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The San Pedro Sun
Jamila Janmohamed receives award by The Royal British Legion Belize Branch
San Pedro resident, Jamila Janmohamed was honored by The Royal British Legion, Belize Branch, for her efforts at raising significant funds for the Poppy Appeal. Since 1991, The Royal British Legion has been promoting the Poppy Appeal to help support the past and present British Armed Forces and their families. As a previous colony of Great Britain, Belize has also adopted this culture and during the month of November, leading to Remembrance Day, residents proudly wear a poppy flower to honor the many Belizean and Commonwealth veterans who have given their life to protect others. In 2004, Janmohamed took over the running of the collection for the Poppy Appeal. Since then, she has substantially increased revenue for the Poppy Appeal. Previous earnings for the Poppy Appeal in Ambergris Caye were little over $200. In only on her first month as the head of the Poppy Appeal for Ambergris Caye, Janmohamed raised over a $1,000. Then, in the year 2013, she handed over a grand total of $13,246.86 to the Poppy Appeal, far surpassing every other amount raised previously!
Belize Infrastructure Limited to tackle two projects
Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL), a public sector agency of the Government of Belize (GOB), is undertaking the design, construction and management of capital projects in Belize with particular emphasis on sporting and other multipurpose facilities.
Investment project was initiated on March 31st, 2014 with contract signature for consulting services, architectural designs and construction for infrastructure at the Falcon Field Recreation Center and Facilities. BIL, along with technical support from MOW, is working closely with the Local Government Representative for the area. The investments to be financed as a prerequisite to any commencement of the civil works, and relevant to this contract, include the design and construction as related to any environmental management, approved design plans and construction for the Falcon Field Recreation Rehabilitation Project.
The winning contract was awarded to Belize City based firm, International Environments Ltd headed by lead architect Mr. Daniel Arguelles.
BTB appoints new Director Of Tourism
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Director of Tourism, Mrs. Karen Bevans. Mrs. Bevans joins the BTB after 25 years of service with the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL). She began her career at BTL as an Administrative Officer, then, was promoted to Manager of Administration, Human Resources, and Public Relations, followed by General Manager of Marketing and Administrative Services, which later changed to include further responsibilities of Business Development, Marketing and Sales, and then named the Head of Business Development, Marketing and Public Relations. After a reorganization of the company, she was appointed the General Manager of Business Development and Marketing, and then became the acting Chief Operations Officer, before her latest position as the Chief Operations Officer. She, therefore, brings with her a wealth of knowledge in administration, marketing, public relations, sales, and management, having held the various positions in her ascension to Chief Operations Officer.
Ambergris Today
BTL's 2014 Directory Cover Highlights Belize's Adventure
Of the hundreds of submissions received, the picture submitted by Mr. Daren Lamb ranked first with a total of 1,396 likes. Gracing this year's cover is his uniquely spectacular and uncommon wilderness experience that encapsulates the combined beauty of the Caribbean Sea and a determined Tern. In addition to capturing the bragging rights to have his picture grace the cover of this year's Telephone Directory, Mr. Daren Lamb was also rewarded with an Apple iPad 4 and 1 year free Digicell service.
The 2014 Telephone Directory's "All about Belize" section highlights some of the more popular Belizean adventures which both our visitors and locals can experience. Belize, known as the 'melting pot' of Central America beams with an array of adventures yet to be explored. With so much of our natural environment still healthy and intact, travelers and locals are able to explore and create unique adventures of their own.
You can get your copy of the 2014 Telephone Directory as of Today, Tuesday, April 1, 2014 by visiting the nearest BTL Customer Service Center and present your most recent BTL bill receipt.
Misc Belizean Sources
San Pedro handyman accused of theft
Police in San Pedro town have detained a man pending charges of theft.
The detention of the handyman is on the strength of a report by American retiree Robert Spica who went to police to report that since the first of March the detainee has been stealing money from him.
