PlusTV
Prime Minister continues meetings on cruise port
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is back from Miami, Florida, where he held meetings with representatives of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, a partner in the Fort Street Tourism Village...
Three Arrested, Charged and Bailed for Drugs in Belmopan
Plus News received information that shots were fired in Belmopan sometime around 8:30 this morning near the Police Housing Area...
Minister of State testifies in defamation case
This morning Minister of State and area representative for Belize Rural North Edmond “Clear the Land” Castro appeared in the Supreme Court as the claimant in a case of defamation against constituent and former friend Alvarene Burgess and Great Belize Television (Channel 5)�The two-term area represe...
Fourth person faces “Mr Rigo” murder charges
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye resident Alfredo Trapp today became the fourth person to be charged with the murder of 42 year old taxi operator Jose Beltran, also known as Mr. Rigo, on April 28, 2015...
COLA condemns Foreign Minister acquiescing to separate referendum
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington has come under fire for advocating a cautious approach to resolving the unfounded claim on Belize by Guatemala...
Pete Matthews beats burglary charge
28 year old George “Pete” Matthews, Jr., son of the famous bandleader, was acquitted of a charge of aggravated burglary by Chief Magisttrate Ann-Marie Smith. However, he will serve six months in prison for using threatening words and pay a fine of $200 for trespassing...
Chunox fishermen charged for undersized conch
Four fishermen who are related and are from Chunox, were fined a total of almost $20,000 when they appeared today before Magistrate La Donna John and pled guilty to possession of undersized conch. They are 53 year old Leandro Rangel,39 year old Isidro Pott,�38 year old Jaime Rangel and 39 year...
Amandala
PUP ditches Dangriga area rep
After its devastating defeat in the March 2015 Municipal Elections, the Opposition People's United Party (PUP), in conducting its own post-mortem, announced that it would engage in a serious process of self-examination and introspection that would enable it to win the next general elections.
This morning, the PUP's national campaign manager, Godfrey Smith, reiterated that position when he told the media, "And so this morning's press presentation is a result of that ongoing process that the PUP is engaged in of self-examination and getting itself in the fittest possible fighting form for the general elections."
The main news coming out of the press briefing was that the PUP has decided to replace its freshman parliamentarian Hon. Ivan Ramos, current area representative of Dangriga, as its standard bearer. Party Leader, Hon. Francis Fonseca made the announcement that Anthony Sabal, a retired career educator, will replace Ramos as the PUP's Dangriga standard bearer.
Did GSU plant bullets on Conch Shell Bay resident?
Relatives of Jason Orozco, 35, a fisherman from the Conch Shell Bay area of Belize City, who was detained for possession of illegal ammunition by Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) officers during a raid at the Vernon Street Fish Market this morning, were still very much incensed when we visited the area this afternoon.
Orozco was reportedly arrested and carted off to the Queen Street Police Station for two bullets which his family claimed were planted in the area by the officers who, they allege, have been targeting the father of 6 for some time now.
His sister, Danika Young, told us what happened when the GSU descended on the area shortly after 7:00 a.m. today.
She said, "My brother came about after 7:00 and played a little dominoes because he was waiting on the boat come in to buy fish that we usually sell. Now GSU pull up and they give him the first search and after he got searched the first time, he continue play dominoes, then a next one [of the officers] came back again and asked him, 'they done searched you?' So he said, 'yes.' Then after that, the next police told him, 'come make we search you again' and they searched him again."
Hon. Castro on "hot seat" in court!
Belize Rural North area representative and Minister of State Hon. Edmond "Clear the Land" Castro took the witness stand in the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel today, as the defamation claim he filed against Alvarine Burgess, an immigration agent and the so-called "whistle blower" who is named as the first defendant, and Great Belize Production (Channel 5 News), the second defendant, which aired Burgess' allegations against him, came to trial.
In October and November, 2013, when the Elvin Penner passport scandal was making national news, Burgess took to the airwaves of Channel 5, and in two separate interviews, alleged that she paid Castro thousands of dollars to secure his recommendation for visas to Asians who wanted to visit Belize. After Channel 5 aired Burgess' version of the Castro visa recommendation story, Castro demanded an apology and retraction. Burgess and Channel 5, however, ignored his demand. Castro decided to file the defamation lawsuit, claiming that he suffered damage to his reputation.
Hon. King has been "lying to us, betraying us, fooling us!"
