The Ministry of Human Development is trying to rehabilitate the image of the youth hostel with major infrastructural and programmatic changes. But there is also new staff placed in key positions at the youth hostel. Anne Palacio was introduced today as the director of programmes at the facility. The hostel falls under the community rehabilitation […]
During the tour of the hostel, Minister Garcia told reporters she doesn’t want to see a repeat of the tragic fire that claimed the lives of the three girls in solitary confinement back in 2015. She was asked about if the report on the fire will ever see the light of day. Dolores Balderamos […]
Minister Dolores Balderamos also weighed in on the matter of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of the residents of Jalacte Village. The residents were awarded six million dollars in damages following the pavement on the Jalacte Road. The Chief Justice concluded that the former administration violated customary land rights when the road was paved […]
What’s in a name you ask? Plenty apparently, so don’t call it “grocery bags” – it is now “food assistance”. The programme has a new name since it was rebranded. According to Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia, the seventy-five to eighty dollars grocery kits are about to start rolling into homes across the country. But this […]
It may have been just one ship, but today, after eighteen months of no visitors, the Fort Street Tourism Village was buzzing with activity. News Five’s Duane Moody was back in the area, this time to capture the action. Duane Moody, Reporting It was a festive occasion this morning as the Carnival Vista came […]
Three new opposition Senators were sworn in during today’s Senate meeting. Additionally, a motion was passed to increase the salary of the Governor General by up to thirty thousand dollars. And the Senator for Government Business Eamon Courtenay called for peace in Haiti, following the assignation of its president. New Five’s Paul Lopez sat inside […]
Attorneys-at-law Magali Perdomo and Darrell Bradley will be representing the Belize National Teachers Union in their case against the Government of Belize over the ten percent salary cut. The case comes up next week. Following today’s Senate Meeting, B.N.T.U. National President Elena Smith shared some details of the case. Senator Elena Smith, National President, […]
President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Elena Smith says the Government of Belize is going through the backdoor to make it mandatory for teachers and other frontline workers to get vaccinated. To date, approximately sixty percent of teachers across the country have been vaccinated. A new statutory instrument now mandates that teachers and frontline […]
We also found out that President Smith has not yet taken the Covid-19 vaccine. She spoke to News Five about her reasons, and asserted that everyone has their own choice to make. Paul Lopez “On a personal level, have you gotten the vaccination as yet?” Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U. “Not as […]
Following its presentation in the House of Representatives last week Friday, the conversation on the legalisation of marijuana as an economic opportunity has been getting pushback from various sectors, including the churches. Today, the media caught up with Minister of New Growth Industries Kareem Musa, who introduced the bill in the House. He says that […]
Now it is no secret that spiralling criminal activity, including murders, are often associated with the illegal drug trade in both Belize City and other parts of the country. Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries says that the proposed legislation is expected to reduce these violent crimes. Kareem Musa, Minister of New […]
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa today responded to questions about the new quarantine regulations requiring biweekly results of a COVID-19 test if frontline workers do not get vaccinated by August first. As we reported on Tuesday, there was concern that employers may threaten staff with termination if they are unwilling to get take the […]
But what about enforcement? Ensuring that businesses and government departments, or even N.G.O.s, are adhering to the regulations. Who will ultimately be responsible? Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “We’re going to have public health inspectors from the Ministry of Health that will do regular checks at the establishments that have frontline workers. So […]
The cost to take the COVID-19 test every two weeks will be free for cops as frontline workers. Here’s more from Commissioner Williams. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “We do have a number of persons who do not wish to take the vaccine and while we continue to encourage the officers to do so […]
The Belize Police Department has relocated its Precinct One Police Station to King Street in Belize City. According to the police officials, the newly renovated building has sufficient space and comes equipped with amenities to boost the morale of the cops who will work there. Today, the Belize Police Department held a ribbon cutting ceremony […]
The Ministry of Blue Economy, Belize City Council and the Caribbean Shores area representative have joined forces to improve the Seashore Park in Buttonwood Bay. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on the plans to retrofit the area with features reflecting the ministry. Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores “On this side of the park […]
After over eighteen long months, the wait for cruise ships is about to end. On Wednesday, the first ship from the Carnival Cruise Lines docks in Belize City. Today, Duane Moody headed out to the Fort Street Tourism Village to find out about the preparations being made to get everything ready and approved for the […]
A similar vaccination drive has been carried out in Camalote where dozens of residents from that community, as well as other neighboring villages in Cayo District, came out to get their COVID jabs on Monday. According to Chairman Derrick Parham, the event was held in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the […]
Last week, amateur phone video captured the scene as police officers were beating up on a man, now identified as David Smalls. The video received condemnation from the public as two police officers hit the already restrained man and stomped him in the head. Today, the Human Rights Commission of Belize issued a statement condemning […]
The Communications Director of the Belize Police Department has spoken out against actions of the officers, saying that the Professional Standards Branch of the department is looking into the incident. But the H.R.C.B. says that these violations have become all too common. The Commission says it provides support to the victims of human rights violations […]
The Christian Workers Union is at a critical juncture once again in its negotiations with the Port of Belize Limited. After lengthy discussions over a period of several years, the C.W.U. was finally able to secure a collective bargaining agreement for waterfront workers who are members of the labor organization. The same cannot be said […]
Of equal concern for the Christian Workers Union is a pending move by A.S.R./B.S.I. to transfer its sugar operations from Belize City to the Port of Big Creek. This would mean that the company will instead truck shipments of sugar from Tower Hill to Independence overland as a cost-cutting measure. It also spells the termination […]
The Belmopan City Council, led by Mayor Sharon Palacio, has terminated the services of twenty-five CitCo employees. Those individuals, all members of the Christian Workers Union, were served notice at the end of June. It’s reportedly part of a reengineering exercise being undertaken by the municipal government. However, the C.W.U. charges that City Hall is […]
The government’s recent decision to forge ahead with the decriminalization of small quantities of cannabis and capitalize on cannabis products as a means of generating income and taxes has provoked a mixed reaction. While the National Evangelical Association of Belize continues to bolster its position against legalization amongst its flock, Pastor Louis Wade has been […]
The Belize Family Life Association/ National Health Insurance clinic has launched a project to help diabetics get tested and educated about this disease that affects thousands of Belizeans. The initiative is particularly important right now, since some diabetics have been so afraid of catching COVID-19 they may not have been getting the support they need. […]
