The magnitude of the sweeping measures imposed under the state of public emergency in two zones of the city, is already causing disquiet in the affected neighbourhoods. In less than forty-eight hours since the Statutory Instrument was signed, declaring George Street and the Mayflower area as emergency zones, police have descended on dozens of persons. […]
In the George Street area, the new realities under the state of public emergency is also causing havoc. Residents say they are left exposed to the brute force used by the police to round up suspects. Grieving families, as well as others who claim no gang affiliation have been caught in the police dragnet. More […]
In October 2011, Prime Minister Dean Barrow introduced, but retracted a bill on preventative detention due to public outcry. It was seen as too draconian a measure and at the time the government vowed not to bring it back. Since the state of public emergency was declared, the Human Rights Commission of Belize is among […]
The Human Rights Commission of Belize says it is looking at the legal foundation of the public emergency and monitoring the measures being taken on the ground. While Attorney Arthurs says that criminals should not be allowed to wantonly impose terror on the Belizean population, there are other legal tools available other than invoking a […]
You’ve heard residents and advocates of human rights express concern about the hard-line approach to tackle crime in the Old Capital. The argument is that human rights are being suspended and that other pieces of legislation could have been used that would produce the results without infringing on the rights of persons who live in […]
And if you have concerns about the annual Carnival Road March taking place on Saturday, the police say that you should have no fear. As you may have noticed, the carnival route this year will pass through a section of the emergency zone in south side Belize City, but the police department says that they […]
The Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, on Wednesday, criticized the government’s decision to declare a state of public emergency in two gang areas of south side Belize City. Briceño says that the murderous weekend that gave way to the emergency measures was the direct result of G.O.B.’s abandonment of the area and that the […]
The People’s United Party is calling on the government to create a bi-partisan commission to tackle crime. Both Briceño and Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner say that G.O.B. has refused to work with them in order to address the escalation of major crimes not only in south side Belize City, but across the country. Briceño […]
The U.S. embassy has issued a warning to its nationals advising that checkpoints are in place throughout the south side and that there is an increase in personnel to detain individuals. The Embassy further advises its citizens to take the necessary precautions when visiting the south side and to monitor local media for updates, avoid […]
In other news…The British Government has given over a million dollars towards the I.C.J. public awareness and preparedness campaign. On Wednesday, British High Commissioner Peter Hughes handed over five hundred thousand pounds which will be used to support the referendum on whether or not to refer Guatemala’s claim to the International Court of Justice. The […]
The cut-off date for re-registration is on Sunday, September thirtieth. According to Chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai, although the re-registration centres have been closed due to the resumption of classes, those wanting to take part in the mass re-registration exercise can visit the Elections and Boundaries offices between the hours of eight o’clock in the […]
An explosive round was retrieved from a dredge last Friday, but the police department did not comment on the discovery until today. The mortar was found on a vessel north of Caye Caulker by a watchman who observed suspicious activity in the area on Thursday night. When it was later determined that the device had […]
Belize City Police are investigating the death of twenty-one-year-old Jeffrey Hernandez. The football player of Guinea Grass Village was mangled by a cement mixer on Monday night. He was cleaning the heavy-duty equipment at AP Enterprise Cement Block factory located on the George Price Highway when the machine turned on, trapping him between the blades. […]
Was the shooting death of Daniel Alford Senior an accident or did someone fatally injure the Georgeville resident? It’s a puzzling situation that investigators are still attempting to unravel since there are conflicting reports in statements given to the police department. While a sixteen gauge shotgun, as well as a spent cartridge, was recovered from […]
Still missing from the Belize City Council’s Works Department is the John Deere tractor which was purchased for fifty-four thousand dollars. As we reported in August, an internal audit into the Works Department revealed that the tractor, an eighty-six thousand dollars Caterpillar bulldozer and a thirty thousand dollars flatbed trailer were not delivered to the […]
Kevan Jenkins is no longer the Traffic Manager for Belize City. Jenkins who held the position for more than ten years was transferred to the Sanitation Department which he will now manage. His sudden transfer has raised eyebrows as Jenkins has been part of the Belize City Traffic Department for more than two decades. On […]
The Leos Club, a junior arm of the Lions Club, handed over twenty-six arm chairs to Our Lady of the Way R.C. School in Ladyville. The Leos, who are students from a number of high schools and colleges in the city, worked for about a month to restore the chairs. News Five found out more […]
It is the countdown to Saturday’s Carnival road march that starts at on Central American Boulevard at its junction with Neal Pen Road into Vernon Street on to Youth for the Future Drive, Douglas Jones, Baymen Avenue and ending up at the Marion Jones Stadium. On Wednesday night, judging of four other mas camps dispersed […]
One of the busiest days of the year for emergency medical response teams is carnival day which is this Saturday. In tonight’s Healthy Living, we find out why and what you can do to prevent health emergencies. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting On Saturday, the streets of Belize City will be overflowing with thousands of people […]
