FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.


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

Reduction of Fuel Pump Prices
The Ministry of Finance informs the general public of decreased in pump prices of Fuel Products for the tanker that arrived on May 23rd, 2012. The Belize City Pump Prices per gallon changed as follows (effective May 24, 2012) Commodity Present Pump Price in Bze City New Pump Price in Bze City Total (Decrease) Premium $12.14 $11.43 -$0.81 Regular $11.38 $10.97 -$0.41 Diesel $10.77 $10.31 -$0.46 Prices for fuel products in the districts will also be reduced commensurately. The Ministry of Finance also informs the public that, in keeping with Government policy, any future price changes in acquisition cost will be passed on fully to the prices at the pump.

Presenting the Delegates for Miss Lobster Fest 2012-2013
The Caye Caulker Lobster Fest Pageant Committee is pleased to present the Delegates for this year's Miss Lobster Fest 2012-2013 pageant. Five lovely young ladies have taken up the challenge and have commenced with preparation to give a great show for the general public to enjoy. The contestants are Jasmine Arce, Vicky Canul, Sylvia Joseph, Shania Sanchez and Jasmine Skeen. Everyone is invited to come on out to enjoy the festivities that the Committee is putting together for all. Lobster Fest 2012 kicks off with Pageant night being June 29, 2012 followed by a weekend packed with events for the entire family to enjoy on June 30 and July 1, 2012. Hotels have already commenced in receiving bookings for this fun weekend so it would be advisable to make your reservations today! Hair and make-up was done by Stacy and Gina Badillo, Proprietors of Purple Passion Beauty Salon and Spa while Barrier Reef Cable Company is the proud sponsor for the dresses and accessories the delegates utilized for the photo shoot. In communicating with one of the Pageant's Organizers, he has indicated that the Belize Tourism Board is being a major sponsor for the pageant as well as festivities leading up to the Lobster Fest weekend.

Teachers' and Nurses' Day celebrated on SP
Teachers and Nurses on Ambergris Caye were treated to a special party at the Lion's Den on Thursday, May 17th hosted by the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and the Area Representative Hon. Manuel Heredia. In Belize, May 12th and 18th were celebrated as Nurses' and Teachers' Days respectively and organizers annually combine the event to show gratitude to these vital community figures. According to Deputy Mayor of San Pedro, Severo Guerrero Jr., this is the ninth occasion that the SPTC and the Area Representative teamed up to honor the teachers and nurses. Approximately 160 teachers, nurses and doctors attended the event and they all received a Teacher's/Nurse's Day T-shirt, a three course meal, drinks and gifts, plus they danced the night away with Rompe Raja. Both Hon. Heredia and Mayor of San Pedro Daniel "Danny" Guerrero addressed the attendees, thanking them for contributing to the growth of the island. A special recognition was given to Teacher Leni Flores of the San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) for her longstanding contribution in the area of education on the island. Miss Leni, who has been with the SPRCS for the past 33 years, will be going on early retirement at the end of the 2011/2012 school year due to health reasons.

Ambergris Today

Jaime Manzano & Jessica Eiley Nuptials
Jaime Manzano and Jessica Eiley merged their two lives into one of man and wife on Saturday, May 19, 2012, as they headed to the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church to be wed. And they asked their invited guests to "dress to impress" at their wedding reception that followed and which was filled with fireworks, lots of dancing and lots of fun until the early morning hours. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Manzano!

Rebecca Stirm Sews Her Way To Win Fashion Competition
Having won prior challenges on episodes two, four and six, Rebecca Stirm's episode 9 win makes the Belizean Designer the contestant with the most wins on Season Two of Caribbean fashion reality series Mission Catwalk which has seen participants from five Caribbean countries competing in its second season. After a visit to the Hope Zoo, the seven remaining contestants were instructed to design a gown for a charity gala and a second garment for a charity luncheon inspired by one animal from the zoo.

Meet Caye Caulker's Miss Lobster Fest Contestants
The Caye Caulker Lobster Fest Pageant Committee is pleased to present the delegates for this year's Miss Lobster Fest 2012-2013 pageant. Five lovely young ladies have taken up the challenge and have commenced with preparation to give a great show for the general public to enjoy. The five beautiful contestants are Jasmine Arce, Sylvia Joseph, Shania Sanchez, Vicky Canul and Jasmine Skeen. All are invited to come on out to enjoy the festivities that the Committee is putting together for all. Lobster Fest Caye Caulker 2012 kicks off with Pageant night being Friday, June 29, 2012, followed by a weekend packed with events for the entire family to enjoy on June 30 and July 1, 2012. Hair and make-up was done by Stacy and Gina Badillo, Proprietors of Purple Passion Beauty Salon and Spa while Barrier Reef Cable Company is the proud sponsor for the dresses and accessories the delegates utilized for the photo shoot.

Reduction of Fuel Pump Prices
Good New! The price of fuel at the pump stations is going down in the next few days as the Ministry of Finance informs the general public of decreased in pump prices of Fuel Products for the tanker that arrived on May 23, 2012. The Belize City Pump Prices per gallon changed as follows (effective May 24, 2012): Premium - Was $12.24 New $11.43 Total Decrease $-0.81 Regular - Was $11.38 New $10.97 Total Decrease $-0.41 Diesel- Was $10.77 New $10.31 Total Decrease $-0.46 The current price of Regular in San Pedro is $12.17 and Diesel is at $11.26 per gallon. The decrease in price should follow in the next few days as the new shipment of gasoline arrives to the island.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Wildlife Conservation Network presents: "A Wild Night Out"
Friday 25th May 2012 7pm-11pm Pig & Parrot Clubhouse British High Commission, Belmopan $35.00 Tickets available from Corkers Restaurant, Belmopan Or BWCN Board members, or call Nikki on 610 0400 Entry with advanced ticket purchase only Music - Auction - Prizes - Food - Company A Wild Night Out - Belmopan Style Raising funds for: Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic and Wildlife Conservation Network Please click here to see the list of items to bid on: we are accepting online bids! Contact us for more information.

