B.D.F. soldiers, Privates Raheem Valencio and Ramon Alcoser and Police Constable Juan Morales were arraigned today in Belmopan for the shooting death of twenty-nine-year-old Jessie Escobar. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on the case which has captured public attention. Duane Moody, Reporting This afternoon, B.D.F. Private Raheem Valencio appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court […]
The killing of Jessie Escobar on Sunday night was captured by surveillance cameras as it unfolded in front of Branch Mouth Stop and Shop Store in Santa Familia Village. As he approached the B.D.F. soldier with a cup in his hand, a single shot was fired from Private Valencia’s long-arm rifle which caught Escobar in […]
ComPol Chester Williams told the media this afternoon that PC Morales will be facing a slew of internal charges for his involvement in the crime, including the fact that he lied on his statement about the incident in Santa Familia Village. He breached the department’s policy, act of prejudice to good order and discipline among […]
In light of the shooting of Jessie Escobar, the recruits currently enlisted at the Police Training Academy are being taught rules of engagement. Since Tuesday, the recruits have been having presentations on the use of force policy and community policing strategy. ComPol Chester Williams says recruits will enter the field knowing how to address the […]
Earlier today, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler gave us his opinion on the shooting death of Jessie Escobar. He says the incident was discussed in Cabinet and measures will be taken. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations “It is an unfortunate situation that should never have happened. It was […]
The Senate met today in Belmopan where the super bond, as well as the agreement between the Government of Belize and The Nature Conservancy, took center stage. Parliamentarians on both sides of the floor, including the social partner senators, all weighed in on the move by the Briceño administration to settle Belize’s massive external debt […]
In response to Peyrefitte’s demand for an apology, Senator Eamon Courtenay referred to the People’s United Party’s strong track record on environmental conservation. He further stated that in negotiating the terms of the new agreement with The Nature Conservancy, fellow senator Chris Coye was successful in brokering a new deal. Eamon Courtenay, Leader of […]
According to Minister of State Chris Coye, the initial agreement that was struck in October 2020 waived the stamp duty and land taxes; however, they have managed to agree on a sum of eighteen million dollars over a fifty-year period. Christopher Coye, P.U.P. Senator “There was an original agreement in each instance for TNC […]
A second project that TNC has a part to play in is the Belize Maya Forest Trust. TNC purchased over two hundred thousand acres of land and placed it in a trust for conservation. The lands were surrounded with controversy when the current administration revealed that TNC was exempted from paying land taxes on the […]
Earlier this year when COVID swept through, initially the Lord Ashcroft Foundation had established a fund valued at ten million dollars towards various charitable initiatives in Belize. While a significant portion of that amount has been used, the Foundation did not omit sports. Today, the Belize Athletics Association received a donation of equipment from the […]
The proposed agreement between the government and the Creditors’ Committee for the holders of the super bond developed during eight months of negotiations. When he appeared on Open Your Eyes this morning, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Chris Coye said first the government had to build credibility, illustrated through tough decisions to […]
The albatross that is Belize’s massive external debt is a collective burden, some of which may be lifted off our shoulders in the weeks ahead, thanks to a new agreement being hammered out with bondholders. While he is yet to be given the specifics, former Prime Minister Dean Barrow welcomes the arrangement. Dean Barrow, […]
In terms of the conservation aspects of the agreement, the government has to make specific commitments, it is still negotiating. One of these has to do with biodiversity zones. Christopher Coye, Minister of State, Finance “Belize has biodiversity zones and commitments on biodiversity zones already. We have I think between fifteen and twenty percent […]
And, if you thought the word “blue” in the term Blue Bond is referring to People’s United Party’s Blu manifesto or its party color, The Nature Conservancy says its organization is one hundred percent non-partisan. We spoke via zoom to Julie Robinson, Program Director at TNC. Julie Robinson, Program Director, TNC “One of the […]
Coye went on to explain what the formal offer will be that the government will launch on the Super Bond on Thursday. Included in it is an incentive for bondholders who sign on to the government’s offer. Christopher Coye, Minister of State, Finance “What that offer will be is fifty-five cents on the dollar. […]
A fire that began around eleven a.m. has left a tenant devastated at the loss of her belongings and bad luck, since this is the second fire she has been through. News Five was at the scene on Mahogany Street in Belize City today and spoke to area residents who tried to help and to […]
Last Thursday, police arrested and charged twenty-nine year-old Jovannie O’Brien of Unitedville, Cayo for the double murder of eighteen-year-old Lloyd Myvett and his neighbour, nine-year-old Jamir McKoy. They were both shot near McKoy’s house. On Tuesday, O’Brien appeared before the Supreme Court for bail and was denied. His wife, Bettina O’Brien, who was also charged […]
When we caught up with the Minister of Tourism today we asked him about those COVID-19 restrictions that are not so tourism-friendly. Business owners, particularly restaurateurs, have been complaining about the early curfew cutting into their bottom lines for the last fifteen months. We asked Minister Mahler if he has been advocating for more tourism […]
The Belize Bank says their recently introduced banking app, E-Kyash, has been a resounding success. Today, Executive Chairman, Lyndon Guiseppi, shared that their expectation was it would take one year to get eight thousand subscribers. But that figure was surpassed in just a matter of weeks. Lyndon Guiseppi, Chair, Executive Chair, Belize Bank “In […]
Last week, we told you about the cabinet’s approval of an update to Belize’s national determined contribution as part of its commitment in the global mitigation of climate change. The country is committing to increase its NDC by five percent over the next ten years. This has since been forwarded to the UNFCCC; the United […]
The University of Belize is joining the nation in celebrating forty years of Independence with a public lecture on the state of the nation at forty. The panel includes career educators and scientists who will be discussing current political, economic and social conditions. You can catch the lecture live on the University of Belize’s Facebook […]
