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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

The San Pedro Sports Council announces Beach Volleyball Tournament
The San Pedro Sports Committee, in collaboration with the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, brings to you a 4X4 Beach Volleyball tournament. The competition will include four categories: Male, Female, Junior and Over 35 (years old). The event will kick off on September 26th at the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sports Complex. This is the first time such a tournament will be held, and according to Sports Councilor, Hector "Tito" Alamilla, as long as he is in charge of sports, it will become an annual event. "The games will take place on weekends and all interested teams are encouraged to register from now to save a spot. I want to invite everyone to participate in the tournament in order to bring back the good old volleyball days," Said Alamilla.

30 Day Belizean Treats Challenge: Day Eight, Nine and Ten
Our food journey continues with day eight, nine and ten!

Community garbage campaigns continue
Garbage is a major issue on the island, and even though the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) continues striving to alleviate the situation, it does not seem to be enough. As such, two respective groups have come together to tackle the matter as well. The Phoenix Resort and a group of residents of the Tres Cocos area have organized regular clean-up campaigns to help combat the problem. On the other hand, Tres Cocos residents (just north of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge) have designated the first Friday of the month to keep their side of the island clean. This is another successful initiative that is yielding great results, as more volunteers join each time. Even though this practice is only being done once a month, every time it takes place, the message to not litter gets louder, and it is expected that the dumping of garbage on the beach and side of the road will stop. Volunteers are provided with garbage bags, water, and even iced coffee, cookies and tea after cleanup. Everyone is invited to join and give back some love to the community every month. Both initiatives have yielded positive results, as not only is there less trash on the island, but more people are becoming aware of the importance of keeping La Isla Bonita clean. In recent weeks, organizers are reporting increased motivation, as more and more volunteers continue to show up every weekend. The quest for a clean island is one that takes community effort, determination, motivation and hard work.

Works on phase two of Police Barracks ceases
On Wednesday, August 26th, works on the second phase of the Police Barracks were reported to have resumed. This coincided with the official visit of Minister of National Security Honorable John Saldivar. The project, which had been stalled for several months, seemed to finally be on its way to completion. However, a few days after the visit of Saldivar, works on the barracks suddenly stopped. According to Councilor Gabriel "Gaby" Nu�ez, who is in charge of the construction, the present works at the moment being done at the barracks are all based on voluntary service. "Works on the building stopped for now, since on this last phase of the project, we are getting the work done based on volunteering/community service. We will be needing donations to complete the plumbing and electrical part of the construction and so we ask anyone who wants to help, to donate, they can do it at the offices of the Town Council," said Nu�ez. He mentioned that as of next week, more works will take place on the barracks, emphasizing that the assistance of the community will play a big role in finishing the facilities.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Paint Belize Fundraiser
Sacred Heart Junior College's Hands for Life club teamed up with some of the Taiwanese Educational Leadership Group to do some facepainting, and some wall painting, while raising funds for Mary Open Doors. They also had some delicious baked goods. The wall between Burns and the Cayo Welcome Center looks a lot better.

September Wellness Symposium
Caribbean Wellness Week is later this month, and the Belize Wellness Institute is planning on taking a gro0p to the main event in Belize City. You can find out all about it tomorrow, at the monthly Cayo Wellness Symposium. "**NEW** Wellness Symposium topics will be on: *Acupressure *Acupuncture *Reflexology *Tui Na with guest speakers Dr. Susan Barnes, Juan Pablo Collado as well as Mary Loan. Learn about those different modalities and see practicals"

BASICS OF LABOUR LAW
Workshop Date: September 17th, 2015 1pm to 4pm . This session is the Part II - Basics of Labour Law will now cover various acts under Labour Legislation which includes: Chapter 298 - SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACT Chapter 299 - TRADE DISPUTES (ARBITRATION AND INQUIRY) ACT Chapter 304 - TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATIONS (REGISTRATION, RECOGNITION AND STATUS) ACT The Labour Department's mandate, among many others, is enforcement and compliance with these legislation's. This will all be related to Belize's international obligations as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Additionally, the session will provide an overview of as it relates to the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.

