AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Daily news prior to today Today's Belize News: February 9, 2016

CTV3

Honorable John Briceno Weighs On Position Of Cordel Hyde
After the honorable Briceno took the oath as the new leader of the opposition in a ceremony that took place at the Governor General's House in Belmopan City, the media took the opportunity to ask him about the position of the Hon. Cordel Hyde, who was present at the swearing in today, in the national executive. In previous statements Briceno made it clear that he intended to find a place for Hyde in the PUP executive team and today he told us that position still stands. "I have always said that the Honorable Cordel Hyde has to play a critical role in the rebuilding and the re-strengthening of the party s we get to move to Belmopan in the next Election, I have met with him and he is here with us today and I am very pleased that he has joined me in this very important occasion, it goes to show his commitment to the work that we have ahead of us we are going to be finding ways on how we can use him to the maximum of his abilities, we all know that he has a lot of talent and his abilities and that he has a way to connect with people and that he is going to be playing a very important role, a very critical role in us in preparing the message that we want to present to the people, the policies that we want to present to the people to make sure that all Belizeans feel that they are a part of the work that we do and that they all believe that they have something at stake."

Leader Of The Opposition Weighs In Santander Issue
On Friday we told you about the loan of 12 million dollars that Santander Sugar Mill may be receiving from the Social Security Board. The multi-million dollar loan that was approved last week brought about many questions and concerns and today at the swearing in of the new leader of the opposition in Belmopan, the media took the opportunity to ask the Honorable John Briceno to weigh in on the matter. Briceno says that the has three main concerns when it relates to this matter "Just want to make three points: one is that we always support foreign direct investments, the Santander Group has made a massive investment in Belize and we need to recognize that and support that and by extension that investment that they have done has already created a lot of jobs and can bring in more foreign currency into our country so I want to make that clear but secondly when it comes to the loan of Social Security for 12 million dollars to the Santander Group, the first thing that comes to mind is that how secure is that loan we have to make sure that we can protect workers money because this 12 million dollars belongs to all of us that pays Social Security and we need to ensure that it is properly protected..."

Carmelita Resident Accused Of Double Murder Get Sentence Reduction And Sent Home
Tonight fifty three year old Edison Johnson is back at home with his family after being incarcerated for one year and ten months at the Kolbe Correctional Facility after he was charged with two counts of murder. After being sentenced to six years back in 2014, Johnson reappeared in court earlier today and this time, his previous sentence was reduced to one year, however, due to time served already Johnson was released immediately. On April 11th 2014, Johnson had shot and killed two men at his farm located in the outskirts of Carmelita Village after he caught them stealing on his property. Twenty three year old Saul Garcia and twenty four year old Luke Cox had removed the zinc from the roof, sheet rack, tore out the electrical wires and had also taken other items from both of the buildings that were on the farm. The two robbers had only returned to take the remaining sheets of zinc when Johnson caught up with them and fired shots causing both men to run.

ABC7 News Gives Black Eye To Belize
The murder of American National Anne Swaney on January 14th 2016 continues to give a black eye to Belize pounding the Tourism Industry. The murder of the ABC7 Chicago Executive Producer on the grounds of the Nabitunich Resort in San Jose Succotz, Cayo, attracted attention nationally and internationally so much so that even the FBI got involved in the case. But to date Belize Police has been unable to charge anyone for Swaney's murder and the US is not happy about the route the investigation has taken or at least her colleagues at AB7 Chicago aren't happy. And that made that clear when they released this following report. As mentioned no one has been arrested for Swaney's murder.

Honduran National Charged For Drug Trafficking Claims He Was Set Up
On Saturday morning at around 11:45, The Rural Eastern Division of the Belize Police Department conducted a search on the George Price Highway which resulted in a major drug bust. Twenty eight year old Honduran national, Orbin Lenin Reyes was travelling from Orange Walk to Belize City in a Tillett bus and had just stepped out on miles 8 and 9 when he was approached by police. The search resulted in the discovery of fifteen compressed packs wrapped with tape containing cannabis. The compressed packs amounted to a total of fifteen pounds of marijuana. Reyes appeared in court today before Magistrate, Deborah Rogers where he plead guilty for Drug Trafficking, however, Rogers alleged that he was 'set up' as he was told that he would be paid $100.00 if he had taken the bag to Belize City. Reyes was sentenced to three years in prison.

