CTV3
Case Of Carlos Griffith's Upgraded To Murder
Since Monday of last week we have been reporting on a vicious attack suffered by one of Orange Walk's very own, Carlos "Paraquat" Girffiths. Over the weekend, Griffiths, who sustained a fractured skull and large cuts wounds to the face, succumbed to his injuries at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. But there seems to be a lot of questions on the way the police handled the situation and the department has now come under intense scrutiny from the public. We drilled the Deputy Commanding Officer, Inspector Nicolas Palomo on the incident to get answers�.
"The 2nd of October, 2015 at 8:15pm, Carlos Griffith was pronounced dead, he succumb to his injuries, as we speak right now a post mortem is being conducted on him since then police investigation commenced and we have one person detained where we are awaiting and assistance from the public lead to the detention of this person. It is police protocol when a person is either injured or suffering from gunshot wounds it is either the BERT personnel that move them."
Opposition Lashes Out At Elrington For Comments Made At The UN
Last week the PUP condemned the Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington's statement at the United Nations' 70th General Assembly in New York City and was back in the media spot light again today in a press conference to reiterate their distaste towards not only his statement but more importantly, the UDP administration's handling of the Belize/Guatemala dispute.
Former Senator and former Minister of Foreign Affairs herself, Lisa Shoman, began by saying that Guatemala, in a diplomatic note to Belize in August made statements that should not have been ignored and omitted by Foreign Minister Elrington in his address at the UN.
"On the 24th of August 2015, the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala sent a diplomatic note to Belize in response to the Diplomatic note #551 of the 19th of August of the Government of Belize. The government of Guatemala stated that it categorically rejects the diplomatic note of Belize and the affirmations made therein by the government of Belize in respect to what they call an incursion...
PUP Condemns Wilfred Elrington For Incompetence
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has fallen under repeated criticism as it relates to the Belize/Guatemala dispute. Other groups such as the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action, COLA, have been very verbal about their discontent to put it lightly on Elrington's handling of the negotiations with Guatemala. And while many have called for his removal from that position, which has been ignored by UDP leader Dean Barrow, the PUP say it is not his personality that's regrettable.
Lisa Showman - Former Minister Foreign Affairs:
"No the problem is not the personality if Sedi Elrington, the problem is the management of this UDP administration of a strategy and policy that has been faint staking crafted and carried out, there was as you know a bi partisan commission which was dealing with matters and what we saw that after the Guatemalans actually dropped their promised to proceed to referendum from there we saw a series of steps that was taken which did not lead to better relations and which in fact as the past year and a half have shown have embolden the Guatemalans to increasingly act aggressively toward Belizeans civilians and even Belizean military, I have been in the bi-partisan commission and before me Eamon Courtney and we can tell you that the briefs in the past four years from the national security council has been nonexistent, ..."
LOVE FM
PUP says "we have lost on the ground and we have lost on the diplomatic stage."
Wilfred Elrington for the, what PUP refers to as weak and inaccurate comments made in New York last week, the criticisms has now been extended to the administration when it comes to the Belize/Guatemala issue. The People's United Party, for some months now, has been campaigning on the platform that Elrington is an inadequate representative [�]
Opposition People's United Party takes objection with Foreign Minster's address to the United Nations
Last Friday saw the release from the People's Untied Party condemning and criticizing the presentation made at the UN's General Assembly by Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington. It is a case where Minister Elrington, for whatever reason, gave the impression in his speech that going to the International Court of Justice was a done deal [�]
Police Investigate Cases of Robbery and Burglary in OW
On October third, a Belizean business woman of Dolphin Street in Orange Walk Town reported that while in her kitchen, three male persons entered with their faces covered with black stockings. One of them reportedly went inside the kitchen and took all the money that she usually keeps there. While the other assailant had what [�]
Police Woman Dies After Not Being Able to Afford Healthcare
A 24-year-old police woman is dead, leaving a three month old baby behind. Shanique Roca-Terry was a first time mother but ever since she gave birth to her son on June 24, 2015, she has been in the hospital for the most part after she was diagnoses with pulmonary edema, cardiomyopathy, vein thrombosis, an enlarged [�]
PlusTV
Man charged for Belmopan Burglary
There was a burglary in the North Piccini area of Belmopan on Friday night. Quick police work led to the detention of a suspect and his subsequent arrest. Superintendt Howell Gillett told us what the home owner reported to police. Sup. Howell Gillett, O. C. Belmopan Police: Between 8 and 12, 8am and...
