While that information is for the students, there is also some news tonight for the teachers. Cecilia Ramirez Smith of the Ministry of Education announced that the processing of teachers licenses continue. She tells us more about the steps required to apply for the license during this time. Cecilia Smith, Deputy Chief Education Officer […]
…and while the ministry has called on teachers to play a critical role during this time that classes remain closed, today Cecilia Ramirez Smith says that they are also making some resources available for all teachers. Those resources include online material to offer support to help them transition to distance learning. Cecilia Smith, Deputy […]
The latest organization to reach out to persons affected by the COVID-19 is the Belize Indian Community. Today, they delivered vouchers to be issued to persons who are eligible to collect baskets of basic staples. As you know, there is a thriving Indian community in the downtown area, so a number of persons who reside […]
Ensuring that affected persons are fed during the COVID-19 pandemic is a priority. Government, N.G.O.s, the private sector as well as the religious community have been engaged in food distribution. So today, Bishop A. Moses Benguche of the Methodist Church, Belize Honduras District got a big boost for the church’s relief programmes. The bishop received […]
On April fifteenth, the importation of single-use plastics and styrofoam into Belize stopped and in three months time, local manufacturers will also stop production of these items as the country moves forward to completely phase out plastics. In January, we reported on the Environmental Protection Regulations 2020, which was signed into law to reduce plastic […]
Doctor Percival Cho outlined that while the current state of emergency has caused a hold-up for some of the work needed to be done, Belize is still expected to meet the deadline set to complete the phase out. Dr. Percival Cho, C.E.O., Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, Environment & Sustainable Development “In regards to challenges […]
The third and final day of the Placencia Ambition Forum concluded today. The Government of Belize hosted the three-day forum which brought together the Alliance of Small Island States, via the internet. The discussion focused on the central theme of increasing ambition and safeguarding the Paris Agreement. The forum also highlighted the importance of “Keeping […]
According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, COVID-19 magnifies the importance of key island priorities for the global climate change agenda. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “If left to the Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States history will absolve us. That is because we would cease the moment and tackle decisively not just the consequences […]
The family of Ulysease Roca, a gay fashion designer, is questioning the cause of his death. There was no autopsy done on the body before it was cremated so the family has become suspicious over the cause of his demise. When he was detained for curfew violations, Ulysease claimed on video that he had been […]
Today, a joint release was issued by the National AIDS Commission, the Special Envoy for Women and Children and the Ministry of Human Development saying that they are extremely saddened by the death of Ulysease Roca. According to the release, stigma, bullying, violence and discrimination has been sweeping across our nation and manifests itself in […]
There are now two persons who have recovered from the corona virus. Eighteen persons contracted the virus, two died and now to have recovered. The Ministry says one hundred and seventy COVID-19 tests were done over the last six days. According to Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero, more testing components are expected in […]
It’s been nine days since the last COVID-19 positive patient was identified and moving forward with testing, the DHS says that they will be reviewing their testing strategy because they are seeing fewer reported cases of respiratory illnesses and they have tested those patients who were hospitalized. He notes that they are doing fewer tests […]
The People’s United Party is lending its support to dozens of livestock producers across the country who continue to lose income as a result of being unable to transport cattle through Bullet Tree Falls into Guatemala. The unauthorized but well-established trade in livestock between both countries has been a significant source of revenue for Belizean […]
The question of whether Chairman Pinelo is acting outside of his legal authority in prohibiting the passage of vehicles through Bullet Tree Falls remains a pertinent concern, as it sets a dangerous precedence for other communities. On the matter of the toll, Briceño says Pinelo has no authority to impose. According to Briceño, all efforts […]
Another of the proposals put forward to the Barrow administration by the Leader of the Opposition, who also co-chairs the National Oversight Committee, is for government to purchase bulk quantities of produce that can in turn be used as items in the respective relief programmes. Briceño suggests that instead of dispensing money, government can also […]
More than thirty thousand applications have been approved for persons to receive assistance from the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Fund. About seventy thousand persons have so far applied for the assistance, which provides them with seventy-five dollars a week to weather the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. The Social Security Board is dispersing the money to […]
In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, nurses are among the frontline workers who put their own lives at risk. A few days ago, the Nurses Association’s President, Darell Spenser reached out to the Lord Michael Ashcroft Relief Fund seeking assistance to improve their accommodation in the districts. Today, the association received one hundred and […]
Belize has two fewer COVID-19 positive cases tonight. That’s the update from the Ministry of Health this evening. Before that bit of information was provided, Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero was on the Ask the Experts webcast when he announced the first recovered case. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “We […]
While we have had two patients who have recovered from COVID-19, the remaining fourteen are doing well. The hospitalized patient from Corozal has since been released and is recovering at home. Today, Doctor Marvin Manzanero gave an update on the condition of the others. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “In terms of […]
As we reported at top of the newscast, it’s been nine days since the last person tested positive for COVID-19 in Belize. And while Belize has only a handful of cases at the moment – and can only declare COVID-19 outbreak free after twenty-eight days of no confirmed positive case – we may not be […]
The losses triggered by COVID-19 to the business sector are enormous and the road to economic recovery will be a long and arduous journey. Many businesses will have to rebound even as thousands of Belizeans are unemployed. The more stringent lockdown will be lifted on Saturday which coincides with when a peak is forecasted. Opposition […]
In an effort to assist as many Belizeans who are in dire straits as a result of the sudden economic downturn, government has been bolstering initiatives such as the Pantry and BOOST programmes. The assistance, however, is being dispensed through partisan vehicles which prevent others, particularly supporters of the opposition, from qualify for relief. Earlier […]
Bishop Dorick Wright will be laid to rest on Wednesday here in Belize City, following a televised funeral service that will be broadcast live from Holy Redeemer Cathedral. Channel Five will be carrying the live feed beginning at ten in the morning. Earlier today, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan announced that […]
You can no longer light fire during the state of emergency. If you are found doing so, you can be fined up to five thousand dollars and if you can’t pay that fee, then you can spend up to two years behind bars. That is because today the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and […]
…and to help them monitor the situation, the Forest Department has been using an online tool that records heat points across the country. While that tool will help to guide the steps of the department, they are also looking into getting some boots on the ground to curb this growing problem. C.E.O. Percival Cho explains. […]
