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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, and other specials


The San Pedro Sun

Belize registers fifth increase in fuel prices for 2018
For the fifth time this year, fuel prices have increased in Belize. The new controlled prices were announced by the Belize Bureau of Standards on Wednesday, May 23rd. Regular gasoline saw an increase of .21 cents, going up to $11.34 per gallon. Having started the year at $10.40, it has seen an overall increase of .94 cents. While, premium gasoline increased by .31 cents, going up to $11.67. It started the year at $11.07, showing an overall increase of .60 cents. Diesel was also affected in this round of increases, as it went up by .03 cents to $10.63 per gallon, with an overall increase of $1.13 since it began 2018 at $9.50. The price of kerosene remains at $7.75 per gallon, however, it has suffered the highest price increase since the start of 2018, at close to $2 dollars per gallon.

USA volunteers train teachers and students on Ambergris Caye
For the past two weeks, students from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, USA have been training teachers of San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker on child education techniques. The volunteers included Brittany Steinman, Taylor Lee, Davis Sutton and Doctor Susan Catapano. Using charts, diagrams, games and other fun-filled methods the group of volunteers have been teaching students from different schools along with their teachers on subjects, such as mathematics, science, digital storytelling, reading and language arts. According to the professor of the University of North Carolina and leader of the group Dr. Catapano, the training is for teachers to learn better and more fun-filled ways to teach their students. "We have done these kinds of workshops already; however this time we decided to include the teachers so they can observe and learn some fun ways of teaching other than just the regular way," she said.

Caribe�a Fuels gas station robbers out on bail
Zimmer Perez, Jair Brown, and Arrie Gentle were arrested and charged for the Saturday, May 19th robbery at Caribe�a Fuels Gas Station, south of San Pedro Town. They were jointly charged for two counts of robbery, while Perez was charged along for the crime of wounding, after inflicting a knife injury to the pump attendant. However, after appearing at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Tuesday, May 22nd, the trio managed to secure bail which they met and were therefore released. They are scheduled to return to court on June 25, 2018, for a disclosure on their charges.

Ambergris Today

Why Does This Golf Cart Wheel Clamp Have Islanders In Dispute?
A recent picture of a golf cart with a wheel clamp has stirred up quite some conversation and confrontation after it was posted on Facebook this week. The topic of dispute, or what was claimed on the post, is that residents going against the traffic laws or parking regulations will find themselves paying $75 to have this wheel clamp removed from their vehicle. Is this a new measure of law enforcement by the San Pedro Traffic Department? While some residents argued that it is right for the property owner to attach the wheel clamp on the golf cart that was parked in their property for days, others insist that the property owner has no right to such action. Arguments ensued as to who has legal rights; if owners have the right to stop anyone from parking on designated parking areas; can business owners claim "NO Parking" sections on their property; should residents be charged for parking in red zones and many more issues of traffic congestion and parking problems.

4th Annual Frenchie's Offshore Open Fishing Tournament
The 4th Annual Frenchie's Offshore Open took place this past weekend, Saturday May 19 and Sunday, May 20, 2018, out of the split on Caye Caulker. A total of Fifteen boats participated in this fishing tournament, competing to win $15,000 in cash and prizes! Over 60 anglers were out at sea on Saturday, May 19, including five junior anglers, under the age of sixteen, and four female anglers. It was a beautiful day for fishing! Dorado proved to be the most popular species of the event with a final count of 48 fish totaling over 400 pounds. Final count for other fish in the tournament came to: 1 blue marlin release, 1 white marlin release, 1 wahoo and 1 tuna. There are always plenty of fishing stories to be told on that final day at the weigh station where anglers, families, and friends enjoyed drinks and the famous sunset views from the split in Caye Caulker.

Misc Belizean Sources

mzz

Wayo's Bar and Grill Robbed
Unofficial reports reaching our news room indicate that the popular Wayo's Bar and Grill at Boca Del R�o was robbed sometime after 10PM on Friday, May 25th. Witnesses say that four armed masked men entered the bar holding up patrons and staff. In the ordeal it is alleged that one of the male bartenders was shot. He was later transported to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where he was stabilized. Police are investigating and we will continue following this developing story.

