The prime minister has called a press briefing at U.D.P. headquarters Wednesday morning. Well, the invitation has been causing a stir since it was circulated. Sources tell News Five tonight that the U.D.P. will announce a candidate for the Freetown division which has been left vacant by Lee Mark Chang. According to our sources the […]
All stakeholders in the sugar industry are no doubt under intense pressure to get factors in place for a successful crop season. For things to work, all parties – the B.S.C.F.A., ASR/B.S.I., the new associations, the SICB and the SCPC must be on the same page. And currently they are – but what about things […]
The sugar crisis is a volatile one and has occupied the public conscious for months. On Sunday, the crisis came closer to resolution when the B.S.C.F.A. agreed to sign on with the millers, ASR/B.S.I. We’ll have that later in the newscast, but we go to this morning sitting of the House of Representatives in Belmopan. […]
As justification, Prime Minister Barrow indicated that it was essential that the bill be pushed through all stages because of the new associations in play, and the complexities involved in ensuring that all operate on a level playing field. And so, notwithstanding the protest by the opposition, Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega introduced those amendments. […]
That justification didn’t impress P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca, who then declared open season on the government, and on those he called their moles and cronies within the B.S.C.F.A. Fonseca says history will record that it was the treachery and betrayal of the government which forced caneros to their knees. Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader “We […]
Fonseca also reserved special attention for Prime Minister Dean Barrow, asking him why he has to be so rude…to attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, that is. The P.M. recently referred to her as a junior grade, empty-vessel attorney. Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader “What does ASR have over this Prime Minister and his government? What is really […]
Inside the House today, Orange Walk Central Area Representative today handed out his share of licks to his colleagues on the government’s side of the House. He started by making fun of government’s ad on saving the industry, and of course took the opportunity to, in his words, remind them of just a few of […]
Briceño, after outlining what the P.U.P. has done for the industry, chastised the government for what he calls playing politics with an industry which affects the lives of fifty thousand persons in the north. John Briceño, Area Representative, Orange Walk Central “I dislike the idea that we are playing politics with an industry that […]
As we’ve heard, government took its licks today over an issue which is serious business. The government has come under serious and sustained fire during the weeks of impasse. Government has been accused of siding with ASR/B.S.I. against the farmers – playing big brother to those farmers and then withdrawing support at a serious time. […]
Usually the Prime Minister closes the session in the House, but today Area Representative of Fort George, Said Musa, felt inspired. He pulled no punches, claiming that the government’s entire reason for the session today is crap, their argument is crap, and just for good measure, Musa added that the junior attorney much scorned by […]
Now there was a senior amount of mud-slinging at government today – as we’ve pointed out, it was open season. But if there’s one man who can give as good as he gets, its Prime Minister Dean Barrow. And while today’s sitting was serious, he had his fun – targeting P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca who, […]
We end tonight’s coverage of the events on Independence Hill with the event which actually started the House meeting. Recently elected Cayo North Area representative Omar Figueroa was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives. Because he won in a by-election and thus was the only member sworn in, the Speaker gave […]
Nationally recognized as the father of the nation, George Price was remembered today by the party he led for four decades. Price passed away in 2011, but today he would have turned ninety-six. Present and past leaders, party faithful as well students took part in activities to pay homage to the leader who transformed the […]
On the occasion of the ninety-sixth birthday of its deceased leader, the P.U.P. also launched its education platform entitled Education: Creativity plus Technology. The policy is a call to arms to move away from the staunchly traditional methods of delivering information in the classroom. The platform encourages a return to curiosity among adolescents and supports […]
As has become apparent, the backs of farmers have been broken by a combination of ASR/B.S.I.’s inflexible stance, and G.O.B.’s deliberate withdrawal from the equation at a critical juncture. In the next couple of days all farmers are likely to have signed on to the agreement with the factory, for better or worse. The P.U.P. […]
According to Fonseca, the signs of today’s sugar cane debacle were foretold when the government refused to allow cane farmers to purchase controlling shares in B.S.I. He claims that a P.U.P. government, from that point, would have sided with the farmers. That was not done, and according to the P.U.P. leader, neither has there been […]
Even as the Opposition has its say, and expresses full solidarity with and support for the cane farmers of Belize, the fact is that at this point cane farmers have run out of time, backative and options. They certainly cannot wait for February twenty-third and a possible Mandamus order. So they will sign…which means that […]
Cayo North Area Representative Omar Figueroa has been sworn in as Minister of State in the Barrow administration after soundly defeating P.U.P. opponent Richard Harrison at the polls a week ago. This evening, at the Belize House in Belmopan, Figueroa was administered an oath by Governor General Sir Colville Young to serve the constituents of […]
Fresh off a huge win in Monday’s Cayo North by-election, Doctor Omar Figueroa is set to join cabinet. Following a special sitting of Cabinet, the office of the Prime Minister today announced that Figueroa, who is a doctor in Environmental Sciences by profession, is being appointed minister of state in the PM’s office as early […]
Municipal Elections 2015 are set for early March and Belizeans in nine towns and cities are once again gearing up to go to the polls in the national exercise. Despite the P.U.P.’s astounding defeat in the Cayo North bye-election on Monday, party leader Francis Fonseca is resolute in his belief that the political tides are […]
The results of the Cayo North by-elections were known early on Monday night but were in fact predicted before voting even took place. Early in the counting, the U.D.P. enjoyed a comfortable lead in every of the thirteen boxes from both polling areas, seventy-three in San Ignacio and seventy-five in Bullet Tree. When all the […]
While the U.D.P. celebrates, for the People’s United Party, it has been a devastating loss. At a press conference at Independence Hall this afternoon by the P.U.P., the media brief was devoid of the traditional fanfare that has come to be expected at the party’s headquarters on Queen Street. Party leader Francis Fonseca appeared alone […]
While the Cayo North bye-election is being used as a barometer to measure the parties’ respective abilities to mobilize supporters to the polls come March, Fonseca admits that the existing resources will need to distributed equitably in order for the P.U.P. to mount a massive campaign against the ruling party. It was a decision, Fonseca […]
And what’s the morale of the P.U.P. following Monday’s devastating loss at the polls? According to Fonseca, while there is disappointment, the party is preparing to move ahead and that the impact of the loss will only be felt in the Cayo North constituency. Francis Fonseca, Party Leader, P.U.P. “If it has an impact […]
One more issue from today’s press conference by the Opposition Leader. The People’s United Party has for some time been clamoring for campaign finance reform. The motion would compel all political organizations to declare finances going into elections. This afternoon, P.U.P. leader Francis Fonseca told the media that the line between party coffers and the […]
