In his New Year’s address Prime Minister Dean Barrow made all manner of promises, government spending which he claims will rival and even surpass the unprecedented spending in 2014. There was much of interest in that address, but one thing stood out, at least for tourism stakeholders and organizations like COLA who have been advocating […]
The Belize Electricity Limited announced earlier this week that it will be reducing electricity rates. But that saving will not be in your pockets for long because the other utility company, Belize Water Services will be increasing water rates. The Public Utilities Commission issued an initial decision today approving the increase in water rates. B.W.S.L. […]
Avery went on to explain the rationale behind setting a rate that should last for the five-year period. John Avery, Chairman, P.U.C. “We would not want to set a rate that is designed to be changed five times within five years and so we tried to set a rate that will last for the […]
There is perhaps an unprecedented level of turmoil in the sugar industry tonight. The issues delaying the start of crop are complicated, but we’ll keep it simple. On Sunday cane-farmers voted to reject the signing of an agreement with ASR/B.S.I. Instead, they instructed the B.S.C.F.A. to seek the intervention of the SICB to force the […]
On Wednesday’s newscast we showed you pictures of hundreds of Guatemalan labourers massed at the Western Border waiting to come across. These labourers, we were told, entered Belize on the strength of one day passes, but were commissioned to work at Santander for a year. Now that’s not how it’s supposed to work, so naturally […]
When we last heard about the K.H.M.H., the folks there were welcoming the new baby for 2015. Well there is some more positive news tonight. The lobby of the Accident and Emergency wing of the K.H.M.H. has received a facelift though a collaborative effort with the private sector. The hospital teamed up with SMART for […]
The tourism industry closed last year on a high note after surpassing a million visitors to the jewel. And early indications are that 2015 may also be a bumper year. This week, Belize got a huge endorsement as one of the top fifteen destinations to visit in 2015 when it was called a Life-Affirming Destination. […]
It is now abundantly clear that the protection of our environment is key to our continued existence. In fact sixty percent of the country has been designated as protected areas. The Department of the Environment this morning organized a workshop in a protected area to emphasize to importance of implementing good practices to safeguard the […]
It is not officially open yet, but traffic is already traversing the Chetumal Street Bridge in Belize City that spans the two highways; Phillip Goldson and the George Price thoroughfares. The estimated cost to build the bridge is a cool four point five million dollars, according to contractors, who also say the structure is one […]
There is another bit of good news. The Public Utilities Commission announced today that it has amended the mean electricity rate and previously approved tariffs which are resulting lower costs for the consumption of electricity. So when you get your next light bill, you should be paying less for electricity. The approved decrease of five […]
Together We Can Solve Hunger….it’s a non-profit organization that was established less than a year ago with a single goal – to assist the less fortunate Belizeans in the city. TWCSH is the brainchild of Shaheed Mai and his family in which they feed the homeless and provide assistance to families that cannot afford the […]
The organization has grown and now caters to over forty homeless persons in the city. The family has providing weekly food hampers to several families throughout the city. Mai took the opportunity to ask for assistance for the cause. Geraldine Mai, Together We Can Solve Hunger “We reach out to the homeless; we have […]
When we checked tonight, there was no word yet on any possible meeting between the key players in the industry. But late this evening, the B.S.C.F.A. has written to the Prime Minister to intervene to bring the parties together. On Monday, the PM said the continued delay in the sugar industry will have dire effects […]
The employment of sanitation workers by Mayor Darrel Bradley has been prickly issue. But tonight, after months of discussions with Belize Maintenance Limited and the Christian Workers Union, a total of one hundred and fifty-eight sanitation workers will be absorbed as full time employees at City Hall. Effective the sixteenth of January , the workers […]
According to Mayor Bradley to assist with the level of service that will be given to the public, the council is in a process of strengthening its human resources. Central Government is gifting the city council one million dollars for the procurement of equipment for the sanitation departments. And to assist with the salaries to […]
Earlier in the newscast, you heard Mayor Darrell Bradley say he was taking on one hundred and fifty-eight employees, formerly employed by Belize Maintenance Limited. While that comes on board next week Friday, there is still the matter of a debt to sanitation contractors, Belize Waste Control and BML. Mayor Darrell Bradley says that an […]
The purpose of today’s press briefing by Mayor Darrell Bradley was really to outline several matters for which the general public wanted answers. Sanitation—contractors and workers aside—Mayor Bradley also spoke on the municipal bond and infrastructure works. The council has concreted approximately one hundred and forty of the five hundred plus city streets. But some […]
Turning to another major issue…The sugar cane crop season and the sugar industry are in serious jeopardy; in fact, the situation has regressed. At an emergency meeting of cane-farmers on Sunday, a majority rejected the proposed agreement between ASR/B.S.I. and the B.S.C.F.A., which means that for all intents and purposes, negotiations have broken down completely. […]
But before a vote was taken, there was a surprise announcement. B.S.C.F.A. attorney, Chris Coye, would tell cane farmers that the latest proposed agreement was an improvement. Chris Coye, Attorney, B.S.C.F.A. “New agreement does not take anything in any way from the farmers but provides more for the farmers than what the old agreement […]
But Coye’s position came under swift attack from Javier Keme, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the B.S.C.F.A. Keme rejected Coye’s view that the new agreement provided farmers with the better deal. He accused Coye of flip flopping. Javier Keme, Chairman, Finance Committee, B.S.C.F.A. (Translated) “The thirtieth of November at our general assembly, […]
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is convening a special general meeting on Sunday in San Roman Village. The objective of the meeting is for B.S.C.F.A.’s committee of management to present to its membership an agreement that has been met with B.S.I. They, in turn, will cast votes in favor of or objecting to the […]
In a letter to B.S.C.F.A. Chairman Ezekiel Cansino on Wednesday, a resolution was put forward instructing the B.S.C.F.A. and its committee of management to support the application for a writ of mandamus filed by Teck to have the court order the Sugar Industry Control Board set a date for the start of the crop season. […]
The birth of baby Allison Garcia is a moment that will forever remain etched in the history of her family. Not only does January first mark her birthday but she is also the first newborn for 2015. With that distinction comes gifts in the form of care packages, donations from San Cas and Brodies, as […]
On Tuesday night, we aired New Year’s messages from Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Leader of the Opposition, Francis Fonseca. Both leaders spoke of positive strides and looked to a successful future for the country. According to P.M. Barrow, the economy grew in the first three-quarters by four point two percent exceeding the forecast of […]
But the PM also said that millions more will be invested in infrastructural developments across the country. Now the works of some contractors have been rather shoddy because within months, there have been cracks in the cemented streets and portions along the highways are already sinking. Aside from the construction of a cruise port for […]
