Two of the most powerful men in the ruling United Democratic Party appear at odds over support for embattled Orange Walk North area representative Gaspar Vega. Deputy Prime Minister and first Deputy U.D.P. Leader Patrick Faber wrote on Facebook on Wednesday from Belize City that “For those wondering, especially on a day like today, I […]
Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie is on sick leave for a month. His absence, however, comes at a critical time during the September Celebrations when the Belize Police Department remains on high alert when it comes to citizen community. Despite the circumstance, Whylie’s time off has prompted the question of whether the Ministry of Home […]
The Las Flores Steering Committee has been leading the fight against the completed sale of parcels eighty-seven-thirteen and eighty-seven-fourteen near Saint Michael R.C. Primary School in the community outside Belmopan to a resident, Amy Chen. The community insists that the parcels were intended for the future expansion of the school and its sale is disrespectful […]
Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar also chimed in on the current land dispute in Las Flores. While the suggestion to cede parcels sixty-two fifty-two and sixty-two fifty-three to the Catholic Diocese does not require the approval of the community, residents are outraged that an agreement was met without their consent. Despite the rejection by residents, […]
As promised, the Senate Special Select Committee is turning the page after months of questioning on past misdeeds of the Immigration Department. For two and a half hours on Wednesday, much of the discussion with Director of Immigration Diana Locke was on changes to the system with regard to visas, passports, nationality and permanent residence. […]
In the case of recommenders for passports and nationality, Diana Locke made the point that records of persons named as justices of the peace, teachers and even religious professionals have not been kept up to date, as opposed to members of the National Assembly which has seen few changes. But as with the listing of […]
It appears that Hurricane Irma is not slowing down and it is heading straight for Florida. Latest weather projections show that it may hit Miami directly. Thousands have evacuated the state and others are in full hurricane preparation mode as they wait for the storm to hit. Today, we spoke with the Consul General of […]
Belize has received one hundred thousand dollars from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in a formal cooperation agreement on police development, including the exchange of personnel visiting for study and training programs, sharing of information in the area of law enforcement, cooperation in combating transnational crimes and the implementation of other areas of cooperation. The […]
On Wednesday, we told you how the Social Security Board is moving online and how employers are making their payments via the online portal. Well, it is not only the employers who get an easy, fast and secure way to do their social security business, but insured persons can receive their payments directly to their […]
So, the S.S.B. wants to increase contributions for the forty percent of its insured persons. Those persons earn between three hundred and twenty dollars to five hundred and twenty dollars weekly. At this time, it is a proposal and C.E.O. Colin Young explained that the S.S.B. fund is reaching its maturity and with the number […]
Day three of mas camps took place on Wednesday night. The bands were in true form as the judging begins, all leading up to Saturday’s road march. The competitive spirit of the bands was ever present as seven senior and junior mas bands showcase their designs. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on Tuesday and Wednesday’s […]
On Wednesday, carnival band leaders signed on to a peace declaration following a violent incident involving supporters at the conclusion of the King and Queen Competition. Greg Vernon of the National Institute of Culture and History says that the association, carnival bands and its partners will move forward with safety and sportsmanship in mind, specifically […]
Our viewers have probably noticed that this news station does not regularly report suicides. We understand how this can lead people to believing that Belizeans are rarely taking or attempting to take their own lives. That – is not the case. While we restrain from covering suicides in the news to prevent copycat suicides; according […]
A protest proceeded as planned in Orange Walk today. But what started as a peaceful march against the “hot bed of corruption’’ at the Ministry of Lands escalated into a violent riot at the Tower Hill Bridge. We start our coverage of today’s events with the tear gassing of Belizeans, primarily from the Corozal and […]
But before the police would descend on the protestors, by nine this morning, thousands gathered along the San Lorenzo Road where the march kicked off. Their call was for the resignation of Area Rep Gaspar Vega who presided over large scale land grab benefitting his family and friends. But not too far away, only a […]
A special session of the Bar Association of Belize met in Belize City at the Radisson Hotel on Tuesday night. Its purpose was to consider its position on the appointment of Jamaican-American attorney and former prosecutor Franz Parke, based in Miami, to the Court of Appeal as a justice. Parke has extensive legal experience, but […]
There are reports to News Five that members of the social partners are likely to raise objections based on the position of the Bar. The Opposition Leader John Briceño is by law the sole person to whom the Prime Minister must consult for his opinion before recommending the appointment to the Governor General and he […]
Banner referred us to the Bar’s case against the Government decided in their favor earlier this year in the Caribbean Court of Justice concerning tenure of judges and also setting out guidelines for appointment. She also noted that a specific body in the Caribbean appoints C.C.J. judges and the similarly named Judicial and Legal Services […]
A shooting overnight on the north end of Ambergris Caye turned murder today after police discovered the body of thirty-six-year-old Rudolph Eric Pitts. Just before nine p.m. on Tuesday, twenty-two-year-old Edgar Rene Lopez was transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, left arm and shoulder. Before being airlifted to […]
As many as one hundred visa applications appear weekly on the desk of the visa vetting committee established in the aftermath of the Won Hong Kim/Elvin Penner scandal. It was one of the two oversight committees put in place to help regulate the activities of the Immigration Department; the other is the nationality review committee. […]
In February, News Five reported on a temporary backlog of passport processing in Belmopan due to issues with the antiquated system in place. At that time the Ministry, represented by junior minister Beverly Williams, indicated that once a new system was procured it would be slowly implemented alongside the current system. Months later, according to […]
Police were out on their weekly meet and greet visits today with residents across the city. We went along with the cops on the south side in the Jane Usher Boulevard Area. According to police, the residents want to see more patrols and have more face time with the authorities. When we caught up with […]
When we spoke with Superintendent Arzu, we also asked him about the increasing number of weapons and drugs recently seized, retrieved primarily from empty or abandoned lots. Arzu says that it appears that those empty lots are being craftily used by criminals, but police are dismantling their activities by targeting these lots. Supt. Daniel […]
For the past several months, we have been telling you about the Social Security Board’s proposed changes in contributions. Consultations have been held around the country and it is yet to be decided how those changes will be made. Today the S.S.B. hosted a mixer where C.E.O. Colin Young said that there has been a […]
There’s other news from the S.S.B. The Social Security Board is slowly changing from its traditional way of receiving and making payments. An online contribution portal is being used for employers to make payments – a system that aims to make the process easy and hassle free for businesses. S.S.B. officer Carlton McKoy explains how […]