US Ambassador Helps Kick Off Belize's September Celebrations
Belize's September Independence celebrations have begun in earnest, with US Ambassador Carlos R Moreno's featured speech at the annual Expo Belize serving to illustrate the close relationship the two countries enjoy, according to The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Chaa Creek co-owner and GM Lucy Fleming said it was significant that Ambassador Moreno was the event's guest speaker, as Belize and the US share a similar history and ties that include common languages and future goals. "When you consider how many things the two countries have in common, it's no wonder that Belize and the United States share such a close bond," Ms Fleming said. "Both nations celebrate their independence from Great Britain each year, have English as their primary and Spanish as the second language, are multicultural melting pots, share a strong democratic tradition and maintain huge national wilderness areas, among many other similarities," she said.

International volleyball comes to Hickory Point
O n the first day of 2015 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour tournament in Tavares, Steve Bishop of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball was a bit like a volleyball himself, hurtling back and forth across the sprawling Hickory Point complex to field media inquiries, check supplies, fix a flag, even shag a few balls for Team USA in its game against Team Canada. The NORCECA Continental Tour was started to help develop teams from the western hemisphere. Belize, Barbados, Aruba, Guatemala and other small nations use this series of tournaments to qualify their teams for the Olympics. The United States doesn't. Its volleyball tradition is a bit stronger, so the U.S. teams competing at Hickory Point are often vying to get to that next, elite level.

Around the world in 35 great pictures! You share your favourite images from this year's holidays
Tracie D'Ath, 25, from Tauranga in New Zealand, captured this shot while snorkelling in Belize. She likes this photo 'because turtles hate selfies.'

LPG Price Change
The Supplies Control Unit in the Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection is hereby informing the general public that effective September 12, 2015 there will be a new price structure for the sale of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Road March
Carnival Road March 2015 airs on Channel 5 at 1:00 pm tomorrow, Saturday, September 12. Channel 5 is your All-Access Carnival 2015 pass. You won't want to miss it!

San Pedro celebrating the 10th
Happy 10th Sept my fellow Belizeans, photos courtesy of Claudia P. Miranda, thanks Amiga!!

YVON DENTON NORALEZ
Congratulations Yvon... A vision for my life started to become clear while studying at Caye Caulker Ocean Academy. I felt complete and at ease when I was creating, whether it was choreographing or doing photography. I was accepted into the Visual Arts and Graphic Design Program at St. John's Junior College in Belize City. Currently I am working to save money for the tuition fees On the island, like many people, I have done numerous jobs: bike tour guide, waiter, a wedding photographer and I have a reef technician certificate, which allows me to identify fish and coral and take scientific samples. While growing up I did not get much parental support so decided that by volunteering at the local primary school, teaching dance, assisting on field trips or tutoring, I can be a real help to the kids. In the future I would like to be a teacher.

Benque Marimba Block Party
They are having a Marimba Block Party today in Benque. The fun starts at 5:00pm. "Marimba Block Party, join, celebrate and support the future of Marimba Music in Benque Viejo! Come one, come all, lots to eat and drink! Marimba 4 life....."

Yellow-headed Parrots released
Last week, five Yellow-headed Parrots were transported to Rancho Delores for soft release near the Hillbank Research Station. In partnership with Program for Belize, these parrots were sent to Belize Bird Rescue as nestlings (preventing poachers from taking them from their nests) where they were carefully raised without imprinting until they were old and strong enough for release where they can fly free! Check out these pictures of BBR and Program for Belize staff hard at work constructing the soft release enclosure.

Channel 7

Finally, Compromise At Faith Nazarene
For this entire week, the 400+ students enrolled at the Faith Nazarene Primary School had to stay home while the Management, the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Union tried to mediate a dispute between the teachers and the principal. The teachers collectively went on strike and refused to conduct their classes because they want the school's management to remove Principal Policarpia Pech. They have a long list of reasons why they have no confidence in her as leader. Pech has responded to their allegations, as rumors and hearsay, and she categorically denies them. Before classes resumed last week Tuesday, the Management carefully explained to the teachers that they had done enough by bringing evidence to a tribunal conducted by the Teaching Services Commision. After that, it would take time and due process to remove Pech, if the allegations were true. Well, the teachers decided that a full hearing and such a tribunal would take too long, and so they decided to take direct action and go on strike when Pech showed up for classes on Monday. That's basically in effect since Monday, and it appeared that it wouldn't end because the teachers insisted that they would not work with her.

