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Ambergris Today
Belize Tourism Board Launches Three Year Action Plan & New Identity for Belize
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce the launch of its Action Plan for the years 2013-2015. Following a successful completion of Action Plan 2010-2012, the BTB embarked on multiple consultations with the tourism industry stakeholders and has crafted a realistic and measurable plan that will ensure Belize's growth and longevity in the global tourism industry. After experiencing a record-breaking year in 2012, the Action Plan 2013-2015 was drafted with a base of tailored work plans and budgets in order to capitalize on our previous successes.
SELL-A-TON AT LION'S DEN
SAT, Jan. 19, 8am-2pm
SELLERS: $25 for two (2) tables
Sell whatever you want! FUNDRAISE for your school, medical needs or personal.
BUYERS�one man's junk is another's treasure!
CONTACT: Mel Spain, 604-9595 or Jan Brown, 662-2725
Under cover for rain or shine.
"San Pedro Lion's Club - We Serve"
The First Service Club of San Pedro -The Lions Club
The success of the San Pedro Lions Club was immediate due to the high confidence they built within the community and their physical presence out and about. Lions were sought for varied needs in the community and they gave unselfishly even abroad. No project was too small nor too large for them and they tackled renovating parks, erecting fences, cleaning beaches, building homes, and helping the sick and financially disabled.
Here are some of the bigger projects undertaken by Lions. They constructed the Lions Clinic and hired a full time doctor and full time nurse. Secondly they built a home for our resident nurse.
They purchased two properties with the vision of a hospital in the future. They assisted San Pedro High School with $80,000.00 for the completion of its ground floor with four classrooms. They constructed the Lions Den complex. They participated in part with the construction of the Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Poly Clinic with the vision of having a full fledged hospital.
Kitesurfing Fad on Ambergris Caye, Belize
The wind has been blowing strongly lately on La Isla Bonita and no it's not Hurricane Season and we definitely are not complaining, just Mother Nature doing what she does best. Therefore, many adrenaline junkies took advantage of the windy days to show off their amazing stunts to many viewers on the beach. Thanks to Kite Explorer Ltd. Kitesurfing has become a new fad on the island for tourists and locals on Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Misc Belizean Sources
Drivers License fee $30
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development, National Emergency Management and Immigration & Nationality, hereby informs the general public, particularly those residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, that the legal fee for the issuance of a Driver's License is ONLY thirty Belize Dollars ($30.00) by Law; as stipulated in Statutory Instrument # 182 of 2003.
Residents are advised that once they meet the criteria for a driver's license, they are not required to pay any more than the mandated thirty Belize dollars ($30.00); and the Council cannot legally withhold the licenses as a result.
2013 Art in the Park Schedule
Stick a pin on your Calendars folks! Art in the Park Calendar begins January 19th, 2013 at Central Park.
George Price Birthday Memorial Mass
This morning, at 6:30pm at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan, there will be a birthday memorial mass in honor of George Price.
Channel 7
Ghosts Funeral: He Had a Gaza Style 21 Gun Salute
Yesterday the Meyers family held the funeral for Leonard Ghost Meyers in the place he grew up and called home, Gales Point, Manatee. Meyers was the most senior George Street personality to be killed in last Tuesday's massacre - he was considered the right hand man of Gang boss Gerald Shiny Tillett. And that's why there was a lot of buzz surrounding the funeral; people wanted to know would the police harass the busses of funeral goers? Would there be a showdown between the GSU and funeral-goers? And would there be violence? Monica Bodden went to the funeral to get answers to all those questions - here's her report:..
The body of Leonard Ghost Meyers was transported one last time through the only street in Gales Point Manatee-the village he grew up in and referred to as his home.
Behind his purple jeep laid his coffin - neatly trimmed in red and black - the colors representing the George Street Gang men who escorted his body inside the village church - were also decked out in the gang affiliated colors - Even the wreaths on the coffin where decorated with red, black and white.
Inside the small church where his funeral sermon was given - only Meyers' close relatives and friends could fit.
