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Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
Belizean Kent Bob Gabourel competes in two international triathlon events
Kent Bob Gabourel, the Belizean Triathlete that is expected to represent the country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, continues his training at two international events. On Saturday May 24th, Gabourel represented Belize in an international triathlon competition in Mexico organized by the Pan American Triathlon Confederation (PACTO) and is now preparing for a second event in the United States of America (USA).
According to Gabourel, with some help from the Belize Olympics Committee, he was able to attend 2014 PATCO Sprint Triathlon Pan American Cup in Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico. He participated amongst 2,000 participants from Japan, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Uruguay and Costa Rica, in various categories. Gabourel was able to complete 750 meters of swimming, 20 kilometers of biking and 10 kilometers of running. The only Belizean participant was able to finish in 30th place in the Elite Category, crossing the finish line at one hour, 14 minutes and eight seconds. “It was a great experience to compete with professional triathletes. It is very competitive, but for me I’m not on par with them, so I have to put in much more extra work. This is my first international event and I finished in decent time, so I am happy,” said Gabourel. The first place winner, Mexican Eder Mejia, finished in 57 minutes and eight seconds.
Public asked to be mindful of Turtle Nesting Season
The 2014 Turtle Nesting Season has officially commenced, and biologists at the Ambergris Caye Marine Turtle Program have already recorded two nests at Robles Point. The nests were found on Tuesday, May 20th during a check of the beach and are the first nests observed for the season.
10362378_645564755517436_1340382775771597586_nThe season runs from the months of May to November, with sea turtles nesting particularly in the Robles Point, Rocky Point and Basil Jones Area. There are three species of turtles who nest on Ambergris Caye: the Loggerhead turtle (ChleoniaCaretta), the Green turtle (ChleoniaMydas) and the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate). Mature female turtles usually return to nest in the same areas that they were hatched and continue to nest in that area for the remainder of their life span. One single female turtle can lay from 70 to 190 eggs, depending on the species, and they take between six to ten weeks to hatch.
Health support tuk-tuks on the island but still not in use
On April 14th, 26 small three-wheeled motorcycle-type mobiles, widely referred to as Tuk-Tuk (motorized rickshaws) were donated by Dubai, United Arab Emirates to the Government of Belize. Three of the tuk-tuks were sent to Ambergris Caye to be used at the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II. They have has been on the island for over a month, but the tuk-tuks have still not been put to use. The health facility officials told The San Pedro Sun on May 28th that none of the three mobiles have reached the hands of the administration of the island’s public health facility.
Administrator of the PolyClinic Owen Vellos confirmed to The San Pedro Sun that while he has been notified of the donation and has even seen them on the island, they have not been formally handed over to the clinic. Vellos explained that it was recommended that the three tuk-tuks be given an oil bath before they are commissioned for use, but that has been over a month ago. Since then, the tuk-tuks have been sitting at the San Pedro Town Council barracks.
Bowen & Bowen debuts Galaxy Beer in honor of Courtney Bowen’s Wedding
Courtney Walker Bowen exchanged vows with her beloved Peter Tully on May 24th in San Pedro Town, in front of friends and family, and it certainly was an occasion to celebrate. Daughter of Lady Dixie and the late Sir Barry of Bowen & Bowen fame, Courtney’s nuptials went beyond the exchange of vows, as the nation joined in toasting the bride and groom with a specially crafted beer named Galaxy Beer. Belize Brewing Company utilized Sir Barry’s favorite hops, an Australian strain called Galaxy to create a special brew with the same name: Galaxy. For the rest of the town, a release party was held on the same evening at the Louis Sylvestre Football Field, with the brew going at a special price of just two for $5. The San Pedro Sun made sure to pick up a few bottles of the beer to toast the lovely Courtney and her handsome husband Peter!
Ambergris Today
ADO Bus Company Says Belize Route Proving Successful
Three years into the service, Mexico-based ADO Bus Company is reporting moderate success of its Belize – Cancun and Belize – Merida routes. ADO stated that the Belize – Cancun route occupancy rate is up to 60% indicating that the service is being well received by its customers.
ADO’s Manager in Chetumal, Luis Perez Leon, stated that the service numbers are so encouraging that ADO executives are planning to add more routes to Belize but it all depends on whether or not the permits are granted by the Government of Belize.
This international route is proving a success, since it has been providing comfortable and convenient connection for Belizeans residing in Quintana Roo and Belizeans wanting to travel to Mexico as well as increasing the Mexican tourism to Belize and Central America.
Recycled Tires Make for Awesome Garden Art at Ladybug
Passed by Ladybug garden supply and nursery this weekend and could not help but do a double take at the awesome garden art/pottery they have on display. They have on sale beautiful plant holders made out of old recycled tires. What a great way of recycling products that don't degrade and are bad for the environment. Taking a closer look at the plant holders, you can see how imaginative the people who make them are. They are all images of birds found in Belize (minus the swans Laughing). Pretty cool!!!
