LOVE FM
Belizean Athletes Earn Silver Medals at Special Olympics 2015
A team from Belize returned home boasting silver medals that they won at the Special Olympics recently held in Los Angeles, California, USA. Love News was among several groups that were at the Philip Goldson International Airport to welcome them home. We spoke with Elodia Bautista, head of the Belize delegation. ELODIA BAUTISTA "It was [�]
Regional Managers in Belize To Wrap Up Sale of Assets For CIBC First Caribbean Bank
On Monday CIBC First Caribbean International Bank made the announcement that its operations in Belize will be taken over by Heritage Bank. For its part Heritage Bank says the acquisition of CIBC First Caribbean's Belize assets is an excellent opportunity for the Bank as it will provide the ability to further cement itself in the [�]
Young Boy Stabbed for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
A father is facing a charge of wounding after he stabbed a 16-year-old in the abdomen yesterday in Sandhill Village, Belize District. Love News spoke with the Rural Executive Officer, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster on the incident. EDWARD BROASTER "Yesterday we received a report of a stabbing incident. When we visited the scene, a 16-year-old [�]
Regional Sanitary Landfill Progressing With International Standards
In 2013, Phase One of the Solid Waste Management Project started to take shape with the building of a five acre regional landfill located off Mile 24 on the George Price Highway. And recently, the San Pedro transfer station began operations in July. The regional sanitary landfill is built to international standards and has been [�]
Special Envoy Speaks on Domestic Violence
The news of domestic violence continues in many communities around the country with some intervention from several agencies including the Ministry of Human Development. Another such agency who intervenes in such situations is the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children. Belize's Special Envoy, Kim Simplis-Barrow explained to Love News, their role as [�]
Broaster Explains Strategy and Progress in Rural Belize
Some weeks ago we told you of the changes that occurred within the Belize District with the return of Senior Superintendent Chester Williams. With those changes came a new Rural Executive Officer, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster. Today, while we were at the Ladyville Police station, we asked Broaster on his strategies of combatting crime in [�]
Belizean/British Athlete Represents Belize Abroad
British/Belizean Athlete, Katy Sealy, is in Belize but not for long because she will leave the country shortly on her way to Costa Rica for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships. Sealy will represent Belize in two sports, 100 meter hurdles and the long jump. Sealy says she hopes to represent Belize well. [�]
PlusTV
Tourism partners hail successful year at annual conference
The Belize Tourism Board's (BTB) Annual Tourism Industry Presentation, held Saturday at Fido's Courtyard on La Isla Bonita has been expanded to a full-day conference offering continuing education in tourism topics - this year, service excellence and tourism digital marketing. But its primary purpose is to provide a report on the past year's activities by the Board and look ahead to the coming year. It was recently reported that overnight tourist arrivals from January to April of this year, particularly from the United States and Canada, had slowed down by over 100,000 compared to the first four months of 2014 - that is a reduction of 1.2%. However, the industry now second in Belize only to agriculture for revenue and job creation is not in panic mode. Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans, told reporters that the temporary blip can be easily corrected.
Child goes missing in cave; Father Pleads for Answers!
The search continues for 10 year old Jason Pau of Xulin Ha Village, Toledo who was reported missing on Friday July 31st at the Blue Creek Cave in Blue Creek Village. The distress call was made to police around 6:03 pm on Friday and authorities immediately launched an extensive investigation into the...
Man Beaten To Death�For Exposing Himself?
A personal dispute in Dangriga has left one man dead after he was brutally beaten and then left there to die. The incident occurred sometime between last night and this morning in the vicinity of Ecumenical Drive, Dangriga Town....
Respectable numbers at PUP Rally, But where is G10?
It has not been a good year for the People's United Party, undeniably so. They lost two consecutive by- elections by huge margins, suffered a blow out defeat at the municipal elections and have been faced with discontent within members of the party. With elections in the near future, the part...
4 persons arrested for Bank robbery
As we reported on Friday July 31st, for the second time in the last three years, the First Caribbean Bank of Belize, Belize City Branch was held up at gun point. It occurred about 8 or 9 am in broad daylight and the culprits, witnesses said, didn't even bother to mask their identity which migh...
