Everyday many children all over the country spend an entire day at school on an empty stomach. But thanks to a donation from the Sunrise Rotary Club of Belize that reality has changed for twenty students of St. John Vianney primary school. During a brief handing over ceremony this morning, Rotary donated over five thousand […]
You don’t need to watch the news every night to know that the exploitation of children for sexual purposes is a major problem confronting our society. And while exposing the predators in the media is one way of combating this crime, the battle is being waged on many fronts, as News Five’s Marion Ali reports. […]
We regularly spotlight the work of charity organizations that are helping to better the lives of Belizeans in ways both large and small. Tonight News Five’s Janelle Chanona profiles the work of one such group—Hand in Hand Ministries—that seeks little publicity but produces a major impact. Janelle Chanona, Reporting In its five years of operation […]
On last night’s newscast we reported on a donation of computers by petroleum contractors in Toledo and the imminent commencement of seismic testing by U.S. Capital Energy in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. Not surprisingly, that news did not sit well with the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, a group which has been in […]
In response to the crime and violence dominating the old capital, a group of concerned citizens have banded together in an attempt to change the status quo. Describing themselves as a non-political entity, the Collet Youth Development Cooperative was formed four months ago and is designed to uplift the lives of young people in its […]
Today the Pan American Health Organization in collaboration with the Ministry of health and the Women’s Department opened a two day workshop to introduce care providers to a new method for addressing the problem of domestic violence. It is hoped that the participants will adapt the tools from “In Her Shoes: Living with Domestic Violence” […]
On last night’s newscast we reported on the presentation of Merlene Bailey Martinez’s Commission of Inquiry report to the Prime Minister. Yet almost before she reached Belmopan, former D.F.C. Chairman Glen Godfrey had succeeded in obtaining a temporary ex parte injunction against the publication of the report. Godfrey’s attorney, Elson Kaseke, successfully argued that the […]
It took her longer than expected, but late this afternoon Merlene Bailey Martinez, co-chair of the Commission of Inquiry into the Development Finance Corporation, delivered her report to the Prime Minister. It has not yet been announced how the report will be made available to the public. On July twelfth co-chair Herbert Lord elected to […]
Only four years since its formation, the organisation known as Crimestoppers has become a regular part of the law enforcement and media scenes. But as crime and violence continue to dominate the headlines it is worth asking just how effective its efforts have been. News Five’s Marion Ali reports on the group’s latest initiative to […]
Fifteen weeks after her co-chair submitted his report, tonight we understand that Merlene Bailey Martinez will hand deliver her set of findings from the Commission of Inquiry into the Development Finance Corporation to Prime Minister Said Musa tomorrow morning. According to Martinez, “a great weight lifted” when she finally completed her report. And while we […]
Belize’s anti-trafficking in persons efforts received a major financial boost this week courtesy of the United States Government. On Thursday, Minister of Human Development Sylvia Flores accepted a cheque valued at eighty thousand dollars from U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Robert Dieter. According to Dieter, the money is the first half of a total donation of […]
Another event scheduled for this weekend is also family oriented. According to the Belize Family Life Association, the Living in Love campaign will be officially launched on Saturday afternoon at The Wilton Cumberbatch Field. The initiative is designed to provide youths with information on issues affecting their lives and promote positive activities. This afternoon, organizers […]
Crime and violence in Belize is often linked to the drug trade. Earlier this week I visited one Belize City school that’s taking on both issues at once. Kamaal Nunez, Guidance Counsellor, Excelsior Junior High “But to say that there is nobody in Excelsior using drugs, I won’t put my head on the block for […]
With elections less than six months away, Belize has a new Chief Elections Officer. She is Ruth Meighan, a career public servant with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Public Administration. This morning Meighan was officially sworn in as Acting Chief Elections Officer by Danny Madrid, National President of the Association […]
While most of us are celebrating the fact that the hurricane season is winding down, Belizeans who bore the brunt of Hurricane Dean in August are still trying to rebuild their lives. The Belize Red Cross has been a key partner in that process and as News Five’s Marion Ali reports, today the Society got […]
It’s an institution that does its work quietly without fanfare … and if statistics are any indication, discharges a heavy workload with more efficiency than most official bodies. I’m talking about the office of the Ombudsman, which recently released its annual report. Paul Rodriguez, Ombudsman “Well I want to tell those people and the whole […]
Domestic abuse has become a major social problem in Belize. With this in mind Haven House—a shelter for battered women—with support from the Women’s Department and the Belize Michigan Partners, has organised a seminar on domestic violence and sexual assault. The event will be facilitated by two trainers from the LACASA organisation in Michigan, which […]
With around forty-five percent of its population under age eighteen, Belize has always been thought of as a young nation. And while that may be true it does not mean that older Belizeans are without a voice. As life expectancy increases and baby boomers begin to enter retirement, Belizean seniors are becoming more vocal. Jacqueline […]
From products that help the environment we turn to a new service that aims to improve the quality of life for an often ignored group of Belizeans. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting It may just look like any ordinary taxi van but the service it provides is the first of its kind for Belize. Handi-Cab, a taxi […]
Finding a job: It’s a concern that is always with us, whether economic times are good or bad. Ask an unemployed Belizean and he or she will tell you that there aren’t any around. At the same time a business owner will say that it’s a challenge finding qualified workers. Today News Five’s Janelle Chanona […]
As has become tradition during the September celebrations, during ceremonies at the Radisson on Tuesday night, nine men and women were honoured in the annual Tribute to Belizean Patriots. Roman Catholic Bishop Osmond Peter Martin received the highest award of the night, the Order of Belize. The Dangriga born Martin was ordained as a priest […]
It might be uncomfortable to think about but the latest global statistics reveal that Belize has one of the highest mortality rates in the Caribbean for children under the age of five years old. According to UNICEF, worldwide child mortality is at a record low but challenges in our region continue to pose serious problem […]
Our story last night about a homeless man badly in need of medical care has raised several questions regarding government’s response to such cases. According to Director of Human Services Ava Pennil, dealing with adults poses unique challenges because they have the right to live as they please. Compounding that reality is the challenge of […]
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dean, several businesses and organizations launched various fundraising efforts to assist victims. Today the proceeds of one such campaign was officially handed over to the Belize Red Cross. According to telecommunications company Smart, in just over two weeks, some nine hundred and four clients donated five dollars towards their […]
We’ll have more from the House of Representatives later in the newscast but first word out of Belmopan tonight is that the Social Security Board has a new boss. A press release issued by the fund today indicates that Dr. Louis Zabaneh is the new Chief Executive Officer of the S.S.B. with effect from Monday […]
