In addition to the Attorney General’s resignation and the appointment of her successor, the most important piece of news coming out of the press conference was the Prime Minister’s assumption of the Ministry of Natural Resources. While he will not oversee the daily functions of the Lands Department, PM Barrow has taken on the second […]
A successor for House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte has been proposed, but will be made official at the next sitting of the House of Representatives. That person is retired nurse Laura Longsworth who is well-known for her activism in cancer and HIV/AIDS awareness. Peyrefitte takes over on January first. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “I think […]
Last week News Five dropped a bombshell that continues to wag tongues. In the span of five years, one thousand, six hundred acres of prime farmland along the Philip Goldson Highway in the village of Carmelita, Orange Walk District, was gobbled up by members of the powerful Vega family and their company, German Vega and […]
The land flip has raised eyebrows, particularly in parliament where Hyde made his presentation. When asked if she was aware of the situation, Minister of Natural Resources Vanessa Retreage told the media today that she only became aware of it when Hyde gave an interview to the media last week, ahead of Friday’s House meeting. […]
When asked about the dubious transactions, the incoming Minister of Natural Resources firmly stated that his administration is prepared to accept that there may be instances of wrongdoing in government but that there are consequences for such actions. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “We are prepared to accept what is wrong and we are prepared […]
Will there be a tax increase in the upcoming 2017 fiscal budget? In light of grave economic conditions, the possibility of a hike in existing taxes is very real. Today, the question was put to the prime minister bluntly and he responded by saying that government’s focus will be on trimming the fat, as opposed […]
Travelers Liquors Limited took a big hit on Monday night when it was targeted by thieves. But is it an inside job? Forty-nine thousand dollars in cash and cheques were stolen from Travelers employees en route from Belmopan to Belize City around five-thirty p.m. The employees were traveling in a company vehicle when they were […]
But with criminals becoming so crafty, Police warn drivers to be vigilant when travelling on the road. ASP Juanito Cocom, O.C., Ladyville Police “The scene was visited, processed where a piece of two by four wood and a board with the marking police check point and an orange cone were retrieved.” Reporter “So […]
One of the more unwelcome Christmas-time “traditions,” at least here in Belize City, is the letting off what is colloquially known as “popshot” or “dynamite” – not to be confused with the much more dangerous commercial explosive. However, these too are explosive devices, and thus governed by the Dangerous Goods Act which prohibits their possession […]
Two police constables from the Eastern Division North were recognized with awards as “Officers of the Month of October” this morning at the Queen Street Police Station. Jerome Middleton of Precinct Three and Nelson Ramos of the San Pedro Police were presented with awards from their Officers Commanding and Regional Commander, as well as with […]
Two point two-eight million dollars were disbursed today for the conservation and protection of natural reserves: Chiquibul, Vaca, Colombia and Bladen Forests. PACT is the donor agency that is contributing toward a larger initiative called the Chiquibul Forest Investment Initiative. Organizations that work in the area such as the Friends for Conservation and Development, received […]
The idea of a thirteenth senator may soon become a reality. This Friday is the deadline for final submissions of documentation by non-governmental organizations to show they are in good standing. Thereafter, the steering committee meets to peruse the list of N.G.O.s that can formally present nominees for the post. And by January, elections will […]
Three years ago, Belize Electricity Limited and the Public Utilities Commission opened a request for proposals for electricity generation of both traditional and renewable energy sources. Following a lengthy and occasionally controversial process of identifying the most viable sources and negotiating with them, B.E.L. and the P.U.C. are now set to sign a number of […]
The World Bank is training entities working in the field of risk assessment for money laundering, terrorism financing, and related crimes to help Belize conduct its first National Risk Assessment. The national Anti-Money Laundering Committee and Financial Intelligence Unit are leading the effort to identify primary money laundering and terrorism financing risks in all areas, […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow returned home to Belize on Saturday night, following a week-long trip to New York where he met with a team of structuring advisors and lawyers, ahead of a meeting with the Belize Coordinating Committee which represents bondholders. The meeting with Citigroup officials and attorney Lee Buchheit to discuss government’s objectives for […]
The prime minister’s health aside, the call to New York was for the three-man team, including Economic Ambassador Mark Espat and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, to sit down with government’s advisors. The meeting with representatives of Citigroup Global Markets and Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton was to ensure that they were all on the same […]
On Friday, News Five spoke with Charles Blitzer, special advisor to the Belize Coordinating Committee. During that interview he disclosed that bondholders have pored over government’s recent postings on Central Bank’s website and that they are studying those figures carefully. While those online messages reflect poor economic conditions, there are serious concerns as to whether […]
Is Attorney General Vanessa Retreage stepping down as Belize’s chief legal officer? It’s a question that will be answered following a discussion during Tuesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. News Five understands that the fate of the U.D.P. senator, whose ministerial responsibilities also include oversight of the powerful Ministry of Natural Resources, will be contemplated then. Retreage […]
Late this evening, G.O.B. confirmed a story we have been following. Chief Executive Officer David Leacock, who has been the departmental head of the Ministry of Education since 2008, vacates his post at the end of December after tendering his resignation back in September. Leacock verbally notified Minister of Education Patrick Faber of his intention […]
A number of issues came up at Friday’s House meeting, which we didn’t cover because of time constraints. In addition to a supplementary appropriation bill, the Government for the third time this year brought amendments to the Treasury Bill Act, in this case juggling the amounts it can raise from the Central Bank. The plan […]
A simultaneous referendum on taking the unfounded Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory to the International Court of Justice in 2013 was scrapped back then. This came after then-Guatemalan president, Otto Perez Molina, complained that our threshold for validation, sixty percent, puts Guatemala at a disadvantage. Unlike Belize, Guatemala allows a simple majority of fifty percent […]
The Belize National Teachers’ Union has informed its members to go ahead and take their full three weeks of Christmas vacation, as the majority, the union says, rejects the Ministry of Education’s proposal to take four of those Christmas vacation days and two from Easter to make up for time lost during the eleven-day strike […]
Acting Prime Minister Patrick Faber held his own as head of government in the House of Representatives on Friday, a first for any parliamentarian deputizing in that capacity. Prior to the sitting of the House, Faber signed on to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, UNCAC, the first global legally binding international anti-corruption instrument for […]
During the questions to Ministers portion of the House meeting, members from the Opposition fired several questions at their Government counterparts on issues of concern of either a national scope or more closely tied to their respective constituencies. It’s usually an occasion for political grandstanding on the Government’s part, but a few nuggets of information […]
Our News Five crew is just back from the west where a man was killed in Yalbac Village in the Cayo District on Sunday evening. Farmer Milicio Gonzalez was killed by a friend who bashed him in the head with a rock. The murder was witnessed by neighbours and even Gonzalez’s seven-year-old daughter watched on. […]
