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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

OPM Clarifies that the Unions Requested Meeting with the Prime Minister
The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to clarify that the Honorable Prime Minister did not request a meeting with the Union leaders as was stated by George Fraser, Senior Advisor to the BNTU, at the BNTU rally last Friday and carried by Channel 7 News. Fraser is quoted by Channel 7 as saying, "Just a while ago, not even half hour ago we got a phone call, the Prime Minister wants to meet with us." The facts are that in a letter dated January 8, 2014 the Unions' Negotiating Team wrote the Prime Minister asking for a meeting to discuss three areas of concern. After receiving assurance that the meeting was to be with the Union leaders only, and not the full Negotiating Team, the Prime Minister agreed to the meeting on the day suggested by the Unions which is January 30th, 2014.

Blues Dogs Blues Band sing for Holy Cross
What's better than delicious food and cold drinks on the beach with live music by the Blues Dogs? Enjoying all that and knowing it's for a good cause! On Sunday, January 26th, Estel's Dine by the Sea hosted the Colorado, USA band for the second time as they teamed up with local musicians to deliver great music and a lively fundraiser. In addition to Estel's lucky diners , several members of the Holy Cross staff and music fans came out to hear a bit of the blues while contributing to the worthy cause. The concert was a hit, as the total proceeds raised from the event earned $2,817.85.

BEL Launches 2014 Golden Citizen Electricity Bill Pay Program
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) today presented awards to recipients of its 2014 Golden Citizens Electricity Bill Pay Award during a ceremony held this morning at the Company's Corporate Headquarters in Belize City. The 20 Golden Citizens awarded today represent only a portion of the approximately 160 randomly selected senior citizens countrywide, whose monthly electricity bill will be paid by BEL for an entire year. BEL's Golden Citizens Bill Pay Program is one of several initiatives through which the Company fulfills its new Mission "to provide reliable electricity at the lowest sustainable cost, stimulate national development and improve the quality of life in Belize." The remaining 140 awardees from across the country will be visited and presented with certificates at their homes during the next week.

PM Barrow cleans house following string of scandals
At its meeting today, Cabinet discussed thoroughly the highly publicized matter of cheques issued by the Belize Airports Authority (BAA) to politically assist Minister Hon. Edmond Castro.Cabinet was much assisted in its discussion by an informal report submitted to it by the BAA. Cabinet learned that only three cheques were issued in the personal name of Minister Castro. One of those was for per diem in the course of the Minister's official travel on BAA business, another was for assistance in burying the Minister's mother, and the third was to pay for assistance with sports in Belize Rural North. Cabinet was also informed that the other cheques not in Castro's name, but issued to help the Minister in his constituency, did not amount to even a quarter of the seventy alleged by the Opposition. After due consideration, including hearing from Minister Castro himself, Cabinet was of the view that while there was nothing illegal in the actions of either the BAA or the Minister, there was poor judgment leading to a perception of abuse of authority on both sides. In light of this, the Prime Minister took the following decisions:

Ambergris Today

UB Continues To Train Leaders To Transform Belize's National Development
A total of 481 graduates received diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels at the University Of Belize Eighteenth Commencement Exercises on Saturday, January 25, 2014, at the University's Central Campus, Belmopan. Of the total number of graduates 307 were females and 174 males representing 63.8 and 36.2 per cent respectively. The Award of Academic Excellence in all Bachelor Degree Programs was presented to Nelson Joevanie Amaya, who scored a 3.96 GPA with a Bachelors of Science in Spanish Education.

Misc Belizean Sources

Save Ms. Elena
Help us save her life!!! Keep informed on how you can help! Ms. Elena Chee is a single mother of three. Kristy, Karissa and Kyrone need your help to save their mom. If you live on the Island of San Pedro, chances are you have seen or know Ms. Elena. She worked for 14 years at the Jade Garden before dedicating 9 long years to serving us all at Elvi's Kitchen. Help us keep her alive!!! To donate blood please see Nurse Madril at the blood bank next to the KHMH. You may deposit to Belize Bank Acc # 670-01-1-014387 or donate at Belize Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Center in Belize City. Elvi's staff is holding a fundraiser (radioton) and selling food tomorrow. The Elvi's Kitchen Staff is raffling a stove at $10 per ticket! The winner will be chosen on the San Pedro Morning show on January 31st! PLEASE HELP!

