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The female population at the Belize Central Prison has increased steadily over the past five consecutive years, with approximately 60% of the residents being incarcerated for Immigration-related offenses, suggestive that the sexual exploitation of Central American women continues unabated. While our investigation of the issue has revealed that no one has ever been incarcerated for the offense of prostitution in the history of the Belize Central Prison, CEO Virgilio Murillo in

An intervention from Prime Minister John Briceño led the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) and American Sugar Refineries (ASR) to agree to sign an interim agreement. That agreement will last until April 30, 2022, and take effect on January 20, 2022, a day after the current commercial agreement expires. A meeting held today by the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB), for which all directors were present, led to the feuding

Belizean Icon and ambassador of the Creole culture, Artist Emeritus Myrna Manzanarez, 75, has passed away. Manzanares, who fell into a coma last week, following a stroke, died on Tuesday, December 21st, just before 2:00 a.m inside the Intensive Care Unit of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). Manzanares we were told was reportedly found unresponsive and in a critical condition inside her home last week Wednesday, December 15th, by a friend who had gone looking for her

Well-known internist Dr. Fernando Cuellar has resigned from the KHMH Board, after having served only 47 days in the position. Dr. Cuellar announced his resignation on Friday to the Board via their group chat. While he did not cite any reason for his decision, The Reporter received reports that the doctor was not satisfied with the recent changes made to the Board, including the recent appointees. It is also noteworthy that Cuellar’s abrupt resignation follows recent comments

Ten plus persons who were detained for the landing of a Narco Plane on the Southern Highway near Toledo on Saturday night have been charged. The charge sheet names several persons, three of whom are senior members of the “Commander Operations Strike Team,” led by ACP Marco Vidal. The officers are Delwin Casimiro, Nelson Middleton, and Elmer Nah. These officers are charged with abetment to drug trafficking and conspiracy to land a plane at an unlicensed aerodrome. The Reporter

Police officers were involved the latest drug-plane landing, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams confirmed Friday morning. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams speaking at press conference on Friday, November 5, 2021 “While we do celebrate the fact that we were able to intercept this load, there is also the disappointment to have found out that police officers are involved,” Williams lamented. His comments follow the findings of police investigations that have confirme

The Belize Medical and Dental Association (BMDA) has proposed that the Government of Belize cap individual’s recreational use for marijuana at 30 grams per month. The BMDA, in their letter to the Government, recommended “that the maximum monthly allotment per registered Cannabis Program Identification Cardholder be 30 grams of cannabis Sativa. Equally, tourists should be allowed a monthly allotment of 30 grams of cannabis Sativa.” This position challenges the current language

The Government of Belize (GOB) has publicized its plans to expand the trade licensing regime to the villages, but this week the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) wrote the Prime Minister to say that the announcement sends a “mixed signal.” Specifically, the BCCI’s letter, dated Wednesday, October 20th, said that while the business community has been in consultations with the government on the matter of reforming the regime, the move to introduce the fee to villag

By Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington We are now into the twelfth month of the Briceño administration. Our country continues to experience the difficulties which the Barrow administration experienced during its last year in office. The Covid 19 Pandemic still rages on. There is no abatement of the gang related homicides. No comprehensive solution has been found to government’s financial woes. Tremendous challenges still exist in getting our population vaccinated and our schools to re

Contributed by the Human Rights Commission The police do not know the law, but it is not their fault. By law, the police are a disciplined organization. Like the army and Coast Guards they must obey instructions. Many times, the instructions are not lawful. Even though the law is that police, army, Coast Guards and everyone has a duty not to obey an illegal order or instruction, policemen and women know they will be punished by their supervisors for disobeying instruction, wh

As early as the beginning of the New Year, large and small businesses alike, operating within the confines of rural communities and villages can expect one additional charge tacked on to their expense in the form of a trade licenses fee. The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 13th, via a Cabinet brief which announced that the Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor & Local Government, Hon. Oscar Requeña, had received Cabinet’s approval for the

The Corozal Freezone, which reopened its doors over eight months ago, despite heavy criticism from the public surrounding the safety of Belizeans, has managed to combat the odds and has only reported one COVID-19 infection since its reopening. According to the information, one symptomatic case was picked up last week by the robust screening measures at the entrance of the Freezone. That individual was immediately swabbed while a health team moved swiftly to conduct contract t

In response to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalist (ICIJ)’s recent release of the “Pandora Papers”, the Government of Belize has issued the following statement: Statement on “The Pandora Papers” Belmopan. October 8, 2021. 3:45 p.m. The Government of Belize (GOB), after reviewing releases from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) described as the “Pandora Papers”, makes the following statements. 1. Over 30 years ago, Belize, l

Contributed by the Human Rights Commission Today Belize is grappling with human rights violations in every single organ of society. In just a matter of days, two elderly men were killed in Belize prompting the Council of Ageing and the Ministry of Human Development to speak out against violence and abuse of older persons. That’s just looking at one section of society that is affected by rising crime in the country. Then there are the reports of abuse of authority by law enfor

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has announced the rollout of “free testing” sites for the public to access, a move the Public Service Union (PSU) applauds while it simultaneously calls on government to regulate COVID test prices provided by private institutions. According to an MOHW release, the two testing sites, which are located at the Civic Center in Belize City and the Civic Center parking lot in Belmopan, are opened from 8:30 a.m to 2:00 p.m from Monday to Fr

The availability of vaccines could be a major factor affecting economic recovery around the World, but the volume of trade in manufactured merchandise is expected to grow by 10.8 percent this year, and by another 4.7 percent in 2022, the World Trade Organization reported this week. Exports and imports are expected to grow by only half that in Least Developed Countries like Belize, and next year’s exports are expected to lag to 4.7 percent, while imports may grow to 8.6 percen

The use of State of Emergency (SOE) to lockdown criminal elements is not a very effective practice, Social Anthropologist Dr. Herbert Gayle opined to The Reporter this week. Implemented as direct responses to upsurges in gang violence, the Government of Belize (GOB) has implemented multiple SOEs, with the August 2021 proclamation being the most recent in a string of such measures since 2018. Like most initiatives, there are always positives and negatives to be weighed, and SO

Effective October 1st, 2021, under the new testing regime that the Government of Belize will be implementing, which will mandate that any person entering a government-owned building or office shall be required to show proof of vaccination, or a Negative PCR or Rapid Test, will prove to be a hefty price tag for citizens who choose not to be inoculated. A recent background check carried out by the Reporter at several private medical institutions, that has been approved by the M

By Leon C. Guild Our female Jaguars have just returned from Curacao where they were playing in the U20 CONCACAF Championship which also served as qualifiers for the World Championship. In an interview with Head Coach, Mr. Wayne Casimiro, the Coach for the female Senior Team, he explained that they only found out about the event early in the year. The scouting for talent began almost immediately as selection tryouts were held and by this past June they had covered Toledo to Co

“We need to adopt an MVI [Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index],” Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño urged during his speech at 76th Session of the United Nations’ General Assembly. Speaking on Friday evening, Briceño joined the long list of other leaders who have been calling for the reform of the international financial architecture as it pertains to assessing small island developing states (SIDS)’s eligibility for debt relief and access to concessionary financing. “We call