There is a most alarming situation at the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center which houses children on Saint Thomas Street where there is a potential of a spread of the coronavirus. One out of the twenty-three resident children at the institution has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while seven others were taken for medical […]
This afternoon in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court, a senior employee of the Big Creek Group was arraigned in connection with the illegal voyage of the tugboat, AJ Ellis. Gustavo Carillo, the company’s shipping manager, has been charged and taken before the lower court on a single count of abetment to exiting Belize illegally. The arraignment […]
The sequenced of events started on Wednesday when Robert Flowers and Deon Castillo were first to be charged criminally for the tugboat. That voyage, according to the police, was illegal under the new regulations because the vessel was supposed to travel through the Port only for commerce. Comptroller Colin Griffith was quick to deny any […]
…but what does Commissioner of Police Chester Williams have to say about the Customs Department’s comments on the charge? Williams says he stands by the charge brought against Dion Castillo and Robert Flowers. He says that the officers were responsible to ensure that the vessel’s purpose of travel was legitimate. Williams also notes that while […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams wants to dispel any notions that the public officers are being made scapegoats in the process. Williams says that if a minister of any other high-ranking authority instructed Dion Castillo and Robert Flowers to provide clearance for the vessel then they are to report that information to police. And since […]
The charge against Dion Castillo prompted strong words from the Comptroller Griffith. He also alleged that the police objected to bail on Wednesday. Today, Commissioner Chester Williams responded to those allegations, saying that there is nothing personal against the Customs Department and that the department was acting in accordance with the law. On the […]
Turning to the latest COVID numbers, fifty-two new positive cases were identified today. The infographic shared by the Ministry of Health shows that a total of two hundred and sixty-three samples were processed of which fifty-two returned positive. Three of the cases are in the Corozal District, while the Cayo District recorded five more cases. […]
One of the new COVID victims is a frontline worker, Doctor Rahleel Elijio from the B.D.F., where a number of soldiers have also been infected. Doctor Elijio revealed he tested positive via Facebook, saying he is not ashamed of his status. Elijio says that, as a doctor, it is his duty to heal and do […]
Seventy-four-year-old Iris Barillas was buried on Wednesday afternoon after becoming the fifth casualty of COVID-19 in Belize. She was also the first woman who has died of the deadly virus. Barillas’ husband, who visited the Belmopan Medical Center along with her, has also contracted the disease and has been battling its debilitating effects. Sadly, he […]
The safe handling and disposal of COVID-19 corpse involves a string of procedures. While there is no scientific evidence that proves that a COVID-19 corpse is still infectious, there are strict protocols being followed on how to deal with a COVID-19 positive or suspected positive corpse. Today the Ministry of Health outlined these guidelines for […]
Today, during the Ask the Experts webcast, John Bodden explained that they are updating the procedures to provide additional guidance for the families who may experience a COVID-19 related death. These guidelines, according to Bodden, are to help reduce the spread in settings where families of ten may gather. It is expected that the public […]
The Marroquin family of Blue Creek Village has been quarantined for as long as forty-three days at the Orange Walk Multi Purpose Complex. Persons who are not positive are released fourteen days after, but others who are positive will remain for a longer period. At the multi-purpose, there are about twenty-five other persons, some who […]
While the Marroquin family remains in quarantine, hundreds of persons are under lockdown in the village of Guinea Grass in Orange Walk. Guinea Grass along with Santa Martha and Shipyard were placed in lockdown earlier in the month. Villagers in Guinea Grass, however, are up in arms because they say that the assistance that the […]
A revision of quarantine practices and protocols for repatriated persons got underway on Wednesday by Ministry of Health officials. The process has changed several times. Initially, repatriates were swabbed upon entry into the country and then a subsequent test was done after fourteen days of mandatory quarantine. Based on the evolving situation and the surge […]
The University of Belize remains in turmoil and at loggerheads with the U.B.F.S.U. Earlier this week, the university’s Board of Trustees issued a threat to the teachers, telling them to return to work or face termination. The letter sent to the union states that if the faculty and staff do not accept the proposed salary […]
Last week the Belize National Teachers Union lost a warrior. Arcadia Carrillo was a teacher for more than five decades and never defaulted in showing support and unity for her union. Carrillo would never miss a B.N.T.U. event. She was present at every rally, at every demonstration, and every ceremony. In 2017, she was awarded […]
On Wednesday, the Senate approved the spending of two point two million dollars to cover the legal and consultation fees attached to the consent solicitation process for the deferral of interest on payments on the super bond payments. The government successfully managed to convince bondholders to capitalize interest payments, due to the economic downturn triggered by […]
The National Meteorological Service is monitoring Tropical Depression fourteen. As of six this evening, TD-fourteen was about one hundred miles east of Cabo Gracias A Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border and four hundred and seventy-five miles East Southeast of Belize City. Earlier this afternoon, just after one we spoke with Deputy Chief Met Ronald Gordon […]
A number of employees from the Belmopan City Council have been sent home to self-isolate as a result of a COVID-19 threat. While at this point, there is no positive case among the staff, as a measure of precautionary measure to protect its employees and staff, sent staff members home to isolate. According to Mayor […]
Back in March when the outbreak of the coronavirus in Belize was detected, the council began working a shift system; that has now been re-implemented so operations and services at the council have not been suspended. Khalid Belisle, Belmopan Mayor “To this point, we haven’t fully suspended any of our operations, any services that […]
The Football Federation of Belize is proceeding with its 2020 congress this Saturday in San Ignacio where it is expected that a new executive will be elected. The gathering of football faithful, however, is being met with serious concerns since the limit for any congregation is ten persons. As it stands, the congress itself exceeds […]
On Friday, we will have an update for you on Tropical Depression Fourteen, but as you heard from the National Met Service, if TD-fourteen remains on track, it will make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. That means it will bring some rains and northern communities may experience flooding. Today, Principal Public Health Inspector John Bodden […]
Sister City relations were established between cities of Taipei and Belmopan back in 2019. A request was later made by Mayor Khalid Belisle for assistance with a number of trucks, including fire trucks, ambulances and compactor trucks. On Wednesday, a virtual handing over ceremony was held between Ambassador Remus Li-Kuo Chen of the Republic of […]
The recent spike in cases of COVID-19 detected in Belize means that hundreds of Belizeans who tested positive are now confined at home for self-isolation. Health officials should provide guidelines as to how to care for a COVID positive person in your home. For those who still have questions about at-home care, we have some […]
