AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Daily news prior to today Today's Belize News: July 28, 2017

The Guardian

GOB received $1.4 Million in donation
The Government of Belize was today the proud recipient of a $1.4 Million donation. The donation made by the US Embassy of behalf of the US government consists of nine Ford F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with forensic crime scene investigation equipment which will be used by the scenes of crime units country-wide to enhance their crime scenes' processing capabilities, along with other miscellaneous equipment and gear for the forensic firearms unit, which will be utilized to better enhance their capabilities in the analysis of firearms such as serial number restoration, and an X-ray machine which will be utilized by the medical examiner's office for location of bullets in gunshot victims to save them time when conducting autopsies.

Sick sexual abuse of little girls by their step father
On June 6, 2017, a 10-year old female student of Corozalito Village, in the presence of her mother and a Social Worker, reported that on December 28, 2016 while she was at home along with her stepfather and her little sister, she was in her room drying her skin when he pushed open the door. The minor was in the nude and he complimented her private area and left the room. The complainant then went to the kitchen and while she was washing some dishes, he kissed her on the mouth and told her that he loved her. He then proceeded to fondle her.

Friend beats friend to death
After being hospitalized for 8 days, Santa Elena Resident Marlon Peters died from a savage beatdown he reportedly suffered at the hands of his friend. On Wednesday, July 26, the man who beat him to death was charged for manslaughter. Peters, a 38 year-old employee of the Ministry of Works in Cayo, was socializing with his friend and co-worker, Errol Smith, on the evening of Friday, July 14. Neighbors don't know exactly why the two got into an argument, but they told the media that they heard the alleged assailant railing and cursing at Peters.

Belize signs 60 Million dollar memorandum with Taiwan
H.E. Dr. David Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is undertaking a three day visit to Belize, 26-28 July 2017, on the invitation of Hon. Wilfred P. Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize. Today Minister Lee signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation, through which Taiwan will provide $60m to Belize, one third in grants and the remainder in loans which will be disbursed over the next four years. This support will contribute directly to the development of Belize.

Golden citizens receive grocery packages
Over 100 Golden Citizens have been recipients of grocery care packages as part of Councilor Hyacinth Latchman-Cuellar and Councilor Kevin Singh's program "Because We Care." The duo took to the homes of many of the citizens to personally deliver the hampers on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. The deliveries will take place every two weeks. The councilors consider the hampers as gestures of appreciation for "treasured residents, the elderly."

Young people converged in Belmopan this week
Young people from across Belize have converged in Belmopan during the past few days, and for the remainder of this week, to learn lifelong skills via positive action. These activities are being supported by a cross section of the community, with the involvement of various Government Departments. Official opening ceremonies were held at the Hill Top Basketball Court in Belmopan last Friday for the 8th annual Youth Summer Camp, which is sponsored by Hon. John Saldivar, the Belmopan City Council and the Ministry of Sports. The camp consists of eight sporting disciplines namely: tennis; chess; football; softball; basketball; volleyball and flag football. The fun activities of tennis, chess and football have been running throughout this week, until July 28th. The other disciplines will begin on July 31st and so parents are now being encouraged to sign up their children.

THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE FENCE
Over and over and over and over the fence tells the people that they care for them�the only ones�.nobody else!! So, the agenda is to brainwash with repetition: for example, 'the white supremacy', 'imperials', 'oligarchy', 'capitalist', 'royal creoles' [not the Hydes-everybody else, though] - are the BUZZ words that they repeat over and over and over again. A brainwash is their agenda. These individuals continue to be hypocritical to the country. The flat line of X has told the youth over the many years that basketball and football is their solution. In other words, telling them, the youth that their ONLY talent is to play basketball and football.

�and the work continues in the East
The tireless leader and Area Representative for Orange Walk East, Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr. has delivered once more. The well-travelled road which was once the Northern Highway and part of the Pan-American route is now known as the "Old Northern Highway". This road which leads from Carmelita through several villages including Santa Martha, Maskall, St. Anne's, Santana, Corozalito, Lucky Strike, Boston and re-enters the Phillip Goldson Highway at Sandhill Village was in the early days the only route by which to reach Belize City and the rest of Central America by road.

