Well known U.D.P. and PUP attorneys say real solutions to crime needed The brazen daylight shootings in front of Holy Redeemer Primary School in Belize City and at the Scotia Bank in Spanish Lookout is signaling a nation under siege. Both incidents occurred near police stations, indicating that gun toting criminals no longer seek the […]
Senator Lisa Shoman joined the choir in denouncing the budget and the cuts. But she felt security is the main issue close to the hearts of most Belizeans. According to Shoman, the Police Department is one part of the Ministry of National Security that has been a victim of budget cuts. Lisa Shoman, Senator […]
In Spanish Lookout today, a bank heist, ended with the murder of a security officer. The thirty-two year old was killed on the spot when five thieves jacked the Scotiabank. We will more on this story later in this newscast. But first we go to the Senate which met today in Belmopan and while the […]
The two groups which represent most Belizeans outside of party colors are the National Trade Union Congress of Henry and the Churches. Representatives on the behalf of both groups spoke about the burden that will face taxpayers. Paul Perriott spoke on behalf of National Trade Union Congress of Henry and Henry Gordon gave the viewpoint […]
The senate today also debated the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Act, 2010 which was first tabled in the House last week and was lost in the budget debate. Senators Eamon Courtenay and Liza Shoman vehemently objected to the amendment proposed by the Government calling it draconian and warning that it would give the Supreme […]
The budget debate took up the largest part of the proceedings in the House of Representatives last week so few persons noted that an alarming piece of legislation was sneaked through the House. It is the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Act, 2010. The new law gives to the Supreme Court of Belize the power […]
A slew of taxes to be imposed to bridge the sixty million dollar plus financial gap in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year will prove to have far-flung effects on the local economy. With the implementation of an added twenty-five percent on the existing General Sales Tax, consumers will see an increase on items […]
The land controversy at mile forty one on the Western Highway continues to garner attention. For the second Sunday in row, a group of Belizeans who either have interests or have already invested in developing the land, held a meeting to record names of everyone who wanted ownership of a parcel of the land. The […]
It was once known as the Merida Initiative but that has now changed and the US sponsored project is now known as the Central American Regional Initiative. Belize today received a donation of some fifty thousand dollars under the initiative. At a presentation today, The Kolbe foundation got equipment for security management. New Five’s Jose […]
During the budget debate last week in the capital, it was revealed that the Ministry of National Security would not be spared from a budget cut and will be facing new constraints for the upcoming financial year. The police department stands to see less cash infused in its coffers to battle crime and that is […]
With the passage of the 2010/2011 budget a number of measures will take effect that will burden consumers. Of the new taxes to take effect on April first, the GST which will now go up to twelve point five percent, is the one tax that will be felt across the board. This tax alone will […]
While students at Holy Redeemer School were sent home traumatized following the shooting on North Front Street, two students at another Primary school got violent. And if you thought that school fights are not supposed to be big news well, at Saint John Vianney a fight got out of control and one student ended up […]
Over a thousand acres of land in Cotton Tree will be sold off. The land has been squatted on since 2003 and in the past few months over six hundred persons have expressed interest in owning the land. It got ugly when a resident of the area agitated others to lay claim to the land. […]
A new ride was added to the fleet of the Belize Defence Force today courtesy of the British government. It’s a gesture that comes from its cordial relationship with the BDF, one that according to Brigadier General Dario Tapia continues to grow. News Five attended the handing over ceremony and spoke to Tapia and British […]
Activities celebrating Women’s Month 2010 wind down this weekend with an all day expo that promises to showcase the talents and handicraft of women from the Belize District. The month of activities was packed and one of the main features was the graduation on Wednesday of forty-seven women who took up training in an initiative […]
Shoman also spoke about the property rights issue. It was an issue that was challenged in court by a group of landowners, an effort heralded by Sir Barry Bowen, who recently passed away. On the twenty-eighth of July 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that there should have been a referendum, but according to Shoman, a […]
The Barrow bond and budget debate gets underway in the House of Representatives this Thursday morning. Sparks flew between the current and former prime ministers during the presentation a week ago when Prime Minister Dean Barrow bestowed on former PM, Said Musa, the “J” word taken from Khaled Hosseni’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. While the […]
Human trafficking is the trade or commerce of people, a practice which is illegal in most countries and has been likened to a form of modern day slavery. The most common form in Belize is the internal sex trafficking of minors. And according to the 2009 Human Trafficking Report of the US State Department, the […]
The Great Escape, the luxury yacht, that damaged Belize’s pristine barrier reef on November thirtieth, 2009 is gone but not forgotten. There were reports that it was leaking fuel into the sea and that it would have been moved. Well, the yacht is no longer at the site where it grounded. It wasn’t a salvage […]
By now you may have heard the extremely controversial remarks made last week Thursday by Manuel Heredia, the Minister of Tourism, about one potential plan to deal with crime on the island of Ambergris Caye. Heredia said that potential visitors should fill out a questionnaire at the water taxis asking them why they decided to […]
Racial profiling has been a tactic that was once practiced by some police departments in the United States that led to costly lawsuits. So it was shocking when a Minister of Tourism made comments interpreted as profiling while he holds a portfolio that implies the importance of cultural diversity. Our blog on the News Five […]
The comments were made after the shooting death of Corporal Gavin Sanchez and today Sergeant Paulino Reyes, the cop who shot and killed him has been placed on administrative leave. Reyes is not exactly on interdiction or half pay, but neither is he on active duty. And according to sources in the department, there were […]
The change of weather at the latter part of the weekend did not change course for some people who had already made plans to be heard against crime. More specifically, the organizers and members of the newly formed Belizeans for Justice proceeded with a peace march and rally. The event had a full agenda, with […]
We’ve heard about elements of the Police Department being accused of theft, but how often have you heard that allegation against a female officer? Well that is the claim tonight from a visitor, who says the cop stole his money and other personal effects. Sixty-one year old Woodrow Gabourel, who is vacationing, said the incident […]
The beachfront on Ambergris Caye has been reduced to a façade for violence that has been spreading on the island. There were two separate stabbing incidents on Tuesday night. That prompted San Pedro’s Mayor, the Minister of Tourism, the police department, the town council, and the business Community to hold a meeting to find efforts […]
