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Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

Doctor Love: Best Friends and Drinking
Readers, please send your letters. They can be emails, formal letters or handwritten notes. They are edited solely for grammar and spelling. Also, they are sometimes edited for length. Dear Doctor Love, My best friend and I have been together longer than some marriages that I know of. We have always been really tight but [�]

Police Report
On the April 7th at 4:55pm a female minor visited the police station along with her mother, where she reported that on Tuesday, April 4th, at about 7:30pm she went along with an 18-year-old Honduran construction worker of Boca Del Rio Area to his friends house who resides in San Pedro Town; while at the house he had sexual intercourse with her. She was examined by a doctor who confirmed that she was carnally known. Police are looking for this man pending investigation.

Belize to Host 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton is set to arrive in Belize on Her Majesty's Queen Elizabeth II 88th birthday, Monday, April 21st. The anticipated tradition, which has become a staple of the festivities, happens every four years. This year it signals the staging of the XX Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014. Belize's participation in this symbolic precursor event takes place from Easter Monday, April 21st, through to the baton's departure on Thursday, April 24th, 2014. During its journey in Belize, the baton will be making its rounds to Belize City's House of Culture, Belize Youth Hostel & Cadet Corp, Governor General Field in Belmopan, BTL Princess Royal Park in Dangriga Town and Punta Gorda Central Park in Punta Gorda Town. Relay teams of one hundred participants will carry the baton to each destination where it will be welcomed with a reception, tree planting initiative and plaque ceremony. Celebrations for the Queen's Baton Relay will be led by Patron of the Belize Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association, H.E Sir Colville Young. Joining the GG will be British High Commissioner to Belize Mr. Peter Hughes, Consul General of India to Belize, H.E Arun Hotchandani, Minister of Sports Honorable Herman Longsworth, Mayors of the respective municipalities and executives of the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (BOCGA).

Wolfe's Woofer: The Invasion
"How would you like to try something really different today?" Mike asked me. I had spent three days in Houston, Texas getting checkups at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital. Now I was spending some time with my friend Mike, in Brownsville, before returning to Belize. "I'm game for about anything," I told him. "What did [�]

Misc Belizean Sources

Airman supports medical exercises in Belize
There are many pieces to bring together when a group of people deploys outside of the U.S., and each person plays an integral part in ensuring that group's mission is accomplished. Tech. Sgt. Randy Dozier, a biomedical equipment specialist, is playing a key role in ensuring the New Horizons Belize 2014 mission is fulfilled. New Horizons is an annual event coordinated amongst U.S. Department of Defense service members, the U.S. Embassy and the host nation government to conduct civil engineer and medical training. The training benefits U.S. forces as they are offered an opportunity to practice deployment and joint training procedures. During New Horizons, Dozier, a native of Dayton, Ohio, is responsible for providing equipment support for medical service members by setting up, calibrating and maintaining medical equipment, as well as providing training on the appropriate use of that equipment.

McDonald's foreign worker practices face growing investigation
The federal investigation into McDonald's use of temporary foreign workers has widened to several other locations, as more local workers speak out about feeling sidelined and shortchanged. "I feel it's definitely discrimination against Canadians," said Chris Eldridge, from Lethbridge, Alta. Eldridge just quit his managerial job for six McDonald's locations in Alberta, because he said he could no longer stomach denying local employees much-needed shifts to accommodate temporary foreign workers. "Honestly, some days I wonder, is this still Canada? Everyone is supposed to have equal rights." Eldridge said the foreign workers were recruited from Belize, the Philippines and Jamaica by Actyl Group, an international recruiter used by McDonald's Canada. It charges employers up to $2,000 per worker it recruits. Actyl's job website is designed to attract foreign workers. It lists numerous ads for full-time jobs at McDonald's. They all suggest Canadians can apply, but only for part-time work. "The selected candidate is expected to work 40 hours per week with the possibility of overtime. Part-time applications from Canadians or people in Canada with their PR are also accepted," the ads read. http://www.independent.co.uk/i/page-3-profile-joel-hodgson-sprinter-9257786.html

Page 3 Profile: Joel Hodgson, sprinter
On your marks, get set� Go. Well, hopefully. Joel Hodgson, 26, is just half a second away from competing at Glasgow 2014. He needs to reduce his best time at 400m to 45.7 sec to make the cut. What's his story? When he was three months old he was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage in Belize. He and his two sisters were adopted by a Scottish couple when he was four, and grew up in West Dunbartonshire. Hodgson moved to London in 2009 but soon found himself homeless. Things weren't looking great�? "Life was tough for a while but then things started to improve," Hodgson said. He began selling the Big Issue outside a law firm and staff were so impressed with his attitude they offered him a job.

