Guerra also had another story to tell from Benque. The Elections and Boundaries Department is controlled completely by the party in power and there have been a veritable legion of complaints in past years – pre, during and post elections. Stories of select officers working very late into the night are commonplace. Tales of files […]
On Tuesday, we took you on the campaign trail with the three candidates who will be battling for the Orange Walk Central seat on November fourth. It’s part of our continuing pre-election coverage across the country. Tonight, we take you to an area which promises to be one of the hot zones in Orange Walk […]
As promised, News Five has been taking you out on the campaign trail where candidates from the two mass parties, the newly formed Belize Progressive Party and independents are working to get your vote on November fourth. Tonight, we take you to Orange Walk Central, the stronghold of the PUP’s John Briceno for more than […]
Briceño is confident of victory at the polls, and as a veteran of consecutive successful battles there is some justification for that confidence. Still, there are issues which certainly must come up on the campaign trail…like the G-eleven, for example. That body of Standard Bearers agitated for change within the P.U.P. before coming back into […]
This morning at the ITVET in Belize City, political parties, their prospective candidates, as well as all public officers assigned to the upcoming general elections met to discuss a comprehensive plan of action come November fourth. As it stands, there are a number of policies in place. Likewise, there are regulations that govern the election […]
On Thursday, BPP’s national campaign manager Robert ‘Bobby’ Lopez called to question the Election and Boundaries Department’s lateness in releasing the voters list. Lopez told the media during a press conference that the department seems to be pussyfooting with the delivery of the list. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer “With my greatest respect for […]
While the BPP has lashed out against the Elections and Boundaries Department concerning its tardiness in distributing the voters list, Tamai told the media this morning that the revision of that list is a monthly exercise. In fact, she says that a digital copy of the list had been forwarded to the organization’s headquarters in […]
The PM also spoke on the operation of the Public Accounts Committee…which actually isn’t operational. Months ago there was a push for the inclusion of the social partners in the PAC, to the extent that neither the government nor the opposition would form a majority. That never panned out because the government refused to accept […]
That stance doesn’t go down well with PAC Chairman Julius Espat. He told News Five today that the reason the Public Accounts Committee doesn’t work, and hasn’t for a long time is because the government is a majority on that committee, and it is over those ministers that the PAC is designed to provide oversight. […]
Governments of the P.U.P. and the U.D.P. have both been accused, rightly or wrongly, of rampant corruption and unchecked abuse of public monies. For that reason, many believe that this next general election will hinge largely on which party is willing to limit its own power and allow for real oversight. The body which theoretically […]
We’re not sure what that means where the fate of the Integrity Commission is concerned under this administration. As to PAC, well…that’s not going to happen, a fact for which the PM, interestingly, blames the Opposition. Reporter “If that is the situation, does that mean that you will not have an Integrity Commission since […]
The Belize Progressive Party is inching toward forming a national slate for the general elections on November fourth. BPP last week announced its formation and named eleven candidates to contest the elections; today it added another group, promising that the movement will be able to field remaining candidates in the days to come. News Five’s […]
The Albert Division for decades was dominated by Phillip Goldson, it would eventually turn blue in 1998, 2003 and 2008 and then in the last general elections in 2012, it went to the United Democratic Party. This election is being hotly contested between two aspirants, who have worked the area under the blue tent. Paul […]
Audrey Matura-Shepherd’s name has come up as a likely candidate for electoral politics in more than one party. Recently, in the instance of the new Belize Progressive Party which is recruiting candidates for the general elections, her name was top of the list. When we caught up with her at an event, Matura-Shepherd was clearly […]
The video of a rat in the incubator at the Western Regional Hospital has gone viral. But while the image is devastating, generally the rat is only one in a series of very significant and even tragic mishaps in the Ministry of Health stretching back many months. Will those mishaps affect the political candidacy of […]
Another Minister under siege is Wilfred Sedi Elrington who has been much maligned for his handling of the ongoing territorial dispute with Guatemala. Elrington is running in Pickstock, and is being challenged by the P.U.P.’s Francis Smith. He’s also, now, being challenged by the Belize Progressive Party’s Patrick Rogers. When asked about that development, PM […]
The sustained attack on Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington recently took on new life after his UN address last week. Critics say that Elrington did not devote sufficient time to the issue with Guatemala, and that should have been priority one when provided with a forum on such an international stage. Elrington has also come under […]
If you weren’t looking for it, you probably wouldn’t have seen it; but at three p.m. today employees in the Social Security Board offices countrywide walked out. We are informed that they told their supervisors that they were not feeling well and left, quietly and without any fanfare. The employees are listed under essential services […]
Today the People’s United Party launched its Manifesto on Health at Independence Hall in Belize City. The P.U.P., on an intensive run to elections in less than a month, says it plans to revitalize and rescue a health system in crisis after almost eight years of U.D.P. neglect, incompetence, inefficiency and corruption. Mike Rudon was […]
While health is a major platform of the Party, Fonseca says that there are other core issues which his party is addressing – issues which he feels voters will be looking at when they go to the polls on November fourth. Francis Fonseca, PUP Leader “People are very concerned about the economy there is […]
Fonseca also gave us a sneak peek into the governance platform of the party which will be launched soon. That plan will speak to issues like the thirteenth senator and the Integrity Commission. That’s important, he says, because that is what the people of Belize are demanding from their leaders. Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader […]
COLA, the Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action, will be organizing a public meeting in the Pickstock Constituency on Thursday. The venue is significant because of COLA’s most recent campaign. They’ve called on Prime Minister Barrow to remove Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington, but with no success. So now the grassroots activist organization is […]
As we do every election cycle, News Five is kicking off its pre-election coverage, Meet the Candidates. In the twenty-eight days leading up to general elections, we will attempt to touch base with every single candidate, party affiliated or independent. The outcome of the political race in Caribbean Shores is undoubtedly one to look forward […]
According to Musa, Bradley has too much on his plate with his law practice, City Hall obligations and current campaign for higher office. He took the opportunity to send out a message to the Mayor on behalf of Caribbean Shores residents. Kareem Musa, P.U.P. Candidate, Caribbean Shores “I think he may have taken on […]
On the other side of the political fence is Mayor Darrell Bradley. While Bradley has cemented his reputation as a formidable candidate by concreting streets and drains across the city as mayor, his opponent, Kareem Musa, comes from a sound political stock. Bradley has been covering much ground in the area, meeting and greeting voters […]
