Today's Belize News: January 12, 2013

Print Thread

Today's Belize News: January 12, 2013 #455052 01/12/13 09:05 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,404 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. Specials and Events Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5 Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials Ambergris Today Belize Tourism Board Updates on Belize City's Safety The Belize Tourism Board sent out a release yesterday wanting to ensure Belize City visitors and citizens alike that the safety and security of all local tourism destinations and attractions is of paramount importance. While the BTB and citizens of the entire country are deeply saddened by the recent random acts of violence that have occurred in certain parts of Belize City, following a press briefing held on Tuesday, January 8, by the Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, the Ministry of National Security and the Police Department, The Belize Tourism Board is satisfied that the rapid response by local law enforcement coupled with the implementation of additional security measures has resulted in the containment of the situation in the affected area thereby safeguarding both residents and visitors. "With the best interest of our visitors and stakeholders, and by extension, our industry, the Belize Tourism Board continues to monitor the situation," mentioned the BTB release. Since the incident occurred, the BTB has met periodically with local law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of National Security, and continues to dialogue with key partners in Tourism. The BTB recognizes the significance of City Tours, and wants to assure the industry that if the need arises to make further calls, it will advise and act with the best interest of the sustainability and longevity of Belize's tourism industry. Misc Belizean Sources New Belize Logo This is your Belize New Logo- Just launched at our 2013 Industry Presentations this morning. Tres Viejos Mares Coming to Benque Tres Viejos Mares will be performed in Benque on Sunday at 5pm. "'Tres Viejos Mares' an international play that has been presented in Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina and many other countries will be presented in Benque Viejo Del Carmen this Sunday January 13th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Mount Carmel Basket Ball Court It is such an honor to host the Central American Actors & Actresses, who are visiting Belize for the Encuentro, sponsered by many of Belize business establishments and spearheaded by BADA" Barn & Grill After Dark Trey at the Barn & Grill is having a special dinner on the 26th for the first full moon of 2013. Knowing Trey, this dinner is going to be amazing. Tickets went on sale today, and there are only 27 tickets left. "Tickets go on sale Friday January 11th. Trey Introduces ... Barn and Grill 'After Dark' - Our spin on Brazilian Style Steakhouse Dining!!! Buy your tickets now. Contact us by either calling us at 669-4828 / 635-3956, e-mailing us at [email protected] or simply send us a Facebook message!! Can't wait to see you all there!" FCD Environmental Youth Group The Friends of Conservation and Development Environmental Youth Group had their meeting to elect this year's committee. It's great to see so many youths making a difference in the world. "The FCD Environmental Youth Club was established by FCD which is an NGO. The club was founded on the 15, April, 2011. This club is an environmentally friendly club which is set out to promote sustainability and awareness to the public." VIDEO: BEL Cost of Power Challenges BEL is prepared to share the burden of these increases with our customers so as to ease the impact on you. We have therefore proposed to the PUC to lower our earnings until the energy suppliers have recovered from their challenges. In the meantime, we encourage you to make a conscious effort to practice energy conservation. Visit our website at bel.com.bz for useful tips on how you can save money by saving energy. PLUS: Save Money with these Energy Saving Tips from BEL! Channel 5 Minister feels heat and destroys Rosewood On Wednesday night, a local alcalde busted a delivery truck in Deep River, Toledo which was being readied to transport over seven hundred pieces of rosewood destined for the lucrative export market. A moratorium on the extraction of the precious wood was put in place last year, but you wouldn't know that because the illegal [...] No leads on murder of George Street Four Going into the weekend, police and B.D.F. continue to patrol the area of Queen Square and Mesopotamia following Monday's quadruple murder of George Street affiliates. As the families prepare to bury Leonard Meyers, Albert Fuentes, Anthony Perez and Keino Quallo, police are yet to uncover any clear lead or motive but on the streets the [...] City Hall services now tied to overdue citizen bills Motorists, property and business owners are being affected by the latest plan devised by City Hall to collect outstanding revenue owed in taxes. The Mayor says that persons who owe the city will have to pay up if they want to continue using services offered by the city.