Mother And son Remanded To Prison For Firearm And Ammunition Offences
Tonight a well-known seamstress from Orange Walk Town and her son are behind bars at the Kolbe Correctional Facility after they were charged for firearm offences. At about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon, police visited the home of Mavis Wade, Belizean seamstress of #25 Saint Peter Street and carried out a search which led to the discovery of a 9mm CZ-83 Browning pistol with the serial number filed off. The firearm was found on a computer desk, inside a book that was cut out in the middle forming the shape of a square. During the raid police also discovered a white sock containing thirteen bullets along with 52 .380 Brand live rounds.

LOVE FM

Concerns Arise over $12M to Santander
On Thursday, February 4 we brought you the story of the twelve million dollar loan that Social Security Board has approved for Santander, an up and coming sugar mill in western Belize. Since we aired the story, it has been garnering some reaction from the public and has been discussed on various local shows. One [�]

Bar Owner Murdered and Employee Injured in Weekend Incident
Belmopan Police believe that robbery was the motive of a murder that occurred in Teakettle Village this past weekend. Love News spoke with Officer in Charge of Roaring Creek, Inspector Octaviano Victorin. OCTAVIANO VICTORIN "It was around the hours of 1:50 and 2:00 am on Saturday the 5th day of February. Police were called to [�]

ABC7 Chicago Makes Erroneous Statements on Belize
Following the murder of Anne Swaney in western Belize on January 15, Belize has been taking some hard hits on the international scene as a crime ridden country. The negative publicity, however, stands out from ABC7 who Swaney worked for. In an article dated as recent as Friday, February 5, ABC7 Eyewitness News referred to [�]

AGM Held for JPs and Supreme Court Commissioners
The National Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioner of the Supreme Court, held their fifteenth annual general meeting on Sunday morning. Attorney General Vanessa Retreage was the guest speaker. She spoke of the number of new applicants applying to be Justices of the Peace. VANESSA RETREAGE "In recent years there has been increase [�]

Regional Commanders Meet in Belmopan
The regional commanders of the Belize Police Department held their monthly meeting today in Belmopan where several assessments on how to combat crime was carried out. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports. FEM CRUZ "

Ambassador Eric Sanchez Goes to UN's ECOSOC Youth Forum
The Economic and Social Youth Forum also known as the ECOSOC Youth Forum took place last week at the United Nations' Headquarters in New York, USA. The two day event had representation from Belize via the Minister of Youth, Elodio Aragon and Youth Ambassador, Eric Sanchez. The event featured discussion on how young people can [�]

Missing Boy Found
Police have located a 14-year-old boy whose mother had reported him missing over the weekend in Dangriga. According to Isani Higinio, she sent her son, George Zuniga to the store to buy nails on Wednesday evening but he didn't return. She says she believes that he may have gotten upset after she had hit him [�]

Special Envoy Bats For Kaya on Female Inclusion
The Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow, came out in defence of female athlete Kaya Cattouse. Last week we reported that the Cycling Federation of Belize had sent a stern warning letter to Cattouse for her remarks she made on Facebook about the Federation and this weekend's Digicell Valentine's Cycling Tour. Kaya [�]

PlusTV

PUP Leader says Barrow failed to get real help on banking issue
After being sworn in as leader of the People's United Party (PUP), John Briceno took questions from the press. He first addressed the matter of correspondent banking relations. Suggesting that Prime Minister Dean Barrow had "failed" in his trip to Washington, D.C. to get real help to address the situation, Briceno said that Belize needed to reach out to its regional brothers and sisters to address an issue that hits high and low alike.

American tourist in critical condition after falling from Mayan ruin
An American national is listed in a critical condition after he fell off a Mayan Ruin in Belize. The accident occurred at Altun Ha inLucky Strike village in the Belize District. The 36 year old American national arrived into the country on Thursday February 4 via Carnival Dream Cruise and went to th...

FECTAB rails against Dark Night/ Institute of Archaeology deal
This morning the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize (FECTAB), the umbrella grouping of smaller tour operators which has consistently stood against the larger players in the industry, returned to the warpath with grave allegations made against one of those rivals, Dark Night Cavetubi...

Santender approaches SSB for 12 million dollar loan
The company was introduced to Belize as Green Tropics; a foreign investment that government said would see the expansion of the sugar industry in the West of Belize and provide much needed economic activity and employment opportunity. But after Spanish Financial powerhouse Santender invested some 50...

Huang Park gets bail for abetment charge
Fifty-seven year old Korean national Huang Park, who was remanded to prison on a charge of abetment to pervert the course of justice, was released on a bail of $75,000 today which was granted by Justice John Gonzalez. The bail was offered on the condition that she surrenders all of her property docu...

Belizean music video nominated for international awards
If you are an avid PlusTv viewer, then you have surely seen "Giant Slayer" music video by Belizean artist Mervin Budram, but just in case you don't know what we are talking about, here is a little peek: The video was shot by Belizean Stephen Usher and has now been nominated for two awards in the A...

