AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Daily news prior to today Today's Belize News: July 25, 2015

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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

Kent Gabourel wins Weekend Warriors' cycling time trials
San Pedro's Kent "Bob" Gabourel of Team Benny's Megabytes won the Weekend Warriors Cycling Club individual time trials held from Mile 23 at the Rockville junction to mile 32.5 on the George Price highway on Sunday, July 5, in preparation for their national road championships to be held on Sunday, July 12th. Unfortunately Gabourel finished in 5th in the national road championship, nevertheless his performance was excellent. A Division 1st Kent Gabourel - Team Benny's Megabytes - 26:12 minutes 2nd Robert Mariano - Team DigiCell 4G - 26:26.04 3rd Warren Coye - Team Santino's 26:26.12 4th George Abraham - Team BelCal - 26:29 5th Daniel Cano - Team Santino's 26:50 6th Preston Martinez - Team Benny's Megabytes - 27:09 7th David Pollard - Team BCB/F.T.Williams - 27:22 8th Fitzgerald "Palas" Joseph - Team Lampaz - 28:31 9th Derrick Smith - Team BWS - 29:03 10th Kenny Gooding - Team BCB/F.T.Williams - 29:24.

Please, DO go chasin' (Belize) waterfalls!
One of the first things I was told when planning my trip to Toledo was "Be sure to go to the waterfalls!" Of course, Toledo District is much more than just waterfalls, but that is one of their many attractions. Besides its people and picturesque villages, archaeological sites and mountainous region, Toledo has caves, waterfalls and tons more to explore. Naturally, like an obedient girl, I ensured my trip included a dip or two in the cool clear waters of some falls! San Antonio Falls: A short drive outside of San Antonio Village, my companions and I pulled up to the roadside where we could see a track/trail leading to some shrubbery below. We could hear splashing and a dull rushing sound, which could only mean one thing: waterfalls! Sure enough, we carefully walked down and through the clearing, could see the spray of cold river water spilling over rocks to blue pools below. The water was oh-so-cold! No 85°F salt water there - it was the real deal icy cold water of the rivers that run through forests. Santa Cruz Falls: As Belizeans, we paid $2 each to access the falls, then headed out to the trail. Trees grew tall on either side, still not muffling the roar that grew louder as we drew closer to the falls. Yep, this one would be bigger! A few hundred yards into the mountainside and down some man-made steps, and we were facing the big one indeed! Heck, the water was roaring down so hard to the pools below that it sent back mist.

Fire Department warns residents on the threat of Bush Fires
The dry season is here and with it come bush fires due to the intense heat. The first bush fire of the season happened on Tuesday, July 21st in the San Pablo Area at around 6:15PM. It started in an area where debris, dried leaves and wood had been piled up. The quick response of residents in the area and the San Pedro Fire Department (SPFD) had the fire controlled and extinguished in no time. While the SPFD did not determine the cause of the fire, they are alerting residents that areas like this are prone to randomly catch fire, especially during the month of June to September. Bush fires are typically ignited due to extreme heat and dry condition, and, if not controlled, can have devastating effects and pose serious health threats. Improper garbage disposal also adds to the threat, as paper, fabric and plastics are highly flammable materials. A bush fire can burn quickly and be devastating if not detected and extinguished. They can be caused by lightning, being deliberately lit or started accidentally. A bush fire can destroy homes and buildings, devastate crops, and threaten the lives of people and animals. The smoke associated with these bush fires has the potential to irritate eyes, trigger prolonged coughing spells and cause respiratory distress or breathing problems.

Third Action Twenty 24 camp is in full gear
For the third time in as many years, Action Twenty 24 is back in San Pedro hosting a one week sports summer camp. This year's camp started on Monday, July 20th and will culminate on Thursday, July 23rd. Held in collaboration with Lighthouse Christian Radio, the camp hosted over 60 children ages 6-13 each day at the Angel Nu�ez Auditorium. According to camp organizer Chris Burnette, one of the main aims of the camp is to teach children sports skills while promoting leadership and team work. "Throughout the camp, which run daily from 1PM to 4PM, children have fun playing different games as well as bible study to go along with the activities," said Burnette. The four day camp will give children the opportunity to learn skills in football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball. "Our main purpose is to push for community unity and teaching children to understand what leadership is and what it means to be leaders by making different choices."

Superintendent Sandra Bodden takes over the Coastal Executive Unit
The Coastal Executive Unit has a new Officer in Charge, and she is Superintendent Sandra Bodden. As of Monday, July 13th, Bodden officially took the helm of the San Pedro Police Department and the Caye Caulker Police Department. The senior officer took over the position which was held by Assistant Superintendent Henry Jemmott, who was the acting OC after the transfer of Assistant Superintendent Luis Castellanos. With the arrival of Bodden, Jemmott has been re-assigned to his previous position as Deputy of the Coastal Executive Unit. the Belize Police Department Headquarters in Belmopan as the Training Director, Bodden has been part of the force since 1997. "Like with any new assignment, San Pedro will bring about its challenges, but we will work on making things better. I have met with the members of the San Pedro Police Department and the OC of the Caye Caulker Police Department, and we have chartered the way forward. The most important part of my plan is working hand in hand with the community and key stakeholders in the fight against crime," said Bodden. The main focus of the new plan for the Coast Executive Unite is strive for a balance in the welfare of both the community and the police officers. "We know that a lot of time, police officers have their own personal issues at home and they have to leave that behind and deal with other people's problems. This can lead them to not do their job properly and we don't want this to happen. I am here to assist the community but we are also here to make sure that police officers are assisted with their welfare."

Ambergris Today

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize International Film Festival MOVIE SCREENING in San Pedro
Saturday July 25, 7pm, Central Park

Princess Hotel and Casino at the Corozal Free Zone invites you!
Fashion Week "After Bash" Party. Saturday, August 1st starting at 9:00 P.M.

Join the Party at the International Costa Maya Festival in Belize
Even if you don't like checking out gorgeous women in bathing suits as they compete for beauty pageant crowns and have no desire to hang out with like-minded people eager to cheer them on as neighboring countries compete for that crown, you can still have a fabulous time at this year's Costa Maya Festival on Ambergris Caye in Belize. Why? Because there are so many other parties and events taking place to keep visitors entertained that the actual contestant judging could take a backseat to the fun.

Cayo BTIA Bi-annual Meeting
Cayo BTIA Bi-annual Meeting

Rotary Paul Harris Awards
Thanks, Rotary! Congratulations to the Paul Harris Fellow awardees! "There are moments in every Rotarian's life that are just extra special. This was the case Saturday night as Aki Fukai received the President's pin presented by past president Tom Wierum for the 2015-2016 year. Moments like when we welcome our newest member Jaime Reyes to our Club and the extra special moments when we award Paul Harris's to Rotarians and Community Leaders. Tonight Franklin Syrowatka received a Paul Harris pin and certificate exemplifying 'Service Above Self' and in a very touching moment past president Bill Butcher pinned his daughter Shalue Butcher with her Paul Harris pin for all the help she has so generously given to the Rotary Club of San Ignacio and the community. Congratulations all"

San Pedro High School Job Opportunity - APPLY NOW!

Belize Archives and Records Services Closed a couple days
Belize Archives and Records Services takes this opportunity to inform its patrons that the department will be closed on Friday, July 31st and Monday, August 3rd, 2015. This is due to the construction of a second floor and the renovation of the first floor of the building. The demolition of walls and ceilings will produce loud noise and hazardous debris. Given its commitment to continually provide service to the public, the Research Room will be temporarily relocated at the rear of the building as of Tuesday, August 4th until September 30th, 2015. Kindly note that services and access will be limited during this period. We regret any inconvenience caused.

Poets Corner: Keyren and Nora
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. Keyren kills but police said no murder� Dickie said she ought not to have been charged But instead brought up on a coroner's inquest What about all the police reports for future reference? She has since been charged for manslaughter Weh happen to the human rights lawyers? This sister ought not to be dragged through the courts in this manner This is the same thing that they have done to Ms Nora For allegedly lighting a police officer afire Some want to deny that she had been an expecting mother Nora Parham was sentenced to execution

Summer Art Wave Charcoal Drawing program
This past weeks' Summer Art Wave Charcoal Drawing program taught students techniques in creating beautiful pieces of art. We give thanks to instructor Benjamin Cal for sharing his knowledge of this art form and instilling the confidence needed for participants to create art. Thank you to our young participants who all outdid themselves each day with their outstanding work. The students will be showcasing their creations as part of the Identity Youth Art Exhibit next Saturday August 1st. Look out for next week's String Instrument Workshop, open to ages 5 and up. If you have access to a guitar or violin you can participate free of charge. The workshop is July 27 to Aug 7th, beginning at 1pm.

DFC Job Opportunity
The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is accepting applications for the following vacant positions: 1. BRANCH MANAGER, NORTH 2. CREDIT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (SOUTH) 3. CREDIT OFFICER (1 YEAR CONTRACT, SOUTH) DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 - 5 p.m.

5th Anniversary Edition Flavors of Belize Magazine Launch
Flavors of Belize released their 5th edition yesterday, and Leonardo Melendez was on hand to get some stunning pictures of the event. It's online here and the section about Cayo starts on page 58. Congratulations, Flavors of Belize! "McNab Publishing Ltd. launched it's 5th annual edition of the Flavors of Belize magazine - a complete guide to Belize's finest dining experiences, diverse cultures, and local cuisine. Sincerest thank you's to everyone who has supported this project or been a part of the magazine and to those who were in attendance yesterday on a day that was so very special to us."

Training in bird handling skills and husbandry
Earlier this week we hosted members of the Belize Forest Department for a day's training in bird handling skills and husbandry and to show them examples of enclosures that meet the minimum standards for the licensing programme. This will help ensure that when they are out working with the public that both birds and humans remain safe and that licensed captive birds are being properly housed. Thanks for coming out and and for all the work you guys do! We work closely with the Forest Department, providing advice and logistical support where necessary, as well as providing a facility to care for and rehabilitate confiscated or surrendered birds. If you would like to support our combined efforts, consider donating towards our nursery appeal which will allow us to house the numerous babies brought in by Forest Department Officers in the best facility possible:

Channel 7

The Gathering Storm At The Center of The PUP
There is a gathering storm in the PUP - and it seems headed for party headquarters on Queen Street. On Tuesday, we told you about the apparent boycott of a meeting held for the party's national executive and standard bearers. 13 Area representatives were absent from the meeting - in what we are told was a boycott. Party Leader Francis Fonseca dismissed it, saying that there was nothing remarkable about the absences. Well, 7News has learned that a group of more than a dozen standard bearers who are unhappy with the party's leadership are forming an alliance. Meetings are being held and they include senior party personalities such as John Briceno, Cordel Hyde and Dan Silva. The group of dissenters is expected to make formal demands of the party leadership next week. We'll keep following it closely.

