In previous states of emergency, there have been reports of several individuals being caught in the dragnet used to take gang members off the streets. Eston Young, a father of two young children, feels that he will now be a target of the police department; that even though he is a law-abiding citizen, he will […]
They are a Belizean institution, and now the Holy Redeemer Credit Union is expanding. With a new building in Belize City and new programs in the works, including financial literacy courses, the credit union which opened its doors seventy-five years ago is poised to move its membership into the future. News Five was on hand […]
There were long lines, honking horns and chaos at service stations from north to south today, as the shortage of fuel saw almost everyone who owns a vehicle heading straight for the gas pump. The scarcity of gasoline brought on by inclement weather last week in the Gulf Coast saw demand for fuel skyrocketing overnight […]
There was an early morning fire in San Pedro on Sunday that could have caused massive structural damage to nearby properties had the Belize National Fire Service not responded promptly. The blaze is believed to have started inside the kitchen at Pedro’s Inn and quickly spread across the building before destroying an adjacent bar. That’s […]
A viral video on social media has caused the Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat, to issue a public statement about the behavior of his driver, Hamid Awe. The incident, recorded by police on Thursday, captured a rant by Awe who was incensed following what he claims was brutal, unfair treatment by police of […]
A few days ago, the unions led the news almost every night. And now it is day twenty-two and there is no sign of a resolution between the unions and the Government of Belize on the salary cut and increment freeze. The unions have been at an impasse with G.O.B. following a statement made by […]
News Five caught up with P.S.U. President Gerald Henry as he participated in an educational tour in the south. He says that he is meeting with public officers across the country to keep them abreast of the situation. On the Phone: Gerald Henry, President, P.S.U. “Right now I am in Dangriga and I am […]
We don’t usually think about sewing skills when we think about police departments, but the Community Policing Unit held a graduation ceremony at the Wilton Cumberbatch Field in Belize City today that was a little bit different. Andrea Polanco reports. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Five women who completed a six-month sewing program were awarded certificates. […]
They came from all over the country, some as far as rural Toledo, to send a resounding message to Prime Minister Briceño and his government. The unions sent that message during what may be the largest gathering of teachers and public officers since the beginning of industrial action in late April. They walked and sang […]
This morning, the perimeter around the prime minister’s Dunn Street residence in Orange Walk Town was roped off with caution tape. There was also heavy police presence in the neighborhood in anticipation of protestors entering the area. While today’s demonstration was without incident, teachers and public officers who participated in the protest removed the cordon […]
After fourteen months, Belize’s land borders will reopen on May thirty-first. But much to the disappointment of many, only visitors will be initially allowed to enter the country. Belizeans will have to wait a while longer until they can cross into neighboring countries. But with Thursday’s cabinet announcement, concerns were raised about the increasing number […]
The temporary travel ban on persons travelling from India and Bangladesh will also apply to the reopening of land borders. The much larger issue of border security arises now too as many see this as an open invitation to enter Belize, especially through illegal crossings. C.E.O. Solano says the ministry and partnering agencies are aware […]
The rainy season seems already to be upon us. That usually means increased flooding in low lying areas of Belize City. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is working to alleviate this problem on the south side through a twenty-million-dollar loan secured from the Inter-American Development Bank back in 2018. According to Belize City […]
Chief Engineer Lennox Bradley says these upgrades are expected to significantly uplift the living conditions of city residents living in these flood prone areas. The project was contracted to Medina’s Construction Limited. It has a price tag of eight million three hundred and twelve thousand dollars. And while there may be those questioning this significant […]
The City of Belmopan now has a new fire station as a result of a partnership with the U.S. Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Program. The new station was dedicated today and handed over to the National Fire Service of Belize. According to the U.S. Embassy, the state-of-the-art building, worth one point seven-million Belize dollar, will […]
The National Garifuna Council of Belize will be hosting its annual convention over the weekend. Members will be going through the process of electing a new leader since N.G.C. president Sandra Miranda has served the maximum two terms allowed. As a first, the entire convention will be held virtually. We spoke to President Miranda about […]
The Belize Defense Force and other uniformed organizations held a parade this afternoon to observe the Queen’s birthday, which occurred in April, and Commonwealth day this Monday. In addition to the Belize Defence Force, the event at the M.C.C. grounds included the Coast Guard, Belize Red Cross, the Scout Association of Belize and the Belize […]
It was a tragic end to the search for a visitor to Caye Caulker when the body of Aravind Krishna Srinivasan was found this afternoon. He had gone kayaking on Monday, but never returned to the island. News Five’s Paul Lopez was in Caye Caulker today when there was still hope he might be found […]
Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher is one of the government players meeting with Joint Unions Negotiating Team as the impasse over the ten percent salary cut and increment freeze remains unresolved. Though unpopular to the unions and in some quarters, Minister Usher said that the salary adjustment was a difficult, but necessary decision that […]
It’s been seventeen days to date since the public officers have been on strike…and even longer for teachers. Minister Henry Charles Usher says despite several compensation packages being presented to the Joint Unions Negotiating Team, G.O.B. has yet to receive a response. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service, Constitutional & Political Reform “The […]
On Wednesday night, we spoke with attorney-at-law Darrell Bradley about the Whistleblower Act that the Briceño administration is seeking to legislate. Bradley spoke of the need for strengthening of investigative bodies and other pieces of legislation to recover misappropriated assets or monies. Today, Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher told News Five that as part […]
Probably the item getting the most buzz from this week’s Cabinet briefing is the announcement that land and sea border points will be reopened at the end of the month. But this is only to allow foreign tourists in and not let Belizeans to travel out. The Cabinet brief today also stressed that only tourists […]
While the unions have been agitating for good governance measures to be enacted by the Government, there is already an ongoing partnership between G.O.B. and Galen University. Their “train the trainer” program is designed to help with both good governance and public service reform. News Five’s Duane Moody travelled west for the signing and files […]
In his interview with the press on Wednesday, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca also commented on the docking of wages for public officers and teachers who are on strike. Fonseca outlined the parameters of this decision as was first confirmed by Prime Minister John Briceño last week. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education “As it […]
Several more children from Stella Maris School were given the gift of language – or the ability to communicate that language – when they received electronic devices with a special app. News Five was at today’s happy handing over. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Seven students from Stella Maris each received a tablet through the partnership […]