Governance in Central America and Criminality in El Salvador
With the most recent estimates of homicides reported by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (the latest data being for the year 2012), the northern cone of Central America continues to lead and set records for intentional deaths. Honduras has the world's highest rate of murder, with 90.4 per 100,000. Guatemala's numbers were 39.9; El Salvador had 41.2 per 100,000; and, surprisingly, Belize homicides were reported at 44.7. All of which must alarm Mexico's political leaders (where the rate per 100,000 intentional deaths was 21.5) as their southern borders, seemingly, continue to be elbow to elbow in violence, death and misery, with little progress showing from professed efforts to actively fight crime. In the United States, the 2012 intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population was 4.7. This report graphically and boisterously shows that the Americas' homicide rates have been five to eight times higher than those of Europe and Asia since the mid-1950s, describing the phenomenon as "the legacy of decades of political and crime-related violence."

Dan Silva holds huge rally in Santa Elena town
A huge rally was held on Sunday afternoon in Santa Elena town by the aspirant for the Cayo Central seat for the People's United Party (PUP), Daniel Silva. The event started with a motorcade through the constituency, passing through Cristo Rey, San Antonio, El Progresson, Georgeville and culminating in Santa Elena town. Among the featured speakers at the rally were Senator Patrick Jason Andrews, Lake Independence hopeful Cordel Hyde and Dan Silva. Silva will square off with businessman Luke Espat on April 27 in a standard bearer convention which will be held at the Pentecostal Primary School on La Loma Luz Boulevard in Santa Elena town.

Firearm discharges during fight; one man grazed
An early Sunday morning fight in San Ignacio town has left one man facing criminal charges. Reports say that around 4 am, a misunderstanding broke out between two men. During the back and forth, one of the men reportedly pulled his licensed .25 firearm and the weapon discharged grazing the other man's abdomen. Police issued the injured man with a medico-legal form and took him to the San Ignacio community hospital for treatment. At the hospital a doctor classified the injury as harm. The man whose weapon discharged, grazing the other person has been detained pending charges.

Vehicles crash in Santa Elena town
At least two people were hurt in an early Sunday morning crash in Santa Elena town, Cayo. Details of the incident are still sketchy, but initial reports say it happended just after 2 am on Sunday and involved a car and a pickup truck. Three persons, the driver and a passenger in the car as well as the driver of the Hilux received varying degrees of injury and were taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for treatment. Preliminary indications are tht the crash happened near to the China Town grocery store in Santa Elena town when the car allegedly made a left turn into Mabel PItts Street and into the path of the west-bound Toyota Hilux.

Three shootings in Belize City leave two dead and one injured
Saturday in Belize City saw three separate shooting incidents in a span of less than 24 hours, causing two deaths and injury to a third man. Around 10:00 a.m. Saturday on Dolphin Street near Wesley Upper School, a man identified as 20 year old Glen Alvarez, aka "Dut", was riding a bicycle toward the bridge crossing Collet Canal at the junction of North Creek Road and Fairweather Street when a single armed man, also on bicycle, rode up from behind and fired several times at Alvarez, who was injured in his left leg. One person is detained by Police, pending investigations. Nine hours later, police were called out again to Mike's Club at the corner of West Canal and Regent Street West, where around 7:00 p.m., 27 year old Darrington Lauriano was shot three times by a lone gunman of dark complexion, who entered the bar through a back entrance located on the east side of the building near the canal.

ERI and Panthera Seminar S1E3
Tomorrow is the third Environmental Research Institute and Panthera seminar. The talk will be given by Robert Euwe and be about 'optimizing jaguar prey occupancy.' Interesting. "Here's number 3!!! Join us on Monday April 14 for the third in our Seminar Series."

Cayo Cleans Up at Band Fest
Congratulations to the Benque Marching Band for winning 1st place at Band Fest. Band Fest was yesterday in Corozal, and Cayo really cleaned up. The SISE Dreams took 3rd place in the marching band category. The Belmopan Active Youths took 1st place for Drum Corps. "At the end of the event, St. Luke "Purple Spirit" marching band won the Drumline competition. In the Drum Corps category, the champion is the Belmopan Active Youth group. They took home $4,000 and a trophy. Second place was won by the Holy Redeemer Marching band. Coming in third was the St. Luke marching band. In the Marching Band with Wind Instrumet category, Benque Viejo Marching Band walked away with first prize, taking home $6,000, a tropy and medals. Second place in this category was won by the Corozal Community College marching band while the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Dreams Marching Band captured third prize."

