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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

Donald Heredia charged for the murder of Jennifer Coleman
On the night of Tuesday August 23rd, 51-year-old Caye Caulker resident Jennifer Coleman was murdered inside her apartment complex in Aventurera Street. Around 11:30PM, while in her home, it is reported that Coleman sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck with a knife. Since then, Caye Caulker police detained one person for questioning. On Monday, August 29th, 52-year-old mentally disabled Donald Heredia appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, and was arraigned with Coleman's murder. Heredia's attorney, Mayor Darrell Bradley, informed the court that Heredia had a long history of mental issues. Bradley requested for a psychiatric evaluation to be done in order to determine if Heredia is of sound mind and understands what transpired. Until the evaluation is completed, Heredia was sent to Belize Central Prison, and will have his next court hearing in October 2016.

OAS report clears Belizean security forces from the death of Guatemalan minor
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) has been vindicated following an independent investigation into the Cebada incident in the Chiquibul National Park where a Guatemalan minor, Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano, was fatally shot. The incident took place on April 20, 2016 during an enforcement operation led by BDF and members of the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), the Non-Governmental Organization that co-manages the national park. The independent and transparent investigation was conducted by Dr. James E. Hamby, a retired Special Agent of the United States of America Army Criminal Investigation Command, and Dr. Patricia Rosa Linda Trujillo Mariel, Head of Criminalistics of Mexico's Federal Police. The investigation was done at the request of the Organization of American States (OAS) who has been monitoring the territorial issue between Belize and Guatemala for quite some time now.

SPBRC and BTL donate school supplies to fire victims
Over a month ago, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) collaborated with the Belize Red Cross and The Angelus Press in pledging $10,000 to facilitate school supplies to help the school children affected by the June 27th fire in San Pedro Town. The San Pedro Branch Red Cross (SPBRC), along with representatives of BTL, distributed the school supplies to the fire victims on Thursday, August 25th. Chairman of SPBRC Marissa Salazar stated that a total of 18 backpacks was given to the fire victims that were enrolled in primary, secondary, and tertiary school. The Jansport backpacks were personally packed based on each grade level with supplies ranging from: notebooks, copy paper, pencils, pens, markers, dictionaries, atlases, book paper and highlighters.

Belize Police Department Officers Graduate from the GREAT Instructors' Course
A total of 40 police officers graduated from the Gang Resistance Education and Training Instructors' Course (GREAT) on Wednesday, August 24th. The ceremony was held at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. The new GREAT instructors will now continue to apply the course's goal, which combat gang related crime and violence, and prevents vulnerable youth from falling victim to gangs. The program was taught by five trainers from the GREAT National Program in the United States along with three trainers from the Belize Police Department. It is important component of the U.S Embassy's collaboration with the Government and people of Belize to strengthen citizen security in Belize. This is the fourth graduation, and since it began in 2011, a total of 135 police officers have been trained as GREAT instructors. However, what has been more important is that during this time, over 11,200 children have completed the program from 52 schools countrywide. The program, which is funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), and has provided more than $35 million in funding for law enforcement and justice related programs since they began in 2008.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week - Menacing Storm Cloud Over Ambergris Caye
You would think that this storm cloud would have brought a torrential downpour on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye; well, islanders just got a slight drizzle from it. The menacing and creepy-looking wall cloud looked like something out of a sci-fi movie as it moved over the island on Tuesday, August 30. Belizeans are not used to seeing such sites of nature, they are very rare. As frightening as it may have seemed, it did give opportunity for some great snap shots. Images of the storm cloud popped up all around social media, this one shared with us by Tanya Musso.

