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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 Belize National Flag
The Belize Flag was first raised when we got our independence back in September 21, 1981. For those who are not that acquainted with the Belize Flag, it consists of the Coat of Arms of Belize in the centre of a blue rectangle with red striped on the top and bottom. To us Belizeans, this is a beautiful flag with a very patriotic meaning. The royal blue background represents the first political party of the country, The People's United Party established in 1950. The red strip represent the second major political party, The United Democratic Party established in 1973. This two parties have formed the Central Government of Belize since independence.

Teenager in stable condition after boat accident
Police have confirmed that one 15-year-old female minor was injured when a boat ran her over. 47-year-old Scott Carr and his teenage daughter had only been on the island one day, and had taken a kayak out to sea for some snorkeling adventure when the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 14th near a beach resort south of San Pedro Town. Initial reports are that around 1PM, Captain Carlos Franco was driving his white skiff, Phanny, with serial number CVL-0325, equipped with a 200-horse power engine, when he struck the minor. The collision caused injuries to her face, legs and hands. The young girl was immediately transported to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where she was stabilized. She was later flown to Belize City where she remains in a stable condition at Belize Medical Associates.

Police Report: Drug Trafficking
On Thursday, June 9th at 3:30PM, a joint team of San Pedro Special Branch and Criminal Investigation Branch personnel conducted search at an apartment room located two and a half mile South of San Pedro Town which was occupied at the time by 35-year-old Sara Christine Brodie and 37-year-old Matthew George Hoy, both Canadian Nationals. The search conducted led to the discovery of a total of 177.5 grams of suspected Cannabis. They were formally arrested and charged for the crime of 'Drugs Trafficking'.

Osprey falls prey to pellet gun shots
On Saturday, June 4th, the San Pedro Saga Humane Society received a phone call from a person reporting the discovery of an injured bird. Saga staff immediately followed up, and encountered a female Osprey suffering from dehydration, a broken wing, and several wounds across its body. Saga took the bird back to the clinic, where it was given supportive care and was administered fluids to temper its dehydration before rushing it to the mainland to get treatment from Belize Bird Rescue (BBR). After BBR picked up the Osprey, they noticed that both her legs were paralyzed. She was transported to a local animal clinic in Belize City, and was given an X-ray. Dr. Philip DeShield, who evaluated the bird, discovered that she had been shot three times with a pellet gun, and her wing has a broken ulna. It is suspected that the bird was a nesting adult, and its nest was repeatedly shot at until the bird landed on the ground. The three pellets are still embedded in her body, as due to massive hematomas, she cannot undergo surgery. She is in stable condition, being medicated, given daily baths, and eating well.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week - Jack's Story - Shark Water
Our Picture of the Week is actually a Video Pick of the Week as young Jack Angele shares his story about saving the sharks. After being inspired by his role models, Jack took up the task of raising money in any way that he could to support the cause of preventing the illegal killing and finning of sharks. Jack is from Vancouver, BC, Canada, but his second home is San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. He loves diving and life in La Isla Bonita. In this video, Jack shares about his love of Sharks and why he wants to help save them. Jack lives and breathes sharks; we think is is doing an amazing job.

Perverse Video Circulating, Ministry of Health Condemns Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons
It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health that a perverse video is being circulated on social media. The video features a man and a woman, purported to have diagnoses of mental disorders, being instructed to perform sexual acts by the persons recording the video. The audio on the video reveals that the couple was being encouraged in their actions only to be rewarded with a soda by the persons who were watching and recording the couple performing various sexual acts. The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Maya Phrases
Maya Yucatec(Maaya T'aan) is spoken by the Yucatec Maya(Maya Masewal) people of Orange Walk,Corozal and Cayo district. Let's preserve our original language which is Maya . Since Many Maya Yucatec now mostly speak Spanish and English today is a good time to practice and give tribute to our Maya ancestors.

Splashers
Sign up for this Thursdays paint party!

Managed Access
These are the new managed access proposed areas. Each fisherman chose 2 areas only. Each area will use a color code. Also the map, and the index for the color code, along with the dimensions required. And the Daily Catch Log book forms.

HISTORIC ANGLO GUATEMALAN CLAIM TOWN MEETING: A PHOTO ESSAY!
The Belizean diaspora community in Los Angeles have been making big strides in internationalizing Belize's struggle for self determination and territorial integrity against the recent Guatemalan military aggression against the nation state of Belize, with the recent annexation and occupation of the Belize Sarstoon River and Island in the southern most bordering area of Belize. Concerned members of the Belizean community in L.A. came out on Sunday June 12, 2016 at the Holy Name of Jesus School in Los Angeles, California to hear speakers from Belize, and in the Los Angeles Belizean community itself, present pertinent information and popular education about the Guatemalan military aggression on the Belize Sarstoon River, Belize's chances of going to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) to settle the Anglo Guatemalan Claim, and the present state of affairs in Belize surrounding the issue which has captured the minds and attention of Belizeans at home and abroad about the fate of their country Belize.

