FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE
Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.
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
On the Radar: Christmas 8-Ball Pool Tournament!
A tournament is being organizer for all interested billiard players on the island. The Christmas 8-Ball pool tournament is scheduled to commence in the first week of December and will see teams competing for a grand cash prize of $1,000.
8-Ball is a form of billiards played with fifteen numbered balls and the cue ball. The objective of the game is to shoot all balls (one through seven or nine through fifteen, depending on which team you are) off the table before attempting to shoot the eight ball. The team that completes this first wins the game.
Those interested in entering the tournament are asked to register teams consisting of five members. A team captain must be selected for each participating team. Registration fee is at $25 per player or $125 per team. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams: 1st place - $1,000 plus five case of beer, 2nd place - $500 plus three cases of beer and 3rd place - $200 plus one case of beer.
SPTC attempts to relocate local Vendors
The craft vendors who, for many years had been stationed at the Central Park, have been informed by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) that they need to relocate. The move has been long coming, and in June of this year, it was officially announced that before 2015 was over, the vendors were going to be moved to the Sunset Board Walk. Authorities from the SPTC reportedly told the vendors that they were to relocate by Monday, November 30th. However, the vendors do not want to move, as they argue that the new location is not viable for business and the conditions are not what they were promised. In a press release issued on Tuesday, December 1st by the SPTC, the general public was informed of the artisans' relocation, which was expected to be before the Christmas Season. However in order to get the right measures in place, the artisants will now be relocated on the first working day of 2016. The release continues to say that after a meeting between the SPTC and the artisans, some of them were placed on the beach, directly in front of the park. This was done to ensure that the vendors were not disenfranchised for the Christmas Season. With this delay, the SPTC will have enough time to ensure the new area where the artisans will move to when is completed with the right facilities as originally envisioned.
San Pedro celebrates 31 years of Township
Mayor Guerrero stated that one of the reasons why this year's celebration was dedicated to education was in order to inform the younger generation about the significance of such occasions and citing the island's evolution since it became a town 31 years ago. "A lot has been accomplished in all these past years and I am thankful to all the past Mayors and Councilors. It is something that I maintained and acknowledge, and in recognition of that we want to establish civic pride and thus, this year we went educational. A lot of children will hear at their schools about Township Day, but they might not know what it really is about. So I believe it's very important to educate them about what is transpiring at the Town Board," said Guerrero. He mentioned that this activity was long coming and he was happy that it was finally accomplished. The many students that visited his office were curious and had some really good questions for the Mayor. "This is really good, because it makes you realize that children are listening, they are watching the news, listening to the radio and becoming aware of what is happening in their community. But I believe it should not be done just during Township Day, regardless if they come here to our offices or we go to their school, these activities should be done more often with our students, who are the future leaders of our community and country," said Guerrero.
DJ Private Ryan stars at Island Invasion's King of the Island Birthday Bash
Trinidadian star, DJ Private Ryan rocked Ambergris Caye, entertaining the Belizean masses at the highly anticipated Island Invasion. Party lovers from across the country flocked to Fido's Courtyard on Saturday, November 28th for Island Invasion's King of the Island Birthday Bash for a truly spectacular music and dance affair. The top DJs of Belize, along with feature performer DJ Private Ryan, kept the massive crowd dancing until the wee hours of Sunday, November 29th. The night featured the musical stylings of DJ Jago, Air Invasion, Evolution Sounds, Fayah Statah Sounds, and DJ Odyssey, with systems being provided by Royal Sound Entertainment. The dance floor was kept packed all night as everyone danced the night away to the best of old and new school soca, dancehall, club, reggae and pop hits.
Miss Garifuna 2015/2016 and candidates receive gifts
On Wednesday, November 25th, Miss Garifuna 2015/2016 Sheila Montero, along with the other young ladies that competed in the pageant on November 18th, were presented with an array of fabulous prizes at the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC). Mayor Daniel Guerrero welcomed each one of the beauties to his office and handed out the prizes.
