The long and short, according to PM Barrow, is that the National Assembly would be taking action on a report that was initially tabled at the House of Representatives. As for giving up its singular majority on the committee, the government leader says that won’t happen because the standing orders are quite clear. Prime […]
With all the activities planned for this weekend, Police are preparing for any eventuality. There are two different concerts that will be happening across the city; the wet fete, the J’ouvert as well as the carnival on Saturday. Then of course, there are the twentieth night activities and the Independence Day presentations. So how prepared […]
Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse will not sit on the Senate Select Committee to investigate the Auditor General’s Special Audit on the Immigration Department. Both the People’s United Party and the B.N.T.U. have made that demand. But the decision was taken during the meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday. The feeling has been that the […]
For a second time in five days, the government has had to withdraw its position on two major issues. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister announced it would appeal a portion of the ruling of Section Fifty-Three of the Criminal Code. The original position was not to appeal, but after meetings with the churches, G.O.B. agreed […]
The PM did not offer comments on this major concession following Cabinet today, nor did one of the most outspoken senior parliamentarians Michael Finnegan. While Finnegan pulls no punches as far as sharing his opinions on issues debated in Cabinet, today he was circumspect presumably to avoid preempting the prime minister’s announcement. But he did […]
As we told the composition of the Senate Select Committee is already coming under fire. The Opposition says it is not for the executive to dictate the composition of the Committee. This afternoon, we spoke with P.U.P. Leader John Briceño via telephone from Houston, Texas, where he is currently on personal business. Briceño told us […]
Briceño told us that he is willing to sit down with the Prime Minister at any time to discuss the committee. He also told News Five that the committee should be made up of one member from Government, one from the Opposition and one each from the social partners. According to Briceño, he has not […]
The People’s United Party is also calling for Senator Godwin Hulse, who is Minister of both Home Affairs – which covers the Police Department – and Immigration and Nationality – to give up the former portfolio and not to be considered for appointment to the Senate Select Committee. Leader John Briceño explained that it would […]
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Another national issue that is bubbling is the final instalment for salary adjustments to teachers and public officers. This afternoon, Government also announced that a majority of two to one of the unions voted in favour of a delay in salary adjustments until the start of the next fiscal year, 2017-2018. The Public Service Union […]
In the wake of Hurricane Earl and due to the present economic climate, government has been lobbying for a deferral of the third tranche of wage increases. That final adjustment, according to B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio, was due on July first and is retroactive to the beginning of April. The Barrow administration, on the other […]
Back to the issue of the senate select investigation…this afternoon, News Five sat down with attorney and former Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, for his take on the situation. Like John Briceño, Bradley insists that the Executive, which includes the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, should respect the separation of […]
Bradley too wonders if Government’s behaviour points to something more sinister – for instance, trying to manoeuvre the Opposition out of the proceedings. He drew comparison with how the P.U.P. handled matters in 2004. Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Former Lead Senator of Government Business “In fact, you know what; maybe what he wants is for […]
Seventeen year old Deandre Nembhard was shot and kill on Saturday morning as he socialized on Croton Lane in the Saint Martin De Porres area. The minor was en route to his house on Nutmeg Street, just around the corner, when he decided to stop in with some friends who were having a get together. […]
According to Nembhard, the death of her nephew is even more painful on Deandre’s father, who is currently living in Los Angeles, California and is unable to travel to Belize for his burial. An emotional Nembhard says that she questions whether the family will get any justice for the murder of the minor. Anita […]
Charges are expected to be levied on the embattled director of the Press Office, Dorian Pakeman. Back in March, Pakeman hit and killed Gardenia resident, Dean Dawson while driving his government vehicle. At first, it seemed like an unfortunate traffic mishap, but now ugly details are emerging of a file with missing documents as well […]
The news of the positive cocaine test, alleged tampering, and fiddling with the Dorian Pakeman file has sent shockwaves through the legal community. Today defence attorney Dickie Bradley says it is serious enough for international authorities to get involved. Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney “You know the implications of that? That calls for an investigation; […]
Remember Jamaal Young? The self-employed DVD salesman was unintentionally shot on March fifth on Mahogany Street, allegedly by officers in pursuit of a fleeing vehicle. “Bounty,” as he is popularly known, was shot in the left leg by what he maintains was a police officer who was part of a patrol in hot pursuit of […]
The complete overhaul of the public transportation sector, particularly where it concerns bus fares and the quality of the commuter experience, is a steady process. Earlier this afternoon, Minister of Transport Edmond Castro met with bus operators from southern Belize to discuss issues affecting their respective runs, including the cost of traveling along certain stretches […]
The Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization officially launched the Hospital Safety Index and Green Assessment Course today in Belmopan. The idea is to introduce locally what is known elsewhere as a smart hospital, to respond to a technologically driven environment of care and prepare for its evolution in the future. Healthcare […]
J’ouvert has grown into one of the most popular events that precede the carnival road march to be held this Saturday in the City. Thousands will converge at the San Cas Plaza at the foot of the BelCan Bridge to join in the huge street party where the bramming will continue well into Saturday morning. […]
Missing cocaine certification and tainted blood; that’s what police are investigating in the case of the Director of Press Office Dorian Pakeman, who is now on unpaid leave. Dean Dawson, a resident of Gardenia, Belize District was killed in a traffic accident on March thirtieth 2016 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The vehicle that hit […]
The missing information is one thing, but police also confirmed today that there was tampering with the blood sample for Dawson that was sent for testing at the National Forensic lab. Somewhere and somehow, ethanol was injected into Dawson’s blood. Police are also looking at this angle and suspect personnel from the scenes of crime. […]
The student body, as well as the faculty and staff of St. Joseph School, is tonight mourning the sudden death of a promising young athlete. On Friday evening, twelve-year-old Daemon Garcia, a member of the school’s basketball team, was practicing along with his teammates when he unexpectedly collapsed. The standard six student was immediately rushed […]
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry today confirmed that it has officially reversed its position and is now joining the social partners, as well the Opposition, in the call for a Senate Select Committee to investigate the Special Audit of the Immigration and Nationality Department. The decision was taken on Thursday and preceded a […]