Guatemala's claim to Belize: The Definitive History, by Assad Shoman
Impressively researched with granularity and precision, this timely and important book traces with seismic fidelity the twists, turns and turnarounds of two centuries of negotiation. Shoman frames the territorial dispute within the broad arcs of imperial ambition and colonial manipulation, and his tactile sense of the state of play in the critical era from the 1970's to the present lends the work a singular intimacy and authority. This is essential reading, a book for our times and for posterity, one which bestows the reader with a profound understanding of the complex historical, cultural and geopolitical dynamics that have formed and framed this 200-year-old dispute. It is an essential volume for all students of the dispute, and required reading for all Belizeans contemplating their vote on the ICJ.

Fifty-nine Forest Rangers Sworn-in as Special Constables
Today, 59 Forest Rangers of both government and forest co-management agencies were sworn-in as Special Constables following two weeks of intensive training at the Belize Police Academy. The training, which began on 14th May, 2018, culminated with Forest Rangers being sworn-in to exercise greater authority to arrest and seize for forest, protected areas, and wildlife-related crimes. Mr. German Novelo, Key Biodiversity Areas Project Manager, stated that "the only way we can successfully stem illegal forest activities is by empowering our hard-working forest rangers within our partner agencies with the legal authority to seize and arrest."

DFC Area Community Clean Up Day
DFC AREA GET READY! The San Pedro Town Council will be having its Community Clean-Up Day in the DFC Area on Saturday, June 9th. Meeting place will be at W&W Convenience Store at 6:00 a.m. EVERYONE IS INVITED! *Gloves, bags and refreshments will be provided. *Residents of DFC are asked to clean up your property and take out any garbage for the trucks to dispose of it.

Made In Belize Expo 2018
This will be a great event. If you happen to be in the area, drop by! Saturday, June 16th (one day only) at National Agri-Trade Show Grounds, Belmopan, Capital City.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of May 14th - May 20th, 2018
We just finished with our Orvis Bonefish Bonanza, and it was a blast. The fishing was excellent as all of the participants landed bonefish. The weather was phenomenal as well and also helped to produce a great week. Come and join us for one of the Orvis Bonanza's�you won't be disappointed.

National Climate Change Video Competition

Museum of Belize at the Salvation Army Primary School
Special thanks to the staff and students of the Salvation Army Primary School for inviting the Museum of Belize (NICH) to be a part of its Career Day 2018 activities today!

Channel 7

Suspected Teen Killer Captured, Charged, Then Escapes
Police apprehended a murder suspect in the killing of an innocent man - but, late reports say, he has escaped. 18 year old Jordan Burns was named by police yesterday as a person wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of Carlton Moreira. By this morning, he was in custody at the CIB office at the Queen Street Police Station. But, somehow, this evening around 5:00 reports tell us that he escaped from police and is on the run again tonight. 34 year old Carlton Moreira was killed in an alley between Lakeview and Mayflower Street on Wednesday afternoon. Initial reports say that he had won a substantial sum of money from a Boledo draw. But what investigators have learned is that it is his friend who won the Boledo - more than two thousand dollars.

Businessman's Killer Charged
70 year old businessman Oscar Rosado was killed in his hardware store by a robber one month ago. The case faded from the headlines, but police did not give up on finding their suspect. Today they charged 18 year old Brandon Hughes for the crime. The Aloe Vera Street resident appeared today before Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser this morning. He was remanded into custody until July 25. He'll likely spend at least a year on remand before he goes to trial. On the day of the murder, Oscar Rosado's outspoken wife Elena told the media what she would do if she got her hands on the man who killed her husband:...

Rudolph Kelly Died From Stab Wound, Not Accident
Rudolph Kelly Jr. died from a stab wound, and not from the accident - that is what his family tells us the post mortem results say. As police reported, Kelly left from Eight Miles and came back to Belize City with two stab wounds to his left hand. He passed a checkpoint on Central American Boulevard, where he was bleeding profusely and told the police that he was racing to the hospital. But he lost control at the roundabout and crashed into the lamppost. An ambulance carried him the rest of the way, but he died later that night. Police are still trying to figure out what led to the stabbing - but will now have to investigate his death as a murder.

