Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow was kept busy with a back to back schedule of meetings with the three unions representing workers from the utility companies this morning and meeting with representatives of the Joint Negotiating Team of the Belize National Teachers’ Union, Public Service Union and Association of Public Service Senior Managers this […]
The Prime Minister was a bit more expansive than Mora, explaining that this meetings arose primarily out of the social issues raised at the time of the Supreme Court’s Section Fifty-three decision and how Government is operating in that regard. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “This was a meeting that was arranged before the resolution […]
On Tuesday, Cabinet revisited the Auditor General’s Special Audit Report on the Immigration Department. While Prime Minister Barrow was in favor of a bicameral committee, due to mounting pressure from various sectors including the public, social partners and the Opposition, a decision was taken that government will now support a Senate Select Committee investigation. That […]
So, was it difficult for PM Barrow to backpedal on his original position? He says no, but holds firm that a Joint Select Committee would have provided a broader scope in terms of the investigation. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “I thought the bicameral might have been, not more effective have given the impression of […]
The long and short, according to PM Barrow, is that the National Assembly would be taking action on a report that was initially tabled at the House of Representatives. As for giving up its singular majority on the committee, the government leader says that won’t happen because the standing orders are quite clear. Prime […]
With all the activities planned for this weekend, Police are preparing for any eventuality. There are two different concerts that will be happening across the city; the wet fete, the J’ouvert as well as the carnival on Saturday. Then of course, there are the twentieth night activities and the Independence Day presentations. So how prepared […]
One of the big ticket items for tonight is the Soca or Surrender Concert being held at the Marion Jones Stadium in Belize City. It will feature big names in the music industry from the Caribbean including soca and dancehall artists out of Trinidad, Barbados, Bahamas and popular artists from Belize. It is all organized […]
The spectacular carnival road march takes place this Saturday in Belize City. City residents, visitors and others will be lining up the route to view the display of color and rhythm as the bands gyrate to the latest soca sounds from start to finish. This year, there is a record number of bands participating in […]
It is now official: a massive demonstration of teachers will take place in Belmopan on Monday September nineteenth. The convergence on Independence Hill comes just two days before Independence Day. In a prelude to that event, the Belize National Teachers’ Union has asked its membership to wear signature green T-shirts as part of the “Stand […]
In making the case why the demonstration – the fifth in less than a month in the capital city – has to happen, Luke Palacio said the B.N.T.U. is fulfilling its individual role as a populist organization in the service of the people. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “My friends the things we are […]
Former Minister of Labor Godwin Hulse has also interjected on the present situation with teachers and the demand for the final tranche of their salary increase. Ahead of a scheduled meeting with the prime minister on Friday, Hulse says that PM Barrow will do what is necessary to get members of the Joint Unions Negotiating […]
As for a call for industrial action, Hulse, like Minister of Education Patrick Faber, admits that there really is not a labor dispute that would warrant teachers taking to the streets in the days ahead. Godwin Hulse, Former Minister of Labor “The fact of the matter is that industrial action is the end process […]
On Wednesday, we shared the strident response of Minister of Education and Youth Patrick Faber to the goings-on with the union. He insists that there is currently no labour dispute between the Government and the public sector unions and since the Government is addressing other national issues, any demonstration or other industrial action should be […]
The battles between the powerful union and the second most powerful man in Belize revolve mostly around their disagreement on how far the union is taking its issues. But Faber has also personally criticized Luke Palacio for acting on political motivations. Palacio seemed loath to respond but used the example of the infamous events of […]
Late this evening, the Ministry of Education issued a press release informing parents, teachers and students that in compliance with the Education Rules, managing authorities will take necessary measures to make certain that schools and institutions are kept open for classes on Monday. As such, stakeholders, including bus operators are informed that school buses will […]
This afternoon, there was a rare occurrence in the quiet residential community of King’s Park – a shooting incident. But more than that is the identification of the victim, Candice Barrow. She is the niece of the Prime Minister, the daughter of his popular campaign and constituency manager Denise “Sister B” Barrow. Candice was reportedly […]
Senator Godwin Hulse represents government business in upper parliament. While he will not be sitting on the soon-to-be constituted task force to look into the findings of the Auditor General’s Special Audit Report on Immigration, the outspoken member of the Senate has weighed in on the pending inquiry. In fact, Hulse was the one who […]
As for the composition of the assigned working group, the fact that government will have three seats on the Senate Select Committee has raised concerns in other corners, particularly from the Opposition. They contend that government’s majority membership can and will influence the outcome of the inquiry. Senator Hulse says that notion is absurd. […]
At an event held earlier today, we got the opportunity to speak with former U.D.P. Minister Melvin Hulse. The Stann Creek resident says that the district is least involved in political issues, but residents are concerned about the immigration scandal and have taken part in demonstrations—both with the churches and other groups. According to Hulse, […]
The unions as well as the P.U.P. have been asking for the removal of Senator Godwin Hulse as Minister of Police. We also got Melvin Hulse to give his take on the matter. Melvin Hulse, Former U.D.P. Minister “I heard the explanation from Luke. I guess most of us in a position like that […]
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital celebrated its twenty-first anniversary today. An anniversary church service under the theme, “We Care For You,” saw board members and staff as well as members of the public gathered inside the lobby of the national referral hospital for the celebration. News Five’s Duane Moody was there and files this report. […]
Is a constitutional challenge in the making to decriminalize marijuana? The government had set up a committee to consider the decriminalization of a small quantity of cannabis, but the recommendations of that committee have been before Cabinet and there has been no response, likely because of the negative reaction from the church community. In an […]
The Government moved legislation in September of 2014 to amend the Legal Profession Act. It removed mandatory membership in the Bar Association, paving the way for attorneys to form or join a new association. It stemmed from former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington taking his complaints about the Association public, but it had appeared, at least […]
Tony Wright is perhaps best known as president of the Association for Belizean Artists First and host of the popular radio show “Belize Musicians Past and Present”. But he was once a musician himself, and he has led the fight to recognize and promote Belizean artists for some time. This morning, under the auspices of […]
According to Wright, the book has two aims: to recognize the many men and women who have entertained us for decades, and to bring awareness to the need to preserve Belizean culture. At the short launch ceremony held at the Image Factory, Yasser Musa in his remarks made note of the fact that this coming […]
