Belize Times
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The Belize Times is a Belizean newspaper published once a week and the official organ of the People's United Party. It was established in 1956 and sells for BZ$1.00.
Its offices are located at the PUP's Belize City headquarters at 3 Queen Street, Belize City. As of August 2006, it has published over 4,500 issues, making it the longest continuously published newspaper in Belize since 1950.
Its motto is "The Truth Shall Make You Free", a shortened form of Bible verse John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (King James Version)
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[edit] Staff
- Editor: Andrew Steinhauer
- Office Manager: Marion Marsden
- Printing Personnel Supervisor: Doreth Bevans
- Desktop Publisher: Christopher Williams
- Typist: Rachael Arana
- Office Supervisor: Fay Castillo-McKay
- Printers: Mark Wagner, Glenn Williams
- Contributors (partial listing): Ray and Wendy Auxillou, Valentino Shal, Emory King, Grace Coleman, Gilroy Cadogan
[edit] Sections of Newspaper
- Headlines
- Top national news stories
- Editorials (official editorial, "Hard-Hitting" and "Outspoken" guest editorials)
- Seniors Column (compilation of columns from Emory King and "Aunt" Grace Coleman)
- The View from Europe (international news column by David Jessop)
- Feature articles and international news
- Classified ads
- Sports (including predictions of upcoming sports events by columnist Gilroy "Press" Cadogan)
- Cartoons (penned by artist George "Ras Head" Griffith)
[edit] Writing style and criticism
The Belize Times was established in 1956 after a split in the party lost it the support of the Belize Billboard, owned by Phillip Goldson.
The Belize Times is the official organ of the PUP and hence must be expected to have a pro-PUP agenda. Its feature articles contain information which promote the achievements of the PUP, and are generally critical of the opposing United Democratic Party, whether in or out of government. The Times has also gained a reputation for its support for the arts through its weekly reviews of many Belizean artists.
[edit] 2006 libel controversy
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This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
The Belize Times answered to a recent libel suit in the Supreme Court, filed by Attorney Lois Young Barrow and her former husband Opposition leader Dean Barrow over articles printed in the newspaper in October 2006. Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh has issued an injunction, which the Times plans to appeal.
On November 9, 2006, Chief Justice Conteh lifted the injunction and set the case for January 2007.
In February 2007, Conteh ruled against the Times and set damages at BZ$40,000, the third highest award (including lawyer fees and costs) in legal history.BelizeNews The Times will consider an appeal, and in its Friday issue continued to proclaim its innocence and accuse other media houses of unfair treatment of PUP public figures, which it says approaches libel.The Times' reaction
