Since the global recession, governments big and small have been trying to find ways to plug budget holes. In some countries they are taxing things like cigarettes, alcohol, chocolates, perfume and other luxury commodities.  In one country they are even taxing horses that are used for pleasure rides. The new ...

When the Prime Minister shamelessly told the Nation that we were in a recession, long after everyone knew this, he delivered the first blow. When he said that this year would be even tougher he delivered his second blow.  On Monday when he presents his budget to the nation it ...

“THIS IS AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION.” Harold Crooks The Crooks Report The prevalence of violent crime and criminal behavior in Belizean cities and towns continue to plague the Barrow administration. The daily reports of shootings, murders and robberies have dominated the evening news and are negatively impacting the ...

Like the rest of the world Belizeans watched in horror as the death toll continued to rise in Haiti after the devastating earthquake.  For those who were riveted to their television sets watching it all on MSNBC or on ...

Since the exchange in the House of Representatives between a former minister of education and the current minister, the issue of corporal punishment has taken center stage in the national discourse.  Strangely, the comments by former education minister the Hon. Cordel Hyde were not specifically about the merits and demerits ...

Friday Independence Hill will once again be the scene of protest.  It will not be the first protest against the Barrow Administration, but it will be the biggest so far. The largest group of protesters will be the teachers, who believe more time is needed to study the amendments to ...

"The hardest of the UDP term is the upcoming year, I need to ask the Belizean people for their understanding” Prime Minster Barrow When they were in opposition the UDP posted a sign on top of their headquarters that said “life haad out yah!” When the elections drew near that sign ...

It’s been 2 years with Dean Oliver Barrow as Prime Minister.  So how are he and his UDP government doing?   He came to power promising prosperity, good governance, respect for our environment and no more corruption.   He asked us to imagine the possibilities. Now let us look at the UDP’s ...

Minister Carlos Perdomo and Police Commissioner Jeffries have not started 2010 on a good footing.  Late last year, many Belizeans were shocked to hear Mr. Perdomo brag about lower crime rates. Whether those figures he quoted are real or imagined, Belizeans believe that 2009 was a violent year and that ...

In a month or so Prime Minister Barrow will rise in the House of Representatives and present to the nation his Government’s third budget, the Government’s General Revenue and Appropriations Bill for the Financial Year 2010-2011. It would be unwise for the Prime Minister to once again come before the nation ...