Because so many people have seen major changes in their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tonight News Five launches a new series, COVID Chronicles. In our first installment, we feature a man who was at the forefront of the COVID fight when the pandemic first began to affect Belize. Doctor Marvin Manzanero, a quiet […]
This morning, the press lay-waited Prime Minister John Briceño as he left a radio station to ask him about a range of burning issues; chief among them – the surprise departure of Central Bank Governor Gustavo Vasquez after only four months. Vasquez had told staff he “faced stiff opposition from the Ministry of Finance and […]
Last week it made headlines that B.T.L. cellular accounts assigned to personnel within the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government were switched to Smart mobile accounts. In response, the Public Service Union issued a release stating that the decision is contrary to the government’s best interest and appears to be a […]
PM Briceño says the Government of Belize is still giving millions of dollars in business to B.T.L. and that the switch to Smart of some government phone plans should be a “wake-up” call. Prime Minister John Briceño “As it is right, now the government is propping up B.T.L. to the tune of millions of […]
Smart Belize has responded to reports about the government contracts. In a press release issued today, Smart says it is not aware of any directives given by G.O.B. to switch their telecom services to Smart because the company is owned and operated by relatives of the Prime Minister. However, Smart says they do know of […]
Prime Minister John Briceño says Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Area Representative for Port Loyola, Gilroy Usher, called him to clarify certain statements he made on a morning show. Usher said the stevedores at the Port of Belize Limited did not have the influence to challenge B.S.I.’s move to […]
PM Briceño also commented on B.S.I.’s move to the Big Creek Port. Prime Minister John Briceño “Who I think we really need to hold responsible is the Port of Belize. Because the Port of Belize, there is no incentive for them to improve their efficiencies, because the more they charge, the more Port of […]
News Five also spoke with Principal Public Health Inspector at Ministry of Health, John Bodden, who explained the protocols being followed when a tourist requires hospitalization. John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, Ministry of Health & Wellness “In terms of this medical emergency protocol, there is a form that is called Seaport Medical Emergency Referral form […]
Bodden is also Belize’s International Points of Entry Health Regulations officer. He said that in the case of an outbreak of a disease on a ship that docks in Belize, there are set guidelines that must be followed in order to protect people on the ground. He says that the last ship that docked with […]
With the increasing number COVID-19 cases, Minister Chebat was also asked if there will be any amendments to the quarantine regulations as set out in statutory instrument number seventy-four of 2021. There will be no changes in the curfew which is currently from nine p.m. to four a.m. daily, but other groups have been identified […]
While we were with the Minister of Health and Wellness, we asked about the constitutional claim that has reportedly been filed by nine individuals in relation to statutory instrument seventy-four against Minister Michel Chebat, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Attorney General Magali Marin-Young. Here’s how Chebat responded. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & […]
The Human Rights Commission of Belize has spoken out on what it calls constant police abuse of power. While it says it acknowledges the efforts of the leadership of the Belize Police Department in taking swift action against the most recent case, the Commission feels that police abuse is now a trend and that needs […]
Pitts also weighed in on the matter of mandatory vaccination when a pandemic threatens human life en masse. Pitts says the constitution gives the government authority to make such a decision but within a certain context. Voice of: Cynthia Pitts, Vice President, Human Rights Commission of Belize “That is the Constitution that we have […]
The Board of Directors of the organization “Our Circle” has issued a statement after their managing director, Derricia Castillo Salazar, was charged with stabbing a woman in the face in San Pedro last weekend. Our Circle’s President, Danae Fairweather, expressed disappointment that this occurred during Pride Island Getaway, an initiative spearheaded by Our Circle during […]
The first cruise ship docked at Harvest Caye today. The Norwegian Gem has over one thousand four hundred passengers and passed all necessary COVID and other safety guidelines. John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, Ministry of Health & Wellness “On Monday, we had visited that location to verify the protocols that are in place […]
Government’s vaccine rollout continues to see Belizeans across the country getting their COVID jabs. The ongoing effort, as well as a recent increase in the number of infections, has seen hospital staff, including nurses, working overtime. To help out, the Rotary Club of Belize has launched an initiative to fund the salaries of several nurses […]
The abrupt and unceremonious departure of Central Bank Governor Gustavo Manuel Vasquez on August thirteenth raises many questions about whether due process was followed in terminating his appointment as chief financial regulator. On Friday, Vasquez informed members of staff that he was being removed from the post which he has held since being selected to […]
Vasquez’s letter to staff, which was read in its entirety this morning, speaks to protecting his integrity, his reputation, as well as that of the Central Bank. The big question, raised by the U.D.P. today is whether the independence of the regulatory body is being preserved under the current administration. The reason for the governor’s […]
The recent announcement that the Government of Belize has contracted the services of Smart as a telecoms provider for various ministries, including foreign affairs and rural development, has been met with strong objections from various quarters. The president of the Public Service Union is on record stating his dismay with government’s decision to transition from […]
The United Democratic Party is calling on former senator Mark Lizarraga who has since taken up the post as chairman of B.T.L., to address the issue. According to Panton, Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum has also spoken about the fact that there was no discussion with B.T.L. on the transition prior to the decision being […]
After a one-year break due to the pandemic, the Caribbean Media Awards resumed this year with television and radio stations from across the region submitted stories produced and aired in 2019 and 2020. The award show is the culminating event of the fifty-second Annual General Assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, held this year under […]
Early this morning, News Five received images of tires burning on the Caesar Ridge Road in Belize City. Questions immediately arose about whether this incident is related to the Christian Workers Union’s notice of intended strike action against the Port of Belize Limited. We asked the President of the Christian Workers Union, Mose Hyde, if […]
Nine individuals have filed a constitutional claim in court against the Minister of Health, the Commissioner of Police, and the Attorney General in relation to Statutory Instrument seventy four. The claimants are frontline workers and private sector employees, including three police officers. Among a list of twelve reliefs, the Claimants are seeking, is for the […]
A fix-date claim form was filed in the Supreme Court of Belize on Monday. The claimants are now waiting for a date from the court for the matter to be heard. But, how does the court claim separate the argument of fundamental rights from what some may view as actions by an antivaxxer movement? The […]
Scratch and Win has launched several new games ranging from one dollar to ten dollars with prizes up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollar. Scratch and Win says it has raised payouts over eighty percent, making more opportunities for winners, like Antonio. He bought his three-dollar ticket from a store in Corozal and won […]
