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On Thursday, News Five spoke with outgoing Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. Embassy, Keith Gilges, about a range of issues. Among them were United States’ efforts to fight transnational drug trafficking. He says it is a multifaceted problem that must be fought on several fronts. Keith Gilges, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Belize […]
Written on June 25, 2021 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
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Regional / International |
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We also asked Keith Gilges for his views on the territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala currently before the International Court of Justice. Paul Lopez “The U.S .has relations with Both Belize and Guatemala, two nations in dispute over territory. What has been the U.S.’s involvement in this dispute, particularly where the referendum is […]
Written on June 25, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
Comments Off on U.S. Has Not Taken Sides in Belize-Guatemala Dispute
In his capacity as Chargé, Gilges has had to address several complex multilateral political issues. In doing so, he says he has had to apply the art of diplomacy, determining what topics to engage and what not to engage. One of the more recent regional issues he commented on is the O.A.S.’s statement with regards […]
Written on June 25, 2021 | Posted in
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Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Keith Gilges on Belize’s Vote on Nicaragua
June twenty-fifth marks International Day of the Seafarers, recognizing their contribution to the global economy and world trade. The local port authorities spent today honoring the crew from a cargo vessel docked in Belize. News Five was there for the brief ceremony. Andrea Polanco, Reporting This vessel is the MV Vanquish. It is almost […]
Written on June 25, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
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The Central Executive Committee of the United Democratic Party, led by Chairman Mike Peyrefitte, is meeting virtually at this hour. During that discussion a date will be decided upon for a recall convention to be held where delegates will vote on the fate of party leader Patrick Faber. For several weeks, Faber has been embroiled […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Shyne Barrow is Sworn-in as Leader of the Opposition
Earlier today, a News Five team was on Ambergris Caye for the sustainable child friendly municipality billboard launch in San Pedro Town. We’ll have that later on in the newscast. But, we got an opportunity to speak with Mayor Gualberto Nunez about the lawsuit brought against the council by former employees who say that they […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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According to Mayor Nunez, prior to the municipal elections in March, one employee increased his salary by one thousand, six hundred dollars monthly. This, while the island town, as the rest of the country, is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic and revenue collection is down. Gualberto “Wally” Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro Town “In the […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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A Guatemalan laborer whose identity is yet to be confirmed was murdered in Honey Camp, Orange Walk District sometime overnight. This morning, police were called to an area of a feeder road that leads to Santa Martha Village. There, they observed the headless body of a Hispanic male. According to forty-seven-year-old Angel Gongora, his friend, […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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Did the Government of Belize award a contract to do COVID-19 testing at the ports of entry to a business owned by a relative of Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat? Not so – according to Chebat. Today, he distanced himself from that business, saying that he has no familial ties to the owners. […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Belize Diagnostic Center Gets Contract for COVID-19 Testing
The Belize Police Department says that it’s cracking down on social events to curb the growing number of COVID-19 cases. On Wednesday, there were twenty-four newly confirmed cases which bring the total active cases to one hundred and fifty-three. In its press release, the Belize Police Department warned the public that there will be, “stricter […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on M.O.H.W. Concerned About Increase in COVID-19 Cases
The Minister of Health and Wellness says he wants teachers vaccinated. As you’ve seen over the last few weeks, several cases of COVID-19 were detected in different schools and the Ministry of Education later called for an end to face-to-face teaching for this school term. And when it comes to vaccinations, there are still hundreds […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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And while the new school year is set to commence in September, there are mounting COVID-19 concerns. What’s on the horizon is the return of cruise ships. A little over two weeks from now, Belize is set to reopen its cruise ports. But if the public has any serious concerns, the Minister of Health and […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Travel |
