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Specials and Events

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


The San Pedro Sun

One year after Gregory Faull's death police remain clueless
One year after US expatriate Gregory Faull was killed inside his Ambergris Caye home, the Belize Police Department remains without answers, and still seeks one man for questioning - cyber security anti-virus founder John McAfee. 52-year-old Faull was shot and killed inside his home north of San Pedro Town and was found dead on Sunday November 11th. His murder and investigation attracted media attention from all over the world. According to Belize police, McAfee "is still a person of interest" even after not much has changed in one year following the murder. The anti-virus pioneer became the main suspect since it is alleged that Faull may have poisoned McAfee's four dogs a few days earlier. Faull had complained to the San Pedro Town Council that McAfee's dogs were "vicious" and that it had become a problem to walk on the public beach in front of McAfee's home without the dogs attacking him. Days before Faull was murdered, four of the dogs were discovered fighting for their lives after an apparent poisoning. They were shot by McAfee, who then had the carcasses buried.

Bandage International trains Belizeans in First Aid
Bandage International, a non profit organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada is a group of emergency medical professionals including paramedics, nurses and doctors, who are devoted to implementing and improving primary emergency medical care in developing countries. Since its inception in 2005, Bandage has been to Belize twenty times, training medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, and pre-hospital responders including: paramedics, laypersons, disaster response personnel such as the Red Cross and other NGOs. This year the team of four, led by president of Bandage International Darryl Chickness,along with a film crew, had four training destinations on their itinerary while in Belize. These places included San Ignacio Town, La Loma Luz Hospital in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, Punta Gorda Town, and Ambergris Caye. This years training program encompassed CPR methods for adults, children and infants, medical emergency response in the events of water emergencies, heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, seizures, and other primary care techniques including: bandaging, splinting, tending to burns and learning to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Madisco returns to San Pedro with 2nd Annual Food Show
Madisco, a member of the Roe Group of Companies, was once again on Ambergris Caye on Thursday November 7th, 2013 at The Banyan Bay Villas to put on its 2nd annual food show. Business representatives in the hospitality and culinary fields were invited to the show as Madisco brought out its best in food and fine wines for the sampling of all present. Prominent brands featured in the show included Caribbean Coolers (rum drinks), Kimberly Clark (personal products), Reinland Steaks and Premium Meats, Hy-Top. Quality Food Products, De Cecca Pastas and food products, Milport and Colonial brand cigarettes, plus a wide selection of fine wines from The Beverage Division at Karl H Menzies and more.

Ambergris Today

Ministry of Health Says Dengue Cases in San Pedro Under Control
In July of this year, the Belize Ministry of Health issued a dengue alert in the country. Come August, Dr. Jerry Lanza, Medical Director of the Dr. Otto Rodriguez Poly Clinic confirmed that there was an outbreak of Dengue in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It was then that the Ministry of Health embarked on a countrywide Dengue Prevention Campaign which included San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. 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. On Thursday, November 7, 2013, Ambergris Today met with Council Kenrick Brackett, Mr. Francis Westby, Dengue Technical Advisor from Belmopan and Mr. Egner Lalin, District Supervisor of the Vector Control Unit to find out the current status of dengue cases on the island.

Flashbacks: Five-A-Side a Dead Sport in Ambergris Caye
It used to be the No. 1 sport for sports aficionados. It used to attract hundreds of young children and teenagers to become athletes, and hundreds more young and old, men and women as fanatics of the event. Five-A-Side used to fill up Central Park for hot soccer action every Friday and Saturday nights. Then a court was fabricated at The San Pedro Plaza (Old Football Field) and later on at the San Pedro Primary School Five-A-Side court. You could hear the shouts of the fans two blocks away and the live narration of the sports caster five blocks away. Undoubtedly this was a sport liked by everyone and promoted by such town leaders as Nicolas Varela, Omar Guerrero, Patty Arceo, Felipe Paz, and Gaby Arana among others. And then it suddenly went dead. Nobody else has been promoting it. Just look at the excitement of young boys, Maya Eagles, in this Flashback to know that it is a sport worthy of reviving. Look at Santiago "Sanito" Vasquez, Marvin Duarte, Ismael "Smiley" Nu�ez, Miguel Alamilla, Jason Nu�ez, Francis "Chino" Eiley, Hardy Chan, Eddy Halliday Jr., Julius "Tach" Nu�ez and Joseles "Joker" Gonzalez. The proud winning coach is Eddy Halliday Sr. Maya Eagles is only a fading proud reminder of the good old days of Hot Five-A-Side action in San Pedro.

In Memory of Micheline Nayard
A message from Lilly, Iain and Joana: "My beloved French mother 'Micheline Nayard' who was 74 years of age came to Belize in 2006 to live with us when she was diagnosed with cancer. We did all we could for this previously very independent lady; modifying our lives to adapt to this terrible illness. With the help of holistic medicines provided by Mr. Peter Singfield, commonly known as the 'snake man' from Corozal, and later a mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast) performed by Dr. Byron Simons in Orange Walk in 2007, her cancer was successfully in remission. Since that time she has lived peacefully and happily in Belize, Corozal - a country that she loved - among her local neighbors who she appreciated and befriended. This came to a head when a third stroke occurred on the 15th October in Ranchito. We so deeply miss her joie-de-vivre, strength and her belief in the good."

Misc Belizean Sources

2013 San Pedro Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
The San Pedro Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will be held on Saturday December 7th this year. This traditional event heralds the holiday season and leads us into the holiday spirit with a fun event filled with twinkling lights, children's laughter, Christmas carols and a spectacular night time boat parade spanning from Wayo's beach bar to the north and the Caribbean Villas to the south - with amazing viewing spots everywhere in between. This year promises to be as well attended and enjoyable as each preceding year has been. We look forward to many regulars participating and invite new entrants to join the fun.

Tree Fellers
Tree Fellers (2004, 24 mins) tells the story of the 900 Belizean lumberjacks who in 1942 left the tropical rainforests of British Honduras to help Britain fight fascism by felling trees in Scotland. Sam ( 93), Eric (87) and Amos (86) were among those who stayed on after the war to make new lives in a country where, for better or worse, the colour of their skin marked them out. Rare archive footage, long cherished memories and a last reunion are intertwined in this lyrical and moving documentary testament.

Do Everything or Nothing at All at Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina
I got a firsthand experience of the "Yes I Can" attitude/service/hospitality at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina in Belize City and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing my stay was in the city for three entire days and two splendid evenings really was. For me, traveling to Belize City is just for the day, passing through or a quick overnight to get business done. But the Radisson gave me a new perspective on how comfortable and pleasurable a trip to the city can be. I strongly believe that it is the Radisson's "Yes I Can" mentality that makes it stand out amongst all other hotels in the city. It seems that nothing is impossible for the management and staff of the Radisson, because this mindset makes them go above and beyond to provide the best service possible for their guests. From the moment you check into the hotel, to the employee you bump into on the way to your room, to the service you receive at their restaurants and bars, there is not one staff member without a smile on his/her face making sure you are taken care of.

Audubon Ecotourism in Belize
The Belize Audubon Society, which helps manage 4 national parks in Cayo, will be working with the MIF and the Audubon Society to create a sustainable program that utilizes bird-watching to create jobs and simultaneously protect the local biodiversity and natural resources. Great news for Belize. "The project incorporates four key components: Improving the structure and capacity of bird-based tourism business, developing accredited bird guide curricula, training national guides, developing site-level business plans and developing bird trails; Driving more bird-focused tourism to the sites by developing marketing content for Audubon magazine and other birding media channels, designing birding trip packages with international and local tour operators, organizing market events for each country, and integrating bird-watching content into national governments and tourism websites in each country; Raising awareness about the value of the local natural environment and promoting local citizen science bird research programs; Developing a 'scalable' bird-based community tourism model that can be applied to other locations/countries."

