In a landmark move for the Caribbean, the Belize judiciary has become one of the first countries in the region to voluntarily design and adopt a code of conduct for its judges and magistrates. The document specifies approximately sixty do’s and don’ts for those on the bench. Among them are rules such as: “A judge […]
Monday’s accident is not the only matter on Kirk Anderson’s mind as interest is mounting over how he will handle the files now on his desk dealing with last year’s passport scandal. Today I spoke to Prime Minister Said Musa, who said the ball is squarely in the D.P.P.’s court. Prime Minister Said Musa “The […]
But while an improved economy will help ease our social problems, money alone will not cure them. Nearly every night there are reports of violent crime, particularly in Belize City, and more often than not, a young victim is left bleeding on the street. Responses to the situation have included more patrols in “special police […]
Four days after the Court of Appeal confirmed the Supreme Court ruling that B.T.L.’s revised phone rates are illegal, the consequences of that decision are still unclear. According to the company’s Strategy and Business Development Manager, Karen Bevans, they are cognizant that customers might be a little confused about what calls are costing in light […]
Between the beauty pageants, the popularity pinups, the little misses and the seenager stage shows, Belize is arguably the contest capital of the world. But sometimes, after the spotlight comes stress, as more than a few contestants have complained of getting jilted out of their prizes. That’s what Mr. Nice Guy winner, Troy Banner, claims […]
On Wednesday, members of the business community and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry officially elected their senatorial candidate. He is Godwin Hulse. Hulse has served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the National Business Council and the Trade and Investment Promotion Service, which evolved into BELTRAIDE. He was a member […]
In news from Belmopan, today was a big day for the Government Printers as they celebrated their one hundred and thirty-second birthday. As part of open day activities on the compound, visitors toured the facility and viewed exhibits compiled by the Belize Archives Department displaying the work of the printers since its establishment in 1871. […]
While government has announced the names of its six Senators and the Senate president, there are dozens of other appointments, mostly to statutory boards that have been made but not yet made public. Reason for the delay is that the appointees must first respond to the offer, signalling their acceptance or denial. But word does […]
Like much of the world, Belize has been taking a licking from skyrocketing oil prices, but beginning next week, thanks to the renegotiation of B.E.L.’s power purchase agreement with Mexico, we will be enjoying some significant relief. Approximately fifty-seven percent of Belize’s electricity is provided by Mexico’s Comision Federal de Electricidad. Under the original agreement […]
And while it may soon cost less to watch TV or iron your clothes, driving to work will definitely become more expensive. The much delayed Esso fuel tanker has finally arrived in port, and the new prices, while not unexpected, are high enough to make you trade in that S.U.V. for a motorbike. According to […]
On Tuesday Cabinet formally put its stamp of approval on a policy to provide all Belizean women age sixty-five and over with a pension, whether or not they had worked outside the home or contributed to Social Security. But if you fall into that category don’t be in any rush to pick up your cheque. […]
Last week News 5’s Jacqueline Woods attended a workshop held to sensitise journalists to the concerns of the elderly. The session must have worked, because tonight she’s back with another report, this time on efforts by Belize’s oldest citizens to assert their rights and advance their agenda. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting “Last year five Caribbean countries, […]
A Honduran family is asking for your help tonight as they search for their relatives, missing at sea now for three months. According to Guido David of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, his brother, Juan Carlos David and friends Edgardo Munoz, Juan Crivelli Senior and Junior and Eduardo Crivelli, left the coast in a small boat […]
Over the weekend the Belize Civil Society Movement selected their candidate for Senator at the organisation’s annual general meeting. According to a press release, forty-three year old Rene Gomez was chosen to represent the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Civil Society Movement in the new Senate. Gomez, a father of four […]
One hundred and ten miles of feeder roads will be improved and maintained thanks to a set of contracts signed today in Belmopan. The three point six million dollars in road works is divided between four local contractors and will cover selected rural roads from Corozal to Toledo. Signing on behalf of the Ministry of […]
Several years ago when a small number of tilapia infiltrated the Crooked Tree Lagoon from nearby fish farms, there were fears of ecological disaster; that the hardy and aggressive foreigners would displace the native species and put an end to the small, but crucial local fishing industry. But those fears never materialised and today instead […]
The Youth for the Future Initiative has gained a reputation as a programme designed to address the particular problems of Belize City. But today Y.F.F. projected a wider presence as nine youth councils were funded nationwide. Jacqueline Woods reports. Diane Hall, Ag. Director, Youth Development Department “We asked UNICEF if they could assist us with […]
According to local law enforcement authorities, every year police pathologists conduct post-mortem examinations on more than three hundred bodies…all this with limited manpower and resources. It comes as a welcome relief then, for those who must work in the dead zone, that construction work has begun on a National Forensics Laboratory. The lab, to be […]
With a few notable exceptions, the world of the Belizean media is one dominated by the young. And like most people of my generation, we may not always appreciate the problems faced by our elders. To correct the situation, members of the media were this morning invited to spend some quality time with senior citizens. […]
We expect serious illness to strike as we get older, but when a disease like cancer invades the body of a child, it is an unexpected tragedy that can turn the life of an entire family upside down. Tonight Jacqueline Woods recounts the story of one such group of Belizeans that is doing their best […]
It is not often that foreign news leads this broadcast…but by now it should be apparent that the war about to unfold in Iraq has implications that will be felt in every corner of the globe. Here in Belize, those effects will range from the fate of Belizeans on the battlefield to fewer tourists on […]
A fisherman from Corozal drowned over the weekend while out with friends. Reports are that fifty-two year old Thomas Narvaez of Santa Rita layout left Corozal Town on Saturday evening heading north to the Yakuna Bay area for an overnight fishing trip. According to his companions, Narvaez left the group around 2:00 a.m. to check […]
The Belizean legal community received a much-needed donation this morning, courtesy of the British Government. The U.K.’s High Commissioner to Belize, Phillip Priestly, officially handed over part of the shipment of law books to Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh during brief ceremonies at the Law Library in Belize City. The books cover topics like family law […]
Yesterday was Belize City’s turn and today the newly elected leaders of the nation’s capital took their place in the sun. While the four o’clock start time for the inauguration ceremony was too close to news time for a full report, News 5’s Janelle Chanona managed to get a preview from the mayor, in which […]
Drivers in the Belize District are being cautioned tonight, but the warning has nothing to do with bad roads or escaped prisoners. The problem is a tapir, better known by the Belizean name of mountain cow that has been sighted frequently along the newly paved road between Hattieville and Burrell Boom. The Ministry of Natural […]
