In responding to comments made by Faber on Monday, Palacio says that the Minister of Education is spinning the truth by accusing the union of disrupting the ministry’s attempts to complete the scheduled make up time for teachers. Luke Palacio, President, Belize National Teachers Union “The other misleading thing that the minister has attempted […]
With a drop in the price of sugar in the global market as well as a shift to beet sugar, the local sugar industry is at a crossroads. To remain competitive, the five thousand plus farmers have to look at how to cut production and harvesting costs to remain competitive. At American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar […]
In October of this year, the EU regime changes allowing for European beet sugar to compete directly with sugar cane. For the past ten years the E.U. has been working with the local industry in the north to prepare and adjust to the upcoming change. In an interview with the media today, E.U. Political Counselor […]
After a hiatus of almost a month due to Easter holidays, the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration’s public hearings return on Wednesday, with the last witness before the break, Barton Middleton, scheduled to continue his testimony. Immigration officers Therese Chavarria and Omar Phillips are also to be called to testify. The hearings have not […]
Still on the Senate… President-elect Elena Smith is also a parliamentarian who sits on the Senate Special Select Committee. She assumes the reins of the Belize National Teachers Union on July first. She is set to succeed three-term B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio and is herself a firebrand unionist. So, will her dual position present a […]
The Government, a year ago this week, passed legislation to stop Wil Maheia’s Belize Territorial Volunteers and others from peacefully traversing Belize’s southern boundary, the Sarstoon River. Later the B.D.F., Coastguard and Police physically blocked the dock to prevent the expedition. But the Government’s promise that it could get a deal with Guatemala on managing […]
Four students were selected for five hundred dollars scholarship each by Rise Up Belize. The non-profit based out of California was started by Joey Garcia who was born in Belize, but has lived in the U.S.A. Rise Up Belize offers free professional development workshop for primary school teachers in Belize. The organization later expanded its […]
One other matter touched on at the Senate inquiry is the use of technology. Central Information Technology Office employee Francisco Rodriguez and Immigration Department IT chief Rodolfo Bol testified at the Senate Special Select Committee about breaches in the Immigration programs. These breaches allowed employees multiple access points to perform jobs from data entry to […]
Today, in line with its early childhood development campaign, the Government of Belize in collaboration with the European Union officially inaugurated three preschools in the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts, namely San Jose, San Pedro and Trial Farm villages. A ceremony was held at the facility at the Trial Farm Government School in Orange Walk. […]
The million-dollar bonus to be provided by the Ministry of Education to non-striking teachers during the eleven-day strike last October and the subsequent attempt to make up days lost in the classroom in January remains on the table tonight. Minister of Education Patrick Faber came out swinging against his opponents on the issue today on […]
Even though the money was paid after the start of the financial year, the minister claims it was taken from the previous financial year’s Budget. But it is known from accounting practices in the Government system that that is not typically how it works. The minister claimed to be disappointed that the press and the […]
The minister acknowledged that he was in something of a catch-twenty-two situation, facing the wrath of unionized teachers who feel he has disrespected them, and the expectation of teachers who did not stand with their brothers and sisters that he would come to their rescue. But Faber contends that he has done the right thing […]
Senator Elena Smith will assume office in July as president of the Belize National Teacher’s Union, after a hard-fought victory in the national convention in San Roman, Corozal last week. She will be the third female in the post after Helen Stuart and Linda Bennett. Over the weekend, Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister […]
We know for sure that the minister didn’t drop in at Escuela Mexico in San Roman. But his driver was seen around the area along with at least one other operative and the minister was said to have met with teachers in Corozal before the convention took place. But Faber denied it all and maintained […]
A freak thunderstorm swept through parts of Biscayne, Belize District over the weekend. Though not unusual, it left in its passage considerable damages to property, but fortunately there were no injuries reported. The storm had been forecasted, but residents did not expect its severity. Today, we found them picking up the pieces. News Five’s Isani […]
The first of its kind National Cyber Security Symposium opened today at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel. The Public Utilities Commission is teaming up with other stakeholders to explore international trends and approaches for protecting public sector networks and developing effective cyber-policy and legislation. But what does it all mean for you, and why should you […]
News Five has received reliable information that an investigation is currently ongoing by the police department into an allegation made by a coastguardsman against his commander, Rear Admiral John Borland. A statement has reportedly been taken by the police from the junior officer in which he claims he has been verbally abused as well as […]
Recently, there’s been a spate of incidents in which police officers have been caught on video with contraband goods and only last week a cop was charged with theft. The actions of these officers have tainted the department which has prompted reaction from the Ministry of Home Affairs. A statement says that the Police Professional […]
World Earth Day is a global celebration to highlight and show appreciation for our natural environment. One primary school in Belize City used the occasion to show how trash can be recycled into artwork of the local wildlife; and in the process, the school compound got a facelift. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane […]
The National Climate Change Office was on the south side of the city today for the soft launch of a climate change awareness campaign. Belize participated in the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership which led to a study to find out the community’s knowledge, attitudes and practices around climate change. The data gathered showed that residents […]
The United Belize Advocacy Movement kicked off a two-day session in Belize City to discuss legislation and how it affects marginalized groups. The focus of the conference is two-fold; to raise national knowledge of the application of international law on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as to raise national knowledge of Belize’s domestic […]
And while this is at the discussion stage, how does UNIBAM plan to get all citizens covered under the laws, regardless of orientation or identity? Orozco explains that the process starts with documenting and monitoring to raise awareness. Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM “Our process is really partnering with legal clinics to do the […]
The Ministry of Health is hosting a two-week “Care for Child Development National Trainers Workshop” in Belize City. The focus of the seminar is to enable personnel from the Ministries of Education, Health and Human Development to help parents and others to connect with young children three years and younger before they start school. News […]
Who is responsible for the silt backed up on the south side? Before the Easter holidays, we told you about the proposed work to be done in the Yabra Canal to remove the silt that has backed up for the past few months. The Belize City Council and other partner agencies have been monitoring the […]
We start our newscast tonight with a murder deep in the south where a Guatemalan businessman was stabbed to death a stone’s throw away from the western border near the southern village of Jalacte. On Thursday night, a relative of Carlos Pop Xol notified police that they had discovered his motionless body a short distance […]
