Home » July, 2021
You are currently browsing entries posted in: July, 2021
Should the Governor General be held to a term of five years, similarly to what is being proposed in the Tenth Amendment for the constitutional appointments? That’s what Opposition member Tracy Panton says should happen. But in Section Two A of the amendment bill for the G.G.’s condition of service act, this administration wants the […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on How Long Should the Governor General be in Office?
At Friday’s House Meeting, the resolution was passed to amend the schedule of the Governor General’s conditions of service act to increase the G.G.’s salary from a little over fifty thousand dollars to seventy-five thousand annually. It also makes provisions for duty allowances to be increased from two thousand dollars to twelve thousand dollars per […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Higher Salary and Better Benefits Package for Governor General
On Friday, a number of bills were introduced that seek to encourage a more “business friendly” climate in Belize. One of these amends the Companies Act by removing fees for certifying documents and streamlining the process. PM Briceño says this bill will make it easier to start a business in Belize. Prime Minister John […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Making Belize More Business Friendly
Among the complaints raised by public officers facing salary cuts and increment freezes is that G.O.B. is not doing enough to come down on tax evasion. On Friday, a bill was introduced to amend the tax administration and procedure act. It would allow the government to publish the names of tax defaulters and make provisions […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on G.O.B. to Publish Names of Tax Evaders
Just now you heard the Prime Minister discuss the three primary unpaid taxes that collectors will be going after – but added to these are people who owe back taxes on their land. According to Briceño, G.O.B. will confiscate land if necessary. Prime Minister John Briceño “As the honorable member of Lake I has […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Unpaid Land Taxes Could Result in Seizure
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development will be executing a scaled-down road works project on the Caracol Road. According to Minister Julius Espat, his Ministry has deferred phase two of the project, but after they did a review of the plans in place they were able to recuperate twenty-eight million dollars in savings. He says they […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Scaled Down Caracol Road Works About to Begin
For years, Cemento Progreso has been imported into Belize from neighboring Guatemala. The powder for concrete has been used extensively in the infrastructure development and housing construction of the country. Following a visit to Belize, on the heels of the opening of Santander Sugar in Cayo District, however, the Chief Executive Officer of the company […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cemento Progreso Launches New Factory in Belize
A reef shark reportedly bit a tourist during a dive tour off the coast of Ambergris Caye on Sunday. Reports from San Pedro are that the visitor was with Chuck and Robinson Tours diving in an area known as Tackle Box. The shark is reported to have bitten his hand, ripping off flesh from his […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Visitor Bitten by Shark of Ambergris Caye
About two weeks ago we showed you a group of angry fisherfolk who want G.O.B. to repeal Statutory Instrument fifty-seven of 2021 which was gazetted back in May. According to the fishermen, they were only recently made aware that the Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez signed the new S.I. which amended the Fisheries Regulations […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Environment |
Comments Off on Tracy Panton Calls For Enforcement of Fishing Laws
Except for 2020, she has represented the country annually for the past four years in the Intelligentsia Cup in the U.S. And next week, cyclist Kaya Cattouse travels to Chicago to compete in the ten days of cycling races. Duane Moody has more on Cattouse’s determination and training during the pandemic. Duane Moody, Reporting […]
Written on July 5, 2021 | Posted in
Regional / International,
Sports |
Comments Off on Kaya Ready to Compete in Intelligentsia Cup 2021
The big news tonight is that COVID-19 concerns in southern Belize have caused G.O.B. to lock down the villages of Midway, Conejo and Barranco in Toledo to contain the spread. The latest infographic from the Ministry of Health and Wellness shows that there are sixteen new infections reported in the Toledo District, eleven of those […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Three Southern Villages under COVID-19 Lockdown for Two Weeks
There are three hundred and twelve active COVID-19 cases tonight. The latest data for today shows forty-three new cases, one new death and three hospitalizations. Today, Minister Michel Chebat gave a rundown of the ministry’s COVID-19 beds and medical equipment at hospitals across the country. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness “In relations […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Minister of Health Updates Nation on Hospital Capacity for COVID Cases
