The recent decriminalization of a small quantity of marijuana for personal use is not unique to Belize. In fact, it follows a similar model that has been implemented in Jamaica where a greater amount of two ounces, the equivalent of fifty-six point six grams of cannabis, has been permitted for individual consumption. According to Kamina […]
Along with decriminalization is a broader conversation of legalizing the marijuana industry as a viable contributor to a country‘s Gross Domestic Product. That prototype would be similar to a model that has been implemented in Denver, Colorado where significant economic growth has been recorded, following legalization of the drug. Kamina Johnson-Smith, Foreign Minister, Jamaica […]
Tonight, my colleague Marleni Cuellar is in San Francisco, U.S.A. where she is attending the tenth World Conference of Science Journalists. Marleni is teaming up with Channel Seven’s Courtney Weatherburne and fellow team members Tameka Lundy and Deanya Knowles of the Bahamas. The team is participating in the international forum on science journalism as a […]
The spike in violent crimes across Belize City, as well as allegations of state-sanctioned killings as a possible solution to the rampant homicides that have gripped the Old Capital, has raised serious concerns among the citizenry. This is in light of allegations of an extrajudicial assignment to be undertaken by a special unit of the […]
Belize today played host to the fourth gathering of the heads of government of the Caribbean and Mexico. Mexico is one of the most populous nations surpassing by far the combined population of the Caribbean islands, but there is plenty that the two sub-regions share. Most recently, natural disasters impacted the two so that the […]
The CARICOM/Mexico Summit concluded just after five o’clock this evening at the Best Western Hotel and it was immediately followed by a press conference led by Doctor Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, who is the current chair of CARICOM. Doctor Mitchell summarized the top-level diplomatic conference by stating that Mexico has pledged to strengthen […]
Among the other areas of focus is an aim to bolster trade and investment between CARICOM and Mexico, through investment promotion agencies. Likewise, the announcement of a high-level private/public sector meeting among CARICOM member states was made. That gathering will be held in Grenada in December and will feature billionaire investor Richard Branson of Virgin […]
President Enrique Peña Nieto aside from reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to assisting the hurricane-affected island nations of the Caribbean also spoke about the need for improving bilateral cooperation in other areas of common interest. Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico [Translated] “Mexico has participated since 1974 as an observer to CARICOM; this organization that unites […]
In mid-September of this year, the island country of Barbuda was deemed uninhabitable after category-five hurricane Irma flattened the island. Thousands were displaced and transferred to the twin island of Antigua. One week later, another category-five hurricane, Maria, swept through the Caribbean, devastating Dominica in its path; they too sought refuge on Antiguan soil. Today, […]
But even as Barbuda is in the early stages of rebuilding, the next hurricane season starts in seven months. According to Minister Greene, the greatest challenge facing the island is that even as the recovery process takes place, there is no access to concessionary funding because they are told that the gross domestic product in […]
The loss of correspondent banking, also known as derisking, was a sticking point for Antiguan Minister of Trade, E.P. Chet Greene. His government has taken the lead for the Caribbean in exposing the effects of delinking countries from the international money chain. CARICOM member states, including Belize, have been adversely affected after U.S. financial institutions […]
Even before the arrival of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, the official delegations including heads of states from CARICOM and the respective foreign ministers, met at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza in two sessions this morning, ahead of the CARICOM-Mexico Summit. But in the case of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne was […]
On Monday, we reported that the Guatemalan government has decided that the referendum on taking the territorial claim to Belize will be held on March eighteenth 2018. That country is expected to spend some forty million U.S. dollars to carry out the poll to decide the question: “Do you agree that any legal claim by […]
At around six o’clock this evening, a number of CARICOM Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and delegations landed at the Phillip Goldson International Airport in a private flight made possible by the Mexican government. They were greeted by B.D.F. soldiers bearing the flags of the different nations in a small ceremony at the airport, from […]
The world celebrates United Nations Day annually on October twenty-fourth to honor the organization’s promotion of human rights, social progress, and world peace. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says, “The United Nations works for the entire human family of seven billion people, and cares for the earth, our one and only home.” Locally, the UN […]
It was made official today: the Guatemalan Congress has approved Sunday, March eighteenth, 2018, as the official date when their referendum on the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute will be held. President Jimmy Morales, whose administration has taken a tougher stance on the Belize question, and the judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal made the announcement earlier […]
Guatemalan vessel ‘AMADOR’ ran aground Belize’s Reef on Saturday night. There were ten occupants on board including Carlos Pena – a well-known Guatemalan artist – who put out an SOS message on Facebook asking for coastguard or police to rescue them. The sixty-foot pleasure yacht captained by Gustavo Aleojos Andres Jansa was in the southern […]
The B.T.B. brought together over a hundred tourism stakeholders in Belize City for its annual tourism conference. The theme this year focused on Sustainable Tourism and to bring across the message, the B.T.B. lined up internationally acclaimed presenters and local speakers. B.T.B.’s Marketing Manager tells us why it’s important for the B.T.B. to shine the […]
The long-awaited consolidated appeals and cross-appeals between the government, Dunkeld International Investments Limited and Dean Boyce and the B.T.L. Employees’ Trust were heard this morning in the Caribbean Court of Justice in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The case concerns the government’s efforts to make Dunkeld and the Trust prove that its calculations of liabilities in […]
Answering for Dunkeld and the Employees’ Trust was Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay. He contended that the Government was seeking to delay its obligations under the agreement and ultimately not to pay what was owed, choosing instead to find ways around it. Here was his explanation to the court. Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Dunkeld/B.T.L. Trust […]
While litigation involving the Ashcroft group is before the Caribbean Court of Justice, Prime Minister Barrow has weighed in on the matter of arbitral awards that were supported by the U.S. Supreme Court. According to the P.M., the Ashcroft group cannot execute on the award in the United States since Belize has no assets abroad. […]
A telethon organized by the Council of Churches and the Belize City Council to raise funds in aid of the thousands of hurricane victims in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda is scheduled for Saturday at the Bliss. While a target has not been set, Belizeans are being encouraged to give generously in order to assist […]
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will be in Belize for the first time next week. Traditionally, Mexican presidents visit before their inauguration as part of a tour of bordering countries and their state visits to Belize are almost guaranteed. The last Mexican president to visit was Felipe Calderon; that was back in 2007. Now, Peña […]
The Caribbean Court of Justice opened its first term for the 2017-2018 judicial year with the appeal of Belize Bank Limited versus the Attorney General. The case concerns the long-standing battle for monies owed to the bank on behalf of the former Universal Health Services, now Belize Healthcare Partners Limited. The argument arises out of […]
The Belize Tourism Board says that tourist arrivals are up for the first nine months of 2017. The latest stats show that even the slow season registered increases. According to the B.T.B., there’s a seven point nine percent increase in overnight arrivals for September. The arrivals at the Phillip Goldson International Airport only grew incrementally […]
