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Canaan Students Compete In Sagicor Visionaries Challenge
Tomorrow high schools from across the country will compete in the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge- a competition that seeks to test the student's innovative minds. The students of Canaan SDS High School are ready for tomorrow and today we dropped by to learn about their electromagnetic generator ventilation system.
With a bicycle frame, some electrical wires, a car battery, a car alternator, a house fan and an inverter the students of Canaan SDS High School made an electromagnetic generator ventilation system.
STUDENT
"Simply the student just needs to ride the bike like a normal bike, pedals it and then when the student pedals the bike the mechanical energy that the student creates goes down to the alternator which then the alternator rotate making the alternator functionable which means making electricity. Then that electricity flows down to the12 volts battery and then that battery is used by the alternator and from there it goes down to the inverter and the inverter inverts the 12 volts into a 110 volts that any household appliances use and in this case we pick to use the fan. The battery lasts up to 120 minutes which is two class periods approximately."
Man Charged For Shop-Lifting
57-year-old Tony Rowland, who allegedly shop-lifted four injector cleaners from Uno Gas Station, located on Youth For The Future Drive, was charged with theft when he appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. Rowland plead not guilty to the charge. He was offered a bail of five hundred dollars and his case was adjourned until February 17, 2015. But Rowland was unable to meet bail so he was remanded to prison. The incident occurred yesterday. Police reported that Rowland was seen putting the injector cleaners in a bag. He was detained and was handed over to the police when they arrived. The cleaners have a value of forty two dollars.
Education Conference Highlights Detrimental Factors in Belize
Caribbean Union of Teachers (C-U-T)/ Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU)/ Education International (EI) are hosting a three day Education Conference at the Best Western Biltmore Hotel hosted by The Belize National Teachers' Union with their theme "Embracing Opportunities in Education and Defending Trade Unionism. The Program is geared towards finding the similar problems that Belize and the other Caribbean Countries are facing the education system. Love News spoke to Caribbean Union of Teachers (C-U-T) President, Marvin Andall, who told us more on the Education Conference and the problems that the Caribbean Nations are looking on together to surmount.
MARVIN ANDALL
"We have here the sixth education conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers held here in Belize, hosted by the Belize National Teachers Union. It is a coming together of teachers unions especially the leadership of those unions from across the Caribbean to discuss pertinent issues in education as it affects teachers and the improvement of the education system in the various territories including Belize.
Guatemalan Waitresses Charged With Illegal Entry
33-year-old, Sylvia Arias, and 25-year-old, Rosa Velasquez, two Guatemalan waitresses from Puerto Barrios, were each fined one thousand dollars today when they appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart and plead guilty to charges of illegal entry. They were ordered to pay the fines forthwith. If they default on payment they will serve six months. Magistrate Stuart explained to them that an order has been made for their removal which will be done either after they have served the time or paid the fine. Arias and Velasquez were busted on December 1 when police stopped a passenger bus they were in at a police check point at mile four on the George Price Highway. Arias and Velasquez were unable to produce any travel document so they were handed over to immigration officers. They were interviewed by the officers and the interview revealed that they entered Belize via the banks of the Mopan River and they were on their way to Bella Vista.
Belizean Marine Scientist Joins Oceana
Oceana announced today that Belizean Marine Scientist, Dr. Isani Chan, will be joining their team. Dr. Chan officially becomes part of Oceana tomorrow. He is originally from Punta Gorda and his expertise is expected to bolster Oceana's efforts to protect Belize's precious marine resources. Chan holds doctoral degrees in both Marine Biology and Philosophy from the National Taiwan Ocean University in Taiwan as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize. Before moving back to Belize, he was in Taiwan in the field of natural resource management and conservation. He once worked as a Marine Biologist for the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and as a Fisheries Officer and Marine Biologist at the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve for the Belize Fisheries Department.
Belize Hands Guatemala Pro-Tempore Presidency
Belize has officially handed over the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMISCA), to Guatemala. This occurred after a two day regional discussion at the 41st Ordinary Meeting. Belize's Minister of Health, Pablo Marin, was held the post before passing it on to Guatemala's Health Minister, Luis Enrique Monterroso, who will now serve for the next six months. Under his term, Marin faced several challenges including Ebola and Chikungunya- both which were addressed. The ordinary meeting took place yesterday and today at the Banyan Bay Resort in San Pedro Town.
