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The Prime Minister’s annual New Year’s message is being aired elsewhere in this newscast. PM Barrow highlights the achievements of his government throughout the course of the calendar year and also sheds light on various socioeconomic challenges. While 2016 has had its ups and downs, the past twelve months have seen a contraction in the […]
The highlights of the message also include a recap of several achievements by way of social reform, particularly the appointment of the Integrity Commission, the signing of the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention and a date being set for the Thirteenth Senator Law; all points that were demanded by teachers during their strike in October. […]
Late this evening, the Belize Press Office issued a release responding to the Guatemalan Fisheries Regulations, a story that the media broke on Wednesday. The release goes on to state, “The Government of Belize wishes to remind the general public that the maritime spaces of Belize are established by the Maritime Areas Act of Belize […]
Tonight, there are two developments on the territorial claim to Belize that could explain Guatemala’s aggressive behavior for months. A map released by the Guatemalan government has surfaced showing that fisherfolks from that country are free to fish well within Belizean waters including the Sarstoon River where, as you know, Guatemala maintains a strong military […]
Over the past two years, Guatemala has been asserting sovereignty over the area, going as far as militarizing the remote area and now escorts Belizeans traversing our side of the Sarstoon River. A recent official forty-page document on travels by Guatemalan officials details a meeting between Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales at […]
The Sarstoon Protocol continues to hang in the air. Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington says there’s been some incremental gains in dialogue, but he wouldn’t share much more on where those conversations are headed. Elrington maintains that Belize is very clear as it relates to what we want out of the Sarstoon Protocol, but it is […]
The last we spoke with Minister Elrington, he made it clear that communication with his counterpart in Guatemala, Carlos Raul Morales, was non-existent and that things relating to the territorial claim were at a standstill with Guatemala. . Today, we asked him whether there has been any improvement in particular in respect of a proposed […]
Today, the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework was officially launched following the signing of the agreement between the Government of Belize and the United Nations. The five-year program links the national growth and sustainable development strategy of Belize to the new UN agenda to create a better world, lessen poverty and better the rule of law […]
In early November, Ambassador Benjamin Ho of Taiwan completed his mission in Belize. Within days, his successor arrived in country in the name of Charles Liu. Liu is a senior career diplomat with that country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for almost three decades. Ambassador Liu has already hit the ground running and has handed over to […]
Taiwan has been a generous partner making significant contributions to Belize in areas of education, infrastructure, agriculture and culture. Ambassador Liu says that the many programs already in place will continue and he looks to opening new doors. Charles Liu, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize “We have been doing work together on many projects such […]
There was some boost to the bilateral relations between Belize and Chile. On Monday in Belmopan, Minister of National Emergency Management Edmond Castro received a donation of one hundred thousand Belize dollars from the Government of Chile, represented by Ambassador Maria Inés Ruiz. The donation has been earmarked to support the restoration of agriculture livelihoods […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has been soundly criticized by many, including the Opposition, for the handling of the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute. A recent motion by the Government of Belize to amend the Referendum Act, as well as the Special Agreement, is seen as yet another effort to placate Guatemala. So Government is pushing for a […]
Earlier this week we reported on the significant drop in employment and thousands are now jobless even as prices go up as the economy remains in recession. Figures released recently by the Statistical Institute of Belize, show that exports have dropped by at least forty-three percent and only twenty one million dollars worth of goods […]
The memorial to late President of the Cuban Republic, Fidel Castro, with the attendance of world leaders took place on Tuesday night in Havana. Today, Castro’s remains arrived in the Province of Matanzas as Cubans lined up the route as the cortege makes its way to Santiago. On Wednesday, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator […]
A memorial attended by world leaders to reflect on the life and death of celebrated Cuban leader Fidel Castro is taking place at this time in Havana, Cuba. Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington are attending on Belize’s behalf. But many in the world over are remembering Fidel in […]
Ahead of this evening’s memorial ceremony, millions of Cubans have been paying their respects to Fidel Castro where his body lies in state in Havana. World leaders have also been paying tribute. Two such leaders are President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia, whose countries also subscribe to similar policies as Castro’s […]
Comandante Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution in the 1950’s, who became the longest-serving leader with unbroken service in the Americas, died late Friday at the age of ninety. An immediate cause of death was not released with the official announcement by President Raul Castro, but Fidel had been in poor health since 2008. Described […]
Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow has penned official condolences to the President of Cuba, Raul Castro Ruz, on the passing of his brother, Comandante Fidel Castro. World leaders will be attending a tribute ceremony in Havana on Tuesday. Belize will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred […]
The Barrow Administration has agreed to reduce the referendum threshold from sixty percent to fifty percent plus one, by amending the existing Referendum Act. That decision comes ahead of a Senate meeting to be held next Wednesday during which upper parliament is expected to endorse the special agreement on taking the Guatemalan claim to the […]
In respect of the Special Agreement known as the Compromis, Elrington admits that while both countries were bound to that accord, it was quickly realized that simultaneous referenda would not have been convenient for either Belize or Guatemala. Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs “The Special Agreement is nothing other than a mechanism […]
Central to the ongoing tension between Belize and Guatemala is the Sarstoon River. For many years, Belizeans have freely traversed the southernmost waterway, enjoying unimpeded access to abundant resources found within the area. That has since changed completely, replaced altogether by Guatemalan Armed Forces personnel who firmly demand that Belizeans, military or civilians, adhere to […]
According to Elrington, Belizeans are free to travel the length of the Sarstoon River without hindrance from the Guatemalan military. Checking in with local authorities at the Forward Operating Base near the mouth of the river is merely a formality to notify the Belize Defense Force of their presence in the area. Wilfred ‘Sedi’ […]
In the last few weeks we told you about some incidents involving the Guatemalan Armed Forces and different local organizations. The B.D.F. were stopped not so long ago and it was passed off as a miscommunication on the end of the Guatemalans. And then there was the one involving the SATIIM rangers. While not as […]
Every time Belizeans travel up the Sarstoon River, they are told by the Guatemalan Armed Forces to “Respecte el Protocolo.” But is there a protocol that Belizeans must follow to enter the Sarstoon River? On this side of the border, Belize Defense Force Commander, Brigadier General David Jones confirmed today that both countries have been […]
Recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington indicated that he has been unable to engage Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Minister, Carlos Raul Morales in any discussion. The breakdown in communication has been since the results of the international independent investigation into the shooting death of thirteen year old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano exonerated the B.D.F. from […]
