With over thirty years of government service, the last eighteen as head of the Geology and Petroleum Department, Evadney Wade has built a reputation as a hard working and straight shooting public officer. Alas, on January twenty-sixth, she turns fifty-five and on that day she will retire from her post. A release from the Press […]
As controversy swirls around Government’s plans to liquidate the Development Finance Corporation there will come the inevitable finger pointing and calls for investigation. How could one of the nation’s premier financial institutions go from powerful engine of economic growth to bankrupt mendicant, bringing down not only itself but crippling the Social Security Board and Government […]
The application by the Belize Tourism Industry Association for judicial review of the Carnival contract will proceed, despite the recent signing of a “clarification agreement”. That’s the word from the B.T.I.A.’s executive committee following a meeting this morning with their attorney. News 5 understands that the Association believes that even with the additional amendments portions […]
It has been a major source of friction within the tourism industry, not to mention the Cabinet. But tonight the controversy over the Carnival Cruise Port contract may be over. Speaking to News 5 late this evening from Belmopan, Minister of Tourism Mark Espat reports that a “clarification agreement” was signed this afternoon with Carnival […]
The Senate select committee conducting an inquiry into the Social Security Board continues its work. According to a press release, the committee met twice this week to advance its review of SSB investments, loans and guarantees. In particular, it had requested an urgent response from the Board to questions regarding guarantees given for securitized loans […]
They say that it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease…and today it looks like last week’s cacophony produced by area rep Boots Martinez in Port Loyola did not go unnoticed by some politicians with the power to provide help. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Most of the flood waters have […]
Viewers of this newscast are no strangers to the Youth Cadet Corps…but the programme, which seeks to put troubled youths on a path to good citizenship, is undergoing some changes. This morning News 5’s Patrick Jones was on hand as forty-one young men completed the first phase of their training. Patrick Jones, Reporting They may […]
While the prime minister was sounding the alarm of tighter fiscal policy, the Central Bank was at the same time slamming on the monetary breaks. To the average Belizean, news of a one percent increase in the reserve requirement is not exactly headline material, but ask anyone with an overdraft at one of the nation’s […]
They say that bad news comes in threes and the last leg of today’s trifecta involves the Development Finance Corporation. A terse paragraph forming part of the regular cabinet press release read as follows: “On the recommendation of the Cabinet Finance Committee, Cabinet has agreed to liquidate the Development Finance Corporation”. Now this may be […]
This evening, Youth For the Future officially opened a drop in centre where young persons can be counselled for HIV and AIDS. The service, situated in the lower flat of the Y.F.F. offices at the Bel-China Bridge, is housed along with the Violence Reduction Unit. According to the chairperson of the National Aids Commission, Ambassador […]
While the controversy over the proposed Carnival Cruise Port dominates the public discourse, a look at Belize City Harbour today confirmed that–whether you like it or not–the cruise industry remains big business. No less than four ships anchored today, two from the Norwegian Line and two from Royal Caribbean carrying a total of close to […]
And while things were going fine at the Tourism Village, activities involving a different port of entry were still in a state of flux. News 5’s Patrick Jones has the story. Patrick Jones, Reporting The stevedores today shifted their picket to the corner of Queen Street and Gabourel Lane, to bring their dispute with the […]
They come from as far as the Bahamas in the north, Panama in the South and Guyana in the east…all converging on Belize. Patrick Jones reports. Patrick Jones, Reporting Over the next four days, delegates of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas will enjoy fellowship and discuss the affairs of the organisation. […]
Love animals? Love baseball? On Thursday night, the two will collide as an honest to goodness signed Willie Mays baseball, complete with a certificate of authencity will go to the highest bidder and guess what, the money will go to the dogs. The baseball is just one item to be auctioned as part of fundraising […]
If you have any doubts about the need for an animal shelter in Belize this next story should erase them. It was done by News 5’s Brent Toombs in the year two thousand. One word of caution: if you love your potlicker, you may find some of the upcoming images extremely disturbing. Brent Toombs, Reporting […]
The less said about this next story, the better. Suffice to say that just when you thought it was safe to enter the community centre at Maskall…yeah, you guessed it: it ain’t over yet. News 5’s Patrick Jones has the latest. Patrick Jones, Reporting To quote an old saying, the more things change in Maskall, […]
Waterfront employees were back on the picket lines this afternoon at the port compound on Caesar Ridge Road, even as the union representing them was pouring over proposals for the settlement of the dispute submitted by Port of Belize Limited. According to president of the Christian Workers Union, Antonio Gonzalez, the November third draft Memorandum […]
There is news today on the telecommunications front…although we’re not totally sure what it means. The public had been led to believe that Intelco, the failed venture headed by Glenn Godfrey and breastfed by Government, had been sold to BTL’s Jeffrey Prosser. Apparently, somebody jumped the gun as News 5 has confirmed the reports in […]
It is with great regret that I must inform viewers that for the second straight morning I travelled to the village of Maskall…not to report on a murder, robbery or natural disaster…but just more immaturity and petty politics by grownups who should know better. Granville Garnett, Village Councillor ?Sir me dah the councillor and I […]
Like burglary, the flooding of certain Belize City neighbourhoods following heavy rains is hardly the stuff of headlines. But try telling that to residents whose homes have become Islands. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting One thing residents of Jane Usher Boulevard Extension certainly do not need more of is rain. The wet weather has turned streets into […]
In the popular mythology, life in a Belizean village is supposed to be a heavenly experience in which the neighbours are always friendly, exotic fruits and succulent game meats grace every table and the toughest decision you have to make is whether to watch the sunset in the company of beer, rum or scotch. Of […]
The deeper we delve into the labour dispute at the Belize City Port the more it looks like a fight that never had to happen…at least not yet. Today the Union called a meeting to inform stevedores of their legal position and while the legal scholar in question happened to be the Leader of the […]
The first phase of a new initiative designed to make legal information more accessible to the public was launched today in Belmopan. At brief ceremonies on the grounds of the Help for Progress building, the first of three legal information centres was opened. It=s part of a joint project of the Government of Belize, through […]
Employees of the Belize Waterfront Association represented by the Christian Workers Union were back on the picket lines again today. And while the number of placard bearing disgruntled employees continues to grow, the dispute between the Port of Belize Limited and C.W.U. remains unresolved. But there might be some light at the end of the […]
Throughout their campaign of critical concern aimed at the cruise ship industry, the Belize Tourism Industry Association has maintained that they do in fact support this booming segment of Belize’s tourism product. And now, they’re putting money where their mouths are…by launching their own cruise ship initiative. Working with the Multi-lateral Investment Fund, a subsidiary […]