Rastas in Cayo Documentary
Aaron Gatlin, one of the NMSU film students, has released his documentary, and while it's called 'Rastas in Belize,' it focuses on 3 Rastas in Cayo. The recently departed Ras Far I is in it, and he describes the Ital diet, and takes the documentary from Burns avenue to the Saturday market. Carlton and Barbara, from Back to My Roots, are featured in the documentary too, and Carlton explains how they put love, heart, and soul into their business model. Ras A, the bushman, finishes the documentary by explaining life and farming in the bush. Another great documentary. Well done, Aaron!

Benque Festival Of Culture
The Benque Festival of Culture starts this Friday with the Photography Exhibit at the Benque House of Culture, and goes through Monday. It'll continue next weekend too. There will be performances from the Benque Marimba Academy, Pablo Collado, and Orquidea Negra, just to name a few. "CACHE Benque in conjunction with Benque House of Culture (NICH) hereby present the 5th International Festival of Culture in Benque Viejo del Carmen starting on the 15th of November! Be a part of it and dont miss out on the events! All are FREE...!!!! This is the agenda for this weekend. Stay tuned for the following week!"

Special Education Symposium
The George Price Centre is having a Special Education Symposium tomorrow morning. "The George Price Centre for Peace and Development is a non-profit organization established in honour of George Price and his lifelong devotion to the peaceful development of Belize and its people."

History of Bush Medicine in Belize
To preserve Mayan historical medicinal plant knowledge from an elder midwife and bush doctor/ shaman before their time runs out! We hope to raise funds to record our progress in our different projects in Belize with special emphasis on producing a simple documentary to record Maya medicinal and spiritual healing practices in this area. A lot of work has been done on prior trips. Our ethnobotanist will continue her apprenticeship with the local Shaman. The midwife she is working with is in her mid 90s and she has extensive knowledge to share. The shaman are very protective of their knowledge. While many have studied before us, we feel that our unique organization has gained some trust that other outsiders are not given. We will be going to Belize in December with a larger crew for this project, the continuation of other projects and the beginning of new projects. There will be a follow up trip in February with a smaller crew.

Flooding
Villagers of Sarteneja, Corozal wade through treacherous waters as buses can no longer get to or from the village! This is a very sad situation!

Channel 7

Possible Precursor Smugglers Charged For Customs Offences
Tonight, the eight men who were caught with a 40 foot container truck loaded with ten - 50 gallon drums of suspicious chemicals are facing customs charges - while police are expected to lay their own charges tomorrow. The eight men, 7 from Corozal and one from Cayo who were involved in the operation have been charged for recklessly acquiring possession and control of un-customed goods. The barrels were un-declared, un-documented and likely smuggled across from Guatemala, As we reported, San Ignacio Police found the container truck, along with a pickup - both bearing Corozal plates - at 12:30 on Monday morning in Bullett Tree Village. It was parked adjacent to the village police station - so close that it might be safe to conclude that police were being retained to keep it safe - as more drums were ferried across from the nearby, unregulated Guatemala border point in a cattle truck.

Cane Farmers Say Things Could Get "Nasty"
For weeks, we've been following the commercial dispute between BSI and the Cane Farmers Association. The farmers want to get paid for bagasse - which is a by-product of sugar production that is now being used as bio fuel to generate electricity in a BSI subsidiary, BELCOGEN. In a statement yesterday, BSI told the farmers "no", not gonna happen, the cane bought from the farmers, plus they are the ones who invested in BELCOGEN. Sounds like the end of conversation, but this week, the farmers are making the rounds urging BSI to enter into talks before things get, in the farmers' words, "nasty." They told the media what that means today based on the mandate the Association has gotten from farmers in Orange Walk and Corozal: Alfredo Ortega, Vice President - Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association "The mandate is that we won't start crop is we don't sign any agreement with BSI and in the agreement it has to include bagasse in it. We are asking and calling on BSI to come and let us dialogue because it is not only the cane farmers that will lose, it will be the industry as whole. We are calling on them to come and let us negotiate. I Think the answer that they have given is no, they will not be sharing with us, I think that is a real slap to the face of the farmers."

Big Tom Was "Gone Til' November�."
Kenneth "Big Tom" Flowers - once upon a time not too long ago, just the mention of his name in Belize City could inspire fear and dread. Indeed, he was known as a ruthless gang-affiliated killer - and even though he was never convicted of murder, his reputation preceded him. And then in April of 2010, we got news - confirmed by his own family in Belize - that he had been killed in Salt Lake City, Utah. Turns out he had been shot in the face and hand, but survived. We found that out in December of 2010, when news reports burst out of Salt Lake City again that he had killed a man in a high-rise apartment. Newspaper reports out of Salt Lake said that he could face life in prison for one count of of first-degree felony murder. But, he refused a plea deal, pleaded not guilty, and was acquitted by a jury in state court, which is when he came under federal indictment. In Federal court, he beat the charge again, but was sentenced to time for the gun which he turned over to police after the Salt Lake killing. Now after serving almost three years in prison, he's back in Belize. He was deported last week Thursday, and today we met him at the CYDP office where he told us why he was "gone 'til November":...

Jamaican Gay Activist Takes Belize, Trinidad to CCJ
Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica are all waiting on the decision on the Caribbean Court of Justice after the judges heard an application by Maurice Tomlinson, the attorney and Gay Rights activist who is suing the first 2 countries in an attempt to get the court to change their immigration laws. As we've been telling you, Belize's Immigration Act classes prohibited immigrants attempting to come into the country as quote, "any prostitute or homosexual who may have been living off or receiving proceeds of prostitution or homosexual behaviour." Tomlinson, who is open about his homosexuality and his marriage to a Canadian man, says that this law and the Trinidad's immigration law violates his rights to free movement among the CARICOM countries. As we told you, because both Belize and Trinidad have not denied him access, Jamaica has abstained from the proceedings, and they've refused to grant him access to the CCJ via the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

UB President Cary Fraser Will Resign, Board May Push For Earlier Departure
President of the University of Belize Dr. Cary Fraser has written to the Prime Minister informing of his decision to resign. The latter, dated November sixth says that he intends to leave at the end of the Academic year - bringing to an end his less than two-year stint as University President. And while Fraser would like to leave at the end of the Academic Year, 7news has heard the suggestion from multiple, highly placed sources that he may be asked to go before then. And that's because the University's Board of Trustees is reportedly dissatisfied with Dr. Fraser's performance. 7news has learned of an extended assessment done by the Board in which they concluded that he had failed to implement programmes as mandated by the Board. Fraser, who is from Guyana took over as president of the National University in August of 2011.

Mexican Acquitted of Guns + Firearm, but Still Stuck In Belize
In May of this year, 7News told you about 32 year-old Belizean George Valencia, and 25 year-old Mexican Juan Alliesto Hernandez Zuniga, who police say were allegedly caught in Corozal town with firearms and ammunition. Well, both men have been acquitted by the Magistrate's Court; the Belizean has been released from custody, but the Mexican remains detained by the authorities. As we told you, on May 12, police chased a black pickup truck in the Dominguez layour area. Valencia was the driver, and Zuniga and another man - believed to be Mexican were also passengers in the vehicle. According to the officers, they saw the men throwing objects away, and when they finally intercepted the vehicle, the other man escaped.

