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 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Celebrating Easter Sunday on La Isla Bonita
The Easter holiday is celebrated in many different ways in San Pedro. From days devoted to Holy worship to extreme all-night club parties and day-long beach bashes, each island resident has their own holiday agenda at heart. Regardless of how the five-day holiday is spent, there is one day that almost everyone shares in common, and that is Easter Sunday at the beach! Folks gravitate to the water like moths to a flame, loaded with picnic lunches, coolers, boom boxes, lawn furniture and of course an array of water toys! While adults linger under the shade of coconut trees visiting with family and friends, children spend endless hours frolicking in the clear, cool Caribbean waters or building white-sand creations. Easter Sunday is traditionally a beautiful, sunny day on La Isla, and this year did not disappoint. We hope you all had a great time while you were here, and if you weren’t here then it’s time to start planning your next vacation!

Over-crowded deck collapses into the water at Tackle Box Bar
Tacklebox-webAbout 45 party-goers were scared and sustained minor injuries after a portion of the flooring of an over-the-water deck they were on collapsed into shallow water over the weekend. The incident occurred at the Tackle Box Bar and Grill in San Pedro Town sometime around 1:30AM on Easter Sunday. According to police reports, the outer deck of the establishment gave in and fell into the sea along with some 45 patrons. San Pedro police are reporting that as many as 500 people were inside the establishment socializing as part of the Easter activities on the island. It appears that due to the weight of the crowd, a large portion of the wooden floor collapsed into the sea which was about four feet in depth. The incident caused quite a scare to the party-goers and local authorities on the island were forced to close the establishment for the night.

Allen “Ajay” Martinez shot in San Pedro Town
Police on Ambergris Caye have detained one man following a shooting incident on Sunday March 31st. The victim of the shooting is 29 year old unemployed Allen “Ajay” Martinez of a Tarpon Street address in San Pedro Town. The incident occurred shortly after 8PM at an Easter function at the Holiday Hotel situated on Barrier Reef Drive in San Pedro Town. San Pedro Town Police have since detained 40-year-old Reynaldo Verde of Belize City for the shooting. According to Superintendent of Police, Luis Castellanos, Officer in Charge (OC) of the San Pedro Police Station, they visited the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II, where they saw Martinez with a single gunshot wound to the left hip that exited the buttocks on the left side. Initial investigations revealed that Martinez was socializing on the deck of the Holiday Hotel with some other friends when he accidentally bumped into Verde and an altercation ensured. According to Police, Verde took out his license 9 millimeter (mm) Luger brand gun and fired a single shot towards Martinez causing his injuries.

San Pedro Roman Catholics celebrate Easter
In San Pedro, Roman Catholics consider Easter the most holy time of the year.The San Pedro Roman Catholic Church had a schedule of events in place to celebrate the season, which is ushered in by the 40 day Lenten season starting on Ash Wednesday. It marks a time for preparation to receive Jesus Christ culminating on Palm Sunday when Jesus returns to Jerusalem.Symbolic palm leaves, which according to the Bible were used to welcome Jesus to the holy city, are revered by the Catholics. During Palm Sunday mass, palm leaves are blessed and given to the congregation who turn them into crosses as a token of their faith. Palm Sunday was followed by the Holy Thursday mass where the Catholic congregation participated in the “Washing of the Feet” ceremony which commemorated The Last Supper. In this ceremony the priest washes the participants’ feet, just like Jesus did to his apostles. After the “Washing of the Feet” mass the Holy Eucharist is transferred to the Parish Hall. A vigil is held at the Parish Hall until midnight, which is the time Judas betrayed Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, and is the beginning of Good Friday.

Ambergris Today

Mayer Family Donates Soccer Equipment to San Pedro Children
Craig Mayer and his family have fallen in love with San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, very much so, that they hope to retire one day on the island. But before the couple comes to live in Belize, the family of five wants to help give back to the community as much as they can. While vacationing in San Pedro Craig Mayer, his wife Melissa, three daughters Riley, Sydnie and Carlee and family friend Nicole Debravender, took time to visit the San Mateo residential area and donate sports clothing, shoes and equipment to children.

Easter Break in Belize is HUGE! San Pedro Holds Party Central Status
The vibe in San Pedro was high this year with one of the biggest parties being at the Holiday Hotel where Miami’s DG Zog hosted a two-day beach bash that is still the talk of the town. Other establishments holding parties were Tackle Box, Luna Loca, Sandbar, The Villas at Banyan Bay and the two nightclubs Jaguar’s Temple and Daddy Rock. But the celebrations were spread throughout the island as there was entertainment for just about everybody. Those who liked a more tranquil time on the beach with the family chose to line up along the beach at Boca del Rio Park, Central Park and all along the coast. Others who wanted to get away from it all stayed away from town and enjoyed a more quiet time at their resorts located north and south of downtown.

Sports Aficionados of San Pedro Back in the Days
Today’s article is on people and not on events as I normally do. It is about people who formed, (some still do) an integral part of our community. I’ll comment on most of them, and you can also do in our comments, please. The photo was taken at X’calak, Mexico during one of the visits of our baseball team circa 1965.

Pic of the Week: How to Beat the Heat in San Pedro, Belize
A bucket lowers your cold Beliking Beers down to you from the second floor of Palapa Bar. All you have to do is relax. No effort at all to beat the heat in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Palapa Bar is a popular hangout on North Ambergris Caye, just a short ride from the Boca del Rio Bridge. They also offer great food and great ambience to have a great time.

ABC Pre- School Annual Presentation
San Pedro Get Ready! It’s ABC Pre-School’s Annual Extravaganza! Join the fun on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. It’s a live concert starting at 7pm with your favorite teen icons. It will be a fun filled night with lots of surpises! ABC Pre-School brings to you from Merida, Yucatan – Rocky and Cece, Monster High, Disney Characters, Michael Jackson, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk and much more! So mark your calendars and be sure to attend this spectacular show brought to you by ABC Pre-school!

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Caye Fest
The Belize Caye Fest, Inc., is very happy to have four of the Belizean artist performing at the Caye Festival. Ernestine Carballo, Tony Wright, Jorge Ernesto Babb and Captain Roby will be traveling from Belize. Lisa Pike is traveling from Miami.

