Briceño described the Government’s treatment of the S.S.B. as a piñata, always available for ready cash on demand. But with calls for increased contributions from workers, what, if anything, can be done to fix the Board’s position? While the party is still discussing its plans, Briceño outlined four areas of importance, which includes reducing expenses […]
The spectacle that was the simultaneous coronation of Aaliyah Ysaguirre and Esmeralda Cal as Queen of the Bay 2017 endures as the topic of choice in just about every forum. Just about everyone has weighed in on the embarrassment that unfolded during the official ceremony on the Tenth of September when National Coordinator Zenaida Moya […]
The humiliation playing out onstage at the Fort George Memorial Park on Sunday ended in Moya’s immediate termination on live television, though she says she cannot be fired. Today, Faber says that his office as chair of the September Celebrations Commission had nothing to do with Moya’s dismissal. Patrick Faber, Chairman, September Celebrations Commission […]
Information reaching News Five is that Prime Minister Dean Barrow has formally advised Governor General Sir Colville Young to appoint Franz Parke as a Justice of Appeal, although the appointment is not confirmed. Both the Bar Association of Belize and Leader of the Opposition John Briceño, with whom the Prime Minister is required to consult, […]
Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal has been served with a letter from attorney Andrew Marshalleck on behalf of Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams for alleged slanderous comments made during a press brief on Tuesday. In that interview, the Regional Commander of Eastern Division South insinuated that his predecessor basically gave preferential treatment to certain criminal […]
Former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega and his family are embroiled in a seemingly endless land scandal, a different episode surfacing in the media virtually every week. The excessive land grab led to Vega’s resignation as Minister of Natural Resources in October 2015 and his seat as second in command of the United Democratic Party […]
Funding for the ongoing senate inquiry into findings contained within the Auditor General’s Special Report on the Immigration and Nationality Department comes to an end in November. That follows an announcement by government that it will not expend any additional resources for the investigation. While members of the Senate Special Select Committee have indicated an […]
The Prime Minister’s decision to stop allocations of funding to the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration past November appears to be final. But not if the social partners and opposition, who have been active in questioning witnesses, have any say about it. In addition to condemning the Prime Minister’s decision, Opposition Leader John Briceño […]
Two weeks ago Opposition Leader John Briceño wrote Prime Minister Dean Barrow in the wake of the Amy Forte/Darlene Padron argument over the deed of conveyance for land on Caye Caulker allegedly swapped with Andre Vega, who turned it into private land on Mosquito Caye with help from his dad Gaspar’s Ministry of Natural Resources. […]
NICH got a hundred thousand dollar boost today. The Taiwan Government handed over a cheque to help with cultural and artistic development. The monies will be used for a number of projects with a focus on cultural preservation and youth involvement. News Five’s Andrea Polanco has more. Andrea Polanco, Reporting A cheque of one […]
Today, Executive Director of Friends of Conservation and Development, Rafael Manzanero was handed the keys to a brand new 2018 Toyota Hilux pickup truck. The handing over took place this afternoon at the Belize Diesel Compound on Slaughterhouse Road in Belize City. The fully capable, four-wheel drive truck with differential locks and all the bells […]
It is no secret that incursions into the Chiquibul by Guatemalans have been denuding our rich forest. While harvesting xaté is now almost non-existent, Rafael Manzanero says that the issue of illegal gold panning by Guatemalans within the Chiquibul is ever increasing within the forest. Despite the installing of various outposts, gold panners are still […]
There have been active efforts by the FCD and other environmental organizations to replenish the scarlet macaw population in the forest. Earlier this week, the season for scarlet macaw closed following seven months of research and biological monitoring in the area. Manzanero says that the good news is that in the past three years, they […]
The 2017 Belize Expo Marketplace takes place over the two-day weekend. Annually thousands of Belizeans converge in the Old Capital at the ITVET Compound on Freetown Road to take advantage of the great deals in phones and gadgets, as well as goods and services offered by the many businesses. This year, there are almost two […]
Primary school students from across Belize City converged on the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall this morning for the annual Children’s Rally. The event is a fixture on the September Celebrations calendar. Guest speaker today was Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber. Here are the sights and sounds from the rally. [Highlights […]
News Five has received further information of land grabbing, allegedly by members of the Vega family and their supporters. This time, it concerns lands on the coast in the village of Gales Point Manatee. A survey map authenticated by surveyor H.A. Fairweather and assistant Dean Williams shows eleven parcels in a straight line next to […]
Tonight, we have more from the Senate Special Select Committee’s public hearings with Director of Immigration Diana Locke on Wednesday. The Auditor General’s Report cited multiple instances where fees for visas were waived or not collected at all. But unlike passport or nationality fees which are legislated, visa fees are subject to the Department’s decisions. […]
The Immigration Department has a backlog of files for persons seeking renewal of their immigration documents, mostly passports. But in the case where the files are missing, or the source documents appear suspicious, the applications have been on hold. This is despite separate Cabinet directives issued in 2014 to predecessor Maria Marin and again in […]
On Wednesday, Director of Immigration Diana Locke gave an example of how the humble birth certificate is the gateway to all things Belizean. If parents of foreign nationalities can claim to be Belizean, almost anyone can – witness David Nanes Schnitzer, Rafic Labboun or those scammed in Caye Caulker by Marleny Castellanos a few years […]
It has now been fifteen months since the murder of thirty-year-old Krystal Mitchell, who was found dead at the apartment of an acquaintance in San Diego, California. The divorced mother-of-two from Phoenix, Arizona, struck up a relationship with thirty-three year old Raymond Samuel McLeod Junior, a Marine Corps recruiter and bodybuilder. They had gone to […]
The Red Cross would like your help to reach out to the Caribbean islands affected by Hurricane Irma. Over a million people have been impacted and countries are still assessing the extent of the damage. At this time, several thousands are without a roof over their head and are in need of food, clothing and […]
Thirty-six students won’t have to worry about the cost of education for this school year. Thanks to the annual “I am Belize” scholarship award, the high schoolers’ tuition, uniform and books will be covered. The scholarship program has been running for seven years with the support of the Belize Natural Energy Trust and several corporate […]
September is a month of celebration for all Belizeans, as we commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye, as well as the annual observation of Belize’s independence. The itinerary of activities has grown to include other events that are not officially listed on the celebrations calendar, but nonetheless enjoy their share of […]
Since its inception and inaugural voyage a year ago, the BTV initiative has seen support from Belizeans in the Diaspora. Heading a team of fundraisers from California is Belizean/American volunteer Mario Lara. Together with several others in the States, he has been able to raise enough funds to contribute as prize monies for the growing […]
A twelve-year-old girl is missing. Lucera Constantino, a standard five student of Ladyville left home on last Friday in the company of a twenty-four-year-old man identified as Luis Sinturion. According to the child’s mother, she got suspicious when her daughter woke up early that morning and shortly after she got a visit from Sinturion. She […]