Police minister continues countrywide tour in Benque
Belize's Minister for the police recently conducted a tour of the Western Region. On Friday the 21st July, the Hon. Elodio Aragon Junior continued with his tour of the Cayo District Police Formation with a visit to the Benque Viejo Police Station. There, Hon. Aragon took the opportunity to inspect a guard of honor and met with the entire detachment personnel.

Hijacking protests
The protest against granting of bail to David and Anke Doehm , the two American adopted parents, of the dead American child Faye Lin Cannon, has now gotten political. On Friday while the couple were in court, appearing before Justice Hanamansingh, a small crowd of residents from San Pedro Ambergris Caye had gathered outside of the Supreme Court to make their displeasure known, about the fact that, there was the possibility that the couple could be granted bail. Under our laws persons who are charged for criminal offence(s) are guaranteed the right to apply for bail and to be given such bail. If said persons can satisfy the court that they will show up to court to face trial. However some of the protesters sounded like they would have preferred if the two accused persons were just sent to prison without even a trial. They sounded like they wanted them to be punished even though they were not convicted or even tried for any crime.

Partners in Sustainable Development - IDB and GOB
"Partners in Sustainable Development", a panel discussion, was held on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in the context of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Belize as an IDB member. The discussion came about as collaboration between the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Belize. The discussion sought to promote what they called a "high-level" discussion on the challenges and outlooks for sustainable development and growth as in accordance with Horizon 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2016-2020.

The truth behind the 2012 election numbers
For a long time now the PUP have been making the allegation that the UDP stole the 2012 elections by illegally naturalizing persons in January 2012 and then getting them registered in time to vote for the General Election of 2012 . We deliberately did not pay their chatter any attention even though we had in our possession the information that would blow their argument out of the water. However after Misho Chebat tried to directly implicate, the Hon Rene Montero in some sort of vote getting fraud we decided that enough is enough. They have been getting away with this sort of thing for way too long. Perhaps in a way we must take some of the blame for allowing, them to get away with their wild allegations. It is now time to put an end to that sort of thing. We will show you our readers the information we have in our possession. In so doing we hope to expose the PUP as the hypocrites they really are. The PUP as you may be well aware of by now are well known for accusing us of the very things they themselves are guilty of.

Remanded for inappropriately touching a boy
A Belize City man of the Baymen Avenue area in Belize City was accused of molesting a boy under the age of 16. He is 41-year-old Orlando Cho, a laborer. Cho was accused of touching the minor inappropriately on two separate occasions. The first occasion allegedly took place on July 18, 2017 where the boy was touched inappropriately on his genitals. The second occasion took place later that day, when Cho again touched the minor, this time on both private parts.

One man critical after accident at Boom Junction
On July 22, 2017 about 10:30 p.m., police responded to a road traffic accident near the Burrell Boom Junction. Upon arrival, they observed a van with L/P C- 06342 insured with Atlantic insurance on the left hand side of the highway facing Sandhill Village with its front portion extensively damage. The driver of the van was Ismael Castillo, a 30-year-old Belizean truck driver of Orange Walk Town. Also in the middle of the highway was a black Meilum motorcycle with L/P MC 4261 seen with its front portion extensively damaged. A Hispanic male person was seen lying face up on the left side of the highway in an apparent unconscious state. That person was observed with a large cut wound below the chin and was bleeding from the head.

15 thousand netted in burglary
On July 21, 2017, Ada Delgado of Buena Vista Village, Corozal reported that between July 15 and July 21, 2017, her home was broken into while she was away. Cash and jewelry were stolen all to a total value of $15,380. Some items were recovered and police investigation continues into this matter.

Trevaun Chee killed by a teenager with a bat
A 17 year-old minor was picked up and questioned by police for the murder of 22 year-old Belize City resident, Trevaun Chee. This Mahogany Street youth was clubbed across the head with a metal bat, and he later died. At around 2 p.m. of Friday, July 21, police had to rush Chee to the hospital after they found him bleeding from the mouth and an injury to the head. He was in the near proximity of his Mahogany Street extension home, and according to police, he encountered the minor. Police say that the two had a confrontation, and that's when the young man pulled a bat and struck him several times with it over the head. Police say that the minor pulled the metal bat, and that was the weapon he used to assault Chee with.