The ongoing infrastructural development that has been occurring on the fringes of the Lake Independence area known as "Gungulung" near Holy Emmanuel Street Extension has led to the displacement of multiple families of squatters who had been residing on lands which turned out to be owned either privately or by the state.
We were told that about 60 families have either already been, or stand to be, affected, and while 11 of those families were relocated a month ago by Lake Independence area representative, Hon. Mark King, there are several others who live under the threat of being displaced from the homes that they built from scratch.
One of those squatters went to the media on Tuesday to complain that based on their research at the Lands Department, King has allegedly recommended land leases for his employees and close friends for the same parcels that have been partially developed by the squatters.
According to Bernarda Riviera, King has not given any recommendations for land in the area based on the premise that an authenticated survey of the said lands has not yet been completed.
Political conflict over amendment to ICJ agreement
In the edition of the Amandala newspaper which hit the streets on Tuesday morning, we reported to you that Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington, had informed us, in an interview on Friday, May 8, that he would be travelling to Guatemala in a few weeks to sign an amendment to the 2008 special agreement, allowing Guatemala to proceed before Belize with holding its referendum this November on whether the territorial differendum with Belize should be adjudicated at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Elrington told us last Friday that Belize has no problem agreeing to the amendment to the compromis, and he added that the Barrow administration has no intention of holding an ICJ referendum in Belize before the next general elections.
The Foreign Minister told us that he was informing our newspaper of the intended signing in Guatemala "in the interest of full disclosure," since we also asked him to update us on the process, under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS), which saw both parties commit in January 2014 to a new road map to the ICJ.
Guats did attempt to search Belize Ambassador's residence
The Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed via a written statement today that Guatemalan law enforcement officials had last week attempted to search the diplomatic premises used by Belize's resident Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, on suspicion that the property may have been linked to ex-vice president of Guatemala, Roxana Baldetti, who recently resigned amid corruption allegations.
However, the Ministry clarifies that while law enforcement officials in Guatemala did attempt to search Ambassador Rosado's residence, the search was never an operation of Guatemala's Executive branch of government.
"Concern was raised by the Ambassador with authorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, who regretted this development. They explained that the Prosecutor's Office is an entity independent of the Executive, but undertook to take the necessary actions to prevent its reoccurrence given its status as diplomatic premises," the statement from the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs went on to say.
Cricket Corner: "Not this time, boys"
The Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2015, under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, continued with a few games played over the weekend. There were two of them that were very interesting.
On Saturday, Western Eagles, who had lost only one game, paid a visit to Belmopan to meet Police, who had lost two - one to Easy Does It and one to Western Eagles. Eagles and Police were in full force against each other. The Eagles took to bat first, and throughout the inning they showed very good skills. It seemed that a big score would have been put on the board, but Police captain Howell Gillett said, "Enough of this!" He called a small looking Indian guy and gave him the ball. After taking a good look at him, I realized that he had taken the most wickets in previous games against other teams. His name is Amnol Kanaujia. With his slow spin bowling, he slowed down the batsmen and the runs. Soon, the Eagles were out for 175 runs. A score like such would let an opposing team be not too comfortable. In that inning, Conway Young top scored with 45 runs for the Eagles. Kanaujia took 3 wkts for Police.
Dangriga sports stats
Boys & Girls U-13 football: The Dangriga Boys & Girls U-13 semifinals were played on Sunday at the Ecumenical football field. In game 1, Umadagu won over Wagierale, 2-nil, with a goal apiece from Demeal Flores and Dashawn Sutherland. Game 2 saw Wagiya defeating Pomona, 1-nil, on a goal by Senea Apolonio.
The big Finals is set for this Sunday at Ecumenical football field. The first game will be the 3rd place game at 2:00 p.m. - Wagierale vs Pomona, followed by the big championship match-up - Umadagu vs Wagiya.
All U-13 teams who took part in this tournament are invited to witness the fig Finals. Trophies and awards will be distributed by the sponsors, Dangriga Cancer Centre, after the final game this Sunday.
Third World teams champions of Wayne "Hogman" Olivera Day
Young and old gathered around the Third World football field, next to St. Martin's on Vernon Street yesterday, to participate in a Mother's Day celebration of football that was also dedicated to honor and assist one of Belize's great footballers of the past, Wayne "Hogman" Olivera, who was on hand to distribute trophies and awards to the winners of the day's events.