Female bar owner charged for sex trafficking of a minor
Authorities in Belmopan are investigating a case of child prostitution. According to reports, between the period of 9th of February to the 9th of March, 34 year old Arely Castro, a Salvadoran Naturalized Belizean, harbored a minor at a bar in Las Flores that she owned for the purpose of child prosti...
No candidates for VIP in this election?
In more political news, Vision Inspired by the People has not introduced any candidates to run in this upcoming general elections so far. We do know that there has obviously been a parting of ways with VIP by some of its key members who have now amalgamated into the newly formed Belize Progressive P...
Former PUP Mayoral Candidate is now UDP
It's political season and campaigning is on in full swing. The UDP team in Belmopan, John Saldivar's camp, has gained new support and via a press release today, announced that former PUP member Jose Chacon, who just ran as PUP Mayoral candidate in March of this year, is now a UDP member. The release...
PUP promise consultation, condemn UDP handling of Guatemalan claim
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday in New York City has drawn condemnation in political and activist circles, more for what it apparently failed to do than what it did - offer a short update on Belize-Guatemala relations. Accordin...
Did police find remains of missing 75 year old?
75 year old Francisco Reyes, a resident of Salvapan, Belmopan, was reported missing in mid September after his family said he went to his farm near the community of Springfield Village, Cayo, and never returned. We shared with you the heart breaking plea of his daughter to have police assist in the ...
SSB workers protest over Clothing allowance
The Social Security Board Workers, most of whom are represented by the Christian Workers Union, staged a protest today: one during their midmorning break and another during their afternoon break. According to the placards which the 40 add protestors wield, the workers called for "Fair Play of ...
U.S. advises musicians on travel visas
The U.S. Embassy will this evening in Dangriga meet with members of Belize's entertainment industry, represented by the Music Industry Association of Belize (MIAB) and the newly formed Belize Association of Producers & Promoters (BAPP) to discuss arrangements for travel visas to the United States to perform. Soca Queen Ernestine Carballo was the victim of visa revocation last month when she traveled to New York City for a performance, only to be stopped on landing in the United States and told that her visa had been revoked. She blamed the promoter, but the fact remains that artists and entertainers are granted a different class of visa than ordinary visitors as they are there for a specific and special purpose. Carballo's ordeal prompted 2 private citizens, promoters Barbara Norales and Cornelius Cayetano, to call on the U.S. Embassy to discuss arranging a session on visa applications for those in the entertainment industry. The presentation will be made by Vice Consul at the Embassy, Matthew Hughes. Norales, who also promotes some local musicians, spoke to our colleagues at KREM News via telephone today.
World Archaelogical Congress concerned for Belizean Maya
The executive committee and counsel of the World Archaeological Congress has written a letter to Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressing concern over the treatment of the Mayas in Belize in their struggle to protect their material and cultural heritage and exercise their legally established land right...
Odor at Guanacaste gone
Residents of Belmopan may have noticed that the distinctive foul odor at the Guanacaste park junction is no longer there. If you were to take a closer look at the stream than runs below the junction, you'd also notice that the distinctive red color is also gone and the water appears somewhat ...
Sexual Assault of Woman in Wheel chair
A 77 year old woman confined to a wheel chair says she was sexually assaulted by her own son-in-law. On October 1, the 77-year-old woman of San Joaquin village, Corozal District reported that the day before, she was at home at around 10 o'clock in the morning. She says he was in front of her house i...
