The Prime Minister took his government’s “Buy Belizean” campaign on the road this weekend when he attended the opening of the Chan Pine Ridge Agricultural and Trade Show. He toured the many booths and even purchased a bottle of honey from one of the stalls. During his opening remarks, the Prime Minister told the farmers […]
Following meetings with cable television operators, today Belize Broadcasting Authority announced it has authorized a rate increase for cable operators who offer at least fifty-five channels to their subscribers. The maximum which can be charged is forty dollars, including tax. Earlier this month the B.B.A. had advised consumers that some operators had been illegally charging […]
Water and Sewerage Authority employees are celebrating a successful negotiation for an increase in salary and other benefits. Over the next three years WASA employees will receive a fifteen percent raise as well as a very comprehensive medical package. Jacqueline Woods reports. The collective bargaining agreement which took about six weeks to formalize was reached […]
While WASA employees are feeling satisfied with their new benefits, B.E.L. employees are feeling uncertain about their future. The Belize Energy Workers’ Union, B.E.W.U. and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, N.T.U.C.B., are asking for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Said Musa, Minister of Public Utilities, Maxwell Samuels and Minister of Finance, Ralph […]
The Belize Bank is now offering Visa cards for local use. According to the bank, the card, identical to their international Visa and Mastercards, is valid only in Belize and the holder is billed in Belize dollars. You don’t necessarily have to have an account with the Belize Bank to apply for the local card […]
To celebrate its tenth anniversary of operations in Belize and other Central American countries, this morning Continental Airlines made four nostalgic flights around the country in their vintage DC-3 aircraft. Hyacinth Latchman was on board. It’s an aircraft we don’t normally see in the sky anymore, but however, the DC-3 boasts more than sixty years […]
Earlier this week, we reminded you that the lobster season closed on February fifteenth and won’t reopen until July. Tonight, in the final segment of our two-part special on lobster fishing in Belize, we take a look at why it is critical for the fishermen, and the public, to honor the closed season. With prices […]
If you’re thinking of going out for a nice meal, you can forget about ordering lobster, at least for the next several months. Yesterday the lobster season closed and that means no one can catch, or serve this seafood delicacy until June fifteenth. The law is designed to give Belize’s lobsters time to replenish themselves […]
Mercedes Carillo may have a new car, but the twenty-five employees of Continental Airlines also got something a little extra today. Thirty thousand dollars in company profits was shared among the employees of the Belize Branch this morning. The checks represent approximately six point seven percent of the employees’ annual wages. On hand to distribute […]
Despite cries from some segments of the tourism industry that adverse publicity from both the local and international media about Hurricane Mitch had seriously affected their “season” the government says tourist arrivals actually increased over last year. The Belize Tourist Board says there was a nine percent increase in tourist arrivals during 1998 at the […]
If you’re a cable TV subscriber you may not be happy about recent rate increases. Well, the Belize Broadcasting Authority is not pleased either and has issued a statement saying that cable subscribers should not be paying anymore than thirty dollars a month plus vat. According to the authority, this rate was established at a […]
If you’re a foreigner living in Belize and you need a work permit or are applying for residency or citizenship, then take note: a new immigration policy takes effect this Friday. There are a number of changes and fee increases which are not likely to be popular. But according to the Ministry of National Security […]
While in Corozal, the Prime Minister also toured the Corozal Free Zone. The delegation, which included area representatives Vildo Marin, Valdemar Castillo and Gregorio Garcia, met with officials and investors of the zone to discuss government’s commitment to the Free Zone. The tour included a visit to Phoenix Industries Limited, which manufactures compact disks for […]
If you’re a fisherman, you had better make sure you get a new license and get it soon. As of today your old license has expired, and the price to get a new one is now twenty-five dollars. In addition you must be a Belizean citizen. George Myvett, Fisheries Department Administrator says this new scheme […]
While the Fisheries Department intends to generate some much needed revenue and regulate Belize’s waterways by issuing new laminated licenses, those being affected by the new regulations, and the rate hike, may not be too pleased. News Five spoke with several fishermen this afternoon at the Vernon Street fishmarket for their views. Enfield Jones, Fisherman […]
The Prime Minister and Cabinet met with a high level programming mission for the Inter-American Development Bank last week to look at areas in which the bank can assist with programs the government would like to implement. News Five spoke with Prime Minister Said Musa about the areas discussed during the meeting and the need […]
Belize Telecommunications Limited is presently hosting the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) for its tenth Mid-Year Members meeting. Selby Wilson, Secretary General, CANTO “CANTO commenced in 1985. At that time there were five foundation members and B.T.L. was one of the first foundation members and indeed I might add that B.T.L. found the […]
The Fiesta Inn went into receivership just days before Christmas, and business has continued pretty much as usual. However, this week there appears to be a new wrinkle in the hotel’s story. Yesterday media houses received a press release which stated that Grupo Posadas of Mexico has decided to cancel the services it has been […]
One downtown business takes customer relations very seriously and this past Christmas had a two-for-one offer on toys which brought hundreds of shoppers into the store. This month, Mikado has another promotion underway: sewing classes. The idea seems to make good business sense since the store sells a wide variety of curtain and clothing materials. […]
Buying a car in Belize is often a complicated ordeal involving sending money up to the States, then waiting weeks for someone to buy and then drive or ship down your car or truck. Then once it’s here you get to deal with customs. If you buy a used car already here you have no […]
Belize Electricity Limited announced this week that it has reorganized its management structure. Lynn Young, who has been with B.E.L. for the past fourteen years, is the new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Luis Lue who retired at the end of December. According to Young, a study of the company’s needs recommended separating the financial and […]
The cash registers have fallen all but silent in downtown Belize City but as the merchants of Albert and Queen Streets count up their Christmas sales the consensus is that the traffic in the shops just about equaled that on the streets: that is to say, jammed. Hyacinth Latchman sampled some sellers. Sunil Sadarangani, Owner, […]
One enterprise that is looking forward to a better year in 1999 is the Belize Social Security Board. As the only local shareholder in the Fiesta Inn the Board saw its three point two million dollar investment seriously jeopardized by the Fiesta’s recent fall into receivership. A check of the Board’s other investments shows that […]
No one involved in the situation at Fiesta Inn is in any hurry to talk to the press but a picture is slowly emerging as to what the future holds for Belize’s largest hotel, now in receivership. In a short phone interview today with News Five, receiver Stanley Ermeav of K.P.M.G. Peat Marwick explained that […]
The deal had been rumored for weeks and today a story in the Belize Times made it public. After almost ten years in business and millions of dollars in losses the hotel operation known lately as the Fiesta and more fondly as the Ramada, has been put into receivership. What this essentially means is the […]
