It is just about two months before the annual budget is presented in the National Assembly and in the coming weeks, the various ministers will be putting forth their reasons why they believe their ministries and departments ought to be given more spending power. Among the ministers who believe that their portfolio deserves to be among the top priorities in the national budget is Julius Espat for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. Today he explained to us why.
Julius Espat, Minister, MIDH
“If the Ministry of Finance does not see M.I.D.H. as a priority, then you’ll have problems because you will be interviewing every single minister and the first thing that will come to their mind is infrastructure. Because again, if we don’t put in the road works in the sugar area, the cane farmers will be protesting in Belmopan. If we don’t do the farm roads in the west and in the south, the farmers will be protesting. If we don’t assist the tourism areas where the tourists come in, then you’ll have problems from the tourism sector. There is no way government cannot invest in infrastructure. So in my opinion, it is a major priority. What we do is not only what you see here, but it drives the economy of a country. Without proper infrastructure, you don’t have an economy that can generate income. So that is our responsibility and in Cabinet you lobby as hard as you can for and on behalf of the people of Belize.”
The Fort George Hotel and Spa is officially open for business. Formerly known as the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina, January thirty-first, 2024 marked the last day of the hotel’s ties to the Radisson franchise and as of February first, the title has been formally removed. But that is not the only change the hotel welcomed today, as it opened the doors to its newest wing which boasts an array of new rooms and amenities. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the hotel earlier today for a tour. Here’s the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
February first marks a day of new beginnings for the Fort George Hotel which has been under construction for over a year. It finally opened its door to the public today. We spoke with Resort Manager, Eddison Trapp to hear how things are going so far.
Eddison Trapp
Eddison Trapp, Resort Manager, Fort George Hotel and Spa
“Well, as you probably know, January thirty-first, we detached from the Radisson franchise and we decided to officially open up the Fort George Hotel and Spa, February first, to coincide with one, the demand that we have, and two, because we detached from the Radisson, we want to make it significant, and February first, given the occupancy rate that we’re having, we decided to make it official to be Fort George Hotel and Spa.”
Clarisse Ramirez, Sales and Marketing Executive also shared her excitement for the hotel’s rebrand.
Voice of: Clarisse Ramirez
Voice of: Clarisse Ramirez, Sales and Marketing Executive, Fort George Hotel and Spa
“So today marks a significant and exciting moment in the hospitality landscape of Belize City to celebrate the transformation of our well known Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina into being known as the Fort George Hotel and Spa. This transition marks the beginning of a new era of modern luxury and exceptional hospitality in our city.”
Even without an official launch of its newest wing, the Fort George Hotel and Spa opened to a full house today, filling over thirty new rooms.
Eddison Trapp
“Occupancy at this time is one hundred percent and it coincides with the colonial section as well as the new Fort George Hotel and Spa. On this side of the Fort George Hotel and Spa, we have thirty-three rooms with three penthouses. On the colonial section, we have thirty-three rooms as well, giving us a total of sixty-six rooms. If you would notice on the right side, outside the building, the club tower, we are doing major renovation to that particular section of the hotel and the aim is to fulfill that renovation by the end of this year, November of this year, to meet the demand.”
Some of the newest amenities include The Kin spa and sauna, where guests can receive facials, body wraps and massages; a gym in partnership with Burn Box; and a restaurant, bar and lounge called The Treehouse, which offers private dining spaces for social gatherings and events and a plunge pool just outside the back door. Despite the full house, we were able to visit a penthouse suit on the fifth floor, which included two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and dining area, as well as a private balcony with a view of the sea.
Clarisse Ramirez
“With the thirty-three newly built deluxe guest rooms and penthouses, the rooms were inspired by the hues of the Caribbean Sea that grace our shores and the interiors boast natural woods and a light color palette, creating an ambience of serenity and comfort.”
Trapp stated that the staff running the operations will remain the same.
Eddison Trapp
“We are always looking for qualified professionals and so currently our staff remains the same. Occasionally, we do get support from our sister company, the Alaia, in San Pedro and as well from our head office, but the local team pretty much takes care of the operation of the hotel.”
Ramirez stated that this new endeavor will be a positive addition for the hospitality industry moving forward.
Clarisse Ramirez
“This opening just marks the first step in the redevelopment of this historic hotel with more enhancements to be unveiled later this year and we will continue to expand which means a complete refurbishment of the original hotel with the addition of the hundred and ten rooms, which is destined to open in phases of next year.”
Earlier this month, at the start of our Belize on Reel feature on conservation efforts across the country, we looked at Crooked Tree and its importance as a Ramsar Site. The protected area is made up of over fourteen thousand acres of waterways, logwood swamps and lagoon. It also provides a habitat for over three hundred species of resident and migratory birds. Tonight, we look at a story put together by freelance journalist Jose Sanchez.
A home invasion on York Street here in Belize City has resulted in a pair of thieves making off with an undisclosed sum of money, as well as jewelry and a cell phone. Derone Locario told investigators on Friday night that he was at home when two armed men barged inside, held him up and ransacked the property.
“Derone Locario, forty years old Belizean of York Street reported that he was at home when two persons armed with firearms entered his house. They proceeded to hold him up and then they searched the house and stole an amount of cash, jewelry and a cell phone. The two male persons then fled from the area on bicycles. We are seeking two suspects in regards to this report.”
Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.
