As we said, the matter is disturbing, but the alleged victim of the discrimination has not chosen to stay silent. Supported by the Muslim community, she has sought legal recourse. On September twenty-fourth, because she could not enter the courtroom, the application for a restraining order was thrown out by the Magistrate. That means that […]
On Wednesday the Senate will pass the bill for amendments to the Legal Profession Act, which means two things, really – one is that membership in the Bar Association will no longer be compulsory for an attorney to practice law in Belize. And the other is that the composition of the General Legal Council, the […]
The September carnival is now behind us, but there are side events that continue to take the spotlight. This Monday, the National Carnival Commission decided on who are the most outstanding designers of the elaborate and glitzy carnival costumes during the road march. The durability of the costumes and creativity of the designers also came […]
Tonight, we continue with the third in a series of environmental features on poaching and illegal logging in Belize by Guatemalan intruders. In July 2012, former News Five reporter Andrea Polanco ventured into the Chiquibul National Park where, along with cameraman Darrel Moguel, she experienced firsthand the wholesale denuding of our precious resources. While the […]
On Friday, the nation was shocked and outraged at the news that a gang of armed Guatemalan civilians came across the border and confronted BDF personnel. The incident happened at Valentin Camp about one kilometre from the border, where a new outpost is being constructed. According to the Ministry of National Security, villagers from the […]
The Coast Guard’s Forward Operating Base, located on Hunting Caye, remains a point of much contention. Last week, the news broke that the base, funded by the US, is being built by a Guatemalan firm that contracted Guatemalan workers. Now that news would have raised eyebrows in the most tranquil of times. But these aren’t […]
A flood mitigation project is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, which is a good thing because the City Council seems to be chronically cash-strapped. A significant portion of the financial burden on City Hall is its sanitation debts to companies like Belize Waste Control and Belize Maintenance Limited. The situation where BML is […]
This morning, the Belize City Council broke ground on a twenty-million dollar project designed to relieve the perpetual problem of flooding in Belize City. It’s called the Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Project, and includes the construction of a drainage canal below Douglas Jones Street and Cinderella Plaza. The extensive works will commence immediately, and residents of […]
The newly constructed outpost at Camp Valentin is less than a kilometre from the Guatemalan border. Reinforcements were called in from Camp Belizario, located at least four hours from the remote outpost. The threat to the B.D.F. soldiers, and to the workmen under their watch, was very real. But is the government taking the threat […]
The question of the adequacy of the government response to threat is a pertinent and valid one. After all, Danny Conorquie was murdered fully eight months after the head of the Tourism Police Unit, Diana Hall, issued a dire warning to her superiors via memo, and begged for assistance. Her requests for additional training, manpower […]
A week after his execution, the country is still grieving the death of Conorquie, a twenty-year old tourism police constable working at the Caracol Archeological Site. Two protests were held earlier this week demanding justice for the special constable; today another was held in front of the Embassy of Guatemala in Belize City because it […]
In the wake of significant unrest and public outrage towards Guatemala, the news that the Coast Guard’s forward operating base on Hunting Caye is being built by Guatemalans has likely become the proverbial straw. So much so that Prime Minister Dean Barrow has lashed out at the US government which is funding that facility. Like […]
In responding to criticism that he is too lenient on the issue of how the Guatemalan claim is being handled, Elrington told the media today that despite seeming public disapproval he has personally made great strides in fostering diplomatic relations with Guatemala to the point where Guatemala has now agreed to go to the International […]
The police continue to investigate the murder of Danny Conorquie. But at this point that’s more an exercise of proving what everybody believes to be true. With the exception of the Foreign Minister whose head is buried firmly in the sand, there is consensus that the special constable was killed by Guatemalans. Prime Minister Dean […]
The threat to our armed forces this morning has highlighted a deficiency in our military capacity which is certainly no secret. There is need for a helicopter to assist in operations, not the least of which is maintaining our territorial integrity. To drive the point home, this morning it took reinforcements as much as five […]
And with sentiments against Guatemala running high, News Five has obtained a copy of a page of the passport of U.D.P. Orange Walk Central candidate Denny Grijalva. The information contained in the passport shows what is widely known that Grijalva was born in Guatemala on November twelfth, 1968. But he subsequently moved to Belize and […]
The prime minister met with church leaders today on the revised gender policy. The leaders from the various churches have made numerous recommendations that they wish to be included in the controversial policy document that has sparked demonstrations across the country led by the evangelical arm of the churches. PM Barrow told the media that […]
Everyone has or knows someone that has been afflicted with cancer. Over the years it has become even more prevalent in Belize regardless of age or gender. The Belize Cancer Society has been actively working along with the health institutions for years promoting awareness and the importance of carrying out screening tests. CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank […]
A Defensive Driving Course for government drivers concluded on Thursday in Belize City; it is part of a larger eighteen million dollar initiative called the Belize Road Safety Project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The objective is to train government drivers to improve their road behaviour and so reduce the number of traffic fatalities […]
The Minister of National Security John Saldivar also addressed the House on a number of new initiatives which have been put in place to enhance security on our border and tourism sites. That includes new resources to our armed forces, who are our national security front line. Saldivar also spoke about a new forward operating […]
Even as the discussion surrounding murdered special constable Danny Conorquie took center stage inside the House, outside the members of the Cayo Tour Guide Association stood in protest. They want to call attention to the deficiencies in the security protocols at the tourism sites like Caracol. These guides say that if not for the courage […]
As far as House meetings go, today’s session was decidedly tame, with little of the acerbic repartee we’ve become accustomed to. Some significant bills were pushed through to final reading, including the bills for amendment to the Legal Profession Act and the Firearms Acts, as well as the B.T.L. and B.E.L. Acts. In the end […]
Those hits from across the floor got the PM’s hackles raised, and he fired back, taking direct aim at the Bar Association which he says has been totally and completely compromised by the People’s United Party. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “What is so sacrosanct about the Belize Bar Association? You are saying if ain’t broke, […]
A mother and aunt are tonight grieving the sudden death of a thirteen year old girl at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Maria Larios was admitted to the K.H.M.H. on Monday afternoon after receiving initial treatment at the Cleopatra Polyclinic earlier that day; she had high fever and no appetite. Maria did not appear to […]
According to the women, a doctor was called in and somehow Maria’s lung was allegedly punctured when a tube was introduced into her throat. Within minutes and before their eyes, thirteen year old Maria was dead and carted away from the medical ward. Mildred Larios, Aunt of Deceased (Translated) “He came and said that […]
