C omedian turned Guatemalan politician Jimmy Morales shocked that nation by winning the first round of elections in early September. He will be facing Sandra Torres in a second round on October twenty-fifth which will determine who will be the next President in Guatemala. Morales’ victory in the first round would be just a point […]
Coming on the heels of the announcement for early elections on November fourth, the Election and Boundaries Commission has confirmed October sixteen as Nomination Day for candidates of all political parties. In a release today the Commission also states that only persons who registered on or prior to tenth September 2015 and whose names appear […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow put all speculation to rest today when he announced November fourth as the date for the general elections. Of his two terms in office, he has served a few months short of eight years. It is also the fourth election to be called this year. There have been two bye-elections, one […]
We can’t say that the early elections are a surprise because it has been felt for some time that the P.M. would so do taking advantage of a number of factors. Indeed his Independence Day speech set the tone for today’s announcement and today he said he was going to the electorate for a new […]
Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca reacted within hours to the announcement of the date for general elections. Querying why so early, he said the country is in crisis and things are coming to a head in Belmopan. Earlier this month, at the launch of the Belize City branch of the National Bank, P.M. Barrow went on […]
With only five weeks to prepare for general elections is the P.U.P. financially ready to launch a national campaign? That’s what we asked Party Leader Francis Fonseca earlier today since it is said that the opposition party is strapped for cash. Even so, Fonseca says that in the short space of time since this morning’s […]
The rollout of the party’s countrywide vote-seeking activities will see an energetic campaign to shed light on a number of issues, including corruption and misconduct. The launch of the P.U.P. manifesto will also be a significant part of the national campaign. Francis Fonseca, Leader, People’s United Party “Over the next five weeks Mike we […]
So, where does the P.U.P. stand on the issues of Petrocaribe spending, the nationalization settlements of B.T.L. and B.E.L. as well as the Belize/Guatemala dispute? Well, according to Fonseca, that’s for the people to decide on Election Day. As it concerns the division within the party, Fonseca says that team of thirty-one is united in […]
As the nation prepares for general elections in the wake of this morning’s announcement of early elections, the Prime Minister and his administration is anticipating a place in the political history books with a third consecutive term. Late this evening he told News Five that the U.D.P. is as battle ready as they can possibly […]
According to the P.M., while he doesn’t want to sound too confident or cocky, anything other than a victory at the polls would come as quite a surprise. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister “I don’t want to sound at all dismissive of the opposition, I don’t want to sound cocky, I don’t want to sound […]
The Opposition has lashed out at one particular aspect of G.O.B.’s settlement with the Ashcroft Group – what they call a blank check issued by government. The reference is to the uncertainty over the final figure which will be paid as compensation for B.T.L. That final price is to be determined by an international tribunal […]
Following the announcement of the settlement over the nationalization of B.T.L., the Belize Communication Workers Union fired off a nasty release aimed directly at the Barrow Administration. They followed it up with a protest and meetings with B.T.L. Executives. There’s no word of what’s come out of those meetings, but what is clear is that […]
Party Leader Francis Fonseca has not lost an election in the Freetown constituency where he will be facing political opponent Doctor Carla Barnett on November fourth. Since offering herself as a U.D.P. candidate, Doctor Barnett has been busy canvassing the area through door to door visits. But, that doesn’t faze Fonseca who remains confident that […]
One more issue on the elections, the leader of the opposition was also asked about financial contributions to the P.U.P. from Lord Michael Ashcroft. Fonseca’s response is that the question is best addressed to the Prime Minister. Francis Fonseca, Leader, People’s United Party “The question is what did the government get in return for […]
The Minister of Labour, Godwin Hulse, last Friday, blamed the local media for inciting the international coverage of the story of the rat that bit a baby in the incubator at the Western Regional Hospital. The video of the huge rat running around in an incubator also spread quickly on the internet as soon as […]
While the N.T.U.C.B. is made up of ten unions, the Civil Society Steering Committee is made up of two organizations: WIN Belize and APAMO. Mora explains that the process for removing the senator is not defined but that there is established precedent where the N.T.U.C.B.’s recommendations are accepted by the C.S.S.C. Marvin Mora, General […]
Independence Day was officially celebrated on Monday in the capital Belmopan with all the traditional pomp and ceremony. Apart from ogling the “who’s who” in government and society, including foreign dignitaries invited for the occasion, the highlights are always the addresses by the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister. Over our years of […]
The address by P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca was brief and unlike previous years, there was no pointed criticism of government over critical issues. Fonseca seemed pensive as he spoke about the lessons learned from thirty-four years of Independence, but more importantly, what lies ahead. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition “What will we make […]
Fonseca also pointed out the critical importance of reform, though he wasn’t taking overt jabs at government. In fact, he seemed to be looking at both the P.U.P. and the U.D.P., who between them have each governed for seventeen years post-Independence. True development calls for qualitative change, not only of the economy but of the […]
The Sarstoon – actually the wider picture of Belize’s sovereignty – has been a hot-button issue in past months. Relations between Guatemala and Belize are not at the best point due to several incidents on the Sarstoon. There is the detention of Belizeans by Guatemalans in Belizean territory and also tense encounters between the military […]
Leader of the People’s United Party, Francis Fonseca, met with members of the dissident G-eleven on Wednesday, and the big news is that there is an accord of sorts. The Fonseca faction, so to speak, has agreed to what they say is an open convention which means, theoretically, that positions in the Executive, including the […]
Will general elections be announced on Monday during the Prime Minister’s Independence address? Many political observers say yes, and speculate that the big event will happen sometime in early November. The Prime Minister hasn’t said it won’t happen – only that it will happen sometime before March 2016. Fonseca says that the accord with the […]
On Wednesday the People’s United Party announced a mending of the fences between those faithful to the P.U.P. Leader, Francis Fonseca, and those rebellious standard bearers, unofficially dubbed the G-eleven. That came after a meeting at Burrell Boom between Fonseca and G-eleven. It’s a significant development because all indications are that the general election will […]
The People’s United Party issued a release today signalling that it is closing ranks following a tumultuous period of internal rift. A meeting was held today at Burrell Boom between P.U.P. Leader, Francis Fonseca, and the G-Eleven, excluding Dan Silva, the standard bearer from Cayo Central who is not in Belize. This afternoon, the P.U.P. […]
Seasoned parliamentarian Michael Finnegan, area representative for Mesopotamia, is once again making headlines for unsavory remarks made against CWU President, attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Finnegan went on record during the debate to excoriate Matura-Shepherd, describing her, among other things, as a second rate legal professional. If that wasn’t bad […]