Caracol's Own Conservation Post Opened
When Special Constable Danny Conorquie was killed by Guatemalan border bandits at the Caracol Mayan Site in late 2014 - it left a wound on the national psyche: the first lawman in decades to be killed by Guatemalans while on duty. A few weeks later, Government commenced construction of the Caracol Conservation Post inside the Caracol Archaeological Reserve, a facility where a regiment of BDF Soldiers could be posted as a rapid response to defend the site. And now, today, almost 10 months after Danny's murder, the Government officially opened the frontier conservation post for operations. 7News was there for that ceremony, and we got the chance to see it for the first time. Daniel Ortiz has the story: Daniel Ortiz reporting The Caracol Conservation Post, it's a new facility that now makes up a part of the Caracol National Park. It was built with the intention of increasing the security of the Tourism site, and to address the concerns raised by the Tourism Police Unit about the dangers posed by cross-border bandits.

What's Happening With The Investigation Into Danny's Murder?
And while border security has been beefed up, what about the investigation into who killed lawman Danny Conorquie? As noted earlier, it was suspected but never confirmed that Guatemalan cross-border bandits were his killers. We asked police minister John Saldivar for an update into who did it: Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security "I know that in the immediate aftermath of the killing, we got the Guatemalan authorities to agree that they would do their best to try to assist us in this investigation. But unfortunately, that has not brought any results and because we believe that the perpetrators have fled back into Guatemala and we don't have any jurisdiction there, we basically have to rely on the authorities over there to do the investigation and unfortunately like I said, it has not result in any further information with respect to that." Daniel Ortiz "Is there any sort of like urgency your ministry has detected? What kind of importance are they putting in this case?"

The National Security Minister's Take On The Sarstoon Dispute
Staying on the subject of border security, last week, the Government finally revealed after prodding from the press that the Guatemalan Government is opposed to government building a Coast Guard forward operating base at Sarstoon Island. This was communicated through diplomatic channels following a confrontation between the Belize Coast Guard and the Guatemalan Navy on the island two months ago. Since then, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has come under fire for his disclosure that government is slowing down on the plans to build the base. He said that the Government will be discussing it with Guatemala at a meeting in the near future with the OAS mediating. So, exactly when is this meeting, and has the National Security Ministry reconsidered the Foreign Minister's position? That's what the press asked the Minister of National Security today:

Dr. Morris Confirms That Myles Damaged Uxbenka
And one more hot button issue is the case of Rupert Myles, the Creole man who was detained by 13 Mayan Villagers in the Village of Santa Cruz, Toledo one month ago. They were trying to eject him from the village because they said that he violated their customary laws. More importantly, they wanted him out because he allegedly destroyed a portion of their sacred Mayan archaeological site. That has led to the Mayans being criminally charged by police for unlawful imprisonment. Since this allegation emerged weeks ago that Myles destroyed a portion of the Uxbenka Mayan Site for road access to his house that he constructed in the village, we've been trying to reach the Director of Archaeology for comment and confirmation. That opportunity finally presented itself today in Cayo where we asked Dr. John Morris about the case. Here's what he had to say: Dr. John Morris, Director, Institute of Archeology "For the last 5-6 years we've been having discussions with the village of Santa Cruz, because the archaeological of Uxbenka encompasses about 5 sq. Kilometers. That means that the village itself actually sits within the proposed archaeological reserve and so over the last couple of years we've been having discussions with the village to demarcate a boundary, so that we can create an archaeological reserve via the statutory instrument that we normally do."

Gapi Vs Monchie Day 2: The Slander Lawsuit
They're political rivals in Orange Walk North - and now Gaspar Vega and Munchie Cervantez are duking it out in the Supreme Court. Vega says Cervantez slandered him by accusing him of setting up the criminal conspiracy to kill his father. He also alleges that FIESTA FM - which is owned by John Briceno's family also broadcast the slander. The case is cut right along political lines: Vega is defended by the Prime Minister's Law partner, Rodwell Williams, while Cervantez is defended by former Prime Minister Said Musa, and the Briceno's are defended by long time political ally Eamon Courtenay. The case started yesterday - and continued today with Rodwell Williams trying to get the actual recording of the allegations put into evidence. But it's complicated - because the recording of the phone call with the alleged killer is in Spanish and the language of the court is English. Williams tried to introduce a translation he got done, but that didn't work. And so at the end of arguments today - with the tape of the allegations still not played in court, attorneys for Cervantez and FIESTA FM were feeling confident. Here's what they told the press:..

The End of 2015 Sugar Crop Is Bittersweet
La Zafra - the 2015 sugar cane crop was a challenging one - but at the end it was also a record breaking one. Today, ASR/BSI invited its partners - the cane farmers to review the year that was. We were there in Orange Walk for the final verdict and Jules Vasquez has the story:.. Jules Vasquez reporting This morning at the Sugar Industry Crop in Review - it wasn't exactly a full house at the Muffles College Auditorium. But all the key players were there, the presidents of what are now three associations, sitting together with ASR/BSI- vested partners in a 7 year commercial agreement. Elvis Canul, President - CSCPA "I can report that our association accomplished a little above 80% of the total production that we had estimated. We can also complement our cane farmers that we were 3rd in quality out of 19 test groups. So we have an association which is working with the quality program and that means more money for our cane farmers." Abisur Loza- president PCPA "We are really glad and happy at the end of this sugar crop. Because we targeted and aimed in quality, in delivery we lost but we are still getting up there."

IDB Will Help The Sugar Industry
And the strategic development plan will be getting a major boost from the IDB. The development bank has agreed to assist this industry when it is most needed. Mac McLachlan explains:... Jules Vasquez "You all have worked out an agreement with the IDB to support this industry?" Mac McLachlan, V.P. Int'l Relations - ASR "I'm delighted this week being that the IDB board approved a technical support project to the industry which is fantastic news. And this is to provide a dedicated extension service for farmers to help provide technical assistance and support for farmers. And that'll be supporting CIRDI's efforts to do that. So we are really pleased about that, it now remains that we need to put all the implementation details in place but it was really excellent news for the industry. It demonstrates not only to us, as industry stakeholders have faith in this industry, but other people too."

CEO Joey Montalvo Resigns Under What Circumstances?
And BSI ends this season without two key staffers. Long time CEO Joey Montalvo has retired after almost two decades in the top spot - and about 4 decades with the company. And, earlier in the year, John Gillett quit after he was placed on administrative leave. And while each departure has its own narrative, we asked if it was part of an ASR purge:.. Mac McLachlan, V.P. Int'l Relations - ASR "Mr. Montalvo, after over 40 years in the industry is taking his retirement and we'll be wishing him very well in that." Jules Vasquez "We see that between him and Mr. Gillet, who left earlier in the year in far less agreeable terms, cumulative institutional knowledge that BSI's lost is almost a century. Is this a part of ASR's plan to populate BSI with foreign executives like yourself or is it a profound loss in terms of the institutional memory?"

The Art of Catching Crocs
We reported on several Croc attacks last year alone including the fatal attack in Lords Bank in April that took the life of 47 year old Carl Diaz. While that 12 foot long Morelet Crocodile was put down, the others that were captured were taken to the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary in Ladyville. But that facility simply can't hold all those crocodiles so today we met up with croc experts as they recaptured the Morelet crocs to transport them to a bigger facility. I found out that it is no easy feat moving a 300 pound croc: Courtney Weatherburne reporting One snap is all it takes for this crocodile to catch its prey. A crocs bite is the strongest in the world and once locked between those powerful jaws - it can rip its prey apart in seconds. This is just one of the fresh water Morlet's Crocodiles found at this facility. They were all captured and brought here where they are monitored and fed. These crocs had to be removed from the wild because of their heightened aggression towards humans. But that is creating a problem for Croc conservationists at the facility.

LICU Member Pressures Management With Petition
For months now, the La Immaculada Credit Union has been under pressure from its membership who are demanding disclosure after their General Manager was suspended in May. Now, a group of members, who are also shareholders want a general meeting to be held and a divided to be declared. To do that, they need the signature of one thousand members. Today they held a signature drive in the Orange Walk Central Park - and Estella Torres told us why they are doing it:.. Estella Torres, MEMBER - LICU "I think the credit union is not answering to the members because every year we have our AGM but this time they cancelled the AGM in June. After that they have not called it again so it should be from the last week of April or the first week of May, but right now it's July going to august and we can't get any answer." Jules Vasquez "Are you concerned about your savings?" Estella Torres, MEMBER - LICU "Well we are concerned of our savings, but we are not concerned in our dividends."

The BDF's Helicopters Soon Come
3 months ago, we showed you our interview with Prime Minister Dean Barrow in which he revealed that the Belize Government has turned to the Taiwanese Government for the BDF'S first ever helicopters. That's after they realized that the vendor from Miami didn't have a very sound business offer to make. Well, we asked the Acting Deputy Commander of the BDF today for an update on the Taiwanese connection for the 2 helicopters that Belize is looking to own. He told us that steps have been taken just last week to finalize the arrangements, and those helicopters should arrive in a few months time: Lt. Col. Luis - Acting Deputy Commander, BDF "Last week we had a delegation from the Taiwanese Government and the Taiwanese army and they did some reconnaissance and I can assure without going into much detail, come end of this year, we will see some physical evidence of the presence of these helicopters."

Discussing The Mid-Year Review For 2015
Police Minister John Saldivar met 3 days ago with 6 of the most senior police officers for a mid-year review of a what has been a very deadly year. The police are changing tactics to deal with the spike in violence, and murders. They are also decentralizing policing in Cayo South and communities around Dangriga. We asked the Minister to discuss that meeting with us: As we also told you on Tuesday, the police command has decided with their minister that Cayo South will become a new police jurisdiction, and it will be separated from the Belmopan Police area of responsibility. Also, the villages of Hopkins, Sittee River, Kendal, and Silk Grass will no longer be policed by the Dangriga Formation.

Caye Caulker Police Complain About Barracks
Turning to other police matters, for some time now, we've been receiving reports that the police officers posted on Caye Caulker are unhappy with their barracks. Our information is that the police barracks are not very hospitable, and that the recently graduated constables are having a hard time adjusting to the living conditions of the decrepit building. Here's what the minister told us: Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "There is a lot of our infrastructure throughout the country that especially as it relates to police stations and residential quarters that need attention. As you may be aware, we are benefitting very shortly from the first disbursement of a 30 million dollar loan from CABEI, that will seek to address a lot of these infrastructure deficiencies that we have."

Have You Seen Jacqueline Calderon?
It's been over 72 hours now since 13 year old Jacqueline Carmen Calderon went missing. According to a cousin of the minor, she was last seen at around 5:30 on Tuesday when she left her home on the Foreshore to purchase a phone card at a restaurant on Albert Street. She hasn't returned home and that's when her family became concerned. They are asking for the public's assistance in locating the young girl. She is of Hispanic decent, slim built and weighs about 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing long blue leggings, a blue strap blouse and a pair of black sandals. If anyone has information on Calderon's whereabouts, you can contact the nearest police station. Reports to the family suggest that she may have been seen where at a water taxi terminal.

The Grand City Summer Camp For Youths
Summer camps are a dime a dozen at this time of year, but the police always try to one-up everyone else with their grand themes. This year, it's a project called Youth and Community Transformation. Over the last two weeks it catered for children between the ages of 8 and 16 from the Yabra community where Lectures, computer classes, sports and expressive arts were conducted. We found out more when we visited today: The department plans on making the camp an annual event.

