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Specials and Events
Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
Honoring the Baymen during 217th St. George's Caye Day Celebrations
In two days of festivities, San Pedro residents commemorated the 217th anniversary of the Battle of St. George's Caye. St. September 10th is one of the main days of the September Celebrations and is a show of pride and patriotism. Among the activities held are the traditional Tribute to the Baymen, crowning of the newly elected Miss San Pedro and a uniform parade through the main streets of San Pedro Town.
Official ceremonies for St. George's Caye Day took place on its eve, Wednesday, September 9th. The San Pedro Cultural Committee in collaboration with the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), organized several activities to bring in the big day. The night started with a country-wide tradition, the fire engine and patriotic bicycle parade. Led by the San Pedro Fire Department, the short parade made its way through the main streets of San Pedro with colorfully and artfully decorated bicycles following behind.
Ambergris Today
Central American and Mexican brothers Independence Day Celebrations
The San Pedro Community came together at Central Park on Saturday, September 12, to celebrate along with their Central American and Mexican brothers on the Eve of their Independence Day Celebrations. There were food booths for each country and lots of entertainment to keep everybody in the celebratory mood for the entire evening. Happy September Celebrations!!!
Misc Belizean Sources
BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of September 6th - September 12th, 2015
A great group from Oldfield Outfitters in South Carolina graced the shores of our island this week. The group was a combination of light tackle fishermen and women, flyrodders and many who drifted between the two taking advantage of the daily fly casting clinics.
YOUR PARK IS A HOTSPOT!
Find the list below of eight parks countrywide offering free wireless internet access.
San Pedro Independence Day Parade 2015
Sign up now! Win cash prizes! Best float, best group. Deadline to sign up is September 18.
Potlickers In Paradise Photo Contest
Enter your pups best photo today! Win Big for Saga Humane Society! The contest is open to all dogs,
not just Potlickers; the name given to our Belizean street dogs.
If you have a potlicker, great. If you live in paradise, even better.
If your mutt is from Minnesota, that's O.K. too, the more the merrier.
We encourage you to submit your favorite photos and ask your family and friends to vote and support our rescue!
We all love to show off our pets best photo. Here is your chance to enter your pups photo and share it with the world.
Todays "achievement" thanks to the team: a Hook
Following the advice of our advisor we removed the fishing hook from the recently received crocodiles stomach surgically today. It was challenging (is it ever not?).
But thanks to a lovely team (all of them - sorry I have only taken one picture of serious Dr. Kasia closing up - welcome to BWRC Dr. K! - and I forgot the obligatory post surgery group picture - but then she was not breathing yet...) we got it done! And then the most exciting part of the day? When about 6 h after surgery ended the patient finally takes an obvious deep spontaneous breath and I can finally remove the endotracheal tube and let him do his own breathing again! About 8 - 9 h of apnoea. In many regards every bodies nightmare, but also so incredibly fascinating. I love reptile medicine (nearly as much as parasitology, wildlife rehabilitation and orthopaedic surgery) and can't wait to continue to learn more!
Fingers crossed "Hook the Second" recovers fully. It will be weeks before we will know for sure but for tonight I am hopeful - Dr. Isabelle
FULLMOON Over the Reef Concert
Saturday, September 26at 7:00pm. Join us for a night of "Sabor Latino" music at our Full Moon Concert on Saturday, Sept. 26th. Featuring local musicians and dancers on the beach at The Sandbar. Cold drinks and bar food will be on sale. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Join the San Pedro House of Culture and NICH promote our local artists and have fun dancing the nite away. See you there.
Belize Carnival 2015
Here are some of the photos from Carnival 2015. If we uploaded all the photos we would have you sitting here on Facebook for days. lol
Enjoy these photos and we promise we will add more soon for your enjoyment.
SHARE these photos with your friends and family.
Carnival 2015 - Lining up
Here are some of the photos as the Carnival Groups were lining up and getting ready to pound the pavement.
2015 Mas Camp Highlights
Are you ready for Jouvert and Carnival this Saturday, September 12th?
