While the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to respect Shoman’s decision, she says she has not relinquished membership in the People’s United Party. According to Shoman, the matter of her political allegiance is irrelevant. Instead, she acknowledges that Belizeans are a more formidable opponent of Guatemala when there is a bipartisan effort to stand […]
The Special Olympics annual fun run is scheduled to take place this coming Saturday. The event will be held countrywide to “foster active infusion and participation of all regardless of their abilities”. The fun run has been held for many years and according to Candice Morrison, the event has seen more involvement from the public. […]
They work behind the scenes playing a crucial role in our diagnosis and care. Most often once we see blood sample drawn, we give little thought to it until we get the results. But the tests conducted in medical labs and the efficiency and accuracy of the work of lab technicians cannot be understated. From […]
There is a major upset for the government in respect of the I.C.J. referendum that was scheduled for next week Wednesday. In a packed courtroom, a ruling was handed down this afternoon by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin prohibiting the government from proceeding with the April tenth referendum as scheduled. The C.J. found that the injunction […]
Last Wednesday, during the prime minister’s press conference where he unveiled a revised legal opinion by former I.C.J. President Stephen Schwebel, attorney Lisa Shoman added her two cents to a question posed by a fellow media colleague. That question had to do with a possible outcome in today’s injunction hearing. Not only was the former […]
The monkey wrench that has been thrown into government’s I.C.J. timetable has undoubtedly upset its plans to proceed with a referendum next Wednesday. In fact, while it did not anticipate the surprising outcome, the Barrow administration has been forced to revisit the drawing board and re-strategize a legal approach. Late this afternoon, Prime Minister Barrow […]
PM Barrow has outlined a three-pronged approach to tackling the latest obstacle in government’s path to the I.C.J. referendum. That impromptu plan of action includes an application for a reworking of the order that the Chief Justice has made. Government also seeks leave for the referendum to proceed on Wednesday, but the results of which […]
The Court of Appeal is also an immediate first option in the wake of the Chief Justice’s milestone decision; that application being signed before C.J. Benjamin could properly exit his chamber. But is time still on government’s side, considering the slow pace at which the judicial system works and the tight deadline ahead? PM Barrow […]
Government’s high-speed train to the I.C.J. referendum has collided into an unforeseen blockade and there is no telling what impact, if any, that sudden crash will have on the momentum of the national vote. It’s a question that we posed to PM Barrow earlier, and despite not being able to answer directly, he is of […]
Traversing the Sarstoon is a tense and perilous journey. The Guatemalan Armed Forces are there to impede Belizeans from freely travelling upstream so Belizeans require escort from the B.D.F. and Belize Coastguard on the journey on our side of the river. That is in the south, but in the west, it is a different case. […]
On Tuesday, we showed you the encounter between a News Five team on an excursion in the Sarstoon and members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces. While the Belizean vessel and its passengers were quickly supported by the coastguard and B.D.F. to circle the Sarstoon Island, the GAF verbally expressing rights over the Sarstoon has enraged […]
Twelve Guatemalan nationals were found with over fifty thousand U.S. dollars in cash in the southern waters of Belize last Friday. The men and their vessel were in the Moho area when they were intercepted by the Belize Coastguard. They were taken to the Punta Gorda police station, the cash was counted and the Guats […]
Today, the Police Department convened its national COMSTAT; it’s a forum where commanders from across the country would provide a report card on the operations, including crime stats from their respective jurisdictions. During the meeting, the officers also discussed crime fighting strategies. One initiative introduced today was the use of hi-tech cameras in hotspots in […]
A church leader, who reportedly entered the country unlawfully, remains in the custody of the Immigration Department in Punta Gorda and this morning his flock traveled all the way from Bella Vista to protest his detention. Carlos Alfredo Gonzalez was picked up this morning and transported to PG for alleged immigration offences. Our colleagues from […]
The second Belize National Research Conference was hosted inside the Jaguar Building at the University of Belize, Belmopan. It is part of a strategy among tertiary level institutions and the National Institute of Culture and History in the area of research with specific focus on the country’s development. Researchers are requested to submit papers on […]
The Ministry of Environment is looking to implement a three-year project to build Belize’s preparedness and response to extreme weather events. The project will look at flood preparedness and prevention through the use of technology, advanced monitoring techniques for an early warning system for floods, building capacity of human resource personnel and awareness programmes. On […]
News Five’s reporters have been deployed to various border communities to test the pulse of Belizeans as we prepare for that historic vote on April tenth which will decide if the International Court of Justice is to determine on the boundaries of Belize. We will be reporting from areas far-flung, as well as communities where […]
Next stop: Jalacte, a bordering community of some eight hundred residents. The experience there is much different. People from both sides of the border cross unimpeded; there is no immigration points, just the B.D.F. on duty at an outpost. We found out that the residents are more interested in trade than on going to the […]
The Morales family of San Ignacio is grieving the untimely death of one of their own. The nineteen-year-old went missing over the weekend and on Monday afternoon; the family’s worst fears were confirmed. Rudy was found dead and his body was retrieved from the Mopan River. There were reports that he had been spotted along […]
The Belize Police Department is enforcing a regulation in the Standing Orders which has some women police officers up in arms. The department is implementing its code of ethics outlined in the Police Services Regulations and Police Act, specifically as it relates to the length of their hair and style. Women police officers who have […]
News Five understands that at least one woman police officer has sought legal advice and is considering challenging the matter in court. Commissioner Williams says that anyone who does not agree with the rules of the police department can seek employment elsewhere. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “And my thing to the female officers […]
Eight days from now the public will vote either YES or NO to determine Belize’s next step to address Guatemala’s claim over the country. As the day nears, opposing camps are intensifying their campaign. A few legal opinions have been penned including one by the late Gian Gandhi. During Open Your Eyes this morning, attorney […]
With the help of Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, the Fisheries Department and the Nature Conservancy, a group of fishers are exploring the economic benefits of seaweed farming. About a dozen fishers are part of a pilot project to farm and harvest seaweed. Their farms are located a few miles out of Mauger Caye which forms […]
Cyber bullying and threat of violence are not limited to the viral release of pornographic material on social media. It has also taken root online in the buildup towards the I.C.J. referendum on April tenth. The latest target of such offense is Senior Counsel Lisa Shoman, the attorney representing the Government of Belize in a […]
The police department is focusing more on preventing deaths caused by excessive drinking. But for the department to be successful in its endeavour, the root causes must be addressed. ComPol Williams says that there are plans to curb public drinking, amend the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act and crack down on establishments that violate the act. […]
