According to the B.N.T.U., since Sunday, the teachers have been under attack by the Government of Belize. The teachers are known as nation builders, but according to Executive Secretary Keisha Young, over the past week, teachers have been accused of going down a destructive path, endangering children who they teach, feed, and counsel. Keisha […]
The actions taken by government have teachers riled up and ready for Monday’s strike. But they are even more incensed by a statutory instrument that is expected to be signed into law by the Ministry of Education to mitigate strike action taken by the B.N.T.U. This morning, the Bill was presented to the National Council […]
Union executives also called out the government for what they say are acts of Union Busting. Former Union Leader, George Frazer says he’s ashamed of Minister of Education Patrick Faber who was once a teacher. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “It is a very sad day in our nation when the government of this […]
For the past few days, it has been rumoured that the stevedores would be striking in solidarity with the teachers union. But both the CWU & the Port of Belize Limited have said – not so. But today in Belmopan, stevedore and activist, Raymond Rivers, publicly challenged both Port C.E.O. Arturo Vasquez and C.W.U. President […]
In a late evening press release on Thursday, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association declared their support for the teachers. The B.S.C.F.A. release states that the demands of the teachers are just as they ensure good governance and respect for workers. The decision to declare their support for the B.N.T.U. came after a Board of […]
Is there division between the Management of Catholic Schools and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan? Today, the Belize Catholic Association of Principals of Secondary Schools sent out a release saying that it met with the Bishop Dorick Wright on Wednesday at his residence where principals and representatives from eight of the eleven […]
Earlier this week we told you about Government ministers on the ground talking to teachers – asking them not to strike on Monday. So, today we caught up with Elodio Aragon Junior, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and we asked him if he has approached teachers about the […]
Over six hundred students will benefit from a major upgrade to the Queen Square Anglican Primary School in Belize City. The nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars project will include the construction of a new school building for the Southside School. The project includes new infrastructure as well as the demolition and reconstruction of derelict […]
Today, the Caribbean Youth Leaders Summit officially came to a close. The theme for the summit was From Rhetoric to Action Agenda 2030. Were the dynamic youths able to achieve their goal? News Five’s Andrea Polanco was at the Radisson today for the closing of the Summit and files this report. Andrea Polanco, Reporting […]
Sixty-seven million U.S. dollars – that’s how much money the Government of Belize must find to satisfy the first payment of the Belize Telemedia Limited Arbitration Award handed down on June twenty-eighth. The Government originally made partial payment in Belize dollars, to which Dunkeld International Investments and the B.T.L. Employees’ Trust, the former owners of […]
The discovery of a shift in the ratio of the award may imperil the Government’s stated intent to use a portion of the award for capital projects in Belize with the approval of Dunkeld. But both sides believe the compromise that was originally worked out can still be adhered to. Denys Barrow, Attorney for […]
So, what’s Government’s reaction to this latest decision? This afternoon, G.O.B. issued a statement officially expressing its disappointment in the C.C.J. decision. It points out that, “The overall quantum of the Arbitral Award has not been increased in any wise altered; however G.O.B. now has to pay ten percent more of that award in U.S. […]
This morning the media received a press release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan. The release expressed similar views as we saw in the Independence Day prayer delivered by Bishop Christopher Glancy. Sources tell us that this morning’s release came directly from Bishop Dorrick Wright himself. It states that the Roman Catholic […]
According to the release from the Roman Catholic Diocese, with managing authority for Catholic schools, “We believe that the safety of upwards of fifty thousand students in our care will be at risk, without the adequate supervision of our teachers.” But is there division between the church and its management? We ask this because Sister […]
As we have previously reported, the Belize National Teachers’ Union has threatened to take the Government to court over allegations of union busting. The Union has accused the Government of deliberately interfering with union members to prevent or retard various actions including Monday’s planned strike. Just yesterday, two senior members of Government were seen personally […]
The Leader of the Opposition also believes that the actions of government are union busting. He says, “Something is seriously wrong with this government.” Now, there are some who claim that the actions of the B.N.T.U. are politically motivated. So has the Opposition Leader met with the teachers’ union? He says he’s been very deliberate […]
The Government of Belize has announced that on Friday, September thirtieth, there will be a meeting of the Senate at the National Assembly in Belmopan. The sole order of business is expected to be the establishment and composition of the Senate Select Committee to investigate the Immigration and Nationality Special Audits on the table of […]
If the motion for the Senate Select Committee is approved on Friday, the composition of that committee is crucial. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has repeatedly stated that the committee should have a government majority, but will the P.U.P. agree to this? John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader “I think this is something where our senators will […]
As we said, the special meeting of the senate is expected to debate the two fresh motions expected with regard to this important national issue. But will they cancel each other out or will peace and harmony prevail? Today, News Five asked former Senator Richard “Dickie” Bradley for a preview of what could happen in […]
Today, the People’s United Party launched a “Policy Paper,” titled Good Governance – A Shared Responsibility. The paper contains eleven points that the P.U.P. say will form the basis of their consultations and reflect what the public expects from good governance. The eleven points of the paper that the P.U.P. seeks to address are categorized […]
On Wednesday, we showed you Mayor Darrell Bradley and the Belize City Council parading through the streets of the Old Capital bringing awareness of a brand for the city. Well today, a soft launch of the new brand, developed in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, was held at the Biltmore Plaza this afternoon. The […]
According to Councilor for Economic Development, Trade Investment & Small Business, Michael Theus, the business community is integral to the branding initiative. Michael Theus, Councilor for Economic Development, Trade Investment & Small Business “We need the intervention along with the business community to getting out their products to market their products as a product […]
The Belize National Teachers Union has said that the government of Belize, through the Ministry of Education, has been making an attempt at union-busting as it relates to the upcoming strike by teachers on Monday. Since Thursday, even before the ministry met with school management at the ITVET in Belize City, reports spread like wildfire […]
In the case of any industrial action by teachers, parents are left to make special arrangements for their children. We’re less than a month into the first school year and the second time parents are facing this situation. How much do they support the teachers’ actions? News Five took to the streets today to poll […]
He was a competitive body builder in Belize in the sixties and now at the age of sixty-seven, exercise and healthy living is still a priority for the athlete. Now, he’s trying to get other elderly persons active and in shape at his gym at the Bernice Yorke Activity Center located in the HelpAge compound […]