Chicken Drop Fundraiser for ACES - keeping our island and our crocodiles safe.
We (Wahoo's Lounge) are going to host a CHICKEN DROP FUNDRAISER for ACES. As you all probably know ACES have been doing a fantastic job rescuing not only crocodiles but other forms of wildlife on the island. We would like to give away prizes (and let ACES keep the winnings) for a night of chicken drops. depending on the value of the prize we will sell the tickets accordingly. Not only will you be helping out your neighbors, like Lorna Jones mentioned below, but you'd be helping to make sure these little (or not so little) critters are cared for and put back in the wild where they belong. So instead of winning $100 for a drop folks can win your prize - remember this is mostly tourists so the prizes can BRING BUSINESS TO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT as well. If we have $50 prizes we will double them up etc. Any donation is appreciated. We will try to make it all work. This will also be an opportunity for you to get your product/restaurant/resort mentioned and hyped to all the tourists attending chicken drop. If you write a little blurb we will make sure our fabulous announcer BARRINGTON talks you up to the crowd all during the drop your giveaway is for. If you know Barrington he does an excellent job at this. You are also welcome to distribute flyers/coupons/hang a poster up at that chicken drop as well.

VIDEO: Caribbean Villas Hotel -Oceanfront One Bedroom Suite
If you are seeking a relaxing getaway, a spell of renewal, or a stepping stone to adventure, you will experience all of that and more at Caribbean Villas Hotel

National Chess Olympiad pictures
Caves Branch sponsored the BNYCF's Chess Olympiad. Here are the pictures they took of the pomp and circumstance. They really went all out. There's a castle in the UB auditorium. Thanks, Caves Branch, for fostering intelligence in our youth. "Caves Branch owners Ian and Ella founded and run the National Youth Chess Foundation (http://www.cavesbranch.com/belize-chess). Every year they bring together the best chess players from across the nation to compete in the National Olympiad. It gets bigger and better every year. The whole CB staff gets involved in the set up, execution, and fun (in costume) of the event. "

The Eco Kids Rainforest Adventure Continues�
Chaa Creek's Eco Kids Summer Camp is just 2 months away, and the deadline for entries is June 4th. 24 kids will get free scholarships, and become Eco-Kids. Get those essays in to have a chance of enjoying a once in a lifetime educational opportunity. "Even entering the competition to join this year's Eco-Kids is a creative exercise. To be in the draw, Belizean kids eight to 13 years old must write a 300 word essay in English explaining why they want to be an Eco-Kid. The essays will be judged on creative content, structure and grammar, and the best essays will be entered into a lotto draw where six boys and six girls from each category (Eco Greenies at 8-10 years and Eco Saplings of 11-13 years) will be picked as winners. All entries must be sent by email to [email protected] or posted to Chaa Creek, P.O. Box 53, San Ignacio, Cayo by JUNE 4th 2012 and judging will take place on June 14th 2012."

Chocolate Stout for Ladies NIght
Tonight is Ladies Night in Cayo, and you'll be able to get Belikin's newest seasonal stout, Chocolate Stout. Meluchi's and Mr. Greedy's should both have it. Enjoy. Nolan Michael had this to say about Belikin's new Chocolate Stout: "It's definitely creamier. It'll have a lot less foam or head retention on any pour because of the natural oils and flavors of the chocolate that's in it but we still expect that everybody will really enjoy it."

The splendid color of the culture in Belize!
The Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School held its annual Cultural Day today and it was once again it was array of color! For some time now the children of the School have been by class divided into the five main cultures of Belize, Creole, Maya, Mestizo, Garifuna and Chinese. Each group of parents and children creates a stand that best illustrates the key points of each culture ie what they eat (and indeed how they prepare their food) how they dance, what the traditionally they wear and various of their holiday celebrations information. Parents (and indeed many locals who do not have any child directly in the school) come to witness this spectacle of color and indeed purchase the local food on offer. Well done to all involved - truly a beautiful spectacle!

Belize Mega Bingo Results For (23 May, 2012)
by Admin at 5/24/2012 Comment Filed under: mega-bingo Lucky Two 5.00 Each (4 Balls) 40 �56 �74 �7� Straight Line 100.00 Each (10 Balls) 40 �56 �74 �7 �13 �60 �53 �62 �46 �16� Mini X 50.00 Each (15 Balls) 40 �56 �74 �7 �13 �60 �53 �62 �46 �16 �34 �48 �50 �11 �26� Arrow 300.00 Each (36 Balls) 40 �56 �74 �7 �13 �60 �53 �62 �46 �16 �34 �48 �50 �11 �26 �22 �17 �1 �75 �25 �2 �5 �49 �42 �64 �19 �52 �28 �66 �24 �55 �63 �30 �45 �71 54� Diamond 750.00 Each (40 Balls) 40 �56 �74 �7 �13 �60 �53 �62 �46 �16 �34 �48 �50 �11 �26 �22 �17 �1 �75 �25 �2 �5 �49 �42 �64 �19 �52 �28 �66 �24 �55 �63 �30 �45 71 �54 �3 �73 �33 �69�

Channel 7

DID LOVELORN OW MAN TRY TO BUTANE BLAST HIMSELF?
Tonight, an Orange Walk man is in the Northern Regional Hospital suffering from burns to his hand and body after he apparently staged a butane explosion. It happened this afternoon and details are still sketchy, but 7news has confirmed that at around 4:00 on San Narciso Street, Marciano Mendez cut the butane hose in his house - apparently to kill or harm himself. There was a small explosion, and he received burns to his lower back and right arm. According to reports he was distraught about his wife leaving him. We'll have more on this in tomorrow's news.

