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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

North Georgia University Students on education trip in San Pedro Town
A group of 23 students and six faculty members from the University of North Georgia and Brenau University of Gainesville Georgia are on the island. Students working on their teaching degree in the US are on the island for seven days working with teachers in the Belizean classroom. Meanwhile, the business students are working with community members to develop new business opportunities. Heading the group is Carly Wynne of the University of North Georgia, who explained that the group is working with teachers and students at Holy Cross Anglican School and San Pedro High School (SPHS). They are also conducting seminars with women and men in the community in developing their skills that could be used to form business opportunities, with the hope of improving their economic conditions. "We brought down several groups of students but we have mainly student-teachers. They are working mostly in classrooms at Holy Cross, assisting in the classroom, helping with sports day and helping in developing teaching materials. We also have two members working at San Pedro High School," said Wynne

Thousands of students sit final part of PSE
238 standard six students from Caye Caulker Village and San Pedro Town joined over 5,500 primary school students across the country who sat the final part of national Primary School Examination (PSE). Paper two of the exams was taken on Monday May 5th, and comprised of Mathematics and Social Studies.

Mothers sue KHMH for the wrongful death their babies
Ten months after 13 babies died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) due to the health facility's negligence, five mothers have filed a lawsuit. Between the months of April and May of 2013, 13 newborns died due to a bacterial outbreak (enerobacter cloace) in the intensive care unit, causing public outcry and spurring an investigation by the World Health Organization. Claimants Marissa Cruz, Katricia Panting, Nichole Grinage, Kelsey Young and Georgiana Hernandez have retained the services of Attorney Kareem Musa and are suing for damages over the wrongful death of their babies. Back in 2013, the newborns were initially deemed healthy, but died suddenly not more than 15 days after their birth. It was not until after the parents of the 13 deceased babies came to the media that KHMH explained what was going, prompting an investigation which found that it was negligence on the part of the health facility. According to Musa, the claim is seeking special damages for what he described as "gross negligence" on the part of the national referral hospital.

Misc Belizean Sources

New Horizons Airman travels many medical career paths
For five years he was a medical laboratory officer. Then, off he went to medical school while in the inactive Reserve. After that, he found himself as a flight commander over pediatrics until he journeyed to Landstuhl in Germany. Then Lakenheath, England. And then Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. His travels continue as he is now off to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for a neonatal intensive care fellowship. For U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Acevedo, changes in assignment and new adventures are nothing out of the ordinary. "I'll stay in for 20 years and retire, but I'll make sure I have a well-rounded career before it's time to move on to something else," he said. He had already been accepted to medical school before joining the military, but he said he just wasn't ready to go. After spending the five years as an Air Force medical laboratory officer, Acevedo felt like he was finally ready. He resigned his commission as a captain to attend school at the University of Texas-Galveston, and then completed his residency at the San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge Launches Its First Facebook Photo Contest
Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge, located on Mile 36 � Hummingbird Highway, Belmopan, Belize, is launching its first Facebook Photo contest. The winner, along with a friend or loved one, will get to enjoy the prize of a 4 night's vacation in a Spanish Casita at Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge which includes: - 4 Night's stay in a Spanish Casita for two - Welcome cocktails - Access to resort amenities - Access to Inland Activities To enter, contestants are required to go to the "Win!" tab on the Sleeping Giant Facebook Page and submit a photo of them vacationing anywhere in the world and explain why they would love to visit Belize. Once their entry is submitted, they can ask friends and loved ones to vote for their photo and try to accumulate as many votes as possible. Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge will review the top 3 submissions with the most votes and choose a winner. The contest will run from May 8th to June 5th, 2014, everybody is welcome to participate.

Ministry of Natural Resources issues eviction notice to Harmoinyville residents
The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued an eviction notice for residents of Harmonyville occupying the Buffer Zone Area (reserve). The Ministry underscored in a press release this week, that the Buffer Zone Areas in any development are the property of the Government of Belize and should be left in its natural state. Nigel Petillo, president of the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association BGYEA, told the Reporter on Friday that the eviction notice affects his organization as well as ten families who have been squatting on the land. Petillo explained that when BGYEA first arrived at Harmonyville to develop the area five families were squatting on the land. Those families were asked to relocate and received an acre of land with the community. They did not move when asked to and over time other families went to squat on the site which later became the Buffer Zone area.

