There is a major upset for the government in respect of the I.C.J. referendum that was scheduled for next week Wednesday. In a packed courtroom, a ruling was handed down this afternoon by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin prohibiting the government from proceeding with the April tenth referendum as scheduled. The C.J. found that the injunction […]
Last Wednesday, during the prime minister’s press conference where he unveiled a revised legal opinion by former I.C.J. President Stephen Schwebel, attorney Lisa Shoman added her two cents to a question posed by a fellow media colleague. That question had to do with a possible outcome in today’s injunction hearing. Not only was the former […]
The monkey wrench that has been thrown into government’s I.C.J. timetable has undoubtedly upset its plans to proceed with a referendum next Wednesday. In fact, while it did not anticipate the surprising outcome, the Barrow administration has been forced to revisit the drawing board and re-strategize a legal approach. Late this afternoon, Prime Minister Barrow […]
PM Barrow has outlined a three-pronged approach to tackling the latest obstacle in government’s path to the I.C.J. referendum. That impromptu plan of action includes an application for a reworking of the order that the Chief Justice has made. Government also seeks leave for the referendum to proceed on Wednesday, but the results of which […]
The Court of Appeal is also an immediate first option in the wake of the Chief Justice’s milestone decision; that application being signed before C.J. Benjamin could properly exit his chamber. But is time still on government’s side, considering the slow pace at which the judicial system works and the tight deadline ahead? PM Barrow […]
Government’s high-speed train to the I.C.J. referendum has collided into an unforeseen blockade and there is no telling what impact, if any, that sudden crash will have on the momentum of the national vote. It’s a question that we posed to PM Barrow earlier, and despite not being able to answer directly, he is of […]
Traversing the Sarstoon is a tense and perilous journey. The Guatemalan Armed Forces are there to impede Belizeans from freely travelling upstream so Belizeans require escort from the B.D.F. and Belize Coastguard on the journey on our side of the river. That is in the south, but in the west, it is a different case. […]
On Tuesday, we showed you the encounter between a News Five team on an excursion in the Sarstoon and members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces. While the Belizean vessel and its passengers were quickly supported by the coastguard and B.D.F. to circle the Sarstoon Island, the GAF verbally expressing rights over the Sarstoon has enraged […]
A joint operation between officers attached to the Special Patrols Unit and the Mobile Interdiction Team led to the discovery of a grenade in Benque Viejo del Carmen. On Tuesday, the team, based on information received, conducted a search at the water pump area and discovered a live grenade. The explosive device was retrieved by […]
Twelve Guatemalan nationals were found with over fifty thousand U.S. dollars in cash in the southern waters of Belize last Friday. The men and their vessel were in the Moho area when they were intercepted by the Belize Coastguard. They were taken to the Punta Gorda police station, the cash was counted and the Guats […]
The number of murders in the first quarter of the year has gone down by a significant percentage. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams provided the breakdown today in Belmopan. So far, there have been more than thirty homicides between January and March, the majority of which have not been gang-related but due to alcohol consumption. […]
Today, the Police Department convened its national COMSTAT; it’s a forum where commanders from across the country would provide a report card on the operations, including crime stats from their respective jurisdictions. During the meeting, the officers also discussed crime fighting strategies. One initiative introduced today was the use of hi-tech cameras in hotspots in […]
A church leader, who reportedly entered the country unlawfully, remains in the custody of the Immigration Department in Punta Gorda and this morning his flock traveled all the way from Bella Vista to protest his detention. Carlos Alfredo Gonzalez was picked up this morning and transported to PG for alleged immigration offences. Our colleagues from […]
The second Belize National Research Conference was hosted inside the Jaguar Building at the University of Belize, Belmopan. It is part of a strategy among tertiary level institutions and the National Institute of Culture and History in the area of research with specific focus on the country’s development. Researchers are requested to submit papers on […]
How much do you know about the jaguarundi? These small cats are native to parts of North, Central and South America. They are not just commonly found in the forests of Belize, but there’s also a growing exhibit in captivity at the Belize Zoo. Today, we found out why many zoos around the world want […]
The Ministry of Environment is looking to implement a three-year project to build Belize’s preparedness and response to extreme weather events. The project will look at flood preparedness and prevention through the use of technology, advanced monitoring techniques for an early warning system for floods, building capacity of human resource personnel and awareness programmes. On […]