Breaking Belize News
Jose Chacon, ex-Bmp. mayoral candidate, leaves PUP for UDP
The United Democratic Party (UDP) announced on Monday that former People's United Party (PUP) mayoral candidate for the City of Belmopan, Jose Chacon, has resigned from the PUP and endorsed the UDP and incumbent John Saldivar. A statement from Chacon accompanying the Party's release says he that thought [�]
PUP promise consultation with people on Guatemalan claim
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday in New York City has drawn condemnation in political and activist circles, more for what it apparently failed to do than what it did - offer a short update on Belize-Guatemala relations. According to the People's United [�]
SSB workers protest over withheld allowance
Today a nationwide protest was staged by staff of the Belize Social Security Board and the Christian Workers Union has stepped in. According to CWU president, Audrey Matura Shepherd, there is a lot of dissatisfaction at the SSB and the union has been doing its best to calm [�]
List of General Election candidates to date
The candidates for the upcoming General Election in each constituency are as follows: 1-Toledo West Juan Coy-United Democratic Party (UDP) Oscar Requena-People's United Party (PUP) Belize Progressive Party (BPP) 2-Toledo East Eden Martinez-United Democratic Party (UDP) Mike Espat-People's United Party (PUP) Will Maheia-Belize Progressive Party (BPP) 3-Stann Creek West Walter [�]
Benque Police seize 16 pounds of weed in drug bust
Benque Viejo police, responding to reports of a suspicious male person walking with a schoolbag on Churchill Street, made a huge drug bust on Sunday night when they found a bag containing 16 pounds of cannabis inside a pink and red canvas bag. The male person had already fled the [�]
Body found in Spring Field, feared to be that of missing elder
A search party looking for a missing person made a grim discovery near the Spring Field Community on Saturday morning, October 3rd. Police were called to the area around 11:45 a.m. and saw skeletal remains believed to be human, between two rocks, inside a sack. The search party was looking [�]
Police find box of weed in Western Paradise
While conducting patrols in the Western Paradise area of Hattieville on Sunday October 4th, police searched an abandoned lot and came across a cereal box containing 286 grams of cannabis. Since no one was in the area at the time of discovery, it was labeled as "Found Property".
Robbery in Orange Walk
On Saturday afternoon, a business woman of Dolphin Street in Orange Walk Town reported to police that she was held at gunpoint and robbed by three male persons while she was in her kitchen. The assailants' faces were covered with black stockings and one of them pointed a firearm at [�]
Another shooting in Belize City
An 18 year old resident of Pickstock, Belize City, was grazed on his left elbow and left side of the hip by bullets after a gunman fired three shots in his direction on October 1st. Stephan Goff told police that he and his friend were sitting under a house through [�]
Guinea Grass resident chopped to the head
A resident of Guinea Grass Village has been arrested and charged for assaulting a fellow villager over the weekend. A situation report from the police reveals that on Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m., police visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they saw 24-year-old Jose Antonio Zepeda Jr. [�]
Salvadoran 18th Street gang member arrested in OW
Orange Walk Police have detained a man who was considered dangerous because of his affiliation to a Salvadoran gang and have since expelled him from the country. According to authorities in the North, on Sunday September 27th, Police detained Carlos Enrique Alvarado Lopez, an unemployed Salvadoran of [�]
Guatemalan Human Smuggler arraigned at the Orange Walk Magistrate's Court
A Guatemalan, accused of being a human smuggler, has been arraigned at the Orange Walk Magistrate's Court for human trafficking offenses. According to authorities in the north, on Thursday September 24th about 12:00 p.m., acting on a tip, they intercepted a group of 13 individuals at the [�]
PUP blames Foreign Minister for "mismanagement" of Guatemala issue
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington and the UDP Government have mismanaged the issue of the Guatemalan claim to Belize, according to the People's United Party. The PUP have condemned the statements of Elrington at the United Nations where he failed to thoroughly advocate Belize's position or ensure [�]
Andrew Munnings vies for post on Commonwealth Youth Council
Andrew Munnings made history this week by becoming the first Belizean to ever be nominated to the post of Caribbean and Regional Representative on the Commonwealth Youth Council. Munnings, a Youth Advocate Officer with the Department of Youth Services in the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, will [�]
Village arts and crafts expo held