NBHA Season Started
The National Barrel Horse Association of Belize has posted pictures from their first run of the season. The runs are at the Belize Equestrian Academy on the George Price Highway. They have another run coming up on April 13th. "March 17th kicks it off! April 13th, May 19th, June 15th, no July or Aug unless we have a make up date. Sept 15th, Oct 19th, Nov 17th and Dec 14th! We will rotate Sun and Sat again."

BTL Telephone Directory Launch
BTL had their telephone directory launch in Cayo, and they were there will lots of goodies, yellow goodies, to go with the new yellow pages. "Our 2013 Telephone Directory Launch was a huge success! Thanks to our dedicated team and all those who partnered with us to make this years' publication a product we all can be proud of! Special thanks to the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena for hosting us."

Channel 7

Oil Find In Northern Belize, But Is It Commercial
Tonight, there is guarded optimism after Maranco Energy found oil this weekend in the Gallon Jug area of the Orange Walk District. Don't start celebrating yet, because at this point it is only being called quote, "an encouraging oil show." Testing has started and within two weeks we should know if it is commercial. That testing might also give some estimate of the size of the oil field. According to a brief official release, the find was made at the South Canal Bank #1 exploration well in Maranco's Concession area in the Orange Walk District. The person behind Maranco is Paul Marriot, a former Director with BNE. Maranco is one of two companies looking for oil in the Gallon Jug area. The other is New World Energy. If it is a commercial oil find - it would be a Godsend for the Government since production at the BNE Oil Field in Spanish Lookout is steadily going down. At its peak in 2011, GOVERNMENT'S revenue from oil was over 100 million, and it is now about half of that and diminishing steadily. 1.58 Million Barrels were exported in 2009 and 779 thousand is projected for export by the year 2015. The 11 million barrel Spanish Lookout oil field is expected to be depleted by the year 2020.

A Belizean Gets The Garland
And while we can't yet celebrate a commercial oil find, this weekend patriots and sports fans had something to cheer about as Belizean Darnell Barrow won the 85th Cross Country Cycling Classic in an exciting sprint where he bested two foreign riders. And while that was the end, we start our coverage at the beginning where Darnell Barrow was not among anyone's top ten contenders. Daniel Ortiz reports how he got from the back of the pack to the first across the line: Daniel Ortiz Reporting 86 riders lined up at the starting line for the 85 running of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. But first they dealt with the formalities. The cycling officials introduced the 2012 Cross Country Champ, Geovanni Choto, and then paid respects to Wallace Donald Matura, the recreational rider, cycling official, and avid cycling fan who passed away 3 days earlier. Included in the lineup are 8 Mexican, 4 American friends, and 2 Guatemalans. Of these foreigners, 3 are past champions, and in the field of the local riders, 4 are also past champions. And at a few minutes after 6 a.m., they move off, Geovanni Choto ahead the group in his customary lead as last year's champion.

An Easter Monday Murder
And while there was a lot to celebrate this weekend, and a lot of churching to do - regrettably, the violence didn't stop. Two people were killed while three others were shot. The only killing in the city happened last night at 7:30 where a 28 year old was murdered in an area between two warring gangs. Michael Heusner was walking on Mahogany Street towards Mopan Street when two men on separate bicycles rode up from behind and one of them opened fire. Heusner received multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body and died on the spot. Neighbors heard at least 7 shots ring out.. According to Heusner's family, he had just left his mother's house on Courtney Crescent only 5 minutes before he was murdered. His friends strongly believe that he was murdered just because he was on wrong turf. Heusner grew up in the area known as Back-A-Town and he was killed just across the canal that separates it from the other gang territory known as May Flower or Ghost Town. 7news was on the scene and today Monica Bodden spoke to a friend of the deceased who asked to appear off camera:

Woman Killed In Sarteneja
And a woman was killed in Northern Belize this weekend. Police say that sisters 36 year old Veronica Gonzalez and 29 year old Wendy Aragon went to spend the Easter in Sarteneja when they were viciously stabbed by 39 year old Norma Pena. Pena, it turns out, is Wendy Aragon's sister in law. The stabbing reportedly happened at around midnight a dance in the village in northeastern Belize. Pena allegedly stabbed Gonzalez in the throat, and also stabbed her sister in law Aragon several times. Police were called, but didn't get there until hours later and Gonzalez died on her way to the hospital at 3:00 am. Aragon was hospitalized at the Northern Regional Hospital, where she is stable. Norma Pena of Moho Street in Orange Walk is detained pending charges. The dispute is reportedly over a house. There was another vicious attack on a female in the north. This one happened in Caledonia village. At 2:00 am, a drunk Geraldo Taca arrived at the Pott family home and dragged Cruzita out. He chopped her several times. The pair had a dispute about 4 hours earlier when Crutizta was at the village park with a male friend, making Taca, with whom she;d had a relationship, jealous. Her injuries are serious and she was transferred to the KHMH for treatment. Police have detained 32 year old Geraldo Taca.

Man Shot In San Pedro By Senior Customs Officer
A man is in the KHMH with a shattered pelvis after he was shot by a senior public officer this weekend in San Pedro. It happened on Easter Sunday night around 8:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Hotel, which is in downtown San Pedro on Barrier Reef drive. Police say 29 year old Allen Ajay Martinez and 40 year old Reynaldo Verde got into a fight. Things escalated and Verde - who is second in charge at the Sales Tax Office - pulled his licensed weapon and shot Allen in the left hip. The bullet exited his buttocks and Allen had to be rushed to the City in a Coast Guard vessel. He was brought to the Princess Pier where a police truck took him to the KHMH. Allen is originally a resident of Belize City who has relocated to San Pedro. His friends say that he was playing with his son and accidentally spilled Verde's drink - and that's what started the fight. He remains hospitalized with a serious injury to his pelvis. We could not reach Verde for comment as he is detained by police. Police have not said what he will be charged with - and describe the incident on the press release only as a shooting. We'll keep following the story.