Police Nab Six Red-Handed-Robbers, Shoot Four
And while security forces make plans for that event tomorrow, the city remains calm. Since last week Tuesday when the bodies were discovered there have been no gang related shootings.
But police did shoot three men this weekend - after they were caught red handed during an armed robbery. It happened on Saturday just before 9:00 when six men entered Jian Vin Shop at the corner of Mahogany and Mopan Street. They held up the storeowner 61 year old JIAN GUANG LI, and his wife 33 year old CHUN YAN ZHU.
One of the men who was armed with a handgun clubbed both of them across the jaw and demanded money. The shop-owner gave them over two thousand dollars in cash, while they helped themselves to a DVD player, a computer and various tobacco products.
But not satisfied with that, the men went to the living quarters above the shop to get some more items. But, police were in the area and responded quickly. They ran upstairs which is when they say one of the men fired at them.
Police returned fire, injuring four of the men, including a minor - and arrested two others.
Eastern Division Gets New Commander
And with those tidy arrests Aragon leaves for Police Headquarters in Belmopan on a high note. But his 28 months at the helm of Eastern Division could not be considered stellar. Case in point?: Belize City recorded a record number of murders in 2012 with 75. Now, maybe the problem is just too intractable and the high murder rate is not a reflection of his effectiveness - but at today's change of command - we did hear the new O/C take a slightly different tack:..
Elodio Aragon Jr., Deputy Commissioner of Police
"I know it is challenging times and I know Mr. Segura, Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Allen have a task at hand but I ask them fear not the task at hand. Look it as a great opportunity to make a big difference in Belize City."
ACP Miguel Segura, Incoming Officer Commanding Eastern Division "If you see that today you have two deputies on board and the concept is to advance the community policing. We have Senior Superintendent Mrs. Phillips, who have a lot of knowledge and exposure in that field and then you have Senior Superintendent Allen also that will look at the intelligence and operations. What we need to do is to get closer to the community. This is the concept of the policing also."
Dean Street Completes One Week Cordoned Off
Segura takes charge of over a dozen department and units, and about 600 police officers in the country's largest, most crime - ridden area, the entire Belize District - which is known as eastern division. But, right now in the city things are calm and Dean Street from its junction with West Canal to its junctions with West Street - three blocks - remains cordoned off.
Aragon explains that police traffic in the area remains heavy:..
Elodio Aragon Jr., Deputy Commissioner of Police
"That is done at this point in time because of the amount of police vehicles coming in and out but definitely sure the police has block that street off because we do not want to create a problem where we will have a serious congestion our incidents involving traffic related accidents as a results of the operation taking place in that specific area and that is why it was cordon off."
Police have not announced when they will downscale their presence in the area.
Shooting Victim Valle Shows Sharp Sign Of Improvement
It's been 10 days since we last gave you an update on Carlos Valle - the Princess Theater Manager who was shot in the head on New Year's night. But we've been checking on him regularly - and every time we do, hospital authorities tell us he remains in critical condition on life support.
But today the hospital P-R told us that he is "off the ventilator, conscious and alert - much improved." That's great news - especially considering that he was shot in the temple.
As we had reported he was one of the victims of a random shooting on Albert Street on New Year's night - the other, Orlando Williams died immediately.
Attorney Saldivar Says He Will Refund Monies
On Friday night you saw US Nationals John and Cynthia Englehardt complaining about attorney Arthur Saldivar. He was supposed to get them title for their Condo Unit when they paid him 6,500 US dollars three years ago. Since then, they have not gotten title nor have they gotten their money back. They took to the media to name and shame Saldivar - and today he responded. He did an interview at our studio where he explained that the bottleneck has been at the Lands Department:...
Arthur Saldivar
"There was a dispute between the land owner and the home owners association that basically developed shortly after the original strata plan was approved. When that happen the ministry took the view that as a result of the dispute they would actually freeze the issuance of titles. This affected a lot of people and it wasn't a situation where there was any negligence on the part of anybody in terms of trying to get these titles. Due to that this year or late last year I started the process of re-imbursing people because I don't want to hold anybody's' money. I have accepted now that the lands department will not get its act together. I believe Mr. Gentry was the first person who came forward and said that he didn't want his title anymore he wants his money back and that type of thing and I started that process."