Dental Clinic courtesy Rotary Club
Over the past week, the Rotary club of Dangriga held a series of medical clinics for the children of the South, in particular Hopkins village. The outreach, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Edmonton, took the form of a Dental Clinic set up at the Holy Family RC School , which allowed hundreds of child...

BPP tours Toledo
The Belize Progressive Party visited the Toledo District as a part of its country wide tour leading up to the upcoming village council elections. As a part of that visit, BPP's Campaign manager, Robert Lopez, issued a video statement recorded at the garbage dump in Punta Gorda. A few weeks ago when...

Breaking Belize News

John Brice�o sworn in as opposition leader
The Honorable John Brice�o was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition by the Governor General today during a ceremony in Belmopan at Belize House. Among those present to observe the proceedings was Brice�o's family and Friends and parliamentarian Honorable Cordel Hyde of Lake [�]

Belizeans react to "biased" ABC report
A report published What Tourists aren't being told" has stirred reaction from the Belizean public as many consider the piece biased. The report is filed three weeks following the murder of ABC web producer, Anne Swaney, and while it quickly [�]

Happy Chinese New Year 2016!
If you were surprised today by the sound of loud firecrackers you may have discovered it came from a Chinese home or business establishment. The reason - it is the Chinese New Year! 2016 is the year of the Monkey, according to the Chinese [�]

Police have motive for 69 Bar killing
Police believe that the murder of 52-year-old Zi Jian Zhang, owner of "69 Bar" in Teakettle Village, was part of a robbery attempt. Zhang had been socializing with a female worker of the establishment after the close of business when they were attacked. Zhang was [�]

Special Envoy backs women cyclists in Federation dispute
The Special Envoy for Women and Children has come out in solidarity with professional cyclist Kaya Cattouse who on social media earlier this month decried the Cycling Federation's decision not to include the female and junior cyclists in their 2nd anual Digicell Valentine's Tour. Her [�]

Belize Bank implements new fees for cash transactions
Belize Bank Limited on January 28th implemented a cash withdrawal fee that has some customers displeased. Today when we called to check on it we were told that notices of the implementation of the new fee were placed inside every branch and was set up [�]

Orbin Reyes pleads guilty, claims he was set up
28 year old Orbin Lenin Reyes today began a three-year jail sentence for drug trafficking after pleading guilty in the Magistrate's Court. The Honduran national, who was busted with 16 and a half pounds of "high-grade" marijuana from Oaxaca, Mexico, valued at nearly 50 thousand [�]

Tourists robbed but saved by passing motorist
A visiting couple was robbed at gunpoint at the Tropical Education Center at Mile 29, George Price Highway, but due to timely intervention by a passing motorist, police were able to catch at least one suspect who now faces charges. Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, officer [�]

Police find over 14 pounds of weed in drunken driver's car
Shortly after midday on Friday, police responded to a road traffic accident between miles 16 and 17 on the Philip Goldson Highway, where they made the discovery of 14 pounds of cannabis inside an extensively damaged Ford Escape vehicle. The driver, 34-year-old Roland Rivers, was seen [�]

Honduran found in Belize with almost 17 pounds of weed
A Honduran national, only in Belize for a period of 21 days, was stopped and searched by Ladyville police at a bus stop on Saturday morning, when a total of 16.75 pounds of cannabis was found inside his knapsack. The man, 25 year old Orbin Lenin Reyes, [�]

New Opposition Leader sworn in
This morning newly elected People's United Party (PUP) leader, John Brice�o was officially sworn in as the leader of the opposition in Belmopan by Govern General Sir. Colvin Young. This comes after the Orange Walk Central Area Representative was victorious in the January 31st PUP National Convention.

Orange Walk Police seize nine-millimeter pistol
On Saturday February 6th, Orange Walk police confiscated a nine-millimeter CV-83 Browning pistol from a residence in that town. The Formation's Quick Response Team searched the house of Mavis Wade, a Belizean seamstress on #25 Saint Peter's Street and found the weapon hidden in a stock of books.

Tropic Air donates $500 to Dangriga Red Cross
A press release from Tropic Air issued earlier today, served to announce a $500 donation to Dangriga's Red Cross branch as the start of the company's 'Tropic Gives Back' charity campaign. The cheque was presented to the Red Cross on Thursday February 4, made possible through efforts from Tropic's business partners, staff and customers, who contributed by purchasing flight tickets, of which a dollar was put toward the fund. Each month a different station will be chosen where tickets purchased will help to put money aside for a charitable institution in that municipality, with Caye Caulker having been selected for the month of February and Belmopan for the month of March.

