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PM Says GG’s House is Dilapidated

Governor General Froyla Tzalam was installed as the titular head of state on Thursday, but she will not be taking up residence at the Belize House any time soon.  That’s because the property in Belmopan is dilapidated and is in dire need of structural repair.  Earlier this week, word of the GG’s new abode began […]

Cruise Tourism to Resume in August

Cruise tourism remains on hold, despite several dates for the resumption of weekly voyages to Belize previously being announced.  The latest update on when Belize can expect visitors to disembark on its shores came this morning from Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler.    Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations “Another important sector is […]

Minister Mahler on Border Reopening Amid COVID-19 Concerns

The reopening of land borders for tourist arrivals has raised concerns about the continued spread of the coronavirus in Belize, notwithstanding government’s push to reduce the number of infections.  Earlier this week, Cabinet announced that the borders with Guatemala and Mexico will be reopened on May thirty-first.  In the wake of that announcement, Doctor Mark […]

Belize Partners With Guatemala to Stop Illegal Wildlife Sales

Belizeans are very proud of our country’s wildlife protection efforts.  But what many people may not know is there are people illegally selling our wildlife and taking them across the border to Guatemala.  It’s a lucrative trade with a single scarlet macaw fetching up to four thousand dollars.  The trafficking is having an impact on […]

F.C.D. Seeks to Increase Fines for Wildlife Trafficking

The issue of fines for those caught illegally trafficking wildlife is also of concern.  Manzanero says the Wildlife Protection Act of Belize is being revamped to increase these. He hopes this will act as a deterrent.    Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, F.C.D. “The Wildlife Protection Act of Belize is being revamped for quite some time […]

Sister City Relations Forged between Local Municipalities

The monthly meeting of the Mayors Association was held today at Mahogany Bay in San Pedro Town. During this session, the municipal leaders signed off on a sister city document with the intent to share best practices with tax and licensing reform, urban expansion and development among others. News Five spoke today with Mayors Sharon […]

Phone Number for Bomb Threat Has Been Identified

This week, bomb threats were called in to two government offices, forcing the workers out into the streets and delaying the provision of services to members of the public for several hours. Well today, police say they have linked a phone number to one of those threats. But the Commissioner says at this point they […]

ComPol: “Everybody Da Fisherman Now”

Police have recovered three kilos of cocaine they believe originated from a narco-plane that crashed landed off the coast of Placencia. As was reported, since the crash police has been able to locate the wings and tail of the plane at sea. The body, which police suspects may still contain the drugs and the pilots, […]

Six Weeks and No Sign of Kim Martinez: Family Offering Reward

Kim Martinez, a resident of Corozal Town, has been missing for the past six weeks.  ComPol Williams says police have viewed a disturbing video taken just days before she disappeared and detained her common law husband for questioning, but he was released.    Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “I know the report has been made […]

Unions Reject G.O.B.’s Compensation Proposals

As you heard earlier in our newscast, the unions have prepared their response to G.O.B.’s proposal.  The document outlines the unions’ position on the good governance and other measures put forth on May twelfth and has harsh words for the Prime Minister.  The three-page document criticizes the P.M.’s decision to end the “consultations” abruptly without […]

Orange Walk Has a New Option for Optical Services

Unicomer Belize is opening a Courts Optical Branch in Orange Walk Town.  The grand opening will be held on Monday.  Managing Director at Unicomer, Javier Ponce spoke to News Five about the special deals Belizeans can expect at this grand opening.   Javier Ponce, Managing Director, UNICOMER “We are really excited to be going through […]

Froyla T’zalam Installed as Governor General

Today, a new chapter in Belizean history is being written as an indigenous woman takes on the role of Governor General.  Froyla T’zalam, an educator and Mopan Maya originally from San Antonio Village in Toledo, gave an inspiring speech during the event live streamed to Belizeans at home and abroad. News Five’s Duane Moody attended […]