Health Ministry Concerned About Teen Pregnancies
Last week Wednesday we told you about a report which was released documenting the crisis of teenage pregnancies in the region. Indeed, in Belize the 2010 Population and Housing Census stated that 3 4.4% of females, age 18-24 give birth before the age of 18. Additionally, teenaged mothers in Belize are responsible for 20% of all live births between 2004 and 2008. It's a crisis and the CEO in the Ministry of Health concluded that something has to be done to provide young people with better education on sexual and reproductive health. He said plainly that the message of abstinence often does not work - and teenaged females need to know how to prevent pregnancies. Seems sensible enough, but in church managed schools it could be considered highly controversial, and we asked the CEO to defend his practical but possibly problematic position:.. Jules Vasquez "Pre-marital sex is a sin, so we cannot teach anything other than abstinence in the church-managed schools. We cannot teach safe sex for people who are not married." Dr. Peter Allen "I think it's an excellent point and certainly I agree that education and information must be aged appropriate, but in hospitals and clinics around the country we see the reality of the failure of our current system at the moment, so we must do something to address it."

Driver Accused Of Having Relations With Psych Ward Patient Is Back On Duty
We also asked Dr. Allen about the case of the driver at the Western Regional Hospital. He's the one who had an inappropriate relationship with a woman who was charged for murder, but being assessed for her fitness to stand trial in the psychiatric ward. Since then, the woman has been judged fit to stand trial and is no longer in the ward. But the driver, who is circumstantially accused of committing a very grave violation of a vulnerable woman is back at work. Dr. Allen commented on it: Dr. Peter Allen "After the suspension I also understand the driver is back on duty again. I understand that the driver has recruited legal representation and the investigation into exactly what happened is continuing not only with the driver but as you rightly suggest with the other staff who may or may not have facilitated this. I think it's worth noting that the driver denies the allegations against him." Dr. Allen said a pregnancy conducted on the female patient came back negative.

The Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims
Every year since 2005, the third Sunday in November has been set aside for the Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims. And there are too many of them in Belize, which has the highest traffic death rate per hundred thousand inhabitants in Latin American. And one of the keys to keeping accident victims alive is the timeliness and availability of emergency response. Last week, a visiting expert in the field was discussing it at a road safety workshop and we asked him what are some of the key considerations for emergency response; he said time is the most important:... Barry Johns, Expert - Emergency Medical Services "Internationally as far as road traffic accidents are concern the time level that they refer to is called the "platinum ten minutes," so its important to try to get to that scene within 10 minutes of the incident happening and the other time measure is called the "golden hour." It's important to get to hospital with 60 minutes so that definitive care can be carried on that patient." Jules Vasquez "As a first responder to a traumatic accident scene, what should a member of the public do?" Barry Johns, Expert - Emergency Medical Services "I welcome that because my own personal belief is that every member of the population should be trained in basic first aid. Where we have communities that can provide first responders they need to be appropriately trained so that they respond and provide that initial care of protecting the airway, controlling the bleeding and ensuring that no movement to that patient is made unless they are actually in danger. Therefore it is important that they are appropriately trained pending the arrival of the ambulance."

City Council Lights The Way On Coney Drive
This evening the Belize City Council held an opening ceremony for the launch of a pilot project. A Taiwanese company named Amko has donated 20 smart induction lights to the city. The lights have been put up around the Coney Drive vicinity - which has been a poorly lit area. Today Mayor Bradley told us about the benefits the new street lights offers and how it will be energy efficient. Mayor Darrell Bradley "What happen is that a Taiwanese company Amko is gifting the City of Belize 20 smart induction lights and these induction lights have been put up around the Coney Drive round-about area and at the start of Coney Drive. We had some complaints that the round-about while nice was dark and we had an invitation from the Government and people of Taiwan through one of their agencies for a company to come. They visited Belize last year, I had a meeting with them, and it's a very dynamic company. They are a leading company in induction energy. They are present in the region, they recently told me about a deployment that they did in the City of Acapulco, Mexico where they did 45,000 induction lights."

Police As Actors, Entertainers?
Yesterday at Excelsior High School, the student body was treated to a special show. Community Policing members acted out a few skits, which portrayed real life events, where a person must choose to do the right thing in the face of adversity. The idea behind it was to engage the young people on decisions which have lasting consequences, and which youths often disregard. One of the police officers explained how these consequences can make already challenging social conditions even worse: Organizer "We are doing this event as it relates to the 16 days of activism and we are doing it leading up to the 16 days of activism. We are doing dramas and domestic violence and peer pressure in high schools. What you sew you reap and if the students put in their studies in school they will definitely reap good grades and that's what we are trying to encourage. We want good statistics for Belize."

Universities From Northern Mexico Visit to Talk Trade And Transfers
One of Mexican universities arrived in Belize this morning to promote academic cooperation and trade with the northern state of Chihuaua. As they explained, they want to do transfers with the University of Belize and to offer products from their state - which borders the united states:... Two Mexican Universities were represented at today's event.

Channel 5

Whistleblower gives powerful and compelling one-on-one interview
On October twenty-third, in the midst of an investigation into massive corruption in the Immigration Department, a confidential informant came forward. She provided a firsthand account of meetings in which [...]

Alverine Burgess says U.S. produced recording of a conversation involving Minister Castro
Alverine Burgess' ordeal at the U.S. Embassy lasted three hours, and she says that faced with intense interrogation and recorded evidence, she told them all she knew. That includes names [...]

Burgess says she is prepared to testify in Court
So what happens next? Well Minister of State Edmund Castro has sued Alverine Burgess, but she's not fazed in the slightest. In fact, she says that she is prepared and [...]

CCJ hears an application by gay activist challenging immigration laws
The Caribbean Court of Justice today heard an application against the governments of Belize and Trinidad in which Maurice Tomlinson is challenging the immigration laws of both countries. The hearing [...]

Is UB President, Dr. Carey Fraser, being forced to resigned from the national university?
Tonight there are very credible reports that University of Belize President Carey Fraser is contemplating resignation from the institution. Dr. Fraser has been President for two years, and came to [...]

8 men charged for a container with substance to produce crystal meth
Tonight, eight men remain in lockdown in San Ignacio following the discovery of what are believed to be chemicals used in the manufacture of the drug methamphetamine. A Police Quick [...]

Another couple, this time Chinese nationals, failed to declare thousands of dollars
We reported on Monday that two missionaries were fined for failing to declare close to fifty thousand dollars. Tonight, another couple has been charged for the same offence and they [...]

Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association threatens to stop cane deliveries to B.S.I.
Relations between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the Belize Sugar Industry are tonight sour. �B.S.I., on Monday, said that it will not engage in revenue sharing discussions in [...]

BSCFA says improved price per ton of cane as a result of quality investment by farmers
According to BSCFA executive, they have received a record breaking seventy-four dollars and twenty cents per ton of cane delivered to B.S.I.� But the price of cane is not linked [...]

Flooding in Crooked Tree Village unbearable for residents
The rains have been incessant for weeks upon weeks. In the Belize River Valley, the Crooked Tree causeway is under water and residents, including students, have to be shuttled by [...]

The Coney Drive neighborhood gets a light facelift
Since its construction in the summer, the roundabout at the intersection of Coney and Princess Margaret drives has alleviated congestion during the morning and evening rush hours.� Students from the [...]

