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Now to the survey…among those departments studied were the immigration department, the vital statistics unit and the lands department, notoriously referred to as a “hot bed of corruption” by former Prime Minister Dean Barrow. C.E.O. Rolando Zetina shares some of the findings of the survey. Rolando Zetina, C.E.O., Ministry of Public Service “Recently we […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places |
Comments Off on Corruption Survey on Several Government Departments
Where are we with the implementation of UNCAC legislation? The previous administration signed the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Today, the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Public Service, Rolando Zetina, gave an update indicating that conversations are ongoing. He also said that experts will visit the country in the months ahead to review where Belize […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places |
Comments Off on Belize’s UNCAC Process to be Reviewed by International Experts
On Wednesday, the union leaders called for the Government to legislate the Whistleblower’s Act. This would allow public officers to expose – without fear of victimization – any act of corruption by politicians and any senior government officials. The C.E.O. of the Ministry of Public Service confirmed that that bill was tabled, but that was […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places |
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Today at Dream Valley Resort in Teakettle Village, Cayo District, an integrity innovation training commenced for public officers. It builds the capacity of the participants to provide training for others within the public sector, namely the clerical promotional program, the secretarial promotional program, and the professional development program that includes a mandatory good governance module. […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places |
Comments Off on An Innovation Accountability Lab to Build the Integrity of the Public Sector
The Annual Gian Ghandi Memorial Lecture was held today, with several key speakers presenting on topics of national importance. The first presenter was a lecturer at the University of Belize, Melanie Smith. Smith spoke about talent migration and development. Talent migrants are people who are seeking better opportunities outside their countries of origin, ready to […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Annual Gian Ghandi Memorial Lecture Looks at Key Topics of National Interest
At the core of migration issues is the International Office of Migration, which has offices across the globe. In Belize, the I.O.M. office is headed by Diana Locke. She shared with the audience the role of the I.O.M. and migration in Belize. Diana Locke, Head, I.O.M, Belize “You have seen where there are so […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places,
Regional / International |
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Jacob Leslie, the President of the Belize Basketball Federation and Co-Owner of the Belize City Defenders, has been in the middle of the controversy in the Belize Elite Basketball League (B.E.B.L.). Leslie’s team, the Belize City Defenders, and the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes have been clashing off the court over the signing of one player on […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
People & Places,
Regional / International,
Sports |
Comments Off on President of Belize Basketball Federation Breaks Silence Kirk “Shabba” Smith Jr. Controversy
According to Leslie, he did not want to come out publicly to defend his name. But, he says all attempts to get Smith to remove the social media post and issue an apology have been futile. Up to the time of this interview, the post remained on social media. He says taking legal action would […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Sports |
Comments Off on Dual Roles in Basketball Leadership a Conflict of Interest for Jacob Leslie?
Earlier today, Romeo Escobar, the President of the Miss Universe Belize Organization, announced the withdrawal of the Miss Universe franchise. The decision comes on the heels of changes being made by the new owners of the Miss Universe Organization, the JKN Global Group. Among the new implementations of its business model, the JKN Global Group […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Regional / International |
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Tonight, fire officials are investigating how a fire in Orange Walk Town burned down an elderly woman’s house early this morning. However, even before those findings are out, the allegation is that it was her mentally challenged grandson who did it. Tonight the elderly citizen, sixty-one-year-old Bernadette Allen, is distraught. She saved nothing when her […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Disasters,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Man Allegedly Sets Fire to Grandmother’s House
This morning at the Forty-fourth Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas, the leaders of member states met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Canadian leader was one of the special guests at the meeting. The Prime Minister of Canada shared his commitment to strengthening ties with the Caribbean following discussions with CARICOM heads. […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Regional / International,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on CARICOM Leaders meets with the Prime Minister of Canada
You may be seeing two additional meat options added to menus soon. At least, that’s the goal of the Ministry of Agriculture. In collaboration with the Taiwan I.C.D.F. Sheep Project Phase II, the Ministry held a “Lamb and Mutton Culinary Craft Workshop” in Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk. Today’s workshop was organized in an effort […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Environment |
Comments Off on Ministry of Agriculture and Taiwan ICDF Sheep Project Holds Culinary Craft Workshop
