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Channel 5
A.S.R. agrees to come to the table to negotiate bagasse
The big news today is that the impasse between sugar-cane farmers and BSI/ASR has been breached, at least in principle and there is a deal in the making. Prime Minister [...]
Contracts for Sugar Roads should be signed no later than Friday
That's one major hurdle crossed, at least in principle. But there's still a rough and rugged road ahead - actually a lot of rough and rugged roads. Many of the [...]
PM confirms allocations and has no apology to offer
On Tuesday, P.U.P. leader Francis Fonseca rained gloom on Prime Minister Dean Barrow's Christmas Cheer Program. That program will see the allocation of ninety-thousand dollars to U.D.P. Area representatives, twenty-five [...]
VIP say Christmas Cheer is “wasteful government spree”
As we said, government will be spending two point two million dollars on its Christmas cheer program. The Leader of the Opposition, Francis Fonseca complained on Tuesday over the lack [...]
Coast Guard widens search for missing fishermen
The search for four missing anglers, who disappeared while returning from a fishing expedition on Saturday, has expanded to southern waters.� Despite the discovery of the lifeless body of their [...]
Deon McCauley scouted by Ael Kallonis Football Club
Super striker, Deon McCauley, left Belize today for Athens, Greece. McCauley has been scouted to play professionally for a top notch Greek football club. The football sensation, who has scored [...]
PM does not apologize for his decisions in Town Council Infrastructure Projects
On Tuesday, the government came under fire from the duly elected P.U.P. mayors of three municipalities - Orange Walk, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. The issue on the table is the [...]
WPC Pate recovering from chopping incident
On December sixth senior woman police constable Marilyn Pate accompanied personnel from the Human Development Department on a routine domestic abuse call to Trial Farm in the Orange Walk District. [...]
Man recovers from injuries obtained while being pursued by police
Thirty-two-year-old Wilmer Nunez, a Honduran laborer of Bella Vista Village in the Stann Creek District, is tonight recovering at the K.H.M.H. from injuries he received while being pursued by police.� [...]
Woman crushed between a vehicle and her house
There was a tragic accident in San Lazaro in the Orange Walk District on Tuesday, which claimed the life of fifty-four year old Magdalena Castellanos. Castellanos was at her home [...]
Collision on St. Thomas Street; no one is injured
Just after two today, there was a traffic accident in front of the Belize Boxing Federation Gym at the old Center for Employment Training building near the corner of Saint [...]
Zee Edgell hosted by the National Library Service in Belmopan
Well known Belizean author, Zee Edgell, has been in Belize for about two weeks during which she has been making her media rounds. This Thursday she will be appearing on [...]
Taiwanese Ambassador hands over portfolio projects to government
A redo of a handing over of projects took place today in Belmopan. The government of Taiwan through its Ambassador, David Wu, handed over a portfolio of projects to the [...]
Belize Bank holds annual Christmas Party for students from Stella Marris
At the ITVET today, there was reason to be merry. About one hundred and twenty-five students from Stella Maris School were celebrating with the Belize Bank and Belize Bank International, [...]
LOVE FM
PM Says EU’s Ban on Fish Products is Nothing to Worry About
On October we told you about the European Commission decision to band fish products from Belize and Spain has been the first country to have agreed to band all fish products from Belize. Today Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that it's nothing to worry about because the situation will be resolve soon.
RT. HON. DEAN BARROW
"Well that's not anything that I'd be too worried about but in any case, they are sending a mission down in January; by that time we will already have passed the regulations which I will sign anytime now. Remember we passed the Act; it's the regulations they are under. We have sent those regulations up for them to have sight of so that we can be sure that we are on the same page. So as soon as they agree I will sign off on those. So, when their mission comes in January we will be well beyond what we would have need to do to get back on the good foot."
Rotary Governor Tours Clubs in Belize
District Governor for district 4250, for Rotary International, Carmen de Villalta is in Belize on a country wide club tour. Rotary Belize forms part of District 4250 as does Honduras and Guatemala. District 4250 is comprised of 67 clubs, 9 of which are in Belize and as the District Governor, De Villalta is visiting all clubs to find out how operations has been going so far.