Miss Garifuna Sheila Montero received a brand new bicycle, plus a bag with gift certificates and a cash prize. First runner-up Ashanti Martinez received a coffee maker, along with a gift bag with gift certificates as well. Nicole Dunn and Zennia Nu�ez each received gift bags with gift certificates and cash prizes. Everyone was recognized for their participation in the pageant and for proudly representing their culture. Among some of the prizes were lunches at restaurants, sunset tours, roundtrip flight tickets to Belize City and even golf cart rentals. Even former Miss Garifuna Tisane Martines received some surprises.
Ambergris Today
Belize Bans Offshore Exploration in and Around All Seven World Heritage Sites
Belize Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, approved a policy that will legally apply a ban on offshore exploration in areas along the Belize Barrier Reef System, and within the seven (7) World Heritage Sites in Belize.
From 8 to 15 December 2015, World Heritage Centre staff will travel to Belize to discuss next steps toward the full implementation of the Desired State of Conservation that would make Belize eligible for removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Misc Belizean Sources
San Pedros AIDS Solidarity Walk 2015
December 1, 2015, is internationally known as World AIDS Day. In honor of the day, the San Pedro AIDS Commission organized a solidarity walk along the main streets of San Pedro where it counted with the participation of the members of the San Pedro AIDS Commission, members and staff of the San Pedro Town Council, Miss San Pedro 2015, Iris Salguero, members of the San Pedro Lions Club, members of the San Pedro Cancer Society, San Pedro R.C. School Marching band, members of the San Pedor Police Formaiton and guests.
Before the walk, Mayor Daniel Guerrero and Councilors Gabriel Nu�ez, Ruben Gonzalez and Hector Alamilla, along with Miss San Pedro, Iris Salguero, on behalf of the people of San Pedro, presented a cheque of $2500 to the president of the San Pedro AIDS Commission, Mr. Felix Ayuso. Mr. Ayuso was very grateful for the donation, as the funds are used to aid those that are living with the virus as well as other needs that may arise to the group.
8th Annual Artisan Fair
More than a dozen artisan booths participated in the 8th Annual Artisan Fair sponsored by the United States Embassy in Belmopan yesterday.
Despite the inclement weather we made a go at it and had fun speaking to all participants. They came from as far as, Corozal, Toledo, Cayo, Maskal, Belmopan, Belize District, Spanish Lookout, Unitedville. Some of the names you will recognize include Walter Castillo from Bullet Tree, Angi from Fabric Twist Designs, IRY'S Butterfly Art, ARTEMIS, Exotic Wood Carvings Gift Shop, Dazart, Hot Mama's and many more. It was great meeting Chef Kuylen.
We were so fortunate to meet and chat with our good friend Walter Castillo and his lovely wife Mito.
Walter Castillo is a self taught artist, who grew up in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Eary in his teens, he started traveling within Belize and mingling with people from many different cultures. This included the Mayas, East Indians Creole and Garinagu with which he lived amongst from 13 to 17 years old.
His use of vibrant colours and people so full of life, springs up from his paintings.
Community Mural Launch
Galen University got some great pictures of the Cayo Mural launch.
"On Friday, November 27, 2015, the San Igancio/Santa Elena and Galen Community were graced with fine art in great company as the community mural - A Painted Conversation, was unveiled. The mural is the result of collaboration over twelve months with Art Educator/Artist Natalia Pilato of Penn State University who conceptualized the entire project called A Painted Conversation."
News from Belize Bird Rescue
We took delivery of two confiscated birds the other day - they were being openly sold in the market place, which thankfully is unusual in Belize. A red lored and a female white front, clipped wings, tiny cages, minimal food and no enrichment.
It is always a joy to introduce a neglected bird to toys and natural foods, but this time even we were blown away with their enthusiasm. Unfortunately, almost every time we got close with the camera they stopped what they were doing.
We can NEVER overstress the importance of enrichment. Smart birds like parrots get bored very easily, and when they are bored, they are destructive - to your home, their cage, themselves or each other. A few minutes of YOUR time providing suitable enrichment will keep a parrot sated for the day. That sounds like a pretty good swap to us!
Belize Specialist Training Miami 2015
Our new Belize Specialists Agents from our training in Miami.
