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, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

Letter to the Editor: And The Times They Really Are a Changin' !- For Caye Caulker too. But are they?
Besides the Beauty of God's Creation of Mother Nature, I've always seen the beautiful children of Belize as the greatest blessing of my beloved country of adoption. That's why it is really hard to understand for me that we are not always looking after the needs of our children {and mothers} because they are, after all, the future of our country. LAST WEEK ANOTHER CAYE CAULKER BABY DIED! The more it changes the more it stays the same. How many babies have to die before we can provide a responsible emergency service for pregnant mothers in Caye Caulker? Responsibility is the ability to respond. And again we do not have that situation here on the island. I wish the authorities in charge would understand the terrible pain one suffers when you have to bury one of your children. It often destroys lives because it always stays with you. It certainly destroys most marriages of people who go through this.

Shootout between civilians and Coast Guard leaves one dead
A group of police personnel, including elements from the Criminal Investigation Unit and Scenes of Crime attached to San Pedro Police descended on the scene around 1:30PM to process the area. "We have launched two investigations - one a criminal investigation as is the norm in any crime, and an internal investigation since the personnel involved are law enforcement officers," said Jemmott. San Pedro Police have seized the six firearms used by the Coast Guard Official as part of the police investigation. Jemmott said that the six officers have also been cautioned by police. As is customary in such circumstances, the six Coast Guard officials were taken to San Pedro Town for questioning and for them to give a formal police report. The San Pedro Police believe that Castillo and his two accomplices (who escaped) are beach combers, commonly referred to as "playadores." The area on northern Ambergris Caye is known as a hot spot for playadores who search the beach for parcels of cocaine which frequently wash up onto the beach from wet-drops. Police will be going over their files and will try to reach out to members of the public to help identify the deceased. Meanwhile, the body of Peter Castillo was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for a post mortem examination.

Sunshine Scholarship Foundation seeks partners in Education
Since January 2014, five children in San Pedro Town have been granted tuition scholarships as they pursue their primary school education. This opportunity comes through the funding of the Sunshine Scholarship Foundation, which provides quality education opportunities for children at the primary school level. The registered non-profit foundation was established by chairlady Eve Dirnback. With the season of giving upon us, Sunshine is seeking partners in education who wish to make a difference in a child's life through education. Currently the foundation is working within La Isla Bonita Elementary School, as reported in the February 6th, Issue #7 of The San Pedro Sun. The Board of Directors have been working directly with Principal Addy Martinez in identifying deserving scholars in need of financial aid. Once granted the scholarship, students are not only monitored, but obligated to attend classes regularly and must maintain a grade no lower than a "B" average.

Condor & Tropic Air Announce New Partnership: Flights between Europe & Belize via Cancun
The leisure airline Condor now includes the Belize airline Tropic Air as one of its partners with immediate effect. Flights from Tropic Air can be booked via the existing destination Cancun (CUN) as an enhancement to the network of flights offered by Condor. As set out in its current 2014/15 winter flights schedule, Condor regularly flies to Cancun (CUN), Mexico from Frankfurt (FRA) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and from Munich (MUC) on Mondays and Fridays. Onward flights to Belize (BZE) with Tropic Air are available on a weekly basis on Saturdays. A return flight from Belize can be selected on a flexible basis as the connection via Cancun to Frankfurt or Munich and on to destinations throughout Europe is available daily.

Clive Myers is BTB's Acting Director of Marketing & Industry Relations
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that Mr. Clive Myers has been appointed to act in the position of "Director, Marketing and Industry Relations", as of Monday, December 15th, 2014. Up until his appointment, Clive served as the BTB's Destination Planning and Development Coordinator. During his tenure, he was instrumental in commissioning tourism strategies and economic impact studies for implementation as outlined in the National Sustainable Master Plan, as well as in the development and execution of the annual Village Arts Expo. Prior to that, he served as a Local Events and Press Officer at the BTB and as a Creative Arts Development Officer at the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA).

Mo' Mojo to perform on Ambergris Caye in January 2015
During the planning session, Mayor Daniel Guerrero, members of the San Pedro Cultural Committee and US Embassy Public Relations Officer Ms. Emilia Adams met to discuss more about the musical venture. According to Adams, the US Embassy in Belize, as part of the framework of cultural exchange, has embarked on a series of musical projects that will see similar groups performing from time to time in Belize. Meanwhile, in accordance with the cultural mandate to embrace cultural diversity, Mayor Guerrero has agreed to partner with the US Embassy to host the group. In the coming weeks, both members of the San Pedro Cultural Committee and the US Embassy personnel will be meeting to plan for what promises to be a mega concert in San Pedro Town. More details will be released about the concert in the weeks ahead.

