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The San Pedro Sun

September Celebration official launch
The 2013 September Celebrations were officially launched on Sunday, September 1st. September is a long anticipated month for most Belizeans, since it marks the anniversary of two very special dates in Belizean history, The Battle of St. George’s Caye and Independence Day. The first ceremony of the month is held at the National Site and first capital of the St. George’s Caye. It is a ceremony celebrating patriotism and the rich culture of Belize. Invited guests included the Governor General His Excellency Sir Colville Young, Minister of Tourism and Culture Manuel Heredia Jr., Mayor of Belize City Darrell Bradley, Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero, Chairman of St. George’s Caye John Searle Junior, Queen of the Bay 2012-2013Yadira Argueta, Queen of the Bay 2013-2014Jahrine Avila, and other invited guests.

Jerdon Anderson wins first place at St. George’s Caye Battle Regatta
Jerdon Anderson of the San Pedro Junior Sailing Club brought home the grand prize trophy in the Optimist division for the 4th Annual Battle of St. George’s Caye Regatta. The Battle of Saint George’s Caye Regatta is in commemoration of the battle on 1798 when the Baymen conquered the Spanish Armada in their last attempt to take over British Honduras. The Regatta is organized by The Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Colville Young and took place at St. George’s Caye

Ambergris Today

Vote for the Great Blue Hole as 8th Wonder of the World
The country of Belize is proud that The Great Blue Hole has been nominated for “8th Wonder of the World”. Many have been spreading the word on different social networks to get everybody to vote. The Ambergris Today team has been working hard to get the word out to our Belizeans and International visitors to vote. Winning this title would give us major publicity to our beautiful Belize and help us to protect it even more. The Belize Tourism Board has been busy as well; they just printed out some really cool stickers for everybody to place on their businesses, vehicles or wherever it can be noticed. The BTB sent us some stickers and I immediately took on the task in sharing them around Ambergris Caye.

Our Young People Need to Learn Respect, Discipline, & Self-Growth
Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your reputable newspaper to share my perspective on positive development of morals and values in young people. Many of our young people growing up today are highly lacking the values of respect, discipline and self-growth. Parents today are either busy with their jobs, trying hard to earn a dollar to feed their kids, and helping them with basic necessities. I am appalled to see that young boys and girls, only in their teens, are getting the tendency of having children. It strikes a big mark because these young people are not ready for this. If they can barely take care of themselves, what about their new born baby? What about the burdensome prices of food, education, healthcare, and the list goes on? But then again, what are the scenarios that cause this? I would say proper parenting. If our parents teach us Respect, Discipline, & Self-Growth, then we won’t have a problem growing up as a charismatic and dedicated person.

Gamez and Prevett Nuptials in San Pedro
Congratulations go out to Edwin Gamez and Monica Prevett who tied the knot in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize on Saturday, August 31, 2013. The happy couple exchanged vows at the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church and then celebrated their union at the family-owned Bistro Mestizo restaurant in downtown San Pedro. Monica is daughter of Shelly Huber and Timothy Prevett; her Maid of Honor was Chandra Paz and Edwin's Best Man was Albie Godoy. Congratulations to the beautiful couple!

San Pedro Junior Sailing Club Captures Battle Regatta 1st Place Trophy
St. George’s Caye, September 1, 2013 - A rainy week gave way to sunny skies and steady winds between 9 and 12 knots. At the end of five races in the Optimist Class, consistent sailing by Jerdon Anderson of the San Pedro Junior Sailing Club (SPJSC) allowed him to sail away from 2013 Battle Regatta with 1st Place. Isaac Ritchie of the Placencia Sailing Club (PSC) followed close behind in the “Tipsy Tuna” boat, grabbing 2nd Place. Anthony Ricardez Jr. of the Belize City Sailing Club (BCSC) in the “Howarth Belize” boat held on to 3rd place and not too long before overcast skies reappeared.

Southern Boating Magazine Features Belize
Features of Belize on international magazines are always good for our beautiful country. Currently the Belize Blue Hole is vying to be the 8th Natural Wonder of the world and the feature of Belize on the Southern Boating Magazine could not have come at better time as the front cover page features an amazing picture of the Blue Hole.

Misc Belizean Sources

The day the Carnival left town
A fairy tale Once upon a time there was a happy little land known as Felize, where the people enjoyed life and welcomed entertainment. So when news arrived one day that a Carnival was coming, there was great excitement throughout the realm. “A Carnival! What fun! That will be something different!” they said. And they were right, for this was no ordinary carnival. No, this was a floating Carnival, a massive, sea going Carnival alive with music, dancing, bright lights and romance as it sailed over the ocean. Felizeans from all walks of life, traders and merchants, bankers and workers, even Felize’s leaders themselves all greeted the floating Carnival with open arms. “Welcome to Felize!” They cheered. Soon the Ringmaster came ashore and greeted everyone, inviting the whole country to participate and have fun. “Would you like to join us?” The Ringmaster asked. “Join the Carnival?” “Certainly,” he smiled, “Let us speak with your leaders”.

VIDEO: The Great Blue Hole Belize, Central America Aerial Tour with Tropic Air
The Great Blue Hole is a large submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70 km from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 300 m across and 124 m deep.

Belize Author Publishes New Book of Poetry
"From Behind the Walls," a new book by Frank Garcia, has been released by RoseDog Books. When Frank T. Garcia was a boy, he was taken from his peaceful country of British Honduras, which is now Belize, to the mean streets of L.A. It didn't take him long to rebel and join the street thugs of East L.A. gang. His hunger for stripes led him into deeper darkness. Escaping forty-four years and two life sentences, he took a deal for twenty-seven years in the war zone known as Folsom Prison. His street knowledge and the inner-world within a world is now before us in his poems mainly for the youths of today. As the ending in one of his poems says: "May God forgive us for the life we take could have been our brother's this day." "From Behind the Walls" is a 60-page paperback with a retail price of $8.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-0026-4. It was published by RoseDog Books, an imprint of Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at www.dorrancepressroom.com or our online bookstore at www.rosedogbookstore.com.

Miss Belize at Miss World
Idolly Saldivar is representing Belize in the Miss World pageant, which will be Saturday night in Indonesia. Idolly has represented Belize before internationally in the Miss Humanity pageant, and in Belize at Miss Costa Maya. Best of luck, Idolly! They have uploaded video of her arrival.

