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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

Dr. Javier Zuniga leaves to pursue Master's Degree in International Public Health
The Medical Coordinator and Director of the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II Dr. Javier Zuniga is making final preparations to leave the country to further his medical career. This year Dr. Zuniga was offered the Australian Development Award which earned him a scholarship to pursue a Masters Degree in International Public Health. While the scholarship begins on January 1st, Dr. Zuniga is making final preparations and is hopeful that upon his return he will be reassigned to San Pedro or given a position related to the subject he is furthering his studies in. In speaking to The San Pedro Sun, Dr. Zuniga said that the scholarship is for one year and that he is one of four Belizeans that are furthering their studies in various areas as part of the usAid scholarship program. "After spending six years working at the primary care level, I have come to realize that many changes can be done with our health care system, but not working as a general practitioner. For changes to occur we need to make them at the ministerial level, and for me to push for what I believe should be the best health care possible, I would need to work at the ministerial level. So this master's degree will basically help me, it's a step forward, to get the knowledge and the experience, so that one day I could work at the ministerial level to make the necessary changes that we need to do to better our health care system," said a visionary Dr. Zuniga.

Mexican classic ballet group visits Belize
The Embassy of Mexico invites to the presentation by the Classic Ballet Company from the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, at the Bliss Centre in Belize City. This special presentation will open the "Dance X Belize 2012 Festival" organized by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), through the Institute of Creative Arts. The "Ballet de Camara del Estado de Quintana Roo" is one of the most outstanding and professional classic dance companies in Southeastern Mexico. Since its creation in October 2010, the dance group has performed different classic pieces such as Carmen, with the Quintana Roo Symphonic Orchestra, The Nutcracker, The Blue Bird, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, The Black Swan among others, and works of its own repertoire such as: City Stories, Rebirth of my homeland and Night of the Maya, among others.

SPRCS boys win Belize District Primary School Football Competition
San Pedro RC Boys football team travelled to Belize City where they competed at the MCC Grounds for the opportunity to represent the Belize District at the Primary School National Football competitions. Eliminations took place on Wednesday November 14th, when the primary schools from both San Pedro and Caye Caulker took to the Ambergris Stadium to compete against each other to choose the winning male and female teams of the Belize Rural Zone. At the end of those competitions, both teams from the San Pedro Roman Catholic School emerged victorious. The teams then travelled to Belize City on Tuesday November 27th to compete against other zone winners from the Belize District to choose the district winners that will then compete in the Nationals scheduled for December 7th in Belize City at the MCC Grounds. In the male competition at Belize City were: Our Lady of the Way Elementary School from Ladyville, San Pedro Roman Catholic School, St. John's Viannie RC School and the Belize Presbyterian Elementary School. The San Pedro female team was first on the field, going up against Belize Elementary school. Neither team was able to get in a goal, so the game went into penalty round where the SPRCS girls lost with a score of 4 to 3. With this loss, the girls were eliminated from the competition.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Town Council Donates Picnic Tables to Schools
On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, Mayor Daniel Guerrero and Councilor Gaby Nu�ez personally handed over eight picnic tables to Principal Miguel Hernandez of New Horizon SDA School. Mr. Hernandez was quite happy for the donation as he mentioned that the school will soon have a palapa to accommodate the much need picnic tables for children to use during their break and lunch time. Mr. Hernandez also shared the good news that the school received the support of a kind anonymous donor who will have two classrooms built; work should commence in the next two weeks. Mayor Danny Guerrero promised Mr. Hernandez to allocate an additional donor so as to help with the construction of two additional classrooms. The Town Council will donate one so as to have a total of five new classrooms.

Dr. Javier Zuniga Leaves San Pedro to Pursue Studies Abroad
The Town of San Pedro has benefitted very much from the medical services of Doctor Javier Zuniga who made San Pedro Town his home eight years ago. He has been a professor, doctor, mentor, and friend. Today we lose the invaluable services of this professional because he is leaving for Australia to further his studies, but the community is confident he will return to be our doctor and friend. San Pedro will surely miss him, and we wish him all the best as he specializes himself in his profession and we await his return with open arms.

El Secreto Brings Technology Under a Thatched Roof
Within each of the resort's villas, guests find their own private escape. Everything is very personal, from your own private Jacuzzi, enclosed outdoor shower and deck with hammock. The interiors are furnished with include king-size bed, flat-screen LCD television, marble bathroom, indoor hot tub, Melita coffee and tea maker, iPod docking station, mini-bar, and air-conditioning. Three Sea Villas are located just steps from the ocean; four Tropical Villas offer lush garden views; and five Lake Villas surround the resort's salt water lake. All villas feature contemporary and locally-inspired fixtures with all carpentry designed and handcrafted by local artisans using a variety of hard woods native to the region for the window frames, closets, deck floors, and interior furnishings. Get this! Very unique to El Secreto and a service not available anywhere else in the entire country, is that of a full pillow menu. Upon making your reservations you have the option to choose from a variety of pillow including feathers, memory foam and hypoallergenic, among others. It's an added plus to their five-star service; plus the room also features Malin + Goetz bath amenities and Vivenda Egyptian cotton linens which means a heavenly night's rest.