Violent boyfriend shot by police
Punta Gorda police shot a man during a domestic violence situation. According to police, on Saturday August 1at 7:00 p.m., police were called to a home on Wilson Ro ad, Forest Home Village, Toledo District to break up a domestic dispute turned violent. Police say they approached the residence of 47...
Ex-Orange Walk mayor guilty in traffic accident
Seven years after he knocked down and killed a 2 year old girl and one of her relatives, a jury of nine found former Mayor of Orange Walk Town Ravell Gonzalez guilty of two counts of causing death by careless conduct. The jury of five men and four women deliberated for three hours before reaching a ...
23 year old charged with unlawful carnal knowledge
A 23 year old Santa Elena Resident has been arrested and charged for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 15 year old minor. The 15 year old female student of San Ignacio, in the company of her mother, reported of her sexual involvement with the man since May of this year. Though medical findings were ...
Amandala
Gunmen jack FirstCaribbean of $52,753.25
-Five men who police say were involved in the armed robbery of FirstCaribbean International Bank on Friday morning were arraigned in the #3 Magistrate's Court this afternoon on robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges before newly appointed Magistrate Deborah Rogers.
Four of the five men - Patrick Jones, 22, a laborer of Gabourel Lane; Jarrett Crawford, 30, a laborer of Gabourel Lane; Jermaine Belgrave, 33, a laborer of Courtenay Crescent; and Emerson Skyers, 24, an unemployed of Cemetery Road - were charged with one count of robbery.
The court prosecutor, Corporal Kennard Clarke, indicated to Magistrate Rogers that no plea should be taken, because the amount of money that the men are accused of stealing, $52,753.25, dictates that the matter be heard on indictment at the Supreme Court.
Father stabbed youth, 16, caught having sex with his daughter, 13
A 16-year-old young man of Sandhill was stabbed twice in the chest by the angry father of a13-year-old girl after the father caught him having sex with the girl at his home in Sandhill, at about 10:00 this morning, Monday.
The young man was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted to ward in a serious condition. Police have detained the father pending charges of aggravated assault.
Police told Amandala that the girl's family was aware that the boy and the girl were "friendly," but had told the boy several times to keep away from the girl because she was too young.
The girl's parents even took away her phone to discourage her from communicating with him.
FirstCaribbean exits Belize
Exactly two weeks ago, we reported to you about concerns raised by close to 50 staff members of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, represented by the Christian Workers Union (CWU), amidst talks of a buyout of FirstCaribbean's assets by Heritage Bank-and the flat-out denial by the bank (CIBC FirstCaribbean) that a sale was actually afoot.
Well, today, CIBC FirstCaribbean confirmed that they have entered into an agreement with Heritage Bank for the sale of its assets here in Belize.
This will mean that scores of Belizean workers from FirstCaribbean branches in Belize City, Belmopan, Dangriga and Orange Walk, will soon be out of a job, since the sale does not include an agreement to take on FirstCaribbean's staff, who we understand total roughly 75, including 44 represented by the CWU and 16 other non-management workers. As some of these workers-appearing a bit camera shy and nervous to see the press at their doorsteps-exited their office this evening on Albert Street, where CIBC FirstCaribbean's main Belize office is located, onlookers wondered whether the decision by FirstCaribbean to exit Belize had anything to do with last Friday's BZ$50,000 bank heist at its San Cas Plaza branch, the second time the bank has been held up.
Audrey Matura-Shepherd ordered to pay $3,000
Supreme Court Justice Courtenay Abel issued his ruling on the contempt of court case filed against attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd this morning and ruled to sanction the outspoken attorney and trade union leader with a $3,000 fine for violating the non-disclosure rules of the court's mediation proceedings.
Following the court-connected mediation settlement of the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association (BGYEA) in late February, Matura-Shepherd gave a television interview, announcing that a settlement had been reached between her client, Nigel Petillo, the BGYEA leader, and the government's Lands Department, which had obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court to prevent BGYEA from using a so-called buffer zone at their Harmonyville settlement.