According to police reports, Spica sold a boat at the beginning of March and allegedly hid the money in a bag.
Armed robbers target Belize City doctor
A Belize City doctor was the victim of an armed robbery last night.
Dr. Jose Espat arrived at his home on Teachers' Street around 9:30 pm and was accosted by two masked men.
Dr. Espat says that one of his attackers carried a handgun and the other hit him on the head with a piece of cement block, leaving him bleeding from a gash to the left side of his forehead.
September Celebrations Theme Competition
Do you have any good ideas for a theme for the September Celebrations? You could win $1000 if your idea wins. The National Celebrations Commission is asking for entries for this year's theme. Send your ideas to [email protected] by Friday, May 16th. Good luck!
"Do you love Belize? Do you have a creative mind? Could you use an extra $1000.00? Then this is for you!"
15th Annual Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic
The 15th annual Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic was Sunday. More pictures from the event have been posted. There's a pre-cross country warm up race this Sunday.
Overall winners:
1st. Keion Robateau - BECOL Uprising
2nd. Delon Gentle - BECOL Uprising
3rd. Zamir Guerra - Cayo High Road
4th. Philip Mencias - Mando's Cycling
5th. Tarique Flowers - Benny's Megabytes
6th. Delawn Abraham - Benny's Megabytes
7th. Zahir Figueroa - BECOL Uprising
8th. Devin Azueta - Cayo High Road
9th. Darien Anderson - Smart
10th. Dennis Arnold - Unattached
11th. Michael Grajalez - Mando's Cycling
12th. Patrick Williams - Unattached
13th. Stephen Cabral - Unattached
14th. Kyle Saunders - Unattached
Youth Category:
1st. Devin Azueta - Cayo High Road
2nd. Darien Anderson - Smart
3rd. Dennis Arnold - unattached
4th. Michael Grajalez - Mando's Cycling
5th. Patrick Wiliams - Unattached
Rotary youth build park at St. Martin de Porres
St. Martin de Porres Primary School has a brand new playground courtesy of visiting volunteers from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The teenagers of the Terwillegar Interact Club of Lillian Osborne High School - the youth arm of the Rotary Club - worked with Belizean counterparts Sunrise Rotary and RESTORE Belize to build the park on Vernon and Partridge Street behind the school compound. It was opened today and project coordinator Margo Ross-Graham said it was an opportunity for the youths to see the world beyond their hometown in the Canadian West.
Steven Buckley and family in court over drugs
42 year old Steven Buckley and his family appeared in the Magistrate's Court this afternoon over, in his words to Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart, a "lee roach."
This morning around 10:00, police searched Buckley's residence at 13 A George Street for firearms and drugs and in his room, which he told police only he has access to, officers found 0.4 grams of suspected cannabis.
Elsewhere in the house they recovered a pipe of the kind used for taking crack cocaine. Buckley chose to plead guilty to the charge of possession of a controlled drug and was fined $50, due by May 2.
If he defaults he will serve 2 weeks in prison.
But Buckley, his common-law wife Juanita Juarez, 46; their stepsons 21 year old Emmanuel Villanueva and a 17 year old minor; and two visiting friends, brothers Isaiah and Charles Middleton, both in their late teens, are trying to arrange bail of $700 this evening on the charge of possession of a utensil adapted for using controlled drugs.
Prisoner bites another inmate's ear
A prisoner serving time on a burglary charge was slated to appear in court on a separate case this morning, but instead he spent his day at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital being treated for a bite to his left ear.
Cruz Allen was seen holding his left ear as he exited the bus and was immediately sent for medical attention.
Allen and another, unnamed inmate got into a fight on the prison bus while coming down from Hattieville to Belize City wherein he sustained the injury.
Consultations begin on Occupational Health and Safety Bill
The Occupational Health and Safety Bill was tabled in January at the first session of the House of Representatives for 2014.
