Today's Belize News: April 9, 2019

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Today's Belize News: April 9, 2019 #535799 04/09/19 06:01 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,398 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. Specials and Events Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials The San Pedro Sun Alberto Samid transported to Belize City for possible extradition to Argentina Just before midday, Monday, April 8th, 71-year-old Argentinian fugitive Alberto Samid was transported to Belize City from the police station in San Pedro Town under the custody of Belizean and Argentinian police officers. Samid had been in detention since Friday, April 5th, after INTERPOL issued an outstanding warrant for his arrest indicating that he was wanted in Argentina for tax evasion and fraud. In Belize City, he will be further processed for his possible extradition to Argentina. Belize does not have an extradition agreement with the South American country. Belize Fisheries Department annouces closure of Queen Conch Season 2019 The Belize Fisheries Department hereby informs all fishers, and the Public, that in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012, the Honorable Omar Figueroa, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development will declare the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishery closed on April 30th, 2019. This is necessary due to the realization of the Queen Conch quota. The fishing community is advised that all Queen Conch fishing activities shall cease as of this date until the opening of the fishing season on 1st October, 2019. The Belize Fisheries Department further advises Restaurateurs and the Public to use, consume and dispose of all Queen Conch meat in their possession on or before April 30th, 2019. Basketball Tournament coming up in San Pedro! Basketball fanatics are invited to be a part of San Pedro's Basketball Tournament set to commence at R.A Nu�ez Auditorium on Friday, May 10th. The basketball tournament is being organized by the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), San Pedro Sports Committee and San Pedro Basketball Association. To register your team or for more information you can contact, Alamilla at 623-0772, Jamir at 608-2602or Bob at 604-9013. Interested persons are reminded that the deadline to sign-up is Monday, April 15th. Ambergris Today Public Notice - Closure Of Conch Season The Belize Fisheries Department hereby informs all fishers, and the Public, that in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012, the Honorable Omar Figueroa, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development will declare the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishery closed on April 30th, 2019. This is necessary due to the realization of the Queen Conch quota. The fishing community is advised that all Queen Conch fishing activities shall cease as of this date until the opening of the fishing season on 1st October, 2019. Belize Expands The Size Of Its Marine Protected Areas Action safeguards ecosystems while promoting sustainable fishing In a bold step for the sustainability of its fisheries and the world's second largest barrier reef, the government of Belize has approved a plan to set aside 10% of its territorial waters as no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), nearly tripling the size of its existing zones. UB And Junior Colleges Convene To Advance Tertiary Education In Belize The University of Belize convened a historic meeting with Presidents, Deans, Principals and representatives of Junior Colleges of Belize and a couple of technical/vocational schools. This meeting held under the theme "Working Together to Advance the Education of our Nation," was held on Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Belmopan Campus. Junior Colleges were represented from across the country and the Institute of Technical Vocational and Educational Training-Orange Walk and Cayo Center for Employment and Training. The representatives from UB included all of our Deans and representative Chairs from our four faculties, the Registrar, Senior Management, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Harrison Pilgrim. New Belikin Store Now Open The wait is finally over - the Belikin Store is now open! The Belikin Store opened its doors for business on Friday, April 5, 2019 and is located on #10 Coconut Drive right across Tropic Air's Terminal Building. This awesome new store not only offers you the best "Beer of Belize" but it has so many cool souviners and gifts. T-shirts, hats, glasses, mugs, bottle cap openers, green-eco bags and so much more. Their friendly staff, Joey Eiley, Odalie Duran and Victor Villamil welcome you with a warm and friendly staff and very eager to help you around! Be sure to stop by and take a cool beer or buy some awesome gifts! Misc Belizean Sources South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch Meeting April 10th Our monthly general meeting is coming up THIS WEDNESDAY, April 10th. Please join us if you are in town. We will be meeting at Lone Star Grill & Cantina 2-1/2 miles south. If you cannot join us, catch up on the minutes here. . . . https://sacnw.org/wp/minutes/ Community Policing Officers visit Santa Rita Village On Saturday, April 6th, 2019, Community Policing Officers attached to the Corozal Police Formation, visited the Santa Rita Village and mounted new Neighborhood Watch signs at different strategic locations. 