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Challenges of the Blue Economy

UN Sustainable Development Goal number fourteen entitled “Life Below Water” speaks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and the marine resources for sustainable development. A recent report shows that more needs to be done to protect marine resources.  But there are many challenges. Marine pollution, port and shipping sustainability are among the issues […]

Man Murdered in Belama; Gilbert Martinez is Chopped to Death

On Sunday morning, a gruesome discovery was made in the Belama Phase Four area of Belize City. The decomposing body of a man who, until this afternoon was a John Doe, had been chopped to death and his body bound. Today, investigators are still trying to piece together what triggered the vicious attack on the […]

Young Mother Found Hanging Inside Apartment; Was it Suicide?

Police in San Pedro are investigating the curious circumstances surrounding the death of a young mother who was found hanging inside an apartment on Friday evening.  Twenty-four-year-old Abrie de Tuyul was discovered motionless several hours after neighbors reported hearing an argument between her and her common-law husband.  Tuyul’s daughter was also inside the home in […]

Off-duty Cop Stabbed During Curfew Hours

An off-duty officer was stabbed over the weekend in Corozal Town.  The attack on the twenty-four-year-old policeman happened while he was in the presence of a fellow lawman during curfew hours. According to an official report, PC Cobb was socializing with several other persons, including a civilian, after he came off work on Saturday night. […]

Akeem Augustine Arrested in Placencia for the Murder of Ian Westby

Another suspect in the murder of Ian Westby was taken into police custody over the weekend after being arrested in Placencia.  Akeem Augustine, who is no stranger to law enforcement, was nabbed on the peninsula following an investigation into the shooting death of Westby which took place in Belize City last weekend. Augustine joins Leon […]

Darnell Swaso Perishes in RTA on the Southern Highway

There was a fatal road traffic accident in the south on Saturday that claimed the life of Darnell Swaso.  Police responded to an area along the Southern Highway where they came across a vehicle that ran off the road.  Not far from the scene of the overturned vehicle, the officers observed the lifeless body of […]

Robert Lamb is Shot During Weekend Home Invasion

A shooting incident during a home invasion in Belize City over the weekend has left Robert Lamb, a resident of Antelope Street Extension recovering from injuries he received during the armed assault.  Lamb was at home when a pair of men broke into his residence and opened fire on him.  While he is recuperating at […]

“Show us the Draft”: BCCI Wants to See Trade License Amendment Bill

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it has consulted it membership on the government’s proposed Trade Licensing regime and it now needs to see the draft of the Trade License Amendment Bill. A recent letter the Chamber sent to the Minister of Local Government notes that consultations were held with the Commerce, Industry […]

Churches Will Not Check Vaccination Cards at Door

Prime Minister John Briceno says that his Government has agreed to not enforce the vaccination requirement for Churches in Belize as is stated in Statutory Instrument 119. The Prime Minister informed News Five today via text message that while the Government agrees with the Churches on the points they have put forth on the matter […]

Evangelical Association Says No to Legalizing Marijuana

Tomorrow the Government will put for a bill on new industries, including those that utilize cannabis products. It is a controversial topic that has some in Belize divided. The churches have held one position against the passage of the Bill and today Vice President of the National Evangelical Association of Belize, Pastor Lance Lewis explained […]

FECTAB Says Causeway IS Vital Part of Port Coral Project

At a press conference this morning, the President of the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize, David Almendarez, provided a one page electronic copy of what appears to be an Environmental Compliance Plan written by the Department of Environment. The one page electronic copy is dated September 2013. It notes that that the ECP […]

FECTAB President Says Ask DOE for ECP Docs

Evidently, FECTAB has a vested interest in the development of Port Coral, its causeways and North Drowned Caye. With a twenty-five year signed agreement FECTAB, projects the agreement will bring in millions of dollars in income for tour operators. President David Almendarez says he has dug into the public records, in an attempt to determine […]

Greenwood Calls Advocating for Both Sides “Double Insurance”

