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A group of Harvard students and one from Emory University have joined efforts to provide free tutoring service for fourth and six formers while classes remain suspended. The services are being offered free of cost and the idea is to have the tutoring programme run at least until the end of May with one or […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Education,
Miscellaneous |
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We have been reporting on the growing number of fires which have been sparking all over, and there are now regulations to fine persons who start these fires. Tonight, we can report that the forests are burning out of control. Friends for Conservation and Development is reporting that huge fires are burning in the Vaca […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
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A new statutory instrument signed on April twentieth prohibits the lighting of fires during the State of Emergency. Concerns grew after the number of fires recorded across the country soared to one hundred and eighty-six. This continues to pose serious health and safety issues, especially for Belizeans living in the Cayo District, including Belmopan, where […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Environment |
Comments Off on Police to Enforce New Law on Lighting of Fires
The state of emergency for feuding Belize City gangs was lifted last Thursday and over a hundred and forty-two presumed gang members are back on the streets of the Old Capital. After thirty days of lockdown at the Belize Central Prison, one would assume that there would have been a lesson learned or an appreciation […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Belize City Youths Charged for Gang-related Videos
The death of Ulysease Roca has sparked debate on the treatment of persons who are HIV positive. The statistics show that only half of the persons confirmed as HIV positive have been taking the antiretroviral even though it is being provided by the government. Annually, there are two hundred new cases and over one hundred […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on How is the Country Managing HIV/AIDS?
In a telephone interview with the Chair of the National AIDS Commission, News Five got an update on the status of the controversial Equal Opportunities Bill. Public consultations have concluded on the proposed legislation which, according to the Ministry of Human Development, the NAC and the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on NAC Chair Gives Update on Progress of Equal Opportunities Bill
Across the world, April twenty-third is recognized as World Book and Copyright Day. It is used to recognize the literary works of poets, authors and writers. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, scheduled events had to be cancelled. Today, the Belize Book Industry Association did an online session on its Facebook page, featuring […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Art & Culture |
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It’s Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Week – a time set aside to recognize and show appreciation for the medical laboratory technologists who are an integral part of the healthcare system. They are always working behind the scenes. Today, we checked in with the blood bank in Belize City to hear about the ongoing work that the […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
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Tonight there is more on the death of fashion designer Ulysease Roca, who was determined to have died from multiple organ failure. The HIV patient was found dead in his home in Willows Bank Village on April nineteenth. But before passing, Roca posted an emotional live video on his Facebook in which he accused officers […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on ComPol Williams Says Ulysease Roca Died of HIV Complications
A number of police officers have come under fire for their brutish behavior and abuses against citizens. As for the officer who videoed and ridiculed Roca while he was in detention, Chester Williams says he is being dealt with. That officer is police constable Chris Staine, who is expected to be charged internally for “an […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Police Constable Charged for Videoing Ulysease Roca
Just prior to the interview with the ComPol, Chair of the National AIDS Commission, Laura Longsworth-Tucker said that she was devastated on how the case of Ulysease Roca evolved over the last few days. On Tuesday, along with the Ministry of Human Development and the Office of the Special Envoy the NAC came out against […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on National AIDS Commission Chair Disturbed by Case of Ulysease Roca
Jason Shaw, Leslie Martinez, and Anthony Villamil have been charged and arraigned for the crime of Willful Oppression. The trio is accused of forcing a man and a mentally challenged woman into a sexual act at an abandoned house on Central American Boulevard. The coercion was recorded by one of the officers on his cell […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Chester Williams Holds the Fate of 3 Police Officers
A Special Sitting of the House of Representatives is being called for April twenty-seventy. But unlike past meetings of the House, Monday’s sitting will be only by quorum, which means the members will not be present in the chambers. The sole order of business is that government needs the approval of the House to continue […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Special Sitting of the House to Discuss Extension of State of Emergency
At eight o’clock this morning, the remains of Bishop Dorick Wright were removed from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for its final farewell. The seventy-four-year-old bishop died last week and because of the coronavirus disease, his funeral took a different form, which included a mobile procession that ended at Holy Redeemer Cathedral where he was […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Religion |
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The Ministry of Health has not reported any new cases of COVID-19. But while that is encouraging news, the government will be extending the state of emergency up until the end of June. In its weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, several issues were discussed in regards to the COVID-19 crisis. One of the pointed issues […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Uncertainty About Reopening of the Economy
Minister of Investment, Trade and Commerce, Tracy Panton today confirmed that the cabinet Subcommittee for Investment is reviewing two proposed projects linked to the expansion of the Port of Belize in Port Loyola area of Belize City. On Tuesday, during a video conference by Chamberlain Consulting, it was revealed that the major development will not […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cabinet Investment Subcommittee Reviewing Port Expansion Projects
On April eighth, Holy Saturday, Opposition Leader John Briceño appeared in a recorded statement during which he chided government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Briceño is co-chair of the National Oversight Committee, a special working group established by the Barrow administration to respond to the socioeconomic and public health issues arising from the pandemic. While […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Johnny Briceño Remains Co-chair of National Oversight Committee
Six law enforcement officers have been charged for being in breach of the curfew regulations. Two police constables appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday; they were arraigned and given bail. Four members of the Belize Coast Guard, two in Punta Gorda and two in Belize City, have also been charged for breaching the curfew regulations. […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
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The Belize Police Association’s President, Corporal Eldon Arzu and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams are at it again. Arzu and Williams are said to have a strained relationship and have even battled in court over the legitimacy and legality of Arzu’s presidency. Arzu recently wrote to the minister, complaining that the ComPol has refused to place […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cpl. Eldon Arzu Vs Chester Williams, Again
But police officers are yet to be held criminally charged for the vicious beating put on Alejandro Chavez, a seventy-seven-year-old resident of the San Martin community in Belmopan. The incident happened on April third when police were out on curfew patrol. The officers were reportedly pursuing two persons after eight o’clock that night. The pursuit […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on An Update into the Vicious Beating of Elderly Man
Meanwhile, in San Ignacio, two police officers were held accountable for using excessive force on Gilbardo Velasquez. Velasquez was detained for breaching curfew regulations on April nineteenth. A video of Velasquez limping out of the San Ignacio Police station was shared on social media which prompted Police Commissioner Chester Williams to direct the Professional Standard […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on San Ignacio Police Officer Charged with Harm
The Belize City Council, like other municipal governments around the country, has been feeling the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. One of its employees, Hubert Pipersburgh was the fourth person to have contracted the virus and he was also the first patient to die from the disease. With the lockdown of the country, the council had […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on How’s Belize CitCo Coping with COVID-19?
Even as City Hall has closed its doors for now because of the state of emergency, there are a number of essential services being provided, including sanitation and market vending. Other services such as the licensing of vehicles, the renewal of driver’s license and payment of taxes can be done online. Mayor Bernard Wagner says […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
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Deputy Chief Education Officer Cecilia Ramirez Smith was the featured guest on today’s Ask the Experts Webcast. Students are at home doing home-based learning and so the Ministry of Education is adjusting it programmes. Smith presented further details outlining the Ministry of Education’s response and action taken for pre-primary, primary and secondary education during this […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Education |
Comments Off on MOE Re-Emphasizes Response and Action for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Schools
And continuing on the matter of education, Cecilia Ramirez Smith says that the lessons and work being given to students from the pre-primary, to high school levels must not be assessed for grades. She says that the work itself is to keep students engaged and to help reinforce important skills but not meant to be […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Education |
Comments Off on MOE Says School Work During SOE Not Meant to be Assessed for Grades
