On Tuesday afternoon, Cabinet met in Belmopan and during the meeting of senior government ministers it was announced by Prime Minister John Briceño that there would be a reshuffling of chief executive officers in the ministries of Immigration, Transport and Human Development. The transfer of C.E.O.’s within those respective portfolios follow the departure of former […]
Senator Eamon Courtenay, as we’ve reported, has returned to private practice as an attorney at his law firm, Courtenay Coye LLP. He also remains the Leader of Government Business in the upper house. His privileges in Cabinet, however, remain unclear. While he was not present at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, there are many questions surrounding the […]
On Tuesday, the Toledo Alcaldes Association issued a stern release denouncing government’s draft Maya Customary Land Policy. The TAA’s primary concern was that it was not consulted prior to the Briceño administration proposing to recognize only zero point seven-five miles to one point eight-five miles from the center of the village, depending on the size. […]
Earlier today, the Belize Indigenous Alliance for Collective Resiliance, a non-profit organization based in Punta Gorda, also issued a release, standing in solidarity with the Toledo Alcaldes Association. The organization, “urges the government to revisit the drafting process of the Maya Customary Land Policy, with sincerity and inclusion”. Notwithstanding that position, the Minister of Indigenous […]
The second session of a Senate inquiry into the controversial Portico Definitive Agreement got underway today in Belmopan. That Definitive Agreement was granted to Portico Enterprises Limited which is seeking to establish the Port of Magical Belize. This particular inquiry seeks to determine the origins of the agreement between the past U.D.P. Government and David […]
During his testimony, Doctor Almendarez was asked whether he knew about the Portico Definitive Agreement. Not only did he tell committee members ‘no’, Doctor Almendarez said that for him the Definitive Agreement does not exist. Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE “I believe, and I am trying to stay away from mention because you […]
As we’ve mentioned, today was the first time that the Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, Doctor Leroy Almendarez, was called before the Senate Special Select Committee to give evidence. News Five spoke with him as he exited the National Assembly Building following his testimony. Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE “My role as the Executive Director of […]
The second person to appear before the Senate Special Select Committee was Lands Commissioner Talbert Brackett. Brackett took office recently under the Briceño Administration. In June 2023, Prime Minister John Briceño told the House of Representatives that seventeen parcels of land were signed over to Portico a day before the Definitive Agreement was signed under […]
The tourism high season has only just begun, but the tourist village is already buzzing with activity. Just today, Belize experienced the busiest day of the season, with four cruise ships boasting approximately sixteen thousands visitors. This year, Belize is expected to welcome as many as nine hundred fifty thousand tourists, according to the B.T.B. […]
The sugar impasse is over. Late on Monday night, an agreement between Belize Sugar Industries Limited and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association was finally signed. This puts an end to several days of demonstration by members of the association and growing frustrations among cane farmers. The protracted impasse involved blockades along the road and […]
A family of three is left without a dollar to their name after a fire wreaked havoc on their home this morning in Gardenia village. Mother of two, Darlene Dawson was carrying out her normal morning routine when her three-year-old son alerted her of a fire inside the house. The two managed to escape with […]
Unfortunately, that was not the only fire to occur this week; as just last night at the corners of New Road and Pitts Alley in Belize City, a shopkeeper locked up for the night, only to return less than two hours later, to observe his business in flames. At around seven forty-five p.m., the thirty-three […]
Last Thursday you heard Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Evondale Moody speak about the intensive repair and restorative work that the Public Building which houses the High Court and the Magistrate’s Court have undergone. The building had been deteriorating rapidly, and suffered major damage to Hurricane Lisa. While the ministry […]
Before an agreement was reached, attorneys for B.S.I. sent a letter to Elvis Reyes, Chairman of the B.S.C.F.A., threatening the association with a lawsuit over B.S.I.’s economic losses. In the letter, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith of Marine Parade Chambers LLP says that “the illegal blockade of the Philip Goldson Highway has prevented cane farmers and […]
And another winner in the sugar impasse is the Belize Police Department. During the intense negotiations and heightened emotions that resulted in the burning of tires on the highway, there were no incidents. The police were able to keep the peace even when cane farmers temporarily prevented Agriculture Minister, Jose Mai, from leaving the SIRDI […]
A family from Corozal Town is hoping for the best for their elderly loved one who was knocked down on Thursday afternoon in that municipality. Ninety-three-year old Robert Carter is unconscious at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he suffered head injuries in the accident. Carter, reports say, was trying to make his way across […]
And while Longsworth has spent much of her life in nursing care and helping cancer patients to access treatment and care, she is also known in this country as the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives. Many will remember her for encouraging members of parliament to use parliamentary language when speaking in the […]
Following our newscast on Wednesday night, another round of interviews was conducted with executives on the Committee of Management of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Among them was Alfredo Ortega. Not only has Ortega established himself as a stalwart member of the B.S.C.F.A., but he’s also a levelheaded advisor to the association. Last night, […]
Continuing with his disapproval of the prime minister, Ortega went on to compare Briceño to the head of a household and acknowledging what ought to be his responsibilities to the family. Alfredo Ortega, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A. “A prime minister should be like a father. If you have your father in the home and […]
On Wednesday, we showed you a throng of angry caneros when they encircled the Minister of Agriculture’s vehicle as he attempted to leave from the SIRDI compound in Orange Walk District. Fortunately, the situation did not escalate to violence the Orange Walk South Area Representative gave assurances that he was meeting with Prime Minister Briceño […]
Chief Executive Officer Oscar Alonzo was also present following a meeting of the B.S.C.F.A. on Wednesday night. While the issue of politics was raised by Alfredo Ortega in the preceding interview, Alonzo was clear in stating that the aggrieved cane farmers will ultimately decide what takes place at the polls come election season. Oscar […]
While the sugar industry remains in a state of crisis, C.E.O. Alonzo spoke to the membership of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and how they have remained resolute throughout this unpredictable period at the start of the new crop. Oscar Alonzo, C.E.O., B.S.C.F.A. “It’s unfortunate that we have reached this stage, but nevertheless, […]
C.E.O. Alonzo also discussed briefly the delivery of sugarcane by farmers who are not members of the B.S.C.F.A. He also spoke on the idea that was put forward by People’s United Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher to nationalize the mill. Oscar Alonzo, C.E.O., B.S.C.F.A. “We are not against the farmers delivering the cane, from […]
While the plight of the cane farmers takes center stage in the north, the south has spoken up. Several members of Belize’s indigenous community have joined together to release a statement declaring their stance of solidarity with the B.S.C.F.A. This included the Toledo Alcaldes Association and its partners at the Maya Leaders Alliance and Julian […]
On November 16th, 2023, the Belize Bankers’ Association wrote to the Central Bank of Belize expressing, “its disappointment with the Central Bank of Belize’s decision to maintain its position on employing price control measures”, because these would prove to be counterproductive and disincentivize innovation. The Belize Bank aligns itself with the BBA’s position. Belize Bank, […]
