Home » May, 2021
You are currently browsing entries posted in: May, 2021
The rainy season seems already to be upon us. That usually means increased flooding in low lying areas of Belize City. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is working to alleviate this problem on the south side through a twenty-million-dollar loan secured from the Inter-American Development Bank back in 2018. According to Belize City […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Phase 2 of Flood Mitigation Project to Begin in June
Chief Engineer Lennox Bradley says these upgrades are expected to significantly uplift the living conditions of city residents living in these flood prone areas. The project was contracted to Medina’s Construction Limited. It has a price tag of eight million three hundred and twelve thousand dollars. And while there may be those questioning this significant […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Chief Engineer Says Investment Worth It
The City of Belmopan now has a new fire station as a result of a partnership with the U.S. Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Program. The new station was dedicated today and handed over to the National Fire Service of Belize. According to the U.S. Embassy, the state-of-the-art building, worth one point seven-million Belize dollar, will […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on National Fire Service Has New Station
Police in the Cayo District have charged two members of the Belize Coast Guard and a laborer with rape. The victim, a twenty-five year old woman reported that the incident happened on May fifteenthin a village in the district. She says they forced her to have intercourse against her will. Glen Jones, Japhet Jones, and […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Members of the Coast Guard Charged in Cayo Rape Case
On Thursday police responded to a robbery report on the San Felipe Road in the Toledo District. The driver of a Bowen and Bowen delivery truck, Lloyd Tindell of Big Falls Village reported that just after three p.m., he and his coworkers were leaving Santa Anna Village when two masked men came out of the bushes […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Beverage Truck Robbed in PG
On International Day for Biodiversity is it easy for a country like Belize, with a long history of protecting our natural resources, to celebrate. In fact, there is a network of more than one hundred and ten protected areas countrywide, keeping sixty-one percent of our forested lands intact. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports on why […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on How Belize is Safeguarding its Biodiversity
When the Briceño administration took office, a hold was placed on the issuance of short-term logging permits and long-term sustainable management licenses to evaluate the situation on the ground. And as it turned out, there was unsustainable logging happening, leading to a shortage of timber. This was compounded by forest fires and hurricanes. In an […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on A Shortage in Lumber; Importation Licenses Issued
According to Minister Habet, the previous government had issued licenses to persons not even involved in the logging business. The new Briceño administration is going to put more controls on short-term licenses that he says have been destructive. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management “We had several people […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Instituting More Controls on Short Term Logging Licenses
The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, in partnership with the Fisheries Department and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, has launched the Resilient Reefs Initiative in Belize. It’s a global project created to support five of the world’s most valued World Heritage reef sites. The goal is to bring together local communities, reef managers, and […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on CFZM, Fisheries and Foundation to Promote Reef Resilience
The National Garifuna Council of Belize will be hosting its annual convention over the weekend. Members will be going through the process of electing a new leader since N.G.C. president Sandra Miranda has served the maximum two terms allowed. As a first, the entire convention will be held virtually. We spoke to President Miranda about […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
Art & Culture,
People & Places |
Comments Off on National Garifuna Council Holds Virtual Convention
The Belize Defense Force and other uniformed organizations held a parade this afternoon to observe the Queen’s birthday, which occurred in April, and Commonwealth day this Monday. In addition to the Belize Defence Force, the event at the M.C.C. grounds included the Coast Guard, Belize Red Cross, the Scout Association of Belize and the Belize […]
Written on May 21, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Uniformed Parade and Flag Raising for Queen’s Birthday
There was another deadly shooting in Belize City last night and police are preparing for what they believe will be a series of retaliatory attacks. It’s the latest in an ongoing flare up of gang warfare that continues to go unchecked. Around eight-thirty on Wednesday night, officers were called out to the scene of a […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Marquin Drury Killed in Drive-by Shooting
Another Belize City youth has lost his life in Belize City. While police have not issued an official statement, area residents suspect it was a gang hit that may be connected to another recent killing. News Five’s Andrea Polanco was on the scene today. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Nineteen-year-old Stephan Castillo was shot dead between […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Was Stephan Castillo’s Murder a Retaliation?