Matura-Shepherd not only gave a television interview about the settlement, she also wrote about it in her Amandala column.
Her public pronouncements about the mediation settlement prompted attorney Julie-Ann Bradley, one of the attorneys from the government side, to file an application for contempt of court proceedings against her.
9-year-old disappears in cave during church group outing
Police say that Jason Pou, 9, of Blue Creek, went to the Hokeb Ha Cave of Blue Creek along with a church group on Friday, as a part of a church outreach summer program field trip, when he somehow became separated from the group and became missing.
Church members, along with villagers, family members, police from Punta Gorda and soldiers of the Belize Defense Force located in Toledo, have all joined in a search to find him.
Reports are that Pou was along with 34 others, including teachers and students, who went on the field trip to the cave, along with a tour guide.
It is feared that he may have fallen into a sinkhole, which has a depth of 50 feet, with whirlwind currents, and may have drowned.
Belize City man, Anwar Garbutt, 27, beaten to death in Dangriga
Police are investigating the death of Anwar Garbutt, 27, of Belize City, who allegedly was beaten to death in the Sabal Community at about 7:00 this morning. He was found face-down on the ground after allegedly being beaten by a group of men.
Reports to Amandala are that Garbutt had gone to the area and exposed his private parts to a little girl who screamed and cried, which caused some men to go to see what was happening.
The men reportedly chased Garbutt and caught him. They then subjected him to a mob beating, after which they left the area, leaving him on the ground.
Police were called to the scene after the incident and they took Garbutt to the Southern Regional Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Verdes cruises to 8-1 win in training match vs Calcutta eleven
In a training match this evening in preparation for their Tuesday, August 18, Champions League encounter with Queretaro FC of Mexico, Verdes FC shared the playing time among their full roster of players, on their way to an 8-1 drilling of a feisty Calcutta eleven who featured the formidable Michael Whittaker up front.
Deon McCaulay was warming up to enter the game when I arrived at half-time, and he quickly got on the scorecard, while sharing the ball and assisting on a couple goals for his teammates.
The Calcutta team is no pushover. They just defeated a fresh young FC Belize squad, 4-3, a week ago on Saturday; but Verdes was obviously at another level.
Are they ready for Champions League? We'll find out in a couple weeks' time.
Belize National Junior Female Softball Team defeats Nicaragua
The Belize National Junior Female Softball Team played its first game at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31, against Nicaragua in the XI Central American Junior Female Softball Championship, being held in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The game went 8 innings, with Belize defeating Nicaragua, 8-7. The winning pitcher was Renisha Richards. Belize's offense was cued by designated player Elma Wade, who had a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Belize also goes up against El Salvador today.
- press release -
(Ed. Note: Congrats to our junior softball girls in El Salvador! Up to today, Monday, at 6:00 p.m., we have received no further reports from the Belize Softball Federation.)
Youth teams to compete at first-ever U-13 Champions League
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and Scotiabank today confirmed the format for the first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF Under-13 Champions League invitational tournament, set to take place in Mexico City, August 4-8.
Eight teams from across the three CONCACAF sub-regions will compete in the invitational, taking place at the Cruz Azul Acoxpa Stadium - a Cruz Azul futbol training facility. The field for the inaugural tournament was selected based on the performance of senior teams from represented countries in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
The eight clubs participating in the inaugural Under-13 Champions League Invitational, in alphabetical order by country, include: Montreal Impact (Canada), CS Herediano (Costa Rica), CD Chalatenango (El Salvador), Harbour View FC (Jamaica), Aguilas UAS (Mexico), Toluca FC (Mexico), Chepo FC (Panama), and DC United (USA).
Editorial: Through the wreckage and the rumble �
On the morning of Wednesday, July 8, in Dangriga, the People's United Party showed life and the United Democratic Party appeared a little off their game, a little taken aback at the PUP, who had appeared to be flat-lining in January in the Cayo bye-election and again in the municipal elections in March. But that was the morning. By day's end, the script had returned to the one we have grown to know well: The PUP seemed lifeless and leaderless and the UDP swarmed to a 637-vote victory - that's despite the PUP having an excellent candidate in former educator/administrator Anthony Sabal.