FISHING REPORT: Week of January 19th - 25th, 2014
Only a few boats went out in the beginning of the week as the wedding party departed leaving an empty lodge behind for a few days. Our Orvis Group arrived on Thursday with 10 anglers ready to learn the art and science of bonefishing. A half day seminar followed by 3 -1/2 days fishing overlapping into next week is off to a great start. Thanks to Orvis' Vincent C. for his help and efforts making the seminar a blast.

National Protected Areas Presentation
Please take note of the invitation to a presentation for the National Protected Areas System this Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014 at the Sun Breeze Conference Room. Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development

The Cartel-Like Nature of Belize's Political Ruling Class. A Deformed Democracy to a Kleptocracy
by: Hubert Pipersburgh Both Political parties in Belize have developed over the decades since independence a flawless blueprint to ensure the relative success of the individual party. They have both colluded to perfect a clientele spoils system of machine politics that will ensure that the nepotism, cronyism, and subjugation to a deformed system continues unabated. Both parties nibble around the periphery with a few cosmetic adaptations and amendments here are there, which only sort to guarantee the continuation of the status quo and their priveledge place in it. This system of patronage and handouts inherited from our colonial masters reinforced under self-government, is now an institutionalize pattern of dependency and limited participation in the affairs of the state by its people. The model fostered is a form of democracy without the genuine participation of the people. However, it is now effectively a kleptocracy, a form of government in which no outside oversight is possible. An all powerful prime minister that enjoys demigod status, control both the supply of public funds and the means of determining their disbursal.

VACANCY: ACCOUNTS CLERK San Pedro Town Council
Candidates are invited to submit their resume for consideration

A Story of Resistance in Belize
The exhibition entitled 'A Story of Resistance in Belize' is back at the SISE House of Culture. It opened this week. If you missed it last time, you have around a month to see it this time.

UB Graduation - January 2014
The University of Belize had their 18th Commencement exercise over the weekend, and they got a plethora of great pictures. Ms. Kay Menzies gave the keynote address, and it's worth a read. Congratulations, UB students, and best of luck in the world! "A total of 481 graduates received diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels at the University of Belize Eighteenth Commencement Exercises on January 25, at the University's Central Campus, Belmopan. Of the total number of graduates 307 were females and 174 males representing 63.8 and 36.2 per cent respectively. The Award of Academic Excellence in all Bachelor Degree Programs was presented to Nelson Joevanie Amaya, who scored a 3.96 GPA with a Bachelors of Science in Spanish Education."

Wingstop Comes to Burns Avenue
Cayo has a Wing Stop now. It's on Burns avenue, across from Flayva's, and has been open around a week and a half. They have some great wings and burgers, and are the new downtown hot spot on weekends. It's great to see good businesses opening downtown. "Cayo has a Wingstop Restaurant and Bar now. They have great wings at a good price, and their bar is well stocked, with bartenders that know what they're doing. It's a popular spot on weekends now that the vibe on Burns has changed for the better."

Cruise on the BAY
The Belmopan Active Youths are having their 'Cruise on the BAY' fundraiser on Valentine's weekend. They'll have Panerrifix and DJ Karizma there for entertainment. The boat leaves at 6:00pm from Old Belize. Call 602-4812 for more information. "Cruise on the BAY! Support the Belmopan Active Youths Fundraiser!"

Belize People's Front and VIP on the Hubert Pipersburgh Show
Featured guests are Nefretery Nancy Marin of the Belize People's Front and Hubert Enriquez of the VIP.. The two leaders of these parties will share with us their vision for Belize's future.

