The parking meters that the Belize City Council introduced during their last term of office was met with reservation by many motorists. There was objection by families who visited the B.T.L. Park and refused to pay the parking fee. Now the Belize City Council wants to expand the project to other areas in the city. On Monday, Mayor Bernard Wagner explained what their intentions are with the parking meters.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“The parking meters are here to stay. They will not go anywhere. The parking meters, actually we want to see how we can expand those parking meters. We are currently in negotiation with the principal owners of both of these two vendors because we want to really buy them out and to see how the city can really take charge. We have the in house capabilities to really manage it in a more efficient manner and so we are having those discussions.”
Belize is hosting a delegation from Brazil with the aim to exchange knowledge on how to eradicate child labor. The delegation will be in the country for four days.
On Monday, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government issued a press release announcing the “commencement of a historic in-person knowledge exchange mission with representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Social Development, and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency.”
This initiative began on June 24, and is facilitated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Brazil and the Regional Initiative Technical Secretariat.
According to the government, this partnership will involve local authorities, labour representatives, and civil society stakeholders, and aims to eliminate child labour through collaborative workshops and advocacy sessions. Activities that the Ministry says will, “support Belize in developing robust, evidence-based programmes and improving the enforcement of child labour laws”
As the latest signatory to the Regional Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour, Belize demonstrates proactive efforts in addressing child labour issues in Belize.
This partnership will streamline the knowledge between the two countries, contributing to better integration with social protection and social security programmes, “This approach seeks to enhance the support and economic resilience of children and their families, thereby preventing engagement in child labour,” the Ministry says.
Belize is set to host the first annual World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards Gala Ceremony on Friday, September 27, 2024. The privilege is seen as a recognition of Belize’s leadership in encouraging conscientious and sustainable initiatives in tourism.
News Five was present at the launching of the award last year in Dubai, UAE. According to the official announcement made by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), this global event is scheduled to happen this year on the same day as World Tourism Day, September 27.
Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, said, “These new awards from the World Travel Awards will shine a light on the biggest players in sustainability from across the globe…Responsible tourism is central to everything we do in Belize. From leading the way for the conservation of Jaguars in Central America with the Maya Forest Corridor, to the development of community-based tourism clusters that promote the preservation of our Indigenous Communities and our work rolling out our Sustainable Tourism Certification Program for Protected Areas and tourism-based businesses in the next couple of years, Belize is committed to sustainable tourism development.”.
Nicole Solano, C.E.O. of the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, told News Five, “This is the first of its kind under the World Travel Awards banner… We will be welcoming the winners in the categories for this big event in September.”
In addition to hosting, Belize has lined up nominations in various categories. “Belize companies have submitted as well, but remember they are competing with all of these global companies,” Solano said.
In addition, Belize has been nominated for World’s Leading Sustainable Destination 2024. Various Belize companies have been nominated under the following categories: World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative 2024, Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project 2024, Leading Sustainable Marine Conservation Initiative 2024, Leading Sustainable Community Engagement Programme 2024.
The voting period is open and will end on August 2 of this year.
KTV The Remix is back! It’s bigger, better! It’s season six. We’ve already held the auditions, and wow, Belize! You showed up and showed out! Out of the thirty-three fantastic singers who auditioned, our superstar judges have picked the top twelve. And these aren’t just any judges. We’re talking about the legendary Jenny Lovell, the charismatic Andazi, and the brilliant producer Viannie Reyes. They know talent when they see it, and they’ve chosen the crème de la crème to compete for the ultimate prize.
This year, we had a lot of participants from other districts. Reyes said, “This year we experienced a lot of out district…all the way from PG, all the way from San Pedro. We have three from San Pedro. We have about three from Cayo, San Ignacio, to be specific. And we have two from the south.”
KTV The Remix Season Six Auditions (Contestants’ images in promotions do not imply selection for KTV The Remix Six.)
The audition taping airs tonight on Channel 5 at 8 p.m.
And getting the list down to twelve finalists was challenging. “It was really extremely difficult. We took about approximately three hours to really get to the bottom of who we think is best,” shared Reyes.
“They came with talent. So definitely this year will be, I can say, a little bit top, like topping last year’s talent.”
“So they will be getting a call tomorrow after the audition show; they will be getting that phone call tomorrow, telling them that they made it to this season. And the marketing begins for them. We do have Giselle O’Brien, and she’s assisting us with coaching for them.”
The Judges with the Mostest
Our judges are not just experts; they’re icons! Jenny Lovell brings her years of experience and sharp eye for talent. Andazi adds a touch of flair and fun, always keeping it real. And Viannie Reyes? Well, she’s the mastermind behind it all, ensuring that every performance is top-notch.
