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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


Ambergris Today

Denise Alfaro Celebrates Quincea�os with Grand Party
Special Birthday Greetings are on hand for Denise Alfaro who celebrated her 15 Birthday (Quincea�os) on Saturday, August 13, 2016 with a grand 'Candyland' themed celebration. After her celebratory mass held at the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church, Denise hosted a one-of-a-kind party that featured special acrobatic performances, stilt dancers and plenty of candy, party favors and entertainment for her guests. Happy Birthday Denise from Ambergris Today!

Belizean Olympic Athletes Instill Pride After Competing in Rio
"Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now!! These girls are super fast! I'm going to give my absolute all. If I run a personal best time it will be my greatest achievement! So I'm going to go out there and get it!!" - Katy Sealy With this post on her Facebook profile the day before her Olympic run, Katy Sealy took on the 100M Hurdles this morning at 8:05a.m. at the Rio Olympic Games. Sealy did an amazing job at representing Belize, although not being able to qualify to the semifinal round; she knew she was up against some fast competitors. Similarly, Brandon Jones competed in the Men's 200M this morning and Renick James represented in the Judo - 90kg category on August 10th; the support from Belizeans from around the world was unconditional.

Submarine Fiber Optic To San Pedro, BTL to Improve Services
Submarine network provider Huawei Marine Networks has announced a partnership with Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to build an undersea cable system connecting Belize's mainland with the island of San Pedro, Belize's largest and fastest growing tourist area. The undersea cable, named Strategic Evolution Underwater Link (SEUL), is a key piece to BTL's promise to modernize its mobile and landline network to significantly improve broadband connectivity and quality across the country. The modernization project includes deploying LTE (4G) mobile service and fiber to residential and business buildings (FTTX) in San Pedro.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Groundbreaking ceremonies for new polyclinic in San Narciso and Chunox
Groundbreaking ceremonies to officially commence the construction of a new polyclinic in San Narciso and Chunox were held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. The Government of Belize steadfast in its continued commitment to address the basic needs of Belizeans, in the areas of water, sanitation, education and primary health care services is funding polyclinic project at an estimated cost of $900,000.00 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. Completion of the new polyclinics is scheduled for March 2017.

San Ignacio & Santa Elen Creole Drumming Group
Photos of he newly formed San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture (NICH) Creole Drumming Group in action! It was indeed a delight seeing and hearing these 13 youths playing the Creole drums, at the Cayo Welcome Center on Saturday night for the launch of the September celebrations.

MSBC Congress in Belize next week!
Quite a complicated and very well-crafted work of pyrography in wood of Laurel, with almost all of the components species of biology and the main logo of the mesoamerican society for the biology and conservation, wood 15 pulgs wide x 21 Pulgs long and locks as components in total plus of flora, 15 species, 3 Birds, 5 mammals, 1 Butterfly, 2 bugs, 2 Orchids, 1 Frog, the names Of every member state, in end took 16 hours interrupted,

Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation (Belize Chapter)
Our congress program is jam packed with interesting talks and networking events. Now you can join us on Tuesday, 23rd August 2016 for a screening of the self produced and distributed film, Americas In Between-An Adventure In Nature. Synopsis of the film: "Isthmus that connects the North to the South, Central America is one of the richest and most threatened reservoirs of biodiversity of the planet. From Southern Mexico to Panama, Barbara and Julien led a 200-day expedition alongside those who act to protect nature in this region. Through encounters, discoveries and testimonies, the two biologists share with us their adventure, both scientific and human. This inspiring documentary, on a road movie tone, warns us to take urgent action, invites us to reconsider our relationship with nature and questions our answers in addressing the biodiversity crisis".

Girls Going Global in Belize
Recently Ambassador Moreno and Embassy staff had the opportunity to host the AMAZING young women traveling with Girls Going Global, a nonprofit organization that exposes undeserved girls to travel and service, at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan. During their visit Embassy, staff briefed the young women on the operations and goals of an Embassy and provided an interactive tour. We hope to see some of these young ladies back at the Embassy in the future, maybe as future leaders and employees!

