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On Wednesday, the Government and UNICEF launched the “National Protocol for Integrated Protection for Children and Adolescents during Emergency and Disaster Situations.” It’s a disaster risk reduction document that researchers have put together to deal with emergency preparedness and responses processes during times of disasters. Here’s more from the research team and UNICEF. Dr. […]
Written on February 21, 2020 | Posted in
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This morning, the streets of Belize City were seething with union members and their leaders chanting: “Only the People Can Save the People.” The unions staged a successful anti-corruption protest with a strong message to the Barrow Administration, making six demands to end corruption. Included in the list is the implement of the UNCAC, as […]
Written on February 20, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on N.T.U.C.B. Holds Successful Demonstration in Belize City
The march was well underway, when a group of students staged a walk-out of classes from the University of Belize in Belmopan and travelled to Belize City to participate in the demonstration. They didn’t make it in time for the parade, but attended the rally at the Memorial Park. The decision by the students was […]
Written on February 20, 2020 | Posted in
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The national anti-corruption demonstration concluded with a rally at Memorial Park past the lunch hour. It was a first step by the unions to effect change. The Belize National Teachers Union, whose members made up majority of the protestors, is known for its fearlessness and tenacity when taking on the government. In 2016, the B.N.T.U. […]
Written on February 20, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.N.T.U. to G.O.B.: Don’t Ignore Our Cry for Good Governance or Else
The unionists were joined by many others who support the call to end corruption, including the N.G.O.s and social partners. Among them were Senators Osmany Salas and Mark Lizarraga. The senators say that they support the demands made by the umbrella organization to ensure good governance. While Lizarraga says that today’s event is democracy at […]
Written on February 20, 2020 | Posted in
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The ten unions of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize have not taken to the streets for years, but this Thursday, their presence will be felt in Belize City against corruption under the banner, “Only the People Can Save the People.” With the national mood running on edge, it will be one of the […]
Written on February 19, 2020 | Posted in
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RESTORE Belize today unveiled its blue print to deal with crime and violence and restore citizen security. According to the organization, the plan was devised after consultations with the relevant stakeholders. The strategy has two approaches but RESTORE Belize says the key is through constant communication. Here is News Five’s Hipolito Novelo. Hipolito Novelo, […]
Written on February 18, 2020 | Posted in
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The Council of Churches is taken a position on the Equal Opportunities Bill. It Council is of the view that having now had the opportunity to review and discuss the proposed legislation with its attorneys and membership, the Council is unable to support the bill in its present form. As you may know, the Bill […]
Written on February 12, 2020 | Posted in
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According to Bishop Philip Wright, the Council of Churches is open to further discussion on the Bill. The Council would be willing to consider if by way of a referendum, the people are given an opportunity to accept or reject the Bill and it does not supersede the Constitution. The Council also says that it […]
Written on February 12, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on The Council of Churches Offers Options
Last week, the Belize Council of Churches issued a press release to provide its position on the Equal Opportunities Bill. According to the Council of Churches, they are supportive of the idea of legislation that would further promote and protect the right to equal protection under the law and non-discrimination, contained in the Constitution of […]
Written on February 11, 2020 | Posted in
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As part of the tour, a town hall session was held with residents and various stakeholders in San Pedro on February sixth. While the police department was lauded for its crime fighting efforts, ComPol says that San Pedro has expanded tremendously that there is a need to install two substations to the north and south […]
Written on February 7, 2020 | Posted in
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A weeklong event in Belize City is sharpening the skills of police officers and others who deal with persons, particularly youth, involved in crime. Restore Belize has organized a training workshop on mediation which is looking at a number of issues that have to do with conflict resolution. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane […]
Written on February 6, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Mediation Training for Community Workers Who Come in Contact with Youths in Conflict
Proponents of the Equal Opportunities Bill, including the executive of the National AIDS Commission, the Special Envoy for Women and Children, as well as the Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation, made their rounds in a series of countrywide public consultations last month. During those discussions advocates of the proposed legislation presented the upside […]
Written on February 5, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.N.T.U. Tells Government to Slow Down on Equal Opportunities Bill
When consultations took place in the south, there was an overwhelming opposition to the posed bill. Over five thousand signatures have now been affixed to several documents circulated within the religious community where objections are being raised to the Equal Opportunities Bill. News Five spoke by phone with Pastor Vic Hernandez; he is the president […]
Written on February 5, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Over 5,000 Signatures in Objection to Equal Opportunities Bill
A campaign is ongoing to build consciousness on what discrimination is and to encourage action when it surfaces in the homes, workplace and other areas. The Live and Let Live Campaign is focusing on marginalized groups seeking to encourage neighbours to look out for one another whenever any type of prejudice is exposed. Here is […]
Written on February 5, 2020 | Posted in
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Chef Tim August of Stone Crab Bar and Grill in Dangriga took over the Dara Feeding Programme in Belize City on Tuesday. As you know, Joel ‘Dara’ Robinson and his wife cook hot meals for fifty plus children from neighbouring schools. Many of the children are from underprivileged homes and often times the only meal […]
Written on February 5, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Chef Tim August Takes Over Dara Feeding Program for the Day!