There is enough blame to assign to PUP leader Francis Fonseca and his support team. They mishandled the Ivan Ramos departure badly. They considered not contesting the bye-election for a full week. They scarcely spent any resources in the remaining three weeks of the campaign, at least not anything near what they have been spending on TV ads and mobilization in the last 7 days.
And our reports say it wasn't until the last few days of Sabal's campaign that Queen Street sent in a coordinating team to help organize the first-time candidate.
From the Publisher
Bilal Morris, a Belizean who currently resides in Los Angeles, recently e-mailed me several different video documentaries that he's done. Bilal is doing important work. He's chronicling the lives of Belizean superstars who have been living in the United States for three, four decades, such as softball's Linda Lewis, cycling's Johnito Miguel, and football's Peru Olivera.
The title on one of the videos referred to one Alexander Marin telling the story of Lynam Agricultural College. To be truthful, I was not that interested. I practically forced myself to watch this video, but when I did, I enjoyed it immensely. In fact, the documentary fascinated and moved me, and it humbled me.
When I began high school at St. John's College in 1959, there was where I first heard of Lynam, the reason being that a couple of my friends from Holy Redeemer Boys and S.J.C. itself who were having problems at Landivar, were either sent or made their way to Lynam. The school sounded like an exile from the city, where all the action was.
Central Farm in 1972: Romel Cuello
Dear Editor,
A while back in Colin bh's Corner he stated that Central Farm School of Agriculture was established in 1977. Actually, GOB had made a try at this school in February of 1972. Recently graduated from Muffles College (High School), yours truly was invited by Mr. Landy Orio, Chief Agricultural Officer in Orange Walk at the time, by way of my late father, Pete Cuello, to a new 2-year agriculture course to take place in Central Farm. There were approximately 15 of us, 13 young Farm Demonstrators in the employ of government, and 2 invited guests, yours truly and Mr. Eladio Carrillo, a teacher from San Lazaro, Orange Walk District.
We went there all enthusiastic for a chance to further our studies, but upon entering we were greeted by the dean, Mr. Nolbert Arzu, with the bad news that the course would only last 3 months. Disappointed, but with the idea that anything learned is profitable, we decided to stay on.
Let me see if I can remember all the guys: Russell "Chiste" Garcia (R.I.P.), Rene Montero (Hon.), William "Bill" Flores, Kent "Jack of Spades" Parham, Hugh "Packa" Marin, Gustavo "Gush" Torres, Acadio "Management" Marin, 2 Tzul brothers, Edgar Frutos, "My Man" Parham, Pat "Professor" Mena, Lawrence " Zet" Zetina. We were joined later on by a Mr. Gordon and then "Mr. Ching" (can't remember his real name).
Field assessment to determine extent of un-harvested cane begins
Jose Novelo, chairman of the Sugar Cane Production Committee (SCPC), told Amandala today that the field verification exercise to determine the extent of un-harvested cane, the new acreage planted, as well as the "ratoon," a word used in the industry for regrowth of harvested cane, is due to commence today and continue for the next two months or so, as they go field by field.
Over the past few weeks, the SCPC has been receiving reports from ca�eros which will enable them to determine the exact acreage of stand-over cane. This figure, said Novelo, should be available to us on Wednesday, while a better estimate of the tonnage should be available after the field verification exercise.
Industry stakeholders had expressed concerns that although sugar production has hit a record high this year, roughly 80% of ca�eros still have hundreds of tons of un-harvested cane, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, in their fields.
Reparations due. Let's preserve our friendship
If the Belizean people and the Guatemalan people are genuinely friendly and committed to peace, as espoused by the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, and agreed on fully by the Belize Foreign Minister last night, then we should do all in our power to preserve this friendship.
But there is a big problem that could affect the growth and strengthening of that friendship. The stumbling block has been, and still is, the "unfounded Guatemalan claim of Belizean territory."
If Guatemala sincerely feels so aggrieved about the wrong it perceives was done to them by the British in not fulfilling one of the articles in the 1859 border treaty, then she will certainly be even more bitter and aggrieved if we should both go to the ICJ, and the ICJ should rule fully in favor of Belize, keeping our full sovereignty and territorial integrity, with not one square centimeter being lost to Guatemala, except, as in the Maritime Areas Act, that she is allowed free passage through our southern waters to access the high seas.