1st Annual Coconut Festival The BTIA Corozal Chapter and Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College hosted the 1st Annual Coconut Festival on March 29th-30th, 2019. The festival was officially launched with the Royal Maya Wedding Re-enactment held at the Santa Rita Archaeological Site on Friday, March 29th from 7pm- 9pm. Invited guests also enjoyed the performance of the Pok-ta-Pok Fireball game along with light Mayan appetizers. On Saturday March 30th, over 300 visitors experienced a day full of activities commencing with the grand opening by the Corozal Community College Marching Band followed by booth displays, cultural performances, coconut theme actives and games. Congratulations to all Coconut Festival grand raffle winners Assistance for Maria Elena Corrales URGENT HELP NEEDED! Our Cristo Rey community in Corozal will be embarking in a house to house appeal, in the village, for assistance to help Maria Elena Corrales, who lost her house and everything in it, as a result of yesterday's fire. If you are out of town and would like to donate, please call the Chairlady of the village, Marcelina Che at 620-5788 to pledge your donation. Please consult with her about the type of donation needed right now. Thank you for your kind assistance. San Pedro Low Water Pressure for April 8-11, 2019 BWS notice for customers in San Pedro: Low Water Pressure for April 8-11, 2019. Time: 11:00 PM - 5:00 AM daily. Area to be affected: entire San Pedro BWS Notice for Customers in Caye Caulker Planned Interruption for Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Duration: 11:00 PM (April 10, 2019) - 5:00 AM (April 11, 2019) Area to be affected: Entire Caye Caulker Distribution System OCEANA April E-Newsletter 2019 has been off to a busy start for us at Oceana Belize, here's a recap of what's been happening since the year began. We hope you enjoy and it inspires you to join us on our upcoming initiatives! Click the link to view our April E-Newsletter: Great summer opportunity! Ambergris Caye Camp Starfish is looking for 20 young, energrtic and kid friendly highschool students or any teacher in town who would like to be a buddy for one of our campers/ kids with special needs this summer.Training will be provided before camp starts. You can inbox us on our page and sign up, deadline May 31st, 2019. We do sign your service as community service hours! San Pedro Private Polyclinic at Grand Caribe Belize Medical Associates, Belize's premier, private medical hospital and clinic announces that it will be opening a Poly Clinic in San Pedro later this year. Belize Medical Associates has a thirty year history of excellence, growth and commitment to the highest ethical and academic standards. We have seen a need for specialized medical care on the island of San Pedro, both to its local residents and to its growing tourism sector. Our clinic will be located in Northern San Pedro, on the premises of Grand Caribe Resort, another institution that is associated with excellence, high standards and commitment to national development. Corozal Town Council Easter Egg Hunt Saturday April 20, Rainbow Beach. Free kits for the first 100 kids! Corozal woman walks away alive from a serious RTA Late this morning at around 11:45 a.m. a traffic accident occured between miles 87 and 88 on the Phillip Goldson Highway involving a black Suzuki Sidekick bearing license plate Czl C-03122 which was driven at the time by Yuri Cob of 7th Avenue, Corozal Town. Initial investigation revealed that Ms. Cob was driving said vehicle on the Philip Goldson Highway from the northern border towards town and subsequently at that point, lost control of the SUV and veered off the right side of the road, and in the process, collided on a lamp post causing it to lean slightly. The SUV received extensive damages. Fortunately there were no serious injuries to the driver. 14th annual Reef Fest Its that time of the year again to celebrate!! Yes you guessed it right!! Its Our 14th annual Reef Fest!!!!!!! Celebrated this year from May 7th-11th under the theme "Our Reef, Our Life, Our Responsibility, Get Involved!!!! Chef Jennie Staines - Elvi's Kitchen - San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Here are a few photos from a series that I did 2 years ago for a See and Taste feature for Chef Jennie Staines of Elvi's Kitchen in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Chef Jennie Staines is well known on the island and has won numerous awards for her culinary expertise. This day she prepared a delicious cocunut rice with curried shrimp. NICH Signs MOU with the Centro de Estudios Martianos of Cuba Ms. Sapna Budhrani, President of The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), and Mr. Pedro Pablo Rodriguez of Cuba's Centro de Estudios Martianos (CEM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding today to establish an institutional cooperation agreement. Through the support and facilitation of Cuba's Ambassador to Belize, Mrs. Lissette Perez Perez, NICH was able to communicate with the CEM in Cuba and illuminate the many similarities between the institutions. This commonality made it imperative for the creation and formalization of a relationship that will benefit both organizations. CALL FOR BELIZEAN FILMS ttff/19 carifesta edition The 14th Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from August 17th to 23rd, 2019. It is a week-long regional event held every two years in a different CARICOM country. It showcases a multi-talented cultural display in the visual and literary arts, storytelling, fashion, body art, craft, theatre, dance, music, film and new media from participating countries and acts as a catalyst for the strengthening of regional integration among our Caribbean countries, artisans and cultural practitioners. The National Institute of Culture (NICH) has been asked to identify, recommend and submit up to five films from Belize to the organizers of the