Two and a half years ago members of the Louisiana National Guard spent several weeks grading and improving the drainage of the 12 miles between Burrel Boom and Hattieville getting it ready to be paved. Now it seems the project may be completed if the World Bank agrees to assist with the finances. This morning […]
If you would like to express your concern about the crime situation in Belize City, the City Council is inviting you to a town meeting tonight at 7. Presentations will be made on crime, how it affects school children and the role of the community and churches. An open session will also be held for […]
Those fighting child abuse have a new weapon: the Child Abuse Reporting Hotline. Today the Department of Human Development opened the twenty-four hour hotline, which will be operated from the Family Services Division. It will be answered by a social worker from eight in the morning to five in the evening and the line will […]
The Human Rights Commission says the government’s Amnesty Program is not reaching the people who need it most, mainly because they are intimidated by the heavy police presence at Amnesty Centers and often unable to afford the 200 dollar registration fee. The H.R.C.B. says in addition to the police at the centers, the recent Operation […]
Did you know that if you retired right now all you would get from Social Security is 35 dollars a week? If you think that is out of step with the times, you’re not alone. This week the Social Security Board is asking the public, even those not receiving any benefits right now, to recommend […]
Today, the Belize Social Security Board announced the winners of their essay and poster contests. The essays were judged on structure, style, content and presentation. The first prize of one thousand dollars was won by Emil Cherrington of St. John’s Junior College. Collecting five hundred dollars in cash was the second place winner, Brenda Serano […]
Visiting Belize this week is the Millennium Year Coordinator of the International Red Cross in Geneva, Joanna MacLean. During her four-day visit MacLean will be conducting a leadership and management symposium for Red Cross executives and volunteers at Red Cross Headquarters. According to MacLean those attending the workshop will understand the role the Belize Red […]
In this graduation season, many young people are looking forward to getting a job and showing their employers, friends and families what they are made of. Belize’s disabled also want a chance to prove themselves. But their struggle is not only for the chance to live independent productive lives, but to make the way a […]
While plans continue full steam ahead for the construction of satellite towns outside Belize City to address the pressing housing needs of a growing population, city residents also stand to benefit from the government’s commitment to build homes for Belizeans. Today Area Representative for the Albert Division Mark Espat launched a project which is part […]
The Department of Human Development is sponsoring disabilities week this year under the theme, “Equal opportunities for all”. The week, which started on Sunday May 23rd and ends this Saturday May 29th, is packed with informative and entertaining activities countrywide. According to Human Development Department’s Acting Coordinator, Anna Williams, the theme has a special meaning. […]
San Pedro residents also continue to be without power for large portions of time due to repairs to their system. While the blackouts are inconvenient, C.E.O. of Belize Electricity Limited, Lynn Young tells News Five the outages are necessary so that the line insulators can be changed. He says that while there have been some […]
In the 1980’s thousands of refugees fleeing armed conflict in the surrounding Central American republics came to Belize. Estimates from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are that about eight thousand of those people were officially granted refugee status; they estimate that thousands more remain undocumented. Despite increased political stability in the region, those […]
The Society for the Promotion of Education and Research is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary by holding an exhibition of the work they have done from 1969 to 1999. At the open day, three new educational reports produced by SPEAR were launched. Adele Catzim, SPEAR’s Chairperson says although the public may be aware of the organization […]
Actual counting will begin a year from today, but already the Central Statistical Office is preparing for the Population and Housing Census 2000. Beginning May 12, 2000 at least 500 enumeration officers will be deployed throughout Belize to find out not only how many people live in Belize, but what ethnic group is largest, if […]
This afternoon Dolores Balderamos Garcia toured the various centers of the Salvation Army as part of the Ministry of Human Development’s commitment to care and provide the best for the elderly and destitute. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development “It has been a while since the Salvation Army invited me to visit and as […]
Many of us gave food, clothing or medicine to the Belize Red Cross last year to help the Central American victims of Hurricane Mitch. But as the Belize Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies head into the next century, they want us to remember them not only for their aid […]
With the weather getting hotter, wouldn’t it be great to have a nice, cool spot by the water to take your family on the weekends? Well, your wish may come true in just a few weeks with the Belizean Beach project shaping up nicely. News Five surveyed the scene this morning. Not many of us […]
Processing centers will be opened later this month to help undocumented immigrants obtain their permanent residence as part of the government’s amnesty initiative. The program, which will last for six weeks, will be carried out at facilities nationwide. Anyone who has lived in Belize continuously for four years, has married a Belizean or has a […]
The curfew is designed to protect children from harm on the streets, but how do we protect kids from the very things they see so many adults abusing like drugs and alcohol? While the National Drug Abuse Control Council is the first to admit that there are no easy solutions, they say as a parent […]
The University College of Belize and the Ministry of Education will be holding a symposium on the possible ways in which the Y2K computer virus could affect Belize in the year 2000. The symposium will feature discussions with over two hundred representatives from the Government and private sector. Charles McSweeney “The idea here is to […]
When you mention “environmental controversy” these days most people think of the ongoing debate over the proposed Chalillo Dam. Not to be outdone, however, the good citizens of Placencia are raising their voices against a proposal that would have their lovely Peninsula linked to the mainland by a causeway to Big Creek. That proposal is […]
Despite the fact that it was a move which affects thousands of children and their parents, the statutory instrument mandating an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was signed two weeks ago on April ninth with no warning and no public education campaign. Most people believed the curfew took effect that same day, or would […]
During their election campaign, the People’s United Party, and Queen’s Square candidate in particular Dickie Bradley, said the southside of Belize City had been neglected for too long. Among the promises they made was to improve the recreational facilities as well as commercial areas. Today the Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal Dickie Bradley showed […]
It was a suggestion made over and over at the Children’s Summit and an action already adopted by concerned citizens in Dangriga. Today the Minister of Human Development and Youth signed a statutory instrument instituting a curfew for Belize City and Dangriga. When it takes effect in the next few days children 16 and under […]
Enforcing the new curfew will take more than just police muscle. Success rests on the cooperative shoulders of the adults in the community. News Five got a sampling of public opinion today. Those we spoke to, including a few children, felt the move by government was the right one. Rather than seeing the curfew as […]
