Immediately following last Thursday’s murder of Conorquie, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington told the media that he was uncertain whether the shooting death of Special Constable Danny Conorquie was indeed perpetrated by Guatemalan bandits. Despite the massive firestorm that followed his statement, Elrington remains firm in his position. Today, he backed up his opinion by stating […]
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 […]
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Feely, of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, concluded a two-day working visit to Belize today after meeting with various organizations, including government, civil society, security, education and culture. Feely met with officials from the Ministry of Education on Thursday at the Leo Bradley Library, where a […]
On Thursday evening, upon his departure from the Leo Bradley Library, Feely visited the National Youth Cadet Corp on the George Price Highway where he met with a number of at-risk youths who are currently enrolled in the program. He discussed the experience of seeing firsthand the intervention being used to improve the lives of […]
Back to the encounter between Guatemalan civilians and the B.D.F. at Camp Valentin. Late this evening, the Ministry of National Security issued a release saying that the group of Guatemalans, some armed with rifles, shotguns and machetes, entered into Belize in the area of Valentin Camp where the Government is constructing a conservation post. According […]
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 […]
A high-level meeting between government officials from Belize and Mexico was held earlier today to conclude the eighth meeting of the Bi-national Commission. A delegation from the neighboring country, led by Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Antonio Meade, convened with the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Tourism at the Princess Hotel this morning to […]
According to Jose Antonio Meade, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of President Enrique Pena Nieto, a guide has been established in order to achieve the purposes of bolstering the management of the countries’ marine and tourism resources. Jose Antonio Meade, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs “We have not really constructed a […]
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 […]
The GSU, or more specifically GSU commander Mark Flowers, have been in the news almost nightly. The elite, aggressive unit has been under fire after allegations of excessive force and unnecessary brutality. The Prime Minister has publicly endorsed the GSU in glowing terms. So today we took the opportunity to ask him about the less […]
Special Sitting of the House: It was only a couple weeks ago that Minister of Education Patrick Faber was accused of assaulting a young woman who works in his Ministry. She lodged a formal report with Police, but one day after withdrew the complaint. Still, it is a serious allegation. Faber was accused of choking […]
The callous execution of Special Constable Danny Conorquie at Caracol remains an issue of huge national importance tonight. Citizens and activists converged on the western border on Tuesday to protest the continuous incursions onto Belizean soil by Guatemala nationals. This is being followed by another in Belmopan on Thursday by the Tour Guides’ Association of […]
Perez, speaking on behalf of the conservation community, also decries the recent position taken by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington, stating that the ongoing issue of Guatemalan incursions cannot be dealt with solely from a legal perspective. Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO “As I’ve said before, we cannot continue to manage the affairs […]
While Caracol has been in the news since last week, another Mayan site, though not as visited due to its remoteness, is perhaps the most dangerous to visit. El Pilar stands majestically between Belize and Guatemala in the west. Because of its location on the border line, it has become the stomping ground for Guatemalan […]
Danny Conorquie was executed on Thursday and buried on Sunday. His murder is galvanizing public sentiments that government has to step up its game in respect of the persistent incursions into Belizean territory. Officially, the government has not confirmed if Conorquie was killed by Guatemalans operating illegally in Caracol, but all the signs are there […]