PENNER PETITION DISMISSED
For the past few weeks, the legitimacy of Elvin Penner's seat in Cayo Northeast had been hotly contested in the Supreme Court. Well today, the election petition, which was filed against him by the PUP's Orlando "Landy" Habet, was struck out of court. This petition becomes the 3rd one to be dismissed by the Supreme Court. Penner's attorney, Rodwell Williams, made an application to strike out the petition based on the grounds of improperly filed petition documents. He argues that due to time constraints, parts of the final petition document were improperly filed, and Williams even submitted to the court that Habet's attorneys simply, quote "cut and pasted" sections of a draft petition and presented it as a new one. After more than a week to consider the case, Justice Hafiz-Bertram agreed with Williams, and she struck the petition out this afternoon. With that, this matter came to an end, and we spoke to both sides outside of court about what could happen next. Here's what they had to say: Rodwell Williams, Penner's Attorney "That petition indeed was struck out by the court today and the primary reason for it being struck out is because that petition was a nullity in that on the 10th April the same petition was filed with some modification with the same petition by the same petitioner same date and that was an attempt to comply with the court's order which obviously failed because that petition was at that date and at that time struck out. So it was in my view really an attempt to deceive the court and that the court recognizes that and today struck it out once more."

MARSHA REID, ALLEGED SOLDIER SLAYER
This morning at 8:00 am, 38 year old Marsha Reid turned herself into Dangriga Police to be charged for the murder of BDF Corporal Donovan Castillo. Reid was taken into custody - and sent to Belmopan for arraignment this afternoon - because the Dangriga Magistrate is out for training. She had been released yesterday morning pending the findings of a post mortem examination. Dr. Mario Estradabran found that Corporal Castillo was unable to defend himself when he was stabbed fatally to the neck. His family believes Reid stabbed him while he slept. Police found the murder weapon - a kitchen knife with a five-inch blade at the scene. Reid confessed to police that she stabbed Castillo - and said that it was the result of a dispute over rent money. His family claims it was an act by a deranged, obsessed lover. Corporal Castillo will be buried on Saturday in Dangriga Town with full military honours. He was the father of four children - and the accused, Reid has children of her own.

MAN CHARGED FOR KILLING "OREGON" ON FABER'S ROAD
4 weeks ago, 49 year-old Brian Welch Requena, aka "Yanki" or "Oregon", was murdered on Fabers Road. Tonight, police report that they have charged his alleged shooter. That man is Henry Jacobs, a 22 year-old fisherman of #29 Faber's Road Extension, and he now stands charged with murder. According to police, Welch was walking along with two men on Faber's Road Extension, and he was heading toward Central American Boulevard. He was very near the intersection when a gunman ambushed them and fired several shots in their direction. Welch was hit several times and he suffered injuries to the mouth, the right chest area, abdomen and the buttocks. He died on the spot. Residents in Welch's Hattieville neighborhood told 7News that he had several conflicts with them, and he even boasted that he was connected to the "Gaza", a reference to the George Street Gang.

WOMAN WANTS JUSTICE FOR HER 6 YEAR OLD SON WHO WAS KILLED IN HIT AND RUN
Yesterday marked 3 years since 6 year-old Jose Garcia Jr. was killed in a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of King Street and Amara Avenue. Police had a suspect detained briefly, but he wasn't charged, and his mother, who spoke to us today, said that since that arrest, police have not charged him or anyone in connection with Garcia's death. Anacelia Castillo remains a grieving mother who can't let the memory of her son rest, because, according to her, she has received no justice for Garcia's death. She went to the office of the DPP today, and she was told that her son's case had been dismissed. She was in tears as she made a plea to members of the public to come forward with information to help police prosecute the man who killed her son. Here's how she explained the grief she has had to endure from the loss of her son: Anacelia Castillo, mother "Yesterday make it three years that I lose my baby. The police or no one came to me, yesterday morning I called in on the KREM talk show and Ms. Sharon look up the case on the internet and she saw that there was a witness, a taxi man who saw everything that happens with Jose Garcia."

CANCER IN MEN, WHY IS PREVENTION NOT PURSUED?
This is Cancer Awareness Month - and the annual Cancer Walk is scheduled for Saturday. Weather permitting, it should have a good turnout because - we'd say - right now, cancer awareness is high - thanks largely to the efforts of the Prime Minister's wife Kim Simplis Barrow, who has courageously publicized her battle with stage 3 breast cancer. But - even with that - there's a gap between awareness and action, meaning we all know that cancer does not discriminate: it can strike the healthiest, fittest and youngest among us -yet still - for a variety of reasons - from being ashamed to being afraid - we don't go and get tested. It's a dilemma that Janelle Chanona tries to unravel in this special feature on cancer in men. Here's her report:.. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Family; no matter what yours looks like, the men in the picture-fathers; brothers; husbands; sons-play important roles in our lives. But every year, Belizean men are disappearing simply because they're not going to the doctor. No one knows exactly how many Belizean men are walking around with cancer. But medical experts do know that our male population is especially prone to prostate and colon cancers...cancers that can be treated and even cured if diagnosed early.