Suffocating the World
Was sent this great infographic about how our environment is paying for our everyday use of plastics and I thought it would be great to share with my readers. Hope it changes your mind and sheds some more light on the issue of protecting Mother Earth: "You're standing in line at the grocery store when you realize that you don't have your reusable bag. You'll have to get a plastic bag. Again. You feel bad for a moment and then think that it's just one bag. But it isn't � In the U.S. alone, 280 billion plastic bags are used each year, which is enough to stretch around the earth nearly 30,000 times. Making and using plastic bags has more repercussions than you might think. Check out the following infographic to see how exactly plastic bags affect our cities, our environment and even our economy."

Misc Belizean Sources

Ambergris Caye Elementary School Upcoming Events
Thank you all for your time and your commitment to this community and its people. It recently came to my attention that Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) has not been consistently notifying the local communication sources of its activities and schedule. I hope to be able to correct this lapse, so will be sending you updates of the fundraisers, community service activities, and schedule for the school. If there is a preferred email address or contact for your organization, please let me know and I will edit this email list. If there is a cost or other paperwork needed for inclusion in your publication or public service announcement, also, please let me know and I will take that information to the ACES Board. Please find below the schedule of events and sales for ACES for the next 8 weeks. ACES is working very diligently to provide a high quality education to a broad range of student age groups as well as educational needs, and your help in keeping the public abreast of its events will be an invaluable gift - one the ACES Board, Staff and Students will appreciate more than you could ever know. Thank you in advance for your attention to this email and I am looking forward to working will all the these awesome organizations as ACES continues to grow and serve the San Pedro Community as well. Humbly and Sincerely Yours, Paulette Foster-Galbraith

Ascenthium at Cayo Art Festival
Ascenthium rocked Burns avenue at the Cayo Art Festival. Here's a video of them doing Metallica. They'll be at La Cabana in Belmopan on Saturday.

Women's Self Defense Classes
Todat there will be two free women's self defense classes in Cayo. The first will be at the Women's Department building from 9am until 1pm. The second will be at the Benque House of Culture, and will go from 2pm until 5pm. A big thanks to Renee Wentz and the Women's Department! "Here are the sessions for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence in Cayo (San Ignacio and Benque). Please see the flyer and contact me or the Women's Dept for more information. The classes are sponsored by the Women's Dept and are free to women/girls."

Model Casting Call
Joris Hendrik is having a model casting call for his next fashion show, which will take place on the 5th of January at the Bedran Hall at the SIRH. https://www.facebook.com/JorisHendrik "Hello Ladies, please message us at www.facebook.com/JorisHendrik if you're interested. An Application with Details will follow your message. Have a great day."

SHC's Tarde Cultural on Friday
Sacred Heart College will be having their annual La Tarde Cultural tonight. "La Tarde Cultural is an annual Spanish Project for third form students at Sacred Heart College that allows them to learn about the culture of the Latin American countries."

Taste of Belize at SIRH
The Taste of Belize will be held in Cayo this year. The main chef competition will be this Saturday, at the San ignacio Resort Hotel. Sunday, at the Cayo Welcome Center, they'll have the BBQ competition. "Taste of Belize, Belize's Culinary Event where top Belizean chefs compete for the grand prize."

Iguanas at SHJC's Open Day
The Green Iguana Conservation Project was at Sacred Heart Junior College's Open Day. Everyone got a kick out of them.

Kathy's Potatoes
I recently took a trip to Utah to visit my family. We had a wonderful barbecue with all the trimmings. My Aunt Kathy prepared her own version of a type of scalloped potatoes. I love onions so I absolutely enjoyed these potatoes that are made with tons of onions. This recipe is easy and the potatoes are divine

Channel 7

Belize Rejects Superbond Deal From Creditor Committee
Belize has said "no-go" to a restructuring proposal put forward by the creditor committee which holds more than 50% of the Superbond debt. More than three months have passed since Belize first missed its Superbond payment - and more than 60 days have gone since a good faith half payment was made. In that time, there's been plenty of negotiating, but not much headway. And today's announcement posted on the Government of Belize website is confirmation of that. It discusses a counter-proposal made by the creditor committee - which was presented last week - three and a half months after Government first put forward its proposals. But in the response which was posted on the government website today quote: "The GoB considers (that proposal) to be wholly incompatible with its objective of placing the country's debt burden on a sustainable footing and that it amounts to little more than a short-term fix." It concludes that, quote, "the GOB views the recently-submitted scenarios as unsustainable, and is disappointed that a counter-proposal of this nature has come five months after discussions with the Committee began." End of quote. But - it doesn't end there; Government does offer a new, revised pair of restructuring scenarios. The first suggests a principal reduction of 33% - which is down from the 45% that was proposed in August. And it also increases the proposed interest rate from 3.5% to 4.5 for the first five years and 6.75% for the next thirty years. The second revised scenario does not include a principal reduction, but suggests extending the life of the bond to 40 years - down from 50 in the first proposal. It also offers a higher interest rate than the 2% which had first been proposed. So, today's revised proposals do make some concessions - and offer bondholders a better deal than the August proposals. Will it be enough? It may have to be because government sources suggest this may be their final offer.

