In June 2003, shortly after Belize was placed on a black list of countries not complying with minimum standards to prevent illegal migration and trafficking in humans, the government established a task force to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the situation and suggest ways forward. With the help of a consultant from the International Organisation […]
It has been a dream of BEL engineers for years, but as of this week Belize Electricity Limited can finally boast of a truly national electricity grid that stretches from North to South, East to West. The final leg, a sixty-nine kilovolt line connecting Big Falls in Toledo to Independence in the Stann Creek District, […]
It is estimated that over forty-two million people around the world are infected with HIV and AIDS and a whopping twenty six million of those living with the disease are workers between the ages of fifteen and forty nine years old. To respond to this global problem, the International Labour Organisation and the United States […]
It was a roller coaster of a day for those involved in the lucrative task of handling cargo at the Belize City Port…and News 5’s Patrick Jones chronicled the ups and downs that preceded a last minute settlement of the dispute. Oswin Blease, Operations Manager, Port of Belize Limited ?I am the one who ceased […]
The week set aside to focus on the AIDS pandemic may be coming to an end, but efforts to combat the disease remain in high gear. Patrick Jones reports from the Belize City Centre. Patrick Jones, Reporting With statistics showing a worrying trend in HIV infections, the Pan American Social Marketing Organization is engaging the […]
The first public hearing on the alleged mismanagement at the Social Security Board will take place on December fifteenth. That’s the word from the Senate Select Committee formed to investigate the SSB. According to the committee’s latest press release, they have completed an on-site inspection of various pieces of land put up as collateral by […]
With demand for electricity increasing between seven and ten percent a year any new sources of power are welcome…and today Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Sugar Industries announced that they have struck a deal. The agreement calls for a company owned by B.S.I., BELCOGEN, to build a cogeneration plant at its Tower Hill factory in […]
By now you’ve seen the Salvation Army Kettles around town–and hopefully gave your share of cash. But money isn’t the only thing being collected this Christmas…as I found out this morning. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting On Wednesday the Rotary Club dropped off Christmas bins at three main locations in Belize City. The idea is to collect […]
Today is World Aids Day and Belize, with one of the most serious rates of infection in the Caribbean and Central America, is not taking the observance lightly. News 5’s Patrick Jones reports on one event in Belize City that hopes to keep the problem in the public eye. Patrick Jones, Reporting The annual AIDS […]
Several organisations that work with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are this week receiving assistance from the Rotary Club of Belize to continue their community awareness programmes. One such group is Alliance Against AIDS which was presented with a copy of the movie “Risking It All,” which AAA’s Executive Director Rodel Beltran Perera says […]
The nightmare for Belize Telecommunications Limited, not to mention the rest of the country, is over–at least for the time being–as full internet and telecommunications services were restored late this afternoon. A short while ago I spoke with the company=s head of networking Ernesto Torres who said that BTL got assistance from a Mexican company […]
Wednesday is World Aids Day and today the National Aids Commission held a youth forum as part of the activities surrounding that observance. High school students listened to their colleagues speak on the issue of HIV and AIDS and also heard from Errol Fairweather, one of many Belizeans living with the disease. According to public […]
Unless you have a direct satellite connection, by now you would have noticed that something is wrong with Belize’s international communications. Is it bad? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Patrick Jones, Reporting Since Friday afternoon this is the message that internet users all over Belize have been getting from their computers as a crucial cable […]
They are yet to announce the new president but two staff changes at the National Institute of Culture and History are worth noting. Andy Palacio, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, is moving out of the Bliss to Belmopan where he will serve as deputy to NICH administrator, Victor Espat. Palacio has also been […]
The Senate Select Committee on Social Security met on Wednesday to complete its series of interviews to fill the post of special auditor. According to a committee press release, the senators also decided to do a physical inspection of the properties used to secure S.S.B. loans and guarantees. Experts in land valuation will join the […]
It is a subject that often occupies a prominent place on this newscast: violence, all too often violence against women. But tonight’s lead story is not about a rape, murder or other type of assault; it is about all of these acts and more, which when added together amount to a characteristic of Belizean society […]
In related news, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women was observed today with ceremonies in Battlefield Park in Belize City. Following the programme, which included speeches and testimonials, a candlelight march was organised through downtown streets.
On Wednesday the Chamber of Commerce and National Trade Union Congress of Belize issued a press release challenging Government to institute a list of ten reforms or face the prospect of citizens refusing to pay new taxes expected to be imposed in the new year. Today N.T.U.C.B. general secretary George Frazer, elaborated. George Frazer, General […]
Not to be outdone, late this evening a joint release from the Chamber of Commerce and National Trade Union Congress weighed in on the subject of widespread tax increases being considered for the new year. In short the two organisations, which are often at odds with each other, agreed that the public should not pay […]
The Dangriga HIV/AIDS society has received a twenty thousand dollar donation. The cheque was presented to the society by Human Development Minister Sylvia Flores on behalf of Sister Denise Sauceville of the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis, Missouri. Sauceville and the St. Louis Mercy nuns will be involved in conducting a number of sessions […]
Over the last few months of turmoil in the telecommunications industry, his silence has been deafening…but today Jeffrey Prosser, chairman of Innovative Communications Corporation, spoke out…or at least issued a press release. Citing comments in the Belizean media–but not contradicting them–the telecom tycoon essentially admitted that he has failed to come up with the fifty-seven […]
With Garifuna Settlement Day now behind us there is nothing standing between two hundred and seventy thousand Belizeans and that oh so special holiday of Christmas. This next story will no doubt be one of many we’ll bring out between now and December twenty-fifth…And it may prove to be the most inspiring. Jacqueline Woods reports […]
Details are still hard to come by tonight but one thing is confirmed: Jeffery Prosser has not paid the fifty seven million US dollars in loans due at the International Bank of Miami. Prosser had until four this afternoon local time to make the transaction but News 5 understands that his source of funds had […]
A public forum for young people, organised by their peers to address issues affecting the next generation of Belizeans was held today in the old capital. It’s part of activities for youth week, being celebrated with the theme: “The future lies in the wisdom of the old and the strength of the youth.” Many of […]
The Senate Special Select Committee investigating the Belize Social Security Board continues to carry out its mandate. According to the committee’s latest release, it met Wednesday to review applications from those persons or firms interested in carrying out the special purpose audit. A decision was taken to continue with the interview of applicants next Tuesday […]
