The week-long activities will be held at the Memorial Park in Belize City and will feature live performances on a daily basis by some of Belize’s finest artists. But according to Barrow, the seminar will help artists to develop their brand and understand the business aspect of the music industry. Top on the agenda is […]
There is mounting opposition against the controversial Sarstoon Law, which came into effect on April twenty-ninth and was essentially designed to prevent an expedition of the Belize Territorial Volunteers. But the new law is having far-reaching implications on other citizens, organizations as well as political parties. This Friday, the Belize National Teachers Union is taking […]
While the union has only just formulated a position to repeal the Sarstoon Law over the weekend, it is prepared to return to its executive should the Barrow Administration refuse to withdraw the SI. That meeting, according to Palacio, will determine the next step in opposing the controversial law, which it deems to be in […]
So, with all the talk of parading through the streets of Belize City on Friday, what else is on the union’s itinerary for Teachers Day? Palacio told the media this afternoon that a number of dynamic speakers have been tapped to deliver addresses. As a follow up to a proposal made by Ambassador Assad Shoman […]
Still on the issue of the controversial Sarstoon Law….as we said, the People’s United Party held its first National Party Council meeting at the Belize Elementary Auditorium. The N.P.C. discussed and passed a resolution on its role in respect of the ongoing talks with Guatemala, following a request by the Prime Minister Dean Barrow last […]
In his press conference last week Prime Minister Dean Barrow claimed that if the P.U.P. goes to the Sarstoon it could undermine all the progress that has been made in talks with Guatemala. We’re not sure what real progress has actually been made, since none is visible and the government hasn’t provided details of any. […]
The government of Belize has rejected the P.U.P.’s demand to rescind the Sarstoon Prohibition Regulation, via a release interestingly titled Government Announces Limited Access to Sarstoon. The release clarifies that there were two rationales behind the law – one, to avoid harm to Belizeans going into the Sarstoon because of the tensions there and two, […]
Government says it is cautiously optimistic about progress to solve the situation at the Sarstoon. But the Guatemalan military is not indicating any such optimism. Over the weekend, press reports say that the government beefed up its military vessels inside the Sarstoon River. According to a report in the Prensa Libre, customs and immigration officials […]
Last week News Five delved into the story of local refugee slash amnesty program which has been in effect since November of last year, completely under the radar. We got wind of it through sources within the Immigration Department who were not happy with the way the program is being run. They told us that […]
There you have it…a refugee program with exceptional oversight from a committee which includes the social partners – Churches, unions and business sector. So we decided to check with the union which has been involved in this refugee program from the start, according to the Minister of State. We caught N.T.U.C.B. President Marvin Mora off-guard […]
Mora promised to conduct an immediate internal check to determine the union’s role, if any, on any committee dealing with the registration of refugees under any current refugee program. Marvin Mora, President, N.T.U.C.B. “I only heard about that report this morning. I wasn’t aware of it. I’ve heard other comments like I mentioned before […]
On Thursday, we reported of an impasse between the Fort Street Tourism Village and Belize Waste Control Limited, involving the cost of garbage collection from tenants at FSTV. BWC complained that it had been losing revenue as a result of the overwhelming amount of garbage collected that was not being billed according to volume. As […]
According to General Manager George Lamb, BWC was in the process of ironing out the details of a new arrangement with FSTV. He told News Five that services would have resumed at the village by the end of the day. George Lamb, General Manager, BWC “Well I believe the discussion was fruitful. What is […]
Tonight, there are many questions surrounding a very vibrant and current refugee program in Belize, and somehow answers seem very scarce. Every week, hundreds of undocumented immigrants flock to the office of the N.G.O., Help for Progress in Belmopan. There, they are given application forms with which they can apply to the Immigration Department for […]
So why the sudden urgency for a massive refugee program, or amnesty program of sorts? Is it the result of pressure from the U.S.? It’s possible because it is joined by another program called protection transfer, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Again, sources tell us that the problem with […]
On Thursday, we told you about a SATIIM trip cut unexpectedly short after rangers were denied entry to the Sarstoon by the Belize Defense Force. The boat carrying rangers was heading on a routine patrol to monitor illegal activity in the area of Black Creek, which must be accessed via the Sarstoon. That infamous S.I. […]
At a press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister appealed to the People’s United Party to stand down from a visit to the Sarstoon. He asked them to return to the negotiating table in respect of discussions on the ongoing situation at that volatile zone. The P.U.P. has indicated that it will, if certain conditions […]
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has also come out swinging against the recently enacted Sarstoon Law. This afternoon, the N.T.U.C.B. issued a release decrying the piece of legislation, as well as the manner in which it was brought into effect a week ago. The N.T.U.C.B. criticizes Section Two of the Public Safety Act […]
The N.T.U.C.B. has taken a singular position chiding government for its outwardly impulsive decision to effect the Sarstoon Law. Its executives, however, were not all sold on the idea that the law is altogether a bad thing, but what is unanimous is that the law is seemingly a knee-jerk reaction which comes with a sweeping […]
Earlier you heard the N.T.U.C.B. President come out against the amended regulations under Section Two of the Public Safety Act, which prohibits Belizeans from traveling to the Sarstoon River without legal permission for a period of a month. Government has come under intense scrutiny from various corners, including the People’s United Party. On social media, […]
There are still few details on a meeting in Washington between the Foreign Ministers of Belize, Guatemala and the O.A.S. Secretary General. All we know is that there was a meeting which should have discussed the situation at the Sarstoon. But there is another meeting that was held this week at the O.A.S. Office inside […]
Now, Guatemala has been on an aggressive campaign, passing itself off as a victim and Belize as an aggressor. It has been telling the world that ten Guatemalans have been killed in Belize since 1999. But what about Tourism Special Police Constable Danny Conorquie, who was killed while on duty on September twenty-fifth 2014 at […]
Ombudsman Arzu says that it is necessary to keep tabs on what his Guatemalan counterparts are up to and to keep the lines of communication open. Lionel Arzu, Ombudsman “I think it is important to keep liaison with the Guatemalan Ombudsman because it is his country and it’s his congress and it’s his government. […]
Twelve-year old Cleyon Marage continues to struggle to stay alive. So far he has undergone several surgeries in Merida to fight cancer and it appeared that his health condition was improving. But in late March, he had a relapse and was back at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. With assistance from the Cancer Society, Yvette […]
Now, the bone marrow transplant to save Cleyon’s life costs one hundred thousand dollars – money that the family does not have. So next week Saturday, May fourteenth, the Matura family will be having an event to help raise the much needed funds for his life-saving surgery. Lavern Matura, Aunt of Cleyon Marage “The […]