Second Eye Screener Donated to San Pedro Lions by BelizeKids.org
The San Pedro Lions Club accepted the national challenge of Lions Zone 59 to participate in an eye screening program to test the school children's eyes in Belize. Lion Jan Brown reports that the San Pedro Club is responsible for schools on Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and the Corozal District. "The OptixPlus Screener is a unique small machine which is easy and quick to use and fun for the children," states SP Chairman Brown. "The child's eyes can tested in 5 seconds for a Pass or may take longer if a problem and Refer is detected." Until recently, the four Lions Clubs of Belize have been sharing two machines to perform their work nationwide. The OptixPlus machines were obtained through a grant from Lions International and gracious donations of local businesses in Belize. When Mr. Don Listwin, Founder of BelizeKids.org, heard about the program, the organization stepped up to the plate to donate not one, but two of the machines to the San Pedro club.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Can you help with this very important project in San Mateo?
We are still building in San Mateo but we have run out of Zinc for roofs!!! Please help us finish these houses that were destroyed by hurricane earl!! Spread the word we still need to raise funds!!

Close to 600 Residents of Gardenia/Biscayne, Belize District Will Now Have Continuous Supply of Reliable & Safe Quality Water
This means that men, women and children of Gardenia/Biscayne, will now have sustainable access to the continuous supply of reliable and safe quality water to meet their daily needs such as drinking, washing, bathing and cooking thanks to the Government of Belize who financed the Gardenia/Biscayne Water Supply Sub-project at a cost of $999,408.49 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. Official Ceremony to inaugurate Gardenia/Biscayne Water Supply Sub-project will be held at Gardenia Community Centre at 9:00 a.m. on August 31, 2016. Equally important, the completion of the water supply sub-project will also contribute significantly in the reduction in the vulnerability of men, women and children of Gardenia/Biscayne to incidences of water-borne, food borne and vector borne diseases in addition to communicable and non-communicable diseases. The Government of Belize in this regard, is making critical achievements in improving the wellness, and quality of health of Gardenia/Biscayne residents, surrounding communities and by extension, the country of Belize.

20th EXPO Belize Market Place
Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry - 20th EXPO Belize Market Place is taking place this weekend, Saturday September 3rd and Sunday September 4th at the ITVET Campus, Freetown Road, Belize City.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: August 21th - 27th, 2016
: 3 grand slams, lots of permit, lots of tarpon and a great group mostly from South Carolina made the week go by fast. Thanks do out to Jason and Josh for hosting a great group here at EL Pescador.

July 2016 Trade, GDP & Consumer Price Index
The Statistical Institute of Belize's latest statistics show that, on average, consumer prices were 1.0 percent higher in July 2016 than in the month of July 2015. The All-Items Consumer Price Index stood at 103.8, up from 102.8 in same month last year. For the first seven months of 2016, an inflation rate of 0.6 percent was recorded, as lower fuel prices in the earlier months of the year helped to keep inflation down at the start of the year. Home rental prices, a major expenditure item for Belizean households, rose by an average of 2.5 percent compared to last July. This was partly offset by a decrease in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), with the average price of a 100-pound cylinder down from $90 in July of last year to $82 in July 2016, and lower electricity tariffs in comparison to twelve months ago. As a result, an overall increase of 1.7 percent was seen in the category of "Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels". Belize's total imports for the month of July 2016 were valued at $173 million. This was a decrease of 8.8 percent or $16.7 million from imports for July 2015, which totaled $189.7 million.

BELIZE HOTEL ASSOCIATION PROMOTES BELIZE IN PERU
The Belize Hotel Association, represented by its' President Leisa Carr-Caceres and Marketing Director, Tessie Duran Tonaco, was in Peru to promote its members and the country of Belize. The Peru Roadshow was organized by Tropic Air and COPA airlines, and included other members of the Private sector that represented all that the country has to offer. Tropic Air has coordinated two successful Roadshows to Colombia and to Chile previously, following in the heels of the Brazil and Argentina roadshows that were organized by the BTB. An important note, is that the visa waiver, facilitating travel to Belize, came into effect on August 16, for the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Morocco and Paraguay, just in time for the Roadshow. The Peru Roadshow included two breakfast events for a combined total of over 60 travel agents in the main cities of Lima on August 24 and in Arequipa on August 25. Leisa Carr-Caceres of the BHA gave a very detailed presentation on Belize, which was followed by a series of questions from the agents who were very interested in promoting our country to their clients. Packages to Belize, including airfare and room and meal plans, were raffled at each event to the enthusiastic agents.

