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Governor-General of Belize Froyla T’zalam was the featured speaker at the latest edition of a virtual series called, “A Chat with the O.A.S.” G.G. T’zalam delivered a thought-provoking speech this morning on the importance of cultural education in bridging the social divide. Froyla T’zalam, Governor-General of Belize “We all recognized that educational policies and […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Belize’s GG Gives O.A.S. Talk on Indigenous Education
Earlier this week, News Five announced that Great Belize Productions has dominated the Caribbean Media Awards for best regional productions in 2019 and 2020, winning six awards in five categories this time around. Channel Five’s winning entries are Best Commercial “Sargeant Peppers,” Special Mention for “Long Road to the P.S.E.,” the People’s Choice Award for […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on News Five Story on Spanish Lookout Wins CBU Award
On Tuesday evening, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Economic Development, Doctor Osmond Martinez indicated on News Five how well Belize’s economy has started to rebound while still facing a pandemic that continues to impact more people daily. But while Belize has done even better than what the IMF prescription had called for and projected, Belize […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Investment Summit Planned for November
And while the media had him engaged, they asked Minister Coye for an update on the status of the negotiations on the proposed repayment structure for the Superbond, as Belize hopes to be able to convince the representatives of the bondholders to agree to a thirty percent reduction on the payment installments. As has been […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Minister Coye Provides Update on Superbond
And still on the topic of economics, Minister Coye explained after the official ceremony outlining the scope of the Summit that there have been some delays in realizing the goals of an amendment to the Central Bank Act 67(1). That amendment allows for the Central Bank to establish emergency programs or facilities through other banks […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Minister Coye on Delays to Central Bank Act
Today, it was officially announced that ground will be broken for the construction of a polyclinic on the island of Caye Caulker. Prime Minister John Briceño, Health and Wellness Minister Michel Chebat and Belize Rural South area rep Andre Perez will be in attendance on Friday for the event. It is an exciting moment for […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on A New Polyclinic in the Works for Caye Caulker
The National Committee for Families and Children was the recipient of a large donation from Transparent BPO this afternoon. Some five hundred bags with school supplies were handed over at its office on the Philip Goldson Highway as the corporate citizen is committed to make a difference in the communities within which its employees work […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Transparent BPO Big Donation: 500 Bags & School Supplies
Over fifty students from primary and secondary schools, including those who are members of the police youth cadet corps, today made their way over to precinct three of Eastern Division of the Belize Police Department to collect much-needed school bags and supplies. It is part of a back-to-school drive by the precinct’s Community Policing Unit […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Precinct 3 Donates School Bag to Students
Because so many people have seen major changes in their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tonight News Five launches a new series, COVID Chronicles. In our first installment, we feature a man who was at the forefront of the COVID fight when the pandemic first began to affect Belize. Doctor Marvin Manzanero, a quiet […]
Written on August 19, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on COVID Chronicles: “Manza’s Fight”
This morning, the press lay-waited Prime Minister John Briceño as he left a radio station to ask him about a range of burning issues; chief among them – the surprise departure of Central Bank Governor Gustavo Vasquez after only four months. Vasquez had told staff he “faced stiff opposition from the Ministry of Finance and […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM Says Board Recommended Letting Vasquez Go
Last week it made headlines that B.T.L. cellular accounts assigned to personnel within the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government were switched to Smart mobile accounts. In response, the Public Service Union issued a release stating that the decision is contrary to the government’s best interest and appears to be a […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM Comments on Rural Development Smart Cell Phone Plans
PM Briceño says the Government of Belize is still giving millions of dollars in business to B.T.L. and that the switch to Smart of some government phone plans should be a “wake-up” call. Prime Minister John Briceño “As it is right, now the government is propping up B.T.L. to the tune of millions of […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM says G.O.B. “propping up” B.T.L.