It was a tragic end to the search for a visitor to Caye Caulker when the body of Aravind Krishna Srinivasan was found this afternoon. He had gone kayaking on Monday, but never returned to the island. News Five’s Paul Lopez was in Caye Caulker today when there was still hope he might be found […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Kayaker Found Dead Off La Isla Cariñosa
Several people were picked up for questioning today as police investigate the murder of Lincoln Erskine in Ladyville. He was found Tuesday night dead in his home. His family says he was in an ongoing dispute with neighbors who wanted illegal access to his electricity. Superintendent Alejandro Cowo has details. Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Several Detained for Questioning in Erskine Murder
Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher is one of the government players meeting with Joint Unions Negotiating Team as the impasse over the ten percent salary cut and increment freeze remains unresolved. Though unpopular to the unions and in some quarters, Minister Usher said that the salary adjustment was a difficult, but necessary decision that […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Service Minister Says Salary Cuts Unavoidable
It’s been seventeen days to date since the public officers have been on strike…and even longer for teachers. Minister Henry Charles Usher says despite several compensation packages being presented to the Joint Unions Negotiating Team, G.O.B. has yet to receive a response. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service, Constitutional & Political Reform “The […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Yes or No? G.O.B. Says No Response to Their Offer of Compensation
On Wednesday night, we spoke with attorney-at-law Darrell Bradley about the Whistleblower Act that the Briceño administration is seeking to legislate. Bradley spoke of the need for strengthening of investigative bodies and other pieces of legislation to recover misappropriated assets or monies. Today, Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher told News Five that as part […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Additional Legislation to Accompany Whistleblower Act
A coupon payment for Belize’s so-called “Super Bond” was due today, but instead of making that payment to its international creditors, the Government of Belize is now asking for an extension. In a release posted to the Central Bank of Belize website on Wednesday, G.O.B. indicated it is seeking a “Consent Solicitation” from eligible owners […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on The Check is Not in the Mail: G.O.B. Seeks Extension of Bond Payment
Probably the item getting the most buzz from this week’s Cabinet briefing is the announcement that land and sea border points will be reopened at the end of the month. But this is only to allow foreign tourists in and not let Belizeans to travel out. The Cabinet brief today also stressed that only tourists […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on You Can Get In, But You Can’t Get Out – Cabinet Reopens Borders, Sorta!
While the unions have been agitating for good governance measures to be enacted by the Government, there is already an ongoing partnership between G.O.B. and Galen University. Their “train the trainer” program is designed to help with both good governance and public service reform. News Five’s Duane Moody travelled west for the signing and files […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Galen and G.O.B. Join Forces for Public Service Reform
In his interview with the press on Wednesday, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca also commented on the docking of wages for public officers and teachers who are on strike. Fonseca outlined the parameters of this decision as was first confirmed by Prime Minister John Briceño last week. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education “As it […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Education Minister Weighs In on Docking of Wages for Teachers and Public Officers
Minister of Education Francis Fonseca has called on teachers to take the COVID-19 vaccine. According to Fonseca, only a little over fifty percent of the educators have taken the first dose. He appealed to teachers to take the vaccine and also made a special call to the president of the B.N.T.U., Senator Elena Smith as […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Health |
Comments Off on 50% of Teachers Vaccinated!
Several more children from Stella Maris School were given the gift of language – or the ability to communicate that language – when they received electronic devices with a special app. News Five was at today’s happy handing over. Andrea Polanco, Reporting Seven students from Stella Maris each received a tablet through the partnership […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Tablets Give the Gift of Voice to Stella Maris Students
In better days, Belizeans were encouraged to shop ‘til we drop and conspicuous consumption was the order of the day. But gone are the weekend trips to Chetumal just to purchase laundry detergent and groceries. With the financial crunch that the country is facing, many have turned to buying less or smaller different quantities than […]
Written on May 20, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Shop Now Belize is Retail to Suit the Financially Challenged