Emmeth Young Wows at Soul Project
"Emmeth Young and the Talla Walla Vibration Band played at the Belize Soul project space for the creative arts on Friday, and wow, was it energetic. One of the best drummers in C.A."

BAS 2016 Summer Camps Finish
Thanks, Belize Audubon Society, for another year of fun Summer camps for the kids. "This year's Summer Camps were a huge Success. Throughout the months of July and August over 250 children joined us as we learnt together about Nature. Merging Music and Art with Nature proved to be quite an amazing experience as the children sang, painted and became inspired by our natural environment and wildlife. We extend our sincere appreciation to the many Belizeans that joined us this year for a fun-filled Summer."

Belmopan September Celebrations Launch
Belmopan is having their September Celebrations Launch on Friday at Mae Gordon Park. Panerrifix will be there, as will Miss Deb's meals on wheels. "All are invited to come out on Friday, September 2nd 2016 at 6:00 pm. It's a family affair. Kids stop by wood stop, jam session by the Panerrifix Steelband."

CARNIVAL KING & QUEEN 2016
This Saturday at Marion Jones Sporting Complex - 7PM. New venue. Still carnival-tastic!

European Specialist Training 2016
Belize Tourism Board

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Blood Father, The Neon Demon, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War. New Projector! Come check out the improvement in quality!

Fishing Responsibly: Why Non-Destructive Fishing Gear is best for Belize
With a 240 mile long coastline, Belize has a rich history of boating, fishing, and swimming in , bountiful tropical waters. Some fishing practices date back to the Maya civilization. Today Belize's fishing industry is a major productive sector of the economy, contributing US$10.7 million annually in revenue from seafood exports and providing jobs and other benefits for an estimated 15,000 Belizeans. Given the economic and cultural significance of fisheries in Belize, it is important to ensure the sustainability of the sector. One way is to utilize and harvest marine resources responsibly so that we can ensure healthy reefs and fish populations for generations to come. Belize has also taken important steps, such as establishing "replenishment zones", protecting spawning aggregation sites and declaring open and closed seasons for products such as lobster and conch.

Channel 7

PUP Senators Push For Immigration Probe, GOB Outmaneuvers, Defeats Them
On Friday the House of Representatives descended into chaos - and while the dramatic footage of a member being ejected has dominated the news - the bottom line is that not much was accomplished in that House Meeting. And so today the heavy lifting was left to the senate with debates on the expenditure for the BTL settlement, and on the audit reports. We focus first on the audit reports. The PUP Senators pushed a motion for a Senate Inquiry into irregularities at the Immigration Department as laid out in the 700 pages of three audit reports. The government-appointed President Li Mark Chang surprisingly agreed to table the motion - and have it debated. PUP Senator Michel Chebat, sitting in for Eamon Courtney introduced the motion:...

PUP Keep Up the Pressure on Government
And today as on Friday the action wasn't only limited to what happened inside the house. Out on the steps a crowd of PUP supporters gathered with their posters, shouting out their demands of the UDP. Courtney Weatherburne was there to find out what the PUP' s message was. Courtney Weatherburne reporting There were no projectiles, no warning shots fired, and no brawls on the steps of the National Assembly today, just the usual spirited chants and speeches. Protestor: "We are here today demanding that the senate take this thing seriously." That is probably because there were about 30 officers standing ready to defuse any flare ups. Even the GSU bus was parked in front of the house �.with a roaming surveillance camera hoisted above.

