Last Wednesday a Belize City family reported to police that their teenage son was missing. But their account was not the usual missing person report in which a troubled child rebels against authority and runs away from home. The police are being cautious but the family suspects foul play. Jacqueline Woods, reporting The family of […]
Around this time every year, the staff of Continental Airlines puts together an event for Belize City children. In the past, they’ve done Easter egg hunts but today at the House of Culture, while there wasn’t an egg in sight, there was a fair share of excitement. The deserving children were selected by the principals […]
In the past we have brought his story to the screen but transistors and electrons cannot replace the real sights, sounds and smells of Henry Fairweather’s mahogany plantation. Today some lucky school children and adults made the pilgrimage…and News Five’s Janelle Chanona joined them for a tour. Janelle Chanona, Reporting In early February, News Five […]
We are happy to report that 5-year-old Juanita Elmira Manzanero, who we reported missing in yesterday’s newscast, never did leave school and is today back with her family. News Five had received a phone call from the police late Monday evening informing us that when the child’s father had gone to the school at 3:30 […]
In light of the increased number of sexual crimes against children and the probability of a serial killer lurking in our midst, the Belizean community is struggling to come to grips with new realities. Unfortunately, it’s been the Belizean norm to sweep such occurrences under the rug. The social work programme of the University College […]
It may be just a routine failure of communication but tonight police are taking seriously a missing persons report involving a young child. 5-year-old Juanita Elmira Manzanero of mile twelve and a half on the Western Highway is a student at St. Mary’s Primary in Belize City. When her father arrived at school at 3:30 […]
We usually associate things Garifuna with the month of November, but currently in Dangriga a conference is underway that is taking a closer look at the people who form vibrant communities over much of Central America’s Caribbean coast, not to mention the USA. The sponsoring body is called the World Garifuna Organization. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting […]
Those of us who live in Belize City tend to think of the series of five unsolved child murders as a problem endemic to the old capital. But this morning it was students in the new capital who made themselves heard on an issue they believe affects all Belizeans. Children Shouting “We are in danger. […]
It was a practice that perhaps thousands of Belizean mothers go through every week. On Tuesday, 20-year-old Georgia Neal dropped her baby son off at his grandmother’s early in the morning before heading to work. When she returned around 6:00 that evening, the scene which greeted her could not have been worse. 22-month-old John Darrel […]
Most of the news coming out of the Department of Corrections these days has not been good. But beyond the stabbings, riots and tamarind whippings is one programme that seems to be making progress. This morning I checked it out. Since we last visited the Youth Enhancement Academy, the inmates appear to be far more […]
Reports are sketchy at this time, but News Five understands that a baby has drowned in the canal near Fabers Road Extension. Police Press Officer Christy Castillo could only tell us that 22-month-old baby John Neal fell into the canal and drowned. The child’s mother, 20-year-old Georgia Neal is still on the scene at this […]
One of the more disturbing statistics about HIV/AIDS in Belize is that teenagers as young as fifteen are considered to be among the group most at risk for contracting this deadly disease. On Saturday approximately one hundred and fifty teens from across Belize City gathered at the Radisson Fort George Hotel to learn more about […]
At the time it was characterized as a prison riot and reported that several prisoners rushed an officer he had no choice but to open fire. One inmate was killed and three others injured. From the time they were hospitalized the surviving men wanted to tell their side of the story, but an incident of […]
Prison Governor Bernard Adolphus also spoke with Dickie Bradley about the reintroduction of whipping at the prison. While human rights activists may object to it, Adolphus said something had to be done to avoid more murders and stabbings among inmates. Bernard Adolphus, Prison Governor “I refer to it as a shock treatment. This shock treatment […]
The Human Rights Commission is condemning the revival of the use of the tamarind whip to flog inmates at the Hattieville Prison. The HRCB says the recent whipping of two prisoners is in clear violation of Section Seven of the Constitution of Belize, which states, “No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or […]
We’re always hearing that we shouldn’t drink and drive and to “say no to drugs”, but now the National Drug Abuse Control Council wants us to see as well as hear the messages. Today they unveiled their latest weapons in the war on substance abuse. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting The 21 signs replace the original billboards […]
Easter may be a few weeks away, but the warnings are already being issued reminding the public that holiday drinking can cause accidents. But this year there is a new dimension to the National Drug Abuse Control Council’s campaign: watch out for date rape drugs. Today News Five spoke to NDACC about this relatively new […]
The message is definitely out about the Belizean “Jack the Ripper” but the reality of what he is doing still hasn’t sunk into many heads, large and small. Just this week, two young girls were reported missing. Thankfully they’ve returned safely home. But are we just holding our breath, hoping and praying that there won’t […]
Their report may be out but the Political Reform Committee hasn’t had their last word. This Thursday, the general public is invited to a forum to examine the recommendations of the committee and discuss those recommendations that the government has decided to act on. Other issues that will be brought to the table will be […]
In an effort to prepare officers who work with domestic violence cases, 25 Police Officers today completed a one-week training on the dynamics of Family Violence and related issues. The topics included forms of abuse, why women stay or leave, interviewing techniques, rape, gender and masculinity and counseling services. The training was jointly organized by […]
One month after a man drowned in the sea off the Yarborough area, an investigation is being launched into his death. Refusing to back down from his insistence on transparency, today Ombudsman Paul Rodriguez announced that he has begun to look into the death of 24 year old Kelvin “Brambles” Barrow. On February 24th, Barrow […]
The Alliance against Aids has launched an urgent appeal for supplies for those living with HIV/AIDS. The Alliance says more and more clients are coming into their center, Common Ground in Belize City, needing basic items such as toiletries, warm clothes, canned and easily prepared food, vitamins and tonic. According to their figures, one person […]
With an increasing number of reports of abuse and neglect, people’s first reaction is often to say, “remove the child from the home!” And while this is usually the Department of Human Development’s last resort, it does happen. What becomes of the children who have to be taken away from their family, or whose family […]
Today there was territorial dispute. But this time it wasn’t at the border…it was in Belama. Just after 8:00 this morning two Novelo’s buses blocked another company’s bus from going anywhere for almost an hour. The Novelo’s drivers say they did it to help the Police and Transport Department do their job. The other bus […]
The Belize Women’s Political Caucus (BWPC) will be holding its annual convention on Saturday. The convention begins at 1:00pm at the Belize-Mexico Institute of Co-operation and Culture in Belize City. Guest speakers include Professor Judith Aguilar, President of the Women’s Movement, State of Quintana, Roo, Senator Audrey Matura and Chairperson of the Belize Tourism Board […]