Cool and relatively dry conditions to prevail
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting variably cloudy and cool weather today, becoming clear and cold tonight. Little or no rainfall is expected. Winds will be blowing from the North-Northwest at 10-20 knots and the sea state will be choppy to moderate.

Blogs

Day One of Carnaval in San Pedro: Bring Out the Plastic Wrap, the Kids and the Paint
After a day of drizzly cold rain, yesterday was the most gorgeous day on Ambergris Caye. For the very first day of Carnaval. Three days of parties and painting leading up to Lent. I headed into town early to take a look at the pre-festivities. Day One there would be music and kids running amock with painting and eggs (ILLEGAL) and fun. The New Sensations Band (they are GOOD!) was setting up and the Belizean staple - THE WALL OF SPEAKERS.

Dreaming of Tropical Islands in the Sun�
My wife, Suzan Haskins, and I do a lot of traveling. So we often find ourselves on the way to places. We find ourselves in airports. In taxis and shuttles. In planes and buses. In snow-bound cities and towns for holidays and family functions. I deal with these situations the same way a lot of people I know deal with them. In my mind, I go back to the island. That's why I can sit in the middle of a restless crowd at the boarding gate of a flight that's already been delayed twice with the prospect of missing my connection or having to spend the night in an airport hotel with my eyes closed and a big smile on my face. Suzan and I spent a lot of time on a lot of islands even before we started working for International Living. Back in the day, we were avid scuba divers. We lived for gin-clear water during the day and palapa bars at night. Most of our vacations were spent that way, and we vacationed on some of the most beautiful tropical islands on the planet.

NOW OPEN AT GRAND CARIBE BELIZE - THE BEACH BASKET!
With a focus on providing service to our guests here at Grand Caribe, as well as Northern Ambergris Caye residents - the Beach Basket provides your one stop shop for just about whatever you're looking for - INCLUDING Cash-Withdrawal!! There's a full complement of groceries and frozen goods, including but not limited to, cleaning supplies, imported rice, canned goods, pasta, snack goods, deli meats, a wide selection of cheeses and crackers, wines, and even liquor. The Beach Basket is home to over 60 bottles of fine wine as well as a wide variety of local and imported rums. Choose from wine brands like: Undurraga, Piper Heidsieck, Freixenet, Beringer Founders, Alamos, Lindemans, Lazo, Calvet, Bollini, Santa Margherita, Kim Crawford, Nederburg, Rene Barbier, Heitz and Luis Felipe Edwards, to name a few.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
There's nothing in the Caribbean that matches the bio-diversity found in this expansive, lush corner of Belize. The CBWS preserve is home to mile-upon-mile of indigenous flowers, trees and plants in an environment that is so hospitable the region even has its own "moisture regulation" system that's a perfect mix of rain, temperature and slight winds. Since tropical rainforests like this one are disappearing at alarming rates, a visit here gives you opportunities to see nature as it was thousands of years ago--perhaps before mankind roamed the earth. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 20 miles south of Dangriga and can be reached by taking the Southern Highway. If you're in close proximity to the area's Maya Center Village, you're just about six miles away. The dirt road from the Southern Highway extends for six miles isn't paved, so if you drive, you'll need a car capable of tackling rugged terrain. Use public transport if you can. Buses from Belize City and Dangriga Town get you to Punta Gorda Town and the Maya Village Center, then hike into the park. If you're coming from a distance, grab a Maya Island Air or Tropic Air flight for the 20-minute trip to Dangriga. Taxis and tour companies are also viable options. First, the ideal way to experience this wildlife paradise is to book accommodations on premises rather than staying elsewhere so you're in the midst of the action. Housing is rather primitive (think summer camp as a kid). The facility sleeps 24 people and has toilet facilities. Alternately, bring camping gear and a camping permit. During your visit, see Chucil Baluum, a Classic Period Mayan ceremonial site, Victoria Peak at an elevation of 3,675 feet and as many trails as time allows. Include visits to swimming areas, waterfalls, pine forests and the newest trail of all: The Outlier. The right guide can morph an already fascinating visit into an extraordinary one.

Ready, Set, Wait
We haven't broken ground yet for the pool or pool house, as the contractor and his crew are still working on the remodeling project for Dave and Dianna. However, there have been a few things happening here in preparation for the big day. First and foremost, our building permit was approved by the Ranchito Village Council. YAY! The other piece of business that gotten taken care of was amping up, so to speak, our breakers and breaker box outside. A real beauty, no? The extra breakers will allow power to be run from David's shop to the pump house. We also opted to have a weatherproof, lockable box. The other box had no cover, no lock, was rusting, and filled with a variety of dead insects and geckos. Now the breakers are protected from the elements and can't inadvertently turned off.

