OCEANA’s heroes in marine conservation work were named over the weekend. They are persons who have made an impact in working to safeguard and conserve the ocean through sustainable practices. First, News Five’s Andrea Polanco, who has distinguished herself in the region for journalistic reporting on environmental issues, was recognized by OCEANA. Andrea was named […]
This December will mark two years since Belize has been without a Contractor General. At the end of 2017 when the government attempted to re-appoint Godwin Arzu for another term, the Senate rejected the proposal since Arzu had failed to provide the required reporting. Arzu’s contract was therefore not renewed and since then his post […]
The Government of Belize has borrowed more than fifty million dollars to upgrade twenty miles of the George Price Highway, from the Roaring Creek Bridge to the Hawkesworth Bridge in Santa Elena, Cayo. The first multimillion dollar loan was made in 2015 and in 2018 an additional fourteen million dollars were borrowed from the International Development […]
In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the Belize Agriculture Census. Some twenty enumerators were deployed out in the field to collect data. It was originally planned that the census would be completed within nine months; the information gathered would then be analyzed and compiled into the National Geo-reference Farm Registry. The registry would include […]
One more issue from last Fridays House sitting, in 2018, the cost of electricity spiked twice. Later that year, Belize Electricity Limited made a formal request to the Public Utilities Commission for an increase of zero-point two-two cents per kilowatt-hour as the Mean Electricity Rate. The request was made for the company to recover approximately eighteen […]
BELTRAIDE’s training and employment centre called BTEC turned five years old this month. Today, the centre which specializes in preparing persons for the workforce, celebrated its anniversary. Back when it opened, it was to meet the growing needs of the business outsourcing sector in Belize. Fast forward to five years later, BTEC now offers specialized […]
The House of Representatives met in Belmopan today. One of the significant actions involved the controversial forty- thousand dollars loan motion granted to Joshua Perdomo. Perdomo, the son of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo, was approved twenty-seven months study leave to pursue a master’s degree in Forensic Genetics at the University of North Texas and was […]
A six-point-eight U.S. million dollars loan motion was presented during the Sitting of the House of Representatives. The loan was offered by the Caribbean Development Bank and the monies have been earmarked to assist Belize Electricity Limited to reduce B.G.B. emissions and improve the reliability of the supply of electricity to Caye Caulker, with increased […]
One of the string of bills passed into law by the House, is to cause the removal of Belize from the European Union’s blacklist. In March of this year, Belize was one of many jurisdictions blacklisted as tax havens by the E.U. According to the E.U., Belize, like the other countries, has shortfalls when it […]
A portion of the Philip Goldson Highway within the city’s limit is being rehabilitated. If you are entering Belize City through the north you might have some complaints about the conditions of the highway in the last couple of months. Works between miles three and eight on the highway continue but residents along the highway […]
Government announced today that the Ministry of Natural Resources will be implementing the Partial Remission of Land Tax Arrears Programme which is also known as the Land Tax Amnesty Programme. The programme was passed in the House and Senate in September, but there was debate about who was benefitting and the fact that while government […]
The U.D.P. Leadership convention is four months away and is to be held in February 2020 at the Civic Center. Deputy Prime Patrick Faber and Minister John Saldivar are the two contenders for leadership; no one else is expected to contest. Both have been campaigning across the country and say they are confident that they […]
The Belize Port Authority held its maritime educational expo today at its headquarters at mile four on the George Price Highway. The event featured speeches, an award ceremony and several booth displays. Students from Belize City were invited to attend to learn about the maritime sector. News Five stopped in at today’s event which commemorates […]
Thirty-six-year-old Tomas Alexander Paises has been deported to his country of origin. Paises was arrested for being a member of the MS-thirteen gang and deported to El Salvador. He was arrested by the Anti-Gang Task Force and Interpol officers in Belize last month but was handed over to Salvadoran and Guatemalan Interpol representatives at the […]
Reynaldo Verde remains locked up in the U.S. on charges of extortion and attempted extortion having been denied bail on Wednesday. His attorney, Tyler Trumbach, says that his client denies all accusations. The F.B.I., however, has amassed damning evidence against Verde who reportedly attempted to use his position as Deputy Director of Belize Tax Services […]
On Wednesday, representatives from three butane companies namely Belize Western Energy Limited, Gas Tomza, and Southern Choice Butane (Zeta Gas) met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow. On the table for discussion was the newly formed National Gas Company which will oversee the LPG industry in Belize. According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the National Gas […]
On Wednesday morning, the body of Salvadoran national Raul Rivelo was retrieved from the Manatee Lookout area in the Belize River. Rivelo’s friend, Walter Gomez, reported to police that Rivelo was trying to swim across the river when he suddenly went underwater and didn’t resurface. The authorities searched the area didn’t find the body until […]
A surge of migrants from Central America specifically El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, is pushing governments in the region and beyond to re-examine relevant policies. Migrants, including a growing number of women and children, are fleeing the troubled region in record numbers. On average, about two hundred and sixty-five people have left annually in recent […]
U.S.A.-based Hobbs Brewing Company started distribution of twelve ounce cans and kegs from out of Placencia earlier this year. Hobbs’ production in Belize features two super-premium beers called the Wildcat I.P.A. and Hummingbird Belizean Golden Ale. Over the weekend, Hobbs Brewing Company launched its own calendar for 2020, which features twelve Belizean women. According to […]
A meeting between Prime Minister Dean Barrow and representatives for Belize Western Energy Limited, Gas Tomza, and Southern Choice Butane (Zeta Gas) took place today in Belize City. The meeting lasted for more than an hour and the discussion revolved around the National Gas Company. In August, the government passed the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas […]
The three current importers of LPG are encouraged to bid for the bulk supply to the terminal. Speaking on behalf of the companies was Ernesto Uh of Zeta Gas. According to Uh, the meeting was amicable and he sees a favorable response from the government in terms of the bids that would be put forth […]
The Prime Minister and representatives of the three current butane importing companies have scheduled another meeting though the time and venue has not been agreed upon. According to Uh, concerns by the companies will be further discussed however PM Barrow reiterated that there is no reversal of the National Gas Company and its mandate. […]
The Public Service Union has been ordered to vacate its Belmopan Hilltop headquarters by October thirty first. The order is by Simplex Designs Limited which has hired Attorney Estevan Perrera. A recent letter sent to P.S.U. President Gerald Henry says that if the P.S.U. fails to vacate the premises by the allotted time, it will […]
The squatting problem along the Belize/Guatemala border by residents of El Barrio Judah in Guatemala has been a recurring issue. Pictures obtained by News Five show Guatemalans clearing lands near the border, on Belizean territory. The pictures and videos were posted by the Mayor of Melchor de Mencos, who reportedly told the residents that they […]
The problem of phantom voters and voter padding continues despite a recent countrywide re-registration, but Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that it is not something that will likely go away. Eight million dollars was spent for the mass re-registration exercise with the main purpose to clean up the voters’ list. Leaked documents show that in […]