On the initiative of neighborhood activist Anthony "Mango" White, Wayne "Hogman" Olivera Day was originally scheduled for May 1, but had to be postponed due to bad weather; and they decided to join it to the Mother's Day celebration yesterday.
While the atmosphere was one of "peace and love" and sporting excitement among the youths and veterans waiting their turn to play, regrets, were in order for those youths older than 13 years - the one day tournament could not cater for the U-15 and U-17 players, who could only look on with longing eyes.
In light of drug conviction, FFB Vice-President, Rawell Pelayo, resigns
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB), today sent out a short press release to note that its former senior vice president, Rawell Pelayo, has tendered his resignation from that post.
Without going into details regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure, the federation mentioned that Pelayo resigned last Saturday, May 8, after being offered the opportunity to "devote time to his family" and "submit his resignation at his own free will."
Pelayo - who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit narcotics trafficking in a New York courtroom on June 30, 2014 - was deported to Belize a month ago, on April 7, after spending 21 months behind bars.
The conviction, which is in contravention of FFB statutes, disqualified the well-known Orange walk resident and FFB Executive member from the organization, which had been considering his expulsion, but later decided to allow him a more orderly exit via resignation.
The oil or the water �
Some news broke this week on Oilprice.com in a story by one Dave Forest, dated May 12, 2015 and headlined THIS TINY COUNTRY COULD HAVE HUGE OIL AND GAS POTENTIAL. In 2015, few Belizeans were surprised to learn that Dave Forest was talking about Belize. Neither were Belizeans surprised, but many of us were disappointed, to read that the Government of Belize was giving encouragement to companies in the energy and petroleum business to believe that offshore drilling would be allowed soon in Belize.
Back in 1971 when the publisher of this newspaper was president of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD) and writing his North Amerikkkan Blues, only the political and business elite in Belize knew of the vast "oil and gas potential" of Belize. The masses of the Belizean people were in the dark. They had been deliberately kept there.
Belize's oil and gas potential explained a lot of things. It explained why Belizeans had been allowed to migrate to the United States after Hurricane Hattie in October of 1961; it explained the radical 1964 change in Belize's traditional summer holiday season; it explained Bethuel Webster's Seventeen Proposals of 1968; and finally, it explained why Philip Goldson had to be removed as Leader of the Opposition, a process first begun in 1969. We're just saying.
From the Publisher
The colonial law, as enforced in British Honduras during my childhood and youth, did not glorify private property amongst us natives. What I mean is, it was the understanding of us natives that one had to be careful in the use of force to protect one's property. At the same time, those of us who were students knew that in London in Dickens' England there had been cases where children had been hanged for petty theft. One had to wonder, therefore, if the law in the "motherland" was enforced differently from the law in the colony, or if it was different when native stole from master as opposed to when native stole from native.
The concept of private property is the very foundation of the philosophy of capitalism which dominates so-called Western democracies. From my readings in British history, I can remember that there was this distinct period when common lands began to be privatized. Usually, this meant that the king or one of his so-called nobles grabbed land which had been public property for himself. This was a time of what is referred to as "feudalism." The coming of private land and private property signaled the beginning of capitalism.
Letter to the Editor: Excessive alcohol consumption
Dear Sir,
I would implore GOB, to take a close look at security at our northern border. We are not expecting an invasion from Mexico, what we have is an exorbitant amount of people consuming excessive alcohol, be it on the Mexican side or at the Free Zone.
Once these persons or group of persons are under the spirits, they become upstart and aggressive. Many times we have seen the customs officers having problems with these intoxicated people, that they have to resort to physical confrontation. It has just been lucky that there have not been major incidences because the security is lax.
On Sunday, there was a confrontation between two groups, a group of super intoxicated guys and a group of sober family guys who got attacked just as they passed through immigration and entered the Belize compound. The family females were very nervous, and the kids were crying.
Jamaica may be the 5th Caribbean country to replace Privy Council with CCJ
In March, Dominica became the fourth country in the Caribbean and the first among members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to ascribe to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and it appears that Jamaica is poised to become the 5th nation in our region to join by dispensing of the UK-based Privy Council and replacing it with the indigenous court.
In a statement released today, CCJ president, Sir Dennis Byron commented: "The CCJ continues to follow very closely these developments in Jamaica with the highest respect and regard for the local constitutional processes. We look forward with great anticipation to a positive outcome that will ultimately afford Jamaican citizens with greater access to the Caribbean's Court."