International Sources

Belize’s IFSC warns of fake regulation claims
One of the major financial services regulators - Belize's International Financial Services Commission (IFSC) warned that the Arab Gold Bank Ltd. is falsely claiming to be registered in Belize. On its website the IFSC notes that the Certificate of Incorporation on the bank's website is a complete forgery and it is not registered neither with IFSC, nor with any other competent authority in Belize to conduct any type of banking or trading activities. In conclusion the IFSC warns that all persons should take note and exercise extreme caution. On its website the Arab Gold Bank promises 100% guaranteed profit and daily payment of dividends. It offers investment in currencies, gold, oil and equity with four types of investment deposit plans: VIP Diamond shares, Gold stocks, Silver stocks and Bronze share, with net profit varying from 203.9% to 118.4% for investments with a 182-day duration. The company has agents in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Algeria. The Arab Gold Bank also offers a Ponzi scheme, dubbed "Marketing Commission for Life System", in which the attracting of other investors brings additional profits from 1 to 7%.

De-Risking the Caribbean
De-risking: Between Rock and Hard Place in the Caribbean. The correspondent banking system in Latin America and the Caribbean has recently been facing increasing pressure, so much so that institutions like the World Bank and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have issued consultative reports on the brewing crisis in these emerging markets. Because much of the world's cross-border capital flows are in US dollars, most Caribbean banks maintain what are called "correspondent accounts" in American banks. This allows them to exchange U.S dollars and handle other financial transactions in the United States. Without the accounts these banks would have limited access to foreign financial markets, thus severely hampering their ability to service client accounts without opening up a branch in the States.

Take A Gander At Leonardo DiCaprio's Private Island
A decade ago, Leonardo DiCaprio bought an island in Belize - in part because he's a Hollywood megastar and that's what megastars do, but also because he planned to build the world's first eco-restorative resort to repair the eroding coastline, over-fished waters and deforestation. Leo first discovered the island, called Blackadore Caye, while vacationing nearby in 2004. "It was like heaven on earth," he told The New York Times. The new resort, constructed in partnership with Paul Scialla, will feature all the usual trappings of a luxury hideaway - sprawling villas, infinity pools, impeccably Instagram-able sunset views - with a decidedly green spirit. According to the website, the development will be "completely powered by renewable energy and designed to increase the biological health of species on the island and in the waters around it." Guests can focus on personal health and wellness while elsewhere, restoration programs are conducted and a research station studies climate change and habitat impacts.

Venezuela shopping centres halve opening times as crisis bites
Shopping centres in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, say they will be halving their opening times to four hours a day. The move will allow them to comply with government energy rationing. Ministers says a severe drought caused by El Nino has brought 18 of the country's hydro-electric dams to critically low water levels. A spokesman for the country's retail association said the drop in working hours would have an impact on jobs. The state energy corporation (Corpoelec) had wanted cuts twice a day, between 1pm and 3pm and then again between 7pm and 9pm. The retail association, The Chamber of Venezuelan Commercial Centres (Cavececo), said it had made an alternative proposal: that shops should open late at 12:00 and close at 19:00 saving five hours of energy use daily.

Caribbean experiences build Latin American expertise
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) subregional headquarters for the Caribbean has applied its experience in the Caribbean towards building the disaster assessment capacity in Peru's National Center for Estimation, Prevention and Disaster Risk Reduction (CENEPRED). Since May 2015, ECLAC Caribbean has supported the efforts of CENEPRED to become a forerunner in the field of disaster risk reduction, since Peru remains one of the most vulnerable countries across Latin America to disasters. It is estimated that over the past 15 years there have been 59 disasters in that South American country, causing 3,565 deaths, and affecting more than 8.5 million people.

Birds, fish return to Havana Bay after a decade thanks to successful cleaning effort
The return of fish and marine birds to Havana Bay is an indication that Cuban authorities have managed to reduce pollution there by 50-60 percent over the past 10 years, experts quoted by official media reported Sunday. Havana Bay, which covers 2 square miles and has an average depth of about 30 feet, for years was considered to be one of the most contaminated zones in the Caribbean due to industrial and community waste from the Cuban capital being dumped there via several rivers and other channels. In 1998, authorities launched the GTE-BH cleanup program for the bay and the port that opens onto it that included identifying the sources of waste water and chemicals flowing into it. The program found that 124 industries were "aggressively" dumping waste into the bay and developed plans to reduce their polluting activities.

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