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Whether you are a parent, a student or an educator, the biggest question surrounding COVID-19 recovery across Belize is: when will schools reopen for in-person learning? This morning on Channel Five’s Open Your Eyes, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca gave a start date for all students, but indicated some students may need to go back […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Education |
Comments Off on In-Person Learning to Resume in August/September
The existing regulations for the curfew currently in place will expire next week Tuesday. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa told reporters that even though the COVID-19 cases have declined, this doesn’t mean that they will relax the curfew hours. Here’s how he explains it: Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “So, definitely come […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on A New Curfew on the Horizon – What Will That Look Like?
Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa is the B.M.D.A.’s choice for Director of Health Services, but the glowing endorsement she has received from her colleagues in the medical community may not carry much weight. That’s because the decision to replace Doctor Marvin Manzanero in that capacity does not lie with the Belize Medical and Dental Association. In fact, […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on B.M.D.A. Endorses Dr. Diaz-Musa
A new board of directors for Belize Telemedia Limited was constituted in December of last year with former business senator Mark Lizarraga at its helm. Over the weekend, the telecoms company hosted a virtual gathering of its shareholders where an annual report was presented on its finances. The numbers are grim, to say the least. […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on $2.5M in Profits for B.T.L. in 2020 is a Paltry Sum
Former chairman Nestor Vasquez stepped down from his post as presiding officer of B.T.L.’s board of directors in mid-September 2020. His resignation came amid a scandal in which he was accused of racking up almost a million dollars in personal expenses using the company’s corporate credit card. In the wake of his abrupt departure, an […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Is Net Vasquez’s B.T.L. Credit Card Fiasco Headed to Court?
During today’s police press brief in Belmopan, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was asked about the crime statistics for the first six weeks of the year. There have been a number of murders, but major crimes are still down when compared to other years. ComPol Williams says that Belize has been doing well when compared […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on ComPol Chester Williams on Crime Stats So Far for 2021
For some time now, there has been a seeming increase in property crimes, including home invasions, robberies and vehicle theft. It is something that the Belize Police Department has been trying to get a grip on, even with its limited human resources and assets. As it finalizes its strategy going forward, ComPol Chester Williams says […]
Written on February 22, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on ComPol Williams on Safety Tips
An investigation is underway at the Belize Tourism Board where close to four hundred thousand dollars in pension funds were reportedly used to pay salaries to employees, including upper management between July and November of 2020. The new board, News Five has been told, has been questioning a number of persons after a former employee […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Investigation into B.T.B. Use of Pension Funds to Pay Salaries
Among those whose actions are under review is former Chairman Einer Gomez and Tourism Director Karen Bevans, who back in April of 2019, signed a five-year contract with the previous government to the tune of one point two million dollars. Minister Anthony Mahler says that the probe should not be perceived as a witch-hunt on […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Tourism Director & Former B.T.B. Chair Under Investigation
Today at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City, Prime Minister John Briceño along with his C.E.O. Narda Garcia and Minister of State, Christopher Coye as well as Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler met with stakeholders from the agro-productive sector. It is part of the government’s ongoing budget consultations. While with Minister Mahler, he reflected on how […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Budget Consultations Held with Agro-Productive Sector
Right now is traditionally the peak of the tourism season in Belize, but the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the industry. As the country attempts to recover, Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler says they are anticipating that cruise tourism will restart in late May of this year. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism “The industry is […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Travel |
Comments Off on Cruise Tourism to Restart in Late May/Early June
Tourism has been one of the hardest hit sectors of Belize’s economy during the pandemic. Hoteliers, tour guides, water taxi companies and many others have had to get creative with their marketing, hoping to lure those travelers who do still want to come with assurances of enhanced safety and sanitation protocols. The Belize Tourist Board […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Travel |
Comments Off on U.S. Advises Americans to Reconsider Travel to Belize
An online media outlet reported today that sitting Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner is to be disqualified from running in the March third municipal elections. The article claims focuses on the mayor’s nomination papers which indicate that he resides in the Los Lagos community, in the Belize District. According to the story the Belize City […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Is Mayor Bernard Wagner to Be Disqualified from Running?