Man Murdered in South
There was a murder in the Stann Creek District last night at around 7:30. It happened about a mile and a half on the Coastal Road, closest to the Stann Creek Valley Road. That's where 49 year-old Guatemalan Arnolfo Ramirez is believed to have gotten into a fight with a man. Police say that Ramirez chopped that man on the right hand, and he responded by grabbing a piece of iron, with which he used to bash Ramirez across the head. That injury was very serious, and by the time the cops got Ramirez to the hospital he succumbed due to the blow to the head. Police have detained the man, and they say that he will be charged for Ramirez's death pending charges

GDP Going Down, Down, Down
The Statistical Institute of Belize released its figures gauging the performance of the economy for the second quarter of 2016. They say that the economy contracted sharply by 1.6 percent when compared to the same period last year. That's not good news, and when you factor in that these statistics were taken before Hurricane Earl devastated the country, it's even more dismal. Angelita Campbell, Statistician: "The diagram in front of us now illustrates the spending pattern of the average Belizean household and that information was taken from the 2008 household expenditure survey. If we look closely at the information presented, we have housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels taking roughly about 26% of the spending. Food, non-alcoholic beverages are roughly 20% and transport is roughly 14%. Those three categories sum to about 60% of the average household spending. in the food and nonalcoholic beverages category we saw a variation in terms of prices across the board, some of which, might be went up by roughly 5%, we had vegetables and fruits going up and also sugar increasing in that category. However we saw red kidney beans going down by roughly 11% as we've been seeing since the start of this year. Chicken went down by 0.7% and we also saw a decrease in egg roughly 15%."

Belize District Ambulance Crisis?
Before you call on BERT ambulance, just ask yourself, is this really an emergency? The Ministry of Health is asking city residents to think about this before calling since BERT's management team has essentially terminated its partnership with the ministry, leaving the ministry with staff, resources and other equipment they now have to manage and be solely responsible for. It's an extra burden for Health officials and today Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero detailed what caused this rupture in their partnership and what will have to be done moving forward. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services: "The last note we got was perhaps the 2nd or 3rd week of August where they had suggested that they were going to discontinue that effective September 1st, given that they were requesting payment for land transfer from the government. Now BERT normally gets a monthly subvention of $18,000 plus every month. They were requesting further payment of almost every land transfer. On average it would amount to government paying them about $40,000 - $43,000 every month. So they have started a billing process for us in May, June, July. We had had a negotiation table with them to see what was the mechanism? because it's not something that's factored into our budget. When we got another alert on August 17th I think it was, we had said we have a proposal and this is where we want to go."

Court Victory OF Sorts For Open Vote Worker
7 months ago, we told you about Melissa Tucker. She's the Ministry of Education's school Health Coordinator who was sent home in 2013 after 17 years of Government service. Sent home swiftly because she was an open vote worker. Not satisfied with the way she was terminated, she sued the government because she believed that she was not given due process. She wanted to challenge the open vote regulations because it does not give security of tenure, which can only happen when the Public Service Commission appoints an employee to a post. She said that she was in the process of being appointed, but the rug was pulled from under her when her supervisors sent her home. Well her attorney argued her case before Justice Shona Griffith, and for the Government's, Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke made their defence.

Octogenarian Attorney Disbarred
It made big news back in February of last year when attorney Ernest Staine's integrity was called into question. That's because his former client, Rita McField, accused him of pocketing her 230 thousand dollars, monies he should have handed over for land sales he had conducted on her behalf as an intermediary. The court was in the process of crowfooting his personal possessions to repay the money that Staine owed. Well, the legal back and forth went through its process in the months that followed. We have not been able to find out if Staine actually paid McField the money she is owed, but he has lost his right to practice law in Belize. The General Legal Council announced earlier this month that he has been removed from the roll of attorneys-at-law. He has been disbarred, and his removal took effect on June 30.

Senior PUP Parliamentarian Frowns On Espat Ejection
We have heard most of the general comments and denouncements following Friday's Fiasco at the House meeting. But we still want to get more reactions from other elected representatives. So we spoke to four term Lake I Area Representative Cordel Hyde today and like most of his colleagues , he wasn't happy at all with how things went down.

