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Specials and Events

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 February 24th, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • Jerome Tillet Remanded For Attempt Murder:
    A Ministry of Works truck driver, charged with the attempt murder of his sister's estranged common law husband, is currently on remand at the central prison in Hattieville. The 911 call of a chopping incident on Maxi Street in Santa Elena, Cayo, was reportedly received by San Ignacio police at 8:45 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013. By the time the team of policemen arrived on the scene, the injured man had already been rushed, by relatives, to the Community Hospital in San Ignacio. On the scene however the police encountered and detained the suspect, Jerome Tillet, 30, Belizean driver also of a Maxi Street address in Santa Elena.
  • Is Cotton Tree Village Dispatching Criminal To Urban Communities?:
    Last week we reported on the violent attack upon San Ignacio Taxi driver, Pedro Choc who remains in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. This week we report on the arrest of the suspected attacker Alex Anthony Reid, 24, Belizean laborer residing in Cotton Tree Village around mile 44 on the George Price Highway in the Cayo District. Police strongly suspects that Reid is the man who whopped the taxi driver with a piece of wood behind the head. Reid, who is no stranger to San Ignacio, was picked out in an identification parade by both the brother and son of the victim. Slapped with an attempt murder charge, the accused Alex Anthony Reid appeared in front of San Ignacio's magistrate, Narda Morgan, where the indictable charge was read to him. Being a matter for Supreme Court hearing, no plea was entertained. Reid was remanded to the central prison in Hattieville with instructions to be brought back to court on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.
  • Allegations Of Theft From Pro World:
    Two high ranking members from PRO World Foundation are in problems with the law as they stand accused of making off with cash belonging to the Foundation. John Mundy, 27, British/American Global Project manager for PRO World, visited the police station on Thursday, February 7, 2013, where he reported that on Monday, January 28, 2013, he visited the Foundation's office located at # 28 Benque Veijo Road in San Ignacio with intention to meet the local director, Akiesha Anderson to investigate the report of missing funds. Anderson was absent from the office and later sent Mundy a text message allegedly informing that she was resigning from the Foundation.
  • U.D.P Poised To Win A Third Term:
    Four months of rigorous campaigning climaxed today at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal on the occasion of the United Democratic Party's National Convention 2013. While thousands of UDP supporters, from every corner of the country, converged on the convention site, the focus was on the Party's 566 delegates from all 31 constituencies along with elected municipal officials, senators and members of the Party's Central Executive each with one vote to cast for the candidate of their choice to fill the three contested positions of First Deputy Party Leader, Party Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Party.
  • Bradley Accused Of Trafficking In Drugs:
    A well known Santa Elena man, accused of drug trafficking, is today out on a five thousand dollar bail. Police reports that on Friday, February 15, 2013, members of the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT), on an anti-drug operation in Santa Elena, Cayo found over one and a half pounds of weed inside a house on George Price Avenue. The team, accompanied by a senior Justice of the Peace, conducted a search at the George Price Avenue residence of Derick Bradley. The search reportedly led to the discovery of 781.1 grams of marijuana, inside seven separated black plastic bags, found inside the cavity of a cement block in an interior wall.
  • International Raid Targets Illegal Timber Trade:
    Interpol has announced that it arrested nearly 200 people in a wide-ranging international operation against illegal logging and the trafficking of timber. The three-month effort spanned 12 Central and South American countries, and $8m (�5.2m) worth of timber was seized. Interpol says the illegal logging trade could be worth up to $100bn world-wide. It has also been linked to a rise in murders and corruption, as criminal groups move into remote forest areas. Interpol said officials had checked lorries, ships and containers, as well as retailers and individuals, seizing a total of 50,000 cubic metres, or about 2,000 lorry-loads, of illicit timber. More than 100 people remain under investigation.
  • Mexico Security Forces Colluded In Disappearances:
    The pressure group Human Rights Watch says Mexico has failed to properly investigate human rights abuses committed by the security forces. The group has documented almost 250 disappearances during the term of former President Felipe Calderon. It says evidence suggests that in more than half of the cases the security forces participated either directly or indirectly in the disappearances. HRW has called on the new government to find the missing.
  • Grenada Opposition Wins Clean Sweep In General Election:
    Preliminary results of the general election on the Caribbean island of Grenada suggest a landslide win for the opposition New National Party (NNP). Election supervisors said the preliminary figures showed the NNP had won all 15 seats. The governing National Democratic Congress admitted defeat. If the results are confirmed, Keith Mitchell, who served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, will return to power. The main theme during the election was the economic crisis.
  • Deepest Undersea Vents Discovered By UK Team:
    UK scientists exploring the ocean floor in the Caribbean have discovered an "astounding" set of hydrothermal vents, the deepest anywhere in the world. Deploying a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) in the Cayman Trough, they stumbled across a previouslyunknown site nearly 5000m below the surface. Video pictures relayed live back to the research ship mounting the operation show spindly chimneys up to 10m high. They are belching out dark water - "a stunning sight", one scientist said. In the immense pressure of the sea three miles down, the ROV, known as ISIS, was gently steered around the vents, taking pictures and gathering samples.
  • Investing In The Caribbean:
    By Joseph Doway Someone asked me this week, where are investors all flocking to certain islands or regions within the Caribbean, and neglecting others. My answer was simple. Kudos to the government and the people of those countries that accept change and development. As advisors to investors and developers of hotels and resorts in the 2006 to 2009 period, we were always asked to do studies on the destinations where these developments were to take place. Consistent and transparent policies hold the key to economic development of any country or island, which then help to boost its efforts to attract foreign investment.
  • Haiti's 'Baby Doc' Duvalier Bids To Avoid Court:
    Haiti's former ruler has filed a last-minute appeal with the Supreme Court to avoid appearing in court on allegations of crimes against humanity. Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier was due to attend a hearing in the capital, Port-au Prince, on Thursday afternoon or face arrest. The ex-leader, who returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years in French exile, has already missed two hearings. He denies all charges, with his lawyers saying the case should be thrown out. Mr Duvalier's chief counsel, Reynold Georges, earlier told journalists that the ex-president would not attend Thursday's hearing.
  • Hugo Chavez Returns To Venezuela After Cuba Cancer Care:
    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has returned to the country after receiving treatment for cancer in Cuba. In three messages posted on Twitter, Mr Chavez, 58, thanked Cuban President and ex-leader Raul and Fidel Castro. He also thanked Venezuelans for their support and said he would continue treatment in his home country. He has been president for 14 years and was re-elected for another six-year term in October 2012, but his swearing-in was delayed because of his illness.
  • India's Hyderabad Hit By Two Explosions:
    Two explosions have killed 12 people in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, in what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh labelled as a "dastardly attack". The blasts that hit the city in Andhra Pradesh were 10 minutes apart, police said. Television images showed casualties being rushed to hospital. India's home minister said bombs had been planted on bicycles 150m (500ft) apart near a crowded fruit market. Major cities have been put on alert as police probe the cause for the blasts.
  • China Cultural Revolution Murder Trial Sparks Debate:
    The trial in China of an elderly man accused of murder during the Cultural Revolution has sparked online debate. The man, reportedly in his 80s and surnamed Qiu, is accused of killing a doctor he believed was a spy. The Cultural Revolution, launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, was an era of violence against intellectuals and other alleged bourgeois elements. Some have questioned why one man is on trial so belatedly when so few officials have been brought to account.
  • China's 'Leftover Women', Unmarried At 27:
    Over 27? Unmarried? Female? In China, you could be labelled a "leftover woman" by the state - but some professional Chinese women these days are happy being single. Huang Yuanyuan is working late at her job in a Beijing radio newsroom. She's also stressing out about the fact that the next day, she'll turn 29. "Scary. I'm one year older," she says. "I'm nervous." Why? "Because I'm still single. I have no boyfriend. I'm under big pressure to get married." Huang is a confident, personable young woman with a good salary, her own apartment, an MA from one of China's top universities, and a wealth of friends.
  • Facts Related To Death Of 17 Year Old Of Toledo District:
    The Ministry of Health would like to state the medical findings in relation to the death of a seventeen year old female of Golden Stream Village, Toledo District. The patient first visited the Big Falls Health Center on March 19th, 2012 where she was treated for a chronic abdominal condition and released. She later returned to the clinic on March 22nd, 2012 where she was diagnosed with a chronic disorder. She received a blood transfusion at that time and was hospitalized for a week at the Punta Gorda Hospital for observation before release by her doctor.
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The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe's Woofers: Modern Art
Modern Art isn't for everyone, as we learn when Dennis mistakes a particular installation as a sale piece.