Ambergris Today

Love FM's Christmas Parade Becomes a San Pedro Tradition
The Love FM Christmas Parade has become one of the highlights of the Holiday season in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, as hundreds of residents gather street-side, on Sunday, December 14, 2014, to witness the lively parade that brightens up the town with colors and sounds. This year's parade did not fail to impress as it was once again full of the spirit of the season. Local businesses joined together with the national radio station Love FM to bring a parade that celebrates the island spirit of Christmas. Miss San Pedro 2014 Michelle Nu�ez and Santa Claus were Grand Marshals of the parade followed by floats from Wings Department Store, Isla Bonita Elementary School, Foreva Fancy Boutique, the Belize Tourism Board (Belize Rural Development Project), Coral Cable Vision, Hummingbird and Furnishings, Belize National Library Service, ABC Pre School, San Pedro Lion's and Leos Club and the Benque Viejo Marching Band.

Top Notch Holds Second Annual Christmas Fashion Show
San Pedro likes fashion shows! This is clearly evident on the number of fashion shows held throughout this year on the island. To close off the year with a bang Top Notch boutique held its second annual Christmas Fashion Show titled 'A Magical Christmas'. The show was free to the public and was held on Front Street, Barrier Reef Drive at the foot of the Clock Tower at Central Park. The fashion show commenced as the Love FM Christmas Parade came to an end by the park. It featured models showcasing clothing from the female boutique.

Boxes of Joy Aims for 500 Gifts for the Needy
Boxes of Joy glittered on Thursday, December 11, at Carlo and Ernie's Runaway Bar as it showcased its fashion show to raise funds for Christmas gifts for the children of San Pedro. The show featured 45 sensational models ages 4 to 15 who hit the catwalk modeling clothing from Wings, Divas and Dudes, Love Belize, and Lynn's Boutique. From the opening item to the grand finale, there was continual applause and wows! Miss Chiquitita, Nayobie Rivero made her debut as emcee and was joined by Gaven Zapata, Junior emcee of San Pedro. He graciously flirted with Miss San Pedro Michelle Nu�ez who also made her debut as show hostess. The three emcees timely introduced the fashionistas of the four leading clothing stores in San Pedro and the catwalk sparkled with Christmas Eve clothing, Red and White, Glamour and Glitz, Boys Toys, and the hit of the night, Candy Girls.

Raquel Badillo Represents Belize at Miss World 2014
Many Belizean residents were glued to their television set on Sunday, December 13, 2014, as the Miss World Pageant aired live at 9a.m. One beautiful, confidant and radiant representative from Belize fully represented the country with poise, elegance and intelligence at the pageant held in London, England. Raquel Badillo, hailing from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, was in London for a month before the pageant, partaking in a variety of activities and preliminary events leading up to pageant night that included a sports and fitness challenge, traditional dance challenge, talent segment, Miss World Top Model, Oxford debate and Miss World Charity Gala. Raquel and the other 121 contestants also had the opportunity to tour London and visit iconic destinations in the city including Planet Hollywood, Oxford University, Windsor, and Her Majesty's Theater where they enjoyed the Phantom of the Opera.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

BELPO's brochure on Water facts
Safeguarding, commercial uses, privatization and a bit more of information.

Love FM Christmas Parade 2014 (93 photos)
On Sunday, December 14, Love FM Radio organized its annual Christmas Parade in San Pedro which has been getting bigger and bigger. The streets were filled with anxious spectators awaiting the parade. The parade included the participation of local businesses such as Foreva Fancy, Top Notch and Wings, schools and other organizations. The highlight of the parade was the Benque Viejo Marching Band which consisted of over 30 members. The people lined up on the streets cheered and danced as they played familiar christmas songs. The parade started from Boca del Rio and ended on Buccaneer Street.

Power Interruption 6:00am to 9:00am, Tuesday, December 16, San Pedro Town
Pescador Drive and North San Pedro, from Boca Del Rio to Tranquillity Bay Resort. BEL to repair hotspots and energize new high voltage line in San Mateo Subdivision.

Power Interruption 10:00am to 12:00 noon, Wednesday, December 17
Entire village of Caye Caulker. BEL to repair hotspots at Caye Caulker Substation.

