Today when we went to the “Jungle” area, we were told that the persons who were injured were at the hospital seeking medical treatment. But there we caught up with the mother of Delroy Cardinez. She tells News Five that while her son was driving without a license, the police beat down that followed was […]
A sixteen-year-old girl has escaped what she reported as captivity in Placencia where she says she was being forced to work against her will. In mid-January, the minor reported to police that a couple had been holding her against her will and had taken away her travel documents. She also alleged that she was living […]
The controversy over the embattled Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero has been playing out in the media for the past two weeks, with little to no word from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Today, Minister Michel Chebat confirmed to News Five’s Duane Moody that in fact as the country is in the […]
As you know, Doctor Marvin Manzanero has been placed on administrative leave as an investigation on allegations of misconduct continues. But what’s been happening with the DHS has been seen by the public as an attack on his reputation and a move to frustrate him out of his substantive position. The Association of Public Service […]
There is good news for Belize because today, the allocation letter from COVAX facility letter for the first shipment of vaccines for the country. It has been confirmed that sometime in late March, or early April, Belize will receive one hundred thousand eight hundred doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and that’s very likely the Astra Zeneca […]
CARICOM Heads of State are expressing frustration at the obstacles Caribbean nations are facing trying to access vaccines. At the end of a two-day virtual conference, Chairman Doctor Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, did not mince words as CARICOM once more calls on the World Health Organization to intervene. Dr. […]
The current quarantine regulations, including a curfew between ten p.m. and five a.m., expire next week. But if you thought that the declining COVID-19 numbers would translate into a relaxation of measures, think again. Over the past week, health officials have been meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs to determine the way forward. Today, […]
But what about land borders? Given the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Guatemalan residents have been clamouring for the reopening of the western border. Even though Mexicans are allowed to travel to the Corozal Free Zone, Belizeans have not been able to visit to neighbouring Chetumal or Melchor, Guatemala for business or […]
Results are finally back from Baylor College in Houston and the UK variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Belize. It was from a batch of fifteen samples that were sent for gene sequencing. The swab belonged to a member of the British Army Training Support Unit Belize, who was asymptomatic when he arrived in […]
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Hugo Patt, took his turn in the hot seat this morning when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry in its second session. The Corozal North Area Representative was peppered with questions from the three-member panel about a pickup truck he had asked to purchase from […]
The Commission of Inquiry into the sale of government vehicles and other equipment at the end of the United Democratic Party’s last days in government resumes on Friday. Former Deputy Prime Minister Hugo Patt will be among those appearing. He is facing scrutiny about the purchase of a 2020 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck. It was […]
Belize Electricity Limited held its annual general meeting virtually this afternoon to shareholders only. It was the first AGM under the People’s United Party government, since the company’s board of directors was reconstituted back in December. Led by Chairman Andrew Marshalleck, the meeting focused on the company’s fiscal performance over the past year and presented […]
Digital makeovers are coming for the Belize court system. Today, the Attorney General of Belize signed a memorandum of understanding with the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions, to strengthen the courts and the Office of the Attorney General. The agreement includes provisions for the immediate implementation of e-filing for the courts and a digital case […]
Like so many things postponed due to corona virus, the national census taken every ten years is being pushed back yet again. Originally rescheduled for 2021, the Statistical Institute of Belize now says they have opted to reschedule once more. So don’t expect house-to-house census takers coming to visit you, during the COVID-19 crisis. […]
COVID-19 has claimed another event casualty. Today it was announced that the Belikin La Ruta Maya River Challenge traditionally held on the extended March weekend has been cancelled. The organizing committee says that after twenty-four consecutive years of the sport, the tough decision was taken, much to the disappointment to paddlers, as well as fans […]
The positivity rate for COVID-19 is down to one point four percent from a whopping sixty-five percent in last November of last year. The latest figures show that there were seven confirmed new cases, seventeen recoveries and one new death. Active cases are also down to one hundred and forty persons, with the majority being […]
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, also known as IICA, is piloting a voluntary third-party quality assurance project in Belize and Honduras. Today, a virtual ceremony was held to officially launch the initiative that is expected to empower the private sector to set standards for food safety for public health and trade. BAHA Acting […]
The project will also look at legislative frameworks, capacity building efforts and public-private partnership opportunities to facilitate changes to strengthen the food security management system. Minister of Food Security Jose Abelardo Mai says three sectors will be targeted in this pilot project. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise “In the […]
Belize is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and yet there’s an empty chair at the office of the Director of Health Services. News Five has confirmed that there is no DHS at the Ministry of Health and Wellness as of today. That is because Doctor Marvin Manzanero was placed on administrative leave effective […]
Void aside, the Association of Public Service Senior Managers says that the government is attacking the reputation of Doctor Marvin Manzanero, who for the greater part of 2020 was the Ministry of Health’s public face of the fight against the pandemic. Yet, according to a letter issued to the DHS on Tuesday, allegations of misconduct […]
The President of the A.P.S.S.M. says that according to the Public Service Regulations, there is a limited period of time for an allegation of misconduct to be brought against a public officer. The letter she saw refers to April 2020 which is ten months ago. Sharon Frazer says that due process has not been followed […]
But Doctor Marvin Manzanero is not the only person being affected by what is widely perceived to be a concerted effort to have him removed as DHS. Since December seventh Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa had been tapped by the Public Service Ministry to become the Acting Director of Health Services. While that contract is to end […]
As promised, the donation of one thousand vaccines from Barbados arrived in Belize today via Amerijet just after seven this morning. The shipment was received by the former Acting DHS, Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa. These vaccines are not a part of the one hundred thousand plus to be acquired via the COVAX facility, expected in late […]
Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness held a media sensitization session at the Radisson on COVID-19 vaccines. Among the issues discussed were the effectiveness of vaccines in a pandemic and resistance by healthcare workers to getting vaccinated. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting As Belize anticipates the arrival of its first […]
In preparation for the vaccine roll out across the country in the coming weeks, a simulation exercise was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness last week. Doctor Natalia Largaespada Beer breaks down that process and the gaps identified for setting up vaccination stations outside of a medical facility. Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer, […]
