It may not be as big a piece of news as yesterday’s announcement by U.D.P. Leader Dean Barrow, but today the reform movement known as We the People, weighed in with its pronouncement on the proposals to end the Guatemalan claim. And that verdict is a resounding yes. Citing a desire for peace between neighbours, […]
It fell through the cracks of our coverage, but what will stand up as the most lasting achievement of this year’s Independence celebrations took place on Saturday in Belmopan. That is the inauguration of the George Price Centre for Peace and Development. The two-storey building, constructed with private contributions, houses a library and meeting rooms […]
Another piece of the freshly paved Southern Highway was dedicated this morning. Section four of the road, paid for by a loan from Taiwan’s International Co-operation Development Fund, runs for seventeen point four miles from the South Stann Creek Bridge to the junction of the Big Creek Road. In his first major address as Minister […]
He was a man caught between his own instincts and training as a diplomat, and the demands of a political party steeped in a tradition of rejection of anything associated with Guatemala. But tonight it appears that Opposition Leader Dean Barrow has bridged that gap. In an interview this afternoon he told News 5’s Stewart […]
With millions of dollars in cash, and major investments in key areas of the nation’s economy, the Social Security Board is perhaps the most powerful financial entity in Belize. But that power has not always been exercised without controversy; hence the appointment of a commission to suggest reforms in the way it conducts it’s business. […]
The recently concluded September celebrations were among the best organised in recent years… but while the flag prepared to raise on independence eve, News 5’S Janelle Chanona and Rick Romero were touching down in Los Angeles, California. They returned this week with a series of reports on the Belizean experience in Lala land. Tonight we […]
The excitement that surrounded last week’s release of the proposals has subsided and with the departure of facilitators Sir Shridath Ramphal and O.A.S. Assistant Secretary General Luigi Enaudi, it is now left to the Belize Government to explain and ultimately sell the package to Belizeans. That process, which will rely heavily on diplomatic personnel involved […]
On the twenty-first of September those Belizeans who ventured out to Memorial Park or tuned in on their radios were treated to a rare experience; a series of Independence Day addresses devoid of discord. Here are some excerpts, beginning with guest of honour Sir Shridath Ramphal, followed by Opposition Leader Dean Barrow and concluding with […]
It was likely his last State of the Nation address before facing the electorate sometime next summer…and while the Prime Minister’s annual speech would normally be scrutinised heavily, this year it was the anti-climactic ending to an historic week that saw the release of the proposals to settle the Guatemalan claim. For the diplomatic corps, […]
For two days he had remained silent while the local and foreign architects of the proposals to end the Guatemalan claim explained them to anyone who would listen. But this afternoon Prime Minister Said Musa stepped up and put his not inconsiderable weight firmly in favour of a settlement. Janelle Chanona reports. Prime Minister Said […]
After seeing Tuesday’s presentation, it is clear that Belize’s facilitator, Sir Shridath Ramphal, is nothing if not an optimist. And while no observer has doubted Ramphal’s work ethic, dedication and job performance, a number of observers, including the Leader of the Opposition, have noted that his exuberance can sometimes give the appearance of calculated exaggeration. […]
While the proposals to end the Guatemalan claim dominate the headlines, last night many Belizeans were forced to turn their attention to more immediate concerns. Jacqueline Woods reports. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting It’s safe to say that most residents in the Belize District did not get much sleep after a prolonged power outage kept them in […]
At the centre of any government’s economic programme is the desire to provide jobs for its citizens. And while job creation is crucial, so too is the ability to match the pool of available skills with the demands of the market. Today in Belize City a new project was unveiled by the Ministry of Labour […]
It was a day that was long awaited by thousands of Belizeans. Indeed the waiting–over two years–was so long that right up until last month there was some doubt that the facilitators would even be able to come up with any proposals at all. But they have…and today those proposals–put together by Sir Shridath Ramphal […]
After much anticipation and emotions that ran high, there was varied reaction to the proposals. We once again would like to join reporter Janelle Chanona and News Director Stewart Krohn at the Radisson. Stewart Krohn “Thank you Ernesto. Indeed there was no shortage of comments. Anyone who was in the room, because of the way […]
Dean Lindo, Former UDP Leader “I think that it will be a no vote. What I think, I haven’t read the proposals yet. In fact we were supposed to have been given the proposals, and what we got was an executive summary as it were. I’ve heard what Sir Shridath Ramphal has said, and I […]
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition “I think this was an extremely useful exercise. Clearly people will need some time to digest what they’ve heard, to look at the proposals in black and white. But I certainly believe that there really is no room for us to be accusing those that participated in the facilitation […]
Janelle Chanona “And of course today wouldn’t have been a press conference if there wasn’t a question and answer section, which included members from the media and concerned citizens. Fielding most of those questions was Belize’s facilitator Sir Shridath Ramphal.” Stewart Krohn “I’ve got to say a word about Sir Shridath Ramphal. This is a […]
Janelle Chanona “Something that we touched on earlier today was the fact that today is historic not only for Belize, but for the Organisation of American States. This is the first time the OAS has been involved in something like this. And to be sure if this process if successful, it will be used as […]
Tonight the foreign ministers of Guatemala and Belize, along with the top brass of the Organisation of American States, are gathered in Washington to hear the two facilitators present their final proposals to end once and for all, the Guatemalan claim to Belize. But judging from the number of bootleg copies circulating between Belize City […]
At a ceremony held this morning in Belize City, Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos Garcia appointed a dozen members of the newly created National Committee on Community Service. Jacqueline Woods reports that the volunteers will form part of a multi-faceted programme to reduce crime…and the root causes of crime. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting The twelve […]
The recent announcement by the Government of Belize that butane prices would increase significantly come this Sunday was greeted coolly by consumers. And when the list of new prices was read, more than one person might have noticed that in the midst of five dollar price hikes for most of the country, customers in Dangriga […]
On Saturday, as many as six thousand young people from all over Belize are expected to assemble at the B.T.L. Park as part of Youth Fest. The event is being organized by the Belize Youth Movement, the youth arm of the People’s United Party, and coordinators say the activity promises to entertain and educate the […]
They asked for a thirty-day extension, but in the end they needed little more than half that time. Early next week the OAS sponsored facilitation process will culminate in the presentation of final proposals for the settlement of Guatemala’s centuries old claim to Belize. Today, News 5’s Stewart Krohn spoke by phone to Foreign Minister […]
It does not belong in the category of crime news, but many Belizeans may view it with the same sense of helpless resignation. After a few days of an informal work stoppage, sellers of butane gas have been granted a price increase by government. A release from the Ministry of Trade indicates that as of […]
