Vasquez contends that neither the attorney nor her daughter were called prior to the impromptu afternoon court session, and thus lost their chance to tell their side of the story. Today, she told us that the child is with her father, but because of the interim order granting him sole custody, they have no idea […]
Simultaneous fundraising activities are underway at the Ecumenical High School in Dangriga. Today, a team traveled from the south to Belize City to spread the word on its mission to raise money to develop on another phase of the institution’s auditorium as well as to embark on community based initiatives across the southern municipality. Some […]
Meanwhile, the teachers over at the college are also giving you an opportunity of a lifetime – ten dollars to win a 2017 Great Wall Wingle pickup, valued at thirty-five thousand dollars. The raffle will be drawn on Mother’s Day in May 2018 and Jonell Villafranco tells us more. Jonell Villafranco, Co-Convener, Fundraising Committee […]
A decade ago, one of Belize’s finest artists died: Andy Palacio, who placed Belize on the international music charts transitioned at the peak of his musical career. His cultural music, however, continues to excite as well as inspire people all over the world. The Garifuna Collective, founded by Andy, has been appearing on world stages […]
One hundred thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount; that’s the cost of Andrew Bennett’s freedom after appearing before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer this morning as extradition proceedings against him begin. Represented by a trio of fellow attorneys led by Anthony Sylvester, the forty-six-year-old was escorted into the lower court free of manacles […]
In his submission, Sylvester made the point that Bennett was not a flight risk and had to prove to the court that his client would not abscond should he be granted bail. Sylvester and his legal team, which includes attorneys Illiana Swift and Gavin Courtenay, went as far as providing the Chief Magistrate with stringent […]
Representing the United States government in the matter is Solicitor General Nigel Hawke. In court, the SolGen did not offer much, save for an objection to bail as more of an official procedure than a serious concern. Nigel Hawke, Solicitor General “We issued our formal objection because of our treaty obligations in respect of […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, who signed off on the bundle of documents presented to him on January tenth, also weighed in on Bennett’s dilemma as an embattled attorney. Elrington says on record that Bennett’s right to practice law should not be taken away on the strength of an allegation. Isani Cayetano “As a former […]
Errol Elrington, he is the sibling of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington who fled to Belize in 2014 as a fugitive of the United States. The doctor is being sought by authorities in respect of his alleged role in defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of almost half a million U.S. dollars. He absconded back to his home […]
On the heels of a vote at the United Nation’s by Belize against the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, Belize is among three countries removed from the temporary work visa program. Along with Haiti and Samoa, effective today, Belizeans will no longer be able to acquire H-Two-A and H-Two-B non-immigrant work visas. […]
On Tuesday night at the western border crossing in Benque Viejo, a fifty-second surveillance footage from inside the Customs area of the Belize offices, captures three Guatemalan soldiers dressed in their military fatigues, similar to that of the Kaibiles, enter Belizean territory from the Guatemalan side. The video, courtesy of Belize Breaking News, shows the […]
As we said, Escobar Lopez is a reporter attached to Prensa Libre and Guatevision in Peten, Flores. He claims he was assaulted by a police officer after being spotted at the western border taking pictures of the customs and immigration offices. According to the journalist, he was going about his business documenting the work of […]
U.S. President Donald Trump last week created a firestorm when he made disparaging remarks about small and developing nations and countries such as Haiti, El Salvador and others in Africa as ‘shithole countries. If anything, the inflammatory statement served to raise the ire of countries around the world, including those in CARICOM that have condemned […]
This Friday night at the Belize Elementary School Gymnasium in Belize City, the National Elite Basketball League semi-pro season officially opens with a matchup between Smart Belize Hurricanes and the Verdes Basketball Club, formerly the Cayo Western Ballaz. It’s a home game for the Hurricanes, who say they plan to bring the win back to […]
U.S. news outlets have been reporting a severe flu epidemic that has swept across the United States for over a week of. In comparison to last flu season, the U.S. is seeing more cases of the flu leading to hospitalization and more flu-related deaths. If the adage is true that when the north sneezes we […]
A fire burnt out more than seven families in the early hours of this morning. Sometime after twelve, the fire started in an abandoned building on Glenn Street and the flames spread quickly. The blaze destroyed two other houses and left around twenty-eight persons without a roof over their head. The victims and residents in […]
Residents and fire victims believe that the firemen were not prepared to take on the midnight inferno. They claim that the fire truck arrived thirty minutes after the blaze started and that the trucks didn’t have enough water. Well, Fire Chief says not so. He says they were notified of the blaze around ten minutes […]
The Ministry of Human Development and the City Emergency Management Organization have teamed up to provide much needed immediate relief for the families. Today, Minister Edmond Castro and Philip Willoughby met with the victims at the City Hall to distribute some food and other necessities. CEMO says that majority of the twenty-eight fire victims will […]
Last Friday, the price of LPG went up by seven dollars per hundred pound cylinder. While that increase kept supply of butane going, there is information of an impasse between Liquid Petroleum Gas importers and the Government. Complaints reaching our studios were that importers were selling butane to distributors at a wholesale price of one […]
The municipal election season is drawing closer and already most of the major political parties’ candidates are on the campaign trail. Participation from the alternative and independent movements has been less in evidence. But one man who never seems to stop campaigning is Ernesto Torres. The driving instructor is a constant presence on the radio […]
On Tuesday News Five showed you firsthand the hopes and dreams of farmers in the San Carlos area of Orange Walk, who are hoping they will be able to get their crops to market without interference in the form of additional import licenses, higher taxes on fuel and poor infrastructure. But there is another issue […]
You heard earlier in the newscast about the fire that totally destroyed the houses of eight families. The fire started in an abandoned building where homeless persons were staying. If you recall some time ago, the City Council in collaboration with the National Fire Service, the Police Department, Human Services and the Ministry of Health […]
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust office in Belmopan will be closed for the next week as the statutory body undergoes transition to a leaner, more efficient institution capable of financing the national protected areas system while containing its administrative costs. But the fourteen member-staff got sent home after meetings on Tuesday. They were told that […]
According to Cho, there is also change coming for the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute. The Authority is undergoing a similar assessment process to PACT and Cho says it is recognized that there is a need to streamline its efforts to be as efficient and economical as possible while staying true to its mandate. […]
This just in…There was a major shakeup at the Protected Areas Conservation Trust today. At one o’clock this afternoon, staff members were individually called into an unscheduled meeting and notified that the PACT offices will be closing immediately due to a “restructuring exercise” as government conducts the standardization of statutory boards. Fourteen staff members including […]