CITY HALL GETS READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON, MEDIA GETS READY TO RUMBLE
This morning the City Emergency Management Organization, or CEMO, met to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season - which starts in a week. In October of 2010 Belize City had a major wakeup call after Hurricane Richard devastated the coastal areas of the Southside. So this year, CEMO is taking no chances. After the meeting, Deputy Mayor, Philip Willoughby outlined some of the measures the organization will be taking to protect the city. Phillip Willoughby - Security and CEMO "What has transpired this year I can say that inspections were done by the engineers that went along on that tour and the city engineer did they inspection and evaluation. They (engineers) made their suggestion and recommendations to us, we then compile and collate those information. We went and deliberated on those information at NEMO and the a decision has been taken." "We will be only utilizing the main shelters on the list up to a category 2 hurricane, anything beyond that will be evacuation. Through the other government ministries we try to mitigate development in the water catchment areas and so forth. Land clearing; the type of developments that has been occurring and that will be occurring and so we try to mitigate at the point of inception." "In the low laying areas again the council has done a very splendid job through the works department and again with the leadership of Mayor Bradley, an excellent job in rehabilitating streets, acquiring equipment to fix these streets, ensuring that the drains are dealt with, ensure that sanitation problems are dealt with. Again whilst the water problem will only be for a limited space of time as a problem, you will see the run off of this water - we are right on target in terms of draining the city." But these aren't the only protective measures that CEMO will take in this upcoming hurricane season. A major point of contention with the media was the relocation of the CEMO headquarters to the Channel 5 building on Coney Drive. In the media melodrama that erupted over the issue, the Deputy Mayor assured the media houses that CEMO will do its best to keep the distribution of information fair, prompt and non-preferential - but he seemed to have a hard time convincing some of our colleagues:.. Marion Ali, LOVE NEWS "It strikes me as interesting because did you ever in your planning consider the rest of the media? Doesn't it put the rest of us at the immediate disadvantage? "

PRICE OF PREMIUM FUEL FINALLY GOES DOWN
For the first time in a while the pump price of premium gasoline has gown down sharply. Pumps were adjusted last night to reduce the price by 81 cents per gallon - which is the largest drop in the price of premium fuel since December of 2008. And, it's the first time the price of premium has gone down in six months. That's right, since November, 2011 when it went down by 50 cents. Since then, the pump price for premium has increased eight times, bringing it to the twelve dollars and twenty four cents all time high it was set at up until last night at midnight. Now the price is a still prohibitive eleven dollars and forty three cents per gallon, while Regular gas went down 41 cents to ten dollars and ninety seven cents a gallon, and diesel went down forty six cents to ten dollars and thirty once cents per gallon.

FROM FOSTER HOME TO FRONT STREET
When the 2012 Olympic Games start in July, a boy who started out at the Dorothy Menzies Children's Home, will show the world the man that he has become. Joel Hodgson, along with his two sisters, was adopted from Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center when he was 4 years old by a Scottish couple, Susan and George Hodgson. They left Belize and went with to live in Scotland. 17 years later he moved to London with his girlfriend- and ended up homeless, sleeping on the steps of a British police station. That's when he got a job selling magazines, and 3 years after, his positive attitude and willingness to work earned him a job at a top London law firm. His life was on the up-and-up, and soon after he was chosen to be a torchbearer in the Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the Olympics. Hodgson was also recently informed that he is eligible to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth games as a representative for Belize. In Belize, the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association confirmed that he is running with the torch - but had no knowledge of him competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth games - which is discussed in the article.

MOTIVATION FOR YOUTHS
BTL, Restore Belize and Belize Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors held a Youth Rally this afternoon for over 600 hundred Belize City students. They were there to hear a high-powered panel of professional motivational speakers from Mexico, United States, Cuba and Columbia. The idea was to educate the youths of Belize about the benefits of living a positive lifestyle and inspire them to do the same. Dr. Dionne Miranda explained:.. Dr. Dionne Miranda, PR Manager - BTL "We had these great speakers in the country, they were here at an insurance congress and they offered their time at no cost because they really wanted to do something for Belize and we thought it was a no brainer. Building the fiber of our country, the dreams, getting rid of the innabitions of our young people is most important for all of us. As a corporate sponsor, we didn't only do this on our own, we brought in other companies; Radisson, the Lodge at Chaa Creek, Bowen and Bowen and Grace Kennedy and everybody joined in together because we believe that these people really are our future, they are our leaders and if we don't take care of them, grow and develop them; the should needs to be nurtured in this country. We are in tough times and if we take care of our young people then our future is set and we are going to have va great future." "This is every second form in Belize except for Sadie Vernon school because they are having exams. This morning we were in San Pedro and we did San Pedro High School. Tomorrow we head to San Ignacio at 10:45 and we are going to be doing the entire San Ignacio/Benque area, 1,000 kids would be present. This is over 4,000 people being touched - their lives being made different by something like this knowing that they can make their life happen. It's an awesome event, it's about them and not us."

SHAPHAN SURVIVES
Profile: If you're a long time viewer of 7news - you may remember Shaphan Domingo. We featured him back in 2007 after he had been paralyzed from the waist down, the result of being shot four times. At the time, his lower body was being ravaged by bedsores. Since then he has amputated his legs, which - as we find out in tonight's I Am Belize profile - has been strangely liberating and empowering. Here's his story:..

GRIGA GETS MARKET
The Dangriga Town is about to get a 1.4 million dollar upgrade. It's part of the Belize Municipal Development Project - which is a 30 million dollar World Bank project to be spread across seven municipalities. Dangriga's project is the largest for infrastructure - and ground was broken today. The project is expected to begin in the next two weeks and will rehabilitate the existing market building to provide an extension of 2,000 square feet for additional stall space which will be used for the vendors who are presently in the parking-lot. At the end of it, there will be 25 new and 19 refurbished stalls - and an improved area for the fish market.

GG UNDER SCRUTINY IN TAIWAN
Governor General Sir Colville Young left Belize in mid-May for Taiwan where he represented Belize at the Inauguration of President Ma Jing-Jeou. And it seems that - at the invitation of his hosts - the GG also used the occasion to get a medical screening. Well, now, it has become a sort of big deal in Taiwan - with the media asking if taxpayers in that country should pay the medical expenses of foreign officials. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by saying that Sir Colville's cardiovascular examinations and computed tomography scan on his chest and brain were quote, cheap and reasonable, and promoting medical diplomacy for Taiwan.

