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Which day will your child’s school reopen?

Earlier today the Ministry of Education provided a schedule for the re-opening of schools and from the look of things; there are some students that will be away from the classrooms for the rest of the week, that’s in cases where schools double up as hurricane shelters. On Wednesday the following schools will reopen: San […]

The calm before the storm, hours before Richard lands on shore

Over the past weekend, the nation held its collective breath in anticipation of Hurricane Richard, the first to hit Belize for this 2010 season. Many residents did not appear overly concerned; perhaps because of two recent threats that did not come to pass. But by Saturday it was abundantly clear that Richard was heading directly […]

The morning after Richard in Belize City, the clean up begins

But the worst was yet to come. Twenty-four hours after the passage of Richard, the picture of the devastation began to emerge. The Category one hurricane slammed into Belize City with a vengeance. The hurricane force winds caused the collapse of wooden houses throughout the city. Trees tumbled atop some houses or fell across streets, […]

William Neal of Open Your Eyes discusses Hurricane Aftermath

We’re joined on set by William Neal, also my co-host on Open Your Eyes. William did a fly-over earlier today of the affected areas in the central and southern regions of Belize. William Neal “You get an idea of the devastation in small shots when you are on the ground. But it gives you a […]

Houses toppled and roofs blown away in Hattieville

Hurricane Richard did not spare the Belize District. After winds measuring up to ninety-five miles per hour hit the coast, many hoped that it would subside after passing Belize City but the most powerful bands of the hurricane slammed parts of Hattieville, some fifteen miles on the Western Highway. The devastation covered the entire village; […]

Even Belmopan residents suffer the full force of the hurricane

Richard made landfall about twenty miles south southwest of Belize City. The hurricane winds extended up to fifteen miles from its centre. In the Capital, where the National Emergency Management Organization is headquartered, the full force of Richard was felt at around eight o’clock. The rains continued throughout the night but by the crack of […]

More stories of the storm from Dangriga

The next stop in our coverage is in the south. Damage to property was not as stark in Dangriga but residents bunkered down either at home or in shelters.  The streets were desolate as the torrential rains poured down for more than six hours. But in Gales Point Manatee it was different story as the […]

Prime Minister says money will be found to rebuild and fix homes

We have told you about the drama and devastation caused by the category one hurricane. It’s substantive but to get a measure of what really went down, News Five headed to Belmopan for a press conference at the NEMO headquarters. Seated at the head table were the NEMO Minister Melvin Hulse, Coordinator Noreen Fairweather, Chief […]

NEMO says 200 homes damaged and $33.8 Million in damages so far

According to NEMO Coordinator, Noreen Fairweather, the preliminary assessment got underway with aerial reconnaissance and terrestrial teams in affected areas.   The preliminary figures are at thirty-three point eight million dollars. That figure is on the low side but Fairweather says it does not take into account the tourism industry or the impact due to the […]

NEMO Minister says it could have been worse

  Everyone agrees that Richard was quite a storm. Although the mood at NEMO headquarters was celebratory because it could have been far worse, Minister of NEMO Melvin Hulse was surprisingly quite stern. Hulse spoke of the coordinated effort and the fact that lives could have been lost because many people did not heed the […]

B.E.L. customers in the dark; when will electricity be back on?

Most of the country still remains without power. Cities, towns and villages across the country lost power shortly after five on Sunday evening as Hurricane Richard made landfall near central Belize. It’s now twenty-four hours later and electricity is yet to be restored in areas in the central, western and southern districts. And according to […]

Red Cross activated to aid with the disaster in Richard’s wake

In times of hurricanes, we have come to rely on the Belize Red Cross. Earlier today we found the organization in full disaster management mode. Over a hundred teams have been deployed to assist families affected by the storm. With membership on the NEMO Executive team, the Red Cross is represented at both national and […]

CEMO making first assessments and disbursements

And while Richard left our shores, it is going to take a while before the lives of those affected will return to normalcy.  To help the many thousands in Belize City, the City Emergency Management Organization, CEMO, is making first assessments and disbursements, but is also relying on NEMO. Chairperson of CEMO, Mayor Zenaida Moya […]

Sports Monday also affected by Hurricane Richard

Well by now you’d know that Richard caused substantive damage around the country and that life came to a standstill in most areas as most citizens headed to shelters or secured themselves at home. It means that sporting events were off limits and so this Monday’s Sports report from James Adderley is being deferred for […]

Will Tropical Storm or Hurricane Richard pass through Belize?