BHA AND SALVADOR FILM CREW PROMOTING BELIZE !!
The Belize Hotel Association recently attended Expovaciones in Salvador in July, where we received extensive media coverage from the local television and radio stations. As a result, a Salvador Film Crew, of five persons, headed by producer, Licenciado Jorge Alberto Cortez, was sent to Belize, from August 3-7, by one of the most viewed TV stations in Salvador. The crew was brought to Belize by Andreas Tours, a travel agency from El Salvador, who also brought a large tour group to the country for these three days. They arrived in Belize, on Wednesday morning and experienced Hurricane Earl here in Belize City. The crew lost one day of production, because of the storm and their itinerary had to be rearranged at the last minute. Extensive filming was done in Belize City on Friday August 5. On Saturday August 9, the crew traveled to Caye Caulker and shot some great footage on the beach. They also were very pleased to be granted an impromptu interview with the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr, and the Mayoress of the island, Mrs. Enelda Rosado.

BHA in ASTA Network Magazine's Summer 2016 Edition
The Summer 2016 edition of ASTA Network Magazine is out and the Belize Hotel Association is prominently displayed in a full page Ad, alongside a diving article where Belize is named as one of the Four Diving Hotspots of the world! This edition, will be distributed in print to a readership of over 55,000 US travel trade professionals. An E-blast version of the e-zine and this Summer 2016 edition will appear on the official ASTA website for one full year. ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) is the world's largest association of travel professionals. It's agents represent 83% of all travel sold through the travel agency distribution channel which totaled $122 billion last year. The mission of ASTA and its affiliated organizations is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism.

New School Year at Ocean Academy
Monday August 29th, Ocean Academy reopens for the 2016-2017 school year. We look forward to welcoming our new and returning students on campus! Note the revised dates for our first week due to storm recovery efforts, per Ministry of Education instructions.

BONEYFISH....by Clinton Canul Luna
t is sad to see how our Corozal culture has been set aside to introduce one invented by those who are in charge of the preservation of our identity. There are so many things that can be mentioned which with time it had gradually been on constant changes and prohibition of our eating habits. For many years, from the time I know myself, we were already eating a fish we know here in the North as Macabi, commonly known as "bony fish." Macabi has a special taste, unlike any other fish, because of the way it is roasted. We have been enjoying the delicacy of such sea food from time which I think there is no information of its beginning. Native and autochthonous Belizeans have been savoring the taste of this delicious fish in "panades" (empanadas) and fish balls. Nonetheless, for some unknown intelligent minds, it has been prohibited for Belizeans to taste their own food. Now, our dear readers, Belize has 174 miles of waterfront, straight into the Caribbean Sea, as far as your eyes can see. It is impossible for a little handful of people to put in danger the extermination of such sea food. But, it seems as if it is of more value for the tourists to use it as bait for their fishing sport. It won't take too long when we will be STOPPED from cooking rice and beans, since it will be served to us from some unknown transnational corporations which will process and tin it for the Belizean population's consumption. Of course, for it to be nice and juicy, you'll have to get yourself a microwave for your rice and beans to be heated.

Channel 7

Tornado Tore Up Spanish Lookout
Just like the rest of the country, the Spanish Lookout Community, in the Cayo District, continues to recover from the damage that Hurricane Earl did. But, on Sunday afternoon, another storm hit them; and this one was like a tornado. Now the experts say that tornados don't happen in Belize. Well, we went to the Cayo District to speak to those affected, and they say that what hit them can't be described as anything else. Daniel Ortiz reporting: The roof of this building on the compound at Plett's Home Building was not torn off during Hurricane Earl. It was torn on Sunday afternoon when a when a twister-like storm hit the Spanish Lookout Community. The residents swear that it was a tornado.

