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A new book called “COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from the Frontline,” has just been published and Belize’s own Doctor Jorge Hidalgo is one of the editors. The publication is a compilation of facts and opinions about the pandemic gathered from contributors around the world. The contents range from the thoughts of one of the first COVID-19 […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Dr. Hidalgo Co-Edits International Book on COVID-19
Belize’s handling of the pandemic 2020 is also included in the book. Former Director of Technology in the Prime Minister’s Office, Michael Singh, who was a member of the former administration’s COVID-19 task force, says his piece gives the background to decisions the Government of Belize had to make. Michael Singh, Former Director of […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Singh Gives Glimpse into G.O.B. Pandemic Choices
As we reported earlier this week, the Belize Council of Churches has taken a stern position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. It was expected since the religious community has staunchly opposed the decriminalization of a small quantity of cannabis for personal use. While the church has criticized government for not being consulted on an […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Religion |
Comments Off on Minister Musa: “The Church is Our Social Conscience”
According to Minister Musa, passing legislation would establish a system that can be controlled, in order for everyone, including government, to benefit from the new industry. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The whole point of this is to create structure and regulation and so, of course, the church’s perspective will be one that […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Religion |
Comments Off on Marijuana Legalization to Level the Playing Field
Education Minister Francis Fonseca is setting out to clarify recent comments made by Prime Minister John Briceño regarding the implementation of the ten percent salary cut for teachers. That is because the Belize Council of Churches has taken umbrage with what was initially mentioned. In responding to a statement issued by the Council on Tuesday, […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
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Religion |
Comments Off on Fonseca on PM’s Comment on Salary Cuts
There was a late afternoon shootout on Police Street in Belize City. Fortunately, no one was killed. Around five p.m., two men on a motorcycle rode up in front of a property on the street and fired as many as twenty shots. News Five was told by witnesses that while the two assailants were fleeing […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Multiple Shots Fired on Police Street
If you feel like you have been paying more for basic necessities lately, you are right. Belizeans have been paying more for transportation, food, electricity, water and gas, according to Statistical Institute of Belize’s latest data. According to their findings, commuters paid eleven percent more for transportation in the month of June, compared to June […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Transport, Utilities, Food Prices Up
Also on the brighter side, this month Belize’s imports have almost doubled compared to this time period last year. In June of 2020, Belize exported one hundred and three million dollars worth of goods, while June 2021 saw one hundred and eighty-nine million dollars in exports. So, what changed? The Commercial Free zone reopening brought […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Imports Almost Double, Exports in Steep Decline
Earlier this month, News Five reported on the dilemma that onion farmers found themselves in when they had problems getting their one hundred and forty thousand pounds of onions on the market for sale. They said it was due to contraband activity that had effectively boxed them out. Well, after our story aired, there was […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture |
Comments Off on Onion Farmers Thank Minister Mai
Minister Mai was more than happy to receive the fuel award and said that the contraband trade is an ongoing problem that his ministry tries to abate through joint efforts of the Police, B.D.F. and Customs Department. And with the contraband of even livestock, the ministry will soon be detecting contraband meat through technology the […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture |
Comments Off on Contraband Detection Equipment Coming
Today, Minister Mai toured the National Fisheries Cooperative on North Front Street in Belize City. His ministry has been getting reports that fishing cooperatives are facing fierce competition from private entities. These have a wider array of marine products and also pay fishers more for their catch. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture |
Comments Off on Fishing Coop Members Facing Competition
World leaders are preparing to meet in Glasgow, Scotland later this year, in October and November, as the discussion on climate change mitigation and adaptation continues. The annual Conference of Parties is a worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the warming up of the earth, while providing support to small developing island states […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Environment,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Road to COP26: Belize in London
He served as Belize’s Prime Minister twice, first from 1984 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1998. But aside from the brief notes on his terms in office in history books and Wikipedia, there has not been a book that reflects on the private and public life of Sir Manuel Esquivel – that is […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel Biography Released
