This news synopsis will be a bit more condensed than usual for the next several days due to time constraints.

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 CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
Doctor Love: Education
Readers, please send your letters. They can be emails, formal letters or handwritten notes. They are edited solely for grammar and spelling. Also, they are sometimes edited for length. Dear Doctor Love, I am a single mother raising a son and a daughter. The daughter is 21 and the boy is 17. My daughter is […]
Misc Belizean Sources
Cayo Chorizo
There's a chorizo made in Cayo, Camalote to be exact. It's created by PaPaMeMe. It's sold all around Cayo, and you can find it at Three Flags and ABC supermarkets. Quieres Chorizo?
Rugby Belize Project
There's a new rugby league in Belize. Great to see, and they have some good information on their website.
"There have been many studies on the benefits of community-based activities and sports for the youth, all indicated that where sport is encouraged and developed at community level, youth become engaged in a more healthy and beneficial lifestyle. Youth, when given opportunities to participate in a wide variety of sports, can and do take that opportunity. There is evidence that in economically changed societies, encouraging the youth to actively engage in sport, makes a huge difference to the direction these young lives eventually take. They will use the physicality of sport and the opportunity to ‘let off steam’ as an alternative to street gangs and involvement in petty crime."
A Mayan Marvel in Belize’s Jungle
Did you know that Xunantunich gets visited by 46,000 people a year? Xunantunich is the subject of this archaeological article from the Seattle Times. And yes, El Castillo is a sight to see, and to see from.
"Although many people think Mayan culture was restricted to what is now Mexico, the grand kingdoms of the first millennium spread throughout what is now Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Xunantunich just became a tourist attraction in the early 1990s as excavations progressed and tourism infrastructure was added. Today it draws about 46,000 visitors a year."
Protecting Belize’s fragile tomorrows: CTGA kids eco tourism camp
Eco-Tourism started as a way to guide visitors on low-impact trips to undisturbed natural areas. It was very expensive and often took small groups on rather vigorous trips that were low impact, high education.
Today Eco-Tourism is as often as not about larger scale education and The Cayo Tour Guide Association (CTGA) is working with Belize hotels and resorts to create yearly Eco Tourism educational camps for children ages 12-14.
Joe Awe, president of the Cayo Tour Guide Association said that the summer camp is about “legacy” as well as an opportunity that will give the young participants a better understanding of the land, history and the ability to create “dreams”.
Tourism is a leading source of economic growth for Belize and the need for guides that can knowledgeably take tourists to places that need to be protected, and explained, is a goal for Belize and Joe Awe.
National Song Competition in Cayo
The National Song Competition will have an elimination round here in Cayo, at the Cayo Welcome Center, on Friday, July 18th. Everyone is invited out to enjoy the event, and cheer on their favorite. The songs start at 7:30pm.
"The purpose of the district level elimination is to engage our artists in the districts to partake in this National Competition as well as for district audience to enjoy and view the preliminaries to the competition. The competition will contain both the Belize Song and the Carnival Category in both Junior and Senior sections. Song writers, musician and performers who would like to showcase their talent can register at any of the Houses of Culture countrywide..."
Patrick Jones
Fire destroys buildings in San Pedro town
A fire in San Pedro town tonight has gutted at least six structures/buildings. Reports from the town say that the fire happened in the Boca de Rio area of San Pedro. Pictures posted on social media show the blaze lighting up the skyline before it was brought […]
Toledo DAVCO holds consultation on oil exploration
The Toledo District Association of Village Councils (DAVCO) continues to hold consultations on oil drilling in the south. On Friday, the DAVCO consultation tour stopped off in Forest Home village. President of Toledo DAVCO Gabriel Edwards, Jr. says that following up on a meeting with the Honourable the […]
Funeral held for Ramon Cervantes, Sr.