Two Belize City men stand accused of robbing a businessman of his firearm on Friday morning. Twenty-four-year-old Edward Saldano and twenty-one-year-old Elan White, a maintenance worker of Ladyville, were charged jointly for robbery after they allegedly held up Dennis Morey and stole a Smith and Wesson brand revolver from him. The duo appeared unrepresented in the lower courts earlier today where they pleaded not guilty to the charge. On January nineteenth, sixty-four-year-old Dennis Morey visited Precinct One where he reported to police that sometime after 8:30 that morning he was approached by a pair of men riding on separate bicycles. According to the villager from San Juan, one of the men placed a gun at his head while his accomplice proceeded to relieve him of the revolver. This afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero spoke on the incident.
“On Friday, January 19th, 2024, Dennis Morey reported that he was on Plues Street conducting business when he was approached by two male persons armed with firearms. The persons then proceeded to hold him up and they stole from him one .38 revolver and then made good their escape. Aa investigation was carried out and we have since arrested and charged Edward Saldano and Elan White for the crime of robbery.”
Britney Gordon
“Was that the only thing stolen from the [businessman]?”
Hilberto Romero
“That was the only item stolen.”
Saldano and White were denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April 22nd, 2024.
The trial of Attorney, Oscar Selgado was scheduled to resume today before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, but it never got a chance to proceed beyond where it was adjourned on December nineteenth. This morning, there was a sexual assault case involving a minor that spilled over from last week that was given priority. The Selgado trial was adjourned for this afternoon, but the other trial had not concluded. Hence, the Selgado trial was adjourned again until ten Tuesday morning. Selgado, as we’ve reported, is charged with abetment to commit murder against Marilyn Barnes. Barnes had reported Selgado to the General Legal Counsel for unethical behaviour. And then Geovanni Ramirez, who had sought Selgado’s assistance for a separate matter when he was charged with a gun offense, claimed that Selgado had tried to hire him to murder Barnes. The investigating officer in the matter, former Inspector of Police, Wilfredo Ferrufino, is expected to be called to testify when the trial resumes, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams. Williams had met with Ramirez upon Ramirez’ request to discuss the matter when he felt that his safety was at risk. Of note is that today, both the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lyn Vidal and Defense Attorney, Adolph Lucas Senior, agreed to have evidence that came out of a voir dire held late last year in the trial, be admitted in the substantive matter when it resumes on Tuesday.
Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.
The case of a former employee of the Belize Sports Council was today adjourned before High Court Judge, Nigel Pilgrim. During the virtual session this morning, attorney Darrell Bradley, argued over the classification of charges that were brought against the defendant, Ivan Ayuso. The question of whether theft or money laundering was the right charge brought against Ayuso, based on the use of the monies after being stolen, became an argument that will be decided upon at a later date. Both the defense and the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, have differing views on whether theft or money laundering ought to be the charge that Ayuso should be facing. Ayuso, a senior accounts clerk at the National Sports Council, is accused of theft of one point zero nine million dollars during the time that he was there in the years preceding 2016. The charges followed revelations brought out in an audit report of the Sport Council’s finances, a former attorney for Ayuso had said publicly following the charges that Ayuso was responsible for preparing checks, for which he was not authorized to sign. In January of 2021, Ayuso was granted bail in the sum of three hundred thousand dollars. Ayuso was ordered to return to court on January thirty-first, when a decision will be made on the charges for which he faces trial. Ivan Ayuso was also charged back in 2002 with arson in connection with the fire that destroyed the Paslow Building. He was acquitted of the charge.
A resident of Mahogany Heights is indebted to the court for four thousand, five hundred dollars after being charged for drug trafficking. Twenty-year-old Emmanuel Thompson pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply when he appeared unrepresented before the magistrate’s court earlier today. On Saturday, Thompson was caught red-handed in possession of two hundred and thirty four grams of cannabis following a pursuit by police officers. During the chase, he was seen disposing a bag containing two parcels of weed. In court this morning, Thompson was fined and given until August thirty-first to clear the debt or, in default, serve eighteen months at the Belize Central Prison.
Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.
Residents of Caribbean Shores have observed that although several of their streets have remained in disrepair for a prolonged period of time, construction has finally begun to remedy the situation. As the time for election draws nearer, questions of whether this can be classified as electioneering arise. Kareem Musa, area representative for the constituency denies the accusation. Here’s what he had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We have been fixing roads, but it’s never on the radar of the media. For example, we fixed a road in Buttonwood Bay last year, early last year, we fixed, and that was Manatee Drive we fixed, I think it is St. Luke Street again, in Caribbean Shores, and there were other roadworks that started over six months ago, it’s just that the funding for the roadworks, because they had been dug up on those streets on Dunn, Landivar, Guadalupe, and I’ve been advocating heavily for these streets to be repaired since six months ago for us to get the funding for that. And so it’s not electioneering. These are roads that have already been in the pipeline for quite some time now.”
Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.
With the ongoing elections in El Salvador, Belize has set up a polling station to accommodate Salvadorans living outside of their home country. With this in mind, the question was raised as to whether or not Belizeans living abroad will ever be afforded the same right. Here’s what Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca had to say on the matter.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“I think that was something the government of Salvador, obviously, they have legal authority to have Salvadorans who live outside of their country vote. That’s established by law in Salvador and So when that request came to Belize we were obliged to, to support and help them to carry that out. We have not reached that point in Belize. I think it’s a good issue for discussion whether we want Belizeans in the diaspora to participate in elections. I think now that we’re going through the process of reviewing the constitution, the PCC process, I think that’s an ideal opportunity for us to discuss an issue like this one. I think it’s definitely something worth worthy of debate, worthy of discussion. And at the end of the day, I think it’s something we can look at but we’re not there yet in the case of Salvador, they already have that as a part of their law. We are not at that point yet. So as I said, I think the PCC represents an opportunity for us to have that in discussion and perhaps coming out of this PCC process. That is something that Belize may want to do. But let’s see what comes out of the process.”
