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“We will do everything possible not to retrench anyone.” Those are Prime Minister Briceño’s words on Tuesday when speaking about budget preparation for the upcoming financial year. In March, PM Briceño will present his first budget. It will be a challenge considering the debt accumulated under the Barrow Administration; that revenue collection has decreased by […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on G.O.B. Embarks on Budget Consultations
What is the future of the food assistance program? Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos Garcia, has publicly stated that the program has funds that will continue to the end of the financial year – essentially two more months. The Ministry merged the COVID-19 Food Assistance Program and the Grocery Bag Program (formerly known as […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
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The Opposition, United Democratic Party, says it will challenge the terminations of about twenty-four terminal workers and other terminations reported across the country. On George Price Day, the two dozen workers at the Novelo’s Bus Terminal in Belize City were given their walking paper, and a total of sixty employees in the Department of Transport […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on U.D.P. Should Be Ashamed, says PM John Briceño
The Christian Workers Union is taking the Belize City Council to task over a Collective Bargaining Agreement – or the steps that need to be taken to get to that agreement. According to C.W.U., the CitCo has disrespected them by failing to engage on critical issues. The C.W.U. is asking the Council to provide their […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on C.W.U. Takes CitCo to Task over C.B.A.
According to the C.W.U., the Belize City Council is not forthcoming with a counter-proposal, and their membership refuses to accept it. Mayor Bernard Wagner has indicated that the Council will not provide a counter-proposal or engage in negotiations as they are heading into the municipal elections. He wants to leave the C.B.A. business until March […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on C.W.U. Tells CitCo to Run the Counter Proposal to the C.B.A.!
Attorney Estevan Perera remains the chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, despite calls from the new administration for him to resign. Earlier this month, Perera issued a letter quoting section eighty-eight of the Constitution, which speaks to how a person by law is removed from the commission and that the appointment should not be […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Has Elections & Boundaries Chair Estevan Perera Had a Change of Heart?
It would appear that our news story on the plight of the Shish family from San Ignacio reached the eyes and ears of the insurance company. That’s because today, after a period of unanswered calls, messages, and even a demand letter from an attorney, the insurance company finally responded to the family’s attorney, Estevan Perera. […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Insurance Company Responds to Shish Family
The distance learning approach has been in effect since the 2020 school year began. At the start of every week, weekly packages are picked up, completed by students, and then submitted by the end of the week, while others engage in online classes. But what about students with special needs? News Five’s Duane Moody visited […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on A Family’s Experience in Bridging the Learning Gap for Special Needs Students
The Briceño Administration has established a COVID-19 Education Task Force to help guide the government in delivering quality, accessible education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has dealt a blow to education, with regular classroom sessions suspended since March of last year. So the idea is for the task force to provide specific recommendations for […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on A COVID-19 Education Task Force is Formed
Last week, the newly appointed Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children spoke about working with various organizations to ensure the elderly and persons with special needs are cared for. On Monday, the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities, also known as BAPDA, met with the Minister of Human Development, Families and […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on BAPDA Meets with the Ministry of Human Development
When the pandemic hit in early 2020 and tourism collapsed, almost forty thousand Belizeans lost their jobs. Unemployment is tough on all families, but for Jaime Beckford, losing his job last March could not have come at the worst time. Beckford, a father of four, was diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease two years ago. When […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on San Ignacio Man Needs Your Help!
