The recent incident on the Sarstoon River involving the Guatemalan Armed Forces, the B.D.F. and a civilian team led by the Belize Territorial Volunteers has raised the ire of many. The Government said it is sending another strong protest note against the actions of the GAF. But in the wake of an I.C.J. referendum which […]
National Security Minister John Saldivar says he was surprised when he was informed that Guatemalan Armed Forces continued to attempt to prevent Belizeans from traveling on the Sarstoon River. That is what happened on July twenty-third when Wil Maheia was escorting SATIIM representatives to Black Creek to investigate reports of illegal logging by Guatemalans in […]
Denise Antonio, an American citizen, and native of Liberia has been appointed to serve as Resident Representative for Belize. Antonio is committed to supporting the government in areas such as biodiversity, public health, and natural resources management. Antonio, who is also the representative to Jamaica, is currently in Belize on a working visit. She is […]
The United States Embassy in Belize today issued a one-page press release relating to the Sanctuary Belize real estate fraud. It addresses the long list of serious allegations filed by the Federal Trade Commission in a U.S. bankruptcy court in Florida. The U.S. Embassy does not confirm or reject the allegations, but takes the position […]
On Sunday representatives from Belize and Mexico met at the border bridge of Subteniente Lopez to commemorate the 1893 Spencer-Mariscal Treaty. This year is the one hundred and twenty-sixth anniversary of the treaty which established the boundaries of both countries. Beyond that, the event also celebrates the many years of excellent bi-lateral relations and friendliness […]
Last week we reported that the U.S. Department of State upgraded Belize in its Trafficking in Persons Report. According to the report, Belize has shown significant progress in victim services and strengthening of its anti-trafficking police unit. While Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons, the report […]
The U.S. has announced that a number of immigration raids will be conducted. The deportations, while delayed, are intended to remove recently arrived families who are in the United States illegally. It has been reported that there are some two thousand families facing deportation orders in ten cities. On Wednesday, we asked Thomas Lersten about […]
On Saturday, the Taiwanese Embassy in Belize celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of established diplomatic ties between Belize and Taiwan. Both countries have cooperation in areas such as education, agriculture, climate change resilience, infrastructural development, as well as culture. News Five’s Duane Moody attended the all day fair that took place on Taiwan Street along the […]
The Ministry of Investment and Trade has partnered with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to facilitate two investment missions to Belize. These missions are to help increase foreign direct investments in prioritized industries in the country. This morning, the Ministry hosted a welcome ceremony for eight Taiwanese delegates for the first mission which kicked […]
Today, Belize and Taiwan held a short ceremony to unveil three commemorative stamps and sign an M.O.U. to improve the postal services in Belize. The three stamps are designed to celebrate Belize and Taiwan’s thirty years of diplomatic ties. To build on that friendship, Taiwan signed an agreement with Belize to help modernize its postal […]
A Letter of Intent on a framework for tourism cooperation between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) was signed this evening. The ceremony coincides with the visit of Doctor Chia-Lung Lin, Taiwan’s Minister of Transport and Communications. Speaking at the signing was Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans. Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism “We […]
On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice issued a release in which it essentially acknowledges receipt of Belize’s application to have its territorial dispute with Guatemala resolved in that jurisdiction. A timeline has been established during which both countries must submit their arguments, but the formal step to get the ball rolling after the I.C.J. […]
The International Court of Justice has issued a release informing that it remains in consideration of a matter involving a dispute between Guatemala and Belize via a special agreement which dates back to December 2008. The statement from the I.C.J. comes five days after Belize formally submitted a notification to the World Court which was […]
Belize’s notification to the International Court of Justice puts in motion procedures agreed in the 2008 Special Agreement. Within one year, Guatemala will submit its claim after which Belize will respond a year after Guatemala has filed its claim. It is expected that the entire process will span over several years until a verdict is […]
It has been a month since the historic May eighth I.C.J. referendum and steps have been taken following the ‘yes’ vote to formalize Belize’s position in taking the territorial dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice for resolution. In the days after the national exercise, the House of Representatives met to table a […]
In other news involving Belize and Guatemala, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Commercial Cooperation, Jairo Estrada, called on Minister of Trade and Investment Tracy Taegar-Panton on Thursday in Belmopan. Joined by Deputy Chief of Mission for Belize and Guatemala, David Vargas, both ministers discussed improving the trade relationship between the neighboring countries […]
Earlier this week, Romanian Ambassador Daniela Gitman visited Belize and met with the Prime Minister and other government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education. The visit was to discuss bilateral cooperation between both countries. It’s been twenty-six years since diplomatic ties were established between Romania and Belize and the government is looking […]
The revised Maritime Areas Act in which Belize is reclaiming all twelve miles of its territorial waters under international law is complete, following the Governor General’s approval of the amended piece of legislation on Wednesday. The GG’s assent was the final phase in a three-step process that began on Monday with a Special Sitting of […]
Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay suggested during a meeting of the upper house on Tuesday that Belizeans, including civilians and members of the armed forces, begin to utilize the twelve miles of territorial waters allowed under international law. The notion comes with the amendment of the Maritime Areas Act which initially allowed Guatemala access to the […]
On Thursday in Belgium, during the one hundred and ninth session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Council of Ministers, a resolution was adopted that reasserts the firm commitment of the seventy-nine member states to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and security of Belize in the context of Guatemala’s claim. The ACP ministers commended Belize for […]
Earlier today, the foreign ministers of Belize and Guatemala, Wilfred Elrington and Sandra Jovel Polanco met at the O.A.S. Office at the Adjacency Zone in the west. The meeting was to take stock of the progress made by both countries in the territorial dispute. Following the May eighth referendum, the people of both countries have […]
The People’s United Party has formally withdrawn a case against the Government of Belize in which it was challenging in the Supreme Court the legality of the Special Agreement signed between Belize and Guatemala in 2008. On Monday, Leader of the Opposition John Briceño made the announcement during a Special Sitting of the House of […]
The Belize Peace Movement has decided, following a national planning meeting, to take up a legal challenge commenced by the People’s United Party which it has abandoned following the outcome of the May eighth I.C.J. referendum. The BPM plans to keep the lawsuit alive in the Supreme Court, however, it is leaning on the Belizean […]
There was a Special Sitting of the Senate this morning in Belmopan, hard on the heels of a similar meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday to table and pass an amendment to the Maritime Areas Act. Upper parliament, as in the case of the House of Representatives, voted unanimously in favor of the […]
Preparations for Belize to take its case before the International Court of Justice, in respect of the unfounded Guatemalan claim, continue to be made, following a historic referendum on May eighth. Since the people of Belize overwhelmingly voted in favor of proceeding with the territorial dispute before the world court for resolution, government has been […]