Reports: GOB Won't Appeal CJ Decision
Will the Government of Belize appeal the Chief Justice's landmark decision on section 53 of the criminal code? Six days ago the CJ ruled that it was unconstitutional to discriminate against homosexuals and re-worded the section to say it "shall not apply to consensual sexual acts between adults in private." Yesterday, you heard Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber suggest that the matter should be put to a referendum, while former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington told PLUS TV that he thinks the government should appeal it:... Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Former Attorney General: "Some sections of the public are not happy with the decision and I think that we should do all in powers to ventilate the matter as widely as possible, so that nobody can say or have any criticisms of the government." Well, tomorrow Prime Minister Dean Barrow will announce government's official position on the judgment. He will do so at a press conference at the Biltmore Plaza at 2:30 pm. Our sources say that the Government will NOT appeal the judgment - which will surely be to the dismay of many Christian critics of the Chief Justice's decision.

A Sickening Case Of Abuse
Last night we told you about the sickening Santa Elena Sodomy case involving a 16 year old boy and his 11 year old brother. The incident reportedly happened on Friday night at their home while the child was asleep. Police say another brother made the report after he noticed his 11 year old brother acting strangely. Investigators told us today that the medical examination confirmed that the boy's anus was torn. San Ignacio police along with social services are working on this case. More statements need to be recorded and once the file is complete it will be sent to the DPP. Police say the 16 year old is not known to be violent or abusive.

A Case Of Cruel Cop Abuse Alleged In PG
We usually hear about allegations of police brutality from city residents but this time, the allegation is coming from Punta Gorda. San Marcos resident Mario Makin is clinging to life at the Western Regional Hospital after he alleges he was attacked by police. The incident happened on Saturday night after 9:00 while Makin was at his friend's store. The report is that police rode up to the store and started to beat another man. Makin then came out to see what was going on and police grabbed him and allegedly beat up him too. The other person got away but it seems Makin got the worst of it. When we spoke to Makin's friend today, she told us that after the beat down police threw Makin at the junction of San Marcos and it's only until Sunday morning that some villagers saw him splayed on the road. Makin was then rushed to the Punta Gorda Hospital where he had to undergo surgery because his bowels were ruptured and he could not breathe properly.

They Chanced Chef Ainsley
Tonight 18 year-old Lemar Lamb, and 21 year-old Kareem Betancourt at the Belize Central Prison. That's after they were taken to court for an armed robbery of a well-known Belize City Chef. The victim is 38 year-old Ainsely Castro, who has his kitchen on Lacroix Boulevard. He told police that on Friday afternoon, at around 1:30 p.m., 3 men barged into his business place, one of them armed with handgun. Castro said that the men held him up and then proceeded to steal $3,800 dollars in cash, his thousand dollar gold chain, his cell phone and his wallet. Two days later, acting on intelligence, police went to house on Pelican Street, where they found Castro's stolen phone. As a result, Lamb was arrested and charged with Robbery, while Betancourt and 20 year-old Jermaine Wagner were charged with handling stolen goods.

Men Charged For Spanish Lookout Slaying
Last night we told you that 2 men have already been charged in connection to the Spanish Lookout murder of Ever Miranda. Those men are Gladimir Bartolo Shish and Carlos Antonio Rodriguez Mendendez. Both were charged with murder. They were arraigned this morning and remanded until October 17th. The incident happened early Sunday morning at La Pasadita Bar. Miranda was defending his cousin after Shish and Mendendez had a crass remark and that is what led to the confrontation. One of the men shot Miranda in the shoulder and the other chopped him in the face.

Northside Cops Take On Mentoring Of Youths
We've heard of community policing - but today northside police took it to another level when they sort of adopted a group of deserving kids. It's part of a larger mentoring program and today 10 police officers kicked it off with lunch and back to school shopping. We spoke to officer commanding northside, ASCP Dezeree Phillips:... ASP Desiree Phillips, OC - Eastern North Division: "What we have done here, we have identified 12 young persons who we believe are underprivileged, who are desirous of some assistance to get them prepared for back to school and so we would called it "Back to school shop with a Cop"." Courtney Weatherburne: "How are these kids selected?" ASP Desiree Phillips, OC - Eastern North Division: "They were selected in collaboration with the school's principals, teachers, counselor in support with our community policing officers who visit them every day. This is something that we have been planning from early May and so even before school closed, we already did a survey and we had our names."