Sheila Chi Crowned Miss San Pedro High Over Weekend
Ms. Sheila Chi was crowned Miss San Pedro High School 2014 over the weekend at the pageant that took place at the R. Angel Nuñez Auditorium on Saturday, May 31. Sheila also won the title of Miss Popularity and Miss Photogenic; First Runner-Up was Ms. Marisha Thompson.
Honeymooners Discover Belize through Instagram
Our beautiful jewel Belize has been attracting many love birds from all over the world. Our country is the perfect getaway for you to get engaged, married or spend an unforgettable honeymoon.
I was contacted through Instagram by an amazing couple from Tempe, Arizona who was spending their honeymoon in Ambergris Caye, Belize. I met up with Michael and Stefanie Fasciocco at Caramba Restaurant where we got the chance to know each other a little bit more. During the night of great food, drinks and laughter, I asked them to elaborate on their decision to spend their honeymoon in Belize.
The honeymooners stayed at X’tan Ha “The Waterfront” Resort where the fun kicked off with a tour to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley; snorkeling alongside the second largest Barrier Reef in the world. They also enjoyed their walk around San Pedro Town and stopped by at Elvi’s Kitchen for some delicious food. Other places they also enjoyed were dinner at Mambo Restaurant inside Mata Chica Resort and dancing the night away at Wet Willy’s.
Misc Belizean Sources
NEW ZEALAND COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP: 2014
AWARDS
Nominations are invited from suitable qualified candidates wishing to pursue
post-graduate programmes in New Zealand commencing in February 2015. The
award is being offered for PhD and Masters level study in New Zealand.
ELIGIBILITY:
*Candidates must be Citizens of Belize
*Candidates must be residing in Belize at least two(2) years prior to
application
*Candidates must be applying to commence a new qualification and not
seeking funding for one already commenced
*Candidates should hold a first degree of upper second class honors level
or above or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate
qualification.
*Candidates should be able to take up their awards by the start of the New
Zealand academic year in February 2015
Deployed electrician plans on pursuing nursing degree, joining Reserves
You could say that he started training for his current job at just 12 years old when his father gave him his first set of tools.
“My dad built a toolkit for me and I still have it,” said Senior Airman Kevin Barnett, a plumber from the 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, who is currently deployed to Belize City, Belize, in support of the U.S. Southern Command-sponsored New Horizons exercise.
The Santa Paula, California, native has been in the Air Force for four years. His dad, a former electrician in the Navy, helped him choose an Air Force job.
“I chose to be a plumber because I wanted something that I could fall back on if I ever decided to get out,” he said.
Previously stationed in a civil engineer squadron in Germany, Barnett says that the “tempo is so much faster with RED HORSE because it’s all new construction versus maintenance.”
US Air Force doctor finds ways to 'give back'
Deployed in support of New Horizons Belize 2014, a multi-faceted exercise providing training opportunities for Belizean and U.S. medical professionals, U.S. Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Forrest Jellison is finding ways to give back.
"I've always wanted to give back in some way because I know I'm fortunate for what I have," said the urologist. "I believe you have to give back to be able to have something worthwhile."
Following a number of family members into the military, Jellison considered enlisting in the military before decided on a career path that would take him to places he never anticipated going in uniform.
He graduation from Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, Calif., and followed his undergraduate education with medical school at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California where he also completed his residency. Jellison then completed a urology fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles. He commissioned in 2001, officially kicking off his career in the Air Force.
Maafa
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez
After one hundred and fifty years of experimentation
America has finally perfected their weapon of mass destruction
After slavery was abolished they did not know what to do with the black population
Some 40 million, so they developed of plan of extermination
Their fears were retaliation and retribution
Following Francis Goltin they came up with the Eugenics solution
Turning the white against the black population
Congress funded this colonization
They tried again with our brothers in Vietnam
Eugene Fisher came up with sterilization
Starting with countries controlled by the Germans
Funded by the Carnage Corporation and Rockefeller Foundation
When that did not work, they put chemical in the food and the water
They solicited Nixon to get help to influence legislation
When that did not work they took it to the United Nations
So they do not have to dirty their hands
Planned parenthood became their new standard of operation
Join in on the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
Visit the British High Commission, Belmopan for updates on the campaign.
From early morning on Tuesday 10 June there will be a global relay of events taking place around the world - 84 hours of action to highlight the fight against sexual violence in conflict. http://ow.ly/xuzNs #TimeToAct
The global event relay will be key part of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which is taking place in London from 10 – 13 June. The Summit Fringe in London is open to the public from 10-12 June. Events are free and the full programme is available here: http://ow.ly/xuAGY
Belize Zoo Conservation Camp 2014
The Zoo is getting ready to host Conservation Camp 2014! Students ages 12-17 are invited to join the Zoo's education team for a week of activities geared toward gaining knowledge and appreciation of our natural world. Night walks, canoeing, wildlife studies, acting, and forest hikes are just some of the many exciting activities planned this year. Camp runs from June 30th to July 4th. Facebook message us, call the Zoo at (501)-822-8000, or email [email protected] for more information. There are only 25 spaces left, so hop to it!
