AmbergrisCaye.com Home
Posted By: Marty Today's Belize News: January 16, 2014 - 01/16/14 10:29 AM


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 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

Micky's Place Says Goodbye
After 26 years of service in San Pedro Town, the iconic Micky's Place Restaurant said its final good-bye, officially closing its doors on December 31, 2013. Micky's was well known for dishing out local food that was anything but ordinary. "I wanted to serve local food to both the San Pedro community and tourists. I always cooked in a manner that makes my food feel like a comforting home cooked meal," said Michaela. Of course no restaurant is complete without dedicated staff, and Micky'scertainly had one! Helping Michaela prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner were two dedicated and hardworking women: Clara Castellanos who worked at Micky's for 10, years and Maria Mu�oz who has been there for 12 years. "I don't think Micky's would have been able to achieve so many years of success without the help of my workers. They have been here in good and bad times. They have become like family to me," said Michaela.

7th Annual Boom to Manatee Lookout Canoe Race - Post Race Report
The 2014 paddling season kicked off with the 7th Annual Boom to Manatee Lookout Race, sponsored by Bear Mountain Boats, Architectural Accents, Belize Global Travel Services, and Joseph and Taylor. The race was held on Saturday, 11th January, 2014. The race got start at little after 10am. The river was high so teams time to complete the course was one of the fastest ever with the first place team NICH, Oscar Cordon, Efrian and Felix Cruz, completing the race in 1:14. Second place in the male category went to team BTL Cobb's Arm, Roy Cano, Erick Cano, and Andres Cabb. The Belize Bank Bulldogs Armin Lopez, Amado and Daniel Cruz, finished third. D & A Construction slipped into the fourth spot with Leon and Ray Gillett and Jeremy Sanchez paddling for their team. Hener and Ervin Cruz along with Jerry Cante brought their Westrac team into fifth place finishing just ahead of the Joseph and Taylor team made up of Francis Codd, Jerry Rhaburn and Chris Guydis, in the seventh position overall. Rounding up the male category was Watt A Ting from Sea Sports Belize made up of John Searle, Robert Bailey and Tyreek Thompson.

BSU establishes student-exchange program with UB
On Saturday January 11th, Dana Mohler -Faria, President of Bridgewater State University (BSU) in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA, along with Dr. Lisa Battaligno, John Marvella, and Mary Comeou were on Ambergris Caye as part of their visit to Belize. The university representatives travelled to the country to sign an agreement which would establish a student exchange program between BSU, The University of Belize (UB) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Students are chosen for the exchange program based on an established criterion through UB and MOE. Once selected, the students receive a semester scholarship to BSU inclusive of boarding. Such a program allows academic credits to be interchangeable between the two establishments. Upon completion of the exchange, credits are then transferred back to the University of Belize. Students and teachers also have the opportunity to further their professional studies at BSU through any of the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs being offered at the university through the exchange program.

Introducing '12', San Pedro's new Lifestyle Brand
Living on an island as unique as Ambergris Caye usually leads us to search for similarly unique items that fill a variety of niches. Whether it is a gift, party favor, or home d�cor item, our search can be endless. Well the search is over, thanks to '12'. A subsidiary of Lemon Crush Belize and Romantic Travel Belize, '12' is introducing the Belizean "lifestyle brand". But what are lifestyle products? Think of items that not only look pretty but represent the culture, heritage and the overall identity of a region or person. Lara Goldman, creator of Lemon Crush Belize and Romantic Travels Belize, has tapped into her deepest creative passions providing the island with local Belizean luxury artisanry. '12' offers gift sets, home items and party favors for all your special occasions, and you can bet they are unique!

Misc Belizean Sources

To The Point
New show coming soon!!. --Politics--Social Issues--Discussions--Debates--Much More!!! Keep tuning Reef tv on Channel 20 for the best programming in La Isla Bonita.

Kelly McGuire "Singing for SAGA" Feb 11 at Fidos
Live in Concert at Fido's Restaurant & Bar Auction with one of the World's Best Auctioneer Donation by Fido's for Draft beer & wings orders Raffle prizes Support Operation SNIP , which will reach cats and dogs that will probably never see a vet in their lives. The goal is a healthy population of cats and dogs who cannot reproduce.

San Pedro Town power outage Jan. 16th
Belize Electricity Limited advises its customers in San Pedro Town that the supply of electricity will be temporarily interrupted from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2014. Areas to be affected: entire San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. BEL apologizes for the inconvenience caused but this scheduled power interruption is necessary for the Company to conduct urgent repairs to the San Pedro Substation transformer. For customer inquiries and information on power outages call us toll free at: 0-800-BEL-CARE OR 0-800-235-2273. To view scheduled outages via our website visit: www.bel.com.bz.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONFIRMS THAT H1N1 HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN BELIZE
Of the five cases sent for testing at CARPHA in Trinidad, three were confirmed positive. Two females were treated and released from the Western Regional Hospital. The third was a 29 yr old female, Belize City resident who died earlier this month. DIFFERENCES between Cold, Seasonal Flu, and H1N1 Symptoms:

Western Ballaz are Cayo's Elite
The Western Ballaz, Cayo's Elite Team. They have their coach, Karim Juan, their colors, red and gold, their logo, a soaring eagle, their schedule, and they are practicing non-stop until the middle of February, when they'll start their streak towards the gold. They'll be playing at Sacred Heart College's new auditorium, and their first home game is February 21st, at 9:00pm. "The Western Ballaz will be Cayo's team in the new elite basketball league. They'll be practicing often for the games, which start in the middle of February."

