While some of the most severe restrictions in modern days have been relaxed, the state of emergency remains in place for another two months. With an imminent second wave of the deadly COVID-19 virus, Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero is asking the public not to let their guard down and to remain vigilant. […]
Neighbouring countries in the north and west, Mexico and Guatemala, are recording an increase of COVID-19 cases. With Belizeans illegally crossing the border, the possibility of a more lethal second wave is looking like a real possibility. Guatemala has recorded seven hundred and thirty cases with forty-six cases in the Peten region. In the state […]
The full force of the law unexpectedly came down on Body 2000 this morning. The popular gym, located on Coney Drive, closed during the state of emergency and is not among the list of businesses that can yet reopen. But this morning, shutters were down when police dropped by and found five persons inside the […]
So a member of the police team says the building was shuttered and locked and they got no answer from inside. Neal and the other five persons charged also have their own version of what transpired at Body 2000 this morning. But Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that the gym was in fact in […]
What is the future of Harvest Caye in southern Belize? As you know, the novel coronavirus wreaked havoc in the entire tourism industry across the globe, when no sail orders were imposed and cancellations came fast and furious. This morning, one of the biggest investors in the local industry, Norwegian Cruise Lines, said it sees […]
As of May first 2020, importers of liquefied petroleum gas—Gas Tomza Limited, Southern Choice Butane, Zeta Gas and Belize Western Energy Limited—cannot import butane gas into Belize. That responsibility belongs now to the National Gas Company and the LPG importers are currently locked in a legal battle with the government over the importation license. The […]
Matura also raised questions about the owners of the National Gas Company. The company is a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Belize holding twenty-five percent of shares. The list of shareholders includes a U.S. based company called B.W.T. holdings while the locals are M & M Limited, G.A. Roe, Gilly Canton, and Bowen and Bowen. […]
Earlier this year, a state of emergency was instituted on the south side of the city allowing for the imprisonment of gang members due to the spike in violent crimes. After reviving an old truce, the gangs were released from prison and have generally kept the peace. Today, rival gangs on Police Street were out […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams addressed the concerns arising from the lack of social distancing at the water taxi terminals and on their vessels. While these can now operate, today another picture surfaced on social media of a water taxi filled to capacity with passengers leaving San Pedro and heading into the City. Even though […]
ComPol Chester Williams was in San Pedro today where he met with Coastal Executive Officer, Superintendent Chris Noble and his team of officers as well as with San Pedro Mayor, Daniel Guerrero. Over a week ago, regulations put in place by the mayor, violating the national state of emergency. As you know, central government balked […]
Secondary schools are still working out what will happen for students when the new academic year starts in September. Will they all be promoted to a new class or will some other decision be taken based on academic performance? That’s the question for many high school students and there are reports that some high schools […]
When she spoke with reporters today, Doctor Carol Babb also gave an update on the progress of the ministry’s educational programmes for students. As you know, the ministry is offering academic resources for students to do work via lessons aired on television and radio; as well as hard copies made available for those living in […]
The use of face masks is now a must for persons venturing in public during the next thirty days of the state of emergency. That has created a whole new industry for enterprising Belizeans so that everywhere you go, the masks are now part of the norm. But can the masks contribute to the deterioration […]
The cost of not wearing a mask in public can cost you five thousand dollars – it is a hefty fine to pay when reusable masks are going for as low as five dollars in some places. But there are still some who are not adhering to the new law. Today, when we spoke with […]
The rains last week doused the huge fires that were burning out of control in the Vaca and Chiquibul forest in the west. The damage, however, was already done. Huge areas of the forests were destroyed, several animals were killed and their habitats destroyed. The fires in the Vaca forest and along the western border […]
This morning, UNICEF handed over a thousand boxes of food and hygiene items to the Ministry of Education. The hampers are for underprivileged students who are enrolled in the government’s primary school feeding programme. News Five was at today’s handing over ceremony. Here’s the story. Andrea Polanco, Reporting There are primary school students who […]
On April twenty-second, the University of Belize issued a three-page press release to update students about steps being taken as the university navigates these uncertain COVID-19 times. There are some students, however, who are not happy about the university’s recommendation to voluntarily withdraw from courses where they are not able to “access online instruction or […]
UB’s President Sankat has said that the students withdrawing from the course will not warrant any academic or financial penalty and students will be able to re-register for such courses at the very first opportunity. Some students, however, are worried that this will push their timeline of completing their degree. President of the Student Union […]
Fifty families in Toledo are set to receive food hampers. The generous donation is being sponsored by OCEANA Belize through the Belize Territorial Volunteers. The food packages are to extend some help to families in Barranco, as well as others in the wider Moho and Temash area of Toledo. BTV Leader Wil Maheia has packaged […]
The Ministry of Human Services also received a donation today. It came from the International Office of Migration comprising of three hundred hygiene kits to benefit vulnerable populations. The packages contain items such as toilet paper, soap, body wash, loofah, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, all essential items for personal hygiene of women, men and children. […]
And going back to the south, when we spoke with Wil Maheia today he shared that one of the restrictions has been very tough for residents to deal with in that southern coastal community. Maheia says that there are many families who depend on fishing to feed their families – these are persons, he says, […]
The weekend ended in tragedy for the family of a taxi man in the north. Fifty-four year old Matias Alpuche was stabbed to death by his fare in the Petsville area of Orange Walk. Prior to his savage stabbing he had visited with his estranged wife and set out to work. He did not live […]
A family of four, including two minors, was busted over the weekend for defying the most severe piece of law to come into effect during the state of emergency. Despite the new measures going into the Labour Day weekend, both parents, along with their children, illegally crossed over into Mexico where the state of Quintana […]
This morning, there was far more movement in the city and around the country as almost all businesses are now open and so did government offices and statutory boards. But there is still a curfew in place, from eight p.m. to five a.m. and eight p.m. to six p.m. for minors. But under the new […]
The reopening of some businesses started on Saturday morning following the announcement of the new statutory instrument. Many stores in downtown Belize City opened their doors after weeks of closure but no sooner than they had begun serving their customers in the downtown area of the City, police officers arrived to shut them down. There […]