"Now everybody is coming to say that they want their monies back, I don't have a problem with that, there is no dispute there. That is being done as we speak; people are getting their monies back."
Saldivar Says: State Sponsored Theft?
And while he was here, Sadivar had another axe to grind. He is the attorney for 22 year-old Mexican Zurisaday Mendez, who has been linked to a frightening stash of weapons, drugs and fancy rides near the Corozal Free Zone.
The November find by police included 7 guns, 12 magazines and 144 bullets, the vehicles, as well as cocaine and cannabis. But he is only charged for one of the guns, while his vehicle a blue Chevy Colorado pickup was also impounded. But while he is on trial, that same pickup has been acquired by police. Sadivar says Mendez's family - who follow the news in Belize saw it transporting dead bodies! He told us why it has caused dismay:..
Arthur Saldivar
"My client's father called me to tell me that they were looking at the news in Belize. They were surprise to see a truck that they had bought for their son being loaded up with bodies of deceased persons.
Let It Burn!: Umbrella Conservation Group APAMO Supports Hon. Alamilla
Last week Friday, 7News told you about the mixed public response to Forestry Minister Lisel Alamilla's bold action when she burnt the illegally harvested Rosewood cargo in Golden Stream. Well, another organization has voiced its approval.
The Association of Protected Areas Management Organization (APAMO) - an umbrella organization for various conservation groups - sent out a press release today saying that it applauds Minister Alamilla's decision, along with the indefinite moratorium and other measures to try to establish sustainable development.
We also showed you how Alamilla categorically declared that she is certain that corruption within her own ministry has helped to perpetuate the illegal rosewood trade.
Apamo also touched on that: the organization condemns the Government and private individuals involved in that, and they are also calling on the Government of Belize to quote, "implement an independent and objective investigation to determine the individuals involved in these illegal and corrupt activities and to apply the full weight of the law" end quote.
A Ceremony Out Of Step?
The Ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court is reserved for the second Monday in January - and usually, it's a headline story - or at least something you would see in the first segment of the news. But tonight, it's been pushed down, because the headline was a story about a gang funeral. That downgrade alone may be an indication of how increasingly out of step the stuffy officiousness of the event is with what's happening in real time.
But, the social scientists tell us ceremony also plays a role in keeping society together - and so in that spirit, we take our annual look at the pomp and pageantry. Daniel Ortiz reports:..
Coro Cops Got Gun, Want Owner
Tonight a Corozal man is wanted for a firearm offence. Just after midday on Sunday, police received information of a fight in progress at 5th Street North in Corozal Town. When officers arrived on the scene, they saw a man darting behind a house. He was recognized as Mark Massam. A chase ensued and police say they saw Massam push his hand on the right side of his pants, take out a shiny object and throw it on the ground causing it to land in the drain. It was retrieved and found to be a 9mm Pistol with 13 live rounds. And while police got the gun, Massam got away and a warrant has been issued for Mark his arrest. Massam was recently granted Supreme Court bail after having been charged with armed robbery using a firearm. One of the conditions of his bail was not to be charged for any offence.
Local Gov't Ministry Vs. UDP Town Council?
The Ministry Of Local Government today sent out a very odd press release today. It targets the residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena and says that, quote, "the legal fee for the issuance of a Driver's License is ONLY thirty Belize Dollars ($30.00) by Law." It continues, "residents are advised that once they meet the criteria for a driver's license, they are not required to pay any more than the mandated thirty Belize dollars ($30.00); and the Council cannot legally withhold the licenses as a result." End quote. Now, as we understand it, the UDP Town council of the twin towns did recently increase driver's license fees because they implemented a new license, complete with the driver's fingerprint. But this release seems to be insisting that they can only charge $30.00 for it. The Mayor of Cayo, John August did not respond to phone calls or text messages requesting comment.