� City Hall's newest way to collect income [...] Master Plan and new logo for B.T.B. The Belize Tourism Board held its industry presentation this morning at La Isla Bonita. The Board was out in full force and the report on the state of the industry was glowing with arrivals on an upward trend. A master plan for the next two years was unveiled and so was a new logo: Belize: [...] Cruise arrivals down While overnight visitor arrivals are up, cruise tourism suffered a ten percent decrease in 2012. A recent announcement by Carnival Cruise Line to cancel ten calls in 2013 will impact cruise arrivals, but the B.T.B. is optimistic, saying it expects that this year will hold its own. Director of Tourism, Laura Esquivel-Frampton says they are [...] Was there a botched surgery at Western Regional? A family from Billy White Village in the Cayo District is up in arms tonight following an incident at the Western Regional Hospital. Gomercido Pop and his common-law-wife, Josephat Choc, are the happy parents of baby boy Gregorio Casteliano Pop. Choc was admitted to the hospital last Thursday with labor pains and the baby boy [...] Couple didn’t get Condo and attorney returned fee There is a serious allegation against a prominent attorney tonight. A couple from Michigan in the US is accusing attorney Arthur Saldivar of accepting payment, but not delivering services. The couple, John and Cynthia Engelhardt, claim that they paid Saldivar thirteen thousand dollars to process their title for a condo in San Pedro. That was [...] Horse's wife charged with evidence suppression Pamela Bennett Garnett, who along with her entire family, was remanded to prison in connection with the murder of nineteen year-old Raheem Reque�a on December nineteenth, 2012, was before the court today. Pamela appeared along with her son Mark Vernon before Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith. Vernon is facing new charges but he and [...] Guatemalan national charged for using aunt's passport Olga Marina Gutierrez Larios, a Guatemalan national who resides in San Pedro has been using her aunt's passport for the past six years but she was caught in the act and now has to pay a one thousand dollar fine or in default six months in prison. The Guatemalan national, who has as many as [...] Mayor's final words on cemetery and undertaker situation The Lord's Ridge Cemetery and Eternal Garden are the two resting sites controlled by the Belize City Council. On December seventeenth, 2012, the Council informed undertakers and funeral homes that it would take control of the building of tombs and vaults at these sites to ensure quality control. There has been an expected backlash from [...] More Belize City street upgrades and less diversions In a decade of what some may call inactivity and decaying infrastructure, Mayor Darrell Bradley is adding his personal touch to the city's landscape. Instead of constructing unsightly signs with names of donors, as has been done in the past, the mayor is concreting streets that have fallen apart. The ongoing work which has to [...] Youth Enhancement Services gets huge check from CARSI Youth Enhancement Services received a cheque of one hundred and eighty-seven thousand one hundred U.S. dollars courtesy of the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). The monies will fund a three year project that is being undertaken in collaboration with Community Policing Unit of the Police Department to fulfill three goals including: the renovation of [...] Photographer's exhibit for the birds The Belize Audubon Society is the premier organization for knowledge of birding in Belize. But a photographer, who has recently found an eye for the winged creatures, has made them the subject of his most recent exhibition. According to Noel Escalante, his passion has culminated to over a hundred photographs on display at the rotunda [...] 2 girls carnally known; one pregnant Two cases of Carnal Knowledge are under investigation in the north and south of the country. In Orange Walk, a fifteen year old girl was accompanied by her mother to file a report against her boyfriend, Robert Tuyub. The minor told police that on December fourteenth, 2012, she went to Akihito Hotel with Tuyub at [...] CTV3 Funny Video Talks About The Reality Of The Jewel The rampant crime wave in Belize City has become cause of concern for Belizeans here at home and abroad. And if you don't believe us just take a look at all the comments left on the various social networks including Facebook. Belizeans across the line now fear for their lives. However, advocacy in the modern world of today has become easy using technology as it allows for the population to be educated in stylish manners. A short video published by a young Belizean on the famous YouTube on January 9th 2013 is evidence of what we are talking about. The video, which speaks about the violence in city and the Prime Ministers negotiations with Gang Leaders, gives one more or less an idea of how the youth of today think about the way Government is handling the crime situation that is plaguing the country. The video, which is funny per say, has had more than 1000 views so far and speaks the reality of Belize. To video can be viewed on You Tube or Facebook. Two Cases Of Carnal Knowledge Reported One In The North and One In the South While Orange Walk police search for Noel Zetina, they are also looking for one male individual in reference to a report of Carnal Knowledge made by a 15 year old minor. The minor, accompanied by her mother, visited the Orange Walk Police Station where she reported that on the 14th of December 2012 at around 10:00am she and her boyfriend, who hails from the Village of Douglas in the Orange Walk District, visited a hotel here in town where they had sexual intercourse. Tonight police are looking for the minor's boyfriend in connection to this incident. A report of carnal knowledge was also made in Punta Gorda Town, by a 15 year old minor. The child, in the company of her mother, told police that on three separate incidences in the month of October 2012 and sometime in the month of November 2012 she had sexual intercourse with a man from the same town who took her to his home where the act was committed. A medical examination has confirmed that apart from being carnally known, the 15 year old minor is also 12 weeks pregnant. Police