The New Red Cross App
What should you do when confronted by a first aid emergency? That's a situation that confronts many of us whether at home or in public - and we are often left clueless. Well, no more, because a new app by the Belize Red Cross is designed to guide you through the steps to take in any medical emergency. And they have prepared a video to promote it: We found out how it works from Communication Officer at the Belize Red Cross Rodel Beltran Perera: There are actually two apps: First Aid by Belize Red Cross and Muilti Hazards Belize. The apps are easy to download and you can get more information on the Belize Red Cross Facebook page.

Minister Mena Discusses His New Post
Two weeks ago, newly elected Dangriga Area Rep., Frank "Pawpa" Mena was sworn in as Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security. That puts him on the frontline of the ministry which has to deal with crime - certainly not a glamour posting. So how has he been getting up to speed? That's what we asked him today at the opening of the Caracol Conservation Post at the extreme Western Border:

Channel 5

Gapi Versus Monchi and the Infamous Recording, Day 2
Today, all parties in a libel and slander suit brought by Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega were back in Court. Vega is suing Ramon Cervantes Jr. and Fiesta FM because [...]

Minister of National Security Weighs in on Sarstoon F.O.B.
The construction of a forward operating base on the mainland, at the mouth of the Sarstoon River, has been the latest issue on the discussion table between Belize and Guatemala. [...]

P.U.P. Says No to Referendum on Territorial Dispute and ICJ Resolution
In the days leading up to the Dangriga bye-election earlier this month, the People's United Party held a National Party Council meeting in that municipality.� Coming out of the sit [...]

Charges to be Brought Against Rupert Myles for Desecrating Uxbenka
For the past five or six years, the Institute of Archeology has been having discussions with the village of Santa Cruz because the archeological site of Uxbenka encompasses five square [...]

Director of Archaeology Says Fifty Percent of Mound Destroyed
According to Dr. Morris, fifty percent of the ruin has been damaged as a result of Myles' action.� Again, Myles will be served a notice of eviction, this time by [...]

Conservation Post Inaugurated at Caracol in Memory of Danny Conorquie
Almost a year after the shooting death of Tourism Police Officer Danny Conorquie at the Caracal Archaeological Site in Western Belize, a conservation post has been erected to thwart illicit [...]

Crime, Crime, Crime! What's the Ministry's New Strategy?
Minister of National Security John Saldivar and six senior officers of the Police Department conducted a mid-year review succeeded by a release issued earlier this week. There has been a [...]

Domestic Violence and Personal Conflicts on the Rise
The shift in violent crimes, particularly murder, has changed to domestic instances and personal conflict. So what is the police department's strategy to address this issue?   John Saldivar, Minister [...]

After Banner Crop Season Caneros and ASR Meet to Discuss Sugar
The Sugar Cane Season started on January twentieth and ended on July twelfth after it was extended to accommodate farmers who still had cane in the fields. But despite the [...]

I.D.B. to Assist Cane Farmers with Technical Support
And in other news from the sugar industry, McLachlan told the media today that the IDB will be funding a project that will assist cane farmers with technical support.   [...]

Resident of Armenia Charged for the Murder of Elderly Farmer in Paraiso
The badly decomposed remains of sixty-one-year-old Osmar Ramos was discovered inside a shallow grave on July fifteenth in a remote area in the Cayo District known as Paraiso.� The elderly [...]

Trio Acquitted of Theft and Handling Stolen Goods, Grandma Refuses to Press Charges
A minor who was charged for taking his grandmother's jewellery walked out of Court free today when she declined to press charges. The burglary occurred on Monday, when the woman [...]

Timothy Morey Charged for Lying to Police About His Identity
An Orange Walk man isn't going to be clowning around with the Police again after a mischievous act almost landed him in jail. On Tuesday, Timothy Aaron Morey was on [...]

Lord's Bank Kids Drawn Together by Sports Camps
For the past two weeks, dozens of children, including a handful of teenagers, have been participating in a sports summer camp in Lord's Bank.� The initiative, organized by the village [...]

LOVE FM

Municipal Body Seeks to Remove Female Vendors From Queen Street
Two female vendors who can be seen regularly on Queen Street selling newspapers and used school books, were today demanded to pack up their items and desist from vending in that area just before midday today. Love News got on the scene just after the Special Constables of the Belize City Council had left with [�]

Vega vs Cervantes Continues in September Before Chief Justice
The case between the Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega and the PUP's Standard Bearer for Orange Walk North, Ramon Cervantes Jr., has been further delayed after the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin adjourned the matter until September 18, 2015. In today's hearing there was an application from Vega's attorney, Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams that sought to [�]

National Security Minister Finally Speaks on Crime
Up to date there have been more than seventy murders in the first half of 2015. It has become one of the bloodiest years in recent memory. So what is the government doing about it? Today the media asked Minister of National Securituy, John Saldivar, that question and here is how he responded: JOHN SALDIVAR [�]

Danny Conorquie Remembered at Inauguration of Conservation Post at Caracol
The shooting murder of Daniel 'Danny' Conorquie made national headlines and infuriated Belizeans last year as it is speculated to have been done at the hands of Guatemalan who were in Belize illegally. Conorquie met his death whilst on duty as a Special Constable at the Caracol Archaeology Reserve. Since then the Government of Belize [�]

Faction of the PUP Meets to Draft Petition to the Party Leadership
A number of prominent PUP members reportedly met earlier today at Cahal Pech Resort in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District. We understand the meeting was to review the state of the party. From what was relayed to us, it is expected that a draft petition for reform under the leadership of Francis Fonseca will be [�]

PUP Says No to Referendum; No to ICJ and No to the UDP
The People's United Party has issued a release on its resolution on the unjust Guatemalan claim to Belize. As has been reported, the PUP held its national party council in early July in Dangriga. At that meeting, the party stated its position. The PUP says it is convinced that for the territorial integrity and security [�]

125 Children in Orange Walk Benefit from Briceno's Annually Sponsored Summer Camp
The Orange Walk Central Children's Summer Camp concluded today after five days of sporting activities. The event has been sponsored for the past 16 years by Central Area representative, John Briceno. Coordinating the camp this year was Alex Palacio. ALEX PALACIO "The children will take part in three disciplines; football, volleyball and basketball and every [�]

Brain Based Visual Education - Use of Arts in Education and Business
The Palette House Institute is an organization that focuses on art and culture. The organization has been around for the last eight years. Love News spoke with founder Nehanda Hemker who spoke with us about the work of the organization and an upcoming event. NEHANDA HEMKER "We teach educators how to use art as a [�]

PlusTV

BEWU meets with Minister Hulse for mediation with BEL
Executive members of the Belize Electricity Workers Union (BEWU), including president Marvin Mora, arrived at the Labour Department shortly before 2 pm today for a most anticipated meeting with the Minister of Labour Hon. Godwin Hulse. This was after they pulled the plug on the negotiations over ben...

Libel case between Gaspar Vega and Ramon Cervantes, Jr. begins
Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega opened his lawsuit for slander against political opponent Ramon Cervantes, Jr. in the Supreme Court today before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. The Orange Walk North area representative and Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture charges that the younger Cerv...

Awaken Christian Youth Conference Kicks off
Awaken Belize opened its doors this evening in Mango Creek Village at 6:30 pm at the Senter. It is an annual Youth event that caters to the young people of Independence Village in the South and surrounding villages. The event started as the brain child of Liz and Emilio Zabaneh of Mango Creek Villag...

Search operations yield ammunition and cannabis find
Police discovered ammunition but no firearm during a search operation. At about 12:30 PM yesterday, July 22nd, police conducted a search in an empty lot on Bank Street in Belize City. Through their search, authorities found a black plastic bag containing (35) 9 mm live rounds. No one was in the area...

Bus passenger charged with Drug Trafficking
A passenger on a bus in the Cayo District was charged with Drug Trafficking. On July 22nd at about 5:30 AM, police were conducting a vehicle checkpoint in Unitedville. They stopped a passenger bus en route to Belize City and searched 20 year old Justin Trapp of Hillview, Santa Elena. Authorities als...

Another marijuana plantation found near Shipyard
Yet again another marijuana plantation has been found near Shipyard Village. At 10 AM on July 22nd, police visited an area in Shipyard Village where they discovered a marijuana plantation containing 25 marijuana plants ranging from 6 to 8 inches in height. No one was found in the area and the plant...

Football Player Robbed after practice
A resident of Belmopan was coming home from football practice late at night when he was accosted by two men and robbed of his belongings. The incident occurred on the central walk way near Turneff Avenue just after 10 pm on Wednesday July 20th. Quick response from the Belmopan police lead to the imm...

The Guardian

Coast Guard officer Keyren Tzib kills her common law husband
Thytis Blancaneaux, a 30 year-old resident of the Spanish Town area of Lord's Bank Village, was found dead in his home on Saturday, July 18. It is believed that his common-law wife, 24 year-old Keyren Tzib, who is out on bail for attempted murder, on another case, was his attacker, and she is now on remand after being criminally charged for his death. Initial investigations have revealed that the couple was at their home when they somehow got into a fight. The confrontation escalated and became tragic when Tzib pulled a knife and stabbed him in the shoulder. He unfortunately fell to the ground, bled out, and died in a pool of his own blood.

Another murder acquittal - Teenager walks free as Crown's main witness Change Story
Kadeem Anderson, who was accused of murder at the age of 17 but is now 19, was on remand for more than 2 years for murder. Allegations are that on May 10, 2012, Anderson shot and killed Leopold Palacio Junior at the corner of Pelican Street and Central American Boulevard at around 6:50 p.m. During the trial when the main witness, Dennis Talbert, was called to the stand, he told the court that on the night of the shooting, Bryon Pope who is now deceased, another male and himself were hanging out at the intersection of Pelican Street and Central American Boulevard when he saw a man riding a bicycle come in the area, and passed them, then he rode off looking at them suspiciously. Five minutes later, another male rode by and that's when the man who was wearing a cap turn towards them and open fire in their direction. Palacio Junior was shot several times to the body and he fell to the ground, said Talbert. Palacio Junior died on the scene. The doctor who examined him had removed 4 slugs from his body during post-mortem examination.

Police Bust Guerra's Bus Passenger with 125 Grams of Weed
Elton Bowen, a 20 year old construction worker of Mahogany Heights, was charged with drug trafficking, after being found with 125 grams of weed in his pockets. According to police, on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, they conducted a search of a Guerra's bus that was travelling from Benque Viejo to Belize City. Police saw a man acting suspicious and searched him for illegal drugs and firearm. During the search, police found a black plastic bag inside his left front pants pocket. He was identified as Bowen and immediately detained and taken into police custody.

Second suspect charged for Murder of Michael Welch
Lyson James Cacho, a 21 year old Belize City resident, a second suspect for a slaying in Saint Martin De Pores area back in March 2015, was charged with murder. Allegations are that on Sunday, March 1, 2015, Michael Welch and Kingsley Morrison, two disc jockeys, were socializing at a residence on Periwinkle Street when two gunmen rode up on bicycles and opened fired on them. Welch was shot multiple times and died within minutes, while Morrison was shot once to the upper right shoulder, and was rushed to the KHMH where he was treated for his injuries and later released. The first suspect, 19 year old Tarique Nathaniel Gillett, was picked up by police the day after the shooting incident and was arraigned on March 2, 2015 before Magistrate Herbert Panton and was charged with the same offense. No plea was taken.

