Belize - Belize News - Channel5Belize.com - Great Belize Productions - Belize Breaking News
Home » Featured Miscellaneous People & Places Social Issues You are currently browsing entries filed in: Featured Miscellaneous People & Places Social Issues

LGBT Community Has Been Given a “Shield, Not A Sword”

In a letter written by the Roman Catholic Church to Prime Minister Barrow earlier this week, bishops Dorick Wright and Christopher Glancy highlighted the urgent need for appeal.  They alluded to other countries where decriminalization of certain aspects of the sodomy law was successfully challenged.  The church maintains that legalization gave sudden rise to gay […]

What Does Section 53 Law Now Criminalize?

The sexual abuse of a minor by his sixteen-year-old sibling last Friday, during which the eleven-year-old boy was sodomized by an older brother is most unfortunate.  The timeliness of the incident, in the wake of a landmark decision in the Section Fifty-three challenge, has certainly added to the confusion surrounding the Supreme Court judgment.  That […]

B.P.P. Says “Take It to the People!”

Take it to the people! That is the advice of the Belize Progressive Party on issues ranging from the recent decision on Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code, to legalization of marijuana use, to signing the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention.  In terms of background, the 2008 referendum on electing the Senate, the only one in […]

Would a Popular Referendum Hurt Court’s Responsibility to Protect the Law?

Rogers noted that the United States uses referenda at the city, county and state levels to glean the people’s thoughts on important social and governance issues.  But given that the judiciary has a role to play in interpreting the law and advising on the rights of persons who feel infringed upon, as Caleb Orozco did, […]

Progressive Party Wants “Higher Standard” Applied in Patrick Faber Case

Police continue their investigations into how Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s Toyota Prado ended up in the Caribbean Sea near Marine Parade on Sunday night.  The Minister says it was stolen from its parking place on the George Price Highway, but many are sceptical to say the least. Today, the Belize Progressive Party’s chairman, Paco […]

B.P.P. Has Thumbs Down for Godwin Hulse as Police Minister

In calling once again for the Government to sign the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention, B.P.P. Political Leader Patrick Rogers declared that they are not comfortable with former comrade in the cause for political reform, Senator Godwin Hulse, being put in charge of the Police Department. Unless the Government changes its ways, Rogers said, the change […]

Will B.P.P. Member Be Expelled in Social Media Fight?

The Belize Progressive Party is approaching its first anniversary of formation; but as with any political party there is internal turmoil. In this case, at least one member may face internal discipline up to possible expulsion as a result of alleged misrepresentation of a meeting held with a prominent local personality. The party’s political leader, […]

Senate Discusses Appointment of Doug Singh to Elections Commission

Former U.D.P. senator Doug Singh has been named chair of the Elections and Boundaries Commission.  His appointment was made formal on Monday, despite having assumed the post since January first.  Singh, who is also a former minister of police, succeeds Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai, who acted in the capacity as chair.  On Monday, during […]

Opposition Wants Re-Registration Before Re-Districting

Attorney Michel Chebat, who was sworn in as a temporary senator on Monday, sat in for Senator Eamon Courtenay.  He shared the opposition’s perspective on Singh’s appointment.   Michel Chebat, P.U.P. Senator “Prior to today’s official appointment of Mr. Singh, it has come to my attention that in fact Mr. Singh has already held one […]

PACT gives $40,000 for Hurricane Relief to Red Cross

Hurricane relief funds were handed over to the Belize Red Cross today by an unusual donor. The Protected Areas Conservation Trust, an environmental N.G.O., handed over a forty thousand dollars cheque to the humanitarian organization to assist children most affected by Hurricane Earl. The brief ceremony took place this morning at the Red Cross Headquarters […]

Funds Will Go to Getting Kids Ready for School

It’s yet another donation to the Belize Red Cross and essentially for Belizeans across the country who were affected by the category one hurricane. The donation will get children prepared for the new school year which starts as early as next week.   Lily Bowman, Executive Director, Belize Red Cross “Ten thousand dollars will be […]

Co-Managers of Protected Areas Also Get Assistance

As to the other sixty thousand dollars; it is being used to assist co-managers, who manage protected areas and parks on behalf of the government of Belize. The winds associated with Hurricane Earl damaged many of the visitors centers, the trail systems and many trees are down. PACT’s Board Chair, Doctor Colin Young told News […]