Central American Integration System officials meet to discuss education
Today officials of the Central American Integration System, SICA, met on the University of Belize campus in Belmopan to discuss education - or rather the future of education within a [...]

A surprise for the reality wedding couple in tonight's From Yes to I Do
After numerous rounds of competition, Allen Mendez and Roselli Coc were selected as the reality wedding couple for this season of from Yes to I do. The happy couple now [...]


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CTV3

Belizean Recently Acquitted For Murder Deported To Belize
Thirty six year old Kenneth Lewellyn Flowers, a Belizean National recently acquitted of a Murder charge in Salt Lake Utah, was deported last week to Belize by Federal Immigration Officials. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Flowers was deported after he was convicted in August of felony illegal reentry of a deported alien and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. He had been sentenced to two years in federal prison with credit for time served. That conviction the report stated, came after police had found a gun and ammunition on Flowers when they responded to a shooting in December 2010 where 45 Year old Cisco M. Cross was killed and contended in court that he shot him in self defense. The report says that Flowers had been smoking crack when Cross came to his door. An argument ensued between Flowers and Cross, and reported to police he fired his gun three times when he saw him reach for a weapon. A BB gun was found unused in the waistband of Cross. He was turned over to Belize authorities for questioning related to gang activities.

Mexican national Investigates By Immigration
Today two men were acquitted of the charges of two counts of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition at the Corozal Magistrates Court due to lack of evidence. Both 32 year old George Valencia, Belizean laborer of G-Street South Corozal Town and 25 year old Mexican National Juan Alliesto Hernandez Zuniga were escorted to court under heavy guard. CTV3 News understands that while Zuniga was acquitted of the charges he remains in police custody and will be handed over to Immigration Authorities for further investigations since it is believed he is in the county illegally. We understand that he has retained the services of Attorney Arthur Saldivar.

Another Business Robbed In Corozal
Corozal Police are investigating a burglary in that district that left a woman out of more than $1,000 worth in items. According to 44 year old Guadalupe Sosa, the owner of Bel Cuisine in Corozal Town, sometime between the hours of 2:00pm on the 9th of November 2013 and 7:05am on the 11th of November 2013, her two storage concrete building located on Alta Mira Road was broken into. The thief or thieves gained entry to the building by forcing open a glass door situated northeast of the building. Stolen from inside the building was one water pump valued at $1,800.00. All indications are that the criminals also broke into two of the company vehicles and stole a jack valued at $150.00. Total value of items stolen amounted to $1,950. Investigation continues.

Opposition Leader Speaks On Baggasse Issue
With only 18 days before the start of the new proposed 2013/2014 crop season, there is no saying whether BSI and the BSCFA will resume negotiations on the Bagasse issue specifically. While BSI has asked BSCFA to meet on November 19th to advance discussions on a new agreement and to discuss the technical support by SIRDI, they have also stated that the new agreement can be signed separate from the Bagasse issue. And that is where there seems to be no break through because the BSCFA is saying no way no how. With the opening of the 2013/2014 crop season in jeopardy, it is the hope of the Leader of the Opposition Honorable Francis Fonseca that both parties can come to a mutual agreement for the betterment of the industry. "I think it is a very, very important matter and we certainly urge BSI to negotiate in good faith with the cane farmers, we support the position of the cane farmers at this time, we believe that there should be very serious discussion taking place about the sharing about whatever profits are been made from the sale of bagasse, it has been under discussion for a long, long time but nothing serious had been agreed on and so it is a very important issue and we in the People United Party we are engage in our own discussions with the cane farmers so that we can better understand their position and it is our objective to work along with them to pressure government, to pressure BSI to come to the table so that we can have a proper discussion and find some equitable formula for the sharing of any profits that are being recognize and realized as the result of bagasse is an important issue."

BSCFA Sticks To Its Guns, No Negociation Of Baggasse, No Crop
Yesterday we told you about the stern response from the Belize Sugar Industries Limited on the claim for payment on the Bagasse issue. And while that release stated that for 30 years BSI has taken on the responsibility and the liability of getting rid of bagasse, compounded by the fact that BSI came up with the idea to use bagasse to generate electricity and materialized in what they claim is the biggest private sector investment in the country amounting to 130 Million dollars, the release cited that it was done without the assistance or contribution from the BSCFA. BSI said that it is not just or fair to the company for the cane farmers to expect a return on an investment for which they have contributed absolutely nothing. Well, today, another round of fireworks was launched in the air as Vice Chairman of the BSCFA, Committee of Management, Alfredo Ortega, fired back stating that BSI is dancing around the issue. "Really and truly they are just going around the bush, they are not coming very clear with us we are not asking for electricity, we are asking for what the bagasse is providing, what the bio-fuel is providing to that electricity for Belcogen Plant to work and to convert that to electricity, we are asking for them to come and let us negotiate the portion of the bagasse not the electricity. With this letter that they have sent and that they have set a date and they have set the 19th of November to go to Belize with no direction only to Belize City, I don't if they plan to take us to burying ground or to the Warf, I don't where they plan to take us but this is truly a slap on the face of the cane farmers because we have been asking from them let us come and negotiate as partners of the industry come to the table and let them be clear with us what their financial are, they have had the decency to present to the Association their last two years financial report in regards to what they are getting from the sales of electricity to BEL, as a cane farmer and as a leader of the farmers I really feel that BSI is really drawing his foot and trying to corner us to a way that they feel that the point will come that we will say well ok we cannot fight this giant and we will come and leave things as they are no, no this time is not like that, I think that the Association is in a different position that it was ten, fifteen years ago, we have experts amongst us, we have technical people that are advising us, we will be getting advise from our lawyers very shortly to have legal opinion in a step forward."

LOVE FM

Policeman’s Vehicle Stolen
A policeman's vehicle was reportedly stolen from in front of a bar on the Philip Goldson Highway. Police Corporal, Alison Guzman, reported to his peers that at around 11:30 on Saturday night he went to the Traveller's Bar at mile two on the Philip Goldson Highway and parked his 1996 white Geo Prism car valued at seven thousand and upon coming out of the establishment at around three-30 on Sunday morning, he discovered that the vehicle was no longer where he had parked it. Police are investigating.

Woman Charged Following Outburst at Belize Family Court
Twenty-six year old Denise Wade, who bit a police constable in his chest yesterday at Belize Family Court, was charged with harm and five other offences when she appeared in court yesterday. The other charges were assaulting a police officer, disturbing court proceedings and two counts of using insulting words. Wade pled guilty to the charges. She remanded into custody at Belize Central Prison until November 22 when she will be brought back to court for sentencing. According to reports, Wade kept interrupting the court proceedings at Belize Family Court and when she was told about it by Magistrate Nathalia Carter, she insulted Magistrate Carter twice. She assaulted police constable Hilberto Ruiz and bit him in the right side of his chest when Ruiz restrained her and took out of the courtroom.

Chinese Couple Given Bail After Failure to Declare Monies
A Chinese couple who entered Belize yesterday via Phillip Goldson International Airport with ten thousand US dollars has been charged jointly with failing to first make a declaration to an authorized officer of the FIU or any other person or authority designated by the FIU. They are Chenbou Xu and his wife, Fenglan Wu. They pled not guilty to the charge when they were arraigned today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. They were released on bails of one thousand dollars each and their case was adjourned until Friday, November 15. The bail was offered on the condition that they surrender their passports. Before the charge was read to them their attorney, Ellis Arnold, submitted that they had not committed any offence because the law allows for a person to have ten thousand dollars without having to make a declaration and they had ten thousand U.S. dollars or its equivalent, twenty thousand US dollars between them. But Donelle Hawke, the head of Police Prosecution Branch, who represented the FIU, said in reply that the couple had made one declaration on the custom card and that shows that an offence was committed. Chief Magistrate Smith overruled Arnold's submission and read the charge to them.

