The write-off of the Social Security Board Housing Loans that was passed last Friday in the House, went to the Senate floor today in Belmopan. It is a program that was intended to provide the electorate with goodies before the elections but is now mired in scandal because of insider trading. That is because management […]
Senator for the People’s United Party, Lisa Shoman, had another view. She pointed out that several of the loans on the list to be written-off, including one in the amount of eighty thousand dollars for S.S.B. C.E.O. Merlene Bailey-Martinez, were indeed recent mortgages and not longstanding loans. She further questioned the names of former S.S.B. […]
Leader of Government Business, Senator Doug Singh, had another take. He pointed out that a majority of the mortgages being reconciled through the government initiative were granted under the previous administration. In his opinion, Singh says that failure to service S.S.B. loans or neglect of that responsibility should go unrewarded; however, he acknowledges that that […]
Turning to the courts, a Honduran national was arraigned on two criminal charges for allegedly beating another man with a hammer. The victim, twenty year old Kevin Martinez had to undergo surgery for head injuries he sustained during the altercation last Friday. Today, thirty-five year old David Castillo was charged with Grievous Harm and Use […]
It hasn’t been reported by police, but the Microbiology Department at Central Medical Lab in Belize City was reportedly targeted by thieves on Monday night. It’s a strange incident because the department has several computers and valuable electronics, but the culprits only made off with a UPS battery, a radio and other small items. The […]
A former trawling vessel, worth over four hundred thousand dollars, was today signed over to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) for just one dollar. The vessel is one of two that were bought over by OCEANA in February, 2011 after legislation was passed to ban trawling in Belize. OCEANA and government negotiated […]
On Monday night we showed you the results of a poll commissioned by Karim Berges with the expertise of Yasmine Andrews. While the stats showed that there is a very slim margin of victory between the U.D.P. and P.U.P., the two hundred and twenty three persons surveyed say they favor early elections, but after the […]
In the poll, fifty six point percent of the participants said they are not satisfied with the current administration’s performance but when asked if they would rather the opposition in government, sixty seven point seven percent said no. But the majority surveyed thinks that the current government has failed on its promises. Yasmine Andrews, Technical […]
There are many articles written about Belize internationally, some good and some not too good, and some we report on. This past Monday, the Washington Times published an article that takes a comparative look at two countries: Belize and the Cayman Islands. The writer draws parallels between the two and then draws conclusions on why […]
He is a poet that perhaps may not be well known, but he has made it to the big screen. Gildon Rowland, the poet that rose from the streets, is moving ahead and his first CD/DVD combo is going on sale. It contains a collection of his poems on issues that are dear to him […]
Another round of mass naturalization is scheduled to take place this week in Belmopan to beat the February twentieth deadline for registration of new voters. There have been two recent swear-in ceremonies; the last was on Friday, when more than five hundred took the oath in Belmopan as full-fledged Belizeans. The granting of citizenship so […]
In the Rural North, minor took matters in his own hands to defend his family. The fifteen year second form student from Maskall pulled out a machete on a group of men that had threatened family members. One of the assailants, who climbed over the fence and into the yard, claiming to have a gun, […]
The legal profession and judiciary were out in full regalia this morning for the traditional opening of the Supreme Court. With a new Chief Justice firmly on the bench, there was a different and much softer tone to the speeches this year. While it signals that relationships are on the mend, both bar and bench […]
The results of another election poll were released today and it shows that the two main political parties are neck to neck if general elections are called. Two weeks ago Glenn Tillett of the Independent, teamed up with American Pollster, Greg Strimple, and released the findings of a poll which showed that at least thirty […]
So, what do the numbers signify? Well, according to Andrews, the numbers don’t lie and an election can go either way in favour of the U.D.P. or the P.U.P. But there is a huge percentage of undecided voters. Yasmine Andrews, Technical Expert “The major indicators, in two, three sentences, that this poll gave us is […]
While a mass registration was taking place in Ladyville, elsewhere a fire gutted a house. A lone fireman, who responded to the call for help, could not bring the blaze under control. Fortunately, the occupants of the house were away but unfortunately they lost everything. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports. Jose Sanchez, Reporting The old […]
Last Friday, the government sought and got the House approval to guarantee a loan of sixteen million dollars with Heritage Bank on behalf of Telemedia. It went through ALL its three stages. As you know, government owns majority shares of seventy percent in Telemedia, but there are many other shareholders, which means that Telemedia is […]
The insider trading at the Social Security Board was stopped in its tracks when it became public that, from top to bottom, S.S.B. staff applied to benefit from the write-offs after reducing their loans with S.S.B. to fifty thousand dollars. An emergency meeting of the Board of Directors on Wednesday suspended C.E.O. Merlene Bailey Martinez […]
According to a report in Prensa Libre, this past Saturday, Guatemalan police confiscated a sizeable amount of contraband sugar. The police stopped the vehicle, shown in this photograph, transporting one hundred and forty sacks of contraband sugar originating from Belize. The bust took place at a check point near the village of Paxcaman; the vehicle […]
The Public Utilities Commission and the government have both announced a six point one-four percent decrease in electricity rates to come online on February first. Earlier today, Belize Electricity Limited (B.E.L.) gave its initial reaction and it doesn’t sound that they are rejoicing. According to B.E.L.’s release, it needs to “understand the P.U.C.’s underlying assumptions […]
But how will the significant rate reduction affect the already cash strapped utility company? One thing that could ease B.E.L.’s financial burden is a reduction in taxes, which Avery says is expected on April first. According to Avery, B.E.L.’s previous owners created the cash flow problems and now it is up to the new owners […]
A fifty-eight-year-old housewife and grandmother from Burrell Boom has been accused in a burglary at the home of her neighbor, John Wade. Glenda Neal was arraigned before Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez today on charges of Burglary and Damage to Property. Allegations are that on January twelfth, Wade’s stepson, Delmont Black spotted Neal hanging around the house. […]
Good Evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The heavy downpour over the weekend rendered the Ladyville Football Field more suitable to water sports than the Belize Bank Xmas Cup of Football so week 3 of the 4 week campaign was forced to come to the MCC Grounds yesterday. It’s Westlake who came […]
The first sitting of the House of Representatives for 2012 took place this morning. The Prime Minister did not announce the date for general elections, but you can know it is not far away from the layers of generosity that he piled on. First on the agenda was the reduction of electricity rates, which seem […]
Another pre-election gift was the Christmas disbursement program in which UDP area representatives received forty thousand dollars to spread seasonal joy. Over one point two million dollars were approved and disbursed in December for a Christmas assistance program for the poor. But not everyone was happy with the program. Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca made his […]
