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The Ministry of Labour has issued a statement this evening reminding unions and their membership to adhere to the laws of Belize during all protest activities. In particular, the Ministry points out that the blocking of highways and bridges are “unlawful actions which are not internationally recognized industrial action nor those permitted by our domestic […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Protesters Told: “Don’t Break the Law”
The Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated to Belize by the United Arab Emirates in early April is now available to the public. Those doses had been shelved, awaiting approval for emergency use from The World Health Organization. With that approval, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is now prepared to offer the vaccine as an option […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Vaccine Choice: Sinopharm Now Available
Belize’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carlos Fuller, presented his credentials to the Secretary General of the U.N., António Guterres, at the U.N. headquarters in New York on May seventeenth. Ambassador Fuller delivered greetings on behalf of the Governor General, Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay, and the Government and people of Belize. The Secretary […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Belize’s Newest UN Ambassador Presents Credentials
A new statutory instrument which extends the curfew hour on Thursdays comes into effect at twelve midnight. The S.I. says the new curfew hours are twelve midnight to five in the morning, from Thursday to Saturday. The curfew hours for Sunday to Wednesday remain at ten in the night to five in the morning. The […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Social Issues |
Comments Off on Thursday Added to Later Curfew Time
The Belize/Guatemala Joint Commission met today in Belize City, following instructions from the foreign ministers of both countries who met in March at the Adjacency Zone, to reactivate the work of the Belize/Guatemala Joint Commission. The Joint Commission received reports on the status of implementation of four of the thirteen agreements that were signed between […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
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On Sunday, a race for non-elite, non-professional and semi-pro cycling athletes was organized by Gons Auto and JC Consulting Belize. The event was done to get the youth involved in the sport, but saw participation from riders up to sixty-two years old. The race took approximately forty riders from the start at the Northern Shops […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Sports |
Comments Off on Amateur Cyclists of All Ages on the Road
It’s sometimes confused with softball, but a pair of baseball athletes from Belmopan is now trying to revive the sport in Belize. For about three years now, they have been working out with the youth out of west to teach them the techniques and foundation of the sport, which was lost among the new generation, […]
Written on May 18, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Sports |
Comments Off on Reviving Baseball in Belize
If you were on the nation’s highways this morning, you were probably among the hundreds of people unable to get to work on time as striking teachers staged their second blockage. Now in day-sixteen of their strike, the teachers are ramping it up and in one community out west, there was some trouble with tires. […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Protesting Teachers Arrested In Benque
Benque Viejo del Carmen was not the only hotspot for protest activity this morning. All over Belize, bridges and main intersections along the highways became impassable as early as seven a.m. when vehicles belonging to teachers coincidentally began experiencing mechanical issues. They were left in the middle of the roads for up to an hour, […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Teachers Block Major Highways
Did the industrial action carried out by teachers today catch the Belize Police Department by surprise or were they prepared? The images from across the country show that in most of the areas where the blockades were set up, there was heavy police presence. ComPol Chester Williams says that while the officers are exercising restraint, […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol Chester Williams Says Demonstrations are Getting Frustrating
The logjam between the unions and government persists as the longest strike on record since the eleven-day industrial action taken by teachers in 2016. On Thursday, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the nation in a prepared statement during which he presented his administration’s latest position without first meeting with the unions. This morning on Channel […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Did PM’s Address Drive a Wedge between Union Leaders and Members?
President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Elena Smith, was also on “Open Your Eyes” today. She feels the Prime Minister’s decision to address the nation instead of meeting with the Joint Unions Negotiating Team, gave the impression that the union leadership was not being entirely transparent with the information being conveyed. Senator Elena […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.N.T.U. President Smith Says PM’s Speech Undermined Union Leadership
For the next thirty days, movement will remain restricted by curfew hours. Over the weekend a new S.I. came into effect, extending the curfew for an additional thirty days. There was some confusion when the last S.I. expired on May fifteenth with many Belizeans questioning whether the curfew was still in effect. To clarify, ComPol […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol Says He Was Just Sharing Curfew S.I. as a Courtesy
A meeting in Las Flores in the Cayo District with refugee women has prompted a call for more support to achieve gender equity. Six refugee women who belong to the group United Refugee Women met with representatives of U.N.H.R.C. and UN Resident Coordinator, Birgit Gerstenberg last week. The session highlighted the need for greater protections […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
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Over the weekend, representatives from various media houses learned more about the mitigation and adaptation efforts of climate change in Belize. The National Climate Change Office in collaboration with the REDD+ and the Forest Department wants to bring awareness about the country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of deforestation and forest […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Climate Change and its Effects!
