Last year his name was splashed across the British press as the proverbial billionaire bull in a china shop. According to Fleet Street the bi-national Michael Ashcroft, who happened to be Belize’s Ambassador to the UN, was attempting to brashly parlay his position as the Conservative Party’s treasurer and biggest benefactor to attain new heights […]
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 […]
Belize has signed the first post-independence extradition treaty with the United States. The document was signed on Thursday aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter “Confidence” by Prime Minister Said Musa and US Ambassador Carolyn Curiel. It replaces the Extradition Treaty signed in 1972 between the United Kingdom, the terms of which were applied by both […]
We haven’t heard about any Chinese shop robberies for a while, but today a teahouse on Regent Street was robbed by three men. Fortunately no one was injured, and the thieves went away, no doubt disappointed by their small take. Police say shortly before noon, three dark skinned males entered the Ocean Tea Palace at […]
Although the regional CARIFESTA is not until August, plans for the biggest Cultural Splash in the Caribbean are underway, and so are plans for CARIFESTA week in Belize. CARIFESTA 7 will be held in St. Kitts and Nevis. Belize’s Director of Culture Beverly Smith Lopez attended a technical meeting last week in St. Kitts, to […]
A modern dance troupe from the Mexican State of Oaxaca ended their tour of Belize today at the House of Culture in Belize City. Besides a general audience performance this evening, this afternoon they gave a special performance for children. The dance was entitled “Dream in a Toy Box.” The Oaxaca Contemporary Dance troupe’s visit […]
You may not have been aware of it, but the nation’s tiny tots spent the entire month of March doing fun, educational activities to help spark their mental and physical development. News Five was there when the city’s various preschoolers joined hands to celebrate early childhood education. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Hundreds of preschoolers paraded from […]
While the Glovers Reef Atoll remains an elusive vacation spot to both Belizeans and tourists; the reefs of the marine reserve have been no stranger to illegal fishing activities. In an attempt to resolve the issues affecting the reserve, late last year, representatives of the Fisheries administration and the Ministry of Fisheries got together with […]
In related news, there does appear to be some confusion in the case involving the arrest of a group of fishermen caught putting nets on the reef on March 9th. The fishermen arrested were Jorge Williams, Ricardo Parham, Gerson Coleman and most surprisingly, Ovel Leonardo, a member of the Fishing Advisory Board for the Ministry […]
A forest fire that raged in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of the Cayo District since last Saturday has been brought under control. It is not known what caused the blaze, but it is estimated to have spread over 6,000 acres. According to Tim Godoy, District Forest Officer, fire fighters from the Forest Department, aided […]
One month ago, they were elected to office and today the mayors and deputy mayors of seven town boards and Belmopan City met in the capital. The mayor of Belize City was also there for this first orientation of the councils and town administrators. Besides outlining basic responsibilities and their role in running the country’s […]
George “Junie Balls” McKenzie’s appeal in the Supreme Court today was adjourned on the request of his attorney Lutchman Sooknandan, who needed more time to prepare. It will be heard on April 7th. McKenzie and Eugene Neal, who were convicted by Magistrate Herbert Lord and given 4 years in prison each for possession of a […]
A laborer from Independence is accused of raping and robbing a woman from Placencia on Thursday. Police picked up 46 year old Wilbert Garcia after a report from the victim, a 44 year old woman, who said that Garcia entered her home around 5:00pm, attacked her, threatened her with a kitchen knife and then raped […]
Some young people are getting the message about “Watch Yu Back, Anybody Could be Jack.” This morning a schoolgirl screamed and ran for help after a man tried to get her to come near his car on Mex Avenue. Police say around 8:00am, the 12 year old student of James Garbutt School told them a […]
The Belize Red Cross regularly offers First Aid training and on Monday a workshop got underway for teachers of Anglican schools. The teachers who came from all over the country, have been learning how to administer CPR, rescue breathing, treat someone who has been poisoned, suffers from seizures or broken a bone. Adela Parra, a […]
The adults in the industry may have been promoting tourism awareness last week, but today some Belize City primary school students explored the topic in their open day. It wasn’t the only item on the agenda, which impressed the parents as well as fellow classmates. News Five was invited to view the display. Jacqueline Woods, […]
We’ve bought them for 39 years, soft drinks in glass bottles. But now Belizeans, like their neighbors in Mexico can opt for a plastic container. They cost a little more, but you don’t have to worry about what to do with the pint, or do you? Concern that the disposable bottles for Coke, Sprite and […]
He might be on the streets today, but tomorrow George “Junie Balls” McKenzie will be in court yet again. McKenzie and Eugene Neal have appealed Magistrate Herbert Lord’s sentence of four years for possession of a prohibited firearm and six months for unlicensed ammunition. They are currently out on bail. According to the lawyer for […]
In Police news, three men were picked up and detained by police today after they reportedly attacked a bus conductor on Tuesday. Guadalupe Tzib reported that three passengers aboard a Novelo’s bus heading for San Ignacio refused to pay their fare when the bus stopped near Roaring Creek. Tzib said when he tried to collect; […]
Two men from Independence Village have been charged with rape and unlawful carnal knowledge after a 15-year-old girl became pregnant. The girl reported that in March of last year, after she left the youth hostel she became involved with 43 year old Andrew Logan and 51 year old Jesus Urbina both of Independence and has […]
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 […]
An out of court settlement has been reached in a libel suit involving a newspaper editor and this television station. Audrey Matura Tillett, editor of the Guardian, had filed the action last year against Channel Five and it went to trial on Monday in the Supreme Court before Justice Murray Shanks. After calling witnesses Karla […]
It would be very easy to walk into a rural community and say, “You can no longer shoot that animal and don’t even think about cutting down that tree. We’ve got to save the environment!” But then what? How would these people survive? The European Union has given the Belize Audubon Society a 1.28 million-dollar […]
This year the Miss Belize beauty pageant promises to be an event to remember. In addition to the traditional strolls across the stage and the various costumes, local artists will also entertain the audience. But more notably, for the first time ever, Belmopan City will play host to the annual competition. Today the young ladies […]