First Caribbean Crippled By Mass Sickout of Bank Employees
Today, First Caribbean Bank Branches across the country were closed - because no one showed up for work! The employees staged a sick out after they learned that the vesting act to transfer the bank's assets is going to the House of Representatives for approval next week. And that's happening before the 60 employees and their union have finalized the terms of an exit package - basically how much they will be paid off by First Caribbean before they are sent home. So, the bank workers leveraged the only thing they've got left: their labour, to send a message to the owners of First Caribbean and the government - that the vesting of the bank's assets will deal a death blow to their bargaining power. CWU President Audrey Matura Shepherd told the media more today:...

Coast Guard On Troubled Waters?
All 5 coast guard personnel detained in connection with the 3 men missing at sea have been released. As we told you, the family believes that the Coast Guard has something to do with the disappearance of the men, so, the police had detained 5 of them for questioning. As we've been reporting, the men have a violent past history with the Coast Guard. But what does the Coast Guard's Command have to say about this very serious allegation? We asked commander Elton Bennett today and he told us that the CG has always exercised professionalism and would not have any reason to retaliate regardless of previous hostile encounters with these men. Commander Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant, Coast Guard "As it relates to the detention of the Coast Guard men, the investigation has been done by the police as it relates to the 3 missing men out at sea. The information reached the police and the police had ask us for certain information which we provided to them. We have them all the necessary information for them to conduct their investigation. We have nothing to cover. We will cooperate completely with the police. As a result of that the police pinpoint some personals from the Coast Guard which they had in detention last week and did their questioning. I believe that all 5 men were released a few day ago."

Vance Cabral Killed By Cousin
Placencia police cannot say if a Tenth September killing was accidental or intentional. 53 year old Warren Cabral shot 45 year old Vance Cabral in the head around 3:00 in the afternoon. It happened in Seine Byte on a boat named the Island Dancer where a group of men were socializing. The official report says Warren Cabral - who is Vance's cousin - fired a single shot form his licensed 9 millimeter pistol and it caught Vance Cabral in his left temple. Police detained Warren Cabral for questioning but told us that at this point they have not ruled it accidental, nor have they ruled it a homicide. Warren Cabral remains detained. Vance Cabral came to national attention in 2005 when his company Advance Diving took out an ill equipped tour which ended up disastrously as four tourists got stranded in the open sea for 55 hours, resulting in the death of Abigale Brinkman.

Remanded For Ramclam
22 year-old Brandon Bennett, a resident of Freedom Street, is at the Belize Central Prison after being taken to court today for allegedly trying to kill a man last week Friday. The victim, 19 year old Winston Ramclam, of Freedom Street was shot to the left ankle and the left arm. It happened last Friday when Ramclam was about to enter his yard and several gunshots rang out. Police say that they believe that Bennett was shooter. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith on the charges of attempted murder, wounding, and deadly means on harm. Due to the nature of the offences, he couldn't be granted bail, and Bennet was remanded to prison until November 11, 2015.

Guatemalans No Help With Hilux
The Ministry of Health still has not gotten back the 2014 Toyota Hilux which was stolen from its Belmopan Parking Lot and traced to a yard in Melchor. It seemed straightforward enough: the Hilux was stolen - and using a GPS tracker - it was traced across an illegal border crossing and directly to a property in Melchor. Using the same GPS tracker, Ministry staff disabled the ignition - so the stolen truck could not start or be moved from the Melchor property. Benque police were called, and they contacted their counterparts in Melchor to tell them where the Hilux was. The ministry provided all evidence that the truck was theirs, and that should have been the prelude to the end of the story. Or so we thought. But one week has passed and the Hilux is still there in Melchor and hasn't moved. So what's the delay? Well, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told us, quote, "We are in cooperation with the Guatemalan authorities through diplomatic channels to ensure the return of the vehicle."

KHMH's Carnival Concern
Tomorrow is Carnival day in Belize City - and thousands of city residents will be lining the city streets to see the hundreds of revelers do their thing. It's the largest public spectacle in the city - and a huge audience will be taking it in from along Princess Margaret Drive - including the area in front of the KHMH. That's a concern for the hospital because the entrances to the hospital are blocked for an extended period of time. Also access to the major highways are blocked - preventing emergency cases from accessing the hospital. That's why the Hospital wrote to NICH at the end of July requesting the demarcation of a pathway for emergency traffic and the possible diversion of the carnival route. We are told that NICH didn't respond, but traffic has given an undertaking to try and find a workaround. Still, though, with all access to the two major highways blocked for 3 hours, there's only so much they can do.