Elderly Woman Stands Up To Ruthless Robbers
A 63 year old woman fought with robbers to hold on to her earrings yesterday! It happened on Magazine Road in Belize City yesterday morning. Around 11:30, Veronica Allen was walking home - when at the Vernon Street junction - two men approached her. They demanded that she handed over her belongings. But the elderly woman wasn't about to do so that easily. Allen put up a fight with the robbers and even though the men escaped with her gold bracelet and one of her gold earrings, she managed to clutch on tightly to her handbag. Today - asking to appear off camera - she told 7news about her traumatic experience. Voice of: 63 Year old robbery victim "I was coming from my ministry and when I was crossing by the street where the clinic is - coming down Magazine Road about two houses from Vernon Street, two boys tackle me; one on bicycle and another one on foot. The one on foot was younger than the one on the bicycle. The one was on bicycle - you could see that he is rastafari because you could see he has his hood on and on his hood there are stripes. I could see his face because I was trying to fight them off, I didn't have time to look on their faces but I know that one was younger than the other."

A Shallow Grave For North Front Street Bones
Tonight, there are still no definitive findings about the bones unearthed yesterday on North Front Street. Dr. John Morris of the Department of Archeology will examine the remains along with police forensic pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran tomorrow. That session should have been held today but Estradabran was too tied up with autopsy work. But after visiting the site today, Morris did have some initial observations. He told us that the remains appear to be those of three individuals - and he concludes that they were hastily buried after either the 1931 or 1961 hurricanes. He says they were likely placed in a shallow grave - less than three feet below the street - with just a plank underneath them. More will be known tomorrow after the bones are examined with greater detail.

Murders At A Record Clip In 2012
As of Sunday November 25th, with five weeks left to go in 2012 - there have been, unofficially, 130 murders in Belize, one more than the all-time high, in 2010, when 129 murders were officially recorded. It's a depressing statistic, but one that must be noted in a year that has been the deadliest on record. There have been three straight double digit months for murders in September, October and November. That makes seven double digit murder months for 2012; the record-setting year, 2010 had eight double digit months.

GSU Keeps PIV Under Pressure
On Tuesday we told you about the GSU search on two apartments on Mopan Street, allegedly occupied by 12 reputed PIV gang members. They found a boat engine in one of the apartments and an owner has stepped up to claim ownership. He said that the engine was stolen from his boat five days ago. And so, 10 persons were charged for handling stolen goods. They are 24 year old Leon Gray, 23 year old Kieshayne Kirk Young, 20 year old Ashley Welch, 20 year old Gregory Knox, 30 year old Edwin Flowers, 24 year old Albert Clother, 24 year old Warren Dominguez, two 17 year olds and a 15 year old minor were also charged jointly with the others. The GSU says that all these persons are reputed members of the PIV gang. Three 9mm pistols were also found on the property during the operation. According to GSU, they are waiting to see fingerprints lifted from the firearms found and ballistic testing to determine if further charges will be brought. In other news, yesterday, the GSU searched a house at the residence of Wilfred Garbutt located at number 58 Gabourel Lane. A transparent Zip Lock bag containing 9 grammes of cocaine was found in one of the bedrooms. All three occupants were arrested and charged for drug trafficking. Present at the time were 30 year old Wilfred Garbutt, 22 year old Melisa Armstrong and 29 year old Alrick Galvez.

Youths: Who Is Farrakhan?
Earlier this week, official details of the visit of Minister Louis Farrakhan were released. Those of us older born before 1980 should remember his last visit in 1986. But there's a whole generation of adults born after 1986 who are saying, "Farrakhan - who?" And it's understandable, because in the modern "pop-life" where telephones and television dominate the national consciousness, Farrakhan is not exactly at the top of the charts, or "trending" on Google. But in 1986, before a zillion channels of cable, facebook and text messages, Farrakhan's visit was a major event. With some YouTube video of that visit recently posted on the internet, we wondered about the comparisons between then and now. Daniel Ortiz reports:.. Daniel Ortiz reporting When Pastor Luis Farrakhan came to Belize in 1986 - this video captured by the Nation of Islam showed Belize City as it was then. Some things have changed in the 26 years, while many have remained the same.

Authorities Say Human Trafficker Caught
48 year-old Guatemalan National Rolando Velasquez Darbon, is in custody tonight because he is being investigated as possibly being part of an international human trafficking ring. According to immigration authorities, acting on information they visited the Belize City Bus terminal yesterday, where they detained a young man, later learned to be Jose Evelio Hernandez Ayala, a Salvadoran national. When they asked the man to produce immigration documents, he couldn't, but he told them that someone was supposed to bring them for him very soon. The officers set up an impromptu sting operation where they caught Darbon in the act of trying to furnish a Salvadoran passport and visa later discovered to be fake documents. Both men were detained and question where it was discovered that Darbon smuggled Ayala into the country illegally, and produced the documents for him to try to get past all immigration checks.