CCJ Reserves Ruling on Special Leave to Appeal Belize’s Immigration Act
The Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ has reserved ruling in an application heard today on behalf of Jamaican Gay Rights activist, Maurice Tomlinson, for Special Leave to Appeal Belize's Immigration Act. Tomlinson, who is a member of the Jamaican lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community and an HIV-activist, says that the current Immigration Laws of both Belize and Trinidad bar him from entering the two countries as an openly gay man. Tomlinson considers the ban on his entry into Belize to be a violation of his right to freedom of movement within the Caribbean Community. He feels that repealing Section five of the Belize Immigration Act will liberate other marginalized groups. Among the other classes of persons prohibited from entering Belize are the mentally challenged and the physically disabled. In the teleconference hearing in Jamaica, Tomlinson's attorney argued that the CCJ relies on the Charter of Civil Society. But Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, who led the Government's arguments, told reporters after the days' session that because Tomlinson had visited Belize on two previous occasions, this is evidence that the current Immigration Laws do not ban him from entering the country on the status of his lifestyle.

Education Minister Says Corruption is Not Encouraged in the UDP
Investigations into the passport scandal that broke out a few weeks ago are still ongoing and former Minister of State Elvin Penner has been fired from both Government and of the United Democratic Party. Prime Minster Dean Barrow, has asked Penner to resign as the Area Representative of Cayo North East- but that hasn't happened. Soon after, Area Representative for Belize Rural North, Edmund, "Clear the land" Castro has been named as a minister who is allegedly involved in a visa hustling business. The Prime Minister in a press conference alluded that he has heard of this and requested that if it is indeed true that it be stopped before it causes the fall of the government. And ever since, a dark gloomy cloud of suspicion has been hovering over UDP ministers and so we asked Minister of Education, Youths and Sports, Patrick Faber, whether or not he knows anything about a visa hustling business. Here is how he responded.

Training Sessions Look At Dealing with Juvenile Justice
Representatives from the Belize Police Department and Belize Central Prison are taking part in the first of three training sessions aimed at sensitizing these officers on Juvenile Law and the International Standards of Juvenile Justice. Antoinette Moore is the training facilitator. ANTONETTE MOORE "The UNDP is assisting in the funding of this and the Community Rehabilitation Department, as well as the NCFC - they have come together and are doing three sets of training. The first is for prison officers and police, the second for higher level police officers and Police prosecutors and the last for Magistrates and lawyers from the Legal Aid Centre. The purpose for the training is to sensitize as well as give more information to these individuals about the domestic juvenile as well as the international standards of juvenile justice." National Committee for Families and Children is one of the Organizations responsible for bringing this training to fruition. Love News spoke to NCFC's Luwani Cayetano.

Is UB’s President Going to Resign?
Reports circulating today were that the President of the University of Belize, Doctor Carey Fraser is resigning from his post. First we attempted to confirm this information from Dr. Fraser himself but after strongly denying for an interview he told our reporter that a release will be sent out. Dr. Fraser however restricted himself from stating what the release would make mention of. And so we then attempted to obtain confirmation or denial from the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber who told us he doesn't know. We then got comment from the Head of the Office of the Public Information at the University, Selwyn King who as Dr. Fraser told us a statement will be made on the matter. HON. PATRICK FABER "I am not certain about that; l I have no such information to say that he is going to resign. I believe that is a question you can ask him but I certainly don't have any such information." DR. SELWYN KING "The President will make a statement in due time when the time prevails; he has been engaged in meetings since yesterday and as you know he was engaged in meetings today. He will make a statement on that particular issue. In terms of official, I cannot confirm or deny but I have been contacted by the majority of the media who have heard or received such information and it's best that the President, himself speak to that particular issue."

PlusTV

Builders Hardware Throws in the Garifuna Celebration
Primary and High school students and customers at Builder's Hardware were treated to exciting performances by a Garifuna Dance Group and the legendary paranda musician Mr. Paul Nabor. This is the month for the celebration of the Garinagu. Over the years the celebrations have grown from an event centered...

U-16 Young Belizean Football Players Boast Promising Performance Abroad
On Friday the Football Federation of Belize gave fans a sneak preview of the national U-16 team that will represent Belize as the Central American U-16 tournament in Belmopan from November 18 - 24. Many of them were part of the U-15 team that impressed in the inaugural CONCACAF...

Ms. Felicia Chen Faces Another Hot Court Trial
At any time beginning in next April's session of the Central District of the Supreme Court, 22 year old Felicia Chen must answer to three counts of murder for the alleged drowning deaths of three of her children at Belizean Beach this past April 27. Chen appeared on Friday...

The Belize Police Launches a National Sensitization Campaign Tour
Though their business is quite serious, even the Police Department can take a joke every so often. Today they did a little poking fun at themselves and the wider society while imparting life lessons to the students of Excelsior High School. It is part of the community outreach done...

Another Alleged Rape of a Minor Hits Corozal
Police in Consejo Village, situated in Corozal are investigating a disturbing report made by a 13 year old girl. According to the minor, this past Sunday, shortly after 2:30, she was walking to her home through a picado road, someone held her from behind and pulled into the nearby...

Guatemalan Fatally Murdered by Stabbing in Belize City
There was a murder in Belize City early on Sunday morning. 28 year old Edgar Salazar, Guatemalan laborer of Faber's Road extension, was stabbed in his right lower back during a fight outside of a bar on Coney Drive where Salazar and his group of friends were socializing. Salazar's...

Police Catches Alleged Contraband Suspects in Bullet Tree
Law enforcement, lab technicians and Customs personnel were called out to the BDF camp site near San Ignacio today, where an investigation into the discovery of 10 large containers of suspected drug precursors was underway. The containers were stumbled upon by San Ignacio Police this morning, sometime between 12:30...

NTUCB and BCCI Support the Blue Proposal for a Reformed PAC
Last week, we shared with you the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize's joint proposal for the Public Accounts Committee. Well, today, the People's United Party have come out to support that proposal. You may recall that the committee had been...

A Giant Snake Surprises Workers of San Ignacio and Santa Elena
Last week's relentless rain flooded the banks of the Macal River, which separates the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, leaving the San Ignacio Wooden Bridge completely submerged underwater. This significant repercussions on the daily flow traffic as the only alternative bridge apart from the wooden bridge...

Sugar Cane Farmers Demand Bagasse Money Shares
One man's thrash, is another man's treasure; this saying has been seen played out for several weeks now on local media as we have been closely following the developments of the bagasse dispute that BSCFA (Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association) has been fruitlessly trying to resolve with BSI (Belize...

NTUCB on the Wall of BWS Firings and Legal Battles
And while that is the state of affairs with the case, the ex-workers also vented their frustration with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) which has promised to investigate their terminations and has so far failed to. Don Gillett at the time of his firing was a...

BWS Former Employees Pressure Legal Battle against the Company
Four of the six former employees of Belize Water Services (BWS) who were fired earlier this year and are suing the company for wrongful termination called their first conference. Two colleagues were not present and neither were attorneys Mrs. Antoinette Moore and Mr. Kareem Musa due to unforeseen circumstances,...