23 Reasons Why I Love San Pedro, Belize
San Pedro definitely wasn't love at first sight. I despised the garbage along the beach, the seemingly looking "run-down" town, and the millions of no-see-ums/mosquitoes (the reason why I was so itchy all god-damn week). But after my week or so there, I finally realized why Madonna dubbed this island "La Isla Bonita". Sure, the palms and beautiful blue skies were easy on the eyes, but the island called to me in a deeper way than any other, say like Maui or St. Lucia. It was just different. Tons of character in every direction. The longer I stayed there the more I felt I was connecting with the island. I had met so many people coming back year after year, bringing their families and small kids. It finally made sense. And when I sat down and actually thought about my newfound love with this tiny blip of land in the ocean, I discovered what my life is truly missing- the stress-free island life atmosphere.

Channel 7

Cabinet Thunderclap!: BAA Board Fired, Castro Stripped, Penner Stripped
For weeks the pressure has been mounting on the Belize Airport Authority and Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Edmund Castro. And today, that pressure finally reached Cabinet- which has acted decisively to close the stable door, even if it's long after the horses have bolted. First off, the entire Belize Airports Authority Board chaired by Barbara Miller is being required to resign. Second, the portfolio for the Department of Civil Aviation, which has responsibility for Airports, is being removed from the Ministry of Transport and is being put under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, with Manuel Juniour Heredia. This is the equivalent of stripping Castro of the ministry. This was confirmed in a rare Cabinet Release that came out an hour ago. Holding the official line of wrongdoing but not corruption, it says, quote, "After due consideration, including hearing from Minister Castro himself, Cabinet was of the view that while there was nothing illegal in the actions of either the BAA or the Minister, there was poor judgment leading to a perception of abuse of authority on both sides." End quote.

Incarcerated Lawman's Family Distraught, Destroyed
Last night, 7News told you about the dramatic, unexpected outcome in the case of Corporal Gino Peck who was convicted of firearm offenses in the Magistrate's Court. He remains at the Belize Central Prison tonight, while awaiting sentencing. He will learn on Friday how much years he's going to get. While Peck endures that agony of grim foreboding, he has a wife and 5 children, 4 of which depend on him as the breadwinner. Their lives have been thrown into ruin by the guilty verdict - a verdict they never could have expected would befall a career lawman. His family invited 7News into their Belize City home today, and they spoke with Daniel Ortiz about the case and about who Peck really is:

Pickwoad's Win Interim Victory
A week ago, 7News told you about the Supreme Court case that aspiring politician Beverly Castillo was caught up in. She was accused of orchestrating a land grab on Chetumal Street just before she left office of CEO of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Bernadette Pickwoad, a Belizean American, claims that Castillo used her influence to have her lease cancelled and then then transferred to Castillo's son and mother, Mervin Castillo and Maud Williams. Beverly Castillo continues to fervently deny the allegation, and the Commissioner of Lands has spoken to 7News explaining that the lease was lawfully revoked because Pickwoad violated the terms. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, attorney for Bernadette Pickwoad, got an injunction to stop Castillo, her son, and her mother from making any further developments on the land to try to strengthen their claim to it.

Football Fight Continues Off-Field
Last night we showed you the tumultuous finish of the Premier League Playoff game in Benque Viejo at the Marshalleck Stadium. Tonight, the after effects are just coming on. We have learned that Verdes is protesting the outcome of the game. And that's because #32 for FC Belize Michael Hernandez was allegedly registered in two leagues, which is not permitted. 7News has learned that he played in the Mayor's Cup in July, which was not an FFB sanctioned event, but Verdes argues that still he was not eligible to play on Sunday night. As we showed you he came on as a late substitute and scored the winning goal.

Eric Chang Goes Back To Taiwan; Mayor Not Amused
Eric Chang, we've not reported on him since December of last year, 7 weeks ago, when we made yet another failed interview request of him. Well, the mayor confirmed today that he intends to leave the country once again, to return to Taiwan. Chang has a vested interest in that country because that's where his family lives, but because he was in Taiwan when Citizen Kim's bogus passport was delivered, the strong suspicion is that he was the one who brokered the deal. Chang has refused or ignored all interview requests for him to answer to the allegations, even at the urging of his boss, Mayor Darrell Bradley, who has repeatedly encouraged him to make a public statement.