Government Will Not Appeal Section 53 Decision; A.G. Cites Legal Advice

The Government of Belize has announced that it will not appeal the landmark decision of the Supreme Court in respect of Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code.  That statement comes one week after Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin ruled in favor of gay rights activist Caleb Orozco who successfully challenged the constitutionality of that piece of […]

P.M. says Cabinet Split on Support for LGBT Rights

According to Prime Minister Barrow, government’s decision was equally the result of a lively discussion among senior members of Cabinet who advise on policy.    Prime Minister Dean Barrow “The position we have taken was come to after a very spirited debate was had among members of Cabinet.  My Cabinet is no different from the […]

Barrow Says Churches Can Appeal Section 53 Decision

As we’ve mentioned, Bishops Dorick Wright and Christopher Glancy, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, wrote to Prime Minister Barrow urging government to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court.  Likewise, the National Evangelical Association of Belize wrote to the PM requesting an appeal.  Neither was fruitful in convincing government to elevate the matter […]

Gay Marriage Coming? P.M. Says Section 53 Decision Won’t Cause It

Does the reading down of Section Fifty-three open the figurative door to gay marriage?  It’s a widely held belief among many, including the Roman Catholic Church.  In fact, its premise for seeking an appeal of the controversial Supreme Court decision is hinged on that very notion.  Government, on the other hand, does not believe that […]

Evangelicals Will Seek Support for Appeal

Following the prime minister’s press conference, we got a reaction from the National Evangelical Association of Belize on government’s position on Section Fifty-three.  Needless to say, the organization is disappointed that government has chosen to concede defeat.  According to NEAB President, Pastor Lance Lewis, while government has chosen to step aside in the matter, there […]

Caleb Orozco Warns Churches Over Morality

The protagonist at the center of the UNIBAM Challenge is gay rights activist Caleb Orozco.  Over the years, he has been the subject of scorn and disdain, as much as he has been heralded as a pioneer in the human rights movement.  In spite of the successful outcome, Orozco maintains that there needs to introspection […]

New Police Minister Says “Crime Will Never Pay”

The new Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Senator Godwin Hulse, has met with the brass of the Police Department. As you heard Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams say on Tuesday, his new boss has a definite direction in which he wants the department to go and it will be up to them to […]

Can Regulation Help Police Avoid Entanglements with Unsavoury Characters?

And while the police are certain to double down on efforts to stop crime, the recent William Mason case shows that sometimes, the alleged criminal element is well-disguised. While senior police officers have tried their mightiest to distance themselves from Mason, his web seems to entangle them even more. So can specific regulations stop such […]

Hurricane Relief Funds Coming In Slowly for Government

Today marks the second week since Hurricane Earl ravaged parts of the Belize District.  In the wake of the disaster, relief efforts have included generous donations from various organizations to the Belize Red Cross.  On Thursday, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, PACT, will also be making a significant contribution to the Red Cross.  So while […]

P.M. Says Deputy’s Prado Story Will Be Scrutinized By Police

Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s assigned ministerial vehicle was plunged in the drink near Marine Parade on Sunday night as he socialized at Old Belize following, an outing to the cayes earlier in the day.  It turns out that the vehicle had been reported stolen from the residence of his girlfriend near mile four on […]

Grace Primary School to Build Extension in Faber’s Road Area

A ground-breaking ceremony was held today on a three-acre plot of land on Faber’s Road extension. It is the construction site for an extension of Grace Primary School that will cost the government over half a million dollars. Funded through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, the new school with cater to one hundred […]

Hundreds of Teachers Cut Due to Not Having Proper Training

There are several schools for which the new academic year has already started, but most primary schools across the country won’t start classes until September fifth. Most of the education system programs, such as the three hundred dollars subsidy for students, are in place to ensure that children are back in school, what about teachers. […]

Public Officers to Face Delay in Salary Increase

At the last press conference held in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl, Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke briefly about having a discussion with the unions in terms of having a delay in the increase of salary for public officers and teachers considering the relief efforts and the external debt payments.  On Monday, PM Barrow met […]