On Saturday, the media was taken on a tour of the proposed site of the Puerto Azul Development. While the images offered a clear view of the pristine state of the eastern most point of the country, on the ground, there were obvious signs of debris along the shore. It is oceanic debris says Audubon’s […]
The academic year 2013 officially came to an end last Friday for high schools across the country. While most students are currently enjoying the beginning of their summer vacation, teachers from Sadie Vernon, Maud Williams and Excelsior high schools are collectively holding their breath in anticipation of a letter which is expected to be issued […]
The joint union negotiating team has signed off on a salary adjustment of six percent, while the increment for those public officers who are eligible will be two and a quarter percent. But don’t get it confused. The unions are not signing the collective bargaining agreement just yet, despite pressure by G.O.B. to get it […]
A Caye Caulker businessman, who was accused of sexually assaulting a thirteen year-old student on the island more than a year ago, was today freed of the sexual offense of aggravated assault of an indecent nature. Forty-two year old Jerod Dawson was accused by the minor of placing a “hickey” on her neck on May […]
An investigation is now completed at the Western Regional Hospital where a young mother was told her baby was stillborn. Allisha Bell says that before she was wheeled into the delivery room; she felt her baby move, but soon after a c-section, she and the baby’s father, Marlon Reymundo, were told the baby had died. […]
A fire gutted a small concrete house at the corner of Mahogany Street Extension and Jasmine Street. Sometime around three-thirty this morning, the fire erupted and minutes later it was extinguished by the Fire Department. The house, which also served as a garage was occupied by forty-eight year old Nigerian national, Bokang Nyathi. According to […]
A cargo truck carrying more than fifty cartons of contraband cigarettes was busted by Guatemalan police. Today’s edition of Prensa Libre reports that the cargo originated from Belize; the bust occurred in the area of Santa Ana, Peten. According to the Guatemalan police, a total of two hundred and forty-seven thousand cigarettes were confiscated, but […]
Sightings of manatees in our coastal waters are no rare occurrence, in fact, the large sea mammals are usually spotted near the mouth of the Belize River. What is uncommon is the location of a large herd near the city’s shoreline…but it is mating season. This morning, Program Coordinator for the Belize Manatee Conservation Program, […]
You’ve heard about eco-tourism, sex tourism, cruise tourism, overnight tourism…even medical tourism. What about bird-based tourism? The International Audubon Organization is meeting with both private and public sector partners to work on a plan to strengthen bird-based tourism as a conservation and sustainable development tool in the country. The two point six million dollar project […]
The Mexican Institute today launched an exhibition by prolific artist and sculptor, Carlos Vivar. He has studied and worked all over the world, and his art has been exhibited in prestigious galleries in the United States and Europe…and now Belize. We were given a tour by Mexican Embassy press officer Marcelino Miranda who told us […]
Businessman Luke Espat is personally liable to the Belize Bank to the tune of twenty-nine point four million dollars. That’s the ruling which was handed down this afternoon by the Court of Appeal. Espat was before the court with his attorney, Said Musa, seeking leave to appeal a decision handed down by Justice Courtney Abel […]
At his press conference last week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed that the contract of Justice of Appeal Samuel Awich has been renewed and extended until he is seventy-five. The decision by the PM comes despite a resolution from the Bar Association withholding support for the Justice’s appointment. It is not the first time that […]
And then Courtenay really got doing, calling Prime Minister Dean Barrow a liar…not only that…but a Penner-loving, Castro-hugging liar. Eamon Courtenay, President, Bar Association “So for the Prime Minister to say that I am sweating fever for the Ashcroft Group because we lost the case in which Justice Awich is involved is a comprehensive […]
On Friday, the Supreme Court did away with G.O.B.’s injunction against BGYEA prohibiting that association from planting corn on sixty acres of land in Harmonyville which they say is a buffer zone. It was seen as a victory for the grassroots organization pending the hearing of the substantive matter. This morning government issued a press […]
Today, the Supreme Court heard an application from SATIIM et al for an injunction against the government of Belize and US Capital Energy. It’s was actually a post-judgment injunction, since a decision and a perfected order have both been delivered. SATIIM et al claims that the government is not following the orders of the court, […]
The case against US Capital and the Government of Belize, at its inception, was brought by SATIIM and five buffer communities. Still, at his press conference on Wednesday Prime Minister Dean Barrow made it exceptionally clear that while he is quite happy to host discussions, SATIIM will not be invited to the table. Attorney Eamon […]
Executive Director of SATIIM, Greg Ch’oc, also pulled no punches when he spoke to the media today. He was openly critical of the Prime Minister for the decision to bar SATIIM from the discussion…a discussion which they initiated and a fight they have maintained. Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM “I would have expected that […]
Ch’oc finished his commentary on government and the Prime Minister by claiming that none of this is about SATIIM. He says it’s the action of a vindictive PM who has a problem with him. Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM “It is not SATIIM that he has a problem with you know because as he […]
The Ministry of Natural Resources has also been taken to court over the acquisition and distribution of two hundred and fifty-four lots in Cotton Tree. The allegation is that those lots have been split between the eight U.D.P. Area Representatives in Belize City, to be handed over to political supporters in their respective constituencies. The […]
C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche has scheduled a meeting today with representatives of Green Tropics and the Valley of Peace Farmers Association. The meeting became necessary after peaceful negotiations between both parties broke down last week. On Monday, thirty-two farmers were served with an eviction notice from Green Tropics, ordered that they […]
There are still more questions than answers in the Puerto Azul mega development planned for Sandbore and Northern Cayes. Last Friday, the Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia finally spoke on the photographs featuring him and the Minister of Economic Development partying in Cannes for the launch of the controversial project. Heredia said that while the […]
It was a busy day at court today, complete with an appearance by Minister of State Edmond Castro. Castro was accused of facilitating visas for Chinese nations and filed suit against the person making the allegations and also Great Belize Productions. The matter hasn’t reached hearing stage, but today the court heard an application by […]
There is a land dispute brewing tonight in Belama Phase Four, as a number of squatters who have been occupying property in that area are under threat from a landowner who says that they must vacate her parcel forthwith. This afternoon, Moses Lobos, a resident of Phase Four, who admits to settling on the land […]
In the Jamaican Supreme Court, an order has been granted preventing the dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain as Director of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Training Network. That is, until a lawsuit against the University of the West Indies is presided over. Professor Bain is challenging the cancellation of his contract, following his decision to provide expert […]
There was more gang related violence over the weekend in the City. On Saturday night, twenty-two year-old Efrain Assi of Miller Street was rushed to the hospital after he was shot multiple times. Assi was hanging out with four other men at the basketball court on Alicia Street when he was targeted after nine o’clock. […]