Fairtrade cites progress with child labor in cane fields, as BSCFA takes corrective measures
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) has recently received the official 2015 report on the annual audit conducted by the UK-based Fairtrade program-a report which cites progress by the BSCFA on the child labor front, as teenagers who had been toiling as cane cutters rather than attending school have largely been removed from the fields, after an extensive public education campaign by the association.
BSCFA chairman, Ezequiel Cansino, told Amandala that the BSCFA failed last year on non-compliance with child labor, but they have since managed to mitigate that problem, after the launch of a pilot project to address the issue.
He said that paid work by teens, usually ages 13 and 14, especially work which involved intensive labor in the hot sun, was frowned upon by Fairtrade, and parents were advised that at most, these young teens could be allowed to work an hour or two on the weekends and only under the supervision of their parents.
Ravel Gonzalez, 37, guilty of causing 2 deaths by careless conduct
Today, a jury of 5 men and 4 women deliberated for less than three hours before returning into the courtroom of Supreme Court Justice John "Troadio " Gonzalez to announce their unanimous guilty verdict against Ravel Gonzalez, 37, a Crown counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General and a former United Democratic Party (UDP) mayor of Orange Walk Town, who was indicted on two counts of causing death by careless conduct.
On June 15, 2008, Gonzalez, who was the mayor of Orange Walk Town at the time of the accident, was driving his burgundy Dodge Caravan when he fatally injured Martina Lopez, a two-year-old, and Manuel Coto. The incident occurred between Miles 35 and 36 on the Philip Goldson Highway.
Ravel was heading from Belize City to his home on the San Antonio Road, in the Orange Walk District, when he accidentally knocked down Coto and Lopez. Coto was walking a bicycle with Lopez on it, when they were knocked down while in the company of three other family members on the highway.
Breaking Belize News
Police make progress in Kelvin Usher case
In other news from the Rural Police Division, the body of Kelvin Usher, found badly burned on the roadside in the village of Bermudian Landing two weeks ago, has been positively identified as his. Police believe they know what led to his death but continue their investigations so [�]
Minor wounded in altercation with father
There was an incident reported in Sandhill on Monday where a 16-year-old minor was stabbed. The incident is sensitive but we understand that it happened when he was caught in a compromising position with a young woman, allegedly by that young woman's father, who inflicted the stab wounds. [�]
Kids skipping CXC's despite subsidy?
The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) is the standard end-of-term examination for fourth form students leaving high school. Since last year based on the Ministry of Human Development and Education's means survey among Standard five students preparing for the Primary School Examination (PSE) and Third Form students [�]
Special Envoy addresses crime against women
The recent spate of domestic incidents involving and against women has become serious enough to attract the attention of the Police Department which is fashioning a special strategy to address it. Also keeping an eye is the office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, and today [�]
Special Olympics athletes return with silver
The four young women representing Belize at the 14th biennial Summer Special Olympics World Games concluded over the weekend in Los Angeles, California, returned home today with very special medals. Ana Emmanuel, Jasmine Flores, Jayna Locke and Ilda Romero placed second in the unified team category in the [�]
Value System Disorder
Post Independent Belize: The Belize political system, which has been ruled via bipartisanship of the People's United Party (PUP - current opposition) and the United Democratic party (UDP - current party in power), have been successful in obscuring the vast wealth of Belize and also successfully conditioning you, the Belizean people, [�]
Construction workers safe after vessel capsizes near Punta Negra
Placencia Police confirm that the four construction workers traveling on a small vessel with materials from Placencia to Punta Negra which capsized this morning are safe. Their safety was in doubt after it was reported that the group did not know how to swim in deep waters but [�]
UDP offers advice to PUP, but no election date
The People's United Party (PUP) continues to fight its way out of the political wilderness. For their chief opponents, the United Democratic Party (UDP), the public rivalry is both a source of humor and caution. Education Minister Patrick Faber, the area representative in the Collet Division told 7 [�]
Teenager injured in road traffic accident
A traffic accident at the entrance of Bullet Tree Village around 6:00 p.m yesterday, August 3rd, resulted in a teenager being transported to the K.H.M.H after the motorcycle he was driving, crashed into the back of a Toyota pickup truck. The pickup truck, driven by Arnulfo Manzanero, was coming from [�]
Ex-LICU GM thanks members for support; vows to clear name
Two weeks after being officially terminated as General Manager for the La Inmaculada Credit Union Ltd, yesterday Yolanda Gomez spoke for the first time since the controversy surfaced. Gomez has gone on record to state that while the matter is in her attorney's hands, she cannot divulge details [�]
Judging the 2015 Belize Tourism Board awards and the big party
This year I was selected by the Quality Assurance team to be a judge for the 13th annual Belize Tourism Board Awards. It was an enjoyable and challenging job, but a great learning experience.