YWCA Belmopan Summer Programme
14 July through 8 August
Solar energy system project to be installed at UB’s Living Reef Center (LRC) at Hunting Caye
The University of Belize (UB) along with one of its partner institutions [from Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC)] , Madison Area Technical College (MATC) from Madison, Wisconsin, USA is collaborating on a small but expandable solar energy system project to be installed at UB’s Living Reef Center (LRC) at Hunting Caye, Toledo District. Joel Shoemaker, Renewable Energy and Electrical Apprenticeship Professor at Madison and his students were on a working trip—Wednesday, 28th May through Saturday, 31st May, 2014—at the Caye where they are installing the system. Chris Miller from Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois and Sarah Hawkins from Lakeshore Technical College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin also accompanied the team.
This specific solar, renewable energy project is a part of an annual upgrading/expansion and maintenance of the system by MATC through its Study Abroad Program. It also serves as a demonstration of the University of Belize’s continued commitment to clean energy, environmental and conservation education and the potential of international and national collaborations to produce tangible benefits. For this initiative, MATC is donating the solar panels, converters and other requisite electrical parts; UB is facilitating and coordinating this portion of MATC’s 2014 Belize Tour and Belize Natural Energy Ltd. (BNE)—as a local partner and co-sponsor—is funding the cost of batteries, wiring and other miscellaneous materials necessary to install the system.
Spearhead has ARRIVED!!!!
Military Sealift Command joint high-speed vessel, USNS Spearhead, arrived at the Port of Big Creek yesterday morning. Spearhead’s arrival in Big Creek marks the beginning of the United States’ Southern Partnership Station program in Belize.
The Southern Partnership Station program is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces. During the visit, the ship will meet with Belizean counterparts to discuss and assist with local issues such as port security, professional development, operational risk management, medical readiness, outboard motor maintenance, and patrol craft operations, among other things.
During the visit, personnel onboard the ship look forward to experiencing the rich culture of Belize, and serving as goodwill ambassadors; working with communities in Punta Gorda, Belize City, and Ladyville on various community projects.
A hundred (100) garbage containers were donated to the town of San Pedro by an anonymous donor.
he San Pedro Town Council had them painted in vibrant and attractive colors and each reading with the slogan "Keep La Isla Bonita Clean" to promote awareness on having a cleaner San Pedro. These containers will be distributed at the parks, along Boca del Rio Drive and other designated locations. We hope everyone makes good use of these containers and take proper care of them. Let's all help KEEP LA ISLA BONITA CLEAN!
NICH with support of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to launch Primary School Art Skills Training Project
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) today presented a check to the President of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), Diane C. Haylock. The donation is to support an initiative for the implementation of a Primary Schools Art Skills Training Pilot Project (PSAST).
The pilot project is to offer training in art skills to a select number of primary school students from various schools in Belize City and is to run for an initial period of six (6) months from July through December 2014.
The PSAST Project is a venture in addressing the critical need to increase the accessibility and affordability of creative arts programs for the children of Belize. The overall objective of the program is to provide opportunities for approximately 50 students in Belize City primary schools to increase their abilities to express themselves creatively through training in a structured art and craft programme.
ENTER TO WIN A FREE VACATION at Jaguar Reef Lodge
All you need to do is click on the photo contest tab below ( located underneath the cover photo), follow the rules and guidelines and submit your photo! There is still time! Make your submission and enter our photo contest. You might get lucky and win a free vacation! Just click the link below to enter: http://on.fb.me/1gq8MTf
SPEARHEAD has arrived !!!!!
Military Sealift Command joint high-speed vessel, USNS Spearhead, arrived at the Port of Big Creek yesterday morning. Spearhead’s arrival in Big Creek marks the beginning of the United States’ Southern Partnership Station program in Belize.
The Southern Partnership Station program is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces. During the visit, the ship will meet with Belizean counterparts to discuss and assist with local issues such as port security, professional development, operational risk management, medical readiness, outboard motor maintenance, and patrol craft operations, among other things.
During the visit, personnel onboard the ship look forward to experiencing the rich culture of Belize, and serving as goodwill ambassadors; working with communities in Punta Gorda, Belize City, and Ladyville on various community projects.
May 25 - May 31 2014 Fishing Report
Wow. I can speak for all of the people who work here at El Pescador and say a big Thank You! We were so happy to see Dr. Marc bring his family to El Pescador after just being here last month! Dave and Donna – we love you guys. Rob is family and Donn we hope you become a neighbor! Roy and Wade – thanks for showing Lawrence what goes on here. Mike and Sue, I know Erlindo is thrilled to see you two! Cindy and Roy were here and it was hard to say goodbye. So until next time! And thanks for all the volleyball game support. And here we are, the first of June! Looks like an action packed month for us as we are sold out for several weeks! If you are reading this and looking forward to your trip, practice that cast! Even 5 minutes here and there really makes a difference. I’m saying this because when you look at that giant tarpon chasing your fly, you won’t be calm. And a big heartfelt thank you to the guides we work with. This guide team has grown so much over the past few years. They show up every morning knowing their anglers are so excited to make their dreams happen. And the El Pescador guide team does just that – make it happen! And as we say here in Belize, “Why not?”
