FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE
Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.
Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
San Pedro hosts first ever "Expo Tattoo Belize"
Tattoo artists from as far as Costa Rica, the United States of America, Mexico and as close as Belize convened at the SPHS Auditorium for two days of art and entertainment. Over the weekend of May 28th and 29th, hundreds of people came from all over the island and country, eager to see the masters at work, hoping for some ink of their own. Of course, organizers Wimpas Sosa (Belizean Ink) and Carlos Serrano didn't just have buzzing tattoo machines in mind for the weekend; live music and deejays, and Freak Shows were on the menu. By the time the gates closed on Sunday, plans were already underway for next year's expo.
Little Angels Pre-School students shine at annual talent show
Under the guidance of their teachers, the young students of Little Angel's Preschool delighted their parents and many invited guests who attended their annual Talent Show. The fun show took place on Saturday, May 28th at the San Pedro Lions Den. The event was well organized and included dances, skits and even a few nursery rhymes. School Principal Marina Kay welcomed everyone to enjoy the evening, which opened with a group of students singing. Kay indicated that the students were divided into various age groups, and that it had been a hard but productive weeks of practicing and putting together the entertainment. Everyone was asked to support and encourage the young performers so they could deliver.
Ambergris Today
Pic of the Week - Now What Has These Guys So Scared!?
These guys are jumping for joy, believe it or not. They are just making funny faces for the camera as they leap backwards into the refreshing Caribbean Sea. It's summer time and the best way to beat the hot and humid days is to take a dip in the sea. It might be really hot in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, but it is also very easy to cool off. Palapa Bar & Grill is one of the perfect 'oasis' found on the island. Below is the bigger picture of what is really happening. Cool
25 Years Ago - Respecting the Police Officer's Wife
In the good old days of the beautiful village of San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, the policeman's wife was called "La Poliza". Also in those god old days, uncles could lash their nephews; and thirdly, before going to school children had several chores to do at home, namely filling up the water containers with well water.
There was only one law enforcement officer is San Pedro and he was called El Poliss or Poliz. In most cases he was from Belize City, a Creole, or from Stann Creek, a Garifuna. And since he was El Poliz, then his wife was called "La Poliza". Believe it or not, this woman was respected by the general populace and was believed to have the same powers as her husband. Children would quickly stop their wrongdoings or mischief.
Flashbacks - When One Police Officer was Enough for San Pedro
Can you even imagine the town of San Pedro only needing one police officer to keep the peace? Well at one point in the islands history, when San Pedro was just a sleeping fishing village it was more than enough; and maybe it was too much. The village was so quiet that the police officer had to find odd jobs to keep busy and from falling asleep on the job. That's right!
The Police Station was this very small wooden structure that had a TINY holding cell and the living quarters of the one police officer. This flashback picture gives you a glimpse of the old station that was located at Central Park. You won't see anybody's clothes hanging to dry in the middle of the park anymore. How time changes. Below you can see the two storey structure which today is the police barracks located behind the San Pedro Police Station. It helps house only a fraction of the police officers that are stationed on the island.
Miss Belize Pageant to Make Comeback After Almost 10 Years
Belize will be at Miss Universe for the first time in almost ten years! - Queen of the Jewel Ltd., The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, & Culture, and The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) are partnering to present the Miss Belize 2016 Pageant slated as part of this year's September celebrations. The event takes place on September 10, 2016 at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, this year's winner will be participating at the Miss Universe contest, a first for Belize since 2007!
The call has now been sounded for young Belizean women all over the country to sign up at our website www.missbelizepageant.com to register. Contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 26, a minimum height of 5'5", of good moral character, possess a minimum of a high school diploma to participate. You could be the next Miss Belize!