IT also suggests that the Belize City council tactic of refusing to issue driver's licenses for those who owe property tax - which has gone unchallenged - is also illegal.
Funeral Frustration
Last week, 7News told you about undertaker David Coye who was upset with the fees the Belize City Council implemented in its takeover of Cemetery services.
Well tonight, we have another complaint from a family who is upset with City Hall. Last week, we were called out to CitCo's office to speak with Carol Goodin, sister-in-law of the late Zebedee Pitterson, Jr.
She was upset with the hike in fees for funeral spaces at the 13 mile's cemetery, but communication with Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie led her to hold back commenting to us on the issue. They were supposed to have worked out their issues.
Pitterson was to be buried today, but up until an hour before the funeral it still wasn't built. Well today, Goodin called us back to vent her frustration.
Belize: At The Crossroads Of Three Regions: So Why No Trade?
International Relations Expert, Dr. Victor Bulmer- Thomas and his wife Barbara Bulmer Thomas are back in Belize for a pair of public lectures. He will present his address tomorrow at the UB Jaguar Auditorium on the subject "Belize, Central America and the Caribbean: Past, Present and Future." Bulmer Thomas told us he will analyze why Belize has failed to capitalize on its position in three different regions. He explained:
Dr. Victor Bulmer, International Relations Expert
"Belize is a part of three regions; Caribbean, Central America and Mexico if we can think of Mexico as a region but it isn't integrated with any of these regions in the way that you might expect because of its geographical position. Belize is legally tied into the Caribbean through Caricom and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy but somehow it's not taking advantages of its geographical position to integrate itself more fully into the other two regions that I have mention. However if you look at the recent figures you will see that Belize is importing a lot more from Central America particularly from Guatemala and El Salvador and a lot more from Mexico. It's not yet exporting, so the question is what Belize needs to do in order to have a more balance relationship with its neighbors that it currently has."
Jules Vasquez
"We are unable to capitalize on this proximity we have in Central America and in we have in CSME - we are unable to harness that because of the mediocrity of our institution."
Channel 5
Foiled robbery; 4 of 6 robbers shot by cops
Despite unusually heavy police presence over the weekend in the wake of last week's brutal murders, there is still a brazen attack on a Chinese grocer to report tonight. At about nine o'clock on Saturday night, Jian Vin Store located at the corner of Mahogany and Mopan streets was targeted. The owner, Jian Li, told [...]
2nd in command of the George Street Gang laid to rest
The funeral of Leonard 'Ghost' Myers, reputed to be the second in command of the George Street Gang in Belize City, was held in his home village of Gales Point, Manatee on Sunday afternoon. Meyers, along with three affiliates of the George Street Gang, was killed in brutal execution fashion at an apartment building at [...]
The pageantry of the opening of the Supreme Court
This morning, traffic in downtown Belize City came to a halt, for the pageantry and ceremony which marks the opening of the Supreme Court for the calendar year. School children, tourists and regular passersby stood watch as the traditional pomp and circumstance of the formal event played out in front of the historic Supreme Court. [...]
A.G. says Bar versus Bench issue must stop
In his presentation at the opening of the Supreme Court Attorney General Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington raised several issues with the Bar Association-specifically, the need for continuous education and a return to its traditional role. According to Elrington, it cannot be Bar versus Bench. Wilfred Elrington, Attorney General "My lord with respect to the private [...]
The half-a-million dollar message by Minister Alamilla; who is behind the illegal activities.
Despite a moratorium on the extraction of rosewood, the illegal exportation has continued, seemingly without pause. Last week, a shipment that was on its way overseas, likely to China, was stopped in its tracks. The confiscated rosewood was then set on fire by the Minister of Forestry Lisel Alamilla in the presence of the media. [...]
Do you think the Minister should have burned up all that rosewood?
Since the rosewood topic is such a burning issue, no pun intended, today News Five took to the streets to get some feedback. The question our reporter posed was simple; "Do you think Minister Lisel Alamilla should have burned up all that rosewood on Friday?" Here are some of the answers we got. Resident [...]