PM Puts Fraser "To Right"
If you watched the news on Friday - you'll recall the angry, bitter and just downright mean words that BNTU senior advisor George Fraser had for education minister Patrick Faber. And if you missed it, the Prime Minister didn't. He certainly listened to this line:.. George Fraser, BNTU Senior Advisor "Just a while ago, not even half hour ago we got a phone call, the Prime Minister wants to meet with us. I don't know about what, but when the heat di come on and they deh under fire, let him meet with Patrick and tell him to behave himself, little boy." So, from that you'd conclude that the PM hurriedly called for a meeting because, in Fraser's words, he was "feeling the heat." Well, yesterday the Office of the Prime Minister sent out a release to make it clear that it's no such thing.

FCD: Caracol Incursion Is Serious
On Friday night's new we also spoke to Rafael Manzanero about the felling of trees right near to the Caracol road. It's a most disturbing incursion because that is the heart of the archaeological park - and the trees were some of the largest in the area - mostly because prior to this no Guatemalan poacher would have dared go so close to a clear sign of Belize's civil authority. But two weeks ago, they did. The spot is only four miles from the Guatemala border in northern Chiquibul and tonight Rafael Manzanero discusses the seriousness of this incursion in greater detail. Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director - FCD "We are looking at over a dozen of trees that were cut in a period of less than 3 weeks. The most aspect of the concern is because it is very close. In fact the trees that were cut less that 2 weeks ago they actually were dropped right over the highway; over the road. We are actually talking about no more than 1.5 miles from the Caracol center."

BAA Board Takes Down Kenworth, Before Getting Taken Out
Today in cabinet, it was like thunder struck. The entire board of the Belize airports Authority was required to resign immediately. This in the wake of revelations that cheques had been issued to its Minister Of State Edmund Castro and his various political interests. But, there's more. During the course of this newscast we've confirmed that in its last act, the Board reportedly fired Airports Authority General Manager Kenworth Tillett. We have been reliably informed of this though there are varying reports. Of course, the board did not know that would be its last act when it moved to fire Tillett this morning. And yesterday board member Lindsey Garbutt - unaware of that fate that awaited him today - came forward to bite the bullet, take the heat for the Board's dubious decisions. First off, he explained those Castro Cheques... Jules Vasquez "How did you feel when the Prime Minister said that if he were member of the board when these wrong and distasteful checks were being issued, how did that make you feel?"

Will NCL EIA Have to Go Back To The Drawing Board?
The National Environmental Appraisal Committee was supposed to meet tomorrow to discuss the NCL Project for Harvest Caye, but there are reliable reports reaching 7News tonight that it this meeting has been postponed until a later date. That's because the public concerns raised at the EIA public consultation meeting on last week Wednesday in Independence have highlighted many environmental concerns that the developer has not properly dealt with in their EIA. Yesterday, an organization called Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development sent out a release criticizing the EIA for its inadequate details on the project's daily water usage, the effects of dredging needed, the destruction which will take place on Harvest Caye, the effects of the operation of the cruise ships, and its socio-economic impacts.

BEL Gives Senior Citizens
One hundred and sixty senior citizens from across the country have been awarded one year of free electricity courtesy the Belize Electricity Limited. It is a part of BEL's Golden Citizens Bill Pay Program which was launched in 2012. An award ceremony was held this morning for 20 of the persons selected from Belize City. Monica Bodden reporting This morning the Belize Electricity Limited presented 20 Golden Citizens from Belize City with awards for payment of one full year's worth of electricity. Hector Vallejo - Customer Care Rep. "We are here this morning to present 20 golden citizens from Belize City with award for payment of one year full worth of electricity courtesy of BEL. These citizens are here only representing a fraction of the 160 golden citizens across the country who are being randomly selected to receive this special gift. BEL's golden citizen bill pay program is one of several initiatives through which the company fulfills its new mission to provide reliable electricity at the lowest sustainable cost to stimulate national development and improve the quality of life in Belize. We are also proud to introduce this program publicly as one that has evolved like many others out of our employees to reach out in meaningful ways to make a difference in others in the community we serve."