Belize Leads Participation of SICA Countries at COP20 in Lima, Peru
Belize coordinated the participation of SICA (the Central American Integration System) countries in this year's Conference of the Parties (COP20) in Lima, Peru, December 1-12th. The Conference of the Parties is designated as the supreme governing body of the United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Convention entered into force in 1994 with 195 countries submitting their instruments of ratification. These countries meet once a year, for two weeks, in order to evaluate the application of the Convention and develop the negotiation process between the Parties in front of new commitments.

Channel 7

Coast Guard Kill "Playador"; They Claim He Opened Fire
San Pedro police are have launched an investigation into a shooting at the northern end of Ambergris Caye which left a man from Punta Gorda Town dead. It's in that zone of Ambergris where persons, referred as "playadors" or beach combers, go looking for cocaine wet drops. That's the illegal activity that police believe 24 year-old Peter Castillo was involved in this morning when he and his 2 companions were spotted. Instead of fleeing, he reportedly shot at the coast guard with a shot gun. The Coast Guard told us more today: Commander Elton Bennett - Vice Commandant, Belize National Coast Guard "As part of the Coast Guard's maritime security strategy focusing on the area of Northern Ambergris Caye Bacalar Chico area and the area of Rocky Point, Coast Guard continues to dominate the area with patrols. We identify this as a geo-strategic location encountering transnational and organized crimes."

Nomination Day In Cayo North: PUP Went First
Today was nomination day for the upcoming by-election in Cayo North. That will be on January fifth and by law the nomination day takes place 21 days before - DECEMBER 15TH, 2014. The political outing was an interesting study in contrasting political culture: the PUP were low key and conservative, while the UDP were hyped up and seemed to already be doing a victory march. But while the parties have developed distinctly different styles - both sides said victory is at hand. The PUP went first: they had the morning for their nomination and we have this report:... Daniel Ortiz reporting This morning a crowd of about 200 PUP supporters crowded into Columbus Park in downtown San Ignacio. We saw many PUP representatives, elected officials and political candidates from all over the country - and each of them brought their own supporters:

UDP Showed Muscle, But Not Dominant Numbers
In our first segment - we showed you the PUP's nomination day even in Cayo North. The afternoon into the evening was reserved for the ruling UDP. As expected, they had more energy - but their showing delivered lower political voltage than we expected. Jules Vasquez has the report:.. Jules Vasquez reporting The UDP crowd rolled down Benque Viejo Street from the area known as the red hils of Cayo North. The crowd was energetic, spirited and uniformly dressed in Omar Figueroa shirts. That took them into downtown San Ignacio - and unlike the PUP who crowded into Columbus Park - this crowd spilled into the street, singing dancing and playing drums. A very different style - and for the candidate Figueroa - who was greeted by his party leader and prime minister - it was a great thrust unto the national stage:

Majority of Caneros Support The Cane Compromise; Minority Have Misgivings
But turning now from today's political festival to the stuff that really matters.. The sugar crop season could start as early as Friday. That is after the general membership of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association agreed to a compromise yesterday in San Roman Village. That was the venue for an emergency general meeting to consider three points of compromise, which would make way for a sugar crop. We were there to see how the tide turned towards compromise:.. Daniel Ortiz reporting This is the show of hands in support of starting the cane crop and agreeing to the three points of compromise. It was voted a majority - and the three points - as put forward by the prime minister were agreed to.

Cane Country Christmas Cheer Or Fleecing Fair Trade Funds?
But that breakthrough resolution wasn't the only one taken on Sunday. In the heady moments right after that was passed - another was tabled and approved - for the Cane Farmers to dip into the fair trade funds - and take out 2.5 million dollars to share equally amongst all farmers. It's a sort of cane country Christmas cheer - except that it's more like a fair trade fleecing since the regulations of the programme don't permit that type of wanton spending. But, in cane country the majority always rules - and that's how the resolution was passed even with universal apprehension form the industry leaders we spoke to:.. Mike Rudon, Ch5 "Can you tell us about that?" Alfred Ortega, Member, Negotiating Team "Well you know as this point as Jules said that the economic situation is in a bad situation. The farmers will have approved right now that they would want an amount that would set aside for the next upcoming year in regards to the fair trade premium, that they would want 2.5 million dollars to be distributed amongst the farmers so that they can have something for Christmas and they have passed the motion. It is the farmers that approved, so that motion has gone and I believe that it will happen."