Assistant ComPol Miguel Segura officially takes over Eastern Division
This morning's weekly police press conference deviated from the norm, as the media was met by old faces in new commands. Assistant Commissioner of Police Elodio Aragon Jr., formerly head of Eastern Division, has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Operations. Assistant Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura takes over the reins [...]
Humberto Garcia; alleged attempted murderer
In the courts, Humberto Garcia, a twenty-eight year old construction worker of Rhaburn Ridge Village, was charged for the March twenty-first 2012 attempted murder of twenty-nine year old Francisco Sosa in which Sosa was shot three times. �Garcia was captured last week after nine months on the lam. When he appeared in the Magistrate's Court, [...]
Where is Mark Massam? Police want him arrested
Up north, Corozal police are looking for Mark Massam. On Sunday, police headed to Fifth Street North where Massam was allegedly involved in a fight. Massam fled the area at the sight of police who set chase behind him. According to police, Massam pulled out a shiny object and threw it on the ground [...]
Motor vehicle thefts in the City
Aside from the foiled robbery at Jian Vin Store, there were other crimes over the weekend. A B.T.L. technician of Belize City reported that this past Saturday, he arrived home along with his girlfriend in his Mazda Prot�g� car which he parked on the street side. As he was exiting the vehicle two men riding [...]
Can municipal bodies legally withhold driver's licenses?
Late last week, Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley, confirmed to News Five that residents who are behind in the payment of taxes will have to pay up those arrears, possibly through a payment plan, before they can receive or renew their drivers' licenses. According to the Mayor, the Council is on an aggressive timetable of [...]
B.N.T.U. executive discusses crime, economy and the referendum
An executive meeting of the Belize National Teachers’ Union branches will be held tonight in advance of membership meetings later this week as the unions begin to mobilize in response to current issues. Top on the list is crime, the state of the economy, the partially-resolved collective bargaining agreement with Government and the ICJ referendum [...]
Learn about your taxes at the 2nd Annual Revenue Fair
Today Revenue Fairs were held around the country, and like its name suggests, it is all about making sure that government receives its share of the pie. The first fair, held last year, was the brainchild of the Income Tax Department, but today's event featured the participation of other departments with one goal - collecting [...]
Football, canoe and cycling in Sports Monday with James Adderley
Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. 22 canoes registered in 5 different categories for the 6th annual Boom to Manatee Lookout Canoe Race staged on Saturday as this community prepares for the mighty La Ruta Maya set to take center stage in March. At the 10 a.m. start inside [...]
LOVE FM
Judicial Year 2013 Declared Open for Supreme Court
The 2013 judicial year was declared opened this morning by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. In his review of the last twelve months the Chief Justice highlighted various milestones for the judiciary in 2012, among them launch of a new website, continuing education for officers of ...
Toledo West Representative Disagrees Ministers Decision to Burn Rosewood
The burning of a large quantity of Rose Wood flitches in the Toledo District last Friday remains a matter of major concern as expressed out rightly by Toledo West Representative Hon. Oscar Requena: "I have absolutely no problem with the Ministry enforcing the laws as it relat...
APAMO Supports Decision to Halt Illegal Trade of Rosewood
The Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) issued a release today in which it says it applauds Minister Alamilla for her decisive actions to halt the illegal trade of Rosewood and other measures taken to promote the sustainable development of the country'...
Revenue Collection Entities Team Up For Awareness Fair
The annual exercise, staged at the grounds of the Charles Bartlette Hyde Building, brought together a trio of revenue collection entities, namely Income Tax, General Sales Tax and Customs Departments. Kent Clare is the Commissioner of Income Tax. The revenue fair is designed to g...
Police Eastern Division of The Police Department Has New Leader
The Police Command at Eastern Division, which deals with the country's largest amount of murders and other major crimes, today officially changed hands. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Elodio Aragon handed over the reins of that Unit to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Migu...