A meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala scheduled for this Friday has been postponed for sometime next week. It would have discussed the new stance by Guatemala in the Sarstoon where it is exerting control over the island. Guatemala, it is known, does not want to discuss the Sarstoon nor does it […]
The Minster of National Security John Saldivar was also asked today about the most recent Sarstoon incident. He offered few details on the aggression by the Guatemalan Armed Forces against the SATIIM rangers. Saldivar says that he has not received an official report, but that the actions taken by GAF against SATIIM are unacceptable. […]
The government, particularly Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, has come under fire for a perception of timidity where negotiations with Guatemala are concerned. There has been a consistent criticism that the matter has not been treated with a sense of urgency, and has not been internationalized as a priority. That may or may not have been […]
There are differing viewpoints on the Guatemalan claim on the entire Sarstoon. Minister Wilfred Elrington has maintained that nothing has changed since 1939, where Guatemala’s position on owning the river is concerned. Others, including the head of the B.D.F., Brigadier General David Jones, says that this is something new, something he’s only become aware of […]
On a previous occasion in the Sarstoon between the B.D.F. and the GAF the B.D.F. said that they had secured commitment from the GAF, to stand off but the SATIIM rangers on Tuesday had to seek permission to enter the Sarstoon. So what is the next move? Even though the confidence building measures do not […]
Today the Ministry of National Security confirmed that based on a Police investigation into the shooting of B.D.F. Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey, they believe that the assailants were Guatemalan citizens of a small border community known as La Rejoya. The incident occurred on Holy Saturday, as Lambey allegedly led a patrol on a water resupply […]
The B.D.F. report into the incident revealed that Staff Sergeant Lambey was alone when he was ambushed by seven Guatemalan men, and the patrol he was leading came on the scene after. News Five asked Lovell if the shooting, a clear and deliberate attack on a Belizean soldier, will cause the B.D.F. to revise, or […]
Today, Minister of National Security John Saldivar told the media that it has been confirmed that Guatemalans shot Staff Sergeant Lambey. He says that the problem in the Sarstoon does not require military action but a diplomatic solution. Reporter “Can we confirm if Guatemalans were the shooters?” John Saldivar, Minister of National Security […]
The Central America Regional Security Initiative, very affectionately known as CARSI. We say affectionately because since 2008 Belize has received over thirty-five million in programs and grants. In fiscal year 2015 alone, six point four million dollars U.S. were made available to Belize through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office. And there’s more good […]
Ambassador Moreno explained that there are very specific allocations for the funding, but all of it is geared to improving a justice system which has shown some wear and tear, diplomatically speaking. Carlos Moreno, United States Ambassador “We had a class of about twenty to twenty-five Police officers trained by a special group of […]
The inauguration of the cruise port in Southern Belize is scheduled for November seventeenth 2016. The launch of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s project has been delayed somewhat but according to NCL will be increased employment opportunities. News Five Isani Cayetano reports. Isani Cayetano, Reporting Harvest Caye, the only cruise port in southern Belize, will […]
The idea of introducing cruise tourism to southern Belize was initially met with objection from various communities, primarily from residents of Placencia, as it relates to the Harvest Caye development. Since then there has been a shift in attitude towards the project. More people, including small business owners, tour guides and artisans are embracing the […]
Earlier in this block we told you about the extremely generous donations to Belize through CARSI, a US initiative aimed ultimately at strengthening regional security. But the happy – happy, joy – joy feelings were offset somewhat by the presence of the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room – a little thing called derisking. […]
Was a Belizean businessman and former Minister really targeted by a drug cartel as he vacationed in Chetumal at the Fiesta Inn a week ago? He claims he was, and went to one media house to give an extended interview on his allegedly nightmarish ordeal. The well-known Belizean outlined a scenario in which he and […]
The Ministry of Economic Development launched its National Growth and Sustainable Strategy earlier today, a few hours ahead of a new report by the World Bank Group which looks at opportunities and restrictions against the backdrop of the local economy. The study begins with an overview of the investment climate. Since 2004, the gross domestic […]
While tourism and agriculture have both been identified as key pillars of Belize’s economy, there is a certain nervousness when it comes to the impact of both sectors on the environment. From a business perspective, the financial sector has also been categorized as uncompromising, since it is rather difficult to access startup funding to establish […]
On a positive note where it concerns the education system, the completion rate at the primary level is significantly higher in Belize than anywhere else in Latin America. While that bodes well for children entering the education system, the same cannot be said for high school students since the dropout rate is much higher, leaving […]
In 2015, health expenditure for diabetes in the Americas was estimated at three hundred and eighty-two billion dollars and that staggering figure will increase to around four hundred and forty-five billion by 2040. Today, in celebration of World Health Day, the World Health Organization is focusing on diabetes under the theme: Step Up; Beat Diabetes. […]
Earlier in our newscast, we showed you the World Health Day Forum held under the theme “Beat Diabetes”. When we talk about diabetes, we often focus on knowing your status and also properly managing and controlling the condition for those who are affected. Health professionals across the world are urgently educating people to take action […]