How to Get a Taiwanese Scholarship
The Taiwanese Embassy is once again accepting applications for its scholarship program for Belizean students to go study in that country. Today, the Embassy hosted their annual scholarship briefing, and 7News attended. Here's what the Taiwanese Ambassador told us about how you can get into the programme: H.E. David Wu, Taiwan Ambassador to Belize "Today is the briefing for the year 2014 scholarships awarded by Taiwan. There are 2 kinds of scholarships; one is called ICDF, that's stands for International Cooperation and Development Fund and this program will be taught in English and it will be divided into post-graduate and under-graduate. Last year we had 21 students who were awarded this ICDF scholarship. The other one is called the Taiwan Scholarship. This scholarship is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan and this program is study is Mandarin Chinese. For those who speak English when they go to study in Taiwan for this scholarship, they need to learn one extra year of Mandarin in the language center."

Channel 5

G.O.B. takes action on the Castro Cheques Scandal: the Belize Airport Authority Board to resign
Late this evening, Cabinet issued a release in response to an ongoing check scandal involving U.D.P. Minister of State Edmond Castro and the Belize Airports Authority. Castro came under fire [...]

Penner stripped of government vehicle, while Marilyn Williams to chair Integrity Commission
Also included in the lengthy Cabinet release is word that disgraced former Minister of State Elvin Penner will be stripped of his government vehicle. He has had it, and enjoyed [...]

Chief Justice issues decision on Pickwoad land dispute; injunction stands
Since December, a prime parcel of land located on Chetumal Street has been the center of intense legal dispute. In a nutshell, the piece of land in Belama Phase One [...]

PM says he's not fazed by teachers who asked for a meeting on Thursday despite a scheduled rally
Teachers held their largest rally to date in San Ignacio last Friday, and it was also the most focused, on the Prime Minister and his Minister of Education Patrick Faber. [...]

Show me the money; PM says salary adjustments for teachers uncertain
The Prime Minister wasn't quite finished there. He then turned to the issue of the salary adjustment, because he maintains that for teachers, it's really all about the money despite [...]

Was the issuance of BAA cheques to Minister Castro corrupt or distasteful?
Tonight's question is: Do you think the issuance of cheques by the BAA on behalf of Minister of State Castro is corrupt or distasteful? Send your comments and responses using [...]

Mayor Bradley says he's still unsure of Councilor Chang's role in immigration scandal
Councilor Eric Chang has been in the hot seat in respect of the immigration scandal. Chang allegedly had a role in the passport issued to Won Hong Kim, the South [...]

Belize City Mayor says Castro cheques scandal is distasteful
Cabinet has issued its official proclamation on the Castro check situation, basically exonerating the U.D.P. Minister of State from all-wrongdoing, but asking the BAA Board to resign. But today, Belize [...]

Darrell Bradley still has his sights on Central Government
And from City Hall to Central Government, where Bradley has set his sights�the young politician has stated that he will throw his hat into the ring for higher office. He [...]

National Elite Basketball League Tournament to be aired live on Channel 5
After years in hiatus, senior male basketball is back. A national elite tournament kicks off on February seventh with the first game to be played in the city. There are [...]

2 men freed of murder charge
Tonight, two men who were on trial for the gruesome murder of Rudolfo Villatoro were freed of the charge. After deliberating for hours, a jury of twelve on Monday afternoon [...]

Taiwanese Embassy holds scholarship applications briefing
Scholarships for Taiwan generally attract scores of applicants; aside from earning a degree it provides students with the chance of learning Mandarin. This year, high school and sixth form students [...]

UB's 18th Commencement Exercise; 481 graduate
The University of Belize came under scrutiny last year because its president, Doctor Cary Fraser, resigned effective the end of the academic year 2014, but then took leave. There has [...]

156 golden citizens receive the Electricity Bill Pay Award
The Golden Citizens Electricity Bill Pay Award - it's an initiative put in place by B.E.L. in 2011 to benefit golden citizens all over the country. It all started with [...]

A huge scoop of ice cream from The Ice Cream Shoppe
Scoops ice cream was once an all time favorite where family and friends went for a special treat. Well that simply delicious and decadent ice cream is back at its [...]