Colombia Withdraws From ICJ
On October 13 of 2013, Belizeans and Guatemalans will vote simultaneously on whether we should take our territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice. One country that did do that is having second thoughts, so much so that it is pulling out of the ICJ. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced yesterday that his country has officially withdrawn from the treaty that recognizes the authority of the ICJ. This is after the ICJ gave a ruling on November 19th that extends Nicaragua's maritime territory by 20,000 square miles. The ruling ended a decades-long dispute over the San Andres island - which remains in Colombia's possession. But it re-drew the maritime borders - giving Nicaragua territory in a potentially oil-rich area. President Santos said quote, "The borders between nations cannot be in the hands of a court of law, They must be drawn by agreement between the countries involved." He has said he will now engage Nicaragua in bi-lateral talks to settle the issue. In other international news of interest, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly today to recognize a Palestinian state. There were 138 votes in favour, including Belize, 9 against while some 40 members abstained.

A Youth-Friendly Space In Police Station
Opening ceremonies were held this morning for a Youth Friendly Drop in Center at the Caribbean Shores police substation. It is an initiative of the Community Policing Unit - a section of the Police Department that involves law enforcement professionals who specifically work with and for the communities. The new drop in center will give students in the area access to a computer to get homework assignments done and should also serve as a safe setting for the youngsters. Corporal Hortense Hernandez, who is the Acting Officer Commanding the Community Policing told 7news how the center will operate. Corporal Hortense Hernandez, Acting Officer Commanding Community Policing "The youth friendly space is a place where young people can come and just be themselves in a crime free environment; at the same time they will be learning very educational stuff that will help them along the way as a guideline." Monica Bodden "Tell us a little bit about what are some of the services that will be offered here?" Corporal Hortense Hernandez "Young people can come here, they can print home works, they can do research if they have homework, SBAs - anything that they need to do on a computer they can come and get some assistance to do homework. Also we have a lot of informative pamphlets where they can get additional information. As I said it's a place where young people can just be themselves."

Papi Poti Passes
Tonight we note the passing of a Belize City legend, Edward "Papi Poti" Orozco. He died at his home in Belize City this morning after a long battle with cancer. He was a boxer, an orator, an ardent PUP supporter, and one of the colourful characters that define Belize City's identity. His friend Yasser Musa remembered the man called Poti:.. Yasser Musa, Friend of Papi Poti "He was a discipline man. He loved sports, he was a great boxer; he played in 1970s on the great Fort George United Football team. He was a man that had the ability to deliver powerful message in very sharp but precise words. He came up with many of the phrases and slogans of our party over the years and he had that common touch where he would enter a room and people would gravitate toward him because he had this spirit of spontaneous combustion I would always called it because he just knew what to say and how to say it and so we are sad today. When you are in his presence you felt something deeply human about his strength of character, his persistence and his just ordinary approach to things."

Belize's First Int'l Fencing Event
On Monday, 7News told you about 14 year-old Xunan Smith who went to El Salvador to represent Belize for the first time in an international Fencing tournament. On Sunday, she competed in the VI Annual Giorgio Scarso International Tournament, and on Tuesday in the Central American & Caribbean Championship. In the Giorgio Scarso tournament, she competed against 21 other fencers, and she was able to place 10th, performing better than 11 of those athletes. If that's not enough to impress you, this junior athlete managed to compete on par with the 7th place athlete who has 37 years of experience, and who just barely defeated her. In the Central American and Caribbean Championships, she placed 6th of 19 athletes. For a first attempt, Xunan Smith acquitted herself excellently in the sport, and gave Belize an impressive debut.

Profile Of a Survivo: Godfrey Sosar
If you follow the morning talk shows - you may remember the name Godfrey Sosa. He made a historic appeal for a kidney transplant in 2005 - and raised tens of thousands of dollars to fund the operation. But, that didn't work either - and shortly after - the new kidney started failing. In tonight's I Am Belize profile he tells us how he continues to persevere - in spite of his difficulties:..

Salima Fundraising At School
Last month we told you about 7 year old Salima Barrow's mission to fundraise for children living with cancer. It's a mission funded by proceeds from a Limeade stand. Today she set up the stand at her school. Under the theme Children Helping Children, Salima and her Standard 1 classmates at Hummingbird Elementary held a Limeade sale during their lunch break. The juices were going for only 2 dollars but their ambitions are far greater. We spoke to her teacher:.. Sonia Bennett - Std. 1 teacher "This initiative is an effort to help the cancer children down in Dangriga. They are selling limeade to support the children down there who are sick with cancer." "They are divided into 4 groups and as you can see we have the ice group, we have the servers, here are the people who are serving the juice and over there we have the people who are collecting the money." Reporter "Can you tell us about the enthusiasm for the children while preparing for this?" Sonia Bennett - Std. 1 teacher "Oh my gosh! I can't keep this still. I could keep them in check at all. They are so excited about this whole thing." Salima Barrow, Std. 1 student "We were serving the limeade juice." Monica Bodden "What were you doing Haley?" Hayley Thurton "I was getting the ice." Student "I was serving." Gianna Saldivar "I was collecting the money." Sofia Solano, Std. 1 student "I was putting the ice in the cups."