Here are some highlights of the Mas Camps from Day 1
Jouvert 2015 Part 2
the story continues, celebrating our jouvert
Government of Belize and Previous Owners of BTL Arrive at Settlement over Nationalization of BTL
The Government of Belize announced today that a settlement has been reached with Dunkeld International Investment Limited (which held interest in Belize Telemedia Limited ("BTL") through various companies), The Trustees of the BTL Employees Trust and British Caribbean Bank Limited, arising from the 2009 and 2011 acquisition by the Government, in the public interest, of shares and other proprietary interests in BTL.
At the time of acquisition in 2009, Dunkeld (through various holding companies) held 71.2% shares in BTL, and the BTL Employees Trust (through its holding company, Sunshine Holding Limited) owned 23% shares.
Pursuant to the Belize Telecommunications (Assumption of Control Over Belize Telemedia Limited) Orders 2009 and 2011 the Government also acquired British Caribbean Bank's interest and rights in certain loans and securities. Particularly, the Government acquired a mortgage to BTL in the sum of US$22.5 million that both the Government and BTL contend was illegal. The Bank challenged the acquisition and commenced arbitration under the 1982 Bilateral Investment Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Belize for the promotion and protection of investments.
CARILED SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
On Friday, September 11, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and The Caribbean Local Economic Development Project
(CARILED) established a formal relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The purpose of it is to enable CARILED to assist in enhancing the environment for micro and small business development and strengthen the local economy in the communities served by the SPTC. This Memorandum of Understanding is intended to formalize the principles of cooperation between the two parties.
CARILED is a project implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD).
As part of the commitment to the project, the SPTC has appointed Jorge Aldana as the CARILED officer and will act as the direct contact for this project.
"OUR ROOTS"
The Embassy of Mexico cordially extends an invitation
to the exhibit of 11 Artists from Quitana Roo:
"OUR ROOTS"
Thursday September 17th at 6:30 P.M.at the "Institute of Mexico
in Belize"
FREE ADMISSION!
Rotaract Charity Poker Tournament
The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio has rescheduled their Charity Poker Tournament.
"Rotaract San Ignacio brings to you a Charity Event:
Poker Tournament! GRAND PRIZE $5,000!!!
Buy in: $400 (no re-buy) Includes entrance.
$20 Per Person to Enter.
Location: Bedran Hall San Ignacio San Ignacio Resort Hotel
On October 25th,2015.
Registration Starts at: 1PM
!! Fabulous Gate Prizes !!!
!! FREE SNACKS AND WINE !!
!! WINE TASTING !!
!!! Silent Auction !!!"
DEDAN KAMATHI & NURI AKBAR: LEGENDS ACROSS SHORES
In the spirit of beautiful human being that loved the Belizean people called Dedan Kamathi. May his humble and progressive spirit rest in peace. He was a friend of Belize, and Belize and Belizeans need all the friends it can find especially in this time. Amandla, Awatu!
BELIZEAN FOOTBALLERS REPRESENT: YOU ARE BELIZE!
Wanna say a big time respect to these Belizean footballers who have always played like their lives depended on it. When you represent Little Belize, you defend the sovereignty of a great nation brothers. You are giants in your own way. You are Belize!
Channel 7
GOB Settles With Ashcroft Alliance
Six years ago - in August of 2009, government took over BTL - and since then it's been sustained and costly warfare with the Ashcroft Alliance. Well, the big news today is that the Barrow Administration has settled with the former owners of BTL, which are all Ashcroft Allied companies. It is the product of direct negotiation between Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Michael Ashcroft which was built around meetings the two held in May and August - followed up in each case by a string of emails negotiating the finer points.
The settlement was signed on Friday September 11th, and news of it comes two weeks after the settlement with Fortis for BEL was settled two weeks ago.
At a press conference today, the Prime Minister expressed relief and rather less triumphalism than when he took it over 6 years ago:
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"That the government of Belize has settled the BTL issue. We have reached an agreement with the former shareholders of BTL. I have been aware every live long day that this is a matter that has been with us for 6 long years. We are absolutely satisfied that what we did was right and we consider what's happening now as vindication."
A Killing In Toledo
A body was found in the TOLEDO District this afternoon at 2:00. The body has been identified as Guatemalan national Oscar Ik. His body was found in some bushes near Corazon Creek - 45 miles away from PG. Police told us that he was killed sometime between yesterday morning around 6 and mid-day today. His body was found with a wound to the neck. Police say that robbery was likely the motive because Ik came from Guatemala and sold clothes in the villages. But it seems that yesterday when he was on his way to deliver an order in Otoxsha Village he was attacked and never made it to the village. Police have no one detained. We will keep following the story.
