Earlier this week, bakers of sliced bread said they would increase the price from a dollar and seventy-five cents to two dollars and fifty cents per loaf of bread. The price hike will take effect as of December eighteenth. Bakers, like merchants, have cited an increase in the cost of inputs, as well as minimum […]
The Ministry of Tourism unveiled a revised National Cruise Tourism Policy earlier today. The course of action is a ten-year schedule during which specific targets will be pursued in an effort to grow the sector to an average of two and a half million visitors per annum. This morning, stakeholders from across the travel and […]
Round one of the Senate Select Committee’s inquiry into the Portico/government Definitive Agreement took place on Tuesday at the National Assembly Building in Belmopan. That investigation is expected to unearth the depth of the agreement that was signed under the Barrow administration and businessman, David Gegg, the proprietor of Portico. The first persons to be called to […]
During today’s House Meeting, Prime Minister Briceño introduced an amendment to the Economic Citizenship Abolition of Rights Act. The government feels that descendants of persons, who have acquired citizenship before 2014, have continued to apply for citizenship, by using loopholes that exist in the current system. Prime Minister John Briceño “The Belize Economic Citizenship […]
On Sunday, Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly to annex Essequibo, a disputed and oil-rich territory of Guyana. This is territory that the Venezuelan government claims forms a natural part of their country and asserts that it was unfairly delegated to Guyana more than a century ago. This week, the Leader of the Opposition attended an annual three-day […]
On day seven of COP28 in Dubai, the Global Sustainable Aviation forum, organized by the aviation industry, welcomed attendees to the Green Zone. Against the backdrop of the global aviation industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the forum highlighted key aspects such as accelerated efficiency measures, energy transition, and innovation. The forum […]
Inaugurated a little over fifty-three years ago, the National Assembly Building will finally be refurbished in 2024. As we reported earlier this week, the Republic of China (Taiwan) granted the Government of Belize the funds necessary to undertake the much needed renovation. This morning, at the start of today’s house meeting, Speaker Valerie Woods commented […]
According to Woods, a timeline has been set out for the works to commence. It is expected that the project which will be executed by the Ministry of Infrastructure & Development will be completed by February 2025. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shared the work schedule. Valerie Woods, House Speaker “Temporary relocation […]
You’ve probably been to the store to purchase some sugar and got a strange response that there’s none. Some grocers have been limiting the amount of sugar their customers can purchase in order to allow the reduced number of sacks they have been able to source to spread across for everyone to get. But with […]
In tonight’s episode of Bringing Energy to Life, we look at the role and importance of substations and how these facilities are integral breaking down the electricity that is distributed to homes, schools and businesses across the country. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story. Isani Cayetano, Reporting A scheduled power interruption for […]
A new non-stop service began today with the arrival of JetBlue Airlines at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The inaugural flight made its way from New York’s JFK International Airport and landed in Belize shortly after eleven o’clock this morning. On hand to welcome the first passengers onboard the flight was Prime Minister John Briceño […]
As the Christmas holiday draws nearer, many homes across the country are putting up lights and getting bigger electrical appliances as gifts. But consideration should always be given to the wiring that residences are outfitted with. On Tuesday, Station Manager with the Belize Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis warned people about overloading Christmas lights and appliances […]
The Belize delegation at COP28 in Dubai faces challenges due to its small size, hindering their ability to participate in various meetings simultaneously. Belize, part of AOSIS and CARICOM, relies on these alliances for negotiations. As COP28 unfolds, Belize awaits tangible progress and the transformation of promises into actionable outcomes. The country’s focus remains on […]
Activists launched the “Don’t Gas Africa Campaign” at COP28 in Dubai, urging an end to gas production and rejecting it as a transition fuel. With over sixty thousand African signatures in under six months, the campaign emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change. Despite support from international NGOs, activists express disappointment with COP28 leaders, citing […]
A senate inquiry into the controversial definitive agreement that was granted to Portico Enterprises Limited, the parent company of Port of Magical Belize, commenced this morning at the National Assembly Building in Belmopan. The investigation is looking at how the agreement between the Barrow administration and businessman David Gegg came into being. At the start […]
First to be summoned before the committee was former U.D.P. Minister Tracy Panton. She outlined the responsibility of the investment subcommittee and told the panel that she was unaware of any project that did not adhere to the guidelines that were implemented by the investment subcommittee. Janelle Chanona, Chair, Senate Select Committee “You referenced […]
This afternoon, Senator Michael Peyrefitte, the former attorney general, appeared before the committee. He spoke about how he first came to learn of a request being made by his former law partner to sign a definitive agreement that had been drafted. According to Peyrefitte, he referred his former law partner to the chair of the […]
By contrast, Peyrefitte described the process that was undertaken by Stake Bank in entering into a definitive agreement with the Government of Belize under the Barrow administration. Michael Peyrefitte, Former Attorney General “You reach a memorandum of agreement and when you are done with the memorandum of agreement, and you’re thinking about doing a […]
The Department of Environment is investigating a report of illegal dredging in the southern waters of Belize, near Sunset Caye. We are reliably informed that the activity for which one Albert Lowen has no permit, was being conducted without the knowledge or approval of the Ministry of Sustainable Development. When we caught up with Minister […]
COP28 continued today in Dubai where climate finance is taking centre stage. It is crucial for adaptation, addressing damages, and achieving low carbon development. The urgent need for mitigation is underscored as vulnerable nations face escalating impacts. Despite pledges at COP28, there is a gap between promises and actions. Belize, as a Small Island Development […]
Belize has been chosen to host the inaugural 2024 World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards, announced at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Recognized for its commitment to responsible tourism, Belize aims to showcase its sustainability practices on the global stage through this event. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo is in Dubai and was […]
As many as fifty-nine businesses across the country have been issued tickets for violations of the new Supplies Control (Prices) Regulations. In the first round of inspections conducted between November first and third, a total of one hundred and twelve retail outlets were inspected countrywide. On Monday, Prime Minister John Briceño spoke on the ongoing […]
