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An anti-gang state of emergency was declared once again for hotspots in south side Belize City last week in an effort to contain crimes linked to gang activity. The legal system is designed where incarceration is the last step, but due to the powers invoked by the S.O.E., thirty-one persons, including four females, were sent […]
Written on July 14, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Chester on Gang Culture: the Change Has to Start at Home
Legislation had been amended so that charges could be levelled against residents who are identified as being members of a gang or being the leader of a gang; the latter carries a stiffer penalty. The Crime Control and Criminal Justice Amendment Bill introduced stiffer penalties allowing the police to gather intelligence from various sources, including […]
Written on July 14, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Are Penalties Stiff Enough for Gangster?
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also says that the state of emergency can very well be extended past the month, but that will be determined prior to its expiration. He does say, however, that there are a number of initiatives that have been put in place to steer these men away from the criminal justice […]
Written on July 14, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.P.D. Has Been Working to Keep Youth Away from Gang Activity
The popular tenth annual back to school trimming and hair braiding drive by Inspiration Arts is scheduled to be held on August eighth and ninth at its usual location on Fabers Road Extension. Every year, hundreds of primary schools students get free haircuts or hair braids by a group of volunteers who would give of […]
Written on July 10, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on The 10th Annual Back to School Trimming/Hair Braiding Initiative Needs Your Help
The south side of the Old Capital was quiet today and free of gang activity. A second curfew that will last for a month has been instituted and the police is coming down hard on gang activity. In an early morning sweep on Tuesday, police detained a number of alleged gang members and are actively […]
Written on July 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Deconstructing the Need for a Second Anti-gang SOE
Scotia Bank Belize has made a donation today; it handed over five thousand dollars to be used for personal protective equipment to the Belize Police Department. The protective face shields will be procured through the Rotary Club of Belize and distributed to police officers. The donation comes as the country prepares for the phased reopening […]
Written on July 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Scotia Bank Belize Donates P.P.E.s to Belize Police Department
At three o’clock this morning, another state of emergency came into effect in certain parts of Southside Belize City. Police believe that the S.O.E. will abate gang activity and other forms of violence perpetuated in the streets of the Old Capital. Two men were killed over the weekend due to warring gangs and police intelligence […]
Written on July 7, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Another S.O.E. for South Side Belize City Amid Spike in Gang Violence
COVID-19 continues to ravage countries around the world, including our Central and North American neighbors. With Belize heavily reliant on the economies of Mexico and the United States, any downward spiral in their financial systems can potentially cause a shock to our local economy. It is a likelihood that is not lost on Foreign Minister […]
Written on July 7, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Sedi Opines on COVID-19 and the Economy
While government’s relief initiatives, including the pantry and unemployment relief programmes, have gone a long way in helping families in need amid these COVID times, the granting of monies, as well as the provision of food over an extended period is unsustainable. Elrington also weighs in on the existing foreign exchange crunch. Wilfred ‘Sedi’ […]
Written on July 7, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Prolonged Pantry and Unemployment Relief is Unsustainable
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that a number of patrons in bars and nightclub establishments weren’t wearing masks this weekend. He notes that social distancing was also not being observed in some of the businesses. These actions, coupled with a few other concerns, have pushed the Commissioner to prohibit police officers from providing security […]
Written on July 6, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on ComPol Says Cops Will Not Work at Some Establishments
According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow the existing Boost Programme will be augmented to include persons who are now unemployed long term due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These persons will be removed from the Unemployment Relief Programme and considered for the Boost programme. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “Those funds will go […]
Written on July 3, 2020 | Posted in
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A new S.I. will come into effect as the country’s state of emergency ends. The Belize Police Department will be enforcing the measures that remain in place, such as the proper wearing of face masks and social distancing. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the press today that while they will be enforcing the law, […]
Written on June 30, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Cops to Come Down Tough on Night Clubs and Rum Shops!
