The eyesore in downtown Belize City that is the decrepit commercial center is getting a much-needed makeover in the months ahead. The long-delayed renovation project has finally been given the green light and work on the building will commence as of next week. According to Mayor Bradley, City Hall will be relocating to its new […]
As the first month of the hurricane season comes to a close and families and businesses count the daily cost of other kinds of natural disasters, one of the key questions for businesses is: are you prepared, not only for any disaster itself, but for continuing with business afterward? More than twenty local Belizean businesses […]
Immigration Officer Ady Pacheco, as we showed you on Wednesday, was extensively questioned about the process of work at the Department. In the time when she handled permanent residence, she took the rare opportunity to question why it was that it was directed that no further security checks be conducted on applicants for that service. […]
Earlier in this newscast, we told you of the U.S.’s disappointment in how Belize is handling the issue of trafficking in persons. It also came up at the Senate in the case of one Muhammad Zaghlool. In 2014, outside the time of the Auditor General’s Report, he was held in Mexico with Belizean nationality by […]
The majority of businesses are micro, small and medium enterprises, known as MSME’s. These businesses help drive the engine of an economy and provide jobs especially at the start-up level. But while they may prove innovative and creative in their ways of thinking, they often suffer from general lack of access to financing and especially […]
Recognition was given today to fisher folks for their contribution to the growth of the fishing industry, which directly benefits at least four percent of the population. Three fishermen were singled out for their leadership roles within their communities. Leobihildo Tamai has spent his life at sea; he hails from Sarteneja and is Fisher of […]
The Belize Tourism Expo organized an online forum today connecting local tourism stakeholders to international agents. The event at the Biltmore Plaza is a cost effective way to attract visitors to Belize from all over the world. It started this morning and will continue through to the early hours of Friday morning because of the […]
“Livin’ Mi Life” – it’s a Belizean produced sitcom that’s been directed and shot right here in the City. Producer Kim Vasquez, who worked on the well-known “No Matta What” series has partnered once again with Thirteen Productions and Steve Berry, who is a former professor at Howard University, to pool together local talented dramatists […]
On Friday in eight locations across the country and many more across the Caribbean, testing sites will be open for Regional Testing Day. This public/private sector regional collaboration is in its tenth year and in Belize is coordinated through Scotiabank, National Aids Commission and the Ministry of Health. This year, the team is doubling testing […]
The public hearings of the Senate Special Select Committee resumed today with Immigration Clerk Ady Pacheco reappearing before the senate panel. We will have highlights of that testimony later on, but first to a story which developed on the fringes of today’s hearing in Belmopan. Former Ministers of Immigration and Nationality Carlos Perdomo and Elvin […]
The Minister characterizes Burgess’ statements as “hearsay” without any basis or foundation. But when questioned about whether Burgess’ testimony is not helpful, he contended that the Committee ought to limit itself to what is verified in the report and not accept the “opinions” of those such as Burgess, but stick to the facts. Anthony […]
According to the Minister, he has regularly recommended both constituents and acquaintances for a variety of Government services during his time in office. In the case of visa requests, that number is minimal, and while he did not personally vet the individuals who came to him apart from the recommendation of his contacts, the onus […]
Immigration officer Ady Pacheco was the sole witness this morning. She was thoroughly grilled by the members of the Committee on various cases and scenarios resulting in improper granting of nationality, visas, and permanent residence. One such case is that of Peter Dahlstrom, the Swedish national who married a Belizean and twenty years later sought […]
Pacheco was also questioned about the case of the Harmouch family of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, who appeared to recruit a powerful ally in area representative Manuel Heredia Junior. In the case of Mohammed Harmouch, he was interviewed for nationality but was not recommended by the Officer in Charge, Gordon Wade. However, Gertrude Armstrong, […]
The Auditor General’s Report details many instances of persons being granted passports illegally. But the Audit Department’s search uncovered thousands of blank passports that were simply reported as missing or possibly stolen. Pacheco indicated that as with many things, the Department did nothing with regard to locating and restoring these important documents, which were re-introduced […]
Minister of Transport Edmond Castro had his U.S. diplomatic and personal visas revoked a few weeks ago for unconfirmed reasons, though his alleged involvement in the Immigration scandal is considered a key reason in some quarters. But speculation has run rampant that other Government Ministers are in danger of losing their visas as well. One […]
Police Constable Florencio Rash has been internally charged by the Belmopan Police for the offence, Prejudice of Good Order and Discipline. He was taken before a Disciplinary Tribunal, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge and his case will be heard before an adjudicator on July eleventh. The charges came following the release of […]
San Pedro Police are looking for a man wanted in connection of a murder that occurred six months ago. Twenty-eight-year-old Vildo Westby is said to be armed and dangerous and police are asking if you see him to call 9-1-1 or the nearest police station. Westby is known to live between Belize City and the […]
ACP Chester Williams is recognized for minimizing the bloodshed in the Old Capital, specifically as it relates to gang-related violence. Earlier this year, Williams and his team of mediators, including Dianne Finnegan, introduced a gang truce which has had success. Ahead of his departure to take up a desk job as the Commander of the […]
In his final meet and greet session today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was in the Jane Usher Boulevard area not only to bid farewell, but to get a feedback of the concerns of residents about policing efforts within the area. ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South “Indeed it is my […]
As of Saturday, July first, Eastern Division South will have a new commander. Superintendent Marco Vidal takes over from Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. Vidal is the former head of the Gang Suppression Unit. Williams hopes that his legacy with the gangs will endure. ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South “If […]
Prices for goods and services shot up considerably in May of this year when compared to the same period last year. Consumers were hard hit on the pocket due to higher transportation costs occasioned by an increase in the price of fuel. Transportation prices increased by eight point three percent from May 2016 to May […]
Since 2004, the Social Security Board’s staff has been supporting non-profits and other local projects doing community work by work raising monies to help fund worthy causes. The annual ‘Ride Across Belize’ initiative kicked off today and the ride is expected to raise twenty-five thousand dollars, which will be matched by the S.S.B. News Five’s […]
We have been reporting that the Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is at the center of a controversy involving residents and business owners in the vicinity of Newtown Barracks. Despite the predicament in which he finds himself, the mayor has a strong ally in the Department of the Environment. Earlier today, the D.O.E. sent out […]
Among those present at last Wednesday’s meeting was Valerie Woods. Not only is she a P.U.P. senator from Caribbean Shores, Woods also resides within proximity of the Pickwick Club. Her complaints, like those of other neighbors, have resulted in what is being described as an impulsive response by Mayor Bradley. According to Woods, resolving the […]