Belize Celebrates World Diabetes Day
Every year, November 14th is celebrated as "World Diabetes Day" globally. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. The Belize Diabetes Association is a chapter of the IDF. They have been hosting numerous events to sensitize the Belizean public...

Amandala

BELIZE, TRINIDAD, FIGHT LGBTS AT CCJ
Belize and its sister Caribbean nation - Trinidad and Tobago, appear tomorrow before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), to face a challenge filed against both countries by Jamaica's leading LGBT lobbyist, Maurice Tomlinson - the man who alleges that Belize's immigration laws violate his right to free movement within the Caribbean Community, as enshrined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Ironically, though, Tomlinson, whose child was living in Belize, had visited the country at least twice without any prohibition - and this fact is one of the planks of the defense the Government of Belize has lodged to argue that Tomlinson should not be granted leave by the CCJ to bring the court action against the country. Tomlinson last year married Tom Decker, a Canadian man who serves as interim pastor of Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church in New York, USA. Tomlinson was previously married to Michele Daley, who recently ended her tenure as Acting Solicitor General of Belize.

BSI SAYS "NO!"
As we go to press tonight, there is news that a demand from the ca�eros of Orange Walk and Corozal for a portion of the revenues which the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) is earning from bagasse is being met with a resounding "no" from the company - a decision which will no doubt raise the ire of the ca�eros, who have been lobbying for a financial stake in BSI for several years. Ca�eros have been a part of the talks to bolster the returns from cane farming through co-generation for more than a decade. In fact, Amandala recalls that at a symposium held in Orange Walk in August 2001, cane farmers had expressed great interest in the new power generation option, especially in light of the gloomy prospects of falling returns from sugar exports on the world market. One of the proposals raised then was for the power generation to be done through an independent power provider (IPP) which would make shares available to cane farmers. However, it was BSI which set up the power generation company, BELCOGEN, and that company now forms a subsidiary of BSI, which was recently bought by American Sugar Refining.

MARVIN CRUZ REYES, 28, GETS 15 YEARS
Tonight, Marvin Cruz Reyes, 28, is at the Belize Central Prison after he was found guilty of the attempted murder of Kareem Wright, 30. This was a retrial for Reyes because the first trial in July of 2009 ended with a hung jury. Wright, who was left paralyzed from the waist down, had to be brought to court by a BERT ambulance because that is the only means of transportation by which he can travel. He was the first witness to be called in the trial, which started last Wednesday, and he testified that at 5:00 on the morning of August 26, 2007, he and his girlfriend were walking on Ebony Street. When they got to the corner of Ebony and Sarstoon Streets, he heard someone call out to him, and turned to see Reyes, who was the ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend, he said.

MISS DANGRIGA, ALISHA BERMUDEZ, 15, WINS MISS GARIFUNA NATIONA
Miss Dangriga, Alisha Bermudez, 15, wins Miss Garifuna National In what spectators will remember as one of the most competitive cultural pageants in recent memory, Miss Dangriga, Alisha Bermudez, 15, captured the highly coveted title of Miss Garifuna at the Miss Garifuna Belize National Talent held at the Multi Sports Complex in Seine Bight Village on Saturday night, November 9. In all, there were seven hopefuls who participated in a spirited display of Garifuna language, dance and folklore: Miss Punta Gorda (Peini), Jackieva Alvarez, 18; Miss Hopkins, Pamela Zuniga, 19; Miss Belize City, Samantha Augustine, 19; Miss Belmopan, Denise Lopez, 17; Miss Georgetown, Sheraine Martinez, 17; and Miss Seine Bight, Darcell Valerio, 16, were the competitors in this year's pageant.

AMERICAN PASTOR AND WIFE CHARGED FOR NOT DECLARING OVER US $20,000 AT CUSTOMS
This morning, American nationals Pastor Gary West, 68, and his wife, retired nurse aid Evelyn Patnaude-West, 67, both pleaded guilty to failing to declare a large sum of money when they arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport last Friday. According to the report, the couple arrived in Belize from the United States on Friday, and at 12:05 p.m., while at the Customs Desk, they were asked if they had anything to declare, to which they replied no. The customs officer decided to search the luggage of Patnaude-West and found US$21,000 which had not been declared. A search of West led to the discovery of US$7,000 inside the left pocket of his pants and US$300 in his wallet, which also had not been declared. The couple was represented by attorney Ellis Arnold, who made a mitigation plea on their behalf. He expressed the couple's complete remorse for entering the country without declaring the money, but the couple told the court that they honestly did not know that they had to declare the money.

CUSTOMS OFFICER ASSAULTED AT THE COROZAL BORDER
On Saturday night at about 8:00 o'clock at the northern border, a Customs officer confiscated some beer from four men who were trying to cross the Corozal border with the undeclared goods. A senior officer who responded to a call for assistance was assaulted. Police say that four men - Ignacio Victorin, 30, a Belizean security officer; Nolberto Victorin, 34, a Belizean laborer; Amador Tzib, 40, a Belizean laborer; and Rutilio Cantun, 38, a Belizean laborer, all of Patchakan, Corozal District, were charged with aggravated assault. Police reports are that senior customs officer Fred Ford, attached to the Santa Elena Border, Corozal District, reported that about 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, he was on duty in his office when the checkpoint customs officer, Zakir Marin, who was working at the time, called him on his cell phone and told him that he had a "situation" at the checkpoint arrival section.

SCA GIRLS AND SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WIN NSSSA VOLLEYBALL NATIONALS
The National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) held its Annual National Volleyball competition over the past weekend, with games played last Friday and Saturday at the St. John's College Gymnasium in Belize City. A great show of talent was definitely displayed at the 2-day competition, as 8 teams took part in the national contest, which included 4 male and 4 female teams, representing the four different regions of the country. Fans, parents, supporters and fellow schoolmates of the participating teams packed the gymnasium to witness the competition as it got underway, and cheered energetically for their respective teams. In this year's Volleyball Nationals, the Northern Region was represented by San Pedro High School in both the male and female categories. The Central Region was represented by St. Catherine Academy for the females, while the males were represented by St. John's College. From the west, Belmopan Comprehensive High School represented the females, and Mopan Technical High School represented the boys. Stann Creek Ecumenical College represented the females from the southern region, while Georgetown Technical High School represented in the male category.

"BOXER" KNOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT OUT, BY "SLEEPY" POLICE DRIVER
Veteran boxer Henry "Boxer" Gill is shaken up, scraped knees and elbows, and bruised along the right side of his body, upon which he fell after being knocked down by a police pickup while he was riding his bicycle around 6:30 this morning on his way to do his regular morning work-out at the Body 2000 gym. According to "Boxer," he was riding on Mahogany Street when he saw the vehicle coming, and just managed to jump off his bicycle in time to avoid the full impact of the vehicle, which still ran over and badly damaged his mountain bike. "I only escaped serious injury because I'm in pretty good shape and still agile for my age," claimed Gill, who showed us his bandaged knee and abrasions on his wrist and elbow. His left side is still in pain from the fall on the pavement.