The Debate on BTL Appropriation Goes Right Back To Accommodation Agreement
And keeping it in Belmopan - we go back to the senate meeting where - unlike the house - there was a robust debate on the 2016/2017 appropriation bill - which is to pay part of the bill for the BTL compensation. The cost of this bill sent the UDP members back to that old reliable touchstone of mis-governance, the accommodation agreement:

New Cruise Ship Visits Belize
The Belize Tourism Board announced today that Norwegian Cruise Line, made a first when it's cruise ship, the Escape, made its second call in Belizean waters. Her captain, Carl Gunnar Hammerin, was greeted by BTB Cruise Director Noriko Gamero. While onboard she conducted over a customary plaque exchange ceremony. The Norwegian Escape first came to Belize on August 17, with approximately 4,248 passengers, and just over 1700 crew members. That plaque ceremony would have been held then, but due to weather conditions, it was rescheduled. Today's call had a total of 5,020 passengers and 1,200 crew members.

Cruise Lane Gave Relief Funds
In other news related to Norwegian Cruise Line, on last week Wednesday, the company's Senior Vice President of Destination and Strategic Development, Colin Murphy, handed over a cheque for 50 thousand US dollars. It was the company's donation to the people of Belize to assist in recovery efforts after Hurricane Earl. The cheque was handed over to Lily Bowman, the Director General of the Belize Red Cross Society, who received it with gratitude. Murphy is quoted as saying, ""We were devastated to hear of Hurricane Earl's impact on our neighbors in Belize and are proud to support organizations...to help residents rebuild and regain some sense of normalcy after this natural disaster." End Quote.

Earl And The Brits
As viewers would remember one other organization providing help to victims displaced by Hurricane Earl was BATSUB, the British Army Training and Support Unit Belize. They were out just days after the all clear was declared, providing food to the persons who were trapped in shelters. Little did we know that they were affected by the Hurricane very much like the rest of the country. Today, Forces TV released a story from their perspective, and tonight we have it for you:

Channel 5

Opposition P.U.P. Marches on Belmopan During Senate Meeting
Another protest took place today in Belmopan, the second for this week against the government. Today's demonstration was mounted by the People's United Party outside the Senate where a respectable [...]

Senate Hears Motion for Inquiry into Immigration Audits
Just before six this evening, the senate concluded proceedings with a vote that defeated a motion for a senate investigation. It was a long session that had to do with [...]

Trade Union Senator Lends Support to Inquiry
That motion for a select senate investigation on the policies and processes as well as on the issuance of passports and irregularities and wrongdoings was seconded by senators representing the [...]

Church Senator Also Supports, But Government Senator Questions Timing
As we said earlier, Church Senator Ashley Rocke rose to support the motion on the senate floor when it was introduced to further investigate what went so wrong at the [...]

New Minister of State for Finance Wonders Whether Inquiry is Useful
Doctor Senator Carla Barnett did not necessarily reject an investigation, but questioned the usefulness of senate select committees. Barnett queried why the audit was not presented to the management of [...]

Paul Thompson and Godwin Hulse Spar Over Audit Report
While the senate meeting today had a far more respectable ambience when compared to last Friday's House Sitting, there was some back and forth. It came when Senator Paul Thompson [...]

Valerie Woods Continues Cross-Floor Sparring with Immigration Minister
Senator Valerie Woods added significantly to the debate, supporting the motion for a select senate investigation. Woods said had one been held at the time of the issuance of a [...]

Senate Debates Supplementary Bill; Business Senator Goes with Gusto
Prior to the introduction of a motion for a senate select committee to investigate the Immigration and Nationality Department, the Senate was engaged in a debate over the Supplementary Bill.� [...]

BERT Cedes Ambulance Services to Health Ministry in Money Dispute
Beginning Thursday morning at seven-thirty, the Ministry of Health will assume management of ambulance services after being unable to reach an agreement with Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT) for greater [...]

Was Hope Creek Man Murdered or Was It Self-Defense?
A Guatemalan national lost his life on Tuesday night; his body was found behind a bus shed in Hope Creek, Stann Creek District.� But it is not clear if it [...]