Patriotic Video Winners
The Patriotic Video Compeition was won by two Cayo youths for their Bandera Al Aire video. Third place was won by Danielle Rodriguez with her Belize My Mother video. Congratulations! "Winners of the FB Patriotic Video Competition Ralfy 'El Phantom' and Relo G 'Negro Loko' Prizes Included: $1,500 and BTB Packages."

Happy Manatee Month
While September is Belize's big month, it's also Manatee Month. There will be a manatee travelling display in Belmopan on Thurday the 12th. "Come and join us and be apart of manatee month 2013! Celebrate and Protect our manatees Belize!"

Belikin Heritage and Culture Commercial
Belikin has a new commercial out to honor the September Celebrations, and it focuses on Belizean heritage and culture. See anyone from Cayo in it? In related news, the Belikin Bash is tomorrow night at the New Memorial Park in Belize, and The Remaining will be playing. "Belikin, the beer of Belize, celebrates the many faces of Belize in our heritage and culture ad."

Historic Belize in Pictures
Want to see some really classic pictures from Belize? Here's a ton of them. Happy September!

Channel 7

Stake Bank Project Unveiled, Bright Future But Could There Be Dark Clouds Ahead?
Tonight, Belize City’s Cruise Ship Future is either brighter than ever – or more clouded than it has been in a while. That’s after Developer Mike Feinstein unveiled his Stake Bank Caye Project today. The project has been in discussion for nearly a decade, but Feinstein says the stars have aligned, and he’s pushing forward to make it happen. Our sources say, there are more than a few hurdles in the way, not least of which is that, unlike Norwegian Cruise Line in the South, Feinstein has no Memorandum of Understanding with Government. But, to hear him tell it, the project – which will be developed 2 miles off Belize City – is too good, too big for Government to resist. 7news was at the press conference, and Jules Vasquez has a full report:.. Jules Vasquez reporting This morning at the Biltmore Best Western, the Toucan Hall was very full - standing room only, actually for the public unveiling of the Stake Bank Plan. The mix in the crowd was interesting, we saw bankers, lawyers, industry stakeholders and businesspeople wanting to know what the promise of this mega project means for Belize. First, an introduction: What is commonly called the Stake Bank project is actually two complementary projects. One on the smaller Stake Bank which would be a berthing facility for four cruise ships and a destination complete with duty free, beaches and a theme park. And that would connect via causeway then to North Drowned Caye for a mega development called Ocean View Grand. Feinstein outlined the Stake Bank Proposal:

Opposition Chair Walks Out Of PAC Meeting
7News has been closely following the back-and-forth between the Opposition, the People's United Party, and the Government of Belize over the Public Accounts Committee, and how it should run. The Opposition wants the composition to change to include the social partners, while Government says that it is fine the way it is, and could do its job well if the chairman, Julius Espat, really wanted to look into public spending. And while they disagree on those issues, they also can't agree on which Auditor General's reports to review. The PUP wants to go forward from 2012; while the UDP is ok with that, but also wants to go back to the Musa years. And so with those known differences of approach, today, another meeting was called, and once again, business was stalled because of this disagreement on which reports ought to be reviewed. 7News was there when both sides exited from the brief meeting, and we asked them to explain why yet again, no progress was made in the actual functions of the committee, which continues its history of non-performance. Here's how they explained it:

PUP Operator Vaughan Gill Arrested For Child Support Arrears
And just as today’s PAC meeting was about to start, a key political operator for the PUP was detained by police. Viewers should know Vaughan Gill very well; he is a seasoned political operator and one of the morning show hosts on the PUP’s Vibes Radio. He was on the job today with members of the PAC and the other PUP Standard Bearers in Belmopan when he was approached by a police officer who arrested him. We understand that he had an outstanding balance of $5,000 for child maintenance, and today just happened to be the day when Belmopan police executed a commitment warrant which they had pending. So, instead of doing the ground work for the PUP in relation to the PAC meeting, he was detained. It didn’t last long, however, because as soon as Chairman Julius Espat walked out of the meeting, he went to the police station, and paid that outstanding balance in full. With that, he was released from custody, and when we contacted him this evening, he told us that this five thousand-dollar balance was the arrears of a bigger amount of $15,000.

Hon. Saldivar is Acting PM
On Monday, after the opening of the National Bank of Belize, the Prime Minister left for the US to be with Mrs. Barrow as she continues receiving cancer treatment. He left Deputy Gaspar Vega as acting PM, but today Vega left for a meeting as well. According to a government press release, Vega, in his capacity as Agriculture Minister is going to a Livestock Congress and Fair to take place in Flores, Guatemala. In his absence, Police Minister John Saldivar is acting as Prime Minister until Friday, 6th September, when PM Barrow returns.

Weed Bust In Ranchito
There is crime news coming out of the Corozal District tonight, where police made a drug bust. It happened yesterday at midday when they searched a house in Ranchito Village. In the yard, they looked behind a washing machine and found a plastic bag taped to the back of it. The bag was stuffed with three pouns of marijuana and three persons present at the time, Marcial Villegas Geron a 36 year old mechanic his 18 year old son Devan Williams and 33 year old Sheree Williams were arrested and charged for drug trafficking. In other police news from Corozal town, a man with gang tattoos was arrested. Polcie say they were on Kiskidee Street in the Town where they saw gnag graffiti on the walls, lamppost and drains. Nearby they saw Angel Ku who had the characters “XV3” and “30’S” tattooed on his right hand. Police say those are signs displayed by 18th Street and 30’S Crips.

OW Tech Gets New Principal
In other news from the north, Orange Walk Technical has a new principal. It’s news because, as we reported in October of last year, students staged a walkout, as an act of rebellion against Principal Elizabeth Muschamp. Multiple charges had been leveled against her by students and parents. The Minister of Education was called in to intercede, but the contentiousness continued. And this week the news is that Muschamp has headed for the exit. 7News has confirmed that she is principal no more and she has been replaced by Julian Polanco. The ministry of education SAYS she requested a release, but they could not confirm to where.

