Day one of the Budget Debate was uneventful and, as predicted, bursting at the seams with much political rhetoric and very little substance. We’ll have some of the highlights, such as they were, for you a little later. But first the Petrocaribe Bill – that little piece of new legislation which has sparked such outrage […]
The Prime Minister reserved a special dose of vitriol for Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Julius Espat. Espat on Wednesday said that the Bill, if passed, would in effect allow the Prime Minister to write a one million dollar check to his family. That got the PM’s attention in a hurry, and it was clear he […]
With that out the way, P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca got the budget debate started. He lashed out in short order, stating that not only was the 2015-2016 Budget the shortest ever, it is also the emptiest. According to Fonseca who pointed to the rising cost of basic goods, PM Barrow’s budget is actually devoid of […]
Fonseca ended his presentation on a passionate note, claiming that the People’s United Party may be down, but they are not out. Rolling on the Petrocaribe bounty and unprecedented spending, Government has boasted that it will win a historic third term whenever general elections are called. But while Fonseca stops just short of saying “Call […]
Former Prime Minister and Fort George Area Representative Said Musa this morning echoed the words of Party Leader Francis Fonseca, claiming that the budget is all glitter and no substance, a borrow and spend budget. According to Musa, while rhetoric is one thing, the reality on Belize’s streets is that the rich are getting richer; […]
One particular area of interest to Musa is the debt profile of the country. He says that in 2008, the U.D.P. met manageable debt, and in less than ten years they have racked it up to a point where it is unsustainable. Said Musa, Area Representative, Fort George “When the U.D.P. came into office […]
Rice producers have finally spoken on the hot button issue of the importation of rice from Guyana. Since last week, it came to light that in May 2014, more than three million pounds of rice were imported in Belize at sixty nine cents per pound, re-bagged and then retailed at far above the controlled price. […]
The cost per gallon of regular gasoline increased sharply at the pumps on Tuesday night, ahead of the overdue arrival of a shipment of fuel from Venezuela the following morning. While P.M. Barrow was apparently unaware of the sudden upturn, he told the media on Wednesday that he was unable to explain the discrepancy since […]
Around nine-thirty on Wednesday night, Roaring Creek and Belmopan Police responded to an accident in Camalote Village. Aaron Eck, a bus driver, told police that at about nine-twenty he was driving near a dark area when he saw a horse crossing the street. Eck, who was driving from Belmopan to Teakettle to take passengers to […]
We haven’t heard much about NCL’s multimillion dollar tourism development project on Harvest Caye lately, but they have been working on getting the island ready for what they have said would be the end of the year. Well, their activities haven’t gone unnoticed. Pictures surfaced online a few days ago showing rocks on coral colonies. […]
A Belize City man who was recently released from prison is back behind bars tonight to serve two additional years after he violated a protection order and went to the home of his wife. It was a visit that ended violently because fifty-six year old Nathan Pratt beat her so badly that the injuries were […]
Like with most things political, facts depend on who’s doing the talking. Earlier in the newscast, you heard Fort George Area Rep, Said Musa, say the P.U.P. did well where debt is concerned and that it is the U.D.P. which has taken it to unsustainable levels. But Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber, got up to […]
We end today’s coverage of the Budget debate with the presentation from member for Orange Walk Central John Briceño, who broke down what he says are severe deficiencies in an empty budget. Briceño took issue with the U.D.P.’s mantra of transforming Belize, saying that in this budget, and by its actions, this government is about […]
Belize played the Cayman national football on Wednesday night at the F.F.B. stadium in Belmopan as part of the World Cup Qualifier games. Expectations were high going into the game but despite numerous attempts to score, the Jaguars were unable to penetrate the net throughout the game. The question in the minds of many is […]
The police has been making their media rounds for the past two weeks leading up to this Friday’s BLACK March in Belize City. BLACK, is the acronym for Be Loving And Cease Killing. It is an initiative to bring together the youths from the different areas and the communities to stop the killing and violence […]
There will be changes in command of the police department. News Five has been informed that in early April an announcement will be made by the Commissioner of Police of replacement and transfer of officers at the various police formations across the country. We are told that Superintendent Dennis Arnold, who is currently in command […]
Whether in fact the crime spike on the island triggered the replacement of Castellanos or not, the incidents have given a black-eye on the prime tourism destination in the country. Since the start of 2015, there have already been five murders in that municipality: the execution of Honduran national, Silvia Carmen Benitez; the double murder […]
BELTRAIDE and Caribbean Export Development Agency want to make SMEs more competitive and export ready. In a two-day training that started on Wednesday, business owners were engaged in a workshop to build their capacity to better take advantage of the European Partnership Agreement benefits, including the exportation of more goods and services. Exporters and potential […]
After this Friday, the Easter break officially commences for the children. Adults, however, have to wait another week before the highly anticipated four day weekend. If you are like most Belizeans, your Easter plans are sure to include some fun times near the water – be it a beach, a river, a lagoon or a […]