Ten-year-old Drowns On Easter Swim
A ten-year-old boy drowned over the long Easter holidays. Davin Zelaya and his family went for a swim in Gracie Rock yesterday afternoon. According to the boy's 13 year old sister, as he entered the river, he went down and never came back up. With help from some young men in the area, Zelaya's body was recovered from the water about an hour latr. With the consent of her mother, Zelaya's 13 year old sister, Monika Sulph told us what she recalled happened. Monika Sulph - Sister of Deceased "Well, all that happened is that, when we reached at the place, we just with into the water and we all went in. He was the first to go in and he went underneath the water and he didn't come up back. So I went - we went to our parents and that's all that happened. We were all very excited to go in the water because we were in the van for a long time trying to find this place, and when we reached he was excited to go in the water, so as we reached we went right in."

Why Did "Tackle Box" Collapse
A group of about 45 party goers, who were guests at the Tackle Box Bar and Grill on San Pedro, are still wondering tonight about what happened at the establishment to cause them to tumble unexpectedly into the sea. At around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, the patrons of the establishment were socializing on the deck area, which is built over the water, when parts of the wooden structure collapsed, dunking them in about 4 feet of water. According to the San Pedro Sun, Police are reporting that as much as 500 people were inside the establishment at the time that the deck collapsed. Fortunately, no one received major injuries, but the 45 victims reported that they lost a number of personal items including cellular phones, cameras, jewelry and cash. A parent of one of the victims contacted 7News to report that the police are saying that they can't do anything to recover damages.

Two Charged For Trying To Run Over Police
Tonight, 30 year-old Dane Enriquez and 23 year-old Alexander Underwood, are at prison, after they allegedly tried to run over two police officers, who were on patrol duty. The Police Press Office has not released any details on this incident, but according to Special Constable Juan Morales and Police Constable Raphael Abraham, they were on patrol in the Belama area on Saturday. That's when a grey Ford Ranger pick-up truck intentionally slammed into the police motorcycle they were on. Enriquez was reportedly the driver, while Underwood was in the passenger side. According the officers, the men tried to escape when they were detaining them, and as a result, one of the officers shot Underwood in the left foot. Police arrested and charged both men with attempted murder. Enriquez was additionally charged with aggravated assault and damage to property for the police motorcycle.

Man Accused Of Unlawful Carnal Tried To Run Away With Girl
Tonight, 18 year-old Alberto Antonia Barraza is behind bars after police allegedly caught him fleeing with a 15 year-old minor who he allegedly sexual relations with. According to police, on March 22, 2012 and December 12, 2012, Barraza allegedly had intercourse with the minor when she was only 14 years old. Police investigated this report, and when they went to detain Barraza, he allegedly try to flee the country, and had to be intercepted at the Belize Western Border in the company of the minor. He was charged with 2 counts of unlawful carnal knowledge, and he was arraigned today before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. Due to the nature of the offences, he was remanded to prison until May 30, 2013, his next court date.

GOB VS GDG In FLA Court
Two days before the last general elections, a story emerged out of the United States saying that a newly formed Florida company called GDG Acquisitions, - GDG - presumably as in, Glenn D. Godfrey - was suing the Government of Belize in the United States for ten million US dollars plus interest. Well, the news today is that the law suit has been dismissed. The suit was one of those ghosts of government's past, where Godfrey was saying that a so called Master Lease Agreement an Agreement was originally entered into on December 18, 2002 and signed by Godfrey, as Chairman of Intelco, and Ralph Fonseca, as "Minister of Budget Management" for the Belize Government. GDG says Government owes it $10.3 million dollars for "failing to pay rent or return telecommunications equipment that the Government allegedly leased from Intelco in 2002-2003." Well, the Government of Belize filed a "Motion to Dismiss the Complaint" in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Car Dealer To Jail After Gun Find
34-year-old Delvith Retreage, a car dealer from Ladyville, is behind bars after he was allegedly busted over the weekend in possession of a 9 mm pistol loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition. According to police, they received information of a fight in front of Selina's Cool Spot in Ladyville, and they responded at around 10:50 p.m. According to the officers, when they arrived, they saw Retreage who ran to the gate adjacent to the establishment and threw away an object. They detained him, and retrieved the item in his presence and discovered that it was a 9 mm pistol with 7 live rounds in its magazine. As a result, he was with firearm offences, and he arraigned today before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, who remanded him to prison until May 29, 2013, his next court date.

Workers Group Challenges Kolbe
A group calling itself the Belize Central Prison Employees correlation is taking on the management of the Kolbe Foundation - the private managers of the Prison. Their central issue is that they claim too many employees are being fired. They have a whole lot of other issues - and made a video documentary out of it. Attorneys for John Woods have written telling them to take down the defamatory video off FACEBOOK. But they say the issues in the documentary are the same issues they have taken to the NTUCB, the Ombudsman and now to the media. The leaders of the group told us more today: Herman Blease - Belize Central Prison Employees' Correlation "Since January of this year, we had close to 30 employees being either terminated or suspended and even as I speak to you this minute, the head of the I.T section is on suspension - has just been suspended from the prison. Again this is a - this speaks to an on-going industrial relationship problem of the prison between the management and the employees. So we're saying since the first of March, we are going to create a movement that will put a stop to this continuing problem at Kolbe. So, we have gone ahead and met with the N.T.U.C.B, we've gone ahead and met with the Ombudsman, and now today, we are here because we have been threatened. The prison has gone ahead a threatened the correlation by issuing instructions through their attorney, that a documentary be removed from the - from Facebook."

Fire Claims Two-Storey Building
An area on Freetown Road was close to traffic this afternoon after a two story building caught on fire. Around 1:53 this afternoon fire fighters responded to a call on Freetown road and on arrival they found the upper wooden flat of a two storey building engulfed in flames. The team immediately got into operation and managed to completely extinguish the fire less than 45 minutes after. The 2 story concrete lower and wooden upper building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. So far fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire but told 7news that the fire started from the Southeastern portion of the upper flat.

