Are you an active youth in your community? If you are doing good work that is making an impact, then you may qualify for the National Youth Awards. The Department of Youth Services is now accepting nominations for this year’s awards. Dominique Noralez of the Department of Youth Services tells us more about the requirements […]
There is yet another fifteen thousand-dollar winner in the recently established Scratch and Win game. Caye Caulker resident and father of one, Wilber Chi is taking home twelve thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars after taxes. Chi is one of thousands of Belizeans that have played the game since it started back in March by […]
The International Court of Justice has issued a release informing that it remains in consideration of a matter involving a dispute between Guatemala and Belize via a special agreement which dates back to December 2008. The statement from the I.C.J. comes five days after Belize formally submitted a notification to the World Court which was […]
Belize’s notification to the International Court of Justice puts in motion procedures agreed in the 2008 Special Agreement. Within one year, Guatemala will submit its claim after which Belize will respond a year after Guatemala has filed its claim. It is expected that the entire process will span over several years until a verdict is […]
Effective July first, employers and employees will begin paying a higher contribution to the social security fund. The new contribution and pension reform, approved by Cabinet, is essentially to save the Social Security Board from crashing. The new rates will be phased over the next three years with an initial increase of point five percent […]
According to S.S.B.’s Chief Executive Officer, Doctor Colin Young, the new pension and contribution scheme will not impact existing pensioners. As it stands now, the fund is approaching the ‘period of equilibrium’ where total expenditures equal total revenue and in order to avoid arriving at that stage, Doctor Young says that there is consideration for […]
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte headed to Guyana today where he is scheduled to participate in a top-level diplomatic conference between CARICOM foreign ministers and Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla. The Sixth Annual CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting is being held in Georgetown on June fourteenth. Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney General “Well it’s a CARICOM/Cuba […]
There has been an apparent spike in crimes, especially armed robberies, across the country and fatal shootings, mostly in the Old Capital. While the Ministry of National Security reported a decreased in murders from the period of January to May of this year when compared to the same period last year, there has been an […]
There is a level of difficulty when addressing the issue of crime. It is a problem that should be addressed in a multi-faceted, inter-agency approach. According to Briceño, for crime to be successfully tackled, the government needs to focus on reforming the Belize Police Department, strengthening the prosecution branch and reducing the level of poverty. […]
Last week, Andre Vega, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, appeared in court for a civil trial initiated by the Government of Belize. The government is attempting to recover four hundred thousand dollars which was paid to Vega as land compensation. The land in question is located along mile four of the Philip […]
The Leader of the Opposition also took on Minister of Health Pablo Marin over exercise equipment. In May, Minister Marin handed over exercise equipment, which was donated by the Taiwan Embassy, to five municipalities. Valued at around twenty-two thousand U.S. dollars, the equipment was handed over to the Mayors of Punta Gorda, Santa Elena/San Ignacio, […]
In 2002, the International Labour Organization launched the World Day Against Child Labour to raise awareness on the extent of child labour across the world and the actions and efforts needed to eliminate it. Back in 2017, the Government of Belize partnered with the CLEAR II Project to identify areas where child labour is prevalent […]
A survey is currently underway within the refugee population in Belize. The survey is being commissioned by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in partnership with the Belize Red Cross. The purpose of the survey is to collect and study data and use that information in order to assist refugees to better integrate into society […]
Cabinet has approved S.S.B.’s proposal to reform its contributions and pension scheme. The Social Security Board embarked on a countrywide consultation process two years ago to seek support for its proposal. As it stands now, the fund is approaching the ‘period of equilibrium’ where total income equals total expenditure. So in order for the fund […]
So what about S.S.B.’s loans and portfolios? Well according to C.E.O. Doctor Colin Young, S.S.B.’s 2018 audited financials are near completion. Doctor Young says that in 2017, the fund’s rate of return on its investments portfolio was five point five percent. He says that in the last ten years, the rate of return was fewer […]
An investigation following the death of eight-week-old Thevane Banner has been concluded by the Ministry of Health. The newborn died from battered child syndrome and his father, twenty-eight-year-old Troy Banner, has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter. Despite a subsequent arraignment, Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero reveals that the Ministry of Health […]
The near-fatal attack on Matron Augustina Elijio last Tuesday at the Port Loyola Health Center has prompted the Ministry of Health to revisit existing procedures for patients accessing services at public facilities. While there are already protocols in place, a recent incident during which the retired nurse was stabbed multiple times by a mental patient […]
In the tragic case of Nestor Vasquez Junior, who lost his life over the weekend after being badly beaten by a fellow inmate inside a holding cell at the Queen Street Police Station, questions are being raised about the competence of officers in dealing with mentally challenged persons. According to Doctor Manzanero, notwithstanding the unfortunate […]
Today at the Biltmore Hotel, the Ministry of Health and UNICEF launched an initiative which aims to measure mental health among adolescents, as well as a project called Helping Adolescents Thrive. The launch comes at a time when the issue of mental health is much talked about. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has more. Isani […]
Many communities and villages that rely on reservoirs to provide water to their homes have been experiencing issues as a result of the extended drought. Over the past few months, some residents would go a day or two without water and it has raised the ire of residents in Georgeville, Cayo. Over the weekend, our […]
There are a number of short-term and long-term actions that must be taken to fix the perennial water problem in the village. Water Board Chairman Al Westby says that there will be remedial work done to the water tank and there is a meeting with the Belize Social Investment Fund, as well as NEMO, to […]
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime opened a two-day workshop today to discuss how to improve the regulation of controlled drugs by strengthening legislation, institute regulations and implement quality assurance systems to promote the rational use of these medicines. The aim is to ensure that controlled drugs are being used according to their […]
It has been a month since the historic May eighth I.C.J. referendum and steps have been taken following the ‘yes’ vote to formalize Belize’s position in taking the territorial dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice for resolution. In the days after the national exercise, the House of Representatives met to table a […]
In other news involving Belize and Guatemala, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Commercial Cooperation, Jairo Estrada, called on Minister of Trade and Investment Tracy Taegar-Panton on Thursday in Belmopan. Joined by Deputy Chief of Mission for Belize and Guatemala, David Vargas, both ministers discussed improving the trade relationship between the neighboring countries […]
Belize City police broke up a protest this morning that unfolded along the Philip Goldson Highway. Residents of Belama Phase Four showed up in front of Fen Lan Company Limited which is owned by Alex Chang. Chang is also the so-called owner of one point six-six acres of Belama land. In January, Chang served the […]