CARMEN DE VILLALTA
"So I have to go to our official visit, spend a whole day with them, go over the projects, go over the plans that they have for this year and see what I can do to help them and I am here just as a facilitator and just to see what is it that they are planning to do and what it is that they have done. There are very interesting projects in Belize; Belize is a country that is very much interested and concentrated in education. They do give a lot of scholarships to different people; so, they are heavy into education, into helping schools putting in computers, giving out books and adding a library setup as well. They also do water projects and that's very popular worldwide. Water is one of the needs that we work a lot; we are strong believers that helping with water. Many other areas are being helped with clean water in different houses in different places."
Police News
Four persons including a minor have been charged for kept ammunition without a gun licence. Police say they conducted a search at a home on Antelope Street on Tuesday morning. The search resulted in the discovery of a black plastic bag containing three live nine millimeter rounds under the house. All four persons present at the time of the search were arrested. They are 20-year-old Kenroy Willoughby, 26-year-old Nurie Polanco, 24-year-old Julian Willoughby and a minor.
Two Guatemalans have been charged for drug trafficking. A special patrol unit was conducting patrol in the Ceibo Chico Conservation Post on Monday morning when they saw seven men conducting gold panning. A search conducted on a Guatemalan minor led to the discovery of 453 point five grams of green leafy substance suspected to be cannabis in a knapsack. A further search on 27-year-old Jeronimo Agusto Tsir led to the discovery of one thousand eight hundred and fourteen point three grams of suspected cannabis in his bag. Both persons were charged with drug trafficking.
Belize Takes Over Projects Initiated by Taiwan
Rice seeds, horticulture, agro-processing and the three projects have been very successful. The three projects were handed over today to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Taiwan Mission will now shift for the next five years to new areas, including tilapia and shrimp farming and this will take place. Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega says that the agreement between Belize and Taiwan took place about five years ago.
GASPAR VEGA
"The Government of Taiwan was supporting us with some new projects that include the horticulture rice seedling and the agro processing; that's where we do all our dry fruits. Basically, what we are doing, we are assuming all responsibilities now. We are going to take over the responsibilities of the staffing, the entire staff now government is going to be paying for them; that agreement was made, like I said, a few years ago. That's basically what it is. Taiwan is saying it is finished now and it's the government's turn to continue the projects and our commitments is to ensure the projects continue in a satisfactory manner and we believe that we are fully capable. The staff has been trained by all the technical expertise that these people have and we are confident that we can go ahead with the projects."
Greece Contracts Belizean Football Player
There is good news tonight for football fanatics and fans of Deon McCaulay. That is because, we understands that the football star is on his way to Athens, Greece where he is expected to be contracted. McCaulay who has displayed his football skills on the international stage, is said to have been recruited by the Ael Kallonis Football Club. McClaulay is currently a player for the Belmopan Bandits but we understand that he will be released from his contract so that he can sign with Ael Kallonis Football Club.
Police Constable in Western Belize Faces Charge of Indecent Assault
A Police constable was today remanded to the Hattieville Prison on a charge of Aggravated Assault of an Indecent Nature. This comes on a report on Tuesday by a 14 year old girl who told police that on December sixth she ran away from her house and went to stay with her 16 year-old sister for the night. She said that her sister's common law-husband, who she says is a Police Constable, arrived there that night and the three of them went to sleep on the same bed. She added that on the following morning while they were still sleeping, she felt someone touching her private parts and realised that it was the policeman who she says was having sexual intercourse just then with her sister. She said that she pushed his hand away and went to hide in the bathroom out of fear. Police have since arrested Constable number 1210, Rupert Thomas, who is attached to the San Ignacio Town formation and charged him. He was remanded on December 31.
Genetically Modified Crops in Belize: Yes or No?
