The perception, based on recent incidents involving both parties, is that there is an adversarial relationship between the commission and representatives of the Maya communities. However, the directive handed down by the CCJ clearly states that government has to spearhead the order. Anthony Ross, Consultant, Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission “What we are saying […]
According to Alamilla, a string of consultations will commence this weekend and those will be preceded by a round of meetings with government to bring officials up to speed with what has been taking place. Lisel Alamilla, Chair, Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission “Mr. Ross is here this week and we are taking the […]
The National Fire Service, under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, Transport and National Emergency Management is looking for competent persons to join its ranks as firefighter. Today, Station Manager Orin Smith took the opportunity to invite Belizeans to apply to serve the country. Orin Smith, Station Manager, Nat’l Fire Service “Do you […]
Donating blood may not be an enjoyable experience for many, but knowing the process and the importance can reduce fear. Today was celebrated as World Blood Donor Day; an occasion used to thank volunteer donors for giving that vital fluid. In Belize, a call was also made for new donors to beef up the supply […]
Today, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent and scathing release condemning the exploitation of vulnerable persons. It’s a very specific condemnation, referring to a disturbing video which has been making the social media and internet rounds. It shows two persons, allegedly with mental disorders, being instructed to perform sexual acts with the promise of […]
ACP Williams claims that not only because of that video, but because of a general culture of sexual exploitation on social media and the internet, legislators need to be more active in addressing violations in that arena. ACP Chester Williams, Commander, Eastern Division South “I think it is time that we do get legislative […]
There is another illegal Guatemalan settlement in Belizean territory near the border between the countries. That news came via release from the Ministry of National Security in the wake of a month-long operation in the area of Valentin Camp. According to the release, the settlement consisting of twenty Guatemalans was found in the area of […]
The 2016 P.S.E. results were released late on Friday evening. The Ministry of Education says there is not any marked improvement to those of last year with Math posing a huge challenge in the curriculum of schools. That aside, a number of students and teachers are celebrating the hard work put into preparing for the […]
A total of seven thousand three hundred and ninety-two students registered for the 2016 Primary School Examinations of which seven thousand two hundred and thirty-five candidates sat the exams. The top twenty-five students are a mix bag, most of them representing the district schools. This year, Kenly Young of Saint Andrews’s School in San Ignacio […]
The Ministry of Education today spoke of the results. Head of the Exams Unit, Nelson Longsworth, who annually would crunch the numbers and track improvements in the exams, says that when compared to 2015, the results were similar. While students improved in composition and letter writing, they didn’t score well in the comprehension and multiple […]
A biography of Jamaica’s fourth Prime Minister Michael Manley has been penned by well-known Belizean attorney and author, Godfrey Smith. The life story of the democratic socialist was commissioned in late 2013 and has been long in the making. Manley, one of Jamaica’s most popular prime ministers, comes from a rich background, including the trade […]
The government of Belize has issued a release expressing distress and sorrow over what it calls the senseless killing and injuring of innocent citizens in Orlando, Florida. Forty-nine have been confirmed dead and fifty-three injured in what is being called the worst mass shooting in US history. G.O.B.’s release goes on to state that, “this […]
The shooting stirred comments and condemnation from many quarters. In Belize, an employee of Buttonwood Bay Medical Center, Raynard Humphreys, commented on Facebook, “I know people will hate me for this but I believe the killing of fifty last night in Florida is justified.” He continued, “I’m proud a moral psychopath (if that exists) took […]
Today, the U.S. made a significant donation to Belize’s justice system through its Central American Regional Security Initiative, CARSI. The Embassy has been working with the judiciary to overhaul the criminal justice system since 2012 and a significant milestone was reached today. If you’ve ever been in the Magistrate’s Court during a trial, you’ve seen […]
The digital revolution in our courtrooms is just one step in the overhaul of the system. The next will be creating connectivity between pertinent bodies to expedite arraignments and hopefully, justice. Carlos Moreno, US Ambassador to Belize “What’s next is we are currently working on an audio-visual connection between the Courts, the various Police […]
Justice delayed is justice denied – that’s the trite but true maxim which underscores the efforts to fix what is ailing in Belize’s justice system. Ambassador Moreno told us today that CARSI is focused on making the delivery of justice more efficient, more effective and certainly, faster. Carlos Moreno, US Ambassador to Belize “Significantly […]
Minister Pablo Marin is out of the country, but it is likely that he will return to what is amounting to a storm of controversy over the political appointment of Audibaldo Monima. Monima is now the Regional Health Manager for the North charged with creating healthcare policies in Orange Walk and Corozal and overseeing their […]
If you’re a resident of Belmopan or the West, or even just a commuter passing through, you’ve definitely seen the massive program of works taking place in the Garden City, including three massive roundabouts and what is being dubbed urban work on the entrance to Belmopan and the Ring Road. It’s progress, but because the […]
That’s the roundabout by Guanacaste Park, but there’s another massive roundabout being built at the junction of the Hummingbird Highway and Forest Drive. Concerns have been expressed by residents of Belmopan that there is no need for that grand a structure at that location because the traffic doesn’t seem to call for it. But Scott […]
There’s another roundabout under construction near the Western Regional Hospital. There’s also work being done on paths on either side of the Ring Road. The concept seemed to be for a jogging path and a bicycle path but the complaint has been the construction which seems to leave much to be desired. Pamela Scott, […]
To round off the project, there is good news for residents of Belmopan. The entire Ring Road will be completely repaved. Scott says it’s much more than infrastructure, though. Pamela Scott, Project Manager, Belize Road Safety Project “What we would do is encourage drivers to move very slowly on the road and bear patience […]
This morning, the Ministry of Health received a very much needed donation of thirty foldable wheelchairs from the Government of Japan. The aid is a part of Japan’s Non-Project Grant Aid for the provision of Industrial Products. Handing over the wheelchairs on behalf of Japan was Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency while […]
Earlier we showed you the road works in Belmopan being down through the Road Traffic Safety Project. But one other municipality is also preparing to embark on a massive infrastructure project. This week we spoke to Mayor Kevin Bernard who told us that orange Walk isn’t being left behind, even though they haven’t been able […]
This Saturday, the police department will be having a book fair in both the north and rural eastern division jurisdictions. The community outreach program is being done to foster reading primarily in the youth, but caters to everyone. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster told the media today that there is a wide variety of […]
The O.A.S. General Assembly is slated for next week. The annual session is the highest level of political engagement in the hemisphere between foreign ministers. It was stated at the much talked about meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in May that the foreign ministers of Belize and Guatemala would meet at the soonest possible time on […]
