Biodiversity is a big word that basically refers to the preservation of as wide a variety of plants and animals as possible. This morning a project was officially launched in which Belize will work together with Mexico and Central America to make regional biodiversity a part of each country’s national policy. Oswaldo Sabido, National Coordinator, […]
The World Wildlife Fund-Central America is working in synch with the Meso-American Biological Corridor Programme, and today WWF launched a media campaign to promote public awareness of the project. The effort will include radio and television ads to be broadcast all over the world. Steve Gretzinger WWF-Central America “To comply with our personal responsibility to […]
Celebrations in Belize tend to bring out the best in our people and this week was no exception. This morning I traveled out of town and discovered the true meaning of good citizenship. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Today both the Western and Northern highways were busy not only with traffic, but high school students were out […]
In the course of visiting any of Belize’s highly touted protected areas, you may have found the parks long on nature, but short on explanation. That situation should soon change as the Protected Areas Conservation Trust has donated $128,000 to make standard signs for eleven protected areas. The locations included in the program are: Blue […]
If you’ve ever spent any time hanging out on the Placencia Peninsula, chances are you’ve made at least one trip to Laughing Bird Caye. As the area becomes more popular with tourists both foreign and local, steps are being taken to safeguard the island’s attractions, while at the same time expanding its appeal. This story […]
Despite the showery outbreaks, today the San Ignacio and Santa Elena town councils, started a clean-up campaign to rid the town of dirt and other debris that accumulated over time. Because the Cayo District is one of the most traveled destinations by Belizeans and tourists alike, the town councils felt it was important for the […]
Another citrus waste contamination of the North Stann Creek River has occurred today, as the result of heavy rains in the Stann Creek Valley for the second day in a row. This makes four times in less than two months that the Del Oro company’s ponds have flooded. At 3:10 this afternoon, WASA was once […]
Another citrus waste contamination of the North Stann Creek River has occurred as a result of heavy rains in the Stann Creek Valley. The leachate ponds of Del Oro Limited overflowed their banks around 10:00 on Tuesday morning. The citrus company alerted the Water and Sewerage Authority about the situation and WASA immediately switched Dangriga’s […]
It is customary when a television station broadcasts a programme containing potentially offensive scenes depicting nudity, violence or foul language, that an advance warning be given to viewers. While our next story is neither lewd, violent or foul, we’ll still issue a caution: the following story is about snakes and News Five will not be […]
Prime Minister Said Musa this morning paid a visit to the Stann Creek Valley. His visit comes at a time when a financially reinvigorated citrus industry promises both economic hope and environmental fear. At a meeting with Del Oro, the British owned company, which has purchased Belize Food Products and the Citrus Company of Belize, […]
The body of water known as North Creek would never be found on any postcard… unless it was part of a series on urban squalor. But while the Belize City neighbourhood may be down, it may yet find a way out. Dickie Bradley, Minister of Housing “Well one look at this you must know that […]
It may have been the fastest real estate transaction in the history of Belize. Less than 24 hours after News Five broke the story of Government’s unconscionable sale of a pristine caye to a well connected private citizen, that deal has been reversed. A release this afternoon from the Ministry of Natural Resources indicates that […]
We at News Five first became acquainted with the Silk Cayes in May of 1999 when we reported a story on the whale sharks which congregate at nearby Gladden Spit. Last month we revisited the area when Fisheries Minister Dan Silva, surrounded by government officials, local fishermen, environmentalists and foreign diplomats, declared the three islands […]
In related news Fisheries Minister Daniel Silva may have some additional worries concerning marine reserves. According to a government release Silva recently met with members of the fishing villages of Chunux, Copperbank and Sarteneja in the Corozal District and heard their concerns regarding the establishment of protected areas in what have traditionally been their fishing […]
After an extended vacation, the Pink Hibiscus Mealy Bug is back in the news. But don’t worry, you won’t have to run and hide your plants any time soon, as the Ministry of Agriculture is reporting that their biological measures have worked like a charm. Entomologist Orlando Sosa, says their wasps have been busy wiping […]
If News Five has done nothing else over the last nine years it has brought viewers to places in Belize that they would never otherwise see. Tonight we bring you a story that goes to the extreme even by our own rigorous standards. So sit back and tag along on an expedition recently undertaken by […]
This morning inmates from the Hattieville prison tore down two buildings on South Street. No, the prisoners were not on a rampage in the city; they were on a work programme to assist the Ministry of Housing. Since 1998, the ministry began notifying owners of old and abandoned buildings to either repair the structures or […]
On last night’s newscast we highlighted Channel Five’s winning of three trophies in this year’s Caribbean Broadcasting Awards. Since the story that won two of the prizes may not be fresh in your memory, we’ll bring it to you again. The report, first broadcast on April 27th, 1999, brought to light a confrontation between some […]
Meteorologists from Central America are meeting in Belize to discuss the regional climate and specifically what the next few months may hold in the way of rainfall. The forum is the third in a series of annual climate outlook forums. Ramon Frutos, the Agro meteorologist at the National Meteorological Service, says this year’s gathering is […]
It has long been a favourite spot for Belizean fishermen and more recently a haven for tourists. Today the area centered around the Silk Cayes and Gladden entrance through the barrier reef was declared a marine reserve, a step which will hopefully lead to the more sustainable use of this valuable resource. News Five’s Janelle […]
At today’s declaration of a marine reserve around the Silk Cayes and Galdden entrance there was a lot of talk about the underwater wonders that the area has to offer. Last July, News Five viewers got to sample those attractions for the first time on Belizean television…and tonight, with the area now under official protection, […]
At one time turtle shell jewelry could be found all over Belize, not to mention the rest of the world, but that was before an international convention called CITES banned the trade in the endangered hawksbill turtle. Today the Coastal Zone Management Authority reports that last month a proposal to ease that ban was defeated […]
Its name is synonymous with the romantic luxury of a holiday in a Caribbean paradise. And while promoting that image has made Sandals one of the most successful tourism operations in the region, the company also has a more practical mission: that of ensuring that the Caribbean environment stays healthy. To find out how they’re […]
It’s not often organisations advertise the fact that they have money to give away but that’s just what the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is doing. PACT is inviting registered non-governmental groups, community based organisations, schools, village councils and town boards to submit project proposals for funding. The maximum grant for initiatives like protected areas […]
As sporting events go it’s no threat to the Holy Saturday Cross-Country. But over the weekend 12 teams representing the nation’s foremost birdwatchers spread out over the country in search of the greatest number of species to be spotted in a 24-hour period. The winning squad, made up of tour guides and ornithologists from the […]
