As many as six thousand Cubans are stuck in Costa Rica since November, unable to make their way to the United States. Once they set foot on American soil they would be granted residency under the wet foot dry foot policy of the United States. But to date Belize, Nicaragua and Guatemala have denied them […]
According to Elrington, there has been some indication that Mexico would be prepared to facilitate the passage of the Cubans, but nothing in writing. Belize is not prepared to budge without that written undertaking. In the meantime, Elrington says that Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis will just have to understand that this is the […]
There is now some action by Mexico. This Tuesday, technical teams will be meeting in Mexico City, to discuss a way forward for the Cuban crisis. The meeting was set for El Salvador but was moved to Mexico, which is seen as a key player in a solution to the crisis. One proposal from the […]
The number of deaths on the highways continues to be a cause for concern. The latest victim is a construction worker from Ladyville who died Saturday night when he allegedly crossed the road in front of a speeding vehicle. The incident happened on a poorly lit stretch of the Phillip Goldson Highway near the Belize […]
At news time tonight, there is no movement on the three containers of Guyanese rice at the Big Creek Port in the south and likely there will not be any offloading. That was the message from government officials today. On Wednesday night, RC Imports Jack Charles brought in the rice despite objections from local rice […]
With three more days before the Christmas, the containers with three million pounds of rice will not be discharged. Jose Alpuche, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture maintains that the importation was initiated without a phytosanitary license obtained by the importer. That’s one of the grounds for which the containers of rice are being […]
The stalemate over the importation of rice from Guyana continues to play out and tonight importer Jack Charles is no closer to resolution. Three containers of Guyanese rice arrived on Wednesday night at the Big Creek Port where they continue to sit tonight. The Belize Agricultural and Health Authority did not allow the rice cargo […]
C.E.O. Alpuche notes that the fairly low prices of the rice from Guyana are because subsidies to the industry there and likely because there may be a surplus since Guyana has lost its market in Venezuela. As to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Alpuche’s position is that the treaty prevents the importation into Belize. […]
The deadlock between importer Jack Charles and the Belize Agro-productive Sector Group, as well as the Government of Belize, has resulted in what is being called a technical barrier to trade. BAHA, according to regional trade expert Sergio Garcia, is being used as the vehicle to thwart that process. While C.E.O. Alpuche says the shipment […]
While the issue, at its core, involves regulations governing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, provisions are made in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for the use of appropriate mechanisms to protect industries in Lesser Developed Countries such as Belize. This is in line with distinctions that recognize the difference in the stage of economic […]
Even as there is no resolution to the three containers of rice at the Big Creek Port, according to Jack Charles, a total of seven more containers are expected into the country within the next two weeks. Importation and cheap retail, he says, will significantly reduce the contraband rice coming in from Mexico. Jack […]
He is Belize’s longest-serving inmate on death row at the Belize Central Prison. And after thirteen years behind bars, Glenford Baptist, appeared in court this morning, but still does not know how many more years he will have to remain in prison. Baptist was convicted of the murder of Azrin White in 2000, but last […]
A new piece of legislation is coming into force prohibiting stevedores and other dockhands at the Port of Belize from effecting industrial action on a whim. Earlier today, the Ministry of Labor issued a release stating that a statutory instrument has been signed to amend the section of the Laws of Belize which deals with […]
A shipment of milled rice from Guyana arrived at the Big Creek Port in southern Belize overnight where it remains at present. At the port, all was quiet and calm throughout the day. Shortly before two o’clock, businessman Jack Charles, accompanied by former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture, Sergio Garcia, made their way to […]
Following the official announcement of three aspiring leaders for the P.U.P. on December fifteenth, the party held a National Executive meeting at Independence Hall this afternoon to determine details of the national convention to be held on January thirty-first. Despite multiple requests, none of the three has agreed to an interview, and they didn’t today, […]
Baby Nina Charlotte Barrera Perez will remain in a foster home through the Christmas holidays, as the matter was adjourned in Family Court today. The two year old was removed from her mother’s custody in November. Her father claims that the child was taken out of Guatemala illegally by the mother, Analiz Gutierrez, while the […]
Analiz Gutierrez was in court and clearly distraught that the matter could not have been resolved in today’s hearing. She told News Five that she is disappointed that her daughter will not be home for Christmas, but has faith that the court will allow baby Nina to remain with her in Belize. Analiz Gutierrez, […]
If the court rules that baby Nina was indeed removed from the country illegally, then the child will be ordered to be returned to Guatemala. Gutierrez would then need to return to that country to deal with the custody matter there. It’s a scenario that is not improbable, but one that Gutierrez dreads. Analiz […]
Two significant donations were made today by the US Government. We start with the Belize Coast Guard which received a variety of equipment to bolster operations of national security in the fight against transnational crime. At this afternoon’s ceremony it was announced that Belize will be spending twenty-six million dollars for the acquisition of two […]
Another donation by the U.S. Embassy was granted to the National Forensic Science Service in Ladyville in the form of cutting edge equipment. A gas chromatograph mass spectrometer machine, also referred to as the Ghost, was received by the department this afternoon at a brief handing over ceremony. Valued at approximately three hundred and fifty […]
The proposed importation of rice from a CARICOM country by businessman Jack Charles of Xtra House remains unresolved tonight, even though a shipment of prepackaged Guyanese rice to be retailed on the local market is expected to arrive in Big Creek by barge on Thursday. But along with those three containers of imported grain come […]
With less than twenty-four hours before the shipment of rice arrives, the showdown between producers and importer is heating up. Earlier today, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a release advocating for proper procedures to be put in place for the importation of rice. The Chamber notes that all importations are administered by […]
On Tuesday, we asked our online viewers whether they would support or not the importation of Guyanese rice into Belize? With a shipment of rice nearing Belize, today, we took to the streets of Belize City to poll the sentiments of the public on this developing issue. Imported rice would mean lower prices on the […]
If you were thinking of getting a small turkey this Christmas, you may want to try a chicken instead. That’s because currently there are none to be had in the country from major distributors Quality Poultry Products and Caribbean Chicken. The status right now is that because the Avian flu severely limited the production of […]
What is the state of Belize’s largest national park two years after launching an active campaign to raise awareness on the value of the Chiquibul? Today was report card day for Friends for Conservation and Development, as the non-government organization met with the media to give an update on the condition of the protected area. […]