SBDC Workshop: BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle. Post/Teaching Description: Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: La Inmaculda Credit Union's Training Room, 5 Park Street North, Orange Walk Town. Workshop Date: June 23, 2016. Time: 9am to 12 noon . CALLING OUT ALL ENTREPRENEURS, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS This Workshop is for you!!! A Business Plan is a tool that helps entrepreneurs define their business and provides a purpose and a direction to their next business move. This workshop will help participants to understand the various elements of a business plan. Due to time frame allotted, the workshop will be a lead to a brainstorming session allowing participants to think of what would be included in their specific plan. This information will later facilitate the business plan process for participants by using the ideas generated during the workshop. The class will focus mostly on discussions and activities

BELTRAIDE holds Trade Clinic for entrepreneurs in Independence!
A group of entrepreneurs from Dangriga and surrounding villages had the opportunity to attend an information session to assist them in becoming more competitive. The Trade Clinic was held at the Independence High School Conference Room on 31st May 2016. The Trade Clinic is the second session organized by EXPORTBelize, a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) , with the aim to sensitize members of the private sector across Belize on regulations, requirements, export procedures and documentations and opportunities that exist under trade agreements in order to do business in the local and international market.

Rotaract Blood Drive
The Rotaract Clubs of Benque and San Ignacio are teaming up with the Belize Blood Bank to do a Blood Drive. It'll be Friday, June 17th, at the Red Cross building on Joseph Andrews, and it starts at 8:30am. Give blood and save a life. "Tomorrow is World Blood Donors day and as we all know there is always a need for blood so Join Rotaract San Ignacio and Benque this Friday at the Red Cross building, located on Joseph Andrews Drive, between 8:30 am to 5 pm to donate blood! Be a hero! Save a life!"

Channel 7

Guatemala Chafed Over GOB Press Release
"the two sides have informally accepted a situation in which there will be untrammeled traffic for Belize's military and civilians along the Sarstoon...." that's what the Government announced on May 24th coming out of the Istanbul talks between Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales. To make it clear, "untrammeled" means without restriction, meaning Belizeans could move freely on our side of the Sarstoon. Well, tonight we have documentary proof that the Guatemalans reject that interpretation and do not agree that Belizeans can freely traffic the Sarstoon. Four days after that government of Belize press release, Guatemala's Embassy in Belize sent a Diplomatic Note rejecting that specific line from the Government press release. They say that the joint communique quote, "reflects all agreements reached" and we note that said nothing about Belizeans freely trafficking the Sarstoon.

Police Frustrated: Many Witnesses, No One Will Talk
Southside police say they have the main suspect in Sunday's murder of Marlon Bonner, but they can't charge him because the public isn't cooperating. Today, Southside Commander, Assistant Commissioner Chester Williams put out a distress post on his Facebook page saying, quote, "we now have the suspected gun man, the man who was brave enough to go and shoot Mr Bonner bare faced in the presence of many others, but the usual problem is manifesting itself: no one wants to give a statement." End quote. He then appeals to anyone who witnessed the murder to inbox him on FACEBOOK. He concludes, grimly, "we are doing all we can to bring these two cowards to justice but there is nothing we can do if we don't get the cooperation of the public."

Making Maya Land Rights Judgment Real
The Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission was set up by the Government of Belize to implement the consent order given by country's highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice. In that case, the Government conceded last year that Maya Customary Land Tenure exists, and that they will work to preserve those rights by putting them in a formal land system. To do that, however, the Government has to consult with the Maya people to determine what that customary land tenure system will actually look like. But, after months of inactivity following the end of the case, the Commission was put together to start that very-important consultation process. Since early this year, the Commission, headed by former minister Lisel Alamilla, has been making baby steps. They have the very daunting task to consult with each of the 39 villages, which according to the Commission, have asked to be met with one by one so that they can discuss important issues such as who they have appointed to represent their interest.