Chetumal Street bridge damaged by driver
On Sunday July 23, 2017 at about 3:20 p.m., police responded to a traffic accident on the Chetumal Street Bridge in Belize City. Upon arrival on the scene, police observed a Chrysler minivan bearing license plate number BC-D-8489 on the right hand side of the bridge facing a North Western direction with half of the vehicle on the walkway of the bridge. The right railing of the bridge was also observed with extensive damages.

Teenager and man charged with drug trafficking
On Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 3:00 p.m., Corozal Police were on a mobile patrol on the Phillip Goldson Highway, in the vicinity of San Pedro Village, when they stopped and searched 34-year-old Albert Humes of 4th Street, Altamira area, Corozal Town and 19-year-old Shanice Reyes of Raccoon street, Belize City. In a grey school bag that was between them, police found 3 packages wrapped in transparent plastic containing a total of 3,174 grams of cannabis. As a result, police arrested and charged them for the offence of drug trafficking.

Fatal traffic accident in Seine Bight
Dorla Flores, a 39-year-old cook of Seine Bight Village, was knocked down in Seine Bight Village on July 20, 2017 by a gray Silverado being driven by 19-year-old Obed Isaac Mojano of Blackman Eddy. Mojano was travelling in the direction from Seine Bight Village to Placencia Village. When he reached the end of the football field, he lost control of the vehicle.

Cecil Gill remanded to prison for murder
After two nights in police custody, 36-year-old Cecil Gill, who had surrendered to police on July 18, 2017 pending a charge of murder for the alleged stabbing of his friend, Phillip Michael Samuels, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate's Court on July 21, 2017. Gill appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser where he was read a single charge of murder.

Froylan Gilharry gets relief at CCJ
Belizean bus owner Froylan Gilharry Sr., has won a judgment against the Belize Government at the Caribbean Court of Justice. The final court of appeal in Belize has ruled that the Transport Board did not properly consider the renewal of Gilharry's application to lawfully operate his bus business, which frustrated his legitimate expectation to operate his company. This CCJ win is the first that Gilharry has gotten, because both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal rejected his claims.

High speed chase leads to drug bust and $10,000 fines
Patrick Petillo, a 23-year-old Belize City resident of Lovely Lane, is in debt to the court but lucky to be home after he took the rap for a large amount of weed found inside an SUV. While the SUV is owned by him, it was being driven by another man, Ronald Michael, at the time of the bust. Petillo, along with well-known individual, 28-year-old Ronald Michael, appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser on Monday, July 24, 2017 where they were charged jointly with one count of drug trafficking. Michael has been before the court on numerous charges, including drug trafficking.

Butane truck driver held up in Monkey River
Ernesto Blanco, a 42-year-old truck driver for Lucas Gas station of Bella Vista Village, Toledo, reported that on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. while in the vicinity of Monkey River Village driving a butane truck accompanied by his co-worker Winder Paredez, two male persons came out of the nearby bushes armed with a machete and demanded money. During the process, Paredez was inflicted a cut wound to the left side of his head. As a result he handed over a purse containing $1,800. Both assailants made good their escape. Police are investigating.

Medicine man robbed in Lake Independence
Hildardo Rosado, a 36-year-old Belizean Medicine Collector, reported that on Friday, July 21, 2017 at about 1:30pm, he was riding his motorcycle on Flamboyant Street, Belize City when he stopped to ask for direction and was approached by 2 men. One was riding a green BMX bicycle and took out a grey .9mm pistol and pointed it at him demanding that he hand over his backpack and proceeded to take it off his back. The men rode off in separate directions.

13 year old girl sexually molested by a man
A 13-year-old female reported that on July 15, 2017 about 11:40 a.m. upon arriving home, she discovered the house door open. While inside, a male person she knows as Arsenio Cano grabbed her and sexually assaulted her. They struggled and she managed to escape. Police have since arrested and charged Arsenio Cano, a 26-year-old Belizean laborer, with burglary, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

Wife walks away from aggravated assault charge against her husband
In December, a Japanese national Asako Solis, who has been living in Belize and married to Belizean businessman Elvis Solis, was accused of committing an aggravated assault with a firearm upon her estranged husband. The trial against Solis began three weeks ago before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser but has come to an end after Elvis Solis indicated that he did not wish to pursue the matter. On Tuesday, July 25, 2017, he told the magistrate that with his ex-wife in prison, their children would be without their mother. With that, prosecutor in the case Cpl. Christopher Smith discontinued offering evidence against the accused. As a result, Solis was free to go.

