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Those at the helm have assured that the transition does not in any way seek to undermine bus operators who have been using fuel-operated buses for decades to transport commuters to their destinations. C.E.O. in the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner whose Council will have custody of a […]
Written on May 18, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Belize City Mayor Assures City Shuttles Won’t Be Undermined
The Ministry of Agriculture and A.S.R./B.S.I. are at odds once again. This time it is over what Agriculture Minister Jose Mai says are existing regulations that are now being “operationalized.” As we reported on Tuesday, the government has proposed the Sugar Industry (License to Import/Export) Regulations for 2023. This gives the Sugar Industry Control Board […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Agriculture Minister Says Sugar Regulations Aren’t New
This afternoon, B.S.I.’s Director of Finance, Shawn Chavarria said that the company’s interpretation of the changes made by Statutory Instrument Sixty-two of 2023 is G.O.B. trying to probe into the private commercial affairs of the company. It compels B.S.I. to collect and disburse Fairtrade premium, is a process that is currently being carried out by […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on B.S.I. Says SI 62 is G.O.B. Trying to Probe into Its Private Commercial Affairs
Responding to A.S.R./B.S.I.’s concerns today was Agriculture Minister Jose Mai. During our sit down with Minister Mai in Belmopan, we asked him if there is a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, since he is also a farmer and a member of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Here is […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Agriculture Minister Defends Sugar Regulations
Currently, ninety percent of sugar produced at the mills is exported, and only ten percent is consumed locally. It’s an attempt to force B.S.I. to pay B.S.C.F.A. for Fairtrade premium. The miller will now face a series of red tape, including having to apply annually for a license and then applying for permits for every […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Lotta Red Tape Created by New Sugar Regulation
Millions of dollars in investments have been made by American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries over the years, including twenty million dollars in upgrades at the mill. But what’s the next move for the millers? Will they mount a legal challenge of the S.I. or pack up and leave? Finance Director Shawn Chavarria says that B.S.I. […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Will B.S.I. Stage a Legal Challenge or Pack Up and Leave?
Minister Mai says it would not surprise him if A.S.R./B.S.I. decides to challenge the regulations in court. He also says that if the company does not like the laws of the country, it can leave. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture “If you are not happy with the country, the country’s regulations, either you […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Minister Mai says ASR/BSI Needs to be Fair
The citrus industry remains in dire straits and is teetering on the brink of failure, despite all attempts by the Government of Belize to bail it out of financial collapse. The unpleasant state of the industry is nothing new, however, the situation has only gotten worse. This morning, News Five also spoke with the Minister […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Citrus Industry Hanging On by a Thin Thread, Despite GOB’s Assistance
The Holy Redeemer Credit Union celebrated its seventy-ninth anniversary today and did so by launching a brand new children’s book written by former Chief Education Officer, Doctor Carol Babb. It’s the second in a series of publications geared towards teaching financial literacy. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports. Dr. Carol Babb, Author/Director, HRCU “The book, […]
Written on May 17, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Education |
Comments Off on Dr. Carol Babb Publishes “Jacito Opens an Account at HRCU”
The House of Representatives will meet on May nineteenth. As the Government of Belize seeks to bring its financial legislations up to par with international standards, Friday will see the continuation of debates on a suite of amendments. We have been reporting on the Caribbean Financial Advisory Taskforce Mutual Evaluation Exercise for the past several […]
Written on May 16, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Government of Belize Pushes Financial Legislation Amendments to Avoid Blacklisting
A five-day workshop commenced today to further ensure the ease of business in trade. With support from the World Customs Organizations, stakeholders in the industry are being engaged to understand the process, as well as to establish possible gaps. It is referred to as a National Time Release Study and is being held at the […]
Written on May 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Improving the Ease of Business at Customs
Earlier this week, Dean Flowers, the President of the Public Service Union joined Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher on a tour of several government offices in Belmopan. This exercise is part of the union’s annual presidential visits to various government ministries. The group visited the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on P.S.U. President and Minister of Public Service Discuss Pension Reform with Public Officers
Flowers and Minister Usher engaged public officers on the reinstatement of increments. According to Flowers, while legislation has been passed through the National Assembly, the Ministry of Public Service did not issue a circular authorizing finance officer to approve the payment of increments due. According to Flowers, Minister Usher committed to rectifying the omission. […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Officers Raise Concerns With P.S.U. President Over Unfrozen Increments
As we said, P.S.U.’s presidential tour also took them to the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, as well as the Belize Police Department. And, according to Flowers, during the tour they found out that the Commissioner of Police may be overstepping his authority in the execution of his administrative duties. Flowers says, […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Is ComPol Chester Williams Overstepping Authority in Police Department?