Gloria Robateau wins Ms Y 2014-15
Gloria Robateau, a great-grandmother of Belize City won the 2014 Ms 'Y' pageant at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts in Belize City on Friday night. The event, organized annually by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), showcases "seenagers" compete in a formal evening gown segment and a talent competition. On Friday night Robateau won the judges' hearts with her one-woman skit encouraging young people to get back in school and for those enrolled students to stay in school. She also won the title of Miss Graciousness, with which she received a sash. Ms Gloria is the proud mother of eight daughters and three sons, who have blessed her with 28 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. First runner up, Miss Belmopan Janet Graham, dressed in a bocotora turtle costume for her cultural presentation, in which she presented a monologue promoting the conservation of the bocotora turtle. A long time staple in the diet of Belize river valley residents, the bocotora turtle is now under threat of over-fishing, and Graham stressed the importance of saving this part of our Belizean heritage for future generations to enjoy. Graham also won the title and sash of Miss Courageous.

Ecuador rejects petition for referendum to drill for oil in national park
Ecuadorians have rejected a petition for a referendum to determine whether there should be further oil exploration in the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon. According to the National Electoral Council not enough signatures appeared on the petition to force a referendum. The council validated 359,781 of the 850,000 signatures collected. This represents well under the 583,323 required by Ecuadorian law. It also claims that there were repeated signatures or incomplete signatures. According to the council, some of the names were even those written by children. In other cases, some of the signatories claimed they had used the names of fictional movie characters. But Yasunidos activists who collected the signatures have sharply denied this.

Patrick Jones

Los Lagos resident dies in traffic accident
An early morning traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway has claimed the life of a 19 year old man. Evan Garnett perished when the Honda Accord he was veered off the highway and crashed into what was described by police as "remains of a passenger bus that was parked off the opposite side of the highway." Garnett was heading to his home in Los Lagos sometime after 4 am today when the fatal accident happened. Police say when they arrived at the scene, the found Garnett's body inside the extensively damaged car. The body was taken to the morgue at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where it now awaits a post mortem examination.

San Ignacio man viciously beaten
A San Ignacio man is slowly recuperating after he was viciously attacked and badly beaten. 27 year old Jonathan Chavez sustained serious injuries to his head and face on the morning of May 5. The attack happened on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio town. In an interview conducted on Saturday afternoon, Chavez said that he was on his way home from work around 4 am on May 5 when he was set upon by a group of three men. Chavez said that a woman who was with the men who attacked and beat him, did not physically take part in the beat down but only stood by and laughed as he was being beaten. A surveillance camera from a business establishment on Burns Avenue captured to brutal attack which left Chavez with both eyes swollen, his ear bitten and torn and bruises to other parts of his face.

Gloria Robateau is Miss Y 2014-2015
A new Miss Y has been crowned. 70 year old Gloria Waight Robateau of Belize City bested slate of 5 contestants to win the Miss Y 2014-2015 pageant which was held on Friday night at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Robateau, who is originally from Georgeville village in the Cayo district did a one-woman skit on the importance of an education for young people. In addition to taking the crown, Robateau also won the title of Miss Graciousness. The first runner up in the pageant is Janet Graham of Belmopan. Graham also walked away with the title of Miss Courageous. The second runner up is Rose Marie Skeen of Ladyville village, who also won the title of Miss Determination.

Payroll Taxes vs Consumption Taxes
Pay as you earn (PAYE) taxes are taxes on income assessed according to the Income and Business Tax Act. In Belize, only those earning over $25,000 per year pay these taxes, at a rate of 25%. This is in simple terms, as the amendment to the Act of December 2010 is a little more complicated than that�.in that persons earning between $25-30,000 get to deduct most of their income�.however, persons earning over $30,000 only get to deduct $19,600. What this means is that a person earning $35,000 should get to deduct $19,600 and pay 25% tax on the difference of $15,400, which would be $3,850�.thus taking home $31,150. A person earning $50,000 should get to deduct $19,600 and pay 25% tax on the difference of $30,400, which would be $7,600�.thus taking home $42,400.

Blogs

When life gives you limes, make lime juice
You are likely familiar with the old saying When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My Belizean adaptation is When life gives you limes, make lime juice, seeing real lemons at the fruit market is a rare and beautiful site. Except for the recent lime shortage, limes are usually quite plentiful here and lime juice a very refreshing drink sold at most restaurants. I will leave you with a tropical cocktail making tip - use fresh lime juice to make ice cubes, as they melt they give your drinks a nice flavor. Coconut water works great for that too.