Costa Rica 3 peat as Central American U- 20 Female Volleyball champions
The XVII Central American U-20 Female Volleyball championship that was being hosted by the Belize Volleyball Association and played from July 19-22, 2017, at the St. Catherine Mercy Centre in Belize City came to an end on Saturday 22nd July with the final game played between Belize and Nicaragua. In the final match of the championship, Nicaragua defeated Belize in 3 sets by the score of 25-22, 25-23 and 25-16. With the loss to Nicaragua, Belize finished in the 5th position behind Costa Rica who repeated as the Central American U-20 champions, Honduras who finished in 2nd place, Guatemala in 3rd place, Nicaragua in 4th place, El Salvador in 6th place and Panama who finished in the 7th position.

Ahmadiyya Basketball League represent in Cancun
Ahmadiyya Basketball League Sent two teams to participate in the Copa Cancun 2017 Basketball Tournament that was held in Cancun, Mexico, from the 20th - 23rd July 2017. The teams that represented were of the U-17 and U-19 categories and both in the male division. They competed against teams from all over Mexico and also from Guatemala. In the U-17 division, Team Belize played 6 games, while winning 5 of them. The only defeat came in the semi-final round.

Independence United wins again in Stann Creek Softball competition
The 2017 Stann Creek Softball competition continued on Sunday 23rd July with 2 games played out at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence Village. In the first game played, Sittee River Lucky Stars defeated Hopkins Beach Girls by the score of 14-13. The winning pitcher was Pinky Andrews and the losing pitcher was Delaine Aranda. In the second and final game of the day, Independence United won handily over the Silk Grass Royale Girls by the score of 9-1. The game was called at the end of the 5th inning when the Run-Ahead Rule came into effect.

Digicell number one seed into city softball playoffs
The regular season for the Belize City Softball Association Senior Women's Competition will come to an end on Friday 28th July, 2017, when Beacon will go up against the number one seed into the playoffs Digicell. Digicell continued its dominance of the competition when on Monday 24th July it defeated the defending champions the Belize Bank Bulldogs by the score of 12-4. On Tuesday 25th July, Belize Bank won over the Beacon by the score of 12-2. The winning pitcher was Renisha Richards and the losing pitcher was Hortence Thurton.

Hurricane Facts & Tips - Atlantic Hurricane Season
During 1851- 2016 there were forty-eight (48) Atlantic July cyclones during 21- 31 July. Thirteen (13) formed in the Atlantic Ocean Main Development Region (MDR), eighteen (18) in the Gulf of Mexico, fourteen (14) in the vicinity of the Bahamas and along the U.S. eastern seaboard and three (3) in the Mid Atlantic Ocean. It is noteworthy that zero (0) cyclones formed in the Western Caribbean Sea. Hurricane Anna was the only cyclone that affected Belize and its coastal waters during 21 -31 July. Anna was the first storm of the 1961 Hurricane season and the single July cyclone for 1961. In 1961 there were eleven (11) cyclones, nine (9) Hurricanes and two (2) Tropical Storms. In 1961 there was 1 CAT 1, 3 CAT 3 and 2 CAT 5 Hurricanes and 2 Tropical Storms. There was no June nor August cyclones in 1961.

Little to no chance
I can recall that in the nineteen seventies OWT featured weekly on the front page of several newspapers, and once even blazed the cover of a popular magazine with the caption, "money, murder, guns and drugs" or something like that. You will also recall that the same seventies saw the best prices yet for sugarcane, so money was rolling in Sugarland those years. Many people got rich and many people died trying to get rich or to stay rich. During that same period I was attending Muffles College and could only stare in wonder at the rich kids in school. They had everything in life while I was dirt poor. That is why the other day when I saw one of those former rich kids with a shovel in his hand my flabber was ghasted. I mean, this guy had it all! A Big mansion with Brazilian tiles on the floors and bathrooms. There were color TV's connected to motorized antennas in several places in the castles. In the front lawns were top-of-the line, tinted, air-conditioned vehicles and large tractors to tend to expansive cane fields. One such big time lit his Piccadilly cigarette with a crispy 20 dollar bill right in front of me even as I could not afford to order another brew.