Hugh Dyer is charged with murder of 47 year old Steve Munnings in Hattieville Village
Hugh Dyer, a 27 year old resident of Foster Street, Hattieville Village, allegedly murdered another resident of Foster Street, Hattieville Village over what appeared to be a rage of jealousy. This stemmed from his belief that his common-law wife was seeing another man. In a police report, police say that acting upon information received of a stabbing incident on Sunday, July 19, 2015, at about 2:50 p.m., they visited Hattieville Village, where they saw a male person, seen lying on his back, with blood on his face, and inside his mouth, in a yard located on Myvette Street. The male was later identified to them as being 47 year old Steve Munnings, who is also known as "Mullo" At the murder scene, police say they found a piece of 2x4 board believed to be the weapon used to commit the murder. On Monday, July 20, 2015, Dyer appeared unrepresented before Magistrate, Ladonna John, where he was read a single charge of murder of Munnings. No plea was taken but Magistrate Ladonna John asked Dyer if he understood the charge read to him.

Man killed and buried outside of Belmopan
Belmopan Police and residents of the Springfield Community found the decomposing remains of 51 year-old Osmar Ramos just outside of the Garden City. Injuries on the body suggest that he died a very violent death, and so investigators are treating the case as a murder investigation. The discovery was made at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15. Police went to an area 5 miles off the main road of the Springfield Community in the Paraiso area. They swept the area and found the body buried in a shallow grave about a foot deep in the ground. There they found Ramos' remains, and the observations were confirmed with a post-mortem that he had suffered multiple chop wounds to the back of the head shoulders and chin. The suspicion at this time is that Ramos may have been killed some time back in June, and his body is only just now being discovered. That is backed by the fact that he was missing for about a month, but unfortunately, police couldn't activate to try to locate him because no missing person's report was filed on Ramos. His family has explained that he sometimes goes off on his own for months, and so it was not unusual to them that they had not spoken to him for 4 weeks.

Petrocaribe Summer of Sports Camps continues across the country
The Government of Belize Petrocaribe Summer of Sports Camps continues across the country with a number of them entering week three and four, while some are winding down. At the Radission Fort George Hotel Villa Wing Swimming Pool, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) swimming camp is one of those camps that are winding down this week. Meanwhile, in Belmopan, the Sports Council along with affiliated associations of national federations are now entering a second phase of the Petrocaribe Summer of Sports Camp with the commencement of the softball camp. In Dangriga, the Dangriga Warriors Basketball Organisation will commence their summer camp next week. In Belize City, a number of the summer camps are beginning the winding down period as some of them have now entered its third and fourth weeks. There are still a couple that will commence next week and two will commence on August 3.

Youth Basketballers won Gold in Copa Cancun Tournament
Hoop Dreams Belize which is a U-19 male Basketball Team captured first place in the 2015 Edition of Copa Cancun. In Belize's first game played on Thursday 16, 2015, Hoop Dreams defeated Pioneros Q. Roo by the score of 72-22. On Friday 17 July, in Belize's second game of the tournament, it defeated Hurricanes by the score of 87 to The team played two games on Saturday 18 July against Mexican opponents. In game one, Hoop Dreams Belize defeated Barracudas by the score of 54-30. And in the second game, Hoop Dreams edged out the Mexican U-19 champions Marlins from Veracruz by the score of 65-61. On Sunday 19 July, the team played its last two games where it defeated Pioneros by the score of 64-37. In game two, Hoop Dreams Belize defeated Celaya by the score of 46-30.

Bulldogs lead the Belize District Basketball Association Firms competition
The Belize District Basketball Association Firms competition continued over the last weekend with five games on the schedule. On Saturday 18 July in the first of three games played, BWS Pressure upended INFOTEL by the score of 60-51. The top scorers for the BWS Pressure team were Ashley Hemsley with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals; Akeem Trapp with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals; Wordsworth Lucas with 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 4 steals and Lindbergh Graham also with 8 points and 5 rebounds. For the INFOTEL squad, the top scorers were Delroy Faber with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal; Devin Bladden with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal and Stafford Young with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals. In the second game of the evening, the league leading Bulldogs won handily over Ready Call by the score of 99-41. The top scorers for the Bulldogs were Rupert Brown with 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals; Tarrique Gabb with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals and Marcel Orosco with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.

C-Ray Cycling Club Youth Summer Series 2015
The series concluded on Sunday 19th July at 1:00 pm on Princess Margaret Drive (in front of Marion Jones) however the cycling camp continues with 2 one day races on August 9th and 16th. This weekend attracted some 44 children who participated in 9 different categories. The Smart Junior Team was outstanding in the 16-18 years category managing to get all their four riders in the breakaway and lapping the entire field with the exception of the 5th place finisher. These are the kinds of talent the C-Ray Cycling Club nurtures in our yearly series. These same young men go on to repeating moments like these in the CFB races. Team work, race strategy and overall sportsmanship are just some of the lessons we try our very best to instil in the youths enrolled in our program.

Police officer dies in traffic accident
Detective Constable, Carlos Orio, 33, passed away following an accident on the Spanish Lookout Road in the Cayo District on Thursday, July 16, 2015. His passenger, Eddie De La Rosa, is currently hospitalized for injuries that he suffered in the accident. It happened at around 8 p.m. that night, when Orio was driving his Toyota Yaris car in a down-pour of rain. Eddie De La Rosa, the man in the passenger seat, spoke with the press via phone from his hospital bed and explained that they were about 3/4 miles from the Iguana Creek Bridge, near to Coop sheet Metal when Orio lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a lamp-post on the side of the road.

The case for legal weed in Belize
Marijuana, or as it is more often addressed, weed, is an intrinsic and constantly apparent part of life in Belize. It is neither hard to find, hard to ingest discreetly, nor is it hard to find someone who partakes in the substance. Walk down any street in Belize smoking a cigarette and you will, in all likelihood pass upwards of three people who will inform you that "you di smoke the wrong ting" and offer to find for you what they believe is the correct thing to be smoking. Perhaps it's from our fixation on emulating all things Jamaican, perhaps it's just the mark of a caribbean nation. Nonetheless, marijuana, and it's consumption, are, whether we want to accept it or not, as Belizean as rice and beans and stew chicken. As many media outlets have reported, there has been a plan proposed to decriminalize the possession of up ten grams of marijuana. There has, of course, been a fair amount of pushback from conservative and religious groups who believe the substance should remain entirely illegal. My question for these groups and peoples is very simple: why? One can only assume that in light of all the ramifications of the prohibition on marijuana (absurdly high arrest rates, overcrowding of prisons, the disparity between the punishments of those convicted for small scale drug sales versus higher level white color crimes, the list goes on and on), these people must be either willfully ignorant and badly informed, or placing far more value on their own personal morality than on the condition of the Belizean people. Never one to assume the worst in people outright, I'm willing to give these dissenters the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the former and attempt to change that. After all, one would have to be inherently cruel to, once aware of all the social and health benefits of legalized marijuana, continue to rally for it's maintained criminalization.

"Never give up: Christ is our hope"
Keynote Address delivered at the opening of the 6th Quinquennial Assembly of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women Participants of the 6th Quinquennial Assembly of the Methodist church, clergy, guests, visitors, ladies and gentlemen, good evening to you all and welcome. As a lifelong Methodist and a member of a staunch Methodist Belizean family, I was indeed pleased and honoured to be asked by the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honourable Dean Barrow, to be here with you this evening on his behalf, to bring you greetings from the government and people of Belize, and to extend to those of you who are visiting us a very warm welcome to our country. I also extend, on behalf of the Prime Minister, his best wishes for a successful and rewarding Assembly. We are indeed pleased that you chose to hold this Assembly in our country. We hope that you will have the opportunity to travel across Belize to see and enjoy its natural beauty and to learn of and experience the diverse history and culture of the various peoples that make up our population. I have been made aware that there are members of the Belizean diaspora from the United States visiting the country of their birth and I want to extend a very special Belizean welcome to you.

Security Minister Reviewing Police Department
The Minister of National Security , Hon. John Saldivar, met today with the Senior leadership of the Police Department including the Acting Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett and five regional commanders, namely Senior Superintendents Ralph Moody (South), Aaron Guzman (Western), Alford Grinage (Acting Eastern North), Edward Broaster (Eastern Rural) and Chester Williams (Eastern South). The purpose of the meeting was to review performance over the first six months of 2015 and agree on strategies for the second half of the year. During the meeting the recently appointed commanders of the three new regions in the Belize District expressed to the Minister their endorsement of the new organizational strategy and their expectation that the new arrangement will produce the desired results.

San Ignacio Police Station successfully connected to Generator
At precisely 10:30 am on Monday of this week, Civil Engineer Omar Tut switched off the electrical power at the San Ignacio Police Station, taking it off the National electrical grid. But fortunately for the teams of police officers, clerks, and members of the public, who were inside the San Ignacio Police Station at the time, a United Kingdom built OLYMPIAN GEP50SP-R located at the back of the Police Station purred into action ten seconds later to provide electrical power. This was followed by a resounding cheer from members of the public who were nearby. The occasion was the handing over of a generator by the People's Coalition of Cayo PCC to San Ignacio Police. Present to do the handing over of the generator was US Embassy Representative Lesmore Paul, to gladly be received by the Superintendent and New Officer in Charge of the San Ignacio Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez. With the new generator in place and working, it comes as an addition to numerous gestures of good will that has come from the U.S Embassy in Belmopan. The US Embassy has in the past provided San Ignacio Police with an evidence room, finger print data base equipment, safety vests for officers at check points as well as metal detectors capable of detecting hidden fire arms.

Caribbean Youths United by Strings, Wind and Brass
The Trinidad and Tobago Youth Philharmonic Orchestra blessed the stage of the Bliss Center for Performing Arts with the National Youth Orchestra of Belize on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, to deliver performances that those in attendance will never forget. The 50 member group from Trinidad and Tobago performed some classical pieces before bringing it home with some sounds of the region. Kenneth Listhrop, Founder and Musical Director of the Orchestra, said the group did its homework on "the musical appetite of the folks in Belize". He said, "We couldn't do too much heavy classical music so we went in the way of music from the movies and musicals with a little bit of classicals." The National Youth Orchestra of Belize also had its turn on the stage and they impressed the visitors with their level of talent. John Waterman, a trombone player in the orchestra, said he was impressed and "extremely pleased to see how skilled the players here are already. I mean us being Caribbean people we have good ears; we have good rhythm and a lot of the good building blocks that the orchestra needs." He said the group's motivation in visiting is to "help build the orchestral tradition in Belize" and it makes him happy to know that the goal "isn't so farfetched".

Mariachi group performs in Belmopan
Young members of the 'Mariachi Tierra Maya' performed at the Belmopan Civic Center in Belmopan on Friday night of last week, in recognition of the Belize City Council's 45th Anniversary Celebrating the establishment of that city. Speaking to a packed audience, Mayor Khalid Belisle thanked everyone for coming to Belmopan to enjoy the Mexican music. Also, speaking was the Mexican Ambassador to Belize, Mario Velasquez Suarez, who expressed his gratitude to the people of Belize. The 'Mariachi Tierra Maya' group originated from Calderitas in Chetumal City and performs a rich variety of Mexican music that has been sustained by cultural traditions that span over three centuries. The group also performed for the opening of the annual Benque Viejo del Carmen Fiesta on Thursday of last week.