GOB Easing Mortgages In December
Independence Day 2014 saw the announcement from the Prime Minister that the Government would be easing mortgage owners by paying the mortgage interest for the month of December. Well, December is upon us and as promised by the Prime Minister Barrow, that mortgage program is now being offered. Ofcourse, there are some conditions to adhere to in order to qualify and then there is the application form that needs to be filled out, if you are interested in capitalizing on this offer. According to a release from the Ministry of Finance, the following criteria have been approved by Cabinet. First of all, the assistance applies to borrowers at the National Bank, the commercial banks, credit unions, the Development Finance Corporation and the Belize Social Security Board. Mortgage owners original loan amount has to be for one hundred thousand dollars or less and the mortgage loan has to be for new home construction; in other words, if you went back into the bank to do home improvements, thereby adjusting the principal in any way, you would not qualify. Application forms are also available at the website for the ministry of finance at www.mof.gov.bz .
Andrade Speaks on Need For Berthering Facility
Last week Belize lost more than a million dollars after four cruise ships turned around with its passengers after the rough waters made it impossible to tender the tourists to land. Recent events have brought into sharp perspective as to why there is a need of a berthing facility. According to the Director Cruise & Regional Initiative of the Belize Tourism Board, Valdemar Andrade, Belize is months away from having such a facility in place:
VALDEMAR ANDRADE
"The perspective of the BTB is very straight forward. We have always recommended that there is a need for the docking facility because of the great growth of the cruise tourism industry and that is a testament to the job that the BTB has done in terms of marketing the destination, partnering with the Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association and all the relevant stakeholders both with the Forts Street tourism village and also with the independent stakeholders we have to work in the cruise industry to create a better destination and so as we go doing that we will have more and more cruise lines that will be visiting Belize.
BSI And BSCFA Negotiates Sugar Can Crop Season 2015
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and Belize Sugar Industries, BSI, are set to meet tomorrow morning in Orange Walk to resume negotiations and thus give way to the start of the 2014/2015 sugar cane crop season. A meeting was held in Corozal Town today where the BSCFA met to prepare for the negotiations. Arturo Cant�n was there and has the details.
ARTURO CANTUN
F"ollowing last week's meeting between BSI, BSCFA and the government of Belize, today BSI informed it is ready to go back to the negotiating table. The 18 directors and the negotiating team of the BSCFA met in Corozal Town today to plan for tomorrow's meeting.Chairman of the BSCFA, Ezekiel Cansino did not give details about what was discussed in the meeting but told us that the BSCFA's position remains strong and determined."
EZEKIEL CANSINO
"I don't want to discuss or talk about the decision or the strategies that we will be giving to BSI."
ARTURO CANTUN
"Basically your position remains the same ?"
EZEKIEL CANSINO
"Just like we said we are trying to be flexible and we are getting a proposal to present to BSI and we are hoping that BSI can be flexible also and go through this impasse."
Launch For Violence Against Women: Preparations in Progress
Officials of the Women's Department are meeting today at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Hotel. Ava Pennill, Director of Women's Department, told us that they are in the preparation process for the launching of the BA1: Prevention of Violence against Women in Central America Program focusing on how to deal with violence against women.
AVA PENNILL
"We are doing some preparatory work for the BA 1 project which is a prevention of violence against women in central America. It is a project which is done through SICA. The project aims to address violence against women, femicide and trafficking of women as well. The project will look at supporting systems so that they can look at women who experience this type of violence and also to provide safe spaces or protection for victims of this type of violence. We're looking at several areas, we are looking at strengthening systems that already exist, looking at how different players work together like how the social workers, the police, the education, the community people; how do they work together, how do they communicate, how do we strengthen that so that women do not fall between the cracks.
Prime Minister Leaves Belize To Attend CARICOM Summit
Prime Minister Dean Barrow left the country today to attend the CARICOM Cuba summit that will take place in Havana, Cuba. The Prime Minister will stop off in Atlanta, Georgia USA for personal leave before heading on to Cuba. He is expected to return to the country next Tuesday. During his absence Deputy Prime, Minister Gaspar Vega, will act as Prime Minister.
PlusTV
Santa Elena Home shot at, no one injured
There was a shooting in Santa Elena on Monday afternoon, December 1.
