Harold Crooks, he is the man who was commissioned to evaluate the local police force and wrote the famous Crooks Report between June and November 2008. He is also the man who once headed the Jamaican Special Constabulary Force, but fell from grace when it was disclosed that he was wanted by Jamaican police for […]
Jamaican drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke is still at large, but Harold Crooks the former commandant of the island’s Special Constabulary Force was arrested this morning at the Ocho Rios Pier in Saint Ann, Jamaica. Crooks was on the run since March of this year when allegations surfaced that he and another man had sexually […]
More than seventy persons are confirmed dead, casualties of the battle in Jamaica. There is still a state of emergency and in one area, Denem Town, the shootings continue between police and gang members. The area, however, where the first blood was drawn, Tivoli Gardens, is less active, as hundreds of arrests have been made. […]
In regional news, the state of emergency in Jamaica has the entire island on lockdown. Over five hundred persons are in police custody and upwards of fifty persons have been killed since the start of the battle between the police and the Shower Posse gang of Tivoli Gardens. Security forces have been trying to arrest […]
In neighbouring Quintana Roo, the mayor of Cancun has been arrested because of suspicions that he has protected two drug cartels while in office. This has caused fear that there will be more violence from the cartels as the government steps up the anti-drug war. According to the Federal Attorney General’s Office, Gregorio Sanchez will […]
But in the Caribbean, latest reports say that the death toll in Jamaica stands at over thirty persons including civilian and security personnel. The violent outbreak is a reaction to Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s decision to begin the process for the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Coke has been described as one of the most […]
Still in the Caribbean, this past Monday the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago held early elections and Kamla Persad Bissessar emerged as the first woman to lead the island as Prime Minister. The People’s Partnership, a coalition of parties, won twenty-nine of forty-one parliamentary seats. Outgoing Prime Minister Patrick Manning conceded defeat by Persad […]
After days of uncertainty Conservative leader David Cameron became Britain’s youngest prime minister in almost two hundred years, putting an end to thirteen years of Labour government. The Conservatives are forming a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats since they did not get a majority in last week’s elections. Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats […]
It has been under consideration for years but come June first, London’s Privy Council will finally be succeeded by the Caribbean Court of Justice. That’s the word coming from Belmopan today. The proposal was first made in July 2004 by the past administration but it was not able to secure the two thirds majority vote […]
But in the US courts, Mario Villanueva, the former governor of the state of Quintana Roo was charged for drug trafficking and money laundering earlier today. Villanueva was extradited to the United States over the weekend. According to the Mexican Attorney General, Villanueva quote, “gave orders to allow shipments of cocaine to be unloaded and […]
Throughout our history, Belize has not had a woman run for Prime Minister. But the region is fast catching on to the power wielded by strong women. Both Panama and Nicaragua have had women at the helm of government. In Trinidad, the United National Congress hopes to make Kamla Persad-Bissessar their first female Prime Minister. […]
There was a flurry of activity last month, when the Italian Minister of Economic Development, Claudio Scajola, visited Belize accompanied by Belize’s Ambassador to Italy Nuncio D’angeri. Scajola was wined and dined and was cajoling with the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and his counterpart Erwin Contreras. The official side of the visit was brief but […]
Presidential elections in Guatemala will be held in November 2011 but the news today is that Sandra Torres, the powerful wife of sitting President Alvaro Colon has for the first time publicly acknowledged her bid for the presidency. It is all interesting because Torres has Belizean roots through her mother, Teresa Casanova de Torres, a […]
The Belize Red Cross led the charge in fundraising for relief efforts in Haiti after the massive seven point O earthquake ravaged the island on January twelfth. But apart from the financial assistance Belizean Red Cross volunteers also ventured into the devastation to render assistance to the affected persons. One of those volunteers, Larry Smith […]
In mid January after a seven point O earthquake devastated Haiti, leaving hundreds of thousands dead, a student came to our studios trying to contact a Haitian family that took up residence in Belize but had returned to the island to visit. Two weeks ago, that family returned to Belize and Marie Michelle Jeoboam paid […]
A major change was announced today at BCB Holdings. This afternoon, via press release, word came that Wendell Mottley has moved up as non-executive chairman of the group. He succeeds Lord Michael Ashcroft, the owner of the Belize Bank among other businesses, who retains membership on the Board of Directors. Mottley, a distinguished economist from […]
It’s been one month and ten days since the seven point O earthquake ravaged Haiti, killing over two hundred thousand persons and leaving millions homeless. The global response has been quick and we found out that Belizeans are still doing their share to help our regional neighbours to rebuild their lives. Marion Ali caught up […]
The global relief efforts for Haiti have not waned and Belize’s input to that country’s rebuilding is impressive. So far our local Red Cross Society has contributed three hundred and fifty thousand Belize dollars to Haiti in funds collected up to the end of January. But funds continue to pour into the Red Cross and […]
There is a major development in Guatemala today involving its former President, Alfonso Portillo, who was on the run since last Friday, when an extradition request made by the US government was granted by the Guatemalan court. Portillo was caught at Punta de Palma beach resort as he attempted to leave Guatemala by boat on […]
The countdown is on and in less than twenty-four hours, the grandest cultural show will kick off. Channel Five’s live concert is a tribute to the late musical icon Andy Palacio and a fundraiser to support relief efforts for the island of Haiti. More and more businesses are committing to support the initiative and you […]
Despite the tough economic times, Belizeans are stepping up to assist the quake victims. Over two hundred thousand have died and the efforts have now shifted from recovery to assisting the injured and homeless. Local artists and entertainers have been doing their part to raise funds for the cause. But how much has really been […]
The People’s United Party has also joined the efforts to bring hope to Haiti. While at the offices of the Belize Red Cross, we caught up with Leader of the PUP, John Briceño, as he handed over a donation from his party. John Briceño, Leader, People’s United Party “We have managed to make a donation […]
Exactly eight days after an earthquake shattered port Au Prince, the capital of Haiti, an aftershock hit the ravaged city around six this morning. The five point nine aftershock sent Haitians scurrying for cover. The death toll continues to rise and relief efforts are being impeded by what reports say is the lack of coordination. […]
While the opposition raised the ante calling for the resignation of Foreign Minister, on Monday, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington wearing his hat as Attorney General gave a commitment on the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ has been an idea toyed with in judicial and even parliamentary circles for years and not every country in the […]
Earlier today, the Prime Minister of Haiti, Rene Preval, said that at least seventy thousand bodies have been recovered from the rubble, but as many as two hundred thousand are feared dead. The earthquake that hit the island one week ago has left wanton death and destruction, and the compelling images from Haiti tell the […]