Mediterranean Fruit Fly Detected in Southern Belize
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) hereby informs the public, especially in Southern Belize, that the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (or Medfly) has been detected in the village of Hopkins in the Stann Creek District and in the Sapodilla Cayes in the Toledo District. As a result of these detections, eradication activities such as fruit stripping, ground spraying, and delimitation trapping are underway in these areas. These activities are important to ensure that the outbreak is contained and that the Medflies are eradicated quickly.

Moron???
Hot on the heels from being forced to admit that HE and the other EXECUTIVES of the NTUCB have never consulted with it's general membership in regards to their position on government's Petrocaribe spending, Marvin Mora is back at it again but this time it's with a new salvo of attack on the government and a government affiliated company. By the way if the NTUCB Executive does not get it's directives from it's general membership , then from whom do they get it? Could it mean that they are getting it from the PUP? Or could it be that they are buffoons who just don't know what they are doing? Starting Monday during their lunch hour some BEL employees lead by Mora took to the streets to mount a protest on BEL's Coorporate Headquarters located on the Philip Godson Highway. That protest we were told will run for 3 days during their lunch break. The Monday protest was followed by an appearance by Mora and another Executive member of the Belize Energy Workers Union . Lets back track to the Monday evening news. Mora in a television interview said that they started this agitation to let the company and by extension the government be aware that they wanted their raise now , and were not prepared to wait any longer.

Belize is largest scholarship beneficiary from Taiwan's ICDF
Every year the Taiwanese government budgets in the region of U.S. $70 million for use by the International Cooperation and Development Fund, according to the fund's Deputy Secretary General Dr. Pai-Po Lee. Set up in 1996 the fund is specifically designed to assist developing countries who have diplomatic relations with Taiwan in key areas of development. These areas include: Public Health and Medicine, Education Scholarships, Information Communication and Technology development as well as E-Government set ups. It also finances projects in Environmental Sustainability, the efficient use of energy as well as Global Information System applications in development. There is also budgeting for the promotion of Renewable Energy. Another aspect of financing is provided for the promotion of Global integration, cooperation and development. These are but a few areas which the ICDF finances worldwide to Taiwan's partner countries.

Hugo Patt Endorsed!
On Sunday July 19, the football field in the village of Patchakan in the Corozal District was the venue for a massive gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of and to endorse the current area representative, the Honorable Hugo Patt. Over 1500 residents of ten villages plus Alta-Mira which constitute Corozal North gathered to show their unwavering support and to endorse Honorable Hugo Patt as their representative of choice to continue lobbying for goods and services on their behalf. He will continue as the person to represent the people of Corozal North under the United Democratic Party Banner and will deliver Corozal North for the UDP when General Elections are called.

Security Minister Reviewing Police Department
The Minister of National Security , Hon. John Saldivar, met today with the Senior leadership of the Police Department including the Acting Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett and five regional commanders, namely Senior Superintendents Ralph Moody (South), Aaron Guzman (Western), Alford Grinage (Acting Eastern North), Edward Broaster (Eastern Rural) and Chester Williams (Eastern South). The purpose of the meeting was to review performance over the first six months of 2015 and agree on strategies for the second half of the year. During the meeting the recently appointed commanders of the three new regions in the Belize District expressed to the Minister their endorsement of the new organizational strategy and their expectation that the new arrangement will produce the desired results.

San Ignacio Police Station successfully connected to Generator
At precisely 10:30 am on Monday of this week, Civil Engineer Omar Tut switched off the electrical power at the San Ignacio Police Station, taking it off the National electrical grid. But fortunately for the teams of police officers, clerks, and members of the public, who were inside the San Ignacio Police Station at the time, a United Kingdom built OLYMPIAN GEP50SP-R located at the back of the Police Station purred into action ten seconds later to provide electrical power. This was followed by a resounding cheer from members of the public who were nearby. The occasion was the handing over of a generator by the People's Coalition of Cayo PCC to San Ignacio Police. Present to do the handing over of the generator was US Embassy Representative Lesmore Paul, to gladly be received by the Superintendent and New Officer in Charge of the San Ignacio Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez. With the new generator in place and working, it comes as an addition to numerous gestures of good will that has come from the U.S Embassy in Belmopan. The US Embassy has in the past provided San Ignacio Police with an evidence room, finger print data base equipment, safety vests for officers at check points as well as metal detectors capable of detecting hidden fire arms.

"Askhole"
Since last week Wednesday our local journalists have been trying to get a chance to ask Godfrey Smith about his removal/ resignation from the position of National Campaign Manager of the PUP after the 3-BEAT that the PUP took under his stewardship. Not only did the party lose but those electoral defeats were humiliating because they lost by huge margins and they lost seats that they controlled before those elections. Smith as NCM was not only in charge of the party's finances but he was in charge of whatever strategy or lack thereof that his party put out there. After his departure the party only sent out a vague release stating that there was some sort of mutual agreement between him and Francis . In the land of the PUP there is nothing known as mutual agreement! Inside the PUP it is all about cut throat, back stabbing, backroom deals , secret clauses leapfrogging and blackmail . It's about who has more dirt on whom. The journalists way laid Smith outside the court because it appeared that he had been drafted by the Dodgers. A Channel 7 news reporter asked Smith why was he no longer the NCM of the PUP? In uncharacteristic fashion his response was sheepish, muttering , and I quote "I already made a statement to you all that by mutual agreement between the party leader and myself, stemming out of conversations we had, I am not prepared to nor will I comment further on that state of affairs". I don't know if he was referring to that aforementioned vague statement from the PUP that said absolutely nothing.

BEL Statement Regarding BEWU Protest
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is aware of a protest by the Belize Energy Workers Union (BEWU) which commenced today, during which BEWU members referred to the details of negotiations for a Revised Partnership Collective Agreement (PCA). Negotiations commenced on November 4, 2014 between BEL's Management Negotiating Team appointed by BEL's Board of Directors and BEWU's Negotiating Committee appointed by the Executive of the BEWU. These negotiations entered into mediation on June 26, 2015 by the Labour Commissioner after the BEL and BEWU negotiating teams were unable to arrive at an agreement on the negotiation of salaries and benefits for the revised PCA. Non-financial matters of the revised PCA were first addressed and successfully negotiated except for the clause on disciplinary action. At the commencement of negotiations, the BEWU's proposal was for an increase in salaries and benefits amounting to 90% of salary. The Company rejected this proposal for salaries and benefits. In April, the BEWU presented a new proposal for a 62% increase in salaries and benefits. The Company presented a counter proposal for 24%. The BEWU walked away from the negotiating table and led a sickout. BEL deems this incident a strike under the laws of Belize and has reported the matter to the Labor Department.

Belize Bank holds business expo in Belmopan
The Belize Bank Belmopan Branch for the first time ever organized a business exposition at its parking lot on Saturday of this past weekend. Several businesses from Belmopan had their booths to showcase their wide selection of products. It's all part of an effort by the Belize Bank to boost its Back to School loans programs says Martha Burrows, the Retail Manager at the Belize Bank in Belmopan City. Whilst it is summer time, some kids are already getting ready to go back to school. This can be done, says Martha Burrows, by getting a loan from the Belize Bank to fulfill tuition needs as well as to buy books and supplies.

Officials meet with private sectors to expand the Belize/Guatemala Partial Scope Agreement
As a developing country, Belize strives to establish good relations with neighboring countries through trade. One of the most progressing trade markets is the one established through the Belize/Guatemala Partial Scope Agreement, which has reached its five year review period this year. This agreement was signed on June 26, 2006, but became effective on April 4, 2010. The scope is described as a bilateral trade agreement, where goods are provided by both countries. A total of 150 products are being shared across the two markets. Since export values have gradually increased from the year 2010 to 2014, it is hoped that the agreement expands. When officials from the Ministry of Trade and Agriculture came together and held a forum, it was to no surprise that Belize's market must offer more produce on the market in order to successfully benefit our economy.

Calm after the Storm
Since July 8 it has been deafeningly calm. One may want to take it for granted that Papa Mena's win at the poles was what it finally took to let the the haters understand "Don't mess wid Petrocaribe." Having lost that war these rebels are looking for a new cause. Matura is trying to stir mud by posting on facebook that the reason so much young people are being killed is because they are dependent on Government's hand out. This claim is so ridiculous, that she herself had tons of problems phrasing her post. Mora, another Matura foot soldier is trying to mislead his BEL workers. BEL, Mr. Mora is for the people and Government of Belize. While you would love to flex on GOB, do you want to suffer the wrath of the Belizean people who have just benefited their 5 rate reduction? Continue to threaten the people's utility and see if they will empathize with you and your membership.

Taiwanese embassy hosts journalist in Taiwan
The Republic of China on Taiwan is perhaps Belize's single greatest benefactor. Currently Belize is the beneficiary through yearly multimillion dollar grants, scholarships in 33 fields of education, assistance in improving Information Technology, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Food Processing, Art Education among other programs. And while Taiwan is contributing to Belize's development in a significant manner, there is little exposure on the source of all the assistance, Taiwan. That is why in an effort to increase awareness on the level of assistance that the Taiwanese government offers to countries with whom it shares diplomatic relations, as well as to give a better understanding of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China on Taiwan regularly organizes visits for media personnel from the benefitting country to Taiwan.

1 Year in Prison for Stealing I-Phone at New Asia
39 year old Marlon Flowers, a laborer of #88 West Street, Belize City, is accused of stealing an Apple I-Phone valued $1,500, property of Chalonie Craig, 39, a businesswoman of corner Seagull and Iguana Streets in Belize City. Allegations are that on Sunday, July 19, 2015, Craig went to buy food inside New Asia Restaurant, located on Vernon Street, at around 9:30 a.m.; whilst waiting for her food to come, she gave her 6 year old daughter her Apple IPhone to play with. When the food came, she noticed that her daughter did not have the cell phone in her hand. Craig said she made checks in the restaurant and could not find the cell phone anywhere but when the Security at the restaurant showed her the surveillance camera she saw that a male person wearing a white shirt with long jeans pants picked up the cell phone off the table, placed it into his pants pocket and walked through the door. The police were called in and they also viewed the surveillance camera and saw the man who was later identified as Flowers.

Victoria Garnett Charged along with Two Minors for Burglary
Eighteen year Victoria Garnett and two male minors, a 13 year old student of Saint Luke Primary school and a 15 year old student of Gwen Lizarraga High school, were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate's Court for the offense of burglary. Allegations are that on Thursday, July 16, 2015, the trio were caught red handed by police at a burglary scene. Reports are that they were caught by police, entering as trespassers, the home of Mindy Pratt, located at Mile 2 � on the George Price Highway and stole, a 32 inch PCL television set value $1,500, along with $30 cash from a petty cash pan, also property of Mindy Pratt. On Monday, July 20, 2015, the trio appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith, to answer to a single charge of burglary. They pleaded not guilty to the charge; however, the court prosecutor, Inspector Egbert Castillo objected to bail. And while initially, the Chief Magistrate had upheld the prosecutor's objection to bail for the trio, a stunning and shocking sexual assault allegation from Garnett made her chose not to deny any of the trio accused of the burglary, and offered them bail in the sum of $1,000.