Undersize Conch Caught In South
The Southern Environmental Association known as SEA is rpeorting that a month ago it busted two persons fishing undersized conch. They had 911 undersized filet conch. They were charged and fined $18,220.00 or one year in prison in default of payment. The following day, SEA went to the Independence Village dock side where they found one person with NINETY SEVEN (97) undersized market clean conchs. He was fined $1,945.00 or six months in prison in default of payment. Market clean conch must exceed 3oz, conch fillet must exceed 2.75oz, and conch shell size should be a minimum of 7 inches. It is illegal to sell or buy diced conch because this does not allow for conch size to be determined. Conch season is closed from July 1st to September 30th of every year.

How Did Darnell Do It? He Almost Didn't!
On Saturday, Darnell Barrow wrote his name into history when he won the 85thCross Country. And while he's the new champion, the truth is no one picked Darnell Barrow to win the 85th Cross Country Cycling Classic. He'd been on the rocks with his team, his bike frame is busted up, and he hadn't been having the best year training. So, the 24 year old rider from Coral Grove almost picked up and went to Cancun with his mom this Easter. But he didn't; he hung in there and made it to the starting line - even though he almost got late, arriving just two minutes before the start. Sounds kind of harum scarum to see that it preceded the ride of his life. But happenstance is how he got into cycling in the first place when he started riding on, of all things, a beach cruiser! Today he came to our studio to tell us how he went from that humble beginning to cruising across the finish line first after he rode the whole race like a shadow: Darnell Barrow - 2013 Cross Country Champion "The feeling, the feeling is still unbelievable. That is the feeling, I still have to deal with it, and I still don't believe that I finally pulled it off. It's overwhelming." Jules Vasquez "Now, you're nationally known, everyone knows who you are, and everybody wants some of your time, or just to watch them or say their name."

Channel 5

Jealousy; woman kills another in Sarteneja
We start tonight’s newscast with an unusual murder in which a Sarteneja woman allegedly took the life of another. The incident happened on Sunday night in the village and it also involved another victim. The two were stabbed multiple times and were rushed for medical treatment but one did not make it to the nearest [...]

While motive still uncertain in Belize City homicide
Violence appeared to have been contained in the City over the Easter weekend, that is, until Monday night. Michael Heusner, a fisherman, was returning to his house from a trip to a nearby grocery store when two gunmen opened fire on him.  The father of one was hit on the head; he did not stand [...]

Another man arraigned for Corozal kidnapping
  A second man has been charged in the kidnapping case up north in Corozal Town. Thirty-six year old Bernabel Pena now joins thirty-two year old Thomas Villanueva who was charged last Thursday in connection with the abduction of two year old Ivy Yang on March twenty-fifth. Several persons were initially detained and released but [...]

Black gold found in Orange Walk District
But there is some positive news to report tonight. That’s because there is official word that Maranco Energy Belize Limited, an onshore drilling company, has struck gold…black gold, that is. A release from the Ministry of Energy, this afternoon states that on March thirtieth the company “discovered an encouraging oil show at their South Canal [...]

Lawsuit against G.O.B. quashed in US Court
There is another piece of good news for the government since a ten million US dollar lawsuit against them, by businessman Glenn Godfrey, for an alleged breach of contract was dismissed earlier today by a U.S court for the Southern District of Florida.  The case was brought by GDG Acquisitions, a company related to the [...]

Offensive map to be used on new Guatemalan passports
The Government of Guatemala is including Belize as part of its territory in maps appearing in primary school text books. That decision was taken at the behest of the Ministry of Education but even prior to that the offensive map was protested at the Organization of American States when it was used to illustrate the [...]

Early afternoon fire in the City
There was an early afternoon fire in the City. It caused a stir in the neighborhood because the wooden building was located in congested area on Freetown Road. The building was unoccupied but previously housed a grocery story. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and was able to contain the fire from spreading and [...]

1 man hospitalized following shooting in San Pedro
San Pedro was the scene of much excitement this Easter weekend, and not exactly the good kind. One shooting incident Easter Sunday night has left a San Pedro resident recovering at the K.H.M.H. while the man who shot him is detained pending charges. Reports are that the incident occurred at the popular Holiday Hotel located [...]

Unexpected swim; partygoers plunged into sea as wooden deck collapses
And while that incident resulted in bloodshed, a group of about forty-five partygoers in San Pedro were treated to an unexpected swim when a wooden deck collapsed under their weight and plunged into the sea. The incident occurred at the Tackle Box Bar and Grill at around one thirty Sunday morning when reports are that [...]

Woman alleges she was raped by 2 men including a police officer
A woman was allegedly raped by two men, one of whom she describes as a police officer. A waitress from Belize City reported to Police that on Sunday, March thirty-first she was raped by two men, at least one of whom she believed to be a police officer. According to the report, the twenty year [...]

Over $1.2 Million in contraband goods seized; Belizean origin?
Contraband goods are normally brought into the country through the back doors of Guatemala or Mexico but over the weekend a large amount of contraband was seized near El Ceibo in La Libertad, Petén which is located at the Guatemala -Mexico border. What does this have to do with Belize you may ask? Well the [...]

3 persons arrested and charged for fishing undersized conch
The conch season will be closed from July first to September thirtieth, but three persons have been arrested and fined for fishing undersized conch in southern Belize. The bust was made by the Southern Environmental Association, known as SEA, which co-manages various marine areas. Two persons, who were caught with nine hundred and eleven undersized [...]

Alleged carnal knowledge offender nabbed while trying to flee across border
  A Belize City warehouse keeper, who Police caught at the Belize Western border after he allegedly tried to flee with a pregnant minor to neighboring Guatemala, was today slapped with two counts of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. He is eighteen-year-old Alberto Antonio Barraza of Belize City. This afternoon, Barraza appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie [...]

2 men charged for attempted murder of cop
  Two men will be spending their first night at the Belize Central Prison after being slapped with charges of Attempted Murder on two police officers. Thirty-year old mechanic Dane Enriquez and twenty-three year old carpenter Alexander Underwood appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith and both were charged jointly with Attempted Murder on PC [...]

Senator speaks on corruption in government
Senator representing the private sector Mark Lizarraga has been a very vocal proponent for a change in the way things are done in government to allow for greater adherence to those much-used political buzzwords – transparency and accountability. In Thursday’s newscast, Lizarraga spoke about the government’s new brainchild; the special purpose vehicle called BIL, and [...]