The Belize Red Cross, in partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hosted a clinic this week. It is part of a wheelchair program where hundreds of persons with mobility issues are beneficiaries a wheelchair and some level of support. The clinic concluded today and News Five was able to speak with […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Red Cross Wheelchair Program Changing Lives
Earlier this week, members of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) met virtually to discuss matters pertaining to sugar production in the region. Mac McLachlan, the Director and Country Manager for Belize Sugar Industries Limited (B.S.I.), was present in the meeting as a member of the board of directors. During the meeting, directors noted […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Regional Demand for Brown Sugar Almost Doubles
During the virtual meeting, directors acknowledged the continued increase in B.S.I.’s annual sugar production which is projected at one hundred and twenty-six thousand tons for this crop season. Additionally, the association’s board of directors appointed Mac McLachlan as Chairman of the Association for the remainder of 2022, 2023 financial year and 2023 to 2024. We […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on B.S.I.’s Mac McLachlan Appointed Chairman of Sugar Association of the Caribbean
On Saturday between five p.m. and eleven p.m., North Front Street from its junction with Victoria Street and Hyde’s Lane will be blocked off to vehicular traffic as “A Night for Mom” takes place. The area will be transformed into a marketplace with food and music. There will be booths featuring Belizean entrepreneurs, as well […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Belize City Council Hosting a Night for Mothers
Marie Sharp’s Fine Food Limited has reached yet another mile marker. Marie Sharp’s pepper sauces are now in the Caribbean. A statement from the company says that, following a business expo in the Dominican Republic back in September 2022, and after months of negotiations, communication, permit applications and logistics, Marie Sharp entered into a regional […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Marie Sharp’s Pepper Sauce Now Available in the Caribbean
Around the world, mothers will be celebrated on the second Sunday of May. If you ask a mom, “What was the hardest part of the journey through motherhood?” the answers may vary. Some might say the initial stage, adjusting to the idea of having a newborn under your care. Others might say the terrible twos […]
Written on May 12, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Celebrating Triplets on Mother’s Day
This morning at the Biltmore, representatives of the Christian Workers Union, the management of Port of Belize Limited, and officials from the Ministry of Labor, convened a meeting to discuss the way forward, amid a logjam between stevedores and their employer. It’s the latest development in an attempt to break the impasse that has come […]
Written on May 11, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Tripartite Body Meets to Discuss C.W.U./P.B.L. Impasse
On several occasions leading up to today’s meeting, the C.W.U. has called out the Ministry of Labor for its apparent silence on the matter. Notwithstanding a brief meeting last Friday with union executives, C.W.U. accused government of taking a backseat in addressing the impasse. Earlier today, Minister of Labor Oscar Requeña joined the three-way discussion […]
Written on May 11, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Minister of Labor Joins the C.W.U./P.B.L. Conversation
In spite of the gag order that all parties agreed to during the meeting, we asked the C.W.U. president whether the impasse is any closer to being broken. While he would not answer the question directly, Hyde told reporters that sitting at the negotiating table with the Port of Belize is a step in the […]
Written on May 11, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Stevedores Stick to CBA, Despite Talks with P.B.L.
While he, too, is subject to the muzzling, the Minister of Labor says that proposals have been presented by the C.W.U. Those suggestions will be reviewed by Port of Belize and a schedule has been established for P.B.L.’s response. Oscar Requeña, Minister of Labor “I am bound by the agreement that both sides made […]
Written on May 11, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Labor Minister Says Tribunal Ruling is Clear
The whirlwind of events regarding president-elect, Ruth Shoman’s leadership role with the Belize National Teachers’ Union, seems to have halted after the union’s council of management decided on Wednesday to have her remain in that capacity. Shoman reportedly came under heavy scrutiny amid calls for her resignation based on past allegations against her. Shoman had […]
Written on May 11, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Minister of Education: I Was Shocked They Tried To Undermine Ruth Shoman as B.N.T.U. President
