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On Friday, Minister of State Edmond Castro took a devastating personal, if not political blow, when he was advised to discontinue a defamation case against visa scandal whistleblower, Alvarene Burgess, and Great Belize Productions/Channel Five. Burgess had accused Castro of taking two thousand dollars cash for the facilitation of each visa for Chinese nationals, and […]
Written on July 8, 2015 | Posted in
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Of course, that call by the Opposition at this point is nothing more than a rhetorical flourish. Castro’s involvement in a visa scam is a moot point because he recently blew away his opponent at convention for the Belize Rural North constituency. So while the PM has heard Fonseca’s call…he’s certainly not picking up. […]
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And since the P.U.P. is on the subject of visas and a visa scam, Fonseca is also taking a hard look at the U.D.P. Dangriga candidate, Frank “Pawpa” Mena. Just like Minister of State Edmond Castro, Mena’s name is on a document which states that he personally facilitated visas for Chinese nationals. The P.U.P. leader […]
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On Tuesday night, P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca praised Senator Father Noel Leslie and the Roman Catholic Church. Leslie and the Church have called on the government to repeal the controversial Petrocaribe Loan Motion even though last week at the Senate, he voted in favor of the amendment. Later, Leslie explained that his vote represented the […]
On Tuesday night we told you about a recording – another recording – of senior U.D.P. former Minister Melvin Hulse. In that recording Hulse claims that the U.D.P. will need to buy the Dangriga election because Frank “Pawpa” Mena will lose if they do not do so. More than that, Hulse makes very bold allegations […]
Written on July 8, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Barrow Comments on Latest Secret Recording from Hulse
The ballot boxes from six polling stations have arrive at the Father Phillip Marin Parish Hall in Dangriga where counting is about to get underway to determine the new area representative for the Dangriga constituency. Mike Rudon and Isani Cayetano are on the ground and have a live report. Isani Cayetano, Reporting “Good evening […]
Written on July 8, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Live from Dangriga Bye-Elections 2015
Will Belize’s manatees get the help that they need? For a very long time we have reported on the cases of manatee injury and deaths. Over the past few years it has become a worrisome issue and this year alone it seems that we will break the record for most recorded manatee deaths. Local proponents […]
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Musical content, lyrics and stage performance….the first round, to determine the winners of the 2015 National Song Competition, is in full gear. This weekend, in Belize City and Punta Gorda, artists from these municipalities will take the stage to present their songs submitted for the junior and senior categories of the Belize song and carnival […]
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In early June, the government announced that teachers and public officers will be receiving a whopping eight percent increase as a salary adjustment. Some, but not all public officers, are also benefitting from the annual increment of approximately two percent as agreed to in the Collective Bargaining Agreement by the Joint Negotiating Team and G.O.B. […]
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The Collective Bargaining Agreement is for a three-year period, but was in the pipeline for six years. Back in 2008, the proposals were for a thirty percent adjustment for teachers and public officers because in the union’s estimation, the value of the dollar had dropped by that same percent. But following the final negotiations in […]
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But salaries aside, there is another issue that teachers are confronting. It has to do with licenses, which come 2016 will be mandatory. Those who have not obtained a valid teacher’s license stand to lose their teaching jobs. It is a requirement under the Education and Training Act and B.N.T.U. President, Luke Palacio, says that […]
Written on July 8, 2015 | Posted in
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Both major political parties are in the south right now on the last sprint to Wednesday’s bye elections. News Five will have period reports all day from Dangriga as the voters go to polls to select a representative to succeed former area rep Ivan Ramos. Our coverage begins on Open Your Eyes and we’ll continue […]
Written on July 7, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Secret Recording Released on Eve of Dangriga Bye-Election
Earlier today, the People’s United Party issued a statement on the withdrawal of a lawsuit in the Supreme Court by Minister of State, Edmond Castro against Alverine Burgess and Great Belize Productions. The surprise move by Castro came on Friday when oral closing arguments were to be heard before the presiding judge, Courtney Abel. Throughout […]