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, Eamon Courtenay, has co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the CARICOM-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Group alongside with Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. Items on the agenda included coordinating the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular ensuring equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. They agreed […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Foreign Affairs |
Comments Off on Belize’s Foreign Minister Talks COVID-19 Response with Canada and CARICOM
Earlier this week we took you down south to Toledo where conservation and sustainable farming are co-existing. But while that’s working out for the Ya’axche Conservation Trust and the Trio Farmers Cacao Growers Association – these two groups have been facing a number of threats brought on by other groups. Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Threats to Conservation and Sustainable Farming!
Habet’s tour also took him to the Machaca Forest Station, next to the NEMO headquarters in Toledo. There he met with the forestry officer to tour the facilities. Habet tells us about some of the challenges that the department faces and how he plans to address the issues moving forward. Orlando Habet, Minister of […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Environment,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Minister of Forestry Tours Machaca Forest Station
Minister Habet also met with NEMO reps and toured the organization’s facilities. It was Habet’s first visit to NEMO in Toledo. He tells News Five that NEMO’s preparation for 2021 has started. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction “From the management side, the regional coordinator has forty-three or […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on NEMO Prepping for 2021!
A Belize City woman is facing possible jail time or a fine if she is found guilty of assaulting her niece on February eighteenth. Kendra Madrill, a resident of Fredrick Street, was taken before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett today to face a charge of Common Assault upon Michelle Stewart, who lives on the upper flat at the […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Well….Kendra Goes Before the Court!!
A fisherman is spending his first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison on a charge of Abetment to Commit Attempted Murder for a shooting that occurred in January that left a man hospitalized for several days. Calvert Humes of Belize City was arraigned before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett today. He was formally read the charge […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Another Person Charged in Connection with Jervis Diamond Shooting
If Belizeans think that our COVID-19 lockdown a few months ago and the current curfew and other restrictions seem severe, you may want to hear what the government of Barbados has just announced. Following the death of a health care professional, Prime Minister Mia Motley told Bajans there will be what the government is terming […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on PM Mottley Institutes “Pause” in Barbados due to Increased COVID-19 Deaths
Also in COVID-19 news from the region, Saint Lucians celebrated their first set of vaccinations this week. The first round of three thousand doses is already being administered and the small island nation is expecting another seventy-four thousand from COVAX and a further twenty-five to forty-thousand from the Indian government in the coming weeks. The […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Vaccine Roll Out in Saint Lucia
The Belize National ‘A’ Team is getting ready to embark on the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar 2022. For almost a year, the football players haven’t been able to play the sport and so they were left to work out on their own. So, on Monday, thirty-four athletes from across the country will […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Sports |
Comments Off on Belize Gets Ready for World Cup Qualifiers
A man in Belize City needs your help to secure O-negative blood. This evening, his daughter visited our news station to make an appeal on behalf of her dad, who is seriously ill in the hospital. Sandra Monterrosa, Appeal for Blood Donation “I am making an appeal for my dad. He is in the […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on O-negative Blood is Needed!
On Thursday we told you how Mahogany Chocolate Limited, a craft chocolate business celebrating its shipment of hundred and fifty-thousand dollars worth of chocolate products to the U.S. When we spoke with company head Louis Choco, he told us there are many opportunities in this industry – including tonnes of cacao bean just waiting to […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Environment |
Comments Off on The Opportunities for the Cacao Industry!
Are you tired of being locked up at home cooking or eating take-out food? Well, some stakeholders in the food industry in Belize City have made huge investments to give you and the entire family an amazing al fresco dining experience. News Five’s Duane Moody went restaurant hopping today. Duane Moody, Reporting The entertainment/nightlife […]
Written on February 19, 2021 | Posted in
Entertainment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Making the Shift to Outdoor Dining