LOVE FM

Belizean Students Briefed on Requirements of Taiwan Scholarships
Several high school and university graduates gathered at the Chateau Caribbean earlier today to be briefed on the details of an estimated 25 scholarships that will be awarded through the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Ambassador to Belize, David Wu told Love News that the gesture from his country to ours is a sign of goodwill that seeks to strengthen our already good diplomatic relations. He explained that the scholarships fall under two categories for the scholars. DAVID WU "To apply for the scholarship to study in Taiwan has become a big event for many graduates either from the high school or university. Last year we awarded twenty six Belizean applicants and they are now studying in Taiwan; half for undergraduate and half for post graduate. Again, I believe that there will be between twenty three to twenty five full scholarships that will be awarded. There are two kinds of scholarship; the ICDF scholarship is taught in English and the Taiwan Scholarship is taught in Mandarin Chinese. For those who want to take the Mandarin program will have to study an extra year to learn Mandarin first and they will go to the language centre where they have good tutors who teach Mandarin.

Belize City Mayor Weighs in on Issue of Airport Funds
Mayor Bradley also weighed in on Belize Rural North Area Representative, Edmund Castro's latest scandal. Castro is accused of inappropriately using the funds of the Belize Airport Authority for personal and political use. While Prime Minister Dean Barrow has stated that it is distasteful but not corruption, Mayor Bradley says that the allegations against Castro are affecting the United Democratic Party. DARRELL BRADLEY "I haven't followed that situation very closely but I have made this statement very clearly; no Government can perform effectively unless there are principles of good administration, unless the people at the very top adhere to the highest levels of ethical conduct. It is something that is distasteful; it is something that causes a scourge on the administration and on the UDP on a whole. I am a UDP and I want to know that every single member of my party is doing things on behalf of members of the public and we don't really get side tracked by these allegations; we are doing a lot of work in the City, the Central Government is doing a significant amount of work both in the city and countrywide and I think that these things just detract from the good work of the Government and it is very unfortunate and it is very distasteful."

Mayor Bradley Still Hopes Councilor Chang Would Clear His Name
When Belize City Councilor Eric Chang returned to the country after being accused of having part in facilitating Kim Wong Hong a visa, Love News attempted to obtain a comment from Chang on numerous occasion. We did so to give Chang an opportunity to clear his name but he refused. We spoke to Chang last month but he told us that he would rather not comment and let the allegations fade away. He did, however; sent a correspondent to Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley in which he explained that his extended stay in Taiwan was as a result if his ailing grandfather. Well the news tonight is that Chang, who was demoted from Deputy Mayor with several responsibilities to a councillor with no responsibility, is out of the country, allegedly to Taiwan. Mayor Bradley spoke about it. DARRELL BRADLEY "He didn't get permission to leave; the situation is that since he had returned on the last occasion, we have tried to reintegrate him back into the City Council and it is my responsibility to ensure that he is performing his duties and that he is acting in accordance with his oath of office as a City Councillor and we have been working with him to integrate him back but at the present time, we understand that he is not in the country."

Corozal Woman Caught Stealing Wipes and Deodorant in Chetumal
Corozal resident Marisol Cortez was caught stealing from a store in neighboring Chetumal, Mexico. Cortez is being accused of attempting to steal 24 deodorants and a box of wipes. A Mexican newspaper reports that theft has been the most recorded crime in Chetumal and several Belizeans have been the culprits. Reports are that Mexican police were called after the store's employees had Cortez detained. The Manager Francisco Bojorquez handed Cortez to authorities and was taken to the Public Prosecutor of the Common Jurisdiction where she was charged for theft.

Cabinet Strips Penner of Government Vehicle; Directors of Airport Authority Asked to Resign
Cabinet met today and quite a bit of news came out of today's session. The matter of Edmund Castro receiving cheques from the Belize Airports Authority was discussed. After hearing from Castro Cabinet was of the view that while there was nothing illegal in the actions of either the BAA or the Minister, there was poor judgment leading to a perception of abuse of authority on both sides. In light of this the portfolio of Civil Aviation, which includes the Belize Airports Authority and over which Castro exercised day to day jurisdiction, will be removed from the Ministry of Transport and placed with the Ministry of Tourism, the Solicitor General and the Financial Secretary will meet with all Statutory Bodies to review operational protocols and advise on proper administration and the current Directors of the BAA will be asked to resign. Ex-Minister Elvin Penner is asked to turn in the Government vehicle he has and will also lose the chairmanship of that House Committee on Public Utilities, Transport and Communications. The Prime Minister, as Minister of Finance, has instructed the Financial Secretary to require every Area Representative account for the $2,300 monthly allocation provided for constituency office rental and secretarial services. Following the consultations between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, the new Integrity Commission to be chaired by ex-FIU Director Marilyn Williams, has been agreed and will be formally constituted at next month's sitting of the Senate.

