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The courts are not immune to the corona virus threat. The Court of Appeal was the first to make a change in the judiciary and has suspended its sitting. On Tuesday, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser, the Director of the Family Court, the Deputy Registrar and executive members of the Bar Association […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Secondary Legislation Drafted to Forward Court Proceedings in Wake of COVID-19 Threat
It has been established that the arraignment of persons for criminal acts continues as normal, even as a secondary procedure will be instituted at the courts for civil and criminal matters. Executive Committee Member of the Bar Association, Gavin Courtenay says that through the use of technology, bail applications will be heard via video link. […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Bail Applications to be Heard Via Video Link
Social distancing is a major recommendation as a preventative measure to halt the spread of COVID-19. The judiciary is taking no risks and has since postponed trials with jury until further notice. Gavin Courtenay, Executive Member, Bar Association of Belize “Even prior to the meeting, certain matters—particularly in the criminal court—the Chief Justice had […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Precautionary Measures at the Court; Trials with Jury Postponed
Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, via the passage of the Supreme Court of Judicature Amendment Bill, will now be empowered to make decisions on occasions when there are matters of public interest and national security, as in the case of the coronavirus threat. This morning in the House of Representatives, that piece of legislation was introduced […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Supreme Court Empowered to Make Decisions in Times of National Emergency
As we promised, the following story looks at the two reports of the B.D.F. helicopter accident that were released late Wednesday evening. The reports are produced by the Civil Aviation Department and the BELL Company. One report looks specifically at the aircraft itself, with an analysis of the wreckage recovered from the site; while the […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on A Look at the Latest Reports into the B.D.F. Helicopter Accident
Several pieces of proposed legislation were introduced in parliament today, notwithstanding the primary focus of the sitting being an aborted budget debate. Before we get to those bills, the Prime Minister announced that all government ministers have decided to forego a month’s salary to be contributed towards funds to combat the COVID-19 threat. Prime Minister […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on New Bills Introduced in the House of Representatives
At the top of the newscast, we told you about the measures that the Department of Immigration is taking to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus via the Ministry of Health’s live webcast called ‘Ask the Experts.’ And while surveillance is being beefed up at our border points, the Ministry of Health is ramping up […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Ministry of Health to Increase Testing for COVID-19
During the sessions, health officials also spoke about the issue of self-isolation. Manzanero appealed to the persons who have been asked to go into self-isolation to take it seriously. Kathleen Azueta-Cho of HECOPAB outlines steps that you should know in the event you are to self-quarantine. Kathleen Azueta-Cho, Technical Advisor, HECOPAB “One of the […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on The Do’s and Don’t’s of Self-Isolation
During the live question and answer webcast, Director of Health Services was asked about vulnerable groups to the novel coronavirus. These are sections of the population that are more susceptible to the serious symptoms of the virus. Doctor Manzanero explains that while researchers and health officials have seen that trend, there are some countries that […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Who Are Most Affected by the Transmission of COVID-19?