A cohort of forty young people was awarded an opportunity to further their education through a partnership with the ministries of Home Affairs and Education, as well as the Kolbe Foundation. This afternoon inside the Jungle Pavilion at Old Belize, the young men and women were individually acknowledged by the Belize Police Department, as well […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places |
Comments Off on 40 Youth Get Much Needed Scholarship Assistance
The President of U.B., Doctor Clement Sankat is stepping down. A release from the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize this afternoon announced that Doctor Sankat ends his four and half years with the institution on July thirty-first. Doctor Vincent Palacio, the current Dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences will […]
Written on July 29, 2021 | Posted in
Education |
Comments Off on UB’s Dr. Sankat leaving; Dr. Vincent Palacio Interim President
There are disturbing numbers tonight from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Four people have died from COVID-related complications over the past two days. Additionally, eighty-six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, while fifty-six persons have reportedly recovered. The Belize District now leads the nation in COVID cases with more than half, forty-eight of […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Four COVID Deaths in Two Days
The Belize Defense Force is mourning the death of Staff Sergeant Victor Martin. He was a special force operator, physical instructor and mentor to many officers. Martin also had a passion for motorbikes. While heading west from the Belize District on his motorcycle on Tuesday, he collided with a pickup truck and lost his life. […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Auto Accidents,
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Comments Off on Respected B.D.F. Soldier Dies in Motorcycle Crash
There is yet another fire to report tonight; this time in the Antelope Street area of Belize City. A well-known yardman and his wife escaped grave injury when a fire broke inside their wooden home early this morning. Investigations indicate it may have been deliberately set. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Crime,
Disasters,
Featured |
Comments Off on Arson on Antelope Street; Husband & Wife Survive
Four days after two standoffs between a joint team of B.D.F., forestry personnel, Friends for Conservation and Development rangers and Guatemalan soldiers and civilians occurred in the Chiquibul Reserve, and after many requests made to the B.D.F. and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information, the ministry has issued a press release. The incident occurred last […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Defense,
Featured,
Foreign Affairs |
Comments Off on New Details Emerge on Two-Day Confrontation in the Chiquibul
Stake Bank and the Port of Magical Belize will face off in the Supreme Court on September thirtieth, following leave being granted earlier this week for Port Coral to file application for judicial review. But while that legal matter is several weeks away from being heard, News Five has been combing through an Environmental Compliance […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on More Questions than Answers for Stake Bank Caye
Cruise tourism is slowly making a comeback since reopening on July seventh with only one ship visiting per week. With ships traveling at around sixty percent capacity and not all passengers coming off to tour Belize City, tourism dollars are nowhere near where they used to be. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali went to check […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on One Ship a Week, Cruise Tourism Slow to Rebound
Currently, three Belize Defense Force officers are positive for the COVID-19 virus. Lieutenant Colonel Velasquez confirmed that around forty-two percent of B.D.F. soldiers have been vaccinated to date and that this represents a significant increase from a few weeks ago. But is it enough? Especially since Statutory Instrument seventy-two mandates that as of Sunday, August […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on B.D.F. Vaccination Rate Increasing; Still Below 50%
The Belize Council of Churches, having consulted regionally with its counterparts in the Caribbean, has put forward a definitive position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. The religious organization is steadfast in its stance against government’s decision to eventually allow for the cultivation, trade and consumption of cannabis. On Tuesday, the representative body issued a […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
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Religion |
Comments Off on Churches Say No to Marijuana Legalization
The ongoing discussion on marijuana legalization has led to progressive views being shared in the public discourse. As open-minded as those opinions may be, the Council of Churches maintains that there should be certain constraints. Bishop Moses Benguche explains. Bishop Moses Benguche, Belize Council of Churches “Liberalism has its dynamics but also its limitations. […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Religion |
Comments Off on Liberalism and the Church
The Council of Churches was equally vocal on the issue of the ten percent pay cut that teachers and public officers will be getting for the next three years. For them, the bone of contention with the Briceño administration is that it appears to have been disingenuous when it stated recently that the deduction from […]
Written on July 28, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places,
Religion |
Comments Off on Council of Churches Explains its Position on Salary Reductions
