Government has been struggling to meet its monthly wage bill as a result of the economic meltdown left in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The months of April and May were particularly rough for government as it struggled to maintain the wage bill amid the countrywide state of emergency which brought economic activity to […]
The new prices for liquid petroleum gas took effect on Monday and consumers are now paying thirty-eight cents more per gallon of butane. The former importers, Gas Tomza, Zeta Gas, and Belize Western Energy Limited were stripped of their license to import butane allowing the National Gas Company as the sole importer. The matter is […]
A ten-year-old boy lost his life this afternoon after he was knocked down by a butane truck. Steven Torres was riding his red beach cruiser bicycle in Libertad Village, Corozal when the gas truck ran over him. At the time of the incident, the truck was being driven by San Joaquin Village resident, Yuri Lucas. […]
Quick police response to a robbery led officers to the detention of two suspects. It happened just before four o’clock this evening at Gas Tomza Limited, which is located on mile one and a half on the George Price Highway. We are told that employees of the butane outlet were held at gunpoint by two […]
Last week we told you about a tugboat called “Pulla” whose barge sank somewhere between Caye Caulker and Caye Chapel. That barge, which departed Belize City last Tuesday morning en route to Caye Caulker, was carrying heavy several pieces of heavy equipment. Those pieces of equipment were retrieved from the water. The barge, however, remains […]
Over the weekend a ritual steeped in ancient tradition was performed in Yo Creek, in the Orange Walk District. A Hetzmek, which is a baptismal ceremony, was held for a three-month baby girl. These Mayan ceremonies have been disappearing so the Cantun family is attempting to revive Mayan cultural practices. The Hetzmek included the presentation […]
The poaching of Scarlet Macaws for the illegal pet trade isn’t new. It’s something we’ve been reporting on for about ten years – but this illicit activity may have been taking place inside the Chiquibul Forest even long before. Just recently, Guatemalan poachers were found with seven of the exotic birds, five survived. Poachers roam […]
Fourth form students are preparing to sit the 2020 CSEC examinations. They have been away from school since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown and the exams had to be rescheduled to mid-July. Going back to the classrooms has a different feel; there is social distancing to practice and they have to wear masks as […]
Are you the next Ocean Hero? OCEANA Belize wants you to apply today! The call for submission for the annual Ocean Hero Award is now open. The award recognizes those who champion the protection of our oceans through research, education, restoration and other ocean-related sustainable projects. The deadline for the submission of nominations is on […]
At news time, the votes are still being counted to determine who will be the new president of the Police Association. As many as fourteen officers put their names on the ballot, including outgoing president Corporal Elton Arzu, whose presidency has been controversial. Here is a report with Isani Cayetano. Isani Cayetano, Reporting Members […]
Taiwan is stepping up big time for Belize with another COVID-19 medical equipment donation. In its latest gift, Taiwan donated a million Belize dollars in equipment and materials for hospitals and labs across the country. The donation includes protective gears; nasal swabs; and thermometers. Here’s the story. Andrea Polanco, Reporting On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ambassador […]
The increase in the price of LPG, which was announced on Monday, is not sitting well for consumers and three former LPG importers as the country battles with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prices went up by thirty-eight cents per gallon which, combined with a first increase, means that consumers are spending sixty-nine […]
Attorney Audrey Matura, on behalf of Gas Tomza, BWEL and Z Gas, has written to the Director of the Belize Bureau of Standards, Jose Trejo. In a letter dated June fifteenth, eight questions are posed to Trejo. Matura says that the public has the right to know the answers, including the formula used to set […]
The increase of prices for LPG came on the same day of a hike in the price of regular fuel. It was not lost on the People’s United Party, which fired off a press release today. The press release states, “Whenever the price of fuel and associated products go down in the region and around […]
The license of the three importers expired months ago and there was no possibility to renew or extend. Their position is that the government’s move to box them out is illegal and unconstitutional and that case is before the courts. Attorney Audrey Matura is challenging the government’s decision in the courts. According to Matura submissions […]
Last week, reports of a narco plane landing in southern Belize surfaced, the police confirmed it had deployed a team in search of the plane but there was no find. This morning, it was reported in the Mexican media that a white drug plane was tracked and it landed near Javier Rojo Gomez, a city […]
Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, appeared on today’s episode of Ask the Expert where he responded to a number of questions put forward by members of the public. Prior to the Q&A session, Dr. Manzanero touched on continued testing for COVID-19, acknowledging that last Friday saw the most tests being conducted in a […]
Border jumpers and repatriates present the only external threats of a second wave of COVID-19 in Belize, as the country’s borders and airport remain closed indefinitely. Dangriga is one of two municipalities that have not recorded any cases of coronavirus thus far, though a family of four that recently entered the country from Honduras has […]
As we have reported, the National Institute of Culture and History had been running on financial trouble for months. The Minister of Education Patrick Faber had raised the alarm on May thirteenth and President Sapna Budhrani had said she was putting together a plan to get them out of the hole. When the lockdown started, […]
In political news, there is word tonight that at its sitting today, Cabinet discussed the matter of the U.D.P. leadership. As you know, in February, John Saldivar was elected as leader designate but had to step down in a matter of three days due to the Lev Dermen scandal. He along with his nemesis Patrick […]
Calaney Flowers was acquitted of the murder of ex-boyfriend Lyndon Morrison in March 2017 after five years on remand at the Belize Central Prison. Despite the acquittal, the former bank teller has been fighting to remain a free woman as the Director of Public Prosecutions continues to pursue an appeal of that initial decision which […]
Six people were involved in a road traffic accident today on the Philip Goldson Highway. Fortunately, no one was critically injured but they were all taken to the hospital for medical attention. A vehicle suffered a tire blowout on the highway and crashed into another oncoming vehicle. Here’s Andrea Polanco with a report. Andrea […]
Back to COVID-19; Belize has been able to abate a so-called first wave of the corona virus by implementing strict measures under a state of emergency. Those regulations are only just being relaxed as we near the end of the existing S.O.E. While there are no known plans to extend or renew the state of […]
Across Belize, various hotels have been designated as facilities for persons facing a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine upon re-entering the country. The western border at Benque Viejo has seen considerable traffic, leaving Cayo District with the highest number of persons in isolation because of the coronavirus disease. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “I […]
The Ministry of Health is also preparing a proposal regarding the continued use of face masks after the State of Emergency expires at the end of the month. The proposal will be presented to the National Oversight Committee and will also contain guidelines for the continued practice of social distancing. After the proposal is made […]