Police Forced to Release Suspects in Murder of George McKenzie Jr.
Family members of the late George McKenzie Junior are preparing to lay him to rest within the next two or three days. But police are yet to charge the main [...]

Chamber of Commerce Pressures Belmopan to Sign UN Anti-Corruption Convention
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has begun a campaign for Government to sign the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption, which it believes will help Belize obtain important resources [...]

Kay Menzies Says New Act Will Make Tackling Corruption Systematic
The Prime Minister said last Thursday that the Government of Belize is not going to sign on to the Anti-Corruption Convention. According to the Prime Minister, signing on would create [...]

Belize Faces Recession; Economy Contracts for Second Successive Quarter
The Statistical Institute of Belize (S.I.B.) reports a continued slowdown in economic activity for the second consecutive quarter.� The agricultural sector registered a decline and the good news came from [...]

Inflation up Thanks to Higher Fuel and House Rent Prices
Rises in fuel and house rent prices are behind the average rise in the consumer price index, commonly known as inflation. Prices are up one percent from last July and [...]

Trade Contracts, Imports and Exports Both Down
Meanwhile, trade contracted, with imports and exports down sharply. Statistician Tiffany Vasquez says that exports are on the decline for most major agricultural products.   Tiffany Vasquez, Statistician II, Statistical [...]

Business Establishment Survey Finds Business Are Not Making Money
The last Business Establishment Survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Belize was done ten years ago. This past May some four thousand one hundred businesses were polled about their [...]

Businesses Keeping Staff Small According to Survey
The two-stage survey also looked at the distribution of employment among the businesses surveyed. The most recent rate of unemployment is about eight percent and has been trending down for [...]

PlusTV

Ex-open vote worker lost protection thanks to Government foot-dragging, Court rules
In February of this year, the Supreme Court heard the case of Melissa Belezaire Tucker, a former Ministry of Education employee who served in the Public Service for seventeen years, from 1995 to 2013, when she was terminated. Tucker was first appointed as a teacher and then, in 1999, as the School F...

Caye Caulker's Donald Heredia charged with murder
52 year old Donald Heredia, a resident of Caye Caulker, was charged with the murder of 51 year old Jennifer Coleman when he appeared Monday before the Chief Magistrate, Ann-Marie Smith. Heredia was remanded into custody until September 30. Coleman, a domestic worker, was found dead about 10:30 a.m. ...

Last one standing contestant knocked down
One of the contestants of PlusTV's Game Show Competition called "The Last One Standing" was knocked down on Sunday night in the Salva Pan Area of Belmopan. He is 16 year old Isidro Lopez. Lopez was riding a red motorbike when he was knocked down by a silver Camry bearing a taxi license plate. He re...

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Police officer claims government muzzled Elvin Penner investigation
In the wake of the Auditor General's explosive four volume report on corruption in Immigration, Nationality and Visa departments an investigator assigned to the Elvin Penner-Won Hong Kim passport scandal has broken his silence and has made public allegations that the investigation was nuzzled [�]

PM calls press conference for tomorrow - Is there a surprise in store for Belizeans?
On the heels of a myriad of scandals and the optics of a near bar-room brawl in the House of Representatives between the Speaker and the Representative for Cayo South on Friday, 26th August, Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow has called a [�]

Police find firearm and ammunition in Cayo
Police in the Cayo District discovered a firearm in an overgrown lot in Bullet Tree Village but no arrests were made. The firearm, a black .25 auto pistol with a magazine containing three live rounds, was found around 3:00 on Sunday morning. Authorities did not find anyone in [�]

Belize City Police investigate murder attempt
Kendale Green, 23, was stabbed on Tuesday morning but survived. Police are now investigating the incident but have very little information to go on. Police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) at 7:00 on Tuesday morning where they saw Green suffering from multiple stab wounds. Police report that [�]

Dangriga police have one detained for latest murder
Dangriga Police are currently investigating the latest homicide in that jurisdiction. According to reports from the south, sometime after 7:35 last night, police responded to a chopping incident half-mile on the Coastal Road near a bus stop. Upon arrival officers saw the motionless body of 49-year-old [�]

