Prime Minister Dean Barrow called a press conference his morning. He touched on a number of subjects, but the hot button issue was the recent take-over of two private companies. On Monday evening, government revealed via a press release that it had assumed control of the International Business Companies Registry and the International Merchant Marine […]
P.M. Barrow says that the agreement signed between B.I.S.L. and former Prime Minister, Said Musa, and the then Attorney General, Francis Fonseca, was done in secret. That documentation sets out an extension of the contract until 2020 for a consideration of one point five million dollars paid into government’s coffers. But Barrow maintains that the […]
As we’ve told you, the agreement in the spotlight was signed by Said Musa and Francis Fonseca in 2005, and extended B.I.S.L.’s contract to 2020. The legality of that document will weigh heavily in what is sure to be protracted litigation. And perhaps in early preparation, the Prime Minister has gone to great lengths to […]
Government assumed control of the registries on Tuesday morning; and there will be much discussion and yes, expensive litigation ahead. B.I.S.L. is confident that it holds a valid agreement and government has breached that contract. In a release issued on Tuesday that company claims that it will, “vigorously defend its contractual rights and pursue its […]
It’s apparent that this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the registries are concerned. But while it is the big issue right, there is another of an equal magnitude which continues to bubble in the pot…Noh Mul. It’s been six weeks since the Mayan monument was destroyed and no charges have […]
The death of thirteen newborns at the K.H.M.H. in the month of May and the deadly bacteria outbreak in the neonatal intensive care unit is another big issue which is unresolved. An issue of this magnitude would at least invite a comment from the Minister of Health, Pablo Marin…but so far he has been mum […]
The alleged terrorist suspect who took the identity of a Mennonite Wilhelm Dyck that died shortly after childbirth has been released from prison. In August 2012, a Belizean passport, driver’s license and birth certificate, were all issued to the alleged Hezbollah associate, Raffic Labboun. Labboun, an American citizen of Lebanese descent, was initially released on […]
A Guatemalan national was shot by the Belize Defense Force last Tuesday in the Chiquibul and remains hospital under guard at the Western Regional Hospital. Prime Minister Barrow explained today that all investigations have revealed that twenty-seven year old Edgar Alexander Sacasa of Picalito Village was indeed inside Belizean territory when he was shot to […]
The report from the government on the shooting of Sacasa says that the soldiers on patrol found a make shift thatch roof shed within Belizean territory. And while securing the area, Sacasa entered the area and fired at them. The soldiers then returned fire. That version of events is different from reports by news organizations […]
Among those who attended the Prime Minister’s press conference this morning, was the Minister of State, Santino Castillo. Castillo was involved in a cycling accident on the George Price Highway on June fourth and had to be hospitalized for a fractured rib, a broken collar bone and punctured lungs. He successfully underwent surgery and is […]
Eager to get back on his feet, Santi is facing a challenge, not from a competing cycling team, but from a member of his own party. Belize City’s Mayor, Darrell Bradley is challenging the incumbent Area Representative for Caribbean Shores. But Castillo isn’t shying away; he thinks anything can happen between now and the convention […]
The Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center in Belize’s mission is to ‘provide a temporary safe and caring environment where children can seek refuge during a difficult period in their lives.’ In 1975, the Child Care Center was opened for twelve children and that the current number of children now hosted by the facility is up […]
In 2009, the government of Belize nationalized the telephone company, B.T.L. and the electricity company, B.E.L. Today, government went further and took over control of the Belize International Services Limited (BISL) which manages the International Business Companies Registry (IBCR) and the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE). That action will land the government in […]
Finding oil, testing for the grade and quantity are only some of the hurdles that come with the petroleum industry. The ink on the contracts is also soaked in controversy. Today, attorney Godfrey Smith, acting for Oceana Belize and Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action, presented his arguments before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Smith intended […]
Since discovering oil in Laguna Seca, an area within the northwest corner of the Orange Walk District, Maranco Energy Belize Ltd. has been trying to determine whether the promising show is of commercial quantity. That breakthrough was reported back in late March. In the days that followed, the government expressed its enthusiasm about the show […]
Stories on the street works being done in Belize City are not new, and neither are stories of frustration, congestion, inconvenience and even loss of revenue caused by that work. While the traffic situation has been bad for months, it seems to have reached new heights with the latest round of infrastructural works. It’s not […]
In November 2012, the Belize City Council launched its Municipal Development Bond. It was a novel idea to raise much needed money for infrastructure works and it was greeted with the requisite amount of political cynicism and public scrutiny. Considering the scale of works, today News Five asked Mayor Darrell Bradley if there is anything […]
Late this evening, government announced a third round of nationalization. In a short and bare press release, the government announced it is taking over the management services agreement with Belize International Services Limited (B.I.S.L.) to manage the International Business Companies Registry and the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE). IMMARBE and the I.B.C. registry […]
Government is looking for a new solicitor general and that’s because Cheryl Krusen is completing her appointment with the government and is not seeking renewal of her contact which started in July 2011. The SOLGEN attracted public attention early in her term when she aggressively advanced government’s position for the Ninth Amendment Bill which would […]
The Special Envoy for Children, Kim Simplis Barrow has endorsed a program called Girls Fly. After her first experience in Belize, the organizer of Girls Fly, Gael Sylvia made a heartfelt commitment to showcase the experiences of women in Belize. Sylvia has returned to Belize and she expects that ten thousand girls and women will […]
Fifteen year old Rowan Garel may be visually impaired, but his vision and passion more than compensate. He has claimed the heights of the Victoria Peak and has walked across the country, all to raise awareness and funds for the programs offered by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired. This year Rowan takes on […]
The Road to the Gold Cup: On Friday, we featured the story of Jaguar’s team captain Dalton Eiley, who has been on the football field for fourteen years. Any success by the jaguars at the Gold Cup will involve the energy and skill of every team member. So tonight, meet forward and halfway player, Harrison […]
With Crawl Caye off the table as a cruise ship destination, Norwegian Cruise Lines is looking for other areas in southern Belize for a cruise ship tourism project. On Tuesday, cabinet went with the recommendation of a five-minister subcommittee, that in respect of Crawl Caye, only pocket tourism is recommended. The NCL representative, Colin Murphy, […]
In the past, Guatemala has showcased maps at international forums that annex Belize to that country. There was a concern that Guatemala would carry out similar measures at the forty-third General Assembly of the O.A.S. which was held from June fourth through sixth in Antigua, Guatemala. Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, while on a visit […]
Church leaders of the Belmopan area met this morning with Prime Minister Dean Barrow in his Belmopan office. There were seven representatives from the churches and the PM’s team included Area Representative John Saldivar. The churches want the recently launched gender policy to be revisited and the Prime Minister has said he is not budging […]