The Jenny Lovell and Andazi, KTV The Remix Season Six Judges
Our twelve finalists will take the stage, each performance more thrilling than the last. And guess what? Each week, we’ll have a surprise guest judge to spice things up even more. It’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions and excitement!
“Every week we’ll be having a guest judge, and we will be posting a week before guests the judge and giving the audience an opportunity to guess that judge. We’ll have one guest judge every single week. It’s a new guest judge, and the audience will be posting on social media who they think that guest judge is, and if they get it right, they get tickets to enter for free.”
The Journey to 10,000 Belize Dollars
These talented contestants are not just singing for fun. They’re battling it out for a whopping 10,000 Belize dollars! The competition is fierce, the stakes are high, and the talent is off the charts. Who will rise to the occasion and become the grand champion of KTV The Remix Six? You’ve got to watch to find out!
KTV The Remix Six is more than a show; it’s a celebration of Belizean talent, community, and pure entertainment. Whether you’re a die-hard music lover, a proud supporter of local talent, or just in need of some fantastic Tuesday night fun, this show is for you. Expect jaw-dropping performances, heartwarming moments, and a whole lot of fun.
KTV The Remix Season Six Auditions (Contestants’ images in promotions do not imply selection for KTV The Remix Six.)
Contestants will also know how to market themselves and earn votes from the audience and viewers. “Not just because you’re able to sing; that means you automatically feel like you’ve won that place. It’s text voting that gets you there. You do benefit if you try hard in a round at night. You come, and you bring your A game to that stage. There’s a possibility that you can walk away with an additional amount of votes if you become that top singer for the night. And that is calculated by the judgesscore that they give you for the night.”
Showtime Every Tuesday!
Set your reminders, folks! Every Tuesday night at 8 p.m., live from the Bliss Centre for Performing Arts in Belize City. This is one musical journey you don’t want to miss! Tickets can be purchased at Channel 5 on Coney Drive in Belize City.
We want to hear from you! Jump on social media and use #KTVTheRemixSix to share your thoughts, cheer on your favourites, and connect with other fans. Your excitement and support mean the world to our contestants, and they make the show even more special.
The NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, has issued a tropical weather outlook for the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico as of 2:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. A tropical wave currently located over the southeastern Caribbean Sea is generating disorganized showers and thunderstorms while moving quickly westward at approximately twenty-five miles per hour. Environmental conditions may become conducive to gradual development of the system once it reaches the western Caribbean Sea later this week, with potential for further development over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during the weekend. The chance of formation through the next forty-eight hours is low at 10 percent, and the chance of formation over the next seven days is also low at twenty percent.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to appear in a US court to finalise a plea deal that will see him released as a free man after a 14-year legal battle. Assange is expected to arrive in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory in the Pacific, on Wednesday. He recently departed from a British prison.
US officials had been pursuing Assange for charges related to the massive disclosure of secret files in 2010, which they argued endangered lives. Throughout his prolonged legal struggle, Assange spent the last five years imprisoned in the UK, resisting extradition to the US. He also faced separate rape and sexual assault charges in Sweden, which he denied, leading him to seek asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy for seven years. Swedish authorities eventually dropped the case in 2019 due to the passage of time, but UK authorities later arrested him for failing to surrender to the court for extradition.
In the US, Assange faced charges of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information following WikiLeaks’ 2010 revelations. These included a video of civilians being killed by a US military helicopter in Baghdad and thousands of confidential documents alleging unreported civilian deaths by US forces in Afghanistan. The disclosures garnered worldwide attention and scrutiny of US military actions.
The plea deal, to be formalized in the Northern Mariana Islands, will see Assange plead guilty to a single charge under the Espionage Act. In return, he will avoid US custody and receive credit for his time served in the UK. He is expected to return to Australia.
Today, the Belize flag was hoisted at the chancellery of the High Commission of Belize in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, marking the nascent of its operations. This reveille ceremony was overseen by H.E. Gale Miller Garnett, High Commissioner of Belize to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, accompanied by Captain Marion Hernandez, Second Lieutenant Ashley Lashawn Williams, and Lance Corporal Felecia Cal – Belize Defence Force soldiers undertaking studies in Guyana.
The Government of Belize continues to expand its diplomatic network by establishing diplomatic relations with countries and by opening diplomatic representations aimed at bringing development, prosperity, and assistance to its citizens abroad.
The establishment of this new diplomatic mission in Guyana is a concrete manifestation of Belize’s commitment to its bilateral relationship with Guyana, and its intention to bolster its presence in South America.
The High Commission of Belize in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is located at Lot 5 Lamaha Gardens, Corner Bel Air Avenue and Garnett Street, Georgetown, Guyana, and can be reached via email at hcbelize@mfa.gov.bz or telephone number: +592 503 1116.
