Just before news time, the CIBC First Caribbean Bank held a press conference in reaction to escalating anger against the Bank for not disallowing one of its employees to speak to clients in her native Garifuna language. We will have that later in the newscast, but we go to Dangriga where a huge protest was […]
As we told you, there is escalating anger against the CIBC FirstCaribbean. Late this evening, Manager of Retail Banking and Operations, Shaeleen Castillo responded to the allegations being made at the Dangriga Branch. While Castillo declined to comment on the employment status of Uwanhie Martinez, the statement followed a meeting that was held in Dangriga […]
It is rare, but the Supreme Court has handed down a decision in respect of one of its own, Justice Samuel Awich. The background is that a complaint was lodged back in 2012 by Dean Boyce and the British Caribbean Bank Limited as well as Lord Michael Ashcroft challenging the legality of a decision by […]
The Prime Minister was at the National Call to Action Conference on Women and Girls’ Financial Health hosted by his wife, Kim Simplis Barrow, when he was drilled by the media. Still speaking on the issue of Justice Awich, Barrow directed his ire at the Bar Association. According to the PM, the Bar is political […]
Prime Minister Barrow earlier today also dealt with other significant issues in respect of companies relating to the Ashcroft Group. These include the international arbitral awards; the local enforcement on UHS being heard in September in Belize and then the second nationalization of B.T.L. which will be heard before the CCJ in December. First, PM […]
The Prime Minister also asked about the second nationalization of Belize Telemedia, which is before the Caribbean Court of Justice on appeal. The PM says that even if the government erred in the takeover, the company might still not be returned to its previous owners. Reporter “The government still stands to lose and if […]
On Wednesday, Belize Rural North Standard Bearer, Arthur Saldivar, was suspended from the P.U.P., pending the outcome of an internal investigation scheduled for conclusion on September twelfth. Saldivar, an attorney, has been accused by former client Melonie Coye of misappropriating nine hundred and four thousand dollars. The suspension has angered Saldivar’s supporters, and today the […]
But while the Belize Rural North executive shouts for Saldivar’s reinstatement and heckles the P.U.P. and Melonie Coye, the reality is that the allegations against him are serious – career ending serious. But what are they saying about the claim that Saldivar made off with nine hundred and four thousand dollars from Coye? Well for […]
Over at the Radisson, the Prime Minister was asked about the Arthur Saldivar suspension. Barrow says it’s a little too late. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “(Laughs) I don’t know that I have to be giving the P.U.P. any kind of advice. I will say though that on the basis of their pronouncements during the […]
Remember the Joint Negotiation Team that comprises of the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, the Public Service Union and the Belize National Teachers Union? For years the unions had been fighting for a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement that would see among other things, salary adjustments and increments provided to its membership. The government agreed […]
There is another issue that came up this morning…the infrastructure works that are currently ongoing in many parts of the country which are funded through a twenty million dollar loan facility from Venezuela through the Petrocaribe initiative. There is one kink that is outstanding and that’s because the Finance and Audit Act requires that loans, […]
Connect Americas seeks to promote foreign trade and international investments and is a social platform which allows local businesses to network with clients, suppliers, and investors. The social platform was created by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with assistance from leading companies such as Google, DH, and VISA. This morning at the Biltmore Plaza the […]
The Concerned Belizean Women organization is putting off one of its many annual fundraising activities this weekend. It is the Independence Day Junior Miss Pageant. Eight young girls are contending for the title in the fifth annual event that will be held at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts this Sunday. The group started […]
The Christian Workers Union which represents bank employees has joined the chorus of condemnation against the Dangriga Branch of the First Caribbean Bank. Recently, a bank employee, Uwahnie Martinez, was written by the management instructing that she desist from using her native tongue when conducting transactions with customers. While a meeting has been requested with […]
A letter from Tate & Lyle delivered to the B.S.C.F.A. on Tuesday has sent shockwaves through that Association, which governs eighteen branches in Orange Walk and Corozal. Citing the fluctuating EU market, the company proceeded to inform the B.S.C.F.A. that it would be purchasing fifty-five thousand tons less of sugar from them under the Fairtrade […]
While the impending Fairtrade disaster has taken center stage with the B.S.C.F.A. and the five thousand plus cane farmers in the north, there is plenty of turmoil in the industry even without it. Bagasse payment remains the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room which nobody wants to touch. The Sugar Industry Control Board, G.O.B.’s […]
The People’s United Party has suspended, attorney Arthur Saldivar as standard bearer for the Belize Rural North Constituency. That happened on Wednesday at a meeting called by the executive to discuss Saldivar’s fate. There were some who wanted the party to go further than a suspension and to have him removed as standard bearer. But […]
In June 2012, twelve year old Jasmine Lowe was found dead on a lonely street in the Cayo District. Her death sparked unprecedented awareness and action, and in her name the Jasmine Alert was born a month later. It’s a program which networks the country in an immediate response when children are reported missing. Like […]
Just before one this morning, police constable Victor Chulin had to be hospitalized for a gunshot wound to his leg. The officer was reportedly on Cemetery Road in front of Trench Alley when his nine millimetre CZ brand service pistol accidentally fell from his trousers and went off hitting him on the leg. Police say they […]
You may not be aware of it, but there is a body entrusted with looking after the rights of Police Officers countrywide – from the rank of constable all the way to sergeant. It’s sort of like a union within the Police Department, complete with an executive body. We don’t hear much about it, really, […]
This afternoon, Dangriga Mayor Gilbert Suazo, himself a prominent member of the Garifuna community, denounced the action of the bank. According to Mayor Suazo, the idea of restricting employees of the bank from speaking Garifuna, particularly in an area where the ethnic composition is primarily Garifuna is absurd. Via Phone: Gilbert Suazo, Dangriga Town […]
Arthur Saldivar’s political career, or at least a political career with the PUP, is tonight in serious jeopardy. The controversial attorney and Belize Rural North Standard Bearer was summoned to P.U.P. headquarters today to learn his fate. He has been accused of taking a client’s money – over nine hundred thousand dollars to be exact… […]
In the allegation of the nine hundred and four thousand dollars, the matter is being litigated and a claim has been filed against him by the Coye family. But while that near million dollar straw broke the camel’s back, there are also other complaints against Saldivar which have been taken before the General Legal Council. […]
There is controversy brewing tonight in Dangriga where a young woman’s job as a teller is reportedly in jeopardy after being reprimanded by her superiors for speaking her native language when greeting and transacting business with customers of the bank. News Five understands that an employee of Garifuna extraction at CIBC First Caribbean, whose name […]
Earlier today, CIBC First Caribbean issued a statement in which it says that the use of official language is encouraged within the working environment as a courtesy to all its customers and employees, particularly for conversations that are held in earshot of other ethnicities. We do note however, that while English is Belize’s national language, […]