Band Fest 2014 Results
The Ricalde Stadium in Corozal town was the venue today for the annual Belize Band Fest. The event brought together marching bands from around the country to perform in different categories and included "show" bands that present particular pieces for the enjoyment of the crowd. The day's even started with a street parade, giving thousands of people who lined the main streets of Corozal town, an opportuity to witness the beauty and sounds of the young people.

Cayo Anti Drink and Drive Campaigns
Cayo had its share of Anti-drink and drive campaigns this week. Benque, Belmopan, and San Ignacio all had one. The one in Benque even had a small business fair. "The Benque Viejo Traffic Department and The Benque Viejo Town Council have launched 'Don't Drink & Drive' Campaign yesterday, April 10th. The Ceremony and Business Fair were held in cooperation with Benque Viejo Police Station, Social Security, BRC printing, Bneque Polyclinic, BTB Western Branch, Vega's Distributer, Cubola Productions and Beltraide. At the Ceremony, A breathalyzer was handed to the Benque Traffic Department by the National Road Safety Committee. Prior to the fair, Poster competition has held for primary school students. There were more the 55 entries and 3 of them got the prizes. Winners were 1st prize: Carol Martinez- STD IV, 2nd prize: Brayden Caballeros- STD III, 3rd prize Vanessa Choc- STD II. Thank you for your participant and Congratulations! Take care of yourself and your family not to Drink & Drive especially in Easter Holidays.!"

Spelling Bee Cayo Finals
The Coca Cola Spelling Bee finals for Cayo, where 14 Cayo students showed off their superb spelling skills, were held this week in Spanish Lookout. Geon Codd, from St. Andrew's won first place, while Sherman Matute from St. Jude, and Michael Sabido from Shepherd's Academy took second and third. Thanks, Coca Cola, for making this happen again, and Mr. Jones for getting some great shots. Congratulations to all the bright students!

Belmopan Bandits Beat Houston Hurricanes
The Belmopan Bandits defeated the visiting Houston Hurricanes last night by 2 points, 4 - 2. Congratulations, Bandits. Pictures, and more pictures. "Final whistle Bandits 4 - 2 Houston Hurricanes"

Kim Simplis-Barrow Photo Shoot Fun
Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow had a photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar magazine, and they've released a really fun behind the scenes video about it. Oddly, Cayo isn't in it - maybe they are saving the best for another video - but it's still worth a watch. Laurent Levy did a great job. "Take a look Behind- The-Scenes at HARPER'S BAZAAR INTERIORS: KIM SIMPLIS' BELIZE April 2014 Photo shoot produced by Harper's Bazaar International Style Editor LUIGI IRAUZQUI and be part of this breathtaking pictorial adventure: from the tropical Central American jungles to the turquoise waters of the Belizian Caribbean Sea."

Today Universe Electro Promo
They Tomorrow Universe promo concert was held at the Cayo Welcome Center on Friday night. The pictures speak for themselves. It was a great performance by up-and-coming local DJ's who realize that talking over every song not only breaks the musical rhythm, but it's not what people go out to hear. That fact alone made it awesome...but wait, they played some great trance and dubstep too. Well done. More! "The Tomorrow Universe promo show at the Cayo Welcome Center was amazing. Real DJ's - no talking over every song like the wannabe dj's do - and the best trance music was played. It was a perfect night for it too. Thanks to all that made this happen."

Buy and Sell Classifieds 8-Apr
There are a lot of sales and specials happening around Cayo. This issue highlights Caracol. Happy Easter!

FOCUS Invites Groups to Adopt a Mile: Keeping Corozal Clean
FOCUS, other environmental groups, the Corozal Town Council, and others invite groups to the Corozal Green Mile trash cleanup campaign, beginning at 7 am on Earth Day, Saturday, 26 April 2014. Groups should contact FOCUS as soon as possible to get trash bags, gloves, group leader t-shirts, water, etc., for the event. Groups will "Adopt a Mile" of the Phillip Goldson Highway in the Corozal District. Cleanup will begin on your assigned mile at 7 am, and all groups will meet at Mangrove Park by 11:30 am. The aim of this project s to increase awareness of trash clean up, Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS), FOCUS, PACT, Mangrove Park, sustainability and educational events and classes. Earth Day is an international effort to keep our countries green and clean, including Belize. Call FOCUS at 629-9370 or email [email protected] to let us know you'll be participating. We also need support and donations for supplies for the cleanup.

