This morning, the Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, SATIIM, as well as claimants from five buffer communities surrounding the Sarstoon-Temash National Park, filed an application for a post-judgment injunction in the Supreme Court. The objective is to restrain Government from renewing, extending or issuing an extension to U.S. Capital Energy’s permit to conduct exploratory activity […]
If all has gone as scheduled the Forest Department, working along with the Police, should be conducting a sweep of South Stann Creek. The goal is to crack down on illegal harvesting of rosewood which has increased in the dry season. But that increase in activity isn’t limited to the Stann Creek District. In the […]
As we reported on Tuesday, attempts by U.S. Capital Energy to convene a meeting with indigenous leaders in the south, in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Maya community against G.O.B. and the oil company, was not received well over the weekend. Attorney Michael Peyrefitte, on behalf of U.S. Capital, […]
The Forestry Department has announced that it will soon be conducting a sweep of the Stann Creek District in an effort to halt illegal harvesting of precious rosewood. The operation has become necessary after an upsurge in rosewood movement, especially in southern Stann Creek. Pictures obtained from our colleagues at PGTV on a frequent basis […]
Temperatures are on the rise between SATIIM and U.S. Capital. Last Thursday, the Mayan community, led by SATIIM’s Executive Director Greg Ch’oc, won another major legal victory in the Supreme Court, where Justice Michelle Arana reaffirmed their indigenous rights. In the suit against the Government of Belize and U.S. Capital Energy, Justice Arana declared that […]
The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute held a two-day workshop this week. It discussed controversial offshore developments such as the multimillion dollar project by Norwegian Cruise Lines on Harvest Caye and offshore drilling. These mass tourism projects have been receiving the thumbs down from many environmental groups. But what about CZMAI, in whose purview […]
Marine Biodiversity Offsets… it is a concept that when put into principle is to be used as a tool for the private sector and the government to work together to conserve and manage environment while promoting sustainable development. And for the past two days, the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) through the […]
Day-two of the workshop targeted the private sector on how the concept of biodiversity offsets can help the economic status of the country and alleviate poverty; specifically for those living among rich, environmentally-diverse communities. For President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kay Menzies, it provides entrepreneurs and private sector with an opportunity […]
A routine patrol in the south has yielded a huge catch of salted shark meat and dried shark fins. The Fisheries Department is just reporting the incident that took place on March twenty-second while a patrol was carried out by the Port Honduras Marine Reserve Rangers in the area along the coast from Punta Negra […]
On Thursday, News Five visited the plight of squatters on Holy Emmanuel Street, many of whom have been there for years. Squatters, Belizeans and immigrants, find a piece of unused government land – usually in some long-ignored swampy area – and they build a home. They are poor and do not have the resources to […]
On Thursday, Justice Michelle Arana handed down a judgment in favor of the Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management. Justice Arana declared that the decision of the Government of Belize to allow oil drilling and road construction in the National Park is irrational and unreasonable since it was made without the free prior and informed consent […]
The annual Expo Marketplace organized by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry is five months away. But on Saturday, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, BCCI will for the first time host a Forestry, Fisheries and Finance Fair. The booths at the expo will highlight sustainable forestry and fisheries […]
On Thursday, Green Tropics’ Country Representative Beverly Burke, along with Chief Agricultural Officer Roberto Harrison and a team from the media, flew over the acreage of produce near Valley of Peace that has been allegedly destroyed by aerial spraying. While there is yet to be concrete proof that the crops were damaged by the use […]
Representatives of Maya communities poured into the courtroom of Justice Michele Arana this morning where the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, SATIIM, was awaiting a decision in its latest legal challenge. The judgment was brief and enlightened, with Justice Arana ruling in SATIIM’s favor and declaring that the decision to grant permission for road […]
A week ago, while awaiting judgment in the suit brought against government and U.S. Capital by SATIIM, attorney Michael Peyrefitte candidly told the media that the argument between the parties involved has more to do with money than genuine concern for the protection of the Sarstoon Temash National Park. In fact, he went as far […]
Despite being censured, Peyrefitte firmly stands his ground. According to the lawyer, what was said a week ago is the truth of the matter, a position to which he remains unwavering. FOR VIDEO CLICK HERE. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney for U.S. Capital “You know me, I speak the truth and I speak truth to power, especially […]
Progress brings problems, and in a city which is undergoing massive infrastructural works, those problems are cropping up frequently. Today, it was Holy Emmanuel Street, the site of a significant development project. The intention is to build a bridge spanning the Haulover Creek and joining the George Price Highway to the Phillip Goldson Highway. To […]
The verdict is in on the crops damaged near Valley of Peace in the Cayo District. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that Green Tropics’ verdict is in. The huge sugar-cane company is in the process of clearing almost twenty thousand acres of land to plant cane. They also plan to build an on-site factory […]
The Social Investment Fund has turned a new page in respect of the Dangriga market. On Tuesday, it penned a new agreement with a new contractor to resume work on the market and on Wednesday, Cesar Bedran of CB Construction received the two-million-dollar project. But even as it moves forward, there are still a lot […]
The Norwegian Cruise Lines tourism project ran into stiff opposition from the get go from stakeholders in the south who support pocket tourism as opposed to mass tourism. The controversial project by NCL at Harvest Caye cleared one more hurdle when the National Environmental Appraisal Committee gave its stamp of approval, but it has run […]
Mayor Darrell Bradley – it’s probably a good thing he’s an attorney and can represent himself in court because he’s there a lot. As News Five told you on Tuesday, the Mayor goes back to court on Friday, when he is expected to provide a definitive solution to perpetual arrears to sanitation company, Belize Waste […]
Belize City is currently in the midst of unprecedented, major infrastructure works. It’s enough to make any city resident smile…or at least it will be when the street and drainage projects are all completed. For now, it just seems like a mess. Nobody wants to complain much, because as we’ve said, the facelift that the […]
The Dangriga Market Project, after months of delay, is finally set to resume, but at a higher cost. The market which was originally contracted to Kenard Smart at a cost of one point five million dollars, but now that price tag has increased to over two million dollars. This morning, representatives from the Social Investment […]
The mayor is building streets all over the city, but a project between Rotary Club of Belize and Restore Belize is intended to rejuvenate the south side with playgrounds and libraries. The project will also include the funding of literacy programs for youths. Earlier today, we caught with the president of the Rotary Club who […]
After months of delay, work on the Dangriga Town Market is set to resume. A new agreement for the completion of the project was signed on March twenty-fourth, between newly appointed Executive Director William Lamb Jr. and representatives of CB Construction. The contract with the San Ignacio-based company is valued at a little over one […]