Grain growers, particularly those who market corn and soybean are lobbying for the passage of a proposal for the legal production and use of Genetically Modified crops. They say that it is a more economical way of producing the grains and with the same high standard quality. But many skeptics have been actively rejecting the notion to have GMO's as an option to provide food. So on Tuesday the Ministry of Agriculture held a National Conference on Agro-Biotechnology and Bio-Safety to gather the input of all relevant parties. Chief Agriculture Officer, Roberto Harrison, explained to Love News that in order for the Government to take an official position on whether to use or not to use GMO's, it must first hear all available information, scientific and otherwise.
ROBERTO HARRISON
"We know that there are two sides to the issue of GMO in Belize; there is the pro and there is the con. The pros are basically the producers of corn that think that growing BT corn is a viable option for increasing production in Belize. So, the ministry has brought in two experts from the international agency for cooperation agriculture from the FAO to speak on the area of bio technology and bio safety. We have also asked a representative from the Green Growers out of Spanish Lookout to speak on why they would want to introduce GMO corn in Belize and the concern citizens cite to say why we ought not to be introducing GMO corn in the country."
PM Responds to Opposition Party
Yesterday the People's United Party held a press conference to express their discontent o several decisions made by Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Among does decision was the allocation of millions of dollars to municipalities for road infrastructural development projects. The three PUP run town councils have stated that they did not get a fair share of the pie and expressed that an unnecessary layer of UDP oversight has been placed upon them. Here is how the PM responded.
RT. HON. DEAN BARROW
"When the Town Councils spend money on street repairs, it is tax payers' money; in the same way Government spends, it is tax payers' money. When they spend they hire the persons that they wish to hire. So, when government spends, to me, it is perfectly in order that government should provide the list of recommendees for employment; so, I will not resign from that at all. No caretaker has anything to do with the money. As I have indicated we have entered into contract with Woods directly. The Mayor of Dangriga selected the streets; the only thing he doesn't get to do is to pick the employees and even then, I gave him 10%. Recollect that before the last election, that 20 million dollars in housing money that the Venezuelans gave which was spent in one month, no opposition person saw a penny. Recollect that the 7 000 dollars a month that the opposition representatives get for setting up of offices and for a support voter, you find out from them how many of them even have an office; by and large, they put that money into their pockets. So, they are the last ones to talk along those lines. The point is that Dangriga is getting a half a million dollars' worth of works. No UDP town council has gotten more than 200,000 dollars. They are getting the most PG comes next with 350. I would think that they would be grateful that in fact this government is doing for their towns and doing for the residents of their town and as I said to you yesterday the Mayor certainly of Dangriga pronounced himself ecstatic that government was being so good."
PlusTV
Prime Minister Barrow Responds to Dangriga Mayor's Protest over Infrastructure Money
In last night's newscast, we brought you the protest of Dangriga Mayor, Gilbert Swazo, who was up in arms over Government's alleged distribution of infrastructure money. In relation to the street works in the Stann Creek District and particularly in Dangriga, of which some $500,000 has been allocated, Mayor...
Bagasse Saga May be Near End Between BSI/ASR and BSCFA
An end to the bagasse saga may be near. This morning, the Prime Minister met with principals of American Sugar Refining (ASR) on the sugar industry impasse between Belize Sugar Industry and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association over the issue of payment to farmers for bagasse. PM Barrow...
Government of Taiwan Hands over Technical Mission to Belize
In October 15th of 1990, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Belize Government signed "The Agricultural Technology Cooperation Agreement" which implemented several projects in Belize aided by Taiwan Government. The Taiwan Technical Mission through its years of cooperation has built a strong friendship with Belize. Through the Taiwan...
Car Accident Interrupts the Normal Pace of St. Thomas Street
Sometime this morning, the relative peace of St. Thomas Street in Belize City was temporarily interrupted when a car, reportedly a blue Volvo, collided with a green vehicle parked near the centre-for-employment-training, crushing the car's rear end. Reports of this latest crash are still sketchy, and we were not...