You Say I Should do what Now?
Today exists the largest generation of young people ever known. Technologies like mobile phones and social media have created a generation that is better connected than ever before, awakening in us a new sense of power and potential. Young people are providing the energy, creative ideas and determination to drive reform and create a world that we want to live in. But young people also face challenges. Social exclusion, lack of rights, poverty and many other issues must be overcome before we are able to fully exercise our potential. Volunteerism is one powerful way for us to gain a strong sense of civic engagement and stake claim in our communities, our countries, our world.

Words of Life with Pastor Barry Fraser
In 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 the Apostle Paul wrote: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

Scotiabank presents scholarships to students
On Friday July 21, 2017 at the Punta Gorda branch of Scotiabank, six students were presented scholarship grants from the bank. The grants and school supplies were presented to primary school students. The staff and management who made it possible were thanked for their effort, interest, and assistance in the educational development to all students, past and present ones, who have been affected by the program. Along with the students, their parents and the principal of Pueblo Viejo School, Steven Sho, were also present.

Social Security Board awards 43 scholarships
The 16th Social Security Board Scholarship Award Ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the George Price Center in Belmopan. At the ceremony, 43 students were scholarship recipients. Of the 43, 30 students were awarded high school scholarships, 12 sixth form scholarships, and 1 vocational. The students were chosen based on academic performance as well as economic need. The scholarship program relies on the contributions of employers and employees. The Board's objective is to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Belize and, according to Dr. Colin Young, C.E.O., S.S.B., the best way to do so is by investing in the educational opportunities of young people in the country.

Caribbean musical groups welcomed in San Ignacio
The University of the West Indies Arts Chorale, in a perfect synchrony with the UWI steel, has given a remarkable performance on Sunday evening at the Cayo Welcome Center in San Ignacio Town. Originating from the UWI Saint Augustine Campus, the unique musical ensemble delivered songs such as "Freedom is Coming", "Deliver Daniel" and the Spanish delight "Besame Mucho" to the much enjoyment by attentive listeners. In his opening address on Sunday, Deputy Mayor of the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena George Boiton welcomed the organizers and members of the delegation from Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of Mayor Earl Trapp Junior.

Breaking Belize News

Bandits FC getting ready for CONCACAF champions league game
The Belmopan Bandits Football Club (FC), winner of both the opening and the closing season of the Belize Premier Football League (BPFL), are getting ready to represent Belize in the ScotiaBank CONCACAF Champions League 2017. Their first game will be held on August 3, [�]

Transport department issues statement on reckless bus driver
The Department of Transport today issued a statement saying that it has viewed an amateur video recording circulating on social media, which captures what appears to be reckless behaviour on the part of a driver for a bus company which operates on a road [�]

Armenia villager robbed and stabbed multiple times by hitchhiker
Last night around 7:32, police visited the Western Regional Hospital where upon arrival they observed Adan Perez, 33,a Belizean bus driver of Armenia Village, Cayo District suffering with four stab wounds. Perez had one stab wound to the chest, two to the right abdomen, and one [�]

Important notice on illegal mining and dredging
The Ministry of Natural Resources has received complaints of elevated illicit mining and dredging activities within the marine environment surrounding San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The Mining Unit, along with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Staff, is investigating these activities to confirm the extent and [�]

Belmopan opens new weekend farmers' market
The Ministry of Agriculture today announced the opening of its new Belmopan Weekend Farmers' Market at the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds. The market will include over 150 stalls offering fresh local and imported produce, nursery plants and seedlings, prepared foods, arts and [�]

US Embassy donates 9 vehicles to National Forensic Service
Yesterday, the United States Embassy in Belize donated almost $1.4 million worth of vehicles and equipment to the National Forensic Service. The donation included nine Ford F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with forensic crime scene investigation equipment. Present at the handing over was Elodio Aragon [�]

Belize prepares for Costa Maya Festival 2017
Photos © Jose Luis Zapata Photography The international Costa Maya Festival 2017 kicks off next weekend in San Pedro Town. From August 3 to August 6, islanders, visitors, tourists and delegates will celebrate the annual Costa Maya Festival with cultural presentations and the annual pageant. [�]

Foreign Minister of Taiwan visits Belize
H.E. Dr. David Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is undertaking a three day visit to Belize - July 26-28, 2017, on the invitation of Wilfred P. Elrington, Belize's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Today, Lee signed a Memorandum of Understanding on [�]