National Hero George Price
"On 15 January, 1919, George Cadle Price, considered the Father of the Nation, was born. How many can still remember seeing him in and around Belize and feeling proud of his contributions to our country!? Here is an informational panel with some facts about one of our National Heroes' contributions to Belize."

Belize, Guatemala and the OAS: The poppy show enters stanza 2... and we're ready!
Belizeans and true friends of Belize, from the latest account, it appears as though the principles involved in the ill-fated scheme to get Belizeans to place our sovereignty at the mercy of the jurisprudence of the so-called, "learned Justices" at the ICJ, are back at it again. As our fellow Caribbean brethren might dub the matter, "dem wheel an cum again". This comes as no surprise because the principles behind this debauchery still believe their mystical hold over the psyche of Belizean citizens, especially when it involves political matters, will carry over into this critical issue. Well, I have some words of wisdom for them� YOU ARE DEAD WRONG!

Disability Cooperatives!
We dare to dream of opportunities Despite our country lacking visionaries Why are we importing toys from foreign countries? With enough talent here to channel those energies Perhaps we could set up cooperatives For persons like me living with disabilities If public sector and private sector could pool together their resources Then we could offer products and services With adequate training in agro- business (processing) We do not want to become menaces We want opportunities in business We can produce jams, jellies and juices Those into trade can do well with help from BELTRADE We can help build wheel chairs for Help Age The young ladies, could get into sewing, embroideries, curtains and gift baskets, earrings, trinkets and bracelets All they would need is capital and an outlet They can have stores and take orders

Wing Stop Grand Opening
Cayo is getting a Wing Stop on Burns avenue, and they are having their grand opening this Friday. Mistah Geeh, Cloud 9, DJ Richie, and DJ Karizma will all be there for your musical pleasure. "The wingstop comes to Cayo!!!! Grand opening this friday night!!! New location downtown Burns avenue"

Basic Macaroni and Cheese: Easy and Simple
In this video I show you 2 recipes for Mac and Cheese. The basic and the Cheesier version. You will love how simple it it to make and will love even more how tasty and satisfying they both are.

Multiple vehicles crash in Corozal; one dead
A multiple vehicles crash on the Phillip Goldson Highway tonight has claimed the life of one man and left several others injured. The accident is reported to have happened around 8:30 pm near Chan Chen village, Corozal. Information received says that it involved a trailer-truck, a passenger van and a pickup truck. Sources say the one fatality is a man from Concepcion village. The name of the man is being withheld at this time, pending proper notification of his family. At least 3 other persons were transported to the community Hospital in Corozal for treatment.

Channel 7

First H1N1 Casualty Is A 29 Year Old Mother
Last week Monday, Shahera Bodden, a 29 year old mother, died at the KHMH - at the time her cause of death was listed as pneumonia. But yesterday she was confirmed as Belize's first h1n1 fatality. It's a tragedy unto itself, the loss of such a young life�but it's also a worrying medical event, because Shahera was young and robust, but now she is a victim of what seems to be a particularly strong strain of h1n1. Her death raises all kinds of public and personal health questions - and today at a press conference we asked ministry of health officials what you need to know about her shocking death, and your health concerns: Jules Vasquez Reporting Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director Epidemiology Unit "Of the 5 cases reported only one came back positive for h1n1, which is the patient that died last week Monday. The other 2 cases are from western region, hj1n1 positive, but these are ambulatory patients that recovered and they have no further complications." The patient that died is Shahera Bodden - a 29 year old mother of a 12 year old. She is the first h1n1 casualty in Belize and what worries authorities is that she had no other illnesses:

Tanzanian Woman Tried To Get Passport by Identity Theft
Tonight, 55 year-old Teena Isaac, a citizen of the East African country of Tanzania, is at the Belize Central Prison after she stole the identity of a Belizean woman and used it to try to apply for a Belizean passport. The passport document would have been the last document she needed to get to fully assume the identity of Carmen Cantun. She already had a birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Unit, complete with all the information belonging to Carmen Cantun. It says that she was born in San Narciso Village in the Corozal District in July of 1966 and that she is supposedly the daughter of Cebastiana Cantun, who resides in San Narciso Village. This birth certificate indicates that it was issued on December 30, 2013. She also has a social security card which looks authentic, with her picture in the location instead of the real Carmen Cantun. The work of the forgery is impressive; you wouldn't be able to tell that it's fake document if a public official didn't tell you that it was. The social security card was issued 2 Fridays ago on January 3, 2014, and it expires on January 2, 2024.

Going to The Great Man's Grave
Today was National Hero George Price's birthday. He would have celebrated his 95th birthday, and in memory of his great accomplishments, the PUP held a short wreath laying ceremony at his grave in the Lord Ridge Cemetery. 7News was there this morning, and the Leader of the Opposition said it's about reminding the younger generation of Price's lifetime achievements, and the service he gave to Belize: Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition "We all have paid tribute to Mr. Price's work, his service to our country, and I think all Belizeans recognize that it is critically important. It think especially at a time when we see all the challenges facing Belize. We very often hear people say, 'Well, what would Mr. Price be doing differently?' So, I think that it is very important for us all across the country, as leaders, but also as citizens of the country, to remember the great work and service of George Price, his life, his legacy, and what it meant for Belize. Our young people in particular, many of them, of course, are growing up without knowing enough about Mr. Price's work. Many of them were born after Mr. Price left office, after Independence. They don't fully appreciate the struggle and the fight that he led to give us our Belizean identity. So, I think it's critically important, and as I've said, we in the People's United Party obviously, we are the children of George Price, and we feel a special responsibility, a special obligation."