Channel 5

Recent superbond Restructuring offer rejected by GOB
There were hopes that a deal would be struck when the Debt Review Team and the Coordinating Committee of Belize Bondholders met following the US thanksgiving holiday. But the result is a reversal of a previous discussion. In August the Government publicized three Indicative Restructuring Scenarios that would reduce the long term payment and bond [...]

B.T.I.A. attends consultations with Bond Negotiation committee
Government and bondholders are at a stalemate five months after the negotiations started and are basically back at square one. But Jim Scott, the former president of the B.T.I.A., said today that the team leader has asked him to inform tourism industry stakeholders that the negotiations were moving forward.   Jim Scott, Immediate Former President, [...]

5.5 million dollars of Bradley bond sold
While bondholders and government are at a standstill, the Belize City municipal bond is trading beyond expectations. Since going public on Monday, Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley says there has been high demand by the business community for the bonds that will finance the ongoing infrastructure works in the City. The Belize City Council has [...]

Structuring shares of bond for sale
A total of eleven individuals and businesses have bought into the primary offering since it was launched on November twenty-sixth. The smallest shares are in the amount of two individual bonds, while the largest stocks are seven thousand, five hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred bonds, respectively.   Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "What we've [...]

Radar wasn't working when drug plane landed on the highway
The trial involving several law enforcement officers accused in the largest drug seizure in recent history continued today before Justice Denis Hanomansingh in the Dangriga courts with arguments from the defense. Police officers Renel Grant, Lawrence Humes, Jacinto Roches, Mark Middleton and Customs boatman Harold Usher, as well as Victor Logan have been indicted for [...]

Who raided McAfee's property today?
John McAfee, the anti-virus founder, has faded from the media headlines in recent days, but he continues to blog about life in hiding and in Belize on a whole. In his most recent posting, McAfee claims that the Gang Suppression Unit and the Coast Guard raided his property in San Pedro just before eleven o’clock [...]

Mayor Bradley explains the garbage fee arrangement with BWS
Last Friday, Belize Water Services Ltd., the collecting agent for the proposed residential garbage fee, issued a release outlining the conditions under which the city council partnership can be successful. Among those terms is that BWS will not disconnect its customers for failure to pay the new fee, despite generating and issuing the monthly invoice. [...]

B.T.I.A. hosts AGM for tourism partners
The tourism industry has had a successful year. That commendable sentiment came in the report card that was presented at the annual general meeting of the Belize Tourism and Industry Association which took place at the Radisson Hotel today. But despite growth in the industry, crime presents a major challenge that threatens to besmirch the [...]

63 year old woman defiant during robbery
Two women were victims of thieves this week. On Monday, forty nine year old Rosa Tejada, a resident of Dean Street left her home between nine a.m. and four thirty p.m. When she returned she discovered that one thousand three hundred Belize dollars, an additional hundred dollars in other currencies, and two gold chains valued [...]

K-9 unit sniffs out cocaine in Placencia
A special joint operation by the K-nine unit and Placencia Police yielded a significant amount of cocaine early this morning. The first find was a kilo of cocaine, followed by another quantity of marijuana. As the operation continued, things got more interesting and the officers dug up eight packs of crack cocaine in different locations [...]

Villager turns himself in after stabbing woman multiple times
Also in Placencia, twenty-four year old Lizet Cocom was stabbed multiple times on November fifteenth on her neck, back and hands, allegedly by her estranged common-law husband. The incident was reported the following day and led to outrage in village when the police did not arrest the accused man even though he travelled regularly between [...]

Guatemalan caught smuggling Salvadoran into Belize
Forty-eight year-old Rolando Velasquez Darbon pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting when he appeared before Magistrate Adolph Lucas Jr. in court today. He was busted on Wednesday slipping a Salvadoran national into the country. Darbon, who is wanted by the United States Embassy for his involvement in an alleged human trafficking ring, was fined three [...]

Minister of National Security says crime is down
There were six murders over the past weekend alone and the continuous spate of violent crimes has residents on edge countrywide. But in his address at the B.T.I.A. AGM today, the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar said that major crimes have actually decreased over the past five months. According to Saldivar it may not [...]

Caribbean Shores Drop in Center for youths
Proper communication with communities has always been essential for cops to maintain peace in neighborhoods. The Zone Beat Liaison Officers are focused on community engagement but Drop-in centers are becoming an additional tool to maintain a relationship with the youths. The police department has drop-in centers in Yarborough, Hattieville and Benque. Today, the Caribbean Shores [...]