are looking for one man for questioning. Shots Fired In Sugar City, Two Men Injured Orange Walk nearly turned deadly last night after shots rang out in the Little England Area of Liberty Avenue. Tonight two men, who live in the area, are lucky to be alive as a barrage of bullets was fired at them injuring the men on several parts of their bodies. The incident played out around 9:00 last night when 41 year old Amin Mendez Sr. and Evander Bennett visited the area of Little England in search of one Noel Zetina better known as (PEKAS). Little did the men know that death was lurking in the dark, somehow though, they managed to escape from its grab. Carmelita Perez Reports. Carmelita Perez-Reporting The peace and quiet of Liberty Avenue in Orange Walk Town was interrupted last night as shots rang out around 9:00pm. Residents living in an area known as Little England which forms part of Liberty Avenue claim to have heard seven gunshots fired into the night. As the news spread that two men had been shot residents decided to investigate the matter and that is when they found 41 year old Amin Mendez Sr., Belizean businessman of Liberty Avenue better known as (Moncho) and 26 years old Evander Bennet, Belizean laborer of Gravel Lane Orange Walk lying on the side of the street suffering from gunshot wounds. While Mendez was shot on the face, right arm, right hand, right cheek and lower back, bullets found their mark on Bennett's upper chest area, stomach and right hand. A blood trail left behind by one of the men shows that he managed to escape from the area and ran into Liberty Avenue while the second victim collapsed at the corner of Bliss Drive and Liberty Avenue. According to Hector Umana one of the victims collapsed right in front of his store. Did Customs Find 77 Rounds Of AKA 47 At Northern Border? On January 6th 2013, 22 year old Mexican National Zurisaday Villasenor Mendez, accused with 1 count of keeping a prohibited firearm, 2 counts of keeping prohibited ammunition, 3 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, 4 counts of keeping unlicensed ammunition, 5 counts of drug trafficking, and 6 counts of possession of controlled drugs, appeared before the Corozal Magistrates Court for hearing. Two issues were submitted by attorneys Dickie Bradley and Arthur Saldivar. Firstly, they sought the recusal of Cayo Magistrate Nardia Morgan on grounds that there is an appearance of bias since she presented herself to the magistrate court where there is a sitting magistrate. Secondly, the attorneys argued that she is not properly appointed in accordance with section ninety-three of the Belize Constitution. After all the submissions, the magistrate ruled that she would proceed to hear the case since she was assigned specifically to the Corozal case and that she was not biased since she did not know the accused person. After hours of deliberation, the case was adjourned for January 17th. Since his first court date, Mendez's appearance at the court has been highly guarded since Corozal Police received information that there might be an attempt to free him. Reports that we are receiving today are very disturbing because reliable sources tell us that on the same day of Mendez's court hearing Customs Officials found 77 rounds of AKA 47 strapped to a belt stuffed in a dirt bin at the Northern Border. We understand that the rounds were handed over to Corozal Police. Today we tried verifying the report with Officer In Charge of the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, but all our efforts proved futile. OWTC Concerned With Violence In The Louisiana Area The horror of hearing rumbling gunshots in the neighborhood of the Louisiana Area here in Orange Walk Town last night, has stirred fear amongst residents after two men were shot multiple times just after 8:00. In an effort to safe guard the lives of residents living in the area, the Orange Walk Town Council sent out a letter directed to the Senior Superintendent of the Orange Walk Police Department, Joseph Myvette inviting law enforcement officers to a public meeting after they failed to attend a neighborhood watch meeting held on November 7th 2012. Josue Carballo-Acting Mayor OW "It is beyond the letter sent out to Senior superintendent Myvette also it is a part of an invitation that we are extending to the entire community and in particular the neighborhood of the Louisiana area and the meeting is it one that we have necessary and urgent into the escalation of crime ad shootings which has happened within the past months within that neighborhood." Elmer Cornejo - Reporter "And what are you asking for with the letter sent to him?" Josue Carballo-Acting Mayor OW "We are asking for the participation and the presence of the police department and this is a follow up of that the meeting we had in November 7th of 2012 at the liberty avenue area in which from back then the residence were already looking for security as an issue of high priority and in the letter we made four main recommendations given by the public act then which was the need of greater control of public shops, to alleviating the legal consumption of alcohol around their premises and secondly they needed more patrols in the area which thru the avenue vicinity, around the Louisiana school and the riverside area, thirdly another recommendation was the eventual a police sub-station in that neighborhood and fourthly the formation of a neighborhood watch group in that area. These are some of the recommendations given back then and beyond that with the new occurrences the new incident that had brought great public concern, it is time to sit down with the residence and dialogue with them and find out their recommendations and the way forward then in particularly the Louisiana area of the