The House of Representatives met today in a special sitting. The session was called to table a municipal bond bill being floated by the City Council for infrastructure works. We’ll come to that later, but first we go to a side show in the House, which has to do with the other bond; the Superbond. […]
The prime minister later specified the terms of agreement, as well as the duration of a contract awarded to Hallmark Advisory Ltd., for which Mark Espat is believed to be the principal. According to PM Barrow, the services of Hallmark Advisory have been contracted for seven months and he says it’s value for money. […]
Still on the Superbond, the Prime Minister said on Wednesday that he was hoping that negotiations on the restructuring of the five hundred and forty-four million dollar Superbond would be successful to prevent a default. He also said that there was no source of financing to meet the twenty-three million U.S. dollar coupon that was […]
There is development in respect of Belmopan Pastor Norman Willacey who has fallen from grace due to allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a student. Tonight, Willacey is no longer on administrative leave from the pulpit and the church; he has resigned. Pressure had been building up for action in many quarters because […]
Also in the House this morning, the issue of the Baptist High School sex scandal was raised by the opposition, questioning the Ministry of Education about the delay in suspending Pastor Norman Willacey from his post as principal of the high school. Public outrage in the wake of allegations that Willacey was engaged in a […]
Earlier this year, a shipment of seven forty-foot containers housing a significant quantity of methylamine hydrochloride, a chemical precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, was confiscated by the Customs Department. The consignment, valued at an estimated ten billion dollars, was shipped from China to Belize in February to Belize Gardens Consortium, a local company […]
The real business of the House had to do with the municipal bond. Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley announced a month ago that he is inviting investment in the twenty million dollar municipal bond. The bond, issued by local government, would be used to create an infrastructure fund for the continued repairs of streets in […]
On August seventh, businessman John Zabaneh was designated as a drug kingpin operating for the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel. His nephew Dion Zabaneh and Corozal resident Daniel Moreno were also named as associates. The US government declared that the assets of the three were being frozen in the United States and that US businesses and […]
AltusHost is a European Internet Service Provider (ISP), but according to a PC World.com article, it’s based in Belize and has recently been ordered to shut down twenty-five of its websites for selling counterfeit goods. AltusHost was sued by eleven high end companies including Breitling, Chanel, Christian Dior and Omega, which are trying to protect […]
There is one less illegal firearm on the streets after a sixteen gauge sawed off shotgun was found in an abandoned lot. According to the Gang Suppression Unit, shortly before eleven o’clock on Wednesday night, they were conducting operations in the Kelly Street area when they noticed four persons, known to be affiliates of the […]
Jerome Flores is a well-known paraplegic who has undertaken a number of initiatives to build awareness for persons living with a wide range of disabilities. You will also remember him for riding his hand bike from Belmopan to Dangriga to raise awareness for the work of OCEANA last November. Flores is now setting his eyes […]
The Prime Minister addressed the nation via a press conference today looking for support in the re-structuring of the five hundred and forty-four million US dollar super bond. On Monday government missed a coupon payment of twenty three million dollars which caused a quick downgrade by Standard and Poor’s. While the Prime Minister says there […]
Still on the Superbond, while the PM says he is not contemplating going to the I.M.F., he says that the government is unable to pay in the immediate or near term and that, “if it is make or break, then break it will be.” The government will go to the House this Thursday for the […]
Another big story for today involves, Pastor Norman Willacey, who has been placed on a fifteen day suspension from the Belmopan Baptist High School, effective today. Willacey, the principal of the school, fell from grace after the mother of a sixteen year old student told the media that he was having a sexual relationship with […]
Oceana went back to court today to fight six slick oil contracts. Oceana insists that the contracts granted to Island Oil Belize, Tropical Energy, PetroBelize Company, Princess Petroleum, Providence Energy Belize, and Sol Oil Belize Ltd. are invalid since they fall short of the conditions under the Petroleum Act. On July twenty-fifth, arguments were first […]
According to Oceana’s Vice President, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, the challenge seeks to expose the government for the issuance of questionable oil concessions. She told the media this morning that the case is revealing shady oil contracts that have been granted in the past years. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Vice President, Oceana “Well our position is basically that […]
Chicken prices are up by ten cents per pound for whole chicken and twelve cents for parts. This news may not settle well with consumers, but the short of it is that countries across the world are bracing for the hike in prices of one of the most affordable and favorite proteins. Today, the Belize […]
Earlier in the month the executive of the People’s United Party took an unusual decision, which goes against the well established party regulation that allows challenges to the current leadership. The resolution protects the party leader and current elected P.U.P. area representatives from challenges at the next national convention. The resolution was presented by deputy […]
At the press conference this morning, the prime minister also touched on the land grab. Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega recently came under fire for giving out large tracts of land, about twenty eight parcels across the country, to members of his family. When confronted with the evidence of the transactions, Vega told the media […]
The Gang Suppression Unit has not yet responded to allegations that twenty Crooked Tree residents were brutalized by its officers; one resident complained that he had been pepper sprayed on his private parts. But today the GSU released information on other recent operations. On Tuesday evening at around five-forty, a search was carried out at […]
Belize has lost one of its most gifted artists. Early this morning, Leroy “Bass” Castillo succumbed to a heart illness that he had been battling with for years. News of his death shook the music industry and tributes have been pouring in from those who acknowledge his gift as a musician, composer, writer and singer. […]
Twenty-seven year old Ronny Hernandez skipped work and hightailed it from Corozal to Belize City with his wife and two kids when he found out this morning that he had won Tuesday night’s Fantasy Five draw. At four hundred and sixty-eight thousand dollars, it’s the largest jackpot in the country’s history and it went to […]
The Bliss rocked on Tuesday night with hilarious drama, song and dance. It was a sold-out performance for the latest episode of Be the Next Superstar. For three Group B performers, it was nail biting as the knock out round would determine who was home safe. After the votes were tallied, the judges had the […]
There is an alarming report coming from Crooked Tree tonight. At least twenty persons are claiming that they were brutalized and violated by the Gang Suppression Unit. The alleged abuse went so far that one of the victims says he was peppered sprayed on his private parts when the GSU went on a wild rampage, […]
The mother of the sixteen year old girl who was in a relationship with the principal of the Baptist High School met with the Baptist Board on Saturday. The outcome of the meeting was not what she expected. Instead of finding comfort that the pastor and counselor would in the least be suspended, the board […]
