This morning, the Ministry of Home Affairs formally introduced the Belize Crime Observatory, an information management system which aims to strengthen analysis of crime and violence data in order to improve public security in the region. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Retired Colonel George Lovell speaks on the concept of the […]
Court sessions scheduled for this morning were suspended in Belize City where a special sitting of the Supreme Court was held to honor the late Senior Counsel Michael Young. The career attorney-at-law committed suicide exactly one week ago today and was laid to rest at Homeland Memorial Park on Monday. Today, the legal fraternity paid […]
Tyron Coleman is off to the Cayman Islands. The James Bus Driver who was seeking medical assistance to get a heart surgery done abroad, left today for the Cayman Islands. A group of Belizeans living on the Islands saw Coleman’s plight and have pooled together to help him get the lifesaving surgery. Today, we spoke […]
At the end of May when we visited Blackadore Caye, developers of what is being billed as the first-of-its-kind restorative island shared with the media a master plan which included structures being erected over the surrounding waters. It has been several months and one approved EIA later. So, where does the proposed project stand? News […]
Nitaya Locke was the first female auto-mechanic in a male dominated industry. She has a level-two mechanical engineering degree, was certified by Isuzu and was employed at Bravo Motors in Belize City. But on Friday night, a traffic accident near Public’s Supermarket on the Phillip Goldson Highway claimed the life of the well-known technician. After […]
Elwin Vanegas managed to successfully avoid capture by evading authorities for eleven years, after fleeing a prison bus in 2005. But we can report that he has been captured and returned to Belize from Guatemala, where he was said to be in hiding. Vanegas was picked up over the weekend and today, a warrant was […]
A somber moment today, as hundreds gathered to bid Senior Counsel Michael Young farewell at Wesley Methodist Church in Belize City. Of the many in attendance at the funeral service, Governor General Sir Colville Young and Prime Minister Dean Barrow were among prominent figures, including a who’s-who in the legal fraternity. In spite of the […]
Since raising the alarm on a pair of offshore studies, including a proposed seismic survey, the local environmental community has been frank in objecting to government’s approval of such maritime activities. Opposition from Oceana in Belize, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, Healthy Reefs and the World Wildlife Fund, as well as public outcry, […]
Notwithstanding assurances that the survey would not be conducted within areas of the Caribbean Sea, including atolls and lagoons, the Belize Audubon Society maintains that it requires an Environmental Impact Assessment to be done. Amanda Burgos-Acosta, Executive Director, Belize Audubon Society “The reality of it is I think when we saw the first map […]
Belize Rural North Area Representative Edmond ‘Clear the Land’ Castro was sworn in today by Governor General Sir Colville Young, as Minister of Transport and National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO. Administering of the oath took place this morning at the Belize House in Belmopan where family and friends gathered to witness the inauguration. Castro was […]
Last week, Allen Martinez was charged for the alleged arson of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Patrick Faber’s vehicle at his Lords’ Bank residence. The key piece of evidence is surveillance footage from Faber’s property which clearly captured the face of the accused arsonist. But is the person on the footage and the […]
On Friday, we reported on a fire on the George Price Highway which destroyed a family home. While National Fire Service personnel are still investigating, a probe of the site uncovered a candle left burning while the occupants were out buying groceries since the home had no electricity. The incident has captured the attention of […]
The fourteenth National Tourism Awards were held on Saturday night. The annual show put off by the Belize Tourism Board is to recognize the best in the tourism industry. The Cayo District was the big winner of the night with four awards, while Placencia took home two. The surprise of the night, there were no […]
This week, Minister Gaspar Vega resigned from cabinet after evidence surfaced that his son was superbly compensated for land sold to him which was held privately. Prime Minister Barrow had to reshuffle the cabinet in light of Vega’s departure. Minister John Saldivar was sent home for a week pending investigation into his business relationship with […]
With all the talk of a salary deduction, there are serious concerns about the legality of such a decision. In fact, the question of whether or not government has the right to withhold wages is front and center of B.N.T.U.’s latest round of discussions. But what does it all mean for the political aspirations of […]
With all these national issues on the front burner, there is another of interest. A baby was delivered at the Western Regional Hospital in darkness on Wednesday night. While the name of the mother is not going to be revealed, we can say that the baby and the mother are in good health. Just before […]
House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte filed suit against both the Attorney General Vanessa Retreage and the Auditor General Dorothy Bradley on Thursday. The suit arises from a three volume special audit into widespread scandals at the Immigration and Nationality Department. Peyrefitte wants the court to quash the decision of the Auditor General in publishing in the […]
Last week the Opposition People’s United Party declared Belize’s foreign reserves to be in “crisis” mode following the payment of sixty-seven point three million U.S. dollars as the first of two payments to Dunkeld International Investments and B.T.L. Employees’ Trust in satisfaction of the settlement agreement made by the Permanent Court of International Arbitration and […]
Western Union and MoneyGram enjoy much usage in Belize as a means of sending and receiving money quickly and reliably and even cheaper. Of late there have been persistent reports that Belizeans have found a way to get around the issue of a shortage of US dollars. Some seeking U.S. currency are bypassing using local […]
Before taking up her position as Governor of the Central Bank, former Senator and Ambassador Joy Grant was Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit. Today, the Governor General confirmed the appointment of her replacement, Kent Clare. He takes office as of October eleventh, 2016. Clare was most recently Commissioner of the Income Tax Department. That […]
Once the second most powerful man in the country for two consecutive terms, the fall from grace for Orange Walk North Area Representative Gaspar Vega has been steep and sudden. That downward spiral began when he was stripped of the Ministry of Natural Resources where it was long suspected that there were shady land transactions […]
And what about Vega? Well, Minister of Health Pablo Marin was rather tightlipped on what he thought of his fellow minister’s departure from Cabinet. But he did say that he missed him because they were good friends. So, now that Vega is gone, who will fill those big shoes in the north? The most senior […]
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that Minister of Defense John Saldivar had been placed on one week’s leave of absence pending legal advice on a matter involving Saldivar’s business ties to William ‘Danny’ Mason. According to the PM, counsel is being sought to determine whether Saldivar acted sufficiently in terminating his relationship with […]
So is John Saldivar in or out? Well, we don’t know that quite yet. Until next week we’ll find out what happens to the long time Belmopan Minister. But how did all this news sit with his fellow cabinet minister Pablo Marin? Marin said he did have questions when the allegations surfaced, but he feels […]
As you know, PM Barrow has taken up the mantle as the new Minister of Police. Tonight there are pressing issues within the Belize Police Department to be addressed. Officers stationed in Caye Caulker are faced with substandard living conditions while working on the island. Despite an inspection by public health authorities, as well as […]