Hundreds of Orange Walk residents and friends of the Cervantes family turned out this afternoon for the funeral of Ramon Cervantes, Sr. The body of Cervantes, Sr. was found late last night on a farm about 6 miles outside of Orange Walk town. The results of a […]
Body of Ramon Cervantes, Sr. found in Orange Walk
All hopes for a safe return of Ramon Cervantes, 71, to his family were dashed late last night when his body was found in the Honey Camp area of Orange Walk town. On Tuesday, July 1, Cervantes who was a former Senator and former Mayor of Orange […]
The July 6, 2014 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE
This Week's Stories:
- Witnessing The Passing Of A Generation:
It’s with profound sadness that
we record the passing of two well
known Santa Elena women, Mrs.
Pricilla Cruz Wiltshire and
Mrs. Martha Oralia Waight.
Mrs. Pricilla, better known as
“Ma Pris” was born on
November 14, 1936. She passed
away on Wednesday, July 2,
2014.
Ma Pris is survived by her
husband, Cecil Wiltshire;
daughters: Jacqueline and
Janell as well as Sandra "Tosh"
Lanza. Sons: Lyndon "Peels"
and Dion Wiltshire; brothers David Cruz of Belmopan and
George Frazer ( BNTU Secretary
General); one sister,
Dorothy Frazer-Garbutt. She
is also survived by 16 grandchildren,
11 great grandchildren;
several nieces, nephews and a
host of other relatives and many
and friends. A wake will be held
on Friday, 4 July at the Wiltshire
Residence on Zaiden Street in
Santa Elena. Funeral services will
be held on Saturday, July 6 at
2:00 pm at the Nazarene Church
in San Ignacio. She will be laid to
rest inside the Carmen Memorial
Cemetery in Santa Elena.
- There Is A New Police Chief In Town:
Recently promoted Superintendent
of Police, Dinsdale Timothy
Thompson is the new Commander
of the San Ignacio Police
Detachment.
Supt. Thompson is a 29 year
veteran and former Chaplin of the
Police Department. He is no stranger
to the community as he had, just a few
years ago, served as the Deputy
Commander of the detachment he
now commands. Dinsdale Thompson joined
the Police Department in October
1985. He has served in various
branches at Eastern Division in
Belize City as well as in Belmopan.
He first arrived in San Ignacio in
2008 as an Inspector of Police
second in command of the
formation where he served for two
years. He was transferred to
Benque Viejo Town in 2010 where
he took over full command from
now retired Superintendent of Police
Mrs. Louise Willis.
- Editorial: Are You A Hater Or Are You A Lover?:
As we journey through this life
and witness the passing of that
generation just before ours, we
begin to realize just how short
this life is. Why are we not more
loving to each other? Why do we
spend time hating and harming
one another?
In the natural course of life, we
have come to accept the passing
of our mothers and our fathers,
this tells us that the next
generation on the way out is ours.
Our children are now
having children, this makes us
grandparents, our children’s
children will soon be having
children, this makes us great
grandparents. Do you honestly
believe that you will be around
to see your children’s, children’s,
children’s having children? The
unstoppable passing of your generation is at hand.
- New Chairmanship At BNE Trust:
The Belize Natural Energy
Charitable Trust announces the
appointment of Government’s
Representative, Alberto August,
as its new Chairman.
The Trust is a partnership
between the Government of
Belize and the Belize Natural
Energy Limited. The board of
Trustees comprises six members,
three appointed by the
Government of Belize and three
appointed by the Belize Natural
Energy Limited.
In accordance with the Trust
Deed, signed on February 25,
2008, the Chairmanship of the
Trust rotates every two years.
Chairman August took over from
outgoing BNE Representative,
Daniel Gutierez, when the BNE
Chairmanship expired on June 6.
Apart from the change in
chairmanship all six members of
the Trust remain unchanged with
Alberto August, Elodio Aragon
Jr., and Ismael Requena representing the Government of
Belize along with Daniel
Gutierez, Melanie Escalante
and Alan Gobie representing
BNE Limited.
