You would not have noticed as there is an obvious lack of fanfare surrounding the launch of this new product. It is a new brew hitting shelves across the country. We were invited to a quiet press launch at Pirate Beer’s company headquarters, located just outside of Orange Walk Town. This morning, Isani Cayetano journeyed […]
On Friday, the contract for B.T.B.’s Tourism Director, Karen Bevan’s, was leaked to the public. Since that time, the details of the employment agreement signed on April first, 2019 have been causing much debate as the public continues tallying up the benefits outlined in the lucrative contract. The five-year contract starts with an annual salary […]
The board that the minister has selected to spearhead the country’s tourism rebound is led by Evan Tillett. Tillett is a former colleague of Minister Mahler and is no stranger to the industry. Both worked together at the B.T.B. Tillett was Director of Finance until 2009, when his contract was not renewed. That was under […]
Since taking office in late 2020, the Briceño Administration has moved ahead with the formal introduction of the hemp industry as a viable means of economic growth for Belize. The ensuing conversation has spawned multiple perspectives, including objection from the religious community. But there’s a strong argument to put forward, particularly when one looks at […]
Former Minister of Works Rene Montero is at the heart of a land scandal in which it is alleged that a number of dubious transactions were conducted on his behalf through the Ministry of Natural Resources during his terms of office. The latest revelation regarding a scheme that was purportedly ran by the Cayo Central […]
In another case, De La Rosa shares the story of an individual who later found out that his information was used to acquire a piece of land. He approached De La Rosa, who at the time was also under Montero’s employ, and asked him to relay a message to the former Minister of Works. He […]
In light of Eddie de la Rosa’s testimony, who says he witnessed the corrupt activities within government ministries, the P.S.U. says that people like De La Rosa need protecting. De La Rosa fled to the U.S. after he felt his life was in danger because he is now a whistleblower. The Public Service Union says […]
The Public Service Union is also addressing complaints made by public officers regarding unfair dismissal. In its release, the P.S.U. says that it received several complaints from public officers who have been terminated under the Briceño Administration. The union says that it vows to challenge these terminations following the rules and regulations set out under […]
The P.S.U.’s Dean Flowers took the opportunity to weigh in on the Good Governance motion introduced in the House on Friday. The unions have always been a very vocal advocate for signing the UNCAC and more stringent anti-corruption policies. Flowers says that legislation is what is needed to fight corruption, not a motion. He says […]
On January fifth, cabinet announced following a weekly briefing that authorization had been given to the National Forensic Science Service to enter into a formal agreement with Central America Health Sciences University. For years, the forensics department had been using the Belize Medical College anatomy lab to conduct post-mortem examinations on bodies found in advanced […]
Much of today’s proceedings within the National Assembly Chambers were statements by ministers. It was until two in the afternoon that the House moved into the day’s business, starting with introducing the Good Governance in Belize Motion 2021. In the evening, the Briceño introduced the two general revenue supplementary bills. These bills, according to Prime […]
But the Briceño administration is facing a financial dilemma. As the PM said in his New Year address, the government ‘bruk.’ A ballooning wage bill burdens the fiscal budget. In fact, the wage bill and the pension bill together are eighty percent of the country’s billion dollars budget. Briceño says that there are no retrenchment […]
Attorney Estevan Perera was sworn as the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission in July 2020 under the Barrow Administration. He is a known U.D.P. supporter who has also served on various boards, including the Social Security Board, Belize Water Services, and the Belize Liquor License Board. And like several other political appointees, Perera […]
Who sits as the head of the elections and boundaries commission is important to the ruling administration as in less than two months, voters will be returning to the polls for the municipal elections. As we reported on Thursday, well-known athlete Kaya Cattouse has submitted an application to the People’s United Party’s executive for a […]
The new Miss Universe Belize will be crowned on Saturday at three p.m. during a live virtual event right here on Channel Five. Like so many other traditions during the pandemic, the selection process had to be modified. Instead of a pageant, fifteen hopefuls applied via a casting call held in November 2020. And now […]
They just released the latest crime statistics for 2020. Now the Belize Crime Observatory wants to recognize outstanding journalists. The media competition is an extension of a data training workshop that the organization held last February. According to Adele Ramos, the Technical Coordinator of the B.C.O., the purpose is to recognize journalists for their work […]
On Wednesday, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing Julius Espat detailed the allegations of misuse of resources by former Minister Rene Montero. He also shed light on the ongoing review of high-cost public buildings initiated under the previous administration. Viewers will recall that the Belize Infrastructure Limited, B.I.L., was the special purpose vehicle under the previous administration […]
An assessment of the recently constructed Foreign Affairs headquarters, the Leigh Richardson Building in Belmopan continues. The new administration is concerned about the value for money. As it stands, the structure, built at the cost of several million dollars, is not designed to meet the foreign ministry’s everyday needs or the office of foreign trade. […]
A decision on who will succeed Colin Griffith as the next Comptroller of Customs is yet to be determined by the Ministry of Finance. While senior customs officers Ian Haylock and Estelle Leslie have interviewed for the post, an announcement is pending. Until then, the Customs and Excise Department’s outgoing head has been granted a […]
The Cante Family in San Felipe Village is advised to request financial compensation after the family’s patriarch was mistakenly buried as a John Doe in another village without the family. Late Wednesday evening, the Ministry of Health and Wellness issued a statement clarifying the mishandling and erroneous release of Fernando Cante’s corpse at the Northern […]
The Belize Police Department has a new board. On Wednesday, an election was held to elect the new representatives. Two slates contested the election – one was led by the former president Corporal Eldon Arzu, and Sergeant Jermaine Hyde led the other. Following the elections, Hyde’s slate was victorious. He trumped Arzu by almost double […]
Before taking office late last year, the People’s United Party pledged that it would curtail expenditure related to the purchase of new vehicles for elected officials amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But not all ministers and C.E.O.s seem to be in line with that initiative, as reports indicate that several of them have gone ahead with […]
That bust is one of many the police make every year. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has himself spearheaded numerous anti-drug operations thus far in his career as an officer. With the cannabis conversation very much alive, what are his thoughts on the legalization of the marijuana trade? Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “I […]
And he may be the top cop in the country, but on Tuesday night, Commissioner Williams was stopped for violating the quarantine regulations. Williams was driving in Belize City when he was stopped by one of his own officers for being out during curfew hours. It’s ironic because a low-level ranking police officer caught the […]
A new home for the New Year – that’s a promise that a community group made to a woman and her six children and they delivered on that promise on January first. Two weeks ago, we traveled to Cow Pen Village to share the story of how a community banded together to help a woman […]
