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Belizeans across the country continue to prepare for a nationwide shutdown to come into force on Thursday morning. Tonight, there is more clarity on the latest COVID-19 response and how government’s decision to effect a sweeping state of emergency will affect everyone for the next thirty days. It is mandated that persons who are not […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on State of Emergency Described In Full Details
In light of government’s recent announcement of a countrywide lockdown, there have been dozens of business owners reaching out to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in an attempt to have their doors remain open during the state of emergency. Many of those concerns are not deemed to be essential services and as […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Barrow – “No Means No!”
The legal parameters, as well as the technical details of the state of emergency, are being fine-tuned ahead of the Governor General’s assent to bring it into force. That declaration should be signed at the latest by Wednesday morning. The comprehensive nature of the latest statutory instrument takes into consideration the existing situation in San […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on AG Says State of Emergency Can Be Lifted Before 30 Days
The media is considered an essential service and will continue to function during the state of emergency. Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte expressly described a number of organizations and businesses that are also considered essential services which will be allowed to remain open during the day. He was also clear in stating that persons employed under […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Who Are Essential Services, Does Your Job Qualify?
A significant sum of money to be borrowed from at least three international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, CABEI, has been allocated for COVID-19 relief. Those funds are an aggregate of roughly a hundred and forty million dollars and will, […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Financial Aid is Coming from the IFIs
An initially budget of nine hundred thousand dollars was set aside to acquire medical equipment, such as ventilators and other medical supplies needed for the response to COVID-19. There were concerns that the health system did not have an adequate amount of ventilators to deal with any potential outbreak. But there are assurances that Government’s […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Over $2 Million Spent Already to Acquire Ventilators & Other Medical Supplies
Earlier in his presentation, Doctor Marvin Manzanero spoke about having procured thirty-two ventilators that will be used at public health facilities for those persons having a more severe case of the deadly disease. At present, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital has ten ventilators; six of which are used in the intensive care unit of the […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 32 Ventilators for Fight Against COVID-19
Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, reported earlier today that as many as one hundred and three tests have been conducted across the country to detect the presence of the novel corona virus. Of those tests, only three have since returned positive. The most recent case involves a Belize City man who is recovering. […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on San Pedro Still on Lockdown
Tonight attorney Arthur Saldivar remains at the Belmopan Police Station in lockdown. Saldivar’s legal woes began over a Facebook post over the weekend. He was held by the police and eventually released, but on Monday night, the long arms of the law were back at his house. The outspoken critic is now being detained for […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Attorney Arthur Saldivar Arrested by Belmopan Police
A group of attorneys have formed an association that will focus on tackling issues affecting the poor population in Belize. They are called the Association of Defense Attorneys and will focus on increase awareness of police abuse, human rights and improper incarceration. Attorney Richard Dickie Bradley is a part of the association; he says that […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Police are swiftly enforcing state of emergency regulations. In San Pedro where a mother and daughter have the virus, three persons were charged with “Breach of Curfew Conditions.” This is because their children were out after six p.m., which is not allowed on the island during this period. They were fined five hundred dollars and […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 3 Persons Charged & Fined for Breach of Curfew on San Pedro
Fisheries personnel were on patrol on Sunday when they came across a vessel with four persons who threw their cargo of one hundred and thirty-two whole lobsters overboard. As you may know, the lobster season is closed at this time and reopens until June, so fishermen shouldn’t be harvesting lobster. The four persons found on […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 132 Out-of-Season Whole Lobsters Confiscated
There is no definitive period to say when the COVID-19 pandemic will be over, but most people agree that it will take months for economic activity to normalize. In the meantime, the COVID-19 contagion continues all over the world. Spain today reported the highest number of deaths in one day and the number of cases […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Cruise Lines Suspend Calls to Port Until May
At today’s press conference, while on the topic of essential services, the head table was asked about cable companies and internet service providers. A large chunk of the workforce will be telecomputing, students will be online with school work, and others will spend their time surfing the net or browsing various social media platforms and […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on What About Cable Services & the Integrity of Internet Infrastructure?
Health workers, who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, are being taken care of by the government, which has made available a compensation package that will cover unforeseen expenses, including the cost of domestic services. While a ten million-dollar contribution from Lord Michael Ashcroft was set aside for the procurement of health […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Health Workers Wahn Get Handled Good
Unlike health workers, bus operators believe they are being left out in the cold when it comes to support during this pandemic. Today, Secretary of the Belize Bus Association called to say that they are puzzled about the Prime Minister’s response to a question about relief for the bus industry. Ewart Metzgen says that during […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Bus Association Says That They Need Help ASAP!
The Social Security Board has positioned itself to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The S.S.B. says that it remains committed to safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of its staff, customers and stakeholders. Several measures are in effect including the amendment to the benefits regulation. With thousands of individuals losing their jobs due […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on S.S.B. Amends Benefits Regulation
All entry points into the country were closed on March twenty-third except for cargo. As you know commercial flights, cruise ships have been suspended and the movement across the borders is restricted. But a number of Belizeans were not able to make it back home at the time the measure came into effect. On average, […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
Health,
Travel |
Comments Off on At Least 9 Belizeans Returning Home Daily
The third victim to have been diagnosed with the coronavirus returned to Belize from New York on March twentieth before showing symptoms of illness five days later. While the thirty-eight-year old man was said to have been in self-isolation since his return to the country, there have been questions about his whereabouts before he tested […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Has Third Coronavirus Patient Remained Self-isolated?
At this time, there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. And it is not expected that one will be approved until eighteen months down the road. During his appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning, Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero said that the country will not return to some sense of normalcy […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on When Will Belize Return to Normal?
There’s a small non-governmental organization that is making a difference in the lives of children living with a disability. “Adopt a Child with Disability” is a non-profit operating out of Belmopan and San Ignacio. The programme provides children with a range of therapy services—from physical therapy to occupational therapy, all at a fraction of the […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on “Adopt A Child with Disability”
For thirty days, starting midnight on April first, the nationwide shutdown restricts non-essential businesses from opening and non-essential workers from moving around in an effort to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. School aged youths are already at home and will be joined by working adults. But there are innovative ways to occupy time including […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Quarantine Survival – Rumajay’s Virtual Fetes
One teacher says that being at home with children, who are out of school, is an opportune time to do fun, safe activities in the yard. Tremett Perriott, over the weekend, started a quarantine karaoke challenge where friends would post videos of them doing covers to different songs. He says that Belizeans must get creative, […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Quarantine Survival: “Quaraoke” – Quarantine + Karaoke
On Monday afternoon, the Inter-American Development Bank held a webinar to talk about COVID-19 and the implications on the Caribbean. During the live online show, Therese Turner Jones of the Caribbean Country Department spoke about the multi-lateral institution’s position on offering support to its members in the region. Turner-Jones outlines the priority areas of support […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on I.D.B. Discusses COVID-19 and the Caribbean
The private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank, the IDB Invest, was also a part of the webcast discussion. C.E.O. James Scriven spoke about how they are engaging their partners during this pandemic and the level of support that they can offer the region: James P. Scriven, C.E.O., I.D.B. Invest “We have across […]
Written on March 31, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
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Comments Off on I.D.B. Invest Outlines Support for Private Sector