Truck Set On Fire In Early Afternoon
Shortly before 3 yesterday after, the fire Department had to rush out to Amara Avenue, where a jeep was on fire. The vehicle, a gold Jeep Wrangler, was the property of well-known Belize City businessman Evan Tench, of Techtronic's Communications. The vehicle was used mostly by his son. The incident occurred in broad daylight and it was all caught on camera. Here in this first angle, the camera shows the suspect ride past on a bicycle from the far right corner of the screen as he appears to be scouting the area About one minute in, a second camera captures him as he passes near the jeep, acting suspiciously. Camera two only captures him briefly as he passes in and out of sight. He seems to be holding a red container, containing some sort of flammable liquid.

Man Gets Off Accusation of Horrible Sex Crime
A Stann Creek man walked free today from serious sexual assault charges. 37 year old Bella Vista resident Jose Pana was accused of raping and sodomizing an 8 year old girl in February 2014. The report is that the child had gone to get flour for Pana from her aunt's house and that is when Pana followed her inside and then raped and sodomized her in the kitchen. Well today in the Supreme Court, Pana was acquitted of those charges. Although the doctors had certified that the child had been carnally known, there were several inconsistencies in both the child's statement and Pena's statement. The child had said the assault happened in the morning but her family says it happened in the afternoon after 3. As for Pana, he had said that on the day of the incident he was out almost all day doing construction work. But his wife then clarified that he Field and on that day he was home by 3 in the afternoon. The child who is now 11, testified in the trial.

Patrick Menzies: One Man Against Monima
The new Northern Regional Health Manager Audibaldo Monima has been pilloried in the press because he doesn't have the qualifications for the job. But while we in the press have discussed his lack of suitability for the post at length one well known activist is angry that the public isn't really picking up on it. Patrick Menzies set up a protest outside the Corozal Community Hospital to encourage to north to speak out against Monima:... Patrick Menzies, protestor: "Well we are out here because we want to bring attention, the news has been saying it, but many Belizeans haven't been paying attention especially up North. We have a situation where you have the Minister of Health appointing an individual that is not close to being qualified for the position he's been given and not just that, maybe a nice coast guard officer and I'm a military, so I respect coast guard officers that's fine. "

Bze Catholics Call On Guat Faithful For a Border Mass
Two weeks ago, the National Evangelical Association of Belize held a cross border prayer service at the Belize Guatemala adjacency zone in Benque. Over 60 pastors attended along with a reported 130 persons from both Belize and Peten. Now although, border tensions have somewhat subsided, the Belize Ramon Catholic church is trying its hand in this initiative and plans to visit the Benque border this weekend to do their own cross border prayer service with their Guatemalan counterparts. Today we spoke to Bishop Christopher Glancy, who represents the Catholic diocese on the board of the Belize Council of Churches. He told us that their main inspiration for organizing this event was Guatemala's Archbishop Julio Vian's words on the Belize Guatemala dispute. Here is how he explained it. Bishop Christopher Glancy, Auxiliary Bishop of Belize: "We are planning to have a mass, a Eucharist at the adjacency zone in the Melchor, Benque border crossing there where the Organization of American States has an office between the two customs post."

The Moral Tightrope Between Terror, Hate Crimes And Sin
While we spoke to Bishop Glancy we also got a chance to ask him about the current LGBT discussion - centered around Sunday's massacre at a gay night club in Orlando, Florida. Now the Catholic Church disavows homosexuality as sinful, but what is the Church's response to the Orlando mass-killing? We asked Bishop Glancy today. Bishop Christopher Glancy, Auxiliary Bishop of Belize: "No, ours would be one of horror just as it is as it is for so many around the world. We certainly send out prayers to the families who lost loved ones in that senseless act of violence. We in no way condone violence against people of homosexual orientation in any way. We believe that we have to respect people and part of that is certainly respecting life. We pray for them, their families and that this kind of violence and terrorism would cease. It's not what we believe in at all."

Deon Got A (Pen)Gun
Benque Police have charged a man for stashing weed and a pen gun inside his tennis shoe. The police were on patrol around 8:00 yesterday morning when they spotted 23 year old Ladyville resident Deon Rowland Jex. Jex was acting suspiciously and they searched him. The officers didn't find anything on him but they weren't satisfied, so they took Jex to the Benque Viejo Police Station and searched him thoroughly, that is when they found 7.9 grams of weed hidden in his shoe and a pen gun that fell out of his pants. Jex was charged with Possession of controlled drugs, possession of Prohibited firearm and mischievous act.