Mas Camp Madness Is On
The Belize City Carnival Road March will be held in ten days, and right now, feverish last minute preparations are underway at all the city’s Mass Camps. As we found out, it is a process to get costumes and carnival spirit just right. Monica Bodden visited last night…. "Monica Bodden reporting With carnival only days away - the carnival fever is warming up as these bands finish up the last minute touches on their costumes and perfect their dance moves. Last night our yearly carnival mass camp coverage began with the first 3 stops being 2 junior bands and one senior. Ian Young - Member, Sunshine Masquerades "For this year we are going under the theme, as you can see protecting our natural resources. This year we have two queens and one king, however we have the group into order. First we have the forest group, which will be led by Queen Shateya, this is the one I designed, this is my group. The designers are myself, and my two sisters. We did the designing and my Mom did the designing and the gluing and the sticking, so that is pretty much it for the forest group. Queen Shateya is the protector of the forest and is named after the Shate, there types of Chate that we have but Queen Shateya is doing the fish tail shate and in between we also have some little BDFs who are just walking around to show which depicts our theme as protecting. Then behind the Queen, we have Queenities, which is a representation of the forest fire that destroys the forest and also a representation of the Guatemalans that come in and take the Chatte so pretty much Queen is destruction, so we are depicting two things this year for King.

Southern Bze Caught Carnival Fever Too
And while Belize City revelers may think they have a monopoly on Mas Camp madness – that’s not quite so. The Carnival spirit is gaining traction in the south where last week, NICH visited two Mas Camps, one in Seine Byte the other in Punta Gorda. They found that the spirit and competitiveness is alive and well:… Voice of Liz - Bandleader, Irahunu Dance Band "Irahunu started in 2010 and we have been competing in the peninsula and have been champions ever since. For the first it was kind of a shock when we actually won and the second place the kids were confident enough to go into competition. So this year we're moving to another level, and we're going to Belize City for the first time. They start from age 9 up to 15 - the band consists of 168 but I'm only taking 45 to Belize City." Reporter "Why only 45?" Voice of Liz "That's all we can afford." "The first time I came into carnival, we weren't really developed but we were a small little group and then we didn't expect to win but when we heard Seine Beight first place so I said next year I had to come in again. I wish that we can come in the top three, anyone of them but as long as we go to Belize and represent our village."

When Will Marion Jones Be Ready?
Minister of State in the Minsitry of Sports, Herman Longsworth was in Belmopan today as a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and we used the opportunity to ask him about the still unfinished Marion Jones Sporting Complex. An entire generation of athletes is forced train elsewhere under substandard conditions and prepare themselves for international tournaments while successive Governments have been working on the Marion Jones complex. So, today while the media had an opportunity we asked Longsworth about it, who bristled at the suggestion that the progress to completion has been delayed: Hon. Herman Longsworth - Minister of State/Sports "Marion Jones is proceeding as planned, we are working grandstand facilities now, trying to complete them. There is going to be a new presentation, because I have come up with a new master plan for the facility which includes more activities, more disciplines. I want to introduce swimming to the facility, I also want to introduce cricket to the facility so I will sometime over the September celebrations - I will be in more detail unveiling what it is we want to do and we're hoping to find the money. I am going vigorously after finding the money to be able to make this facility into a real national facility."

Legendary Footballer Comes Home To Remember The Greats
But those young footballers we saw today on the Berger Field definitely don’t know names “Bembe the Mugger” Garbutt, “Roo” Robinson, “Tiempo” Barrow, “Pine” Hernandez, Winston “Fry” Michael or the Ellis Brothers, “Chico” and “Pas,” but if Belize had ESPN Classic, these names would be on a perpetual loop. They are footballers of the 60’s and 70’s when, the old folks say, Football was king. Their names have been brought back to prominence by self styled football historian Michael Finnegan in his regular columns in the Amandala. Today, Nelson “Roo” Robinson arrived from New York, and 7News was there to greet him at the airport, where he explained the purpose of his visit. According to Robinson, he has a treat planned for the children of Belize City: Nelson “Roo” Robinson - Legendary Footballer "Belize is that I really came purposely for a friend of mine, Louis 'Mugger', who is like a friend of mine, a brother of mine and a coach of mine; he was my mentor, and I think that he died in New York. I was born in Belize and he was born in Honduras but he represented Belize three different times but I think that he deserves something here. I will try to make it an honorary thing that we have, to remember him and the next thing I would like to ask all the Belizeans to hold a moment of silence Louis Garbutt, the 'Mugger' who died last week in California."

Belize City, A Place In Flux
Do you know how Belize City looked 10 years ago; how about 50 or 100 years ago? With so many facelifts over the years, so many visions and re-visions, that the city is in permanent flux – and only the drains and potholes stand as semi-permanent sentinels. That constant change is what motivated the Belize Tourism Board and NICH to collaborate on the historicization of some of these landmarks as they once stood. It materialized into a book, which was extensively researched by the Institute of Social and Culture Research, a department within NICH. It’s called “A Walk Through Old Belize” Today, it was officially launched at the House of Culture and 7News stopped in. Here’s what the Director of ISCR and the writer of the book, told us about its importance: Nigel Encalada - Writer "Mr. Lawrence Vernon, at least a year and a half now, began the work along with some of our ISCR staff to compile information regarding historic landmarks in Belize City. It was actually the brain child of Juliet Neal from BTB, and so what it involved was a much larger project, where we would research and identify landmarks in downtown Belize City to create a tourism trail of historical marks and so the book was the result of that. We did field work, we did archival work, we did interviews and we put together a product that could be used for tourists, tour guides, for teachers, students, and we think it's handy; people can now go on tours around Belize City and have something that they can reference, things they may not know about Belize and the landmarks that we walk pass everyday, so it's a sort of educational tool and to promote the history and heritage of Belize City in particular."

Channel 5

Businessman Mike Feinstein Unveils Mega-Million Dollar Tourism Infrastructure Project
Years after it was conceived, the Stake Bank Project has been dusted off and resurrected; it was officially launched today at the Belize Biltmore Plaza as the Ocean View Grand [...]

Public Accounts Committee Meets In Belmopan, Chairman and Opposition Members Walk Out
Today, the Public Accounts Committee held its first meeting since the call for its restructuring of its composition. Fireworks were expected as both sides declared that they would stand firm. [...]

Despite Amended Policy, Media Is Denied Access to PAC Meeting
While pro-tem PAC Chairman John Saldivar has said that all meetings of the PAC from now on will be open to the public, this one wasn’t. The media wasn’t even [...]

Sports Minister Herman Longsworth Comments on Progress of Much-delayed Marion Jones Sporting Complex
Tonight, there is some news coming from Minister of Sports Herman Longsworth on the much anticipated Marion Jones Sporting Complex. We say some news, instead of good news, because the [...]