Misc Belizean Sources
Orphaned jaguar cub
We complain about long hours, dirty jobs and an exhausting profession and passion that is pushing us onto the edge of burn out at times. But when a patient like this one comes in I sure forget everything and remain in awe at natures incredible beauty. My pictures do it zero justice, but pictures were no priority in my mind. Today BWRC received an orphaned jaguar cub of about 6 weeks of age. She is skinny, dehydrated, with loose stools and some congestion in her chest. The cub was rescued from drowning in Challillo lake in Chiquibul by some of my favorite heroes on this planet (the FCD ranger team) and she was already named after this jem of nature - Chiquibul. Thanks also to the Forest Department team for the transfer and to Shanelli Carillo and Minerva Gonzales for the late evening assistance in providing care for this special patient. We don't mind short nights and midnight feeds for this one and cross our fingers that she will respond well to treatment, adjust to captivity (as a baby she has a good chance), and eventually find sanctuary and a new home at the best little Zoo in the world - The Belize Zoo.
Calling all Caribbean Entrepreneurs!
The Secretary of State's Office of Global Partnerships has partnered with Venture Hive to create a seven-week program focusing on providing support, engaging diaspora mentors and experts. And we need your nominations to help us track down the best and the brightest.
The program will focus on creating a solid foundation to scale, preparing for scaling through expansion or export, development of financing materials and preliminary due diligence documents, and utilizing international relationships and partnership for growth.
21st Meeting of the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean to be held in Belize
The Pesticides Control Board of Belize is pleased to announce that the 21st Meeting of the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean (CGPC) will be held in Belize from 6 - 10 June, 2016. The meeting will be held at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in San Ignacio, Cayo under the theme: "A changing climate! A changing world! Responsible pest and pesticide management - our responsibility".
Funding for this meeting is provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) project being implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
San Pedro Town Sub-Division Clean Up Campaign
The San Pedro Town Council is proud to announce its San Pedro Town Sub-Division Clean Up Campaign 2016! We're launching the campaign tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1st, in the San Pedrito Area at 2:00 p.m. Everyone's invited!
Belchoral Junior Choir at St. Ann's Anglican Church June 3
Don't miss the children's choir concert in Belmopan!
Belize Screen on the Green
Thursday, June 9 at 6 PM at Governor General Field, Ring Road, Belmopan. Belize Screen on the Green is back for the month of June and is featuring the American classic movie, "Grease" to start the summer off with a bang!!!
Please join us to watch and sing along to one of our favorite classics for the first or hundredth time! Movie starts at dark and is free to the public and refreshments will be served.
BONUS - Prizes will be given to the ultimate Grease fans who come out in their best Grease inspired costumes.
Help Support To the Mountain! Maya Storybook
To The Mountain! is almost ready to go to print and we are just $1100 away from printing one book for each child who attends primary school in and around Succotz, Belize. This vision to write, illustrate, and produce a children's book in 3 languages that will help improve multilingual literacy and connect kids to their Maya heritage is nearing completion. Check out the Sneak Peeks of Pages 1, 2, and 3 attached here!
We are headed to Belize in mid June to present the books to as many children as possible before their school year ends. We would love your help to raise the additional funds necessary to print the books. You can find more information in the main page of the gofundme website.
Paint N Splash
Sign up is ready! See you Thursday at Crazy Canucks 2p.m. We are keeping it simple this week! Join us to paint a tranquil beach scene with real sand and seashells! If you are a regular and haven't painted one from your reef series send me a message when you sign up and I'll arrange to bring one for you.
ADVISORY TO ALL LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS:
RABIES VACCINATION FOR CATTLE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Belize Livestock Producers, informs all livestock farmers to vaccinate their cattle against the ongoing Bovine Rabies outbreak.
The disease is currently being detected in the Cayo District and is expected to affect herds in the Belize River Valley, as suspected cases have also been detected in areas along the Macal River. The spread of the disease can be halted if livestock farmers vaccinate their cattle against rabies.
Farmers are warned that the disease can be transmitted to humans. Rabies is a highly fatal disease that affects all mammals. The disease is almost always fatal, but can be prevented through vaccination of animals and post exposure treatment to humans. Affected animals will usually show nervous signs and aggressive behavior. Most animals will show excessive salivation as swallowing becomes impossible. Avoid coming in contact with animals showing these symptoms and immediately call BAHA Officers to report any suspected cases.