trinidad+tobago film festival who are curating CARIFESTA's film event in the form of a ttff/19 carifesta edition which will take place in August during CARIFESTA instead of September. Channel 7 GOB Forced to Postpone April 10th Referendum There will be no referendum on April 10. It has been postponed 6 to 8 weeks. Government was forced to do this after they were turned down today by the court of appeal - which refused to hear an appeal of the Chief Justice's decision without the required 21 days' notice. We'll tell you all about that in a few minutes, but first to the Prime Minister who made the official announcement today that they will have to wheel and come again: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "In consequence of what happened today we will be having a referendum on Wednesday April 10th. I am in no doubt that we will be having a referendum on going to the ICJ no later 6-8 weeks from the originally scheduled date." The Court of Appeal Rejected GOB So the takeaway from that is that there will be no referendum in April 10th - in the meantime the government will go to the house of representatives, possibly as early as Friday - and also to the Caribbean Court of Justice as soon as they can to get the Supreme Court injunction lifted. And so, now, back to court, for the explanation of what forced the PM to postpone the referendum: There was an entire day of arguments in front of the judges of the Court of Appeal. Government went there to convince the panel of judges there to set the Chief Justice's injunction aside. But, the first issue that the Government had to contend with is that they needed permission from the court to bring the expedited appeal. AG Weighs The Possibilities Earlier in the day, we got a chance to speak with Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte about the progress of the legal arguments from both sides. Since no decision was made yet, The press questioned him about the possibility of the two outcomes: one in which the Government is successful, and the other - which has now happened - where the court refuses their applications. Here's how that conversation went at the midday adjournment of Court: Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General: "There are 2 applications. One is the notice of motion for expedited appeal, and the other one is the notice of appeal for the injunction itself. The Court of Appeal must first decide if they will even hear us on our disagreement with the Chief Justice that he should have granted the injunction. The Chief Justice granted the injunction, remember, and we want the Court of Appeal hear the merits of that issue only, and hopefully reverse it in our favor..." Chief Elections Officer - Did AG Advice Put Her in A Position of Contempt? And the frenzied preparations for the referendum, which has now been postponed, placed Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai in the crosshairs of the PUP. You'll remember that email that she sent last week to all public officers shortly after the Chief Justice handed down the injunction. It said, quote, "Based on legal advice, please proceed with all plans unless directed otherwise We need to be fully prepared in the event that the court informs that we proceed on April 10th." She and her team were simply trying to be cautious and prepared in the event that the Government could reverse the injunction, but the PUP accused her of acting in contempt of court. Why Tamai? We also asked Eamon Courtenay, the attorney for the PUP Claimants, to discuss their dispute with that email from Chief Elections Officer Tamai. He said that it was important for his clients to put it before the Court of Appeal: Eamon Courtenay, SC - Attorney for the Claimants: "When an injunction is issued you are to obey it. On the say when the injunction was issued, on the advice of the attorney general, the chief elections officer ordered her staff to proceed with preparations. Now, we believe that was an important matter to bring to the attention of the court, because depending on fay you go and depending on what you do, it may amount to a contempt. The government of Belize whether it is the chief elections officer, the attorney general, the prime minister or whoever must respect an injunction issued by the chief justice..." The April 10th Anticlimax So, what happens to all the time and effort that went into preparing for April 10th? Well, from the Attorney General's perspective, it cannot go to waste. He told us that it will be very expensive for all concerned to postpone, which is why the Government was fighting so hard to keep the April 10th date. Here's how he explained why: Michael Peyrefitte: "A lot of preparation has been put into making sure this referendum happens April 10th. A lot of time has been taken away from public servants in order for them to prepare for this referendum. We have all the observers, most of them are already in country. We have everything in place for April 10th to push it back to another date and we will if we have to, but to push this back another date would cause considerable expense and just overall, you know, it would be troublesome to have it beyond April 10th. If we have to, we have to, but it would be very uncomfortable and expensive to extend it some more time. So we are trying to preserve, save some money, save some harassment and have it April 10th if we can." Will Postponement Slacken Domestic and Int'l Support For Referendum? The Prime Minister also spoke about cost today and slackening support from the international community - and we'll have those remarks later, but, firsthere's what he had to say about the PUP's so far successful campaign to block the referendum: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "All