It was the high seas equivalent of the Hummingbird Highway hijacking. Only this time there was no holdup–only gunfire. When it was over 5 passengers and the captain of a boat on its way from Puerto Barrios to Punta Gorda were dead, either drowned or shot by 3 gunman. The story unfolded on Tuesday afternoon […]
While the casualties were being counted in Punta Gorda surviving passenger Larry Smith was being operated on at the KHMH in Belize City. The 49-year old Smith, an American by birth and Naturalized Belizean, is a hotel owner in P.G. who has lived in Belize for the last 27 years. He told News Five’s Stewart […]
The Belize Audubon Society held its annual general meeting on Tuesday night and for some reason the environmental NGO, once an obscure collection of inveterate birdwatchers, has become the focus of politicians from around the country. Over 300 members–over half of whom couldn’t tell the difference between a flycatcher and a flyswatter–jammed into the Radisson […]
It was billed as “Challenge Day 2000: Dance for a healthy heart.” And that’s just what thousands of Belizeans did today in an activity coordinated by the National Sports Council. The idea was to emphasize the need for exercise and physical fitness by having participants dance for 30 minutes. Music was provided by Love FM […]
He came on a mission to resuscitate a relationship that may have been suffering from neglect. But by the time CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington and his 7-member team left the country this afternoon it looked like Belize’s geographic position had been moved at least several hundred miles to the East. This morning Carrington, his […]
Ever since the world first began to understand the magnitude of the global AIDS crisis, authorities have tried to fight the deadly disease across a wide range of fronts. On Tuesday evening concerned Belizeans gathered in the nation’s capital to make a statement of their own. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting In 1986, the first AIDS case […]
42-year old Gumerindo Ruiz has been charged with murder in Monday’s killing of his common law wife. Police today confirmed that Ruiz and 29-year old Denigna Salam got into an argument at their home in Alta Vista Village. That quarrel ended with Ruiz chopping Salam to death with a machete. The pair apparently are frequent […]
In a follow up to another crime reported last night, 42-year old Denny Gabourel, a mechanic of Wilson Street in Belize City, has been charged with indecent assault, harm and theft in connection with an incident reported to have occurred in the wee hours of Sunday morning. A 28-year old woman claims that after being […]
Belize received some welcomed support over the weekend in its continuing fight against Guatemala’s territorial claim to the country. The Central American Human Rights Commission, meeting in Guatemala City–the proverbial belly of the beast–passed a resolution denouncing the claim as a flagrant violation of Belize’s right to self-determination. The resolution was proposed by the Belize […]
If it sometimes seems that the Police Department receives more charitable donations than the Salvation Army, Red Cross and Children’s Home combined, it’s because it’s probably true. This morning Eastern Division headquarters on Queen Street was the venue for yet another handout…and while motorcycles do not have the same status as double cab pickups, the […]
The Prime Minister and BTL may be at war over the high rates for internet service but that hasn’t stopped the nation’s educational system from embracing new technology. Today one south side school took a big step toward crossing the digital divide. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting The building costs $187,000 to construct. However, it was money […]
This morning inmates from the Hattieville prison tore down two buildings on South Street. No, the prisoners were not on a rampage in the city; they were on a work programme to assist the Ministry of Housing. Since 1998, the ministry began notifying owners of old and abandoned buildings to either repair the structures or […]
They are growing in popularity at home and over the weekend they tested the waters abroad. The group Henchmob appeared at the annual Cayefest on Sunday in Culver City, California and if the Mob’s inaugural foreign performance didn’t have the crowd calling for more it at least earned them some respect. (Video of Henchmob performing) […]
On last night’s newscast we highlighted Channel Five’s winning of three trophies in this year’s Caribbean Broadcasting Awards. Since the story that won two of the prizes may not be fresh in your memory, we’ll bring it to you again. The report, first broadcast on April 27th, 1999, brought to light a confrontation between some […]
It’s not often that we get to see the Secretary General of CARICOM in these parts so when we do, it tends to be a little bit special. Edwin Carrington arrived on Sunday and will spend the next few days spreading the gospel of regionalism to an audience that is not always sure of just […]
An early morning shootout between police and 2 suspected robbers has left the suspects hospitalized. The drama unfolded near the San Ignacio Town hospital around 3:00 Sunday morning. The police were searching the area for two men who had just committed a hold up. As the police entered Hospital Street, they saw their suspects and […]
Today, the Qiang family of Regent Street is trying to catch their breath after they were held up inside their restaurant on Sunday night. Around 9:00, a group of tourists had just left the Ocean Tea Palace at the corner of Dean and Regent streets, when according to the restaurant’s owner, Zhao Hui Qiang, 2 […]
A Sunday afternoon outing has ended in tragedy for 4 students of Libertad Village. The young men were all traveling south in a car on the Northern Highway near the entrance to Corozal town when the vehicle crashed into an oncoming truck. It is not clear exactly what caused the crash, but as the driver […]
One man has been detained pending the outcome of a rape investigation. Police say a 28-year old woman reported to them that around 3:00 on Sunday morning, she was walking over the Bel-China Bridge, heading towards Vernon Street when a dark green pickup driven by a dark man drove up and offered her a ride. […]
Reports from Stann Creek District are that a woman has been chopped to death by her common law husband. The incident occurred just before noon today in Alta Vista Village. Mircendo Ruiz has been detained by police after he allegedly chopped his common law wife, 30-year old Benigna Salaam, in the head, back and arms […]
When lobster season closes on February 15th it means that not only are fishermen supposed to stop fishing, but the rest of us are also to stop buying, holding and eating the savory crustaceans. To make sure the laws are obeyed the Fisheries Department makes routine inspections of various establishments and Customs Department also keeps […]
It may not have been the olympics or world cup football but if you were watching Channel Five over the weekend you saw that a Belizean contingent made its presence felt in an important international forum: the world of television. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Belize turned in a strong performance in Saturday’s night’s Caribbean Broadcasting Awards, […]
Good evening I’m James Adderly and you’re strapped in for another ride on Sports Monday. The BFL playoffs reached the end of the road in week 10 at the MCC Grounds for 2 archrivals. In the role of host Kulture Yabra looks to humble Grigamandala of Dangriga who are headed to the finals. Meanwhile Griga […]
If you are one of the many Belizeans who got locked into the Lotto habit, the date December 29th, 1999 will remain indelibly etched in your dream book. That is the night that the familiar sound of the Lotto machine cranked up for the last time…and for the ensuing five months the little numbered balls […]
In an update to a story we first reported on Wednesday regarding a police raid at a home on West Collet Canal, tonight four men who were detained following the search have been charged. On Tuesday night police went to #51 West Collet Canal and detained 27-year old Sidney Ellis, his brother 33-year old Richard […]