Commencement of Berger Field Renovation Remains Indefinite Years After Campaign Promise
According to Longsworth, he hopes that by the end of the year, Belizeans will be able to make use of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, to some extent at least. [...]

City Council Meets With Bus Owner To Discuss Removal of Oversized City Buses
At the beginning of the week, City Hall, through the Traffic Department, brought into immediate effect the removal of a number of commuter buses that did not meet specific requirements [...]

Extradition Hearings For Three Wanted Belize City Men Held in Magistrates Court
Three of four Belizeans who are presently fighting their extradition to the United States were before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith today. They are Gary Seawell, Fakhnul Salim and Deon [...]

Ranchito Resident Marcial Villegas Geron Charged With Drug Trafficking
A raid by police during Tuesday’s lunch hour yielded more than three pounds of marijuana. Up north, the Corozal police executed a search at the house of Marcial Villegas Geron [...]

Carnival Mas Camp 2013 Kicks Off In Belize City
Mas camps, the preliminary to this year’s Carnival, opened on Tuesday night in Belize City. Both junior and senior bands were judged and as anticipated, the energy and the hype [...]

A Walk Through Old Belize Launched In the Old Capital
Today at the House of Culture in Belize City, a publication of historical landmarks was launched. The book, “A Walk through Old Belize, is published by the Belize Tourism Board [...]

BTB Announces Winners of first ever Patriotic Video Competition
The month of September is normally brimming with a sense of patriotism. For three artists, that feeling of pride and nationhood landed them the top prizes at a first Patriotic [...]

LOVE FM

Box of Cheese Recovered Following Theft of Items Valued at 4K
In Corozal, 25 year old Dan Li a businesswoman of Santa Rita Road, Corozal Town reported that on the third of September between the hours of 3:30am and 8:15am her house was burglarized. Stolen from the residence were electronic items, personal items and Mexican Pesos all to a total value of four thousand two hundred and seventy dollars. The immediate area was searched by police and one box of Happy Cow Cheese valued at one hundred dollars was recovered. Police continue to investigate.

Police Aboard Bus Disarms Truck Driver Following Fender Bender
A minor traffic accident in Belize City yesterday almost turned into a major catastrophe when a bus conductor was confronted with a gun. The twenty three year old Conductor, Aris Serrano, who works with Albion Bus Service reported to police that around 7:50 yesterday morning while onboard an Albion Bus on Central American Boulevard, the bus collided into a dump truck that was travelling in the same direction. He stated that while he was standing on the sidewalk, the driver of the dump truck, thirty five year old Jose Hernandez, walked toward him and pointed a gun at him. Police officers onboard the bus allegedly managed to disarm Hernandez and detained him. The gun, a black Glock, nine millimeter pistol with a magazine containing ten nine millimeter r live rounds was licensed to Hernandez. Police are still investigating.

Police Nabs Purse Snatcher in Old Capital
Quick response by police helped to recover stolen items immediately after a theft in Belize City. According to reports from the victim, twenty nine year old Tisha Pascascio, while waiting to get into a bus on Regent Street West yesterday morning around 9:00 am, she felt something pulling on her hand purse. She turned around and noticed a man of Creole descent, standing at five feet five inches in height and wearing a khaki shirt and khaki pants pulling the purse. Fearing for her life, she let go and the man ran away in the direction of Regent Street West. Police promptly came to the scene and recovered her purse with all items which included two hundred and thirty nine dollars in cash and a number of items valued at two hundred and fifty nine dollars. Police arrested and charged twenty two year old Brandon Pas, a construction worker of Raccoon Street Extension for the crime of theft.

Police in Northern Belize Seeks Stevens Rifle
Another burglary was reported in Corozal on Tuesday. Seventy six year old Marciano Andradez, a cane farmer of San Victor Village told police that on Monday, he left his home at around 4pm and went to visit his son who lives a few yards away. When he returned around 8pm on the same day, he went inside and at first didn’t notice anything unusual. However when he went into his bedroom to check on his point twenty two Stevens rifle, he discovered that it was missing. He reportedly made checks around the house, but that turned up fruitless. Police are investigating the incident and urge firearm owners to properly secure their weapons.

New Tourism Project Aims to Retain Money in Belize’s Economy
Just weeks after the controversial Harvest Caye caused a whiplash that resulted in a meeting between Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Federation of Cruise Tourism Association, FECTAB, today developer Michael Feinstein introduced his plan for a tourism project at Stake Bank. It will entail an investment of some 100 Million US dollars, a causeway through the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, and comes with the blessing of FECTAB. Mike Feinstein, the man behind the project, says that the investment is to give some real competition to our northern friends and keep Belizean dollars at home. MICHAEL FEINSTEIN “The truth is with three hundred and fifty million dollars being spent in Mexico and Chetumal there doesn’t seem to be a plan to keep that or any of that money at home and I think this project is designed to do just about that. We should be able to keep two hundred or two hundred and fifty million of that money in Belize and back into the economy.

Politics and Water in Northern Belize
One of the many challenges that rural communities face when it comes to local governance is the administration of village councils and water boards. Political party fanaticism has infiltrated the grass roots so much that party favors seems to have made this level of government dysfunctional. The water board of San Jose Palmar seems to have overcome this dilemma, at least with the present water board. Arturo Cantun highlights their work. ARTURO CANTUN REPORTING “In 2005 the community of San Jose Nuevo Palmar was the recipient of an upgraded water system. This included a 20 thousand gallon water reservoir and new modern pipes throughout the village. Right after its completion a new board was named; Alejandro Mendez became president. He told us it’s not easy administering such a system.”

Crime Statistics Released for Northern District; 50% Crime Reduction Reported
We now join reporter Dalila Ical with information on crime records recently released by the Corozal Police Department. DALILA ICAL “The Corozal Police Department has issued a report on its performance during the month of August. In regards to major crimes including murder, theft, burglary, robbery, the statistics show an overall fifty percent decrease with 17 percent reported for 2013 compared to 34 in 2012 for the same month. To be more specific, there were no murders recorded for the month of August 2013; burglary went down from 18 to 8 reports; theft went down from 11 to six reported incidents. In comparison to July 2013, the department reports a 13 % increase of major crimes (from 15 to 17) between the months of July & August 2013.