Man Beaten Nearly To Death By Relatives In Chan Chen
A man is lucky to be alive after he was beaten to within an inch of his life - but what is even more disturbing is that a family member may be responsible. We have photos of him after the beating, but we warn, if you're squeamish they may seem a little graphic. We got them form his family.
The incident happened in Chan Chen Village in Corozal between Friday night and early Saturday morning. According to a family member, 42 year old Mark Villanueva was at a camp site where he stays in the village when he was attacked and dragged to a nearby property. Villanueva was severely beaten and the family says almost buried alive. Villanueva was found there after another relative called his sister at around 5:30 Saturday morning and told her of this gruesome attack. If it wasn't for that call, Villanueva would not have survived. We spoke with Villanueva's niece, Shanna Pott today and she told us the chilling tale of the beastly attack.
Faith Nazarene Opens, Students A No-Show
On Friday, we told you how classes were supposed to resume today at Faith Nazarene Primary School in San Ignacio. That's because the teachers and embattled principal, Policarpia Pech, came to a compromise on how to handle the professional differences of opinions. Well, everyone showed up to work thinking that it would be a normal day only to find out that a vast majority of the students were kept home by their parents.
Now, for this school year, 411 students have been enrolled for classes. So, when teacher took attendance of the children in their classes, they surprised to find that in each class, from the infants level all the way to standard 6, only 10% of students showed up. When the attendance for the entire school tabulated, the Administration and Management found out that only 105 students, or 26% attended classes today.
So, why didn't the school have full attendance? After all, the teachers agreed that the students needed their school days, and they couldn't maintain their strike against the principal because that would hurt the children in their care most of all.
Murder In Maypen
A decomposed body was found floating in the Belize River on Saturday morning. The man - identified as 51 year old Salvadoran Jorge Aguirre worked as a care taker on Carl McCulloch's farm in May Pen Village off the northern highway. But early Saturday morning a neighbor along with another villager found his foot floating in the river. Shortly after, the rest of his body came floating down as well. Based on the post mortem examination Aguirre was killed late Wednesday evening, dumped in the river and floated unto the river bank on Saturday. Police also found a trail of blood from the farm leading to the river indicating that he was dragged to the river. Aguirre's murder has shocked this small and quiet community because they say nothing like this has ever happened there. We spoke to the neighbor who saw his friend's body parts floating by his house.
Voice of: Neighbor
"I stand up by my door, because the river is ring in front of me and we saw something drifting down. So my daughter said to me that it looked like something die. Not knowing it was the man's leg. A guy who live below me call and said that he found a man's leg floating."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So you went down to see the guy's leg?"
Voice of: Neighbor
"They guy who lives here went down and drag it in the boat, then while dragging it passes my land I saw that it was a man's leg. The guy who lives above me came and say that they found Jorge. They killed him and threw him in the water."
Police: Vance Cabral Killing Murder, Not Accidental
On Friday we told you about the killing of Placencia tour guide Vance Cabral. His cousin told police he accidentally shot Cabral in the temple with his licensed 9 millimeter pistol while they were socializing on a boat in Seine Byte. Well, police disagree - they say it's murder, which means the cops are convinced there was the intent to killed. They have charged 52 year old Jeffrey Cabral with murder.
Another Attempt At Theft At Ministry of Health
You might find our next story a little incredible, but it's true. Just about 10 days after car thieves stole a Hilux from the Ministry of Health parking lot in Belmopan - they apparently tried to steal another yesterday morning. This time the targeted vehicle was a Futon Tunland pickup assigned to the Ministry in Belmopan and located at the western Regional Compound. Around 9:00 on Sunday night, the security Guard saw two men inside the pickup. But when they saw him - they dashed out and disappeared somewhere beyond the garage. When he checked the vehicle he saw that they were trying to remove the fuse box and console below the steering wheel. This may have been to attempt to disable a tracking device. Whatever the case, only the signal indicator was damaged and the vehicle was secured.