2014 Bandfest
The streets of Corozal were filled with Band Fest fans anxiously waiting who would take the 2014 1st place trophies. On Saturday April 12th, a total of nine marching bands including several drum corp groups were heavily applauded, as they entertained us gracefully. After a street parade pre-judging, they headed to the Santiago Ricalde Stadium where the kick-off competition and final judging took place. This year's participating groups included Corozal Community College Marching Band - Corozal, Uprising Drum Corp - Orange Walk, Belmopan Active Youth - Belmopan, Dream Marching Band - Santa Elena & San Ignacio, Benque Marching Band - Benque Viejo, Stella Maris School Futuristic Marching Band - Belize City, St. Luke's Purple Spirit Marching Band - Belize City, Holy Redeemer Primary School - Belize City, Central Drum Corp - Orange Walk. Special invited guest were Banda Del Instituto Bethel - La Cieba, Honduras, and Othon P. Blanco, Chetumal's Marching Band. (9 photos)

Early Eleactions?
A sign of an early election? UDP standard bearers met on Saturday, April 12th for training with party chairman Alberto August and secretary general Pearl Stuart. Ralph Huang is all smiles for the camera. As is being widely speculated by the rumors of the impending resignation of Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, indications are that elections could be imminent. Seems captain Barrow cannot right his ship and there is mutiny aboard. Barrow's Swan Song on February 5, 2014 "Every time I take action, as I tell you am sworn to do and as I am telling you I will continue to do, there are political repercussions because of the slimness of the majority. I bear that well in mind as I take the actions that I take. Ultimately if I have to take more actions and it results in two persons or perhaps three persons who are in the House, resigning from the party thus triggering either bye-elections or a general election, I will simply have to do what my duty and conscience tell me I must do and live with the consequences, which will no doubt be a loss of the consequent general elections. I am not going to go there easily as I said, but if I have to, I will go there."

Blogs

Hamanasi Adventure Resort in Hopkins: A Belize Luxury Lodge At Its Best
It's quite an exaggeration for Belize (my imaginary Louis Vuittons are SO not necessary here) but you get the idea. And it brings to my mind one of the fantastic and very comfortable ways to experience Belize. A way where you don't need to worry about much. A beautiful blend of rustic and chic with a heavy dose of fantastic service that a few spots in Belize do SO well. Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort in Hopkins is definitely one of them. This resort is gorgeous with immaculate attention to detail but not at all uptight. You know you are in Belize for sure. The decor, the food, the drinks, the furnishing, the floweres, THE VIEW but your resort is just so well appointed. Quiet luxury. I'm still working on the term.

International Sources

22 Breathtaking Beaches in Central America
With the deep, blue Pacific Ocean on one side and the tranquil Caribbean Sea on the other, few places in the world can rival the breathtaking beaches of Central America. Choose one of these 22 picturesque Central American destinations for your next beach vacation, and you'll return home refreshed, relaxed and ready to do it all again. #1. Ambergris Caye, Belize Really trying to get away from it all? The Caribbean-style, car-free town of Ambergris Caye offers the hammock napping, coconut drinking lifestyle you've been seeking.

Videos

Video: Responsible Tourism with Hickatee Cottages in Belize, 9min.
Sometimes, when you travel, you discover gems, where the owners/operators combine a passion for doing things well.I created this video after I stayed at Hickatee Cottages, an exemplary place to stay in the southern Belize jungle just beside a small non-touristy town called Punta Gorda. As an example of how to create tourism infrastructure, this place is off-grid and yet offers hot water, daily fresh supper menus created onsite, beautiful rooms with fans and very clean. Exceptional gardens, a troop of howler monkeys, and short trails are all part of the experience. This "soft ecological footprint" combined with a commitment to connecting their guests to local experiences and local experience providers was very much appreciated. As someone who appreciates and looks for tourism establishments that practice Responsible Tourism, I was impressed with how they have combined a low footprint with their personal values, to create a getaway place that offers peace or the opportunity to step into the jungle to go down the river in the hands of local birding guides, archaeology exploring, experience a taste of Mayan culture, or learn about Garifuna or Creole drumming. The approach that the owners have taken is profitable, socially responsible, and environmentally conscious.

