As you know, a week ago, the Foreign Minister of Belize Wilfred Elrington declared that the country had plunged into a diplomatic crisis with Guatemala over the shooting of a Guatemalan national in the Ceibo Chico area of the Chiquibul. But today the atmosphere appeared cordial. While questions from the press were not entertained after […]
Twelve basketball players from high schools across the country left this morning en route to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to compete in the five-day COCABA U-sixteen Championship tournament. Over the past month, the national team has been training with Coaches Matthew Smiling, Bernie Tarr and Raymond Sanchez. A silver or gold medal in the tournament will qualify […]
When a veteran diver was killed at Amigos del Mar in San Pedro Town while refueling an oxygen tank, it was an instant tragedy and many wondered if it could have been avoided. Hector Duran’s death affected the lives of his colleagues and raised concerns about the lifespan of dive tanks as well as butane […]
A meeting will be held in Guatemala City this coming Monday between Foreign Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington and Harold Caballeros, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister. The announcement was made today by the office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington. According to a release, “the coordination with authorities from Belize and Guatemala has been […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington left the country today; we caught up with him at the airport just before he boarded his flight. Going into the weekend, it was reported that tensions were high with Guatemala which was threatening to close the borders and to oust from post, Ambassador Fred Martinez. In short, there was […]
Belize will have to complete a report on the incident in a twenty-one day period and as far as we know, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, is yet to receive the file on the shooting that happened well within Belize in the Ceibo Chico area of the Chiquibul. According to Elrington, the […]
The long-standing territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala will be the subject of simultaneous referenda to be held on October sixth, 2013. The question of whether or not the matter should be resolved in the International Court of Justice will be posed to the citizenries of both countries, following an education campaign on the purpose […]
Some small Caribbean countries are in danger of acquiring the reputation as failed pariah states, according to an editorial in Sunday’s Jamaican Observer. Belize and Grenada are being placed in that category. The article says that there are three reasons for this dubious distinction: the small states have shown to be incapable of successfully performing […]
A resident from Guinea Grass Village has received regional recognition for uplifting himself and his family by starting a business. In 2008, Javier Basto started selling plantain chips to his friends and neighbors; he now owns the Basto & Sons product line, which includes cassava chips and churros. The small business made a hundred and […]
The Central America Travel Market is the largest tourism trade show in this region. It provides the opportunity for tourism service providers from the seven countries in Central America, including Belize, to market themselves to hundreds of wholesalers from across the globe. The event is held annually and is hosted in a different Central American […]
There’s another situation that is building up. Belizean passports are not the only hot commodities being sought by foreigners seeking a new identity. Years ago, the Government of Belize actually implemented an economic citizen program, which was viewed as the bucket sale of passports. While it legitimized what was once an illegal activity, the recent […]
The Ministries of Health and Tourism in partnership with BELTRAIDE are one step closer to getting medical tourism in the Belize off the ground. A series of consultations and workshops ended today, with the launching of the medical tourism sector strategy and policy, developed by international consultant, Massimo Manzi. It was a three month job, […]
When the idea of developing medical tourism was first announced, members of the Belize Medical and Dental Association were not onboard because they hadn’t been consulted. There were also concerns that foreign doctors would be the only ones benefitting. But after being included in the planning process, BMDA is now behind the initiative. The association […]
Due to increased violent crime in the country, the United States Embassy of Belize has issued a security warning to its citizens who are either on holiday or living in Belize. The note specifically addresses an increase in sexual assaults and robberies. It says quote “The crime threat in Belize is high. Random and organized […]
A forensic ballistic system donated by the Canadian government will be inaugurated this Friday. Coinciding with that event will be a visit by Canada’s minister of state of Foreign Affairs, Diane Ablonczy. Between today and Sunday, Ablonczy will be in Guatemala and Belize to strengthen relationships with both countries and to reinforce the Canadian commitment […]
In an age of continuous technological advances, there are still many persons and households that don’t have basic internet access. Over the next few days, a Caribbean Information and Communications Technology Roadshow will be reaching out to those groups as well as the tech savvy to highlight the benefits of ICT. The road show also […]
The theme for the event is “Harnessing the Power of Innovation – the engine for ICT enabled Caribbean development”. But Doctor Colin Young acknowledges that Belize is behind in technology when compared to other countries in the region. Both Young and Bernadette Lewis, CTU’s Secretary General agree that affordability, particularly for internet access, is going […]
The Presidential elections in Venezuela will not have the sting of Dragon Wasps, but if there is any tampering with the computers, the Public Relations Officer for the Embassy in Belize promises it will be explosive. On Sunday, President Hugo Chavez is seeking a third term in office. For Belize the outcome is important because […]
After Chavez’ recent battle with cancer, the opposition charges that he will not be able to finish another six year term in office. But after radiation, chemotherapy, and three operations in Cuba, Sanchez says Chavez is cancer free and he has been hot on the campaign trail over the past two weeks. Gabriel Sanchez […]
Taiwan has diplomatic relations with only a handful of twenty-two countries, which includes Belize. Its diplomatic outreach, however, is vibrant and strong as it struggles for full recognition and to gain entry into many international organizations including the United Nations where yearly, its allies seek support for its admission. Also known as the Republic of […]
The ninth edition of CATM, the Central American Travel Market, is winding down in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. All Central American countries have been taking part and aggressively promoting their countries as prime tourist destinations with a competitive edge. It is one of the biggest shows in the region which provides avenues to tourism stakeholders […]
There’s some good news that will make you smile. In April of this year, Belize was ranked at number thirty-four of one hundred and fifty-six countries on the first ever United Nations World Happiness Report. That report was released exactly six months ago and we don’t know what drastic changes may have occurred in that […]
The twenty third meeting of International Cooperation Directors for Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Cooperation in the area of food security is being held at the Radisson Fort George. The participants intend to identify initiatives to increase coordination amongst the countries while analyzing and updating information on initiatives to increase food security. Mourad […]
The B.T.I.A., B.T.B. and other tourism stakeholders will be off to the annual Central American Travel Market and Channel Five will be there to bring it to you live from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The show, which will be in a business meeting style, will attract international travel agents and wholesalers from across the world. […]
A top heavy Belize delegation, headed by Minister Wilfred Elrington, is in New York for the yearly United Nations General Assembly. Elrington is scheduled to make his presentation next week and that statement is still likely on the drawing board. But the president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina spoke on Wednesday to the UN. The […]