this is part of the Opposition's delay tactics and to my mind amount to an effort to stymie Belizean democracy, to deprive the people of this country of their right to choose. While I deplore what is happening on the part of the opposition and I should say what Michael Peyrefitte told me and what is given me leave to say that the leader of the opposition told him today "you can go to parliament to try to fix this" and it would appear, some people obviously think so, that it is an easy fix. But whatever you do we will oppose." Belizean Lawmen Locked Up Abroad Locked up abroad: that's what happened to 2 off duty law enforcement officers and 2 civilians over the weekend in Livingston Guatemala. On Saturday, Police Constable FabiÃ¡n Laurie, and a Coast Guard Officer Seaman Pedro Colomer along with two civilians Kevin HernÃ¡ndez and Jerille Laurie were arrested and charged with possession of firearms and ammunition without a license. Our information is that the men went fishing down south and then later went to Guatemala where they were caught in land. According to Guatemalan reports, they were drunk and disorderly at their hotel. They were found with a pistol and a shotgun with rounds for each weapon. t causing any trouble. We will keep following this story. Police Officer Was Not Free To Travel Today the head of national crime investigation branch said that PC Laurie - had not gotten any clearance to travel, or any weapon to go to Guatemala with: We will keep following this story. IT is worth noting that some months ago, two Guatemalan lawmen were caught at the western free zone with service weapons. They were arrested, charged and remanded for months. Argentinian Fugitive Busted in Belize and Expelled Post Haste An Argentinian fugitive was flown out of Belize this evening. Alberto Samid was given an order to leave by the Immigration department and he was handed over to Argentinean law enforcement who came for him. Alberto Samid is wanted in Argentina on charges of tax evasion, corruption and abuse of labour laws. He was arrested in San Pedro on the strength of an Interpol warrant. Police told us more:.. Recovery of Remains Still Inconclusive Police today spoke about the human remains found on Thursday near Los Lagos in the Belize District. The family of 82 year old Hubert Richards who went missing in November of 2017, fears the remains are his. We asked police to comment today: The Richards family says there has been no confirmation of identity. Warrior Shot In Bak-A-Town Thankfully, there were no murders this weekend. But a man was shot in the face in Be3lize City and he is critical tonight. It happened on Friday night around 8:00. Here's more: The shooting happened in a gang affiliated neighborhood. Man Shot In Foot Early Morning And there was a shooting this morning in that same general area. Fortunately the victim was only hit in his foot. It happened around 8:30 AM. Another Attack In Same Neighborhood AND there was one more criminal event in that same neighborhood. A city Tomza Gas deliveryman was robbed on Saturday morning around 10:00. Police told us more about this hold up. Insp. Wilfredo Ferufino, CIB: "A delivery man for Tomza gas was making a delivery at the corner of cemetery and Lakeview street. He had made the delivery and had gotten paid for the service and in the process of entering the vehicle he was approached by two armed men who relieved them of $600. Police are investigating that matter as well." Will Judicial Setbacks Taint Confidence in Yes Vote? Back now to the Prime Minister's press conference. WE asked him about the effect that successive losses in court have had on the "yes" t the ICJ campaign: Reporter: "This is the second court or second tier of litigation at which the government has not had the desired outcome." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "True." Reporter: "Are you not concern about the taint that this creates, since the referendum is about going to court and we are stuck in court trying to go to court. People will may confidence and say well if you can't win here, how will you win there." The PSE Pressure Begins Over 7,000 students all over the country sat the first part of the PSE today. They had to be creative with their English paper and sharp on their Science skills for day 1. In a release it states " within the six districts there are 30 Examinations Centres, most being high schools. Principals of these high schools have been assigned as exam Supervisors and the high school teachers serve as Invigilators of the examinations. In terms of the breakdown in number of registered students sitting the exam by district, Belize has the most number with 1,924 students and Toledo has the least number with 720 students. Day 2 sitting is set for Friday May 3rd. NICH Con Cuba... For many people, the most striking symbol of partnership between Belize and Cuba is in the medical field. But NICH along with the Centro de Estudios Martianos (Martian Studies Center ) want to strengthen that partnership through research. Representatives from both institutions signed a memorandum of understanding to advance studies relating to Belize's and Cuba's shared history, art and culture. Here is more from the signing. Sapnah Budrani, President of NICH: "The signing that we have here today is an important step towards research, getting the facts together in knowing the relationship between Cuba and Belize..." Hattieville Resident Won 200K Hattieville resident Norris Gillett is over $200,000 richer tonight after he won the fantasy 5. We spoke to him off camera about his big win. Voice of: Norris Gillett, Fantasy 5: "Well when I first find out that I win cold seed run over me and the amount