Through the efforts of the World Pediatric Project, Belize office, children and babies who are struggling with orthopedic issues are this week receiving the medical attention they need. The Orthopedic Surgery Mission has treated nearly seventy children, and many require surgery that would not be possible without their expertise. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Children with Orthopedic Conditions Get Tertiary-level Care from Visiting Medical Team
Studies have found that coconut water is a rich source of nutrients. It contains antioxidants, helps to lower blood sugar, and it may even support heart health, among other health benefits. Over two decades ago, one farmer took to the streets of Belize City to sell coconut water to pedestrians. He was the first to […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Recognizing the Past, Looking to the Future; the Sale of Coconut Water
Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser illustrates that actions like these disrupt the administration of justice but also demonstrate the critical function of the support staff of the judiciary. And without them, the courts would be unable to fulfill their duties. Sharon Fraser, Chief Magistrate “You would have had persons who would have come; maybe today […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Wheel of Justice Disrupted, but Judiciary Staff are Critical
This morning the Joint Union Negotiating Team and the Government met to discuss the pending issues raised by the unions at their press conference last week. Viewers will recall that the unions set an ominous ultimatum to restore increments by April first or else… The looming threat is that if the union’s demands aren’t met, […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Belize City Magistrate’s Court Closes after Employees Call in Sick
The sick out was not only at the Magistrates Court; our newsroom received reports came from other government departments, including the Treasury Department, which caused services to be temporarily delayed as replacements had to be found for the absentees. When the media caught up with the President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers, he […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Sickout by Public Officers on Day of G.O.B./JUNT Meeting?
Minister of Public Service, Henry Charles Usher told the media today that as a government, they have to respect the right of public officers to express themselves as union members. But, he adds, the action taken by public officers today to call in sick has real effects on the delivery of service by these departments. […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Impact on Delivery of Government Services
Similarly, Acting Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, whose brother is an active union leader, says that public officers have the right to express themselves democratically. Here’s how he puts it. Cordel Hyde, Acting Prime Minister “We respect that. We are functioning in a democracy. People have the right to agitate, people have the right to […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Are Public Officers Expressing Themselves Democratically?
And while public officers were calling in sick, their union leaders and members of the Joint Union Negotiating Team met with government ministers inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex conference room. The closed-door meeting was to discuss the three main issues of contention: increments, pension reform, and the collective bargaining agreement. Acting Prime Minister Cordel […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on JUNT/G.O.B. Meeting was a Cordial Discussion, Not Negotiation
And while it may be interpreted as a kumbaya session, P.S.U. President Dean Flowers, who spoke on behalf of the Joint Unions’ Negotiating Team, says that they won’t be fooled again by G.O.B. Flowers references the negotiations of 2021, which ended with the government freezing their increments and cutting their salaries by ten percent. He […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on JUNT Says It Won’t Be Fooled by G.O.B. Again
And what happens to the ultimatum – April first or else – that the unions issued last week for the reinstatement of increments? The unions believe their increments should resume with the economy rebounding and allowances returned to high-level government officials. Following today’s meeting, it would appear that there are different perspectives on whether that […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on April First or Else….Unions Say it Still Stands
The Prime Minister’s vehicle allowance came up in today’s discussion. The President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has stated that the Prime Minister needs to justify the increase in his transport allowance of four thousand dollars monthly. The PM has responded by saying he is using his personal vehicle and did not […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on P.S.U. Prez: PM’s Transport Allowance is Unjustifiable
A female teen and her twenty-one-year-old cousin are lucky to be alive tonight. That is after a gunman targeted them in Lords Bank Village. The shooting incident occurred last night around seven p.m. while the two were walking along Edwin Parks Street. It is believed that the shooting is in relation to another murder that […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Crime,
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Female Minor and 21- Year- Old Male Targeted By Gunman in Lords Bank Village
An American family vacationing in Belize is mourning the loss of a loved one. What was supposed to be a tropical getaway for the family of seventeen-year-old American student Logan Ceylon Pratt and her family ended in tragedy. The teenager was swimming in the ocean off the coast of Ambergris Caye when she was hit […]
Written on February 15, 2023 | Posted in
Crime,
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on American Tourist Dies In Boat Incident Off Coast of Ambergris Caye
