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Minister says recent raids are not politically motivated

Since Perdomo took over as Minister, the Police Department has engaged in several questionable heavy handed raids for which apologies were later issued by the Commissioner. More recently, we’ve seen the arrest of Perdomo’s political adversary, Joe Coye, on the basis of what can only be called a bizarre complaint, and this week the five […]

Art exhibit pairs veteran and newcomer

One is a fixture in the world of Belizean art, the other a first time exhibitor. Beginning Friday night the work of both women will be on display at the House of Culture. Today News Five’s Kendra Griffith took a sneak peak. Kendra Griffith, Reporting Rachael Heusner is known on the art scene for her […]

Viewers express preference for Kriol on news transcript

If you’re watching this newscast on television or streaming video then this next story may not mean much. The fact is, however, that thousands of viewers rely on the printed transcript of the news which appears on our website, channel5belize.com. And while the site is among the nation’s most popular, over the last ten years […]

Ladyville homeowner sends burglar to morgue

According to police reports, it was a classic case of self defense. A man returns to his house late at night, only to find a burglar who attacks him. Following a struggle, the legally armed homeowner shoots his assailant dead. These may be the bare facts but behind every death is a personal tragedy. News […]

Bank denies charges of irregularities by F.I.U.

The Belize Bank today denied allegations that it violated the law in relation to a 2004 transaction that the Financial Intelligence Unit says it should have reported. In a press release today, the usually publicity shy institution said the following. “The Belize Bank Limited wishes to inform the public that there is no substance whatsoever […]

Guilty plea rejected; defendant will be tried for murder

He was accused in the heinous killing of a young woman three years ago and following an unusual turn of events, the Supreme Court today decided that eighteen year old Robert Gillett will stand trial for the crime. On April third Gillett pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in connection to the vicious […]

Arsonist sentenced to 5 years in prison

In other court news, an American accused of arson has been found guilty and sentenced to spend five years in jail. Thirty-eight old Mauricio Banaza pleaded guilty to setting fire to his Mohammed Street apartment in December 2006, but Justice Adolph Lucas ordered that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental competence. That […]

Taxes on fuel going down, but still significant

You don’t have to be a taxi driver to know that whatever you’re driving, the price to fill up the tank has never been higher. Ten fifty-nine for a gallon of premium, ten forty-five for regular, nine seventy-two for kerosene and nine sixty-one for diesel, the crucial fuel which propels the economy. And while government […]

CitCo promotes healthy life styles with fair

If you’re not feeling well you go see the doctor, right? Well, in a narrow sense, yes, but these days health is viewed in a much broader way … and today, as News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, the Belize City Council reached out to send that message to the public. Mark Bernard, Senior Public Health […]

New book profiles governor general

For some people, Sir Colville Young is the Governor General of Belize but to a great many others Sir Colville is a teacher, a poet, an author and musician, not to mention a highly regarded linguist. But something you may not know is that the Governor General has been bestowed with four honorary degrees, not […]

Student poetry contest focuses on child abuse

Competitions for students are a growing trend in Belize and today one local organisation rewarded another set of winners. But what made this ceremony different was the issue promoted by the contest. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has more. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Sexual abuse is one of those sensitive issues rarely discussed in our society. But […]

Massive police raid on businessman’s home produces puny results

Tonight a well known businessman, Jose Shoman, and his wife, Malachi, are out on bail after a drawn out police raid which lasted for more than five hours at their home. The search, which included a dog from the K-Nine Unit, started out around nine this morning when a fleet of five vehicles arrived at […]

New legal action attempts to enforce wall ruling

It’s the legal dispute that refuses to die … and today lawyers for the Brown Sugar and Harbourview companies were in the Supreme Court seeking the enforcement of a ruling that they thought they had already won. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the latest twist in the case known appropriately as “the wall”. Fred Lumor, […]

Developer’s lawsuit against environmental activist fails

Ara Macao: that was the development project that proposed to build a two hundred and sixty room hotel, four hundred and sixty condos, a hundred thousand square foot casino and an eighteen-hole golf course on the northern end of the Placencia peninsula. And while years of public controversy, regulatory red tape and uncertain financing have […]

Accused of murder, defendant found guilty of manslaughter

In news from the criminal side of the Supreme Court, a teenager charged with murder was instead found guilty of the lesser offence of Manslaughter. Eighteen year old Steven Manzanero stabbed Larry Quewell on the night of March twenty-sixth, 2005 in Cayo’s Macal River Park where a fair was being held. Quewell died the next […]

New police website offers better access by public

It’s the part of police work that you don’t see every night on the news. Kendra Griffith reports that—like much of society—law enforcement is joining the information revolution. Kendra Griffith, Reporting This morning the Police Information Technology Unit unveiled its latest project, an official department website accessible by the general public. Insp. Mario Alcoser, Manager, […]

Garifuna Collective returns from successful int’l tour

One of the old sayings in the entertainment business is “the show must go on” … and that’s exactly what happened following the unexpected death of musician Andy Palacio in January of this year. The North American tour previously scheduled for him and his band, the Garifuna Collective, went on without him and according to […]

Local group takes music to the streets

While their music may not be the stuff of world tours, the rotating band of artists that dropped by our studios this afternoon believes that their work can still have a major impact right here at home. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the story. Robert Sampson, Bass, Singers and Players of Instruments “Music is the […]

Youth chess competition draws a crowd

It’s a game that’s been around over a thousand years, and in Belize its roots likely go back as far as the Baymen. But in more recent times chess has toiled in relative obscurity in our country, with no formal organisation and no figures to indicate just how many people were playing the game. But […]

P.U.C. blacks out B.E.L.’s price hike request; int’l expert to review findings

Belize Electricity Limited and the Public Utilities Commission continue to buck heads tonight over the power company’s request for an increase in rates. On Friday, the P.U.C. announced that even though certain figures were adjusted during the Annual Review Proceeding of B.E.L., in the end, no changes would be made in the prices paid by […]

San Ignacio janitor bludgeoned to death

Tonight investigators in the Cayo district are still searching for the killer or killers who murdered a San Ignacio resident. According to police, the body of fifty-six year old Feliciano Martinez was found in the drain in front of his Theodicio Ochoa home around six-thirty on Friday morning. A post mortem has since certified that […]

Bizarre shooting in Ladyville: murder or suicide?

A Ladyville family is in mourning tonight following the sudden and bizarre death of their loved one on Friday night. We say bizarre because as News Five’s Marion Ali reports, tonight it is still unclear whether the young victim committed suicide in public or he was executed at close range. Janice Middleton, Mother of Deceased […]

U.S. sex offender busted in Punta Gorda

Another U.S. fugitive has been caught in Belize and sent back home. His name is Kevin Daniel Murphy, a resident of Utah. Here’s how his local television station reported the apprehension over the weekend. Many who have been here call Belize one of the most beautiful places on the planet; a little slice of heaven […]

B.D.F. soldier dies in Chiquibul road accident …

Meanwhile, an accident on the Chiquibul Road has left a Belize Defence Force solider dead and eight others injured. According to Commander Dario Tapia, Corporal and medic Zaccheus Pop was escorting a group of recruits from the Mountain Pine Ridge base camp to the San Ignacio Hospital for medical treatment around eight on Saturday morning. […]

… While former minister arrested for drunk driving

Former P.U.P. minister of state, Marcial Mes, is once again in trouble following an alcohol related traffic mishap. Tonight he is out on police bail following his arrest on charges of Driving with Alcohol Content Above the Prescribed Limit, Negligent Harm, Damage to Property and Driving Without Due Care and Attention. The charges arose out […]