MAYOR'S 9-BALL TOURNAMENT IN COROZAL
The Mayor's 9-Ball Tournament continued over the weekend, concluding the first round of the home-and-away series. The first game saw Rebels & Rejects winning by a score of 3-2 over Expendables. The wins for Rebels & Rejects came by Joshua Kuylen over Herbert Dzib, 5-1; Audibaldo Monima over Luis Campos by a stunning 5-0; ,and Ian Glory over Abner Patt by a score of 5-3. The two wins for Expendables came by Miguel Trejo, 5-4, over Lazaro Amaya; and Raul Montejo over Joel Andino, 5-2. The second match of the weekend saw Madis at home defeating Cerros Sands by a score of 4-1. The only win for Cerros Sands came by Jose Caballero over Erwin Mutul by a score of 5-3. The wins for Madis came by Elias Briceno over Guillermo Arana, 5-3; Mario Pena, 5-2, over Tom Gardiner; Rodolfo Alvarez, 5-3, over Alberto Olivera; and Carlos Witz over Luiz Itzab, 5-3. The results after these two rounds are as follows: Rebels & Rejects 44 pts; Expendables 36 pts; Madis 28 pts; and Cerros Sands 12 pts.

PRIDE AND POWER Editorial
Behind the scenes and behind all the Independence Day pomp and ceremony, there was a transfer of power which was taking place during Belize's decolonization process. The power being transferred was basically political and administrative, and it was being transferred from the British to some Belizean counterparts of theirs. Financial and economic power was NOT being transferred from the British to Belizeans, although what the transfer of political and administrative power did, was make it possible for some Belizeans to dream of financial and economic power in their own country. So then, one of the slogans for independence was, "With independence, more development." Today, 32 years after independence, there is a financial and economic power structure in place here, but that structure is relatively shadowy and secretive. What is quite visible and often high profile in Belize, is the political and administrative power structure, which is all Belizean. The case with the financial and economic power structure is, to repeat, somewhat different.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Michael Finnegan's story about "Plum Jaw," also known to us football fans back then as "Harry J," touched me. Plum Jaw's story is a startling metaphor for the Belizean exodus. In 1969, he disappeared into America when he had reached the peak of his fame. Plum Jaw was playing a flank defence for arguably the best team in Belize City at the time - Red Stripe, and he had just starred in perhaps Red Stripe's biggest game ever - an "international" against a visiting "Vera Cruz" team. You have to remember that in Belize back then, there was no television and only a government monopoly radio station. The newspapers in Belize basically ignored sports in those days. When it came to football, Belize's most popular sport, everything was word-of-mouth. In the first game that visiting "Vera Cruz" team played on the MCC Grounds (it was not against Red Stripe), this blonde Mexican forward had electrified the crowd when he fired a shot from the edge of the eighteen which absolutely sounded like a thunderclap against the crosspiece of the Guinness (northern) goal.

PUC'S JOHN AVERY IS NEW CHAIR OF REGIONAL UTILITY BODY - OOCUR
John Avery, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Belize, has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) - a regional organization tasked with improving regional utility regulation and fostering transparent and stable utility regulation through autonomous and independent regulators in member countries. At the close of the 11th OOCUR Annual Conference, held at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City, from Wednesday, November 6 to 8, 2013, outgoing chairman J. Paul Morgan said that elections had been held and a new executive was installed. Morgan said that the 5 executive members are Avery, John Williams of TCI Telecommunications Commission (Turks and Caicos), Maurice Chavez of the Office of Utilities Regulation (Jamaica), Kathleen Riviere-Smith of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (Bahamas), and Dr. Anne Marie Mohammed of Regulated Industries Commission (Trinidad and Tobago) - the new deputy chair of OOCUR.

FECTAB AND BTB, FSTV AT ODDS!
"Be warned, if you stop us from making a living�BTB, FSTV could be looking at the end of cruise tourism in Belize." - Tom Greenwood Earlier last week, on Tuesday, there were reports that there was a bit of an uproar at the Fort Street Tourism Village (FSTV) in Belize City when a taxi operator was detained by police after he acquired the use of a bullhorn to beckon incoming cruise tourists. The various service providers - taxi drivers in particular - who congregate outside the Fort Street Tourism Village during the cruise season, have been complaining that the new zoning system that was put in place by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is not working because the new rules are not providing fair opportunities for them to make a living. Well, Friday, the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize (FECTAB) summoned a press conference in order to address those very same issues, among others. They told the media - and those in attendance - that the entire system needs to be revamped, and warned the BTB and FSTV that they both need to come to the table to dialogue with those being affected by the new regulations, or else the two entities might aggravate a total shutdown of the cruise tourism industry in Belize.

Blogs

Caye Coffee gets a new logo, I tried something new and a PSA from SPHLBPC
Not much was going on around town yesterday afternoon or so I thought. While sitting at Estel's with Steven, Anthony, Amy and Rick, we heard the long slow sound sound of sirens and knew that a parade was coming. The guy at the next table overheard us talking and said it was the Veterans Day Parade, I excused myself to go take a look and found out that it was something else. As I walked around the corner I saw hoards of San Pedro High School kids parading by, they had just won a big Volleyball tournament and had good reason to celebrate. Fortunately they finished their parade right before it started raining again and had enough time to get somewhere dry. Our meeting group on the other hand was not as lucky we were all in process of leaving and everyone got wet.

Guest Post: Your Belize Wedding Checklist
I don't do "sponsored posts"�though that is not what this actually is. A sponsorship would imply that some sort of palm greasing has taken place and�it hasn't. I got a lovely email from a lovely woman named Abra who just happens to do a bit of writing for a resort in Hopkins, Belize. One I've never visited. She was very enthusiastic about writing a post and had a few suggestions. I have been interested in Destination Weddings in Belize for a while�spurred on by the fact that I get ALL kinds of questions from brides, potential brides, honeymooners and even grooms. Her suggestion of a wedding checklist was perfect. Here is what she sent me. And based on the website and pictures of Hopkins Bay Resort? I wouldn't mind visiting Hopkins again�soon. Hopefully this is just the start of much more wedding stuff to come. Who knows? I could become a regular Martha Stewart (sans the prison time).

Miss Earth Belize On a Serious Mission
Brion Young, assistant manager of Chaa Creek's Belize Natural History Centre said that while the Miss Earth International Pageant may appear to be an unusual way to raise environmental awareness, Miss Earth Belize's departure for Miami on November 9 to participate in this year's Manila Pageant can only contribute towards spreading the message of environmental sustainability. According to Belize's Amandala newspaper, Amber Rene� Rivero is the formal Environmental Ambassador of Belize after being crowned Miss Earth Belize on August 24, 2013, and on Saturday, November 9, she departed the country for the first leg of her journey. "When we first heard of the endeavour we thought it a novel idea that pageants were being used to raise environmental awareness. On reflection we thought it's a great way to spread the message, and we will be following Ms Rivero's trip with interest," Mr Young said.

Central American Nearshore Summit 2013
Nicaragua inaugurated the first annual Central American Nearshore Summit (CANS) November 7, 2013 with the participation of over 160 businessmen mainly from the U.S. and the Central American region. The event was centered at promoting the entire region as an outsourcing destination due to its various competitive advantages; among them its competitive cost structure, strategic location and cultural affinity with the U.S. Among the participants are 45 prestigious outsourcing companies; among them United Health Care, UBS, Darwin Zone, Accenture, Allied Global, Atento, Sitel, and Teleperformance. The highlight of the event was the first session of business meetings held between service providers and buyers of the region. These previously scheduled meetings represent a unique opportunity for foreign and regional companies as they allow the establishment of key contacts and alliances within the outsourcing industry.