- Nine San Ignacio Police Promoted:
The confirmed list of
promotions within the Non
Commissioned rank of the
Belize Police Department is
now out with the San Ignacio
detachment getting its fair share
of promotions.
Today the team of nine,
comprising seven policemen and
two policewomen, traveled to the
national academy in Belmopan
for the dress rehearsal as they
prepare for the ceremony to
receive their much deserved
promotions.
To be promoted from constable
to corporal are: PC # 292
Rowland Augustine; PC # 495
Jason Jones, PC # 1121 Ciriaco
Medina; PC # 597 Rigoberto
Patt; PC # 692 Jose Pinelo; PC
# 1168 Leonard Puc and WPC
# 625 Debbie Reynolds.
Raising from the Non-
Commission to Commission
Officer rank (NCO) are Sergeant
#651 Stanley Bowden and
WSergeant #433 Natalie Castillo
both of whom will now retire
their regulation numbers to
Nine San Ignacio Police Promoted
become Inspectors of police
thereby being elevated to the
Commission Officer rank of the
Belize Police Department.
- Dengue Fever:
Dengue fever, also known
as breakbone fever, is a
mosquito-borne tropical disease
caused by the dengue virus.
Symptoms include fever,
headache, muscle and joint pains,
and a characteristic skin rash that
is similar to measles. In a small
proportion of cases the disease
develops into the life-threatening
dengue hemorrhagic fever,
resulting in bleeding, low levels
of blood platelets and blood
plasma leakage, or into dengue
shock syndrome, where
dangerously low blood pressure
occurs.
Dengue is transmitted by
several species of mosquito
within the genus Aedes,
principally A. aegypti. The virus
has five different types; infection
with one type usually gives
lifelong immunity to that type,
but only short-term immunity to
the others. Subsequent infection
with a different type increases
the risk of severe complications.
As there is no commercially
available vaccine, prevention is
sought by reducing the habitat and
the number of mosquitoes and
limiting exposure to bites.
- Victor Galvez Gets Face-Lift:
Volunteers Katherine
Goodman, Miranda Porter,
Emily Fuller, Cassie
Schuttrumpf, Mary Scouten,
with country directors Angela
and Adam Carmack from
the Help International
organization have painted a total
of 20 murals along the inner
walls of the Victor Galvez
Stadium in San Ignacio. Help
International has been coming
to Belize since 2010 working
with Richard Zul to fight
poverty and empower people.
Working early in the
mornings for the past four
weeks, these volunteers have
dedicated their time and
money towards covering up
graffiti in the park and sharing
uplifting messages along
these walls.
If anyone would like to
further help this project, paint
donations and more volunteers
would be greatly appreciated.
To donate please contact
Richard Zul at 670-8876.
- Chinese
Couple
Charged:
A Chinese business
couple was today in court
charged with wounding a
customer.
The incident reportedly
occurred 11 days ago, at around
2:30 pm on Thursday, June
19, when Linda Ellis entered,
as a customer, Tom’s Grocery
Store on Bullet Tree Road
in San Ignacio. Ellis reportedly
asked why the Fantasy Five
numbers were not on the board.
The Chinese woman, later
identified as Yan Na Liang,
reportedly told her that they
had wiped off the numbers.
When Ellis requested an
explanation as to why the
numbers were removed, an
argument reportedly erupted
between Ellis and the Chinese
woman.
- World Cup 2014: Who Holds The
Balance Of Power In World Football?:
The last three weeks have
provided a consistent narrative
of fast, attacking football and
excitement - exactly as the
game's rulers would have
imagined it when they handed the
tournament to Brazil.
Even the line-up for the last
eight has a balance that brings
pleasure to the purists, as four
teams from the Americas are
complimented by a quartet from
Europe - all of them group
winners.
The destiny of this World Cup
will be decided in the iconic
surroundings of the Maracana in
Rio de Janeiro on Sunday week
but all quarter-finalists have the
opportunity to show where the
balance of power lies between
the two continents.