BTL Wants To Take Fiber To Homes
Last night we told you about BTL's plan to run a 13 million dollar submarine fiber optic cable to San Pedro Town. That won't land on the island until July of 2017, and during that 11-month window BTL has to try and lay out fiber optic infrastructure on the island - otherwise, it'll be like having a racecar, without a racetrack. Chairman of the Executive Committee Anwar Barrow said that fiber is the future of internet to your home and business, and the company is starting a new programme of residential fiber connection:... Anwar Barrow, Chair, Executive Committee - BTL "We have a series of fiber to the home projects that we are going to be inaugurating at the end of this month starting off and we also have one in San Pedro which goes hand in hand with this link and what that is that we are building out fiber throughout the island and throughout the country to connect people's home directly by fiber connection. Right now most of the homes are connected by copper wires which are old, which have been degraded and we are replacing that.

142 New Belizeans
142 new Belizean citizens were sworn in on Friday in Belmopan at the George Price Center. The highlight of ceremony was an oath and the handing out of nationality certificates. Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration Beverly Castillo presided over the event, along with new Director Of Immigration Diana Locke.

150 Guatemalan Workers Without Work Permits Turned Back
In other Immigration news, the Department put down the hard line yesterday and turned back 150 Guatemalan workers. These persons cross daily from Melchor into Belize without hindrance, but for a month they have been warned that they have to get, or show a work permit. Yesterday was the deadline, and those who did not have a permit to show were turned back. We're told that they returned back to Melchor very upset that they were not being allowed into Belize, and an impromptu protest was to have taken place. It didn't but local reports suggest that they have approached the Melchor Mayor to have him intercede on their behalf. Since then, a number of them have realized the Belizean law is not on their side, and they have moved to get work permits. The other side of this story is that many of them have work permits but they don't want to use it because that would mean getting their passports stamped, which would disqualify them from earning permanent residence status which requires un-interrupted residence in Belize.

Belize Track And Fielders Brought Up The Rear In Rio
Belize sent a contingent of three athletes to the Rio Olympics and today, two of them, Katy Sealy and Brandon Jones competed in their track and field events. Katy Sealey was slated for the 100m Hurdles and Brandon Jones ran in the 200m. They both came dead last - with no chance of advancing. Not a stellar day for sports, not at all, but since the races happened at 8:05 am, and 9:50 am when most were at work, just for the record, here are their performances:...

Reuters Turns To Johnny Zabaneh
We've told you all about the residential damage caused by hurricane Earl, but the substantial damage to Belize's crops has gotten far less attention. For bananas, many farms were completely wiped out, except - by some strange act of providence - for Meridian Farms - the one linked to Johnny Zabaneh. It's a fact, while farms right next to Meridian suffered 100% crop losses, Meridian had only about 1% loss due to Earl. Bad news is, because of the Zabaneh's Kingpin designation, Meridian has no one to sell to - so the bananas are just there rotting or waiting for someone to come along and cut them down. It's put a hurting on Belize's economy, and today the international news agency Reuters did an extensive story to show just how much it's hurt the economy. The article points to the steep 42% drop in banana shipments since Fyffes stopped buying from Meridian farms - and that drove "a two percent drop in economic output in the first quarter."

The Best Songs Of The Celebration Season
The 2016 Song Competition was held on Saturday at Mrmorial PArk. That's the event which opens NICH's September Celebrations Calendar every year. That competition happened on Saturday night, and at the end of over 3 hours of performances, the judges chose the winners, Cecil "Cocono Bwai" Jenkins Jr., Wilson Grinage, Jeanie Brooks, and Leslie "Bastic" Jenkins. Here's a short excerpt of their winning performances: You can hear all the songs from finalists at www.mynationalsong.bz.

A New Senator/Minister
And finally tonight, we note the swearing of Attorney General Vanessa Retreage as a Senator and a Minister. She was sworn in as senator yesterday, and then shuttled over to the Governor General's residence for her ministerial Oath of Allegiance, as the new Minister of Natural Resources. Retreage becomes the first female Minister of Natural Resources in memory, and the first attorney.