So far this year we have been spared, but a tropical storm churning in the Western Caribbean could potentially spell trouble for the country. Tropical Storm Richard is displaying the same troubling pattern as Hurricane Mitch that loomed in front of Belize for days in 1999. Mitch didn’t directly hit Belize but it caused enough […]

NEMO sends its first advisory on Richard

NEMO has issued the following advisory: If you were planning to go to the Cayes and along the Coast this weekend you are advised to cancel your trip. If you are at Sea – seek safe harbor. If you have to evacuate do so early. If you are going to a Shelter take along those […]

Three minors and intended target wounded in shooting

In recent news, primary school children have taken the lead against crime in rallies and protests in the streets. But last night, three primary school students were injured in a shooting incident as they headed home on Antelope Street Extension. They were not the intended victims and were fortunate that the bullets caused only minor […]

Second man charged for double murder of Richard and Maria Stuart

Forty-three year old Richard and Maria Stuart were brutally stabbed countless times inside their home almost one week ago. An employee of the Stuarts, Milton Darinel Maza was charged with the double murder on Tuesday. He was found with the Stuarts Toyota Scion SUV in St. Matthew’s Village where he lives. There were scratches that […]

Viewers believe cop should be charged for death of cop

In a memorandum ten pages long, the Director of Public Prosecutions concluded that there is not enough evidence to press murder charges on a sergeant for the killing of a corporal. Corporal Gavin Sanchez was shot multiple times on March eighteenth in the officers’ barracks behind the San Pedro Police Formation. Sergeant Paulino Reyes fired […]

Dark clouds hover over Telemedia; shares and debts

Last week Friday, the government launched its prospectus for the sale of Telemedia shares but less than a week later, a dark cloud hovers over the public offering of shares in the company.  On Thursday, Justice of Appeal Dennis Morrison heard extensive arguments about whether an injunction should be granted to halt the sale of […]

Appeals Court reduce award for Banana Workers

Also in court, a hefty reward of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars awarded to six employees in a union busting case was drastically reduced in the Court of Appeals. Emelina Bautista Rivera, Oscar Maradiaga, Rigoberto Maldonado, Jose Reyes, Julio Caceres Hernandez and Cornelio Gutierrez were fired in June 2001from Maya King Banana Farm in […]

Unemployed woman scams Stephy Lupp

An unemployed Belize City woman allegedly tried to fill her pockets by scamming a businesswoman and she now has to answer to the courts. Thirty-two year old Sherlette Bailey was read four charges in magistrates’ court today. Those charges are: Handling Stolen Goods for allegedly obtaining a signed but incomplete Scotiabank cheque belonging to Stephanie […]

Placencia does not want cruise tourism

Residents of Placencia and surrounding villages are at this moment participating in a consultation exercise organized by the Belize Tourism Board on the introduction of cruise tourism on the peninsula.  Emotions are running high and the project is already facing strong opposition.  The Placencia Tour Operators Association and the Village Council have already come out […]

NEMO Corozal puts first red flag up as storm approaches the horizon

As we reported at the top of the newscast, a weather system is heading our way. Tropical Storm Richard is the fourth storm to track its path towards Belize since the start of the 2010 hurricane season and threatens to become a hurricane. It is the third storm that appears to be heading for northern […]

Mom says son was brutalized by armed forces

There is one more report of police brutality. The mother of a Southside youth alleges that her son was targeted simply because they live in a crime prone area. According to Helena Alvarez, she found out from a neighbor that her son, eighteen year old Wilfred McDougal, was being beaten not far from home. Alvarez […]