The N.T.U.C.B. could not support the trip the Sarstoon, but according to B.P.P. Chairman, “those who on their own volition choose to go on the expedition know the inherent risk, but anything worth having is worth sacrificing for.” Paco Smith, Chairman, B.P.P. “Our counterpart association, the Belize Territorial Volunteers, we plan to visit the […]
Turning to politics….While Minister of Education Patrick Faber applauds the B.N.T.U.’s campaign to educate its membership on the Belize/Guatemala dispute; he has been busy heading a campaign of his own. Since a date for a special convention to elect a new deputy leader of the United Democratic Party was announced, Faber has been across the […]
On Friday night in Belmopan, area representative John Saldivar bused in delegates to attend the launch of a music video and jingle as part of his ongoing campaign. Saldivar is also contesting the first deputy leadership of the United Democratic Party and is reaching out to all voters in an effort to gain their support. […]
As the government of Guatemala becomes more aggressive, The People’s United Party has been swift in issuing a statement following an emergency executive meeting at Independence Hall. P.U.P. Leader John Briceño addressed the nation on the crisis along our borders. He called the troop build-up an irresponsible threat to peace and demanded that the kaibiles […]
Before that shooting near Cebada, the biggest thing in the news would have been the actions by Guatemala on Wednesday, as the Ministry of National Security inaugurated its Forward Operating Base at the Sarstoon. Vessels from the Guatemalan base stationed themselves well within Belizean territory, and at one point were less than one hundred feet […]
And where the Opposition’s participation in the Belize/Guatemala talks is concerned, there is very significant news. Ambassador Assad Shoman is out, and Ambassador Eamon Courtenay is in. We could not confirm whether the very sudden removal of Shoman as P.U.P. Representative is based on the fact that last week he stated that he is not […]
This morning, Briceño also briefed News Five on the meeting with Secretary-General Almagro which included the participation of former P.U.P. Foreign Ministers Said Musa, Lisa Shoman, Godfrey Smith and Eamon Courtenay. He told us that the Opposition took great pains to reject Guatemala’s claim and recent actions and also to let him know that the […]
The rejection of the Sarstoon proposals is not sitting well in many quarters. Today, the Belize Progressive Party likened this development to failed diplomacy. Party Chairman Paco Smith says the B.P.P. does not endorse taking the unfounded claim to the ICJ. Paco Smith, Chairman, Belize Progressive Party “For us that’s a foregone conclusion. It’s […]
On May twenty-ninth delegates of the United Democratic Party will select a new first Deputy Leader to replace Gaspar Vega. It’s expected that the victor will automatically get a shoe in to the top spot when Dean Barrow leaves office at the end of this term, so as you’d expect the race between Patrick Faber […]
Former People’s United Party Secretary General Myrtle Palacio appeared before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin today, after filing a civil suit against the Guardian Newspaper. The case originates from an article and a cartoon published in the U.D.P. party organ purportedly depicting Palacio as someone who practices witchcraft. She took umbrage with the piece of writing, […]
In court this morning, Palacio gave a sworn statement. The article and the accompanying cartoon were also tendered as evidence. The argument, however, brings to the fore the issue of fair comment, a legal term for a common law defense in defamation cases involving libel or slander. Said Musa, Attorney for Myrtle Palacio “Mrs. […]
Newspaper editor Alfonso Noble, who is named in the suit, is being represented by Senior Counsel Michael Young. Both Young and his client reiterated that what was published in that edition of the Guardian is based on the freedom of the press to express statements on matters of public interest. Those statements, they contend, were […]
Turning to politics…the U.D.P. Deputy Leadership convention has been set for May twenty-ninth. In the ongoing campaign, on Tuesday, Minister John Saldivar, who is running for first deputy party leader, released photographs of parliamentarians and others who endorse him, including the Deputy Prime Minister himself, Gaspar Vega. But interestingly others in the Orange Walk caucus […]
The date for a special convention to choose the First Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party is set. Delegates from across all thirty-one constituencies are expected to cast their votes in favor of either Patrick Faber or John Saldivar come May twenty-ninth. The last Sunday in May was agreed upon by both candidates, as […]
Since both candidates threw their hats into the ring following Gaspar Vega’s departure as first deputy leader, several area representatives have come out in full support of their candidate of choice. Faber was first to openly declare his candidacy and was initially endorsed by political mentor Michael Finnegan, as well as Manuel Heredia Junior and […]
While a majority of the area representatives and standard bearers have chosen their candidate, there is one wild card remaining. That person seems to be Orange Walk North Area Representative Gaspar Vega whose seat as Deputy Party Leader is being contested. Vega has not declared his support, but does it matter to Faber? Patrick […]
Still on political news…Is perennial Mesopotamia Area Representative Michael Finnegan throwing in the towel? In the wake of his November fourth victory in the 2015 General Elections, Finnegan’s nephew Jamal ‘Shyne’ Barrow came forward to announce that he is the heir apparent for the Mesop seat sidelining former Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya, who had […]
While Finnegan has declared his unwavering support for Patrick Faber, Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez is flexing his political muscle in the other corner. This afternoon, he called a press conference to publicly support his fellow sports enthusiast John Saldivar. The pair has been rather close, sharing a camaraderie that goes back many […]
With the convention date set for May twenty-ninth, both candidates are canvassing delegates in the thirty-one constituencies. That being the case, it isn’t farfetched that Patrick Faber would have approached Boots and his delegates for their votes. Reporter “I imagine that the Honorable Patrick Faber would have put in a bid to get your […]
Deputy Mayor Dean Samuels, is he preparing to succeed “Boots” Martinez in Port Loyola? While the incumbent area representative has announced his retirement from electoral politics at the end of this term, he is grooming the three-time city councilor for a seat in central government. Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Area Representative, Port Loyola “I said […]
On Wednesday the P.U.P. leader named new members to the executive of the P.U.P. who will now go on to get the blessing of the National Party Council. Briceño made his moves after getting a mandate from the executive. The line-up includes the four-time area representative from Lake Independence Cordel Hyde who is proposed as […]
Deputy Party leader, Julius Espat, was at the forefront of the campaign for the re-election of Francis Fonseca as leader last November. While Fonseca and other parliamentarians are moving forward under the blue tent, Espat is holding out and did not attend Wednesday’s Executive meeting of the P.U.P. In fact he came out against the […]
Now the P.U.P. held a convention last November in which John Briceño and his team were decisively elected. But on social media this week, there is one standard bearer that is already anticipating the holding of a national convention for leadership. Briceño says the gates are open for anyone who wants to mount a challenge. […]
Fans of football, those who have attended games at the M.C.C. Grounds recently, are outraged about parking inside the facility since there is now a fee of five dollars to do so. On Sunday, a football aficionado criticized the National Sports Council for its decision to proceed with charging the public for use of the […]
The Government of Belize, according to Aragon, has invested north of fifty million dollars in developing sports across the country. Despite that much capital spending, the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, once the most celebrated, professional, outdoor recreational facility in the country, is yet to be completed after years of construction. The product of much delay […]
