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Two major issues occupied the prime minister’s press conference today. The dismal state of the economy and the deadlock with the Public Service Union are both pressing matters. The government is broke, not one penny has come from the International Financial Institutions and revenues to the treasury have plummeted in March and April. So Prime […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Responds to P.S.U. on Waiver of Increments
While government’s monthly operating expenses sit at roughly ninety million dollars, the steep plummet in May will leave a sixty million dollar deficit. In the context of cuts being made in the private sector and elsewhere in the public sectors, PM Barrow says that the Public Service Union is being rather unreasonable since others are […]
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Comments Off on PM to P.S.U.: “Do not Continue to be Unreasonable”
To further emphasize make the point that the P.S.U. is being irrational by rejecting government’s proposal to waive increments, PM Barrow says that when the economy rebounds other public sector workers will not be receiving monies that they have since relinquished. Conversely, the P.S.U. has proposed a deferral which would mean that government would still […]
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Comments Off on No Deferral of Increments for Public Officers
Following the PM’s press conference, the Leader of the Opposition John Briceño made comments on the dismal state of affairs. While all are expected to make sacrifices, given the economic crunch caused by COVID-19, Briceño says there are many areas, other than salaries, where the government can apply cost-saving measures. The exercise entails looking at […]
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Comments Off on John Briceño Says G.O.B. Disrespected Union; Needs to Cut Fat
The threat of an amendment to the existing Public Service Regulations looms over the Public Service Union as a last-ditch effort by the Minister of Finance to get public officers to surrender their increments. While the P.S.U. contends that the prime minister does not have the legal authority to make a one-sided decision regarding that […]
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Comments Off on PM Can Freeze Increments Without Changing S.I.
A letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Public Service Union, earlier this week, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight first sounded the ultimatum that the PM can well proceed to amend the Public Service Regulations to forgo the increments of public officers for the fiscal year starting April first, 2020 and ending March thirty-first, 2021. […]
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Comments Off on John Briceño says PM is Using Crisis to Acquire More Power
Belize’s economy, knocked down by the debilitating fiscal impact of COVID-19, is on its knees and will take a lot from the public and private sectors to get it standing firmly once the threat of the coronavirus has subsided. In painting a grim picture of the country’s financial affairs, Prime Minister Dean Barrow laid out […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
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Comments Off on Belize’s Economy is On the Ropes and Stiffer Punches Keep Landing
Since the beginning of the week, there has been an ease on restrictions of the state of emergency and the businesses are reopening except for places such as casinos, gyms and restaurants. Briceño, a businessman himself, sees the need to spur economic activity, but says it has to be measured to prevent the re-emergence of […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Johnny B Says Reopen the Economy, but Be Very Careful
Back to the issue of the public service. In this morning’s press conference, Prime Minister Barrow pledged that he will borrow until the very last to ensure that their substantial salaries are met and committed that there will not be retrenchment. Today, Opposition Leader John Briceño also responded to that proposition by referring to political […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Barrow to Borrow to the Very Last for Salaries
Government is out of cash in the treasury and debt will continue to grow as government looks to borrow and borrow to meet its wage bill and other obligations. Briceño, in a one-on-one interview with News Five, asserts that for twelve years the government has mismanaged the country and its finance and now a heavy […]
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Comments Off on John Briceño: “The U.D.P. Government is Broke…Belizeans Paying a Heavy Price.”