It seeks to regulate and improve working conditions for workers at all businesses countrywide and has the unrelenting and vocal support of the trade unions.
But the business community straddles a fine line between trying not to deny workers their rights and dealing with the economic bottom line.
On Wednesday night, the first in a series of nationwide consultations took place in Belize City hosted by the Public Service, Trade, Industry and Labour Committee of the House of Representatives, which has charge of the bill.
They met with financial members of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including executives of Belize's leading businesses.
We spoke to Daniel Gutierrez, a councilor on the Board of the Chamber who said that while businesses understand and respect workers' rights, the bill as currently presented hurts local business and may lead to loss of jobs.
Belize Waste Control takes CitCo to court again
The Belize City Council and sanitation company Belize Waste Control will be back in court again this week, unable to settle their long-running dispute over late payments on the City's sanitation contract.
From as much as 15 weeks' late payment in December, the Council has trimmed the figure to six weeks behind and according to Mayor Darrell Bradley, will pay double this week to reach the contractually acceptable four weeks' lag in payments.
City Hall has constantly contended with regard to sanitation that at 45% of all expenditure the Council cannot afford to keep up with payments, especially in the slow season, and Bradley says that things will look up once the contract with Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) expires next year.
SATIIM leader dismisses planned protest
On the eve of a planned peaceful demonstration in Punta Gorda targeting SATIIM, the leader of the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management has dismissed the protest.
Gregory Choc today said that explained that the demonstration being organized by the Toledo Association for Belizean Rights will not affect SATIIM in anyway, so he will have no further comment on the matter.
Choc did say, however, that "everybody has the right to express their opinions," noting that SATIIM is mobilizing members of the communities adjacent to the proposed drill site to head to Belize City on Thursday morning. Justice Michelle Arana is expected to hand down her decision in the case brought last October by SATIIM trying to get the government of Belize to affirm customary land rights held by the indigenous communities.
But while the decision is being handed down in Belize City, Joseph Estephan and his Toledo Association for Belizean Rights plans to be demonstrating at the PG Central Park against what has been described as an unfair claim to any prospective oil revenue by SATIIM on behalf of the indigenous communities.
BIL Upgrading Cayo Sports Facilities
Belize Infrastructure Limited is looking to upgrade Falcon Field and Marshalleck Stadium. BIL signed International Environments Ltd to do initial surveys on Falcon Field, and LAR Architects and Associates for Marshalleck Stadium. Thanks, BIL!
"PRESS RELEASE - ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING ELEMENTS, COSTINGS AND CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FALCON FIELD RECREATION CENTER AND FACILITIES"
Agric Getting Upgraded
The National Agriculture and Trade Show is only a month away, and they've been upgrading the facilities in preparation for the event. Agric starts on May 2nd, and finishes on May 4th.
"We are pleased to inform that at least five new buildings will be constructed before this year's show. Two food courts, two display pavilions and a new entertainment stage. Follow us as we build these for your use and enjoyment!"
BEL Submits 2014-2015 Annual Tariff Review Proceeding Application to the Public Utilities Commission
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) submitted an application on April 1, 2014, to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) under the Annual Tariff Review Proceeding (ARP) for the period July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
BEL's application requests a reduction in the Mean Electricity Rate from 44.65 cents to 43 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). BEL's proposed reduction takes into consideration the most recent forecast of cost of power and the opportunity to pass on savings to customers, by continuously seeking ways to lower the cost of electricity in Belize in the short term and long term. It is also in line with the Company's Mission "to provide reliable electricity at the lowest sustainable cost, stimulate national development and improve the quality of life in Belize."
NEMO HANDING OVER CEREMONY
Mr. Calbert Thompson and Mr. Vigilio Requena Sr. and their families were recipients of homes built by Plett's Home Builders.
