Their story got over half a million views on News Five’s Facebook two weeks ago; this week, the south side car wash boys are in the news again, getting equipment donations and expanding to meet growing customer demand. Paul Lopez reports. Myrick August, M&R Carwash “It feels very good, because I didn’t think we […]
Minister Bernard says an assessment survey is providing the Youth Department with much-needed information about the types of services young Belizeans need most. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth, Sports and E-Governance “One of the things that we are doing and that is the reason why the Department had engaged with the youth needs assessment […]
The Commission of Inquiry into the fire sale of public assets, including vehicles, office furniture and electronic equipment, under the previous government resumes on August sixteenth. The continuation of the public hearings comes after several months of pause, following a firm position taken by National Trade Union Congress of Belize President Luke Martinez who sits […]
In the time that has elapsed since mid-April, is there still public interest in proceeding with the inquiry? While it has lost some momentum, chairman Marshalleck says the N.T.U.C.B. was the body requesting the resumption of the commission. Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman, Commission of Inquiry “Well momentum has been lost, there’s no doubt about that, […]
On Thursday night, we showed you the snaking line on Ambergris Caye as San Pedro residents attended day one of a land clinic hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Today, we headed to the island town to find the numbers had ballooned in the final day as residents made serious headway in acquiring their […]
Captain Elton Bennett re-takes the helm at the Coast Guard this week after a one-year study leave. Bennett attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, which is a strategic-level course for leadership of military service on matters of international security. Bennett told us that while he is in a better position now to […]
Belize Electricity Limited realized a profit of forty million dollars in 2020, despite the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. That’s because several factors were at play, including a considerable decline in the cost of power purchased from C.F.E. in Mexico. According to B.E.L. Chairman Andrew Marshalleck, overall sales decreased significantly in […]
All of 2020, COVID kept us all under lockdown, robbing school children of their summer camps and any opportunity to engage in contact sports. But this year, with proper guidelines in place, one man managed to convince the parents of twenty-six children and the RF&G Insurance Company to buy into his idea of holding a […]
The COVID pandemic has hit almost every family and business across the world. In Belize, the shock was felt primarily in the tourism sector, but even quasi-governmental organizations, such as the Social Security Board, were not spared. During a Social Security event today, General Manager of Social Security’s Corporate Customer Relations Services, Chandra Nisbet-Cansino told […]
The shortfall that Cansino spoke of and the huge payouts the S.S.B. has had to make have placed the S.S.B. in a precarious position. Now that the economy is gradually rebounding, S.S.B. says the planned one percent increase that was deferred due to COVID is needed even more than it was in pre-COVID times. […]
Two pieces of legislation, one of them dating back to 1914, are being modernized and consolidated into one comprehensive law. They are the Companies Act Chapter 250 and the International Business Companies Act, which governs offshore business. Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Chris Coye, explained to News Five that under the new […]
The Department of Lands and Surveys is hosting the first ever mobile land clinic, in San Pedro Town to provide administrative assistance to islanders experiencing problems with their land documents. The anticipated event started today and will continue into Friday with an effort to address the concerns of residents who have been unable to acquire […]
The National Trade Negotiating Commission has held its first regular meeting in Belmopan. Among the issues representatives addressed were exports to Guatemala and Mexico and a potential trade agreement between Belize and Mexico. Other matters were front of package warning labels, World Trade Organization negotiations on fisheries subsidies, the Trade Facilitation Road Map recently approved […]
This morning, the September Celebrations Commission launched the theme for the 2021 celebrations. Present were the winners of the annual competition during which the best slogan is selected. Led by Minister of Education and Culture Francis Fonseca, the brief ceremony was held at the House of Culture. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports. Francis Fonseca, […]
Emancipation Day was recognised for the first time this year as a public and bank holiday in Belize. The Ministry of Culture, through the National Institute of Culture and History, has organized a series of activities, including virtual educational events, exhibits, spoken word and drumming sessions surrounding the history of slavery and its abolition. While […]
Of the many activities held so far, an ecumenical service on August first shed light on the original actors in slavery. Interestingly, the churches played a role in slavery. In that virtual service, Bishop Philip Wright of the Anglican Diocese in Belize shared those historical details and called for change. Bishop Philip Wright, President, […]
Outside of getting communities more involved, it’s about changing the “crab-in-a-barrel” mentality. Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, Nigel Encalada says that it is time for all persons, including those of afro-descent, to take their place as leaders at all levels of society. Nigel Encalada, Director, Institute for Social and Cultural […]
We are only just beginning the month of August and there are already concerns among tour guides over what they feel is unfair treatment compared to the tourists they escort around Belize. In fact, some tour operators say visitors have more freedom than they do. One spokesman appeared on Channel Five’s Open your Eyes this […]
A new book called “COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from the Frontline,” has just been published and Belize’s own Doctor Jorge Hidalgo is one of the editors. The publication is a compilation of facts and opinions about the pandemic gathered from contributors around the world. The contents range from the thoughts of one of the first COVID-19 […]
Belize’s handling of the pandemic 2020 is also included in the book. Former Director of Technology in the Prime Minister’s Office, Michael Singh, who was a member of the former administration’s COVID-19 task force, says his piece gives the background to decisions the Government of Belize had to make. Michael Singh, Former Director of […]
As we reported earlier this week, the Belize Council of Churches has taken a stern position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. It was expected since the religious community has staunchly opposed the decriminalization of a small quantity of cannabis for personal use. While the church has criticized government for not being consulted on an […]
According to Minister Musa, passing legislation would establish a system that can be controlled, in order for everyone, including government, to benefit from the new industry. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The whole point of this is to create structure and regulation and so, of course, the church’s perspective will be one that […]
He served as Belize’s Prime Minister twice, first from 1984 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1998. But aside from the brief notes on his terms in office in history books and Wikipedia, there has not been a book that reflects on the private and public life of Sir Manuel Esquivel – that is […]
Stake Bank and the Port of Magical Belize will face off in the Supreme Court on September thirtieth, following leave being granted earlier this week for Port Coral to file application for judicial review. But while that legal matter is several weeks away from being heard, News Five has been combing through an Environmental Compliance […]
The Belize Council of Churches, having consulted regionally with its counterparts in the Caribbean, has put forward a definitive position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. The religious organization is steadfast in its stance against government’s decision to eventually allow for the cultivation, trade and consumption of cannabis. On Tuesday, the representative body issued a […]
