Prime Minister Barrow responded to those claims as baseless and unsubstantiated, notwithstanding the fact that the opposition supports the idea of streamlining the tax system. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “At least he was good enough to concede that the notion of the amalgamation as an effort to streamline the entire tax system and to […]
On Saturday, the Taiwanese Embassy in Belize celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of established diplomatic ties between Belize and Taiwan. Both countries have cooperation in areas such as education, agriculture, climate change resilience, infrastructural development, as well as culture. News Five’s Duane Moody attended the all day fair that took place on Taiwan Street along the […]
The Ministry of Investment and Trade has partnered with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to facilitate two investment missions to Belize. These missions are to help increase foreign direct investments in prioritized industries in the country. This morning, the Ministry hosted a welcome ceremony for eight Taiwanese delegates for the first mission which kicked […]
The House of Representatives met today in ordinary session, one month after a special meeting was called to amend the Maritime Areas Act, following the May eighth I.C.J. referendum. But that Kumbaya moment during which there was peace and calm, or better yet a sense of political maturity between the government and the opposition, was […]
While things got testy between the PM and Espat, Opposition Leader John Briceño attempted to have order returned to House and despite the Speaker’s intervention, the cutting remarks kept coming. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “Again, that act… He… but I think all schizophrenics are actors. But I shouldn’t have said schizophrenic again, I apologize.” […]
A thorough investigation into the real estate swindle that was Sanctuary Bay is being undertaken by the Federal Trade Commission, an independent arm of the U.S. government tasked with providing and promoting consumer protection. The scam in which American investors lost over a hundred million U.S. dollars was perpetrated in Belize through Atlantic International Bank […]
While the Caribbean Shores Area Rep enjoys parliamentary privilege for utterances in the house, the prime minister took umbrage to the allegations that the Atlantic Bank may have had a hand in the purportedly dubious transaction. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “He is, in effect, suggesting that the separation between Atlantic International Bank Limited and […]
Belize is preparing for the introduction of a new driver’s license system. With financial and technical assistance from the Taiwanese government, a new driver’s license will be created and it is the intention of the Ministry of Transport that the card will be recognized as an official Belizean document anywhere in the world. News Five’s […]
Today, Belize and Taiwan held a short ceremony to unveil three commemorative stamps and sign an M.O.U. to improve the postal services in Belize. The three stamps are designed to celebrate Belize and Taiwan’s thirty years of diplomatic ties. To build on that friendship, Taiwan signed an agreement with Belize to help modernize its postal […]
So, what does this M.O.U. mean for postal services in Belize and for the users of this service? Postmaster General James Gabriel says this boost comes at a critical juncture in the history of postal services in Belize. The M.O.U. provides for major upgrades in the delivery of posts which will be supported with the […]
June twenty-fifth is recognized annually across the world as the “Day of the Seafarer.” This year’s theme is “I am onboard with Gender Equality.” It is used to raise awareness on the importance of seafarers onboard ships. Today, a News Five crew joined members of the Belize Maritime Authorities onboard the Carnival Miracle where the […]
Today, thirty-one young men from across the country proudly marched up to receive their recognition and award for having successfully completed the 2019 Belize Youth Challenge. The initiative is modeled from a similarly successful Youth Challenge Programme run by the Louisiana National Guard in the United States and was established with their technical support. Over […]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Patrick Faber also made a comment on the increase in the Social Security contributions. It’s been seventeen years since an increase and there has been a delay in another since 2012 for various reasons, including political likeability. G.O.B. has now given the nod of approval to the Social […]
There seems to be more bad news on the horizon for public officers, teachers and police officers. The longstanding pension scheme for government employees is that G.O.B. pays one hundred percent and then on reaching retirement, a gratuity is paid and then pension kicks in until you die. That bill is a hefty one which […]
An increase in the social security pension scheme was rolled out in 2003, seventeen years ago. The fund is at the point where its total expenditure equals total revenue. During the two-year consultation, officials from the Social Security Board met with several entities and groups, including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The private […]
As Doctor Young said, the rate increase is a temporary solution. It is expected that another rate increase or adjustment would be necessary in 2025. In order to delay that increase, Doctor Young says that S.S.B.’s investment portfolio must increase. It is his hope that the Board would consider making international investments. Dr. Colin […]
Between 2017 and 2018, more than two thousand contributors joined the social security fund. Currently, the fund consists of about one hundred and eight thousand contributors. Every year, close to one thousand, three hundred persons retire and begin to collect their pension. In such cases where the employee dies before reaching retirement age, their pension […]
The Belize Police Department held its national Du Di Right Ting award ceremony today at Old Belize. Fifty-five students from around the country were recognized, with eight of them getting cash awards and the top two honored with scholarships and laptops. The department uses the ceremony to celebrate the students who have stayed the course […]
A three-page memo explaining “How the U.D.P. can leverage S.S.B.’s sustainability to gain political advantage” does exist. The document, written by Chief Executive Officer, Doctor Colin Young, with the support of the Social Security Board, was brought to the public’s attention on Monday by the People’s United Party. In a release, the P.U.P. expressed its […]
The memo details five reasons why the United Democratic Party should implement the reform this year. The first reason listed is ‘leveraging political capital.’ The memorandum explains that it is understood that any increase in S.S.B. contributions will cause the U.D.P. administration to lose political capital. In fact, Doctor Young tells cabinet that further delays […]
According to the opposition party, the people’s money has been pumped into projects and investments which it claims are unjustifiable. The P.U.P. is charging the C.E.O. of politicization of the S.S.B. and claims that the S.S.B. has been infiltrated by the U.D.P. The release says that, “These are people who have made millions under the […]
And finally, the P.U.P. says that the S.S.B.’s directorate has failed miserably and must be held accountable. The party calls on the government to immediately desist from playing politics, but Singh reminded the P.U.P. of the 2003 protests that resulted in the increase of contributions. Douglas Singh, Chairman, Social Security Board “What the release did […]
In January of this year, Auditor General Dorothy Ann Bradley submitted to the Prime Minister’s office her financial reports on the accounts of Belize for the year 2014/2015. In the report, Bradley speaks of several glaring financial discrepancies believed to have been caused by the inadequate performance by finance officers, accounting clerks, and government departments […]
Over the course of the next six weeks, one hundred and ninety villages will elect new councils. Village council elections are scheduled to commence on Sunday, June twenty-third. More than one thousand, three hundred seats will be available across the country. During the last village council elections, the United Democratic Party captured sixty percent of […]
And so, while the tourism stakeholders have been getting some relief, there is still the issue of sargassum and how it must be managed. The task force with support from the Ministry of Tourism and other partners, including the National Meteorological Service, is developing a sargassum drift projection system with the hope that it can […]