Well wishes flowed today for the quick recovery of former Prime Minister Said Musa and sitting Area Representative for Fort George Division. The former PM is recuperating after a mild stroke that landed him in the hospital overnight. The seventy-six year old started feeling discomfort in the afternoon on Thursday and was taken to a […]
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Comments Off on Former PM Said Musa Recuperating from Mild Stroke
Belize is nearing the end of the twenty-eight day incubation period since the last publicly reported confirmed case of COVID-19. While we prepare to breathe a collective sigh of relief and anticipate further relaxation of regulations under the existing state of emergency, we are not completely out of the woods. Monday officially marks the end […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Belize Inches Closer to End of 28 Day Incubation Period
The Ministry of Health has carried out one thousand one hundred and fifty-nine COVID-19 tests. That’s the figure on Thursday’s infographics which provides a quick overview of Belize’s COVID-19 situation. When he appeared on today’s live webcast of Ask the Experts, Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero broke down those numbers. Dr. Marvin […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on COVID-19 Infographic Explained
If no new COVID-19 case is reported over the next thirty hours, Sunday will mark twenty-eight days straight since no case of COVID-19 confirmed in Belize. It will mean then that we have recovered from the first wave of the virus, but DHS Marvin Manzanero points out that it may not want to claim the […]
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Comments Off on DHS Cautions Public About Subsequent COVID-19 Waves
And when it comes to testing, Doctor Marvin Manzanero notes that daily testing is not taking place. He outlines some of the industries and frontline workers who will be captured in random testing to be undertaken. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “As we move along, we should also specify that we are […]
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Comments Off on No Daily Testing; Random Testing Outlined
Everyone has to wear a mask in public, but you are allowed not to use one if you are travelling in a private vehicle. Doctor Marvin Manzanero spoke today about why it is important that this personal protective gear is used properly. He says that other hygienic practices must also be carried out when using […]
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Comments Off on DHS Speaks on the Use of Masks
Doctor Fausto Alvin Pineda of Benque Viejo del Carmen was arrested and charged for ‘Engaging in Private Practice While Prohibited from Doing So. Doctor Pineda works at the San Ignacio Community Hospital but he also runs a private practice in the west. Pineda reportedly issued three sick leave forms to police officers through his home […]
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Comments Off on Cayo Doc Criminally Charged!
The opening up of the country for Belizeans to move freely to other local destinations can start as early as next week. But that brings about the question of a pending date when the country will officially reopen for overnight and cruise tourism arrivals. There is a possibility that visitors can begin arriving as early […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Tourism Industry May Reopen as Early as July
Even before a first case of the novel coronavirus was detected in Belize, the pandemic shattered the tourism industry. Airline and cruise tourism came to a standstill with cancelations fast and furious; thousands of Belizeans began losing their jobs and by the beginning of March, hotel rooms across the country were empty. During our interview […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on John Briceño Says G.O.B. Should Have Listened to Warnings on Investment in Tourism Industry
Earlier this week, we reported that Harvest Caye was being put up as part of several collaterals for the financially embattled Norwegian Cruise Line to float a bond of two billion U.S. dollars to kick start its operations in August. The Florida-based company did not consult with or inform the Government of Belize that it […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Weighs in on Harvest Caye
Thousands of Belizeans remain stranded in other countries around the world, including students who are studying abroad, that are waiting to return home, following the closure of the borders and the Philip Goldson International Airport. According to PM Barrow, plans are underway to have those persons repatriated as early as possible, notwithstanding the mandatory quarantine […]
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Comments Off on Belizeans Stranded Abroad Will Finally Return Home
There’s a bit of good news to report tonight as it relates to the fires that were ravaging the forests and farm lands. According to the Forest Department, the satellite mapping system didn’t record any fires this morning. This is as a direct result of the downpour the country experienced on Thursday night and this […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
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Comments Off on No Fires Recorded Today!
COVID-19 has shed light on the number of families that are in desperate need of putting food on their table. In the Mesopotamia Division in Belize City, a soup kitchen, organized by P.U.P. standard bearer Doctor Candice Pitts, was started to assist families with daily hearty and nutritious meals. Early in the mornings, using local […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on A Soup Kitchen to Help Those in Need in Mesopotamia
Today, the Republic of China reaffirmed its support for the region’s micro, small and medium enterprises executed by the Center for the Promotion of MSMEs, known as CENPROMYPE. Taiwan signed the first disbursement of a two million U.S.-dollar project. The initiative seeks to promote regional actions that will help to develop the sector through entrepreneurship, […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Taiwan Supports Regional MSME’s
May ninth is birding’s biggest day around the world. It is called Global Big Day which is an annual celebration of birds around you. While the current state of emergency limits movement, birding enthusiasts are not able to participate this year as they usually would this. But despite restrictions, birders in Belize will be up […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Global Big Day Observed in Belize!