PM Says Credibility Was On The Line With Cane Compromise
Today, Prime Minister Dean Barrow - who's usually willing to talk about any subject under the sun - would strictly not comment on the fair trade fleecing. But he was eager to talk about the cane compromise - especially since the compromise is one that he and his deputy hammered out and drafted. He told us today that his credibility was on the line:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "Of course I feel personally extremely gratified. I did put a lot into it and again the support from the Deputy Prime Minister was critical, but if I had put off my Cuba trip, come back here and shuttling between the two sides and not produce an agreement, I suspect that my own credibility would have suffered a great blow. So, the fact that there has been this victory is something that I greatly savor, that I greatly relish and I am thankful."

Opposition Leader Has Mixed Feelings About Cane Compromise
PUP Leader Francis Fonseca wasn't quite so impressed. Like former PUP convention candidate Alfredo Ortega, he has misgivings about the future of the industry. He explained his reservations today:.. Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition "We are glad that the crop will start in the very near future. We are glad for that because that's important to the economy of Belize - the economy of the north. But we are also very concerned about the future status of the cane farmer. We accept the decision of the farmers. I agree with Fred Ortega that there is obviously a great level of concern moving forward because as he put it, the farmers are right back where they were at the beginning of this entire process. Some will say they even gotten deeper into a hole and certainly we don't support any move in the direction of turning our cane farmers into mere cane cutters. They have to be an integral part of this industry moving forward." Prime Minister Barrow says he expects that the crop season can start as early as Friday.

Prison Escapee On the Loose
A prisoner has escaped from the Belize Central Prison this weekend. 25-year-old Emmanuel Willoughby escaped around 3 on Saturday morning. The prison reports that he cut a hole in his cell door and escaped into the early morning. According to police, Willoughby has relatives in Libertad village in Corozal, Belize City and Georgeville village in Cayo. He is believed to be associated with the Jerusalem gang. His record dates back to 2012 when police found a .357 magnum revolver loaded with (6) live rounds, and (1) Glock 19 9mm Pistol, with (1) magazine containing (14) live rounds in his hotel room at City Light Guest House in Corozal. He along with two others were charged with Kept firearm without a gun license, Kept ammunition without gun license, kept prohibited firearm and kept prohibited ammunition. He is serving a 5 year sentence for these offenses but tonight he is on the run and police are trying to recapture him.

7 Years After Arthur, A New Bridge For Mullins River
The Mullins River Bridge will finally be reconstructed and designed after the devastation that Tropical Storm Arthur brought in 2008. Arthur caused over $77 million dollars in damage in Belize and efforts to recover that loss continues with the Mullins River Bridge project. The cost of the design and construction is 4.4 million dollars. In 12 months residents should have a brand new bridge. Additional contracts were also signed including the rehabilitation of the Dangriga Multipurpose Sporting Facility. This 3 million dollar project will equip the facility with locker rooms, public restrooms, concessions and a stage.

The Future Of Fisheries
They were awarded last year for drafting the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Integration Policy by the Food Agriculture Organization and today discussions continue on the future of fisheries in Central America. The Ministry of Forestry and members of SICA and the Organization for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Central American or OSPESCA met today at the Biltmore to engage members in the development of fisheries on a national and regional level. Mauro Gongora, Fisheries Officer for Belize outlined the objectives of the policy and the overall benefit to small business fishermen and large scale fishing cooperatives. The policy was initiated in 2005. Over 150 fishermen will benefit from this policy.

Cop Sent To Jail For Sexual Assault On Woman Constable
Police Constable Randolph Scott is spending the first night of 2 month prison sentence after he was convicted of indecent assault in the court room of the Chief Magistrate. One of his female colleagues, also a constable, testified that he incident occurred on October 26, 2013, at Belama Police Station. The female officer, a constable, testified that Scott touched her legs, pulled up her skirt and pushed his hand inside her skirt. She also testified that Scott was touching her inappropriately, he then unzipped his fly and exposed himself to her. Her testimony was corroborated by that of another officer who was on duty at the time. In his defence, Scott testified that he and the complainant were only having a laugh. He added that while he was making the sexual advances, she had consented to all of them.

FECTAB Fired Up Against FSTV
3 weeks ago, we told you how the cruise industry lost millions of dollars when 5 ships cancelled their port call due to rough weather. It's been looked at as a recent example of why the country needs its only docking facility. Right now, Mike Feinstein's Stake Bank project is ready to go, but it is tied up with litigation from the Fort Point Tourism Village. We showed you our interview with Prime Minister Dean Barrow in which he said that both sides needed to work it out. Well, local cruise operators aren't taking to well to that, and they want more forceful government intervention in this dispute. Their Federation FECTAB, held a press conference to explain it today: Tom Greenwood, President, FECTAB "What was there within that contract given to the FSTV, that would then call it null and void and drop back to the 2017 contract which would have been ideal because then it will take about to the end of 2016 to complete this project at Stake Bank. There is no protection there.