LLOYD COFFIN: THE LEGEND, THE COACH, THE POLITICIAN!
William Elijah 'Lloyd' Coffin became one of Belize's most multi-talented personalities both in sports, politics and public life. He was a passionate lover of baseball who was one of the pioneers of the creation of Rogers Park which became Rogers Stadium. He coached some of Belize's most outstanding women of Belize softball of the 1960's like the legendary Brenda Johnson. Belizean Legends honor this Belizean Legend because we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.
GRACE BANNER: BELIZEAN SOFTBALL GREATNESS!
The legendary and outstanding softball player of the 1970's Belize Sofball Hall of Fame, the late Grace Banner was called The Princess of Camalote. Camalote is the village in the Cayo District that produced some of the best softball players that became a part of the Golden Girls of Belizean Softball. Oh what a period in Belizean sports that was. We honor them always!
THE USHER BROTHERS WALI & SALO: LEGENDARY BELIZEAN ATHLETES!
Two of Belize's most outstanding athletes in the 1970's were the Usher brothers. But Wali, standing to the left of the photo, has an incredible history as Belize's most outstanding marathon runner of all times. His brother Salo, was an incredible football striker of the legendary Belizean football team of the 1970's, Diamond A. Belizean Legends honor their greatness in Belizean sports.
STAND UP FOR BELIZE: MOMENT OF SOLIDARITY!
When Belizeans stand up in ranks as in an unbreakable chain or wall of unity, we become much stronger to stand up against all odds regardless of how small we might appear to be.
From left to right: yours truly Bilal Morris standing up for Belize with the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) political leader, Patrick Rogers, Fred Dixon, The proprietor of the elegant Belizean restaurant, Mars Caribbean Gardens, Gerald Rogers, brother of Patrick Rogers and a dynamic Belizean brother, and Nuri Akbar Estrada, Chairman of the Belize Rural Economic Development of Agriculture through Alliance (BREDAA).
Channel 7
Tremors In the Barrow Cabinet? Ministers Categorically Deny
Last night, we gave you a blow-by-blow account of Sunday's UDP Convention for the post of First Deputy Leader. Patrick Faber easily defeated John Saldivar by a margin of 88 votes.
And, so, it is expected that he will be sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister, a post reserved for the First Deputy. Well, today was the first Cabinet Meeting following that convention, and at around 10:00 - just as Cabinet was about to start - rumours went out fast and hard that the 11 ministers who supported John Saldivar had a list of demands for the Prime Minister - principally that Gaspar Vega would have to remain Deputy Prime Minister. And if not�well they would resign�
Now we stress, this was the rumour, but our best information from multiple sources is that it didn't happen.
But, there are a few facts which fueled that type of speculation. The first is that these 11 ministers from the John Saldivar camp showed up to the 10 o'clock Cabinet meeting late. Our information is that they first held their own meeting and all showed up about 20 minutes late. The next fact is that John Saldivar was not present on Sunday to concede defeat, although he did make a Facebook post later in the evening after the results were in. Thirdly, Saldivar and the ministers supporting him did have a private meeting with the Prime Minister after the cabinet meeting.
Hon. Saldivar Concedes Defeat to Hon. Faber
So, what about the man who is central to this supposed Cabinet Quake? Well, we got a brief opportunity to speak with John Saldivar later in the afternoon, and like his Cabinet Colleagues, when we addressed our information to him, he categorically denied it. Additionally, he tipped his hat to his opponent Patrick Faber, who bested him in Sunday's convention.
Here's how that conversation went:
Daniel Ortiz:
"Our information was that the ministers who supported you showed up late for Cabinet meeting today because you all had a sidebar meeting and that you all came with ultimatums for the Prime Minister."
