Last week at the House of Representatives, there was talk of yet another Immigration scandal. This one involved the procuring and issuing of nationality documents to residents of the southern community of Bella Vista for a thousand dollars each. Toledo East Area Representative, Mike Espat, went so far as to call the names of Acting […]
It happened too late for much news coverage on Wednesday, but one of the highlights of the Senate meeting was a request for an inquiry into immigration corruption, specifically in regards to the David Nanes Schnitzer fiasco. The matter was introduced at close to six in the evening, and it was clear early on that […]
Ads advertising cheap rice from Guyana, imported by Xtra House, have been circulating for a couple weeks now – setting the stage for the rice which should arrive in country soon. It’s caused some concern among local producers because there is a rice surplus, and the rice which is allegedly on the way would sell […]
At news time, striking stevedores are still camping out at the Port of Belize where they have been since one o’clock this afternoon. But all is quiet despite reports that a group of men would be engaged to unload and upload ships with imports and exports at this busy time of the year. It is […]
The CWU has been having emergency meetings with the executive and the stevedores but the situation remains fluid. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, CWU “Decisions aren’t mine alone, so I keep going back and have emergency meetings to consult with the members. It is always important at all time that the key people, the stevedores tell […]
More than one hundred containers are waiting to upload and unload. The situation has dire consequences on many fronts. Exports represent thirty-seven million dollars while the imports so far for this year stand at one point five million dollars, which is a little over three percent. Eighty-five percent of what is used by the public […]
The Ministry of Immigration seems to be ever under scrutiny for a series of irregularities concerning documentation obtained through fraudulent means. At the House meeting last Friday Prime Minister Dean Barrow sombrely expressed his belief that addressing the corruption and high level collusion within the department would be an ongoing fight because there is just […]
On the table for discussion, debate and passage before the Senate this morning were two loan motions for road rehabilitation and tourism, thirteen agreements for ratification and the usually inflammable Petrocaribe appropriations bill. The session was the first official meeting since elections on November fourth and had the participation of a new president and six […]
And then the rest of the field from both sides of the Senate weighed in. From the Opposition side there is a clear problem because while they are being asked to approve the expenditure of more than forty-four million dollars between October and December 2015, they say they have been provided with absolutely no details […]
The government of Belize conducted a successful campaign leading up to general elections based in large part on an infrastructural surge across the country. And it has continued, as today the Senate was asked to debate a loan motion for the rehabilitation of the Hummingbird Highway. That’s all well and good, but government has also […]
Today is international anti-corruption day and around the world one hundred and seventy-seven countries are observing it. Belize isn’t one of those countries, but about seven persons representing the Belize Progressive Party today protested in front of the National Assembly, calling on government to sign on to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC. According […]
As we have reported, the strike has implications with goods coming into and going out of Belize for the Christmas season. Caught in all this, is the importation of turkey which as you know Belizeans will want on the dinner table for the holidays. On Monday a cargo vessel, the Caribe Navigator, sailed away with […]
According to Barkman the impact is tremendous and the losses so far are about half a million dollars during one of the busiest times of the year. For now, the resolution of the standoff is crucial. On the Phone: Raymond Barkman, General Manager, Quality Poultry Products “I have another ship that I have some […]
Today at the Radisson Fort George in Belize City, OCEANA Belize held a conference to further discuss the issue of offshore oil exploration in Belize and the state of Belize’s waters. Named “The Energy of Nature versus the Nature of Energy,” the conference looked at the management and sustainable usage of natural resources while boosting […]
It is the season for giving and our friends at the Salvation Army are doing just that. Earlier today, as they do every year, the organization hosted children from numerous schools to their annual Christmas party. It is one of the biggest parties where the mood was celebratory. There were enough gifts and food to […]
For the first time in history on Monday, a vessel, the Caribe Navigator from Miami, sailed away from the Belize Port without offloading its cargo following a seven-hour strike taken by stevedores attached to gang number seven at the Port of Belize. The industrial action, discovered to have been sanctioned by the Christian Workers Union […]
Vasquez says that they have been having good negotiations with the CWU on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but that the stevedores cannot hold the Port hostage when they disagree on a component of the CBA. The strike on Monday was a result of discrepancy on the amendment to a pension plan that is currently in […]
But what are the implications of the ship leaving the port with cargo destined for Belize? Well late this evening, The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a release strongly condemning the abrupt strike action taken by Gang Number Seven of the Christian Workers Union. As the only Employer’s Organization in Belize recognized by […]
There is a bit of good news for caneros tonight as the first cane payment will increase to thirty-six dollars and sixty-five cents based on a revised first cane price estimate, which increased from forty-one dollars and fifty-six cents. According to Belize Sugar Industries Limited, the increase fully reflects growth provided under the new Statutory […]
The arrival of COPA Airlines’ maiden voyage to Belize at midday heralded the beginning of air traffic to and from Belize and Panama City. It has been a little over four months in the making and today Panama’s flagship carrier, Compania Panamena de Aviacion, COPA, landed at the PGIA to much fanfare. The non-stop airlift […]
There will be a Senate meeting on Wednesday when a request will be made to conduct an inquiry into allegations of corruption at the Immigration Department. Those allegations have resurrected in the wake of a scandal involving fugitive David Nanes Schnitzer, found with every manner of Belizean ID issued under a fake name, David Banes. […]
The Holy Redeemer Credit Union is the largest credit union in Belize. With over fifty-one thousand member-owners the HRCU ranks third in the region with assets amounting to a little over half-a-billion dollars. Over the weekend the lending institution opened a new branch in the south which means that residents of the Stann Creek and […]
In November of this year, sixty-one year old American tourist Edwin Simmons drowned trying to save his wife’s life. Edwin and Esther Simmons were on a tour at Shark Ray Alley in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. Police say that the couple was in the water and Edwin died while trying to rescue his wife […]
This morning, representatives of the Kareem Clarke Memorial fund presented just over two thousand six, hundred dollars each to two separate feeding programs in Belize City. The money was collected from generous donors by friends and colleagues of slain journalist Kareem Clarke who also held a commemorative event and fund-raiser on his birthday on November […]
Some two hundred primary school students from Belize City were hosted at the Fort Street Tourism Village for an annual Christmas party organized by the Belize Tourism Board and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association. A total of ten primary schools participated. Duane Moody was there and has this report. Duane Moody, Reporting The annual […]