31-year-old Calix Cruz, a Belizean Laborer of� Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, reported that while at home sleeping, he heard what sounded like a gunshot in front of his house...
Four Charged for Immigration Offences
2 Belizean residents were arraigned in court for allegedly hiding 2 Cuban Nationals who entered Belize illegally.
The two Cubans are 29 year-old Jolkies Guerra and 27 year-old Jaima Aldana.
Police intercepted the Cubans in a car and, after questioning, they admitted to police that they entered Beliz...
More illegal entrants to be deported
A pair of Guatemalan waitresses were caught in the country after illegally entering through the Mopan River, en route to the suburban neighborhood of Bella Vista in Belize City.
Thirty-three year old Sylvia Arias and 25 year old Rosa Velasquez, both from Puerto Barrios, were each fined $1,000 on Tue...
Drug Trafficking charges
On Monday December 1, police were conducting mobile patrol on Kraal Road, Belize City when they saw a man of dark complexion with a Black Jacket over his shoulder. When the man saw the cops, he allegedly dropped the Jacket and ran off...
Sentenced to 5 year jail term but on bail after two months
54 year old Jamaican national, Delroy Chambers, was convicted two months ago for firearm, ammunition and drug trafficking and was sentenced to two to five years in prison...
Accused shoplifter in Court
Fifty-seven year old Tony Rowland, who allegedly shop-lifted 4 injector cleaners from the convenience store at Uno Gas Station on Youth For The Future Drive, Belize City, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft, when he appeared on Tuesday before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith.
Tony Rowland ...
Ammunition Believed To Be Gang Property Discovered
Ammunition believed to be the property of the PIV gang were found in an abandoned lot in Belize City.
According to reports, GSU were tipped off and searched the lot situated at the corner of Flamboyant Street and Croton Lane . In a plastic bag , they discovered 60 rounds of 5...
Fine for amputee accused over cannabis
Last Friday Alton White, aged 50, a taxi driver and food vendor, was successfully able to reduce a charge of drug trafficking against himself and common-law wife Idolly Fraser to drug possession.
He says that the 119 grams of cannabis found by members of the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) at his home i...
Andy P would have been 54 on Tuesday
The legendary Andy Palacio died in 2008 of� a stroke. His music lives on and the man himself has not been forgotten.
Tuesday would have marked Palacio's 54th birthday, and commemorative masses were held in various locations.
Those who have not forgotten the musical icon and wanted to pay their re...
Amandala
Roger and Kendis of Ghost Town get Supreme Court bail
Two men who are alleged members of the Ghost Town Crips gang who were remanded to prison on charges of attempted murder and illegal firearm and ammunition possession were released on Supreme Court bail this morning after their bail application was heard before Justice Denis Hanomansingh.
Roger Anthony, 37, the reputed leader of the gang, who had renounced his gang leadership in October in a media ceremony at which he appeared in the company of the head of the Gang Suppression Unit, and Kendis Flowers, 23, who is said to be Anthony's right-hand lieutenant, were both released on a $5,000 bail plus one surety in the same amount.
Justice Hanomansingh stipulated that the men are to report to the Queen Street Police Station every Friday, beginning on Friday, December 5, until their case is dealt with.
2 executions in 1 day!
A man is in police custody in connection with the murder of Kenroy Parham, 25, a former Belize City resident, which is believed to have occurred during the early hours of last Saturday, November 29, in the Mahogany Heights Community at Mile 31 on the George Price Highway.
So far, the details concerning the incident have been sketchy, and police have only reported that Parham was found in the area of Mahogany Heights, a settlement of just over 1,000 residents, with multiple gunshot wounds in the back and head.
Authorities also said that an individual has been detained and another is being sought for questioning as their investigations continue.
Parham, who previously resided at 16 Curassow Street in Belize City before he relocated to Mahogany Heights, was remanded to prison on February 28, 2012, after he was busted with a loaded firearm during a raid by the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU).
Infighting forces Santa Familia by-election
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development, NEMO and Immigration and Nationality has submitted a request to the Elections and Boundaries Department for a by-election for the village of Santa Familia, Cayo District, after four of seven village council members formally tendered their resignation last month.
An official source told our newspaper that two Government officers were separately dispatched to the village to attempt to help the village council reps to reconcile their differences, triggered by infighting between rival political camps, but the village council members have decided to maintain their stance.