Tom Greenwood, the former President of FECTAB, is now the Public Relations Consultants for the Feinstein Group, the developer for Port Coral. And it is with Port Coral that FECTAB has signed a twenty five years agreement.  When Greenwood spoke at this morning’s press conference, portions of his presentation did in fact sound like a […]

NGO Coalition Responds with Stake Bank Timeline

Following the press conference, the NGO Coalition provided us with a timeline of the Stake Bank causeway. According to the coalition’s reports, an ECP was granted to Stake Bank in 2013, with approval for the causeways.  They found, however, that the 2013 ECP approval was valid for only one year. They also noted that approval […]

More Weather Stations for Immediate Data for Met Office

The Belize Meteorological Service is enhancing its real time rainfall tracking. The Met Service had written to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility asking for support to expand Belize’s weather service. They got a positive response, and forty-three thousand US dollars to procure thirty additional rain gauges and fifty-two temperature sensors and supporting equipment. Chief Meteorologist, […]

Hurricane Season Continues; Cold Front Coming End of the Week

Meanwhile, the first cold front heading into the Christmas season will cross over Belize as early as this coming Friday, but Gordon warns us to not let down our guard in remaining alert for hurricanes at this time of year.   Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist “Late October or sometimes early November, we typically see systems […]

FCD & Asociacion Balam Receive IDRU Milefsky Award

Friends of Conservation and Development, better known as FCD and its Guatemalan counterpart, Asociacion Balam were the recipients of the fourth annual IBRU Milefsky Award for its continued work across disputed Belizean Guatemalan borderlands. The non-governmental organizations were nominated by David Gibson, the coordinator of the Centre for Strategic Studies, Policy Analysis and Research based […]

Financial Award to be Used in Programs

According to Manzanero, about eight hundred pounds, or two thousand two hundred Belize dollars, will be given to both organizations which will be funnelled into community programs along the border.   On the Phone: Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD “That will be separated or shared by both between Balam and FCD and we will be […]

Belize City Marathon a Success!

The first ever Belize City Marathon took place on Sunday. It included a half marathon, a five-K and a ten-K run through Belize City streets. It was a collaborative effort between the Belize City Council and the National Sports Council and was put together to not only promote healthy living, but also to jumpstart the […]

Minister Garcia Says Competing Interests for Land Rights Must be Balanced

During her appearance on this morning’s Open Your Eyes, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Dolores Balderamos Garcia spoke to the apparent division between several Maya communities in the Toledo District over customary land rights. As we have reported, members of at least three communities have come out to say that they do not want to […]

Indigenous Affairs Minister Says Representation Requires Respectful Engagement

We also asked Minister Garcia about the Garifuna community and their claims to land under customary land rights. Here is what she had to say.   Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs. “It is an issue again of representation. I think Government’s responsibility is again, respectful engagement, listening to people’s concerns, but of […]

P.S.U. Slams Proposed New Posts at Ministry of Health

Tonight, President of the Public Service Union Dean Flowers is speaking out about the amendment of the Public Health Act. The amendment, which will be tabled before the House of Representatives on Tuesday, will see the creation of a Director of Public Health and Wellness and a Director of Hospital Services – making the post […]

What Happens to Dr. Marvin Manzanero?

So what happens to the substantive DHS Doctor Marvin Manzanero? There have been conflicting communications from various government officials on the fate of the embattled senior public officer. One thing for sure, says Dean Flowers, is that Doctor Manza has not received any form of communication from the Ministry of Health since March of this […]

Flowers Says GOB Not Serious About High Wage Bill

But can the government afford to hire new directors? The Prime Minister has said that the government is broke and earlier this year, all public officers and teachers were given a salary cut and increment freeze. P.S.U. President Dean Flowers does not believe that the Briceño administration is serious about addressing the high wage bill. […]

4 Deputy and 9 Assistant Comptrollers at Customs

A wage bill higher than before. But can Flowers substantiate that claim? He says just take a look at the Customs and Excise Department which now has four deputy comptrollers and nine assistant comptrollers. That’s right, nine.   Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union “What I can tell you is that where austerity is concerned […]