Channel 5

Habet vs. Penner; another election petition is struck out
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court struck out a third election petition from the March seventh general elections. The Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin found that there was no evidence against opposition leader Francis Fonseca for bribery. This afternoon, the court decided on the fourth, in which P.U.P. aspirant Orlando Habet was challenging Elvin Penner of the [...]

Good news at the fuel pumps as prices take a dip
Fuel prices have gone down internationally which means that with the arrival on Wednesday of the latest fuel tanker in Belize, there's a change in fuel prices at the pump effective today. Mercifully, this time it's good news for drivers. Premium gasoline, which was all the way at twelve dollars and twenty-four cents, took the [...]

Belize City woman is charged for murder of B.D.F. corporal
We reported on Wednesday that Marsha Reid, the common-law-wife of murdered B.D.F. corporal Donovan Castillo, was released after forty-eight hours in custody. Well, her freedom was short-lived as today she was formally arrested and charged with Murder. Reid was arraigned in Belmopan this afternoon and is now on remand at the Central Prison among few [...]

Accused gunman in Brian Welch murder arrested and charged
Charges have also been levied in connection with a previous murder in the city almost a month ago. Today, Henry Jacobs, a fisherman and resident of Fabers Road Extension was arrested and charged for the Murder of forty-nine year old Brian Welch, a deportee. Since he returned to Belize earlier this year, Welch had been [...]

The Matura Family's tormented history with crime and violence
Eleven year old Daniel Matura will be laid to rest on Friday, following services at the church of the Muslim Community Primary School where he was enrolled. For the family, peers and teachers, it is a monumental loss of a promising young man, who wanted to be a B.D.F. soldier. The Matura family was preparing [...]

Orange Walk man tries to blow himself up
There was a mini explosion in Orange Walk triggered by a domestic dispute. Reports from Orange Walk are that Marcelino Mendez, who is estranged from his wife, cut the hose from his butane tank, allegedly in an attempt to take his own life since his wife had left him. Neighbors called both the ambulance and [...]

Hundreds of Belize City youths get a message of Hope
A pep rally of sorts was held this afternoon at the Queen's room of the Princess Hotel. Organized by Restore Belize, six hundred students from primary and secondary schools gave their undivided attention to the moving stories of three renowned motivational speakers. With the youth at risk due to crime and violence, the message was [...]

A Belmopan minor is shot while assisting friends
But on Wednesday, a minor was shot after he and a group of friends were attacked on Panama Street in the Salvapan Area of Belmopan. Sixteen year old student, Yasmani Aguirre, told police that he was helping a group of four friends to repair a motorcycle when they were approached by four men armed with [...]

3 men who posed as cops in home invasion are taken to court
While the Supreme Court was dealing with election petitions, in the Magistrate's Court, a trio of thieves, including a sixteen year old minor, was indicted on criminal charges ranging from aggravated burglary to firearm and ammunition possession following a brazen home invasion in Belize City on Tuesday night. Businessman Carlos Peraza, of Freetown Road, reported [...]

36 pounds of weed; a city woman says she didn't know it was in her house
A resident of Pelican Street Extension was taken to court late Wednesday evening after police found almost thirty-seven pounds of marijuana inside her house. There was an early morning raid at the home of thirty-three year old Teresita Elena Flores, during which the drugs were found inside a barrel of clothes. Flores was taken before [...]

Burglars escape with over $20,000 in loot from Belmopan business
A burglary in the capital has netted thieves over twenty thousand dollars. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, Bismillah Furniture store located on Forest Drive in Belmopan was burglarized of an assortment of electronics and household items, including CD players, television sets, blenders, microwaves, cell phones and toasters valued at nineteen thousand nine hundred and fifteen dollars. [...]

ITVET students show off their trades in Annual Open House
At the ITVET on Freetown Road, over two hundred students showed off their expertise and products at the annual Open Day. The participants are hoping that their new skills will either open doors for them in the limited job market or better yet, that they can become their own bosses. From cosmetology to hospitality or [...]

John McAfee's story makes it to the Gizmodo Blog
About three weeks ago, the GSU raided the property of Anti-Virus Founder John McAfee near the toll bridge in Orange Walk. The incident was widely reported in Belize and the report went viral in US networks. McAfee initially gave interviews to the local media, but then said he wouldn't anymore and that he was launching [...]

Barton Creek is one of nine best caves in the world
But not all that is published internationally is bad news. Barton Creek is being featured on the Mother Nature's Network website as one of 'nine of the world's most beautiful and unusual cave destinations' on the lifestyle-ecotourism channel. The website describes the tourist attraction as the 'underworld' by the ancient Mayans who inhabited the area [...]

Carcass of adult manatee retrieved from the sea
A recent aerial survey shows that the manatee population is increasing and that the number of calves signals successful reproduction. Conservationist, Jamal Galves recently won two regional awards for his work with manatees. This morning he called us out to the Belize Coastguard Headquarters where an eight hundred pound mammal was transported from the Old [...]

Belize Cancer Society working on creating a Cancer Registry
It's not difficult to find someone who will share with you a story about cancer. Whether, it's their personal battle to overcome the disease, a relative or friend recently diagnosed or even the unfortunate stories of those who lost the battle. Every year, thousands of Belizeans join in the Cancer Awareness walk to show their [...]

LOVE FM

Thursday, May 24 - POLICE NEWS
A sixteen year old boy was the victim of a shooting incident in Belmopan. The incident happened on Wednesday in the Salvapan area of the capital and police say Yasmani Aguirre was shot in the right elbow during an altercation. According to police, Aguirre was assisting frie...

