Today's Belize News: March 9, 2014

Print Thread

Today's Belize News: March 9, 2014 #487703 03/09/14 05:33 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,393 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. Specials and Events Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV3 Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials The San Pedro Sun Sharon Ramclam Appointed as Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources The Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Sharon Ramclam as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with oversight for Department of Lands & Survey, Hydrology, Mining, Policy Coordination and Planning Unit, and Solid Waste Management Authority. Ms. Ramclam is a natural resource professional with more than 16 years experience in the field. She brings both private and public sector management experience to the Ministry, having served as the Executive Director of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and the General Manager of the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust. Tropic launches New Flight Route to Merida, Mexico On Monday March 3rd, Tropic Air inaugurated their non-stop flight from Belize to Merida, Mexico. The launching of this service makes Tropic the only airline to offer non stop flights between the two destinations. This new flight destination is Tropic's fifth international route and the second destination in Mexico. It will allow passengers travelling from Merida easier flight connections to the airline's other destinations such as Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Flores, and the 11 destinations within Belize. Not only will this service continue to develop the historic relationship between Belize and Merida but it will also foster international trade. In a press release put out by Tropic on February 3rd, the President of Tropic Air stated John Grief lll stated, ""We have been working closely with our partners in the Yucatan on this service, and we are excited to be flying there! We expect the market for this service to grow and we plan to add additional service as that happens. Not only will Belizeans finally be able to fly directly to Merida, but this opens up many new opportunities for the archaeological and eco-tourism markets." Day two of the Ruta Maya River Challenge 6PM Saturday, March 8th - SPSUN Senior Reporter Jorge Aldana reports from day two of the Ruta Maya River Challenge: Today's 68-mile stretch of the race took a little over six hours to complete, ending at Double Head Cabbage Village. Today's pace was more competitive, with Team Belize Bank Bulldogs sprinting to the finish line to maintain their lead. Tomorrow morning the race continues on to Burrell Boom. (13 photos) Misc Belizean Sources Suicide reported in Corozal A high school student in Corozal has reportedly taken her own life. Reports from Corozal say the body of 13 year old Diana Salam was found late Friday afternoon by her younger sister. Initial reports are that Diana was found hanging with a rope tied around her neck around 4 pm on Friday. She was a student of the Corozal Community College. Dan Silva holds rally in Georgeville Aspiring candidate for the People's United Party (PUP) in Cayo Central, Mr. Daniel Silva had a very successful rally in Georgeville village on Friday night. Over 400 residents of the host village and other communities in Cayo Central came out to the Santiago Waight Basketball Court for the two hour event which started at 7 pm. Guest speaker at the event was former Lake Independence area representative Mr. Cordel Hyde who pledged his full support for the candidacy of Mr. Silva who will square off with businessman Luke Espat in a Standard Bearer Convention next month. Hyde, in addressing the crowd, noted that Silva's return to seek political office is as if he never left because he still enjoys the love and appreciation of the people. 20,000 Strong Women's Rally Video The 20,000 Strong rally was Thursday, and Belize in America was there to get a great video. Definitely worth a watch. "20,000 Women's Rally - Thursday, March 6th, 2014" Ride to the Reef Race The Ride to the Reef bicycle race is today. The riders go from Belmopan to BTL Park. "The Cycling Federation of Belize in collaboration with OCEANA and in conjunction with Reef Week Belize presents the 1st Ride to the Reef. The ride will leave from Independence Hill in Belmopan and travel the George Price Highway to finish at the BTL Park on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. Registration can be done at Ordonez Bike Shop in Belize City, or at Garbutt's Service Station in Roaring Creek. Free participation" Video: La Ruta Maya Race Start It's a beautiful day for a canoe race. Cruz Cambranes got a great video of the start of the race yesterday. "La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge" Video: Ruta Maya, At Double Head Cabbage... End of Day 2 Ruta Maya River Challenge! Video: Ruta Maya, Another view from Double Head Cabbage. Video: Ruta Maya, At St Pauls Bank Belize District! Video: Howler monkeys at Belize zoo Video: Scuba dive near Southern Long Caye, Belize Beautiful shallow coral formations and abundant fish. Video: 2014 dive off of