So Chef Tim August was the guest chef for the day at Dara’s Feeding Programme on Tuesday. He cooked for and fed over fifty students. It was a special treat that Dara welcomed. As you’ll recall, Dara was recently in our news because his programme was on life support. The funds were dried up and […]
Written on February 5, 2020 | Posted in
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Day two of a regional adolescents and youth forum took place today at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City. Today’s discussions centred on the topic of mental health and the need to speak out freely on the issue. The lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and the effects of gender-based violence on adolescent dating were […]
Written on January 28, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on “Adolescents Engaged for Change & a Sustainable Future”
Public consultations have taken place countrywide on the controversial Equal Opportunities Bill. This morning, the media gathered at the Radisson Fort George in Belize City, at the invitation of the National AIDS Commission, the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, the Attorney General’s Ministry and the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation […]
Written on January 21, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on What the Equal Opportunities Bill is NOT About
While the Bill makes reference to the LGBT community, it is only one of nineteen vulnerable groups identified in the proposed anti-discrimination law. The Bill speaks to four categories: conduct, protected characteristics, areas of public life and exceptions and exemptions. Consultant and Legal Drafts Person Rasha Brathwaite breaks down why it is necessary to remove […]
Written on January 21, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Bill Removes System Barriers to Prevent Discrimination
But what does the bill contemplate about cases of political victimization or discrimination? According to section thirty-eight of the proposed legislation, (Quote) “discrimination on the basis of political opinion shall not be unlawful unless if where the political opinion is the basis on which a person may be employed in, or appointed to, a particular […]
Written on January 21, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on But What About Political Discrimination?
The proposed legislation also deals with HIV prevention and care. The 2018 statistics from the Ministry of Health show that there were two hundred and fifty-four new infected persons with HIV/AIDS. On a yearly average, one hundred and five persons die from complications associated with the disease and twice the number of women than men […]
Written on January 21, 2020 | Posted in
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On Thursday night, the Ministry of Human Development and National AIDS Commission held a public consultation in Belize City as a part of its community outreach to get feedback on the Equal Opportunities Bill. The seventy-five page document, which seeks to address issues resulting from close to twenty different forms of discrimination, was developed following […]
Written on January 17, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Equal Opportunities Bill Consultation is Held in Belize City
So, following those three presentations, as well as remarks from Enrique Romero Executive Director of the National AIDS Commission, the public had the opportunity to make comments and give feedback on the Equal Opportunities Bill. There was a mixed crowd – with support from the bill coming from a wide cross section of society. Here’s […]
Written on January 17, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Support for the Equal Opportunities Bill
And while there was support for the bill – there was a group of independent persons who wanted clarity on some of the points. But there were many who didn’t support the bill. Many of them offered comments identified as Christians and/or members of a certain religious group. Most of their contention centered on elements […]
Written on January 17, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Candid Comments from Non-Supporters of the Bill
