Still on the biggest story so far, in the Senate today, the vote was not unanimous on the Telecommunications Act. Nine senators supported the bill, none were against, two abstained and one member was absent. Senator Godwin Hulse, representing the business community objected to the Accommodation Agreement but said that it is no secret that […]
Earlier we told you that Anwar Barrow was a member of the new Telemedia Board, but before that, in Belmopan, when the Senate debate got underway, Barrow was named Senator. While Barrow did not make his maiden speech on the merits of the bill, he did vote to support its passage. There has been speculation […]
The Hayward Charitable Belize Trust owns approximately seventy percent of Telemedia and this evening, it issued a release regarding its stake in Telemedia. Hayward’s view is that the nationalization is both illegal and unconstitutional and that assertion will be tested through the Courts under international law and it will invoke the Investment Treaty between the […]
The Barrow administration today made the announcement that it was nationalizing Belize Telemedia and is expected to assume total control in the next day or so of the utility company. We start our newscast with the reaction from Telemedia on this stunning move. In a release late this evening, Telemedia condemned the action of the […]
The reports percolated over the weekend and this morning, in a special session of the House of Representatives, which interrupted the summer recess, Prime Minister Barrow rammed through the House with indecent haste, the first, second and third readings of a Bill for the government to take over control of Telemedia. The straw that broke […]
The U.D.P. regime always had issues with Telemedia over the Accommodation Agreement and did not participate in the proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration, except for a reaction last Monday when the court ruled in government’s favour. Earlier this year, G.O.B. threatened to arrest senior executives of both the telephone company and the […]
What does the nationalization mean for investors confidence? P.U.P. leader, John Briceño, says it sends the wrong signals and that efficiency and productivity will suffer. Briceño says it is also a matter of what’s good and what’s bad mostly for the layman and woman. John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition “I think what is important, […]
While the real purpose of today’s house meeting was the fate Telemedia, three other bills were introduced for a first reading. One was for an Act to control the sale of beverages in containers that would allow for a system of deposit and refund upon the return of the containers. That bill was introduced by […]
The House of Representatives will convene next week. The upcoming sitting departs from the usual practice of Friday sessions and will sit on Monday, August twenty-fourth. There are three bills expected to be tabled for a first reading. First on the House agenda is a Returnable Containers Bill, which will provide for the control of […]
Politics, it seems can find its way in every aspect of Belizean life. Such is the case of thirty eight year old Hirian Good who got a job as a school warden in September of 2006 by former Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca. Good claims that she has done a great job and her efforts […]
Does Minister Elvin Penner have dual nationality? That issue came up last night at consultations on the seventh amendment bill to the constitution held in San Ignacio. And like the previous round in Belize City, there was general rejection to the proposal. But why amend the constitution? There has been limited official explanation, but much […]
And it was on July tenth that Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced during a press conference at the Radisson Fort George Hotel that the police would be making arrests for financial improprieties after Patrick Tillett, the government-appointed Financial Controller to City Hall, gave a statement to police. Well it’s the end of July and so […]
While things are quiet at the Belize City Council, the ground work is set for a battle royale between the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the government. Cabinet rejected N.T.U.C.B.’s tardy decision to hold a seat on the commission that would oversee how the twenty million dollars from the Venezuelan grant program would […]
The House of Representatives met today for the last time before the summer recess. The first order of business was a call by House Speaker Emil Arguelles for respect of the House rules. And what started as much civility later turned rowdy when revelations were made about more land scandals. On adjournment, the Leader of […]
That exchange between the Deputy Minister and the Leader of the Opposition was inside the House. The finger pointing was over land sales within reserves, on cayes, on the mainland, and of course in a lagoon. But what about the majority of Belizeans who are unable to get a single lot? Vega and Briceño had […]
The Krooman Lagoon Reserve was a hot topic at the House meeting and everybody had explaining to do. Former Minister of State for Natural Resources, Elvin Penner, commented on the issue since the project, proposed by businessman Jack Chawla of Xtra House, came to his desk. The Minister of Natural Resources said that he has […]
And there is no end to other scandals, this time at City Hall. On Thursday News Five showed a letter and supporting documents which the current City Administrator, Dr. Kiran Vanjani, wrote to CitCo’s Financial Regulator, Patrick Tillett, informing him that he had acted out of the scope when he took certain decisions. These had […]
And Moya says if Tillett is pointing fingers at the Council’s Director of Financial Services, Dwane Davis, for under-depositing, he can be equally blamed because he made decisions without her approval. Patrick Tillett, Financial Controller “Even if I went beyond the scope of my authority, look at what we are trying to achieve with getting […]
Mayor Moya Flowers also had her own views about the recent statement issued by the Association of Concerned Belizeans which blames her for the under-depositing at City Hall. Moya Flowers said it was engineered by one person who has a personal vendetta against her. Zenaida Moya, Belize City Mayor “You want to hold this one […]
The questionable land deals were not the only issues brought up in the House. Also introduced, was an amendment to the Settlement of Disputes Act which essentially prohibits strikes unless a twenty-one day notice is provided. This would apply to persons employed as Essential Services including health personnel. Three bills went through a second reading. […]
Though the cameras were recording, the country’s leaders did not back down when challenged or when they were interrupted. Before the meeting was over, the PUP’s faithful got rowdy and were marched out of the building. Here’s a look at how progress is made in the Capital. John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition “Please call […]
Turning to the region, the situation in Honduras has turned volatile and the crisis is deepening as clashes are being reported between supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya and the military forces. This follows Sunday’s coup de etat when Zelaya was forcibly removed by the military from his home early Sunday morning and taken to […]
The Prime Minister has called for a quick investigation into the alleged corruption taking place at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but the opposition party says this is not going far enough. The People’s United Party issued a statement today saying that the official investigation is insufficient and unacceptable because there are no known terms […]
There is plenty to report in tonight’s newscast. But first we go to Belmopan where the House of Representatives met this morning. On the agenda were controversial constitutional amendments and other issues of national importance, including a new promise on fuel prices. We start with the situation at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where it […]
And if you thought that the topic of the situation at the K.H.M.H. was hot, check out the exchange between both sides of the House. Squaring off were Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, P.M. Barrow and the Leader of the Opposition John Briceño. John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition “I don’t think the representative from […]
