The controversial, but historic I.C.J. referendum is one week away and across the country the gears of the Elections and Boundaries machinery are already in motion with final preparations for the national vote. This evening, Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai sat down with the media to discuss a number of public concerns related to the […]
While voting will be take place at voting centres in the thirty-one constituencies, Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai reiterates that the results will not reflect votes by electoral district. Instead, the Elections and Boundaries Department will provide information by constituency on the total number of votes cast. Tamai also says that the total number of […]
The issue of errors being made during the printing of voters IDs was also raised during today’s press brief. Those mistakes were being attributed to the rush to meet the initial April tenth deadline. According to Tamai, the number of incorrect cards is minimal when compared to the number of cards that were properly printed. […]
Are there any discrepancies between the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act and the Representation of the People’s Act where monitors are concerned? According to Tamai, the referendum should be carried out in line with the Representation of the People’s Act. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer “Our legal advice is that yes, it is provided […]
Two weeks ago, Cabinet approved an amendment to the Fisheries Regulations which removes the category of “permanent residents” from those persons eligible in obtaining a fishing license in Belize’s territorial waters. The decision is seen as a move to ultimately curb illegal fishing practices occurring in the south. In the Sarstoon, particularly, Guatemalans who have […]
Media houses were treated over the weekend to a workshop on best practices to report on children’s right which includes their rights to privacy, education, and healthcare. Getting their stories out is important but keeping confidentially is critical. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting Members of various media houses in Belize participated […]
Approximately forty percent of children in Belize suffer from poverty, preventing them from accessing education, justice, security, and health. This figure was revealed during the UNICEF mid-term report on Monday. The report outlines the organization’s work in Belize since 2017. The report includes the achievements made in protecting the rights of a child but as […]
The number of visitors to this year’s agric was down this year. Still yet, there were the usual activities such as the rodeo and the promotion by businesses. The agricultural sector displayed a wide range of items from nurseries to cattle and the shrimp industry. News Five’s Duane Moody has the sights and sounds. […]
A U.S. national also lost her life over the weekend on Ambergris Caye. Lora Brook Peterson was visiting the island and was out on a snorkelling trip at Mexican Rocks Marine Reserve on the north end of the island when she had trouble breathing. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, Peterson perished. The body of the […]
Seven police female officers have received charge sheets and are to appear before the disciplinary tribunal of the Police Department. They are Aleea Wade, Shantel Berry, Vanessa Kerr, Crystal Morales, Maria Grinage and Sergeant Christine Avila. It stems from an order issued by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams under Standing Order Section seven which addresses […]
Following a one-year investigation, a documentary has been released on what is called the horrific captive-bred lion farming carried out in South Africa. Lord Michael Ashcroft commissioned investigators to look into the practice in which lions are being bred, killed and their bones sold to South East Asia and China. In other instances, they are […]
May eighth will be a historic day for the country when voters will make a monumental determination on whether or not the territorial claim will be taken to the International Court of Justice. Both major political parties a gearing up for the day and today, U.D.P. Cabinet Minister and Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred Elrington says […]
And to bring out every single voter will take some serious resources, especially money. Reports are emerging that U.D.P. standard bearers and area representatives are expected to received tens of thousands of dollars in preparation for the May eighth I.C.J. referendum. Foreign Affairs Minister and Pickstock Area Wilfred Elrington says he doesn’t know of that […]
While attorneys were at court on the interim injunction, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, who has oversight of the Vital Statistics Unit, was holding a press conference at the Biltmore Plaza. Ahead of the May eighth I.C.J. referendum, the A.G. says that there are over a thousand individuals whose applications were rejected by the Vital Stats […]
According to AG Peyrefitte, several persons, including accused murderer William ‘Danny’ Mason may have been able to acquire birth certificates illegally when other employees of the Vital Statistics Unit had access to the computer system containing those records. Since then, those with access to the records vault have been limited to only two persons. Along […]
While the Government has set May eight as the new date for the I.C.J. referendum, there are several related cases pending before the courts. On Monday, the Chief Justice is expected to hear substantive arguments in a case brought by the People’s United Party which is challenging the validity of the 2008 Special Agreement. The […]
While we had the P.U.P. Chairman, he was asked about the party’s preparedness for the upcoming I.C.J. referendum. May eighth is twelve days away and it will be a battle of mobilization between the two major political parties which have taken opposing positions in what should have been a non-political issue. Usher says that the […]
Last month, HBO Latin America Group signed off on five licensing agreements with cable operators to legally provide programming channels. It comes down to the issue of rights. Today, in commemoration of World Intellectual Property Day, the Belize Intellectual Property Office and the National Sports Council who sat to discuss the concept of sports tourism […]
Since 2018, the Organization of American States and the Trust for the Americas have been working with the Government of Belize and Civil Society on moving towards open government. It simply means that key stakeholders would be able to access data to develop the economy, specifically major sectors such as agriculture, tourism and even micro-businesses. […]
Today’s event is part of the extended schedule of activities under the Development of the Caribbean and Code Sprint Initiative, coordinated by the Caribbean Open Institute for 2019. The regional initiative takes place simultaneously in seven countries and discusses how digital data impacts national development. Director Maurice McNaughton says that while it will take some […]
At the 1995 Beijing Conference, Belize and one hundred and eighty-eight UN member states adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a global agenda to improve human rights for women and girls. The BPFA sets strategic objectives to achieve gender equality in twelve critical areas of concern, including poverty, education and training, armed […]
Cynthia Williams says that the information gathered from the consultations will be used to generate a report for Belize. That report, she explains, will be shared with partner agencies and government to be used to improve the lives of women and girls in Belize. As she explains, the report is also useful to secure funding […]
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority and Ministry of Agriculture is advising that if you haven’t vaccinated your livestock against blackleg in the last six months you must do so quickly. Rabies, which is a highly fatal disease that affects all mammals, can also be prevented through the vaccine. Affected animals will usually show nervous signs, […]
Today, the Small Business Development Center held a one-day workshop with small business-owners to talk about marketing their business. The focus of the session was how to put together a marketing plan and what these small businesses can do to increase the awareness of their goods and services even on a small budget. Business Advisor […]
Today, UNICEF held a workshop to sensitize its staff and partners of different government ministries and agencies on how to effectively engage with the media. A technical expert conducted the session to prepare the officers how they can handle interviews and share sensitive information in such a way that vulnerable groups, especially children, are not […]