The end of the state of emergency is in sight; it expires this Tuesday. Today, the Attorney General announced what many Belizeans have also been waiting for, ‘there will be no more curfew.’ On Ask the Experts today, Michael Peyrefitte announced the government’s plan to lift the curfew as of July first. The curfew has […]
Written on June 29, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on There Will Be No More Curfew
While the government does away with the curfew, one thing that will become part of our daily lives is the face mask. There are currently three active cases of COVID-19 in the country and it is anticipated that when the P.G.I.A. opens on August fifteenth, Belize might experience a wave of imported cases. Attorney General […]
Written on June 29, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Wear Yo Mask!
Social distancing is also here to stay and will be enforced. There are some exceptions to this rule and, according to Michael Peyrefitte; the limit of a hundred persons at an event will also be lifted when the S.O.E. expires on Tuesday. Peyrefitte stressed that in some instances where social distancing is not enforced, face […]
Written on June 29, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Social Distancing Will Be Enforced
Unlike the Philip Goldson International Airport, land borders will remain closed. The Attorney General made it abundantly clear that the country’s borders with Mexico and Guatemala will remain close for the foreseeable future, especially since COVID-19 cases in both countries have been drastically increasing. Border jumpers rule remains in effect and, according to Peyrefitte, persons […]
Written on June 29, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Land Borders Remain Closed!
As of Wednesday, child daycare centers will be able to open and operate. Daycares were closed down because such a facility can be particularly fertile places for the spread of contagious illnesses, especially since children are more susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases. With the limits of social gathering set to expire, Attorney General […]
Written on June 29, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Child Daycares Centers Can Now Open
COVID-19’s impact on food and agriculture has been felt across the country – putting lives and livelihoods at risk from this pandemic. While the spread of virus is contained in Belize, it continues to surge in other parts of the world but the uncertainty is when it will eventually retreat. And locally we have seen […]
Written on June 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on A Backyard Farm for Food Security During a Pandemic!
The Human Dignity Trust has released a new film titled “Wake Up Call: Hate Crime Law in the Commonwealth”. The video was shot in 2019 in Belize, India, Kenya, Seychelles, and Singapore. The film depicts a heartfelt and compelling call to action and includes interviews with LGBT activists, government officials, lawmakers, and hate crimes experts. […]
Written on June 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Human Dignity Trust Release Video Exposing Hate Crime
Turning to COVID-19, the countrywide state of emergency expires next Tuesday and the weeklong countdown to the lifting of all remaining measures, including the end of the nightly curfew, has already began. Cabinet met this morning and out of that meeting comes a fresh mandate for Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero, who is […]
Written on June 23, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on S.O.E. to be Lifted, but New Laws will be Introduced Subsequently
There is some consideration that the Unemployment Relief Programme will re-open as joblessness is on the increase. The initiative closed in April but since then hundreds others feeling the pain of having lost jobs. The biggest chunk of unemployed persons is in the tourism sector, more than five thousand lost their jobs in the food […]
Written on June 15, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Summary Report of G.O.B.’s US$75 COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Programme Released
The partnership between the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize Red Cross has resulted in the distribution of thirty-five food hampers among tour guides in southern Belize. Over the weekend, representatives of the international voluntary aid organization visited Toledo District where the food baskets were handed out. While it is the third community outreach initiative […]
Written on June 15, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.T.B. and Red Cross Join Forces for COVID Relief in Toledo
There was a national sigh of relief today when the lifting of additional restrictions was announced, though the state of emergency remains in place until the end of June. Cabinet acted on the recommendations from the National Oversight Committee. There has been no sign of community transmission of COVID-19 for over fifty days; the two […]
Written on June 11, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Further Ease of Lockdown Restrictions; Curfew Shortened, Social Gatherings Allowed
The shortened curfew hours means that businesses will be allowed to open for longer periods. But this only applies to business establishments that are allowed to operate under the State of Emergency Regulations. Businesses that primarily rely on the sale of alcohol are still not allowed to operate. According to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, those […]
Written on June 11, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Bars, Discos, Nightclubs Still Not Allowed to Operate
Prohibitions on the use of parks and playgrounds will be lifted and recreational contact sports such as volleyball, basketball and football will be allowed. Gymnasiums and spas will be allowed to open. Private parties, weddings, funerals, receptions, meetings of fraternal societies, social clubs, or civic associations or organizations can be held, following social distancing protocols. […]
Written on June 11, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Number of Persons at Social Gatherings Increased to 100
