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Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

US Embassy Holds Town Hall Meeting in San Pedro
On Friday, April 20th the Embassy of the United States of America held a Citizen Town Hall Meeting in San Pedro at the Blue Water Grill. During the lunchtime meeting American Expatriates were informed about the services the Embassy provides. US Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally addressed the group, stating that the priority of the Embassy is to assure citizen safety and to monitor narcotics trafficking as Belize is a throughway for the transport of illegal substances. Thummalappally, who is completing his two-year term in Belize, took time from his vacation on Ambergris Caye to attend the meeting.

Misc Belizean Sources

Meluchi's Hosts the Feed the Children Fashion Show After Party
Meluchi's wass the place to be again last night for the Feed the Children Fashion Show After Party. The $5 cover charge went to the Cornerstone Foundation. The models did a meet and greet, where people could take pictures with them. Mistah Geeh was be spinning.

World Tapir Day at the Belize Zoo pictures
Here are some pictures from the celebration of World Tapir Day and April's 29th birthday at the Belize Zoo yesterday. They had a skydiver parachute in for the celebration. The signs at the zoo are priceless. Sharon Matola was there to sign the new book, Tambo the Tapir.

Xunantunich Beautifies News Exchange Magazine
Xunantunich is on the cover of the latest issue of News Exchange Magazine. It's a beautiful picture, taken from a distance, with a newlywed couple on El Castillo. Olivera Rusu, who has taken many wedding pictures on Belize's ruins, and did quite a few pictures for this year's Belikin calendar, took the amazing shot. Great picture, Olivera! You can get the latest issue at these locations: Cayo: -->Venus Photos and Records -->Cahal Pech Gift Shop -->Gitz Office Supplies Belmopan: -->Dakers Stationary and Books -->Brodies -->Ms. B Stationary -->UB-BMP Bookstore -->Print Belize Ltd.

Feed The Children Fashion Show Last Night
Cornerstone Foundation's Feed the Children Fashion Show was last at the Bedran Hall inside the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Folks supportted a great cause while enjoying the night.

Belizean Fry Jacks
I have taught so many people to make these Fried Cakes and they have gotten through many of hard times because of knowing how to make this recipe. I believe no one need to go to bed hungry. Ingredients 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 4 ounces milk 4 cups cooking oil Method 1. Place flour, baking powder in a bowl. Add milk slowly to form dough. 2. Cut dough into 6 medium size balls. Use a rolling pin to roll each ball into flat circle. Cut each piece in two then cut slits into each piece. 3. Fry in deep oil until golden brown. Fry Jack Cutting Style This video show alternative ways to cut the Fry Jack or Fry Cake. There is no wrong way to do this. Have fun.

LOVE TV

National Agriculture Show opens in Belmopan
The forty third annual National Agriculture and Trade Show opened this evening in Belmopan. Over the course of the next two days, farmers and agriculture producers will showcase their products and services. Thousands of Belizeans are expected to attend the two day event. During the opening ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture Gaspar Vega told the nation that agriculture remains an important contributor to the Belizean economy, a fact that must not be lost on Belizeans from every walk of life. Minister Vega also noted that last year Belize imported two hundred and thirty seven million dollars worth of agriculture and food products. This he says is twice as much as was imported five years ago, reflecting a sharp increase in the demand for imported agriculture products.

UNIBAM struck out of constitutional challenge
The constitutional challenge to section fifty three of the criminal code inched one step closer to a full hearing in the Supreme Court today. In a preliminary ruling handed down this morning by Justice Michelle Arana, The United Belize Advocacy Movement, known by its acronym UNIBAM was struck off as a claimant in the case. Attorneys for the Council of Churches had argued that as an organization, UNIBAM had no standing in the case being brought against the Attorney General, and therefore asked for the application to be struck out. Caleb Orozaco and UNIBAM went to the Supreme Court a year ago, claiming that their rights were being infringed upon by section fifty thee of the criminal code which makes it a criminal offence for men to have sex with men, an offence which is punishable by imprisonment. No date has been set yet for the hearing of the constitutional case. When contacted via telephone today, the head of UNIBAM, Caleb Orozco told Love News that Justice Arana’s ruling is on a procedural matter and that it does not affect the substantive case. Orozco told Love News that he still maintains his expert witnesses; however Justice Arana did strike out one of his opponents’ expert witnesses, that person being Henry Lawrence, because, in the opinion of the Court, that affidavit is filled with personal opinion which are useless to the court.

Another detainee dies in police custody in San Pedro
For the second time since the start of the year, a man in police detention in San Pedro town has died. The latest incident happened last night and is now the subject of a criminal and internal investigation by the police department. Love TV’s Maria Novelo reports.

Blogs

Strange Fruit in Belize: Cashew and Wax Apples + Off to the Belmopan Agriculture Trade Show I Go
'Tis the season for fruit in Belize and two new ones arrived at my local fruit stand yesterday morning. One tasty and one downright horrible. Let's start on a positive note: the wax apple or the rose apple or the water apple. Aptly named since it has a waxy skin and tastes like a juicy, crisp, watery apple. Ideally darker red like these... they are almost hollow. Eat the skin and the crisp crisp flesh leaving just the bottom core. I think you might like them. The cashew fruit, on the other hand is a far more interesting for a number of reasons. One reason is the sickly sweet, rotten taste and smell. Another is their beauty. That cannot be denied.