Spectacular Highlights from the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic
  Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   The 85th edition of the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic will go down as the most excitingly competitive race Belizeans have ever seen on a Holy Saturday. at the start in front of Leslie’s Imports, 87 riders are suited up for blast off [...]

More News: Scroll up from here

LOVE FM

Belizean Cyclist Brings Home Cross Country Garland
One of the Easter weekend’s main event took place on Holy Saturday morning. A number of Belizeans made the annual trek to mile three and a half on the George Price Highway where over eighty riders lined up at the starting point for the 85th running of the cross country cycl...

US District Court Dismisses Case Against Government of Belize
The United States District Court for the southern district of Florida has dismissed a case brought against the Government of Belize by GDG Acquisitions, a company owned by Glenn Godfrey. Godfrey had taken the Government to court alleging a breach of a master lease agreement that ...

Wives of Three Brothers Involved In Fatal Stabbing Incident
One woman is detained pending charges following a fatal stabbing incident in the Corozal District. Reporter Dalila Ical has the story. DALILA ICAL "One woman is detained following the murder of another woman. The incident took place in Sarteneja Village in the ...

Reports of Murder, Rape and Theft Span The Easter Weekend
On Saturday, March 31, 2013 about 2:15 am Margarita Pott, a 45-year old Domestic of Caledonia Village in the Corozal District visited the Caledonia Police Station in the company of her daughter, Cruzita Pott bleeding from what appears to be multiple chop wounds. She reported ...

Oil Discovery In Northern Belize
On Saturday Maranco Energy Belize Limited discovered an encouraging oil show at the South Canal Bank #1 exploration well in their concession area in the Orange Walk District. A release from the Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities says further and necessary...

Police Investigate Easter Monday Murder
At around 7:30 on Easter Monday night, residents of Mahogany Street near its intersection with Mopan Street said they heard a flurry of gunshots. When they looked outside, a man lay on the street apparently dead. His name is Michael Heusner, a 28 year old who lived on Courtenay’...

Officials Investigate Mid Afternoon Fire
A fire disrupted the hustle and bustle of Freetown Road this afternoon. Firemen were alerted to the fire at about seven minutes to two o’clock this afternoon, and it took them about three minutes to arrive at number 42 Freetown Road where the upper flat of the building, a wooden ...

Child Drowns During Family Outing
A family outing during an Easter Monday swimming adventure turned devastating at the start of the trip when one of the children drowned. Nine year old Davin Zelaya Garnett, along with his sister, Monika Sulph, and their close friends had gone to swim at the river in Gracie Rock V...

Love News Investigates Crocodile Killing
On the heels of an arrest of a High School Principal of the Orange Walk District who was accused of killing an endangered species, a howler monkey, a disturbing picture has been forwarded to Love News. It shows the image of a woman and a man holding a dead crocodile while another...

Police News
Two men were charged with attempted murder when they appeared in court today. They are 23 year old Alexander Underwood and 30 year old Dane Enriquez. Underwood, a carpenter of Reggae Street, was charged with the attempted murder of police constable Raphael Abraham. Enriquez was charged...

Environmental Association Busts Fishermen With Illegal Conch
Over twenty thousand dollars of fines were imposed on fishermen after having been busted engaging in illegal fishing activities that include Conch. The bust was done by the Southern Environmental Association, SEA which works toward improving stewardship and environmental integrit...

Prescribed Forest Burns Conducted In Protected Areas
A series of prescribed burning have been completed in some eight thousand acres of forested areas in the Payne’s Creek National Park in the Toledo District. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports. PAUL MAHUNG "At this time of the year and dry season in Belize, a num...

Resident of Elderly Home Goes Missing
A resident of Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly on Wilson Street in Belize City has been reported missing. An attendant said she reported for duty around 2:45 yesterday afternoon and around 4:00 p.m. she gathered all the residents for supper when she realized that one of them, ...

Shooting Incident Reported During A San Pedro Easter Event
A shooting incident was reported in San Pedro town on Sunday Morning. According to Police the incident occurred sometime around 8:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn Hotel on Barrier Reef Drive. Twenty nine year old San Pedro resident, Allen “Ajay” Martinez was at that locat...

American National Robbed On City Streets
Police in Belize City are investigating an incident in which a nationalized American was robbed yesterday. The fifty five year old woman told police shortly after seven o’clock last night she was walking along Calle al Mar, which is adjacent to the MCC Grounds, when she was...

Establishment In San Pedro Collapses During Easter Event
San Pedro was perhaps one of the biggest destinations to head to over the Easter break, but no one thought that while they geared up their dance moves they would be treated to an unsuspected dip in the sea. That is what happened at the Tackle Box Bar and Grill in San Pedro Town o...

Car Dealer Arrested on Firearm Charges
A car dealer has been charged with firearm offences. Police say on Monday night they received reports of a fight in front of Celina’s Cool Spot on the Philip Goldson Highway. When they arrived they saw a male person identified as 34-year-old Delvith Retreage Junior wh...

Easter Weekend Events Reported Successful in the Stann Creek District
We join correspondent Harry Arzu for a look at some of the activities that took place over the Easter weekend in Southern Belize. HARRY ARZU " Families and friends from far and near attended several Easter holiday functions in various communities in the Stann Creek Distric...