PUP Back to Its Roots?
Keeping with the significance of George Price and his contribution to the party, today the PUP hosted the launch of it's first party policy paper - part of a series it wants to do to engage voters. This first one is all about the ideal that Price abided to while in service to the country: social justice. This principle was the pillar of the party's roots, and the new generations of PUP's have been widely criticized for abandoning one of the cornerstone of the party's credo, which, lest we forget, is to "serve the People." So today, 7News attended, and we tried to find out if the new PUP is really serious about going back to the beginning. Daniel Ortiz reports: Daniel Ortiz Reporting The symbolism was in full effect at Independence Hall, this morning, at the cradle of the People's United Party, on George Price's birthday, the party would make a gesture to go back to its roots, and promise the return to the policies which made it the winningest party in Belize's political history.

What Were Shahera's Symptoms?
As we told you at the top of the news, 29 year old mother Shaheera Bodden is the first victim of h1n1 in Belize. She died on January sixth, 2014 at the KHMH intensive care unit. At the time, her family thought she died of pneumonia, but now they know it's h1n1. So what symptoms did she present? And is there a public health lesson in it? That's what Monica Bodden asked her grandmother today - she wished to appear off camera, but she told us what she observed about Shahera's illness:.. Voice of: Shahera's Grandmother "Well, she came home and she was feeling well. That night, she got sick, and got a high fever. We gave her all kinds of medicine, and the fever refused to break; she wasn't feeling better." Monica Bodden "So, you guys were treating it as a flu, like a normal flu right?" Voice of: Shahera's Grandmother "Yes, she wasn't feeling well. We took her to the hospital in the ambulance, and they held her the whole day. The next evening, they sent her home, and from there she got sick, and she didn't feel better. We did everything we could for her when she came back home."

Wisconsin Doctors Train Belize Medics In Accident and Emergency
A team of 6 Doctors, 4 nurses and 3 paramedics from the Medical College of Wisconsin in the United States is in Belize conducting training in Accident and Emergency treatment. But, it's not their first time here. The team has been coming for years, but after a decade of discussion, six months ago, a memorandum of understanding was signed to provide structured training in emergency medicine and response for Belize's A and E personnel. Head of the team, Dr. Mark Bruce who's been coming to Belize since the 90's explained: Dr. Mark Bruce - Medical College of Wisconsin "The focus of this is elevating the status of the speciality of emergency medicine, and we have identified many of the A & E physicians that are passionate about this also. They have been engaged for the last two weeks in training. This is the beginning of a 2-year modular curriculum, and the design of this is to have multiple teams from the Medical College of Wisconsin return to Belize and to do similar type of work. During the summer, it is expected that there will be representatives from out counterparts here; the doctors, nurses and paramedics will exchange, come up to our home base in the Milwaukee area, where the Medical College of Wisconsin is located, and work in our simulation laboratories, doing specific skill development, and also rotating through 3 of our A & E's in the Milwaukee area."

Guate No Mas on Tucanos
It made big news in April when news came out saying that Guatemala's military was acquiring six light attack planes known as Super Tucanos to patrol the Mayan Bisophere reserve in Peten, which is next door to Belize. Well, if that caused you concern as a Belizean, you can rest easy tonight. That's because in November it was reported that Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has cancelled the purchase. Apparently, the Guatemalan military had a price dispute with the Brazilian manufacturer and has decided instead to repair other older plans that have fallen into disuse. And that's where Guatemala's old ally, Israel steps in. In December, the President was scheduled to go to Israel for talks about projects including aircraft and weapons systems.

PUP Says Gun Law Was Bad From The Jump
In our last segment, we showed you the launch of the PUP's Social Justice Agenda, an idyllic vision where every citizen enjoys equal rights and protection under the laws. But, in the real world, 30 plus years of independence has taught us that's usually just a fantasy: justice is mostly reserved for those who have strings or who can afford a good attorney. One law, which has recently come under scrutiny for uneven application, is the gun law where remand is automatic for all gun charges. As we've showed you, grassroots activists have been up in arms about the case where Reynaldo Verde, a senior tax collector, escaped criminal charges. That's after the police officers determined that the unlicensed Glock 380 pistol, which was found in his house, had been planted there. Today, the media asked the Leader of the Opposition about the gun law in that context. He said that from the time the law was being proposed, the opposition foresaw situations like this:

Tourism Industry Celebrates
The BTB's annual Industry Presentation is an important event for this key industry. Part stocktaking, part self-congratulation, it's about looking ahead, while building on the past. Today the show went to Corozal, where there was a lot to celebrate, and even something to look forward to for that northern town, long neglected as a tourist destination: Jules Vasquez Reporting Tony's Inn in Corozal was the venue for this year's industry presentation and mestizo dances set the tone for this northern-most town. There was a lot to celebrate as this promotional video shows: (Clip of the Video) Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism "Our performance in touism over the past year has been well over the average global growth level. In fact, it has placed Belize at the forefront of our region. Our neighbors both to the north and south of us are paying close attention to what we are collectively doing to achieve such success as they continue to slowly rebound from the recession."