Wildtracks receives James A. Waight Award
The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) annually presents a person or organization with the prestigious James A. Waight Award. The award is in honor of one of BAS's founding members, James A. Waight. Recipients of this award have to have contributed either nationally or locally to the conservation and enhancement of Belize's environment. Wildtracks is a nonprofit organization located in the Corozal District dedicated to the conservation of Manatees, Howler Monkeys and Spider Monkeys. Co-founders, Paul and Zoe Walker, originally from the United Kingdom, moved to Belize in 1987 and have since been working on the preservation of Belize's endangered species. In 1990 they created Wildtracks for the conservation of natural life. Both Paul and Zoe saw the need to conserve the dwindling numbers of the Wildtracks-James-A-Waight-Award-3Antillean Manatee and in 1999, they established the Manatee Rehabilitation Program. Later on in 2010 the Primate Rehabilitation Centre was added to Wildtracks' compound. So far, Paul and Zoe have successfully seen the release of three Manatees and nine Howler Monkeys back into the wild. Wildtracks together with the assistance of Belize Forest Department, has enabled the Wildlife Program to implement a zero tolerance policy on illegal trafficking of monkeys as pets in Belize.

Doctor Love: Should I change to win her?
Dr. Love is tasked with many questions, and this one is hard: the object of affection likes bad boys, then dumps them when they change. Does one posture or keep it real?

Misc Belizean Sources

February 10, 2013 - February 16, 2013 Fishing Report
Leyland M. brought a nice group from his Orvis Bellevue Store. Reggie showed up fired up casting to the bonefish in front of the lodge before he had time to unpack. We had big wind and changing wind, but each day the boats came back with incredible stories. We had a lot of beginners to the salt this week - and now these anglers have just upped their game. It's fun to talk about steelhead that are scattered about in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest, and the difference between casting to water you believe a fish lives vs. a permit or tarpon coming mock speed to you and you need to get the cast there, and now! This fishing brings about personality changes. I'm proud of our adult learners. Keeping it fresh is about learning and challenging ourselves. Once again casting out a line brings in more than we ever expected. Thanks for a fabulous week of fun.

Strings of Love Concert Pictures
It was an amazing night of music at the Benque House of Culture Friday night. Not only did Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy wow the audience by playing some of their favorites, but the Cayo Music School was also there, and played some great music from Belize, and Benque. The Benque House of Culture deserves a big commendation for making this concert happen.

Thirteen German Shepard Puppies - 1 Day Old
Our dog Chaya had 13 puppies the other night, bringing our grand total to 18 guard dogs! It was quite an experience. There were 12 there when we went to bed, but surprisingly, lucky number 13 popped out sometime during the night. This is a movie of their first day in Belize at Lower Dover Field Station & Jungle Lodge in Unitedville.

Blogs

Photo of the Day: Belizean Outhouse
As many times as we've ridden by this surprising sight on our bikes, we've never stopped to take a photo until today. It used to have a sheet metal structure partially enclosing it, but awhile ago, that structure disappeared. Here's a closer look. This is the only public toilet north of the bridge that we are aware of -- maybe on the whole island! Belize is not big on public restrooms.

Don't Judge a book by it's cover
When we were walking home from town yesterday I told Dennis I wanted to go to the last roadside fruit stand across from Banyan Bay to get some mini plums on our way home. They have become one of my favorite healthy treats while cleansing - a cheap snack at $2 a bad. When we stopped there I saw some corn on the cob that was still in the husk and looked really good since I had been I had been craving corn recently so I decided to get some. Usually I buy the package kind here that is partially husked an it has never let me down on taste. In this case looks were deceiving, after we cooked it we found out it was cow corn and not so tasty. Instead of throwing it away, we decided to blenderize when we make our squash soup.

Believe It or Not: My First Trip to Lazy Croc's BBQ, the Island Is As Busy as It Gets!
Lazy Croc's Barbecue on Ambergris Caye has been famous for a few years now. Residents and visitors to the island RAVE about the food. A mention of Lazy Croc's pulled pork sends them into a trance. And when they closed temporarily in 2012 (with no indication that they would ever re-open), more than one threatened to leave the island. It's not just Southern U.S. BBQ that is so loved in San Pedro, it's this place in particular...it's almost a cult. Believe it or not...I had never ever dined here. But with a friend visiting (which always means an eating-fest) and a lift on a golf cart, it was time to get up there. And I found out that many had the exact same idea.

International Sources

PHOTOS: At the Beach
Sand grains magnified 110-250 times reveal each grain is unique. Every grain of sand is a jewel waiting to be discovered. That's what Dr. Gary Greenberg found when he first turned his microscope on beach sand. Gemlike minerals, colorful coral fragments, and delicate microscopic shells reveal that sand comprises much more than tiny beige rocks. Author and photographer Dr. Gary Greenberg is a visual artist who creatively combines art with science. He has a Ph.D. in biomedical research from University College London and holds 17 patents for high-definition 3-D light microscopes. Dr. Greenberg lives in Haiku, Hawaii.