BELIZE DISTRICT ITVET HOLDS OPEN HOUSE
The Belize District ITVET held its annual open house today at its campus on Freetown Road. An opening ceremony was held this morning at the compound with remarks by Deputy Chief Education Officer Dr. Carol Babb and keynote address by Jehan Gillett a former trainee and supervisor ...

BELIZE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION PREPARES FOR HURRICANE SEASON
June first is fast approaching and this means that for six months thereafter, the hurricane season will take centre stage on many people's agendas. The Belize City Council is no different and today, the City Emergency Management Organization, CEMO, met to discuss the issues...

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF BELIZE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HELD
A special ceremony for the launch of the Dangriga market project took place today. Harry Arzu reporting� "Official launching of the rehabilitation and expansion project for the Dangriga Town market under the Belize Municipal Development Project were held...

POLICE INVESTIGATE BURGLARIES IN BELMOPAN
Belmopan Police are investigating two burglaries that occurred in that municipality. Fem Cruz reporting� "On Monday May 21 a Belizean credit officer of Orange Street in Belmopan reported that she left her home on Friday, May 18 sometime around 8 p....

COMMON LAW WIFE CHARGED WITH MURDER OF SPOUSE
Police have formally arrested and charged Belize City resident, thirty eight year old Marsha Reid for the murder of her common law husband Donovan Castillo. Castillo who was a corporal in the Belize Defense Force was stabbed to death in Dangriga town on Monday morning. He w...

FUEL PRICES CUT AT THE PUMPS
Consumers are breathing a little bit easier today following a modest reduction in the pump price for a gallon of gasoline and diesel. After a whopping $12.24 per gallon on Premium gasoline, consumers are now paying $11.43, a saving of eighty one cents. Regular gasoline is now selling f...

POLICE SUSPECTS DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE FOLLOWING HOME EXPLOSION
There was an explosion this afternoon in Orange Walk town. Police have not yet released any information on the incident, but Love News understands that the explosion may be the result of a domestic dispute. The mid-afternoon explosion happened on San Narciso Street near to ...

CTV3

Lucky Mom Goes Shopping At The People's Store
In celebration of Mother's Day two weeks ago the SMART Orange Walk Branch launched a raffle in honor of that special woman we call mom. With the purchase of any cell phone customers were awarded a ticket to participate in the raffle consisting of $1000 shopping spree at any store of their choice. Unfortunately there could only be one winner and that person was 60 year old Ana Martens from the Blue Creek Community. Martens won a $1000 shopping spree at the People's Store. Today as she and her daughter went shopping we captured their smiles as they packed up their shopping cart. 60 year old Ana Martens from Blue Creek won the shopping spree mothers day raffle organized by SMART in honor of all mom's. Today, as Martens and her daughter pulled out their shopping cart and shopped till they dropped at the People Store, our camera captured all the excitement. Justina Nicholai, Daughter "My husband bought a SMART phone and he entered a SMART Mother's Day Raffle. So he had to give it to a mother so he gave it to my mother." On Friday Nicholai received a call from a SMART representative informing her that she was the lucky winner of the $1000 shopping spree at the People's Store. And even though that was four days ago Nicholai was still recovering from the surprise today.

Izak Chan's Sentencing Moved To May 28th
The latest rape case in Orange Walk has been awaiting the sentencing of 19 year old Izak Chan Junior who was found guilty of rape at the northern session of the Supreme Court on May 9th 2012. Today would have marked the day of Chan's sentencing from which he would have received a minimum sentence of 8 to 10 years imprisonment. But for unknown circumstances his sentencing was rescheduled for Monday May 28th. On May 9th, a jury of 12 found Chan guilty of raping a 17 year old sixth form student from Orange Walk Town. The incident goes back to September 17th 2011 when according to the 17 year old; she along with a group of friends was drinking at the Banquitas House of Culture when they decided to leave for another location. The girl then told police that she was taken to an area along the Honey Camp Road where she was raped by four individuals including Chan. After filing her report on September 18th, police investigations lead to the detention of Chan Junior for one count of rape. None of the other men were indicted to the case. We understand that Chan's family will appeal the decision during his sentencing on Monday.

Sarteneja Fishermen Still Lost At Sea Family Says Search Continues
On Saturday April 21st, 59 year old Silverio Tepaz, Tiobaldo Tepaz and Mijari Tepaz were declared lost at sea. It has now been 32 days since anyone has seen or heard from the three fishermen who hail from the village of Sarteneja. Family members and friends have exhausted all sources and options in search of the three men but so far it has proven fruitless. The intensive search for the three men was called off by the Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force after 7 days. Today when we spoke to a family member of the trio via phone we were told that the search still continues on their behalf but hope is fading away as the days goes by. So far the family has been unable to communicate with any of the men as calls to their cell phone have been unanswered. On April 12th the three fishermen left Sarteneja Village en route to Mango Creek where they boarded their boat and headed to Southern Belize for a fishing trip. Because the conch season closed early this year, the three fishermen called their family and informed them that they would be arriving in Belize City on April 21st but they never did make it to the harbor. The vessel the men were traveling in was found sunken near Glover's Reef. Foul play has not been ruled out when it comes to the men's disappearance.