2015-2016 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Gaspari Cordova, 2015-2016 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program participant met with the Ambassador to USA from Belize, Mr. Pat Andrews in Washington, D.C. Mr. Cordova will be participating as a presenter at the "Belize & El Salvador Cultural Luncheon " that will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
The Humphrey Program brings young and mid-career professionals from designated countries to the United States for a year of non-degree graduate-level study, leadership development, and professional collaboration with U.S. counterparts.
We will keep posting the great work and representation that Mr. Gaspari is doing for Belize!
Interested in the Humphrey Fellowship?
Learn more about the Embassy's current Humphrey Fellow Cordova's experience in the U.S. as highligted in this Love FM article.
San Pedro Christmas Boat Parade is ON!
Whoot whoot! New group of organizers! Let us rally and get a boat parade together everyone! What wonderful news!!!!
Splashers in San Pedro
This is not the exact painting we are doing tomorrow! This is the inspiration. Please don't come to the paint party expecting to replicate this exact image. I have not had time to create my own version but it will be a night time island scene with Santa's sleigh across the sky (or not if you wish to not paint it in). Let me know who plans on painting tomorrow Crazy Canucks at 2p.m.
Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Central Park in San Pedro
The San Pedro Town Council presents its annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Central Park. Saturday - December 5, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Come join the fun! Bring the whole family and take your pictures at the Christmas Tree! We will have refreshments and musical entertainment.
First Friday of December Trash Pick Up, Hosted by First Friday Tres Cocos Trash Pick Up
Our new trash barrels are helping, but there's still lots of work to do! Join us at the Paradise Theatre (just north of the bridge) for our monthly two hour roadside and beach clean up! Locals, expats and tourists are all invited to help out and show some Isla Love! Please be there by 9:00 am Dec. 4th :-)
AMAZING NEWS ALERT!! We have just been informed that 150 kids from Holy Cross Anglican School will be joining us this Friday for our Trash Pick Up!! The beach all the way from the bridge to Palapa Bar will be spotless!
Agreement on Cooperation in "Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project between Belize-Taiwan"
The "Genetic Improvement for Sheep and Goat Breeding Belize-Taiwan Project" was signed today December 2, 2015 by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega in his capacity as Minister for Agriculture and the Ambassador of the Republic of China(Taiwan) H.E. Mr. Benjamin Ho. This is a three year project with an approved total budget of approximately $1.62 Million US of which the Government of Belize will contribute $0.35 Million US and the Taiwanese Government will finance $1.27 M US.
The project seeks to improve and develop the genetic blood lines of both the sheep and goat livestock through natural breeding and an artificial insemination program. Sheep and goat production have tremendous growth opportunity on the national market but also on the regional export market. This project will complement other ongoing initiatives and place the industry on a firm footing for development. In particular the traceability/registry component will provide the base on which an export market could develop.
Letter: The government gets what it pays for, by Charles Leslie Jr.
You must understand that what your government pays for it gets. If you are paid to do something for the government, they will extract from you exactly what they have paid for. They have ordered five more years of absolute power. They have paid handsomely for that power by paying you for your votes. They have gotten what they paid for on November 4, 2015.
When we understand that, then we look at our education system, our health system, government financed institutions. Let us focus on our education system and see the kind of education that is being turned out. Logic will tell you that if what is being turned out in those schools was not in accord with what the government wanted, then it would change it.
The bottom line is the government is getting what they have ordered, they are getting what they paid for. They do not want your children to be educated. They do not want you to think too much. That is why our country has become so proliferated with drugs, alcohol, entertainment, and all other types of amusement that you can think of, to keep you entertained, so that you don't get in the way of important people by doing too much thinking.
Friday Open Jam!
Friday Night Open Jam! We have a full band that plays every Friday & we welcome anyone to join! Whether you sing, play the maracas, drum, guitar�. come have a�Location :
Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill, Front StreetStart Date: December 4, 2015 End Date: December 4, 2015 Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Roots Reggae with Julian Melodyman Escobar
Saturday Night is Roots Reggae at the Sports Bar with Julian Melodyman Escobar from 6 - 9 pm! Come listen and dance to the beats of Roots reggae -- Belizan�Location :
Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill, Front StreetStart Date: December 5, 2015 End Date: December 5, 2015 Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Belizean shoppers are being targeted while shopping in Chetumal
BUYERS BEWARE. Reports surfacing on social media and other media sources, including the Mexican Newspapers are that Belizean shoppers are being targeted while shopping in Chetumal, even more so now that the Christmas season is near and everyone is looking for ways to get some extra cash.
