Six months of discussions between the government and the committee representing the super bond holders have resulted in an agreement in principle between the parties. As Prime Minister John Briceño explained to reporters during a short break of today’s House Meeting in Belmopan, the bondholders hold almost half of the so-called “super bond,” whose outstanding […]
The Prime Minister also spoke on carbon credits during his presentation in the House. For context, in October of 2020, the Barrow administration and The Nature Conservancy entered into an agreement to promote the long-term protection and conservation of the natural assets of Belize, including the flora and fauna. It is an idea that the […]
The Government of Belize will establish the Tax Debt Operation Unit with a focus on collecting outstanding taxes, but first strengthening prosecution against tax offenses. An amendment was passed in the House today to give the Director of Public Prosecution authority to prosecute tax offenses. It also allows the unit to publish the names of […]
A bill was passed today in the House to exempt public officers and teachers from certain stamp duties. According to Prime Minister Briceño, this bill is being passed in fulfillment of an agreement made with the joint unions while in negotiations over the ten percent pay cut. Prime Minister John Briceño “It is simply […]
A bill for an act to provide for the regulation of security business and activities in Belize was presented in the House today. The bill, according to PM Briceño, will provide the regulatory framework for the establishment of a capital market in Belize. For those who may be unaware, a capital market is where buyers […]
Why have COVID-19 restrictions not being lifted for Belizeans who are fully vaccinated? That was a question posed by the Leader Opposition to the Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat. He said not enough people have been vaccinated yet. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness “It is a valid one madam speaker, […]
Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow will be nominating a medical professional for the National Medical COVID-19 Response Team. When he asked Prime Minister John Briceño about the reconvening of the National Oversight Committee, the PM revealed that the Opposition did not respond when an invitation was sent to designate a nominee to the response […]
With the increase in active COVID-19 cases, the situation at the national referral hospital is worsening. A memo issued by the acting Human Resources Director, dated September second says that the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is in emergency mode. The healthcare facility is in phase three of its COVID-19 response plan which has been activated. […]
As the number of active COVID-19 cases continues to rise at a rapid rate, several businesses and government offices have had to shut their doors for sanitization purposes. Over the last three weeks, at least five public offices have had to close their doors. In the second week of August, the Belize Port Authority closed […]
Investigations are underway yet again at Price Barracks after a B.D.F. female soldier is reporting that she was raped by another soldier. On Monday, she told her superiors that she was sexually assaulted and after interviews were conducted with her, she officially made a report to the Belize Police Department. Now, for some time, we […]
So what happens next? Well, as we said, a formal report has been made to the Ladyville Police whose investigators are now looking into the incident. Depending on whether charges are brought against the alleged perpetrator, the policy sets out the steps that will be taken thereafter. Lt. Col. Anthony Velasquez, Chief of Staff, […]
A Belizean cook of Unitedville Village, Cayo has been charged for the double murder of eighteen-year-old Lloyd Myvett and nine-year-old Jamir McKoy. On Thursday, Jovannie O’Brien was formally arrested and charged for the crime which occurred on the night of August thirtieth as Myvett and the minor stood in front of a parked car outside […]
There was a marijuana bust in Belmopan on Thursday afternoon that yielded over thirty-five pounds of suspected weed. Police conducted a joint operation on the outskirts of Belmopan where officers searched a bushy area. This led to the discovery of a crocus sack hidden under some bush. Inside the sack were twenty parcels of suspected […]
Just before dawn on Thursday, a fire broke on Rainbow Street in the D.F.C area of San Pedro Town. A small wooden structure that was once Jays Store was engulfed in flames when authorities arrived at the scene. The shop was owned by Yesica Cordon, who was asleep when she received a call from her […]
Back to today’s House Meeting in Belmopan… Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa spoke of his ministry’s plan to address the crime scourge, which all too often results in innocent children getting killed. He says we must take a collective stance, so Belizeans once again feel safe. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The […]
Musa spoke generally about crime as it affects the wider public. But his colleague, Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos-Garcia was particularly concerned about crimes perpetrated on children and women. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development “Madam Speaker within our Ministry and working together with our ministry, we have our dear Special Envoy for […]
Late this afternoon, the Prime Minister and the U.D.P. Representative for Collet, Patrick Faber had a heated exchange about the Speednet contract for Microsoft Licensing for the government. Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet “This is the thing that really boils the blood of Belizean people, those public servants who you told you have to […]
It was a contentious issue for the teachers and public service unions, and now there may be some progress. Today, Attorney General Magali Marin Young, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, signed an agreement for the implementation of good governance legislation. The U.N.D.P. will finance the hiring of an international legal expert to […]
The Central Medical Laboratory has been consumed with endless testing since the advent of COVID-19 last year. But amid the flood of samples, the lab is also preparing to establish a mycology unit, an area designated for the study of fungi and yeasts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was instrumental in donating lab […]