of energy I could not sit down none at all when the reality kick in I didn't want to sleep, when I did drop asleep, when I wake up the next morning, I wake up and I conscious that this is real I started to cry." Reporter: "Tears of joy I am sure." The Cost OF Postponing The Referendum So, as we end the news tonight - we do so with the headline story - there will be no referendum on Wednesday April 10th. Government has to re-strategize and come again. This is after the Court of Appeal said it needs 21 days before it can hear any appeal of a Supreme Court decision. So the Chief Justice's injunction against the referendum stands. To try and cure what the Chief Justice suspected may be lacking in the writ of referendum - government is getting ready to go to the Caribbean Court of Justice, to lift the injunction, and the House of Representatives to get majority support. But., at what cost? And will there be money to keep up the education and the political campaign? We asked the PM today: Man Beats Murder Rap Another man got off a murder charge today in court. 22 year old Percival Pilgrim walked free after Justice Collin Williams acquitted him of the April 2015 murder of Edward Usher a.k.a Ghost. The case fell apart when the main witness, Khadejaah Barrera, testified and said that she signed a piece of paper but she did not read it and the statement she allegedly gave to the police was not admitted as evidence. Caroline Cries For Her Son Nineteen year old Winston Gabourel, a graduate of Stella Maris School, who appears to be mentally challenged, was charged with sexual assault of a girl under the age of 16 when he was brought today before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. She explained to the accused and her mother, who was in court, that she will not take a plea because she is not sure that he understands what is taking place. Channel 5 P.U.P. - 2, G.O.B. - 0, No Referendum on April Tenth Both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal were in session today as Belizeans waited anxiously for what is to happen on April tenth. Would the referendum stand?� We [...] A Renewed Call for a Bipartisan Approach to I.C.J. Referendum Opposition Leader John Brice�o has taken the opportunity, following the decision of the Court of Appeal this evening, to call on Prime Minister Barrow to return to the bipartisan approach [...] PM Barrow: "We will not be having a referendum on Wednesday, April tenth" Immediately after the ruling of the Court of Appeal upholding the injunction, the Prime Minister held a lengthy press conference at the Laing Building. P.M. Dean Barrow accepted that the [...] G.O.B. Looks to the C.C.J. for Possible Appeal So what the government's next move? More litigation….According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the government will be looking at the Caribbean Court of Justice for another appeal, though that appeal [...] G.O.B. Will "Fix" the Law Many observers have been asking why the Barrow Administration hasn't taken the matter to the House of Representatives to fix what he described as the possible mischief that the Chief [...] Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte Outlines G.O.B.'s Appeal For context of the day's proceedings, when the session opened this morning, submissions were made by the government side as to why the appeals court should hear the matter expeditiously [...] Chief Elections Officer in Contempt of Court? Was Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai in contempt of court last Wednesday when she sent out a memo following the CJ's decision to grant an interim injunction?� Senior Counsel Eamon [...] Weighing the Options of a Reserved Court of Appeal Judgment The Attorney General also told the media that the urgency on proceeding with the April tenth referendum was simply because a great deal of time and resources has already been [...] U.D.P. Stalwarts Ready to Go to the Polls According to AG Peyrefitte, the membership of the United Democratic Party has been expressing its readiness to go to the polls.� Of course, this was prior to the Court of [...] Belizean Law Enforcement Detained in Guatemala for Firearm Offences A Belizean police officer and a member of the Coast Guard are two of four men who remain in detention in Livingston, Guatemala. The four Belizeans: thirty-three-year-old police officer, Fabian [...] Who Ordered the Release of 12 Guatemalan Men? FIU Speaks! Twelve Guatemalan nationals were released last weekend, soon after they were detained with a huge amount of U.S. dollars. The group was in a vessel near Moho Caye in the [...] Wanted by Interpol, Argentinean Alberto Samid is Expelled from Belize In the aftermath of a red alert by the International Criminal Police Organization for Alberto Samid, the seventy-one-year-old was detained in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Samid, who is wanted in [...] Shot in the Foot; Police Investigate Gun Violence in the City But is the shooting of Warrior connected to another that occurred around this morning at a barracks located at the corner of Sarstoon and Ebony Streets? Around eight-thirty a.m., a [...] Carmelita Resident Shot While Walking in Back-a-Town There was gun violence over the weekend in Belize City, both incidents in proximity of each other and in a well-known gang territory. It started as early as Friday night [...] Over 7,000 Students Sit Day 1 of P.S.E. Over seven thousand students across the country sat part one of the Primary School Examinations today. Of that number, one hundred and sixty-five students were provided with special arrangements to [...] Beat Down Leaves Man in Critical Condition A Belize City construction worker is in a critical condition after