It is said that thieves have been lurking like sharks and stealing wallets or bags of Belizean shoppers by creating distractions then stealing the items without shoppers even being aware.
Specific places noted as hot-spots for the thieves are commercial centers, where many Belizean shoopers frequent, such as Sams Club or Walmart and Plaza de Las Americas mall.
These reports have been confirmed by Mexican authorities in Quintana Roo who urge Belizean shoppers to be cautious and keep their belongings close at all times, so as to not lose cash or credit cards to these professional thieves.
Mourning the deaths of Ana, Elizabeth and Shadisha
The Nancy Marin Youth Foundation is organizing vigils country wide to mourn the deaths of Ana, Elizabeth and Shadisha, who died in the tragic fire at the Youth Hostel this weekend. The vigil will be held this Saturday December 5th at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who wants to help me organize the Corozal vigil, please inbox me here, or email me (Ingrid Ferlo) at [email protected] or contact me at 600-7343.
I'm saying this one time - No politics in this, please, I can assure you I am not politically affiliated. These girls deserved way more than that. Thank you for any help you provide.
More photos of the 8th Annual Artisan Fair at the USA Embassy in Belmopan held recently.
Channel 7
Shadisha's Family: Mourning and Grief Multiplied By Morgue Delay
16 year old Shadisha Arnold was one of the three girls who perished in a fire at the female dorm of the youth hostel on Saturday. Today, her family set the funeral for 2:00 pm at St. John's Cathedral. It was sure to be a sorrowful event - but a delay at the morgue with Shadisha's burnt remains made it even more painful for her family. Courtney Weatherburne reports:�
Frustrated and outraged: That's what these family members were feeling. They had been waiting outside the St. John's Cathedral since for the funeral service of Shadisha Arnold to start. But the service couldn't begin because Arnold's body had not even been released from the morgue.
Addison Gillett - Uncle of Shadisha Gillett
"People waiting before 2 o'clock and I come to the morgue from 2 o'clock and they still can't release the body; I am a police officer, a special constable and they still can't release the body, they don't want me to see neither, burn beyond recognition. No hand, no head, no foot, so it's only a small portion they will bury. Baby I very upset, I very upset. Everybody the try cool me off that I no flip."
Gillett says the body should have been released at 10 but according to him, Human Services Department failed to authorize the release. And apart from that, he says they still don't have concrete answers as to what happened that day of the fire.
Two Prisoners Bolt; On Shot, One On The Run
2 prisoners escaped from Dangriga Police yesterday, and tonight, one of them is still on the run.
At around 4:00, Police were transporting remanded inmates Lawrence Bernardez, Edan Guzman, and Daniel McKenzie from Dangriga to the Central Prison in Hattieville in the pan of a pick-up truck. Sources tell us the men were not properly restrained, but police assert that they were properly handcuffed.
Whatever the case, when the police mobile slowed for the speed bump in Hattieville - just a hundred feet from the village police station - Bernardez and Guzman jumped out of the vehicle, and ran off into the nearby bushes.
Police set chase, and caught Guzman, but the officer says he put a fight, and the cop shot him in the leg. He was transported to the KHMH with a gunshot wound to the thigh.
The New Civic Center Will Be The Most Expensive Building In Bze History
Two nights ago, we told you about the plans for the new Belize City Centre. The contract is for $32.9 million dollars - which would make it the most expensive building in Belize's history, surpassing the Central Bank which was finished in 1998 for 30 million dollars. So, it's a huge outlay - and the last gush of Petrocaribe spending - but is there going to be value for money? And will it address the desperate needs of Belize's basketballers and volleyballers - who have been without a serviceable indoor facility for at least 5 years? Well, Belize Infrastructure Limited is heading the construction and we asked the general manager the tough questions today at the site:�
Jules Vasquez
"Is that price justified?"