Channel 7
Dangerous san Juan Area of San Pedro Spikes Up Again
Since March, we’ve been reporting on a spike in violent crime on San Pedro – which has resulted in three murders, and multiple shootings and stabbings. The third murder since March happened on Saturday morning in the troubled San Juan area of San Pedro Town when 49 year old Corozaleno Alfred “Cat” Kelvin was killed. His death comes as a shock to his family who did not even know he was in the country! Daniel Ortiz found out more today:..
Supt. Luis Castellanos – OC, San Pedro Police
"On Saturday the 31st of May at 2:05 in the morning we received information of a shooting in the San Juan area. As a result of the information received police visited Sea Weed Street situated in San Juan area where they saw the lifeless body of a individual we know as Alfred Kelvin, 49 years old Belizean unemployed of the San Juan area. He was seen suffering from one single gunshot wound to the right eye which exited on the right side of his head. He was apparently dead on the spot."
The Master of Coin Settles His Debt With Denys B.
Last week Wednesday, Burrell Boom resident Trevor Vernon got a stern come uppance when the court bailiff showed up at his house to start marking items which the court would claim to settle his debt to Denys Barrow. That arose from a Supreme Court case which Vernon lost, where he alleged that Castro violated the Cabinet code of conduct. Denys Barrow was Castro’s attorney – and so Vernon had to pay his five thousand dollar cost.
Borland Family Wants West Charged For Murder
Giovanni Borland was viciously chopped in the head on May 11th in Libertad Village. He died 19 days alter on Friday May 30th. For the family who prayed that he would somehow recover from a massive brain injury, it is a terrible, drawn out end to one night of drinking that turned deadly. Joseph West told police that while socializing at a village bar, he and Borland got into an argument. He claims he tried to leave but Borland followed him with a machete. It ended when West chopped Borland in his head. But according to Borland family, he had no machete and it was not only Joseph West involved it the incident. They claimed Borland was attacked by 5 men – all related.
Discarded Fetus Found Inside KHMH; Hospital Has No Answers
The KHMH is not commenting on an ugly discovery made at the hospital on Friday night. Around 8:00, a female patient who was in the observation room of the Accident and Emergency area picked up a foul odor coming from under her bed. She alerted the nurses who were aghast to find a decomposing fetus in a small white box under the bed. How did it get there? Well, that’s the question the hospital won’t answer; in fact it won’t even entertain questions.
They referred us to police who told us the hospital is doing its own internal investigation.
Discarding of a fetus is a criminal offence – and police hope to know more when a post mortem is conducted.
No One Hurt In City Shooting/Armed Robbery
At 7:15 on Saturday night shots were fired in an apparent robbery attempt at First Choice Pharmacy on Cemetery Road. Police have not released details but we did see three expended shells on the scene as well as two bicycles abandoned by the robbers. No one was hurt, and police did not say if the robbers got off with any money.
Missing Pellets Puzzle Police In Elston Arnold Shooting Case
On Thursday, we spoke with the Deputy Commanding Officer of San Pedro Police, Inspector Reymundo Reyes. He said that police were investigating the officers who were suspected of shooting 19 year old Elston Arnold and leaving him for dead on the side of the road. Well, there are reports tonight that police have hit a major snag.
Arnold’s family tells us that the investigator hasn’t managed to get the shotgun pellets which were taken out of the wounds. The intention was to retrieve these pellets and send them along with the firearms from the police officers to the National Forensic Sciences service for ballistics testing.
Today Inspector Reyes told us that as far as he knew, the investigator wasn’t able to get the pellets from the hospital because the nurse who had secured them under lock and key was on holiday at that time. Reyes assured us that the police will make exhaustive attempts to retrieve those pellets to send for testing.
Reyes vs. Rosado Again, But This Time a Man's Life Hangs In the Balance
Tonight 23 year old Vitalino Reyes Jr is completing four days in a coma. He fell into it last week Thursday night – allegedly after he was beaten up at the Long Island Bar on Dolphin Drive in Belize City.
And this is where it gets complicated. Vitalino is the son of Vitalino Sr. who is the owner of cavetubing.bz – the well known business rival of Yohnny Rosado’s cave-tubing.com. Reyes Jr.’s friend and co worker is another Yoney, Yoney Vega.
He reported to police that Yohnny Rosado and his crew were in the same bar at the same time – and he and Vitalino Jr were trying to leave when Yohnny sent his employee to block them, and then to viciously beat them unconscious. Rosado admits he was there but disputes that story – and he held a press conference with his new attorney Audrey Matura Shepherd to do so today. Tonight, we have both sides of the story, but we begin with an update on Vitalino Jr:…
Gentle Back Behind Bars
26 year-old Mark Gentle, who was able to beat criminal charges a year ago for a high-profile witness tampering allegation, is back behind bars because police say that he shot a man 3 weeks ago.
