The fact is that despite the fire and fury over the B.T.L. settlement today, any debate has been rendered purely academic because the government has the majority in the Senate. And that’s what happened today after a discussion which lasted almost three hours before ending with one statement of support and the wrap-up by the […]
The People’s United Party issued a release today signalling that it is closing ranks following a tumultuous period of internal rift. A meeting was held today at Burrell Boom between P.U.P. Leader, Francis Fonseca, and the G-Eleven, excluding Dan Silva, the standard bearer from Cayo Central who is not in Belize. This afternoon, the P.U.P. […]
The House of Representatives met in special sitting today. There were two main issues on the agenda—the passing of the Vesting Act relating to the sale of FCIB to Heritage Bank and the compensation for Belize Telemedia Limited. Coming on the heels of the announcement on Monday of a settlement with the Ashcroft Group on […]
Against that backdrop, the PM also got into more detail on the financial aspect of the settlement package between G.O.B. and the Ashcroft Group. As a first payment, the agreement involves more than sixty million dollars based on the NERA valuation of one dollar and forty-four cents per share. That package received House approval through […]
Those figures aren’t sitting well with the Opposition People’s United Party, which doesn’t share G.O.B.’s triumphal touting of the settlement with the Ashcroft Group. Fonseca says that the only reason taxpayers will have to bear this multi-million dollar load is because of the PM’s pettiness and arrogance. Francis Fonseca, Opposition Leader “One is, as […]
Also on the agenda today was the vesting bill, which will facilitate the sale of First Caribbean International Bank assets to Heritage Bank. While the transaction is a private one between two sizable players in the industry, it’s gotten some bad press because at least sixty employees of FCIB will get the axe when that […]
Since Fonseca was demanding answers, the Mesopotamia Area Representative decided to give him some, in his own ‘special’ style. According to Michael Finnegan, G.O.B. has absolutely nothing to do with workers losing their jobs, so can’t be expected to step in. Michael Finnegan, Area Rep., Mesopotamia “Mr. First Caribbean Bank…guess ih want get out […]
Not surprisingly, former Prime Minister and Fort George Area Rep., Said Musa, disagreed with that position by G.O.B. He claims that the entire situation has been mishandled because of government’s refusal to get involved, and that’s why it’s gotten to this point where so many workers will soon be out of doors. Said Musa, […]
The Prime Minister has come under fire for proceeding with the vesting act while the employees at the FCIB are still trying to negotiate an exit package. But he says that the vesting act has absolutely nothing to do with the future of the employees. And to buy more time for the employees, Barrow says […]
Six years after the first nationalization of Belize Telemedia, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced this afternoon that an agreement had been reached to settle compensation for the telephone company which the government first nationalized in 2009 and then in 2011. In the period leading up to the settlement, rounds of costly litigation have taken place. […]
The settlement of B.T.L. comes on the heels of the settlement for the nationalization of the other utility company, Belize Electricity Limited. But unlike B.E.L., there were numerous issues outstanding between government and the Ashcroft group of companies including an arbitration award. Part of the settlement involves a loan which has now ballooned to close […]
Forty-eight million U.S. dollars settles the BCB award. PM was also clear that B.T.L. will eventually take responsibility for the payment. The government will make the initially payment and some nineteen million dollars will come from the Petrocaribe to do so. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “It is now forty-eight million U.S. The Dunkeld […]
Now, as it relates to the actual compensation for the nationalization of B.T.L., the PM agreed to rely on the NERA valuation of a dollar and forty-four cents per share which represents sixty five point three million dollars. But an Arbitration Tribunal is to determine the final amount of the award and government will then […]
Government gets to pay some one hundred and sixty two million dollars but how much has it spent on legal fees? There has always been speculation on that figure and at this afternoon’s press conference at the Biltmore Plaza, where cabinet also met prior to the announcement, the PM turned to the Financial Secretary, for […]
After a week away from classes, only a small amount of the four hundred students returned to the classrooms at Faith Nazarene in San Ignacio this morning. Having reached an agreement late last week with School Management, the Ministry of Education and the Teaching Services Commission, all teachers were back inside the classrooms. But outside, […]
There were several violent incidents over the Carnival weekend in the city and in rural Belize district as well as in the south. But we start with a murder that occurred in the May Pen Village off the Phillip Goldson Highway near mile twenty-four. On Saturday morning, forty-two year old Carl McCulloch made a gruesome […]
On Placencia, a gathering of family and friends turned tragic for the close-knit Cabral families. From all accounts, Warren Cabral accidentally shot his cousin, Vance Cabral, while the two were socializing in a boat celebrating the Tenth of September. The fatal shooting has gripped the community because the cousins were considered close and are both […]
At least sixty employees of five First Caribbean International Bank branches in Belize today contracted some mysterious malady which caused them to call in sick. Actually, it’s more likely what is called a sick-out, and it is in response to the looming departure of CIBC-FCIB which is selling out to Heritage Bank. The very ill […]
And that brings us to the mysterious illness which resulted in the closure of three FCIB branches – Belize City BelCan, Orange Walk and Belmopan, while two more on Albert Street and Dangriga operated with a skeleton staff. Matura-Shepherd says that the circumstances would be enough to sicken anybody, so the mass absence is completely […]
So what’s the next move? That wasn’t spelled out in the clearest of terms but let’s just say that it doesn’t seem that the employees who were suddenly taken sick today are going to be better by Monday…or even by Tuesday, when Government intends to push through the Vesting Act which will enable to transition […]
Three fishermen from Belize City – Giovanni Murillo, Donovan Usher and Jerome Bowen – left to go on a one day fishing trip to Turneffe two weeks ago and never came home. They are presumed dead by their families, who have made serious claims of Coast Guard involvement in the demise of the three men. […]
Bennett reiterates that they are assisting the Police in the investigation, and have also conducted their own internal investigation to parallel that by the Police. The five men have been returned to active duty. And so have three Coast Guard officers who have been charged for extortion in the Corozal District, though it is expected […]
While employees of F.C.I.B. stage a sickout; in court this morning, one of five men linked to the July 2015 robbery of the bank received bail. Erwin Castillo now joins Jermaine Belgrave, Patrick Jones, Emmerson Skyers and Jareth Crawford who are out on bail granted to them on August twenty-first for robbery. Castillo’s bail was […]
This morning, stevedores protested outside the Port of Belize compound, again. This time it wasn’t about the quality of water served to gangs offloading sugar barges. It’s about more than that – the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement, in fact. The negotiation and signing off on that agreement has been stalled for more than a year. […]
On Tuesday a minor was taken in shackles to the Belize Family Court, where he was arraigned for the murder of journalist Kareem Clarke on July sixth. The minor is a known gang member and has a record on the wrong side of the law. In fact, he was in prison on remand when Police […]
