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The National Met Service is asking Belizeans to keep an eye on Hurricane Matthew over the weekend. In an advisory sent late this evening, the Met Service says that they and NEMO are closely monitoring a powerful Category Four Hurricane Matthew. It has winds of one hundred and forty miles per hour and is moving […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly today had a very high-stakes meeting in Belmopan. Its sole purpose: to come to an agreement about the constitution and composition of a Special Senate Select Committee to investigate the Special Audit Report on Immigration composed by the Auditor General’s Office. Competing motions – one from the Church’s […]
The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate admitted following the meeting that they were caught off-guard by the sudden change to the Order Paper putting Senator Rocke’s motion above his own. With that, the stage was set for that motion to carry the day, and the most he could do was to temper it […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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But, before the Rocke motion could even be heard and debated, there was an intervention by Lead Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay, asking Minister of Immigration and his opposite number in the Government, Godwin Hulse, to recuse himself from the debate. There followed some debate on whether the motion was brought with sufficient notice, while Courtenay […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Godwin Hulse Saved From Being Thrown Out of Debate – But Should He Have Been?
While Senator Ashley Rocke was making the ultimately successful motion before the Senate, he was interrupted by Geovannie Brackett, the President of Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action and activist Raymond Rivers. Brackett and Rivers pointedly shouted at the embattled Rocke that he was not telling the truth about the origin of his motion and […]
In anticipation of the Rocke motion being passed, C.O.L.A. president Brackett vowed to continue civil agitation alongside the Belize National Teachers’ Union. He called for a national shutdown on Monday at the same time as the teachers hold their strike. Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA “It seems it’s when we behave unreasonable—to use the government […]
After the debate began, it quickly became clear that the social partner Senators – Mark Lizarraga for the business community and Elena Smith for the trade unions and civil society – were not supporting the motion. Of course, the Opposition also weighed in against it. Their primary complaints were that it did not go far […]
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said it will review its options in light of today’s successful motion in the Senate. However, in a statement issued just before news time it remarks, “A thorough investigation is necessary, and any special select committee which is shackled by terms such as those in the motion […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Chamber Reserves Judgment on Motion; Supports B.N.T.U.
While the opposition, social partners and civil society were of the opinion that the motion presented by the Church Senator did not go far enough; the major discontent was the composition of the committee. The majority of the Senators voted in favor of a committee with two government representatives, three social partners – which includes […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Junior Education Minister Calls Composition of Committee a “Concession” by P.M.
It is for more than the three—it is for country…That was the message from the Executive of the Belize National Teachers Union this afternoon at a press conference in the City. The teachers are asking for several things, including an international independent investigation into the William Danny Mason scandal, for government to sign on to […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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According to the B.N.T.U., since Sunday, the teachers have been under attack by the Government of Belize. The teachers are known as nation builders, but according to Executive Secretary Keisha Young, over the past week, teachers have been accused of going down a destructive path, endangering children who they teach, feed, and counsel. Keisha […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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The actions taken by government have teachers riled up and ready for Monday’s strike. But they are even more incensed by a statutory instrument that is expected to be signed into law by the Ministry of Education to mitigate strike action taken by the B.N.T.U. This morning, the Bill was presented to the National Council […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Potential Replacement Teachers Warned as B.N.T.U. Contemplates Extending Strike
Union executives also called out the government for what they say are acts of Union Busting. Former Union Leader, George Frazer says he’s ashamed of Minister of Education Patrick Faber who was once a teacher. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “It is a very sad day in our nation when the government of this […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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For the past few days, it has been rumoured that the stevedores would be striking in solidarity with the teachers union. But both the CWU & the Port of Belize Limited have said – not so. But today in Belmopan, stevedore and activist, Raymond Rivers, publicly challenged both Port C.E.O. Arturo Vasquez and C.W.U. President […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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In a late evening press release on Thursday, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association declared their support for the teachers. The B.S.C.F.A. release states that the demands of the teachers are just as they ensure good governance and respect for workers. The decision to declare their support for the B.N.T.U. came after a Board of […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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Is there division between the Management of Catholic Schools and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan? Today, the Belize Catholic Association of Principals of Secondary Schools sent out a release saying that it met with the Bishop Dorick Wright on Wednesday at his residence where principals and representatives from eight of the eleven […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Education,
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Comments Off on Are Roman Catholic School Managers and Bishop Still at Odds?
Earlier this week we told you about Government ministers on the ground talking to teachers – asking them not to strike on Monday. So, today we caught up with Elodio Aragon Junior, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and we asked him if he has approached teachers about the […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Education,
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Comments Off on Junior Minister Defends Against Claims of Union Busting
Over six hundred students will benefit from a major upgrade to the Queen Square Anglican Primary School in Belize City. The nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars project will include the construction of a new school building for the Southside School. The project includes new infrastructure as well as the demolition and reconstruction of derelict […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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On Thursday night in Trial Farm Village in Orange walk, twenty-eight year old Salvadoran Kenny Carranza and her neighbors and a few children were the victims of a brazen burglary. Police reported that at around six-thirty p.m., the group was at Carranza’s home on Turtle Street when three male persons on a scooter and bicycle […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Crime |
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American Bradley Pauman, has been in the news for over a year as the businessman accused putting a hit on fellow businessman and neighbour Michael Modiri. He was back in court again today, this time he was asking to be handed back his passport which the court has instructed him to surrender as a condition for […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Bradley Pauman Off to U.S. with Supreme Court’s Approval
Well known Belizean tailor, sixty-six year old Felipe Santiago Montejo, is a free man tonight after the charge of sexual assault of a minor was struck out in court today. Montejo’s trial was set for this morning before the Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. He was accused of molesting a fourteen year old girl back […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Elderly Man Freed of Sexual Assault Charge
Another man also walked free of a sexual crime today. Only in the case of Long Caye resident, Pedro Trujeque, he was reminded that the rape charge against him can still be brought back. Today in court, the D.P.P.’s office had no choice but to file a nolle prosequi in the rape case against Trujeque […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
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It’s a celebration of thirty-five years of friendship! Our friends from the North are celebrating that anniversary by bringing their prestigious naval vessel for a ceremonial visit. The Embassy of Mexico also announced that a special program has been prepared to commemorate this anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Mexico and Belize. […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Mexican Naval Ship’s Visit Marks Milestone of Diplomatic Relations with Belize
On Thursday, the Commander of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Kurt Walter Tidd concluded a two-day visit to Belize with a tripartite meeting held with Brigadier General David Jones of the Belize Defence Force and Chief of Defence Staff of the Guatemalan Armed Forces, Major General Juan Manuel Perez Ramirez. The meeting, which took […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Defense,
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Regional / International |
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Today, the Caribbean Youth Leaders Summit officially came to a close. The theme for the summit was From Rhetoric to Action Agenda 2030. Were the dynamic youths able to achieve their goal? News Five’s Andrea Polanco was at the Radisson today for the closing of the Summit and files this report. Andrea Polanco, Reporting […]
Written on September 30, 2016 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Regional / International,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Regional Youth Conference Concludes in Belize