Police say that on Monday May 12, Radman Welch was shot by a gunman, and after investigating, they charged Gentle with use of deadly means of harm and wounding. He was arraigned today before the Chief Magistrate who remanded him to prison.
In January, Gentle and his mother managed to beat a charge of attempting to suppress evidence, after they were accused of trying to bribe and then threatening a prosecution witness. The suspicion was that they were doing it to try to get Jermaine “Horse” Garnett and Cassian Bennett to get off a murder charge. The Chief Magistrate dismissed the charges against them for lack of evidence.
Another Protest For Prof Bain
This weekend, the Belize Evangelical Association of Churches and Belize Action kept their pressure up on the University of the West Indies for the termination of Professor Brendon Bain.
Weed In the "Jungle"
The Quick Response Team from precinct 3 made a sizeable weed bust on Friday night. It happened in the jungle area of the Pickstock Hutment where they searched an abandoned lot and found eight plastic bags weighing in at 3.3 kilos, over 7 pounds. No one was in the area so the drugs were labelled as found property. Police believe it is the stash for a well known drug kingpin in the area.
Resort Owner Says 16 Year Old daughter Ran Away With BF
Cayo Resort owner, 57-year-old Mike Bogaert, has reported to police that his 16 year old daughter has run away. He got a call on Saturday afternoon telling him that his 16-year-old daughter Eden Bogaert, ran away from home and took her Canadian Passport. Bogaert went to her boyfriend Kevin Palma’s house where the young man’s mother informed him that she found a note informing her that he left along with Eden and also had his passport. Bogaert told police that Palma is in possession of his father’s Dodge Ram pick-up so he believes they want to leave the country. Eden Bogaert is of Hispanic descent, about 5ft. tall, and weighs 105pounds.
USS Navy Ship Lands in Belize
Yesterday morning, the United States Naval Ship Spearhead arrived at the Port of Big Creek in the Toledo District. The navy’s presence in Belize marks the beginning of the US Southern Partnership Program in Belize.
This program is a US Navy Deployment which will focus on cooperation between the military of both nations in the area of port security, professional development, operational risk management, medical readiness, outboard motor maintenance, patrol craft operations, and other areas.
Our colleagues from PGTV spoke with the US Navy’s Mission Commander on-board the Spearhead, he told them that a part the program will be infrastructure where 100 members of the US Navy will set up camp alongside the BDF Base Punta Gorda. They’ll be assisting on works on the barrack facilities. There are also medical personnel among the US Navy which will go out to the different communities in PG and in Ladyville to provide assistance to the local clinics.
The Navy contingent stays in Belize until the end of July, but the Spearhead will return to open waters.
Who's The Strongest Man
On Saturday, the Belize Body Building & Fitness Federation held its annual strongman competition at the Riverside Tavern parking lot in Belize City.
It’s a competition where the contestants show off several feats of power, and after all the scores were tallied, 2012 champion Victor Valencia became the winner. Here’s what he had to say about the event:
Valencia took home first prize of $600.
Going The Distance With 20k Strong: Kim Barrow Marks The Milestone
The photography exhibit called “Milestone” was launched on Friday night at the House of Culture in Belize City. It’s the work of Artist, Briheda Haylock – and it captures unguarded moments of 12 trailblazing Belizean women. Kim Barrow explained how the exhibit follows up on the 20,000 Strong rally.
Kim Barrow
"For us to honor these woman its really important because a lot of times many women in our society they really do go un-notice and the work that they do we believe should be highlighted and hence this exhibit that you all will be seeing. Now this as Ann Marie said is one of the offspring on twenty thousand strong. I know that much has been said in the media and in other places, but we will continue to build on the twenty thousand strong and to showcase women and empower women - that’s the only agenda behind the twenty thousand strong and this is really evidence of it."
The exhibit, supported by the office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, will be available for viewing for the next 2 weeks.
The G Collective, Belize's Music Ambassadors
On Friday we closed the news with a clip of the Garifuna Collective live in Wurzburg Germany. They were featured at the Africa Festival 2014. As a part of the festival’s extensive media packaging, they were also featured in a sit down interview. Here’s what these unlikely but quite competent cultural ambassadors told the Festival organizers about Belizean culture.
The Collective played Berlin on Saturday night.
Making Many Mangroves
When we hear about Mangroves in the news – it’s usually about cutting them down to make way for development.
But on Friday in Placencia, they were planting mangroves.
More than forty volunteers gathered in the Crimson Development community area of Placencia Village to participate in a mangrove planting activity organized in memory of environmentalist Adrian Vernon.
Approximately four hundred seedlings were planted by members of the Vernon family, the World Wildlife Fund, the Southern Environmental Association, Oceana, the Placencia Village Council, Placencia Citizens for Sustainable Development, the Placencia Fishermen’s Cooperative, Friends of the Placencia Lagoon and the Coco Plum Resort and Residential Development. The mangroves now line the canal adjacent to the Placencia airstrip and will serve as a buffer for the residential plots of the Crimson Development community area.