Channel 5

An eleven year old is allegedly sodomized by sibling
There is a despicable report coming out of the Cayo District involving the sexual assault of an eleven-year-old boy in Santa Elena. Even more disturbing is that the minor was [...]

2 Cayo men charged for murder at a bar
Two persons have been charged in connection with the murder of Duck Run Two resident, forty-one-year-old Hever Miranda. Late Monday evening, after twenty-four hours of investigation, San Ignacio police charged [...]

Will William Mason surveillance tapes catch Ministers doing wrong?
On Monday, Senior Counsel Richard "Dickie" Bradley, attorney for Melissa Ferguson, accused of conspiring to kidnap Pastor Llewellyn Lucas and David Dodd, all but assured the press after her bail [...]

New Police Minister meets top brass in Department
On Monday afternoon, a meeting was held at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan between the top brass of the Belize Police Department and the new Minister of Police Godwin [...]

"Amateur" investigator in William Mason case to get guidance from superiors
But on the investigation of William "Danny" Mason, as we've reported in the past, several high ranking officers are of the opinion that the lead investigator for the crime involving [...]

Deputy P.M. sober in analysing Saldivar's fall from grace
John Saldivar's fall from grace as Minister of National Security, a consolidated portfolio which at the time included the Belize Police Department, the National Coast Guard and the Belize Defense [...]

Trio arraigned for robbing Chef Ainsley at home
A trio of men was charged with robbery and handling stolen goods and they were arraigned this morning before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser.� Thirty-one-year-old Kareem Betancourt, a tour guide with [...]

Judoka Renick James speaks about Olympics experience
Belize is being proudly represented at the Olympics by Belizeans Katy Sealy, Brandon Jones and Renick James.� James, who competed in judo, lost his ninety-kilogram or hundred and ninety-eight pound [...]

James says Belize can win medals in Judo
James, an instructor with the Belize Judo and Jiujitsu Academy, is proud of completing the match and representing his country. He says that Belize can look forward to medals in [...]

Belizeans cheer on Simone Biles as she wins gold again
Eleven Miss Belize pageant contestants and their director; the Special Envoy for Women and Children; the Vice-President of OCEANA in Belize; the Music Ambassador and son of the Prime Minister, [...]

Is cheering for non-Belizean athletes hurting our own?
Biles, who has Belizean parentage, has accepted an offer of a visit for her and her teammates to the Jewel by the Belize Tourism Board, although details are to be [...]

Minister of Immigration addresses border issues�
On Monday, tensions ran high at the western border with Guatemala in Benque Viejo del Carmen. Police and immigration were stationed at the border stopping Guatemalan laborers who travel to [...]

Hulse Says work permits a privilege, not a right
According to Hulse, they were unaware of the illegal practice and it must be corrected. But Hulse says that work permits are a privilege not a right.   Godwin Hulse, [...]

For Back-To-School, Shop With A Cop!
Back-to-School preparations continue for most families with children of school age.� For those who are in dire need of financial assistance, particularly in light of the recent hurricane, members of [...]

High Schooler In Program No Longer Afraid of Police Officers
Fourteen-year-old Aaliyah Tzul is among the twelve participants.� As a second form student at E.P. York High School, she has been paired with Inspector Martha Rhys of the Domestic Violence [...]

Anti-Drug and Life Skills Summer Program Closes in Belize City
Today, the Eastern Division South Police Department hosted a closing ceremony for a second summer program hosted by its community policing unit at the Gateway Youth Center on south side [...]

Red Cross Receives Hurricane Earl Donation from BECOL/FORTIS
The Belize Red Cross continues to receive donations to assist with hurricane relief in the aftermath of Earl.� The Category One storm wreaked havoc primarily in the northern section of [...]

More Than 300 Families will receive cash transfer
While the donations will be paid out using a cash transfer system, the focus at the moment continues to be areas hardest hit by Hurricane Earl, including the Vista Del [...]

Belize International Jazz Festival continues with concerts
A classical concert is underway at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts as part of the Belize International Jazz Festival.� That event will be followed at ten o'clock by a [...]