GSU cleaning up the streets of drugs, ammunition and stolen goods
On Tuesday, the Gang Suppression Unit found an outboard engine at an apartment complex on Mopan Street where members of the PIV gang are known to be living. One person is claiming ownership of the engine but as many as nine have been arrested and charged for handling stolen goods. They are Leon Gray, Kieshayne [...]

Bottle recycler found fetus at dump site
There are further details on the body of a baby found on Wednesday morning at the George Price Highway Dumpsite. The police report that the partially decomposed body was found, according to police, by a plastic recycler from the "Gungulung area" in Saint Martin De Porres. The recycler was collecting plastic bottles at the dumpsite [...]

Vote taken at UN to recognize Palestine as non-member observer state
The United Nations recorded a historic vote today; member states voted to recognize Palestine as a non-member observer state. One hundred and thirty eight members voted in favor while nine, including the United States, Israel and Canada, voted against. The vote came after impassioned speeches from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who asked the UN to [...]

Healthy Living explores living with HIV
Each year on December first, people all over the globe commemorate World Aids Day. From 2011 to 2015 the central theme for the activities has been "Getting to Zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths." In 2011, Belize had reason to celebrate; the number of new HIV infections had decreased from [...]

LOVE FM

Immigration Nabs Man for Human Trafficking
48-year-old Guatemalan national, Rolando Velasquez Darbon was arrested as part of an ongoing Immigration sting that continues in Belize City. Darbon pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a Salvadoran and Guatemalan national and fined $3,000.00. He was ordered to pay the fine fort...

Placencia Police Charge Wanted Man and Reports on Drug Bust on the Peninsula
Two weeks after he allegedly stabbed twenty four year old Lizet Cocom, police in Placencia village are reporting that the prime suspect, Devon Logan is in custody. According to officer in Charge of Placencia Police Superintendent Mark Flowers, Logan, in the company of his attorne...

CTV3

Mexican National Charged For Drug Trafficking Offered Bail
Also appearing in the Corozal Magistrates Court this morning was 52 year old Mexican National Pedro Alfonso Betancourt Reed charged with two counts of drug trafficking. When Betancourt Reed appeared before the court today, Magistrate Clive Lino offered him bail to the sum of $25,000 which he met. On Sunday October 7th, Corozal Police visited C&B's Bar located on Baeza's layout in Corozal Town where they searched a Silver 2005 Ford Eco Sport SUV with license plate number UUA 79-54 in the presence of Reed, 51 year old Belizean Tailor of Consejo Road Alfonso Iglesias Jr. and 51 year old businessman of San Pedro Town Jose Nunez. The search led police to the discovery of two black plastic bags suspected to contain 295 grams of cocaine. As a result, Reed, Iglesias Jr., and Nunez were detained and charged for drug trafficking. Iglesias Jr. and Nunez were offered bail on their first court appearance.

Corozal Under Heavy Guard, Mexican National Goes To Court
This morning the entire area surrounding the Corozal Magistrates Court was under heavy police guard as 22 year old Mexican National of Chetumal Quintana Roo, Zurisaday Villasenor Mendez, was escorted to the Court room. CTV3 News understands that Corozal Police stepped up their security after receiving information that an attempt might be made to free Villasenor who is facing charges of kept prohibited firearm, kept prohibited ammunition, kept firearm without a gun license, kept ammunition without a gun license, drug trafficking and possession of controlled drugs. But Villasenor's case was not heard today; instead it was adjourned to a later date. Due to security measures we are not allowed to release the date Villasenor is scheduled to be back in court. Viewers might recall that on Tuesday October 30th, Corozal Police conducted a search at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino located just outside the Corozal Free Zone. During the raid, four vehicles and an arsenal of high powered weapons including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, drugs, radio and communication devices, a mask and an assortment of other items were confiscated.

Armoured Catfish Captured In O/W 13 Years Ago
Last night we told you about the 2 armored catfish that were captured in Sylvester Village near Gallon Jug in the Orange Walk District in the month of September. The Fisheries Department visited the area but was unable to capture any more of the fish which is known to erode local shorelines up to 10 feet as it devastates aquatic plant life. These efficient feeders may disrupt the food sources of native fishes and hamper the natives' reproduction by destroying their eggs and their habit of burrowing into banks to spawn can impact adversely a stream's water quality by releasing substantial amounts of sediment that destabilize banks. Presently the Fisheries Department is working on developing a management plan to control the invasion of the species and will even implement an incentive program to encourage people to bring in the fish if captured. But all indications are that the two armored catfish captured in the Gallon Jug area, are not the only ones that have been fished in north.

