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Not all of the hurricane assistance from abroad has come in the form of money, food and clothing. In a unique display of regional solidarity, 26 technicians from Trinidad and Tobago have arrived in the country to help restore BTL’s communication lines. The 24 installers, one supervisor and a manager, all from the Telecommunication Services […]
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
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It is with great regret that we announce the death of one of the giants in Belizean entertainment. Gladys Stuart was a teacher, playwright, actress and comedienne, who brought laughter to the hearts of thousands of Belizeans both on the stage and over the radio. She passed away on Friday and funeral services will be […]
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Gladys Stuart: dead at 83
In crime news police have apprehended one of the three men who escaped from the Dangriga lockup on September 28th. Frederick Arzu was caught around 3:00 Saturday morning in Belize City. Fellow escapees John Elijio and Jason Flowers are still at large. Arzu was convicted and sentenced
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Crime |
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6 people are $2,000 richer after their names were picked in the Courts Millennium Draw. Boxes representing the 6 Courts branches across the country were lined up as a winner representing each district was picked. Dawnalee Gordon, Court’s Advertising and Promotion officer says the draw gives more people a chance to win some much needed […]
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Miscellaneous |
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Students of Belizean geography are aware that as you go from Hondo to Sarstoon the behaviour of Belize’s many inland waterways changes. In the north, for example, the rivers tend to rise more slowly, but once they flood, tend to stay that way for a long time. As you go south, however, the rivers are […]
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Sibun rancher hit hard by Keith
Good evening, I’m James Adderly and you’re in tuned to the first post Keith serving of Sports Monday, being aired on a Tuesday. The entire nation was hooked into Marion Jones at the Sydney Olympics when Hurricane Keith had us all scurrying for higher grounds. In that turbulence we might have lost focus of the […]
Written on October 10, 2000 | Posted in
Sports |
Comments Off on Marion appointed Sports Ambassador
Rivers continue to rise in much of northern Belize and concern now focuses on both the human and economic suffering occasioned on the mainland in the aftermath of hurricane Keith. An extensive aerial survey by News Five this morning showed that a number of communities have been hard hit by floodwaters in the Belize, Orange […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Villages on Rio Hondo are isolated
David Dyck, the community’s co-chairman, told News Five that Blue Creek’s losses will run to around 6 million dollars. David Dyck, Co-Chairman, Blue Creek “Well this is spoilt. If it stays underwater more than a week, it’s lost. If it goes down quick, then we can still harvest it, but not if it stays longer. […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Mennonite losses are large
As bad as things are in Blue Creek, they are just a preview of what communities downstream will suffer as the determined waters of the Rio Hondo wind their way to the sea some 75 miles away. And not just Belize is affected. On your screen is the Mexican village of La Union, just a […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Downstream communities face flooding
The wind, rain and rising waters have impacted more than just the residents of northern Belize. Sugar, the economic mainstay of the region, not to mention the entire nation, has also taken a hit. An official team representing all facets of the sugar industry did a flyover of cane lands this morning and their report […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Sugar loses predicted to be $10 million
Sugar is not the only major industry to be touched by Keith. Tourism of course will suffer on San Pedro and Caye Caulker and so will another economic activity: fishing. Bobby Usher of the Northern Fisheries Cooperative told News Five that his co-op’s receiving station at Caye Caulker has been destroyed and so have most […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Fishing industry will also suffer
One institution designed to ease the pain of disasters like Keith is called insurance. It is difficult to estimate how many claims have arisen from this hurricane, but adjusters have been working around the clock to get them settled. This afternoon we spoke to the head of one of the nation’s largest insurers to get […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Insurance companies begin to settle claims
In times of disaster the most stress is invariably placed on the people who are least able to help themselves. Jackie Woods today visited one institution dedicated to providing assistance to those who need it most. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Due to the damage sustained by their homes many elderly residents of Belize City have been […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Social Issues |
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As we reported earlier in the week, one of the most disappointing aspects of hurricane Keith’s aftermath was the filthy condition of the shelters after they were vacated. Today we spoke to Mayor David Fonseca who explained how the shelters were administered. Jose Sanchez “The schools that were used as shelters, the damage they received […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Mayor clarifies shelter policy
Since Tuesday, the Belize City Council has been organizing community groups and volunteers to assist with the city’s clean up efforts. The council is also collecting supplies to aid the victims of hurricane Keith. Paco Smith, Public Relations Officer, Belize City Council “What we have here behind me is a large donation of clothing. The […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Volunteers assist city in cleanup
The Belize Red Cross continues to serve as a focal point for hurricane relief, both as a recipient of funding and disperser of aid. In addition to major donations from the international and American Red Cross organisations, PACT and IDB, recent financial help has come from the Bank of Nova Scotia, Gentrac and Caterpillar. The […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
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One more body has been found off San Pedro Ambergris Caye. At this time police say that due to the advanced state of decomposition they have been unable to identify it. According the police the corpse is that of a man and it was found floating in the waters off the caye. Authorities strongly suspect […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Body of second victim found at San Pedro
While News Five’s small staff of reporters and cameramen have been on the go now for the better part of a week, we could not have covered this story without the help of our colleagues around the country. We have just received additional footage from Centaur Television in Orange Walk and the following clips from […]
Written on October 6, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Orange Walk District watches and waits
While power and communications have still not returned to the hurricane ravaged islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker, emergency relief measures are beginning to kick in and we are informed that a certain rhythm of life–albeit a hard one–has returned to those islands. For the moment the focus of concern has shifted inland, where […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Social Issues |
Comments Off on City’s homeless in long term shelters
Today the Belize Red Cross met with representatives of the American Red Cross to brief them on what plans are in place to assist people who have been affected by hurricane Keith. The Belize Red Cross has made an assessment and have decided to bring immediate assistance to those villages in the western and northern […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Red Cross will help flood victims
While offers of disaster assistance continue to come in from abroad, the more immediate help for communities stricken by Keith is being generated locally. The University of Belize has established a relief drive and is asking all students, faculty and staff to deliver food and clothing items to the Dean’s office at the respective campuses. […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Belizeans mobilize to provide relief
During this and every other recent hurricane season we take their expertise for granted, but in the aftermath of a major storm we have to give special thanks to the dedicated professionals at the Meteorological Office. For those viewers who were a little too agitated to clearly recall Keith’s chronology, we called on Chief Meteorologist […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Chief meteorologist recalls Keith’s path
For those viewers who simply can’t get enough of Keith we will replay the weather report from Friday night’s newscast. Although the report airs approximately 6:45 it is recorded by the Met Office several hours earlier at the studios of Bel Caribe Communications. For many Belizeans this was the first and last word on Keith […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Sept 29 weather report was cautious
Our crew has just returned from Crooked Tree and Jose Sanchez reports that the causeway is covered by over five feet of water. As a result Crooked Tree may as well be a Caye, although the water surrounding the village is fresh, not salty. After taking a boat to the village, we spoke to a […]
Written on October 5, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Crooked Tree residents face major flood
It may not officially be classified as part of the damage caused by hurricane Keith, but three people are dead tonight after a bus ran off the road and plunged into the rain-swollen waters of a creek in the Orange Walk District. Details are sketchy, but it is believed that the Venus bus was headed […]
Written on October 4, 2000 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on 3 dead as bus plunges into rain swollen creek