Caulker Police Bust Resident With Drug Use Apparatus
Caye Caulker Police have increased their efforts to crack down on drug use on the island, and their efforts have already begun to result in seizures. 38 year-old Tito Rosado, a Caye Caulker resident, is facing criminal charges after he was caught with a crack pipe this morning on Avenida Langosta. Police officers searched him at around 3:50 a.m., and found a crack pipe of inside his pants. As a result, he was arrested and charged with possession of a pipe, and he was arraigned today in San Pedro Magistrate's Court.

Channel 5

Director of Immigration makes recommendation on officers suspended in Immigration scandal
Back in September, the immigration scandal shook up the government, but it is almost four months later and there is little information on the status of three simultaneous investigations. But [...]

African woman poses as a local to obtain a Belize passport
Since the scandal broke involving the illegal issuance of passports, nationality documents and visas, a number of foreign nationals have been caught by alert immigration officials with fake immigration documents. [...]

29 year old Belize City woman dies from Influenza A-H1N1 (Swine Flu)
The H1N1 also known as the swine flu has resurfaced in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. But there is no need to panic, there is need for caution, because [...]

Although there are 3 confirmed cases, swine flu is not pandemic to Belize
At this time of the year, there is increased influenza activity so there is need for caution by the public. Back in 2009, there was a scare due to an [...]

Ministry speaks on easy practices to prevent spread of influenza
It is well known that prevention is better than cure. The ministry says that easy practices and good hygiene such as the covering of mouths when coughing can assist to [...]

Is there another case of swine flu up north?
Another suspected case of H-one N-one, Influenza A virus, has been reported in the north.� While it remains to be confirmed by the Ministry of Health, News Five understands that [...]

The P.U.P. launches social justice agenda
In politics�.National and political icon George Price died on September nineteenth, 2011, following a fall in his Belize City home. The man hailed as the father of the nation would [...]

P.U.P. leader, Francis Fonseca, says party to commit to more aggressive advocacy
With the launch of its social justice agenda, the P.U.P. is also making a commitment to more aggressive advocacy and agitation on social issues. The party has been seen as [...]

The latest on the recall petition
The P.U.P. last week held a fiery and upstart press conference where leader Francis Fonseca and other outspoken members of the party lashed out. The focus of the attack was [...]

Annual Tourism Presentation: industry in good health
The B.T.B. and B.T.I.A.'s annual tourism presentation was hosted in Corozal Town this morning. Along with a respectable growth in tourism numbers, the industry was celebrating other achievements. There are [...]

Checks issued to Minister Edmond Castro from accounts of Belize Airports Authority
On any given day, evidence that a Minister or Minister of State used his authority to get money from a department in his portfolio would be big news. Checks issued [...]

Caye Caulker Police crack down on sale, distribution and use of illegal drugs
Caye Caulker Police have been cracking down on the sale, distribution and use of illegal drugs on the island. And their diligence and increased patrols have been paying dividends. On [...]

U.S. medical practitioners do emergency medicine residency training at the K.H.M.H.
Prior to the press conference by the Ministry of Health on the reports of Influenza A H-one N-one, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital held an informal press briefing to introduce [...]

�the benefits of the 2-year program in Belize
According to the team, emergency medicine, if not the most popular, is one of the top choices of specialty training in the United States. While its practice is relatively young, [...]

Ministry of Health confirms that a 47 year old man died from leptospirosis
Earlier we reported that a twenty-nine year old mother, Shahira Bodden had died due to the H-one N-one influenza. Another disease that has been detected in Belize is Leptospirosis. And [...]

Posted By: Marty Re: Today's Belize News: January 16, 2014 - 01/16/14 10:30 AM

More News: Scroll up from here

CTV3

US National Involved In Boat Accident Speaks Out
On December 27th, we reported on a vessel that capsized on the New River while transporting visiting tourists from a tour to the Lamanai ruin on Christmas Day. And while the incident saw several of the passengers sustain varying degrees of injuries, the incident went under the radar despite the Port Authority's declaration that an investigation was ongoing. But tonight, a family of four which make up almost half of the occupants onboard the vessel at the time of the mishap are outraged that nothing is being done, about a tour trip that almost ended in tragedy. Linda Lekarczyk contacted us from Albuquerque, New Mexico and recounted the dreadful experience. Reporter Maria Novelo revisits the story and filed the following report.

Belize City Men Charged For Firearm Offence
Police are still looking for one man in connection to the firearm and ammunition bust made last Saturday morning. They have charged Jamal Tablada and Jared Usher both residents of Belize City for possession of prohibited firearm and unlicensed prohibited ammunition. A seventeen year old who was along with the men was also charged for the same crimes. The bust occurred along the Phillip Goldson Highway as authorities mobilized to set check points in response to a home invasion that was reported earlier in the night. Police report that they observed a black rodeo SUV with Belize City license plates parked at the side of the road facing Belize City.

The Fight Against Aids Continues
The National AIDS Commission of Belize aims to provide updated and relevant information on HIV for persons living with HIV, at-risk groups, social partners, health professionals, the public and other stakeholders in the response to HIV. Several activities were hosted back in 2013 to bring across awareness as to how to avoid the deadly virus. Today, President of the National Aids Commission in Corozal Town met with his directors to set up a road of plans for 2014. The plan for this year is to have more activities to bring more awareness to the general public. "We'll be getting more support be it financially, be it technical support from the secretariat itself on what we want to implement in Corozal District and also we talked a little bit about how and where we will be meeting as the committees and also as secretariat, to join hands when it is relevant for us to execute different programs. One thing that I am glad for is that we really came to an agreement where we assured that we won't be reading from different notes, where we will be singing from the same hymn notes and that is something that makes me remain calm and tranquil.