There were 5 of us who traveled the country going to resorts, restaurants and tour companies scoring them on a set of questions they had answered and for the most part had already turned in.
I was asked to judge one resort and two dive shops on Ambergris Caye and then fly over to Caye Caulker to score two tour companies there. A member of the Quality Assurance team was sent with each judge to monitor the interviews. The team member with me was Vanessa Jacobs. I met her at Tropic Air and off we went. As we interviewed the different businesses, I learned something new and interesting about each one and how they operate.
San Pedro, Belize Walk-About: A Groyne, A Foaming Jaguar And Dress Shopping
It's nice to be settled in back on the island - back at home. After a whirlwind July, 2 trips to Cayo, 2 kids summer camps - from ATM Cave to snorkeling the Blue Hole�I'm back for just about two weeks and then I'm off to another island. Beaver Island, Michigan. I've never been but I'm guessing some very different scenery. And cherries and cheeses and chilly nights�oh my.
Yesterday, I walked up to town along the beach and�the sargasso is a serious situation.
Here's a view of it in front of Exotic Caye Resort. They have built a bit of a sea wall at the south end of their property. Sea wall�or is it a groyne? A sand and sargasso catcher�
A much larger sea wall has been installed at the north end of the property going up to the property next door. I'm assuming Exotic Caye bought this house and its large lot?
7 Thrilling Belize Adventure Tours to add to your Bucket-list!
Belize offers an exciting mix of adventures to get your adrenaline pumping. If you are into adventure & exploring then we suggest you jump on the next flight that's headed straight for Belize & scratch these off your bucket-list!
Air Belize Skydiving allows you to fly above the Caribbean Sea where you will witness the beauty of Belize and the Placencia Peninsula from the sky. Never skydived before? no problem - Air Belize will get you up and off in no time with their newbie training program. There is no better way to travel within Belize, than by taking a thrilling helicopter ride with our friends over at Astrum. You will find yourself soaring over beautiful lagoons, rivers, caves, mountains and awe-inspiring waterfalls. You do know what a bird's eye view is like, right? BETTER. Belize offers a unique opportunity to swim with one of the world's largest mammals, the Whale Shark. Swimming amongst these gentle giants is a one of a kind and an accelerating adventure experience.
How to Have a Perfect Family Vacation in Belize
Picture this: Your kids all grown up, sharing their favorite vacation memories with their children. They'll speak of the unforgettable adventures they went on with you in the heart of the Belizean rainforest, and how much fun you all had getting sweaty under the Central American sun.
What could be better?
Got a couple of hard-to-impress teens? Kids with wandering minds? Picky adults who crave both unforgettable adventures and quiet moments? We've got you covered.
From the moment you walk through the doors of your private 2-bedroom villa, this vacation will already be one for the scrapbooks. As the kids bounce on the beds, take a moment to decompress from your journey in your own private garden - or take a dip in the plunge pool!
International Sources
CIBC FirstCaribbean sells out to Heritage Bank in Belize
Heritage Bank Limited (HBL) has bought the Belizean operations of CIBC FirstCaribbean.
The transaction is pending approval of the central banks of Belize and Barbados.