Minister of National Security is Acting Prime Minister of Belize
Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega has left to Guatemala on an invited visit. In his capacity as Minister of Agriculture, he was invited by his Guatemalan counterpart, to represent Belize at the first ever Petén Livestock Congress and Fair which will take place in Flores Petén. Vega left the country today at 4:00 pm and is expected to return on Friday September 6. In his absence Minister of National Security, John Saldivar will act as Prime Minister.

Over 140K of Drugs Taken Off the Streets in Western Towns, Says Crime Statistics
The San Ignacio Police Department today released recent statistics on crime for that area. Correspondent Elaine Berry shares that information. ELAINE BERRY “On September 1, Superintendent Ralph Moody took over command at the San Ignacio Police Station. Today, Superintendent Moody gave statistics for the year September 2012 to August 2013 in comparison to September 2011 to August 2012. Major crimes for 2011 – 2012 was four hundred and forty one and for 2012/2013 was two hundred and seventy eight; a decrease of 37%. Firearms 2011/2012 was 13 and 2011/2013 was 16; ammunition 2011/2012 was 245 and 2012/2013 was 149; magazine 2011/2012 was 27 and 2012.2013 was 2 which also shows a decrease. In cases for dangerous drugs 2011/2012 was 59,779 grams and 2012/2013 was 140,993.69 grams. Superintendent Moody thanked the residents for their hard work and cooperation with the police.”

More News: Scroll up from here

PlusTV

Authorities investigating possible homicide in Sandhill
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of a Sandhill resident. The deceased 29 year old Emir Bailey was found Monday night, hanging by his neck with what appeared to be an electrical cable. The cable was tied to a wooden beam inside the bedroom of...

Hospital mix up almost cost man his life
On Tuesday, PlusNews was contacted by a resident of Succotz Village who alleges that he was provided with the wrong medication by the San Ignacio Community Hospital and it almost cost him his life. Rudy Itza says that last week Monday, he wasn’t feeling well and so visited the...

KHMH unveils new videoconferencing system
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital unveiled a new videoconferencing system acquired through its partnership with Carolinas Health Care System. The system was launched with the assistance of local telecom provider Belize Telemedia Limited. BTL’s Chief Information Systems Officer Rafael Marin tells us more. Rafael Marin –...

Man remanded after threatening bus driver with a gun
Gunplay between a truck driver and a bus driver early Tuesday morning in the streets of the old capital ends up in court. 35-year-old Jose Recardo Hernandez, a driver and resident Belize City was summoned before Magistrate Leslie Hamilton on a single charge of aggravated assault with a firearm...

Man on remand after stealing from Pastor’s house
On Tuesday, 41 year old Daun Myers was remanded at the Belize Central Prison after being denied bail. Daun Myers appeared at the Magistrates Court unrepresented and though he pleaded not guilty, he was charged for trespassing the home of Cannon Leroy Flowers on September 1st, which was this...

Belize City enforces rule on oversize buses
Monday morning, at the height of back to school travel in Belize City, several drivers were pulled over for alleged violations of the City’s traffic policy, particularly with regard to the usage of large buses in the crowded downtown streets. The drivers told us the Council’s actions came as...

More details on the National Bank of Belize
The National Bank of Belize opened its doors to the public on Monday. We brought you the inauguration ceremony that was held at its first branch in the Capital City of Belmopan. Today though, we pander to some housekeeping, on the conception and policies tendered by the state-owned financing...

Veterinarians participate in accredited training course
15 Belizean veterinarians from across the country are participating in a four-day accredited training course. The exercise started on Tuesday at the University of Belize Central Campus. Courtesy our colleague Patrick Jones from West Vision, here are more details on the training. Dr. Miguel DePaz...

Belize City Mayor updates on taxi parking concerns in downtown
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley spoke to us on new arrangements for the operators of the Albert Street and Downtown Taxi Unions, which have to coexist with limited space in front of the Battlefield Park. The Mayor explains the new arrangements. Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley: That may not...

18 year old charged with drug trafficking
18 year old Francis Orvin Pollard, resident of Belize City has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking following an incident that occurred on Monday morning in broad daylight. Reports have it that Pollard was riding his bicycle at around 11:57 am, holding a black plastic bag and unaware...

Two more drug busts in Belize City
Tuesday morning police made two more drug busts in Belize City. at around 8:30 a.m. a police team that comprised of special Branch, Mobile Interdiction Team, Special Patrol Unit, Anti Drug Unit and the k-9 Unit investigated underneath a gray Volvo car parked on the Oleander Street, where there...

PM gives his views on SATIIM’s court case
SATIIM and Mayan leaders associated with the Sarstoon Temash National Park continue in a tug of war with the Government of Belize. The Mayan inhabitants are accusing the Government of not fully complying with the recent court ruling which granted the residents rights over communal lands. They are particularly...

PM says misunderstandings in the MOU with NCL will be clarified in the final contract
Speaking with Prime Minister Barrow on Monday, he also divulged on the latest dealings regarding the Harvest Caye port construction project between Government and Norwegian Cruise Line. The last time we met with the PM, he noted that while there was an MOU in place, both parties were also...

Vania Pat is new Queen of the West
On Saturday August 31, at the Octavia Waight Center Hall the new Queen of the West was chosen. After weeks of preparation and long hours of rehearsals, the time to lay it all out on the table finally came, and though all 5 lovely delegates must be commended for...

National Basketball Team returns home
On Monday the Belize National U18 3×3 Basketball team returned home, after participating in the U18 3×3 FIBA Americas Championship. Team Belize was able to qualify to the semi-finals by beating Puerto Rico 21 to 19 and Guatemala 19 to 7. They lost against USA...

BTB hosts Village Arts and Craft Expo as Battlefield Park reopens
Last Saturday at the Memorial Park, the BTB hosted their second annual Village Arts and Craft Expo. Artists and Artisans from all over the country gathered to this event to show case their handicraft skills and advertise their products. The Battlefield Park was loud and...

Caye Caulker Chronicles

It’s Manatee Day
It’s manatee day at the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary office in front of Chocolate’s house. Friends of Swallow Caye (FOSC) is a community based non-profit conservation association focused on the protection of manatees in the Swallow Caye area. The group was organized in 1996 to promote the designation of this area as a Wildlife Sanctuary. Success came in July 2002, when the Hon. Minister of Natural Resources signed the statutory instrument declaring the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary. Come and check out the manatee skeleton and know why they are on the endangered species list!!

