While the crime rate for Belize has generally increased from year to year, with only about a couple weeks left in 2023, the Belize Police Department is anticipating that there would have been a reduction of major crimes when compared to 2022. But while the police efforts play a major part in deterring crime, how […]
The acquisition of the Port of Belize by the government and the Settlement Deeds Bill seeks authorization to purchase the port, along with six hundred acres of adjoining lands. Along with that is the appropriation of US fifteen point three million dollars to resolve long-outstanding judgment awards, and the withdrawal of all Ashcroft claims and […]
And while the Briceño administration acquires the Port of Belize and restores it to Belizean ownership, today Prime Minister Briceño held a meeting with representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. We know that there is still a stand-off between the association and the Belize Sugar Industries amid failure to sign a commercial agreement. […]
The shortage of sugar on supermarket shelves has been another issue that the government is trying to resolve. The report is that distributors have been selling the sugar across the borders to businesses that pay more for the product. That is an illegal act, unless those distributors have a permit to do so. But now […]
Belmopan Mayor, Sheran Palacio went on record recently to criticize the Prime Minister, calling him racist and misogynistic. The criticism came in the midst of an ongoing internal rift between Palacio and the Belmopan City Council, which then led to her and the hierarchy of the People’s United Party. But today the PM did not […]
The United Democratic Party has come out in full support of the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Guyana. The U.D.P. stands with CARICOM, the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as the Organization of American States in calling for Venezuela to respect international law and abide by the 1899 arbitral award, the 1966 […]
The annual serving of Christmas lunch by the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to the rank and file of the Belize Defense Force has been in place for decades now. Today, that courtesy was extended to the soldiers at the B.D.F. Hangar and News Five was on hand to capture the moment. It’s the […]
A donation of Chromebooks was handed over to a group of visually impaired students through the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children. The donation of digital devices was made possible through the efforts of Customer HD, a growing company in the local business process outsourcing sector. Disability Desk Coordinator, Marshall Nunez was […]
We begin tonight’s newscast with the first reported murder for the month of December. The incident happened this morning in the Collet area of Belize City around seven-thirty. Twenty-nine-year-old Albert Valentine was walking on Elston Kerr Street and as he reached the corner with Iguana Street, a gunman shot him. He did not live for […]
Today makes exactly one week since eighteen-year-old Jeremy Westby went missing from his neighbourhood in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. The young man had just gone to a friend’s house to borrow a bicycle and he never returned. Tonight, his mother, Erlett Geban told News Five that her son’s friends were the last […]
Geban pleads with anyone who knows what happened to her son to reach out to her. The mother says that a check on her son’s Facebook page yielded no useful information. She says that while he was mischievous, her children are not affiliated with street gangs. Erlett Geban, Mother of Missing “Yesterday we went […]
When the fire was reported early last Tuesday morning and the body of eighty-two-year-old William Watson was discovered inside, it was a tragedy for the family. But that tragedy has now turned to rage when the post mortem report revealed that Watson did not die in the fire, nor did he die a natural death. […]
The dust is yet to settle on the acquisition of the Port of Belize Limited by the Briceño administration. Last Thursday, a piece of law was taken to parliament enabling the Government of Belize to proceed with the purchase of the facility, an expansive tract of land adjacent to the port, as well as the […]
The Essential Services Awards Tribunal previously ruled in favor of the stevedores being compensated for the losses they incurred when sugar operations were transferred to Big Creek several years ago. With the Government of Belize resuming ownership of the Port of Belize Limited, the issue of settlement for redundancy remains a live matter for the […]
At the last sitting of the House of Representatives on December seventh, the Minister of Education announced that the salaries of teachers and principals at all granted-aided secondary schools will be paid in full by the Government of Belize. But did it come with a catch and who will foot the bill for the thirty […]
During an appearance on Open Your Eyes last Monday, Prime Minister John Briceño made a remark about teachers that did not go over too well with the Belize National Teachers Union. They have since demanded that PM Briceño apologize for what he said publicly. Joining the chorus is the Leader of the Opposition who has […]
In tonight’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, we look at the community of Gales Point Manatee and the work being done by residents and cultural activists to safeguard the rich heritage of the Kriol people. Ahead of the annual Bruk Dong Bram, we focus on the African drumming that has come to define Gales Point’s musical […]
At COP28, Belize’s Blue Bonds also made an appearance. It was highlighted at the “Big Ocean States: Resilience & Adaptation, a side event held at the Monash Pavilion in the Blue Zone. The primary goal was to tackle the unique challenges faced by major oceanic states, with a specific focus on eliciting input from panelists […]
Director of Blue Economy, Felicia Cruz was also at COP28 in Dubai. Cruz joined several panelists for discussions on Belize’s Blue Economy. One of the panel discussions that Cruz participated in was the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international coalition of governments and partners working together to facilitate an oil and gas production phase-out. […]
In a pivotal moment at COP28, the Alliance of Small Islands Developing States (AOSIS) is taking a strong stance against the Global Stocktake (GST) text, considering it a threat to their very existence. AOSIS Chair, Minister Cedric Schuster, criticized the text for its optional stance on fossil fuel action and lack of commitment to a […]
Guatemala has indicated to the International Court of Justice that it will be joining the existing claim between Belize and Honduras over possession of the Sapodilla Cayes. It will do so as an interested party. On Monday, we caught up with Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay following a senate meeting in Belmopan, where he discussed the […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has been elected as the Second Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police. It is the second office he is holding among distinguished colleagues in law enforcement across the region. He explained the significance of the post and what it means for Belize. Chester Williams, Commissioner […]
A new interim board of directors has been appointed by Prime Minister John Briceño to replace the outgoing executives at the Port of Belize Limited. As part of its takeover of the facility, the Government of Belize has proceeded with the selection of an acting chairman, along with six other board members. In a statement […]
Senator Courtenay then went on to discuss the many shipping woes faced by the private sector where exports and imports of commodities, as well as other goods are concerned. In light of several lawsuits that have emanated from tension between the management of the Port of Belize Limited and their employees, Courtenay says that the […]
Chiming in during the debate were senators Luke Martinez and Kevin Herrera, representing the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively. On behalf of the NTUCB, Senator Martinez spoke about the strained and often contentious relationship between the management of the Port of Belize and its employees, […]
