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OCEANA Questions Department of Environment Over Petroleum Work

Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Economic Development and Petroleum sent out a release stating that along with the Geology Department, it will be conducting a multi-beam and sea seep survey to the east of the barrier reef and in the exclusive economic zone excluding all marine protected areas, as well as areas banned from petroleum […]

Breaking News: Hurricane Matthew, A Category 4 Storm, Lurks in the Caribbean

The National Met Service is asking Belizeans to keep an eye on Hurricane Matthew over the weekend. In an advisory sent late this evening, the Met Service says that they and NEMO are closely monitoring a powerful Category Four Hurricane Matthew.  It has winds of one hundred and forty miles per hour and is moving […]

Ashley Rocke Gets Senate Inquiry Motion Passed; Did He Betray Social Partners?

The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly today had a very high-stakes meeting in Belmopan. Its sole purpose: to come to an agreement about the constitution and composition of a Special Senate Select Committee to investigate the Special Audit Report on Immigration composed by the Auditor General’s Office. Competing motions – one from the Church’s […]

P.U.P.’s Lead Senator Says They Were “Caught Off-Guard” by Change in Motions

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate admitted following the meeting that they were caught off-guard by the sudden change to the Order Paper putting Senator Rocke’s motion above his own. With that, the stage was set for that motion to carry the day, and the most he could do was to temper it […]

Godwin Hulse Saved From Being Thrown Out of Debate – But Should He Have Been?

But, before the Rocke motion could even be heard and debated, there was an intervention by Lead Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay, asking Minister of Immigration and his opposite number in the Government, Godwin Hulse, to recuse himself from the debate. There followed some debate on whether the motion was brought with sufficient notice, while Courtenay […]

COLA Interrupts Senate and Fires Off at Senators Rocke and Hulse

While Senator Ashley Rocke was making the ultimately successful motion before the Senate, he was interrupted by Geovannie Brackett, the President of Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action and activist Raymond Rivers. Brackett and Rivers pointedly shouted at the embattled Rocke that he was not telling the truth about the origin of his motion and […]

COLA President Calls for Continued Civil Disobedience and Support for Teachers

In anticipation of the Rocke motion being passed, C.O.L.A. president Brackett vowed to continue civil agitation alongside the Belize National Teachers’ Union. He called for a national shutdown on Monday at the same time as the teachers hold their strike.   Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA “It seems it’s when we behave unreasonable—to use the government […]

Business Community and Union Senators Distance Themselves from Motion

After the debate began, it quickly became clear that the social partner Senators – Mark Lizarraga for the business community and Elena Smith for the trade unions and civil society – were not supporting the motion. Of course, the Opposition also weighed in against it. Their primary complaints were that it did not go far […]

Chamber Reserves Judgment on Motion; Supports B.N.T.U.

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said it will review its options in light of today’s successful motion in the Senate. However, in a statement issued just before news time it remarks, “A thorough investigation is necessary, and any special select committee which is shackled by terms such as those in the motion […]

Junior Education Minister Calls Composition of Committee a “Concession” by P.M.

While the opposition, social partners and civil society were of the opinion that the motion presented by the Church Senator did not go far enough; the major discontent was the composition of the committee. The majority of the Senators voted in favor of a committee with two government representatives, three social partners – which includes […]

B.N.T.U. Rallies for Monday’s Strike – But Will It Go Further?

It is for more than the three—it is for country…That was the message from the Executive of the Belize National Teachers Union this afternoon at a press conference in the City. The teachers are asking for several things, including an international independent investigation into the William Danny Mason scandal, for government to sign on to […]

Teachers Under Attack! B.N.T.U. Wonders Why?