Written on July 7, 2015 | Posted in
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Last week Senator representing the Council of Churches, Father Noel Leslie, surprisingly voted YES for the very controversial Petrocaribe Amended Loan Act. We say surprisingly because on May first, when the Act was first passed, the Churches had voted NO. But over the weekend Leslie sent out a release on his own behalf and on […]
Written on July 7, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Fonseca Praises Catholic Church and Calls on Other Churches to Follow Suit
On Wednesday political newcomer Anthony Sabal, the P.U.P.’s David, will go up against veteran politician and the U.D.P.’s goliath, Frank “Pawpa” Mena. The U.D.P. has boasted that its victory will be massive, and has been on the ground for the past month in numbers. So has the P.U.P., which is chronically cash-strapped, but has been […]
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Comments Off on P.U.P. Leader Predicts Victory in Dangriga
Three weeks ago, there was some doubt that the P.U.P. would contest the bye-election and indeed, without serious internal agitation, perhaps it wouldn’t have. But today, Fonseca says the decision to contest was the right one, and a good one for the party, regardless of the outcome after the last ballot is counted. Francis […]
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The arrest of Maya activist and spokesperson for Maya Leaders Alliance, Cristina Coc and other Maya leaders, is getting further local and international attention. Earlier today no less than the Geneva based United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples made a statement on the pre-dawn arrests as well as the issue of […]
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On Monday’s newscast we told you about the changes to the organization structure and the ranks at the Eastern Division in Belize City. Former Officer Commanding the Eastern Division, Assistant Commissioner Dezerie Phillips, is now Divisional North Regional Commander of north side Belize City and the cayes. Her deputy, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster is now […]
Written on July 7, 2015 | Posted in
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The focus of the National AIDS Commission is on men getting them tested and providing them with prevention tools. But according to studies, the youth are also a most vulnerable population. For the rest of the week, the Commission is developing the appropriate national response to control and reduce the number of affected persons. The […]
Written on July 7, 2015 | Posted in
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The Mek Mi Rich Game Show was introduced to the country nine months ago with a jackpot of half a million dollars. The televised game show plays three times weekly and has finally produced a winner. Last Thursday, after several easy to win challenges and promotions of one thousand and five thousand dollars cash prizes, […]
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And finally to end the news, there is sad news to report. The Institute of Creative Arts and the country have lost an icon in the creative arts industry. Rosita Balthazar lost her fight to cancer on Monday night at her Los Lagos home in the Belize District. One of the founding members of the […]
The Amandala Newspaper has issued a statement on the senseless murder of Kareem Clarke saying, “We are still in disbelief over the tragic loss of this very promising and ambitious young journalist. On a day like today, Kareem would have been hard at work, juggling several stories for publication in the mid-week edition of the […]
The Roman Catholic Church has broken ranks with the Council of Churches. Reverend Noel Leslie, who represents the Council in the Senate, was one of seven parliamentarians to vote in favor of the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation bills, as well as the Amendments to the Petrocaribe Loans Act last Wednesday. The yes vote on the […]
Written on July 6, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Church Senator Breaks Silence on Endorsing Petrocaribe Amendment Act
According to Father Leslie, he is equally obligated to support the position of his bishop, despite having voted in favor of the majority in the council. Rev. Father Noel Leslie, Senator for the Churches “As far as the Catholic Church is concerned the bishop, he’s not in agreement with the law totally and so […]
Written on July 6, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Roman Catholic Bishop Objects to Controversial Legislation
But is the ecumenical chapel that is to be constructed at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital the sugared pill for the change of heart? Father Leslie said that the topic came up at a past meeting of the Council of Churches and was seen as a good gesture that serves all denominations equally. Isani […]
Written on July 6, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Did Council of Churches Yield to G.O.B.’s Petrocaribe Carrot?
