Pre-pandemic, only ten percent of the University’s courses were online. Today, the University operates its programs almost one hundred percent virtually. The upside is the pandemic has forced the University to build its online capacity which is paving the way for future in online learning at the tertiary institution. But, how have their students taken […]
Given these challenges and shortcomings, many students may welcome the phasing back into the face- to- face learning. The University may, however, receive some pushback over its vaccination mandate. The National Students Union has yet to form an opinion on the mandate. News Five was told today the Union Executive will meet soon to discuss […]
Public Officers worried about the pending deadline to show their vaccination cards when they report to work on December fifteenth have gotten a reprieve. This evening a joint release from Government of Belize and the Public Service Union announced that deadline has been postponed indefinitely. The Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher, Minister […]
While the number of persons who turned out for their COVID vaccinations has risen sharply over previous months, the overall number of persons who have gotten the jab is still fewer than fifty percent. Up to Tuesday when Cabinet was briefed by the Minister of Health, forty-eight point seven percent of the population had received […]
With just days now before Christmas, you may want to get your booster shot to protect yourself and your loved ones during the holidays. The Ministry of Health and Wellness began offer COVID booster shots in the latter part of October. Since it was opened up to everyone, a little over ten thousand persons have […]
The Belize Cancer Society has long been offering cancer care information, counseling and support to cancer patients and their families. Today, the Belize City office on Mercy Lane opened a cancer care facility where cancer patients can go for actual treatment and care. The opening came through kind and generous donations from some business people […]
The musician and animator behind the Tecuani and Duende animated movie, David Smith, is hospitalized after surviving a life threatening medical event. Although he underwent two life saving surgeries, Smith is not yet out of the woods. His family is seeking support to meet the expenses incurred as a result of costly medication and care. […]
The Caribbean Community, CARICOM, has maintained cordial relations with Cuba since 1972, and today they celebrated forty-nine years of mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity. As a part of that celebration is the nineteenth anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day, which was also held today. Belize joined in by expressing appreciation to Cuba for providing us with a […]
The leadership of the Public Service Union has announced it will challenge the vaccination mandate coming into effect December fifteenth. The mandate forces all public officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision taken by the Briceño administration has been met with fierce objection because some public officers believe this is a violation of their […]
This week the US Embassy donated medical supplies and training aids to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. This support, valued at one hundred thousand Belize dollars, was handed over by the Chargé d’Affaires, Leyla Moses-Ones. Supplies include personal protective equipment, filters, hygiene and disinfectant supplies, and training mannequins. The items will be distributed to […]
As we reported last week, Doctor Deysi Mendez is no longer the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health and Wellness and her replacement is former Lands C.E.O., Doctor Lesbia Guerra. But as Public Service Minister confirmed with the media today, Doctor Mendez is going to remain within the ministry – however, not in the driving […]
There was a meeting at the House of Representatives today and early on there was an exchange about an issue which affects every Belizean: the curfew. Mesopotamia Area Representative, Shyne Barrow asked the Minister of Health, Michel Chebat a question a lot of Belizeans are beginning to ask: Why is the curfew still in place? […]
With the passage of the Public Health Reform legislation the position of Director of Health Services within the Ministry of Health and Wellness, previously held by Doctor Marvin Manzanero was abolished. But there is still a deputy DHS in the form of Doctor Francis Morey. The legislation also allowed for the creation of two other […]
And by this evening, Prime Minister John Briceño told News Five’s Marion Ali that Doctor Lesbia Guerra is being considered to replace Doctor Deysi Mendez as the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. If the name sounds familiar, that is because Doctor Guerra is the former C.E.O. in the Ministry of […]
With the COVID-19 positivity rate below ten, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is optimistic that the downward trend will see the country containing the spread of the virus. But it will only be possible if residents adhere to public health measures in place. Today, Minister Chebat broke down the vaccination figures, telling News Five’s […]
The omicron virus – the latest strain of COVID-19 – has been detected in the United States. Scientists from South Africa, where it was first identified, say that omicron is more transmissible and that so far, the symptoms have been mild. But it is the stresses to the healthcare system that is of great concern […]
In Cabinet news, schools will be allowed to reopen for some level of in-person learning in January, but they must apply for green light status from the Ministry of Education first. With the start of the 2021 tourism season, Cabinet gave the approval for the Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation to employ […]
Tonight on COVID Chronicles, we focus on the Chinese community and how many businesses have either been forced to adapt to new measures in order to stay afloat or shuttered under the weight of the pandemic. We speak with popular restaurateur Lee Mark Chang and Chinese Association President Johnston Ou for a perspective on business, […]
Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in the person of Doctor Francis Morey finally spoke out about the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. As has been reported, the data shared so far after the variant was detected in South Africa indicates that omicron is more transmissible than the delta, but also that the symptoms are […]
On Tuesday, cabinet announced that it is lifting the six o’clock cut off time for liquor sales with the hopes that residents would be responsible enough and not become reckless and engage in any social gathering. It comes on the heels of an ease on curfew beginning at ten p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and […]
While with Deputy DHS Doctor Morey, we asked him about his official post with the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The Director of Health Services post which was held by Doctor Marvin Manzanero was made redundant and replaced by three director positions to fill the gap. Doctor Morey maintained that he is the deputy DHS. […]
National Disability Awareness Week is being celebrated under the theme, “Inclusion, Am I In Your Village? Tonight, we bring you the story of twenty-four year old Jaelen Pacheco of San Ignacio Town. Jaelen and his twin brother Jaren were both diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. Jaelen is a graphic designer, a video editor and […]
As a part of the calendar of activities to commemorate National Disability Week, the very first National Disability Conference was held on Tuesday. Keynote speaker at the opening ceremony was Dr. Floyd Morris. Now the Director of Disability Studies at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Morris lost his sight in 1989. He has […]
Three years after it had initially launched the HIV Services App, today the National AIDS Commission re-launched the application that is boasting a lot of new features. The goal is to get more people tested and provide a platform for persons to get to testing sites near to them. Today, at the Best Western Biltmore […]
This evening, the government press office issued a special recorded statement from Prime Minster John Briceno and his wife, Special Envoy Rossana Briceno to mark the observation of World HIV/Aids Day. Here is that video. Prime Minister John Briceno “My fellow Belizeans, every year on December first, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. Belize […]