Murder Case of Son of Belmopan’s Mayor Goes to Trial
The trial for the man accused of killing Aubrey Lopez began today in the Supreme Court of Justice Adolph Lucas. Lead prosecutor, Kaysha Grant called her first witness. The allegations being made by the crown is that on May 12, 2010, Paul Jex was one of many persons who was inside the vehicle of Aubrey Lopez when he was murdered. He is believed to have been the trigger man who shot him and threw him out of his own vehicle, leaving him to die on Prince Street. According to Grant, Lopez left his girlfriend's home driving in her blue Maxima car and headed to E. P. Yorke High School to socialize with friends. After socializing, Lopez left the compound at around 11:00 p.m., but after he left E P Yorke, he met up with the accused, Paul Jex and others who boarded his car and upon reaching Prince Street, Lopez was shot in the head and his body shoved out of the vehicle. Later that same night, two officers on patrol in the city, saw Lopez's blue Maxima car and the police set chase from Central American Boulevard and caught up with it on West Collect Canal and Jex was found inside. A jury of seven men and five women were selected this morning to hear the case. Prosecutor Grant is being assisted in this trial by two other newly appointed crown council of the DPP's office, they are Shanice Lovelle and Porshia Staine. Paul Jex is represented in the murder trial by Attorney, Tricia Pitts-Anderson.

A Tale of An 83-Year-Old Woman Propels Benefits for Senior Citizens
Today the Belize Electricity Limited, BEL, extended its social assistance to the public to 20 of the country's senior citizens. Overall, some 160 senior residents countrywide benefit from its Golden Citizen Program. The company's Customer Care Representative, Hector Villaje, explains how the program works. Hector Villaje "BEL's Golden Citizen program is one of several initiatives through which the company fulfills its new mission, to provide reliable electricity at the lowest sustainable cost, stimulate national development and improve the quality of life in Belize. We are also proud to introduce this program publicly as one that has evolved like many others out of the passion of our employees to reach out in meaningful ways to make a difference for others in the community that we serve. BEL employees who interact with customers on a daily basis have come to see the various circumstances being faced by some of our golden citizens when trying to meet or make payment of their electricity bill. An inspiring incident that occurred in our Customer Care Department in 2011 was the catalyst for this program. In 2011, an eighty three year old woman visited our office to pay her account as her electricity had been disconnected for nonpayment and not having paid her bill for some time.

University of Belize Graduates 481
A total of 481 graduates received diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels at the University of Belize Eighteenth Commencement Exercises on January 25, at the University's Central Campus, Belmopan. The Award of Academic Excellence in all Bachelor Degree Programs was presented to Nelson Joevanie Amaya, who scored a 3.96 GPA with a Bachelors of Science in Spanish Education. The Award of Academic Excellence in all Associates Degree Program was presented to Brianni Grace Hyde who achieved the highest overall GPA score of 3.83 in Biology. And, the Award of Academic Excellence in a Certificate/Diploma Program was presented to Trisha Monique Hulse-Silva scoring the highest overall for Certificate/ Diploma with a GPA of 3.95 graduating with a Diploma in Education Methodology. The awards were presented by Chairman of the UB Board of Trustees Harrison Pilgrim. Guest Speaker, President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kay Menzies in her Keynote Address outlined ten ingredients of success, and also made reference of the clarion call embedded in the mission and vision of UB for its graduates to contribute to the development of Belize. The Acting President of the University of Belize, Dr Wilma Wright, congratulated the graduates for their dedication, commitment and achievement. Since its inception on 1st August 2000, there has been close to 7,000 graduates from the University of Belize.