Hattieville Murder
Steve Munnings, a 47 year-old Hattieville Village resident, was clubbed to his death right at his own home. It appears at this time, that he was an innocent victim caught in the middle of a domestic dispute between his most recent employer, and her jealous lover. That man, who is believed to have been the killer, has since been arraigned and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Hattieville police officers, who were on duty, were called out to Munning's yard on Myvette Street in Hattieville just before 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. There they found Munnings on the ground where he had fallen and passed away. At the scene, they found a piece of 2X4 lumber and a knife, and 26 year-old Michelle Brakeman.

Murder in Bermudian Landing�
Police from the Eastern Division Rural area have discovered the badly burnt remains of a man that they believe to be a Ladyville resident of mile 9 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Police believe at this time that he may have been killed, and then his body was burnt to conceal evidence. Police say that 18 year-old Daisy Williams, reported to them that her common-law hasband, 28 year-old Kelvin Usher left their home on Thursday, July 16, and since then, he hasn't been found. On Saturday, July 18, at around 10:43 a.m., Ladyville police visited an area about 400 feet past the bridge heading to Scotland Half-moon Village in the Belize Rural Area. There, they found the charred remains of a man they strongly suspect to be Kelvin Usher, who went missing. He was lying face down in some bushes on the side of the road.

Belize Softball Federation names National Junior Female to El Salvador
The Belize Softball Federation has released the names of the players that will represent Belize at the XI Central American Junior Female Softball Championship scheduled for San Salvador, El Salvador, from July 30-August 3, 2015. The players selected to represent Belize are Shareeni Soberanis, Shanaya Soberanis, Rose Vernon, Renisha Richards, Ronicia Vernon, Shanae Williams and Ashira Harris from the Cayo District. Denika Noralez, Chelsea Young, Kelsy Robinson, Devonie Reyes, Ranisha Rhaburn, Elma Wade, Amber Wade, Shania Pook, Kristy Terry from Belize Rural, while Tyra Moreria and Shantell Longsworth are from Belize City. The Head Coach is Nelberth Flowers while the Assistant Coaches are Floyd Flowers and Ruth Lamb.

2015 Vega Cup Tournament to open on August 2
The 2015 Vega Cup Tournament is scheduled to commence on Sunday August 2 with the Traditional Marathon Competition at the Trial Farm Football Field in Orange Walk North Constituency. The Official Opening Ceremonies is for 9:00 am. The regular season will commence on Sunday August 9, 2015. The deadline for the submission of players' registration is Thursday July 23, 2015. Interested teams can contact Raul Rosado at 622-2830 or Luis Patt at 666-0979 for further information.

Amandala

Ignore Guatemala - build Sarstoon Forward Operating Base!
The announcement by Foreign Minister Hon. Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington and Ministry of National Security CEO Colonel George Lovell (Ret'd), that Guatemala has raised objection to the construction of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) on Sarstoon Island, the southernmost part of Belize, and that plans to construct the base have been put on hold, was met with severe criticism from the independent political party Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) at a press conference this morning. VIP's position on the FOB is similar to the position taken by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize earlier this week, that Belize should exercise its sovereignty over its territory and go ahead with the construction of the FOB, notwithstanding Guatemala's objection. VIP member Patrick Rogers said that Belize is building confidence for a Guatemalan case, if the claim ever makes it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Cop found guilty of theft
A police officer who was stationed in San Pedro and was accused of theft by a San Pedro resident last October was found guilty of the offence today when his case concluded before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith. Constable Dean Perez, who was remanded to the Belize Central Prison, will be brought back to court on Monday, when Chief Magistrate Smith will sentence him. In handing down the guilty verdict, Smith told the court that although there were discrepancies in the prosecution's case, those discrepancies did not affect the crux of the Crown's case against Perez. The Chief Magistrate said that the virtual complainant was more believable than the accused, Perez. Perez was defended by attorney Leroy Banner, who has indicated that he will appeal the guilty verdict. Perez was accused of stealing a cellular phone and $600 cash from the home of Jose Hernandez, a man on whom he had gone to execute a committal warrant.

"�don't let Danny die in vain!"
Since Special Constable Danny Conorquie was heartlessly gunned down last September at the prestigious Caracol site in Cayo, Western Belize, the Government of Belize has beefed up security presence in the area-long targeted by Guatemalan looters and illegal loggers who have virtually been having a free-for-all, because there was not enough security presence to stave off the unrelenting incursions. Tomorrow, the Institute of Archaeology (IA), under the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), will unveil a $100,000 conservation post, complete with 12 rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, communication towers, and other facilities, to serve as a permanent base for 12 Belize Defence Force (BDF) officers who have been deployed to the area since Conorquie's broad daylight murder. The Caracol Conservation Post will be the largest in the area, according to Dr. John Morris, IA's Director. "We have to ensure we don't let Danny die in vain. Something positive has come out of it," Morris told us in an interview today.

Gapi vs Munchie libel/slander case begins
The courtroom of Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, the largest courtroom in the country, was filled to capacity as supporters of Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Gaspar "Gapi" Vega, the UDP incumbent for the Orange Walk North constituency, and his political opponent, PUP standard bearer Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes, Jr., waited for the libel case that Vega had brought against Cervantes, to begin, around 9:00 this morning. The hearing opened with Vega's attorney, Rodwell Williams, S.C., from the law firm of Barrow and Williams (Prime Minister Barrow's law firm) outlining the grounds of the claim Vega had filed against Cervantes. Vega's lawsuit originated out of allegations made in an audio recording that was broadcast from a memorial service in November 2014 that the Cervantes family had for Ramon Cervantes, Sr. who was murdered in July 2014. In a telephone conversation between Cervantes' widow, Vilma Cervantes, and a man claiming to be Manuel Castillo - which was aired on Love FM and on Fiesta FM, an Orange Walk-based radio station - Castillo implicated Vega in the plot to murder the senior Cervantes.

Disputing BEL parties meet Labour Minister
Unionized workers of the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and management of the company met separately with Labour Minister Godwin Hulse in Belmopan today, after the Minister reached out to the union on Wednesday, on the third day of its protest in front of the company's Belize City headquarters over preconditions which the union claims it cannot accept for a salary increase which they say they unconditionally deserve. The Belize Energy Workers Union (BEWU), on the one hand, and the management of BEL, on the other hand, have both provided disparate data on the proposals for the wage increase, as well as what workers have actually gotten in salary increases in previous years. The picketing came after talks, which began last November, broke down. "We can't have a situation where we are not talking. It's one company, one of Belize's stellar companies, and they are all Belizeans at that table; and so we have to talk so we move the process forward," Hulse said. Minister Hulse confirmed to our newspaper this evening that he has met with both sides, management this morning and the union this afternoon, in an attempt to clearly understand their positions, so that he could determine where they diverge and to try to establish where there is common ground.

4th Annual Ride for Hunger kicks off
Joel "Dara" Robinson will host the 4th Annual Ride for Hunger this year, and as a special tribute to one of his regular patrons-Kareem Clarke, the Amandala reporter whose life was cut short earlier this month when he was callously gunned down on Vernon Street-the organizer has decorated Clarke's bike, which will be placed on a float, as a memorial of his support for the cause to fight hunger among children. Clarke was riding the bicycle when he was shot dead. Robinson has decorated it with wreaths and a laminated oversized photo of Clarke, as a tribute to a young man they will carry with them in spirit, when the Ride for Hunger makes its way from in front of the Smart headquarters, at 2 � Miles on the Philip Goldson Highway, at 6:30 a.m. this Sunday, July 26, 2015. "A lot of people who have not experienced the ride want to try it," said Dara, adding that more companies are also pledging their support. "I feel that this year, the support will be better than other years, based on calls from the public," he told us.

Futsal Tournament 2015
The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) El Rancho Restaurant & Bar Futsal Tournament 2015 concluded over the weekend with 3rd place games for females and males taking place on Friday, while the championship games for females and males were on Saturday night, all matches being at the El Rancho Restaurant & Bar. In the Futsal Females third place game on Friday, Lucky Strikers Girls blanked Pink Angels, 5-0, with all 5 goals coming from Kimberly Perez. The Futsal Males third place match between Las Flores and Devils ended 3-3 in regulation, with Wilfredo Barrientos, Arcelito Pastrana and Alberto Ortiz scoring for Las Flores; while Carlos Ramirez, Kendale Palma and Sean Mas tallied for Devils. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Devils prevailed, 4-3, with conversions from Carlos Ramirez, Kendale Palma, Marco Hernandez and James Gonzalez; while Angel Pastrana, Alberto Ortiz and Rudy Galdamez made good for Las Flores. On Saturday in the Futsal Females championship finals, Las Flores Girls got a goal each from Lenny Ortiz and Berta Garcia, to register the 2-0 victory over Real Madrid Girls. Next,was the Futsal Males championship finals where La Juventud won, 4-3, over Turbo Boys. Shaking the net for the victorious La Juventud were David Madrid with a hat trick (3 goals) and Victor Caliz; while, Michael Lewis (2 goals) and Jose Galdamez scored for Turbo Boys.

C-Ray Cycling Club Youth Summer Series 2015
The Series concluded on Sunday, July 19, at 1:00 p.m. on Princess Margaret Drive (in front of Marion Jones Sports Complex). However, the cycling camp continues with 2 one-day races on August 9th and 16th. 44 kids were present this weekend, who participated in 9 different categories. Below are the results: Tiny Mites: (3-5yrs MALE) - 1st Khamani Morrison; 2nd Arren Pope; 3rd Ayomide Kemiki; 4th Nabil Agha. Tiny Mites: (3-5yrs FEMALE) - 1st Kadeidre Lashley; 2nd Jadah Muschamp; 3rd Breanna Banks. Tiny Mites (6-8yrs) - 1st Raymond Singh III; 2nd Devin Major; 3rd Prinston Itza; 4th Leon Pope; 5th Kristoff Rosado. Female (under 10yrs) - 1st Mya Bennett; 2nd Abbie Leslie; 3rd Mya Smith; 4th Tamia Bennett; 5th Kaelie Burgess. Female :(over 10yrs) - 1st Jamie Muschamp; 2nd Amirah Pitts.

Easy Does It takes the first in the semifinals
Thanks to the kind sponsorships of Belikin and Smart, the Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2015, under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, continued over the weekend. Two very exciting games were played. In the beautiful village of Lemonal, Sunrise of Lords Bank traveled there to go up against Easy Does It. This was a best-of-three in the semifinals. Sunrise won the toss and took to bat first. To remind you, if you have forgotten, in last year's season, these two teams had met in the playoffs, and Easy Does It had beaten them two games straight. So, with that said, I would believe that each knows how the other plays. Two very defensive batsmen were sent in first, Conway Jones and Zaggi. They started to show very excellent batting. But with the strong bowling of captain Kenroy Reynolds and his partner, wickets started falling in this order: 1 for 12; 2 for 12; 3 for 25; 4 for 25; 5 for 59; 6 for 82; 7 for 92; 8 for 92; 9 for 92; 10 for 92.

