AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Daily news prior to today Today's Belize News: December 11, 2016

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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, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

International Wheelchair Foundation distributes wheelchairs in San Pedro Town
22 residents of San Pedro Town were the recipients of a humanitarian donation by the International Wheelchair Foundation. On Tuesday, December 6th members of the Foundation and the Belize Red Cross, along with members of the local authorities, handed over 22 wheelchairs in an emotional and inspiring ceremony held at the San Pedro Lions Den. This is the third time the US-based Wheelchair Foundation has made such an important donation to Belizeans in need. This year, they brought a total of 260 wheelchairs to distribute countrywide. 25 of those were destined to San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker Village. The highest demand for wheelchairs came from San Pedro (22), while Caye Caulker was the recipient of three wheelchairs delivered on Monday, December 5th.

$800,000 land compensation not repaid; Solicitor General to sue Vega and Pitts
Since October 31, 2016, the Government of Belize (GOB) has been awaiting a response from Andre Vega (Gaspar Vega's son), and Attorney at Law Sharon Pitts to repay $800,000 that was given as compensation to them as a result of a faulty land transaction deal. On Tuesday, December 6th, the GOB decided to take a step further, and now the Solicitor General is expected to file suit against the two next week. The controversial land scandal involved formerly resigned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Gaspar Vega, who authorized the sale of privately owned property. During the time Gaspar Vega was Minister of Lands, his son Andre Vega and Pitts acquired the private property. However, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) had to reacquire the land title, and thus compensated them $400,000 each. Minister of Natural Resources Vanessa Retreage told Belize City Media that Pitts indicated that after corresponding with her attorney Hubert Elrington, she would respond to GOB by Thursday, December 1st. "However, no such response has been received, and Vega has not responded [either]. Instructions have been given to the Acting Solicitor General to prepare the claims against both persons, with the intent to file the same before the year's end," said Retreage.

Sagebrush Church aspires to feed and clothe the homeless
Sagebrush's outreach ministry teamed up on Saturday, December 3rd and hosted a "Feed and Clothe the Homeless" drive. From 7AM to 12PM, the congregation at Sagebrush Church donated non-perishable food, used clothing, sheets, toiletries, and shoes to more than 40 displaced individuals. The congregation and volunteers also fed them with hot oats, a variety of sandwiches, coffee, banana bread, cookies, biscuits and rice pudding. A team of barbers even offered their services, trimming and shaving to those who were interested, while another team of volunteers helped wash their feet, providing pampering pedicures to those willing individuals. The event was an effort to achieve Sagebrush's mission statement: "To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known", Sagebrush Pastor Rafael Torres said that helping others is always a pleasure. "This drive was a great success. We all loved, encouraged, counseled, and prayed for them all..."

PM Barrow leads team to second meeting with Superbond holders
The Prime Minister of Belize Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow left the country on Saturday, December 3rd enroute to New York City, New York USA where he attended a meeting discussing the Superbond. Barrow was joined by Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and Economic Ambassador Mark Espat. During the reunion, the trio once again tried to finalize an agreement with bondholders regarding the structuring of the Superbond payments. The Government of Belize (GOB), through an official statement issued by the Central Bank on Tuesday, December 6th, made a call to for comments from bondholders on possible structures to amend the Bond. The possibility to amend the financial terms of the Bond is crucial for Belize and the sole purpose of the meetings is to keep the negotiating process on sustainable footing. The next payment of $13 million Belize dollars is due in February and a second one in August. However, the second payment is set to increase payables up to $17 million. This increase is way ahead of the principal payments that are due to start in 2019.

