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Eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven square miles, that is the size of Belize, land and water combined. It is no secret that as a country we are blessed with lush green forests, countless species of wildlife and a bountiful marine ecosystem. Since 2020, the Government of Belize has been collaborating with regional and international […]
Written on January 30, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Monitoring Progress Toward a Prosperous, Sustainable Future
A new Digital Connect Center was inaugurated in Valley of Peace on Monday, two weeks after an access road was also opened by the Briceño administration under its Resilient Rural Belize initiative. With the launch of a new facility that will accommodate the exchange of information across the internet, it is expected that villagers will […]
Written on January 30, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on A Digital Connect Center Comes to Valley of Peace
Over the weekend in Toledo District, hundreds of residents from across all forty-one Maya communities disembarked from buses destined for Santa Elena Village. Meanwhile, in Punta Gorda Town, another round of consultation got underway at the office of Indigenous Peoples Affairs. Both events book-ended an ongoing issue pertaining to the draft Maya Customary Land Tenure […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Controversy Surrounding Draft Maya Land Policy
Also attending the session in Punta Gorda was the chairman of Big Falls Village, as well as the First Alcalde of San Pedro, Columbia. Both communities share a different view from the collective position held by the Toledo Alcaldes Association. Gregorio Choco and Roman Rash spoke with News Five about the sentiments of their respective […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Consultation in PG Draws Anti-TAA/MLA Sentiment
Meanwhile, back in Santa Elena, as many as thirty-nine indigenous communities were represented at the gathering organized by the Toledo Alcaldes Association and the Maya Leaders Alliance. During that meeting, there was a call for government officials to visit that location and discuss the draft land policy with those in attendance. While that did not […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on TAA Demands Meeting with G.O.B. Representatives to No Avail
Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre and Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher convened a meeting this evening with Crown Counsels from the AG’s Ministry, legal aids, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Magistrates and several other legal officers within the public service. The meeting was called to discuss an outstanding salary adjustment […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on AG Meets With Legal Officers Over Outstanding Salary Adjustment
We also spoke with Henry Charles Usher, the Minister of Public Service about the delay these public servants have been experiencing in receiving their salary adjustments. Minister Usher and Cabinet have been accused of dragging their feet on resolving the matter after three years in government. Here is how he responded. Henry Charles Usher, […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on G.O.B. Working on Restructuring Public Service Pay Scale System
Tonight, one family is left to grieve the loss of their youngest brother after a fire claimed his life early this morning. Around three a.m., the Barahona family was awoken by a commotion outside of their homes. Forty-nine-year-old Omar Enrique Barahona’s residence was engulfed in flames and unfortunately, he was unable to escape. The victim’s […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Family Loses Brother In Corozal House Fire
A young father lost his life on Saturday after he went on a job to carry out an electrical repair. Twenty-three-year-old Terel Matura, an electrical student, left his girlfriend’s house in Burrell Boom to go and do the repair at a residence at Mile eight off the George Price Highway. But he didn’t return from […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
People & Places |
Comments Off on Electrical Student Electrocuted While Doing Repair Job
Matura’s mother, Monica Hemmans told the media today that while she accepts that her son died as a result of an accident, she has more questions than the information that has been provided. Hemmans says that her son was already working at the location and had only gone back to complete the job, but that […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
People & Places |
Comments Off on Mother of Electrocuted Man Questions the Scenario He Faced
Two men escaped injury and possibly worse only because the gun that was used to carry out the attack on them malfunctioned. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero said today that the incident happened on East Canal during a business transaction. Romero added that the police have already rounded up their suspect – a man […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Crime |
Comments Off on Gun Malfunctions During Attempted Shooting
The charges arose in late 2021 after a drug plane landed on the Southern Highway in Bladen Village, Toledo. And today, the case for the Bladen Twelve, referring to the four interdicted police officers and others who are charged in connection with the incident, was again adjourned. The Senior Magistrate who is presiding over the […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Crime,
Trials |
Comments Off on Bladen Drug Plane Case Adjourned Again
The former prime ministers of Belize, alongside several past foreign ministers have spoken up in defense of Palestine. In a statement released earlier today, the former ministers expressed approval over The Republic of South Africa’s charge of genocide presented to the International Court of Justice against Israel, maintaining that the action fulfills their obligation under […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Former PM Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza
The first of several electric buses to be included in the fleet of commuter buses in the public transportation sector touched down in Belize today and several other BYD buses will arrive in the coming days. The Belize City Council and the Ministry of Transport are finally delivering on their word and the arrival of […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on First Electric Bus Arrives in Belize, Several More to Come
The Public Service sector is aiming for further improvement this year through its Professional Development Certificate Program. Today, the initiative was launched by the Ministry of the Public Service and was designed in collaboration with Galen University to provide comprehensive training and skill-building opportunities tailored to the evolving needs of public service roles. Here is […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Public Service Officers Receive Training At Galen
Attending the launch of the Public Service Professional Training Program was newly inaugurated President of Galen University, Doctor Rene Villanueva. Rene Villanueva, President, Galen University “I’m proud of the fact that Galen University, well known for its leadership development and lifelong learning, has been granted the opportunity to be a part of the continued […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Galen University Designs Public Service Training Program
It is no secret that sporting facilities across the country are in dire need of significant repairs and upgrades. But, why is it that long-awaited renovations to the running track inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex are yet to be realized? Two months after the current government took office; we toured the sporting facility to […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
Sports |
Comments Off on Running Track inside Marion Jones Sporting Complex Neglected
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. On Saturday, collegiate athletes from across the country converged at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex for a track meet. The weather worn track posed its own challenges for these young competitors. But, the show must go on. Here is more from the […]
Written on January 29, 2024 | Posted in
People & Places,
Sports |
Comments Off on Track and Field, Canoe Racing and Basketball Takes Center Stage
The Government of Belize’s efforts to implement the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice Consent Order is at a tipping point. Today, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs issued a release inviting Maya villages in the Toledo District to dialogue with G.O.B. on key aspects of the newly issued draft Maya Customary Land Tenure Policy. The […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Southern Villagers Says No to Gob Draft Land Tenure Policy
On Thursday, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, spoke extensively on the matter, during an interview with reporters. Minister Balderamos-Garcia explained that a number of private land owners stand to lose land if their properties fall within customary Maya lands. She gave the example of a spice farm in Golden Stream Village. Dolores […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Private Land Owners Stands to Lose in Toledo District
Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia also made a plea to the Maya Leaders Alliance. She suggested that the MLA is responsible for influencing villagers towards denying the draft policy. She called on the alliance to let cooler heads prevail and to allow the Government of Belize to consult with villagers first. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Indigenous […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Implementation of CCJ Consent Order Reaching Tipping Point
And, as it turns out, G.O.B.’s planned public consultation in Punta Gorda on Saturday will be a bust. The Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association have scheduled their own public session for nine a.m. Saturday in Santa Elena Village. Christina Coc, the spokesperson for MLA and TAA informed News Five that they advised […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Will Maya Leaders Attend G.O.B. Consultation in PG on Saturday?
A well-known car dealer is reportedly being sought by police regarding a report made against him by a medical doctor who purchased a vehicle from him in April 2023. According to a statement given to police, thirty-seven-year-old Dimas Sansorez, a resident of Caye Caulker, visited Prestige Motors where he purportedly paid businessman Amado Badillo sixty-five […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Belize City Car Dealer Being Sought After Shady Transaction
Jasmine Hartin was back in court today where she is being represented by a new attorney in a matter involving drug and assault charges that she picked up a while back when she was busted with 0.5 grams of cocaine. As we’ve reported, Hartin pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by negligence in the shooting death […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Law,
Trials |
Comments Off on Jasmine Hartin Returns to Court in Belize
The defense in the abetment to murder trial of attorney Oscar Selgado closed before midday today, after the defense attorney, Adolph Lucas, Senior, indicated that he did not have sufficient time to prepare his closing arguments because of illness this week. In his closing arguments, Lucas entered a no-case submission on the premise that the […]
Written on January 26, 2024 | Posted in
Trials |
Comments Off on Defense for Selgado to Submit Written Closing Argument