Football tournaments coming soon to Belize City
Get ready, players/teams, for the first ever Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez Cup 2015 Football Tournament! Beginning in August, 2015, we will be having a football tournament in five (5) different categories, which will be played in Belize City at the MCC Grounds: 1st Division/Senior - 8 teams only; U-16 (14-16 years) Males - 6 teams only; Females Open - 6 teams only; Inter-Office/Firms - 10 teams only; Over 40 years (veterans) - 6 teams only. NOTE: Players will only be allowed to play in one category! All uniforms will be provided. Registration will commence on August 12, 2015. Trophies & cash prizes will be awarded to top three (3) teams in each division! For more information, contact: David Jones at 664-0124.

Editorial: Of men and nations
In October of 1962, the United States of America and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war because of nuclear missiles the Russians had installed on the island of Cuba, which is only ninety miles away from the American mainland. In April of 1961, the United States had organized and financed an invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles, because the Americans wanted to overthrow the communist administration Fidel Castro had set up in Cuba after he overthrew the corrupt dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in January of 1959. The Ydigoras Fuentes and Anastacio Somoza governments of Guatemala and Nicaragua, respectively, military regimes which were allies of the United States, had allowed their national territories to be used as training bases for the Cuban exile invasion. So that, Fidel Castro knew that Cuba and the revolution were surrounded by enemies, and he solicited the nuclear missiles from Russia because he and the Cuban people were desperate to defend their freedom and sovereignty. When the Americans demanded that the Russians withdraw the missiles from Cuba, Castro insisted that the missiles remain. He knew that the very existence of his nation-state was in jeopardy, because there were people in the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, such as Air Force General Curtis LeMay, who would have liked to bomb Cuba into oblivion. LeMay, in fact, wanted to attack Russia itself with nuclear weapons.

From the Publisher
By now, most of you readers know the story, but I think I should go over it once again. In June of 1993, the People's United Party (PUP) lost a general election just about everybody expected them to win. A hastily constructed coalition between the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR) defeated the PUP, which had called the general election fifteen months before they had to do so, by a 16-13 margin in seats. The UDP/NABR won even though the PUP polled 2,000 more popular votes than they did! Actually, the NABR only had one candidate on the UDP/NABR ticket, and that was the Hon. Philip Goldson in the Albert constituency. The coalition presented two candidates who had originally joined NABR when Mr. Philip led a breakaway from the UDP to form NABR in 1991. These were Hubert Elrington in Lake Independence and Sam Rhaburn in Belize Rural North, but these two had both quickly returned to the ranks of the UDP, then under the leadership of Hon. Manuel Esquivel. As late as January and March of 1993, the NABR was presenting its own candidates in the Freetown bye-election and the Belize City Council election, respectively. In both these elections, the PUP crushed the UDP, with NABR running a weak third.

Carolyn's National Policy and Plan
Dear Editor, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it" (Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955) There is an urgent need for a National Policy and Plan to ensure the preservation and survival of the nation state of Belize for the next generation. I humbly offer an 8-Point framework to initiate a discussion on it. Belize is confronted by many challenges today, the most significant and pressing being the erosion of our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and our unique Belizean identity and way of life. If this is to continue, Belize and Belizeans are on a path to extinction, for if there is no Belize, there are no Belizeans. Sad to say, our government appears clueless and incapable as how to stop and reverse this trajectory. I wish to refer to a few instructive excerpts from your editorials:

The nexus between art and journalism: Katie pays tribute to Kareem
For the second year in a row, Katie Usher has decided to bring together fellow artists at the Image Factory on North Front Street, Belize City, as a part of what began in 2014 as a 48-hour lab, but this year, her project has taken on a life of its own - expanding now into its second week as she highlights the work of Kareem Clarke, the young Amandala reporter who was callously gunned down shortly after midnight on Monday, July 6. "In my opinion, artists and journalists are the same; we are telling stories to society�" said Katie, whose art project has been capturing a salient story: the state of homicides in Belize in 2015. Kareem would have returned to his workstation here at Amandala that morning, more than likely trying to put together his news reports on the weekend happenings; instead, it was his murder that made the headline of the newspaper's next edition. Katie changed the headline's caption from "Kremandala loses Kareem" to "Belize loses Kareem."

Medflies discovered in Hopkins and on Sapodilla Cayes
The potentially devastating medfly fruit pest, the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, was discovered in southern Belize last week, and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has triggered eradication activities in Hopkins, Stann Creek and on the Sapodilla Cayes, stripping all possible fruit hosts-mostly tropical almonds, craboos and mangoes-from trees within 250 square meters of where the pests were discovered, in an effort to prevent a population explosion which could have dire consequences for the agricultural sector. "All it takes is one infested fruit," said BAHA's medfly coordinator, Hernan Zetina, who has visited the area where the medflies were discovered by BAHA staff who monitor traps on a weekly basis. A press release issued by BAHA says that, "Belize is the only country in the region that is free of this pest, and it is only when infested medfly hosts, such as fruits and vegetables, are brought into Belize illegally that this pest is introduced." Four medflies were trapped on the Sapodilla Cayes, specifically on Franks Caye, Hunting Caye and Lime Caye; while 3 were trapped in the Hopkins area.

New OAS Assistant Secretary General hits the ground running
Ambassador Nestor Mendez, the Belizean who was inaugurated on Friday, July 17, as the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), has hit the ground running as the new co-pilot of Secretary-General Luis Almagro, whom Mendez thanked for welcoming him as co-secretary general to steer the OAS in the direction which Member States have outlined in the strategic vision for the organization. Mendez said, "�we must find ways to overcome our challenges and create the enabling environment for economic and social prosperity by identifying new areas of cooperation, creative financing mechanisms and maximizing the catalytic potential of the OAS." Under this new OAS administration, the Assistant Secretary General has more autonomy and shares more of the functions of the Secretary General, which demonstrates the level of trust and confidence Almagro is placing in Mendez. Almagro, who congratulated the new Assistant Secretary General, said: "I have nothing short of great expectations for our work together� There are exciting times ahead and our task is one borne of the trust that has been placed in our hands."

Belize and Mexico ink 8 cooperation instruments
During an official working visit to Mexico on Monday, July 20, 2015, Belize Foreign Affairs Minister, Attorney General Wilfred Elrington, signed 8 instruments of bilateral cooperation with his Mexican counterpart - Canciller Jos� Antonio Meade Kuribre�a, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City. Elrington headed a delegation which also included Minister of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection, Erwin Contreras; Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Herman Longsworth; and Foreign Affairs CEO Lawrence Sylvester. The texts of the bilateral agreements, which Elrington and Meade signed, cover air transport, innocent passage by vessels to facilitate navigation via the territorial waters of the neighboring countries, energy cooperation, social security, intellectual property rights protection and the promotion of registered patents, climate change research, wildlife conservation, as well as consumer protection. The parties also discussed institutional cooperation to expedite the process of certification for livestock export.

Girl raped by stepfather
A 16-year-old girl told police that she was raped by her stepfather in their house in Belize City. The girl said that her mother had gone to church, and she was sleeping in her room, when her stepfather went into her room and raped her. The stepfather then left the house and has since been on the run from police. When the girl's mother returned home, the girl told her what had happened, and together, they went to the police and made a formal report. Police took the girl to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for examination by a doctor, who certified that she had been carnally known. Police have since been on the hunt for the stepfather.

Second man charged for Michael Welch's murder
A Belize City man who was remanded to prison last week on firearm and ammunition charges will have to spend a longer time than the mandatory three months for those alleged offenses, because he was brought back to court this afternoon on more serious charges. James Lyson Cacho, 31, appeared before Magistrate Ladonna John, who arraigned him on charges of murder, attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm. Unlike the firearm and ammunition charges to which Cacho pleaded not guilty, these new charges that Cacho faces are indictable offenses, and so no plea was required of him. Cacho joins Tarique Gillett, 18, whom police have charged with the same offenses for the March 1 murder of Michael Welch, and the attempted murder of Kingsley Morrison, 24.

The Reporter

GOB and Mexico sign bilateral trade agreements
Cattle producers in Belize will soon benefit from increased markets to sell their livestock, through a new bilateral trade agreement between Belize and Mexico. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, signed the agreement on Belize's behalf this week at a scheduled meeting in Mexico. The […]

PUP leader says absence of 12 party executives from campaign meeting is no cause for concern
People's United Party (PUP) Leader, Francis Fonseca, says the absence of 12 of his party's area representatives and standard bearers from a National Executive meeting to discuss general election campaign matters is of no worry to him. The party called its meeting for Tuesday […]

Trinidad & Tobago Youth Orchestra visits Belize
A musical and spiritual upliftment, a joyful noise resulted when 50 young musicians of the Trinidad & Tobago Youth Philharmonic (TTYP) joined 42 Belizeans of the National Youth Orchestra of Belize for two concerts at the Bliss Institute of Performing Arts on Saturday and Sunday, […]

Governor General attends education consortium
Governor General Sir Colville Young, this week participated in the Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC) at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. While there, Sir Colville met with UNCW Chancellor Jose Sartarelli and discussed the partnership between Belize and UNCW. They discussed […]

Jealous ex-boyfriend kills workman over girlfriend’s house key
Hugh Dyer, 31, a labourer of Hattieville Village, is remanded to the Hattieville Prison on a charge of murder, for beating a workman to death in a jealous fit over his girlfriend's house key. The incident happened between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday […]

Tzib remanded for stabbing and killing boyfriend
Keyren Tzib, the 24-year-old Coast Guard officer who shot a fellow officer with a high-powered weapon earlier this year, has been remanded to prison after a domestic dispute in Lord's Bank on Saturday ended in the stabbing death of her common-law husband. The stabbing […]

NTUCB says GOB weak on stance with Guatemala
In the wake of Guatemala's objection to a Belizean base being built on Sarstoon island, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) expressed strong criticism, saying the government's response is a "position of inexcusable weakness." The NTUCB feels that the position that GOB […]

Mother needs help to bury young daughter who passes of cancer
Michelle Smith Massiah, a teacher at Anglican Cathedral College (ACC), is asking the public's assistance to bury her only child, Angela Lee Anne Smith, 24, who died on Sunday of cancer. Massiah told reporters this week that Angela was first diagnosed with liver cancer this […]

Kareem Clarke to be remembered during charity ride
Fallen media comrade, Kareem Clarke, the 27 year-old Kremandala journalist and cameraman who was ruthlessly gunned down early on Monday July 6th, will be remembered during the fourth annual "Ride for Hunger", spearheaded by Joel "Dara" Rob-inson. Robinson, who is putting the final touches on […]

Police identify charred remains as Kelvin Usher
Police, late Thursday evening, confirmed to The Reporter that the charred remains found on Saturday morning on the roadside near the Bermudian Landing bridge in the Belize River Valley belt are those of a mechanic reported missing that same day. Senior Super-intendent of Police, Edward […]

Med-fly detected in Belize. BAHA issues caution
The Mediterranean fruit fly, more commonly known as the Medfly, has been detected in Southern Belize and the Belize Agricultural and Health Authority (BAHA) has sprung into action to eradicate the pest, which can destroy Belize's citrus export industry. According to BAHA, the medfly […]

Editorial
Sometimes it seems that the harder you work, the more frustrations and criticism you get. This seems to be the case with Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. Highly regarded abroad and by his peers in the region as a well-read, level-headed diplomat, he is reviled by critics at home for being […]