Deepest Undersea Vents Discovered By UK Team
UK scientists exploring the ocean floor in the Caribbean have discovered an "astounding" set of hydrothermal vents, the deepest anywhere in the world. Deploying a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) in the Cayman Trough, they stumbled across a previously-unknown site nearly 5000m below the surface. Video pictures relayed live back to the research ship mounting the operation show spindly chimneys up to 10m high. They are belching out dark water - "a stunning sight", one scientist said. In the immense pressure of the sea three miles down, the ROV, known as ISIS, was gently steered around the vents, taking pictures and gathering samples. One of the people "piloting" the ROV said seabed smokestacks remind him of "the industrial Midlands". Hydrothermal vents are among the strangest features of the deep ocean and their existence was not known until the 1970s. Since then they have been discovered at about 200 sites around the world including the Southern Ocean and the Atlantic.

VIDEO: UK scientists discover world's deepest sea vents
UK scientists exploring the ocean floor in the Caribbean have discovered an "astounding" set of hydrothermal vents, the deepest anywhere in the world. Deploying a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) in the Cayman Trough, they stumbled across a previously-unknown site nearly 5000m below the surface. The vents blast out some of the hottest water on the planet - it is 400 degrees centigrade. And they have found some unusual wildlife living alongside.

Tagged seals help find missing piece in global climate puzzle
Researchers pinpoint fourth known source of bottom water, a crucial oceanic heat-sink.


By tracking the voyages of elephant seals off Antarctica, and with the help of satellite imaging and undersea sensors, researchers have discovered a long-elusive source for the deep-ocean streams of cold water that help to regulate the Earth's climate. Antarctic bottom water (AABW) is cold, highly saline water that forms near the shores of Antarctica. Being denser than typical seawater, it sinks to the depths and then moves north in sluggish currents that spread across the globe. Three sources of AABW were known until now. The first, in the Weddell Sea, was found in 1940; two others were found in the Ross Sea and along the Ad�lie Coast of East Antarctica in the 1960s and '70s. But for years, researchers have suggested that these were not the only ones. In particular, water samples from an area called the Weddell Gyre contain atmospheric pollutants known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), indicating that the deep water came into contact with the air far too recently to have been carried there from one of the known AABW sinks. Now, Kay Ohshima, a physical oceanographer at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, and his colleagues have traced that water to a fourth AABW source, in the Cape Darnley polynya. Their results are published today in Nature Geoscience.

A deep sea mission of genuine exploration
From being a totally unimaginable feature of the deep ocean throughout most of human history to being shown live on global television earlier this week, hydrothermal vents have never been so well understood. Now back on dry land after broadcasting on the latest work on the research ship James Cook in the Cayman Trough, I'm still picking up messages from people amazed at getting such an extraordinary vision of the reality of the deep sea. Technology is transforming the way in which we can view our planet. The star of the show is ISIS, the remotely-operated vehicle equipped with HD cameras despatched as an emissary into the unlit depths.

5 Ways Belize is Beautiful
Belize is a beautiful country well worth exploring. It's simple, natural, and full of many kinds of friendly people who all seem to get along, despite their differences. And, beyond all of the theoretical reasons Belize is a great country, it's just simply fun with new adventures around every corner. We wanted to give our kids a break from the consumer-based culture in the States. We wanted to teach them that stuff is not as important as experience and that material objects only weigh on your soul. We could think of no other way to do this, as Americans, than to move to a country like Belize for a short time. Our desire to pare back our belongings as well as teach our children about the trap of stuff led us on this journey. We are in Belize for six months to take a break from America and the 'more is more' mentality. In Belize, progress is coming at a slower pace than we're used to in the United States. People live a simpler life, for a variety of reasons, but the end result is the same: less stuff and more soul.

PHOTOS: The Dogs Of Caye Caulker
We have spent a week in Caye Caulker, Belize and we wanted to share some photos of our adventures on the island. We have been giving some of our collars out to the local dogs and spending time hanging with the beach dogs. Here is our photo recap of week one�.

Our Home Away From Home
The people who own the vacation rental property I'm staying at have 2 dogs. Coincidentally, one of them is a young Doberman Pinshcer, named Bosco! He absolutely reminds me of Logan at this age. Lanky and kinda crazy. They have their calm moments, but will quickly jump up on a whim. His older sister is Reef, and she is equally as adorable. She looks like a red lab-cross. I've had so much fun playing and spending time with these 2, as they greet me on my porch almost every time they hear me come outside. I've also been able to watch Bosco do what the Doberman is bred to do - guard and watch. There are nights, he'll join me on the porch, and he sits and leans on my legs. Ears up, listening and watching through the fences. It's absolutely amazing. Watching him dart through the dark night, when he thinks he hears something suspicious and quickly returning back to me on the porch. All I can think about is how much Logan would LOVE to meet Bosco and actually get a chance to 'guard'.