On Friday, in Belize as well as in many other countries, the Labour Day holiday will be held to honor workers. From time to time, we hear about employee- employer issues, but there are countless other cases that are not broadcast. Some issues may be minor infractions and others may be huge offenses that end […]
The Precinct Two Police Officers, through their community policing, have been working on the ground to engage residents. From one on one interaction to group efforts, the police say they have been making sure to involve the community they operate in. So, over the past few months, they have been looking at activities and ways […]
Tourism is a top foreign exchange earner and is also one of the largest contributors to Belize’s Gross Domestic Product, the GDP. Roughly speaking, it accounts for twenty-five percent of GDP, directly contributing over six hundred million dollars annually. According to the Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism, one in every four Belizeans […]
The Prime Minister took on a number of issues this morning at a press conference that started at ten and continued until about twelve-twenty. P.M. Dean Barrow spoke on a myriad of national issues that have been on the headlines for days. There is the Petrocaribe Loan Act, which has become one of the most […]
Now for policy matters, the Bank of America has withdrawn as corresponding bank to the Belize Bank. The PM explained that there has been nothing awry and that the government is in full support of the bank. Furthermore, the Central Bank will be assisting with wire transfer so there is no need to panic. […]
In past three or four years, the large U.S. Banks and some European Banks have been facing some of the largest fines in the history of banking. Those fines, according to Lyndon Guiseppi, the Executive Chairman of Belize Bank, relate primarily to the banks being sanctioned for doing business in jurisdictions or in countries with […]
At least half an hour of the two-hour long press conference this morning was dedicated to Petrocaribe, the controversial project which spawned the controversial Loans Act and Bill. The Opposition has led the charge to declare the government’s use of the funds without approval from the House as illegal…from the very start. Prime Minister Barrow […]
The matter of the illegality is still before the courts, but where the outcry from the Opposition, VIP, church, business sector and unions is concerned, the Prime Minister isn’t at all concerned, and neither is he ambiguous where Petrocaribe is concerned. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “Petrocaribe and its bountiful infrastructural, social assistance and job […]
Amidst all that was said about Petrocaribe this morning, there were only a couple things we hadn’t heard before. One is that those glorious monies will be rolling down south to citrus farmers, and we’ll have more on that later in our newscast. The other is that the Petrocaribe monies from the start of this […]
As we mentioned earlier, Petrocaribe monies will be used to bail out C.P.B.L. It’s not the first time the company is being assisted, so to speak, by government. In fact it happened just last year when U.D.P. insider, Doug Singh, was placed at the helm. But the company is in trouble again, and apparently have […]
As you’ve noticed, where the government is concerned, Petrocaribe is the biggest thing, bar none. Politically, it’s been a game-changer for the United Democratic Party, especially since with the passing of the Petrocaribe Bill there’s no need for House approval, no oversight and no limit to what can be borrowed or spent. Today the Prime […]
As you can see, it’s a long list of projects which span the country, and it’s mainly infrastructure – from sporting complexes to the City Centre to million dollar roundabouts and road projects. It fairly boggles the mind. But we couldn’t find any mention of any major projects in areas like health or education. The […]
As early as six-thirty this morning, Police were on high alert at the Biltmore Plaza, putting up barricade and roping off a section of the parking lot. All that activity was because the P.U.P. had decided to upstage the PM’s Petrocaribe party with a protest. They showed up at around ten, just over two hundred […]
The prime minister’s recent trip to Miami where he met with senior executives from the Bank of America, also included a meeting with Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Lines. P.M. Barrow’s purpose for calling on Duffy is to get Carnival’s view on the proposed Stake Bank Tourism Development Project. That initiative is mired in […]
During the meeting with the Carnival executive, several benefits, including distance and safety, were also outlined from use of the proposed Stake Bank project. The issue of a causeway connecting the island to Belize City is also not a factor for the cruise line. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “Carnival quite frankly, is not concerned […]
The Caribbean Court of Justice issued a milestone decision on the issue of Maya land rights a week ago. Since then the ruling, as well as the consent order, has been subject to legal interpretation. This morning, during the prime minister’s press conference, he shared his understanding of the CCJ decision and what it means […]
Today, the Prime Minister announced that all U.D.P. Area Representatives will be receiving fifty-thousand dollars to give out for the now annual Petrocaribe-funded Mother’s Day Cheer program. The P.U.P. has stated that it will not be partaking, but today the PM poked fun at the Party, claiming that one of its representatives has been begging […]
A ribbon cutting ceremony for a newly constructed running track and gym at the National Police Training Academy was held today at its compound in the Capital. The facilities will be used by both the force and recruits to stay in shape. Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting The National Police Training Academy recently […]
Several transfers are in the pipeline for senior officers in the Police Department, says Commissioner Allen Whylie. The transfers are part of an annual process and effective July of this year; several Commanders will be transferred across the country. Some of the transfers are as follows: Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvette will now be […]
The U.S. Embassy recognized four youth groups for doing outstanding work in their communities. Today, the youth presented on the projects which included works to rehabilitate a center to provide a safe and clean meeting space for young people of Armenia Village, environmental and sustainability awareness, as well as dissemination of information on sexual reproductive […]
Prime Minister Barrow has been away on official business in Miami where he met with representatives from the Bank of America and Carnival Cruise Lines to discuss separate issues pertaining to Belize’s investment and tourism sectors. He returned from his working visit this afternoon and gave the media an impromptu briefing on the outcome of […]
Will the controversial Petrocaribe Loans Act be repealed by May nineteenth? That’s what Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca and P.U.P. Deputy Party Leader Julius Espat are anticipating, following an ongoing effort to stimulate social partners into petitioning an abrogation. The Barrow administration, through Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and legal advisor Michael Young, has undertaken […]
During an appearance in the media earlier today, Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca said that the stipulations within the Petrocaribe Loans Act were made by PM Barrow in order to avoid charges and court action for criminal wrongdoings. While openly stating that he would not respond to the allegation, PM Barrow says that if […]
While the prime minister has made it abundantly clear that there will be no repeal of the Petrocaribe Loans Act, he is open to the idea of fine-tuning the legislation to provide reassurance for those with a valid sense of concern. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “I am absolutely positive that the Belizean people are […]
An eighty-six year old lady had to be rescued from her house today after it caught fire. A neighbor and friends heard her crying out and they ran in to get her out before the fire extended to the rest of the house. Fire officials were called out to put out the blaze at the […]