"Compre" Teachers Give Admin An "F"
At this time of the school-year, most 4th formers are just counting down the days to graduation. Some of their teachers as well certainly can't wait to see their star students walk up to get their diplomas. But for the teachers at the Belmopan Comprehensive School, the time leading up to the end of the school year has been frustrating. That's because they say the board of management want to implement new policies at the last minute - to allow failing fourth formers to pass. The teachers were not having it so they staged a two day sit out which started on Wednesday. I went to Compre today to see if things had settled down. Here is more. A friendly football match to pass lunchtime - although classes resumed today after the 2 day teacher sit out - for 4th formers, much of the day was spent like this, laid back. But while the senior students enjoy their final days at school, the teachers have to figure out how to settle their issues with management. Those issues center on the calculation and teacher access to final grades.

Hundreds Of Containers Were Put On Hold In Shipping Dispute
It didn't make the news this week - but the economy almost ground to a halt because of a shipping dispute. As many as 400 containers were being held up at the Port of Belize - because local shipping agents owed the owner of the CFS Pacora - one of the biggest container ships that offloads to Belize. The local attorney for the CFS Pacora's owners invoked a little used law with the Port Management - forcing them to offload and freeze all containers until the debts are settled. That was on Monday.

Family Of Bruce Davidson Reaches Out
For 10 days now we've been reporting on the apparent murder of Bruce Davidson and the arson on his property just outside Belmopan. But we haven't been able to show you an image of him because he had no relatives at the site. His son has now provided an image of the British Citizen who was a resident in Belize. His family is hoping that someone seeing the picture may have some recollection of seeing him in "conflict, conversation or interaction with the perpetrators," and that this may lead police to the perpetrators.

Rumblings of Discontent At UB
Yesterday, we told you about the University of Belize's transformational plan. Well, all the lecturers aren't on board with all the changes specifically as it relates to new proposals for employee contracts and the new employment conditions for rehired retired lecturers. From information 7News has gathered, the new employee system removes the permanency of employment by offering short term contracts. In a pamphlet produced by a group of lecturers and that has been circulated at the University, it states, quote, "the president's new plan to issue temporary, short term contracts to all employees will take away job security, making it easy for administration to victimize or fire us."

Job Fair Beckons The Unemployed
In a slumping economy, jobs are scarce and that's why the BELTRAIDE, held a Career Fair in Belize City today. It was an opportunity for 12 local companies could meet prospective employees interested in applying for a total of 714 jobs. Instead of the companies giving an application deadline, sifting through the resumés of all applicants, and then choosing a short list of potential employees, they get to meet as many of the interested applicants as possible in a kind of speed dating environment. This initiative is part of BELTRAIDE's Competitiveness Month, and 7News stopped by to find out if it was actually working as planned. Here's what we learned.

Clean Sweep In Barbados Vaults First Female PM to Power
For the first time in its history, Barbados has a woman Prime Minister. Mia Mottley was sworn in today after she led her party, the BLP to the most one sided victory in the history of Barbadian politics. How one sided, you ask? Well, how about a clean sweep of all 30 seats? That's right, Mottley's party won every single seat, leaving the outgoing DLP administration with no seats in the Barbadian Parliament. The 52 year old politician - who even had an endorsement from Barbadian pop queen, Rihanna - was sworn in today and is expected to name a Cabinet by Monday. There's no clarity yet on how her government will introduce an opposing voice in the Barbados National Assembly - since no opposition was elected. She takes over a country with serious economic problems, and a sewage disposal problem that is crippling its tourism sector.

Perspective On AIDS From The Young
As part of their mandate of reaching their goals in responding to HIV in Belize, the National Aids Commission has been reaching out to young people to get input from this key demographic. Key because they are, or will soon become the most sexually active group, and because social and economic prohibitions make sex among youths likely to be high risk. Today they had the second youth forum and we found out more from the Communications Officer Arthur Usher. Arthur Usher, National Aids Commission Communications and Programs Officer "Today's event is a youth forum for HIV, youth, and the future. A youth leaders forum. It is targeting young people from San Ignacio, Belmopan, Dangriga, and Belize City which are basically the three highest HIV rates in the country and so we brought together today and we are hoping to get their feedback as to programmatically how do we move forward with HIV."

