The families at San Cas Plaza were not the only fire victims in need of help. Today twenty-two year old Gregory Harris visited our studios to appeal for the public’s assistance after the house the family was renting on Louise Bevans Street in Port Loyola was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night. The blaze, believed […]
The report of Justice Herbert Lord, one of the two co-chairs of the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Development Finance Corporation, has been received by the Prime Minister and released to the public. A quick but full reading indicates that Lord’s report is a not unfamiliar rendition of what transpired over many months of public […]
There are several sidebars to this story, both concerning the official status of the report. We are reliably informed that this afternoon former D.F.C. Chairman Glenn Godfrey sought an interim injunction to prevent the Lord report from being made public and, because it was issued by Lord alone, to have it declared not to be […]
Tonight co-chair of the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Development Finance Corporation, Merlene Bailey-Martinez, finds herself in unchartered waters. Following the submission of an independent report by co-chair Herbert Lord to Prime Minister Said Musa, Bailey-Martinez has been trying to figure out her next move. Via telephone this afternoon, she was still hopeful that the […]
The controversy appeared to have been settled back in May when citizens of the West Landivar neighbourhood convinced the Belize City Council that a marina proposed by businessman David Gegg ought not to go forward. Apparently the developer is not giving up so easily. Over the weekend workers began to chop mangrove on the site […]
It’s been out of the headlines for months, but tonight the Commission of Inquiry investigating the financial affairs of the Development Finance Corporation is back in the spotlight as the Musa administration is demanding a final report. Two weeks ago, Cabinet Secretary Robert Leslie wrote to the Commission’s secretariat informing co-chairs Merlene Bailey Martinez and […]
Prison is not a nice place … but it’s a whole lot nicer than it used to be. Today I visited the facility at Hattieville and found that in addition to improving rehabilitation efforts behind the walls, officials are looking at life on the outside. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting The Kolbe Foundation estimates that of the […]
Reforming prisoners is one thing, but preventing young people from becoming criminals in the first place is a whole lot more effective. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports on one initiative by the Police Department that seems to be paying dividends. Kendra Griffith, Reporting “Do the Right Thing”: it’s what the Police Department has been telling […]
It was first introduced in 1999 and brought back five years later for a repeat performance. Beginning next weekend the night time curfew for Belize City children will make its third run. Here’s what parents can expect. Denbigh Yorke, Executive Director, NOPCAN “The curfew is not to penalise children; it’s not to penalise families. As […]
It has been tried before with varying success and beginning the night of Friday July thirteenth, Belize City will once again impose a curfew for children. According to a release from the Press Office, the effort is being carried out by the Ministry of Human Development, with the help of the Police Department, NOPCAN, and […]
It has been in the planning stages for some time, but tonight the Belize Independent Media Association will hold its official launch. BIMA’s ten founding members include owners and editors of various media houses who represent radio, television, and print. According to pro-tem president Ann Marie Williams, the overall goal is to promote freedom of […]
We all may be aware that it’s hurricane season, but that knowledge doesn’t do much good if we don’t take action. One group that knows the value of hurricane preparedness more than most is the tourism industry. Today they gathered to hear some familiar–and critical–advice: plan ahead. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting It’s been six years since […]
The Public Utilities Commission has delivered its final decision on electricity rates. The result is that beginning July first, lower volume consumers will see their bills drop while larger users, including commercial and industrial customers, will pay more. A key feature of the new set of tariffs is that the ten dollar monthly service charge […]
As Janelle noted in her story, the government’s attorney, Nicola Cho, declined to speak to the press. Belmopan’s position, however, has been explained numerous times, most recently by Prime Minister Said Musa in an interview with News Five in April. What’s interesting is that the P.M. seems to have little philosophical quarrel with the Toledo […]
“There is no political will by the Government to address land tenure and security of the Mayan communities.” That was the testimony of Greg Ch’oc this afternoon as the lawsuit filed by the villagers of Conejo and Santa Cruz against the Government of Belize began today in the Supreme Court. Ch’oc was the last witness […]
Every year millions of dollars are spent in an effort to promote behaviour changes and curb the spread of HIV. Today, the financial donors of one such programme in our region took the time to find out if their money went to good use. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports. Kendra Griffith, Reporting With funding from […]
Whether you call them fathers, daddies or, papas on Sunday sons and daughters will pay tribute with cards, gifts, and good behaviour. But for some men, this Sunday will pass like any other day because their homes are the streets of Belize City. With that reality in mind, this afternoon the Belize City Council handed […]
And while Belizean fathers are getting all the attention this weekend, as News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, today belonged to women. Kendra Griffith, Reporting For the past six weeks, forty-one women from sixteen villages in the Belize district have been coming to the Y.W.C.A. every Saturday for classes in life skills. Five learnt the intricacies […]
In related news from the telecommunications industry, News Five has confirmed that the tribunal panel commissioned to investigate the firing of three B.T.L. employees is scheduled to begin its hearings as early as next Monday. We are told that after much legal wrangling, all injunctions against the sessions have been lifted, freeing the members to […]
By historical standards, unemployment in Belize is near an all time low. But statistics won’t feed your family when you are among the thousands of Belizeans still without a job. Today I attended a session designed to help improve the odds of landing meaningful employment. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting They may not have any work as […]
You may have heard about or attended last month’s Black and White Gala and other charity events. But beyond the coats, ties, and fancy dresses those big ticket fundraisers actually do generate cash for worthy causes. Today we followed the money. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting As with most estimates regarding the prevalence of HIV in Belize, […]
They say that in the next century water will be more precious than oil. And while that’s good news for Belize with our abundant rivers, not all Belizeans have ready access to the precious liquid. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has more. Kendra Griffith, Reporting San Pedro, Ambergris is home to over eight thousand residents and […]
For many people, political equality in the Caribbean happened in the 1950’s when women were empowered with the same voting rights as men. But as News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports, Belizean women and their regional sisters are still struggling for recognition of their contributions to society. Janelle Chanona, Reporting This morning one hundred and twenty […]
If you are a big television fan, you might remember a show in the late 1990s called “Pacific Blue” which was about the adventures of cops patrolling Santa Monica beach on bicycles. Well life is imitating art as the Belize Police Department is changing its wardrobe and public image in San Pedro. News Five’s Kendra […]
For the last six years, Belize has been spared the wrath of a hurricane, but at the start of this year’s season, weather experts are predicting an active five months that could very well end that trend. News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin reports. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting The 2007 hurricane season is predicted to be very active […]