Grace Primary Students Learn What This Season is For
It was a very wet day in the City today, but that did not stop the students of Grace Primary School from spreading Christmas cheer. We observed their procession and spoke to their teacher. Miss Azueta- Teacher at Grace Primary School Reporter: "Mom, tell us what is happening". Miss...
Belizean Melody: Melody Sanchez Wolfe is Making San Pedro More Beautiful
Art is good for everyone. (I'm deep, right?) Creativity, self-expression, child development, mood elevation, beauty, allowing us to dream�there are hundreds of reasons that art & culture should be part of daily life. I love the fact that everyone can do it and everyone can enjoy it. I'm no philosopher but you are picking up what I am laying down�
Art, crafts, music, photography make my life better. And I love the fact that we have so many talented artists here in San Pedro and in the country of Belize.
Here is one of them. Melody Sanchez-Wolfe. She has the shop "Belizean Melody Art Gallery" that not only features her work but the work of artists and craftspeople from all of Belize. You are going to want to stop in.
From Camping to Couture, the YWAM Roaring Creek Belize Experience
19 volunteers from the San Pedro Branch of the Red Cross attended the Volunteer Encounter that was held at YWAM in Roaring Creek on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7th & 8th, 2013. The event attended by over 100 volunteers from the 6 districts of Belize, was an enormous success and an extremely productive weekend on many levels. Everyone got to meet new people and learned a lot about themselves, each other and the Belize Red Cross.
Thanks to Caye Caulker Water taxi for transporting the San Pedro Branch to Belize City where we headed for HQ to get our team shirts. They had every attending district wearing a different color of the same shirt so we could easily tell who was on what team. Belize City was darker turquoise, Dangriga green, the lone Punta Gorda person in royal blue, San Pedro got baby blue, Corozal in Red and I do not have to tell you what color they gave Orange Walk :)
Cinnamon Cake
Call for Proposal from Caribbean Export Development Agency
Monster lionfish catch - 81 in 1 dive!!
ReefCI and Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) collaborating on the Lionfish removalin the Sapodilla Cayes!!
A team of four from TIDE and four from ReefCI, 2 bags, a number of spears!
Total Lionfish removed, ONE DIVE=81!!!!!
International Sources
The Rise of the Resource Curse: Maximizing the potential of resource-driven economies
Rising resource prices and expanded production have raised the number of countries where the resource sector represents a major share of the economy, from 58 in 1995 to 81 in 2011. That number will rise: to meet soaring demand for resources and replace rapidly depleting supply, the world should invest a total of up to $17 trillion in oil and gas and in minerals by 2030, double the historical rate. In 20 years, almost half of the world's countries could depend on their resource endowments for growth.
Economies with natural-resource endowments have a huge opportunity to transform their prospects. But history suggests that they could all too easily squander the windfall.
To date, resource-driven countries have tended to underperform those without significant resources: almost 80 percent of the former have a per-capita income below the global average. Since 1995, more than half of these countries have failed to match the average growth rate of all countries. Only one-third have maintained growth beyond the resource boom. Recent McKinsey research lays out a new model that could help countries capture the coming resource windfall.
Five Common Myths About Belize Busted
There is a unique pocket in the world that buzzes with warmth, inner peace and joy. The people are peaceful, with a quiet confidence emanating from their eyes. They smile broadly, and are filled with energetic laughter, friendly gazes and cozy hugs. Welcome to Belize.
Belize is more than a Birkenstock, barefoot backcountry. When I told people I was going to Belize, they responded in one of three ways: "Where?" or, "Isn't that a sweaty jungle of creepy crawlers?" or, "Where is Belize anyway?"
So scrap your preconceived ideas of this petite little country, smushed between Guatemala, Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Although part of Central America, both geographically and politically, it refuses to be part of its neighbors to the left. Rather, Belize celebrates a diverse culture; in fact, they're known as the Central American melting pot. With a deep Caribbean influence, you won't find chimichangas here, amigo.
Fitch Withdraws Belize Sovereign Investments III (Cayman) Limited's 'A+' Rating
Fitch Ratings has withdrawn the 'A+'/Stable rating assigned to the $85.7 million notes issued by Belize Sovereign Investments III (Cayman) Limited (BSI).