"This development comes on the heels of the Court's 10th anniversary celebrations on April 16th, 2015 and just two months after the Commonwealth of Dominica formally celebrated its accession to the Court's Appellate Jurisdiction. Barbados, Guyana and Belize also enjoy full access to the Court's judicial services," the CCJ said.
Belize modernizing its GIS network
There is a multi-billion-dollar industry built around developments in technology for geographic information systems (GIS), which are used to create "spatial data pictures" in the forms of maps, charts, globes, etc. It is a visual way of showing information which reveals patterns and trends, and over the years, the technology has been catching on among Belizeans in both the private and public sector here. GIS is used to map forest fires, and it is used to tell utility companies where they need to dispatch workers to fix on-the-ground problems. At Amandala, we have used GIS to show you where the concentration of homicides has been occurring.
Scores of active GIS users convened today for a two-day conference on GIS. Dubbed the 5th Annual Belize Esri User Conference, the meeting provides a chance for GIS users to hear from practitioners at home and abroad on how GIS can work better for them, and the meeting also provides an opportunity for users to become more GIS-savvy.
Millions spent on Belize-Guat process, but will dispute ever be resolved?
As we reported in the mid-week edition of the Amandala newspaper, Belize and Guatemala are preparing to sign off in a few weeks on an amendment of the 2008 special agreement for the adjudication of the Belize-Guatemala territorial differendum at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). That signing will allow the Guatemalans to proceed with the ICJ referendum in November, when that country expects a second round of polling to elect a new president, but Belize Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington has indicated to us that Belize is not ready to go to the polls in November - and it won't likely be ready before our general elections are held. When will Belizeans vote?
"The time is much too short. We are dealing with domestic issues; we don't want to get it confused with the Guatemalan issue. When we finish the national elections that will be out of our head and out of our hair, then we can move forward with our [ICJ] election," said Minister Elrington, speaking with Amandala on Friday, May 8.
We took that to mean that Belize will proceed with its general elections before the scheduled date in 2017, because a roadmap which Belize and Guatemala signed at the Organization of American States in January 2014 had signaled that the referenda would culminate the 12-month program of activities sometime in 2015.
Analyzing 60 years of Belize hurricane history
Weather forecaster Frank Tench today presented nearly 60 years of historical data on cyclone activity in Belize, revealing all the tropical storms, hurricanes and intense hurricanes which have crossed the country since 1954. There have been a total of 29 such cyclones, 12 of which were tropical storms and 12 of which were hurricanes, apart from 5 of the hurricanes which were intense hurricanes, categories 3 and higher.
Tench's presentation-which was made this afternoon at the 5th Annual Belize Esri User Conference held at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City-looked at how the El Ni�o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle in the Pacific - which fluctuates between a warm phase (El Ni�o - Spanish for 'the boy'), a neutral phase, and a cool phase (La Ni�a - Spanish for 'the girl') - correlates the frequency of storms which have impacted Belize. He showed that most of those storms have occurred during the neutral phase, and the fewest have occurred during the El Ni�o phase.
Almost 70% of reef in poor to critical condition
Today was reef report card day for Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, and according to Roberto Pott, Belize Coordinator of Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, who unveiled Belize's score at a press conference held at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City this morning, while the health of Belize's reef has been improving since 2006, it is still categorized as "poor," primarily because of morass growth in some areas and because the biomass of commercial fish species, such as groupers, has not yet recovered from heavy fishing.
For the other two indicators used to assess reef health, coral cover and herbivorous fish, Belize received a "fair" rating.
Together, the 4 neighboring countries listed above, whose reef system make up what is referred to as the Mesoamerican Reef System, received a reef health index (RHI) score of 2.8 of a possible 5, but Belize's RHI score was lower, at 2.5. The data indicate that almost 70% of Belize's reef is in poor to critical condition, while the other 30% or so is in fair to good condition.
The Reporter
Crime stats suggest crime is on a decline
A police report of crime statistics through the first third of 2015 suggests that over this time span for the last twelve years, major incidents of crime, for the most part, has been trending down. According to the statistics, the total number of major […]
ATIPS awards logo competition winner
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council (ATIPS) held an award ceremony on Friday at the George Price Center in Belmopan to award the winners of the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Logo Compeition” launched late last year. According to Michelle Segura, ATIPS Focal Point, the winning spot […]
Rawell Pelayo resigns from FFB
Rawell Pelayo, the disgraced Second Vice President of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), who was deported from the US after having served time for admitting to orchestrate a drug transaction on American soil, resignation last Friday after he was given two deadlines to do […]
Double murder in Cayo District!
