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B.T.L. embarks on $25 million expansion

Belize Telecommunications Limited today announced plans for a major upgrade in services, particularly in rural areas. The twenty-five million dollar project is expected to add five thousand new lines by January and offer first time consumers a wide range of services. According to B.T.L.?s managing director, John Vondras, it?s all part of the company?s plan […]

Teacher trainers learn ABC?s of Afro/Maya studies

With the decision firmly made to include African and Maya Studies in the National Primary School curriculum, it is now time for the far more difficult stage of actually implementing the policy. Today News 5?s Patrick Jones sat in on a session aimed at preparing teachers for their new assignment. Patrick Jones, Reporting A month […]

Fuel up again; 50% is tax

Anyone who depends on motorised transport–and eventually that means all of us–took another hit in the wallet today as the price of the latest shipment of petroleum-based fuels rose to record heights. The effect at the gas pump was nothing short of devastating as premium gasoline skyrocketed thirty-two cents to eight dollars and thirty-three cents […]

Suspect investigated for second burglary

On yesterday?s newscast, we chronicled the story of Jason Fitzgibbon, a man nabbed by Police and charged for the burglary of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission in King?s Park. Tonight Fitzgibbon is being investigated once again, this time for a remarkably similar burglary committed just around the corner at the headquarters of the National AIDS […]

922: Fen tips, plenty of booty calls

And speaking of 922, today was the day, as promised, that the Crimestoppers hotline for anonymous tips to police was rerouted to Miami. The idea of having the calls answered in Florida and the information then passed to Belize is to ensure the anonymity of those calling in with tips, in that their voices could […]

Doctors seek help for Spina Bifida

It may be several months away, but in November Friends of Paediatrics will launch a massive one-week awareness campaign to help children suffering from a rare condition called Spina Bifida. This is a situation in which a child’s spinal cord protrudes from his back as a lump or as Hydrocephalus, also known as water head, […]

Orange Walk road bypass nears completion

Infrastructure: roads, bridges, airports, electricity, telephones. It?s the bedrock of national development. Today, as the nation?s latest highway project neared completion, News 5′ Patrick Jones explored the issue of how we can continue to keep ahead of the game. Patrick Jones, Reporting The scenic route, which bypasses Orange Walk Town, will give motorists the option […]

Segway scooter debuts at resort

You may have seen this strange machine on television but if you?re fortunate enough to visit an exclusive island near San Pedro you can actually see it for real…and maybe even get to ride it, like I did. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Designed to look and feel like an isolated paradise, Cayo Espanto is Belize?s most […]

Burglar caught red handed in King?s Park

They say that luck favours the well prepared…and that adage proved true this morning for law enforcement authorities on mobile patrol. News 5?s Jacqueline Woods has more. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Belize City police say twenty-seven year old Jason Fitzgibbon acted alone when he used this steel cutter to gain access into a downstairs window and […]

Two cyclists dead in road mishaps

Two bicyclists have lost their lives in separate traffic accidents over the weekend. On Friday afternoon around three thirty, thirty-one year old Jose Domingo Catalan, a resident of La Democracia, was knocked down by a vehicle travelling between miles twenty-eight and twenty-nine on the Western Highway. He suffered numerous head and body injuries and died […]

City man charged with rape

A Belize City man has been arrested for rape. Police received a report from a twenty-year old woman that on Thursday night forty-four year old Lindon Jeffries invited her into his house where they drank a couple bottles of Guinness. When it was time to leave, however, it is alleged that Jeffries pulled out a […]

C.C.J. deal may be possible in future

They flexed their collective muscles in the House of Representatives on Friday, but today the opposition United Democratic Party indicated that all may not be lost in the fight to have the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final appellate court for Belize. U.D.P. Leader Dean Barrow, in a telephone conversation, told News 5 that […]

O.A.S. official to visit Belize, Guatemala

Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luigi Enaudi, is this week on a working visit to Belize and Guatemala. Ambassador Enaudi will hold talks with high-ranking government officials from both countries, in an effort to restart the stalled facilitation process, aimed at ending the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. The first leg […]