CTV3

Black Gold Struck In Orange Walk
In 2011 Maranco Energy Belize Limited was awarded a Production Sharing Agreement for vacant petroleum exploration blocks in the northwestern Orange Walk District. The concession included a section of a protected area; the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area. While cabinet issued the P.S.A., it is known that APAMO and the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage both presented concerns against the awarding of the Production Sharing Agreement. Belize Natural Energy Limited and an Irish company named CARA also objected the Maranco contract. But it seems that all of that was left in the past and word tonight is that Maranco has discovered oil in Orange Walk. According to a press release from GOB, on March 30th 2013, Maranco Energy Limited discovered an encouraging oil show at the South Canal Bank #1 exploration well located in the Gallon Jug area in the Orange Walk District. We understand that further and necessary testing is ongoing to determine the commercial potential of the oil show and that the Geology and Petroleum Department personnel are on site and are closely monitoring the situation. According to GOB, they will be providing more information about the discovery as soon as more facts are gathered. Viewers might recall that in 2011 Maranco LLC, the offshore company in St. Kitts & Nevis, which owns Maranco Limited, the local branch filed a lawsuit against B.N.E.’s parent company International Natural Energy, in which director, Tony Quinn, was found in breach of his fiduciary responsibilities. Quinn was ordered to purchase Maranco’s shares in I.N.E. The value was determined by an independent evaluation

Belize City Fisherman Murdered
And while that murder played out in the Village of Sarteneja on Holy Saturday, Easter Monday also proved to be deadly as it claimed the life of a Belize City resident. At around 7:40 last night, Belize City police visited Mahogany Street, about 50 yards from the junction with Mopan Street where they observed the lifeless body of 28 year old Michael Anthony Heusner, Belizean Fisherman of number 3272 Courtney Crescent, Belize City, lying face down on the right hand side of Mahogany Street with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Initial investigations have revealed that at about 7:25 on Monday night, Heusner was walking on Mahogany Street from the direction of Mopan Street heading towards Sarstoon Street to make a purchase at a nearby Taiwanese Store, when two male persons riding separate bicycles rode up from behind him. One of the men is said to have pulled out a firearm and riddled Heusner’s body with bullets. While that is the official police report, residents of the area claim that the man who pulled the trigger was on foot. The individual allegedly walked up to Huesner from behind and released a barrage of bullets at the victim while a second individual struck him on the back of the head. Police retrieved six 40 caliber Smith and Wesson expended shells from the scene. The victim’s body was transported to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital where it was pronounced dead on arrival at 8:19pm and now awaits a post mortem examination.

Man Chops Woman In Jealous Rage
A woman from the village of Caledonia in the Corozal District is lucky to be alive tonight after an act of jealous rage nearly claimed her life. Reports are that on the 31st of March 2013, at around 2:00am, 45 year old Margarita Pott was at home when a highly intoxicated Geraldo Taca, with whom she had an affair with, arrived at her residence. The 32 year old man, also from the Village of Caledonia, reportedly opened the front door and pulled Pott out of her house. An argument ensued between the couple and that is when Taca pulled out a machete and chopped Pott multiple times. All indications are that the act was committed out of jealousy as reports are that on Saturday March 30th, Taca saw Pott talking to another male individual at the village’s park. Taca has been detained by police. As for Pott, she is recuperating from her injuries at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital.

Rhaburns Claim They Were Unjustly Treated By Police
Karen Rhaburn is tonight at odds with the Orange Walk Police Department and a few of its police officers. According to Rhaburn, her 19 year old son, Paul Rhaburn, was innocently detained and arrested last night for what police thought to be a stolen bicycle. Rhaburn strongly believes that her son was targeted by police and that she herself was mistreated and taken advantage of by certain police officers. Having nowhere else to turn, Rhaburn recounted her dilemma to the media and told us what exactly happened last night. Karen Rhaburn, Mother “They actually came to my house last night and took him in for his own bicycle and told him that they are going to take him because the bicycle that he had was stolen. One of the police officers even told him that it looked like a bike of his that he had that went missing. So he told him that the bike is his and if they didn’t believed him then he could take him home to me and show them the receipt because we had just purchase it on Thursday night. Then they told him that they are not interested in hearing that and we would take him in anyway. My son told them something and then one of the officers hold his firearm at him and pointed it at him and he pushed it away and told him that they can’t hold their firearm at him because he didn’t do anything. He told them that he lived around the Nature Park area and at the mention of that like everything change and they said oh, a laptop is missing from that area and that they will pick him up for that laptop. So he went with them; they handcuffed him, an innocent guy. They had no reason to handcuff him.” But when Rhaburn got to the police station to inquire about her son’s arrest, she was given a different story.

Super Furia's New Music Video: Belize Da Fi We
Here in the North Super Furia is a popular family band known for its original style. Over the years the band has left its imprint in other parts of the country as it thrives on “soka” music. Super Furia Band has released a number of songs and music videos. Recently the band added another music video to their list and today lead singer of the group, Roxanna Alcoser, stopped by our studios to share the group’s latest achievement with us. The Song is called “Belize Da Fi We” and the video was filmed at different locations in Belize. Roxanna Alcoser Super Furia “Basically the name says it all. We are just trying to send a message that Belize is ours, no matter jump high, jump low it’s ours. It took us like- it’s a lot of effort into this- it’s a four minutes song but it’s a lot of work but thankfully we have, my father is an experienced song writer and then we have my brothers and everybody chipping so that this song can be so a magnitude as it is right now. Well this song is inspired with basically the issues that surround us right now with Guatemala and Belize and we want to send a message to Guatemala that please respect our borderlines and understand that Belize is for Belizeans. This is a “soka” rhythm that we try to do it mellow so that the message can be surpassed very clearly. The video is another load of work that we had there. We shot different vies from different parts of the country, Orange Walk, Cayo Belize. We tried to get different shots because Belize is diverse.” Super Furia Band won the battle of the bands last year in September. The video can also be viewed on Facebook and on YouTube.

16 Gauge Shotgun Stolen
Before we left you on Holy Thursday we gave you a number of tips on how to keep your home safe from burglars while you were away enjoying the long Easter holiday. But we all know that when it comes to criminals, they find a way to get what they want and in the case of 86 year old Carlito Sierra, a Belizean pensioner of Orange Walk Town, that’s exactly what happened. His residence located on San Victor Street Orange Walk Town was burglarized between the 17th and the 28th of March 2013. Stolen from the premises was one Steven’s Brand 16 gauge shotgun with serial number 76297 valued at $150.00. Police are investigating

Crop Week 17th: Successful
There is no doubt that the Sugar Industry is pivotal to the Belizean economy and when it is in trouble it causes a domino effect. But the good news is that the 2012/2013 crop season is on the right track so far, that is according to our weekly review. Our weekly indicator shows that compared to last year, the factory has milled 100,000 tons of cane more as the total amount of cane milled stood at more that 700,000 up to March 26th. The 17th week of crop recently culminated and here are the latest figures coming out of BSI. Week 17th of the 2012/2013 sugar cane crop season ended on March 26th. So far for this year, the sugar factory has milled a total of 737,583 tons of cane, translating to 312 tons of cane per hour. To date, 77,267 tons of sugar has been produced. That’s 10,197 tons more compared to last year when 67,060 tons of sugar was produced during the same time frame. For this week alone, 52,881 tons of cane was milled at a ratio of 347 tons per hour, producing 6,081 tons of sugar. But besides quantity, the factory is also looking for quality. For this week, cane pol registered at 13.37% averaging to 12.11% so far for this crop season while TC/TS was recorded at 8.7%. For week 17th, juice brix stood at 18.99% averaging to 17.20% so far, while juice purity stood at 88.10% averaging at a total of 86.63% for this crop season.