O/W Special Olympics Team Headed South
Northern Regional Special Olympics held on November 2nd at the Orange Walk People's Stadium proved to be a very special day for children with special needs as qualifying athletes were selected to represent the north in the National Special Olympics scheduled to take place in Punta Gorda this coming Saturday. But in order to make the trip financing is needed and this morning when caught up with the President of the Parents Alliance for Persons with Special Needs, Estelita Carlos, who was out by Queen Victoria Avenue collecting funds. Estelita Carlos- President, PAPSN "Our major goal today is for us to raise $1400.00 towards the nationals which will be held at Punta Gorda and we are trying to cater for the bus. Our parent support group is going to be here to collect whatever amount of money necessary but we are asking the community of Orange Walk to give us the support for our children because it is not for me it is for the athlete that are going to represent Orange Walk and hopefully they will be bringing back their medals here in Orange Walk." Accompanying Carlos this morning was Peace Corp Volunteer Christen Eure. Christen Eure- Peace Corp "I would say thank you for Orange Walk for being so supportive of our persons with disability who live here, it is a great place to live very open society and I would wish that for the rest of the country as well that Orange Walk could be a model for on how to treat the persons with disabilities as part of the community and part of our lives, it is wonderful message."

Teachers Working Towards Improving Education
Most people will agree that when it comes to improving individual and collective lives, thus contributing to social and economic development, education plays an important role. And when it comes to education, teachers should be top priority since they are in charge of feeding the minds of students. Improving a child's performance at school forms part of a teacher's agenda hence why they are constantly engaged in workshops. Today, when we visited the Multi Purpose Complex, we found teachers hard at work as they participated in a one day workshop catered at improving the results of the Belize Junior Achievement Test and the Primary School Examination. Elmer Cornejo reports. Elmer Cornejo - Reporting At the primary level two public examinations are administered on an annual basis: the Primary School Examination or PSE, administered to all students completing primary education and the Belize Junior Achievement Test or BJAT, administered to all students completing the middle division of primary education. However, students seem to be having difficulties in performance when it comes to the BJAT. In order to improve the performance of students at the time of sitting the BJAT, the Ministry of Education held a one day workshop today at the Orange Walk Multi Complex Building where standard 3 and standard 4 teachers, accompanied by their principals, took the task of understanding the details the BJAT contains.

LOVE TV

Skeletal remains unearthed on North Front Street
The ongoing street works in Belize City has unearthed what may very well be a painful part of the history of the old capital. It happened at the foot of the Swing Bridge. And Love TV's Marion Ali and video journalist Brian Castillo went to North Front Street to investigate.

San Pedro businessman says he is being wrongfully targetted
A San Pedro businessman is complaining of being unfairly targeted and is planning legal action against the San Pedro Town Council. Mario Servoni who opened a beachfront business in San Pedro town six months ago, called our News Centre today to complain that late last week he was forced to remove some of his equipment which puts him at a distinct disadvantage. Servoni says the back and forth between himself and the San Pedro town Council has been going on for about a month now. And while he was hoping for an amicable solution, the aggrieved businessman says that late last week, under threat of imprisonment, he was forced to give in. Following our conversation with Mario Servoni, Love News contacted San Pedro town Mayor Daniel Guerrero. Mayor Guerrero says that he is reserving public comments on the issue at this time because there is an impending meeting involving the Town Council, Servoni and other businesses in the immediate area where he operates to try and resolve the matter.

Man fined for hiring illegal workers
A building contractor who employed two men not in possession of work permits and had them hiding in the ceiling of a building they were working on, was fined $3,000.00 today after he pled guilty to two counts of employing persons not in possession of employment permits. He is 52 year old Demetrio Calderon, a Salvadoran national with permanent resident status in Belize. Calderon was given until February 28, 2013 to pay the fine. If he defaults on payment he will serve two years in jail. Calderon was busted around 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning when immigration officers went to a construction site at Los Lagos at mile 13 on the Northern Highway. The immigration officers saw Calderon on the street in front of the site acting suspicious and when they searched a building Calderon was working on they found two Salvadoran nationals, Edwin Erazo and Rafael Cardoza, hiding in the ceiling. Erazo and Cardoza admitted that they were hired by Calderon and that they did not have work permits. As a result, Calderon was taken to the immigration office in Belize City and charged.

Findings of behavioral study released
The Ministry of Health has released the preliminary findings of a behavioral survey carried out earlier this year. The survey involved three particular groups, namely men who have sex with men; female sex workers and persons with HIV and was aimed at documenting the behavioral risks associated with HIV in the three target groups and to determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in the three study groups. [FS 1] The preliminary findings point to a less than acceptable consistent use of condom in the target groups. In the group of men who have sex with men as well as persons with HIV condom use is shown to be less than seventy percent. The number is less than eighty one person among female sex workers. [FS 2] On the issue of the knowledge of the transmission of HIV, the study shows that only 33 percent of female sex workers are aware of the transmission, and only fifty seven percent in the other group. [FS 3] Prevalence of HIV among the men who have sex with men was shown to be thirteen point eight percent, while for female sex workers it was less than one percent of those tested. The Preliminary results of the behavioral study showed that Genital Herpes and Chlamydia were the most common sexually transmitted infections diagnosed across the target groups. [FS 4] Stigma and discrimination, according to the preliminary findings was the highest in the community and workplace and is estimated at ten percent in the health sector. The final report on the behavioral study is scheduled for release in February of next year.

