Back in April, the Government was unsuccessful in trying to persuade the Court of Appeal to hear an application in an expedited manner. This was in the relation to the April third injunction which was granted by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin against holding the I.C.J. referendum on April tenth. The Court of Appeal ruled that […]
We also asked the Attorney General about the continued policing profiling. Police officers continue to stop and search persons, especially young black males, record their personal information and snap pictures of them. It is a practice that has been highly criticized because not only is picture-taking beyond the remit of Section Nineteen of the Police […]
Last week we reported that the U.S. Department of State upgraded Belize in its Trafficking in Persons Report. According to the report, Belize has shown significant progress in victim services and strengthening of its anti-trafficking police unit. While Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons, the report […]
The U.S. has announced that a number of immigration raids will be conducted. The deportations, while delayed, are intended to remove recently arrived families who are in the United States illegally. It has been reported that there are some two thousand families facing deportation orders in ten cities. On Wednesday, we asked Thomas Lersten about […]
The National AIDS Commission held its annual national testing day today across the country. Every year the organization hosts two national testing events, with the next testing day in December for World AIDS Day. Today’s event aimed to get more men out to check their HIV status. We stopped by the Battlefield Park this morning […]
Forty-one-year-old Marcia Talbert, an employee of Cerberus Security, a subsidiary of Bowen and Bowen Limited, lost her life on the morning of June sixteenth when a gunman snuck onto the compound at Crystal Bottling Company and opened fire. Also injured during the shooting incident was Mansa Baptist, a colleague of hers who was shot in […]
On Thursday, we told you about new security measures, including surveillance cameras, as well as the hiring of special constables to be implemented in San Pedro. Those new plans were outlined by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams at a public meeting held on the island on Wednesday night. These new preventative measures are being introduced […]
The lifeless body of fifty-eight-year-old Phillip Crabtree, a British national, was retrieved from the sea in Placencia this morning. Sometime around six o’clock, police were called to an area in the village where they observed the motionless body of the retiree floating in the water nearby. Upon retrieving Crabtree’s remains, the officers noticed a cut […]
He has been fishing for forty years and seen the industry he loves grow and evolve. Today, the spotlight was on Sarteneja resident Paulino Rodriguez who was made Fisher of the Year by the Wildlife Conservation Society. With the abundance of knowledge of the sea, Rodriguez has been encouraging sustainable and responsible fishing to ensure […]
Early this morning, the police officers were on the streets of the City, but it was not for the usual crime fighting. It was to encourage residents to maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle by staying fit. That activity was followed by other fun sporting events at Yabra Green. On Saturday a march will culminate […]
The General Sales Tax Department is conducting an audit of B.T.L.’s accounts. News Five has received voluminous information and documents which show the telecom giant purportedly owing the Government of Belize millions of dollars in G.S.T. Said debt dates back to 2012, which according to the documents obtained show that by the end of 2017 […]
Information to News Five is that B.T.L. Chair Net Vasquez wrote to Financial Secretary asking for a write-off. Joseph Waight says he has not seen a letter. We attempted several times to get in contact with Acting Commissioner of GST, Evan Brown but all our attempts have proved futile. We did manage to ask Cabinet […]
On Wednesday, the Senate passed the Tax Administration and Procedure Bill which ultimately seeks to increase government revenues. The bill merges the Income Tax and General Sales Tax departments. The new law also seeks to strengthen the collection of taxes and enforce penalties for companies and entities which have and continue to evade paying taxes […]
It was a formal occasion in Belmopan this morning. Outstanding police officers in the department were honoured for service and for excelling in recent exams. Sergeant Leroy Hernandez has been in the line of duty for nineteen years, he also placed at the top of the recent police promotional exams. Today, he was gleaming with […]
A group of nationals coming from diverse cultures and countries have made Belize their home and country. They are the third group this year to pledge allegiance as citizens of Belize after going through a vetting process. The oath was administered by officials of the Nationality and Passport Department in Belmopan. Going forward, they are […]
There has been a growing need for medical services and facilities in San Pedro which is the number one tourist destination in the country. Often, persons who require emergency treatment must be transported from the island to Belize City. This week, one company stepped to the plate to assist to fill the void. Rickilee Response […]
A resident of Maskall Village in the Belize District is the latest winners of fifteen thousand dollars courtesy of Scratch and Win. Mister Martinez, as he referred to himself to protect his identity and winnings, purchased four tickets on Monday night, he won only two dollars through the bonus. That ticket was then redeemed for […]
We take a break from crime and go to Belmopan where the Senate today dealt with an amendment to the Tax Laws which was passed and place criminal liability against anyone in the chain of management in any company not paying taxes. In the debate, senators urged the tightening up of collection across the board […]
The Upper House met this morning in the Capital. A bill which seeks to merge the Income Tax and General Sales Tax departments into the Belize Tax Service Department was debated this morning by senators. The merger of these departments is expected to not only facilitate the official and effective administration and collection of domestic […]
Through the successful passage of this bill, the Belize Tax Service Department is also expected to provide for tax procedures and civil and criminal penalties for persons found to be violating tax laws. Social partner senators, while encouraging the amalgamation, pointed out the need for authorities to crack down on persons who evade taxes across […]
Responding to the concerns raised by the senators were U.D.P. Senators Michael Peyrefitte and Stephen Duncan. Peyrefitte and Duncan asserted that in order for businesses to avoid penalties, businesses need to be tax compliant. Stephen Duncan, U.D.P. Senator “As you read the legislation you get the sense that the onus is being shifted from […]
Two new senators were sworn in today. It was Darrell Bradley’s first day as President of the Senate. He was appointed to the post after Lee Mark Chang stepped aside to pursue a career in politics. While attorney Michel Chebat has on several occasions temporarily stepped in for the P.U.P.’s lead Senator Eamon Courtenay, today, […]
A fire on Tuesday evening gutted a store at a shopping complex in Belmopan. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but a few days ago, electrical issues plagued the building. The store manager says it all started in one of the units on the ground floor. The firemen battled the raging flames from […]
On the economic front, there is positive news coming from the Statistical Institute of Belize in respect of the labour force. Figures show a drop in the unemployment rate from nine point four percent in April 2018 to this year. According to S.I.B., unemployment is at its lowest, with the Belize District showing the highest […]
It has been taking place since 1993 and has become one of the leading culinary competitions in the Caribbean region. In the past two consecutive years, Belize has been fielding a team to compete in the highly anticipated Taste of the Caribbean. The best of the best in culinary skills and mixology in the region […]
