General

A newly formed party, Vision Inspired by the People (VIP), will be contesting the Belmopan City Council election next year.

We spoke to a member of VIP, Hubert Enriquez, who told us that VIP was inspired by people who want better for the residents of Belmopan.

The public debate over the new Goods and Services Tax (the GST) is expected to heat up after a bill for the new tax is read for the first time in the Sitting of the House of Representatives tomorrow.

The new tax, which was discussed in a special Cabinet meeting Tuesday, will replace the existing sales tax, which is levied at 9% on most goods and some services.

This morning in the Belize City Magistrate?s Court, the case of two Belize City minors and a man, who were charged with separate offences in connection with an assault report made against them on July 17, 2004, by a 14-year-old girl, came up in Court#1.

Clive Hyde, 37, of #6474 Hibiscus Street in the St. Martin de Porres area, along with two minors - an 11-year-old boy and his 14-year-old sister (both their ages at the time), were all supposed to appear before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord.

After consultations with members of the Cabinet and the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Said Musa, announces that effective today, November 3, 2005, the following changes have been made to the composition of the Cabinet.

Today, a 34-year-old man is on remand on a charge of rape. This is the second time he has been charged with rape of the same girl, a 16-year-old of Gardenia.

Aris Cacho of # 5600 Police Street, appeared in Belize City Magistrate?s Court #4, where he was charged on Monday, October 31,

The Government?s decision to cancel two controversial contracts with the Belize Companies Registry Limited (BCRL) and the Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) pre-empted a move that was reportedly afoot with the Senate to challenge the contracts.

Two Senators have confirmed to us that they were aware of the privatization plans as far back as 2003; however, they did not know the details of the contracts signed by former Attorney General, Hon. Godfrey Smith, which effectively gives away 80% of stamp duty revenues to the private parties.

Funeral services were held at Holy Redeemer Church yesterday afternoon for Reginald Albert Wagner, 65, a.k.a. ?Iyan,? the Creole word for ?iron,? who died on Saturday, October 22, at his home on Haynes Street.

Iyan died from complications caused by two attacks of stroke one month apart. His last attack, about a month ago, was heavy and it rendered him bedridden, a state in which he remained until his death.

Today, a 2-year-old girl is dead after succumbing to severe injuries suffered from a traffic accident that occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, between Miles 62 and 63 on the Western Highway, near Central Farm.

One of the drivers of the two vehicles that were involved, Dennis Murray, 46, reported to police that he was driving his bus, which carried Boca Football Club players from a game in San Ignacio, back to Dangriga.

A jury of nine persons, eight females and one male, took 2 hours and 37 minutes this evening to return a not guilty verdict in the case of former Excelsior High School teacher, Norman ?Rudge? Rodriguez, 34, who had been charged in June of 2004 with three counts of unlawful carnal knowledge. It was alleged that Rodriguez had sex with a 14-year-old first form student on three occasions.

After hearing the verdict, Rodriguez smiled and stood in the dock for a while until Judge Adolph Lucas told him he was free to go.