Christy Mastry - General Manager, BIL
"Yeah, well you know when we talk about structures like this; and I glad you mention public because we're designing in the public realm for high public usage. So we start with the parameter that the government wanted to consider this building and commit this building to being a hurricane shelter. One of the first parameters given to the design team was that the building had to be elevated but yet it still had to be ADA compliant; and that's disability association compliance. So we have to be able to accommodate with the proper ramping system and disability access. And it had to be able to withstand up to a category 4 with the safety factors of being a low end category 5. We're doing a lot of things with the design of the building and it's a prefab steel structure that we will be importing in and that will be all galvanized, dipped structure in order to avoid corrosion."
Authorities Mum On Mystery Plane
Tonight, not much more is known about the mystery plane, which was found yesterday morning in the Green Hills area west of Spanish Lookout. The Cessna 210 was found crashed and burned - and police believe that it was deliberately torched because it was used to transport drugs. Today we asked the Director of Civil Aviation about it - and he didn't have much to add:�
Lindsey Garbutt - Director of Civil Aviation
"My accident investigator Mr. Jean Young was on the scene almost immediately as we were informed of this and we found that there was a plane that had landed. And who ever landed it burnt it as a means of destroying evidence. We are presently working with the police department to give them all the technical information we can in terms of what type of aircraft, trying to trace the registration so we can provide that information and the police part of the procedure can go on."
Weed Stash Found In An Old CD Player
This morning, a Belize City police unit called the Northern Strike Team along with the Tourism Police Unit and the K-9 unit conducted a joint operation which turned up a weed bust in the King's Park Area. At 10:30a.m. they searched the residence of Arthur Higgs located at #6 - 7th St and found four black plastic bags with five ounces of Cannabis - broken down into 16 smaller bags, along with a pipe all stuffed inside an old Technics compact disc player.
That wasn't all: police also found fourteen (14) pieces of weed fudge on the living room table. Police arrested everyone who was at home, including Arthur Higgs, Claudette Hyde, Adrian Gotoy, Eric Humes and Keenan Brown and charged them for Drug Trafficking.
That same strike team also searched #35 Cleghorn Street where inside Lionel Lamb's room they found a gram scale and nine ounces of weed. Four smaller weed bags were found in the bedroom. Lionel Lamb was arrested and charged for Drug Trafficking.
Holy Alliance Against Howell
Last week, we told you about the announcement that 200+ churches outside of Belize City broke away from the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches. That's after they were kicked out by the Belize City Chapter of the Organization, which then - according to them - hijacked the appointment of the Senator for the Churches and installed Reverend Ashley Rocke.
These Churches, who say that they've been disenfranchised, HAVE formed a new association called the National Evangelical Association of Belize. They say that they were forced to do that when the interim President, Pastor Howell Longsworth, kicked them out of the BAEC.
Those 2 grievances are among a series of complaints that they have against Longsworth who they accuse of running the BAEC like a dictatorship. These out-district leaders say that Longsworth stalled the process of instituting a new constitution for the BAEC. The intention of this new constitution was supposed to decentralize the leadership of the association so that it is more democratic and representative of the entire evangelical community throughout the country. They say, that from their perspective, they only thing they did was to pressure Longsworth to move forward as planned, and shortly after that, they received a letter informing them that they had been kicked out of BAEC.
Dean Street Drainage Woes Slightly Eased after Sidewalks Smashed
Last week Friday we showed you Mesopotamia Area Representative Michael Finnegan railing against City Hall for the drainage problems on Dean Street. That street hasn't drained off in months - and ever time a high tide comes- it's an ankle high nuisance to the residents. So Finnegan named and shamed city hall - begging them to clear the drains. This week, that has meant taking a jackhammer to the sidewalks - and when we visited the area today we saw that one whole block of sidewalk from West Canal to Plues street had been uncovered. They did that to get to the drains which were very clogged we are told. When we saw the street today, it was dry - which is a rare event - but we'll keep monitoring it - along with the high tide, which comes in early tomorrow morning.
