Today, Minister of National Security John Saldivar told the media that it has been confirmed that Guatemalans shot Staff Sergeant Lambey. He says that the problem in the Sarstoon does not require military action but a diplomatic solution. Reporter “Can we confirm if Guatemalans were the shooters?” John Saldivar, Minister of National Security […]
The Central America Regional Security Initiative, very affectionately known as CARSI. We say affectionately because since 2008 Belize has received over thirty-five million in programs and grants. In fiscal year 2015 alone, six point four million dollars U.S. were made available to Belize through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office. And there’s more good […]
Ambassador Moreno explained that there are very specific allocations for the funding, but all of it is geared to improving a justice system which has shown some wear and tear, diplomatically speaking. Carlos Moreno, United States Ambassador “We had a class of about twenty to twenty-five Police officers trained by a special group of […]
The inauguration of the cruise port in Southern Belize is scheduled for November seventeenth 2016. The launch of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s project has been delayed somewhat but according to NCL will be increased employment opportunities. News Five Isani Cayetano reports. Isani Cayetano, Reporting Harvest Caye, the only cruise port in southern Belize, will […]
The idea of introducing cruise tourism to southern Belize was initially met with objection from various communities, primarily from residents of Placencia, as it relates to the Harvest Caye development. Since then there has been a shift in attitude towards the project. More people, including small business owners, tour guides and artisans are embracing the […]
Earlier in this block we told you about the extremely generous donations to Belize through CARSI, a US initiative aimed ultimately at strengthening regional security. But the happy – happy, joy – joy feelings were offset somewhat by the presence of the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room – a little thing called derisking. […]
Was a Belizean businessman and former Minister really targeted by a drug cartel as he vacationed in Chetumal at the Fiesta Inn a week ago? He claims he was, and went to one media house to give an extended interview on his allegedly nightmarish ordeal. The well-known Belizean outlined a scenario in which he and […]
The Ministry of Economic Development launched its National Growth and Sustainable Strategy earlier today, a few hours ahead of a new report by the World Bank Group which looks at opportunities and restrictions against the backdrop of the local economy. The study begins with an overview of the investment climate. Since 2004, the gross domestic […]
While tourism and agriculture have both been identified as key pillars of Belize’s economy, there is a certain nervousness when it comes to the impact of both sectors on the environment. From a business perspective, the financial sector has also been categorized as uncompromising, since it is rather difficult to access startup funding to establish […]
On a positive note where it concerns the education system, the completion rate at the primary level is significantly higher in Belize than anywhere else in Latin America. While that bodes well for children entering the education system, the same cannot be said for high school students since the dropout rate is much higher, leaving […]
In 2015, health expenditure for diabetes in the Americas was estimated at three hundred and eighty-two billion dollars and that staggering figure will increase to around four hundred and forty-five billion by 2040. Today, in celebration of World Health Day, the World Health Organization is focusing on diabetes under the theme: Step Up; Beat Diabetes. […]
Earlier in our newscast, we showed you the World Health Day Forum held under the theme “Beat Diabetes”. When we talk about diabetes, we often focus on knowing your status and also properly managing and controlling the condition for those who are affected. Health professionals across the world are urgently educating people to take action […]
Executive Director of SATIIM Froyla Tzalam has fired off an urgent letter to Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington following another incident in the Sarstoon on Tuesday. SATIIM rangers were on routine patrol of the Sarstoon-Temash National Park, bounded on the South by the Sarstoon River, when they were stopped very aggressively by a Guatemalan naval vessel. […]
In her letter to Foreign Minister Elrington, Tzalam reminds him that experience has shown that where there is no monitoring, illegal activities flourish, and SATIIM must use the Sarstoon to conduct proper management. She explains that SATIIM and the buffer communities are concerned with the increasing environmental damage in the National Park and continue to […]
While Tzalam’s letter is written to Elrington, she may need to think about addressing her concerns to Gaspar Vega, the Minister of Forests and Fisheries. SATIIM’s had a testy relationship with Vega’s predecessor Lisel Alamilla and it was under her tenure that any hope of co-managing the Sarstoon-Temash National Park fell apart. Even before the […]
Tzalam says that talk about a co-management agreement being necessary may have been correct six years ago, but not now. Still, she claims that the incident on Tuesday underscores the need to come back to the negotiation and co-management table sooner, rather than later. Froyla Tzalam, Executive Director, SATIIM “SATIIM has been working very […]
There is hope for that meeting to take place, since Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Gaspar Vega is all too aware of the lack of resources which prohibits government departments from adequately monitoring protected areas. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture “That’s a huge challenge, because we all know of our limitations in regards to resources […]
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court found that millionaire investment and Dark Night owner Bradley Paumen had trespassed on land belonging to Michael Modiri. And that’s because the Ministry of Natural Resources had no power to compulsorily acquire Modiri’s land and to in essence gift it to Paumen so that he could build a road to […]
After numerous adjournments, twenty-five year old coastguard officer Keyren Tzib, who is accused of the July second, 2015 stabbing murder of her estranged common-law husband, Thythis Blancaneaux, learnt her fate. And it was not good news when she appeared in court this morning. Following a preliminary investigation, Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith ruled that there […]
Deputy Party Leader Gaspar Vega tendered his letter of resignation to the United Democratic Party Secretariat on March eighth, informing that he will not be contesting his seat in Orange Walk North for a fourth time. The unexpected decision came as a bombshell, just a few weeks ahead of the U.D.P.’s endorsement convention which was […]
Gapi’s abrupt notice of retirement has left many to speculate whether his removal from the second most powerful government ministry, the Ministry of Natural Resources, is indeed the catalyst for his departure. There is also speculation that the sudden announcement succeeded a fallout over his transfer to the Ministry of Agriculture, which is widely seen […]
In the wake of Vega’s abrupt retirement, a national party council meeting will be held on Saturday to determine the date of a special convention in the coming months to choose his successor. Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber was first to throw his hat in the ring, followed shortly thereafter by Belmopan Area Rep John […]
Earlier this week, the United Nationals Children’s Fund in Belize officially spoke out against an imposed curfew on the south side of Belize City for children seventeen years and younger. On Tuesday morning, representatives from UNICEF finally met with Eastern Division South Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams to express their concerns about […]
Cayetano says that the discussion focused primarily on alternatives to the curfew. Luwani Cayetano, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Belize “In that meeting we talked about things that we support. We talked about the importance of strengthening parents and families; we talked about the importance of having children in school, the importance of having quality […]
Three persons, a Mexican national and two Belizeans, were busted at the departure lounge of the P.G.I.A. on Tuesday. Today, they were taken to court on separate charges after they were found in possession of a significant amount of undeclared cash, over a quarter million Belize dollars. The trio was about to leave Belize to […]