Monchie's Ride Got Smashed During Pint Bottle Battle
We know all too well of the crazy stuff that happens during elections - the choice words or dirty talk that is thrown around about opponents, not to mention the brawls or just the very heated confrontations between opposing camps. Well, that is the same spirit that overtook the village council elections in Orange Walk North this weekend. After the UDP's slate won on Sunday in San Jose Village, there was reportedly a pint bottle battle between UDP Gaspar Vega's supporters and the PUP crowd from Monchie Cervantez's camp . A PUP party supporter was even struck in the head with a bottle. Now, Orange Walk North is already one of the most contentious constituencies - matter of fact, Monchie Cervantez has even accused Gaspar Vega of plotting a murder conspiracy against his father - so things in Orange Walk-North are never cool. And Sunday's pint fight was a reflection of all that simmering tension. PUP Standard Bearer Monchie Cervantez spoke to our colleagues at CTV-3 and he explained his version of what happened and what might have fueled the escalation.

How Do Muslims Feel About Orlando Mass Murder?
The massacre in Orlando is the worst mass shooting in US history, and that spells trouble for Muslims worldwide, since the killer Omar Mateen, professed to be a Muslim. Now, the Muslim community is observing Ramadan this month. It is the holiest event in the Islamic Calendar - when Muslims fast and pray five times per day. And in the middle of this prayerful time, comes the something as vile and horrific as the Orlando mass murder. Today we spoke to Naveed Mangla, a leader of one of the Muslim communities in Belize, who gave us their response to this latest incident.

The Magnificent Stela At Xunantunich
Today, the Ministry of Culture invited the press to Xunantunich, in the Cayo District. The news is that the Department of Archaeology, in partnership with the Northern Arizona University, had been excavating one of the temples, when they made an exciting discovery. It's a Stela which was buried under the overgrown forest which covered this temple. Now as viewers know, Stelae are the Maya's preserved historical record, which notes important events of that period, and this particular one tells the story of the wife of one of Rulers of the most successful Mayan City States. Our news team arrived back from Western Belize just before the start of News, and here's how they explained the discovery: We'll have a full in depth look at the archaeological find in tomorrow's news.

Diane Departs ... Soon
But, while we were in Western Belize, we got an opportunity to speak with Diane Haylock, the President of NICH who's leaving the job after 8 years for a diplomatic posting in Taiwan. Here's what she and State Minister Elodio Aragon had to say about her exit and how they will work to find her replacement: Hon. Elodio Aragon, Min. of State, Youth and Sports: "Miss Diane will be moving on to Taiwan as the Ambassador. The Prime Minister has given her that opportunity to go out there and I believe she will be taking that up." Daniel Ortiz: "We were under the impression that you would remain president emeritus or perpetuity, but we understand you are moving on." Diane Haylock, President - NICH: "Nothing lasts forever. I have spent 8 good years at NICH. It has been an amazing experience for me. One that, lessons I've learnt from being here, lessons I could not have learn from being in a classroom or from reading books. I have grown to appreciate my country even more than I did before then - If that were even possible, because I love Belize."

Channel 5

Leaked Diplomatic Note: Guatemala says No Agreement Allowing Belizeans Access to Sarstoon
Belizeans are free to access our portion of the Sarstoon - go forth and enjoy. That's pretty much the last word, not in so many words, that we got from [...]

Belize/Guatemala Territorial Dispute at 46th O.A.S. General Assembly
Earlier we told you about the terse diplomatic note sent by Guatemala to Belize, rejecting the notion that there is free access to the Sarstoon by Belizeans. While that diplomatic [...]

Chief Justice tells UB Graduates to Become Aware of Belize/Guatemala Dispute
The territorial dispute remains at the national front burner and was a topic at this year's graduation season. On Sunday, the largest number of students graduated from the University of [...]

Man Acquitted of Rape of 8 year old Girl in the South
A father from Bella Vista, Stann Creek, who was accused of committing a heinous crime of raping and sodomizing an eight-year-old girl in February 2014, is tonight a free man [...]

Spoonaz Caf� Burglar Caught and Arraigned
Spoonaz Caf�, the well-known and popular business place on North Front Street, Belize City, was burglarized recently and the culprit was caught on a surveillance camera. He has been identified [...]

Poll: Should the Referendum Law be Amended?
And tonight's question is: Do you support an amendment of the Referendum Law from the sixty percent threshold to a simple majority of the population to vote? Send your comments [...]

Major Discovery at Xunantunich
Xunantunich, or Stone Woman, is one of the country's more popular Mayan sites, located just across the Mopan River in San Jose, Succotz�one kilometer away from the Guatemalan border. Centuries [...]

Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission Gives Update
Since its establishment in January, the local media has only met with the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission on two occasions, the second being this morning during a breakfast meeting [...]