Reports to our newspaper are that there was a UDP standard-bearer convention for Cayo Northeast and the schism stemmed from the fact that the village councilors were split in their support for the contenders.
Mahogany Heights man, 19, charged for the murder of Emerson Arnold, 35
A Mahogany Heights teenager appeared in the Belize City Magistrate's Court this morning, where Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith arraigned him on one count of murder for causing the unlawful death of Emerson Arnold, 35, on Friday, November 28.
When Smith asked Jason Sanchez, 19, if he understood the charge that she had just read to him, Sanchez replied, "not guilty."
Smith told him that she was not asking him about his plea at that point: "Do you understand that charge that I just read," she repeated.
Finally, Sanchez replied, "Yes, I understand."
Smith remanded him into custody until his next court date on February 2, 2015.
5.1 million persons died from diabetes in 2013
Diabetes is a chronic disease which occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that allows glucose from food to enter the body's cells, where it is converted into energy needed by muscles and tissues to function.
A person with diabetes does not absorb glucose properly, and glucose remains circulating in the blood (a condition known as hyperglycaemia) damaging body tissues over time. This damage can lead to disabling and life-threatening health complications.
People are said to have developed diabetes if their fasting blood sugar is found to be over 126 mg/dl.
This thief "facey bad!"
Police have detained a "facey" thief who burglarized the storeroom of a businessman and stole a number of electrical conduits, then went back to the business place of the owner and tried to sell him his own goods - twice.
Alvin Gillett, the owner of Supply Plus Distributor, in Belama, observed that the conduits the man was trying to sell him were similar to those that are sold by his business. He went to his storeroom in Buttonwood Bay, where he found that it had been burglarized and found that 14 rolls of his electrical conduits, valued at $50.00 per roll and totaling $700, had been stolen.
The businessman immediately alerted police, who began an immediate investigation which led to the detention of four men. Police said that the 14 rolls of conduits were found with them.
Opposition PUP to nominate Richard Harrison for Cayo North by-election
After an executive meeting held in Belize City today, the Opposition People's United Party (PUP) confirmed that Richard Harrison, a businessman of San Ignacio, Cayo, will be nominated to contest the January 5, 2015 by-election for Cayo North - triggered two years before its due date after the surprise resignation of Joseph Mahmud, the PUP's Cayo North area representative, on Monday.
The ruling United Democratic Party had picked its candidate in February 2014 and Mahmud was the man who the Opposition had thought would contest the 2017 general elections for them in Cayo North. However, Mahmud tendered his resignation in October as the PUP's standard bearer for that division, although he assured his party that he would stay in the seat until 2017.
The PUP was therefore taken by surprise when Mahmud resigned from Parliament without warning them, forcing them into crisis mode - which meant that the PUP had to abort its plans to hold a divisional convention in Cayo North.
Down the home stretch in PLB race to playoffs
We're still waiting for the official report from the league secretariat, but we are confident of the final scores for the past weekend's clashes in this very tight race to see which four teams will make the playoffs in the Premier League of Belize Opening Season 2014-2015.
BDF 1-0 Belmopan Bandits
There were two monster Saturday night encounters. Up north at the People's Stadium, Belize Defence Force FC got a goal from sensational young striker Ambrose "Fubu" Thomas, and they made it stand up for the 1-nil win over defending champions Belmopan Bandits.
Police United 6-4 Wagiya
Meanwhile, out west at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, it was real "football fireworks," as home standing Police United prevailed in a high scoring 6-4 affair over visiting Wagiya from Dangriga. The damp, slippery field perhaps contributed to the many goals, but both teams also played attacking football, with nobody backing down or electing to go into "lock down" defensive mode, despite a number of lead changes.
SCA and Gwen in female finals
Central Zone high school basketball games were rained out last Thursday and Friday, so the female semifinals were concluded on Saturday, while the male semifinals began on Saturday and will be completed this evening at Bird's Isle.
In game 1 of the female semifinals last Wednesday, SCA had edged Wesley, 17-16; and Gwen Lizarraga High defeated Maude Williams High, 39-22.