Concerns raised over armored cat fish presence
The Belize fish industry has had to deal with "pests" in the past from Tilapia some years ago to more recently the Lion Fish. But it seems to have another problem on its hand, a fresh water fish known as armored cat fish. The type of fish is not carnivorous but it's territorial and can easily displace other species in freshwater bodies inland. Wilfrido Pott of the Inland Fishing Unit of the Fisheries Department tells us more. Pott says the Fisheries Department has submitted proposals for funding of a management plan to contain the increase of the armored cat fish in Belize. Love News understands that fisheries authorities in Mexico are particularly interested in having this specie controlled, especially since the Rio Bravo is in their proximity. The fisheries department encourages Belizeans to consume the fish if they catch them as a form of controlling its population.

Women's department sponsors legal clinics
The Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Violence was launched last week and numerous activities linked to the occasion are taking place countrywide. Today a legal clinic was held at the ITVET building on Freetown Road. Human Development Coordinator at the Women's Department, Cynthia Williams told Love News that the legal clinic is an intervention that the department began some years ago in order to provide the general public with free legal advice. Antionette Moore is one of the attorneys who volunteered their time for today's clinic. She told us about her contribution to the event. Williams says that in previous years, legal clinics have been held in the Toledo, Cayo and Orange Walk Districts that's why their focus this year is the Corozal District. She reminds one and all that men are also invited to attend the clinics.

Minister Alamilla meets with Crooked Tree residents
Crooked Tree residents and the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development have reached agreement on the way forward. At a meeting this morning the concerns raised by the villagers in an impromptu demonstration on the morning of Friday, November sixteenth, were discussed and consensus reached. According to a government press release, Senator Lisel Alamilla explained to the residents that the legal status of the protected area restricts access. She also told the villagers that her ministry is currently in the process of conducting a viability study of protected areas, including the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. As part of the way forward, Minister Alamilla instructed that the twenty pieces of logs confiscated from Steve Flowers be returned to him. A follow up meeting has been scheduled for the week of December 10th involving residents, the forest and fisheries department, the Belize Audubon Society to, quote, improve the dialogue and chart a way forward, end of quote. The government press release ends by saying that in the meantime, the villagers of Crooked Tree agreed to work within the confines of the regulations of the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Travel and Trade exhibition held in Belize City
The University of Belize has partnered with the National Institute for Culture and History to hold a Trade and Travel Exhibition currently taking place in the Reception Hall of the House of Culture in Belize City. Yusleidy Chan a Tourism student from UB told us all about today's exhibition. Chan told us that there is one thing that she wishes everyone will take back when they leave the exhibition room. Chan says that they are hoping that next year the event can be bigger and better.

Taiwan donates AC units to House Culture
The government of Taiwan has donated equipment designed to provide cooling for the House of Culture. Love TV's Natalie Novelo and video journalist Myles Gillett were present for the handing over and file the following report.

Berger Field getting a facelift
The Berger Field on Vernon Street is a setting where a great many people from the Pickstock, Albert, Collet and Lake Independence areas spend much of their time playing football games, selling food, or simply hanging out. But over the past few years the field has gone unattended and unkempt. But today, the Berger Field, which falls in the Albert Division, represented by Minister of State, Herman Longsworth, was the focus of much attention that will span through to around Easter of 2013 when it will undergo a significant facelift. It comes largely through a grant of 150 thousand dollars from the Belize Water Services, and additional funding yet to be identified. The BWS made good on its pledge to improving the aesthetics of the field today when it handed over thirty thousand of the total it has promised. Chairman of BWS, Alberto August, urged the children and residents who use the field to be responsible when the works are completed. The project will cost a total of 225 thousand dollars and Longsworth says that the residents of the area will be offered the job to upgrade the field. Longsworth is hoping that the difference that the project will cost will come from businesses in the Albert community.

Dance show opens at the Bliss
"Dance X Masks 2012", kicks off tonight at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts in Belize City. The anticipated dance show will feature a week of activities which commence tonight with a dance forum. Creative Industry Development Officer and the Forum Organizer, Jacky Castillo told us about tonight's forum and the activities that follow. Castillo says that the event is open to the entire family and encourages everyone to be a part of the dance extravaganza. For more information you can call the Bliss Center at 227-2110 or visit the website at www.nichbelize.org.

PlusTV

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Classic Ballet Company from Mexico performs in Belize
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Silas Sabal releases Christian CD
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Belmopan City Administrator says more upgrades are on the way
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Elderly lady robbed in Belize City
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Baby's body found in garbage dump
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Motorcycle stolen from San Ignacio Police
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Rolando Darbon pleads guilty to aiding illegal immigrant
48 year old Rolando Velasquez Darbon pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Salvadoran national, Jose Evelio Henriqu...

Two men and daughter of Police Sergeant are charged with drug trafficking
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19-year-old Michael Martinez pleads guilty to theft
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Regional fisheries meeting hosted by Jamaica
Over a hundred stakeholders from government and grassroot agencies, as well as regional and international organizat...

Pastor Abe Dueck still in coma following accident
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15 year old and threatened in Belize City
In Belize City, a 15 year old student visited the CIB office accompanied by his mother and reported that on Wednesd...