Norwegian Cruise Line has come under fire from local tour operators for diverting newer cruise ships south to their brand-new exclusive property at Harvest Caye in the Stann Creek District. Operators, particularly those from the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize (FECTAB), have complained of up to seventy-five percent in lost earnings from bookings […]
For the past two days, the competitive spirit among Coastguard officers has been in high levels at their headquarters on the George Price Highway. About fifty officers are participating in six obstacle courses in the annual Best Warrior Competition. On Friday, the officers will compete in the most difficult challenges and the winning team not […]
You saw earlier in this newscast the commemoration of World Aids Day in Belize. That story and the many others we’ve put together for this health segment have provided you information as to why you should know your status. In fact, the advertisements, billboards, brochures…they all tell you to not only know your status but […]
The Senate met for its latest session today at the National Assembly in Belmopan with a full agenda. Thirteen motions were tabled for debate and consideration, of which ten were particularly significant. The Upper House was asked to ratify both the original Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala, formalizing the process of potentially resolving the […]
Senator Courtenay went on to attack what he called “salami sausage diplomacy” – the piecemeal offerings by the Government on the Guatemala issue, starting with the ratification of the Special Agreement and Protocol and moving on to the Referendum Act. Courtenay also bruited the possibility of Constitutional amendments and amendments to the Maritime Areas Act, […]
The Integrity Commission was finally named today. The names of Marilyn Williams for Chairman; Armead Gabourel; Lisbeth Delgado; Wilmot Simmons; Nestor Vasquez; Melissa Balderamos Mahler and Claudet Grinage have been submitted to participate in the Commission for a period of two years from December first, 2016. Quite a few of the names are well known […]
New chair Marilyn Williams is being appointed in her capacity as an attorney, as provided for by law, while Nestor Vasquez is being appointed in his capacity as an accountant by trade. But that latter appointment had most of the upper chamber agog. In addition to his many conflicts of interest, the Prime Minister, with […]
Also debated before the Senate today is the resolution authorizing the accession by Belize to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Belize is nine days away from the formal ratification of the UNCAC, but the last major hurdle is confirmation by the Senate. While the Government of Belize has indicated that it was disposed […]
A working group has been established to smooth the path to ratification. That group has planned a number of events leading up to the actual signing of the Convention on December ninth at the Prime Minister’s Belize City office. It features membership from Government and the Private Sector, but not the Opposition, which lead Senator, […]
The Government of Belize wrote letters on thirty-first October, 2016 demanding from the son of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Lands Gaspar Vega and attorney Sharon Pitts, the repayment of the sum of four hundred thousand dollars which was paid to each of them. These were “compensations” for land that was sold to […]
There is a new chief at the Belize Met Service. You’ve heard and seen her on the news before. Catherine Cumberbatch who has had thirty years at the Met Service and served as Deputy Chief Meteorologist has now moved up to the chief’s seat. Cumberbatch takes up the position that is left vacant after Dennis […]
A busy December in the Legislature is being planned, with a House and Senate meeting scheduled around two meetings of the Special Senate Select Committee on Immigration, all in the first fifteen days of the month before the Christmas break. Clerk of the National Assembly Eddie Webster informs that on December seventh, the Committee hosts […]
On the day that marks the end of the Hurricane Season, Crooked Tree Village was gifted with a million dollar disaster shelter. It is a fittingly appropriate gift to the people of Crooked Tree – after all, their village is always affected by hurricanes and flooding when it passes over that part of the country. […]
It’s the thirtieth of November and it is a day when a lot of people let out a sigh of relief- particularly those who live in low lying areas and along the coast. It is the end of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season- one that has been above normal and went as predicted. Belize didn’t […]
A team of officers and civilian employees attached to Eastern Division North ran across Belize City this morning to raise funds for children with diverse abilities. The relay kicked off from the Fort George Memorial Park and made its way through the main streets of the Old Capital before changing its torchbearer while en route […]
Southside police were on their weekly meet and greet. Today they were in the Vernon Street area and we met up with them to see what they were doing. Some thirty traffic and community police officers were walking around talking to resident and business owners in the area. We caught up with Deputy Commander of […]
Last week, the command of the Eastern Division South commenced a cleanup campaign across south side Belize City, going into the Raccoon Street Extension area and cleaning up overgrown lots that have been left abandoned. These properties, as has been proven in the past, have been used by criminals to hide their loot as well […]
Throughout this week, consciousness raising activities are being held around the globe to bring attention to the rights of those living with disabilities. The challenge is to create an environment that is conducive to a better quality of life. There has been improvement in conditions at workplaces and schools for disabled persons, but there is […]
Employees of the Chateau Caribbean are picking up the pieces in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed the iconic restaurant. While most people are preparing for the Christmas, scores of employees have been left jobless. Official investigations are ongoing, but a long-serving employee of the Chateau provides gripping details of what went awfully wrong […]
And tonight’s question is: Do you believe Belizean tour operators should be allowed access to Harvest Caye Cruise Port? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com
Stakeholders from the public and private sectors are drafting a strategy which they will present to government to ensure the national security and defense of the country. The document focuses on the traditional sense of security, but also the integration of best practices for the economy, health and education. Today, a second round of consultation […]
A forty three year old Gales Point man is missing. On November twentieth, Delbert Delroy Andrewin is said to have left his home that morning in Gales Point and headed to his family farm on the Coastal Road. But since then Andrewin has not been seen or heard from. His family is very worried and […]
As you may have heard before, IMPACT Justice is a Canadian Government-funded project that is being implemented from the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados. The main component of the project is the drafting of legislation that can be ratified by CARICOM states to tackle injustices that persons within […]
Regional Project Director, Professor Velma Newton proposes a process similar to mediation by the courts. In this case, however, it is the Commissioner of Police who is to formalize the process. Newton says that ComPol Allen Whylie, who attended the opening ceremony on Monday, supports the training for officers attached to the Police Training Academy […]
IMPACT Justice is also targeting other social groups, specifically the education sector where counselors and teachers are trained to resolve conflict between students. Three weeks ago, the IMPACT Justice Project partnered with the Ministry of Education to engage teachers as well as parents on how they can move the process along. Prof. Velma Newton, […]