Game 2 of the female semifinals on Saturday, November 29, saw SCA completing the sweep of Wesley with a 14-6 victory. Brianne Jex led SCA with 8 pts. And Gwen Liz also made it two in a row against Maude Williams with a 22-14 win. Kayla Bowen led Gwen Liz with 14 pts, while Latifa Ferguson had 8 pts for Maude Williams.
Editorial: Harrison choice, Shoman installation
Sometime last Friday the Opposition People's United Party (PUP) decided on businessman Richard Harrison as the party's candidate for the Cayo North by-election scheduled for January 5, 2015, and introduced him to the press.
The PUP, caught off guard by Joseph Mahmud's sudden resignation from the seat last Monday, November 24, had been looking at a candidate convention to decide between Harrison and attorney Michel Chebat after Mahmud's October decision not to run for re-election in the next general elections, scheduled for 2017. Mahmud's unexpected resignation, followed by the Governor-General's writ for the by-election to be held on January 5, with nominations for December 15, did not give the PUP enough time for a candidate convention. The decision between Chebat and Harrison had to be an executive one.
There were two party organizations which had an early say. These were the PUP's Western Caucus, which includes Cayo South's Julius Espat as chairman, Orlando Habet of Cayo Northeast, Dr. Lesbia Guerra of Cayo West, Patrick Jason Andrews of Belmopan, and Dan Silva of Cayo Central. Then there was the Cayo North constituency committee. Their recommendations were to go to the national executive of the party for a final ratification. It appears that the Western Caucus leaned towards Chebat, but the constituency committee's choice was Harrison.
From the Publisher
For the vast majority of human beings, the most scary thing about our existence is the reality of our mortality. In other words, at some point we are all going to die. And, no one has yet returned from beyond the grave to tell us what is on the other side.
This is where religious belief entered the picture. Human beings overall began to believe that death was not the end, that there was some kind of life after death. The concept of heaven, which is a life of happiness after death, and the concept of hell, a life of suffering after death, became fundamental parts of the major religions. The largest religions on planet earth are Christianity and Islam, and they both feature a belief in life after death.
In the societies where Christianity and Islam are powerful, children are taught in schools that if they behave righteously, they will inherit the kingdom of heaven, and if they live lives of sin, then they will be punished in the afterlife. Christianity and Islam both have holy books, the Bible and the Qu'ran, respectively, which provide guidelines with respect to what is righteous and what is sinful. In Christian and Muslim nations, then, children attend schools where they are instructed by teachers who are acceptable to their parents insofar as their beliefs, as contained in the school curriculum, are concerned.
Letters: Education Ministry treats Pat Cacho "with crass indifference"
KUDOS-Given the fragility of the country's public health infrastructure, the refusal to allow the transfer of an ebola virus suspect from ship to aircraft for onward transport to the USA, made sense at whatever cost.
KICKS-My recent offer to partner with the Ministry of Education by contributing up to Bze$400,000 to help improve/develop science laboratories in a few needy secondary schools, has been treated by the Ministry with crass indifference, to say the least.
I recall the offer of partnership which eventually resulted in the establishment of the Ignacia Cacho public library in Dangriga. The offer of land and money laid on the table for some ten years, until my friend Charles "Charlie" Hyde assumed the chairmanship of the National Library Board and resolved to move the project forward� I had actually given up and demanded the return of my land and money.
Belize spared, 2014 hurricane season closes
Chief Meteorologist Dennis Gonguez reported today, following the close of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season, that Belize had a rather uneventful rainy season, but an extended 6-to-7-week dry spell in the heart of the rainy season (which coincides with the Atlantic Hurricane season spanning June 1 to November 30) which he said could be attributed to changing weather patterns associated with climate change.
Gonguez said that normally in August, Belize experiences a dry period for about 9 to 10 days, but this year's dry spell started earlier and lasted longer than usual.
The rainy season started off on cue, with rains descending on June 1, but June and July were mostly dry. It was not until August that the rains stated to normalize, Gonguez recounted.
The rainy season ended this weekend with persistent frontal rains, resulting from a moist northeasterly air flow. Gonguez said that the rains are expected to persist for a few days, clearing up on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
18 months in jail for aggravated assault with a firearm upon his wife
Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith found a businessman guilty of aggravated assault with a firearm and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
In April 2013, Enfield Reyes, 34, was charged with the aggravated assault after his wife reported to police that he pulled his licensed firearm at her during a domestic dispute at their King Street home.