Over 120 artisans and other entrepreneurs gathered at the BTL Park on Princess Margaret Drive on Saturday, for the Belize Tourism Board's 4th annual Village Arts and Crafts Expo. The expo showcased a myriad of locally made products, including: wood carvings, jewelry, bags, glass wares, baskets and paintings. [�]
Carlos "Paraquat" Griffith dies of injuries in fight
Orange Walk police say that Carlos Griffith, also known as "Paraquat", died of injuries sustaining in a vicious attack earlier this week in the center of town, and they are now investigating his death as a homicide. The 63 year old succumbed to his injuries on Friday night, [�]
Journalists trained on reporting issues of violence and trafficking
The International Organization on Migration (IOM) and local Government agencies in Belize on Saturday concluded a two-day workshop for media practitioners in Belize on awareness and reporting on violence against women, femicide and trafficking in persons. While participation was low, those who attended had their eyes opened about [�]
Policewoman and new mom dies unexpectedly in hospital
A young mother and police officer is dead and her loved ones are asking a lot of questions. 24 year old Shanique Roca Terry died Saturday morning after four after being hospitalized at the KHMH for complications following the birth of her first and now only child in June. Terry [�]
Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins
Church services were held this morning in Belize City at All Saints Anglican Parish Church to open Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As part of a full month of activities, this year the Society says it will include awareness activities on Prostate Cancer, a leading cause of death [�]
Family pleas for return of teenager taken by mother
A family from Independence, Stann Creek District, needs your help to locate a missing teenager. 13 year old Katia Mejia was last seen heading to Independence High School to begin classes on Thursday. But according to her older sister, Leidy, she never showed up. Leidy spoke to us this morning [�]
Return of the roseate spoonbills
So pretty in pink, the roseate spoonbills returned to the island with the rain and subsequent boom in tadpoles, larvae and mosquitoes. These foragers were photographed in our front yard, right near the main road.
Normally a grassy - if rough - lawn, the area turns into a rather large pond this time of year and draws scores of different species of birds, the most fascinating to me being the spoonbills.
My favorite island birds - the roseate spoonbills are back. Pretty great when you just need to walk out into your front yard to photograph them.
Remembering Belizean Patriot Dr Eddie Laing
Dr. Eddie Laing was the late Belizean scholar who wrote the bylaws for the formation of the Consortium for Belizean Development in 1985 in Los Angeles, California.
The Harvard University law professor who taught the present American president, Barack Obama in law school, rose to become a skillful scholar of international law that Belize was fortunate to have been able to tap into in terms of consultancy on issues relating to Belize's bordering dispute with Guatemala, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and many other constitutional law matters affecting the Belizean diaspora, as well as matters of significance in the Belize constitution.
It would have been a blessing to have had him develop a constitutional amendment in terms of resurrecting the Seventh Amendment that the Barrow administration appears to be having serious misgivings in regards to placing the Belizean diaspora to its rightful place for Belize's development.
Christmas Is Coming: Have I Got the Most Beautiful Ambergris Caye Gift for You!
I may have turned you off with the title. Christmas seems one zillion miles away, but I assure you, it is coming. And the display at the Macy's of Belize, Mirab's in Belize City, can prove it. Look at this photo taken last week. By the time it is all set up�it is QUITE the display.
The idea all started before our trip to Beaver Island, Michigan this August. BEAUTIFUL Beaver Island for a 50th anniversary party - 1900 miles almost directly north of Ambergris Caye, Belize.
So we asked�can you make us one for Ambergris Caye, Belize? And�with a bit of discussion�.here it is! And available at the shop. LOVE!
Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever. for the Ambergris lover. And I know how many of you are out there�
Here is the print.
International Sources
Is This the Greatest Scuba Diving Site on Earth?
When we see sinkholes on the news, they're usually disastrous and frightening, swallowing up Australian campgrounds and Florida used car lots with abandon. But let's not forget the fun, chill kind of sinkhole: the underwater kind! The Great Blue Hole off of Belize, for example, is not just the most obviously named place in the world (tied for #1 with Australia's Great Sandy Desert). It's also a bucket list destination for just about every scuba diver on the planet.
Before it was blue, it was still great, and a hole.