The Weekend Reporter Online has received credible information of a double murder in the Cayo District a few minutes before 7 p.m. on Friday. The incident occurred in Teakettle Village. We will have more details online as they become available.
Outstanding teachers recognized
Teachers who have distinguished themselves from among their peers, were honored by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports this week. During a ceremony held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts on Thursday, teachers at varying levels were given awards, certificates, and even honored […]
Burglar meets death while trying to elude police
Zach August, 32, a convicted burglar met his death in the wee hours of Sunday morning minutes after he tried to break into La Inmaculada Credit Union in Belmopan. The burglary attempt occured at around 2 a.m. and someone who saw the crime in […]
Elderly man stealing mangoes, shot dead with pellet gun
Relatives of Daniel Trapp, 60, have called on the police to treat his shooting as a murder because they feel that the man who shot him used excessive force. The shooter used a pellet rifle on Trapp around 9. on Saturday morning just off […]
Daily cola raises cancer risk due to caramel coloring
The chemical process during the manufacture of the caramel coloring used in soft drinks such as colas produces a carcinogen that could be raising the risk of cancerabove the accepted threshold. That threshold is one extra case in every 100,000 people consuming the drinks, a new cancer study suggests.. The […]
Gungulung squatters set to take on Mark King!
"They wah have to kill me fu tek me out; bruk down my house with me een deh," one determined single mother resident of the swampland vowed. The parcel of land and swamp just off the road to the Chetumal Street Bridge is called Gungulung. All of the families have […]
First Atlantic storm crashes off the US coast! Belize on alert
An unusual Tropical Storm Ana made landfall between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina just after daybreak on Sunday. The US National Hurricane Centre downgraded Ana to a tropical depression that same afternoon. Ana is the second earliest landfalli tropical […]
BEL accepts rate cut but 2016 may be a different story
Belize Electricity Limited has accepted a proposal from the Public Utilities Commission to cut electricity rates by 15 percent, but the company says it will seek a rate increase for the next full tariff review period (FTRP). BEL had originally suggested a 10 percent […]
Money to DFC for the private sector!
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) this week gave funds to the Development Finance Corporation to launch a new development project, which will benefit hundreds of Belizeans. DFC received a loan amounting to US $10.5 million and a grant of US $860,000 to be used for […]
PUP vs UDP on Belize/Guatemala referendum
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is scheduled to travel to Guatemala this month to sign an amendment to the Compromis that Belize and Guatemala signed in 2008. This agreement stipulates that that two countries will hold referendums simultaneously on whether citizens want to take the […]
PM flies to Miami for more Stake Bank talks
Prime Minister Dean Barrow flew to Miami, Florida on Monday for a secound round of discussions regarding the proposed cruise docking port at Stake Bank. During his visit, Barrow met with executives from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, co-owners of the Fort Street Tourism Village […]
Teenager shot dead while planning party
Kijel Young, 19, a resident of Partridge Street Extension and a graduate of Gwen Lizarraga High School, was shot dead as he sat on a chair shortly after 9. Saturday night in a yard at #45 Vernon Street. Young wasrolling a stick of weed […]
Health Department investigating case of contaminated bottled water
The Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health is investigating a case of contaminated bottled water, supplied to San Pedro by Bowen and Bowen Company limited. Health inspector for San Pedro, Lisa Tillett, confirmed this week that the department was in possession of two […]
MFA says Guatemalans did not search embassy residence
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scurrying to deny reports that the residence of Belize's Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, was searched by Guatemalan authorities late last week. According to a press release issued on Thursday, "while it is correct that certain sections of Guatemala's law enforcement made the […]
Editorial
It is a rare event when our Financial Secretary, unobtrusive Joseph Waight, chooses to make a public statement. This week he broke with tradition and cautioned that Belize has to begin to make plans for how she is going to meet higher Superbond interest payments, when these become due four […]
Auditor General will audit Petro Caribe finances Other major audits in the pipeline include Treasury and Immigration
The Auditor General Dorothy Bradley, in an exclusive interview with The Reporter this week, revealed that apart from her office now being involved with the Treasury Department investigation, she intends to audit PetroCaribe spending after she concludes outstanding reports including the Immigration Audit. Treasury […]