"We have a strong team in Belize and these decisions are never easy, however, it was necessary to sharpen our focus on the growth opportunities we have in other markets where we operate," said Rik Parkill, the chief executive officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean Inter-national Bank, which is based in Barbados.
"We conducted a strategic review of our business across the region and, given the growth path we have identified, we have made the difficult decision to sell our Belize operations," he said.
Honduran Guitarist Aurelio Martinez Brings Afro-Caribbean Sound to SFJAZZ
Singer and guitarist Aurelio Martinez from Honduras brings his highly global musical style to SFJazz Center at Miner Auditorium on Thursday, August 6th.
The Central American musician obtained international recognition beginning at age 14 thanks to his creative world music, which channels Afro-Caribbean sounds along with roots from his native Garifuna heritage. Aurelio was born in the coastal town of Plaplaya in Honduras, and he absorbed the guitar-based 'paranda' music of his Garifuna community, descendants of shipwrecked African slaves on the island of St. Vincent who were deported to the Central American coast in the late eighteenth century.
When performing, Aurelio grooves with a big band, which includes Tony Pe�alva on guitar, vocalist Alex Ciego also on bass, Dony Medina playing tambor primera, vocalist Andy Ordo�ez on shaker, as well as vocalist and percussionist Carlos Moralez.
Seven Central American Attorneys General to Meet With Assistant Secretary of State Brownfield
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) William R. Brownfield will meet tomorrow, August 5, at the State Department with Attorneys General from Central America to discuss justice and law enforcement issues, as well as ongoing reform efforts, in the region. The Attorneys General of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama are taking part in the discussion as part of a visit to the United States organized by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Central America is a priority region for the State Department, which provides support to these nations under the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America. The INL Bureau, as part of the U.S. government's Central America Regional Security Initiative, or CARSI, supports regional governments' efforts to fight corruption, increase law enforcement effectiveness, combat gangs, reform justice sectors, and strengthen civilian security.
Videos
Curious Barracuda on Broadreach Belize & Costa Rica Adventure, 2.5min. Love this curious little barracuda on the Broadreach Belize & Costa Rica Adventure. Followed them around everywhere!
Spiderman in the Jungle of Belize, 4min. Jorge Ramirez alias Spiderman is showing his passion. He knows the hidden secrets of the jungle and loves the challenge of every adventure with these creatures. But it stays also for him always a great experience and the heart is still pumping, everytime when he is playing with his best friends, the big spiders of Belize: the Tarantulas
Beauty of Belize, 4min. A collection of aerial footage I shot in a week while in the country of Belize. The country is amazing and I enjoyed my entire time there!
Powder Bun - Cooking with Flavors of Belize, 5.5min. The ultimate Belizean comfort food is actually way easier to make than you think. Powder Bun (powdah bun) is sold in almost every bakery across the country and is frequently eaten as a sugary treat for those with a sweet tooth or at tea time as a light snack.
Puerto, Bocas, and Southern Belize, 5min. My travels in the summer of 2015.
Delta 737-800 taking off Belize city international airport, 15min.
Midnite Reggae Concert @ Ambergis Caye, Belize, 3min. A clip of the big show during the annual Festival weekend in Belize! August of 2012.
The sargassum seaweed is affecting several Caribbean islands and has been reaching Belize as well., 2min. A natural phenomenon is affecting several Caribbean islands and has been reaching Belize as well. We are talking about the sargassum seaweed which is sweeping up along the beaches of San Pedro Island. Only yesterday, The Tobago House of Assembly, THA has deemed the sargassum seaweed invasion across Tobago a natural disaster. The problem is so big that at least three million dollars has been allotted to treat the problem which has begun affecting guest houses along Tobago's east and west coasts as guests have cancelled reservations as a result of the seaweed. During the Belize Tourism Boards 2015 Tourism Conference on San Pedro over the weekend, officials addressed the matter as it pertains to Belize.
Little Belize, Belize, 3min. de jugend enn Little Belize, Belize.
2015 Family Cruise to Belize Day 4 on Carnival Dream, 12min.
Belize Diving - Summer 2015, 2.5min.
Vlog 68: Belize Day 4, 3.5min. Monday I rode a bike. Volunteering in the public library.