The September 1st, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

• Thomas Caretella Jr. Chopped In San Ignacio:
  Thomas Ivan Caretella Jr., 28, one of two men acquitted in June 2012 of the September 1, 2007 murder of San Ignacio taxi man, Leopoldo “Polo” Waight, is today in critical but stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, the victim of a chopping incident in San Igancio. San Ignacio police reported receiving the 911 call at around 12:30 am on Sunday, August 25, 2013 of a bleeding man on the ground on Independence Street, San Ignacio. A team of policemen rushed to the scene where they encountered the victim with chop wounds to both arms and feet lying in a pool of blood. The bleeding man was rushed to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for emergency medical treatment. He was later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further medical treatment.
• Mexican Doctor Drowns In Belize:
  The body of Mexican veterinarian, Dr. Macelino Sosa, has been returned to his home country for funeral services, the latest victim of a drowning incident in the Mountain Pine Ridge. San Ignacio police reports that Gabino Canto, Belizean Field Director for the National Cattle Sanitary Plan Project informed that at around 4:30 pm on Friday, August 23, 2013 the deceased, along with a group of Mexican veterinarians, was taking photographs near a waterfall at the Rio On Pools when he reportedly slipped and fell off a twenty foot high cliff. A search for the body was immediately mounted but it was not until eighteen hours later when the body was discovered by relatives, friends and elements of the security forces.
• Ministry of Health to Implement Dengue Control Campaign in San Pedro Town:
  As a part of its ongoing countrywide Dengue Prevention Campaign, the Ministry of Health is introducing an operation in San Pedro Town. The campaign includes ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying, thermal spraying of houses, premises inspections, spraying of drains and issuing of bed nets to homes in high-risk areas for dengue. A team of personnel from the Vector Control Unit was dispatched to San Pedro Town on Tuesday, August 20, to investigate and assess suspected cases of dengue that were reported in areas such as DFC, Boca del Rio and San Pablo. The issuance of chemically-treated bed nets has proven to be the most effective form of personal protection to reduce dengue transmission. This initiative is free of cost to the residents and is being carried out in close collaboration with the San Pedro Town Council.
• World Bank and Ministry of Health Implement Japanese Social Development Fund Child Health Project in Toledo:
  The Ministry of Health (MOH), the World Bank and the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF) continue to work closely together to promote better health for women and children in communities of the Toledo District. This week, members of the World Bank Team are in Belize meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health to monitor the implementation phase of the JSDF Grant which funds the “Improving Children's Health and Nutrition” project. The project is being implemented by the Toledo District Health Council (TDHC) with the Ministry of Health providing oversight of the process. Working sessions to share the results and progress of this project are being held throughout the week facilitated by technical advisors of the Ministry of Health and members of the World Bank team led by Senior Operations Manager for the Grant, Carmen Carpio.
• 2013 Belizean Youth Ambassadors Dine at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence Before Travel to the U.S.:
  U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Margaret D. Hawthorne and Mrs. Barbara Thummalapally hosted a luncheon for Belizean Youth Ambassadors at the Ambassador’s residence on August 12, 2013. The youth are part of the U.S. State Department’s Central American Youth Ambassador Program, sponsored this year by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and coordinated through the Belize Family Life Association. The program offers three groups of Central American youth from Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama the opportunity to experience and expand their knowledge of U.S. culture, society, and education by traveling to the U.S. for three weeks and visiting several destinations during this time.
• "Inspirational Corner":
  Thank you so much for allowing me this privilege of sharing this "inspirational corner" in your newspaper. The following paragraphs ends the first chapter. I pray they will be uplifting, spiritually educational and interesting to your readers. Especially considering the times we are living in. I am opened to constructive criticisms and appreciate corrections as this is a first time experience for me. My objective, with God's help, is to make this newspaper the best by providing the kind of spiritual knowledge that will encourage not only the citizens of Santa Elena & San Ignacio, but the whole country of Belize to want to purchase it in anticipation. As the bible declares in Hosea 4:6 and I quote- "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (end of quote). It is my intent by God's grace to be able to provide this spiritual knowledge that is needed for this end time. God continue to bless and keep you, your loved ones and your enterprise. Yours in Christ, Sista B.
• Ministry Of Energy, Science And Technology And Public Utilities Rejects SATIIM Accusing The Government Of Belize Of Engaging In Illegal Activities In Southern Belize:
  Technology and Public Utilities (MESTPU) notes with regret a recent press release by Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) in which the organization continues to erroneously accuse the Government of Belize of engaging in illegal activities on their customary lands as it relates to the issuance of oil concessions and accompanying permits in southern Belize. While the Ministry respects SATIIM rights to espouse their views regarding its interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling, the Ministry must reject as irresponsible the insistence by SATIIM in misinforming the public regarding the ruling of the Court of Appeals as it relates to oil exploration in southern Belize. The Court of Appeal in its ruling, expressly refused to uphold the order issued by the then Chief Justice Conteh that required the Government of Belize to “abstain from issuing any concessions for resource exploitation, including concessions, permits or contracts authorizing logging, prospecting or exploration under the Forest Acts, Mines and Mineral Act, the Petroleum Act, or any other Act” Furthermore, the Court of Appeal agreed with the Government of Belize that the learned Chief Justice Conteh erred in law in failing to take judicial notice of the Petroleum Act which vests property in petroleum in the State and of the Sixth Amendment Act which, for avoidance of any doubt, exclusively vests the ownership of petroleum and other minerals in the Government of Belize.
• 2013 Village Arts and Craft Expo:
  Belize City: The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) invites you to the 2ndAnnual Village Arts & Craft Expo, on Saturday, August 31st, at the Fort Point Pedestrian Walk at the Memorial Park in Belize City. Over one hundred and twenty artisans will treat patrons to an exhibition of craftsmanship through local souvenirs, carving, clothing, jewelry, and packaged foods. The BTB recognizes the importance of locally made arts and craft in promoting Belize, and, as a result, over the past three months, BTB’s Destination Planning Department has been working with artisans from across the country on how to better package, present, and market their products to a local market. The Village Arts and Craft Expo is a result of the Village Outreach Program outlined in the Tourism Master Plan, which Destination Planning Coordinator, Clive Myers, said, is set to create useful ties and provide income generating opportunities.
• France's Hollande backs US on Syria action:
  France is still ready to take action in Syria alongside the US, despite UK MPs blocking British involvement, President Francois Hollande has said. He told Le Monde newspaper a strike within days could not be ruled out. The US says it will continue to seek a coalition, and President Barack Obama is meeting his national security team. The UN is investigating claims that the Syrian forces of President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons. Mr Assad denies the claims, blaming rebels. UN chemical weapons inspectors visited a hospital in a governmentcontrolled area of Damascus on Friday.
• The Gilmore Henkson Trophy:
  It has been announced by Mr. Charles Bartley Hyde, President of the Belize Olympic Committee’s Fair Play Commission, and other members; Mr. Raymond Lashley, Ms. Hadie Gomez, Mrs. Yolanda Fonseca and Mr. Edward Pitts, and with the consent of Mr. Hilly Martinez, President of the Belize Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association, in concurrence with His Excellency, Sir Colville Young, Patron of the Belize Olympic Committee that the Gilmore Henkson Fair Play Trophy has been awarded to Mr. Woodrow West and Mr. Ian Gaynair for their outstanding honesty & patriotism during their participation in the Gold Cup Tournament in the U.S.A. Their character exemplifies the aims and objectives of the International Olympic Committee.
• Colombia Troops To Patrol Bogota After Protests:
  Colombia is to deploy troops in the capital, Bogota, following violent protests in support of a strike by small-scale farmers. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said the troops were needed "to assure normality". Clashes with police broke out after thousands of people took to the streets in support of the farmers. The farmers say the government's agricultural policies are driving them into bankruptcy. "It's unacceptable that the actions of a few impact the lives of the majority," President Santos said after an overnight cabinet meeting.
• Back To School Week: 7 Teacher Tips To Get Your Kids Back Into School Mode:
  are dreading the most. We all know that our kids need to get back into the habit of going to bed at 8 and waking up by 6am. That doesn’t make it any easier after the bedtimes have been creeping backwards over the summer. It wasn’t your fault, it was still sunny at 6pm! “But it really is going to be difficult for students those first couple of weeks if you don’t get them used to it,” multiple teachers warned me. “There’s so much going on in the beginning, you don’t want them to be exhausted and falling asleep on their desks after lunch.” So a couple of pro tips? Make the transition gradual, don’t just try to plop them into bed an hour earlier the week before school and expect a miracle. And enforce the morning wake-up time too. After a couple of early mornings on little sleep, your kids will want to go to bed at a normal time.
• BTB Stands Willing & Ready to Support Guests, Staff and Management of Ramon’s Village Resort:
  Minister Manuel Heredia Jr, Minister of Tourism & Culture and Area Representative, Board of Directors and Staff of the Belize Tourism Board express deepest regret at this most unfortunate occurrence to hit Ramon’s Village Resort. On Tuesday, August 27th, around eight p.m., Ramon’s, one of the island’s oldest and iconic resorts, located on Coconut Drive in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, was gutted by fire. While preliminary reports indicate that more than thirty cabanas, restaurant, gift shop, and other facilities were destroyed, and the island was without electricity for an hour due to an emergency power interruption which was needed to mitigate damages from the fire to nearby transmission lines, we are happy to report that there were no casualties nor injuries. All twenty-five guests staying at the resort at the time of the fire have been accounted for and relocated to nearby hotels. The safety and well-being of these guests remain the priority and concern of Belize Tourism Board and Ramon’s Village Resort, and, as a result, we have ensured that they will not incur any cost for their new accommodations, and we have provided them with care packages.
• How To Be A Good Listener:
  A good listener uses positive body language; leaning forward and showing an enthusiastic, relaxed nature. They don’t fidget, cross arms, look elsewhere or express inappropriate shock or disbelief at what’s shared. 6. A good listener does not hurry somebody, but asks good questions to guide the sharing. They guide and help shape what’s being shared, but if the other person feels cut off or squashed they’ve failed. 7. A good listener does not approach a conversation with prejudice, expecting to know what’s going to come out of the speaker’s lips.
• STAR Humor
• Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
• Letters to the Editor
• Public Notices