Two Armed Robberies In One Day In Corozal Town
There were two armed robberies in Corozal town yesterday. The first happened at 1:15 in the afternoon at Multi Electra Company on the Santa Rita Road. Two men stormed into the electronics and furniture store - and one of them had a nine millimeter pistol. They stole $500.00 in cash and several electrical items amounting to almost three thousand dollars. Six hours later, there was an even more audacious robbery at Altamira Supermarket, on Antonio Sosa Drive. The 28 year old female shopkeeper, told police that 5 men barged in and one of them had a handgun. They stole several items including the security Monitor and cash amounting to $2,700.00 dollars.

Pretend Police Turned out to Be Thieves
And in the Belize District, tonight, the cops are looking for two crafty robbers who dressed up in police uniforms, and preyed upon 2 unsuspecting, law abiding citizens, robbing them of several thousand dollars in cash. It happened yesterday morning at around 10:00 at mile 22 on the old Northern Highway. 25 year-old Jimmy Valdez, a Park Sub- Director for the Institute of Archaeology; and his co-workers, 59 year-old Errol Torres, and 29 year-old Felix Cruz, were traveling in an SUV when they came upon what looked like a legitimate police checkpoint. They saw two men, pretending to be police officers standing guard at the location. One of the men was dressed in black clothing, while the other wore a camouflage outfit.

A Serious Sawed Off
There's one more dangerous weapon off the streets. This afternoon, police found this sawed off shotgun in an empty lot in the Conch Shell Bay area. It's a 20 gauge shotgun and it was found with a single cartridge. Police believe the weapon was actively used in the commission of crimes.

Dogs of Weed
This morning the K-9 unit came upon a big cannabis find. Around 6:30 while the K-9 unit was searching through an overgrown, garbage - strewn lot near the home of a known drug peddler, they found 3 parcels of cannabis amounting to a total of three pounds. As we understand it, the weed was concealed in a PVC pipe in such a way that only the K-9's could find it. And also this morning, police came up with half a pound of weed inside a wrecked SUV. First, they searched in the yard of an abandoned house on Faber's Road, and found nothing. But, when they checked inside an SUV in the yard they found a black plastic bag with the weed in the armrest compartment. The drugs were labelled as found property.

Festival is Fun!
This morning the Bliss was filled with an excited audience and enthusiastic performers for the opening of the 2018 Festival of Arts. As it does every year, the show has a lot to offer, with performances from primary schoolers, high schoolers, and even preschoolers. According to NICH Youth Development Officer Kim Vasquez, the performers continue to exceed all expectations. Kim Vasquez, NICH Youth Development Officer: "We will have performance art showcase every day starting tomorrow with the Pre School golden showcase. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday we have the primary schools from every district performing daily at 10 am. On Thursday we have the secondary schools competition and we close off with chords and voices which is a special concert in the festival of arts on Saturday, June 2nd at 6 pm."

Financial Literacy In A Real World Scenario
Proper money management… it's probably an area that all of us could probably be better at, and today, the students of Belize High School got a head start how to make prudent financial decisions. The organizers are trying to teach them how to make their future finances bring the best return, so that they can possibly own a home, and live comfortably and within their means entering adulthood. The BHS program is called "Mad City Money", and the students were put into real-world simulations, and assessed on how well they were able to budget, invest, and save money, as if they were in charge of their own finances. We stopped by and found out that the kids were no slouches. Here's what their principal had to say about the program:

Bushmen As Lawmen
Safeguarding the forest is becoming increasingly complex and involved, and that's why 59 forest rangers have been trained as police special constables. They were sworn in today, equipped with knowledge and skills to effectively enforce all aspects of the green law legislation. They also learnt how to use a number of innovative law enforcement techniques like investigative skills, search and seizure, and gathering court evidence. The Forest Department will now formally establish its Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Unit countrywide.

Walking For Cancer
The Belize Cancer Society is hosting its annual Cancer Walk tomorrow morning at 5:00, and they're asking you to to come out and support the worthy cause. The Cancer Walk is serves to raise funds and awareness. We stopped by the organization's Belize City headquarters, and we spoke with one of the community service volunteers about the event. Here's what she had to say. So, as you heard, the Cancer Walk starts tomorrow at 5 a.m. from in Front of Celina's in Ladyville. Participants will walk from Ladyville to Belize City, and they will complete the walk, which ends at the Cancer Society's headquarters.

