Actor, activist, poet, and educator, Doctor Billie Jean Young is here in the jewel in celebration of Women’s Month. The Women’s Issues Network Belize (WIN-Belize) has planned several activities for the month designated for women, but this week’s activities, the agency collaborated with the United States Embassy to have Doctor Young make several presentations to […]
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The 17th running of the Annual Belikin La Ruta Maya attracted 68 canoes as the Mopan River tossed to and fro under the power of the many paddles turning its waters at the start. For sure, some are in it to win it while […]
There is much to report in the news from inside and outside the national assembly, but first we turn tonight to former Minister of State Elvin Penner. News Five has confirmed that the Police Department has conducted a criminal investigation, following instruction by the Supreme Court. We have been unable to get any information on […]
So while official verification of a warrant issued for Penner’s arrest is pending, his name was very much a part of matters in the House today. Following a writ of Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court, claimant in that case Francis Fonseca had written to Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie for an update on the […]
Over the years, viewers have come to expect that behavior in the national assembly has generally been unbecoming and unruly. But earlier today that spill outside the national assembly where supporters from both political parties got physical and police had to intervene to stop the violence. As tempers flared, Minister of Human Development, Anthony “Boots” […]
The highlight of today’s news should have been the presentation of the 2014 – 2015 Budget but there was a lot else to get out of the way. So with that done, we can get down to business – or money, to be a little more precise. Prime Minister Barrow’s presentation is twenty-eight pages long; […]
The thrust of the Prime Minister’s budget presentation was on education, healthcare and infrastructure. And then Prime Minister Barrow turned to the real meat of the budget, the numbers contained in the draft estimates for fiscal year 2014/2015. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister “The proposed budget targets a preliminary primary surplus of 1.0 percent of […]
It is customary to get a response from the Opposition Leader on any budget presented in the House. To our recollection, there has never been any occasion when that feedback has been positive. And we don’t think that will ever change. Following the Prime Minister’s more than hour long journey on the glory train today, […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow prefaced his budget proposals section of the presentation today by stating that the priorities can be summed up in three words – Additional Social Protection. And with that said, he launched immediately into news for teachers and public officers. That news is that the numbers crunchers in the Ministry of Finance […]
Ten minutes ago News Five received an update from Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal via email. She confirmed that at five forty-three this evening investigators visited her office to finally present a file. Because of the late time we’ll bring you her written remarks verbatim. Vidal states, quote – “As you are all aware, […]
The Prime Minister announced that a big slice of the 2014/2015 Budget will be spent on personal emoluments; that’s three hundred and thirty two million dollars. Teachers and public officers will be getting five percent in salary adjustments and two percent in increments. Barrow made that announcement inside the house, but outside the teachers held […]
San Ignacio police are tonight looking for Gabino Garnett Jr., whom they believe can assist with their investigation into the overnight murder of twenty year old Earl Baizar. Reports are that Baizar, a resident of Dangriga, was involved in an altercation inside Blue Angels Night Club shortly after midnight. It is believed that the misunderstanding […]
Twenty-one year old Christy Ramclam, a resident of Tigris Street, was arraigned in the courtroom of Magistrate Leslie Hamilton today, where she was read a single charge of possession of a controlled drug. She was found in possession of twelve grams of cannabis hidden between her legs. According to Claudia Nicholas, a female warden at […]
Superintendent of Police, Linden Flowers is the new commander of the Gang Suppression Unit. The news broke this past Tuesday that the career officer was bumped up the chain of command to replace Assistant Superintendent Marco Vidal as head of the GSU; Vidal retains Special Branch. Considered both affable and outspoken, the forty-seven year old […]
There are thirty officers in the Unit and Superintendent Flowers says that those who step out of bounds will be penalized; criminal elements will be dealt with and that the unit will continue to arrest criminal activity perpetuated by gangs around the country. Supt. Linden Flowers, Head, Gang Suppression Unit “Where a police officer […]
A new chief executive officer has been appointed to replace outgoing C.E.O. Jose Alpuche at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture. Government has looked outside the public service and has contracted Sharon Ramclam to succeed Alpuche at the helm of the biggest ministries which also has responsibility for Lands and Survey, Hydrology, Mining, Policy […]
C.E.O. of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center, Everton Hanson, is in country since Thursday; his mission is to sensitize and bring awareness to entrepreneurs on the availability of grants for projects on climate change issues. C.C.I.C. is a regional World Bank project that is jointly managed by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute and the Scientific […]
Crowds gathered this morning at the banks of the Mopan River in San Ignacio for the start of the annual Belikin La Ruta Maya River Challenge. More than sixty teams started the competition, but it is anyone’s guess how many will make it to the finishing line on Monday at the Belcan Bridge. And as […]
Led by Kim Simplis Barrow, the Special Envoy for Women and Children, the planned women’s empowerment rally took place this morning in Belize City travelling from Memorial Park to the Marion Jones Stadium. It is a precursor to World’s Women’s Day celebrated on March eighth and according to Simpliss Barrow, the start of a one […]
The rally got plenty attention; a lot of it even before today. Politicians weighed in, and so did social activists, humanitarian organizations, the B.N.T.U., anti-gay protesters, gender-policy dissenters and even the mighty Roman Catholic Church. But today, all attention was directed on center stage, so Mike Rudon took to the outskirts to get the vibe […]
In San Pedro tonight, there is a sense of numbness at the brutal murder of Jeffery Eiley. The homicide of the well-loved tour guide who comes from a very prominent family in the island, took place at about two o’clock this morning less than two hundred yards from his family home. Thirty year old Jeffrey […]
And in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, El Heraldo newspaper, is reporting that a Belizean is among a group of four persons murdered in a massacre this morning in the Rivera Hernandez area of the city. The Belizean has been identified as Mario Roberto Cocon, but there are no further particulars on him. The other victims […]
An allegation of theft against a female cop is being reported tonight. News Five has confirmed that the police department is currently investigating a report that a female police officer stole an item from the Dibary Store on Church Street in Belize City. Sources close to News Five say that the proprietors have surveillance video […]
On Wednesday, Nationality Department Counter Supervisor Ady Pacheco was questioned by officers from the National Crimes Investigation Branch. Pacheco was prominently featured in the internal investigation into the Won Hong Kim passport scandal. So was Gordon Wade, the chief of the nationality section. He was allegedly questioned today. Both Wade and Pacheco played very integral […]
It seemed like a good move…providing a little upliftment to the lives of those living in poverty in the ill-names Conch Shell Bay. On Wednesday, aspiring politician Phillip Willoughby covered all bases… the requisite walk though dilapidated homes, the pressing of hands, back-patting and concerned features. He even appeared on camera holding a baby during […]