Bernadette Reyes, 30, in her testimony at the trial, told the court that on the day of the incident, she had made several attempts to leave the house, but her husband prevented her from doing so by blocking the doorway.
Sugar industry deadlock inching towards resolution
As we have extensively reported for some time now, the future of the sugar industry has been threatened by an ongoing stalemate between the local cane farmers' association and the owners of the sugar mill, but today, Friday, after a meeting between representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB), the Ministry of Agriculture, and Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the volatile situation has seemingly inched one step closer to being a thing of the past.
The meeting took place at 10:00 this morning at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City, and at the end of that session, an hour and a half later, the lingering press was invited into the room to hear optimistic news for the critical national industry.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who had taken on a temporary role as mediator in the deadlock prior to the last sugar crop season, informed us that the BSCFA has a new modified position which, he feels, presents the best chance for both parties to reach middle ground, although neither Barrow nor the principals of the BSCFA would divulge any of the details of the new proposal.
Patrick Jones
Accused shoplifter in court
Fifty-seven year old Tony Rowland, who allegedly shop-lifted 4 injector cleaners from the convenience store at Uno Gas Station on Youth For The Future Drive, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft. Roland appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. Rowland was offered a bail [�]
More illegal entrants to be deported
A pair of Guatemalan waitresses were caught in the country after illegally entering through the Mopan River en route to the suburban neighborhood of Bella Vista in Belize City. Thirty-three year old Sylvia Arias and 25 year old Rosa Velasquez, both from Puerto Barrios, were each fined $1,000 [�]
Armed robbers target delivery truck in Cotton Tree
Belmopan police are investigating a terrifying armed robbery which happened in broad daylight on Monday in Cotton Tree village. According to police, two men described as being of dark complexion, held up a Bowen and Bowen delivery truck around 2:35 pm on Monday at a Chinese store [�]
Law enforcement torch run underway
The annual torch run undertaken by law enforcement officers started this morning in Corozal. Since 2012 the men and women of law enforcement organize and participate in the torch run as a part of their support for the Special Olympics Belize's National games. This year, officers partnered [�]
Prime Minister Barrow to attend CARICOM-Cuba Summit
Caribbean Community leaders, including Prime Minister Dean Barrow will gather in Havana, Cuba on Monday of next week for the fifth Cuba-CARICOM summit. During the summit, regional leaders will look to deepen Cuba's economic and trade relations with the countries of CARIFORUM and furthering cooperation several areas [�]
Marine biologist joins Oceana-Belize staff
Oceana-Belize today announced that a highly qualified Marine Scientist has joined its staff. Dr. Isani Chan, originally from Punta Gorda town, returns to Belize for the job after spending eight years overseas during which he was engaged in extensive work in the field of marine conservation and [�]
Edmond Castro defamation suit goes to trial in May
Late on Monday evening Justice Courtney Abel set a date for the trial of the case brought against Alvarene Burgess by Minister of State and Belize Rural North area representative Edmond Castro.
Burgess accused Castro of involvement in facilitating visa applications for a fee.
Castro denies the charges, which were made by Burgess in a series of television interviews aired on Great Belize Television (Channel 5) which is also a party to the case.
After the in-chambers session, the attorney representing Burgess, Anthony Sylvestre, Jr., told reporters that the late trial date of May 13 and 14 is due to a packed court calendar.
Jason Sanchez charged with Emerson Arnold murder
Belize City resident Jason Sanchez was arraigned on Monday for the crime of murder.
Sanchez is accused of Friday's killing of 35 year old Emmerson Arnold also known as Emmo.
Arnold, a father of four and worker at Belize Water Services Limited, was on his way to work when his assailant accosted him on Gibnut Street and shot him as many as seven times in the back.
Sanchez was remanded by Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith until February 27, 2015.
City man pulls gun on wife
A domestic dispute nearly turned deadly for Bernadette Reyes of Belize City, who accuses her own husband, businessman Enfield Reyes of King Street, of pointing a gun at and then firing at her when she tried to leave him in April of this year.
Reyes was given 18 months in prison on Monday after Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith convicted him of aggravated assault with a firearm, dismissing his defense as "a fairy tale."
According to Mrs. Reyes, she had already gone through their front gate on April 13 when the accused pulled out his licensed 9mm pistol on her and fired a shot into the drain.