Channel 5

Brandon Hughes, 18, Charged with Murder of Oscar Rosado, 70
After spending a night in lock-down, eighteen-year-old Brandon Hughes was taken to court this morning and arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser for the murder of well-known businessman, Oscar Rosado [...]

Resolution Reached in Compre Standoff
Teachers and students were back inside their respective classrooms at Belmopan Comprehensive High School today, after a two-day sit-out effected by faculty and staff.� The protest was led by fourth [...]

Computer Glitch was Difference Between Pass and Fail
According to Smith, the disqualification of so many students was the result of a miscalculation in the school's electronic tallying system.� Those discrepancies were compared with manual averages derived by [...]

Dwayne Davis Guilty of Manslaughter of Doctor
Back to the court�Thirty-seven-year-old Dwayne Davis on Thursday admitted to causing the death, though not intentionally, of fifty-two-year-old Doctor Ivan Enrique Garcia Gomez, a naturalized Belizean originally from Guatemala, in [...]

Windell Neal at it Again; Held for More Swindling
Twenty-three-year-old Windell Neal pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception from the Belize Book Center. On April thirtieth, 2018, he's accused of collecting one hundred dollars from manager Andrew Bennett [...]

Policeman Walks from Unlawful Sex Charge
Thirty-five-year-old Rupert Thomas was released from a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse dating back to 2013. The Seine Bight resident, a police officer for nine years, was accused of raping [...]

Mia Mottley for P.M. as Red Tide Sweeps Barbados
In historic regional news, following a sweep of the country's thirty seats in the House of Assembly by her Barbados Labour Party, Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon sworn in [...]

Sapna Budhrani Holds Over as NICH President
A change at the top of NICH went under the radar, but tonight we can confirm that there is a new acting president of the statutory body. For the past [...]

Festival of the Arts Goes National
On the heels of the successful district festivals of arts, the national event opened this morning at the Bliss Institute and continues until Thursday of next week. The theme "Pathway [...]

Chamber Attacks Fuel Taxes
Fuel prices went up again on Thursday for the umpteenth time this year, and the third in a month, with premium now selling at eleven dollars and sixty-seven cents per [...]

A Protest Against the High Cost of Living
Last year, Moses Sulph's Belize Leaders for Social Justice carried out a protest on the high cost of gas prices. While results were mixed as prices have gone up and [...]

University of Belize Unveils 4-Year Vision Plan
The national university, the University of Belize, this week unveiled big plans for the growth of the institution in the next five years, including introduction of more Bachelor's-level programmes and [...]

How to Get a Good Job and Career
Want a job? There were at least seven hundred and fifty available at different levels of experience and pay scale today at Swift Hall on the compound of St. Martin [...]

Cuba, Belize Doctors Meet
On Thursday at the Inspiration Center, healthcare professionals from across the public and private sectors participated in the second annual Cuba and Belize Medical Symposium.� Both countries share a unique [...]

Scotiabank Assist with Scholarships for South Side
The 2017 school year is winding down quickly, but the Belize Police Department and Scotia Bank are already thinking ahead to the next academic calendar.� That partnership has seen the [...]

Kids' Outreach Program Continues With Ziplining Tour
Since his transfer to Belize City several weeks ago, Region One Commander Howell Gillett has been on a relentless outreach to at-risk youths across the south side of Belize City.� [...]

Youths Talk HIV/AIDS
The 2017 report on HIV by the Ministry of Health is pending, but the 2016 statistical data shows that there were two hundred and twenty-five new infections reported for that [...]