A Belizean Pilot Baking New York Cheesecake? SugarFix Bakery in Belize City
Best New York Style Cheese Cake? Honestly? I wouldn't have even put it on the list. I had no idea that you could find great cheesecake in Belize. And guess where I found THE most divine example of it? In Belize City. Right behind the big Puma gas station. In a bakery opened by a Belizean former Maya Island Air pilot called (very cutely) SugarFix. The johnny cakes (which are raved about) were just sold out. One gorgeous sticky bun remained. And I ordered it "to stay". A honey walnut sticky bun. Dripping with real honey syrup, I LOVE the addition of walnuts. Nuts make everything better. Moist and buttery to the very center. Delicious. And insanely filling.

Dandelion omelet
1 /4 cup dan'elion buds 1/4 cup choppet ret pepp'r 4 aigs, beete 1 teespoon wat'r Cheez 2 tablespoons butt'r N' a skillet, saut� 1 /4 cup dan'elion buds an' 1 /4 cup choppet ret pepp'r i n 1 tablespoon butt'r fer 2 er 3 minnuts. Remoov an' set aside. N' t'same skillet melt anoth'r tablespoon o'butt'r. Beat 4 aigs wit a teespoon o'wat'r an' pour into skillet. As aigs set heft t'edges an' let t'uncooket pershun floe underneeth. Wen aigs air set, sprinkle wit cheez an' spoon t'dan'elion mixture ov'r half o't' aigs. Fold n' half an' enjoy.

Monkey Business in Belize
Ah, Belize! Straddling both the Central American jungles and the Caribbean, it's one of the few places in the world you can still go to experience unspoiled natural beauty. It has everything an eco-tourist could love - jungle adventures, scuba diving, waterfalls, caves, Mayan ruins, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Its spectacular teeming jungles, lush rainforests, dry pine savannas, tangled mangrove swamps make it one of the best examples in the New World Tropics. This is a rich, biologically diverse country and appears to be a leader in conservation initiatives. It is also home to the loudest animal in the New World - the Howler Monkey. The guttoral sound the monkey makes is so loud, it can travel three miles through dense forest. On a recent trip to Belize, we became fascinated by this unique loudmouth and went on a day-long jungle adventure to see and hear it for ourselves.

Parrots, Paddling and Ponderings
A blog about my travels around the world, in search of wild parrots, great paddling opportunities and incredibly eclectic travel experiences, I try to make a difference by connecting people with nature, people with other cultures, and people with themselves by sharing my stories. Last Flight spins a cautionary tale about protecting nature I recently re-read the book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird, written by Bruce Barcott, a Seattle-based writer whose works include The Measure of a Mountain: Beauty and Terror on Mount Rainier. Published in 2008, it recounts the uphill battle of Sharon Matola, director of the Belize Zoo, against Fortis, a Canadian-based company that wanted to, and eventually built, a hydro-electric dam in Belize. If you live in B.C., you probably recognize that name - it's the same company that supplies natural gas to heat our homes, at least in the Lower Mainland.

International Sources

13 Mexican Indigenous Words You Didn't Know You Were Using
Many Americans mistakenly view Mexicans as foreign. In fact, the indigenous people of Mexico have called North America home for a whole lot longer than the Europeans who first started populating the Americas at the close of the fifteenth century. As a reminder, here's 13 words in Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica people of Central Mexico, that English speakers use all the time -- many without knowing it. Avocado: Passed into English by way of the Spanish word "aguacate," the word originates from the Nahuatl term "āhuacatl," meaning both "avocado" and "testicle," according to Merriam-Webster. Cacao: The fruit whose dried seeds are used to make chocolate was originally named cacahuatl. Chocolate: The Nahuatl "xocolatl" is made up of the parts "xococ," meaning "bitter," and "atl," meaning "water." Coyote: These North American canines take their name from the Nahuatl "coyōtl."

Videos

Video: TAAD SQUAD - SAN PEDRO, BELIZE (PART 1), 8min.

Video: Landing at Belize City International Airport, 3min.

Video: Take off in Belize City mit doppel Propeller, 2min.

Video: The Potter's House Belize City Mother's Day 2014, 4min.
Video I put together for the mothers on their special day.

Video: Belize Slideshow, 7min.

Video: Beck Residence - Sanctuary Belize, 7min.
from Belize Standard Design Group