On Thursday, Police issued an advisory warning the public to be aware of persons purporting to be Police officers. That advisory is a result of two incidents on Tuesday. In one of them, two Hispanic men dressed in Police uniforms gained entry to the Central Cable Company compound where they relieved the watchman of his […]
While Hendy was held with a knife at her throat, her family was threatened. But she has been forced to suffer another indignity. On Thursday, she was called into the office by her employer and let go. Evonne Hendy, Fired from Harpy Security “The next day my boss told me that he wanted to […]
Last week Wednesday, the Customs Department and the Financial Intelligence Unit signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen domestic cooperation in the fight against money laundering and terrorism. It allows for the access to an increased number of sources of information to carry out analytical and investigative duties. Today inside the conference room at the […]
According to Customs Comptroller Victor Recinos, the mandate of the Customs Department is wide and with proper investment and structures in place, the department and its officers will be more effective. According to Recinos, one of the biggest issues is lack of resources in enforcement to tackle contrabandistas along our porous borders. Victor Recinos, […]
Love and romance are in the air as this Sunday will be celebrated as Valentine’s Day. Today, we took to the streets to get a sense of how Belizeans will be spending the special day. Some will give cards, flowers, chocolates or gifts to their spouses, partners and loved one. Others will head to a […]
The S.S.B. loan to the Santander Group is a done deal – at least as far as approval is concerned. The application was made way back in October 2015, and following the recommendation of the Investment Committee, the Board of Directors of the S.S.B. approved it on January twenty-eight. That’s where it is at this […]
The People’s United Party today issued a press release on the S.S.B. twelve million dollar loan to the Santander Group. In the release, the Party states that one pressing question is why the people’s money is being sought by the company, instead of it going to the commercial banks. Four banks in Belize have already […]
The N.T.U.C.B. agrees that the approved, if not disbursed loan to the Santander Group is too risky. President Marvin Mora says that while the S.S.B. is looking at money, as an organization the union must look primarily at what is best for the workers. Marvin Mora, President, N.T.U.C.B. “The N.T.U.C.B.’s position will always differ […]
This morning, Minister of National Security John Saldivar, with an entourage including Minister of State Frank Mena and representatives from the Ministry, Police and Belize Defence Force, visited the site of the Forward Operating Base at the mouth of the Sarstoon. The media was not invited on the trip which we are told was planned […]
The Yarborough area of the City is poised to get a facelift that will be spurring economic activity. While the neighborhood boasts of many attributes, it does not have in place to adequate infrastructure to bring the boom. Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley has brought in a team of U.S. experts to spruce up Yarborough. […]
With general elections well behind, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, some believe, has been lying low as it relates to activities at City Hall. Earlier today when the media caught up with Bradley, he was asked about his perceived inactivity. Bradley says it is the first time he is hearing about it and besides, he […]
A hot-button subject coming up on which the Mayor will not be quiet about relates to zoning. Mayor Bradley says that in the past, the City Council had been dealing with zoning in an ad hoc way. Recently, there have been issues in Caribbean Shores, the Palm Groves Estate, Bella Vista, West Landivar and other […]
Of the many infrastructure projects in the City that have become a nuisance to residents is the flood mitigation project which is only partially completed in the area of Cinderella Plaza. It has caused no end of headaches for commuters who traverse that main artery of the City. Frankly, it is also an eyesore for […]
Belize is preparing to host the CARICOM Heads of Government Intercessional next week. At least nine heads have already confirmed their attendance and will look at many issues including the loss of correspondent bank, climate change as well as the ZIKA virus. Today, stakeholders from the Immigration and Labour Departments, the unions, and private and […]
As it relates to Belize, there has not been a swift movement of persons so the CSME Focal Point, Tricia Gideon spoke of what is being done to engage Belizeans. Tricia Gideon, CSME Focal Point, Belize “We’ve seen a slow pace however the last two years we have been embarking on a huge campaign […]
The airwaves have been consumed with the news that mega-million dollar sugar-cane production and milling facility, Green Tropics, has been given a twelve million dollar loan from the Social Security Board. Green Tropics’ Parent company, the Santander Group, is Guatemalan owned – that’s one immediate concern being voiced, since S.S.B. money is from Belizean contributors. […]
Singh reiterated that the Board cannot even look at an investment until the Investment Committee recommends it after due diligence. That was done, and the Board of Directors reviewed it in late January and gave a stamp of approval. That’s where it is at this point…pending a loan offer and an acceptance. But even with […]
We’re not sure the breakdown of monies invested into the Santander facility has ever been public knowledge. The project has been sold repeatedly as a hundred and fifty million dollar U.S. foreign investment. Singh broke it down for us today and the truth is that more than fifty million dollars U.S. is actually being invested […]
A zika national preparedness plan is being rolled out. So is the Belize City Council, which acts as the body which manages any emergency within its municipal jurisdiction through the City Emergency Management Organization, ready. Today, Mayor Darrell Bradley told us that he is getting prepared, and will actively collaborate with the Ministry of Health […]
Tonight there is disturbing and significant news coming out of Belmopan and it involves our colleague media house Plus Television in that municipality. News Five has been able to confirm that the Belize Broadcasting Authority has opted not to renew the station’s on-air broadcasting license for the year 2016. In a letter dated February four, […]
In June 2015, the S.S.B. approved loans to Meridian Enterprises Limited and Diverse Development Limited in the amount of millions of dollars. Both are companies allegedly affiliated with U.S.-vilified banana grower John Zabaneh. The applications passed due diligence, but shortly after Zabaneh’s banana farms were forced to close down after Fyffes pulled out under pressure […]
In November 2012 Mayor Darrell Bradley did the unprecedented. He launched his twenty-million dollar municipal bond to finance a massive infrastructure project in the city. Today he told us that the Council’s management of the bond has been spectacular…so spectacular in fact that he says investors have lined up to reinvest their monies. Still, says […]
Currently a high profile visiting team of urban planners is in Belize City. The experts from the American Planning Association are here at the invitation of the Belize City Council and they are focusing on the Yarborough Community which lies within the Queen Square constituency. It is an area that is poverty-stricken, lacks infrastructure and […]
The group of experts will take a comprehensive look at the area including social issues, unemployment and violence. Justin Moore, Urban Designer/Planner, American Planning Association “In urban planning and design, it really looks at the entire context of the city. So all the issues of the economy; what are people’s housing situations; what we […]
The recent announcement of a twelve million dollar S.S.B. loan to the Guatemalan owned Santander Group is raising eyebrows. The company, headquartered in the Cayo District, is near completion of a mega-million dollar project to grow and mill sugar cane. The plan is also to produce power and sell it to the national grid. So […]