LOVE FM

"HIV, Youth and the Future: A youth leader's forum"
Youth leaders from Belize City, Dangriga, and San Ignacio have gathered in the old capital to participate in an HIV Research Forum. The forum is the collaborative initiative of the National AIDS Commission (NAC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This forum was created to address overarching issues that are affecting the youth population �

Barranco villagers reach agreement with Minister Figueroa
Last month, Barranco villagers met with the Chief Forestry Officer Wilbur Sabido over logging license concession for five of the villagers that were denied. Villagers expressed dissatisfaction that concessions were granted to persons who did not reside in the village. Following that meeting with Sabido, the National Garifuna Council sent a letter to Prime Minister �

Arthur Saldivar wants to be Belmopan's Area Representative
Attorney and politician Arthur Saldivar wants to represent the People's United Party in the Belmopan Constituency for the next general elections. But first, Saldivar's application to run for the convention must be accepted by the PUP's vetting committee which is also reviewing other applications. Saldivar was once the PUP's Standard Bearer for Belize Rural North �

Amandala

Failed homosexual sex attempt led to doctor's death
The scandalous details of a case of a murder resulting from a homosexual's request for sex and his partner's inability to meet his demands unfolded today in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas when Dwayne Davis, 37, charged with the murder of Dr. Ivan Garcia, 52, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. It was a trial in which Justice Lucas was judge of the law, and of the facts. He deferred sentencing until June 14 in order to hear a plea for mitigation and in order for the court to receive a social inquiry from the Community Rehabilitation Department and a report from the Belize Central Prison.

Like a scratched record � fuel prices have increased again!
Fuel prices have gone up again. Premium gasoline price per gallon has jumped from $11.36 to $11.67; regular gasoline from $11.14 to $11.35; diesel from $10.60 to $10.63. Kerosene remained at $7.745 per gallon. Breaking News Belize said that "The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) has issued a release with new increases in gas prices effective midnight tonight (Wednesday)".

Carl Coc, 19, shot to death on Dolphin and Gibnut Streets
Carl Tristan Coc, 18, and Gian Michael Moro, 19, two construction workers from Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Cayo District, were shot several times at about 6:30 yesterday evening at the corner of Dolphin and Gibnut Streets. They were employed at the construction site at Maud Williams High School on Dolphin Street, Belize City. Coc was shot in the chest and abdomen and died almost immediately. However, Moro was shot in his neck and thigh and is recovering, in a stable condition, at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

Jose Zelaya, Jr., found dead in Calcutta cane field
Jose Zelaya, Jr., 22, a laborer of Mahogany Street Extension, Belize City, left the city on Friday, May 18, to go and live with family members in Calcutta, in the Corozal District. His father said that Jose wanted to change his life, so he went to live outside of the city. Police and a number of other persons saw Zelaya at a beach party in Corozal Town on Sunday, but shortly after that outing, he disappeared. His body was found yesterday evening in a cane field near a school in Calcutta.

Mother of 5 found dead on roadside
Around 9:35 on Sunday morning, police responded to a report of the discovery of a body of a woman on the outskirts of Silk Grass Village in the Stann Creek District, between Miles 9 and 10 on the Southern Highway. According to a police report, the woman's body was discovered on the left side of the highway, heading towards the Hopkins Road junction. There were injuries in the head and body, and the police are saying that the woman had been knocked down. The body was later identified as that of Rosita Reque�a, 37, a mother of five from the village. Her youngest child is said to be four years old.

Bruce Davidson's pickup truck found burnt on Hummingbird Highway
Last Friday, we reported a case of suspected arson on the Jordan Ranch road, which is located off the Banana Bank road on the George Price Highway. Four wooden structures that were clustered together were set on fire, and human remains were found among the debris. The structures had belonged to British national Bruce Davidson (age unknown), who was living there, but there was no evidence that identified him as the dead person.

NEBL championship series tips off on Friday at the Civic
The date and teams are finally set for the big showdown in the 2018 NEBL Finals, and this will be the first year in the NEBL's five-year history that San Pedro Tiger Sharks will not be participating in the final dance. However, Darwin "Puppy" Leslie will be in his fourth NEBL Finals in five years, to now tie the San Pedro Tiger Sharks' franchise. Newcomers, DigiCell Belize City Defenders have climbed their way into the finals, making them the first team to reach the finals who have entered the playoffs as the #4 seed. History was also recorded when both semifinals series were stretched out to three games.