Couple Cruelly Killed In Corozal
5 days ago on Wednesday the 10th. December, we told you about a chopping which turned into a murder right before the eyes of Corozal Police. Well, now they must now solve a chopping double murder! It happened right outside of the quiet village of Paraiso, at the north end of Corozal Town. A few hours after it happened, our news team arrived. Here's what we found - we warn you, it's a gory sight so if you are sensitive - you may want to take a break from watching this one: Daniel Ortiz reporting Though it doesn't look like it right now, this modest dwelling on the outskirts of Corozal's Paraiso Village was bloody scene of a violent double murder. The owner and the woman he was rumoured to have a brief relationship with were savagely hacked to death by a machete wielder.

Party Leader Barrow Entertains Distinct Possibility That Bradley Won't Run
Last week the Prime Minister told us that he was sure Mayor Darrell Bradley would run for Mayor on the UDP ticket in March's municipal election. But, as we have reported Bradley continues flip-flop - and when we spoke to him on Wednesday - he dodged when we asked him about it. And perhaps that's why when we spoke to the Prime Minister today, he wasn't quite so sure that Mayor Bradley would run - in fact he seemed to be entertaining the distinct possibility that he won't:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Party Leader - UDP "Let me be absolutely candid, if for some reason Darrell Bradley doesn't run, there is no doubt that we won't get the size in margin of victory in the mayoral contest that we would get if he were to run. However, we would still win and we would still win big. It would be a matter of some regret of the incumbent Belize City Mayor decided he is not going to run again. But it will not be in any way fatal to our chances. It will not be a matter of extreme prejudice with respect to our chances. We are going to win and win big in any way you look at it."

PUP Leader Cagey On Deputy Espat On Christmas Cheer
And while party leader Dean Barrow has to figure out what Mayor Bradley is doing - Party Leader Francis Fonseca seems to have had a divergence of opinion with his deputy leader Julius Espat on Christmas Cheer. Fonseca publicly endorsed the programme while Espat refused the Christmas Cheer. Fonseca explained the difference of opinions:.. Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition "We discussed it at the national executive. This was not one person's decision, it was a unanimous decision at the national executive. But then he had some concerns following that decision about his role as chairman of the public accounts committee and also of course as the claimant in the legal action before the court and he had to factor that in to his considerations and we support the decision that he has taken. But no, all the other representatives, including myself, we have moved ahead with the program because as I have said we believe that of all the programs funded under the PetroCaribe funds, this one provides us a level of accountability and transparency that allows us to be comfortable with accepting those funds."

Don Hector Flies The Flag
And while it was mostly business today in Cayo for the political nominations - Hector Silva, did provide some lively political diversion. You see, the Cayo police station has been without a flag for some time. Supposedly, they've been trying to get a new one - but something happened and they didn't. Now, we don't know how hard it is to get a flag, but good ole Don Hector was Johnny on the spot with one today - and he timed it for maximum political advantage for his party - here's how it played out:.. Officer commanding in Cayo Dinsdale Thompson accepted the flag, tied it up, and raised it on the flagpole - much to the heartfelt pleasure and applause of the PUP's who were standing by and watching�.

Mobile Phone Store Makes Donation
Cellular World donated over $1300 worth of items to HelpAge today. This donation is apart of Cellular World's Christmas initiative to give back to the community especially to the elderly who are often left out during this time. Ivorine Bulwer, Executive Director of HelpAge discussed how these donations will further improve access to educational and recreational activities for HelpAge members. HelpAge received a projector and an Android phone.

Alyssa to OCEANA
Alyssa Carnegie used to be associated with the BTB brand but now, she's entered into the world of conservation as OCEANA Belize's Communications Director. She was the BTB's Director of Marketing and Industry Relations up until a month and a half ago. As we told you, there was no controversy surrounding her exit, and today, Oceana announced that she had joined their organization. It will become official on, January 12, 2015 and a release from Oceana says, quote, "Carnegie will immediately begin to work on the office's three campaigns: banning offshore oil in Belizean waters; banning destructive fishing gear such as gillnets and increasing protection for juvenile fish." End Quote.