Town Council Grader Fixed And Ready To Work
point. They have fostered on the idea of a neglectful town council, one whose machinery is being sold by parts. But that story has proven to be more than fictional and misleading since the Grader which has been receiving so much attention has been undergoing repairs. For the past couple of weeks the grader could have been seen parked on an open lot on Cinderella Street. But it was not because it was abandoned by the town council. As we have mentioned, it was undergoing repairs after it broke down a couple of weeks ago and the Orange Walk Town Council was waiting for the parts to arrive in order to finalize the repair process. And the good news tonight is that the grader has been fixed. Kevin Bernard, Mayor "I am just here to clarify a few issues that have been airing out there in the media especially in one of our opposing media people here in Orange Walk and in Belize City it is in regards to our grader known as the famous Hitler that was down due to mechanical failures. There were rumors that the parts were being sold off; the wheel was being sold just rumors to create political mischief and I think that election is over and that needs to stop we are here to serve the people and work for the people so those distractions don't keep us back. Just for clarification the grader has some malfunction, we had some bearings that had broken down and had to be replaced because as I had mentioned before these are not equipments that were ever in tiptop shape. I don't know if they were well inspected before they were purchased but the grader in particular has gone through several repairs even when we came that grader was in Shipyard being repaired. But then another part has some fault and so it was down for two weeks and we had to purchase the part all the way in Houston because the company in Belize did not have the parts. That part returned and the grader is now fully functional so the residents will see Hitler back on the road now continuing the work that we are doing." The Grader was repaired yesterday and is now fully operational and will soon be put to work in the low lying areas of Orange Walk Town in order to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

Belize City Resident Charged For Murder Of 11 Year Old Student
Belize City Police have formally charged 31 year old Andrew Willoughby from Arlington Drive for the murder of 11 year old student Daniel Matura Jr. who was gunned down on Monday May 21st. Willoughby was also charged with two counts of attempted murder upon Roy Bennett and 25 year old Brandon Taylor. On Monday, Taylor and Bennett were riding on separate bicycles on Central American Boulevard when upon passing in front of the Matura's residence Willoughby came out of the Matura's yard, pulled out a gun and fired several shots at both Taylor and Bennett who managed to escape unhurt. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for 11 year old Daniel Matura Jr. who was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was shot on the left side of the chest, right side of the back and the left ring finger. Belize City Police are certain that the bullets were intended for Taylor and Bennett in retaliation to the murder of 28 year old Kaylon Matura that occurred on Wednesday May 16th.

Chief Justice Strikes Out Election Petition Against Francis Fonseca
Last night we broke the news that attorneys for U.D.P Freetown Candidate Lee Mark Chang filed a motion in the Supreme Court to withdraw the petition they filed to challenge the results of the Freetown election in sight that there was no evidence to present to the court. Tonight more information has surfaced about the motion. Reports are that earlier in the week, faced with certain defeat, Chang's lawyers applied to the Supreme Court to withdraw the election petition. The withdrawal was not granted; however, since Chang's camp failed to comply with a rule requiring that the application be advertized in the Gazette. Today; tough, a different tune was played at the Supreme Court before the Honorable Judge Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin who struck out the election petition filed against the Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca due to a lack of evidence. Justice Benjamin also ordered that Chang pay costs of $7,500 to the Hon. Francis Fonseca.

LOVE TV

Fuel prices decrease
Consumers are breathing a little bit easier today following a modest reduction in the pump price for a gallon of gasoline and diesel. After a whopping $12.24 per gallon on Premium gasoline, consumers are now paying $11.43, a saving of eighty one cents. Regular gasoline is now selling for $10.97 per gallon, a reduction of forty one cents Diesel is now selling for $10.31 or 46 cents cheaper today than yesterday. According to a government press release, the price per gallon of fuel will also be reduced accordingly in the districts. The decrease in the pump prices for fuel became effective today. The Ministry of Finance says that in keeping with government's policy, any future price changes in acquisition cost will be passed on full to the consumers via the pump prices.

Explosion in Orange Walk town
There was an explosion this afternoon in Orange Walk town. Police have not yet released any information on the incident, but Love News understands that the explosion may be the result of a domestic dispute. The mid-afternoon explosion happened on San Narciso street near to its junction with Fonseca Street. A neighbor who lives nearby, Sandro Urbina, spoke with Love TV's Arturo Cantun shortly after the explosion and recalled what he saw and heard. Unconfirmed reports to Love News are that the man, identified as Marcelino Mendez may have been attempting to cut the hose connecting the butane tank with the stove when it exploded. This, as we said cannot be confirmed at this time. We will continue to follow this developing story and bring you details as they become available.

Vandals target public parks in Belize City
There are vandals on the loose in Belize City. Reports to Love News are that a group of vandals believed to be young people went on a rampage last night. Left in their wake was a trail of destruction at the Caribbean Shores Park and the Lopez Mateos Park. This morning Love News visited the scene and met with members of the City Council who were inspecting the damage. Councilor Roger Espejo says they will do everything in their power to find those responsible and have them punished. According to a resident in the area who saw when the damage was taking place, a call was made to the police department and they didn't show up and still had not up by this morning. The resident also said that a call was made to 911 and the person was told to call the other number, we asked Espejo what he thought about this, since in times of distress the first and easiest number we can remember is 911. Espejo said that an official report would be made and proceedings to get the culprits will take place.

Students march in peace protest
The death of eleven year old Daniel Matura, Junior on Monday morning has sparked more public outrage over the senseless murder an innocent child. Matura is the fifth child casualty of the wanton violence that has plagued Belize City over the last two years. Today, Matura's schoolmates and other concerned citizens took the streets to register their displeasure with the incidences of crime, particularly against children. Love TV's Natalie Novelo and video journalist Myles Gillett attended the event and bring you the following reports.

Violent home invasion on Freetown Road
There was a brutal home invasion in Belize City last night. It happened not far from our studios and quick police work led to the speedy apprehension of the alleged perpetrators. Love TV's Marion Ali and video journalist Brian Castillo report.

Suspects charged in recent murders
While police were quick to apprehend the suspects in last night's home invasion on Freetown Road, they have similarly moved with speed to bring charges against those believed to be responsible for other criminal activities in Belize City in recent days. Police Press Officer Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood explains.