Cricket Update from the BNCA
Greetings from the Belize National Cricket Association (BNCA)! The Sir Barry Bowen Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2018 continued over the weekend of May 19 & 20, with the following results: Wicked 11 won over Suga Boys with a score of 198 to 113. For Wicked 11, Winston Flowers top scored with 53 runs, and Winston Dawson took 5 wickets (good going!). For Suga Boys, Michael Wade top scored with 56 runs, and Jamie Wade took 5 wickets (good going!).

Bandits rule!
It all happened so quickly, but the Premier League of Belize (PLB) was under pressure to produce a champion in time for the CONCACAF League Tournament draw today, Wednesday, May 23. So, after the re-play of the 2017-2018 PLB Closing Season semifinal game 2 last Wednesday, May 16, ended 0-0 between Verdes FC and BDF FC at the Norman Broaster Stadium, thus qualifying BDF to the Finals on a 2-0 aggregate win, there needed to be an accelerated schedule for the home-and-away Finals series. Following negotiations among the PLB and the two teams, the dates were set at Saturday evening, May 19, at the MCC Grounds in Belize City for game 1; and Monday night, May 21, a holiday, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan for game 2.

Big BBSF Billiards Tournament - It was a BANG!!!
The Belize Billiards Sports Federation (BBSF) held two tournaments on Sunday, May 20, and Monday, May 21, at Mike's Cue Club in Belmopan. The results were as follows: National Open 9-Ball Tournament for Senior Players Four (4) players per team saw 20 teams registered from Cayo, Stann Creek, Belmopan, Belize City, Orange Walk and Corozal. 1st Place - C-Delta 1 of Belize City received $2,500.00, trophies and medals (players were: Francisco Rodriguez, Nain Rosado, Eddy Conrado, Wilman Meji...

Nationalism and neighborhood-ism
About 35 or 40 years ago, a trend began amongst world intellectuals to speculate on, or project, a decline in nationalism, perhaps even its demise, as a surpassing world force. Great thinkers began to suggest that regionalism and internationalism would more and more become the order of the day, moving forward. Well, you and I know that in 2018 nationalism is still around, big time. When the World Cup begins next month, you will see the most graphic examples of nationalistic intensity. People will live and die emotionally with their national team. And in fact, the nation-state which should be the least nationalistic on the planet because, as the planet's only superpower, they unquestionably rule the sucker, recently elected a new President who has taken the United States into an orgy of nationalism which is almost isolationist in tone.

From the Publisher
My paternal grandfather, James Bartlett Hyde, was the great great grandson of a Scotsman, James Hyde, who fathered a son - George, with a colored lady named Ariadne "Adney" Broaster, George Hyde being born in 1795 in the Settlement of Belize. Adney Broaster was the daughter of a slave lady named Eve Broaster, originally from the Niger in West Africa, but, as far as I know, no one in the modern era was sure of who Adney Broaster's father was until a Canadian of Scottish descent named Forbes Morlock visited Belize in January this year. Forbes Morlock is descended from the Scot James Hyde's sister, Elizabeth, from way back there in the late eighteenth century. His Morlock ancestors had migrated to Canada. He had run up on the Black Hydes of Belize through the one George Hyde (son of James and Adney) while doing family research.

Major Jones calls for "perpetual engagement and vigilance"
Dear Editor, The treasonous practice, by both political parties, of granting citizenship to Guatemalans-a bold-faced violation of the Belize Constitution, has finally caught up with us. On April 10, 2019 Belize will go to a referendum to decide on the ICJ matter and it will go to said referendum with a voters' list that could include a significant percentage (5.8%) of Guatemalan-born Belizeans. The number of Guatemalan-born Belizeans on the voters' list represents a significant bloc of voters that can "affect the [referendum] results materially"; to borrow a phrase from the Amandala.

A letter to Jimmy Morales
Dear Editor Amandala I have written a letter to the President of Guatemala but I doubt it will ever reach him, so I ask to use the most widely read newspaper in Belize to convey this message to him. Thank you. Dear President Guatemala, Mr. Jimmy Morales I ask that you give me two minutes to take time to read this letter. I have sent a copy to the Amandala newspaper and to Prensa Libre, your government newspaper. I am a Belizean citizen and can trace my roots back to the first settlers here. I have been speaking to my countrymen and foreigners alike about your claim...