he was brutally beaten in Crooked Tree Village over the weekend. According to Elton Baiza's family, he went to [...] Official Report: Rudy Morales Died from Fluid Inhalation There is official word on the death of Rudy Morales of San Ignacio. The nineteen-year-old had been reported missing for two days, and last Tuesday, his body was found floating [...] Investigations Continue into Human Remains Found in Los Lagos Are the human remains found in the dried up lagoon behind the Los Lagos community that of eighty-three-year-old Hubert Richards? On April fourth, just before one p.m., human bones of [...] Thieves Target A.C. Construction's Payroll A huge sum of money was stolen on Saturday afternoon from A.C. Construction on San Pedro. Around three p.m., the manager, Carlos Jex, was targeted by armed thieves while inside [...] Chopping in San Ignacio Leaves 1 Man Hospitalized An outing in Santa Elena Town on Friday night turned violent. Two friends were out drinking, when around ten p.m., their celebration became violent and within minutes one of them [...] NICH and Marti Institute in Cuba to Partner on Research Belize and Cuba want to find out more about their historical connections. And to do this, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding today that will see intensive research, cross cultural [...] The Weekend in Sports with James Adderley Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities...] The Reporter ICJ Referendum In Legal Limbo - Appeals Court Let Injunction Stand The Court of Appeal has reached a majority decision at this time. The Court has decided the injunction will stand, and the appellants have been advised that they can take their appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Appeals Court has decided it lacks the jurisdiction to deal with the matter. ICJ Referendum Injunction This morning, lead Counsel for Government, Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams spent two hours attempting to convince Justices of the Court of Appeal that it was within their jurisdiction to expedite the hearing of the application by Government to review and do away with the interim injunction of the Referendum granted by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. ICJ Referendum-Injunction Appeal Takes Center Stage The anticipation of citizens and just about everyone else in the country is drawn to the center stage of the judicial drama of the appeal to the injunction that would postpone the ICJ Referendum from taking place on Wednesday, April 10th. Police Say $20K Robbery On San Pedro May Be Inside Job Although the information so far is not conclusive, and they say they will look at all possibilities. Police are looking at the probability of an armed robbery in San Pedro on Saturday being an inside job. Breaking Belize News Decomposed body found in San Ignacio Town The decomposed body of a man was found in San Ignacio Town last night. The [�] CCJ may be last resort; PM lashes out "I shall go to my grave secure in the knowledge that the Chief Justice got it horribly wrong." [�] Court of Appeal declines intervention in ICJ referendum case The chances of a referendum to resolve the ICJ debate dwindles even lower after the [�] BBN apologizes for erroneous article on Court of Appeal's position on participation of the press Breaking Belize News apologizes wholeheartedly and without any reservations for a story posted on our [�] Conch Season closes The Belize Fisheries Department today informed that in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of [�] Belizeans busted in US on drugs and firearm charges Two Belizeans, Charles Baizar and Jermaine Belgrave will stand trial in the United States after [�] Belize Peace Movement meets with Referendum Observer Groups The Belize Peace Movement (BPM) has met with observer groups from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) [�] Family of a 3-month-baby hosting fundraiser for medical expenses Evie is an adorable 3-month-old baby that has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition [�] NICH and Cuban Embassy sign Memorandum of Understanding Today, the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Centro de Estudios Martianos, [�] Alberto Samid transported to Belize City from San Pedro to begin expulsion process Last week Friday, Argentinian businessman, Alberto Samid who was wanted [�] Fair weather to continue The 24-hour forecast is for mostly fair and dry weather to continue. Sunny skies with some cloudy [�] Thousands of Students sit Primary School Exams today! Today, thousands of Primary School Students across Belize are completing part 1 of the Primary School [�] Belize~ Moral Objection to ICJ Referendum By Richard Harrison: The Efficient Breach Theory endorses the immoral behaviour of breaching a promise whenever the consequences of breach are considered to be superior [�] Ministry of National Security issues update on Belizeans detained in Guatemala The Ministry of National Security (MNS) has confirmed, through Belize's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that a [�] Monday is 'decision day' for ICJ referendum At sometime in the next 24 hours or so, Belizeans will learn whether they will [�] Good Samaritan assists man robbed, beaten and left for dead Last night villagers in Crooked Tree attended a dance after the Tilapia Festival, however, that dance [�] Belizean nationals detained in Guatemala International media outlets are reporting that four Belizean nationals were detained in Guatemala. The exact [�] Armed robbers steal $20,000 cash in San Pedro Two armed robbers stole $20,000 cash from A.C. Construction in San Pedro yesterday evening. Carlos [�] LOVE FM Over 7,000 sit for Day one of PSE 2019 