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The composition of the Joint Special Select Committee also came into question during this afternoon’s press conference. Among the concerns raised is the fact that the combined task force will be made up of a majority of representatives from the Barrow administration. While the working group will be chaired by a senator from among the […]
Another issue of national importance which has deeply divided the people is the decision not to appeal the recent ruling on Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code. The decision from Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin decriminalizes sexual acts between adults in private. But there appears to be some room to maneuver, because the PM is meeting […]
As we told you earlier, there was a meeting on Wednesday morning between the Prime Minister and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber called on the government to accede the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption. Barrow had resisted signing the convention, but reeling from scandal to scandal, the PM has agreed with the […]
A hundred and forty countries, members of the United Nations, have already signed on to the UNCAC. Barrow believes that the stringent requirements of the convention can further complicate matters for Belize at the international level. Citing the ongoing correspondent banking crisis, PM Barrow notes that failure to live up to the obligations of the […]
There is a pronounced rift in the Council of Churches tonight following a vote on Wednesday by Senator Ashley Rocke. Rocke first spoke in support of a Senate Select investigation on the special audit and would then vote against it. Ashley Rocke, Senator for Churches “I also rise to give support to the inquiry. […]
The unprecedented release from Bishop Wright was followed by one from the Executive Team of the National Evangelical Association of Belize, known as the NEAB. The grouping says its national chapters comprising two hundred and fifty churches are disappointed with Senator Rocke’s “No” vote and find it completely unacceptable. NEAB is also calling for the […]
Pastor Louis Wade, I Want My Country Back Movement “It is very clear to us that there is a process for that; but he should do the honourable thing and resign. We cannot have a Senator who committed to other Senators, who claims to be committed to anti-corruption – we say ‘a bird in […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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Pastor Rocke heads the Lake Independence Baptist Church and is a member of the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches, which suffered a big split around the time of the November general election. Rocke had reached accommodation with the National Evangelical Association of Belize which saw its majority of pastors tossed out. But today, Wade says […]
With mounting pressure for his removal, Senator Rocke issued a statement this afternoon to say that his actions at Wednesday’s Senate sitting, though unpopular, are for the greater good of Belize and that he did not go against the Church, but that he sided with the country. Rocke says that he found more comfort in […]
Who will the former employees of Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT) work for, apart from the residents of the Belize District? That is the question tonight after the ambulance emergency service established seventeen years ago seemed to shut its doors on Wednesday claiming that it was unable to further fund its service without additional finance […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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This afternoon, Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero, told us the Government has reached an accommodation with the much-needed emergency service to take on the management as well as the personnel. In effect BERT has folded. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “We have reached an agreement; BERT was basically interested in […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Ministry of Health Agrees to Take On Salaries, But Will Not Fund BERT Directly
There is a report that the B.D.F. came under fire on Wednesday in the Chiquibul National Park approximately two hundred and fifty-nine meters east of the border. The shooting at the patrol occurred at about eleven-thirty in the morning when the soldiers were heading to Retero Camp to follow-up on a previous order to leave […]
Former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega has kept quite a low profile since being stripped of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the second largest portfolio in government, and losing the post as DPM. His colleague, former Minister of National Security John Saldivar has also been under the radar after responsibility for the Belize Police Department […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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One more report on the special audit…at least for tonight…Attorney General Senator Vanessa Retreage did not support the need for a Senate inquiry into the Audit Reports on Nationality, Passports and Visas. But that does not mean that any guilty persons named in the report should escape punishment. As the nation’s top legal adviser, she […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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It is no secret. Belize – like many other countries across the world – has a problem with obesity. According to the country’s health statistics, two out of every three adults are either overweight or obese. That is over sixty percent of the population. Why should it matter? Well, obesity – a disease in itself […]
Written on September 1, 2016 | Posted in
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Another protest took place today in Belmopan, the second for this week against the government. Today’s demonstration was mounted by the People’s United Party outside the Senate where a respectable number of supporters came out to take a stand against a long list of ills affecting the nation and to support opposition senators. It is […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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Just before six this evening, the senate concluded proceedings with a vote that defeated a motion for a senate investigation. It was a long session that had to do with a number of motions including the passage of two supplementary appropriation bills as well as the debate on the Special Audit of the Immigration and […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senate Hears Motion for Inquiry into Immigration Audits
That motion for a select senate investigation on the policies and processes as well as on the issuance of passports and irregularities and wrongdoings was seconded by senators representing the unions and the business community, respectively. Senator Elena Smith rose to state that the glaring disregard for procedures in applying for and receiving visas and […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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As we said earlier, Church Senator Ashley Rocke rose to support the motion on the senate floor when it was introduced to further investigate what went so wrong at the Immigration Department. Senator Stephen Duncan of the government side questions whether Senate was the proper body to carry out an investigation. Ashley Rocke, Senator for […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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Doctor Senator Carla Barnett did not necessarily reject an investigation, but questioned the usefulness of senate select committees. Barnett queried why the audit was not presented to the management of the department before it was tabled. She pointed out that the senate doesn’t have authority to hold people accountable. That aside, Chebat, who sat in […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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While the senate meeting today had a far more respectable ambience when compared to last Friday’s House Sitting, there was some back and forth. It came when Senator Paul Thompson quoted from the report on recommendations made by former minister of state Santiago Castillo. Senator Hulse was quick on his feet. Paul Thompson, P.U.P. […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Paul Thompson and Godwin Hulse Spar Over Audit Report
Senator Valerie Woods added significantly to the debate, supporting the motion for a select senate investigation. Woods said had one been held at the time of the issuance of a passport to Won Hong Kim, a number of irregularities would have been avoided. But when it came to Senator Godwin Hulse’s contribution, he threw a […]
Prior to the introduction of a motion for a senate select committee to investigate the Immigration and Nationality Department, the Senate was engaged in a debate over the Supplementary Bill. That piece of legislation would allow government to spend monies that were not included in the 2015-2016 fiscal budget which ended in March. The contention; […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senate Debates Supplementary Bill; Business Senator Goes with Gusto
Beginning Thursday morning at seven-thirty, the Ministry of Health will assume management of ambulance services after being unable to reach an agreement with Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT) for greater funding of their service. BERT’s Director Yvette Burks, when contacted by News Five this evening, explained that her emergency responders will be reporting to the […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has begun a campaign for Government to sign the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption, which it believes will help Belize obtain important resources to fight this issue. It is not the first time the Chamber has spoken out on this issue but according to President Nikita Usher, a […]
Written on August 31, 2016 | Posted in
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