Kung Fu Dunk screening
Apr 3 - The Corozal Organization Leading Cultural Heritage and Art(COLCHA) in association with the government of China Taiwan will be having a free screening of the Taiwanese film 'Kung Fu Dunk' (action) at the Corozal Town Central Park Saturday April 5, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Video: Red Creek Biological Reserve Stann Creek, Belize
4min. Red Creek Biological Reserve Jaguar Corridor in Stann Creek District, Belize. Established in 1995, to protect the Tropical Moist Forrest, Pine Forest, and the watershed of Red Creek in Southern Belize. Red Creek is a 754 acre private reserve that connects Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary with the coast of southern Belize. Red Creek joins Cabbage Haul Creek and provides the fresh water to the Sapodilla Lagoon near the Sittee River. This reserve provides habitat for Jaguar, Puma, Tapir, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Yellowhead Amazons, Tinamu, Great Currasow, and many other species of wildlife. Red Creek is 4 miles from the Caribbean, on the west side of the Southern Highway on the way to Placencia. It is 12 miles from the village of Hopkins. It is 65 ft. above sea level on the highway frontage and reaches more than 300 ft. elevation on the western border 1.4 miles west of the highway. The high forest at Red Creek has a canopy of 65 ft. with emergent trees, such as Ceiba over 100 ft. tall. Tapir Creek enters Red Creek from the south. Founded by RW Ehrig in April, 1995.
Video: Spanish 3 PAP Cooking Project- Fry Jacks de Belize
1.5min
Video: Turtles, Rays, and Nurse Sharks The Cayes of Belize
Hightlights from diving and snorkeling in Belize.
Sites include: Hol Chan Shark/Ray Alley Esmeralda Reef
Video: Nurkowanie Belize
9min. Scuba diving, creatures of the reef. Film z organizowanej przez FeelActive.pl wyprawy na Belize w marcu 2014 roku. W trakcie wyprawy nurkowaliśmy na Blue hole, Ambergis caye i Turnafe. Przyzwyczajone do nurk�w rekiny wąsate (Nurse shark) są bardzo przyjacielskie w tej okolicy i dają się głaskać, prawie jak zwierzaki domowe :) Mieliśmy też szczęście spotkać orlenie i rekiny karaibskie. Bawiliśmy się też z zaprzyjaźnioną mureną :)
Video: Belize Diving&Snorkeling
3min.
Video: Drums Not Guns Punta Gorda Belize March 2, 2014
Maroon Creole Drum School sponsors a drum circle in the park for a progressive youth movement
Video: Project Smile - Belize
One of a series of short videos about Project Smile, which has given free dental care to 12,300 patients in Belize since 1992. In this video, Dentist Jay McCaslin and Hygenist Vera Peterson discuss what project Smile does and what it has meant to each of them to take part in the short-term dental mission trips.
Video: Brian Ernst :: Acoustic Sessions :: Belize
New song. "Ubuntu" written in Africa. Support independent music.
Video: Chef Bourque Is On The Route To Belize!
2min. Join Chef Bourque as he shows off some of his menu items he will be putting together for the Central America Overland Expedition team from Georgia, that will be stopping in visiting while in route to Belize.
Channel 7
Guatemalan Civilians Crossed The Line
On Monday, we told you about the armed encounter on the border where Belizean Armed Forces killed a Guatemalan civilian. They said that he shot at them first, and that there were signs that these civilians were engaging in illegal activities in Belizean territory. Well tonight, we'll show you photographic evidence which supports their story.
We've also been able to gather a bit more details as to how the incident unfolded. Approximately at around 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon, a joint team of officers from BDF and Police were on operation with FCD rangers.
They were 4 miles from Rio Blanco and 2 miles within Belizean Territory, patrolling the area, when they discovered this clearing in the Chiquibul National Park. It's a forest reserve so naturally, the patrol investigated why the trees were cut down.
That's when they found 2 huts, which suggested that human activity taking place in the area.