While the nation awaited the results of the Supreme Court and the court of appeals decisions on the referendum, parents were waiting for their kids to come out of classrooms. Today marked day one of the 2019 Primary School examination. There were 7,228 students who sat for the PSE. We spoke to the director of � Robbers stalk out gas delivery driver Another robbery was reported on Saturday. This time armed robbers held up a gas delivery driver and took six hundred dollars cash from him. Police say the delivery man, Orlando Galdamez, who is employed with Gas Tomza was wrapping up a sale. Inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino Crimes Investigation Branch: " "The delivery man for Tomza Gas was � Another Battle lost, but not the war- Supreme Court pushes Referendum Case Last week, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin granted the PUP an injunction thereby postponing the ICJ referendum. CJ Benjamin based his ruling based on the request from the Prime Minister to grant writs of referendum which were not in compliance with the Referendum Act. Following that blow, Prime Minister Dean Barrow held a press conference and � 3.4 million dollars in grant delivered to NGOs 3.4 million dollars were disbursed in grants to the conservation community. After a careful review and selection process, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) handed the funds to the grant recipients. Cayo correspondent Fem Cruz spoke to the stakeholders who received funds to continue enforcement efforts and community development. Fem Cruz: "The Protected Areas Conservation � Blogs Eating in San Ignacio, Belize The collective influence of the Mestizo, Maya, and Kriol people make up the largest demographic in Belize, while the presence of Chinese and Taiwanese groups adds a different level of diversity. It was very interesting to learn that there are various Mennonite communities living in Belize. As a British colony in the past, it is the only English-speaking country in Central America, and it's geographic position within Central America and the Caribbean also makes it stand out. Before coming here, all I knew was that I needed to try a traditional breakfast dish called fry jacks (deep fried dough) - they were delicious. Speaking of traditional dishes, I ended up discovering a new love for stew chicken with beans & rice. If you read my last post, you would know that we learned the ancient practice of making corn tortillas (read about it here). We also discovered an edible plant high in protein called chaya - which reminded me of kangkong used in Filipino cooking, and we got to buy chocolate from a local cacao producer. 14th Annual Women's Awards Congratulations to all the 23 amazing women that have made a huge difference in their communities! "Office of the Special Envoy and Women's Department close Women's Month with 14th Annual Women's Awards Ceremony The Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children in partnership with the National Women's Commission and the Women's Department ended a month-long series of activities in commemoration of Women's Month on Thursday, March 28th, 2019 at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, where they recognized 23 outstanding Belizean women for their significant contributions to their communities. What do you do in your spare time? Here at Tropic Air, we have some pretty active employees who take advantage of all that Belize has to offer. Kenrick Duncan and Lennox Myvett, customer service agents at Tropic Air's PGIA International terminal are two such individuals. Next Friday 12th April both are taking part in the arduous hike and climb to Victoria Peak, the second highest mountain in Belize at 3.675 feet. The three-day hike, according to Kenrick, is not for the faint hearted and requires a degree of fitness and endurance. Kenrick trains by running and both he and Lennox are no strangers to physical challenges. Just a few weeks ago in March, for the ninth year, they took part in the grueling 180-mile Ruta Maya Belize River challenge, finishing sixth in their age group and 35th overall. Why You Should Attend the Belize National Agricultural and Trade Show Belize is a relatively small country, but the National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) is definitely one of the biggest events of the year. Over 40,000 people head to the national capital of Belmopan to enjoy three days of music, food, exhibitions, livestock displays, and much more. First held in 1970 to commemorate the opening of Belize's new capital, the NATS is designed to showcase the products of Belize's farmers, craftsmen, herders, and manufacturers. Everyone who is anyone in Belize will be at the NATS to show off their goods and mix and mingle with their friends and neighbors. Fascinating Facts About the Lost City of Xunantunich Thousands of years ago, the Maya empire stretched from Mexico in the north down to El Salvador in the south. They built enormous stone cities in the middle of the jungle, only to abandon them around the year 900 AD for reasons still unknown to modern archeologists. One of the largest Maya cities ever built, now called Xunantunich, was lost for centuries until it was discovered by accident when a villager in Belize came across a ghost of an ancient Maya maiden in the 1890s. 30 Ways to Save Money on a Belize Vacation Money saving tips are always handy, especially when you're on vacation. And since travel to Belize isn't cheap, I'm sure you'll appreciate my list of 30 ways you can save money on a Belize vacation. However, don't be too frugal because it might dampen your experience; so browse through the recommendations below and decide which are best for you. Monkey River