Since taking office in 2008 the Barrow administration has made numerous references to what is known as the Super Bond which was negotiated by the previous administration. During the Budget Debate last Thursday the subject of the bond was once again revisited and according to the government it is a heavy load for debt financing. […]
The Marion Jones Sporting Complex has been in a dilapidated state for quite a while and is in desperate need of an overhaul. In recent times, both the Carnival road march and the Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic have had to end elsewhere because of the condition of the Complex. Last August, a groundbreaking ceremony […]
The budget for the new financial year was approved this afternoon just before four o’clock when Prime Minister Dean Barrow wrapped up the two day debate. The ayes came only from the government side since across the aisle members were absent after having ripped through the budget on Thursday. Government projects to raise in revenue […]
Petroleum has been one of the largest income earners for the government over the 2009 to 2010 financial year. According to the prime minister, there was an inflow of approximately forty five million dollars from the local petroleum sector, coming not only from royalties, but also from income tax, working interest, production sharing, surface rental […]
When the Housing Minister, Michael Finnegan made his contribution to the budget debate, he began by by giving thanks to Cuba and Venezuela on behalf of the people of Mesopotamia. According to Finnegan healthcare and education have been areas in which his division has benefit the most. Poor Mesop. residents have been afforded scholarships in […]
But Musa could not end his presentation without addressing the infamous comments by the Prime Minister and directed at him at the last sitting of the House of Representatives. He came armed with quotes of his own but opted to keep it civil in the House. Said Musa “I noticed from the last meeting that […]
The increase in GST was the term most referred to in today’s debate of the budget for 2010/2011. The budget was presented to the House on March fifteenth and the Prime Minister announced that the deficit would fall short of sixty-four million and that he hoped to raise sixty-one point five in new taxes measures […]
As the debate continued, Minister John Saldivar called out the PUP Leader, John Briceño for complaining about the zero rating of luncheon meat, potted meat and a few other canned goods. But he didn’t’ stop there. He also spent a lengthy time blaming Area Representative for Albert, Mark Espat, for being the architect of the […]
Albert Area Representative and Deputy Party leader for the PUP, Mark Espat, did not take the blame for the country’s financial woes lightly. He felt that all of Saldivar’s posturing was in hopes of getting elevated to a powerful portfolio after a cabinet reshuffle, which is expected after village council elections in June. But on […]
When the other PUP Deputy Party Leader Cordel Hyde made his contribution to the budget debate, he was impassioned and unimpressed with what he said was in store for Belizeans. Hyde was highly critical in particular of the cuts to the budget of National Security. Every department including the B.D.F. and even the administration for […]
The controversial ‘Barrow Bond’ was passed by the House of Representatives this past Monday. The debate was steered by the Prime Minister and led to one of the most scandalous House sittings. In the Senate today, the tone was much different, in fact subdued, when the Bills came up for consideration. There was one voice […]
Senator Godwin Hulse who represents the business community chose not to participate in the vote. He, however, shared a different perspective on the passage of the three bills. Godwin Hulse, Senator “The greater concern that I’ve had with all of this and all three bills together is as always my position is government’s transparency. And […]
A News Five team is just back from La Isla Bonita where the shooting death of a police corporal took place before dawn this morning at the hands of a sergeant. We’ll have a full blown report on this story, but first we start with the ongoing public spectacle at City Hall. Belize City Mayor, […]
But beyond that, Moya also pulled out documents she says proves that other allegations made against her are false. The Councillors had accused Moya Flowers of signing agreements and contracts without approval and behind their backs. Zenaida Moya Flowers “No monies can pass as it pertains to a contract or any contract can go ahead […]
Remember the G-Seven? That was the name given to seven ministers in the past PUP administration who broke ranks, resigned and were eventually reinstated. Well, it’s not exactly the same, but Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya Flowers, is facing a rebellion of her own. This time, seven Councillors have publicly criticized the Mayor for holding […]
But the Mayor would not have any of it. She told us that the Councillors are being petty and explained that she did not storm out of the meeting, but that she had other engagements that she could not break. Zenaida Moya Flowers, Belize City Mayor “We had a scheduled public council meeting that was […]
Mayor Zenaida Moya Flowers explained why she deemed the election of Willoughby as legal. Zenaida Moya Flowers, Belize City Mayor “Dion wanted a re-election of Deputy Mayor. That is the whole crux of the matter. It was then informed to this individual that we went through a process on the day of the election. We […]
All over Belizeans are reeling from the announcement of the new taxes to come on line beginning April first through which government will be raising close to one hundred and ten million dollars. Prime Minister Dean Barrow in his budget presentation on Monday confirmed that the revenues were necessary due to the sixty-one million dollar […]
In our review of the budget for 2010/2011, we also came across a significant decrease in capital investment. At budget time last year, PM Barrow boasted that his government’s spending on capital investments, that is in roads, bridges, classrooms and other job-creating projects, would “lift up the nation”. Well, a more chastened Barrow has had […]
The language used in the House of Representatives on Monday by Prime Minister Dean Barrow in a feisty exchange with the former Prime Minister Said Musa, resonated on the airwaves this morning and has been the topic of conversation around many tables since they were uttered. Generally, people were rattled and find the “j” word […]
Someone played a nasty joke on Belize Rural North Area Representative Edmund Castro when they broke into his office in Sandhill on Monday morning and placed a freshly slaughtered hog’s head on his secretary’s desk. While the prank may have been on the minister he did not find it very funny and in an interview […]
There’s a packed newscast tonight and we start with the budget presentation in the House today. The fiscal year closes at the end of March and the budget’s performance for 2009 to 2010 was poor, and don’t hold your breath because the coming year promises to bring new and additional taxes. In the current financial […]
But while the economy did fare off well, the 2010 to 2011 budget comes with new tax measures. Hardest hit is an almost five percent business tax imposed on electricity, meaning B.E.L., which soon afterwards caused a blackout, and a two point five percent increase in sales tax, which means that coupled with the two […]
But Barrow said it’s not all doom and gloom. The Poverty Assessment Report indicated that more Belizeans are poor. So naturally, increased taxes will push employed individuals into a category of the working poor. So to appease one section of the electorate, Barrow intends to exempt anyone earning less than twenty four thousand dollars a […]
The Prime Minister read a list of goods from which he intends to remove import duties. The list includes: cooking oils, luncheon meat, potted meat, macaroni and cheese dinner, and cereals. The P.M. also said that the government would remove General Sales Tax on similar items. But if you don’t intend to eat canned goods, […]