Video: Belize, 5min.
filmed during our trip to belize over the holidays of 2012/13 music: "Hollow Gold" by Podington Bear (podingtonbear.com/) WEAR HEADPHONES, please.

Video: Playful sharks at Tackle Box dive site Ambergris Caye Belize, 2min.
Filmed with GoPro Hero3+ with red filter fitted to Hollis dive mask

Video: Assignment 10.1.1, 2min.
This video is about Belize - Snorkle

Video: Hol Chan Marine Reserve, 2min.
Nurse sharks and a moray eel fight over a conch at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Ambergris Caye Reef, Belize.

Video: Hopkins, Belize, 4min.
Hopkins, Belize was just our speed. No trendy touristy resort traps, or ridiculous night clubs. Just wonderful people, beautiful ocean, and amazing jungle. We stayed at Jaguar Reef. . . highly recommended! We loved the open air dining room right on the beach. Rented a dirt bike from Emma at Alternative Adventures. . . that is the best way to get around the rough dirt roads.

Video: San Ignacio Belize As Viewed From Cahal Pech Resort Motel, 2min.
The Cahal Pech motel and resort is located right next to the Mayan ruins of the same name (as the resort). The ruins is a large, well kept park area, and is a very low entrance fee. The park will be enjoyable to most people other than those who have a hard time walking around. It is very interesting, with many relics housed indoors at the main building. You can view a few pictures of the ruins on 2Belize.com (this web site). This video gives a panoramic view of the area both in front of and behind the Cahal Pech motel and resort.

Video: Belize - From the Jungle to the Beach, 4min.

Video: Diving in Ambergris Caye, 3min.
Ambergris Caye, Belize with Island Divers Belize in September 2013. Good dives in the canyons with nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, morays and more.

Video: Belize Diving Shark, 3min.
Shark Action in Belize

Video: 1998 Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, 4min.
In 1998, 130 people, most of whom were just starting to practice and work towards forming what eventually became 24K Gold Music Shows, took a trip via cruise ship to visit Belize. Not everyone on the 24K Gold Music team was on the trip, and some on the trip were just relatives or friends of 24K Gold Music team members. However, most everyone on the trip thought it was a fantastic visit, and thoroughly enjoyed the day at the ruins!!! That was back in the days of camcorders that used video tape, so while I would likely record every minute of the visit NOW and likely do so on two different camcorders at once,.... back then the tapes were 20 minutes long, so I only filmed about 4 video tapes to cover that day's trip. Eventually, if people are interested, I may make a longer video and show more of the artifacts and such that were on display at the park, but for this coverage, I have edited it down to about 3 and 1/2 minutes of video. It was a time when many of the 24K Gold Performers were just little children, so it will take our fans back to the days we were just practicing, seven years before we began doing the shows in 2005. I hope you enjoy the trip back in time!

Video: Reportage choc: C�ur des Gangs: Belize en Am�rique centrale - 2014 Entier, 47min.
Belize a �t� le premier endroit o� un membre de gang ma donn� une grenade de guerre dans les mains explique Ross Kemp. Aliment�e par le ch�mage et un trafic de drogue constant, les gangs se livre � une guerre interne dans les bidonvilles. Ross rencontre les gangs qui contr�lent les rues et voit une partie des armes qui font de cette ville une zone de non droit.

Video: OUR TRAVELS IN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE, 32min.
We see Antigua (the 18th c. Spanish capital of Central America), scarlet macaws, Mayan ruins towering over the jungle, and the laid-back beaches of Belize

Video: San Pedro, Belize, 3min.
Just a quick bicycle ride around the beautiful Caribbean island...

Video: Scuba Diving Caye Caulker Belize, 6min.
Libby and I Scuba Diving on Caye Caulker in Belize

Video: Forbidden Passage (1941), 41min.
This entry in MGM's series of shorts, "Crime Does Not Pay", features the U.S. Department of Immigration's efforts to halt the smuggling of illegal aliens into the country. Desperate immigrants, tired of waiting for legal entry, pay exorbitant fees and risk a grisly death to enter by illegal means.

Video: Central Bank Of Belize Warning Explained, 2min.
Tammy Lier Gibson explains the context of the Central Bank of Belize posted warning.

Video: Honeymoon in Belize snapshot, 3min.
Honeymooning in Belize.

Video: Spotted Eagle Ray at Pelican Cay Belize, 1min.
Snorkeling at Pelican Cay Belize, this spotted eagle ray almost ran into me before he saw me above! Beautiful!!!

Video: Parrots of Belize, 3min.
Arman's 2nd Grade Presentation