There are no official records on hate crime, but acts of violence and hostility against individuals and groups are known to occur. In fact, just about anyone is vulnerable. Policy makers and other stakeholders are partnering to draft legislation on the topic. Modules of enabling legislation in other countries of the Commonwealth offer insights on […]
Following the release of sex tape of news anchor Indira Craig and the video of a student in uniform performing oral sex, there was a release issued by the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children condemning the violation of a person’s privacy. In many quarters, Kim Simplis Barrow came under fire for […]
The Brits are reportedly looking to expand their military presence in the Caribbean. They have confirmed as much, but it is left to be seen where they will increase their footprint in the region. It is reported that they want to become more visible on this side of the world following their exit from the […]
Since last week we’ve reported about a house that was knocked down in the Salvapan area of Belmopan. The owner, Nicolasa Cus, is reportedly squatting on land owned by the RECONDEV. She claims that she has been living there for twelve years, but area rep John Saldivar says that it is not so. Over a […]
The disturbing images of the detention cells at the Queen Street Police Station went viral last month. Those images were captured by an interdicted cop Darrel “Tutsi” Usher who was detained at the time. The condition of the cells drew widespread scorn and condemnation. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams had vowed to find a solution […]
In 2015, Prime Minister Dean Barrow was forced to pass the Petrocaribe Loans Act retroactively. This was after it was pointed out that the hundreds of millions of dollars that the government received as a loan from the Venezuelan Government through the Petrocaribe initiative needed parliamentary approval. The law stipulates that the government must get […]
Espat explains says that the claim is seeking a permanent injunction restraining PM Barrow as Minister of Finance and second defendant Financial Secretary Joseph Waight from authorizing the allocation and expenditure of public monies without prior approval of the National Assembly of Belize. Julius Espat, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee “We are asking that the […]
There are internal issues brewing at the Belize Police Department. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is bucking heads with the President of the Police Association. This is because President, Corporal Eldon Arzu, doesn’t agree with the new commissioner’s take on the tenure of the association’s president. Williams wants to limit the term of the presidency […]
But is there some hanky-panky going on with the dues collected by the police association? Police officers have reportedly been asking for accountability and that hasn’t been forthcoming. Today, Commissioner Chester Williams says that the association seems to have taken issue over the request for an audit. Williams says that former Commissioner Allen Whylie had […]
Some two weeks ago, the top cops were singing the praises of officers who are going above and beyond the call of duty even when their lives are at risk. Well, today, the top officers of the Belize Police Department came together to honour cops who are doing good work even though the department still […]
This Friday will make the first anniversary since P.U.P. Mayor Bernard Wagner and his team took office at the Belize City Council. While the mayor has met many challenges, today, he reflected on his first year as head of the largest municipality in the country. Mayor Wagner spoke about the accomplishments. Bernard Wagner, Belize […]
Going into its second year and with a budget reflecting his commitments, Mayor Wagner says that residents can expect more infrastructure works as well as social programmes being rolled out. This, he says, is in line with his council’s manifesto of putting people first. Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor “A continuation of physical infrastructure; […]
Last week Minister of National Security John Saldivar went on a tour in the south to inspect security facilities. On Friday, the tour kicked off with a visit to Barranco Village and the Sarstoon River. Minister Saldivar and a delegation of officials were accompanied by heavy security detail made up of B.D.F. and the Coast […]
Today, the Belize Police Department inaugurated a new police booth on Central American Boulevard in Belize City. The booth was donated by the Young family of Way Printing Company. This police booth is different from the others you’ve seen around the city. It is fully fitted with a rest room, external surveillance cameras and other […]
The Police Department took time today to honour a set of brave officers who risked their lives to get their jobs done. The officers were rewarded for their work in apprehending criminals in three separate incidents, including the recent robbery at the northern border. Meanwhile, an officer station in Punta Gorda was able to single-handedly […]
On Monday night, a fight broke out at Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan. It happened during a football match between Galen University and the University of Belize. When the fight started, an-off duty police officer pulled out a firearm and fired warning shots in the air. Today, Minister John Saldivar commented on the matter in […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also commented on the matter. He says that while it is regrettable that a firearm was used, he believes that the officers may have responded in the best way they knew how with the circumstances at hand. He says they have reviewed the matter internally and the cops are cooperating […]
Discrepancies in water bills have more than two dozen families in San Jose Succotz in Cayo irate. Residents say that their most recent bills from Belize Water Service are extremely and inexplicably high. One resident’s water bill is more than a thousand dollars for the month of February while another bill is more than one […]
A one-day summit dedicated to enhancing governance accountability was held today in Belize City. Stakeholders from the private and public sectors were engaged in discussions on the many aspects of governance decision making from building awareness on relevant data to enhancing leadership of public officers and community organizers. News Five’s Duane Moody has a report. […]
There are two recent legal opinions relating to the Guatemalan territorial dispute; one by international expert Stephen Vascannie, which has just been made public and the other is by attorneys Kareem Musa, Anthony Sylvester and Dickie Bradley, which looks at the Special Agreement of December eighth, 2008. The latter was released two weeks ago and […]
Turning to the legal opinion provided by Professor Stephen Vasciannie, as commissioned by the Bar Association. The international law professor at the University of the West Indies has put forward an expert view on the Belize/Guatemala Dispute, identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of the case, should it go to the I.C.J. for arbitration. The […]
Professor Vasciannie’s opinion also focuses on recent developments pertaining to the Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island, arising from activities of the Guatemalan Armed Forces. While he says that the GAF is not recognizing the boundaries set out in Article One of the 1859 Treaty, they are in contravention of international law. Likewise, in speaking on […]
Billboards of well-known Belizeans, including national heroes Phillip Goldson and most recently George Price, have sprung up across the country as the I.C.J. awareness campaign continues to be rolled out by the Referendum Unit. In Belize City, a giant display of George Price overlooks Central American Boulevard near its intersection with North Creek. The use […]
Citizens for the Defense of Sovereignty is a newly formed organization headed by Ambassador Assad Shoman. The N.G.O. works closely with government in the referendum campaign and supports a YES vote. There have been questions being asked about its source of funding. Last week, the western P.U.P. caucus issued a release seeking government’s response to […]
The plight of homeless persons is a big social issue; today, we found a mother, her son and dogs living in a park in an affluent part of the city. Angelita and Roy Jones have been living at the Lopez Mateo Park since last year sometimes taking cover under a tarp. She says she has […]