Congratulatory Outpouring for GG Froyla T’zalam

As the officially ceremony was being streamed live, social media was abuzz with congratulatory messages for the new Governor General. Froyla T’zalam is the first indigenous woman of Maya descent to be named governor general in the Commonwealth. In her message to the new G.G., Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland spoke of T’zalam role […]

Minister of Health on Reopening Borders

On May thirty-first, land borders will officially open to international tourists only. The decision taken by the cabinet has been met with mixed reviews, especially so because the COVID-19 numbers in neighbouring Quintana Roo are spiking and there is concern that the reopening may trigger another wave in Belize, including variant strains that have been […]

Doctors Call on G.O.B. to Rethink Border Reopening

While the Government of Belize is moving full steam ahead with its May thirty-first land border reopening date, there are some health professionals who say this is too soon.  In a Facebook post, Doctor Mark Musa of Belize Medical Associates said Belize is not ready, noting the low rate of vaccinations and COVID-19 surges in […]

Dr. Cuellar Says Variant Arrival Could Be Catastrophic for Belize

News Five also asked Doctor Cuellar about the chances of a new variant entering Belize, even with the protocols being put in place at the borders, and the implications for Belizeans if a variant does enter the country. He says this could be catastrophic.   Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Belize Medical Associates “If we refer to […]

Minister Chebat: Drastic Response to Possible Any Surge in COVID-19 Cases

In response to Musa’s Facebook post, Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat insists that his ministry can manage the land border reopening. The minister told News Five any increase in cases will be met with extreme measures.   Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness “We’ve always said and I can tell you that […]

78 Active COVID-19 Cases

Despite the cluster that was detected at the Princess Casino two weeks ago, COVID-19 numbers are down across the country. The data up to May twenty-sixth shows that there are a total of seventy-eight active cases in Belize; seven new cases were detected that day. There were zero deaths and five additional persons have recovered […]

Over 61,000 Persons Vaccinated So Far

The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to encourage residents who fall within the first three phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan to come out and get inoculated. While as a country, we are nowhere close to achieving herd immunity; Minister Michel Chebat says that over sixty-one thousand persons have received their first jab […]

Marine and Aviation Experts Searching for Fuselage

The Belize Coast Guard is recreating the possible scenarios that led to a suspected drug plane crashing off the coast of Placencia, in an attempt to locate its fuselage. As we have reported, authorities have since retrieved the wings and tail, but the body of the plane is yet to be found. Today, we spoke […]

Commandant Will Not Speculate About What Happened to Drug Plan Cargo

Commander Soberanis was pressed further on those possible scenarios surrounding the narco-plane crash.  He was asked if it is a possibility that fishermen in the area assisted in hauling the drugs from the crash site. Here is what he had to say. Commander Gregory Soberanis, Acting Commandant, Belize Coast Guard “We don’t like to speculate. […]

Rado Says Canceled Bus Runs is All Fake News

Earlier this week, word got around that a number of bus runs issued to operators who were deemed to be supporters of the previous administration had been canceled.  Instead, it was alleged, those runs had been given to adherents of the People’s United Party.  According to Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, those claims are fake […]

New Government, New Bus Contracts

While the existing bus runs remain intact, contracts for the transportation of students to and from school at the start of the new academic year will go to supporters of the P.U.P.   Ferguson confirmed that this morning when he told reporters that a change of government brings with it a change in transportation providers in […]

Hamid Awe Has Been Terminated

While with the Health and Wellness Minister, we also asked about his driver Hamid Awe, who over the weekend was captured on amateur video in a confrontation with police officers. Awe was not wearing a mask and was recorded threatening the officers with a call to his boss, Minister Chebat. Today, Chebat confirmed to News […]

Dean Flowers to Run for P.S.U. President

The Public Service Union is hosting its annual general meeting this weekend during which a new executive will be elected.  Offering himself for leadership is First Vice President Dean Flowers.  He has been at the forefront of the trade dispute between the unions and government and plans to succeed outgoing president Gerald Henry on the […]