and Manatee Watch Tour Belize has the reputation of being a well-preserved jewel and its beauty can be experienced through the many nature and wildlife tours. One of these experiences is the Monkey River Tour and Manatee Watch that can be done from Placencia in Southern Belize. This nature and wildlife tour involves exploring the Monkey River ecosystem, including the surrounding broadleaf forest, allowing visitors to be up close to nature and spot countless wildlife such as birds, iguanas, crocodiles, howler monkeys, and sometimes even tapirs. Additionally, the tour involves learning about the history of Monkey River Village, including a discussion of the devastation caused by Hurricane Iris in 2001. International Sources Legislation governing seizing assets gained from corruption discussed in Belize The government of Canada funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) project, and the Regional Security System (RSS) facilitated a 'meeting to discuss civil asset recovery legislation in Belize' March 18-19, 2019 in Belize city. The meeting brought together local Belizean officials from the attorney general's ministry and regional experts from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. The meeting was chaired by regional project director of the IMPACT justice project, Professor Velma Newton and the feature address at the opening of the two-day gathering was delivered by deputy director of Canada's Caribbean regional programme, Walter Bernyck. In Belize, farmers turn away from slash and burn agriculture For centuries, farmers have been using slash and burn agriculture to produce fertile fields for their crops. The method involves cutting down trees and woody plants in an area and then burning what's left to create nutrient-rich soil. Though it works well in the short-term, the fields become unproductive within a few years, meaning farmers have to start the process over again. It's estimated that between 200 and 500 million small farmers worldwide use the technique releasing 6 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. Is Belize the next favourite for Brexit-hit UK expats? Ever popular with expats from Canada and the USA, Belize is now being sought out by would-be refugees from Brexit-hit Europe and the UK. Central America has been a favourite for escapees from the USA looking for an affordable, less chaotic life than that in the home country, and is now firmly on the radar of potential expats from Europe and the UK. One excellent reason is that English is spoken, thus taking away the major strain of learning a new lingo whilst adjusting to the cultural differences of your new land. Videos Here is a recent jaguar video from our camera trap survey in the Mountain Pine Ridge!, 8sec. Check out his cute little tail wag at the end. Loving these remote video cameras! Mother Nature surprised me again!, 5.5min. A Slender Brown Scorpion having a gecko for dinner! @ Ga�a River Lodge A view of the Sunrise in Corozal, 1min. Women in the Belize Government, 6.5min. Last week marked the end of International Women's Month, however, it does not mark the end of the efforts made by women in Belize. Janel Rodriguez highlights a group of women who have taken on very important roles in the Government. South Tulsa Students - Belize 2019, 6min. El Criminal ft Nes-T - Dimelo, 6min. Zip lining in Belize!, 3.5min. In this video me my friends and family go zip lining I gotta Belize At Jaguar Paw in Belize. Belize: Slash and burn farming, 5min. Slash and burn" agriculture involves lighting fires to clear land. It's been practiced for generations in Belize. The method makes the soil more fertile for a short time, but it also releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye beach scenes, Belize, 2min. Special Olympics Belize - Fun Run 2019, 16min. Special Olympics Belize will host its annual Fun Run 2019 this weekend. Our guests shared the details of the event and how you can participate and support their efforts to promote inclusion for children with different abilities. Light & Peace Basketball Foundation - Annual Dru Joyce Classic, 24min. Light & Peace Basketball Foundation is participating in the annual Dru Joyce Classic. We talked with the organizers about their selection process and how the experience impacts on the youths who participate. The games takes place on 26th-28th April in Akron, Ohio. We heard from two of this year's participants about their expectations. Grace Flava with A Beat - Oil Down, 24min. It's Caricom Week and Grace Flava with A Beat took a trip to Grenada. The crew made the national dish of the country - Oil Down. The Rotary Club of Belize - Jankunu Productionz presents the play Kruffy Air, 25min. The Rotary Club of Belize in collaboration with Jankunu Productionz presents the play Kruffy Air. It's a fun-filled way to support the work of the Rotary Club which includes the signature Gift of Life program. We talked with the organizers about the play and how it reflects on local culture. ZIP LINING IN BELIZE! I got stuck! And went to a waterfall!!, 10min. Belize, Ambergris Caye family adventures 2019, 4.5min. What an amazing place. Me and my family are already missing Ambergris Caye, Belize and its amazing people and places. Prime Minister's Press Briefing. April 8th, 2019, 28min. Court of Appeal rejects Goverment's hope to quash the injunction, 18min. Channel 5 Obituaries - IRMA BENNETT, 2min. Winners of 20th BEL Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic held on Sunday, April 7, 2019, 1min. National Anthem of Belize with Belize Virtuosi, 3min. National Anthem of Belize with Belize Virtuosi String Orchestra (BVSO) performed 19 January 2019 at Bliss Auditorium Belize City, Peter Illavsky Conductor