They also found discarded food, and further investigation of the area led them to find 40-50 marijuana plants, and a garbage bag containing unplanted marijuana seeds. These discoveries led the Belizean lawmen to believe that the area was cleared for marijuana cultivation, and that the huts and the food belonging the farmers who were trying to harvest these drugs.
Confirmed: KB New Boss At BTB
Exactly one week ago, we showed you former BTL senior executive Karen Bevans going into the headquarters of the Belize Tourism Board to talk to Minister of Tourism Manuel "Juniour" Heredia about taking on the post of Director of Tourism. Bevans had been hand-picked for the job by Cabinet, but last week she hadn't said "yes" yet. Well, she has now. A BTB release issued an hour and a half ago confirms that she is the new Director of Tourism and that she takes up the job next week Wednesday, April 9th.
Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia is quoted in a release as saying "Her impeccable reputation precedes her and we certainly expect to see great things from her. " Of course, we are told Heredia had little say in the matter, this was, as we said, a Cabinet call - since Heredia and his board's last two hirings for the Director post - resulted in abrupt and tumultuous resignations.
Terrible Tourist Rape and Robbery on Placencia
Placencia police have confirmed that they are investigating a robbery and rape involving a Canadian Couple that happened on peninsula last week.
According to police, the couple were on the beach in Placencia on Thursday night when 2 men ambushed them and held them up at gunpoint. The assailants then raped the Canadian man's wife in his presence after they had a short discussion. The Canadian man was ordered to go back to his room to retrieve electronic devices to hand over to them. Fearing for his life, and the life of his spouse, the tourist complied and went back to his room, where he got some items and handed them over.
The men got more brazen and then sent him to an ATM to withdraw money to hand over to them, which he did. When he returned, he handed over what he had gotten, and that's when the robbers released the couple and escaped.
Both tourists reported the incident to police and they took the next flight out of the country the following day. Today, 7News spoke with the Commanding officer of Placencia Police, who told us that they are closely investigating this crime but have no suspects at this time.
SIF: Starting All Over Again At Griga Market
By now, even the casual news watcher will know all about the fiasco at the Dangriga Town Market. The project is 9 months behind schedule and about halfway to completion. It's been stalled for the last 7 months - and has become an eyesore in the town. And that's where the Social Investment Fund comes in. The corruption allegations over the last project saw the forced resignation of their executive director and three senior staffers. But, still SIF has got to carry the project forward - it's a major part of a much larger municipal development project all across the country. So today, it was back to Dangriga where a new contractor has been named, and a new budget assigned. But is this new deal going to see the job through? 7News was there to ask the tough questions:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
In Dangriga, the word SIF is like a curse word, the reputation of the institution perhaps indelibly linked to corruption and for evidence of that its critics need only point to the market - it should have been opened 9 months ago - and here it is still an unoccupied half completed shell. But now, SIF is hoping to put this embarrassment behind it with the appointment of a new contractor CB Construction, as in Cesar Bedran construction who arrived at the market today and gave a commitment to finish it in 6 months.
Buckley Busted
Steven Buckley� 7 months ago he got his partial payment of $50,000 from the Government after he was disabled by a police shooting. Well tonight, Buckley makes the news because he pleaded guilty to drug possession in Magistrate's Court.
Police searched his George Street house today at around 10, and the 42 year-old Buckley was present at the time, along with his wife; 46 year old Juanita Juarez, her two sons, 21 year old Emmanuel Villanueva and 17 year old boy; and two brothers, 19 year old Isaiah Middleton; and 18 year old Charles Middleton. A search of the house led to the discovery of 0.4 grams of cannabis and a pipe adapted for smoking drugs. The officers then charged everyone present with drug and pipe possession.
BEL Wants To Lower Your Light Bill, Again
BEL wants to lower your light bill - and they are asking the PUC to make it so. The utility's Annual Tariff Review was submitted to the PUC yesterday and it asks for a reduction in the average Electricity Rate from 44.65 cents to 43 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the period July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
BEL says the request for a reduction takes into consideration high rainfall projections.