BMHS Honours Students With 4.0 GPA
Students are back in school and the second terms or semester for high school students is well underway. But there is much reason for some to still be celebrating their successes in the early part of their school year, like for example three of the top scoring students at Bishop Martin High School. Liyan Moralez, Adalinie Juchim and Maria Pech all scored a perfect grade point average of 4.0 at the end of their first semester and the school was not shy in making sure these top performers received due recognition.

Play Big Foundation Gives Back To The Community There is no arguing that Orange Walk residents are some of the biggest football fans in the country and the sport is popular among young persons. To keep the sport alive and more than anything to keep supporting a positive recreation for youth, the Play Big Foundation, a none profit organization handed over an assortment of football equipment to the Orange Walk Football Association. Receiving the equipment was Chiarman of the Association, Rafael Avila. Rafael Avila- Chairman OWFA "I would like to thank the Play Big Foundation for this generous contribution of the balls, cones, disc and bibs for the youth academy which should be launch the 25th here in Orange Walk."

Did Corozal Resident Die Of H1N1 Virus
Three years ago, in 2009 to be exact, the H1N1 Virus, better known as the swine flu first emerged creating public panic in Belize. While the panic diminished the H1N1 did not disappear. It has always been here in Belize as it was detected in 2012 and 2013 yet no deaths were recorded. But apparently things have changed. Here in the country of Belize two persons have died from a severe strain of influenza, and four more persons were being treated for acute respiratory distress at the KHMH up to the 8th January 2014. At the time when the news broke out personnel from the Health Sector held a meeting in Belize City to review the cases to verify if there was an apparent pattern of the infection and concluded that it was a flu virus.

O/W Police Department To Introduce New Methods To Fight Crime
In last night's newscast we presented you with the report on the performance of the police formations in both the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. The overall report is that there was more successes achieved in 2013 as compared to 2012 since both formations report a decrease in major crimes for last year. The major crimes highlighted include murder, rape, robbery, burglary, theft and carnal knowledge. Superintendent Joseph Myvette, Northern Regional Commander, admitted that despite the success there were challenges in 2013 but their efforts ultimately brought about the decrease reflected in the reports. Superintendent Joseph Myvette - Northern Regional Commander "Several crime initiatives had to have been put in place, one was the increase in operation targeting criminals, two was that we adopted a similar strategy as Belize City, where Belize City was divided into four precinct and we have divided both northern districts into different zones, Orange Walk is divided into three zones whilst Corozal is divided into four zones. This is being able to put police officers in a more timely response time; one and it is certain officers who are in charge of the different zones are held responsible for those zones. Forming community groups as well will assist or have assisted these officers who are in charge of the different zones having a quicker police response will certainly have a greater impact on crime."

Students From Calgary Conduct Research On Primates
A student from the University of Calgary, Canada is in the country collecting DNA samples for research on primates in Belize, particularly spider monkeys. New techniques have been developed to add to the possibilities to study primates; one of them is the use of non-invasive monitoring. With this technique DNA of mammals can be collected in the field without disturbing them. CTV3 News spoke with research student, Jane Champion, who is currently working closely with Wildtracks, Manatee and Primate Rehabilitation Centre in Sarteneja. Jane Champion- Primatology Research Student "I do research on spider monkeys research area in Belize near la Democracia, that is the only wild spider monkey research in Belize and I am coming up here to get samples to compare it with the wild monkeys from there. So we will figure out through the DNA how monkeys are to the ones in that area and eventually hoping overtime will collect more samples of wild monkeys and be able to figure out all where all these confiscated ones come from originally."

One More Person Sought For Friday Night's Home Invasion
Orange Walk police continue to look for one more person believed to be involved in the home invasion that occurred on the night of Friday last into Saturday morning. Police have charged Ronald Bruhier, a twenty one year old of San Jose Nuevo Palmar Village and two minors, both seventeen years old of a Savannah Street address. They have all been charged for aggravated burglary, wounding, and taking conveyance without authority. Police are still looking for one person in connection to the incident. The invasion occurred sometime around ten in the night at the residence of Maria Elisa Artiga. Artiga and her daughter were arriving home and opening the gate to their yard when four armed masked men approached them from behind and forced them into their house. They were taken into one of the rooms at the house which was ransacked. Artiga at one point became involved in a struggle with her assailant, and was hit to the right side of her lip.

LOVE FM

Wisconsin and Belize Partner in Emergency Management Training
Physicians, nurses and paramedics are the benefactors of a training program being conducted by personnel from the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. Officials at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital have identified thirteen individuals from the Accident and Emergency Department who will be undergoing the training sessions that will span over the next two years. Team leader of the Wisconsin group, Dr. Bruce Mark says that while they are here to conduct training sessions, the experience will be two-way experience for them. DR. BRUCE MARK "The focus of this is elevating the status of the specialty of emergency medicine and we have identified many of the A & E physicians that are passionate about this also. They have been engaged, for the last two weeks in training that include didactics, lectures in which they have participated, they have presented cases and then we talk about those cases and lectures; that has been on a daily basis for several hours. In addition to that, each one of our faculty have worked alongside their counterparts, the paramedics at BERT, the A & E nurses and the A & E doctors. We have worked with them and they are assigned shifts, been a resource to them, answered questions and we have learnt as much from them as we have imparted to them in terms of our fund of knowledge and so, it has been a truly two-way experience for us."

