A recent report is critical of the human rights situation in Belize especially as it relates to the Ministry of National Security. Today, the Vice President of the Human Rights Commission, Kevin Arthurs, broke down the areas of human rights abuses and corruption. Arthurs says these cases can’t be simply swept under the rug. News […]
The Belize International Financial Services Association, BIFSA, has issued a release supporting government’s position in rejecting the country’s inclusion on the EU’s list of Non-cooperative Jurisdictions for Tax Purposes. BIFSA notes that while Belize may not be a large player in the international financial services sector, it met the deadline set by the OECD’s Forum […]
In less than a month, Belizeans will go to the polls to vote in the I.C.J. Referendum. For some, the vote is a straight yes or no, but many are still undecided and others are overwhelmed with the volumes of information and politicizing of the issue. Our correspondent Aurelio Sho was in Peten, Guatemala last […]
We all know it is important to get enough sleep every night. Consistent quality sleep has been proven to improve brain function and productivity, help with regulating your weight, reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke and even depression. All good reasons enough to get to bed earlier tonight and invest in some quality […]
In the aftermath of his accession as Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams held meetings with the department about his plans to revert to eight-hour shifts after more than six years since twelve-hour work days were implemented. Back in January, it was reported that compromise had been reached. At the time, the Police Association confirmed that […]
Another promise was that officers would work a reduced forty-five-hour week if the new schedule was accepted. News Five has been informed that a survey on the shift is being conducted by the Belize Police Association, which has written two letters to the ComPol, but has not received any response. The leaked documents show that […]
Next week Thursday, a claim brought by the Belize Police Association against Commissioner of Police Chester Williams goes before Justice Shona Griffith. The claim is in relation to a move by ComPol Williams to have the tenure of the president of the association serve a term of only two years. Shortly after taking over in […]
As it relates to the accountability of the Belize Police Association, we’ve reported that the top brass of the department has intervened and made requests to the association for an audit of the collections received from its membership. Despite several requests made by former ComPol Whylie, the financials have not been forthcoming. But as News […]
On Tuesday, the government had to defend the blacklisting of Belize by the European Union as a Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions for Tax Purposes. Today, the Human Rights Report by the U.S. State Department is giving Belize a black eye. The twenty-two-page report cites allegations of corruption among public officials as well as abuses by the police […]
In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission revealed what it calls “the largest overseas real estate investment scam” and unfortunately for Belize, the scammers used its name and landscape to attract victims. As we have reported extensively, the FTC alleges that a group of companies including Sanctuary Bay Belize under lead scammer Andre Pukke and their […]
Twenty-four residents of Arenal Village along the Western Border today gladly accepted certificates for their participation on agro-ecological capacity building exercises. The training was conducted by Friends for Conservation and Development which has been working with the community since November 2018. Due to the location of Arenal Village and its proximity to the Vaca Forest […]
The number of women in the police department is still on the low side, but that may improve now that the department is planning to recruit women to join its ranks. The encouraging news is that female offices have been deployed across the country and are serving in top posts. This morning, one of the […]
There is an open call for businesses to submit ideas and plans for the development of a large tract of barren land in the vicinity of Lake Independence Boulevard. To be overseen by Belize Infrastructure Limited, the project will be a partnership between the public and private sectors and will see the area transformed into […]
Today was the final day to register for the April tenth referendum. In Belize City, long lines were formed at various registration centres as electors waited to apply to be placed on the voters list. Only those persons who applied for registration will be able to vote yes or no on whether to take the […]
Belize is among ten new jurisdictions blacklisted as tax havens by the European Union. These include: Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu. The measures were announced today in Brussels due to shortfalls in rules that could favour tax evasions in other countries. It means that these […]
Belize City police are investigating the sudden death of a one-month-old baby girl. Her name is Rhynaye Alexandra Rowland and she was found dead in her bed at her home on Kelly Street, Belize City, at around three o’clock on Monday morning. According to the mother, Simbiat Garnett, they went to bed at around eleven […]
Thousands of teachers gathered today at the UB gymnasium in Belmopan to take part in an I.C.J. forum fully sponsored and organized by the Belize National Teachers’ Union. The four-hour forum saw the participation of more than three thousand, five hundred teachers who listened to presentations from three invited guests. Ambassador and YES proponent Assad […]
There are thousands of Belizeans living and working outside of the country who will not be able to participate in the upcoming I.C.J. referendum. Notwithstanding the criteria for eligibility that has been put forth, many are unable to return home and remain here for at least two months, only to return sometime later to cast […]
The deadline for re-registration is March eleventh and across the country eligible voters are making last-minute efforts to ensure that they are able to cast their ballots on April tenth. But while many have successfully done so, they are still without a Voters ID card tonight and do not know when those cards will be […]
During the Prime Minister’s Business Forum on February twenty-first, the head of government took advantage of an opportunity to chide the court system, taking particular aim at a sitting judge. PM Barrow’s keynote address dealt with a deprivation of roughly fourteen million from government’s treasury, monies that were offset from Belize Bank’s taxes. Not only […]
Many questions have been asked relating to Assad Shoman’s recently formed non-governmental organization. Citizens for the Defense of Sovereignty was formed less than three months ago and its primary objective is to ‘promote the sovereignty of peoples and the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.’ In fact, the most urgent object of the movement today […]
During the forum today, Ambassador Assad Shoman explained what steps will be followed if a YES vote is secured on April tenth. According to Shoman, Belize will exercise its rights to ask the ICJ to implement provisional measures such as issuing a stop order to Guatemala from aggressing Belizeans who traverse the Sarstoon. Assad […]
So what happens if there is a NO vote? Well according to Assad Shoman, there is no clear plan as to what steps will be taken. Shoman says he cannot predict what will happen, prompting backlash from Attorney Audrey Matura and Former Border Commissioner Lindsay Belisle. Assad Shoman, Citizens for the Defence of Sovereignty […]
One of the most repeated questions relating to Guatemala’s claim over Belize has to do with the historical role of England and future intervention. Some feel that Belize inherited the claim from England and as such, England and Guatemala should resolve the dispute between themselves. So today when Ambassador Assad Shoman was asked about it, […]
Today, March eighth, is International Women’s Day. The day is set aside to celebrate women and advocate for gender equality. Non-profit group ‘Promoting Empowerment Through Awareness for Lesbian and Bisexual Women’ hosted a forum to discuss the criminalization of sexual and reproductive health related activities, as well as the age of consent dilemma in Belize. […]