JUSTICE DELAYED
To whom it may concern Greetings, My name is Ryan Pook and I am presently at the Kolbe Foundation (Belize Central Prison) for the past six (6) years and seven (7) months remanded for a murder that I and my two (2) brothers, namely Michael Pook and Adrian Pook, were accused of committing from the 5th of May 2011. We went on trial in November 2015 and our trial finished in December of that same year. Normally, after a trial finishes the trial Judge is supposed to hand down his decision right after hearing the case, but in our case, we haven't gotten back a verdict as yet and that is very strange, considering that it was a murder trial and that it has been completed for two years now.

A "YES" vote could play out okay
First of all, let's get this absolutely clear: Guatemala's legal case against Belize rides solely on the interpretations of certain Guatemalans and certain Americans. In his, Pocket Guide to the Referendum on the ICJ, Dr. Assad Shoman, Belize's leading expert on the matter, wrote, on page 23, that,"No independent international lawyer has concluded that Guatemala has any rights over the territory of Belize." So, why is Guatemala going to court if she knows she is going to lose? There is not a short answer to that. We would not be having a good day if we believe that all Guatemalan leaders are consumed with the "Get back Belize" madness. There are leaders in Guatemala who are civilized, not greedy human beings.

The British royal wedding and the Caribbean colonial jumbie
Ten years ago, British "royalty", Prince Charles and his wife Camilla visited the Caribbean and locals prostrated before them. Local leaders made arrangements for them to play the Steelpan and the sacred Rastafarian Nyabinghi drums. Leslie from Africaspeaks.com wrote an insightful article titled Royal Visit Highlights Lingering Colonialism that brought attention to the dynamics of colonialism in this visit. This article is as relevant today as it was ten years ago when it was written, given the celebratory eruptions at the wedding of British monarch Prince Harry and his bride Meghan Markle. Yet the region is poorer today for elevating fake royalty to dizzying heights of reverence while neglecting the royalty inherent in resistant Caribbean voices who have worked hard at improving Caribbean societies. While many people gush at royalty and the "power of love", for people of the Caribbean and wider global south, who are still faced with the structures of British colonialism imbedded deeply in our society and the world we live in, it is an opportunity to reflect on these issues.

Nicholi Rhys, 27, arraigned for Luis Moh's murder
Around 11 p.m. on Monday night, the body of taxi driver Luis Carlos Moh, 31, was found in the bushes on the side of the road leading to Homeland Memorial Park, which is a cemetery near Mile 8 on the George Price Highway, out of Belize City. Today, Wednesday, police reported that Nicholi Rhys, 27, had been arrested and arraigned for murder in the Belize City Magistrate's Court in front of Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser. He was remanded until July 27.

Rudolph Kelly Jr., 52, dies after crashing into lamppost at roundabout
Around 9:00 o'clock on Tuesday night, there was a fatal car accident at the roundabout at the intersection of Central American Boulevard and Mahogany Street in Belize City. When police arrived on the scene, they saw a Toyota Camry with extensive damage to the front. They also found Rudolph Kelly, Jr., 52, slumped over in the driver's side of the car. At a police press brief held today, police said that Kelly, the landlord of a residence at Mile 8, drove to the checkpoint on Central American Boulevard, heading toward the Civic Center after leaving the roundabout at the intersection of Cemetery Road and Central American Boulevard and told the officers that he had been injured.

Hospital attendant busted with over 7 pounds of weed
On Thursday, May 17, at about 8:23 p.m., members of the police's Mobile Interdiction Team were on patrol in the Fabers Road area when they stopped and searched 20-year-old Travane Trapp. Police discovered that Trapp, a hospital attendant at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, was carrying seven and a half pounds of cannabis in a backpack.

Michelle Anderson, 40, shot at the Michael Finnegan Market
Michelle Anderson, 40, a mother of nine children ranging from ages 4 to 27, was shot and killed at about 10:00 Monday morning while buying food for her family at Jun's Meat and Grocery Store, which is situated across the canal in front of the Michael Finnegan Market. Anderson, who worked as a fish vendor at the Conch Shell Bay fish market, not too far from the Michael Finnegan Market, was shot in her left breast when two men rode up on separate bicycles, and one of them fired several shots at a male customer who was in the store. Anderson was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where she was declared dead on arrival.