Belize's economy officially in recession, trade down, prices up
The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reports continued slowdown in economic activity for the second consecutive quarter. According to economic institutions such as the World Bank and other international financial institutions, an economy is officially in recession when there is negative economic growth for 2 consecutive quarters. After a 2 percent fall [�]

PUP supporters gather in Belmopan to demonstrate against corruption
PUP supporters are currently gathering at the footsteps of the National Assembly in Belmopan to support the party's Senators as they attempt to introduce a motion to open a Senate special select committee investigation into the passport scandals reported by the Auditor General. They [�]

Man murdered in the south
BBN has received reports about a murder that happened last night in the village of Hope Creek. According to reports, the incident played out under a public shed in the village. The identity of the victim has not been released. Police are investigating. We will [�]

Gardenia and Biscayne get new clean-water supply
Residents in the small communities of Gardenia and Biscayne will finally have access to the continuous supply of reliable and safe quality water to meet their daily needs such as drinking, washing, bathing and cooking thanks to the Government of Belize. A total of [�]

UDP Chairman of Hopkins - "No $47,000 is missing from my council"
BBN received reports yesterday that $47,000 is missing from the Hopkins Village Council. BBN contacted village chairman Ted McKoy who said that no money is missing and that the reports are just mischief being created by the previous council. "The previous council was making the [�]

Blogs

Rent On This Quiet, Laidback Caribbean Island From $600 A Month
Walking along Caye Caulker's coastline, wherever you look the scenery is pleasing to the eye. Along the village's front street, an expansive soft-sand beach extends towards the multi-hued aquamarine sea. The sea breeze ruffles the plentiful coconut palm fronds and cools your skin. It's easy to be enchanted by the beauty, charm, and tranquility of this tiny Caribbean island. Vivid purple, raucous orange, and cool lime kiosks line the packed-sand street. Funky beach bars-with names like Lazy Lizard and Mara's Sip & Dip-tempt you to drop in for a frosty Belikin beer, or a tropical cocktail. Strolling past the Ragamuffins kiosk, a friendly tour guide invites you to sail inside the protected reef, to a pristine caye, or to join him in search of shy manatees. "Go Slow" signs, scattered around the island, are a constant reminder of the island's motto. Locals and tourists walk leisurely along the village streets or bike to their destination. Once in a while a golf cart passes by.

International Sourcesizz

10 Unravelled Secrets Of The Mayan Civilization
The Maya are perhaps one of the world's most successful and brilliant civilizations. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated researchers and archaeologists, many secrets of this once-powerful civilization are now starting to unravel. The Maya considered a certain shade of blue to be a highly significant color. Known as Maya Blue, this color was used to cover pots, palace walls, and codices. In addition, it was also used to cover the bodies of human sacrifices. Though scientists knew the two main ingredients of Maya Blue were indigo and palygorskite, they were at loss as to what the mysterious third ingredient was.In 2008, US researchers published a study claiming that copal resin was the third secret ingredient of Maya Blue. However, a 2013 study refuted this claim. According to the researchers, their analyses revealed that the third secret ingredient is dehydroindigo and not copal resin. In addition, they suggested that the Maya knew "how to obtain the desired hue by varying the preparation temperature."

NOAA Outlook for Central America September 1 - 7, 2016
During late August, heavy downpours were observed over localized areas of Central America, while light to locally moderate rain was registered elsewhere. Abundant rain fell over the Pacific Region of southern Guatemala, El Salvador, central and southern Honduras, central Nicaragua, and the Southern Caribbean. In Honduras, reports have indicated that heavy rain over the recent period triggered flooding and house damages over Tegucigalpa, Choluteca, Catacamas, and areas of the Danli municipality. Despite this past week's enhanced rain, thirty-day negative rainfall anomalies have persisted over east-central Honduras, central Nicaragua, and northwestern Costa Rica. Since late May, the Primera, May-August, rainfall season has performed poorly over some local areas of Central America, including parts of western Guatemala, eastern and southern Honduras, north-central and western Nicaragua, and northwestern Costa Rica, where cumulative rain has accounted for only between 50-80 percent of the average.

