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The legality of the Definitive Agreement entered into by Portico Enterprises Limited and the Government of Belize in October 2020 remains a controversial issue. While government ministers past and present have weighed in on the terms of the agreement, as well as the circumstances surrounding its signing, the Belize Ports Authority is the latest agency […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Port Authority was Not Consulted on Definitive Agreement
Fantasy Five patrons will probably express regret that they will no longer be able to enjoy that hobby, because Fantasy Five’s license has been canceled. Today, the Lotteries Committee informed that they have decided not to renew the license because Caribbean Gaming Company Limited has not complied with the licensing requirements and conditions. The Lotteries […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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While Fantasy Five and Pick-3 have been cancelled, Minister of State Gilroy Usher Senior spoke of a plan for the boledo contract once it resumes. According to Minister Usher, it will be managed by the government and the plan is for proceeds to be invested in sports, healthcare and more. He refused to say anything […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Belize has landed another non-stop flight from the U.S. to our shores. Today, the Belize Tourism Board announced that JetBlue will begin flying direct to Belize’s Philip Goldson International Airport from New York’s J.F.K Airport and Belize’s Phillip S.W. Goldson. This makes New York the eleventh U.S. city to offer nonstop service to Belize. JetBlue […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
Comments Off on A New Carrier, Jet Blue Flies Non-stop from NY to Belize
C.E.O Solano shared that Belizeans in the Diaspora celebrate when carriers are added that can move them direct to their destination of choice. She said that while those at the helm of the Tourism and Diaspora Relations ministry have spent a lot of time in COVID recovery mode, they’ve given attention to the future development […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Environment |
Comments Off on C.E.O Solano: Advancing Product and Destination Development Are Top Priorities
Last week, we brought you highlights of the Belize District Primary School Festival of Arts. Today, we returned to the Bliss where the week of Golden Showcase is underway. The Primary School Golden Showcase for Orange Walk and Cayo Districts put off explosive performances in dance, song and poetry. This is our Kolcha Tuesday feature […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Festival of Arts Golden Showcase for Cayo and Orange Walk
Insurance icon, Harrison Pilgrim, also known for contributing significantly to athletics, as well as to the University of Belize, has died. Pilgrim passed away early today after suffering serious injuries in a traffic accident in Guatemala last Friday. He was on his way to meet members of the Belize Athletics Team who were taking part […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Insurance Mogul, Harrison Pilgrim Dies Following Traffic Accident
The Belize Sugarcane Farmers Association (B.S.C.F.A.) held a press conference this afternoon in Orange Walk Town to respond to concerns raised on Friday by two other sugarcane farmers associations. As we reported on Friday, the Progressive Sugarcane Producers Association and the Corozal Sugarcane Producers Association warned the Government of Belize against political interference in matters […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.C.F.A. Say New Sugar Legislations Is an “Intervention Not Interference”
One of the major changes introduced through the newly implemented sugar regulations is the method used to pay Fairtrade premium. The legislation stipulates that the Belize Sugar Industries Limited (B.S.I.) must collect the Fairtrade premium directly from Tate & Lyle and act as a conveyor of those premiums to the four certified associations. This eliminated […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.C.F.A. Wants B.S.I./A.S.R. to Act As Conveyor of Fairtrade Premiums
And, while B.S.C.F.A. says it supports the Government of Belize in the implementation of the latest regulations, it is also requesting that the Cabinet approved Commission of Inquiry to examine the modernization of the industry be established immediately. The new sugar industry regulations do not address the association’s longstanding dissatisfaction with the method for sugarcane […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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On Monday night, track and field athletes who represented Belize at the 2023 CADICA Championships in Guatemala City returned to the country after winning big in the regional tournament. During the sporting event, Belize won seven gold, eight silver and two bronze medals in various disciplines; in one instance, Belizean American athlete Brooklyn Little broke […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Regional / International,
Sports |
Comments Off on Track & Field Athletes Win Big in 2023 CADICA Championships
…and the training continues. President of the Belize Athletics Association, Jaheed Smith says that the win is encouraging and with additional support, the athletes will be ready to compete in other regional and international competitions. Jaheed Smith, President, Belize Athletics Association “It is very encouraging. Later on in the year, we have another competition […]
Written on June 6, 2023 | Posted in
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Environment,
People & Places,
Sports |
Comments Off on Belize Athletics Association Preparing for Upcoming Track Games