Women empowerment seminar to be held this weekend
This Saturday, July 29, 2017, a women empowerment seminar will be held in Belize City. The Women Empowering Seminar will be held at the UWI Auditorium and will run from 9 am to 12 pm. Attorney Audrey Matura Shepherd will be sharing legal rights of women [�]

Blogs

La r�pida destrucci�n de bosques en Centroam�rica amenaza a las comunidades y fauna locales
Los bosques m�s grandes de Centroam�rica est�n desapareciendo a una velocidad precipitada debido a la ganader�a ilegal, las plantaciones de aceite de palma, y otras actividades humanas, todas los cuales est�n poniendo a las comunidades locales y las especies de fauna silvestre de la regi�n en alto riesgo. Un nuevo estudio realizado por Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), titulado "La Huella Humana y el Impacto de la Ganader�a", fue presentado este mes a grupos ind�genas, agencias de �reas protegidas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil de nueve pa�ses para su validaci�n y evaluaci�n. Esto impuls� el desarrollo de un compromiso conjunto denominado "La Declaraci�n de Pet�n". Firmada por 25 de las organizaciones participantes, la declaraci�n reconoce las causas de la p�rdida de bosques y se compromete a acciones concretas para abordarlas.

Belize to save the Coastal Zone
A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. A coastal zone management plan designed to safeguard Belize's natural assets has produced a win-win opportunity for people and the environment, providing a valuable framework for other coastal nations around the world where overfishing, development, and habitat degradation are increasingly serious problems. The new research, published in the International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, is both community-driven and science-based and serves as a revolutionary example showcasing how integrated planning can be beneficial for both nature and people.

International Sources

Project to save the Belize coast provides valuable framework
A coastal zone management plan designed to safeguard Belize's natural assets has produced a win-win opportunity for people and the environment, providing a valuable framework for other coastal nations around the world where overfishing, development, and habitat degradation are increasingly serious problems. The new research, published in the International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, is both community-driven and science-based and serves as a revolutionary example showcasing how integrated planning can be beneficial for both nature and people.

DC McMaster School group conducts Belize vision screenings
Defiance College's McMaster School for Advancing Humanity has been working with partners in Belize and recently performed nearly 1,200 visual acuity scans in four schools. Participants included, from left: DC students Catlyn Pavel of Van Wert, Madelyn Homan of Sidney, Zachary Roush of Nashville, Ind., Zackary Reed of Beaverton, Mich., and McMaster School dean Mary Ann Studer.

Heights business donates school supplies
Educational Outfitters is embarking on one of the business' largest donations of school supplies ever to the country of Belize through the Grateful Samaritan program. This is the second time they have donated items to Grateful Samaritan. Cindy Schoel told the Herald that the paper, flash cards, decorative outlines for bulletin boards, art supplies, games and more equals to about $4,000 worth of education materials that will be used in the schools of Belize.

Mesoamerican Reef gets global attention
In a first, Central America's Mesoamerican Reef, home to more than 500 species of fish and marine species, including large populations of whale sharks, has got global attention with over 65 national and international agencies joining hands to conserve it through a multi-institutional effort. The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative to conserve the Mesoamerican Reef was launched on the concluding day of the five-day 28th International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2017) on Thursday. More than 2,000 conservation professionals and students were gathered here for initiating steps in conservation of biodiversity.

Refugiados de El Salvador encontram paz no Belize
Juan Barrera* foi for�ado a fugir de El Salvador sozinho quando tinha apenas 16 anos. Isso foi em 1990, durante a guerra civil do pa�s. Juan rodou pela Am�rica Central por anos, sobrevivendo como p�de, at� que um tio lhe falou sobre um recanto de paz localizado pr�ximo � fronteira da Guatemala, em Belize, pequeno pa�s angl�fono banhado pelo mar do Caribe. O salvadorenho encontrou a cidade, juntou dinheiro suficiente para comprar um lote de terra e come�ou a se dedicar � agricultura de subsist�ncia. Quase 30 anos depois, Juan vive confortavelmente, plantando repolho, pepinos, tomates e outros vegetais para vender em Belmopan, capital do Belize. Um de seus filhos j� foi para a universidade e uma de suas filhas est� prestes a seguir o mesmo caminho.

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