"Street Life" in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Determined to get back in to my routine I was up and out on the veranda yesterday (first floor, lagoon side) with a mug of black coffee and the iPad before 05.00 hours. I spent a little (and I mean a little) time with The Times online reading what Arsenal should have done (they lost) the previous day against Manchester United. I really didn't need reminding that we lost against them (again) so I turned my attention to writing yesterday's edition The literary juices weren't flowing though (it probably showed in what I finally published) so I decided I needed a change of scenery. Only one thing to do. Shower, shave, get dressed and head off to Estel's for breakfast!

International Sources

John McAfee facing wrongful death suit in Orlando over Belize murder
Eccentric software guru John McAfee, wanted for questioning by Belize authorities about the murder of his American neighbor, is being sued in Orlando for wrongful death. McAfee is known for the anti-virus software bearing his name, but he made international headlines last year when he went on the run after Gregory Faull was killed. A housekeeper found Faull - who owned Tailgaters Smokehouse and was a fixture at University of Central Florida sporting events - face up in a pool of blood Nov. 11, 2012 at his home on Ambergris Caye, Belize police said. He was shot in the back of the head. McAfee, who has denied involvement in Faull's killing, evaded police in Belize for nearly a month before surfacing in Guatemala. He returned to the United States in December and has said he fears Belize authorities will kill him. On Friday, Faull's estate filed suit in Orlando federal court against McAfee and two Belize women, claiming that McAfee, "either directly or through his behest or by his agents," caused Faull's death. McAfee told the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday that he has not been served with the lawsuit, and until that happens, he cannot comment on the matter.

Man acquitted of Utah murder deported to Belize
A man recently acquitted of murder in a Salt Lake City shooting has been deported to Belize by federal immigration officials. Kenneth Lewellyn Flowers, 36, was escorted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to his home country last week. He was turned over to Belize authorities for questioning related to gang activities in that Central American country, an ICE press release said. Flowers was deported after he was convicted in August of felony illegal reentry of a deported alien and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. He had been sentenced to two years in federal prison with credit for time served.

International Inspiration: Study abroad leads student to create successful philanthropy project
When Woodrow Holder left for a week-long study abroad trip to Belize in Spring 2012, he expected his views to change. What he didn't expect was how drastically that would happen. Since his return nearly two years ago, Holder has worked to raise funds for the area, and especially for the inspiring individuals he worked with during his time in Belize. The study abroad trip, associated with the course HSC 516D: Travel Course in Health Education, brought the Allen Park senior, as well as 20 undergraduate students and 30 physical therapy students, to the country. The trip, a medical mission visit of sorts, worked to teach students how to have a healthy lifestyle. "We did house visits, a mobile health clinic and educated people in schools about mobile health," Holder said. He was particularly moved by the state of one schools they visited, the Succotz Roman Catholic Primary School.

Gay activists seek end to criminality
Homosexuality is a crime in 41 out of the 53 Commonwealth nations, including CHOGM host nation Sri Lanka. Ahead of the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka on Friday, a new report produced by the Kaleidoscope Trust details human rights abuses against gay and lesbian people. Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Sir Shridath Ramphal, writes in the report: "It is a reminder that for most of the countries of the Commonwealth, the desecration of our fellow citizens began in the law. "As with the abolition of slavery, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in our time must be an act of law." The report details first-hand examples of attempted murder, beatings and harassment. "I have lost two teeth, had my family property invaded and car damaged by two masked men," says Caleb Orozco, a gay man from Belize.

Caribbean's Biggest Water Supplier's Sales Drop on Island Rains
Consolidated Water Co. (CWCO), the Caribbean's largest publicly traded water supplier, reported a 30 percent drop in third-quarter profit as retail sales fell on its home island in the Caymans. Net income slid from $1.3 million in the year-earlier period as larger customers on the island, popular for its beach resorts, purchased lower volumes of water "likely due to greater rainfall," the Georgetown, Cayman Islands-based company said in a statement. Consolidated Water has expanded this year beyond the Caribbean with a 100 million gallon per day water-purifying desalination pilot plant in Rosarito in northern Baja California, Mexico, that's completed its first phase and a seawater reverse-osmosis facility on Indonesia's Bali island. Consolidated Water operates water production and distribution facilities in the Caymans, Bahamas, Belize and the British Virgin Islands. The shares have doubled this year in New York trading compared with a 6.3 percent gain by the 20-member Bloomberg World Water Index.

Why The World's Top Retirement Haven May Not Be For Everyone
The Retire Overseas Index that my Live and Invest Overseas group published this year ranked Panama as the world's top retirement haven. I'm not alone in this idea. For the past half-dozen years at least, this country has been recognized by many as the best place on earth to think about living or retiring overseas. However, that is not to say that Panama is the world's best place for all things or for all people. In Belize, they speak English. It's the official language. Many in Panama City speak English, too, as a second language, but elsewhere in Panama, you're going to have to learn at least some Spanish or you're going to find life challenging.

As World "Gets Bigger," Caribbean Diving Industry Takes Advantage
ORLANDO - Keith Sahm is the general manager at the Sunset House in Grand Cayman, and he's seen the ups and downs of the Caribbean diving industry, which, like the rest of the region's tourism sector, was hit hard by the downturn. But Sunset House, which counts about 95 percent of its guests as divers, had its best October on record last month. It seems the Caribbean diving industry is showing signs of improvement. So what's helping to drive one of the strongest niches of the Caribbean market? For Sahm, a constrained global economic environment is encouraging more divers from markets like the United States and Canada to eschew far-off places like Micronesia or Malaysia in favour of a destination that's significantly closer. "With the way the global economy is right now, it's made the world much bigger again," Sahm said.

T&T Planning Minister: PetroCaribe not likely to be sustainable
Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie on Monday said Venezuela's PetroCaribe initiative, which supplied oil to some countries in the region at discounted prices, was unlikely to be sustainable. Speaking in his capacity as acting Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs at the launch of Caricom Energy Week on Monday at the Hyatt, he said: "The Venezuelan PetroCaribe Initiative provided a partial and temporary solution for this but this solution is unlikely to be sustainable. "The issue of subsidised prices has been raised but in today's world, with every country having its own challenges and the global system in a state of uncertainty, that is not really feasible." PetroCaribe is an alliance of mainly Caribbean and Central American countries with Venezuela to purchase crude oil at discounted and deferred prices. The payment system allows for purchase of oil on market value for five per cent to 50 per cent up front with a grace period of one to two years; the remainder can be paid through a 17-25 year financing agreement with one per cent interest if oil prices are above US$40 per barrel.

Deciding where to go for a Caribbean vacation
Belize has over 1,000 offshore cays (islands) and it is home to the largest cave system in Central America. It is home to the longest barrier reef in the hemisphere (and second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), perfect for scuba divers. Eco and culture enthusiasts will also enjoy ancient Mayan ruins and attractions like the Crooked Tree Wildlife sanctuary.

Central America: Strategies against school failure
Central America is seeking new strategies to protect schools from the violence committed by gangs, which has contributed to the academic failure of about 3.6 million children each year. At the primary school level, 32.7% of Central American students drop out or repeat a grade. In high school, the figure rises to 69.2%, according to the report "Finishing School in Central America: The Pending Challenges" by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Of the eight countries analyzed in the report, Belize retains the highest percentage of students in primary school, with 86%, followed by the Dominican Republic (83.7%), Costa Rica (81.9%), Panama (81.2%), El Salvador (64.7%), Guatemala (52.5%) and Nicaragua and Honduras (44.3%). In Honduras, students endure harassment, extortion and attacks by gangs. About 7,315 young people under the age of 23 were murdered between March 1998 and March 2012 in Honduras, according to a study by the international organization Casa Alianza.



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