The Caribbean Court of Justice, the final appellate jurisdiction for Belize, has affirmed Maya customary land rights in a milestone judgment handed down earlier today in Belize City. In delivering the conclusion, CCJ President Dennis Byron, read, “The court accepts the undertaking of the appellants to adopt fully the measures to identify and protect the […]
In addressing a gathering during a press conference at the Biltmore immediately following the decision, MLA spokesperson Cristina Coc reiterated that a debt of gratitude is owed to the leadership of the respective Maya communities who stayed the course to see the landmark case through to completion. Coc similarly expressed bittersweet sentiment on the way […]
Government’s attorney, Senior Counsel Denys Barrow, prior to making his submission before the Caribbean Court of Justice earlier today, raised a preliminary objection, stating that there had never been a claim for damages on the part of the applicants. The damages sought by the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association are twofold. There […]
According to Barrow, the fact that the Maya were deprived of their rights during colonialism, doesn’t make them any better than other ethnicities, including Mestizos and Garinagu, as it pertains to the issue of moral damages. Denys Barrow, Attorney for Government of Belize “In relation to the matter of moral damage, there is the […]
This morning, dozens of men, women and children from thirty-eight indigenous communities in the south gathered at the Battlefield Park in anticipation of the CCJ’s ruling on the issue of Maya Land Rights. While they all stood around waiting for the decision to be handed down, another group showed up at the venue, placards in […]
Cristina Coc, spokesperson for the Maya Leaders Alliance, told News Five this afternoon that the objections raised by the gathering are merely statements of preference, since they are free to choose whichever form of land tenure they favor. Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, Maya Leaders Alliance “They are saying that they are not in support of […]
The People’s United Party has issued a release congratulating the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes’ Association on the historic achievement of winning recognition from the Government of Belize on the issue of indigenous rights. The statement goes on to say that in 2000, the P.U.P. government entered into agreement with the Maya of […]
The Petrocaribe Bill 2015, and peripheral issues arising from its implementation, continues to feature prominently in the news. Just about everybody is speaking up on the controversial bill passed just recently. We start tonight’s Petrocaribe coverage with escalating tensions between the N.T.U.C.B.’s second Vice-President, Audrey Matura and immediate past President Dylan Reneau. Over the weekend […]
Matura-Shepherd sat at the head-table at a conference today hosted by the Vision Inspired by the People. And since it’s becoming apparent that the attorney, activist and thorn in the government’s side has her eyes on politics, we asked if her placement is a sign of things to come. For the first time, Matura-Shepherd confirmed […]
Debate over the controversial continues to heat up, with the unions, churches and business sector all coming out squarely against it. The P.U.P. has as well, and later you’ll see the V.I.P. lashing out at what they say is a tyrannical government. The outcry is picking up momentum, which means that government has had to […]
Espat told News Five that the original rationale behind the Petrocaribe program, conceptualized and implemented by the late President Hugo Chavez, has been bastardized to further the political ambitions of the government of the day. Julius Espat, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee “Social projects fostered by the Petrocaribe agreement should empower all people, not only […]
And from Petrocaribe to P.U.P. politics… Reports have circulated of high-level changes in the party following the devastating loss in municipal elections. Espat wouldn’t offer details, since he says those would have to come from Party Leader Francis Fonseca, but he did confirm that indeed there will be a shakeup in the grand old party […]
This morning, the V.I.P. jumped on board with the church, unions, business sector and P.U.P. – at least when it comes to roundly criticizing the Petrocaribe Bill. At a press conference called to express the Party’s stance on the bill and other issues, the candidates on hand pulled no punches. The V.I.P. says that by […]
And although Petrocaribe dominated the conference which lasted almost two hours, there were other issues. V.I.P. front man Bobby Lopez reiterated the Party’s position on declaration of assets under the Prevention of Corruption Act. But this time he took it further, warning that there is a hefty fine for non-disclosure and when the V.I.P. does […]
And finally, the V.I.P. called for a re-registration exercise to clean up voters’ lists which are widely believed to be anything but accurate. It’s an exercise which is a long time in coming, and neither of the mass parties has seemed too adamant about it. But the V.I.P. is…and as they’ve done at every opportunity…they […]
The Belize City Council today launched several new initiatives at the newly refurbished B.T.L. Park on Princess Margaret Drive. Among the many features added to the infrastructure were fourteen display panels that would hold a public exhibition on historic events of the area. News Five’s Duane Moody attended the launch and has this report. […]
The world is celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary of Earth Day. It’s a special day to honor and appreciate nature. For Belize, N.G.O.s use the day to raise awareness of environmental issues and to teach students ways to protect our environment. News Five joined Belize Audubon Society for their Earth Day celebration at the Guanacaste National […]
And from Guanacaste Park to the University of Belize- the Earth Day celebration continues. We stopped in at UB to check out the festivities, where visiting students were able to participate in an all-day interactive booth display. Students of the Natural Resources Management Program teamed up with several local organizations to raise awareness and celebrate […]