Fishermen caught with undersized conch – fined $19, 620
Four members of the Rangel family – fishermen living in Chunox, Corozal were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate's Court on Thursday for separate fisheries offenses, involving the possession of undersized conch. At the end of their arraignment, the family – consisting of three […]
PM announces amendments to PetroCaribe Loan Act
Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced on Thursday that he has had several amendments to the controversial PetroCaribe Loan Act 2015, drafted after considering the criticisms of those with legitimate concerns about the Act, and will take them to the House of Representatives in June. […]
Breaking Belize News
Alvarene Burgess defends comments in Edmond Castro defamation suit
Housewife of the Belize River Valley Alvarene Burgess, has been at the center of a political maelstrom concerning her allegation that she gave of her area representative and long-time friend, Hon. Edmond Castro, several thousand dollars to obtain his recommendation for Asian nationals to visit Belize on visas, [�]
Accused grenade thrower to learn his fate
At news time a jury of ten women and two men has the case of Lusby Martinez, charged with the murder of 14 year old Rudolph Flowers on December 28, 2009 around 7:00 p.m. when a grenade was thrown at the corner of Kraal Road and Haynes Street [�]
Why Your BTL Data Usage is Gone in a Da
By Charles Leslie Jr. Since the introduction of 4G I have chosen to remain with the GPRS system, for I wanted Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to work out its bugs before I switched over. GPRS is slower than 4G however you do not have a limit on the amount of data you use per month, [�]
Regional Internet Providers to meet and discuss better services in Barbados
A gathering to be held on May 27th and 28th in Barbados will bring together all the top internet providers in the region in an effort to improve services being provided. This meeting is being organized by the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), in collaboration with other internet agencies across the [�]
Southwest Flights to Belize on Sale
The CEO of Southwest Airlines, Garry Kelly in a press conference on Wednesday, announced that the Airline will now offer non-stop flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Liberia, Costa Rica and Belize. These new flights into the country will definitely mean more tourists, which in turn will result in a healthier Belizean economy. Ticket [�]
Ambassador Nestor Mendez leaves for Washington in July
In a press briefing with the Prime Minister Dean Barrow yesterday in Belize City, several national issues were brought up among a pool of journalists and media stations. One of the topics was on the appointment of Nestor Mendez as Deputy Secretary to the Organization of the American States (OAS). Mendez [�]
Belize weather: Sunny and 87 degrees Fahrenheit with isolated showers
The general situation is for sunny weather with cloudy spells today and partly cloudy tonight. Showers will be isolated and winds will blow to the East at 10 to 20 knots. The sea state will be moderate and high temperatures today are expected around 87 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast; [�]
Minister of State testifies in defamation case
The case of Minister of State and area representative for Belize Rural North Edmond "Clear the Land" Castro as the claimant in a case of defamation concludes tomorrow, Friday, following all-day testimony today by the two term area representative. He accuses constituent and former friend Alvarene Burgess and Great Belize [�]
Chunox fishermen charged for undersized conch
Four fishermen who are related and are from Chunox, were fined a total of almost $20,000 when they appeared today before Magistrate La Donna John and pled guilty to possession of undersized conch. They are 53 year old Leandro Rangel, 39 year old Isidro Pott, 38 year old [�]
COLA condemns Foreign Minister acquiescing to change to special agreement; PM responds
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington has consistently advocating a cautious approach to resolving the unfounded claim on Belize by Guatemala. And his announcement this week that he plans to travel to Guatemala City in a few weeks to sign an amendment to the compromis or Special Agreement to [�]
Where to find cheap flights to Belize, deals scored and new rider fee
Sue's recommendation for checking flights is Google Flights. Google offers users flight search tools that makes it easy to quickly find the best flight. If you are lucky, Google Flights can be a great way to find the cheapest tickets that are not easily discoverable on other sites. Note: Google does not allow you to actually book a flight, but instead shows a list of options and gives you a link and then links corresponding booking sites.
For the next one, if your travel dates are flexible, your chances of scoring the lowest price goes up. Matrix Airfare Search has a calendar option that allows you to explore date ranges by month for lowest fares instead of having to pick specific dates. Their mobile version is called On The Fly downloadable at Google play store.