Misc Belizean Sources

South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch
Our December meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Lone Star Grill & Cantina 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Poets Corner: Alphabetization
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. Let's jumpstart this ballot revolution I call on all teechaaz pupils at our tertiary institutions Let's alphabetize this nation Many of our people are not literate Some can't afford school, because they can't afford the rate Let's organize to get in their space Many would participate If this would be more compassionate In the 80s Shoman Did some alphabetization We need to disseminate information We've been giving the world false information Claiming we have a high literacy rate in this nation I challenge anyone To prove me wrong That Belize's literacy rate is above fifty bredda man This is why Elrington said we lack sophistication By doing house to house visitation So doing we can do skills mapping Assessment and one on one instructing Change the direction of this country is going If I do just one thing Teach our people what the pre amble of the constitution is saying

Ambassador Carlos Moreno hosted a Gender Based Violence (GBV) luncheon/round table in Orange Walk
As part of the Embassy's 16 Days of Activism Campaign against GBV. The event was a great opportunity to hear about GBV issues in Orange Walk and learn what the local government and civil society are doing to address these issues. The Ambassador also highlighted the work that the Embassy is doing to address GBV, such as the CARSI grant, Gender Working Group, 16 Days of Activism Campaign, and other initiatives.

Corozal Christmas Parade
GET READY! Our traditional Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, December 18th at the Corozal Central Park beginning at 6:00 P.M. Come on and join in. Bring your special float representing the Corozal Community. Have lots of fun and enjoy. See you there!!

Committee for the Conservation of the Chiquibul and Mopan Watersheds
The Guatemalan Committee for the Conservation of the Chiquibul and Mopan Watersheds met with FCD to identify community conservation projects for 2017. This effort is supported by the British Embassy in Belize.

Barn owl chicks
Gorgeously ugly pair of barn owl chicks. Growing like weeds! Thanks to the caring family that recovered them from a house undergoing roof renovations, these two babies will soon make it back into the wild and start work on the local rat populations

The Reporter

House of Representatives wraps up 2016 session
The House of Representatives has held its final meeting for the year 2016. Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber, led the meeting, which began shortly after 10 a.m., and lasted until almost 5 p.m. Faber was holding over for Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who was out of the country on medical business, and is scheduled to return on Sunday. At the meeting, the government made three motions, all of which went through the full process from being introduced to being passed. The government also introduced seven Bills to be read. Those included: General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation 2016/2017 (No. 2) Bill, 2016; Treasury Bills (Amendment) (No.3) Bill, 2016; Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Private Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2016;Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 2016; and Non-Governmental Organization (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Of those Bills, three of them: General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation 2016/2017 (No. 2) Bill, 2016; Treasury Bills (Amendment) (No.3) Bill, 2016; and Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016, were introduced and passed in one sitting.

Researchers begin crocodile population survey
The Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC) is collaborating with researchers all over Belize for a population survey of Belize's morelet crocodile. The CRC and its partners began the five-component research this weekend, and expect to conclude it within a year's time. The research components include: habitat monitoring; nocturnal eye shine surveys, capture and tag surveys, nest surveys, and community surveys. The nocturnal eye shine surveys entails going out at night and shining a special light, to capture the distinct eye shine of a crocodile. While the community surveys involve engaging persons on an individual basis to find out their perceptions on crocodiles. According to Marissa Coleman, researcher with CRC, explained that the last population survey done on the morelet crocodile, one of Belize's only two fresh water species of crocodile, was in 1995. She explained that the survey is important because the morelet crocodile is the species most commonly involved in human/crocodile conflict. Currently Belize has no crocodile management plan, and the survey will help to craft a management plan.

Breaking Belize News

Mermaids coming to Belize
Sirenalia, a company based in Texas, USA; which specializes in providing its clients with a unique mermaid experience, is planning a "whimsical" mermaid vacation in Belize.The vacation package is part of Sirenalia's annual Tropical Mermaid Retreat. It will be held in February 2017 from the [�]

Police seek woman for boyfriend's death
Corozal police are still seeking the common- law-wife of Armando Pelayo Jr. She was the only person with him inside their G Street home in Corozal Town when he was chopped up and shot. When police arrived on the scene sometime around 3 a.m. [�]

