Outside of the cayes and exposed coastal areas, the greatest damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in Belize was the wear and tear on public shelters. Today, the government of Canada donated 54 thousand Belize dollars, which will be used to make repairs and replace broken equipment in eight schools used as shelters in the Belize, […]
Leaving Belize this morning for Santiago, Chile was Belize’s delegation to the second Summit of the Americas. The four man team is led by Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel and includes Minister of Trade Alfredo Martinez, his P.S. Rodney Neal and Minister Counselor at our embassy in Washington, Claude Haylock. The summit is a follow up […]
In news from the diplomatic front, a technical level meeting between Belize and Guatemala took place last Friday in Miami. A government press release says both sides ratified positions arrived at in previous meetings, including issues relating to the protection of ecological reserves and the prevention of illegal farming along their common border. The Belize […]
In terms of financial aid there is no country more important to Belize at this point in our history than the Republic of China on Taiwan. The Government of that industrious island has loaned and granted funds for everything from housing to farming and even fronted us cash to help balance our beleaguered budget. Today […]
The nation’s gossip may be focused on Sunday’s impending arrival of a cruise ship but a vessel docking two days later may steal the show. The “ARC GLORIA”, a classic sailing vessel from Colombia, will arrive in Belize City on February 3rd on a goodwill visit. The ship, belonging to the Colombian navy, is used […]
The new ambassador from the Republic of China on Taiwan, Kuo-Hsiung Shen, today presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Colville Young in Belmopan. The Governor General is no stranger to Taiwan, having visited that island nation several years ago as a guest of the Taiwanese government. Shen also paid courtesy calls on Prime Minister […]
A major controversy is cooking in Trinidad over four million dollars worth of questionable rice, which was imported from India. The rice, consigned to National Flour Mills, left India in July but did not reach Trinidad until December. It then languished at the docks for another month while officials sorted out the paperwork. This week […]
Those ever popular visas to enter the United States will became more dear beginning next month. A release from the U.S. Embassy states that as part of a new policy to have fees reflect actual costs, the price of applying for a nonimmigrant visa will rise from twenty U.S. dollars to forty-five. Immigrant visa applications […]
She’s been in the country just about a week, but with a background in print and broadcast journalism, not to mention her most recent job as a presidential speechwriter, U.S. Ambassador Carolyn Curiel is nothing if not a fast learner. Today she sat down for a get acquainted chat with Channel Five’s Stewart Krohn. After […]
Barbados and OECS move closer The islands belonging to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States have been conducting discussions with their larger neighbour to the East, Barbados, on ways to foster greater cooperation and perhaps even some sort of Union. The CBC’s Peter Thorne hit the streets of Castrees to see how St. Lucians feel […]
In what could only be described as a happy ending Guyana’s major political parties have agreed to compromise in an election dispute which threatened to cripple the beleaguered South American nation. Brokered by a three man Caricom mediation team, the agreement specifies that new elections will be called at the end of three years, instead […]
The annual talks between Mexico and Belize climaxed today as Foreign Minister Dean Barrow met with his counterpart, Rosaria Green, in Belmopan. A number of agreements were signed this afternoon at the yet to be occupied Mexican embassy covering a wide range of issues. Details have not been released but it is understood that one […]
The U.S. Peace Corps may have a higher public profile but its British Counterpart, Voluntary Service Overseas has been quietly working in Belize since the 1960’s. This year V.S.O., a charitable organization with professional volunteers in 59 countries, celebrates its 40th anniversary. There are currently 21 V.S.O.’s in Belize, working with both government and NGO’s […]
If police perform poorly in the war on drugs it will not be for lack of proper equipment. On Friday the U.S. Embassy presented the Dragon Unit with supplies valued at 28 thousand Belize dollars which will help its men operate more effectively in the field. The gear includes field packs, canteens and ammo pouches […]
He has been posted to Belize for almost six years and for the last three he has been dean of the diplomatic corps. Today the Embassy of Taiwan announced that Ambassador Shu-Chi Chang would be heading home to Taipei on January 21st. Chang’s tenure in Belize has spanned two different governments. He was instrumental in […]
The Organization of American States has made a grant of 60 thousand Belize dollars to help promote Belize’s exports. O.A.S. Director in Belize Kenrick Texel presented the cheque to Mario Castellanos, head of Government’s Trade and Investment Promotion Service. The funds will be used to acquire trade publications to keep exporters abreast of market developments, […]
For the second straight day protestors in Guyana have taken to the streets of Georgetown. Supporters of the defeated People’s National Congress today defied a government ban on public demonstrations and their parade was forcibly broken up by police using teargas. There were also reports of looting and vandalism in the capital. Newly elected President, […]
Belizeans travelling to Mexico and Mexicans coming to Belize today got some good news. The two countries reached agreement relaxing entry requirements for citizens crossing the common border. Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard says this is only one of several accords reached on day one of a series of meetings leading up to the fourth Belize-Mexico […]