Hon. John Saldivar, Lost convention for UDP 1st Deputy Leader:
"Absolutely no truth, I don't know where you guys get your information. Some members of Cabinet showed up late of course, that happens all the time. But I will tell you that we were in Cabinet. We had a normal Cabinet meeting g and its business as usual. The Prime Minister informed us in that meeting that next week Tuesday he will be appointing Hon. Faber as his Deputy Prime Minister. We fully respect that and we've been saying this from the very beginning and I think maybe people do not believe, Minister Faber and I are friends. We do have our own ambitions, we do have our own career path that we would like to take and part of it played out on Sunday and he won the first battle and I do believe that I will win the war."
Calaney Offers Defence; Says Her Baby Daddy Was Speeding; Caused his Own Death
29 year old Calaney Flowers opened her defence today - against the accusation that she deliberately ran over and killed her ex, Lyndon Morrisson, who is also the father of her 4 year old son.
She opened today with a teary statement from the dock denying any guilt. She testified that on the night of August 28, 2012, she and Morrisson had a conversation at a Chinese shop and she reminded him of the money he was to give her to buy some items for their son. She left the shop and was driving on Freetown Road when she claims he flashed past her at high speed, and then crashed into another vehicle. With tears in her eyes she said that she was terrified and all that she could do was go to his parents house and tell his mother, Lauren, that he had been in an accident.
Accused Con Artist Gordon Back Before the Court
Carl Gordon has been on the news before for pretending to be a cable or electricity bill collector, and then using that access to steal personal items. Well, today he was back in court, for allegedly pretending to be a masseuse! Police report that the 51 year old went into the home of a woman to give her mother a massage but he walked out with one thousand dollars worth of electronic items.
Today he was arraigned before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza for handling a computer tablet and other electronic items belonging to Sherlene Anderson.
Anderson found the items missing from her bedroom on Friday May 20th., after learning that her mother had let Gordon in to give her a foot massage.
Difficulties In The Michael Wallace Murder Investigation
Police expect retaliation after the Saturday slaying of Michael Wallace. After 2:00 on that Saturday afternoon, Michael, his brother Richard Wallace and friend Edward Flowers were all heading home after visiting a younger Wallace brother in prison. But at mile 9, two vehicles pulled up and blocked them in - one from the front and the other from behind. Men from both vehicles then opened fire on the Wallace's car - hitting Michael Wallace in the head. Richard Wallace and Edward Flowers escaped unharmed.
Today at a press briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police for Rural Eastern Division Edward Broaster told us that the investigation has somewhat stalled because the surviving victims are not cooperating. Police had told us that Richard Wallace had gone to give a statement yesterday at the Hattieville Police Station but Wallace's statement didn't give police any significant leads. So because of this, police are preparing for a retaliatory gang hit. Broaster told us everyone is on board to try and defuse the situation.
Mile 8 Family House Shot Up
And police have to investigate another shooting that happened along the Western Highway, this time at mile 8 - a mile from where the Wallace's were ambushed. Anthony Lewis along with his common-law wife Emerita Bartley were at home last night around 11:30 when their house was shot up. Lewis was hit to the leg and Bartley was shot to her ankles. Today we asked police what might have led to this shooting.
ACP. Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"At about 11:30 PM last night we received information of a incident at mile 8 where our police officers responded to. Thereafter there was a shooting at the residence of Anthony Lewis where he was with his common law Emerita Bartley. Anthony Lewis received gunshot wounds to the right leg while Emerita Bartley received gunshot wounds to both her left and right ankle. Currently, they are at the KHMH at a stable condition. At this time we don't have any suspects, the area is well dark and we are investigating that matter."
Reporter:
"Sir we understand that the couple were inside their room on their bed sleeping when someone just pushed a gun in through the window and fired shots."
ACP. Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"Like I said, that might be accurate, the premises was shot up and they received gunshot wounds to the legs."
Troubling Allegation Of Extreme Domestic Violence
From a mile 8 shooting to a Hattieville chopping with a peculiar twist: A man attacked his common law wife this morning in a fight. The woman got away and called the police and that's when the man darted for the bushes. It is only until later on that the man went to hide in the ceiling of the house until the woman and her son came home. Things took a turn there when the boy attacked his stepfather with a machete in defense of his mother. Police told us more about this troubling domestic case.