PM Says CWU Failed FCIB Workers
On Friday you heard the President of the Christian Workers Union Audrey Matura Shepherd blaming the government for going to the House tomorrow to vest First Caribbean Bank's assets to Heritage Bank. Matura Shepherd said it is a betrayal of the FCIB workers carried out with the full complicity of government. Well today the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance said that if anyone has betrayed the workers, it is their union - which failed to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement in a timely fashion:
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Despite numerous invitations from the bank to the CWU to submit proposals so that the negotiating process over a new collective bargaining agreement could have begun for well over a year. The CWU did not respond. Similar to what happening at the Port or what happened at the Port. When The CWU leadership finally responded, it was something like 2-3 weeks before the sale of FCIB to Heritage was announced. If they had responded when they were supposed to have, no doubt there would have been a new CBA in existence and we would not have anything like the difficulties we are facing.
Senator Davis Says Not Going Anywhere
And so that vesting will go to the House of Representatives tomorrow, and the senate shortly thereafter - where Senator Ray Davis will be right there to vote on it - because the senator for labour and civil society says he's not going anywhere.
Last week, we showed you our interview with Marvin Mora, the President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, when he discussed the union's position on Ray Davis' choice to stay on as Senator for the Labour Unions and Civil Society - even after the NTUCB voted to remove him.
Well, a few minutes before news time, Davis released a very lengthy statement in which he discusses his supposed "removal" from the Senate. He notes that from his legal advice, he has not violated any laws or standing orders which govern the conduct and performance of a senator, and so, he sees no reason for him to leave in the manner that the NTUCB is trying to remove him. He says, that not only did he email both the President and the Secretary General of the union - to tell them he was leaving at the end of June, he event went as far as to contact the Clerk of the Senate to tell him that he would not be able to attend the now infamous July 1st. Senate meeting.
Woman Cop Tried To Take Away Gun, Her Boyfriend Shot
Police swarmed the city streets during the carnival for public safety - but when the cops returned to their usual numbers in the post carnival craziness, three people were shot in the city.
The first case involves a fearless police woman - who tried to take a weapon off the street all on her own. It happened on Currasow Street around 9:40 when well-known officer Christine Avila struggled with the man who had the gun - but he got away - and then fired shots at her and her boyfriend, Joseph Debride - who was shot in the neck but survived. Police filled in the blanks today:..
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Div. Southside
"It was not a case where the police was targeted but what happened? A female police officer was socializing on Curassow Street along with her boyfriend, when a male person came, who said that he had a firearm on him.
Police Raid Down On George Street
Police have the suspect for that crime in custody. He was caught this morning on a pre-dawn raid in the George Street area. Now, just 10 days earlier, Southside Commander Chester Williams was in that area on a community meet and greet. But this morning the only thing greeting residents of George Street were GSU clubs and guns. 12 People were rounded up - and residents say many more were roughed up. So, is this passive aggressive police behavior? Williams said it's not the GSU going rogue; he fully sanctioned the operation and for a very good reason:..
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Div. Southside
"The reason why we descended on George Street today was because over the past three weeks, every shooting we have had on Southside Belize City came from the George Street area. Those persons on George Street who are involved in the criminal activities and out there shooting at people who are trying to make a difference in their life, then we cannot tolerate that. And as I've said before, once that happen, we will come at you with full force.
Two Shot In City After Misunderstanding At Park
But George Street didn't have anything to do with a shooting that happened also on Saturday in the city. It happened at around 11:30 p.m. on Antelope Street where 21-year-old Andrea Buller was shot to the abdomen and 25-year-old Kendal Sanchez was shot to the left arm and right thigh. Williams told us more:
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Div. Southside
"In that incident two persons were shot at at a home and from what we are gathering, this is something that started at the BTL Park after the carnival where there seemed to be a confrontation between two groups and when these persons went home, they were inside their homes sleeping, not really sleeping but lying down and from outside of the building shots were fired and they were caught both Andrea and another fellow Kendale Sanchez, who also received gunshot wounds and they too are admitted at KHMH in a stable condition."
Men Open Fire On Sandhill House
There was also a shooting early this morning but this time in Sandhill Village. At around 1 this morning, Sandhill resident Brian Davis was at his home when 4 men started shooting at his house. Luckily no one was injured but it left Davis and his family shaken. When we spoke to police this afternoon they told us that it was all because of a dispute over a bicycle and cash.
