News Five has been investigating reports of an apparent sex scandal at the Western Regional Hospital. There are allegations that a driver was engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient in the psychiatric ward. Furthermore, it is claimed that he was allowed to do so by nurses in the unit, and that the patient […]
Rafael Perez, the pastor of Zion Ministries Assemblies of God Church in Orange Walk Town, is still nowhere to be found. Perez has been hiding out since August second, when officials from his church approached him with serious questions. There are allegations from various women that they paid Perez money after he promised to take […]
Since cancelling a co-management agreement with the Sarstoon/Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, SATIIM, a month ago, the Forest Department and, by extension, the Government of Belize, has been at odds with the environmental organization over supervision of the Sarstoon/Temash National Park. The latest standoff took place this morning in Punta Gorda Town, at the foot […]
In the past, co-management of protected areas has been based on somewhat of a gentleman’s agreement between the Government of Belize and non-government organizations. But there is a move to form a legal framework for that agreement. Stakeholders came up with a draft which was then submitted to Cabinet. And that’s where the problem began. […]
Residents of Sister Cecilia Home for the elderly were treated to a hearty meal this afternoon through an act of charity by one Belize City company. It was an experience that employees of Diamonds International won’t soon forget, as they took advantage of an opportunity to meet and assist the aging men and women. News […]
Every year at the end of summer there are a number of organizations that work to provide needy students with school supplies. It’s much anticipated and in some areas it is a vitally important community initiative. There is one such organization that is going above and beyond its social call of duty. The House of […]
Orange Walk Police are tonight in search of a pastor from that municipality. They believe that he can help them get to the bottom of a sinister plot involving the church, money and sex. Preliminary investigations are revealing that Pastor Rafael Perez of Zion Ministries Assembly of God Church, in Orange Walk Town, has been […]
This morning, News Five also spoke to residents in the area of the Zion Ministries Assemblies of God Church in Orange Walk Town. They told us off camera that almost every day young women would visit the pastor at the church. They told us that when the women would go inside, Perez would close the […]
The restoration of Memorial Park, a massive undertaking spearheaded by the Sustainable Tourism Project, through the Belize Tourism Board, has been completed after months of painstaking labor. The newly renovated space will be officially opened to the public in time for the September Celebrations. While the property is that of the Belize City Council, activities […]
Meanwhile, in the downtown area, finishing touches are being added to Battlefield Park, having undergone a much needed sprucing up recently. To complete the face-lift, City Hall is in discussion with Stephen Okeke to adopt the bust of Antonio Soberanis. Despite all the work going into the rehabilitation, public safety remains an issue for the […]
UNICEF Belize and its partners, BCVI and CARE Belize today officially launched its Situation Analysis of Children with Disabilities and the Situation Analysis of Blind and Visually Impaired Children. Also revealed was UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children’s Report. Both provides data about children with disabilities highlighting the need to break the barriers to […]
Fourteen high school and sixth form students were today awarded opportunities to pursue secondary and tertiary education through B.T.L.’s scholarship program. The twenty-second annual Scholarship Award Ceremony was held at the Radisson this morning, where thirteen students received high school scholarships and one was awarded a sixth form bursary. The scholarship committee, made up of […]
The Belize Diabetes Association today received twenty thousand dollars in medicine for patients in need of podiatric care. The donation was given by Harvest Ministry, a Belizean-led religious organization operating out of the United States. The medication, since the association cannot legally distribute the ointment, will be dispensed through several health centers and medical facilities […]
Since proposing the introduction of cruise tourism through public consultation back in October 2010, residents of Placencia have strongly opposed the expansion of the sector into southern Belize. Despite an unsuccessful bid at transforming Crawl Caye into a world-class destination, Norwegian Cruise Line has been green lighted by the Government of Belize to develop nearby […]
According to David Almendarez, despite strong objection from all corners of the tourism industry and from conservationists alike, the government intends to proceed with the proposal to develop Harvest Caye. The only ones benefiting, he says, are a select few. David Almendarez, Executive Member, FECTAB “You’re going to turn one of your number one […]
In addition to the Garifuna culture which will be highlighted in the new cruise tourism package, NCL is looking at the Mayan culture as a selling point. SATIIM’s Greg Ch’oc told News Five today that discussions are ongoing on that matter, but like the Garifuna position on the matter, it is not a done deal […]
In June, the Government of Belize appropriated the International Business Companies Registry and the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, I.B.C. and IMMARBE, respectively, both operating under Belize International Services Limited. The reason given by G.O.B. was that an extension allowing BISL to operate until 2020 was invalid. The move sparked off threats of another […]
Both the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Chamber of Commerce have recently expressed support for a motion to restructure the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives. The motion, crafted by chairman of the PAC Julius Espat, proposes the removal of a government majority and the inclusion of representation from the […]
There was a meeting scheduled for this afternoon between P.U.P. prodigal son Cordel Hyde and the leadership of the party. Both Hyde and those leaders have made no secret of the fact that there have been discussions geared at bringing the former Lake Independence Area Representative back into the fold. The meeting was postponed because […]
But while Cordel Hyde is tentatively on the way in, the door has been slammed shut in the face of Belmopan P.U.P. political figure Amin Hegar. Hegar narrowly lost to incumbent John Saldivar in 2012, and was considered to be the P.U.P.’s choice for the next elections. But a month ago, newcomer Patrick Andrews announced […]
A tribute to late reggae legend Lucky Dube by philanthropist Dara Robinson, as part of an annual fundraising effort to collect funds and canned goods for his feeding program, was postponed at the end of last month due to eleventh hour changes. A subsequent date was set for August twenty-fifth at the MCC Tennis Court. […]
Ninety seven million volunteers worldwide belong to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Red Cross was founded to protect human life and health, and to prevent and ease human suffering. Different incarnations of the movement has been in existence for over close to a hundred years, but the Belize Red Cross […]
Norwegian Cruise Line’s fifty million U.S. dollar investment is facing one more objection, but it’s not because of the location of the project or the possible effects on overnight cruise tourism. One of the attraction’s of the projects as it turns out is objectionable to one of the cultures expected to be highlighted on the […]
An amicable solution to an ongoing crisis within the Christian Workers Union has been met, following a lengthy discussion this afternoon with representatives of the nine entities that comprise the association. The union, led by President Antonio Gonzalez, sat down with its membership, in the presence of Labor Commissioner Ivan Williams, to iron out a […]
Chief Shop Steward Basil Brannon, who represents employees of the Central Bank of Belize, also agrees that it is time for the Christian Workers Union to revamp its administration. While he remains optimistic that change will come, Brannon admits that a forensic audit of the union’s expenditure over the past ten years may not be […]