ACP. Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"What happened was that the female was held and prevented from calling the police. When she did manage to call the police and the police responded, the suspect fled in the bushes. Sometime thereafter he went and hid in the ceiling of the house and when the victim returned with her son, he attacked them both. Hence the reason the son defended his mother and inflicted the wounds upon the suspect who had inflicted wounds on both of them as well."
Mahogany Heights Woman Stabbed In Girl Fight
A woman was stabbed this morning in Mahogany Heights. 24 year old Tamika Gillette got into a fight with a 17 year old girl in which Gillette was stabbed to the right eye and left ear. When we spoke to residents today they told us that Gillette went to the 17 year old's house and that is where the stabbing happened. Police can't say at this point what sparked the fight.
ACP. Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"There was a stabbing this morning yes, the suspect has been apprehended already and will be charged. The victim suffered injuries that are not life threatening."
Courtney Weatherburne:
"Tell us more about the incident, what happened?"
ACP. Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"They just had a fight and the female was stabbed by the other female."
2016 Hurricane Season Is Here
The 2016 Hurricane Season begins tomorrow and the experts say it will be a near normal season. Scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center say that there is a 70 per cent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms developing, and 4 to 8 of those will become hurricanes with a possibility of 1 to 4 developing into major hurricanes.
So, what's the forecast for Belize specifically? We asked the Chief Met Officer today:...
Dennis Gonguez, Chief Met. Officer:
"We just completed our staff meeting before the start of the hurricane season where we discuss our hurricane emergency operational plan and what we will do in the event a threat or direct hit. We have an operational plan describing what each individual person in the department has responsibilities for and we have just finished out staff meeting discussing that. Last year we had the El Nino phenomenon, the abnormal warming of the Pacific Ocean that causes a dampening effect on the Atlantic Hurricane season. This year unfortunately for us the El Nino is weakening and by the mid hurricane season by August, the El Nino should be all but gone."
PAHO/WHO's Take On Zika In Belize
This month, the Zika conversation became a lot more relevant. That's because, two persons in Belize have tested positive for the virus since mid May. And while two cases are not enough to cause mass hysteria, what is worrying a lot of professionals is that the rains are coming, which will allow mosquitos populations to multiply. Today we spoke with the country representative of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization about their response to this Zika epidemic.
According to Doctor Escoto, PAHO and the W-H-O have already started rolling out their Zika response strategy which includes surveillance, prevention, control and the mobilization of resources to support American and Caribbean Governments in their local Zika response.
Man To Stand Trial For Blue House Bar Murder
The Blue House Bar in Ladyville, it's probably the most popular watering hole in that village, and judging by the police and court reports we get, it's also the deadliest.
Today, former security guard at the Bar, Dairon Hamilton was committed to stand trial for a murder that happened a year ago.
The 33 year old allegedly stabbed bar patron Wilmer Cisneros in his abdomen, and chest in a dispute over the ten dollar cover charge. Today at the Preliminary Inquiry held before Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith, Hamilton was undefended and did not challenge any of the police evidence against him.
Cayo Cops Need Help Catching Arsonist
There have been a series of fires in San Ignacio which are suspected to be cases of arson. They happen hours apart from each other and the suspects seem to be targeting thatched buildings. The latest one occurred sometime on the wee hours of Monday morning and it all was caught on camera. According to Elmer Herrera, a Belizean entrepreneur of Benque Viejo Road, San Ignacio, he received a call around 1:20 am informing him that two of the thatch sheds at his business establishment were engulfed in flames. By that time the suspects were already long gone, but the video cameras caught one of them in the act of lighting the shed. Unfortunately due to the quality of the video, the suspects face cannot be seen. But even if it was visible, the suspect seems to be wearing some sort of cloth over his face, hiding his identity. After shed continues to burn, two men- one on foot and one on a bicycle can be seen darting away from the seen. Now police are asking the publics assistance in trying to locate these culprits. Police also suspect that these are the same individuals responsible for the arson of Zenida's Restaurant on May 26th.
