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With the increasing number COVID-19 cases, Minister Chebat was also asked if there will be any amendments to the quarantine regulations as set out in statutory instrument number seventy-four of 2021. There will be no changes in the curfew which is currently from nine p.m. to four a.m. daily, but other groups have been identified […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
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The Human Rights Commission of Belize has spoken out on what it calls constant police abuse of power. While it says it acknowledges the efforts of the leadership of the Belize Police Department in taking swift action against the most recent case, the Commission feels that police abuse is now a trend and that needs […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Human Rights Commission on Recent Cases of Police Abuse
Pitts also weighed in on the matter of mandatory vaccination when a pandemic threatens human life en masse. Pitts says the constitution gives the government authority to make such a decision but within a certain context. Voice of: Cynthia Pitts, Vice President, Human Rights Commission of Belize “That is the Constitution that we have […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Several people were arrested and charged for allegedly taking part in a boat party onboard a catamaran that was chartered to take a group of persons to Caye Caulker on Saturday. The group was heading to the island to throw a birthday bash for someone on the boat called Joy Ride, but their trip ended […]
Written on August 16, 2021 | Posted in
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Police Commissioner Chester Williams also addressed an incident at Margarita’s Bar on Faber’s Road where police officers used pepper spray to ward off civilians. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “The enforcement of the quarantine regulations is very, very important at this time, and so the Police went to Margarita’s bar last night and they […]
Written on August 16, 2021 | Posted in
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There was also another incident at Shisha’s Restaurant in Newtown Barracks in Belize City involving police. It happened on Friday night and Commissioner Williams told the media that overcrowding was an issue at the restaurant. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “There were a number of restaurants in Belize City that were packed to capacity […]
Written on August 16, 2021 | Posted in
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Border jumpers continue to be a problem, but the public usually does not expect a police officer to be one of them. Yet an officer attached to Precinct One in Belize City spent a night behind bars in Mexico after he was intercepted by Mexican authorities for illegal entry. PC Mark Hinds, told investigators that […]
Written on August 16, 2021 | Posted in
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There was disappointing news for children this weekend when the Ministry of Education announced on Sunday that due to the rise in COVID cases, they would not be allowing face-to-face classes to resume in the next few days. Instead, remote learning will be in place once more for all government and grant-aided schools. This has […]
Written on August 16, 2021 | Posted in
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The Young Women’s Christian Association has been around for decades, improving the lives of Belizean women and children through training in courses that promise to bring about economic growth. And today, the non-governmental organization issued certificates to five of forty participants who completed life-skills course after they lost their jobs due to COVID. The training […]
Written on August 13, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
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Comments Off on Y.W.C.A. and S.S.B. Team Up for Life Skills Course
The Belize Medical and Dental Association has come forward with some strong recommendations for actions they want the government to take in response to the presence of the Delta variant and the rising number of COVID cases in Belize. These begin with a change in the curfew which they want to start at seven p.m. […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Other recommendations by the B.M.D.A. include no more indoor dining, closing all bars and casinos, strict monitoring of public transport, working from home where possible and no face-to-face school until vaccinations for children are available. Doctor Wright says that while their recommendations were just tabled today in the public domain in the form of a […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on No More Indoor Dining, Closed Casinos and No Face-to-Face School among B.M.D.A. Recommendations to G.O.B.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says the Belize Police Department is simply enforcing the law when he issued a memo last week instructing all regional and sub-station commanders to have their officers abide by S.I. Seventy-Four. The statutory instrument requires all persons deemed as “frontline workers” to present either their vaccination card or negative COVID […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol Says Officers Had Time to Prepare for Enforcement of S.I. 74
Commissioner Williams admitted that the department sent home some officers on Tuesday and some more today. He said that between both days, about thirty officers have been sent home, but of that number, many of them have gone to get vaccinated or to get their PCR test done and returned to work. His reasoning is […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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The Ministry of Health and Wellness today also issued a release on restrictions on social gatherings, reminding the public that it is not permitted at this time. It warns businesses to desist from promoting such activities. The ministry called on key social partners including local municipal administrators and the private and public sectors for cooperation […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on MoHW Emphasizes Restrictions on Social Gatherings
The Commissioner of Police admits a lack of proper police enforcement is a problem when it comes to the public respecting COVID regulations. He has strong words for those in charge of certain communities. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “We do have significant parts where people are not in compliance. I can tell you, […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol on Police Looking the Other Way
Belize joined the rest of the world today to recognise International Youth Day. It is being celebrated under the theme, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” But what does that mean for Belize? We asked Youth Minister Kevin Bernard about its significance to the work of his ministry. Kevin Bernard, […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Today, the Commonwealth released its global index on the state of youth and Belize is not doing so well. Out of one hundred and eighty-one countries, Belize is ranked one hundred and twenty-fourth on the 2020 Global Youth Development Index which measures the status of young people around the world. The index reveals that the […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International,
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Comments Off on Belize Ranks 124th on Global Youth Development Index
While the ministry is seeking to empower young people, the statistics show that in some traditional communities, child labour does occur. Minister of Youth Kevin Bernard says it is about striking that balance to ensure that a young person’s rights are not violated. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth “The youth needs assessment survey is […]
Written on August 12, 2021 | Posted in
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Laddie Gillett, Shamar Nicholas and Kwamie Williams: three Belizean teens recently gunned down. Sadly, they will not be the last young men to make the headlines. Tonight, in the first of a two-part investigation, Paul Lopez goes looking for answers to the painful question: what, if anything, can we do as a society to better […]
Written on August 10, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Teen Gun Deaths Becoming All Too Common; Public Veers between Outrage and Apathy
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council alongside the International Organization for Migration continues to promote their “People not Property” awareness campaign. This morning, a representative of the effort was a guest on Open Your Eyes Morning Show. The Focal Point at ATIPS, Juanna Murillo, shared the fact that human trafficking is a reality in Belize. She […]
Written on August 10, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Freeing Human Trafficking Victims through Information
Have you ever wondered about the effects that traumatic stresses have on children? Professionals who engage with Belize’s youth found out today how to identify when a child is acting out due to a traumatic event they may have experienced at home or are going through within the community that they live. News Five’s Duane […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
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The rallies since the killing of fourteen-year-old Laddie Gillett in Placencia have persisted countrywide. Since last week and over the weekend, three communities have come out calling for constitutional and police reform. Here’s Marion Ali with a summary of those events. Marion Ali, Reporting Eric Clapton’s rendition of the song “Tears in Heaven” set […]
Written on July 26, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Pressure for Police Reform Continues with Citizen Vigils and Petition
At this time, Belize City residents are gathered at the Battlefield Park in Belize City as they stage yet another protest to express their discontent about the fatal shooting of fourteen-year-old Laddie Gillett by a police officer. As early as five-thirty this evening and until seven-thirty tonight, candles will be lit and the protestors with […]
Written on July 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Another Protest for Laddie at Battlefield Park
This afternoon, funeral services were held for Laddie Gillett, who was laid to rest in the Cayo District. The fourteen-year-old student was shot last Wednesday night by Police Corporal Kareem Martinez as Gillett and a friend headed back to a resort where they were staying in Placencia. What was a fun-filled family vacation ended tragically […]
Written on July 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Youth Minister Comments on Shooting Death of Laddie Gillett
Minister Bernard says that the shooting death of the teen and the need for stronger reform were discussed at this past cabinet meeting. But he also says individual officers must understand their role. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth “There is need for stronger reforms in the police department. There is need for us to […]
Written on July 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Youth Minister Calls for Reform and Accountability