Channel 5
Decaying fetus found under a bed inside the K.H.M.H.
There have been all sorts of scandalous allegations of wrongdoings made against the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but tonight there is a troubling report that has been confirmed by the [...]
San Pedro resident murdered over the weekend
As recent as last week the San Pedro community came together to fight an alarming spike in crime and violence in the island. On Saturday, the news spread early in [...]
Libertad resident who was hacked on the head perishes
Thirty-four year old Giovanni Borland died on Friday, three weeks after he was viciously chopped to the head on May eleventh in Libertad Village, Corozal. Police detained twenty-four year old [...]
Yhony Rosado refutes allegations of being involved in assault of Vitalino Reyes Jr.
Tour operator Vitalino Reyes Junior is still comatose at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Reyes Junior was assaulted last week Thursday during a confrontation at a bar; he was beaten [...]
Trevor Vernon pays up….is it in shillings?
Last Tuesday, Trevor Vernon, the unsuccessful claimant in a private case brought against Minister of State Edmond Castro, made the flamboyant gesture of paying fifty percent of costs, twenty-five hundred [...]
The choice words of Arthur Saldivar for Rodwell Williams
Belize Rural North Area Representative Arthur Saldivar has his own financial cross to bear. On May twenty-third, the Supreme Court ruled against him in a defamation suit brought by Prime [...]
Jorge Espat resigns as President of SJC
After a two-year period as president of St. John’s College, News Five has confirmed that Jorge Espat is demitting office. Word of his resignation circulated around campus late last week [...]
Still no resolution on the appointment of Danini Contreras as the first Director of Drug Inspectorate
This week is celebrated as Pharmacy Week, a joint initiative of the Government of Belize and the private sector. We’ll have more on that later, but first the issue which [...]
Cancer Walk 2014
Every year, thousands of Belizeans walk from Ladyville to Belize City to raise awareness and fight cancer. On Saturday morning, bright and early, young and old, men and women as [...]
2nd protest against termination of UWI professor is held at Battlefield Park
A small protest was held on Saturday morning in Belize City in solidarity with Doctor Brendan Bain, who was recently terminated from the CHART program at the University of the [...]
Jerson Grinage charged for 3.5 ounces of weed
Mahogany Heights resident Jerson Grinage, was today arraigned for drug trafficking after he was allegedly busted with three point five ounces of weed in his garage. The twenty-two year old [...]
Pharmacy Week 2014; creating awareness on the role of pharmacists
As we told you earlier, Pharmacy Week is being celebrated this week, and the provision of quality health care is a focus. It’s mainly about creating awareness of pharmacists and [...]
Citizens on Patrol in San Pedro
There have been three murders in San Pedro this year. The murder of Alfred Kelvin Junior makes four. Compared to Belize City that may not seem like much but on [...]
U.S. Navy in Belize for Southern Partnership Station program
A United States naval vessel is presently in Belizean waters, where personnel onboard are on a working visit to the Belize. USNS Spearhead, a Military Sealift Command watercraft, docked at [...]
Sports Monday with Kaya Cattouse
Good evening Belize, with this week’s edition of Sport Monday, I’m Kaya Cattouse and I’ll be the face of Sports Monday for the next six weeks. Let’s get right [...]
CTV3
O/W Observes Pharmacist Week
It is pharmacy week and a few of the pharmacies in Orange Walk Town are observing the week with special promotions and discounts to their clientele. To find out more about the week, our news team spoke with Alejandro Lopez, a senior pharmacist.
Alejandro Lopez – Pharmacist
“Pharmacy week is about bringing awareness and at the same time educating the general public with regards on how to go about taking medications, what are the possible side effects, and in this way we can interact more with our patients because the general community believes that the pharmacist is only to count and dispense medication that we have moved away from that actually we now as pharmacist have more interaction with the community, we are here to advice, to counsel, and at the same time to educate the general public with regards on how to go about taking your medication, how often and how serious side effects are etcetera.”
Pharmacies are also a business, but there is something about it that sets it apart from the typical business establishments within the communities says Lopez.
Missionaries To Assist Rural Communities
Missionaries were finishing their last endeavors over the weekend as part of their annual visits to Belize. We are talking about volunteers of the Thirst Mission which provides volunteers from North America to come to Belize to serve on short term mission teams. Once here, the missionaries partner with host churches across the country and spend up to ten days conducting a series of community oriented projects. These include bible schools, sports outreach, construction at churches and schools and medical and dental ministries. Jason Phingsten has been leading teams on an annual basis for at least twenty-five years.
