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June fifteenth is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The National Council on Ageing says last year, four percent of domestic violence cases were crimes against older men and women, but only one out of every twenty-four cases of elder abuse is actually reported to authorities. Honing in on Belize, the release says, “Elder Abuse is […]
Written on June 15, 2021 | Posted in
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The Ministry of Youth has embarked on an ambitious exercise that they say is the first of its kind. This week they officially kicked off a national survey which will help create targeted programs for Belizean young people. Andrea Polanco reports on the survey launch this morning. Andrea Polanco, Reporting What do young people […]
Written on June 14, 2021 | Posted in
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One of the new support services the Department of Youth has already rolled out is a counseling and wellness service. Director of the DYS Kevin Cadle says this is crucial, no matter what other opportunities are also being given. Kevin Cadle, Director, Department of Youth Services “We also added a youth counseling and wellness […]
Written on June 14, 2021 | Posted in
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The Briceño administration says it will not be negotiating with the gangs. It’s a position that the prime minister himself has made abundantly clear. But that is not to say that gang violence will be left unchecked, or that services to improve gang members lives won’t be made available. What will be implemented is a […]
Written on June 9, 2021 | Posted in
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The Prime Minister has been criticized for not engaging with the union leaders in meetings. Today, Open Your Eyes hosts asked PM Briceño about the status of matters with the unions and where they go from here. Prime Minister John Briceño “We have done everything we have been able to do. In my last […]
Written on June 7, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Prime Minister Says Unions Need to Move On
As the union protests appear to wind down, some people are still upset about a series of ads that have attacked the unions and questioned the integrity of their leadership. Did Prime Minister Briceño approve these ads? That’s what he was asked when he appeared on Open Your Eyes this morning. While he said the […]
Written on June 7, 2021 | Posted in
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The public sector emoluments and allowances reduction bill 2021 went before the senate today. You’ll recall that last week Friday, cabinet began the motions to make the cuts effective on June first. U.D.P. Senator Michael Peyrefitte and Senator for the Unions, Elena Smith strongly opposed the bill. Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Senator “Madam President, how […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senators Peyrefitte and Smith Object to Salary Cuts
Wrapping up the discussions on the bill – Government Business Senator Eamon Courtenay said he took no joy in being a part of implementing the legal frame work for the act to come into force. He said it really was a matter of choosing the lesser of the evils. Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
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Data from schools’ managing authorities indicate about twenty-five to thirty percent of teachers participated in the strike action over the past month. But those industrial actions came to a screeching halt when the government began docking their pay. Education Minister Francis Fonseca says G.O.B. had no choice. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education “I don’t […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Fonseca on Docking Salaries: “No Other Option”
Last week, the unions responded to a letter issued by G.O.B. concerning other compensation for the salary cut coming for teachers and public officers this pay period. The unions’ response does not sit well with Minister Fonseca, but he says that cabinet is still open to dialogue. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education “They responded […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Fonseca Calls Union Letter “Unprofessional and Political”
The Public Service Union has a new president and five newly-elected executives. The vote for a change of leadership took place on Saturday in Belmopan during the P.S.U.’s ninety-ninth annual general meeting. Dean Flowers has been chosen to lead the union for the next two years, succeeding Gerald Henry who did not offer himself for […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
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The strike effected by the Belize National Teachers Union and the P.S.U. has been placed on hold as teachers are expected to return to work on June first. While the B.N.T.U. is preparing a legal challenge against the Briceño administration, the Public Service Union maintains that the trade dispute with government continues. It is not […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.S.U. Prez Says Trade Dispute with G.O.B. Continues
P.S.U. President Dean Flowers admits that the docking of wages, as well as the ten percent salary cut may have deflated the momentum of the strike. Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U. “It has to a certain degree, but I am very proud to say that despite government’s decision or declaration that that would happen, even […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.S.U. Will Not Mass Mobilize
It has become a common scene: union members in their tee shirts protesting in Belmopan when there is a House Meeting. But things got a little tense this morning as people had to be removed from directly in front of the National Assembly by law enforcement. News Five’s Andrea Polanco was there. Andrea Polanco, […]
Written on May 28, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.N.T.U. Protests in Front of National Assembly
As you saw in our story on the teachers protest this morning, police removed them from in front of the National Assembly where they went beyond the barriers. The issues were that the teachers were not social distancing and they were blaring bullhorns and didn’t stay beyond the barriers, but also they didn’t have a […]
Written on May 28, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol Weighs In on Unions’ Protest
As you heard earlier in our newscast, the unions have prepared their response to G.O.B.’s proposal. The document outlines the unions’ position on the good governance and other measures put forth on May twelfth and has harsh words for the Prime Minister. The three-page document criticizes the P.M.’s decision to end the “consultations” abruptly without […]
Written on May 28, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Unions Reject G.O.B.’s Compensation Proposals
The first Belizean to be elected to the Commonwealth Youth Council is a twenty-four-year-old young woman from south side Belize City. This week, C.Y.C. announced that Dominique Noralez was elected as the regional representative for the Caribbean and Americas. The Commonwealth Heads of Government recognizes C.Y.C. as the official voice for over one billion young […]
Written on May 27, 2021 | Posted in
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As you heard earlier, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams along with C.Y.D.P. Director Abdul Nunez and others participated in a mediation exercise with purported gang members in an effort to quell the gun violence of the past three weeks. Caught up in the group of alleged criminal actors was Eston Young, a resident of Majestic […]
Written on May 26, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Eston Young Claims Police Profiling
In previous states of emergency, there have been reports of several individuals being caught in the dragnet used to take gang members off the streets. Eston Young, a father of two young children, feels that he will now be a target of the police department; that even though he is a law-abiding citizen, he will […]
Written on May 26, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Eston Young: “I dah noh wah gang member”
A few days ago, the unions led the news almost every night. And now it is day twenty-two and there is no sign of a resolution between the unions and the Government of Belize on the salary cut and increment freeze. The unions have been at an impasse with G.O.B. following a statement made by […]
Written on May 25, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.S.U. Prez: Strike Continues
News Five caught up with P.S.U. President Gerald Henry as he participated in an educational tour in the south. He says that he is meeting with public officers across the country to keep them abreast of the situation. On the Phone: Gerald Henry, President, P.S.U. “Right now I am in Dangriga and I am […]
Written on May 25, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.S.U. on Countrywide Educational Tour
We don’t usually think about sewing skills when we think about police departments, but the Community Policing Unit held a graduation ceremony at the Wilton Cumberbatch Field in Belize City today that was a little bit different. Andrea Polanco reports. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Five women who completed a six-month sewing program were awarded certificates. […]
Written on May 25, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on A Sewing Program to Tackle Poverty and Crime!
They came from all over the country, some as far as rural Toledo, to send a resounding message to Prime Minister Briceño and his government. The unions sent that message during what may be the largest gathering of teachers and public officers since the beginning of industrial action in late April. They walked and sang […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on The Unions Take Sugar City in Large Numbers
This morning, the perimeter around the prime minister’s Dunn Street residence in Orange Walk Town was roped off with caution tape. There was also heavy police presence in the neighborhood in anticipation of protestors entering the area. While today’s demonstration was without incident, teachers and public officers who participated in the protest removed the cordon […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Unions Approach Prime Minister’s Home
In his interview with the press on Wednesday, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca also commented on the docking of wages for public officers and teachers who are on strike. Fonseca outlined the parameters of this decision as was first confirmed by Prime Minister John Briceño last week. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education “As it […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Education Minister Weighs In on Docking of Wages for Teachers and Public Officers