Marion opts out of 200 metres

Fans hoping to see Marion Jones defend her three gold and two bronze medals in Athens may have to settle for a single effort in the long jump, as over the weekend the Belizean hero withdrew from the two hundred meter final at the U.S. qualifying meet in Sacramento. Making her decision just two hours […]

Latest Courts winner spins for maximum

The Courts Gold Rush came to B.T.L. Park in Belize City on Sunday and the change of venue proved very lucky for Martha Novelo of Yo Creek in the Orange Walk District as she took home the maximum possible prize. Rafael Martinez, Gold Rush Host ?Give it one big spin. Gold Rush lives your dream! […]

Obeah man busted in Cayo

Several weeks ago we reported on the commission of the previously unknown crime of ?attempting to leave Belize with more than the prescribed amount without first having reported the matter to the supervisory authority.? Today we are treated to another instalment in the series ?odd offences?, which comes courtesy of the San Ignacio police. Jacqueline […]

It?s Sagitun vs. Juventus in Football Final

James Adderley, Reporting Good evening, I?m James Adderley and we?re rolling out another blast of Sports Monday. Builders Hardware Bandits of Belmopan faced its moment of truth Saturday night when they hosted Sagitun of Independence in Week 5 of the Regents Cup Playoffs. Only a win could keep Belmopan?s hopes at reaching the Championship round […]

Opposition scuttles C.C.J. amendment

It was a legislative session that had all the elements we’ve come to expect in our young democracy, from the highest statesmanship to the lowest name-calling. But after all the voices were silent, the government side had to swallow hard and face for the first time what the Rolling Stones sang about long ago: that […]

Belize’s ranking plummets on Human Dev. index

The annual Human Development Report has been released by the United Nations Development Programme…and the news for Belize is not good. Our ranking among one hundred and seventy-seven countries, which was as high as number fifty-four in 2001 and slipped to sixty-seven last year, has now plummeted to ninety-nine. The reason for the precipitous drop […]

CITCO raises funds for Haiti, D.R. relief

Earlier this year more than one thousand people reportedly died In Haiti and the Dominican Republic after their houses were swept away by floods. This morning, the Belize City Council and the Belize Red Cross continued with their appeal to raise funds to help the storm victims from both countries. The strategy is based on […]

Marion will long jump in Athens

She was disappointed in her attempt to qualify for the hundred-meter sprint at next month’s Olympics…but last night Belizean Marion Jones was guaranteed a ticket to Athens. She reverted to top form by finishing first in the long jump in the U.S. qualifying meet in Sacramento, California. Here’s how she did on her best jump […]

Tribute to George Gabb at Bliss

On Sunday, the life and works of multi-talented Belizean artist George Gabb will be celebrated at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. The event is hosted by the Minister of Tourism, Investment and Culture, Mark Espat, in collaboration with the National Institute of Culture and History, the Belize Theatre Company and the Image Factory. […]

George Gabb: sculptor, poet, playwright

As one of Belize?s most accomplished creative artists, George Gabb was the subject of many of News 5?s stories over the years. One of the most comprehensive was presented in 1996 by reporter Audrey Matura. The occasion was the launching of one of his books. Audrey Matura, Reporter ?He is well known for his ability […]

It’s official: Privy Council stays

It’s official: The Privy Council will live on as Belize’s final court of appeal. The reason is that the proposed constitutional amendment to replace that body with the new Caribbean Court of Justice was killed before birth. This occurred last night when the U.D.P. Central Party Council rejected a compromise under which the Opposition would […]

No loaf better than half for the U.D.P.

Within hours of the Musa press conference, officials of the Opposition United Democratic Party told News 5 that the decision to vote against the Caribbean Court of Justice was the result of quote “an honest, healthy and critical exercise” that exemplifies the inherent democracy of the inner workings of the party. Member of the U.D.P. […]