As you know, I make fairly frequent trips to Belize with my family. The most aggravating part of planning our several trips per year is trying not to pay too much to the airlines. No other industry on the face of the earth uses a pricing model like the US airlines. Seeming random, massive shifts in pricing levels appear to serve no other purpose than to mess with their customers' perception of what the pricing should be. What other purpose could a "sale" that drops the price for a few random hours serve? Imagine if cars were sold that way.
How To Find Genuine Ecotourist Destinations?
More and more of us are rightly concerned about our planet's environment, yet we still seek unique travel experiences, and why not? As a result, ecotourism has developed into the travel industry's fastest growing sector!
"Difficult roads often lead towards beautiful destinations" - anonymous
Now, an ecotourist destination often includes an on-site resort or hotel, with the largely unspoiled, well-preserved or cultivated surroundings of a native ecosystem. Such destinations even educate their visitors about the local environment, and aim to reduce their impact on the flora and fauna by inviting only small groups of tourists. Above all, ecotourist sites as a rule are protected by the law of the land.
International Sources
MOFA lauds book by Belize governor general
Governor General, Sir Colville Young, launches Mandarin edition of his book of short stories "'Pataki Full" in Taiwan. The Taiwan launch of a short story collection in Mandarin by Belize Governor General Colville Young underscores the strength of ties between the ROC and the Central American nation, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin May 14.
"'Pataki Full: Seven Belizean Short Stories' draws upon the folklore and the down-home wisdom of Belize," Lin said. "I was deeply impressed by the stories when first reading them during an official trip to the diplomatic ally last year."
Lin made the remarks during a special ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei City.
According to the minister, he is grateful for the governor general's permission to translate the book and publish in Taiwan. "By sharing his culture with local readers, Young has further consolidated the foundation for everlasting friendship and prosperity between the two sides," he said.
High Court Orders Belize to Recognize and Protect Maya Traditional Property and Rights
On April 19th the Caribbean Court of Justice announced its judgment affirming the 2013 holding of the Court of Appeal of Belize that the Maya indigenous people of southern Belize have rights to the lands they customarily have used and occupied for many generations.
In the judgment, the court affirmed that these traditional land rights, belonging to 38 Maya villages in Belize's Toledo District, constitute property as defined in the provisions of the Belize Constitution that generally protects property free from discrimination.
The court's judgment, which was entered by consent of Maya parties in the case and the Government of Belize, will require the government to demarcate and officially register Maya communal lands, and protect them against incursions by outsiders. The Court accepted the government's undertaking to adopt the necessary "legislative, administrative and/or other measures" to that end and, in the meantime, to refrain from and prevent acts that would adversely affect Maya land rights. The Court also ordered that, in 12 months, both the Maya communities and the Government present a report about implementation of the judgment.
Southwest reveals prices of international flights from Houston
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has revealed the prices for its new international flights out of Houston.
Effective Oct. 15, Dallas-based Southwest will be offering flights to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico, for $149, flights from Mexico City for $99, flights from Belize City, Belize, for $127 and flights from San Jose, Costa Rica, for $174. Effective Nov. 1, the airline will offer flights to Liberia, Costa Rica, for $174 and flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for $199. All new international pricing announced so far have been for one-way economy tickets.
The price announcements come on the heels of Southwest announcing the addition of Liberia and Montego Bay routes out of its new international terminal under construction at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.
Tulum Quintana Roo, New Yorker's Haven
Tulum is the last stop in the tourism-friendly region of Mexico known as the Riviera Maya, a stretch of coast that includes beaches, jungles, and Mayan ruins. Driving south along the coast from Canc�n, it's as far as you can go before hitting the Sian Ka'an biosphere, a nature preserve the size of Rhode Island. Tulum is, then, as far from Canc�n as you can be while still being in spitting distance on Canc�n - the ultimate spot for those seeking an easy, cost-effective trip to Mexico but would rather die than be seen at Se�or Frogs. And just as sororities seem to uproot and wholly relocate themselves, every spring, to Canc�n, all of Williamsburg seems to have transported itself to Tulum this year. If Williamsburg is the frat house of trend-whore Brooklyn, then Tulum is our Canc�n.
In recent decades, Tulum and Williamsburg have been developing in parallel at comparable paces. The Bloomberg-era rezoning initiatives that laid the groundwork for Williamsburg's shift from warehouses to luxury condos coincided with the infrastructure improvements that went hand in hand with the Yucat�n's tourism boom. While New York was renovating the L train, the narrow road from Canc�n to Tulum turned into a four-lane highway with overpasses.
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