Blogs

Placencia, Belize: Charm, My Potential Pulitzer, Best Coffee in Belize and Good Eats, Part Two
In my last post about Placencia and its divine eating and coffee drinking, I visited Brewed Awakenings for 630am coffee, a local stand for breakfast tacos, Cozy Corner for a tender curry chicken lunch and Wendy’s Creole Kitchen for the AMAZING coconut flan. I had a very good first day in the village… the rain held off and for that I was happy. A few places were closed with the slow season starting… But most were open. Sunday morning, Day Two and the sun came right out. I was staying at Captain Jak’s and though I had originally planned to stay just one night, I decided to make it two. Captain Jak’s was great. The location was so central and perfect and my own little cabin set back in the lagoon side garden was very reasonably priced and had everything I needed. And lots of gorgeous thick towels. Something that makes me very happy. There was also a full kitchen that remained completely untouched… similar to my own kitchen at home.

Six Reasons to Reconnect and Rejuvenate with Nature
When you’re surrounded by pristine rainforest, a tranquil river and some of Mother Nature’s most stunning handiwork, it’s easy to lose sight of the cares of the rest of the world. So it was in the early days of Chaa Creek when, as a small family farm, the current price of watermelon was more relevant than the news coming over the radio during our nightly sessions of listening to BBC World News. These days, with a plethora of guests hailing from so many different countries, we get a continual update of world events along with a variety of viewpoints. With Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, Greens and just about every religious faith represented at any one given evening, we enjoy listening to a wide range of observations and opinions. What stands out as being something everyone shares is a certain amount of apprehension about how the world is going. While many people accept that war, aggression, and some of the more unfortunate manifestations of human nature are facts of life, it still causes anxiety.

ATM Cave Tour: One of the Best Activities in Belize and a Bucket-List Must!
Belize is well known for its world-class diving along the western hemisphere’s largest barrier reef, yes. But there’s a littler-known activity on the mainland that’s a total must for adventure travelers: the absolutely amazing ATM cave tour. When I read about the sacred ATM cave — that’s for Actun Tunichil Muknal, no relation to the cash machine — I knew we had to try it. I did some research on the web (thanks, as always, trusty TripAdvisor!) and reached out to Carlos, who goes by “Carlos the Cave Man.” People seemed to love his expert leadership and charisma on tours through world’s top sacred cave, according to National Geographic. He’s one of only 23 guides in the country certified to lead the experience. Getting to the ATM Cave Tour From Ambergris Caye: San Pedro to Belmopan Since we were staying on the island of Ambergris Caye, our day required taking the first Tropic Air flight to the Belmopan airstrip on the mainland at 8 a.m., and returning on the last flight of the day at 4 p.m. When I called the airline to arrange the flights, I asked if they would be nonstop. “That depends on whether anyone wants to make a stop,” the Tropic Air lady said, and she had no interest in a credit card to hold the reservation — which is actually more your name jotted on a clipboard than a formal business transaction.

