The Prime Minister also spoke of the P.U.P.’s challenge of the 2008 Special Agreement. While the Chief Justice has ruled that the Special Agreement is not a serious issue to be tried, the P.U.P. has appealed that particular ruling which is now before the Court of Appeal. Those who have been following the legal battle […]
Still on the matter of the I.C.J., over the weekend, raffles were announced in several constituencies by U.D.P. standard bearers to get a YES vote. The raffles were announced for May eighth and winners would get cash, appliances and trips. The People’s United Party issued a statement to say it is appalled and outraged by […]
Boxes containing one hundred and seventy-three thousand ballots went up in flames today during an organized exercise carried out by the Elections and Boundaries Department. The ballots were to have been used for the April tenth referendum, but with a new law and a new date, the ballot papers were no longer valid. The Chief […]
Belizeans go to the polls on May eighth to vote on whether or not the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute should be taken to the International Court of Justice for final resolution. That is only five days away now and today, Acting Prime Minister Patrick Faber said they are ready. Though it should not be a […]
There will be no increase in the cost consumers pay for electricity for 2019-2020; that’s at least for now following a decision from the Public Utilities Commission. Back on April first, Belize Electricity Limited submitted a proposal of the P.U.C. that the cost of electricity remain at forty-one cents per kilowatt hour for the period […]
According to P.U.C. Chairman, John Avery, the projection is that B.E.L. may require two hundred and sixty-five million dollars to cover all its expenses for this tariff period, ending June 2019. The current rates are expected to yield about two hundred and twenty plus million dollars. Avery believes that when the next rate review is […]
The Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is an umbrella organization whose members are engaged in the sale of life insurance and financial services. CARAIFA rotates its annual general meeting at member countries and this year it is being held at the ITVET compound in Belize City. The AGM has representation from most CARICOM […]
Following the AGM, there will be a series of workshops taking place as part of its five-year development plan to ensure continuity in the organization. Foundation and community service also form part of the activities undertaken by the organization. CARAIFA is described as a trendsetter in terms of working with policymakers for the survival of […]
Back in November of 2018, Belizean beauty Monique Lamb represented the Jewel for the first time in the Miss Scuba International Pageant held in Malaysia. The unique pageant seeks to promote the marine ecosystem and was established in 2011 by founder Robert Lo, who is a supporter of the sustainable development of the marine environment. […]
Six women police officers, one who is a senior member of the Belize Police Department, have been accused of willfully disobeying a lawful command from Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. The women were instructed to remove their dreadlocks hairstyles, which the department says violates Section seven of the Standing Orders. The women: Aleea Wade, Shantel […]
In the letter, Mendez tells Williams that it is widely known that dreadlocks are “deeply symbolic in our region and are often worn as expressions of black identity and solidarity against colonialism and oppression.” In fact, Mendez asserts that for some, the hairstyle is worn in adherence to the Rastafarian faith. According to Mendez, demanding […]
A memo relating to the enforcement of Section Seven of the Department’s Standing Order has been circulated throughout the department. According to the memo, one of the reasons for the ban on dreadlocks is the possibility that these police officers would not be able to be identified in general because of the hairstyle. Another reason […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is currently overseas. Barrow left today and will return to Belize on Sunday, days before the May eighth referendum. An official release from his office states he traveled for family medical reasons. Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber, is the acting prime minister in absence of PM Barrow.
NAVCO, which is the National Association of Village Councils, today issued a statement circulated by the government. First, it says it represents fifty-five percent of the population. Second, according to NAVCO, the national, district and village council leaders have had an integral and active role in helping to organize the education campaign since 2017 in […]
Over this past weekend volunteers with machetes in hand gathered at San Jose Village in the Orange Walk District to harvest two acres of sugarcane as part of Harvest for Kids, an initiative that falls under the Belize Camping Experience. Director Alexander Perez coordinates such events to raise funds in order to continue providing summer […]
The leader of the Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan has been banned by Facebook. The social media giant made the announced this afternoon that it had kicked off controversial accounts for violating its rules. One of those accounts is Farrakhan’s who is notorious for using anti-Semitic language. In this instance, Facebook cited its policy […]
There is word tonight that U.D.P. Senator Aldo Salazar is in trouble with U.S. authorities. Last week, Salazar was part of a delegation to Taiwan which included the President of the Senate, Lee Mark Chang. Salazar was returning to Belize via Houston over the weekend when he was pulled aside by U.S. authorities and questioned […]
The Sarstoon remains a hotspot in southern Belize because the Guatemalan Armed Forces has consistently behaved as if the entire island is under their control. Now, today is the anniversary of the 1859 Treaty which is very significant in the resolution of the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. The signing of the treaty took place […]
The controversial, but historic I.C.J. referendum is one week away and across the country the gears of the Elections and Boundaries machinery are already in motion with final preparations for the national vote. This evening, Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai sat down with the media to discuss a number of public concerns related to the […]
While voting will be take place at voting centres in the thirty-one constituencies, Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai reiterates that the results will not reflect votes by electoral district. Instead, the Elections and Boundaries Department will provide information by constituency on the total number of votes cast. Tamai also says that the total number of […]
The issue of errors being made during the printing of voters IDs was also raised during today’s press brief. Those mistakes were being attributed to the rush to meet the initial April tenth deadline. According to Tamai, the number of incorrect cards is minimal when compared to the number of cards that were properly printed. […]
Are there any discrepancies between the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act and the Representation of the People’s Act where monitors are concerned? According to Tamai, the referendum should be carried out in line with the Representation of the People’s Act. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer “Our legal advice is that yes, it is provided […]
Two weeks ago, Cabinet approved an amendment to the Fisheries Regulations which removes the category of “permanent residents” from those persons eligible in obtaining a fishing license in Belize’s territorial waters. The decision is seen as a move to ultimately curb illegal fishing practices occurring in the south. In the Sarstoon, particularly, Guatemalans who have […]
Media houses were treated over the weekend to a workshop on best practices to report on children’s right which includes their rights to privacy, education, and healthcare. Getting their stories out is important but keeping confidentially is critical. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting Members of various media houses in Belize participated […]
Approximately forty percent of children in Belize suffer from poverty, preventing them from accessing education, justice, security, and health. This figure was revealed during the UNICEF mid-term report on Monday. The report outlines the organization’s work in Belize since 2017. The report includes the achievements made in protecting the rights of a child but as […]