According to the B.N.T.U., since Sunday, the teachers have been under attack by the Government of Belize. The teachers are known as nation builders, but according to Executive Secretary Keisha Young, over the past week, teachers have been accused of going down a destructive path, endangering children who they teach, feed, and counsel.   Keisha […]

Potential Replacement Teachers Warned as B.N.T.U. Contemplates Extending Strike

The actions taken by government have teachers riled up and ready for Monday’s strike. But they are even more incensed by a statutory instrument that is expected to be signed into law by the Ministry of Education to mitigate strike action taken by the B.N.T.U.  This morning, the Bill was presented to the National Council […]

Union Stalwart George Frazer Cries Shame on Education Minister

Union executives also called out the government for what they say are acts of Union Busting. Former Union Leader, George Frazer says he’s ashamed of Minister of Education Patrick Faber who was once a teacher.   Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “It is a very sad day in our nation when the government of this […]

Will Stevedores Strike As Well?

For the past few days, it has been rumoured that the stevedores would be striking in solidarity with the teachers union. But both the CWU & the Port of Belize Limited have said – not so. But today in Belmopan, stevedore and activist, Raymond Rivers, publicly challenged both Port C.E.O. Arturo Vasquez and C.W.U. President […]

Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association Issues Support for Teachers

In a late evening press release on Thursday, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association declared their support for the teachers. The B.S.C.F.A. release states that the demands of the teachers are just as they ensure good governance and respect for workers.  The decision to declare their support for the B.N.T.U. came after a Board of […]

Are Roman Catholic School Managers and Bishop Still at Odds?

Is there division between the Management of Catholic Schools and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan? Today, the Belize Catholic Association of Principals of Secondary Schools sent out a release saying that it met with the Bishop Dorick Wright on Wednesday at his residence where principals and representatives from eight of the eleven […]

Junior Minister Defends Against Claims of Union Busting

Earlier this week we told you about Government ministers on the ground talking to teachers – asking them not to strike on Monday. So, today we caught up with Elodio Aragon Junior, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and we asked him if he has approached teachers about the […]

Queen Square Anglican School Will Get New Building

Over six hundred students will benefit from a major upgrade to the Queen Square Anglican Primary School in Belize City. The nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars project will include the construction of a new school building for the Southside School.  The project includes new infrastructure as well as the demolition and reconstruction of derelict […]

Mexican Naval Ship’s Visit Marks Milestone of Diplomatic Relations with Belize

It’s a celebration of thirty-five years of friendship! Our friends from the North are celebrating that anniversary by bringing their prestigious naval vessel for a ceremonial visit. The Embassy of Mexico also announced that a special program has been prepared to commemorate this anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Mexico and Belize.   […]

U.S. SouthCom Commander Visits Belize

On Thursday, the Commander of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Kurt Walter Tidd concluded a two-day visit to Belize with a tripartite meeting held with Brigadier General David Jones of the Belize Defence Force and Chief of Defence Staff of the Guatemalan Armed Forces, Major General Juan Manuel Perez Ramirez. The meeting, which took […]

Regional Youth Conference Concludes in Belize

Today, the Caribbean Youth Leaders Summit officially came to a close. The theme for the summit was From Rhetoric to Action Agenda 2030.  Were the dynamic youths able to achieve their goal? News Five’s Andrea Polanco was at the Radisson today for the closing of the Summit and files this report.   Andrea Polanco, Reporting […]

G.O.B. Must Find US $67 Million for Dunkeld

Sixty-seven million U.S. dollars – that’s how much money the Government of Belize must find to satisfy the first payment of the Belize Telemedia Limited Arbitration Award handed down on June twenty-eighth. The Government originally made partial payment in Belize dollars, to which Dunkeld International Investments and the B.T.L. Employees’ Trust, the former owners of […]

Can Accommodation Agreement Plans Hold Up After Judgment?

The discovery of a shift in the ratio of the award may imperil the Government’s stated intent to use a portion of the award for capital projects in Belize with the approval of Dunkeld. But both sides believe the compromise that was originally worked out can still be adhered to.   Denys Barrow, Attorney for […]

G.O.B. “Disappointed,” Promises No Shock to Economy

So, what’s Government’s reaction to this latest decision? This afternoon, G.O.B. issued a statement officially expressing its disappointment in the C.C.J. decision. It points out that, “The overall quantum of the Arbitral Award has not been increased in any wise altered; however G.O.B. now has to pay ten percent more of that award in U.S. […]