Thieves target Customs office in Orange Walk
The Custom's Department office in Orange Walk town was burglarized over the holiday weekend. Customs Clerk Darrel Middleton reported to police that sometime between Friday morning and Monday evening the office was burglarized. Among the items stolen was a nine millimeter pistol, a laptop computer, assorted liquor, jewelry, perfumes and clothing all to a total value of just under ten thousand dollars. Police are investigating.

Armed robbery on New Road
A man was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday afternoon at the corner of Victoria Street and New Road. Burleigh Young reported to police that he and a friend were standing at the corner of Victoria Street and New Road when he was approached from behind by a dark complexion man on a bicycle. Young says that the man took out a firearm pointed it at him and robbed him of three gold chains from around his neck and a touch screen cellular phone. After committing the armed robbery, the victim rode off making good his escape.

The Caribbean Development Bank has approved a loan of seven point two million US dollars for Belize
According to a statement from the CDB, the purpose of the loan is for a project to reduce deaths and serious injuries associated with road traffic accidents, particularly on the Western Highway between Belize City and Belmopan. According to the CDB announcement, the road improvement project will also seek to change the behavior or road users through increased awareness and understanding of the issue; traffic law enforcement support; post-crash response support; and road safety management capacity building. In the area of Education and Training, the CDB statement says that 100 teachers are to be trained to deliver road safety curriculum to two thousand students. With regard to Social and Economic Infrastructure, forty nine miles of the Western Highway between Belize City and Belmopan will be upgraded from 1 and 2-star safety levels to a minimum of 3-star for all road users. A total of twenty public officers will also be receiving training in safety management, while an additional 35 will be trained in traffic law enforcement. The CDB believes that improved road conditions coupled with traffic safety and education are crucial to reducing the number of deaths from road traffic incidents, which the institution views as not only disturbing from a public health point of view, but also something that translates into significant social and economic impacts due to lost productivity and increased vulnerability to poverty.

Woman charged for the murder of BDF Corporal
Police have formally arrested and charged Belize City resident, thirty eight year old Marsha Reid for the murder of her common law husband Donovan Castillo. Castillo who was a corporal in the Belize Defence Force was stabbed to death in Dangriga town on Monday morning. He was stabbed multiple times. According to a post mortem [...]

Supreme Court rules in citrus industry dispute
The Supreme Court has handed down a ruling in the case of a group of citrus growers versus the Citrus Growers Association. The case dates back to February of 2010, when the group, led by Dwight Montero was excluded from a CGA meeting because they had not paid their membership fees. The group objected vehemently and even got an injunction barring the CGA from excluding them from an April sixteenth, 2011 meeting and any subsequent meetings. Based on written submissions from attorneys Michel Chebat representing the aggrieved growers, and Hubert Elrington representing the CGA, Justice Minet Haffiz-Bertram ruled that membership of the Citrus Growers Association is clearly set out in the Citrus Processing and Production Act and refused the other declarations, orders for injunction and damages that were sought by the claimants. Love News spoke by telephone with Dwight Montero late this evening and he told us that he is satisfied with the Judge's ruling. Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram also ruled that each party in the case are to bear their own legal costs.

Insurance congress held in San Pedro
A sales congress featuring representatives of insurance companies was held recently in San Pedro town. Love TV's Maria Novelo reports.

CDB gives Belize favorable economic assessment
Belize is among the countries of the Caribbean that registered stronger than marginal economic growth last year. The assessment comes from the Caribbean Development Bank as its board of directors is holding its annual board of governors meeting in Georgetown, Cayman Islands. According to the CDB, which is the region's premier development and banking institution, emerging and developing economies have been the key drivers of the global economic recovery, as advanced economies, the region's main trading partners, have continued to struggle with lingering weakness in financial, labor and housing markets. CDB says that CARICOM countries recorded mixed economic growth last year as they continued to grapple with the fallout from the global economic and financial crisis. And the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank is projecting economic growth of between one and 1.5 per cent in 2012. The CDB in its annual review of the regional countries said that the growth ranged from a downturn in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to marginal growth in CARICOM countries like Barbados, St. Lucia and the British Virgin Islands. The CDB notes that in 2011, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica and Grenada all recorded stronger than marginal growth while only Haiti and Guyana had economic growth in excess of five per cent last year.

Election Petition against Francis Fonseca struck out
The Leader of the People's United Party Francis Fonseca is tonight breathing a sigh of relief, after an election petition challenging his election as the representative for the Freetown Division was thrown out. A statement issued today from the PUP Secretariat said that Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin struck out the petition brought against Fonseca by Lee Mark Chang due to lack of evidence. The Chief Justice also ordered Chang, who Fonseca beat in the March seventh election to pay Fonseca's legal fees to the tune of seven thousand, five hundred dollars. The PUP release states, and we quote: "faced with certain defeat, Chang's lawyers had earlier in the week applied to withdraw the election petition but had failed to comply with a rule requiring that the application be advertised in the Gazette. This brings to an end the UDP's baseless and malicious efforts to undermine the integrity of the Freetown election results," end of quote. The PUP release end by saying that Fonseca and the Freetown Committee welcome the Court's decision and are proud to have defended the will, votes, and integrity of the good people of the Freetown Division. Fonseca was represented in court by Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay.

Improved cardio services being offered at KHMH
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is the country's premiere referral medical institution. It has been the subject of numerous news stories over the years, some of them not too flattering. But there are good things happening at the nation's leading public hospital. Love TV's Marion Ali and video journalist Brian Castillo explain.

Students create virtual cities
Ever think of how Belize will look ten or maybe fifteen years from now? For a group of young people, they are looking into the future and designing what they believe the City will look like. Love TV's Natalie Novelo reports.


Last edited by Marty; 11/17/12 10:09 AM.