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Since the rollout of vaccines back in March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been appealing for Belizeans to go in and take the vaccine. But it has been a long and slow process. In its daily vaccination report on Wednesday, the ministry reported that a total of twenty-six thousand and seventeen persons have […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
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Back in 2014, the Belize Mayors Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development, and the National Committee for Families and Children signed on to the Child Friendly Municipality Initiative, pledging that they will develop their towns and cities to become certified as being child friendly. Up until today, three […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on San Pedro Town is Certified as a Child Friendly Municipality
The Toledo West area rep also gave his take on the recent Supreme Court ruling that awarded six point three million dollars in damages to the Maya people of Jalacte after the Government of Belize, under the Barrow administration, constructed the Jalacte Road without the free, prior and informed consent of the village. The Prime […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Trials |
Comments Off on Oscar Requeña on Ruling in Favour of Maya People in Jalacte
While we were with Minister Oscar Requeña, we asked him about the concerns of increased incursions by Guatemalans in the south. In a most recent incident on Tuesday, a Guatemalan xatéro reportedly shot police officer Ronaldo Camara. Camara was part of a joint patrol and while travelling from San Jose Village encountered two Hispanic men, […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Minister Requeña on Guatemalan Incursions in the South
Today, a group of women travelled to the remote village of Machakilha to install solar powered equipment into several homes. We’ve also documented the difficult access to the village and the need for proper roads and infrastructure. Area representative and Minister of Rural Development, Oscar Requeña says the solution will need a multifaceted approach. […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places |
Comments Off on Infrastructural Improvements for Road to Machakilha?
Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Belize Keith Gilges is preparing to end his service here in Belize. Three weeks from today, Gilges will be returning to the US before travelling to his next mission. Gilges has served in the capacity as Chargé since July of 2018. News Five spoke to Gilges in […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Keith Gilges Departing Belize; New Chargé d’Affaires Named
The U.S. has committed four billion dollar to the COVAX facility for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to low-income countries. Additionally, two weeks ago President Biden and other leaders committed half a billion vaccines to be distributed. Belize is on that list. While Gilges could not tell us how much vaccines Belize will receive, when […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Belize to Receive Vaccines from U.S. Government
And, as Belize continues to receive commitment for vaccine donations, has the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ failed in convincing the masses of the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in the Toledo District? With less than twenty percent of the Ministry’s target population vaccinated, there are those who are of the opinion that […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Ministry of Health & Wellness Vaccination Campaign A Flop?
And while those are the minister’s response, is the low vaccine uptake in Belize a concern for U.S. travelers? North American tourists constitute a large percentage of Belize’s tourism revenue. Do they feel safe traveling to Belize currently? Here is how the Chargé d’Affaires responded? Paul Lopez “Is it of any concern to the […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Are U.S. Travelers Concerned About Low Vaccine Uptake in Belize?
As a measure of showing its commitment to Belize in the fight against COVID-19, today the C.D.C., through the U.S. Embassy in Belize, donated cold chain equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The ultra-low temperature freezer can store vaccines, like the Pfizer vaccine, that require storage temperatures reaching below negative seventy degrees Celsius. […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places |
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The Central Health Region Dental Department today officially reopened the dental clinic at Cleopatra White Polyclinic II in Belize City. The dental clinic was closed back in May of last year due to financial constraints but renovations began back in March 2019. Services at the newly renovated dental clinic include examination, medication, surgical extraction, and minor […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Cleopatra White Polyclinic’s Dental Clinic Reopens!
As you saw just now, the Ministry of Health and Wellness reopened the newly renovated dental clinic at the Cleopatra White Polyclinic in Belize City. But the dental services scaled down for an extended period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of Health Michel Chebat says that although there are still COVID-19 exposure concerns, they […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Dental Services Resume at Cleopatra White Polyclinic
There was a murder in Saint Margaret’s Village earlier today. Six armed men rob a Valley of Peace couple, Vicente Garanza and his wife, Celfa while the couple was on their way to purchase vegetables in the Bird Walk community. The men reportedly created a roadblock to prevent the couple’s Isuzu truck from continuing its […]
Written on June 23, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Valley of Peace Couple Held Up; Husband Murdered