The rating withdrawal follows Fitch's recent withdrawal of the 'AA-' Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating assigned to Steadfast Insurance Company (Steadfast). The rating of the notes was based on credit support from two insurance policies underwritten by Steadfast, and therefore linked to the IFS assigned to Steadfast.
Florida Hospital Tampa Employees Organize Mission
Employees of Florida Hospital Tampa, as an expression of their mission to "Extend the Healing ministry of Christ," are partnering with Insouciance Abroad, as they to embark on the first in a series of corporate-sponsored medical mission trips. While in San Ignacio, Belize participants of the mission trip will be lending their medical skills to the La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital by day and hosting community- and health-oriented radio programs on Faith FM radio in the evenings. Faith FM is the largest radio station reaching all of the 334,000 citizens of the country.
Fortis Announces $1.8 Billion Financing Bought Deal and Private Placement
Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS) ("Fortis" or the "Corporation") announced today that its direct wholly owned subsidiary, FortisUS Holdings Nova Scotia Limited (the "Selling Debentureholder"), has agreed to sell $1,594,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures ("Debentures") of Fortis in a secondary offering on a "bought deal" basis to the public (the "Public Offering") and separately has agreed to sell $206,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debentures to certain institutional investors on a private placement basis (the "Private Placement" and together with the Public Offering, the "Offerings"). In connection with the Public Offering, the underwriters have also been granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $239,100,000 aggregate principal amount of Debentures at the offering price, within 30 days from the date of the closing of the Public Offering solely to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.
Caricom to Update Caribbean Nations on Reparations Legal Case
Following a meeting with British law firm, Leigh, Day & Company over legal representation of Caribbean nations seeking redress from European countries for horrors endured during the 300-yearslong slave trade, the Caricom committee addressing this issue is slated to update the region on the progress of this pursuit.
Signaling an earnest attempt to seek compensation from former slave-trade countries for the atrocities of the period of trans-Atlantic human trafficking, members of Caricom's reparation committee met with the British law firm yesterday in Jamaica to discuss their position.
The regional reparations executive committee also hosted a preparatory meeting with the law firm after holding a series of its own internal meetings after leaders approved plans to fight Britain, Spain and other European nations for slavery compensation at the July summit in Trinidad and Tobago.
Less Than 3 Percent of Oceans in Marine Parks Despite Recent Growth
In May 1975, rising concerns about overfishing and deteriorating ocean health prompted scientists and officials from 33 countries to meet in Tokyo for the first global conference on marine parks and reserves. Noting the need for swift action to safeguard more of the sea, the delegates were unanimous in calling for the creation of a global system of marine protected areas (MPAs)-zones explicitly managed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
Today, with oceanic resources more threatened than ever, the world is far from that envisioned MPA network. Although coverage has doubled since 2010, just 2.8 percent of the ocean surface-some 10 million square kilometers (4 million square miles), roughly the size of the United States-is now in designated MPAs. And the level of protection varies. Some MPAs allow seabed mining, for instance, and most MPAs allow at least some fishing. In others, fishing and other destructive activities are off-limits entirely. These "no-take" MPAs, also called marine reserves, are thought to provide the greatest conservation value, yet they account for less than half of the world's marine protected area.
A wealth of experience and scientific research shows that by protecting all habitats and marine life within their borders, well-managed no-take zones effectively preserve biodiversity and can restore adjacent fisheries, greatly benefiting both ecosystems and the people dependent on them. In general, fish populations increase after a reserve is established, and individual fish grow larger. Heavily overfished species usually show the greatest gains, and the positive results can come quickly.
Strolls Through Placencia
The early birds in the fam-Daddio and I. (The man responsible for all of the inspirational quotes on here.)
Thongs Cafe, one of my favorite breakfast spots on the trip.
Disaronno in my coffee. Because it's vacation, that's why.
The ideal breakfast. And yes it tasted as amazing as it looks.