Early Christmas Party for some Belize City children
This morning more than 100 Belize City children were treated to an early taste of Christmas courtesy of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.
The FCCA hosted its annual party at the House of Culture.
The youngsters were entertained by song, dance and games from a visiting clown and face painting, with a visit from Santa Claus thrown in the mix.
The Belize Tourism Board's assistant director of destination planning Arlo Cansino says it is one of the ways the organization gives back to its partners in the industry.
The Rainy Season is Upon Us and HOPEFULLY Wrapping up Soon
After an almost unreally beautifully start to November, it closed with�a bit of a squish. Wet, rainy, grey with a chilly northern breeze. The temperature almost dipped into the high 60s one night!
Saturday was a beautiful break in the rain�
but Sunday and Monday? Pretty much rain outs.
A few pictures that I took around town over the past week. Rainy days aren't THAT bad.
Black cloud looming over the Sandy Point Resorts dock in the middle of town.
International Sources
OPEC's Venezuela Rejection Seen Spurring Devaluation
OPEC's refusal to cut oil production is increasing the chances Venezuela will have to devalue its currency and sell its U.S.-based oil unit to avoid a default, according to EMSO Partners Ltd. and EM Quest Capital.
The country's benchmark notes due 2027 sank to a five-year low of 51.6 cents on the dollar yesterday as the decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Nov. 27 to maintain output deepened a collapse in the price of oil, which accounts for 95 percent Venezuela's export revenue. Yesterday's decline in Venezuelan bonds was the steepest since October 2008, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.
President Nicolas Maduro will have little choice but to adopt measures, including devaluing the bolivar and selling Citgo Petroleum Corp., to shore up finances after the country's foreign-currency reserves reached an 11-year low last month, said Patrick Esteruelas, who helps manage $2 billion of emerging-market debt at EMSO Partners. Venezuela, which pushed for an output cut, needs oil at about $85 a barrel, even after trimming payments to allies, to cover its dollar liabilities, according to Jefferies Group LLC.
Man 'Eaten Alive' by anaconda explains why he did it - and how it felt
Being consumed alive by a giant snake sounds like the stuff of nightmares, but for conservationist, filmmaker and "Eaten Alive" star Paul Rosolie, it was a personal goal - one that he's now fulfilled. The question is: Why?
Viewers will get a chance to see how Rosolie and the snake fared for themselves soon enough, but the naturalist offered up a taste of the action Tuesday.
"The last thing I remember is seeing the snake's mouth open straight at my face," he said. "Everything went black. It was like being caught it a wave. It was just wrapped up; you feel that crush. � For over an hour I was being constricted."
Videos
Video: Dive Medicine Belize 2014, 4min. This video is about the Expedition and Wilderness Medicine course to Belize covering Marine and Diving Expedition Medicine run in 2014. There were a few mishaps en route, everyone got wet, but a great experience and wonderful week. Heres to a great team.
Video: Belize Solid Waste Management Authority II, 2min.
Video: Belize Adventures at Hopkins Bay, 4min. Nik & Dusty take their niece on a family adventure in Belize! Laid back living, beautiful beaches, and friendly faces greet them in the town of Hopkins. Join them as they kayak, snorkel, fish, dine on local cuisine, & fly on zip lines through Belize.
Video: Ka'ana Resort Gives a Warm Welcome, 5min. Ka'ana gives Nik, Dusty, and Monica a taste of LUXURY in the middle of the Belizean jungle. Visit the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, go cave tubing, try local cuisine, and overcome fears of the infamous Black Hole Drop along with these fun adventurers! At the end of each day, return to comforts and pampering at Ka'ana Resort.
Video: The Ballam Escape- Belize, 2.5min.
Video: Belize Vacations November 2014, 5min. My diving vacations.
Video: Flies for Ascension Bay and Belize, 3.5min. Here is a great fly assortment that we sell that will get you prepared to fish for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, and Barracuda in Ascension Bay Mexico or Belize.
Video: Belize Trip Explanation Day 01, 14min.
Video: Belize Trip Explanation Day 02, 10min.
Video: Belize Trip Explanation Day 03, 8min.
Video: Belize Trip Explanation Day 04, 7min.
Video: Belize Trip Explanation Day 05, 15min.
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