The United Nations Commission of Human Rights held a short ceremony on Monday for twenty-three asylum seekers who completed the English as a Second Language course. The UNHCR offers asylum seekers the opportunity to take E.S.L. classes in an effort to help them integrate into their new communities. Here’s more in the following story. […]
The female volleyball national team has been competing in the under-twenty-three Central American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua. They have since won three games and lost one. On Wednesday, the girls faced off against the Panamanian team and won all three sets. It was the second win for the team since the tournament began earlier this […]
It has been taking place since 1993 and has become one of the leading culinary competitions in the Caribbean region. In the past two consecutive years, Belize has been fielding a team to compete in the highly anticipated Taste of the Caribbean. The best of the best in culinary skills and mixology in the region […]
The U.S. Embassy held its annual Pride Month commemorative event today in Belmopan. It joins the rest of the world this month to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex persons and reaffirms its commitment to protect and defend the human rights of all, including L.G.B.T.I. persons. A brief ceremony was held in Belmopan where […]
In our past coverage of the L.G.B.T.I. event at the U.S. Embassy, you may have seen the symbolic raising of the rainbow flag; but that didn’t happen this year. Visiting Deputy Director of Central American Affairs, Thomas Lersten, delivered the remarks at today’s event in the absence of Charge d’ Affaires Keith Gilges. Lersten said […]
The shocking murders of a visiting U.S. doctor while on a fishing trip with a San Pedro tour guide is grabbing attention in the international press. The Doctor Gary Swank is highly respected and his community and family are reeling from his senseless murder. Already, the U.S. Embassy has issued an advisory on travel to […]
Outbreaks of communicable diseases, environmental challenges, poor health and wellness in the tourism workforce can result in closures of hotels and cruise ports which can lead to significant losses in revenue. These are some of the driving forces behind the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation partnering to address issues affecting health and […]
On Saturday, the Taiwanese Embassy in Belize celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of established diplomatic ties between Belize and Taiwan. Both countries have cooperation in areas such as education, agriculture, climate change resilience, infrastructural development, as well as culture. News Five’s Duane Moody attended the all day fair that took place on Taiwan Street along the […]
A Belizean man was shot multiple times and killed on Wednesday in Barberton, Ohio, U.S.A. He has been identified as forty-one-year-old Shannon Callahan. According to online reports, Barberton Police responded to a 911 call which led them to Callahan’s driveway. There they found him bleeding profusely. He was treated on scene by emergency medical personnel […]
Lieutenant Alma Pinelo received the honor graduate award after she successfully completed the International Maritime Officer Course at the U.S Coast Guard Training Center in Virginia, U.S.A. Lieutenant Pinelo is the first Belizean and the first female to receive this prestigious award, as a result her name and country will be enshrined into the Honor […]
Earlier this month, the Belize Coast Guard Special Operations Group deployed to Santiago, Chile to participate in the fifteenth Annual Fuerzas Commando Competition. The seven-man team is competing against nineteen other Special Operation Forces from across the Western Hemisphere in the most distinguished competition of its kind. Fuerzas Commando consists of a series of individual […]
Belize is making progress in its fight against trafficking in persons and the U.S. Department of State has taken notice. In the 2019 U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report, Belize has been upgraded to tier two. According to the report, Belize has demonstrated notable improvements in victim services and strengthening the anti-trafficking police […]
Belize is preparing for the introduction of a new driver’s license system. With financial and technical assistance from the Taiwanese government, a new driver’s license will be created and it is the intention of the Ministry of Transport that the card will be recognized as an official Belizean document anywhere in the world. News Five’s […]
A Letter of Intent on a framework for tourism cooperation between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) was signed this evening. The ceremony coincides with the visit of Doctor Chia-Lung Lin, Taiwan’s Minister of Transport and Communications. Speaking at the signing was Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans. Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism “We […]
Sandra Torres, Guatemala’s former first lady, is leading in the Guatemalan elections, following the release of partial results today. Torres, who has ties to Belize, successfully won the first round of the presidential elections. According to online reports, Torres garnered more than twenty-five percent of the vote while her opponent conservative Alejandro Giammattei garnered fourteen […]
The Embassy of the Republic of China – Taiwan has teamed up with the Inspiration Center to sponsor a number of projects this year. These projects will provide community-based rehabilitation, public education and awareness, as well as capacity building opportunities for staff. For the first time in Belize, these children have access to speech & […]
Soca Dan Dada TR Shine has made it to the semi-final round of Yello International Bashment Soca Monarch Competition with his most recent track “Dip and Split.” The Belizean artist teamed up with regional award-winning music producer Kendoyll Simpson for the 2019 competition among the giants in the industry and made the cut. Of the […]
The United Nations Human Rights Commission has opened a resource center for refugees coming into the country. It is based in Benque Viejo and is expected to provide information services, as well shelter, for those who need it. Andrea Polanco tells us more in the following story. Andrea Polanco, Reporting On Thursday, the United […]
On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice issued a release in which it essentially acknowledges receipt of Belize’s application to have its territorial dispute with Guatemala resolved in that jurisdiction. A timeline has been established during which both countries must submit their arguments, but the formal step to get the ball rolling after the I.C.J. […]
The International Court of Justice has issued a release informing that it remains in consideration of a matter involving a dispute between Guatemala and Belize via a special agreement which dates back to December 2008. The statement from the I.C.J. comes five days after Belize formally submitted a notification to the World Court which was […]
Belize’s notification to the International Court of Justice puts in motion procedures agreed in the 2008 Special Agreement. Within one year, Guatemala will submit its claim after which Belize will respond a year after Guatemala has filed its claim. It is expected that the entire process will span over several years until a verdict is […]
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte headed to Guyana today where he is scheduled to participate in a top-level diplomatic conference between CARICOM foreign ministers and Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla. The Sixth Annual CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting is being held in Georgetown on June fourteenth. Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney General “Well it’s a CARICOM/Cuba […]
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime opened a two-day workshop today to discuss how to improve the regulation of controlled drugs by strengthening legislation, institute regulations and implement quality assurance systems to promote the rational use of these medicines. The aim is to ensure that controlled drugs are being used according to their […]
It has been a month since the historic May eighth I.C.J. referendum and steps have been taken following the ‘yes’ vote to formalize Belize’s position in taking the territorial dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice for resolution. In the days after the national exercise, the House of Representatives met to table a […]
In other news involving Belize and Guatemala, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Commercial Cooperation, Jairo Estrada, called on Minister of Trade and Investment Tracy Taegar-Panton on Thursday in Belmopan. Joined by Deputy Chief of Mission for Belize and Guatemala, David Vargas, both ministers discussed improving the trade relationship between the neighboring countries […]
