While the strident voices of the politicians and the incessant noise of their electronic advertisements continue unabated, a quiet appeal for sanity has been issued by the nation’s religious leaders. In a press release circulated today the Belize Council of Churches asks the political parties to “refrain from engaging in conflicts that seem to be […]
Reports of its death may have been premature as the indefatigable duo of SPEAR’s Dylan Vernon and the Chamber’s Kevin Hererra are still pursuing their elusive dream of a prime ministerial debate. The latest position of the United Democratic Party, as stated this evening by Secretary General Kenworth Tillett, is that they are now ready […]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to charges by the Opposition P.U.P. that large numbers of immigrants were being improperly granted citizenship in order to vote in the upcoming election. In a press release issued today the ministry states that Belizean citizenship is granted only when an applicant meets all the requirements as prescribed […]
They are among the busiest and most harassed workers in an occupation which considers a sixteen-hour workday normal. Today News Five’s Patrick Jones managed to grab some time from two men, who although not running for office, remain at the center of the political storm: U.D.P. Secretary General Kenworth Tillett and his P.U.P. counterpart Godfrey […]
On yesterday’s newscast we reported on the last minute rush of applicants for Belizean citizenship, with the expectation that they would quickly go and register to vote. Last night in San Ignacio an attempt to monitor that registration process was met with more than just a verbal protest. Patrick Jones reports. According to S.E.N. TV […]
Meanwhile, back at the Immigration Department in Belmopan, we continued our efforts to find out exactly what was going on yesterday, as a large crowd of immigrants sought to complete their paperwork for citizenship. Immigration Director Merlene Martinez, who was out of the office at the time our news team was present on Tuesday morning, […]
If you haven’t registered by now you’re almost certainly not going to be able to vote on August twenty seventh, as registration officials will be working hard tonight simply to process the applications already in hand. But while the process is nearing an end, Chief Elections Officer Urban Reyes acknowledged that the people who administer […]
We didn’t really need the press release, but today SPEAR and the Chamber of Commerce made it official. There are not going to be any political debates — at least not with the two NGOs as sponsors. As we have reported previously, it became apparent that neither the P.U.P. nor the U.D.P. were really enthusiastic […]
We are not really sure when the 1998 election campaign actually started — indeed it may have begun on July first, 1993 — but at least we now know when it will end. Patrick Jones was on hand for the Prime Minister’s big announcement on Sunday and files the following report. Thousands of U.D.P. supporters […]
His opponents may have assembled thousands strong and much of their rhetoric was directed squarely against him, but today opposition leader Said Musa says that his party is ready to go toe to toe with the U.D.P. … and that includes a debate with Manuel Esquivel. Musa laid down that challenge, and a few others, […]
The announcement of the date for general elections has not only set numerous political wheels into motion but also has the news media reacting as well. Today Channel Five and Love FM announced plans to provide joint coverage on election day and night. According to station heads Stewart Krohn and Rene Villanueva, the live broadcast, […]
If any viewers out there were hoping for a special surprise at today’s meeting of the House and Senate they were disappointed, as the legislature closed with something less than a bang. Patrick Jones spent most of the day on Independence Hill and brings us the following report. Other than a couple of bills for […]
As an expression of hope and faith it was an effort that should have earned SPEAR and the Chamber of Commerce a medal of honor. As a matter if realpolitik it turned out that the skeptics were right. After nine months of effort the two N.G.O.s will be throwing in the towel when it comes […]
It’s a slow news day so we’re forced to lead tonight’s broadcast with the type of story that, mercifully, only seems to pop up during election campaigns. Appearing this morning on radio station FM Two Thousand’s “Breakfast Show,” U.D.P. Mesopotamia representative Michael Finnegan showed why he has been properly placed as Minister of Mobilization. While […]
There was actually some weekend activity around Belize other than crime. The political action focussed in the Corozal District as the People’s United Party continued to campaign as if the election could be called any day. The motorcade wound its way through the villages of the north before winding up in Libertad and the convening […]
Closing arguments in Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel’s libel suit against former San Ignacio Town Mayor Marconi Matus and People’s United Party Chairman Jorge Espat ended late this evening in the Supreme Court. The trial, which opened on Monday, heard testimony from eight witnesses, including the Prime Minister and two of his bodyguards. Today, defense attorney […]
In other political news, both the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party have postponed upcoming public gatherings due to inclement weather. The U.D.P.’s “Double Victory Celebration” scheduled for tonight will now be amalgamated into the party’s July twelfth special national conference at Bird’s Isle, while the P.U.P.’s “Five Years is Five Years” mass […]
Opening arguments were heard this morning in the Prime Minister’s libel suit against P.U.P. councilor in the San Ignacio Town Board, Marconi Matus. At a press conference in Belize City last February, Matus alleged that the P.M. knew of and supported attempts to bribe him to cross the floor. Matus also claims that he met […]
While the Prime Minister will take a break from domestic affairs and local politics for a few days, the country will at best have to wait for his return to find out the date for general elections. Constitutionally, the life of the current National Assembly expires on July fifteenth, but before he left for the […]
In news from the political arena, the application for judicial review of the appointment of the latest commission of inquiry probing P.U.P. leader Said Musa’s handling of the Economic Citizenship Programme, hit a snag in the Supreme Court this morning. Lawyers representing Musa came to the courthouse expecting a ruling on their application filed against […]
Viewers who watch this newscast live at six thirty know that it immediately follows the nation’s most avidly watched television show, “Another World”. And while our evening news cannot boast the tangled lives, twisted plots and torrid love affairs of this popular soap opera, it can occasionally provide a healthy dose of drama. Such is […]
The most popular sport in town these days, with the possible exception of CARICOM basketball, is trying to figure out the date of our next general elections. According to the constitution they must be held by October fifteenth, a date no later than three months following the dissolution of the National Assembly. While many pundits […]
And just in case anyone has forgotten that strategy, a remarkably fortuitous coincidence of timing has a government appointed commission of inquiry looking into Musa’s handling of the Economic Citizenship Programme between 1989 and 1993. That commission, chaired by Harry Lui, will hear testimony from the P.U.P. leader tomorrow. And while he has agreed to […]
Belizeans will soon witness the first prime ministerial debate in our nation’s history. That’s the word from SPEAR and the Belize Chamber of Commerce, who have been working for the last nine months to make the event a reality. At a meeting held this morning with representatives of the media the organizations announced that the […]
While the two party leaders have agreed to debate once the election has been called, right now they are busy travelling to every corner of the country campaigning on behalf of their divisional candidates. This weekend Said Musa and the P.U.P. took their message to the people of San Ignacio. Patrick Jones reports. When the […]