Customs raid yeilds big catch
The Customs and Excise Department this week made a large contraband raid in the Orange Walk district. Customs carried out a raid on an abandoned house on Thursday afternoon in San Victor Village, where they found numerous items of a value still to be determined. […]

More Belizean banks cut off?
The Governor of the Central Bank, Glen Ysaguirre told the Reporter he has not received confirmation from either of two local banks reportedly cut off by International banking associates. Unconfirmed reports say that both banks had their corresponding banking relations abroad severed, in a […]

KHMH go-slow ends – GOB steps in for negotiations
A go-slow, staged by disgruntled Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) employees who believe they are entitled to salary increases, has officially ended, following a meeting between worker representatives, hospital management and a ministerial "task-force". The Cabinet negotiating team, comprised of Minister of Labor Godwin […]

BEWU and Labor Minister work it out
The Belize Energy Workers Union (BEWU), after staging a three-day protest to a breakdown in negotiations with Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) management, has met with Minister of Labor Godwin Hulse and now awaits a subsequent meeting between Hulse and management to resume negotiations. According […]

Breaking Belize News

Atlantic Bank San Ignacio Branch invites you to their Back to School Loan Fair
Friday, July 24th, 2015. BMG: School re-opens in a month's time and it's never a good idea to procrastinate. San Ignacio's Atlantic Bank has what you need - attractive interest rates on Back-To-School Loans, or any other financial needs you might have. It's all at the Back To School Loan Fair on August 1, 2015, [�]

Robbery in the old capital
Belize police are currently investigating a midday robbery in the old capital. According to store owner, Sonia Balani, around 11:45 am, two masked men entered her store namely, One Click Super Market located on the corner of Hopkins and 1st Street in the Kings park area. Balani reported that the [�]

COLA wants Elrington out immediately
Joining the plea for Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington to resign, is COLA, after recent statements made by the minister in regards to the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute and taking the matter to the ICJ. Geovanni Brackett, the president of COLA, said that they are completely disgusted with the way [�]

Fairly Dry Weekend across the country of Belize
Mainly fair and warm weather conditions are expected to prevail over the country for the next few days. The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies with cloudy spells for the remainder of today. Tonight will be partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Winds will be [�]

OW Police remove Ammo and Drugs off Trial Farm Streets
Yesterday, based on intelligence, Orange Walk Police descended upon an abandoned lot on Kett's Lagoon Street in Trial Farm Village where they found illicit drugs and ammunition. Authorities say upon arrival they saw a pink Winnie the pooh bag tucked into some bushes and upon further inspection discovered 9.119 grams of [�]

Dara rides for hunger and for Kareem
Philanthropist Joel "Dara" Robinson continues his efforts to raise funds for his feeding program with a pair of events starting this weekend. The 4th annual Ride for Hunger kicks off from Smart Headquarters at Mile 2 1/2 on the Philip Goldson Highway at 6:30 Saturday morning, riding a circuit through [�]

Methodist church women open regional conference
The Sixth Quinquennial Assembly of the women of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (MCCA) opened in Belize for the first time this week at the Ramada Princess Hotel. Organizers say that in addition to prayer and election of new officers, there will be serious discussion of topical [�]

"Flavors of Belize" reaches fifth anniversary
Food is a major part of Belizean culture and lifestyle, and the book "Flavors of Belize" by McNab Publishing Limited has become a staple for those trying to recreate the Jewel at home. The fifth anniversary edition was launched this week, featuring local recipes, restaurants, and travel features. Since 2010, [�]

Blogs

Snapshots from this Week - TRAVEL and Gorgeous Chaa Creek in Cayo
My week has been amazing so far. Traveling out from San Pedro to San Ignacio - from sea to jungle in Belize. Checking in to the Lodge at Chaa Creek expecting to be staying with the eco-campers at the camp casitas�and finding out I was staying in Cottage #4�at the LODGE! On the river!

Eco-Kids Camp Day 3: Medicinal Plants and Horseback Riding
Twas an excellent and happy morning for the eco-kids as they received a pancake breakfast after singing their songs during morning muster! Many of the kids were so happy to eat flapjacks that they forgot about some of their fruit. (It's always okay to indulge at camp!) After breakfast, they played what seemed to be their favorite group game yet! A spinoff of Dodgeball, John Wayne is a game that requires a cowboy (a la the name) and two deputies to ping opponents with balls to send them to jail. The inmates can then only be freed if a free player performs a special handshake with them one by one, without being hit by a ball in the process. Campers and counselors both worked up a sweat before the day's activities started. For arts and crafts, the eco-kids made beanbags out of bandanas and black beans that would be used for a later team game, and they even learned to sew in the process! (Most of the girls' bags were a little more neatly sewn than the boys)

Revisiting The Maya End Date 13.0.0.0.0
We have been receiving many questions lately about the calendar round and the types of calendars the Maya produced. Inescapably too, the end of the Maya calendar of 2012. The world didn't end, to the grand surprise of many people. The dramatic did make its way through the psyche of may and certainly it was organised to believable - that the world would truly end. It didn't. What a wonderful thing that we are still here. SO lets revisit this time for the record. The return date of the calendar round to 13.0.0.0.0. Whats the significance? First, we should recognise what the numbers represented. The numbers represented groups of days. The days would be organised into 5 distinct grouping which all had a name to represent the amount of days. Reading from right to left, Kin, Uinal, Tun, Katun, Baktun. These were organised as expressed below:

5 Terrific Reasons to Visit Belize in September
In the interest of transparency, we must tell you that there are about 500 reasons to visit Belize in September, but we want to invite you here in a gentle, non-frightening way because the thought of having that many reasons to come could make you feel faint. We'd prefer that your spinning head result from rock-bottom discounts, too much local beer and so many unforgettable memories, you'll wonder why you never thought to visit here in September before now.

Ambergris Caye Destinations You Must "Sea to Belize"!
Each time we craft a list of things to do in Ambergris Caye, we set a few goals. We want our recommendations to represent places that make the pages of travel magazines plus those you might not have heard about, so we cover many bases. Our other goal is to strive never to bore you, so travel with us as we take you on a rocket ride to places in Ambergris Caye, Belize that offer plenty of variety. Some require you to get up early to explore area natural wonders while one invites you to get your fill of fun after the sun goes down each night.

A short celebration at Casa Picasso and a poolside BBQ
It's not a bad day when you can say you met some cool new people from around the world, enjoyed a short celebration at Casa Picasso and attended a poolside BBQ, as was the case for me last night. Plans magically came about hours prior which is a common phenomenon of Island Life - short notice fun and too many choices at the same time. Another great thing about living on a tropical island that everyone loves to visit are vacation party invitations. Many repeat visitors will host a party every time they come to town because it is an easy way to get everyone in one place and a more intimate setting than a bar. This time the fiesta was thrown by Leahann and Rick who are staying at Paradise villas. They are long time repeat offenders and often turn up on the island unannounced and surprise "gift bomb" their friends.

Belize Eco Kids Summer Camp Day 4: Land Conservation!
The journey of knowledge continued on Thursday at the Eco-Kids Camp as the campers learned about land conservation. After breakfast and arts and crafts, when the kids constructed their own wallets made of reused cardboard and recycled tape, they were summoned to the Chaa Creek Maya Organic Farm for a tour with big boss himself Mr. Mick! The eco-kids learned how a large-scale ecologically sustainable farm is maintained, and learned the benefits of using entirely organic products, like organic compost and organic fertilizer. They were amazed to learn how the California Red Worms help decompose horse manure by removing bacteria and excreting Humus, which contains lots of useful natural minerals to help plants grow. And if you could only have seen their faces when they stuck their hands into the organic compost, which reaches temperatures between 110 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit!

International Sources

Mangrove Action Day!
July is a very special month, as it is for all of us who work to protect and restore mangroves, because July 26th is Mangrove Action Day! This year, The Mangrove Action Project is holding a global photo exhibition called Mangrove.is. We are asking people from around the world to send us their best photos of mangroves, mangroves communities, and mangrove critters! As you are involved with saving the mangroves, we also ask you to join us on Mangrove Action Day by spreading the word to your community. We'll be tweeting and posting about Mangrove Action Day throughout the month, and we'd love to highlight what you're doing to mark the event. Send in your photos, share events and activities that you'll be holding, and make some noise!

CDB provides grant funds to help University of Belize improve operations
The government of Belize is continuing its focus on expanding access to quality tertiary education by looking at ways to improve operations at the University of Belize (UB). The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a grant of US$400,000 to the government of Belize to facilitate a comprehensive institutional assessment of UB, which will inform on how to enhance its operations, and become the place of choice for tertiary level education in that country. The Belize government, which sees the university as playing a pivotal role in meeting the development needs of the country, will provide counterpart funding of US$88,000 for the institutional assessment. The review will address the adequacy, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the corporate systems and operational procedures, and assist the institution to increase enrolment.

The 21 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2015
Pretty impressive! Two out of 21 is pretty darn good, yea Belize! The world is your oyster as a retiree looking to live the expat life. But with popular retirement destinations dotting six continents, finding the right fit can be a challenge. But not to worry -- we've got you covered. This week, our friends at Live and Invest Overseas, one of the leading online resources for people looking to move abroad, released their annual index of the 21 best places to retire overseas in 2015. Unlike some lists which focus on tropical locales in Central and South America or the Caribbean, it's important to note this list considers places of differing sizes and styles. "There is no one way to determine the best place to retire for every person," Kathleen Peddicord, Live and Invest Overseas publisher and Huff/Post 50 blogger said in a release. "That's why our 2015 index rates the top destinations around the world that are each special for their own reasons. Not everyone wants to retire to the beach. Some want the amenities offered in big cities, while others want the tranquility of a mountain retreat." Cayo, Belize takes the number three spot due to its robust expat community, pristine rain forests -- and the fact you can get by with just speaking English! #13. Ambergris Caye, Belize

Videos

Day 4 Dive 1 Part 1 Belize A lot of Sharks and Cave Swim Through, 26min. Day 4 Dive 1 Part 1 - Shark 0:00 - Shark Pet 2:15 - Shark 7:00 - Cave 7:40 - 13:30 Shark - Shark 16:00 -Shark 1800 - Shark 19:10 - Spotted Fish 12:15

Zip lining through Bocawina National Park, Belize (3 of 4), 18min. The second longest zip line network in Belize runs through the Bocawina National Park in the Stann Creek District. There are eight exciting rides through the jungle. The longest zip is 1/2 mile; on which you can reach speeds of up to 40 mph. Cory Likens took these videos in July 2015 as he zipped through the entire network using a GoPro helmet cam.

Belize Beach & Jungle Adventure, 28min. Our exclusive Belize Rain forest Jungle ATV and Cave Tubing Combo Adventure ...

Belize Vacation 2015, 12min. Hallmark family trip to the Belizean jungle and Ambergris Caye. This was our first family trip since the loss of our 13-year-old son, Ethan, to cancer. We miss him with an intensity that words will never be able to express. Like our Ethan, even in our suffering we continue to see the many wonders of God. From the amazing and gorgeous caves on the mainland to the crystal blue waters surrounding the islands, Belize was simply beautiful. We can only imagine the beauty our Ethan sees in Heaven.