Visceglia Gallery presents: Belize: Beyond the Blue Skies and Clear Waters
The Visceglia Gallery at Caldwell University is presenting "Belize: Beyond the Blue Skies and Clear Waters", a reflection of short-term service. This exciting exhibition features photography and written reflections on short-term service trips by Caldwell University students and faculty members. The writing and photography attempt to capture and share the sense of discovery, place and community many may not have the chance to experience. Since 2013 Caldwell University has taken small groups of students, faculty, and staff to Belize to serve in the poorest district of Belize, Toledo. The Caldwell group has stayed at St. Peter Claver Parish in Punta Gorda, a small coastal town in the Toledo District. Punta Gorda serves as the "base camp" each year from which the group travels from and to their service sites.

When A Hurricane Interrupts Your Training Exercise...
It's not every day your exercise gets interrupted by a hurricane, but that's exactly what happened to members of the Infantry Battle School in Belize. More than 100 personnel were training in the jungle when Hurricane Earl hit land earlier this month. Now back in the country, they've been talking to Forces TV about what it was like in the aftermath of the storm. Still smiling, but surrounded by fallen trees, 2Lt James Robson said "I think it'll be a Grim Warrior to remember" and he's not wrong. Personnel from the Infantry Battle School were supposed to be on a two-week exercise in the jungle on the final stage of the Platoon Commanders Battle Course, but instead, they ended up in the path of a hurricane. Hurricane Earl hit Central America on August 3rd, two days after the start of the exercise.

New World Oil & Gas updates on Big Sofa and AGM
New World Oil and Gas is continuing to make good progress with the possible reverse takeover of Big Sofa and directors remain of the view that this acquisition is an attractive proposition for shareholders. "Big Sofa is continuing to win new mandates from a number of leading companies and is expanding internationally, particularly in the United States where a number of its important clients are based," New World said. "As previously reported, the Company's only remaining oil and gas asset is the Blue Creek Production Sharing Agreement in Belize, which is due to expire on 31 October 2016. The Board confirms that the Company is currently seeking to dispose or relinquish this asset.

Videos

  • Power Charging Belizean Panades, 23min. Joe cooks Panades for brunch with me. We review the Winplus power charger and Jada shows how she threads her eyebrows.

  • Diving The Blue Hole, Belize, 5min. Diving the Blue Hole, Belize - hosted by Blue Sea Diving Services, Caye Caulker.

  • Belize Aggressor, 9min. Scuba diving on Belize Aggressor at Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef.

  • Guitar class with James Sanker yesterday, 1min. These classes are part of the Belize Creole Brukdung Project being sponsored by the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project. The purpose of the project is to be certain that our Brukdung music will never die and be around for many generations to enjoy. We are training some 20 young people on how to play the actual instruments, sing the songs and dance to the songs. As part of the project, we will also introduce a couple of new brukdung songs never heard before by the general pulbic except in the villages where they are sung.

  • Belize 2016, 8min. from Vertical Church

  • Belize 2k16, 3.5min. A short montage of our family trip to San Pedro, Belize.

  • RELENTLESS - Belize 2016, 6min.

  • Descent into San Pedro Canyons: Ambergris Caye Belize, 2min.

  • Queen of the Bay in Belize 1987 featuring the U.D.P Party., 19min.

  • 2016 08 Belize San Pedro Diving with Nurse Sharks, 4min.

  • Belize/Caye Caulker 2014, 32min. Patty, Mary, Mark, Kathy, Joe Bad, Matt and Brian with some cameos by Linda Sue.

  • Belize Mission Trip Summer 2015, 12min. Kennewick First Presbyterian Church

  • Freak Storm Hit Belmopan, Belize | August 31 2016, 1min.