Today, Belize officially assumed the presidency of the Central American Tourism Council, with Minister Mark Espat accepting his new role during brief ceremonies this afternoon in Belize City. Espat says chairing the subsidiary body of the Central American Integration System, SICA, will give Belize the opportunity to drive our local agenda, but in such a […]
This afternoon, if you happened to pass by the Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly, you could not help but hear sweet sounds coming from inside the building. The residents were celebrating the latest donation made to them by Belize Water Services Limited. For some time the staff and residents have been without a fully […]
And while the Minister of Natural Resources and Zoo Director were all smiles on Saturday, Sharon Matola, who is also the leading opponent of the Chalillo dam, could not have been pleased with developments in the Macal River Valley. BECOL today announced that a thirty-five foot temporary cofferdam has been completed at the site, which […]
First it was radar guns, then breathalysers…now, once again, it’s bicycles. Will this latest crackdown be any different than the nine-day-wonders of the past? Today I visited the Belize City Traffic Department to find out. Kent Gabb, Manager, Traffic Department “We said we need to go back to registration of bicycles where we can identify […]
10-10-199. It is supposed to give B.T.L. customers reduced rates on international telephone calls. Well this week, a large number of Belizean consumers took advantage of rates that reached all the way to zero. Reports to News 5 indicate that for several days people in the know have been using the service to make free […]
It has received a lot of play on the morning radio talk shows and in letters to the newspapers. But today, instead of complaining about the new water meter, I decided to ask Belize Water Services just what’s going on. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting A study of existing water meters has prompted the utility company to […]
The traditional debate over Kriol has been whether or not it is a language, dialect or just bad English. But having declared victory in the linguistic wars, Kriol’s champions have gone one step further. Patrick Jones reports. Patrick Jones, Reporting The pulsating rhythm coming out of one southside neighbourhood this morning was the result of […]
It was an anniversary of dubious distinction…but it still rates a mention: Last week marked a full year since the exposure of a major scandal in the Immigration Department in which it was discovered that Belizean passports were being illegally sold on a large scale to buyers around the world. An ongoing News 5 investigation […]
In Belize the term neighbourhood watch usually refers to thieves who watch your house, waiting for you to leave. But if one man has his way, the concept of a vigilant community will one day turn the tide against crime. Joe Sampson, Natl. Coordinator, Neighbourhood Watch “I personally saw a situation where a crime was […]
It’s a familiar story: people with no place to live pick a piece of unoccupied land, throw up a rough dwelling, defy orders to leave and ignore threats of legal action. Time goes by, the law moves in, and–depending on whether an election is upcoming or just past–the squatters are either accommodated or evicted. Given […]
The latest round in the cruise ship war goes to Tom Greenwood and those boat owners trying to prevent the introduction of larger tenders to the industry. Confirming the unconstitutionality of a recent attempt to oust him, Greenwood was re-elected president of the Belize Cruiseship Industry Association at the B.C.I.A.’s annual general meeting held last […]
With unexpected shutdowns in Yucatan cutting off current from Mexico, and a dusty dry season wreaking havoc with distribution in Belize, it has not been a particularly good year for Belize Electricity Limited. But B.E.L.’s luck may be changing. Construction has started on Chalillo and today some badly needed generating capacity was inaugurated on the […]
We cover this story every year and each time we do, it gets bigger and better. Patrick Jones reports. Patrick Jones, Reporting The group of boys and girls on the playground are not just having fun kicking around footballs. According to coordinator of the Berger 404 Youth Summer Camp, Emerson Guild, they are actually learning […]
Not long ago they were walking the picket line in protest of government’s plan to raise Social Security contributions. Today, the Belize National teacher’s Union is working closely with G.O.B. to increase housing opportunities for teachers. In a meeting with Minister of Housing Cordel Hyde and his top officials, B.N.T.U. officers worked out details of […]
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’ve just hopped aboard that ride we call Sports Monday. Week two of the Belize Premier Football League competition brought the defending champion Sagitun of Independence to the M.C.C. Grounds in a primetime package against Kulture Yabra, the defenders of the metropolis. We open with Sanjay Pitts making a […]
His escape from prison late last month caused a stir in the media, but as the days went by the public’s interest in Roberto Yatxol began to wane. Yet, as I found out this morning, while most Belizeans have turned their attention to other matters, the armed and dangerous convict is causing residents of one […]
In physics we are taught that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. That law of science can also be applied to other fields of endeavour, like tourism… as News 5’s Janelle Chanona discovered this morning. Tom Greenwood, President, B.C.I.A. “My name is Tom Greenwood. I am still the President of the Belize Cruise […]
It’s the height of summer vacation and as the next two stories demonstrate, some students are keeping busy. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting There was paint on just about everything in the room after close to thirty children accepted the challenge to refurbish two classrooms at Excelsior High School. The boys and girls no doubt will have […]
While camps for children in Belize City and district towns are a staple of summer vacation life, kids in rural areas are often left out of such programmes. But not this time, as News 5’s Patrick Jones found out this morning. Patrick Jones, Reporting Fifty-nine children ages five to fifteen from Hattieville Village are wrapping […]
Dressed in black and white, they are probably the most visible symbols of law enforcement in Belize City…and while they don’t carry guns, the sight of a traffic officer getting ready to write a ticket has been known to induce fear–not to mention anger–in even the toughest driver. This morning News 5’s Jacqueline Woods saw […]
Watching the television news, listening to the radio and reading the newspapers, we often get the feeling that the negative forces facing our society are formidable, if not invincible. But fortunately, not everyone is ready to give up. Today I travelled to the village of Lord’s Bank where an enthusiastic group of teenaged girls were […]
Every year the United Nations Development Programme issues its Human Development Report, an attempt to quantify the development of the world’s nations by measuring life expectancy, education, and standard of living. Belize has traditionally ranked near the top of a middle range of countries and this year is no exception. Out of one hundred and […]
B.T.L., our sole functioning phone company, is no stranger to the news…usually due to controversy over rates and issues of competitive regulation. But today it was the corporate giant’s turn to display the silver lining of monopoly capitalism. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports from the Placencia Peninsula. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting It may have taken almost […]
The leak of poison gas could have caused a major tragedy, but today residents of Cayo’s twin towns are breathing easier, while a local businessman is seeking a safer address. Jacqueline Woods reports from Santa Elena. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting On Saturday, a seal from a valve just like this one burst at Blanquea Sol, an […]
Well, another Intelco deadline has come and gone. As per a promise, made by the company’s chief executive officer last week, today we were sitting around the office patiently waiting to find out when Intelco is finally going to start its service. And for a change we weren’t disappointed…well, we at least have a date. […]