Tanzanian National Uses Fake Documents to Get Belizean Passport
Fifty-five year old Tanzanian national Teena Isacc, who attempted to get a Belizean passport by using a Belizean birth certificate and a Belizean social security card, was sent to Belize Central Prison today after she appeared before Magistrate Dale Cayetano and pled guilty to charges of falsifying a document, failure to comply with the conditions of a visitor's permit, using a document she is not entitled to use and using a certificate she is not entitled to use. She pled guilty to the charges and she was fined $1,000 for each offence. She was ordered to pay the fines forthwith. In default of payment, her sentence is one year for each count with the stipulation that the sentences are to run concurrently, so she will serve one year. She was unable to pay she was taken to prison. About 11:45 a.m. yesterday, Isacc went to the Immigration Department and submitted an application for a Belizean passport. She used a Belizean birth certificate and a Belizean social security card, both of them in the name of Carmen Cantun of San Narciso, Corozal. She was unable to answer some questions put to her by an immigration officer and after she was questioned extensively she admitted that the birth certificate and social security card were false. It was discovered in her Tanzanian passport that she came to Belize from the northern border and her visa permit has expired. The Immigration Department has made an application for a removal order for her to be deported to Tanzania either after she has paid the fine or served the time.

Mexico Drops Fee for FMVL Border Card
With Belizeans flocking to various parts of neighboring Mexico, many have taken advantage of the FMVL card that was issued out in order to ease the hustle in crossing Belize's border with Quintana Roo. Over the years, the access to this card has seen some changes mainly in the area of its cost. In November 2013, the Mexican embassy had announced that a new card was being distributed and existing card holders were advised to have their old card replaced. That replacement carried no cost to the card holder but for new card holders, they would be taxed two hundred and ninety five pesos or an estimated fifty Belize dollars. Today, the Mexican Ambassador updated us on changes that took effect at the start of 2014 regarding the FMVL card. AMBASSADOR VELASQUEZ "For all Belizeans, they have to know that the actual card for crossing the border as of the beginning of January, it will be free. There is no fee; anybody can get that card without paying anything."

Three Patients Test Positive for H1N1 Virus in Belize
The H1N1 virus is an infection caused by a kind of influenza virus that spreads from one person to another. It is an infection that is known to cause severe flu symptoms and if left untreated can lead to death. A press briefing was called for today by officials from the Ministry of Health to update the media on the current situation regarding H1N1. Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services explained what the health ministry is doing in an effort to combat the spread of the virus. DR. MICHAEL PITTS "The sixth of January, last week Monday, we got a report over the weekend of five cases with severe illness; one in the private sector and four in the public sector. So, we said it was important for us to determine what were the causes for those cases and in particular, we said, let us rule out the influenza viruses, particular attention to the H1N1 and any of those subgroups. In Belize, we have the capability to do the initial screen and we did that; however, we have the backup conformity arrangement with CARPHA in Trinidad and we used that facility."

Young Mother Dies – First Recorded Death by H1N1 Virus in Belize
A 29-year-old woman of Belize City has died as a result of contracting a strain of the H1N1 influenza virus. Hospital authorities confirmed that the mother of a 9-year-old daughter was admitted into the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on January 2 and passed away on Monday, January 6. Today, several health authorities gathered in the conference room at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where the Dr. Marvin Manzanero of the Epidemiology Department in the Ministry of Health briefed the media on the situation regarding the woman's health and outcome. DR. MARVIN MANZANERO "We couldn't determine based on the clinical history and in talking with the doctors that she had any other underlying cause. So, it seems to be a direct result of a typical pneumonia." Dr. Manzanero says that the hospital followed the proper procedures in this case but the woman came in severely ill. DR. MARVIN MANZANERO "She had been here, in her docket we found that she was here on the 28th of December and given treatment and came back. When she came back on the second, she is reported to have been severely ill. We have heard that she was here prior to the 28th but we couldn't find that in our file and so, we don't know what happened between the 28th and the second which is a period of about five days but when she came on the second, the first note is that the ME says that she is severely ill with a heart rate of 148, fever of 103 and respiratory rate of 28; just based on that, you can tell she was severely ill."

PlusTV

PUP Cries Challenge on GOB's Rejection of Signatures for Recall
Last week, the PUP firmly rejected the ruling of the Election and Boundaries Department in disallowing 337 signatures from the 2,002 presented by voters of the Cayo Northeast constituency asking to recall former Minister of State and representative Elvin Penner. The party had said that it would challenge at...

H1N1 Flu Claims First Victim
The first recorded death from Influenza A (H1N1) in Belize has been confirmed by tests of influenza samples sent by the Ministry of Health to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the amalgamated regional authority responsible for public health, located in Trinidad and Tobago. The unfortunate victim is a...

Senior Man Dies from Leptospirosis in Belize City
A 47 year old man died as a result of contracting leptospirosis. He was infected with the deadly bacteria Leptospira, commonly carried by animals, especially rats and transmitted by contact with infected waste matter such as urine and feces. It had not been reported in some time and the...