town. Libertad Cane Farmers Call Out Minister Of Health Pablo Marin Cane Farmers in the Village of Libertad are tonight up in arms with the Ministry of Health. Right about now you may be wondering why since they are into agriculture right? Well, in order to find out what the dispute is all about today Reporter Elmer Cornejo and Cameraman Kenrick Simpson travelled further north to the Village of Libertad where they found out more. Elmer Cornejo - Reporting Have you heard about the Good Samaritan? The story does repeat itself in the modern world of today. Cane farmers of the Libertad Branch are today in disbelief as the workers of the Ministry of Health, following orders of the Minister of Health Pablo Marin, arrived in the Village yesterday and dismantled the windows and doors of the building. Years ago in the 1970's, the building we can say, was "lent" to the Ministry of Health by cane farmers who now want it back since it's no longer being used as a health centre. Matias Gutierrez- Resident of Libertad "At that time Mr. Henry was the chairman of the branch so he volunteered to donated to the village and that was in the 1970's so it came that they got through with it and it is very good to have something for the village but I mean that the time come that they wanted a new clinic so they build a new clinic and there they have it now." Eieden Romero- Cane Farmer/Ex Village Chair "Yesterday when I was driving around the village I saw that the ministry of health are destroying the building and breaking down the windows and everything and that got me mad because the cane farmers we get money from Fair Trade and we thought that the building we will get it completely so that we just invest a little bit of money, so that we can put all the machinery there and will help the students there putting a computer there with internet but now you can see how the building is and it is a shame that the ministry had come here in Libertad and do this in our village." COLA Says No To Referendum In October 13th of this year residents of Belize and Guatemala will take part in a simultaneous referendum to decide whether or not to take the territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice. Steadfast against that referendum is Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action, COLA. In the month of December 2012 the organization launched its position paper rejecting the referendum and the ICJ. In the paper, COLA outlined several recommendations, which according to them will put an end to the long standing territorial dispute. Among the recommendations is that Belize withdraws from the Organization of American States. For context here is what COLA's President, Giovanni Brackett, had to say when interviewed by the media in Belize City. Giovanni Brackett- COLA's President: "We believe that the special agreement or the compromis that was signed which proposes to settle the dispute by means of going to the ICJ, would qualify as such and required its own referendum. In other words Duane, we at COLA believes that the compromis in itself by our constitution-because it proposed a settlement to the Guatemala claim-should have been taken to the House of Representative so that the house could have debated the matter objectively, thoroughly. And then hence the people should have been given a chance through a referendum to vote whether or not we wanted to sign-on to the compromis. Instead what we had was the compromis already signed, a done deal, was brought to the House and just introduced as done. PlusTV Tourism Industry review of 2012 shows increases increase of over 10% in overnight tourist arrivals The annual Tourism Industry presentation was done in Ambergris San Pedro Caye today. Stakeholders from all over the... Sheldon Lewis found guilty of burglary 30-year-old Sheldon Lewis was found guilty of burglary today. Lewis was accused of entering the home of Police Serg... BDF forces guard morgue during Post Mortem examinations Post Mortem examinations for the persons who were brutally murdered were conducted yesterday in Belize City. As the... Rosewood goes up in flames in the south The Minister of Forestry Hon. Lisille Alamilla, along with other forestry officers, were in Golden Stream today bur... NTUCB says the violence cannot continue The nation has been focused on the crime situation in the country of recent. Voices of concern have arisen nationwi... Minister John Saldivar tours new Corrective Training Facility A new Corrective Training Facility for petty offenders is to be established in Mountain Pine Ridge. Today, Minister... Doran Moody charged with attempted murder of Mark Davis 29 year old Doran Moody, a farmer and resident of Biscayne Village, was charged with attempted murder, use of deadl... BTB assures tourists of safety and security of all local tourism destinations On Wednesday we told you about Independent cruise operators, who received numerous text messages saying that they h... BNE begins new drilling programme BNE has started a new drilling programme in Belize. This week, BNE's chairperson, Susan Morrice, told RTE news in I... Father shoots son accidentally A father mistakenly shot his son. The incident happened in Lucky Strike Village, in the Toledo District. Police vis... 18 year old woman was arrested for drug trafficking after bus was searched An 18 year old woman was arrested for drug trafficking. On Thursday January 10th, Belmopan Police conducted a searc... Caye Caulker Chronicles VIDEO: Littoral Forest Preserve - Caye Caulker, Belize Walking from La Casa Azul (private beach house rental) into town. Crocodile at end

Entire Thread
Subject	Posted By	Posted
Today's Belize News: January 12, 2013	Marty	01/12/13 03:05 PM
Re: Today's Belize News: January 12, 2013	Marty	01/12/13 03:06 PM