As many as thirty-five nurses, the majority of whom are from the Republic of the Philippines, have resigned from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. They are either returning to their home country after years of service to Belize or pursuing a career in healthcare elsewhere. Over the past week, six nurses have resigned from the […]
After Minister of Health, Michel Chebat confirmed that nurses are leaving the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the Nurses Association of Belize responded. They say they find the Minister’s position to be disrespectful to local nurses. According to the President of the Association, Darrell Spencer, there is no shortage of Belizean nurses, what there is a […]
We also asked President Spencer if he thinks nurses are leaving the country to serve elsewhere because of better compensation. He says this is not true, and they also feel non-Belizean nurses get better treatment overall. Darrell Spencer, President, Nurses Association “That is a narrative and a talking point created by I don’t know […]
Finally, from the Nurses Association, President Spencer says nurses need clarification on the issue of overtime under the new reduced hours for public officers. Darrell Spencer, President, Nurses Association of Belize “So the Government has said they are going to do a ten percent cut. That is done. They also said that they are […]
Recological Systems Limited and the Government of Belize are heading to court over the lease and rental of the Commerce Bight Port in Dangriga. In a release today, Recological Systems Limited announced that both the lease and rental agreements it entered into with the Government of Belize and the Belize Port Authority have been declared […]
A San Ignacio fireman, Peter Jones, has been missing since Monday after he failed to return home that night to his waiting wife and newborn child. The family now fears that their loved one is dead, and that a burnt body found on a farm in Esperanza village on Tuesday is his. News Five spoke […]
It was breaking news on Wednesday night, but details were sketchy at that time. But today there is more on the deadly accident that left one man dead and two others injured during what should have been an enjoyable road trip among friends. Andrea Polanco reports. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Thirty-year-old Prince Charles Benjamin left […]
A shooting incident in Belize City around nine-thirty p.m. on Wednesday has left an aspiring musical artist recovering in the hospital. It happened on Victoria Street, just a stone’s throw away from the Pickstock Hutment. A vehicle emerged on the scene where several young men were standing. Before they knew it, they were running for […]
Prime Minister John Briceño departed Belize on Wednesday for an official visit to San Jose, Costa Rica. Today, PM Briceño is attending the “Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SICA-Spain and the Solidarity Event for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities in Central America and Mexico” in San Jose. The Spanish […]
The International Monetary Fund has released its official report following its Article Four consultation with Belize back in February of this year. Among the policy points Belizeans would be most concerned about are the recommended cuts to government spending and increases in taxes, including the General Sales Tax. The report acknowledges Belize has been hard […]
It has been reported in the international press and today the Financial Secretary Joseph Waight said that yes, some of Belize’s creditors have agreed to extend the grace period on the seven million dollars coupon payment, which was due earlier this year to late September. He says the time will be used to continue ongoing […]
But, undoubtedly these repeated defaults on loan payments to bond holders have had a negative impact on Belize’s international reputation. Waight says Belize continues to bilateral financing, but he acknowledges the economy is in dire straits. Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary “Well you know, we have a structural problem. We have an unsustainable debt situation, […]
Belize’s foreign reserves have withstood some of the worst days it has seen. Now, the Financial Secretary says the nation’s reserves are bouncing back. He noted that the process to complete recovery will be slow, yet the economy is already experiencing growth. Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary “Well, the official reserves are adequate. I think […]
This just in, there are reports of a fatal road traffic accident on the Hummingbird Highway in the area of Herseys, between miles thirty eight and thirty nine. News Five understand that one person died on the scene, while two persons are in a critical condition at the Western Regional Hospital. We will have more […]
After spending eight days on remand at the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville, Canadian national Jasmine Hartin has received bail. Within three hours, she was released from custody – notwithstanding the conditions put in place by Justice Herbert Lord. News Five’s Duane Moody reports from the Supreme Court in Belize City. Duane Moody, Reporting […]
On Tuesday evening, Mesopotamia area representative Shyne Barrow continued to take shots at Patrick Faber’s leadership of the United Democratic Party. As we reported, Barrow claimed that Faber doesn’t enjoy the confidence of the majority of opposition members of the House. In a social media post Tuesday evening, he went on to say that “Tracy […]
Police were called to retrieve the charred remains of a person on a farm in Esperanza Village on Tuesday morning. It was discovered by the property owner who told police that on Monday, he noticed a huge fire on his farm. The following day, the farmer reportedly went to check the area where he found […]
Today, the Ministry of Education announced that face-to-face learning for all pre-primary, primary, secondary schools and ITVETs will come to an end by Friday, June eighteenth. The ministry issued a memo to school managements today to say that they have made the decision “out of an abundance of caution, coupled with the fact that vaccination […]
Thieves have once more targeted a Belize City school; this time, it was Trinity Methodist. News Five spoke with the principal today about what happened, what was stolen and how the public can help. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Burglars broke into Trinity Methodist Primary School sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Principal Jamael Campbell […]
The ten percent salary reduction for teachers and public officers, which came into force at the beginning of June, is even more dire than what was previously anticipated. That is according to P.S.U. President Dean Flowers. Today, he pored over the new pay scales that have been implemented by the Ministry of Finance. The head […]
According to Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, however, the enactment of a new pay scale is for legal purposes and does not affect government’s commitment to implement the wage cuts for a period of three years only. Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister “I imagine the lawyers who advice the government advised that we would […]
It’s official: salaries for teachers, public officers and open vote workers will be readjusted to reflect a ten percent reduction as of June first. Earlier today, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight issued a circular to the Office of the Governor General, Chief Justice, Auditor General, Solicitor General, and C.E.O.s, among others, regarding a reduction in public […]
It was rumored from last week that there would be a challenge to Patrick Faber’s leadership of the United Democratic Party. This evening, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the U.D.P. area representative for Mesopotamia, appears to be making a move. Via social media, Barrow announced an emergency meeting is being convened of the National Party Council. He […]
On Monday, we told you about a COVID-19 cluster identified in Santa Cruz village in the Stann Creek District. Well apparently this is not the only area of concern. This morning the Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat appeared on Open Your Eyes this morning to give an update on several other communities. He […]
While an account of how many children have been infected so far could not be shared, the spread of the virus in schools is an eventuality that the country was attempting to avoid. Two weeks ago, several schools in Belize City and up north had to close down after positive cases of COVID-19 were identified. […]
