This afternoon, News Five spoke with Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Arnold, about the fatal shooting near Cancun on Monday. Arnold says that official details from Mexican authorities have not confirmed the identity of the victim. But here in Belize, the news spread as condolences were offered to a family in Corozal who were reporting […]
From what the Ambassador says, there may have been another Belizean death on Tuesday night, also at the entrance to Cancun. In our exclusive interview with Ambassador Oscar Arnold, he confirmed that there was a shootout between law enforcement and gunmen. One person was mortally wounded, two were injured and two others have been detained. […]
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also confirmed that a Belizean national was indeed shot and killed in Mexico on Tuesday night. While he did not go into much detail, the ComPol alluded to what appears to be a drug deal gone bad. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “We have gotten that information as well […]
Earlier today, there was talk about a suspected drug plane plunging into the waters near Saint George’s Caye on Tuesday evening. In fact, a breaking news item was published online regarding the so-called incident. When we followed up on the story this morning, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams informed that a team from the Belize […]
A state of emergency encompassing ten hotspots in Belize City is nearing the end of its first week. As many as forty individuals are on lockdown at the Belize Central Prison, believed to be affiliated with various gangs that have been feuding with each other over the past two months. According to the Commissioner of […]
In defending the government’s decision to proceed with a state of emergency, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa says that it is the last resort, considering all previous efforts to bring the warring factions to a ceasefire. Ironically, S.O.E.s were criticized by Musa when his party was in opposition a year ago. Isani Cayetano “How […]
Leader of the United Democratic Party, Patrick Faber, is calling for Chairman Lizarraga to resign from his post at B.T.L. Faber accuses Lizarraga of walking back on his commitment to integrity and good governance. Patrick Faber, Party Leader, U.D.P. “I want to point out that we find very disturbing, the comments of the Chairman […]
And, in the continuing controversy over government communications contracts, official government documents obtained by News Five today reveal that Smart did indeed offer the least expensive proposal for its software subscriptions. The document lists Smart as an authorized reseller of Microsoft Office 365 Products and shows Smart submitted a one-year subscription proposal to G.O.B. for […]
Despite the disclosure on the bidding process and Smart winning with the lowest bid, the U.D.P. is demanding that government rescind the contract and for Smart to issue a refund. Patrick Faber, Party Leader, U.D.P. “I am told that the contract is still not yet signed, although a payment, I think someone sent me […]
The Statistical Institute of Belize is reporting that Belize’s economy is bouncing back. After a record low second quarter in 2020, GDP for 2021’s second quarter has seen a twenty-two percent increase. The figures reported are not back to pre-COVID numbers, and S.I.B. is unable to say at this time whether this growth will continue […]
On the other hand, prices for goods and services have actually seen an increase over the last seven months, when compared to the same time period last year. Belizeans are paying more for transportation, food, housing and personal care, according to S.I.B. Melvin Perez, Statistician II, S.I.B. “The cumulative inflation rate for the first […]
On external trade, imports are up by nearly fifty percent, while exports are up by twelve percent. Here the details on those numbers. Tiffany Vasquez, Statistician II, S.I.B. “For the period January to July of 2021, Belize’s imports were valued at one point one billion dollars. This was a significant twenty-two percent growth, or […]
Funerals must be limited to one hour, at the cemetery only, with no wakes or repasts allowed. Only ten people and the priest can be in attendance. These are part of the restrictions in place as a result of the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. But late this afternoon, Belizeans took to Facebook after an […]
A Belize City family of six is in dire straits after the plycem and wooden structure they call home collapsed with them inside. Sixty-year-old Margaret McDougall told News Five that she, her daughter and three grandchildren were inside the house through Belisle Alley off King Street when suddenly everything went crashing to the ground on […]
Road works are underway on several portions of the Philip Goldson Highway between miles twenty-four and a half, and ninety-two. Today, Chief Engineer with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Lennox Bradley shared the extent of the improvements with News Five. Voice of: Lennox Bradley, Chief Engineer, MIDH “As part of that, we’re […]
The Ministry of Education has reported that a number of students have dropped out of school due to the challenges brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. While some have not been attending the online classes, primary school students have not been picking up or returning their learning packages. Over at Saint John Vianney Catholic Primary School […]
But how prepared is Saint John Vianney for the safe return to face-to-face, in-class learning when it does start up again? Felix Sutherland, Principal, Saint John Vianney Catholic School “Ninety-five percent of our teachers are fully vaccinated, our protocol was in place from last year. We maintained the physical distance and we reengineered our […]
Vegetable farmers and stakeholders, as well as buyers, wholesalers and representatives from the Government met today for the National Vegetable Projection Crop Season 2021-2022. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for this year’s planting season. The farmers are planning to plant more of certain crops based on high demands this past year. But […]
The Government of Belize has responded to concerns raised this week by the Friends for Conservation and Development and their call for an immediate halt of mining operations in the Chiquibul. The F.C.D. asserts that these continue to threaten the headwaters in the area. Today, the Ministries of Sustainable Development and Natural Resources issued a […]
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization has donated one hundred and fifty emergency health kits to the Belize Red Cross. The items supplies will be given to families that use designated shelters during hurricanes, flooding or other natural disasters to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. To ensure equitable distribution, PAHO has partnered with […]
Back-to-school initiatives have been underway as the country prepares for the restart of the new school year. And while face-to-face in-class learning has been pushed back to October, it is not stopping parents from getting ready. But even that has been a challenge with the economic crunch brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, News […]
The U.S. Embassy made a significant donation of P.P.E.s to the Belize Police Department this morning during a brief handing over ceremony in Belmopan. Those items, along with several vehicles, come at a critical time for the department as it continues to fight crime amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On hand to receive the donation was […]