Ambergris Caye, Belize Scuba diving Belize using Go Pro. Close-up with Eels, turtles, and sharks Video: Belize 2014 A video slide show of our first mission trip to Belize, Central America. Were now planning to return next year and do more! Video: Belize Zipline A group of vacationeers in Belize went to the Bocawina Zipline course. I seamed together the GoPro videos I shot on the course. I forgot to turn the camera on for the third line, but got everything else in. Video: Howler Monkeys in Belize Taken while touring Lamanai Mayan Ruins site. Video: Belize Slideshow of sailing vessel Hope as its crew visits the Western Caribbean Sea along the barrier reef offshore of Belize. Video: Eel in Belize This is a short video of an eel I recorded with an iGills iPhone 4 enclosure at about 30 feet deep and about 16 miles off the coast of Belize at a dive site called Mid Point. The Belize Times A People's Victory� A People's Leader! - Court Vindicates Hon. Francis Fonseca & Orders Penner Criminal Investigation The big mouth of arrogant Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been shut up since last Wednesday February 26th when the Chief Justice granted PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca permission to pursue a writ of mandamus against the Government through the Commissioner of Police. A second blow was delivered this Monday 3rd March when the Chief Justice ruled that the Government, through the Commissioner, Allen Whylie, must investigate with acceleration and to conclusion the passport scandal matter with disgraced UDP Minister Elvin Penner. Although Cabinet met on Tuesday March 4th the loud mouth, quarrelsome Prime Minister was still in a state of shock and panic. Cabinet Ministers were seen hastily leaving Belmopan trying to avoid contact with anyone and in particular the media. Penner's Arrest nears March 9th deadline There is finally some movement, though minimal, in the criminal investigation into the Penner immigration scandal. The BELIZE TIMES has been reliably informed that Immigration Officer Addy Pacheco was called in by Police for questioning. Pacheco was the ... Only God can eliminate UDP Corruption It has been described as a "hotbed of corruption" by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and recently two employees close to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega were ... Belize tops US Corruption list - US declares Belize as "major money laundering", "major drug-transit" country "I hereby identify the following countries as major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize�" declared a damning September 2013 memo issued by the United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, which is attached to the recently released 2014 International Narcotics ... Politics and the Belizean Woman The month of March is celebrated each year as Women's month. It is a month that affords the nation an opportunity to pay tribute to and acknowledge the invaluable role that our women play in a struggling Belize. Overcoming womanizers, chauvinists, physical and verbal abuse (even at the hands of UDP Ministers) is a daily challenge for our women. But more than just facing abuse, women in Belize are now bearing a much heavier burden than times past. Today in many Belizean households, women are playing the roles of both the matriarchs and the patriarchs. Not only do our women have to nurture their young, but they must also now find bread to put on the table, uniforms for their children, and healthcare in a country where proper medical attention is only available to the wealthy. This week, the nation saw the launch of the Women's Agenda 2014 by the active, vibrant and brilliant women of the People's United Party. It is an Agenda that charts the course in addressing and fixing the problems facing our mothers and our sisters. It is an Agenda for Belizean women by Belizean women. Lady Jaguars, SQ Dragons & Jaguars win volleyball The Lady Jaguars dominated the Belmopan Mystics 25-4, 25-11 and 25-14 as the Belize District volleyball competition continued over the weekend. The young SQ Stars gave the Lady Jaguars a full workout ... Nazarene stomps SJC in softball playoffs Nazarene stomps SJC in softball playoffs The undefeated Nazarene High School boys shut out St John's College boys in the softball playoffs held at the Rogers Stadium in Belize City on Monday, March 3. Nazarene High's pitcher Jerome Carr struck out 10 hitters, ... Ladyville Tech bounces Nazarene girls in softball playoffs The Ladyville Technical High School girls upset the undefeated defending champions, the Nazarene High School girls, in Game 1 of the high school softball playoffs at the Rogers Stadium ... Faber robs school children of HOPE Minister of Education Patrick Faber has exposed himself to be a petty bureaucrat, ungratefully looking a gift horse in the mouth, when he shut down the Hope SDA Christian Academy School located in the village of Rhaburn Ridge in the Belize District on Friday February ... AMAZING GRACE - Flying South While at an assembly the other day I heard a principal tell a story about a bird who decided to try an experiment in flight. It was a season where all the birds of his flock would fly south but he decided