Meanwhile, although the election is close enough to taste and a partisan media war has been waged for what seems like years, many mass party candidates and almost all of the third party entries enjoy little name recognition outside their own constituencies. In an effort to better inform viewers as to who they may find […]
The battle for the city’s lampposts continued today with a strange dance taking place in the Pickstock Division. Belize Electricity Limited, owner of the poles, is making good on its pledge to keep political signs off its property. This morning its contractor, Keith Nicholas, was busy with his bucket of grey paint, obliterating the “vote […]
Even though the constitution does not require the Prime Minister to announce an election date in the House of Representatives it has been done in the past. So when the mace bearer entered the National Assembly this morning, there was more than the usual amount of anticipation in the air. I was among those watching […]
And because of that House Meeting speculation is rife that Prime Minister Said Musa will use the occasion to announce the date of General Elections. That possibility sent News Five’s Janelle Chanona digging into the archives. Janelle Chanona, Reporting So far in the run up to general elections 2008 there have been fights over signs, […]
Less than a week after local political parties signed a code of conduct to respect each other, it appears that a couple supporters didn’t get the memo. A drive around the old capital today revealed that signs belonging to the Opposition United Democratic Party have been vandalized. A release issued this evening by the UDP […]
Election fever is definitely on but no date has been set for Belizeans to head to the polls. The man with that responsibility is Prime Minister Said Musa and when he appeared on Love TV’s Open Paki Show on Sunday, host Rosalie Staines asked about “E-day” everyone paid attention. Prime Minister Said Musa “Soon Rosalie, […]
We’ve seen them acting less than gentlemanly in the past but this morning representatives of the two major political parties, along with their aspiring brethren, were all on their best behaviour. News Five’s Kendra Griffith explains this strange occurrence…and why it is not likely to last. Kendra Griffith, Reporting This morning representatives of the PUP, […]
The controversy over political signs was not limited to the now famous billboard on Freetown Road. Earlier this year Belize Electricity Limited put the politicians on notice that due to safety concerns they would no longer permit the placing of any signs on their lampposts. But tonight the United Democratic Party is crying foul, saying […]
A plethora of political points were put on the table during today’s meeting of the House of Representatives. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the roundup from Belmopan. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Among the highlights on the orders of the day were Opposition members’ questions to Ministers, which ranged from the oil industry to the latest in […]
It was raw Belizean politics at its best–or worst, depending on your point of view–and today the reverberations were felt on both Queen and Regent streets. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the story. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Following Monday’s melee over a political sign, today Belize City Councillor Mark King was formally accused of hurling indecent […]
In related news, today Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow also commented on his party’s decision to paint campaign propaganda on lampposts after Belize Electricity Limited explicitly told both parties that they are prohibited from using the company’s poles for election posters and banners. Dean Barrow “I think quite honestly, B.E.L. is out of order. […]
As elections draw near political tensions are expected to rise. So today’s confrontation over a party billboard, while not to be condoned, was not exactly a surprise. This afternoon police were called out as party activists from both sides clashed over the erection of a large sign on public land at the corner of Freetown […]
Two months after one its appointed senators resigned, the Musa administration has filled the vacancy. In a press release issued this afternoon, Belmopan has asked ophthalmologist Dr. David Hoy to replace former senator Anthony Chanona. Hoy will be officially sworn in at the Senate’s next meeting, set for November twenty-first. Chanona officially resigned from the […]
While the big news out of Cabinet this week was the cancellation of two lopsided oil contracts, that body did manage to make some other significant decisions. According to a press release, a ten percent increase in the minimum pension for retired public officers has been approved. Cabinet has also been advised that the Social […]
There is good news and bad news tonight concerning the oil industry. The good news is that after being exposed by the opposition and pressured by civic groups and the media, the Belize Government has cancelled two production sharing agreements with local oil companies that gave them unusually favourable terms and disadvantaged the public treasury. […]
Amid the allegations of impropriety being hurled at the Government of Belize regarding the awarding of separate concessions to two local petroleum prospectors, tonight we understand that the government has launched an investigation into the matter. Sources tell News Five that Cabinet Secretary Bobby Leslie has been instructed to review the product sharing agreements presented […]
The United Democratic Party held a press conference today, ostensibly the first in a series of media briefings to explain the party’s position on a variety of issues. This afternoon’s topic was crime and while U.D.P. Caribbean Shores standard bearer Carlos Perdomo gave a comprehensive presentation, the policy matters were upstaged by Party Leader Dean […]
In other political news, today mayors, city councillors, and municipal administrators from across the country gathered in Belize City for a two-day workshop designed to help them do a better job. According to Director of Local Government, Eugene Palacio, the idea is to make sure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. Eugene Palacio, Director of […]
As we reported in our newscast on Thursday night, this Saturday the People’s United Party will celebrate fifty-seven years as a political organization. According to officials, the milestone will be commemorated across the country with a series of symbolic events including rallies, athletic activities and tributes to party stalwarts. Yasser Musa, Communications Director, P.U.P. “It’s […]
With general elections less than six months away, politicians are using every available opportunity to canvass the electorate. But today, officials of the United Democratic Party took time out from campaigning to celebrate their thirty-fourth anniversary. According to the party’s website, on September twenty-seventh 1973, three entities: the People’s Development Movement, the National Independence Party […]
On Friday Belize celebrated twenty-six years of Independence with tradition and pride. On twentieth night, Memorial Park was host to official ceremonies which included to the raising of the Belizean flag followed by a display of fireworks. The following morning, Prime Minister Said Musa and a distinguished list of dignitaries gathered at the park again […]
The Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Address takes place each September as part of a ceremonial sitting of the House and Senate held on the steps of the New Administration Building in Belmopan. Since it’s inception in 1999, the event has been boycotted by the Opposition … and this year was no exception. What […]
When the speech was over the Prime Minister mingled with well-wishers before giving some quality time to the press. He responded to questions ranging from his plan for an elected senate to the controversy over a twice promised cruise port. Prime Minister Said Musa “We do intend to take a bill to the parliament to […]
Tonight the Belize City Council is once again the spotlight following the firing of a senior member of staff. According to the council’s Public Relations Officer Kenny Morgan, City Administrator Sharole Saldivar has been terminated from her post because she was talking to the “wrong” people. Kenny Morgan, Public Relations Officer, Belize City Council “There […]
We saw it coming on Friday and less than a week later it has come to pass. There is a vacancy in the Senate tonight as Anthony Chanona, one of seven P.U.P. appointees to that body, has resigned. Chanona confirmed to News Five today that he has indeed submitted his letter of resignation to Prime […]
