A fifteen-year-old Guatemalan boy has been charged for the death of eight-year-old Gabriella Corales. The young man was arraigned on a slew of charges, including manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and driving without a valid driver’s license. He was behind the wheel of an SUV that knocked down and killed Corales who […]
The 2014/2015 Audit Report highlights a number of inconsistencies where it concerns proper accounting of public funds. Those discrepancies were flagged by Auditor-General Dorothy Ann Bradley who tendered the report back in January to the Office of the Prime Minister. In that document are several references to the importance of the Public Accounts Committee, as […]
Espat, who has been at the helm of the Public Accounts Committee for the past seven years, says that there is an obvious lack of accountability in the manner in which government spends the people’s money, a point that the auditor-general points out in her report. Julius Espat, Chair, Public Accounts Committee “The auditor […]
A huge part of the problem, says Espat, is the fact that there is no oversight for the expenditure of public funds where contract officers are concerned. According to the PAC chairman, there is no political will for government to be held accountable. Julius Espat, Chair, Public Accounts Committee “We are at a point […]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Patrick Faber also made a comment on the increase in the Social Security contributions. It’s been seventeen years since an increase and there has been a delay in another since 2012 for various reasons, including political likeability. G.O.B. has now given the nod of approval to the Social […]
There seems to be more bad news on the horizon for public officers, teachers and police officers. The longstanding pension scheme for government employees is that G.O.B. pays one hundred percent and then on reaching retirement, a gratuity is paid and then pension kicks in until you die. That bill is a hefty one which […]
An increase in the social security pension scheme was rolled out in 2003, seventeen years ago. The fund is at the point where its total expenditure equals total revenue. During the two-year consultation, officials from the Social Security Board met with several entities and groups, including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The private […]
As Doctor Young said, the rate increase is a temporary solution. It is expected that another rate increase or adjustment would be necessary in 2025. In order to delay that increase, Doctor Young says that S.S.B.’s investment portfolio must increase. It is his hope that the Board would consider making international investments. Dr. Colin […]
Between 2017 and 2018, more than two thousand contributors joined the social security fund. Currently, the fund consists of about one hundred and eight thousand contributors. Every year, close to one thousand, three hundred persons retire and begin to collect their pension. In such cases where the employee dies before reaching retirement age, their pension […]
A week after the results of the 2019 Primary School Exams were released, the Ministry of Education brought together the top twenty-five students for an award ceremony in their honour. Today, the bright minds, in the presence of their parents and teachers, took to a stage to receive plaques and certificates for having done exceptionally […]
Minister Faber also announced that the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Education, will be extending the subsidy for students to second form. So come the new school year, over eleven thousand students in high schools across the country will have an opportunity to further their education. Faber says that the process has changed […]
High schools across the country are going digital. A letter of intent has been signed between G.O.B. and Belize Telemedia Limited which paves the way for a digital revolution in the way students learn in the classroom. So say goodbye to pen and paper and even text books, as they will be replaced by electronic […]
Speaking about expansion, Faber also spoke about his ministry acquiring funding through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank to install additional preschools across the country. Minister Faber says that the country has trained teachers to ensure that there is strong foundation in early childhood development. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education “There is a […]
The Belize Police Department held its national Du Di Right Ting award ceremony today at Old Belize. Fifty-five students from around the country were recognized, with eight of them getting cash awards and the top two honored with scholarships and laptops. The department uses the ceremony to celebrate the students who have stayed the course […]
Earlier this week, we reported about the late night food vendors who are being shut down at midnight on the south side and by two a.m. on the north side. The vendors told us that they have vendor’s permits which do not stipulate time and they believe that their livelihoods are being threatened with this […]
Tonight, twenty-four-year-old Marlon Casey, a resident of Ladyville, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after being arraigned for the attempted murder of Abraham Leslie. The incident occurred on Monday when Leslie was stabbed during an altercation involving the sale of marijuana. Casey, a construction worker of Kwale Street, reportedly purchased a quantity of […]
Agricultural production in Belize has been impacted by climate change and climate variability. In order to prevent the loss of millions of dollars and adapt to climate change, a five-day Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture is taking place in Belmopan. Participants such as Extension and Cooperative Officers are gathering at the National Agriculture and Trade […]
Director of Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture Belarmino Esquivel says that institutional strengthening and improved technical capacities in the agricultural sector of Belize can improve the country’s ability to respond to climate risks and take advantage of opportunities that could emerge in the long-run. Belarmino Esquivel, Director of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture “So […]
A Letter of Intent on a framework for tourism cooperation between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) was signed this evening. The ceremony coincides with the visit of Doctor Chia-Lung Lin, Taiwan’s Minister of Transport and Communications. Speaking at the signing was Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans. Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism “We […]
