COVID cases are surging and the highest rate is among the unvaccinated. News Five has obtained a copy of a COVID-19 report from the epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The Weekly National and District Summary Report of COVID breaks down the data from all regions as the country continues to battle […]
All districts have been experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks. Transmission rates are especially high though in the Belize, Cayo and Orange Walk Districts. Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa says that it was expected. Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Deputy Regional Health Manager, Central Health Region “From the start of this fourth wave, […]
While the COVID data for the past few weeks have indicated that the highly transmissible omicron variant is probably in Belize, today, News Five confirmed with Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa that the variant has been detected via gene-sequencing by the Central Medical Laboratory. Based on the data, gathered, omicron entered the country just before Christmas, sometime […]
The B.D.F. has at least forty-four active COVID cases. This, as the Belize District continues to have the highest transmissibility rate. While generally isolated and locked off, there are reports of cases at BATSUB and Price Barracks. News Five’s Duane Moody investigated the situation today. Duane Moody, Reporting Reports have been rolling in to […]
The official change of command within the Belize Defence Force will be held on Friday at Price Barracks. Since last week, the soldiers have been engaged in practice for the parade and the displays that will take place during a pandemic. Today, Acting Chief of Staff Major Rogelio Ramirez says that permission was requested from […]
The talk since last week Monday has been Prime Minister John Briceño’s shuffling of his cabinet. But while many have been saying that former Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat deserved to be penalized for what they feel is his abrasive approach, the Prime Minister said Chebat is needed in his new post over […]
In August, the Government of Belize announced that it had contracted the services of Smart as a telecom provider for various ministries. At the time, the decision was met with strong objections from different sectors, and then the government conceded that the contract did not go through the Contractor General’s office. Today, Prime Minister Briceño […]
A year ago, the various unions were preparing to protest in the streets after negotiations between them and the government broke down and a ten percent pay cut for them became more evident. At the time, the government indicated that for the economy to recover from its fragile state, the pay cut had to remain […]
The Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Rodolfo Solano Quiros, is in Belize to discuss cooperation, tourism, climate change, and migration, among other regional issues. Today, Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Courtenay and Minister Solano signed two joint declarations and two memorandums of understanding. One is for the establishment of a Strategic Association for Integral Cooperation. […]
As it relates to cooperation between Belize and Costa Rica for economic growth, Minister Solano spoke about the importance of investing in Belizean entrepreneurs and broadening skill sets. Rodolfo Solano Quiros, Foreign Minister of Costa Rica “The pandemic affects the logistic chain, and there are very important markets like Mexico, the United States, and […]
Today, Barbados held its first General Elections since becoming a republic. Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Labor Party is widely expected to retain control since they held twenty-nine of the thirty seats in parliament. Mottley called elections in December. According to Reuters News Agency, she said at the time that the vote would “promote unity in […]
The vacancy for the post of Ombudsman will be advertised in a few days. In addition to that, the recent retirement of Dorothy Bradley as Auditor General has also made that post vacant. In his briefing with the media today, Prime Minister John Briceño explained that these posts are not the easiest to fill. He […]
Late last year, cabinet had announced that the government would set up a commission to address the issue of Constitutional Reform. Today, the PM told reporters that the matter was discussed on Tuesday in cabinet, but there have been unforeseen delays. Prime Minister John Briceño “We’ve had a setback in setting up the Commission […]
The results of the Regional Examination for Nursing Registration are in, and seventy-one percent of Belize’s nurses passed the regional exam. Sixty Belizean nurses sat the exams last October. According to Chief Nursing Officer, Nurse Lizette Bell, one of the top Caribbean performers also hailed from Belize. But as Nurse Bell explains, the above-average passes […]
In a one-on-one interview with News Five on Monday, P.S.U. President, Dean Flowers, confirmed that the appointment of Doctor Julio Sabido as C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health and Wellness is the purview of the Prime Minister and can be chosen from either the private or public sector. But, the union president says that with […]
And, there would seem that a similar case is unfolding. Former Environment C.E.O., Doctor Percival Cho, was replaced with the change in government. But he too, says P.S.U. President Dean Flowers, did not resign from his public officer status. He was employed under the Forest Department before he was appointed as C.E.O. under the Barrow […]
While many people would be happy to see Dr. Manzanero stay at the Ministry of Health since he was able to offer calm in the time of a storm, some are still questioning the appointment of the new C.E.O. Dr. Julio Sabido. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness “Because we’re saying that we’re […]
The new Minister of Health, Kevin Bernard, met with former Director of Health Services, Michel Chebat on Monday to discuss Manzanero’s possibly staying at the Ministry of Health. This is after, as you’ll remember, Manzanero was unceremoniously ousted by the former Minister of Health, after he turned down two other positions within the Ministry. Well, the […]
Former Minister of Health, Michel Chebat, was reassigned just over a week ago to the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics. It was a major shift from a Ministry that found itself in the throes of a deadly pandemic and gripped by shortages in almost every aspect, from supplies, equipment, and medications, to human […]
Chebat was moved from the Ministry of Health after there had been criticisms about his way of doing things. His C.E.O. left and another that was offered the job turned it down. So, when the announcement came last week that he’d been removed as Minister of Health, it didn’t seem to come as a surprise […]
While we spoke with Chebat, we asked for his reaction to a letter from W.H.O./P.A.H.O., thanking him for the collaboration during his tenure as the Minister of Health and Wellness. Signed by the Director Dr. Carissa Etienne, it states in part, “We applaud your commitment to strengthening the health systems especially during this period of […]
When asked about relevant training for nurses to better cope with COVID, she responded that nurses are trained to deal with pandemics. Nurse Lizette Bell, Chief Nursing Officer & Chair, Nurses & Midwives Council “In nursing training there is a component that you need to look at as it relates to proper infection control […]
While there is a pronounced shortage of nurses in Belize, we are not the only country experiencing it. And, when nurses fall victim to COVID, it compounds the challenge of having adequate staffing to deal with the sick. But, Nurse Bell says the Ministry of Health is doing the best it can. Nurse Lizette […]
It came as a shocker over the weekend when one of Belize’s top female performers, Marlyn Vansen, announced that she is battling multiple sclerosis. The twenty-five-year-old singer, dancer, and mother of a one-year-old daughter was diagnosed earlier this month, but began experiencing its effects in November. Today, News Five’s Duane Moody found out more about […]
On Friday, Brigadier General Azariel Loria will be formally installed as the new commander of the Belize Defense Force. He takes over from his predecessor who demitted office in December. But, Commander Loria’s ascension and assumption of leadership comes at a critical juncture since the budget for the armed forces has been slashed amid the […]