Smart Belize has responded to reports about the government contracts. In a press release issued today, Smart says it is not aware of any directives given by G.O.B. to switch their telecom services to Smart because the company is owned and operated by relatives of the Prime Minister. However, Smart says they do know of […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Smart Responds to Controversy over Phone Plans for G.O.B.
Prime Minister John Briceño says Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Area Representative for Port Loyola, Gilroy Usher, called him to clarify certain statements he made on a morning show. Usher said the stevedores at the Port of Belize Limited did not have the influence to challenge B.S.I.’s move to […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM on Usher’s Comments and 2006 M.O.U.
PM Briceño also commented on B.S.I.’s move to the Big Creek Port. Prime Minister John Briceño “Who I think we really need to hold responsible is the Port of Belize. Because the Port of Belize, there is no incentive for them to improve their efficiencies, because the more they charge, the more Port of […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM Says Port Not Efficient: P.B.L. Fires Back
Today, the Government of Belize received a batch of one hundred and eleven thousand one hundred and fifty doses of Pfizer vaccine courtesy of the U.S. Government. It is part of President Joe Biden’s pledge to support efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting It was delayed […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Belize Receives Pfizer Vaccine from the U.S.
Over the weekend, on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, a decision was taken by the Ministry of Education to push back the start date for in-person learning at schools. The change is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 numbers and the new variants identified in the country. With G.O.B. now […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Pfizer Vaccine Opens Door to Teen Vaccination
The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine is set to begin on Monday, August twenty-third. But Minister Chebat says that until the other batches arrive in country, the one hundred and eleven thousand one hundred and fifty doses are reserved for children from ages twelve and older. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness “There […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Pfizer for Children Only, for Now
When the United Democratic Party lost at the polls in November 2020, the Ministry of Education, under the stewardship of former minister Patrick Faber, already had plans to introduce several initiatives for distance learning. According to Faber, the incoming government promptly ditched those arrangements in favor of its own plans. With an increase in COVID-19 […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
Health |
Comments Off on Faber Criticizes Ministry of Education on Distance Learning Approach
An anonymous tip to News Five this morning alleged that up to five nurses who had tested positive for COVID were being instructed by administration at the San Ignacio Community Hospital to remain on the job. However this afternoon, Darrel Spencer of the Nurses Association told News Five it was one nurse, not five, and […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on COVID Positive Nurse Told to Remain on Job in San Ignacio
The international media is reporting that a woman who got COVID during a cruise that stopped in Belize has died on her return to the U.S. The seventy-seven-year-old retired school teacher, Marilyn Tackett, was travelling with her family on the Carnival Vista and began feeling unwell after a day in Roatan, Honduras. A fully vaccinated […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Cruise Passenger Dies After Returning to U.S. from Belize
News Five also spoke with Principal Public Health Inspector at Ministry of Health, John Bodden, who explained the protocols being followed when a tourist requires hospitalization. John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, Ministry of Health & Wellness “In terms of this medical emergency protocol, there is a form that is called Seaport Medical Emergency Referral form […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Health Inspector on Protocols for Infected Tourists
Bodden is also Belize’s International Points of Entry Health Regulations officer. He said that in the case of an outbreak of a disease on a ship that docks in Belize, there are set guidelines that must be followed in order to protect people on the ground. He says that the last ship that docked with […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Health Inspector: Mechanisms in Place to Prevent COVID Spread from Cruise Ships
We are well within the hurricane season and today, we have an update on Tropical Storm Grace, which has upgraded to a category one hurricane earlier today. The projection is that the storm, which is barrelling towards the Yucatan Peninsula, will make landfall north in Mexico. Today, News Five spoke with Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Hurricane Grace Heading to Yucatan Peninsula
Tropical storm winds are not expected, but the country will be impacted by rains, especially northern Belize starting tonight. There is also the possibility of flooding across the country. Chief Meteorologist Gordon goes into more details on warnings for the country and for residents to stay alert. Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service […]
Written on August 18, 2021 | Posted in
Disasters |
Comments Off on Belize to Experience Heavy Rains, Possible Flooding
