The question, however, is what motivated Greif’s ambition for higher office. The two-term councillor says that residents are clamouring for a change to develop San Pedro and Caye Caulker. Greif says that Minister Heredia needs to step aside and allow new blood in the constituency. Gary Greif, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural South “I did […]
The National Environment Appraisal Committee has already approved the multimillion-dollar development on Cayo Rosario, located within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The mega tourism project initially called for ninety over the water structures as well as dredging in the protected area. That was met with resistance from San Pedranos and environmentalists, who have since re-energized […]
Minister Heredia Junior is a four-term area representative of Belize Rural South and has not lost an election in his political career. He has also been the Minister of Tourism, while the U.D.P. has been in office in the last three terms. But he is now facing a challenger from within the ranks. A two-term […]
Whether Greif’s application will be accepted or not will be known next week after the party’s vetting committee meets. But disrespect aside, Heredia Junior is confident that he is unbeatable. Manuel Heredia Jr., Area Rep., Belize Rural South “I don’t focus too much on what the news says about me or my constituents. I […]
There is another ‘NO’ to Arthur Saldivar; he aspired to run for the People’s United Party in the Belmopan constituency, but his application has been turned down one more time. In the first instance, a suspension was lifted, but the Vetting Committee decided he had to sit out the convention. But Saldivar maintains a legal claim […]
During our interview with the Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte, we asked him about this decision to re-enter the political arena. As we have been reporting, Peyrefitte is aspiring to be the U.D.P.’s Standard Bearer for the Port Loyola Constituency and is facing three other contenders including Philip Willoughby. According to Peyrefitte, his decision to run […]
Former councilor Philip Willoughby is one of four U.D.P. candidates contesting a November convention in Port Loyola to become the party’s standard bearer. The four-way political race has taken some twists and turns, particularly for Willoughby who threw his hat in the ring after losing his seat at City Hall during municipal elections on March […]
Willoughby will face-off against Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, former Deputy Mayor Dean Samuels and Ac. Shane Castillo. Neither of those names are known for previous door-to-door campaigns within the Port, and Willoughby says he is building relationships with voters. Philip Willoughby, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola “I can tell you that I’ve been working and […]
It’s been just about three weeks since the Belize City Council hired a new city administrator. Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt assumed the post left vacant for months following the suspended and thereafter termination of Candice Miller, who was sacked for dereliction of duties. So how have things been going since then? Mayor Bernard Wagner says that Lindo-Garbutt […]
An old charge that did not go to trial has come back to haunt a political aspirant in the Belize Rural North constituency. Marconi Leal is a retired teacher and Principal and currently the village chairman of Sand Hill. He is running for the People’s United Party against Area Representative Edmund Castro in the sprawling […]
According to Marconi Leal, his trouble started when he intervened in the re-registration of Castro’s niece, who he claims lives in Los Angeles, California and therefore does not have the two-month residency requirement. Marconi Leal, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Belize Rural North “I am presently working on the re-registration process in the Rural North area […]
Since the beginning of the week, Minister of National Security and aspiring U.D.P. party leader, John Saldivar has been putting together an unofficial slate of the best possible combination of United Democratic Party candidates to contest the 2020 general elections. His Facebook posts have sparked debate in some corners, among members of the party. While […]
While his fantasy league of standard bearers may not reflect his aspiration to someday lead the U.D.P., Saldivar says that his bid for leadership has been steady and will allow his work in the ministry to speak for itself. Isani Cayetano “In respect of your personal campaign sir, I know that 2019 is quickly […]
The race for leadership of the United Democratic Party has been ramped up with Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar putting together a fantasy league of U.D.P. standard bearers ahead of the 2020 general elections. It’s a virtual dream team made up of Saldivar’s favorite candidates. That wish list, however, may not be the roster of […]
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber confirmed two appointments within his ministries while at an event held today at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City. Phillip Willoughby will be named to the board of the NICH. Last week, DPM Patrick Faber signed off on the appointment of board members including Willoughby and three others. […]
Tensions rose quickly today in Buena Vista Village, Cayo as police officers were called out to remove a group of P.U.P. officials from under a shed at Buena Vista Government School. The school is being used as a re-registration center for the residents of the area but the village’s chairman, Juan de la Rosa, says […]
A total of sixteen thousand, six hundred and seventy applications were accepted by the Elections and Boundaries Department as part of the first week of the mass re-registration exercise. That figure does not include the applications of Alberto Coc and his wife. On Sunday, July seventh, Coc and his wife walked for three hours from their […]
With re-registration of electors taking place, debate is raging about the registering of naturalized Guatemalans because it breaches the Belize Constitution. Section twenty-nine of the Constitution states that no person shall be granted Belizean nationality if that person is from a country that does not recognize Belize’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In other words, […]
Persons wanting to re-register must prove that they have been living at their address for at least two months. This is one of the requirements that some Belizeans living overseas are resisting and believe should be amended since it disqualifies them from registering and casting their votes. But there is no indication whether the law […]
Electricity rates increased on July first after an application by Belize Electricity Limited to the Public Utilities Commission was successful. The new rates will be in effect for the next two years. The increase is from approximately thirty-seven cents per kilowatt hour to thirty-nine point five cents for the first year and thirty-nine cents per […]
The price of premium gasoline decreased by eleven cents at midnight on Tuesday; it now sells for eleven dollars and sixty cents per gallon. It is a small reduction for consumers who have been complaining about the high cost of fuel. The Government has explained that the fuel prices in Belize are as a result […]
In June, the government said that if it reduces fuel tax by two dollars per gallon, it would mean a seventy million dollars hole in government revenue. That reduction would ‘completely de-fund’ the Judiciary and Government Ministries such as Human Development, Agriculture, Transport and NEMO, and Works. It added that essential services provided by these […]
The notice of resignation tendered by NEMO’s Operations Officer Phillip Willoughby on July eleventh, paving the way for him to contest an upcoming U.D.P. convention in Port Loyola, was preceded by legal advice being sought by Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte. Himself a U.D.P. candidate running for standard bearer in that constituency, Peyrefitte sought the advice […]
The People’s United Party is joining the Belize Territorial Volunteers in condemning the comments made by Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. Elrington recently told the press that people have to be crazy if they do not support taking the Belize/Guatemala dispute to the I.C.J. for resolution. BTV categorizes Elrington’s comments as insulting and degrading. Leader of […]
A humanitarian mission embarked by the Belize Territorial Volunteers this morning got off on a bad start. According to Leader Wil Maheia, the group was intercepted by Guatemalan Armed Forces. Maheia says that they were first stopped by B.D.F. soldiers who sought clearance from higher-ups to allow the group to traverse up the Sarstoon River. […]