Blogs

Tis the Season to be Busy
The start of the Holiday Season has everyone busier than ever. Events are popping up faster than people can mark their calendars. Planning and boat decorating meetings are happening. People are counting down the days till Christmas, bears are being bought. Below is a bit of the story of a few amazing ways that Santa has already done early deliveries on both Ambergris Caye and in Belize City. This is year two of the adopt a bear program and there are more locations than ever to get you bear and help give a kid a Happy Christmas; Sandbar Hostel, Wayo's Beach Bar, Crazy Canucks Beach Bar, Palapa Bar & Grill, Marbucks Coffee House and Truck Stop (sold out.) Whether you are in or out of the country, there is a local elf who is willing to make your shopping easy for this great brown bear effort. Facebook Message or call Scott Barkhouse at 620-7480 for new backpacks $60bz and tablets $120bz. There are lots of brown bear pictures circulating on the internet to encourage you to buy a bear. Here is a photo collage from 2015 gift day at the Lions Den. The excitement in the room was amazing. Just watching the kids was so worth it and they greatly appreciated their presents with thank yous to Santa and beaming smiles.

Ak'Bol's yoga temple of tranquility is back . . . and so is Moppit!
I took Moppit for a walk - sprint, actually - up the beach to Ak'Bol Yoga Retreat and Eco Resort this morning. And wow! The over-the-water studio looks magnificent! A temple of tranquility. Two of my favorite places on the water were decimated by Hurricane Earl - the Palapa Bar and Ak'Bol. Now both are back! Kirsten Miglio and her husband Dale have been patiently rebuilding and now Kirsten will teach her first yoga session under the new palapa on Sunday!

Belize Barrier Reef celebrates 20 years as World Heritage Site
The Belize Barrier Reef is the star in the country's tourism industry. Belize has become well-known for its bountiful beauty including lush jungles, historical Mayan ruins, miles of pristine beach coast and of course its world-famous barrier reef system, perfect for snorkeling and soaking in the Caribbean spirit. The Belize Barrier Reef perfectly represents the bright and vibrant life in the jewel that is Belize. One cannot think of Belize without imagining varying shades of blinding blues covering the vast 300 kilometers that make up the barrier reef system. Belize's barrier reef is the largest in the Western and Northern hemisphere. It is one of the biggest reasons tourists flock to the small nation which enjoys the best of Central American and Caribbean culture, cuisine and landscape. Belize has always cherished its unique marine environment and has worked tirelessly to preserve the integrity of such an important eco-system. Still, there are many dangers the world's seas and oceans face, which require collaborative efforts by governments and environmental organizations to find solutions by way of feasible policies.

International Sources

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY BIRDWATCHING
Our ancestors could spot natural predators from far by their silhouettes. Are we equally aware of the predators in the present-day? Drones are remote-controlled planes that can be used for anything from surveillance and deadly force, to rescue operations and scientific research. Most drones are used today by military powers for remote-controlled surveillance and attack, and their numbers are growing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicted in 2012 that within 20 years there could be as many as 30.000 drones flying over U.S. Soil alone. As robotic birds will become commonplace in the near future, we should be prepared to identify them. This survival guide is an attempt to familiarise ourselves and future generations, with a changing technological environment. This document contains the silhouettes of the most common drone species used today and in the near future. Each indicating nationality and whether they are used for surveillance only or for deadly force. All drones are drawn in scale for size indication. From the smallest consumer drones measuring less than 1 meter, up to the Global Hawk measuring 39,9 meter in length.

CDB approves funds for poverty reduction agency in Belize
The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it will assist Belize in strengthening an institution that is a key partner and important vehicle for providing services to poor and vulnerable communities in that country. The CDB's Board of Directors has approved a US$10 million to expand the services of the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF) that was established in 1996 for promoting, appraising, financing and supervising the implementation of small and medium-sized sub-projects designed to benefit underserved communities. "CDB is pleased to support BSIF in scaling up its very important work, which increases access to basic social infrastructure and services to underserved women, men, boys and girls in Belize," said Daniel Best, Director of Projects at the CDB. The loan will be used mainly for financing social and economic infrastructure, social services and organizational strengthening sub-projects in poor rural communities. The project is estimated to cost US$12.5 million with the Belize government providing US$2.5 millionin counterpart funding towards the project.

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