During today’s House Meeting, the Minister of Health and Wellness also gave an update on the total number of persons that have been vaccinated so far across the country. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness “As of July first, 2021, a total of three thousand three hundred and sixty-one doses were issued, bringing […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Minister of Health on Vaccine Numbers
Has the rise in COVID-19 led to Belize being flagged as a moderate travel risk? Just last week, Belize was listed as a country with low-risk for travelers, but all that has changed. Today, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler appealed to Belizeans to follow the protocols to contain the spread of the […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health,
Travel |
Comments Off on COVID Protocols to Keep Belize’s Travel Risk Low
It’s been in the news for the last couple of days and today, the much talked about constitutional amendment bill was introduced in the House. Minister of Constitutional and Political Reform, Henry Usher introduced the bill for an act to amend the constitution to provide for additional grounds for the disqualification of a person as […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on 11th Amendment Introduced in the House
And the man who has been talking about this bill is no other than the new Leader of the Opposition himself, Moses Shyne Barrow. He says that while he supports the scope that touches on anti-corruption measures, he strongly opposes the way it is being presented. He believes he is being targeted with this specific […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on LOO Responds to 11th Amendment
Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa says he wants to untangle marijuana policies and expunge police records for possession of the weed. Today, he introduced a bill for an act to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to establish licensing, registration and operational requirements for the cultivation, processing, distribution and delivery […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act
So, what does this all mean? Well, following today’s House Meeting, Minister Musa told reporters that they have already set up a commission – it joins up with the Hemp Committee and is now called the “Industrial Hemp and Cannabis Control Commission.” The commission will help to ensure fairness and that small scale planters can […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on Industrial Hemp and Cannabis Control Commission to be Established
And in today’s House proceedings, Moses Shyne Barrow made his first presentation as the Leader of the Opposition. And he made his debut by, for the first time in the history of the Sitting of the House of National Assembly, engaging Standing Order Twenty-Two for which he was granted leave to make a personal explanation. […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Politics |
Comments Off on LOO Comments on Queen Square Member Denise Barrow’s Absence
A disturbing video of an unconscious man being kicked, dragged and cursed at by a pair of police officers is in circulation on social media. The short clip has raised the ire of public as the officers are seen physically abusing the individual whose hands are bound. While the incident has caught the attention of […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Police Caught on Video Kicking Unconscious Man
There was another bold attempt made on the life of well-known street figure Jervis Valencia, it’s the second time since the beginning of the year that he has been shot in his own neighborhood. The ongoing spat between factions of the Ghost Town Gang continues to see bloodshed. This morning, shortly after six a.m., Valencia […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Jervis Valencia is Shot Through Ghost Town, Again
In an update to a gruesome story from earlier this week, twenty-three-year-old Ezequiel Young has been arrested and charged for the murder of Rigoberto Salinas who was decapitated in Honey Camp, Orange Walk District last Wednesday. The unemployed resident of Santa Martha was taken into police custody following an investigation in which he was named […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Charges in the Decapitation of Honey Camp Resident
The Belize Hotel Association hosted its annual general meeting today at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. The AGM served as an opportunity to meet face-to-face after a long time apart, and to share issues of concern to the six hundred hoteliers and property owners who form the BHA membership. Today’s meeting addressed the COVID-19 […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Belize Hotel Association Holds its Annual General Meeting
At the AGM today, Ted Tejada stepped down as president of the Belize Hotel Association; he had been at the helm of the association for the past five years. So we asked him about his experience and accomplishments in that role, while still carrying out his duties as the general manager at the Best Western […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Ted Tejada, Outgoing President of the Belize Hotel Association
Earlier this week we told you about the Statistical Institute of Belize’s Poverty Study for 2018 and 2019, which used data from a 2018/2019 Household Budget Survey. S.I.B. has now found it necessary to conduct a poverty analysis over the next few months to get a true picture of COVID-19’s impact on poverty in Belize. […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on S.I.B. to Gather Pandemic Era Data
