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There is a report that the B.D.F. came under fire on Wednesday in the Chiquibul National Park approximately two hundred and fifty-nine meters east of the border. The shooting at the patrol occurred at about eleven-thirty in the morning when the soldiers were heading to Retero Camp to follow-up on a previous order to leave […]
Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales has made very unbecoming comments following the release of the O.A.S. report on the fatal shooting of fourteen-year-old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano in April. The investigation on the shooting death of the minor was conducted by experts, Doctors James Hamby of the U.S. and Doctor Patricia Trujillo of Mexico. […]
A report from experts, Doctors James Hamby of the U.S. and Doctor Patricia Trujillo of Mexico, on the killing of a Guatemalan minor back in April was released last week in Belize. The findings of the experts validate initial reports that the B.D.F. did not fire the fatal shots that took the life of Julio […]
The report of the independent investigation has incensed Guatemala. As soon as it was released, the Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales made comments to Emisoras Unidas, a news outlet across the border. His ire was directed at both the O.A.S. Representative and Prime Minister Barrow. Minister Morales thinks that the O.A.S.’ Magdalena Talamas is dead […]
By and large in the aftermath of the death of fourteen-year-old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano, it was felt that the Guatemalan government was ahead in its campaign to internationalize their allegations that the B.D.F. killed the minor and in fact lacked professionalism. Well, Minister Morales is now rejecting the report by the experts on the […]
The report from the O.A.S. on the shooting death of Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano is highly anticipated and up to news time, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Sylvestre told News Five that he is also awaiting the report. The Government, in a release on Monday, said that an independent report has […]
What is the status of the O.A.S. Investigation on the shooting death of thirteen-year old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano that occurred back on April twentieth inside the Chiquibul? In mid-May, the O.A.S. Secretary General invited Brazil, Chile, the United States and Mexico to participate in the investigation. Well both a U.S. and a Mexican investigator […]
On Monday night, a Belizean was murdered on the Guatemalan side of Arenal. Twenty-four year old Mario Estuardo Cunil was stabbed to the chest allegedly by Guatemalan national Rolman Aldana Alvarado during a brawl at a bar. We asked the minister if the Ministry of Foreign affairs will be taking up the issue with Guatemalan […]
The issue of the Guatemalan claim to Belize has somewhat faded in the background due to the ongoing William “Danny” Mason saga and more recently Hurricane Earl. While we had the Foreign Minister on hand, we inquired about the matter. Elrington admits the administration in Guatemala has hardened it position. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of […]
Turning to the Sarstoon, where it appears Guatemala is no longer exerting aggression. The last we heard was that discussions on establishing a protocol would be held between Belize and Guatemala to bring about unimpeded access to the area. Elrington says that the matter is on the drawing board and that an agreement is expected […]
But when that meeting does come about, will Elrington be meeting with a new Guatemalan Foreign Minister? Reports are that there an impending shake-up in the Guatemalan cabinet and that Carlos Raul Morales will be removed as Foreign Minister. Now, Elrington has been chummy with Morales so we asked him if the change in foreign […]
Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed off Villa Fiore, which will serve as the Belize City offices of the Ministry as well as the offices of the Prime Minister and the Special Envoy. The three-storey multi-million dollar building located on the seafront was acquired through the Government of Taiwan. Building on that, G.O.B. […]
There have not been official details on the investigation into the death of Guatemalan minor Julio René Alvarado Ruano, which occurred on April twentieth, 2016 in the Chiquibul. Today the Mexican Embassy, in a press release, shed some light into the process but the tone of the release suggests that the investigation has not yet […]
Sometime over the weekend, a group of seven Guatemalan civilians – actually the Guatemalan version of the Territorial Volunteers – claim to have circled Sarstoon Island well within Belizean waters. On their Facebook page entitled Belice Es De Guatemala, a video was released showing the Guatemalan vessel in the river with the island in the […]
The appearance of the militant civilians in the Sarstoon was also raised with C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security Retired Colonel George Lovell. He explained that the B.D.F. stationed at the base were unable to determine the identity of the civilian vessel or the intentions of those aboard. Reporter “Do you know of […]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has swank new accommodations in Belize City. It’s called the Villa Fiore, a seafront mansion which will also house the Prime Minister’s Office. From outside, and inside, the building has all the upscale trappings you’d expect in a wealthy residence – ten thousand five hundred square feet of opulence – […]
Just in case you’re looking at all this and thinking it’s just too much, way too much for government departments in Belize City where poverty is a very prevalent reality, Minister Elrington says they’re not paying one cent for the building. It’s a gift from the government of Taiwan. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign […]
Today at the Office of the National Institute of Culture and History on Rectory Lane, the Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize handed over a forty-thousand dollars cheque to the Co-Chair of the National Celebrations Commission, Diane Haylock. The donation will assist the celebrations commission with its programming for the annual September celebration activities, specifically the Carnival […]
The cultural exchanges and this donation is testament of the strong relations between the governments of Belize and Taiwan and extend beyond education and agricultural initiatives. Ambassador Benjamin Ho says that it is the eight such contribution to NICH for the September Celebrations. Benjamin Ho, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize “This donation is all about […]
CARICOM Heads of Government are currently in Georgetown, Guyana for the thirty-seventh Regular Meeting. In addition to regional matters up for discussion, Belize will also be handing over the chairmanship of the prestigious body to the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit. Just as it was when CARICOM heads of government met in Placencia in […]
The Belize Progressive Party has issued a stern release condemning the Barrow Administration for announcing its plan to amend the existing Referendum Act. A revision of that piece of legislation is widely viewed as sort of a quid pro quo should Guatemala ease tensions in the Sarstoon. B.P.P. contends that prior to any referendum on […]
From a historic perspective, the Caribbean, according to Vice-Chancellor Beckles, has been central to England’s rise to power. He contextualizes the history of England’s involvement in the region. Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor, U.W.I. “The Caribbean has been at the center of all of this for the last four hundred years. The Caribbean has […]
While all eyes will now almost certainly be turned on the arbitration award, the situation at the Sarstoon continues in limbo. Coming out of a meeting at the O.A.S. last week, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington had no real progress report because there seemed to be no real progress to report. In fact, the only timeline […]
The People’s United Party announced on the eve of the Washington meeting that they would be withdrawing from the process because government didn’t appear to be serious in its talks with Guatemala. The Opposition proposed the formation of a national team with a clear, structured agenda and a timeline, as opposed to what they called […]
The last time News Five went to the Sarstoon just prior to the Washington talks last week, we were chased out by a Guatemalan naval vessel with nine armed soldiers. Fortunately, their boat was slower, since it didn’t seem they were trying to hold on to us to offer cervezas and cookies. Government had issued […]