Jason Phingsten – Group Leader
“We have a pastor training and so we have Pastors from around the countries that are here to learn more about hosting a team, what our expectations are for them, and our staff here as well we just got back from four days of training on Caye Caulker too, spend time in the bible and learning about the bible, going through our manuals and our policies just to figure out the best way to provide a great short term mission’s experience for these teams from around North America; they come from Baptist Churches, Presbyterians, and Methodist all different nominations from all different states and even from Canada and they come to serve for a week and their lives have changes when they come down to serve, there is something about getting outside their culture and something about getting outside what they are used to and then coming down and then giving themselves and so many times in the United States run from that people are spoiled and they don’t know how good they have it until they come down and they don’t have air conditioning and see Pastors are working other full time jobs and don’t get paid much by their church and the condition of the church is and the needs of the people down here and they are changed when they go back to the United States and so just a blessing of being a part of bringing people down here and trying to provide great mission experienced for them.”
Morelia Pop Wins La Voz Karaoke Competition
The stage was extravagantly set for the grand finale of La Voz Karaoke on Friday night. This was the culmination of the 13 week competition that saw as many as 20 singers hailing from Corozal and Orange Walk Town vie for the title of Karaoke champion in the north. The competition attracted a healthy selection of singers who sang their hearts out on stage. In the end, there was only room for one at the top of the karaoke chain to reign. Our news team was there and brings you the highlights of Friday’s big event that drew hundreds of fans and supporters out.
Carmelita Perez – Reporting
Singing sensation, Morelia Pop sang to the hearts of many and emerged as victor in the 13 week long La Voz Karaoke competition hosted by Centaur Communications Corporations Limited. In Friday’s finale inside a family packed Butchys Lounge, the show got off to a roaring start with presentations from Gabriel’s Magix’s.
And then the five finalists faced off one last time performing their songs of choice.
Of course, before the night was over, the three judges for the 13 weeks of show also proved to the audience that they have singing skills.
Corozal Activates NEMO
The Corozal National Emergency Management Organization “NEMO” has shifted into full gear as the Hurricane Season got underway. This year forecasters are predicting what is being deemed as quite hurricane season. However, one never knows what Mother Nature has in store for us. And for that NEMO Corozal is not bringing down its guard.
Willard Levy - Corozal NEMO.
“Every year we do a shelter inspection, this year we did not an intensive inspection but we had a good picture of what the position of the shelters, we found that we had a few of them doing repairs to and this is undergoing at this point, we have not completely finished with the repairs and we expect them to finished them between now and the next no later than two weeks. And in the case of what NEMO had done in Corozal actually is trying to get out the message the season is out, we will be doing regular talk shows over the radio advising people to get ready, to be prepared hurricane season is near and even though we may have heard that this hurricane season is not so as active as the previous forecasted years, my message to the people is that it only takes one storm to create a disaster so we don’t really have to have an active season to have a disaster, we need people to be on their guard, start to get ready, prepare themselves and do the necessary things, make your family plans, if you are going to evacuate know where you are going, and do it quick.”
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PM Talks Finance and Sustainability with IADB in Washington
Prime Minister departed Belize last week and is scheduled to return home tomorrow. Love News understands that part of his time away was spent in Washington, USA meeting with officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), primarily, the Bank’s President, Luis Alberto Moreno. In a release issued by the bank, the meeting was held to discuss Belize’s relationship with the bank and priority areas of collaboration. Also on the discussion table was the bank’s newly approved country strategy with Belize which will be a main focus for IDB and their works in Belize over the next four years. This strategy seeks to support Belize’s Government with the aim of improving public expenditure efficiency and effectiveness while promoting private sector development and sustainable export-led growth with concentration on education, tourism and agriculture. The meeting also involved discussions on the recent developments in Belize, particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors as well as IDB’s lending program with Belize for 2014.
Police Inspector’s Son Escapes Prison Time
Jerson Grinage, the son of Inspector Alford Grinage, almost became an inmate of Belize Central Prison when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser to be arraigned on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, an offence which the magistrate court cannot offer bail until after 3 months. The complainant, Yannick Smith, who had made a false report, came to court and said that he don’t want any further court action….but before Senior Magistrate Fraser allowed the charge to be withdrawn, she found out that that Grinage did not approach Smith with a firearm and that it was Grinage who was pursued by two persons; one of them armed with what appeared to be a 16 gauge shotgun. She scolded Smith about the false report and told him that she was contemplating having the police charge him with a mischievous act but she had a change of heart and Smith was allowed to go free. But Grinage was not completely free as the police reported that when they went to Grinage’s yard they searched it and found 101 grams of cannabis among the garbage. As a result, Grinage was charged with drug trafficking. He pled not guilty to the charge when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith and he was released on a bail of $1,000. His next court date is July 31. The incident occurred on May 30, 2014.
Ozzie Wants to Bring More Clowns To Town
Ozzy the Clown, he is the beloved children entertainer that has travelled throughout Belize putting smiles on children faces. Ozzy the Clown wants to bring a group of clowns from Mexico City to Belize where they will entertain the children of Belize. While the clowns are not charging, Ozzy the Clown, says that an endeavor of this magnitude consists of logistic that are costly and Ozzy needs your help to make it a reality.