PUP Pays Posthumous Honours to Former Leader George Price
The Right Honorable George Cadle Price, former Chief Minister, Premier and two-time Prime Minister of Belize, would have turned 95 today, January 15. He died in September 2011 at the age of 92. The party he led for 40 years and co-founded, the People's United Party (PUP), continues to remember...

PUP Unveil Social Justice Agenda
Following the ceremony at Lord's Ridge, the PUP unveiled its Social Justice Agenda. PUP leader Francis Fonseca listed a number of principles addressed in the agenda. Chief among them is reducing poverty. Hon. Francis Fonseca- Leader of the People's United Party "This January 15th, 2014th, we the People's United Party...

The Blue Party say they Support Teachers' Movement
With the Belize National Teachers' Union (BNTU) beginning its- rally to support teachers' salary adjustments and against other pressing national issues in the North last week, opinion has been divided about the purpose and necessity of their action. The Government has expressed its disapproval while refusing to appear vindictive...

Blogs

A trip to the Tuesday morning prodice market and Yancey de Veer singing Lyin' Mayans
Selection and quality are two good reasons to try the the Tuesday morning market on the lagoon. I will say the pricing is not always cheaper, but it is still worth going. You will never know what you will find and the produce is nice and fresh for the most part. This week they had a good mix of fruits and vegetables. I got a big cauliflower for $10.50 sold by weight at $3.50 BZD a pound. Mary's cilantro was $1.00 cheaper than she paid in town last week and very fresh. The thing that caught my eye the most was a box filled with plastic containers of juicy looking strawberries, I knew they would be pricy and at $13 BZD I was right. Fresh fruit and vegetables come in from Belize City by boat every Tuesday morning.

Second Citizenship and Passport Scams
For those who are looking to obtain a second citizenship and passport it might be a vital task, being done once upon a life and thus very important. It's normally well-known that you have at least to spend several years in a foreign country before it allows you to apply for its citizenship. Some may have also heard that there are quicker programs called economic citizenship programs or fast-track naturalization programs supported by a number of countries. Here is where rumour and misinformation start giving the ground for numerous scammers looking for your money. Facts to Know About Second Citizenship: There are only three official economic citizenship programs in the world today.* Those are being offered by the Commonwealth of Dominica (not the Dominican Republic), Saint Kitts and Nevis and Austria, and require contribution of at least US$ 100,000 in case of Dominica and millions of dollars in case of Austria. They also call it citizenship-by-investment programs. Countries like Belize, Grenada and some others that offered the same a while ago have already stopped their programs. Panama second passport program was re-enabled in 2008 with new requirements.

Caribbean Export Hosts the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Financial Services
The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with The Government of Barbados convened a meeting on the Financial Services sector in CARIFORUM at the Radisson Hotel, Barbados on December 9, 2013. The meeting of Ministers with responsibility for financial services and key industry professionals was assembled to develop the strategic direction relating to the continued development of the industry, to develop recommendations relating to the governance structure of the regional initiative, and to determine the strategic engagement of the Overseas Countries and Territories in the overall process. Chaired by The Hon. Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Barbados the meeting was convened within the context of the importance of a vibrant financial services industry to the sustained economic development of the region, and the severe challenges facing that industry in light of the global economic crisis.

Why is my water brown?
When you turn your faucet or shower on and brown water comes out, you know there's something wrong there. Discoloration can range from a light straw yellow color to dark brown. It can be caused by a number of things including: Naturally occurring substances Disturbance of mains deposits Corrosion of service pipes Internal plumbing issues There are several reasons why water turns brown, the main one being rust.

International Sources

MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS SPREADING IN CARIBBEAN
A mosquito-borne virus appears to be spreading quickly in the Caribbean during the winter tourism season just weeks after epidemiologists first found local transmission occurring in the French dependency of St. Martin. Scientists said Tuesday that St. Martin now has as many as 200 cases of chikungunya, a virus found mainly in Africa and Asia that can cause a debilitating but rarely fatal sickness with fever, rash, fatigue and intense muscle and joint pain. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said new cases have been confirmed on the French Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Barthelemy. The virus also infected a couple of residents of Dutch St. Maarten, which shares an island with St. Martin that was already battling dengue fever, a more serious mosquito-borne illness.

A Little Girls Potato Experiment Will Change The Way You Think About Food!
A little girl decided to do an experiment with a sweet potato, and her results will change the way you think about the fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery store.

Genetically modified mosquitoes will be used in Panama to control dengue outbreak
Panama will try to control a dengue outbreak that has claimed six lives this year by releasing transgenic mosquitoes to render infertile female transmitters of the disease, officials said. Health Ministry director Carlos Galvez told AFP the technique has "shown promise" in Brazil and the Cayman Islands. In Panama, it is being run by the Instituto Gorgas tropical research institute. "The GM male mosquitoes have contact with the females that transmit dengue; then the eggs the (non-GM) females lay no longer produce (dengue-)transmitting mosquitoes," he explained. Galvez said the GM mosquitoes are not a danger to humans because they do not feed on blood, but rather on fruit. GM mosquitoes live for just a week, while normal ones live for a month. The ministry plans to release the GM bugs in two weeks, numbering in the hundreds for each estimated dengue-transmitting female.