After Offshore Drill Ban, Conservation Community Says More Must Be Done
Last night, we told you about the Government's announcement that offshore oil drilling is banned in all of the 7 World Heritage Sites in the Belize Barrier Reef System, along with 1 kilometer on either side of the reef system.
Oceana Belize's Vice President, Janelle Chanona, told us yesterday that it is a major accomplishment. Today, the organization released a statement clarifying that while it is a good first step, two Marine Reserves have been omitted by the ban.
The release says, quote, "Oceana Belize looks forward to reviewing the details of the Barrow administration's plans, especially as it relates to the status of two marine protected areas not named in the release: the Turneffe Marine Reserve and the Port Honduras Marine Reserve." End Quote.
COLA President Geovannie Brackett was the very first activist to agitate for offshore oil drilling back in January 2010. He and the conservationists from the Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage have been actively campaigning to get the support of the general citizenry. Today, he told us that he sees it as a win, but adds that more needs to be done to push for a full ban on offshore oil drilling in Belize. Here's how he explained it:
Cubans: "We Want Free"
Last night we told you about the plight of the 30 plus Cubans who are stuck in jail in Belize. Their own country doesn't want them back, while Belize says it has no way to normalize their illegal entry - so they are stuck in a sort of legal limbo - friends of no nation. Today we got a call from one of the Cubans in jail at Hattieivlle. He told us that they are 33 in total, 4 women and 29 men and that they have been locked up for about 6 months. They called us from prison today and explained that they are victims of human traffickers who tricked and lied to them. The trafficker told them he would provide transport to Mexico, but he brought them to Belize instead. Now, they are begging the government of Belize for a pardon or some pass...something that allows them to be released because they do not want to go back to Cuba. They say they sold everything in Cuba, and have nothing back there now. They says they just left because they want a chance at a better life.
Senator Lisa Wants Senate Probe Into Nanes Schnitzer
The house of representative meets on Friday for its first business session in this new term. That means the Senate will meet next week - and leader of opposition business Lisa Shoman yesterday put forward a motion which is sure to be controversial. She wants the Senate to conduct an enquiry into the circumstances under which fugitive David Nanes Schnitzer, known in Belize as David Banes, fraudulently obtained nationality. And, of course that's just the start: Shoman also wants the Senate probe to look into all matters relating to corruption and mismanagement at the Department of Immigration.
Shoman tried a similar motion with the immigration department two years ago, but the motion was defeated
More Equipment For Air Control
The Air Traffic Control System at the PGIA will be getting a major overhaul. Today a contract was signed for the renovation of the Control Tower, the Radar control unit and other facilities on the premise. Now, most of you will remember the sick out at the PGIA in February of this year. The Air Traffic Controllers didn't show up to work - shutting down all operations at the airport leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. They were unhappy with the working conditions and the low-grade equipment in the control tower. Well, this contract will address all those issues and more. Today a press conference was held at the Civil Aviation Department and the Director Lindsey Garbutt told us just how transformed and modernized the facility will be after the renovation is completed.
Works are expected to start early next year and will be finished in a year and a half. The contract is for $9 million.
Best Young CARICOM Minds In Belize
The best young minds in the Caribbean are in Belize tonight as part of the 2015 annual governance meetings of CXC. Nine CAPE awardees and eight CSEC awardees from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will be presented with the regional top awards as a part of the event. They have been touring Belize and today the 17 of them got to meet the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. The PM said he was very impressed:..
Brandon Judnarine, form Antigua and Barbuda was the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in the May/June CSEC examinations, got 22 CSEC passes.
Cecil Cox, a student of Queen's College in Guyana, earned 13 grade ones and 1 grade 2.
Better Genetic Stock For Sheep and Goat Through Taiwan Program
An agreement was signed today between Agriculture Minister Gaspar Vega and Taiwanese Ambassador Benjamin Ho. It's 1.27 million US dollars in technical assistance funds for the "Genetic Improvement for Sheep and Goat Breeding." The three year project hopes to improve the genetic blood lines of both the sheep and goat livestock through natural breeding and an artificial insemination program. This si with a view to tapping into the regional export market.