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The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs held meetings over the weekend in the Toledo District to review the Free Prior and Informed Consultation Process, previously referred to as the Free Prior and Informed Consent Protocol, filed with the Caribbean Court of Justice. The protocol outlines the process for consulting with Mayan communities, in the event […]
Written on February 14, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Meets With Toledo Communities
There has been an outpouring of condolences since the announcement was made on Thursday evening of the death of former two-time Prime Minister, Sir Manuel Esquivel. Sir Manuel was Belize’s first Prime Minister following Belize’s Independence in 1984 and again in 1993. He passed away on Thursday. News Five’s Marion Ali has put together the […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Belize Mourns Sir Manuel
It’s official, Shyne Barrow and Tracy Panton will face each other for leadership of the United Democratic Party on March twenty-seventh. Both candidates have submitted letters to the Chairman of the United Democratic Party expressing their desire to run for the office of party leader. The Leader of the Opposition is presently out of the […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on “May the Best Candidate Win” – Dean Barrow on U.D.P. Convention
The appointment of Shyne Barrow as Leader of the Opposition was met with criticism in some corners of the United Democratic Party, particularly among those who argued that the U.D.P. constitution should have been invoked during the selection process. That was the position taken by Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton, a sentiment echoed by Patrick […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P. Constitution Does Not Trump the Law of the Land
Earlier this week during an appearance on the Wendy Williams Show, Shyne Barrow referred to himself as Leader of the House of Representatives. We note that there is no such distinction in our parliamentary system, the highest office belonging to the prime minister. While we initially believed that he may have misspoken, the Mesopotamia Area […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Was “Leader of the House of Representatives” a Deliberate Misnomer?
Since returning to U.S. soil in an official capacity as Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow has been capitalizing on all the publicity he is being afforded by the American media. Aside from his individual pursuits, hobnobbing with music celebrities, and meeting with high-level members of the U.S. Congress has given Belize the kind of […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Shyne Facilitates Sister City Relations with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
On Thursday, Lord Michael Ashcroft responded to a Breakingbelizenews.com article on the one point five million dollars the Government of Belize has agreed to pay Port of Belize stevedores for the financial hardship they claim they suffered since the port was privatized back in 2002. Lord Ashcroft raised the question of who exactly will be […]
Written on February 11, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Lord Michael Ashcroft Asks “Which Stevedores” In Response to G.O.B. Compensation for Port Privatization
There is sad new for the nation tonight with the passing of former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel. In a brief circular issued by the Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow, extends condolences to the Esquivel family. Barrow wrote of Sir Manuel, “Sir Esquivel’s contributions to Belize and the United Democratic Party will forever be treasured. […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on First U.D.P. Prime Minister, Sir Manuel Esquivel Passes
Today, Prime Minister John Briceño chimed in on the issue of the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs over the Free, Prior, Inform Consent Protocol. He says that the government is the administrator for all lands in Belize, including the Toledo District – not the M.L.A. Prime Minister John Briceño […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Briceño to M.L.A.: We Don’t Need Your Approval
Although it is not an official post in the Belizean parliament, during an appearance on the Wendy Show in the United States this week, Mesopotamia Area Rep., Shyne Barrow, spoke of himself as “the Leader of the House of Representatives.” Many view this description by the Leader of the Opposition as disingenuous. It also omits […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Briceño: Shyne Misspoke About Being Leader of the House of Representatives
Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dian Maheia, was asked today about Guatemalan children who study in Belize. For the better part of two years, these students have been learning remotely and even though classes resumed to hybrid learning this semester, the process of getting them back into the classroom setting is not […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on M.o.E. Ensuring that Belizean & Guatemalan Students Get Education
According to this week’s Cabinet brief, the government will provide free testing for students needing to cross the borders to study. These tests are being provided by private companies such as the Belize Diagnostic Center. So, how will that work? Will the government be absorbing the cost? Prime Minister John Briceño “We in the […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
Comments Off on Free Testing for Students Commuting at Border Entry Points
This morning in Belmopan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade hosted the launch of a trade program funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The event was part of an official visit by C.D.B. president, Dr. Gene Leon. With three million Belize dollars in funding under this initiative, those monies will go towards helping […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Foreign Affairs,
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Regional / International |
Comments Off on C.D.B. Launches Trade Program in Belize
In court news, for the second time in one week, two men who had been convicted of murder in separate trials have been handed down sentences of life imprisonment. Southern District session Judge, Justice Antoinette Moore, sentenced Nicholas Swazo to life behind bars for the April sixteenth, 2016 shooting murder of gang figure Gerald “Shiny” […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Law,
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Comments Off on Two Life Sentences Handed Down
Since she retired from office late last year, the Briceño administration has not been able to find a replacement for the Auditor General. Dorothy Bradley was the first female to hold the post when she was appointed back in September of 2011 and carried out damning audits under the U.D.P. administration. With no one behind […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Will Dorothy Bradley return as Auditor General?