11 Belizean beauties to vie for Miss Belize
The journey begins for eleven Belizean beauty ambassadors from across the country as they vie for the title of Miss Belize and an opportunity to represent the Jewel in the [...]

CTV3

Postmortem Revealed That San Narciso Resident Died Of Natural Causes
Last night we reported about the lifeless body of thirty two year old Basilio Patt, a resident from the village of San Narciso that was discovered at about 6:00 a.m. yesterday at the location where the annual San Joaquin Fiesta had been held. While we had told you that authorities did not find any visible signs of violence on the thirty two year old to suspect foul play�.the family of the deceased believe that their loved one might have come under attack. Angelina Patt - Voice of Mother: "Mi hijo venia de trabajar y un amigo sali� y dijo que lo pegaron y mi nuera estaba trabajando adonde ellos trabajan y que una amiga lo llamo que Chilo lo pegaron y ella no lo creo y llamo a mi hijo que es su marido y le dice que mataron a Chilo pero no le digas a tu mama porque ella se va altera, pero si mi mama ya lo escucho; pues no, no me espanto porque para m� yo no pens� que �l est� muerto porque �l no anda peleando y mi esposo estaba yendo a su trabajo cuando una vecina sali� y le dice, se�or usted sabe que Chilo lo mataron dice el as� no lo s�, pues si est�n diciendo que ya lo mataron y hasta cuando vino su papa de la doctora confirmo que si lo mataron entonces yo vine a creer que si lo mataron y hasta ahorita nadie me han avisado solo por los amigos yo supe que �l est� muerto y mi hijo el que anda en las vueltas fue a verlo es cuando a m� me vinieron avisar y despu�s �l dijo que si lo est�n llevando en Orange Walk porque ac� no hay morgue lo tuvieron que llevar haya no se de polic�a nada, nada, nada."

Sodomy Law Caused Controversy
It's been almost one week since the Supreme Court of Belize passed a historic ruling, legalizing gay sex between consenting adults. The ruling made by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin was met with mixed response by the Belizean population. And while the Government of Belize is yet to state their position on the ruling, yesterday during a press conference called by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber, he was asked for his opinion on the ruling. Honorable Patrick Faber - Deputy Prime Minister of Belize: "In that instance then I would act as an agent for the people who I served as opposed to giving my own personal view, how is it that I determine what the view of those who I represent are is something that is given great consideration to over the last few days whether that means I don't think that Facebook is a good or Social Media is a good indicator although that seems to be the court of public opinion in these days but maybe some kind of survey or check moving around the constituency to see what the views of our constituents are or maybe to the extent of us as a nation have a referendum to let the Belizean people to decide how is it that they wat to see us move, I think it is such a big decision that the Belizean people should have a say and that we should not have necessarily individual leaders and lawmakers impressing on the Belizean people their own personal and individual ways."

Immigration Office Look Into Worker's Permit From Guatemalans
Yesterday many residents from the neighboring country of Guatemala, who regularly cross into Belize to work on the strength of their passports alone were halted by Belizean immigration at the Western Border. Information is that Belizean authorities were requesting work permits which the visitors could not produce, as a result reports are that the large group of Guatemalans, who are in disagreement with the new requirements at the western border, have sought political assistance in their country to address the current situation. Since the requirements were implemented at the border in Benque Viejo, police presence was amped up and yesterday, Senator Godwin Hulse who is the Minister of Immigration explained the new implementations. "Yes the police and Immigration undertook an exercise this morning because there has been lots of people streaming across the border we understand that come to work and you cannot work in this country as a foreigner without a work permit as simple as that."

PlusTV

Belize received US $200,000 from Inter-American Development Bank for Hurricane Relief
Belize will be receiving 200 thousand US dollars in grant funding from the Inter- American Development Bank to assist the Government of Belize's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Earl. The objective of the grant is to support the National Emergency Mana...

New Attorney General Sworn In as Senator and Minister
This morning, the Attorney General Hon. Vanessa Retreage was officially sworn-in as a Senator and a Minister. Ms. Retreage was first sworn-in as a Senator before the President and other members of the Senate at the National Assembly Building during today's Senate Meeting. Thereafter, the new Senator...