The company most recently reduced rates in December 2013 by four cents per kilowatt hour.
PUP Attacks Anwar B.
At to top of our newscast, we told you about Karen Bevans's hiring as the Director of the Belize Tourism Board. Well, BTL, the company that Bevans left behind officially, yesterday is being criticized by the opposition PUP tonight because of Board member Anwar Barrow's elevation to the most senior executive management post.
As we told you in last night's newscast, Nestor Vasquez, demitted office as Chairman of the Executive Committee. He will stay on as Chairman of the Board and member of the Executive Committee, but Board Director Anwar Barrow takes Vasquez's place as Chair of the Executive Committee.
That's prompted the PUP to state that his appointment is the product of nepotism. The PUP released a statement today which says, quote,
"Anwar Barrow is the son of Prime Minister�Dean Barrow. We view Anwar Barrow's appointment as a blatant act of Nepotism and do not believe it to be in the best interest of BTL or the people of Belize."
The Dangriga Beach: Call It A Comeback
In early 2013 we reported on the worrying rate of erosion on the Dangriga town shore-line. Photos taken just months apart showed a dramatic reduction in sea frontage.
But, since then, the situation has changed dramatically: when we visited the town today we saw that the beach was back! We wanted to know what was up with that - the mayor had a few answers:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
In February of 2013, we told you about the alarming rate of erosion on the coastline of Dangriga Town. These pictures taken just five months apart, showed a substantial deterioration between late 2012 and early 2013 - where the picnic bench toppled into the sea
Resident
"Where we're standing right now, this was actually in the sea."
But today it was dry, gorgeous beach. A thing of wonder, virtually a miracle. In just three or four months, the beach is back - thick, high and wide - the combination we gather of Mother Nature and some cleverness by the town council:
NEAC Approved NCL? BTIA Wants Decision Recalled
The last time we reported on the Norwegian Cruise Lines Project for southern Belize, it was to update you that the company had handed over an addendum to their failed EIA, which their opponents suggested was a negative step.
Well, tonight, there are reports that the NEAC has since met on the project, and that they gave the environmental green light 5 weeks ago. That has prompted the Belize Tourism Industry Association to voice its concern.
Last week Friday, their attorney, Godfrey Smith, wrote a letter to Chief Environmental Officer Martin Alegria, who is also Chairman of the National Environmental Appraisal Committee. The letter demands that NEAC reverse the approval of NCL's project and to put it to a public hearing.
The 3 page letter outlines a laundry lists of faults and fouls of the environmental laws, and calls NEAC's approval irresponsible. BTIA says quote, "the great haste and secrecy with which this matter was approved suggests an intention of the part of NEAC and DOE to pay lip service to the environmental laws and regulations of Belize"
Ebony Street Bathed In Dust
Progress brings problems - that old clich� still rings true in Belize City where there has been lots of progress but also some problems along the way. Residents of Ebony Street know all about that. While Vernon Street as one of the busiest streets in the city is being paved, the unpaved Ebony is being used as a detour. Monica Bodden found out how all the traffic is leaving residents choking up on dust:
Cayo Residents Lose Homes In Flood, Get Help From NEMO
Two Cayo families aren't complaining after they got new houses today. You may recall that in the epic rains of 2013, we told you about 2 houses that were washed away in Santa Elena Town. Well today NEMO donated two houses to the family who lost everything in the floods. The gesture was well received and here is the story.
A Park With A Purpose
Today, the newly renovated Park at the Saint Martin De Porres Primary School was officially inaugurated and opened for use thanks to the efforts of the 2 Canadian Rotary Clubs. It's a 2-year initiative from Rotary Clubs of Edmonton Glenora and Edmonton Downtown, together with Sunrise Rotary Club, Literacy without Borders, RESTORE Belize and the Rotary Club of Belize City.
Here's what one of the organizers told us about it:
The completed park will cater to 900 children.