Rosh Hashanah - Chag Sameach! Happy New Year!
This year I will be spending Rosh Hashanah at the Grand Sheraton Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan. The Jewish New Year 5774 begins this year on the evening of September 4th, and continues until sundown on September 6th. Unlike most other holidays, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days in both Israel and the diaspora. It is the joyous beginning of a period known as the Days of Awe. The two days of the New Year were described by Talmudic sages in Aramaic as "Yoma Arichtah", meaning, "one long day." Chag Sameach! Happy New Year!

REGIONAL INVESTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2013
Caribbean Export Development Agency, in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion agencies (CAIPA), is pleased to announce the launch of the first Regional Investor of the Year Award for the members of CAIPA. Member countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks & Caicos Islands. A regional investor is being defined as an investor into one or more of the aforementioned territories in the region. The Regional Investor of the Year Award has been developed to recognize and promote the contribution of both local investors within the region and foreign investors to the region. Their contributions include the creation of new jobs, adherence to high standards of corporate social responsibility, capital spending and largely fiscal support to economies through payment of corporate taxes, inter alia.

“Under Pressure” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
How could I (but I did!) publish yesterday’s edition without mentioning that Arsène Wenger eventually entered the transfer market and bought a player. And what a player he bought! Mesut Özil , the German international, from Real Madrid (no less) for £42.5 million. There is little doubt (to my mind and the vast majority of supporters) that Arsène should have bought to strengthen (improve) other parts of the squad but I think (really, really hope) that he has come up with the goods in Özil. We shall see as the season unfolds. Another grey, overcast and sometimes rainy day yesterday. Just the kind of weather conditions that the mosquitos like. Ouch, ouch, ouch! When the weather is like it was (and that isn’t too often here) I generally turn my attention to catching up on administrative matters and that is exactly what I did yesterday.

Amish Peenut Butt'r Spred | Plane Chicke
2 cups brown sugar 1 cup wat'r 2 Tablespoons lite corn syrup (Karo) 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups creemy peenut butt'r 7 oz jar marshmalloe creme N' a small saucepun combine t'furst 3 ingredyints. Brang to a bawl. Remoov frum heat an' cool plum. N' t'bowl o'a stan' mix'r, combine peenut butt'r, marshmalloe creme an' vanilla extract. Beat on loe jes until combinet. Slowlee add n' t'brown sugar mixture. Beat on medium speet until fluffy, about 2 minnuts. Stere n' frigidairy up to 3 munths.

10 Reasons to Visit Toledo District in Southern Belize!!!
There is something for everyone in Toledo, but it is commonly known as the forgotten district!! Tourists that make it down to Toledo are often more of an adventurous, eco traveller type, preferring “off the beaten track” travel and an authentic travel experience! It is a low key easy going place with nature on your doorstep, friendly people and a laid back life style! With so much on offer it’s hard to choose, however here are 10 fabulous reasons to visit Toledo: 1. Nature Nurtures! Kick back and relax at one of the many unspoilt beautiful natural attractions Toledo has to offer; such as Blue Creek Cave, the waterfalls at Rio Blanco and San Antonio. 2. Toledo is known as a cultural melting pot, where else can you wander round the market and hear English, Spanish, Kriol, Mopan and Q’uechi? 3. The ocean is on your doorstep! Enjoy the cool fresh breeze or take a boat out and fish, swim or snorkel around some of the smaller coral cayes!

International Sources

How to Make a Watermelon Smoothie Using Just a Drill and a Coat Hanger
Now that it's September, you probably want to soak up as much of the summer as possible. And nothing says summer like watermelon. YouTube's favorite hacker Mark Rober just posted a video showing you how to make a watermelon smoothie in under two minutes. Get it while you can.

The Caribbean watches as gay court case proceeds in Belize
In the small Central American country of Belize, a fight is going on between the churches and the gay community to remove same sex activity and sodomy from the criminal code of the country. The fight is lead by UNIBAM – United Belize Advocacy Movement – headed by Caleb Orozco. Unibam took a case to court challenging Article 53 of the Criminal Code of Belize, which stipulates a jail term of ten years for homosexual activity. There has never been a prosecution under Article 53, but Unibam and its supporters believe that the law violates fundamental human rights, as well as the right to privacy guaranteed by the constitution of Belize. The Belize Council of Churches registered itself as an interested party in the court case. The Council encompasses all the mainstream churches, but the main opponents of the gay community are led by evangelical Pastors Scott Stirm and Louis Wade. The tone of the discourse has been vitriolic of the part of the less mainstream churches, to say the least. A large demonstration in the south featured images of Unibam being lynched.

CARIBBEAN EXPORT and CAIPA LAUNCHES THE REGIONAL INVESTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2013
Caribbean Export Development Agency, in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion agencies (CAIPA), is pleased to announce the launch of the first Regional Investor of the Year Award for the members of CAIPA. Member countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks & Caicos Islands. A regional investor is being defined as an investor into one or more of the aforementioned territories in the region. The Regional Investor of the Year Award has been developed to recognize and promote the contribution of both local investors within the region and foreign investors to the region. Their contributions include the creation of new jobs, adherence to high standards of corporate social responsibility, capital spending and largely fiscal support to economies through payment of corporate taxes, inter alia.

Carolinas HealthCare uses virtual portal to treat patients in Belize
Carolinas HealthCare System has established a virtual portal that will share its cardiac expertise with a hospital in Belize. The Charlotte health-care system’s International Medical Outreach program and Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute have teamed up with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City to utilize that technology. The virtual connection relies on advanced video capabilities to connect Sanger’s cardiologists with their counterparts in Belize. “It’s opening up a whole new world of opportunities for us to connect,” says Dr. Geoffrey Rose, chief of cardiology for Sanger. That means Carolinas HealthCare’s cardiologists can consult with medical staff in Belize on treatment plans and options, hold virtual patient visits and examine test results such as echo-cardiograms and radiology scans. There also are opportunities for training and educational conferences.