Global Solutions Have A Local Problem
Earlier we told you about the sickout staged by the employees at the First Caribbean Bank, well they aren't the only one's upset with their management. Today workers at Global Solutions located in Ladyville were on strike because they didn't get paid! The workers were promised that they would be paid this morning at 10 but when that didn't happen - they got riled up and police had to be called in. When we got there officers were already leaving the compound and they told us they got everything under control. Edward Broaster, Commander - Eastern Division Rural "We were called for a disturbance that was occurring here and the information we received is the fact that some of the workers have not gotten paid. The management had explained to us that due to the Labor Day holiday and the 10th holiday, the wiring transaction from the US to the bank in Belize was screwed. But they assured us that today the workers will be paid. Wherever there is a potential threat of civil disturbance, the police must respond and we got a call this morning that there is a disturbance here at the company and we came to check it out and we are satisfied by the management that they will deal with the matter and that has been expressed to the employees as well."

San Pedro Mayor Properly Scolded By Ministry Of Education
The mayor of San Pedro may be a UDP - but he's gotten in trouble with the Ministry of Education after a bold declaration: Mayor Daniel Guerrero seems to have unilaterally declared Friday, September 11, 2015 a holiday for all schools on San Pedro. Well, the ministry says he did that despite a letter they sent to him on September 9th, denying his request to declare the ninth a non-school day. A press release form the ministry says, quote, "The arbitrary decision at a municipal level�cannot be condoned. The determination of Public and Bank Holidays, or the declaration of non-school days, is not within the jurisdiction of municipal authorities." The release reminds school managements, parents, and students that the Ministry of Education is the sole authority to approve non-school days. The ministry, quote, "condemns the ill advised and unauthorized decision of the Mayor."

Butane Getting Cheaper
World oil prices are tumbling, and the price of LPG gas, or butane is going down with it. The new prices for a hundred pound cylinder were released today and they show that in Belize City, LPG imported form central America will cost 82.00 dollars. LPG imported from Mexico will be slightly more expensive at one $85.00 dollars per hundred pound cylinder. The new prices take effect tomorrow.

Ernestine, Moving On Without Uncle Sam
Ernestine the Soca Queen: you all may remember that her US visa was revoked and she was unable to perform at the New York Park Fest on September 5th. In an interview Ernestine told us it's the fault of the NY promoter for not doing his job in making sure her travel documents were finalized. Well, the NY promoter fired back on facebook basically backing out of the blame. He even posted a copy of Ernestine's itinerary saying that he did his part. The promoter also said that Ernestine won't be taking any US stage any time soon. We asked Ernestine about this and she told us she has already moved on.

Ernestine's New Video
And as a testament to that, she came today to promote her new music video. She just gave us a teaser because it has not been launched as yet. She told us what this means for her going forward. She will announce the launch date when it is finalized.

Keeping Everyone Under The Tenth
Tenth of September activities were observed countrywide yesterday - but the official one was held in Belize City, the home of Simon Lamb who first pushed for the commemoration of the Tenth in 1898. In his address, Mayor Darrell Bradley said more should be done to honour those who decided to fight for Belize on September 10th , 1798:.. And after the staid speeches, it was time for the Citizen's Parade in the streets. And while there were floats of all types, what we always look out for is the jump up and a fixture of that event is always Minister of Social Services Boots Martinez While he was in vintage form as he passed our studio on Albert Street, the overall jump up was good, but not the biggest or hypest we've seen.

Ninth Night Fight For Fans
And maybe that's because thousands of Belizeans were out dancing - or skanking until dawn at concerts headlined by a Jamaican and a Trinidadian. It was Reggae superstar Chronixx versus Soca sensation Destra in the battle for ninth night dominance, and from what we've heard, we'd have to call this one a draw! Both concerts drew thousands, Chronixx to the Riverside Tavern on North Front Street and Destra to the Hour Bar on Princess Margaret Drive. In terms of raw numbers, reports say Chronixx drew as many as five thousand fans, many of who had a two hour wait in the rain! Destra's crowd was also in the thousands - though we haven't gotten a reliable figure on how man. But, it seems safe to safe that more than 7 thousand Belizeans attended both concerts - which is quite a remarkable figure. And that takes us into juveey and Carnival tomorrow on the city streets. You can join us for live coverage starting at 11:30 in the morning right here on channel 7 with your hosts Wilson Grinage and Jeannie Brooks. To get you in the mood, we close on this Friday night with highlites from this year's Mas Camps. Enjoy and Join us on channel 7 tomorrow for all your carnival coverage.