OZZIE THE CLOWN
“Basically the plan is to get 20 clowns into Belize City from Mexico City. Coming into Belize City we want to have a huge parade all through the streets of Belize City and if we choose certain streets and there is a school that is around, we will probably stop in that school just to give a little quick motivational action and then slip out and continue operate through the streets of Belize City. Nothing ever has been done like this before, it’s something that everybody will be holding their heads and saying what’s going on? It is amazing once you see it. It has been done in Mexico City; it has been done all over the world especially when there is a troop of clowns. So that is the first step. The second step is to have a huge show at the BTL Park; free of cost, anybody can go.
Rumor of Cracked Water Dam Circulates
About twenty one miles south of San Ignacio Town in the Cayo District, sits a gravity dam on the Macal River, dubbed the Chalillo Dam. The dam, which was built between the years, 2002 and 2005, is an upstream storage facility meaning that its main purpose is to store waters during the rainy season…..but like everything manmade, things can go wrong and so, for the last two weeks the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) has been conducting a public awareness campaign geared at educating the public on the emergency plan that is in place in the event of a dam break or a massive flood. This past Saturday formed part of that campaign as explained to us by the Vice President of Operations at BECOL, Stephen Usher.
STEPHEN USHER, VP of Operations
“Public awareness is a part of the environmental compliance plan that we have with the Department of Environment. A part of that ECP is the Emergency Preparedness Plan which is basically a plan to advise stakeholders along the Macal River of an event of a dam break if that arises. What you do; the safe zones you go to and the necessary preparedness you do in the event that should occur. What we do on an annual basis is we go out to all the stakeholders along the Macal River which includes the resorts, San Ignacio/Santa Elena Towns; some of the villages up the Mopan River which would be in the inundation area if we should have a dam break during a flood. We go out to these villages and schools and we explain how the project operates and how high the water would go in the event of a massive flood or a dam break and we advise the public where the safe zones would be in their area.
Borland Succumbs 19 Days Later
Nineteen days after being involved in an altercation in northern Belize, a young resident of Libertad Village, Corozal District has succumbed to machete wounds he received in the incident. On Sunday, May 11, Corozal police had responded to complaints of a fight in the village around 10pm when they found out that Giovanni Borland was seriously injured and taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Borland was later transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he passed away on Friday, May 30. He had received severe injuries to the head that were reportedly inflicted with a machete during the fight. According to the uncle, Karl Borland, since the incident Giovanni never regained consciousness to tell his story.
KARL BORLAND
“Let me give you a run down as to what really happened and this is actually his version of what actually took place; sadly he is deceased now but what we were made to understand is that he went to Libertad Village on Saturday, I think; he went there to get his passport, he had left his passport at a house in Libertad Village. The following day, on Sunday around 11:30pm he was socializing at a club in Libertad Village and he got into an altercation with five people and all of them are of a family in the village.
Coye Family vs Income Tax Department for Over $3M
On Friday we told you of the judgment handed down by Justice Sonya Young to unfreeze the Coye’s assets. Justice Young lifted the injunction placed on the Coye’s 1.557 million dollars and declared that Melanie Coye and her family get their monies back. While that was a big win for the Coye Family, they now have to go up against the Income Tax Department which had collected about 3.21 million dollars in arrears from them. Commissioner of Income Tax, Kent Clare, confirmed that the Income Tax Department has the monies but he says they have received no correspondence from the Coye Family stating they will fight it.
KENT CLARE, COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
“Well we haven’t gotten anything and let me say that in the past the media has asked me a lot about that case; we have no difficulty in addressing any of those matters, the legitimacy of it and so on. It’s just that because it’s a litigation, it is prudent not to make any comment until at some point it’s full; beyond that the Income and Business Tax Act prevents us from disclosing persons but as a matter of fact, nothing has come to us yet.”
Cancer Walk Has Tremendous Turnout
“Hundreds of participants congregated on the Philip Goldson Highway in front of Celina’s for the annual cancer walk on Saturday morning. The walk has seen a steady growth over the years as participants ranged from the very young to the more mature. President of the Belize Cancer, Society Laura Longsworth said raising awareness has been key to the walk’s continued success.”
LAURA LONGSWORTH – PRESIDENT, BELIZE CANCER SOCIETY
“This fantastic support from the community and that’s what we thrive for, that’s what we live on, so it gives us a great joy to have the community come out and show their support and walk in solidarity with everybody who may or may not have cancer. You know this is like sixteen years down the road, and we have been, at last, we can say that we’re finally getting there. We’ll have to change our entire modus operandi and the organizational structure even, to cope with the demands to services from the community. So even our own health professionals now are referring our patients to the cancer society for transition, counseling and so on, and yes what is happening now is an interesting thing because the community itself is feeling the impact of cancer and so then there is hardly a family who has not been touched one way or the other by the entire issue of cancer. Whether it is a friend, a child of a friend, somebody….and I think because of our public awareness campaigns people are getting it, and so then from here on, this entire issue/exercise is right smack in the middle of a global strategy to get people moving, to reduce our body weight, to be happy, to be in open spaces, to be hopeful. This gives me a joy when I see people in open spaces, walking and challenging each other to reach the cancer society.”
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