PlusTV

Fisherman shot dead in Belize City
His family is not talking, but Police have confirmed that 28 year old Michael Anthony Heusner, a fisherman of Courtenay Crescent, was shot Monday night while walking on Mahogany Street. Police say that around 7:25 p.m. on April 1, Heusner was coming from the direction of Mopan Street heading...

10 year old drowns in Belize River
A little boy was lost to his family after apparently drowning in the Belize River at Rockville on Easter Monday. 10 year old Davin Zelaya had gone out with his family to the riverside for a fun day of swimming, but he disappeared under the water, never to be...

Belizean cyclist Darrel Barrow keeps the garland home
The 85th cross country race was held this weekend with a Belizean coming out on top. 73 Belizeans, 14 foreigners from Mexico, Guatemala and the U.S.A. – kicked off from Mile 1 ½ on the George Price Highway from 6:00 a.m. Saturday, en route to San Ignacio Town and...

Eddie Garcia knocked off his bicycle by a motorcycle
The 2013 Cross Country did not go without incident. Belizean/American cyclist, Eddie Garcia was knocked down in Georgeville. Garcia was knocked off his bicycle by a motorcycle on his way back to Belize City. Thankfully, he was not badly injured. Garcia, who is in the Marines in North Carolina,...

Guatemala plans to put new map in passports
It may have seemed that things had cooled down after a map depicting Belize as a part of Guatemala was being circulated by Guatemala in various outlets, but there may just be a greater circulation of the map, or one similar to it, in the near future. This is...

Man shot at hotel in San Pedro
One man’s Easter vacation came to a sudden halt after he was shot at a hotel in San Pedro. 29 year old resident of San Pedro Town, Allen “Ajay” Martinez, , was at the Holiday Inn on Barrier Reef Drive with friends when he got into an altercation with...

Two men in prison after alleged shootout with Police
Two men are in prison tonight, after an alleged shootout with Police. 30 year old Dane Enriquez and 23 year old Alexander Underwood were jointly charged with one count of attempted murder upon PC Raphael Abraham. Enriquez was additionally charged with the attempted murder of PC Juan Morales and...

Police investigate stabbing incident in Placencia
The festivities in Placencia over the Easter holiday attracted over five thousand visitors to the peninsula. Unfortunately, with such an abundance of people, incidences of violence often times seem inevitable. And over the weekend, a stabbing incident took place in front of the Tipsy Tuna Bar. Authorities say they...

Upgrading taking place within Placencia Police sub-formation
Some upgrading has been taking place within the Placencia Police sub-formation. Inspector Mark Flowers: It is certainly different from what it was. With the arrival of all those visitors I’m certain that it was noticed that the Police Station has been freshly painted. There’s been an expansion, and there’s...

US Courts dismiss lawsuit against GOB
The US Courts has dismissed a ten million dollar lawsuit against the Government of Belize. You may remember back in February of 2012, news broke that GDG Acquisitions LLC, a company controlled by attorney Glenn Godfrey – a former PUP Attorney General, was suing the Government for an alleged...

Illegal conch busts made in Placencia
Illegal conch busts made by Southern Environmental Association will result in fines of over $20,000. On February 26th, 2013, Southern Environmental Association (SEA) responded to reports of individuals in Placencia Village engaging in illegal fishing activities. This operation led to the discovery of two individuals in possession of 911...

Oil Discovery in Orange Walk District
There has been an oil Discovery in the Orange Walk District. According to Maranco Energy Belize Limited, on March 30, they discovered an encouraging oil show at the South Canal Bank #1 exploration well in their concession area in the Orange Walk District. What exactly is the commercial quantity...

More job-seekers off to Canada
The response to job openings in Canada has been overwhelming. People in Belize City and Belmopan waited for hours during the course of hiring to get a job interview to work at McDonald’s in Western Canada. The three days of recruiting in both Cities saw more than eleven-hundred (1000)...

BATSUB receives new vehicles
Although the British Government has scaled down its military operations in Belize, it is still a vital training base for British soldiers. Dr Andrew Murrisson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Security Strategy at the UK Ministry of Defence, made an official visit here on the 21st...

World Autism Awareness Day observed
Today is being observed as World Autism Awareness Day. The day is dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding about people living with autism. Autism, which is a developmental disability, impinges on normal brain functions. It usually surfaces during the first three years of a person’s life, and is a...

One woman dead and another in custody after brawl
One woman is dead and another is in custody after a brawl in Sartenaja Village. It is not clear what exactly happened sometime late Saturday night and early Sunday morning at a dance in the village – where the incident occurred, but what we do know is that just...

Chopping incident appears to be result of jealous lover’s rage
Police are investigating a chopping incident in Corozal that appears to be as a result of a jealous lover’s rage. Police say that in the early hours of Sunday morning, the victim and her mother, walked into the police station, – the wounded woman bleeding from multiple chop wounds....

Woman targeted by robber near MCC Grounds
A woman was targeted by a robber near the MCC Grounds in Belize City. Yesterday, the woman, a 55 year old nationalized American, told Police that she was walking along Calle al Mar, which is adjacent to the MCC Grounds in the Newtown Barracks Area of the city, when...

Undercover Police make three arrests in drug sting operation
Cops made three arrests after they went undercover in a drug sting operation. Last week, GSU officers posed as thugs, went to purchase weed in the Mile 8 community on the George Price Highway and busted the dealers. Police say that 21 year old Shawn Mckay supplied seventy-nine grams...

