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There is a celebration of life for Bruce at Carlo and Ernie's Runway bar on Wednesday September 13 at 2pm. Please bring some photos, memories, and a pot luck dish if you are so inclined. Looking forward to see all the old faces.

Friends and Neighbors,

SACNW needs your help!!!

We are losing members of the Executive Committee and need a few good people to volunteer to fill a role. The positions we need to fill are: Vice-President, Secretary (shared role) and, most desperately, Treasurer. If you can spare just a few hours (5-10) a month to help keep SACNW running, please reach out to me, another member of the current EC or come to the meeting. The Patrol Officers do a great job of keeping our neighborhood safe, but they rely upon us to manage the organization. Please consider helping!

The next monthly meeting is next week, Wednesday, September 13 at Someplace South CafeBar. The meeting starts at 7:00pm but come early for dinner/drink and to mingle with your neighbors.

I hope to see you at the meeting!

Kevin Owen
SACNW Fund-Raising Officer

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is currently facing an internal division in the aftermath of the recent protest outside the Investment Summit 2023 at Ambergris Caye over the weekend. The primary objective of the protest was to demand the removal of a People's United Party (PUP) Minister. However, this event has led to the surprising removal of Jazelie Azueta, the Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South, from her position.

Ambergris Caye was abuzz with activity during the weekend, with an array of government officials, international delegates, business personalities, and investors attending the 3-day Investment Summit from August 30 to September 1.

While many were on the island with business on their minds, the Belize City Central Headquarters of the UDP arrived with a more political agenda. Their grievance was aimed at the supposed transgressions emerging from PUP leaders, especially Hon. Andre Perez, Area Representative for Belize Rural South (BRS).

Contrary to this protest, leaders of the UDP BRS were swift and transparent in distancing themselves. A public statement from the UDP San Pedro on Facebook read, "While the BRS UDP Executive does believe that the actions of Minister Andre Perez and his loss of integrity as our Area Representative are in shambles, we strongly believe in due process. Both the Mayoral candidate and the Belize Rural South Executive and Standard Bearer are in disagreement of such plans that are not in accordance with our island's culture. As such, we will not be participating in any protest."

The protest, sanctioned by the Opposition Leader, Hon. Shyne Barrow, went on as planned despite opposition from several party members. This reportedly led to the Party Secretariat's emergency meeting where Azueta and several other BRS executive members who publicly opposed the protest were expelled and prohibited from participating in the upcoming general elections.

This, according to Barrow, was due to their violation of the Constitution and the NPC Resolution of August 2022 and May 2023.

In light of these events, Azueta voiced her concerns on social media: "I must say that the recent events including my expulsion as Standard Bearer has brought the United Democratic Party to an all-time low. It has eroded the most basic core value of the party which is the democratic process. When the decision was made by the Party Leader, and the central executive to carry out a demonstration during the Investment Summit, the majority of our executive committee in the Belize Rural South decided that it was not a wise decision to do so. However, the Party Leader showed what has been clearly his modus operandi which is a high-handed approach to running the party. It was the usual his way or the highway. I will always fight for the welfare and rights of the people of Belize Rural South. I remain a UDP member but will not work for the party under the leadership of Shyne Barrow unless he humbles himself and mends his ways."

Backing Azueta's sentiments, UDP enthusiast, Jorge Aldana stated, "To expel members for standing up for the island will only bring about unnecessary division for our UDP. Our Leader has gone too far, to allow the internal fight of the PUP to divide us within our party. He has now sought to use a resolution that infringes on the constitutional rights of all mankind - free speech."

In a quick interaction with the press, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño also expressed his astonishment: "It is only the misguided ideas of the Leader of the Opposition, trying to make himself relevant, have to import protestors from Belize to come and try to create an issue... a protest that I think there is less than ninety people that came. It is important to point out that the UDP executive from Belize Rural South has condemned the actions of their leader."

It is yet unclear who will take up Azueta's position, but it's worth mentioning that Barrow was abroad during the time of the protest, yet he took swift actions against his party members.

Amandala

Yes so crazy I was just chatting with him a couple weeks ago and he was saying he was heading back and was excited to be visiting.

Crazy how things change so quickly.

Thanks for posting Gaz. We have all been heart-broken to hear this news. Bruce had planned to visit Belize in September, we have all be excited and awaiting his arrival. It was such a blow to hear that he had died, so quickly and unexpectedly. There will be a memorial planned here in Belize and memories of the many, many good times we all had together will be relived for many years to come.

RIP to Bruce one of the first people I met when I landed in Belize 35 years ago he was a Dive Instructor at Ramons Village along with his Aussie team mate Andy.

One of the original instructors on the island that trained up the locals with Larry Parker from Journeys end as well as working for Ray Bowers and Out island Divers Bruce was well liked by many

He stayed on the island for many years and left a few years before I left as he was heading back to Oz but quickly found himself living in Thailand as I did and we had just reconnected a few weeks ago after many many years and poof just like that he is gone.

RIP Bruce we never got a chance to catch up




Bruce

This is a super festival that has been in existence in a few different formats since the early 90's. From the Sea and Air Festival and through a morph to become the Costa Maya festival we have seen so many incredible musicians and other live entertainers - and the beauty and pageantry are magnificent. I do hope that the 2024 edition will come to reality.

Choosing the right month is always so difficult - the weather, conflicting holidays and festivals, the economic climate and ability for easy international travel for entertainers and visitors all have to be ideal for a successful event.

Show us your favorite Costa Maya Festival photos! Viva San Pedro!

Yes, I agree. I have sailed several times from the states to Honduras and back with stops and stays on Ambergris Caye, Placencia and the various atolls. However, on my last cruise I experienced the Belizean "shakedown" while on my sailboat in Placencia which I have experienced several times in Mexico. I discovered through my government contacts that Belize customs had issued a seizure notice on my vessel because of alleged "improper" vessel documents and "non-existent" paperwork. Out of an abundance of caution, my wife and I sailed to Guatemala and Honduras for several months while the situation was worked out. My vessel documentation was completely in order but the customs official who received my customs fees upon arrival in AC, declared I didn't pay and documents I provided were incorrect. I was informed that, "for a fee the issue would be dropped". As a Belizean, I protested and after contacting higher officials the matter was rectified and the customs official reprimanded. So, sailors be careful and I would video the customs check in procedure upon arrival.

The Holy Cross Education Foundation is inviting you to 'Go Back-to-School' with Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro, Belize through a virtual Zoom webinar.

Join us on Tuesday, September 21 at 11:30 a.m. CDT to see the school, hear from Holy Cross staff, learn about exciting new developments at the school from the Holy Cross Education Foundation and learn about how YOU can get involved this school year, and beyond.
Register for the Zoom HERE!

Bring a friend! Many of you have been introduced to Holy Cross Anglican School through your church or dioceses. We encourage you to share this event with the friends you have traveled to Belize with, staff at your church, family members - and more!

Can't make it, but want to learn more? Check out the new-and-improved Holy Cross Education Foundation website to learn about how to organize a mission trip to the school, what the current donation needs are for classrooms and the on-site facilities, or to make a general donation to support kids this school year!

We're excited to welcome you back into the halls and walls of Holy Cross, and we hope you can join us for this exciting virtual event. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Holy Cross Education Foundation Board Member, Allie Krug, at [email protected].

See you soon!

Maya Air just canceled my Saturday Sept 16th booking. So it doesn't look as though the airport renovations will be done in the next 2-3 weeks.

Belize has a terrible reputation with yachties - most advise avoiding Belize. I hope that we can be more welcoming and enjoy a new stream of tourism that the nautical pleasure craft community can bring.