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Commander - Eastern Division Rural
"This morning after 1am we received information of the shooting incident in the Sandhill Village area where Mr. Brian Davis reported that he saw 4 male persons whom he know very well. One with a 16 gauge shotgun and one with what he suspected to be 38 revolver. He managed to scamper into his home where shots were fired into his house. As a matter of fact into his front door to be exact, but no one was injured. The Rural Rapid Response acted promptly and have thus far apprehended one of the suspects and we are looking for 3 others. The victim or complainant was the intended target. What happened was, they had a conflict yesterday over the bicycle and some money and the problem was not reported to the police and this is one of the reason we are campaigning with this slogan, "if you see something you, say something, you may just stop something.""
BTV Has a List of Demands, Ready To "Escalate"
The Belize Territorial Volunteers and COLA held a press conference in Belize City today. They focused again on Belize southern border with Guatemala - the Sarstoon River - but we found today that they are making four demands of government. Here they are:
Wil Maheia - Leader, Belize Territorial Volunteers
"Over the past years, this talk about not even a blade of grass or not even a blade of sand seems to be just words. Because as we speak today, Guatemalans are illegally occupying Belizean territory. Not only occupying but building infrastructure on Belize's territory."
Orlando De La Fuente, Belize Territorial Volunteers
"It's not our intension to tackle the government or have they fall in a way that would not be democratic but we do need to see a change in policy. The first demand is for the removal of Sedi Elrington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We believe that under his leadership, Guatemalans position has strengthened. The second one is for the removal of a road and power lines that loop into Jalacte, from Santa Cruz village.
Another Charged For Toledo Gang Rape
Another man was charged in connection with the gang rape in Indian Creek. As we told you two sisters Santa Shol and Zita Shol along with Alberto Canti were charged for abetment to rape. Well another was charged - Wilhem Garbutt was arrested and charged with rape and aggravated assault yesterday. The incident happened on Sunday August 30th. A 21 year old woman was walking alone near the Nim Li Punit junction at around 4:30 in the evening. That's when 4 women grabbed her, beat her and pushed her in some bushes nearby where a man held her down while another man - Garbutt - raped her.
The Petro-Chapel?
In April the Prime Minister announced that he and the council of churches had decided to partner on the construction of a Chapel on the grounds of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. That was at the height of the Opposition's campaign against Petrocaribe spending, and the critics suggested that he was wooing the church to support petro programs by giving them access to funds for a house of devotion.
Well today, 4 months later, the church and the Administration at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital held a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of this new church. It's part of KHMH's commemoration of its 20th anniversary, and 7News stopped by to find out more:
Dr. Adrian Coye - CEO, KHMH
"This gift as you said, there is a background to the story of this gift of our chapel at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. It is a gift for the people of Belize, for it to be utilized because health is what we are all about in this hospital. Health is not just physical wellbeing or just to be sick. Health has many other dimension to it. Social wellness, mental wellness and of course the spiritual wellness. So in a way we are covering all the bases here now at our national institution."
Thousands Getting On Bad With J'Ouvert
On Saturday, Channel 7 had extensive coverage of the 2015 Carnival Road March, but that's just the culmination of a day which started before dawn with the j'ouvert. That's where ordinary citizens, take to the streets by the thousands and have their own party with mud, alcohol and dancing.
7News was out there on Saturday when we saw A STAGGERING 10,000 youths and young adults taking over the streets.
Here are few highlights:
Carnival's Winners and Losers
And that mud soaked mayhem led, of course, to the Carnival Road March with all it's colour, splendor and wild dancing in the street. Our Carnival Host Wilson Grinage spoke to a few of the revelers when they were just getting ready for the road:�
And at the end of the day, the winners were for the junior category, Jump Street Posse, and for the seniors, Soca Moca came in first. We spoke to representatives of both camps:..
In the junior category, second place went to Mahogany Masqueraders, while Sunshine took third place.
In the seniors, Princess Mother Nature was second and Titans took third.
And before we close tonight - we'd like to urge all our viewers on Central Cable who didn't have audio on their 7News tonight to Call Central Cable and complain - because the fault was at their end, not at ours. IT's a repeated problem with this cable system which affects thousands of viewers, but, regrettably, it's one we are powerless to fix, so please, call them and complain.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