Curbing The Number of New Smokers
According to the Centers for Disease Control, tobacco use causes nearly 6 million deaths around the world every year, and that's going up to more than 8 million deaths by the year 2030. Now, in Belize, tobacco is considered the third most consumed substance in the country. It is on this platform that on May 31st countries around the world celebrate "World No Tobacco Day." In Belize the activities to commemorate this annual awareness campaign were lead by National Drug Abuse Control Council. This morning we stopped by their office in Belize City, and learned more about this world anti-tobacco movement.
D'Alessandro Requena, Chairman, World No Tobacco Day:
"In Belize, Tobacco smoking is the 3rd most consumed substance. Today May the 31st is World Tobacco Day and so we are trying to educate the community and public about what NDACC is doing and also about tobacco consumption and what's happening in Belize."
Emanuel Pech:
"Okay now let's just say if I am a smoker, how would you convince me to stop smoking?"
D'Alessandro Requena, Chairman, World No Tobacco Day:
"Well you have to look at the facts and what it does to you. It causes cancer, it blackens your teeth, it causes wrinkles, emphysema, if you're asthmatic and it will do your body damage."
A Crackdown On Cigarette Companies
This year's No Tobacco Day campaign was commemorated under the theme "Get Ready for Plain Packaging." That's legislation being enacted all over the world, which aims to restrict cigarette companies from adding lucrative advertisements to their packaging. The bill is still in its drafting stages, but what this year represents, according to Vellos, is a step in the right direction as it relates to the anti-tobacco movement.
Esnor Vellos, Director of NDACC, MOH:
"Currently we already have Plain Packaging in the country of Belize whereas most of the products that are coming into the country have a specific design that calls for that message that says 'The Director of Health Services advises the public that tobacco smoking is harmful, kills or can cause cancer'. We already have that here in place and we also have some produce that are coming in because the product originated from a country who already has implemented plain packaging. Because of that we already have some products coming into the country."
E-Cigarette Use Is Becoming A Problem
The project to draft a bill on to regulate tobacco consumption first began in 2011. By the time it actually becomes law in Belize it will would have been nearly a decade for work on the bill. So what has been the hold up? Well according to the NDACC director they are trying to have electronic cigars also regularized as well. This product found its way to Belize last year, and trend seems to be picking up. The product was presented as a less harmful substitute for the traditional cigars. But not everything is as it seems according to NDACC director.
Esnor Vellos, Director of NDACC, MOH:
"It is advertised as being a product that can assist to help and individual to reduce the consumption of traditional tobacco, that it's not addictive, that it taste nice, it's this and that. But the reality is and studies from the Pan American Health Organization have indicated that the consumption of e-cigarette is as harmful as or more harmful than the consumption of regular tobacco."
Police Will Offer Reading Classes
You all have seen the police carry out their community based approaches - doing meet and greets and having family days and sports days in several communities. Well, the police want to extend that style of community service to teaching kids to read. Police told us more about this initiative.
The first book fair should be in the next 2 weeks. There will be several book fair for both northside and southside kids.
Deputy Party Leader Faber Says He Holds No Grudge
So, if you saw our headline story tonight you'll know that there are some rumblings in the Barrow Cabinet. Now, it's not a rebellion, not at all from what we can tell, but the fact is that Patrick Faber is about to ascend to the post of Deputy Prime Minister - and 11 cabinet ministers do not support him. Indeed, time heals all wounds, and they may come around, but as it stands, Deputy-in-waiting Faber has a solid bloc of opposition against him. His critics say they don't like his style, that he's personal and vindictive. We asked him about that at Sunday's convention:...
Jules Vasquez:
"Your opponent say that well Faber is vindictive, he will not be a good deputy leader, because he like to hold grudge and if you ever turn against him, you will never live that down. Is that a fair criticism?"
Hon. Patrick Faber:
"I would say it's unfair. Nobody has to worry about that. Nobody has to worry about me terminating their services. That is just not how I operate."