So what role can you play in the conservation and sustainable management of forests? REDD Plus and the National Climate Change Office, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, has been on the ground communicating with those most affected by climate change in an effort to see what can be done at all levels to help with mitigating […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places |
Comments Off on REDD+ and the National Climate Change Office Sending Message to Communities
The entire country held their breath, hoping that Belize’s name would be called on Sunday evening at the live broadcast of the Miss Universe Pageant which was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida, U.S.A. after an introduction piece the twenty-one advancing women were named, including the top fan vote. Unfortunately, […]
Written on May 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
Comments Off on Mexico Wins the 69th Miss Universe Pageant
And while Bradley agrees there is progress, he is concerned it took protests from the unions to get these good governance reforms on track. He notes this has been a trend under both P.U.P. and U.D.P. administrations. Instead, he feels there should be an ongoing conversation. Darrell Bradley, Attorney- At- Law “One of the […]
Written on May 14, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Attorney Says Good Governance Should Be Ongoing Conversation
The Government of Belize has imposed a temporary travel ban on persons who have recently visited or arrived from the Republic of India, as well as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Both countries are experiencing a massive explosion in the number of COVID-19 infections. On Tuesday, Cabinet agreed to institute travel restrictions. Earlier today, we […]
Written on May 14, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Reaction to a Temporary Ban on Travelers From India
The Center for Disease Control in the United States announced this week that once Americans are vaccinated, there is no need for them to continue wearing a facemask. But, this is not the case here in Belize where authorities are continuing mask protocols. Being in public without a facemask is still a ticket able offense […]
Written on May 14, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Home Affairs Minister on Mask Wearing
Belize is once more getting negative publicity about our mask policing, this time on San Pedro. On Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa was called about an incident involving the brother of Joyjah Estrada, a Belizean model and social media influencer living in the U.S. She said her brother was assaulted and detained by […]
Written on May 14, 2021 | Posted in
Defense,
People & Places |
Comments Off on San Pedro Resident Harassed, Detained for Not Wearing Mask
The small crowd of union protestors that were out today shouted no to government’s proposals. This afternoon, before she entered today’s meeting with government officials, which is ongoing up to news time; President of the Belize National Teachers Union Elena Smith addressed protestors. She wasted no time responding to the Prime Minister’s Facebook speech on […]
Written on May 13, 2021 | Posted in
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Miscellaneous,
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Social Issues |
Comments Off on President Smith Calls Out PM Briceño on G.O.B. Proposals
President of the Public Service Union Gerald Henry confirmed strike actions will continue through Friday. He also addressed protestors in the Yarborough community. In his remarks, he noted the fight is not over and that the unions are in it for the long haul. Gerald Henry, President, P.S.U. “This is not just a public […]
Written on May 13, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on President Henry on Industrial Action: “This is for the Long Haul”
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ramon Cervantes said today that in his view the unions are being unreasonable. Like his colleagues, Minister Cervantes will be taking a fifteen percent salary cut and fifty percent cut in his allowances. Minister Cervantes, as Area Representative for Orange Walk North, says these cuts are […]
Written on May 13, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister Cervantes on Unions Protest
Earlier in the broadcast, we brought you some footage of union leaders this afternoon. But News Five’s Paul Lopez is still standing by at the House of Culture and we now go to him with a live report. [Live with News Five’s Paul Lopez on Update News Five will have a report on […]
Written on May 13, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on An Update from the Unions Outside the House of Culture