Even as Belize remains free of a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, the entire country is bracing for the inevitability. There is already an economic downturn in the tourism sector, one of the biggest revenue generators. Tour operators have shut down and many businesses and hotels are closing their doors. The B.T.B., we are told, […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Caye Caulker Preparing for COVID-19
National Hand Washing Day was celebrated today; to mark the occasion hand washing stations were set up across the country where residents were exposed to proper techniques to keep your hands free of germs and bacteria and even viruses. In Belize City, three schools were visited by the Ministry of Education where the children practiced […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Education,
Health |
Comments Off on National Hand Washing Day; Clean Hands Save Lives
As the only country in Central America with no confirmed cases of COVID-19, Belize remains on high alert for suspected cases of the new virus. Tonight in Healthy Living, we look at some of the symptoms that are associated with the virus and what you should be on the lookout for. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting As […]
Written on March 19, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Healthy Living: COVID-19 Preparation
The coronavirus, crime and the recent crash of a B.D.F. helicopter, in which four soldiers perished; are heavy and hugely critical issues facing the nation. First on the matter of crime, a press conference was held this afternoon by the top brass of the Police Department. The biggest item to come out of that is […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on South Side Belize City Under State of Emergency, Again
While police conducted an early morning raid today, it is believed that a number of persons, who are wanted for involvement in gang activity, may have given them the slip and are headed to other parts of the country. According to ComPol Chester Williams, a bulletin with the identities and photographs of all those individuals […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Chester to Bad Man: “We Will Find You Wherever You Are”
It is expected that of the eighty-two persons, who are presently in custody and are headed to the Belize Central Prison for the next thirty days, a number of them—through their respective attorneys—will be seeking judicial relief via the Supreme Court. They will likely be applying for bail. But Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte told the […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on No Judicial Relief Prior to Thirty-day Incarceration
Equally challenging for the Belize Police Department, in its attempt to put away known gang members, is the fact that the lower courts continue to impose fines and grant subsequent extensions when they cannot meet their payment schedules. This allows known criminals to remain on the streets to wreak havoc. According to the Commissioner of […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Gang Members Keep Receiving Extensions for Unpaid Fines
Minister of State Elodio Aragon Junior, himself a former ranking police officer, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Ministry of National Security which includes the Belize Police Department. While additional men and women have been deployed into the streets of the city, more boots on the ground will not solve the issues of […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Law Enforcement is More Than Just Boots on the Ground
One of the preventative measures taken in preparation against the novel coronavirus is that schools at all levels and across the country will be closed for two weeks leading into the Easter holidays. Classes are expected to resume on Monday, April twentieth. A press conference was hosted by the Ministry and Education Minister Patrick Faber, […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Education,
Featured |
Comments Off on Education Minister of COVID-19, Implications and Way Forward
Going forward, schools are being asked to provide parents with a home-based learning plan for their children. Parents are to ensure that students spend a part of each day in reading and learning activities. Faber also stressed that should a school conduct online classes, access to internet services as well as the appropriate devices to […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Education,
Featured |
Comments Off on Students to Practice Home-Based Learning During 2 Weeks of No Classes
As for the Primary School Examination and the CSEC, those have been postponed indefinitely, says Minister Faber. According to Faber, it is not certain when students will sit the tests. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education “The Primary School Education examinations scheduled for March thirtieth and April thirtieth are now suspended and at a later […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Education |
Comments Off on Ministry of Education Suspends P.S.E., CSEC and CAPE Exams
Eight areas across the city are on lockdown tonight as a state of emergency is in effect. The crime that swept through the Old Capital at the start of the week left seven persons dead. Derrick King, an employee of Bowen and Bowen, was shot and killed on Tuesday afternoon on West Street while he […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Perlene Polonio Mourns the Loss of Her Son to Gun Violence
As we’ve said, the security measures put in place by the Ministry of National Security was triggered by the bloodbath in the Old Capital. Within less than forty-eight hours, seven persons were killed and nine others injured in as many as nine shooting incidents between Sunday night and Tuesday morning. The north side of Belize […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Still No Arrests for King’s Park Triple Murder
Another innocent infant was senselessly killed in the spate of violence in the city. Five-year-old Kia Herbert was sleeping with her mother inside their bedroom when a gunman aimed his gun at the house on Pitter House. Frances Herbert was struck once to the shoulder, but baby Kia took three bullets to the abdomen and […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Several Persons Detained in Connection with Murder of Baby Kia c
The Lake Independence area is in lockdown, having been identified as a hotspot for gang activity. B.D.F. soldiers and police officers are stationed at all streets and access to that community. On Monday night, the gun violence in the Old Capital ended up on Gladden Street where a father of one was executed. Collet Morter […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Investigators Following Leads in Collet Morter’s Killing
Minister of Education and the U.D.P.’s former Deputy Leader Patrick Faber today confirmed to the media that he has submitted his application to contest the party’s leadership convention. His opponent, former National Security Minister John Saldivar called on Faber to support Omar Figueroa as the new leader in an endorsement convention. But the caveat is […]
Written on March 18, 2020 | Posted in
Politics |
Comments Off on Patrick Faber Not Concerned About John Saldivar at the Moment