While G.O.B. has been having issues finding a new Auditor General, when it comes to the Integrity Commission, PM Briceño confirmed that the names of the members have been forwarded to the Governor General. He says that the Chair of the Commission is Andrea McSweaney. Prime Minister John Briceño “That has already been filled. […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Integrity Commissioners Identified
Prime Minister John Briceño is the minister responsible for broadcasting, and one of his many family businesses is Centaur Cable, headquartered in Orange Walk. Reports are that Centaur is now providing cable services in the south and north, and then recently, C.C.V. absorbed C.B.C. – creating what some perceive to be a monopoly in the […]
Written on February 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Is there a Conflict of Interest with PM Briceño?
The Senate took a zero-tolerance stand against domestic violence at today’s meeting inside the National Assembly. A domestic violence motion was brought from the House of Representatives. The motion received majority support in the House of Representatives on Friday. That support was extended by U.D.P. Senators who today rose and spoke against abusers. Michael […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senators Also United Against Domestic Violence
Senators for the People’s United Party showed support for the Domestic Violence motion. Senator Isabel Bennett spoke on the need to establish great support avenues for perpetrators of domestic violence. Isabel Bennett, P.U.P. Senator “I keep hearing that it is the government responsibility, but there are many organizations out there support victims, but there […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senators Say Domestic Violence Victims Need Protection When Making Police Reports
The Senate also debated an over seventy million dollar supplementary budget brought to the National Assembly by Prime Minister John Briceño at the last sitting of the House. It is the third supplementary budget brought before the upper chamber since October of 2021. Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business, took the lead in the debate. […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Courtenay Outlines Supplementary Budget
Lead Senator for the Opposition, Michael Peyrefitte, criticized the Briceño Administration for presenting a third supplementary budget in less than five months. Peyrefitte accused G.O.B. of lacking the creativity and ideas needed to rebuild the economy. He also alleged this supplementary budget is “one last hustle before the next budget is read.” Michael Peyrefitte, […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Peyrefitte Criticizes Supplemental Budget Items
Senator Peyrefitte went on to question the purpose of the fifteen million dollars being allocated to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Additionally, he lambasted the Briceño Administration for asking the National Assembly to approve some two hundred thousand dollars for upgrades to the Prime Minister’s office, in a period of national economic constraints. […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Peyrefitte Blasts Prime Minister Office Updates
Elena Smith, Senator for the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, also weighed in on the financial debate. Smith took issue with the personal emoluments that are listed, as well as the monies being allocated to refurbish the office of the Prime Minister. Smith says teachers and public servants are suffering and gas prices are […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Smith Says Public Officers Punishing While PM Gets New Furniture
Seeking to offer some clarity on repairs on the Prime Minister’s office, Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government business said several offices, including the Cabinet room, are also within the office of the Prime Minister. Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business “General administration, dah weh that? Given the public who doesn’t have this document in […]
Written on February 9, 2022 | Posted in
Environment,
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Comments Off on Senator Courtenay Says More Than One Office to Be Repaired
Finally there is some really good COVID-19 news. The numbers are trending down. The latest statistics coming out of the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicate the daily positivity rate should be back to pre-Omicron numbers as soon as mid- February. A recent graph which shows the “Projected Prevalence of COVID-19 […]
Written on February 8, 2022 | Posted in
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Health,
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Comments Off on COVID Numbers Trending Down
