Late this evening, San Joaquin resident, Delmar Guerra was shot multiple times as he drove a van through the village of Paraiso, Corozal. Guerra was ambushed by a pair of men on motorcycles and was killed execution style. Back in 2013, an attempt was made on his life while the businessman was in Calderita, Chetumal. […]
The much anticipated Istanbul talks are over and done with, but there is no definitive resolution and certainly no protocols coming out of those very high-level discussions. A release sent out by government speaks of recommitment to peace and stability and the recognition that there is need for protocols governing the Sarstoon – not exactly […]
The fact is that if Guatemala agrees to any protocols with equitable use of the Sarstoon as an end point, it would represent a significant back-tracking. In past months the Guatemalans, both military and diplomats, have run to a so-called status quo for cover – a status quo which they say requires that Belizean civilians, […]
Both positions are polar opposites, so the next step is actually to the point where concrete protocols enter the equation. We’ve actually been there. On April eighth Belize presented eleven Sarstoon protocols which were promptly and roundly rejected by Guatemala. More than six weeks after, both countries are preparing to get back to that point. […]
The incident in Chiquibul in which a Guatemalan minor was shot also made it to the negotiating table in Istanbul. Following that incident, Guatemalan officials including President Jimmy Morales, Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales and Defense Minister Williams Mansilla unleashed a blistering condemnation of Belize and at one point even lashed out at Prime Minister […]
And finally, in our coverage of the Istanbul talks, we asked Courtenay about the ongoing investigation into that Chiquibul incident. The OAS launched one at the request of Guatemalan authorities, but since then no information has been forthcoming. Eamon Courtenay, Opposition’s Representative, Belize Delegation “My understanding is that the O.A.S. is taking the steps […]
The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) has issued a report at the end of its most recent visit to Belize which concluded this Wednesday. The team was led by Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe and its preliminary report does not inspire economic confidence. The IMF says that the economy is slowing while fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. G.D.P. […]
Since March of this year, Ladyville has been experiencing an upward trend in violent crimes. It started with the murder of Rene “Fat Cat” Chavarria and since then, three other persons have been killed while a number of shootings have occurred. Police have reason to believe that it is the work of a group or […]
Police also believe they have the person responsible for setting two vehicles on fire in Ladyville over the extended weekend. But while quick police work led to the apprehension of the suspect, he outsmarted the police and slipped from their hands. The minor simply asked for a bathroom break and then escaped through a window […]
While Ladyville police connect the string of violent crimes in the jurisdiction, the suspect in the shooting of thirty-old year Alrick Smith was granted bail by the Supreme Court today. Shane Bahadur, a resident of Dove Street, Ladyville was arraigned last Thursday for the attempted murder of Smith, who was shot in the upper leg […]
The court also granted bail to Darwin Prado, another Ladyville resident, but he remains in police custody since he was unable to post the required fifteen thousand dollars to be released. Last week, the teenager was one of two accused shooters arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for attempts on the lives of Casey […]
Two collective bargaining agreements were signed today to benefit members of the Christian Workers Union. The Belize Port Authority and the CWU, after five weeks of negotiations, reached agreement in which the forty-eight technical and clerical staffers attached to the five branch offices across the country will be receiving a twelve percent salary adjustment over […]
According to Chairlady of the Belize Port Authority, Ruth Staine Dawson, the signing is a historic experience because the agreement was concluded in a relative short time and there is mutual respect between union and management of the Port Authority. It’s been seven years since the last CBA was signed in 2009. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, […]
As we said, there was a second CBA signed earlier today, but at the Central Bank. While the media was not invited to that signing, a total of one hundred and eight members stand to benefit from that agreement. This, says CWU President, Audrey Matura-Shepherd is separate from that of the security officers, who are […]
The official figure tallied in what will very likely be a whopping arbitration award is due in soon. We’ve all heard the numbers being thrown around – anywhere from a quarter billion to a half billion dollars, and we’re not talking monopoly money. Half that award will have to be paid out by the Government […]
That arbitration award is hefty, but government will spend much more. Recently, G.O.B. lost another multimillion dollar litigation brought by BCB Holdings in a U.S. Court. Courtenay says that the figures are piling up as G.O.B. keeps falling down in court. Eamon Courtenay, Attorney, Ashcroft Group “What it is, is an award that was […]
Blackadore Caye Resort is back in the news tonight. The multimillion-dollar, eco-friendly, luxury resort project restructured, following a round of consultations in San Pedro in which residents expressed serious concerns in January about environmental impact that the proposed luxury resort could have on the fragile eco-system. Well someone has been listening because at a media […]
The police department has embarked on a new initiative to strengthen its community policing approach. The three regional commanders of the Eastern Division came together today to Lunch with a Cop. The program will take place on a monthly basis; the cops will meet with ordinary folks to get a sense of what’s happening in […]
A donation that will go a long way for children was handed over to the Lifeline Foundation today at Courts Main Store in Belize City. Unicomer Belize Limited provided the non-profit organization with a ten thousand dollar cheque to assist pediatric cancer patients, who are in dire need of financial assistance to fund medical treatment. […]
And this news…Elijio Briceño, affectionately known as Don Joe or Boss Joe, was laid to rest in his hometown of Orange Walk on Wednesday. The former Minister of Energy and Communications passed away Saturday at midnight, and the celebration of his life in an official funeral brought together politicians from both sides, family members, friends […]
There are many reasons why men simply don’t access the healthcare system as often as women do – and no, gentlemen – it has nothing to do with being stronger or healthier. Across the world, the problem is the same. With Father’s Day quickly approaching, I took the opportunity to seek the advice of one […]