A construction supervisor was executed on Saturday night inside his home on Caye Caulker. It is the first murder on the island in several years and residents in the Black Neighborhood were startled at the report of gunfire in the vicinity. When the shooting subsided, Floyd Samuels was mortally wounded and his common-law wife had […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
Crime,
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Comments Off on South is Shot Dead on La Isla Carinosa Briceño
Contractor General Maria Arthurs is being asked to look into the circumstances of the signing of the Definitive Agreement between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited. A letter dated June second, 2023, cites various sections of the Contractor General Act that empower Arthurs to launch an investigation, following a review of the information […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.B.L. Asks Contractor General to Investigate Signing of Definitive Agreement
This afternoon we caught up with United Democratic Party Senator Michael Peyrefitte in Belmopan. We asked him for a response to Portico Enterprises Limited’s June first press release in which they sought to set the record straight on the company’s relationship with Morales Peyrefitte L.L.P. The release was issued after Peyrefitte went on record to […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Mike Peyrefitte Doubles Down On Non-involvement in Definitive Agreement
We also asked Peyrefitte to weigh in on his party leader’s letter to the Ombudsman requesting an investigation into Prime Minister John Briceño for alleged corruption and wrongdoing, in relation to Definitive Agreement. Here is what he told us. Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Senator “It is insignificant as to who drafted the document or which […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P. Chairman Supports Party Leader’s Call for Investigation into PM Briceño
Today the Senate met and debated three matters of national interest in Belmopan. One of them was the Special Prosecution Bill, which proposes to amend the laws of Belize to allow the Attorney General to make instructions for revisions of the laws of Belize on an interim basis. The Bill was proposed four months after […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senate Debates and Turns Back Special Prosecution Bill
And because it did not receive the support of the majority in the upper house, Senator Courtenay informed the Senate that the bill would be sent back to the House for revision. But he took the time to explain that currently, the Law Revision Act only allows for a revision of the law to occur […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Courtenay Explains Logic Behind Special Prosecutions Bill
Michael Peyrefitte The second debate in the Senate was over a ninety million dollar loan that the government has secured from the Saudi Government to build a state-of-the-art replacement tertiary-level hospital for the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan. The facility will be built on the University of Belize campus and would also serve as a […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senators Peyrefitte and Chanona Raise Concerns Over $90 million Hospital Project
Senator Courtenay criticized Peyrefitte for speaking of the Saudi’s gesture to offer Belize the loan as a joke. Courtenay stated that the loan came soon after Belize and Saudi Arabia cemented diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, Senator Isabel Bennett-Moody, who is a career administrative nurse, answered the question raised by Senator Chanona. Isabel Bennett-Moody, P.U.P Senator […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Courtenay Criticizes Peyrefitte for Slighting Saudi Government’s Loan
Among the first topics of debate on the agenda in the senate was a loan facility that the Development Finance Corporation has entered into with the Belize Social Security Board to provide financing for an ongoing mortgage finance program. The S.S.B. Board had approved the loan totaling twenty million dollars in June of last year. […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Mike Peyrefitte: $20 Million Loan from S.S.B to D.F.C is Unjustifiable
Senator Courtenay responded to Senator Peyrefitte by pointing to the U.D.P.’s record of building homes during their three terms in office. He clarified that the D.F.C. Board comprises professionals from a cross section, and that the government has minority representation on the board that makes the decisions regarding these investments. Eamon Courtenay, Lead Government […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Senator Courtenay: With or Without U.D.P Support, We’ll Build Homes for People
Last week, we told you that the U.D.P.’s National Party Council has decided to reinstate Patrick Faber s standard bearer in the Collet constituency at the next general elections. Ian Jones, the U.D.P.’s initial replacement for Faber in Collet stepped down and the N.P.C. agreed to endorse Faber in Collet. But, anybody who has been […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on N.P.C. Supports Patrick Faber’s Return to Collet
The Belize Prize for Investigative Journalism held its inaugural award ceremony on Saturday evening at the House of Culture here in Belize City. Short-listed for the award were three journalists, including News Five’s Marion Ali, Seven News Director Jules Vasquez and Cherisse Halsall. Marion’s investigative piece took a critical look at the contraband trade and […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Jules Vasquez Wins First Belize Prize for Investigative Journalism
Despite a ban and subsequent phase out of single-use plastics and Styrofoam, plastic pollution still remains an issue for the Department of Environment. With a goal to improve solid waste management, today the D.O.E., which falls under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, handed over lift trailers to Santa Familia […]
Written on June 5, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Lift Trailers for Santa Familia to Address Plastic Pollution
