There’s friction tonight between the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission, led by Chairlady Lisel Alamilla and the Toledo Alcalde Association. For perspective we start with a meeting on Saturday between the Toledo Alcaldes Association and the Maya Leaders Alliance to discuss an invitation from Alamilla for a meeting scheduled for this morning. The Commission also […]
“Breaking the Cycle of Poverty”—that’s the mission of a project funded through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank under the Social Investment Fund Program and a grant from the Government of Japan. The Samuel Haynes Institute of Excellence off Mahogany Street got a much needed expansion with a newly built and fully furnished Leigh […]
At the Bliss Institute for the Performing Arts this morning, Belize Music Week was officially launched. Musicians from throughout the country are taking part in a series of activities to promote the music industry. Topics such as intellectual property, export and marketing of music, how to acquire working visas and other pertinent issues are on […]
Protests by indigenous people in Guatemala City on Wednesday paralyzed a major part of the City after main thoroughfares were blocked. The indigenous people are demanding access to basic necessities which deprive them of a decent way of life. But while President Jimmy Morales is facing deep discontent, the military continues to taunt the B.D.F. […]
Guatemalan military officers have been caught on camera bullying the Belize Defense Force in the Sarstoon which they now fully control. The B.D.F. is now told to “respect the protocol” to traverse the river. While there is anger in many quarters, earlier today we canvassed the opinion of regular folks on the disturbing situation in […]
A week ago we told you about a refugee programme operation through the Help for Progress Office in Belmopan. Our cameras showed crowds of people lined up to get their applications processed. Minister of State in Immigration Beverly Castillo explained that the applications were still under review and no decision had been made. To get […]
Information we received suggested that a couple hundred people have applied for the process. Today, we asked Tobin what the numbers look like and what follows next. Here’s how she explained it. Marleni Cuellar “Since the initiation of the process, how many applications have been submitted and the process initiated?” Katy Tobin, Senior […]
Over a hundred students gathered at the ITVET in Belize City today to show off products that they created under a programme with Peacework. In its third year, the “Business Showcase” which is a collaboration with the Ministry of Education, hosted over twenty schools from across the city in an all-day exhibition that is intended […]
There is a repeat winner in the annual Innovation in Education Challenge which took place today at the ITVET in Belize City. Seventeen high schools from the Belize District competed. In the end, Ocean Academy swayed the judges for a second year in a row with their creative solutions to enhance the education system. News […]
May is celebrated as cancer awareness month. Every year there are increased efforts to educate Belizeans on preventing and screening for common cancers. Cervical and breast cancer are still of concern for our women and for men, prostate cancer. There are many activities and education campaigns geared towards women but this year, there is one […]
Aside from the B.D.F., Coastguard and Police, others are similarly being blocked from traversing the Sarstoon River. The Sarstoon and Temash Institute of Indigenous Management, SATIIM, is one such N.G.O. Its park rangers were prohibited from traversing the Sarstoon River last Thursday when they checked in at the Forward Operating Base before commencing their monthly […]
The decision of an arbitration award for B.T.L. shares is perhaps weeks away, but there is early information suggesting that the value to be paid to Dunkeld International and other former shareholders will be in the range of five dollars and sixty cents per share. That is also the price per share that the government […]
Government, on the other hand, says that what has been issued is a draft from the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings on the valuation of a little over forty-five million B.T.L. shares. Under those findings, the value has been set at five dollars and sixty cents per share. The government release also said that, “Just […]
The People’s United Party is proceeding to challenge the Sarstoon Law. The claim is being brought by the Party Leader John Briceño against the Attorney General and the Governor General. Briceño is seeking a declaration from the court that the Statutory Instrument passed on April twenty-ninth on Public Safety is contrary to rights guaranteed by […]
Now by definition, Civil Commotion is a legal term defined by common law as an insurrection of the people that’s of a magnitude little greater than a riot and a little less than a civil war. The P.U.P. contends that there was never any risk of that and there wasn’t a rational basis for the […]
The National Party Council of the P.U.P. has also approved an expedition to the Sarstoon by the Party. As legal advisor, the media asked Marshalleck if he is in support of the planned trip. His advice is contrary to the party’s position. Andrew Marshalleck, Attorney “No, my advice to them is that they have […]
As we reported earlier, government will have to pay more than two hundred million dollars to Dunkeld in an arbitration award for the expropriation of Telemedia. That information came out before a final decision is issued. But today, Belize Telemedia Limited held an unusual press brief prior to their Annual General Meeting. Telemedia is claiming […]
Late last week, the Guatemalan Congress passed a resolution advising their nationals not to travel to Belize because of alleged violence by the B.D.F. But on this side of the border, in the hundreds school-aged children come across on weekdays to attend three schools in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The practice started long ago and […]
While the Guatemalan military continues to outmanoeuvre the B.D.F. in the Sarstoon River, on the ground in Guatemala, President Jimmy Morales is facing huge protests. Today, thousands of indigenous people have blocked fourteen roads. The Guatemalan National Police say they are willing to use any method necessary to ensure law and order in the City. […]
In Belmopan today, a memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit Ambassador Joy Grant and the Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie. The M.O.U. provides the basis for further cooperation between the parties in respect of money laundering and terrorism activities. Joy Grant, Director, FIU “This morning is an […]
And tonight’s question is: Do you believe Guatemala will withdraw its troops from the Belize side of the Sarstoon? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com
At news time it is still not certain if there are any planned meetings between Belize and Guatemala in respect of the Sarstoon even though government says it is cautiously optimistic about a resolution. The Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala met in Washington last week, but from what we gathered, there have been no […]
The present refugee situation in Belize is another hot-button issue making headlines tonight. News of an amnesty program for irregular migrants and for persons with illegal immigration status was initially reported late last week. Since then a number of non-government organizations, including the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, have weighed in on the issue, […]
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize remains vocal in demanding that government rescind the Sarstoon Prohibition Regulation. The N.T.U.C.B. is in strident opposition of the law, despite a release from government on Monday stating that it will now only limit access to the Sarstoon. N.T.U.C.B. President Marvin Mora challenges the government to have Guatemala […]
The Belize National Teachers Union, which falls under the umbrella organization, is coordinating a rally in Belize City on Friday. The public demonstration, part of the recently launched Stand Up for Belize Campaign, seeks to draw national attention to the Belize/Guatemala issue. It is also a platform for B.N.T.U. to demand government’s rescission of the […]