Channel 5
Is There a Serious Rift in the U.D.P.?
Is there a very serious divide in the ranks of the U.D.P. following Sunday's Convention? A movement which we can call G-fourteen to follow tradition of political mutiny? That was [...]
Faber Says Saldivar Can Bring It in 2020
Shortly after the Convention results were announced, John Saldivar posted a note of congratulations to Patrick Faber on his victory. And then shortly after that, another post in which Saldivar [...]
Bitter Camps Try to Mend Fences
That convention for leader, if there is one, won't be for another four years, and Faber isn't looking that far ahead. For now it's about healing any bad feelings arising [...]
John Saldivar Denies Rumors of Hostilities in Cabinet
News Five also managed to get comment from Minister John Saldivar this evening, and asked him about that meeting at his house. His response - what meeting? He also denied [...]
Saldivar Says He Lost the Battle but Will Win the War
You'll notice that Saldivar said the battle, and not the war, is over. That's because as we told you, he has all intention of contesting Faber for the post of [...]
Finnegan Says Time Will Heal All U.D.P. Wounds
While Minister Saldivar denies any ultimatum to the Prime Minister, there are other reports that one of the demands to be made was the removal of Godwin Hulse from the [...]
So Is the United Democratic Party a House Divided?
Finnegan says that the process of healing within the rank and file of the U.D.P. is underway and that reconciliation among the Saldivar and Faber factions began this morning. [...]
Delegate Fired By Beverly Castillo over Vote
There is a backlash to the election of Patrick Faber as first deputy leader, which is being felt across the United Democratic Party.� Ladyville resident Ingrid Hernandez is an avid [...]
Boots Martinez Says War Scars need to Heal after Convention
As we told you earlier, Ministers coming out of Cabinet today cut a wide path when approached by the media. Those we managed to get even a word from told [...]
Gapi Will Not Be DPM after Next Week
Patrick Faber will be the new Deputy Prime Minister next week when current DPM Gaspar Vega returns from high-level meetings. So Vega is no longer Deputy Party Leader and very [...]
FM Elrington Still Not Back in Belize after Istanbul Talks
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is not expected to return to Belize until after the meeting in Habana of the Association of Caribbean States on June sixth. The Minister is racking [...]
Domestic Abuser Chopped by Victim's Son
There is another case of domestic violence to report tonight. Hattieville resident, Richard Smith is accused of constantly abusing his common-law-wife, Ursula Ferguson. But today, her son stepped in to [...]
Hattieville Couple Shot by Unidentified Gunman As They Slept
Just after eleven on Monday night, shots rang out across from the police station in Hattieville. In the dark of the night, at least one gunman targeted Anthony Lewis and [...]
Unitedville Resident Stabbed by Mahogany Heights Student
A stabbing this morning in Mahogany Heights has also left a Unitedville resident hospitalized at the K.H.M.H.� Twenty-four year old Tamika Gillette was injured to the right eye and behind [...]
Calaney Flowers Takes the Stand in Murder Trial
Bank teller Calaney Flowers is on trial for the murder of her ex-boyfriend, twenty-nine-year-old Lyndon Morrison, who met his untimely death on August twenty-eighth, 2012. �Flowers is accused of killing [...]
More Retaliation Expected for Michael Wallace Murder
On Monday, we reported of a murder near the Mile Eight community on the George Price Highway. Twenty-three year old Michael Wallace was shot and killed as he traveled in [...]
Ministry of Health Proactive in ZIKA Public Awareness Campaign
There have been two confirmed cases of Zika in Belize so far and the Ministry of Health remains proactive in its effort to raise public awareness on the spread of [...]
Outbreak of Bovine Rabies Reported in Cayo District
There is an outbreak of Bovine Rabies in the Cayo District. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Belize Livestock Producers, issued [...]
On World Tobacco Day Entities Work to Reduce Attraction to Tobacco
The World Health Organization is pressing for plain packaging to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, the W.H.O. Director-General, Doctor Margaret Chan, [...]