Consultant says No Conflict between Maya People and Government
The consent order issued by the CCJ in April 2015, has seemingly different interpretations, despite its clarity.� As a result, there are mixed messages being spread across the communities.� The [...]

Government Has to Spearhead Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission
The perception, based on recent incidents involving both parties, is that there is an adversarial relationship between the commission and representatives of the Maya communities.� However, the directive handed down [...]

Commission Chair says Consultations to Begin this Weekend
According to Alamilla, a string of consultations will commence this weekend and those will be preceded by a round of meetings with government to bring officials up to speed with [...]

Arsonist Caught on Surveillance Video
A vehicle was deliberately set on fire on Monday afternoon; it was the property of businessman Evan Tench of Techtronic's Communication located on Amara Avenue, Belize City. The vehicle, a [...]

Wanna Be a Firefighter? Here's how!
The National Fire Service, under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, Transport and National Emergency Management is looking for competent persons to join its ranks as firefighter. Today, Station [...]

Blood Connects Us All - World Blood Donor Day Celebrated in Belize
Donating blood may not be an enjoyable experience for many, but knowing the process and the importance can reduce fear. Today was celebrated as World Blood Donor Day; an occasion [...]

LOVE FM

Lisel Alamilla Hosts Media for Breakfast to Discuss the Commission
The last we heard about the Chair of the Maya Lands Rights Commission it was the Toledo Maya Leaders complaining that she had ejected them from her office after they sought to meet with her. Today the Maya Land Rights Commission held a media sensitization breakfast in Belize City. According to Chair of the Commission, [�]

Heads Buck in Developing Mechanism in the Maya Land Rights Matter
Legal Consultant for the Commission, Tony Ross said that adequate representation for the Mayas remains a problem. TONY ROSS "The order said in consultation with the Maya people or their representatives we are to develop a legislative, administrative or other measures necessary to create an effective mechanism that is what we've got to do and [�]

Consultations Set to Begin in Toledo on Maya Land Rights Issues
As it relates to ongoing consultations, Head of the Commission Lisel Alamilla, gave the dates for the upcoming consultations. LISEL ALAMILLA "Mr.Ross is here this week and we are taking the opportunity of him being here to have our first series of consultations with the villages of San Felipe, Big Falls and San Vicente. Based [�]

Petition Launched for Government to Ban Glyphosate Chemical
To the regular consumer or citizen, the chemical, Glyphosate may mean nothing; but for the workers in the agricultural sector, its use, its effectiveness and its dangers are well known. Glyphosate is an herbicide that farmers use on the plants' leaves to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses while the sodium salt form of glyphosate [�]

Climate Change Centre Wins Energy Globe Award 2016
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5 C's) was recently announced as the 2016 Energy Globe winner for a project they had submitted on Belize. The Climate Change Centre is based in Belize and had submitted the project of a mobile biogas laboratory at the University of Belize's Belmopan Campus with the objective of building [�]

Businessman's Vehicle Set Ablaze
Yesterday a vehicle belonging to businessman Evan Tench was set ablaze. Tench's Jeep Wrangler was parked outside his business place when a staff member noticed a male person outside who was around the vehicle via their surveillance camera. At first she thought the man was urinating near the vehicle, but he moved away. About two [�]

One Man's Tale of Why He Stood Alone and Protested the Employment of Unqualified Health Worker
Activist, Patrick Menzies today held a protest in front of the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town. Menzies told Love News he was protesting the appointment of Audibaldo Monima as the new Regional Health Manager. Menzies said Monima is not qualified for the post he holds. PATRICK MENZIES "The reason is very evident that [�]

Orange Walk Council Continues Infrastructural Improvements
With the rainy season here, the concerns surrounding flood prone areas has returned at the forefront of residents and farmers. We have heard recently from Mayor of Belize City, Darrell Bradley on what the council is doing to deal with the flood prone areas. Love News also spoke with Mayor Kevin Bernard for Orange Walk [�]

Mayor Bernard Opposes Sex Work and Seeks To Reduce It In His Municipality
Some weeks ago we brought you a story on the organization, Tikkun Olam. It is an agency set up to advocate for sex workers in making their choice of work legally acceptable in Belize. Elisa Castaneda, who heads the organization, told Love News that the organization seeks to empower women. For context, we bring you [�]

Siblings Resort to Court to Settle Land Dispute
Seventy-five year old Albert Hoare Sr., a resident of Camalote Village, is faced with an eviction charge at Belmopan magistrate's Court in which his sister, Isabel Hoare, is seeking to have him evicted from his portion of a 15 acre piece of land in Camalote. The property was leased to the father of the two, [�]