Blogs

Texas Tech Programs available in Belize
Parents are always looking for options for their children and we have a new educational opportunity for the 2013-2014 school year. Multiple parents have been requesting a program that will allow their child to have an education comparable to the United States. Cheryl Bowen, Tina Hayden and Tammy Peterson took on the challenge of finding such a program. As a result, a satellite classroom of TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL (TTUHS) will be opening for student attendance on August 23, 2013. Texas Tech University High School (TTUHS) is NOT a Belizean school. It is a non-profit satellite school for the Texas Tech University Independent School District (TTUISD) in Lubbock, Texas, USA. All of the course requirements, books and materials are established by the TTUISD. When a child enrolls, he/she is enrolling in an accredited US high school. He/she is attending a school in the United States, located in the Texas Tech University Independent School District without ever leaving Belize. THAT is the advantage of Long Distance Learning! Students can access an education in the United States ONLINE instead of leaving Belize and traveling to live in the US.

Expat Living – We bought a little beach bar and we’re moving to Belize
Expat Living is a new feature that will inspire those of you who are planning a move to Belize. Venturing into unknown territory is half the fun but helps to have a good map and a realistic sense of direction in all areas A great way to prepare yourself for moving to Belize is by reading personal interviews and advice from expats living and working in Belize. Some of us could not move here fast enough after one visit, Sue and Steve are a great example of that. Their story will speak to those who know when they are meant to be somewhere and everything lines up fast to make their move and get settled in their new life. Enjoy 1. What made you choose a trip to Belize in the first place? Being scuba divers, Belize and specifically Ambergris Caye had been on our radar for many years. In fact, we knew people who were coming down to Belize and loving it when we lived in Vancouver 20 years ago. Our first time visiting was last May when we came down to check out business opportunities on the island. 2. Was it love at first sight when you got here? Pretty much. We really liked the laid back attitude we encountered and the extreme friendliness of both locals and visitors. The beauty of the Caribbean and the reef captivated us as well.

Oil Discovered In Orange Walk District- Northern Belize
The Government of Belize, through The Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities announced that oil was discovered in the Orange Walk District. A press release reads: "Maranco Energy Belize Limited, on March 30, 2013, discovered an encouraging oil show at the South Canal Bank #1 exploration well in their concession area in the Orange Walk District. Further and necessary testing is ongoing to determine the commercial potential of the oil show. The Geology and Petroleum Department personnel are on site and are closely monitoring the situation." According to the Ministry, they will be providing more information about the discovery within a fortnight or as soon as new and additional information is gathered.

Belizean Tableta
Tableta is a wonderful, sweet coconut candy. As a child growing up in Belize, this was always such a good treat. Absolutely very few ingredients...brown sugar, grated coconut, ginger and condensed milk and 20 minutes later, you have a treat that is sure to please.

BELIZEAN WOMEN, 16 RECOGNIZED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY
The culmination of a month-long series of activities in commemoration of Women’s Month was held on Wednesday night with an honors ceremony in recognition of nineteen outstanding Belizean women. The Bliss Center for the Performing Arts was the venue of the eight annual Women’s Award, where acknowledgment was bestowed upon a cohort of great women for their individual contributions to Belizean society. The idea behind hailing the class of nineteen, according to Acting Director of the Women’s Department Cynthia Williams, is to celebrate them as positive role models for men and women alike. Cynthia Williams, Acting Director, Women’s Department “We closed the celebration in observance of Women’s Month last night with the Eight Annual Outstanding Women’s Awards. It was held at the Bliss and it was an opportunity for the department, as well as partner agencies, both government and civil society to showcase the work and contributions of several women throughout the country. So the department, on an annual basis, selects a woman per district on their work, on their contributions.

Standard for Public Comments: Code of Practice for Organically Produced Foods
The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) wishes to notify the relevant stakeholders and the general public that the standard “Code of Practice for Organically Produced Foods” is being developed by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). The draft standard “Code of Practice for Organically Produced Foods” Draft Regional COP for Organic Food – March 25 2013 is out for public comments and inputs into its technical contents. Stakeholders are asked to note, on approval of the standard by COTED, the BBS will adopt the same as a national standard. The deadline for submission of comments to the Bureau of Standards is May 22nd, 2013. The standard is also available on request from the BBS office. Comments (Comment Template: Member States comments templatee-organically produced foods – 20130325 (2)) can be mailed to the BBS Office or email at bbs@btl.net or stds.officer@bbs.gov.bz.

“All Right Now” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Apologies to regular readers for the ‘break’ in publishing but with no work on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize -because of Easter – there wasn’t a lot to write about without either you or me, or all of us, finding it boring. The fact that there was no ‘action’ on the build doesn’t mean to say that Rose and I ‘shut off’ from thinking about our new home because we didn’t. It seems like we spent the vast majority of the four day Easter holiday agonising over what toilets, sinks, taps (faucets for the non-UK readers) and showers to choose. You would think that it would be relatively easy . Perhaps it should be. But that hasn’t been the case for us. We got there in the end though. With this ‘out of the way’ we can now start turning our attention to tile and granite colours. Can’t wait! Being the beginning of the month, today was ‘pay the bills day’ and this entailed a visit to Atlantic International Bank Limited in Pescador Drive. Learnt (never too old to learn) a couple of things whilst I was stuck in the very long queue. First lesson is that you should avoid going to a bank the day after a public holiday. Should have realised that the bank would be busy. Why should Belize be any different in this respect to the UK. The second lesson I learned is that if you are sixty-five years of age or older then you can go to the front of the queue. I only know this because I challenged someone who I thought was ‘queue jumping’. They soon put me right!

IMPRESSIVE EASTER TURNOUT IN COROZAL
Corozal experienced an impressive Easter Holiday turnout this past Saturday and Sunday. Thousands of residents flocked to the Corozal Bay, Cerros Sands Beach, Sarteneja and Progresso Lagoon to enjoy beautiful weather and friendship. This is a great turn of events for Corozal and here is hoping that the stakeholders capitalize in the growing trend of local and foreign tourism in this area. Build more facilities and amenities and they will come. Way to go Corozal! We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Easter holiday!