With new tourist destinations opening up in the south, the factor of getting visitors there as comfortably as possible is a huge consideration. But improvements to the Southern Highway are well underway, encouraging more tourists and locals alike to go down under. This afternoon, Vildo Marin, in his new capacity as Minister of Works, officially […]
On Monday night’s newscast, we featured the story of thirteen month old Jaesha Daly, who needs to get to the United States for urgent medical treatment. And tonight there is good news to report. American Airlines has agreed to provide the family with one free adult ticket. This means Jaesha’s family will only need money […]
With September only days away, the heat is on for the celebrations committee to get their act together and make last minute preparations for a month of festivities. But as News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out today, while the organisers are getting help co-ordinating events, they still need the public’s support. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Although […]
It is with regret that we report another death tonight, that of Karl Tillett. The forty-three year old author, businessman and former customs officer succumbed to a massive heart attack on Saturday afternoon at his home in Corozal. In 2000 Tillett published a well received anthology of short stories, entitled “Yenkiman One”. His stories and […]
On Friday ceremonies were held for the inauguration of a new police station in the village of Santa Familia in the Cayo District. In his address Prime Minister Said Musa emphasised that while government must work to eradicate the roots of crime, there will be no coddling of criminals. Prime Minister Said Musa “Yes, we […]
You’d never know it by looking at her, but the subject of our next story needs your help. Janelle Chanona reports. Janelle Chanona, Reporting To a stranger, thirteen-month-old Jaesha Daly is a normal active toddler with a healthy appetite and a ready smile. But little Jaesha was born with a condition extremely rare to children […]
As the climax of the Belize Guatemala facilitation process draws near, speculation abounds over confidential documents that have made their way into the public domain. According to Belize’s lead negotiator, Foreign Minister Assad Shoman, this deep throat scenario is not only surprising, but threatens to hinder the resolution of the Guatemalan claim. This morning Shoman […]
There is news on the Guatemalan front tonight, some of it exciting and the rest just downright perplexing. The exciting part is that after two years of involvement in what seemed to be a never-ending facilitation process, a date has been set for the final act of the drama. On August twenty-eighth facilitators Sir Shridath […]
In more comforting news from the Foreign Ministry, today a Master Plan of Operations was signed between the Government of Belize and UNICEF. The agreement, which extends through 2006, was initialled this morning by Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Shoman and UNICEF Country Representative Nadya Vasquez. The programme will focus on enhancing the development of […]
Belize will join the Caribbean Court of Justice… and while that intention has been known for some time, it was only yesterday that Cabinet gave its formal endorsement. The actual instrument of ratification will be signed by Foreign Minister Assad Shoman immediately after the Senate gives its approval at its next sitting. The agreement establishing […]
It took a licking in the record floods of June, and today we are told that the weakened Beaver Dam bridge at mile forty on the Western Highway will soon be replaced. Government has approved the purchase of a modular steel frame span from an Austrian company, which should be in place by February of […]
In addition to a new bridge, government will also be building new police stations in three communities that receive heavy use by tourists. The reinforced concrete structures, to be erected in San Pedro, Placencia and Gales Point, will be financed in a unique manner. Since they are all either hurricane damaged or in poor repair, […]
On the immigration front, former Minister of National Security and Immigration, Jorge Espat, has denied a report aired last night on News 5 that he issued a directive to withhold the processing of nationality applications by certain groups of immigrants. Speaking over the phone, Espat told News 5 today that upon assuming the immigration portfolio […]
For the last several weeks we’ve kept a low profile on the immigration story as the police gather evidence for their investigation into the illegal sale of Belizean nationality. But while that probe progresses there is another side to the scandal, perhaps no less shameful. News 5’s Janelle Chanona reports. Janelle Chanona, Reporting With strong […]
With primary-schoolers just about ready to hit the books, Belizean educators are making their preparations. And right behind them is the School Security System, that is: the school wardens. For the past three weeks, wardens from all over the country have participated in training aimed at strengthening their public relations skills, knowledge of the law […]
For years, the policy of the United States government in its war against drugs has been to publicly applaud or shame the countries of the Americas in a process called certification. Belize is no stranger to the bad list and with that in mind, this week Belize and other Central American nations successfully lobbied with […]
The case of corruption in the Immigration Department keeps getting more complex. Earlier this week Senior Superintendent Bernard Lino, appointed to head the investigation into the scandal, was removed from the case by the Police Commissioner and replaced by Senior Superintendent Gerald Westby. Rumours flew as to why the veteran cop was canned, focussing primarily […]
It got off to a rocky start, but indications are that the transition to private management at Hattieville Prison is beginning to gel. According to C.E.O. in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Alan Usher, letters went out this morning to all prison officers outlining their options for future employment. According to Usher, there will be […]
There’s an old riddle that asks: why is the cemetery always crowded? The answer: because people are dying to get in. That joke just about sums up the situation facing the recently departed of Belize City. Jacqueline Woods reports. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting On average, one person is laid to rest each day at the Lord […]
An international effort centred in Germany has resulted in the donation of a large quantity of school furniture for victims of Hurricane Iris. On Tuesday, the shipment of desks, chairs and blackboards arrived at the Belize City port. The items were donated by schools throughout Germany that heard about the hurricane and the damage it […]
A second document to receive joint approval from Belize and Taiwan was that of a programme to provide Belize with Taiwanese volunteers. Signing on behalf of Belize was Foreign Minister Assad Shoman, while Foreign Minister Eugene Chien signed for Taiwan. According to the Ministers, the volunteers will be participating in several nation-building initiatives in various […]
His chartered jet took off an hour late and we are told that Taiwanese Premier Yu Shyi-kun and a thirty-eight-member entourage should just now be touching down at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The visit is the last leg of a trip that included stops in Haiti, Panama and Costa Rica, and will last less […]
With the nation’s attention riveted to a scandal over the illegal granting of Belizean nationality, another suspected case of identity documents for sale has received less media scrutiny. Today, however, in a late afternoon press release, the Social Security Board essentially admitted that it’s own highly touted cards have been issued to people who ought […]
A sports day at the Youth Hostel at mile twenty-one on the Western Highway gave the Ministry of Human Development a chance to recognise the institution and those who live and work there. This morning Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia spoke at the opening ceremonies. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Min. of Human Development “On special occasions like […]
It’s no secret that this time of year the heat is on…but a combination of high temperatures, an attractive nuisance and a habit of children minding children has resulted in the tragic death of a Belize City toddler. Jacqueline Woods reports on an incident that occurred on Wednesday on Hibiscus Street in Belize City. Jacqueline […]
