The Barrow administration has been dealt yet another crippling blow by the Caribbean Court of Justice, after losing an appeal in respect of a long-drawn-out matter involving the defunct Universal Health Services. Earlier today, the C.C.J. reversed the ruling of the Belize Court of Appeal and ordered the Government of Belize to pay roughly eighty-eight […]
According to Courtenay, a letter will be forwarded to government later this week requesting payment. Should there be no response or a refusal to pay the outstanding debt, a certificate will be sought as part of the enforcement process. Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Belize Bank “I think it is important for the Belizean public […]
Solicitor General Nigel Hawke appeared on behalf of government and was first to express disappointment with the CCJ’s verdict. While he is awaiting further instructions, the Sol Gen maintains that government wasn’t imprudent when it decided not to honor the thirty-seven million dollar award back in 2013. Nigel Hawke, Solicitor General “It’s always a […]
The source of the lengthy proceedings is former Prime Minister Said Musa, whose administration back in 2004 entered into an agreement by signing a loan note between the Belize Bank and Universal Health Services. The People’s United Party government assumed the twenty-nine million dollar debt when UHS failed to pay the loan. When details of […]
According to Musa, the matter had been settled during his term in office and that government had indeed received funding from Taiwan and Venezuela that would have cleared the debt. Said Musa, Former Prime Minister “It was settled, as you know, by my government at the time, and indeed we had received grants from […]
Late this evening, the Belize Bank also issued a press release on the decision, stating, “In its judgment today, the CCJ granted permission to the Bank to enforce the L.C.I.A. Award in the same manner as a judgment or order of the Supreme Court to the same effect. It also ordered that the Bank have […]
Are police any closer to cracking the murder case of Michelle Anison? The decomposing body of the British expat was discovered in her apartment on Perez Road, Ladyville last Friday; her vehicle and personal effects were missing. News Five understands that Anison’s wallet, with her bank cards and I.D. was discovered on a bus and […]
The murder of Anison has left the staff and children at Liberty Children’s Home traumatized. Director Valentine says that persons have been brought in to counsel them; she also describes Anison as a humanitarian, who adopted the Ladyville community as her new home and family. Agatha Valentine, Director, Liberty Foundation “Our children aren’t really […]
Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay and Solicitor General Nigel Hawke were on opposite sides of the bar in a different forum this afternoon, specifically at the National Assembly in Belmopan where Hawke was a witness at the Special Senate Select Committee. He was questioned on various legal issues having to do with the work of the […]
The other legal opinion has to do with clarifying the status of Guatemalan nationals renouncing their citizenship in order to become Belizeans. The process of granting nationality to Guatemalans has been halted because it has not been made clear whether the renunciation of citizenship in Guatemala must take place before the Belize process is started […]
Also questioned was the matter of nationality through marriage to a Belizean. As seen in the case of Peter Dahlstrom, section eleven of the Nationality Act requires persons registering to be Belizeans to be both married to a Belizean and a resident in the country for one year. Dahlstrom was allowed to qualify by virtue […]
And finally from the Senate Special Select Committee tonight, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke addressed the issue of ministerial responsibility and alleged interference in the Department through direct instructions and recommendations to Immigration officers. The nation’s top legal eagle agreed with many previous witnesses that legally, such instructions and recommendations for services hold no sway, though […]
If you traveled along the Hummingbird Highway today, you may have noticed some ongoing works at a bridge between miles thirty-one and thirty-two – the very same spot where four persons lost their lives in St Margaret Village over the weekend. As we reported on Tuesday night, there were three separate accidents at the one-lane […]
Can more be done to stabilize and reduce fuel prices? Despite the best promises of Prime Minister Dean Barrow after a series of cruel spikes between August and early October, prices have only returned to the pre-spike levels. Two weeks ago, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight informed that prices would be stable and only go down […]
Belize is coming up on the one-year anniversary of the signing and accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption on December ninth, World Anti-Corruption Day. The government devoted a press release in September to the strides made in implementation but there is still much work to be done. But part of that work is […]
What’s happened to the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which would address working conditions for all employees countrywide? In October, Prime Minister Dean Barrow stated that he had no update from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize as to whether its negotiations with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry have commenced. The re-introduction of […]
Earlier this year, two bargaining units affiliated with the Christian Workers Union – employees of Social Security Board and stevedores working at the Port of Belize – engaged in high-profile action to draw attention to their labour issues. The former wore t-shirts to work on two successive Fridays in April in support of negotiations for […]
The annual marketing expo organized by the University of Belize was held today at the Ramada Belize City Princess where thirty-five innovative business ideas came to fruition. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting Students from the University of Belize partook in the tenth annual marketing expo held today in Belize City. Thirty-five […]
The Belize Red Cross is enhancing capacity and building resiliency in sixteen communities in the Belize District. The Belize Red Cross has ongoing assessments in communities to identify gaps and they have found that communities where they haven’t done a project before are lacking in some skills and training in core areas of health and […]
A deserving mother of three children was the lucky recipient of a house in the Lord’s Bank community, just in time for the upcoming Christmas season. Taralee Burgess and her family were devastated by Hurricane Earl last August and despite having her roof replaced, they were still inconvenienced whenever it rained. On Monday, Hand in […]
The seventh annual tacos festival is this weekend. On Sunday, Orange Walk will come together to celebrate the tacos. A staple of the Orange Walk food and culture scene, organizers want to highlight the importance and versatility of this quick, filling and flavor packed food eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Between four to five […]