A virtual town hall discussion is being held tonight to discuss the cannabis industry and its potential economic impact in Belize. The public meeting is part of a consultation process being undertaken by Growth Industries C.E.O. Alex Lavin, an entrepreneur in cannabis and hemp production in the United States. The discussion is being organized through […]
Written on January 27, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Town Hall-style Meeting to Discuss Hemp Industry in Belize
The Cabinet met today for well over six hours. One of the topics of discussion in the meeting was the ratification of the UN Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. It has been in our laws since 1980, but on Thursday, the Senate is expected to ratify the convention. After today’s […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
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Politics |
Comments Off on Senate to Ratify UN Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards
The Prime Minister also responded to questions about the Public Service Commission. Like the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Estevan Perera, the Public Service Commission members refuse to resign, even though it is known as a politically appointed body. When there is a government change, the commission members would usually leave, but they […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Members of Public Service Commission Refuse to Resign
The disposal of public assets, including vehicles, office furniture, and electronic equipment, just ahead of the November 2020 general elections, will be investigated. The Public Service Union roundly criticized the fire sale of the property of the Government of Belize. Earlier today, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the signing of an order to […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on O.P.M. Appoints Commission to Investigate Sale of Assets
Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 were recorded today, putting the total number of confirmed cases to eleven thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight. There were also fifty-six new recoveries and three hundred and eight active cases. The good news is that there were no new deaths reported, leaving the fatality count at two hundred and ninety-three. […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Inter-district Travel Ban in O.W. and Corozal to be Lifted
The American tourist who the police arrested for mask violation in Caye Caulker opened up about her ordeal. While there were concerns that her experience could cause a black eye for Belize, as the country scrambles to attract tourists during the pandemic, the woman says that she promises to revisit Belize despite the shock of […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Tourist Arrested for Mask Violation Still Wants to Return to Visit Belize!
While backlash from a possible bad review after the viral video is less of a concern, the tourism sector is bracing for the impact of the new travel regulations being implemented in the United States. On Friday, a comprehensive strategy was issued by the U.S. government of the change in quarantine regulations whenever a citizen […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Foreign Affairs,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Charge d’Affaires Keith Gilges Clarifies New U.S. Travel Regulations
The Briceño administration has yet to finalize its list of diplomatic postings. In fact, for weeks, we have been receiving reports that individuals sent on diplomatic missions at Belizean embassy overseas were refusing to return home, delaying the government’s plan in appointing new ambassadors and other diplomats. Today, PM John Briceño says that the announcement […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Ambassadors Appointed by Barrow Administration Refused to Return
The Prime Minister was also asked about Amilin Mendez. In a press release dated December fourth, the Briceño administration announced Mendez’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Economic Development. The release stated that as C.E.O., Mendez would support the prime minister’s efforts, who is the substantive minister. But news of her appointment […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Amilin Mendez, C.E.O. No More
The fate of the food assistance program inherited by the Briceño administration beyond the current fiscal year remains uncertain. Monies have been set aside to continue with the initiative until the end of March. However, allocations for the program in the coming financial year remain doubtful since the government finds itself in a disastrous financial […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on What’s the Future of the Food Assistance Program?
Gregory Ch’oc is the Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. Today, the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs announced Ch’oc’s appointment. A press release from the ministry says that Ch’oc is “well qualified and has over two decades of experience working with indigenous people at the local and international level. His scope of […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Greg Ch’oc is Appointed the Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
A mother of two young boys from San Ignacio turned to News Five once again to share the story of what can only be described as a series of unfortunate events. On December sixth, a dump truck ran off the street and through Gudy Shish’s home while she and her kids were inside; everything was […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Shish Family Waiting for Help to Recover Home Destroyed by Dump Truck
Career woman police officer Rachael Serrano and her family are homeless after a fire destroyed their home in San Ignacio last Thursday. Today, News Five visit with Serrano, who, since the disaster, has been living in a room while her children are staying in Belize City and elsewhere in Cayo. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Career Police Officer Loses House to Fire; Needs Your Help!
Police are still looking for Javier Choc. Choc is accused of fatally stabbing his step-son, Walter Axcel Gonzalez. The incident happened at the family’s residence in San Martin Belmopan on Sunday, January seventeenth. Choc stabbed the teen when he attempted to intervene in an altercation between his mother and Choc. Gonzalez was rushed to the […]
Written on January 26, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Killer Stepfather Remains on the Run
