Naia Resort and Spa – that’s the newest and certainly very plush resort in the peninsula where mass tourism is getting a significant boast with the opening up of NCL’s Harvest Caye. Naia opened to the public in November; it boasts a luxurious spa, a top-notch yoga room, restaurant and other amenities through which Managing […]
In early November, Ambassador Benjamin Ho of Taiwan completed his mission in Belize. Within days, his successor arrived in country in the name of Charles Liu. Liu is a senior career diplomat with that country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for almost three decades. Ambassador Liu has already hit the ground running and has handed over to […]
Taiwan has been a generous partner making significant contributions to Belize in areas of education, infrastructure, agriculture and culture. Ambassador Liu says that the many programs already in place will continue and he looks to opening new doors. Charles Liu, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize “We have been doing work together on many projects such […]
There was some boost to the bilateral relations between Belize and Chile. On Monday in Belmopan, Minister of National Emergency Management Edmond Castro received a donation of one hundred thousand Belize dollars from the Government of Chile, represented by Ambassador Maria Inés Ruiz. The donation has been earmarked to support the restoration of agriculture livelihoods […]
On Monday while in the North, Minister of Agriculture Senator Godwin Hulse opened Belize’s mandatory quarantine treatment facility at the northern border in Santa Elena, Corozal District. It is part of the Ministry’s plans along with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) to crack down on quarantine regulations and keep all produce exported from Belize […]
The Sugar Cane Production Committee has admitted that it is tough to police transactions between farmers of sugar cane and non-farmers. A recent case is the Eloy Escalante affair, where the cane farmer left the industry three years ago and sold his production estimate or quota to the son of a Government Minister. That person […]
As we reported on Monday, sugar farmers in Corozal and Orange Walk are bracing for direct competition next year with European sugar beet farmers. Beginning in 2017, the quota secured many years ago by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc of nations will be ended. But Belize Sugar Industries and its American partner, American […]
The fifth edition of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Christmas Expo Extravaganza took place over the weekend in Belize City. Thousands of Belizeans made their way to the Ramada Belize City Princess to take advantage of the great deals available in time for the Christmas. From phones to groceries and even the ham […]
Arguing that the Senate was misled into approving the appointment and “a legal nullity”, lead Senator for the People’s United Party, Eamon Courtenay, has written Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister Godwin Hulse. Courtenay is asking to rescind Nestor Vasquez’s appointment to the Integrity Commission. Vasquez was nominated under the Prevention of […]
Today, the 2016-2017 sugar crop in Corozal and Orange Walk began. More than one point three million tonnes of sugar cane are expected to be delivered for processing to the Tower Hill factory run by American Sugar Refining Belize Sugar Industries. There are no outstanding issues between the millers and the farmers, and all that […]
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association continues to reel from news received last week that it would be suspended for the third time by Fairtrade managers FLOCERT. Publicly, the Association has blamed one of its own, Eloy Escalante, whom they have kicked out after he admitted to Fairtrade auditors that he sold his quota or […]
The BOOST Program through which needy families receive a conditional cash transfer from government has been cited as a success in the region. This is according to the Caribbean Human Development Report 2016 which was released today by the U.N. But that is this data is well before Belize plunged into a recession. News Five’s […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has been soundly criticized by many, including the Opposition, for the handling of the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute. A recent motion by the Government of Belize to amend the Referendum Act, as well as the Special Agreement, is seen as yet another effort to placate Guatemala. So Government is pushing for a […]
Gay rights activist Caleb Orozco is the 2016 winner of the David Kato Vision and Voice Award. The achievement acknowledges the continued efforts of the UNIBAM founder in highlighting the struggles of the LGBT community in Belize. The award is in honor of David Kato, a human rights activist who was murdered in his home […]
Is Nestor Vasquez qualified to serve on the Integrity Commission? The question provoked a furious back-and-forth during Wednesday’s meeting of the Senate in Belmopan, despite the Upper House ultimately voting by majority to accept his nomination by the Prime Minister. Section three of the Prevention of Corruption Act states that, “At least one member of […]
Why would Government turn down a debt-for-nature swap programme? That is the hundred million dollar question tonight. Documents have surfaced showing that The Nature Conservancy approached Government about seven years ago with a proposal that would see funders buy out around one hundred million U.S. dollars worth of Belize’s superbond debt. The proceeds would have […]
The official handing over of a brand new fleet of vehicles for use by the police department took place today. On hand at the ITVET was the U.S. Ambassador Carlos Moreno whose government invested over one point six million Belize dollars to acquire the vehicles under the CARSI initiative. The Isuzu pickup trucks will be […]
While we’re on the subject of police vehicles, amateur footage of a pickup truck assigned to Eastern Division South has gone viral after it was posted on the internet a few days ago. The video shows the vehicle lodged in ditch in the Saint Martin’s area and an occupant exits shortly thereafter with what appears […]
Since the beginning of the year, a number of police officers have died of natural causes and concerns are being raised about the physical wellbeing of the men and women of law enforcement. While they all participate in a program that ensures the financial security of their loved ones in the event of tragedy, ComPol […]
The Belize Tourism Industry Association was established thirty-one years ago to represent the sector’s developers and service providers. It has presided over the explosion of the tourism industry into Belize’s leading industry, providing jobs to at least a quarter of the population and bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange. But even […]
‘How di Krismus di come?’ It’s a favourite question of the press at this time of the year for consumers darting in and out of the shops looking for top deals. But if you ask the shopkeepers themselves, they’ll tell you it has been a rough 2016, and they hold little hope for what is […]
With the Senate assenting to Belize’s accession to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) on Wednesday, nothing stands in the way of Prime Minister Dean Barrow signing on December ninth. The anti-corruption fight is one happily taken on the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, bolstered by the eleven-day teachers’ strike in October. But […]
The Burn Victims Mercy Fund has been operating for years now, but not much is known about how the funds are generated to assist victims in times of desperate need. The organization recently supported two minors, who were severely injured in an arson on Aloe Vera Street and had to be flown to Shriners Hospital […]
The number of new cases of persons affected with HIV annually has been on a steady downward trend according to the National Aids Commission. Today, that good news was celebrated with more awareness activities to commemorate World AIDS Day. Around the country, persons were encouraged to get tested and know their status. News Five’s Duane […]
The memorial to late President of the Cuban Republic, Fidel Castro, with the attendance of world leaders took place on Tuesday night in Havana. Today, Castro’s remains arrived in the Province of Matanzas as Cubans lined up the route as the cortege makes its way to Santiago. On Wednesday, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator […]
