As we showed you, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has put its considerable weight behind the cane-farmers of the north. That will without a doubt enhance the B.S.C.F.A.’s bargaining position – an enhancement it could no doubt have used in the past months when the Association, bit-by-bit relinquished all its bargaining points. But […]
The N.T.U.C.B. says one of its biggest concerns is the hardship to farmers who, Matura-Shepherd claims have been negotiating under economic duress. She’s said that Prime Minister Dean Barrow should roll the Petrocaribe up north, but in the absence of that, Fairtrade money will have to do. On Sunday cane-farmers passed a motion for two […]
ASR/B.S.I. cannot be trusted! That’s the principal message coming from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to the sugar cane farmers up north in respect of the ongoing crisis. The umbrella organization is saying that the agreement proposed by ASR/B.S.I. is oppressive and unfair and undermines the cane farmers, who are the bedrock of […]
The government was quick to respond to the N.T.U.C.B. While the G.O.B. reprimands ASR/B.S.I. for acting in bad faith in trying to undermine the Sugar Cane Production Committee, it says that the industry is “finally poised to sign a commercial agreement that will provide the stability required for more in depth strategic planning.” But the […]
Our records indicate that the murder count now stands at one hundred and forty-three. This morning, the remains of a man were found in an area in Ladyville known as the Dewdrop Estate. According to the police, it is believed that the person was killed sometime in November. News Five’s Duane Moody was there when […]
The manhunt continues for twenty-five year old Emmanuel Willoughby, an inmate at the Belize Central Prison who escaped from his cell last Saturday. According to the Kolbe Foundation, Willoughby cut a hole on his cell door and broke out from the prison at around three a.m. on Saturday. Emmanuel has relatives in Libertad and Georgeville, […]
Up until late Wednesday afternoon, police officers conducted a search at the Willoughby’s residence at 7005 Antelope Street Extension. Attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd says that they have made formal complaint to the Professional Standards Branch and intend to press charges against the officers for injuries her client has sustained. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney for Willoughby Family […]
The ratification of thirteen agreements between Belize and Guatemala, in the words of Prime Minister Barrow, is a single step commencing the journey of a thousand miles. The long road ahead for both countries to resolve an age-old territorial dispute is perhaps being made smoother by the signing of the cooperative agreements. But there has […]
The 2014-2015 sugar cane crop season will not start on Friday as was anticipated and forecast. In fact, it may not start anytime soon. Turns out that all the jubilation at the resolution of the impasse may have been just a little premature. News Five spoke to an official from the B.S.C.F.A. late this evening, […]
There were thirteen agreements signed on Wednesday between Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales, the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala. They cover a period of ten years and while the contents have not been disseminated, we have just obtained copies and we can tell you that they are voluminous. We have not had the […]
Will Guatemala proceed to a simultaneous referendum on whether or not to take the unfounded territorial claim to the International Court of Justice? On this side, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has been consistent that it is the way to go, but in Guatemala, it has not been as clear as that. An education campaign leading […]
Thirteen…that is the number of agreements that were signed today between Belize and Guatemala in the margins of the SICA Summit that concluded today in Placencia. We will have more on the summit, but it is the agreements that are grabbing the headlines tonight. The accords signed between the foreign ministers of the two countries […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, signatory to the agreements on behalf of Belize, also conceded that both countries desire to live peacefully. The PM acknowledged, in large part, the role Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington as well as Carlos Raul Morales, in formalizing the way forward through several rounds of negotiations which began earlier this year. […]
As we said, the Opposition is not on board with the agreements. The P.U.P. issued a release earlier acknowledged that the opposition has participated in the bilateral discussions and negotiations, but that consultations should have been taken place before any agreement could be penned. The P.U.P. says that it “takes the position that because of […]
Immediately following the signing of the agreements, Prime Minister Barrow responded to the P.U.P. position on the thirteen agreements with Guatemala. He was quizzed by the media in Placencia on whether any constitutional constraint would interfere with the implementation of the agreements. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “There might be legal questions, but I am […]
All that was being said at simultaneous press conference held by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. At the close of the forty-fourth SICA Summit, Belize transferred the Pro-Tempore Chair to Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina. Except for Nicaragua and Costa Rica, five presidents from Central America and the Dominican Republic landed […]
It is slightly more low-key and there were no bells and whistles when the People’s United Party endorsed its eleven candidates for the March Belize City Council elections. The launch took place at the party’s headquarters, Independence Hall. The P.U.P. says the team has no distractions and is dedicated to making Belize City better and […]
There was another historic event happening today. Cuban prisoners held in U.S. prisons and a U.S. national imprisoned in Cuban were release. The Cubans had spent more than a decade behind bars. The news spread across the globe very quickly because aside from the release of the prisoners, both countries are underway to reestablishing diplomatic […]
Supreme Court Justice Michelle Arana today ordered the Financial Intelligence Unit to return documents belonging to Unicorn International Securities by Thursday of this week. UIS is one of several companies the FIU claimed assisted in laundering a billion dollars in profits from securities trading, thereby defrauding the U.S. Government. Six men – Belizean Andrew Godfrey, […]
With the order handed down, the Financial Intelligence Unit now has two days to return the documents to Unicorn International Securities. That’s a victory for the company, at least on this front. Attorney Michael Young described how the rest of the case will proceed. Michael Young, Attorney for Unicorn International Securities “In so far as […]
It is unlikely that the sugar cane crop will be able to start on Friday as anticipated. That’s because B.S.I. and the B.S.C.F.A. have yet to sign the agreement which will govern their relationship for the next seven years. We understand that there still needs to be some modification in areas of the document before […]
Belize has been taken off the European Union Red List, a position it had been given because it was deemed, “non-cooperative in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.” The announcement came via press release from OCEANA, which claimed that the lifting of trade sanctions is a result of improvements to international law obligations and the […]
On Monday, a police officer was hauled off to jail after being found guilty of committing a lewd act upon a fellow constable at a substation in Belize City back in October. It is the kind of incident that raises serious concerns about the conduct of law enforcement officers while on duty. This morning, we […]
Regional Security is among several key issues being discussed at a gathering of SICA member states in Placencia. On Tuesday, foreign ministers from the respective countries belonging to the regional organization participated in the Sixth Joint Commission with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister David Lin. Today, we look at the illegal immigration of children from Honduras, El […]
While presentations were made earlier today concerning issues affecting all SICA member countries, there are ongoing developments in Placencia where rounds of discussions on various matters continue. On Wednesday morning, we will have special coverage of the SICA General Assembly during Open Your Eyes. But for the latest from Belize Ocean Club, we go to […]
