The Norwegian Cruise Line tourism development project in southern Belize is running into yet another obstacle. That’s because, the Belize Tourism Industry Association, through Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, has proceeded with legal action against government, particularly the Department of the Environment, as well as the National Environmental Appraisal Committee. B.T.I.A. is seeking a judicial review […]
At this morning’s press conference, B.T.I.A. President Herbert Haylock also made reference to the outcome of a public consultation held in Independence in January as the origin of the impending litigation. Similarly, Placencia Chapter President, Stewart Krohn, says that the proposed project goes against what has been outlined in the National Tourism Master Plan, a […]
The Public Utilities Commission has approved a nominal reduction in electricity rates, following an Annual Review Proceeding submission by Belize Electricity Limited earlier this year. While the mean electricity rate presently stands at zero point four-four-six-five cents per kilowatt hour, it will be lowered by zero point four-three-zero-zero cents per kilowatt hour. The proposed reduction […]
The Police Department is tonight grieving the death of one of its own. Superintendent Alton Alvarez, the officer commanding Intermediate Southern Formation, died unexpectedly on Friday night in Independence. Forty-five year old Alvarez had complained of chest pains and was taken to the Independence Polyclinic and released. But on the way home, accompanied by his […]
Two notable Belizeans were laid to rest over the weekend. Former Minister of Government, Maxwell Samuels was eulogized by P.U.P. Party Leader, Francis Fonseca at a service in Willows Bank; his interment was in Burrell Boom on Sunday and attended by a large number of party supporters as well as family members. The other Belizean […]
A land dispute is tonight brewing between residents of Cotton Tree Village and Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, following the parceling out of two hundred and fifty lots to be distributed among residence of his constituency. The village council is up in arms, as it believes that they were not consulted prior to […]
Police and Coast Guard are continuing the search for kayaker Wrangler Shane Leesman, missing in the seas off San Pedro since April twenty-ninth. The former American Army Ranger was with a friend, Bradley Evans Josker, when the pair decided to kayak to the reef. Rough waters and strong currents capsized the small craft and caused […]
The battle between the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Government of Belize over the construction of a proposed port of call at Harvest Caye will imminently be waged in the Supreme Court. B.T.I.A., having written the Department of the Environment concerning the approval of an environmental impact assessment for NCL to […]
According to Krohn, while the fifty million U.S. dollar project is unwarranted, it is largely the brainchild of former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Tourism, Mike Singh. Singh, who is now second in command of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, has been engaged in a back and forth with several individuals, including Mary Toy, […]
The Princess Hotel is now formally the Ramada Belize City Princess. The announcement was made by new General Manager Erol Olcan this morning, during a media breakfast at the hotel. The Ramada brand is owned by the Windham Hotel Group, which is the largest hotel company in the world, operating well known chains like Planet […]
Executive Director Greg Ch’oc has offered comment on Makin’s abrupt removal. The former Alcalde reportedly signed a document stating that the village of Conejo, one of five buffer communities surrounding the Sarstoon Temash National Park, consents to have U.S. Capital proceed with exploratory work within the protected area. Ch’oc says that the procedure to oust […]
The community of Shipyard in the Orange Walk district is home to thirty-five hundred Mennonites. They’re generally considered a peaceful, hardworking, quiet people. Their homes, farmlands and industrial sites are well-kept models of efficiency. But where Shipyard is concerned, there are growing reports of a dark underbelly of religious persecution, fear and violence. The small […]
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in an annual general meeting held recently, has appointed a new president. Businessman Arturo ‘Tux’ Vasquez succeeds immediate past President Kay Menzies, who has served in that capacity for the past four years. The AGM also saw the election of new councilors to the executive of the BCCI. […]
While the issue of a thirteenth senator has remained all but moot, Vasquez says that the matter will be put before the executive and membership of the chamber and, depending on their collective position, will advocate that the Barrow administration honors its word. Arturo ‘Tux’ Vasquez, President, BCCI “Yeah that has been a bit […]
More details will become available on Tuesday at a press conference, but we can confirm tonight that the Public Utilities Commission has approved an increase in water rates by the Belize Water Services Limited, BWSL. The Commission has given the green light to a revised Business Plan and Regulated Values of more than fourteen million […]
A teenager drowned while swimming in the Macal River on Saturday. Fourteen-year-old Johnatan Requena, a resident of San Ignacio Town, was swimming along with a friend in an area between the Hawksworth Bridge and the low-lying bridge when he submerged and did not resurface. Requena reportedly struggled to remain afloat and when the friend managed […]
The Police Department is fighting crime by targeting those believed to be most vulnerable, the youths. Through its cadet corps, Rural Belize District police officers are making a positive impact on children through extra-curricular activities. On Saturday, a sports day was held at the Burrell Boom basketball court that brought over a hundred youths who […]
Mayor Darrell Bradley will be leaving municipal office in March 2015. We didn’t exactly hear it from the horse’s mouth, but we heard it from his political boss, Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Bradley has been a perpetual waffle when it comes to his future in politics. First he claimed he would throw his hat into […]
Despite a ruling handed down by Supreme Court Justice Michelle Arana on April third, US Capital Energy’s pre-drilling activities in the Sarstoon Temash National Park will continue unabated. That’s because government, like SATIIM and U.S Capital, has its own interpretation of the ruling. In a letter dated April twenty-third, attorney Denys Barrow informs SATIIM’s attorney […]
In March 2014, Maranco Energy Belize Limited announced a significant oil find at its South Canal Bank number three – a preliminary reserve estimate of fifty-million barrels. But it was a bittersweet discovery. The oil is there, but getting it out of the ground is a whole different matter, a prohibitively expensive proposition. The company […]
Seven months and counting – that’s how much time has passed since former Minister of State Elvin Penner was fingered in a serious immigration fraud. The public has remained committed to ensuring that Penner is brought to justice for his role in facilitating Belizean citizenship for Won Hong Kim. The political directorate has been every […]
The Petrocaribe initiative took its first baby steps in Belize in 2005, but fizzled out in 2009. It was reloaded in Belize in 2012, and to say that the Jewel is reaping major financial dividends would be an understatement. Today, the head office of Alba Petrocaribe Belize Energy Ltd. officially opened its doors in Belize […]
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been retold countlessly through biblical literature. During Holy Week, movies reenacting his death on Calvary are aired across the local and international media. On Good Friday in Benque Viejo del Carmen, devout Christians relive the experience by dramatizing Jesus’ final hours before being put to death at the hands […]
A resident of Franks Eddy Village remains missing tonight and friends and family are concerned about his whereabouts since he was last seen in police custody four days ago. It is unclear whether Guatemalan national, Manuel Acevedo, is dead or alive. Despite an ongoing investigation in which Belmopan Police say they were initially unaware of, […]
Tonight, there is credible information surfacing which indicates an emerging scandal in another government department. News Five has been able to confirm that there are multiple allegations of corruption being levelled at politically connected officials within the General Sales Tax Department. We are told that two officers in particular are being accused of attempting to […]