The seven World Cups held here
in the Americas have failed to
produce a European winner. On
the flip side, Brazil are the only
nation from the Americas to
achieve a win on European
soil - when they triumphed 5-2
in the final against hosts Sweden
56 years ago.
- STAR Humor
- Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
- Letters to the Editor
- Public Notices
Day One of the Veterinary Clinic in Sarteneja and A Continued Look at The Village
Yesterday was the first of two days of the Sarteneja Volunteer Veterinary Clinic. Two vets and two vet students flew in (on their own dollars) from Quebec to Belize to treat the animals of Sarteneja, Hopkins and Redbank.
We arrived early at the community center of Sarteneja with some other volunteers and helpers to get ready for the dogs and cats. The plan? To spay and neuter as many as possible…to treat the animals for worms, fleas, ticks and other parasites. All free of charge.
The community center is a huge space and needed a bit of set-up.
International Sources
Videos
Video: DJ HENRIQUE PONTES - BELIZE BOAT PARTY HIGHLIGHTS 2014, 8min.
Thank you Algarexperience.
Video: Belizean Dreams Resort Hopkins, Belize Review & Information, 1min.
Location: Sittee Point Road Near Hopkins Beach
Video: Belize Ecotourism Trip 2014, 12min.
A documentary following Lasell College's HEM214 Ecotourism class on their service learning trip to Belize.
Video: Snorkeling in Belize, 28min.
Snorkeling the reefs off of Tranquility Bay, on Northern Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Video: Belize - Ambergris Caye - Golf Cart Driving -- North, 6min.
Driving north on the main road (including Front Street / Barrier Reef Drive) of Ambergris Caye from the southside of San Pedro, Belize to 3.5 miles north of San Pedro, Belize.
Filmed with GoPro Hero 3 (handheld for 30min). The shaking is seriously from the road, not from the hand. Played back at 5x speed.
Paying the Bridge Toll @ 3:00.
Video: Belize - Ambergris Caye - Golf Cart Driving - South, 12min.
Exploring the main roads (including Front Street / Barrier Reef Drive, Middle Street / Pescador Drive & Back Street / Almond Street) of San Pedro, Belize.
Filmed with GoPro Hero 3 (mounted to golf cart). The shaking is seriously from the road, not from the cart. Played back at 5x speed.
North Into Town @ 0:10
South Into Town @ 4:08
South out of Town @ 9:00
Front Street / Barrier Reef Drive @ 2:27
Middle Street / Pescador Drive @ 5:57 & 6:22
Back Street / Almond Street @ 5:54
Video: Jaguar Reef Hotel Walk Thru, Hopkins, Belize, 2min.
Staying at the amazing Jaguar Reef Hotel in Hopkins, Belize. Perhaps the best resort in the entire country - i loved it.
Video: Skydive into the Blue Hole, Belize 2011, 8min.
The ultimate skydive in my 22 years of jumping! Exit from 13500 feet in PERFECT weather conditions (ie endless bl.
jumping into the Blue Hole , Belize. Skydive organized by Rich Grimm.
The entrance to Xibalba. The Mysterious Belize Great Blue Hole is a large underwater hole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef.
Anthony, Michael, and I at the 2011 Belize Boogie. We were the first jumpers of the boogie, into the famous Blue Hole! We took off from the San Pedro airport.
Video: Bow Drill in Belize, 6min.
Little bow drill action on a mission trip.
Video: Belize - Flying from San Ignacio to San Pedro, 7min.
Flying from Maya Flats Airport in San Ignacio, Mainland Belize to San Pedro Airport on Ambergris Caye Belize with a quick stop at Belize City International Airport (BZE) to pick up a few extra passengers.
Video: Conserving Belize's Marine Resources, 6min.
Done by: Benque Viejo Youth Group Production
Video: Amazing Must See Belize Mayan Pyramid Ruins with audio Quranic recitation, 45min.