The Heritage Foundation's 2014 Index of Economic Freedom [Belize = # 115 of 186 countries]
Today, we live in the most prosperous time in human history. Poverty, sicknesses, and ignorance are receding throughout the world, due in large part to the advance of economic freedom. In 2014, the principles of economic freedom that have fueled this monumental progress are once again measured in the Index of Economic Freedom, an annual guide published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's No. 1 think tank. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Index of Economic Freedom. With its user friendly format and straight-forward analysis, readers can track up to two decades of advancement in economic freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. The Index covers 10 freedoms - from property rights to entrepreneurship - in 186 countries.

Louisville eye doctor helps patients in Belize - and teaches son
Louisville opthalmologist Dr. Albert Smolyar recently took a mission trip to Belize to provide eye care - and teach his teenage son about the need to reach out to those in need throughout the world. Smolyar said he worked with the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, performing 17 cataract surgeries for poor residents in Belize City. They brought all the medical supplies with them from the United States. "For my son (Yonatan Smolyar), who is a junior at North Oldham High School, it was quite an experience and shock," he said. "Although he had no professional eye care knowledge, he was quite helpful since BCVI is very short on staff."

Backpacking Mexico and Belize: A slightly different tropical adventure, Pt 4: Birding Belize: Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
I'm in the midst of a trip to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and we're about to cross the border into Belize. Crossing the border into Belize is no easy task. It costs money. A lot of it. One thing to understand, when crossing a border in tropical America, there is always a fee of some kind. Sometimes there is more than one fee. Sometimes corrupt officials will try to get you to pay more than the fee so they can bolster their pockets. In any case, you should find out what the fee is before you get there. The other catch to crossing into Belize from Mexico is that the border is in no-mans land. On the Mexican side, Chetumal is the closest town. On the Belizean side, Corozal is the closest town. That's a distance of several miles between cities, an area in which no buses run. The main means of transportation across the border is by Taxi. These are people who easily recognize Americans and attempt to charge them ten times what the actual fee is. We managed to cross inexpensively by jumping aboard a Collectivo (a van that runs on a flat fee split between all the occupants. the more people, the cheaper it is). Once in Corozal, we caught a bus to the old Belizean capital, Belize City. The bus rides of course were interesting. Traveling from Chetumal to Belize City, we birded our way along, out the bus window. Water birds were plentiful. Ibis, Herons, Jabiru and Wood Storks, Tropical Kingbirds on the wires, a few hawks here and there. There was always a lot to see. Tired as we were from traveling, falling asleep often meant missing a good bird (our only Jabiru of the entire trip was out the bus window).

VIDEO: Top 10 Smart Animals - Earth Unplugged
There are some outstanding animal behaviours in the natural world and this film celebrates the most amazing wins on Earth. Elephants have shown remarkable levels of intelligence by cooperating with each other to solve a puzzle.

Dolphins Are 10 Times Stronger Than Human Athletes
Dolphins routinely produce 10 times more power than the fittest human athletes do, concludes a new study on the herculean marine mammals. The discovery helps to explain why dolphins seem to swim with ease next to boats propelled by powerful engines. At first scientists thought dolphins always benefited from some kind of fluid-flow trickery, but now we know the truth: Dolphins are ultra strong. Lead author Frank Fish (that's his real name!) is a talented researcher whose work I've covered before. He heads up the Liquid Life Laboratory at West Chester University, where he's also a professor of biology. Prior to the study, Fish and his team had a clear goal in mind. "Let's see how much power a dolphin can produce," Fish said in a press release. "So," he continued, "I used some hydrodynamics models that looked at the motion of the flukes (dolphin tails) and came up with the realization that dolphins could produce very high amounts of power." He and his colleagues tried out something very unexpected. They used a technique designed to measure the muscle power of Olympic athletes on dolphins.

Destination Travel Magazine 2014 Travel Planner Idea Book

Belize: Underwater Photo Essay
Join me on an underwater exploration of Belize's Barrier Reef - experience some of the world's finest snorkelling and most abundant marine life. In this Belize Photo Essay You Will Discover: Huge Variety of Fish Gorgeous Coral Stinging Jellyfish And More! Belize has the finest snorkelling I've experienced. Better than Thailand. Better than Bali. Better even than Aruba. Better, dare I say it, than what I've experienced in my beloved Hawaii. Belize is home to the world's second-largest barrier reef (I'm sure you can guess where the largest is), which harbours staggering marine biodiversity. You'll discover fish, like the social wrasse, found nowhere else in the world. Plus, there are plentiful parrotfish, French angelfish, queen angelfish, gruntfish, cowfish, leopard rays, eagle rays, southern stingrays, trumpetfish, needlefish, neon-speckled squid, triggerfish, octopus, seahorses, invasive lionfish� too many to list. See for yourself:

Caye Caulker for the day
Karen and I decided to venture out and take a day trip to the island of Caye Caulker today. We started with breakfast at Estel's on Ambergris Caye after purchasing our round trip water taxi tickets to Caye Caulker from Caye Caulker water Taxi. ($35BZ round trip). We have had breakfast a couple of times now at Estel's and I would recommend it as a place to begin your day. Hard to go wrong getting a piping hot breakfast served to you as you sit on the beach. We have tried the bloody Mary's and coffee, I would suggest the coffee to start the day. The water taxi trip to Caye Caulker was uneventful. As in it left right on time and arrived without excitement. The 21km trip takes 30 minutes. It is a little loud on the boat and the seats are just fibreglass but I found it very good and would use it again without a doubt.

© Ambergris Caye Belize Message Board