Like other sea-holes or "vertical caves," the Great Blue Hole in Belize's Lighthouse Reef actually formed on dry land, during a past ice age when the sea level was a lot lower than it is today. The ground collapsed due to water dissolving limestone (your garden-variety eating-a-Florida-backhoe type of sinkhole) forming a big circular pit that was eventually submerged by the rising Caribbean. The striking contrast between the shallow, coral edge and the seemingly bottomless center gives these blue holes their colorful name.
New World Oil & Gas continues negotiations with Belize Government over project
New World Oil & Gas is in continued negotiations with the Belize Government over the termination of its Blue Creek Production Sharing Agreement.
The company had previously announced the deal would come to an end by October 12 of this year unless an additional well is spudded before that time.
However additional legal advice has shown the definition of a term for the contract is a period of eight years.
It means the contract deadline which began in 2007 will come to an end on October 31st of this year instead.
New World Confirms Termination Date For Belize Production Agreement
New World Oil and Gas PLC Tuesday said the termination date of the Blue Creek production sharing agreement with the Belize government will be October 31.
The company had previously reported that the agreement, which is in respect of its Blue Creek project in Belize, would terminate on October 12 unless an additional well was spudded before that time or unless it was extended by agreement with the Belize government.
On Tuesday, New World said that the actual termination date will be October 31.
New World added that it will be discussing options on continuing its participation in the licence during the course of this week with the Belize government.
New World Oil & Gas continues negotiations with Belize Government over project
New World Oil & Gas is in continued negotiations with the Belize Government over the termination of its Blue Creek Production Sharing Agreement.
The company had previously announced the deal would come to an end by October 12 of this year unless an additional well is spudded before that time.
However additional legal advice has shown the definition of a term for the contract is a period of eight years.
It means the contract deadline which began in 2007 will come to an end on October 31st of this year instead.
New World said it will be discussing its options on continuing its participation in the licence during the course of the next week with the Belize Government.
A spokesman said there was "no certainty" the Blue Creek PSA will be retained.
The Speaking Cross
In 1848, the rebelling Maya, after having advanced to the gates of M�rida and Campeche, fell back and retreated eastward before Yucatecan and Mexican forces. Driven into a region of forests with no significant towns, largely unknown to the government authorities - roughly today's state of Quintana Roo - the Maya hung on tenaciously. Although demoralized by defeat and loss of leadership, they clung to their independence, and the misnamed Caste War continued its murderous course.
Then, at a time when final defeat must have seemed imminent, new leaders revitalized their movement, transforming it from a rebellion into a religious crusade sanctioned by supernatural forces.
One of the new leaders, a mestizo named Jos� Mar�a Barrera, retreating after yet another defeat, made his camp beside a small cenote in the wilderness. The cenote offered reliable water, although it was mostly hidden in a cave-like cleft in the rock. Barrera found a small cross carved on the trunk of a mahogany tree beside the cenote, so he called the place Chan Santa Cruz. In a typical combination of Mayan and Spanish words, the name means Little Holy Cross.
CARICOM and Cuba to meet in Havana
The ninth meeting of the Joint Commission under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba will take place in Havana, Cuba on 6 - 7 October 2015. The meeting will primarily focus on the conclusion of market access negotiations which gathered momentum in 2014. CARICOM and Cuba have been seeking to expand preferential access to their respective goods markets beyond what is currently provided under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (TECA), which was signed in 2000.
Videos
Dive Belize: Great Blue Hole, 7min.
A New Belize Political Consciousness, 21min. A message from Political Leader of the Belize Progressive Party, Patrick Rogers.
Dancing in Belize, 4min. Dancing in Belize Alex and King collin.
BRFP Belize Rural Finance Program Infomercial 5 Oct 5, 11min.
UNTOLD STORIES OCTOBER 1, 2015, 36min.
Caye Caulker Carnival 2015,3.5 min.
"Welcome To Belize" Tariq Avilez ft. All Year Summer X Edwin Diaz X Waluco, 4min. Welcome To Belize. Summer time jam inspired by the beautiful weather, people, and spirit of Belize.
It only took a week for artists from Punta Gorda and New York City to vibe and record some music together. Enjoy. Like we did.
Bless.
Belize- Caribbean Mayan Adventure, 9min. 3 Weeks, 2 Girls, 1 Paradise- Beautiful Belize!