that he was tired of that and would ... Teaching Children about the Value of a Dollar I believe parents should teach children that money cannot buy you happiness, but it can afford you many luxuries if you work hard to earn your own money. I began teaching my son about money management when he was very young. I wanted to teach him to ... SCALES OF JUSTICE - The Cover-Up! On Thursday the 19th September, 2013, when most Belizeans were getting ready and making preparations for the celebration of our 32nd anniversary of Independence, the Office of the Prime Minister sent out a shocking press release that caught all of us unaware. It decreed that henceforth, Hon. Elvin ... Magistrate takes GOB to Court The incompetence and arrogance of the government has caused a sitting Magistrate to take the Barrow Administration to court. Magistrate Nadia Morgan has applied to the Supreme Court asking the Court to order the Immigration Minister and the Director of Immigration to process her application for permanent ... Edmond Castro - a UDP Pariah! Edmond Castro's reputation is sinking into deep disgrace and humiliation. Not even the UDP can stand him right now. The UDP representatives at last week's House meeting tried their best not to cover their noses at the stink coming out of Castro as he got up ... REFLECTIONS ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE - The PUP wins one for the people of Belize On Monday, March 3, 2014 the Chief Justice of Belize handed down a historic decision in the case of PUP LEADER FRANCIS FONSECA v. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ALLEN WHYLIE. This case was our Party's last and latest effort to seek justice for and on behalf of the ... The Real Pappyshow!! The UDP has been having conventions over the past months which have proven to be jokey drama contests between losers and wanna bes. The results have been disastrous for the UDP, ... Successful Marshalls meeting in Southern Belize President of the Marshalls Service Corps Unit continues his working tours, organizing and rebuilding across the country of Belize. On Saturday February 22nd, in Pomona Stann Creek, President Latchman met with members of the Marshalls representing all four divisions of the Southern Caucus. Area Representatives Hon. Mike Espat, ... Health Professionals Enraged at Appointment of Minister's Daughter Health professionals are up in arms after the daughter of UDP Minister Erwin Contreras was appointed to a very important position in the Ministry of Health. Danini Contreras, a recent graduate of a University in Guatemala, has been appointed as the new "Drug Inspectorate" for Belize. The move triggered an emergency meeting of the Pharmacist's Association in Belize City today. The Association is aware of the hijacking of the post and opposes it strongly. The position was created as part of a plan designed in consultation with the US Government to improve the regulation of the Government-managed pharmaceutical sector in Belize. There has been too much hanky panky going with the importing of pharmaceuticals under the UDP. The intention was that someone with adequate and relevant training and proper experience in the field would take up the key post to lead the Drug Inspectorate Unit. But the hiring turned very controversial when Contreras was awarded the post on Tuesday. Blogs The Maya History of Merida, Mexico - What I Think Makes it REALLY Special Perhaps a lazy Saturday blog�pictures rather than words�but not really. Merida, Mexico is a beautiful colonial city FOR SURE. But what sets it apart from Antigua, Guatemala or Puebla, Mexico or the other beautiful colonial cities of Latin America (and what links it to Belize) is the Maya - both past and present. Merida was built on a Mayan city. Some of the world's most beautiful and famous sites, Uxmal and Chichen Itza, are just outside� (My brother took these pictures when we were at Uxmal in 2008.) Spanish conquerors in the area were renowned for the harsh treatment of the local Indians and the destruction of the local culture. Based on these carvings/sculptures on the old Montejo residence/current BanaMex bank, they were very proud of it. International Sources Belize trip leaves lasting impressions The Belize we experienced is not the Belize you see advertised by Realtors to prospective buyers of homes in this country. I had the privilege of observing and working in various classrooms in Stella Maris School. It was not necessary for me to prepare lessons or be assigned to a particular class as did the Fredonia students. What inspired me most about this particular school was, it is an All Inclusive School. Children with all types of disabilities, mild to severe, worked, played, and learned according to their abilities, helping each other. What impressed me greatly about our future teachers, Fredonia students, was the selfless giving of their time and talents, bonding with students and teachers. Before the students left the States they collected suitcases filled with shoes for the children. I watched as the youngsters small and tall were fitted with gently used and some new sneakers and shoes. Three other suitcases filled with school supplies were presented to the school at a Closing Assembly.